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TTI Thought of the Month

January 2012 – Government – Part 1 – Back to the Basics

There is only one template for how God wants us to live values-wise and it’s found in Scripture. We need to get back to the message of the Kingdom and how God works in all areas of life. God’s values are given to us in the laws of Moses and are built on through the life and teachings of Christ. We cannot just assume that we know these values and how we can apply them today. It’s time for us as God’s people to return to our roots and get back to the basics. Let’s begin this year by taking a look at the values of God in the area of government.

In Scripture, government reveals the King of kings. It is in the area of government that we see the God of Justice revealed to us. There were governments in place before God spoke through Moses to create His idea of government. Governance is a part of God’s character and therefore it is part of how God ordained the world to function. Government is necessary. The only thing worse than bad governance is anarchy. In Deuteronomy 1 God begins to establish the principles of government through Moses. It is here that we see God delegating some of His authority away. A good system of governance, according to God, is for the power to be pushed down. He desires that the people would wisely choose their own leaders, that every tribe would be represented, that there would be no partiality in judging and that there would be checks and balances in the system. His desire is that all people within a nation would be involved in electing their leaders. It is our God-given right to be involved and to vote. In today’s world, especially in Western countries, less than 50% of the people vote. And in Christian circles the statistics are even lower. How did we get to the point where we don’t care who gets voted in and who rules over us? Have we lost what is important to God in this area? I find it ironic that many people in the Middle East today are losing their lives fighting for their right to have a voice and a vote, while many of us are just taking our freedom for granted. We need to repent, change our thinking and get back to the things that God sees are important!

December 2011

We need a greater revelation of Christ - Part 2

The world today is changing at a very quick pace. Change does not throw off God. Change is necessary. The Bible is articulate about change. God says to us over and over again, “Fear not for I am with you!” He tells us to do what He has told us to do with courage.

Nations are undergoing major change and we have the potential to influence them or not. There are groups of people today writing new constitutions. How can we write a constitution with a Biblical basis? How can we influence systems that will change nations for the better? In history the church has been on the cutting edge and has been engaged in society. What will the 21^st century look like? We used to have influence. Do we have influence now? Do we know what God’s ideas would be for a good constitution? Do we know what God thinks about economic policy and national debt? Do we care? Individuals, communities and nations are desperate for a set of values that will bring change for the better. In order for us to have this great influence we have got to realize that we have lost our Christian minds. We don’t know how to talk about constitutions and economic policies anymore because we have lost our Biblical thinking in a lot of these areas. We no longer know the model, the template of God’s word in all spheres of life. We no longer know that God is Lord of all areas of life. We must repent and re-inherit the thinking of God. What changes a nation? Community development will not work long term if the thinking does not change. It’s good to feed the poor right now, but the thinking that keeps them poor also needs to change so that they won’t need food again later. Generations of wrong thinking needs to stop now! We must change our thinking about nations and vocations if we want to be salt and light here and now.

Our purpose is not only to serve Him, but it’s to know God and enjoy Him forever. This is our mandate. If you have service without revelation you have nothing. Our reward is knowing God. I am here to know Him and enjoy Him. When we see Him and know Him in a new dimension we will know what to do. Strategy is to be birthed from the Spirit of God and knowing Him. Make knowing God your passion. The task is to know Him!

November 2011

We need a greater revelation of Christ – Part 1

If we are going to disciple the nations in our generation we need a greater revelation of who Jesus is. We need to see the greater Jesus who is not hanging on the cross anymore. We also need a superior revelation of nations. We often lack a throne-like view of what the nations really need in God’s scheme of things. In the book of Colossians 1:15 it says, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” When we reach the New Testament the Jews have been taught for over 2000 years that God is Lord of all. They have been taught that He is the Lord of the family, beauty, the priesthood, education, science, communication, government, and economics. When Paul came to the gentiles they had not been taught this message. They had not yet learned how superior Christ in every area of life is. They had not been taught how far reaching is Christ’s power. He is the image of the invisible God. God reveals Himself in the material world. All things are His… both the visible and the invisible… heaven and earth, thrones and powers, rulers and authorities…. They are made by Him and for Him. We can bring that redemptive power to the world today. He has come to bring redemptive justice…. a more “just” today than yesterday. What a salvation… what a Gospel…. what a magnificent message. The Gospel of political blessing. The Gospel of economic blessing. The Gospel of beauty. The Gospel of truthful communication etc…. He has reconciled His creation. We need to move towards the whole Gospel. When we see Him for who He is the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in it’s entirety and nations will be changed.

October 2011

“Are We Listening?

