God has ministered to me about this wall and I want to pass on the lesson. Everyone has a wall. Let's call this wall, Gatekeeper. Gatekeeper is a faithful guardian. Gatekeeper makes sure that what you do doesn't bring you into God's rest. Gatekeeper smiles at us as we buck against her with all our might, trying to break through to what's on the other side: achievement, fulfillment, success, wholeness, happiness, health, affluence, freedom from addiction, contentment etc. She smiles as our sweat pours out down her cool, smooth exterior, pooling to the floor. She is relentless, absolutely unforgiving of our push. The harder we push, the cooler she behaves, and just smiles at us.
You see, there is a pushing that comes from an understanding of the law-- from understanding that I have to do something in order to have what I desire. Yet, still there is a push which comes from understanding grace-- from understanding that I have to receive something in order to see what I desire manifest. There is a pushing that comes from reliance on me and there is a pushing that comes from a reliance on Him. The pushing which relies on me produces nothing. If anything, it produces frustration because nothing yields, nothing really gives. The pushing which relies on Him produces after His kind and bears the fruit of His blessing. The pushing which relies on Him manifests the finished work of Christ on the scene of my life.
How could I know the difference between pushing in my strength and pushing in His? For me, the differene was defined as I got more acquainted with His Person and My Personality. As I grew, I began to understand who His Person is inside me as compared to a Personality inside me with entirely opposing traits. As both this Person and this Personality became more distinct, more delineated, I became more passionate toward the One and aware of the opposing nature of the other. This is different from knowing 'right from wrong', this brings change and transformation into your life, not condemnation. It became easier, natural, for action and behavior to flow from His Person--- it wasn't a choice. As I gained exposure to Him, His behavior flowed from me increasingly. I was able to push because there was a force of character behind it that was bigger than me and bigger than my little 'will' which I had so relied on in the past. My will is a dead force, even what it can achieve, when anything, never sustains. His will, on the other hand, is a Person and in that Person is a compelling force which thrusts out living water onto your life manifesting fruit for fare.
What am I saying? I'm saying the will we've always wanted does not exist as we may have pursued it. Will-power which roots in self does not exist in the Kingdom. Any objectives pursued on will-power will run out of gas. Human will-power requires something of man, a limited resource-- man/ourselves is no resource at all and we will fall short of meeting our needs to get the job done. God's Will-power is not a natural substance, a natural conviction in our minds that we have to nurse, but a forceful Person within us who cannot be defeated, altered or compromised by circumstance. His Will-power can't be increased or decreased and it certainly doesn't give out because it is a Person at essence.
Consider it this way, I can cross a desert with a water flask or I can run a river through the desert. God ran a River through you to fund all your activities. His River in you is an endless Source and supplier. Your water flask of self-effort, or brow-beating labor is the end of you. Throw out that old flask. It can't produce the yield, the fruit or harvest. The River is already rich because Jesus paid for you to have endless supply. He doesn't want you exhausting yourself. He wants you receiving Himself from within you to water all your life's endeavors. Only in receiving His grace will you find the Power to flourish and that power is not your own. Only when you forsake what you can do will there be freedom to discover what He has done. Only when you slide down the wall does the pressure of your self-reliance give way to discovery of something beyond what you can do. You can't go on vacation until you stop working. You can't work and rest. I don't know the key to discovery, as it seems most have to hit the wall and die before they truly see the Grace that provides all things for them. When you cease from your work of being your own Savior, you'll find Him and boy can He push His quality of life into your chaos and bring order. Your labor is not to sustain yourself, but to fight off working for yourself so that you can receive His work as finished.
I hope this helps. This is the best I have to offer for right now.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Adam was Here
Tag that old nature!
Areas of my life that defy the wholeness of Christ are areas that I consciously tag with 'Adam was here'. When there isn't enough $ in the checking account or the food is running short of the month or a relationship is failing, I tag the scene/scenario with 'Adam was here.' Why?
Because the truth is that I have the nature of Christ. When I affirm my true nature, it springs forth onto the scene of my life overcoming the obstacles that once defeated me. If I look at a failure and say, 'I failed', not only do I falsely affirm that I am that old nature inherrently but in doing so I seal my fate because there is no hope for changing that old person. She is hopelessly defeated and condemned. She breeds destruction and failure in everything she attempts, so I don't want to say that she is me. Yes, that nature is a part of my life and can certainly affect me and can even rule my life, but she-- that old nature-- is not the sum total of my existence. I never affirm her!
