Report from USAA - Day 2, Session 1 - Lance Wallnau

The morning session on Day 2 of the USAA Conference opened with worship, again led by Jeremy Burk. It was a deep, intimate worship where the line that seemed to be the theme was “This is no ordinary love.” There was also a period of time spent in crying out through song and other ways for God to extend mercy on this nation.

Lance Wallnau was the first speaker. He started by referencing the comments that had been made about Lincoln last night. He pointed out that Lincoln was not a strong revivalist when he was elected. He was shaped by the crucible in which he found himself. The situation within the nation drove him to prayer. Four months after the National Day of Prayer & Humiliation, the tipping point came in the war at Gettysburg.

Lance then moved into his message for the morning, which, of course, focused on the seven mountains or the …

7 Mind Molders

[Note: If you have ever heard Lance Wallnau speak, you know that trying to take notes is a challenge. He talks faster than Bill Hamon and while he does sometimes repeat his point, he never states it the same way twice. What follows are the notes I took from this morning, supplemented with points from previous messages I have heard from him along with some of my own thoughts or insights. Long sections of my “add ins” are in brackets, but shorter additions are simply woven in with the point. It’s my blog – I get to write it the way I want. :-)]

Lance first pointed out that Satan’s only power is deception. [This was a truth that God revealed to me many years ago and then substantiated for me in scripture. It is his only weapon. Yet he is good enough at it. So good, in fact, that he will deceive “the whole world.” (Rev 12:9)] Satan uses mind control to deceive.

Luke 4 tells us the elements to be mastered in each of our lives. Luke 4:5-6 talks about the kingdoms (plural) of the world and the domain in which they reside and their glory. Satan says he can give them to whomever he wills, which is apparently true since Jesus does not dispute his claim. At that point, Satan had dominion over all the kingdoms of this world – ruled the domain in which all these kingdoms reside. Jesus did not dispute his claims nor did He accept his offer. Jesus knew that he would receive the nations of the earth as his inheritance – legitimately.

While Jesus purchased back the legal right to these, most are still under the control of Satan and “whomever he wills.” Jesus is still intent on reclaiming (possessing) all of those kingdoms. Neither God nor Satan can move beyond the agreement of men. Satan cannot; God will not. How far either kingdom is advanced depends on the response of people. Jesus can not repossess that inheritance without us cooperating with Him to do so.

We need to understand that nations are part of God’s strategy. Satan seeks to suppress nations. God wants to liberate nations. The Holy Nation (God’s people) must get liberated first! Only then can we begin to liberate the other nations or kingdoms.

Kingdoms: Nations and spheres within nations (e.g. economic, political etc.)
Power: A remnant of people who dominate the spheres.
Glory: A liberation of the Church to show forth His glory. When the Church matures into fullness, God releases the fullness of the glory.

The Church has a kingdom to proclaim, but the kingdom is larger than the Church.

Kings (those who currently control each of these mountains) need to either be converted or replaced. We need to begin believing that.

We must restore the Church mountain to receive the Honor of the bride; the Family to Strength; the Education system to Wisdom; the Government to Power; the Media to Blessing; Arts & Entertainment to Glory; and Business to Riches (Wealth). Then the Lamb will receive “power and riches and wisdom and might [strength] and honor and glory and blessing.” (Rev 5:12)

The Church must transition to become an equipper for people to go out and possess their mountain. Someone will be at the top of each mountain – either a sheep or goat. If the sheep do not take it, the goats will! Israel was warned that if they did not “drive out the inhabitants of the land” then those whom they left there would “become as pricks in [their] eyes and as thorns in [their] sides, and they [would] trouble [them] in the land in which [they lived].” (Num 33:55) Further, Isaiah 2:2 tells us that the House of God is at the top (or chief) of the mountains.

Each sphere is sovereign. The church is not intended to rule over the other mountains, just as they are not intended to rule over the church (religion mountain). Each has its role – its responsibility and authority. The religion mountain is intended to affect each of the others by training people who are on each of those mountains in the ways of the kingdom. Those kingdom people then instill kingdom values and kingdom principles in each of their spheres of influence. In order to have sovereignty in a sphere, we need to raise up those with sphere authority in that mountain.

One signature of the kingdom is that it removes demonic structures from the house. When the kingdom of God shows up, the demons have to go. Kingdom people should be bringing freedom (deliverance) everywhere we go.

You have sphere penetration when you receive favor from someone with sphere authority. For example, David accomplished sphere penetration when he received favor from Saul. [Realize that favor can be a temporary thing!]

The secret to gaining favor is realizing that you are there to solve a problem. You first look to solve the problem. Only after you have successfully solved their problem do you earn their trust to be able to save their soul.

