more fire

In the Old Testament book of Exodus the Lord says, “You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” This statement is fulfilled in the New Testament book of 1 Peter: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

When Jesus was crucified the temple veil was rent from top to bottom signifying that the Holy of Holies (the very presence of God) was now accessible to everyone through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Holy of Holies was the place in the Jewish temple in which God dwelt and only the priests were allowed entrance to offer sacrifices for the people. After Jesus was crucified the Levitical priesthood and the offering of sacrifices were made null and void. In fact, even in Judaism rabbis usurped the authority of priests after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD (the very last temple sacrifice was offered on August 6, 70 AD). It was at the moment of Christ’s victory (when He ascended to the Father) that believers no longer needed an earthly priest to act as our intercessor with God.

All Christian believers are in the priesthood and thus have direct access to God. The priestly lineage that extends to every true believer began with Melchizedek, culminated in Christ, and is passed directly to the believer in Christ. In Psalm 110 King David prophesied about Christ, “Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Melchizedek is described in Hebrews:

Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

We are forever priests and, like our salvation, it cannot be revoked. Jesus is both the New Jerusalem and the Temple of God through which we offer spiritual sacrifices as priests of God. If the priesthood of Aaron were effective God would not have called for a new priest and a different order. The Aaronic priesthood was founded in ancestry whereas Christ’s priesthood is founded in everlasting life. Hebrews 7: 23-25:

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save forever those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Yet many Christians still prefer tradition and empty ritual as opposed to a pure expression of worship. People dismiss the priesthood of Christ and prefer others to put on a religious show rather than to commune directly with their Lord. During these rituals the focus can easily shift from Christ to outward displays of religious piety. An evangelist espousing flowery prayers in Old English vernacular might be an articulate orator, but if he is not drawing souls towards God he is doing nothing more than esteeming himself. The same goes for Apostolics, Catholics and Coptics who wear ornate robes and big hats to perform elaborate ceremonies, but are not reaching out to the lost who need salvation through Christ. A bishop might be busy performing his administrative duties, but if our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ took time to heal the sick and call sinners to repentance so should the bishops, priests and other members of the clergy.

Neither Christ nor His apostles and disciples are known to have worn elaborate outfits to separate themselves from the people. Christ and His followers lived, ate and fellowshiped with the people. We must follow Christ’s example if we are to minister unto Him in our role as priest. Whether we are called to minister at a homeless shelter or as an usher on Sunday morning, we are ultimately ministering to our Lord.

“I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God” (Romans 15:15-17).

“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10).

Pray in the Holy Spirit to always be prayerful;
pray to be broken
and filled with His fullness;
pray to be humiliated for Christ’s sake.

His power empties the deepest ocean;
And His grace floods dry riverbeds.

All the glory and power and honor to the Most High;
praise the Lord adorned with grace and righteousness;
praise Him who reigns from His mighty throne.

In the book of Matthew a disciple of Jesus asked if he could go and bury his father. Jesus said, “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” This verse exemplifies the cost of following Jesus. When God calls, we are to accept His call and leave the business of the world to them who are dead to God.

When we are born naturally we are born into sin and death, but when we are born spiritually we receive Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is through the spiritual birth that we are allowed to enter the Kingdom of God. And when we are born spiritually we are to seek the face of God. The expression “face of God” was used by both Jews and early Christians to mean “presence of God.” Therefore, be dead to sin and seek the glorious face of God.

The Lord says, “Be holy for I am holy.” He wouldn’t command such a high calling if we weren’t able to meet it. But it is only through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, that we are able to be blameless and holy. Therefore be humble, bow before the Lord in prayer, repent and don’t return to sin, seek the will of God by diligently studying scripture, sing glory to His holy name and worship Him fervently. If you sin and are unrepentant He will withdraw from you. If you repent you will begin to draw nearer to Him and thus He will draw nearer to you. Rejoice that you are no longer dead in sin. Rejoice that you are alive in God. More fire.

