Friday, 26 November 2010 at 19:52
"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Mathew 10:39)
Let God just touch your ministry or your position of power or influence! Not even completely remove it, but just touch the person, place, or thing which is at the center of your life! And touching it will be enough, because most of the "so-called" church leadership are still feeding on the milk of what Paul calls the elementary (school) teachings concerning Christ.
Death is at work in HIS BODY! So that His Life may also be revealed through HIS BODY! His Body; the people of God who see themselves still attached to the ONLY HEAD! Those who stand in agreement with Him in the death, burial, and resurrection of all things! Losing your life! SEEING Life out of death!
And He is the (ONLY) head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn FROM AMONG THE DEAD…SO THAT “IN” everything He might have the supremacy. (Colossians 1:18)
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)
After reading these verses, do you still believe it’s possible to continue to serve and worship Him AND…your religious self interests at the same time?
Look at the Roman Centurion; "Just say the word." What? Can it really be that simple? What about our programs, our financial planning seminars, and our deliverance services? What about the current focus on future revival, the list of coming events, and our other “Christian” gimmicks? What about the focus on good and evil, and sin and Satan?
The “Living Word” sees ONLY HIMSELF AS THE SUPREME AUTHORITY OVER ALL THINGS! Christ, who is the “Living Word!” This “Fountain of Living Waters” of whom Isaiah talks about, has a SANITIZ-ING effect! ”HE” IS PURE AND FULL OF LIFE AND LIGHT AND POWER!
The “dead letter” apart from the Spirit works in just the opposite way. “IT” has more of a SATAN-IZING effect! It still has no choice but to see Satan as the God of all evil AND...God as the God of all good! It sees the illusion of the black dog and white dog at war with each other. It sees what it thinks is light, but in reality is darkness, division, and has no power!
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. IF THEREFORE THAT LIGHT THAT IS "IN" THEE BE DARKNESS, HOW GREAT IS THAT DARKNESS! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (or anything else for that matter).” (Mathew 6:22-23)
Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)
“AND EVEN IF OUR GOSPEL IS VEILED IT IS VEILED TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING”
The god of this age has blinded the minds of (Christian) unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (II Cor. 4:4-7)
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. WE ALWAYS CARRY AROUND IN OUR BODY THE DEATH OF JESUS, SO THAT THE LIFE OF JESUS …MAY ALSO BE REVEALED IN OUR BODY. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then…DEATH IS AT WORK “IN US, BUT LIFE IS AT WORK “IN” YOU. (II Cor. 4:8-12)
“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you THE ELEMENTARY TRUTHS OF GODS WORD (who is Christ) ALL OVER AGAIN. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But SOLID FOOD IS FOR THE MATURE, who by constant use have trained themselves (By SEEING Only God IN ALL THINGS) to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:11-14)
Contrary to popular belief, being educated “about” God does not make you mature “IN” Him! The gods of education have replaced the (perceived foolish) message of the Cross. Do you think it is a coincidence that while the church has focused on educating the body “about” God, there has never been more of a sense of estrangement from Him? God is not impressed with our education. Our varying "degrees" of earthly wisdom are foolishness to Him! Human knowledge (apart from seeing “Christ Only”) still puffs up! (I Cor. 8:1)
The twin false gods of education and Satan have been given more attention today in most churches, charismatic and otherwise, than the message of the Cross could ever hope to have. And the institutional hierarchy loves having it's continued focus on the EXTERNALS of lifeless religion, because it justifies their own spiritual shallowness when it comes to “TRULY SPIRITUAL” things! The INTERNAL workings of the Spirit of which they really have no clue, because they have remained ignorant to the message of the Cross! They see the same as the Pharisee’s of Jesus day saw! Remember Nicodemus? Jesus answered, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these (truly spiritual) things?” (John 3:10)
Focusing on sin and Satan keeps the modern day leadership occupied from having to look at the truth. The reality of their own lack, when it comes to having a…REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE "LIVING" WORD!
And unlike their god, which has as its foundation in the “dead letter performance based gospel of trying harder for God”, the "LIVING WORD" demands the ONE THING from them they have no intention of ever giving up! EVERY-THING!
This is what the message of the cross, preaching “Christ and HIM CRUCIFIED” is all about!
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)
Do you desire to be weaned from the performance based “dead letter” message? Do you really want to GROW UP "IN" GOD?
Then do the same as the men and women of God who have gone before you! Willingly lay down your life, lose your life, and sell all you have!
This ONE THING you lack!
When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. SELL EVERYTHING you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22)
When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. (Luke 18:23)
Give! Love is giving! Not of what you want to give, but what He wants to give “IN” and through you! Not with what you still believe you made with your own hands, and by your own strength! That is “convenient giving" and is not really giving at all. God does not want or need your money or your dead works.
HE WANTS YOUR WHOLE HEART!
GIVE YOURSELF WHOLLY AND WITHOUT RESERVATION! GIVE UNTIL YOU SEE WHAT HE SEES, AND YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS OF THE MAN WHO STOOD “IN” HIS NOTHINGNESS “IN” GOD”S PRESENCE!
JUSTIFIED FREELY BY GRACE ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE!
Lay your literal life on the altar...AND THEN LET HIM BEGIN TO CIRCUMCIZE YOUR HEART FROM YOUR LOVE OF THE WORLD AND THE THINGS OF THE WORLD! THE ONE who said He would teach us ALL THINGS! Let Him show you by “His Spirit” what "ALL THINGS" includes!
We are set free from the law of sin and death! We no longer serve and worship the dual gods of the garden called good and evil! WE NOW SEE THE ONE WHO HAS CALLED US AND PERFECTED US BY HIS DOING... BY HIS GRACE! Good and evil are left behind in this dark land of appearances. And in their place WE SEE ONLY GOD;ONLY NOW!
