Mar 12
Spirituality - Were You Born for This?
It has taken some time, but Oprah has quietly risen over the years to a place of prominence, partly because she is committed to helping others, partly because she feels she was born to do this, and partly because she is deeply interested in spiritual matters. Her commitment, financially, visually, and socially has struck a chord in the hearts of many who deep down inside know there is more to life than logic driven solutions. To them it is clear there is invisible matter and life out there and it is superior to the visible life we pay so much attention to. The problem lies in the question, “What invisible world are we talking about – dark or light?”
Rather than ramble on about all the things that we read, hear, and see that endorse the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, I would like to focus on what can be done. Perhaps it will be no shock to you that I feel we should do nothing to boycott, or speak against Oprah or any other new Age guru or pundit. I believe our greatest gift to mankind is to live a spiritual life that demonstrates who God is and that there is only one way to know Him. If we would seriously do that we would change the atmosphere here on Earth and there would be a clear difference between those who know the One True God and those who do not.
There is not a dearth of God in the Earth, there is a dearth of deeply spiritual people who know God, live the life that evidences His presence within them, and display His Names to all they meet. Would the world be different in ten years if those who claimed to be Christians would radiate and demonstrate the presence of God in all they do? Nothing would change over night, but it would change faster than we can imagine. Why can’t we do this and more?
Why can’t we create a culture of Christ likeness, with love, power, and benevolence at the core of that culture? Why can’t we live a life that makes the solutions given by the likes of Tolle, Dyer, Walsh, Williamson, Brown, and others seem trite in the light of God’s presence. The counterfeit is only valuable when the original is absent. Yes, the world is feeding on imitations because we have not offered them the truth.
The problem is that it is easy to love the New Age message, because one does not have to live differently – simply stay on the Tree you are on and you can change yourself – you are god, you have that power. At least that is what the Tree of the Knowledge wants you to believe. But, to live a True, Pure, Spiritual life one has to change or be transformed.
In this age of moral relativism, the lines of right and wrong are becoming more and more blurred. It is believed that as long as we do not hurt anyone, we can do what we want. We have bought the lie that we are to live the good life, to be happy. But, in this day and age, happiness is thought be defined as pleasure and satisfaction – with no suffering or sacrifice. This thinking permeates the world and even the church. Yes, there are exceptions, but few when compared to the whole. The problem is that this is the life God asks those who want to live a True, Pure, Spiritual life to lead. We have to think more of others than our self. This does not mean we have to live in poverty, neither does it mean we get to keep all the money we make, nor all the things we have. The True, Pure, Spiritual life is a giving life – that is an undiscussed, and often undisclosed secret to the Life God asks us to live.
I suspect God is going to raise up men and women who take clear spiritual stands and become moral champions, who refute cultural moral relativism, and call sin – sin. Those who live a life as close to God as they can and not as close to the edge as they can get away with and still make it in the doors of heaven before they close.
What might those champions do to society and what would society look like as they arise in the land? What could be done if every personality did what God had gifted them to do? Would towns and cities change? What kind of backlash would they receive – if any and who from?
These are questions I am now asking myself. What am I to do with the talents and gifts God has given me in the last half of my life? How about you?
Blessings,
John Paul
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Amen and Amen John17 Jesus says the glory you gave me I give them Father that they will love one another as I love you and the yet to be saved will know you Father because of their love for one another do you not know you are a temple of the Holy Spirit walk in love and they will know the Father that created them.Shalom
John Paul,
I am one of those who desire to go out there and walk the walk. I want to go out and show it to others, give it to others, and teach it to others. I want to walk with Him, talk with Him, and radiate Him. I am hungry; I am desperate. I don’t know what to do or how to do it. I don’t have what I want to give. I desire to give what I don’t even understand how to get.
I am one of those who don’t even know what gifts they have. I know how to discover my abilities and talents by reading “What color is my Parachute” and other such books. While it probably points me in the right direction I’m sure it is not telling me my God given gifts and talents.
I am one of those who wants more and doesn’t know how to about getting it. I have been scouring your web site lately and see you have wonderful courses for these types of questions. Maybe sometime I will get a chance to take them.
I also like your online resources that are easily accessible and helpful. It is just an idea but there is a way to encode your web site (or a certain page) so that search engines like Google will find it with key words. For instance, if you had an AWE TV or Podcast that addressed a certain issue such as “looking for God” then anyone who looks on a search engine and types in those words would see your site pop up and see your message to them. It opens up all sorts of opportunities to reach people asking certain questions that you have talents and abilities to reach. Maybe that is a bit of a bold and crazy suggestion but just in case you weren’t aware of it….there it is. The internet is really powerful these days. People go to it for just about everything. You have a really good set up on the internet already, it seems.
