Sing-a-long

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Joshua 6:1-2 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.

We all know the story…so its no surprise that walls came down….but imaging being Joshua or one of his men….and you roll up outside this fortress, they’re prepared for battle, on lock down…and the Lord says ‘see…..told ya so’….I’d be like, yeah but God…. You really haven’t delivered it to us……its just there. And they are ready to kill us. But God says….here is the plan……

You know what, having just marched across a flooded river on dry land….this doesn’t seem that far fetched. Tell you what God, I’m gonna do exactly what you say.

27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

‘….and now you know…the REST of the story.’---Paul Harvey

Commander of the Lord's Army

Joshua5:13-15 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"
The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

This is a cool connection again to Moses. No doubt this was God(Jesus)…the same words spoken from the burning bush, were spoken by the Commander of the Lords Army.
Was this Jesus?
I tend to think it was…and the fact that he stood before Joshua in ‘human form’ and requires submission by Joshua lets me know this wasn’t merely an angel.
Joshua correctly submitted himself (and Israel) and bowed down to him…once he recognized it was the Lord. Israel has to submit to the Lord before they were to conquer anything or anyone in the Promised Land. Much like us….we’ll take the ‘Promised Land’ but in order to live a life for him now…we need to submit ourselves to Him. This is the process of Lordship or surrender.
I know in my own life…I had to wander in the desert in order to get me to the place where I would surrender. I always had the ‘Promised Land’ but needed guidance from the Commander of the Lords Army…. We learned in a previous chapter…that whether it takes a moment or 40 years….God is preparing and shaping us.

Riverstone

Joshua 4
Riverstone….that would be a cool name for a church. Fulfillment of a promise….ended like it started with God providing, by faith, deliverance.

I noticed that God directed Joshua to get 12 stones from the MIDDLE of the Jordan, not stones they found…near the edge…or laying around the shallows….but the middle, to bring out as a sign of what God had brought them through. So when your children..and your children’s children ask you, what they stones mean….you can tell them, it is a memorial of when God delivered us into the promised land by cutting off the river….upstream, during flood stage, and made the ground dry for us to walk on….and these stones….represent God’s deliverance. “How daddy?” …. because you see that raging river……we picked up and carried these stones from way out there in the middle….when God stopped the water. And once the Ark, and those carrying it came out of the river…..God made the water flow again.
One thing that struck me as I read this…was how God will deliver his promises….even if it takes 40 years for us to be ready for them. God did a work in the Isrealites..and although we know it was 40 years in the desert, we cant fully know what that was like.
But God is somewhere in the midst of consecrating his Bride….and its been 2000 years….God isn’t really concerned with time. He is concerned with making sure his people are ready.
I am sure in the 39th year 11th month….the Israelites were somewhat looking forward to the day that they were to be in the promised land…..but somehow resigned to the fact…that it was still in the distant future. I cant help but wonder…..if we aren’t in the 39th year….11th month….before God will call forth His bride. Hopefully, his church is preparing herself.
I have never known of a bride who prepared herself for her wedding day…by packing on as much weight as possible….or going down to Goodwill to buy some old MooMoo and slippers for the ceremony. I don’t think there has ever been, outside of Arkansas, a bride get married that didn’t take a bath or shower and get her hair done. I know my wife has been to weddings where the whole bridal party, goes to get manis and pedis and massages with facials. We not only want our brides beautiful….but we don’t want any ugly bridesmaids either.
But the thing is certain….God’s not coming for his bride until she is ready.
God, I pray that we, your bride, aren’t so far away that it takes too long to prepare. I know you will wait on your perfect timing…and make sure she is ready, fully consecrated. I pray that we as a church….are doing the things it takes to make her beautiful. I pray that the things we adorn ourselves in are a reflection of your glory. I pray you continue to mold the leadership and vision at ANC…and your church as a whole into beautiful stones…that you will one day, pluck out of the river…and arrange as a memorial of your greatness.

Double Crossing

Joshua 3
Prior to crossing into the Promised Land, the Israelites camped out…and were instructed to consecrate themselves and to be ready for God to do amazing things. God gave Joshua specific instructions on how far to follow the Ark of the Covenant, it was about a half of a mile. I believe God wanted the Israelites to honor him, follow him…but at a safe distance, because he was to be feared.

