VISION 2015 PURSUING GOD S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE RUNNING AFTER YOUR DESTINY

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1 VISION 2015 PURSUING GOD S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE RUNNING AFTER YOUR DESTINY November, 2015 THE NINTH PRINCIPLE Jeremiah 29:11, I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. WALKING WITH GOD There are so many fond memories that I have of times that I spent with my father from growing up as a little boy, and most of all as I became a man. Especially those times when the real challenges of manhood were pressing upon me. It was my lot to step into a grown man s role at a very early age. At the age of 21, I was called to the challenge of serving the Mt. Rose Baptist Church of Bastrop, Texas as their new Pastor. Needless to say the challenge was much greater than my knowledge base or experience could measure up to. It was a journey that stretched me mentally as well as spiritually, and to make matters even more challenging, I was one of the youngest adults in the entire Church. The Mt. Rose Baptist Church was a small congregation of approximately 100 people, most of whom were above the age of 60. The reason for the difference between my age and theirs was that most of the young adults had moved to the big cities like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin as soon as they would graduate from high school. They were either continuing their education or pursuing job opportunities that the small town could not afford. So, there I was trying to conduct meaningful Ministry in a congregation of people who were older than my parents or grandparents. It was in those days that my father would call me and tell me to drop whatever I was doing and come to where he was. He would make this request/demand without an explanation or any information concerning what it was that he wanted. Sometimes he would summons me to come to his office and sometimes to his home, and upon my arrival he would say come and SIT with me (or sometimes it was just sit down ). Then at other times he would call and say drop what you are doing and let s take the boat and motor home and go fishing in Galveston for a few days. There we would spend three or four days fishing all day and cleaning the fish in the evening to freeze (of 1

2 course some of the fish had to be cooked and eaten each night). This second summons was a summons to WALK with him for those few day of fun and fellowship. No matter what the nature of the summons was, the times together were always fruitful and productive times that gave me clarity on the issues that I would face as a young man, husband, father and most of all as a young Pastor. As I reflect on those times I can now see the nature and purpose for each type of summons. The call to SIT meant that he was postured to pour into me from one perspective and the call to WALK with him was his way of fulfilling another purpose in my life. So, I invite you to examine both of these sessions in light of two fundamental ways that our Heavenly Father communicates with us. As I observe God in Scripture I can t help but notice that He assumes these two primary postures as he relates to His children. I like to call them Divine Postures. I call them so because of what I have noticed as His function in each of these postures. At times the Bible reveals God as being in the SITTING posture and at other times He is WALKING or moving. So, let s see the activities involved in each posture. The first and primary posture that we see God in is that of the SITTING posture which expresses Authority and Majesty. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and possesses all Authority and is clothed in all Majesty. The Bible speaks of God s throne as a place of power and authority. One instance of this revelation can be seen in 2 Chronicles18:18. The prophet Micaiah relates his vision of God s throne room, in which spirit beings stand in attendance. The verse says; I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and the entire army of heaven was standing on his right and his left. The throne of God is by far the most exclusive place in existence. Psalm 103:19, The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all. It is exclusively God s. It s been occupied since before time. Psalm 45:6, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. It s never been vacant and never will be. The character of God has always been to give and to share. He gives eternal life to those who believe in the Person and personal work of Christ in their lives. He delegates amazing authority to people. But He will not share His throne! While we read of many other thrones in the courtrooms of heaven, occupied by people and angels (Read Dan. 7), the throne of God stays exclusively His. A throne is a seat of authority. From the throne official Kingdom business is ratified, decrees are made and judgments pronounced. Official audience with the King seated on the throne represents the highest form of representation available. In the presence of God there are times of tremendous intimacy and fellowship but then there are also moments to appear officially before the throne. These moments are not to be spent in carnality or chit-chat. Your moments before the throne of God are reserved for purpose, destiny, worship and judgments. 2

3 We read in Ps 89:14 Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of Your throne. Throne-moments ensure the grounding of your life upon the foundations of righteousness and justice. They bring a right perspective and guidance to your being that empowers you and activates Kingdom principles in your life. Your every action, thought and motive is scrutinized and brought into compliance with God s precepts. Such moments have an amazing effect on the Believer. They bring Kingdom balance in an otherwise unbalanced and broken world. Ps 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God sits upon His holy throne Isaiah 6:1 reads, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the skirts of His train filled the most holy part of the temple. Let me remind you that the throne of God will never be vacant. It cannot be stolen or He cannot be out-muscled or overpowered. The throne is secure and established forever. When God summons us to SIT with Him we need to be prepared to surrender to His Divine Authority. This is also what I noticed when my father summoned me to come to his office or home. These were times when his purpose and function was to instruct me and discipline me. It was not a time for idle conversation, it was a time for him to talk and for me to listen and ask for further details on what it was that he was pouring into me. Honestly, I did not always enjoy SITTING time with my father because it usually did not leave room for me to assert my will or insert my opinions. SITTING time was usually also SHUTTING UP time. He was the voice of wisdom and authority and if I wanted to learn and grow I had to open my ears, eyes, and my heart to receive and grow thereby. It would be a good thing to learn to cherish those times when God summons you to that quiet place where He meets with you for the purpose of bringing you under His Authority for your instruction, direction and discipline. As He SITS on His throne you must learn to SIT at His feet. But the other Divine Posture that I see in His Word is that of WALKING. This brings me to my sub-title for this principle. WALKING WITH GOD Amos 3:3 is one of the most profound verses in the Bible and also one of the most misused verses. It consists of only eight words, but joined together these eight words release one of the most powerful concepts of the God/man relationship. The verse simply says; Can two walk together, except they be agreed? We will discuss the profundity of this text shortly, for now it is important for us to discuss the misuse of this verse. Amos 3:3 has been used by many who want to suggest that there should be some separation between them and someone else. Racial groups use this verse to give 3

