Articles – Page 7 – Cross Culture Church

“Spiritual Preparedness When the World is Dis-Eased”

Thomas Paine, one of the Founding Fathers, made a statement during the American Revolution. “These are the times that try men’s souls.” This was a challenging time for a nation in its birth pains; today, as the leader of the free world, we are facing a global crisis affecting every avenue of culture. In these difficult and trying times, we must seek to be as, “of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” (1 Chron 12:32 NKJV). The Coronavirus has become a pandemic reaching every corner of the world. Fear because of uncertainties have gripped the heart of almost every person now alive. The news feeds have created a fixation on one singular subject: “how shall we survive?” The accompanying question is “will we survive?” Every vital aspect of society and civilization is now being shaken. With these major shifts occurring, our culture is being redefined.

When unusual things occur, we must first be aware of what happened. Then we must ask the question why it happened. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Eccl. 1:3 NKJV) Seasons change; they do not remain the same. God prepared the way through His Son as the directive for all living beings. His order was designed before creation for all things to work together in harmonious unity. The interruption of His divine order may not appear as immediate death, but like a flower separated from its roots, those who abandon God’s order and plan eventually wither and fade away. Decisions have consequences. What ought to be is established in Heaven while what exists is expressed under the heaven. “God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest — what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. (1 Cor. 2:7-8 The Message MSG) A culture that has lost its meaning is a culture that has lost its way. What we see is but a small portion of what is currently occurring. God gives us His prophetic Word and Spirit to reveal His Word to open our eyes that we may see from His exalted position in Heaven, no longer making arbitrary decisions based on the whims of fallen humanity. There is a way that seems right to the majority but the end of that way leads down a primrose lane to death. The scenery shrouds the poison to make it more palatable.

This month contains the most sacred week on the Christian calendar. Holy Week began with a trial. The Righteous One, Jesus Christ was tried and found guilty of insurrection. His suffering which led to His death expressed the attitude that the world still maintains concerning Him. The revolt against sound doctrine is the same as shouting “Give us Barabbas and crucify Jesus!” The earth groans in labor and birth pangs awaiting its liberty through the vessels who are mature in Christ. It is dis-eased and waiting to be restored. God’s judgment against the sins committed by those who had aligned themselves with His enemies was through resurrection. Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead! He judges the judges of the world with justice and righteousness.

Those of us who fully identify with Jesus Christ have nothing to fear. We have already died and our lives are hidden in Christ. We have already risen with Him and we hold anxious anticipation for what awaits us in the future. When we understand the meaning of things occurring in our times, the next question is, “what shall we do?” On the Day of Pentecost Peter answered the question by saying, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus, and you shall be saved.” What was said then is being said now. As we surrender our all to the King of kings, the life of Christ is yours, thus delivering you from eternal death.

06 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

“2020: The Year of 20/20 Vision”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

Vision drives towards purpose. Purpose gives life its meaning. Meaning affects our will to survive. We are not just to survive, but every day must be lived purposefully. Each step taken in life must be strategic as we move towards a goal that would bring fulfillment in this life and a legacy for those we leave behind. It was the Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius that said, “The true worth of a man is measured by the object he pursues.” Life’s goals become the defining statement or our epitaph when we are eulogized at the end of this mortal life. Statements are often made at funerals with the attempts to inflate the impression made on the mind whereas the dead often appears larger than life. While looking in the coffin, some would wonder if they had wandered into the wrong room. The person that they knew was altogether different from the one being spoken of. Then there are occasions where attributes were known by a select few but never brought into full view of the masses. Then those who hear of them wished that they had known the treasury of gifts and knowledge contained within the person taken for granted.

