Facebook on Friday, 12 November 2010 at 18:11
Rich Novek
Rich Novek
I was recently blown away when I read the following from Norman Grubb, who also happens to be one of my favorite authors:
"Then, being bold in defining exactly what are the things we are presently desiring in place of the mountain confronting us, and naming them, we speak the key word of the countdown - we press the button marked, "SAY." We do that from our inner spirit-center, simply by our authority as sons of God. Jesus has plainly told us to act as God by "the faith of God" - by His inner believing imparted to us, by our inner union of mind and understanding. This means that in acting as He, all of His mighty resources are at our disposal. It is not now a matter of us being at His disposal, but of Him being at our disposal. He is operating in this present world-system by us. We say with Caleb, "Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it." (Numbers 13:30)
And in so doing, we laugh the laugh of faith." (Norman Grubb, Yes I Am, chapter 38)
What blew me away was this sentence; "It is not now a matter of us being at His disposal, but of HIM BEING AT OUR DISPOSAL. He is operating in this present world-system BY US."
Did I read that right, He is at our disposal?
Then I thought about how Norman parallels the Trinity, and makes a comparison to how we operate as humans. He parallels the "Thought" stage with the "Father", the "Word" stage with the "Son", and the "DEED" stage with the "Spirit!" THOUGHT, WORD, and DEED. (Work)......FATHER, SON, and SPIRIT. (Worker)
If the FATHER is the original THOUGHT, the Son is the original SPOKEN WORD, and the Spirit is the original WORKER, or THE ONE who brings substance (POWER) to the SPOKEN WORD, than what Norman stated earlier can be life changing if we can truly grasp it's meaning!
Please bear with me, because this gets really exciting!
When we started out on this journey, we were falsely taught that we needed to become LIKE JESUS..., in other words we were told to work hard, and work hard we did! We set out determined to be like Jesus as much as we all knew how! We never stopped to consider that our working in our own stength was really disobedience. There is after all only ONE obedience, it is called the obedience of faith! So God continued to deal with us in that ignorant place of disobedience until we were fully spent and we finally came to our senses. Does this sound familiar?
But the damage had already been done at that point, and working was all we knew! It was all about our trying to be good and godly Christian's! Just like Paul, we learned to be "ULTIMATE DO-ER'S!"
"What anyone else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast about." (II Cor 11:21)
Remember Paul's long list of accomplishments? Paul was an ULTIMATE DO-ER! But it was at some point in Paul's journey something traumatic happened, and he did a complete 180. He who was the Ultimate Do-er is also the same one who said, "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" And in another place; "For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." (Philippians 3:8)
What could cause this "Ultimate Do-er" to undergo such a dramatic transformation?
We know about his Romans 7 struggle, and revelation, and of course his wonderful Romans 8 proclamation; "Therefore there is no condemnation to those who are IN CHRIST, for the law of the SPIRIT OF LIFE set me free from the law of sin and death!" (Romans 8:1-2)
Spirit of Life? Who set Paul free? The Spirit, right?
Now let's go back to what Norman said in YES I AM. He said in another passage in the same book; that the Spirit was the ONE who brought substance to the Word, or what he called The DEED or ACTION." The Father was THOUGHT, The Son was WORD, and the Spirit was DEED (or Action), remember? "The critical moment of any action, whether by the Three-in-One, or by man made in His likeness, is the speaking of the decisive word: attitude (or thought) (Father) moves into word (Son) and action (Spirit). That is why we say that a word puts a person in action." (Norman Grubb YES I AM, chapter 38)
I used to think I was the worker until God let all my working bring me to utter exhaustion! I then agreed with God that Christ was living "IN" me according to Galatians 2:20, but remember, I worked for all those years, and being the WORKER was what had become my identity.
Identity is everything!
Down through the years I have undergone several identity transformations, and so have you, no doubt. I started drinking and using drugs in my teens because I was in a "teen age" identity crisis. Partying than became my identity, until I went through rehab in 1981. It was then I met my first wife and got saved, Christianity was my new identity. I got married, had kids, and worked hard to be the best Christian I could be! At that time, being a married, hard working Christian father was my identity. I then lost everything... my possessions, my family, almost my life, and went through yet another identity transformation! All of those ups and downs of life opened my eyes to my ONLY TRUE IDENTITY! Which is seeing Christ...AS MY IDENTITY!
