Responding To Hate

Belgium has been attacked today, as France was attacked, as Russia was attacked, as many countries have been attacked in the past. It is a good illustration of how Jesus has transformed us to live by a different code than this world, to have different values and to live by a different perspective. It is vital that, as his followers, we die to the desires of our first nature and live in the Spirit, with our new nature.

Jesus called us to be something different, a new people, a new nation, to live in a new way so that the world would look in and Father would receive the glory for what they see. It is more than a love that we put on; it is a love that permeates everything that makes us unique. Let me remind you how it is suppose to look, as Jesus taught it. Remember, this cannot be achieved by our effort but instead in cooperation with the Holy Spirit:

 “But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t withhold your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them. Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you." (Luke 6:27-31)

Unfortunately too many of us call on the name Jesus without submitting to Jesus. We think it is okay to sing his praises and curse people. We think it is okay to react to the world in our flesh while fellowshipping with God in our spirit. We think this and use the excuse that we are human. But we aren't human. We are a new creation and we have been empowered to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to live differently than the rest of creation so Father will receive glory. Stop making excuses, we are going to be held accountable. Don't hate those who want to see you dead, and don't fear them; pray for them.

“If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that. If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate." (Luke 6:32-36)

There is no creature on this planet that should compare to the forgiving and generous character of a follower of Jesus. We are possessed by his Spirit and thus live by his character. When we fail we are corrected but we are never permitted to excuse the failure. When we fail we should understand that we have weakness in our relationship with Jesus. When we are intimate with him we are strong in his character, sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance.

“Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.” (Luke 6:37-38)

Why do we fail to know this is how we live, react, respond? When we fail why do we think it is okay? Why do we not understand the need to reject our error, to confess and repent of it, to ask Jesus for greater intimacy to live in the manner that pleases him? If Jesus is our Master we can't just ignore his words, they were given to enable life in us. 

We are different than all the rest because we have the character of Jesus. Hate is never justified. If Jesus could ask forgiveness for those who crucified him certainly we can ask for and give forgiveness to those who do harm to us. Our calling is a higher calling of sacrificial love. So let us love those who see themselves as our enemies, those who persecute us, those who want to do harm to us; just like Jesus.

We Are Not What We Were

You are a new creation!

That is what the Scriptures tell us and it matters. It matters because it describes the transformation we have undergone and are undergoing. You cannot declare Jesus as your Lord and stay the same. We had to be changed because we have become the vessels of the Spirit of God. We cannot be one with Yahweh and stay the same.

This means that our perspective, attitude and understanding of life are also transformed. This impacts us in many ways. Just to name a few, our compassion increases, our actions become rooted in love, our possession by possessions is broken so we easily act in generosity with the things we have been loaned. It is not as the world teaches, that acts of love and kindness change our heart, but instead that our transformed heart changes our actions.

Knowing and living this makes it easier for us to understanding the Scriptures that warn us of such things as:

"Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil." (James 3:16)

It would be fantastic if our transformation was complete but it is an ongoing thing. Let's understand it this way: The capacity for this transformation is complete, so we are capable of great spiritual growth, but we have to grow into that capacity. There will be days that we fail and allow the old nature of jealousy and selfish ambition to undermine the work of the Spirit. But the nature of our relationship with Father (because of Jesus) is such that, by his grace, we can confess it, repent of it and release it because it was already forgiven on the cross. But don't dismiss it so quickly yet.

Jesus came to destroy the work of the enemy in all its forms. Before he ascended he told us that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him, and then he sent us out in this authority. He gave us the same mission Father gave him: To destroy the works of the enemy. That is our purpose here.

Such works include but are not limited to sin, illness, any form of brokenness, which includes things like jealousy and self ambition. You have been given authority in Jesus to destroy these works. Wherever they exist disorder and evil exists. You are a warrior, a mighty warrior in the Lord, and it has been given to you to destroy all strongholds of the enemy, and that includes the ones that try to take root in you.

Your heart and mind are not in control; they are subject to the Holy Spirit. If you give them control then your emotions and intellect will always lead you back to the old nature. They need us to keep them subjected to the Spirit of God. That is the oneness we have with him. If you think you are in charge you are in trouble. If your emotions are given free reign, you are in trouble. Jesus speaks to our spirit and our spirit speaks to our mind and heart, and as warriors we keep our heart and mind in submission to his commands. In this way we are mighty Kingdom warriors, destroying the works of the enemy wherever we are in the moment.

We are not what we were; we are a new creation.

