I wonder if what Oswald Chambers shares below might have something to do with the delight the Father expressed after his Son Jesus came up from being baptized in the Jordan River?
This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased-delighted!
Until we discover because of His grace alone, that we ARE a perfect delight to Him, our Father, we will settle for dressing ourselves up with whatever eye candy is available.
Although we remain His sons, we live as orphans, fending for ourselves, and trying to win His affections.
Rich
His
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/my_utmost/utm.cgi
Our Lord makes a disciple His own possession, He becomes responsible for him. "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me." The spirit that comes in is not that of doing anything for Jesus, but of being a perfect delight to Him. The secret of the missionary is - I am His, and He is carrying out His enterprises through me.
Be entirely His.
An excerpt from a article my friend Art Licursi wrote.A New Moral Consciousness for Man
By Receiving the Light of Christ’s Life
Rich
http://www.angelfire.com/al4/artlicursi
Mankind Deluded
That first deluded choice was made by Adam and Eve, although it was not totally deliberate on their part, as was Lucifer’s choice. Lucifer’s choice established him as false deity with his self-for-self nature. Adam’s choice placed mankind within Lucifer’s grasp. By this, Lucifer could and did infect Adam and Eve with his false-self, joined to their soul-selves. Lucifer is "that (evil) spirit who works in us the children of disobedience." Eph. 2:1-3. Man was the one 2 Cor. 4:4 In whom the god of this world (the Devil) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
By now I hope you can see that all humans are born under a delusion, thinking of our selves as being self-acting persons, when in actual fact we are expressing another life and nature. We are "driven" to express the nature of an indwelling spirit who is "working" within us. This delusion is the huge lie that prevents Christians from enjoying the life and power of the indwelling Christ as their life with rest in their souls. When we were sinners we thought it was "just us." There never was a "just us." It was formerly "Sin" as us, and now, now being regenerated, it is "Christ" as us.
The Sin-spirit himself – the Devil, was the first to occupy man’s being, and he is at work in all "the children of disobedience". Therefore, the plain and simple outcome is that, through the fall, mankind became spontaneous expressers of Lucifer’s self-for-self nature ("in sin did my mother conceive me" Psalm 51:5), yet at the same time we are deluded into thinking it is just we who are failing and having a hard time trying to be like Jesus of Nazareth. The truth is that we are not to be "like" Jesus; we Christians have Christ alive in us, desiring to live His life through us as the new us.
No Longer I
Paul ultimately saw through this delusion saying Romans 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Paul saw that an indwelling nature, Sin, had usurped mankind and him. Yet, Paul also came to see the remedy that is the Christian’s via the cross. The remedy is ours when we see Christ’s death as our death to our "old man" (Rom 6:6-7), and receive His indwelling life and nature as our new life and nature in place of that old, fallen nature of Sin. Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. This is man made alive by Christ, just as God purposed in Christ Jesus.
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they {began} gnashing their teeth at him. Act 7:55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; Act 7:56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." Act 7:57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. Act 7:58 When they had driven him out of the city, they {began} stoning {him;} and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. Act 7:59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on {the Lord} and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Act 7:60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.
I love how the foolishness of God is greater than all of man's wisdom, and how the weakness of God is greater than all of man's strength. How much of this life we now have in Christ Jesus is assumed to be either ours in a fixed auto-pilot setting, or it happens by osmosis.
So many have assumed wrongly that this arresting of Saul of Tarsus was done without human agency, but I beg to to differ.
Wasn't it Jesus himself that said a very similar thing in his closing moments on the cross..Father forgive them for they know what they do.
Stephen..Lord do not hold this sin against them--those about to kill him.
A door opened up in Christ Jesus through laying his life down that had been closed since the fall in the garden..salvation for whomsoever.
Stephen laying down his life, opened a door for all that were there that day, but for whatever reason, the only one I can see that was affected-infected by this was Saul.
Why is it that we can not grasp the fact the Father is more than capable of making known His heart to us?
For conversation sake, is it remotely possible that the Lord spoke to Stephen's heart and maybe to others about this murder of the church called Saul?
Maybe it was never meant to be a showy thing at all. Those sensing Father's heart in this case for Saul, simply lifted this man up to the only one capable of reaching a very closed heart?