I am one of those who wants to do more but don’t know how. I personally wish there were more of you and those like you who can teach and mentor the deep things of God. Eventually, there will be exponential growth among those who carry a deep meaningful radiant relationship with God…please keep teaching and spreading what you know. I hit the refresh button this blog site more than I care to share!
One of Those
Dear John Paul,
I like what you said:
“I suspect God is going to raise up men and women who take clear spiritual stands and become moral champions, who refute cultural moral relativism, and call sin – sin. Those who live a life as close to God as they can and not as close to the edge as they can get away with and still make it in the doors of heaven before they close.”
Our culture has truely watered down the truth of Christ. No doubt fueled by the enemy who has taken every avenue to make Christians “saltless”. Two cases in point that I think clearly shows where the church is and will likely make many who read this think I am a kook. Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. December 24, ask any child who comes on Christmas and who comes on easter Easter. Most will with great excitement tell you “Santa” and the “Easter Bunny”. I don’t think it is accidental. Could the spiritual dullness in the church partly be caused by those who think these two are “fun and harmless”. I don’t think it is harmless to a four year old who is being lied to by adults on every side. Then some churches even let Santa come to give out presents as mine did. Perhaps this is a small thing but then perhaps this is one of the sins that the Lord hates. Anything that takes His place, especially in the young. Perhaps this is one of the stumbling blocks He is refering to?
Oh well I’ll get off the soap box. Good thing about blogs, you can vent a little.
God Bless,
RAndy
John Paul…Curious, that I’ve been asking myself the same questions lately…The movie of my life, from here onwards has been playing in my mind as I think about “What am I going to do in the future?”. I know Gods agenda for my life, but I’ve been thinking about is what am I going to choose? His agenda, my desires or whatever comes my way?
I never really thought much about your question: “What kind of backlash would they receive – if any and who from?”. It entered my mind, but I was always fearful of it, and discarded it quickly. The consequences of it was that I compromised because I feared. Sometimes I still do. It’s like holding the yoke of a falling plane.
I’ll let you in on a secret, I always had a sense in myself that I wanted to die for God, but when the rubber met the road, there came things that were worse than death, they were torture (slow death).
Today I have come to the understanding that, I need God beyond what I can naturally grasp. My need for God goes way beyond what my soul can embrace, and it goes into supernatural measures, that overtake the rest of my existance…
I once had a cry so great in my spirit, that I couldn’t stop crying. It came to a point that I couldn’t control it…After crying for longer than I could naturally, I asked the Lord, “What is wrong with me?”, and He replied “It’s supernatural”. I have thought about that often times, and I have come to understand, (in glimpses) the measure of what He has birthed in us…It goes beyond, way, way beyond what our soul can comprehend…
I know what I am going to choose, I don’t know what I am going to do, but I know that I am going to have to learn to trust Him, beyond this life that I can see now. Beyond this veil, to walk in a measure that my soul cannot fully fathom, but can only be greatful for…
…and just let myself be poured out for others…
God hold us all!
I want to do everything that God ordained for me to do from the foundations. I don’t want to miss a thing. I have ideas of what my “call” entails, but truthfully, I’ve seen many closed doors in my day. I can only trust that God’s timing is perfect and that His perfect will for me is intimacy. I have held on tightly to keep my life instead of losing it for His sake. Even though my hearts desire has been for total abandonment to Him, I have clung to pleasure and sin. I have spent the last year asking God to show me the source of my double-mindedness that I could finally conquer it. He made me the way that I am, so I am thankful that He is patient with my need to understand. I would love to be one who readily obeys, but I haven’t been. I believe all that is changing, and I am thankful for the role that you have played in your obedience. This blog has been so helpful as have the many comments. THanks for doing this. I look forward to seeing how God’s plan unfolds in my life and all of yours. PEACE/OUT, Nina
i love this post. i wonder if maybe true disciples of Jesus Christ would end up alienated from their family and friends because of their refusal to stop blabbering about their love for Christ…or maybe if they’ve gone public with their views/beliefs this stance would affect larger and larger circles of people and the families themselves would start experiencing a very mild (in comparison to what Jesus Himself experienced) forms of persecution (ie. gossip and slander, ostracism, etc.).
in the end, what it comes down to for each person is this: are you embarrassed to identify with Jesus Christ? He told us our enemies would be in our own families, and that He came not to bring peace, but a sword, dividing father and son, mother and daughter. Yet He also said we’d gain what we’ve lost in this world back, plus persecutions.
each of us must choose: Jesus, or the world. one can’t be a friend of both. backlash, smacklash. God plus one is a majority. those “moral champions” should surely know this…and real change begins with just one person willing to look a fool for the LORD. i, for one, pray the Holy Spirit will start raising some up asap!
