Saturday, December 29, 2012
What would followers of Christ look like that were committed to Him and one another fully on a daily basis? First there would have to be the vertical relationship of each believer with Jesus Christ, and from their that individual experience would flow over to one another to reveal who Jesus Christ is to one another and the world.
This is why throughout the New Testament the phrase one to another is used so much. It was simply a part of who the people of Jesus Christ were. It was impossible not to share life together because of the very real experience they had with Christ Himself, which is impossible to hold in. That is part of what it means when the scriptures say out of our innermost beings will flow rivers of living water. Water flows, and no matter what is in its way it finds a way around it to reach its destination.
So when Jesus Christ is birthed within individuals, and those individuals die to themselves, then His life predominates and reaches out to others with that same life within them. In other words, fellowship based upon Christ begins to emerge, which is what the people of God were created for.
In this article I'm not going to get into all the endless possibilities that can come forth from that experience, just that it is a major part of what the followers of Jesus Christ are all meant to experience. We need to first see that before anything else as far as being part of something larger than our individuality.
To truly give one's life to Christ is an act of dying to self. And if we die to ourselves, it'll truly bring forth many more brothers and sisters to be "one to another."
Having said that, Jesus isn't just bringing a people together to form a social club or only enjoy hanging out together with no purpose. After all, there is an eternal purpose, and the final aspect of that purpose of God is that we are conformed to the image of His son, Jesus Christ. It is nothing less than that, and it is what the Holy Spirit within us lives and works for and towards relentlessly.
The major means of achieving that end, besides the Spirit within those who are truly born from above, is for the overflow of that Spirit to interact with those people who are committed to one another in Christ on a daily basis.
That means we'll respond to a living situation within people who are living out a life for Christ. So if someone is in need, the people of God who have the means will helps supply that for them; if there are people that are down, those who are encouragers will reach out and comfort and lift them up; for those struggling with sin, someone in the body will challenge them, and maybe rebuke them in order to get them back on the right path. Again, I don't want to attempt to cover the potentially thousands of interactions that could happen in a day or two with those who share the life of Christ together, as it would take volumes of books and thousands of articles just to unveil small portions of those things if they could even be found out and known.
The point is that Jesus Christ living in us pushes and draws us to one another in a way that an endless amount of human action towards and with one another happens in response to living situations we encounter individually and together daily.
It is those interactions that work to build us up into the full knowledge of Christ and solidifies our lives into becoming a temple for the Lord to fill; a home He is welcome in.
This is why the warped and pathetic idea that a building, and edifice, is a "church" is such a false and anemic idea. It hinders the work of God rather than helps it, and gets in the way of that which Christ really has called us to be and do.
Anything that gets in the way of daily life together in Christ needs to be removed so Christ can have His way with us. The first step is to die to ourselves, and from there any practical element that could be hindering the purpose of Jesus Christ can be dealt with.
If we only deal with the outward, we really never get to the core of what it is that caused Christianity to become what it is today, which is nothing like we see in the Holy Scriptures.
So to meet and homes or live close together will mean nothing if there is not a deep work of the cross in our lives and a response to the life of Christ in one another.
That means if we aren't changing into the image of Christ, we are only moving the chairs on the deck of the Titanic while is sinks into the ocean.
Many people have taken steps to leave the institutional and bureaucratic "church," only to have nothing in their lives change in regard to Jesus Christ. It's impossible to be close with one another and not have an influence in one another's lives if we're committed to the end result of the eternal purpose of God to be conformed to the image of Christ.
As a matter of fact we'll quietly grown within when we see each other missing the mark of Jesus Christ, and we'll pray and seek God for the hearts of one another to open to that to happen, while also taking the steps to share with one another those things that need to be changed.
We can't make it in Christ alone; we need one another. How can we grow into the very likeness of the man Jesus Christ if we aren't receiving the various aspects of Him as found in His body? The answer is - we can't. All of us sharing life together are what makes that a possibility. Anything short of that will hinder and frustrate the purpose of God of having a people that express His very person hood (not His deity which is separate from us).
Jesus Christ is seeking a people willing to walk this walk and not just intellectually agree with it. Doing it is doing it. Talking about or agreeing with it isn't doing it.
Possibly never since the time that Christ came into the world have people been ready for a move of God that reveals to them who Christ really is. That can only come about from the people that truly believe in Jesus Christ.
Now when I say the world is ready for the real church, I'm not talking about denominations or certain types of outward manifestations of religiousness which has little inward life to it. The people of God are completely wrapped up and identified with Christ if they are real about their faith, and the two can't be separated.
So when the idea of the real church is suggested, it's not primarily referring to any type of outward way of doing things or an intellectually-based belief system. Rather it's a people that are in living union and obedience with and to Christ, and who are part of those called out of the world and themselves to serve the living and only God.
It's also not talking about an institution, a building, or a organization that is based upon anything in this world. We're talking about a people that have taken on the characteristics of Christ Himself, who is not of this world or influenced by its purpose or priorities. The world after all is under the power and dominion of Satan.
Don't be discouraged by that last statement though, as the world is completely different than the earth from a Biblical point of view, as the "earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." The world is basically Satan and his imprint living in and through unredeemed man. It's personified by government force and control, which is Satan's biggest means of attempting to control and dominate man; including those bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Having started off with the idea of the world being ready for the real church, it must be understood that first Jesus Christ must reach out and gather to Himself those you proclaim Him but are deceived as to their salvation or are perpetual babes who only have their fire insurance. Once that is completed, from there He will strategically bring those together around the world into localities where He will begin to reveal and express Himself to the world, causing great numbers to respond.
This won't have anything to do with big shows, meetings and personalities, but rather a local push where a large impact will be made, but in a way that is largely under the national radar of a specific nation. Collectively it'll be huge, but locally it'll be less noticeable.
That will eventually grow as the followers of Jesus Christ find one another on a larger basis, which will allow for more significant impact around the world. None of this will result in a new denomination or any other such sin, but will be based upon fellowship that produces even more of Christ in the participants.
Ultimately, in that fellowship based solely upon the person of Jesus Christ, we'll see an alternative world appear in this one. A world with increasing righteousness and holiness; one that impacts all areas of life, starting with individuals, moving into the family, and then into neighborhoods, cities, states, and everywhere around the world.
This unstoppable life with also have an impact on all other areas of life, including business, government, media, and all other legitimate areas that must be redeemed for the Master's glory and use.
It will require death to the self, commitment to Jesus Christ and one another, and the supernatural love of Christ Himself shaping and forming a people to reveal Him to the world and invisible principalities and powers.
The failure of governments, corruption of crony capitalism, and the growth of false leaders who proclaim to be Christians but are really wolves in sheep's clothing, has brought people to a place of despair, which has opened doors to their hearts for those willing to embrace and take on Jesus Christ and His purpose.
Already there have been rumblings of this happening around the world; all of which is completely outside of denominations and institutional churches of all types, and also is not happening within buildings falsely called churches. All of this comes from people getting a scent of Christ, and understanding that He doesn't dwell in temples made with hands. Period!
More than that though, the people of God are understanding they must be completely out of the influence of the world if they and their children will have a chance to grow in the grace and commands of God almighty.
That means finding new ways of educating their children; sharing the life of Christ together; a completely different world view; and seeing Christ as a living being that dwells within them, shaping and conforming them to His image, and then ready to express that very image into a hungry and thirsty world looking for answers. It can only be found in a people 100 percent committed to Jesus Christ. That is something He will commit to and back up.
The question now is are believers ready for what Jesus Christ has always wanted to be and do in them. Are there those out there that even care about the fact that the fields are white to harvest, and have been since Jesus declared it about 2,000 years ago. Are there believers committed completely to Christ in a way that they will be willing to do whatever He wills to accomplish what He desires? Are you one of them?
Since the world is ready for the real church, which is another way of saying it is ready for Christ to manifest Himself in a people, than we all must answer the question of if we are ready to heed that call for such a time as this.
If we are, then there is absolutely nothing that should or will be able to stand in the way of being and doing whatever it takes to bring about and meet His purpose and satisfaction.