Some may say my practice shucks responsibility. The results prove otherwise. If you believe you are a failure-- the old nature-- you will be. Destruction, failure and brokeness will rear its head across your life. When you believe that you are a new creature and refuse to accept that you are a mere human, subject to your flesh, without a Savior, you will produce wholeness across your life. The flaws and shortcoming will disappear because your focus has turned to the Light. Light, when accepted, consumes darkness. Sometimes, we put up a self-righteous parasol and block out the Son, commiserating in our lack, defeat and sin. In Christ, it is impossible to see yourself as a failure. When you will see and accept His finished work-- Christ in you, the hope of glory, your life will change and your thinking will be illuminated until you are a shadow of your former self-- in terms of what men see.
So, never fear. When you are utterly failing in something or your results are a day late and a dollar short of the fullness of Christ, tag that old nature. Say, "That is the old nature (Adam) in my life!" Flood your thinking with the truth that you have been made Christ in Him and His results will follow your acceptance of His presence working in you. You will begin to recognize an Ability within you to take down the obstacle you've been fighting, immediately or in time provided you bathe your mind with the truth versus labeling yourself Adam, a failed man. It is easier to accept that 'Adam was here' than it is to view yourself as Adam-- powerless, hopeless and condemned. It's easier because it's righteous, not because it's irresponsible. Righteousness-consciousness produces after righteousness. In view of Christ in you, there is hope for glory--- hope for the fullness of God's plan being met in your life.
NEVER ACCEPT THE FAILURES IN YOUR LIFE AS A REFLECTION OF YOU. THIS IS THE SILENT, SUBTLE AND DEADLY LIE-- THE MAIN INGREDIENT OF DEFEAT.
Areas of my life that defy the wholeness of Christ are areas that I consciously tag with 'Adam was here'. When there isn't enough $ in the checking account or the food is running short of the month or a relationship is failing, I tag the scene/scenario with 'Adam was here.' Why?
Because the truth is that I have the nature of Christ. When I affirm my true nature, it springs forth onto the scene of my life overcoming the obstacles that once defeated me. If I look at a failure and say, 'I failed', not only do I falsely affirm that I am that old nature inherrently but in doing so I seal my fate because there is no hope for changing that old person. She is hopelessly defeated and condemned. She breeds destruction and failure in everything she attempts, so I don't want to say that she is me. Yes, that nature is a part of my life and can certainly affect me and can even rule my life, but she-- that old nature-- is not the sum total of my existence. I never affirm her!
Some may say my practice shucks responsibility. The results prove otherwise. If you believe you are a failure-- the old nature-- you will be. Destruction, failure and brokeness will rear its head across your life. When you believe that you are a new creature and refuse to accept that you are a mere human, subject to your flesh, without a Savior, you will produce wholeness across your life. The flaws and shortcoming will disappear because your focus has turned to the Light. Light, when accepted, consumes darkness. Sometimes, we put up a self-righteous parasol and block out the Son, commiserating in our lack, defeat and sin. In Christ, it is impossible to see yourself as a failure. When you will see and accept His finished work-- Christ in you, the hope of glory, your life will change and your thinking will be illuminated until you are a shadow of your former self-- in terms of what men see.
So, never fear. When you are utterly failing in something or your results are a day late and a dollar short of the fullness of Christ, tag that old nature. Say, "That is the old nature (Adam) in my life!" Flood your thinking with the truth that you have been made Christ in Him and His results will follow your acceptance of His presence working in you. You will begin to recognize an Ability within you to take down the obstacle you've been fighting, immediately or in time provided you bathe your mind with the truth versus labeling yourself Adam, a failed man. It is easier to accept that 'Adam was here' than it is to view yourself as Adam-- powerless, hopeless and condemned. It's easier because it's righteous, not because it's irresponsible. Righteousness-consciousness produces after righteousness. In view of Christ in you, there is hope for glory--- hope for the fullness of God's plan being met in your life.
NEVER ACCEPT THE FAILURES IN YOUR LIFE AS A REFLECTION OF YOU. THIS IS THE SILENT, SUBTLE AND DEADLY LIE-- THE MAIN INGREDIENT OF DEFEAT.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The Crazy Banquet
YOU WERE HONORED WITH CHRIST JESUS!
What lengths men go to in order to secure the esteem of others! What fights started to defend or sustain one's respect! What demand men place on others for honor and what Love they set aside to command it!
