Would you go to work, w/o pay?

Posted on November 5, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Updated 11/6/2015

Kingdom Principle:  You will be a slave to your labor, or servant to your Lord.

Obedience without Submission is a good work in vain.

Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17

Psalm 127

 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44

Jim Elliot – a missionary who gave his life for Christ is quoted as saying, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose”.  The Kingdom Principle this week is along the same lines of such truth. Here we see that , “He is a fool to work for what he cannot attain, when he can enjoy what is given for free.”

This week we highlight – the converse of the principle of favor which we have given much attention to previously.  A brief review the topic of Favor:  1. You cannot earn Favor – it is given; You cannot posses or retain favor – it possess you. (Post on 10/11/11)  2. Favor is the fruit of faith, and it is a tri-part expression with Credibility & Character.  Favor is displayed through wisdom and seen by others in your actions. (Post on 6/19/12) 3.  Actions alone do not indicate favor – rather it depends on where your faith is rooted. Favor is a gift from God; however actions can be simple results of your hard work.  Favor is indicated in our willingness to give all you have away – Forgiveness, Finances and Freedom. (Post on 6/26/12). Those who appear to have favor, but are unwilling to give it away – have not favor, only fame.

Ruth is living a life of Favor. Surrounding the text of Ruth this week is the high Credibility and Character of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz….  In Mark, The widow (remember Ruth & Naomi are both widows) finds the favor of Jesus, not because she earned it by her act of giving, rather as a result of her faith in what the Lord will give beyond all she has.  The Psalm demonstrates how the LORD grants favor, in all aspects of life to those whom he loves, by highlighting the foolishness and vain efforts done without his blessing. Hebrews reminds us of the timeliness of Christ and the fact that His work and life are not fully comprehended on the bases of what is seen in this world. It is in Christ alone, that Kingdom servants place their faith and trust.

If it is not the LORD who is watching over our efforts, then all of it is in vain. Our greatest effort will not reap reward, outside of the LORD’s granting it. Yet – with the LORD’s leading – our efforts are multiplied and we shall have rest in our souls.  Ruth at the hand of Boaz reaped more bounty than could have been done by any one person’s labor. The offering of the widow is not in competition with the rich, and the widow will not be put to shame. Christ has taken away the sins of the world…. There is no need to work for such an outcome – it is complete in Christ and he shall return in celebration of the salvation to all who have placed their faith in Him.

Therefore:

When you wake up are you still tired? If so, your life may be being lived in vain. Do you compare your life to others and come up short? If so, your life may be lived in vain. Is there never enough money to meet all the demands? If so, your life may be being lived in vain. Do you worry about the sin & struggle in your daily thoughts? If so, your life may be being lived in vain. Is there suffering in your life, without the justice of the Lord? If so, you life may be being lived in vain.

Kingdom Servants shall not labor in vain, and no part of their life will be without the blessing of the Lord. This life, lived in submission, removes the possibility of our efforts being in vain. Meaning – no effort we put forth shall be without the redeeming purpose of our Almighty God. This being true – we can even go to sleep (when we are tired) and allow the Kingdom to advance without our watching. (Mark 4:26-29) We can be confident in who the LORD has made us to be and see ourselves as He as made us. (Ephesians 2:10) Further we shall not worry about finances; rather we can give in freedom not fear for the Lord will provide for our needs.  (Matthew 6:30-33) We are covered by the Blood of Christ….

The applications for living in Favor are found in the previous posts – This week the call is to further  recognize what aspects of your life are not marked in submission especially if they are characterized as obedience (review last week)– and to embrace their futility.

Posted in After Pentecost, Year B | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Jesus; Horseshoes & Hand Grenades

Posted on October 30, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Updated 10/27/2015

Kingdom Principle:  Obedience will get you to the “door” of the Kingdom, but Submission is necessary for it to open.

Submission is a matter of the heart.

Ruth 1:1-18 Psalm 146 Hebrews 9:11-14 Mark 12:28-34

“Close” is only good enough if you are playing horseshoes or throwing hand grenades. Jesus is very clear – close is not close enough.  To understand the concept of “close” when it comes to the boundary of the Kingdom, review the post from Sept. 25th.  Briefly here, the Kingdom of God is without a fixed outer edge or boundary. Meaning you cannot simply draw a box around the Kingdom of God, nor can you make a list of those who are “in” verses “out”.  However the Kingdom of God is fixed on one focal point – that is Jesus Christ as the King. This is called a Center-Set rather than a Bounded-Set.  When your focus is on the King and you are moving toward the King, it matters not how far away you are– only that you are moving closer to the King and heading in that direction. The Scribes in the Mark  passage are closer to the King than ever before…. But something is still preventing him from moving in the right direction.  That movement is the difference between Obedience and Submission.

The focus of the Gospel of Mark demonstrates that Jesus is sent to the marginalized, the broken, the rejected, and the downcast. Mark paints the picture of those who are blind finding sight, and those who can see are missing the picture. How can this be? – It is because the one struggles to give up all that they have accumulated and achieved, while the other finds it easy to “deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus” for the have very little to give up. This is why it is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom than a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.  Those who have much resource, education, support and training will find obedience an easier road than submission. In submission we recognize that I am weak and you are strong. Submission is to surrender my will for Thy Will. Submission is to move beyond obedience of act, into the obedience of attitude.  Outwardly obedience is observed, but inwardly motivation can be concealed – resentment, hatred, fear or ambition, desire, even worldly love may be the motivation of one’s heart.  (Review a post on what motivates you.)

