The Issue of Need

10/1/11

Greetings,

                This week we are going to talk about need. In this economy a lot of people are facing challenges that they didn’t have ten years ago. Businesses are going bankrupt, jobs are being shipped overseas, families are losing their homes and many people have very real needs in this hour. What does the Bible say about this topic of need?

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

When people think about needs the first things that will typically come to mind are carnal needs. For instance, we need food. We also need shelter and warmth. We need water to drink and we need our health. If we are deathly ill and nothing changes, we will die. It’s safe to say that at the top of the average person’s list of needs are those things that lead to death if they are not provided.

However, the Bible clearly says that God promises to meet all of our needs. This week I want to tell you where this provision is. I say where because it has a literal location and no, it is not the local loan shark (otherwise known as credit card companies and payday advance businesses). God has a literal location for all of the provisions promised to us. However, before I tell you where it is, we are going to bring unity into the conversation.

What many people do not consider is that unity is a need amongst Christians. Most of us are very happy to have our own little community. We are happy to have the freedom to do our own thing. It’s so much easier than dealing with others that act different, talk different, and think different than we do. However, without unity Jesus cannot return because the Bible says we must come to the unity of the faith. It also says that Jesus isn’t returning until His wife has made herself ready. The church, being the bride of Christ, is the wife of the Lamb. In other words, if we want Jesus to come back and wrap this thing up we need unity.

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13)

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:7)

Here is the question: If we need unity and we don’t have it, where can we get it? The answer to this question is quickly becoming one of the most important, if not the most important message arising in the body of Christ today. The answer is a message that changes everything. This message is not only the location of what we are looking for but it even becomes Satan’s endgame. This message has the power to change the reality that we experience. Have I said enough yet?

I’m dragging this out because when I tell you what this message is I want you to remember it. If I just come out and tell you the location of your needs you may dismiss it as unimportant. If I just come out and tell you the location of unity you simply nod your head in agreement and go about your day. This time I’m making you work. What is this all encompassing message that gives us everything we need?

In the passage that we opened with, the writer was speaking to monetary need based on context. This is what preceded that verse.

“Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.” (Philippians 4:15-18)

The financial gift that the church at Philippi gave to Paul was an acceptable sacrifice that was well pleasing to God. Moreover, it caused fruit to abound to their heavenly account. What some people fail to accept is that we do have an account in heaven. Our giving is credited to this account. In any case, it was after saying all of this that Paul explained the result; God would supply all of their need.

This illustrates a concept that many completely overlook. We interact with heaven on a daily basis. When the Philippians gave a gift to Paul, the transaction went through heaven even though the actual money went from their hands to Paul’s ministry. Their physical actions had spiritual counterparts and your physical actions have spiritual counterparts as well.

What does this have to do with need? In order for us to understand how we interact with heaven on a daily basis we have to change our concept of heaven. Heaven isn’t just a place we go when we die but it is a place that we are located from the moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This is why the following verse is written in the past tense.

“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6)

                In the beginning of this letter I promised to tell you the location of all of your need. Here is the answer: All of your need is provided for in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the dimension where God is king otherwise known as heaven (which is divided up into heavenly places). We have access to it as believers and we interact with it whether we know it or not. However, when we become purposeful about our interaction with it we can begin to pull all of our needs from the location where they are all provided for—even unity. This is summed up in the following quote by Jesus.

                “For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Luke 12:30-31)

Discussion

1.       What are your needs?

2.       Being completely honest, how capable do you see God when it comes to His ability to meet your needs?

3.       Do we interact with heaven now or only after we die?

4.       Where is the location of the needs that God has already met?

5.       What do we have to seek in order to access the fullness of the provision of God?

The Joseph Generation

9/17/11

Greetings,

                I often hear talk about a “Joseph generation”. This is phraseology amongst Christians which describes a group of individuals that God is raising up to have the attributes modeled by the biblical Joseph. The story of Joseph is found in the latter part of the book of Genesis.

               Joseph’s father was Jacob (whose name was later changed to Israel). Joseph was one of twelve sons sired by his father. The offspring of these sons became the twelve tribes of Israel. Several things set Joseph apart from his other brothers. For one, he was the son of his father’s old age (Genesis 37:3). Two, he was the first born of his mother Rachel. This is the wife that Jacob wound up working fourteen years for! When Rachel died giving birth to Joseph’s younger brother Benjamin it set Joseph apart even more (Genesis 35:16-20).

