Epic Blog

A Model Government

Women all over the world are in transition. Nations who desire to be globally competitive and prosperous are waking up to realize that they must allow their women to participate in all branches of civil life. Those countries who treat women like second class citizens now find themselves with such a low national IQ that they border on mental retardation.

Gender bigotry is a scourge to any nation.

 The Godhead Trinity has the perfect relationship. In them, we see the model of government that God intends for us. 

1. Positionally: Within the Trinity, Father is the governmental leader.
2. Relationally: Even though Father is the governmental head, He defers to Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit out of love. Likewise, Jesus and Holy Spirit love and respect Father and they always defer to Him out of love.
3. Personally: Each member of the Godhead is the fullness of Deity. Therefore, they all humbly respect One Another. Father is God. Jesus is God. Holy Spirit is God. Who can boast that they are better? None.

 Man and Woman are created in the image of Elohiym the plural God.      

 Gen 1:27-28 New Living Translation

God (Elohiym) created human beings* in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it…" 

1. Positionally: Man is the governmental leader of the relationship. He was created first in order to convey this.
2. Relationally: Even though man is the governmental head, he defers to woman out of love. Likewise, woman loves and respects man and defers to him out of love.
3. Personally: Both man and woman are fully human. Therefore, they each humbly respect one another. Man is human. Woman is human. They are each the same species. Who can boast that they are better? Neither one. 
 

Followers of Jesus Christ have a unique and liberating message. We are members of the household of God and therefore our core value is love. Our message is not self-centered. Our thoughts and actions do not radiate from conceit or greed.

God, the Trinity, models for us the perfect relationship built on love. There is no higher governmental pattern.

What does this mean for us? We must model love and servanthood so that we can live in stunning beauty and creativity. Our love will make us conspicuous so that others draw near to study us. Many will discover God’s love in this way. Without striving, we will be lifting up a banner for the nations and a way of life that is attractive. This is true evangelism. Not that we bear down upon someone with tactics of fear in order to get a “confession” of faith, but that we flaunt our God of love and our freedom in Him.

Those nations that are reaching for a higher standard of living must do the math of economics. They can stay weak and ignorant or they can develop the 50% of their national resources and IQ that has been ignored: women. When those women emerge from obscurity they will be looking for role models. We have an opportunity to capture their attention and advance love if only we can walk in it ourselves. We have the perfect model in the Trinity. Its time to grow up and lead. 

Fascinating reading can be found at the United Nations Development site: http://hdr.undp.org/en/  / Human Development Report 2000

Epic Blog

Time to Pray 

I have been studying/writing the next book on the book of Revelation. One thing stands out that seems urgent: time to pray.

In Revelation there is a picture of the Throne Room of God and before Him is the Golden Altar of Incense. The angel steps forward with the golden censor to offer the prayers of the saints along with incense that represents of the work of Jesus. Our prayers cannot ascend before God until they are made legally holy by Jesus.

Once our prayers are joined with the incense, the smoke fills the Throne Room and permeates the atmosphere. God Himself sits on the seat of government under the influence of our prayers. In this way, we stand before the high court of Heaven with petitions and God hears and answers accordingly. We have legal and judicial permission to legislate on earth. God releases resources for each case that comes before Him.

The anti-kingdom of Satan and rebellious man is busy bombarding the earth with constant evil. Instead of crouching in fear as the arrows are flying – let's get ourselves immediately before the Throne of God and obtain restraining orders on the evil and then petition the court for restoration of those things stolen from us and also punitive compensation. Don’t forget to ask for marshal forces to be dispatched on your behalf so that the ruling by God is enforced in the spiritual realm. Ask for everything you need. God can always say no, but right now we have not because we ask not.

We have legal rights as the legitimate rulers of the earth through Jesus Christ. The earth is ours. Time to stop the raping and pillaging of the enemy!

I was invited to set up a book table by Larry Randolph for the Blue Moon Rising New Years conference in Franklin TN. It was a great experience! Larry graciously promoted my book at every meeting and I had a steady stream at the book table and sold about 150 books. I left some behind with Larry for his book table and Christine Potter bought quite a few for her book table. It was an encouraging trip.

