Unity, Bankruptcy, ONE CUP ONE LORD ONE FAITH
April 11, 2014
Bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy is recognition. Recognition of the empty cup. Recognition
that every avenue has either led to nowhere or is a closed door.
Much of what passes for unity these days is in my
opinion bankrupt. The problem is people are satisfied with or
completely unaware of greater demonstrations of unity and grace. In essence we are confounded by what lies before us. The lands surrounding
us do not look like what we understand to be unity in the Kingdom, yet
we continue sowing old wine skins. We find the outcomes of our efforts
lackluster yet we continue to sow the same seeds over and over expecting
different results. We do not have the mindset, grace, love and
sacrifice required to penetrate the confounding boarders of the time and
season. Bankrupt. The cup is empty. So why do we cling to it?
Sometimes it takes a bankruptcy to wake us up.
We are drinking from cups the Father has emptied
So that we would be emptied and drink from the ONE CUP.
As I interact and talk with those invested in greater
things and the advance of the Kingdom of God today, I hear the empty
cups clanging. As I work in the Central Oregon environment of the
Kingdom, the tangible expression of the Kingdom could be characterized
by fragmentation, empty pathways, old wine skins and surrender to
discouraged mindsets and teaching. There is a strong awareness of the
broken paths, hearts and roadways, but little deep surrender and
abiding in Jesus - Author and Perfecter of our FAITH.
I have this image in my minds eye. People picking up
the cup from the table. Looking inside. Bringing the cup to their lips
and seeking a drink. But the cup is empty. Nothing flows from it
anymore. Yet, over and over we pick it up and seek a drink from it.
At critical points along the journey of the church
(ekklesia of Jesus) there appears to me to be moments when the Father in
his loving and wisdom filled grace strips us of all that is worthless
and points us with divine power and energy to the ONE CUP - Jesus Christ
- Alpha and Omega - Beginning and the End.
Now. This is a ONE CUP season across the globe.
Dallas Willard said, "We take people in the flight of
their assumptions and let the air out of the balloon." I have always
found that to be a statement I want to fully embrace but find a somewhat
radical relational posture in it. Yet, it seems to me that the Father
is drying up the cups we trust and the avenues of drink for the ONE CUP
of Jesus Christ and him crucified.
The Holy Spirit is taking us in flight of our
assumptions and revealing to us the bankruptcy of our present mindsets,
teachings and spiritual wells.
"For
my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain
of living waters,and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns
that can hold no water."
Jer 2:13
It is an amazing gift from the Holy Spirit to see the
depths of repair required to mend the wall and restore the cities to
glory, grace and freedom. Some are working so hard for the glory of
Christ's ekklesias.
Reflection: Celtic Cross -
The Celtic Cross reflects on the interwoven glory of
God's people. It seeks to speak to the "manifold wisdom" of God
revealed in the ekklesias of Christ. The power and truth of the Way of
Jesus is spectacular. His manifold wisdom and love combine with pure
and holy righteousness to form teaching, actions, revelation in his
people that break all boarders, heal all wounds, breach all doubts and
heal all diseases.
The Celtic Cross speaks of unity in the ONE CUP of
Christ. It witnesses to the diverse power of God in mind numbing
magnitude that confounds the power and authorities and smashes with a whisper what has stood for ages but opposes the advance of his glory.
In the realms in which I am living and serving we have
yet to penetrate the depths and riches of unity. Maybe we need to
face the empty cups. Stop attempting to drink from them and pour
ourselves into the ONE CUP - Jesus Christ and him crucified.
"But,
as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart
of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”
Is it time to re-imagine?
"These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
I Cor 2:9-10
Lets run after the depth and riches of the knowledge
of Jesus. Let the Holy Spirit set the standards of righteousness. Let
Jesus guide us into new pathways of glory and fruitfulness.
Religion is not hungry at a four star table.
Pro 27:7 "One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet."
Put down the many cups. Pick up the ONE CUP - Jesus Christ.
With love and grace in the Lord,
Jeff Reynolds. Sr. Leader
Capstone Christian Fellowship
jeff@jeffreynoldsministries.com
www.jeffreynoldsministries.com
www.mycapstone.org
jreynolds@mycapstone.org
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