"The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary…The Lord God has opened My ear…I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed." (Isaiah 50:4-7)
In our previous prophetic verses, we saw that the promised Servant of the Lord would undertake His Messianic mission through faith in His heavenly Father. "My God shall be My strength" (Isaiah 49:5). These verses depicted Jesus as the ultimate example of faith. Now, a corresponding prophetic passage reveals the blessed consequences of trusting in the Lord. Herein, we see Jesus as the ultimate example of faith's results.
Once again, the prophetic parties are the Messiah and His heavenly Father. The confessions of Jesus (trusting in the Father) comprise the prophetic statements. "The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned." Jesus was "discipled" day by day by the Father (certainly using, in part, His godly parents). "The Lord God has opened My ear." This equipped Jesus to minister to burdened lives: "that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary." In fact, people were amazed in general at the manner in which He spoke. "So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth" (Luke 4:22).
As Jesus would trust in the Father, He would also be prepared for the mounting difficulties that He would face. "I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting." In approaching the cross, these prophecies of Jesus (and the enablement He found through depending upon the Father) were fulfilled. "Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands" (Matthew 26:67). Though He knew all of this awaited Him before He came to Jerusalem that last time, He put His faith in the Father. "For the Lord God will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed." The Father helped Him. He marched on resolutely to keep His redemption appointment at the cross. "Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51). These are the wonderful consequences of faith.
written by Bob Hoekstra
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Meet Chris Hodges
March 13th, 2007
by Craig Groeschel
Meet Chris Hodges
I’d like to introdue you to my friend Chris Hodges. He’s the Senior Pastor of Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL. He and his wife, Tammy, have been married for twenty-one years and have five children.
C. Hodges
I interviewed Chris and this is what he had to say…
* What are the three greatest leadership lessons you’ve learned in the six years of your church plant?
There is no substitute for the anointing coupled with integrity. A leader must have gifts in order to do ministry and character in order to
sustain ministry. Temptations always follow times of blessing. The devil is always looking for an opportune time.
You not only have to be a leader who has vision, but you have to be able to communicate it in a compelling way. The vision must be simple enough for everyone to do it, clear enough that everyone knows about it, and effective enough that it actually works.
Teamwork makes the dream work. Relationships will determine whether or not you reach your potential. So in order to accomplish something big, I need to let go of my ego and be part of a team. Creativity must remain a constant. The message is holy but the methods are not.
* What are the books that have influenced you most?
Good to Great – Collins
Today Matters – John Maxwell
Courageous Leadership – Bill Hybels
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Lencioni
Explain briefly your philosophy of generous ministry?
At the heart of who God is – He’s a giver (John 3:16). The best way to get your people to give is to model generosity – not ask for them to give. So we give away everything – t-shirts, CD’s, etc. We tell our congregation that they can’t buy it because they already bought it when they gave their tithes and offerings. The result – they end up giving more than we would have charged. My old Senior Pastor – Roy Stockstill – said this: “Never ask people for anything – ask God and God would ask people.”
What are you doing to plant churches?
To me one of the best ways to make the most of your missions dollars and gain the respect of your congregation is to leverage the money they give. In other words, instead of just giving to missions, give to plant churches that give to missions. In 6 years, we have planted 40 churches (independent churches – not campuses) with a group of pastors called ARC (Association of Related Churches). Our investment has been a little over $600,000 and the 40 churches have already given over $6 million to missions. I believe that planting life-giving churches with a heart for the world is the best way to reach America and finance world missions.
What excites you most about the future?
What excites me the most is the opportunity to reach young leaders and play a role in training them and helping them reach their full potential. The purest calling on my life is to help people see their ministry potential and help them find a place to make a difference. Our intern program (24/7), training leaders around the world with John Maxwell’s EQUIP organization, and our Church Planters Roundtables excites me more than anything else I do.
by Craig Groeschel
Meet Chris Hodges
I’d like to introdue you to my friend Chris Hodges. He’s the Senior Pastor of Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL. He and his wife, Tammy, have been married for twenty-one years and have five children.
C. Hodges
I interviewed Chris and this is what he had to say…
* What are the three greatest leadership lessons you’ve learned in the six years of your church plant?
There is no substitute for the anointing coupled with integrity. A leader must have gifts in order to do ministry and character in order to
sustain ministry. Temptations always follow times of blessing. The devil is always looking for an opportune time.
