“‘…Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.’” (NIV, Matthew 15:13)

“‘From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.’” (NIV, Matthew 11:12)

May we let Jesus disrupt our theology, our age – old beliefs and practices – bringing newness in our understanding of the Word and relationship with him?

May we trust him for fresh insight and revelation of who he is, and, his desires?

May we permit the Lord to cleanse and heal “how we live life”?

May we allow him the honor of uniquely fitting us into his plans and purposes?

And, may we allow him to “birth” Christ in us, the “unprecedented” in our lives?

****

Hello again.

I’ve divided my post into four sections to make it easier to read.

May the Lord richly bless you as you pursue your journey in Christ and as he pursues his grace and revelation in you!

****

SECTION I – Old Truths Re-Revealed, New Wine in New Bottles

SECTION II – Christ’s Earthly Rule Unnecessarily Delayed

SECTION III – Outer Garments

SECTION IV – No Need to Fear New Moves of God

(Section III is a must read.)

*** SECTION I ***

For decades certain portions of Scripture, particularly parts of Romans and Hebrews, were difficult to understand.

I’ve watched teachers struggle to explain sections of Romans.

Here are a number of reasons seasoned teachers wrestle with parts of Hebrews and Romans.

Many teachers approach the passages from the view of centuries – old teachings, commentaries, creeds, and extra biblical traditions.

And many, if not most, of the promises in these passages, e.g., dying to sin to walk in newness of life – resurrection life – have been taught from a “legal” perspective, rather than “experiential.”

(It’s likened to believing we have a new heart and nature, but, are required, “obligated,” to fight tooth and nail every day to stand in the promise, rather than, allowing Christ the honor to heal and restore us, so we can actually live life out of a new nature, not striving to fulfill the promise ourselves.

The age-old battle of salvation by works, or, cleansing and healing by grace through faith, the kindness of God.)

In other words, it is wrongly believed and taught, we have only a legal right to these promises now – legal claim with “minor” fulfillment, but not experiential fullness – that is reserved for heaven.

Which, when you really think about it, is lifeless, powerless, and fruitless.

Because we don’t need resurrection life in heaven, but, here, now.

And the design and intent of the Gospel is to give us experiential fullness in this life – to follow Christ’s pattern.

Just because one does not “see” another walking in resurrection life does not mean it’s not possible, and a promise for this side of heaven.

If Abraham failed to believe God’s promise then where would we be today? (Romans 4:3)

And what of the other saints who gave their lives for the promises of the Gospel, contributing to the writing of Scripture and the foundation of faith upon which we stand?

This is one of the reasons Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:19 basically says, if all we have is the “hope” for Christ, i.e., “the legal right to heaven now” – then we are among all people, most miserable.

If some of the Old Testament saints walked in heavenly places, and Christ our pattern lived in heavenly places, and Peter, Paul and John lived in heavenly places – then why not us?

And that’s what the Philadelphia church age is all about.

The lack of understanding Christ’s personal journey, who he became (what he apprehended), “his good news,” coupled with centuries of traditions and creeds, has smothered the fullness of the Gospel’s promises for this side of heaven.

Many in Christendom are needlessly suffering because the Lord’s body has been sidetracked from Christ’s offer of healing and restoration, what he pioneered and made available to the Church. (1 Corinthians 11:30)  

****

Certain creeds and statements of faith are extremely difficult to understand, and in many ways, contrary to Scripture.

I’ve heard prominent leaders say things like, “Certain writings (creeds), cannot be understood, but we should accept them as truth by faith because the Church has held them as such for the last 1700 years or so.”

Once you get certain doctrines and ideas in your head it’s difficult to filter through what’s true or false, it’s like having a second set of Scriptures – two sets of beliefs trying to interpret one another, and never the two shall meet.

Reformers throughout the ages have faced this time and again.

It is not until God moves upon lives and opens doors (shining new light on old truths), traditions are set aside freeing God’s people to advance further in him.

Over the last 1600 to 1700 years Christendom has gone to great lengths to put God in a box by defining him (reserving  him for the schooled), in incomprehensible language, incompatible with Scripture, and yet, held as rock – solid truth.

Where have we seen this before?

This is not God’s doing.

Nor does he desire to see people who’ve walked with Christ for decades struggle with trying to understand who Christ is, and what he’s all about – majoring in his death on Calvary and minoring in the “life” of who he came to be.

