A Response to His Glory

In 2 Chronicles 7 you see the nation of Israel experience God in a fresh and amazing way. They witness God’s power expressed through the fire that came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices.  You also see the weight of His majesty, the awesomeness of God as His glory filled the house that was built for Him…we know it as the temple. This was a spectacular sight; it had to soften the hearts of the people, rendering them into a submissive and humble posture. It says they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground. There was really no other response that could be given other than no response at all. We see this type of response in other places in scripture where the person who experienced the power of the Almighty simply fell limp, lifeless as if dead. The word in Hebrew for “glory” has the connotation of weight, a present heaviness, an indescribable filling which is why it says speaking about the priests, they could not stand to minister because of the cloud for the glory of the Lord filled the house. (2 Chronicles 5:14) When we encounter the awesomeness of God’s presence, when God reveals Himself to us whether it is through His word, a movement of His Spirit in someone’s life, answered prayer etc.; the only true response is to fall down on our faces in total submission and humility and praise the Lord.

What interests me is the people’s verbal response to all that was happening. When God moves in the lives of His people there is always a reason always an expression of Himself that He tries to communicate. The same I believe is true here. In verse three, they respond: “Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.” The perspective of Israel in regards to God was probably one of an unhealthy fear, an understanding based not on His word but seen through the lens of the false gods that they and the nations around them worshipped. They didn’t key in on His mighty power, but His love, His kindness, His goodness. Similar attributes we find in Paul’s Galatian letter of the Holy Spirit’s fruit. (Galatians 5:22, 23). The final response was a huge offering of animal sacrifices that were pleasing to the Lord, followed by seven days of feasting. It says they all went home rejoicing and happy in heart because of the Lord’s goodness.

I will let you draw your own conclusions and applications, but I will leave you with at least one question to chew on. What is the Lord revealing about Himself to you? Ok, one more: What will your response be when the Lord reveals Himself to you? Will it humble you to fall face down or will you not respond at all as if it is no big deal?

Daring to Draw Nearer

When you read the Psalms you are immediately drawn to the heart of worship that the various writers experienced and spoke about in great poetical prose. We as Christ followers are commanded to worship the Lord. Our lives are to be expressions of worship in every thought, word and deed to the Lord. That is the “living sacrifice” that Paul speaks of in Romans 12:1, 2. Worship is more than a series of songs at a weekend service, a selected CD or special playlist on an IPod or even a time of God exalting prayer. The above general statements we all know to be true in theory, but what does it really look like in our lives? If the song set during a weekend service is to our liking we say the worship was excellent, and on the contrary when the song selection isn’t. If the music drives your expression of adoration and awe to the Holy then it is time to recalibrate your personal understanding of what you do during the “worship time” at a service or in any other spiritual gathering.

Let me paint you a picture of one way to view this challenge for you to consider.

You are standing with a host of people who have gathered to express their utmost adoration for the Holy one. As the people begin their various modes of “consecration” (A separation or cleansing from whatever is of this world that is unsightly to the Lord), whether that is through repentance, quiet, a particular posture, Bible text, or even speaking in tongues; it is spiritual preparation to encounter the Living God. Many are under the belief that their time of “cleansing” is what will please God the most so they make sure this preparatory time is done with the utmost care and diligence. It is what Martha was doing when Jesus and His disciples decided to hang out at the house with siblings Lazarus and Mary. The others who have gathered for this “time of awe” have simply come because they sensed the Father drawing them into His presence. They aren’t distracted by all the preparations they are simply caught up in the One who has called them by name. This would be Mary in the above story as the metaphor plays out.

