Spiritual Awakening
No Christian is called to be passive, but to be persistent in passion for this life as God ordained.
For as stated; "If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures" - Prov. 2:4. The God kind of Wisdom is what we all need for this life and can only be achieved when we have an unquenchable deep desire for it. The life of Wisdom promised, given and practiced when we have Christ in us. For we are dead when we have the world in us. For as stated; “for what fellowship has Righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion has Light with darkness” - 2 Cor. 6:14. Christ is our Light and without Him, there is no life but only unrighteousness and darkness. Everything that is not of Christ and ultimately the Kingdom of God is dead, darkness, disobedience, and death.
To think after Christ’s second coming we who are saved will remain in Heaven singing eternal praises to the God of Glory is both short-sighted and only indicates many have yet to mature as stated; “yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him” - 1 Cor. 8:6. Too many Christians are only waiting for the second coming and are not active in the Faith of God as stated; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him (Jesus) should not perish, but have everlasting life” - Jn. 3:16. Now; to put these statements in perspective with the Father’s purpose as stated; “That they all may be one; as You, Father, is in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that You sent Me” - Jn. 17:21. In this passage; Jesus is not speaking about the saved but the unsaved that's why He uses the word, 'may' not once but three times; an indication of His deep desired persistent passion for the blinded and lost.
Then are we not, as stated; "Imitators of Christ and God" - Eph. 5:1. And are all called to direct and receive all the prodigal sons and daughters in this world for the Father and Jesus’ purpose. But some say; “This is the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers role” To put it mildly; the church has taken advantage of Paul’s intention as stated; “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ” - Eph. 4:11-16. Paul was chosen and called by Jesus to not only spread the Gospel to the known ad the unknown world at that time but by his very nature would begin to put some form of organization to it.
Yet, despite Paul having gained popularity among both the saved and unsaved; he stated; “For some have said, I am of Paul; and another, of Apollo; are you not carnal?” - 1 Cor. 3:4. Another way to say this is; “are you not dead” referencing as stated; “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded; is life and peace” - Rm. 8:6. All of Paul’s epistles is aimed at empowering believers to mature in their Faith and as stated; “Take up his cross, and follow Me (Jesus) - Matt. 16:24. This cross is not a worldly burden but the burden of Salvation for the lost and blinded in the world. For what satan’s man wanted to be the symbol of fear, agony and death have been converted by Jesus the man; into the banner of Faith, Hope, and Love.
We can never sublime the Truth of Christ! For when we do this we are really saying; “He did not represent the Father nor did He accomplish the Salvation of not only the Cross but also did not redeem what Adam threw away in Eden. Do you see it? That God placed in Adam; Faith, Hope, and Love. But because of a worldly view, he lost these foundations of Godliness, Sanctification, and Holiness. When Jesus stated; “It is finished” - Jn. 19:28. He was not telling the Father He can’t do anything more but was affirming God’s purpose for that old wooden cross. Which was to reset the foundations of Faith. Hope and Love. That despite the world’s pressure on the flesh of man; he will overcome because of these three pillars of God’s Kingdom and our Christian walk. That as stated; “None of the rulers (evil men) of this age (world) understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory” - 1 Cor. 2:8. For without these pillars; Christ’s Blood; His death and Resurrection will have no merit and substance for what we who claim Him suffer through. The entire life cycle of our Savior was not passive but a persistent passion for as stated; “To set the captives free” - Is. 61:1. Christ fulfilled His calling!
We know this, not because of man’s thinking or books written for Biblical social nuances; but on the entire Word of God which is literally manifested through Jesus; the physical man as stated; “I (Jesus) only say and do as the Father would” - Jn. 12:49. Some may say; “God is Love”. This is true but is not the highest statement we can make of God; for He has also stated’ “My Word is above Me (My Name)” - Ps. 138:2. God’s Word or we can say His Principles is above His Love for any man, woman or child. Jesus also reiterates this with His precepts of “what gain is there in loving those who love you and would an evil man give his son a snake; covered in Lk. 6 and Matt. 7, respectively. Without understanding and appreciating the Principles, God rules and lives by; the Body is like as stated; “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” - Eph. 4:14; and “For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” - Jm. 1:6. The congregant is charged to know the Truth and should not depend on another man for it.
The Body of Christ is charged with this command as stated; “Study to show yourself approved onto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” - 2 Tim. 2:15. Now; there is a difference with quoting the Bible from memory and living the Word. And it is this that separates those who are comfortable where they are in the same church pews as to those who constantly move from seat to seat as a person "seeking treasure". The receiving of Salvation is personal and so is the unwrapping and use of it. It only becomes exciting when we apply it's designed purpose as stated; "No one puts a lamp in a basket" - Matt. 5:15. If we see the Word as work; and make the Sabbath whether on a Sunday or a Saturday and for that matter any other day of the week a chore; then we are not as stated; “seeking the Kingdom (God)” - Matt. 6:33 and should not expect “(after) all will be added to you”. For as stated; “Delight in God and He will grant the desires of your heart” - Ps. 37:4. To have a passive approach with the Christian life is to be half-hearted which is really being faithless and wishing for something without working at it but to have persistent passion in the things of the Kingdom, Jesus and God is to as stated; “walk by Faith and not by sight” - 2 Cor. 5:7. The very thing that God is only pleased by.
