Foundations/getting hungry for unity
Greetings in the name of Jesus:
We have been talking this week about our need to focus on what God has told us is the most important part of our relationship with him. One of the first of thumb for God is that we begin to what he has told us to do, which is to find peace and unity among ourselves. Even the word DENOMINATION when defined means division. The one commandment that Christ specifically brought with him was that of loving God with all of our heart, mind, and soul, and then loving your neighbor as you love yourself.
Our first call to arms is that of unit T and love then. God created the church not as an organization, but as a family. If we can begin to realize that as a family we don't all have to live together in the same house to be a part of God's kingdom it may help. The next step is to find a source that will help us all agree and stay unified. I think that Paul had the best description of how to do that that I have ever heard when he said"I am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified"in Christ's own words to Peter he said "now keep your eyes on me at all times, and I will add all of the things that you need ". Much in the same way that Peter looked Jesus in the eyes as he stepped out of that boat and on to water we often make an attempt to see God in our lives, but it is also human nature for us to look around to see what the commotion is all about when we hear others yelling "it's a miracle!"
When we take our eyes off of Christ we to will start to sink into the depths. The only way to resolve the problem is to cry out to Jesus to save us, and then again depend on Christ alone to raise us back up. We can't fly by our cell's; God did not make us with wings, and for a very good reason. The same thing is true when it comes to our ability to understand the word of God, because if we dare to even try to read or shape doctrine, rules, or anything from Ed using our earthly wisdom we will fail miserably. For that reason I refuse to try to interpret Scripture, and in fact refuse to teach anything that is not laid out for me in the foundations of Christ's teachings or that does not directly come from his own words. How about the Holy Spirit? You might say? Well I have never found the Holy Spirit in disagreement on anything that Christ said yet.. Have you?
When it all gets boiled down to its simplest form the only way that we can be sure of not putting our own opinions and theologies into the mix of teachings that Christ is given us is to follow only the words of Christ. This means in the simplest form to let go of those things that we have built up doctrines and teachings with which are not the direct words of Christ. It actually does not matter where in Scripture you can find a supporting passage for a doctrine or theology that is taught with which causes separation and disunity between yourself and any other Christian. If it is not from the teachings of Christ and the foundations that he has already laid down for us to follow, it is not of God. It is a rejectable idea to say that we have used God's word against itself to promote our own ideas, yet while that is a very hard thing for us to admit it is true nonetheless. We must begin to look at the word of God not through our eyes or our limited ability to reason, but through his eyes. God's ways are perfect and our ways are not, and even with the most pure of intense of heart we can be misled if we allow too much of this world to become a part of the process of teaching and growth in the church.
It is still a hard lesson to learn when we realized that the enemy does not play fair at any time, and in fact will turn our best efforts in Christ against us if we step into the way of God's ministry being played out in our lives. Our part in all this is to be simply a vessel that is used to pour through us and into this world. For us to demand anything apart from that is to bring self into the mix. For some of you who are still convinced that your concepts are right and somehow the truth of Christ's own words are somehow wrong it's time to wake up to what it means to have God's spirit involved in the ministry that you say you are doing. I want to finish up these thoughts in the next blog, but for now may you richly bless God through your life in him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
We have been talking this week about our need to focus on what God has told us is the most important part of our relationship with him. One of the first of thumb for God is that we begin to what he has told us to do, which is to find peace and unity among ourselves. Even the word DENOMINATION when defined means division. The one commandment that Christ specifically brought with him was that of loving God with all of our heart, mind, and soul, and then loving your neighbor as you love yourself.
Our first call to arms is that of unit T and love then. God created the church not as an organization, but as a family. If we can begin to realize that as a family we don't all have to live together in the same house to be a part of God's kingdom it may help. The next step is to find a source that will help us all agree and stay unified. I think that Paul had the best description of how to do that that I have ever heard when he said"I am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified"in Christ's own words to Peter he said "now keep your eyes on me at all times, and I will add all of the things that you need ". Much in the same way that Peter looked Jesus in the eyes as he stepped out of that boat and on to water we often make an attempt to see God in our lives, but it is also human nature for us to look around to see what the commotion is all about when we hear others yelling "it's a miracle!"
When we take our eyes off of Christ we to will start to sink into the depths. The only way to resolve the problem is to cry out to Jesus to save us, and then again depend on Christ alone to raise us back up. We can't fly by our cell's; God did not make us with wings, and for a very good reason. The same thing is true when it comes to our ability to understand the word of God, because if we dare to even try to read or shape doctrine, rules, or anything from Ed using our earthly wisdom we will fail miserably. For that reason I refuse to try to interpret Scripture, and in fact refuse to teach anything that is not laid out for me in the foundations of Christ's teachings or that does not directly come from his own words. How about the Holy Spirit? You might say? Well I have never found the Holy Spirit in disagreement on anything that Christ said yet.. Have you?
When it all gets boiled down to its simplest form the only way that we can be sure of not putting our own opinions and theologies into the mix of teachings that Christ is given us is to follow only the words of Christ. This means in the simplest form to let go of those things that we have built up doctrines and teachings with which are not the direct words of Christ. It actually does not matter where in Scripture you can find a supporting passage for a doctrine or theology that is taught with which causes separation and disunity between yourself and any other Christian. If it is not from the teachings of Christ and the foundations that he has already laid down for us to follow, it is not of God. It is a rejectable idea to say that we have used God's word against itself to promote our own ideas, yet while that is a very hard thing for us to admit it is true nonetheless. We must begin to look at the word of God not through our eyes or our limited ability to reason, but through his eyes. God's ways are perfect and our ways are not, and even with the most pure of intense of heart we can be misled if we allow too much of this world to become a part of the process of teaching and growth in the church.
It is still a hard lesson to learn when we realized that the enemy does not play fair at any time, and in fact will turn our best efforts in Christ against us if we step into the way of God's ministry being played out in our lives. Our part in all this is to be simply a vessel that is used to pour through us and into this world. For us to demand anything apart from that is to bring self into the mix. For some of you who are still convinced that your concepts are right and somehow the truth of Christ's own words are somehow wrong it's time to wake up to what it means to have God's spirit involved in the ministry that you say you are doing. I want to finish up these thoughts in the next blog, but for now may you richly bless God through your life in him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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