I'll Stand by You by Jeremy Lopez

I wanted to take a moment to share with you some of my story. I remember receiving Christ into my life at an early age. Going through the 'regular' routine like we all do of being taught the scriptures. Learning more about who Christ is and what He has done for me. I remember being in the word of faith movement and so many other movements of God. I strived "working" so hard to find out more about the truth so I could tuck it underneath my belt and "know it," memorize it so it could be "life" to me and I could "help" others get on the "right path."  A number of years ago I began to discover who I really was and what I had become. I had become someone who lives by the letter of the law instead of realizing my relationship was not built on a book but on a Father in heaven who loved me. He tells us, "you didn't choose me, I chose you." It is so easy to become a worshipper of the Bible rather than a worshipper of God through His precious Son Jesus.

I forgot the Word within the Word. I forgot the author was a person who cared, loved and accepted me just the way I am. Why? Because I didn't choose Him, He chose me. If I chose Him, He could have easily rejected me and said, "no thanks. This inn is full." But He chose Me just how I was, which means, He takes out what needs to be taken out of me. He does the cleaning, not me. I just yield my mind over to Him to let it be renewed. But please remember like I said earlier, He chose Me! Just how I was!

The Kingdom of God is Relational

I see how others forget that the kingdom of God is relational not doctrinal or traditional. It is built upon covenant more than anything else. I watched a very close friend of mine of over 20 years who knew this principle but somehow by the influence of others in the system, go back from relational and covenant to word bound. So now, he will not speak to me or even some others with his heart, he speaks to me only by giving me scripture. What happens when we lose ourselves with speaking not from our heart to love, accept, comfort and show compassion; instead we skip the heart and only "speak the word." Have we forgotten the Jesus behind the "word" (Bible)? The same Jesus who didn't throw scripture at people but loved people. Jesus spoke scripture to the enemy when He was in the desert because He knew the word could be used as a sword in battle to defeat.

But when the woman who was caught in adultery saw Jesus, He didn't say, "the Bible says, 'Thou shall not commit adultery!'" He looked at her and said, "I don't accuse you." It wasn't even the fact that she was caught in the midst of it. No repentance. No remorse.....just caught! But because He LOVED her and desired to build a relationship with her, he told her, "I don't accuse you." Could she go back to living in adultery? Yes. Was Jesus guaranteed that she wouldn't? No. But He still desired to love her and wanted a better life for her but He still did not turn His back upon her! He still did not say, "let's put her through a time of 13 years of recovery." He just wanted relationship with her.

Let me talk to you about the kingdom of God for a moment. What is the kingdom of God? It is built on covenant, not doctrine, not tradition and not how spiritual we can be. It is supernatural!  Let me give you an example. If you went to your natural father and told him something about you that he would not agree with, what would he do? If he truly has a father's heart he would say something to the effect of, "I might not agree but you are still my child and I love you." My natural dad and I do not always agree with things we believe but the idea that my dad would cast me out and say, "you're no longer my son" would be nothing I have ever known since my dad has a father's heart to say, "you're my son and nothing will ever change that fact." 

Probably many of you, maybe like my friend above, never had a dad who had a father's heart. Maybe many of you feel your natural "father" because he is a doctrine or tradition worshipper does not possess a true father's heart. Please hear me now! YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CHILDREN.....ALL OF HIS CHILDREN. He does not care about your doctrines, your traditions or your opinions. He wants your heart. He wants his son or daughter to say, "good morning daddy."  I remember many great men of God like, David VanCronkhite, Jack Taylor, Bob Mumford, David Huskins and many others have the father's heart. 

So many people in the system of the church are more concerned with Jeremy Lopez's gift or office as a prophet  more than even getting to know the real me. Why? Because so many ministers and people don't really want to know you, they would rather have your gift or office to use it and than turn when they're done and move on. I have said it before and I will say it again. I love all people! I told my friends and family years ago that I would never leave them but many will leave me. I have seen it with a close friend of mine of over 20 years and many others just like many of you out there have because relationship and covenant are so important to me. More important than if we agree or disagree, if you believe in the rapture or no rapture, if you believe this or that.

I will never forget the day I met David VanCronkhite, a mighty man of God and a close friend of mine. I tried so hard to figure him out by asking what he believed or did not believe. He never answered me but he just kept saying, "love wins, love wins, love wins." I never really realized what I was doing since I had been caught up in the system of those who created it in the church. I was just like one of them! Trying to figure out if David and I could be friends based on if what we believed was the same. I finally realized I too had been caught up in the matrix of the system. My relationship with him and so many others could not be based on if we agree in doctrines. Why? Because I too, allowed doctrines to come between me and building the kingdom by loving others and building relationships just like my Daddy in heaven does with me and all of His other children.

The Church Should be a Place of Safety

Take a look at your life for a moment. How many people have you hurt or kicked out of your life over doctrines and beliefs? The Jesus in the word is still wanting nothing more than relationship with His children.  Are we mature enough to say, "I love you.....regardless?"

The church should be a place of safety, love, protection, etc. but instead we have created it to be a place of beliefs and doctrines.  To put it another way, it has become a "bible cult" not a "house of prayer for ALL nations."  All people are welcome to come to the house of God. ALL PEOPLE!

If there is something God wants to work out in them, let Him do it. When we become people who use His precious word to hurt, "straighten up" or even massacre, we become Pharisees. Someone who uses something that is meant to heal, deliver and comfort as a tool to pound, beat and hurt. I am a grace man. It's sad that people hate people that display grace to all. But ask yourself this question:  "When you approach the throne of God one day, will God say, 'well done, you used my word to straighten people up, you told others who did not line up with what you believe that they are not welcome, come on in you wonderful servant.' Or do you want the Lord to say, 'well done thy good and faithful servant.  You loved those who were hurting, different from you. You allowed everyone and anyone into My house to pray to find the way for a better life for them. You kept on loving them, humbling yourself to love and show them grace. Because if you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to Me.'?"

Please note, I love every one of you. I stand with you and for you no matter who or what you are because I see Jesus in you.

I love you and your Daddy in Heaven loves you too.

Jeremy Lopez