You not only have to be a leader who has vision, but you have to be able to communicate it in a compelling way. The vision must be simple enough for everyone to do it, clear enough that everyone knows about it, and effective enough that it actually works.
Teamwork makes the dream work. Relationships will determine whether or not you reach your potential. So in order to accomplish something big, I need to let go of my ego and be part of a team. Creativity must remain a constant. The message is holy but the methods are not.
* What are the books that have influenced you most?
Good to Great – Collins
Today Matters – John Maxwell
Courageous Leadership – Bill Hybels
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Lencioni
Explain briefly your philosophy of generous ministry?
At the heart of who God is – He’s a giver (John 3:16). The best way to get your people to give is to model generosity – not ask for them to give. So we give away everything – t-shirts, CD’s, etc. We tell our congregation that they can’t buy it because they already bought it when they gave their tithes and offerings. The result – they end up giving more than we would have charged. My old Senior Pastor – Roy Stockstill – said this: “Never ask people for anything – ask God and God would ask people.”
What are you doing to plant churches?
To me one of the best ways to make the most of your missions dollars and gain the respect of your congregation is to leverage the money they give. In other words, instead of just giving to missions, give to plant churches that give to missions. In 6 years, we have planted 40 churches (independent churches – not campuses) with a group of pastors called ARC (Association of Related Churches). Our investment has been a little over $600,000 and the 40 churches have already given over $6 million to missions. I believe that planting life-giving churches with a heart for the world is the best way to reach America and finance world missions.
What excites you most about the future?
What excites me the most is the opportunity to reach young leaders and play a role in training them and helping them reach their full potential. The purest calling on my life is to help people see their ministry potential and help them find a place to make a difference. Our intern program (24/7), training leaders around the world with John Maxwell’s EQUIP organization, and our Church Planters Roundtables excites me more than anything else I do.
Monday, September 21, 2009
God Dwelling with the Humble and Contrite
For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isaiah 57:15)
Bob Hoekstra writes, God delights in pouring out His grace into humble hearts. "God…gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). What a remarkable arrangement this involves. The God who dwells on high in heaven above wants to also dwell with the humble here on earth below.
God is bigger than life, he is true and living God. He is high and lofty. "For thus says the High and Lofty One." He is exalted. "For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods" (Psalm 97:9). Hoeskstra writes, He rules far above, and completely over, every valid authority and every false god. Also, eternity is His rightful habitation: "who inhabits eternity." Furthermore, holiness is His essential character: "whose name is Holy." Among all professed powers or spiritual usurpers, none is like our holy Lord. "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11).
In light of His holy and eternal character, it follows that He would make this proclamation: "I dwell in the high and holy place." Beyond the atmospheric heavens, beyond the stellar heavens, the Lord dwells in the heaven of heavens. In this spiritual dimension beyond time and space, the fullness of the Lord's presence is known. Yet, He is even greater than this "third heaven" itself. "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool…Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You" (Isaiah 66:1 and 1 Kings 8:27). (Hoekstra, Blue Letter Bible)
The Lord is high, lofty, holy, and eternal. These truths impact us with awe and reverence. Yet, there is a corollary truth that brings us encouragement and hope (even though it seems almost contradictory). "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit." God essentially dwells on high, but He also desires to dwell with man here below. Who are the people who experience the Lord dwelling with them? Such communion with God is for the contrite and humble. The Lord wants to make Himself known to the repentant and meek in order to bring them spiritual revitalization: "to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Hoekstra, Blue Letter Bible)
Bob Hoekstra writes, God delights in pouring out His grace into humble hearts. "God…gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). What a remarkable arrangement this involves. The God who dwells on high in heaven above wants to also dwell with the humble here on earth below.
God is bigger than life, he is true and living God. He is high and lofty. "For thus says the High and Lofty One." He is exalted. "For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods" (Psalm 97:9). Hoeskstra writes, He rules far above, and completely over, every valid authority and every false god. Also, eternity is His rightful habitation: "who inhabits eternity." Furthermore, holiness is His essential character: "whose name is Holy." Among all professed powers or spiritual usurpers, none is like our holy Lord. "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11).
