Friday, October 7th at sundown marks the beginning of Yom Kippur. For those who haven't studied the Jewish calendar, this day marks the most important event of the year....the day when the high priest takes the blood of the sacrifice and goes into the Holy of Holies. It was a day of determination and a passing of judgement on the nation....would God extend mercy or not. During the week preceding this day, the Hebrew people would be careful to forgive all those who have wronged them over the past year. They did this because they did not want anything to hinder their prayer for mercy and their prayer for blessing on their life and nation.
I have started a practice in my life to seek the Lord, especially more diligently during this time. And I have been so blessed to hear from the Lord. This blog is to encourage you to press into the Lord, especially during this time.
Last year during Yom Kippur the Lord gave me a dream that was divided into three segments. The first part of this dream I was in a large church auditorium. The worship team had just taken the stage and began to sing. The song was to the tune of "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" but the words were different. The words were....Let me be your perfect servant, Holy Spirit smile on me...instead of...Joyful, joyful we adore thee God of glory Lord of love. When the worship team started to sing, immediately I got up and began to worship the Lord. But the congregation didn't stand. They were uninterested and dull hearted. I began asking in my heart what is wrong, why won't they stand. I began trying to encourage others around me to stand, but only a few responded. This discouraged my heart, but I kept trying to encourage others to stand.
The scene then changed in the dream, I was no longer in the church. In this scene I saw a golden statue of a woman that was nude. I was looking from the side The scene then changed again and the Lord's hand was on my heart. I felt the Lord's favor and His reassurance that He was with me. And that was the end of the dream.
Now the interpretation...much of the church is dull and not responding to the call of God to walk in holiness and purity. Why you ask? Because they have been joined to idols. The golden statue symbolized idolatry. This dullness of heart has frustrated those in the church who have responded to the call and are serving him with all they know how. And God is saying to those whose heart is right, that He is with you, his hand of favor is on you, and He will stand with you in this season. Don' be weary in well doing, because you shall reap if you faint not.
There is more to be said about the dream, but for now this is what I need to get out. The Lord bless you as you pursue Him during this season.
David
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Pauper Mentality
I've been reading the bible for more than 25 years now. However, I know in my own experience there are just some scriptures that haven't impacted me that much. There are parts of the bible that I'll read, but I don't get a lot of insight into. I don't think its because I don't want to understand, its just that the lights aren't turning on (or the elevator doors didn't open....please feel free to fill in your own funny saying here). By the way, if you have a thought on any of these blogs, please don't hesitate to comment or send me an email. I'd love to hear from you. You can put in your comments to any of the blog posts at the bottom and the blog site I'm using will help us keep a running conversation on that topic.
So, here is a scripture that I've probably read over about six or seven dozen times but never seemed to impact me....that is until just recently.
Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up: under a slave when he becomes king (Proverbs 30:21-22a NASB).
I was reading a book called "The Supernatural Ways of Royalty" by Kris Vallotton and Bill Johnson; and in this book Kris began discussing what this verse means. And then EUREKA!! God began opening up insight into what He's been doing in my life these past few months.
So why does the earth quake and cannot bear having a slave becoming a king? This verse almost sounds un-American doesn't it? Isn't that the whole touted idea that America is the place where nobodies can become somebodies? I can just see Dan Rather running a story on CNN that extolls the wonders of how a low-down skid row homeless man getting the chance of a life-time and being elevated to being the CEO of Mega-Company USA.
To understand this verse, you have to understand the "mentality" of a slave. A slave doesn't own anything, he doesn't have any rights, and he has no initiative because his time is not his own. Consequently, a slave (or paupers) internal thoughts are that he is insignificant and a user rather than a person of resource. When a person who has a slave mentality is elevated to a position of influence over others, they bring this mentality with them.
A king has tremendous influence over the destiny of the nation he rules. I'm not talking about a figure-head king, but a king that has authority to enact laws, pass judgments, and direct resources. A king's decree determines the future of how his kingdom will operate and who is elevated and who is not. A king's initiatives have far reaching and long lasting effects on his kingdom. The destiny of future generations of his kingdom is impacted by choices, decisions, and judgments made by him. In light of this influence, how the king treats his subjects becomes absolutely life changing.
To give a good illustration of this, consider the biblical story of the prodigal son. When the prodigal son returned to his father, the only thing he could express to his father was a request to have a position as a servant in the home he used to live in. His father was running to him, had a robe and ring put on him, was hugging and kissing him, the fatted calf was cooking in the background...but all the while the prodigal couldn't get past the thinking of being unworthy to be his father's son. Oh what a picture this is of the mentality of many in the church today. God wants to love on us and pour out the goodness of His heart and we're struggling with the thoughts of unworthiness. This struggle that the prodigal had and we have keeps us from receiving the over-whelming mercies and kindness that the Father has. And it keeps us from moving into the role of a son...instead we stay in the mentality of a slave even though we are a son.