A few weeks back, we looking at the tale of two trees – there we saw that “good vs. evil” does not reveal the heart of God… rather the ways of the enemy. God desires and plants only that which births life. Submission is the way of Life. For in Submission; our mind, will and emotions are considered dead to their own ways. This concept is anchored in the understanding of your body and soul being in submission to your spirit.  Much has been posted on this – begin here and work backwards. The soul can be obedient without submission… but the soul without submission to the spirit is actually rebellion masked by good works. It was not merely obedience which lead Jesus to the cross as his soul suffered; his will was hard pressed, his emotions where perplexed, and his mind was persecuted, in all this he was stuck down but not abandoned. For this reason our attitude should be that of Christ. (Phil 2, 2 Cor. 4)

Ruth choose submission, not to Naomi, but to her God and her journey. Orpah choose obedience unto Naomi, which was not “wrong”, but returned her on the journey to false gods. Obedience provides for us an instant confirmation that we did it well. In submission must wait on the Lord to hear the words, “Good job, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25)  In obedience we march down the path of self-justification and self-righteousness, where as in submission we discover the Justification of the Cross and the Righteousness of the Kingdom.

Submission begins the process of  sanctification – which is the Holy Spirit’s work in us to die to ourselves and submit our lives to the will of the Father.   Submission takes place first within you and I. Outwardly I can present myself clean, by my own doing, but inwardly there is nothing I can do to clean what I blind to see.  Therefore submission moves us to confess – crying out for the Spirit of God to work in our lives, so that our will, our mind and our emotions would be submitted to the very wisdom of God. That we might become a vessel by which His Spirit can be expressed to the world.  In this way we discover how the impossible can become a reality. That a father (Abraham) can offer his only son as a sacrifice. That a Moabite (Ruth) can be grafted into the lineage of the Jewish Messiah. That a virgin (Mary) can give birth in a manger to the King of Kings. That a persecutor of the church (Saul) can become the messenger of the cross to the gentiles. That you and I can become all that God had designed us to be for His Kingdom Come and Will be done.

This is the path of Submission. The way of Obedience can and will bring us to the door way of the impossible, but we will remain on the outside of the movement of God that promoted us to be obedient in the first place.

So how do you know if your life is rooted in obedience or submission? First – If you are in submission – obedience will be the expressed reality. However, if we are in obedience without submission, the latter will never grow out of the first. Since submission can not grow out of obedience, the better question is how do I submit? We place our trust in the LORD. We die to ourselves – confessing that there is no good in me, and without the power of the Spirit of God, never will life be possible. Finally we choose the path of our Savior – which is that of a Kingdom servant.

1. Make a list of ways in which you are obedient unto the Lord? How do you serve?, What do you do because the Lord has prompted or lead you to do? If the Lord did not require this of you – you would stop doing it?  Take that List and Submit it to the Lord – asking which of these did YOU ask me to do, verses which of these did I take on for my own good – a means of self-righteousness or self-justification.

2. Ask the Lord how you might fully submit unto Him. Seek to hear from God through his Word and others by the power of the Holy Spirit that your soul & spirit might be divided. (Hebrews 4:12) Without such separation, it is impossible for the soul to submit to the spirit. For most Christians there is no distinction between the soul and spirit, which mean the soul is not in submission to the spirit – in the same way that most Christians will engage obedience as if it were an act of submission.

3. Integrate # 1 & #2 – now continue to do that which the Lord prompts you to do, and taking on that attitude of submission in your obedience.  The Lord may prompt you to question a perspective which you held out as unquestionable, or the Lord my ask you to give up something that has been labeled good in your life. Recognize that the submission of the soul unto the spirit is a discipline and rarely expressed by taking more on, but rather my revealing truth when things are removed.

Posted in After Pentecost, Year B | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Shut your mouth to chew

Posted on October 25, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Updated on 10/22/15

Kingdom Principle:  We are all blind until we see ourselves as God sees us.

Blindness prevents us from seeing our imperfections.

Job 42:1-6, 10-17Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22) Hebrews 7:23-28 Mark 10:46-52

I wish I was able to write this more timely and far more clearly – but I am suffering from my own blindness. I have re-written the post twice, knowing that “it needed” to get done and yet the LORD has simply stayed my hands and said…. “TASTE and SEE my goodness….”  So this post begins and continues mainly as a confession “I am waiting on the LORD”. I have asked that my imperfections and strongholds will be melted like wax, and that the mountains of obstacles in my life will be moved into the sea. I have also confessed that where I have made molehills into mountains that the LORD will be gentle to reveal such things unto me. I confess that while I know the principle – the application of such truth remains more desired.

Job was humbled in the presence of the Lord, he knew how big God was and his power and justice, but he had not seen how little he was in comparison. He was blind to this truth until the LORD revealed His glory. Let us fall to our knees, falling silent with our tongue and opening our ears wide.  “Lord, I pray that you will open my ears and my eyes and close my mouth so that see and understand. Now that my mouth is closed LORD, might I chew on your WORD and your presence such that I begin to know the uniqueness of you!” Jesus you have declared that we must eat your flesh and drink your blood. Forgive us for not knowing what that means or to how taste of your goodness and grace. I confess – I am yet to see the big picture…..

Job’s simply missed the big picture, he was blind to his error which lead him to judge God rather than seeing that God will be his Judge. Bartimaeus was blind according to those around him, but he saw clearly who Jesus was. In doing so – Jesus revealed who Bart was to be as well.  What about you and I – and all those who are reading this post? We are not blind – at least not like Bartimaeus… but what about our blindness in the likeness of Job. When we are deceived, it need not be because the enemy is blinding our eyes. It may be simply that we have believed a lie. While all lies are rooted in the father of lies, when we come to believe that lie is a truth, the work of the enemy is done.  This mental block is called a stronghold. Strongholds are places in our lives where we have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. It is not the enemy that is holding it there, and it is not God who put it there – we are keeping it there. It is our blindness to the truth that keeps it there. These strongholds must be touched by God – for us to see clearly. We cannot remove our own blindness – for we are blind to what we do not see. Therefore what can we do? In the Psalm this week v. 8 says “Taste and See that the LORD is good….