                Joseph’s favor began with his father. As the story of Joseph continues we find that favor was with him no matter where he went. When was sold to an Egyptian slave owner he had favor and even when he was falsely accused by the Egyptian’s wife and sent to prison he found favor. The verses below show the favor he had with his father, the favor he had with his Egyptian master, and the favor that he had with the warden of the prison.

                “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a [distinctive] long tunic with sleeves.” (Genesis 37:3 AMP)

“But the Lord was with Joseph, and he [though a slave] was a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” (Genesis 39:2 AMP)

“But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy and loving-kindness and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison.” (Genesis 39:23 AMP)

The favor that began with his father followed him into every situation and circumstance. Joseph was also granted prophetic insight that unfortunately ignited violent opposition from his brothers. When he was seventeen years old he dreamed dreams and began to “cast the vision” before he had time to process it and communicate it out of a right spirit. Though the dreams were true, the implications were too much for his brothers to handle. Both of his dreams prophesied that the day would come when his father and brothers would all stand before him and bow (Genesis 37:7-10).

The reason why Joseph ended up becoming the slave of an Egyptian (and ultimately put in jail) was because his brothers not only rejected him but conspired against him. They threw him into a pit and then sold him to slave traders and told Jacob that he was dead! Sounds pretty terrible right?

I acknowledge that there is a generation in the earth today that carries the mantle of Joseph. They are going to excel in business. They are going to bring enormous amounts of wealth into the kingdom. They will have wisdom beyond their years and operate according to prophetic clarity. They will have enormous amounts of favor and they will be great assets in the hands of God.

However, before all of this is true the Joseph generation will be rejected, kicked out, given the left foot of ministry, declared a “threat,” and told that they are bringing division to the established order of things. They are going to be betrayed by those closest to them, they will find themselves isolated, and in some cases seemingly left without hope. As a matter of fact, some of the very people that preach and prophesy about a coming “Joseph Revolution” are guilty of suppressing and rejecting the “Josephs” that God has sent them.

The mantle of favor and excellence that is upon the Joseph generation is awe-inspiring. However, arising Josephs will find the most immediate and painful opposition from the very spiritual family that they belong to. This should come as no surprise.

The good news is that the day finally came when Joseph was released from prison and brought before the Egyptian Pharaoh. He was presented before Pharaoh in order to decipher Pharaoh’s dreams. After being told the dreams, the Lord revealed to Joseph that there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. After Joseph interpreted the dreams he was made second in the kingdom of Egypt and put in charge of preparations for the coming seven years of famine.

Sure enough the famine came and eventually left Jacob and his household without food. When they realized that they were out of food they sought to purchase some from Egypt (as many other people were doing). In order to do this, they had to go through Joseph. To make a long story short, the day came when Joseph’s dreams were fulfilled. However, when it became understood that God had allowed for everything to happen—unity was reestablished between Joseph and his family. 

“And he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. Moreover, he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers conversed with him.” (Genesis 45:14-15 AMP)

Not only was unity established, but provisions were made that would not have come about any other way. The entire tribe of Israel was permitted to move into the land of Goshen and live on Egypt’s resources for the duration of the famine. Moreover, his whole family received favor from the Egyptian government.

When we are talking about a Joseph generation we are essentially saying that the anointing and mantle that rested upon the historical Joseph is now being placed upon an entire group of people within God’s kingdom. While it is true that this mantle comes with favor, prophetic clarity, an anointing to produce wealth, and an assortment of other benefits and blessings, it also comes with a price and a mandatory period of testing. Many that have a “Joseph mantle” will face rejection, persecution, and opposition. Nonetheless, in the end God will work all things to the good of those that love him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). He will work through the adverse circumstances that His Josephs experience and use them to create provisions for His body that would otherwise not occur. In the end, one of the most powerful ramifications of the Joseph revolution will be the unity that manifests as a result.

Discussion

1.       What do people mean when they make reference to a Joseph generation?

2.       What are the benefits of being part of the Joseph generation?

3.       What are the burdens of being part of the Joseph generation?

4.       Why will the Joseph generation produce unity?

5.       Do you see yourself as part of the Joseph generation?

Easter Exhortation

4/23/11

Greetings,

I hope this letter finds everyone doing wonderfully. Instead of a letter this week, I am simply going to give an exhortation. Jesus suffered the most painful death possible for the sins of me and you. This weekend we keep that in remembrance, along with His resurrection and victory. His death was for all of us. When we reject and mistreat other Christians, we mistreat the very people that Jesus died for. This Easter, as you celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, remember that we are all one in Him. God bless you.