In light of His holy and eternal character, it follows that He would make this proclamation: "I dwell in the high and holy place." Beyond the atmospheric heavens, beyond the stellar heavens, the Lord dwells in the heaven of heavens. In this spiritual dimension beyond time and space, the fullness of the Lord's presence is known. Yet, He is even greater than this "third heaven" itself. "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool…Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You" (Isaiah 66:1 and 1 Kings 8:27). (Hoekstra, Blue Letter Bible)
The Lord is high, lofty, holy, and eternal. These truths impact us with awe and reverence. Yet, there is a corollary truth that brings us encouragement and hope (even though it seems almost contradictory). "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit." God essentially dwells on high, but He also desires to dwell with man here below. Who are the people who experience the Lord dwelling with them? Such communion with God is for the contrite and humble. The Lord wants to make Himself known to the repentant and meek in order to bring them spiritual revitalization: "to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Hoekstra, Blue Letter Bible)
Friday, September 18, 2009
Jeremiah Contrasting the Two Options on Trust
Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD." (Jeremiah 17:5-7)
Bob Hoekstra writes, Jeremiah also offers insight into living by grace as he contrasts the two options on trust. When it comes to where we will place our trust, there are basically only two choices: man or God. This choice is a critical one, because one is a curse, and the other is a blessing. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man… Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD."
The natural mind of fallen humanity places its confidence in man (usually, in themselves). The flesh of every born again believer is tempted to place trust in the same direction. This brings a very serious spiritual curse. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength." When we exercise dependence upon man, we can only draw upon fleshly resources for strength. This amounts to a departure from the Lord in whom we are to trust: "whose heart departs from the LORD." The Lord is the only source of all true blessings. Consequently, to trust in man results in a curse.
The curse that results from depending upon human resources (ours or others) is barrenness of life, spiritually speaking. "For he shall be like a shrub in the desert." A desert shrub represents the antithesis of abundant spiritual life. It is the picture of a plant that is barely surviving. Desert shrubs are typically sparse in growth and lacking in fruitfulness. A person who trusts in flesh is like this shrub. He will not see good days of bountiful vitality. "For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes." People who trust in the fallen resources of man never do really see days that God's word would call good. Rather, they dwell in spiritual conditions that are like salty soil, wastelands, scorched land, incapable of habitation: "but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited." Such living is a cursed spiritual existence of carnal desolation.
Yet, there is a fully effective option by which such barrenness can be avoided. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD."
Dear Lord, I confess that I have often trusted in myself. I agree with Your word that the flesh always brings the curse of spiritual barrenness. I have found the same is true when I place my hope in others. Lord, teach me to trust in You, that I might know the blessedness of having Your grace as my resource, Amen.
Bob Hoekstra writes, Jeremiah also offers insight into living by grace as he contrasts the two options on trust. When it comes to where we will place our trust, there are basically only two choices: man or God. This choice is a critical one, because one is a curse, and the other is a blessing. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man… Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD."
The natural mind of fallen humanity places its confidence in man (usually, in themselves). The flesh of every born again believer is tempted to place trust in the same direction. This brings a very serious spiritual curse. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength." When we exercise dependence upon man, we can only draw upon fleshly resources for strength. This amounts to a departure from the Lord in whom we are to trust: "whose heart departs from the LORD." The Lord is the only source of all true blessings. Consequently, to trust in man results in a curse.
The curse that results from depending upon human resources (ours or others) is barrenness of life, spiritually speaking. "For he shall be like a shrub in the desert." A desert shrub represents the antithesis of abundant spiritual life. It is the picture of a plant that is barely surviving. Desert shrubs are typically sparse in growth and lacking in fruitfulness. A person who trusts in flesh is like this shrub. He will not see good days of bountiful vitality. "For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes." People who trust in the fallen resources of man never do really see days that God's word would call good. Rather, they dwell in spiritual conditions that are like salty soil, wastelands, scorched land, incapable of habitation: "but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited." Such living is a cursed spiritual existence of carnal desolation.
Yet, there is a fully effective option by which such barrenness can be avoided. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD."
Dear Lord, I confess that I have often trusted in myself. I agree with Your word that the flesh always brings the curse of spiritual barrenness. I have found the same is true when I place my hope in others. Lord, teach me to trust in You, that I might know the blessedness of having Your grace as my resource, Amen.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
We need your HELP!!!
I would not normally do this, in fact it is the thing that I hate the most in life and that is ASKING FOR HELP. As most of you know Amica and I have been on this journey of planting a church in RTP area for the last 8 months. It has been amazing seeing how God has orchestrated all kinds of miracles throughout the process. We are few months away from our first service and still have so many things we want to do to communicate the truth about God’s love for the unchurched, uncommitted and undecided of our community. Within a few months out there are a lot of decisions and purchases that need to be made and that is where WE NEED YOUR HELP. We are believing God for an additional $50,000 which we do not have now to get the items we need, market our church to the community and reach out to the people around us in a practical and relevant way.