Flush it Out - A race is run with persistent passion!
Dec. 3, 2018.
Passive Persistent Passion.
Paul’s default nature was legalistic being schooled with a Pharisee’s perspective. In other words, he was a “checklist” guy. Paul’s conversion is the very epitome of being dead because of worldly thinking but alive in Christ by the Spirit. No other follower of Christ is recognized for their persistent passion in the cause of Christ. And for this, he is quoted, referenced and taught more than any other apostle; including Jesus’ own words. He is our more identifiable Christ follower next to Jesus because he was born of sin as we were, but by Salvation; he is the best-known imitator of our Lord, Jesus.
There are two caveats or conditions that is often overlooked or not promoted in the very churches that have established pastors as the leaders of their church. First as stated; “But you are not to be called Rabbi (teacher), for you have one Teacher (who is Christ), and you are all brothers (same)” - Matt. 23:8; and secondly; “How be it when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth” - Jn. 16:13. Now; before many of you go off shouting down your pastor, leaving the church and basically creating more issues you can handle. Let us not forget as stated; “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves” - Heb. 10:25. This verse has been misunderstood and abused by many ultimately placing the pastor with control over their congregation and enslaving them once again into rituals, dead sermons, and fruitlessness. The purpose of gathering is to reveal Christ and the Holy Spirit as framed by the previous and latter verses including; “provoke (each other) onto love and to good works" and "exhorting one another, and so much the more”. If everyone in the Body practices these and others things keeping Christ as the Head and not a sideline; then will Faith, Hope and Love take president over the confusion that has beset many churches with worldly precepts and lawlessness.
There is the “world church” and then there is the “Christ Church”. Which one you affiliate with is not to be depended on tradition, culture or law but on the purpose of God as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. For as stated; “that all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth” - 1 Tim. 2:4. Another way this can be said is; “that all be redeemed and know Christ”. No man or for that matter any woman can redeem others from death because they are unable to give their body, mind, and spirit; and neither are they able to give the Truth because they ultimately have not taken that old wooden cross of Jesus Christ. As Paul states; "we are all part of the same Body where not a single part can claim to be above the other parts" - 1 Cor. 12:12. Why then is there an organizational structure? There are two main reasons for this. There has to be unity and legal compliance, as stated; “Render to Caesar, what is Caesar’s and to God, what is God’s” - Mk. 12:17. Now; some say this is about money. This would be right but an incomplete understanding of what Jesus’ intent is which includes as stated; “I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one; so they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world. For them, I Sanctify Myself, so that they too may be Sanctified by the Truth” - Jn. 17:15. Because our work is to convict the world, we have no choice but to work within the world’s framework of compliance. But to accomplish our Christian purpose we need to be unified not under a man but under Christ so that we are Sanctified (set apart) from the world’s way doing as Jesus did with the cross. He submitted to the world even though as stated; “Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of Angels?” - Matt. 26:53. Because of His Sanctification; He redeemed the cross of death into the Cross of eternal life.
There is no such thing! As Christians, we are not dead but alive through and in Christ. It is the life of Christianity as stated; “It was right that we should make merry, and be glad; for this, your brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found” - Lk. 15:32. The Prodigal son Parable speaks directly of each of us at some point in our journey through this life to come to the realization that the pursuit of the things of this world is of no profit and ultimately the love of the father is all that we need. In this case; the father of the prodigal son is the Father; for we all are that prodigal person and by surrendering to Him is there joy and a life worthy of acknowledgment.
There are two types of church growth and is determined as stated; “by their fruit” - Matt. 7:16. If the entire congregation is demonstrating is beautiful noise but no manifestation of the Spirit revealing God’s true Glory; then this is a dead church. If it is revealing God by the Holy Spirit not only at church but in the privacy of each congregant's life then it is a church alive with Christ. Is this too harsh? Absolutely not! As outlined in Revelation concerning the seven churches only two were given a passing grade. - Rev. 2 and 3. It is not the sole responsibility of the pastor but the whole Body to provide a Sanctified place where God’s Spirit is not only welcomed but allowed to manifest God’s Glory, not through one but all those in the church as stated; "you (all) are the Temple(s) of God" - 1 Cor. 3:16. The dead church is passive only addressing the peripheral concerns of the Kingdom and is often politically correct in its guidance. The persistent and passionate church is alive with revelations; the move of the Holy Spirit, and is unapologetic, uncompromising with the Word of God and can often be a place of intimidation because it is willing to confront rather than be like, comfortable and accommodating. Jesus stated; "I come with a sword" - Matt. 10:34. This is a picture of passion; not passiveness!
No one can claim His Blood and not be energized by it especially after the initial conviction and conversion. Why? Because metal is not tested after it has been forged but through its years of use. In other words; a true Christian will have earned his stripes, his crown, and his honor. Not from the pastor, elder or deacon but from Christ Himself who is the judge of everyone who takes His Cross, Blood, and Banner for Salvation and most importantly; the Great Commission. He was and still is the perfect representation of the Father’s Son and of Faith, Hope, and Love. You do not need to depend on the pastor! Whoa! How can this be when Paul charges us to be part of the Body; support them and learn from them? It is simple!