REVDANS

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

I sometimes get the feeling that there aren’t many of us around. At times I think people like us make others uncomfortable. So why the trouble? Why the bother? Why no just conform to make ourselves more acceptable? Why not just give up and fit in? Because…

As we like to say: Nothing happens until someone cares. Think about it. Do you begin a new weight loss program, a new exercise regimen, a new renovation project unless you care? If you are satisfied, you won’t put yourself through the discomfort of change. It is the desire to change, the passion to pursue a goal, that sets things in motion. If you want things to be different, you have to care, and the more passionately you care, the stronger the push toward progress.

Holiness is not a condition into which we drift. –John Stott

If we want to make spiritual progress, we must care enough to pursue it. The more we care, the more passionate our pursuit.

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

The members of this fellowship must possess one qualification, one quality, that is our defining attribute: passion.

If you join this fellowship and exhibit this quality you had better expect the following responses: avoidance, shunning, skepticism, fear, deflection of certain topics and discussions, rejection, ridicule, and more. When people see that gleam in your eye when you discuss your passion, most will run, duck or disappear. No one wants to be subjected to a passionate person. Passionate people are the most misunderstood people on the planet.

What you need to know about these strange people:

1. They ARE NOT lunatics or fanatics as most people define the term.

Passionate people are rational, coherent, and thoughtful. They are also personable, humorous, and humble. Most are not so consumed by their passion that they talk about it incessantly, revert to it in every conversation, or pressure others to get on board.

2. They ARE NOT single issue people.

Passionate people have identified what is most important to them and that becomes their focus, but they understand that it must be kept in balance, because life is about balance. What is important is important but it is not everything.

3. They ARE NOT seeking to make their passion compulsory.

Passionate people understand that the choice they have consciously made and are diligently pursuing is a PERSONAL and INDIVIDUAL decision. They realize that they may be able to present their choice for your consideration, offer compelling evidence for the choice they have made, and encourage you to make the same choice, but the CHOICE remains with YOU.

4. They ARE NOT ignorant of the complexity of life.

Sharing in this life, they, like other NORMAL people, have problems, difficulties, and challenges. They have setbacks, are plagued by complacency, and regret their lapses from passion. They know how difficult it is to maintain intensity amid these distractions, yet they persist in the pursuit.

5. They ARE NOT a threat to be feared.

Most people fear passionate people because they don’t want to be confronted with the fact that they, unlike the passionate person, have no compelling reason for living, no single most important pursuit. The fear is not what the passionate person will do to you but what the passionate person will make you face. When we witness the passionate embrace of two lovers, often we are not so much embarrassed by their behavior, as we are ashamed, disappointed or wishful, because we have no such passion in our lives.

6. They ARE NOT a force to be ignored.

Take note of the passionate person. That person is always more likely to achieve the goal, accomplish the mission, follow through with the task. The compelling agent is present: passion. It is passion that drove Nehemiah to press forward against formidable odds to to build a wall and rebuild a nation. It is passion that drove Paul to press on in presenting the gospel to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles. Passion has been at the heart of every faithful servant of God. Faith and passion go hand in hand.

7. They ARE people who understand that some issues are more important than others, that a few issues are monumental, and that some things are worth giving your life for, even dying for.

Having grasped the focal point of life, the single most important truth, the life or death issue, they will not be sidetracked, deterred, distracted, bought off, stopped or silenced in their pursuit. They are rare, for having found the “pearl of great price” they have sold all they have to possess it. They have denied themselves, they have taken their cross, they have made their stand. Putting aside what lies behind, they “press toward the mark of the high calling of Jesus Christ.” None of these things move them and the don’t count their lives dear unto themselves (see Acts 20:24). They want to finish the course knowing that they did their best, gave their all, remained true to the cause. They make their mark precisely because of their passionate pursuit. They are a force to be reckoned with.

Tozer wrote about the hope that he saw in the darkness of his day in the Preface to The Pursuit of God:

In this hour of all-but-universal darkness one cheering gleam appears: within the fold of conservative Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities and will not be put off with words, nor will they be content with correct ’interpretations’ of truth. They are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water. This is the only real harbinger of revival which I have been able to detect anywhere on the religious horizon. It may be the cloud the size of a man’s hand for which a few saints here and there have been looking. It can result in a resurrection of life for many souls and a recapture of that radiant wonder which should accompany faith in Christ, that wonder which has all but fled the Church of God in our day. But this hunger must be recognized by our religious leaders.

