''We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal.'' 2 Corinthians 4:18 CJB
In the last few years, I have learned a lot. I learned we have different sights and views and that is very Okay. I learned that many have been assigned very tangible and physical roles to play in this world on behalf of God's kingdom and that their fulfillment of that (divine) mission is what they will be appraised and rewarded for. While I always knew that some in the medical and care professions have been specifically placed there by our caring God to be his messengers (Angels) extending his healing and care to the humans he loves so dearly (and created for wholeness), I have learned to deeply appreciate those in the humanitarian missions. They do what Jesus said: ''For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’' [Matthew 25:35 -36 NIV].
These are the obvious ones because of the immediate benefit they impart. There are less obvious ones like Bezalel and Oholiab, of whom Moses said to the Israelites, the Lord had chosen ''and he has filled .. with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make... to cut and set …. to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. And he has given... the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work... —all of them skilled workers and designers.'' [Abbreviated Exodus 35:30-35 NIV]
In all this (my) learning, what has also been reinforced is my personal purpose to keep the ethereal Kingdom in view for the People of the Kingdom (of God) and for the people yet to come into that Kingdom. Just as the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:11[CJB},'' Furthermore, he gave some people as emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers (of scripture).'' Those are distinctly spiritual functions.
It is as he also said in Romans 12:3-5:''For just as there are many parts that compose one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function; so there are many of us, and in union with the Messiah we comprise one body, with each of us belonging to the others.''
So I'll dive into my role.
The point the Lord would have me remind us of is that every role will get its reward not merely based on its fulfillment, but on the vision behind the fulfillment. By this, I mean the vision of the person in the role: What are you seeing? Why are you doing what you are doing? Where does your motivation come from? What is the source of your drive? ….Where is his heart?
Jesus was asked by the Jews, “''What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” John 2:18-19. John explained in verse 21: ''But the temple he had spoken of was his body''.
At Jesus trial, however, it is reported that ''Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.'' Mark 14:57 -59
The people brought a false accusation that he said ''‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands..'' , In actual fact, he had said ''Destroy this temple'' meaning the responsibility was with the people but one thing they did unintentionally present accurately, was the second part of their testimony, ''in three days will build another, not made with hands.''.
The Temple Jesus established is within us. At present, it is Ethereal. I chose not to use the word spiritual on purpose because what the Lord wanted to convey is not 'spiritual or divine activities' which is often what the word connotes in many minds, but an actual Edifice. An empire connected with walls and infrastructure in living humans (beings) around this earth and in heaven. He wanted us to 'see it'.
Here is what the Lord actually said to me:
''American zeal is clouded by materialism and secular compromise
British zeal is cold and not grounded in the word - service to men takes over service (devotion) to God.
Why do you want to be great?
Why do you want to rise up?
Why do you want to meet up with other ministers? To be international?
Why do you want to be International?
Why do you do what you do..... I don't mean the original reason, I mean the true reason and motivation you have now.
Maintaining a spiritual focus is not in what you or I do or the results we achieve.
A knife will always cut because it is a knife and if sharpened, it will cut even better. The question is not whether will it cut or not, the question is it cutting the right thing? The knife is the anointing (that ability or power of God in us). So it's not the anointing that is the issue, it is the wielder of the anointing that is the issue. Are we cutting where and what we should be cutting?
Are we building those focused on 'spirituality' devoid of a devoted commitment to Jesus and his word? - A group of people who attach themselves to Christ for an appearance of spirituality with no propelling or directing relationship with him?
It's so easy to be a secular Christian instead of a Christian in a secular world. Compromise of faith is subtle: it is watered-down faith or a zeal devoid of knowledge. Both at their core are caused by eyes not being grounded in the word of God.
The word of God is a person called Jesus. That is the central part of the Church. Jesus is not separate from the word of YHWH neither is the word of YHWH separate from Jesus. The goal of the Scriptures is the messiah and the Messiah is the Torah in flesh - the scriptures we can relate with in flesh. The Torah becomes a person. The aim of the Torah(Laws of Moses) was to lead men into a relationship with YHWH and that was only actualized when it(the Torah) became like one of us [John 1:14 -17]. God became man when the Torah became a person. To know God, therefore, you must know the scriptures and the spirit of the scriptures which is the Holy Spirit. Till that is the continual focus, we will draw people into fleshly faith: a Faith without a real desire or union with Jesus - who is the word of God.''
We only truly see the Kingdom by seeing the Word of God.
And till we begin to actually see this ethereal Kingdom, it is easy to live outside it:
It is easy to do all the spiritual activities outside the context of the Eternity of the Kingdom.
It is easy to lose focus while still holding on to the appearance of Godliness.
It is easy to win (even 'Christian') awards while actually functioning outside the Kingdom.
It is easy to lose the innate satisfaction that living in the Kingdom brings.
That bigger picture is vital.
This is an ethereal focus (seeing the unseen) that drove the Saints of old and the only focus that will keep our generation in God's will. As God permits me, we will keep that focus alive. Amen
''What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”
Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”2 Corinthians 6:15-17
''All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.'' Hebrews 11:13 -16
''and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’''Zechariah 2:4-5
#onechurch #onefaith #onebaptism #onelord #bymyspirit #theGoodShepherd #theetherealKingdom #everymanabiblestudent
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