In the 21st Century, many of us have forgotten or do not want to dwell on the fact that there is a spiritual realm just as real as the physical realm. We live through our natural eyes, ears and the senses of taste, touch and smell. We rarely if ever pay attention to the spiritual unless there is a spiritual awakening to seek after God. In addition, there is great spiritual blindness even among those who claim to be spiritual.

I say this primarily because of the reign of the spirit of murder among and in us. If we look at the world today, there is such great violence against humanity, against the innocent, against the helpless, against each one of us – such violence that it rips out your heart. Weeping and tears fill our world as the blood flows. We see such devastation in the name of power, religion, politics- just plain evil.

I understand that the beliefs and convictions of many vary from region to region but there is one common denominator- we are humans. And as humans, we are driven by the same desires of love, hope and faith. We may ultimately have different ways of expressing these, but human kindness and love, compassion and hope, faith in the hope that we can live in peace and see our families grow is a common denominator all of us- sometimes even the worst of us.

Reflecting on the words of Jesus in Matt 5:21-25 (NET Bible) –“You have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’ But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults a brother will be brought before the council, and whoever says ‘Fool’ will be sent to fiery hell. So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift. Reach agreement quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny!

This scripture clearly indicates where murder originates… IN OUR HEARTS. The fire of murder is stoked by our perception of the world around us, by perceived wrongs, by anger and it is all the ammunition that the spirit of murder requires to take root. When Cain was angry at Abel, God told him in Gen 4:6 (NET Bible)- Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast? Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.”

Anger provides an entrance to a spirit that seeks blood. It requires a blood sacrifice for appeasement. Many times throughout the ancient world, we see the ancients perform blood sacrifices to appease the gods- even to the sacrifice of their own children. In our modern world, we sometimes balk at this apparently ignorant and foolish act and tell ourselves that we know better.

But the human heart remains vulnerable to these spirits whether we live in the ancient world or in modern times. We see the murders in war and are horrified. We see the genocides, homicides and honor killings and ask ourselves- what really defines us to commit these acts? For those walking in a spiritual fog- we can somehow rationalize that they need to be awakened to understand the monstrosity of their actions.

But we also we see it among the very people who say they are spiritually awakened. Among those who say they follow Christ. If we do not take heed to the words of the Master, we fall prey to the very spirit that rules those who do not follow the Master.

To whom much is given- much is required. Jesus instructs us as to why we need to pay attention to the condition of our heart- Matt 5:13-16 (NET Bible)- “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

If we are the salt of the world- we season, we flavor, we succinctly change the nature of the those around us by being different. But if we harbor the same attitudes, the same strongholds of those around us and if we nurture hate and anger in our hearts to commit spiritual murder of our brethren- then we have certainly lost our savor.

Change begins at  heart of those whose destiny is to change others so that they can be spiritually awakened. But if we continue to harbor the spirit of murder- continually defend it and secretly feed it- then the monster will show itself and has shown itself. Everyday, we have to deal with the spirit of murder. We long for deliverance, to escape the onslaught of the spirits of this world. LET US REMEMBER THIS- FOR DELIVERANCE TO COME- WE NEED TO CAST OUT THE SPIRIT OF MURDER IN OUR LIVES. Jesus has pointed out how to do this- He gives us a roadmap.

1. The Lord’s prayer specifically tells ” Forgive me as I forgive those who sin against me”Matt 6:12 (Deal with it the heart first)
2. Then follow through “go and be reconciled to your brother ” Matt 5:24 (Be proactive- seek to make things right. Don’t let it sit and fester. Doing nothing brings about corruption of the mind.
3. “Reach an agreement” Matt 5:24- If we have to humble ourselves in order for reconciliation to suck out the poison of anger- then we have to do it. We cannot allow the toxins of hate and unforgiveness to permeate our heart. Whatever the offence- it is not worth losing the ability to be the “salt of the earth”
4. Fasting and prayer- this is certainly intended to de-tox our spirits.
5. Use the sword of the Spirit- Eph 6- which really is two edged- the word of God and praying in the Spirit. We need to fight! Not with carnal weapons but with the weapons God has given us and they are certainly different from our natural understanding. DIFFERENT is the key word.

