It's funny how in today's online world how we can be aware of people and places we would have long forgotten otherwise. I have links to much of my past, casual links, but almost daily reminders of where I've been. There are people I've known almost my whole life, leaders I admired as a child or teen, the truly serious Christians. They are passionate, radical, and outspoken. They are generally well-liked in their circles. I like them too. But sometimes I think "how tired they must be!". I can't imagine being a serious Christian for 20, 30, or more years, I know I couldn't do it and besides that, I have absolutely no desire to. I only tried my hand at it for 20 years or so, of course I started very young, but even for a young person it was tiring.
Today I'm a Christian still, but more because I can't stop being one (if your definition of a Christian is someone who believes in Jesus, that he is God, that he came in the flesh, lived and died to give us eternal life for free). I can't stop believing in Jesus, it comes natural to me these days, pretty easy, simple and uncomplicated. Some people hate this kind of faith, they don't think it's good enough or something. They want to condemn me, mock me, or just dismiss me altogether. That's ok. I've traded in my serious Christianity for something much more joyful and restful. I feel free. This flesh is not perfect and never will be but my spirit is alive with Jesus, completely righteous, completely FREE. I wish everyone would be free!
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
WWAD? We Should Tithe Because Abraham Did?
Ahhhh, the old tithing question, next to universal atonement, maybe one of the most hotly debated teachings among the grace crowd. For a broader view of the no-tithing side of the debate I highly recommend Joel's series over on Grace Roots. Also Bertie Brits has some great teaching available on his website Dynamic Love Ministries.
Why do I think it's important to talk about? Well, I think if I've learned anything from the many grace preachers and teachers out there, I've learned how serious it is to mix in law with grace, even if it is only the tiniest whiff of the tiniest drop of it. Of course I don't believe any of us will live in 100% pure grace while living in this broken down world, but I do think we can avoid hanging on to bits of the law mentality in obvious teachings and practices.
In fact, I don't think anyone has a good excuse to be teaching tithing (and I think I've probably heard most of the excuses) because I know people have been questioning those teaching tithing, even bringing in applicable Scripture ect... I know this because I personally know people who have done this, including myself. I don't want any 'have to's' mixed in with my good news! This does NOT mean that I don't love and appreciate and learn loads from grace teachers who teach some form of tithing. Some of my favorite grace preachers still hang on to it as far as I know--some in a very gracious way and some in a much more blatantly Old Covenant way.
One important reason to stop preaching tithing is it is VERY confusing to people coming into the revelation of New Covenant grace. I am often questioned about why grace preachers are still talking abbout tithing. In the mind of someone coming out of legalism, they hear the good news that they've been set free from ALL law and requirements in the New Covenant and start to feel new freedom, then they hear the same preacher tell them they must still tithe and confusion sets in. How many other requirements are they still bound to? Maybe the good news is not as good as it initially seemed? Maybe there is still some bondage in some areas? As one of my fellow gracers once commented to me on the subject, "I just don't feel released from tithing yet". So is tithing the one thing Jesus didn't release us from??? Do I need to feel released or believe I'm released?!?!
Let me just say again, I do not want to disrespect anyone who still believes in tithing in grace. I'm not trying to offend and I certainly don't see this as an issue that should disrupt fellowship in any way. I love you tithers! And if you see something in my words that you think is legalistic in any way, please please tell me!
Ahem. So to Abraham. Joel touches on some of this in one of his posts but I want to talk about it a little more, mainly because it is one of the biggest arguments I've heard for New Covenant tithing. When I was first coming into grace, I was having a horrible time because financially it became impossible to tithe. Aaron never bothered much about that stuff, but I had a running tally in my head at all times of how much money we owed God and eventually it got to the point where I realized we would never be able to pay him back. Hahaha, it sounds so ridiculous now!
Anyway, as I said I was coming into grace so of course I was reading and reading Galatians and one day as I was doing this God just spoke to me: "replace circumcision with tithing and you have today's church". Wow!!! That was the end of it for me, I saw it clearly and ever since have been free from the bondage and constraint to give any particular amount of money to anyone at any time. Gone was the idea that part of my money really belonged to God, that I needed to give money to God in the first place etc., ect,... It's a crazy idea to think that giving money to a church or ministry is the same as giving money to God! All our giving is to other PEOPLE. It's more a matter of sharing if you ask me. If we see a brother in need of food or clothes, we share what we have with them. If we see the church needs money to get the good news out there, we see our pastor working hard to feed us spiritually, we share what we have!
Now, I've asked several pro-tithers who say "Abraham tithed out of faith 400 years before the law, therefore I tithe out of faith not under law"; so how is that different from circumcision? You see, in faith, Abraham was circumcised 400 years before the law. Actually, in faith, Abraham sacrificed animals, and was even going to sacrifice his own son, 400 YEARS BEFORE THE LAW. If I have faith should I also take my son up a mountain and lay him on an alter? I mean, Abraham did! So I find this line of logic extremely illogical.
Second point about Abraham: If this example of Abraham tithing was meant to be an example for new covenant believers to follow, why is it not taught ANYWHERE in the new testament??? In fact, Hebrews even refers to the story and still somehow the writer forgot the mention the very important fact that we should still be tithing! I gather that to mean that the point of Abraham tithing to Melchizedek was NOT to show us that we should tithe. In fact Hebrews tells us why that account is in Scripture, and the point of it is the opposite of the tithing idea. So what's the point???
The point, as we can see is the whole point of Hebrews as well, is that the new covenant with the new Great High Priest is completely superior to the old system. I think it is safe to say that in the context of Hebrews the point of recounting this story is NOT to teach us that there is still one little rule we should keep from the old covenant, that is, tithing.
So, what do I think is the real reason most people still preach tithing? Well, I do think many people honestly just believe this Abraham thing, but part of it is definately connected to unbelief. It would be very difficult for a leader of a church or ministry to switch gears part way through and start telling people they don't need to tithe. Why? Because they rely and trust in the people's tithe for financial provision, not in God himself. Oh, they think God has given them the tithing teaching for their provision, but I say God is able to put in people a true desire and joy to give without any kind of rule or regulation about how they should give! It's the same argument that legalists use against those preaching grace all the time! If we just tell them they don't have to they won't! It's a panic issue, a fear that is based in unbelief in the power of God to produce sons in the image of Jesus. Sons who will naturally be generous, really!
And as many of these preachers have noted, sometimes when we kick out the props of law from under people they will wobble and even fall around for a time. But then they will learn to stand on their new grace legs and will infinitely healthier and stronger for it in the end. So couldn't we believe God to carry us through that time financially?
So those are some of my main thoughts on it all...What do you think?
Why do I think it's important to talk about? Well, I think if I've learned anything from the many grace preachers and teachers out there, I've learned how serious it is to mix in law with grace, even if it is only the tiniest whiff of the tiniest drop of it. Of course I don't believe any of us will live in 100% pure grace while living in this broken down world, but I do think we can avoid hanging on to bits of the law mentality in obvious teachings and practices.
In fact, I don't think anyone has a good excuse to be teaching tithing (and I think I've probably heard most of the excuses) because I know people have been questioning those teaching tithing, even bringing in applicable Scripture ect... I know this because I personally know people who have done this, including myself. I don't want any 'have to's' mixed in with my good news! This does NOT mean that I don't love and appreciate and learn loads from grace teachers who teach some form of tithing. Some of my favorite grace preachers still hang on to it as far as I know--some in a very gracious way and some in a much more blatantly Old Covenant way.
