THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH, AND DEATH OF TRIBAL PARTISANSHIP
SEEING THE SKY: PART IV
THE EXCLUSIVITY OF JESUS
THE FATHER'S JOY
When watching catastrophic circumstances roll in like a storm, or getting news of impending doom, what is your first response? If the plan He gives involves humbling yourself, are you willing to let that be the solution? Would you be lowered on behalf of another, to be a conduit of His great mercy? Will we trust God’s promises to exalt the humble and lift up the lowly? There is someone whose story gives us a remarkable example of the unwavering confidence we can have in Him, and the powerful things He will do with our lives from that place.
THE WRESTLING SEED
SEEING THE SKY: PART III
THE SONG STUCK IN JESUS' HEAD
He will see her again, and He is grieved until He does. But “heaven cannot restrain Him forever,” only until the time appointed by the Father to hand the scroll over to the Lion of Judah, lashed like a lamb, who has overcome and can be trusted to come on the clouds in power and glory. When He does, she’ll be singing the song He quoted as He wept over her… In return, He’ll sing over her the song stuck in His head for eternity…
FROM FERAL TO FAMILY
We are family, beloved ones, and we must live like it in this hour. Do not hold yourself back from the task of love and let lesser concerns fall quickly to the ground. We are in the last hour. Pace yourself for the journey and posture yourself in your true calling of love, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Be a shelter in a time of great storms.
THE BIRTH, LIFE, AND "DEATH" OF A PROMISED SEED
JESUS IS BETTER THAN BOURBON
If wine is richer than water, and old wine is better than new wine, Jesus is out for our fullness—our maturity, to be sure (old wine), but our transformation as well. Truth transforms us insomuch as it sets us free from the slavery of this “present evil age,” and the wise folly of Heaven prescribes a song for us to sing our way through this holy exodus. That song opens with this mighty blast: "Your love is better than wine!" Or, perhaps, "better than bourbon."
SEEING THE SKY: PART II
The Lord is urging us not to be voluntarily ignorant about His return. Not simply because He wants us to ace an eschatological pop quiz, but because our Father wants us to walk in light of His decrees. The nature of His return reveals to us more fully the nature of His character. This is about knowing Jesus better. Those who know Jesus don’t get cut to pieces when He comes back.
LOWLINESS AND LEGACY
Most of us won’t die as martyrs in the face of savage persecution. Most of us will go through our lives trying to stay faithful through bouts of disappointment, suffering, or day to day discouragement. Testimonies like this remind us it’s possible to not only endure, but to find and reflect His triumphant glory in this life. This person endured more suffering than most of us will ever even have to imagine, and came out brighter than most of us will ever shine.
A FATHER FOR THE WOMAN'S SEED
SEEING THE SKY: PART I
Jesus, our Great Shepherd, clearly wants His disciples to discern the season of His return. And He surely does not want us to be led astray from what He is teaching. We are responsible before the Lord for how we steward this crucial subject. But how are we to do so if no one knows the day or hour except the Father?
JESUS HAS A HORSE
As we barrel towards the Day of the Lord, as crises mount and the pregnancy of this age approaches the escalating birth pangs and labor into the next age, we must “be sober, redeeming the time” because the present days are “evil.” These mundane days are full of micro injustices, full of macro injustices, and all of them have an appointed end—when Jesus rides His horse.
A WHISPER AFTER FIRE
A TOWER FOR THE SERPENT'S SEED
LEAVING NEVERLAND BEHIND
FOXES HAVE FOXHOLES
To engage in this age, to obey our Commander’s assignment, we must soberly reckon with this age. We must soberly reckon with the Man and Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. And we must soberly reckon with the cost. Only cowards take their hands off the plow and turn around. We cannot be cowards. We must count the cost without cowardice.