Let us seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and learn the methods of warfare against the kingdom of darkness. It is not a physical thing that we can use our five senses to fight. The war we fight is a spiritual war requiring spiritual weapons. Let us deal with the spirit of murder first in our lives, and then around us- ONLY THEN will we experience true deliverance.

My oh my. How the plot has thickened in the presidential race and the true colors of those who run this country has been revealed. While the politics of evil has been masked in sweet words and rhetoric aimed at blinding the eyes of the masses by spinning story after story, headline after headline  that the truth cannot seem to rise up- the real story has finally emerged. It is not about Donald Trump so much as the waves of attacks and the criticism of him and his followers that is the real story.

So much time is spent on stopping this man -it makes you wonder ….REALLY? Are the American people so easily beguiled that they will fall for any conman? The problem is that the elite and those in government has conned the population so long that it is incomprehensible that someone else should speak the truth. The coup d’etat of the outsider is feared so much that those in power will do anything. Now Mr. Cruz- the pretender, supposedly a champion for the downcast,  cannot seem to dust off himself the fact that he is in league with those he has condemned and railed against- a mark of a hypocrite I think- where the end justifies the means. Ah and Mr. Kasich- how he is hoping that the stage will not implode beneath his feet. Both aiming now for the GOP elite to pick them at the convention. Cruz, Kasich platform- another loser combo being proposed by the GOP establishment.

In the days to come, we shall soon see the true colors of they that run this country. They seem to be shouting out- “Hey you minions of America- you think you have a say but you don’t. You think you have a right to rule this country- you don’t. Do you not realize that the American Republic has long ago been hijacked by those who rule – the moneyed bigwigs? You cannot and will not ever be able to have  say.  We will have our way and guess what minions- you lose again.”

They continue to taunt us. They continue to wage war on our minds. They continue to bleed us in every way possible. But America will break free one last time. In the year of Jubilee, 2016, the slaves of politics, mind control and evil marketing, will be freed and mercy will rain down on us. We have been in bondage too long. Deliverance in one form or the other will come. It just has too.

So you wonder what the fracas is about. The attack on free speech and the hate filled rhetoric continues and it forces Mr. Trump to respond. When he does, he becomes the object of more hate. Isn’t what the Trump haters, the media and those whom they beguile very un-American?

Take a look at yourselves haters, you are the ones who need to stop the ridiculous onslaught. And not only is it aimed at Mr. Trump- now his supporters are branded as stupid, low class and uneducated. How fun- to accuse and belittle others when they do not conform to your own idealogy. How un-American! The one who is fighting for America is rejected. The one who has amazing insight, which is proven over and over again to be correct. 9/11, Iraq, Paris, Brussels. And those who stick their heads in the sand and do nothing for us even though they could, rise up to say …oh NO!. NOT you!

Reminds me again of another person who was ridiculed and branded by the insiders. He wasn’t gentle to the insiders. He mocked them calling them “whitened sepulchers with dead men’s bones”, “generation of vipers”. Oh yes- many think of Him as docile. But He rocked the world back then with His radical thinking because He had the ability to see the establishment as it was and He called it out. So much so, that the establishment decided that the only way to deal with Him was to kill Him. They tried to demonize Him, to embarrass Him- calling Him names etc. Sounds familiar?

Whenever, a person tries to bring about real change, those who are entrenched in power will try to hold on to that power and seek to kill the messenger. Power is intoxicating and those who exercise power over others will do ANYTHING to hold on to that power no matter what and who it costs.

Let’s be real. It is not only about power. Real human beings are suffering  in our country and if we say we are a democracy, surely we should allow democracy to prevail. But the warfare, both physical and spiritual, against Mr. Trump shows that we have strayed far from being a democracy to rather being an elitist oligarchy with many strings and puppets at their disposal. Surely the people have a right to vote for whomsoever they choose- be it Mr. Trump or not. And surely the people should be allowed to think for themselves.

