Seven Cities Outreach

December 23, 2011

I awoke this morning, thankful to have one more day to know His joy, love and mercy. One cup of coffee down and some time in the Word to start that “one more day” to serve. As I think about what the day will bring and all of our earthly, daily responsibilities, I remind myself of the most important thing and the Most High.

Looking towards Christmas, I look back at the first Christmas. An obedient servant woman highly favored of God, ridiculed by the judgmentally religious, in travail prior to birth, searching for a comfortable place to dwell on a cold, starlit winter’s night, eventually finding only the warmth of a stable with the animals and associated “by-products”.

It seems so “unfair” for such a place of low esteem for the Son of God to be born. Had the inn keeper known the Son of God was to be born in his establishment would he have “rolled out the red carpet” as we say? I want to think so, but in stark reality and the observance of human traits, probably not. You see the tendency of man in his fallen state is to ignore the things of God. How many times in our lives have we all been guilty of selfish thinking and ignored the Baby Jesus at Christmas time? Oh, if our little brains could fathom a fraction of the redemptive mercy given by our Lord, which began His earthly visit in the cold environment of rejection, ridicule, less than comfortable surroundings and the stench of the “savory smells” of a stable. Yet He came. He endured. He brought truth. He tried to reason with the religious leaders of the time. He persevered the judgmentalism and self-righteousness of the Pharisees in the synagogues. He was beaten, spat upon, and crucified all for mine and your sin, that we could have life eternal?

We look around this time of year and see the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers rushing to and fro to find the “perfect gift” to bestow on a loved one. Stories in the media of fighting in stores over temporal things that perish with use and time, never stopping to reflect the true love that’s the “reason for the season”.

In the parable of the sower in Mathew 13, Jesus explained the parable to the hearers. There are four examples of folks, all of whom received the Word. These four examples can be equated to levels of commitment in our lives. The first level is when the Word is first received and the enemy comes to steal it (because the enemy sees your potential if you hang on to it). The second level represents those of us who have received the Word, but the first time we are challenged and ridiculed over this Jesus we just claimed as our Savior (verse 21) we tend to be offended and figure it’s simply easier to not discuss religion (and/or politics – ha-ha) and not use our faith to make a stand and give reason for the Hope now in us. As we choose this path of least resistance and less controversy, we may convince ourselves this is politically correct, never realizing that the path of “less confrontation and controversy” leaves salvation behind.

The third level of our commitment is tested in verse 22. Let’s say we passed level one and held on to the Word with all our tenacity. And, we passed level two by affirming our faith in Christ even in the face of ridicule. But, then we approach level three; the cares of this world and the riches thereof. Worldly possessions and our professions, job responsibilities and the opportunities to hold our integrity or compromise Christian standards and principles, applying “situation ethics” to gain better position in the work place, becoming so busy with our livelihood we omit to take time to pray, study, worship, use our talents to glorify Him, and take the time one on one to share the things of God with those who desperately look to us to help them find Him we “supposedly” represent. Have we all been guilty? Have we all lost focus at times?

Could we take time now to ask for His merciful pardon for such selfish, complacent ignorance?

Oh if the season of Christmas could help us understand His tender mercy of forgiveness and restoration to we who only deserve hell! Yet when we truly cry out, He hears, delivers and restores! His Angels rejoice when we repent of our sins of omission as well as commission!

Oh that we might know Him so intimately that His ways truly become our ways and are the single motivating force in our lives! Could this be the story of Christmas? To the believer is Christmas an every day reality?

Level four (verse 23) can only be attained in our lives when we see the true Christmas story; He willingly came, starting off in a cold, stinky stable watching His earthly mother suffer in obedience yet enduring ridicule and presumptuous judgmentalism of those who didn’t believe in the virgin birth. He watched His earthly father struggle with the embarrassment of their cold words about her “not being with a man” yet in obedience taking responsibility and being the earthly father to the Son of God. As the young Jesus grew and matured, the parents often found their child missing and they searched for Him and would find Him teaching the religious leaders in a synagogue!

