As I pray to be closer to the Lord, He shakes my core even more. As I pray for my territory to be expanded in the Spiritual realm, the more He shows me the depths of His love and purpose. As if my life wasn't drastically changed enough, He continues to strengthen the reality of His kingdom through His presence.
The concepts of a Spiritual walk can seem to work in paradoxes. For example:
There is infinite wonder and depth to His love, yet our lifestyle in His love is very simple. We are tapping into God's complex and unexplainable orchestration, but giving ourselves up to receive the Spirit comes down to a simple yes or no. It only seems complex because it's hard to break the ways of the world at first, and/or because we're not willing. (we become comfortable).
This society demands so much. The expectations in our lives are man-made. There are many facets to this worldly lifestyle. There is so much junk we are raised to believe, that in the end, contradicts the beautiful lifestyle of following the Holy Spirit. We are raised to be part of a pride-centered lifestyle, but when that is abolished and we follow Jesus, there is simplicity in being content with just God. With simplicity of heart comes a true peace and a true joy.
Matthew 10:39
"Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."
This concept is not only the source of a Christian walk, but it continues until this flesh perishes. I hear this preached over and over again, but I feel the power and depth behind this concept is not sought after. If we are willing to experience life in Jesus - we must deny this flesh. As Spiritual eyes are opened, our identities become ones of Spirit. Suddenly the labels attached with this world become insignificant. Your name, birthplace, location, culture, possessions, family, career, have all become insignificant compared to the powerful and deep Spiritual reality of living by the Holy Spirit. As we seek the depths of God, He establishes us as a Spiritual being. Our identities are not found on a birth certificate, but are found in connection with the Holy Spirit.
Since God's realm is an infinite and wondrous Spiritual reality, how much of Him are we willing to receive? The depths of His realm can be a Spiritual reality in this life; yet do we still hold onto our earthly identities? The truth is that we should never stop seeking the depths of His love. We have to seek more of His reality, and not our reality or this world's reality. What is really fulfilling? What is more valuable? It is not a burden, but a joy to explore the depths of Him.
God can spark passion in us to explore Him - but we have to seek Him first. We have to pray for Him to shake us. We have to pray for the dirt to fall. It can be scary - but He is pleased when we are willing to go all the way.
Surely taking up the cross and following Jesus can be more than going to bible studies and events. It can be more than some prayer time. It is more than just saying I live a Christ-centered lifestyle. A lifestyle for Jesus is finding life in Him and only Him. It is found in raw and authentic connection with God. What needs to be valued, and what needs to be devalued? We cannot do this, but God does these things for us personally when we pray for them. He prunes us when we press into His Spirit - and not this world.
I want to be content with simple things, not distracted by this multi-faceted society that deters us from the Lord. I want to live with my brothers and sisters, giving to each other and loving each other. I want the source of our time spent to be filled with the Spirit - which unifies us in unbreakable love. I want to meet everyday and pray. I want to eat with simple hearts, being content with little. I want to praise God and be right in His sight. I want this to multiply.
Acts 2:42
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."
This beautiful image is found in a Spiritual reality. It is not something we can mimic or produce. It is not based around a building, money, or events. It is based around the love of God, that dwells in us and unites us. Come, receive the Love, and let's be unified under the umbrella of His love.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
The Heart of Ministry is His
Instead of so much planning I see prayer.
Instead of 'events' with specific messages - I see worship and intercession.
Instead of seeking a 'good Christian speaker' - I see being spoken to directly from God.
Who are we to limit God in our lives? Who are we to water down a reality of listening and receiving from God? Jesus spent hours in prayer - do we? It seems like our churches and ministries "make up" for the lack of prayer by handing out manuals on what to do.
You cannot mimic the fruits of the Spirit. You cannot think of ways to touch people's soul. Most importantly - You cannot teach people to love. The idea of receiving God's power and will is to live in its completion. It is to see God unleashed and overflow in our lives - this is truly an ineffable experience.
We are limiting the work of the Lord when we think we can do it by our actions; when we think we can strategize it; when we seek events or conferences or speakers to hear from the Lord. We cannot do Spiritual things without first being Spiritual - and the heart of Spirituality is long times of humble prayer and worship - where we meet God face to face, and are commissioned by a supernatural Spirit that goes beyond our comprehension. Just as morals without Jesus are wrong - Aren't actions without Jesus wrong too? Would one dare say - even in vain?