One important reason to stop preaching tithing is it is VERY confusing to people coming into the revelation of New Covenant grace. I am often questioned about why grace preachers are still talking abbout tithing. In the mind of someone coming out of legalism, they hear the good news that they've been set free from ALL law and requirements in the New Covenant and start to feel new freedom, then they hear the same preacher tell them they must still tithe and confusion sets in. How many other requirements are they still bound to? Maybe the good news is not as good as it initially seemed? Maybe there is still some bondage in some areas? As one of my fellow gracers once commented to me on the subject, "I just don't feel released from tithing yet". So is tithing the one thing Jesus didn't release us from??? Do I need to feel released or believe I'm released?!?!
Let me just say again, I do not want to disrespect anyone who still believes in tithing in grace. I'm not trying to offend and I certainly don't see this as an issue that should disrupt fellowship in any way. I love you tithers! And if you see something in my words that you think is legalistic in any way, please please tell me!
Ahem. So to Abraham. Joel touches on some of this in one of his posts but I want to talk about it a little more, mainly because it is one of the biggest arguments I've heard for New Covenant tithing. When I was first coming into grace, I was having a horrible time because financially it became impossible to tithe. Aaron never bothered much about that stuff, but I had a running tally in my head at all times of how much money we owed God and eventually it got to the point where I realized we would never be able to pay him back. Hahaha, it sounds so ridiculous now!
Anyway, as I said I was coming into grace so of course I was reading and reading Galatians and one day as I was doing this God just spoke to me: "replace circumcision with tithing and you have today's church". Wow!!! That was the end of it for me, I saw it clearly and ever since have been free from the bondage and constraint to give any particular amount of money to anyone at any time. Gone was the idea that part of my money really belonged to God, that I needed to give money to God in the first place etc., ect,... It's a crazy idea to think that giving money to a church or ministry is the same as giving money to God! All our giving is to other PEOPLE. It's more a matter of sharing if you ask me. If we see a brother in need of food or clothes, we share what we have with them. If we see the church needs money to get the good news out there, we see our pastor working hard to feed us spiritually, we share what we have!
Now, I've asked several pro-tithers who say "Abraham tithed out of faith 400 years before the law, therefore I tithe out of faith not under law"; so how is that different from circumcision? You see, in faith, Abraham was circumcised 400 years before the law. Actually, in faith, Abraham sacrificed animals, and was even going to sacrifice his own son, 400 YEARS BEFORE THE LAW. If I have faith should I also take my son up a mountain and lay him on an alter? I mean, Abraham did! So I find this line of logic extremely illogical.
Second point about Abraham: If this example of Abraham tithing was meant to be an example for new covenant believers to follow, why is it not taught ANYWHERE in the new testament??? In fact, Hebrews even refers to the story and still somehow the writer forgot the mention the very important fact that we should still be tithing! I gather that to mean that the point of Abraham tithing to Melchizedek was NOT to show us that we should tithe. In fact Hebrews tells us why that account is in Scripture, and the point of it is the opposite of the tithing idea. So what's the point???
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, their brothers—even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. Hebrews 7:1-10
The point, as we can see is the whole point of Hebrews as well, is that the new covenant with the new Great High Priest is completely superior to the old system. I think it is safe to say that in the context of Hebrews the point of recounting this story is NOT to teach us that there is still one little rule we should keep from the old covenant, that is, tithing.
So, what do I think is the real reason most people still preach tithing? Well, I do think many people honestly just believe this Abraham thing, but part of it is definately connected to unbelief. It would be very difficult for a leader of a church or ministry to switch gears part way through and start telling people they don't need to tithe. Why? Because they rely and trust in the people's tithe for financial provision, not in God himself. Oh, they think God has given them the tithing teaching for their provision, but I say God is able to put in people a true desire and joy to give without any kind of rule or regulation about how they should give! It's the same argument that legalists use against those preaching grace all the time! If we just tell them they don't have to they won't! It's a panic issue, a fear that is based in unbelief in the power of God to produce sons in the image of Jesus. Sons who will naturally be generous, really!
And as many of these preachers have noted, sometimes when we kick out the props of law from under people they will wobble and even fall around for a time. But then they will learn to stand on their new grace legs and will infinitely healthier and stronger for it in the end. So couldn't we believe God to carry us through that time financially?
So those are some of my main thoughts on it all...What do you think?
Thursday, April 16, 2009
ARE YOU SURE?
I want to begin by saying thank you. Thank you to my wife for letting me contribute on this blog. I also want to thank you for reading. This blog has been a great source of encouragement for Julie and I over the years. Your feedback has been key for us getting even more revelation of the Grace of God.
Today I want to ask you a few questions and hopefully encourage you in the process. On what do you place your certainty? What is your true north by which you set your internal compass? When all around you looks shaky and uncertain what is the one thing that is certain in your life? When scandals happen around you in the world what keeps you from giving up hope? Scripture points us to faith in the Gospel as our source of certainty.
Philippians 1:6 in the ESV says, “6And I am sure of this, that he who began(H) a good work in you(I) will bring it to completion at(J) the day of Jesus Christ.
Paul has confidence in the good work that God has started. He said, “I am sure of this…” He had no doubt about it. God has started something that He will carry out to completion “at the day of Jesus Christ”.
James 5:7-8 in the ESV says, “7Be patient, therefore, brothers,[a] until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives(N) the early and the late rains. 8You also, be patient.(O) Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord(P) is at hand.
These verses are found at the beginning of a section on suffering. Often when we suffer we are most tempted to let our faith unravel. Circumstances distract us and we feel our faith deflate with each distraction that comes. But James says be patient! We are to be like a farmer who knows that because he planted a seed he will reap fruit. The farmer has an established heart because he knows the truth about growing and harvesting. He has faith. We likewise should not allow what is going on around us to rob us of our faith in the Gospel. Verse 8 says to establish our hearts. To establish your heart is to believe the Gospel. Believe that Jesus came in the flesh, obeyed the Father on your behalf, became sin for you, died in your place as your substitute, cancelled the written code that stood opposed to you, freed you from the power of sin and death, and will return just as He left to clothe you with your new immortal body! Wow what good news! It is all based on Him not us or anyone else. That is the power behind the Gospel. It hinges completely on Jesus and Him alone. That is what our hearts should be established on.
So I ask you again, on what do you place your certainty? Do you place your faith in people, your self efforts, or circumstance which can change tomorrow? Or have you established your heart by believing the Gospel? You can be sure of this, He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.
Today I want to ask you a few questions and hopefully encourage you in the process. On what do you place your certainty? What is your true north by which you set your internal compass? When all around you looks shaky and uncertain what is the one thing that is certain in your life? When scandals happen around you in the world what keeps you from giving up hope? Scripture points us to faith in the Gospel as our source of certainty.
Philippians 1:6 in the ESV says, “6And I am sure of this, that he who began(H) a good work in you(I) will bring it to completion at(J) the day of Jesus Christ.
Paul has confidence in the good work that God has started. He said, “I am sure of this…” He had no doubt about it. God has started something that He will carry out to completion “at the day of Jesus Christ”.
