Freedom From Worldiness = True Enjoyment and Contentment

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15)."

This is a challenging and very definitive statement, but what does it mean to love the world?  Loving the world in this negative context, refers to the desire and pursuit of fulfillment therein. In other words, it is the belief that possessing, experiencing, and feeling things in the world will in some way sate an otherwise unsatisfied life.  Seeking satisfaction in the world means that we are not satisfied in God alone and therefore will never be content, even if we come to possess the thing that we desire.

As we look into this issue further, it is not is a call to the Gnostic approach to life; which is to deny the physical completely to pursue only the spiritual.  God made the world and said that it was 'good', and we are given the blessing of enjoying this world; we just cannot become a slave to it.  Enslavement, being in bondage, implies that we are constrained, and not free.  We can be in bondage to the things of the world, thinking that in the world we will find true satisfaction; but the truth is that it is only when we become satisfied with God alone will we be set free to enjoy the Earth and everything in it. C.S Lewis wrote, "Aim for heaven you get Earth thrown in, aim for Earth you get neither."  So how can we identify bondage to wordly things, and what does true enjoyment of the world look like?

"Then a scribe came and said to Him, 'Teacher, I will follow You wherever You god.' Jesus said to him, 'The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.' Another of the disciples said to Him, 'Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.' But Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead (Matthew 8:19-22).'"

Jesus gives a parable of the Kingdom in a similar manner.  "A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is read now.'  But they all alike began to make excuses.  The first one said to him, 'I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.'  Another one said, ' I have bought five yoke of exen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.' Another one said, 'I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come (Luke 14:16-20)."

Jesus clearly has a high expectancy for freedom from the world, and he addresses 3 primary areas where we get caught up in; comfort, livelihood, and family. Now these can be connected but lets look at them individually to see what scripture has to say.

1) Comfort can inhibit us from obeying God, and working for the purposes of the Kingdom.  I would also like to include entertainment in this category because they are so inextricably related, especially in our culture.   According to the previous scriptures, comfort might even prevent us from entering the Kingdom.  We have already seen that the 'Son of Man had nowhere to lay His head.'  Beyond that, Jesus even promises persecution and hardship for those who want to be His disciples (Matthew 10:22, John 15:20, 2 Timothy 3:12).  The Apostle Paul testifies many times of the hardship that he endured for the kingdom, beatings, imprisonments, stonings, and scorn from others (2 Corinthians 11 and 12). We see in the book of Acts, the many 'uncomfortable' situations the disciples were put in; thrown in prison, beaten, and even killed.  Yet something was at work in them that made them content and completely fulfilled despite their circumstances.  Paul and Silas sing after being imprisoned (Acts 16:25), and Peter and John rejoiced and asked for more boldness after being mocked and threatened by the prestigious and powerful counsel of the Sanhedrin (Acts 4).

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;  but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.  If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. (1 Peter 4:12-16)."

Comfort is not the elixer of life, neither is entertainment.  Both of them, on their own put us in bondage rather than giving us freedom.  Look at the outbreak of laziness in our country, and the complete obsession with continual mindless entertainment!  Clearly there is bondage and idolatry hidden behind these two things that promise freedom and fulfillment. 

2) Livelihood, the desire for success, recognition, and prestige, all spring from roots of jealousy and comparison.  We see what others have, focusing on what we do not have, and jealousy gives birth to a mind set of ingratitude and unbelief.  We do not need to go further then the ten commandments to find Gods heart on the matter of coveting.  Greg Boyd says it like this, 'When we believe the lie that we can and must acquire value and significance for ourselves, apart from God, the world becomes a stage of idols from which we strive to get a life only God can give us. When we buy into this strategy of obtaining fulfillment from our performance, we must hide everything about ourselves that isn't consistent with the performance we are giving.' Bill Johnson once said that, 'If we live for the praises of men, we will die by their criticisms.'  

There is success for us, there is prestige and recognition, but it comes from the Father and not from the world.  If we learn how our Daddy sees us, and have faith in the gifts and inheritance He has given us, then we will no longer seek to be established in the eyes of others.  "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.  I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it.  Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly.  For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men (1 Cor. 3:1-3)?" "Noe one can serve tow masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth (Matthew 6:24)."

We are actually supposed to act in a way that is above and beyond 'mere men'.  We are not 'only human' anymore.  The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, and we are held to a different standard.  Now this is not to say that wealth is bad; money is a wonderful things.  It is a tool, just like everything else, it can be used for good or for evil.  When someone is free from money and the pursuit of fulfillment in recognition and prestige, then these tools become powerful weapons against the enemy.  Someone who is fulfilled and edified by God, gives money away freely, and desires to see other people succeed and gain recognition more than they do.  They encourage rather than perform because they are functioning from a place of satisfaction and faith, rather then need and unbelief.  We will never be able to steward what God has for us in immaturity.  That is why it is only after we are faithful with little will we be given more (Luke 16:10).