I don't have to worry about ever having another identity crisis, because...HE IS MY ONLY IDENTITY, HE IS MY ONLY LIFE!
If in SEEING this wonderful discovery, we have learned HE IS THE ONLY TRUE WORKER...than what part do we play?
This is where it gets really exciting!
"There is a REST for the people of God." (Heb 4:9)
The problem is, we don't understand or even realize the real implications for refusing to enter into this wonderful place, this place of HIS REST that He Himself has prepared for His people to enter in by faith! In fact, if we saw the REAL VALUE OF HIS REST, we would be like the rich man who willingly sold all he had!
If His Spirit is the TRUE WORKER, and if we have not yet ceased from my own works, than there's no one who has entered HIS REST! But hold on, didn't Norman say the Spirit was the DEED, or the substance of things hoped for?
I recently declared myself a PERMANENT RESIDENT of His marvelous REST! What does that mean? It means, no matter how this kingdom of darkness (this land of appearances) presents itself, I no longer have to try and work out anything in my own strength. Where I used to just visit HIS REST and live in turmoil, I now SEE MYSELF "IN" HIS REST... BY FAITH!
I NOW SEE HIM (The Spirit) AS THE ONLY TRUE WORKER!
If this is true, and it is BY FAITH, than what God wants us to see here can be life changing!
Let's take a look at a couple of examples of scripture, beginning with the time Jesus was awakened from His sleep (RESTING IN THE FATHER) in the middle of a HURRICANE!
We know Jesus was fast asleep, but where was the Spirit? The Spirit (as the Worker) was at Rest, waiting on Jesus Spoken Word! He was waiting to add substance to His command for the benefit of those watching! The Spirit (as the Worker) was the (ONLY) Worker there! Jesus (who is THE LIVING WORD) spoke, and The Spirit was sent out to perform exactly what He was sent out to do! And we know what happened, instantly the raging storm ceased to exist, and the water was like glass!
"For it is (The Spirit) God who is working "IN" you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Phil 2:13)
"All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too (The Spirit) God will (work to) make clear to you." ( Phil 3:15)
"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will (also be the one who wills and works to) give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)
Here is one other example:
When Jesus was baptized and the Spirit landed on Him in the form of a dove, what happened to the Dove (The symbol of The Spirit)? He found His REST "IN" The Son! That is, until the Spoken Word summoned Him to take Action or go to Work! This is how all of Jesus miracles gained their substance (POWER) and were manifested for all the people to see! ONLY by the WORK OF THE WORKER, (the Spirit)! And why? Because the SON WAS AT REST "IN" HIS FATHER!
Now let's bring this closer to home.
If the Spirit was working when Christ was at Rest, what is He doing when we are at Rest?
I hope you are ready, because this is what really blew me away!
He is standing by waiting to add the needed substance to OUR SPOKEN WORD! Because... "AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THE WORLD! (I John 4:17)
And He is requiring us to ENTER IN BY FAITH so that...He can get to work in fullfilling the desire of our heart we so desire! "What things soever ye [not He] desire…, ye shall have." (Mark 11:24)
But if we are not TRULY RESTING FROM YOUR WORK, He will be RESTING FROM HIS... that is until we do! There MUST BE SOMEBODY WHO ENTERS INTO ...HIS REST!
"Since therefore it remains that SOME MUST ENTER IN, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:6)
So who is it going to be that enters into His Rest? Is it going to be us or the WORKER (Spirit), whose sole purpose is to SERVE the Body by working to bring substance to our Word of faith! And to every single "whosoever" that is "IN" HIS REST!
He (The Spirit) is our Servant, He is our Worker! He would much rather SEE US AT REST, so that...He can do the willing and working "IN" and through us, the work we desire to see being done!
In order to be FIRST in our lives, He has willingly become the Last (Servant and Worker) for His... RESTING BRIDE! The Groom's (Christ) Servant (The Spirit) is at the Bride's beckon call! Is that as amazing to you as it is to me? I am blown away, as this is worth a lifetime of "light and momentary afflictions", this weight of GLORY which God longs to reveal to His hurting body! (I Corinthians 4:17)
All so His precious one's, those who are striving to enter HIS REST by faith could all share in this wonderful revelation, this revelation of the Spirit that He longs for everyone to see! This life changing revelation of Him as The Willing, Waiting, and Serving WORKER!
