One of the degrees Pt II

So, why pray? If we can't create the divine IOUs that will have God bent to our will, then why bother praying at all?

I asked myself this several times. I didn't like my first couple of answers. They included; "because He said so", "you're supposed to", "why not?", "it's a mystery", and then a few frustrated comments. Yeah, sometimes not so nice to me, especially when I get a bit on the bratty side.

Counted to 10, a couple of times, and sat down to listen.

Why pray?

Prayer is not about changing God, changing God's mind or affecting His sovereign will. Prayer is not about that at all. Prayer is, pure and simple, about affecting US. Individually, corporately, physically, emotionally, spiritually and a few other "ly"s that I haven't gotten my head around yet....that is the bottom line.

Prayer (and worship) is not done out of a need that God has in his great cosmic heart to be filled by affirmations of his creation recognizing that he is God. Prayer (and worship) should be directed to God out of adoration for what he has already done for us and what he has promised to do in our future, even if the world (and its systems, princes and powers) gets in the way....ultimate victor belongs to the creator and at some point in "time", there will come a day when the sky will roll back like a scroll and the rider on the white horse whose name is upon his thigh will appear, and every knee will bow, human, mammal, spirit and demon at his glorious coming and will proclaim him LORD whether they do so of their own will or HIS.

The process of sanctification get best be described of that by which we approach the intended holiness that God would have in us. Prayer (and worship) is about just that. We enter into that two way conversation with God, thanks to his son Jesus, which draws us into deeper and deeper relationship with the Father while Holy Spirit works in and through us affecting the world, and one could say the spiritual atmosphere, around us. That's why we pray. We pray for healing to take place not because God somehow forgot or misplaced a healthy diagnosis for someone.  God knows our needs, knew us when still in the womb. We pray for healing to take place as invitation to Holy Ghost to break into our world, into our lives, to move the princes and powers of this world out of the way so healing will/can occur. That is why we pray.

The purpose of prayer is most clearly demonstrated in the model prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples: Your name be hallowed, Your kingdom come and Your will be done---here on earth as it is already done in heaven. We are asking for God to change us and the world in which we live so that it more perfectly lines up with the heavenly courts and God's plan from the get go. This is about God changing us and we making ourselves available to him for that very purpose.

Pray for peace? Yes. Why? Because through the effective working of pray, this world changes. In part because we make ourselves available to God that we may be transformed and in part because as we, through Adam and Eve, kicked him out of our lives, we  through prayer invite him back in.

I know that God wants to break thru in healing, transforming lives and relationships, setting right that which has gone horribly wrong, setting captives free physically spiritually and emotionally and give away freely love and peace. I know this because I have read time and time again in his word that this is his desire. Prayer, done out of a heart founded and grounded in latria, may be that move which opens the door further to the transformation of our own lives and the lives of those around us.

One of the one degrees off

For many months now, maybe even years, I have been contemplating worship and what it means and how it is that we enter into it and other such issues in and around it. Through studies, we've been taking a look at different forms of worship, liturgies, symbolisms and "when we do this, we mean this." In the context of this, the following has come to me through meditations the morning of 05/08/12:

Hebrews 12:28,29 "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."

Why worship? Out of being grateful for what we have received--a kingdom (Romans 8:14-17). We are all heirs to this kingdom, all who have accepted life in Christ Jesus. Out of this knowledge should flow gratitude towards the Giver, God himself, for this great gift. In the spirit of this gratitude we should see the foundations for true genuine worship. Not out of a desire for power, control or manipulation of God to bend his will to ours so that we can receive what we believe he owes us. Not in the least. Instead, it should be out of the knowledge that we have received a gift beyond compare that we could never earn, but is given because of grace and mercy being the very character of God.

At the heart of the matter in remaining less than a degree off from true worship, which should be our goals, we need and must, and I do mean must, understand the difference in terms of two separate attitudes of worship. These two are represented by two distinct words (not from English, but from Hindu and Greek). The first, taken from Hindu, is puja. It means basically to "do service". The other, from Greek, is latria. This word means to "give worship". Why understand the two? Simple, in the context of Christian faith, they tend to intertwine and thus confuse what it is we are doing and why, especially as perceived by the outside world. Given this, we must be very careful, because they are not, not, not, oh, and they are NOT, the same thing. Yet, if we don't distinguish between them, we run the risk of the appearance of sin because of the attitude that underlies each.