I love New Year’s conferences because I tend to get a sense of what the year holds spiritually. Before we arrived at the conference, during prayer, we felt like a “movement” was being launched. Once we got there, Larry’s message was about the shift in the church from a business model of top down leadership to a family model of relationship. This is exactly what I have written about in the book. God the Father’s main emphasis in the book is family. Bob Jones was there and he kept saying “My Daddy is a Family man”.

Another big focus is the year 2012. Larry and Bob have both had prophetic experiences and dreams about 2012. They say a shift in the earth will occur at that time. I agree and based on what I have been hearing I believe that the centerpiece of this change is the church. She will be in a strong position of maturity that will translate into legal authority on earth. Here are my thoughts on what is happening:

In the next two years the church structure will change significantly out of necessity because the people who make up the church are changing. Individuals are simplifying to survive economically and in the process we are learning the value of family and relationships. This means we will continue to move away from a materialistic /commercial mindset and toward a family / relationship model. This shift in values will cause us to seek church families that are like-minded.

As our lifestyles change, so must our local church. We will look for characteristics such as humility, sense of family and effective missions. I believe that charitable giving is about to increase on a level that we have never seen. Out of our own struggles we will have more empathy and appreciate the value of coming together with our money to achieve important mandates. The love of God the Father for all His children will begin to take hold of us, and we will give freely and volunteer freely when we know it is having a measurable impact on our world. This is good news; however it can be bad news for ineffective organizations that are top heavy with large salaries and overhead.

Right now there is a new generation of “missionary/minister” emerging. These people are creative thinkers and problem solvers. They are relevant and entrepreneurial. They will excel in the days ahead.

These next two years will be filled with sifting and shifting. Over and over again we will see top heavy and ineffective structures re-tool themselves or fail. This includes secular and spiritual. The old model of giving out of fear or guilt is over. More and more we will give out of joy and with a sense of ownership. This is the family model of giving.

I see promising changes with young people. They are seeking a spiritual reality that gives them meaning. They are not interested in joining a “sect” of homogenous people who all have the same oddities and mannerisms. In the natural, if a family engages in extreme in-breeding, the generations begin to look odd and are more prone to genetic weakness. No healthy person thinks this is a good thing. Yet, in religion, people tend to cloister together in tight circles and take on the characteristics of one another. To the outside world it can look like a freak show. Is it any wonder that our young people are not interested in joining us? The hallmark of a healthy family is growth of individuality. Each person is loved and encouraged to be authentic and find their unique gifts. With my own children, I love their unique personalities and ways of expressing themselves. They bring wonderment and joy into my world. They keep me flexible and humble.

These next two years will change the face of the church. We will reject fear in every area. No longer will we hold ourselves down or back because we are waiting for someone to acknowledge or promote us. No longer will we believe the lie that we are not as important as others or that our contribution is negligible. The fact is we are supremely important to God the Father and He is going to make sure we understand that.

We are becoming authentic people who congregate with joy and give generously to other authentic people. If you are supported by donations, please stay close to God and walk in humility. We are on the brink of a level of maturity that rules. In God’s kingdom, a ruler is a son who loves. To the world, he looks like a compassionate and courageous humanitarian. When he finds injustice and pain, he explodes with brilliant solutions. He knows that he cannot force anyone to love his Father God, but he also knows that the favor upon him will compel many into the family.

By the time we reach 2012, there will be a discernable maturity in the Body of Christ. All this shaking is shifting us into relevancy!

A Journey 

I am getting feedback from readers. Some look at the cover and automatically think “novel”. It is not a novel, it is a journey. It’s like a spiritual journey into revelation. Actually, every time we enter into the presence of God in prayer, we have entered into a spiritual journey. Once the reader clicks into the cadence, they find themselves in the story. I think its best to leave your expectations behind and allow yourself to be surprised. Keep those comments coming! I will post some at a later date.