Think about it, The Spirit has willingly become our Servant, and sits by patiently waiting for us to cease from our works, just so he can Work his Work in Us, which is to bring His substance (POWER) to OUR Spoken Word! And in just the same way as He has been doing since the beginning, when the Spirit of Christ, gave the earth it's form and it's substance by the Spoken WORD OF THE SON, THE ONE ETERNAL THOUGHT... of our Loving Heavenly Father! He (The Spirit) is the ONE who is at work, bringing that same form and substance to OUR SPOKEN WORD... AS WE ENTER INTO...HIS REST!
"Then, being bold in defining exactly what are the things we are presently desiring in place of the mountain confronting us, and naming them, we speak the key word of the countdown - we press the button marked, "SAY." We do that from our inner spirit-center, simply by our authority as sons of God. Jesus has plainly told us to act as God by "the faith of God" - by His inner believing imparted to us, by our inner union of mind and understanding. This means that in acting as He, all of His mighty resources are at our disposal. It is not now a matter of us being at His disposal, but of Him being at our disposal. He is operating in this present world-system by us. We say with Caleb, "Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it." (Numbers 13:30)
And in so doing, we laugh the laugh of faith." (Norman Grubb, Yes I Am, chapter 38)
What blew me away was this sentence; "It is not now a matter of us being at His disposal, but of HIM BEING AT OUR DISPOSAL. He is operating in this present world-system BY US."
Did I read that right, He is at our disposal?
Then I thought about how Norman parallels the Trinity, and makes a comparison to how we operate as humans. He parallels the "Thought" stage with the "Father", the "Word" stage with the "Son", and the "DEED" stage with the "Spirit!" THOUGHT, WORD, and DEED. (Work)......FATHER, SON, and SPIRIT. (Worker)
If the FATHER is the original THOUGHT, the Son is the original SPOKEN WORD, and the Spirit is the original WORKER, or THE ONE who brings substance (POWER) to the SPOKEN WORD, than what Norman stated earlier can be life changing if we can truly grasp it's meaning!
Please bear with me, because this gets really exciting!
When we started out on this journey, we were falsely taught that we needed to become LIKE JESUS..., in other words we were told to work hard, and work hard we did! We set out determined to be like Jesus as much as we all knew how! We never stopped to consider that our working in our own stength was really disobedience. There is after all only ONE obedience, it is called the obedience of faith! So God continued to deal with us in that ignorant place of disobedience until we were fully spent and we finally came to our senses. Does this sound familiar?
But the damage had already been done at that point, and working was all we knew! It was all about our trying to be good and godly Christian's! Just like Paul, we learned to be "ULTIMATE DO-ER'S!"
"What anyone else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast about." (II Cor 11:21)
Remember Paul's long list of accomplishments? Paul was an ULTIMATE DO-ER! But it was at some point in Paul's journey something traumatic happened, and he did a complete 180. He who was the Ultimate Do-er is also the same one who said, "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" And in another place; "For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." (Philippians 3:8)
What could cause this "Ultimate Do-er" to undergo such a dramatic transformation?
We know about his Romans 7 struggle, and revelation, and of course his wonderful Romans 8 proclamation; "Therefore there is no condemnation to those who are IN CHRIST, for the law of the SPIRIT OF LIFE set me free from the law of sin and death!" (Romans 8:1-2)
Spirit of Life? Who set Paul free? The Spirit, right?
Now let's go back to what Norman said in YES I AM. He said in another passage in the same book; that the Spirit was the ONE who brought substance to the Word, or what he called The DEED or ACTION." The Father was THOUGHT, The Son was WORD, and the Spirit was DEED (or Action), remember? "The critical moment of any action, whether by the Three-in-One, or by man made in His likeness, is the speaking of the decisive word: attitude (or thought) (Father) moves into word (Son) and action (Spirit). That is why we say that a word puts a person in action." (Norman Grubb YES I AM, chapter 38)
I used to think I was the worker until God let all my working bring me to utter exhaustion! I then agreed with God that Christ was living "IN" me according to Galatians 2:20, but remember, I worked for all those years, and being the WORKER was what had become my identity.