Then God completed His salvation of the Israelites, the way he began it….by parting the Jordan and allowing them to cross on dry land. The Jordan was swollen, as it always was, at this time of year, but what would seem insurmountable for man….God is in command of.
I believe this was a very symbolic crossing not only for the children of Isreal..and their faith, but also as God shifted leadership from Moses to Joshua. He was saying…this man is my chosen leader for you….I can work through him like I did Moses. Follow him. Trust him.

What defines us?

Joshua 2 is a sweet story that should be near and dear to our hearts at ANC. Rahab the prostitute….by faith….in this moment was redeemed. Her faith saved her.

As we work with the homeless or working poor, or single moms, or ladies in prison….we have to realize there is a moment… that defines us. And I don’t know how long Rahab had been a harlot….but although she was….she was defined in Hebrews as a woman of faith. And that faith, redeemed her and her house.

I was part of church planters meeting yesterday and my main take away was the fact that we celebrate the individual’s salvation, and we should….but we have got realize that when God saves….entire families and future generations are affected. God redeems the individual, but that individual is now a light shining for their entire family. As we talk about relational evangelism, earning the right to be heard…..these things are strategies to reach those further than immediate family….but when we have someone in our lives, a family member who has been radically saved….what a testimony!

Rahab’s entire family was saved, by her faith. It was her action…her decision to harbor the spies.... that not only affected, but did save the actual lives of those she loved. In Hebrew and James, she was identified by her profession….but it was her ‘faith’ that defined her.

Be Very Courageous!

Joshua….be strong and courageous….be strong and very courageous….be strong and courageous. In verses 6-9 God instructed Joshua in leading the Isrealites…how he should lead them. But when it came to handling the Law….he told Joshua to be VERY courageous. It is apparent to me that obedience of the Law is more important to God than leadership of a nation, although for Joshua and the Isrealites, they go hand in hand. Obviously….God is instructing with both…but He goes into greater detail about handling his Law.
Moses had stood in the presence of God and had been given the Law…I believe, in this moment God is giving Joshua a ‘mountaintop’ experience. God is empowering Joshua, strengthening him, encouraging him to be the leader and the caretaker of the Law. God is instructing Joshua to study his Law…and not depart from it, and then He promises success and prosperity.

Extravagant Love

Confession….you know some mornings…you just know all the stuff that you GOTTA do…and reading God’s word….doesn’t hold that ‘sexiness’ for you. I was there this morning…but I worked through it….and I’m glad I did. Really glad. What a great word for me personally this a.m.

I have been reading the “Message” first…then going back and reading the NIV…to see if it is a verse (or set of verses) I am familiar with. But I went back to the Message this a.m. after the NIV to dig out these two verses…..

2 Corinthians 13:4 He was sheer weakness and humiliation when he was killed on the cross, but oh, he's alive now—in the mighty power of God!

I didn’t like that wording at first….because I felt like Jesus showed his strength and and resolve on the cross….but thinking about further….he showed his strength and resolve his entire life. Walking this earth, sinless….when being tempted by Satan himself is strength and resolve….and I still believe that he continued in that to the cross…..but at that moment…as he was stripped, beaten, made fun of, nailed to the cross, raised up on the cross, taunted, and pierced…..as God allowed him to bear the sins of everyone, from the beginning of time, until the end…..he WAS a lamb. As Jesus poured out his ‘extravagant’ love, he was a weak…..lamb.

But Paul…I can hear him kinda chuckle as he says…..”but oh……he’s alive now-in the mighty power of God”

14The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.
You might hear this Sunday!

Intentional

2 Corinthians 12:14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you.

In this whole discussion about mission vs. missional…one thing Brandon and I were talking about yesterday…is the fact that Missions is something we do….Missional is who we are… and what we want others to become.

Paul is clearly being missionAL when he writes he wants to go to VISIT, and he wants THEM, not their POSSESSIONS.

Paul is more concerned with the condition of their hearts ….. than he is ANYTHING they could do for him. Actually Paul protected the church at Corinth from this very thing, by never taking anything (money or assistance) from them….because he knew, in their spiritual condition… they would count it as righteousness… and cause them to stumble.

