Tuesday 9 October 2012

The outgoings of Life




It takes a great blow to our egos to really know that we are only the clay pots and not the glory of the contents. Christ is the content, it is He that fills the temple. Yet we have been falsely taught that we are the one who should fulfill the law and try to fill our temples with good works. The essence of all idolatry is trying to be what only God is. This too is the essence of legalism. Trying to be good leaves our hearts empty and still crying out for more. For it is Christ who can fulfill the law in us, and it is He that wants the glory. We are His dwelling place, not our own dwelling place. Sylvia Pearce

Chris Welch: If you go to a Bill Johnson meeting, or went to a John Wimber meeting...you will sometimes be praying "More Lord More Lord." But it depends on the "inner model" you are working from whether anything happens.

Of His fulness have we received.
We are containers.

The problem with the "more " type prayers is that the people have a different "model" on their insides. Their model is inherited from Genesis 3, that we are separate beings, self powered beings who are now in some way empty, but still self-powered, and to "us" we need to add layers of Spirit.

When the disciples who were gobsmacked at what Jesus did and asked Him how they could have the faith to do these things, notice He didn't say...."Why...simply call out for more faith"...He answered with a very oblique parable about servants first slogging in the fields, then with no rest, serving the Master in the house until He was satisfied.

 I have limited light on this, but there is something in the "service"...and it's a designated service...it's not "our idea of service" which fills most missionary activity. It's a service designed to bring us to a realisation. Our own limitations, and God's All Sufficiency.

 Later we become "see-throughers". We see right through to God's Life being the "only thing" that is really going on in the universe. Everything else is scheming,fakery,manipulation,emptiness, and coverups. God's Life IS THE ONE LIFE.

 Peter could say with all confidence that we have in this Life all-sufficiency for everything." Peter1:3"seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." It's because of the way this Life unfolds itself within us as we are obedient to it. It's not that we get more...we become established in it. We become embedded in it.

 I often use the example of learning balance as we ride a bike. We develop a feel for "flow", for the "feel" of His Life. Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

What is solid food? It's not talk "about Christ" ...it's talk of what actually IS CHRIST. It's saying...this is God's Life in Christ living through us. Jesus said "This is the work of God...believing in Him who He has sent."
What is the dynamic here?
Why is it so powerful?
Because if we believe this man is God come in the flesh, then we can start believing that this same Jesus is coming in our flesh. It's all the same believing, and the same One Work of God. Out of this come all the streams of the individual things people chase after, and call to God for "More" of.

Proverbs says 4:23 says literally (YLT)Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it are the outgoings of life.

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