Six years ago, the Lord began a new work in me; he began to open up the Scriptures regarding his personal journey.

And it took about five years of teaching from him, here a little, and there a little, with insight from others he brought my way, that the missing pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

(There’s still more understanding to come in the days ahead, but he’s given a lot of new insight to his sons and daughters over the last half century.)

As a young man I had been schooled in last day prophecies.

I also experienced and witnessed the moving of God’s Spirit in two revivals.

Over the last two years I’ve been sharing with my readers bits and pieces of what the Lord has given me regarding his personal journey, the long gap in time of 18 years, (probably a good part of it), from age 12 to 30, purportedly missing from Scripture.

It’s been there all along, and, when you get the understanding you discover it makes up the bulk of the Scriptures pertaining to Christ.

It’s truly a revelatory paradigm shift in understanding the Word of God, the immense role Christ’s personal journey played in his healing and restoration, and in our redemption.

He’s a lot more than what we thought! Much of his story has not been told.

We were taught all roads go through Calvary. On the contrary, they go through him.

(He is Christianity, not a model. My next post will describe the depth of his journey in more detail.)

Romans Chapters 3 through 8 come to life with the revelation of Christ’s personal journey, the work of the Father in his life to make him into the man we’ve come to know and love.

Christ apprehended what the Father apprehended him for before his ministry.

Christ’s final preparation for ministry, his commissioning – his 40 days in the wilderness – testifies of the “perfecting work” (Hebrews 5:7 – 10) God had already accomplished in his Son (the enemy’s challenge to his “Sonship”).

The same holds true for the book of Hebrews, testifying of Christ’s personal journey in apprehending and being apprehended by God for High Priest, our eternal savior, before his ministry.

You’ll realize Jesus meant what he said, “‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (NIV, Matthew 26:28)

Christ was the walking, living, New Testament, resurrection life, before Calvary.

Christ “…died to sin once for all…” (NIV, Romans 6:10), “…once made perfect…” (NIV, Hebrews 5:9), “…made alive in the Spirit.” (NIV, 1 Peter 3:18), before he could minister and “die for our sins” on Calvary.

Once one realizes all roads go through Christ, scriptures confusingly ascribed (some forced) to Calvary, find the light of day in Christ’s personal journey.

Christ’s personal story is nothing but amazing and it has largely been neglected, largely confused with Calvary through the centuries.

But Jesus is changing that as the clock counts down in the closing era of the Philadelphia church age.

The revelation of Christ is part of the Philadelphia church age.

And we, alive today, are its beneficiaries.

****

Here are a few Scriptures, among many in the NT, describing his personal journey:

“… baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (NIV, Romans 6:3)

(This passage is not talking about water baptism, ours or his, but his death to sin in every form, Romans 6:10, Hebrews 4:15),

“… buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (NIV, Romans 6:4)

(This describes Christ’s personal journey in dying to sin, “…the hostility, in the flesh of him,” as the literal Greek says in Ephesians 2:14 (A), and raised to walk in resurrection life by his Father before his ministry),

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (NIV, Romans 6:5),

(Christ purchased the right for us to follow his pattern, to put to death sin by the grace and revelation of God, and be raised to walk in resurrection life – the call for the Philadelphia church age. God is not asking us to be united with him on Calvary, but to be united with him in dying to sin so we can walk the Christ life.)

“The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” (NIV, Romans 6:10)

(Christ publicly demonstrated what resurrection life looks like in his ministry. The apostles knew that, and were ushered into it. The same offer is still available today.)

“… so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. … so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” (NIV, Romans 5:18 – 19)

(One righteous act (see commentaries) represents the entirety of Christ’s personal journey, his obedience to the Father, becoming perfected, the author of our salvation before his ministry.)

“… He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” (NIV, Hebrews 7:27)

(Comparable passage in Hebrews corresponding to Romans Chapter 5, the personal journey of healing and restoration leading to perfection, but in Hebrews the emphasis is on the priesthood, viewing the preciousness of Christ from a “sacrificial” perspective.)