For those wanting to answer the call of the Spirit of the Living God, it will require going outside the religious camp and bearing His shame, as He did when He was crucified.
There can be nothing unreal or false in us who are called to walk as He did. Only that type of believer can ever work with Christ to bring about all that He has looked for from before the foundation of the world.
He yearns and cries out for those who will completely lay down their lives to attain His goal; not people talking about it and getting excited, but a people that will do it. The world is ready for that. Are you?
Now when I say the world is ready for the real church, I'm not talking about denominations or certain types of outward manifestations of religiousness which has little inward life to it. The people of God are completely wrapped up and identified with Christ if they are real about their faith, and the two can't be separated.
So when the idea of the real church is suggested, it's not primarily referring to any type of outward way of doing things or an intellectually-based belief system. Rather it's a people that are in living union and obedience with and to Christ, and who are part of those called out of the world and themselves to serve the living and only God.
It's also not talking about an institution, a building, or a organization that is based upon anything in this world. We're talking about a people that have taken on the characteristics of Christ Himself, who is not of this world or influenced by its purpose or priorities. The world after all is under the power and dominion of Satan.
Don't be discouraged by that last statement though, as the world is completely different than the earth from a Biblical point of view, as the "earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." The world is basically Satan and his imprint living in and through unredeemed man. It's personified by government force and control, which is Satan's biggest means of attempting to control and dominate man; including those bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Having started off with the idea of the world being ready for the real church, it must be understood that first Jesus Christ must reach out and gather to Himself those you proclaim Him but are deceived as to their salvation or are perpetual babes who only have their fire insurance. Once that is completed, from there He will strategically bring those together around the world into localities where He will begin to reveal and express Himself to the world, causing great numbers to respond.
This won't have anything to do with big shows, meetings and personalities, but rather a local push where a large impact will be made, but in a way that is largely under the national radar of a specific nation. Collectively it'll be huge, but locally it'll be less noticeable.
That will eventually grow as the followers of Jesus Christ find one another on a larger basis, which will allow for more significant impact around the world. None of this will result in a new denomination or any other such sin, but will be based upon fellowship that produces even more of Christ in the participants.
Ultimately, in that fellowship based solely upon the person of Jesus Christ, we'll see an alternative world appear in this one. A world with increasing righteousness and holiness; one that impacts all areas of life, starting with individuals, moving into the family, and then into neighborhoods, cities, states, and everywhere around the world.
This unstoppable life with also have an impact on all other areas of life, including business, government, media, and all other legitimate areas that must be redeemed for the Master's glory and use.
It will require death to the self, commitment to Jesus Christ and one another, and the supernatural love of Christ Himself shaping and forming a people to reveal Him to the world and invisible principalities and powers.
The failure of governments, corruption of crony capitalism, and the growth of false leaders who proclaim to be Christians but are really wolves in sheep's clothing, has brought people to a place of despair, which has opened doors to their hearts for those willing to embrace and take on Jesus Christ and His purpose.
Already there have been rumblings of this happening around the world; all of which is completely outside of denominations and institutional churches of all types, and also is not happening within buildings falsely called churches. All of this comes from people getting a scent of Christ, and understanding that He doesn't dwell in temples made with hands. Period!
More than that though, the people of God are understanding they must be completely out of the influence of the world if they and their children will have a chance to grow in the grace and commands of God almighty.
That means finding new ways of educating their children; sharing the life of Christ together; a completely different world view; and seeing Christ as a living being that dwells within them, shaping and conforming them to His image, and then ready to express that very image into a hungry and thirsty world looking for answers. It can only be found in a people 100 percent committed to Jesus Christ. That is something He will commit to and back up.
The question now is are believers ready for what Jesus Christ has always wanted to be and do in them. Are there those out there that even care about the fact that the fields are white to harvest, and have been since Jesus declared it about 2,000 years ago. Are there believers committed completely to Christ in a way that they will be willing to do whatever He wills to accomplish what He desires? Are you one of them?
Since the world is ready for the real church, which is another way of saying it is ready for Christ to manifest Himself in a people, than we all must answer the question of if we are ready to heed that call for such a time as this.
If we are, then there is absolutely nothing that should or will be able to stand in the way of being and doing whatever it takes to bring about and meet His purpose and satisfaction.
For those wanting to answer the call of the Spirit of the Living God, it will require going outside the religious camp and bearing His shame, as He did when He was crucified.
There can be nothing unreal or false in us who are called to walk as He did. Only that type of believer can ever work with Christ to bring about all that He has looked for from before the foundation of the world.
He yearns and cries out for those who will completely lay down their lives to attain His goal; not people talking about it and getting excited, but a people that will do it. The world is ready for that. Are you?
Friday, December 28, 2012
When the true followers of Jesus Christ grasp the importance and reality that we are not a people of this world, as Jesus testified to concerning Himself and His disciples, it will not only be personally earth-shattering to us, but it will truly change the world as we know it.
It needs to be understood that unregenerate humanity on this planet are not children of God, they are the children of the enemy of God, and thus the imprint of the personality and evil of Satan is upon and within them.
This is true of the entirety of the human race, and unless and until a person is born again from above, that will always remain the same.
Even when we're born again of the Spirit of God, that imprint doesn't immediately leave, but rather has to be cleansed out of us by the working of the cross of Jesus Christ in order that what happened to us in principle is worked out within us in reality.
In other words, we may be saved, but true salvation will start to grow and bear the image of Jesus Christ in the life of a person, and that radical transformation starts to reveal another world that exists outside of this one which is the only one most people are aware of.
That means that Jesus Christ represents an entirely different humanity, a different species that has absolutely nothing to do with the humanity that has inhabited planet earth from the time that Adam and Eve sinned and brought into the world a foreign life form that was the enemy of God almighty and Jesus Christ. Consequently, Satan was invited to impress and imprint his personality and life upon and within man, which produced something that was never in the heart and mind of God when He created man. In the Holy Scriptures this is called the flesh, which is a humanity that has been judged and cast aside by God unless they call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved.
The point is that those that are born from above, a phrase that is a more accurate and complete rendering of the phrase "born again," which is mostly used by believers to describe regeneration, are in fact a new humanity; a humanity envisioned by Jesus Christ when He created, a humanity that is called to bear the very image of Christ and present it to the visible creation, as well as the invisible creation.
This new humanity is nothing other than the man Jesus Christ. He comes and indwell those that place their trust or faith in Him, and that results in the Spirit of God coming down from heaven and taking up residence in the Spirit of man. From that innermost place He then begins the work of transforming that man into the image of Jesus Christ. Fellowship between people whom have went though the same process and experience is what is the new, corporate humanity.
Not only is this new or alternative humanity called to bear the image of Jesus Christ, but also to share in His authority which He as given us to take dominion over the earth, as well as spiritual wickedness in high places.
It's tempting to get into the possibilities this offers us who dwell on the earth, but it's more important to take these concepts and realities and dwell upon them for awhile. Breath in the reality that if you're a true child of God in Christ, you are no longer of this world, and your life will reflect that in all that you are and do.
All of that is vital and crucial, but there are even more fantastic possibilities that emerge from this amazing truth.
Think of some questions. What happens on this earth if a people embrace the perfect humanity and authority of Jesus Christ and start living it out on this earth? What will begin to appear on this earth as a result? What will it cost those willing to walk this path corporately? Individually? Where will this path lead to? What effect will it have on those outside the faith?
We could go on and on. The purpose of the questions is to stir up your thoughts as to how Jesus Christ can take root in our hearts and lives in such a way that it is inevitable that His love begins to spread out in the midst of ourselves as we fellowship daily together, as well as increasingly overcome the works of the devil in the lives of the community around us.
It is impossible for who Jesus Christ is to remain hidden and anemic on this earth, no matter what some Christians are taught or believe. Christ cannot but be who He is. It doesn't matter whether He's in heaven or on the earth, who He is is the same in both environments. That's why when Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus replied by saying if he had seen Him he has in fact seen the Father. There was no difference between the invisible Father and the expression of Jesus Christ as a man on the earth. That has not changed after His resurrection and ascension, as the Holy Spirit lives to shape and form Him in the new humanity that has embraced and is taking on His nature and authority.
