Spiritual Gardening

Gardeners. Priests. Kings. Called to reign and rule. Humans were made in the image of God. What does this mean? It means they were to co-labor, co-reign with God. And how were they to see the reign of God spread from Eden out? They were to be gardeners. They were to grow a garden, multiply their family, and reign and rule over the earth. They were to watch out for snakes and predators. They were to enjoy all the trees God had created for them and then eat from the Tree of Life to enjoy his life and learn his wisdom. But they were not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Bad. Even though that tree was in the garden, they were to reject it and choose the Lord’s wisdom instead of their own (Proverbs 3.5-7). But even when sin and rebellion entered the world in Genesis 3 after they ate from that tree, God’s plan never changed. Humanity was still called to partner with the Lord and be gardeners.

Let’s pick up the story in the New Testament. Jesus often used trees and fruit as analogies in his teachings and parables. Perhaps the most famous of these teachings is found in John 15. Jesus says that he is the vine, and his disciples are to abide and remain connected to him. Our job is to first abide, stay connected to Jesus, and then bear fruit.

In Matthew 28.18-20 when Jesus commissions the disciples, he seems to connect the original commission of Genesis 1.28 in a spiritual way. By bearing fruit, the disciples were called to extend the Kingdom reign all over the earth. How would they do this? By making disciples of all the nations. They were called to be spiritual gardeners. They were called to help disciple people and the nations, in that way growing the Kingdom of God.

During the stay at home order, we like most people have had time for some long-standing projects. Angie enjoys working outside, and she has done several yard projects we have been wanting to do. As I mentioned, I have learned some new hobbies like roasting coffee and cooking new foods. But the one hobby/project that I have longed to do in past years but haven’t started is gardening. Since we moved to our new house, we just haven’t figured out exactly how we want to do it. And because we were preparing for Ukraine the last two summers, the timing hasn’t been right.

But in the last week, I have had a couple fun conversations with friends that are using some interesting gardening techniques, and I have started thinking and dreaming more--which is often a dangerous combination that my wife then has to endure. :)  As I was talking with one of my friends (he shared an amazing gardening technique called a “hoop house” with me), he said this phrase: We are called to grow, not build. As we talked and unpacked what that meant naturally and spiritually, it hit hard on some things the Lord has been speaking to me in the last year.

Sam McVay, who leads Disciple Nations, had a deep encounter with the Lord 20 years ago. He was a young church planter and had just moved from El Dorado to Wichita to plant a new church. The Lord, in a loving rebuke, said, “You are making an Ishmael, not waiting for Isaac” (see the story of Abraham in Genesis 12 and following chapters). Then he said clearly to Sam, “I will build my Church. I have called you to make disciples. That word from the Lord radically transformed Sam, and he committed himself to making disciples and equipping saints rather than being focused on building numbers in the Church. For a while Sam went in the opposite direction and tried to get disciples out of the traditional church setting, and again the Lord spoke. “I didn’t ask you to get them in or out, but I made you to equip the saints and make disciples.”

Sam’s philosophy and his spiritual DNA that the Lord imparted to him have deeply touched my heart over the years. But I realize that there is part of me that still loves to try and build even though I know the Lord has clearly not called me to build. The Lord gave me a clear word that spoke deeply to my heart earlier in the week. And then it was confirmed when I heard that phrase, that we are called to grow, not build.

The Church is undergoing a radical transformation, and it is going to continue and intensify before the Lord’s return. I think one of the issues the Lord will “root out” is the building of ministries, but he will increase the growth of spiritual families through the making of disciples. In fact, one of the biggest prayer ministries in the States has gone through a drastic reset, choosing to first be a spiritual family, and then be about the work of prayer and mission. This is the Lord’s heart for his children—that we would first abide in his Son, and from that place bear fruit.

40 years ago. Remembering Lonnie Frisbee ministering on Mother's Day.

