by RobertCummins | Dec 29, 2015 | 56. Home
Home – John 13:31-14:4
Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered,“Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.
When Jesus told him he was going somewhere and that he could not go with him, Peter was thrown for a loop. He was not on track with this at all. He had been Jesus’ shadow for three years! Peter protests …
Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.
Jesus response:
Really?
In the years following his denial, Peter must have looked back and said, “I sincerely believed I was the type of man who would lay his life down for Jesus. Wow, was that ever was an essential lesson for me! Following a risen but unseen Savior – walking by the Spirit, is another thing altogether.” And he no doubt mused; “Had the Spirit not taken up residence in me, if Christ were not in me, I would still be thinking absurd thoughts about myself and believing everything is supposed to happen right now.”
The Father disciplines each child he receives. Peter’s lesson is essential for us as well. None of us are the people we believe ourselves to be, at least initially. We are all driven by our false selves. (I am this or that sort of person.) And Jesus says … “Really?” We each grow up, figuring out a way to make life work with the least pain. We all learn to protect, at all costs, our fragile spirits born into a dog eat dog world. As children our spirits protect themselves as instinctively as a falling cat landing upon its feet. As teen and young adults, the soul’s habits of survival became more deliberate. As grown ups (what a misnomer), our personalities have become conditioned to see themselves in a particular way. Ergo, false delve embedded in our identities.
This is a problem when the self-made person (and we all are) are nothing like the person God created us to be. When we erect walls around our hearts to protect ourselves, we construct barricades between ourselves and love which was (and is) to be our chief vocation …
Love one another as I have loved you.
These instinctive and deliberate acts of self-protection also create a barricade between us and reality. Our walls wreck our capacity to see and hear things without distortion. We all have specific blind-spots. We would be fated as the last to know if it were not for God’s discipline. However, since God is making all things new, we do not have to remain in the dark. That which has been lost or stolen in the way of our personhood can be restored. That is what Paul is getting at when he says …
We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29
We foreknown ones are invited to share the sufferings of Christ (in minuscule ways) through various trials and tests so that we might experience the full kingdom gospel – the gospel that not only saves souls from hell but transforms them along the way. When we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” we are inviting God to transform us into the image of his Son and to teach us to live as Jesus did. Jesus was not just our Savior. He is our Life! The Spirit’s mission is to see that the children ultimately resemble their Father.
If we are to press on as disciples we can anticipate God exposing our false selves. The old things have passed away, behold new things have come! Like Peter, we will discover that we were not who we thought we were. If we will preserver, we will discover that we are, in fact, something far different, far greater. In Christ we will eventually find that our old false selves were but a sad parody of the self that God is making anew. And, we will learn with Peter that things don’t often happen right now. God is big on process. It is in the the ebb and the flow, in the living and the dying of everyday life, that we come to truly know Jesus as our all in all.
A contemporary of Jesus’, a man who became known as Pliny the Elder is credited for saying, “Home is where the heart is.” Not too shabby for a pagan but Jesus is credited for saying…
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.
Our home is where Christ is and he is in us. Our hearts are Christ’s home. In truth, we are inseparably intertwined in him. Together, we foreknown ones comprise Christ’s Body on earth. We individually and collectively have become, in our new and better covenant in Christ, what the Temple was in the Old Covenant – the dwelling place of God. It was expedient that Jesus ascend to our Father so that we could become the temples of the Holy Spirit – a community of souls destined to become expressions of resurrection life, the light of the world, revealing the Way.
Blessed King, my heart extolls your beauty and your wisdom. That I am your son is my chief delight. May my vision be forever restored that I might behold you with even greater clarity. In the midst of whatever unfolds, may you continually be the chief treasure of my heart. I love you Father, Thank you so so much.
by RobertCummins | Dec 28, 2015 | 56. Home
Home – Revelation 21:1-7
And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
Overcoming is a recurring theme in Revelation. Who comes to mind when you think of overcoming? How does one go about overcoming? What is it specifically we are to overcome? When I served as an elder in a local church, these questions and a hundred more, haunted me. As one entrusted with the spiritual health of others, finding the answers to these questions seemed important. I eventually discovered the limited relevance of question-askers inside the local church.