We are so focused on our past mistakes and who we were, that we can't see who we are. When we accepted Jesus as our savior, we passed from death to life; old things have passed away and all things have become new. Our destiny has been changed, our heritage is now to be a partaker of the kingdom of heaven. We have passed from being a slave into being a son or daughter. There is a vast difference between being a slave and being a son or daughter. Here's just a few differences:
Please feel free to add your own slave/son differences in the comments section. I just quickly rattled off some that came to mind. But as you can see in just these brief few we have a totally different perspective of the king and his kingdom depending on our state of mind.
So, here is a scripture that I've probably read over about six or seven dozen times but never seemed to impact me....that is until just recently.
Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot bear up: under a slave when he becomes king (Proverbs 30:21-22a NASB).
I was reading a book called "The Supernatural Ways of Royalty" by Kris Vallotton and Bill Johnson; and in this book Kris began discussing what this verse means. And then EUREKA!! God began opening up insight into what He's been doing in my life these past few months.
So why does the earth quake and cannot bear having a slave becoming a king? This verse almost sounds un-American doesn't it? Isn't that the whole touted idea that America is the place where nobodies can become somebodies? I can just see Dan Rather running a story on CNN that extolls the wonders of how a low-down skid row homeless man getting the chance of a life-time and being elevated to being the CEO of Mega-Company USA.
To understand this verse, you have to understand the "mentality" of a slave. A slave doesn't own anything, he doesn't have any rights, and he has no initiative because his time is not his own. Consequently, a slave (or paupers) internal thoughts are that he is insignificant and a user rather than a person of resource. When a person who has a slave mentality is elevated to a position of influence over others, they bring this mentality with them.
A king has tremendous influence over the destiny of the nation he rules. I'm not talking about a figure-head king, but a king that has authority to enact laws, pass judgments, and direct resources. A king's decree determines the future of how his kingdom will operate and who is elevated and who is not. A king's initiatives have far reaching and long lasting effects on his kingdom. The destiny of future generations of his kingdom is impacted by choices, decisions, and judgments made by him. In light of this influence, how the king treats his subjects becomes absolutely life changing.
To give a good illustration of this, consider the biblical story of the prodigal son. When the prodigal son returned to his father, the only thing he could express to his father was a request to have a position as a servant in the home he used to live in. His father was running to him, had a robe and ring put on him, was hugging and kissing him, the fatted calf was cooking in the background...but all the while the prodigal couldn't get past the thinking of being unworthy to be his father's son. Oh what a picture this is of the mentality of many in the church today. God wants to love on us and pour out the goodness of His heart and we're struggling with the thoughts of unworthiness. This struggle that the prodigal had and we have keeps us from receiving the over-whelming mercies and kindness that the Father has. And it keeps us from moving into the role of a son...instead we stay in the mentality of a slave even though we are a son.
We are so focused on our past mistakes and who we were, that we can't see who we are. When we accepted Jesus as our savior, we passed from death to life; old things have passed away and all things have become new. Our destiny has been changed, our heritage is now to be a partaker of the kingdom of heaven. We have passed from being a slave into being a son or daughter. There is a vast difference between being a slave and being a son or daughter. Here's just a few differences:
- A slave takes orders; a son gives orders
- A slave is directed; a son is consulted
- A slave knows actions; a son knows the heart
- A slave knows the decree; a son knows the plan
- A slave has limited access; a son has access to everything
- A slave carries out directions; a son sets the course of action
- A slave sees the king; a son lives with the king
- A slave fears the king; a son loves the king
- A slave operates through obedience; a son operates out of relationship
Please feel free to add your own slave/son differences in the comments section. I just quickly rattled off some that came to mind. But as you can see in just these brief few we have a totally different perspective of the king and his kingdom depending on our state of mind.
When a slave is elevated to a position of influence over others, they will treat others as they see themselves. They will treat others as insignificant and unable to think creatively. A slave will quickly dismiss the importance of his influence over others not realizing that he is affecting the destiny of those he has been put in charge of. This can be very tragic. Very tragic.
Not only will a slave treat others as insignificant, but he will not recognize the value and importance of resources given to him. And he will interpret events and the actions of others through the lens of poverty. This mentality will affect the big things, the little things, and everything in between.
I wish I didn't have experience understanding this pauper mentality, but unfortunately I do. Here is a most recent example of how this type thinking affects us. For the past few months I have been woken in the middle of the night, feeling God's presence in my bedroom. For a while this was bothering me because I wasn't getting any particular message from God. So why was I bothered....glad you asked. I began thinking I must be dull or something is wrong with me that I couldn't hear what God was saying. And then after several months, it finally dawned on me that maybe...just maybe God was showing me His presence because He wants to just be with me. The pauper says, "something is wrong". The son says, "Hey Papa, I love you".
Do you think that just maybe sometimes God wants to just hang out with you? Love on you without having to have an agenda? The son says yes; the pauper says maybe (with a little fear of angering the king).
This mentality has to go for us to live in the glorious liberty that God intends for us to live in. It is absolutely critical for us to be healed in this area of our lives. This mentality will affect everything we do and how we treat the world around us. God intends for us to shine the brightness of His glorious liberty to all of creation and particularly those held captive by Satanic deception.
