ReVision Church

Not just re-envision (rethink/reimagine) but revision – make the necessary adjustments so that the message is effectively heard. 

Jesus last words before ascending were “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19, ESV).  Discipleship and mission (carrying the love and power of Jesus into the world) are the priorities of Christ for his church.  Gathering together is important, but when we sacrifice going for gathering we are missing the mark.  Mission and discipleship are both best done in the context of relationship and connection.  The problem with our gathered “Sunday Morning” services is that they allow too much of the Church (not just seekers) to hide out and remain unconnected with the attitude that the pastors and leaders will do it all. The pastors and leaders preach that they are there to equip the church for ministry but within the context of traditions and models that don’t empower their message. It’s not about having the right model of church – the New Testament church had different models for the Jews and Gentiles.  It’s about embracing the right priorities then adjusting the model to make those priorities as effective as possible.

Let me make this clear – gathering is important because it allows the apostolic leaders to impart their DNA to the disciples (Acts 2:42-43).  However, this is compromised as well because the apostolic leader isn’t just preaching to disciples, he’s preaching to the hot and the cold and the lukewarm and the lost.  The leaders are given 60-90 minutes a week to steward the hot, fire up the cold, admonish the lukewarm and win the lost. Most churches spend most their resources (time, money, people and energy) on making this one ministry – the Sunday morning worship service – happen. And what do we have to show for it?  

Well at my church we have great gatherings – passionate worship, revelatory sermons and people who genuinely love each other.  We have great core values that really are being lived out through us to varying degrees.  It also seems like we, as in many churches, have too few practical ways people can connect with one another so that discipleship and mission are happening in the context of relationship. 

I'm not angry at the church (my own or in general) or it's leaders.  I love the church and it's people so much that I look for ways to lay my life down for them - that's my calling. I believe with all that I am that every Christian within their new nature has a true hunger for God and a true desire to be who he created us to be. What might happen if these beautiful people began to rethink the way we do things with the priorities of Jesus at center stage? What if we were able to let go of our church paradigms and what makes us comfortable for the sake of embracing Jesus' idea of church? What if... ?

Maybe it’s time to start asking questions and re-examining our priorities.  Maybe we need a revision of the model so that what we are really called to do and be as a church becomes what we are effective at doing and being. Maybe it’s time to free up our leaders to truly focus on equipping the disciples who then minister to each other and the world rather then leaving the responsibility for it all at the leader’s feet.

I have some ideas – some conversation starters. They are as radical as we say we want to be.  They are dangerous and maybe even threatening to some. If nothing else they will get us thinking outside the box. But dare I mention them?

God's Promises for the Harvest

I have been wrestling with the calling God has on my life for a long time.  In some ways my church had become Saul’s Armor, because I knew I was suppose to minister outside it's walls, but it had become comfortable and safe for me. It had also become my excuse for not facing Goliath.  Then the Lord began to speak to me from Luke 10 as I was wrestling with the fears I face in moving forward with what he's called me to.  He met each fear with a promise.  He is so good. It’s as if he is saying to me, “You’ve killed your bear, you’ve killed your lion, now go kill Goliath.” God is obviously dealing with me very personally here but I thought that some of what he spoke to me, may bless you as well. 

Vs. 2 “The harvest is plentiful” (John 4:36 says, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest”).

The Lord: If you can’t see it’s because you’re afraid to look. You’re afraid that you'll look and there will be nothing there – but I promise you the harvest is there.

“but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

The Lord: You know that you are the answer to this prayer. So ask the Lord of the harvest to bring other laborers beside you. You are afraid you will have to do this alone but I promise you are not meant to do this alone. Pray earnestly for those who are called to walk with you in this harvest to rise up and be obedient. To face their fears as you are and set aside what is in their hands to obey the call.

Vs. 3 “Go your way”

The Lord: You must start moving in the way to which I’ve called you. Stop trying to stay where you have become comfortable in Saul’s armor. You are afraid of yourself because of your capacity to dream big, that this is in your imagination – you should know better than that.  I made you to dream big and I promise that I have given you the desires of your heart so that your way IS my way. Now move.

“behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”

The Lord: You are afraid you are not strong enough, gifted enough, wise enough or qualified enough to succeed.  I promise you that all you need to do is remain a lamb and you will not have to worry about success.  Remain in honor and love with no resentment in your heart (towards the wolves or towards the sheep who bite) – only trust in your Shepherd and in your heavenly Father, little one, and follow my lead.

Vs. 4 “Carry no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals”

The Lord: For fear of lack you may want to grab every opportunity and resource that you can. I want your hands to remain empty and wide open so that I can put my resources into them. I promise that what I put into your hands will prosper. Take nothing for yourself – grab at nothing – only wait to receive from me, for it will be much greater. I will be your provider (money bag), I will carry your burden (knapsack), and I will be your transportation (sandals). I promise that I will get you where you need to be with what you need to be there.