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35)

Vision for 2011

1/1/11

Greetings,

                 I hope everyone is doing well! The BRIDE emails are back and will continue weekly throughout the year of 2011. Those of you that received these letters in the past will recall that the topics of discussion varied significantly from week to week. During the year of 2011, there will be some significant changes. For the duration of this year, every letter will be based around one topic—unity. Although we will address a multitude of aspects, the central theme will be unity. The unity of the body of Christ will change the world.

How can we talk about one topic for an entire year? Below I will make a list of just a few issues directly tied into unity. They are admittedly far-reaching. We will begin our first topic in this letter.

Ø  Unity must be based on a unified effort to establish truth

Ø  Unity will be progressive, it cannot and will not happen overnight

Ø  Unity must happen on purpose

Ø  Unity requires the glory of God

Ø  Unity is the heart of the Father

Ø  Unity reveals the extreme power of God

Ø  Unity is required for societal progression towards sheep nations

Ø  Unity is required for the return of Jesus

Ø  Unity requires all of the spiritual weapons that God has given us in order to be established and perpetuated

Ø  Unity cannot come about before dealing with the heart (subconscious)

Ø  Unity requires that we all accept we do not know everything, and that we all will be laying down preconceived notions at one point or another.

Ø  Unity leads to the manifestation of God’s justice

There is a phenomenon coming that will shake the world to its core. God will ordain sheep nations (Matthew 25:31-33). These will be entire geographies that reveal and herald the kingdom of God to the world. This will come before the end. It will not happen overnight and it must begin with you and me. This destination will require unity. This destination will require justice. This destination will require the power and glory of God to manifest in the midst of His people causing everything that we touch to prosper (Genesis 39:3). The creation and development of sheep nations is the ultimate goal of my life, but the road to be traveled will be hard, painful, and uncomfortable.

For too long now, Christians have looked at the seemingly overwhelming differences in theology, church government, race, culture, political opinions, and other areas. They have buried their heads in the sand and settled. “If we all do our part separately,” they say, “God can still bring about His plan.” We assume that God works this way. We assume that even if we disagree on everything else, as long as a few of the church leaders in a city can pray together—everything will work itself out. We assume that if there are enough people hiding in their prayer closet praying, everything will work itself out even faster.

                Fact: it is not enough to pray. In fact, it is not enough to pray and preach. Action is necessary. For too long, the saints have assumed that if only we can get around to praying, God will move mightily in our nation. This is not true. If we are not praying, all is hopeless. If we do pray, God will unveil His plan. If we receive His plan, we must do so through sacrifice. God will prove us in our sacrifice. Once we have sacrificed, it is time to fight the war according to the power and direction of God. If we refuse to accept defeat, victory will define us as Jesus intended. As it is written:

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

                Consider the story of Gideon, the sixth judge of Israel in the book of Judges. His story provides a great outline of God’s strategy for delivering a nation. Israel rebelled and God allowed them to come under the oppression of the Midianites (Judges 6:1). Prayer rose up when the Israelites cried out to God (Judges 6:6). God responded by unveiling His plan. He sent a prophet to the people (Judges 6:8-10) and an angel to the appointed deliverer (6:12). The plan of God was not received immediately because Gideon protested that the angel was mistaken. Gideon did not perceive himself as the deliverer of Israel. He felt that he was not a warrior or a leader (Judges 6:15). Gideon had to sacrifice his self-perception, and then prove his sacrifice by removing the idols from his father’s house (Judges 6:26). After this it was time to fight the war according to the power and direction of God. This required downsizing an army of 32,000 troops to 300 troops (Judges 7:3, 7). After all of this, Israel looked out upon the opposing armies and saw them numbered as grasshoppers. Fear could still have hijacked God’s plan—but it didn’t. They refused to accept defeat and remained obedient to God’s plan, taking pitchers and trumpets into the enemy camp. Apart from all conventional methods of fighting a war, God gave them the victory (Judges 7:22).

                As we move forward throughout this year, you will understand that God is also giving us a strategy. His strategy is bigger than delivering one nation. His strategy is to create multiple nations that will operate according to heavenly laws and justice. His strategy is to create nations that herald His kingdom to the world. This strategy requires unity. Until we embrace it, we cannot get past the stage of sacrifice.

Discussion

1.)    What are the three goals of the BRIDE e-mails for 2011?

2.)    How does the incomplete list of topics associated with unity speak to you? What do you think they will practically entail? Which are you most curious about?

3.)    Why won’t prayer change everything by itself?

4.)    Who was Gideon?

5.)    What are the parts of a plan for delivering a nation as outlined in Gideon’s story?

6.)    How can this plan be practically implemented in our communities, cities, states, and ultimately in our nation? (Please respond to me regarding this question with novel ideas)