Blessings to you!!
Not only will a slave treat others as insignificant, but he will not recognize the value and importance of resources given to him. And he will interpret events and the actions of others through the lens of poverty. This mentality will affect the big things, the little things, and everything in between.
I wish I didn't have experience understanding this pauper mentality, but unfortunately I do. Here is a most recent example of how this type thinking affects us. For the past few months I have been woken in the middle of the night, feeling God's presence in my bedroom. For a while this was bothering me because I wasn't getting any particular message from God. So why was I bothered....glad you asked. I began thinking I must be dull or something is wrong with me that I couldn't hear what God was saying. And then after several months, it finally dawned on me that maybe...just maybe God was showing me His presence because He wants to just be with me. The pauper says, "something is wrong". The son says, "Hey Papa, I love you".
Do you think that just maybe sometimes God wants to just hang out with you? Love on you without having to have an agenda? The son says yes; the pauper says maybe (with a little fear of angering the king).
This mentality has to go for us to live in the glorious liberty that God intends for us to live in. It is absolutely critical for us to be healed in this area of our lives. This mentality will affect everything we do and how we treat the world around us. God intends for us to shine the brightness of His glorious liberty to all of creation and particularly those held captive by Satanic deception.
Blessings to you!!
Friday, August 26, 2011
The Kingdom is Yours
In my quiet times with the Lord lately I have been considering the tremendous blessings outlined in the first few chapters of Ephesians. If you ever have self-doubts about God's love or wondering what God "really, really" thinks about you, Ephesians chapters 1-3 has some surprising and soul stabilizing answers. However, you can't just skim these chapters and expect to get all the "nutrients" for your spirit that God intends for you to get.
These are prime "soaking" chapters. In fact I'm finding it hard to make it much past the first few verses in chapter one as I ponder the implications of what the Holy Spirit is saying through Paul. Here are just a few of my thoughts.
Ephesians 1:3 (NLT) states, "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ."
For you KJV, NIV and NASB users, there is very little difference in all these translations for this verse. All of them agree, God is to be praised because He has blessed us with every (or all) spiritual blessings in heaven because we are in Christ.
So, what does this mean? I've read some commentators that want to limit the believers experience to receiving these blessings once we're in heaven, since in their mind that's where these blessings are. Other commentators have a narrow view that these spiritual blessings are a legal position that we hold before God in the courts of heaven.
As in all cases, scripture must interpret scripture. In order to fully comprehend what the Holy Spirit is leading us to understand, we have to review the context of this passage and we have to shed light on this passage by reviewing what God declares in other places in the bible on this subject.
Context of Ephesians 1:3
Like most writers, Paul starts us off with a powerful statement which is the subject of what he is wanting to speak to us about. Behind that powerful subject, Paul then provides supporting evidence so that the reader will understand what is moving Paul's heart to write. The subject Paul starts with is that God is to be praised because He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings BECAUSE I am in Christ. All of these blessings are for the believer, those who have accepted Christ as their savior. So here is a brief listing of supporting spiritual blessings Paul gives in this passage.
- God chose us in Christ. God planned this before the world was made (Eph 1:4a)
- I stand before God in love and without blame (Eph 1:4b)
- I was predestined as an adopted son or daughter in Christ (Eph 1:5a)
- God delights in choosing and placing me in love before Him (Eph 1:5b) - (Or in other words, I have a happy Papa who wants to bless me)
- I am accepted in Christ (Eph 1:6b)
- I am redeemed through His blood (Eph 1:7a)
- I am forgiven because of His grace (Eph 1:7b)
- God's wisdom and prudence has been abundantly poured out for my benefit (Eph 1:8) - Don't skip over this one. Again it shows the motive of God's heart and how he looks at you and I.
- God wants us to know the mystery of His will (Eph 1:9) - Or in other words He is imparting spiritual understanding to us so that His heart is revealed.
- I have obtained an inheritance (Eph 1:11)
- The inheritance God gives me will bring Him praise (Eph 1:12) - He blesses me, I bless Him and round and round it goes. It's like a "glory-go-round."
- I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, which is the "down payment" of my inheritance. (Eph 1:13-14)
Wow, when you get to the end of just this brief listing you have to be over-whelmed with all these thoughts (if you're not overwhelmed you could be dead). No wonder Paul's next few statements were a prayer that God would open up our understanding by giving us the spirit of wisdom and revelation. We need to comprehend what God has done for us by placing us in Christ.
As you were reading through this listing, I hope that what began to take place in your heart was you started seeing that God's spiritual blessings permeate your past, present and future. God wasn't just giving you something to look forward to and God wasn't just giving you a legal standing. He accomplished the redemption of "all" of you, including where you are right now.
If Paul were to list and expound upon all of the spiritual blessings that God imparted to us through His son, the book of Ephesians would have no end. We serve an infinite God. There is no possible way that Paul touched on all of these blessings. He was just skimming the surface, hitting on big categories, or you could say serving the appetizer. Each one of these Paul mentions are like springboards into oceans of blessing adventure that God is beckoning us to explore. I really think that's why Paul started to sum up these thoughts with a prayer, "OH GOD OPEN UP THE EYES OF OUR UNDERSTANDING. GIVE US THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION. WE NEED TO SEE MORE."