Living The Old Testament

I would never be one to tell people to ignore the Old Testament of their Bibles but it is important that we no longer live there. It is important to study to discover Father's heart throughout the Bible and to understand the root of what got us to where we are now. It is important for us to see Father's plan from beginning to end but we no longer live under the old covenant. People don't seem to understand this as they try to live according to the old.

One simple example is king David. I have seen a lot of teaching on this man and his relationship with Yahweh but some of the most damaging teaching is concerning the application of grace. I have read books concerning David's sin with the adultery with Uriah's wife and the eventual murder of Uriah. Yahweh called David out on this hidden sin but applied grace at David's repentance. It is here that we can find fallacy in application of the lesson.

David was under the old covenant. He was pre-Jesus. The blood of Christ did not cover him and he had not received this incredible forgiveness by grace. He was not part of the new creation. This is what some teachers seem to forget when they use David as an excuse to remove men and women of God from their calling when they fail. They point out that David's leadership went downhill after this forgiveness, his child died and he faced new enemies. He was forgiven but his authority suffered. People apply this to leaders today as an excuse to rob them of their calling.

It is terrible when leaders fall as it affects so many people. There are natural consequences to such sin and much healing needs to be sought but healing is possible through Jesus. It is also true that all sin has been forgiven, past, present and future. This applies to leaders as well. As long as we confess our sins, healing and restoration is available for all. It is a fundamental difference between the new and old. Everyone sins and through the blood of Jesus everyone is forgiven and restored. We do not live under the constant threat of judgement.

I have yet to meet a perfect Christian so why would we be surprised when leaders fail? The only true failure is the failure to seek restoration through repentance. What hypocrites we are to seek restoration for ourselves but to deny it for our leaders. We are only forcing a make-believe false reality when we try to apply things like perfection on clay vessels.

Yes, our God is a God of justice. However, he has made it clear that he desires restoration over justice. This is the fantastic news Jesus brought to us. When we read about Church correction we need to see that the whole purpose is restoration not punishment. Rejection only comes with a lack of repentance which is true of our relationship with Yahweh.

We need to lose the Old Testament mentality toward judgement and apply the forgiveness, mercy and grace we have received under Jesus. We need to allow the Spirit to convict and restore according to the heart of the Father. We need to tear down such walls and allow people to confess in the freedom of grace and forgiveness, creating churches of healing and transformation by the power of the blood of Christ.

Our True Nature Exposed

There is nothing new under the sun. The tools may have changed but the motivation and the outcome have been witnessed countless times. There is no great deed that has not already been done. There is no sin that has not already been committed. There is nothing you can do that will surprise or shock Yahweh. There is nothing happening now that has not happened before.

As we watch society slip further into darkness we need to understand it has always been there. The things we are seeing in the open have always been there behind closed doors. The unholy scenes we see displayed on our television screens have always been in the heart. Realize for a moment that what you are seeing is feeding an awakening appetite or we wouldn't tolerate it. All we are seeing is the pretending coming to an end and the true nature of things being revealed.

The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good. (Psalm 14:1)

"Good" is defined by Yahweh. Good can only take place from the seed of Jesus. The only good that has any eternal value never grows from the wicked heart of man unless that heart has been transformed by the blood of Jesus. Any good thing we can manage on our own is tainted by the human condition in which we were born.

The psalmist wrote the truth about the condition of our kind since the expulsion from the garden. Left to ourselves we are fools. We have been corrupted by the evil of our rebellion. We have done abominable things as defined by our holy and perfect Father. No matter how hard we try, the things we intend for good are corrupted by the evil of our heart. 

But Jesus changed all of this.

Jesus made it possible for Father to declare that we are holy; that we are perfect; that we are righteous. Those who choose to be covered by the sacrifice of Jesus are transformed from the corruption that had enslaved them and are made as a new creation. We can't do it on our own. We need Jesus.

 

Enemies Of God

What do you have to do to be saved? By saved I mean saved from eternal damnation. It is a good question that should have a simple answer but in this age of "enlightenment" it is a simple answer that is getting lost in the noise. It is a good thing to refresh ourselves in what the Word says about salvation.