3) The third worldly attachment is to our friends and family.  This may seem odd since the Gospel has everything to do with these relationships, but it is true nonetheless.  We can place too much hope and expectancy on our relationships.  We can seek ultimate fulfillment, intimacy, and satisfaction, in our friends, family, and even our spouses.  It is important to understand, that a relationship that functions out of this context is done out of selfish ambition.  It isn't about what I can bring to other people, but what I receive from them.  Therefore I surround myself with people who make me look good, feel good, and adore me.  I appreciate others only in as much as appreciate how much of myself I see in them.  Once they stop being useful they stop being important.  How they affect me is much more important than how I can affect them. 

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household.  He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.  He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake will find it (Matthew 10:34-39)."

This is a tough passage.  Ultimately I think Jesus is telling us that we can put any of our relationships above our relationship with Him.  For some people, their family and friends can inhibit their relationship with God, discouraging them from pursuing Him and being with Him.  I have also witnessed friends who choose to date someone who isn't walking at the same pace that they are, and their spiritual health drops significantly.  These relationships are extremely important to God, and we need them, but God wants us to relate freely with one another and not under the constraints of bondage. 

With all three of these areas, God has good purposes and intentions for us in them.  We need relationships, we need to feel loved and encouraged by others.  I cannot function outside of healthy relationships with others; and I cannot wait to get married to a beautiful, Godly, wife.  We all need to feel accepted, established, and given a purpose.  We are designed to feel fulfilled.  God has given us these needs, but it is when they are misappropriated and idolized, that they place us in bondage rather than freedom. 

We are not meant to reject the natural things of the world but to pursue the heavenly things.  "Do not store up for yourselves treasure on Earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where theieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21)."  "But seek first His kingdom and His rightouesness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33)."

God isn't afraid of worldly things, He just doesn't want them to be missappropriated.  There is a place with God, where we can be so satisfied with our salvation and the things of heaven, that we are no longer bound by anything in the World.  We can tell if we our in bondage if we are tied up in the puruit of things in the world.  How are our emotions and affections changed and shaped when we have or don't have something.  What do we dream about, desire, yearn for.  Do you control yourself or do the things of the world control you?  

When we are grounded and satisfied in God alone and our salvation; everything else becomes relatively insignifacnt.  Just get lost in the revelation of heaven and the Earth will fade away.  When that happens, we live from a place of contentment and satisfaction rather than the pursuit of it.  The mark of a true Christian is not hunger but satisfcation, not striving but rest, not discontent but contentment; and that has nothing to do with worldly status.  It is only from this place of existence that we can truly enjoy the things of the world and not be controlled by them. We can find joy in food, wealth, and recognition without being overly attached.  We start with an attitude of thanksgiving and end with an attitude of thanksgiving, no matter what. When we are content with what we have, and God gives more, we steward it well, and give thanks!  When we lust after more and sieze it, we misuse it and squander the inhertiance.  Only from satisfaction and contentment can we function the way God created us to in this world.  

Paul was so engrossed in heavenly things that he didn't care about anything else! I think he probably enjoyed everything much more than others as well!  We can learn from him and use him as an example.  To be completely free form the world, and yet to have the greatest satisfaction of it.  Love for people, excitement in adventure, pleasure in eating and drinking, for he was grounded on the rock.

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned tthe secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:11-13)."  How many of us can say the same? Or are our interests, energy, and emotions, still wrapped up in the world around us?  Free us from it God, and renew unto us the joy of our salvation.  For we can be absolutely blissed out in this revelation and nothing else matters.

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of hte air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they?  And who of you by being worried can add a signle hour to his life?  And why are you woried about clothing?  Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of htese.  but if God so clothes the grass of hte field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His rightouesness, and all these things will be added to you.  So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow iwll care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:25-34)."

Encountering God: The Antidote for Religious Regulation

We are excellent at religiously regulating our lives around a set of principles and practices.  We do it all the time, and manage to hide behind all sorts of theology and practice; but nevertheless, it will not do.  There is something beautiful about being in Christ, a mystery of union that is only supernatural.  We need God to renew our minds so that we can step into a life of power and transformation that supercedes our 'normal' standards and experiences.

So, what are we talking about here? Primarily that we are excellent at supplementing and compartmentalizing our lives.  We know intellectually many things about the Christian life and what it means to follow Jesus.  We have many phrases like wwjd, our faith journey, and learning to walk the Christian life.  I believe that many times these phrases are used out of an incomplete revelation that keeps us stuck following principles rather than living a life from the inside out.