[Today there are LOTS of voices pointing out the problems in our nation or society – not only here in America, but in other nations as well. I believe we MUST get this point. We need to be reaching out to the non-believing world with answers to the problems being experienced on the various mountains – not just a finger pointing at all the things that are wrong. We need to become the solution people, not just the critics.]

You can move from a place of obscurity to a place of sphere preeminence in a moment, if you have had proper preparation – even if that preparation is with “just a few sheep.” (See 1 Sam 17:28 where Eliab rebukes David for inquiring about the challenge from Goliath asking him “And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?”)

When David went out to meet Goliath, he knew he had to deal with “the head issue.” He hit Goliath in the forehead and knocked him out. He then cut his head off. He could have done any number of things. Once he was knocked out, he could have run the sword through his heart or bowels. But he dealt with “the head issue.” When David did that, it also broke the mind control off the Israelites, and they ran out to route the rest of the enemy camp.

We need to understand that favor is often just part 1 of the message. Part 2 of the message can be backlash. The biggest backlash will come from the religious spirit of those who are threatened by what you have done. David felt the backlash! Saul would one minute love him and the next try to pin him to the wall with a spear. [Usually it is the very ones that we use our gifts and abilities to help (often at their request) that then turn on us the worst. When they are “in their right minds” (not under the mind control of deception), like Saul with David, they will admit we have only done good towards them and ask forgiveness. But, when the mind control settles back upon them, we are once again having to duck to dodge the spear. We have to realize that they are acting out of their insecurity. Instead of viewing the gifts or abilities that we have as an asset to complement theirs, we become viewed as a threat because we were able to do something that they could not. This situation is often worsened if those around the situation compliment (or praise) what we have done to the insecure leader. “Saul has slain his thousands, but David has slain his tens of thousands.” We have now, unknowingly, become a threat to the security of “their” kingdom. This is especially sad in that we were sent there by God to help “secure” the kingdom for them!]

When we experience sphere overlap we get to what the military terms forced multiplication. An example of this would be when the “kings” or sphere elites from the business realm finance the use of the media to promote a particular political agenda. Here we have three spheres working together to accomplish a goal, resulting in a synergistic multiplication of efforts. The world understands this. Islam understands this. In Islam, a successful businessman is expected to fund a mosque or a training center or something of that sort. If a Christian businessman tries to do the same, he is viewed with suspicion. Likewise, Islam constantly mixes religion and government. If a Christian runs for office, they are critiqued on their religious views rather than on their knowledge and capabilities for the office for which they are running.

We need to begin to raise up a generation that will move into these mountains in a stealth mode – under the radar. We need Remnant Elites in each of the mountains.

When we begin to have emerging democracies (such as in the Soviet Union and the countries that had been part of the Soviet block or in some of the emerging African nations), we did not address the corruption that was present at the top of the government and the top of the financial sector. Failure to deal with these “ites” caused the failure of the fledgling democracies. Further, the message of salvation that we have brought to these nations, has impacted them adversely. For example, in Africa, we have a growing disparity between the rich and the poor. That is because of our doctrines of benevolence of caring for the poor rather than stamping out systemic poverty.

So, what do we need to do? We need to identify the current elites at the top of each sphere. Wallnau suggests identifying the top five (5) in each sphere. We need to be praying for them. If they are not believers, we need to pray for their conversation and the conversion of their households (spouse, children, and those under their sphere of influence). We need to pray them into the kingdom or at least to a place of working with kingdom principles or pray them out of position. We also need to identify and be praying for the emerging elites.

We need to understand and employ the concept of micro-churches. These are groups that are formed for a particular assignment. It is through these that we will mobilize the kingdom elites. An example of this is the Clapham group that was formed by John Thornton and led by William Wilberforce in the late 1700s / early 1800s. This group changed not only England but the world. They had sphere elites from all seven mountains and knew how to link forces to get the force multiplication factor working for them to blitz the people with information and education to bring about a change in thought on a matter. They not only ended slave trade, but slavery itself in Great Britain and then in other nations. They even influenced many in America, including Pres. John Q. Adams.

We are beginning to see the emergence of “cross-functional apostles.” These are apostles who can work with those in the other spheres. Not all apostles have been able to do that. These apostles can activate saints to go and possess their inheritance in the other mountains.

We have to learn how to apply kingdom principles in a covert way. Once there is acceptance and buy-in to the principles, then (and only then) can we deal with the souls. Solve their problem. Gain their trust. Then they are willing to hear what you have to say about your God.

Report from USAA - Day 1 - Robert Henderson & Dutch Sheets

Tonight was the first session of this year's United States Apostolic Alliance (USAA) National Conference in Colorado Springs. For those not familiar is the USAA, check out the link. They summarize their vision and mission in the following statement: "Awakening in Our Day - Reformation in Our Lifetime." Hence, the conference is focused on hearing the strategies of God to bring these things to pass.

