I know few whose childhood could be more traumatic than my own. I am not saying there aren’t some whose experiences were worse than mine.  But mine was bad enough to leave scars.  But, I do know although the past may have left you with wounds, and you may walk with a limp as Jacob did after dealing with the fears coming from his past and swindling his brother of his birthright and wrestling with God for a blessing out of it, you can move forward in the blessing and purpose of God for you and you life.  The wounds of our lives often result in our seeing the redemptive purpose of God for us. 
You can’t live in the past. It will box you into deception used of the enemy to  anchor you to those hurts and that past, and hinder you moving forward in God’s  purpose and love, and blessing. 

You won’t forget the wounds of the past and what has been done to you. But you can forgive what has been done and move forward. Equally important: You also can’t undo what you have done to others that has left them wounded. But you can forgive yourself for it in Him, and you can live in a way to love others… even those you may have wounded previously.  And, finally you must turn loose of past mistakes, consequences of sin,  or opportunities you let pass you by and embrace His purpose for today. 
It has always astounded me that the writer of Hebrews starts out with  “Jesus Christ … the same yesterday... “  He has always been Who He is and has been Savior and Lord in it all. Past, Present,  and will be in the Future.

Ask Jesus to be Lord of your past.  Make this your prayer every time the adversary tries to make past wounds fester and infect you in order to kill you, and relationships, and hope for today and tomorrow. This  is exactly why our adversary and his minions attack you with these memories. His design is to kill you and relationships…and hope  
Ephesians 4, 5. & 6 Paul outlines relationships: 1) in the church, 2) husbands and wives, fathers and children, and finally masters and slaves (boss and employee). Then begins instruction in the armor of God….but before outlining that armor tells us 

[Ephesians:12 NASB95] 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places.]

Relationships matter! And they are where most of us receive and give wounds that last. Let us handle them differently in Him.
Here is some encouragement in the form of a powerful song from years ago from an original Maranatha! Music artist Bob Bennett. I’ll give you the lyrics and post a link to a video of the song with lyrics.
Ask Jesus Jesus to be the LORD of Your Past. 

Lord of the Past by Bob Bennett

Every harsh word spoken
Every promise ever broken to me
Total recall of data in the memory
Every tear that has washed my face
Every moment of disgrace that I have known
Every time I’ve ever felt alone

Lord of the here and now
Lord of the come what may
I want to believe somehow
That you can heal these wounds of yesterday
(You can redeem these things so far away)
So now I’m asking you
To do what you want to do
Be the Lord of the Past
(Be the Lord of my Past)
Oh how I want you to
Be the Lord of the Past

All the chances I let slip by
All the dreams that I let die in vain
Afraid of failure and afraid of pain
Every tear that has washed my face
Every moment of disgrace that I have known
Every time I’ve ever felt alone

Well I picked up all these pieces
And I built a strong deception
And I locked myself inside of it
For my own protection
And I sit alone inside myself
And curse my company
For this thing that has kept me alive for so long
Is now killing me.
And as sure as the sin rose this morning,
The man in the moon hides his face tonight.
And I lay myself down on my bed
And I pray this prayer inside my head

Lord of the here and now
Lord of the come what may
I want to believe somehow
That you can heal these wounds of yesterday
So now I’m asking you
To do what you want to do
Be the Lord of my Past
You can do anything
Be the Lord of the Past
I know that you can find a way
To heal every yesterday of my life
Be the Lord of the Past

LORD OF THE PAST Song by Bob Bennett

Ask Him…..and let Jesus be Lord of your past, …. Lord of the here and now…..Lord of the come what may.   

He is the same yesterday, today, yes and forever!

[Ephesians 1:18-23 NASB95] 18 [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places,] 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

[Ephesians 2:4-7 NASB95] 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

[Colossians 1:24-28 NASB95] 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. 25 Of [this church] I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the [preaching of] the word of God, 26 [that is,] the mystery which has been hidden from the [past] ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

We have been called, in fact saved, with a purpose beyond salvation alone. Saved not just from judgement, but unto an eternal purpose.  We are to manifest the fullness of Christ, and the fullness of God’s love in Jesus; what Paul calls “filling up what is lacking in Christ afflictions” here in Colossians 1:24. Understand Jesus left nothing unfinished or unfulfilled in His own suffering and conquering of death and the grave. We are not making Him complete or His atoning work more complete.  We are simply filling out the message He brought and manifested in His flesh from the Father. Making the good news and revelation of the mystery known and evident. Sometimes by our own suffering and sacrifice.   As it required much from Him in love, service, sacrifice, obedience, the laying down of His life for others in obedience to the Father’s will and purpose,  so it often requires much from us.  As Jesus manifested the fullness of the Father’s love and glorified Him, so are we to, do we now, manifest in Christ  that same full love and glorify the Father and the Son.

[John 17:3-11 NASB95] 3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. 6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 “Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; 8 for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received [them] and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. 9 “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; 10 and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 “I am no longer in the world; and [yet] they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, [the name] which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We [are.]

The heart of Jesus and the eternal purpose of God revealed in this prayer also reveals much regarding His disciples in the world to glorify Him/Jesus, and our being in Him as one even as He and the Father are one.  

We, the church, as His body, the fullness of Jesus,  and as His disciples, have a message, mission, and purpose in the world. Even as Paul felt charged with revealing a mystery hidden for ages, so now are we to reveal the mystery of Christ in us…. the hope of Glory.   Jesus’ prayer, as He continues, makes it clearly evident that we are (sent) in the world even as He was, and even as He  manifested the glory of the Father and being one with Him, so, we too, are to manifest Him and His glory.  We are in the world, but we are not of it, as we are also seated with Him, in Him, in heavenly places. 

[John 17:15-24 NASB95]  ... 15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil [one.] 16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, [are] in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

John obviously, in being with Jesus and in the garden where He prayed, caught much in the Spirit. Even if he did not comprehend the importance of it in the moment.  In His epistle He would speak of who we are, and “He that is in us”.  And, He would emphasize our need to testify of Jesus coming in the flesh as the only begotten, something He personally witnessed. And he would; speak of the power of our testimony of Him, manifesting Him, in our love for one another.  That love is the primary way we will manifest His fullness.  Without great commentary let me offer this from 1 John 4.

[1John 4:2-16 NASB95] 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the [spirit] of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak [as] from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son [to be] the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

A couple of things up front here:  

1) I am no man’s/person’s judge as to their salvation!  

2) Salvation is by His grace alone, not earned by works, piety, or merit. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. To make salvation works based or merited is to nullify grace, and we will all fall short if we are under the law.  [Galatians 2:19-21 NASB95] 19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness [comes] through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Salvation is by grace through faith… period. So I am not talking about works/behavior as the foundation of salvation and our relationship with Jesus. 

3) Mental ascent to historical fact is not faith. Faith has an outworking that is based, for the believer, primarily in obedience. That obedience is not under compulsion, but is a response to the revelation and understanding, of the fullness of God’s love in Christ.  It is driven by the desire to live in Christ and co-labor with Him in the will of the Father.  Not by a compulsion, or effort of self, to earn salvation, brownie points, crowns and rewards, positions of honor, or to make yourself better or even more pleasing. Jesus has made us eternally alive and righteous by His work and obedience to the Father (See Philippians 2:5-8)

Many pray a “sinners prayer ” and walk through religious activity as a form of mental ascent to the historicity of Jesus life, death, burial, and the hope of resurrection as a form of fire insurance.  A kind of c.y.a. for eternal damnation. But they give little time at all to walking with or co-laboring with Him in the Fathers eternal purpose on a daily and ongoing basis.  Seeking first the kingdom… the domain of a Lord or King… and walking out His righteousness requires more than mental ascent for an escape from judgment.

Here then, as Shakespeare said, is the rub. And the conundrum of Savior & Lord … or just Savior.

[Ephesians 2:1-10 NASB95] 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.   

This passage, particularly verses 8-9, are familiar to nearly all believers.  It makes it clear that we were dead in sin! BUT GOD made us alive together with Christ…by grace through faith!   Praise God. His grace, mercy and love are astounding. 

However, as I believe I have shared in times past,  while everyone loves to quote verse 4-5 and, particularly, verses 8-9 regarding salvation by grace through faith, they rarely ever quote verse 10 in the context!  And it makes it clear God was as at work in Christ creating us in Him for what…… good works. 

