A message to the believing saints (you know who you are)… you can either live in the overflow of somebody else’s relationship with God – or you can be the overflow.

Translation – you can put your faith in the so-called spiritual guru’s to get your breakthrough or you can put your faith in the God who made heaven and earth.

I am a charismatic. I love the gifts of the Spirit, the manifestations of the spirit, healings, prophetic words and all that jazz. It rocks my world. When you are a baby Christian you need to experience these gifts though other people because, more than likely, you didn’t even know such things were possible. It has to be modeled for you. And yet, so much of the charismatic church lives on the maturity level of a baby Christian for years and years. So many Christians remain dependent on spiritual leadership to ‘feed’ them and help them get their breakthroughs. They live in a perpetual ‘bless me’ club that never enters in the Kingdom lifestyle that is blessed TO BE a blessing. They miss out on becoming leaders themselves in their own spheres of influence.

We were not meant to live in somebody else’s shadow – dependent and constantly in need of a spiritual ‘fix.’ We were meant to shine like the stars in the heavens. But we will only shine once we learn to live in the glorious overflow of a deep, abiding, personal relationship with Jesus.

Romans 10:6 But faith's way of getting right with God says, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will go up to heaven' (to bring Christ down to earth).
Romans 10:7 And don't say, 'Who will go down to the place of the dead' (to bring Christ back to life again)."
Romans 10:8 In fact, it says, "The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:
Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Let’s break this down a little bit…

Romans 10:6 But faith's way of getting right with God says, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will go up to heaven' (to bring Christ down to earth).

Translation -- I am not dependent upon other people to help me receive a blessing such as healing, a prophetic word, answered prayer or miracle from the Lord Jesus Christ because He hears MY prayers and he responds to me. I ascend into the throne room of heaven BY FAITH on daily basis. In fact I am a stranger and an exile here on earth (Ephesians 2:19). I have already entered into eternal life because John 17:3 promises that eternal life begins when we first KNOW GOD. If somebody else becomes a conduit of blessing to me it only adds to the ALREADY blessed state of my life. I am a child of God and I KNOW His goodness on a daily basis for myself. I do not need somebody else to feed me my daily bread of spiritual blessing. God is near me… I fellowship with Him, receive from Him and am learning to love and trust Him more and more each day because HE IS EVERYWHERE and He never leaves me.

Romans 10:7 And don't say, 'Who will go down to the place of the dead' (to bring Christ back to life again)."

My translation of the above passage is this… I don’t need anybody to kick the devils butt for me (bring Christ up), because I walk in the authority that Jesus Christ died to give me. I am consciously aware on a daily basis that Jesus Christ has given me authority over sickness, disease, oppression, death, demons, depression, poverty, brokenness and depravity. “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon ME, for the LORD has anointed ME to bring good news to the poor. He has sent ME to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent ME to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies” (Isaiah 61:1-2). All of these statements from Isaiah 61 are true for ANYBODY who is IN CHRIST.

Romans 10:8 In fact, it says, "The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:
Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

All of creation is groaning and waiting for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God (Romans 8:19). These are to be children of glory who walk as Jesus walked – healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons, walking on water and bringing restoration and hope to the nations. These glorious ones will be revealed because they chose daily to believe that through their God all things are possible. The will walk with God, talk with God, lean on Him and display His splendor for all to see because they will understand that help is not far off, but has already been accomplished – in fact – help is as near as the words on your lips.


P.S. I'm not trying to pick on anybody... I've been in the "Bless Me Club' too. But it's not a very fun place to camp out for a long period of time. Life is far more fulfilling when we begin to believe for ourselves that God's promises are true. I'm not saying that we don't need each other either -- we do -- most certainly. But what we need, as the Body of Christ, more than anything right now is to step into destiny for ourselves.

You can know the Word of God, you can even know His power and still not know Him. There are people who can quote scripture left and right, and still others who function in supernatural gifts of the Spirit and power but they do not know God. Those who truly know God, know His ways. This is the prayer of Moses, the man with whom God spoke face to face "Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You” (Exodus 33:13). Moses knew the scripture because He wrote a large portion of it. He also knew God’s power because he was the instrument God chose to release the plagues in Egypt and to part the Red Sea, but even after all of these things Moses did not stop in his quest to know God – he kept pursuing Him.

The Pharisees knew the scripture, more than likely they had the whole Old Testament memorized… but they didn’t recognize Jesus when he showed up as a humble carpenter. They did not know God’s ways. Jesus prophesied of a generation to come who would know the power of God but wouldn’t know Him… "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'" (Matthew 22:23)

So what keeps people on both sides of this fence, unable to truly enter into abiding relationship with Jesus? Pride… pride wants the glory for itself. If we know all the scripture and obey all the rules we will become boastful in our works. If we know how to wield the power of God we can become deceived into thinking that we must automatically be close with God. And more than likely we’ll begin to measure ourselves by ourselves not realizing that the measuring stick has been utterly removed in Christ.

