The New Wineskins: Part 1 – Paradigm Shift

The New Wineskins: Part 1 –  A paradigm shift is in order.

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.” Mark 2:22

The “new wine” is coming.  In fact, it has already begun being offered to the Church.

Father has saved the best for last!! I believe a great awakening is coming upon this land, and with it, a generation of Christians that not only follow Jesus, but walk in a depth of intimacy that has not been seen en-masse since the first century.

Long before the advent of social media; some 30 years ago,  Father began showing me pictures of a tattered, torn and fearful America and Church. Many of the things I saw have already been fulfilled, but there is more coming. In the midst of these encounters, Father also showed me Christians springing up all across the nation and connecting without being constrained by any religious leaders stifling their words or giftings. I saw forms of communication and interrelationships that I had no grid for. I could not understand how this would be accomplished at the time. Now, with the internet, most of the Damascus highways have been built  (but there is still more to come).

The majority who are often spectators to a religious and often well-intentioned service have grown weary of being sheep. Many want to mature and become shepherds to the next generation.  Above all perhaps, pure prophetic vision, which is VITAL to every generation, was (and still is) being stifled from the pulpit across many fellowships in this land.

As a result, many have chosen to seek gatherings where the Holy Spirit is permitted to flow through all the members of the Body as He desires. It’s been a messy journey for many, but it’s been with liberty. It’s also been fun. But now, of our own free will, we withhold the same words that burn within our spirit. We willingly do not speak His full counsel. Counsel that would light the pathway for others to walk in deeper and more fulfilling intimacy with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Counsel that would equip others to reap a harvest.

The Body of Christ has been set free to speak openly as the Holy Spirit sees fit to bring things to the forefront. 500 hundred years of religious systems have been side-stepped in order to allow the Church to begin preparing for the Final Days. Room has been made for those who are willing. There is a reason why the door of institutional bondage has been unlocked and yet we are still standing at the gate on our own volition.

What I am now seeing is an increasing intensity on Father’s heart to address the growing lack of willingness within the prophetic call to bring forth direction, correction, and fresh vision to further align us with His plans for this hour. 

NOTE: For my conservative brothers and sisters please remember my definition of “prophecy” is simply to share a small piece of what is on Father’s heart. I do NOT subscribe to the nonsense all around us.

New Testament prophetic insights were, and still are fully welcomed under the formal religious system to speak before, after, or even during service so long as it is not a challenging word.

Today, even though no one can withhold the microphone or shame us from standing up in fellowship to share Father’s heart, we are still silent of our own volition.

We are afraid.

We have an identity issue. 

It is slowly and systematically strangling the power of the Resurrection in this generation and the generation that is being brought to Christ in this hour. We are still attempting, by and large, to welcome the liberty of the Holy Spirit and new Church life under an old system where our self-worth comes from our popularity. Our fear of being rejected is crippling us.

Our desire to “build” our own following has replaced what was once pure desire to walk in pure fellowship. 

The founding fathers of this nation had to learn and grow into a new system of government, when they cast off England’s. In a similar fashion, this end times Church is being called to walk in God’s system of government. This is not about a physical location. It is not about a building or a living room gathering.

This is about the Kingdom’s government apprehended by a change in perspective, interaction and above all, mindset and belief system.  It’s a complete paradigm shift.

 New wine in new wineskins.

This introduction begins a series designed to be a mirror for our hearts. Where are we excelling? What things are we absolutely hitting out of the park? Where do we need to clean up some stuff? Where are we in some outright rebellion and need to repent? 

In love and obedience,  I’ll share a small but integral part. I invite us all into some fellowship and Koinonia.  More to follow in the weeks to come.

“Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” John 2:10

Be blessed, Family! His best for us is yet to come. 🙂

The Man From Macedonia

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.