What kind?  Not the kind we dream up to try and please, appease, or impress Him. Not the kind to earn anything,  reward, salvation, honor, position, or prove piety or righteousness.  NO! These are “good works” God prepared beforehand  (I think the indication is probably before the foundation of the world) that we would, not we should, but we would walk in them. He has not saved us FROM something, namely hell or damnation to give us a fire escape.  But, has saved us UNTO something IN Christ Jesus, namely good works. Co-laboring in Jesus, with Jesus, in the eternal purpose of the Father. And, that requires us to be submitted to the Head of the Body we are, and are in; the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:19-23).  It requires us to be submitted to the King in the Kingdom we have been transferred into (Colossians 1:13), and born from above to see; the kingdom of God (John 3:3).  We, co-laboring in these good works in Christ preordained by God and not dreamed up by us, manifest the fullness of Christ and the Kingdom where He is Lord. 

As the adage says. A dog barks because He is a dog, not to become or stay one. A Christian does good works because He is one, not to become or stay one. 

So salvation is simply the portal to being in Christ. And, then co laboring in the eternal purpose of God, and under His Lordship manifesting the Kingdom, to each other, the world around us, and principalities and powers above us (Ephesians 6:12) is what, or the work, we have been called and saved unto.

Now, whenever I talk with anyone about this Savior/Lord conundrum Luke 23 and the thief on the cross is brought up.  I love the passage and God’s grace revealed in it. No argument.  And, I too have been awed by Alistair Begg’s video where he animates the story and when the thief is questioned in glory about why he is there he says “because the Man on middle cross said I could come”. It is a great message regarding grace through faith (if you haven’t seen it, here is a link  Alistair Begg man on the middle cross).  However, if we look at the context I think we can see a bit more of the thief’s relationship with Jesus.

[Luke 23:37-43 NASB95] 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged [there] was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 “And we indeed [are suffering] justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

It is interesting to note this section begins with the mocking of Jesus’ Lordship by the crowd, calling out “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” and the hanging of a sign over Him “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”  They didn’t attack Him as savior. That mattered little to them.  They attacked His Lordship, reasoning that if He was Lord He could save Himself. They did not comprehend that He was doing the will and eternal purpose of the Father, a work that would  save them!  

One of the criminals joins in the mockery “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us! But the other defends Jesus rebuking his fellow thief saying, we are under condemnation of law and justly so. But Jesus has done “nothing wrong”. 

Then rather than attacking Jesus’ Lordship, as all around Him were doing, or mocking any saving power Jesus seemed to lack. He says:“Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”  Not, “save me and yourself from this present agony”.  Not degrading Him as less than a King.  His request I think reveals a revelation He has had.  

This thief speaks His name “Jesus”, a derivation of Joshua – Savior.  He recognizes Him!… And, His ability to save as Savior. But, He also sees something more! Much more! 

He says remember me “when You come in Your kingdom!“ Not “IF” you come into a kingdom, “WHEN you come into YOUR Kingdom“. And, the thief references not just a or any kingdom but YOUR kingdom.  He sees that Jesus  is definitely a King/Lord and that He reigns in a Kingdom Dominion that supersedes this current state . 

In fact, I think you could say He comprehended, even in the moment, that He/Jesus would reign over death as Lord and King. The thief knew they were dying, but He also indicates faith by revelation…. that this Jesus will be in, and can bring him as well into, a kingdom not of this world. The thief comprehends Jesus’ Lordship beyond momentary salvation, or a fire escape from the judgment he is justly under. 

He comprehends what we all must! That we have already been judged, and are in need of eternal life delivered through a Savior Who is the LORD of Lords, as the only begotten. (See Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:16-18)

Did he want salvation? Yes! But, he was dead on that cross and knew it! So, what he knew he needed was a Lord who was ruling in the eternal purpose of God and could deliver life eternal. 

“Randy, you make too much of this!” you say. Perhaps.   Yes, I know there are deathbed conversions. There are thieves on crosses. Those that have little to no time in this realm to co-labor  as one “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand”  But overall, that is rare.  For most believers coming to know Him as Savior, there is ample time to know Him as Lord, the one in Whom we were created…… for good works, which God prepared beforehand SO THAT WE WOULD WALK IN THEM.… under His direction and Lordship day after day as long as we call it today. 

Let us not sit on salvation for He is more than a fire escape savior.  Let us  co-labor with Him as Lord, being given to doing what He is doing in any given moment under His Headship, direction as LORD. 

And, when we cross to the other side and are asked like Alistair Begg’s thief “why are you here?” May we not have the audacity to say “Lord, Lord, in your name…didn’t we … (Matthew 7:22-23)”. But, may we also, even as good and faithful servants who have done only what the master has asked of us (Luke17:7-10) still reply: 

“The Lord,…. the Man on the middle cross said I could come.”

We are each faced with this same enigma, and seeming oxymoron,  in our own lives and experiences and in sharing the fullness of His nature and character with others. 

We are prone to ask “Why?” We are prone to speak effusive praise to Him in one circumstance and curses in others (if not vocally, in our hearts).  

I am convinced knowing Him is possible. But, knowing His nature and character in the fullness of love, and in just judgment is not easy. It is difficult and for that reason the church is not trained well in knowing the full nature and character of the God with whom we have to do. The Only True God!   And, by far and in large part, platform teachers shy away from the subject, only touching it when counseling grief, or counseling through, in, or after calamity.

Jeremiah had an understanding of the nature and character of God. Sovereign God! Omnipotent God! Omniscient God! Infinite God! Eternal God!  Merciful God! Loving God! Compassionate God! Just Judgment God!

That is why he could say things like

[Lamentations 3:37-38 NET] 37 מ (Mem) Whose command was ever fulfilled unless the Lord decreed it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that everything comes – both calamity and blessing?

[Lamentations 3:37-38 NASB95] 37 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded [it?] 38 [Is it] not from the mouth of the Most High That both good and ill go forth?

And the only “Why” he follows up with is this:

[Lamentations 3:39-40 NASB95] 39 Why should [any] living mortal, or [any] man, Offer complaint in view of his sins? 40 Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD.

Over the years in ministry teaching, encouraging, and sometimes counseling others, and in  my own experiences of walking with Him, and chasing after knowing Him in His full character, there is one answer  I often have to ‘rest’  in when the “because” of a situation is beyond my finite reasoning and understanding:

Because He is God, and I am not!

You see He holds eternity past in one hand and eternity future in the other.   In His omniscience He knows, sees the purpose, and the end from the beginning of all and cannot be surprised. In His omnipotence He is fully able!  I could go on.   His compassion, mercy and love do not fail us…  even when the calamity around us seems to say otherwise.   Jeremiah put it this way.

[Lamentations 3:22-28, NASB95] 22 The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 [They] are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. 26 [It is] good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD. 27 [It is] good for a man that he should bear The yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone and be silent Since He has laid [it] on him. … 

Great news and encouragement.  Do note verse 28…. “Since He has laid it on him.”  

His hand is working with us in and through all things.  We often don’t see it because we aren’t looking for it or because we simply don’t fully comprehend the nature and character of our God and Father.

Jeremiah opens what we read in Lamentations 3 with an outline of horrible experiences of affliction and darkness. Then speaks of the mercies of God.  Just after 3:22-28 referenced above, He speaks of our seeking God and seeing Him in the midst of stuff”, even that which He has laid on us. 

[Lamentations 3:28-33 NASB95] 28 Let him sit alone and be silent Since He has laid [it] on him. 29 Let him put his mouth in the dust, Perhaps there is hope. 30 Let him give his cheek to the smiter, Let him be filled with reproach. 31 For the Lord will not reject forever, 32 For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness. 33 For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of men.

He has a purpose in all things. Perhaps that is why we are told “ in everything give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18), not give thanks for all things but in them give thanks.  Perhaps it is why the Philippians (2:12-15 were told  to “work out your salvation (from persecution) with fear and trembling [for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for [His] good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,”   and why James (1:2) told us to “2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,…”

Another prophet who was told to take to wife an unfaithful harlot wrote this

[Hosea 6:1-3 NASB95] 1 “Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn [us,] but He will heal us; He has wounded [us,] but He will bandage us. 2 “He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him. 3 “So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”

Let us do just that.   Let us know, let us press on to know the fullness of our God and Father. We are in Him in Christ Jesus, and He is in us by the Holy Spirit in and through all things

For now here is an  outline of what I shared regarding our being conduits of the kingdom: 

Foundational Kingdom scriptures…

Matthew 6:9-13  (The Lords prayer)

The Kingdom we are paying to be exhibited on earth is not somewhere in the distant future, pie in the sky when we die. It is a present reality.  That is the reason He soon instructs us to seek it first. Everything else in the prayer is for now, daily bread, forgiveness of sin, forgiving others, but we have been duped into thinking praying His kingdom come and His will be done on earth isn’t to be a present reality.  Our mindset needs to be adjusted.  We need a kingdom paradigm. 

Matthew 6:33

The present realty of the kingdom is why we are told to seek it first! 

