Where it all happens

What? Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Cor 6:19-20

This is where it all happens: in your body, and in your spirit. This is the location of the worship and the glory. This is where we glorify God. This is where it’s at.

This is the primary location. Many think that it all happens in a religious temple or building, forgetting that THEY are the temple of God, and in their body and spirit – in their inner-man, their innermost being, in their heart of hearts, in the character and integrity of their heart is where Jesus is to be glorified.

Let’s not miss the location of the worship.

Worship and glory emanates from our inner-man when our inner-man is cleansed by the Blood of Christ. When we are clean on the inside, and in our conscience, then worship and adoration springs forth from our spirit, our inner-man. It is the cleansed Temple, which is made into a Holy Temple by the cleansing of the Blood of Christ, which is where true worship in Spirit and truth originates.

Edifying song

http://lastlamb.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/lordgiveusthegrace.pdf

Over the fiscal cliff…

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/EW5IdwltaAc?rel=0

Where our heart is, is where our faith is

For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10

A man’s heart or spirit is what he believes God with. If his heart is given to God then his heart can believe. If his heart is given to sin, and to the love of other things, then his heart cannot believe.

When Christians dabble with sin they are in fact limiting the capacity of their heart to believe, cos their heart has become divided, weakened, diluted, and reassigned for other things, so it can’t function in what it was designed for: For our heart, our spirit was designed for us, and given to us, to love, trust and obey God with. If the LORD Jesus doesn’t have all our heart then we simply can’t believe Him with all our heart.

Where our heart is, is where our faith is, really – either faith in Jesus Christ, or in something or someone else.

But if we yield our heart, and spirit and mind to Him, and not yield ourselves to sin (Romans 6:13-19) then we will find it easy to believe Him, and to walk in a faith that is good, acceptable and pleasing to God.

Problems of faith are always problems of the heart more than the intellect.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

Without hope it’s hopeless

“Now faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Therefore, the things hoped for is the object of faith, and faith is the substance of those things hoped for, the things promised by God.

Our faith is simply the representation of what we hope for. What do we hope for? Here is the “thing” hoped for:

“Looking for that blessed HOPE, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ”… Titus 2:13

Jesus is the sole object of our faith, for He is our hope. He is also …”the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:2).

If our hope is anything other than the Person of Jesus Christ, then our hope must be something in this present world, and, if that’s the case, we would be without hope in this world – hopeless people.

The modern Kingdom Now, Dominion and Prosperity Gospels, ultimately, breed a hopeless kind of “Christian”, for the Person of Christ is not their hope. They have found what they want, and they are full, they are rich, they have their reward (from the praises of men) so what is there left to hope for?

“And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Romans 8:23-25

“That by two immutable things, in that it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the HOPE set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil”… Hebrews 6:18-19

“Therefore seeing we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily ensnare us, and let us run with patience [endurance] the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2

The source of true joy

These things have I spoken unto you, that MY JOY might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:11

Our joy is inextricably connected to the joy of Jesus, and so much so that they are really the same joy – for when we hear His word, receive it, believe and obey it, then Christ in us rejoices.

And we think it’s just us. But our joy is Christ rejoicing in us.

So, no one should go searching for joy or happiness, they will never find it. Rather, hear Jesus speaking to you, and let His words remain in you: that is, obey His teaching and commands from your heart, and then your joy will be full, as He becomes your joy.

Whom do you go to see?

When people go to the cinema they invariably go to see their favorite star in action. Certain celebrities are the draw-card.

When you go to church, whom do you go to see? Who is the draw-card? Whom do you expect to see? Who is the attraction? Who is the star of the church?

If it is NOT Jesus Christ, then who is it?

I am …the bright and morning star. Rev 22:16b

No progress beyond relationship

In the Kingdom of God you can never progress beyond how you relate to, fellowship with, serve and love your brothers and sisters in Christ, in daily life – in REAL life (not a staged religious program). The fulfillment of the second commandment is always proof of the first commandment being fulfilled. This is perhaps one of the enemy’s greatest deceptions, to make Christians think they can grow in Christ independent of real fellowship and accountability in the body of Christ.

Consequences

This world is all the HELL that a true Christian will ever have to endure, and it is all the HEAVEN that unbelievers shall ever enjoy.

– Jonathan Edwards

How do you live?

If you’re not living by faith, then what are you living by?

