Suffering’s Role in Overcoming Our Flesh

Faithful stewards of the mysteries of God learn that revelation begets revelation. One discovery of the truth broadens our mindset to reveal or further explain the topography and ways of the kingdom of God. It’s like a steward finding fertile ground on the backside of his master’s estate and then plowing up large nuggets of gold. For some reason, I have in my mind’s eye Jed Clampett shooting at a rabbit and discovering oil.

Anyway, back to the reality of our Father’s kingdom…

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Luke 11:9

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

God is not hiding the truth from us that we might never find it. He lovingly accommodates those with an expressed interest in faithful stewardship.

In our article on Living Without Sin, we explored the separation of our spirit man – the one born of God – and our flesh. The importance of this discovery is worth repeating, in summary:

1. God offers the grace we need to live in victory over sin. We lay hold of that grace through faith (not self-effort).
2. Recognizing that sin resides within our flesh and not in us (those born of God) gives us clarity and great encouragement for the battle we face against the sin in our lives. God the Holy Spirit is at enmity with the sin in our flesh; not with us. He is our all-powerful ally in the war against sin.
3. With clarity comes responsibility. As new creatures in Christ, no longer deceived about the battlefield and gloriously aware of His battle tactics, we must take ownership for putting down our flesh (by the Spirit).

This discovery – particularly #2 – leads to an incredibly encouraging revelation about the role suffering plays in the battle against our flesh and its mind.

The Good Purpose of Suffering

Once we realize that our flesh is not a part of who we are as men and women born of God, we can use all forms of suffering to further separate our newly created self from the flesh and its mind. In a very real sense, our new, born-of-God self is not negatively affected by persecution, affliction, trial, and tribulation.

Searching for the Full Blessing of the Gospel

But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:29

Imagine someone shows up at your door, with a message in their hand. You can tell they have a message because you are watching them from an upstairs window. Considering the look on their face, you suspect they have some good news to share. It also helps that the package they’ve brought with them has “GOOD NEWS” stamped right on the top.

Trouble is: you are very busy. Things to do, people to see, etc. Perhaps the news isn’t worth your time anyway; perhaps it’s just a scam. You could ignore them until they go away.

So, what do you do? Step out onto the porch; give them five minutes – and a stern warning not to waste your time? Encourage them to get to the point? Or, do you invite them in, ask them to sit down and offer them some tea?

It would help to know the nature of the good news; right? But how will you know, if you don’t take the time?

What if you knew the good news was from the king; and it was news that dramatically affected your life? How much time and consideration would you give for that good news? Would you, perhaps, invite the messenger to stay for dinner?

I believe you would.

So let me ask you: What is the “good news” of the Bible to you? What is the gospel? Is it “Jesus died for me, so I could go to heaven”? If so, what have you made of His burial and resurrection?

Workplace Ministry Tip #40 – Find the Boss’ Perspective

Companies spend millions of dollars communicating their vision to their employees. The employees that are eager and able to grasp that vision will be the most impactful assets for the company, and the company’s customers. This is the business application of a higher kingdom principle; a principle that applies to everyone God has positioned for His purposes in the workplace.

God has a way for everything – education, commerce, home making, etc. When we choose to do things His way, He enables us to see our environment from His broader perspective. We not only see further ahead (because He can trust us with more of the plan), we see, with spiritual eyes, more of what is going on around us.

When we commit to God’s ways (Psalm 37:5), we are able to recognize the work He is doing in other people and circumstances that relate to His purposes for us. He also gives us an awareness of those things that are, or will be, a distraction. This works together, in Christ, that our light would shine before men, that they would glorify our Father in heaven (Psalm 37:6; Matthew 5:16).

Workplace Ministry Tip: Consider your operating model and its principles. Commit your ways to the LORD. Do all things as unto Christ; for His purposes. Anticipate the “more than” perspective.

Humbly Yours and Forever His,

A Storm is Coming – Strive to Enter into Community

Consider for a moment the following passages:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Eternal life is in Christ Jesus.

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Romans 12:4-5

We are one body (united community) in Christ. The body of Christ and Christ are inseparable.

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9

Salvation comes through the door that is Christ. He is the only way in.

Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Luke 13:23-24

Salvation comes to those who strive to enter in. Seeking to enter is not enough.

Now, let me ask you: Are you striving to enter into the community that God has positioned around you? Do you know who they are? That community may be your family, your small group at church, your team at work, or your neighbors. It may be a combination or a blend of these; or some other form of community (He is very dynamic in this regard).

Striving to enter into your community is a strategic imperative in your (and their) entering into the kingdom of God. There is no entering without community. I believe, if you humbly ask God, He will help you find and invest in your community (this tool should help).

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help you find the kingdom of God in community.

Humbly yours and forever His,

Kingdom Knowledge – Connectors and Expanders

One of the coolest things about searching the Scriptures is finding passages that expand and/or connect some bit of truth that has been previously discovered. For your encouragement, I offer two examples. First, we have two very familiar passages:

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2Corinthians 3:18

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 2:12

Most of you know that one of my favorite Greek words is metamorphoō; translated in these verses as “transformed”. The fact that metamorphoō is only used three times in the New Testament is enough to suggest that these passages are connected in their meaning. For example, transformation includes the renewal of our minds, and the Holy Spirit plays a part in that transformation. (BTW: The third use will blow your mind. I will let you search it out on your own.)