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

This past Sunday I shared with my congregation a habit I have developed which has helped me in my spiritual life. I am a bi-vocational pastor, so I don’t have a lot of time for Bible reading and study either. Now, I realize that because of my position, I do more of both than the average Christian. But I, too, find time fleeting and scarce. When I get up in the morning, I make sure that I devote at least 15 minutes to spiritual preparation for my day. That 15 minute block has proven to be the most effective of my day.

Those minutes are spent in getting into my mind a key thought from God’s Word that I will explore mentally throughout my day. In the early morning on my way to work I know that I will have a forty minute drive when I will be able to think more intently about what I have encountered in the Word. Throughout my workday I am asking myself how I can apply that truth in the various situations I confront and with the various people I encounter. During the drive home I am evaluating how well I was able to live out the truth and maybe what I could have done to improve.

I don’t intend to give the impression that this is all that I think about or what I spent most of my time thinking about. However, I find myself gravitating to that truth from time to time throughout the day, during breaks, lunch, etc. I also notice that when I open my life and my day to God and a slice of his Word, he will bring me back to it as I need it. He can speak to me as I am conversing with him. I am beginning to understand how to “pray without ceasing” as I haven’t before. It’s not that I have never done this before, but the conscious, consistent effort has brought more effective results. Isn’t it amazing how he will bring into my life circumstances where that truth applies or people to whom it applies or who need to hear it.

I don’t know how you prepare for your day or if you have found a more effective plan that works for you. It’s not the particular approach you take, but that you make room for God in your life. I just wanted to share what I have found to work for me and hope that you have found or will find what works for you.

If you have one, please share it in a reply. Also, if you are following and intend to become a member of the Fellowship of the Burning Heart, please like or comment and let me know. The only requirement for membership is a burning desire to know God. I’m praying for a many to join me on this journey this year.

Some things to consider about craving:

1. Behind the craving is a genuine need.

We tend to think of craving as wrong or sinful. We need to understand that we have genuine needs that must be met. These are God-created needs that keep us dependent on each other and him. The problem is not the need or the craving, but the way we seek to meet it. God has given us instructions about how to meet those needs. When we go against his instructions and seek to meet those needs our way rather than his way, we are in error, are sinning against him and face the consequences of our actions. Usually our self-centered approach to meeting needs only masks the need and exacerbates the problem.

2. Craving is the signal of an unmet need.

Just as when a warning signal flashes or an alarm sounds, we spring into action by quickly responding appropriately, so we must understand that a craving is an alarm which signals that there is an unmet need and we need to pay attention. To ignore the warning or seek to suppress the craving only makes the situation worse.

3. Craving can have a powerful hold on our lives.

There can be no doubt that urges or craving are a driving force in our lives. We schedule our lives around meals because of the strength of hunger. We put aside other endeavors to satisfy our thirst. Craving creates discomfort, and we seek to alleviate the discomfort and satisfy the craving as soon as we can. Craving can cause us to cancel, postpone, or redirect our plans to respond to it.

4. Craving can become so intense that it can drown out everything else in our lives.

How many of us have witnessed the destruction of a life, a family, a career over the lust or craving that drove a person to satisfy it over any other considerations. It so consumed their time that they couldn’t hold down a job, it so consumed their resources that they couldn’t support a family, and it so consumed their mind that they allowed it to steal their health and their sanity.

5. Craving must be mastered or it becomes the master.

Obviously, we must control our craving or it will control and consume us. Discipline is required. The strength of will to say “No” is a must. But at the heart of the matter is the passionate desire to change. Even people who will admit to “having a problem” with some craving still refuse to believe it is a problem or that it is destroying their lives. They may say that they want to change, but they only half-heartedly even try. It becomes evident that the desire to change is not as strong as the craving.

6. We must discover the true need behind the craving and meet it.

Often our craving is not about obvious needs like hunger and thirst. Many times we eat, drink, or pursue some other habit because we are mentally or emotionally stressed and the comfort and temporary satisfaction of these habits relieve the psychological pain. They may cause other physical problems: obesity, substance abuse, economic collapse, but the temporary relief is so desired and the pain of the craving so intense that we are willing to “sell our souls” to satisfy our lusts.

