On Sonship (Part I)
If you’ve never seen someone adopt from a third world country, let me give you an all-too-common story: Very loving adopting parents bring a child home from a third world country. When they arrive home they give the child all the food he or she needs. But despite the generosity of the parent, the adopted child instantly begins to hide and store food. Food will be stored in the craziest of places for later use. Why? Because all of his or her life, that child has had to live in circumstances where he was the only one to look out for himself.
There’s no sense in trying to convince the child to stop, either. Even though the adoption is complete and the food (at least from the child’s perspective) is never-ending, it takes months and many times years before a child understands that the situation has changed and he no longer needs to hoard. Realities have changed but fundamental ideas about their identity as sons or daughters take time to shift.
Much of this is the same in the realm of the Spirit, as well. If you’re a Christian, you are an adopted son or daughter of God. However, it can be many years (and unfortunately, many decades) before some believers experience that same shift in relationship to God. They have all the rights and responsibilities of a true son, but they go on acting like they have no father. This orphan-like thinkings has dramatic practical applications for us as believers, applications many of us might not be aware of.
Over the next couple of weeks my hope is to look at the topic of sonship. For the time being, let me ask a question and get your thoughts in the comment section: How have you seen someone’s understanding of sonship affect their understanding of their walk with God?
My Take on our African Over Night Prayer Meeting
If you hadn’t caught my twitter feed you probably didn’t know that I spent Friday night (New Year’s Eve) and Saturday Morning with my friends from Full Grace Ministries as they held their over night prayer meeting.
If you’ve never been to Africa, let me explain the idea of an “over night prayer meeting.” First of all, while there is prayer that goes on, it is not just a prayer meeting. When I’ve been in Africa in the past, a common question they ask is “Where do you pray from?” What they mean is, “Where does your church gather and have their meetings at?” So an African over night prayer meeting is more like an extended church meeting that goes through the night. My first over night was in Uganda. The rest I’ve participated in here in America with Full Grace Ministries.
My job, as I understand it from the Lord, is to continue to encourage my African friends who gather that they have something to offer us in America. They carry a deposit of Jesus that we cannot understand as Western Americans apart from their help. So, I join them as often as I can and when the Lord allows, I encourage them to become everything Jesus designed them to be.
That said, here is my take on what happened on Friday night:
What I Learned
This particular night I was able to hear a number of speakers who where truly African in their message and their mindset. One of the things that I noticed about these speakers was that their version of Christianity is a very “now-centered” Christianity. They do not wait for God to move some time in the future. They believe God is a God who acts now.
How God Met Me
I knew that there was the potential for me to end up addressing the gathering. I was also somewhat nervous after hearing the first two speakers. They were definitely fiery and it was obvious that their style of preaching was more what the folks gathered there were used to. I even leaned over to my buddy Sean (who has joined me for previous over night prayer meetings) and said “Now I understand why everyone is so quiet whenever I talk.”
But God met me, ironically, during the intermission. John, a new friend of mine, came up to me and introduced himself. He went on to tell me how last year when I spoke, he said to himself, “This man is quiet but the Lord is with him,” and how excited he was that I was back. It was encouraging to hear that my friend could hear the Lord even without me changing my speaking style. It definitely gave me courage when it was my turn to speak.
What God is Doing
One of the things I was privileged to share with Full Grace Ministries was that God has placed them very strategically where they are. They carry a genuine prophetic African anointing that we Americans know very little about. I believe the Lord desires to use them as messengers and missionaries to a declining American church and an increasingly secular culture. We need the spiritual DNA that they carry and I strongly sensed the Holy Spirit empowering them to be a voice to us that night.
Summary
I’m thankful for everything the Lord did. I believe that what happened will be a picture of what you can expect to see increasingly in the years ahead: Americans receiving from the Lord things our African brothers walk in, while we get to come alongside and encourage them as well. The result will be a stronger church in America, empowered by the Spirit to be a voice and to walk in the supernatural power of Jesus.
Photo Credit: Africa in Hearts by futureatlas.com
2010’s Creme of the Crop
A top ten blog post at the end of the year is almost blogging protocol anymore. But I think posts like this serve as a good jumping on point for new readers. They also show us where the conversation and thoughts of those who have visited have been.
My thought on the top ten is that this list represents where this blog has shared valuable information and stories with others. Feel free to check out these blogs that others thought were the best this year:
Mark Driscoll Kicks Terry Virgo’s Butt (A synthesis of Mark Driscoll’s time encouraging New Frontiers in 2008 from both Mark and Terry’s perspective.)
Inspired by the Jesus Manifesto, Napoleon on Jesus (In the midst of reading the Jesus Manifesto, I was reminded of this quote by Napoleon. It’s worth your time.)
Red Moon Rising Quote #2 (Written in 2006, this is a quote from the book Red Moon Rising. I think one of the elements people are drawn to in the 24/7 prayer movement is the deep passion that fuels this prayer movement. Check the quote out for evidence.)
Thirty Days To Greater Fruitfulness: Introduction (The Lord challenged me to spend thirty days waiting on Him in silence, obeying His voice if and when I heard it, and blogging about the results.)
Antioch 2009, All Things Starfish, and Haven in the Hood (This blog is a synthesis of different bloggers’ thoughts on the Antioch Gathering in ‘09. A number of major players in the house church world gathered and the official version of the Starfish Manifesto was released.)
Stuff I’m Reading (This is just some thoughts on what I’ve read over the years.)
Red Moon Rising Quote #1 (See thoughts on Red Moon Rising Quote #2.)
Why You Come to Pursuing Glory (This was my attempt to create an on-ramp for new readers based on this blog’s most read articles. If you’re new, check it out.)
Food For Thought: Thirty Days To Greater Fruitfulness (One of my Food For Thought posts, this post came out during the first week of September. It captures a number of relevant blog posts and has a link to a summary page of my first week during my Thirty Days to Greater Fruitfulness Challenge.)
My Daugther: The Newest Fiery Believer I Know (This blog is a reflection of events that transpired after my daughter accepted Christ. This may be one of my favorites this year.)
Photo Credit: Gold Top 10 Winner by Sam_Churchill
Cluster Map
Pursuing Glory 