The meeting was kicked off with an extended period of worship that was some of the best I have been in for a while. Once worship leader Jeremy Burk "found the vein," he stayed in it and the press into the heavenlies was awesome as we continued to cry out Holy, Holy to the Lord.

Robert Henderson - Lessons from the Potter's House

Robert Henderson followed that with a brief teaching from Jeremiah 18:1-4.

"1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 2 'Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.' 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make."

His primary point was that God will bring reformation through vessels that have been marred, but allowed God to "make them again" into another vessel, as seems best to Him. He pointed out that the vessel was not marred due to a lack of skill of the potter, but rather due to the deficiencies (impurities) within the clay. Still, the potter did not discard the clay; rather he reshaped it into a different vessel that was still useful and could fulfill its purpose. He then shared four (4) points to answer the question, "How does God use marred vessels to bring Reformation?"

1. We must realize where we came from - that we each have our areas of deficiencies (imperfections).


2. We must understand that the Potter (God) can take the good that is in the clay (us) and re-form us into something of use and value.


3. We must get positioned to hear from God. Jeremiah had to go to the potter's house. Once there, God, Himself, "caused" Jeremiah to hear His words. If we are not in the appropriate place, we will not be able to hear God speak.


4. We must become instantly obedient. (See verses 7 & 9 where God says, "The instant I speak.") We can not hesitate or "continue to pray" over a matter once God has spoken. We must learn to act immediately, when God says to do so.

Dutch Sheets - Time for Action

After a few opening remarks, Dutch Sheets brought the message for the evening. I will digress to share some of his opening remarks.

Two statements that particularly caught my attention were: "You can be left-brained and be prophetic. You can teach and be prophetic." Those who know me well, will know why I am delighted that others are finally figuring that out!

He stated very clearly that it is time that we, the Body of Christ, put the grief (including the hope deferred and the disbelief) of this past election behind us.

He expressed the fact that he could, genuinely rejoice for the healing that had been brought to many African-Americans by having an African-American elected as our President. Unfortunately, it was not one that shares our values and beliefs. (Those are my words, not a direct quote.)

Nonetheless, "It's time to put the past behind and focus on the moving forward." He shared a dream (or vision) that one of the state leaders had recently that involved someone trying to drive a car while looking constantly in the rear-view mirror. You cannot steer where you need to go when you are totally focused on where you have been. It's time to get our focus back on the road ahead of us. With that directive, he began to do that.

Cindy Jacobs had called him today with a word for the meeting for tonight. She had been reading in a book by Derek Prince and had come across his reference to Pres. Abraham Lincoln's having appointed a National Fast Day. Dutch read us the following:

"Senator James Harlan of Iowa, whose daughter later married President Lincoln's son Robert, introduced this Resolution in the Senate on March 2, 1863. The Resolution asked President Lincoln to proclaim a national day of prayer and fasting. The Resolution was adopted on March 3, and signed by Lincoln on March 30, one month before the fast day was observed."

The USAA conference started on March 30. According to the word of the Lord through Cindy, the USAA conference had been delayed (it was originally planned for a different week) in order for it be held on March 30 - and that Dutch was to decree the beginning of healing in this nation.

Lincoln's proclamation (as written by the Senate) is too long to quote fully here, but take the time to read the entire statement. You will see that other than not being in the middle of the Civil War, it is equally applicable to this nation today. The proclamation was a call to "set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation" because of the condition of the nation. In part, it states,

"And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord. ...

"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

"It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."

By signing this proclamation, Pres. Lincoln did "designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. "

As an apostle to this nation, Dutch has called for "a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer" this April 30. (Interestingly, April 30 of this year is also a Thursday.) I, personally, urge all who want to see reformation come to this nation as well as to the Church to join in on this day of prayer and fasting. We realize that it is just a few days before the National Day of Prayer - but this is a matter of God's timing, not man's. And, following what Robert Henderson taught earlier in the evening, when we hear God, we must obey.

From that point, Dutch said God had pointed him back to the prophetic words given at the "Starting The Year Off Right" conference (held each Jan 1-3 in Denton, TX) after his message there. In that message, God had given him "the first half" and told him to preach "the first half" and then call certain of the prophets to then prophesy "the second half." As he looked back over a transcribed copy of those words, God told him to re-read them tonight and then have certain people pray into each of those words, which he did. Each of the words to too lengthy to even begin to take it all down. Following are the titles he gave to each one and a brief recap of the word and the key point that was prayed over it tonight. [Note: The recaps are from the notes I took. They may not be totally accurate to the original wording.]