Whether it is Jesus Christ sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven, or Jesus Christ taking up residence in a people on the earth for a place to dwell and be welcome, He never changes, and it's impossible to separate what He is doing in heaven from what He is doing on earth in a people, as He is always the same and never changes.
That means He must remain true to all that He is, and for us that implies unlimited possibilities when taking into consideration His life and authority being lived in and expressed out from a people who have gladly received Him as their own.
None of this is possible without the deep working of the cross in our individual and corporate lives, as only when we are broken by Him is His life able to be lived within and change us into His image, while in the same measure is then able to be displayed to the world in its beauty and authority. That is His humanity living in us.
That is not a humanity of this world, even though we may outwardly look like those in this world.
Jesus Christ came as a man, although He of course never sinned or had anything of Satan in Him, as He testified to near the end of His life on this earth as a man. You couldn't see the invisible life of the Father, but that life indwelt Jesus to the point where He could do nothing without His Father.
So while He looked the same as the rest of us, He was a totally different humanity completely other than that which dwelt and continues to dwell on the earth. So are those who are truly born from above, who are called to be the same as He is in His humanity (not in His being God).
I'll finish off this article with one thought. All of this will mean for those that are willing to believe and embrace this, that there will be a conflict, because these two humanities are enemies of one another, and the very fact that Jesus Christ is dwelling within us makes us a heavenly people; a people not living their lives from the source people of this world do.
There can be no mingling or mixture of the two separate races of man, as they are not only diametrically opposed, but live their lives from two entities that are opposites and enemies of one another. There can be no quarter given by the people of God as a result, and no acceptance of the life lived by those not born again from above.
Most importantly, we are to satisfy the heart of Jesus Christ by becoming the people He created us to be, while at the same time showing the world there is another life to live from, and another totally different way to live.
The time is almost here when this message will resonate with a growing number of believers, as we begin to understand this world operates from principles that are opposite to who Jesus is, and as we change and adapt, showing forth the man Jesus Christ corporately, it will not only bring us into a blessed fellowship and way of life that is full and satisfying, but also will satisfy the heart of Jesus Christ who created us for this very purpose.
It needs to be understood that unregenerate humanity on this planet are not children of God, they are the children of the enemy of God, and thus the imprint of the personality and evil of Satan is upon and within them.
This is true of the entirety of the human race, and unless and until a person is born again from above, that will always remain the same.
Even when we're born again of the Spirit of God, that imprint doesn't immediately leave, but rather has to be cleansed out of us by the working of the cross of Jesus Christ in order that what happened to us in principle is worked out within us in reality.
In other words, we may be saved, but true salvation will start to grow and bear the image of Jesus Christ in the life of a person, and that radical transformation starts to reveal another world that exists outside of this one which is the only one most people are aware of.
That means that Jesus Christ represents an entirely different humanity, a different species that has absolutely nothing to do with the humanity that has inhabited planet earth from the time that Adam and Eve sinned and brought into the world a foreign life form that was the enemy of God almighty and Jesus Christ. Consequently, Satan was invited to impress and imprint his personality and life upon and within man, which produced something that was never in the heart and mind of God when He created man. In the Holy Scriptures this is called the flesh, which is a humanity that has been judged and cast aside by God unless they call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved.
The point is that those that are born from above, a phrase that is a more accurate and complete rendering of the phrase "born again," which is mostly used by believers to describe regeneration, are in fact a new humanity; a humanity envisioned by Jesus Christ when He created, a humanity that is called to bear the very image of Christ and present it to the visible creation, as well as the invisible creation.
This new humanity is nothing other than the man Jesus Christ. He comes and indwell those that place their trust or faith in Him, and that results in the Spirit of God coming down from heaven and taking up residence in the Spirit of man. From that innermost place He then begins the work of transforming that man into the image of Jesus Christ. Fellowship between people whom have went though the same process and experience is what is the new, corporate humanity.
Not only is this new or alternative humanity called to bear the image of Jesus Christ, but also to share in His authority which He as given us to take dominion over the earth, as well as spiritual wickedness in high places.
It's tempting to get into the possibilities this offers us who dwell on the earth, but it's more important to take these concepts and realities and dwell upon them for awhile. Breath in the reality that if you're a true child of God in Christ, you are no longer of this world, and your life will reflect that in all that you are and do.
All of that is vital and crucial, but there are even more fantastic possibilities that emerge from this amazing truth.
Think of some questions. What happens on this earth if a people embrace the perfect humanity and authority of Jesus Christ and start living it out on this earth? What will begin to appear on this earth as a result? What will it cost those willing to walk this path corporately? Individually? Where will this path lead to? What effect will it have on those outside the faith?
We could go on and on. The purpose of the questions is to stir up your thoughts as to how Jesus Christ can take root in our hearts and lives in such a way that it is inevitable that His love begins to spread out in the midst of ourselves as we fellowship daily together, as well as increasingly overcome the works of the devil in the lives of the community around us.
It is impossible for who Jesus Christ is to remain hidden and anemic on this earth, no matter what some Christians are taught or believe. Christ cannot but be who He is. It doesn't matter whether He's in heaven or on the earth, who He is is the same in both environments. That's why when Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus replied by saying if he had seen Him he has in fact seen the Father. There was no difference between the invisible Father and the expression of Jesus Christ as a man on the earth. That has not changed after His resurrection and ascension, as the Holy Spirit lives to shape and form Him in the new humanity that has embraced and is taking on His nature and authority.
Whether it is Jesus Christ sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven, or Jesus Christ taking up residence in a people on the earth for a place to dwell and be welcome, He never changes, and it's impossible to separate what He is doing in heaven from what He is doing on earth in a people, as He is always the same and never changes.
That means He must remain true to all that He is, and for us that implies unlimited possibilities when taking into consideration His life and authority being lived in and expressed out from a people who have gladly received Him as their own.
None of this is possible without the deep working of the cross in our individual and corporate lives, as only when we are broken by Him is His life able to be lived within and change us into His image, while in the same measure is then able to be displayed to the world in its beauty and authority. That is His humanity living in us.
That is not a humanity of this world, even though we may outwardly look like those in this world.
Jesus Christ came as a man, although He of course never sinned or had anything of Satan in Him, as He testified to near the end of His life on this earth as a man. You couldn't see the invisible life of the Father, but that life indwelt Jesus to the point where He could do nothing without His Father.
So while He looked the same as the rest of us, He was a totally different humanity completely other than that which dwelt and continues to dwell on the earth. So are those who are truly born from above, who are called to be the same as He is in His humanity (not in His being God).
I'll finish off this article with one thought. All of this will mean for those that are willing to believe and embrace this, that there will be a conflict, because these two humanities are enemies of one another, and the very fact that Jesus Christ is dwelling within us makes us a heavenly people; a people not living their lives from the source people of this world do.
There can be no mingling or mixture of the two separate races of man, as they are not only diametrically opposed, but live their lives from two entities that are opposites and enemies of one another. There can be no quarter given by the people of God as a result, and no acceptance of the life lived by those not born again from above.
Most importantly, we are to satisfy the heart of Jesus Christ by becoming the people He created us to be, while at the same time showing the world there is another life to live from, and another totally different way to live.
The time is almost here when this message will resonate with a growing number of believers, as we begin to understand this world operates from principles that are opposite to who Jesus is, and as we change and adapt, showing forth the man Jesus Christ corporately, it will not only bring us into a blessed fellowship and way of life that is full and satisfying, but also will satisfy the heart of Jesus Christ who created us for this very purpose.
There is no answer in this world and the time we spend in it as to our problems and challenges than that of being obsessed and captivated by Jesus Christ.
Most of the readers here are those seeking something outside of what is called "institutional" Christianity, and so may feel they have a leg up on other believers who focus on the outward forms and many unbiblical practices included with all of that.
But whether or not you see what it is God wants for His people, there can be no spiritual benefit whatsoever if we're not infatuated and obsessed with the person of Jesus Christ. None at all.