Christ has NOW, in this ETERNAL TODAY...become our ONLY LIFE!
That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker, who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth. That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, as he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor? (Isaiah 51:13)
This lying lion has had his fangs permanently removed! The only power he has is the power he has been given…BY GOD! The only power he has is in the power of the lie. The same lie he has been using since the beginning!
“IF YOU DO THIS, THEN YOU WILL BECOME THIS.” (Genesis 3:5)
CHRIST ALONE IS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! THIS KINGDOM IS ONLY THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON!
The institutional church is dying because it sees itself as being separate from THE VINE! Christ being the Vine! There is no life apart from Him! There is no meaningful or viable ministry left except Christ “IN” US!
“And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” (II Cor.5:18)
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (SEEING ALL THINGS EXACTLY AS HE SEES THEM) IS THE ONE MINISTRY WHICH HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO HIS ONE BODY!
And those who continue to insist on calling their life their own...WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO SETTLE FOR THIS TEMPORAL LAND OF APPEARANCES, THIS DOMAIN OF DARKNESS!
“[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself…OUT OF THE CONTROL AND THE DOMINION OF DARKNESS AND HAS TRANSFERRED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE SON OF HIS LOVE, In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. [Now]… HE IS THE EXACT LIKENESS OF THE UNSEEN GOD [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation. For it was…“IN” HIM THAT ALL THINGS WERE CREATED, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, THINGS SEEN AND UNSEEN, WHETHER THRONES, DOMINIONS, RULERS, OR AUTHORITIES (so much for a Satan who acts independent of God); ALL THINGS WERE CREATED AND EXIST THROUGH HIM [by His service, intervention] AND “IN” HIM AND FOR HIM. And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together). He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, SO THAT…HE ALONE “IN” EVERY-THING and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent]. For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently. And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] ALL THINGS SHOULD BE COMPLETELY RECONCILED BACK TO HIMSELF, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His Cross.” (Colossians 1:13-20 AMP)
LikeUnlike · Comment · ShareDarlene Pitre Foux, Mikkel Thomsen, Cathy Rheeder and 9 others like this.
Ivana Šimić BIG AMEN!!!
26 November at 19:59 · LikeUnlike · 1 person
Loading...June Melanson How I wish this was taught more in the institution. The majority of believers have no idea about the significance of the cross. Thanks for your continued sharing Rich. Love it!
26 November at 21:50 · LikeUnlike · 3 people
Loading...Kim Flink what confirmation, RECONCILIATION!! woot woot
26 November at 22:17 · LikeUnlike · 1 person
Loading...Betty Lorine Schwabedissen For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made HIS light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (II Cor. 4:4-7)...HOW I LOVE THIS PORTION OF SCRIPTURE THAT SO CLEARLY TELLS US 'HE MADE HIS LIGHT SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS...Oh how we need to grasp this in our hearts...there is ONLY ONE and that is JESUS CHRIST who lives and abides within us as we die to our own selfish desires and let HIM reign! AMEN & AMEN
26 November at 22:35 · LikeUnlike · 1 person
Loading...Mary-Ann Urosev The gospel message is about the cross so understanding what this means is VITAL ... thanks for sheading some light Rich ... great note!
27 November at 00:47 · LikeUnlike · 1 person
Loading...Eric Silverman Ditto to Mary-Ann's thought.
27 November at 01:02 · LikeUnlike · 1 person
Loading...Mikkel Thomsen Thank you Rich. There is ONLY ONE Way, Truth and Life!....And THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (SEEING ALL THINGS EXACTLY AS HE SEES THEM) IS THE ONE MINISTRY WHICH HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO HIS ONE BODY! I agree!♥
27 November at 13:15 · LikeUnlike · 1 person
Loading...Debbie Sneddon The god of this age has blinded the minds of (Christian) unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lor...d, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (II Cor. 4:4-7)<------I am reading a book called "The Christian Atheist"(Believing in God but living as if He doesn't exist) by Pastor Craig Groeschell & it deals with this same subject. I ask God to please take the blinders and scales off my eyes, to open my heart & ears to Him, knowing that it by faith I please Him & obedience is believing Him & what He says in His word. Doing this I am obedient, not striving for His approval, knowing I have it through Jesus Christ. God bless you, Rich, keep up the good fight.See more
27 November at 19:08 · LikeUnlikeJoan Reilly AND THEN LET HIM BEGIN TO CIRCUMSIZE YOUR HEART FROM YOUR LOVE OF THE WORLD AND THE THINGS OF THE WORLD
and
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (SEEING ALL THINGS EXACTLY AS HE SEES THEM) IS THE ONE MINISTRY WHICH HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO HIS ONE BOD...Y!
Yes, please!!!! and Amen!!! Thank you, Rich.See more
27 November at 23:21 · LikeUnlike · 1 person
Loading...Chris Welch And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] ALL THINGS SHOULD BE COMPLETELY RECONCILED BACK TO HIMSELF, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of Hi...s Cross.” Huge this. If we are seeing lots of division/ separation/things askew instead of focussing on this, we have to focus on the Father's Divine MEANS....the Son who has received His job description papers...to reconcile all things ....the only "Way" He knows how, which is catching all things everywhere up into Himself.
You've got it all wrong Jesus....didn't you mean to say "by means of committee meetings"....which have now been redubbed prayer meetings?See more
29 November at 13:15 · LikeUnlike · 1 person
Loading...Rich Novek Amen Chris, whatever happened to KNOWING THIS...or THIS ONE THING I DO....?
29 November at 13:59 · LikeUnlikeRich Novek Hey Chris, take a look at my current status and the continued comment I left and you will see my full response. It seems anytime you write to me, my response also becomes my current status! Bless you brother!:)
Back to First in series..........
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