One thing I’ve decided…is that we ought to substitute the word “intentional” for missional (until we get it)…because it confuses us. Maybe “intentional” is more what we are trying to say. Live “intentionally” in your communities. Plan a walk, strike up conversations, go to the pool, specifically to meet others…and interact in such a way, to befriend them. Intentionally meet people where they are…. And allow the relationship to develop. This takes time.
I’ve often given the example of a good movie or a good meal….. once we’ve seen a great movie or had a great meal…we are so excited to tell someone about it. We can hardly contain ourselves. We tell everyone we know….. BUT what we don’t do is walk up to strangers and tell them. What we DON’T do is write a tract and stand in front of other restaurants and hand them out.
Missional (Intentional) isn’t walking your neighborhood handing out tracts….. to people you don’t know…. Or don’t have a relationship with. Also, and Brandon and I talked about this yesterday, missional (intentional) isn’t asking a neighbor to help you grill out with the Homeless….or give or work at the Food Bank......they might feel you are “Intentionally” just using them…

When we are trying to hard...it comes off clumsy...awkward...and like a bad sales pitch....see;

Tommy: Hey, what's your name?
Helen: Helen.
Tommy: That's nice, you look like a Helen. Helen, we're both in sales. Let me tell you why I suck as a sales man. Let's say I go into a guy's office, let's say he's even remotely interested in buying something. Well then I get all excited. I'm like Jojo the idiot circus boy with a pretty new pet. Now the pet is my possible sale. Hello there pretty little pet, I love you. And then I stoke it, and I pet it, and I massage it. Hehe I love it, I love my little naughty pet, you're naughty. And then I take my naughty pet and I go
[makes ripping noises as he tears apart the roll]
Tommy: Uuuuuuh. I killed it. I killed my sale. And that's when I blow it. That's when people like us have gotta forge ahead, Helen. Am I right?
Helen: God, you're sick.

God let us get it. Let us live ‘intentionally’ among those who need to hear from you. Allow us the opportunities to be friends with ‘lost people’. Give us opportunities to serve them, eat with them, interact with their families, play cards, share a ‘soda’, or whatever just to know them….. and them know us. Give us patience…. Wisdom and clarity about when to share, what to share and how to share….. open doors so that we will know. God its so awesome to be a part of this work in Austin, let us be found faithful, daily…. as we go about your work.

Holy Rant

Paul is blasting the Corinthian church with sarcasm, condescension (Mike….that means talking down to you), and guilt…..I mean he is throwing the kitchen sink at them.

Some examples; (message translation) 2 Corinthians 11
9 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!
you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face

28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

Paul seems to be in a dark place…..one where he may be at wits end. I mean, I’ve been there with people and I usually send an email out, that I regret. I mean to say what I said….its just that I might have been able to sleep on it…and temper the letter a bit to make it more palatable. Here Paul pencils a letter… and it’s basically a “Holy Rant”

Paul is justified….and it’s a good thing he isn’t married, because his wife would have never let him send this letter. She would have said he was being too hard on the Corinthian Church.

Weapons

2 Corinthians 3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

This set of verses, needs to be in all our minds as we continue to plant ANC. God DOES have the power to change lives…and we hold the keys to the Kingdom…for so many people.

What effort does a kind word, a phone call, walking across the street, a few extra minutes, lending a hand, showing some kindness….these are the weapons WE fight with.

I think I must be the last one on the planet to see this video (I’m a little bitter about that) ….but it tore me open yesterday as I watched. I was in Austin Java…. It is 8 minutes long….but after you watch 30 seconds of it…you will want to watch the WHOLE thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

God used everyday people….to affect the people in the video for eternity. I love the woman who was diagnosed with MS…and her physician got saved….and she said…..WORTH IT!

God, I pray we are intentional as we go…and don’t let us become so calloused and busy that we don’t take time to engage those you call us to love. God….sharpen our weapons and strengthen us for battle. God, so that you may be glorified in us.

Leading Through the Giving

2 Corinthians 9:5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

I don’t know if this is a strange angle to take in this instance….but Paul proves himself to be an encourager/exhorter, leader and one who spurs the Corinthians on to live out their faith…and not stumble.

Paul recognizing the “human condition” and was either losing faith in the Corinthian church or (as I suspect) wished to encourage them as well as the Macedonian church.
There is a huge difference between giving a gift cheerfully or giving it up begrudgingly. The difference is in the way you are led.

I have seen a few building drives…ones that the vision was given to the people, they pledged (over and above the tithe) and then gave sacrificially to for the entire term of the pledge. And then there was a drive…where people had lost faith in the leadership, the vision was non-existent…and in turn, people were not led to give nor given a reason to give sacrificially.