As we enter in this New Year 2020, the Truth of God is being spoken, to bring out of the richness of His grace, dispensed to those who would allow it to have free course within them. The Heavenly Vision or sights set on God’s Kingdom and His standard of Righteousness will raise the bar of many who had previously merely settled for dead religion. They will then awakened to the reality that they had been living beneath their privilege. Since God had made provisions for us to have life and that more abundantly, biblical terms would be redefined according to His original intent. It is true, where you currently stand will determine what you see and how you see. That is why the Gospel of Jesus Christ is often rejected or redefined. The tastes of many have been unrefined, thus the dregs and bitterness of sin had remained palatable. The question that is so baffling to many is how can so many be misled and guided in the direction of their own death and destruction? The answer is, all that is necessary is for a lie to become believable and accepted instead of the truth. The Holocaust in Germany under the leadership of Adolph Hitler provides evidence of this. Leadership that misleads is the most destructive force ever. Yet, it has been the tool of Satan even before creation.

This year, 2020, The Year of 20/20 Vision, we will set the highest goal possible, and set subordinate steps leading to the completion of those set goals. We have history to show us the possibilities of both successes and failures. It was said, “if one does not learn from history, he is destined to repeat it,” Yet history is not our teacher. It can only serve as references. The Holy Spirit of God must be our guide. He will show us the path that we must go and on occasion take in directions of new territories to blaze new paths. We pray that this year will be a year of discovery. Habakkuk 2:2 “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” The clarity will come to those who are committed to engaging in a singular task that is greater than themselves and those to whom they have been called to help. Then Paul stated in Acts 20:20 “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house.” The mandate to make known to all will be greater than ever before as you rise up to lead the wayward in a path and direction of hope for their future. May what God envisions for you become your vision for yourself! New year, fresh vision. New year, fresh opportunities to live the life God intended for you to live to its fullest!

09 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

“2019; The Year of Godly Influence”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

The Church is called to be salt and light to the world. Our primary assignment is to bring this nation under the influence of those whose standard is aligned with the standard of Christ. To influence is not to dominate or control the will of the people, but to allow the aroma and flavor of Christ to impress upon them to move in a different direction “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” 1John 5:19.For many, the appeal of that which opposes God’s standard of righteousness is greater than the desire to press into His Kingdom.

According to a study reported by George Barna in 1991, 67% of the US population did not believe in absolute truth. In 1994, that figure rose to 75%. In 1991, 52% of Evangelicals said they did not believe in absolute truth. In 1994, that figure rose to 62%. The difference between saying there is no such thing as the truth and living as if truth does not matter is a small one and the consequences for both catastrophic. – Ravi Zacharias

We are a generation that has lost its soul. The soul is the seat of emotions (the mind, the will, the senses). We can see the vulnerabilities of religious leaders who have succumbed to the corrupted policies of spiritually insensitive pontificators; it is evident that too many have bowed to the altars of Baal. Political agendas are now driving religious fervor rather than the Christian ethic and the compassion of Christ taking the lead. Our Presidential election was viewed as the restorative measures of God, taking us back to where God’s agenda was being reestablished, while not even considering the character of those being put in place to accomplish this. We can have faulty policies, but if corrupted minds are to make decisions on our behalf, it is more or less God’s judgment against hypocrisy and the wickedness of Pharisaical religious practices. The House of God is divided. The political House and Senate are divided. It isn’t coincidental that the divide is becoming more obvious than ever before. One nation under the rule of a dictator rather than God is the result of a misguided view of God. It is true that the previous administration had faults, and many of their policies introduced a collapse in moral values, however there was a tremendous degree of bridge building that could lead to a promising future. The right bridges provide access. The wrong bridges pave the way for the enemy to attack us. Now instead of bridges the reversal is taking place. We are attempting to build walls; two extremes of which neither have provided us a righteous and godly nation.

