State of the Union


STATE OF THE UNION by Jason Hubbard with Tim McClellan
President Obama's first State of the Union address is coming up-sometime soon. The vantage point from heaven on this subject is probably quite different than what will come from Washington DC. Jason Hubbard's insights are stirring. Lets begin with insight from Tim McClellan, a mature and accurate prophetic voice who has been by Jason's side for years.
2010: Year of Weights & Balances
Tim recently had a dream and in the dream there were weight scales, tipping back and forth. On the left side, in wavering orange, was the United States as a nation. On the right side was the church, wavering blue and green and rainbow colors. The Lord showed Tim that 2010 will be the year of weights and balances for the United States, and for the church.  We are being weighed in the balance at this time!
State of the Union Address 2010
Jesus called his Father's house a "House of Prayer for all nations."  But he also said that a house divided cannot stand.  As Jesus lifted up his eyes and prayed to the Father in John 17, "Father  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." 
As we peer into this glorious conversation between Father and Son, he tells us a key strategy for evangelism, that we would be one as He and the Father are one, so that the world might know, that the Father sent the Son, and that the Father loves them! 
In light of the fact that less than 2% of churches in America grew last year, we must ask ourselves, 'what are we missing?'  Jesus makes it extremely clear in this text that in order for the world to know the Love of the Father towards them, we must come together in Unity.  However when we look at the state of the union within the body of Christ today, we are not walking in this type of unity that Jesus was asking the Father for. So, what will it take for us to Unite and Ignite as fiery witnesses for the advance of the gospel in this region.  What's the strategy to help us get to that place? 
The Lord's Economic Plan
I believe that God has given us two primary things that I want us to contend for this year. The first is what David Bryant calls a Christ-awakening.  A Christ- awakening is defined this way, "Whenever God's Spirit uses God's Word to Re-introduce or Re-convert the people of God back to God's Son for all that He is!" 
It's an awakening of the heart of the bride of Christ, when God's people Return to Christ for all that He is!  It is a Bride's Revival, when we become so lost in love for Christ, so fascinated and exhilarated in His Splendor, experiencing the very  River of His  Pleasures, giving our all back to Him, and longing to please Him in every way.   
Jesus Christ is the wealthy one!  Paul says in Ephesians, "this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ," He is Rich in Mercy!  He is rich in Kindness!  Romans 10:12 (ESV) says, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him."  As our hearts are awakened to the Riches of His Grace towards us, our hearts explode in love and we are drawn closer together as we are drawn to Him! 
Eph 1, the apostle Paul tells us that it is God's preordained plan and purpose to unite all things in heaven and on earth under His glorious Son. Christ Jesus would have his rightful place as head of the body and that everything would be built on the foundation of Jesus, the chief cornerstone , the Rock of the Ages!  As he says in Colossians 1:17-18 (NKJV), "And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the Supremacy (Preeminence)." 
He must be our Supreme Love, a love that trumps all other loves.  For many of us 2009 has been a difficult year!  The fire of God's love  has been consuming and removing everything that hinders his love from increasing in our lives.  He truly is all-consuming fire! 
"Brides Revival"
I believe we are the verge of an awakening and Revival in America of historic proportions, unprecedented in our nation's history!  It is time for the Bride to "Wake Up" and "Return" to Christ for all that He is! I believe this year his judgments will continue, but this will be our greatest hour.  As deep darkness increases on the earth, the Glory of the Lord will appear over his people.  As Jesus is lifted up, and we get our eyes off ourselves and onto Him, we will be drawn together in unity under the banner of God's Glorious Son!  
Love One Another
Our second strategy growing together in Unity is learning to love one another.  I am convinced that all of us one day will be stand before Jesus to give an account for how we spent our lives on the earth.  The burning question will be this, "did you learn to love?"  If you and I were standing before Jesus right now, how would we answer that in our personal lives, in our families? How about the church in this region? 
Jesus taught us, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." 
The Father's command is that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, but the New Command of Christ is that love one another as he has loved us! (I John 3:23)  This New commandment is connected with the new Covenant.  The glory of the New covenant is that Jesus has taken up residence In His People.  The Spirit of glory is now living in hearts of his people!  We are his dwelling place on the earth today!   God has positioned himself in his new residence in the hearts of his people, so that in order to truly love him we have to love our brothers and sisters in Christ! 