Identity is everything!
Down through the years I have undergone several identity transformations, and so have you, no doubt. I started drinking and using drugs in my teens because I was in a "teen age" identity crisis. Partying than became my identity, until I went through rehab in 1981. It was then I met my first wife and got saved, Christianity was my new identity. I got married, had kids, and worked hard to be the best Christian I could be! At that time, being a married, hard working Christian father was my identity. I then lost everything... my possessions, my family, almost my life, and went through yet another identity transformation! All of those ups and downs of life opened my eyes to my ONLY TRUE IDENTITY! Which is seeing Christ...AS MY IDENTITY!
I don't have to worry about ever having another identity crisis, because...HE IS MY ONLY IDENTITY, HE IS MY ONLY LIFE!
If in SEEING this wonderful discovery, we have learned HE IS THE ONLY TRUE WORKER...than what part do we play?
This is where it gets really exciting!
"There is a REST for the people of God." (Heb 4:9)
The problem is, we don't understand or even realize the real implications for refusing to enter into this wonderful place, this place of HIS REST that He Himself has prepared for His people to enter in by faith! In fact, if we saw the REAL VALUE OF HIS REST, we would be like the rich man who willingly sold all he had!
If His Spirit is the TRUE WORKER, and if we have not yet ceased from my own works, than there's no one who has entered HIS REST! But hold on, didn't Norman say the Spirit was the DEED, or the substance of things hoped for?
I recently declared myself a PERMANENT RESIDENT of His marvelous REST! What does that mean? It means, no matter how this kingdom of darkness (this land of appearances) presents itself, I no longer have to try and work out anything in my own strength. Where I used to just visit HIS REST and live in turmoil, I now SEE MYSELF "IN" HIS REST... BY FAITH!
I NOW SEE HIM (The Spirit) AS THE ONLY TRUE WORKER!
If this is true, and it is BY FAITH, than what God wants us to see here can be life changing!
Let's take a look at a couple of examples of scripture, beginning with the time Jesus was awakened from His sleep (RESTING IN THE FATHER) in the middle of a HURRICANE!
We know Jesus was fast asleep, but where was the Spirit? The Spirit (as the Worker) was at Rest, waiting on Jesus Spoken Word! He was waiting to add substance to His command for the benefit of those watching! The Spirit (as the Worker) was the (ONLY) Worker there! Jesus (who is THE LIVING WORD) spoke, and The Spirit was sent out to perform exactly what He was sent out to do! And we know what happened, instantly the raging storm ceased to exist, and the water was like glass!
"For it is (The Spirit) God who is working "IN" you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Phil 2:13)
"All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too (The Spirit) God will (work to) make clear to you." ( Phil 3:15)
"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will (also be the one who wills and works to) give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)
Here is one other example:
When Jesus was baptized and the Spirit landed on Him in the form of a dove, what happened to the Dove (The symbol of The Spirit)? He found His REST "IN" The Son! That is, until the Spoken Word summoned Him to take Action or go to Work! This is how all of Jesus miracles gained their substance (POWER) and were manifested for all the people to see! ONLY by the WORK OF THE WORKER, (the Spirit)! And why? Because the SON WAS AT REST "IN" HIS FATHER!
Now let's bring this closer to home.
If the Spirit was working when Christ was at Rest, what is He doing when we are at Rest?
I hope you are ready, because this is what really blew me away!
He is standing by waiting to add the needed substance to OUR SPOKEN WORD! Because... "AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THE WORLD! (I John 4:17)
And He is requiring us to ENTER IN BY FAITH so that...He can get to work in fullfilling the desire of our heart we so desire! "What things soever ye [not He] desire…, ye shall have." (Mark 11:24)
But if we are not TRULY RESTING FROM YOUR WORK, He will be RESTING FROM HIS... that is until we do! There MUST BE SOMEBODY WHO ENTERS INTO ...HIS REST!
"Since therefore it remains that SOME MUST ENTER IN, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:6)
So who is it going to be that enters into His Rest? Is it going to be us or the WORKER (Spirit), whose sole purpose is to SERVE the Body by working to bring substance to our Word of faith! And to every single "whosoever" that is "IN" HIS REST!
