The Tent of David
August 6, 2008 by bpurtle7

“I will not…slumber…until I find a dwelling place for the Lord…” -Psm. 132.4a, 5a
“Christ Jesus Himself….in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” -Eph. 2.20b, 22

There is a fascinating connection between this cry of David and the apostolic mission of Paul. There is a Holy Spirit continuum. There is a raw desire, a singleness of heart, a concentrated pursuit, and I believe that we are living in the generation that will finally be overcome by the power of it.

David had a cry for the presence of God, and a fierce longing for God to appear in Jerusalem. It wasn’t merely a theological whim or the exercise of a religious practitioner. He had a gut-cry, a God-suffused passion, and it could not be quenched until he found a place for God in the earth. Love for God burned on His insides. The cry was two-fold:

1. “I want Your presence God, I want to see Your face. I want to see You, as You really are, revealed to my own heart, and to the nations.”

2. “I want to see Your government invade the earth in power, love, and righteousness.”

Is this what your heart burns for?

In Acts 15, James applies Amos 9’s “tent of David” theme to the proclamation of the Gospel in the labors of Paul. While Amos 9.9-15 clearly has an eschatological (end-time) context, the early apostles believed that their own preaching and ministry had an initial hand in rebuilding that tent. This is awesome to consider! God’s presence and government were invading the nations through the Gospel!

Paul was immersed in this Davidic vision. He believed that his labors- which were mainly among Gentiles- were effecting something in the earth; namely, the building of the house of God Himself. And for this apostle, the revelational knowledge of Jesus Christ was the wellspring of life for these communities. They were being built into a place wherein God could literally live and express Himself by the Spirit. The tent of David!

We live in a generation where the Lord is making clear what He wants in His house. Are our ears open to hear? Are our hearts still before Him? Are our eyes single in pursuit? It’s time for the intimate knowledge of God to be unleashed in the earth. It’s time for the beauty and majesty of God- in His mercies and judgments- to be known. It’s time for the mystery of Israel and the Church to be revealed. It’s time for the Spirit of prayer to sweep in like a tidal wave. It’s time for eschatological understanding to be given. It’s time for the power of God to be released, for captives to be set free. It’s time for a house to be built! A house of joy, power, righteousness, and wholeness. A house of God. I too believe that a new “Jesus people” is emerging. Whatever city you live in, whatever road you’ve traveled, whatever failures or successes you identify yourself with, a new day has dawned upon us.

This is a generation called not merely to start ministries or even temporary movements. This is a generation called to pursue God Himself, and to have a part in preparing a place for His habitation. I believe that the vision for the knowledge of God, for Israel and the nations, for an apostolic Church, is resting upon us. It is a radical jealousy for the glory of God. We’re going to see it released. Afflictions and resistance will come, but their sting will be minor in comparison with the glory that will result. The tent of David- the revelation of God as He is, and the visible expression of His Kingdom- is emerging. Are you preparing yourselves, saints?

Posted in Apostolic, Bryan Purtle, Pauline, Tent of David | Tagged Purtle, Apostolic, Tent of David, eschatology, Amos 9, Acts 15 | No Comments »

The Gospel of the Kingdom
August 6, 2008 by bpurtle7

“Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…” -Mt. 4:23a

The Gospel of God is the most marvelous thing in the universe. It confronts us in our sin and unbelief. It heals and restores us in our minds and hearts. It has the power to reverse natural circumstances. In the Gospel, blind men are made to behold the colors of the rainbow and the beauty of a child’s face. A child who could not walk can be seen “leaping and praising God.” The insane or anxiety-stricken can walk in transcendent peace and soundness of mind. Hell’s strongest and best crafted chains can be shattered in a word.

The Gospel reveals to us that we have no life in and of ourselves. It shows us that our highest wisdom is foolishness and our greatest morality is as pure as a filthy old rag. It shows us that we have avoided God, even in many of our best attempts at serving Him. It shows us that our view of His judgments is too light. It shows us that our view of His love is too shallow. The Living God utterly transcends ever fixed category that our finite minds have sought to place Him in.

The apostle Paul was stricken with this revelation on the road to Damascus. Running to and fro, thinking he was doing God a service, he came to find out that the seams needed to be busted out on all sides of his theology, thought and mission. God in Christ was so much more than he ever imagined, and his best attempts toward righteousness were not only insufficient, they were entirely incapable of hitting the mark of true justification and redemptive experience.

The Gospel shows us the kind of Person that we have never before known: One Who gives Himself completely; One Who doesn’t break His word or exaggerate; One Who possesses all power yet sacrifices Himself in all gentleness; One Who Is what He says He is; One Who, in the very expression of Himself, chose to forsake His own life that we might gain life. The Gospel shows us that even though we’ve been created in His image, we are really not like God at all. We are fallen.

Yes, we are fallen. Yet, the Gospel turns over the table of logical laws. While we were obstinate and entirely rebellious toward Him, this message opened up to us the very wisdom and power of God, and a perfect righteousness given as a gift from the Father of lights. O, the blood of the Son! It opens the gate to the very experience of His Spirit, through which we come into intimate fellowship with the Creator of all things. We are gloriously enabled to hear the Voice of the One Who holds time and space in His palm. We are not only made to be His servants, but His friends. The blessing of Abraham rests on us. The window of grace is open for us to know the Lord in reality. The Gospel is beyond phenomenal. It is the wonder of the ages. It is the high point of all reality. What a glory this Gospel is! Have you any wonder or awe for the Gospel anymore? Is the Gospel still to you what it was when you first believed?

No wonder Jesus went preaching. No wonder His heart burned. No wonder He eventually entered a public ministry. HE HAD GOOD NEWS! Very good news! He was announcing the presence of the Kingdom of the only true God. The Spirit of the Lord was resting upon Him, and so He prayed fervently, rejoiced incessantly, preached and taught openly, displaying the works of the Father for all to see. Oh, that the church would express the same Gospel that the Son Himself exhibited!

Surely a people transformed by that Gospel would give everything to see His Kingdom come. When he said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”, they would say, “Yes, Lord. I am compelled by Your beauty and holiness to say, ‘yes’.”

When He said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men”, they would “immediately” leave everything to follow this wonderful Man.

When He taught regarding the kingdom and the prophets they would yearn to hear Him more. When He preached they would give themselves to His words. When He demanded the utmost sacrifice and loyalty their response would not weaken. How can we turn our hearts away from such an awesome Person and such a glorious Kingdom? There will be no price too high to pay and no sacrifice too great when we, in this final season of history, are awakened to the beauty and wonder of the Man, Christ Jesus.

Would you pray with me? Lord, give us a fresh hearing of the Gospel… that foundational word that reveals Jesus to our hearts. Open our eyes again, Father. We want to see Jesus.