”But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Luke 10:29

~~~

I’ve had more pleasant experiences in my sleep than the one I am about to share.  It felt that no sooner had I closed my eyes, that I re-opened them to see a very unique scenery.

It was nighttime in a remote and quiet countryside. I understood to be somewhere in eastern Europe. I was crouching atop the splintery criss-crossed, rough hewn rafters of an old abandoned barn. Inside, a wrath-filled mob spoke only the silent language of fist and foot while they were systematically forcing a dozen bound Christians to climb to the top of the rafters via a rickety wooden ladder. Unseen by those around me, I bore silent witness, as they were being strung up with rope around their necks and one by one, kicked off the rafters.

An angel appeared next to me, watching the event as it unfolded. I began to sob the way I do when I see our family being martyred. Suddenly, all the rafter tops of this lantern-lit barn were filled with other angelic witnesses and I wondered why none of them moved. Looking down to the structure floor, I saw the night was well under way.

Our brothers and sisters made no attempt to escape. Their countenance was a mixture of tremendous grief equalled only by love. They kissed and touched head to head whenever proximity allowed for it before being punched or clubbed. The feelings they held for one another are beyond my ability to write. So was the love they had for their captors. Tears streamed down silent faces. No one said a word. As one particular young man was pushed to the edge of a rafter beam I reached out my unseen hand to touch his cheek.

I felt the Holy Spirit connect us.  I knew his story. He knew mine. In my mind’s eye, I saw the events that led to this dark night and shared the emotions he managed for the family being left behind. A deep, quiet joy, mixed with depthless sorrow mingled between our hearts. I had never felt so much love for a person as in that moment. I was one with this fellowship… and yet eternally apart. Counted among this company, yet unworthy of the honor they shared amongst each other. I wanted to die with them.

“Peace,” was all I could utter, and I felt the love of God flow out from my hand. At this, the angel to my left turned his head toward us, and silently gave a half-nod.

The man looked up at me; directly into my eyes and in that moment I knew he could see me. His mouth turned every so slightly upward at the corners, and the most restful, peace-filled gaze I have ever seen from another person flooded me with such raw, untainted nature of Father-God that I wept uncontrollably, yet resolved to never break our mutual stare.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “See you soon.” With that, he was violently kicked in the side and fell some 15 feet short of the barn floor; the rope snapping taut.

———-

“Daddy… does your head hurt?” My 7 year old, Daniel was beside my bed, and it took me a moment to realize I had been crying in my sleep… again.

“I made you coffee. Mommy said breakfast is ready. Will you play with me?”

As I write this, I feel the back of my neck begin to tighten and my desire to share is waning. I need to pray; to ask my Savior where He must touch my being and transform my heart. What else stands in the way of being more of… Him.

Soulish writing? An emotionally darkened blog post that pricks only at our fallen nature and not our spirit-man?

Only you can perceive that for yourself. But… how do we feel when we study about the Roman art of scourging? What do we feel when we read of the prophets being sawed in half, of Paul being stoned or Stephen being murdered? These brothers and sisters died for something much more than living for oneself. They died for you. They died for the love of the good news.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:7-8

How do I really feel when my neighbor suddenly passes on without Christ? Now, the question I must ask is, why is my response such-and-such? Where is my soul in relation to the Spirit of God living powerfully within my spirit-being?

I close my eyes for a moment as I type. I see the man from my dream, now part of that great cloud of witnesses, encouraging me. He gestures with a sweeping arc of his arm, like the man from Macedonia did to Paul. He beckons. So little to ask of me…

He has the eyes of his Father. No condemnation. No shame. No disappointment. Only love. A love that burns and compels. He bids me take my place at the seat of my Savior’s heart. Beyond all cliches and catchy church billboard signs, he silently encourages me to “let go and let God.” So much to ask of me… Perhaps I won’t. Then again…

Perhaps I will…

All my love, brethren.

Acts 16:9

Topical Scriptures: The Power Of The Holy Spirit Is Within You

To His Beloved Church:

The anointing of the Holy Spirit Lives INSIDE every New Covenant Saint

His presence, His Love, His nature, His power, His holiness, His righteousness, His glory, His equipping, His giftings… He is within you already.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Pet 1:3

The body of Christ can only accept His invitation to enter into deep, intimate union with Him to the degree we agree with His word. True worship, communion, interaction, dialogue, ministering to one another, and receiving true revelation is done only by and through His Spirit.

It is time we begin to partner with the One who dwells inside us.