1) The Jacob Generation & the Josiah Reformers - We have been a generation of supplanters, deceivers, who did not deal rightly with one another. God is raising up Josiah reformers. The children will be a hidden weapon in this nation. Revival is coming to the children. Though we have not believed it, God is saying, "I am coming to visit your schools. I am coming." These reformers will tear down the altar of humanism. God is going to visit the 8-year-olds (which was Josiah's age when he became king). "The sign is flashing in the heavens for a time of visitation." [Note: The word used for "visitation" in the New Testament is the same word translated as "bishop" and means "to watch over, look after, cover or oversee."] The prayer centered around release for the children to come forth and begin to understand their role and take their stand for righteousness.

2) The David Generation & the Kingdom Generation - Many have been in hiding, as David hid in the cave of Adullam. These are those that religion does not know what to do with them; those that tradition does not know what to do with them. God said, "I will bring them forth for they hae a vision of My kingdom." They were willing to stay hidden in the cave until God brought them forth. God is saying to them, "Arise knowing that you were born for such a time as this." God said, "By the 8th month, the 12th day, I will bring a change" that the government and political system cannot stop. "Get ready. I am releasing your marching orders." Some key issues from the prayer was repentance for putting the kids in "the back of the church" (children's church) instead of training them in worship and ministry and a call for the Esthers to link up with the Mordacais to work together across the generations to bring about the reform. The word was that this was to be a three-generational movement.

3) The Melchizedek Spirit & Kingdom Warriors - It is a day to engage in the battle. That which is to be birthed requires intercession equally as intense. Angels of the Most High God are dismantling governing structures of the enemy. These warriors will be "fearless in the face of the mockery of the enemy's camp." The giant that has ruled this nation will fall. The enemy will free the sound of faith, the sound of righteousness, and the sound of the Word of the Lord. "I see fire on the east coast. I see fire on the west coast. I see floods in the [middle of the country]." The Lord says, "America, you have not completed your destiny." The prayer centered around calling for the release of these kingdom warriors and for them to arise and fight for their nation, their city, and the Church.

4) The "Covenanteers" - Sharon Stone indicated she kept wanting to use the word "reformer" and God was saying "Covenanteers" - those who were in covenant. "A fresh covenant is released when it is a day that people understand defining choices." There will be a release based on craving the presence of God. He will cause a "hero's spirit" to rise up in those who crave His presence. There will be a release of a promise to bring forth a national destiny that is not yet fulfilled. "By the 9th month, the 12th day a new cycle will begin." God's presence and His glory will be seen not just in the "churches" but on the streets. There will be "risks [taken] that will produce proactivity of destiny rather than only a vision of destiny." There will be "suddenlies" that will be signs and wonders in the land. "I have some strategies to initiate reform that accelerates you engaging your community and sphere." The prayer proclaimed an announcement to the Body of Christ to "come out of the pain of personal lose and pursue to overtake and recover all" as David did at Ziklag. A shifting was decreed, for strategies from heaven that would shift and move a nation. The "covenanteers" are the ones carrying the covenant - just as the priests bore the ark of the covenant on their shoulders. We, the covenanteers, must step out into the Jordan, even though it is at flood stage (and doesn't look like a good time to cross) and watch God perform the miracle to lead a nation across and into the promise.

WOW ... and this was just the first service!

A Season of Change

We here in the U.S. know how the mantra of “Change” resonated with the masses, even if they didn’t know what was going to change or how. On the other side of the ballot was a pair who labeled themselves as “reformers.” That message also resonated with their supporters.

Why?

Why is it that people who normally prefer the “don’t rock the boat” philosophy suddenly embrace the idea of turning it over and forcing everyone to “get involved” in the process – swim or sink!

Why? Because we have entered a season of change.

Like it or not; embrace it or fight it; things are changing.

What is changing?

In the U.S., the first answer is “the Administration.” Technically, it is the executive branch of our national government – the president and his cabinet. (There is also some change within our legislative branch – the Congress.) The fact that this is changing is not new. It happens at least every eight years, and, potentially, every four. This time, however, there is the “feel” of a much more drastic shift than we have previously experienced.

The current changes in the economy is not restricted to the U.S. It is much more widespread. While the U.S. is going through everything from the housing crisis to the potential meltdown of the “Big Three” automobile manufacturers, both Europe and Asia are experiencing their own economic challenges.

Other major cultural shifts are also occurring in both the U.S. and other western countries. The vocal minority is managing to exert the political influence needed to cause laws to change to empower behavior and agendas with which the majority do not agree. This runs the gambit from the legalization of same-sex marriage in various states in the U.S. to the legalization of the execution of Islamic Sharia law in parts of the United Kingdom.

