Hebrews 12:28, "Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe"
This morning as I tended the barn I was so filled with gratitude for God perserving and extending my Dad's life. For all the friends who poured out thier love on him, and really all of the family. Grateful for the revelation and presence of God in it all. And more than it all, I am grateful that God's kingdom is unshakable. That His will, His sovereignty is not dependent upon me.
Me and so many others prayed to see the recovery in my Dad that we have seen, and yet that was only necessary for us. God is in no way bound by those acts. He is unshakable, His kingdom is unshakable. This is faith. To know that in no way can I believe hard enough, or act right enough to effect a change. But rather in faith depend on God. In faith believe His will to be done. In faith trust Him for the best, not in the absence of fear, but in the presence of fear. It is because I am so undeserving that have this sense of gratitude, reverence, and awe.
I am so thankful too that He allows His kingdom to manifest inside of me. That as I am made aware of that, moment by moment I experience His presense. And that above all is glorious.
2 Peter 1:8, "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
The qualities that Peter is talking about are faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, persecerance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. All thing we might universally recognize as Christ like characteristics. But does anyone wonder how knowledge leads to knowledge?
This is one of the many truths of the first chapter of 2nd Peter. The quality "knowledge" is in greek known as gnosis. This greek word means objective knowledge. Knowledge learned from study without interaction with the subject. It is also the basis of the term Gnostic. A spiritual Gnostic is being someone who believes that they can achieve enlightenment, or perhaps a higher spiritual connection through learning and studying. All of which is a far cry from "the true knowledge" Peter suggest is available.
The true knowledge come from the Greek word epignosis. Epignosis is subjective knowledge, and that comes from interaction. That come from expereince with the subject. In this case the subject is Jesus Christ.
Many in the Christian community are like the Bereans. Studying the word of God and applying it to life. This is Gnostism in my opinion. The word of God is there to lead us to Christ. And in Christ out of that relationship we live life. Can you see the difference? The Gnostic believes they can somehow study thier way to knowing all that God knows. The Epignostic believes they can snuggle up right next to God, put thier head to His chest, and nothing else matters. That if He needs the epignostic to know something then He will tell him. Until then "not knowing, not hoping to know,and not acting like we know what's happening, we begin to access" the awareness of Jesus Christ. We practice His presence NOW instead of searching His presence in the past to explain today. Does this make sense?
This is not to negate reading the Bible or studying. This is only to put it into perspective. It is one of many qualities that lead us into a deeper relationship with God. In fact I have read my Bible many times over. But I do not read it looking to improve my knowledge. I read it to understand my God more. I read it to compel me to a new experience with Him, or to explained and confirm a new experience I have had.
This is why I write. Not to teach you the reader anything. But to articulate my experiences with God, so that perhaps you might be inspired to go deeper, or to confirm the depth you have already achieved, or to respond with showing me the path to fully knowing God more.
My Mom told me a story yesterday of a woman who expereinced the presense of God on a swing. That it was so real she moved over to make room for Him. THIS IS THE EXPERIENCE I AM TALKING ABOUT. But let me explain something to you. He did not make a special visit to that swing. He was there the whole time, she simply became aware. It is possible to have this experience all the day long.
So to be technically correct, I write because I am having that experience now, and this is what we are talking about. What I write about are those experiences. Go have an experience with Christ today. In fact, have it all day. It will blow you away.
Stop thinking, and start being. An attack by Satan, a test of faith, and the discipline of the Lord all look the same from natural eyes. Relying on intellect, relying on objective knowledge will lead you astray. It is inadequate in comparison to the wisdom of God. But practice His presense. Become aware of His being there, be aware of His thoughts, see what He sees. Be less so that He can be more. Know less so that you can access all that He knows.
If you listen to the attached song, listen to it from this perspective. It is not us asking God to come away with us. It is God singing to us, come away with Me. He is inviting you into His presense. He is inviting your awareness. His heart is open. He is saying to you... open up your heart.
Psalms 23:4, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
Yesterday for my Dad was very much a walking THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death. The day started as normal as can be less that 24 hours behind triple bypass surgery, but at 11:30am he began to show "signs of a stroke." And even though this is always a possibility in major surgery, it was not within anyone's realm of expectations.
Frankly, it was the saddest, most painful, fear inducing thing I have ever seen. To hear my Dad speak as if his whole mouth were numb, to see his arms fail as he tried to wipe is mouth was overwhelming. I wanted to scream, and I wanted to cry. Add to that - what is understandable coming from my Dad's mouth is complete awareness of his condition at that time, and his own expression of the fear. Feeding the fears were my ever present thoughts of what if....
Several times I tried to encourage myself to find Jesus in the events. To practice His presence as I have said in so many of the recent blogs, and all I could see of Him was a Christ sleeping on the boat in the middle of a storm. Not that He did not, or does not, care for my Dad; but that He was unconcerned because He knew it would be alright. And yet what I would see with each visit did not testify everything was alright.
I even tried to encourage myself with my blog. Over and over I reminded myself that "by not knowing, not hoping to know,a nd not acting like we know what's happening, we begin to access our inner strength" namely Jesus Christ.
I found out first hand in this valley of the shadow of death that it is one thing to know He is with me in it, and a completely other thing to trust He is bringing me through.
And through He did. Somewhere between the 5:00pm visit, and the 8:00pm visit God had proven once again that He was right. That resting in the storm was the correct course of action. By 8:00pm the tremors in the arms had dissipated nearly completely. Dexterity had returned to my Dad's hands and his speech was nearly back, but certainly it's complete coherence had returned.
Reports are he had a good night, and I can not wait to see what God has done in the past 10 hours. Thank you to everyone for you prayers, your concern, your visits, your support. Our family has some of the best friends in the world. I am blown away.
Romans 8:15, "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!'"
The past few days with my Dad in the hospital for heart bypass surgery have been both draining and full of a host of emotions. All the while filled with the opportunity to practice His presence, and to live in the Now.
It has been a time to rest in the fear of loosing him. There was no fear of what would I do without my Dad. There were no thoughts of what about this, or what about that? On the contrary God allowed me to live in the moment. To understand that waiting was what He wanted me to do. He allowed me to be afraid without negotiation. Without having to suppress it, or control the fear, or run from it. It was a beautiful lesson for me that I could be fearful, and it was OK. No need to react, or act... just patiently practice the presence of God, and trust Him.
In talking to my Dad last night I think he had a similar experience. He was giving God praise all the while realizing that the fear was not faith. And even though fear was not faith, it did not stop God.