The reason I’m writing on this is because pride is epidemic in the Body of Christ albeit through subtle ways. And it is exactly what is keeping the Body of Christ fractured and separated. There are so many different groups/ministries/churches and we are leery of one another because deep down, whether we are willing to admit it or not, we secretly think that our group is the best – the most on target with God. But if the Body of Christ truly wants to see revival we are going to have to enter into the place of humility and servant-heartedness where we consider everyone as better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).

We must be students of the ways of God, daily crying out the prayer of Moses, “let me know your ways that I may know you!” We must also recognize that to truly know something means that we embody it a core level – it has become our knee-jerk response not just an academic understanding that we religiously holler ‘Amen’ to but inwardly are hearts are far from it.

I believe that Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-11) are one of the most straight forward descriptions of a person who knows the ways of God:

1. They are poor in Spirit – they are constantly crying out for God to teach them His ways

2. They mourn – after sin in the earth and for the Bridegroom to return

3. They are gentle and humble – they cannot be provoked (except to love)

4. They lust after righteousness

5. They are merciful

6. They’re hearts are full of purity

7. They are peace-makers who understand the art of reconciliation

8. They welcome the persecution that comes with embodying Jesus in the earth

9. They have no concern for their reputation except to be identified with Christ

The disciples argued about who was the greatest among them (Mark 9:33-34). Jesus, instead of rebuking them for their pride, recognized their leadership potential and gave them a new model of leadership and greatness. He said, if you want to be first (be a leader) then you need to become the servant of all.

A typical leadership model often looks like a pyramid with the 'cheif' at the top and subsequent levels of leaders below him. The lower levels of the organization or group serve upwards to fulfill the vision. This may serve well in an organization but I believe that in the process of discipleship it should be the exact opposite. A Biblical leader who desires to participate in the building of God’s kingdom is called to “make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19) He serves those who will follow him with the goal of propelling them to go “farther in God,” and accomplish greater exploits.

Even Jesus, the King of Creation said, “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). Jesus wasn't jealous that those who followed him might do greater works than he did. In fact, he cheered on and prayed for those around Him. Similarly we see that Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s mantle (2 Kings 2). We should desire that those whom we're discipling would receive a double portion of the annointing that we have.

Humanistic and earthly leaders prefer to make ‘slaves’ of those around who serve their 'vision' and purpose. But a Godly leader sees the people around them as opportunities for investment.  A Jesus-style leader clothes himself in humilty and rests securely in God's love. Jealousy can find no place in his heart. But the generation who grasps this concept and infects subsequent generations of believers with this same mentality will ‘prepare the way’ for the King of Glory to return.

Jesus never told the disciples that it was wrong to desire to be first. He did however, model as the “firstborn” of creation, how to demonstrate leadership by getting underneath his disciples to push them up into their Kingdom destiny.

Are you an aspiring leader? Encourage those around you. Invest in them. Get under them and push them up to God. You won’t end up missing out, you’ll simply get to enjoy an environment filled with more of God’s presence and miraculous power! And not only that, but you will bring much more glory to your Creator.

In Revelation 18:1 we read about a majestic and glorious angel who came down out of heaven. He was so beautiful, so radiant in the glory of God that John, the writer of revelation fell down to worship Him. John got a little bit confused for a moment because he was so overwhelmed by this angels' wisdom, authority and beauty. (Rev 19:10) The angel quickly put a stop to that saying effectively ‘no, I’m just a servant of God like you are. Don’t worship me, but worship God alone.’

 As the Body of Christ, every single one of us has a calling to ministry. Although many denominations and church-planting organizations are re-learning this biblical reality, many people still see a distinction between clergy and non-clergy. Even the way we ‘do church’ implies that there is some sort of distinction. For instance, in most churches, the members amble to the service on Sunday to listen to the same person preach the Word. It’s as if there was no other ministerial capacity within the body; nobody else who is ‘holy enough’ to expound on God’s revelations.

Jesus said, “Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose” (Matthew 5:17). But even though the scripture says that He fulfilled the law, most Christians are still trying to fulfill law, or rather the “does and don’ts” created by our own ‘understanding’ and the community around us. The ‘does and don’ts’ vary from community to community, some focus on what you should or shouldn’t wear, eat, do, say, or think but one thing remains the same… people are FOCUSING on the ‘does and don’ts’ instead of on God. Not even Jesus fulfilled the law by focusing on how to best fulfill the law, but by focusing on His Father in heaven.

