God's Grace

Somebody Like Me

2010-08-14T12:02:00.000-04:00

Yes....I enjoy Gospel music!

First called "Christians" in Antioch!

2010-07-17T08:49:00.001-04:00

By: Tripp Campbell

Since the Church was birthed on Pentecost, many have only embraced a Historical Jesus versus The Indwelling presence of the "Anointed One." In-"Christ" (Christos-Anointed One)

Interestingly enough, The Disciples were first called "Christians" in Antioch............................Why?

It is well known that Saul, who was later to be called Paul, spent (13) thirteen years in Tarsus developing his trade as a (tentmaker). Moreover, as Saul was growing in a practical sense, he also was being given/ministered to, by the Holy Spirit a far deeper Revelation, which would ultimately change the World.

You may ask, well, what was this great "Revelation"? Listen to Paul's own words inspired by God in His Epistle to the Church of Ephesus.

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. (Eph. 3:1-12) nasb
Again, what is this mystery?

I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in me/you, the hope of glory. (Col.1:25-27)nasb
Now, Saul/Paul, after (13) thirteen years, was hunted by Barnabas and brought from Tarsus to Antioch. And it was here, that a large number of people assembled over the course of a year, and Paul ministered this New found Mystery, which had now been revealed which is Christ In Me,the hope of Glory..............................and in Antioch the Disciples were first called "Christians" (Christ- In- Ones).

(It is my prayer, that "all" will begin to embrace,the Reality of Christ-In me, versus the Historical Jesus of the past, and the word "Christians" will be known,as it was known in Antioch... Amen)

Revival is Within!

2010-05-22T15:51:00.000-04:00

2Ch 7:14 "if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

I used to believe that the verse above was a receipe for revival in our land......as God has opened my eyes, I now know that this verse does promise an Ishmael blessing but not an Isaac Inheritance.

You see, in my past I tried living in a mixture of old and new covenant reality/illusion. Today, I once again realized, not only did Jesus die for my sins, but I died with Him....."and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."

Wow, what an inheritance......we are no longer slaves but sons and daughters of God with all rights and privledges thereof........Revival is Within!

Revival is realization of Christ within me,the Hope of Glory!

The Way to Live

2010-05-02T12:08:00.001-04:00

Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own.

Giving, not getting, is the way.

Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes. (Mark 4:24-25)msg

No longer I who live

2010-04-11T07:42:00.000-04:00

"I have been crucified with Christ ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

Song for Jean

2010-02-06T16:31:00.002-05:00

The Traditional Sunday Sermon

2010-01-31T12:14:00.002-05:00

How effective is the traditional Sunday Sermon? According to David Sousa, How the Brain Learns (2006), determined what we retain after 24 hours of a teaching episode.

The findings:

5% of lecture
10% of what we read
20% of what we hear
30% of what we see
50% of what we both see and hear
70% of what we discuss with others
80% of what we experience personally
95% of what we teach to someone else

The book of Hebrews would seem to indicate that all Christians should attain a level of maturity that comes through teaching and not just being listeners.

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. (Heb. 5:12)nlt 2007.

Patrick Henry Hughes

2010-01-17T11:42:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T20:49:00.001-05:00

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Romans 12:18 NLT

Much More

2009-08-10T20:31:00.004-04:00

Rom 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Rom 5:15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many

Rom 5:17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Rom 11:12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!

Heb 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Today I was pondering the name of this blog's url, Much More Of Jesus.

Wow! What an awesome realization regarding the One whom indwells us. His "LIFE" dwelling in me/you, which enables each of us to live and reign.

Child of God, know you have been raised from the dead, to walk in newness of "LIFE"... His "LIFE"!

Now Go, and live the"LIFE," by the Much More within.

It's Time

2009-08-10T07:46:00.001-04:00

New posts to come!

Best Cancer Counsel Ever!

2007-12-26T08:47:00.000-05:00

I found this over at the Lifestream blog, and wanted to post it here.

I hesitate to post this because I know just about everyone on the planet knows of a sure cure for cancer from eating tree bark, to drinking some kind of reconstituted seed, to visiting clinics in foreign countries. Every time I mention that someone I know is dealing with cancer I get a pile of referrals, all guaranteed to work with anecdotal evidence to back it up. Cancer patients tell me it is one of the most frustrating aspects of dealing with well-intentioned people while you’re also trying to deal with the disease and treatment. People who are desperate are sitting ducks for every expensive procedure and false hope to cure the disease. So I am going to ask that no one fill the ‘comments’ section with more of those cures, and if they do then for those who are dealing with cancer, feel free to ignore them. Please. On both counts!

But I have to share this email exchange with you. Dave Coleman, a close friend of mine who was my partner on the SO YOU DON’T WANT TO GO TO CHURCH ANYMORE project, received a letter from a young couple who are facing a crisis. The sought out Dave for help and, as you will see, could not have approached a better person:

My wife of 23 years was diagnosed with colon cancer. She is recovering from surgery and we are waiting to start the chemo/radiation adventure (mid December). When my wife was in the hospital I had several panic attacks and became so worried about the situation that I almost ended up in the emergency room myself. It seem after years of being a Christian, I am totally unequipped to face the emotional trials and feelings that come with pain, suffering and mortality issues. I guess that I’m just afraid. Afraid for my wife, afraid for my children afraid for me. I am trying to pray and meditate on scripture and it works at times, but I do have an hunger for peace in Christ.

Here is Dave’s reply in its totality. In my estimation you will not read better counsel to deal with any devastating calamity in this age, whether it be cancer, loss of a job or something else. Dave not only acted as a hospice chaplain for over 10 years, but as you’ll see has engaged this same kind of cancer, albeit at a more advanced stage in his own life:

I don’t know if Wayne told you or not, but next month (Jan. ‘08) I will officially become a Cancer Survivor. In 2003 they found a large Colorectal tumor which was advanced Stage IV. They wouldn’t even operate on me here, but fortunately there were two doctors in the country who would attempt it—one on the East Coast and one at USC. I went thru all the hoops with severe complications requiring an additional 5 surgeries, etc. Won’t bore you with the details and my only reason for mentioning it is to say that colon cancer is not the end of the world—though a battle, to be sure. I want to encourage your wife and yourself, and perhaps share a positive thought or two.

The main thing of course is prayer. Just accept the illness and offer yourself to God, for He alone is the One who does all things well. Go through all the chemo/radiation, etc. but relax with it. Get to know people, share with them. I had some great times in the chemo room, and met some fantastic folks along the way.

An illness such as this is a tremendous opportunity to grow in the Lord. Sometimes though, we panic, and believe the statistics, etc. which has a way causing a certain amount of futility. “What’s the use?” we think. In my ten years as a Hospice Chaplain, the one thing I noticed about all of the patients was that they had given up. The attitude of a cancer patient and family must simply be, “Let’s see what God has for us in all of this.” I am not talking about whistling in the dark. I am talking about spiritual reality. As Jesus said, “God knows all these things that you have need for.” He knows what is going on and He loves us so deeply. He wants us to know that and that is the key. He is not out to, get us.

Sometimes, though, we have a tendency to panic. Why? If we really understand ourselves deeply, the bottom line in all of our personalities is our deep-seated desire to be in control. This to me is the basic meaning of what the Bible calls sin. We want to have everything run smoothly in order to look good, and when it doesn’t, we feel threatened and when we are threatened we get scared (afraid) and that moves us into anger, which causes panic, anxiety and/or depression, etc. The opposite of love is control (fear). There is no fear in love, because perfect love cast out fear, writes the apostle. God is constantly at work conforming us to His image (the outward expression of an invisible reality). So that like Jesus told the disciples, “He who has seen me, has seen the Father.” So often rather then to accept what God is doing, we have been taught the ‘principles’ of how to get from God whatever you want. And we forget that if God is love. He doesn’t control us and we, in turn, cannot control Him. He is there to see us through, and bring us into a deeper awareness of who He really is, and not what we want Him to be, which of course is far better. Allow your wife’s illness to bring you closer together in your family and of course closer to Father. You have been and will continue to be in our prayers on your behalf. Again, there is no need for fear, for the many reasons all ready mentioned, and also because being uptight (stress) just knocks out our immune system and destroys the healing qualities of our body.

I remember about 6 days after my major surgery, the Dr. said that I was not healing as fast as he would like. Why? I asked, “Well, he said, the immune system is trying to deal with all of the pain medication that you are receiving, so that your healing is slowed down to a crawl.” Pull the needle out, I said, and in a few days, I was on my way home. Painful? You bet, but necessary for healing. There is an old Gaelic blessing that goes, “May you have the commitment to heal what has hurt you, to allow it to come close to you and in the end, to become one with you.” Don’t run away from this. It will be the biggest blessing in your lives.”
In His Peace, Dave and Donna

One Leader!

2007-11-25T12:33:00.000-05:00

"But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters. Don't call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven. None of you should be called the leader. The Messiah is your only leader.
(Matt: 23:8-11) cev

Saved by His Life!

2007-07-06T10:33:00.000-04:00

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Rom 5:10)nasb

How are we saved?

by His "Life".

SEEING THE ACCOMPLISHED FACT

2007-06-20T10:21:00.000-04:00

by Watchman Nee

"We are His masterpiece." (Ephesians 2:10) The Church is the very best God can produce. It can never be improved upon.

We look around and see breakdown everywhere and we wonder, "What is the Church coming to?" I tell you she is not coming to anything; she has arrived!

We do not look forward to discover her goal; we look back. God reached His end in Christ before the foundation of the world and we move forward with Him on the basis of what already is.

As we move in the light of that eternal fact, we witness its progressive manifestation - you advance spiritually by finding out what you already are, not by trying to become what you hope to be.

It is when you see you are dead that you die (i.e. manifest ones death in Christ);
It is when you see you are risen that you arise;
It is when your see you are holy that you become holy. Seeing the accomplished fact determines the pathway to the realizing of that fact.

The end is reached by seeing, not desiring or working. The only possibility of spiritual progress lies in us discovering the truth as God sees it; the truth concerning Christ, the truth concerning ourselves in Christ, and the truth concerning the Church, the Body of Christ."

Abide in Him!

2007-06-16T11:00:00.000-04:00

"As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him."

The verb "abide", meno in the very rare pluperfect tense, indicates an event viewed as having been once and for all accomplished in past time!

God's Ultimate Passion

2007-05-27T11:06:00.000-04:00

Posting a few quotes from Frank Viola's book above.

"God only accepts one Person-----His beloved Son, And we are in Him! So He accepts us on exactly the same basis as He accepts Christ. Therefore, we need not struggle to earn God's favor. Nor must we grapple to have a "better relationship" with God. We only need to come to Christ and rest in Him."

The Shack

2007-05-15T11:59:00.000-04:00

I am currently reading "The Shack"

Really enjoying this fictional work loaded with Spiritual truths!

First called "Christians" in Antioch!

2007-05-03T09:16:00.000-04:00

(repost)

Since the Church was birthed on Pentecost, many have only embraced a Historical Jesus versus The Indwelling presence of the "Anointed One." In-"Christ" (Christos-Anointed One)

Interestingly enough, The Disciples were first called "Christians" in Antioch............................Why?

It is well known that Saul, who was later to be called Paul, spent (14) fourteen years in Tarsus developing his trade as a (tentmaker). Moreover, as Saul was growing in a practical sense, he also was being given/ministered to, by the Holy Spirit a far deeper Revelation, which would ultimately change the World.

You may ask, well, what was this great "Revelation"? Listen to Paul's own words inspired by God in His Epistle to the Church of Ephesus.

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. (Eph. 3:1-12) nasb

Again, what is this mystery?

I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in me/you, the hope of glory. (Col.1:25-27)nasb

Now, Saul/Paul, after (14) fourteen years, was hunted by Barnabas and brought from Tarsus to Antioch. And it was here, that a large number of people assembled over the course of a year, and Paul ministered this New found Mystery, which had now been revealed which is Christ In Me,the hope of Glory..............................and in Antioch the Disciples were first called "Christians" (Christ- In- Ones).

(It is my prayer, that "all" will begin to embrace,the Reality of Christ-In me, versus the Historical Jesus of the past, and the word "Christians" will be known,as it was known in Antioch... Amen)

There is only one Life-Leader!

2007-04-12T08:31:00.000-04:00

“Don’t set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of ‘Father’; you have only one Father, and he’s in heaven. And don’t let people maneuver you into taking charge of of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.” (The Message)

You Have Overcome

2007-03-07T09:46:00.000-05:00

Check out Paul Rupe's new Blog and word below:

I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:13-14

In a day of deliverance ministries and demon hunting very few preach that believers have already overcome the devil. The believers victory over Satan is exactly what John is speaking of in our text. One interesting thing to consider is that you will never find one single case of any believer, after the cross, ever being possessed by a demon or trying to break a generational curse from off their life.

It's important to remember that in Christ you are perfect and complete (Colossians 2:10), there is no struggle because you are seated in the heavens with Christ - Satan is under your feet (Ephesians 1:20-21.)

Many Christians approach the devil in anger, rebuking and commanding him when in reality often this is just an exercise in fear; while there is a warfare present, the battle as we have seen previously, is in the mind.

The Truth is that Satan is terrified of the one that realizes their power and position in Christ; Satan knows that for the mature believer there is no struggle, there is no trying to be victorious because the believer rests in the fact that Jesus has already defeated and destroyed the enemy through His work at the cross. John says in 1 John 3:8,

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Paul the apostle writes in Colossians 1:12-13,

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
The Greek word for "Darkness" in this verse is "Skotos" and means, "1) darkness a) of night darkness b) of darkened eyesight or blindness 2) metaph. a) of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery in hell b) persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway"

If you are in Christ you are in the light in whom there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5) If you were to walk into a dark room and flip on the light switch, what happens? The darkness flees! In the same way the powers of darkness can't get close enough to the light that you are without having to flee - Light always over-powers darkness.

Dear believer, I would encourage you to stand firm in the faith and realize your victory in Christ. More on that tomorrow...

Strongest Dad in the World

2007-02-13T16:09:00.000-05:00

Strongest Dad in the World [From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly] Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.

"Much More"

2007-02-08T09:10:00.000-05:00

Rom 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Rom 5:15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

Rom 5:17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Rom 11:12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!

Heb 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Today I was pondering the name of this Blog's url,(Much More Of Jesus) Wow! What an awesome realization regarding the One whom Indwells us. His "LIFE" dwelling in me/you, which enables each of us to live and reign.

Child of God, know you have been raised from the dead,to walk in newness of "LIFE"... His "LIFE"!

Now go, and live the"LIFE," by the Much More within.

What a Friend I've Found

2007-02-03T11:11:00.000-05:00

Choose "Life"!

2006-12-24T11:08:00.000-05:00

When pondering the year and the things which grieve the Holy Spirit, I think we (distress) the Spirit by trying to force standards of performance on ourselves or anyone else. You see, I believe Jesus Christ is the Standard................... not the law, not confessing sins over and over, or any other ritualistic performance/work on our part. Jesus Christ has already met every requirement to keep us in constant fellowship with Himself. That is why He is constantly renewing our minds towards His much Higher Ways, which is, the Much More of Jesus Christ. The battleground is the mind. We need a "New Mind" orientation toward the things of the Spirit, and being dead to sin and alive to Jesus Christ. We need the mind of Christ!

When wedo things that seem to be contrary to who we think that we are (our reality) let us ask God to orient us toward who He says that we are, In Him (His reality). I choose His reality, hopefully in ever-increasing revelation.

To grieve or not to grieve, that is the question?........not to grieve . . . Choose "Life"!

Our Horn of Plenty

2006-11-12T09:59:00.000-05:00

Jesus.................Our Horn of Plenty!

No More Condemnation!

2006-11-12T09:54:00.000-05:00

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

You Are!!!

2006-09-12T16:38:00.000-04:00

How many times have I said, "I'd like to be. I wish I were. Maybe someday." And God was on His throne saying, "You are! You are!" When you truly see that Christ is your life, time ceases to be a decisive factor in your life. Everything is just now. You live in the present tense of God. He is not becoming. He is. You are not becoming. You are. You operate from "I am," not "I will become."

From: Stone, Dan, The Rest of the Gospel: When the partial Gospel has worn you out. Dallas: One Press. 2000. pgs. 126-129.

Heretic's Guide to Eternity

2006-08-10T07:57:00.000-04:00

I just began reading the above.....stay tuned for further comments....................................

"Hide-Bound" Mentality!

2006-07-26T21:47:00.000-04:00

A quote from Ms. Shovel over at The Shack:

One of my biggest frustrations with religious institutions and religious mindedness is the whole 'hide-bound' mentality (to borrow a Shovel-phrase). You know, the 'hide-bound' mentality that the 'Word of GOD' is actually limited and totally defined as the written words on the page/pages, and not actually a Person!! (thank you Shovel for always pointing that out to me) It seems totally missed that the Word of GOD is actually GOD Himself revealed in Christ Jesus, and now in us as well. It is 'missed' ... the very Living Person the words are actually written about!

(Click on title to follow link to discussion..............)

Entering into this fullness

2006-07-15T04:29:00.000-04:00

Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It's not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you're already in--insiders--not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin.

Col 2:11

Savior of all men?

2006-07-03T14:18:00.000-04:00

For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

(1 Timothy 4:10)

How could you ever merit, unmerited favor?

2006-06-17T13:53:00.000-04:00

"Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness."

Isn't it amazing how difficult we have made the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Do you realize that a Covenant/Promise was made with Abraham some 4000 years ago that still remains to this day. Are you aware that the law, which was added some 430 years later, did/does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. What then was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed..."Jesus" to whom the promise referred, had come. (Gal. 3:17-19)

Notice that the law was added because of transgression, not lack of obedience,.... what is meant by transgression..... Not trusting God, rebellion, and/or our unbelief. This was the failure of the Israelites and continues to plague most modern day Christians today. You see, Jesus dealt with all your failure to measure up to the Mosaic Law, He took all judgment upon Himself, "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son" (John5:22)

My Point! How could you ever merit, unmerited favor, which is the Grace of God? Stop trying to please God by doing stuff to seemingly keep God happy. Your perceived "disobedience" does not change how God relates to you and/or thinks about you. In fact, God never intended to ultimately relate to you by law. He desires that you believe.....that's IT! The sin that will kill you is not adultery but unbelief. Trust Him! What did God say in Luke 18:8 concerning when the Son of man comes...was He looking for obedience... or "will He find Faith on the earth?" Do you hear me? Many fear God is mad at them because of their present unfortunate circumstance. The question might be, "what did I do to cause this to happen to me?" Performance and Perfectionism still demand a standard, which can be measured, other than the standard of Jesus Christ. Do you know that your "Life" is hidden with Christ in God. "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Col 3:3). How is it that we still believe that our actions/inactions cause a Covenant/Promise to be null and void? God keeps no record of sin for Dead people. There is no judgment in Grace!

