Have you noticed the generational shift taking place in the church today? The Grahams, Schullers, Hagins, Hickeys, Robertsons, Prices, Osteens and more. The next generation of leadership is stepping up in the church. But what will this next generation of leadership be like? How will they measure up in our time? I was reminded of another generational shift in Joshua 5.
"And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched [corn] in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year." (Joshua 5:10-12)
What a transition from the leadership of Moses to the leadership of Joshua. "The manna ceased." Moses was a deliverer and Joshua a conqueror. The disposition of the people was different from one generation to the next. Moses' generation was born to slavery, and when times got tough, they always thought it would be better to go back to the good old days of slavery be the Nile. In contrast, the generation Joshua led was wilderness born, and when times got tough they always wanted to move forward into the Promise Land. Largely Moses experienced miracles of survival - manna from heaven, water from the rock, sandals that wouldn't wear out, quail from the wind. Joshua experienced miracles of conquest - the walls of Jericho crashing down, the sun standing still, overcoming enemies though being outnumbered.
It's interesting to me what punctuated this transition. "No more manna!" One day the people ate manna from the wilderness, the next day they crossed the Jordan River and they ate the produce of the Promise Land. They reaped where they had not sown. The next day the manna stopped! One day the people are living on miracles of survival, the next day they are experiencing and partaking of the fulfillment of God's promise.
What will this new generation be like in our time? Will they survive or thrive? Will this next period of the church go forward to accomplish what God has called them to, or will they constantly desire to return to what is comfortable and familiar? Will the church today do more or less for the kingdom of God? In order for us to move backwards, all we really have to do is nothing. But there is a great deal of work and responsibility in moving forward. Yes, God has given us the land. Yes, the fields are ripe unto harvest. But the people must transition from helpless wanderers to become hard working farmers who possess the land and make it produce. The responsibility of the Joshua generation is that they inherited the promise of God, but the price of the gift is to care for and maintain what has been given.
What has God given to this new generation? What inheritance have we received in Christ from the previous generation? I believe the fields are ripe unto harvest! I believe this generation has an opportunity to reap where they have not sown and advance from where our predecessors left off. But we still have work to do. Posses the land! Bring in the harvest! Sow into the next season! Pray! Win souls! Disciple! Equip the saints! Let us be the generation that truly enters in, and not falls back. Which do you want - manna or the next move of God?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Knowing God
How well do you know God? You may know about Him from what others have said. You may have done your own study and research on God, and have an academic knowledge of Him. You may even have intimate knowledge of Him based on your own personal relationship with Him.
There is yet another dimension to knowledge. It comes from the little Greek prefix “epi” as in “epi-gnosis,” which is to super-impose knowledge and thereby come to a complete and precise understanding. This knowledge is not general or informational. We have the opportunity to increase in correct spiritual knowledge (epi-gnosis) about God which is supernaturally imposed .
The Apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17 for believers, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge (epi-gnosis) of him.” We can study Him and know Him by His Word, the Holy Bible. But add to that the dimension of the indwelling presence of the God's Holy Spirit in our lives as believers. With the Spirit’s help, by giving gifts of wisdom and revelation, we can “know him better” (NIV).
When I learned about this kind of knowledge (epi-gnosis) - the super-imposition of understanding - it reminded me of my souvenir collection. Whenever I go on a trip I try to find the cheapest souvenir. I discovered for fifty-one cents I can get a smashed penny. Into the machine I put my two quarters and a copper penny which already has the image of President Lincoln. After I crank the handle it comes out of the machine thinner, stretched and with the new image of a landmark. Although there is the faint and distorted old image of Mr. Lincoln on the back, the new impression on the front is now prominent. Is that what happens when we come to the knowledge of Christ? When we seek God by the Spirit and the Word, we want to know and understand who Jesus is to us. We want to discover what the Holy Spirit wants to do in our lives. This kind of seeking changes us as God stamps His divine image on our lives! The dominant image then becomes “… Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). With this new understanding of our relationship with God, our true identity is solidified. His life becomes our life. His identity becomes our identity. His nature becomes our nature. His love becomes our love. By putting our faith in Him, we are being conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).
This super-imposition is about searching out the things of God through His Spirit within us until we become a part of Him; a partner with Him, and become a full participant in Him. Knowing the truth about God has the power to change our lives. Not through mere informational or intellectual ascent, but by the Spirit's gift of revelation knowledge. In seeking the Lord, we are being impressed upon by the Holy Spirit to come to the full and complete “knowledge (epi-gnosis) of the Son” (Eph. 4:13).
There is yet another dimension to knowledge. It comes from the little Greek prefix “epi” as in “epi-gnosis,” which is to super-impose knowledge and thereby come to a complete and precise understanding. This knowledge is not general or informational. We have the opportunity to increase in correct spiritual knowledge (epi-gnosis) about God which is supernaturally imposed .
The Apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17 for believers, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge (epi-gnosis) of him.” We can study Him and know Him by His Word, the Holy Bible. But add to that the dimension of the indwelling presence of the God's Holy Spirit in our lives as believers. With the Spirit’s help, by giving gifts of wisdom and revelation, we can “know him better” (NIV).
When I learned about this kind of knowledge (epi-gnosis) - the super-imposition of understanding - it reminded me of my souvenir collection. Whenever I go on a trip I try to find the cheapest souvenir. I discovered for fifty-one cents I can get a smashed penny. Into the machine I put my two quarters and a copper penny which already has the image of President Lincoln. After I crank the handle it comes out of the machine thinner, stretched and with the new image of a landmark. Although there is the faint and distorted old image of Mr. Lincoln on the back, the new impression on the front is now prominent. Is that what happens when we come to the knowledge of Christ? When we seek God by the Spirit and the Word, we want to know and understand who Jesus is to us. We want to discover what the Holy Spirit wants to do in our lives. This kind of seeking changes us as God stamps His divine image on our lives! The dominant image then becomes “… Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). With this new understanding of our relationship with God, our true identity is solidified. His life becomes our life. His identity becomes our identity. His nature becomes our nature. His love becomes our love. By putting our faith in Him, we are being conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).
This super-imposition is about searching out the things of God through His Spirit within us until we become a part of Him; a partner with Him, and become a full participant in Him. Knowing the truth about God has the power to change our lives. Not through mere informational or intellectual ascent, but by the Spirit's gift of revelation knowledge. In seeking the Lord, we are being impressed upon by the Holy Spirit to come to the full and complete “knowledge (epi-gnosis) of the Son” (Eph. 4:13).
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