We are asking that you would prayerfully ask God what would be your part to play in this new church plant. We know that the local church is the hope of the world, and we would love for you to partner with us in this investment into the kingdom of God. Thank you so much for your belief in us and what the Lord is doing here in RTP area.
Bringing People to God with the Love of Jesus,
Raphael and Amica
If you would like to invest in this church, you can give securely through donation: 3413 Skybrook Lane, Durham, NC 27703
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
UP THE MIDDLE CHURCH
In The Up The Middle Church, Matt Keller offers an on-the-field playbook for pastors and leaders who need to know how to win their Super Bowl one yard at a time!
The church world today is inundated with stories of Overnight Success. The one percent of churches who have a long bomb story seem to make the headlines, but what about the other ninety-nine percent? Are we destined for failure? Are we left without options? Will we ever see our dream of doing something great for God come true?
In The Up the Middle Church, Matt Keller unpacks the myth that just because a church isn’t big, fast, doesn’t mean it isn’t successful. When Next Level Church began in 2002, it was anything but an overnight success story. However, by learning and implementing the principles that are in this book, that same church has grown from four people to nearly a thousand every week!
There is a new normal in the church world today, and it’s The Up the Middle Church. It’s possible to win in your church, but maybe God wants to show you how…one yard at a time!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Life Giving Life-Space
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ traded spaces with us on the cross. He died in our place, for our sin so that we could have life. But if you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, you only believe one-half of the Gospel. The other half of the Gospel is the fact that Christ fulfilled God's standard perfectly. He was 100% righteous. So, had Christ been 90% righteous or 80% righteous, his sacrifice would not meet God's demands. He was 100% righteous so that we can have life and more the abundance.
So, once you bow the knee to Christ and ask him to come into your life to take residence, to come into the dwelling place of your heart, then the righteousness of Christ is imputed into your life. Thus, when God sees you, he sees Jesus and his perfect character. This is only able to take place because of the resurrection power.
That's the power that can renovate our minds and hearts today and that will one day completely renovate and restore our sin-torn bodies into glorified bodies that will live forever in heaven (New-Life). The resurrection is the final hope of every Christ-follower. It is the "final reveal" of God's design and renovation: the perfection of our mind, body, and spirit. On the other side of the grave, when God says, "Okay, open your eyes and see your new life-space," you will open your eyes in a resurrected, recreated body, a completely new life-space that you will inhabit for eternity.
It will be the perfect life-space, designed by the perfect Designer (God the Father), rebuilt by the perfect Carpenter (Jesus Christ) and purchased at the ultimate cost (Christ's precious blood). But you've got to make the choice: Are you going to keep trying on your own to rebuild the rubble left by sin or are you going to let the Carpenter renovate your life into the perfect life-space.
Christ traded spaces with us on the cross. He died in our place, for our sin so that we could have life. But if you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, you only believe one-half of the Gospel. The other half of the Gospel is the fact that Christ fulfilled God's standard perfectly. He was 100% righteous. So, had Christ been 90% righteous or 80% righteous, his sacrifice would not meet God's demands. He was 100% righteous so that we can have life and more the abundance.
So, once you bow the knee to Christ and ask him to come into your life to take residence, to come into the dwelling place of your heart, then the righteousness of Christ is imputed into your life. Thus, when God sees you, he sees Jesus and his perfect character. This is only able to take place because of the resurrection power.
That's the power that can renovate our minds and hearts today and that will one day completely renovate and restore our sin-torn bodies into glorified bodies that will live forever in heaven (New-Life). The resurrection is the final hope of every Christ-follower. It is the "final reveal" of God's design and renovation: the perfection of our mind, body, and spirit. On the other side of the grave, when God says, "Okay, open your eyes and see your new life-space," you will open your eyes in a resurrected, recreated body, a completely new life-space that you will inhabit for eternity.
It will be the perfect life-space, designed by the perfect Designer (God the Father), rebuilt by the perfect Carpenter (Jesus Christ) and purchased at the ultimate cost (Christ's precious blood). But you've got to make the choice: Are you going to keep trying on your own to rebuild the rubble left by sin or are you going to let the Carpenter renovate your life into the perfect life-space.
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