Do you remember what Paul shared with the Romans....."For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; (Rom 4:14) Now read the next two verses, "...for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. For this reason it is by faith/belief, in order that it may be in accordance with grace (unmerited favor), so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith/belief of Abraham, who is the father of us all."

Child of God, stand in the freedom appropriated by the cross. Do not let the devil intimidate you into thinking that God is judging you by the law/standards of performance. For you are dead to sin and alive to Jesus Christ. A covenant can only be broken by death. Believer, He died so you died.....the law can not go beyond the grave.

"So, my friends, this is something like what has taken place with you. When Christ died he took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with him and left it in the tomb, leaving you free to "marry" a resurrection life and bear "offspring" of faith for God. For as long as we lived that old way of life, doing whatever we felt we could get away with, sin was calling most of the shots as the old law code hemmed us in. And this made us all the more rebellious. In the end, all we had to show for it was miscarriages and stillbirths. But now that we're no longer shackled to that domineering mate of sin, and out from under all those oppressive regulations and fine print, we're free to live a new life in the freedom of God." (Romans 7:4-6) msg

Be Free!!!

Tripp

2006-06-14T19:17:00.000-04:00

Diet coke and Mentos Experiment

Turn your sound up and have a little Fun!

Live "Life"

Shovel Shack....ongoing discussion

2006-05-14T15:45:00.000-04:00

I just came from the Shovel Shack....ongoing discussion regarding the law....

Hello Real,

Hear what was revealed to our brother, Paul:

Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one. Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given-because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ-to those who believe. Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female-for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to the promise.
(Galatians 3:19-29 NET)

Jim :)

dave wrote:

Can you clarify the last little bit of your response to me. How does the the law acting as a guardian relate to us today? Are you saying that those who parade their spirituality and act as if we are missing something are to be considered as children who need a hand? How so?

First of all, by understanding how self-righteousness relates to a standards-compliance group mentality we can recognize our own delusions of superiority, past or present. We know because we've been there ... and may even find ourselves running back to it from time to time. In Christ we have eyes to see past that old delusion. The thing is that in having considered ourselves superior by whichever aspect we adhered to only testified to the simple fact that our superiority was tied to an external source to keep us in line. That attitude is the exact same as in children who finally, despite all resistance and unwillingness, bow down to certain demands of a guardian (mom, dad, police, teachers, etc) only to turn around and hold their own compliance forth in judgment against others.

How do we who have seen past this delusion ever get sucked back up into it when confronted with the demands and/or intimidation of yet another group force? Why do we even give in to the delusion that a group actually has any real, lasting substance? It's all a facade! And it's only part of the temporal world, whose divisions, demands, standards, superiority and morality decay just as it does. How do we ever re-adopt the attitude that we know has no real substance?

To see past that parade of spirituality and recognize those who boast in it as being children who would stray unless their hand was held is merely to recognize that such spirituality/superiority is mere empty delusion. If we hold the delusion as having substance our judgments (no matter how Biblical or doctrinal) will be based upon the delusion; if seen for what it truly is (a delusion) we can see past it. And in seeing past the delusion we can regard a person according to reality ... even when dealing with or discussing the false premises of the delusion. For we hope upon the miraculous! :)

For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised. So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer. So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away-look, what is new has come! And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people's trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God!" God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.
(2 Corinthians 5:13-21 NET)

Jim

DIGGIN'THE LIFE!

the living Stone

2006-05-14T14:39:00.000-04:00

I just finished watching the movie, "THEFAMILYSTONE".......I sometimes find it interesting how hollywood can capture/understand relationships, with a depth of "Life" far better than the so-called religious.

The story surrounding this movie is simple and complex, much like real-life but communicated with an interconnectedness that only the Lord could design, which is the "Miraculous Life" within.

The scripture conveys that in our trusting, we will have no regret......it is only in our lack of trusting/delusion, that we begin to trip over the very "Life/Sone" which has aready been given.

Live "Life"!!!

"Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life.... Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life...." (msg)

Resurrection Unto Newness Of Life

2006-02-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

If we have become united with him by the likeness of his death, we shall be also by the likeness of his resurrection (Rom. 6:5).

Now with resurrection the figure is different because something new is introduced. I am "baptized into his death", but I do not enter in quite the same way into His resurrection, for, Praise the Lord! His resurrection enters into me, imparting to me a new life. In the death of the Lord the emphasis is solely upon 'I in Christ'. With the resurrection, while the same thing is true, there is now a new emphasis upon 'Christ in me'. How is it possible for Christ to communicate His resurrection life to me? How do I receive this new life? Paul suggests, I think, a very good illustration with these very same words: "united with him". For the word 'united' (A.V. 'planted together') may carry in the Greek the sense of 'grafted'[6] and it gives us a very beautiful picture of the life of Christ which is imparted to us through resurrection.

In Fukien I once visited a man who owned an orchard of long-ien[7] trees. He had three or four acres of land and about three hundred fruit trees. I inquired if his trees had been grafted or if they were of the original native stock. 'Do you think', he replied, 'that I would waste my land growing ungrafted trees? What value could I ever expect from the old stock?

So I asked him to explain the process of grafting, which he gladly did. 'When a tree has grown to a certain height', he said, 'I lop off the top and graft on to it.' Pointing to a special tree he asked, 'Do you see that tree? I call it the father tree, because all the grafts for the other trees are taken from that one. If the other trees were just left to follow the course of nature, their fruit would be only about the size of a raspberry, and would consist mainly of thick skin and seeds. This tree, from which the grafts for all the others are taken, bears a luscious fruit the size of a plum, with very thin skin and a tiny seed; and of course all the grafted trees bear fruit like it.' 'How does it happen?' I asked. 'I simply take a little of the nature of the one tree and transfer it to the other', he explained. 'I make a cleavage in the poor tree and insert a slip from the good one. Then I bind it up and leave it to grow.' 'But how can it grow?' I asked. 'I don't know', he said, 'but it does grow.'

Then he showed me a tree bearing miserably poor fruit from the old stock below the graft, and rich juicy fruit from the new stock above the graft. 'I have left the old shoots with their useless fruit on them to show the difference', he said. 'From it you can understand the value of grafting. You can appreciate, can you not, why I grow only grafted trees?'

How can one tree bear the fruit of another? How can a poor tree bear good fruit? Only by grafting. Only by our implanting into it the life of a good tree. But if a man can graft a branch of one tree into another, cannot God take of the life of His Son and, so to speak, graft it into us?

God has done everything. There is only one fruitful life in the world and that has been grafted into millions of other lives. We call this the 'new birth'. New birth is the reception of a life which I did not possess before. It is not that my natural life has been changed at all; it is that another life, a life altogether new, altogether Divine, has become my life.............

God has cut off the old creation by the Cross of His Son in order to bring in a new creation in Christ by resurrection. He has shut the door to that old kingdom of darkness and translated me into the kingdom of His dear Son. My glorying is in the fact that it has been done -- that, through the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ , that old world has " been crucified unto me, and I unto the world"

(Excerpted from "The Normal Christian Life", Watchman Nee, pages 71-74)

First called "Christians" in Antioch!

2006-02-09T16:42:00.000-05:00

By: Tripp Campbell

(repost)

Since the Church was birthed on Pentecost, many have only embraced a Historical Jesus versus The Indwelling presence of the "Anointed One." In-"Christ" (Christos-Anointed One)

Interestingly enough, The Disciples were first called "Christians" in Antioch............................Why?

It is well known that Saul, who was later to be called Paul, spent (14) fourteen years in Tarsus developing his trade as a (tentmaker). Moreover, as Saul was growing in a practical sense, he also was being given/ministered to, by the Holy Spirit a far deeper Revelation, which would ultimately change the World.

You may ask, well, what was this great "Revelation"? Listen to Paul's own words inspired by God in His Epistle to the Church of Ephesus.

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. (Eph. 3:1-12) nasb

Again, what is this mystery?

I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in me/you, the hope of glory. (Col.1:25-27)nasb

Now, Saul/Paul, after (14) fourteen years, was hunted by Barnabas and brought from Tarsus to Antioch. And it was here, that a large number of people assembled over the course of a year, and Paul ministered this New found Mystery, which had now been revealed which is Christ In Me,the hope of Glory..............................and in Antioch the Disciples were first called "Christians" (Christ- In- Ones).

(It is my prayer, that "all" will begin to embrace,the Reality of Christ-In me, versus the Historical Jesus of the past, and the word "Christians" will be known,as it was known in Antioch... Amen)

Born From Above!

2006-02-07T07:18:00.000-05:00

(Repost)

By Tripp Campbell

"We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him."
1Jo 5:18

Lately, I have been in many discussions with those who are still eclipsed within the confines of "sin/death." What they have failed to realize is that those who are born from above sinneth not. Somehow, many have bought into a mentality that they can please/displease God by their actions/inaction. Generally,what so many have missed, is that by their beliefs/understanding, they have now raised an illusionary Standard, something that can be measured, in order to relate to God.

I have found that in my personal walk every time I begin to relate to God by "Doing", within a short period of time my energy and ability begin to wane and I find myself devoid of Hope/Life. You see, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life........" Moreover, as I have begun to rest in the Finished work of the Cross, everything begins to abound. It is not that my "life" is without challenges, it has many, but now it is centered in the only "Life" available to a believer, Jesus Christ. No longer do I live in the illusion of Doing for God, by the works of the Law which ultimately leads to death, but I continue to embrace "fullness" which already has been so gloriously provided for, In-Christ Jesus!

Rom 5:17-21 "If death got the upper hand through one man's wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grandsetting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides? Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right. All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life--a life that goes on and on and on, world without end." (msg)

a word you can take to heart

2006-01-21T13:05:00.000-05:00

Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof--Public Sinner Number One--

What do you think Paul was declaring?

He is your life.

2006-01-17T09:29:00.000-05:00

"Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life--even though invisible to spectators--is with Christ in God. He is your life."
(msg)

Sometimes it aids our understanding, to re-focus from that which is seen, to that which is unseen.

Saved by Christ's "Life"

2005-12-26T10:14:00.000-05:00

This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to us. For when we were still helpless, Christ died for the wicked at the time that God chose. It is a difficult thing for someone to die for a righteous person. It may even be that someone might dare to die for a good person. But God has shown us how much he loves us---it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! By his blood we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God's anger! We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life!

Rom 5:5-10

Jake Colsen Story-New Chapter (12)

2005-12-17T08:33:00.000-05:00

Frustrated by church life in the 21st Century?

>>>> Enter Here <<<<

Rom 9:16

2005-12-14T07:14:00.000-05:00

Compassion doesn't originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God's mercy.(msg)

The Fountain of Fellowship

2005-11-16T18:15:00.000-05:00

I found the below thoughts over at LifeStream.

The author is Lynette Woods from New Zealand, she hosts the site Unveiling

Enjoy! Great truth.

I just wanted to encourage you with the place Father has you in right now as we've been in a very similar place and it is uncomfortable when our mindsets are in the process of being changed and adjusted! As for who we have fellowshipped with, it was only one person, Christ! And in fellowshipping with "only" Him, we came to see that through Him, we were also in fellowship with all other members of the Body; but not as we'd ever known it!!! John wrote "If we live in the light as He is in the light, we have true fellowship with one another" (1 John 1:7). True fellowship is not something we make happen, but something that is a result of Him and His Life in us! Most of us know that in our heads but experiencing the truth of that is vital! True fellowship is not about the people who are around us, but about who is in us; Life always recognizes Life in another!
So I can see that the place He has you in, that very quiet time, is a very, very special and precious time when He can draw you aside and have your whole attention and teach you about true fellowship with Him! Fellowship doesn't mean just meeting with others, it means communion and partnership and how many people can we be a partner with? Usually only one! And this One is in partnership with each of us so that we are in partnership/fellowship with many through One! Enjoy your partnership, communion, intimacy (in other words fellowship with Him!

Revival is Within!

2005-11-06T20:28:00.000-05:00

Revival is realization of Christ within me,the Hope of Glory!

"Things" or Christ?

2005-11-05T10:23:00.000-05:00

Born in Scotland, I trained as a surgeon in Edinburgh. With my wife, Margaret, I spent thirteen years doing medical missionary work with the Baptist Missionary Society in the Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo) before the upheavals following independence in 1960. Returning to the U.K. in 1961, I was in private practice in the north of England for three years. Since 1965, I have been in New Zealand, for seven years in charge of a rural hospital in the far north and then in General practice in a small town 50 miles north of Auckland. I have remained a passionate believer and teacher and leader in the congregations I attended. But something stirred deeper in my heart. There was a growing hunger for a better way of church than I had known before. The full story is told in the articles under 'My Personal Testimony' on this site.

I am now an octogenarian and Margaret is nearly there. We live in a retirement village in Auckland. We have four children and seventeen grandchildren - four of whom have been adopted.

In the past week or two I have been rereading Austin Sparks most searching and profound little book, “The School of Christ” the contents of which he says, “Were wrought on the anvil of deep and drastic dealings of God with him” and again “Of all the books that have issued from this ministry I regard this one as that which goes most deeply to the roots and foundations of our life in Christ with God.”

One passage in this book spoke to me with renewed force. Speaking of knowing Christ in a real experiential way, he says that in the severest stresses and strains of life, ”We are going to be brought back to the living spiritual knowledge of the Lord: for He alone personally as revealed in our very being by the Holy Spirit can save us in the deepest hour. The day will come when we will be stripped of everything but what is spiritually, inwardly known of Christ.”

As I grow older I find that more and more I am seeing and living in the truth of these things. As a lifelong reader I have been enriched by the writings of many great saints of God and Biblical students. In my institutional days I attended many seminars and conferences. But all that information, intellectual understanding of doctrine and entrance into the experience of others on the pilgrim way is only of value as it has led me into deeper personal relationship with my Lord. That living relationship is the ultimate and only finally important and lasting thing.

In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul says in 11;2-4, “ I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” Paul was very aware that believers can so easily be deflected away from the essential of that most intimate personal union with Christ in the Spirit, into preoccupation with “things” which are side-issues and tangents instead of the central necessity.

These”things” which lead us away from that simple and sincere devotion to Christ are many and various and we will all encounter encountered at least some of them. There is the “Revival” thing . There are people who seem only to be able to speak and teach about it. It seems to wholly absorb them sometimes to the point of obsession. There is the “End-time scenario” thing in which people major on one or other interpretation of the chronology of end-time events, pushing their view point with crusading passion. Another is the “Jewish” thing, with people persuading us all to put on Jewishness and only to use the Hebrew forms of the name of Jesus or God. There is the “King James only” thing where we are virtually excommunicated if we read or recommend any other translations of the Scripture. There is the “Conspiracy thing” whose proponents seem to spend their time and energies in tracking down the antichrist.

Now there may be good and truth in some or all of these things, but if Christ is displaced from the center and we focus mainly on these things prophetic, doctrinal or whatever else we are in danger.

There was never a more Christ-focused man than the Apostle Paul. “I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinth. 2:2) His cry towards the end of his eventful life was still “That I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10 )

“It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20) His great passion for new believers was that “Christ be formed in you.” ( Galatians 4:19) “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) Towards the end of his life he is able to cry from his heart, “I know whom I have believed and I am sure that He is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” (2Timothy1:12) It was not what he believed, but in whom he believed. Nothing ever shifted Paul from that life-giving center, his personal relationship with and trust in the Lord Jesus,

The letter to the Hebrews echoes this theme. From beginning to end it centers on Christ. In the twelfth chapter vs.1&2 “Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” For some years now I have kept on my desk a comment from Andrew Murray on that verse. Here it is:

“Always, only looking to Jesus. Looking to Him to see what He is, to hear what He speaks, to do what He says, to follow where He leads, to trust for all He waits to give. Looking to Him and His love till my heart burns with that love. Looking to Him till His eyes meet mine, and I know He watches over me. Looking to Him to be changed into His likeness from glory to glory.” To that my heart says, “Amen!”

Jack Gray

A Q&A regarding "Submission" (Obedience)

2005-10-25T09:42:00.000-04:00

By: Jim Minker

Hi Jim!

Lately, i've been thinking and dealing personally with the concept of submitting to (usually male) elders/pastors and others. It's been brought to my attention, in the past and recently, that I am "not submitted" to any spiritual authority since I no longer "go to church." I am not as intimidated by this mention of my "lack of following God's Word" as i used to be, because my increasing awareness of the real life of Jesus in me. I think some of my/our ideas about submission (and obedience) have been bogus.

*************************************************************************************

Hello, my dear brother!

Ah yes, the submission resistance of those outside the confines of the "legitimate" church!! Obedience sure is a whacked out of proportion concept, too. Funny thing is that you never seem to hear this definition from the Hebrew words translated as "obey":

1) to hear, listen to, obey
a) (Qal)

1) to hear (perceive by ear)
2) to hear of or concerning
3) to hear (have power to hear)
4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
5) to understand (language)
6) to hear (of judicial cases)
7) to listen, give heed
a) to consent, agree
b) to grant request
8) to listen to, yield to
9) to obey, be obedient
b) (Niphal)

1) to be heard (of voice or sound)
2) to be heard of
3) to be regarded, be obeyed
c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
d) (Hiphil)

1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
2) to sound aloud (musical term)
3) to make proclamation, summon
4) to cause to be heard

And then the Greek:

1) to listen, to harken
a) of one who on the knock at the door comes to listen who it is,
(the duty of a porter)
2) to harken to a command
a) to obey, be obedient to, submit to

Geez, with the overwhelming reference to the words "hear" and "listen" it seems that somebody would have mentioned it, don't you think? See, at one time we could not hear His voice because we had not the ears to hear, we heard that which pertained to the world. But now, in Christ, we have been given those ears to hear ... which means we "harken to" God.

Now, "submit" is translated so:

1) to arrange under, to subordinate
2) to subject, put in subjection
3) to subject one's self, obey
4) to submit to one's control
5) to yield to one's admonition or advice
6) to obey, be subject
++++
A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".

Now, if we consider these meanings in view of still being under law, and therefore subject to the very principles of the world, able only to "hear" the spirit of this world, then we might settle for the usual sense found in those who need to be conquered and forced into "submission". But knowing that we have been set free from the bondage of the world and made to "hear" in Christ then it makes no difference whether we use the military or non-military version of the word. For the simplicity of "arranging" oneself under the true authority of God would be the recognition of our true selves made alive in Christ. Like Paul had written of no longer knowing (or recognizing) according to the old, dead existence, but only seeing ourselves (arranging ourselves) in view of the new creation.

