The Missing Link

The other day I saw an advertisement for a Christian concert based on this upcoming Christian movie. I thought, wow what an awesome experience that will be for those who can attend. I began studying closely the artists who would be performing and realized that everyone performing looked the same! I then begin to ask God, "when will the Bride (Church Universal) begin looking like the one Christ came to redeem?"  The make-up of this Bride includes different gifts, talents, socioeconomic status, family structures, race and ethnicity among many other things. This church is to preach the good news, to heal the brokenhearted and to set the captives free. But, what stood out to me about this church is what Jesus spoke of concerning what His followers would do. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father". John 14:12

I am a thinker and oftentimes like to think about those things that I have thought of previously, haha! I love knowledge and the study thereof and I love it even more when I believe God draws my attention to a specific area and then gives me revelation as to what it all means. I've heard many teach on the above scripture and have had conversations in regards to this scripture myself. These conversations have focused on  the absence of sight when it comes to the manifestation of these things that were mentioned in John 14:12? Why aren't we seeing these greater works that Christ spoke of?

Many who have studied the life of Christ know what He did-He healed the sick; He restored sight to the blind; He made the deaf to hear, the lame to walk; set captives free and He raised the dead. If Christ did all this, we His followers are to do more and if so then how is this accomplished? I remember years ago hearing my then Pastor, who I regard highly as a true man of God, teach that all God does in the earth is through man. Many people do not know this nor understand this so it is hard for them to receive this. When tragedy happens they ask, "where is God? If He is almighty and powerful, then where was He when this............happened?" 

God is a spiritual being and the earth and all its inhabitants are physical beings. When God came as Christ-even He had to do so in a physical form because He was coming to place that was physical and in order to fully execute what He intended He had to do so in the form of the people He was coming to save! God is a God of order, laws and principles; and this order, these laws and principles are what govern the life sustaining force of the earth because without order chaos reigns.

What does this mean for mankind? Because God's habitation is a spiritual one He provided each one of us earthly-physical-fixed beings with different gifts, abilities and talents. "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills." 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Back to the earlier question-"why aren't we seeing or even doing these things that were mentioned in John 14:12?" But, we do see these things occurring in this day and age but we pass it off as something else. In this day and age many people are healed from sicknesses of the body, mind and even raised from the dead. Most of what I've just mentioned happens everyday across the world in hospitals, in therapists' office, etc. Man has been able to create artificial limbs for those who have lost theirs. Man has been able to transplant organs to prolong the lives of people who would otherwise perish. There exists corrective wear for those with poor eyesight and even surgeries that can now correct failing vision. Surgeries and artificial devices have also helped those who otherwise would not be able to hear! There are also therapies to help those whose minds have different wiring so that they can have a sense of normalcy in this world.

God never separated the secular from the spiritual that is what man did. Sure we are spiritual beings but we must understand that our spiritual body can only reside in the earth because of the physical body that sustains it. And....most of the miracles I have described are physical ones that support and in many cases sustain the physical bodies that enable us to live! I never quite understood why many people who believe in science think there is no God and those who believe in God doubt science. I learned many years ago that all truth is God's truth and it is He who decides how it is manifested. God never intended for science or anything for that matter to exist apart from Him, these were all practices enacted by man.

I majored in Psychology because I love the mind! I am a life-long student of trying to understand human behavior but I know that I can never fully understand this behavior if I were to take it out of the context of God. God made us to be inquisitive, to seek out answers to our questions. He made the earth in a way that would encourage this high level thinking being called man, to seek. In seeking, God hoped that all discoveries would lead to Him. But, I realize that many will not receive this due to a lack of understanding. Those who are Christians will believe that the works Christ spoke of must be manifested in the way that Jesus carried them out. While those who are not will just attribute these phenomenons to science. Don't get me wrong supernatural manifestations of God still occur but we must be careful to not expect God to always show up in the same manner.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord."Isaiah 55:8

The danger with the above referenced mindsets is that-people are sick; they are hurt and damaged; they are imprisoned and dying while the very people who can save them are too busy arguing the manner in which they should be saved! The missing link could be you and you might be missing because you don't know what your talents and abilities are; you don' t know your purpose and you don't know where you fit; or it could be that you do not know God or that He created you for a particular purpose that will be left unsatisfied because you don't realize that "you" are the one needed to accomplish it. 

"And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church)." Ephesians 4:11 These are the positions that God has called every believer to but the manner (the space in which these positions are actually fulfilled) will be different for everyone.

Simply put, understand your gift (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) and the position to which you have been commissioned (Ephesians 4:11) and use it in the arena of life that you've been called to. All will not pastor a church or go to the mission fields of another country but you can pastor (shepherd) as a leader in your workplace and your mission field might be your own household! Seek revelation-seek understanding-seek God-know your calling-know your mission-then apply all you now know to life.

Subtle Tactics

As infants, we come into the world as a blank canvass, as untilled soil. All of our experiences as children begin to take what was blank and paint a picture, to take what was uncultivated and to cultivate those empty spaces with the intent of creating our future selves. The harsh reality is that many parents or caregivers neglect the tender souls of their offspring and leave gates open that allow access by anyone or anything. You see while the majority of parents hope they are rearing children to become productive and upstanding citizens of society with a moral compass as their guide, Satan, too has his plans for the cultivation of our children. His cultivation begins in childhood as well, when the soil is freshest and his seeds are able to take root.