Maybe there was no need to recruit others to pray for this one Father wanted to meet. Perhaps the Damascus Road encounter with the Living God was a natural out working of something the Father had worked into the lives of those not willing to cling to self, willing to loose their lives in order to truly find them
How did they overcome the wicked one, by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony and not clinging to their lives.
Maybe there is a militancy in this Life of the Father that few ever get to experience. No greater love has any man than being willing to lay down their life for another.
Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abides alone, but if it dies, it will produce a rich and lasting harvest.
Even a blind man can count the seeds in an apple, but only our Father can count the orchards in one Seed.
Maybe the church (the family gathering) Jesus is forming is truly unobtrusive (invisible) as far as anyone wanting to be seen for who they are or what they can do.
Maybe we are to live as His works of art reflecting His glory, with no attempt to solicit anyone to join our denomination, flavour or group.
So live as His works of art, that men may see your Heavenly Father!!
Rich
Paul in addressing the believers of his day warned them of the Judaizers, those wanting to mix law with grace.
What is the current name for our Judaizers?
Did Jesus warn his own of just a little bit of leaven (of the Pharisees) as in, Our pastor preaches mostly grace with only a tiny but of law?
How much Law does it take to make null and void His grace? I think Paul said, it's either all Law or it's all Grace.
But Richard, there is no perfect 'church'. No, but His grace is!
Rich
Values Education
Character Building
Character Education
To me, all the above are nothing more than a smoke screen for the age-old scam – Satan’s diabolical scheme to convince us that we don’t need God.
(By our own self-effort, we can manage just fine, thank you. Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don't understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God).
‘Values Education’ would have us focus on improving our self-esteem, our self-worth, self-respect, self-image, etc. Hmmmm…I seem to detect a common thread here: SELF! Contrary to what God says, we are NOT flawed beyond repair. We were NOT ‘born in sin and shaped in iniquity’. We were born good! All we have to do is work on our bad points. We do NOT have to depend upon God because we have it all within our own grasp. By our own self-effort, we can BE LIKE GOD.
My wife often sees what she is doing as a junior and senior kindergarten teacher as merely civilizing them (aging from three and a half to five) and setting up with what she is permitted to do to help them navigate through life.
According to someone, God was supposedly removed from the class room, funny how He is still very much there in the lives of so many teachers, simply being Jesus to whomever.
I find it interesting the wording Paul uses in the New Testament, Ephesians 2:3, ‘By nature we were children of wrath.’
My perception on the whole garden scene was allowing Adam a choice represented by the two trees. Each tree represented a nature, why?Is it possible that man (all those in Adam) were created without a nature? Man was going to be governed or ruled by a nature, God or Satan.
(I love the song by Bob Dylan, ‘You’ve got to serve somebody.’)In choosing to disobey God, man, in eating of the wrong tree then became at that moment one now possessing a nature of a father, but sadly, the nature of one whom Jesus called, ‘the father of lies.’
Sadly in my opinion what we have mistakenly adopted and adapted to is an erroneous name given to our nature as being human.Maybe what happened was the prince of this fallen world Satan himself became cloaked in a stealth mode totally invading man disguised as human nature?
I think it is a pretty normal thing for anyone who has ever had to go to the hospital to have an x-ray taken, and seen the results come back showing clearly what was not seen by the naked eye.Is that what happened for instance when Jesus said, ‘You are of your father the Devil?’
The heart surgeon specialist Jesus, seeing and revealing clearly what in fact was mans true nature, not human but indwelt by Satan himself.This robber, killer, destroyer and liar was being exposed for who he was, and consequently caused a vicious attack by those Jesus addressed as having Satan as their father.
These people that came apart at the seems in hearing Jesus calling them sons of the devil were in fact religious and outwardly good, nice, fine upstanding folk, but don’t look inside, you won’t like what you see. (Pay no attention to that liar cloaked in human flesh)All have sinned and fallen from His glorious purpose, there are none that seek Him-none!
I see Satan being the master architect of all religion and although it wasn’t clearly being presented this way to Adam and Eve in the garden, Satan desired, craved to be worshiped.
There has been birthed within us a whole army of coping tricks (props) and man has become successful in learning and applying them to his living in this world, but at his core apart from the rebirthing there is the illusion of grandeur and superiority of some flesh being better than others.