To submit to one another, as Paul wrote, was entirely embedded within the reality of being made alive together in Christ. To "submit" to those who "lead" in Christ also takes into account the topsy turvy twist Jesus stated about those who would be the leaders: they would be the greatest servants. In other words, the "leaders" believers were encouraged to take heed to, were not those who occupied "positions", but were those who had been recognized as simply ministering to the needs of others above their own selves. Of course, these were the people who were truly seeing themselves and each other according to the new creation, not according to appearances.

Neither Paul nor Peter were advocates of the "submission to authority" that is so heavily preached today. When certain men had been recognized as being determined to view those around them only according to Christ then Paul went out of his way to point them out to the others because they would not have been recognized according to the factor of appearance. These are those who truly care for you, is the message he made, and to listen to their thoughts and counsel will encourage and strengthen you in this new life. Give extra consideration to what they say and do because it comes from the perspective of the true life that is in those made alive in Christ. This "submission" was a willingness to give serious consideration to those who demanded that you were just as alive and holy and righteous and justified and sanctified and in union to God as they were! A far cry from what we have been taught by the religious system, isn't it?

New Chapter-Jake Colsen Story

2005-09-29T18:14:00.000-04:00

Chapter 11

Follow the link.

THE SECRET OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

2005-09-25T11:19:00.000-04:00

By: Gene Edwards

What have you been told is the secret to the Christian life? Pray and read your Bible? Go to church? Witness? Speak in tongues? Tithe?

Let me go on record. I do not believe anything on that list even comes close to the issue of how to live the Christian life. All have one inherent flaw. The fatal flaw? Every item on the aforementioned list assumes that it is possible to live the Christian life. Can you live the Christian life? The answer is no, a resounding NO! You cannot live the Christian life.

That list takes for granted you can live the Christian life. Also note that you are the center of every item on that list. Call it "you-centeredness." You out there living the Christian life. You cannot live the Christian life. Jesus Christ could not live the Christian life. None of us can live the Christian life! If Jesus Christ cannot live the Christian life, what makes you think that you can? You can give up trying to live the Christian life! We can all testify what a colossal failure we have been at trying to live the Christian life.

God the Father lives the Christian life. "How does God the Father live the Christian life?" He doesn't. He is the Christian life. He is the highest life. God the Father is the wellspring, the source, the first motion, and the fountainhead of the Christian life.

The Father indwelt His Son here on this earth for thirty-three years. The Father lived the Christian life inside Jesus Christ. It was the Father's life, and the Father's life alone, which lived the Christian life inside your Lord. It is the Father's life, and the Father's life alone, that ever lives the Christian life. It is the Father's life, and Father's life alone, which will live the Christian life in you. Embrace a formula or a list in order to "live the Christian life," and you are doomed to frustration.

But on the day you quit trying to live the Christian life ...then you will finally give Him the freeway to live out in you what is so easy and so simple and so organic for Him to do. Hopefully, you just got set free from a long list of do's and don'ts (the "do's" you can't do, and the "don'ts" you always do). Why look so shocked; stop and think about it. You never were any good at living the Christian life. Admit it.

From: The Secret of the Christian Life

THE GOSPEL

2005-09-11T06:46:00.000-04:00

By: Malcolm Smith

The Gospel is the call to rest, to receive the free, undeserved gift that God has given us in Christ. There is nothing man can do to earn salvation from his past, or his present acceptance and walk with God. It is, from beginning to end, the grace of God.

The body of truth that proclaims the revelation of God is called the Good News. News, by definition, is the announcement of something that has happened, not a list of things that must be done! All that must be done for a man to live in perfect union with God has been accomplished by Jesus in His death and resurrection.

The heart of the Christian life is to stand in wonder before His love and say, "Thank You!"

The Gospel is not a call to do something, but the announcement that all is done in the One Who stood for all.

The Christian life is not living in our own strength and resources, but from the infinite Christ Who lives within those who believe. All human strength will come to an end sooner or later, leaving each of us with charred, burned out life. But His strength knows no end!

We have one function in life: to be the manifestors of His life to the world. Only when we are living His life are we truly living our own! This is the reason for our creation.

We realize that He is not only the past tense Savior from sin, but also the One Who now lives within us in the present tense, our life and breath. Christianity is not a formula, but the Person of Jesus Himself.

Never think that Christianity is a matter of adjusting behavior, but rather, of letting Christ live through us in His strength and power.

From: Spiritual Burnout

FREE FROM THE YOKE OF SLAVERY

2005-08-19T08:58:00.000-04:00

By: Bob George

Under the law we become hypocrites. The word comes from the Greek theatre. A hypocrite is not an imperfect person; a hypocrite is an actor, a pretender. What made the Pharisees hypocrites was not their faults: It was their pretense that they were righteous. It was teaching one thing and doing another. But that is what law will always produce: people who are always hiding their real selves, always acting, always pretending, and never being real.

But what happens when we are set free by grace? One of the most common testimonies I hear is, "For the first time in my life, I am free to just be myself! I'm free to be me."

The ultimate consequence of living under law is outright rebellion when you give up because of the hopelessness of ever making it.

Time and time again, I have seen these people who have been branded as "rebels against God" or "back-slidden Christians" come out of their chairs in excitement and joy as they learn for the first time about the incredible grace, love and acceptance of God in Jesus Christ.

In all my years as a Christian, I have never heard anyone say, "I've had it! I am sick to death of the love and grace of God. I'm sick of other Christians loving and accepting me. I'm giving up this Christian life." No I've never heard that. But I couldn't count the number of Christians I've known who have given up because of being under law, who have been broken by the crushing burden of trying to be good enough to earn God's acceptance, who have been mangled by the competition, the judging, and the demands to conform to some group's standards. "We'll accept you if you look like, walk like, talk like, and act like us." And the implication is always, "And God will, too." So what are we to do?

Jesus Christ came to free us from the burden of the law by calling us to a life united with His. We are beloved, accepted children of God, who have been called to His "banquet table" to experience Jesus Christ living in and through us every day. Abundant life is not "pie-in-the-sky" or nebulous theory. It is real, and it is ours for the taking if we will only believe. Let's not settle for anything less.

Blue Ridge Parkway

2005-08-14T12:04:00.000-04:00

Mountain trip this weekend!

" Who fills the sky with clouds, preparing rain for the earth, Then turning the mountains green with grass,"

My Wonderful Parents!

2005-08-09T16:11:00.000-04:00

Desire fulfilled is a Tree of "Life"

2005-08-06T07:55:00.000-04:00

Alive, In-Christ!

2005-08-06T07:29:00.000-04:00

He embraced us........ He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive In-Christ. He did all this on His own, with no help from us! (Eph 2:5) msg

My little Boy, Joshua!

2005-08-01T13:57:00.000-04:00

First called "Christians" in Antioch!

2005-07-30T10:54:00.000-04:00

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. (Eph. 3:1-12) nasb

Again, what is this mystery?

I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in me/you, the hope of glory. (Col.1:25-27)nasb

Now, Saul/Paul, after (13) thirteen years, was hunted by Barnabas and brought from Tarsus to Antioch. And it was here, that a large number of people assembled over the course of a year, and Paul ministered this New found Mystery, which had now been revealed which is Christ In Me,the hope of Glory..............................and in Antioch the Disciples were first called "Christians" (Christ- In- Ones).

(It is my prayer, that "all" will begin to embrace,the Reality of Christ-In me, versus the Historical Jesus of the past, and the word "Christians" will be known,as it was known in Antioch... Amen)

"BE"

2005-07-22T10:33:00.000-04:00

"BE" all that you can "BE" ....................IN-CHRIST JESUS

If it is of Him and through Him and to Him, where do you come in? You do not! That is just where you go out! That is what Paul meant when he said, "For me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21). The only Person whom God credits with the right to live in you is Jesus Christ; so reckon yourself to be dead to all that you are apart from what He is, and alive unto God only in all that you are because of what He is (Romans 6:1 1).

It is for you to "BE" it is for Him to DO! Rest fully available to the Saving Life of Christ."

Born from Above!

2005-07-22T08:45:00.000-04:00

(Repost, but continues to be very relevant)

by Tripp Campbell

"We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him." 1 John 5:18

Lately, I have been in many discussions with those who are still eclipsed within the confines of "sin/death." What they have failed to realize is that those who are born from above sinneth not. Somehow, many have bought into a mentality that they can please/displease God by their actions/inaction. Generally,what so many have missed, is that by their beliefs/understanding, they have now raised an illusionary Standard, something that can be measured in order to relate to God.

I have found that in my personal walk every time I begin to relate to God by "Doing", within a short period of time my energy and ability begin to wane and I find myself devoid of Hope/Life. You see, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life........" Moreover, as I have begun to rest in the Finished work of the Cross, everything begins to abound. It is not that my "life" is without challenges, it has many, but now it is centered in the only "Life" available to a believer, Jesus Christ. No longer do I live in the illusion of Doing for God, by the works of the Law which ultimately leads to death, but I continue to embrace "fullness" which already has been so gloriously provided for, In-Christ Jesus!

Rom 5:17-21 "If death got the upper hand through one man's wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grandsetting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides? Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right. All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life--a life that goes on and on and on, world without end." (The Message)

CHRIST HIMSELF THE CONTENT OF CHRISTIAN FAITH

2005-07-21T08:17:00.000-04:00

By: Major W. Ian Thomas

There is something, which makes Christianity more than a religion, more than an ethic, and more than the idle dream of the sentimental idealist. It is this something, which makes it relevant to each one of us right now as a contemporary experience. It is the fact that Christ Himself is the very life content of the Christian faith. It is He who makes it "tick." "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it" (I Thessalonians 5:24). The One who calls you is the One who does that to which He calls you. "For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). He is Himself the very dynamic of all His demands.

Christ did not die simply that you might be saved from a bad conscience, or even to remove the stain of past failure, but to "clear the decks" for divine action. You have been told that Christ died to save you. This is gloriously true in a very limited, though vital sense. In Romans 5:10 we read, "If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." The Lord Jesus Christ therefore ministers to you in two distinct ways - He reconciles you to God by His death, and He saves you by His life.

This, however, is but the beginning of the story, "for if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, (now an accomplished fact,) we shall be saved (as a continuing process) by His life" (Romans 5:10). The glorious fact of the matter is this no sooner has God reconciled to Himself the man who has responded to His call, than He re-imparts to him, as a forgiven sinner, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and this restoration to him of the Holy Spirit constitutes what the Bible calls regeneration, or new birth. Titus 3:5 and 6, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour."

Jesus Christ vs Delusion?

2005-07-18T11:56:00.000-04:00

I find it interesting that sometimes, we "Christians" would rather be Identified/Associated with "dead works" (what "i" can seemingly "do") than by the "Miraculous Life" within............... "BE"!

Reality-Is, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, everything else is mere Illusion/Delusion.

Faith is a Person, not an "it"

2005-07-15T13:44:00.000-04:00

(Gal 3:23-25) But before "Faith" came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the "Faith" which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by Faith/Christ. But now that "Faith" has come, we are no longer under a tutor.(nasb)

You cannot separate "Faith" from the Person of Jesus Christ

Christ-IS, the Author and Finisher of [our] "Faith."

Christ is All, and in All

2005-07-08T20:02:00.000-04:00

"For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our/your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.........but Christ is all, and in all." (Col.3:3-4;11)nasb

One particular version of verse 3:11, put it this way....."Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us." (cev)

Begin seeing Christ behind everything. When you finally understand that Christ is everything, then you will share with the Father the most precious thing He has-His Son. Christ will become your only perspective, your only hope, your only possession, and your only interest. Everything else will fade into insignificance.

The deeper you forge into this mystery, which is.... "Christ in you, the hope of glory." the more you will begin to realize that He transcends every dogma, that He explodes every religious tradition and perceived natural reality.................. HE IS....therefore i am

One Nature

2005-06-23T16:34:00.000-04:00

By: Dan Stone

There's a deep rut in the Christian faith, as most believers experience it. It's like a ditch that you run your car into and can't get out of. Unless God tows a believer out of the rut, he or she will never fully live out of their union with Christ.

The rut is this: most of us believe that in the depths of our being we are both good and bad. Or, to put it in theological terms, we are both righteous and sinful. Using a common illustration, we believe that we have within us both a white dog and a black dog, a good nature and a bad nature, that are fighting for control.

But that is not true. It is vital that we know it's not true, because if we believe that we are both righteous and sinful, it will be impossible to live out of our union with Christ and to rest, trusting that He lives through us moment by moment. Instead, we will be focused on ourselves, on getting our act together, on winning the war that supposedly rages within us, trying to suppress the bad part of us so that the good part will reflect the character of Christ. This endless self-effort is the complete opposite of what Paul wrote:

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God... (Galatians 2:20)

The only way out of this dilemma, of believing that we are both good and bad, is to understand that the realm of the spirit, above the line, is singular. It is one. The realm of appearances, below the line, is a duality. It is two.

In the realm of appearances, there is constant evidence of good and evil, both outside and inside us. If we judge by appearances, we arrive at the logical conclusion that we are both good and bad. That looks entirely valid. Christians have believed this for centuries. Except for a small minority who have come to know their true identity in Christ, the whole Christian world accepts the lie. Unfortunately, although something may not be true above the line, if below the line we think it is true, it still controls us. We must choose to live out of what is singular, rather than what is dual.

The realm of the spirit, the singular realm, is eternal reality. That is where our spirit being lives, and where our true identity is settled forever. The realm of appearance, although we must live in it in the here and now, is false as far as our identity goes. All of life depends on which realm is ultimate reality to you: the realm of spirit or the realm of appearances. That's going to determine what you believe and how you live.

Choosing to believe that you are not both good and evil can be difficult. All of the external proof, all of the apparent evidence, all of the sight, supports the opposite: that you have two natures. "You are good, yes, a little good, but boy, you are still wicked; you are still evil." Only the Holy Spirit can reveal to you that you only have one nature, not two. In the core of your being you are not both righteous and sinful; you are only righteous.

From: Stone, Dan, The Rest of the Gospel: When the partial Gospel has worn you out. Dallas: One Press. 2000. pgs. 89,90.

To be in Christ.....

2005-06-13T10:18:00.000-04:00

"To be in Christ that is redemption; but for Christ to be in you that is sanctification! To be in Christ that makes you fit for heaven; but for Christ to be in you that makes you fit for earth! To be in Christ that changes your destination; but for Christ to be in you that changes your destiny! The one makes heaven your home the other makes this world His workshop."

(W. Ian Thomas - The Saving Life of Christ. Zondervan Publishing 1972. pg. 19)

neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything!

2005-06-10T17:08:00.000-04:00

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love." (Gal. 5:6)

You could replace the words circumcision or uncircumcision with the following:
1. tithing nor non-tithing.
2. reading the Word nor not reading the Word.
3. praying nor not praying.
4. fasting nor not fasting.
5. any rules or regulations nor no rules and/or regulations.

I think you probably get the point........look again at the first four words which begin this verse, "For In Christ Jesus...." that is our Hope of Glory.......not Law/Rules, but Faith working through Love, In-Christ!

Child of God, stand in the Freedom appropriated by the Cross, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

The Prodigal Son

2005-06-05T15:19:00.000-04:00

By Paul Rupe

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7

Remember the story of the prodigal son? We find it in Luke 15:11-24, which says,

A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth [to me]. And he divided unto them [his] living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

The prodigal knew that he had messed up and was certain that his father would accept him only as a hired servant rather than as his son, but what did the father do? He told his servants to put the best robes on him, put a ring on his finger, and to kill a fatted calf in celebration because his son had finally come home.

This earthly father in Jesus’ parable never changed his mind about the identity of his son and believer God never changes His mind about you.

The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans,

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Romans 11:29

This simply means that God never changes His mind about the fact that He has made you His child.

Dear believer, the truth is regardless of what you may have done, you belong to God. God will never be satisfied with you being merely a servant because He has made you His son!

The passing away of "jot and tittle"

2005-06-04T13:19:00.000-04:00

By Jim Minker

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:18, KJV)

What meaneth the "jot and tittle"? A more modern version - the NASB - translates it "the smallest letter or stroke". I mean, we're talking meticulous here. But was Jesus really pushing a technical approach to the things of God? Oh, I have no qualms with the fact that he was holding these people to the "unalterable ... word spoken through angels" (Heb 2:2), after all, he WAS referring to the LAW.

To suggest that he was validating the 100% accuracy of the soon-to-be "completed written revelation of God" in order to establish it as the "supreme authority in every aspect of life" for those he came to set free only underscores a total disregard not only for what he actually said but also for the very freedom he came to bring. Do we not understand the CURSE of "unalterable" words inscribed in stone or written in ink? Or are we really so unaware of the downside of such accuracy? One only needs to consider the history of "God's people".

The state of affairs in Israel had reached the pinnacle of a self-righteousness based upon a massive system of loopholes specifically designed to get around God's "unalterable" commands while creating the appearance of a "Scriptural" godliness. Sounds much the same as the Christian marketplace today, doesn't it? If we were to take our religious-colored glasses off while reading this portion of Matthew's account we might realize that Jesus was nailing their collective religious butt to the wall.

Somehow though, we've been taught to completely overlook how all this plays into the why of what he said so that we often buy into the technical approaches of those who hold to the letter and yet disregard the life. I have no doubt that if I had been born in Jerusalem at that time and had been given half a chance I would have been standing right along side those Pharisees scoffing at everything Jesus said. How about you?

To get a fuller picture of the verse in question check out a bit more of the surrounding comments:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." Matt 5:17-20

If you get nothing else out of this passage, don't miss the most obvious contrast: Jesus fulfilled what religious men broke! You see, the religious leaders constantly followed Jesus around examining everything he did or did not do for the express purpose of condemning him. The fact of the matter is that these religious men endorsed a system that "abolished" or "nullified" the very same law they accused Jesus of breaking (see Matthew 15:6). Not only that, they twisted what they broke in order to justify themselves so that they appeared as "righteous" in the eyes of man! In contrast, Jesus - the righteous one - came to justify the unrighteous. For HIS is the righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees!

Jesus did not comment on the "jot and tittle" to establish a precedent, but to expose a religious game! "You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!" (Matt 23:24). Do we not recognize that THEY, not Jesus, were the ones examining every minute legality - every jot and tittle - in order to get around their own commandment-breaking? But Jesus demanded that the law would NOT justify, but judge them to the same meticulous degree they attempted to get around it. How is it that so many have twisted Jesus' statement regarding the rigidity of the law in order to validate a scriptural legalism that strains at every little pen-stroke? Have we not long-since discovered that such intense detail has brought nothing but sin and condemnation?