He begins planting seeds of self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy that may not reveal themselves until many years later. This time of reveal will often come at a time when the person is unsuspecting that anything is occurring. In order for seeds to grow they must be planted in the right soil and they must receive the necessary nourishment in order to thrive. When all the conditions have been met and the time is right those seeds buried deep will begin to sprout. As adults, we may begin to wrestle with things that were previously not a concern for us and even though we may have come to know and understand our self-worth through God we may begin to doubt ourselves and wrestle with feelings of inadequacy. But, we must look deep behind what we “see” into that which is unseen. Our struggle is not against flesh but against principalities-the dark forces behind the evil in this world. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12)

The manifestation of those long ago planted seeds in our lives is the first step in Satan’s plan for our destruction. See, he cannot simply destroy those who belong to God, no, it requires our participation and many of us are all too willing to assist in this endeavor. If one wishes to yield a fruitful harvest he/she must plant in fertile soil, supply the necessary nutrients, thereby creating the right conditions in which the soil will give way to produce that which it was implanted with. But, that is just the first step towards destruction-though the seed has now broken forth through the soil it must continue to feed in order to grow and reach maturity.

Most Christians who have walked away from God will tell you this happened as a result of offense masquerading as anger or hurt. They allow offense to serve as a nutrient for the seeds planted by the enemy that once mature can lead them away from God and on a path that will most assuredly lead to destruction. When we “feel” as though we have been wronged by someone, and even by God, our natural inclination is to get away from those who have wronged us. Feelings are very tricky because they can cause us to believe things about ourselves and our situations that are completely untrue. Feelings were given to us by God as a means to express all that we encounter in our lives and when used correctly help us to endure troubling situations, enjoy positive ones as well as to make informed decisions. But, feelings are temperamental in that they can change just like the weather. One minute we are happy and the next we may be sad and though these expressions may accurately reflect one’s current experience it is never an indicator of one’s overall life. Feelings become dangerous when the enemy allows us to exchange the truth for a lie and we being expressing our feelings based off of the lie rather than the truth.

Parents through their own brokenness may begin to criticize, belittle or neglect their children through lack of time and attention simply put “because that’s how we were raised.” Not realizing they have created fertile soil for the enemy to plant seeds of inadequacy. Once that child reaches adulthood, no matter how many accomplishments he/she may have or how many people love, admire and respect them they will struggle with feelings of inadequacy all because their parents allowed access to the garden of their children’s hurt by our great foe, the evil one. If not dealt with accordingly everything that person does will be done from the stained window bearing their “feelings” of inadequacy which does not accurately reflect who they really are and what God really wants for them.

The scheme of the evil one is and has always been to turn God’s people away from Him. How is this done? By making us believe that God is withholding something from us. This is the tactic used in the Garden and proved successful so if it “ain’t broke, why fix it?” He wants us to doubt God’s plan, will and purpose for our lives and more importantly His love for us. If he can get us to doubt God’s love for us then why would anyone else truly loved our flawed selves.

Many churches are failing the children of God because while they preach messages that are useful for the training up of the body of Christ they are not dealing with individual sin issues and more importantly the iniquities that run rampant in the lives of God’s people. So, God’s people are hearing messages on how to serve Him, searching out God’s purpose and plans for their lives but they are broken-saved but broken. They are broken because their minds are not being renewed-their iniquities are not being addressed and unaddressed iniquities give birth to the manifestation of sin. But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death (James 1:14-15)

Once a person has given into this sin they open themselves to a struggle that they will not win on their own. Most believers don’t understand why they keep doing what they don’t want to do but Paul said it best in Romans 7:19-20 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

I want to share something with you that I do not believe a number of churches are addressing-Christians still struggle with sin. Many Christians come to believe that once they have been saved that all sins cease but that is only partly true. Once we come to salvation through Christ it is our spirit that is transformed instantly, many are never taught that their soul (the seat of their emotions, thought and will) is not. This is why Paul wrote so much on the topic of renenwing one’s mind (mind and heart are the same thing) Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans (12:2) We live in a broken world and we receive its messages daily. It is very challenging to not allow some of the world to influence who we are and what we do.

The children of God self-destruct because they are trying to conquer demons in their own strength and win battles they were never meant to fight. Christians are led to believe that God demands perfection when all He wants is a heart that will surrender his/her will to that of His. Though, we may struggle with sin until Jesus returns that doesn’t negate what the Lord has begun in and through us. And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you(Philippians 1:6) And, though we struggle with sin the danger that befalls us is if and when it becomes our lifestyle. God understands our struggles, our shortcomings, but yet He loves us and nothing will ever change that.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

   slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

   nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

   or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

   so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

   so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

   he remembers that we are dust.

The life of mortals is like grass,

   they flourish like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

   and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

   the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

   and his righteousness with their children’s children—

with those who keep his covenant

   and remember to obey his precepts(Psalm 103:9-18)