After all, if all that is happening is people are switching locations of where they meet from a building to a living room, and yet have little or no change of heart towards the person of Jesus Christ, there is little reason for going through that unpleasant experience, even if it results in a more biblical practice of church life.
In other words, you can be just as dead in a living room, or even living day-to-day life together if the purpose hasn't come from the love of Christ within our hearts.
On the other hand, when Jesus Christ is our sole purpose and focus for being a people and friends, it is unlimited as to what can and will occur as together we walk in Him and are conformed to His glorious image.
Many times we search the scriptures, especially the New Testament writings, for the secrets that made the early church what it was, and in the end, there is no other answer than the fact that they were enamored and in love with Jesus Christ. That's it! Nothing else. That answers everything as to the practical outworking that came forth as a result.
We can obsess with techniques and other such things, but those only came forth in response to challenges the people of God faced and as they sought Jesus Christ and how to handle them as they appeared. But it was that love of Christ and consequently, of one another, that allowed for those answers to be found. If there was no love, most wouldn't have cared one way or the other how a particular situation worked out.
Those believers that have had a real work of the cross of Jesus Christ in their lives can testify to the reality that even though they have suffered greatly by following Christ, that weight is in fact very light when compared with the privilege and honor of being offered the opportunity of knowing Him. I'm not talking about knowing things about Him, but literally and actually getting to know Him on a moment by moment basis; both individually and corporately.
Before we go on, don't think because you intellectually agree with these thoughts and statements that you have all these things. Either you're in deep love with Christ or you're not. Either you can't stop thinking about Him all the time or you don't think about Him much.
Even when working a job or interacting with others throughout the day in other situations, you can remain in unhindered and non-stop fellowship with Jesus Christ. That's because that is to happen in our innermost being, not in the head primarily. So even though we are many times able to dwell upon Him with our thoughts, outward circumstances may not allow us to remain in that practice. Yet we can still be in real, inner fellowship with Christ that doesn't demand thought processes, but the awareness of His life dwelling intimately deep within us.
If you want the answer as to how the early believers were able to handle the enormous opposition they faced from the world, and the persecution and martyrdom of some of the apostles and believers, this is totally and completely the answer: they got hold of a real relationship with Jesus Christ and everything else didn't matter. That's why they could gladly have everything taken away from them and not miss a step in their closeness and obedience to Jesus Christ.
All of that means the world was truly dim to them in the light of the face of Jesus Christ, who made this world look lame in comparison. The result was that they held things in this world very lightly, and so when they were attacked or had their property and goods confiscated, it had no effect whatsoever upon them other than they went on their way homeless and without any goods in this world. This can only come about from a revelation of, and participation in, the person of Jesus Christ. It must go beyond revelation alone into becoming a living and practical reality. But we still need to see Christ in order to respond accordingly. They work together hand-in-hand.
Having said that, the most simple person or people in the world can love and obey Jesus Christ without being able to explain Him or expound upon doctrine concerning Him. It's the deep love and being caught up into His amazing person hood that is important and eternally valuable, not how much light and revelation that we have of Him.
Most of our problems in life and our response to them come from the fact that we are influenced by personal interests. Those undermine our relationship with the Lord and cause us to be distracted.
If only we could grasp and embrace this wonderful Jesus Christ. If we open ourselves up to Him and want only Him, we'll find that what many consider difficult in abandoning sin and many of the other distractions of the world isn't even that hard. As a matter of fact great joy accompanies true fellowship with Christ, but not the joy of the world that is largely dependent upon things working out easily and the way we want them. Rather it's the joy of simply knowing Him for no other reason than enjoying and wanting to be with Him.
One way of knowing whether or not you're close to reaching that place is when you find you have no regrets in pursuing Christ and finding Him, or rather being found by Him.
Whether we have lost our reputation because of Christ; our goods; friends; family; or any other thing or person that is important to us, it's our infatuation with Jesus Christ that continues to dominate our being and life that is important to us, no matter what life in this world brings. Jesus Christ said He has overcome this world, so we can be of good cheer as a result. Those that are walking in Him will find that they participate in that conquering, so can overcome all that come their way without the feeling of loss in any way. That's the same with the flesh and the devil as well, which Christ has also overcome. The secret is sitting at the feet of Christ like Mary did. After all, Jesus Himself said that that is all that really matters in this life, to be gathered around Him as we sit at His feet together.
Again, this isn't something that comes about from mental assent, but rather from being literally, actually and in reality, living with Jesus Christ being the entirety of our lives.
Don't be flippant about this. It'll cost us everything, or at least if we pursue and desire Christ in this manner, it has the potential to cost us everything. The key is that it shouldn't and won't matter to us once we are in the reality of walking with Christ in this way. The cost can and will be real, but the fallout of that cost won't matter to us as we hold onto and keep our eyes on this amazing Christ who created and died for us so that we could participate in friendship and fellowship with Him. That, after all, is what eternal life is.
All of us need to get desperate with Jesus Christ in this. Ask, plead, beg if you have to, that Jesus Christ will help you to lay aside all the weights, sins and personal interests so you can walk with Him unhindered while living on this earth. This isn't primarily a call to do this individually, although that's important, but it's a call for us to walk this corporately in a living way.
Most of the readers here are those seeking something outside of what is called "institutional" Christianity, and so may feel they have a leg up on other believers who focus on the outward forms and many unbiblical practices included with all of that.
But whether or not you see what it is God wants for His people, there can be no spiritual benefit whatsoever if we're not infatuated and obsessed with the person of Jesus Christ. None at all.
After all, if all that is happening is people are switching locations of where they meet from a building to a living room, and yet have little or no change of heart towards the person of Jesus Christ, there is little reason for going through that unpleasant experience, even if it results in a more biblical practice of church life.
In other words, you can be just as dead in a living room, or even living day-to-day life together if the purpose hasn't come from the love of Christ within our hearts.
On the other hand, when Jesus Christ is our sole purpose and focus for being a people and friends, it is unlimited as to what can and will occur as together we walk in Him and are conformed to His glorious image.
Many times we search the scriptures, especially the New Testament writings, for the secrets that made the early church what it was, and in the end, there is no other answer than the fact that they were enamored and in love with Jesus Christ. That's it! Nothing else. That answers everything as to the practical outworking that came forth as a result.
We can obsess with techniques and other such things, but those only came forth in response to challenges the people of God faced and as they sought Jesus Christ and how to handle them as they appeared. But it was that love of Christ and consequently, of one another, that allowed for those answers to be found. If there was no love, most wouldn't have cared one way or the other how a particular situation worked out.
Those believers that have had a real work of the cross of Jesus Christ in their lives can testify to the reality that even though they have suffered greatly by following Christ, that weight is in fact very light when compared with the privilege and honor of being offered the opportunity of knowing Him. I'm not talking about knowing things about Him, but literally and actually getting to know Him on a moment by moment basis; both individually and corporately.
Before we go on, don't think because you intellectually agree with these thoughts and statements that you have all these things. Either you're in deep love with Christ or you're not. Either you can't stop thinking about Him all the time or you don't think about Him much.
Even when working a job or interacting with others throughout the day in other situations, you can remain in unhindered and non-stop fellowship with Jesus Christ. That's because that is to happen in our innermost being, not in the head primarily. So even though we are many times able to dwell upon Him with our thoughts, outward circumstances may not allow us to remain in that practice. Yet we can still be in real, inner fellowship with Christ that doesn't demand thought processes, but the awareness of His life dwelling intimately deep within us.
If you want the answer as to how the early believers were able to handle the enormous opposition they faced from the world, and the persecution and martyrdom of some of the apostles and believers, this is totally and completely the answer: they got hold of a real relationship with Jesus Christ and everything else didn't matter. That's why they could gladly have everything taken away from them and not miss a step in their closeness and obedience to Jesus Christ.