I am not talking about self-righteous “works.” I am referring to a life that flows through communion. Communion can only be had in the areas we are walking in agreement with His heart and Living Word. The Godhead of the Holy Spirit lives inside our spirit-man. The Lord Jesus Christ is calling us forth to stop relating to Him and to the body of Christ through the lesser, Old Covenant mindset.  

Expressions such as having the Holy Spirit “come down” or to “touch not my anointed” are not found in the New Testament church.  Anywhere…

If we are quoting Old Testament verses MORE than New Testament scripture in regard to our walk with God; either individually or as a church, there may be a serious problem with our New Covenant mindset.

Since the day of Pentecost every single Child of God:

• Has been given the power of the Holy Spirit at salvation (Eph 1:6, 2 Cor 1:22)

• Is God’s “anointed” (this Hebrew/Greek word anointed means “set apart” by the way-  2 Cor 1:21, 1 Peter 2:9, Heb 1:9)

• Has an “anointing” that remains within them always  ( This Greek word means an unction- 1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:27 )

• Has a “special calling” (1 Pet 4:10, 1 Cor 7:7, Rom 12:6, Eph 4:7)

• Has a function and “ministry ” (1 Cor 12:4-7 , 2 Cor 5:11-21, Mark 16:17-18)

• Is called to mature to the point of serving the body as an “elder” and raise up the next generation of believers to do the same  (Heb 5:12, Eph 4:13, Matt 28:19, Col 1:9-10, Col 2:2, Col 2:6-7, Rom 15:14, 1 Cor 14:20, 2 Cor 7:1,  Phil 1:9-11)

There is no such thing as “clergy” and “laity” found in the New Testament. These are doctrines of men and not found in NT scripture anywhere.  Anywhere…

If the bride of Christ is to answer her high calling to be walking intimately with Christ as pure and spotless, displaying the love and power to win the lost,  we need to begin to accept what He says He has already done on our behalf and given us freely.

Most of all…. He longs for intimacy with us, and we cannot enter into that desired intimacy if we are scorning and rejecting who we truly are as His beloved Child and His Righteousness.

It is my heart’s desire that this topical study help the body sort through the dead religion and tradition that has become commonplace in our thinking.

The time has come for all of us to repent from dead thinking and worldly mindsets. The time has come for the church to repent not just of the sin of living for our own desires but to also repent of the comforts and traditions of religion and do as the Holy Spirit exhorted us to do through the words of Paul:

“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Phil 3:12

 

——————————

The Promise

Prophecies of the New Covenant to come (written under the Old Covenant) were spoken through prophets, under the inspiration/anointing of the Holy Spirit, to believers who did not have the Holy Spirit in them. They were promises of a restored relationship that would be offered to those of us who would accept His righteousness as our own. A gift was coming…

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. “I will put My Spirit within you..” Ezekiel 36:26-27

“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Jer 31:33

“They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,’ ” Jer 31:34

The New Covenant Is Better! 

The Day of Pentecost was the fulfillment of the Old Covenant prophecies. It is the Great Reconciliation. The temple shroud is forever torn away. Sin is removed through the Atonement of Jesus, now finally fulfilled at the cross. We are His Righteous,and all saints have the Holy Spirit inside them now.

The indwelling Holy Spirit gives us access to His heart.

“For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.” Heb 8:7

“But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises….(v16)

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Col 2:16-17

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever, the Spirit of truth-” John 14:16

“He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” Gal 3:14

(Greek word “might”  1096. Ginomai-  means:  I come into being, am born, become, come about, happen.”to become, and signifies a change of condition,) – it does NOT mean “maybe” or “perhaps”)

“Do you not know that you are the Temple of God, and that The Spirit of God dwells within you?” 1 Cor 3:16

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” 1 Cor 6:19

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Rom 5:5

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Eph 4:30

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:13-14

“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.” 1 John 2:27

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 1 Cor 1:21-22

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” 1 John 2:20 

“Who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Pet 1:5

“But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Rom 8:10-11

—————

Dare to embrace the truth that He loves you. Fully, intimately, unreservedly. Dare to think upon the fact it was the joy of relationship restored that gave Jesus the strength to endure the cross.

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2

Think on that for a loooooong time. Really?  We simply chose not to believe it. The condition of the body of Christ, our lack of love, faith and power prove this out. As a whole we are insecure, lacking His love flowing through us, weak, timid in our walk, rude in our soulish boldness, and self-centered.. Without much power. This should not be. 