For now, take a look at this connecting passage:

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him… Colossians 3:10

Beholding the image of Him (His glory) we are renewed in knowledge (in our minds). How cool is that? Renewal of our minds and our transformation; both connected by our beholding Him. It begs the question, “How do we behold Him?”

A Storm is Coming – Maintaining Your Focus on Spiritual Preparation

As the storm clouds gather and your urgency for preparation ramps up, you may discover that you are having a harder time maintaining focus on the spiritual side of your preparation. While it is important to be physically prepared (as much as the Lord and His wisdom have directed you), we must not allow those concerns to supersede the spiritual preparation required for the days ahead. This is critical for you, for those in your spheres of influence, and (most importantly) for the kingdom of God

We must keep, at the forefront, God’s desires to make us His instruments of refuge, truth and freedom to those He has gather around us. The coming season will provide incredible opportunity for ministry to the lost and wandering children of God. I hope and pray that the following reminders will encourage, edify and equip you in your spiritual preparation.

Let me share two additional thoughts before you consider this list. First, there is nothing here that we should not be doing anyway. Second, God knows you cannot do all this at once. He will direct you, by His Spirit, to the one(s) that will be most profitable to His kingdom.

A Storm is Coming – Revival from God’s Perspective

For most Christians, the Day of Pentecost was/is the day the Holy Spirit “came in power” upon those who were obediently waiting. This is true, but not the whole story. For many Christians today, Pentecost is about what we have been given. Again true, but limited… and a bit self-centered.

What if Pentecost is about something else; not something different, but something else important to the kingdom of God? Have you ever wondered why God chose the Festival of Weeks for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit? Have you ever considered His perspective of Pentecost? Have you ever considered what was in it for Him?

The Festival of Weeks was one of the three great celebrations of the Jewish year; given by God for “a new grain offering to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:15-21), “the firstfruits of wheat harvest” (Exodus 34:22). It was (is?) about the harvest. Is it possible that Pentecost is as much about the harvest of souls for God’s kingdom as it is about what we have been given (as great as that gift is)?

The Festival of Weeks was also the time of commemoration for the giving of the Law to Moses. In Jeremiah 31:33, we learn that God intends to write His law on our hearts. We know from John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit is our teacher. Is it possible that Pentecost, from God’s perspective, is as much about our “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded” (Matthew 28:20) as what we personally receive from the Holy Spirit?

Many in the church are crying out for revival in America; for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Why? I can’t help but wonder if our subconscious hope is for the return of “the good old days”; a day when Christians were respected, protected and comfortable. Could it be that God is waiting for us to align our purpose with His perspective?

Just something to think about.

Humbly yours and forever His,

A Storm is Coming – Investing in His Kingdom (Responses)

It has been a little over a week since I sent out a request for help in hearing from God about the issue of investing in His kingdom before the storm. I am very grateful for the five responses I received. I include them here for your edification; and to encourage you to join us in the conversation.

A Storm is Coming – Investing in His Kingdom

The vast majority of the articles God uses me to write are to encourage, edify and equip. This one is different. It may encourage, edify and equip you; but that is not my primary intent. I am writing it because I need your help; help in discerning what God is trying to say to me, and to the body of Christ, about our wealth and the coming storm. I am writing with the hope of hearing the LORD’s voice in community.

To begin, let me establish a baseline for the meaning of “wealth”. Here are some statistics that I have heard over the past few years:

1. Those living at or above the poverty line in America are in the 95^th percentile of the wealthiest people in the world. In other words, 95% of the people in the world live on less than the poverty level in America.
2. Similarly, those that live at or above the median American income are in the 99^th percentile of the wealthiest people in the world.

The vast majority of Americans are “wealthy” when compared to the rest of the world – including most of our Christian brethren. These stats don’t tell the whole story, but they do help us appreciate what God has entrusted to those of us that live in this nation.

Now, there are two particular passages of Scripture that have been haunting me for the last few years.

A Storm is Coming – And Deception with It

When natural storms come, the wicked prey on the helpless. Scams and price gouging are common themes in every disaster. The chaos gives opportunity for the strong to take advantage of the weak.

The spiritual storm that lays on our horizon, and the chaos it will bring, will give the same opportunity to our enemies. They will fight us tooth and nail to keep the knowledge of God hidden from His children and the world. The agents of deception are all around us.

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12:9

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Matthew 24:4

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. James 1:26

So let’s take an eyes-open and honest inventory of the deceptors in our lives: Satan, the world, and even our own minds are potential sources of deception. Of course, this is true in every minute of every hour of every day in a Christian’s life. We don’t always notice; for that is the nature of deception – it is… well, deceptive.

The thing about storms is they tend to intensify the opportunity for deception; particularly if the storm we see approaching is a part of the end-of-days tribulations that will usher in the Day of the Lord, and “The Tribulation”. Jesus, Paul and Peter warned of such things.