He (The Spirit) is our Servant, He is our Worker! He would much rather SEE US AT REST, so that...He can do the willing and working "IN" and through us, the work we desire to see being done!
In order to be FIRST in our lives, He has willingly become the Last (Servant and Worker) for His... RESTING BRIDE! The Groom's (Christ) Servant (The Spirit) is at the Bride's beckon call! Is that as amazing to you as it is to me? I am blown away, as this is worth a lifetime of "light and momentary afflictions", this weight of GLORY which God longs to reveal to His hurting body! (I Corinthians 4:17)
All so His precious one's, those who are striving to enter HIS REST by faith could all share in this wonderful revelation, this revelation of the Spirit that He longs for everyone to see! This life changing revelation of Him as The Willing, Waiting, and Serving WORKER!
Think about it, The Spirit has willingly become our Servant, and sits by patiently waiting for us to cease from our works, just so he can Work his Work in Us, which is to bring His substance (POWER) to OUR Spoken Word! And in just the same way as He has been doing since the beginning, when the Spirit of Christ, gave the earth it's form and it's substance by the Spoken WORD OF THE SON, THE ONE ETERNAL THOUGHT... of our Loving Heavenly Father! He (The Spirit) is the ONE who is at work, bringing that same form and substance to OUR SPOKEN WORD... AS WE ENTER INTO...HIS REST!
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Darlene Pitre Foux, Cathy Rheeder, Betty Lorine Schwabedissen and 5 others like this.
Cheryl Lowry Rich..I enjoyed reading your "Wow" moment of truth. It is invigorating to read a fresh revelation. It reminded me of when Christ was leaving he said, I will not leave you comfortless..meaning he was sending the Spirit to abide in us....as our worker (so to speak). It is true when we work he rest until we realize we are trying to do something He (Spirit) is suppose to do. Awesome..thanks for posting!
18 April at 21:06 · Like · 2 people
Rita Vanderstichelen Goodness Rich , Talking about a ''WOW'' moment , I TOTALLY agree with you , this is truly ''mindboggling'', I just love it , it's 1.30am here and i have to go to bed , but I'm to exited about this word, not that I diden't already knew this ...See more
19 April at 00:46 · Like · 1 person
Dan Powers really wonderful to find this sort of thing being deeply real for us, so much that we can say without pride,.. "We are recklessly abandoned to Christ... Yes we are!! .. thank you Rich for sharing another "YES" ...
19 April at 02:24 · Like · 2 people
Joan Reilly Wow is the right word. I don't know what to say right now. I'm still chewing this delicious meat. I'll get back to you.
27 September at 14:24 · Like
Chris Welch There is after all only ONE obedience, it is called the obedience of faith! You know what this week's been about don't you....it's catching all the areas in our own lives and those who surround us - particularly those born of God but "bewit...ched"....and addressing those strongholds of unbelief. They "LOOK" on the surface to be the same.But one is part of OCD church, the other is of the continually "called out" ecclesia type of church of the obedience of faith, coming from a moment by moment union with the Son of God.ANYTHING ELSE WILL BE CAUGHT OUT!8 hours ago · Like · 2 people
Chris Welch Luke 17 :5-10 BUT JESUS,how do we get this faith...?
Well, sit down, and I'll tell you a story...you see there were these servants who learned their place in the scheme of things by working hard in the fields all day...and then....can you imagine....they ...then girded themselves with waiter's garb, and went on to serve the Master UNTIL HE WAS SATISFIED. Satisfied with what Jesus? Satisfied about whose mission they were on. Satisfied about Union of being. Satisfied about the obedience of the glance in Psalm 123. Then what happened Jesus. The Master said "enough!" then sat them all down, girded Himself with the waiter's gear and BEGAN TO SERVE THEM.See more7 hours ago · Like
Cindi Estep Woo Hoo! He's at our disposal and so we can call things that be not as though they were!!!! May we all take a load off and Rest so that He may perform His goodness through, in and for us!! Thanks Rich!!
6 hours ago · Like
Betty Lorine Schwabedissen Reading all the comments above after reading your "Wow" Revelation all I can say is "HALLELUJAH!" WE ARE COMING TO THIS REST AS 'SOME MUST ENTER IN'...I WANT TO BE ONE OF THE "SOME! \O/ \O/
2 hours ago · Like
Rich Novek Betty, you ARE ONE OF THE SOME! We ALL ARE... and none of us by our own doing! We are all here by Him!