We are called to walk with Him and in Him. The things of His kingdom will flow freely out of us as a bi-product. We cannot make this occur. He changes us, from the inside out.

Stop allowing others to make you afraid of words like “holiness”, “repentance”,  and “sanctification.” as if these are things to avoid.

These qualities bring true life and union and peace. These are a part of  His heart and nature, and go hand in hand with “Joy,” “Peace” and “Love.” 

Saying or thinking  you are anything that differs from His Word is not honoring to Him and does not glorify Him. It’s offensive to the torture endured at the cross and scorns the imputed righteousness Jesus gave us at so high a cost.

“Pride” is seeking worth apart from His shed blood that clothes us in His righteousness.  

Whether its thinking we are special because of anything we may do,

or

choosing to cling to our inherent unworthiness  and ignoring the robe of righteousness He has placed upon us.

It’s all the same.

Both are different manifestations of us arrogantly choosing to dictate how we will chose to relate to ourselves, others and God. Both are from the same belief system that contends with His Truth. It is never about us. It is all about Him.. and His love for His creation.

Meditate on these truths. Let them re-define your thinking until you see yourself as He does. From there we can begin to live as He has called us to live… In Him.

He died so that you could have His Spirit within you. This… is love.

Living the Resurrected Life

He barged into my office without a knock and without an apology. I could see he was deeply troubled in soul but nothing on his face gave that away. I had not seen this old acquaintance in quite some time. Instantly I stopped typing.

“Just came by to say hello, David.”

“Hello. How are you?”  

“Good… Just fine…Happy belated Easter. You don’t celebrate Easter do you? You don’t strike me as the type of Christian who would…”

Ignoring the question, I was breaking for him now. I felt his heart and Dad opened up to me Henry’s thoughts and fears and some of his darkest issues to me in that instant.

“What’s wrong, Henry?” I replied meekly.

“You know I don’t really believe in God… but I know He hears you and answers your prayers. I need you to pray for my dying brother.  Pray that he lives.”

——

Another Easter come and gone. Another year we collect the data and post our results. How many conversions? How many answered the altar call? How “successful” was our “program” this year?

I rarely follow social media. This morning however, I was troubled as I read the numerous posts from the bride of Christ extolling those who participated in their local Resurrection Day sermons. What grieved me more than this though was all the varied forms of exhortation I read in regard to not getting discouraged at the “lack” of results… Next year will be better… perhaps.

Next year?

The Power of the Living Resurrection abides in us daily. We will not find anywhere in scripture where the church is told to prepare for a day in which to stir up the witness of the Holy Spirit.  We are created for good works that will be an outflow of our union with Him… Moment by moment. Not year by year.  

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (I Peter 1:3)

The church has forgotten that if we live the life of Christ, we have no need to cajole the lost to come hear a sermon. The sermon is already inside all of us.

Please- I beg you. Read the book of Acts. I submit the scriptures make it very clear they were living the resurrection. What is now a once a year observance was at one time a moment by moment encounter with the Holy Spirit that led people to the Lord, daily… not yearly. Nor did is come via a Bishop acting as an Evangelist delivering a sermon before a meeting of mixed believers.

Salvation came through the daily living witness of the pentecostal church of Jesus Christ.

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God  which I command you. (Deut 4:2)

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. (Col 2:8)

Have we swapped that indescribable privilege of communion restored… with religion?

We are righteous, holy, without blame, spotless, sanctified and loved fully. (2 Cor 5:21, Col 1:19-22, 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 1:6, Heb 10:10)

It is time for the Bride to live relationally

a walk that reflects what the torture of the cross gave us positionally.

We are righteous in His eyes already. Do we live this way? We are blameless before Him. Do we think this way? We are holy in His eyes. Do we walk this way?  We are living beneath who we truly are. We cannot do this without deep union.

This is not about “works.”  Works leads to more dead religion.

This is about outflow.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Prov 4:23)

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart,”  (Luke 6:45)

Everything grown comes from seeds. Planting seeds takes work both for His kingdom and anything… not.. of His kingdom realm. We work at it every day. We say we want to hear His voice. We want to visit His throne-room. We desire to be used of Him.

But… what are we really sowing to? How many of us, if we are really honest, are quite comfortable with the confines and structure of born-again religion? In what areas are we really submitting to the traditions of man and not the life of Christ?