All of that means the world was truly dim to them in the light of the face of Jesus Christ, who made this world look lame in comparison. The result was that they held things in this world very lightly, and so when they were attacked or had their property and goods confiscated, it had no effect whatsoever upon them other than they went on their way homeless and without any goods in this world. This can only come about from a revelation of, and participation in, the person of Jesus Christ. It must go beyond revelation alone into becoming a living and practical reality. But we still need to see Christ in order to respond accordingly. They work together hand-in-hand.
Having said that, the most simple person or people in the world can love and obey Jesus Christ without being able to explain Him or expound upon doctrine concerning Him. It's the deep love and being caught up into His amazing person hood that is important and eternally valuable, not how much light and revelation that we have of Him.
Most of our problems in life and our response to them come from the fact that we are influenced by personal interests. Those undermine our relationship with the Lord and cause us to be distracted.
If only we could grasp and embrace this wonderful Jesus Christ. If we open ourselves up to Him and want only Him, we'll find that what many consider difficult in abandoning sin and many of the other distractions of the world isn't even that hard. As a matter of fact great joy accompanies true fellowship with Christ, but not the joy of the world that is largely dependent upon things working out easily and the way we want them. Rather it's the joy of simply knowing Him for no other reason than enjoying and wanting to be with Him.
One way of knowing whether or not you're close to reaching that place is when you find you have no regrets in pursuing Christ and finding Him, or rather being found by Him.
Whether we have lost our reputation because of Christ; our goods; friends; family; or any other thing or person that is important to us, it's our infatuation with Jesus Christ that continues to dominate our being and life that is important to us, no matter what life in this world brings. Jesus Christ said He has overcome this world, so we can be of good cheer as a result. Those that are walking in Him will find that they participate in that conquering, so can overcome all that come their way without the feeling of loss in any way. That's the same with the flesh and the devil as well, which Christ has also overcome. The secret is sitting at the feet of Christ like Mary did. After all, Jesus Himself said that that is all that really matters in this life, to be gathered around Him as we sit at His feet together.
Again, this isn't something that comes about from mental assent, but rather from being literally, actually and in reality, living with Jesus Christ being the entirety of our lives.
Don't be flippant about this. It'll cost us everything, or at least if we pursue and desire Christ in this manner, it has the potential to cost us everything. The key is that it shouldn't and won't matter to us once we are in the reality of walking with Christ in this way. The cost can and will be real, but the fallout of that cost won't matter to us as we hold onto and keep our eyes on this amazing Christ who created and died for us so that we could participate in friendship and fellowship with Him. That, after all, is what eternal life is.
All of us need to get desperate with Jesus Christ in this. Ask, plead, beg if you have to, that Jesus Christ will help you to lay aside all the weights, sins and personal interests so you can walk with Him unhindered while living on this earth. This isn't primarily a call to do this individually, although that's important, but it's a call for us to walk this corporately in a living way.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
The phrase or term "organic church" has become prevalent over the last decade or so, and because it has become somewhat popular, it signals the need to examine it more closely because popularity almost always points to the reality that it has migrated to something outside of the heart of Jesus Christ.
Most people today think of organic church as a place where everyone is allowed to talk and there is no clergy guiding and directing the process. While that isn't a terrible thing, it falls far short from what is in the heart of God.
Secondly, it also has become something that allows for almost anything to allow to be communicated, much of which isn't representative of Christ at all, and doesn't flow out of daily relationships amongst God's people.
In other words, much of organic church points to the idea of the entire church meeting together. The problem is when the church of Jesus Christ meets together, the result should be that it emerges out of living lives daily together with the interaction flowing from what has been happening with the "one another" of the body.
Look up one another some time in your concordance and see how it fits so predominantly in the hearts and minds of the apostles. In essence, that's what organic church really is. If there isn't a daily one another based upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, it doesn't matter what term may be used, it isn't organic.
Organic is nothing more or less than the sharing of Christ together daily. That can be worked out in a myriad of ways, but if that's not there, it falls far from what it is the Holy Spirit is trying to accomplish in God's people.
That is as simple as I can explain it. Organic is the life of Christ Himself. It can be or mean nothing else. The Holy Spirit lives to reveal and form His life within His people, and the means to achieve that is in the one to another mentioned throughout the letters of the apostles. If there is no one to another, there is no way the work of God as it is meant to be can be accomplished. In fact, that is the work of God to interact with one another on a daily basis in order to watch over and encourage one another to be conformed to His image; to reach the fullness of Christ.
We need to be careful of using the term organic church carelessly and flippantly, as already there are thousands of believers who have done so, bringing it into a mystical, ephemeral meaning, rather than the very practical outworking it was meant to be by the Lord Jesus Christ.
I don't mean by that that there isn't to be a deep, personal walk with the Lord, as if there isn't, the one to another would be meaningless and unfruitful. It would just be a bunch of people having good relationships outside of the life of Christ and the purpose of God.
But that personal, deep walk with Christ is never meant to be done alone. Not only is it extremely difficult to accomplish, but it was never meant to be hoarded, but rather to be shared with others. That's what it means when Jesus said out of our innermost beings will flow rivers of living water. The fact that there is something flowing out of us suggest and points to that there is someone else it is flowing to. It isn't to be a vast, inner dead sea held to ourselves.
An organic church is a people living from the life of Christ on a daily basis one to another, sharing that life by the person of the Holy Spirit within us. Meetings are simply an extension of that daily life into a corporate gathering as it is perceived to be needed for all to learn from. By that I mean that something that was learned in daily interaction was found to be something the overall church would benefit from. Overall, that should be the basis for corporate gatherings.
So when you hear the phrase organic church being thrown around, keep these things in mind. It's all about sharing the life of Christ with one another daily.
It's not about only changing from a meeting in a building to a meeting in the home with nothing more to it. That has been happening for a long time with little gain from it. Most people get into that for a short time and gravitate to the "next big thing" God is allegedly doing. I've seen that happen many times over the years.
To be truly organic means the abandonment of your lives together in order to see what is on the heart of God fulfilled. It won't justify sin, selfishness or the world, but will work together to help one another stand successfully against it.
Wicked people have already went outside the institutional church and have become twice the children of hell as those they think they are better than. They make excuses for homosexuals, embrace most religions and gods, and are embracing big government as the means of imposing their wills on others.
They say that so-called post-modernism must be embraced so Christianity can be relevant, and yet in embracing that demonic theory and world view, abandon Christ Himself. Some that even write about the so-called organic church embrace those that have abandoned Christ in the name of post-modernism.
Organic as it relates to Jesus Christ is a reference to His very person being worked out in a people. Anything that opposed and contradicts that is an enemy of Christ and must be rejected and abandoned.
None of this is new. People who are tired of the institutional church and its own compromises and unbiblical practices over respond and throw away the baby with the bath water. In other words, they reject the foundations of Jesus Christ and let in any doctrine that fits their particular fancy of the day.
Many institutional churches have done this as well, although sincere ones do at least keep a modicum of the faith, and teach a saving faith in Jesus Christ that is real.
As always, Satan always raised up a counterfeit from the real, and that's not different than other times in history when God has begun to move His church forward and deeper into Jesus Christ and His ways.
Throughout the entirety of the New Testament, the revelation is that Jesus Christ is the center of all things and life to those who truly believe in His name, and the purpose of God coming forth from that faith is that He will draw people together and build them into a house He can live and move in. That is organic. That is what the church is called to be. And it's expected and meant to be accomplished and lived on a daily basis. Don't accept anything less. Don't accept the sinful and wicked compromises of those trying to ride the wave of real organic life in Christ for a counterfeit.
Most people today think of organic church as a place where everyone is allowed to talk and there is no clergy guiding and directing the process. While that isn't a terrible thing, it falls far short from what is in the heart of God.
Secondly, it also has become something that allows for almost anything to allow to be communicated, much of which isn't representative of Christ at all, and doesn't flow out of daily relationships amongst God's people.
In other words, much of organic church points to the idea of the entire church meeting together. The problem is when the church of Jesus Christ meets together, the result should be that it emerges out of living lives daily together with the interaction flowing from what has been happening with the "one another" of the body.
Look up one another some time in your concordance and see how it fits so predominantly in the hearts and minds of the apostles. In essence, that's what organic church really is. If there isn't a daily one another based upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, it doesn't matter what term may be used, it isn't organic.
