“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” Rom 8:17.
Looking at this verse we see a double “if.” That tells us that the first part is true if the second part is true. Today the Lord led me to this verse and when I was done reading, He said the following;
“Man has a teaching that, when his life pleases Me, I show him favor. Will that man think suffering is favor? And if his season of conflict is over and I work glory in him, will he then take credit for it, seeing that he thinks he has pleased Me? These are not My reasonings.
Man thinks to have a blessed life that he does well. It is a life that, when other men look upon it, they will think I favor the blessed man. This, then has become man’s seal of approval; the blessed and favored life. If there comes trouble into that life, the man will lose his friends and his standing in the church. This happens because men love their blessings . . . men love their lives.
I did not prophesy that there would come a generation of men who would only receive blessing and favor. Rather, that great tribulation such as none had seen before would come on the earth. Somehow these people who seek My blessing and favor think they will escape hardship. They do not see that there is a great war taking place around them, and that, to win against their enemy, they must “not love their lives so much as to shrink from death,” (Rev 12:11b). Rather, their love of life causes them to think on their image before Man; the image of favor.”
We have an account of those first century Christians whose lives pleased the Lord. In Hebrews 10 we read that they were persecuted and had their property confiscated (vs 32-34). The writes says of them that they lived by faith. They would receive their reward, whereas those who shrank back displeased God (vs 38). Reward comes to those whose lives may not seem to be favored, on outward appearance. If we shrink not from the death of our lives as we would want them to be, and we accept hardship and suffering in its appointed seasons, then we are heirs and co-heirs with Christ. Amen.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Walking with the Weaker Brother
Sometimes God asks us to walk with the weaker brother. He encourages us to be friends with people whom we benefit, but who, in turn do not benefit us. Our family members may develop illnesses or become frail and need us just when we are running our strongest race for Jesus. We are getting dreams and visions that lift us into a heavenly walk, and then there seems a great demand on us to walk on this earth, feet squarely planted beside someone who needs our support. We have purposed to give our best for God, yet by walking with the lesser brother, we see ourselves giving much less. Our thoughts about serving God have included spending all our time and money promoting Him. Because of our ideals it seems foolish, then, to get sidetracked by having to walk alongside someone who is not helping with the same goal. In fact, their hindrance is a stark contrast to our standard of excellence. Not only do we have to spend time teaching and correcting the weaker brother, but if he is foolish or naïve with his finances, that precious money set aside for ministry may get sidelined for supporting him instead. All in all, the “all” we desire to give to God will become “less” in our own eyes if we do not walk with people who have the same standard of excellence.
If the Lord was concerned with our perceptions of excellence in ministry, I suppose that John the Baptist would have been conscripted into Jesus’ ministry at the appropriate time. John was the most spiritual man of his time. And when the Apostles were building God’s kingdom, they would have joined the smaller, weaker congregations to the larger established ones. Yet Jesus did not choose John the Baptist, and Paul chose to not build where other apostles had built. God’s economy of time and effort are different than ours. So different, that He makes mention of how He would view the “lesser” brother. In the parable of the prodigal son the elder brother does not think his prodigal brother worthy of honor. The prodigal did not pay the same price, in his eyes. The same could be said of the laborers in the vineyard who had labored through the heat of the day. They did not think it right that those who had labored only during the eleventh hour should receive equal pay. Perhaps it was these same heat-of-the-day workers who wouldn’t hire those who waited for work. For whatever reason, the Master not only had to hire workers for the eleventh hour, but then deal with the wrongful attitudes of entitlement of those who were giving more. God wasn’t interested in keeping the prodigal son as a servant, nor the eleventh hour workers as last because He saw their worth.
In our perception of kingdom economy, spending time walking alongside the weaker brother may seem like a waste. Yet we find that, time and time again, the Lord brings people into our lives who fit this profile. If we listen to the Holy Spirit, we hear “walk with him.” God asks us to walk with the weaker brother because that is what He would do. God loves the unlovely so that they could learn how to love. Jesus gave Himself to those whose lives were changed forever by His example. His disciples’ lack of understanding was frustrating at times, but Jesus did not forsake them. They became mighty men, and world- changers because He gave them His time and attention.
Paul was one of the mightiest apostles Jesus had, but he had a humble beginning. When he met Jesus, the pure light from Him caused Paul to fall off his horse. All the great things he had planned for God were forever stopped, and a new life began. Though Paul had thought himself fully qualified to serve God, he hadn’t really known God. At the point Paul fell from his horse, he became a student once again, learning about Jesus, Whom he would serve the rest of his life. God took time to build Paul up in knowledge and relationship with Him so that Paul could do the same with others. We see from Paul’s writings that he taught, corrected, rebuked, and encouraged those new converts he wrote to . . . but he did not forsake them because of their weaknesses. His ministry to them was to make them strong, so that they could stand.
Like Paul’s experience, when we come to our first knowledge of Christ it is like falling off a horse. Our life’s ambitions are side-tracked for our new pursuit of knowing God and finding His life’s work for us. Instead of riding into the works that we feel meet our goals and working up to our standard of excellence, we become humbled, falling at the feet of Jesus and starting our life over again in Him. I believe this is what Jesus refers to in the book of Revelation as our “first love.” This term is found in John’s writings to the church in Ephesus. “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for My name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first,” (Rev 2:1-5).
Though the Ephesians had an excellent standard by which they accomplished great works, they had forgotten their first love. It seems Jesus was telling the Ephesians that serving God was not all about works. It wasn’t all about keeping the false and wicked men out of their midst. It was about loving Him enough that their goals and objectives would operate in the economy of His kingdom, not theirs. Perhaps time should be spent walking alongside those who hindered and sidetracked their agenda at times, and their monies should be spent supporting people as well as causes. Jesus was asking the Ephesian brethren to remember that they once were weak and in need too. The height from which they originally fell was the same as Paul’s; self-ambition. The love which they had forgotten would have kept them in His kingdom.
God brings us weaker brethren, not to hinder the very works He foreordained us to do, but to enable us to do them. He keeps us within His budget of time by hindering our self-ambition and by promoting the development of others. This is His kingdom economy. He side-lines our best so that it can be diverted to those who are weak and faltering, not because we need them, but because they need us. Great men and women have weak beginnings, yet God sees that they will finish well . . . if we walk beside them. Building God’s Church, one believer at a time . . . strengthening, encouraging, rebuking, teaching and correcting them . . . this is a work of excellence. When our heart is to bring up the weaker brother to a place of strength and honor, then we are doing the works foreordained for us. Amen.