When we are sick  – food does not taste right….  In the same way, when we allow strongholds in our lives – the Taste of God’s goodness is made distinct to us. If you have never tasted the goodness of the LORD, then you must ask for the strongholds to be removed. Only then can or will you taste – then if a stronghold emerges or returns you shall know the difference.  We reviewed a few weeks back the power of the tongue as we studied James. There we only addressed the power of the tongue to speak, but now we see the power to taste.  The taste of the LORD has many implications:

1. Jesus tells us that we must eat his flesh and drink his blood. This intimacy of communion with him is to be shared by the Body of Christ. This tasting is the testing of the Body to be unified. When there is perfect unity and sharing of truth within the body – it tastes just right. Just like the blending of the spices and seasonings of flavoring food. We all have gifts and callings – they are to be present in the tasting of the body of Christ. You don’t have to see it, you savor it.

2. We are to offer our lives as living sacrifices. This concept is drawn from the offering of an animal as an sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. The meat of the animal was then prepared as a thanksgiving feast. Enjoyed by friends, family, the poor and the priests all who were in need tasted of the offering.  This is not about service it is about tasting the celebration of the LORD.

3. Have you ever walked into a house where they were cooking and said, “it smells so good I can taste it.” The same is true with the LORD, His presence is so powerful that you can smell and taste the very work of God….  Individually we are called to taste the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. This is the taste that lingers in your mouth after you see the Lord work through you to change the lives of others. You may not have experience this, but ask the LORD for more of his presence and you will come to know the unique taste of the Lord.

4. Finally, the seasons and spices of food, are actually used in prayer as well. There are 5 spices that are blended in the Tabernacle for the Altar of Incense. These bought a specific and perfect blend such that our prayer as well – may match this taste and smell. It is no wonder that our tongue has 5 unique taste buds or abilities to bring distinction to flavors.

Let us know underestimate the power of the tongue, and let us begin to chew with our mouths closed. The word of God is to be chewed and swallowed – may we take the time to taste it on the way down. For if we do, it just might reveal what our eyes are blind to see.

Posted in After Pentecost, Year B | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Never Two-Step with Jesus

Posted on October 15, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Updated 10/13/15

Kingdom Principle: Kingdom Servants are to seek the Holiness of God, not the Glory of God.

Humility & Confidence open the ears of the servant to hear their calling into Service.

Job 38:1-7, (34-41) Psalm104:1-9, 24, 35c Hebrews 5:1-10 Mark 10:35-45

An evolutionist and God were arguing about the origins of life. God entertained the evolutionist’s challenge and it was set that they would both attempt to create life to demonstrate their being “right”. As the two stepped up to for the show-down, they both arrived with a lump of clay-dirt…. Just prior to the start – God reached over to the atheist and said, “get your own dirt – I created that”

Our view of God and His power & majesty cannot be too high or lofty. If we can contain all the mystery of God in our minds, then we have foolishly made God – subject to our mind and our creative power. This shall not be so – and for the most part – those who have come to know God, do not assume themselves to be more powerful, more wise or more anything than God. However until this is tested and tried, we are not fully aware of the foolish attitudes and perspectives that reside in our hearts.  While the situation Job found himself in, may seem extreme to many … but how much more should we long for this test rather than assuming that God would not “do” that to us.

Job – was not in sin – but he was in error. While Job sacrificed daily for the covering of sins – yielding him blameless and righteous, it was God that declared him blameless. Job  assumed that his holiness was on par with God’s or at least beyond the comprehension of his friends and such that justice was do him based on his righteousness. Therefore, Job declared his right to question God and demand an account for justice.  This week we see God’s response to Job’s cry for justice. We also see that God is not concerned with Job’s questions or his demand for justice. It is God’s Rule & Reign overall all creation that is the response to Job. Beyond that we are reminded that it is by God’s  mercy & grace is anything possible. It does not solve the answer of evil, why, or what’s next, only that God is sovereign.

It has been said, in life we take three steps with God. 1. Justification – 2.  Sanctification –3.  Glorification.  Justification is the first step and it was taken on our behalf by God the Son to completely wash our sins white as snow and make us right with Him.  Sanctification is the second step taken in the power of the Holy Spirit so that our lives might be transformed completely and fully into His. The final step is glorification, where we come face to face with the Father, and the things of this world have once and for all passed away. Sanctification is the means by which the Holiness of God is transferred unto us.  1 Peter records that we are to be Holy as God is Holy. When we seek the Glory of God without the Holiness of God we are out of step with God.

Holiness is the Otherness or Separation of God from the Creation.

Glory is the expression or revelation of His Holiness to the Creation.

The disciples clearly demonstrate their hard-heartedness and ignorance when it comes to the purpose of Christ and his calling to display strength through weakness. The disciples clearly were patiently waiting for Jesus to arrive in all of God’s Glory and to take the rightful place of victory over the Romans. They awaited a Messiah to savior the Jewish People from the tyrant of the world. What they missed was the Tyrant from which they were being saved was the one whom bears the name of “tempter” and “deceiver”.  Jesus’ very life and death paid the ransom, crushing the enemy of God. The way to follow in the steps of Jesus and to enter the Kingdom is not in the wisdom of the world. Rather in the submission of one’s world (their flesh) unto the only one who can save them from this world – The very Spirit of God.