I could spend pages enumerating the issues that are having negative impact on our societies and seem to be moving us further and further from godliness and righteous rule. For those with a theological view that things will continue to get worse and worse until God finally snatches us out of here to save us, it might seem that the end is near. I’m hearing more and more people say, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!” It seems as though they are simply waiting to leave – and hoping it won’t be too much longer.

Not me. I know that (among other things) Christ is held in the heavenlies until His enemies are made his footstool (Hebrews 1:13) and until “times of restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21). Since neither of those things have yet happened, He cannot yet return. So, instead of retreating and waiting on the evacuation, I’m sharpening my sword.

Those of us with a different understanding of scripture also have a different view of the current situation. Rather than being ready “to throw in the towel” or to hunker down to “hold the fort” while we wait for God’s emergency airlift to evacuate His people from the planet, we’re sharpening our swords and trying to “strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Hebrews 12:12). We know that while “the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people” that “the LORD will arise over [us], and His glory will be seen upon [us].” (Isaiah 60:2)

Change is not just coming to the secular world.

Change is also coming to the Church.

God is restoring the revelation of the true message of what the Kingdom of God is about. As we begin to understand, embrace, and walk out that message, we know that we will begin to take back the territory we have allowed the enemy to take. We know that the gates of hell shall not prevail against us. (Matthew 16:18) We know that gates don’t move (or at least not easily!); they are stationary. We have come to understand this passage means we storm those gates and take the territory that the enemy thought was protected behind them. It is time we go on the offensive and invade his territory to reclaim it for the Kingdom of God. How else will we ever reach the “times of restoration of all things”?

What territory do we need to recover for the Kingdom?

First, we need to retake any real estate the enemy still holds within the soil of our own heart or mind.

Then we need to pull down any strongholds he has built within our families, in the lives of those we love or with whom we have covenant relationships.

Then the territory under enemy control in our businesses, places of work, neighborhoods, stores or restaurants we frequent or anywhere “[our] foot shall tread” (Joshua 1:3) must be recovered.

Finally, we need to reclaim those areas within our governments – at all levels including city, county, state and national governments – that are not functioning under principles of the Kingdom of God.

How?

There is much teaching and training to be be done here. Let me boil it down into a very brief summary for you to think upon.

We must understand what it means to be “kings and priests” – and start functioning in both roles here and now in this present age. If we are going to impact our world, we must do as Hebrews 6:5 tells us. We must taste “the good word of God and the powers of the age to come.”

We need to be able to access heaven to see the solution to earth’s problems and bring that solution into the earth realm. Then and only then will God’s will be done on earth (here and now) as it is in heaven (as we look into the heavenly, eternal realm and see it).

Then “the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” And then, “the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:2-3)

Why will the Gentiles come to your light? Because you have light and they don’t.

Why will kings come to “your rising”? Because you have the answers to the problems they could not solve.

When we begin to access heaven (from our priestly position) to bring heaven’s solutions to earth, then we will begin to rise upon our mountain and displace the kings who currently rule there (establishing our kingly position).

Selah!

lessons from Narnia – part 3

In lessons from Narnia – part 1 and part 2, we have discussed five lessons:

1. Impatience is costly.
2. Failure to deal properly with personal trauma will knock you off course.
3. Talking with the enemy will cause you to lose your advantage.
4. Disunity will set you up for deception.
5. When you don’t finish the job, you allow room for the enemy to work.

In part 3, we will wrap this series up with two additional lessons.


6) God is waiting for us to engage Him in our battle.
When Lucy finds Aslan, he has been waiting for them to come for him. He is well aware of the situation and their need for him. However, he was waiting for them to come to him to ask for his help rather than him simply coming to their rescue. This is consistent with what we are told in Jeremiah 29:11-13.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

While God’s plans for us are good ones, He waits for us to seek after Him to obtain them. It wasn’t until Lucy went searching for Aslan with all her heart and all her strength that she found him. And it wasn’t until she found him that he “listened” to the cry for help she brought from the others. He began to fight on their behalf immediately. Even before he arrived at the scene of the battle, he engaged the trees and elements of nature to fight for Peter, Edmund, Susan, Caspian and the Narnians.

This may seem like just part of the tale spun by Lewis in his writings, but the Bible records the fact that the elements of nature do sometimes align themselves to assist God’s people in their battles, as well as God, Himself, “getting in on the act.” Following are a couple of examples.

“And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword. Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.’ So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.” Joshua 10:11-13 (emphasis added)

“And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” Exodus 14:19-29 (emphasis added)

I just love the stories where God gets into the fight!


7) The enemy always underestimates God.
In 1 Kings 20:23, the servants of the king of Syria reasoned that “Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they.” Of course, that was not true. In fact, according to scripture, God took the accusation personally and it ensured their defeat!