Let me try to explain that further.  Living by a set of principles means that we intellectually understand what to do in a given situation.  For instance, if a neighbor needs to borrow something from us, we know that it is the right thing to do to lend it to them.  Likewise if our church is taking an offering, its the right thing to do give a tithe.  We do this based on principle, which means that we choose to do it becuase we agree with a truth value.  I dont think that all principles are bad, in fact they are necessary, but living only by principle causes us to miss out on our relationship with God.  If we only live on a plane of self regulation, we will never experience God the way we are intended too, neither will we be able to truly display His character to the world around us.

Whenever we live or think in principles, we have placed ourselves in the realm of process, and strive to outwardly manifest what the principle dictates.  Does that make sense? If I 'know', that as a Christian should love the poor, I can try to express what that love would look like outwardly. I can try to get passionate, to make mayself feel bad for them, and pump myself up in prayer and good deeds to help them. But a principle will never birth true love and compassion in my heart, or the power to be able to do something about it,we need something else for that.  Principles can  cause us to become self-reliant and self-sufficient. because we want to produce something we are lacking. 

In the western world, and in the western church, this is a very common mindset. We recognize where we are and where we want to go, we see the lack, and try to produce a solution. Often times this leads us to religious regulation, where we know what to do and how we should be, but continually fail to manifest it.  I have heard many sermons, lessons, and bible studies, that seek to set up principles to moderate morality.  We see a problem or an issue, and the way we try to move towards a solution is to say "do this" or "don't do that".  Because we cringe at immorality we set principles into place to regulate behavior. But we can always treat a symptom without ever healing the disease.

This is ultimately manipulation on a grand scale.  We see someone misbehaving so we try to regulate them by instilling fear, shame, and/or guilt in them. We say "this is what you are doing" and "this is what you should be doing".  We play up God's righteous anger, or we try to force people to feel really bad about their sin and shortcomings.  We do it all to change and shape what they are producing in their lives, acting like a potter molding clay.  Although God blesses us at the point of our revelation, and clearly brings about transformation and salvation in this process, I don't think this type of ministry is as effective as God wants it to be.  It also doesn't really capture what Jesus really accomplished on the cross.

It is clear that this form of teaching, regulation, and fear-based manipulation doesn't do the job.  We still have a church culture that looks very much like the world, still sinning with no power of the kingdom to display.  Many of our programs and teachings rely on psychology, philosophy, and sociology, to influence and motivate us towards Jesus. We have 'fix yourself' style messages and programs, where people place themselves on the conveyor belt of our christian industry.  'Add this, take this off, we need more oil here!'

The Bible is full of principles to follow, good advice, and instruction.  The letters of Paul are full of them, often to Gentiles who had no knowlege of righteousness and life in God.  The principle however, outside of encounter with God, would be useful only for instilling pride or shame. The principle can only be put to use with an encounter with God Himself.  

So, what do we do, when we recognize lack? What should our response be when God calls us to transformation.  We are called to abide in Him, to walk with Him, to regularly experience, feel, and recognize the manifest presence of God.  God wants us to know Him, not as a truth value, but as a person.  We have alienated experience in our church culture in our pursuit of absolute truth, and this has left us without the very power and presence of God.  When we abide in Him and He in us, we star seeing transformation in our lives from the inside out.  We start behaving in ways, feeling things, and growing in wisdom that cannot be produced by mere study and hard work.  It is easy to tell when somebody 'walks in the presence of God', becuase they are supernaturally producing love, peace, and joy to the world around them. 

I have seen others and have experienced myself, that an encounter with the very presence of God brings about enormous transformation in very short period of times.  When we walk with God, in His very presence, we become like Him.  We 'become what we behold'.  It is almost like osmosis, needing very little effort on our part but surrender and desire.

So, here are some 'principles' to follow.  Ask God to come, to send His Holy Spirit. When we see lack, are in the face of temptation, in the middle of joyous occassions, and in every and any point in our life, acknowlege him.  Ask Him to teach, shape, reveal, bring joy, peace, and faith.  Talk to Him, be with Him, thank Him.  Scripture tells us to rejoice continually and pray without ceasing.  This is only possible if we actually become prayer itself.  Being a Christian is much more a state of existence rather than an activity.  It's not so much a life based on principle as it is life itself.  We exude the presence of God because He lives in us.  If we lack we ask for encounter, for infilling, then we wait until we get it.  When we have faith and trust, we manifest a different lifestyle then we do in fear and anxiety.

It is not really about following Jesus, it's not about learning to walk out our faith, neither is it about doing the right things and avoiding the wrong; it's about knowing, understanding, and being with God Himself.  When this is our goal, our motivation, and our life-style, we are transformed from one degree of glory to another into His very likeness. 