If done properly the other side of fear has absolutely nothing to do with the ultimate outcome. The other side of fear is a giving over of you whole heart to God and trusting Him regardless. The other side of fear is letting go of our control, our desires, our timeline. The other side of fear is living in the moment, in the now without concern for tomorrow, or even the next hour.
My friend Jim sent this out this morning on his blog. It is from Pema Chodron and a book called "The Places that Scare You." How appropriate. For Pema that place of fear is what he calls the "in-between state." Meditate on this.
"It takes quite a bit of training to equate complete letting go with comfort and peace. But in fact, as you may have noticed, “nothing to hold on to” is the root of happiness. There’s a sense of freedom when we accept that we’re not really in control of anything. Pointing ourselves toward what we would most like to avoid makes our barriers and shields permeable.
This may lead to a don’t-know-what-to-do-now kind of feeling, a sense of being totally caught in-between. On the one hand, we’re completely fed up with seeking comfort from what we can eat, drink, smoke, watch, or couple with. We’re also fed up with beliefs, ideas, and “isms”? of all kinds. But on the other hand, we sure wish it were true that outer comfort could bring lasting happiness.
This “in-between state” is where the warrior spends a lot of time growing up. We’d give anything to have the comfort we used to get from eating a pizza or watching a video. However, even though those things can be pleasurable, we’ve seen that eating a pizza or watching a video is a feeble match for our suffering. We notice this especially when things are totally falling apart. If we’ve just learned that we have cancer, eating a pizza doesn’t do much to cheer us up. If someone we love has just died or walked out, the outer places we go for comfort feel feeble and ephemeral.
We are told about the pain of chasing after pleasure and the futility of running from pain. We hear also about the joy of awakening, of realizing our interconnectedness, of trusting the openness of our hearts and minds. But we aren’t told all that much about this state of being in-between, no longer able to get our old comfort from the outside but not yet dwelling in a continual sense of equanimity and warmth.
Anxiety, heartbreak, humiliation, and great tenderness mark the in-between state. It’s the kind of place we usually want to avoid. The challenge is to stay in the middle rather than buy into struggle and complaint. The challenge is to let it soften us rather than make us more rigid and afraid. Becoming intimate with the queasy feeling of being in the middle of nowhere only makes our hearts more tender. When we are brave enough to stay in the middle, compassion arises spontaneously. By not knowing, not hoping to know, and not acting like we know what’s happening, we begin to access our inner strength (and its True Source - Christ Jesus).
Yet it seems reasonable to want some kind of relief. If we can make the situation right or wrong, if we can pin it down in any way, then we are on familiar ground. But something has shaken up our habitual patterns and frequently they no longer work. Staying with volatile energy gradually becomes more comfortable that acting it out or repressing it. Staying with this open-ended tender place is what ultimately heals. It allows us to let go of our self-importance. It’s how the warrior learns to love....
...Dwelling in the in-between state requires learning to contain the paradox of something’s being both right and wrong, of someone’s being strong, thoughtful, and loving and also angry, uptight, and stingy. In that painful moment when we don’t live up to our own standards, do we condemn ourselves or truly appreciate the paradox of being human? Can we forgive ourselves and stay in touch with our good and tender heart? When someone pushes our buttons, do we set out to make the person wrong? Or do we repress our reaction with “I’m supposed to be loving. How could I hold this negative thought?” Our practice is to stay with the uneasiness and not solidify into a view. We can meditate, pray, or simply look at the open sky—anything that encourages us to stay on the brink and not solidify into a fixed and rigid view.
When we find ourselves in a place of discomfort and fear, when we’re in a dispute, when the doctor says we need tests to see what’s wrong, we’ll find that we want to blame, to take sides, to stand our ground. We feel we must have some resolution. We want to hold our familiar view. For the warrior, “right” is as extreme (and ridiculous) a view as “wrong”. They both block our innate wisdom. When we stand at the crossroads not knowing which way to go, we are grown. The crossroads is an important place in the training of a warrior. It’s where our solid views begin to dissolve in the silent presence of eternal Truth.
Holding the paradox is not something any of us will suddenly be able to do. That’s why we’re encouraged to spend our whole lives training with uncertainty, ambiguity, insecurity. To stay in the middle prepares us to meet the unknown without fear; it prepares us to face both our life and our death. The in-between state—where moment by moment the warrior finds himself learning to let go—is the perfect training ground. It really doesn’t matter if we feel depressed about that or inspired. There is absolutely no way to do this just right. That’s why compassion along with courage are vital: they give us the resources to be genuine about where we are, but at the same time to know that we are always in transition, that the only time is now, and that the future is completely unpredictable and open. As we continue to train, we evolve beyond the little me who continually seeks zones of comfort. We gradually discover that we are big enough to hold something that is neither lie nor truth, neither pure nor impure, neither bad nor good. But first we have to appreciate the richness of the groundless state and hang in there (in the seemingly never-ending free-fall).
It’s important to hear about this in-between state and come to grips with it. Otherwise we think the warrior’s journey is one way or the other; either we’re all caught up or we’re free. The fact is that we spend a long time in the middle. This juicy spot is a fruitful place to be. Resting here completely—steadfastly experiencing the clarity of the present moment—is called true enlightenment. "
IF THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO YOU THEN READ IT AGAIN. IF IS STILL DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THEN CALL ME.
Luke 10:9, "and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'"
As I was leaving the hospital yesterday from visiting my Dad the Lord reminded me of a healing I witnessed some years back. The man was in the VA hospital, and was in need of the exact same surgery my dad is facing this morning. The results of that man's surgery were they found nothing wrong when they got to the heart.
So having prayed for my Dad as well, and having written an entire book on healing; I have to be real and ask myself how do I feel about my Dad's condition.
And for the record this is what I feel. I feel that it is not his time to go, that whether he has the surgery or not this condition is not his end. I certainly would not be foolish and encourage forgoing the surgery, but I do believe that it will go miraculously well. I do believe so much so that even the surgeons will be surprised, and perhaps even question their original diagnosis. I believe that his recovery will be as divinely miraculous.
And so one may ask, why would God allow this? To that I would say we are all challenged in life. That challenge comes in the form of relationships, finances, or health. These same challenges are designed to bring us to the very end of ourselves. To bring us to the place where we are 100% out of control, and thus 100% dependent upon God. It is here where death of self occurs, and where Christ is resurrected in us. So He allows it, so that He can draw us to Him.