God is to be glorified in every aspect of our lives, not just in our death – but it is by His work, His way and in His time not ours. Jesus himself cried out that the Father would glorify His Name through Jesus’ life. Jesus did not take on the glory of God by his own; rather he gave it up and over unto the Father – in his life of suffering and sacrifice. This is for us as well.   We each have a calling to receive from the Father. This calling is received when our ears are opened to the calling of the Holy Spirit. It is through the process of humility that we hear the calling and through the process of confidence that we respond. As we saw last week – Testing provides the necessary means for humility and confidence to be produced in us. This is all at the hand of God. If we seek to by-pass suffering and service as a means bring Glory of God – we are confronted with impossibility.  We cannot contain God’s holiness unless we are made perfect through suffering. It is His holiness that separates us from the world. The Glory of God is Holiness revealed. Thus for Holiness to be revealed it must have a means…. As the Psalm and Job point out this week – there is no shortage of means for God’s Holiness to be revealed. Yet God has chosen us – Humanity to be the climax of creation to reveal his Glory and bear His image.

Our path is to be one of Submission and Separation, not that of Stardom and Splendor. This is not a lowly path, or a undesirable place of being – This is a place of purpose and calling guided by humility and confidence. If God chooses to lift you up, and place you in the role of king or ruler in this world – may it be so.  If not, we are not passive victims, rather being more than conquers and confident we pursue a life of submission which results in the death of our own will and aligns us with the Will of the almighty.  May we be servants, even slaves unto the will of God.

Posted in After Pentecost, Year B | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

apple’s core test

Posted on October 9, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Updated 10/7/15

Kingdom Principle: God promotes via a test, Satan provokes via tempting.

The fruit of the test is Humility & Confidence.

Job 23:1-9, 16-17 Psalm22:1-15 Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 10:17-31

The world has created a fear in reaction to the concept of a test. However – you cannot take a driver’s test, unless you meet the criteria to be behind the wheel. You cannot take a test for passing a class, unless you had the opportunity to learn. You cannot take a test for your health unless you have someone to provide the health care. A test is a privilege offered to you by someone who has gone before you to be in position to affirm your passing, and to grant you promotion.  God brings us as His Children and Servants along in His Kingdom through a series of tests.  Satan on the other hand is a deceiver and seeks to steal, kill and destroy us – not to promote or inspire us to grow. In fact Satan will provoke us and prod us through tempting seeking to destroy our hope in power of Justice or the authority of Righteousness (see last week)

In Genesis we find the origin of the test verses the temptation. It Genesis 2 we find the tale of two trees. The Tree of Life verses the Tree of knowledge of Good & Evil. Satan used these trees to provoke a test.  The reality is that God had provided a test previous to this to prepare Adam for this temptation. Adam passed the test, but failed the temptation. The test is found in Gen. 1:28, creating man in his own image, God blessed and charged him to “Be Fruitful… Subduing the earth… and have dominion over the animals.  Satan’s temptation has not changed since the Garden.  (Rev. 12:7-9 & Ezekiel 28:11-19 esp. vs. 17 tells of the original fall before man’s fall, Genesis 3:1-13 tells of the fall of humanity, Luke 4:1-13 tells of the temptation of Jesus, and 1 John 2:15-17 tells of the temptation that all humanity will face.) This temptation is three-fold;

  • lust of flesh (fruit from tree of knowledge is good for food, turn stone to bread)
  • lust of the eyes (fruit is pleasing/beauty to eye, have cities bow to you)
  • boasting in wisdom of world (fruit makes us god-like, throw yourself from temple)

We know a tree by its fruit, (Matt. 7:15-20) below is a quick table showing us the fruit to know the difference between a test or temptation.

     Tree of Life–>

\!/  Tree of Knowledge

Life

Death

Good

God’s good, pleasing and perfect will by a renewed mind.

Romans 12-15

“Good” that does not lead to life. (Foolishness)

Romans 4-7

Evil

Intended to bring harm, but redeemed for life.

Romans 8-11

Godlessness and wickedness motivated by a depraved mind

Romans 1-3

God only provides test to promote us to Life – that will always be his focus as should it be ours. We are to ask ourselves does this decision bring life or death. Satan will always focus his attention for us on is something is good or evil, for in doing do, the opportunity for death is always present.  So when “something” takes place in your life, there is a way to know when it is a test or temptation prior to engaging it – but the answer you will get here is  – when it is the Lord’s will it is a test. Read on below to make is a bit more bite sized.

First looking at this weeks scriptures – we see Job knows he is in a Test, but is friends want to prove he has done something evil. Hebrews 4 demonstrates that Jesus was tempted, yet we know the Father’s will was his choice and confidence is our hope. Mark 10 shows us the invitation to a test by Jesus for the rich young man, to which we do not see the end result, only the immediate choice. To which the disciples are shown that all those who pass the test, receive promotion in this life and in age to come. The Psalm walks us through the agony of a test, but clings to the faith and hope that nothing can overcome God’s Justice in Christ’s Righteousness.  Overall we learn that those who seek the will of God have confidence in their choices, yet walk humbly by faith.

Our Test ”er” is the Holy Spirit who brings conviction to our hearts for the sake of Justice and Righteousness (John 16:7-8) This conviction promotes us to seek only the Tree of Life, rather than the Tree of Knowledge.

The fruit of the Tree of Life is Confidence & Humility.Where God’s Justice prevails over us (there is no invitation to the enemy) Confidence as a conqueror will prevail. Where Christ’s Righteousness prevails over us Humanity as living sacrifice will be our act of worship.  The fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil is Compromise & Haughty eyes.The test of God will begin with the Holy Spirit and yield victory in your spirit. The temptation of the enemy will begin in the flesh (soul +body) and yield victory in the eyes of the world alone.

Put in our own words the difference between a Test and a Temptation.

1.  Where are you compromising in your Awareness (of self or others), Attitude or Actions?

2. Where are you victorious (a conqueror) in God’s good, pleasing & perfect will?             Where you don’t have an answer to the second question – it is likely to lead you to a compromise of the first.

If you long to have an answer to the second questions regarding God’s will, ask for it – seek it out and discover what steps you may take to be ready for a promotion in God’s Kingdom.

Posted in After Pentecost, Year B | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

If its not Right! Ask -is it Relevant?