“… but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” (NIV, Hebrews 9:12)

(Speaks of God not being pleased with animal sacrifices and sin offerings in relationship to Christ coming to do his will, the establishment of the New Covenant in Christ – which was established before his ministry and Calvary,

“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (NIV, Hebrews 10:10, italicized mine)

(Christ sacrificed everything, his body, soul, and spirit, having been made perfect, before his appearance to John at the River Jordan. John noted, I need to be baptized by you!)

Clearly, the Scriptures teach Jesus Christ was our great High Priest and Savior before he set foot in public ministry.

And had he been accepted by Israel he would’ve ushered in the Millennium right then and there.

Instead, our sins were etched into his body – a resurrected body destined to live forever – onto one who was willing to give up the life he had apprehended, publicly displaying our sins on the canvas of his holy flesh, in hopes, we, would seek forgiveness.

A love truly breathtaking and unimaginable.

Had Israel humbled themselves before their King and Savior, his public humiliation, killing and murder (Acts 7:52), would have been unnecessary.

(Remember, he had the NT already in his blood. (Matthew 26:28))

Yes, the Scriptures prophesied of his death but the prophecies were veiled giving Israel the free will choice to be saved now or saved two millenniums hence.

*** SECTION II ***

Over the last two years I’ve been writing about the wilderness journey Christ pioneered for you and me.

It’s called, initiated, and described various ways in Scripture.

It’s the heart of the Gospel, to know and be known by Christ in connection, intimacy, and union.

And it’s designed to happen at a deep and personal level, uniquely individual, under the direction and leadership of Christ (John 21:18).

The ancients, patriarchs, prophets, and saints of old, foretold the coming Messiah – the one who would pioneer and restore intimacy with God through his own wilderness journey of healing and restoration.

God planned and labored over four millenniums to birth his Son, one who would fulfill the heart of God by submitting to his will – allowing the Father to make him fully in his likeness.

All of creation, all of redemption, untold billions, hung in the balance with the advent of Christ.

His willingness, by grace through faith (Romans 3:22 & Galatians 3:22, see an interlinear, the faith “of” Jesus) – knowing his and our redemption was in his hands, and he, in the care and embrace of his Father – apprehended everything the Father “graced” him to do.

God had, to say the least, a tremendous personal and emotional investment in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

After Christ’s journey (his perfection by the Father), he bore such depth of passion, wisdom and stature – the Word having been written on the tables of his heart and mind, made flesh – he was indistinguishable from the Father. (John 14:6 – 14, Hebrews 1:3, etc.)

Can you imagine God’s anticipation upon presenting his Son to Israel after four millenniums of diligent planning and working, Christ having the honor of being made wholly and completely in the likeness of God?

Christ summed up his Father’s expectation, hoping good to come from his Son’s ministry, in the parable of the tenants, “‘Last of all, he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son,” he said.’” (NIV, Matthew 21:37, bold and italicized are mine)

In other words, “Look, see, what I accomplished in him, he and I – the fruit his vineyard brings by the power of my Holy Spirit – I can accomplish in you.”

(Not another Messiah or Savior, but a bride in his image, after his likeness, having his attributes to the fullest extent possible by grace through faith.)

God did everything possible to make Christ a vessel of his love and holiness in truth and grace, as a gift, to a people group standing at the crossroads of eternity.

God knew it would be a battle for Adam and Eve’s descendants.

Christ was prepared thoroughly, completely, and fully, for the capture of Israel’s soul from Satan’s prison – having been healed, restored, and trained in all manner of spiritual warfare.

The hope against hope was somehow, someway, Israel would embrace the tree of life, the New Covenant walking in their midst, and turn from the abyss they were headed.

Yes, God in his foreknowledge knew Israel would reject the Messiah, but he did not allow that knowledge to impact his heart, plans, and motive, nor to impact his work in Christ and his preparation, doing everything possible, short of violating Israel’s will, to make Christ’s reception a welcome one.

(It’s the same heart who offers salvation to those, who, having experienced Christ, turn aside, for one reason or another. God does not refuse salvation, and its experience, knowing some will turn from him.)

All the stops were pulled out to give Israel the clearest choice possible about Christ.

Even publicly raising someone from the dead after a number of days to demonstrate who he was and what he could do for Israel if only contriteness and brokenness of heart were sought.

That his promises to them of healing and restoration, if only they would receive it, was possible then and there, individually, and nationally.