James 5:7-8 in the ESV says, “7Be patient, therefore, brothers,[a] until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives(N) the early and the late rains. 8You also, be patient.(O) Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord(P) is at hand.
These verses are found at the beginning of a section on suffering. Often when we suffer we are most tempted to let our faith unravel. Circumstances distract us and we feel our faith deflate with each distraction that comes. But James says be patient! We are to be like a farmer who knows that because he planted a seed he will reap fruit. The farmer has an established heart because he knows the truth about growing and harvesting. He has faith. We likewise should not allow what is going on around us to rob us of our faith in the Gospel. Verse 8 says to establish our hearts. To establish your heart is to believe the Gospel. Believe that Jesus came in the flesh, obeyed the Father on your behalf, became sin for you, died in your place as your substitute, cancelled the written code that stood opposed to you, freed you from the power of sin and death, and will return just as He left to clothe you with your new immortal body! Wow what good news! It is all based on Him not us or anyone else. That is the power behind the Gospel. It hinges completely on Jesus and Him alone. That is what our hearts should be established on.
So I ask you again, on what do you place your certainty? Do you place your faith in people, your self efforts, or circumstance which can change tomorrow? Or have you established your heart by believing the Gospel? You can be sure of this, He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Justified By His Faith--Bertie's First Post!
The greatest thing God is concerned about is if you know that He loves you. His love for you is not merely contained in day to day emotions based on your performance. His love has been manifested in one act that is the solid foundation from where we can experience his love for us. That act is simply what Jesus has done on behalf of man. We rest our minds in the fact that He has died the death of the law man, the man that seeks righteousness and justification by His works, and that He was resurrected for our justification. With this truth in place we will never run short of righteousness, holiness or any godly attribute because by this truth God makes his dwelling in man and in such a way we see God live in our lives.
In the following scripture we can see the working of this great love which is that we are justified by His faith. His faith brought the justification and our belief in that gives us access into this wonderful truth.
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Bertie Brits
In the following scripture we can see the working of this great love which is that we are justified by His faith. His faith brought the justification and our belief in that gives us access into this wonderful truth.
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Bertie Brits
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Life Under the Law is Like This.... (Nickel Creek-Doubting Thomas)
I've always loved this song so much, and I was inspired by Sheila over at A Season of Harvest to post some Nickel Creek. And, like my good friend Dan, I'm often moved by secular songs far more than Christian songs...and dare I say, often they are more truthful.
This song always reminds me of how difficult it is sometimes growing up in the religious church world, I mean, it is too often very confusing. And depressing. As I've often said, I'm very thankful I was brought up in the church learning lots of truth from an early age and coming into a relationship with God very young, but there is a lot of unlearning I've had to do as well. This song always reminds me of the prodigals, both those I know and those I don't. And it makes me long for them to come home to their Father who loves them and isn't waiting to load them down with heavy burdens but just wants to give them rest.
This song always reminds me of how difficult it is sometimes growing up in the religious church world, I mean, it is too often very confusing. And depressing. As I've often said, I'm very thankful I was brought up in the church learning lots of truth from an early age and coming into a relationship with God very young, but there is a lot of unlearning I've had to do as well. This song always reminds me of the prodigals, both those I know and those I don't. And it makes me long for them to come home to their Father who loves them and isn't waiting to load them down with heavy burdens but just wants to give them rest.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Faith: Believing in God's Love
Faith used to be such a vague concept to me. A very spiritual sounding word that people used the most when they hit hard times. Honestly, in my various religious legalistic experiences, 'faith' was an expression of self-righteousness, often displayed with the air of a martyr. You see, men and women of faith could often be found standing by God even when they thought him responsible for disease, poverty, and death. The worse off they were in life, the more people proclaimed them super-holy saints of incredible 'faith'. But really, it doesn't take faith to believe that God would inflict suffering on me, it's easy to believe I deserve suffering or punishment sometimes! It takes faith to believe that God will never ever punish or use suffering to 'discipline' me because Jesus doesn't deserve ANY punishment ever again and I AM IN HIM.
To be sure we all pass through trials and suffering at times (and I believe true persecution is in a different category altogether). We have an enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion seeing who he might devour. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against a spiritual realm of spirits who wish us harm and will constantly accuse us and oppose us. BUT we also have an advocate who intercedes for us!!! One who has defeated evil forever and has given us eternal righteousness that can never be defiles or stolen from us. One who came to sympathize with us in our weakness out of lavish and exorbitant love for us, his own people. He will not leave us to suffer but will always intervene on our behalf, there is already abundant grace available to deliver us out.
I understand faith in a way that I never could before since seeing grace. Faith is simple, it is a response to experiencing God's love in a real way, whether his voice or his touch. Faith sees God, sees Jesus, and says, "yes! he does love me, I am precious to him!" Faith is not ashamed of the sufferings of Jesus, but rejoices in his love just as a baby does not apologize for causing his mother pain but reaches out for her loving arms and feeds on her joy in him. Faith leans so fully on the love of Jesus that all fear is banished in light of his beautiful goodness. He is all Goodness! He is all Kindness! He will never never never hurt one of his own. I know this because I believe he is good and he loves me. He has shown me again and again and again. Which one of us will give our child a stone when he asks for something to eat? Doesn't our father in heaven know how to give us good gifts even more? Infinitely more?
Faith is not a work we use to obligate God to perform for us at our word. Faith just receives God's love simply without question, without trying to earn or deserve, without suspicion. Faith sees Jesus and is satisfied, is overwhelmed with joy, is full to overflowing. Faith approaches God without agenda or cunning, with no need for lobbying, begging, or persuading. Because faith believes, more than that, RESTS, in the wonderful free love of Jesus.
To be sure we all pass through trials and suffering at times (and I believe true persecution is in a different category altogether). We have an enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion seeing who he might devour. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against a spiritual realm of spirits who wish us harm and will constantly accuse us and oppose us. BUT we also have an advocate who intercedes for us!!! One who has defeated evil forever and has given us eternal righteousness that can never be defiles or stolen from us. One who came to sympathize with us in our weakness out of lavish and exorbitant love for us, his own people. He will not leave us to suffer but will always intervene on our behalf, there is already abundant grace available to deliver us out.
I understand faith in a way that I never could before since seeing grace. Faith is simple, it is a response to experiencing God's love in a real way, whether his voice or his touch. Faith sees God, sees Jesus, and says, "yes! he does love me, I am precious to him!" Faith is not ashamed of the sufferings of Jesus, but rejoices in his love just as a baby does not apologize for causing his mother pain but reaches out for her loving arms and feeds on her joy in him. Faith leans so fully on the love of Jesus that all fear is banished in light of his beautiful goodness. He is all Goodness! He is all Kindness! He will never never never hurt one of his own. I know this because I believe he is good and he loves me. He has shown me again and again and again. Which one of us will give our child a stone when he asks for something to eat? Doesn't our father in heaven know how to give us good gifts even more? Infinitely more?