Paul made sure that the 1st Church at Corinthian knew;
1. that they had pledged
2. that it was generous
3. it should be given in the right heart
4. held them accountable

God thank you for your leadership and your vision for ANC. AS we continue to handle your resources…I pray that we will remain faithful in our giving and our stewardship.

Friendly Rivalry- with a purpose

I have heard people say…tithing…even giving to the church is not biblical…..or at best is an Old Testament ritual. There are people online who, I guess make themselves feel better by saying, that tithing is illegal. And then back it up with scripture.
I guarantee you that this scripture isn’t used in their defense.

2 Corinthians 8: 1-5 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

There is a rivalry between Macedonia and Corinth that Paul touches on…..its like saying that the folks at University of Oklahoma are doing and experiencing this, UT people….what do you say?
Macedonians were living in a time of sever (rock bottom) oppression, probably financial, but also “religious” that Paul talks about when he says….be sure to count it as joy when you face trials……
Yet in their oppression or ‘testing’ (greek DOKIME- testing that proves someone’s or something’s genuiness) , they gave freely….more than they could give. There doesn’t seem to sense that they foolishly gave, but that they determined what they could give….and dug a little deeper.
The commentary I read said they gave to the Lord first, then to Paul. So great was their desire to serve Christ that they would not allow their economic situation to keep them from being involved in the Lord's work.
It’s easy, in our times….to say with $4.00 gasoline, brothers…..its just so hard to be a part. With the downturn in the stock market or the housing slump or threat of recession….bla bla bla… The Macedonians were in “rock-bottom” poverty…and they gave freely….in abundance. What an example!

Nugget of Wisdom

In 2 Corinthians 6, I think its very important to think about why Paul comes with,
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers” and why it is important today.

Paul is hearing he rumors and lies being spread about him…which basically relates to his character and love for the Corinthian church. Some within the church are questioning his ministry, his motives, his credibility…and Satan is using all of these to divide the church…..the believers. The Corinthian church is on the verge of imploding.
So Paul talks about temple of God being united with idols, or the believer with the unbeliever. The Temple of God analogy would have been vivid imagery for the first generation Christians who knew and understood the “Holy of Holies” and how you would never defile that by bringing any unclean idol in. And now…. They were starting to understand (i don’t think they fully got it, nor do we) that we are the temple of God. And uniting ourselves with anything unclean, or unholy is the same as bringing filth into the presence of God.

I often think of the example of what my parents would say to me as a child......“would you do, what you were doing if Jesus was sitting next to you?” It was, and is still, a sobering thought… if Jesus was sitting next to me….sure it would change my behavior. Well, Paul is basically upping it a notch….saying Christ isn’t next to you, he is IN you.

Today, so many marriages by true believers start out in opposition to this nugget of wisdom…and it is more than just a command, it is smart. Relationships which are not focused on the same goals or based on the same commonalities are destine for at least, extreme hardship….but probably include a messy ending.

Business partnerships, where the partners are of a different mindset philosophically when it comes to how, with whom, at what cost do we make money….. are destined to fail, if not, at some point… one will want out.

Paul’s request at first seems a little ‘self serving’…..if spoken by me….you may have to assume it was. But Paul was one of the most selfless guys in the bible….so we know Paul could not care one bit about his reputation, what people thought of him, or what people thought his motives were….. but when it started to affect the Church of God at Corinth, Paul became offended and worked immediately to correct the problem.

ANC first baptism

Tonight was a really cool experience as we baptized, as a church, for the first time. Something I thought was the coolest thing.... and as we look back will be one of my favorite memories of all time.... was that the very first one in the water...was a girl named Tabatha, a homeless girl we have been ministering to.
I say we, but what I mean is that a few people have really fallen in love with her.... and want to help. Her story breaks your heart.... but she wanted to be baptized, as a believer....and we welcomed her into our church, our heart and God's family. She came up to me before the service and said.... I really want to be a member of this church! And I told her she was as much a member as anyone!
We baptized 3 others tonight, no less significant....and such an honor. What a sweet spirit tonight! This is what is all about.

Stench vs. Fragrance

1 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 2-3 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Reading linearly this just reminds us that we are as much Christ as a lot of people will ever see. As we live, shop, eat, work, go out, tip our wait staff, golf, drive with our ANC bumper stickers, pick up our cleaning, wear our ANC shirts, interact with the homeless community, volunteer, raise our kids…..we are the incarnation of Christ.