Jesus referred to a second type of birth. He told someone that we need to experience a new birth, into what our Father desired us to become; his children. In our current form we cannot be the children of God. Not everyone in the world is a child of our Father, but he desires them to be:

God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. (John 3:16, CEV)

It is the Father's desire that none should perish but he decided from the beginning that he would not force himself on us. The only love he wants from us is what we freely give to him. Our mistake is thinking that we are all born as his children and if we behave ourselves we will all get to go to heaven. It's not the truth. We are all born as enemies of God but he had compassion on his enemy and desired for us to be his children:

Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son’s life. (Romans 5:10, CEV)

But to go from being the enemy of God to being his children we have to experience a new birth. Jesus said:

“I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God’s kingdom!” (John 3:3)

When asked how a man can be born a second time Jesus explained:

Humans give life to their children. Yet only God’s Spirit can change you into a child of God. Don’t be surprised when I say that you must be born from above. Only God’s Spirit gives new life. (vv. 6-8)

And this only happens through Jesus. He is the first born, who opened the way for the rest of us to follow. So this second birth comes down to this, a very simple act of trust:

Then everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life. (John 3:15)

A voluntary act of trust; an act provoked in us as we accept that God really loves us that much, that we are sinners separated from God and that only Jesus can get us to where we need to be; with our Father. Adopted as "sons" of God; chosen to be loved; transformed by the spilled blood of the Son of God.

However, the cross where Jesus died is not the end of the matter. In fact, the cross is only the beginning; the open door to a brand new adventure.The cross is the beginning of the transformation process, as we go from what we were to the new creation God has destined us to be. We leave the old behind as we take up the new. All priorities and desires change as our destination changes. That is the road we are on now, of this new adventure.

However,new adventures can have difficulties and we can get tired, even weary. But we mustn't. We must rest on Jesus' strength. We must abide in him and he in us. We must remain intimate and vulnerable to God because going part way is not good enough. Close doesn't count. We have to go all the way with Jesus, right to the last breath.

But that is another story for another day. It is enough to know today that you are not saved unless you have made that decision to voluntarily accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, having faith that God loves you and wants you as his children. It isn't yours because your parents are Christians. It isn't yours because you go to church. It isn't yours because you do good deeds and think about God every now and them. It is only yours when you make that decision to accept Jesus, his love, his sacrifice because you know you are an enemy of God and don't want to be any more. Have faith in Jesus and he will do the rest.

Liar, Liar

The habit of lying is a hard thing to stop once we have started. Why did we start? There are all kinds of reasons why people start. Sometimes it is a self-preservation thing. It started young when our mom's would ask us questions like "Who left the milk out?" Then there are the embellishment lies with our friends; the proverbial "fish story". These lies make us look good. There are the vengeance lies, to get an enemy in trouble. There are lots of different lies and lots of different reasons why we lie and once started it is hard to stop.

However, lying does not belong to the children of God. Our God hates falsehood and part of our transformation is to destroy the need for lies. It was part of our old nature, but now we are a new creation, with new and better habits; ones that glorify Jesus:

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (Colossians 3:9-10)

The reasons for lying have been taken away. No longer is self the center of our being. We have no reason for self-preservation. We do not need to make ourselves look good. We have no hatred or ill-will toward our enemy. Jesus has become our everything and our only desire is to bring him glory and to allow his character to shine through us. Everything has changed. What once was is no more. A creation never seen before stands in its place; a blending of God and us; transformed by the power of God. Our hearts and minds have been changed forever, and our bodies will soon follow.

Yet, you might still be stuck in that habit. The reason for it is gone but the habit remains. It is similar to smoking. There is usually a reason why people start. Could have been a rebellious act, a thing to still nerves, a response to depression or stress. The reasons are gone but the habit is fixed and hard to break. How do you break the habit of lying? By telling the truth.

Every time you catch yourself in a lie, stop and tell the truth. Apologize and reverse course. Yes, it is embarrassing but after a few embarrassing incidents you will start avoiding the lie and the Spirit of God will lend you strength. "I'm sorry, I have no idea why I said that. The truth of the matter is ...." "I'm sorry, that was a le. The truth is ..."

Take off the old self with it's practices and put on the new self.

The new creation that we are is made in the image of our Creator. The transformation happened and is continuing to happen. The cross changed us and gave us the capacity to carry God's image so the transformation is ongoing. As we gain more knowledge of him we become more like him. We are being renewed in this knowledge. Now you have the knowledge that lying does not belong to our new nature; go and sin no more.

There Is A Difference

Have you given much thought to the reason why we are in the world but not part of it? Did you even know that? It is not all that popular to preach these days. We are too busy on our self improvement stuff to realize we don't belong here. We are so busy worrying about fitting in that we have forgotten there is nothing here to fit into.

Seriously, what is occupying our heart and thoughts? How are we being entertained? Why did Jesus say that we are not to be unequally yoked (joined together)? What does that even mean? It means you are different and you cannot allow yourself to become again like those who are still in rebellion. You can't allow yourself to be sucked into their way of thinking. You can't be entertained by the same things or have the same goals. Remember:

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. (Ephesians 4:18-19)

Sometimes we forget. Sometimes we forget that we are different, that we don't belong here. They can't see what we see, hear what we hear, think how we think. We really need to accept the fact that we are a new creation and they are not. They are still separated from God. They are ignorant because their hearts are hard. They have no spiritual sensitivity and do not even realize the things they indulge in are offensive to God.