Flesh is and always will be only flesh Jesus said. In His partaking of and becoming flesh, maybe by experience He discovered that apart from the nature of the Father within him, he could not do anything of himself as he continually reminded us.
It is this very subject I long to see in greater clarity and will share as further light is given to me.
Our enemy Satan has been stripped of his power over our lives, which is all part of the Message of life and hope freely given to us in Christ Jesus, but, there is still a cloaked hidden enemy within our and all flesh. It is the progressive and continued working of grace being applied to our souls that continues to free us from Satan’s influence.The spirit of this world (age) has one intention, to conform us, to shape us from within our souls as if we were play dough and the father of lies Satan displaying an expression of humanity that has become its own god.
Maybe Paul clearly saw through the smoke and mirrors of deception, when he said, ‘Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people.’
I hope to continue on this theme as I am further directed.
Rich
What Our Cheers Might Reveal
http://www.lifestream.org/blog/
That may be why so many people who have seen through the bondages of religious systems have yet to find great freedom and life beyond it. It is easy to cheer for the destruction of things that have hurt us. I get emails like that all the time, cheering on things I’ve written about the ineffectiveness of religion. Some of those I know who call out the loudest for the destruction of organized religion as we know it are sometimes the least transformed personally to reflect the compassion and character of God to people around them—especially to those still captive in the system.
Interestingly, I do not get the same cheers back from people when I talk about letting God rework us from the inside and what needs to die in us if we’re going to experience the fullness of his life. If we could only see that our pride and independence are even more destructive, especially because they live with us every day. Real transformation doesn’t happen out there in structures and systems, but first in those who are willing to let him transform them at the most broken places of their lives.
And if you’re not ready for that, then you’re just really not sure yet how much this awesome God loves you. Keep exploring that until finally your joy at his dealing with your pride is greater than your hope at him blowing up religion. Then we’ll know we are well on the path to his life!
----------------------------------------
I loved this piece Wayne Jacobson posted on his blog, it reminds me of Pogo-“We have met the enemy…and he is us”.
Jesus, the same yesterday today and forever!The Lord seems to be persistently getting into our faces and asking His probing question, “Who do you say that I Am?”
What the Lord is doing in this hour we’re living in can not be confined by our trite limited band wagon tripe, we sport about with, the next move of God etc, what a crock of crap.In Him we Live, move and be!!!!
He is alive in us now, but without the one-on-one working of the Holy Spirit making known to us His life in us, and our very much obscure and secret identity, we will end up being much ado about nothing.
I have no idea how what I am sharing here ties in with what Wayne shared on his blog, and I’m not overly concerned about it, but I will try and continue to think out loud here.
Kings and Kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s just something about that name-JESUS!
It is most curious to see how many might be saying now that they’re out of the box-outside the camp-outside of the institutional church that they are experiencing great freedom. And yes there is freedom, but His name is Jesus, not something, but somebody.
I speak as one that is now living outside of the building-place-meeting mentality, but to say that all and any pride or arrogance that was displayed in my life was because of the institution or its leaders is crap.
The insidious nature of Satan working through any form of substitutes (anti-Christ) is that which causes us to see how clean we can appear on the outside, while missing out on the Life of his Son being formed within.
The longing within my heart is to co-operate with His grace, to continually be transformed for any and all to take notice of the living God my Father very much alive in Richard as Richard.
Rich
I was listening, to a current pod cast this weekend and the person sharing said something to this affect, he was not naturally predisposed toward ever being depressed, and in fact he had a most hope filled out look on life.
Well no harm in that, but! What does a person say with a similar (sunny-perky-spunky) disposition to somebody not dealt the same hand? In other words those struggling with not having a ‘hope filled outlook’ or whatever, they need His grace, but the others don’t?Maybe all of the scripture quoting is nothing more than empty words to someone under the gun in the thick of what they battle on a daily basis. Meaning, the ones not prone to ever being depressed see no need for the grace of God in that area of their lives. Why, because they see no defect within this aspect of their disposition.
I think someone once said, the good is the enemy of the best.
It is so comforting to me having the authoritative and final word on this subject clearly made manifest by Jesus. That which is of the flesh is flesh.
The father of lies persuades Christians (actually humanity) into believing that there is good flesh and bad flesh. A mentality that sees the life of God simply being a add on to their almost sufficient capabilities.
