April 20, 2008
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The Masculine Transition Into the Kingdom A story - Yesterday I attended a city-wide conference on healing. As a pastor is was a thrill to see healing coupled with the prophetic to produce real results that doctors could verify. I'm very positive about these kinds of ministries even though most of it is directed at Christians already in churches. A safe training ground is provided for believers to learn how to heal the sick. It's very practical, it produces results, and the message is simple: everyone can pray for healing and get results. Since I hadn't been in that circle for a while, I was reminded of the feminine emphasis. Most of the prophetic words or visions came from women. In the 1940's our city was essentially converted to a military construction site where nine nuclear reactors and 3 reprocessing plants were built to produce the weapons material used on Hiroshima. We repented for that activity and the loss of life in Japan and asked the Lord to heal the wounds between the nations and cities. I wouldn't haven given it a second thought expect that we've been repenting in every public gathering for about 20 years now. It's like a broken record that is starting to grate on my spirit. I wondered why we shouldn't also apologize for what Gideon and Samson and David did to the Philistines... What about telling the Pharisees we're sorry for tipping the tables over in the temple? Men and women in our city married physics and and engineering to produce a miraculous triumph in construction progress that has never been duplicated. In my heart I celebrate their courage and dedication. Their generation had the resolve to end a war they never wanted. Our local heritage is one of mighty men of great courage and tenacity doing great exploits. Growing up - Sue and I raised four children and now we're up to four grandchildren. When the kids were little they found much of their nurturing and love from Sue. When they got old enough for try their wings outside the house they started to look to dad more as their role model. On a larger scale the church is a nurturing haven to grown new disciples. Women are often better at the classes and counseling that go into patiently maturing young believers. Much has been written in opposition to the feminization of the church and Christianity. I think we may be a little out of balance, but in general I think it's OK that the church be nurturing and safe. Theology - What's been missing is an equal emphasis on the Kingdom. We've focused on growing the church to a degree that we have simply multiplied her feminine characteristics to all of our understanding of Christianity. When we add marketplace ministry outside the church in the Kingdom, we move people from "mother Church" to "Father God." We're ready to move out of the incubator and into the adventure and warfare of our destiny in the Kingdom. The maturity process goes through tutors and governors as a servant in the incubator... we just don't stay their forever.
What it looks like (Initiative) - In 1 Samuel 14 there is a story about Jonathan attacking the Philistines. Notice that he didn't get his father's permission even though he was in military role; he violated the chain of command!
He's relating directly to Father God. He's not waiting for someone else's direction or permission. That's the first sign of spiritual maturity; You can hear God for yourself. In fact that's the goal of all the "equipping" we do in the church. Let your spirit hear this: "You're ready to go when you don't have to be sent." The second aspect of Jonathan's initiative is that other's are willing to follow it with you. It's a great confirmation.
The Fruit - Many face a stalemate with an enemy that would like to mock us. Those stalemates are broken by a remarkable level of initiative that is willing to step into the Kingdom and embrace the adventure, the risk, and the faith of God's mighty men. You and I have the power and the mandate to defeat resistance. The question is, "Have we given ourselves permission to step into Jonathan's level of initiative?" Father God is inviting men and women to be the Deborah's and the David's of our day. Love, John & Sue (are dancing - Join us) ... with Linda You're invited into the vision to release Kings; communicate the message, make the money, and do the mission.
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