Yeah, but how does this fit with "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law"? You know, the last time I looked the heaven and earth were still standing, and even though many have predicted "The End of the World" it somehow seems to hang on. But what if we're overlooking the most obvious connection - that the law itself is inextricably linked together with the elemental world? In other words, the law cannot be disentangled from the basic principles of a world that has an end ... meaning that which finds its life in the world, or the things of the world, cannot get around the fundamental operating principles of that world.

As to the passing of heaven and earth, why would we restrict its meaning according to an elemental viewpoint? Do we really think GOD is bound by the logic of a world that exists only because He holds it together? Listen, why would we suppose that the passing of the elemental world, as well as every jot and tittle, would be understood any differently than how we learned Christ ... or did we come to know God through all the wisdom of the world? No, knowing God comes despite human knowledge - for it cannot touch Him.

Consider the scenario presented by Paul in Romans 7:1-3

"Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man."

Under law, a man and a woman were joined until separated by death. If one partner died, the other was freed from that specific law. This is ELEMENTAL - and the flesh understands it - for some have even opted for murder to avoid adultery (No one ever said the logic of the flesh was particularly smart). So, according to the law, in order to LEGALLY marry another your spouse has to die first. But this is NOT how we were joined to Christ! Watch how Paul uses the elemental truth of the law as a NEGATIVE comparison to the miraculous life we have in Christ.

"Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God." (7:4)

No, He didn't kill your spouse - He killed YOU. In other words, YOU were removed from the jurisdiction of the elemental world ... and the principles by which it operates!! The heaven and earth, along with the jot and tittle of the law, have passed away because YOU have been taken out of IT, even though IT still stands. It has no power or control over YOU who have been made alive!! In Christ, everything has been accomplished, and this is the "word of the cross".

"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Cor 1:18). You see, it makes no difference what the world around you demands, for it cannot know what the Spirit of God within you reveals. We have been removed from out of the world and yet we still reside here ... but as strangers and aliens!! Even our bodies are dead because of sin - as they are connected to the death of the earthly - but God's Spirit is life to those very members so that life oozes out of us despite the decay of dying bodies.

My friends, in Christ all has been fulfilled, the law has passed away even down to the jot and tittle!! We have been removed from the realm of nitpicking!! What is it that we are looking for as we studiously pore over the writings of the Bible: hints of sin, fear, guilt, shame, condemnation ... what? Are we still looking for commands that can be broken? Are we still trying to validate our worth by comparing ourselves to its "standards"? If so, we are only caught up with legal technicalities of an existence done away with! If we truly hear the living witness found in the pages of the Book we will hear testimony to the one and only reality, the one and only LIFE ... CHRIST.

A NEW CREATION

2005-06-03T10:50:00.000-04:00

By: Bob George

Being made into a new creation is like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. Originally an earthbound crawling creature, a caterpillar weaves a cocoon and is totally immersed in it. Then a marvelous process takes place, called metamorphosis. Finally a totally new creature - a butterfly - emerges. Once ground-bound, the butterfly can now soar above the earth. It now can view life from the sky downward. In the same way, as a new creature in Christ you must begin to see yourself as God sees you.

If you were to see a butterfly, it would never occur to you to say, "Hey, everybody! Come look at this good-looking converted worm!" And it was "converted." No, now it is a new creature, and you don't think of it in terms of what it was. You see it as it is now - a butterfly.

In exactly the same way, God sees you as His new creature in Christ. Although you might not always act like a good butterfly - you might land on things you shouldn't, or forget you are a butterfly and crawl around with our old worm buddies - the truth of the matter is, you are never going to be a worm again!

This is why the usual New Testament word for a person in Christ is "saint," meaning "holy one." Paul for example, in nearly all his letters addressed them to the "saints." Yet all the time I hear Christians referring to themselves as "just an old sinner saved by grace." No! That's like calling a butterfly a converted worm. We were sinners and we were saved by grace, but the Word of God calls us saints from the moment we become identified with Christ.

Some people ask, "But I still commit sins. Doesn't that make me a sinner?

I answer, "It depends on whether your identity is determined by your behavior what you do or by who you are in God's eyes." Do you see how we have continued to do as Christians what the world does by determining a person's identity based on his behavior? The only way to get free of this is to do what Paul wrote in Colossians 3:1-3:

'Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.'

Covenant

2005-06-02T12:20:00.000-04:00

But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, I will put My law within them, and on their hearts will I write it; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. And they will no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they will all know Me [recognize, understand, and be acquainted with Me], from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will [seriously] remember their sin no more.
(Jer. 31) amp.

2005-05-31T11:37:00.000-04:00

My youngest son, "Joshua David"
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THIRD DAY WORSHIP?

2005-05-27T21:09:00.000-04:00

By Doug Fortune

As I ministered in New Zealand recently I was asked to conduct a workshop on “Worship in the Third Day.” I thought, What an awesome topic for this teacher to tackle! I think I had even listed that on my website as one of the topics I cover. After all, I was a worship leader for over 15 years. The more I pondered it, the more I realized that I probably knew quite a bit about progressive Charismatic/ Second Day worship. I could easily conduct a workshop on that. In fact I could dig out my old notes from years past...

Suddenly I began to realize that just as every other Second Day paradigm has shifted, worship was no different. I had to stand up in front of the group and admit that in reality, I was absolutely clueless when it came to “Worship in the Third Day.” Sure, I can still pick up my guitar and easily lead a group in a time of exuberance, transition, and intimacy, weaving in Scripture reading, prayer and prophetic expression. But that’s what we’ve been doing for years. That is still a wonderful thing to do, but that’s what we’ve been doing.

In the First Day, we sang a lot ABOUT God. Songs filled with theology and doctrinal positions. In the Second Day, we sang a lot TO God. Songs filled with intimate cries of love. We even went through a strange phase in the Second Day where we sang about and sang to the devil to ‘beat up’ on him. Thank goodness that didn’t last long! Eventually I guess someone actually read 1 John 3:8 and Colossians 2:15 and realized that Jesus actually accomplished what He came to do; “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil... And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

The Third Day is different. Yes, we can still sing ABOUT God and TO God if we like, there’s nothing wrong with that (however, if you’re singing to the devil, just stop that silliness!). This new Day is different because in the Third Day WE don’t sing, God sings THROUGH us. But how does that happen and what does it sound like? I think I’ve possibly had glimpses, but that’s about it.

For one thing, my concept of ‘worship’ has changed dramatically. ‘Worship’ used to be that musical thing we did before the preaching. It was to prepare people’s hearts to receive the Word delivered by the speaker. Don’t worry, I believe it’s still fine to do that. But I’m not so sure that worship is something we DO, nearly as much as worship is something we ARE. Many are preaching about wineskins, how we DO things. I’m more concerned with the wine that fills the wineskin, what we are BEcoming. I think perhaps there are a lot of new wineskins in the Church today that are missing one thing- the WINE. “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1 Amplified Bible) We can also read in 1 Peter 2:5 about spiritual sacrifices that are ‘acceptable’, “[Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5 Amplified Bible) I believe that the only thing that really pleases God is His Son.

The book of Hebrews is quite clear when it says, “Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a BODY hast Thou prepared me... Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said He, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second.” (Hebrews 10:5,8-9) According to these verses, obviously sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin are not acceptable to the Father. So exactly WHAT offering IS acceptable? The only sacrifice we can really offer that is ‘acceptable’ is Christ Himself. Friend, the acceptable spiritual sacrifices that we are to offer is the REVEALation of the deposit of Christ within us.Our spiritual sacrifice is to give back to Him the Life of Christ that is being revealed IN us. I will say that again to make sure we are getting it- our spiritual sacrifice is to give back to Him the Life of Christ that is being revealed IN us. It’s like what God is really looking for is Himself within us.

This sounds like what science would call the phenomenon of resonance. When I am not away traveling and ministering or writing books, I like to cook. Sometimes I sing while I cook. Often our kitchen is filled with the sound of Italian arias. Actually I don’t sing in Italian, the closest I can come is pig-Latin, but that just sounded so poetic as it flowed from my pen... well, actually it flowed from my laptop keyboard, but ‘pen’ sounded so poetic... At any rate, when I sing in the kitchen I sometimes can hear resonation happening. You see, we have this apparatus hanging from our ceiling that our pots and pans hang from. Sometimes when I hit certain notes, a pan will start to ring a bit. That means I have hit the particular tone that is the natural frequency of vibration of that particular pan. It is like the frequency of my voice goes out looking for the same frequency, and when it meets the same frequency in the pan, then the pan begins to resonate. I might mention that occasionally my dog chimes in too, but that’s another story. Different pots and pans will resonate with different tones because they are different sizes and shapes. Each container has it’s own frequency because it is fashioned and shaped based upon its’ intended use.

We are all ‘containers’ of God, we are all vessels, we are pots and pans in the ‘kitchen’ of the Kingdom. “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) According to Zephaniah, I believe that God likes to sing in the ‘kitchen’ too. The Voice of God that spoke your calling and your very being into existence goes out looking for the same frequency, and when it meets the same frequency in the ‘pan’, then the ‘pan’ begins to resonate. We are all different shapes of ‘pots and pans’ in the body of Christ. All resonate differently because we are fashioned and shaped based upon our intended use. You see, Third Day worship is not about a particular style of music. Third Day worship is becoming the resonant expression of Christ in the earth. Third Day worship is resonating the Voice. And what does this resonation sound like? Is it simply one note, one tone? After all, we all like the way our particular ‘pan’ resonates. No, it is the Voice of MANY waters; “And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters... And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:” (Revelation 1:15 & 14:2)

Many tones, ONE Sound. Remember, it is God’s ‘kitchen’, He is the one who fashioned each ‘pan’, and we are made in His image. He is the one who predetermined the tone of each ‘pan’. Keep in mind that when I speak of tone and the Sound, I’m not just speaking of music. Third Day worship is not about just music, it is more of a lifestyle than an event. Third Day worship is not so much about something we DO, rather it is all about who we ARE. The main question we need to be asking ourselves is this, Are we reproducing A sound or are we resonating THE Sound? There is a huge difference.

The difference between reproducing A sound and resonating THE Sound is the SOURCE of the frequency. When we reproduce a sound, though it may appear to sound like THE Sound, WE are the source of the frequency. When we resonate THE Sound, the Voice of God is the origin of the frequency. Allow me to illustrate by recalling an old television commercial. They were selling a particular brand of tapes for recording. This was before the days of digital recording on CD’s and DVD’s. On the commercial an opera singer would sing a note that would shatter a wine glass simply with their voice. The catch phrase was, Is it live or is it Brand-X? This shattering of a wine glass simply with the voice is due to the phenomenon of resonance. Here is how it works- the singer must first tap the glass to find its natural frequency of vibration, and then sing the same note (frequency) back to the glass. This joining of the natural frequency of the glass and the frequency of the voice causes an increase in the amplitude of the vibrations, that can result in a vibrational impact that shatters the glass. In other words the amplitude, or the size of the sound waves, goes beyond the physical limitations of vibration that the glass can withstand, thus causing a vibrational impact. The glass shatters, and the resonation can no longer be contained.

God calls us to go beyond our physical limitations. He has already spoken a Word of destiny into the very fabric of our being, and it is ever present within us. That, my friend, is our ‘natural frequency’ of vibration. It is the ‘natural face’ spoken of in James 1:23; “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:” The word translated as natural in that verse is ‘genesis’ in Greek. We must behold our ‘genesis’ face, the face that is in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). As we behold our ‘genesis’ face in the image and likeness of God, hearing and doing that Word of destiny, we begin to resonate. We are offering back to the Father the deposit of Christ, the Word of destiny that the Father spoke into us from the foundation of the world. It’s time to resonate THE Sound! It’s time to crank up the amplitude! We must shatter the ‘glass’ and go beyond our physical limitations! This is worship! The ultimate form of worship is becoming ONE with the One you worship!

As Jesus taught on worship He said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) I think that as ‘true worshippers’ we need to closely consider these words of Jesus. First we need to ask, Who are we worshipping? Most of us worship Jesus. This seems apparent when we look at the words of our songs and the emphasis of our attention. Worshipping Jesus seems fairly safe, as we can relate to Him a bit better because He was ‘one of us’ when He walked the earth. However Jesus taught that “true worshippers shall worship the Father... for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” Worshipping the Father can seem a bit frightening. Images of thunder and lightning and smoke on the mountain top come to mind. “And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” (Exodus 20:18-19) They stood far away and their assessment was, Let not God speak with us lest we die! In reality, I believe their assessment was fairly accurate. It seems that when we truly worship the Father, generally something has to die. And yes, you guessed it, WE are that something! Let us remember that the very first mention of worship in the Bible is found within the context of Abraham setting out to sacrifice Isaac; “And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” (Genesis 22:5) Why is this death necessary? Because you cannot have a resurrection without a death. It takes a ‘resurrection’ to truly worship in SPIRIT because a ‘resurrected’ life is a Spirit life. This is what Paul spoke of when he said, “That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].” (Philippians 3:11) When we translate John 4:24 literally, it says God IS Spirit. It does not say God is A Spirit. It does not say God HAS a Spirit. It says God IS Spirit, that’s what He IS. Our worship must be Spirit to Spirit, nature to nature, face to face, the Christ IN us connecting to God and resonating God... in Spirit and in truth.

If indeed we are to worship in spirit and in truth, then this brings us to the question, What is truth? This makes me think of another one who asked the same question of Jesus, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?” (John 18:37-38) The word translated as truth, aletheia in Greek, means truth, truly, verity. It is from the Greek word alethes, and its’ root word lanthano which means true (as not concealing), not hidden, not secretly, not without knowing. Something that is not concealed or hidden is REVEALED. Jesus gives us a big hint concerning truth when He said He came into the world to bear witness to the truth. He came into the world to bear witness to that which was REVEALED in His life. The word translated as witness is martureo in Greek, from which we get our English word martyr. It’s meanings include to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration, to give (to not to keep back) testimony. He came into the world as a living martyr to reveal what He knew and experienced by divine revelation. Jesus goes on to say, “Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.” Now when we put all this together, we begin to understand that to worship in truth is really to be a living martyr revealing what we know and experience by divine revelation because we hear His voice! As we hear His voice we resonate! We become the resonant expression of Christ in the earth. Third Day worship, worshipping in Spirit and in truth is resonating the Voice of God, bearing witness to the Truth.

Remember that first mention of worship in the Bible we just read of? When did it happen? “Then on the THIRD DAY Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.” (Genesis 22:4) Just as it was with the first worship of the Father, so shall it be in this Third Day. Like Abraham, we must lift our vision higher to see the true place of worship. Abraham also said, “...I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come AGAIN to you.” He said Isaac was going to return with him! He believed that even if he sacrificed the boy that the Father would resurrect him. He was determined to bring a resurrection life into manifestation. Like Abraham, we must determine to bring resurrection life into manifestation! True Third Day worship is resonating and revealing the resurrected Christ-Life! Once again, it is time for a paradigm shift. For most of us our concept of worship has been that intimate place where it is just Jesus and me in our secret place of communion. Don’t worry, I believe it’s still fine and necessary to do that. However, to worship in truth is not concealed, not hidden, not secretly. In fact, worship in truth may not even happen in a church building that much. Worship in truth is openly revealing the Christ IN us, resonating the Voice of God wherever we are. It’s time to resonate THE Sound! It’s time to crank up the amplitude! We must shatter the ‘glass’ and go beyond the physical limitations of that which we have called Church! THIS is the time to BE the resonant expression of Christ in the earth. THIS is the time to resonate the Voice! “But the hour cometh, and NOW IS, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” (John 4:23)

Everything, In Christ!

2005-05-13T15:03:00.000-04:00

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people--free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ,a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free--signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life. That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, I couldn't stop thanking God for you--every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask--ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory--to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him ersonally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him--endless energy, boundless strength! All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever.He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. (Eph. 1:3-23) msg

"Mother's Day"

2005-05-08T12:06:00.000-04:00

"Happy Mother's Day"

"......never forget what you learned at your mother's knee." (msg)
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Christ - All, And In All

2005-05-08T11:55:00.000-04:00

by T. Austin-Sparks

".....What is Christian service according to the mind of God? It is not necessarily our having a very full programme of Christian activities. It is not that we are always busy in what we call 'things of the Lord'. It is not the measure and amount of our activity and business, not the degree of our energy and enthusiasm in the things of the kingdom of God. It is not our schemes, our enterprises for the Lord. Beloved, the test of all service is its motive. Is the motive, from start to finish, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence, that Christ may be all, and in all?

You know the temptations and the fascination of Christian service; the fascination of being busy, of being occupied with many things; having your programme, schemes, enterprises; being in it, and always at it. There is a peril there which has caught multitudes of the Lord's servants. The peril is that it brings them into prominence, it makes the work theirs; it is their work, their interests, and the more they govern the thing and run it the more pleased they are.

No, there is a difference between going the round of the clock in Christian service as the mere enjoyment of activity, with the fascination of it and all the advantages and facilities it provides for ourselves, and its gratification to our flesh - there is a great difference between that and this, "Christ all, and in all". Sometimes this latter is achieved by our being put out of action; and then is the test, as to whether we are, or are not, quite satisfied to be altogether put out of work if only the Lord can be the more glorified thereby. If only He can come into His own, it does not matter a scrap whether we are seen or heard. We are getting somewhere, in the grace of God, when we are quite content to be put up in a corner, unseen and unnoticed, if thereby the Lord Jesus can come into His own more speedily and fully.

Somehow we have got caught up into this thing and think the Lord can only come into His own if we are the instrument. The rivalry on platform and in pulpit; sensitiveness because one is put before another, because the address of one is given more attention than that of another; the favourable remarks all made in one direction, etc! I know all about it. After all, what are we after? Are we seeking to impress our audience by our cleverness or to make known our Lord? A great difference! Sometimes the Lord gets more out of our bad times than we think, and it may be that when we have had good times He has not got the most. Therein is the necessity for our being set aside, kept weak and humble, that He might have the pre-eminence.

The challenge of service according to God's thought is just this - What are we doing it for? Do we want to be in the work, because we like to be busy? Or is it utterly and only that, by any means, He may come into His own, that God's end may be realized? If He can be all, and in all, by our death as well as by our life, have we come to the place where we truly desire "that... Christ may be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death"? (Phil. 1:20). That is the explanation of service from God's standpoint.

Of course, this is the explanation of many other things. It is....."

A HUMAN VEHICLE OF THE DIVINE LIFE

2005-05-06T09:13:00.000-04:00

By: Major W. Ian Thomas

"Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it." (I Thessalonians 5:24).