“I suspect God is going to raise up men and women who take clear spiritual stands and become moral champions, who refute cultural moral relativism, and call sin – sin.”
You are close JP, but not quite close enough. What God is doing is raising up men and women who love God so much that they don’t care about what right and wrong is, they simply follow and do whatever it is God is doing. I hope the Lord spares us more “moral champions”. No human is righteous enough to be a moral champion. All they tend to do is bring more condemnation and cause more people to abandon a judgemental church for moral freedom. What you call moral relativism is simply a growing recognition that human beings aren’t designed to live thinking about right and wrong. They are designed for fruit from the Tree of Life, which is that comes from the mouth of God; not fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which is the seed fruit of “morality”. If we are free to pursue sin without guilt or fear we quickly learn that sin is just a bad idea and that choosing Life is the obvious and easy choice. But alas, there is still too much fear in most Christian thinking to let go of guilt simply follow God free and redeemed.
Well written. It is interesting though, the one thing that i don’t understand, and I sort of wince at the reading of is the ‘moral champions’ and the whole moral standing terms. I went to a Bible college that used such terms and they were completely religious and not moving by Gods spirit one bit. One can change morality and never change the spiritual condition of people.
I am torn with this, maybe because it triggers former experiences of deep religious garbage, but at the same time i can understand why you say what you do.
I know that you beleive the importance in dividing soul/spirit as far as seeing what is manifesting, understanding what source etc. But much of our law making and religious history that changed things to become a more ‘moral’ society also hurt the true Gospel of Jesus. It helps people feel good about themselves and build up a soul-power force within that doesn’t need a God because they are moral and upright people. Hitler was a very moral focused man. Sure that sounds odd to some but he was indeed trying to wipe out what he viewed was evil and immoral in the earth.
I don’t beleive the intentions of what you are writing are what I may have perceived when reading because of the context of other things I have heard you say, write, and speak. In fact, I would agree that there needs to be ’spiritual champions’ that raise up.
One simple example to me, would be the celebration of holidays. I studied the origins of holidays as led by God to do so, and found that christmas, easter and other holidays were immersed in paganism and occultic history. I decided I didn’t want to celebrate the holidays anymore because they were of the darkness and not of light. When I did this, everyone and their brother felt I had become some crazy nutjob and that I was way off. People tried to validate their traditions by rationalizing the ‘good’ of it all. I don’t care how much good happens during the holidays, if they don’t worship and celebrate Jesus, i don’t want a part of it! Now this is my personal choice, my personal conviction, I don’t want to partake in anything that is dark. I love Jesus more than traditions of man! Something so simple as this, some would see as a moral stand. But to me, it was not a religious rule or ritual, it was the denial of something that to me, contradicted a holy life.
Over the years, as I have detached from so many holidays and traditions, I have found more freedom than I ever imagined possible. To me, the obvious heavens blessing of living without dark influences during these times is worth never going back to celebrating those holidays. But I don’t condemn people who do celebrate them. Its between them and God.
So there are people who are really tight and religious who are opposed to the holidays but from the reasons of religious right or wrong, it goes back to the good or evil concept.
So I understand by the spirit’s means how it would be important for people to stand up and speak the truth, for the truth sets them free, but as for moral champions, i shy away from that terminology because that sounds more like religion than life to me. But that could just be a terminology-related communication conflict that isn’t meant to bring division.
Either way, I look forward to the day that the ‘white dove company’ that Bob Jones Speaks of, or what aaron evans calls the ‘emerging daniel company’ or even what Paul cain called “the nameless faceless’ starts appearing in manfisted form. i know people who i beleive are part of those, but they are mostly hidden except for those who have eyes to see. I look forward to the day when God brings them to the forefront because alot of the religious fights in christianity will be made plain as they come forth.
This one line you said cracks me up tremendously, you said “Those who live a life as close to God as they can and not as close to the edge as they can get away with and still make it in the doors of heaven before they close.” This cracks me up because I have heard soo many people in charismatic circles talk about what they can get away with. People excusing the drinking of alcoholic beveredges because of freedom in Christ, but yet they don’t have any conviction on the wisdom of withstaining. Our freedom in Christ does liberate us from ’sin consciousness’ but we then put on “Christ consciousness” where we want to live and breathe in Christ Jesus. I am not afraid of darkness, and those who know me personally are fascinated by my personal restrictions (choices) but then when God speaks it I will act in un-typical ways.