Father please release us from our religious self regulation and bring us into an encounter with you.  Produce in us mightily your fruit, your character, and your works.  We want to see you, to know you, to touch you.  Help us to believe and manifest the truth that you are in us and we in you.  Allow us to be aware of your presence always, and to live for, from, through, and in you at all times.  Amen

The Supernatural Fruit of the Christian Life

It says in scripture that we shall be known by our fruit (Matthew 7:16). We also read that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).  'Against no law' means that we cannot produce these fruits with our own effort.

"For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.  For each tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes form a briar bush.  The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart (Luke 6:43-45)."

Pressure situations will always reveal the true nature of the fruit we bear.  We can put on a good show when things are going well, but it is in the midst of trial, conflict, and tension that our hearts our truly exposed.  What are your 'first fruits' in the midst of insult, neglect, or hurt; what is your initial response to injustice done against you? Do you react with peace, understanding, and love? Or are you filled with bitterness, envy, and anger, making yourself out to be a victim to your circumstances.  Do you end up blaming, complaining, and taking no responsibility for the situation?  This 'bad fruit' reveals a state of being where you will always react to circumstances, being on the defense, rather than being a powerful instigator for change. Responsibility is having the 'ability' to control your 'response'.  For it is in the heat, the droughts in life, where our true nature shines through.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.  For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor 'cease to yield fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8).'"

We learn that fruit is produced when roots are 'extended towards the stream', the river of life.  Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit. He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:1-5)."

Therefore, if we are producing bad fruit we are not abiding in God.  Also if we are producing good fruit, we will be pruned to continue to produce more! Peter explains what it looks like to be continually pruned.  "Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, an din your brotherly kindness, love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8)."

Do you see the connection? Not only does abiding produce fruit, but it continues to increase throughout our life-time! Is your life a refection of these qualities ever increasing? Do you feel more and more love for others, greater self-control in the face of temptation, and peace and joy flowing out of you? If not you have been rendered useless in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. If this is the case, you are not 'abiding', you are not connected to the vine.  If that is the case we need to spend time with Him so that He can produce something in us that our own effort cannot achieve.  We need to 'behold His glory'; and as we do we will be transformed into His likeness, from one degree of Glory to another (2 Corinthians 3).  There is no excuse for 'bad fruit', but they are indicators to us that we have turned our gaze to ourselves or the Earth. "Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light, for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:7-9)."

As Christians our lives should be displaying a supernatural quality, because we are plugged into the source of all joy, peace, and righteousness; the kingdom of heaven (Romans 14:17).  We are 'seated in heavenly places' and have been 'blessed with every spiritual blessing therein'.  But we become what we behold, so we need to turn our gaze to heaven so that it can be made manifest through us.  "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above not on things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3)." "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.  The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8-9)."

"We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth.  For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light (Colossians 1:4-12)."

The Kingdom of God and the Holy Spirit

Jesus left the disciples with a prayer and a purpose of great weight and significance.  It is found in what is known as 'The Lord's Prayer'. "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10)." This prayer reveals the reality that God's Kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, can manifest here on Earth; and this occurs when His will is done.  Kingdom implies a reigning or dominion, therefore God's kingdom exists wherever His will is being carried out. Jesus' own life was a perfect example of walking in the will of God, and we see the manifestation of heaven wherever He went. Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner (John 5:19). So what was the will of the Father for Jesus? What was He sent to do?  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.  He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord (Luke:418-19)."  1 John 3:8 reveals that Jesus was sent to destroy the works of the devil, to 'heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons (Matthew 10:8).'  Jesus modeled what it looked like to walk in the will of God, by doing so the kingdom of heaven came to earth.

This was the call that Jesus had on His life, and as we see in the Lords Prayer, He gave the same call to those who believe in Him. "As I was sent so I send you (John 20-21)." "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons, freely you received  freely give (Matthew 10:7-8)." "Truly truly , I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father (John 14:12)." "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19)."  Therefore we know, that we have the ability to bring heaven to Earth.  What doesn't belong in heaven doesn't belong on earth, likewise what exists in heaven can exist on earth.  That is why Jesus was able to heal the sick, raise the dead, and caste out demons.  Sickness doesn't exist in heaven, which is the reality Jesus existed in.  Therefore he was able to give away what he had access too. We are called to do the very same, and have been given the same resources.  "Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3)."