If the Lord was concerned with our perceptions of excellence in ministry, I suppose that John the Baptist would have been conscripted into Jesus’ ministry at the appropriate time. John was the most spiritual man of his time. And when the Apostles were building God’s kingdom, they would have joined the smaller, weaker congregations to the larger established ones. Yet Jesus did not choose John the Baptist, and Paul chose to not build where other apostles had built. God’s economy of time and effort are different than ours. So different, that He makes mention of how He would view the “lesser” brother. In the parable of the prodigal son the elder brother does not think his prodigal brother worthy of honor. The prodigal did not pay the same price, in his eyes. The same could be said of the laborers in the vineyard who had labored through the heat of the day. They did not think it right that those who had labored only during the eleventh hour should receive equal pay. Perhaps it was these same heat-of-the-day workers who wouldn’t hire those who waited for work. For whatever reason, the Master not only had to hire workers for the eleventh hour, but then deal with the wrongful attitudes of entitlement of those who were giving more. God wasn’t interested in keeping the prodigal son as a servant, nor the eleventh hour workers as last because He saw their worth.
In our perception of kingdom economy, spending time walking alongside the weaker brother may seem like a waste. Yet we find that, time and time again, the Lord brings people into our lives who fit this profile. If we listen to the Holy Spirit, we hear “walk with him.” God asks us to walk with the weaker brother because that is what He would do. God loves the unlovely so that they could learn how to love. Jesus gave Himself to those whose lives were changed forever by His example. His disciples’ lack of understanding was frustrating at times, but Jesus did not forsake them. They became mighty men, and world- changers because He gave them His time and attention.
Paul was one of the mightiest apostles Jesus had, but he had a humble beginning. When he met Jesus, the pure light from Him caused Paul to fall off his horse. All the great things he had planned for God were forever stopped, and a new life began. Though Paul had thought himself fully qualified to serve God, he hadn’t really known God. At the point Paul fell from his horse, he became a student once again, learning about Jesus, Whom he would serve the rest of his life. God took time to build Paul up in knowledge and relationship with Him so that Paul could do the same with others. We see from Paul’s writings that he taught, corrected, rebuked, and encouraged those new converts he wrote to . . . but he did not forsake them because of their weaknesses. His ministry to them was to make them strong, so that they could stand.
Like Paul’s experience, when we come to our first knowledge of Christ it is like falling off a horse. Our life’s ambitions are side-tracked for our new pursuit of knowing God and finding His life’s work for us. Instead of riding into the works that we feel meet our goals and working up to our standard of excellence, we become humbled, falling at the feet of Jesus and starting our life over again in Him. I believe this is what Jesus refers to in the book of Revelation as our “first love.” This term is found in John’s writings to the church in Ephesus. “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for My name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first,” (Rev 2:1-5).
Though the Ephesians had an excellent standard by which they accomplished great works, they had forgotten their first love. It seems Jesus was telling the Ephesians that serving God was not all about works. It wasn’t all about keeping the false and wicked men out of their midst. It was about loving Him enough that their goals and objectives would operate in the economy of His kingdom, not theirs. Perhaps time should be spent walking alongside those who hindered and sidetracked their agenda at times, and their monies should be spent supporting people as well as causes. Jesus was asking the Ephesian brethren to remember that they once were weak and in need too. The height from which they originally fell was the same as Paul’s; self-ambition. The love which they had forgotten would have kept them in His kingdom.
God brings us weaker brethren, not to hinder the very works He foreordained us to do, but to enable us to do them. He keeps us within His budget of time by hindering our self-ambition and by promoting the development of others. This is His kingdom economy. He side-lines our best so that it can be diverted to those who are weak and faltering, not because we need them, but because they need us. Great men and women have weak beginnings, yet God sees that they will finish well . . . if we walk beside them. Building God’s Church, one believer at a time . . . strengthening, encouraging, rebuking, teaching and correcting them . . . this is a work of excellence. When our heart is to bring up the weaker brother to a place of strength and honor, then we are doing the works foreordained for us. Amen.
Monday, August 23, 2010
knowing God
It is good to fellowship with other believers. Their words show that they see different aspects of the Christian faith than we do, and that little bit of knowledge adds to our own. Sometimes, though, we find ourselves listening to someone who knows God. They may not know Him in His entirety, but truly they have walked and talked with our Lord, and their words vibrate with Life itself.
I asked the Lord what makes the difference between the people who seem to know Him, and the believers who do not. He told me that some people know about Him, and others know Him. To know Him we must follow Him. It’s about submission, which becomes evident in the laying of our lives down. When we lay down our will, then we begin to know God.
God will bring circumstances into our lives that crucify us. This isn’t because He despises our nature; it is so that we will know Him as we walk with Him through the trials. The apostle Paul was a person who had a lot of knowledge about God. But one day he actually met Jesus, the Son of God. From that day on Jesus was in Paul’s life so that he could know Him. Many knew about Jesus, but Paul’s deepest desire was to actually know Jesus. He wrote to the Philippians “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings . . . “ (Phil 3:10-11). The key is to walk with Jesus in the trials appointed to our lives. It is there that we will get to know Him.
I have heard it said that no one can know God. Yet Jeremiah writes “let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord . . . “ (Jer 9:24a). We have the Spirit of the living God living within us. Yes we can know Him, if we will yield our will over to Him. Not like a robot who has no choice, but as a son or daughter who follows and submits to their Father.
What interferes with the process of submission in our walk with the Lord? First we have a struggle with our will, for we do not want pain and suffering in our lives. But one of the things that undermines our submission the most is the teachings of well-meaning Christians who write about the perfect pain-free life which they imagine God wants for all of us. These teaches devise plans and methods whereby we can live our lives perfectly. Their take-home message is that any pain and suffering we have must be from living wrong, or from sin. Instead of helping the man in trial to build a relationship with Jesus, they put a stumbling block of blame between the man and his God, building instead a relationship with the author. If we believe these perfect-life teachers we become dependent on their writings and measure our faith by how many trials we can eliminate from our lives. The fruit, therefore, is a lack of depth of character personally and a lack of knowing God, personally.