Luke  17:20-21

Jesus confronts the Pharisees with His presence bringing the Kingdom into their midst. 

Ephesians 2:22. 

We as the body of Christ “are citizens” of what?  His kingdom, having been brought near to have access in Jesus by the One Spirit.

As we focus on developing a Kingdom paradigm based in seeking the King and His Kingdom, we first come to understand they are a present reality. There is a King and He has an established domain/Kingdom.

The ekklesia is the current conduit for bringing the Kingdom to earth in Jesus. When Jesus walked the earth he proclaimed: “The Kingdom is now, has come near you, is in your midst”. We, as the church, His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all, now carry that same mantle to give expression to the Kingdom in Him. We are the people, Body, Bride, temple where the Kingdom finds expression.  We do not have to, nor are we, pulling heaven’s kingdom down by pleading prayer or our piety or our own initiatives. It has been established in us by and in Him, and flows right through us as we are its conduit when we seek the King and the Kingdom rather than our own initiatives or the world’s ways and systems.The ekklesia is simply the current conduit for bringing the Kingdom to earth in Jesus. Heaven joins earth and is to invade it through us, the church, which is His (Jesus) body, the fullness of Him who fills the all in all.  Ephesians 1:22-23. This conduit should be thought of, perhaps a bit like Jacob’s ladder. But, instead of angels descending and ascending, it is like one of those chutes on the back of cement trucks with the effluence of the kingdom being poured out on the earth to be spread by, and through, the likes of you and me laying footings and foundations in Him.

Too many believers today trust in, and get totally wrapped up in, today’s political constructs to establish the Kingdom of God in the earth. The truth is He has established the Kingdom, and He has had no intention, does not have now, nor will ever have any intention of using the constructs of the world’s system to establish or manifest His own.  

The Kingdom will never be manifested or implemented through the political constructs of man or the world’s systems.  This does not mean the LORD cannot use them or move through them as tools for dealing with men and His people. The scriptures are replete with examples of His using evil Kings, Pharaohs, and Rome for His purposes.  But His Kingdom is His! These worldly political entities and constructs never replace it, nor do these establish it. Kingdom reign requires a commitment and allegiance to Jesus Lordship and nothing else.  

Does this mean you can’t participate in your rights as a citizen of the United States, or whatever earthly entity you may come from.  No! Can you not be a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or whatever. No!  Of course, you can exercise your rights and belong to whatever you may.  However your commitment to nation and party end where they cross the Lordship of Jesus, and you must realize that compromise may be difficult. His Kingdom will often be at odds with the world’s systems.   It also often means to trust, or put your hope, in these entities over and above the Kingdom, is to reject trusting the King/Lord and seeking first the Kingdom. Our security is not found in the world’s kings and political parties or systems. Our security is in the authority of Jesus.

God never wanted His people to have any King or government but Him.

[1Samuel 8:1-9 NASB] 1 And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; [they] were judging in Beersheba. 3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 8 “Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day–in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods–so they are doing to you also. 9 “Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them.”

Right after this the LORD gives Samuel a warning, which he delivers to the people about how their sons will be forced to be soldiers of the king, how their daughters will be forced to labor for the king, and how they will be taxed heavily to serve the king and his purposes. Sound familiar?

Then the Lord tells Samuel to listen to the voice of the people and give them a King and directs Him to Saul.   Saul and David both proved to be fairly decent kings, but from there on in Israel, Solomon forward, the burden on the people became hard and heavy and, often, evil.  

You can seek THE KING and HIS KINGDOM in Jesus, or you can be ruled by other than.  To desire the politics or world’s systems to provide and judge, or to trust in them,  to put your hope in them, can be to reject Him from being King/Lord over you. Most of us want what we want, and the truth is we, generally, want to be the King of our lives.  But the gospel of the Kingdom leads us to a place of crucifixion of that desire.

Those functioning in the gospel of the Kingdom are grounded and focused on the LORDSHIP/authority of Jesus, not the ways, systems, and devices of the world. The LORD does not advance His Kingdom in this age by wielding power physically or politically, or by violence. So we cannot expect to advance or exhibit the Kingdom through the exhibition of physical or political power or resorting to violence.  The Kingdom advances, and is exhibited, by those who have no life or power of their own, but have a God given ability, under His authority, to lay their life down and suffer as Jesus did (Philippians 2) in obedience to the Father and His purpose. They trust in the Lordship of Jesus whatever their circumstances, rather than trust in themselves and the world’s politics or power.

You may want to stop reading here.  This will get a bit lengthy from here as I address the current state of religion as politics.  And a warning: I will wax a bit political here. 

I have no,  read that as none, interest in so-called Christian Nationalism, for as I stated just now above I do not embrace the idea of God intending to establish the Kingdom  through the current constructs of man.  I do have interest in making us aware of what is happening in the world, and particularly in the country most of us call our present locality: The U.S.A.  I have no desire to be an alarmist, for I know Who is in control and what Kingdom I’m in and represent as an ambassador. But, as that ambassador I am interested in our being aware because, I think  it will affect us as the church (1 Peter 1:11, 2;11 Peter calls us aliens – we are dwelling in a foreign place)  as we face the adversaries/enemies I outlined above, and in the message back in 1984.   In recent years, and if you have been watching news certainly in recent weeks,  Islam and Socialist/Communist have been making inroads into American politics and culture.  

What follows now is piece I wrote back in 2015 which was based on the message I shared back in1984:

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When I was in full time ministry in1984 at Fellowship Christian Center in Cedar Rapids , Ia, I taught  (preached)  that the greatest threats to the gospel/Christianity were 3-Secular Humanism, 2.-Communism, and number 1- Militant Islam. I remember some thinking I was crazy for that at the time. But the difficulty then, and now, is that politically our Western mindset/paradigm cannot comprehend this kind of “religious” mindset.  Nor do our governmental leaders understand Islam (particularly radical Islam, nor radical Christianity for that matter). Political leadership’s thinking is, and has been: “that if religious ideology doesn’t matter much in Washington or Berlin or London, surely it must be equally irrelevant in Raqqa or Mosul.” (today that would be Tehran)

The difficulty is that there is a difference between religion-as-politicians-like-to-think-of-it and religion that becomes a political ideology.  Politicians, particularly those that are primarily secularist, like the crop we, for the most part, have in the United States, and have had for decades now, see religion as a kind of benign kind of thinking that is not backed by fact or reason, and they embrace an ecumenical approach to all religion(s) with tolerance, if not acceptance.  That is why President Obama became almost the defender of Islam. Not the Islamic terrorist exactly, but the religion. He couldn’t bring himself to embrace the fact that the faith of his father can be embraced in a manner that is militant and violent (political). Or, he could face it, but would not confess it for his own political expediency and that of his party.  He appeared to be as much at a loss to understand it as the average so-called Christian is in trying to understand Westboro Baptist behavior. The problem with this is that inside many religions, particularly, the three great monotheistic religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism) are fundamentalist that cannot tolerate any other basis for truth than that which they embrace and understand.

This form of exclusivity is ripe for political fervor.  Politics, after all, is very much like religion.   There is much evidence that political leaning and reasoning is based on innate, non-rational principles. People often reason badly about politics, that is why it divides people so deeply.  Many, otherwise intelligent people, strongly believe only their political beliefs are true as well. Even to the end that they hate, cannot tolerate, will not dialogue with, and want no association with anyone of another party or political persuasion   So, if people will not give up their religion when it seems there is often no evidence supporting it, we cannot be surprised when they don’t give up their particular political bent and thinking even when it cannot be supported by evidence of effectiveness. Or even a history of failure. And, we certainly can’t be surprised when the two (religion and political ideology) are mixed that the result is something people will sacrifice and die for, as well as do major harm to others to establish and propagate.

Our western political leaders cannot make the distinction between religion-as-they-think-it-to-be, and religion that has become political ideology. (NEW CURRENT NOTE HERE: Make no mistake. Islam is a religion that is a political ideology!) The politicians can’t comprehend the numbers of people who are not focused on the kingdoms or political powers of this world, but on the kingdom rule of God on the earth. The goal of Nazism and Communism was world domination. The goal of Islam and Christianity is also world domination (if not domination, adherence). That is why they will be at odds with one another.  And, why they can be at odds with political governments, at their most radical and fundamental levels.

The difference in Christianity and Islam is fundamentalist terroristic Islam sees justification for establishing dominion by force/violence in their scriptures and the example of their Prophet endorsing doing so. Christianity, on the other hand, looks toward a day that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord in a Kingdom He has already established in their scriptures, and set up now in their hearts. And, then His example is humility and sacrifice to the point of His own death in order to establish His Kingdom authority (See Philippians 2:3-11). It was by His death, burial and resurrection, ie: the fullness of God’s love expressed and modeled by Him, His rule in the hearts of men became available. No one is forced into submission.  His radical followers only find by Jesus, example and teaching, that His dominion is established and expands through He drawing men, heart by heart, into submission that is only gained by love. And His dominion/Kingdom is revealed and empowered by the Holy Spirit in them, His followers.  His kingdom is not of this world. (But, His Body, the church brings the Kingdom near, in their midst, among them, even as He did with the Pharisees in Luke 17).

