Husbands and wives can be faithful to each other yet not be in love. This is not only possible but real.

“and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Faithfulness is about choosing committment and loyalty regardless of the level of relationship we are in. Again, it is right and admirable, yet it falls short of God’s intention for marriage.

Wendi and I have been faithful to each for over 27 years of marriage but our marriage goes beyond faithfulness. There is joy, companionship, passion, dreams and a desire to know each other more. These things surpass faithfulness and move the relationship into the depths of discovery and delight.

God loves our faithfulness but what He is really after is fulness (Ephesians 3:19). He wants us committed but more importantly he wants us consumed. He appreciates our loyalty but desires for us to love Him fully (Mark 12:30).

Your thoughts?

The first priority of every revival in the Old Testament was to re-establish the 24/7 reality. Why? It declared Israels love and full committment to the Lord and not a prescription written from the law.

Radical lovers who will make it a priority to declare His worth is whom the Lord is seeking  (John 4:23).

Today, we as believers are a House of Prayer if indeed communion with God is found as our top priority. Also, we are establishing a House of Prayer where a community can gather to seek the Lord, encounter HIm, then turn their world upside down (Acts 17:6).

Your thoughts?

It’s been interesting to see how a culture shifts within a church over the course of a few years. When the Lord spoke to us clearly about Harvest House Church becoming Convergence House of Prayer I really did not know what to expect.

What I do know is that this is what we are supposed to be doing. The Lord has confirmed this many times over with the prophetic word and in the hearts of leadership.

Knowing the Lord has spoken creates a stake in the ground where we sense His pleasure and are confident in the direction we are going.

Not too many leaders have taken a church and successfully shifted it to a House of Prayer. I think we are on our way, but believe me, it keeps us on our knees trusting Him as we navigate a shifting culture.

In my quest to better understand how church cultures shift, I just finished reading, “Cracking Your Churches Culture Code” by Samuel Chand. The author helps define a churches culture and what actually happens as the culture changes. I highly recommend the book.

Chand reveals a natural process that unfolds as a culture changes. In order for a culture to successfully change it will move through five stages.

1. Entrepreneurial Stage – Discovery phase. This is when the Lord is opening the eyes of leadership and points them in a new direction. Leadership can now see what can be and that what the Lord is stirring in their hearts is actually possible. They begin moving forward, exploring what God is saying and experimenting with how it can actually  work.
2. Emerging Stage – Growth phase. Here the vision begins to grow in the hearts of a wider group. It’s important that leadership has solid credibility and can be trusted.  If these are not in place then the likelihood of a healthy transition is distant.
3. Established Stage – Stability phase. The direction is embraced and systems are being put in place. The course of action is met with a plan to move people from one step to another.
4. Eroding Stage – Survival phase. In every culture there is an eroding stage. I really don’t know why this is but nonetheless it is part of the flow. This is where the new culture is vulnerable.  It’s important at this stage to re-kindle the vision with fresh creativity that empower the core values.
5. Enterprising Stage – The re-firing stage. Here leaders must return to the Entrepreneurial stage to gain fresh vision and new ways to strengthen the culture. This needs to happen on a regular basis to maintain a growing and healthy culture.  New discoveries are experienced around the new cultures core values.

I realize that there is movement going on in every phase at Convergence. I sense overall we are somewhere in the Establishing phase.

I really don’t want to get caught up in the mire of structure, yet these “stages” help give me  a roadmap for the journey ahead.

I’d be interested in your input regarding this – 

I never thought in a million years that the Lord would highlight sarcasm in this fast. I admit that I was totally surprised by this yet I know when the Lord is speaking. So I submitted to the Lord and asked for both wisdom and revelation.

I love how the Holy Spirit teaches me and points out even the littlest details to make me a better leader. I believe this is one of them.

The items listed below I own as my growing conviction and don’t in any way want to put them on you the reader. Nonetheless, if the Lord uses what He is teaching me to reveal something to you, then be open.

Here are a few things I sense the Lord showing me in regards to sarcasm and leadership.

1. Sarcasm uses irony to criticize. It introduces an element of humor to make the criticism less aggressive, yet the criticism remains cloaked in the sarcasm. Not good.
2. The original meaning of sarcasm in the Greek means, “to tear the flesh, to speak bitterly.” This original meaning was a bit shocking to me.
3. Sarcasm can be dishonoring and flows against how we are to communicate with others found in Ephesians 4:15 which says that we are to “speak the truth in love.” It’s better to be straight-up with love then to tear-down with sarcasm.
4. Sarcasm is not a good leadership skill. It can cause both suspicion and disrespect in the heart of those whom are following the leader. If not checked, the whole team will wind up being sarcastic.
5. Sarcasm is hard to manage. We will make mistakes. In light of our American culture, which is very sarcastic, we need to swim upstream by releasing both appreciation and encouragement.
6. Sarcasm cheapens relationships by keeping people guessing about what is being said and leaves them to think, “what are they REALLY saying?” You cannot build a level of solid trust and respect with this approach.
7. Sarcasm belittles people. Sarcasm makes people feel little, talked down to and made fun of.
8. Leadership built on sarcasm is controlling. If we are not careful we will use sarcasm to dominate those whom we lead. For some, this is their style of leadership, which ultimately communicates the possibility of bitterness and insecurity in the heart.