So there you stand with the throngs of others in whatever posture you are accustomed to ready to honor the Almighty. The experience continues in various forms of expression, with the Lord inviting you to draw nearer. “Come to me”, “enter in”, “be immersed in My presence” He intimates, but you hesitate. There are so many people, with some that make you feel uncomfortable because their expressions of worship are foreign to you or done in a posture that doesn’t fit your tradition. Now you are distracted, you want to press in but the conflict in your mind becomes a larger obstacle so you contend to stay put. Still, the sweet aroma that permeates from His glorious throne is both intoxicating and compelling. Worship for you has all but stopped, you are still singing, still moving but your mind is in a quandary as to what you should do next. The Spirit continues to lovingly draw you to move closer, to press in even further into His presence. You start to move but notice there other obstacles that are more internal: secrets, idols, lusts, obsessions, heart aches, hurts, unanswered prayers, loved ones, doubts and more. You hear those around you telling you to stay put, even listing the many sins or reasons why you can’t press into His loving presence. What strikes you are the many that have similar obstacles even more intensified then yours are freely and joyously moving closer to the Awesome God. You see those who dare to draw near, whose expressions of worship are intensified in their many forms. You see their exuberant joy and the slight appearance of reflected glory beaming from their faces so much so that you feel your body being pulled forward seemingly magnetically. It is the heart of our Savior longing for you to come even closer, desperately desiring to wrap His loving arms around you in order to fill you with Himself. He whispers for you to come even closer, not at all daunted by your many hesitancies or unsightly sins because He sees you as you will be and not as you are. So you decide to run regardless of the obstacles, not caring over the slightest thought of your personal baggage. You don’t stop running towards Him until your arms embrace His. As your embrace continues, all that was a hindrance all your worldly-selfish junk melts away under the weight of His glory. It will be the first time that you truly experienced His abundant life this side of Heaven all because you dared to draw nearer.

Challenging Thoughts on Prayer

Prayer is vital for the follower of Christ.  That is a statement that goes without saying. Prayer for most people is a monologue of requests, with a possible praise statement or word of thanks in hopes that what I said will move God to a desired action.   Think about your prayers for a minute. What are the major themes? Are you asking, telling, claiming, listing, begging, thanking etc.? In other words, we confess sin so not to have anything inhibit God answering our requests, we pray scriptures that hopefully provide us with a positive outcome, and believe by faith that God will answer what we tell Him we want Him to do for us and others. It is a prayer mindset that begins with us: Our heart, our agendas, our needs, our lists, for our benefit with the hope that we will move God in our direction.  Prayer is not a magical ritual that allows us to bring the divine under our control. Only when give up fashioning God in our image and seeking God where we think God should be, only then will we truly perceive the Christ who stands in our midst and get on board with his agenda. You may not think your prayer life to be that selfish because you are really sincere when you pray, but visit it again and I believe you will see the underlining truth that your prayers begins with you to move God instead of beginning with God to move you in the direction and purpose that is on His heart. Look what Jesus says on the subject:
 ^”Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. John 14:12-15 (NASB). It all begins with God, the works that He does in your life and in the life of others causes us to believe in Him, prayer asked according to His name, His heart and His purposes (will) will be answered. Our prayer life is for the sole purpose of glorifying the Father in Jesus not checking off our “God you do this list”. Asking anything in His name, isn’t simply covered with our typical prayer ending line of “in Jesus name”, it means the things you perceive, hear, and read what is on God’s heart for those people and life areas that you see Him definitely moving in and through; that is where you begin to pray in His name. Prayer can’t be measured on a scale of success of failure because it is God’s work and God always succeeds. When we have failed at prayer, it is because we decided what shape our prayer should have, and are now frustrated that there is nothing we can do to implement our ambition and thus move God accordingly. If you have communed with the Father, if you have heard His voice and it has moved you toward obedience, if you are able to discern His Spirit is your life situations, then you have been successful in prayer. 

So now that I have given you a headache on something you thought you had wired, here are a few methods to consider as you strive to deepen your conduit of communication that we call prayer.

·        Since God loves you unconditionally, come boldly to the throne room of grace knowing that you are always welcome to share what is on your mind. Come with a heart of humility reminding yourself that He is the Almighty and sovereign God and you are not.

·        Since prayer is communication (a two way encounter of speaking and listening), take some time in silence before the Lord, maybe asking Him at the beginning to reveal what is on His agenda for the day and for those individuals you are praying for. Listen and respond to what He tells you.

·        Since God dwells in you know and that He is ever desiring to be included in every aspect your day, acknowledge that fact and make space in your day for Him. Pray:  “Lord, here is my schedule and “to do” list, I yield it to you; make any changes you would like so that I can best honor you.”