There are some very challenging scriptures that confront us with the reality of our experience as opposed to the biblical standard of the Christian life.  It is clear in scripture that our purpose, after having been saved, is to bring heaven to earth.  We look to God to see what He is doing, and we agree with Him through our proclamation and obedience.  In so doing we see a release of the Kingdom in our lives and in the lives of those around us. We are His friends, and we are so called because we 'know the masters business' (John 15:15).  We are ambassadors of the Kingdom, called to co-labor with Christ in this world. (2 Cor. 5:20, 1 Cor. 3:9). If we choose not to press in, or agree with His will, then we won't see the Kingdom manifest in our lives.  We can either be passive or aggressive, claiming or laying aside the promises that are made available to us. "The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force (Matthew 11:12)."

We see this modeled to us in the lives of the Israelites and their journey to the promised land.  The promised land is a representation of the Kingdom, where God's people will be able to partake in the promises of God.  While in Egypt they were instructed to take the blood of sacrificed lambs and smear it over their doors, so that, when the angel of death passed by, they would be saved (Exodus 12:7).  This is where we get the 'Passover'.  Just like the Israelites we too have been set free by the blood of the lamb, and death no longer holds power over us, but it doesn't end there.  The Israelites were set free from bondage, and began their journey to the land that was promised them.  They went through the Red Sea, which is symbolic of water baptism (1 Cor. 10:2); but even after this they had not entered into the land of promises (the Kingdom).  After waiting for 40 years to have the generation that doubted God die off, the people of God had one last decision to make; to cross over the river Jordan or remain on the other side.  

We see in Numbers 32 that two tribes decided not to cross the Jordan river; and although they were persuaded to help defeat the Canaanites, they did not take the inheritance that was promised them.  In other words, they did not claim or experience God's promises.  We face this same dilemma, every believer and every church is faced with this choice.  Whether to cross over the river, or to remain with the comfortable control of compromise.  The Jordan river is symbolic to the Holy Spirit (John 7:38).  John the Baptist baptized people with water, but he recognized that there was something far greater that not only could he not give, but wouldn't receive.  "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (John 3:11)."  Here is a revelation unfolding, a scary, powerful, exciting reality; the kingdom of God is inextricably linked to the indwelling and over-pouring presence of the Holy Spirit.  This reality is so powerful and real that Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Matthew 11:11)."  

How can that be? That soon believers, those in the Kingdom, would be greater than then the greatest prophet of all time! Not only that but Jesus makes an incredible statement, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father (John 14:12)."  He also says, "These signs will accompany those who have believed; in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mark 16:17-18)."  These are definite statements, that should make us squirm.  These signs will follow those who believe. So what if they aren't following us?  Reading further in John 14, Jesus links the 'greater works' to the fact that He is returning to the Father and is sending the Holy Spirit.  It all comes back to the Holy Spirit.

Jesus promised the disciples that 'there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God (Luke:9-27).'  It was later on the day of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit came with fire, drastically changing all those who were touched by Him, and launching them into a destiny where they brought the Kingdom of Heaven down to Earth.  "For the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17)."  We can choose to compromise and live on the other side of the Jordan, but we will not be able to display the Kingdom of heaven to a dying world the way that we were intended.  Neither we will experience the vibrant intimate life with God that Jesus paid for.  The Holy Spirit is central to the Gospel, Jesus died for our sins and purified us so that 1) we could be with Him for all eternity, and 2) so that the Holy Spirit could fill us up, lead us into all truth, and manifest a heavenly lifestyle to a lost and broken world.  "My message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (1 Cor. 2:4-5)."

Sadly, our western church has much knowledge but little experience, and the work of the Holy Spirit is approached very cautiously if not completely rejected practically.  Caution is not a fruit of the Spirit, rather we are instructed to 'eagerly desire the Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor. 14:1).  We have a church that has a 'from of Godliness denies its power (2 Tim. 3:5).'  We are 'always learning but never come to a knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 3:7).'  It is only when we feel 'out of control', that we might be 'under-his-control.  We need to go there. 

The Holy Spirit brings about a boldness, love, and power that is altogether supernatural.  He produces in us peace that passes understanding, and a joy unspeakable and full of glory! I don't see that in many of our churches.  There is more passion for football than Christ, ultimately because the divine life just isn't very real and tangible to most people.  Those who encountered the Holy Spirit in scripture didn't seem to have this problem though. The new testament, especially the book of Acts, is focused on how the people of God are continually transformed to do the impossible!  The Holy Spirit pulls us out of our comfortable lifestyle and flings us into a supernatural lifestyle where we fix our eyes on heaven and are transformed from Glory to Glory (Colossians 3:2, 2 Cor. 3:18). Paul rebukes the Corinthians for acting like 'mere men' (1 Cor. 3:3).  Being 'only human' is no longer an excuse for us, because He that is in us is greater than He that is in the world; we are over-comers (1 John 4:4).

