Matthew 7:21-23
I entered and have developed in Christ in charismatic churches. I appreciate their desire for spiritual gifts and the authority of the believer.
Jesus is speaking throughout this portion of scripture. It reads, "Not everyone who says to Me 'Lord,Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me you who PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS!" Practicing lawlessness is the unrepentant continuation of any action or motivation which the individual has already knowingly received correction from God. Essentially, he/she is unwilling to obey.
When we see "Lord, Lord" in these verses, it denotes that the speaker is passionate about what he/she is saying. Like LORD!!!!! Not normal conversational tones. They may have been overly passionate for the spiritual gifts.
There is no reason to believe that Jesus was admonishing them for prophesying, casting out demons and performing wonders as He said these signs would follow those who believe (Mark 16:15-18).
Jesus could have been rebuking them for attempting to do those things for selfish gain (verse 15-20, same chapter) or without His revelation in the matter but not for the act's sake alone. Their motivations might have been polluted.
Jesus says that "he who does the will of my Father shall enter the kingdom of heaven". Even though these Christians have received the word of God regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit and are acting on that truth, Jesus says that He never knew them, they were practitioners of lawlessness. Why?
I see the most important goal for the saint is to become "one with the Father and the Son, who are one" .(John 17:21) Knowing (or knew, as it is used in the verse) speaks of intimacy. These Christians had experienced the goodness of God and were administering those gifts to others but something was wrong. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given "to each one for the profit of all" (I Corinthians 12:7) and they are administered by God, our primary attention/focus must be toward Him.
Hebrews 6:4-8 reads, "for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame. For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated (good fruit), receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briars it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned."
I remember the first time the Lord used me with one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I was thrilled. I think it is possible for a Christian who has been used in the spiritual gifts to become proud in it. That pride is not from God but is earthly, sensual, demonic. "I am used in the spiritual gifts and therefore could not possibly need correction". How about this: "Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts..." (I Corinthians 14:1)
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Speaking to this Mountain, then Believing and not Doubting
Mark 11:22,23
In the previous study, I explained what I understand the mountain to be. Anything that is so important to you that, when a situation arises where you must make a decision between what you want or what seems best to you and doing the word/will of God, you do what you want or what seems best to you. Your self-serving will is the mountain that stands between you and your becoming a fruitful branch in Christ Jesus. Self-service hinders your growing up into all things in Christ.
Once you have determined that self-service is what is standing between you and maturity/completion in Christ, you have to speak to the mountain. It shows you and the adversary that you are now aware of what is holding you back, what is motivating you to respond in a defeated manner. But, speaking to this mountain is just the first step in having what you are saying.
"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'be removed and be cast into the sea', AND DOES NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART BUT BELIEVES that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says". The next step is to doubt not in our hearts but believe. So, what does it mean to doubt not in our heart but believe? It means to DO IT within the grace of God. Many are the opportunities for our selfish souls to be tempted. As opportunities arise where there exists the option to serve ourselves or serve in this kingdom, ask the Lord to show you how He would respond in the matter. If you can sense that you are in the midst of an opportunity to serve your selfish desires or to protect yourself versus denying yourself, taking up your cross and following Him, ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you in the matter, thereby empowering you to pass through victoriously. That builds your spiritual house and readies you for the next opportunity.
If you know what the mountain is you will recognize when the temptation is on. When you recognize the temptation is on and you cry out to your Father for help not to stumble, all is left to do is obey His directions, navigating around the opportunity to sin. When you do it like He reveals to you, shrinking is the space where satan is able to steal from you! You will be more and more like Jesus Christ, a son of God!
In the previous study, I explained what I understand the mountain to be. Anything that is so important to you that, when a situation arises where you must make a decision between what you want or what seems best to you and doing the word/will of God, you do what you want or what seems best to you. Your self-serving will is the mountain that stands between you and your becoming a fruitful branch in Christ Jesus. Self-service hinders your growing up into all things in Christ.
Once you have determined that self-service is what is standing between you and maturity/completion in Christ, you have to speak to the mountain. It shows you and the adversary that you are now aware of what is holding you back, what is motivating you to respond in a defeated manner. But, speaking to this mountain is just the first step in having what you are saying.