In John 8:28-29 Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." Jesus was saying, “I don’t make up anything on my own. I don’t live by ‘should’ or ‘should nots’ I do what I see my Father is already doing.”

Paul said explained that he had ceased trying to figure out that he was doing right or wrong when he said “I do not even examine myself” (1 Cor 4:3). He also didn’t focus on his mistakes or places of lack but said, “one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13-14). Paul didn’t focus on right and wrong or good and evil, He just looked to God and focused on God and knowing Him better.

Trying to live under the constraints of “the law” (does and don’ts) is like trying to win a high jump competition. My fellow competitor jumps a certain height (holiness, works for God, etc.) and now I have to jump that same height to prove myself. The bar keeps getting raised until one competitor succeeds and everyone else disqualifies themselves by hitting the bar. So the result of the competition is that one person wins (and becomes boastful) and everyone else loses (and feels ashamed). So it is with the law… we hear about others’ feats for God, moral rectitude or spiritual experience and our hearts become burdened because we feel like we have to live up to what others have achieved.  But God never asked us to compare ourselves with each other. He just asked to seek His face. Ephesians 2:14-16 gives a great description of this high-jump competition we’re trying to live up to…

Eph 2:14-16  “For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us,   By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace.  And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end.”

The Jews in Jesus day thought themselves to be superior to the rest of the world because they had the law. Even though they couldn’t fulfill the law their hearts became proud because they were God’s chosen people. The Jews were ‘setting the bar.’ So animosity (or enmity) arose, as the scripture says, between Jew and gentile. But then Jesus came along and fulfilled the law and abolished the enmity (animosity created between the two groups due to competition that the law creates).

Even within the Christian community this enmity still exists wherever people are still striving to fulfill the law (does and don’ts). We create standards or live under the constraints of standards that others have set for us to achieve (just like the high jump bar). And all it does is create enmity and competition to see who can be the most holy. What we don’t realize is that there is no longer a high jump bar because Jesus ended the competition once and for all. He established perfection and made His perfection available by grace through faith and the indwelling of the Spirit.

“For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.  Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:10-11)

We are living in an economic and spiritual season where the thoughts and intentions of men’s hearts are being publicly revealed. Economic crunch times are opportunities for the Lord to test his children to determine whether we will live by faith or trust in our own devices.  Those who choose to live by faith -- trusting in divine wisdom, the principle of sowing and reaping, and who choose to consider the poor -- will be publically rewarded, not just in eternity, but in this lifetime. We live in a season where the true sons and daughters of God will be revealed.

Those, however, who choose to live by their own wisdom and who stop sowing into the Kingdom or trusting in a heavenly economy will yield the reward of their own unbelief and may even end up in financial ruin.  

Now if you’re in financial mess right now does that mean that you are ruined forever? Nope – but make sure that you put your faith in God and not in your natural ability to produce wealth. God wants His children to be blessed, but the he will not release the fullness of His blessing into our lives if our bottom line trust is not in Him but in what we ourselves can produce. If you look within your heart and find that you do not possess this kind of heavenly wisdom yet, then simply cry out for it. James 3:15-17 says, that human wisdom does not “come down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”

Matthew 6:33 says that if we seek God’s kingdom above all else, desiring to see heaven’s purposes become manifest through our own lives, then God will take care of all our physical needs for food, clothing, and shelter here on earth.  Not only that, but the scriptures teach over and over that God not only wants to provide for us, but He wants to reward us on earth AND in eternity. The way we choose to live in this lifetime will determine the level of reward we will experience in heaven. This lifetime is short and its pleasures are fleeting, but we will get to enjoy our heavenly rewards for all eternity!

With this kind of eternal perspective, perhaps we would be willing to live at a lower standard of living then perhaps we could, so that we can sow finances into the Kingdom. Not only that, but we’d be willing to endure temporary sufferings trusting that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18) We would also give heed to Jesus’ teachings on true blessing in Matthew 5:10-12:

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Jesus is looking for a people who will put more concern into building things that will remain through the fires of judgment upon His second coming than into building our own personal “kingdoms” for our own pleasure. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:14 that if we allow God to build His Kingdom through our lives that this ‘work’ will remain and not only that, but we will be rewarded for it.

Here is another passage to Consider from Hebrews 10:32-39 which I will allow to speak for itself.

“Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.

"For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And My righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away."

But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.”

And finally, I will leave these words of Jesus with you from Revelation 22:12…"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”

Psa 117 All of you nations, come praise the LORD! Let everyone praise him.  His love for us is wonderful; his faithfulness never ends. Shout praises to the LORD!

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