Jesus glorified the Father on earth. We have that same opportunity. It is here and now in our families and in our communities that we have the opportunity to glorify Him in a greater fashion. He is the one that tells us how we can do that. Jesus completed the work that the Father asked Him to do. Jesus knew exactly what His responsibility here on earth was. We are often more like the Pharisees, doing everything. At the age of 33 the job description that the Father gave Jesus was brought to completion. If every Christian obeyed God and did exactly what they heard the Father saying, we would accomplish what the Lord has for us to do in our generation. It’s what we finish that counts not just what we start.” Landa L. Cope

August 2011

“There is no understanding of any domain or dominion without understanding its design and purpose before sin and the fall. We were not made for sin. Sin happened, so God must and we must deal with it. But we do not have governance, science, education, family, business, beauty and the arts, communication because we are fallen from God’s ideal. We do not have nations and cultures because, after sin, there was no other way we could be ruled. We have all of these arenas of life because we are created in the image of God and they are all part of revealing Him. They are all ways in which we know, see and worship God. Our work, creating communities that reflect who God is, is our worship now and forever.” Landa L. Cope

July 2011

“Culture and community are born from the triune nature of God. The potential was to multiply the nature and character of God over and over in individuals, in families, in tribes, in nations forever. This was the Glory of God filling the earth through diverse communities of human beings committed to loving each other as God loves us all. And God declared it is very good. In fact, it was so good that God declared one day in every seven as a day to sit back and look at the beauty and perfection of the productiveness of work, His and ours.”

Landa L. Cope

June 2011

The Fall… Creation Entangled

“For God knows that in the day you eat from ityour eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5

Was the serpent lying? Genesis 3:7 says, “Then they eyes of both of them were opened…” and Genesis 3:22 says, “…Behold the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil…” These verses show the serpent was telling the truth.

In verse four the serpent starts with a lie, and now in verse five is ending with truth. Why is this significant? This is his craft, we seeit through the whole of scripture. He undermines Gods nature,character, personality and motive, then takes a truth of God and twists it so that it caters to our human desire.

So in verse five what has been brought into the picture or relationship?
Possible doubt in their Creator, and what He has given or not given them?
A desire for something outside of God?
A desire to be god?
A sense of what they have been given is not enough, wanting more?
Etc…

Think back to Genesis 1 & 2, think of all that we have been given relationally with our Creator God and His creation. What is hanging inthe balance here? A piece of fruit from the tree of knowledge of goodand evil vs. what we have in Genesis 1 & 2. What would they be letting go of, and embracing?

Again, what are they about to lose?

May 2011

The Fall… Creation Entangled

The serpent said to the woman, “you surely will not die! Genesis 3:4

If we were to rephrase in our own words the serpents’ statement,you surely will not die, how would you say that? What is the serpenttruly saying to them?
“God is not telling you the truth. He is lying to you.”
“God is a liar!”
“God has deceived you.”
“Your source of life, your creator, is lying to you.”
“Thus your basis of truth and reality is a lie.”

What has the serpent just done with those first few words? Has he not just undermined Gods’ character? Tried to cause His created being (made in His image and likeness) to question His motives and intensions? Has he not just tried to undermine their basis of truth, reality and life?Has he not just said he has knowledge, truth and understanding outside of God?

Who is trying to define truth now?

April 2011

The Fall… Creation Entangled.

The woman said to the serpent, “from the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touchit, or you will die.’ “ (Gen 3:2-3)

Here we see the woman has chosen to engage in this conversation with the serpent. Why? Does she want to defend what God had truly said? Is she interested in what the serpent might have to say about it? Is she truly ignorant of his motives?

If we look back at Genesis 2:16-17 it will confirm that the woman knows what God commanded. She has the knowledge and understanding of what God told them they could eat, what they could not eat, and why. They, Adam and Eve, had the understanding of choice. The tree was there for thetaking if they wanted, yet they knew the consequences, death.

Did Adam and Eve have an understanding of what it meant to die? What was their concept of death? Would their work of cultivating and keeping the garden have given them an understanding of life and death?

The only different between what God said in Genesis 2:16-17 and whatthe woman says God said in Genesis 2:2-3 is that they are not to touch it. God did not say that. Now that could be a translation issue, but it could also be something the woman added in. If so, why would she do that? Is it important?

So, where is creation at, at this moment?

March 2011

The Fall… Creation Entangled.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said,‘you shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” Gen 3:1 NAS

If you remember from week three, Adam has obviously encountered the serpent before, as he would have given the serpent his name (Gen 2:19). Doesn’t that moment in time cause you to imagine and wonder what must have been going on as God brought the serpent to Adam to name? There they are, the three of them together. Did Adam know at that moment theserpent was crafty? Is that why Adam gave him the name serpent? If so, what were the dynamics?

