Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Overcoming evil with good?
As I look at our place (Christians) in society in America and the ways we understand change and the way revival may come I feel more and more like a bankrupt soul. The teachings and approaches we have used for so long and which seem to fit us like a glove don't seem to line up with the Kingdom or Jesus' way of overcoming the world. There are some bright lights bringing fresh new insights and unfolding Kingdom mindsets, but the vast majority appears to be holding on to ideas, mindsets and teaching that were effective and powerful in their time but now lack any substance and Spirit power for transformation.
That was a mouthful. I mean to say. We ain't got any power.
How much of what we do as believers actually requires God to play the key role to accomplish it?
Transformation is the Kingdom goal? The goal: To become like Jesus, to reflect his heart, mind, soul and spirit to the world and to loose that grace and power onto the world in love. We are the light poking into the darkness. Because the Light of Christ, Christ in you and I is the Hope of glory for the whole world.
I have to admit that my current mindset does not flow from this place with power as I think about purpose in the Kingdom of God. What I mean is, the teaching and mindset that I have run with for some time appears empty and devoid of true transformation power. I recognize this as the Holy Spirit points me to broken places to engage with love and new understanding of the Kingdom.
Discovering new insights as I go back past the things I learned over the last 15 years and dwelling in the presence of the Lord hours on end is opening my eyes wide. Why? I've been seeking out more depth in my understanding of the Culture of Love in God's Kingdom and it is poking small holes in the boarders of my mindset.
The prevailing understanding I see almost always as Christians encounter evil is to overpower it. You know. Yell at it. To talk it down. To call it something that condemns it. Police it. Use power in words, approach and action that will eliminate the place evil is holding. But that is not what I see Jesus doing.
Jesus poured into people an actual experience of the love of the Father. He met them and encountered them in their brokenness and with engagement from them healed and set free and transformed. I see Jesus pouring his life in to those who are hungry and thirsty to know God. In fact the closest people to Jesus were those with the highest commitment. They literately followed Him wherever he went. Jesus built up people in the Kingdom rather than spending his time tearing down the evil in the world. I believe he did this because he knew the secrets of the Kingdom, the ways of the Father and the powerful victory the cross would bring to all humanity. He would change the world by changing people and they would shine with the real life he brings. Jesus taught and encountered and encouraged and led those who had the highest commitment to him as his number one priority.
Today ministry appears to be organized for those who have the least commitment to Jesus. The crowd. Those with the most commitment to the Father and following Christ spend the least amount of time with the hungriest and most desiring of Jesus himself. While we draw in millions to a lack luster reality of His presence we neglect the presence ourselves and settle for this as abundant life. We like the thrills of numbers and crowds to the heart wrenching pathways of the Culture of Love in the Kingdom. Jesus took a huge risk in our books. He focused on 12 people and then a bit wider 72.
He was speaking life, resurrection life to the hearts, minds, spirits, and strength of those who worshiped him and followed him with determined fire and hunger. In that he was putting people in touch with His Father and the Father's heart for them and the world. They were taking on the image of Jesus. Abiding in his presence daily, they were being transformed by his company. Mark says He called them, "that they might be with him and He might send them out to preach". Mark 3:14
Being with Jesus is sheer joy.
OK. Yes. Jesus did get into it with the pharisees. They were the only ones who stood in the way of his powerful teaching being released out to the poor in spirit. The religious. The protectors of the truth. Protected Israel against their God. How did he say, "You offspring of snakes." They distorted what he said. Caused doubt in the little ones and used their power to seek to crush this voice of God. The Lamb who saved the whole world. The religious powers of the day were not in love with the Father, thirsty or hungry. They believed they had it all and were in need of nothing. Reminds me of something Jesus said.....
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Developing a Kingdom mindset requires submission to the Holy Spirit, real following of Jesus in our day to day life and hunger and thirst. It takes revelation of Jesus, seeing him new and with greater understanding to break out of the mindsets we sink into so easily.
Some key things to remember
1) It's not about what we don't do. Don't do this. Don't do that. This is the fast road to becoming a religious person and a pharisee. The Kingdom is about what we do and who we follow. Sow to Spirit and reap life. Sow to the flesh and reap corruption. Follow Jesus through the leading of the Spirit everyday and find yourself being transformed by his company, encounter and love. Focus on what you are doing.
2) It's not about who we are not. It's about who we are. You have a heavenly identity. Go with who you are in the Kingdom. Go with what God says about you. Son. Daughter. Your identity in heaven comes with assignments and life changing grace as you follow Jesus. Focus on who you are in the Father.
3) Prioritize your life around being with Jesus. Learn the ways of his presence and the rich grace of abiding all the time with the Lord. There is an open and powerful grace loose that is inviting believers into greater depths and riches of the knowledge of Jesus. Make everything about your life about being with Jesus. And when you are in his presence and things get rich, deep and overwhelming.....go deeper. Stay longer. Drink as deep as you can and then go back and swim in his presence. Life your life from the presence.
For those who are hungry, a great and amazing flow of the Spirit is moving. Are you in the waters?
Let the Spirit poke some star holes
into your mindset.
Let me know what you think? Comment below.
Pass this post on if it encouraged you.
Thank you for reading. I love the interaction and feedback.
Other posts that you may like if you enjoyed this one......
An Overcoming Mindset.
http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/05/an-overcoming-mindset-can-we-see.html
An Overcoming Mindset - Can We See the Victory of Jesus Loving the Father The Way He Did?
http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/03/love-for-god-is-never-ending-open.html
No One Can Love You Like I Do - Secrets of the Unseen Things http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/02/no-one-can-love-you-like-i-do-secrets.html
With Love in Jesus,
Brother Jeff
Jeff Reynolds. Sr. Leader
Capstone Christian Fellowship
jreynolds@mycapstone.org
jeff@jeffreynoldsministries.com
jeffreynoldsministries.com
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