Until Western political entities understand the difference between religion and a religion as a political ideology, and are willing to take the politically incorrect actions to deal with those embracing a religious political ideology, the terrorist will continue to strike. They will die for what they believe and will recruit others to do so.  Unfortunately, as they multiply in their religious fervor and number of converts, they will strike in more and more places.  The only way to stop them is to prove to them that their god is not God. And, even then, as when Pharaoh chased Israel into the Red Sea to his destruction, He/God will have to do the proving.

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The one difference I see now clearly, in years since 1984, is that Islamist have adopted the communist/socialist approach of  taking over through patient, consistent, and incremental steps, and plans for indoctrination, acceptance, and slowly taking positions of power/influence while increasing their numbers just enough to matter. 

The universities/academia have enabled this thinking since my college era. And the 20 and 30 something’s of today are now bringing it home to roost.  This happening just as Detroit and Minneapolis and other areas have been inundated with Islamic immigrants who come on student visas with no plan to go back home ever.  I once worked with a Pakistani Moslem selling shoes at Dillard’s. I asked him about his faith and plans to take his education back home. He said there was no plan to go home, but to bring his father, mother, sisters and brothers here when he can.  He said they come on student visas, marry each other here,  and have kids that anchors them  here.   Then, they stay on green cards, then citizenship, and try to get extended family here as well. He was outlining their plan for taking dominance. And today  after patience, consistent, incremental implementation of plans, finally many those original Islamic “anchor” citizens are now voters.   This is the result of having no reasonable immigration policy, and letting universities indoctrinate America’s youth with communist/socialist utopia ideology and historical misrepresentations.

 I hear some young people say this is all nothing new. The U.S. has been divided before and seen things like this before and survived. 

At 73, I can tell you this is not just another move like before. Yes, The nation has been divided before…. Civil war … Viet Nam.  But it has not been in gridlock by partisan politics like this… where party over principle is chosen every time by our “leaders” at both state and federal levels.   We do not have a representative driven constitutional republic at the moment, because the politicians don’t represent their constituents/voters  at home,  in the House, or their state, in the Senate. They only represent their party and  how to hold on to party power. This leaves an opening for small minority postions to wield great influence in party politics. Only very short Term Limits would change this . (All you have to do is look at the executive branch at state and federal levels to see term limits work. The president and state governors,  who are term limited,  change/turn over all the time. We need term limits at every level. No more professional politicians. Cut their lifetime benefits and perks as well) Of course, DC politicians will never enact term limits.

But…. Having said that;  That is not the primary difference between now and times past.  Most of you are too young to remember the America of my childhood . The post WW2 era.  America emerged as the Superpower. The Nazis were defeated, but the Bolsheviks increased their hold in Russia and Mao in China. The communist were emboldened and enabled. 

Russian/USSR Premier Nikita Khrushchev boldly proclaimed he didn’t fear Atomic war, because they would take us “without firing a shot “. The long term goals of indoctrination started then in the education system and in the culture. The revolution was not going to be overnight or violent. It would be patient, consistent, incremental. And it has been … beginning with academia and spreading into the culture. It was the so-called “Cold War”, because nuclear warfare had proven itself unthinkable at the end of WWII and nobody wanted, and still even now wants, that repeated. Particularly as several nation states now have weaponry, and some enough to wipe out humanity. 

We thought we had won the Cold War when President Reagan told Premier Gorbachev “tear down that wall” and the Berlin Wall fell and the USSR broke apart.  But the indoctrination attack of socialist/communist ideology, misleading re-written history, anti-god secular humanism, antisemitism, and embracing ever more immoral and liberal cultural standards continued. The Cold War invasion continued. 

And, since 1979 or so, militant Islam replaced, to some degree, Communist countries as the seemingly greater threat for physical war/violence.  The physical violence of Madmen Moslem terrorism events, however is just a distraction by them to steal focus from their real attack. Islamist have adopted the same patient, incremental, type  plans as  the communists/socialist to take power positions, increase influence and acceptance, and continue to increase their numbers in our borders,  and take over that I outlined above.  Assimilation is not the goal.

Now, we even see the socialist and Islamist teaming up in pro Palestinian arenas and demonstrations. Shouting antisemitic and anti-America slogans.  Strange bedfellows, because the Islamist, if they take over will not be tolerant to women, gays, or anyone that doesn’t come under Sharia law. That is exactly what happened in pre-IRDC Iran. Socialist and Hardline Islamist overthrew the monarchy in a collaborative effort in 79. After the Shah was ran out of the country the new Islamist regime murdered the socialist.

We have never been under this kind of concerted subversive attack, and to this degree.

Note: at same time… since the mid 70s we lost the 4th branch of government the founders counted on to hold the constitutionally mandated official 3 (Legislative/Executive/Judicial) in check. A Free Press. While our press is constitutionally free and independent of government… it is now, unfortunately, a Partisan Press and has become an attack dog with slanted reporting from both sides. It is now a watchdog to none!  Instead of being the watchdog guardian of truth for all a Free Press was intended to be,  it is now a lapdog of the parties on both sides of the political spectrum..

My sense is that the coalition of socialist-communist-Islamist are making progress in winning  what we may call the “new cold war.”

I trust the Lord. But, I also know He uses evil kings and governments for His  purpose to deal with His own (Ever read Jeremiah or Isaiah). And, particularly those who have been blessed in His favor and then turn away to serve idols.

I won’t go on.

I may not live to see it at my age. But I do fear for my kids and grandkids under a congress under the influence or control of even a small faction of Islamist and Communist/Socialist.  I don’t hate anybody personally. I pray they come to Jesus.  But, I know  history has proven them to be liars, immoral, and ruthless. 

Even 2-5 per cent in congress (8 or 10 seats) can do great damage with their hatred for America, our constitution, Judeo-Christian foundations and history.

They already very nearly rule Europe now …particularly Germany and France… the UK is the next domino. All these countries already have large Islamic communities from open immigration policies, and established Sharia courts operating outside their constitutions! 

The United States …. whom they call the Great Satan is wanted most of all!   Again, not to be alarmist… but to warn and be aware. If we don’t stop or slow this in the next few years/elections it may be too late and perhaps irreversible outside of civil war or worse.

Finally,   some insights from a Facebook post my friend and fellow believer Lanny Swim shared.  He did not write it. Someone named Kristanza Maria did  (take it as just that, a Facebook post that may be accurate. It may not be, but it is interesting:

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ISLAM DOESN’T NEED A MAJORITY. IT ONLY NEEDS YOU TO BELIEVE IT DOES.

It isn’t the numbers that decide it. It’s the will.

The argument sounds reasonable: Muslims are only 1.5%, it would take 350 years before they’re the majority. But the whole calculation rests on one mistake, that Islam has to be the majority to take power. It doesn’t.

And let’s get the numbers straight.

The 1.5% is in America. There, Muslims make up around one and a half percent of the population, and that figure is rising, not falling.

In Europe the picture is entirely different. Here the share is about 6% and climbing, up from just under 5% a few years ago. That’s roughly 46 million people.

But even 6% tells you almost nothing, because Muslims aren’t spread evenly across the continent. They’re concentrated in the cities, and there the reality looks like this: Marseille around 25%. Brussels around 25%, and in districts like Molenbeek far higher. Malmö around 20%. Birmingham and Bradford around a quarter. Copenhagen, London and Paris around 10 to 15%. And among the young, the ones who shape what comes next, the figures are higher still everywhere.

That’s where daily life is lived. That’s where the schools fill up, the shops change, the streets shift and the votes are decided. A national average is a statistical fog. Reality lives in the district.

The “350 years” is pure fantasy. The number assumes nothing changes for three and a half centuries. Same birth rates, same immigration, year after year. But the birth rate is higher, the population is younger, and the immigration continues. Assimilation…not so much.

And power was never about headcount anyway. A society isn’t steered by the many. It’s steered by whoever is most organised and least willing to back down. The passive majority folds every time. A small, insistent group can rewrite the rules for everyone else, not because it’s large, but because it never yields. That’s how Islam gains ground in the West, not by counting heads, but by being the one that never retreats.

And it isn’t only Islam.