My prayer is that we experience God to the point where we cannot keep Him contained. God wants His furious love to run ramped amongst our society in every single area. I pray that we experience God so we wouldn't dare "plan ways to be Christian" - but we would just be love as a result of the Spirit taking His place in our hearts.
God has unleashed His presence - yet we humans have closed the door to the potential of God's all-powerful ministry. God has the real ministry - not us. We're taking part of His work - not our work for Him. We have to make ourselves vulnerable to Him - so He can unleash His love in us. What else can change the world but His power? What separates our deeds from the rest of the world if they aren't God's deeds? Learning to do all things in an overflow of the Spirit is necessary for all Christians - Because it is God who makes us distinct, not the actions we do.
Exodus 33:12
"Moses said to the Lord, "See, you say to me, "Bring up this people," but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, "I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight." Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, "If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?""
We do not need any events, lights, or attractions to spread the name of Jesus. There just needs to be hearts that are willing to give it all to God - to receive the best ministry in the universe. How dare we commercialize Jesus - so that He is boxed into our idea of Christian ministry. What else can that be but a distraction from the heart of it all? If Christians know how to connect with God - Why do we seek certain speakers? Why do we seek events? Why do we seek commercialization? Why do we avoid God when He wants to speak to us directly and clearly? Why do we find motivation in other things when He wants to spark His love in us? His presence is the best and only teaching.
1 John 2:27
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Have mercy God. Have your way. Abolish everything that's not of You. Take priority in our lives - not by actions - but a reality of Your powerful Spirit. So let us abide in only Your Spirit, and nothing else. Because it is then when Your ministry unleashes - and lives are really changed.
Instead of 'events' with specific messages - I see worship and intercession.
Instead of seeking a 'good Christian speaker' - I see being spoken to directly from God.
Who are we to limit God in our lives? Who are we to water down a reality of listening and receiving from God? Jesus spent hours in prayer - do we? It seems like our churches and ministries "make up" for the lack of prayer by handing out manuals on what to do.
You cannot mimic the fruits of the Spirit. You cannot think of ways to touch people's soul. Most importantly - You cannot teach people to love. The idea of receiving God's power and will is to live in its completion. It is to see God unleashed and overflow in our lives - this is truly an ineffable experience.
We are limiting the work of the Lord when we think we can do it by our actions; when we think we can strategize it; when we seek events or conferences or speakers to hear from the Lord. We cannot do Spiritual things without first being Spiritual - and the heart of Spirituality is long times of humble prayer and worship - where we meet God face to face, and are commissioned by a supernatural Spirit that goes beyond our comprehension. Just as morals without Jesus are wrong - Aren't actions without Jesus wrong too? Would one dare say - even in vain?
My prayer is that we experience God to the point where we cannot keep Him contained. God wants His furious love to run ramped amongst our society in every single area. I pray that we experience God so we wouldn't dare "plan ways to be Christian" - but we would just be love as a result of the Spirit taking His place in our hearts.
God has unleashed His presence - yet we humans have closed the door to the potential of God's all-powerful ministry. God has the real ministry - not us. We're taking part of His work - not our work for Him. We have to make ourselves vulnerable to Him - so He can unleash His love in us. What else can change the world but His power? What separates our deeds from the rest of the world if they aren't God's deeds? Learning to do all things in an overflow of the Spirit is necessary for all Christians - Because it is God who makes us distinct, not the actions we do.
Exodus 33:12
"Moses said to the Lord, "See, you say to me, "Bring up this people," but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, "I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight." Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, "If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?""
We do not need any events, lights, or attractions to spread the name of Jesus. There just needs to be hearts that are willing to give it all to God - to receive the best ministry in the universe. How dare we commercialize Jesus - so that He is boxed into our idea of Christian ministry. What else can that be but a distraction from the heart of it all? If Christians know how to connect with God - Why do we seek certain speakers? Why do we seek events? Why do we seek commercialization? Why do we avoid God when He wants to speak to us directly and clearly? Why do we find motivation in other things when He wants to spark His love in us? His presence is the best and only teaching.
1 John 2:27
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Have mercy God. Have your way. Abolish everything that's not of You. Take priority in our lives - not by actions - but a reality of Your powerful Spirit. So let us abide in only Your Spirit, and nothing else. Because it is then when Your ministry unleashes - and lives are really changed.
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