7. Craving has a spiritual dimension.

I believe that one intense craving lies in the spiritual realm. We have a strong desire to have a relationship with God. I don’t need to offer proof that we are spiritual and religious beings. Just look around at people around the world and throughout history. People are willing to do bizarre and unbelievable things to pursue a spiritual relationship. We are worshipping creatures by nature. We were created for worship. I propose that often we are seeking to satisfy this craving in ways that will never truly meet the need. You can fill the body up with food, stimulate it and numb it with drugs, keep it so active the thought of the craving is drowned out, or seek the solace of religion that still doesn’t satisfy the need for a relationship with the true and living God. But this need continues to cry out for real satisfaction and is ignored at our eternal peril.

When I wrote on The Righteousness Which Comes by Faith, I received the following response:

Mark Mills comments:  I think our reluctance to know a righteousness in Him through a relationship with Him is because to get in a relationship means intimacy, and it’s fearful enough to become emotionally intimate with another person, much less Almighty God. By concentrating on the “do’s and don’ts” of religion, we don’t have to invest ourselves and get too close, and hope that He will do the same!

In some ways, it seems odd that people would think that way, because when God is speaking to us, He uses terms of relationship; children, father, bride, groom, even lover. Guess that’s just one more way of looking right at something, and never seeing it!

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

I appreciate Mark’s comment and I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. I was going to issue a reply, but I think it demands a lengthier and more prominent consideration. Now about the title: authentic refers to that which is genuine or real. Synthetic is used in the sense of that which is not genuine or sincere.

It came to me that maybe we are assuming that we understand what is meant by pursuing a relationship with God. And that assumption may be a part of the problem – a big part! So, I want to ask some questions and stimulate some thinking and discussion about relationship: what it means to have an authentic one.

I wonder if most our relationships are defined by position, performance, or practices. For instance, at work we hold a position, are judged by our performance, and given various practices (or duties) to perform. At church or in the home, those same categories hold. Now I am not suggesting that these things prohibit relationship, but they may become an interference.

If the basis of authentic relationship is love and trust, we may find that these categories work against us. It may not be so easy to trust a boss who holds of a position where, if she were to really get to know me, she might decide to release me from that job. I might be reluctant to trust a fellow employee who seeks to undermine me or constantly criticizes me. I probably would find it hard to love a difficult coworker or boss. And I might also be tempted to think that because I hold a position, perform well, or carry out my duties that I actually know and am relating to others. I have known men who thought that because they held a position of status, provided amply for the material needs of their family, and gave their wives presents, that they were good husbands. Imagine their shock in finding an unfaithful or departing wife who is lamenting the lack of an authentic relationship.

As I think about it, I can see the possibility of having many relationships where neither love nor trust exist. Can you?

So, what are the evidences of an authentic relationship and what are the keys practices that foster it?

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

The word “transformed” is the translation of a Greek word from which we get the word metamorphosis. In other words, we are talking about a caterpillar to butterfly kind of change. We think of change in terms of slight modifications, incremental improvements, small gains, but this kind of change is monumental. It is the kind of change that took place on the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus’ physical appearance was transformed into a supernatural one, where his radiance was breathtaking and left an indelible mark on the hearts of the disciples who observed it. The word “metamorphosis” is used to describe the change that took place there.

Most of us set goals, particularly at the beginning of a new year, fairly low. We have learned, after many failures, that extremely high goals are usually unattainable. If we just want to be seen as a goal setter, but have no serious intention of keeping them or even trying to keep them, we set impossible ones. Once goals have been set, we look for small gains and slight improvements and reward progress accordingly. If we exceed our goal we celebrate profusely. In our spiritual lives we must take a totally different approach. Of course, if we are responsible for the changes, then we must set them low. But here the change is not dependent on us and our abilities or capabilities.

To “be transformed” implies that we are not responsible for making the changes; we are only responsible for allowing them to be made. Just as we do not allow ourselves to “be conformed” by resisting the efforts of the conforming agents, so we must allow the transformer to do the work of transformation in us. The crucial area of transformation must take place in our thinking.

It should seem obvious that this must be so. Our attitudes, motives, and behavior flow from our thinking. When the mind is renewed and begins to think the thoughts of God, our attitudes, motives and behavior start to mirror the changes in thinking that God has made in the transformation. The degree to which we allow God to thoroughly and consistently change our thinking is the degree to which we will be transformed into the vibrant disciples the Lord intends us to be.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) 
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Romans 12:1-2 (Phillips NT)
With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

Do you ever get the feeling that you are getting a little too comfortable with the way things are? Do you find yourself reacting to situations without even thinking about it? Do you give the impression that there is very little difference between you and those who don’t even claim to know Christ?