Secondly, a beast is talking! In scripture it does not note that theman or woman were surprised by it. What does that mean? What was the communication like between Gods creation? We have many forms of communication today verbal and non-verbal, intrapersonal and interpersonal etc. Where they all present at the moment? Or was the communication outside our ability to understand?

Now, lets look at the question the serpent asks the woman. “Indeed, ha sGod said, ‘you shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
In asking that question to the woman, what is the serpent doing?
Is he purposely misquoting God or distorting His words, if so, why? How is that significant?
He is obviously questioning her “source” of information, why is that important?
He is also testing her knowledge, her understanding. What is he trying to get to?

In questioning her “source” and her understanding the serpent isgetting to her “belief system”, her understanding of truth and reality. And he is causing her to question it. Is that wrong?

So in this first verse of Genesis 3, the beginning of man’s fall, have we lost anything yet?
What does this tell us of communication?
What does it tell us about truth and reality?
What does it tell us of the serpent?
What does it tell us of God, His nature and character?

February 2011

Fall of man cont… Man and Man

“So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at thatplace. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib, which He had taken from the man and brought her to the man. The man said, this is now boneof my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:21-23 NAS)

God takes the rib of Adam and places it into the woman. Why does God use Adam’s rib? Was it necessary? When you look at Genesis 2:7 it isclear God does not need Adam’s rib. So, why did He use it? What was His purpose in it? What was God giving to man? Was woman a “secondself” of man?

God is clear on his purpose for the woman. As Genesis 2:20 tell us God is giving Adam a helper. How does God define helper? A companion? One to share in the work? Someone to complete the image of God? Whatis Gods intention for them?

Why does God allow man to name her? What does it place in man’s heart? What is He giving of Himself to both of them in that?

When Adam says, “Because she was taken out of Man”, what does that tell us about the foundation of science? What has God put in place inside the design of man?

What is God teaching us of His nature and character by creating man and woman?

So… what did we lose at the fall?

January 2011

Fall of man cont… Man & the Animals

“Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field andevery bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.” (Gen 2:19-20 NAS)

Imagine you are Adam in the garden and God is walking towards you withan elephant (which of course has no name yet) at His side. You are captivated by this large creation that is coming towards you. God hasa huge smile on his face and says “what will you name My creation?” Wow! YOU get to name every living creature!

What does this tell you about God’s intended relational with Man? What does this tell us about man’s authority? What does it tell man abouthis work? What does it tell man about his part in identity? What is God giving Man? What is He placing in the heart and mind of man?

What was Adam’s response? How do you imagine he felt?
I wonder what the atmosphere of that moment was like?

Did Adam just start blurting out names randomly, or was there thought and contemplation put into each decision? Genesis 2:23 will answerthat for you.

Again… what did we lose at the fall?

December 2010

fall of man cont… God & Man

Lets take a more in-depth look into man being made in the image and likeness of God.

Genesis chapter 1 and 2 tell us that God conceived of replicating andmultiplying His perfect Self, and the love and fellowship of God, threein one, by creating human beings.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; …”“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him;male and female He created them.”(Gen 1:26-27 NAS)

“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into hisnostrils the breath of life and man became a living being.” (Gen 2:7NAS)

Imagine God, three in one, wanting and making man in His own image andlikeness. Forming man with His own hands; breathing His own breathtogive life! WOW!

Looking at Genesis 1:1-25, the rest of creation is spoken into existence, but man is fashioned and breathed life into by God. What is God communicating by this? What is He putting into place?

Think of our bodies and how intricately they are designed, and then think howHe fashioned us with the dust of the ground and His breath, nothingelse! Does that not rattle your mind? What does it tell you about God and the laws of science? What does it tell you about life?

What was God giving man when He gave him His image, His likeness?

What was His purpose and intention in it?

What does this tell us about God’s heart for man?

What does this tell us about God relationship with man?

What does this tell us of man’s value, man’s worth?

What does this tell you of man’s authority?

Again… what did we lose?

November 2010

On hearing of the “fall of man” we should ask the question, “Fallen from what?”

Nothing makes sense in Scripture unless we understand why God created everything and the destiny He conceived for it all. The tragedy of history is not the fall, but what we lost in the fall.

First, lets look at Genesis 1:26-31 and 2:18-23 think about the relationships between; man and God, man and the creatures, and man and man. He made man in His image, His likeness. He wanted man to co-create with Him. He multiplied man from man. Now, just don’t think about this, read and IMAGINE being created by God, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”… Imagine God bringing each animal to see what you would call them… Imagine your rib having the ability to form another human being…

Then ask yourself again, “What have we fallen from? What have we lost?”

TTI Thought of the Month

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