The One who calls you to a life of righteousness is the One who by our consent lives that life of righteousness through you! The One who calls you to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, is the One who by your consent, goes into all the world and preaches the Gospel to every creature through you!

This is the divine genius that saves a man from the futility of self-effort. It relieves the Christian of the burden of tying to pull himself up by his own bootstraps! If it were not for this divine provision, the call to Christ would be a source of utter frustration, presenting the sorry spectacle of a sincere idealist, constantly thwarted by his own inadequacy.

If you will but trust Christ, not only for the death He died in order to redeem you, but also for the life that He lives and waits to live through you, the very next step you take will be a step taken in the very energy and power of God Himself. You will have begun to live a life which is essentially supernatural, yet still clothed with the common humanity of your physical body, and still worked out both in the big and the little things that inevitable make up the lot of a man who, though his heart may be with Christ in heaven, still has his two feet firmly planted on the earth.

You will have become totally dependent upon the life of Christ within you, and never before will you have been so independent, so emancipated from the pressure of your circumstances, so released at last from that self-distrust which has made you at one moment an arrogant, loud-mouth braggart, and the next moment the victim of your own self-pity and, either way, always in bondage to the fear of other men's opinions.

You will be free from the tyranny of a defeated enemy within. You will be more than conqueror, for even death itself is conquered by His life. Christ through death destroyed "him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14). This indeed is victory!

You will be restored to your true humanity to be the human vehicle of the divine life.

HE WHO ALONE IS YOUR LIFE

2005-05-06T08:52:00.000-04:00

By: Bob George

Christ knows us, He understands us, He loves us, He accepts us, and He is the only true wisdom available to us. He is the solution to all our problems, and our peace in the storms of life. He, and He alone, has given us "everything we need for life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). He, and He alone, is the One who is "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14), and therefore the only one who can teach us "to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12,13).

A misunderstanding of this truth forces the Christian to become what the Bible calls a "double-minded man, unstable in all he does" (James 1:8) He studies the Word to get to know God, but he studies the psychology books to get know himself.

Paul said, "For to me, to live is Christ . . ." (Philippians 1:21). In Galatians 2:20, he said, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Since it is true that we no longer live, but Christ lives in us, let me ask you this question: If you want to get to know who you are, who are you going to have to get to know? Him! In other words, to discover your true identity, you will have to discover Him who alone is your life.

This eliminates the need for analysis, self-actualization, and going back into memories of past experiences to "understand yourself." When Paul said in Romans 7:15, "I do not know what I am doing," he didn't go on to say, "I therefore need to go for counseling." He merely recognized his condition of sin and death as revealed by God's law and claimed God's solution: "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:25).

From: Growing in Grace

My Beautiful Wife!

2005-04-30T11:53:00.000-04:00

Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh.
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Everyday "Life"

2005-04-27T16:23:00.000-04:00

Another Wonderful Morsel by Jim Minker!

"So, what do I say, how am I to react ... how am I to live? I discover the reality of this by discovering that I have been abandoned by everything I thought to be life, by everything that seemed right to me, even though true life and true rightness has come to be realized as being far more substantial than my former perceptions ever could imagine. In my every day I am out there ... out where truth contradicts the boxes that attempt to hold snippets of true things, even to the point of contradicting the conclusions of varied collections of true things, as well as the individual things that may be true in and of themselves, but made to be untrue by the contamination of fleshly perceptions. Simply stated, regarding myself I am not concerned by another's fleshly judgment of me, whether it be according to man's laws or those recorded in the Bible. I live according to Christ, for he is my life. His life cannot be truly assessed according to the flesh, and we already know that his life while living on this earth was examined by God's law - according to man - and found wanting.

The truth is that my everyday life might not appear so miraculous, even to myself. In many ways my life is very scheduled - my job, my sleeping and eating patterns, etc - so that the routine of one week often seems to roll into the next. I used to imagine that true freedom would bring about freedom from routine, and yet I have come to see that it is neither bound by routine or by amplified by its lack. I am content, even though I may pursue a change here or there. I am not bound by my fleshly perception of freedom ... nor by anybody else's perception of it (no matter how authoritative that perception seems). I am alive in Christ and that is all that counts ... as it is all that counts regarding everything and everyone."

Link to entire Letter 2005

Revelation: God's Way of Knowing

2005-04-26T14:02:00.000-04:00

The Holy Spirit teaches both by revelation and experience. The revelation can be instant and direct, without being transmitted by any formal "teaching." We say, "Oh, I see." The Spirit then uses seen and temporal experiences to work that revelation into us. The revelation gets established in us through personal experience.

Some people have a hard time relating to that, because they associate the word teacher with a schoolroom, where we just impart knowledge. But the Holy Spirit's teaching is experiential teaching. Of course, we do learn facts, but I'm talking about the process whereby we become one with what we are taught. We become one with the truth through experiential teaching.

This experiential knowing is indicated in the biblical words for know. Both the Greek and Hebrew words for know that I am referring to indicate experiential understanding of and oneness with. When "Adam knew his wife...", it wasn't an intellectual thing. Adam experienced oneness with his wife. That's exactly what knowing is. There is no anxiety about those things that you know, because you become mixed with them. You and what you know are one.

On the natural level, I remember experiencing such knowing with high school algebra. When it came to algebra, I didn't have a clue. I'd work those silly problems, then I'd look up the answers in the back of the book. I'd get some answers right, but I didn't know how or why. None of it made sense. But one day the scales fell off my algebra eyes and it all made sense. I said,

"Oh, I see! I see why you put this here and that here, change this sign, etc." Then I could do it. I was relaxed about it. Until then I was striving and trying and working. Now I was at rest. I was one with algebra. Of course, we don't need the Spirit's revelation to do algebra. But it works the same in the spiritual realm.

When God gives you a flash of insight, that's it. "Oh, I see!" Everything else, from then on, is just an elaboration on that flash. When you know, you are forever changed in that area. You'd have to make a conscious effort to go back on what the Holy Spirit showed you. That's why it's hard to sin in an area when the Holy Spirit truly shows you something. It's hard to go back on truth. Truth liberates.

I've always liked the word awareness more than the word growth. Because what really happens in each of us? Our awareness simply expands. We become more aware of Who already was. "Oh, I see more and more of Him." We're not seeing more and more about Him. We're seeing more and more of Him. He is the peace. He is the joy. He is the life. He is the love.

Until we see that, we are always saying to God, "Give me something. Gimme. Gimme. Gimme." But when that insight comes (and I'm not saying it has to be sudden, although it was with me), we say, "Oh, I see. I already have life. I already have Him."

When God gives your spirit a revelation, often your soul responds with, "That can't be. That can't be." But your spirit is saying, "It is. It is." Revelation doesn't take place in your brain. God reveals Himself in our spirit. He says, "Yes, the absolutes are true. When you begin to live in My reality, you'll begin to say, 'I am.' Until you live in My reality, you'll say, 'I am becoming' or 'I want to be' or 'I hope I am."'

How many times have I said, "I'd like to be. I wish I were. Maybe someday." And God was on His throne saying, "You are! You are!" When you truly see that Christ is your life, time ceases to be a decisive factor in your life. Everything is just now. You live in the present tense of God. He is not becoming. He is. You are not becoming. You are. You operate from "I am," not "I will become."

The unique thing about the Spirit of God as our teacher is that He has time to be an individual instructor to each one of us. He doesn't have a single lesson plan that fits everybody. He has tailor-made lesson plans based on our individual experiences, needs, and desires. So it's of little value for me to say to you, "This is the way He taught me." Because in all probability He never has taught you that way. He has taught you in His way for you, and it's just as real and valid as His way for me. The life experiences that we have in the seen and temporal realm are the milieu out of which He does the teaching.

The encouraging news to us is that God is in control of this whole process: both when it will happen and to whom it will happen. He has chosen to reveal Himself, not to the chief muckety-mucks of the world system, but to us simple folk:

At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight." (Matthew 11:25-26)

That seems a strange thing for God to do, but Paul understood it. He told the Corinthians that God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And look at you, Paul said. You're not much, by the world's standards. You're not the wisest in the world. You're not the cleverest. You're not looked upon as people of power, but God has chosen you.

Every revelation is according to God's good pleasure and His own timing. Timing is so important. You might get the itch before God wants to scratch. You think that you're ready to stop the itch, but God may say, "You're not itching enough yet. If I were to meet you right now, it would be like harvesting something before its time. You wouldn't grow to full maturity." In His own way, in His own time, God reveals.

What is it that the Holy Spirit primarily reveals to us? Jesus told us:

[The Holy Spirit] will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me; for He will take of Mine, and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. (John 16:13-15)

The work of the Holy Spirit is declaring to us the Father and the Son within us. The Spirit makes no declaration about Himself. He attempts no glorification of Himself. He doesn't point to the fruit or the gifts. The Holy Spirit does not single Himself out because nothing originates with Him. The Spirit is the means by which the life of the Father and the Son comes forth. He wants us to know that we manifest the life of the Father and the Son. That is His revelation.

From: Stone, Dan, The Rest of the Gospel: When the partial Gospel has worn you out. Dallas: One Press. 2000. pgs. 126-129.

The SHOVELATION : Galatians 6

2005-04-25T10:22:00.000-04:00

By Jim Minker

"You hear all this, and yet there's something nagging at you concerning believers who sin, isn't there? You may agree that there are problems with a life based on biblical principles, but aren't we supposed to deal with those who go against the principles? This is indeed a delicate situation, but not for the reasons you have heard. If you were to examine the question it would scream out the obvious: "What causes a believer to get caught up in breaking laws anyway?"

I'm talking to you who have God's Spirit, don't you realize that your brother has forgotten who he is? Be careful with your approach, for you are the one who is in danger. For when you view him as a "sinner" who needs your advice, you have let go of freedom and have embraced the law-based system in the exact place where God's grace is most effective ... and most needed!

Forget the advice, what the guy needs is for you to lift this weight of bondage off of him through the power of the message of freedom. This is where we really love one another! But those who are trying to impress the "less spiritual" by coming across as "more spiritual" have fooled themselves into believing their performance ranks them above those they "minister" to. But if you were to examine your work without the comparison game you would discover your real worth; for it would be readily obvious that there is no place to boast except in Christ alone! Support those who teach this freedom.

What? Do you think the manipulative mindset of "If I don't do it, it won't get done!" can bypass God's decree that things produce after their own kind? It makes no difference how "spiritual" your attempts may be, a system of performance can only produce the seeds that produce corruption! The seed of the Spirit of God can only produce the life of God! So don't let appearances cause you to lose heart in doing that which is truly good, for the tendency to do the "right thing" always desires to keep you from being the living thing!

Abraham knew the discouragement that comes from seeing nothing happening; he would tell you to wait for God's results because it will come about. Don't let the impatience of your old performance mentality pressure you into trying to finish what God started. Know this: the Spirit of God is actively working in you right at this moment, as He always does.

As you discover desires of goodness (especially to a fellow believer), refuse to justify it in your mind by trying to determine "What would Jesus do?". You know the process. But doesn't the uncertainty of the whole thing tell you that that's the old, dead mind trying to reinterpret the desires of your new life? What else can you call it when you are asking God to give you proof of His working in you, when the reality of His life being your life has been stated as fact by the message of freedom? Stop questioning the freedom, act according to the life that is in you!

Look at what the systemites use to make themselves appear respectable. This is what they really preach! They will urge you to conform to their program, because without it, they would be faced with the fact that their "Savior" was despised, rejected and condemned by the system they are a part of! Aren't you aware that those who want to pull you into it are not even true to their own programs? They really only want you to join their club so they can bestow their "label" on you and glory in gaining one more member!

Think what you want to about me, but I know for myself that God has faithfully and consistently -- and sometimes, painfully, I might add -- removed anything by which I could boast except the very thing the world despises, which is the instrument upon which Christ was rejected by the system. It is this very thing that separates me from the world -- and the world from me. The issues you hold mean nothing, nor do the lack of them mean anything, either. The only thing that counts is the new creation. God's peace is on those who are found in this"

(Note: Underlining and Bold print are mine)

(NAS Version)
Gal 6:1-18 " Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load. The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen." (NAS)

Which Law Written On Our Hearts

2005-04-18T13:12:00.000-04:00

By Eddie Fourie

These last couple of weeks have been the toughest of my spiritual walk yet, but also the most glorious time of a revelation of the finished work of the Cross that Paul so powerfully explains in all his letters. It’s an incredible journey when you find out that you are no longer a sinner, and that God dealt with sin two thousand years ago. It’s a marvel when you finally grasp that sin is no longer an issue with God, and that God already views you as perfect, holy and without blame (righteous) in Christ apart from your performance or works. Religion on the other hand keeps on reminding us of that which is no longer an issue for God – THE LAW OF MOSES. And that's all I hear lately - IT IS FINISHED - and no matter which page I turn to in the Bible, it speaks of this wonderful revelation from the heart of God. In essence it’s the difference of being under the law or being under grace. Oh, we preach grace, talk about it, write books about it, but almost always with the law still safely shackled to it. My own conclusion is that 99% of books on grace are just debates about mixing two covenants, and that it’s a far cry from the revelation that Paul teaches in his letters. The words that constantly echo off the walls of my mind are “where there is no law, there is no more transgression of the law.” Thus, to still draw right and wrong from the law by definition means that we are under the law and not under grace. Bonhoeffer and other great ministers taught about making grace “responsible,” and although I see their hearts on the matter, their methods almost always lead to being back under the law. Then there was also Paul and James who saw the matter of grace without works, and grace with works, in stark opposites, and even had bitter disputes about the matter. Sadly, all of these neat definitions still produce cause and effect religion, which is no different from the blessings and curses of keeping or violating the law.

We are all familiar with the verses that God will write his law on our heart, and for most of my walk with God, I assumed this to mean the law of the old covenant. However, Paul dismantles the law as the ministry of death and condemnation not fit for a righteous person. Why on earth would God write such a code on our hearts? What would be the purpose to inscribe a code which MUST lead to wrath? (Rom 4.15) So it seems to me that all of this is an attempt to restore the law with grace, whereas I now clearly see them as mortal enemies in our relationship towards God. Jesus fulfilled and completed the covenant of the law on the Cross, and either it was ALL nailed to his body, or it was not. Either he settled a new covenant between God and man based on grace, or he did not. We already know the law declared all of humanity guilty before God, and if the natural outcome of the law is wrath, then all we have to do is answer the question about who drank the cup of God’s wrath for violating the law? It was nothing other than the law that taught us good from evil, right from wrong, and from which we draw morality. Before the law came, people knew something was wrong, but they had no way of defining what it was, and so the law became necessary to complete the outcome of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Did Christ fulfill the law? If so, then why do we still go around judging people based on the precepts of the law? If God nailed this old guardian to the Cross, then why do we still make it the guardian against which we measure people and spirituality? Is it perhaps because we don’t trust the fact that God promised to guide people himself under the new covenant? Or could it be that we still inject the law because we really don’t have a full understanding of God’s view about us?

My Christian mentors taught me that the law expresses God’s character; his likes and dislikes if you would. In a sense that is true, but I think most of all the law teaches us the character of man apart from God. It’s only a shadow of the perfect man that would be acceptable to God – his Son, and at its core, the law forbids being human because it is spiritual and we are not apart from Christ. Its requirements are righteous, but we know that nobody could keep the law, and God had no illusion that we would fail in all our attempts at keeping it. Christians who walk around saying “at least I am trying” live in the same pitiable state as we did under the law. If ‘trying’ got the job done, then Israel would have been the most holy and righteous people walking the earth – but we know they are not. The law begins to makes perfect sense if you understand that God needed a way to show us that we are ALL guilty in our own efforts (self-righteousness) and that none of us sought after him by its demands - not a single one.

And then you might ask where does this leave us with the whole issue of morality? How do we decide morality if the moral code of the law is no longer in effect? (And you might disagree with this premise, but I come back to where there is no law, there is no transgression of the law). Paul tells Timothy that as long as there are people who do not possess the knowledge of their righteousness in Christ, that laws (not the law) are necessary, but the law is not intended for a righteous person. So let’s circle back to my earlier comment about the law that’s written on our hearts; if it’s not the law of the old covenant, then what law is written on our hearts in the new covenant? It’s the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. It’s the law that teaches us there is no condemnation between us and God. It’s the law that teaches us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. It’s the law that teaches us that God already declared us righteous, holy and without blame before him in Christ apart from our works or performance. This is all in Christ, and Paul's definition of a righteous person - not someone who still walks around with a “sinner” mentality. In Christ we are no longer sinners, but righteous because Jesus removed the very obstacle that declared us unrighteous and sinners before God – THE LAW. It’s the finished work of the Cross that brought us near to God without our performance or efforts, and it’s this revelation that brings God's peace and rest to our hearts. It’s this new law of the Spirit that brings the fruit of love, joy peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control into our lives. If sin was the natural fruit of the first covenant without our help, then how much more will the fruit of the second covenant be part of our lives without our help as we embrace this new law? We cannot produce an ounce of it, it's a natural outcome of this new law.

The law (of Moses) was not given for us to judge one another with, but to judge ourselves against while we still lived under it. If we become judges of the law, then we become the very “gods” we thought we would become by eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Living out such a position makes us no better off than still being under the old covenant, and we can only end where the Pharisee’s did; they boasted in the laws they could keep, and justified the one’s they couldn’t. And we all know that if we break one of these laws, then we are guilty of breaking all of them. But you and I, all of humanity was declared in violation of the whole code of the law two thousand years ago. Unfortunately we have scores of teachers and preachers who still proclaim a mixture of the law alongside grace, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently (1 Tim 1.7). Such teachers promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan that operates by FAITH (1 Tim 1.4), because “by the works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through the law is a knowledge of sin.” (Rom 3.20) Want to hear such a useless speculation? The other day I happen to skip across a "Christian" radio station when the minister confidently declared that the only difference between the old and the new covenant is that we no longer stone people to death for violating the law, but that all of the demands of the law are still in place. What a detestable speculation, and no wonder the Church at large is such a confused mess.

Now I am not suggesting there is no such thing as morality - God forbid. Even Paul addressed this issue at length in Romans 6, but I believe we misunderstand his teaching on the subject. Because of our English translations of the Bible, we have viewed sin more as a verb than a noun. Most of the time when the New Testament writes about sin, it writes about sin as a noun, and not as a list of do and don’ts (sounds like the law). Thus when Paul addressed this issue of not sinning because we are under grace, he was not referring to sin in the sense of a verb, but more definitively as a teaching (doctrine) of sin (the law). Read Romans 6.15-23 and see how Paul describes that once we were slaves to the teaching (doctrine) of sin, but that now we should rather be slaves to the teaching (doctrine) of righteousness. I don’t wish to explore the whole context of righteousness in this essay, I simply wanted to point out that he was referring to two different doctrines as opposed to a list of do’s and don’ts.