This year I will be ministering on the subject of Godly Influence. How can we accept the fact that without God’s influence upon the hearts of individuals, every decision, regardless of how well intentioned it may be, is made in the darkness? The Liberals are wrong but the Conservatives are equally as wrong. A new paradigm must rise from the ashes of ruin of this Second Civil War. If godly influence, not forced but willfully embraced, a new brand of slavery will emerge where people will be hooked on themselves. Let us all pray, “Lord, send Revival

09 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

November 2018 Article: “The Attitude of Gratitude”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

Attitude determines altitude. You cannot go any higher than your attitude. The right attitude will give rise to success while seeking the right things. The wrong attitude hinders even the most intelligent and skilled individuals from ever reaching their goals. Attitude cannot be forced but is developed over time. Your worldview is the lenses through which you see the world. The effect of life experiences causes thoughts to be fixed in the mind. What you like or dislike; what you accept or reject is the product of a mindset. The mindset is the filter that new experiences must pass through. An old adage I learned in my earlier years was how elephants are trained. I was told that a baby elephant is shackled and the the shackle is attached to a stake in the ground. When the young elephant strains to move beyond the place he is trained to remain, the stake is strong enough to hold him in place. As the elephant grows, even though he has grown stronger, cannot forget the strain of youth when he was too weak to move beyond the allotted space. Therefore he accepts the lie as his reality from past experiences. It is a fact that too many are being trained to believe more in their current circumstances than the promises of God. “He has provided for us all things that provide for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us by glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3) Yet none of the things given can be fully utilized without possessing the right attitude. The right attitude towards God is the primary blessing which leads to all other blessings. Even the negative experiences provide the opportunity for you to learn lessons in life. Nothing is loss or wasted in God’s economy. “All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, that is, those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) God is able to turn a negative experience into a positive result.

The secret to happiness, peace, and joy is attitude. What you think you will eventually become. As the thoughts enter into your heart, you will eventually be able to see beyond the handicaps of your prior limits. But be aware that limitations are widely accepted when life is restricted to the observable. God alone is able to purify your heart allowing you to see what would otherwise be invisible. Judgments according to God’s rule based upon what He sees will be your guide. When the eyes of your heart are able to see God, His peace will provide you with the security and assurance that all is under control. When the winds and waves of adversity blow whereas in the past your peace would be disturbed, the hope alive within you remains as result of the trust you have in God. When you develop the attitude of gratitude, things are recognized for their ultimate blessing rather than their immediate worth. Every breath breathed is appreciated as gift because you are now aware what it came from. It affords you’re the opportunity to worship God allowing you to see more of who He is. Not only are you to thank God for who He is, but also thank Him for who He uses. Take the time to thank God for family and friends who daily enrich your life. Thank God for the opportunity He affords you to be a blessing to others. There is much more to be grateful for if you merely take the time to think. Life is so much better and each day is so much brighter if you would just develop an attitude of gratitude.

08 Oct 0Comments 0Likes

October 2018 Article “True Wisdom”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

To believe in, or better stated; to place your confidence in a person or a thing is more than most have given full consideration to. It requires a level of trust with the willingness to submit your future to the object of your faith. The risk is higher and the effect is greater than what can be easily brushed off while the wound is healed by time. Time does not always heal the wounds of disappointments that reach deeply into the soul. I may believe you and hope that what you say and do is honest. However, if it is discovered that you were not completely honest, my loss was calculated by the amount of trust invested. But to believe in something or someone is placing the weight of my faith which governs my life determining decisions. I am the product of what I believe in. The measure by which I judge all things is determined by this. I make a distinction between what and who I believe on and who and what I believe in. To believe on a person is to trust them to do a particular thing or be a particular way. It places the burden upon their shoulders exclusively. But to believe in is when I get involved in the process. It has to do with what we are able to do together. I cannot complete my assignment without the one that I believe in. That person has become an intricate part of me.

True wisdom is expressed through what you believe in. First, there must be enough historical evidence to be worthy of our faith. Its objective must be to set you on the right path. It must have the strength to survive under the scrutiny of opposing philosophies and systems bent on contradictions to be you wrong. It does not offer a quick fix or patchwork but rather, reaches deeper into the subject matter. Knowledge is the compilation of facts without a clear understanding of the end. The pride of knowledge that is void of wisdom is a pompous attitude and a condescending disposition. That person thinks that he knows more than he really knows. The introduction of new facts or the path leading to the future will over time expose the ignorance of the one who is knowledgeable but limited to a restricted field of knowledge. The religious and the irreligious are equally guilty if one restricts God to academics without experience while the other restrict Him to past experiences without His Word made available to be experienced. True wisdom is exercised when you take God at His Word after having received His Spirit and becoming the message that God is speaking to the world.