As Jesus tells us in the parable of the sheep and the goats, "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matt. 25)  This doesn't refer to everyone, he says His Brothers. Why? Because he lives in them!  
Tea for the King
I remember the other morning, I was making tea for my wife.  As I was putting the tea in the microwave and getting the tea bag, and her favorite mug.all of a sudden it dawns on me:  Jesus you live in my wife!  Not only am I serving tea for my wife, but I am actually serving tea for the King of the nations. 
This perspective changes everything!  When we see our brothers and sisters in Christ, if they are truly indwelt with the Spirit of Christ, we must treat them as if we were treating Christ himself!  Hebrews 6:10-11 (NIV), " God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." 
As we get to Know Christ, his glorious riches, his mighty power, his stunning beauty, we must See this one whom we love literally dwelling in the hearts of his people!  As we grow in love towards Christ, giving Him the honor he deserves, in our worship and prayer night and day, lets' give him a  double squeeze by loving one another, laying down our lives for them, honoring them above ourselves, serving them, and praying for them. 
Galatians 6:2 (NIV), "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
"The Bride of Christ"
The other practical application is to see our brothers in and sisters as His Beloved Bride. Jesus bled for her, he fought for her unto death.she is the very delight of his heart.  She has been fit for King, adorned with the righteousness of Christ!  She is enthroned at his right hand, seated with him in heavenly places, indwelt with the Spirit of Glory. She is wife of the Lamb!  How then do we treat the Bride of Christ?  With the uptmost respect and honor, serving her as royalty, loving her as the One who belongs to Another: a jealous Bridegroom!  J
The Lord's Health Plan for 2010
I truly believe that loving one another is one of the greatest strategies for establishing unity in the body of Christ.  It brings us together, even when we have a difference of opinion about certain traditions or ways of doing church.  If we would see them as indwelt with Christ Jesus, it would bring us together, Baptist and Pentecostal, Arminian and Calvinist, Methodist and Presbyterian. 
I  believe this is the Lord's Health Care Plan for 2010 and beyond.  The health of the body of Christ depends on how we treat one another.  The body becomes sick, when we open the door for the enemy with gossip and slander.  The power of life and death is in the tongue.  That's why Paul tells us that when we come to the Lord's Table and celebrate communion with one another that we should examine ourselves, to  judge ourselves lest we be judged.  He exhorts  us to discern the Lord's body the right way, not only the actual body of Christ, but also rightly discerning the Lord's body, the church.  When we have a critical spirit, or an attitude of pride thinking that we are right and they are wrong, or when we wrongly judge our brothers and sisters, many can become weak, sick and dying prematurely. 
The opposite spirit of gossip and slander is honor.  Paul tells us to outdo one another with honor.  I believe  those in the charismatic church need to humble themselves and repent of pride towards there non-charismatic brothers and sisters, thinking they are more spiritual.  I believe our non-charismatic brothers and sisters need to repent of the cynicism and critical spirit towards there charismatic brothers and sisters.  The same goes for Reformed churches and Wesleyan churches, men and women, and fathers and sons.  We need the hearts of fathers to turn to their children and children to their fathers.   We are indeed One at the foot of the Christ!  As John Wesley would often quote, "In things essential, unity; in doubtful, liberty; in all things, charity".  
This next year, let's focus on coming together in the place of prayer and worship night and day, under the banner of God's Glorious Son. Let it be a "Great Return to Christ"  for all that He is. Let's cry out for Christ-awakening, from Washington to Washington, from coast to coast, from sea to shining sea!  And secondly let's grow in Love for one another!  Let's cast down the accuser, the evil one and raise up the Eternal Intercessor, the Lord Jesus! Let's create a culture of honor among the church in this region, honoring every believer and every believing church with the Love of Christ! 
" Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen." (Jude 24-25)
Our team for the Great Return prayer project includes Celeste Anderson, communications coordinator with International Apostolic Ministries (IAM); Jon and Jolene Hamill, cofounders of Lamplighter Ministries and directors of the Maryland International House of Prayer; Jason Hubbard, director of the Light of the World Prayer Center in Bellingham WA; Randy Demain, founder of Kingdom Revelation Ministries.



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