As the boy became a man these two parents saw their son challenged on every point, rejected by those in high positions of authority in the “Church”, ridiculed, endure five attempts to murder him by the religious leaders of the day, beaten, spat upon, mocked, taunted at, possessions gambled for, brutally killed for crimes not committed and yet He cried out only, “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do”. They saw His broken body crumpled and removed from the cross of torment knowing His innocence. They watched His body hastily placed in a common tomb with no “pomp and circumstance” and funeral ritual. All hope would have seemed lost. The disciples retreated, disillusioned yet trying to hold on to the Hope of His words feeling their emptiness inside. Then the devastated mother, Mary, and Mary Magdalene, the one delivered of seven demons and rumored to be a prostitute, went to check the gravesite, found the body was gone, feared desecration but were met by an angel. In further obedience, they went to tell “the men” and along the road Jesus met them (women in ministry, while the men were hiding) and told them “go tell my brethren” (Matt 28:10).

Then the same day (John 20:19) Jesus came and stood in their midst after they had watched Him die. Whooo Boy! I bet eye brows raised!

Long story short; He endured all the earthly pain, ridicule, suffering and death for all of us. We should reverently acknowledge the purpose of the cross we all put Him on. Yet He now sits at the right hand of the Father, ever making intercession for us, pleading our litigation with tender mercy, and enabling us access to the throne of God the Father, with His blood bought title to us.

Level four (Matt 13:23) will only be attained and bear fruit some thirty, sixty and a hundred fold, when we hold fast the true meaning of Christmas. What part of “Go” don’t we understand?

May the Lord bless you all with a renewed sense of the Christmas Spirit and motivate us to get our lives in the perspective of the “reason for the season”.

Merry Christmas!

Joe

December 19, 2011

As I sit today on a beautiful hillside pondering what I see in these days I rejoice in the Lord and Him alone. I rejoice in His instruction and wisdom. I rejoice in His mercy, which I deserve none of. I rejoice in His loving kindness and longsuffering to all of us; those who believe and those who will believe if they choose to press in unto Him.

I have been accused of thinking too much at times. But what was our mind given to us for. I am so thankful for living in a country what I can take time to think about Jesus and what He desires in our lives. I’m thankful He directs and corrects as He chooses. Do I always listen as I should? Sometimes not; yet He loves you and I through those times also. He desires us to see and hear, pray, listen and obey. But when we miss it He is faithful and just and forgives when we ask. All my life when I cried out unto Him; He delivered me and restored me.

All of us have gifting and talents He has given. There is not one person on the planet that God has not given gifting and talents. When we use what He has given, He gives more. If we refuse to identify what He has given and don’t use it to glorify His Holy name, why should He give more if we don’t even use what He has given? Oh what a blessing to live in a country where we can openly inquire of Him to learn of Him and follow His ways. But do we inquire as we should? Do our lives represent His goodness? Do we walk in the power He has freely given through Christ? Do we believe Jesus at His own words in the great mandate of the Great Commission to go, preach and make disciples? Does our going truly represent our believing?

We all fall miserably short; on a daily basis. We all need His mercy everyday and I am thankful each morning I awake. He has offered us all another day to receive His mercy, love, instruction and correction.

But what if?

-What if tomorrow we all faced the severity of the judgment seat of Christ and found ourselves lacking? What cold terror could grip us if we hear “depart from me I never knew you!” Do we take our salvation for granted?

-What if the Christians in our schools once again began to exalt the name of Jesus with all our strength?

-What if our government simply replied that on the coins we spend it still says, “In God we trust?”

-What if all people fully used these talents to exalt the name of Jesus, instead of for private agenda and self glorification?

-What if our churches focused on the Christ who was crucified once for all instead of focusing on denominational differences based on the traditions of men?

