Heart for God

“I told the Lion, ‘I can’t do it, there’s too much, I’m not ready. I fall short and I’m slow to receive the reality. I can’t even take the next step forward, I’m walking backwards. I can’t make it.’
The Lion replied, ‘How have you become convinced that any of this has to do with you? I’ve finished it. There are no steps to walk to get closer to Me. I’ve been with you from the beginning, and I am with you ‘til the end. I have trampled the distance. It is not you who walks to Me, but it is I who walks with you.’" - C.S. Lewis

"It is possible to be distracted from God in trying to serve God.” - John Piper

Having a heart for God --> He provides you with a heart for missions, or discipleship, or serving, or whatever else your ministry can be.

"The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.” -Mother Teresa

Don't work your way into God's grace, that's religion or legalism. He doesn't want your works. He wants your soul!

"The Christian way is different: harder and easier. Give me All. Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self---in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.” - C.S. Lewis

“The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self--all your wishes and precautions--to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is to remain what we call "ourselves," to keep personal happiness as our great aim in life, and yet at the same time be "good.” - C.S. Lewis

A youth knelt down to pray and said, “God, I can sing so well I wish to sing for you. I can dance so well, I wish to dance for you. I can play music so well, I wish to play for you. I can think so well, I wish to invent for you. There are so much I can do for you. Please use all my giftings for your purpose and glory. I want to give you my best. God answered, “My child, thank you for willingly offering all your gifts to me. But those are not your best. Your best is your LIFE. Will you surrender your LIFE to me. When I have your LIFE, I have everything. I am interested in who you are not what you have. "What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God." Eleanor Powell

"God is not an employer looking for employees. He is an Eagle looking for people who will take refuge under his wings. He is looking for people who will leave father and mother and homeland or anything else that may hold them back from a life of love under the wings of Jesus.”- John Piper

What will you look like when you are completely stripped naked? All your (spiritual) knowledge, your research, your prestige, your classes, your applications, your gifts and talents, your dreams and goals, you relationships, you material wealth, your memories. With all of that gone, will you faith still be complete?

Galatians 6:14 - May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

1 Cor. 2:2" For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."

Mark 8:34-38 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Luke 9:23-27 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 16:24-27 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see

There are a lot of things I totally agree with Christian feminists. Yes ancient Jewish culture was very patriarch based and sexist, and I don't think it was right. I daresay God doesn't think it isn't right either. 

If you think the author of Genesis supports institutions like slavery, polygamy, bride selling, male patriarchism, and primogeniture (firstborn rights), then you haven’t figured how to read. Every time, it brought devastation - Robert Alter

One way to look at it is when we go to new heaven and new earth and new Jerusalem there will be no racism or sexism. There will still be race and gender, and I don't know how that will play out in our new lives, but the point is that it won't be about ourselves anymore. And to be Christian is to start living out what it's going to be like in heaven here on earth. That is the point of us being the alternative kingdom within the earthly kingdom, as God's people manifesting God's kingdom starting right now and see it to completion.

The other day I read somewhere that a feminist was like "hey...I think C.S. Lewis was a feminist because he wrote this..." No, C.S. Lewis was a Christian, a follower of Christ, and because of his faith that produces obedience, naturally he will combat the injustices (like gender inequality) in this world out of Love for God's standards and God's law.

 So there are no such thing as Christian feminists. Only Christians. Our identity is all and all and above all children of God and to bring His kingdom and love here into our lives and into the Church. God shouldn't point to feminism, but feminism to God.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpmu42g6mDs

"The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason."- T. S. Eliot

For a Christian, the fight against social injustice (gender inequality, racism, sex trafficking) cannot be centered around individualism, humanism, or secularism. It has to be kingdom centered and not be similar as the how the world approaches these things. So if you are going to do this ministry, do it in a God centered way and not in a worldly way (I won't tell u how, because this is my ministry and so I don't know how it looks like...pray about it to God).

Isaiah 1:17 - Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause

If it is your ministry to fight social injustice (any kind), then fight the good fight. It is to be commended and supported by the church. But absolutely do not put your ministry above God, and remember our identities as children of God, for God and His kingdom, and for His glory. Once you put your ministry against social injustice above God (or any kind of ministry at all... missions/pastoring), then that is idolatry! Let me put it this way, I was a humanist who went out and saved 10,000 girls from sex trafficking and slavery, but I do not do it for the glory of God, then according to scripture I have sinned against God. That's how serious it is, this idolatry (Romans, Hebrews).

http://jspark3000.tumblr.com/post/101774241823/love-your-latest-video-about-feminism-and-privilege

When love of one’s people becomes an absolute, it turns into racism. When love of equality turns into a supreme thing, it can result in hatred and violence toward anyone who has led a privileged life. It is the settled tendency of human societies to turn good political causes into counterfeit gods … We can look upon our political leaders as ‘messiahs,’ our political policies as saving doctrine, and turn our political activism into a kind of religion. - Timothy Keller