Then, don’t you know that Paul says the mind of the law (flesh) is at war with the mind of the Spirit, and that they desire opposite things? These two minds will never desire the same things, and no wonder so many Christians are at war within themselves trying to please God. This double mindedness about trying to mix the law and grace makes man unstable in ALL of his ways. Contemporary teachings are nothing less than trying to make the flesh holy in the same manner that failed under the first covenant. Major Ian W. Thomas is right when he says “there is nothing quite as nauseating or pathetic as the flesh trying to be holy!” The only way out of this dilemma is to understand that the law has not been an issue with God for more than two thousand years now. Believing this will save your soul from this dreadful war and your attempts to uphold two opposing covenants. God settled the matter ONCE AND FOR ALL in Christ, but it is of ourselves that we make it an issue once again, thus falling from grace and crucifying Jesus all over again. God purposed the Scriptures (law) to imprison everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given — and because of the faith OF Jesus Christ — to those who believe this truth. (Gal 3.22) We have been reconciled to God at the Cross while we were still God's enemies, and knowing this truth is what causes the life of Christ to save our souls daily from cause and effect religion (the law). (1 Cor 5:18-19)

So, here I am, looking at all the books on my bookshelf that “explain” this Christian walk, and they just look like faint shadows of that which I have seen this last while. Suddenly they seem so superficial, and I must have read the Bible more in the last couple of weeks than in my entire spiritual walk. Like the law and the letter, these books are empty of any saving life in itself - it's time to move on. I look back at many of the articles that I posted on my blog, and all I see is law, law and more law. It was for freedom that Christ has set us free, but mixing law and grace is not freedom; it’s still the law. I will therefore not convert most of those articles as I said I would, but would much rather devote the new ezine to material that explores Paul’s gospel of grace and peace. I grappled with this for quite some time, and hence my silence in posting new articles. I now have peace about the matter, I have peace about who I am in Christ, and all I want to know going forward is Christ crucified.

THE SECRET OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

2005-04-15T10:01:00.000-04:00

By: Gene Edwards

What have you been told is the secret to the Christian life? Pray and read your Bible? Go to church? Witness? Speak in tongues? Tithe?

That list takes for granted you can live the Christian life. Also note that you are the center of every item on that list. Call it "you-centeredness." You out there living the Christian life. You cannot live the Christian life. Jesus Christ could not live the Christian life. None of us can live the Christian life! If Jesus Christ cannot live the Christian life, what makes you think that you can? You can give up trying to live the Christian life! We can all testify what a colossal failure we have been at trying to live the Christian life.

But on the day you quit trying to live the Christian life ...then you will finally give Him the freeway to live out in you what is so easy and so simple and so organic for Him to do. Hopefully, you just got set free from a long list of do's and don'ts (the "do's" you can't do, and the "don'ts" you always do). Why look so shocked; stop and think about it. You never were any good at living the Christian life. Admit it.

From: The Secret of the Christian Life

Chapter 10, "Won to Trust"

2005-04-13T15:38:00.000-04:00

I have just completed reading the newly published, Chapter 10, "Won to Trust" .........of the ongoing Jake Colsen Story. Below is a paragraph from this work, just oozing with Truth! I hope you will enjoy this piece as much as I have.

(Jake said...)
I feel like I have more to teach now than I ever have, and that I have far fewer people to share it with?

(John's Reply...)
John laughed heartily. If I had a dollar for every time I heard that Then he put his hand over mine. Its not about teaching, Jake. Its about living. Learn to live this life and youll have no end of folks to share it with. Teach it first, however, and that will be your substitute for living it.

See link below:

Rainbow Lorikeet

2005-04-12T19:58:00.000-04:00

Job 35:11 When God sets out the entire creation as a science classroom, using birds and beasts to teach wisdom.

As the Rainbow Lorikeet feeds largely upon the honey of flowers......... may we drink of the Sweet Nectar of His Presence.

"I went to my garden, dear friend, best lover! breathed the sweet fragrance. I ate the fruit and honey, I drank the nectar and wine. Celebrate with me, friends! Raise your glasses--"To life! To love!" Son 5:1 (msg)

Posted by Hello

THIRD DAY PERSPECTIVE

2005-04-12T09:04:00.000-04:00

by Robert Holmes admin@storm-harvest.asn.au

Three years ago I was sitting in a car driving to Dulles airport, Washington DC with a prophetess named Nancy. We were having an animated conversation about the Trinity. Our discussion centered on the observation that nearly everything seems to come in threes - after the order and image of the God-head. Our nature (body-soul-spirit); our world (earth-water-air); the transfiguration (Jesus-Moses-Elijah) and so many other things. I recall the process of death, burial and resurrection took three days.

A year later I was flying in to California to meet with a man named Gary. He was the leader of a group called the Third Day Churches. I listened intently to his explanation about freedom in Christ, of liberty from the old ways of religion, and of pressing through into "something else". Gary, like other leaders had come from a traditional church background, through a freedom loving, Vineyard style church into what he has today. It was a three-step process.

This year I met a fascinating speaker and author, Doug. Our conversation wandered into the Third Day (again!). It was too much for me. Doug had taken it to the next level, and could see the necessity for the church to change, or radically shift their day-to-day perspective on life. We must go all the way through.

Death, burial and resurrection

There is found in Hosea a reference to this three day process: "Come, let us return to the LORD; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth" (Hos. 6:1-3 NRSV).

On the first day the Lord tears us; He strikes us down. The result is death - a blow to our old nature. On the second day we come to Him; the call is to return to Him. He heals us; He binds us up. After two days He will revive us, and on the third day, He will raise us up! The process is death, burial and resurrection life - resulting in His appearing. He will come to us like showers.

The three-day pattern is literally found all the way through the Scriptures. Once you know the key, you can see the pattern. Let's take a look at twelve places it occurs, to understand God's plan for us to live in a "Third Day" life.

1. Where is your life?

Holding onto your life (which is really death - Matt. 10:39) is a first day reality. To understand and share in His sufferings, so as to attain His death (Phil. 3:10) is a second day reality. To walk without fear of death, knowing that for me to live is Christ (Gal. 2:20) & that my life is hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3) is a third day reality. God wants us to come through our suffering (not avoid it), to embrace our pain (not get therapy for it) and come through that death into resurrection life! (Rev. 20:6).

2. What room of the temple are you in?*

The tabernacle of Moses foreshadowed the temple of Solomon, which is a shadow of the heavenly tabernacle. There were three rooms in Moses' tabernacle. The outer court is where great sacrifice took place, much blood sweat and tears; this is living in the first day. The inner court was a place of worship. It contained the eternal flame, the shewbread, the priestly life. A sanctified life of prayer, fasting and holiness; that is living in the second day. Then there was the holy place, the holy of holies where God dwelt over the mercy seat between the Cherubim. We are invited into the place of intimacy, relationship and life (Heb 10:19-25); that is living in the third day.

*[One could equally ask, "What tabernacle are you at?" - the Tabernacle of Moses, the Tabernacle of David (Acts 15:16), or the Tabernacle of Heaven (Heb. 8:2)?].

3. What priesthood are you a part of?

There are three priesthoods mentioned in Hebrews chapter seven. The first is of Aaron (vs 11) - the one man who could stand for the rest and speak to Moses - the one man who could stand for the rest and speak to God. The "one man" show, the "chosen one" paradigm is a first day understanding. The second priesthood comes from Levi (vs 5) - the tribe of priests raised up to perform the rights and minister at the sanctuary. The practice of having priests, an order of holy men, an order of "ministers" or pastors is a second day understanding. The third priesthood is of Melchizedek (vs 17). The order of a Man without lineage, of eternal life, who came to make all men capable ministers of the New Covenant (2 Cor. 3:16). We [all] are a royal priesthood and a holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9). That is a third day understanding.

4. What Feast are you at?

The Old Covenant contained many rules, regulations and policies. But it also contained three key feasts to celebrate God and the Kingdom*. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) is a first day celebration of the sacrifice of the lamb, and for us (at Easter) a celebration of the death of Jesus. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) is the second day feast celebrating the fruitfulness, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. But it is the third day feast - the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) that we are coming to: the celebration of Christ within us (Col. 1:27), of God tabernacling with His people (John 14:23)!

* I acknowledge that there are other "days" celebrated - the day of Trumpets, the day of Atonement, the day of Sabbath and the "feast" of Purim (a day to celebrate the victory of Mordechai). Hanukah also celebrates the victory of Maccabaeus.

5. What rule-book do you follow?

Are you a first day believer - living under the weight of the law, a son of the bondwoman (Gal. 4:25). Do you live under a "touch not, taste not" kind of religion (Col. 2:21)? Or are you a second day believer - living under the traditions of men (which nullify the word of God: Mark 7:3). Do you go through the motions, play the game, work the room like a good religious person? Or are you living in the third day - chosen by grace (Rom. 11:6) and by grace alone you have been saved (Eph. 2:5)?

6. How mature are you?

An immature son is no better than a slave. He is trapped by his immature "reap and sow" mentality. He does not own the field, he cannot work the farm (Gal. 4:1), he does not learn from pain. He is a first day son. A son growing up is under the care of guardians, tutors who lead them by the nose (Gal. 4:3), he must learn through suffering. He is a second day son. But a mature, third day son has entered into his inheritance, and is a co-heir with Christ (Gal. 4:7). He understands that the field is his; the business is his. He embraces the cross, he endures the suffering and comes through with a changed character, looking more like his heavenly Father.

7. What is the basis of your sonship?

Do you obey out of fear (Rom. 8:8), because you're afraid God might not love you? Do you act out of a need to please Him? That's a first day basis to life. Are you a fanatic, trying to please God with your efforts, accomplishments, and goal achievements. Are trying to do the right thing in the hope of getting the teacher's mantle? That's a second day basis to life. We are trying to press through to the fullness of being a son, lead by the Spirit, manifesting His glory and changing creation (Rom. 8:14-19). The third day life expresses itself through the anointing, which breaks every yoke. It touches creation and sets the captives free. That's a third day basis to life.

8. What culture do you portray?

There are those who think a love for the city-state of Jerusalem is a holy thing. Who think prayer shawls and other Jewish cultural trappings make for a more godly Christianity. Such practice, whilst innocuous, is adherence to a first day culture. God is not a Hebrew, He is the God of the Hebrews. Do you not know that Jerusalem today is Hagar, and pertains to the bondage of Arabia? They are the children of slavery, just like their Arab brothers (Gal. 4:2,254).

There are those who practice another kind of culture, a learned, stable, aged Christianity that comes from history. The Catechism, the vestments, the prayer book and hymnals are fine as far as they go, but this is church culture. second day culture. The third day truth is that we are sojourners; we are strangers to this world, we are not from here (Heb. 11:13). We are not patriotic to our nationalistic culture. We come from a heavenly, Kingdom culture (John 18:36). We can love and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, but we are not attached to it in an earthly way. We can love and pray for the nation in which we are born, but we are not trapped in nationalism. Our eyes are on the Jerusalem from above (Heb. 11:10).

9. What kind of leader do you have?

A first day Christian is looking for rules, regulations and a mode to life that will help them. It is the law, acting as a tutor leading you (Gal. 3:24). A second day Christian needs a leader leading them. Paul spoke of the "ascension gift ministries" which, according to his letter to the Ephesians, was "until" (Eph. 4:11). Until the perfection of the saints. Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists are all second day ministries, until. Third day life is being fully connected to the Holy Spirit, listening to the Lord. It is the anointing leading us (1 John 2:27). It is being fully mature, in the image and stature of Christ, one Body, connected to the brethren.

10. What is your expectation from the community you belong to?

In the first day life, you go to church, and expect the pastor to do everything for you. You have your priest, the law and rules governing your life. It is the priest/ people paradigm. Second day life is more congregational (thank you, Baptists). Sure, there is still a minister, and something of a spectator event, but the people have more power (control). There is eldership, a deaconate, a board, importance, but we have not yet found resurrection life in our congregation have we? In heaven, everyone is involved. In a third day church, everyone is involved (1 Cor. 14:26), and everyone brings something to share.

11. Your perspective: first, second, third heaven

Being in the first day gives you a first heaven perspective. The heavens are in the sky; the sky is far away. The air you breathe is more real than the air of heaven. You can only see your life's circumstances. It is Israel and Egypt, full of brick-making and toil. Being in the second day opens you up to the spirit realm, but you are more aware of the demonic than the angelic. You are conscious of supernatural phenomena, but have not pressed through to victory. Jesus confronted the dark principalities of sickness, death and hell on the second day (Eph. 4:9). Being in the third day gives you the full perspective, and now you embrace a view from the throne and government of Christ. You can see the glory of God in everything below it.

12. Your mentality

A first day Christian, with a first heaven revelation lives with a "bunker" mentality. He is holding on until Jesus comes back. He is living out life controlled by his circumstance. He does not have the victory over life, but must endure it. A second day Christian becomes aware of and engaged with fighting principalities and powers. He adopts a "warfare" mentality (Eph. 6:12). He is fighting all the time (sickness, death, demons). A third day Christian has been through both of these phases, and now embraces a higher law - that he was made with royal blood, and will soon be fit to rule and reign with Christ. He knows he is blessed with every blessing in the spiritual realm (Eph. 1:3); is seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Eph. 2:6); and has the task of making known the mystery of Christ to those same principalities and powers (Eph. 3:10).

Conclusion

As Christians we will be a mixture of first, second and third day truths. The Lord is not saying "give up" He is saying "upgrade". He is not saying you are inferior if you have first or second day understanding, but He is saying there is deeper water to swim in. He is saying there is a higher mountain, a better view from a new perspective. His desire is for each of us to grow to the fullness of maturity. This entire process is really a following after our leader - Christ who dies, was buried and has been raised from the dead! It is a becoming like Him, transformed into His likeness. He truly is the Third Day.

References

Coen, Nancy. "The Trinity Through Creation". Private dialogue. Oct 25, 2002
Fortune, Doug. "The Third Day Concept" Private dialogue. Feb 8, 2005.
Goodell, Gary. "Third Day Churches". Private dialogue. May 2, 2003.

jakecolsen.com

2005-04-11T13:20:00.000-04:00

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: A SHEER IMPOSSIBILITY!

2005-04-08T19:13:00.000-04:00

By: Major W. Ian Thomas

"It is not difficult for man to live the Christian life," somebody once said, it is a sheer impossibility!"

A sheer impossibility, that is, without CHRIST but for all that He says, you have all that He is, and that is all that it takes!

The Christian life can only be explained in terms of Jesus Christ, and if your life as a Christian can still be explained in terms of you your personality, your willpower, your gift, your talent, your money, your courage, your scholarship, your dedication, your sacrifice, or your anything then although you may have the Christian life, you are not yet living it!

If the way you live your life as a Christian can be explained in terms of you, what have you to offer to the man who lives next door? The way he lives his life can be explained in terms of him, and so far as he is concerned, you happen to be "religious" but he is not! "Christianity" may be your hobby, but it is not his, and there is nothing about the way you practice it which strikes him as at all remarkable! There is nothing about you which leaves him guessing, and nothing commendable of which he docs not feel himself equally capable without the inconvenience of becoming a Christian!

It is only when your quality of life baffles the neighbors that you are likely to impress them! It has got to become patently obvious to others that the kind of life you are living is not only commendable, but that it is beyond all human explanation! That it is beyond the consequences of man's capacity to imitate, and however little they may understand this, clearly the consequence only of God's capacity to reproduce Himself in you!

In a nutshell, this means that your fellow-men must become convinced that the Lord Jesus Christ of whom you speak, is essentially Himself the ingredient of the Life you live!

From: The Mystery of Godliness

WILL THE EMERGING CHURCH FULLY EMERGE?

2005-04-07T11:08:00.000-04:00

Brother's & Sister's In-Christ,

I offer the below treatise/challenge for your discernment and enticement. The Majority have chosen to totally discount/ignore the below types of teaching and just continue with business as usual. I believe this article will speak to the single-most controversial issue surrounding the "Church" being able to ultimately "Emerge". It is my prayer that many, if not all will begin to embrace the tide of change that Must come! I close with a quote:

"Experience supplies painful proof that traditions once called into being are first called useful, then they become necessary. At last they are too often made idols, and all must bow down to them or be punished."

J. C. Ryle

Your Brother In-Christ, Tripp

WILL THE EMERGING CHURCH FULLY EMERGE?

An Invitation for Serious Reflection and Open Dialogue

by Frank Viola

I am writing this article to my sisters and brothers in Christ, both leaders and non-leaders, who belong to what has come to be called “the emerging church conversation.”

The influence of this conversation has been no less than incredible. So much so, that at least to my mind, it can be better described as a phenomenon. And it is picking up steam with each passing day.

I am a student of church history. My studies have led me to make the following observation: Every phenomenon and movement that has set out to reform or renew the church was born with profound shortcomings and weaknesses. And these shortcomings and weaknesses were never addressed until it was too late for them to be corrected. In my own lifetime, I have seen this to be true for the charismatic movement, the Jesus movement, the third-wave movement, and the house church movement . . . just to name a few.

Because the emerging church phenomenon is still in its infancy, its shortcomings and weaknesses can be addressed now. As Christians who have grown tired of the modern church, we have a brand new opportunity to change the course of church history. I realize that this may appear to be an outrageous statement. Nonetheless, it is true. We have been given a small window to see a complete overhaul of our Christian faith and to be faithful in honoring the heart of Jesus and the vision of the earliest apostles in our own time. This is why I write today.

Major Strengths of the Emerging Church Phenomenon

The following are themes within the emerging church phenomenon that I wholeheartedly applaud and am thankful for:

1. The emerging church phenomenon is exploring fresh ways to revamp and recontextualize the gospel message to postmodern people. Not only do I applaud this new emphasis, but I shamelessly admit that I have a great deal to glean in this area. Thus, I would like to learn more from those who have plowed further in this field.

2. The emerging church phenomenon has placed a long-awaited emphasis on community and relational faith.

3. The emerging church phenomenon has placed an emphasis on rethinking the modern church . . . its methods, its programs, its traditions, and its structure.

4. The emerging church phenomenon has placed a new emphasis on the Jesus of the Gospels opposed to the exclusive emphasis on the Jesus of Paul’s writings.

5. The emerging church phenomenon has placed a rightful emphasis on the importance of Body functioning.

6. The emerging church phenomenon has placed a new emphasis on the importance of narrative.

7. The emerging church phenomenon has dumped the modern penchant to always be certain in answering every spiritual question under the sun. Instead, it has rested content to embrace mystery and paradox in our God.