-What if all leaders took seriously the shepherding of the flock by example and not by constraint?

-What if all our church buildings were gone in an instant. Would we still be identified as a church by our giving, caring, love and unity?

-What if we all asked God what He called us to be and then pursue it with every fiber of our being?

-What if the body of Christ represented by our churches would evaluate the lyrical content of songs of today and yesterday and not criticize the style of musical presentation?

-What if our churches looked beyond the outward appearance of anyone and looked to the inner man like Jesus did?

-What if the amount of love in us outweighed the judgmental attitudes that condemn the style of clothing, jewelry, length of hair, outer markings, or ”financial status?”

-What if the giving of love by the giving of Christ outweighed all our motives?

-What if being a leader meant the lowest seat and servant to all?

-What if real leadership didn’t exalt themselves as the leaders?

-What if the church started focusing on disciples instead of buildings; the lost and hurting instead of the apathetic complacent ones who lift not a finger to help anyone?

-What if the body of Christ reached out to help the sub-cultures and identified the “sub-culture of division” that has crippled out churches by the separatist mentality?

-What if the mirrors on our walls could talk and tell us what we have been missing and what God wants us to do? The mirror is the word of God. What do we really see when we look inside?

-What if the Son of God came to freely give us all these things, taking the lowest position yet having the highest power and authority?

-What if this Jesus came only speaking those things the Father said for the benefit of all?

-What if this Jesus suffered through it all knowing full well He would once again be seated at the right hand of the Father ever making intercession for us, dispatching angels to accomplish the prayers of we below who cry out unto Him?

-What if He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, and to be our Helper as we Go and Do and take action to reach out?

-What if He embraced the youth and blessed them as an equal part of the Kingdom ofGod?

He did!

Shouldn’t we?

Your Servant Brother

Joe Lycan

December 11, 2011

As many of you know our Seven Cities Outreach Ministry is intense about OUTREACH; to youth primarily but also to strengthen and unify this body of Christ. I am well aware there are regional thinkers, community oriented thinkers and those who cannot see beyond the walls of their own church. All three groups are equally loved by God but the great commission in Mark 16:15 is still a mandate to all believers to GO!

Many leaders in our region see the apathy and complacency among the body, and sadly, many are apathetic and complacent. I wish I knew the “formula” to bring diligence and unity. But I don’t have to. God’s word brings instruction, revelation and forgiveness, but this is no excuse for being lazy.

Spiritual apathy leads to damnation. This apathy is the “lukewarm” spoken of in Revelation 3: 15-16 and the result is God spewing us out. Spiritual arrogance leads people to use reasoning to justify their beliefs and stay concentrated on rules, regulation, and works without giving the love and mercy of God to others; nor embracing those with other giftings God sends to you to HELP you.

Without study, prayer and action, all we become is religious social clubs full of the traditions of men spoken of in Matthew 15:3 and Mark 7:13. If all we desire is a spoonful of milk every Sunday morning we will never become individuals who can GO make disciples.

So just how do we GO to cities and DO the work of the five fold ministries? Let’s look at Matthew 10. In Matthew 10:11 go into each city and inquire who is worthy. It is not “We” who determine who is worthy. We are to inquire by prayer and let the Holy Spirit give confirmation. If we are being led by the Spirit, God will train us to be “fruit inspectors.” Matthew 10:12-14, Salute the house or city, if your peace returns to you, shake off the dust and go to another house or city. If they persecute you flee to another city, (verse 23).

Once we determine those in a house or city who believe the visions of Mark 16 and have determined to embrace others of faith as God sends them; work with them… Work takes action, pain and sweat, as well as fighting our self righteous flesh and being constant in prayer, in season and out of season or all times.