Leading through honor builds up, gives life, confronts in love, appreciates, encourages and brings people around you. Leading through honor respects the dignity of others while intentionally growing them. It’s a far better way to lead.

I’d love to get your thoughts on this? 

Revival in Ephesus

The church in Ephesus is one of the New Testament churches that were no-doubt in revival.

The Apostle Paul made his trip to Ephesus in 52 AD and stayed there about three years until 55 AD.

Ephesus was a port city having a population of nearly 300,000 people. It was home of the goddess Diana (Artemis) the daughter of the Greek god Zeus.

Legend has it that her statue fell out of heaven to Ephesus. Thus the city was known as the Seventh Wonder of the World.

Testimonies of Amazing Ministry and Changed Lives

We see in Acts 19 how powerfully Paul ministered in Ephesus. Here are some of the highlights.

• People were being saved (Acts 19:1)

• People were being baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:6-7)

• Paul preached and taught powerfully (Acts 19:8-11)

• Extraordinary miracles were happening through Paul. Handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses were cured and evil spirits left them. (Acts 19:12-12)

• Many confessed their evil deeds and burned their occult scrolls worth over 10 million dollars, publicly. (Acts 19:18-20)

About 5 years later in 60 AD Paul pens the book of Ephesians while under house arrest in Rome. The church is growing. Tons of people are converting to Christianity. Testimonies keep pouring in.

Yet, some 43 years later a rebuke comes to the church in Ephesus from the Lord (Rev. 2:1-7). Ephesus is chosen as one of the churches that the Lord rebukes.

What happened?

The church moved from the pinnacle of reformation to the point of having their influence (lamp stand) removed altogether. Revival was not sustained into the second generation.

Pauls Strategic Prayer

When Paul penned the letter to the Ephesians he prayed two great prayers, Ephesians 2:17-19 and Ephesians 3:16-17. These prayers virtually say the same thing.

Paul knew that the church could never sustain revival on just doing the second commandment alone.

The focus of the first great prayer in Ephesians sees Paul asking the Father to give the church a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they may know him better.

The focus of the second great prayer is for the church to be strengthened so Christ may dwell in their hearts. To be rooted and established in the love of Christ. He concluded the prayer exhorting them to know His love so that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

No rebuke, just a plea to love Jesus more. No programs, just an appeal to continue to discover the depths of Christ.

Stay Hungry.

Go deeper.

Get revelation.

Live from the overflow.

Keep the affections of the heart squarely on Jesus and revival will continue to increase both now and into future generations. That’s it. This is the essence of the prayers prayed.

Shocking Result

What’s alarming is the rebuke that comes to the Church in Ephesus in the book of Revelation.

Rev. 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

The church had forsaken their first love. They missed it. The affections of their hearts drifted towards doing ministry at the expense of intimacy. The lamp of influence was about to go out.

How sobering….

It must be extremely difficult to keep the priority straight in the midst of rapid city-taking ministry where the raw power is being radically displayed and lives are drastically changed.

As we move into a greater wave of revival we need grace to stay steady in pursuing God wholeheartedly. Our goal is not revival but the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29). If we make the daily choice to know Him better we will have leaned the lesson the Ephesian church missed.

I, for one, am in total favor of going through the entire Bible year-in and year-out. As a result, I have grown to love the “whole-council” of God’s Word because I am reading it in its entirety. I also read many other portions of scripture that interest me and that I sense the Holy Spirit leading me into.

Reading the Bible consistently through the year still isn’t that easy. Sometimes it just takes work. I don’t know how else to say it. There are times when things are easy and revelation is popping off the page. Then there are times when we feel like we are just reading words. It happens.

However, I want to encourage you that if you earnestly commit to reading the Bible daily and seek to learn what the Bible is all about, you will discover the greatest source of inspiration, guidance and revelation your heart has ever known.

Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night”

I’ve jotted down 7 things that are helping me stay consistent in reading the Bible daily throughout the year. I have listed them below. I hope they benefit you as much as they do me.

1. Understand that the more you read the Bible the more the Holy Spirit will make it come alive in you. Keep reading.

2. Develop a plan and stick to it. Just Google “Bible reading plans” and up they’ll come. I am using YouVersion.

3. Take the first few minutes and Pray in the Spirit before you begin reading.

4. Simply ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. He is the one who searches the deep things of God and makes them known to us.

5. Read the Word because it’s the right thing to do. If we read only when we feel like it we will never be successful in it.  In the Kingdom delight follows obedience.

6. Recognize there is both warfare and blessing around the Word of God. Push through obstacles and get the blessing that awaits the reader of His Word. If you mess up, so what, decide to keep going. Never let discouragement keep you from moving forward.

7. Find someone you can partner with. Right now I have 4 other people who are reading the same plan with me. You will find that partnering with others will take you so much further in your Bible reading. If you are on the same reading plan as me I would love to know!