I know Cindi, it is amazing, it's like WOW, did I really just read that?
Chris, so true brother, the formulas and programs, and all of th...See more
2 hours ago · Like
Cathy Rheeder Thank u rich,speachless,blown away!its so awesome,will read it over +over again+write it out.wow!gob smaking!
about an hour ago via Facebook Mobile · Like
Chris Welch Rich did you get the thing about the "works" that are described in the parable. I think it's similar to your recent discoveries in James.
The first time we read about the servants first in the field, then at table, everyone thinks according to a "works" kind of faithfulness. Among the Free Believer's "cleaning the toilets" has become a standing joke. What began as something genuine to do with people humbling themselves cleaning loos, has now become a Tree of knowledge of good and evil staple for testing out if someone should go into ministry.As many of us have proved in the early 80s, you can spend years cleaning loos as some kind of Trials of Ulysses test....but it is "service" with agenda....a symbiotic warped relationship between Pyramid pastor and "willingly submitted " flock. But Jesus demands obedience of faith....to His Word. Both His general Word and the specific secret things spoken by the Holy Spirit personally to each one.
We don't clean loos for an agenda....we clean loos because they are there, and because we're in love with ALL OUR EQUAL brethren.....some of whom are more pastoral in character, some who serve, some who radiate cheerfulness,some who "see", some who teach. I suppose when you see some of the divas on X Factor, you think, they need to clean some loos!
Picture:The ultimate solution.....super trained CAT-MAIDS
But our "service" is one where the FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD is growing within us. The idea in Ephesians is that the first chapters we listen and "get" by revelation WHO we are. This is our foundation. Then we take that foundation into every part of our lives. We "believe" in family situations, work situations,civil authority situations until we are skilled at seeing no man after the flesh. Until the world can nolonger "hook" us up in some unspoken relationship. This is no small thing. As you and Linda are now experiencing.
My friend James Hughes had everything falling around his neck at the time a millionaire American TV producer offered him 3 or 4 million dollars for the rights to his Christian film. The Holy Spirit HE SAY NO! Ouch.....
That's why , when God releases this film, it's going to be something else!
Cinderella is NOT a fairy tale.
I repeat the story of Cinderella is a documentary. It is a documentary of how Spirit life works. It comes straight from the parable I related.
There are always some ugly sisters, with all the power. There is always a Cinderella who is serving WITHOUT agenda, who out of nowhere is plucked up, and made to sit with princes. Jesus has eternally done that with each of us. But the story keeps manifesting in real time also.
I bet each one of you know patterns of this in your life. And because you have the same Spirit that moves this way I can freely relate one example. As I said on my blog.....in 15 years of Christianity, including when God used me to set off a revival in my school by preaching, (so from 1972 - 85) only once did organisational Christianity ask me to preach.God bypassed this completely. My personal life at the time was a wreck. But He snatched me out of Bible House for 6 weeks to visit my parents in Kenya, who were helping the President set up a quality AFRICAN school with science studies.Next thing I know the President and the headmaster were asking me to preach into the school.
These sort of tales are STAPLE if we stick with this life of "OBEDIENCE OF FAITH"....."OBEDIENCE TO WHAT WE CANNOT SEE YET."
5 minutes ago · Like
Darlene Pitre Foux, Cathy Rheeder, Betty Lorine Schwabedissen and 5 others like this.
Cheryl Lowry Rich..I enjoyed reading your "Wow" moment of truth. It is invigorating to read a fresh revelation. It reminded me of when Christ was leaving he said, I will not leave you comfortless..meaning he was sending the Spirit to abide in us....as our worker (so to speak). It is true when we work he rest until we realize we are trying to do something He (Spirit) is suppose to do. Awesome..thanks for posting!
18 April at 21:06 · Like · 2 people
Rita Vanderstichelen Goodness Rich , Talking about a ''WOW'' moment , I TOTALLY agree with you , this is truly ''mindboggling'', I just love it , it's 1.30am here and i have to go to bed , but I'm to exited about this word, not that I diden't already knew this ...See more
19 April at 00:46 · Like · 1 person
Dan Powers really wonderful to find this sort of thing being deeply real for us, so much that we can say without pride,.. "We are recklessly abandoned to Christ... Yes we are!! .. thank you Rich for sharing another "YES" ...
