The on and off again nature of walking in the Spirit without a root or foundation causes us to win one day and feel like utter failures the next.
So, when....Everything about the Lord calls us toward deeper peace, trust and rest, why is it we have such up and down walking?
It seems that our walks with the Lord reflect rest, peace and trust in limited quantities. When the reality of what Jesus speaks about...
Abundant -
Rivers of living water
Life - erupting in us..
is not flowing,
the natural drift toward asking questions
may be the Spirit's lead back to life.
Again. What is missing when we feel Christ is missing?
The center, the foundation ground appears to have eluded us.
The very nature of the call toward peace and rest in Jesus is counter to a fragmented life.
So, what is the missing link? What is the part we have lost?
Is there something missing?
Is this the way we are intended to walk in the Spirit?
Life for Americans is fragmented.
Life for American believers can be astoundingly fragmented.
Fragmented means:
...existing or functioning as though broken into separate parts; disorganized; dis-unified:
Hundreds of denominations and cultural expressions of Christianity flood the landscape. The smallest details taking on vast importance, we fracture and fracture into smaller and smaller parts. How does the average believer even walk in such a landscape?
We are in relationship with vast numbers of believers but we do not carry a bond of peace or the depths of love. It is lost on a million parts and pieces looking to align or fit together. When our energies are dolled out to a 1000 different divergent groups, the effect is lost.
he[a] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. Ephesians 1:9-10
It is important to note that Jesus is not gathering everyone together and helping us get along in our fragmentation. He himself is our unity. Alpha and Omega, he is the start and ending of everything known. Every knee bows to him. Not every faction comes into agreement with some plan he has fronted. Every plan comes from him if it is part of his Kingdom. He begins all things and ends all things. None of the plans in the Kingdom contradict or conflict or compete with harmony, unity and love rooted and established in Christ himself.
The elemental spirits of the age fill everything outside of Christ.
Jesus is the unity that pours peace over fragmentation. He is the rest that centers dis-unified relationships. Everything will one day find it's place in him. His Kingdom is arriving each day and growing. Believers can start today. With each other. With Jesus front and center of our worship, devotion, love and service. Then we turn toward each other and offer the same in HIS NAME.
We fight on so many fronts at once. Time to focus the battle.
I'm making a proposal. I believe the way to rest and peace is found in something much more rooting than a performance based "walking in the Spirit". I believe it may be focused in the Adoption as Sons, in the Spirit of adoption through the Holy Spirit. Rom 8:14-15For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.”
The flesh - fallen, sin affected, unable to please God. In fact at war with God, is clearly not a pathway to rest or peace. Romans 8:7-8
Walking in the Spirit - one day we seem to soar the next we are on the floor wailing in failure. The on and off again nature of walking in the Spirit without a root or foundation causes us to win one day and feel like utter failures the next. This is a tough way to live and definitely hard to maintain joy.
The bridge = The spirit of Adoption as sons and daughters?????
The depths of abiding rest and peace reside in the reality put in motion that we are sons and daughters. We are family members with, through, in Jesus Christ. This is by grace through faith. This is by faith through grace.We can find a whole different dynamic to walking in the Spirit when it is rooted and established in love and informed as family members with Christ. All who call on his name are family members.
Sure, we all cause some friction and are pretty interesting in and of ourselves much of the time....especially as family members. Yet we are united in the ONE LORD who is setting all things in order. He is our peace, who has broken down every wall, every hostility, every division between us.
Sons and Daughters as members of the family focus on:
- Abiding, love, welcoming, and receiving the Lord - Rev 3:20
- Prayer shifts from a job and work to the center of knowing and being in the presence of God. John 15
- Prayer affirms our standing and enlivens our spirits before the Lord. Hebrews 10:19-24
- Fellowship - as those saved by grace and the love of God they see each other as members of the one family. We bring grace with us. We sow love. We believe the best and hope for breakthrough. We walk together in Jesus expecting his victory to bring lasting change to all of us.
"And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Matthew 10:8-9
Adoption is permanent inclusion into a family. Taking on the NAME. Receiving all the benefits of the Family. Rooting and establishing in the family life and ways.
Take a closer look at sonship in Scripture and the adoption we receive as followers of Jesus. It is a powerful and rooting reality that may put some level paths on our journey in becoming more like Jesus.
2016
Look forward, eyes filled with Abundance, Boundless, Victorious vision in Jesus.
Get a copy of my Prophetic Review 2016 - Salvation's Mountain Erupting with Open Doors, Shifts and Invitation.www.jeffreynoldsministries.com
Thanks for Reading!
I love your comments. Ideas and thoughts.
Please share em.
Re-shares are great. thank U.
Here are some other blogs posts that may interest you.
1.http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2015/01/7-things-enemy-devil-doesnt-want-you-to.html
With much love in Jesus
You can do this thing! He's got you.
Jeff Reynolds ---
Brother Jeff
www.jeffreynoldsministies.com
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