4 reason to separate themselves from another racial group. Even some Churches use this verse to give credence to their reason for not associating with another type of Church. The variety of misuses cover a wide range of situations, but a clear understanding of the verse will dispel all of the notions that this verse is suggestive of any form of separation. As with any Scripture, the writings of Amos cannot be correctly understood without seeking for the clear context of the verse. In doing so one must answer the questions of who, what, when, where, and why. Answering as many of these questions will provide a clearer concept of the content and context of the verse. Amos addresses the people of God who were primarily in the Northern Kingdom of Israel with a call in verse 1: Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you. In verse 2 Amos demonstrates that God had chosen Israel for His special purposes and that Israel was deserving of judgment due to her departure from the living God. Then we come to verse 3. But the context of verse 3 is seen in the seven questions that are found in verses 3-8. When we study these verses together we discover that they set forth a cause and effect relationship which evidences the divine right for God to judge His people. This is why it is always dangerous to believe that you comprehend any verse without pursuing proper context. When we do so we are prone to tack on a meaning to God s Word such as the notion of separation that is simply our preconceived or misconceived notion. Careful exegesis must be exercised in pursuing context because failure to do so puts us in danger of a great condemnation found in Scripture. Deuteronomy 4:2 - Never add anything to what I command you, or take anything away from it. Then you will be able to obey the commands of the LORD your God that I give you. (GWT). The reason God is so adamant on seeking proper context is because of what His Word says in Psalms 119:160 - The entirety of Your Word is truth. Again, Proverbs 39:6 stresses - "Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. In our day there is the belief in progressive revelation that originates from outside the Word of God. What right does anyone have to teach what is not in Scripture as if it is Scripture? False teachers do not want to submit to its original intent, so they do not seek what Scripture actually (exegesis) means. Instead, they conform it to what they want it to mean (isogesis). They will look to another source as their authority because they are not under God s authority. This is why Paul admonishes us in 1 Corinthians 4:6: not to think beyond what is written (exceed or go past). Why? So pride will not have an opportunity to operate and puff us up. It is pride that makes one participate in false doctrine which makes him spiritually destructive to himself and others. 4

5 Now that we understand the importance of context in Scripture study let s explore the true contextual meaning of Amos 3:3. A careful examination of Amos 3:3-8 will reveal that these verses consist of SEVEN rhetorical questions that set in motion a series of CAUSE & EFFECT arguments. The first interrogative statement may be seen as a way of initiating the series. Only verse three is composed of a single question and the other verses (4-6) occur in pairs: Amos paints a picture that anyone can see, it is that every effect has its cause and every cause has its effect. Let s consider the rhetorical questions in greater detail:. Do two walk together (effect) unless they have agreed to do so (cause) [3:3]? Does a lion roar in the thicket (effect) when he has no prey (cause)? Does he growl in his den (effect) when he has caught nothing (cause) [3:4]? Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground (effect) where no snare has been set (cause)? Does a trap spring up from the earth (effect) when there is nothing to catch (cause) [3:5]? When a trumpet sounds in a city (cause), do not the people tremble (effect)? When disaster comes to a city (effect), has not the LORD caused it (cause) [3:6]? Please understand that the Law of Cause and Effect is one of the Universal Laws that cannot be violated. Nothing happens by chance or outside the Universal Laws. Every action has a reaction or consequence "We reap what we sow". Ralph Waldo Emerson said the Law of Cause and Effect is the "law of laws". The most important lesson involving human conduct and interaction is seen in the Cosmic Law of Cause and Effect. "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". Every human thought, word and deed is a Cause that sets off a wave of energy throughout the universe which in turn creates the Effect whether desirable or undesirable. The Law of Cause & Effect states that absolutely everything happens for a reason, and that all actions have consequences and produce specific results just as all inactions. The choices we make are causes whether they are conscious or unconscious; they all will produce corresponding outcomes of effects. So, in Chapter 3:1 as Amos addresses the people of God he approaches them with a call: Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you. Verse 2 demonstrates that God had chosen Israel for His special purposes and that Israel was deserving of judgment due to her departure from the living God. The seven questions found in verses 3-8 set forth a cause and effect relationship which evidences the divine right for God to judge His people. Reading verse 3 alone from the King James Version of the Bible can lead one to the common misuse of the verse. The King James Version simply states, Can two walk together, except they be agreed? 5