The Telamarines similarly argued that if they crossed back over the river, they would be able to defeat the Narnians. The scene that follows reminds one of the Egyptians pursuing the Israelites – though this time the Telamarines are fleeing before the Narnians. It is here that the Telamarines come face to face with Aslan and realize that he does exist, that he is fighting against them, and that his power is definitely greater than their power. Any time we encounter God “face to face” we will always be reminded of Who He truly is.


As stated at the beginning of this series, these are just a few of the truths that C. S. Lewis wove into the story and that were portrayed in the movie. I trust you have found some nugget of truth in this series. If so, Selah, “think on these things” – and on other Simple Truths from the Word of God.

lessons from Narnia – part 2

In lessons from Narnia – part 1, we focused on two lessons:

1. Impatience is costly.
2. Failure to deal properly with personal trauma will knock you off course.

In part 2, we will look at three more. Again, if you have not yet seen the movie, you might want to wait to read this until you have done so.

3) Talking with the enemy will cause you to lose your advantage.
When Prince Caspian entered Miraz’ bed chamber, he had the clear “upper hand,” having caught him sound asleep, totally unaware and unprepared. However, instead of killing Miraz, Caspian begins talking with him. Never carry on a conversation with the enemy! It only provides him an opportunity to regroup to overpower or seduce you. While they are talking, Prince Caspian allows Miraz to get up. As the prince is watching Miraz, the evil king’s wife reaches for her crossbow and takes aim at her nephew.

Fortunately, Peter and Susan arrive to rescue Prince Caspian. But they, too, leave Miraz alive to be fought another day. The enemy we resist for a moment but fail to deal with completely will be back to fight us another day – strengthened by our lack of decisiveness in dealing with him (it) previously.

4) Disunity will set you up for deception.
After suffering the terrible defeat at the castle, Peter, Susan, Edmund, Caspian and those who managed to escape the castle with them return to Lucy and the others waiting at Aslan’s How. Peter and Caspian get into an argument, each blaming the other for the terrible loss. With the rift between them and Caspian doubting the legendary abilities of the four, the dark dwarf Nikabrik makes his move to convince Caspian to align with the dark powers to defeat Miraz, promising him certain victory. Disunity and disillusionment set us up for deception. Nikabrik knows that only the blood from the seed of Adam (a human) can bring back (free) the white witch and her powers.

At first, the promise of victory lures Caspian into their grips. Then, when he sees the witch, he realizes who is really behind the promise (and that the ancient stories really are true) and tries to pull out. Just as Nikabrik and his companions are about to overpower the prince and provide the needed blood for the witch to be freed, Peter, Edmund and Susan arrive to rescue him. The witch then begins to lure King Peter into her deception, even though Peter had stood firmly against her in their previous encounters. Once again, we see how disunity sets us up for deception. Fortunately, Edmund remembers all too well her deceptive powers and thrusts her through with his sword. In the meantime, Nikabrik and his companions, the old hag and the were-wolf, are killed. These forces of evil are destroyed and Peter and Caspian are reunited in their effort to restore Narnia.

5) When you don’t finish the job, you allow room for the enemy to work.
Having realized their only hope of survival and victory is Aslan, Lucy and Susan are dispatched to search for Him. In the meantime, the others try to delay the battle by sending a challenge from High King Peter to (self-proclaimed) King Miraz to meet in a one-on-one battle to the death to decide the victor. This, of course, is a parallel to the battle of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.

Miraz finally agrees, and Peter and Miraz engage in the challenge. After some time, they mutually agree to a rest period. Both have sustained injury. Miraz begins to suspect treachery, since he had instructed the lords attending the battle with him to kill Peter if he appeared to be gaining the upper hand and they had not.

When the battle is re-engaged, Peter finally gains the upper hand and has Miraz on his knees, defenseless. Rather than finishing the job and killing Miraz as the challenge stated was to be the end for one of them (and as David did with Goliath), Peter hands the sword to Caspian for him to finish the job. Miraz intimidates Caspian with a well-worded remark and Caspian also refuses to kill him. Both Peter and Caspian assume the victor of the challenge is clear and that the war is now over. Not so! Never expect the enemy to play fair!

One of the lords who attended Miraz to the challenge now kills Miraz with one of Susan’s arrows that he had saved from a previous battle. The fact that their king has been killed by Susan’s arrow rather than Peter’s sword appears as unfair play to the waiting Telamarine army – and the battle begins.

Twice Peter and Caspian had the upper hand on Miraz and could have killed him. Twice they spared his life, somehow expecting him to suddenly “change his colors” and act rightly. Both times, refusing to “utterly destroy” the enemy in the land (as the children of Israel were repeatedly told to do) proved costly.