Our trials work character in us because we must try Something that we’ve never needed before in order to get through them. We must seek Someone who has traveled the road before us. That Someone knows how to get through the trials. Our dependency on Him, and submission to Him during our trials brings with it the sweet fruit of knowing God, the Someone who has the Something we need most.
Paul got to know Jesus’ Life from both sides of the cross; the Power of His resurrection, and the Fellowship of His sufferings. Before we can have power in our lives we must have the fellowship. Jesus asked His disciples “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” (Mt 20:22b). Indeed, it was a cup of suffering He would share with them after His resurrection. It held pain and suffering, yet power and resurrection were also in the cup. Today we are asked the same question; can we drink the cup of Jesus? Will we love our lives so much that knowledge about God is sufficient, just as long as He leaves our lives alone? Or will we take His cup, laying our lives down so that we may know Him? “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” (Phil 3:8). Amen.
I asked the Lord what makes the difference between the people who seem to know Him, and the believers who do not. He told me that some people know about Him, and others know Him. To know Him we must follow Him. It’s about submission, which becomes evident in the laying of our lives down. When we lay down our will, then we begin to know God.
God will bring circumstances into our lives that crucify us. This isn’t because He despises our nature; it is so that we will know Him as we walk with Him through the trials. The apostle Paul was a person who had a lot of knowledge about God. But one day he actually met Jesus, the Son of God. From that day on Jesus was in Paul’s life so that he could know Him. Many knew about Jesus, but Paul’s deepest desire was to actually know Jesus. He wrote to the Philippians “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings . . . “ (Phil 3:10-11). The key is to walk with Jesus in the trials appointed to our lives. It is there that we will get to know Him.
I have heard it said that no one can know God. Yet Jeremiah writes “let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord . . . “ (Jer 9:24a). We have the Spirit of the living God living within us. Yes we can know Him, if we will yield our will over to Him. Not like a robot who has no choice, but as a son or daughter who follows and submits to their Father.
What interferes with the process of submission in our walk with the Lord? First we have a struggle with our will, for we do not want pain and suffering in our lives. But one of the things that undermines our submission the most is the teachings of well-meaning Christians who write about the perfect pain-free life which they imagine God wants for all of us. These teaches devise plans and methods whereby we can live our lives perfectly. Their take-home message is that any pain and suffering we have must be from living wrong, or from sin. Instead of helping the man in trial to build a relationship with Jesus, they put a stumbling block of blame between the man and his God, building instead a relationship with the author. If we believe these perfect-life teachers we become dependent on their writings and measure our faith by how many trials we can eliminate from our lives. The fruit, therefore, is a lack of depth of character personally and a lack of knowing God, personally.
Our trials work character in us because we must try Something that we’ve never needed before in order to get through them. We must seek Someone who has traveled the road before us. That Someone knows how to get through the trials. Our dependency on Him, and submission to Him during our trials brings with it the sweet fruit of knowing God, the Someone who has the Something we need most.
Paul got to know Jesus’ Life from both sides of the cross; the Power of His resurrection, and the Fellowship of His sufferings. Before we can have power in our lives we must have the fellowship. Jesus asked His disciples “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” (Mt 20:22b). Indeed, it was a cup of suffering He would share with them after His resurrection. It held pain and suffering, yet power and resurrection were also in the cup. Today we are asked the same question; can we drink the cup of Jesus? Will we love our lives so much that knowledge about God is sufficient, just as long as He leaves our lives alone? Or will we take His cup, laying our lives down so that we may know Him? “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” (Phil 3:8). Amen.
Friday, August 20, 2010
fine wine
Have you ever come to the realization that the way God sees your life is the opposite of how you see your life? Today the Lord was using the analogy of wine to describe a life that is ready to be served to others. We become like fine wine in the Lord’s hands, and it is His pleasure to serve us to others. If we turn back the hands of time, we see that a person’s life originally bore fruit. Then pressure was applied through life’s trials, and the juice from the fruit flowed out. As this juice was aged through the trial of time, it became wine. The wine Master tasted this wine from time to time to test whether or not it was ready to serve. During the trial of waiting the fineness of the wine was discerned. Waiting longer would only bring out the goodness of the flavor and not spoil it. Therefore, it is not the wine served early that is the finest, but those aged longer.
In our lives we often bear good fruit, only to suffer through severe trials and oppression. Paul writes that we are “troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” (2 Cor 4:8-11) As a Christian, life tempers us until we become fine wine. The oppression, and eventual waiting may seem cruel and useless to us, however the Master wine maker is tasting us from time to time to see when our fineness has been reached. If we see others being used in service to God we should rejoice, for their fineness has been accomplished. However, if we begin to think that we are not ready because of inherent badness in us, we will become discouraged. We do not wait because of a flaw in our design, or some foul flavor seeping out from our lives; we wait because there is a greater fineness the Lord wants to bring forth, to serve to the world.
Today I would like to encourage you to wait without despair. God is storing up the essence of all you are and none of your fineness will be lost. In the waiting, you are treasured by God, and He anticipates with joy the day He will serve you to others. God will bring forth the surpassing fineness of all He created you to be and with great pride serve you to the world. What could be better?
In our lives we often bear good fruit, only to suffer through severe trials and oppression. Paul writes that we are “troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” (2 Cor 4:8-11) As a Christian, life tempers us until we become fine wine. The oppression, and eventual waiting may seem cruel and useless to us, however the Master wine maker is tasting us from time to time to see when our fineness has been reached. If we see others being used in service to God we should rejoice, for their fineness has been accomplished. However, if we begin to think that we are not ready because of inherent badness in us, we will become discouraged. We do not wait because of a flaw in our design, or some foul flavor seeping out from our lives; we wait because there is a greater fineness the Lord wants to bring forth, to serve to the world.
Today I would like to encourage you to wait without despair. God is storing up the essence of all you are and none of your fineness will be lost. In the waiting, you are treasured by God, and He anticipates with joy the day He will serve you to others. God will bring forth the surpassing fineness of all He created you to be and with great pride serve you to the world. What could be better?