Organic is nothing more or less than the sharing of Christ together daily. That can be worked out in a myriad of ways, but if that's not there, it falls far from what it is the Holy Spirit is trying to accomplish in God's people.
That is as simple as I can explain it. Organic is the life of Christ Himself. It can be or mean nothing else. The Holy Spirit lives to reveal and form His life within His people, and the means to achieve that is in the one to another mentioned throughout the letters of the apostles. If there is no one to another, there is no way the work of God as it is meant to be can be accomplished. In fact, that is the work of God to interact with one another on a daily basis in order to watch over and encourage one another to be conformed to His image; to reach the fullness of Christ.
We need to be careful of using the term organic church carelessly and flippantly, as already there are thousands of believers who have done so, bringing it into a mystical, ephemeral meaning, rather than the very practical outworking it was meant to be by the Lord Jesus Christ.
I don't mean by that that there isn't to be a deep, personal walk with the Lord, as if there isn't, the one to another would be meaningless and unfruitful. It would just be a bunch of people having good relationships outside of the life of Christ and the purpose of God.
But that personal, deep walk with Christ is never meant to be done alone. Not only is it extremely difficult to accomplish, but it was never meant to be hoarded, but rather to be shared with others. That's what it means when Jesus said out of our innermost beings will flow rivers of living water. The fact that there is something flowing out of us suggest and points to that there is someone else it is flowing to. It isn't to be a vast, inner dead sea held to ourselves.
An organic church is a people living from the life of Christ on a daily basis one to another, sharing that life by the person of the Holy Spirit within us. Meetings are simply an extension of that daily life into a corporate gathering as it is perceived to be needed for all to learn from. By that I mean that something that was learned in daily interaction was found to be something the overall church would benefit from. Overall, that should be the basis for corporate gatherings.
So when you hear the phrase organic church being thrown around, keep these things in mind. It's all about sharing the life of Christ with one another daily.
It's not about only changing from a meeting in a building to a meeting in the home with nothing more to it. That has been happening for a long time with little gain from it. Most people get into that for a short time and gravitate to the "next big thing" God is allegedly doing. I've seen that happen many times over the years.
To be truly organic means the abandonment of your lives together in order to see what is on the heart of God fulfilled. It won't justify sin, selfishness or the world, but will work together to help one another stand successfully against it.
Wicked people have already went outside the institutional church and have become twice the children of hell as those they think they are better than. They make excuses for homosexuals, embrace most religions and gods, and are embracing big government as the means of imposing their wills on others.
They say that so-called post-modernism must be embraced so Christianity can be relevant, and yet in embracing that demonic theory and world view, abandon Christ Himself. Some that even write about the so-called organic church embrace those that have abandoned Christ in the name of post-modernism.
Organic as it relates to Jesus Christ is a reference to His very person being worked out in a people. Anything that opposed and contradicts that is an enemy of Christ and must be rejected and abandoned.
None of this is new. People who are tired of the institutional church and its own compromises and unbiblical practices over respond and throw away the baby with the bath water. In other words, they reject the foundations of Jesus Christ and let in any doctrine that fits their particular fancy of the day.
Many institutional churches have done this as well, although sincere ones do at least keep a modicum of the faith, and teach a saving faith in Jesus Christ that is real.
As always, Satan always raised up a counterfeit from the real, and that's not different than other times in history when God has begun to move His church forward and deeper into Jesus Christ and His ways.
Throughout the entirety of the New Testament, the revelation is that Jesus Christ is the center of all things and life to those who truly believe in His name, and the purpose of God coming forth from that faith is that He will draw people together and build them into a house He can live and move in. That is organic. That is what the church is called to be. And it's expected and meant to be accomplished and lived on a daily basis. Don't accept anything less. Don't accept the sinful and wicked compromises of those trying to ride the wave of real organic life in Christ for a counterfeit.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
There is something about the idea of the City of God that has captured the imaginations of people from the time of Abraham, when he started to understand that even though he walked across and all over the land promised to his physical descendants, there was something far greater God was offering, and that was a city whose builder and maker was God Himself.
Just like the physical creation, all of that was simply types and shadows of a God who was real. That was the case with the promised land as well, where it was symbolic of a far greater reality, where when Jesus came He set all that aside for the truth that was and is His very person. That's why He is called the truth, or the reality. He is all that is real, and everything else is only a reflection of that reality. The exception is man, who was made in the very image of Jesus Christ.
So when Abraham was looking for a city whose builder and maker was God, he was looking for a city which had Christ as the architect, which is what builder really means, and those blueprints were Christ in and of Himself.
When we see New Jerusalem coming out of heaven and the elements that are described in the city, like the throne, golden street, Tree of Life, light and a river, all those are based upon who Christ is.
And looked at from the outside, we see the people of God described as gates and walls. All those precious stones are what those looking from the outside see, while those precious stones are what they are because of the work that is done on the inside, as represented by what was revealed that was inside of the city.
Abraham saw all of this and as a result always considered himself a pilgrim on the earth because he was not able to find that city, even in the physical promised land, because it was a city that would be built from the inside out based upon Christ who now dwells within us by the Holy Spirit.
All of that means that as long as there isn't a city whose builder and maker is God to be found on the earth, we will never find a place we think of as home. The longing will always be there, but the fulfillment of that longing will be frustrated.
The city of God can only be and be found where the foundation of who Jesus Christ is is the foundation of that city, or rather, is the chief cornerstone of that city.
When all is said and done, the city of God is nothing less than God's people conformed to the image of Jesus Christ in all that that entails. That is the culmination of the eternal purpose of God. That's what it means for His dwelling place to be among men; it's through a people sold out for Christ and seek to have all that He is built in them together in a locality on the earth.
What is called the Israel of God, as it applies to the new creation, is all that is of Christ universal expressed in the world, while the city of God is all of Christ applied to a local, specific geographic area of the earth.
Whether global or local, the point and importance is that Jesus Christ in His person and plan is to be expressed throughout the earth, as it increasingly is to be filled with His glory.
No matter where it is, what makes it magnificent is it'll be organically filled with Christ as His people are transformed into His very likeness; both in who He is and what He wants to be done.
That's another ways of saying we are to be filled with the Spirit of God as we respond to His life within us.
Being filled with the Spirit isn't simply having Christ in us in some type of lethargic, holding pattern, rather it is the same as the very power that raised Christ from the dead. That's the life. That's the power that indwells us, and He's not in any way neutral as to His purpose. He will have a people filled with who He is and doing His purpose on this earth.
This will not be done withing the confines or organized, institutionalized Christianity, but rather by those that go outside the camp and gladly bear His shame as we expose the devices of Satan as he attempts to have an imprint of his own on the world, even those in the religious world that look to the outward primarily and first, rather than the indwelling of the living God who then draws into real fellowship with one another so His work on earth can be accomplished.
Only a people in living fellowship based upon the person of Jesus Christ will fulfill this call. Only they can be that city that has been hidden in the heart of the Godhead since before the foundation of the world, but has now began to be built by God Himself as He brings His people together in living relationships in order to complete His work and satisfy the desire of His heart.
That's the passion of God and by extension my own. We all must live and commit ourselves to that end above all other things or people that may interfere with our lives.
Just like the physical creation, all of that was simply types and shadows of a God who was real. That was the case with the promised land as well, where it was symbolic of a far greater reality, where when Jesus came He set all that aside for the truth that was and is His very person. That's why He is called the truth, or the reality. He is all that is real, and everything else is only a reflection of that reality. The exception is man, who was made in the very image of Jesus Christ.
So when Abraham was looking for a city whose builder and maker was God, he was looking for a city which had Christ as the architect, which is what builder really means, and those blueprints were Christ in and of Himself.
When we see New Jerusalem coming out of heaven and the elements that are described in the city, like the throne, golden street, Tree of Life, light and a river, all those are based upon who Christ is.
And looked at from the outside, we see the people of God described as gates and walls. All those precious stones are what those looking from the outside see, while those precious stones are what they are because of the work that is done on the inside, as represented by what was revealed that was inside of the city.