It’s not hard to agree to pray for those to come to accept Christ on Sunday. That is pretty darn easy, isn’t it?  Yes.. it is. How difficult is it to lay hands on a stranger the day after Easter while gassing up on your way to work?

Now the question to ask ourselves is… Why is this so?

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John… So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6)

Peter and John were not on their way to Revival. Nor were they on there way to heal this man. They were on their way to meeting. This stranger got in their way. We can only freely give what churns violently inside us. What areas of the Lord are we moving in more than last month? Last year? 5 years ago? I am not talking about theology. These Christians didn’t even have a bible yet. They had Jesus Christ. They lived Jesus Christ. They gave the life of the Resurrection everywhere they went. It was freely flowing.

We have replaced the life of Christ with theology and doctrines, memorization, and a checklist to make ourselves feel respected by others and in our own eyes.

The scriptures tell us in the last days a great falling away will occur.

It’s already upon us in this nation

and we have not even entered into persecution yet.

The Word also tells us the Love of many will grow cold. Here is a gentle wake-up call: only those who have Christ have true Love… this is a prophetic word spoken by Jesus about the church that will be fulfilled… but to what degree, will depend on us.

Disciples of theology… or disciples of Christ?

Imitators of religion… or imitators of Christ?

Theology is not a relationship. Theology is the word of God rightly divided that provides a stable platform from which we draw to the realm of the spirit in order to live, breath and have our being in Christ alone.

Please hear His heart. I am not saying to stop enjoying a tradition. But how we live day by day is what our Savior died for and is interested in. Afraid of being “weird”? Was Jesus weird? Did it look weird when Peter healed the beggar?

Bottom line: if we are looking to a day to win souls… the church has drifted from the faith and the Power of the Resurrection. The Resurrection is not a day. It’s a relationship we seek and walk out.

Religion breeds weirdness. Relationship breeds Christ. Please… Let us stop confusing the two.

He is calling us. He is waiting. His lost are waiting. They cannot wait another year to hear the gospel. The world needs to see it in power through us every day. As always, first things first…

Seek His face. Seek His Love. Seek Him alone.

“No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.”  (Jer 31:34 & Heb 8:11)

Happy Easter, all. Let us live it every second as we learn to draw into Him every moment of our lives. 

To Build A Fire…

Exhortation. Encouragement. Motivation. I have seen these gifts in operation. I have seen what they can do… Let me back up.

I detest writing.

Writing for me is to intimately feel and express pain, and joy and fire and love. Who can contain such things? Fire is great for many purposes… but does that mean one wants to hold it? Perhaps… far enough away… on a stick, where it may be viewed and discussed and pondered without ever having to feel it. And so it often is with the issues that are on Heavenly-Dad’s heart.

Having said all that, I shall write a couple of things I have seen and felt.

I have seen first hand how a mob can be rallied to storm the homes of the innocent. I have watched in sands of time past how a nation will hearken unto the cry of a lone voice and step foot on foreign soil in the name of  “….”  I have seen babies taken from mother’s arms, and parents torn from their childrens’ desperate clinging grip; the nail scrapes around the back of the father’s neck evidence that the incident did not go without contention. Some of the most atrocious acts in history, and what scripture tells us is still yet to come, have and will continue to be done under the “guiding leadership” of motivation and exhortation by those who would lead us. I have also seen what happens when His Bride is motivated to crusades and bigger gatherings, and programs and… things.

I have seen…

All under the banner of motivation, exhortation and comfort.

Any gift(s) used outside the heart, mind and will of the Father is a gift perverted. It is fine to rally to something… only if that rally is birthed from the kingdom of God. This is of course true, only if viewed from the spiritual mindset that we are seeking the kingdom of God and not… anything else.

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God,”  Joel 2:13

“No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.” Rom 2:29

I can do nothing but listen when my Redeemer is speaking. Here are some things He is asking His bride.

Who is motivating His church?

What is His church being motivated toward?

And so, I must ask us to consider: what we do or do not do, when we gather “in His name.” We are gathering, perhaps… but are we gathered to seek Him? If we are, how much of it is compromised because we are being exhorted, motivated or encouraged not to simply seek Him, but to seek an emotional feeling, or …. anything else?

Every one of these questions cited below will elicit a response. That response either comes from the heart and mind of Christ alone… or from the traditions of man and carnal minded thinking.