Admittedly, some questions have a dark side, masking unbelief and evading truth, questions such as; “Who is my neighbor?” or “How shall I know that these things shall be?” But there are also honest questions which come from thirsty souls. Some are on a heart-quest for reality and truth which requires them to peer beneath things. I was pleasantly surprised to hear Chuck Swindoll’s encouragement to those challenging the sacrosanct and the status quo in Insight for Today. (Use his search tool and look up; The Problem With Progress, Parts 1 & 2.) You will appreciate this if you are one inclined to turn over stones.
Our local church was shrinking along with most churches in America. Why? “Why” is a pry bar word and I suspect the absence of those anticipated harvests with their 30-60-90 fold returns may be related to our aversion to it. Jesus is the most captivating personality in the universe yet church in its traditional form is repelling people. What if leaders were to get out the pry bar and look beneath the definitions, the traditions, the doctrines and the experiences and see if Jesus somehow got left out.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.
We are now the tabernacle of God. Christ is in us. Christ is now our very life. This is the greatest mystery of all. This was the big stone the prophets were trying to pry up in the Old Testament; Christ in us – the hope of glory. Living with Christ as Lord in our hearts inevitably plays out as an intimate relationship between God and man. When Jesus eventually trumps religion, a bright light, previously unseen, will shine from the Church. In Christ, we hold this bright day in trust.
Because I have seen God pry things up in my own life, unearthing the spring, I project he could do this on a larger scale. After all, I’m made of the same stuff as my brothers and sisters in Christ. Perhaps I am in error but I am assuming that it his intention that the well within each of us be unearthed. I write to assist other thirsty hearts. I pray my story would encourage others to make sure Jesus is not being lost in the serious business of a religious life. I’m evidence it can happen. We will know when the well is open and running because, flowing from our innermost beings will be a river of life that washes our consciences clean of guilt and shame. This is overcoming. This life of freedom flows from …
the spring of the water of life (who is Jesus) without cost affirming our identities as His daughters and Sons.
Father, let us not fail to see it is in you and you alone that all things become new. Even if your prying exposes us where we are false, strengthen us to persevere, knowing the sorrow of discipline is but for a moment. May our hearts be liberated from any old things preventing the Spring of Life from overflowing our vessels. May our hearts see they are the created objects of your affection and that you will conclude the matters which you have begun. Make all things new Lord, especially us! Amen.
by RobertCummins | Dec 28, 2015 | 55. Joy and Celebration
Joy and Celebration – Revelation 19:6-9
And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” … Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
In Middle With Mystery we often wade off from the shoreline into deeper waters but with Revelation, one step, and we are in over our heads. What are we to do with the Book of Revelation? There is not much practical application here unless it is to make sure our wardrobes are predominantly white. There are lot of people dressed in white in this book!
I’m writing at a friend’s desk who happens to be named John who happens to be an apostle within a network of intercessory warriors. Being big on divine-coincidence, I look around for anything else that might just be happening. On the book shelf right in front of me I see it. It is Storm Warning by Billy Graham, who also wrote Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse.
In his books, he exposes the great harlot of Babylon who seduces men into affairs with this world. However, while they are drunk with greed, the saints are forming a vision of their Father’s kingdom. John’s book is high protein revelation to the faith-infected souls absorbed in the “more” of God. Revelation even adds particulars to mysteries such as the Marriage Supper of the Lamb …
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
The apostle Paul knew how to dress himself for this occasion. He knew better than to dress himself with his flawless resumé and his Jewish pedigree. Paul saw everything he was or might have been, as buried in Christ. He also saw himself as being raised up, perfectly clothed in Christ. Christ alone constituted Paul’s wardrobe. He was convinced Jesus was due considerable honor which he had not yet received on earth. With all the saints, Paul longs for this banquet where Jesus will be honored and worshipped in a manner worthy of his stature.