To the degree we do not see the utter depravity (having Satan within our flesh) of our fallen condition, we think just because we are a half full kind of optimistic person we have what it takes to cut the mustard of the nasty now in now stuff we will face. Maybe this is part of what Paul means here, ‘I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by rule keeping, (resorting to fleshly means) then Christ is dead in vain.’
Our ability to boast is not because of any fleshly predispositions we have in the flesh, or out of any of the remnants of the first Adam.As one brother put it, no matter what stock you came from, it all collided at the cross.
If we’re going to boast, it will be in Him, the One who said, ‘It is finished!’
I wonder in light of my musings here about the story of Job, maybe he was one of those good ole boys that was naturally inclined (a predisposition) to being able through fleshly abilities to stay abreast with life’s upheavals.
Maintaining our spiritual equilibrium has nothing to do with being positive vs negative.
It is amazing to see sooner or later how the Lord knows what buttons have to be pressed in our lives to reveal the utter illusion of us being in control or being able to stay positive or optimistic, no matter how great we thought our genes might be.
Perhaps in the reality of the warfare we are involved in like Job, there is a discovery coming into play in our lives that nothing within our human disposition is capable to handle life’s unfolding.
Maybe this infusion of His life was meant to be the source of our finding total fulfillment, (in Him we live, move and discover our purpose) but as long as we believe the lie that we can handle things, we settle for a form of godliness, at the expense of being filled with dead men’s bones.
It is most natural to be drawn to upbeat out going charismatic personality types, but to confuse this with His Life is a sad mistake.If all it takes is, ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ then what need was there for the sinless Son of God to die as a criminal in our place?Maybe it is the self-righteous flesh in our lives that ensnares us into thinking we know what grace is, but in fact we have no understanding of it at all?
1 Corinthians 2:3-5 (The Message)
3-5 I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
Rich
In Galatians 2:20 it says, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I see this being all part of the chief corner stone our brother Peter talks about in his letters, a very tongue and grove connecting with what Paul is saying here.
I wonder as I wonder in this journey with Father, is it a thing of, ‘I’m trying to trust you Lord, or Lord, I’m trusting you, or, wow, He is teaching me to trust Him?’
Maybe the truth is as follows, and I do not see this simply being semantics but the difference between being ‘like vs as’.
If in fact we’re living by His faith, then maybe it is, Lord you are my trust! Maybe it is God the Holy Spirit wanting to reveal (make known) the Trust Worthy One??
I do not see this simply being a matter of using the right-correct words vs the wrong ones, but much more to the point of it being a growing revelation of my All in All now present Lord and Elder Brother Jesus Christ. The trust worthy One.
Perhaps this could save me from trying to arrive at this place-destination of trust-trusting? Maybe it is meant to be a journey whereby I can grow in the true knowledge of Him, the trust worthy one?
I simply want to know the Truth, not opinions, not even mine-why? Jesus said if you continue to follow me, you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free!! Free from what I ask? Maybe a whole lot of lies still based upon exerting our fleshly efforts to be ‘like’ Him.
Rich
What do I treasure, who is my treasure?
Where your treasure is, so will your heart be, said Jesus.
I was reading from Oswald Chambers this morning... “He led every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken.”
http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/my_utmost/utm.cgiThis ties in with some things stirred up within me after listening to the latest pod cast at the God Journey, ‘Expectations That Ruin The Journey’… http://www.thegodjourney.com/wordpress/index.phpAnother thought here is this, He said he came not to bring peace but a sword, and yet He is the Prince of Peace.My take on this is, anything not rooted, founded established in Him the Prince of Peace will experience the cutting power of the Word that is sharper than any two edged sword (lazar) separating between the soul-flesh and the spirit.
The prophet said to Mary, and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.
A good friend of mine has shared with me how he sees the Father breaking in upon the lies that have kept him ensnared in his journey.It goes something like this, Son, I’m thrilled that you love me, but the ME that you love isn’t really me!
Is it possible to be in love with loving feelings etc., Or in love with our expectations? How many were ultimately offended in the Father’s Son’s performance?Maybe this has a lot to do with us as well.Maybe this whole thing of Him coming to us so that we might experience Life in its abundance just isn’t measuring up or out to what we expected.