How the Apostle Paul ministers to me! He was so content to just be in Him, in Christ. Often, even those who may be great servants, or even the greatest servants, may lose sight of and devalue the Honor given us in the person of Jesus Christ. Men of all professions require of others what they have not received in Christ. Some command endless attention, a substitute for the only Attention who fills. Others command respect, not truly understanding how much God honored man with Jesus and continues to honor him. He made us His children, adopting us as His own when we couldn't qualify for His presence, His riches, His ability-- things which now, we have all received in Christ. It is enough to be in Him, to consider ourselves honored of Him.
Imagine (if it were possible) that every time you came over to my house, I kill my only child, my perfect child so that you can then come in and enjoy the abundance of my house and table. I do this not only for you, but for each and every guest who arrives after you, I slay my beautiful child. Now I have 5 or 6 guests who lost sight of what they have received, the greatest Love. They ignore the Love given them and begin to fight over the food on the table (which is unlimited by the way). They vie for what they can give one another or do for themselves. They crave honor of men over the honor of God. God and His benefits becomes intangible to these deaf and blind guests. They rate themselves high and rank one another by their own opinions forgetting that each man's Price was the same. My guests enjoy very little.
One snatches up desserts and continues to eat profusely to make sure he is not left hungry or without the luscious benefit of a sweet pastry. Another spits in his eye for being so selfish and greedy. One cries and is distraught that there is fighting. One is envious that I gave so much pie to another guest. All the while, there is endless pie in the back. Would there not be peace if all remained conscious of the Gift, constantly receiving His fullness? Is there cause to envy what another is actively partaking in when all were given the same Gift? Is this not one crazy banquet scenario! Everything has been paid for at the highest cost of our Host. He honored each of us with His greatest treasure, His son. We have a new nature in Him and an Inheritance too.
There is no gift or benefit given to man that is not given to all men. There is no exhausting this gift and His benefits, Christ in us-- our Inheritance. Shall we dine?
What lengths men go to in order to secure the esteem of others! What fights started to defend or sustain one's respect! What demand men place on others for honor and what Love they set aside to command it!
How the Apostle Paul ministers to me! He was so content to just be in Him, in Christ. Often, even those who may be great servants, or even the greatest servants, may lose sight of and devalue the Honor given us in the person of Jesus Christ. Men of all professions require of others what they have not received in Christ. Some command endless attention, a substitute for the only Attention who fills. Others command respect, not truly understanding how much God honored man with Jesus and continues to honor him. He made us His children, adopting us as His own when we couldn't qualify for His presence, His riches, His ability-- things which now, we have all received in Christ. It is enough to be in Him, to consider ourselves honored of Him.
Imagine (if it were possible) that every time you came over to my house, I kill my only child, my perfect child so that you can then come in and enjoy the abundance of my house and table. I do this not only for you, but for each and every guest who arrives after you, I slay my beautiful child. Now I have 5 or 6 guests who lost sight of what they have received, the greatest Love. They ignore the Love given them and begin to fight over the food on the table (which is unlimited by the way). They vie for what they can give one another or do for themselves. They crave honor of men over the honor of God. God and His benefits becomes intangible to these deaf and blind guests. They rate themselves high and rank one another by their own opinions forgetting that each man's Price was the same. My guests enjoy very little.
One snatches up desserts and continues to eat profusely to make sure he is not left hungry or without the luscious benefit of a sweet pastry. Another spits in his eye for being so selfish and greedy. One cries and is distraught that there is fighting. One is envious that I gave so much pie to another guest. All the while, there is endless pie in the back. Would there not be peace if all remained conscious of the Gift, constantly receiving His fullness? Is there cause to envy what another is actively partaking in when all were given the same Gift? Is this not one crazy banquet scenario! Everything has been paid for at the highest cost of our Host. He honored each of us with His greatest treasure, His son. We have a new nature in Him and an Inheritance too.
There is no gift or benefit given to man that is not given to all men. There is no exhausting this gift and His benefits, Christ in us-- our Inheritance. Shall we dine?
You Need No Ability
When we truly understand that all the giftings in others are for us and from Another, competition loses its footing and we never look to ourselves for Ability, we simply possess all things.
It is enough to be in Him! The great Apostle Paul floods his writings with this message that it is enough to be written in His book, known by Him, rewarded of Him. He is our exceeding great Reward and our reward is in Him.
IT IS ENOUGH!