One must be converted if he is to become wise. The wisdom that is contained within the Book for the Wise, the Holy Bible must be spiritually discerned. Conversion requires the power of God to transform one’s life, enabling him to see beyond the realm of created things. He is then aligned with the Creator who reveals Himself to Him and His relationship to all things created. It is within the context of all things created that the converted individual is enabled to know his purpose for living. Your worth is determined by God and your work is specific. He made you for the works that were created before the foundation of the world. Fools engage in endless and purposeless activities and die never knowing the reason why they were ever born. The wise will worship God because His knowledge of God places him on a quest to know the One who knows Him best. This is wisdom, to know Him even as you are known by Him.

25 Sep 0Comments 0Likes

September 2018 Article: “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

Am I responsible for and accountable to my brother? If so, who is my brother? How far does this responsibility extend? There are so many questions revolving around the subject of mutual accountability placing added burdens to people who have a full plate just managing their own affairs. It is a stretch to believe that my concern for others could have an effect upon their behavior. The collective selfishness or individualism we see today has created an environment where it is much easier to take advantage of, or even harm each other than it once was. If no thought is given to the potential for both good and evil that we all possess, each act committed is isolated from the context of the whole. One lie contributes to a community of dishonest people. One item stolen from another person contributes to a security breach that may cost more than you are willing to pay to protect what is left of your goods. One adulterous act contributes to debauchery that is out of control. Yes, the Golden Rule is to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” However, when people do what they ought not do, or refuse to do what they ought, it is our responsibility to correct the error of their ways.

A keeper is one who looks after the affairs of another. It is having concern with the well being of each other. Cain slew his brother, Abel and God asked him the question, “where is your brother?” This profound question resonates through history even to this present time. Where are our brothers and sisters? Not merely their geographical location, but where are they in relation to where you are? Cain, I imagine, slew his brother in order gain an advantage over him and more favor than he had received from God. Many are like crawfish in a barrel, pushing others down in order to get ahead. Their success can only be defined through the failure of another. People are vying to gain a competitive edge over others. They lose in the long run without even recognizing their loss. Competition breeds an environment of competitors rather than fellow laborers. Even in the Church, there are more than a few who build their success on the backs of the weaknesses and failures of their fellow brethren. Some just build what is colloquially called, better mousetraps that gain more interest but do not produce greater levels of change in the lives of the people. What about the Body of Christ as being one? Does it mean anything to us to seek to gain an understanding that we are members individually? If the Kingdom of God is our primary goal, then who is it that divides us into exclusive sects?

Politics as in religion has its sectarianists; those whose primary goal is to defend the platform of the Party. Whatever is said or done, right or wrong no longer matters. What matters most is the Party which has become the modern day idol among those who are blinded by ambition. It is usually the ambition of the Party leaders and the blindness of the Party followers who do not question where their affiliations may be leading them. Both sides of the system have caused much harm. There must be a prophetic voice that will speak truth to power without concern as to what it may cost. The Word of God transcends the arguments of men and elevates us to a higher level of thinking. The best thing I can do for my brother is to adapt the mindset that I say and do for my brother what is best for him, even if it costs me everything.