Thursday, August 19, 2010
the victory of our faith
A few days ago I was reading in 1 Chronicles 12. This chapter is about the Lord bringing “mighty men” to David. God designed it so that a great army was needed to turn Saul’s kingdom over to David. In the ensuing wars David took not only Saul’s kingdom, but eventually all the land that was destined to be Israel. Because of David’s exploits, God’s word to him was fulfilled. And because of David’s mighty men, it was possible.
The Old Testament account of winning the kingdom of Saul over for God sets an example for Christians today. We also have a kingdom coming to us. By the promises of God and the inner working of faith, God’s kingdom is established in our hearts. And through the works of our faith we help establish God’s outer kingdom on this earth. I have been amongst many Christians who are praying for God’s kingdom to come down on the earth. Yet this chapter in 1 Chronicles has led me to believe that we often think God will give the kingdom to us if we only have enough faith. The Lord began stirring with questions inside of me, and a short prophecy which I’ll write here;
“How is it that men will know how to rule a kingdom if they do not rule over their enemies? Nor will they be able to accomplish a great defeat if they go to battle one-by-one. Men must come together with their gifts to break the bonds of the enemy. The kingdom cannot be taken with an attitude of the heart or a posture before God. If a man has faith to take the kingdom, then his works will follow his faith.”
Ruling over our enemies is a personal work of faith. Though we aren’t fighting a physical enemy, nevertheless we see the consequences of our enemy’s influence in our lives. We have victories over the evil thoughts that come to our minds by taking them captive and causing them to submit to the word of God (2 Cor 10:3-5). We are told to do all we can to stand against the forces of evil in the days that are full of trouble (Eph 6:13). Without these personal victories we will not be able to have God’s kingdom formed within us.
The outer kingdom still remains to be taken. Though Jesus reigns within those who have established the kingdom in their hearts, there remains a continual battle to put His enemies under His feet (1 Cor 15:25-29). When we come together in faith, each one having stood personally against the enemy of his soul, then we can pool our strengths together to win the kingdoms over to God. We read that “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” (Rev 11:15). It is a winning over, or redeeming of those things appointed unto Jesus by His work through His saints.
For those who would like to believe that God will hand the kingdom to us because we have faith, there are other scriptures that support the fact that the decision to bring the kingdom to the earth comes after much trial. Daniel foresaw a struggle between evil and good and wrote about a beast that “was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.” (see 7:21-27). I do not believe that this time of struggle was futile, with the saints passively suffering defeat while God looked on. It is the overcoming of our faith that brings every victory to us, and to this earth (1 Jn 5:4b).
If we are a passive people and without victories, it may be that we do not understand what faith is. Jude writes that we should “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (vs 3). Even Jesus lamented that, when He returned, “will He find faith on the earth?” (Lk 18:2). Many have thought that what they believe in their hearts is the sum total of their faith. Yet by thinking a certain way, and believing in our hearts, we have only the beginning of faith. Faith encompasses actions, or works (see Jms 2:14-25). We cannot choose our works. However, God has predestined works for us to walk in which will glorify Him (Eph 2:10). We must have the outer form (the action form) of our faith in order to bring God’s kingdom to the earth so that His glory will settle here amongst us.
I would like to encourage you today to give life to your faith, believing and doing all that the Father has appointed unto you. Let us come together as the mighty men did in ages past, having overcome our personal enemies, and ready to work together with the Captain of our faith. Amen.
The Old Testament account of winning the kingdom of Saul over for God sets an example for Christians today. We also have a kingdom coming to us. By the promises of God and the inner working of faith, God’s kingdom is established in our hearts. And through the works of our faith we help establish God’s outer kingdom on this earth. I have been amongst many Christians who are praying for God’s kingdom to come down on the earth. Yet this chapter in 1 Chronicles has led me to believe that we often think God will give the kingdom to us if we only have enough faith. The Lord began stirring with questions inside of me, and a short prophecy which I’ll write here;
“How is it that men will know how to rule a kingdom if they do not rule over their enemies? Nor will they be able to accomplish a great defeat if they go to battle one-by-one. Men must come together with their gifts to break the bonds of the enemy. The kingdom cannot be taken with an attitude of the heart or a posture before God. If a man has faith to take the kingdom, then his works will follow his faith.”
Ruling over our enemies is a personal work of faith. Though we aren’t fighting a physical enemy, nevertheless we see the consequences of our enemy’s influence in our lives. We have victories over the evil thoughts that come to our minds by taking them captive and causing them to submit to the word of God (2 Cor 10:3-5). We are told to do all we can to stand against the forces of evil in the days that are full of trouble (Eph 6:13). Without these personal victories we will not be able to have God’s kingdom formed within us.
The outer kingdom still remains to be taken. Though Jesus reigns within those who have established the kingdom in their hearts, there remains a continual battle to put His enemies under His feet (1 Cor 15:25-29). When we come together in faith, each one having stood personally against the enemy of his soul, then we can pool our strengths together to win the kingdoms over to God. We read that “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” (Rev 11:15). It is a winning over, or redeeming of those things appointed unto Jesus by His work through His saints.
For those who would like to believe that God will hand the kingdom to us because we have faith, there are other scriptures that support the fact that the decision to bring the kingdom to the earth comes after much trial. Daniel foresaw a struggle between evil and good and wrote about a beast that “was waging war against the saints and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.” (see 7:21-27). I do not believe that this time of struggle was futile, with the saints passively suffering defeat while God looked on. It is the overcoming of our faith that brings every victory to us, and to this earth (1 Jn 5:4b).
If we are a passive people and without victories, it may be that we do not understand what faith is. Jude writes that we should “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (vs 3). Even Jesus lamented that, when He returned, “will He find faith on the earth?” (Lk 18:2). Many have thought that what they believe in their hearts is the sum total of their faith. Yet by thinking a certain way, and believing in our hearts, we have only the beginning of faith. Faith encompasses actions, or works (see Jms 2:14-25). We cannot choose our works. However, God has predestined works for us to walk in which will glorify Him (Eph 2:10). We must have the outer form (the action form) of our faith in order to bring God’s kingdom to the earth so that His glory will settle here amongst us.
