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Blog Archive - March 2010

The archives of The Sun Will Rise, organized by month.

Mar
30

The joy of humility

I’ve blogged several times in the past on humility, but I wanted to write about it again today because I am convinced that it is one of the primary things the Lord is highlighting to me personally and to the body of Christ in this season.

So often we just look at humility as going as low as possible, gritting our teeth and pasting a smile on our face as we endure a difficult situation, person, or circumstance. Yes, embracing humility is difficult. There are moments where our pride begins to rise up and say “No! I deserve better! I have better skill! I can say it better! I can do it better! I have more experience! This is my calling!” Humility goes against the grain of every fiber of our fallen, sinful nature. But God is not out to hurt our pride, as the old proverb goes. He is out to kill it.

God ordains seasons of difficulty, discord, and dissension to train us in humility. But God’s definition of humility is so much more than just “going low”. Yes, that is part of it. But in God’s eyes, humility is embracing the lowest place and finding great joy and delight there. It’s finding joy unspeakable in the last place - in the place of demotion, being overlooked, being misunderstood, or being hurt by another.

Mar
23

Hope, our anchor in discouragement

On Sunday, the United States Congress passed a bill that allows federal funds to be used for abortions. President Obama will sign that bill into law today. Many look at this new reform as a severe blow to the long-time efforts of lobbyists, activists, and the pro-life movement in America. Some in the church of Jesus are also very discouraged, as many have been contending in prayer for righteous leaders, the ending of abortion, and the reversal of the “death decree” to babies in the womb for years.

While this is certainly disappointing news to me, it is not surprising nor does it come unexpectedly to me. In fact, it should never surprise us that the unredeemed behave wickedly and unrighteously. It’s so easy to look at the world’s unrighteousness, assume that it is the church’s mandate to “fix it” through prayer, intercession, and dominion, and then end up disillusioned, discouraged, and unhopeful when these things we contend so earnestly for do not come to pass as we pray.

But the Bible is so clear - Jesus the Messiah alone is the only one qualified, capable, and worthy to drive darkness off the face of the planet. No matter how many signs and wonders we see, how many laws change or don't change, how many cities experience revival or transformation, or how many new converts to Christianity we see in the coming years, I want to make it clear - things will never be okay here until He returns.

In times of discouragement (and even in times when things seem to be going “well”), it’s critical for us to set our minds on the “hope to which we have been called” (Eph. 1:18), and to once again “rest our hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to [us] at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13), lest we become “weary and discouraged in [our] souls” (Heb. 12:3). Our hope lies in the age to come, not in this age in any way.

Mar
16

Awakening and renewal - the big picture

The Lord is clearly moving in an unusual way in our world today. From churches and college campuses in Kansas City, Texas, and Atlanta to New England, Redding, California, and many places even across the globe, there is an unprecedented move of the Holy Spirit taking place. God is revealing Himself to His church as the joyful Father that loves to heal bodies and restore our hearts to the place where we truly believe in His love for us.

I love the extended meetings we’ve been having here at IHOP-KC. The Holy Spirit touches us in so many different ways. Some are weeping, some laughing, some completely overwhelmed by the Lord just laying on the floor, and some clearly being shaken around by angels or something, who knows… (See this blog category page for more of my thoughts on “manifestations” of the Holy Spirit) The Lord has healed many bodies and even more hearts to receive and believe His love. Just as Jesus said, the “wheat” and the “tares” are both growing up together (Matthew 13:30), and as Peter said that times of refreshing will come from the Lord’s presence (Acts 3:19), I believe that we will continue to see seasons of refreshing, renewal, healing, and revival that will increase in scope and intensity prior to the Lord’s return. I believe the meetings will even go to some of the stadiums of the earth where many will witness visible, open displays of God’s power and presence.

Mar
11

Wholeheartedness - for today, not just 20 years down the road

As Christians we all know about what Jesus called the "first commandment", found in Matthew 22:37-38:

“Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment.”
(Matthew 22:37-38 NKJV)

These 27 words of Jesus are perhaps the most weighty and most demanding yet the most inviting and invigorating words ever spoken. In them He gives us the only plausible outlook and only foreseeable future if we desire to live in the highest expression He has for our lives. He calls us to give Him everything.

But many believers tend to look at these words as only a commandment and neglect the invitation into the commandment. This call to love God with all of our being is more than Jesus saying “you’d better do this, or else…” With every one of God’s commandments always comes the invitation and enabling power to walk it out.

Mar
01

Why do we fast?

Many people across our nation are entering into a 40-day "Daniel" fast starting today, eating no meats or "pleasant food" from March 1st to April 9th. The Lord has given us an invitation to focus our prayers on Matthew 9:38, asking the "Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest", specifically to the college campuses of our nation.

I've been examining my own motives for entering into this fast, specifically related to the posture of my heart and the expectation I have for it. I've come to this major conclusion:

Fasting itself is not what moves God's heart. Our humility in fasting is what does.

The difference is subtle but very significant, and the way we respond to that statement sets us up for either great gratitude or great offense towards the Lord. I feel like I've always approached fasting as a "tool in the spiritual warfare toolbelt" to affect change on the earth. With this mindset, I slowly and subtly became religious about my fasting much like the Pharisees were, believing that if I broke a fast that I was letting God or my fellow intercessors down. He wouldn't move with as much power because I had "failed". The accusation about not fasting as "intensely" as others also was a constant condemnation. The lie I heard from the enemy was: "you're more spiritual and you shift more things in the heavens if you do a water fast instead of a Daniel fast". But I am slowly beginning to realize why fasting is so important to the life of a believer. It all boils down to one word alone:

Humility.

Recent comments

I googled Matty G, and your site came up as one of the links. I hope you are well, and pray all good things for you! Blessings, Michelle
- written by Michelle (not verified) commenting on the blog entry called Matt Gilman and Cory Asbury - Holy, 4 weeks 3 days ago
I used to sing with Sarah's team back when I was in FITN in 2006. I remember talking with Cassie one night about her passion for worship and some of...
- written by Sierra (not verified) commenting on the blog entry called Interview with Cassie Campbell, electric bass, 5 weeks 1 day ago
Josh, This is so good. It really touched my heart to connect with Jesus the man in a fresh, new way... Samuel
- written by samuelclough (not verified) commenting on the blog entry called A Wounded Heart, 7 weeks 6 days ago
This is a true word of encouragement from one who really is a friend of the Bridegroom, pointing the Bride to Him and Him alone. I want to run with...
- written by Bruno (not verified) commenting on the blog entry called A Wounded Heart, 8 weeks 1 hour ago
Thanks for your encouragement bro. I'm with you, I want it to hit my heart so much more! We so often forget that God became a human. The...
- written by Josh Hawkins commenting on the blog entry called A Wounded Heart, 8 weeks 20 hours ago

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