Posted on October 2, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Kingdom Principle:  Justice & Righteousness supersede Peace & Prosperity

Confession & repentance unite us in faith by hope for love.

Job 1:1, 2:1-10 Psalm 26 Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 Mark 10:2-16

Over the last four weeks we have laid out the path of salvation in Jesus Christ, which opens the door to the Kingdom he has ushered unto us. This path is for a people of Faith, following a plan of Hope, fulfilling a purpose of Love. In this we established much, one aspect of this is in discovering your purpose of love – peace and prosperity are your reward.  But what happens when you don’t get what you deserve?  Be cautious on how you answer, remembering what the concept of Mercy – Mercy is not receiving what you deserve.  But what about when we do what is right, when we follow God’s law, when we serve others without expectation of return, when we extend forgiveness and offer grace to those in need. Where is our reward for that? This the reward of being blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil – living a life that pleases God. Believers in Christ are not to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus To GET A reward – rather the reward is in finding their life.  Where Christianity becomes a means to an end – and the end is an earthly reward, it is only confession and repentance which opens the door to mercy.  Discovering your unique calling and purpose as designed by the creator and being empowered to take hold of all that God has destined you for. This is your reward!

But there must be more – If doing what is right, does not always bring the reward or benefits which  I was hoping for – how are we to proclaim the gospel as Good News and  for what reason do I live my life in the Kingdom. It must be relevant or death is a better option than life and accepting salvation and committing suicide to escape this world be noble. This is not so and Justice is concept that upholds it.  The prophet Amos – brings the most beautiful picture of justice intermingled with righteousness in Amos chapter 5.  Overall it says – Seek the Lord and live – reject justice and you lose righteousness as well. The Lord will grant Justice and honor righteousness, but beware – it is not your efforts that bring the favor and mercy of God, it is solely by his decree that this shall be so…

Justice is the key component to understanding why when God cast the origin of evil – the Devil – to rule upon this earth, that he left humanity in charge of the message to proclaim the Gospel.  It would seem evil to leave your children in the hands of a murderer, liar and thief and God is not evil. God has not abandoned us nor will He forsake us. He has offered to his children the power of the Holy Spirit who has conquered the enemy through Christ’s death on the cross. This act of Grace is received by faith granting us salvation – meaning we enter the Kingdom of God being removed from the Empire of Darkness. In this we are made enemies of the Devil rather than living as enemies of God. God’s justice is the overriding rule that if peace and prosperity in this world are not granted unto you – Peace and prosperity of the Kingdom are yours in abundance.  This is not simply a future promise of eternal fruit. It is commitment in this life that if the fruit that was due you, which has been stolen and thwarted by your enemy, will be made right by the Justice of the Lord. Justice is served in response to the enemy or an agent of the enemy intruding into a righteous believer’s life.  in the same way an unrighteousness act gives permission to the devil to do bring his rule the justice rather than God. This is why confession and repentance are of such importance, they nullify the enemies rights.  (A future post will focus on this) Overall this is why Jesus had to go to the cross – to bring justice to the sin of the world.

While grace is the imparting unto believers more than can be asked for and receiving all that we need in Christ. Justice is God’s vengeance that is experienced by those who enter the kingdom of God but are robed of peace and prosperity unjustly by the enemy.  Job did not receive mercy– rather justice was served  in response to the absence of in his receiving mercy.  When we cry out for justice we are asking for the Righteous Judge to prevail over us. Job’s suffering was an act of God withholding his Mercy (this is a double negative- Satan asked to inflict pain, but God took responsibility) – so justice is God’s righteousness being pronounced over all.  To those who are righteous, this gift brings peace and prosperity, to those who are not righteous, this gift brings destruction and death.

How do I walk in righteousness and claim justice over my life?

1. Prayer and Forgiveness. We looked at prayer last week. And now connecting these two we see that extending forgiveness brings about the Lord’s justice.  It nullifies the rights of the enemy which makes justice righteous. In Prayer and Forgiveness, we model peace and prosperity, trusting in God’s provision rather than our own rights.

2. Live in the Spirit. Let your body and soul be cleaned and washed in the blood of Jesus – meaning – die to yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus.  Be fully are where you are at, in each moment. Don’t waste time asking, What if, Why me, or How come…..  rather sing His praises and trust in Him.

3. Ask God to examine your heart and mind. Submit yourself to God, rather than opening yourself up to the devil. Know that the devil will come against you, but when he does without right – Justice will be served. Therefore – remove the rights of the enemy to bring harm unto. The enemy comes against you based on invitation or intrusion. Intrusion will be returned with Justice.

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A Long way off- is not Lost

Posted on September 25, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Updated 9.25.2015

Kingdom Principle: God’s Power flows from the Center to the outer-most edge.

Prayer moves Kingdom Servants from the outer-most edge to the center.

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22  Psalm124 James5:13-20 Mark9:38-50

It is far better to be a long way off and headed the right direction than to have no clue where your headed or to have missed the target and to now be headed in the wrong direction all together.  The GPS directional ability to recalculating – is that when you know where you are headed – the GPS guide will keep you headed in that direction. Even if you make a wrong turn it will re-calculate to get you headed back in that direction. Fortunately for those who find their identity in Christ, there is a GPS for life and it is called the GHS – That is Guidance Holy Spirit, rather than Global Positioning System.   Unfortunately for many, they have no desire to tune into or to turn on the GHS – they rather figure it out for themselves and learn through trial and error.