I would like to encourage you today to give life to your faith, believing and doing all that the Father has appointed unto you. Let us come together as the mighty men did in ages past, having overcome our personal enemies, and ready to work together with the Captain of our faith. Amen.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The Glorification of the Saints
People know who we are by our words and by our actions. Our words and actions reveal us, and for Christians, they reveal Who lives inside of us. It was just the same with Jesus’ disciples, who knew Jesus came from God because of the words He spoke (Jn 17:6-10). They believed His words were from God, therefore the development and growth of the disciples brought Jesus glory. Jesus taught them about God’s kingdom and demonstrated God’s nature so that they, the disciples, could be like Him, as He was like His Father. In this same way people will know our words are from Jesus’ Spirit as God entrusts men to us to minister to. Just as the disciples became Jesus’ glory, so do those whom we disciple become our glory.
Jesus’ goal with the disciples went beyond their personal development. His nature in the disciples would cause many to become like Him. The apostle Paul asked the Christians he discipled to follow him, as he followed Christ (1 Cor 11:1). It was God’s design that we should be like Him in order to help others become like Him.
Jesus was gloried by discipling the men entrusted to Him, and by the works the Father gave Him to do; giving eternal Life (Jn 17:1-4). This work of Jesus is unfinished, left for us to do. We know preaching the gospel and discipling as the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-20). This commission is part of God’s plan to be glorified through us, and thereby be glorified in many people. He qualified us in order to be glorified in us (Rm 8:30). Jesus was the first-born among many brethren. Those many brethren do not stop at us but because of us, more and more are born into God’s family. Preaching, teaching, and every ministry Jesus gave as gifts to the Church enable us to follow in the righteous works appointed to the saints of God.
Like a fine linen garment the works left for us to do clothe us and prepare the Church for the wedding of the Bride to the Lamb of God (Rev 19:7-8). Though God’s plan is for the saints to do works that glorify them, and Him, not all people, and not every church is seeking after God’s glory. Sadly, some seek to glorify themselves. We read in Revelation 18 about the great harlot that seeks to glorify herself (Rev 18:7b). She believes her place with God is permanent and unaffected by her many sins. She turned God’s church into a market-place, so much distorting the discipleship of men that it could not be distinguished from the world. She did not bear the fruit of the Spirit, neither were faith, truth, or any eternal riches found in her (Rev 18:9-17). Smug towards God, and abusive towards apostles, prophets and saints . . . God will not be glorified in this kind of church, nor in these kinds of people (vs 20).
I believe that every Christian has a yearning to be glorified in Christ. We are pulled by His Spirit towards ministry to others so that, by His words through us, others may be born into God’s family. We speak of His nature so that others may be discipled through our words. We will yearn and groan inside until we find a way to speak and teach, prophesy and minister, establish and disciple men and women. And this is my prayer; that we each, and together, would do those works of Christ left to us to do. Then we will be clothed and ready for that great Day that awaits us when we marry the Lamb of God. Amen.
Jesus’ goal with the disciples went beyond their personal development. His nature in the disciples would cause many to become like Him. The apostle Paul asked the Christians he discipled to follow him, as he followed Christ (1 Cor 11:1). It was God’s design that we should be like Him in order to help others become like Him.
Jesus was gloried by discipling the men entrusted to Him, and by the works the Father gave Him to do; giving eternal Life (Jn 17:1-4). This work of Jesus is unfinished, left for us to do. We know preaching the gospel and discipling as the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-20). This commission is part of God’s plan to be glorified through us, and thereby be glorified in many people. He qualified us in order to be glorified in us (Rm 8:30). Jesus was the first-born among many brethren. Those many brethren do not stop at us but because of us, more and more are born into God’s family. Preaching, teaching, and every ministry Jesus gave as gifts to the Church enable us to follow in the righteous works appointed to the saints of God.
Like a fine linen garment the works left for us to do clothe us and prepare the Church for the wedding of the Bride to the Lamb of God (Rev 19:7-8). Though God’s plan is for the saints to do works that glorify them, and Him, not all people, and not every church is seeking after God’s glory. Sadly, some seek to glorify themselves. We read in Revelation 18 about the great harlot that seeks to glorify herself (Rev 18:7b). She believes her place with God is permanent and unaffected by her many sins. She turned God’s church into a market-place, so much distorting the discipleship of men that it could not be distinguished from the world. She did not bear the fruit of the Spirit, neither were faith, truth, or any eternal riches found in her (Rev 18:9-17). Smug towards God, and abusive towards apostles, prophets and saints . . . God will not be glorified in this kind of church, nor in these kinds of people (vs 20).
I believe that every Christian has a yearning to be glorified in Christ. We are pulled by His Spirit towards ministry to others so that, by His words through us, others may be born into God’s family. We speak of His nature so that others may be discipled through our words. We will yearn and groan inside until we find a way to speak and teach, prophesy and minister, establish and disciple men and women. And this is my prayer; that we each, and together, would do those works of Christ left to us to do. Then we will be clothed and ready for that great Day that awaits us when we marry the Lamb of God. Amen.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
falsehood
Today the Lord led me to read Luke 17:11-19. This is the account of 10 lepers whom Jesus cleanses with His words “Go show yourselves to the priests.” One, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks. The Lord did not get thanked by the other nine. This seems to be a common thread in His ministry. Though many followed Him for His works of power, few thanked Him. When he dined with the religious leaders of His time at Simon’s house, only a woman of ill-repute showed Him gratitude (Lk 7:36-50). If we lived in Jesus’ time, perhaps we wouldn’t see Him as a successful man, for He lacked the approval of the leaders of His day. Yet Jesus had the stamp of approval from God Himself (Mt 3:17).
How do we know who is approved in God’s eyes? Jesus left us with advice in the scriptures about what the Father does not approve of by confronting the rulers who taught and practiced wrongly. One thing Jesus confronted the religious rulers about was seeking the praises and approval of men (Jn 12:43). He knew that not all men would approve of Him, nor His followers, and so Jesus said “Woe to you when men speak well of you,” (Lk 6:26). He compared the approval of Man to what was given to false prophets. Men had spoken well of false prophets because their words were pleasing. Jesus also said that false prophets would come dressed in sheep’s clothing, like a Christian (Mt 7:15-20). Though these men may look like they are serving the Lord, they do not.
In Malachi 3:17 it is written that the Lord will give discernment to men who fear the Lord and honor His name. Though some men are famous and have a great following after them, yet those with discernment will be able to distinguish if they are serving God, or not. The people who fear and honor God will “see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” But how do these men and women know what to look for? They will look at the fruit, and see if it is good, or bad fruit.