Other Supporting Bible Passages
When I started this blog, I had thought about covering other bible supporting passages here. But after getting to this point I realized there's so much more to be explored in the sections above that I can't cover it all in one blog post. So I'll just list a few supporting passages below and cover these topics and those left uncovered above in further blog posts.
- Luke 12:32 - Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
- Daniel 7:18 - But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
- Daniel 7:27 - And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.
- John 17:22,23 - The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
- Galatians 4:7 - Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Blessings to you,
David
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Who Am I - Part 3
Growing up I remember hearing the story of "The Ugly Duckling." The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from his neighbors until, much to his delight (and to the surprise of others), he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. The story is beloved around the world as a tale about personal transformation for the better.[1] “The Ugly Duckling” was first published 11 November 1843 with three other tales by Hans Christian Andersen in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In many ways, christians resemble the "ugly ducking" in this fairy tale. We were born in sin and lived in sin until we were born again. After receiving Christ as our savior, we were transformed into a new creature, something that the world doesn't understand because its not familiar with this "new creation" which God has made.
You know it's funny how the world wants to tell you who you are. There isn't any lack of opinion coming from your peers, co-workers, neighbors, strangers, and relatives to let you know who they think you are. And we also have the former barnyard animals (the devil and his minions) constantly trying to define who you are and what your limitations are. If we are not careful, these voices will define us before we ever find out what our identity truly is. You know another funny thing is that the world and the devil have no ability to see the future. So how do they know who we are and who we are going to become? Truth is, they don't have a clue. They don't know the future and neither one has the ability to see into the depths of your soul to know who you really are.
Abram didn't know who he was until God spoke to him while he was 75 years old and living in the city of Haran with his dad and other relatives. At that time God began telling Abram that he was going to become a great nation, a blessing to the peoples of the earth, and he would be blessed. Later when Abram was still without child God told him that he would be multiplied as the stars of the heavens. And Abram believed God. Against all rationale thinking and logic, he believed the report that God gave him.
David was a young man tending sheep in the valley when one day his older brother called out and told him that a man wanted to meet him back at the house. When David showed up back at the house an older gentleman walked over, took out a flask of oil, poured it on his head and pronounced that he would be the next king of Israel. David had no clue he was supposed to be a king until God pronounced it through the prophet Samuel.
Gideon was grinding wheat at the winepress, just hoping that he wouldn't be caught by the Midianites. Then all of a sudden an angelic being showed up at the winepress and declared that Gideon was a mighty man of valor. What!! You mean the scaredy-cat Gideon. No, God said he was a mighty man of valor. And Gideon believed (after much convincing) that what God said was true.
There are so many powerful declarations in the word of God about who we are. When we accepted Christ, we entered into an awesome inheritance. Our destiny was changed, our character was redeemed, and our identity was baptized into Christ.
I've listed just a few of these declarations below, but I encourage you to go and spend time gathering together what God declares about you. You need to know who you are. Because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. If you are constantly thinking something contrary to what God declares, it will affect what you do. The ugly duckling didn't realize it was a Swan capable of beautiful and graceful swimming. Until somebody told the Swan who he was he kept goofing around the barnyard trying to fit in with all the other ducks but all the time feeling awkward and out of place. Likewise, you'll not walk in all the capacity for which God has made you when you have wrong thinking about who you are. God has made you into a valiant warrior, capable of walking in all the spiritual blessings of heaven. And capable of bringing the reality of heaven down to the earth where God has placed us for a season.
Oh, rise up mighty man and woman of God. The hour is short, and heaven is at hand. Lift up your eyes unto the harvest and go forth laboring in the Lord's fields that He's placed before you.
Who Are You?
In many ways, christians resemble the "ugly ducking" in this fairy tale. We were born in sin and lived in sin until we were born again. After receiving Christ as our savior, we were transformed into a new creature, something that the world doesn't understand because its not familiar with this "new creation" which God has made.
You know it's funny how the world wants to tell you who you are. There isn't any lack of opinion coming from your peers, co-workers, neighbors, strangers, and relatives to let you know who they think you are. And we also have the former barnyard animals (the devil and his minions) constantly trying to define who you are and what your limitations are. If we are not careful, these voices will define us before we ever find out what our identity truly is. You know another funny thing is that the world and the devil have no ability to see the future. So how do they know who we are and who we are going to become? Truth is, they don't have a clue. They don't know the future and neither one has the ability to see into the depths of your soul to know who you really are.
Abram didn't know who he was until God spoke to him while he was 75 years old and living in the city of Haran with his dad and other relatives. At that time God began telling Abram that he was going to become a great nation, a blessing to the peoples of the earth, and he would be blessed. Later when Abram was still without child God told him that he would be multiplied as the stars of the heavens. And Abram believed God. Against all rationale thinking and logic, he believed the report that God gave him.