In ourselves, we lack so much to do His work; we lack so much to do any work that we desire to do. We can't accomplish our goals, we can't complete the average tasks--- and when we do, there is often little peace to match the accomplishment. Oh but in Him there is an abundance of all things needed! We can lack for everything, the wisdom, the inherent ability to pull off the job, but when we allow His residence, His presence to penetrate our lives--- when we let His ability fly right over our weaknesses--- we see that we don't need a thing but Him. This must be revealed in you. To know it is not enough, but when you begin to walk in peace (real and instinctual, not artificial patience) across your circumstances, then you have understood what I've laid down here.
You don't need to be confident because Christ comes through you with His own confidence, not something you had to create or concoct. You don't have to know how to solve the problem. Only learn how to give problems over to the One in you who has the all-knowing witts. I cannot tell you how to do this; only the Spirit can reveal the 'how' for your life. What I can tell you is the 'in Him' existence is the one which meets all your problems and challenges with forceful, agile ability and overcomes and dominates your obstacles weaving peace through your entire life by the Spirit within, Christ the hope of glory. REMEMBER, I did not say your circumstances would be peaceful. I say that you will be peaceful in them when exercising 'in Him' living! We look to ourselves for so much more than we can handle-- there is a Source that contains everything that tackles life and that Source is tapped from within you.
Relax family, our Inheritance is the same. You have no advantage over me nor I over you. We have been made One in Him. Your advantages and gifts are for me, not against me, your inheritance to be shared in joy. My advantages are never my own in Him, but for you, my Body. In this, there is no competition! All of your strengths, skills and abilities to produce any lasting result stream from one Source to bless all around you. When we truly understand that the giftings in others are for us and from Another, competition loses all footing and we never look to ourselves for Ability, we simply possess all things.
It is enough to be in Him! The great Apostle Paul floods his writings with this message that it is enough to be written in His book, known by Him, rewarded of Him. He is our exceeding great Reward and our reward is in Him.
IT IS ENOUGH!
In ourselves, we lack so much to do His work; we lack so much to do any work that we desire to do. We can't accomplish our goals, we can't complete the average tasks--- and when we do, there is often little peace to match the accomplishment. Oh but in Him there is an abundance of all things needed! We can lack for everything, the wisdom, the inherent ability to pull off the job, but when we allow His residence, His presence to penetrate our lives--- when we let His ability fly right over our weaknesses--- we see that we don't need a thing but Him. This must be revealed in you. To know it is not enough, but when you begin to walk in peace (real and instinctual, not artificial patience) across your circumstances, then you have understood what I've laid down here.
You don't need to be confident because Christ comes through you with His own confidence, not something you had to create or concoct. You don't have to know how to solve the problem. Only learn how to give problems over to the One in you who has the all-knowing witts. I cannot tell you how to do this; only the Spirit can reveal the 'how' for your life. What I can tell you is the 'in Him' existence is the one which meets all your problems and challenges with forceful, agile ability and overcomes and dominates your obstacles weaving peace through your entire life by the Spirit within, Christ the hope of glory. REMEMBER, I did not say your circumstances would be peaceful. I say that you will be peaceful in them when exercising 'in Him' living! We look to ourselves for so much more than we can handle-- there is a Source that contains everything that tackles life and that Source is tapped from within you.
Relax family, our Inheritance is the same. You have no advantage over me nor I over you. We have been made One in Him. Your advantages and gifts are for me, not against me, your inheritance to be shared in joy. My advantages are never my own in Him, but for you, my Body. In this, there is no competition! All of your strengths, skills and abilities to produce any lasting result stream from one Source to bless all around you. When we truly understand that the giftings in others are for us and from Another, competition loses all footing and we never look to ourselves for Ability, we simply possess all things.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Fasting in His Strength
It is tempting to get into an achievement mentality with fasting. We set a goal perhaps and we want to conquer it. God knows us better than we know ourselves and we should always be sensitive to Him and seeking Him for His plans for the fast before we begin. It is easy to forget that it is not about us and our plans, but about Him and what He has for us.
I am very achievement oriented. I want to go full throttle and I generally despise the precept upon precept, line upon line way of God. Frankly, I hate it. It challenges me to the core to be patient in an undertaking and go piece by piece. It is ineffective to turn fasting into a self-ish thing and it is often unseen when we slip into this mindset.