I think there is another lesson in this for my Dad as well. My Dad is the biggest giver I know, and for the past couple of days God has allowed him to see those who appreciate his heart (pun intended). The dozens of visitors and hundreds of encouragements are all from God, to give my Dad a big pat on the butt so that when he is through this he can do more of the same.
Regardless though, in divine healing there is one thing that is certain. At some point there is the place where divine healing ends. And it ends for the individual when God decides the relationship with Him is ready to go face to face for real. I thank God that today is not that day for my Dad.
Psalms 19:9, "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether."
I have known for a very long time that the fear of the Lord is to detest evil as proverbs says, but I learned a completely new expression of it in the past 4 days. You see my dad is in the hospital waiting on triple, possible quadruple bypass surgery. He is a young 68, healthy, energetic, loving, godly man. So to see Him is such dire need is puzzling both from a physical and spiritual perspective. Yet again God uses the experience to show me something new.
I have learned that it is very easy to walk around in ignorant bliss. Truly the saying that what you don't know won't hurt you is incredibly true. Unless that what you don't know is three arteries with 90% blockage. And so on Wednesday everything is wonderful. On Thursday a little indigestion leads to the hospital and the discovery of a life threatening condition. Friday, thinking it was nothing proved to be not nothing, but something that will require the most significant of human efforts to correct. And here comes the fear. Ignorance is still in charge, but knowing I am ignorant is where the fear comes in.
It is blissful to not know. It is fearful to know there is a problem and to have no certainty in knowing the solution. It is fearful to know that someone's life, even my life, is truly in the palm of God's hand. It is fearful to know He can, AND WILL make a decision regarding that life, but we don't know for certain what it is. This to me is the fear of the Lord. To know that we deserve nothing, and that we rely on grace for Him to show mercy. We rely on grace for Him to grant life. For me the fear of the Lord is knowing I am powerless, and yet in need of power. It is knowing I don't have the answer, but not knowing which answer the Maker will choose in His solution. The fear of the Lord is the perfect place of 100% dependence upon Him, and it is made obvious by such a dramatic life event.
In my Dad's case I am quite certain that he will not die. Not because I trust a surgeon, but I am certain he will not die because Jesus tells me it is so in my spirit. And yet, even knowing the Lord's voice, even knowing what I hear is true... my Dad's condition strikes me with fear. Fear of loosing my best friend, my dad, my companion, my greatest fan, and someone I love... so much. I know God has all rights to him. But I am so thankful for this fear. I am so thankful that in this fear of the Lord I can also find the peace, and His love. That in this fear He speaks to me that all is well. The fear is clean... it is not a fear of death, or judgment... it is more a healthy dose of perspective into Who God is and into what He is capable of.
1 Corinthians 13:4, "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; does not brag and is not arrogant."
As I practice the presence of God becoming more aware of Christ who resides not only in me, but in those around me and beyond, I am filled with gratitude and understanding. Gratitude for Him allowing me to be a part of His life, and understanding the EVERYTHING belongs to Him. Nothing I have, or anyone else for that matter, belongs to anyone but Christ.
And yet in God's ever paradoxical way, as I become more and more grateful with each passing day, I also become more and more aware of my jealousy.
It makes sense that as God draws me closer to Himself that sin within my soul would become more visible. But this awareness of jealousy within me is really a very new thing.
To be clear, I am not jealous of stuff. On the contrary I am consciously jealous of my wife loving her daughter more than me, or at least have that perception. I am jealous of people I know who are now traveling the world ministering. I am jealous of the different roles that I see God allowing in others, but not allowing in me. If you know the story of Martha and Mary, I am Mary, enjoying the good part of the presence of Christ and I am jealous of Martha who is always doing for Christ. I am also jealous of people who are closer to my friends than me. Lots of things, most of which I can't remember while I sit here and write.
Yet in the end I am so grateful that Christ is allowing me to see these jealousies because they are wholly contrary to what He is about, which is love. And in allowing me to see them, he is also allowing them to die.
Funny... even as I confess my jealousies they fade in their stupidity, and I become more aware of my selfishness. Guess I will save those confessions for another day.
Draw close to God and He will draw close to You. His word promises it. But when you do, expect to have your character confronted. Be bold, confess your sin, tackle your sin for Jesus because it is what is standing in the way of that next step closer to Him.
Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
Those that follow this blog on a regular basis will discover a lot of conversation about knowing Christ and about the concept or teaching of the kingdom of God. The gospel Jesus brought with Him was the gospel of the kingdom of God, and yet in 45 years of church I cannot remember a single message taught to me on the subject. Why is it so foreign?
The kingdom of God is Christ in us. It is the practice of His presence in our life. It is the ability to live now, and in the present. It is something that apparently few truly experience, but as I look back in the history of Christianity there are a few who articulate the experience well.
Please meditate on the following. It is a passage from T Austin-Sparks.
"Of course, we are so largely spectators. We have been very nearly more than spectators, and we find ourselves in the position in which a large number of the Lord’s people are today, in the havoc, the chaos, the evil consequences of evil, the very Devil’s work; in a position of utter impotence, helplessness, driven, no home, no place of rest, nothing here but all around the terrific pressure of evil, the domination of iniquity. This is where the challenge to faith comes. It is in conditions like that that the big question arises. But this letter(Hebrews), and, of course, much more in the Word of God, brings at the outset this before the people of God for their faith, that in the appointment of God, His Son is the heir of all things, and He will have His inheritance no matter what intervenes. This very first presentation to faith links with the whole of chapter 11, for that chapter, that great survey of faith through the ages, is linked with the ultimate issue for the people of God, and that issue is the complete, universal sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son. That is the inheritance.