Receiving the Spirit is simple and yet hard.  We simply have to let go of our control and ask for Him. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13)." We no longer have the luxury to live a comfortable Christian life, because according to scripture there is no such thing.  Our christian church is failing to meet the needs of it's own people, let alone the world.  We will continue to place 'good citizenship', good relationships, or social justice at the center of our community until we take a stand and wait on the Holy Spirit to come and do what we cannot.  We can no longer rely on our own effort, or have dreams that are possible for us to accomplish.  All of creation is groaning, waiting for the Sons of God to be revealed (Romans 8:22); because it knows that we have the power to free it from being subjected to the devil, and it is waiting for us to discover and step into this reality.

There is much more to be said about the Spirit, but one thing is clear.  We need Him to come and radically transform us so that we can listen to God and release the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth.  We have a role, that is to wait for and hasten the coming of the day of the Lord (2 Peter 3:12).  God has granted to us His magnificent promises so that we can become partakers of the diving nature, being seated in heavenly places, having access to all spiritual blessings therein (2 Peter 1:4, Eph. 2:6, Eph. 1:3).  Let us step into the river, allow the Spirit to take control, and take the promises that Jesus paid for.  We only need to submit, be obedient, and watch the impossible become possible. Do not settle, press on to take hold of that which Christ has taken hold of us; do not compromise but be built up in faith that God will fulfill all His promises. Come Holy Spirit. 

"For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us (2 Corinthians 1:20)."

Missional Idolotary

The church has glorified the ministry of missions to an unhealthy degree.  "Missions", as I will define it here, is traveling  to a location, whether nationally or internationally, to do ministry.  There is a heightened awareness, excitement, and emphasis within the church today on missions; that could be defined as idolatry.  Many churches advertise their mission trips and sponsored missionaries on bulletin boards, emails, and bulletins. A significant amount of the congregations tithes go to different countries to fund all sorts of projects; and yet the state of the neighborhood that the church is in, remains unchanged.  Now before I continue, missions are a central part of Kingdom work, and I don't have any issue with international or national mission work; short term or long term; however, missions has become the high point of christian service, and it should not be so. 

I will note, that these statements do not define every church body or individual believer for that matter.  There are people called to missions outside of their community and that is a wonderful thing! I myself am going to spend 9 weeks in Brasil this summer, which is why I have begun to think about this issue once again.  That being the case, let me try to explain what I am feeling in regards to 'missional idolatry.'  

There are many signs within the church that point to, and reveal, this idolatry.  The first is the large number of people, especially young adults, who feel 'called' to missions.  It is good that some feel called to 'go', but how come very few feel called to do ministry in the local area? Those who feel 'called to missions' have plans, vision, and excitement for God's intervention.  These are all good things and I would be excited as well if there was equal excitement for ministry in the present location and time, which is rarely the case. I have noticed that when somebody plans to go 'on missions' there is a lot of hype within the body.  People are willing to spend money, they make announcements, and there is a stir of excitement in the air because 'something is happening.'  Why don't we get that excited and focused when a new ministry opportunity is opened up in our own community? Are lost people different here in the states then in South America? Are the prostitutes better off? Are children just that much cuter in Africa?  

The highlight of youth programs has become mission trips, and the most prominent ministry of churches are their sponsored missionaries.  These missionaries come back and share stories of God moving and working, and everyone is excited, its just too bad that those types of stories haven't become commonplace within the body itself.  Missions give a church credibility, and it is how some congregations edify themselves.  There is pride in how many countries have been visited, and how many people choose to go serve for 1 week or 1 month in Africa.  Have you ever seen the big maps in the atrium with the pins sticking in all the 'missions' locations? Why not make a map of all the houses in the neighborhood that have been reached out to? .  Sadly the greatest congregational participation in ministry occurs when it is focused outside of their own community. Missions, it seems, has taken the place of 'ministry' in the church; this ought not be so. 

Many people enjoy and feel called to mission work because it is 'easier' to do ministry in another place.  In many countries the people have an intrinsic knowledge and openness to spiritual things, and are therefore eager and willing to hear and learn about Jesus.  In the same note, many cultures don't have the same biases and preconceived notions about Christianity that we face here in America; which does make it easier to do ministry over there then over here. Going somewhere else, to minister to people you don't know, is also a way to escape from our own fear and insecurity.  Sometimes we are too timid and shy to stand up for Jesus to our friends, but we aren't worried what a stranger thinks.  We then conclude that if I feel like it's 'easier' to do minister to people in other places,  then I must be 'called to missions.'  Missions is then used as a way to ignore insecurities and issues rather than really facing and overcoming them.  If we become powerful ministers here, then feeling called to go somewhere else will carry that much more weight. 

