I’m a little breathless. Your reply was like the opening scene of the first Star Wars movie
Heheh. That's a picturesque description! Yes, normally I am somewhat hesitant to lay things out in such detail and with that sort of breadth, but your question was so beautifully articulate and crystal clear, it felt to me like there was just the right amount of room to go in the direction I did. So, thanks to you.
It’s a bit different from the normal pathways most people tread to think about God’s actions
Certainly cannot deny that! Yes, quite different. I guess the angle here is digging to find out what principles and spiritual laws operate behind the scenes such that they can explain and unify the vast content of data in the scripture. Paul was very clear about the idea that, at some point, God would lift him (and us) up to a new level of understanding vis-a-vis what's really going on in scripture. (For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.)
It's my conviction and faith that we are at that point in time now. So while God is moving on one hand to expose and destroy the Satanic mechanisms that have ruled the world for so long, at the same time, He is knocking on the door for us to rise to an unprecedented and new understanding of scripture that opens the door to a more profound, living relationship with Him. Personally, I feel the reality of that in the revival of faith - centering on relationship, rather than religion - that is springing up all around the world and which is so fundamentally present in the Great Awakening movement.
" that opens the door..." for example, what are the implications for our own practice of faith if the principle is true that God calls us to make the offering of faith and then on that basis, to achieve the unity of brothers that embodies that faith? How does this manifest in our daily lives?
Jesus quoted scripture when he said, in response to the question "Which commandment is the most important of all?”: Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
We can see that these commandments encapsulate the first offering of faith (to believe in and love - unite with - God) and the second offering of unity between brothers. However, specifically, finding the Abels in our life, and uniting with them, and also finding the Cains in our life, and loving them to bring unity with them, these are two fundamental keys to unlocking an outpouring of blessing and grace, imo.
Dang. Sorry. This was going to be a short response in thank you to your comment. But I must confess, these are the topics that really move me, so.... forgive my over-exuberance, please!
I don’t like mechanical religion because it’s useless and misses the point of having a family relationship with God
"having a family relationship with God"
Wow. What a wonderful and powerful phrase!
When I raised my kids, when they were little, I frequently would ask them "how many people in our family?" And at first, they would answer "4" or "5" or "6" (depending on our numbers), but I would explain "No, we have "5", or "6" or "7". "because we have Heavenly Father first, then there's dad, then mum, then you...."
Because God wants to not just be present in our individual lives, but to be at the very center of our family, and in fact, who loves our family more than the Father?
I think its OK to articulate what you don't like in terms of how certain trends prevail in the pursuit of faith. In being clear about what we don't like, we begin to carve out a clearer understanding and description of what we DO like.
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Thanks again for reading and sharing your generous appreciation.
You're welcome. I enjoyed it, so there is no need to apologize. I get going, too, more often than I like to admit, when I am passionate about something. The first book I wrote turned into four before the story was done––more than 600,000 words, and then I started to expand that with other books in the same fictional universe. I should think the saints of God would learn new levels of suffering if I were ever to take up preaching. I can just see them casting desperate glances at the door, hoping against hope that I might finish before they expire.
I do agree with you about an expanded understanding of our faith being underway. It will come with an expansion of kingdom power as we free ourselves from the religious boxes that have held us down. I believe the Bible says what it means, and I have gotten instantly healed more than once believing that. The promises in it are real, and the only reason people live in spiritual squalor is that they just don't believe them. For many it is because they have been taught not to believe on the basis of religious arguments, but that is changing in a generation that will be satisfied with nothing less than the absolute truth. The world is about to see the reality of God from people who truly know Him. It won't be just a few, and the ones who shine won't be the ones carrying around their own spotlight.
Thanks very much for the reply.
Heheh. That's a picturesque description! Yes, normally I am somewhat hesitant to lay things out in such detail and with that sort of breadth, but your question was so beautifully articulate and crystal clear, it felt to me like there was just the right amount of room to go in the direction I did. So, thanks to you.
Certainly cannot deny that! Yes, quite different. I guess the angle here is digging to find out what principles and spiritual laws operate behind the scenes such that they can explain and unify the vast content of data in the scripture. Paul was very clear about the idea that, at some point, God would lift him (and us) up to a new level of understanding vis-a-vis what's really going on in scripture. (For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.)
It's my conviction and faith that we are at that point in time now. So while God is moving on one hand to expose and destroy the Satanic mechanisms that have ruled the world for so long, at the same time, He is knocking on the door for us to rise to an unprecedented and new understanding of scripture that opens the door to a more profound, living relationship with Him. Personally, I feel the reality of that in the revival of faith - centering on relationship, rather than religion - that is springing up all around the world and which is so fundamentally present in the Great Awakening movement.
" that opens the door..." for example, what are the implications for our own practice of faith if the principle is true that God calls us to make the offering of faith and then on that basis, to achieve the unity of brothers that embodies that faith? How does this manifest in our daily lives?
Jesus quoted scripture when he said, in response to the question "Which commandment is the most important of all?”: Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
We can see that these commandments encapsulate the first offering of faith (to believe in and love - unite with - God) and the second offering of unity between brothers. However, specifically, finding the Abels in our life, and uniting with them, and also finding the Cains in our life, and loving them to bring unity with them, these are two fundamental keys to unlocking an outpouring of blessing and grace, imo.
Dang. Sorry. This was going to be a short response in thank you to your comment. But I must confess, these are the topics that really move me, so.... forgive my over-exuberance, please!
"having a family relationship with God"
Wow. What a wonderful and powerful phrase!
When I raised my kids, when they were little, I frequently would ask them "how many people in our family?" And at first, they would answer "4" or "5" or "6" (depending on our numbers), but I would explain "No, we have "5", or "6" or "7". "because we have Heavenly Father first, then there's dad, then mum, then you...."
Because God wants to not just be present in our individual lives, but to be at the very center of our family, and in fact, who loves our family more than the Father?
I think its OK to articulate what you don't like in terms of how certain trends prevail in the pursuit of faith. In being clear about what we don't like, we begin to carve out a clearer understanding and description of what we DO like.
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Thanks again for reading and sharing your generous appreciation.
You're welcome. I enjoyed it, so there is no need to apologize. I get going, too, more often than I like to admit, when I am passionate about something. The first book I wrote turned into four before the story was done––more than 600,000 words, and then I started to expand that with other books in the same fictional universe. I should think the saints of God would learn new levels of suffering if I were ever to take up preaching. I can just see them casting desperate glances at the door, hoping against hope that I might finish before they expire.
I do agree with you about an expanded understanding of our faith being underway. It will come with an expansion of kingdom power as we free ourselves from the religious boxes that have held us down. I believe the Bible says what it means, and I have gotten instantly healed more than once believing that. The promises in it are real, and the only reason people live in spiritual squalor is that they just don't believe them. For many it is because they have been taught not to believe on the basis of religious arguments, but that is changing in a generation that will be satisfied with nothing less than the absolute truth. The world is about to see the reality of God from people who truly know Him. It won't be just a few, and the ones who shine won't be the ones carrying around their own spotlight.
I actually lolled at that.
Love the comment. Saving for a rainy day.