25 Sep 0Comments 0Likes

August 2018 Article: “The Cross Cultural Attraction”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

The distinct cultures of the world are the current cause of much controversy. It is the cultural clashes that divide people into competing and warring factions. The exclusivity of a particular culture, in their eyes, becomes the standard and measure of right and wrong. We changed the name of our church to Cross Culture Church over five years ago realizing that there are distinctions among culture. There are things to be celebrated within every culture, but there are things within every culture in need of change. It is easy to accentuate the positive attributes of a culture, but the majority of people are blinded to the defects. We need an established standard and objective criticism for those invisible defects to be seen. The first lesson to be learned is that no culture is to be deified. Christ did not come into the world to affirm culture but to transform culture. He introduced to humanity the culture of heaven. The established order of heaven came down to earth in the Person of Jesus Christ and lived among us! This invasion of spiritual reality into a sinful and wayward environment created turbulence rather than peace. The world’s reality was defined by their culture, even religious traditions, which were defied by the physical presence of Truth. Jesus demonstrated truth and the power of the Father of Truth confirmed His message with signs following. The power of heaven accompanies the order of heaven.

The customary beliefs, established systems, material traits of a racial, religious, or social group are the characteristic features of everyday living. They are shared among people in a particular place and time. Even though it may be accepted as conventional wisdom, the world’s philosophy falls short of the established standard of God. Culture is modified for the sake of expedience. Racism is a belief and practice that one people group is superior to another people group. It is perpetuated by expediency. The lesser is used to fulfill the passions, desires, and often greed of the greater. If the lesser loses its value as chattel or tools in the hands of the greater, there is no need for the lesser to continue existing. There is the culture of the slave and the culture of the slave master that can become deeply embedded into the psyche of cultures. The mindset remains even after the laws have prohibited the practice of slavery. The set standard of superiority and inferiority no longer needs supportive laws to survive. Children are born into a world where unspoken rules are established and set in motion.

One passage of Scripture, among many others, that gives a clear expression of God’s intent is in the Bible. Jesus said in the Book of John 12:32-33 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.” Death is the equalizer that neutralizes egoism and false images of superiority and inferiority. The death of Christ after He demonstrated the standard revealed the truest disposition of fallen humanity. Perfection had to die on behalf of imperfections so that the flaws within every culture can be fully realized. All must fully identify with Christ’s death so that none will attempt to justify what was formerly believed concerning his or her own life. Our ethnicity is insufficient to save us as an individual or as a people-group. Since we all have a common need, we exalt a common Savior. To lift Him up is to allow the work of the Cross to work deeply within our heart and soul. It is the culture of the cross that will become the attraction to tear down the dividing wall of partition and collectively draw people together as one, to worship the only One deserving of our full devotion.

01 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

July 2018 Article:“The Constraints of Freedom”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

Those who seek the path of least resistance can find a commodity called cheap freedom. It is closely akin to cheap grace. The appeal of cheap freedom is that it gives its recipients a license to express their every whim and desire, ideals that will eventually lead to their ruin. Those who hold Self paramount in their pursuits seek after it. They give the fallen nature of man full expression, while rebelling against established truths. Their mantra is “it’s your thing, do what you want to do.” “No rules!” is their rule, or at least their freedom allows rules to be compromised. Every individual does what is right in his or her own eyes. They gather a following as new trends are set, and formerly barbaric acts appear civil as a people participate in the demise of civilization. Freedom as an end, rather than a means to an end, leads to disaster. The rise and fall of the Roman Empire ought to remind us of the end of those who are free just for the sake of being free. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 The rulership of the king in Scripture represents the rule of Law. “In those days when there was no absolute authority or guiding principle to govern the lives of a people, every individual took matters into his or her own hands.” When authority is absent, silent, or no longer respected, anarchy replaces rule. Historically, rules concocted from the imaginations of the fallen nature of those in power placed shackles on their fellowmen. The rules arising from their narrow view of humanity suppressed the rights of other people-groups to fully express their humanity. These prohibitions became the law of the land. Compared to this, there is the absolute Law of God, who has full knowledge of His creation with the design in which all He has made is supposed to operate. When the Creator’s laws are broken, whether it be by commission or omission, willfully or ignorantly, the result is always the disruption of the balance in nature. Those who do not know God or willfully violate His Word exercise their freedom to self-destruct.