Now that is the first factor of the Kingdom which cannot be shaken. To these Jewish believers, who were passing through such deep trial, persecution, suffering for the faith, for the testimony, receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken meant that they were to rest upon and be established in the fact as a living thing in their own hearts, that finality is bound up with Jesus as heir of all things, and it is presented to us in the same way…
So that the Kingdom which cannot be shaken is a matter of the utter government of the Lord Jesus Christ in what He represents as the embodiment of God’s thoughts and expressions. I can put that much more simply. The Kingdom which cannot be shaken, which we are to receive, is a matter of the complete knowledge of the Lord Jesus. You and I have NOT got to learn all kinds of truths and doctrines, teachings and interpretations. It is not our business, our obligation to be familiar with all the different kinds of doctrinal truths in the Word of God. Of course, it is very useful in a subsidiary way to know these things, but if we know them all they simply become a matter of intellectual knowledge, and they can then become the ground of a good deal of discussion, argument, and dispute; but they do not get you further than that in a spiritual way. They never constitute for us a Kingdom which cannot be shaken: they constitute the kingdom which is never stable; this doctrinal kingdom, this point-of-view kingdom, even in the things of the Bible. The Kingdom which cannot be shaken is knowing Jesus Christ in our own hearts, God speaking in us in His Son…
…but there is a covenant, there is an expression, there is a revelation of God’s thoughts, God’s mind, God’s will for His people; but now it is upon the fleshly tables of the heart, written by the Spirit of the living God. And right in connection with that the apostle says: “God hath shined into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” God has spoken in His Son, and now it is a matter of our knowing Christ in an inward way by revelation of the Holy Spirit. That is the Kingdom which cannot be shaken."
So as T Austin-Sparks articulates, the kingdom of God is know Christ in our hearts. It is the awareness that He is in us, wanting for us to follow Him in our day. Ask for awareness of God in your day. If not aware in yourself, then ask to be aware in others, and in other things. See where that takes you with God. The reward spoken of in Hebrews is not something material. The reward for truly seeking Him, for seeking His company, His presence, and nothing more than His face is the awareness He is in you, and all that implies.
John 21:17, "He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep."
Oswald Chambers wrote, "Our Lord has told us how love to Him is to manifest itself. "Lovest thou Me?" "Feed My sheep" - identify yourself with My interests in other people, not, identify Me with your interests in other people."
This idea of identifying ourselves with the interest of others is part of the very essence of practicing His presence. When we are aware of Christ in us then we cannot help but be concerned with the Christ's interest in others. And not only concerned with those interest, but grateful for God allowing us to be part of, and witness to, His reaching out to that interest.
Let me give you a practical example as a husband. I personally hate to make the bed. It is senseless unless someone is coming over. But the Christ in me knows that it is in the best interest of my wife. So for the past couple of mornings I have joyfully made the bed. And as I make it I pray, "Jesus, thank you for letting me make the bed with You. I know that you are concerned about my wife's interest."
Thank you for letting me take the trash out with You, I know you are concerned about my wife's interest.
Thank you for showing me patience and allowing me to instruct my seven year old on brushing his teeth with You. I know You are concerned with his interest.
Thank you for showing me where to get the materials for lights in the barn. Thank you for letting me hang them with You.
Thank you for letting me do the mundane with You, because You value those interest.
Do you see? This gratitude is not confessed. It is lived with the awareness of Christ in me. It is understood with looking at life through His eyes and not my own. If we are aware of Christ in us, then we are also aware of what tending needs to be done with His sheep. I cannot make positive confessions over and over and hope to gain the awareness of Christ. I gain the awareness of Christ and the gratitude, the positive confession, is naturally birthed out of that experience.
I am beginning to understand how Jim Spivey is so truly grateful for being allowed to coach, comfort, inspire, and love so many people in his life. I can only hope to one day walk in it that completely. Completely seeing Christ's interest in others. Not guessing what those interest might be. Not trying to duplicate what Jesus might do, but to see what He is doing in every minute of every day. This is the Christian I hope to be.
No sooner do I write this post at the end of a 16 hour grooling day and the very attitude is tested. A test I failed miserably. Presented with the opportunity to love my step-daughter in Christ as her tire was "flat" too late at night, and too far away, I instead allowed my hypocrisy, and arrogance to get the better of me. I did not focus on Christ Who was saying this is a great opportunity to teach a life skill, but instead took the exhaustion out on her and those in my path. Lauren, this is my public apology. No excuses... I was a turd and should not have been.
I guess I should have realized that Christ is concerned about the interest of others irrespective of our current physical state or energy level. Perhaps next time I will actually live what I believe.
Luke 11:9, "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
Unless this is your first day to this blog you know that I have written a book called God speaks that is now available. What you may not be aware of is it is part of a two book collection. Both books are being self-published under a package with Westbow that cost $2800. Half of that amount has been paid through a partnership. The second half is coming due.
I am asking for someone to partner with me for the remaining portion of the cost. This approximately $1400 can be paid in 2 payments over 2 months.
What I am offering for this partnership is that 1/2 the net proceeds will go to this new partner first until the intial investment is paid back. From that point the partner will get 20% of all net proceeds on both books. Profit per book is $2 - $4 each depending on how they are sold.
A copy of God Speaks is available for review. God Heals however is in my opinion going to be the big seller. I could be wrong, but here are the comments of the publisher.
"This inspirational work will blow the minds of its readers. My mind is blown. The simplicity of the way God works to heal people is in indirect proportion to the enormity of how confused people are when it comes to this subject. Why isn’t the information the author reveals in this manuscript more widely known? Well, now we know, and now we understand a bit more about the character and will of God.
The text is written from a very humble yet confident position, with a warm and conversational tone. The author presents the five factors that go into a miraculous healing, along with other subjects surrounding the phenomenon, with scriptural evidence and personal testimony that make believing very easy for the reader. His tales of miracles and prayer will increase the audience’s faith in just the reading of the words on these pages, but the fascination with this subject will surely not end there. As the author states as his main goal for this book, hopefully each reader will pursue this matter in his or her own life and become a healing agent in others’ lives as well. The pacing of the material is effective and efficient, and its organization into short, digestible chapters will aid in the reader’s ease of comprehension of this somewhat scholarly subject. The content also seems to be in concordance with accepted Christian thought."
To partner with me in this venture is to partner with Christ. It may or may not be a financial success. But any consideration should be done in prayer and obedience, not in chasing dollars. The profit I seek for your account is profit in the spiritual. (Philippians 4:17)
So if God moves you, pray about it. Then contact me so we can begin this journey together. 713-726-6000.
John 18:10, "Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave's name was Malchus."
Wouldn't taking out a sword and attacking those that attack you feel good sometimes? But Jesus always responds completely different. Instead of allowing Peter to violently defend Him, He instead healed His attacker. This to me is perhaps the most difficult part of being aware of Christ in me.
Not only is this attack from people difficult, it is absolutely necessary if we are to go deeper with God. It is a must if we are truly going to become alive in Christ, alive in our awareness of Him in us. In fact, as we go deeper, the seeming attack will come not from the outside, but those closest to us.
