Thinking Out Loud - Flesh v. Spirit

Philippians 4:12, "I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need."

As we read this scripture from Paul it indicates a certain level of detachment from fleshly desire. Perhaps it is even a more modern version of what Job said when he pointed out that "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." But just where is the line in the striving to "provide for a family," and offensive, distracting, fleshly greed?

These thoughts come from the strangest of places. For whatever reason God has given me a host of ministry friends. I have friends on staff or formerly on staff at churches of all sizes. I know Pastor's of churches of all sizes, including multimillion dollar ministries, and I can say this. With the exception of the multimillion dollar ministers there is a general expression of dissatisfaction with the church. There is the ever present question of is this right? Is there something better? Is this the way God intended it? All generally experiencing some level of dissatisfaction.

On the other hand are the mega-ministers I know. They in no way express dissatisfaction. In fact, they are all giving ministries; pouring out millions back into the lost and dying world. And so who is right? Or is it even a question of right or wrong? Are the dissatisfied closer to God and the satisfied quenching greed?

Is the dissatisfaction of the humble means related in jealousy to the satisfaction of the abundant means? On a personal level am I wrong from going to work, working as absolutely as hard as I can to make as much money as I can? Or did God give me the job for some other purpose?

If God gave me the job, would it be better to take off to talk with and minister to the homeless, or do the work set before me in the office? Would it be better to be praying for the sick in the hospital or trying to take another mortgage application? I know the answer... but do you?

 Should we encourage others to follow God (without judgment) or assign and promote "godly" task.

For me the answer is simple. Following the answer not so simple, but knowing the answer is simple. The answer is to obey God. When He tells me to work... I am going to work with all my might. When He tells me to minister... I am going to connect to His spirit and obey as best I can in word and deed. And that is where the thought ends.

It ends at the place of obedience. If Christ, in personal relationship, is leading you to a place that is prosperous, then our character should not despise this place. Likewise if in obedience we follow the same command of Christ to a place of humble means, then we should not despise this either. Simply obey and in all things trust God.

Jesus Is Not A Socialists

Acts 4:32, "And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them."

I read an article that argued Jesus was a socialist/communist. The author used Acts 4:32 in support of this. I have to laugh at his reasoning. He thinks that because scripture says the early church had the attitude nothing was their own it means they were giving it over to some form of government. On the contrary, when the early church regarded nothing as their own, they were also regarding everything as belonging to God... not government.

As a result the church cared for their own.

Today I got an e-mail of Acts 4:32 proportions. I won't go into details but to say that the relief I feel is like going from the bottom of an ocean with a giant weight strapped to your ankle to the peaceful serenity of a hot air balloon ride. From crushing weight, to lighter than air. I thank God for His faithfulness, and I thank the givers for their obedience.

It is so relieving I have a hard time with not feeling guilty or obligated. Imagine God's provision coming through the hand of another individual. Someone who worked hard, or at least took risks to have the extra. Why should I be the beneficiary? How can I not be obligated? How can I not feel inferior to their abilities to create abundance, while I create lack?

I don't understand it, but I am the beneficiary because that is how God set it up. That within the body, one part supports the other so that the whole can be well and operate completely.

Jesus is not a socialist. He is not a capitalist for that matter. He is the head of the Body. He is the brain that dispatches the Body's natural healing process. He coordinates the parts so that the whole is in good working order, as everything belongs to Him.

Be encouraged that if you are part of the body lacking, God's provision is on its way. If you are part of the body with excess, please obey in your giving because there is a part of the body in need.

Full Circle

Romans 11:29, "for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."

Amazing to me how life has come full circle. In 2002 I was hitting the a peak in my relationship with God. Having completed Ministry School I found myself daily in the hospitals praying for the terminally ill. Simultaneously I had a $14M/year business under a fatal attack.

At the time I thought I was loosing it all because the devil was mad I was out doing God's work... seeing His healing, and watching lives change.  The logical solution to me was fight the devil, and the way to do that was to rebuild or remake the wealth. Then when the wealth was back I planned to go back to doing God's work because the wealth enabled the time and resources to go and come in ministry.

Simultaneously my dad was suffering from the same events and others. He found himself hanging onto nothing. While I went to chase a new career, build a new business, he would go and pray. Everyday praying. For years praying, not pursuing a job, not pursuing a recovery, not pursuing anything. And little by little spectacular events occurred and currently he lives with an abundance.

And yet, with this fine example, I pursued my plans to the point of exhaustion, only to return to where I was back in 2002. At this place of decision. A decision to return to the point of prayer, or effort. The place of pursuing a piece of security, or Peace & Security.

T Austin-Sparks turned my life upside down in the Ministry school 15 years ago with his book the School of Christ. And once again I find myself immersed in his works daily. Everyday I pick up something new of his. Everyday it speaks volumes. T Austin-Sparks confirms from the grave that prayer is the only option. Peace & Security are only found in Christ.

I feel like I have just spent 9 years chasing my tail. As Jim would say chasing a tail, thinking I am going to catch something I don't have, only to catch it and realize I've had it all along.

The chase is over. The end of my business in 2002, I believe now, was supposed to be the end of business for me, and the beginning of ministry. Enough time as been wasted chasing a paycheck. I am a bond-servant of God by choice, and in such there is an inherent promise that all my physical needs will be taken care of.