The Revolution Brigade

Apostle Paul writing a letter

I love how poetically simple Paul can be sometimes.  I was wondering today how so many people can call themselves apostles?  I know intellectually the biblical requirements for an apostle, but I wondered if Paul ever really discussed apostleship at length.  Then I found this little gem in 2 Corinthians 12:

I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance. (2 Cor 12: 11b-12)

Paul sure seems to think that there are a few easy ways to tell whether you are dealing with an Apostle.  He said they would be “marked” by signs, wonders, and miracles.  That’s easy enough.  Paul was also discussing, in context, how he was not inferior to the supposed “super-apostles” who were running around preaching baptism in spirits other than the Holy Spirit, and acceptance of gospels other than the gospel of Christ.  I guess they had those guys back then too.  One of the other “boasts” that Paul gave as evidence of his Apostleship:

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As a leader, one of the first things that I want to know when approaching a new task is, “How will I be graded.”  In other words, give me some performance benchmarks that I can look at and know how I’m doing.  This is an essential part of taking emotional ownership of the tasks that you are assigned, and I believe its also key to performing at a high level.  That being said, how do I know when my church is performing well?  Are there any metrics that I can use to measure the progress of my fellowship of believers?

Hopefully nobody here is dumb enough to suggest that attendance and tithe numbers are a good statistical indication of how we’re doing. If that’s you, you’ve obviously never read this blog before and may want to take a moment to do so before weighing in. 

What does the Word have to say about it?

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And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.  (Matthew 5:1-5)

Today I’d like to paint a picture of these first three beatitudes in which the first two beatitudes become a path upon which we arrive at the third.  We’ve all heard meekness exalted as a primary characteristic of Christ, and yet very few of us know what it really means or how to arrive at it.  I submit that these beatitudes are really a progression, a path if you will, and that embarking upon the first will eventually lead to the last if you stay the course.

Let me start with the first idea:  Poverty of Spirit

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God is love. (1 John 4:16b)

The following thoughts are taken from 1 Corinthians chapter 13.  I’m substituting the word “God” for the word “love.”  I don’t think this is a perversion of the context of scripture because of the declaration above found in 1 John, but I do think it’s a highly prophetic exercise that, if not processed in an etherial fashion, has the potential to transform lives.  I challenge you not to gloss over these concepts just because you’ve heard them before.  Really dig in, and let the Holy Spirit minister this to you at the heart level.

God is patient.  God is kind.

He knows that you are a perpetual work in progress, and that you are committed to becoming like Him in the long run.  He also knows that you have many layers of self to throw off in the process, and He’s not rushing you through it.  His chastisement is actually His kindness and work.  He’s committed to not leaving you like you are. 

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They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 8:11)

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 TImothy 4:2-4)

Would someone please challenge my apathy from the pulpit?

“But, you seem like a model disciple!?”

Why?  Because I have a blog about Jesus?  Because I’ve mastered the lingo and syntax of the prayer movement?  Because I lead worship or teach from the scripture?   Please.  Depending upon which hour of the day you run across me I may be apathetic, carnal, spirit-filled, full of faith, or throwing a pity party.  It doesn’t necessarily make me a bad person, you do the same thing.  Whether or not you admit it is your business.  I’m moving from glory to glory, just like everybody else.  The problem is, between glory and glory there is sometimes some inglorious stuff.  It’s just life.

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¹¹“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

 ¹²“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

I was meditating on this scripture today and the thought occurred to me that if I were to preach the pure, unadulterated Word of God the way that Jesus preached it, many people would not like me.  Jesus uttered these words out of a foreknowledge of what his disciples would go through.  Many would be crucified, beheaded, burned, tortured, murdered and exhiled for preaching the pure Word of God and the good news of the resurrection of Christ.  Do we really think so much has changed in the past centuries?

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Every once in a while I’ll do a post that is just a few links to people that I read regularly or that are part of my faith tribe.  This is a tribute to a few interesting blogs from people that I know.  You should check them out if you get a chance:

Lloyd Phillips –Lloyd is an apostolic and prophetic voice that is a good friend of my faith family.  We are definately memebers of the same “tribe,” and I defer to him as a mentor, although we really haven’t spent that much time together.  His blog covers spiritual and political matters and is updated about once per month. 

The Paraclete’s Hammer –David McNelly is a brother from another mother, so to speak.  We go back like Converse high tops, having attended the same school and grown up in the same small town.  David is a theological genius of staggering proportions, waiting to be discovered by the world at large.  Friend him now before he blows up and gets international.  Also, if you don’t know what a Paraclete is, I suggest a word study.

Brad Hayes –I can’t say that I’m really close friends with Brad Hayes, but we associate with one another via facebook and IHOP Jax.  I like the spirit on this guy, and I highly recommend following his blogging efforts. 

That’s it.  Just a quick post to recommend a few friends.

This is not the most unpopular teaching in history, this is just a tribute (sorry, I was listening to Rick Pino’s new CD, and thought how much he sounded like Jack Black, and that line just sort of happened.  Forgive me.)

I titled this post “The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing” because these thoughts first occured to me while reading A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, in the middle of a chapter called “The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing.”  I began to ponder what it might mean to actually possess nothing, and whether that is something that God would truly call me to do.

What things do I allow to sit upon the throne of my heart, usurping the rightful place of a Holy God?

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