The Millennium, ruling and reigning with Christ, over the nations of the earth, was theirs for the taking.

The heart of God, the great labor and emotional investment by God, our heavenly Father, was to leave no stone unturned in encouraging Israel’s embrace of his Son he had so lovingly, carefully, and diligently prepared as a gift.

Calvary did not have to happen. It was not etched in stone. Free wills, though stained by sin, still had enough “will” left to move toward God.

If Israel, as a people group, had received their Messiah – opened their hearts to forgiveness and repentance – the New Covenant, represented in the living blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, would’ve ushered Israel into salvation, the Gentiles toward redemption, and birthed the Millennium.

But a different path was taken, one stretching out two millenniums for Israel.

Many believe Calvary was a foregone conclusion, that all roads run through Calvary.

Not according to Scripture.

They run through Christ. He is the life from which everything flows, including Calvary.

(The farther away you get from the beginning of creation, the more history we have, the clearer the calendar of God becomes, the allotted time he’s given men and women.

The Old Testament prophecies of the end – times are compacted to such an extent, those schooled in Daniel, Ezekiel, and Isaiah at the time of Christ would have found it difficult to discern the extent of future kingdoms.

With the books of Revelation and 2 Thessalonians some of the difficulty has been removed.)

The Magnificent Kindness and Love of God

It is amazing to think God labored for four millenniums through men and women to prepare a people group to receive his Son.

He allowed sin, with some exceptions (like the days of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, the Canaanites, and the captivity of the northern and southern kingdoms), to run its course through history so there would be a clear distinction between good and evil upon the presentation of his Son.

The loss of intimate relationship with Christ sometime during the first church age (Ephesus) resulted in the loss of understanding his personal journey of healing and restoration, and correspondingly, the need for those in Christ as well.

In the absence of deep and intimate relationship with Christ, the “things” of Christ took center stage, like Calvary.

So instead of all roads going through Christ, they now ended up going through Calvary, because it was easier to see him as our total substitute, instead of the one who would lead and guide us into offering ourselves wholeheartedly to him for healing and restoration.

And though deep intimacy and relationship was lost with Christ, generally speaking, across many church ages, God used Calvary as the touchstone to draw men and women into his love and grace.

Oh, the depth of God’s love.

To birth and gift a son, healed and restored in the embrace of the Father, in his likeness, and offered as a living sacrifice to people who had long ago left God for other lovers.

Christ – Refresh

Jesus was the first one to experience the mystery of the gospel in its fullness.

The saints and prophets of old, experienced it in part, enough to hope for the promise, pointing to Christ, but Jesus was the first to be fully and completely healed and restored to the likeness of God.

Terms such as Christ “…the firstfruits…” (1 Corinthians 15:20), “…the firstborn…” (Colossians 1:15), “The Word became flesh…” (John 1:14), “…the last Adam…” (1 Corinthians 15:45), “…the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:2), etc., make sense, are understandable to the common man and woman, in light of Christ’s pioneering work. (All quotes in this sentence from NIV)

As The Message and NIV state:

“… The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored…” (MSG, Romans 8:29 – 30)

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (NIV, Romans 8:29)

And terms like, “…fully human in every way…” (Hebrews 2:17), “…tempted in every way, just as we are -…” (Hebrews 4:15)  “…the hostility, in the flesh of him,” (Ephesians 2:14, (A)), “…born of a woman…” (Galatians 4:4), “…learned obedience…” (Hebrews 5:8), “… I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Revelation 3:21), etc., makes sense. (All quotes in this sentence from NIV, except (A))

And phrases like, “This is my blood of the covenant…” (NIV, Matthew 26:28).

And many other phrases stating his death to sin, baptism, sacrifice once for all men and women, raised to walk in new life, etc., are referring to Christ’s personal journey to perfection, his pre – ministry years, under the care and restoration of his Father.

These phrases refer to the totality of Christ’s journey, his perfection, never to be completed by another as he is the only one who has never known sin intimately, unlike every other man and woman.

Jesus, A Man of Extremes?

Christendom, in some ways, pictures Christ as a person of extremes.

Jesus is either a little baby, or, 40 days in the wilderness without food and water, or, tortured and murdered on Calvary, being raised from the dead, or, in the harvest field of ministry saving and healing the lost.