The same mechanism shows up everywhere. A small group that never gives in moves the entire culture in a few years, while the majority gives way to avoid the trouble. (Maria gives some examples here, mostly of woke political policies, which I will edit here… as pertinent examples, but off topic)

The thread through all of it is the same. None of these movements was ever a majority. They were simply the ones who never gave in, while you watched and told yourself it would blow over on its own.

That’s why it’s dangerously naive to lean back and point at 1.5% or 6%. Islam doesn’t have to be the majority to dominate. No ideology does. It just needs to be willing, while you sleep.

Wake up!

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Wake up may be a bit strong for some.  But, do let us be aware and vigilant as the church, that we are salt and light, ambassadors for Christ, and conduits for the Kingdom to pour through in the face of adversaries and an often dark and perverse generation.

Paul wrote the church at Philippi as the working out their salvation from persecution the following:

[Philippians 2:12-15 NASB95] 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for [His] good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 

One line that came from it discussing 1st Corinthians 14, as we did in a gathering recently, I thought was very insightful. It briefly outlines the intent of Paul”s exhortation to the church at Corinth.  Stephen (sorry no last name for attribution because the video is no longer available. Perhaps Art can fill us in later) shared the instructions intent was to produce:   

“Participatory meetings, and orderly spontaneity, with the goal of edification” 

The ‘ principle of participation”, (as I now recall) suggested might even be likened to a commandment of the Lord. I share that mindset in so much as I think it incumbent on each of us to come to gatherings, not just to spectate and see if God shows up, and not to just receive. But it is our responsibility to come as stewards of the gifts within us and as stewards/servants of the Holy Spirit in the Lord Jesus.  It is our responsibility to gather and come expecting the Holy Spirit to use even me to edify others, to be sensitive to what He is doing and saying in our gathering and minister in like manner.

I repeat here some of what I shared back in ’23 regarding this. 

Yes, The Holy Spirit will do whatever He wants done through the likes of you and me.  He will not force you to share or do anything but, if you are sensitive, He will draw out of you what is needed for others.

There will be an opportunity to share and pray with one another, and let the LORD minister through us. And, for us to express ourselves in love and worship, praise and thanksgiving, to Him. Come be blessed and edified, and  be a blessing and to edify others.

A principle of participation was the norm for the church in Paul’s day.  The question in my mind is how did it change, and platform performance to spectators become the norm in our time? It is a deep question.  I could oversimplify, with some sense of truth to it, and say it came as saints became insensitive to the Holy Spirit doing the work of ministry through them, and preferred to leave “ministry” to the clergy/hierarchy.  There is probably more to it. But, that principle of “trusting” the man of God rather than hearing from God has has been alive in well in God’s people since  Moses  (Exodus 20:18-20, Deuteronomy 5:5) , and when they requested a King and got Saul instead of God as King (1st Samuel 8:8 and following).  It has existed since the garden as men chose knowledge of rule and regulation over life in the intimacy of feeding on He Who is life, in the choice to take from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good And Evil over eating from the Tree of Life.

The principle of participation requires listening to Him and sensitivity to Him in serving others, in and through Him. 

The video exhortation mentions  “Participatory meetings, and orderly spontaneity, with the goal of edification” 

Edification in its simplest definition means to “build up”  or  to uplift, enlighten, strengthen, encourage, help to improve. It always has a positive effect. However, it does not necessarily always come from a positive word or action.

The point of our participatory gatherings is edification.  Every week I send these messages I quote 1 Corinthians 14: 26

[1Corinthians 14:26 NASB95]  26 What is [the outcome] then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

Note the participatory nature of Paul’s instruction.  WHEN YOU ASSEMBLE (plural -come together, convene, cohabit, associate with), EACH ONE HAS (every one, any one,  each/every man woman) has something to offer  or bring. Let it be done to build up the whole assembly and each other.

[1Corinthians 14:12 NASB95] 12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual [gifts,] seek to abound for the edification of the church.

In  context, in these two verses the apostle was dealing with the expression of tongues and prophecy in the church at Corinth.  But, he makes it clear that no matter the gift, the outcome and goal is to be edification of the church as a whole and each member.   To do this requires a sensitivity to the Spirit, and developing both the willingness to be used by Him, and the control of our self-will to be submitted to Him.

A community of servants functioning under the Lordship of Jesus administered by the Holy Spirit in residence in each of us. Orderly spontaneity given to edification. 

Recently I hear and read a lot about what God is doing in the church today. Many point to Apostles and Prophets, in particular,  and other four/five fold ministry gifts.  I believe in these gifts (what I have referred to in the past as Ephesian 4:11 “ministry gifts”) to the church. Their scriptural purpose is to equip saints for the work of ministry (edification?). Their purpose is not to call attention to themselves or simply stir people up about the latest and greatest “move”.

All too often in 50 years in the faith I have witnessed platform ministry stirring people up, but not changing nor edifying them.  And very often simply lifting up a hierarchy of men with supposed “gifts” and “authority”, but not building up the community of servants that is the Body of Christ and equipping them.  The result has been a form of Christianity that is a mile wide and inch deep because it calls people to a movement and a moment and not to Jesus. Nor a call to losing yourself and your identity in Him and to a more costly discipleship that comes from following Him, not  men, into laying your life down for others in love and service under His direction.

I long to see the restoration of all things, and the mighty miracle, in the church/ekklesia.  But I don’t see it coming through APEPT  directed “movements” or platform ministry, but through saints functioning in as a community of servants in participatory gatherings of orderly spontaneity focussed on edification of saints and reaching the unbelieving and pershing. 

Authentic APEPT ministry is primarily one on one, not from the platform, and builds a community of servants in their relationship to Him/Jesus, and in their relationships of loving others in the Body and sharing life with, and in service to, them. And, to relationships of loving those that are perishing without Him, through practical mission and service to them, again, under His direction and Lordship.

I too believe God is moving in our time to do wondrous things in His church. But it “ain’t gonna  be” through flashy platform performance, but in a community of servants that move in Him/Jesus with the earmarks of humility and love in the power of the Holy Spirit that reveals the Father and calls attention to Him/Jesus, not themselves, or their ministry or office. Jesus turned the world upside down through a very small community following Him and He is still doing so. 

[Romans 15:2 NASB95]  2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.

[Ephesians 4:29 NASB95] 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such [a word] as is good for edification according to the need [of the moment,] so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Are you at rest in Jesus?  It is an important question and consideration.

The writer of Hebrews covers Israel being delivered from Egypt (picture of bondage to the World and its systems) early at the end of Chapter 3 speaking of our need to encourage one another every day with the truth of our deliverance in Jesus: 

 [Hebrews 3:13-14 NASB95] 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is [still] called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,

And using Israel as an example of people of God that did not enter His rest because of unbelief:  

[Hebrew 3:18-19 NASB95] 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 [So] we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

I share this not out of desire to use some fear tactic to scare into action and piety, but simply to remind us of our need of daily encouragement, and  the need of focusing on the truth of the rest/sabbath that is ours in Him/Jesus.     The writer continues in Hebrews 4 to remind us  of that Sabbath which is His, and which we are invited to live in:

[Hebrews 4:1-11 NASB95] 1 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh [day:] “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”; 5 and again in this [passage,] “THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through [following] the same example of disobedience.

If you look at the underlined portions here it is readily apparent that there is a rest, a Sabbath that is HIS. Also apparent is that (vs3) we who believed enter that rest.  “HIS works were finished from the foundation of the world” and He has “rested from all His works.” And, (vs 10) assures us that we may enter His rest. And, if we have, we rest from our works, “just as God did from His.”  We are then admonished by the ultimate oxymoron “be diligent to enter that rest”

Keep in mind our spiritual adversary is a liar, the Father of lies, and daily tries to lead us into unbelief and disobedience through the lie, and will try to rob us of that Sabbath/rest.

So, also discussed here (vs1) the “fear”, although not being used as a fear motivation, that while that rest is a reality we may come short of it?  How could that happen? If, as indicated (vs2), indeed we have had good news preached to us, How?

It happens when the word we have heard is not believed/received and does not becomes, or united with, faith. As I have shared many times faith is not initiated in or by us,  it is not something we well up or work up by strong mental assent or “hard’ believing.  It is initiated by God speaking to us. (Romans 10:17a … faith comes by hearing). When He speaks there is faith, if He hasn’t there isn’t any.  But, faith has two parts. There is the speaking (initiation) by God, and the doing (response of obedience to what He has spoken) by us.  The kingdom principle from the scriptures is the outworking of hearing is faith, the outworking of faith is obedience, the outworking of obedience is seeing the fulfillment or what He has promised or spoken to you about.  

This is once again evidenced here.  The writer says regarding Israel they also had good news given, preached to, them just like us,“but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.”  They heard, but the outworking was not faith in this case, because “it was not united” with faith: received/believed/walked out/obeyed. As a result they failed to enter His rest. Vs 6 indicates “those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience”.  And, the writer’s admonition to those still outside of His rest is “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.” .