6 However, we should consider some other translations. The ESV translates this verse Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet? The NASB translates: Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment? Here the emphasis shifts from pre-walk agreement in order to walk together (KJV) to agreement to meet in order to walk together. To help us understand further we must consider the meaning of the Hebrew word agree. The root word means to appoint. It may also designate making an appointment. The true context is to take one s self to a place to meet together at an appointed place or an appointed time. It does not merely mean to agree together, but rather to agree to a meeting. When we force our 21 st century definition of agreement into the text we do a disservice to the inspired Word of God. The emphasis is not on being in agreement in order to walk together, but meeting or agreeing to meet in order to walk together. Now, you should be rejoicing at this point for surely correct context of this verse is ample reason for extraordinary exaltation. In case you missed it, I have just labored to help you to understand that Amos is not teaching that two must be in agreement (two of the same) in order to walk together. If that were so I probably would not have been summoned to meet with my father. I know that when he made the call that we were not the same. I could hear a certain tone in his voice that let me know that there was something on his mind that was not necessarily on mine. I usually had a feeling that our time of SITTING was not going to agree with my agenda. I was 21 and still quite immature; he was past 40 and had much more serious matters on his mind. So, he was not calling me because we were in agreement, he was calling me for us to agree to meet. So, I would agree to meet, and upon meeting I quickly discovered that my hunch was right, it was not going to be an enjoyable moment. But soon the environment would change as he poured into me and my heart began to change as my ears became more receptive to what he was saying. I would always walk away feeling better equipped for my tasks because of the fruitfulness of the MEETING that we agreed to have as we SAT. Then I noticed that soon after our time of SITTING he would make another call. This call was a call to meet him in Galveston, Texas for a few days of fishing together. This was a time for us to enjoy each other s company and companionship. We were in sync on all of our activities throughout each day. We did everything together and there was never any differences or conflict. The reason is, we could WALK together because we SAT together. 6

7 What Amos is saying is not that there must be agreement before two can walk together. If that was the case we could never walk with God. He is Holy and we are most unholy. That fact alone would be grounds for eternal separation between God and man. But the true context is that God is calling us to AGREE TO MEET. So, the verse can read, Can two walk together unless they agree to a meeting? It may help at this point to consider Amos 3:3 from some other translations of the Bible. The New Revised Standard version translates the Hebrew: Do two walk together unless they have made an appointment? The Amplified Bible puts it this way, Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed? It should be clear now that WALKING WITH GOD is a very serious and mandatory matter. It requires that we answer His call to meet with Him. That meeting is a daily encounter that is held at the altar of your soul and the agenda is HIS HOLY WORD. Every day He is calling us to SIT with Him as he instructs us, leads us, transforms us, and brings us into complete compliance with His will for our lives. It is here that we will inevitably discover His Divine Plan for us that was set before the world began. The picture of calling us to SIT with Him sometimes and at other times calling us to WALK with Him can probably be seen more clearly in what Isaiah records in 1:18; Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. This is clearly a call to the Counsel Table where the Lord examines us and gives His analysis on our sinful condition. It is the call wherein He instructs us in His ways through His Word. Amos is simply saying that we can never qualify to WALK with Him until we first accept His invitation to meet. When the meeting is held the terms of the meeting are set by Him. It is His agenda and ours to comply with it. If you genuinely desire to know GOD S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE, you can only find out at the MEETING! As I bring this principle to a conclusion, I am reminded of what God said through the Prophet Micah that is recorded in Chapter 1. In the reading of the first eight verses I get a hint of what will happen at the agreed upon MEETING: Mic 6:1-8, Now listen to what the LORD is saying, Stand up! Plead your case in front of the mountains, and let the hills listen to your request. Listen to the LORD'S lawsuit, you mountains. Listen, you strong foundations of the earth. The LORD has filed a lawsuit against his people. He is arguing his case against Israel. My people, what have I done to you? How have I tried your patience? Answer me! I brought you out of Egypt and freed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you. My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned to do to you and how Balaam, son of Beor, responded to him. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal so that you may know the victories of the LORD. 7

8 What should I bring when I come into the LORD'S presence, when I bow in front of the God of heaven? Should I bring him year-old calves as burnt offerings? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams or with endless streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child because of my rebellious acts? Should I give him my young child for my sin? You mortals, the LORD has told you what is good. This is what the LORD requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God. Be prepared to hear what The Lord has to say to you at the meeting so you can then walk step in step with Him into your PROSPEROUS FUTURE! PRACTICE THIS PRINCIPLE. 8