But what about the Jesus, though born a King, had to be nurtured, fathered, initiated, disciplined, healed and restored?

Those years, that journey, took more than all the other events in Christ’s earthly life combined.

What about the Jesus who knows our battle with sin, having inherited wounds and brokenness from his mother’s ancestral line, left unhealed would have been his undoing?

That’s the Jesus Christendom has long neglected and the subject of much of my recent posts.

*** SECTION III ***

Please note, generally, when I refer to creeds and traditions, I’m referring to beliefs and practices embraced to bring uniformity where discord exists, to harmonize conflicts, to establish identity, and, mostly, to fill a void caused by the absence of a deep and personal relationship with Christ.

(Creeds, extra biblical traditions, statements of faith, and similar, are not mediators between us and God.

We are accountable to Christ and to one another, in Christ. Writings outside of Scripture cannot replace or identify relationship with Christ. 

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people….” (NIV, 1 Timothy 2:5 – 6))

Throughout history, the Lord has generally bypassed creeds and traditions, in one form or another, that otherwise would’ve hindered the moving of Spirit. Else, he’d be stopped before he could start a new work, if you know what I mean – saving us in the first place is the clearest example!

He, above all persons, knows how to sidestep obstacles and access the heart.

He’s more concerned about care in healing than whether we have all our ducks lined up correctly, theologically speaking.

However, he does want us to be whole in all areas of our life including our understanding of him, who he is, and what he’s about.

You don’t want to marry someone you don’t know. And neither does he.

So, he’s working to bring all things together, healing, understanding, and relationship.

And part of that includes revealing the truth about himself, so we can cast off the outer garment of writings the Church has robed herself with for centuries.

As we get deeper into the last days, and increased spiritual warfare, it behooves all of us to get as much healing as possible.

We want to be in a place where we’re receptive to new things the Lord “opens” for the Church.

To be healed from the encumbrances of the past so we can receive the newness of God’s Holy Spirit – new wine poured into new bottles.

****

We live in an age rife with judgment and disrobing – quickness to expose, accuse, shame and condemn.

It’s tragic, but that’s how things are in our culture today.

It’s important we be healed so we can be among the few who offer grace and life, instead of shame and death.

And in order to do that, we need to be recipients of the divine nature, Christ in us.

And for that to happen, we need deep intimacy and connection with Christ, a living, breathing, vibrant relationship with Jesus.

He’s standing at the door right now looking for those who will be mediators with him, in saving, and not condemning, the lost.

He’s looking for those in the last days who will not point out the wounds and brokenness of others, but instead, offer the healing balm of Gilead.

****

Some traditions, creeds, and statements of faith, passed from generation to generation over the last 1600 to 1700 years, have become an identity and life all their own.

So much so, they’re understood as equals with Scripture, and, in some aspects, defining and interpreting Scripture, becoming superior.

There are many reasons why this has happened.

In the absence of deep and personal relationship with the Lord, like Israel of old, men and women may resort to creating traditions and creeds for identity and relationship, subtly moving from grace to works.

Other means of connection and identification are erected to hide separation, or shallowness, in a once vibrant, heartfelt relationship.

When people are in love, they shine.

They can’t wait to be with their beloved.

Everything in life takes a backseat to be with their love.

Vibrant relationships are not the birthplace for creeds and traditions, just the opposite.

When John saw Jesus in the opening pages of Revelation he fell to the ground as dead.

I think that pretty much sums it up right there.

Creeds and extra biblical traditions do not advance the cause of Christ, draw hearts to hunger and thirst after righteousness, nor draw the unsaved into the kingdom.

They promote a superficial appearance of oneness and conformity, in the absence of the Spirit of God.

Without a doubt, the enemy has played a part in erecting creeds and traditions to such prominence in Christendom.

(As I’m writing this, I remember a time a number of years ago I wanted to join a Christian writer’s network, but members were required to sign a “statement of faith” to participate.

How sad Christianity has come to this.

There are other ways of promoting Christ and ensuring godly networking.)

Agreements

In the last hundred years (especially in the last 60 years of the “inner healing” movement), the power of agreements has come front and center in our understanding of how powerful “words” are in binding us to judgments.

New ground has been broken regarding the power of agreements and the multitude of ways we embrace sin, wounds, and darkness.

The power of the enemy is not to be underestimated in planning and designing idols for our embrace and attachment.