Abraham saw all of this and as a result always considered himself a pilgrim on the earth because he was not able to find that city, even in the physical promised land, because it was a city that would be built from the inside out based upon Christ who now dwells within us by the Holy Spirit.
All of that means that as long as there isn't a city whose builder and maker is God to be found on the earth, we will never find a place we think of as home. The longing will always be there, but the fulfillment of that longing will be frustrated.
The city of God can only be and be found where the foundation of who Jesus Christ is is the foundation of that city, or rather, is the chief cornerstone of that city.
When all is said and done, the city of God is nothing less than God's people conformed to the image of Jesus Christ in all that that entails. That is the culmination of the eternal purpose of God. That's what it means for His dwelling place to be among men; it's through a people sold out for Christ and seek to have all that He is built in them together in a locality on the earth.
What is called the Israel of God, as it applies to the new creation, is all that is of Christ universal expressed in the world, while the city of God is all of Christ applied to a local, specific geographic area of the earth.
Whether global or local, the point and importance is that Jesus Christ in His person and plan is to be expressed throughout the earth, as it increasingly is to be filled with His glory.
No matter where it is, what makes it magnificent is it'll be organically filled with Christ as His people are transformed into His very likeness; both in who He is and what He wants to be done.
That's another ways of saying we are to be filled with the Spirit of God as we respond to His life within us.
Being filled with the Spirit isn't simply having Christ in us in some type of lethargic, holding pattern, rather it is the same as the very power that raised Christ from the dead. That's the life. That's the power that indwells us, and He's not in any way neutral as to His purpose. He will have a people filled with who He is and doing His purpose on this earth.
This will not be done withing the confines or organized, institutionalized Christianity, but rather by those that go outside the camp and gladly bear His shame as we expose the devices of Satan as he attempts to have an imprint of his own on the world, even those in the religious world that look to the outward primarily and first, rather than the indwelling of the living God who then draws into real fellowship with one another so His work on earth can be accomplished.
Only a people in living fellowship based upon the person of Jesus Christ will fulfill this call. Only they can be that city that has been hidden in the heart of the Godhead since before the foundation of the world, but has now began to be built by God Himself as He brings His people together in living relationships in order to complete His work and satisfy the desire of His heart.
That's the passion of God and by extension my own. We all must live and commit ourselves to that end above all other things or people that may interfere with our lives.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Leviticus 19:35,36 - King James Version
35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.
36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Not a lot of Christians think in terms of money or currency in relationship to the Bible or Jesus Christ, as most of us operate under certain assumptions concerning it, and really don't understand the underlying factors affecting the money we used on a daily basis for the transactions we make in our lives.
But the Bible actually has quite a bit to say about money that has integrity, and the passage above encapsulates that very well.
Most of us, when we think of money from long ago, understand historically that people used gold and silver coins as part of the medium of exchange. That's why the reference to just weights and measures are mentioned by God in the passage above.
What we don't understand is even though we mostly use paper or digital currency these days, there is still the principle of the fact that money must have integrity if it is to be something we can predictably trust as a medium of exchange.
In other words, money shouldn't be allowed to be created out of thin air by central banks around the world (which is called fiat money), because it has a strong, negative impact on the value of the currency that is being printed, or these days, digitally added to the marketplace.
Before we touch on this, don't get overly concerned about what a "just ephah, and a just hin," means in the scriptures. The point isn't what they specifically were, but the fact that there was a standard that was understood by the people of that time, and that standard was to be adhered to by the order and command of Almighty God.
I say this because some people easily get sidetracked by this to the detriment of missing the point of the command of God, which was that money was to have integrity to it, and anything that undermines that integrity is disallowed by Jesus Christ.
That means people must be able to confidently engage in financial interactions where they can trust that the money is exactly what it is supposed to be. Fiat money, or money created by central banks around the world disrupt that confidence and predictability, whereby people and businesses are hurt by it because of the fact that just weights and balances are not being used.
How is that the case?
I'm not going to get into every probability and possibility concerning money and the forces bearing on it, as it would confuse most of you, and the frustration would probably cause you to abandon the idea of even trying to understand the basic premise behind central banks using unjust weights and measures in the eyes of God.
Instead, will look at what is the most important part of the equation, and that is when money is printed by central banks, including the Federal Reserve in America, it debases or weakens the U.S. dollar, resulting in less buying power by those using the currency.
Consequently, over time, inflation rises and rises, coming about from the release of money into the economy that is created out of thin air; money that has no backing or support whatsoever, other than people unfortunately trust in it because of the promise that it has the full backing of the U.S. government. Other governments around the world make similar promises, with many reneging on them after they basically destroy their currencies.
So every time a central bank releases money that isn't backed by anything such as gold, it effectually is participating in the unjust act of disrupting the weights and measures required by God. It does that be lowering the value of the currency in question. That's sin.
Period.
The majority of people don't understand this, including Christians, so they support the actions of central banks, or at minimum don't oppose or pray against them, as we should.
Why this is important is because the central banks give governments and corrupt politicians a blank check to spend whatever they want to, which not only adds to the national debt, which in the case of America is unsustainable, as well as other regions of the world, such as the euro zone, bringing the economies crashing down on the heads of unsuspecting people,
who don't understand the forces being applied upon them. They know something is wrong, but they don't know the why of it.
As sheep being led to the slaughter, and because governments and central banks have socialized people into accepting their actions as those that will save them, they continue to call for more spending and stimulus, even though that is one of the major reasons for the sick global and national economies.
What a gold or combined metal or commodity standard does is force governments and politicians to spend within their means. For Christians, that points to the government being kept very small and focused on its only God-given function, which is protection and the court systems.
For example, if there was a gold standard, or a gold standard combined with another commodity like silver or other metals, there could be no more spending than what the currency is backed up with. The result of that would be money that could be counted on to hold its value, and a more predictable outcome in the future.
Notice in the scripture above how God equates just weights and measures to the children of Israel, or the Old Testament church, being delivered from bondage out of Egypt. The result of the abandonment of money with integrity is bondage, and that's what we see today as money is created and thrown around by central banks.
To create money out of thin air is rebellion against God, and ever since the Federal Reserve was created in 1913, the value of the U.S. dollar has plummeted by over 95 percent. If the country you live in has had a central bank for decades, you could also check to see how the value of the currency you use has fallen as well. I guarantee it'll shock you when you find out what it is.
Fiat money, or money created by central banks without anything backing it up, is a devastating practice which is the major enabler of politicians trying to make a name for themselves in the earth. It corrupts them even further, and allows them to make the government into a healer and provider; something that is an abomination to God, and something He never intended.
Go and read the book of Daniel when he revealed and interpreted the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. It said that when Jesus Christ (identified as the Rock cut out of a mountain) would come, he would small the worldly kingdoms and empires. Anything that supports the idea of empire-building is a direct assault on the fact that Jesus Christ alone is king of kings and lord of lords. Anything supporting something contrary is an enemy to that reality. Central banks and money creation out of thin air falls within that category.
As for money, for it to operate as God intended, it needs to be backed up by something that provides a value to it. Anything else is a form of magic; only an idea or a thought - nothing else. The only thing allowing it to continue is because people who don't understand the mechanics behind money continue to have misguided trust and faith in it. They'll do that to their ruin.
Money is now flawed for the reasons mentioned above, and we need to pray for the return of money that actually has hard assets backing it. Anything else is built on shifting sand, and it will eventually come tumbling down.
That's not to say we are to trust in money in general. But we do need to be able to trust in the fact that money should be what it is asserted to be. It isn't.
It's like buying a car from someone who says it works great and has nothing wrong with it. We don't put our trust or faith in a car, but when we buy it for an agreed upon amount based upon its condition, we should be able to take possession of the car taking those assertions into account. We cannot do that with money, and the flawed U.S. dollar and many other currencies are a disaster that is no longer even attempted to be held in any type of check or balance.
Money must have integrity, and it no longer has any whatsoever. People, including Christians, will find that out to their ruin some day, as they continue to support the government and out-of-control politicians who believe they can continue to spend with impunity.