I am not a fan of drinking though I don’t really care if other christians do or not. But then there was this time God told me to goto a bar and get a drink and not leave until I finished it. I hated the drink and it took me an hour to drink it down half of it, the whole time sharing Gods Love with the waitress, who said “you don’t like that drink do you:” and I told her It was perfectly fine, but she knew I didn’t like it so she brought me a completely different drink out, and God told me I couldn’t leave until that one was finished. I was feeling tortured, but Gods purpose was clear. It took me another hour to finally work that other drink down, and in the mean time the waitress recieved the truth in every area of need that night. Gods purposes are not always ours! People sometimes are shocked to hear that God would have me do that, others are shocked that it was even a big deal for me to drink those drinks, but you know everyone has their place.
I am sure Billy Sunday Preaching today about the moral stand against alcohol would be furious at the story i shared and say it wasn’t God but deception, but I think when we are led by the spirit there is a balance in all things, God might have us descend into dark places to help others come out of them.
Anyways, why i wrote so much is that it concerned me the terms used here, only because I see so much of Gods spirit in all of you at streams, that I hope that ‘morality’ doesnt’ mean here in this blog what others would have it mean.
I really do love you very much. Please understand I am not trying to argue, just share another perspective…
Thank you for your words which bring me both confirmation and conviction. Every day my world gets less grey and more black and white.
I almost can’t even imagine what the world would look like if all the Christians started living this life like you describe.
I have been asking myself the same questions, and I think I have one answer to some extent. However, I have found that it will take courage and trust to accomplish what He has asked of me. But I have finally reached the place where what He wants is far more important than what I want and where I see that my fears are not worth the effort and merely distract me from my goal.
I do think that we will experience some sort of backlash if we begin to really live the life God has intended for us. Even those that share our faith, but not our convictions, will not understand and will probably think we have gone off the deep end(which I suppose isn’t far from the truth as we will have submerged ourselves in the deeper things of Christ).
I am reminded of something my son asked me when he was 3 or 4. He called me into his room after he had gone to bed because he had been pondering a question. “If Jesus is in heaven, and Jesus is in my heart…is heaven in my heart?” I was startled at his logic, but had to really ask myself the same question(a little less literally).
Also, I agree that we should not speak against or boycott Oprah and others, but when it comes time to take a stand against what they are teaching, what should that look like? If I hear someone in a place of spiritual authority teaching a relativistic gospel how do I confront that? I have already accepted that some sort of backlash is inevitable, and I am okay with that, but I have held off on speaking because I can’t let it be about the people, but the message. Or perhaps someone else may be in a position where a close friend is following after one of the new gurus and asks what we think. If we do take a clear spiritual stand, we will probably still be accused of speaking against the person even if we don’t. So how do we approach this?
Thank you for making me think.
John Paul,
Well said. And as usual you have asked a thought provoking question. I’m turning 50 and graduating from college this year. I feel that in some ways and areas of my life, I am starting over. What am I to do with the talents and gifts God has given me in the last half of my life?
To be honest, I don’t know. Is it wrong to not know, exactly?
My approach has been to exercise and improve my talents and gifts as best I can so that I will be ready for God ordained opportunities. I often pray this prayer which came from a wonderful book I’ve been reading, “Open the door, O Father, to the right work that will enable me to make my finest contribution to mankind.” (”I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes”, Glenn Clark, 1937)
Marilyn
Dear John Paul,
Your blog and the streaming web radio have given much for me to ponder, as well as reading the thoughts of other believers who respond here. I am being deeply affected and last night spoke to the Lord about the still remaining emptiness and lack of purpose that seems to have remained in my life despite many blessings and victories. I asked Him, “Father, how do I find those new lands and go further in and higher up?” (as C.S. Lewis wrote). I want to know those more spiritual things that others here seem to be living. My heart is starting to truly long for a deeper intimacy with my Father. I too went to Bible College and while it was some of the loveliest time in my life, it also resulted in a form of religion without power or real relationship with Christ. Your questions have got me thinking- Maybe there is more and I have been happy with the status quo? Maybe I am climbing the wrong tree myself? How do I get on the right tree- the tree of life?