"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'be removed and be cast into the sea', AND DOES NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART BUT BELIEVES that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says". The next step is to doubt not in our hearts but believe. So, what does it mean to doubt not in our heart but believe? It means to DO IT within the grace of God. Many are the opportunities for our selfish souls to be tempted. As opportunities arise where there exists the option to serve ourselves or serve in this kingdom, ask the Lord to show you how He would respond in the matter. If you can sense that you are in the midst of an opportunity to serve your selfish desires or to protect yourself versus denying yourself, taking up your cross and following Him, ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you in the matter, thereby empowering you to pass through victoriously. That builds your spiritual house and readies you for the next opportunity.
If you know what the mountain is you will recognize when the temptation is on. When you recognize the temptation is on and you cry out to your Father for help not to stumble, all is left to do is obey His directions, navigating around the opportunity to sin. When you do it like He reveals to you, shrinking is the space where satan is able to steal from you! You will be more and more like Jesus Christ, a son of God!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Speaking to this Mountain - Part 1
In the eleventh chapter of Mark's gospel, Jesus had just traveled to the temple in Jerusalem and seen that instead of a house of prayer, the scribes and chief priests had allowed it to become a place of commerce - a den of thieves. Their response to Jesus's correction was to seek out how they might destroy Him. His disciples have seen that the fruitless fig tree He had cursed had withered up from the roots.
In verse 22, Jesus declares to His disciples, "Have faith in God". Seems to me this is not a pleasant offering for them to consider, but a command to own or secure, give themselves to what He was about to say. Have it like you have a large sum of money in your hand or a child's hand as you cross a busy intersection. Have it that way. This is serious business because Jesus does not want His disciples to wind up like the current temple leadership.
Have faith in God (I have heard this otherwise said,"have the faith of God"; "have the God kind of faith"; "have the faith that comes forth from God"; "have this revelation in the knowledge of God"). Whichever of these strikes you the hardest is ok. But we must have it. Have it like oxygen. Having it to believe is essential to receiving the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls.
Now that I have stressed the importance of having this, let's see what Jesus was about to reveal to us. Verse 23 reads, "For assuredly I say to you, who ever says to this mountain, 'be removed and be cast into the sea', and does not doubt it in his heart but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says".
Mountains are not like hills. Hills are easily walked over. Mountains, on the other hand, are in the way, especially while traveling to a destination. Not easily maneuvered around. Today, our roads pierce through, over or around them. Back in the time when the bible was written, mountains presented a significant impediment to travel. Only over or around was available. But Jesus clearly commands us to speak to THIS mountain, a particular high thing. Remember, Jesus had just finished rebuking the activity in the temple. What about the behaviour of the occupants could Jesus have been referring? Certainly disobedience and greed. Unholiness. But I see a deeper root to this mountain- self service vs. selflessness. The scribes and chief priests knew what God had required for the temple. But what they wanted was more important to them than what God had said.
I see this mountain as self service. It is any meditation of our soul which, whether we know it or not, stands against what God is trying to form in us in Christ Jesus! In many cases these uninspired meditations lead to actions equally uninspired. Ask the Father to reveal the inspired truth in this to you. It is most blessed to understand this - the vehicle to selfless kingdom service in Christ Jesus, to walk out the plan that the Father has for us in Christ Jesus, a fruitful branch in Him!
Part 2: Believing and not doubting when we speak to this mountain
In verse 22, Jesus declares to His disciples, "Have faith in God". Seems to me this is not a pleasant offering for them to consider, but a command to own or secure, give themselves to what He was about to say. Have it like you have a large sum of money in your hand or a child's hand as you cross a busy intersection. Have it that way. This is serious business because Jesus does not want His disciples to wind up like the current temple leadership.
Have faith in God (I have heard this otherwise said,"have the faith of God"; "have the God kind of faith"; "have the faith that comes forth from God"; "have this revelation in the knowledge of God"). Whichever of these strikes you the hardest is ok. But we must have it. Have it like oxygen. Having it to believe is essential to receiving the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls.
Now that I have stressed the importance of having this, let's see what Jesus was about to reveal to us. Verse 23 reads, "For assuredly I say to you, who ever says to this mountain, 'be removed and be cast into the sea', and does not doubt it in his heart but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says".
