No Sweeter Name

Stick-to-it-ive-ness

Could a subtle definition of 'being religious' simply involve being overly concerned or preoccupied with getting others to 'see' what we 'see', or 'hear' what we 'hear'? I wonder about that.

Eventually given enough energy and stick-to-it-ive-ness, we will succeed in what we are doing, we will convince some, meaning we will get another denomination, another way of thinking, a following, mutual like mindedness.

However, isn't the root of this preoccupation really pride? Since I am right, therefore I must convince others.

Or does the root go deeper? Perhaps the really ugliness involves insecurity. Meaning that through the act of convincing of others, again and again, what we hope to receive back, is that we are the ones receiving the payback. We are reminding ourselves over and over how right we are. ( Addictive, eh. Doesn't it feel good to be right ? )

Unfortunately not only is that cycle often unbroken, but we are failing in the very basic & simple art of communication. Which is above all, to listen. How can we truly listen and consider another if we have an agenda, which is above all, that we insist on being heard?

Listening is really simply being content on the inside and secure, it just shows up so beautifully - on the outside! It's thinking of someone else and not yourself. It's love, it's caring, it's kindness, but somehow, through God's grace, all these things start showing up on the outside. God's way always seems to be so -- beautiful.

If think, if we are truly convinced within ourselves of who we are, that we are loved, and valuable and worthy in the eyes of our Father. We don't go down that road of being high minded without coming to the realization that we have gotten way off track. WE are truly secure and confident within: meaning that we trust Father and trust He is Lord. He will do the convincing in each and all of us, of course, beginning within ourselves. It will work itself truly from the inside out.

Off Track

When we are sidetracked or deceived, ie off track, we can be turned back to Christ. How many times do u and do I need to come back to Christ! Thank God for His grace and mercy and thank God for His burden for us to come back to Him when we are way off track. So often we do not even know where it is that we truly have ended up.

Paul expected that Christ would be formed in the Galatians even though they had gotten off track.

"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you"

Christ needs to be our focus and it is possible once you receive Christ to get off track, off relationship of our merging and focus with Him - One with Him. Thank God our Spirit does cry Abba Father and does cry and intercede with the Father on our behalf.

Have you been off track ? Are you off track today perhaps? I have definitely been off track that's why I find the book of Galatians so encouraging. Paul's certainty as he tells us it is no longer I who live, but Christ that lives in us. That cuts through to the very heart and truth of our being in Christ. Paul also tells us to reckon ourselves dead to sin and to be living unto God in Christ. He died for us and Paul is just telling us to call upon Christ , Christ lives in us. Coming back on track is to focus in on the certainty of Christ being alive and living in us.

Christ Followers (Another Perspective)

A Moving Body

These video's are well worth watching.

Located here

Quote:

1 Cor. 12 describes a body that is moving, every part moving "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." 1 Cor 12:7

There was no such thing as a church service in the New Testament, it doesn't exist. If a believer from the 1st century went to a church service (as of today) they would wonder what on earth was happening! The thing they didn't want was 'services' because they were looking for a freedom described in 1 Cor 10-14 that is intimate and informal, where ALL are free to share; because all have a gift to share, & the body must be free to move!

end quote
(Beresford Job )

Saturate Us, O God!

An intensive saturation

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"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received a spirit of sonship, in which we cry out, Abba, Father." Romans 8:15

When we merge with God and allow Him to flow and pass through us, the first benefit we receive is that He imparts His life into our being. Romans 8:11 says, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." This indwelling implies an intensive saturation of the Spirit throughout our being, which results in life being imparted into us. Although prayer has its answer, even if there were no answer, by our allowing the Triune God to pass through us we obtain the greatest benefit—the divine life is imparted into us. When we exercise our spirit to cry "Abba, Father," two things take place in us—the Triune God passes through us, and while passing through, He imparts life into our being.

The second benefit of allowing the Triune God to pass through us is that we get cleansed and purified. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." This means that in our drawing near, God Himself draws near to us and begins to pass through us. This has the effect of cleansing and purifying our being. However, we should not think that this is merely an automatic thing that happens without our cooperation. "Cleanse" and "purify" are both in the imperative mood, indicating our responsibility to confess and deal with the Lord as God passes through us in an inward way. As we merge with God flowing in us, our sins are exposed and cleansed, and our double heart is exposed and purified. If you want to get into the Lord's light, just spend time with the Lord and draw near to Him. Your hands will be cleansed and your heart will be purified. This is the effect of allowing the passing-through of the Triune God.

- Bill Freeman, The Supplied Life

With God All Things are Possible

But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

(Matt. 19:26)

Everything that God has called us to (is impossible with man) but truly all things are possible with God. This is a great contrast, God's ways of doing things. Perhaps God designed it to be this way. Do you think so ?

That we might know His power, and that His power would be made known to us. It cannot truly be made known to us if through man we can do it, or think we can do 'it' . Remember how sad the rich young ruler was when he realized he could not do it. (Mar. 10) ?? The law could not do it, but through Christ it was achieved & done. It's the same reasoning. It's the same contrast.

Source / Man = Impossible

Source / God = Possible

On the one hand all is impossible it seems, but in Christ thru the Father, all things are possible.

What a contrast!