Many see it this way; I have come that your Hollywood dreams and caviar wishes can be fulfilled.
I have come that you might have an abundance of great and pleasant circumstances and situations.
Is our Life in the Son, plus other things, or did he say-He that has the Son has Life. Period!!!
Maybe that is why we too will be led to a place where our hearts are broken because of motives and expectations that do not line up with His purposes? After all, He is the heart specialist.
PS
For any that read here at my blog, I want to share this disclaimer.I feel there is much I want to say-share on my blog, but I so struggle with using correct grammar-punctuation.My wife whom I treasure and love madly is an English major, but I get so frustrated in my seeming language handicap of waiting for her to bail me out that I have not written anything on my blog for some time now. This isn’t her problem but mine.I refuse to allow this to bring me into a petrified condition, I will trust Him to be the One that will speak His heart through however polished or not what I share here at, and then Life happened!
Rich
The saddest consequence of the effect of organization on Christians is that it poisons our perception of God's working in other peoples lives. We see this in the organizational church leadership's violent rejection of our decision to go on in growth with God. The leadership, of course, does not see the situation this way.The church leadership does not see our awakening as a work of God. The failure of the leaders to see their response as opposition to God is the result of their being poisoned by institutional thinking. The leadership sees our growth as inappropriate, because it does not fit within the bounds of conventional organizational church thinking. This is the same thing Jesus ran into (and illustrated) in healing on the Sabbath. (Mark 3:5)Here is a classic example of people limited by their organizational thinking. A miracle of healing has just occurred in the people's midst. A long period of suffering in a person's life has been relieved. But what is the response of the religious Establishment? The leadership looks for some way to kill Jesus (Mark 3:6).
We tend to think of "the world" as all the parts of our culture apart from the things we traditionally see as sacred, such as the institutional church. In the scriptures, however, we see that the institutional church is another world institution. As it turns out, the organizational church is the most intense opponent to the free expression of Christ as our daily life: (Matthew 12:14).It is quite understandable that the church's opposition to the Christ-life would have the most intense reaction of any of the world institutions. It is the church as an institution that is most threatened by the freedom in Christ.The lessons of the Pharisees and elders plotting to kill Christ has little to do with the first century Jewish religious establishment. This illustration is the more general lesson of the opposition of organized religion to the Christ-life.
We will do well to keep in mind the depth of the deception these first century religious leaders had fallen into. All the time they are discounting Jesus' miracles and trying to kill Him, they are proclaiming their total commitment to protecting God's traditions and honor.
Rich
For those who don't know and might be interested in listening, there are some wonderful discussions taking place over at the http://www.thegodjourney.com/audio/ site.
As well at, Rob's Consuming Thoughts Hi Rob,
http://churchbeing.blogspot.com/I read the excerpt from the book Organic Church. I liked it very much.You mentioned you ordered the book, and have started reading it. It ends at this point on line..
Even if we get everything else right but skip this important question, we are not truly the church. Church begins with Jesus: who He is and what He has done: It is all about Jesus, and if it be-
Wondering if you could finish his sentence for me, please?
Also it resonated within me the building of His church being totally tied in with being able to answer His question, 'Who do you say that I am?'
Wayne Jacobson on the newest pod cast~The Man Christ Jesus, delves into this whole thing of, Who do you say that I am?
The point being, if we can not answer His probing question, we will look for something or someone else to fill this void within our lives, ergo so much churchianity and so little Christianity.
http://www.thegodjourney.com/wordpress/index.phpI have always found it most interesting Peter's revelation of Jesus being the Christ, meaning, Jesus seeing that Peter is operating with revelatory insight begins to bring that understanding into crystal clear focus by talking about His impending death on the cross! In hearing this, Peter who moments ago was basking in the elation of seeing the momentary truth of who Jesus is, begins to rebuke the Lord.
I love where it says, 'no man shall see the Lord and live.'
Earlier there were those wanting to see Jesus, Jesus addresses that interest by saying, 'Unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone, but if it dies, it will bring forth a great harvest.'
In my understanding any revelation of who this Christ is spells our death, this isn't a message that will promote us, but rather Him!
In Him we Live,
Rich
Some further times of sharing with others in the past, but speak loudly while it is yet called...Today!