Mountains are not like hills. Hills are easily walked over. Mountains, on the other hand, are in the way, especially while traveling to a destination. Not easily maneuvered around. Today, our roads pierce through, over or around them. Back in the time when the bible was written, mountains presented a significant impediment to travel. Only over or around was available. But Jesus clearly commands us to speak to THIS mountain, a particular high thing. Remember, Jesus had just finished rebuking the activity in the temple. What about the behaviour of the occupants could Jesus have been referring? Certainly disobedience and greed. Unholiness. But I see a deeper root to this mountain- self service vs. selflessness. The scribes and chief priests knew what God had required for the temple. But what they wanted was more important to them than what God had said.
I see this mountain as self service. It is any meditation of our soul which, whether we know it or not, stands against what God is trying to form in us in Christ Jesus! In many cases these uninspired meditations lead to actions equally uninspired. Ask the Father to reveal the inspired truth in this to you. It is most blessed to understand this - the vehicle to selfless kingdom service in Christ Jesus, to walk out the plan that the Father has for us in Christ Jesus, a fruitful branch in Him!
Part 2: Believing and not doubting when we speak to this mountain
Sunday, January 8, 2012
The Tithe
Recently, my sister brought to my attention a message by the pastor of a church she has been attending. Although the pastor's message was not regarding the tithe, he spoke of a time when the financial offering to his fellowship was strong due to "good times" or times when those who attended the fellowship brought much in the way of financial gifts. When the worldwide financial correction came, by his insinuation, many pulled back their giving. His is not the only church affected by the financial correction.
Firstly, I do not know how many in his church were bringing the tithe- those who do and have revelation of it are usually hard to move off it. Many in churches today bring "what they think is best" based upon their evaluation of their financial situation (before the financial contraction, less than 20% of those attending church in America actually brought in 10% of their gross income). Those who are not obeying God's command to tithe and rather give gifts (less than 10%) are likely to bring less for fear of not maintaining their financial standing, again, based upon their evaluation. The difference is a selfless determination to obey "no matter what" based upon a revelation of God in the matter and an uninspired understanding leading to "what seems right to me". Inspiration based upon revelation is the key. Although the tithe from your resources to God (Hebrews 7:8 reads: "Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.") by necessity is financial, His approach to the tither is not primarily sustenance (or something you can spend on needs or otherwise).
Malachi 3:10 reads "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house (spiritual and material food which is your act of obedience in the conditional bargain) and try (or prove) Me now in this says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it" (have you ever received a financial blessing that you did not have room for? I thought so. But Spirit to soul blessings almost have to be shared- we in ourselves don't have room enough to receive them, we glow with and speak about the truth that we have received about Jesus Christ whom we are to follow. That is how the gospel is preached! Good ground receives from God and produces more!) So you see the blessing to us in this context is not financial/sustenance but revelation to experience the fullness of who He is! But wait, it is not only spiritual to soulish blessing. The Lord is not done speaking.
Malachi 3:11 reads "and I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field (clearly the context is financial/sustenance- what did they do with the fruit of the ground/vine? They ate or sold it!) and all nations will call you blessed for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of Hosts."
In order to walk just as Jesus walked we must understand things like Jesus understands them. You see, Jesus was a giver. His nature was to help the human creation become what He had thought at the beginning. He inspires us to become givers by commanding the tithe from our resources- honestly, what means alot to us - our stuff. When we obey He begins to provide to us the revelation needed to experience the fullness of who He is - to become complete in Him!
The commanded tithe will eventually bring us to a giving nature. We will get to a place where we are willing to give as He purposes. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. This process yanks that root out of our heart.
Firstly, I do not know how many in his church were bringing the tithe- those who do and have revelation of it are usually hard to move off it. Many in churches today bring "what they think is best" based upon their evaluation of their financial situation (before the financial contraction, less than 20% of those attending church in America actually brought in 10% of their gross income). Those who are not obeying God's command to tithe and rather give gifts (less than 10%) are likely to bring less for fear of not maintaining their financial standing, again, based upon their evaluation. The difference is a selfless determination to obey "no matter what" based upon a revelation of God in the matter and an uninspired understanding leading to "what seems right to me". Inspiration based upon revelation is the key. Although the tithe from your resources to God (Hebrews 7:8 reads: "Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.") by necessity is financial, His approach to the tither is not primarily sustenance (or something you can spend on needs or otherwise).