Idolatry can take many forms and certain traditions and creeds may be rooted in certain forms of idolatry.

After all, in many respects, Christ was killed because the new wine he brought was not compatible with the traditions of Israel’s leaders.

It may well be, the same spirits that worked with men and women to birth traditions and creeds in Israel, maybe at work in Christendom, working behind the scenes to create snares and traps to receiving new things from the Lord.

Bottom line, those who are strong in their passions about writings outside of Scripture may need some healing and restoration for areas of their heart.

It may be indicative of the absence of a deep and intimate love relationship with Christ, where Jesus is everything, Scripture is the Word of God, and the need for spiritual resources outside the body of Christ, and the Spirit of the Lord, are unnecessary.

****

Reverse Engineering the Gospel

You cannot reverse engineer the story of Christ, the heart of the gospel, from traditions and creeds back to the Scriptures.

You cannot take 1600 to 1700 years of traditions, creeds, analysis, and commentaries, and distill the mass of all that and get the clear waters of Scripture.

You cannot work from the vast writings of men and women over centuries and hope to harmonize layers of traditions and creeds to the simplicity of Christ.

You can’t go from varied thoughts and beliefs passed down from generation to generation and expect to reconcile them with the Word of God.

In parable form, Jesus talked about the teachings and commandments of men added to the dough of God’s Word in Matthew 13:33.

It’s not a coincidence this is the fourth of seven parables corresponding to the fourth church age of Revelation, Thyatira, the “dark age” in church history – where creeds and traditions took a foothold.

An Easy Yoke and Light Burden

It’s time, long overdue, for the Church to remove the outer garments of traditions and creeds and accept Christ’s offer of an easy yoke and a light burden.

It’s time to embrace the clear teachings of Christ’s personal journey, the pattern he established for you and me, and ask him to take us into the wilderness with him.

Only Christ can give life, nothing else.

Many may miss out (the five foolish virgins and Laodiceans?) of the journey Jesus pioneered for them because Christendom has looked at Calvary as the source of all life, when in fact, it is Christ, and the baptism of repentance and forgiveness he pioneered in the wilderness with his Father, for himself first, “the first – fruit” and “firstborn”, and, for you and me.

Yes, he was born a King and savior.

Just like a child who is born to inherit the throne.

It’s a journey and a process.

Just like you and me, when we’re born again, we’re “birthed” into the kingdom as priests, joint – heirs with Christ, but it’s a life lived, taught, and learned – partaking of the divine nature – that makes us who we come to be.

The creative work of the Holy Spirit, “writing” the Word of God in our hearts and minds over a long period of healing and restoration.

If Christ was made perfect, through a long journey of healing and restoration, how much more for those who call Christ their Lord?

There comes a time to pull off the shackles of the old and move with the glory cloud into the next season of God.

David did this in his time.

He took the presence of God, the Ark, from Moses Tabernacle and created a new Tabernacle for it and him.

The Philadelphia church age, our church age, is called to do likewise.

We do not want to follow Israel’s path to such depths where traditions and creeds become a barrier to receiving the move of God’s Spirit in our life.

How tragic, Christ’s wonders and miracles were not persuasive enough to turn the hearts of hardened religionists, captive to traditions.

Today, as in Israel of old, traditions and creeds continue to play a significant part in Christendom comparing and measuring one another.

As in the days of old, the absence of relationship raises suspicions, maybe even contempt, for the new things God is doing in his body because they conflict with traditions and creeds.

Inner healing is an example.

Many can testify of being healed.

Yet, many in Christendom have not embraced the moving of God’s Spirit in inner healing, in many respects, because of traditions and creeds surrounding Calvary, and the absence of understanding Christ’s own personal journey of healing and restoration.

 IMPORTANT

Traditions and creeds, in many ways, hold back the revelation of Christ in grace (1 Peter 1:13), and the necessity of following him into the baptism he pioneered.

They shift the focus from Christ to Calvary, and in so doing, shift the focus from healing and restoration (resurrection life), to being born again, without the corresponding journey of deep transformation and sanctification.

Tragically, the loss of relationship with Christ in the early church ages, led to the loss of knowing his personal journey.

Which led to Scriptures describing Christ’s personal journey (the great weight of discourse in Romans and Hebrews, dying to sin to walk in newness of life) being ascribed instead to Calvary.