No one can improve upon the Bible

True teachers (by the Spirit) draw out the Word and apply it in real life, but never add or subtract from it, knowing that Scripture itself is the absolute authority on all matters of truth. And, thus, they will put ALL the emphasis upon the inherent authority of the text, and zero emphasis upon themselves, or any personal authority, standing, or their interpretations, knowing that no one can improve upon the Bible, we can only look into its riches.

False teachers think that their messages are more appealing than the Bible itself, and that they have an intrinsic authority of their own, so they are emboldened to merchandize their message for financial gain, for it is actually THEIR message, so they feel they have a right to capitalize on it.

The things which are above

If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience… Colossians 3:1-6

What are these things which are above, of which we are to seek after and set our affection on? They are where Christ sits on the right hand of God, but what are they?

They are the things to do with the glorious nature of the Father and the Son, the awareness of the reality of their Persons, of their glory and one substance as the eternal God. It means that the Throne of God becomes so real to us that with all the longing of our heart we would rather be up there than down here. We know we have to remain down here a little longer, but our eyes are set there, so that we can tell the people on the earth what we see, and pray that they will come with us into glory when the Trumpet sounds.

Thru the eyes of faith, and by the mighty power of God’s Word, we can see into heaven, to the very Throne of God, and we want that this holy and glorious revelation be so glorious in us that it sets and ignites our affections toward heavenly things and not earthly things. We become much MORE excited about the reality of heaven than the things of this earth, heaven becomes more real than this earth and the things of the world, and this ignites the glorious Gospel of Christ in our spirit: the lamp of our soul burning bright with His glory.

It’s not by looking inward we are set on fire by God’s glory, or by even looking to the Holy Spirit within, but it’s by looking up into heaven itself and seeing Jesus at the Father’s right hand. He has enough glory up there to set us ablaze if we would only desire Him where He is.

It’s unspeakable glory, the kind that could almost render you speechless, unless it were for the fact that it would be a crime to keep silent, for if we did even the rocks would cry out!

Speak of the greatness of God. Speak of His glory, in the face of Jesus Christ His Son. Tell of this LORD of GLORY, the eternal, only begotten Son, who stooped down to die on a cross to reconcile sinners to Himself, and who is now risen in infinite glory, and unapproachable light, and is calling all men to come to Him.

Freedom of Association and Assembly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_association
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_assembly

Regarding Christian fellowship, this is a fundamental right of all those who belong to Christ, and it is at the foundation of how Christ builds His church, it is the manner by which He builds – by free association and assembling.

Now, this rarely happens in Christianity. Why? Bcos of SUPERSTITION, a superstition which flows from an ignorance of what the NT plainly teaches concerning the church.

The enemy, from the earliest times, sowed the lie that for any gathering of Christians to be “official”, then it had to be under the auspices, jurisdiction or authority of a religious organization or institution.

But this criteria does not make a gathering or assembly of Christians “official” in the eyes of Jesus Christ, for this reason: that He never founded such institutions to begin with.

What Jesus recognizes as “official” church is when even just a few folks are committed and submitted to one another in love, in His name, and allow Him to teach and guide them, so that He is manifest in their midst and in their lives. Within this FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION to meet in Jesus name, then we can recognize the different ministry gifts as God causes them to spring forth and develop in maturity.

This is how Jesus builds His church. By love and real relationships, not by superstition, ignorance of the NT, and fear. And the prevalent superstition or ignorance, that only religious institutions can validate leaders or churches, hinders free association, and thus is a hindrance to the growth of the church.

So, if Freedom of Association and Assembly is enshrined in the constitutions of the nations of the free-world , how much MORE should these principles of freedom be etched in the collective conscience and mind of the redeemed?

Only Jesus can build His church

…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18b

* Jesus said He will build His church. He can rightly call it His church when it is truly Him who has built it. If someone else builds it then it is not His church.

* If Jesus is the BUILDER and we are His laborers, working under His direction, then we don’t have to carry the burden of building the church. We only need to be diligent to fulfill our part, be led by the Spirit, and use the gifts He has given, knowing that Jesus is building His church, not us.

* When Jesus is building the church, the church will look a lot like the Person who is building it : it will be the express image of the Person of Jesus Christ, representing His nature, love, character, holiness, goodness – all His qualities. How could the body of Christ not look like Christ? Impossible. If a church doesn’t look like Jesus, then maybe Jesus didn’t build it? Or, they turned away from Him, so that He was no longer the builder?