Faith is not a work we use to obligate God to perform for us at our word. Faith just receives God's love simply without question, without trying to earn or deserve, without suspicion. Faith sees Jesus and is satisfied, is overwhelmed with joy, is full to overflowing. Faith approaches God without agenda or cunning, with no need for lobbying, begging, or persuading. Because faith believes, more than that, RESTS, in the wonderful free love of Jesus.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Find Your Voice
When I first started blogging the name of my blog was "Looking For My Words". If I go back and read my early posts it's like I'm reading the words of another person, a sad and frightened little girl hiding in a corner. A person who was hyper-sensitive to criticism and condemnation either spoken or insinuated, sometimes just plain imagined. I had voices in my head and I listened to them, but they were not my voice, they were not God's voice. I thought they were my voice and God's voice...I thought my voice was speaking everything dirty and sinful, I thought the voice that then accused and condemned me was God's. I was wrong!
All day long I listened to the voices saying "you should, you shouldn't, you should, you shouldn't, you must, you must not, you will, you will not" followed by "you did, you're a sinner, you didn't, you're a sinner, you should have, you're a failure, you should not have, you failed again...try harder, if you love God you would try harder..." And then the other voices "run away you'll never get it right, you're a terrible wife, a lazy selfish mother, maybe you should end it all and then Aaron would be able to marry a godly woman and mother for his children". I lived in a constant state of confusion, I thought I was my own worst enemy. I thought God's main objective in my life was to convict me of sin every day every day and whip me into shape. I was wrong!
I was a broken and weary soul. I was starving for love, the kind of love that would not shatter and crumble when I made a mistake. I had faith that I would escape the flames of hell, but only just escape. I didn't know Jesus loved me because I couldn't hear him! He was shouting and waving his arms wildly but I had grown deaf and the veil of the law covered my eyes thickly. I was wandering hopelessly, my only hope was in death, heaven, so I could finally see Jesus and be changed. Others thought I was so holy because I longed for heaven so much, but it was not a sign of my 'holiness', it was a sign of my utter desperation, of my utter failure to grasp the Jesus of hope by faith, to live in him HERE and NOW.
Then everything changed. It didn't change all at once but the SON began to dawn and light slowly washed over my face, pale and cold first, then brighter and warmer, then, warmer and brighter! Then I heard a whisper, it was my Father, his voice was so much kinder and more compassionate than I remembered. I felt his strong but gentle hands begin to release me from the veil that covered my eyes, then he began to remove chains and I felt healing power begin to flow into my whole person. I realized he wasn't whispering, his voice was strong and clear now that my ears were open. Suddenly I could hear the other voices much more clearly and I realized that they were ugly, evil, and sinister. They were not my voice, they were not my Father's voice, they were evil demonic voices. And I realized they held no power over me unless I chose to listen and believe.
I looked up to see Jesus seated on the throne and he told me it was TIME. Time to crush Satan under my feet, to claim the victory that Jesus won for me by his resurrection, his triumph over and utter humiliation of the enemy. I began to join in with his church and declare the great battle cry of these last days:
I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS, THIS IS NOT OF MYSELF IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The enemy trembles and his resolve begins to melt away. The fear in his eyes is palpable, he is confused about his next step. Oh, there are other people and other places where he feels his power is strong, but what of this growing revolution, this rising of GRACE, this restoration of the GOSPEL??????????? The power of God for salvation, the GOOD NEWS, it is ringing louder and louder all across the earth! Soon everyone will hear, and many many more will believe! And the faith of the sons of God will swell and grow and overcome evil and the kingdom of the Almighty God will conquer darkness, disease, sickness, sin, fear, pain, depression, insanity, and EVERY OTHER WORK OF THE DEVIL WILL BE DESTROYED!!!!! And the sound of murmuring will grow to the sound of loud shouting in joyful unison, "Look up, look to the sky, Jesus is coming back!"
Many of us are finding our voices, aren't we? And we are using them to spread the Good News that dead people can live, that sinful people can be made righteous, that hungry people can be filled, that thirsty people can drink. This is what we were made for! How amazing that we live in God's eternal exhilarating love! How wonderful that by union with the One who made us and saved, by finding ourselves in Him, we finally begin to know who we really are...and we have something to say, something eternally valuable and transforming!
All day long I listened to the voices saying "you should, you shouldn't, you should, you shouldn't, you must, you must not, you will, you will not" followed by "you did, you're a sinner, you didn't, you're a sinner, you should have, you're a failure, you should not have, you failed again...try harder, if you love God you would try harder..." And then the other voices "run away you'll never get it right, you're a terrible wife, a lazy selfish mother, maybe you should end it all and then Aaron would be able to marry a godly woman and mother for his children". I lived in a constant state of confusion, I thought I was my own worst enemy. I thought God's main objective in my life was to convict me of sin every day every day and whip me into shape. I was wrong!
I was a broken and weary soul. I was starving for love, the kind of love that would not shatter and crumble when I made a mistake. I had faith that I would escape the flames of hell, but only just escape. I didn't know Jesus loved me because I couldn't hear him! He was shouting and waving his arms wildly but I had grown deaf and the veil of the law covered my eyes thickly. I was wandering hopelessly, my only hope was in death, heaven, so I could finally see Jesus and be changed. Others thought I was so holy because I longed for heaven so much, but it was not a sign of my 'holiness', it was a sign of my utter desperation, of my utter failure to grasp the Jesus of hope by faith, to live in him HERE and NOW.
Then everything changed. It didn't change all at once but the SON began to dawn and light slowly washed over my face, pale and cold first, then brighter and warmer, then, warmer and brighter! Then I heard a whisper, it was my Father, his voice was so much kinder and more compassionate than I remembered. I felt his strong but gentle hands begin to release me from the veil that covered my eyes, then he began to remove chains and I felt healing power begin to flow into my whole person. I realized he wasn't whispering, his voice was strong and clear now that my ears were open. Suddenly I could hear the other voices much more clearly and I realized that they were ugly, evil, and sinister. They were not my voice, they were not my Father's voice, they were evil demonic voices. And I realized they held no power over me unless I chose to listen and believe.
I looked up to see Jesus seated on the throne and he told me it was TIME. Time to crush Satan under my feet, to claim the victory that Jesus won for me by his resurrection, his triumph over and utter humiliation of the enemy. I began to join in with his church and declare the great battle cry of these last days:
I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS, THIS IS NOT OF MYSELF IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The enemy trembles and his resolve begins to melt away. The fear in his eyes is palpable, he is confused about his next step. Oh, there are other people and other places where he feels his power is strong, but what of this growing revolution, this rising of GRACE, this restoration of the GOSPEL??????????? The power of God for salvation, the GOOD NEWS, it is ringing louder and louder all across the earth! Soon everyone will hear, and many many more will believe! And the faith of the sons of God will swell and grow and overcome evil and the kingdom of the Almighty God will conquer darkness, disease, sickness, sin, fear, pain, depression, insanity, and EVERY OTHER WORK OF THE DEVIL WILL BE DESTROYED!!!!! And the sound of murmuring will grow to the sound of loud shouting in joyful unison, "Look up, look to the sky, Jesus is coming back!"
Many of us are finding our voices, aren't we? And we are using them to spread the Good News that dead people can live, that sinful people can be made righteous, that hungry people can be filled, that thirsty people can drink. This is what we were made for! How amazing that we live in God's eternal exhilarating love! How wonderful that by union with the One who made us and saved, by finding ourselves in Him, we finally begin to know who we really are...and we have something to say, something eternally valuable and transforming!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Law: License to Sin
I'm not sure why people never think of law as a license to sin but that's what the Pharisees and other religious leaders used law for. They were constantly trying to justify actions and beliefs that God hated, including accusing Jesus of sinning! They literally used the law to get away with murder (first Jesus, later the Christians).