The example Jesus uses for bad fruit is thistles, and thorn bushes. These are weeds, planted by the enemy. If a man or woman teaches false teachings, yet comes as a Christian, they are false representatives of God. They bear bad fruit. Since the seed in the fruit causes it to multiply, these false teachers and false prophets spread falsehood. Yet, they may be popular in the eyes of Man. If a man’s teachings contradict the good seed, the word of God, he is spreading falsehood.
Paul writes of false brethren in Galatians, which I covered in a previous lesson. However, there is an attribute of these false brethren that is present in our current churches as well; drawing men after themselves. “They want to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.” (Gal 4:17b). This is not the same as drawing men to the Holy Spirit. To gather a following after ourselves by teachings that cause men to be dependent on us only engenders separation and disunity in the body of Christ. It works against all that the 5-fold ministry should accomplish, for it hinders “each part” of the body doing his or her work (Eph 4:16). Should we run after what men say, or should we follow after the Holy Spirit in the good men who speak His words?
One good rule I hold to whenever I join myself to a ministry is, “am I growing in my ability to contribute?” Each member of the body should be contributing to the others so that the whole body grows up into the Head, Christ Jesus our Lord. This is the good fruit we bear, and the Father looks for our fruit at every season of harvest (Mk 12:2). If we want to be seen as those who serve God, we will minister to our brethren without seeking approval. Approval from God will be our reward. But perhaps you have noticed this; if we seek approval from men we minister less and less, for no one can please all men. I would like to encourage you to serve God today, knowing that His approval may not be reflected in your popularity. But it is certainly worth living for. Amen.
How do we know who is approved in God’s eyes? Jesus left us with advice in the scriptures about what the Father does not approve of by confronting the rulers who taught and practiced wrongly. One thing Jesus confronted the religious rulers about was seeking the praises and approval of men (Jn 12:43). He knew that not all men would approve of Him, nor His followers, and so Jesus said “Woe to you when men speak well of you,” (Lk 6:26). He compared the approval of Man to what was given to false prophets. Men had spoken well of false prophets because their words were pleasing. Jesus also said that false prophets would come dressed in sheep’s clothing, like a Christian (Mt 7:15-20). Though these men may look like they are serving the Lord, they do not.
In Malachi 3:17 it is written that the Lord will give discernment to men who fear the Lord and honor His name. Though some men are famous and have a great following after them, yet those with discernment will be able to distinguish if they are serving God, or not. The people who fear and honor God will “see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” But how do these men and women know what to look for? They will look at the fruit, and see if it is good, or bad fruit.
The example Jesus uses for bad fruit is thistles, and thorn bushes. These are weeds, planted by the enemy. If a man or woman teaches false teachings, yet comes as a Christian, they are false representatives of God. They bear bad fruit. Since the seed in the fruit causes it to multiply, these false teachers and false prophets spread falsehood. Yet, they may be popular in the eyes of Man. If a man’s teachings contradict the good seed, the word of God, he is spreading falsehood.
Paul writes of false brethren in Galatians, which I covered in a previous lesson. However, there is an attribute of these false brethren that is present in our current churches as well; drawing men after themselves. “They want to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.” (Gal 4:17b). This is not the same as drawing men to the Holy Spirit. To gather a following after ourselves by teachings that cause men to be dependent on us only engenders separation and disunity in the body of Christ. It works against all that the 5-fold ministry should accomplish, for it hinders “each part” of the body doing his or her work (Eph 4:16). Should we run after what men say, or should we follow after the Holy Spirit in the good men who speak His words?
One good rule I hold to whenever I join myself to a ministry is, “am I growing in my ability to contribute?” Each member of the body should be contributing to the others so that the whole body grows up into the Head, Christ Jesus our Lord. This is the good fruit we bear, and the Father looks for our fruit at every season of harvest (Mk 12:2). If we want to be seen as those who serve God, we will minister to our brethren without seeking approval. Approval from God will be our reward. But perhaps you have noticed this; if we seek approval from men we minister less and less, for no one can please all men. I would like to encourage you to serve God today, knowing that His approval may not be reflected in your popularity. But it is certainly worth living for. Amen.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Malachi 4:6
Today the Lord brought the verse in Malachi 4:6 to mind. It reads “He (the spirit of Elijah) will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” The following is a word of prophecy that proceeded;
Christians cannot walk in the governmental authority appointed to them until they mend their families, and then their churches. Unless they tend their affairs at home, love and nurture their children and all their family, they will not be granted the wisdom and knowledge needed to break off the curses that plague them. These curses make the family a miserable place to be, and many fathers and mothers run from them. They run to meetings, to outreaches, to missions. They lose themselves in endeavors and projects that consume their time. And so the curses remain. If this generation of parents will not turn their hearts to their children, then their children’s hearts will not learn from them. If the parents do not lay a foundation of broken curses, victory and overcoming then their sons and daughters will not go on to do the works I have for them to do.
I look at My earth and see bondages . . . bondages that men would have authority over had they laid down their lives to those I entrusted unto them. But one-by-one my men and women are bowing their knees to the god of non-involvement with their families. They are following the excitement of an over-busy life, and offer this up to Me as their sacrifice. When men and women learn to guide their homes I can entrust them with cities, and then nations (Lk 19:17). Shall I give My iron scepter to those who flee their family battles, or to those that overcome (Rev 2:26-27)?
The parents need to earnestly desire that their children succeed in all I have called them to do. This desire will cause the parents to secure their own victories. I look for the hearts of the fathers and the hearts of the children to turn towards each other lest I smite the earth with a curse. The territory appointed to My families will become filled with compounded curses, just as neglected ground becomes choked with weeds. Let your hearts burn passionately for your families. Once you have restored them, then you will be ready to restore My Church, for it is time for My bride to make herself ready. Amen.
Christians cannot walk in the governmental authority appointed to them until they mend their families, and then their churches. Unless they tend their affairs at home, love and nurture their children and all their family, they will not be granted the wisdom and knowledge needed to break off the curses that plague them. These curses make the family a miserable place to be, and many fathers and mothers run from them. They run to meetings, to outreaches, to missions. They lose themselves in endeavors and projects that consume their time. And so the curses remain. If this generation of parents will not turn their hearts to their children, then their children’s hearts will not learn from them. If the parents do not lay a foundation of broken curses, victory and overcoming then their sons and daughters will not go on to do the works I have for them to do.