Many Protestants and Catholics have become heretics because of their beliefs and practices. While most Protestants do not worship crucifixes or iconographies, they have idolized doctrine. They argue about election, grace, works, etc. They are more concerned with who has the right doctrinal interpretation rather than if they are living a life demonstrative of the Gospel. Some believers have come to worship the epistle rather than the Author. In Corinthians the apostle warns:

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Jesus says, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” We are called to be a living epistle. We are called to allow the Word of God to be written upon our heart. Do not seek the wisdom of this world, but seek the wisdom of God. “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5). This is the Holy Spirit. And this power is too often denied by Christian believers.

Like the Jewish Pharisees, scribes and hypocrites who rejected and crucified Christ, many Christians today reject the Person and power of the Holy Spirit. They justify the lack of the fire of the Holy Spirit in their own heart by arguing that the Holy Spirit and His gifts were only meant to be manifest until the completion of the New Testament books. Nowhere in scripture can a verse be found to support the argument that the Person, works, and gifts of the Holy Spirit would diminish in the church. In the book of John Jesus says:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

We are called to surrender to the Holy Spirit of God, not dictate what He can and cannot do. The flesh (intellect, cleverness, interpretions) has gotten in the way of the Spirit for too many Christians. The Christian who has denied the Person and power of the Holy Spirit needs to run to the altar, repent and be washed in the blood of the Lamb. Yield to the power of the Holy Spirit and cry, ”Lord, have Your way.”

According to a popular view of sainthood a person can only become a saint after having lived a holy life, died, performed two post-mortem miracles, been approved by a board of local bishops, are approved by the Vatican, and then, finally, the candidate is canonized as a saint. The Bible teaches that a believer is sanctified (i.e. made a saint) only by the blood of Jesus Christ. Anything else is a man-made tradition. In the book of Mark Jesus warns:

” ‘They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”

The term “saint” is used in the New Testament to refer to all Christian believers. Thus, if you believe the Word of God and confess Christ as your savior you too are sanctified by the blood of Christ. The sinner can do nothing on his own to become a saint, only believe and obey. No miracle is needed to be sanctified, only faith in Jesus Christ. So brothers and sisters, go and be saints.

This post is not intended to offend Catholics. I know many God-fearing Catholics who, I trust by their godly walk, love Christ with all their heart. This post is intended to encourage all believers to continually be consecrated to God.

When will You fill me up with wine?
My jug is empty and I’m thirsty.
Fill it and I’ll bring You more jugs to fill.
You’re too generous. My cup is overflowing.

O’ the things this wine does.

This wine lifts me up.
When others see this overflowing
they empty their jugs and hope to be filled.
This wine liberates me and keeps me from stumbling.

Like David I dance and leap before You.
Others wonder what I’m on.
I sing psalms and hymns.
Your praises fill my mouth.
You are everything.

This wine is sweet and fragrant.
It gives me new eyes and ears.
One sip sustains me,
yet I can’t get enough.
I’ve drunk so much my beard is stained purple.

O’ the things this wine does.

It has come to my attention that some preachers refuse to preach about the blood of Jesus, that whole congregations have removed from their hymnals songs referencing the blood, and that various churches have opted to be seeker-sensitive rather than Gospel-preaching in an effort to win new members. While these churches are on the rise I am compelled to testify that the blood must be preached, that the blood must be lifted up in song, and that the blood must be proclaimed to sinners who need to be washed clean of the stain of sin.

The hymn “Power in the Blood” rings as true today as it did when it was penned in 1899: “Would you be freed from the burden of sin? There’s power in the blood.” This beautiful hymn asks a provocative question and offers a profound answer. It esteems the blood and marvels at its awesome power.

There is life-giving power in the blood. The church, which is the body of Christ, is called to win souls and the only way a soul can be won is when the sins of the repentant are washed clean by the blood of Jesus. When a believer sins he must run to the blood and be cleansed. Sin cannot be hid, but it can be washed away. Repent of the sin and let Christ make you whole, but do not return to the sin lest you trample the precious blood.