Rich
"You will begin to see who you truly are in Christ and it will look nothing like what the world told you it should. You will never look the way they wanted you to. It will be all of his life and nothing of your efforts. You will never be that false image of what they said you should become."
I gleefully agree, adding, You will never be that false image of what YOU THINK you should become, either.
As grace believers, we're still tempted to do the same thing. We look at other believers and measure them up to our standards of what a gospel believing Christian should look like. But perhaps, just perhaps, their life of freedom will look differently than the freedom in Christ that you experience. Does that mean they're less free or does it confirm that fact that they're free to be exactly the person God has created them to be…?
Re:
'Measure them up to our standards of what a gospel believing Christian should look like.'
I’ve been thinking about what you referred to as ‘our standards’ and suggest the following:
The gospel of Christ eliminates any of "our standards". It has no bearing on the one Life that indwells all believers. I wonder if Paul was trying to "measure the believers up" to Paul’s standards? I don’t think so! The standard was Christ! He is the only standard. Because we are individuals uniquely expressing His life through our mortal bodies, we can’t help but look different.
Maybe the longing of Father God’s heart that seemed to be so evidently displayed in and through Paul was for each and every believer to be brought to a place of "knowing" all that was already theirs in Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:16, 17, Ephesians 4: 13-16)
Was Paul seeing something (Someone) that others were not yet seeing, meaning the standard of Christ, not the standard of Paul? He knew that he could not impart this knowledge to other believers. There are six recorded times he prayed for the believers, that they would come to know, that the eyes of their hearts would be opened and flooded in the true knowledge of Him.
Of course our freedom just might look different, no two people being the same. Though the expression is different, what is revealed is Christ - the One who is our freedom – our standard – the same life in every believer!
The means whereby we have fellowship is based on that One Life that indwells believers, but to the degree that we see that Life as a Baptist Life, or a Pentecostal Life, or a Catholic Life will determine the depth of our fellowship or the lack thereof.
Is it possible to be a Christian yet not see that there’s only one life in the believer, and that it has nothing to do with a denominational bent/slant/belief system, wearing makeup or not, talking in tongues or not, black cars with no chrome, black cars with chrome…from the sublime to the ridiculous in terms of what we have measured in standards as what is ‘holy’?
Maybe like the song says, 'Holiness is Your Life in me', maybe my life is to BE a living extension of the Holy One?!
The following is some heart to heart exchanges made a few years back.
Rich
Yes, I Am Promoting a Gospel of Works!
I've met some Christians who would enjoy doing a study of good works, but not many. Most would rather visit their dentist for a root canal. There's a reason for that. Most Christians have never studied good works. All they've studied is their inability to perform them.
The fact that we've been struggling for so many years with competing answers only makes it clear that we haven't even begun to ask the right questions. It seems Christians should be experts when it comes to understanding good works and how they fit into the Christian life. Unfortunately, opinions vary so widely to suggest exactly the opposite. No, we don't understand good works very well at all.
Are good works required to please God so we can obtain his approval, blessings and protection? If so, which works, how many and how often?
Having received grace, are we now obligated to respond with good works, or should we expect good works to be a natural result of knowing we have received grace? If we think that the end purpose of grace was to perfect our performance, doesn't that kind of miss the whole point of grace?
We promise salvation by grace to new believers but then we demand good works as the fruit by which we discern genuine conversion. Justification by performance doesn't confirm that one has received grace--it is a denial of grace.
Christians have been trying to solve the problem of works for a long time but as Albert Einstein said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Maybe we just aren't approaching the problem from the right perspective. The problem of works is hard to solve because we're thinking the same way we did when we created the problem. We are focused on our own self-centred performance. What we need to do is turn our man-centred view of works upside-down and begin to see things from God's perspective.
The really interesting thing about us and good works is neither us, nor the works themselves, but the fact that they are "good" works. The New Testament speaks of two different types of good works. God uses earthly rulers to bring about works that are a good "benefit". However, Christian works are presented very differently, using a form of the word that implies "beautiful" works. Christian works should be viewed not so much as labour or obligation, but more like creative works of art.
The reality of life in Christ is not about what you do, but who you are. You are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works (Eph 2:10). Your faith is not a measurement of good works vs. your bad works; it is a display of the work of Jesus Christ for his own name's sake. You aren't doing his works for him. You are his works of art displayed by him before all of heaven and earth as a testimony to his love (Eph 3:10, 11). You are the divine art gallery.