In greater depth:
In Hindu, puja basically refers to what it is that a believer does in order to get the god they are worshiping to do what they want that god to do. For example, if one were to need a financial blessing, they would go to a temple and seek out the idol of Lakshmi and, if I recall correctly, pour milk over the idol as well as some other offerings and, given that you are doing this correctly, the god is supposed to then bless you. Puja allows a person to say to the god, "You owe me, I did this, now you have to bless me, I earned it". Luther took exception to this himself. When his eyes opened and he saw what Paul was writing about (saved by grace through faith and not of works, lest any man boast) he came to understand that there was nothing that man could do of his own to make God do something for him because that flies in the face of what grace means. Thus, no matter how many times you have prayed the Rosary, you have not earned any additional special favor with God for blessings of your finances or what have you. Prayer, in the Christian context, should never be puja, although many approach it that way. I have heard it said that, so and so cooked the best brownies and surely God would let them into heaven for being such a good person. That is a puja approach to worship.

Latria, on the other hand, is an attitude of doing works not out of expectations of earning points with God or creating some divine IOU. Instead, as James points out, the "works" are done as an expression of gratitude to God for what he has already done for us. It is the process of giving back to God what he deserves, recognizing that we could never fully balance the scales. So, going back to the god of fortune from above, instead of feeling the need to have that god provide monetary blessings and so go pour milk over the god's idol, the offering of milk is poured out as an offering in thanksgiving for what milk that god already provided. The Rosary is not prayed and meditated upon in order to create a divine IOU. Instead, it is prayed and meditated upon in order to soak our own hearts and minds in God, the life of Jesus, to move the other worldly powers (those not of God) out of the way by inviting God here and now, our meager part in fulfilling the Lord's Prayer--thy kingdom come on earth as it is already in heaven.

One degree off takes a person out of the comfort and safety of the honest relationship between God and his creation and places the person into a position whereby even though the god is allegedly god, they are bound now by what the believer does. This places the worshiper as superior to that being "worshiped" and worship is thus reduced to manipulation.

Are there occasions in Scripture whereby someone seems to get in God's face and God "changes his mind"? Yes, there are......on the surface. Underneath, that is not what takes place. What takes place is that a person is willing to put their self in the way of harming, making the sacrifice. This assuages what price something might cost. The ultimate representation of this is Jesus on the Cross. One unique point in time when all of God's wrath (that of God which must have recompense for sin) was absorbed in one sacrifice for all sin that was, is and will be committed so that any who would accept that sacrifice and the authority associated with it may experience God's grace and mercy.

Even with this example, however, I have to be mindful that God is God, period, end of argument. I can pray for all kinds of things, but the truth is, God gives as he wills. It is a mystery that my feeble mind cannot even come close to wrapping around.

When will the kingdom come? I do not know. But this I do, if we want the kingdom, we have to remember that we can never earn it. Puja will not bring it. There is no magic formula of the number of Our Fathers or celebrations of the Eucharistic prayers Latin or anything that I can do that will bring me God's favor.

I already have it.

That is His choice. I have to choose to accept it, by accepting the work of his Son on the cross, his lordship in my life and accepting the working of Holy Ghost within me towards sanctification.

The moment I think I can manipulate God by the way I sing to him or pray to him or walk on my knees or to him, is the moment I have step a degree off which takes me out of the plumb line shown to Amos......one degree off.

Latest Sense of "It"

Many different folks have been sensing many different things that may, at the surface, appear to not jive or fit even remotely together....like large pieces of two different jigsaw puzzles that are being mashed together. This is the time for exactly that to happen.


Two weeks ago now, I started to hear in the spirit, one degree off.  I kept asking what this meant and what God would like for us to do with this. Nothing came at first. Only after I finally stopped asking did I get a clearer sense of this. In one particular case, I was shown a vision of a vapor type serpent that was "piggy backing" on a ministry as a means of entry. I was told that what was going on was they were being influenced in theology and doctrine to be "one degree off" from Scripture, early church fathers, and what I refer to as holy tradition...those traditions that, yea, they appear religious, are designed to point in the direction of God, not limit him within the context of the tradition. (Maybe some time later down the road, we'll take a run at that in a more clear sense).