* And, if a man is building the church, it will also look a lot like the man who is building it. It works both ways, for better or worse.

* To see restoration in the church is as simple as the above. It is to acknowledge and then act upon the fact that we are together the Body of Christ, with all the members fitted together as He wills. We simply come together knowing we are the Body of Christ and that He is the head of the body, His church. As we work together as equals, in love, led by the Spirit (and not by man or tradition) then Jesus builds His church, by being present in His church as our Living Head.

The same God as the God of the Bible

It’s good for us professing Christians, from time to time, to check that our God is the same God as the God of the Bible, just so that we don’t fall into the trap of accepting a lesser god, or of creating a “new god” in our mind – a god WE create in OUR own image, an idol – a “new jesus” who is quite friendly with sin – a “user friendly” god who conforms to our flesh and who grants us the desires of our flesh.

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off. Romans 11:22

Any other “jesus” than the above is a fake.

The Kingdom and Church is RELATIONAL

The Kingdom and Church is RELATIONAL …… THEREFORE a man will never progress further in the Kingdom than he progresses in relating to his brothers and sisters in real life, on a daily basis. This is why the enemy so opposes the NT Church pattern, which is RELATIONAL at its core. If the enemy can hinder you in relating, in the love of Christ, in real fellowship with real people, then he’s hindered you growing in Christ, for there will be no true spiritual growth in Christ beyond how we relate to and love our brothers and sisters. If a man is not willing to humble himself and relate truly as an equal, then he proceeds no further in the Kingdom.

Therefore, the hierarchical system in Christendom is devilish to the core, for it prevents people from entering the Kingdom, in reality, and from being the true men and women of God they are supposed to be. It is a high thing which exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ.

Why we don’t see a NT Church today?

The NT Church, in its essence, was relational. All the larger aspects of the NT Church stemmed from the basic relationships within.

So, rather than asking, Why don’t we see a Book of Acts Church today? We should each ask ourselves, Why don’t I really love my brothers and sisters? If the true love of Christ was there we would be in relationship/fellowship with other saints in our homes, often, AND we would recognize that this commitment to one another in love constitutes the foundation of the Church.

This has to be the approach to “Church planting” : that we deal with the core heart issues first, which prevent us from opening our lives and our homes to the saints.

Its about relationship, and people don’t want that, cos they’ve lost their first love.

And then the traditional system steps in and offers them “church” without any real relationship/fellowship.

Who defines the “new morality”?

It’s OK to criticize Gen. Petraeus for having another woman, but if he had another man, then that same criticism would come under the category of hate speech, and he would probably be able to keep his job, lest anyone be found guilty of judging his sexual preference, right?

In a post-Christian society like America, its almost even entertaining to watch them discuss morality, like in the Petraeus affair. Discussing something they can’t even define.

In a post-Christian society who defines morality? It simply becomes a power-play where the rules are laid down by the most vocal and arrogant lobbyists, by violence and threat. The “new morality” of the post-Christian west is policed and voiced by thugs like Obama and company. “Oooooh, Petraeus committed adultery!! That is immoral!” But if he had sex with a man that would be OK. That would be his right under the new morality.

1 Cor 14 – Can we do it today?

No one yet has convinced me we shouldn’t put 1 Cor 14 into practice. All the arguments i’ve heard against doing it are simply religious mumbo jumbo. I’ve had so many “pastors” sit down with me and try and convince me its not for today, but i’ve found that they avoid this chapter cos it disturbs them. The sad thing is that the Bible-illiterate sheep fall for their mumbo jumbo.

Convince me we can’t DO 1 Cor 14 today! Convince me from the Bible that God has deleted this chapter!

THE HOPE OF ISRAEL

And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; NOT THAT I HAD ANYTHING TO ACCUSE MY NATION OF. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because for THE HOPE OF ISRAEL I am bound with this chain. (Acts 28:17-20)

a) Paul recognizes the nation of Israel (the people of Israel) as his nation.

b) Even though Paul was badly persecuted by his own nation, he still has nothing to accuse his nation of (which is amazing).

c) Paul identifies the TRUE HOPE of the Jewish nation as being Jesus Christ, Y’shua ha Moshiach. Jesus is the hope of the nation of Israel.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/-DNec2a7bJQ