Jeff Reynolds One desire: Christ is Leading a Spiritual Revolution

When we pass through fires of opposition from within the family to bring this Gospel of the Kingdom to the world...?

The best outcome when the fires die down is to fill our new perspective, direction, spiritual vision with LOVE and deeper abiding.

Typically, we simply survive and go on in the mindset, values, survival modes we've learned. Rather than embrace new and living ways with Jesus, we settle into old and dying ways of thinking and acting. This is definitely the road to apathy and passivity. Which in turn leads to indecision, prayer-less lives, loss of Voice in proclaiming the Gospel and doctrine focused postures.

What is at the root of this?
The standard of walking as a believer in the New Testament is hard for us to articulate.
Even more difficult, to translate it into our current culture, time, era and way of living.

We have all kinds of "spiritual approaches" or values we bring forth as a package to explain the true meaning of being a Christian. We do this in denominations, theological streams of thought, ways of worship and prayer. On and on we go crafting "the real understanding" of living and breathing Christ as our Lord.

A few assumptions I make that counter such a quest.

1. Jesus said, unless you become as little children you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.
Without the hunger an open heart of first love, seeing the Kingdom of God and acting in and through grace and will of the Father is not possible.
Hay, wood, precious stones, are easy to build. Requiring no prayer. The Mind of Man inspired, worked out and beautiful to the natural mind. Alternatively they are lacking spiritual realities, leading to the demonic. James 3:14-18
These are Forms we expect without the power and presence of God. Tragic. (Isaiah 58; II Timothy 3:5: Matthew 7:21)

"Many who have the form of godliness are strangers to this power, and so are in religion worldly, in prayer mechanical, in public one thing, and in private another. True godliness lies in spiritual power, and as they are without this, they are dead while they live."

Spurgeon

2. Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
If little children and the poor cannot grasp or walk in or easily and simply obey Christ with your "spiritual approach" it has most likely fallen off a few steps from the person of Jesus Christ. The first and true test is the poor can do it and see the grace and glory of God change their lives. This is the real Gospel of the Kingdom.

3. We steward a mystery. (Ephesians 3:7-9). Christ is leading a spiritual revolution for a new Kingdom and a whole new earth and heaven. He's not keeping the old one. But so often we do.

One of the problems is, most of our "Value packages" are a step or two removed from the straight up words of Christ, the Apostles and or what they did and lived.

I've heard many people excuse themselves from the intense demands of true worship and devotion to Jesus; from his terms of service. In doing so, we move away from the Person Jesus Christ. We move away from the grace to sustain us in his glory. We move away from him, his commands, and his WAY.

The Book of Acts for instance has a huge assumption that is never succinctly stated.
The author does not say, "ok, so this is exactly how the passion, love, commitment and devotion to Jesus looks in every time, season, nation, or people". In fact, as much as we want such a statement, the New Testament writers understood the vast reality of Christ. He is in all, through all, and all things were created for him and by him. Every language, culture, tribe and nation finds its wonder and awe of God expressed in beauty and power through walking in the Spirit in their time, season, culture, family and nation. Manifold wisdom is the glory of God. Millions in obedience to the grace he handed out, acting in service and love as worship to the Master himself. All in perfect harmony with the Fathers will. Word to the wise. Competition in the forms of Christ are ridiculous. Jesus is not competing with himself or thrusting his highly valuable servants against each other to accomplish his will. That's the mind of man in full motion. Earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
John 15:12-17 paints the Christ picture of our relationship to him and those he loves.

So, this is exactly what you do to live out Christ in your family, community, culture or nation.

Oh, we want that so bad. We want to have the idea, the value story, the truth. In so doing we put ourselves in a way to miss the message of the New Testament. Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life. He is the value story written on our lives. A person that is truth.

A person can be known. An idea cannot. Jesus is the Truth Person. Able to be known. Able to be committed to and covenanted with. Able to offer love and devotion to, we can build a life around who he is and how he works and moves in the world. Our world. The one we walk through every day.

The simple minded just want to know how to get an A. They are not interested in being transformed by the complete mystery of Christ in you the hope of glory.

The religious just want to know the rules, boundaries, actions that get them by. "Tell me what satisfies the rules and I'm good." Nothing satisfies righteousness but faith in the Lamb of God; the righteous sinless one, whose blood satisfies the justice of God. Faith in him satisfies. Faith is not a set of ideas, doctrines or check list of "I believe that's". It is a relationship with the Son of God that is founded in faith in his blood and hope for salvation.
Yes, orthodox faith has truths about Jesus that are doctrines. Undeniable core. Its the miles of extraneous teaching and interpretations of spiritual values that confounds the childlike.

It sounds something like this....
Jesus is the NAME and revelation that triumphs over every other name and nation. Nothing in all of life compares or is remotely equal to knowing him. He calls for that kind of devotion as a way of life filled with the supernatural Spirit of God. Thrusting us on the winds of love and etnerity and bringing together in us heaven and earth.

And of course, that is not good enough. Or wide enough. Or deep enough. In fact words just cannot contain the mystery which is Christ in you the hope of glory. And...yet, we are required to bring words of agreement and revelation as worship of the Lord of Glory. Remarkable. Simple. Overwhelming. True.

The massive assumption of the Gospels, of The Book of Acts, of Paul is that Jesus is the First among the dead and forerunner of a new and living way. Totally different from the world as we know it. Completely different starting points. A revelation. The God Man among us. The mystery of eternal life now and in Christ forever.

Its not a "addition way". Religious teaching that enhances life as we know it.

It is life as we don't know it. A whole new starting point. Christ Jesus.

Part II will pick up here. Next week.

Get these two foundations in prayer!

How's your 24?
How's your prayer walk?
Sowing into prayer is the greatest avenue for consistent joy in Jesus than any other thing out there.

Take a new step into the depths and riches of knowing Jesus.  Pray.

Start today.  5 mins listening to or reading the Scripture and Psalm 27:14 wait for the Lord.
Grab some time and steal away with Jesus.
He is remarkable to be around.
You will tap into the grace of God.
The Father sent Jesus to restore us to him and he is longing to know us in Christ. (John 17:3)

1. 10 Keys to Praying with Power
http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/11/10-keys-to-praying-with-power-moving.html

2. 10 Keys to Sustaining Supernatural Life
http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/12/10-keys-to-sustaining-life-in.html

3. Why is the Prayer House Empty?
http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2014/11/why-is-prayer-house-empty-or-is-it.html

4. Intimacy with Jesus Beyond Religion?