What do light shows in fellowship have to do with Christ?

What does a drummer and three guitarists have to do with worship?

Why does a worship team face us and we face them?

Why is there a screen so we can look at the person “leading” worship?

Why is emotionally stirring music played when a spiritual commitment is supposedly asked for during an “altar call”?

Why do we use titles?

Why do we refer to only some as anointed when the Word says all NT believers have an anointing?

Why do we invite non-believers into the holiness of a Believers Fellowship- and yet hold water baptisms, which is the sign of our public profession, inside a building, and not on a public lake or beach or park?

“I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but not everything is constructive.” 1 Cor 10:23

Who, or what, began motivating us to do these things? From whence did they come? What changed?  Why are we doing the things we are doing? We are a spirit, we possess a soul, and we live in a temple of flesh.  But what is governing our walk… or compromising it? Is the Holy Spirit sharing His throne with our soulish desires?

The Word says to judge actions and not each other. But… what I am sharing here is actually not an act of either.

They are questions our Lord is asking us. Who will answer them in the deepest part of their inner being? Who will enter into the Holy of Holies that churns inside us and discuss these things with Him face to Face? Who will spend time with the One who died for us and dare to hash out the issues that are on His heart?

Please hear the heart of our Father here.

It is not where we gather… it is what we are gathering toward.

What is our “fellowship” motivating us toward? How long ago did we commit to Christ? How many of us… all these years later, know their giftings and function in them daily? When was the last time we held someone who tearfully committed their life to Christ? When did we last pray for a stranger we just met in a supermarket, gym, or gas station? The bible explains in great detail that we are all to walk in the vast ways the Holy Spirit desires. All of us. The Word gives great detail into how corporate gathering will evolve as we seek Christ alone. The Word also tells us how they will devolve once we begin to drift from seeking Him alone. How long have you been in church fellowship and how many times have you used your giftings?

Brothers and sisters there is something out of sync with the church body in America in regard to the heart of our Dad.

“Well, David. You are just causing division. You are in rebellion. You are looking to divide.”

Let’s examine that religious statement against the Word of God.

“For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Matt 10:34

“Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Luke 12:51

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:5

The Word of God divides. Truth divides. He divides that which is worldy from that which is of His heart, mind and kingdom. Speaking a challenging word does not divide people… it divides and exposes the motive, and the motivations of men in light of the gospel.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Heb 4:12

We are called to rightly divide. The Word of God is an all consuming Fire. Fire is Love. The Word of God will always divide. It will always do this. Always.

He loves you. His joy is beyond measure at the thought of His church gathering in order to glorify and seek Him and Him alone. Without compromise. It is the ultimate expression of His gift of free will given back to Him. He is Communion. Communion is Love personified. If this discussion prompts one to feel shame, anger, or the need to defend a person or cause,  it reveals we are not walking in the Mind of Christ and do not understand who we are as a child of God to the depth we are meant to walk in. This is not about pastors, or elders or home fellowships, or church buildings, or how uncomfortable it can be to sit on my old couch during prayer when we gather. This is not about any thing or anyone else who will not be standing with you when you appear before your Judge one day and He asks with tearful eyes,

 “David.  Did you seek to know Me, and Me alone? I have waited a long time. Let us begin… finally… now.”

Dare to challenge the status quo of our traditions and manner of corporate “fellowship.” I assure you. The colors of any light show cannot compare to the colors of His eyes staring into yours. The beat of high-end, amplified worship music cannot in any way compare to the love that beats within the spirit and soul of a child of God who has had intimate encounters with our Lord. This is our calling. This is our destiny. He is calling His Church to Himself. Who will answer the call of His heart? There is no condemnation in His calling. There is only Fire in it. Let Him build that Fire within you. Allow Him to make it all consuming… so that nothing else matters. Not what is popular or comfortable or easy or convenient. Or lukewarm. Only Fire. The fire of His heart beating to have all of yours…beating one with yours.

I love writing.

What a dreadfully wonderful way to express His pain and joy and fire and love. Who can contain such things? Fire is great for many purposes… most of all it divides.

So that we may all be one In Him.

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” Psalm 73:25

We say this. We all… say this….

Humbly… and imperfectly,

David