Now, focusing on the beauty of Christ in you, consider some of the New Testament passages regarding works: It is proper for those who profess Godliness to display good works (1Tim 2:10). Good works are obvious to all who see them and cannot be hidden (1Tim 5:25). God has made you rich in good works (1Tim 6:18). You are a pattern for the world to see and understand what good works truly are (Titus 2:7). Being redeemed and purified by God makes you zealous for good works (Titus 2:14). Those who have believed should be careful not to lose sight of this knowledge, using it to meet the needs of others (Titus 3:8, 14). We are to stir one another to love and good works (Heb 10:24). And good works can even cause those who deride you for your faith to glorify God (1Pet 2:12).
So, yes, I am promoting a gospel of works but not the one you're used to. The next time you're tempted to think of good works in terms of the pass/fail scenario, turn your heart to remember the work of God's grace in you. Christ alone is qualified to live the Christian life and he alone is the source of all good Christian works. Good works are not burdensome efforts or a measure of performance; they are beautiful, creative works of art. God has done glorious things--and Baby, you're it!
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For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
I’m convinced that as a believer comes to experience the “true” knowledge of God’s love inwardly there is corresponding expression of it demonstrated outwardly.
Love being the full filment of the Law is a done deal carried out by only one man, the Man Christ Jesus on behalf of all men.
The reality of this finished perfect work was designed to be an imparting and impacting “knowing” within us that we have measured up because of what he has done.
We no longer have to prove ourselves, try to better ourselves. We can as we are recipients of this “true” knowledge of His love just “be”.
His Life is a life that not only worked the miracle of apprehending us but is the same Life working deep within to bring us to the place of “knowing” this all consuming stubborn love he has for us.
It is the same Life that will work out through us in a myriad of ways. The outer things that we do, work,s are but an expression of something far more significant.
Our conscience being purged from dead works, the love of God being poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit etc. Wherever we go His life is dispersed from our being His children.
If in fact no matter how wonderful things were when Paul experienced the Life of God at work amongst the believers and it touching the lost, why was he being directed to pray even more so for these believers to come to an even greater knowledge of Him?
Ephesians 3
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Church In Asia Minor
Committee on Missions
Paul the Apostle
c/o Aquila the Tentmaker
Corinth, Greece
Dear Paul:
We recently received a copy of your letter to the Galatians. The committee has directed me to inform you of a number of things which deeply concern us.
First, we find your language to be somewhat intemperate. In your letter, after a brief greeting to the Galatians, you immediately attack your opponents by claiming they want to “pervert the gospel of Christ.” You then say that such men should be regarded as “accursed”; and, in another place, you make reference to “false brethren.” Wouldn’t it be more charitable to give them the benefit of the doubt---at least until the general assembly has investigated and adjudicated the matter? To make the situation worse, you later say, “I could wish those who trouble you would even cut themselves off.” Is such a statement really fitting for a Christian minister? The remark seems quite harsh and unloving.
Paul, we really feel the need to caution you about the tone of your Epistles. You come across in an abrasive manner to many people. In some of your letters you’ve even mentioned names; and this practice has, no doubt, upset the friends of Hymenaeus, Alexander, and others. After all, many persons were first introduced to the Christian faith under the ministry of these men. Although some of our missionaries have manifested regrettable shortcomings, nevertheless, it can only stir up bad feelings when you speak of these men in a derogatory manner.
In other words, Paul, I believe you should strive for a more moderate posture in your ministry. Shouldn’t you try to win those who are in error by displaying a sweeter spirit? By now, you’ve probably alienated the Judaizers to the point that they will no longer listen to you.
By your outspokenness, you have also diminished your opportunities for future influences throughout the church as a whole. Rather, if you had worked more quietly, you might have been asked to serve on a presbytery committee appointed to study the issue. You then have contributed your insights by helping to draft a good committee paper on the theological position of the Judaizers, without having to drag personalities into the dispute.
Besides, Paul, we need to maintain unity among those who profess a belief in Christ.