“And when the LORD your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.” Deuteronomy 7:2

When we believe that confronting sin without dealing with it completely and killing it at the very root of the problem is sufficient, we only set ourselves up for it to come back and cause us even greater devastation.


For more lessons from Narnia, check back for the final post in the series, part 3.

lessons from Narnia – part 1

As “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” movie began to play, I heard the Holy Spirit instruct me to look for the truths in it. He said there would be many, but there were certain key ones of which I should take note.

Notes:
1. For those who have read the book but have not yet seen the movie, it does not follow the book exactly. So events referenced here may be slightly different than the events in the book.
2. If you haven’t seen the movie yet but intend to see it, you may want to wait until afterwards to read this.

Background
To set the stage for those unfamiliar with C. S. Lewis’ chronicles, Peter, Susan, Edmund & Lucy are siblings who live in 20th century London. In the first book of the series, “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe,” the four youngsters “fall into” ancient Narnia through an old wardrobe in which they were playing. There they quickly learn to be warriors as they encounter the evils of the white witch and finally meet the great leader, Aslan. As the story unfolds, Aslan offers his life sacrificially to spare the life of Edmund, who had fallen prey to the evil deception of the witch. As with the true Lion of the Tribe of Judah, death was defeated and Aslan returned to life, empowered to overthrow the witch, who is bound and remains powerless for over a millennium.

Many years pass in Narnia, where peace reigns under the oversight of High King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmund, Queen Lucy and, of course, Aslan. One day while riding in the woods, the four find themselves back in a strangely familiar spot. They are soon tumbling back through the wardrobe and back into 20th century London – on the same day they left! While they had spent many years in ancient Narnia where they had grown to adulthood and ruled the entire land as its kings & queens, only a few hours had passed in modern earth time. They had returned to London and their childhood.

As time passes, the four continue to long for the adventures of Narnia and their beloved Aslan. After a couple of years, they are about to the point of reconciling themselves to the fact that their life is to remain in London as they are when they suddenly find themselves passing back through a different portal into Narnia. In the couple of years that have passed in earth time, they come to realize that it has been over 1300 years in Narnia and it is not at all the way they left it. They learn that both their legacy and even Aslan are so long forgotten that they are considered myths by most. In the meantime, the land was invaded by Telamarines who had landed on its shores and had been taken over by their evil rulers. Due to the untimely death of his father, Prince Caspian is to be the heir to the Telamarine throne, when he is of an age to assume it. In the meantime, the land is ruled by his very evil uncle, Miraz. As the movie begins, Miraz’ wife bares him a son. With this news, Miraz attempts to kill Prince Caspian, so that he and his son will become the heir of the throne. Thanks to his tutor, the prince escapes, but must run to the woods to save his life.

1) Impatience is costly.
As “the kings and queens of old” (Peter, Susan, Edmund & Lucy) who have been summonsed back by Prince Caspian meet with the prince and the creatures of Narnia to strategize on how to best approach the battle with Miraz and the Telamarines, King Peter makes a costly mistake. At this point in the movie, only Lucy has seen Aslan since their return and she saw him only briefly. The others disbelieve that she really saw him at all. From that frame of reference, Peter decides they have “waited long enough” on Aslan to come to provide leadership. He apparently believes Aslan has either died or gone away and concludes that “now it is up to us.” The results of his decision prove costly to their army.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

King Peter’s failure to do this cost the lives of many of the Narnians. His decision reminds me of a similar decision made by King Saul of Israel who believed he had waited long enough for Samuel, God’s prophet, to show up before a great battle.

Timing and location are critical elements in any battle. Impatience will always cause you to play into the enemy’s hands. To avoid his snare, we must always seek the counsel of the Lord and refuse to move until we have His strategy for the situation.


2) Failure to deal properly with personal trauma will knock you off course.
Once inside the moat-surrounded castle where Miraz lived, Prince Caspian was to see to it that the gates were opened and draw bridge down to allow the Narnian army to invade the castle. His first “detour” from the plan was to find his old tutor, Cornelius. Finding him cost time, which is a precious commodity when dealing with the element of surprise. It would not have been a critical issue had that detour not led to the second, more costly one.

Having found Cornelius, the prince learns that Miraz had murdered his father, King Caspian, whom he had believed to have died in his sleep from natural causes. This sends the prince to Miraz’ bed chambers to personally confront the (self-appointed) king. This both cost time and exposed their presence to Miraz and, therefore, his army. Prince Caspian’s emotional “need” to confront Miraz put all of those with him in greater danger. His personal “need” caused him to lose focus on the greater mission. It also pulled Peter and Susan off task to follow and rescue him. This meant all of them were now off the plan – and not where they were supposed to be when they were supposed to be there. In addition, Miraz and his army were now fully aware of their presence. The element of surprise was over and its advantage lost.

