Imitator

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1, NKJV)

 This verse (without actually reading it until today, lol) has been hitting me a lot this week.  Between listening to some amazing messages about this topic (or that included this topic), my jam time in la caro, and my devotionals on my iPhone, God has been speaking things that have been a passion in my life in a way that makes me melt.  You know that gooey, mushy feeling you get sometimes when your heart is so moved by a topic?  Your legs become jello and all you feel like doing is crying (the ugly kind) and praising and running off to some natural location where all you can see is green stuff and the sky.  Then you want to journal, but can't get anything out because it's just all so overwhelming!!! Then you want to start a revolution!!!!!  And then...you come back from the mother ship. Hello! ;)

There are so many things that have really been getting me in the past few weeks, but fortunately for you I won't spend this whole blog describing every single thing. You'd probably try to kill me if I did. I just would like to put out a few things...

God is always who He is.  He is never anyone else.  He never tries to keep up with the Jones'. He never puts a mask on to make you think He is better than He really is.  God is God. Always. He is always true to His personality.  He never changes to make someone feel better about themselves.  He doesn't shrink away or hide from the world. He may not always be loud and proud either! So, if we are to be imitators of God, why do we do these things? Why do we try to portray ourselves a certain way that makes us seem like we are imitators of God, when really we are living a double life and hurting God's heart?  Why do we hide our needs?  Why can't we be vulnerable with each other? More importantly, why don't we help each other?

I know many of you (if not all) are coming up with all kinds of reasons why you can't be vulnerable in your church or congregation because of the list of hurts and offenses and drama you've endured.  I don't take those lightly either. We have all been victims of rejection and betrayal and attacks from people who claim to be followers of the Bible and it's Messiah.  But...my point still stands (and I'll put it in a different way)...why aren't you doing something to change the culture of the Body so that you can be vulnerable and weak in front of others?  The change starts with Y.O.U. (and me, too!), no?

True worship of God means imitating Him.  What did He do?  What is Yeshua (Jesus) like?  1 John 3:1 says, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!"  Who is this God that He loves us the way He does?!  Christ died for us that we might be that example of godly devotion and love to others.  When I was at enmity with God, He loved me enough to give His life that I might live more abundantly.  It is my responsibility but also my choice to give that love back (as weak and broken as it may be) to the world.

What would you like your tombstone to say about you?  I would like mine to say, "Dolly Mullen, mother of many who were not her own, lover of God".  Let's create a Jesus culture together. Let's dive in, hands first, hearts open wide.  My heart's desire is to be an imitator of my Creator.

Submitting To Making An Impact

Recently, Mike Bickle has been speaking on the Book of Zechariah.  I haven't been able to see all of his teachings, but I tuned into the Live Webstream on the IHOP-KC website this afternoon.  Today, Mike was speaking on Zechariah 5 and the vision of the woman in the basket.  It was so refreshing to hear Mike's thoughts on that chapter again, and to delve into that book.  During my time in the One Thing Internship, we dove into Eschatology (the study of the end-times) and God's plan for His people, Israel, and the whole world.  It really got me thinking of my role and about how much God really loves His people (ALL of us).

It's so interesting how God can use one thing, and then throws a completely different revelation at you. lol.

Looking from my perspective, I sometimes see imbalance on the subject of Israel in both the Church and in the Messianic Movement.  The Church seems to understand the concept of missions and reaching out to the lost, but they deny Israel's birthright as firstborn children of God and choose mostly to ignore Jews rather than reach out to them.  It's easier to reach out to typically less intellectual, but more spiritual people groups instead of a group of people that actually know the Bible sometimes better than your average Christian.  On the other hand, I have seen in the Messianic Movement an almost idolatrous spirit with regards to Israel.  What I mean by that, of course, is that many times those in the Messianic Movement put being Jewish, Jewish things/expression, and the nation of Israel on a level that meets God's.  Not only that, but sometimes misinterpreting worshipful music with actual worship music.  Encounter with God gets replaced with praying for another country/people group.  Yes, God says to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, but He does not mean in place of worshiping Him.

Now, what is my point in bringing this up at all?

I think growing up in the Messianic Movement can sometimes desensitize a person to the revelation of Israel.  Not that I forget in any way about it, or become anti-semetic. No way! But, it just becomes something that doesn't really move you anymore.  For people in my age group who have grown up with too many people idolizing another people group rather than their God, and who are seeking so hard for the Lord and "the stuff" (as John Wimber would say), it makes a lot of sense.  Thank God for the Church!  The Church to me with regards to Israel is like a child learning how to walk again. They have tasted the deep things of God, but this brings them even closer to Him and opens their hearts up to the Word in a way that they haven't known before.  It suddenly all makes sense to them and they want to know more. This is where we come in! We have the obligation to show them.  I must say though, this does not replace evangelizing the lost in any way.  Our goal should always be to bring people to Messiah...not Messianic Judaism. Messianic Judaism won't save them; that's God's job! ;) Relationship over religion!

I definitely felt the burden of the Lord for Israel in a way that I had never experienced before during my time at IHOP.  I also had many more opportunities to share the cultural reality of the Word of God than I ever have going to a Messianic Congregation.  I was reignited with love for God's plan and purpose for Israel, and I desired to show others the cool things God had shown me! :)  It wasn't difficult either.  Being one of the only culturally true Jews on campus raised a lot of curiosity.

Listening today to Mike Bickle's teaching on Zechariah raised an important question in my mind.  What is my role in bringing revelation of Yeshua to Israel and the nations? 

I believe strongly that if you're going to be apart of something big, it's better to be in the middle of everything than hanging out on the sidelines waiting for the ball to drop.  "On earth as it is in heaven."  It is our responsibility as Believers to cry out to God for His return, and to help create a resting place for Him on this earth. Prepare the way of the Lord! If we are constantly concerned about how God is going to serve us and bless us, how can we truly make an impact on mankind? We must be willing to reach out, go out, and get our hands dirty.  We must be willing to do the hard thing.  We must be willing to forsake everything for the excellence of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua.  We must forget about how much money we have, who we are leaving behind, and start putting God's greater plan and purpose at the forefront of what we do. Do we really want to make a difference? Or do we just want to talk about making a difference?

Some of you that are reading this have a calling to make an impact on society in specific ways.  You are called to go out and minister and change lives, but something is holding you back.  Whether that be fear, or people you care for inadvertently holding you back, or your past... the Lord is desiring today to give you all you desire provided you forsake everything to know Him and serve Him.  Are you willing to lay your life down for the sake of the kingdom of God? Your struggles will not become easier if you don't do what God is calling you to do.  You can experience true freedom and liberty by abiding in Yeshua, and running the risk of doing what He's asking you to do.  How much of an impact do you want to make? How badly do you want Him?  He is asking you to take that leap of faith into His arms of love, and into His calling and destiny for your life. You are called to start fires, not dance around them.  Submit to the Lord's leadership over your life, and He will bless you with all you ask.  In His Mighty Name, Amen.