For some church bodies, mission work is a way to have the appearance of an active ministry, without fulfilling their God-given function in the place where they have been established.  Missions are not bad, but we have not empowered people to have a 'missions' mindset in the work place, home, and even our own church body; which causes us to become hyper focused on missions to mask and hide this inadequacy. 

 

In of this, many desire to go to different countries to do ministry because they don't know what it is like to be empowered and activated in their own hometown.  The way we do church doesn't properly make disciples, and therefore we have little ministry outside of the four walls of the church. The people who then have a heart for the lost find themselves desiring to go somewhere else, even though there are lost, hungry, and depraved people all around them.  'Missions' has risen as the forefront of Christian experience and service, when it should only be one aspect thereof.  Let us decide individually and as a church, to create a powerful culture of ministry and missions in the here and now.  As we all grow in maturity in the Lord, our gifts, and our calling, we will hear the true call for missions rather then respond out of our own insecurity and desire.  God will be calling some to 'go', but He is calling everyone to be missionaries. 

Faith: Entering God's Rest

"You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?  This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain?  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?"

Here, Paul rebukes the church because they took control of their own spiritual growth (Galatians 3).  They recognized that they were saved by faith, but got it into their heads that they needed to perfect themselves through works in the flesh.  Just like the Galatians, we too can fall into a pit of self-determined religious regulation; however, God wants us to give up control on our own spiritual growth and maturity.  This comes about when we grow in our revelation of what Jesus accomplished on the cross.  When we have faith in what has already been done, we can rest in His work rather than straining to achieve something that is already won.

“Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.  For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard (Hebrews 4:1-2).”  “For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.  Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:10-11).” There is a reality, a state of being, that God has made available for us; it is a place of rest.  In verse 2 we see that the key ingredient to step into this rest is faith.  Faith in what?  In the good news of Jesus Christ, our salvation. 

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).”  In verse 12, the ‘work’ that is instructed for the believer is the Greek word Katergozomai; which means to ‘narrow down’, or ‘to work down to a definite conclusion.’  This is our role, to ‘do the math’ and come to a conclusion on our salvation.  We realize that Christ worked salvation on our behalf, that He did what we could not do. We begin to look to God to find the truth of our salvation and position with Him.  In verse 13, God’s ‘work’ is the Greek word Energeo, which means to work in a ‘situation to bring it from one stage to another.’  God is the one who actually produces faith in us.  We know He is the ‘Author and perfecter of our faith.’  In verse 13 it says that works in us both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  To will is the Greek word ‘Thelo’ which means to ‘desire’ or ‘want to’.  Sometimes we get caught up in trying to get hungry, trying to get passionate, and we make it out to be a work; when really it is God who manifests that desire and passion in us.  He also inspires us to ‘work’ and this is the Greek word Energeo again.

There are two different types of ‘work’ in the scriptures.  The first are ‘dead works’ and the others are ‘works of righteousness’. Dead works are those we do outside of faith; meaning that we are doing them to attain, achieve, or grasp hold of something that has already been given to us.  It is dead, because it functions outside of faith, for if we had faith we would realize that we already have it.  The second type of ‘work’ is done in righteousness, in faith.  This type of work manifests from a place of fulfillment and divine contentment in God.  It stems from a place of wholeness, knowing that Christ has made us ‘more than conquerors.’  No longer do we strive to make God pleased with us, or to ‘get closer to God’.  We don’t do good works or religious practice to appease our own desire to be validated or seen as spiritual.  We don’t spend time with God to be closer to God, we spend time with Him because we have already been melded into one with Him.  We don’t evangelize because we are told it’s a good thing, we evangelize because we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good; we can’t help but tell people about Him.  Works of righteousness are not guilt driven, nor are they performance driven.  They aren’t motivated by the desire to attain or receive, but the overflow of fulfillment. 

All our desires to attain, achieve, and perform, stem from our insecurities and weaknesses; from our unbelief.  Many of us can and do struggle with unbelief because we are experiencing fear, anxiety, and/or sin struggles.  We experience this lack in our lives and therefore try to supplement it in one way or another. This is the reason why we fail to enter His rest, because we lack faith in what He has done in us, because we see His work to be 'unfinished' we end up striving and straining.  To put a different spin on it, we suffer insecurity, only because we don't know who we are in God! We are believing a lie and God wants to show us the truth to set us free! 'God's perfect love casts out fear, we can be anxious about nothing, and we don't have to worry about tomorrow.' We begin to live in that reality as we grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The knowledge of Jesus Christ, knowing Christ and Him crucified, also means knowing that we have been crucified with Him.  Our sinful nature is gone, we don't need to struggle with sin anymore.  Satan has nothing on us!  We are seated in heavenly places, blessed with every spiritual blessings that lies within.  We are whole, redeemed, loved unconditionally.  We lack nothing.  Alleluia, let us grow in that revelation, may the Holy Spirit give us faith to believe it! For it is here that we enter His rest.  "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