This is a short list. What kind of reading plan are you using? Are you reading the Bible in a Year? What other thoughts would you like to add out of your own journey?

This is just one of the things I reflect on…

Now technically, we’re always thinking. His statement is focusing on the fact that we don’t intentionally set time aside to just think, to reflect and even pray.

To reflect means to think deeply and carefully. To consider. To ponder. To meditate. When we do this in partnership with the Holy Spirit, reflection becomes a powerful tool for us to discern His thoughts and plan our future.

Personally, I have to admit that slowing down enough to take my journal out to reflect and write is a challenge. To this day it’s a discipline that needs to be continually conquered.

Here are a few benefits regarding the power of reflection in light of breaking into the new year.

1. Reflection gives you a full perspective of the year. There are a lot of mountain tops and valleys throughout a year. Reflection gives you an overall perspective of many of the events that took place. This is important in that we have a propensity to think of all the things we didn’t or should of done. But in looking at the whole you see how God has guided you and has been faithful in so many ways.

2. Reflection provides a platform for the coming year. Reflection is catalytic toward creating a mindset toward a positive future. Having a full perspective of the previous year we can look forward to the new year with both faith and confidence. I refuse moving forward with unbelief. I am intentional about keeping my eyes fixed on God’s goodness and His amazing plan for my life.

3. Reflection takes both time and focus. Focus requires effort and effort requires time. If we are to wield the power of reflection to our advantage we are going to have to slow down enough to actually think, reflect, offer up thanksgiving and pray. There really is no getting around it. Carve out an afternoon or evening and grab your journal, Bible and a notepad and just begin. If you get past the first 5 minutes you will be well on your way to an amazing time with the Lord.

4. Reflection is prophetic. I pull out my prophetic words and review them making declarations over the Words I feel are from the Lord. In doing so my spirit and God’s Spirit come into agreement with His will for my life, exhorting and encouraging me to greater levels of faith and trust in God.

As we break into 2012 take time to reflect and regroup so you can head into the new year with a godly confidence.

Your thoughts?

Each year I reflect on 2011 and anchor down on a few things to go after in 2012.

Here are a few things I am considering.

How will I grow in my Prayer Life?

Prayer is simply communicating with God. Each year I focus on increasing the depth of communion with the Lord not merely my time with the Lord. I would encourage you to do the same. When the depth of the communion comes, time will take care of itself.

How will I grow in the Word?

Each year I choose to go through the entire Bible. I know that some argue that it is better to take a few verses and really meditate on them instead of reading the entire Bible in a year. If I choose to only look at a few verses a day (or a week) I then loose the context of the whole Bible. That’s not a win for me. I need to have this perspective throughout each and every year.

So I read through the Bible AND regularly meditate on certain scriptures throughout the year. It’s not one or the other but both. I encourage you to figure out which One-Year Bible reading plan you are going to follow and go for it. I will go into greater depth at M1P blog post in a few days.

How will I grow in my Calling?

It’s important to determine how you will grow professionally. I like to pick about 2 or 3 books I want to read in the next year that help me grow in my ministry calling and anointing. For me books on leadership, vision and supernatural ministry are essential for greater faithfulness in my gift-mix.

How will I grow in my Personal Life?

Family, finances, health, etc. are worth the pursuit of excellence in. Come up with reasonable goals for each. What’s important here is execution of the goals so make them reachable.

Lastly, I would recommend that you keep your goals for 2012 short. Really go after a few and maintain the rest. To many goals will put you on overload and eventually you wind up not doing well on any.

While at iHOPU this past year, Jordan was on Audra Lynn’s Worship Team and got in on a recording from iHOP’s Limited Edition Series. The Current Volume features 7 Songs from various artists recorded live in the Prayer Room.

Listen to it and let me know your thoughts! Just click the PLAY arrow.

The title of this song that Jordan is playing drums on is “Voice of the Lord”. It comes out of the Song of Solomon. Super anointed song.

I think we have amazing gifting and anointing at cHOP. This is only a little taste of what I would love to do at Convergence.

Even more dangerous is intentionally holding back from completely giving all to protect ourselves from feeling like a failure if things somehow don’t quite work out. Strange isn’t it, but true! This can happen in any area of life.

I first realized this when I was playing basketball for Bethany Bible College. I found myself intentionally not giving my all on the court so I would stay protected from feeling like a failure if I was not successful on it. I hid my fear behind my lack of effort.

I have seen this in many people (especially men) over the years. It’s not that they don’t participate, it’s that they don’t take part FULLY, leaving enough space to reason that something was not done successfully because their “all” was not given.

If we don’t break out of this mindset, we will have lived life giving less then 100%. Worse yet, we will have been unfaithful with the talents the Lord has entrusted to us. If we stay in this pattern we will ultimately look at the years we wasted and regret what could have been.

Here is a few simple things I have learned in making sure I don’t fall into this trap.

God is with you. And if God is with you who can be against you (Romans 8:31). Refuse to let YOU be against you. Put your all in ALL you do.