This Sunday we will celebrate Mother’s Day. Forty years ago on this day, an obscure but significant moment in the movement of the Spirit occurred. It was evening, and John Wimber, who was the founder of the Vineyard Movement, was having a regular equipping meeting. He invited Lonnie Frisbee, a hippie who had recently joined his ministry, to speak that night, and the Spirit fell in great power.

I love the history of God’s movements. It stirs my heart and creates a hunger to see God move in power again in my lifetime. I have read many revival history books and so many stories of the men and women God has used in profound ways. The one thing that I have noticed consistently is that those men and women God chose to use and pour his Spirit and power on were messy and broken people. Some of them finished well, and others didn’t. We know that is a consistent theme throughout the whole Bible. God isn’t afraid of our humanity. Instead he partners with messy humans to see his Kingdom expand. Does our sin and brokenness affect his plan? Yes and no. Certainly there are grave consequences, and we see that played out in the Scriptures. Yet God’s Kingdom keeps moving forward. Take the person of King David. He was a man after God’s own heart. 1 Kings 15.5 says, “For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life -- except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.” David was faithful and yet committed a gross sin of adultry and murder. There were severe consequences for his family, and yet his family brought forth the Messiah.

Lonnie Frisbee certainly fits into this category of men and women -- messy and broken, yet used powerfully by God. As a young man, he looked for “religious experiences” by using LSD. But while tripped out on the drug in the late 60s, he saw a vision from God and surrendered his life to him.  After his incredible conversion, he was used greatly by God in the late 60s and through the 70s. He was a very unusual guy. He grew his hair long to look like Jesus, and he would wear unusual clothing.

During his ministry, he met a preacher named Chuck Smith, who was starting a small church called Calvary Chapel. Before Lonnie came to his church, there wasn’t much movement of the Spirit, but when they partnered, Lonnie began teaching regularly on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Many hippies came to the church, and a movement was started. He also had a direct influence on Greg Laurie, who has gone on to have a huge mega church and an influential ministry.

After his time at Calvary, which had a messy ending, Lonnie traveled the world and had a powerful ministry, especially in South Africa. After his world travels, he met John Wimber and came alongside his ministry.

John Wimber led the Vineyard Movement for many years and taught concepts that changed the way Christians think about the Kingdom of God, two of which had great impact. First, John demonstrated how the gifts of the Spirit work. He taught that all believers could proclaim and demonstrate the Kingdom. He taught people to hear God, give prophetic words, and pray for the sick to be healed. This affected Sam McVay, who leads Disciple Nations and many other leaders in different movements. Sam would say that John taught him how to be a good Bible man, but to also see the Spirit move.

Second, the Vineyard has had an amazing worship movement. During our college days, the top songs we all sang were from the Vineyard. The songs were sung all over the world and had a big influence on the modern worship movement.

But a huge catalyst of the Vineyard movement was Lonnie Frisbee. On Mother’s Day in 1980, John asked Lonnie to share his testimony, and then Lonnie led some ministry time. He simply said, “Holy Spirit come,” and the Holy Spirit fell on the room, and the power of God was manifested in many. It was the beginning of the Vineyard operating in a new level of power and anointing.

It was all from a broken man. While I believe Lonnie tried his best to be faithful to Jesus, he could never totally heal from his past. He died from AIDS in 1993.

Why do I share all of this?

First, I am praying 40 years later that God would again release the Spirit in power. Our country desperately needs a move of God. I am praying every day for the Spirit to come again and release his power on his people.

Second, I am grateful the Lord uses messy individuals. While it’s not an excuse to stay in our sin, we are called to walk in holiness. But praise God that the Lord Jesus continually forgives us and wants to use those who have broken pasts to do great things in the Kingdom.

Below is a picture of Lonnie and Chuck Smith at a baptism as well as a picture taken recently at the same location from Greg Laurie’s church.

I’ve also included a link to a YouTube video of John Wimber describing that Mother’s Day evening.

Here is a documentary where I learned more about Lonnie’s life and also a book that he wrote.

 

Documentary

Biography