3-d Army

This is a head-on collision with a popular teaching that seems harmless up front but can leave a trail of disillusioned Christians sitting on the side lines or even hiding in their prayer closets: positive confession versus truth. Let me say right now that many people have been wounded in the body of Christ by well meaning people just telling the truth and then saying, “well, the truth hurts, but THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.”

The fact is that Scripture makes it very clear that we can do nothing outside the limits of love. There has been enough wounding in the body of Christ to last until Jesus returns, so right up front let me say, when I talk about truth it’s not in the form of a weapon but in the form of a mirror. As for positive confession, great, just make sure it’s not covering up a lie.

Back to the mirror, the one thing the mirror doesn’t do is to lie. It shows who we really are wrinkles, blemishes and all. Shawn Charles and his wife Laura are some of the greatest friends I have, along with their son Kyle. The Charles family taught me one of those pillar things that makes me who I am: transparency. This family is the best example of transparency that I have ever seen. They make me feel as if I am part of their family. You know exactly what I mean—family knows the real you. The you that lives on Sunday morning before church, before the dress clothes, the facade and the mask that we put on for all to view from nine till noon.

I did the mask thing well, until I met the Charles’. These people know how to confess their faults to one another and then receive healing. I am learning to do the same. If you can’t confess that you’re sick how can you call for the elders of the church to anoint you with oil so you may receive healing? Honesty and transparency are a rare commodity these days.

It is not enough to be honest about our condition. We need to also be honest about God’s ability to meet our needs according to His riches in glory and that He’s able to do more than we can think or ask. If you’re not convinced that the Lord is “all that” then put Him to the test. Try him. That’s right. You’re not going to shock Him. He’s God. He can handle honesty. It is a deceitful heart that causes Him a problem.

We have a big mess in the Body of Christ and it’s this: if my church knew how I really am, they would not like me. If God knew what I really am, He would never use me. Hog wash or in more biblical terms it’s rubbish. But that’s good because the Apostle Paul said: Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8)

Listen, its all rubbish from our best day to our worst. It’s about Jesus, not us. So let’s just get real. Here is something real. We are messed up. We don’t care too much for most Christians. They are too much like us. We are not sure why Jesus said we would lay hands on the sick or cast out devils because most of us would be blown away if it happened here in America. Sure, in third world countries, maybe it could happen, but they are desperate.

Oh, I hit a nerve. That hurt. You see, I have a pretty good job, good health insurance and if all else fails I can ask God for help. Sound familiar? OH YEAH, desperation, that I can use.

That brings me back to the boredom I was wallowing in before my 2nd trip to Uganda. I think I was bordering on desperation then, but not now. I am full blown desperate and much more. If you’re with me let’s dive right in to the matter at hand.

Before David, the mighty shepherd-warrior, ever sat on a throne he learned the craft of weaponry to protect his sheep. Before the stone ever found Goliath, it found many a wild animal. Before he ever ruled from his palace he hid in caves. Before he ever mounted up on wings as eagles, David learned to wait.

David had the most incredible group of warriors around him known as “David’s Mighty Men.” Reading of their victories in battle will leave you speechless. For example one of David’s mighty men named Abishai killed three hundred men with his spear as noted in 1 Chronicles 11:20. What were God’s requirements to join this mighty army?

Today the United States Marine Corps has the slogan “All We Need Is A Few Good Men.” But these valiant men wouldn’t meet God’s standard. Let’s read about the qualifications that the Lord wanted:

David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

(1 Samuel 22:1-2)

Would you qualify for Gods 3-D vision of being in DISTRESS, DEBT and DISCONTENTMENT? It’s going to take real transparent men and women to join this army. I promise you God is stirred with pleasure toward people who know their own weakness and His enduring strength and ability to change us from vessels of self to vessels empty enough to hold Him.

This should be arousing something within us even now to say, “Yes, in my current condition, I give myself to you, oh God.”

The devil will be content with our staying in the 3-D condition but confessing the facade. Then we pose no danger. Remember that he is the master of delusion. If you still have doubts that God can take you right where you are and do something so incredible, so amazing that you could not even conceive it, look whom God chose to bring forth His own Son to save us. These women are listed among all the men in the genealogy of Jesus. Oh what pure women must have been chosen. Let’s see:

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

(Matthew 1:1-17)

Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Uriah’s wife are all in the ancestry of Jesus. If you are not familiar with these women, let me remind you. Tamar slept with her father-in-law Judah after her husband died so that she could have a child. You may read this account in Genesis 38:15-30.