David was a young man tending sheep in the valley when one day his older brother called out and told him that a man wanted to meet him back at the house. When David showed up back at the house an older gentleman walked over, took out a flask of oil, poured it on his head and pronounced that he would be the next king of Israel. David had no clue he was supposed to be a king until God pronounced it through the prophet Samuel.
Gideon was grinding wheat at the winepress, just hoping that he wouldn't be caught by the Midianites. Then all of a sudden an angelic being showed up at the winepress and declared that Gideon was a mighty man of valor. What!! You mean the scaredy-cat Gideon. No, God said he was a mighty man of valor. And Gideon believed (after much convincing) that what God said was true.
There are so many powerful declarations in the word of God about who we are. When we accepted Christ, we entered into an awesome inheritance. Our destiny was changed, our character was redeemed, and our identity was baptized into Christ.
I've listed just a few of these declarations below, but I encourage you to go and spend time gathering together what God declares about you. You need to know who you are. Because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. If you are constantly thinking something contrary to what God declares, it will affect what you do. The ugly duckling didn't realize it was a Swan capable of beautiful and graceful swimming. Until somebody told the Swan who he was he kept goofing around the barnyard trying to fit in with all the other ducks but all the time feeling awkward and out of place. Likewise, you'll not walk in all the capacity for which God has made you when you have wrong thinking about who you are. God has made you into a valiant warrior, capable of walking in all the spiritual blessings of heaven. And capable of bringing the reality of heaven down to the earth where God has placed us for a season.
Oh, rise up mighty man and woman of God. The hour is short, and heaven is at hand. Lift up your eyes unto the harvest and go forth laboring in the Lord's fields that He's placed before you.
Who Are You?
- You are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph 2:10)
- You are blessed with every spiritual blessing found in heaven since you are in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:3)
- You are a son or daughter of God, adopted through Jesus Christ (Eph 1:5)
- You are accepted in the beloved (Eph 1:6)
- You are no longer a stranger, but a fellow citizen of heaven with the saints and members of God's household (Eph 2:19)
- You are an heir with the Father and a joint heir with Christ (Gal 4:6-7)
- You are reconciled to God and an ambassador of reconciliation for Him ((2 Cor 5:18-19)
- You are a temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor 3:16, 6:19)
- You are chosen and ordained by Jesus to bear fruit (John 15:16)
- You are the salt of the earth (Matt 5:13)
- You are the light of the world (Matt 5:14)
- You are more than a conqueror through Christ (Rom 8:37)
- You are seated in heavenly places in Christ (Eph 2:6)
- You are part of the bride of Christ and am making yourself ready for Him (Rev 19:7)
Friday, July 29, 2011
Confirmation of Messages Given
God is so good. He is such a wonderful God, who confirms His word with signs following. In just the past 12 hours God has confirmed the last three posts I placed on this blog. Just as a quick glimpse I wanted to post this blog to show you how. I'll give more details later, but I thought this was so significant that I needed to put a quick post together.
I was invited to attend a special meeting in Pittsburgh Thursday night (July 28), where Patricia King was going to minister to area pastors and intercessors. Patricia ministered on a variety of subjects, but the main thing on her heart she shared was on the divine plan God has put in motion for man. She started with God's call for man to bear His likeness and have dominion over all the activities that occur in the earth (Genesis 1). So the main revelation she was emphasizing is exactly the topics of the "Who Am I" posts that the Lord put on my heart to share earlier this week. By the way, I haven't even gotten to 1/10th of the download I have from the Lord on this subject. But I'll get it out as I have time to post. Go God!!
CNN came out with an article today on how quickly man is multiplying on the earth. A Harvard University professor announced this week that the earth's population will hit 7 billion people this year. Which is quite remarkable, considering that the earth's population was roughly 2.5 billion in 1950. I see this article that came out this week (not a coincidence) as confirmation of the "Who Am I - Part 2" post.
What's even cooler about all of this? I had been considering creating a blog for a few years but never had gotten to it. Just this past couple of weeks I felt a sense of urgency to start. And the last few nights when I did write, I felt a holy urgency to get these blogs out. Go God!! He is so good.
Here is a reproduction of the CNN article that came out this morning on the earth's population.
******************
The world's growth has been dramatic: It was just in 1999 that the global population reached 6 billion. United Nations projections call for the population to reach 10.1 billion in 2100, according to David Bloom, a professor of economics and demography at the Harvard School of Public Health, in an article published in the July 29 issue of Science.
By 2050, about 2.3 billion more people will be added, nearly as many as the total living on the globe as recently as 1950, Bloom said. Humanity grew slowly through most of history, taking until 1800 for the population to hit 1 billion.
In the past half-century, the population grew from 3 billion to about 7 billion.
Forecasts call for the world's "demographic center of gravity" to shift from more-developed to less-developed regions, Bloom wrote in his article, according to a Harvard news release.
This means the developing world will face hardships in providing food, water, housing and energy to their growing populations, with repercussions for health, security and economic growth.
"The demographic picture is indeed complex, and poses some formidable challenges," Bloom said.