Only the blood can make a believer holy. Only the blood can sanctify the saint. No miracles or works of righteousness done by the believer can sanctify. Only the blood of Jesus can sanctify the saint and make a person holy. The blood heals, washes clean, makes whole, redeems and saves the believer. It is through the blood that the believer is allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. It is through the blood that the believer is allowed direct fellowship with God. Bless the blood of Jesus. Bless His wounds and His suffering. Bless the beauty of the person who died on Calvary. Bless Christ risen and bless the atoning blood of Him who died so that all might be saved through Him. Worthy is the Lamb of God.

Let the blood flow,
let the sweet scent of incense arise,
let the humble prostrate at the throne.

O blood, wash me,
make me clean.

Lord, I seek Your face.
My name is written upon the palms of Your hands.
Look! It is written in the Book of the Lamb.

Some say, “no god but God.”
I say, “Only You my love, my Lord.”
Have Your way.
I surrender.
How could I resist.

Two years ago (this month) I arrived in New York City broke, homeless and unemployed.

My story really begins three years ago. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003 and shortly thereafter I cashed in a small pension that I had earned while working seasonally as a track maintainer at a regional railroad company. I figured it would be a long time before retirement so I decided to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

For more than six months I backpacked Europe, North Africa and the U.S. When my money ran out I took a job in South Korea teaching English in a private academy. It wasn’t long before the Korean version of the DEA arrested me and about 15 other foreign teachers on drug charges. I had smoked pot (but never purchased it), which is a felony offense in Korea.

After serving three months in their prison system and paying a hefty fine I was deported (see Seoul Survivor). I returned to Wisconsin to see my family and thank them for helping to bail me out, but I felt stagnated in Wisconsin. There was limited employment opportunity and I felt that my actions abroad had deemed me unaccountable in the eyes of my friends and family. After a month in Wisconsin I took the Amtrak to Penn Station in NYC where friends met me. I crashed on a buddy’s couch for a month before renting a small room. I then managed to start selling stories to newspapers and magazines. Life seemed to be turning around. I even landed a full-time salaried position with full benefits as the editor of a trade publication. But soon I was again unemployed and not selling stories.

I had been away from the Lord for about eight years when He called me back. I was riding the A train to work when a West Indian man started to proclaim the gospel. Normally I might have ignored him but that day it felt as if the message was directed from God to my very heart. I repented and felt immediate fellowship with my Savior. I quit writing stories (mostly music reviews and features) that did a disservice to my walk with God. Shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit I was laid off from my full-time job because the company was based in New Orleans.

Again I was unemployed. This was a real breaking point for me. I learned to pray fervently and I began to live closer to my Lord. I read scripture every day, fasted sometimes, befriended godly people, and abandonded drugs and alcohol. For six months God continued to break me. I needed work, but I didn’t want to fall back into sin. At a prayer service a pastor, whom I know to be a mighty man of prayer, prayed over me. The next day while praying the Holy Spirit reminded me to put the Lord first. The Spirit reminded me to be more mindful of God than of my need for work. I had two interviews the following week and before each interview I prayed to God and sang psalms rather than practicing what I would say to the interviewer. I was offered both jobs and the following week a third employer offered me a job.

I accepted the first two offers. Now, I work during the day in the editorial department at one of the top five most widely circulated magazines in the world. And at night I write copy for a marketing firm. All thanks and praise are due to God. Without Him I would be empty and wanting. With Him I am complete and fulfilled. Praise His holy name.

Prayer is the direct line of communication between the believer and God. It is by prayer and a dependence on the Holy Spirit that the believer continues to be formed in the image of God. It is by prayer that sin and selfish desires are decreased in the life of the believer. And it is by prayer that faith and a genuine zeal for the Lord are increased.

Communication is a two-way street. During prayer wait on the Lord and listen as much as you call on His holy name. Pour yourself out to God, but also let Him fill you. During prayer let the Holy Spirit convict you, confess sin, weep over sinners and the unsaved, petition the Lord for mighty works to be done in His name, praise Him and worship Him, and give thanks for what He will do. Either alone or in an assembly, continue to pray.

