- John 17
Jesus prayed that his disciples would become one as the Father and Son are one. We have one baptism and one spirit. We are to come to the unity of the faith to the fullness of Christ, no longer tossed to and from with every new wind of doctrine. We are to be a bride with our wrinkles ironed out and spots removed, waiting and ready for Christ to return. And the world should know us by the love we have for one another, not our brands. This is why I began visiting many churches a few years ago: to find the problem and the solution.
- I am a Sheepdog
Shortly after coming to Christ, I knew I was a sheepdog. I am not a pastor or a shepherd. But I do take great joy in assisting pastors. Over the years, I have learned I do have a greater sense of danger than the shepherds. I can see, hear, smell, feel, and am the first to touch the danger that is coming for the flock. But I do not carry the skillset of a good shepherd, so I bark and sometimes bite to get the attention required to recognize the danger on the horizon. I also help watch over the flock, especially those who go astray.
- The Lost Sheep
Jesus sent his disciples to the lost sheep of Israel before recommissioning them to go into all the world. I have a similar commission. I seek those driven off course by every wind of doctrine. I seek those who have been church-hurt and truth-hurt. I seek the home-alone Christian who needs a church home. And the Christians whom I describe in the next point.
- The 5050 Initiative
The 5050 initiative is based on the parable of the virgins and the story of 1 will be taken and 1 will be left behind, both are 50/50. In my search for an answer to why the church is not known by the world for our love for one another, I found answers. Most churches I went to had good, honest people. People whom you want as your neighbor. But I was left wondering how many of them will be my neighbors in heaven, in the kingdom of God. Half the virgins were ready; the other half were not. The other story one was taken, and the other one is left, begins with the idea of losing your life.
I have a teaching called the 4th Man in the Fire. You most likely do as well. But mine is different. It is about the three Hebrew boys cast into the fire, only to be joined by a fourth, of unknown but who looked like the son of God. Most Christians have rejected the idea of extreme prosperity in the best life now. Many have rejected the idea of having a better life now by adding Jesus through a simple prayer. But the majority of Christians have embraced the idea of living a good, moral life for Christ, provided you are saved.
The Best, the Better, and the Good is not what Jesus told us to do. He commanded that we must lose our lives in consecration to Him, then we will find life eternal. Living a crucified life will result in a good, moral life and a better life with Jesus than without, and even in our best life now, as Jesus defines it.
Jesus is returning for a 50/50 harvest. I don’t think we are there. A lot of churches I have attended, full of good people, in contrast to those who have taken up their cross to follow Jesus, are more in the 90/10 range. I hope for an end-time revival, but there is more than one way to get to 50/50. I will address this next.
- Gideons Church
Gideon was a prophet who led Israel to victory over their oppressors. But God had an interesting way of doing that. Instead of increasing the number of able men to fight, he reduced it. The first group to go home was the fearful ones. I think this happened in the year 2020 and is still happening. Another group was disqualified because they didn’t know how to watch and pray. They were thirsty and focused on meeting their needs rather than lapping water like a dog, so they could keep an eye out for the enemy who wants to destroy. Gideon was left with 300 men who were ready to lose their lives, pick up their cross, and follow Gideon into a battle that didn’t make sense. Throughout the Bible, you see God reducing the numbers when He is ready to do something big. Revivals only come after reduction.
- Revelation 2 & 3
Some people claim we are in a chapter (you make the call). of the book of Revelation. I do too. I believe we are in Chapters 2 & 3. These are the two chapters in which Jesus rebukes, corrects, and exalts both the shepherds and the flock. Jesus gives us time to repent. How much time? Not sure, but why put it off? I believe that correction came in 2020 on a worldwide scale. As we approach the great and terrible Day of the Lord, we are going to see more churches with their candlesticks taken away. More churches spewed out. More churches that Jesus fights against and not for, and more churches that are given over to the world to commit idolatry. And for the repentant and obedient churches, more tribulation, open doors with many adversaries, and a great expectation to be found faithful and true.
- Joshua and the angel
I am a sheepdog, not a shepherd. I have come to help those who are to lead as pastors and watch over the flocks of Christ. Your experience as a pastor causes you to wonder whenever someone says they are here to help. I get it. We are to know one another by our fruit, and that takes time. I have wasted time worrying over how I will be perceived. My conclusion is that I have little control over how people perceive me. In time, I hope to prove my heart and ambition for the Lord. I take from the passage in which Joshua meets an angel and wonders whether he is a friend or foe. The angel responds with neither and moves on to why he was sent.
I am here to help if I may. I am not a church critic. I am not writing any reviews. I do ‘mark and avoid’, but it is not my objective, and I don’t often make it public. Because the blind like to follow the blind, and I don’t want a two-front war, maybe when they both fall into the ditch, they will have a great awakening. It is Jesus who divides the sheep from the goats. The angels who divide the wheat from the tares. It is my job and yours to rightly divide the Word of God. It is my experience that the other two will divide if we are dividing the Word correctly.
I help in two ways. I have technology experience that helps you and your church be seen and heard in a world that lives in cyberspace. Many people don’t know you exist, even though they drive past your church every day. Technology is my tent-making business.
The second way I help is by finding a place to put lost sheep who are ready to be part of a church. I am not looking for a place to speak. I have a ministry where I am content to speak. I only seek a place where people can find their place to grow and serve Christ well. The world is about to see the love we have for one another.
Jeff Briner Technology and Jeff Briner Ministry