The Kingdom of God is without a fixed outer edge or boundary. Meaning you cannot simply draw a box around the Kingdom of God, nor can you make a list of those who are “in” verses “out”.  However the Kingdom of God is fixed on one focal point – that is Jesus Christ as the King. This is called a Center-Set rather than a Bounded-Set. A quick summary of this Center-set thinking is, rather than the focus being on the outside edge and getting outsiders – in, the focus is on the direction you are headed. When your focus is on the King and you are moving toward the King, it matters not how far away you are– only that you are moving closer to the King and heading in that direction. In a very basic and over simplistic analogy, it is like being on an escalator or the moving walk-way in an airport – it only goes one direction….. If you are on it – you are going to move in that direction, unless you turn around and run against the flow of motion. For some – they have opted to get off the “walk-way” of the Kingdom, and are in fact moving quickly in the other direction. Others choose to remain on the Kingdom walkway, but insist on resisting or moving away from God, rather than acknowledging his power. This person is in constant battle, and must work against the power of God. This is the life of the fool. Then there are those who desire to move closer to God simply choosing to stand still, letting God do the work. Finally those that learn to run in the direction of the Kingdom, discover movement beyond their ability and wisdom beyond their understanding.  This is the flow of Power moving you closer to him.

The passages this week are discussing the Power of Prayer and the movement of the King’s heart to engage His servants who are moving in His direction.  Continuing the analogy of the moving walk-way; we don’t  even need arms or legs to move us along the way, and if our arms and legs are working to prevent our movement toward God we’d be better off without them.  Imagine with me for just a second, on this moving walkway – a person going the wrong direction – how disruptive it would be, verses the smooth flow of movement of the people moving in the same direction.  (The picture I have is of an adult tempting a little child to have fun running against the movement of the walk-way – it is better for this person to be tossed “overboard” than to mock the power of God and lead these children away from the King.)  The Disciples error this week was allowing their focus to be other than on Jesus (the King) and placing it on themselves. Their rejection of the man driving out demons was not regarding his work, rather in the fact that “he” is not one of them(us).  The text does not say “he” was not a follower of Jesus, just that he is not one of “us”… and So Jesus tells them – he is headed in the same direction as us…. he is following me….  Further, Esther does not follow Mordecai, she keeps her focus on the King and his wishes and desires, and the results save the life of Mordecai and all the Jews. Haman takes his eyes off the King and seeks his own kingdom, and the result is death and destruction.

Prayer is the focusing agent of our lives unto the flow and movement of God.  Prayer is not for the purpose of changing God’s flow of power, it is for the purpose of changing us. Prayer for another believer aligns us to the will of God as we learn to listen and respond to the answer of God.  Mother Teresa spoke of prayer in this way, “Prayer is not asking.  Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at his disposition, and listening to His voice in the depths of our hearts.” So the purpose of prayer is to align oneself in union with the will of God. (Matt. 6:9-10)

We must not forget that we have an enemy that longs to obstruct the power of God from flowing freely in our lives. All that much more reason why must pray – and boast in our dependence of the King. (coming near to God) And in our lives we fast from the things of this world – breaking our dependence on such comforts and lies of the enemy. (Resist the Devil and he will flee from you)  Confession is the cry – that I need help; and the righteous turn unto Jesus alone for help. This relationship is what makes prayer powerful and effective.  We enter this relationship through the blood of Christ’s sacrifice. The salt of the Mark passages can refer to preservation and the seasoning of food, meaning in the events of life we learn to prayer and our life becomes richer and more potent for the King. I see it more as a reference to the act of the priest entering the Holy Place in the Tabernacle, bringing the seasons and salts of incense and offering them with the fire of the altar of sacrifice. It was through this experience that the priest was to enter the Holy of Holies to be in the presence of the Holy Spirit with nothing to obstruct their focus.

Questions to move us deeper into Power-filled Prayer:

1. Do you have any relationships in which you can confess your sins and be prayed for? If not  – you need to find and discover the power of this relationship. This may seem not- necessary, but it is essential to your movement from the dependence of the world and comforts of the soul to the flow of the spirit and the healing power of prayer.

2. To be a People of Faith following a Plan of Hope, fulfilling a Purpose of Love; prayer is the only means by which you can grow in your confidence and conviction of such things.  If you allow mere knowledge of such truths to remain void of power, you will be tempted to substitute the power of the Holy Spirit for the power found in this world.  (This is the dilemma of the Pharisees in Jesus’ time and where the Disciples were working against the will of God – they were bound by rules, rather than set free by Power.)

3. With whom are your in relationship with for the specific purpose of being God’s agent for change?  A demonstration of Power. Pray that the eyes of your heart may be opened to see where God has placed you for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). God is waiting for you to pray, that His Will may be know by you and those around you. Not praying can and does make as much change happen as praying – it simply is change that is not aligned with the Will of God. (Making it aligned with the enemy)

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John Mayer & Jesus – Got it Right.

Posted on September 18, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Updated 9/15/2015

Kingdom Principle: Kingdom Servants enjoy peace & prosperity as a way of life.

Kingdom Servants – Fulfill their Purpose of Love

Proverbs 31:10-31 Psalm 1 James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9:30-37

It has been said that love is a verb : John Mayer put this to music, Jesus put this on display for the world. To be a verb means it is in action. If something is in action, we should be able to see it move and be expressed. If that is true we should also be able to see what it looks like when love ceases to be in action. Guilt, Shame and Fear are three of the most powerful expressions of the soul which cause us to freeze in our tracks and became prey of this world.  Conversely; Faith, Hope and Love are the counter balance of these three, of which love is the greatest of all. 1 John 4:18 tells us that perfect love drives out all fear.  1 John 4:9-10 explains that God demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to die on the cross, giving up his life for us.  This is lays the defense for why in 1 John 3:16 it directs us to give up our lives as an act of love for our brothers and sisters. For an extra study – discover the roots of Guilt, Shame and Fear and why Jesus’ death was necessary as a redeeming action for all creation; it is recorded in Genesis 2-3.