"Those challenges are not insurmountable, but we cannot deal with them by sticking our heads in the sand. We have to tackle some tough issues ranging from the unmet need for contraception among hundreds of millions of women and the huge knowledge-action gaps we see in the area of child survival, to the reform of retirement policy and the development of global immigration policy. It's just plain irresponsible to sit by idly while humankind experiences full force the perils of demographic change," Bloom said.
In the next 40 years, virtually all (97%) of the world's 2.3 billion projected increase will be in the underdeveloped regions, with nearly half (49%) in Africa.
Meanwhile, the populations of more developed countries will remain flat. As those peoples age, however, there will be fewer working-age adults to support retirees living on social pensions, Bloom said.
"Although the issues immediately confronting developing countries are different from those facing the rich countries, in a globalized world demographic challenges anywhere are demographic challenges everywhere," Bloom wrote.
In 2011, about 135 million people will be born and 57 million will die -- a net increase of 78 million.
I was invited to attend a special meeting in Pittsburgh Thursday night (July 28), where Patricia King was going to minister to area pastors and intercessors. Patricia ministered on a variety of subjects, but the main thing on her heart she shared was on the divine plan God has put in motion for man. She started with God's call for man to bear His likeness and have dominion over all the activities that occur in the earth (Genesis 1). So the main revelation she was emphasizing is exactly the topics of the "Who Am I" posts that the Lord put on my heart to share earlier this week. By the way, I haven't even gotten to 1/10th of the download I have from the Lord on this subject. But I'll get it out as I have time to post. Go God!!
CNN came out with an article today on how quickly man is multiplying on the earth. A Harvard University professor announced this week that the earth's population will hit 7 billion people this year. Which is quite remarkable, considering that the earth's population was roughly 2.5 billion in 1950. I see this article that came out this week (not a coincidence) as confirmation of the "Who Am I - Part 2" post.
What's even cooler about all of this? I had been considering creating a blog for a few years but never had gotten to it. Just this past couple of weeks I felt a sense of urgency to start. And the last few nights when I did write, I felt a holy urgency to get these blogs out. Go God!! He is so good.
Here is a reproduction of the CNN article that came out this morning on the earth's population.
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Earth to hit 7 billion mark this year, straining developing regions
(CNN) -- Earth will become home to 7 billion people later this year, and most of the planet's growth will affect the developing countries the most, straining those regions' limited resources, a Harvard University professor said Thursday.The world's growth has been dramatic: It was just in 1999 that the global population reached 6 billion. United Nations projections call for the population to reach 10.1 billion in 2100, according to David Bloom, a professor of economics and demography at the Harvard School of Public Health, in an article published in the July 29 issue of Science.
By 2050, about 2.3 billion more people will be added, nearly as many as the total living on the globe as recently as 1950, Bloom said. Humanity grew slowly through most of history, taking until 1800 for the population to hit 1 billion.
In the past half-century, the population grew from 3 billion to about 7 billion.
Forecasts call for the world's "demographic center of gravity" to shift from more-developed to less-developed regions, Bloom wrote in his article, according to a Harvard news release.
This means the developing world will face hardships in providing food, water, housing and energy to their growing populations, with repercussions for health, security and economic growth.
"The demographic picture is indeed complex, and poses some formidable challenges," Bloom said.
"Those challenges are not insurmountable, but we cannot deal with them by sticking our heads in the sand. We have to tackle some tough issues ranging from the unmet need for contraception among hundreds of millions of women and the huge knowledge-action gaps we see in the area of child survival, to the reform of retirement policy and the development of global immigration policy. It's just plain irresponsible to sit by idly while humankind experiences full force the perils of demographic change," Bloom said.
In the next 40 years, virtually all (97%) of the world's 2.3 billion projected increase will be in the underdeveloped regions, with nearly half (49%) in Africa.
Meanwhile, the populations of more developed countries will remain flat. As those peoples age, however, there will be fewer working-age adults to support retirees living on social pensions, Bloom said.
"Although the issues immediately confronting developing countries are different from those facing the rich countries, in a globalized world demographic challenges anywhere are demographic challenges everywhere," Bloom wrote.
In 2011, about 135 million people will be born and 57 million will die -- a net increase of 78 million.
But uncertainly exists about the global projections, Bloom wrote. Depending on whether the number of births per woman continues to decline, population predictions for 2050 span from 8.1 billion to 10.6 billion, and the 2100 projections vary from 6.2 billion to 15.8 billion, Bloom said.
CNN's Michael Martinez contributed to this report.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Who Am I - Part 2
Last night I was meditating on the concept of multiplication. In the garden, one of the charges God gave to man was that he was to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it. And before this occurred, the Lord had made man in His own image. He gave man His likeness and told man to go and multiply. Too often church history has focused on this passage to come to the conclusion that God was interested in man physically filling the earth. While God was certainly commanding that man physically multiply, I also believe this was a directive for man to multiply spiritually. Because when God made man, he made him a being that had a body, soul and spirit.