True and lasting freedom is constructed by the only One who has the power to grant it. A misguided quest for independence from God was and still is the foundation of all things wrong among us. The question that eventually led to a total contradiction initiated a series of activities which continue to this very day. “Hath not God said…?” laid the foundation for the shadow of doubt which led to uprooting legitimate Authority. Then the contradiction; “You will not surely die. God knows that the day you eat the forbidden fruit, you will be like God, knowing as much as He knows.” (paraphrased) The search for knowledge apart from God leads society away from Him and replaces it with other authorities under the governance of the entity that initiated the whole process, Satan, the devil, the serpent, or whatever form in which he may appear. Today God is omitted from science, education, economics, the family, religion, government, and the arts and media. This is not just coincidental. Generations have grown accustomed to the ploy that the enemy set in motion not long after the creation of man. True and lasting freedom is the deliberate act of God as Father who set in motion the plan to break the power of bondage over His creation. If a child in raised in a prison, it is virtually impossible for him to imagine any other environment. Yet the dissatisfaction of the heart whispers to the prisoner that he was born for a greater purpose. That is why the enemy works overtime to make it difficult for one to hear the voice of his Maker. He does not mind if a caricature of Christ is presented; Christ as entertainment, and Church to be entertained and enjoyed is fine with him, rather than a Church seeking the things that please the Lord. Religion then becomes, as Karl Marx once called it, “the opiate of the masses.” False fires of religious fervor, void of true and intense worship, present wrong opinions of God. They do not see Jesus as He is, but rather as personalities and celebrities in the music industry, and pulpits that do more harm than good, influence them to see Him. The devil applauds such efforts because they do the harm that advances his purpose. It is the repeat of his statement in the Garden, “Hath not God said…?” True religion convicts the heart at its deepest level. It awakens the individual to the reality of truth by reestablishing God’s authority in their lives. It does not lower the standard, but rather presents Christ as the Standard and the Standard Bearer. We must cast ourselves at the foot of the Cross and rely completely on God’s mercy and grace provided through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Only through the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary can true freedom be experienced. It is in His work in us, and His continuously living His life through us, that we both attain and enjoy true freedom. The Spirit of Christ functioning in our hearts makes the love of God our motive rather than restrictions and set rules. When we are set free to love and to serve God completely, we have the freedom that will last forever. John 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (KJV)

29 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

June 2018 Article: “The Forgotten Father”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

Both hopes and fears can be traced to the position and attitude towards fathers. The family legacy as our inheritance is transferred from fathers to sons. Dr. Thomas Smail in his epic book entitled The Forgotten Father sums up this dilemma in two sentences: “Mothers tend to promote the fulfillment of their sons from behind; fathers tend to require the obedience of their sons from above! The first kind of love ministers to the needs of the beloved; the second kind dethrones the one it loves and presses him into its own service.” (p. 12). Both fathers and mothers are necessary. We need the push and reinforcement that comes from mothers, but we also need the upward pull to be elevated beyond status-quo living that fathers encourage. He speaks of obedience as the key since the father establishes the parameters and laws within which his children are to function. If lawlessness is to abound, as it is today, it is the result of the rules of fathers being violated. When boundaries are established the fear is the loss of freedom. Yet true freedom can never be experienced unless there are rules of engagement protecting one person’s freedom from invasions caused by the freewheeling and reckless lives of others.

When the father is removed from his rightful and God given position, society experiences the feminization of men and women becoming masculine. The distinctions were established by God as Father and the order was to be preserved throughout future generations.

In the beginning there existed the eternal relationship of Father and Son. The first Person of the Godhead is Father. His will is to be done if His Kingdom is to be established on earth as it is in Heaven. It is the will of the Father that is carried forth through the Son empowered by the Holy Spirit. This serves as a protype of what God intends relationally on the earth. As fathers who receive their assignment and position from the heavenly Father directs sons to walk in the same path, peace and harmony are established on the earth.