The Scriptures this week paint a beautiful picture of love in action. Proverbs 31 depicts the role of a noble and wise wife and the impact she can bring to her husband. It certainly is the one highest displays of Peace and Prosperity one can find in the Scriptures.  What we must know it is love that motivates her, not guilt, shame or fear. For in wisdom she fears the Lord only. We will return to this below. Psalm 1 demonstrates the results of a life lived in Faith on the plan of Hope – again Prosperity and Peace, rather than life wasted, leading to death. James 3 continues to highlight the expression of Faith in our lives and the Fruit which it bears.  We shall be Peacemakers (as in Matt 5:9 – they will be called children of God). As children of God our love is pure  and not corrupted by the world. Then Mark 9 ties this all together as Jesus highlights the lack of in the disciples – calling them to be servants and allowing the children to model the exchange of love.

Have you been called to child-like faith, expressing hope beyond hope only to live your life as a servant, sacrificing and giving to model the Love of Christ in you? If so, then you are to be known to the world as the church. The church is not a building, it is a people (often referred to as aliens and strangers) who are love in action.  As the church we are to be set apart from the world, yet actively engaged in the world. We are set a part by our ways of belonging, believing and behaving, not for our benefit- rather for the very transformation of society. We engage the world, being both scattered and gathered. The Scattered Church serves and witnesses to all domains of society much like leaven in bread, or light illuminates a dark room. The Gathered Church edifies one another and is equipped so that the Scattered Church can “rise” and “burn” brightly.

When the Gathered Church attempts to be the light and the leaven in isolation from the very society to which it was sent, the church becomes driven by programs rather than relationships resulting in; conformity verses intimacy, productivity verses fecundity, and consistency verses ecstasy. In order continually focus our attention on intimacy with the King, fecundity in the Kingdom and ecstasy in Kingship, the Gathered Church must focus is attention on the Equipping and Edification of the Saints.

Equipping of the saints is to prepare and perfect the bride of Christ so that the King will be exalted and we will be identified as a transformed community to advance the kingdom throughout the world. Edification of the saints is the building up and strengthening of the body of the Christ, so that the King will be exalted and we will be encouraged as a transformed community to advance the kingdom throughout the world.  The Church is scattered for Service and Witness which is a natural by-product of the gathered Equipping and Edification of the Church. All of this is only possible by the work and purpose of Love.

Let me return briefly to Proverbs 31 –if we read the text metaphorically as the description given to the Bride of Christ, How might we, the church, live into this description so that as we see in Proverbs 31:28 – Her husband (Christ) will be respected at the city gates and He will be given His seat among the elders of the land. This verse highlights the greatest shift and climax of the context of this passage and shows the purpose of wife/bride’s actions. It is not for one’s own benefit, rather that the King might receive the glory due his name.

How do you know if you are fulfilling your purpose of Love? 1. You will live a life of Peace and Prosperity. (this is marked by intimacy, fecundity, and ecstasy) 2. You will be filled with Faith, Hope & Love as opposed to Guilt, Shame and Fear. (This is made clear when your obedience moves from obligation or expectation to submission and sacrifice. This will be a future post – but I began to build the concepts here.) 3. You will hear the Spirit of Wisdom calling to you, revealing your identity, granting you authority and power. (This is made obvious to all through favor, character and credibility.)

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When God laughs it’s not funny

Posted on September 11, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Updated 9/8/2015

Kingdom Principle: Kingdom Servants – know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.

Kingdom Servants follow a plan of Hope

Proverbs 1:20-33 Psalm 19 James 3:1-12 Mark 8:27-38

I often hear when Christians lamenting, “I wish I knew what God’s will for my life was…”.  This cry is often not a rejection of the Scriptures or that God has a plan for their life,  rather that they are in a state of confusion regarding their next steps or how to find peace and security continuing what they are doing. It is not that they are giving up on Jesus, but that they are struggling to deny one’s self and take up their cross, which is the only way to follow Jesus.  The question is honest, the hope is real, but the answer is not really desired, for it requires one to submit their body and soul unto the Spirit of the Living God.   James points out if we ask for wisdom it is given and in Proverbs we learn that Wisdom is calling out with the answer. The mystery lies not in the answer, rather it lies in the inability of the ask’er to listen.  So in a sense – God is simply saying “Can you hear me now?”

If you ask for God to give you an answer, and he does, but then you decided to choose your own path… beware His laughter is not funny. His laughter really is long-suffering being willing to deliver one’s destruction.  If you can’t hear God, you may need to adjust your “antenna” for he is broadcasting His willingness to extend Grace and Mercy , but that if you choose Judgment and Destruction it will be granted.

Let’s look at the Plan of Hope (God’s will for your life) as outline this week….

1. It is open to all who hear the call of Wisdom… to hear her voice and receive her spirit.  She makes known unto you the way of life, bringing security and peace. (This is what most are really after when asking about God’s will.)

2. It is found by the servants of the King, who fear the LORD and mediate on the Word of God. Psalm 19:7-11 gives the benefits of this dedication.

3. It is embraced by those who confess Jesus as the Savior of World, in doing so they deny themselves (disciplining their body), take up their cross (developing their soul) and follow him (directed by His Spirit.)

There are great benefits to the following the plan of Hope….

1. It removes the confusion and crisis of life in this world. The mocking evil person has no hope, and the fool gives away false-hope.

2. It brings clarity to one’s purpose and passion in life. When a person is not weighted down in confusion and under the cloud of suspicion – they can receive instruction and hear Wisdom clearly. In 1 Cor. 2:15-16, 2 Cor. 3:14-16 Paul addresses this as having the “Mind of Christ” as well as show what keeps us from having such clarity.