The Judaizers at least stand with us as we confront the surrounding paganism and humanism which prevail within the culture of the contemporary Roman Empire. The Judaizers are our allies in our struggles against abortion, homosexuality, government tyranny, etc. We cannot afford to allow differences over doctrinal minutiae to obscure this important fact.
I also must mention that questions have been raised about the contents of your letter, as well as your style. The committee questions the propriety of the doctrinaire structure of your letter. Is it wise to plague your Christians, like the Galatians, with such heavy theological issues? For example, in a couple of places, you allude to the doctrine of election. You also enter into a lengthy discussion of the law.
Perhaps you could have proved your case in some other ways, without mentioning these complex and controverted points of Christianity. Your letter is so doctrinaire, it will probably serve only to polarize the differing factions within the churches. Again, we need to stress unity, instead of broaching issues which will accent divisions among us.
In one place, you wrote, “Indeed I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.” Paul, you have a tendency to describe things strictly in black and white terms, as if there are no gray areas. You need to temper your expressions, lest you become too exclusive. Otherwise, your outlook will drive away many people, and make visitors feel unwelcome. Church growth is not promoted by taking such a hard line and remaining inflexible.
Remember, Paul, there is no such thing as a perfect church. We have to tolerate many imperfections in the church, since we cannot expect to have everything at once. If you will simply think back over your own experience, you will recall how you formerly harassed the church in your times of ignorance. By reflecting on your own past, you might acquire a more sympathetic attitude toward the Judaizers. Be patient, and give them some time to come around to a better understanding. In the meantime, rejoice that we all share a common profession of faith in Christ, since we have all been baptized in his name.
Sincerely,
Charles Phinney
Coordinator, Committee on Missions.
Rich
Being Soldiers
By Lynette Woods
http://www.unveiling.org/Articles/soldiers.htmlAnother great thought to consider/ponder!
Rich
While many of us may see the parallels of religion with being in bondage, there are other bondages that we may still need freedom from including self-righteousness and bondage to Self. Even when we have been freed from religion, our own laws and opinions can still blind and bind us just as much as religion because we can very quickly and easily make a whole new set of laws which we feel we must fulfil in order to please God. Our freedom and liberty are very, very precious. They are also very, very costly. True freedom can be quite frightening because we must relinquish control in order to be free. Control makes us feel secure. Rules, regulations and laws make us think we are doing fine when all along, Self is still on the throne of our lives. Simply trusting God can initially make us feel very uncomfortable and insecure because we must truly trust Another...
Our enemy often feeds us the exact same lie: that we cannot survive by trusting God alone! "If you no longer follow these rules and do this or that and no longer go here or there, you will not get fed, you will be alone, you will not be protected. Escape is impossible. You would die." And the result of this lie is that many people are limited and bound by fear instead of being released to live by faith in trusting a Father Who is more than able to take care of His own children!
May He give us the Grace and Ability to escape the many things which bind and blind us by opening the eyes of our hearts to see ourselves for what we are, and to see Him as All that He is!
An excellent article dealing with warfare by Lynette Woods....Warefare....but not as we've known it
Rich
http://unveiling.org/Articles/warfare.html"What is often referred to as "spiritual warfare" in this day and age usually amounts to nothing more than religious flesh; it loudly assails an enemy who is ALREADY defeated (but doesn't want us to know it) while ignoring the enemy within: us and our flesh - in particular, our religious flesh which delights in the illusion of having power and in doing things and being seen to be doing things. This so called "spiritual warfare" seems to be more motivated by preservation of self and fear of our enemy than by trust and faith in our Victory who is Christ! We have NOT been given a spirit of fear yet the way some people speak sounds as though they think satan is in control and not God and they are in fear of him; but God desires us to know HIM and to not be deceived by the many illusions that the deceiver uses to distract and intimidate us."
Also, some wonderful connecting over at the God Journey forum dealing with the same subject matter and much more!
http://thegodjourney.com/forums/
If familiarity breeds contempt, could that be one of the main reasons those with religious mind sets were the ones who opposed Paul and his message the most?
Words are very often synonymous with meanings that are totally askew. Paul sharing the Message of life in Christ was not going to be confined to a place, meeting or time. Right from the start Paul was testifying of a Person-Life, not an institutional setting to meet or connect with God.
Rich
Are you going to be ruled by what is seen, or are you going to be ruled by the unseen One?
Rich
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