And, his encouragement is that (vs 9) “there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God “ and we should be diligent to enter by letting hearing His voice have its outworking in faith that produces obedience,  rather than the unbelief that produces  “the same example of disobedience.”

Please understand this, from the writer of Hebrews, nor from me, is not an exhortation to works, or works righteousness  True faith does not lead us to performance of  works we dream up, or a response to rule and regulation/law,  to try to appease or please Him of our own initiative.   The exhortation is to simply walk with Him, hearing His voice, and doing what He directs as you do. It is in walking with Him, listening to His voice we find that rest/Sabbath and enter in. 

Jesus spoke a very similar oxymoron in Matthew 11:

[Matthew 11:28-30 NASB95] 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

As I have shared before, this is a great paradox as a yoke is an implement of labor.  You yoke oxen together to pull the load and for labor.  When we are yoked to Jesus, we simply walk beside Him co-laboring with Him. He pulls the bulk of the load, and we do not grow weary. We, rather, find rest/Sabbath in Him.  His yoke is easy, His burden is light. 

Stop trying to be diligent to work from your own initiative or plans to do something for Him or to please Him. It will wear you out!   Think about it! He is Almighty God, Omnipotent, He is all sufficient within Himself.  He does not need anything! He does not need anyone to do anything for Him. However, He desires us to walk with Him doing what He is doing. As Jesus put it: 

[John 5:19 NASB95] 19 ….”Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless [it is] something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.   

Performance will lead you to disobedience doing what you think He wants, rather than serving from knowing what He wants and is doing in the moment or situation.  Be diligent to enter His rest by simply listening to His voice. Listening will lead to obedience in doing what He directs as He leads.  Laboring for Him of your own design will be ineffective, frustrating, and tiring. Co-laboring with Him, walking beside Him, yoked to Him, will be extremely effective, and bring rest and peace.  Be diligent to enter that rest!

A few days ago when looking for a song by once prominent Christian music artist Wayne Watson, I ran across this he posted on Facebook :We were in church yesterday. Why is church hard sometimes? Why?

There were many, mostly compassionate responses in the comments of the post. Having seen Mr. Watson in ministry many times, and met him at Christian radio events I was part of a few times (but we were nowhere near close friends). And, knowing he is about the same age as I, has sons the age of my daughters, and, with his CCM career paralleling mine in CCM radio for years. And, his leading worship in church bodies which I have done coupled with my leading church bodies as an elder/teacher in expressions in several locales, and in fellowships. And, finally, our both having some ties to Houston where he lived and ministered for sometime as a worship leader until retiring.    I have always sensed a kind of loose kindred experience with him, if from afar. With that said, as I read his posted question I sensed, I think in the Spirit, I needed to respond with a bit more depth than some from my experience with a different path I took back in 2008 into what we now call “church”; as I moved away from a traditional expression of the Body of Christ to meeting/gathering in our home since that time.

Here is my ” Facebook comments”response to his post:  

Because the western culture platform to spectator form we call “church” isn’t the “church” -ekklesia- of the New Testament Gospels and epistles. It is focused on duty-filling religion and the transfer of knowledge rather than relationships of love and service and saints/believers/Christians manifesting the fullness of Jesus in open and participatory gatherings for the purpose of edification… and worship in Spirit and truth. We are to be the church, not go to church or be in church. We, the church, are to be under his Headship functioning as “His body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.” (see Ephesians 1:22-23) Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. Until the form serves God’s intended function… church will be “hard”, … cold … dead. But, once you’ve experienced true fellowship in that open and participatory form focused on releasing and edifying all, and true worship of Him through relationships functioning as His body, and free from hierarchy, you will never be satisfied with platform to spectator focus on entertainment and the relay/transfer of just information about Him. You can “go to church” … or you can function in fellowship with He and the Father in relationship with each other as His body in love and service 1John1:3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

As I contemplated and proofread this response I was drawn to consider my summation. 
Until the form serves God’s intended function… church will be “hard”, … cold … dead. But, once you’ve experienced true fellowship in that open and participatory form focused on releasing and edifying all, and true worship of Him through relationships functioning as His body, and free from hierarchy, you will never be satisfied with platform to spectator focus on entertainment and the relay/transfer of just information about Him. You can “go to church” … or you can function in fellowship with He and the Father in relationship with each other as His body in love and service

If you have been around me over the last 18 years of meeting in what has been termed “house church”, “simple church”, “organic church”, “open and participatory gathering”  etc. etc. You have heard me say there is no “magic” in meeting in homes (or a building for that matter), it just seems to fit a more biblical template. I have visited and read much about “house church” gatherings where they have simply moved the “traditional western culture hierarchy and form to the living room of some home. Nothing much changes but for being a bit smaller and perhaps really knowing names relationally.  You see: The “magic” is not in the form. It is in the function of the body under the direction/Headship of Jesus through the Holy Spirit that is in, ie…Whom has been given…, to each individual member. … 

But, once you’ve experienced true fellowship in that open and participatory form focused on releasing (all) and edifying all, and true worship of Him through relationships functioning as His body, you will never be satisfied with platform to spectator focus…

Each week in this space I dutifully send out a notice of gathering repeating: We focus on being sensitive to the Holy Spirit moving through each one to encourage and build each other up, the edification of all, and Pray now about how the Holy Spirit may inspire, move in, and through you.  And I quote 1 Corinthians 14:26 as our guideline for gathering What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 1 Corinthians 14:26.

  
So, the question is:  What is our corporate/gathering/body of Christ experience truly? Is it 1st Corinthians 14:26 in an open and participatory gathering where When you assemble, each one has is focused on as well as  Let all things be done for edification?  Or, like Wayne Watson are we left asking “Why is church so hard sometimes? Why?”

If meeting with Jesus is central to our gathering with each other, if He/Jesus is to be manifested and experienced and given preeminence, and if being released in Him by the Holy Spirit to edify those we gather with and love, then being the church should not be hard… or cold… or dead… Or just moving through the form of another meeting out of duty leaving us with such questions.  Shouldn’t it rather be moving actively in service by the Spirit to do His/Jesus will, work, and purpose, in and through us,  to His glory, and the building up/edification, encouragement, and love of one another. That, if so,  should leave us with the warmth of having just encountered a “road to Emmaus” meeting with Him. “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us…” (Luke 24:32)

Paul gives much attention in his writing to what we might call the Body principle. Particularly in his letter to the church at Rome (chapter 12) and Corinth (1st Corinthians chapter 12,13,14) . Consider a few here.

[Romans 12:4-13 NASB95] 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, [each of us is to exercise them accordingly:] if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 [Let] love [be] without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 [Be] devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Not much exposition needed here, but to say we function as His body and members of it by the grace he gives. Do let me say way too much is made out of the phrase “according to the proportion of his faith” This is not referencing size or largeness  or greatness of faith. This (faith) is not something you have welled and worked up. It is simply referencing your confidence that He/The Holy Spirit has spoken to you regarding that which He desires for you to do or say to edify/build up/ encourage, serve and love others.   So, don’t hold back in fear of others, or intimidation of the enemy for he loves to scare us into quenching the Spirit. As Paul told Timothy “stir up/kindle afresh the gift that is in you ….God has not given us a spirit of timidity (cowardice), but of power and love and discipline (sound judgment). Respond erring on the side of actively being used of the Lord/the Spirit (and letting Him or elders correct you if you do err. You will learn to hear His voice and respond in obedience better as He deals with such errors), rather than erring on the side of doing nothing and quenching the Spirit and any resulting edification. As long as your motivation is edification based in love serving the Lord, not lifting up or drawing attention to yourself or the gift of grace manifested, you will rarely go wrong. 