3. Receiving Mercy over Judgment. The path of destruction and evil are clearly outlined, as well is the path of the servant who stands in the presence of the Son of Man in the final days. The Proverb seems so very harsh, and it is, but is it the conclusion of a life lived in willful disobedience to the call of God.  God demonstrates how to deal with the foolish and evil ones of this world and we must follow Him. (review this concept)

Overall,  The plan of Hope is the call for the church to be the Body & Bride of Christ. This call is to all who are strangers and aliens in this world, yet who are now identified as people of faith. This people of faith (last week’s post) gather and scatter as the Church – to Exalt the King in the advancement of the Kingdom of God, as a scattered  and gathered transformed community. It is this hope that changes and transforms us from foolish to wise, wandering to directed, and alone to in fellowship.

Transformed – as the bride of Christ – we fulfill the mission of Christ.  Jesus was sent by the Father to the world to dwell amongst us. As we enter into the covenanted relationship with Jesus we are transferred from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light. In our obedience to the King light shines.  The Light of Christ shines through wisdom as we stand against evil and are not succumbed by fools.

Community – as the body of Christ – we fulfill the ministry of Christ.  Jesus in perfection fulfilled all things and gave to us the ministry of the Holy Spirit that we might do even more. The community reflects God’s own purposes and nature and is comprised of uniquely gifted members for the service of the King.

As a Transformed Community we are called to be set apart by Christ, to Christ and for Christ. We are called out by the answers to the questions of “What kind of People will we be?” What Kind of Plan will we follow?” and “What kind of Purpose will we share”. All of this is also answered in the questions of Jesus, “Who do  you say I am? In unity the transformed community answers those questions being a People of Faith following a Plan of Hope for the Purposes of Love (next week).

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Color-Blind & grateful

Posted on September 5, 2012 by chaplaincasey

Updated 9/2/2015

Kingdom Principle:  Kingdom Servants – love all regardless of color, creed, class or connections.            Kingdom Servants are People of Faith.

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 Psalm 125 James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17 Mark 7:24-37

I have said it often “It is not what you know, it is who you know” and this simple reality of the world. I have had doors open, opportunities given and privileges granted based on who I know. Yet – I do not let that determine my status in the Kingdom nor my value in this world. For in the Kingdom of God is granted unto all based on the work of the cross, and all ground there is level. However, even in the Kingdom it remains all about who you know – and the King of Kings is the only one you need to know.  I’m reminded of the video, “That’s my King – Do you know him?”  If you know the King, then your faith alone is placed in Him. If you place your faith in others or in your connections, or in your class, color or even creed – you may just find one day it is not the right fit.

The ground is level at the foot of the cross and there are no second-class citizens in the Kingdom of Heavens. This message was not what the Jews expected from their Messiah, and prior to Jesus this message was not presented by anyone in the world. Gentiles were second to Jews, the uncircumcised were second to the circumcised, women were second to men,  slaves were second to free, not to forget the barbarians and scythians (Galatians 3:26-28, Colossians 3:11). Jesus was not trying to impress the rulers of this world proclaiming the Kingdom of God and healing the sick. He was demonstrating a new set of principles.  As we learned over the last few weeks, Jesus was the very veil which was torn between the Kingdom of Heavens and the Earth – making all things new.  It was Jesus’ death that brought the spiritual truth of this tear into a physical reality. This is why Jesus was so offensive to the religious and political leaders of his day. Jesus followed a more perfect law or royal law prior to the full reality of the Kingdom being established here on earth. The law of the Kingdom which is found in the life of Jesus Christ fulfilled the written law, and would not fully realized until Jesus ascended and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell amongst humanity. (John 14:12-17, 16:7-11)Yet, today the Kingdom of the Heavens is to be here on Earth.  In the same way that we have looked at the body& soul in contrast to the spirit, last few week’s post) Jesus was directed by the Spirit rather than what was written on Stone tablets. And we too are to be directed by the Spirit. (Romans 2:28-29, 2 Cor. 3:4-6).

When we submit our body and soul unto our spirit and our spirit is directed by the Holy Spirit – we as servants of the Kingdom of God will show no favoritism before all people. We will be a people of Faith, where our faith in placed in Christ, not in any person, thing or value of this world. And if our faith is in Christ, then there is no reason to place a value or basis of opinion outside of God’s will.  If there was any hint of favoritism, (which there is not) it would turn the system of the world upside down. For it is the poor in spirit who inherit the Kingdom, it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom, it is the stranger and alien who are considered the chosen, and it is the women who follow Jesus  everywhere and who see him first after resurrection and fall at his feet in worship. Yet nothing is impossible with faith God. ( Matt. 17:20, Heb. 11:6)

Are you part of the People of Faith?

People of faith are identified by where they put their faith – it is not seen based on your connections, or in your class, color or even creed, true faith is in Christ alone.  There is nothing you can do to get faith – because it is a gift from God – called Grace. Since then all who have faith received it in the same way – making not a one of them better than another.  The common factors of true faith are: Intimacy, Fecundity, and Ecstasy… (there will be future posts about topics)

Intimacy – There are no walls between you and Christ and all who are a people of faith. Where are you challenged to be the presence of Christ? In what type of situation (class, color, creed) does your own personal level of comfort get opposed by the presence of others? Intimacy is not produced on demand; rather it demands a life of devotion.

Fecundity- There is a reproduction of your faith in others, in which Christ is glorified and made known.  Are there certain people groups in which you are more inclined to favor? Are you more compassionate to someone who is poor, or thankful when some physically sick is healed verse emotionally sick, or do you opposed a certain religion over another?  Faith is not forced or created it is produced in you from above. You cannot force another to have faith, but your faith can be the force that someone else needs to grow.

Ecstasy- There is a joy and freedom in your expression of faith that cannot be taken away by anyone or anything of this world. What or who has the ability to side track you? Whose phone call will you take over another? If one person has a need are you more inclined to meet it rather than if it was another person? How is your purpose affected by those you are serving? Faith is not contained within you. It must be expressed and it requires you to respond… (read more of the book of James)You cannot act faithful if faith is not in you, but if faithfulness is in you, you cannot help but to act on it.

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