Malachi 3:10 reads "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house (spiritual and material food which is your act of obedience in the conditional bargain) and try (or prove) Me now in this says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it" (have you ever received a financial blessing that you did not have room for? I thought so. But Spirit to soul blessings almost have to be shared- we in ourselves don't have room enough to receive them, we glow with and speak about the truth that we have received about Jesus Christ whom we are to follow. That is how the gospel is preached! Good ground receives from God and produces more!) So you see the blessing to us in this context is not financial/sustenance but revelation to experience the fullness of who He is! But wait, it is not only spiritual to soulish blessing. The Lord is not done speaking.
Malachi 3:11 reads "and I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field (clearly the context is financial/sustenance- what did they do with the fruit of the ground/vine? They ate or sold it!) and all nations will call you blessed for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of Hosts."
In order to walk just as Jesus walked we must understand things like Jesus understands them. You see, Jesus was a giver. His nature was to help the human creation become what He had thought at the beginning. He inspires us to become givers by commanding the tithe from our resources- honestly, what means alot to us - our stuff. When we obey He begins to provide to us the revelation needed to experience the fullness of who He is - to become complete in Him!
The commanded tithe will eventually bring us to a giving nature. We will get to a place where we are willing to give as He purposes. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. This process yanks that root out of our heart.
Monday, January 2, 2012
The Book of Job Part 4
We have completed an evaluation of the book of Job. It is my understanding that not everything in the Old Testament is relevant in the New Testament, otherwise why have a New Testament? So, the question is, is there New Testament standing regarding what Job experienced? If not, then maybe we should let the old alone.
In the gospel according to Luke, chapter 22, verses 31,32, Jesus says, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren." Satan asked whom? He asked the Lord God for permission! What did Jesus say? Did He say "no, get thee behind Me Satan"? No, Jesus did not say that. He said that He had prayed that that Peter's faith should not fail (would not have said this if Peter did not already know), "and when you have RETURNED to Me, strengthen your brethren". He knew that Peter had to be willing to put action to understanding for himself. If Jesus did it for him, like a mom or dad who spoon-feeds a 12 year-old, he would not get it. Peter needed to get it. Peter needed to come to grips with what Jesus knew about him just as Job needed to come to grips with what the Lord knew about him!
Romans 8:16,17 consolidates it well. "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with Him that we may be glorified together." Suffering with Him means He is directing the path.
Hebrews 12:5,6 reads, "and you have forgotten the EXHORTATION which speaks to you as to sons: My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."
Verse 10,11 reads, "for they(human fathers) indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them but He for our profit that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Sound like Job's and Peter's experience? It is your responsibility to seek your Lord's wisdom as to whether what you are experiencing in suffering is WITH Him or apart from Him. As you study, ask Him to differentiate between the two. He knows what you need to hear next, firmly positioning yourself on the Rock!
In the gospel according to Luke, chapter 22, verses 31,32, Jesus says, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren." Satan asked whom? He asked the Lord God for permission! What did Jesus say? Did He say "no, get thee behind Me Satan"? No, Jesus did not say that. He said that He had prayed that that Peter's faith should not fail (would not have said this if Peter did not already know), "and when you have RETURNED to Me, strengthen your brethren". He knew that Peter had to be willing to put action to understanding for himself. If Jesus did it for him, like a mom or dad who spoon-feeds a 12 year-old, he would not get it. Peter needed to get it. Peter needed to come to grips with what Jesus knew about him just as Job needed to come to grips with what the Lord knew about him!
Romans 8:16,17 consolidates it well. "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with Him that we may be glorified together." Suffering with Him means He is directing the path.
Hebrews 12:5,6 reads, "and you have forgotten the EXHORTATION which speaks to you as to sons: My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."
Verse 10,11 reads, "for they(human fathers) indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them but He for our profit that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Sound like Job's and Peter's experience? It is your responsibility to seek your Lord's wisdom as to whether what you are experiencing in suffering is WITH Him or apart from Him. As you study, ask Him to differentiate between the two. He knows what you need to hear next, firmly positioning yourself on the Rock!
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