8. The emerging church phenomenon has re-ignited a healthy interest in the Christian mystics who emphasized spiritual encounter over against mere academic knowledge of God and the Bible.

I am absolutely thrilled to hear “ordinary” Christians, and even leaders talk about these themes openly and unashamedly. All of them point to crucial changes that the Body of Christ desperately needs today. Add to that, I become nearly euphoric whenever I hear of pastors leaving their entrenched positions to rethink the entire basis for their Christian existence. Such a courageous step is both impressive and worthy of deep respect.

Let me again repeat: We are in a season of church history where we face a small window of time for real and lasting change. A window for revolution in the modern Christian mindset and in the traditional practices of the modern church. A window that Christians 1,000 years from now (should Jesus tarry, of course) can turn their heads back to and behold the beginning of a drastic paradigm shift from an old leaking wineskin to a new wineskin hand-crafted by the Spirit of God.

But note . . . that window will eventually close. And it will close soon.

The emerging church phenomenon is promising, for it embodies many necessary contributions to a fuller embodiment of Christ and His church. At the same time, the weaknesses of the phenomenon, if not honestly and directly addressed, will reduce it to the status of all past renewal movements. Namely, it will end up spawning a new denomination or “movement” which simply puts a few Band-Aids on the church’s ills rather than excavating the root of its problems.

I would now like to list what I find to be the weaknesses of the phenomenon along with some bold questions that I hope will foster serious and open dialogue among leaders in the emerging church. Please note that this list betrays the essence and burden of my own ministry and the vision which drives me. Since I have written on these matters extensively elsewhere, I have cited where one can find these threads more fully unraveled.

Serious Weaknesses of the Emerging Church Phenomenon

By my lights, the weaknesses of the emerging church phenomenon are as follows:

1. The emerging church phenomenon has wonderfully articulated some of the major flaws of the modern church, yet like all of its predecessors, it has failed to identify and take dead aim at one of the chief roots of most of its ills.

I firmly believe that the taproot of most of the problems that plague the church in modernity is the clergy system. To put a finer point on it, Protestant Christians are addicted to the modern pastoral office. The pastor is the all-purpose religious professional in the modern Protestant church, both evangelical and mainline.

Please note that my critique is not an attack on pastors as people. Most pastors in the emerging church are gifted Christians who have a heart for the Lord and a genuine love for His people. It is the modern pastoral office and role that I believe is profoundly flawed, and few of us have ever questioned it.

Let me unpack that a bit. My experience in this country and overseas over the last seventeen years has yielded one immovable conclusion: God’s people can engage in high-talk about community life, Body functioning, and Body life, but unless the modern pastoral role is utterly abandoned in a given church, God’s people will never be unleashed to function in freedom under the Headship of Jesus Christ. I have had pastors vow to me that they were the exception. However, upon visiting their congregations, it was evident that the people did not know the first thing about functioning as a Body on their own. Neither were they given any practical tools on knowing the Lord intimately and living by His life. The reason is that the flaws of the modern pastoral role are actually built into the role itself.

The pastor, by his mere presence, causes an unhealthy dependence upon himself for ministry, direction, and guidance. Thus, as long as he hangs around delivering sermons, the people in the church to which he belongs will never be fully set free to function on their own in a church meeting setting. Further, the pastoral office typically destroys those who populate it. Jesus Christ never intended for anyone to shoulder that kind of enormous responsibility and power.

In the first-century church, there was no single pastor. The Protestant pastor (which includes the evangelical pastor, the mainline pastor, and the non-denominational pastor) evolved out of the Catholic priesthood. The pastor is essentially a reformed priest, and his role has no root in the original vision and story of the people of God.

In Century One, some of the churches had elders who played a shepherding role. But they did not dominate the ministry of the church, nor was the direction of the church exclusively placed into their hands (as is the case with many elder-led churches today like Presbyterians and the Plymouth Brethren). I believe that we are in desperate need to return to these first principles.

Time and space will not permit me to give historical and pragmatic evidence for the above statements, but I have addressed them elsewhere in great detail. I heartily invite my readers to explore both Scripture and church history for themselves and draw their own conclusions. (See my article Where Did the Modern Pastor Come From? http://www.ptmin.org/thepastor.htm along with my books Rethinking the Wineskin http://www.ptmin.org/rethink.htm and Who is Your Covering? http://www.ptmin.org/covering.htm.)

Pastors can wax eloquent all day about “facilitating,” “mentoring,” and “equipping” the saints. But here is the proof of the pudding: Let that pastor leave his congregation on its own without any stated leaders for six months to a year, and he will quickly learn how well he has equipped the church. Will that congregation be able to lead its own songs without a song leader or worship team? Will they be able to have gatherings that are under the Headship of Jesus Christ like the early church did? Will every member of the church be equipped to provide life-giving ministry to one another in those meetings? Will they be able to solve problems and make decisions together as a community?

Perhaps this thought has never occurred to you. But what I have just described is precisely what the church planters of the first century did routinely. They worked themselves out of a job. Not in pious rhetoric, but in reality.

Paul of Tarsus had a deliberate habit of spending anywhere from three months to three years with a church, equipping it to function in his absence. He would always then leave those churches on their own without a clergy. More on this later.

Question: Is it possible that in our efforts to bring renewal and change to the traditional church, we have never seriously taken a biblical, historical, and practical look at the legitimacy of the modern pastoral office? Can we at least experiment with another alternative . . . the ministry paradigm that we find in our New Testaments? For those of us who are inclined to delivering sermons and providing “leadership,” do we have the integrity to freshly examine if the modern pastoral role and the giving of sermons week after week is truly equipping God’s people to function as members of His Body in a coordinated way?

2. The emerging church phenomenon has neglected the role of the itinerant church planter.

Over the last few years, I have observed a number of “laymen” leave their present congregations to start new “emerging churches.” Strikingly, these laymen always become the pastors of these new churches. With a few minor exceptions, the wineskin proved identical to the old wineskin that they had left.

Let me enlarge this observation into a principle. The clergy-led institutional church is like a rubber band. No matter what it experiences in the way of renewal or reform, it will always bounce back to the same structure. It lives on fads and gimmicks. But when the smoke clears, it will always return to a pastor who preaches sermons to a passive congregation, a prescribed order of worship where God’s people are not free to function unhindered in the gatherings, and a building whose structural arrangement encourages people to be muted spectators.

With all of our emphasis on being faithful to incarnate the Kingdom of God in the world today, we have overlooked one important ingredient for having authentic church life that is clearly envisioned throughout the entire New Testament: The paradigm of how healthy churches were planted when the church was young, free, and pure.

I have addressed this matter in great detail in my book So You Want to Start a House Church? First-Century Styled Church Planting For Today http://www.ptmin.org/start.htm. To summarize very briefly, we discover the following compelling ideas given to us in the New Testament:

A. Church planters were men who have previously lived in an organic expression of church life as non-leaders before they were sent out to plant churches. One main reason: They needed to first experience that which they would pass on to others elsewhere.

B. Church planters were specially equipped to bring people into a living encounter with Jesus Christ, to teach them how to function in a church meeting, and to solve problems that the church would face in the future.

C. After the church planters had properly equipped the church to function under the Headship of Jesus Christ, they left those churches on their own without any stated leaders! (In some cases, the church planters would later return to acknowledge elders in the advent that God’s people would face a personal crisis, but elders never monopolized the ministry nor took the direction away from the church.)

Question: Is it possible that the emerging church phenomenon has neglected to look at the way churches were planted in the first century, and instead, has opted to follow the path of modern missionary movements and traditional pastoral systems? For those of us who are considered “church leaders,” are we confident enough in our ministries and in the ability of God’s people, as well as the Holy Spirit, to abandon our congregations without stated leaders like Paul of Tarsus did . . . and really test the effectiveness of our ministries? Can we, pray tell, at least begin to dialogue about this matter openly and seek to discover if in fact God has rooted some unchangeable principles of church planting in His Word? Principles that may be worth returning to in our time?

3. The emerging church phenomenon has overlooked what Paul calls “the eternal purpose” (Eph. 3:11), which is God’s ultimate intention in creation and redemption.

It has been my observation that the entire thrust of the emerging church phenomenon is rooted in how best to meet people’s needs. Consider the hot topics in the emerging church conversation today: “How can we better evangelize the lost?” “How can we better live out the ideals of the gospel of Jesus,” “How should we treat the homosexual?” “How can we better articulate the gospel in a postmodern context?” “What is the place of artists in the church?”

All of these questions have as their underlying root the meeting of human needs. I do not mean to demean this, for the gospel certainly addresses the needs of humanity. However, there is a need in God, too. That need does not correspond to a deficiency in Himself (for He is all-sufficient), but it rather flows out of the desire of His nature. Paul calls this need “the eternal purpose” or “the purpose of the ages.” And the church, as dreamt in the heart of God, stands at the heartbeat of this ultimate intention. I have read reams of emerging church articles, but never once have I seen an article (or a chapter from an emerging church book for that matter) that discusses or brings light to the eternal purpose of God.

Describing the eternal purpose of God is beyond the scope of this article, though I have addressed it elsewhere. But I wish to end this section with some searching questions:

God conceived a purpose in eternity past. And that purpose was the very motivation for the creation wherein we stand. Do you know what that purpose is?

God’s eternal purpose is His magnificent obsession . . . it is that which drives and consumes His very being. Can the emerging church emerge from emphasizing how to better meet the needs of humanity to a conversation on that all-governing purpose which stands at the center of the beating heart of God?

4. The emerging church phenomenon shares a common trait with most of Christendom in that it is largely built on theory with little practice. For instance, there is a great deal of high-talk about Body functioning, community life, and equipping the saints for ministry, yet I have seen little to no fleshing out of these spiritual realities in any form among those who carry on loudly about them. While I applaud the gains that some emerging churches have made in providing more freedom to their members during a church service than the garden-variety institutional church, in my assessment, these churches have moved just a few inches forward on a very long road.

Allow me to enlarge this point a bit. About two months ago, I received a phone call from a well-known leader in the emerging church. His words to me were, “Frank, I’m really discouraged. There’s a lot of talk about community life, Body functioning, and Body ministry among us, but I have not been impressed with what I’ve seen along these lines.”

I agreed with him totally. But then I responded, “I believe this is a major weakness of the emerging church conversation. I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers, but I’ve been emerging from the institutional church for almost 20 years now. I’ve made a lot of mistakes and failures, but I have also made many wonderful discoveries along the way. This journey continues till this day. But I can say this without flinching: For the last seventeen years, I have been gathering with Christians outside the organized church. Without exception, all of the groups that I have gathered with or have worked with personally have known the pains and joys of community life in bed-rock reality, they have all had consistent meetings under the Lord’s Headship without a leader or facilitator, they have made decisions together, and they have solved their own problems . . . all without a pastor, or a group of selected men to rule them, and without a song leader or worship team.”

The man never inquired further.

This leads me to a set of thorny questions: If we are humble enough to admit that a great deal of the emerging church conversation is arm-chair philosophy, can we be humble enough to sit with those who have had some practical experience in these matters and openly dialogue about them?

Is it possible for those churches that have traveled a few feet in the right direction in “liberating the laity” to not excuse themselves from examining the vast remaining tract of land to be traveled?

How will the church of Jesus Christ ever be visible on this earth in any wide measure if those whom God has called and gifted to help equip God’s people are never willing learn from one another and seek to put into practice the vision that burns in their hearts? Are we each left to independently reinvent the wheel . . . every-man for himself? Or does this really boil down to a blatant unwillingness to abandon the clerical system which continues to control God’s people? Are we blithely opting for more Band-Aids simply because it is convenient?

5. While the emerging church phenomenon has placed a much needed emphasis on the Jesus of the Gospels, it has focused on imitating His outward conduct instead of exploring His internal relationship with an indwelling God which was the source of His conduct.

Studying the earthly example of Jesus Christ and trying to imitate it is like trying to create an orange out of whole cloth by studying the composition of a natural orange in a laboratory. An orange is the fruit . . . the natural outcome . . . of the life of an orange tree. In the same way, Jesus’ earthly conduct was simply the fruit of a life lived in communion with an indwelling Father.

Jesus said clearly that He could not live the Christian life: “Without my Father, I can do nothing.” What, then, was the taproot of His selfless lifestyle? He gave us the answer in John 6:57, “As the Father has sent me and I LIVE BY MY FATHER, so he that eats me shall live by me.” Jesus Christ had an internal relationship with His Father who indwelt Him.

For you and I to try to live the Christian life is like expecting a cat to set a dinner table, bake a cake, eat it with fork and knife, and wash dishes. The cat is the wrong life form to carry out these activities; hence, it is impossible for a cat to display human conduct. Jesus said as much when He told His followers, “Without me you can do nothing.”

The secret to Jesus’ extraordinary life on earth was in His partaking of His indwelling Father and living by His life. In the same way, the secret to imitating Jesus is no different. It is found in partaking of our indwelling Lord and living by His life.

Can we be honest enough to admit that trying to imitate Christ’s earthly life is a study in failure? Is it possible for us to take a fresh look at the Lord’s earthly life by examining His internal walk as the pattern for us to imitate? For what the Father was to Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is to you and I. Note His words: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21) . . . “As I live by the Father, so he that eats me shall live by me.” (John 6:57). It is my opinion that these words embody an entire world for Christians that has been virtually unexplored.

6. While the emerging church phenomenon has done a stellar job in emphasizing narrative in the Gospel story, it has neglected to take seriously the value of the narrative of the entire first‑century church as a necessary model for interpreting the New Testament.

Most of us who are part of the emerging church phenomenon take the New Testament seriously. Nevertheless, we are all handling a New Testament whose letters are out of chronological order and whose books are divided up into chapters and verses. This makes understanding the social-historical context and setting of the New Testament writings virtually impossible to grasp. And it opens the door to such spiritual hazards as isolated proof-texting to “prove” doctrines and theological systems.

Since the Protestant Reformation, we Christians have been taught to be reductionists when it comes to Bible study and individualists when it comes to applying the words of Scripture. The emerging church phenomenon has not fully shed itself from these two misguided tendencies. Consider these two thoughts which are open to challenge and dialogue:

A. The New Testament must be approached holistically if it will be understood in its right context. That is, we must step back and see the whole picture before we can properly understand the frames which make it up.

B. The Christian faith is intensely corporate. For instance, the vast bulk of the Epistles in the New Testament are written to churches . . . corporate bodies of believers who knew a shared life together, and not to individuals. (Out of the 21 Epistles in the New Testament, only 5 were written to individuals. And 4 of those 5 were written to Christian workers.)

Point two opens up another universe altogether that I believe must become part of the emerging church conversation. That is, living the Christian life does not work except in a shared-life, face-to-face community of believers.

When a person understands the first-century narrative, they are keen to learn that all the passages in the New Testament on transformation are not addressed to followers of Jesus as individuals. They are instead addressed to communities, a la, “churches” in the first-century sense of the word. Consequently, warming a pew and listening to sermons does not transform us. Neither does standing near a pew or chair, with hands lifted, and singing praise songs led by a worship team or music director. Transformation occurs when a community of believers discover how to behold the Lord together and live their lives in a shared way.

It seems to me that what is needed, then, is a brand new approach to the New Testament. A holistic approach wherein we understand the story . . . the narrative . . . that lies behind all of its writings. Unless we have a good grasp on how the story of Acts chronologically interacts with Paul’s letters and the other letters of the New Testament, we will continue to make the common mistake of taking verses out of their historical context and misapplying them in a misguided quest for relevance. (For more details on this subject, see my article Needed: A New Approach to the New Testament http://www.ptmin.org/needed.htm and The Bible is Not a Jigsaw Puzzle http://www.ptmin.org/jigsaw.htm. I have also created a reconstruction of the entire narrative of the first century church in chronological order in my book, The Untold Story of the New Testament Church, from Destiny Image Publishers, http://www.ptmin.org/untold.htm.)

This leads me to some terse queries. Would it be worthwhile for those of us who are “emerging” to also emerge in the way we approach the New Testament? Is it possible that grasping the narrative of the story of the early church as a background to all the Epistles can revolutionize our understanding of God’s written Story and bring us further along in the church renewal/restoration effort? Is it possible that if we continue to take the individualistic, reductionist approach to the New Testament that has dominated the Christian landscape for centuries, that we will continue to make the same mistakes that our forefathers have made? Can we . . . and should we . . . utterly abandon the “cut-and-paste-stitching-verses-together-proof-texting” method of Bible study and sermonizing, and seek to embrace something better?

7. The emerging church phenomenon, like all preceding reform/renewal movements, has emphasized a bundle of Christian “its” and “things,” instead of the Person of Jesus Christ.

In my opinion, if we were to examine the broad canvas of Christian movements and denominations throughout church history, we would discover that each one paints with a very fine brush. For one movement, the brush is evangelism. For another, it is social justice and acts of mercy. For another, it is praise and worship. For another, it is Bible study and doctrinal/theological accuracy. For another, it is the power of God, the gifts of the Spirit, signs and wonders. For another, it is changing the political system. For another, it is spiritual warfare and intercessory prayer. For another, it is personal prophecy. For still another, it is end-time theology (eschatology). And on and on it goes.

All of these brushes represent Christian “things.” And they are just that . . . “things.” They are Christian “its.” Subjects about the Lord with which to become engaged, at best. Or with which to become obsessed, at worst.

But where are those who paint with the all-inclusive brush and talk about the Person of Jesus Christ? Where are those who are not talking about “its,” “things,” and “subjects” . . . but who are talking about HIM in depths little known and explored? And not just talking about Him, but who are presenting and ministering Him to His people?

Earlier I stated that I have read reams of emerging church articles. While many of them reveal fresh thinking on many subjects, I discovered something missing in virtually all of them:

The centrality of Jesus Christ.

I remember reading a few emerging church articles not too long ago, and I actually counted how many times the Lord was mentioned. In one article, which was quite lengthy, He was mentioned once. In another, He was never mentioned at all!

By contrast, if one were to read the letters of Paul with a careful eye, they would find his pen dripping with Christ. Take, for instance, his letter to Ephesians and Colossians. Try counting how often Paul mentions His Lord in a single chapter. It is mind-boggling!

What is my point? Paul had a living encounter with His Lord that shook him to his foundations. A ministry was born out of that encounter. And that ministry was a Person! Paul did not occupy himself with Christian “things.” His occupation was the Lord Himself. And this glorious Lord embodies all things spiritual.