On this T Austin-Sparks says, "It is his own household, the Christian household. You will meet the antagonism to what has come in from heaven as a heavenly thing; you will meet the antagonism amongst those who are the traditional people of God in this dispensation. That is how it will be. That is going to be the cost of a walk in life with the Lord and not with man, knowing the Lord for yourself."
And why not? This thing called Christianity is not a memorization of a creed. It is lived. And in order to be fully lived it must also be tested. And if to be tested, then who better to do that than the ones we love.
For me the difficulties is that I too often take the attack personal. It is this that God is trying to remove. All around me people get angry at me for what I say. Well, perhaps not what I say because I speak the truth, but how I say it, or when I say it. And their anger, angers me. This is my issue. I take their anger personally, when all the while the devil is using it to distract me from being aware of the presence of Christ in me. Understand? The battle is not against flesh and blood like the Bible says. The battle is inside me to stay aware of Christ in those instances.
And I am not. I am distracted into revenge. I am distracted in to proving someone's ignorance. And if I am not distracted, I am disappointed that the Christ in means says nothing and does nothing. Isn't that how He has always responded to the attack. His response is speechless because He knows the truth of Who He is. His response is in surrender because He also knows the truth of Whose He is.
God, when people get on my last nerve, help me to respond in love, in silence, and in surrender. Help me to be an example of Your Son.
Lastly please note who God chose to honor in the selected passage. He gave name to the slave for eternity. Malchus was just doing his job, and for that we know his name today.
Galatians 2:20, "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."
This scripture was sent to me in reply to Practicing His Presence - Stage IV. And it is a beautiful articulation of the experience of Christ in me, and the awareness of it. But it is also a painful reminder of not only the process to get there, but the depth at which we are being called.
The process is the process of death. "No longer I who live" Paul says. Why? Because everything about him has been brought to the cross, and everything in the apostle that was not of God was crucified to death so that the character of Christ could resurrect in its place.
As I take inventory of my character, of my soul, I see plenty that remains alive and apart from the character and nature of God. As I look at the compartments or children, family, spouse, finances, job, pleasure, time, and more I see so much that is not only distracting me from the awareness of Christ in me, but dis-pleasurable to the One who made me.
Practicing the presence of God in me is easy, the removal of the distractions is the difficult part. It is this that leads me to believe monks take the easy road. To me I judge them as discovering the art of practicing His presence, but removing themselves from the distractions. Christ, for me at least, is not calling me out of the world like a monk, but rather to be in the world and yet separate.
And it is this depth of calling that is painful as well. For if we are called to remain in normal society and be a light; the depth with Christ this takes is mind boggling. Imagine going places with Christ, without judgement, without anger, without fear. Imagine living without any form of addiction. No need outside of Christ for substance, approval, significance, or any other concoction of our ego. This is the depth Christ is calling us to. The depth that "no longer I" is truly a complete and total death of our "self."
I for one have a long, long way to go. But I am thankful that as I practice His presence in me, as I make myself aware with increasing frequency, then He is guiding me to that very deep place with Him. Won't you join me in this journey?
I spent the day with my family at an in-law's ranch. Very relaxing and fun. And as a result I did not have my normal morning routine. I did not have a post in waiting. And so as I sat to write this evening I stopped to read something from my Love Coach Jim Spivey. Mediatate on what Jim has to say today. This is something we all should chew on daily.
“In raising kids, in leading others, in teaching or coaching, in pastoring, mentoring, or discipling another, it's not about what you tell them with your words or demand from them in their behavior or performance; it's always about what you show them and invite them into that rings true and reverberates throughout your own life. When the focus is only on what you say or demand as parent or teacher, their compliance or ‘good performance’ is always fear-based and all about you, and of course when you're gone, so is the meaning and usefulness of the lesson. But when the focus is on what you’ve learned and the cost of that learning, and how you live now based on that rich learning experience, and the sharing of both the lesson and the fruit, others are invited to choose for themselves, and the choice is love-based, and when you're gone the love and the lesson and the ability to keep choosing it remain.
We live in a fear-based world, not because it's effective; it most definitely is not. But because we simply haven't acknowledged the curse (Genesis 3) that we all struggle with and so often attempt to compensate for ourselves, unconsciously, and therefore we can't even see (based on not consciously accepting the need for) The Solution. Here's to accepting both –curse and Solution - teaching our kids to do the same, by ‘living’ and ‘loving’ the ‘How’ and ‘Why.’ Your kids' job, your followers' job, your student’s or mentee's job is NOT to reflect or promote your very artificial goodness or rightness presentation or technique in order to please or reflect well on you; it's to learn well from someone who has learned, and now lives, well, with ‘well’ being more about ‘authentic, connected, consistent, inviting, and true’ than about outward attractiveness based on shallow worldly measures.
True teaching, parenting, and leading is more about helping someone examine, discover, learn, and choose for themselves, walking gently and humbly with them through that process, than it is about regurgitating cold, hard facts with no context or depth or wonder, expecting others to do the same. What most teachers, pastors, parents, mentors, leaders, guides, and coaches do is sadly way more about furthering an organization’s or social system’s agenda than it is about truly serving others’ desire to learn and grow, and the best of those know it deep in their hearts and fight the good fight against it inside themselves (the revolution), bringing it all back to loving and learning together, and this … is pure art.”
Mark 9:5, "Peter said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
Stage I of Practicing His presence for me is to look God straight in His eyes, forgetting His promises and just getting to that spiritual place where nothing matters but to be with Him. "Rest," He said. Meaning stop "doing," and enjoy My company. "Now" also becomes relevant in this stage. Nothing is important except right now, not yesterday nor tomorrow. What is God doing right now.
Oswald Chamber said this, and it applies here. "We have to learn that our individual effort for God is an impertinence(an intrusion on God, not co-operation); our individuality is to be rendered incandescent (Emitting of the light of Christ) by a personal relationship to God... We fix on the individual aspect of things; we have the vision - 'This is what God wants me to do;' but we have not got into God's stride. If you are going through a time of discouragement, there is a big personal enlargement ahead."
Stage II of practicing His presence is to transition from that place of meeting with God, leaving, and coming back, but rather being AWARE that He is with Me always. It is marked with leaving Him behind from time to time and having to constantly return. This stage is also marked with a second rest realization. In the second rest revelation the question becomes, God what are WE going to do today? Not, God what am I supposed to do today? It is the realization that we do everything together with God.