At its basic level, money needs to have something back it up. If it doesn't, it can be played with and manipulated by anyone who chooses to, and when you combine that with the governments around the world exceeding the mandate laid down by God, it's only a matter of time and when it'll come crashing down upon unsuspecting people.
We must pray that God will deal with central banks by removing them out of the world. We must pray for an honest currency; one that has substance and integrity to it and which holds its value over time.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Confirming the government is hapless in its operations and ability to function in any responsible manner, the FHA, which had boasted in the past of being “the only government agency that operates entirely from its self-generated income and costs the taxpayers nothing,” is now poised to be the latest government agency to require a bailout.
FHA data show that the number of single-family loans insured by the FHA that are 90 days or over past due jumped to approximately 739,000 in September. That's over 9.5 percent of all the loans guaranteed by the government agency, which backs up $1.08 trillion in mortgages.
The failing Federal Housing Administration has had its capital reserves plunge into the negative, falling to minus $16.3 billion.
Reserves required by the FHA are required to stand at 2 percent, and which based upon its portfolio, should have capital reserves of $22 billion.
As it stands with those numbers, the FHA must have a cash infusion of about $38 billion to meet its requirements and remain solvent.
With very little if any catalysts on the horizon, it appears the problem for the FHA will worsen as the number of people behind on their loan payments soar.
This should be another impetus behind the ongoing rise in price of gold and silver.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Romans 8:18-20
King James Version (KJV)
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
A story from the earlier part of 2012 reminded me of an experience my wife and I had as we walked on a path along the banks of a river in Kentucky. The story I'm referring to is that of a man named Lawrence Anthony, who was also known as “The Elephant Whisperer.”
He died in March of 2012, and according to his son, the elephants he worked with to rescue and rehabilitate, spontaneously returned to his home when he died, even though they were scattered across the Thula Thula, a reserve in South Africa.
The report said this:
When Anthony died of a heart attack, the elephants, who were grazing miles away in different parts of the park, travelled over 12 hours to reach his house. According to his son Jason, both herds arrived shortly after Anthony’s death. They hadn’t visited the compound where Anthony lived for a year and a half, but Jason says 'in coming up there on that day of all days, we certainly believe that they had sensed it.'
I want to add to that story the experience I mentioned. As my wife and I were walking along the bank of the river - about 15 feet away from the edge - I told the Lord Jesus Christ how I wished that He would allow me to see some fish.
As we walked I saw a couple of large fish and was excited and thankful to see them. There was nothing unusual in and of itself concerning that. But as we got nearer to the first fish we saw, more of them appeared to my eyes, and as we walked on, hundreds of them were sitting on the surface of the river, which was dead calm.
This was the case for about several blocks before there were no more fish. What was amazing was the fish never moved or spooked as we walked.
I'm an expert in fresh water fish, so I knew for a small number of fish, and for a short period of time, it's not unprecedented for them to stay around even if they see or hear you. What is unprecedented is to have hundreds of them laying on top of a river and all facing you for several blocks, with none of them making an attempt to even move as they saw and heard us.
Interestingly, at first I just viewed this as a unique blessing of God to allow us to see His amazing power and superiority over His creation.
After we got home and seemingly prompted a little by the Holy Spirit, I started to think on the event some and realized that it wasn't just for an interesting blessing and response to a prayer of mine that God allowed us to see and experience the event, it was to teach us about the reality of the creation waiting "... for the manifestation of the sons of God."
Now this wasn't revealed to make it look like there was anything special about my wife or myself. That wasn't part of the story or narrative. The purpose of it was to share and help those who truly are born of the Spirit and have Christ within them, see that the creation itself is centered and focused on the work of God within us because "the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."
The response of God's children to Christ within us, as He works to change us into His image, will result in the release of the entire creation itself, which is eagerly waiting for that day.
When thinking about the fish, I realized they were paying homage to Christ within us ... not to us as having anything inherently special about us.
But Christ has put His people in charge of creation, and ultimately how the people of Jesus Christ go, so will go creation go. Eventually Christ will grow, enlarge and expand within us to the point where creation will be released from the bondage of corruption.
That will happen when we as a people enter into the experience of the "glorious liberty of the children of God."
I have no idea whether or not the "elephant whisperer" was a Christian or not, but it does point to the fact that there is a direct connection to the creation and the sons of God. It will probably be amazing as we continue to respond to the work of Christ within us how it'll impact not only the creation, but effects of the curse upon it, which apparently will be slowly released in conjunction with the image of Jesus Christ being formed within us.
Having said all that, people are first among the Godhead, and no matter how wonderful our effect on the creation, they will by far be the most important focus as we grow in Christ. But when the creation is gradually, slowly released, we'll find that our dominion over it will increasingly result in it yielding its fruit at levels previously unheard of since sin first entered into the world.
This isn't something that should be a goal of ours, but it's mentioned for the purpose of understanding that it will be a byproduct of our faithful and obedient response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness.
As the years and decades roll on, we'll continually see the land providing improved crop yields, among many other benefits and changes related to creation because of the fact there will be among the people of Jesus Christ those that are faithful to the call of being willing and obedient in responding to the work of being conformed to the very image of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ isn't going to suddenly appear to a complete discontinuity when coming for His people at the end of this age, rather it'll be like a symphony orchestra building up to a crescendo, where there's nothing else to do but call us to be with Him in response to the faithfulness of those that heed His purpose.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Data gathered from over 3,000 measuring points on land and sea has confirmed that the earth indeed has stopped warming since 1997, according to the British Met Office, which is the meteorological center of Great Britain.
The dishonest proponents of global warming have known this for years, which is why they changed their identification of the fictitious problem to climate change. Doing that, they can now disingenuously use any change in temperature to back their claims, which in the end, is an attack on business and economic growth.
Here's what the Daily Mail reported:
The world stopped getting warmer almost 16 years ago, according to new data released last week (October 2012).
The figures, which have triggered debate among climate scientists, reveal that from the beginning of 1997 until August 2012, there was no discernible rise in aggregate global temperatures.
This means that the ‘plateau’ or ‘pause’ in global warming has now lasted for about the same time as the previous period when temperatures rose, 1980 to 1996. Before that, temperatures had been stable or declining for about 40 years.
The new figures mean that the pause in global warming has now lasted for about the same time as the previous period when temperatures rose, 1980 to 1996. . . . The new figures mean that the ‘pause’ in global warming has now lasted for about the same time as the previous period when temperatures rose, 1980 to 1996.
The new data, compiled from more than 3,000 measuring points on land and sea, was issued quietly on the Internet, without any media fanfare, and, until today, it has not been reported.
This stands in sharp contrast to the release of the previous figures six months ago, which went only to the end of 2010 – a very warm year.
Ending the data then means it is possible to show a slight warming trend since 1997, but 2011 and the first eight months of 2012 were much cooler, and thus this trend is erased. . . .
From the start of 1997 until August 2012, however, figures released last week show the answer is zero: the trend, derived from the aggregate data collected from more than 3,000 worldwide measuring points, has been flat.
Not that there has been any coverage in the media, which usually reports climate issues assiduously, since the figures were quietly release online with no accompanying press release – unlike six months ago when they showed a slight warming trend.. . .
But according to increasing numbers of serious climate scientists, it does suggest that the computer models that have for years been predicting imminent doom, such as those used by the Met Office and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, are flawed, and that the climate is far more complex than the models assert.
This is a blistering conclusion that now much defended point by point by the proponents of global warming, or they'll have to admit they have either outright lied, or have another agenda behind pushing the scam on the global public.
Of course the evidence against global warming is now irrefutable, so they'll have to change their tactics and not even attempt to defend their erroneous position.
The tactics, since they are now no longer believed by an increasing number of people, will have to be to persuade politicians to force laws and taxes on corporations and people no matter if it needs to be or not.
For Christians, we need to pray against this evil, as it will do more to undermine the liberties and economic well-being of a growing number of Americans and other global economies which it would have a negative impact, which will ultimately affect the followers of Jesus Christ.
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