Maybe you have become so adjusted to the culture around you that “you fit into it without even thinking.” As Phillips puts it: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould.” That sounds like there is pressure being exerted to force you into conformity. The world wants you to think as they think, feel as they feel, want what they want, value what they value, and do as they wish. As long as you go along, you don’t notice the force toward conformity. But the moment you resist, the moment you seek to move in a different direction, the moment you set your face against the wind of worldliness, you find out just how strong the forces of conformity really are.

Jesus spoke of the forces that work against spiritual formation and growth in Mark 4 in a parable that has been called the Parable of the Sower, but more accurately may be titled the Parable of the Soils. He talks about the coldness, callousness, and cynicism that hold back any spiritual progress.

When we refuse to allow the spiritual any room in our lives, we grow hard and heartless toward God and others. Make no mistake: our world can be a brutal place, beating away at faith, seeking to pound us into submission. We must not allow it to cause us to become hardened to spiritual realities.

Jesus talked about the shallowness of commitment that cannot withstand the pressures, troubles, and difficulties thrown at it. The joy of the initial commitment is dampened by the trials of life and soon sours in the heat of turbulent times. Firm resolve to press on and fight through these challenges is necessary.

The cares of the world can often leave little room for the spiritual. We have responsibilities, commitments, schedules, workload, duties, family obligations, etc. But we cannot do everything and when we fill up our lives with these “cares,” we may be doing so to mask the void that we feel when we are not “busy.”

Maybe we need to learn the lesson that Martha was challenged to learn and put aside the “cares of the world” to care for what really counts.

Luke 10:41-42 (ESV) 
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

So much of what we do and so much of what we think is important will someday suddenly evaporate in the light of eternity.

The deceitfulness of riches can cause us to lose our way. We get sidetracked pursuing the blessings instead of the Blesser. Riches are deceitful because they promise to satisfy. Our culture is in the business of creating dissatisfaction so that it can offer something that it promises will satisfy. But, as we know but often forget, the satisfaction is temporary and wears away far too quickly. Isn’t it interesting how quickly the excitement of Christmas presents dissipates. Only God can satisfy the restless soul.

The phrase “desires for other things” is certainly vague, but Phillips may shed some light here. He translates this as “all sorts of other ambitions.” If I just get that new job, that raise, that promotion, that new home, a new spouse, better children, etc. I’ll finally be happy. Again, these things can’t deliver what we seek.

The level of our spiritual growth and fruitfulness is determined by our willingness to “humbly accept the message that God has sown in your hearts, and which can save your souls” (James 1:21 PHILLIPS). The more thoroughly we allow it to take root and grow the more fruitful and satisfying our lives.

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Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2 (MSG)

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Romans 12:1-2 (Phillips NT)

With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.



Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

Have you thought about worship and what that means for you? Are you still hoping for some feeling, some moving experience, some affirmation that God is on your side and wants your fellowship? Are you still thinking of worship in terms of YOU? It’s not about YOU!

It’s about HIM and the proper worship is the laying of yourself, your life, your ambitions, your motives, your desires, your choices and your actions before HIM as an offering – a living sacrifice, as opposed to the Old Testament sacrifice which was put to death.

Since our Savior has been offered in death once for all for the sins of the world, we no longer face that prospect. However, we can lay our lives on the altar of God, as Isaac was placed on the altar by Abraham and was received by Abraham from the altar a living sacrifice. When he arose from the altar, I am sure that he arose a different person because of the experience.

Are your “eyes wide open” to all that Christ has done for you? Are you looking for a “reasonable” or “intelligent” way to respond to such lavish love, such selfless sacrifice, such deep devotion, such bountiful blessing?

Isaac Watts wrote in his famous hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross:

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.

“Embracing what God does for you” is not only “the best thing you can do for him”; it also drives you to offer all that you have to the one who gave his all, his best for you. That is true spiritual worship. And the feelings, the experience, the fellowship we seek will flow from that worship. I know this to be true: when I offer myself in selfless ministry, I find within myself the greatest satisfaction. Are you willing to “fix your attention on God?” Are you prepared to “readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it?” This is his plan for you: for your good, he wants to work in “your everyday, ordinary life” to bring “the best out of you” and to develop “well-formed maturity in you.”