Stage III of practicing His presence is the transition from God is WITH me to God is IN me. In this stage I am aware He is in me and the scripture calling us the temple of the Holy Spirit is made real in the revelation. Unlike the conscious leaving Christ behind in stage II, the leaving Him behind is not as easy and behavior comes under a new scrutiny. But with that scrutiny there is also a new sense of power. God's power inside and the faith it is.
Stage IV of practicing His presence is what I am going to call inexplicable gratitude. I am still working on defining the stage as a whole, but let me share an experience I just had at my barn.
As I was filling the horses buckets with water, in my spirit I just practiced His presence. I didn't need to know where Christ was, I knew He was inside me. I just made the conscious decision to be aware of that. In an instance my first thought was thank you Jesus for filling the water buckets with me. It was then I saw the truth. The truth was He was filling the buckets and I was with Him -- so humbling and so beautiful, and something worthy of inexplicable gratitude. "Thank you Jesus for allowing me to be with You while You fill the buckets... Thank you for allowing me to see what You are doing. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy Your horses. Thank you for letting me enjoy Your home." In this gratitude there is the revelation that it is all His.
Another example happened yesterday. I was again at the barn and as I went to move the horse from the pasture to the barn. Looking at the barn I saw a glimpse in my spirit of a barn three times bigger. Call it imagination, call it a vision, call it anything you would like. But understand I was conscious of some point in the future a barn three times bigger is a possibility.
How do I know it was three time bigger? Because it is what I have planned since moving here. The difference this time is that this image was accompanied with revelation. This time it was not me looking and seeing a bigger barn. This time is was Christ in me, showing me what He sees. And in that moment there was nothing but gratitude. Not gratitude for a barn, but for seeing what Christ sees. I said, "Thank you Father for Your vision. Whether a bigger barn ever stands there is irrelevant. But my vision is Your vision." In this new sense of gratitude I am beginning to see the revelation of God doing beyond anything we can think or ask. It was a revelation of God giving us the desires of our heart.
This is not a formula. There is no need to try to create this outside of practicing His presence. There is no need to declare my barn sacred as it being someplace that God showed up to give me a vision. It is simply being in relationship with God. Don't make the mistake Peter made and think that it is setting up a tabernacle, it is not. It is inside you.
One thing I can tell you... I cannot wait to see what Stage V is about. Woo hoo... hang on to your hats.
James 4:13-15, "Come now you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' ... Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."
After hundreds of job applications and only a few interviews, finally out of the blue comes a workable job in the mortgage business. In fact, I was on my way to an interview for a global bank when a man called me wanting to interview me. He was calling from a company I had not applied for, and had come across my resume only God knows where. In the conversation he asked me not to take the job I was headed to without interviewing with him.
So I go to the interview with the global bank, and nothing feels right. As I am driving to the interview with the mystery caller God speaks to me the thought, "take this job." Pretty bold thought considering I know nothing about the company, nothing about the work environment, and have interviews still scheduled with other companies. Not to mention the fact that they have not offered me a job to begin with.
And so went to the interview last week, and I was asked to interview with the two partners again the next week. One of the questions they asked was, "Why do you want to work here?" I had no answer other than a gut feeling.
They also asked, "What are your objectives in working here?" To that I said if you are looking for someone to climb corporate ladders and chase money I am not your man. I am just looking to do my 40 plus hours a week and earn enough money to eat. After all if you don't work then you can't eat.
You have no idea how far a departure these answers are from my former self. A self hell-bent on rebuilding a lost empire. A disappearance of identity grounded in position, accomplishment, power, and prestige. A lack of need to be the smartest guy in the room, to use an Enron phrase. I didn't say this to them, but I will say it here... I just want to practice the presence of God. And if God says, "take the job" then it must be because that is where He wants to meet with me. Again... not a place He wants me to be. Not a job He wants me to pursue. Not an identity He wants to establish. But It is where He wants me to be with Him.
What a difference, and what a peace comes with the decision. I further wish that it was that simple. But it's not, nor ever is. From every direction job offers are coming. (Where have they been the past five months?) Three other companies are begging me not to take a job until I have talked to them. One is salaried management in the mortgage arena. Another is a salaried position helping a company develop an internet presence and marketing strategy. A third is a hamburger joint, my favorite hamburger joint, where the owner spent nearly an hour today trying to convince me I should take it over. And take it over for nearly nothing, so that him and his family can move back to California.
Self, ego, everything about me that is not God is saying do it all. Do mortgages, consult, and own a burger joint. But we shall have to see what happens. I have given it all over to God, and I will go nowhere without Him. So where He leads I will follow. And when He leaves that place, Lord help me to follow then too. After all, it's easy to move from pain to comfort, but from comfort to pain is a little more challenging.
I will close by saying that with everything good from God the devil present counterfeits by the dozens. I and you have to stay faithful to being obedient to where God tells us to go, and pray that God reveal the counterfeits as they come.
Matthew 26:11, "For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me."
I have recently encountered some Christians who are participating in the Occupy Houston protests. They have their various reasons, and yet the very basis of their argument seems off base. They seem to be in unison with Joe Scarborough of MSNBC as he argued that Christ message was about helping the poor.
This is simple not true. Jesus' central message was the kingdom of God. And in fact when He told us we would ALWAYS have the poor, it was following the immediate act of extravagance poured out on Himself. This does not mean that Jesus was greedy, or we do not help the poor. But it does mean that if you believe there is a political solution or otherwise to poverty, then you are grossly misled. There is no utopia possible on earth. It is contaminated with sin and will be replaced not restored. There will be a new heaven and new earth according to revelation.
That means America or any other nation does not has it right. There is excessive corruption and cronyism through our political structure. There is a need for Christ to overturn the money changers tables in the halls of our Congress and White House.
In essence the leadership of this nation reflects the moral fiber of the country, and in such the problem is moral and not political. Thus a moral solution is needed, and that begins within, not with marches against the boogie man. The solution is in the heart of the individual.
Matthew 18:2, "And He called a child to Himself and set him before them..."
Why as Christians do we try to make things so complicated? Why do we judge one another, when it is grace that saves us in the first place. And not only the first place, but grace that saves us in last places too.
God is looking for the simplicity of a child, to call us to Himself. This thing called Christianity is not a complicated system of rules, or rituals. If it were then people like Robert, mentally challenged by schizophrenia, would never make it. But the simple do make it. And in fact those most childlike in their humility are the greatest in the kingdom of God. (Matt 18:4).