It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
It was no longer Paul who lived but Christ lived in him and through him. As it is with all saints, Paul had to learn how to labor in the yoke of Christ, how to carry the burden so that it was light. The life of a saint is a simple and yet mysterious experience. Jesus himself must ultimately show us how to make ourselves ready and cloth ourselves in fine linen, bright and clean.
Father, may we hear afresh your invitation to draw near. May we stir afresh the gift of Christ that we may live out of your limitless life, escaping the restrictions of our time bound and diluted thoughts. Through you and by you and for you Lord; may our hearts be made ready with praise. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to you. May our voices blend and add to the sounds of many waters saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” Amen.
by RobertCummins | Dec 27, 2015 | 55. Joy and Celebration
Joy and Celebration – Isaiah 55:6-12
Imagine that day when we will awaken in that new body-phase of eternity. I doubt our first morning thought will be a fuzzy, “Ugh, another day.” No. It will be more like, “Whoa, something is up! This is going to be an amazingly wonderful day!” The next thing we hear is a rap on the door; its Jesus himself. After a long warm embrace, he wipes away our tears, he looks us in the eye and says, “You are right, something is up and it is certifiably wonderful, but you are also wrong, there are no more days and nights. There is no more darkness.” And then Jesus adds, with a wink, “My voice is familiar isn’t it?”
Being a journal junky (one addicted to reflection and writing) I have imagined a journal entry in heaven reading something like this …
Date / Time / Place – Hmm / Hmm / Heaven (I assume)
I went out today with joy and was led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills broke into shouts of joy before me, and all the trees of the field clapped their hands. It was awesome!!!
It was so true that the Shepherd’s thoughts were not my thoughts, nor were his ways my ways. None of this newness was even on my radar! I thought he was going to destroy this place but I see it now …
For as the rain and the snow came down from heaven, and did not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so was his Word which God spoke. It did not return to him empty, without accomplishing what he desired, or without succeeding in the matter for which he sent it.
Oh how glad I am that I sought the Lord while he could still be found; that I called upon him while he was near. I am so extremely grateful for those thoughts of mine and those ways of mine he enabled me to forsake! How can I ever say thank you sufficiently to the Shepherd for drawing me back to himself, showing me his compassion and offering me such an abundant pardon? I don’t know but it appears I will have the time. (I hope Isaiah does not mind me plagiarizing.)
Until that day, we must keep in mind that Jesus himself was the Word God spoke and that Jesus did not return to his Father empty handed. He accomplished the matter for which he was sent. He led captive a host of captives. While heaven is appealing, we are already inside eternity where the kingdom has been birthed. Right now, Jesus is the new creation. In him is Life. He was and is the Life. There is no newness of Life outside of him. These are now realities. The kingdom has both come and is coming.
Our kingdom beginnings start when we are born again. That is why Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born anew.” Must! Must!! Must!! Are you born again? If you cannot answer this question with an emphatic “Yes”, the command remains for you; “You must be born anew!” Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go straight to the Lord and seek him while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Forsake all thoughts that you might be a child of God because you have participated in a ceremony or given mental assent to a creed. Forsake the notion your morality or deeds have earned God’s favor. Forsake this self-righteous idea and the Lord will have compassion on you and he will abundantly pardon you.
Christ came as the Word Incarnate – the only Seed that can grow into kingdom newness. Truly Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. If you cannot identify newness of life in yourself and you profess to be a Christian, this MwM post may be disturbing. Keep in mind, God’s thoughts are not your thoughts. His ways are not your ways. Being disturbed is an excellent sign the Seed may be trying to germinate. Take heed; the Lord is near; this is that opportune moment to find him. Today is the day of salvation. Humble yourself. Invite the Seed into your heart.