It is essential to the life of the believer to pray in private. Christ commands it: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” People are sometimes afraid to pray because they know that prayer is a time when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. It is the time when we are alone with God. We are exposed to Him and we can no longer hide what is in our heart or what we have done. This is also the time when we must give the sin to Him, to lay it on the altar. This is the time when we become unburdened through the saving power of Jesus Christ.

But when you are in the world and you are confronted with sin do not stop to pray. Run. Sin is like fire. When the house is on fire we don’t pray that the fire will be extinguished, we run. When we are confronted with tempation it is better to flee than to try to fight it with prayer. Later, when we are alone with God, give it to Him in prayer.

Come together in prayer. Sunday church service is important, but the prayer meeting is crucial. Prayer service is the time when members of the body of Christ come together to call on the name of the Lord. During prayer service we pray for the sick and afflicted to be healed, we pray for failing marriages to be restored, we pray for prodigal children to be reclaimed for the glory of God. Through prayer we encourage other believers and we worship God.

It is not by sermons or preaching, but by prayer that sinners come to the throne of grace. It is by prayer that the unsaved call upon His name and are saved. Revivals are often pre-empted by prayer. As the church body we must pray that there is a fresh spiritual awakening in this country. We must pray that Christians in America grow deeper in the Word rather than continue to stagnate at a superficial level.

We must pray for our leaders in every level of office from the local to the national level (regardless if we agree with their politics). Psalms tells us to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Pray for Jerusalem, but also pray for Beirut and Pyongyang. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted by authoritarian, antichristian regimes in Sudan and North Korea. Pray that those Christians might continue to be bold and faithful witnesses to the Word of God. Pray that there might be a breakthrough in those countries that believers might be allowed to glorify God without fear of persecution.

“Pray continually.” 1 Thessalonias 5:17

“Don’t think that I came to destroy the Law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy but to fulfill,” Matthew 5:17. The word “fulfill,” according to my trusty thesaurus, is synonymous with “complete,” “conclude” and “finish.”

Christ is the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law (the ordinances presribed in the Torah, also called the Books of Moses). Followers of Christ are not under that Law. No sacrifice, except Christ, can redeem the sinner of his/her transgressions. The believer has faith in salvation by God’s good grace. We are made complete in Christ.

The purpose of the Law was to reveal sin. Laws don’t make people better citizens. Rather they expose the criminal elements in society. Laws do not make criminals righteous just like the Mosaic Law does not draw believers closer to God. Christ did not come to condemn sinners. If he had he would have said “I come to perpetuate the Law” rather than “I come to fulfill the law.” Through Christ we are forgiven, not accused. Through him we are redeemed, not persecuted. And through him we are saved and not refused.

This rumination was inspired by a discussion of the Law I recently had with a Muslim brother.

The Kingdom of God is definitely a spiritual place. I remember when I entered the Kingdom after a long absence. I was in the middle of crossing a busy New York City street (89th Street at Amsterdam Avenue to be exact) when I finally broke and my spirit was released.

This world of sin, strife and irreligion melted away and all of a sudden I was in the presence of my Lord. The shackles that had oppressed me fell from my wrists, neck and ankles and I was liberated from the yoke of sin. I felt so free that I wanted to start running. But, because I was crossing 89th at Amsterdam, I figured it’d be best to continue walking in my casual pace.

As my body continued to walk with the mass of New Yorkers my soul was soaring with the Creator. I was fellowshiping with my Lord and Master. “No other, no other,” my heart cried. My old self died and the new birth brought forth new life born of the Spirit. This new life brought with it new eyes, new ears and a new mind.

This is my grandfather. He’s a 78-year-old bodybuilder. Watch as he tears a license plate in half with his bare hands. Recently he tore in half two license plates that were stuck together. He didn’t realize what he had done until he had finished ripping them in two. He has been bodybuilding for about half a century. Even more impressive is the fact that he has been serving God at least that long and has been married to a lovely, godly woman (my grandma) for 50 years.

“and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God,” Genesis 49:24