So where do we loose it? Where does the cross become so offensive to us? For it is by Christ work on the cross that we are saved. It was there Sin, the nature that causes all sins, was crucified for us. It is at the cross that we are reborn into relationship with God the Father. A Father who "called us our of darkness" and to the cross to begin with. And it is the cross that continues to work in us through sanctification, bring all that is in our nature not of God to it's death so that God can raise up an image of His Son in its place.
And yet we judge people by their socioeconomic status. We think vocabulary sets them apart from God and that the use of words like ass, hell, or others makes them less a Christian. Forgive the play on words, but I don't think God gives a damn about vocabulary. And I know some will disagree and site scriptures related to the tongue, or "let your yes be yes," but reality is relationship to God as little or nothing to do with a socially developed vocabulary. A person can say LMAO in love, and love is the key.
That is not to deny the power of the cross to change and convict a person, but that is the job of the Holy Spirit and the cross working within the believer, not our judgments.
I have a friend that has gone on a gigantic pursuit of Judaism and its "rightful" influence on Christianity. In talking with him for just a few minutes there was so much new vocabulary and new information I couldn't keep up. I just want to say, "it's not that complicated." And more than that, the apostle Paul wrote Galatians to confront the dilution of grace with Judaism. He wrote it to show the cross is bigger than the Law.
Another complexity I have tried to add to Christianity over the years is this pursuit of His presence. There is a book out whose title expressed the attitude. It is called "God Chasers." I have literally traveled North, Central, and South America in search of "revival." In search of that addictive manifestation of the presence of God. Why didn't someone point out to me Luke 17:21, "...'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." (Lit. Inside of you,) I could have saved a lot of time and money had I known it is not about God "manifesting" His presence. It is about us being aware of His presence. It is always there for us to tap into, to be aware of. And in doing so we can have revival all day long if we wish.
How about sin? Is repentance complicated? Is acceptable repentance some long drawn out tearful act of attrition? No my friends it is not. Sin has been defeated, whereas sins will constantly occur. We hope to a diminished level as the work of the cross has its way in us, but until then; sins, the result of Sin, will continue. But Sin and its consequences are defeated. As a result repentance is so simple. It is often times as simple as going right back to practicing the presence of God, to getting before the Father and saying, "Thank you for taking me back. Thank you for not holding _____ against me. I love You!"
Let simplicity rule your relationship with Christ. It is just not that complicated to come to Him as a child. And when you do, I promise He will put you on His lap, and probably hug you while you are there.
Mark 6:7, "And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs..."
Part of the beauty of my Friday spent with Russel in his ministry was that at one point while riding around in the verbal silence dictated by the roaring road noise as a result of his 2/20 air conditioning (2 windows down and 20 miles an hour) was that the entire day felt like Mark 6:7. It was as if, for the day, Jesus had sent us out as a pair. And it makes me think.
What happened to ministry pairs? Oh sure, churches globally have adopted this idea of Husband and Wife co-pastoring a church. But is that truly an example of the pairs Christ sent out?
As I read through four Gospels, every time Jesus sent someone to do something it was as a pair. The seventy were sent in pairs, and the twelve were sent in pairs. The apostle Paul wrote that prophets should speak in two or three and the others pass judgment. (1 Cor 14:29). Again an example of this functioning in pairs.
Again in Matthew 18:20, Jesus says, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." This idea of pairs and beyond is perhaps something lost in Christianity. But it certainly can be argued that is it is a kingdom of God concept. That perhaps when the kingdom of God is heralded with evidence, then perhaps part of that evidence will be pairs of ministers going together, with Christ in their midst.
Matthew 1:19, "And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly."
I spent all day Friday hanging out with my friend Russel. Part of that day was making some deliveries to various food pantries scattered out around Houston. On Friday's fare, Russel had been given 2 pallets, yes pallets, of blue cheese dressing, a pallat of Chrox bleach, and most of a pallat of tall kitchen bags and those disposoable plastic tupperware looking bowls.
At each stop the people working the pantries were completely grateful. For me I could not help but notice the people groups at each stop. The first appeared to be ex-cons, finding meager employment at a thrift store. The second was a mixed bag of elderly men. From the looks of them I categorized them into homeless, substance abusing types. The third stop was a group of prim and proper religious types. I asked the gentleman helping us unload if he was the pastor to which he replied, "Oh no, I am THE deacon." The next stop was a pantry tucked into a middle class white neighborhood.
For me, all I noticed was the people groups. That, and of course the ridiculous amount of blue cheese dressing we were unloading. But to Russel it was a surprise that I was focusing on the people groups, that I had a category for everyone. I guess he is so far down the path with God that he only sees God's children, and has become blind to the circumstances of various folks. All of which led us to a memory of a trip Russel and I made together to Argentina.
It was there God showed me for the first time that keys to the kingdom of God are often hid in people we find offensive. That if we will get past the offense, take some time to discover the person, then God will give us a key that will unlock a treasure. I see the very same lesson being played out again on our deliveries.
Joesph saw the lesson first hand with his wife - pregnant and he was not the father. What could be more offensive? And yet look at the treasure that came from that.
Stop categorizing and just deliver the blessing. That is what the Holy Spirit was saying to me.
Russel was saying, "You may not think you need blue cheese dressing, but if God says you are going to have it, then you are going to have it in abundance."
There was a second very important lesson in the day. Russel's ministry at its peak, before God told him to whined it down, was delivering 25000 pounds of food per week. In his whineding it down he has given away 4 panel vans, connected his distributing food pantries direct to his sources, and he looks forward to tomorrow, even though he has no idea what tomorrow will bring. He is 100% completely dependent on God.
At one point I said, "Looks like God made you a food pantry planter." (As apposed to a church planter.) To which he replied, "No, I am not a food pantry planter." I just do want God tells me, and that is what He had me doing.
I cannot wait to see what God has him do next. It was also a beautiful example of something Jim Spivey says all the time. Russel not only knows who he is, but he also knows Whose he is. Thank you Russel for the inspiration, for the discipleship. And thank you for the case of blue cheese dressing.
John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;"
The other day an acquaintance was complaining of sorts about people who say, "God told me..." And perhaps complaining is the wrong word, but certainly there was a significant degree of disbelief. Disbelief caused by a reliance on the scientific method, and dismissal of the miraculous as happenstance, or coincidence.
It made me laugh inside (I hope not out loud) because for me it was God using this person to confirm the need of the book I have written called God Speaks. A book designed by the Holy Spirit to fostering communication with God. It is biblical truths combined with real world examples so that more of us, not less, can say, "God told me..."