Take the talents and gifts you have and give service with them to benefit others. Jesus often spoke of plants and growth in the parables. His example was prayer, listening and action. In my life I have done much agricultural work. In order to see harvest we have to plow in the cold, “shovel out the barn” put it on the ground, plow it in, put the correct seed in the ground, weed it, hoe it, pick it and then give some of it to our lazy friends who will not garden but sure like to tell us how to raise a garden! Ha! Ha! In reality all the things God would have us to do takes prayer, hearing and ACTION and often times has unpleasantries that come through self righteous lukewarm individuals. Never the less God is merciful to us all and we must love and teach others how to “garden.”

Prayer is the time of requesting and receiving from God. We only receive when we listen and put the instructions into action. The “calls” on our lives are different, but the mandate of god applies to all. I have heard many folks in a condescending manner almost brag about how long they pray each day. Personally I’ve never found God to be hard of hearing! Why should we “bombard the gates of heaven with prayer” (amiss from the scripture) when in Hebrews 4:16 it says to come boldly to the throne of Grace… The gates are not locked to those who are authorized.

Prayer allows us access to the throne of our heavenly Father. At that throne we are heard and instructed and God Himself dispatches angels to help those who are heirs of salvation! Who are the heirs? The believers!  (Hebrews 1:14)  The Lord is our helper (Hebrews 13:6. The Holy Spirit is our helper, counselor, comforter and many other things. He is the Spirit of the Lord sent to us by Jesus Himself. But why would we need a helper if we are not going to exhibit corresponding action. How can the helper help us if we do nothing? We must all be about the Father’s business in spite of our imperfections.

As we are going forth bringing new converts, making disciples and strengthening the body of Christ it is sometimes a common error on our part to look at the numbers. One prominent biblical percentage that the Lord has shown me is in Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Sower. Keep in mind these are examples of folks who received the word. Only one out of four bears fruit. So it follows that we can only expect 25% of those who receive the word to bear fruit. The other 75% turn away for various reasons defined in the parable. If we win 1 out of 4 rejoice!

We can win a region but it will take embracing each others gifting and not allowing manipulative spirits (witchcraft by definition) to dominate our thinking. As my partner Kevin Burgess’ slogan for his Co-Laboring Ministries says, Pray – Listen – Obey. Listen to the Holy Spirit, study; then move.  Learn the difference between Christianity and religion. Religion brings condemnation and bondage; Christianity brings Holy Spirit conviction that yields redemption, freedom, salvation, love, mercy and diligence for the Kingdom of God and all those who will follow. Following entails movement and action after instruction.

We must embrace, accept, and include our youth as an integral equal part of our churches if we really care about the future of Christianity and how God’s love and compassion is exhibited by our churches.

Yes we can change a region… if we move.

Your Servant Brother

Joe Lycan

November 22, 2011

As I sit here thinking about what the Lord is doing with this present generation, I reflect on things brothers and sisters have spoken into me recently. I make no apology for the “intensity” to reach out to the lost and hurting whether young or old. Intensity can be perceived as arrogance when we speak truth to folks who have become “comfortably complacent”.

Two things I’d like to share that are on my heart:

1)     Rivers of Living Waters

Rivers flow continually and are moving oxygen that supplies life to every creature within. Living water from the Holy Spirit has to flow from us to others. On the other hand, a pond with little inflow and no outflow becomes stagnant, algae forms and robs the light and oxygen from the living creatures within and only parasitic organisms and predatory creatures survive there. Out of our bellies shall flow rivers of living water so why have we settled for the stagnant pond concept? The “revival” many seek only comes with constant flow from within our hearts continually.

2)     Intercession and Action

Most of us know that if we set out to “do the Lord’s work” without having spent time on our knees, it will be unfruitful. However, if we have spent time on our knees and we are not motivated to GO and do what we’ve been instructed in that precious prayer time, we have a serious problem that exemplifies ears that do not hear and feet that refuse to move. Some truly are called as intercessors, but all were given the Great Commission to GO. I constantly have to remind myself of James 1:22, “Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves.