The teachers you sit under teach from this kind of heart and mind. Respect them but filter what they teach by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in you. Your boss leads from this kind of heart and mind. You need to forgive him and work instead as if you are working for the Lord. Even parents without Jesus parent with this kind of heart and mind. So it can be hard to stay on track when we are constantly surrounded by such influence. This is the reason we need time with Jesus.

We can't go to church once a week and think we will be okay. We are engaged in warfare and we are in the enemies camp. The enemy is engaged in psychological warfare and he is after our heart and mind. He is not greater than Jesus in us, not even close. However, if we do not allow Jesus in us to be everything then we can unwittingly allow the enemy in. Once he is in then we too can become ignorant again.

We need to practice the presence of the Lord throughout the day. Talk to him about everything. Don't stop praying. Face every situation with the Lord by your side. Don't just say the words but act as if he is physically there with you. Study the Word of God everyday and listen to the Spirit. He is speaking to you, he always is. And understand he wants to do supernatural things through you. We call them the Gifts of the Spirit and they have been given to you for a reason; to use. Jesus has to be the only influence in our lives.

So stop listening to the ignorant philosophy and darkened wisdom of this world. They don't know any better but you do. You are without excuse. You know the beauty of the King and have experienced his love. Throw off the creeping vines of the enemy and grab hold of the holiness of God. Light cannot be joined with darkness. Stay in the light and do not allow the shadows to approach. You are a child of the Light not a creature of the dark. Remember that and stand your ground.

It Is Time To Hit The Reset Button

Your biggest struggle is produced by your mis-perception of reality. We all interpret truth through the filters we have put in place over the years. How we see ourselves is seldom the truth but instead it is a perception of ourself that we have created for whatever reason. Sometimes that perception is that we are worthless and incapable of doing anything. Why would anyone love me? Sometimes, it is the opposite where we think of ourselves too highly, but more often than not it is the former.

Positive thinking is not that answer. "I know I can, I know I can" is not the answer. Self help books are not the answer. Meditation is not the answer. Loving yourself is not the answer. Seeing yourself as God sees you is.

We need to hit the reset button, to wash away the years and layers of filters we have put in place. We need to come to understand that God has declared us to be holy and blameless. He declared it. He changed the reality of our truth by simply speaking a new reality into being. Just as he spoke light into existence he spoke you into a new creation:

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4)

That is our new reality. Wait, there is more.

Not only has he declared us to be creatures of the light, holy and blameless in his sight, he has also made us creatures of great power.

It is not that the power belongs to us but he has filled us with power through the Holy Spirit in us. Not just any power. This is the same power that raised Jesus from the grave and seated him at the right hand of God. This is the resurrection power that pumps through our veins:

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right handin the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:18-20)

That incomparable great power is the reality we live with. You may look in the mirror and see a weak failure who hasn't a clue what tomorrow will bring, but Jesus looks at you and sees a holy and blameless vessel filled with God's resurrection power. He has given you authority and power to face the darkness of this world and overcome. Your part in it is to live and operate according to the reality of Jesus, not according to this foul world.

God has filled you with his strength to overcome his enemy. Because Jesus has overcome we are now able to overcome. Our duty is to take on evil and cast it out. Our duty is to pray and fight for those God loves. Our duty, our act of love, is to throw off any old and false perceptions of self and put on the new garment that Jesus has clothed us in. We stand as champions of the Light, warriors, members of the royal family.

We walk this earth as prince and princesses of the Kingdom, ready to do battle with anything that would come against the name of the King. We speak in the authority of the King, to vanquish those dark spirits of the enemy's realm. You do not fight in your own name but in the name of Jesus. You do not fight in your own strength but in the strength of Jesus. You do not do what you think is best but what God has directed you to do. You do not get tangled in the affairs of this world but press on with God's agenda which is the salvation of this world.

Stop looking in that mirror with your eyes and instead make the decision to start perceiving with your spirit the new creation God has called into existence. You are far more than what you see, know and understand. You are filled with the strength of God, the same strength that the Father exerted in Jesus when he raised him from the dead. A strength far beyond anything this world can harness. Man uses what little power he has to hate and destroy. God uses all his power to love and restore, to build up and increase. And he uses you for that task.

Simply ask God to melt away your mis-perceptions and to allow you to clearly see the new reality he has clothed you with. You are beautiful, holy, blameless and filled with strength because God has spoken this truth into reality. Time to hit the reset button.