We must never confuse the positive things that America does with the kingdom of God, for the kingdom of God is not centered on being morally, politically, or socially positive relative to other versions of the kingdom of the world. Rather, the kingdom of God is centered on being beautiful, as defined by Jesus Christ dying on a cross for those who crucified him. To promote law, order, and justice is good, and we certainly should do all we can to support this. But to love enemies, forgive transgressors, bless persecutors, serve sinners, accept social rejects, abolish racist walls, share resources with the poor, bear the burden of neighbors, suffer with the oppressed — all the while making no claims to promote oneself — this is beautiful; this is Christ-like. Only this, therefore, is distinct kingdom-of-God activity. -Greg Boyd

The authentic Christian life is essentially and radically different from the natural life lived by a man or woman. Outwardly, it can be very much the same, but inwardly the basis of living is dramatically different. Christ is a part of every wholesome action, the corrector of every wrong deed or thought, the giver of joy and the healer of hurt. No longer merely on the edges of life, Christ is the center of everything. Life revolves around him. As a consequence, life comes into proper focus. Despite outward trials, a deep peace possesses the heart, strength grips the spirit and kindness and joy radiate abroad. This is really living! - Ray Stedman

“The most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of your own nature and set it up as the thing you ought to follow at all costs. There’s not one of them which won’t make us into devils if we set it up as an absolute guide. You might think love of humanity in general was safe, but it isn’t. If you leave out justice you’ll find yourself breaking agreements and faking evidence in trials “for the sake of humanity” and become in the end a cruel and treacherous man.” - C.S. Lewis

Remember we are followers of Jesus. We look to the Gospel FIRST! We love out the Gospel FIRST! And if we truly are followers of Christ, we look at His life and go, "oh look, Jesus cared about the poor. Jesus cared about bring social justice to the world. Since we follow Jesus with all our heart, we will tackle these issues in the way our Lord and Savior did." But you cannot just jump into these issues without the Gospel in mind.

Social Justice and Young Evangelicals | John Piper, Matt Chandler, David Platt

“Those who do something simply for the glory of God are not troubled by failure, because they have already achieved their purpose of pleasing God by acting with a pure intention.”- St. Alphonsus Ligouri

Same with Calvinism. you are not a Calvinist. You are a Christian, a follower and disciple of Christ. Calvinism didn't save you, the Cross did. You came to Christ and the Gospel and God through scripture via the lens of Calvinism and the interpretation of reformed theologians. Do not make a theology or doctrine above the Gospel. That being said, sound doctrine and theology is very important (Proverbs 18:15, 2 Timothy 1:13, Psalm 119:66, Proverbs 2:5-6, Luke 8:10, Romans 1:28, Romans 15:14, 2 Corinthians 8:7, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Philippians 1:9, Colossians 1:9-10, 2 Peter 1:3-8 aka ladder of faith)

http://jspark3000.tumblr.com/post/82514992443/im-curious-about-your-view-that-reformed-calvinists
http://jspark3000.tumblr.com/post/28486120521/why-im-no-longer-self-identifying-as-a-reformed
http://jspark3000.tumblr.com/post/9681692351/a-christian-is-not-up-to-your-damned-standard
(You don't have to agree with them, and you can call them out on producing bad fruit, but you are still called to love them...probably even more...darn it I don't wanna love ISIS)

“Doctrines are not God: they are only a kind of map. But that map is based on the experience of hundreds of people who really were in touch with God—experiences compared with which any thrills or pious feelings you and I are likely to get on our own are very elementary and very confused. And secondly, if you want to get any further, you must use the map. You see, what happened to that man in the desert may have been real, and was certainly exciting, but nothing comes of it. It leads nowhere. There is nothing to do about it. In fact, that is just why a vague religion—all about feeling God in nature, and so on—is so attractive. It is all thrills and no work: like watching the waves from the beach. But you will not get to Newfoundland by studying the Atlantic that way, and you will not get eternal life by simply feeling the presence of God in flowers or music. Neither will you get anywhere by looking at maps without going to sea. Nor will you be very safe if you go to sea without a map.” - C.S. Lewis

Same with the missions movement. Missions is a ministry, but not the whole Gospel. The chief purpose of missions is not the salvation of souls, but the glory of God. In Paul's analogy of the Body to a human body, I would think missions is the hand of the Body, to save and hold and pull in others outside the body. It is definitely an important part of the Gospel, with Jesus giving His last command at the end of Gospel of Matthew (chapter 28) and ties in with speeding the Day of the Lord (Matt 24, 2 Peter 3:12) as well as the salvation of souls (Romans 10:14-15). But we forget that most of Jesus and Paul's teachings are about love within the Church. Look at the chapter where the analogy is in, and look at Romans 14 and 15 as well as Romans 1. Book of Ephesians is all about unity in the Church. Look to Galatians 6, the end of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Titus, 2 Timothy, Hebrews, Philemon, and Jude. All these books point towards a specific mission and ministry within the Body. To emphasize the hand, but minimize the stomach which provides nutrients/money for all ministry (workers in essential but not spiritual jobs), or the foot that holds the church up (pastors, elders, deacons), or the mouth that proclaims the Word (prophets), or the muscle groups and bones that hold people together (accountability and discipleship, Spiritual gift of giving and serving), or the brain that holds Truth that sets us free (theologians and teachers). If you look at the Spiritual Gifts that God has given us, most of them are for serving within the Church, not outside. The ultimate goal of the Body is to worship God, for everything exists for God's glory. So let us not glorify the hand more than any other part of the body, nor should we demoralize them. Those working in the hand should not boast and look down at those serving in other ministries because God calls us both to our measure of faith and specific spiritual gifts. Remember, the Gospel is not only for the lost, but also used to sustain the (spiritual) alive (1 Corinthians 9:14, 1 Corinthians 15:1) by faith (Romans 1:17).