I look at My earth and see bondages . . . bondages that men would have authority over had they laid down their lives to those I entrusted unto them. But one-by-one my men and women are bowing their knees to the god of non-involvement with their families. They are following the excitement of an over-busy life, and offer this up to Me as their sacrifice. When men and women learn to guide their homes I can entrust them with cities, and then nations (Lk 19:17). Shall I give My iron scepter to those who flee their family battles, or to those that overcome (Rev 2:26-27)?
The parents need to earnestly desire that their children succeed in all I have called them to do. This desire will cause the parents to secure their own victories. I look for the hearts of the fathers and the hearts of the children to turn towards each other lest I smite the earth with a curse. The territory appointed to My families will become filled with compounded curses, just as neglected ground becomes choked with weeds. Let your hearts burn passionately for your families. Once you have restored them, then you will be ready to restore My Church, for it is time for My bride to make herself ready. Amen.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Freedom
What would you do with your freedom? In a free country like America that seems like an odd question to ask. We are free in a civil sense, and in our faith, we are free to worship God. Yet this is the topic the Lord chose to talk to me about in the night.
The foundation of our faith began during a time of rules and regulations: the Law given to God’s chosen people, the Hebrews. In our Christian faith, Judaism is the foundation for our faith. Our heavenly Father chose a nation to reveal Himself to, and gave them the Law. This Law was to teach them His nature, and served as a tutor for each generation and a guardian over our spiritual inheritance. By contrast, when Jesus met the requirements of the Law, He set us free from its regulations. “1What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” (Gal 4:1-7). Now that we have received Christ, we are children of God, free and with an inheritance equal to the “whole estate,” having the full rights of sons.
Though it seems like a simple thing to think of ourselves as free, Paul’s letter to the Galatians contains alarm at their apparent preference to please other men and become entangled in rules and regulations once again. He states that he is again in the pains of childbirth with them until Christ is formed in them. So we see that, although God extends son-ship to us, we can fail to receive our inheritance by becoming enslaved by the rules and regulations of Man (I’ll refer you to the full context of Galatians 4 for this message).
In our walk as sons and daughters of God, we now have the Holy Spirit teaching and guiding us into righteousness. It is also a walk of learning, or tutelage. We are restrained from doing evil and urged to do good by that inner voice of the Holy Spirit as God writes His ways and His nature on our heart. Instead of an outward law guiding us, with outside rulers watching over our righteousness, it is an inner law of righteousness, called the law of freedom. “25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” (Jms 1:25). If we follow what we have heard the Holy Spirit say to us, we will be blessed in our walk of faith.
God intended us to be taught and formed by His voice from within ourselves. His eventual goal is that we have Christ “formed within us.” As He is formed in us we begin walking in a true freedom from our old nature and from the influences of the world around us. Though it may seem better to have rules and regulations to follow, we find that the Law of Liberty written on our hearts restrains us from evil and compels us to do good (2 Cor 5:14). This is because our hearts change as we follow the voice of the Holy Spirit. And that is what God is working towards; a changed heart. A servant can do what his master wants, but a freed man has a choice. This brings me back to the original question; “What will you do with your freedom?” As Christ is formed in us, the Holy Spirit gradually enlarges our boundaries of freedom. He has been teaching us to make decisions according to His standards of righteousness, and to serve with a heart of love towards God and Man. Now He entrusts us in an ever-increasing walk of authority and freedom. If our hearts sincerely love what He has taught us, we will apply it to all aspects of our lives. But if we only did what we felt God required of us, and perhaps with a bit of resentment at times, then our freedom will become an occasion to return to our preferred habits and sins. As in the natural when we give our children increasing freedom to prepare them for adulthood, so it is in our walk of faith that freedom becomes a test of the heart as well as a catapult that sends us quickly into maturity, and finally, into our destinies.
God is maturing us through freedom, personally, and as the body of Christ. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he explains how the church will grow up into the full measure of Christ under the 5-fold ministry, and through the ministry of each saint to the others. “11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Eph 4:11-16).”
The purpose of maturity is not just to have Christ formed in us, but also to prevent us from being deceived by “every wind of teaching.” False doctrines and teachings steal our freedom and cause us to become slaves once again (Gal 2:4). Though we may grow accustomed to rules and regulations overseeing our words and actions, these eventually prevent the very maturity necessary for us to walk in the fullness of Christ.
What is the sign of needing to walk in more freedom? What do we look for in ourselves that will indicate we need to walk in a little more authority? If it were faith, then we would walk in this freedom from the beginning, for we are all given faith when we receive Christ. No, I believe what we are looking for in ourselves is that sense of being held back, stifled, suffocated, and not seeing a fruit-bearing life. If we see and feel these things in ourselves perhaps we need to rely less on the rules and regulations of our childhood walk with Christ and walk as an adult. As spiritual teenagers we would begin to walk forward, trusting the Lord has prepared our steps instead of waiting as little children do for a hand to lead them. Truly, if we have been trained in His righteousness, our decisions will bear the fruit of righteousness. If we have been trained how to follow His voice and speak His words, He will not fail to fill our minds and our mouths as we live our lives. Though walking in freedom may seem like we have the security net taken out from under us, we are walking as a well-trained son or daughter of God, fully able to represent Him in all we say and do. I would like to encourage you today to walk in an ever-increasing freedom as Christ is formed in you. You will grow in maturity and your life will reflect the inheritance of truly being a son or daughter of God. The whole world is waiting for us all to be revealed as the sons of God (Rom 8:19), and what an adventure that will be!
The foundation of our faith began during a time of rules and regulations: the Law given to God’s chosen people, the Hebrews. In our Christian faith, Judaism is the foundation for our faith. Our heavenly Father chose a nation to reveal Himself to, and gave them the Law. This Law was to teach them His nature, and served as a tutor for each generation and a guardian over our spiritual inheritance. By contrast, when Jesus met the requirements of the Law, He set us free from its regulations. “1What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” (Gal 4:1-7). Now that we have received Christ, we are children of God, free and with an inheritance equal to the “whole estate,” having the full rights of sons.