May I venture a searching question to my fellow ministers in the emerging church? Is it possible that we have missed the main point of our faith? Are we simply passing on the worn out tools we have been given by our evangelical forefathers on how to know the Lord? (“pray and study your Bible” . . . “pray more and study your Bible more!”) Could there be new tools to know our Lord deeply and practically? If there are, are we open to discover them together? And are we willing to experience them before we preach them to God’s people?

Do our writings and messages betray an intimate familiarity with the One who indwells us, or are we merely engaging in subjects, issues, topics, things, and its? Are our ministries one of giving LIFE . . . which is Christ Himself, or do we betray a vague familiarity with this glorious Person? Are we educating God’s people on “subjects” about the faith, or are we bringing them into a living encounter with Him . . . the likes of which will consume and captivate their hearts for the rest of their lives?

Challenge and Invitation

In the mid-20th century, Swiss watchmakers had the corner on the world market share of watches. But that changed when one of their own countrymen came out with a revolutionary new idea: The quartz watch. He presented this idea to the Swiss manufacturers and they laughed at him. They concluded it could never work, so they refused to patent the idea. Seiko, on the other hand, took one look at the quartz watch and the rest is history.

The power of a paradigm had so influenced the Swiss watch manufacturers that they could not understand the new concept of the quartz watch. Because the quartz watch had no gears, no mainspring, and no bearings, they rejected it. Their present paradigm did not allow for the new innovation. The net effect was that they lost the leading edge on watch making and they were forced to lay off thousands of workers. It was all because the quartz watch did not fit into their world view. It did not fit within their paradigm. They did not appreciate the new way because they were blinded by the old way.

It is my strong conviction that a similar paradigm shift concerning the structure and practice of the church as well as church planting is absolutely crucial if the Body of Christ will reflect the dream in God’s heart and have any significant cultural impact. Or to put it another way, a serious rethinking of the modern pastoral role, the way that churches are planted, the centrality of Jesus Christ, the taproot of Christ’s earthly conduct, the narrative of the first-century story, and the eternal purpose of God are all necessary if the emerging church has any hope of fully emerging.

So consider this article as both a challenge and an invitation for patient dialogue and fellowship among leaders, authors, bloggers, and members of the emerging church community.

It would bring me great joy to have the opportunity to discuss these matters with those who have been captured with the call to emerge. For perhaps in doing so, we can learn from one another and take advantage of the present window of change that God has set before us.

You may reach me via email at Violabooks@aol.com (http://www.ptmin.org) or by writing Present Testimony Ministry, PO Box 140370, Gainesville, FL 32614.

By the way, if you email, flames are not welcome ;-)

No More Polished Sermons!

2005-04-06T14:51:00.000-04:00

"And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and 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." (1Cor. 2:1-5)

Born from Above!

2005-04-06T11:29:00.000-04:00

(Repost)

By Tripp Campbell

"We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him."

1Jo 5:18

Lately, I have been in many discussions with those who are still eclipsed within the confines of "sin/death." What they have failed to realize is that those who are born from above sinneth not. Somehow, many have bought into a mentality that they can please/displease God by their actions/inaction. Generally,what so many have missed, is that by their beliefs/understanding, they have now raised an illusionary Standard, something that can be measured, in order to relate to God.

I have found that in my personal walk every time I begin to relate to God by "Doing", within a short period of time my energy and ability begin to wane and I find myself devoid of Hope/Life. You see, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life........" Moreover, as I have begun to rest in the Finished work of the Cross, everything begins to abound. It is not that my "life" is without challenges, it has many, but now it is centered in the only "Life" available to a believer, Jesus Christ. No longer do I live in the illusion of Doing for God, by the works of the Law which ultimately leads to death, but I continue to embrace "fullness" which already has been so gloriously provided for, In-Christ Jesus!

Rom 5:17-21 "If death got the upper hand through one man's wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grandsetting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides? Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right. All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life--a life that goes on and on and on, world without end." (msg)

He is the "Works!"

2005-04-04T23:51:00.000-04:00

Jesus Christ is the Entire Sacrificial System......He is the "Works!"

Listen to the word of God:

(Heb 10:19-22) "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

(Heb 10:12) "but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,"

(Heb 13:10) "We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat."

(Heb 8:6) "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises."

1. He is the Priest.

2. He is the Sacrifice.

3. He is the Altar.

4. He is the Mediator.

It's time for "realizations", which line up with the Established Truth In-Jesus Christ. For to long we have depreciated the Blood of Jesus, the "Work" of redemption and the Finished "Work" of Calvary, by striving and performance, to seemingly please God.

Let us now draw near to Jesus, not by what we have done or will ever do, but by the Blood of Jesus!

(Eph 2:13) "But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

The usual question, "What do I have to do to get closer to Him?......," distracts from what Jesus has already done...............

"IT IS FINISHED!!!"

Are you Crazy?

2005-04-03T22:22:00.000-04:00

Galations 3

"You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it's obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the Cross was certainly set before you clearly enough. Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up! Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don't these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God.............."(The Message)

"The obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a relationship with God that way. The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him. Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Habakkuk had it right: "The person who believes God, is set right by God--and that's the real life." Rule-keeping does not naturally evolve into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in more and more rule-keeping, a fact observed in Scripture: "The one who does these things [rule-keeping] continues to live by them."Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the Cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham's blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive God's life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing-------" (The Message)

Are you Crazy?..............................Are you still trying to relate to God by keeping Rules? Child of God, trust God to perfectly arrange your "Life," and trusting-Him-to-do-it, is what gets you set Right with God, by God....Sheer Gift!

"In him we "live" and move....."

2005-04-01T11:24:00.000-05:00

Thoughts:

I take great comfort in knowing that......'In him we "live" and move and exist, (have our being).'

We No longer exist apart from Christ...... will we ever stop trying to take credit for our perceived actions/inaction?

Is "Miraculous Life" something to be figured out or accepted ?

I thank the Lord He continues to reveal such mysteries to His creation!

Someone wrote:

The point of entry does not the whole journey make.

Whose Journey is It?

I do believe we move from reality to greater "Reality," but that never changes what/Who Is......

I like how Major Ian Thomas captured "The Saving "Life" of Christ":

"If it is of Him and through Him and to Him, where do you come in? You do not! That is just where you go out! That is what Paul meant when he said, "For me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21). The only Person whom God credits with the right to live in you is Jesus Christ; so reckon yourself to be dead to all that you are apart from what He is, and alive unto God only in all that you are because of what He is (Romans 6:1 1).

It is for you to BE it is for Him to DO! Rest fully available to the Saving Life of Christ."

Peace, tripp

Be Yourself

2005-03-26T16:26:00.000-05:00

by Richard Zenith

"Be yourself" is a central aspect in the whole concept of what I would like to call "unity life" (rather than "union life"). When we realize our unity with Christ, we begin to see ourselves as forms of Christ, as other-lovers, Then we simply live and be ourselves, for it is not ourselves but Christ in us. But the phrase "be yourself" is also a central aspect of today's generally godless humanism and psychology. For all the problems of tenseness, guilt, feelings of inferiority, indecisiveness, pressures, and so on down the line, the world's philosophy has frequently sounded the cry: "Be yourself" And so when I sound the same cry to my Christian friends who are uptight with themselves and dissatisfied with their lives, there is a natural reaction against what seems to be a worldly philosophy that excludes the need of Christ. "No!" they say. "What does 'being yourself' have to do with Christ? I don't want to be myself; I want to be like Christ."

"Be yourself" may be a philosophy of many who deny Christ, as well as a philosophy that is impossible to follow without faith in Jesus Christ! In order to be myself I must first discover who my real self is, and this I cannot do without Christ. Most people have a totally wrong idea of Who their real self is. A person looks at his personality, his likes and dislikes, his moods and feelings, his physical appearance - and he says: "This is me". But is it? While all these characteristics may be unique to that person, they are nonetheless very changeable characteristics. A person's personality and physical appearance never stop developing as he grows older. Likes and dislikes and feelings change from day to day. I know a woman who is; now eighty-seven and quite senile. I remember ten years ago when this friend had a strong and definite personality; but I have watched it deteriorate to the point where it is almost Impossible to hold a coherent conversation with her. All her outer characteristics have faded away. Who is my friend? What is her true self?

Someone will say: "What about your talents? Don't they remain the same?" No, talents do not remain the same either, though I will admit that there is a greater sense of permanency about our talents than Our personality. But talents are only a means to expressing my real self; talents in themselves cannot define who I am. I have a musical talent, but I can't "be myself" by "being musical". Now I may practice and perform music, but that is only an action, an expression of Who I am. If by "be yourself" a humanist means "develop your talents, follow your heart, go after your goals", then It is no longer a philosophy of being but a philosophy of doing.' "Go out and do something to become someone". But to strive to change myself is a direct contradiction of being who I am. To be myself requires that I am already perfectly satisfied with myself.

Personality, talents, past experiences, and feelings are all outer characteristics and cannot define who we are as persons. "Be yourself" Is a popular phrase, but The truth is that man does not really know who he is. That is why everyone is so busy conforming to standards. Everyone needs something to hold onto; everyone is seeking some way to assert himself and to give himself an identity. The standard of many is the typical American dream - a wife, two kids, a nice house, hard work and $20,000 a year. Others conform to a standard which rejected the American dream - ragged jeans, pot-smoking, "take it easy"., Everyone has to have an image so that he can say, "This is me".

For three years as a believer in Jesus Christ, I was conforming to the standards of what a "good Christian" is supposed to be, but I had not discovered who I am. I read ten to twenty chapters of the Bible each day; I prayed for at least one hour a day; I went out street witnessing twice a week; and I attended several fellowships. All this activity did bear some fruit. I led a number of people to Christ and discipled them as well. However, after these three years, I began to realize that something was still very wrong, that all my activities were merely an outer display which had not been motivated by other-love. I began to see that my outer man (personality, feelings, and so forth) was not the real me, but only the container of my true self, the inner man.

Every single action that a man performs is motivated by love - either self-love or other-love. As a result of the Fall, the spirit of man is a spirit of self-love. Take any area of life, and you will see that self-love is the reigning force. It is quite apparent that most Americans live by the golden rule - "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". It's a great system. I give you a compliment so that you'll give me one back. I put up with your idiosyncrasies so that you'll put up with mine. I send you a birthday card with hope that you'll send me one. The golden rule makes life more pleasant and, besides, it gives us a feeling of doing the right thing - all from a very selfish motivation. To be sure there is a human love which can be very passionate and lead a person to great sacrifice for another, yet human love is so vacillating. People "love" each other so intensely that they spend all their time together, think nothing of hopping right into bed because it's a "meaningful relationship", and yet after six months they no longer are speaking to each other. Is this love? Human love is very possessive (my girlfriend) and, as a result, very jealous; it tends to care more about the friendship than the friend.

Made in the image of God, man has the inner witness of conscience which says that heought to love others, and yet man seldom admits that he loves only himself. He works for charity, has good manners, smiles, and says polite things - not so much to convince others but to convince himself that he loves. One of man's favorite games is "Playing the Martyr". Someone says something or does something which he finds irritating. He feels that this person is treating him unfairly or discourteously. But will he say anything? No! He'll play the martyr and let himself be walked on, while inside he will seethe with an anger that multiplies as he meditates on what a horrible injustice the other person has committed. He smiles politely, while he is dying in his heart.

So man's life is a paradox between an outward appearance that he loves others and the inward truth that he loves only himself. Though this paradox leads to temporary frustration and despair, here's the wonderful fact: all of this is part of God's perfect plan! Paul wrote in Romans 8:20, "For the creation was subjected to futility . . . Though we lack the power to love, God gives us the knowledge that we ought to love. Thus we find ourselves in a place of need, which causes us to seek the answer. This, in turn, leads us to Christ, in whom we become "children of God", with an inheritance of glorious freedom. We are free at last to be ourselves!

For when we meet Jesus Christ, a glorious thing happens. In Christ, self-seeking love is replaced by the spirit of self-giving love. "God's love has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us". Now it is no longer we loving, but Christ loving through and in us, for He is one spirit with us (1 Cor. 6:7). Christ is our love, our patience, our goodness, our peace, and our faith. We no longer labor according to our own strength but according to the power which works within us (Col. 1:29), and Christ is that power. Christ is the Son, we are sons. He is the Light, we are lights. He is the Lover, we are lovers. For as He is, so also are we in this world (1 Jo. 4:1 7). We are seated in Christ at the right hand of God (Eph. 2:4-6), blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3), for He has called us spirits of righteous men made perfect (Heb. 1 2:23). Could we desire to be any other place than in this glorious Oneness with our Lord?

All of this I received in Christ, yet for three years I was blind and had no familiarity with these riches of the glory of His inheritance and greatness of His power toward us who believe (Eph. 1:18-19). Many are living in Satan's illusion that God has nothing to do with them and that they make all their own decisions with God having no part. Others of us have believed God and are no longer blind. We see that we are in Him and that He has always been working in our lives, bringing us to Himself. We came to a point where we realized the futility of our own efforts to put meaning and fulfillment into our lives, and we accepted Christ's forgiveness and salvation which He accomplished 2000 years ago.

But just as there are those who do not accept His finished redemption, there are those Christians who do not accept His finished sanctification. Satan had me believing in the ghost of my old self. I was striving to conform my outward actions to, the perfect man which Christ described in the Sermon on the Mount, but the old-man ghost would not leave me alone. Of course I could not get anywhere in my fight, for the fight was already won, the old man was already dead. Still I kept fighting. How perfect again are His ways. Just as God brought about frustration in my life to cause me to seek and find Christ, so again as a Christian He used frustration to show me the futility of all my own efforts, When I had my fill of trying, I finally let go. I let go of my arrogance which presumed that I could become like Jesus. I saw that I was only a vessel and that I would never be anything more.

The light began to dawn, I am forever the nothing. I am he who is not, Christ is He who is; I am the eternal negative, He the eternal positive. But then there is this glorious fact of unity. He is the vine and I am the branch, though it is one tree. The Holy Spirit is inseparably joined to my spirit, so I can not only say that He loves through me, but I can also truly say that I love. I had believed that Christ would live my life if I cooperated with Him. "No! No! No!" said the Lord. "Get the idea out of your mind that you can ever do anything to help or cooperate with Me. I, who am for others, have replaced your self-centered old man". Finally I heard Him. Now I stand on the fact of our unity not that I become Christ, but that He comes to be me, to live His life through me. Standing on this fact, I do nothing but live. I don't try to be loving. I just be myself, for now I know who I am, I know that I am love because I am a form of Christ.

Some honest Christian will say, "Oh really? Well, you certainly don't seem very loving at times. It all sounds good on paper, but what about living it?" But I pay no attention to the outer. I live by the Spirit. When I find myself apparently hating someone, I say to the Lord: "I feel very hateful toward so-and-so because of this-and-this, but I know that You are limitless Love and I know that You are the real me". So be Yourself through me", And He does come through! I find myself loving. You ask: "But what If you still find yourself hating a person?" I don't worry about it! It's God's business, not mine. I will believe truth and let God take care of the outward manifestation

After fifteen years of being a self loving person, I have naturally developed very negative outward reactions and feelings (hates, envies, fears and so forth), and they will never change. The outer man is decaying (2 Cor, 4:16); but God is not concerned about it, because we are spirit people (Heb. 12:9). Instead, I praise God for all my negative reactions. They are a friendly reminder to me that I am only a vessel - Christ is the living water. If I had only positive reactions, if I never got angry or felt unloving or depressed, then I could not relate to other people. I could not empathize with any of their depressions or problems. Because I experience all the common human frustrations and get angry and upset, other people see that I am no different than they are. But then they see God's strength through my weakness; they see that love coming through - a love with no strings attached, and they say, "Oh Richard has problems just as we do. But look at this love coming through. Richard's nothing, so where is this love coming from? Could this be God?" So, people are drawn to Love, and God is glorified.

What is the outcome? In Christ we are free - free from our outer feelings, free from past condemnations, free from all the "I should's" in life, free from all the standards of society and religion, free from the slavery of self-love. We have entered the glory of the children of God. We have reached the top and yet there is no top, for we travel from glory to glory, until at last we shall see Him face to face. We are perfect! Perfect in our spirits which are nothing but love, and perfect in our outer negatives, because we no longer live in the outer negatives. We live in the spirit. We are free - not to sin, but to be love, for that is who we are. Sin is no longer an issue. We occasionally slip (or even blow out), but we need not bother ourselves about it, for He uses even our slip-ups to accomplish good. Be yourself and you will not be able to contain the flood. The Living Water will break through the dam of unbelief, and all life that you touch will be drenched with Love unmeasured.

Much-More, Resurrection "Life"

2005-03-25T16:01:00.000-05:00

"We must see beyond the historicity of the empty tomb on that first Easter day,and understand the extension of the resurrection-life and resurrection-power of Jesus Christ in every Christian. Christianity is not just the remembrance of an historical resurrection, but is comprised of the vital dynamic of the risen Lord Jesus functioning in the activity of the Holy Spirit of God by enlivening Christians with the "saving life of Christ" (Rom. 5:10). Christianity is Christ the resurrected Lord Jesus living out His life in Christians every day, to the glory of God."

Excerpt taken from: The Extension of the Resurrection

The historical resurrection of Jesus is extended for the benefit of all men
as the resurrection-life of Jesus Christ by the Spirit causes men to have life out of death spiritually.

Christ In You: The Apostle's Secret

2005-03-23T18:09:00.000-05:00

By: A. B. Simpson

Ancient mythology recognized some union of God with man, but it was a union which only degraded the gods and did not lift mankind. It still left a great gulf between the earthly and the heavenly.

It is this Paul refers to when he exclaims: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him" (I Corinthians 2:9).

The apostle's secret of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) is one which the world cannot grasp. Think of it and try to realize it. God is not only a God who mercifully pardons our guilt and saves us from its consequences, not only a God who gives to us a new nature that loves to do the right which once we hated, not only a God who comes to our aid in temptation and trial and interposes His strength and His providence for our deliverance, but above all this He is a God who comes Himself to live His own life in us.

He takes us into the divine family, makes us partakers of the divine nature, undertakes our life for us, becomes the Author and Finisher of our faith, and works in us "to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). This is incomprehensible to our finite minds.

(Link)

(The Bible text in this publication, except where otherwise indicated, is from the King James Version. This article appears on the site: http://www.posword.org/.)

"All" and "Everything"

2005-03-23T10:45:00.000-05:00

"God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating. We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels--everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment."
(Col. 1:13-17) msg

"..........From now on everyone(All) is defined by Christ, everyone(All) is included in Christ." (Col.3: 11) msg

I sometimes wonder how we interpret "All" and "Everything" as "Partially" and "Most Things."

2005-03-22T10:13:00.000-05:00

Oh! The Glory of God........
Posted by Hello

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