From two humans and over a few thousand years, man has multiplied to over 6.5 billion people!! That's some multiplication in the physical realm. But how about the spirit realm? What's occurring there? To understand this better, I like using examples. My wife and I were married 23 years ago. During our marriage we have been blessed with 4 beautiful daughters. So in the physical realm, the union of 2 became 6. Or you can say that we multiplied by a factor of 3 times (2 x 3 = 6). For the average American family, that's not too bad. For the largest family I know of, the union of 2 became 12, or they multiplied by a factor of 6. However, the physical realm is limited in how much it can multiply. For example, a woman only produces so much seed during her lifetime. So at the maximum potential a couple could multiply by 20 or 30 times. Unheard of yes, but we are just exploring possibilities.
However, the spiritual realm has infinite capacity to multiply. One of God's calls is that we are to be conformed to the image of His son (Romans 8:29). This means that God is in the process of redeeming our character to the point that not only will we be saved, but we will take on the very likeness of Jesus Himself. This isn't being done in the physical realm, but in the soul and spirit of man. And since Jesus is infinite (without limitations), this then becomes our potential. That's something to chew on. But lets bring this down to a practical example to understand the multiplication of Jesus in and through us.
Suppose I do something kind for someone today. By my action of kindness, I affect someone else. Maybe that someone else had a bad attitude. However, my act of kindness turned their heart and helped them overcome depression or anger. My kind act resulted in the multiplication of Godly character in another human being. But just suppose I do something kind that is witnessed by ten people at one time. I now have affected ten with Godly character. And what happens when those ten affect someone else? The increase of Godly character is multiplied several times over. This is a simple example, but I think it illustrates the potential that God has given to man. We have the ability to multiply the likeness of God beyond our wildest imagination.
A sobering thought is that God gave man the ability to multiply, however, when lucifer deceived Adam and Eve another multiplication variable was introduced. Now man can either multiply the character of God or the character of lucifer. Regardless which character man chooses, the end result is that man will multiply.
So, who are you? Or in keeping with this blog thought, who are you multiplying?
Blessings to you!
P.S. Much more to come on the "Who Am I" topic
From two humans and over a few thousand years, man has multiplied to over 6.5 billion people!! That's some multiplication in the physical realm. But how about the spirit realm? What's occurring there? To understand this better, I like using examples. My wife and I were married 23 years ago. During our marriage we have been blessed with 4 beautiful daughters. So in the physical realm, the union of 2 became 6. Or you can say that we multiplied by a factor of 3 times (2 x 3 = 6). For the average American family, that's not too bad. For the largest family I know of, the union of 2 became 12, or they multiplied by a factor of 6. However, the physical realm is limited in how much it can multiply. For example, a woman only produces so much seed during her lifetime. So at the maximum potential a couple could multiply by 20 or 30 times. Unheard of yes, but we are just exploring possibilities.
However, the spiritual realm has infinite capacity to multiply. One of God's calls is that we are to be conformed to the image of His son (Romans 8:29). This means that God is in the process of redeeming our character to the point that not only will we be saved, but we will take on the very likeness of Jesus Himself. This isn't being done in the physical realm, but in the soul and spirit of man. And since Jesus is infinite (without limitations), this then becomes our potential. That's something to chew on. But lets bring this down to a practical example to understand the multiplication of Jesus in and through us.
Suppose I do something kind for someone today. By my action of kindness, I affect someone else. Maybe that someone else had a bad attitude. However, my act of kindness turned their heart and helped them overcome depression or anger. My kind act resulted in the multiplication of Godly character in another human being. But just suppose I do something kind that is witnessed by ten people at one time. I now have affected ten with Godly character. And what happens when those ten affect someone else? The increase of Godly character is multiplied several times over. This is a simple example, but I think it illustrates the potential that God has given to man. We have the ability to multiply the likeness of God beyond our wildest imagination.
A sobering thought is that God gave man the ability to multiply, however, when lucifer deceived Adam and Eve another multiplication variable was introduced. Now man can either multiply the character of God or the character of lucifer. Regardless which character man chooses, the end result is that man will multiply.
So, who are you? Or in keeping with this blog thought, who are you multiplying?
Blessings to you!
P.S. Much more to come on the "Who Am I" topic
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Who Am I - Part 1
Perhaps one of the more perplexing questions that men and women ask themselves is “Who Am I Really?” There are many self-actualization courses taught on college and university campuses, psychology books written on the subject, and a professional speaking industry that focuses on discovering who you are.
Lately I find myself pondering this subject. I believe the Holy Spirit is leading me to consider this topic because He has something to show me regarding what God has to say on the matter.
My family and I recently went on a mission trip to Costa Rica. While I was there, I spoke at a church in El Roble regarding the topic of “What is God’s Purpose For You.” In Genesis 1 we find that God made man in His image and likeness. I wondered about this phrase. In studying the scripture I’ve come to find out that God is really big! The earth is His footstool the scripture declares. And more than that, the book of Job declares that God measures the heavens (the universe) with a span. The span is the measurement captured by the stretch of a person’s hand and calculating the distance between the end of the thumb and the tip of the pinky finger. Whoa...that means that God’s hands are big enough to measure the universe. So the meaning of being made in His likeness and image doesn’t mean I am equal in physical size and appearance. I believe God was referring to His personality and abilities. He made us to bear His image, or reflect His character in the earth. Of course this was defiled by Lucifer early on, but the fact God made us originally this way should not be overlooked. In fact, as you study scripture you’ll find that God has been in the process of bringing man back to this original design...that we should bear His likeness in the earth.