Though it seems like a simple thing to think of ourselves as free, Paul’s letter to the Galatians contains alarm at their apparent preference to please other men and become entangled in rules and regulations once again. He states that he is again in the pains of childbirth with them until Christ is formed in them. So we see that, although God extends son-ship to us, we can fail to receive our inheritance by becoming enslaved by the rules and regulations of Man (I’ll refer you to the full context of Galatians 4 for this message).
In our walk as sons and daughters of God, we now have the Holy Spirit teaching and guiding us into righteousness. It is also a walk of learning, or tutelage. We are restrained from doing evil and urged to do good by that inner voice of the Holy Spirit as God writes His ways and His nature on our heart. Instead of an outward law guiding us, with outside rulers watching over our righteousness, it is an inner law of righteousness, called the law of freedom. “25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” (Jms 1:25). If we follow what we have heard the Holy Spirit say to us, we will be blessed in our walk of faith.
God intended us to be taught and formed by His voice from within ourselves. His eventual goal is that we have Christ “formed within us.” As He is formed in us we begin walking in a true freedom from our old nature and from the influences of the world around us. Though it may seem better to have rules and regulations to follow, we find that the Law of Liberty written on our hearts restrains us from evil and compels us to do good (2 Cor 5:14). This is because our hearts change as we follow the voice of the Holy Spirit. And that is what God is working towards; a changed heart. A servant can do what his master wants, but a freed man has a choice. This brings me back to the original question; “What will you do with your freedom?” As Christ is formed in us, the Holy Spirit gradually enlarges our boundaries of freedom. He has been teaching us to make decisions according to His standards of righteousness, and to serve with a heart of love towards God and Man. Now He entrusts us in an ever-increasing walk of authority and freedom. If our hearts sincerely love what He has taught us, we will apply it to all aspects of our lives. But if we only did what we felt God required of us, and perhaps with a bit of resentment at times, then our freedom will become an occasion to return to our preferred habits and sins. As in the natural when we give our children increasing freedom to prepare them for adulthood, so it is in our walk of faith that freedom becomes a test of the heart as well as a catapult that sends us quickly into maturity, and finally, into our destinies.
God is maturing us through freedom, personally, and as the body of Christ. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he explains how the church will grow up into the full measure of Christ under the 5-fold ministry, and through the ministry of each saint to the others. “11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Eph 4:11-16).”
The purpose of maturity is not just to have Christ formed in us, but also to prevent us from being deceived by “every wind of teaching.” False doctrines and teachings steal our freedom and cause us to become slaves once again (Gal 2:4). Though we may grow accustomed to rules and regulations overseeing our words and actions, these eventually prevent the very maturity necessary for us to walk in the fullness of Christ.
What is the sign of needing to walk in more freedom? What do we look for in ourselves that will indicate we need to walk in a little more authority? If it were faith, then we would walk in this freedom from the beginning, for we are all given faith when we receive Christ. No, I believe what we are looking for in ourselves is that sense of being held back, stifled, suffocated, and not seeing a fruit-bearing life. If we see and feel these things in ourselves perhaps we need to rely less on the rules and regulations of our childhood walk with Christ and walk as an adult. As spiritual teenagers we would begin to walk forward, trusting the Lord has prepared our steps instead of waiting as little children do for a hand to lead them. Truly, if we have been trained in His righteousness, our decisions will bear the fruit of righteousness. If we have been trained how to follow His voice and speak His words, He will not fail to fill our minds and our mouths as we live our lives. Though walking in freedom may seem like we have the security net taken out from under us, we are walking as a well-trained son or daughter of God, fully able to represent Him in all we say and do. I would like to encourage you today to walk in an ever-increasing freedom as Christ is formed in you. You will grow in maturity and your life will reflect the inheritance of truly being a son or daughter of God. The whole world is waiting for us all to be revealed as the sons of God (Rom 8:19), and what an adventure that will be!
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Impartation
This has been a laid-back summer, a summer in which I had anticipated more activity than it actually contained. For a busy person, this can be disappointing. I found myself waiting on God; waiting for Him to put more into my life . . . waiting for Him to put more into me. I wanted an impartation. This morning I was surprised to find that instead of adding to who I am, He validated all that is in me, bringing encouragement. It left me with a sense of contentment. I had felt a little empty this summer, unnecessarily, and am beginning to see that, when we feel sufficient in Christ, we have something to give others. It’s then that we see how much He has filled us up. But when we are looking inside ourselves we find lack, and our lives become about ourselves and our own perfection. True faith in God, then, includes trusting Him to complete what He has begun in us without our over-involvement and introspection.
Sometimes we feel that it’s not humble to be contented. If we are not working on some problem or repenting of some sin we feel proud and independent of God’s effort in our salvation. Yet Paul did not judge himself (1 Cor 4:3-4). He had that kind of trust in God that believed the Lover of his soul would correct and cleanse him, for His sake. The One Who resided in Paul’s heart chose to reside there, not because it was a perfect heart, but because it was a willing heart.
In our times of self-analysis we may find lack in ourselves, wanting God to impart something to us to make us more acceptable. However, that impartation came when we invited Jesus into our hearts. We have been given the fullness of Christ (Col 2:10). Daily our heavenly Father gives us all things which build up our righteousness as we grow in knowledge of Him (2 Pet 1:3-4). He gives us His fullness and prepares us in righteousness because of His great desire for us, and that desire fuels our lives. God is good. Today, let us trust all that we are to the Lover of our souls, for we are rich indeed, in Him. Amen.
Sometimes we feel that it’s not humble to be contented. If we are not working on some problem or repenting of some sin we feel proud and independent of God’s effort in our salvation. Yet Paul did not judge himself (1 Cor 4:3-4). He had that kind of trust in God that believed the Lover of his soul would correct and cleanse him, for His sake. The One Who resided in Paul’s heart chose to reside there, not because it was a perfect heart, but because it was a willing heart.
In our times of self-analysis we may find lack in ourselves, wanting God to impart something to us to make us more acceptable. However, that impartation came when we invited Jesus into our hearts. We have been given the fullness of Christ (Col 2:10). Daily our heavenly Father gives us all things which build up our righteousness as we grow in knowledge of Him (2 Pet 1:3-4). He gives us His fullness and prepares us in righteousness because of His great desire for us, and that desire fuels our lives. God is good. Today, let us trust all that we are to the Lover of our souls, for we are rich indeed, in Him. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