There are only two ways to accomplish a fast, by the flesh or by the Spirit. We are vines (John 15) and we can produce fruit in keeping with the Spirit or in keeping with the flesh. Both fasts produce as far as we can see, but only one produces life-giving, sustainable fruit. The other yields temporary fruit that will satisfy for a moment before dying off to a complete destruction in time. If I come away from a fast with greater confidence in my ability to do it, I missed it and it will come to nothing. In a fast, we should come away with greater confidence in His ability on our behalf, not our own. God desires to produce in us; He wants to do the work. The fast God wants is the one that proves Him, His ability, His strength, not you. His fast will follow the Spirit at all times and therefore produce effectual, eternal results. Just a thought... very briefly.
I am very achievement oriented. I want to go full throttle and I generally despise the precept upon precept, line upon line way of God. Frankly, I hate it. It challenges me to the core to be patient in an undertaking and go piece by piece. It is ineffective to turn fasting into a self-ish thing and it is often unseen when we slip into this mindset.
There are only two ways to accomplish a fast, by the flesh or by the Spirit. We are vines (John 15) and we can produce fruit in keeping with the Spirit or in keeping with the flesh. Both fasts produce as far as we can see, but only one produces life-giving, sustainable fruit. The other yields temporary fruit that will satisfy for a moment before dying off to a complete destruction in time. If I come away from a fast with greater confidence in my ability to do it, I missed it and it will come to nothing. In a fast, we should come away with greater confidence in His ability on our behalf, not our own. God desires to produce in us; He wants to do the work. The fast God wants is the one that proves Him, His ability, His strength, not you. His fast will follow the Spirit at all times and therefore produce effectual, eternal results. Just a thought... very briefly.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Scripture or Junk Mail
Today while reading Ephesians & Colossians, the Spirit reminded me of how much we must depend on Him to receive from the Scipture. Without Him, the black and white is useless and can even damage us. The Spirit reveals the Word to us wrapped in the text.
Jesus told the Pharisees that they think they find life, eternal life, in the Scriptures but told them they failed to recognize eternal life. Eternal life is a Person. Behind Scripture is a Person that those words help reveal, but the Scripture is not that Life. Without knowing the sender, the letter in your mailbox is "junk" mail isn't it? The Words of the Bible have the greatest meaning and understanding within the context of an intimate, well-developed relationship. This is one of many reasons that there are so many interpretations of the same Scriptures. Some know the Author better than others, some better than you, many better than me. He is not known by the words on the page, but by private fellowship of the heart.
Jesus told the Pharisees that they think they find life, eternal life, in the Scriptures but told them they failed to recognize eternal life. Eternal life is a Person. Behind Scripture is a Person that those words help reveal, but the Scripture is not that Life. Without knowing the sender, the letter in your mailbox is "junk" mail isn't it? The Words of the Bible have the greatest meaning and understanding within the context of an intimate, well-developed relationship. This is one of many reasons that there are so many interpretations of the same Scriptures. Some know the Author better than others, some better than you, many better than me. He is not known by the words on the page, but by private fellowship of the heart.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Quiet Time
I am slightly wowed at how many things I have thought about today. It is amazing when you turn down the power on all of what life has to offer, all the stimuli, just how much noise you discover in you.
I prayed in the Spirit today just on the sofa, under a blanket and let's see... how many things were reeling through my head. I wanted to know exactly what days I had taken off for vacation this past October, how many days I should allow for shipping of my just-ordered checks, pondered whether to return a recent purchase and buy a shower water filter instead... and so on.
God is shockingly loud and clear inside of us when we turn our ears inward. This is my experience. In taking the day to just sit and pray, it struck me first how much I was thinking about all at once and second how much God could fill that space as I gave him my focused attention. I can get so busy that quiet becomes scary. I become afraid to submit to it. It always turns out for the best though. It's not the quiet before the storm.
I prayed in the Spirit today just on the sofa, under a blanket and let's see... how many things were reeling through my head. I wanted to know exactly what days I had taken off for vacation this past October, how many days I should allow for shipping of my just-ordered checks, pondered whether to return a recent purchase and buy a shower water filter instead... and so on.
God is shockingly loud and clear inside of us when we turn our ears inward. This is my experience. In taking the day to just sit and pray, it struck me first how much I was thinking about all at once and second how much God could fill that space as I gave him my focused attention. I can get so busy that quiet becomes scary. I become afraid to submit to it. It always turns out for the best though. It's not the quiet before the storm.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Welcome
As I begin this blog, it is my expectation that the things I write will reach those who want to hear me. I hope that's you.
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