19 April at 02:24 · Like · 2 people
Joan Reilly Wow is the right word. I don't know what to say right now. I'm still chewing this delicious meat. I'll get back to you.
27 September at 14:24 · Like
Chris Welch There is after all only ONE obedience, it is called the obedience of faith! You know what this week's been about don't you....it's catching all the areas in our own lives and those who surround us - particularly those born of God but "bewit...ched"....and addressing those strongholds of unbelief. They "LOOK" on the surface to be the same.But one is part of OCD church, the other is of the continually "called out" ecclesia type of church of the obedience of faith, coming from a moment by moment union with the Son of God.ANYTHING ELSE WILL BE CAUGHT OUT!8 hours ago · Like · 2 people
Chris Welch Luke 17 :5-10 BUT JESUS,how do we get this faith...?
Well, sit down, and I'll tell you a story...you see there were these servants who learned their place in the scheme of things by working hard in the fields all day...and then....can you imagine....they ...then girded themselves with waiter's garb, and went on to serve the Master UNTIL HE WAS SATISFIED. Satisfied with what Jesus? Satisfied about whose mission they were on. Satisfied about Union of being. Satisfied about the obedience of the glance in Psalm 123. Then what happened Jesus. The Master said "enough!" then sat them all down, girded Himself with the waiter's gear and BEGAN TO SERVE THEM.See more7 hours ago · Like
Cindi Estep Woo Hoo! He's at our disposal and so we can call things that be not as though they were!!!! May we all take a load off and Rest so that He may perform His goodness through, in and for us!! Thanks Rich!!
6 hours ago · Like
Betty Lorine Schwabedissen Reading all the comments above after reading your "Wow" Revelation all I can say is "HALLELUJAH!" WE ARE COMING TO THIS REST AS 'SOME MUST ENTER IN'...I WANT TO BE ONE OF THE "SOME! \O/ \O/
2 hours ago · Like
Rich Novek Betty, you ARE ONE OF THE SOME! We ALL ARE... and none of us by our own doing! We are all here by Him!
I know Cindi, it is amazing, it's like WOW, did I really just read that?
Chris, so true brother, the formulas and programs, and all of th...See more
2 hours ago · Like
Cathy Rheeder Thank u rich,speachless,blown away!its so awesome,will read it over +over again+write it out.wow!gob smaking!
about an hour ago via Facebook Mobile · Like
Chris Welch Rich did you get the thing about the "works" that are described in the parable. I think it's similar to your recent discoveries in James.
The first time we read about the servants first in the field, then at table, everyone thinks according to a "works" kind of faithfulness. Among the Free Believer's "cleaning the toilets" has become a standing joke. What began as something genuine to do with people humbling themselves cleaning loos, has now become a Tree of knowledge of good and evil staple for testing out if someone should go into ministry.As many of us have proved in the early 80s, you can spend years cleaning loos as some kind of Trials of Ulysses test....but it is "service" with agenda....a symbiotic warped relationship between Pyramid pastor and "willingly submitted " flock. But Jesus demands obedience of faith....to His Word. Both His general Word and the specific secret things spoken by the Holy Spirit personally to each one.
We don't clean loos for an agenda....we clean loos because they are there, and because we're in love with ALL OUR EQUAL brethren.....some of whom are more pastoral in character, some who serve, some who radiate cheerfulness,some who "see", some who teach. I suppose when you see some of the divas on X Factor, you think, they need to clean some loos!
Picture:The ultimate solution.....super trained CAT-MAIDS
But our "service" is one where the FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD is growing within us. The idea in Ephesians is that the first chapters we listen and "get" by revelation WHO we are. This is our foundation. Then we take that foundation into every part of our lives. We "believe" in family situations, work situations,civil authority situations until we are skilled at seeing no man after the flesh. Until the world can nolonger "hook" us up in some unspoken relationship. This is no small thing. As you and Linda are now experiencing.
My friend James Hughes had everything falling around his neck at the time a millionaire American TV producer offered him 3 or 4 million dollars for the rights to his Christian film. The Holy Spirit HE SAY NO! Ouch.....