Jesus took many opportunities to set them straight and time and time again. He was constantly trying to show them that to truly know the Father they should take their eyes off the law and put them on himself. The law was given as a guardian until Jesus came, but when the Father came many legalists chose the guardian over their own father!
Over and over, the religious people missed the point of the law, and still today they are doing the same. They continue to focus on whitewashing their tombs, on cleaning the outside of their cups and dishes, on preaching laws that keep people far from God trembling in fear and shame, on following rules and regulations instead of receiving and sharing God's love and mercy provided in the finished work of Jesus. They puff themselves up with a false sense of spirituality because they think it pious to choose the bad news over the good news, and they are deeply suspicious and condemning toward anyone who lives in the joyful simplicity of faith in God's good heart of love to his children.
Legalism has never produced anything good. It can only produce death, hypocrisy, and self-deceived fools. Believe me, I know what it's like to be a legalist, I remember it well! If you believe that the law is a means to produce any good thing in you, you are setting yourself up for woe. You will not and cannot please God through obeying the law and he is never impressed by your attention to details and technicalities. He is looking for one thing: FAITH.
In the New Covenant, faith IS obedience!
I will say it again! Faith is obedience! When we believe in Jesus our belief is credited as righteousness, we are pleasing God so much, he is so happy with us! When we believe in Jesus, our sins are no longer counted against us! When we believe in Jesus, we are born again by the Spirit so that the life we live in the flesh is by faith in the Son of God, not by adherence to the law.
Oh yes, I know it's not clear enough yet so I will say it, you won't find faith is impotent like the old husband law. The law of Christ, the law of liberty, the law of faith, the law of the Spirit of life!!--yes, it will produce many good things in our lives in God's good time. In fact, it the only way anything we do will not be burned up in the fire as hay and stubble. Only faith can produce anything that lasts.
Now you can safely and confidently take your eyes off yourself and your performance, go ahead. Now you can let go of your striving and enter his rest. Now to him you can give all the glory forever! We are yours Jesus!
Jesus took many opportunities to set them straight and time and time again. He was constantly trying to show them that to truly know the Father they should take their eyes off the law and put them on himself. The law was given as a guardian until Jesus came, but when the Father came many legalists chose the guardian over their own father!
Over and over, the religious people missed the point of the law, and still today they are doing the same. They continue to focus on whitewashing their tombs, on cleaning the outside of their cups and dishes, on preaching laws that keep people far from God trembling in fear and shame, on following rules and regulations instead of receiving and sharing God's love and mercy provided in the finished work of Jesus. They puff themselves up with a false sense of spirituality because they think it pious to choose the bad news over the good news, and they are deeply suspicious and condemning toward anyone who lives in the joyful simplicity of faith in God's good heart of love to his children.
"And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"— so that they might accuse him. He said to them, "Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Matthew 12:10-12
"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. Matthew 23:13-36
Legalism has never produced anything good. It can only produce death, hypocrisy, and self-deceived fools. Believe me, I know what it's like to be a legalist, I remember it well! If you believe that the law is a means to produce any good thing in you, you are setting yourself up for woe. You will not and cannot please God through obeying the law and he is never impressed by your attention to details and technicalities. He is looking for one thing: FAITH.
In the New Covenant, faith IS obedience!
"Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
John 6:28
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20-30-31
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." Romans 1:15-17
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin." Romans 4:5-8
"This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." 1 John 3:19-24
I will say it again! Faith is obedience! When we believe in Jesus our belief is credited as righteousness, we are pleasing God so much, he is so happy with us! When we believe in Jesus, our sins are no longer counted against us! When we believe in Jesus, we are born again by the Spirit so that the life we live in the flesh is by faith in the Son of God, not by adherence to the law.
Oh yes, I know it's not clear enough yet so I will say it, you won't find faith is impotent like the old husband law. The law of Christ, the law of liberty, the law of faith, the law of the Spirit of life!!--yes, it will produce many good things in our lives in God's good time. In fact, it the only way anything we do will not be burned up in the fire as hay and stubble. Only faith can produce anything that lasts.
Now you can safely and confidently take your eyes off yourself and your performance, go ahead. Now you can let go of your striving and enter his rest. Now to him you can give all the glory forever! We are yours Jesus!
"Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen." Romans 16:25-27
Friday, October 10, 2008
Better than Eden
But like Adam they transgressed the covenant;
there they dealt faithlessly with me.
Gilead is a city of evildoers,
tracked with blood.
As robbers lie in wait for a man,
so the priests band together;
they murder on the way to Shechem;
they commit villainy.
In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;
Ephraim’s whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.
Hosea 6:7-10
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:15-17
Lately I've been thinking a lot about Adam, I mean the first Adam. I've often wondered why God gave the command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Or more accurately, I've wondered why he put the tree there in the first place knowing that Adam would disobey one day. Now when I want to know something, I ask God! At one time, I would have just ignored my questions and told myself there are some things I can't know, but now I feel free to ask any question I want assuming that God will reveal answers to me at some point.
I think I may be starting to understand the 'why' of giving one command. I think it was a test of faith. Without a command, Adam would have been in relationship with God more out of necessity or ignorance, it would not have been rooted in faith. But by giving the one command, God wove a trust factor into the fabric of his fellowship with man. Because of the command, Adam could only remain in unbroken intimacy with God as long as he believed in God's honesty, love, and goodness. There was a covenant between Adam and God that depended on Adam believing God. As we all know, Adam broke this covenant and as the representative of mankind he broke it on our behalf as well.
Since that time, God has always desired a restoration of the relationship with man, a relationship where he would be loved for who he truly is, where he would be believed in. He desired a new kind of covenant that would be unbreakable, but Israel was always asking for covenants they arrogantly thought they could keep...they had no desire for an unbreakable covenant that would never make use of their self-righteous efforts. But peppered throughout the history of God's people there are those who stand out as highly favored of God, men and women who simply heard God's voice and believed him. Men and women like Abraham , Moses, Deborah, Esther, David, Daniel...they even received revelation by foreshadow of a different kind of covenant and put their hope in the mercy of God.
In Abraham's life we see some of the most amazing foreshadowings of both the old and new covenant. He entered into a covenant with God that he did not ratify himself, but was ratified on his behalf by God (Genesis 15) which is a picture of the way the new covenant would be ratified. Also, in the story of bringing Isaac to be sacrificed in obedience to God's command, we see an amazing picture of the redemption that would come through Jesus and his sacrifice. Abraham even believed that Isaac would have been resurrected from the dead!
In the covenant of circumcision (Genesis 17), is a foreshadowing of the covenant God would make with Israel when he gave the law to them through Moses. Circumcision would later be commanded in the Law (Leviticus 12:2) but it becomes clear in Galatians that circumcision is no longer necessary in the new covenant.
"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart."
Jeremiah 9:25-26
I believe God is speaking loud and clear in all of this:
"YOU WILL NEVER BE SAVED THROUGH YOUR OWN FLESH, YOUR OWN EFFORTS!!!!!
TRUST IN ME!!!!!!!"
So I say all that to say this: we have it better than Adam and Eve. I know they were created without sin, perfect. But only one sin ruined it all for everyone. But in the new covenant we are born again into the perfection of Jesus Christ who will never never ever sin! We can never fall from the high place where we've been seated with Jesus! We enter in by faith, but even if we sin we will not be cast out.