·        Since God speaks through His word, allow Him to speak to you through the text, try not to manipulate your “word time” into a study method, but a chance for the Holy to invade you heart and mind.

Bottom Line: If your prayer life is connecting you closer and into a more intimate relationship with Jesus then what you are doing is truly prayer. If it is based on the percentage of how many things God answered from your list as successful then I would revisit who is on the throne of your life. 

What is His Role for You?

In 1 Chronicles 22 King David, after hearing that his vision to build a “house” for the Lord was redirected from being “the builder” to being “the preparer” he embraced this role in the strength and honor of the Lord. If you backtrack a few chapters prior you see that David’s vision surfaced out of a time of worship, prayer and celebration. As David expressed his heart and vision to build a house (Temple) for the Lord, the Lord tells David that a man of war will not build for him a house but instead a man of peace would. (Solomon).

For whatever reason we as God’s vessels are called to either be the one who prepares for the vision or the person who carries out the vision. I will speak more on this later, but what can be confusing is living your life with the delusion that you are the opposite of who God called you to be. I know of many godly people who are “preparers” but for whatever reason put all of their time and energy in trying to be the ones who execute the vision. Then again there are also those who God has empowered to lead in bringing a vision to fruition, but have been discouraged and live their lives in the bondage of fear and self-deprivation. This false life is both painful and unfulfilling, rendering the person powerless and paralyzed. David recognized his role; he clearly heard from the Lord and pursued his calling with “great pains” or in great affliction with a total sense accomplishment.

The preparer: They are those who set the stage, they build the foundation, they do all the behind the scenes work it will take to make others see the vision accomplished, though they themselves may never see the fruit of their labor. They prepare and empower people, speak truth and lay a foundation of spiritual maturity and pathway for those who will fulfill the promise. Here is one example: A preparer is one who raises means for and or prepares someone to serve on the mission field. They are not to go themselves even though they have a passion for missions, but are “senders” of people to the mission field. Listed to what David “the preparer” says to his son Solomon “the executor”:  David said, my son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all lands. Therefore now I will make preparation for it." So David made ample preparations before his death. Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. 1 Chronicles 22:5-6 (NASB) Now, my son, may the LORD be with you and give you success as you follow his directions in building the Temple of the LORD your God. And may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, that you may obey the Law of the LORD your God as you rule over Israel.  For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the LORD gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart! 1 Chronicles 22:11-13 (NLT)  

The fulfiller, accomplisher, executor: Those are leaders who are called to lead others into something great and glorious for the Kingdom of God. These would be those who are sent, who go to the mission field and are used by the Lord in mighty and powerful ways. 2 Chronicles 2 begins Solomon’s execution of the vision of building the Temple for the Lord.

So what does this mean for us? How do we know what role in the kingdom of God we are to pour our lives into?

1.      The vision and role comes out of a time or times of intimate prayer and seeking of the Lord. It comes out of a time or times of worship and out of time or times in God’s presence.

2.      Your kingdom role is confirmed by God’s word and His “body”, those believers who earnestly seek the face of God and who are conduits of His Holy Spirit in wisdom and discernment.

3.      If your role is not confirmed by the Christ’s body or if those believers that you share life with are not at a place of hearing from the Holy Spirit then I would wait for confirmation. “Spiritual Lone Rangers” are not spiritual and tend to live under the delusional mask of fantasy. In other words, are missing God’s true call on their lives and end up causing great pain for themselves and those who are in ministry with them.

4.      Confirmation will come by the natural fruit your life produces. People will naturally come alongside you in the quest that is set before you. Your role will be determined either as an energizer for you or it will sap the life out of you. (Another way to tell what your role is and who you need to be)

What do you do if you are a “confirmed” preparer or executor? Live your life in the fullness of all that Christ graces you to walk in. Empower others to pursue our Lord like never before. Work hard at accomplishing all that the Lord would have your hands to do. If you are a preparer/sender then do whatever it takes to make it happen for those who are to go and fulfill God’s vision for His kingdom. If you are an executor/goer then with the utmost of integrity serve the Lord with your gifts and talents to achieve something that makes the Lord “exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious”.