Rahab was the Jericho prostitute of Joshua 2:1 who hid the two spies and was later rewarded with life when the Israelites conquered Jericho.

Uriah’s wife Bathsheba was bathing naked on the rooftop when David saw her and took her. Then David had her husband, one of his own mighty men, killed in 2 Samuel 10:15.

The rose among thorns was Ruth, a Moabite (not kosher). She gets a whole book of the Bible written about her—pretty special considering she was not even Jewish. Listen, if God chose these women to bring forth His own Son, what can He do with you?

Is It a tent or a Temple

Before Solomon built the temple with the materials his father David had collected, man met with God in a tent. The presence of God was mobile, going where God’s people went.

How does this fit into the new covenant concept? Well, let’s dive right in. Please read with me as Luke tells it:

Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.’ Known to God from eternity are all His works. (Acts 15:12-18)

This is a quote from the Old Testament prophecy in Amos 9:11-12 being fulfilled in the salvation of the Gentiles/Nations. We know that the Jewish Christians were not that thrilled about the Gentiles coming to Christ. As the Holy Spirit began to show them that this had been a mystery hidden in the old covenant, some began to embrace the idea. It is the word “tabernacle,” or a tent that we want to look at more closely.

We know that up to the time of David, the Ark of Covenant, along with God’s presence, dwelt in a mobile tent that had come to rest semi-permanently in several places, then permanently in Jerusalem. David’s heart was to build a beautiful permanent structure for the Lord to dwell in, but because David had shed much blood God withheld that honor for his son, Solomon. Here is the Prophet Samuel’s account: So they brought the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. (2 Samuel 6:17)

So we can see here that David had the tabernacle/tent, not a stone temple. Remember back in Acts we are talking about the tent being restored. Let’s see how the Prophet Jeremiah described the situation:My tent is plundered, And all my cords are broken; My children have gone from me, And they are no more. There is no one to pitch my tent anymore, Or set up my curtains. For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the Lord; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered. (Jeremiah 10:20-21) From this Scripture, it is clear that the Lord desires His tent, His children and His shepherds back. The Apostle Paul makes this clear yet in the context of a Temple:

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

We who were not of the household of God are now members. Our lives are laid as stones upon the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus. We understand that this is in the context of a stationary temple, so how do we reconcile the tent concept that is mobile? It is very simple—remember Jesus likes to make things simple. Jesus told His disciples: Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.} and then He said in Acts 1:8, {But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Luke 24:49)

See how the Lord moved His church into her place: At that time a great persecution arose against the church, which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (Acts 8:1)

It took persecution to bring obedience but the Church did expand. The blood of the martyrs provided the seedbed for the furtherance of the gospel as it still does. We can conclude that the Church is both stationary as in Jerusalem, yet it is mobile pushing out its walls as one would a tent, to the ends of the earth. If this is true (and it is), then we must also conclude that the church is one yet can have many places of meeting because it is mobile. It stretches. This is not a new concept, for the Prophet Isaiah foretold: Sing, O barren, You who have not borne. Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman, says the Lord. Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited. (Isaiah 1:1-3)

This is a clear word for today. We need to be balanced. We need to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to our neighbor, our city and our local areas. But let us be warned not to have a small vision. The Lord wants the nations as an inheritance for His Son: Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. (Psalm 2:8)

We need to see the hunger in the nations, but more than that we need to realize we have the answer. It’s Jesus. The gospel needs to go to the ends of the earth. We all understand that we need God’s help to finish. But we need to understand, like Paul, the role of the fellowship of the gospel: Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:1-6, RSV)

If you think that God is still in the business of doing the one-man show you are sadly mistaken. It is a body thing and we all need each other. We must start laying down our pet peeves and pet doctrines and speak clearly the gospel of grace with one voice, one thunderous voice. The world might just stop to listen and drop by our local spiritual library for a quiet time of reading that will reveal Jesus in the pages.

Let’s join together and expand our walls and our tent ropes. Let’s trust God to do something bigger than we could have ever dreamed by ourselves. Nothing would please the Lord more. We don’t have to throw away our old wineskins if they are still pliable. Just ask the Lord to soften them so they once again can expand to hold the new wine that awaits us.