There would be no need to cast us out, we have already eaten from the Tree of Life!
So stop dreaming of Eden and the good old days haha, we have it so much better now!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Grace Changes, Life Inventory
Lately I've been noticing some changes in my life, in me. These changes have been taking place gradually over time since I've begun understanding the real gospel, and I've been largely unaware that it was even happening (read: I wasn't working to change these things myself). That's right, I haven't been part of any accountability groups, have not sat under any 'convicting' or 'challenging' preaching (at least not of my own free will haha),have not tried to tackle any particular sin in my life, have not signed up for any special classes or studies, and haven't even had any plan for 'spiritual disciplines'. Clearly I can't point to anything I've done that explains any change in my life, I've been just living free and enjoying God and our relationship.
So here are some of the changes Jesus has made in me, solely by the power of his gospel (purely good news!) of grace (completely unmerited and everlasting favor) that I want to boast about:
1. I am not as often angry, or so my children tell me.
2. I'm more fun, also according to my kids.
3. I laugh more, have more peace, joy, gentleness, and patience.
4. I am not aware of any unforgiveness or bitterness against anyone, just the other day a memory of a formerly very hurtful and personal sin against me (that used to affected me every time I thought about it) came into my mind and I felt nothing but love for the one who had sinned against me, I had not one negative emotion regarding the whole thing.
5. I very rarely if ever feel guilty. Even if my house is a mess or I just did something 'bad'. (I think this is why I'm in general more peaceful and happy, and less angry!)
6. I love people much more, and rarely see them as burdens or ministry 'projects'.
7. I am more productive than I was when I felt there were things I MUST do. I still do things I don't like to do, but I don't do them out of guilt.
8. I am much freer in the bedroom. I don't care if that makes you feel uncomfortable, christians should be free to acknowledge that sex exists, God knows the world doesn't shut up about it, it's time to let the world know they've got the short end of the stick on sex by a long shot.
9. I am able to be honest with my husband and others, even bringing up things that need to be confronted without using guilt manipulation, control, or condemnation the way I once did. (Not that I have this mastered yet, but I think I've learned a lot in this area.)
10. It is almost too easy for me to consider whether I might be wrong about something and admit when I clearly am wrong, or apologize. I think it took 5 years of marriage before I ever admitted I was wrong about anything, this is NOT a trait that was naturally part of my personality! I think this might be something in the line of true humility.
11. I do not struggle with fear like I once did. At one time I was afraid to talk or even laugh out loud, but now I probably talk too much! I do not fear rejection anymore, I am so secure in God's love for me.
I think I could list even more things, but that should do it for now. I want to stress very clearly that all these things are a testimony to God and his love to me. As Paul said of his life, '...not I but the grace of God in me..." I don't want to hear a laundry list of all your sins and shortcomings, I want to hear what God is doing in your life! Do you really think it glorifies the one who shed his blood for you if you dwell on the imperfection of your flesh under the law, or should we all think about not considering people (including ourselves!) according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit at work in them? I love to be able to look people in the eye, the most screwed up people like I was, and speak words of faith and destiny to them!
I have absolutely no trouble believing the the power of God for salvation, THE GOSPEL OF GRACE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, CAN CHANGE ANYONE ANYWHERE. And it's simple, they just need to hear the good news and believe!!!
So here are some of the changes Jesus has made in me, solely by the power of his gospel (purely good news!) of grace (completely unmerited and everlasting favor) that I want to boast about:
1. I am not as often angry, or so my children tell me.
2. I'm more fun, also according to my kids.
3. I laugh more, have more peace, joy, gentleness, and patience.
4. I am not aware of any unforgiveness or bitterness against anyone, just the other day a memory of a formerly very hurtful and personal sin against me (that used to affected me every time I thought about it) came into my mind and I felt nothing but love for the one who had sinned against me, I had not one negative emotion regarding the whole thing.
5. I very rarely if ever feel guilty. Even if my house is a mess or I just did something 'bad'. (I think this is why I'm in general more peaceful and happy, and less angry!)
6. I love people much more, and rarely see them as burdens or ministry 'projects'.
7. I am more productive than I was when I felt there were things I MUST do. I still do things I don't like to do, but I don't do them out of guilt.
8. I am much freer in the bedroom. I don't care if that makes you feel uncomfortable, christians should be free to acknowledge that sex exists, God knows the world doesn't shut up about it, it's time to let the world know they've got the short end of the stick on sex by a long shot.
9. I am able to be honest with my husband and others, even bringing up things that need to be confronted without using guilt manipulation, control, or condemnation the way I once did. (Not that I have this mastered yet, but I think I've learned a lot in this area.)
10. It is almost too easy for me to consider whether I might be wrong about something and admit when I clearly am wrong, or apologize. I think it took 5 years of marriage before I ever admitted I was wrong about anything, this is NOT a trait that was naturally part of my personality! I think this might be something in the line of true humility.
11. I do not struggle with fear like I once did. At one time I was afraid to talk or even laugh out loud, but now I probably talk too much! I do not fear rejection anymore, I am so secure in God's love for me.
I think I could list even more things, but that should do it for now. I want to stress very clearly that all these things are a testimony to God and his love to me. As Paul said of his life, '...not I but the grace of God in me..." I don't want to hear a laundry list of all your sins and shortcomings, I want to hear what God is doing in your life! Do you really think it glorifies the one who shed his blood for you if you dwell on the imperfection of your flesh under the law, or should we all think about not considering people (including ourselves!) according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit at work in them? I love to be able to look people in the eye, the most screwed up people like I was, and speak words of faith and destiny to them!
I have absolutely no trouble believing the the power of God for salvation, THE GOSPEL OF GRACE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, CAN CHANGE ANYONE ANYWHERE. And it's simple, they just need to hear the good news and believe!!!
Friday, August 08, 2008
More on the Breaking of Bread (communion)
Recently I found a great blog called "See the World Through His Heart" through a comment someone left. He's got some amazing revelation on grace and recently wrote about communion. If you have time, read what he wrote and think about in which manner you come to eat and drink of the Lord's body and blood...
I believe that as we recover the worthy manner in receiving Jesus' body and blood, people's eyes will be opened more and more to the reality of the true gospel, and to the precious gift of God's righteousness given to us only by grace through faith. We need to get back to the simplest and most powerful expressions of our faith and allow the Holy Spirit to build his kingdom with supernatural power through us, and stop relying on our intellectual arguments and meager efforts.
It's time to boldly come to the Lord's table and eat and drink without fear or shame, our confidence is not in our flesh but in Christ's. Our joyful confidence will be a sign and testimony to everyone who sees us and may we never apologize to any legalist for our boldness before God.
I believe that as we recover the worthy manner in receiving Jesus' body and blood, people's eyes will be opened more and more to the reality of the true gospel, and to the precious gift of God's righteousness given to us only by grace through faith. We need to get back to the simplest and most powerful expressions of our faith and allow the Holy Spirit to build his kingdom with supernatural power through us, and stop relying on our intellectual arguments and meager efforts.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:16-17
It's time to boldly come to the Lord's table and eat and drink without fear or shame, our confidence is not in our flesh but in Christ's. Our joyful confidence will be a sign and testimony to everyone who sees us and may we never apologize to any legalist for our boldness before God.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Healing: The Fool Method
When we attended Vineyard Christain Fellowship at the Barn in Landenburg PA, they showed a video of John Wimber's testimony over a couple of summer Sundays. It was great, and one part that particularly stands out to me was when John was talking about the moment he got saved (I think). His mind flashed back to a zealous Christian protester wearing a sign that said on the front "I'm a fool for Christ" and on the back "who's fool are you?" So John Wimber started out with a clear understanding at the moment of his spiritual birth that he was now to be a fool for Christ.