“greet no one on the road”

The Lord: You are afraid that those who are important to you won’t understand what I’ve called you to or won’t approve.  Do not rely on men’s approval – you have my blessing, my approval – this is my vision you are stewarding and I promise I will bring those around you who “get it” to encourage you and stand beside you.

Vs. 5-8 “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you; And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.”

The Lord: You are afraid that you will become isolated from the rest of the Body.  Extend the invitation of fellowship to those that I bring in front of you. I promise that the sons of peace – those truly interested in building the Kingdom – will recognize that you are a son of peace as well and will become a strategic relationship for you. Those who are more interested in their own kingdoms will not recognize you.  The blessing that I would have brought them through you is what they are rejecting.  Do not be distracted by them but move on to the next opportunity to build fellowship.

Do not neglect these strategic relationships because some other possibility looks better or seems to have more to offer. I promise that if I’ve connected them with you then what they offer, no matter how small, is what I’ll use to bring in the great harvest.

Vs. 9 “Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

The Lord: You are afraid you are not supernatural enough.  You long to see supernatural provision, healing, signs, wonders, miracles and manifestations of my glory because you want the world to see what you know is true – that I am a great God.  It is good to want these things – now you will have to trust me that your risk and your obedience will be met with my power – because I promise that is what is going to happen.

Vs.  10 “But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.”

The Lord: You are afraid of failure because you think that results = success.  Truly, obedience = success. When someone does not receive you then wipe off the dust – take no bitterness or resentment with you – and know that you have done what I’ve called you to do. Then leave them in my hands. I promise that it will not be easy but it will be worth it. I promise that I will see and reward every sacrifice, every act of obedience, every time you are faithful to me.  You’re reward will be to know me more, to trust me more, and to become more like me.

Finally, I’ve struggled with my calling because it seemed too great for me. Then I realized that greatness isn’t just something inside me, it’s something I’ve inherited from my spiritual moms and dads. Even if they never saw the fulfillment of their prophetic destiny that had been spoken over their lives  - I’ve inherited what God made available to them because I’ve honored, served and submitted myself to them. The best way I can continue to honor them is to pick up where they left off, pick up the dropped mantles and discarded dreams and run forward with them. And my mothers and fathers will receive the reward as if they’d seen those words fulfilled in their own ministry. Legacy is not just something to leave – it’s something to be.

Being a Student of the Spirit

Excerpt from my new book "The Invitation" available on my website at www.shawnadiehl.com. I will also be available on Amazon after May 29, 2013.

I was not exactly the shining example of a student in my teenage years.  In fact, my parent’s heard from more than one of my teachers that I had so much potential if I would just apply myself. As I look back I see that the problem wasn’t aptitude or even interest in the subject. How I did in a class had more to do with whether or not I connected with the teacher than anything else. If I felt like the teacher was invested in me personally and believed in me then I was motivated to study and do well in the class. Who doesn’t like being the teacher’s pet?

From Milk to Meat

This dynamic affected my interaction with the Bible as well. As a young person there was a passage here and there (mostly the Psalms) which ministered to me, but a majority of the Bible seemed dry and irrelevant. This was partly because I was still immature in my spirituality and could only handle the milk of the Word (I Corinthians 3:2, Hebrews 5:12-13). It was also because I did not understand the culture of the people in the Bible, and so found it hard to relate to them. Gaining some knowledge of the historic setting of the Bible has helped me to understand and relate to it. However, the reason I’m passionate for God’s Word is that I love the teacher!

As I’ve grown in my relationship with the Holy Spirit I’ve found that the more connected I am to him the more I desire to have his words written on my heart, and the more the Bible has meaning for me. In the beginning of the process I still needed the milk of the Word because I still lacked understanding.  However, what was different was that I was beginning to desire the milk of the Word. 1 Peter 2:2 tells us that we should “like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” Without the desire for the milk of the Word we will never grow up enough to be able to eat solid food; as Paul told the Corinthians, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready” (I Corinthians 3:1-2). The New International Version uses the word “worldly” to describe the Corinthians who were more interested in position and getting their way, than in maturing in Christ.

Once I had a steady diet of the milk of the Word I began to mature. The writer of Hebrews tells us that “solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity” (Hebrews 5:14-6:1). Sometimes Christians refer to the meat of the Word, which Paul calls a “message of wisdom… a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began” (I Corinthians 2:6-7). Paul is not referring here to new truth, but to a greater understanding of the eternal truth. The meat of the Word goes deeper and has greater meaning for those who have a history of relationship with the Lord.

Studying is never an end in itself, and the main goal is not to acquire knowledge. If it were, I would not be passionate about it.  The goal is maturity in our walk with the Lord so that he can trust us with greater revelation of his thoughts. Where I used to avoid studying, now I am excited and eager to explore the depths of God’s Word so that I can know his thoughts.