Let us all be willing to embrace the giftings God has placed in us individually and collectively and “Go” together when we get up from our place of prayer. When God hands us the “baton”, run with it or God has to find one who will. Pray for the youth. Jesus embraced them and laid hands on them.

Your servant brother,

Joe Lycan

November 1, 2011

Today I am sitting on the deck overlooking the “Bluffs of Paint Creek” by the creek thinking about the flow of the rivers of living water the Holy Spirit is manifesting in our region. I have heard many folks speaking of the coming revival. Many are saying they anticipate great revival in “their” churches. God is sweeping our region with the Spirit of revival as we speak, but it is not to individual churches. Aha, heresy you may think as I say this, but the revival is to the Body of Christ not our “individual” churches. In 1 Corinthians the apostle Paul called the division heresy, but that those approved would manifest. Many kingdom minded believers are coming together to pray and seek God’s face for their communities as they pray for their regions churches. There has been a time for our leaders to pray and seek God’s face about a crucial issue in our region; UNITY. Now I believe whole heartedly God is giving marching orders. So let’s put feet to our faith. The Great Commission was to Go. At the risk of sounding offensive, I can say that churches that only focus inwardly are not pursuing the Great commission and Satan has used the religious spirits to reduce these churches to religious social clubs. Many are not reaching out to the youth because they have become complacent in their comfort zones and don’t want to have to clean up the mess that occurs with growth. Love never fails and is not complacent. Love leaves it’s “comfort zone”. Love endured and mentored a young gang member who later converted and wrote “The Cross and the Switchblade”. Love confronted a man who was known to be a “Christian killer”. The man was known to stand idly by and hold the coat of the man being killed. Yet love confronted Saul of Tarsus and converted him to be The Great Apostle!

So who are we to have the pious look of judgementalism toward the young ones with scars, tattoos and piercings and act like we don’t want “that kind” in “our church”?

In the book of James (2: 1-4) the Lord reveals we are partial or “respecters of persons” and have become judges of evil thoughts if we make a difference toward people because of their clothing or apparel. Of what degree should we be chastened by the Lord if we don’t reach out to those who don’t dress like our “social club codes”? Get the picture?

How many great leaders will God bring into manifestation if we love the unlovable? Saul of Tarsus was not a “popular guy” but under his mentors at the time he was politically and “Churchically” correct. Then…  Jesus spoke directly to him on the road to Damascus while he traveled to go round up these radical Christians. His traditions he adhered to allowed him to be confident he was doing the right thing. Jesus said in Mark 7:13 that your traditions make the Word of God of none effect. I believe the Lord is requiring His people to look carefully at the traditions so rampantly impaired in our churches and seek His face concerning our revelation of the traditions of men passed down through several generations. Some, if not most of our “traditions” are making the Word of God (or Jesus, the Word in the flesh) of none effect rendering our churches ineffective to a generation of youth living in the “last days” as many say.

It is high time we listen to God and come together as one body, under one leader JESUS and go and reach out, by getting out of the building and thinking out of the box.

I therefore believe the Lord is sternly challenging all of us to re-evaluate traditions and come together as one body and reach out. We all know we are imperfect people, but we serve a perfect Savior. Where we are weak, he is strong and since His Holy Spirit is in us, we are strong enough through Christ to accomplish all things in Christ!

In Matthew 19: 13-14 who was it that rebuked them when little children were brought to Jesus? Some are and some aren’t obviously. What did Jesus then do? He told the disciples to forbid them not for such (the young ones) is theKingdom ofHeaven and then He laid His hands on them. The Holy One of Israel embraced them. Should we not do the same?

You may say well brother we have a great youth program at “our church” and that may be so. But what are we doing to fulfill what Jesus said in Luke 14: 23 to COMPEL THEM TO COME IN, that MY HOUSE may be filled?