And I remember Rob preaching once that he believed the key to revival was going to be people responding to God in obedience in something foolish. In other words, as people get a revelation of grace and start to really trust God's heart of love for them they will enter into true humility (losing self-consciousness and becoming fully enraptured with God) and will no longer care if they look like a fool!
Last night my daughter was in severe pain as happens from time to time with her. Since she was a baby she's had stomach problems and it's not unusual for her to be doubled over in pain for a few hours moaning and groaning, sometimes screaming. I had the same problem as a child... We always pray for her when she's sick or in pain, as we do the other kids, but usually to no avail. But I'm usually still worried about looking like a fool, if you know what I mean, not wanting anyone else to be around when I'm praying for her. I'm still conscious of the 'foolishness' of expecting anything to happen and how 'foolish' I may look trying to do something .
I think last night started out the same, but then something changed. I started to be angry about the pain she was in, and for the first time (or at least the first time in a very long time) I knew faith was rising up, that is, the Spirit of faith himself. I actually think part of what happened was that I was very tired at this point and didn't care about acting like a fool! I began to authoritatively command the pain to go and Eva got some relief. In fact she didn't even answer me when I asked her how she felt because she went immediately into a deep sleep. A few minutes later the pain came back and I told it to go again and she fell asleep again and was fine for the rest of the night.
It's strange to think that often the greatest obstacle to seeing God do what I'm longing for in my life is my own resistance...but there is a glorious answer to this problem! Just need to be more and more in his presence, becoming more and more lost in him and his glory! What a terribly horrible prescription for health haha!
Don't believe anyone who tells you the answer to your problems is some prescription for a heavier burden or harder yoke, IT'S A LIE. The answer is always God himself and he is only ever a great delight to his children.
And I remember Rob preaching once that he believed the key to revival was going to be people responding to God in obedience in something foolish. In other words, as people get a revelation of grace and start to really trust God's heart of love for them they will enter into true humility (losing self-consciousness and becoming fully enraptured with God) and will no longer care if they look like a fool!
Last night my daughter was in severe pain as happens from time to time with her. Since she was a baby she's had stomach problems and it's not unusual for her to be doubled over in pain for a few hours moaning and groaning, sometimes screaming. I had the same problem as a child... We always pray for her when she's sick or in pain, as we do the other kids, but usually to no avail. But I'm usually still worried about looking like a fool, if you know what I mean, not wanting anyone else to be around when I'm praying for her. I'm still conscious of the 'foolishness' of expecting anything to happen and how 'foolish' I may look trying to do something .
I think last night started out the same, but then something changed. I started to be angry about the pain she was in, and for the first time (or at least the first time in a very long time) I knew faith was rising up, that is, the Spirit of faith himself. I actually think part of what happened was that I was very tired at this point and didn't care about acting like a fool! I began to authoritatively command the pain to go and Eva got some relief. In fact she didn't even answer me when I asked her how she felt because she went immediately into a deep sleep. A few minutes later the pain came back and I told it to go again and she fell asleep again and was fine for the rest of the night.
It's strange to think that often the greatest obstacle to seeing God do what I'm longing for in my life is my own resistance...but there is a glorious answer to this problem! Just need to be more and more in his presence, becoming more and more lost in him and his glory! What a terribly horrible prescription for health haha!
Don't believe anyone who tells you the answer to your problems is some prescription for a heavier burden or harder yoke, IT'S A LIE. The answer is always God himself and he is only ever a great delight to his children.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Invading the Impossible--Buying a House
We looked at 3 houses yesterday, none of which are "the one". It's funny because there's no earthly way we could get a mortgage right now, or for quite some time having 0 savings left and no credit in Canada, and not a long enough job history here.
There's a book called "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" that Aaron got for Christmas one year which talks about two different mindsets that directly influence whether we'll be prosperous or not in this world, not a spiritually minded book in the least, but lately God has been bringing that phrase to my mind. Do I live like my Dad is rich or poor? I grew up with a poor mentality, when I was young we often had very little money for food and people would drop of food on our doorstep many times just when we needed it. God always provided, and it was great to live that way in one way, but my mentality both with my parents and with God was to only ask for the least amount possible, what I really needed and nothing more. Now God is reminding me that not only is he rich, but he's very generous and really enjoys lavishing good gifts on his children, just like any loving parent does!
So anyway, while driving away from the last house we saw, which was very low in price and pretty much unlivable, God spoke to me that the elders should be given to hospitality. And that is really on our hearts and it's killing us not being able to have our own place to have people in for meals and really get to know them. But he then said if hospitality is so important to him, then we should ask him to be hospitable to us first so we can be hospitable to others. In other words, we need him to give us a home first, BUT WE NEED TO ASK. I think as far as requirements that God has in order for us to receive from him, this is a pretty simple one. We just need to ask. It's that easy, because the work is finished, in Jesus we already qualify for every blessing!
The temptation all along has been to feel we should 'settle' for a place that is not ideal for what we need it for and also to settle for a place that looks more practical but is not the home we would really like. But when I got home again, God told me to look for my farmhouse. This is something I had given up hoping for because I thought it was impossible and not practical and I didn't 'need' it. So I looked, and I found the perfect place. We've been looking at houses on the internet for months but hadn't seen this one because we weren't looking in that area. It's a very good price (less that 2 we looked at yesterday) under 90,000 with 5 bedrooms and 50 acres of land backing onto a small river. Anyone who knows me can imagine how much I would love this! So now we just need the money, such a small matter haha! I told Aaron last night that when I looked at the pictures it was the first time I really felt faith rising up in me to believe it's possible, and of course it is! There are other impossible things happening right now and I'll share them a little bit later, so stay tuned...
There's a book called "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" that Aaron got for Christmas one year which talks about two different mindsets that directly influence whether we'll be prosperous or not in this world, not a spiritually minded book in the least, but lately God has been bringing that phrase to my mind. Do I live like my Dad is rich or poor? I grew up with a poor mentality, when I was young we often had very little money for food and people would drop of food on our doorstep many times just when we needed it. God always provided, and it was great to live that way in one way, but my mentality both with my parents and with God was to only ask for the least amount possible, what I really needed and nothing more. Now God is reminding me that not only is he rich, but he's very generous and really enjoys lavishing good gifts on his children, just like any loving parent does!
So anyway, while driving away from the last house we saw, which was very low in price and pretty much unlivable, God spoke to me that the elders should be given to hospitality. And that is really on our hearts and it's killing us not being able to have our own place to have people in for meals and really get to know them. But he then said if hospitality is so important to him, then we should ask him to be hospitable to us first so we can be hospitable to others. In other words, we need him to give us a home first, BUT WE NEED TO ASK. I think as far as requirements that God has in order for us to receive from him, this is a pretty simple one. We just need to ask. It's that easy, because the work is finished, in Jesus we already qualify for every blessing!