[1Corinthians 12:1, 3-14, 27 NASB95] 1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts,] brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. … 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all [persons.] 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another [various] kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body is one and [yet] has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. … 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

Without detailed comment, let us note that again the apostle makes it clear he is not opposed to the manifestation of “spirituals”.  In fact he did not want the church at Corinth to be unaware of them. And, after setting up the foundation that those who speak by the Holy Spirit will be lifting up the fact that Jesus is Lord, he goes into the various or variety of gifts the One or Same Spirit may exhibit.  And, although there are varieties of gifts, there is one Spirit.  He wants it clearly understood in verse 7 that each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good! YOU….. YES, EVEN YOU!!! … have been given the indwelling or manifestation of the Holy Spirit, who by the way is very God indwelling you, for a purpose – THE COMMON GOOD: The edification and building up, serving and loving of all others.  The Spirit works all these varieties of gifts, not because you are anything special or need attention drawn to yourself .. or the gift for that matter.. but He distributes to EACH ONE, including you, individually as HE WILLS.  I think you can read that as: according to what the need of the moment and the situation, and those we are gathered with, may be or call for.   Why? Because we are the body and all members of it, and each member has purpose in relationship to the other. He is God and we are not.  It is His body, not ours. We have each one been baptized by the One Spirit into Jesus Body. We have drank of the one Spirit and we are in Him/Jesus. It is not just yourself with or In Jesus as one “personally saved” for just yourself and your pleasure.  But you/we are one of many members saved and sanctified/set apart for His purpose.  Once you grasp this, gathering becomes a great deal more than just “meeting” with others to go through religious duty motions, worship, and hearing the transfer of information about Him. Each of those may be good things, but that ain’t what the ekklesia is called to.  It truly becomes meeting with and manifesting Him, and co-laboring in His purpose; to edify, love and serve others, as the fullness of Him who fills all in all. 

In 1st Corinthians 13  Paul lets us know that all this function must be rooted in love. If not, it is worthless. In my mind that is why the average western culture church is seen as , and becomes to most, cold, hard, religion, and the sterile transfer of information. The only time it comes close to touching people with love is sometimes in the emotional expression of worship in song to the Lord, or sometimes in a gospel presentation clearly proclaiming/outlining the fullness of God’s love expressed in Jesus death and resurrection. But the love Paul outlines is best manifested in a body functioning to manifest Him/Jesus in fullness and edify, serve, and practically love others as empowered and enabled by the Holy Spirit. 

No passage of scripture has probably divided so many as 1st Corinthians 14.  I will hopefully not try to add to that division here but will take a look at a few things here.

[1Corinthisan 14:1-4 NASB95] 1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts,] but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in [his] spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.

Again, Paul makes clear he is not opposed to spiritual gifts. In fact, after the exhortation to Love, he says to desire to be gifted of the Spirit. But especially that you may prophesy. And, if we note the context of his exhortation, his emphasis on prophecy here is not to lift up the gift, nor the prophet, but the place of edification in our gathering. Our coming together is to be focused, centered upon, the purpose of edification. 

 
He clearly outlines here (vs 3) that prophecy will have a triune effect: It will edify, build up, strengthen, solidify, make strong. It will exhort; inspire to change, action, correction, purpose, mission. It will console: comfort, bring solace, bring peace and security. 

From these four verses he will hang the rest of the argument for prophecy in public over speaking in tongues in public, at least without interpretation,  that makes up the context of the rest of this chapter. He in no way is lifting up prophecy above tongues, or denying or suggesting the abolition of tongues as a gift of the Spirit. His argument regards what brings public or congregational edification and what does not. Or, said another way;  what brings personal edification through speaking mysteries to God by the Spirit…. that is tongues… And what brings the church assembly edification, exhortation, and consolation through speaking divine revelation by the Spirit from God to a group/body/gathering of people through their understanding…. that is prophecy…

The modern church has made the whole issue of this passage Tongues or Prophecy. And, for the most part, doing away with and quenching both in our gatherings. That is not Paul’s point! His point is edification of the body/the church through the body/the church!  Which, you may remember, he started with when speaking of gifts for the common good in chapter 12. Our modern cultural assimilation has been to quench prophecy (speaking from divine revelation for edification, exhortation, consolation and more) leaving that to “professional” paid prophets/clergy from platform rather than coming from the body of saints to the saints. To say nothing of quenching even the personal ministry of tongues or the ministry gift of the Prophet in gatherings or simply relegating them to a bygone era.

I will also say here that I am convinced we have made a bit too much of the term “desire that you may prophesy” here.  It brings to our minds the Hollywood movies depiction of a long bearded old man prophet, or a modern wide eyed lunatic looking dude, proclaiming “THUS SAITH THE LORD!!!…. And proclaiming judgment or calamity. Or we see in our minds eye, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Daniel or Ezekiel … or Moses in some form…  doing the same “THUS SAITH THE LORD!”  We think great piety or anointing is required. We rarely ever draw to mind that God may speak through the likes of you and me edification, exhortation, and consolation of something He has divinely inspired or revealed to us for the purpose of edifying others just like us.  And, I would say most can hardly imagine this word of divine inspiration may come to us in the spontaneity of the moment, or it may be something He has been revealing to us over some time and desires for us to share now in the gathering of saints.  

In its base definition and purpose, to prophesy (to be a prophet) in the sense of 1st Corinthians 14, I believe, is to simply speak forth by divine inspiration, and at the direction of Jesus as Head by the Holy Spirit, for the purpose of edification, exhortation, and/or consolation of others.  This is generally very natural and a part of our open conversation and participation. It is generally not lofty and generally is not preceded by “Thus saith the Lord”. It is sharing what He has given you to share for the common good and edification.    

Paul does not say you have to be a “Prophet”, as in the Ephesians 4 ministry gift sense, to prophesy in this context. He simply says desire “especially that you may prophesy”.   And, he does so that edification of the church may prevail. 

Now, before you feed me to the dogs over this:  Yes, I also believe, there are “”Prophets” in the Ephesians 4 sense of ministry gifts to the church, just as there are apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers given to the church today. And, yes, prophecy can sometimes foretell future events pertaining to the Kingdom of God and His purpose. Yes, there are times where someone ministering as a Prophet (Ephesians 4 gift to the church, what some would call in the “office” of a Prophet) can speak judgement or calamity, …or strong exhortation and direction known only by divine revelation, or may, by the same sort of revelation, simply praise and lift up God and teach others or refute those opposing Him, as they act as one with that Ephesians 4 ministry gift.

But in general, I think that releasing that base definition and purpose in prophesying where all are encouraged to desire that you may prophesy is the apostle’s point here. He was also, of course, interested in bringing some order to their gathering and wanted to curb their practice of everyone just speaking out loud in tongues (because they, or most, could) without interpretation. And he was interested in curbing their talking over one another with known languages of understanding or in tongues. His purpose and point again is the purpose of everything being done for edification.   Hence verse 5, which in no way denies the purpose or power of speaking in tongues, nor says to stop speaking in tongues, but endorses it. He simply explains that. in terms of edification in their gatherings, prophecy is more to be desired and has greater impact and importance; because a the whole church may be edified by it.

[1Corinthisan 14:5 NASB95] 5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but [even] more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

He then goes into a long section outlining the power of tongues and interpretation, and discusses the ministry of praying in the spirit (without understanding) and singing in the spirit (without understanding) and praying and singing with His mind (with understanding). But he reiterates, if you will, his point here that in our gatherings, edification… and order… is the priority.  And that being the case, he would rather speak in gatherings with understanding. He makes it very clear that he appreciates and does both (what is done in the spirit without understanding and that done with the mind and with understanding) . But for the purpose of edification in gatherings, the understanding of all must be served (therefore a message in tongues must be interpreted). 

[1Corinthisans 14:12-19 NASB95] 12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual [gifts,] seek to abound for the edification of the church. 13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What is [the outcome] then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit [only,] how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Then follows a series of instructions on order in gatherings which I will not go into (too detailed for this current forum) other than to say he was dealing with people speaking over each other, and all at once and the confusion that comes from exercising your gift(s) out of order, in some sort of compulsion and without sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.   The short stroke of this is that your spirit, even in spirituals/gifts is, is under your control. The Spirit does not drive us, compelling us to disorder and chaos. He draws us… He draws what He desires out of us to edify others and for the common good with order at the proper time. 

[1Corinthians 14:29-33, 39-40 NASB95] 59 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not [a God] of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. …  39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

“So, Randy,”  you say, “What is your point.”?

My point is:  that if we are to meet with Jesus in each other and function as the body under the direction/Headship of Jesus through the Holy Spirit that is in, ie…Whom has been given…, to each individual member. … and experience true fellowship in that open and participatory form focused on releasing (all) and edifying all, and true worship of Him through relationships and functioning as His body,  and leave gatherings with a sense of an Emmaus Road experience of meeting with Him, as opposed to Wayne Watson questions, our hearts must be challenged with our responsibility to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit for the common good. .

Let us understand we are His body and we are stewards of the manifold grace of God as though God is speaking and moving through us. Let us be given to participation under His release and direction and enabling of the Spirit  rather than just spectating and sitting in fear, timidity, silence or believing/thinking God couldn’t possibly move through the likes of me.  Let us not just be like kids who take their glove to the ball park hoping a foul ball comes our way. Let us be prepared, ready and open, for the coach/Holy Spirit to put us in and participate.

[1Peter 4:10-11 NASB95] 10 As each one has received a [special] gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, [is to do so] as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves [is to do so] as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

[1Corinthians NASB 14:26 What is [the outcome] then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

Praying understanding from Ephesians for us today.