****

But God

“News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering pain, the demon possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.” (NIV, Matthew 4:24)

“At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.” (NIV, Luke 4:40 – 41)

“and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.” (NIV, Luke 6:19)

“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (NIV, Mark 16:20)

“What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” (NIV, John 2:11)

“The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people….” (NIV, Acts 5:12)

“When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.” (NIV, Acts 8:6 – 7)

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” (NIV, 1 Corinthians 2:4 – 5)

“… This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (NIV, Hebrews 2:3 – 4)

During revival people don’t care what you think about this or that doctrine, they’re so enamored with the love of God questions of doctrine are laid aside and all but forgotten.

When you hold the promise in your hands you no longer care about the directions to the promise.

When God shows up, who cares what was said about him in the past, you now have the real thing!

Traditions and creeds are attempts at community and consensus in the absence of connection, joy, and intimacy with God.

Hopefully, for most, they will fall by the wayside when Jesus shows up and begins a deep work in their heart and spirit.

Some Final Thoughts for Reformers

Traditions seek to bring conformity and predictability (a common collection of thoughts about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit).

Each move of God faces the hostility of people’s emotional investment in beliefs and practices they believe connects them to someone in the past, or to God.

Luther faced it.

The reformers after Luther faced it.

The Pentecostals faced it in the early 1900s.

The healing evangelists and revivalists in the 1900s faced it.

The Jesus Movement faced it.

And so, has the many parachurch ministries flowing in various moves of God around the country and the world.

It is nothing new, but it is good to be forewarned, because anyone God calls as a reformer will face the hostility of those who hold on to the past.

And if you are following my writings the Lord may have some Reformation work for you now, and in the future.

****

“‘You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.’ And he continued, ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!’” (NIV, Mark 7:8 – 9)

“‘Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.’” (NIV, Mark 7:13)

Paul’s letter to the Colossians says,

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (NIV, Colossians 2:8)

“Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ‘“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”’? These rules, which have to do with things that are destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.” (NIV, Colossians 2:20 – 22)

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ…” (NIV, 1 Peter 1:18 – 19)

“‘If you love me, keep my commands.’” (NIV, John 14:15)

There are teachings and traditions we are to keep but those come from the Word of God and not from the agreements of men.

“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” (NIV, 2 Thessalonians 2:15)

Now is the time to receive care and healing from the Lord.

To let Jesus take you into the wilderness with him, separated unto him.

We don’t want to be like Israel of old and miss the promise of the Father when it comes knocking on our door.

More certain than the Sun rising is the wind of revival gathering on the horizon, “waiting,” to be released at God’s appointed time.

*** SECTION IV ***

When you’re hungry for Jesus, wanting more of God, there’s no need to fear ending up in some cult or floundering in a ditch somewhere.

Jesus is more than able to get those who are hungering and thirsting after him to his embrace.

He knows how to rekindle passion for him in those who have drifted away and fallen asleep.

He’s not at a loss of what to do for anybody, including those who profess antagonism towards him.

He has ways of bringing the most ardent opposition to humility and contriteness, if only the slightest chance is given.

I’m glad our salvation is in his hands and not ours!

I’m glad he knows the secret and hidden things of our heart without condemnation.

Do not despair, Christ is at work in your life and mine to get us to the destination “he” has in mind.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” (NIV, Proverbs 19:21)

Many, like me, have testimonies of the Lord’s intervention redirecting our path and compass heading.

Is life seamless, no.

There is risk, setbacks, and wounding’s along the way, such is the nature of our journey.

But Jesus is who he says and will get you to the promise he’s promised you.

A passage that has meant much to me at different points in my journey may bless you as well:

‘“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.

Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”’ (NIV, Isaiah 41:10 – 13)

We are instructed to test the spirits to see whether they be of God (1 John Chapter 4); there is no private interpretation of Scripture (2 Peter 1:20); to search the word (Acts 17:11); to study the word (2 Timothy 2:15); to be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2); and to be washed by the water of the word (Ephesians 5:26).

In addition to the multitude of Scripture’s commanding us to be baptized into the Christ’s death, made alive to walk in newness of life.

Each successive move of God over the last 400 years has revealed more and more about the nature of God, the working of the Holy Spirit, and the vastness and depth of the Christian experience.