The temptation all along has been to feel we should 'settle' for a place that is not ideal for what we need it for and also to settle for a place that looks more practical but is not the home we would really like. But when I got home again, God told me to look for my farmhouse. This is something I had given up hoping for because I thought it was impossible and not practical and I didn't 'need' it. So I looked, and I found the perfect place. We've been looking at houses on the internet for months but hadn't seen this one because we weren't looking in that area. It's a very good price (less that 2 we looked at yesterday) under 90,000 with 5 bedrooms and 50 acres of land backing onto a small river. Anyone who knows me can imagine how much I would love this! So now we just need the money, such a small matter haha! I told Aaron last night that when I looked at the pictures it was the first time I really felt faith rising up in me to believe it's possible, and of course it is! There are other impossible things happening right now and I'll share them a little bit later, so stay tuned...
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Why I Share the Bad Stuff in Public...
My husband asked me if I thought it was a good idea to share things like in my last post, being brutally honest about whatever I'm struggling with on the world wide web. Just thought you all might be interested in why I choose to be as transparent on here as possible. It's really for a couple of reasons.
First of all, I've mentioned before I use my blog as a kind of journal of my life so I (and my family) will be able to look back on what God has done.
Second of all, I think God gets way more glory when people can see the story from start to finish. In other words, if I didn't share the ugly parts of what I'm dealing with, my testimony will not be as amazing to you when I tell you how God has transformed and conformed me to Jesus. Yes, I have faith that the things I'm struggling with now will be a great story of God's grace and power at some point in the future, and even now it proves how faithful he is to sustain, comfort, and pour out compassion on his children. Already my faith has been boosted since I wrote the last post. Perhaps I'll share that little story next, it's a little funny...
First of all, I've mentioned before I use my blog as a kind of journal of my life so I (and my family) will be able to look back on what God has done.
Second of all, I think God gets way more glory when people can see the story from start to finish. In other words, if I didn't share the ugly parts of what I'm dealing with, my testimony will not be as amazing to you when I tell you how God has transformed and conformed me to Jesus. Yes, I have faith that the things I'm struggling with now will be a great story of God's grace and power at some point in the future, and even now it proves how faithful he is to sustain, comfort, and pour out compassion on his children. Already my faith has been boosted since I wrote the last post. Perhaps I'll share that little story next, it's a little funny...
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Watch Out For Catholic Drivers!!!
I'm serious. The vatican has apparently issued a 'ten commandments' for drivers.
Taken from the article linked above, they are as follows:
Let's just leave the whole issue of who has authority to put law on God's people alone...well, for now anyway...
Are you expecting 60 million or so Catholics to make a dent in the problem of road rage all over the world? Well, I'm sure many of them don't drive but still there must be a significant number of drivers. Yes, they will make a difference. Mostly, they will become worse drivers than ever. That's what the law is for, to increase sin! (Romans 5:20, see below)
Don't tell me you haven't experienced this principle at work. Make a rule for yourself and you will immediately break it and then some. Or maybe you are of the rare 'strong willed' group. Maybe you're more like Paul, and can spout of your own version of "... circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless..."
(Phil. 3:5-6) You are living a lie if you think you can handle obeying the law well enough. 'Well enough' means absolutely perfect obedience just as Christ achieved. If you can pull that off, then you're right, you don't need Jesus. Paul goes on to say in Philippians 3:
"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith..."
That word 'rubbish' is more accurately translated 'dung' in the KJV. Or as Rob Rufus says, 'poo'. All your precious works are no more than one big pile of , well , you know. Don't get upset with me, take it up with the Spirit of Christ. He's trying to get through to us! What Jesus did here on earth behalf of sinners was not a pleasant walk in the park. It involved incredible sacrifice and immeasurable suffering, yet we don't think it was really enough. We prove that every time we come up with a new rule or plan to please God our Father.
I've listed below some passages from Romans that talk about what the law is for. I hope to study this more in depth throughout the whole Bible myself over the next few months.
If you still don't believe that law makes us sin more, I challenge you to give it a try. Make a rule for yourself, or just pick one out of the original ten commandments (applying Jesus' interpretation involving your heart). Try to keep it perfectly for one week. I was going to suggest some but God stopped me. I don't want to be responsible for provoking anyone to sin!
Taken from the article linked above, they are as follows:
The "Drivers' Ten Commandments," as listed by the document, are:
1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.
Let's just leave the whole issue of who has authority to put law on God's people alone...well, for now anyway...
Are you expecting 60 million or so Catholics to make a dent in the problem of road rage all over the world? Well, I'm sure many of them don't drive but still there must be a significant number of drivers. Yes, they will make a difference. Mostly, they will become worse drivers than ever. That's what the law is for, to increase sin! (Romans 5:20, see below)
Don't tell me you haven't experienced this principle at work. Make a rule for yourself and you will immediately break it and then some. Or maybe you are of the rare 'strong willed' group. Maybe you're more like Paul, and can spout of your own version of "... circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless..."
(Phil. 3:5-6) You are living a lie if you think you can handle obeying the law well enough. 'Well enough' means absolutely perfect obedience just as Christ achieved. If you can pull that off, then you're right, you don't need Jesus. Paul goes on to say in Philippians 3:
"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith..."
That word 'rubbish' is more accurately translated 'dung' in the KJV. Or as Rob Rufus says, 'poo'. All your precious works are no more than one big pile of , well , you know. Don't get upset with me, take it up with the Spirit of Christ. He's trying to get through to us! What Jesus did here on earth behalf of sinners was not a pleasant walk in the park. It involved incredible sacrifice and immeasurable suffering, yet we don't think it was really enough. We prove that every time we come up with a new rule or plan to please God our Father.
I've listed below some passages from Romans that talk about what the law is for. I hope to study this more in depth throughout the whole Bible myself over the next few months.
"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20)
"For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression." (Romans 4:13-15)
"Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
(Romans 5:20-21
"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."
(Romans 6:14)
"Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit."
(Romans 7:4-6)
"But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 1The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me." (Romans 7:8-10)
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4)
If you still don't believe that law makes us sin more, I challenge you to give it a try. Make a rule for yourself, or just pick one out of the original ten commandments (applying Jesus' interpretation involving your heart). Try to keep it perfectly for one week. I was going to suggest some but God stopped me. I don't want to be responsible for provoking anyone to sin!
Friday, June 01, 2007
Are You a Charismatic?
I just had this thought in my head thinking about the so-called 'open-but-cautious' group. ( I think I've been there, although with all honesty I think a more appropriate term would be 'open-but-terrified'.) I was thinking, it's not such a bad group to be in if it's a transitional time. Whether or not it's a transition into the power and manifest presence of God depends on our true heart's desire. It's a scary thing to step out and throw your arms up in the air to cry out 'God, do whatever you want to me , in me, through me!' and I can't blame anyone for being a little nervous about the results. But I believe that if we do this, there will be impossible to ignore results! Why? Because this kind of surrender can only flow out of true faith--utter dependency on our God who we know to be utterly trustworthy.
So maybe I'm still in the open-but-terrified group more often than I care to think about. Am I really willing to yield to the Holy Spirit all of myself all of the time? Are you?
I want to be...
So maybe I'm still in the open-but-terrified group more often than I care to think about. Am I really willing to yield to the Holy Spirit all of myself all of the time? Are you?
I want to be...
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