But….remember this as we also judge, fly off the handle, curse, live like and compete with “the world”…… mercy!

We (Christ’s Body, ANC to South Austin) are the fragrance, the letter written on human hearts, known and read by everyone.

I think Paul is saying, the law (letter written on stone), brings judgment, death and a stench…..the Spirit (letter written on human hearts) brings life, a beautiful fragrance and freedom.

One of the things that struck me was that (like what Alex talked about the other morning) so many church goers, or people just checking out church feel judged and looked down at….. at a time when Jesus is being introduced to them. Strange how some (not all) believers love to live under the grace of the Spirit written on their hearts……but they like to impose the letter of law (traditions) written in Stone. So Christ becomes a stench to some because of these “believers”.

Authentic Ownership

2 Corinthians 1:21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

God anointed us
Set His seal of ownership on us
A seal of ownership, usually in wax, not only ownership, but authenticity

Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Put his Spirit in our hearts

As a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Talk about assurance of salvation. We use a lot of scripture to say this when it is very succinct and simple. It’s God who makes us stand firm. He owns us….once born into Him….we are God’s possession.

"Great Door for Effective Work"

1 Corinthians 16:7-9 I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

Notice Paul’s availability. He truly wants to spend time with the folks at Corinth….yet he senses the Spirit calling him to stay in Ephesus. He puts his desire second to God’s desire.

Also, a “great door of effective work” doesn’t always look rosey. In Paul’s case he knew going into it…there are many who oppose him. Sometimes, I look for the path of least resistance…and that must be God’s will.

God I just pray that your will, will become etched in our hearts…that our wills become secondary, that we will be able to stand up under adversity and attacks. Thanks for Austin New Church… and its heart to know, love and worship you. And in that, love others as we love ourselves.

Sufficient Grace

1 Corinthians 15:8-11 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (God’s word translation says; Last of all, he also appeared to me. I'm like an aborted fetus [who was given life]) wow..there is a word picture.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

Paul has previously identified himself as chief of sinners…now he identifies himself as lowest of the apostles…. if believers are “born again” then Paul may be saying…I am “barely, by the skin of my theeth” born again. An untimely birth these day has extremely low birth weights…. and it takes modern science to keep these little ones alive…..in Paul’s day it was ONLY the grace of God that kept a baby born “not to term” alive.

Paul’s recognizes God’s grace to pluck him from the jaws of death….. His grace and no other means. This is an amazing place we should place ourselves when we begin to think about our significance or our abilities in the scope of God’s kingdom

Your Grace is Enough
Your Grace is Enough….
Your Grace is Enough for me.

Your grace is enough
Heaven reaching down to us
Your grace is enough for me
God I see your grace is enough
I'm covered in your love
Your grace is enough for me
For me

Tongues

Having been in and around church most of my life…Baptist, Catholic and Assemblies of God I have seen or heard reference to speaking in tounges. Some say it is a dead gift others exercise it to this day…

I know of those who say that use in their prayer life…as a prayer language. But I am more of the mind that: “I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
I do remember a time…that I kind called on the spirit to intercede on my behalf…when I couldn’t pray…and I feel as though I was as close to hearing myself in tongues….as I will ever be. Although I was in the middle of huge grief, I sensed that the Holy Spirit took what little effort I had left and made audible praises and petitions on my behalf…. Did I speak in tongues? I don’t really think so….I don’t know though.
I had another friend, who became very Spirit led…seriously spirit led. He literally gave away all the proceeds of the sell of his home…because he sensed that the Lord told him to. And he had no other money or a job. Some may call that crazy, but he had faith that God would provide for his needs…. and miraculously over the next 6 months to a year….he told story after story of God’s provision. He believed that tongues was faith led….but practiced. He felt as you surrendered more of your insecurities about the act that the Spirit had more room to roam and operate. I had some reservations…but who am I to question a guy that had this kind of faith.

Prophesy is more where I am comfortable. I believe that I can prophesy over you….or speak truth, via God’s word….or something I feel impressed by God to tell you. DO I tell the future…..no. Can I use my discernment (of which I am gifted) to formulate a probable outcome….. when coupled with truth….sure.

1 Corinthians 14:24-25 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

I pray that at ANC we are open to all unbelievers and that they do come to us for truth. I pray that inside the doors of our church and our homes that people will hear the Word of God.