Thursday, September 25, 2008

A Vision for Transformation

Hey guys
Here is an encouraging word from Pastor Francis Frangipane’s ministry. He has written several books and does training seminars on becoming more Christ like. I have followed his ministry for years and have heard him speak. I am so in line with his message of spiritual transformation.

In 1970 the Holy Spirit gave Pastor Francis Frangipane a vision that included a powerful promise from Isaiah 60:2-3. The Lord warned, "For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples." Yet, in spite of the increased advances of hell, the Holy Spirit also promised, "But the Lord will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. And nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." (See Pastor Frangipane's book, The Days Of His Presence.)
It is our deep conviction that there shall be a great, last-days witness to all nations before Christ returns (see Matt 24:14).
Indeed, like no other time in history, we are living in a season of spiritual harvest. Researchers tell us that, worldwide, almost a million people each week are being born into God's kingdom. In amazing ways, the Holy Spirit is raising up and empowering ordinary people for extraordinary callings. Transformed men and women are transforming their neighborhoods and churches.
The plan is the same as what compelled the first-century church: we are seeking to possess the character and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether your desire is to see your family transformed or your nation in revival, today is not the time to despair, but to prepare.
In Christ's Image TrainingOur vision is to see hundreds of thousands of pastors and intercessors - people from all walks of life - focus their energies on becoming Christlike. Remember, Isaiah wrote that the "glory of the Lord" shall rise upon His people. It’s not the glory of our culture or gender, denomination or local church: we are seeking the glory of God’s Son to be revealed through us. Our confidence is that every time the Father sees His Son manifest upon the earth, His heart is "well-pleased." If we truly reveal Jesus, we too will awaken the pleasure of God. It is our burning conviction that when the Father's pleasure is stirred, His redemptive power soon follows.
If you would like to check out more of what Pastor Francis has to say on this go to his website http://www.frangipane.org

Monday, September 15, 2008

Who is the Off-road Man?

When I go on a road trip I prefer to take the back roads. Cruising’ down the freeway is often times too boring. I think its because as a man I was born for adventure, the unordinary, the challenge. Like you, I am unique, not created to stay on the wide, easy path. We are made for the twists and turns of the narrow road.

When it comes to being a disciple of Jesus you have to take the back road or the “off road”. It is a call for more guts and commitment but you and I are made for it. I want to encourage you to become the off road man you were destined to be.

Jesus said some pretty straight stuff about the off road lifestyle. He said,
You can enter the God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell (destruction) is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, only a few ever find it. (Matt. 7:13,14)

The off road is the only way to get into the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God? That’s where real life is. It’s life as God intended with meaning, fulfillment, and purpose. It’s where you really experience all the wonders and thrills of life. But to get there is not easy and being an off road man is not easy either. Some are hesitant to go there. It’s not for the slacker; lay low, easy-does- it kind.

Why is it hard? Why a narrow gate? Because, the Kingdom is so worth the effort. The Bible says its like finding a treasure in a field and buying the whole field to get it. If you’re thinking that being a disciple of Jesus is the easy way – forget it. You don’t just accept or believe in Jesus; you follow him – down the off road. He didn’t die so you could have the easy life or a peace plan with God. He died to make it possible for you to be able to fulfill your destiny as a man full of real life. Those who don’t think its worth it take the wide road.


The Bible is full of illustrations of men who have dared to take the off road. Here are just a few.

Think of Abraham who packed up and left his home and relatives to follow a voice. That voice called him to venture toward a land he had never seen and a new life. The fact of the matter was, he didn’t even know where he was going. It was truly an off road experience!

And then there was Moses. He was moving up the line in the monarchy of ancient Egypt but forsook it only to escape into the wilderness as a no body for forty years. Imagine what he gave up to take the off road in life.

The young man Daniel refused to bow down to a Babylonian idol and as a result was thrown to the lions. He certainly wasn’t afraid to get off the wide road of his day.

The great Old Testament prophet Elijah dared to confront the wicked king and queen of the land with all their idol worship. He called out for a day of reckoning as to whose god was real. He was calling people to get off the wide road.

We can also point out many other examples through out history.

John Wycliffe, a 14th century leader in the Roman Catholic Church, dared to point out the erroneous path the church was taking. His dissent ultimately led to the Protestant Reformation. But he was so hated that after he died the church burned many of his books and exhumed his body to be mutilated. What if he had just gone down the wide path with all the rest? Where would Christianity be today?

William Wilberforce was elected to the English Parliament in1784. In 1785 he became a true disciple of Jesus. His spiritual convictions led him to begin speaking out against the cruel practice of slave trading. His influence began the abolitionist movement. His path down the off road eventually led to the end of a cruel and inhumane business.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran minister in Germany in the 1930’s. He refused to follow along with Hitler’s socialist revolution and became a leader of the German Resistance. He was imprisoned and while there wrote the classic book called The cost of Discipleship. He was brutally tortured and hanged. What a price to pay for taking the off road.

Our current presidential candidate Senator John McCain also amazes me with the courage he displayed while a POW in North Vietnam. In his autobiography he tells of how his captors repeatedly beat and tortured him for five plus years. One day they told him that he would be released but McCain knew it was simply a propaganda ploy. He refused to accept his freedom because it violated military code and his relationship to the other fellow prisoners. Talk about opting for the hard way.

In sizing up the off road man here are some other check offs in the key areas of life.

Moral decisions. The off road man stays off the wide road of sexual promiscuity, pornography and the abuse of chemical substances. He resists the pressure to allow these behaviors to control his life. I personally know how dangerous that road is.

Financial integrity. He works hard at staying out of debt. It is not easy to say no to that new boat, motorcycle or other tantalizing toy. But here’s the problem. According to recent surveys in the USA, less than 10% of born-again believers have a Christian worldview. That means over 90% of us have been seduced into a pursuit of the same materialistic goals as our unbelieving neighbors. Over 40% have never given the first dime to the Lord’s work. Is that the off road way?

Family. He puts his wife and family first, serving them before himself. The off road man fulfills his role as the spiritual head of his family.

Social life. The off road man can be in the crowd but not of it. For him, some groups of guys just don’t measure up to his convictions in speech, and behavior. He refuses to be known as one of the crowd, a conformist or everyday kind of man.

Relationally. One of the most important characteristics of the off road man is his commitment to a band of brothers. To go it alone is not an option.

The off road man is the kind of man who leaves his mark for the next generation. He is remembered for his courage and boldness in staying off the wide path. My own father was one of those kinds of men. While not perfect he did his best to live a life a cut above his peers in speech and conduct. I admire him more every day for the guts it took to be a man committed to the narrow way.

Is there a benefit to going down the narrow path, the off road? Ask any man who has traveled down that road. See if they regret having found true life, meaning, purpose and significance. They are not fooled into believing that the easy road leads to anything but disaster and heartache. Rather, they know that although the road is sometimes tough it leads to far better places and blessings.

How about you? Are you one of the few who will “find it”? Get off the “freeway”. Make the decision and tell another man.