Guess what? You are the teacher’s pet! There is no one who loves you and is invested in you more than the Holy Spirit. John 10:3-4 promises that we, as sheep of the Good Shepherd, can hear God’s voice. The more you engage the Spirit of God in conversation, the more your relationship with him will grow. The more you grow in your relationship with him, the more you will desire to have him teach you through the Word of God. The more he speaks to you through the Scripture the more you’ll desire to know him. It’s a beautiful cycle filled with the amazing experience of joy and love found in knowing the Holy Spirit.  

Stewarding the Word

Excerpt from my book "The Invitation: Discovering Revelation in the Bible by Engaging the Holy Spirit" which will be available on Amazon in June.

In Luke 8 Jesus tells a parable describing different responses to the Word of God being sown into a person’s life. He even prefaces the explanation of the parable saying that it holds a secret of God’s kingdom (verse 10). We will find that when we receive a revelatory word from God either through the Scripture or through a prophetic gift we will be challenged, tested and may even become neglectful if we have not cultivated the character of heart that can receive and nurture the Word.

Challenges to Receiving the Word

Jesus tells us plainly that the Word sown into your life will be challenged. The enemy does not want that Word of God to take root because this causes your mind to be renewed. The only power he has is when you agree with him instead of God.  When our minds our renewed by the Word of God we begin to agree with God and the enemy loses his hold over us.  The enemy attempts to steal the truth of the Word from our hearts by causing us to question what God has said. This is his oldest trick and it worked on Eve in Genesis 3:1 when Satan asked her, “Did God really say?” He especially wants us to question our identity as children of God. He tried this with Jesus challenging his identity as God’s Son in Matthew 4. The very word Jesus had just received from God in Matthew 3:17 was that he was God’s son and very much loved by God.

Scripture often describes the hardness of people’s hearts that are not able to receive and believe the Word of God. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened against hearing Moses speak on God’s behalf (Exodus 7-14).  Zechariah wrote that the Israelites “made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit” (7:12). When we decide to side with doubt and unbelief rather than believe God, our hearts become hard because we have chosen independence rather than trust in God. We must ask the Holy Spirit to uncover areas where we’ve allowed unbelief to harden our hearts. 

The two primary areas we find hardness of heart is in what we believe about who God is and who he says we are. Do we believe what God says about himself? Do we believe that he is good and loving, or do we see him as aloof and angry? Do we believe what God says about ourselves? Do we see ourselves as image bearers and children of God, or do we see ourselves as beggars being passed over by God? When God tells us that he loves us, do we question him? When the enemy sows doubt that God cares deeply about us, do we believe him or God? If we are to cultivate a heart that can receive the Word of God, we must believe what he has said and trust what he has promised he will accomplish.

Testing of the Word

Testing, while seldom enjoyable, can be a good thing. It’s also unavoidable; just ask Abraham, Joseph, Moses and David. You know you are being tested because everything in your circumstance seems to be the opposite of the promise or revelation you’ve received. For over 25 years God’s word to Abraham that he would be a father was tested (Genesis 12). During that time Abraham made some mistakes, specifically one resulting in Ishmael (Genesis 16). However in Romans 4:18-21 we are told;

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told. “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

 Abraham was strengthened because he knew the nature of the God who had made him the promise. He had a friendship with God and knew that God was not only trustworthy but powerful so that he could accomplish his word. Even after the promise was fulfilled and Isaac was born the word was tested when God told Abraham to kill Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22). Abraham once again passed the test because he knew God and his power.

When people fail the time of testing it is because they have no root.  They are not anchored in the knowledge of who God is and that he is trustworthy and powerful. Hebrews 3:8 tells us that Israel’s time in the wilderness was a time of testing.  Sadly, the first generation of Israelites to escape Egypt did not pass the test and died in the wilderness. Perhaps it was because they relied on Moses as an intermediary instead of entering into relationship with God for themselves (Exodus 20:18-21). They certainly knew about God; they saw his presence in a cloud and fire with them everyday and night. But it wasn’t enough to transform their hearts so that they could trust God even when circumstances told them there was no hope.

I sometimes struggle believing the prophetic words and promises I have received. One day, when I was asking the Holy Spirit why I had a hard time receiving his promises for my life and calling, he said, “It is because you know that who you are now could never bear up under the reality of the promise fulfilled.  You will need to let me transform you.” In a sense, there are rocks in our soil (flaws in our character) that need to be pulled out by the discipline and grace of God, so that when we receive the promise we do not sabotage it with the sin in our lives. We are transformed by the presence of God and the cleansing of the Word, but we are also transformed by the testing we endure.  The test is there to develop us into the person with the character to faithfully carry out the promise God has entrusted us with; “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). We can trust God that when he gives us a promise he will provide what we need to be able to see that promise fulfilled.