On a side note: My heart feels for others who have been wounded by religion and the forms of man in the name of God. I try to empathize with the views while realizing that I am a contributor, most likely. Half the time when I am talking with anyone about Christ,inside and outside of the faith, I am explaining the acts of man done in the name of God but was not God. When people here talk about the mislead church- i get confused. Are we speaking of denominations, of the local church, of men and women who make an occupation of their faith? I could use some clarification on that point.
We just had a discussion about this in our service taken from the phrase “The church is a whore and it is my mother.” I think it was St. Augustine who said that. Kind of vulger but there is a truth there. The body is also the bride and I see the beauty and the hope and the move of God changing people like you and me. I think of the people whom I love, who I consider almost more family than my own and the expressions of Christ that they have shown me. These people are all on the same journey as me and we are growing together. The Word also says the wheat grows with the tares and so I know that mixed in the with the real is the not genuine- I apologize for the rabbit trail there but hopefully it will serve as fodder for futher conversation. There is a documentary that is coming out from someone in our church called “Lord Save us From Your Followers” and I have to say, I have enjoyed what I saw so far. It is all about the topic of- How are we engaging the world?
So, John Paul and other believers, I have no good answers but more questions and so I will sit here and absorb everything you say.
I looked and saw the world, and it was on fire. People running in pain almost fully gone mad, some pretending, all was well. I don’t think that society, burning because of Adam, can ever “get well” only bulldozed, rebuilt. I don’t think we are here to put the fire out, but to help others to the safety zone, the place of salvation created by the rescuer Jesus till the time it all collapses.
In the meantime we can go in and out carried by the token of salvation we have been entrusted with. We can mimic Jesus as the fireman rushing in to deliver heavenly aid at full risk to ourselves. But boy that takes guts, its why we call those guys heroes. Sometimes they do every thing just right, like Jeremiah or Noah, but still all seems lost. Sometimes they pay full price for the bravery, and it was for a world that is not worthy of them.
The question to me is do I care that much, about Gods grief over those who are burning to death, or even about those who cannot see the flames and mock. To risk it all… and I am ashamed that too many times the answer is no, the times are perilous and my love grows cold. The church stands out side the burning building, kicking at the still smoking survivors who have crawled out to safety, and wondering aloud if they are – gasp – “heretics.” I want to turn away and throw up my hands.
But then I hear a cock crow, and turn to see his face…
pm
Since you brought up the topic of holidays, drinking wine, etc. I always go to the bottom line in any given situation: WALK IN LOVE. If it causes my brother to stumble, don’t do it. If it causes my family to stumble, then celebrate Christmas, Easter, even Halloween. Because walking in love is the more excellent choice !!!!
Very thought-provoking post, John Paul. Love you guys !!!!!!
Oh sorry…..I forgot to add that I’m not referring to moral absolutes but when it comes to personal scruples, and you know how a person feels about celebrating Holidays, wine, etc. that you should walk in love. For example, my father-in-law was dead set against drinking wine but my husband and I didn’t have a problem with it so we abstained from drinking a glass when he was around. You just can’t go wrong with walking in love !!!!
I love reading all the posts!
When dealing with sin I have been guilty in the past of preaching from a position of self-imposed loftiness. This had results as God does work through imperfect vessels.
This method leads one to “Clean up” a person with your own ability rather than letting God clean them up. It was as if I didn’t think God could get them clean enough, or to do it quickly enough to suit me. Letting God do it on His timetable requires more faith.
I don’t want to do it like that anymore though.
I have since found a great method of instruction is to simply let the Holy Spirit use your voice to confirm what He is already saying to someone in the same tone of voice He is using. This should happen during the window of favor that you have with that person. JP has some great teaching on favor with God and with man about this subject in the 101.
So, when God wants us to listen, teach, proclaim, preach, or herald; may it be from a humble and contrite heart. And when He has us to call sin “Sin” let it be with a tearful plea that pours out the love that He so desperately wants to share with His creation and how “sin” hinders the flow of love from reaching the person.
Being sinless – Jesus was the only one there who could have thrown the first stone. “Woman, where are your accusers?” Greek - gunē is used for both “Woman” and “Wife” in the NT. I believe that when He looked at her He didn’t see her as a prostitute but as someone who needed Father’s love. She could have said “I have been looking for this very thing you showed me in your eyes, in all the wrong places. I have been beat up, abused, stolen from, ridiculed, lied to, etc. But You have treated me as if I were someone special. Someone with worth. A treasure.”
“Go and sin no more.”
I believe when Jesus talked about the sinfulness of sin, sinners responded because they felt the love He had for the Father and the Love the Father, Son, Holy Spirit had for them.