Quick take out a sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle of the page. On the left write sown every ministry and program your church does regularly within the confines of the church building. On the right side of the line list every ministry and program that takes place regularly on the outside of the building. The things on the right side of the line COMPELS THEM TO COME.

Let’s all re-evaluate the Great Commission and see it through the eyes of Jesus and the Heart of God and Go.

The mark of a successful church is not how many members and programs we have, but rather how many strong disciples do we have that will take the initiative and go seek out the lost and hurting that desperately need this Jesus we profess. One Lord, One Body.

Your Servant Brother,

Joe Lycan

September 22, 2011

As I sit in my home reflecting on the last event Seven Cities Outreach gave in Louisa, Kentucky, I am overjoyed with the team work of the few who participated. The Christian Bands were “spot on” and God was glorified. One salvation and one healing took place. The name of Jesus was uplifted. The bands who are in covenant with Seven Cities always work as one body, one family in Christ and those who didn’t attend missed the presence of the Lord and the unity that was a blessing. Touched Twice Ministries came all the way from Louisville, Kentucky, to meet and greet and plan an event to give free medical, dental and other services to help the community. Only a handful came, but keep in mind 12 persons of faith changed the course of history. We do not get discouraged at numbers. It does speak volumes of the disunity in the body of Christ. Jesus said to be one, yet our churches in our communities remain divided. I see youth crying out for love and compassion, yet continually we hear leadership and condescending attitudes make statements like ”this younger generation is hopeless”, never realizing they and we are the reason they have no hope. Who will step out of their comfort zones of their shining buildings and Sunday, Sunday, Wednesday mentality and take the Great Commission out to a hurting, searching generation?

Who will feed the young sheep? Who will strengthen and disciple a generation searching for the real love of Jesus and show them love, compassion, understanding and a willingness to give their time, talent, testimony of the goodness and mercy of Jesus Christ? It is not about programs, exaltation of our denominational traditions, peddling our “doctrines of men” and “traditions of men”. It is not about financial chains of bondage on a congregation to have the biggest, shiniest “cathedral” in the community and sacrifice the resources necessary to take love to the streets and meet the needs. You see the mark of a successful mature church is not measured by the number of members in attendance at all. The mark of success is people willing to take the Word out of the building. People who know enough Word and have the wisdom to consistently and compassionately make disciples and mentor those who are searching for LOVE. God is Love. Love is action. Love came, Love sacrificed, Love paid the price for sin, and Love ever maketh intercession at the right hand of the Father for all who receive Him. Love gave and gives without expectation of “return on investment”. Love doesn’t exalt the name on the sign above the door, nor does Love pridefully expect recognition for whose church gets credit for salvations, healings, discipleship, and the like. Love builds the Kingdom and the Body of Christ; it doesn’t build its own castle and make members ”prisoners in the walls”.

The Son of God came and took upon Himself the lowest position of servanthood, yet recently I heard a pastor say and I quote “We’re pastors; we are the head of the church.” Contrary to this thinking and as offensive as it may sound to some, in their pious, prideful arrogance, the headship position of the Church is Jesus Christ the Righteous and we are all servants. (He is management; we are sales!)

We are members of the Body of Christ, with different callings and anointings, yet can we not see as one we stand. Our bands and the very few that help us with their precious time and abilities have one singleness of purpose: win people to Christ and individually and corporately lift up the Name of Christ.

I am so blessed by the precious few that see our vision and help. By the way, it isn’t our vision; it is the mandate of Christ himself. So as we determinately continue to worship in songs from our hearts, whether it be the style of rock, contemporary, bluegrass or church hymns or simply assemble to pray and give praise to the Lord, who will go with us? Who will help us reach out to the most precious resource in the world, our youth. And yes, we are quite familiar with the religious criticisms from the complacent and judgmental folk. Jesus was also!

Can we come together and make a difference in our region and represent as one the Kingdom of God and exalt Christ and show the oneness in John 17? I believe so!

Your Servant Brother

Joe Lycan