Tell him you want him to grow there and take precedence in all matters and that your are willing to forsake your rights to nurture your old previous life. You too will find that his Word was not sent in vain, that it indeed accomplished the mission for which it was sent – the rebirth of your life. As his life takes root, and you are a good steward, you will find that very soon you too will …
Go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Father, may the gospel of your Son be spoken anew into all the traditions and institutions of this earth with kingdom authority. May the true prophets and teachers be heard. May your saints declare the clarion born again message from their own housetops. May their razor sharpened words distinguish between sentiment, ceremony, human goodness, correct doctrine and Life himself.
Heavenly Father, Your name is holy and sacred beyond human knowing. May Your kingdom flourish! May your Word succeed in every way for which It was sent. We confess to you our sins. Forgive us Father and we shall certainly forgive those who have sinned against us. Deliver us from the evils of anti-Christ messages, offering ways into the kingdom other than Jesus. May your emerging Life testify of the power, and the glory of Your kingdom forever and ever. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Dec 24, 2015 | 55. Joy and Celebration
Joy and Celebration – Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-9
Oh Lord, Thy word is a light unto my path after it has been a knife unto my heart.
Actually that was not a Bible verse but most saints will understand it. I am recalling one of those knife-in-heart seasons when the idea of rejoicing in the Lord sounded like doing the hokey pokey and turning thyself about. My gentle spirit was being devoured by my inner wolverine and the Lord felt light years away. I was rating my peace in anti-shalom increments.
In this season my local church was entertaining the idea of being a presence based church (like the book by that name by Ponder and Teykl). I can still hear the mantra; A moment in God’s presence is worth years of counseling or preaching (or whatever). I had had a few powerful encounters with God’s presence. This sounded good! Our loosely formed strategy was to send people out to Holy Spirit hot spots. They would acquire the fire (like the youth rally by that name), come back and get others ignited. There was problem. It didn’t work. In fact it was devastating for those of us who believed our greatest need was a fresh blast of Holy Spirit. This was bad news for someone like myself with no wind left in his sail.
But a seed had been sown; it was The Blue Book by Jim Branch which was given to me by a spiritual friend. It sat unopened for months because I knew what it was. Like another devotional book with its structured formulaic approach to God would revive me? No, no, no. What I needed was a blast from the Holy Spirit. However, being the book browsing addict I am, I cracked open the Blue Book and it began working its magic on me. I was quickly seduced by the mysterious voices of grace – strange, yet familiar voices were speaking a language my heart understood. In the Blue Book I heard the Father’s invitation, “Come. Rest. Drink. Eat.” I’ve jotted down a few notes …
Coming. Resting. Drinking. Eating.
1. “Coming” simply means, showing up. If we show up we may discover the banquet which is perpetually set before us (even in the presence of our enemies).
2. The Blue Book has helped my table manners. It has taught me meals are meant to take time. The meal is mostly about the growing communication with those seated around the table – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
3. Resting requires chewing a bit slower, drawing the most nourishment from each bite. Meditating (mulling over) words and phrases, asking questions, inviting the Others at the table to ask their questions and make their comments. These habits all make the family dining experience more enjoyable.
4. Writing down our impressions, insights and answers will serve to build depth and continuity to the dialogue and ultimately to the relationship, which is the point.
5. Learning to pause, meditate and write (pmp) has been like letting a bucket deep down into a well. Drawing that bucket up and finding living – personalized water, has been a game changer.
6. The process is incomplete until it becomes pmw & p (p= prayer). Graham Cooke talks about crafted-prayers – ones birthed from our gut, informed by the Word, the Spirit.
God is with us. Our greatest enemy to this reality is our five senses and our minds. Only our hearts can grasp this essential reality. Our hearts must be encouraged. We must watch over our hearts (and the hearts of others) with all diligence, for from them flow all the issues of life.
Father, I pray that your scalpel might do its work cutting away all that is not true in me. Forgive me for the struggle I put up in this process. Teach us to come, rest drink and eat. So be it.