A friend of mine told me about a person that said, “I live so holy, people don’t want to be around me.” My friend thought about this and then came up with, “What was with Jesus then? He lives Holy yet people love to be around Him.”
I don’t think I have stopped calling sin “Sin” but I believe my delivery has changed.
God bless
David
Concerning blogs about the state of the church:
My Thoughts on Leadership (secular but possibly still applicable):
If we lead and care for those we are responsible for…
we make a change
If we don’t lead and care for those we are responsible for…
We aren’t doing our jobs
If we don’t accentuate what is wrong with other leaders’ responsibility…
we smooth over divisions
If we point out what is wrong with other leader’s responsibility…
We aren’t on the same team
If we are in the same rank as another leader…
we can make helpful suggestions
If we don’t help those equal in rank…
We are allowing our team mates to fall
If our own leaders seem wrong to us…
we can communicate with or leaders
If we don’t communicate with our leaders…
We point out faults and problems to the wrong people
It’s about caring for those below us and supporting those above us
It’s about going hand in hand with those beside us
These were off the top of my head and could certainly be developed much better. This isn’t the time or place. I only wanted to take the finger of blame away from hurtful directions and point it towards what can effect the most positive change.
I have observed secular organizations for a while now and see what works and what doesn’t. I wish more Christians understood these things. Leaders are always blamed for things and can never please everyone. How you deal with a leaders mistakes, whether they are your incorrect perception or truly error, defines a level of maturity. Lord help us grow up! Lord teach us what being on the same team means!
…and I’m not pointing fingers now…this is just something I wish I could help people learn about.
One of Those
I believe that we are we moving quickly to that day when the moral champions will be released. I believe that God is raising up a great army, such as never was before and will never be again. The Glory of the Lord rests upon them, they are filled with his love, and equipped with his power. This army is united for one purpose, to see God’s will done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Because this army is in perfect unity, there is no jealousy or competition among them. For they are one, they are all of equal value, in the Lord. There will be great rejoicing among them as God displays his love and power to this lost and dying generation. Oh, how great will be the joy!! The joy of seeing lives restored, healed, delivered. It is time to take back what the enemy has stolen. Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world!!
Blessings! Blessings! Blessings!
Hey John Paul,
Once again, very thought provoking. I wanted to add a comment about the issue of morality and your comment of calling sin, sin. Two things. First, I believe the enemy would love to trash this idea, and he has succeeded at some level through us, the church. I believe the reason he has done this is that he knows the power living a holy, moral life brings, and he is scared of it. That alone is motivating to me to want to live that way. Second, I think we all have done it to some extent. I believe the solution is calling sin, sin in our own lives, and repenting of it. If we let God’s sword/plumbline cut through our hearts, we will not be judgemental, because it will take those of us who are on our moral “high horse” off of it. We will realize we are all alike apart from God, believer or non-believer. I believe the issue is that I/the church has not dealt with the sin in my/the church’s heart, and when we do not, the result is judgementalism, lack of love, lack of power, and lack of reality.
This scares me! I believe God showed me that if I will be truly transparent to the world, in wisdom, that in doing that people would come to Christ. But I fight wanting to be seen as a good person! And a whole host of others things, when I need to find my home soley in God’s love for me, and to truly live out of His acceptance of me. Again, it scares me because of my sins. By God’s grace, I hope to let that death occur in me, that Jesus would be seen through me, and I would be seen for who I am. I think when that happens, people will see Jesus in me, and they will want Him. I will be gone, and He will be all in all. I know this is progressive and lifelong.
Blessings to you John Paul. I love this blog and the people on it! It’s real. Bless you man!
Much love in Christ,
Dennis
I am currently in college (secular) and from what I see and have seen the word “Christian” is ineffective today. I say this meaning that I know many people who supposedly are “Christian” but live a continual lifestyle that suggests otherwise. Now, I know all Christians sin and fall short, myself included, but I see it with the same people daily and it’s as if everything is normal. I know “Christians” that have premarital sex, get extremely wasted, curse…etc, all the time, and do not have one nanosecond worth of conviction. Ultimately, anyone can look and see that there is absolutely no difference between “Christians” and the world. If the Holy Spirit is living inside…what about the change…what about the difference?
For me, it’s easy to stand alone (abstain from the sex, drugs, alcohol..etc.), but what good is it if everyone else around is falling (including “Christians”)? I do not judge them when I am around, and they are surprised and think that it must really suck for me to stay “clean” and “pure.”(pardon the language, if anyone is offended, but I am trying to “paint” a somewhat close to reality view of what I see/experience). They know I am different, because I “stand out” by not partaking in all the “fun”, but they could care less.