“The chief end of missions is not the salvation of men but the glory of God.” - Samuel Zwemer

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't.” - John Piper

“Missions is not our life. Christ is our life.” - David Platt

“Love for lost souls is a very good ‘secondary’ motivation to go. We go because we love the glory of God.” - David Sitton

Same with revival. God did not promise revival, at least not the kind of global revival we are thinking about. There is revival of our hearts, of our faith, of our desire for the Lord. (Psalm 119). But not the same kind of revival as the Great Awakening or the Layman's Prayer Revival in New York City. There is too much evidence against that kind of revival occurring in our humanistic, individualistic, and secular generation (generation Y). What does scripture say when the Day of the Lord is coming? In Matthew 24 (and this part seems to be neglected by missionary movements all the time), it says it will come in a time where the love of many (most in my translation) for God will have grown cold, and there will be fighting amongst ourselves, and rise of many false prophets and bad theologies, in conjunction with the growing pains of creation. ALL NATIONS will hate and persecute us, and there will be betrayal! We do see this trend in the US, in Korea, in Europe (what we think or used to think as the strongholds of faith). There is heavy persecution of the rising church in China. Christians in Iraq are being wiped out. Both Islam and Athiesm are growing more rapidly than genuine Christianity (genuine Islam is the ritualistic religion it is with a distant god). Pleasure and pain are leading many away from God.

Matthew 24:10-14 - At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹ and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹² Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come

"I wanted to see revival. We all wanted to see revival.  But God doesn’t always give revival.  Is a life of rejection, revival?"
“I realized I was worshipping revival and not Jesus.”

"We must be lovers of Jesus and not just lovers of revival"

"As you go out to start prayer movements, don’t get excited about the crowds, but that you get to be in the presence of Jesus" - Francis Chan

I wanted to see revival. We all wanted to see revival.  But God doesn’t always give revival.  Is a life of rejection, revival? - See more at: http://spreadtheflame.com/2014/01/francis-chan-message-to-ihopkc-at-onething-2013/#sthash.5TThhWiK.dpuf

I wanted to see revival. We all wanted to see revival.  But God doesn’t always give revival.  Is a life of rejection, revival? - See more at: http://spreadtheflame.com/2014/01/francis-chan-message-to-ihopkc-at-onething-2013/#sthash.5T

At the end of the day, always remember that God is for God. He is doing all of this right now for Himself and His glory. 


“God created us for this: to live our lives in a way that makes him look more like the greatness and the beauty and the infinite worth that he really is. This is what it means to be created in the image of God.” - John Piper

"Though the lives of men are dear and precious to God, yet they are not as precious as His glory.  The glory of His name is a thousand, thousand times more dear unto God than the lives of thousands and thousands of people...We think much to have the lives of men taken away, but if we knew what the glory of God meant, and what infinite reason there is that God should be glorified, we would not think it so much that the lives of so many men should go for the glory of God.  It is mercy that our lives have not gone many times for God's glory.  How often might God have glorified Himself in taking away our lives?  We have cause to bless Him that our lives have been preserved for as long as they have." - Jeremiah Burroughs

Watch this video: God is for God - Matt Chandler (you can read my notes here)

As Christians, we are called to live by grace, live by faith, and live by hope. Sometimes we don't really understand grace, or faith, or hope (I know I struggle and realize I need to go back to the Word and God). I am going to spend a few months figuring those three out, clearly, with reason and wisdom and truth, so I can live out a life that proclaims the Gospel and is steadfast, while remembering that God is my first and only love.

Revelations 2:2-6 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³ You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. ⁴ Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. ⁵ Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. ⁶ But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Worship the Creator, not Creation

"The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing.

These things—the beauty, the memory of our own past—are good images of what we

really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshippers.

For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.” - C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory 

“Every poet and musician and artist, but for Grace, is drawn away from the love of the thing he tells, to the love of the telling till, down in Deep Hell, they cannot be interested in God at all but only in what they say about Him”- C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

How often do we worship music, or art, or a message, or a pastor/speaker/author/theologian, even the natural beauty of mother earth! Focus on God because all creativity and beauty and truth comes from Him. He is the Creator!