firstsayyes.com

The Logic of Damnation

I want to post a link to a very good article on the topic of Hell. It is by Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC. There are nuances in the article with which I am wrestling, but it struck a powerful chord in me - especially in regards to how much God loves us. I would love to hear your opinions in regards to this author’s take on a very controversial, but important subject.

The Importance of Hell 

Omega Course // Weeks 4-6

Oil of intimacy (Part2)

The 7 longings of the human heart

Overview of the Song of Solomon

Omega Course // Week Three

Week Three Resources:
The Oil of Intimacy (Part 1)

Studies in the Millennial Kingdom:
Overview
Session :  One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten

Omega Course // Week Two

For those interested in a study aid for the book of Revelation, a written overview of the book of Revelation can be found
[ here ]

To listen to the corresponding audio message that goes w/ this weeks session, go  [ here ]

If you want to dig deeper into various topics relating to “last things”, go  [ here ]

Omega Course // Week One

For everyone taking the Omega Course during WOW this Fall, you will be able to find supplemental material here. You can also post questions or insights which can be addressed in class during our free time.

For each session, in addition to the study of the end times we will be doing during class periods, there will also be supplemental material which corresponds to the in class teaching.

Week 1 ~ “Overview of the Book of Revelation”

Additional resources that may be useful for this class:

~ Teaching notes on the end times from International House of Prayer

Re-live the Moment

Thought some of you might want to re-live the fun we all had at Jim’s expense. Enjoy, and remember to pray for our youth in Washington D.C. this week.

The Evolving Church in China

WOW! I was blown away at the creativity and innovation of the church in China expressed in this article. There is much to be learned from what is going on there, it is a long read, but totally worth it. Especially worth the read is the critique offered by leading christian pastors of the limitations of their house church movement, and the need for something more beyond that to truly accomplish the objectives of the kingdom.

Great Leap Forward

China is changing and so is its church. How new urban believers are shaping society in untold ways.

How Do You Know When God Is Talking To You?

This is a difficult question to answer, because every person is different, therefore God is going to communicate to different people, many times, in dramatically different ways. But generally speaking, I will try and offer a few guidelines as to how we can posture ourselves to be more apt to receive and recognize that communication when it comes.

1. There is no substitute for a life of discipline. I believe the number one ingredient to discerning the communication of God is a trained and disciplined mind and emotions. Being regular in reading and contemplating the scriptures, being regular in meditation and prayer, and being regular in self denial. I can’t emphasize that last part enough, self denial, because many times we think we are hearing the voice of God when actually we are attributing to God our own selfish desires. This is what we call “dispassionate” thinking, that is, being able to separate yourself out of the equation of your decision making and thinking from an objective point of view. If you don’t get this part of hearing God right, chances are likely you will rarely be able to receive with clarity God’s communication.
2. Ask for God’s communication. Many times we don’t hear the voice or communication of God because we don’t ask for it and aren’t looking for it often enough. Communication with God is just like communication with anyone else, it takes practice and learning and time to develop. When you are starting a relationship with a new person, you begin with small talk and trivial topics. As the relationship develops you move on to deeper issues. Developing lines of communication with God are the same way, begin with simple small things, and as you grow in that move on to more significant topics.
3. Know yourself. This is a key component to”dispassionate” thinking. One way we grow in this is through looking at ourselves or our situation through the eyes of others that we trust and know to be a reliable sounding board. We need to meditate on our reaction to people and situations and be willing to be brutally honest with ourselves, rarely will anyone be willing to be absolutely brutally honest with us. As we prayerfully reflect upon ourselves, the Holy Spirit will lead us into “all truth”, if we are open and willing to face the brutal facts, the Holy Spirit will be faithful to share them with us.
4. Act. When we receive communication and information from God, act on it. Begin taking steps to test the information, if it doesn’t lead to anything it may not have been God. But if it was God speaking, it will probably grow and continue opening new doors.  If we don’t use the communication we receive it will stop, but with the measure that we use, it will be measure back to us.

What About the Rapture?

A questioner wrote asking, “Is there a ‘rapture’? Is that the same as the ’second coming’?”

The word “rapture” is taken from the Latin word referring to a passage of scripture found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The word means “caught up” or “taken away”. Here is the passage in its context:

1Thes 4:13-18
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

While there is little dispute over whether or not a rapture will happen, there is much dispute over when it will happen.

In my opinion, the rapture of the church happens at the same time as the second coming, after the great tribulation. This is a hotly debated issue, and I realize the popular opinion promoted by “pop” theologians is that we will be raptured before the great tribulation. However I would point you to a few sources to decide for yourselves.

Wikipedia article on the “Rapture” (Has several links to different points of view)
International House of Prayer’s View of the End Times (The view that resonates most with me)
Mike Bickle’s teaching on the second coming of Jesus

What Happens After We Die?

Good question, there is some difference of opinion on this subject in the broader Christian context, but by and large most Christians believe “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”.

Ultimately, after we die, we will be waiting for a new heavenly body like the one Jesus had after he was resurrected from the dead. Here is an example of a verse that talks about longing for our heavenly, permanent dwelling place. Notice it isn’t clear about what happens between states.

2 Corinthians 5:1-9
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
(NIV)

However another verse may clarify that the scriptures do indeed insinuate we will be with the Lord immediately after we die.

Luke 23:40-43
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(NIV)

Here Jesus seems to be saying to the criminal hanging with him on the cross, that because of his repentance, after he dies he will be “with” Jesus in paradise. Here is another verse that would support the idea of being present with the Lord immediately after death:

Philippians 1:21-24
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
(NIV)

Ultimately what we will be waiting for, even in this state of paradise is to be clothed with our heavenly (that is, resurrected) bodies.