I don’t want to sound too whiney or that I am just pointing out everyone else’s faults, when I should be looking at my own problems,but I want to convey that I am frustrated by this condition that I see with my college-aged peers. I want them to be strong in the LORD and be empowered by HIS Spirit. I want them to experience the supernatural. I read all this awesome stuff about Elijah, Elisha, Paul, Silas, Peter, Timothy, Jesus…etc, and that is what I want today’s Christians to be like!
Resurrected Bodies!!!
Jesus did so many things which kept him free of tradition, as for spitting to create healing mudd for a man’s eyes; instead of laying hands on him. One who is different comes into your midst and “fear of what others might think” clouds all you have created Christ to be in your temple. Consider for a moment the bodies the aborted children shall have when resurrected?? could they sit next to you amongst those you value? I wanna’ ride in with billybob and JC!
lil white ponies
never given a breath of air
nor a glimpse of eyes that care
but i see em ridin’ in with their king
oh my, johnny had red hair
rock solid and what a smile
my JC comin’ to destroy and to claim
did you really think God would forget
misty was to be her lil nick-name
lil white ponies
way below innocent & guilty knees
lil white ponies
and tears no one sees
never considered by reality
but they loved that room mama made
lil white ponies
brining’ babies into His shade
lil white ponies
shall not carry warriors to destroy
lil white ponies
comin’ for all babies cast aside
lil white ponies
carried to mama’s with arms open wide
ride like your mama, bareback on the hills
hands full of mane, knees locked to each side
billybob’s doing it with no hands and a grin
the thunder no longer whispers of sin
mama is coming soon, hold me forever
we’ll ride with Papa upon the wind
each day with Jesus
yea, Heaven was created without end
lil white ponies
each child shines as the Son
lil white ponies
only Love could set this right
lil white ponies
carry a ray of Heaven’s light
from the babies who died for moses
to the miscarrage that crushed a single heart
from the abortions in the land of the free
to the lil girls of china
from the heart of this lil poet
to the King of Kings and Prince of Peace
“Abortion must cease”
lil white ponies…I love you mama,
Please love me
rwb july 25, 2006
posted in honor of Richy from the place where Streams radio ushers me into. Love ya JP but JC loves ya more
John Paul Wrote:
I suspect God is going to raise up men and women who take clear spiritual stands and become moral champions, who refute cultural moral relativism, and call sin – sin. Those who live a life as close to God as they can and not as close to the edge as they can get away with and still make it in the doors of heaven before they close.
What might those champions do to society and what would society look like as they arise in the land? What could be done if every personality did what God had gifted them to do? Would towns and cities change? What kind of backlash would they receive – if any and who from?
These are questions I am now asking myself. What am I to do with the talents and gifts God has given me in the last half of my life? How about you?
My Response:
Believe, Believe, Believe in the “Lamb that was Slain!
Forgive, Forgive, Forgive everyone of every offense that was ever done unto you!
Pray for and love our enemies that persecute us!
Do not slander our neighbor in anyway shape or manner!
Pick up and carry our Crosses and embrace our crosses!
Partake, Partake, Partake in the communion meal as often as you should with brother’s and sister’s that are like minded so you will receive the full nature of Christ the Risen Lord!
Preach, Teach, heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons
for this is a fulfillment of the Great Commission for this hour of mankind’s existence. This is the heavenly calling that is placed upon every baptized believer of Jesus Christ in the person, power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
We are called to be ambassadors of the Kingdom of God and we need to establish this in the earth and ask the Lord where He would like our sphere of influence to be as individuals functioning in this society and functioning in the Kingdom of God. For we should be all about our Father’s business proclaiming the Kingdom of God to the 4 corners of the earth as ambassadors’ of the Most High God, staking out territory for the Kingdom of God and enjoying every minute of it!
Thank you So, so much John Paul, you have hit such a chord at ‘THIS TIME’, and to be reminded it is all for, ‘For such a time as this’ My wee son and I were praying and talking this evening about how take a Moral Stand, (not quite in those words) how to tell 7/8 year olds in his class not to take God’s name in vain. It is so against the social norm to speak out, but it cuts us to the core. Maybe a small thing to some but to tell his best friend and risk losing the precious friendship is big, but he Does know his friend who is the Living God is BIGGER, he knows that ‘Sheep CAN Swim’ in God’s living water. What a great encouragement, to push fear asside and speak out for God, sowing that seed for Him in truth,faith and Love
Thanks again so much for your message.