Failure to deal with our emotional traumas in a right way causes us to play into the enemy’s hands and to spiral deeper and deeper into sin. When we are controlled by our emotions, we react out of them rather than acting in a way we know is right. An example of this from scripture is found in 2 Samuel 13. King David’s son, Amnon, raped his half-sister, Tamar, and then refused to marry her, leaving her to live the rest of her life in shame. Tamar went to live with her brother, Absalom, disgraced because of what had happened. In verse 22 we read, “Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.” For two years, Absalom plotted to kill Amnon. By verse 32, “Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.” Absalom knew this was not the way to handle the matter because two verses later we are told “then Absalom fled.” This caused a breach in Absalom’s elationship with his father, King David, which was never properly reconciled. That breach eventually led Absalom to attempt to take the throne and kingdom from King David, resulting in his own death along with the death of many others. (See 2 Samuel 15-18.) Failure to deal with emotional traumas or unwholesome desires will lead us down a path of destruction, which will affect not only us but also others around us.


For more lessons from Narnia, check back for part 2.

Which of these were neighbor to him?

"So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" (Luke 10:36)

Over the past few weeks, I've been given reason to ponder on some things that have been turning in my head for quite some time - in fact, years.

Do you go to one of those churches where everyone hugs each other and tells them they love them? Sounds good, doesn't it? It can feel good, too. But ... does it mean anything?

"Of course it does!" we respond. We are brothers and sisters in the Lord. We are family. We love each other.

Are we? Do we really?

"Of course we do!"

Ok, let me put the question another way. Do we act like it? Do we demonstrate our love and concern?

I've pondered this in my own life for several reasons, looking at it from both the giving and receiving end. I've also observed three separate situations recently and the evidence they have provided is inconsistent with what we say. Let me share some of those stories to keep it from sounding like just a "poor me" story. There seems to me to be a difference in what we say and what we do.

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Situation 1:

A 40-something year old man who ran in marathon races suddenly dropped dead in his home from a heart attack. In spite of faith-filled prayers and CPR, he did not revive. Of course, his wife was in a state of shock. Since there were children involved, she had to "be there" for them while dealing with her own grief and the reality of the sudden change in financial condition since he was the bread winner.

I had talked with someone who had known this couple for many years and was "a sister in the Lord" to them. I was seeking to find out from her what needs might be there. She told me how she had offered to bring pizza over and to do anything that needed to be done. Since no needs were expressed, she did nothing (other than taking some pizza over) and had no suggestions for me of things that needed to be done.

I barely knew this couple. But I knew they had a large family, most of which lived elsewhere, so that means they will need large quantities of food - meat, vegies, and dessert (aka - a meal). You don't ask; you assess the need and act on it.

I later learned that the ex-wife of the man who died (and mother of his oldest daughter) went over and cleaned the house before the out of town relatives arrived. She didn't call and ask; she simply showed up, cleaned the house, and left.

Which of these ladies was a neighbor to this woman? Her sister in the Lord? Or the woman who showed up to clean the house of the widow of her own ex-husband?

Situation 2:

Another 40-something year old man, also very athletic and healthy, collapsed when two aneurysms burst. After struggling for over a week, he, too, passed away leaving a wife and small children.

From what was said by the minister at the funeral services, this couple was very involved in their church. So, in the midst of roller coaster ride while his life hung in the balance and for a period of time afterwards, meals were provided to the family for the children and wife (when she was there to eat) and the extended family from out of town who were staying in their home to care for them while "mom" was at the hospital with "dad." Gift cards were also provided to help buy meals for the wife at the hospital or gas for her or the extended family who were driving back and forth from out of town or whatever was needed. And the lawn was kept cut.

Who did all that? Their church family? No. In as far as I know, they did not do anything. It was their coworkers who provided the food and gift cards and began taking care of the yard. Their neighbors took over the yard care and assisted with the food delivery, if no one was home when it was brought by daily for about a month.

Who were the neighbors to this family? Their church family? Or their coworkers and those who happen to live beside them?

Situation 3:

A man in his early 50s had a massive stroke. Once again, he and his wife were very committed to their local church.

His wife was "living" in the waiting room for the critical care unit, going home only to shower and freshen up and check on the house and the mail. Once again, gift cards for expenses she and their (grown) children were incurring and yard care was provided. Once again, it was his coworkers who provided these; not their church family.

Who were their neighbors?

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I could go on with more examples, but I think you get the point. It isn't enough to hug each other and say "I love you." "Love" isn't a word, nor it is a feeling. It's a commitment that elicits action on our part when the one we love is hurting or in need.

Let us ask ourselves ... to whom have we demonstrated our love recently?

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:7-11)