Godlessness and fatherlessness are parallels. Christ came to make God known as Father. He went so far was to share His position as the only Begotten Son with us. The prayer that He taught His disciples began with “Our Father, which art in Heaven.” The estrangement between God as Father and His creation culminated into the creature attempting to rise in defiance and competition towards their Creator! How many biological sons today despise the directives of their fathers? What a tragedy when they are competing rather than cooperating with God in what He initiated, using His resources along with all that He has to offer them against Him. This was not from the beginning, but rather, the result of the Fall and fallen humanity.

There are some who may say that they love Jesus. Their problem is with His Father. They desire the work of the Holy Spirit. But God as Father is an archaic and out of touch with reality to them. They put forth efforts to divide the Father from the Son. Then there are those that may say that the love God. They just have trouble with His children. Jesus said to those who tried to separate Him from His father “that if you love Me, you will love My Father also.” He also stated, “Me and My Father are One” His work in the last days is to restore fathers to sons and sons to fathers; to mend the breach between the two. There are many who may have forgotten Father but Father has never forgotten you and will never forget you. Know the heart of Father expressed through His Son.

29 Jun 0Comments 0Likes

May 2018 Article: “El Shaddai”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

The names of God were revealed to individuals based upon their most current need. He revealed to Moses that He is the “I Am.” Then He made it even clearer that He is “I Am that I Am.” As new challenges would arise, He proved Himself to be sufficient to meet every need. As El Shaddai, He is God Almighty; Warrior or Destroyer; God of the Wilderness or Mountain. But the name that expresses His ability to nurture and meet needs is Enough or Sufficient; The Breasted One. We see attributes of God displayed through nature. Man (male and female) was made in His image and after His likeness. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! (Luke 13:34-35) The hen (female) gathers and protects her offspring from invaders. She is willing to lay her own life down for her brood. Even before the eggs are hatched, she stands guard and the eggs can only be taken by force, facing her hottest wrath. Jesus came to earth to give full expression to the heart of God on earth. So much can be learned from His example of both motherhood and fatherhood. The basic role of a father is to provide, guide, and protect. This is the father’s, primary, but not exclusive, role in the family. The mother’s role is to nurture, feed, and encourage. Alhough she may wear many other hats, she will not neglect these key duties from infancy to adulthood. What both parents have derives from what is contained with God as the “I Am.” The love that we received from our mothers originated from our God. Even those who would extend themselves as mothers, not necessarily from birthing but from loving and caring, are manifesting the character of God through what they share with others.

It is God’s desire to reveal Himself through His Son Jesus Christ and for Jesus to reveal Himself through His Church. The mothers in the Church serve a vital role, particularly for those whose mothers are no longer alive. No one outgrows their need for nurture. As we grow older, those who were once nurtured become our nurturers. Those who we once protected become our protectors. It is as if God reverses the roles and allows the children of aging parents to give back what they had received as children. It is an honor to express love when there is nothing expected in return. This is the attitude and actions of El Shaddai. He revealed His love to the children of Israel in spite of their rebellion and hardness of heart. He showed us what unconditional love was all about. Children cannot care for themselves but are cared for as they learn how to give and receive care and love. The mother’s breasts are filled with milk containing all the nutrients needed for the child to develop. The baby does not have to learn how to suck, but instinctively is drawn to the breast as to receive the blessing contained within them similarly as we are drawn to Christ. When the mom’s breasts are full, the infant is hungry and mom needs to “express” or give forth her nurture. She is in pain unless she is able to give to her child what he or she needs. How marvelous is God’s creation of womanhood! Even after the child has grown, her greatest pain is not being able to give her child what is needed. She would be willing to do without herself in order to meet the needs of her children. God so loved us that He gave up His Only Begotten Son in order to meet our deepest need for redemption. He guards and protects His investment in us as a mother hen watches over her brood. He is El Shaddai, the God who is more than Enough, to supply our every need according to His riches in glory. Mothers help us to understand this truth and the provisions connected to it. May we appreciate God’s gift of motherhood as we worship the El Shaddai who sufficiently feeds us daily, so that we should never be left wanting for what we desperately need.

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