But for this person and those who share her disbelief that God does not communicate very often, then I would say that perhaps they just don't know what His voice sounds like. Perhaps it is not the hearing that is the issue, but rather not knowing the sound of the Shepherd; because the sheep "know His voice." (John 10:4)
It is this learning His voice that God Speaks addresses. It is never an issue of a lack of communication. It most often an issue of us not listening. We all have to learn more how to listen to not only the still small voice inside us, but all of the ways God communicates to us His children.
Yes, this post sounds a bit like an infomercial, and I guess it is. But more so this post is a pointing device to a resource all of Christianity could use-- enhanced communication, better hearing the voice of God.
For those interested in ordering a copy it can be found at www.propel.co
There has come this acute awareness of Christ being present with me all the time. I described it yesterday as a 24/7 experience where when I realize my spirit has drifted from its consciousness of Him; that I can immediate return to the previous state. The state of being in the presence of God, enjoying His company.
And it was in that company, as I walked from my barn to my house, that He conveyed this to me. The Holy Spirit communicated that I was getting pretty good at being aware Christ is "with me." It is now time to work on being aware that Christ is "in" me.
We are all objectively aware that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, but the truth of that statement had never really hit me before. In fact, I don't think understanding it in revelation, or experience, was even possible without this first being aware Chris is with me in everything. But to take the awareness from Christ with me, to Christ in me, invites a whole new set of issues.
It was much easier to practice the presence of God with the idea that Jesus is next to me, or in the same room. It is still easy to practice His presence seeing with spiritual eyes Him in someone else. But "in" me. That involves not leaving Him places. In me means that I can no longer say, "Jesus, wait here, I have something to do... I be right back." In me means that I can no longer say, "hope you didn't hear that" to an outburst at any of Houston's horrible drivers. The implications are huge. Aware that He is in me? Kind of a frightening thought when considered on the level that it also means sin awareness. That I am admitting to myself, He is completely aware of my complete heart. (A truth already) But to be aware He is inside me is to forsake the powerful tool of denial.
But the truth is the truth. He is already in me. The only thing that changes is my awareness. And so, with a certain degree of reluctance I begin the journey of becoming aware He is in me. And with this revelation I realize that this part of us called spirit is more than just a connection to God, but it is in fact God, living inside of us... which necessitates making more room for Him.
Matthew 28:20, "... and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
This exercise of practicing the presence of God is awesome. As a practical way of describing it; I would say that when something comes up that causes me concern, (about 8000 times a day) I pray a simple prayer. That prayer is:
Jesus, I don't want our relationship to be about You solving my issues. I just want to look You in the eyes and enjoy Your company. Help me to live in this moment of Your presence without worry for tomorrow or guilt from yesterday.
And low and behold the peace comes, the issue fades, and an awareness of His presence is sensed.
Likewise when I screw up, (about 5000 times a day) I do essentially the same thing. I pray something like this:
Jesus, I'm never going to get it right. I am sorry that I have_____ again. But I am so thankful for Your grace. I am thankful that You are with me always. Help to lift my head, look in Your eyes, and once again enjoy Your company.
Sounds crazy, but without fail the awareness of His presence has been instantaneous throughout. The past few days have been like a state of constant worship, with a goose bumps raising presence of God.
I still struggle with maintaining this awareness in my interactions with people. In fact, it is a best hit or miss, particularly when someone is pressing my buttons. But I am working on that. But for us all, I hope you begin to practice His presence if you never have. You will discover He is there 24/7, waiting for you to look Him in the eyes and just enjoy His company.
Revelation 12:11, "And they overcame him (the devil) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."
If we are going to play a game, don't you think we should know the objective? And yet we wonder around the game of life never really questioning the end objective. So can I be very clear? The objective of life is for the kingdom of God to utterly displace the kingdom of Satan. To do this, God is demanding that we be a part.
Let me regress for background purposes. The Bible says Satan fell from heaven because he was proud and tried to exalt himself to be equal to God. Some are confused and think that he now is in some epic battle to displace God from his throne. This is not the case at all. Satan knows he cannot replace God. He knows that he cannot capture God and make Him do his will. On the contrary, Satan's only objective is to delay his judgment for as long as possible.To use an analogy, Satan is out on bond, and he is trying to manipulate the bondsman into not picking him up so that God can carry out his sentence.
We know that Satan's judgment is imminent (the return of Christ) when the gospel of the kingdom is heralded with accompanying evidence to all nations. In other words when someone is truly living in the gospel of the kingdom everywhere in the world. (Matt 24:14) We also know that living in the gospel of the kingdom is also equivalent to seeking God's face v. His hand. As a result we know that the "generation" who seeks His face continually will be this end generation. (Psalms 24:6, 27:8, 105:4) This end generation will be what scripture calls the Royal Priesthood, the Holy Nation. And so Satan is about stopping the rise of this generation.
Romans 8:29 talks about being like Jesus, conformed to His image, "so that He would be firstborn among many brethren;" This "brethren" is the chosen generation. This "brethren" along with Christ is the "he" who shall bruise the head of Satan. Look at the referenced scripture. The end generation will overcome Satan. They will overcome him, bring about his judgement because they have lived under the life power of Christ fully. They will be the generation that wholly surrenders to Him, to be His reflection. Such a complete surrender that even death does not stand in the way.
So the game for Satan is to stop the emergence of this generation. All he has to do is move us off course the slightest of degrees. He first tries to kill the idea altogether. He was the inspiration of the murder of Abel and the favor Able found with God. When murder fails the devil, he resorts to dilution. A lie sprinkled in the truth, a tare sown in the field of wheat is all he needs to prolong his freedom. Only hinder, limit, or suppress a godly life and Satan, the enemy, and achieved his objective of prolonging his judgment.
The game is kingdom of Satan v the kingdom of God. The playing field is in our very hearts.
"How shall his (the devil's) kingdom be destroyed? By the nature of the Lamb being so developed in us, the people of God, that all that other kingdom of Satan is undone in principle. And the power of this kingdom, which is an everlasting kingdom, is the power of the nature of Him of Whom it is said, "Thy kingdom..." T Austin-Spraks in The Cross, the Church, and the Kingdom.
I will close with the paradox of it all. We can only ask to be part for ourselves. We can merely seek God's face. It is up to Him to grant us the revelation, the access. Likewise God has already selected out of the future the chosen generation. Our question is, will we be part of it?