What do you do when those around you apologize for their behavoir even when you never stated a judgement towards them? What do you do when you never ’spoke’ a moral anything but the conviction of Gods presence on your life brings them to repentence?
People apologize for swearing around me, drinking, drugs, sexual commentary etc… and yet I never addressed their sin to them.
Sometimes I feel like so many of the church are down and out for the count because they are so busy doing and trying to stand up for God, that they don’t realize that your life speaks far greater. Spending time with Jesus radiates heaven.
I was talking with a friend about ‘the sheep and the goats’ tonight and we discussed about how the goats were conceding before God about all ‘they did’ for truth or in Gods name, and yet he said “depart from me I never knew you” the goats were the moral agents and miracle workers of religion. And then you have the sheep, who were so in love with God, they were so integrated with God that they didn’t even know the things they did, because the nature of God in them was what did the life-giving things.
To me, making a stand for truth comes only when someone demands that you do something contrary to what your relationship with God would require.
I think we could learn alot from the past, and people Like William Penn, who embraced sinners and invited them to live in his territory to not be peresecuted.. on the premise that if you allow people the freedom even to sin… then you allow the freedom of the people to drive them even into darkness so they know they need a saviour.
morality simply keeps people knowing they are ‘good’ or ‘evil’ without the spirit.
This last blog has really really upset me and I don’t know why. I keep going to the father about it, because I don’t understand how so many people are so pro-morality, instead of the spirit of life. I guess I am on a totally different wavelength then most of the people responding.. which is totally ok.. but God help us all!
My prayer is for the holiness of GOd to permeate our culture to destroy the works of religious morality. I guess I am one of those fringe-thinking people who is walking way out in the other field some where….
EUTYCHUS– thank you for what you had to say..it made me feel like I wasn’t a strange loon.
One of the reasons why I keep returning to this blog is because I see someone speaking truth and religiosity isn’t apart of that. It’s refreshing to see someone speak truth in such a way that causes me to get stirred up and motivated towards deepening my relationship with Jesus. I have an extremely difficult time dealing with people who have a tendency to give way to a religious spirit. I just finished a phone conversation where I had confronted this friend of mine and asked him if there is ever a time I can have a conversation with him without him feeling the need to preach to me and what frustrates me to no end is that he talks about walking in obedience to God and His word which I don’t disagree with but it’s the way the message is delivered. There’s something missing but I haven’t been able to place what that something is because it’s a tricky one to figure out. I could only say to my friend I appreciate his friendship but would appreciate a conversation or two without him preaching to me.
And then I find myself reading this blog and it’s sooo refreshing!! Although the gist of the message is basically the same. I now try to avoid deep theological discussions with this friend of mine but not always successful with that although perhaps I was successful with ending a conversation that had a potential of ending on a sour note.
I’m at a loss of what to do with this friend of mine but one thing I am grateful for is being able to have the option of reading a perspective on walking in obedience and about people’s hunger and thirst for God and also for truth.
I too am hungry and thirsty for more of God in my life but I could do without conversations that feed into a religious spirit.
To Will…Amen!
I always pray change me Lord or change them ,mother theresa when coming upon people in need saw them as disturbing images of Christ once she ministered the Fathers love they became the vessels of love the Father could pour more out of. ministers of reconcillation keep giving the living waters to the thirsty people until they can see it and give to the others in need remember the woman at the well Jesus shared the truth with her and she ran to tell the rest of the village be a blessing and pass Him on
I believe that God wants us to get into the true Body of Christ and not the false one…false, replete with counterfeit signs and wonders…and that to be a son means new heavens and a new earth IN us…seems to me that this is what it is all about. Not accessing the old heavens, but the new one beyond the kingdom of heaven in humanity that Jesus passed through. No point accessing the old heavens or talking about and experiencing (as christians) so called “open heavens” when all it is is being fooled further by the false thing and manifesting it on a “higher” scale than previously…easy to do, actually. The Man of Sin in fact. When this is revealed, and you see it as this, it falls away (the apostasy…it is NOT about believers falling away, but the false body falling away from our spiritual experience so that we can discover the True body). As John Paul says elsewhere in this blog, we have more than David had, we have Christ IN us…and the time is coming for the unity (of our dual nature) that Jesus prayed for in John 17 to come about…that we may be…ONE (in ourselves, in God, our new earth and new heavens combined). First though, destroyed by fire. It’s so great that in the heavenly Tabernacle we find our new heavens and our new earth.