May the eyes of our understanding of the fullness of God’s eternal purpose in Christ be opened. May we have the “spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him”  that Paul prayed for us to have in Ephesians (1:17).  And may we be consumed to some degree with a passion “to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God”  that Paul speaks of in Ephesians (3:9), and with a desire to take up or commission outlined in Ephesians(3:10): “that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly [places.]”

The eternal purpose of God is being worked in, and through, the summing up of us, and all things, in Christ Jesus as His Body, His Bride, and as the Temple/Habitation of God and the Family of the Father (Four types/analogies we find from Genesis to Revelation). The Kingdom of God is being manifested and expressed through our living individually under the Lordship of Christ as the Holy Spirit administrates His will/government/works in and through us.  But, the Kingdom has its most clear expression corporately as we function under Jesus as our Head/Lord as the church/ekklesia which is His Body the fullness of Him that fills all in all.  

[Ephesians1:3-14 NASB95] 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, [that is,] the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of [God’s own] possession, to the praise of His glory.

[Ephesians 3:8-12 NASB95] 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly [places.] 11 [This was] in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

[Ephesians1:18-23 NASB95] 18 [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places,] 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

[1Corinthians 15:24-28 NASB95] 24 then [comes] the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.

[Collosians 1:13-20 NASB95] 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, [both] in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the [Father’s] good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say,] whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Prayerfully consider and listen for the Holy Spirit’s revelation in Jesus.  Ask for download/revelation of the type Paul had and tried to communicate in Ephesians and Collosians. 

I am often convicted regarding how easily distracted I am to be drawn to other priorities of my own interest. If God is knowable, …and He is!… And if He has revealed to us, at least in some measure, the mystery of His will hidden for ages, and our part in His eternal purpose in Jesus,… and He has!…, What other pursuit is there beyond knowing Him and being given to His purpose in Christ? 

Lately, given headlines and times, I have had several conversations with believers regarding  ” the end times” ” the rapture”  and eschatological matters.  

I must say here I do not consider myself an expert, and perhaps not even a very good student, of eschatology. I’ve been a believer since 1971 and the topic has never captured or captivated me the way it does many.  I have always had some sense that I would see what many call  His “coming again” or “the end times” (summing up all things in Christ) in my lifetime.  And, as I am now 73, things better escalate pretty fast if that is to be so.   

As I alluded to above, I always generally have something to say, but I’ve found in this arena there is much division of opinions, and discussion generally does more to divide us than it does draw us together.  And, over most of my life and ministry to others I’ve been more interested in drawing us together in Him, not dividing us. 

For years, those that know me well, know I have said all the eschatology you need is “BE READY”.  I have openly shared, at times,  although I am not dogmatic about it, that if I had to be placed in a particular camp, I would probably be a so-called post tribulation believer (if there is such a thing as a “period of tribulation” and a “catching away”…at least as is traditionally taught), much to the dismay of my beautiful wife, Mary. It’s just what I think I see in the whole counsel of scripture, and I think the best position for “being ready”…. (if I exit early, as Mary predicts, I am blessed… if I go through I am not surprised).  Obviously I have no design to, nor do I care to, go into the fine points and arguments of any particular position.

That said, I will say that in these recent conversations, I have shared fairly strongly that I think we, as the church/believers, get far too exercised and focused on eschatology, particularly eschatology we think we see in the headlines, and such matters. And, we are often far too divided over what is commonly taught as the rapture (Greek word harpazo  ρπάζω), meaning “to snatch away” or “to seize”)  and second coming (Greek term parousia παρουσία, meaning “arrival”, “coming”, or “presence”).  Because of that I have shared that our hope is not in the rapture, nor the second coming. Note: I am not saying these are false teachings or doctrines …however you may embrace them or hear them taught… I have no dog or side in that fight.  What I am saying is: Our hope is in the resurrection.  That is the clear position of scripture and the focus of our gospel good news.  

Without full exposition here I will simply refer you to consider these passages from the latter part of Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthian church.

[1 Corinthians 15:1-8 NASB95] 1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

Paul succinctly outlines the gospel he preaches. One they heard and accepted and stand in and that has resulted in their salvation: Christ died for our sins! He was buried….and He WAS RAISED!  In His resurrection He appeared to Peter and the disciples, many… 500 others and to James.  Then He appeared to all the apostles (interestingly these seem to be delineated from “the twelve” already mentioned). And finally, He appeared to Paul (on the road to Damascus). This gospel obviously included the good news that Christ has dealt with our sins, but also makes it obvious that the resurrection; His bodily resurrection and appearance to others is central, a major part, of this good news. 

[1Corinthians 15:9-17 NASB95]  9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then [it was] I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found [to be] false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

Paul is working, co-laboring by the grace of God with the other apostles, but more so in, or with, God who is with him. And that preaching of the Gospel is yielding believers. But he makes it clear again, without Jesus being resurrected from the dead there is no good news, no gospel. The preaching would be worthless, and any belief/faith coming from it would be worthless as well outside of Jesus resurrection. And, pressing the point of the resurrection even further, the apostle emphasizes that if Christ has not been raised…. you are still in your sins. We think His death on the cross alone would have wiped out our sin. But ,the indication here is that His death on the cross alone would have been a powerless tragedy. The resurrection is central to complete the victory over sin overcoming death, which is the resultant penalty of sin, and to swallow death in victory.  It is clear… Your faith, your hope, is the resurrection!

[1Corinthians 15:20-28 NASB95] 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man [came] death, by a man  also [came] the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then [comes] the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He (Jesus) has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He (Jesus) must reign until He  (God) has put all His (God/Jesus) enemies under His (Jesus)  feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.

In this section Paul deals with the real and true eschatology, that by far and in the most part is never discussed. An eschatology  that is beyond what the eye has seen or ear has heard of what has entered into the imagination of (not simple pie in the sky when we die) of man. (see 1 Corinthians 2:9)  Note that it is wrapped up in Jesus and the power of His resurrection.  1. He has risen! And, He is the first fruit of the conquered/vanquished power of death.  2. There is set before us a hope… not of, just, or only His coming  again or our catching away… it is the resurrection!  At His coming a resurrection, or change in those not “asleep” will happen. 3. And out of that resurrection the end comes when Jesus hands over the kingdom to God the Father as He has done away with, abolished, and put under subjection, death as the final enemy. Out of  the resurrection life of Jesus all things are subjected to Him, and out summing up  all things in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:10) according to God’s eternal purpose in Him (Ephesians 3:8-11, Ephesians 1:20-23), God is all in all.  Our hope is the resurrection!  Death put in subjection under our Lord Jesus’ feet and the Fathers inheritance  in the saints/holy ones (Ephesians 1:18) is delivered to Him. 

[1Corinthians 15:35-39, 42-45 NASB95] 35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” 36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one [flesh] of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. … 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable [body,] it is raised an imperishable [body;] 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual [body.] 45 So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam [became] a life-giving spirit.

This passage answers the question of how the resurrected body may be. Just as a seed dies as one form but it then is raised up in a form of  life as something totally different. So is the resurrection. Jesus the last Adam died in the flesh as a man, but became a life-giving spirit. As a result that sown perishable became and was raised imperishable,  that sown in dishonor became and was raised to glory, that sown in weakness became and was raised in power.  Yes, that is all applicable to Jesus. It is also us IN HIM, as we see in the following passage as well. 

[1Corinthians 15:47-57 NASB95] 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our hope is the resurrection! Sin is dealt with, the decrees against us taken away, as its penalty DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in Victory! Our victorious Lord Jesus Christ. As an after note let me again reference John epistle and the hope that he outlined.

[ John 1:1-3 NASB95] 1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life– (he is referencing Jesus by all this)  2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us– 3 what we have seen and heard (namely Jesus)  we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

John had seen, touched, heard the living “Word of Life” that became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14) as he walked physically with Jesus. Out of that he testified regarding what he experienced,  what he had seen and heard … the eternal life of God manifested!  His passion was to proclaim that, so that we might have fellowship with with him and his counterparts. But beyond that … that we might have fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus.  I believe John’s heart is to invite us into that same fellowship/koinonia/unity that the Father and the Son have had  and enjoy from eternity past.  A fellowship he knew well because he witnessed the full manifestation of it in Jesus.  A few lines later he would write…… (from my point of view today) concerning eschatology and our hope in the resurrection.

[1John 3:2-3 NASB95] 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope [fixed] on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

What glory is ours! What a hope is ours!  And, as I have shared before, I will say here.  The hope John is writing about is not just seeing Him at His appearing again, or seeing Him just as He is… I believe it is the hope of being like Him!  That is an eschatology worth talking about.