 

Spiritual Maturity and Growth (Part 3)

There are many believers who go through deliverance, counseling, and or inner healing programs. I do not have a problem with this sort of intentional ministry, since it is really just teaching and discipleship; but there is danger in relying too heavily upon them for transformation. Many people experience transformation from these intentional prayer and counseling times; which is great, but I have also seen how many people come to depend on these programs to validate their faith and identity in God. They render the work of Jesus to an ongoing process rather than a finished work. I don't have a problem with the programs themselves, I believe that they are good, but our understanding about what goes on in these sessions needs to change. We are not people who are 'becoming who we are supposed to be', we are not adding on to who God has already made us; rather, we are 'realizing' who we already are.  These programs help to identify a lie and speak the truth, which isn't a process of change but of moving from unbelief to belief!  Inner healing and deliverance seem to be the same thing as teaching and discipleship; they were just created because we aren't normally very intentional with our discipleship and teaching. God has made us whole, He has made us complete. You are a new creation, the old has gone the new has come!  Do not fall into the deception that you need to go through rituals and practices to become whole, you already are, you might not realize that yet, but claim the truth anyway.  "Jesus has become our salvation redemption, and sanctification (1 Cor. 1:30)."  We now have the glorious opportunity to continually grow in our understanding of who God is and who we are in Him.  Just like at Christmas, we completely posses and own the presents under the tree, but we begin to realize what they are upon opening them up. 

The reason why this distinction is important is because 'inner healing', as we understand it, can easily become a form of works based righteousness; where people think that they must put effort forth to become more whole and/or holy. If however, we recognize that our experience may be different then reality, and that reality is still reality whether we believe it or not, we are able to proclaim and accept our full identity without needing experience to prove it. If we speak the truth over ourselves, and each other, despite our experience, we will move from revelation to revelation more quickly, and therefore experience the fullness of the truth in greater degrees.  The process of renewing our minds will not be hindered by a works based mentality.

Experience, emotion, and thoughts do not dictate who we are.  We are not defined by the way we see ourselves but by the way God sees us, the way we actually are.  We literally are who He says we are, even if our experiences don't seem to reveal that.  "We live by faith not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)."  Note that it doesn't say we will not see, but that our lives are defined by something outside of our realm of experience.  When we are given the gift of faith, after hearing the truth, our experience will follow.  "Faith without works is dead (James 2:17)."  Therefore, faith without experience isn't faith, but we also don't define our faith by our experience.  If we try to validate, qualify, or perfect ourselves, we have failed to have faith in what was already accomplished for us by Jesus.  We do not try and please God anymore, because without faith it is impossible (Hebrews 11:6).  Faith in what? Faith that He is already pleased with us because of the cross.  This gives us freedom to stop striving and to be completely vulnerable, allowing Him to be the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).  Because of Jesus we live from a place of fullness and wholeness, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).  Faith is powerful, it is evidence of a renewed mind, of a gift from God, it completely changes us, and in turn, changes everything around us. 

We are all at different places in our faith and therefore at different levels of spiritual maturity; this is true in that some believe less lies and others more (Romans 12:3).  However there is still no ultimate distinction among us because we all have the same blessings, the same forgiveness, the same spirit, and the same wholeness. "For the love of God controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.  Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer (2 Cor. 5:14-16)." 

We need people who are more mature than we are, so that we can submit under them to learn and grow; to be discipled and taught.  "For God wants all people to be saved and come to a full knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4)."  "And he gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13)."  As leaders and as those who are mature, we have the wonderful joy of speaking truth over one another, allowing people to hear the truth that they might believe it and experience the freedom that is already paid for. We can co-labor with God in 'calling things that aren't as though they are (Romans 4:17).'  It is easy to be humble in these situations when we know that we did not attain on our own merit the place where we now stand.  It is a gift from God so that no one may boast.  We just move from glory to glory, from revelation to revelation, from experience to experience; we come to 'comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled up to all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19).'

So be vulnerable, be honest with yourself.  Find your edification, fulfillment, and qualification in Christ's work alone.  As we behold Him in His glory we, like a mirror, reflect that glory as we are transformed to look like Him (2 Cor. 3).  Love one another, love yourselves, eagerly expect the Holy Spirit to manifest in and through you.  Don't worry, don't take yourself too seriously, pursue the spiritual gifts, BE WITH GOD.  It is a glorious ride of growing into who we are, holy, humble, encouraging, and loving.  God is good and is faithful to complete the good work He started in you (Philippians 1:6).