A lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away. Lions roar to establish their territory and to communicate their power. In this season of understanding the roaring twenties it is important to realize the significance of the roar of The Lion of The Tribe of Judah in the way we pray. Our prayers establish territory and release power!
A tour guide from Africa explained, “You don’t hear a lion roaring, you feel it. The closer you are, the more the vibrations tremor through your body, and believe me, if it’s your first time experiencing it and you are within 50 meters, you are left in gob-smacked, jaw-dropping awe! I have turned around many times in my vehicle to see my guests’ reactions, and nine times out of ten there are just a row of open mouths, staring speechless at the lion.”
Lions live socially in prides. Lions are known to roar in chorus together at times strengthening social bonds.
Philippians 2:1-3 If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you (then) love each other, be deep-spirited friends… put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. (Message)
Deep spirited friendship speaks of relationships that have eternal value because they are spiritually alive. God’s plan is for us to know the life-giving connection we have with him and the life-giving connection He has purposed for us to have with others.
When examining the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place we see where the Shekinah glory of God existed between the two Angels facing one another.
Exodus 25:18-22 And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19 Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends…22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. NIV
When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb looking for the body of Jesus, she did not find Him at first; instead, she saw two angels–one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid.
John 20:11-12 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. NIV
These two angels were positioned at the head and the foot of the body of Christ. This connects with the positions of the cherubim on the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant in the temple.
When I read this, I thought, Oh that’s interesting; the angels were imitating the cherubim on the mercy seat! Then I realized the Old Testament is the type and shadow of Jesus not the other way around.
The cherubim on the mercy seat foretold the angels in the empty tomb!
And I realized that Heavenly Father had meant for the construction of the ark of the covenant with the cherubim’s positions to testify of Christ’s resurrection and his empty tomb so many years ahead of time.
This is a picture of the heavenly glory of God, Angels surrounding Him and crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.” But it also reveals the restoration of the presence of God with His sons and daughters in Christ.
By God’s design his glory is revealed in this face-to-face conversational posture with each other. This gives new meaning to God’s promise to be in the midst of us when two of us gather in his name.
There is glory in the conversation.
So many thoughts and ideas about God and God’s Kingdom are crystalized and clarified in conversation together. Over the years I’ve noticed this time and time again and started coining this idea as “revelation conversation.”
Discerning the voice of God together enriches our lives in phenomenal ways. When you find friendships where conversations become confirmations that God is speaking to your heart then you should in every way invest in those relationships! Eternal things begin to be exchanged and our lives are enlarged in a sense like a cross pollination.
Investing yourself in friendships that lack spiritual substance will lessen your capacity as sons and daughters of God. Jesus most intimate friends were those who were pursuing the purposes of God. Eternal value comes from meaningful friendships taking us into a deep-spirited friendship where God is in the mix.
Recently my parents came over to sit on my back patio and talk. It was a refreshing time together as we just enjoyed each other’s company. At the point of conclusion my mom said, “Well, we should be going now.” As she spoke of their leaving, I asked if we could just sit a little longer in order to pray together. There seemed to be a deep spiritual transaction taking place as we just took turns praying simple prayers together.
After they left, I stayed on the patio thanking God for the deep-spirited friendship my family enjoys and experiences because of Jesus. It hasn’t always been like this, but it is today. As family members began getting saved, we began joining together praying and even fasting and praying asking God to reach every member of our family. One by one they came to Jesus. There was glory in our conversation. There was glory in our prayer of agreement.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Make time for a meaningful conversation with another believer this week agreeing in prayer for specific friends and family to come to Christ.
Discussion Guide for Community Group Leaders
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
THE ROARING LION: DEEP SPIRITED FRIENDSHIP
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: We have entered into unprecedented days for the church. God is not taken off guard so we must be intentional about moving from being on our heels to being on our toes. Our mission hasn’t changed. Love is our agenda and making disciples is our focus. God is speaking to His sons and daughters and it is important that we all take the time to hear his voice.
Amos 3:7-8 When the Lion of the tribe of Judah roars we can’t help but prophesy!
Isa 31:4-5 Speaks of a lion’s “growl” which also translates “meditate”. As we meditate on God’s Word the roar of God is awakened in our lives.
We’ve been starting our groups with the first and primary question that we want to continue even more specifically during this season:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Phil 2:1-3 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care - 2 then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. 3 Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. (Message)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. Name a few truly meaningful friendships in your life and share the difference between general friendship with others and a deeper more meaningful friendship you have with just a few people?
3. Share a conversation you have had in your life that has been life-altering in some way.
Meaningful friendships that lack spiritual value still are lacking. There is an eternal value that comes from meaningful friendships bringing us into a deep-spirited friendship where God is in the mix.
Eternal things begin to be exchanged without even realizing it. This is the place where our conversations become confirmations that God is speaking to us all.
Mary came to Jesus’ tomb and saw two angels where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot (John 20). This was the fulfillment of the picture revealed over the ark of the covenant where two angels were face-to-face and that is where the Shekinah Glory was revealed (Exodus 25).
It is prayer that releases God’s Kingdom in the earth. There is glory in the conversation. This is our conversation with God and our face-to-face conversation with God where he promises to be in our midst. There is glory in the conversation.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Make time for a meaningful conversation with another believer this week agreeing in prayer for specific friends and family to come to Christ.
Next week, be prepared to share with the group where you’re reading and what you’re hearing as you spend time with God.