This one degree off appears nominal at first. In fact and truth, it is barely perceptible at the onset. It is only when moving along from the point of the misdirect and getting further out do we come to recognize that we have strayed from that which we were directed to. As soon as it is recognized, we must issue a course correction to come back in line. 


As I said, I was shown this for one particular grouping of believers. However, it is not for them alone. As I meditated further over the past couple of weeks, I keep being brought back to this same sense. In reading some of what others have sensed, including a man by the name of Mark Mallett, this falls in line with what others are sensing....time is short, the enemy is on the move and a need is developing more and more for those of us to believe to enter into belief and worship with each other. 


How do we keep then safely moving forward? Do we sit with hands under our thighs and feet in cement waiting for God to show up in a burning bush so that we now have permission to act? 


My sense of it is "No". We shouldn't. We were not given a spirit of fear with which to turn us back. We were given a spirit of adoption. In this sense, as sons and daughters, we are to walk by faith. This will mean taking steps that may be a degree off. In true sensitivity to the Lord, however, we also must then be listening as we move. Acting in discernment, testing the spirit and seeking counsel from others as we move. When the word comes that we are a degree off, make the correction, but do not over correct. A degree off to the right is no better nor worse than a degree off to the left. Fear and trembling? Yes, but not the same paralyzing fear or trembling that will cause us to act. Only through testing is the will of God revealed (Romans 12:2). 


Finally, I am also brought back to Isaiah. Through the prophet we are told that when we stray to the left or to the right, we will hear a voice from behind telling us, "This is the way, walk in it". (Isa 30:21). Listen for that still small voice and be made aware, one degree off at the beginning of the journey will lead to be utterly lost and confounded many months down the road. Listen early, correct quickly and do not fall into the trap that is being set.

Little Man

My little man spoke with me today

Told me how he was hurting and tired speaking of feeling ignored and rejected

Yet I reached out my heart to stretch in hope of bonds of brotherly affection with others who had drawn my attention

Then in my knower I see little man’s tear born out of hurting falling on sand absorbed and forgotten like me says he

Again I reached this time will be different a hope of acceptance to quell the strife and draw out peace

A meek tug on my pocket asking for grace a respite a moment a smile a chance

Yet again I turn straining forth from deep within my own strength seeking reconciliation

Until the heart like the rubber band near snaps the little man a heap of tears

Asking that I not let him go as those before

Call an end to yearning and striving for that slapped away

No need little man for you to be still hurting lost or rejected

Your wisdom wiser than mine ever could be

To you I will sit and listen go ahead and teach me

The true bonds of affection and unity and this way the gift of peace I receive

Math or Life?

We were in the midst of our Wednesday night bible study when the call came in. My daughter, who just found out that she and our son-in-law were expecting their first child, was suffering in a lot of pain and was scared. We went to a local hospital into the emergency room. After a few hours, I went into the room to check on her. The initial news; the child is in the fallopian tube. My daughter was scared, crying, overwhelmed with what the doctor had been saying and in absolute need of grace and support. Her husband wasn't in much better shape. I knelt in prayer, they joined, and we sought God and asked for His counsel. The choice; attempt to allow the child to continue to grow and risk both or have the child's life ended and save mom's life.

We are not pro abortion. We are pro-life. We believe that life begins in the womb and that is a human child that is developing. We believe that life is a gift from God, it is a sacred gift. The taking of that life is never the preferred option.

This is not a letter, I repeat, not a letter, in which I am advocating for or suggesting that abortion be made illegal. The legality of abortion does not approach the heart of pro-life. Many drugs are illegal and that doesn't stop their use, sale or curb the degree to which the disease of addiction assaults mankind. Pornography on the other hand is legal and is one of the fastest growing addictions in our country. This is not about legality.

Nor should it be about mathematics.

As I sat with the kids as both pastor and dad/father-in-law, we talked about options, about the fact that we don't have all the facts yet and how scared of surgery my daughter is. We also spent time laughing about her fear of needles given her tattoo collection.

The issue to which this letter is addressed begins when the doctor comes in and we began asking a number of questions. The doctor tells us that the child is "not viable". We talk about my daughter getting admitted for the night to meet with the OBGYN in the morning. Then, here comes the heart of the matter, the doctor advises us that "the pregnancy needs to be 'resolved' soon." Resolved? Are you kidding me? This is a child, a human who is growing within a young woman. This is not a "solve for y" question.