Then He spoke about man’s duties. Man was to go and multiply and have dominion over all the activity on the face of the earth. Oh what a glorious plan God set in motion! Having dominion means that we are to influence and have authority over everything that is taking place in the earth. I like to consider this as we are to influence every aspect of creation whether that is social networks, government, education, civic planning, or child rearing.
If you don’t mind me paraphrasing these two thoughts I will take liberty. God made us to carry His character into every situation of life and allow His character to influence everything that occurs on this planet. We are to multiply the image of our glorious God throughout the whole earth. Too many times the Genesis 1 creation story has focused on man physically multiplying. That is too small of an understanding. God intends for the whole earth to be filled with His glory and He wants to use man as the primary vehicle to bring this forth.
You and I have a ministry that is yet to be fulfilled. God has been waiting from the beginning for us to enter in to His original design for creating man. He has called us to be carriers of The Most High God, Ruler of Heaven and Earth. Romans 8 declares that all of creation is groaning waiting for the manifestation of the glorious liberty of the sons and daughters of God. To the extent that we have allowed the Lord to purge us from our flesh and birth the character of Jesus in us, to that extent we are walking in this manifestation that Romans 8 declares that creation is anxiously waiting for.
So who are you really? I think this question can only be properly answered as we understand God’s purpose for who we were created to be.
Stay tuned for the next blog post...this is a big topic and there is more to be said. On the next blog I want to explore what God declares regarding Who You Are.
Blessings to you!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
A Dream of Trumpets
In 2008 the Lord gave me a dream where I was standing in a church in Butler, PA. I was looking toward the front of the church and all across the front were lined hundreds of trumpets. As I looked I noticed that these trumpets had a most unusual shape. They were circular in the middle and the mouthpiece and the horn both came out on the same side. I had never seen anything like this before so I wasn't sure what type of horn it was. And then as I was pondering the meaning of the unusually shaped horn I heard a voice speak over the church. And it said, "Who will take this authority?" And that was the end of the dream.
The next day I began to research what kind of trumpet I saw in this dream. I found through research that this was a Vienna horn. So I began research on what the Vienna horn meant. Most trumpets are tuned to the key of G, but the Vienna horn is tuned to the key of F. Because of this, it has a different sound that is highly desirable. This horn is used in special orchestra arrangements that is played in Austrian concerts that is broadcast to over one billion people on the planet.
In the bible a trumpet was used to sound the alarm, to call God's people to order, or to be a way of announcing that a special message was about to be given. I believe this dream was God pronouncing that a billion soul harvest is about to take place in the earth. After I had learned about the Vienna horn, I began to research the thought of a billion soul harvest. And to my surprise there are several ministries currently pursuing this objective. Do a search on the words "billion soul harvest" to find links to other ministries pursuing this call from God.
I'd like for you to consider this, however. In the dream the message from God was "Who will take this authority?" There are many trumpets, many messages that need to be sounded. There are many ministries that need to be activated in order to bring forth a harvest of this size. The trumpets I saw at the front of the church weren't guarded. They were available to anyone who will pursue. Of course, in any action a choice is made. We have to choose to pursue Him in order to lay hold of the trumpet. Who will take it? Will you? God's intention is that He will fill His house. And He's making it available to you to join Him in this pursuit. The fields are white for the harvest. Pray that God would send forth laborers into His harvest.
Blessings to you!
The next day I began to research what kind of trumpet I saw in this dream. I found through research that this was a Vienna horn. So I began research on what the Vienna horn meant. Most trumpets are tuned to the key of G, but the Vienna horn is tuned to the key of F. Because of this, it has a different sound that is highly desirable. This horn is used in special orchestra arrangements that is played in Austrian concerts that is broadcast to over one billion people on the planet.
In the bible a trumpet was used to sound the alarm, to call God's people to order, or to be a way of announcing that a special message was about to be given. I believe this dream was God pronouncing that a billion soul harvest is about to take place in the earth. After I had learned about the Vienna horn, I began to research the thought of a billion soul harvest. And to my surprise there are several ministries currently pursuing this objective. Do a search on the words "billion soul harvest" to find links to other ministries pursuing this call from God.
I'd like for you to consider this, however. In the dream the message from God was "Who will take this authority?" There are many trumpets, many messages that need to be sounded. There are many ministries that need to be activated in order to bring forth a harvest of this size. The trumpets I saw at the front of the church weren't guarded. They were available to anyone who will pursue. Of course, in any action a choice is made. We have to choose to pursue Him in order to lay hold of the trumpet. Who will take it? Will you? God's intention is that He will fill His house. And He's making it available to you to join Him in this pursuit. The fields are white for the harvest. Pray that God would send forth laborers into His harvest.
Blessings to you!
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