The age of the distant Jesus, the model, the creed, the tradition, the statement of faith, ends abruptly for those chosen by the Lord for wilderness journey with him.

It is those who look for him, crying out for more of God, who will one day be in the embrace of their Savior. (Hebrews 9:28)

If you want to see a clear distinction between creeds and tradition, and love from a heavenly perspective, then you may want to read Song of Songs.

It captures the passion of Christ for us like no other book.

It’s the best words can do to describe the holiness of love between our Creator and his creation.

Who needs descriptions and definitions when you’ve got the real thing!

Even John, the beloved apostle, whom Jesus loved and with whom Christ shared the deep revelations of the end – times, says in 1 John 2:26 – 27 (NIV),

“I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him.”

When you have intimacy with Christ, experiencing the love of God and his holy presence, you don’t need another mediator.

Peter, probably wondering a lot about this man called Jesus, seeing and experiencing the love of God in and through him, received confirming revelation from the Father,

Christ asked his disciples:

“‘…Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” (NIV, Matthew 16:15 – 16)

Jesus goes on to say it wasn’t a person who revealed this to you Peter, but my Father.

In other words, for those hungry for the righteousness of Christ and the revelation of the Lord, our heavenly Father will make sure to provide what we need at the right time and in the right way.

“‘Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give a snake? … how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!’” (NIV, Matthew 7:9 – 11)

You and I do not need to fear going off course and ending up in a ditch or ensnared in false doctrine, if we maintain a teachable and contrite heart before the Lord, seeking him above all others.

And, thankfully, he will help us maintain a teachable and contrite heart. (Psalms 16 and 23)

Certainly, Jesus Christ who goes after the one lost sheep will keep you and me in the way of Christ even in the midst of our wounds and brokenness.

After David committed adultery with Bathsheba and other horrible acts, David writes in the Psalm, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (NIV, Psalm 51:17)

David knew how to touch the heart of God because the Lord had taught him how to humble himself before him.

During his long journey in flight from Saul, he learned many of the deep and intimate things of the Lord you can only learn in the wilderness with God.

You can not go into the wilderness on your own, Jesus needs to take you there.

God sees all the things going on around us, the assaults on our heart, and you can rest assured he is working to bring you and me to a place of tenderness and kindness before him, and others.

Christianity is a journey, and if you’re going to take it, you might as well pull out all the stops and touch the hem of his garment.

Lukewarm is not a place of comfort nor a place of destination.

The safest course of action for anyone who has been born again, is to run headlong into the arms of Christ, no matter how old you are in the Lord, with all your heart and all your mind, for his will to be accomplished in your life before you leave this earth.

You can ask him to create an insatiable passion in your heart for him only he can satisfy.

You can ask him to open up the floodgates of heaven and fill your life with his Word and Spirit.

You can cry out to him, “Lord, I’m going to perish if I don’t have more of you.”

Don’t be afraid to bear your heart before the Lord, letting him know how you feel about your story, and that you want a different chapter ending that includes everything he has for you, for your latter days to be better than your former.

Don’t be afraid to stay up, sit before him, bearing everything you know to bear.

You might be amazed when and how Jesus responds to you.

Cry out to the Lord (not in panic or anxiety but in fullness of heart) and ask him to bring you into a new season in him, to lift you into a new place.

Yes, there will be some cost.

But oh, the rewards far outweigh anything the Lord may ask of you or me.

Let him know you don’t want to be a guest at the wedding but his bride.

Or maybe, something like this might be appropriate,

“Lord, I don’t really know what I need, what I’m asking, but I’m asking you to step into my life and take me on a journey with you and change me, no matter the cost, so you are the most important in my life.”

“I’m asking you to fulfill in my life everything you promised for your sons and daughters.”

Let the passions for God, so deeply buried in your heart, bubble up and give place to words, words that plainly and clearly articulate your desperate need for Christ and the healing he fought so hard to obtain for him and you.

More to come, blessing Drake

(The Message) Scripture quotations marked The Message are taken from The Message, copyright© 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries.

(NIV) Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblical, Inc.™

(A) The New Greek – English Interlinear New Testament by Translators Robert K. Brown and Philip W. Comfort, Editor: J. D. Douglas. Copyright © 1990. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.