Doctors, please, we who are Christians see these children as children. We don't have to physically see the child in our arms before we know that it is a child. This is called "faith". As you go through your cultural sensitivity training, please add in some Christian sensitivity training. Learn to understand that this is a life. We are making a choice between lives. In the end, we will have to go through a grieving process. The child already has a nickname. We will have a funeral, as Christians do. The family will have to travel through the stages of grief and healing. The funeral will be an integral part of our healing process. It is one of the many means by which we will express our grief over the loss of this little one. We will then continue to pray, seeking God's will in our lives and turn our face toward the future in hopes that they, my children, will be blessed with the gift of children themselves.

As you are putting your turkey into the oven this morning, please know that a young woman is facing the loss of her child. Please give thanks to God in the midst of this for her life and the life of her child even if it is a short life. We will. After all, I believe the bible is God's word. In it, He writes to us that we are to give thanks in all circumstances. So, we are giving Him thanks this morning. As I write this, I am still in prayer that God will spare both.

As I went to edit this sitting in the surgery waiting room, we received the news. It is not a tubal pregnancy. What the doctor saw on the ultrasound was a cyst. The baby is fine! God, we thank You.

The Reverend Frank R Lockwood 2^nd

Armageddon Study

Bible Study:

What about Armageddon

 

Read Luke 17:23-36

 

V23; "Look, here…."

 

The warning is to be careful about not following the finger pointing or the charismatic move in the moment...don't chase the miracles

 

V24; "Son of man" moving like lightning—the false prophets

 

V26-30; Like Noah, Like Sodom—there won't necessarily be any direct warning—we are instructed to remain watchful and ready but at the same time to go about our day to day

 

V31-36; "Rapture" according to some—according to majority of biblical scholars it refers to the final judgment, the separation of the righteous from the condemned

 

"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." ESV Mk 13:32

 

What hour?

Read verse 31

Which summarizes verses 14 to 27 of Mark

 

So, what can be said about the Revelation given to John?

 

Facts:

• No one knows the actual time frame that is put forth in Revelation: some events have corresponding historic events during the writing of Revelation, yet appear to have further fulfillment yet to come Rev 12:1-6
  
• Prophecy is rarely given in chronological order that correlates to "calendar time"
  
• The symbolism is provided as symbolism in order to allow the prophetic fulfillment as God chooses
  
• One of Jesus' greatest teachings regarding the kingdom of God was to quit the preconceived notions of what it has to look like when it comes so you don't miss it
  
• The prophecies are provided to encourage the believer who is watchful that "time is drawing near" (in other words don't give up)
  
• There are three levels of prophecy
  

1. Describing what happened in the spiritual
   
2. Describing what is happening in the physical
   
3. Describing what will happen in either the physical or spiritual
   

Revelation speaks using all 3

• To gain any depth or insight into it, one must pull back out of the physical and see through God's kingdom perspective, as in having the mind of Christ and seeing through Holy Spirit
  
• If someone calculates the date of Armageddon, that is probably the day it won't happen
  
• In the Eternal of God's time:
  
  • The beast has already come and is still to come
    
  • Hell exists now but has not yet been formed
    
• Etc.

Born Again; a bible study

Bible Study: Being Born Again

 

Read John 3:1-8

 

What does Jesus it is necessary to be born again in order to see?

 

What does being born again mean to you?

 

How do you know you are?

 

Read Ezekiel 36:25-27

 

How does this compare to the above passage?

 

 

Read Galatians 5:19-25

 

What are the "works" of the flesh and what is the fruit of the Spirit?

 

Why works versus fruit? What do you think the difference is?

 

What do you see more of in your life today?

 

How about ten years ago? What differs from them to now?

 

 

 

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

 

Read John 3:1-8

 

What does Jesus it is necessary to be born again in order to see?

 

What does being born again mean to you?

 

How do you know you are?

 

Read Ezekiel 36:25-27

 

How does this compare to the above passage?

 

 

Read Galatians 5:19-25

 

What are the "works" of the flesh and what is the fruit of the Spirit?

 

Why works versus fruit? What do you think the difference is?

 

What do you see more of in your life today?

 

How about ten years ago? What differs from them to now?

 

 

 

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17