That's why , when God releases this film, it's going to be something else!
Cinderella is NOT a fairy tale.
I repeat the story of Cinderella is a documentary. It is a documentary of how Spirit life works. It comes straight from the parable I related.
There are always some ugly sisters, with all the power. There is always a Cinderella who is serving WITHOUT agenda, who out of nowhere is plucked up, and made to sit with princes. Jesus has eternally done that with each of us. But the story keeps manifesting in real time also.
I bet each one of you know patterns of this in your life. And because you have the same Spirit that moves this way I can freely relate one example. As I said on my blog.....in 15 years of Christianity, including when God used me to set off a revival in my school by preaching, (so from 1972 - 85) only once did organisational Christianity ask me to preach.God bypassed this completely. My personal life at the time was a wreck. But He snatched me out of Bible House for 6 weeks to visit my parents in Kenya, who were helping the President set up a quality AFRICAN school with science studies.Next thing I know the President and the headmaster were asking me to preach into the school.
These sort of tales are STAPLE if we stick with this life of "OBEDIENCE OF FAITH"....."OBEDIENCE TO WHAT WE CANNOT SEE YET."
5 minutes ago · Like
Rich Novek At the Adult level of maturity you can no longer SEE the LIVING WORD according to dead letter theology!
" All of us who are mature?" (Phil 3:15)
Just as an infant cannot SEE what an adult sees, when we move into maturity "IN" HIm, we are ...required to SEE ALL THINGS with ADULT eyes!
Spiritual Adults always SEE with a "SINGLE EYE!" (Mathew 6:22-23)
So the old ways and means have to be put out to pasture because... NOW IN SEEING GOD ONLY any scripture or reference having to do with works (Faith without works is dead) no longer fits the mold of us as doing those works...apart from Him!
"Do not call to mind the former things or ponder things of the past! I will do something NEW, NOW IT WILL SPRING FORTH!" (Isaiah 43:19)
For He alone is the TRUE WORKER! The Spirit (Action) who adds the much needed subtance (POWER) to the LIVING WORD, the WORD which proceeds out of our mouths...ALL FOR OTHERS! (Hebrews 11:1, John 1:14, Deut 8:3)
This is the level where Christ lived His life! The level of UNCONDITIONAL LOVE which Norman calls "self for others!"
And because HE SEES HIS FATHER "IN" ALL THINGS AS HIS LIFE...He has NEVER taken even one thought for HIS OWN SELF PRESERVATION!See more
19 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 2 people
Philip Wambua and Betty Lorine Schwabedissen like this.
Chris Welch : Nope,still don't think you're picking it up.You're hearing what I'm not saying and I think you've got a block on what Jesus was meaning here,which is strange as you've got a handle on James.
What better way to unpick what Jesus was saying than observe how He trained the disciples.
They had a background of Judaism, so He didn't have to start from pagan scratch. So He sent them more or less straight "into the field".He got them to proclaim the Kingdom is among you and they received a limited impartation to go with it to impart healings and miracles. The obedience of faith. Not cleaning loos or putting out chairs.
Then He set to work on how they "saw" things. As self for self items arose He presented the Truth to them.It got tougher and tougher to serve Him and be around Him,like being in a pan of water as it heats up.They had to remain steady in their seeing and not to harden their hearts or get offended....as the demands went up and up.By the time of their Master being crucified before them......(Similar in type but much more gruesome than Elisha having to stick by Elijah right to the point of him being taken up,with all the sons of the prophets saying "Go home,this is not for you")
It all got too much....
But Jesus like a Master at table had taken his servants to "the end of themselves"
At which point He makes breakfast for them on the beach,and begins to prepare them for a life where they speak the Word, and He as you say backs them up,or serves them.
This parable of Jesus and the servants in the field needs completely rewriting in people's minds to take it right out of "the obedience of works" into the obedience of faith. Or hanging in there with our new "seeing". Until the Master is ready!See more
Luke 17:5-10
The apostles said to (F)the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
6And (G)the Lord said, "If you had faith like (H)a mustard seed, you would say to this (I)mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.
7"Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down to eat'?
8"But will he not say to him, '(J)Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink'?
9"He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?
10"So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'"
1 comment:
Blees you brother Chris, and thank you for your obedience to the only obedience there is, the obedience of Faith!
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