Mr. Trump is a voice crying in the wilderness. And the ones who hear his voice understand that it is time for a change. And if God allows it- real and meaningful change will come. And if not, then we will bear on our backs the burdens of the elite and the ruling class. We would be truly on our way to utter ruin. So prepare yourselves. Either way, after this election, we, as a country, will never be the same.

When fear becomes a coat that we wear, then we have nothing. Life as it should be, becomes an illusion. When men in their ignorance, in their selfish and many times opportunistic and hateful persuasions, seek to distill fear to us so that we may breathe in fear’s vapors, then who can we run to, where can we hide, how can we protect our children?

The innocent perish daily. This week, in the wake of the attacks in Brussels, in the memory of Paris, in memory of San Bernardino killings and in the memory of those lost in the genocidal wars being carried out in Syria, Iraq, and around the world, my prayer is for us, who are alive and witness these horrors,  to rest in the arms of One who is greater than fear.

During this week of the Passion, we remember His sacrifice. We remember the murder of our Lord, who signified purity, love and all that was and is good. Yet, He suffered so much. And the price He paid, is for this very reason- that in the midst of the fear being perpetuated on us- that we have a hope. He looked fear in its face and laughed at it. Fear had no hold on Him. He faced death, conquered it and rose triumphantly over it!

Fear wants us live in torment because life has always been fragile. These events just emphasize just how fragile it truly is. We understand life is but a vapor. We know that all we hold dear to us can be lost in a moment.What then should be our response? Simply this…. WE LIVE! Let us trust in the Living God. The One who made the heavens and the earth. He is able to see us through. And He has given us the blueprint to overcome fear.

And better yet, once we know the salvation of the Lord, our lives would be fueled by this scripture in John 11:25- “Yeshua said to her, “I AM THE LIVING GOD, The Resurrection and The Life; whoever trusts in me, even if he dies, he shall live.” (Aramaic Bible)

I pray His peace be on us as we meditate on His covering and know that in spite of the rampage of the spirit of fear, Our GOD has defeated fear and all its minions. He has given us a Hope that is greater than life. That though our bodies may perish, we have a hope beyond the grave. Let us seek after God that we may dwell in His presence in earth and in the promise to come. I am reminded of this promise in Psalm 91.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

“This phrase was coined as a slogan during WWII as part of the US Office of War Information’s attempt to limit the possibility of people inadvertently giving useful information to enemy spies. The slogan was actually ‘Loose Lips Might Sink Ships. This was one of several similar slogans which all came under the campaigns basic message – ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives‘.” (phrases.org.uk)

I heard this phrase from a very respected pastor and often wondered pondered on the meaning. So many times, we fall into a trap of saying something and then wish we did not say it. An old proverb goes like this “Four things come not back: the spoken word, the spent arrow, the past, the neglected opportunity.”

One of the greatest test of a person’s integrity, maturity, and leadership ability is the ability to hold the tongue. Many organizations, friendships and relationships have been destroyed by the inability to curb the tongue. So let us be wise in our interactions with each other. If someone confides in us- let us have the personal integrity to curb our tongue and not repeat it to someone else. Doing so simply inflates our egos, assassinates the other person, and ultimately destroys relationships. Let us have the spiritual and moral control out tongues. Doing so displays wisdom. If we cannot do so, we need to fast and prayer for self control. Dean Briggs has a great book on this-“Consumed: 40 Days of Fasting, Repentance & Rebirth”

Always looking to the scriptures for reference, James 3 (NKJV) says it this way: –My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.  For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.  Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.  Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.  Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.  But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?  Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

I have been fascinated with heroes since my youth. I love the bible heroes. I love reading about the lives of men and women mentioned in throughout scriptures because for me, their lives gives insight to a Great, Almighty and Merciful God.

I remember as a child, I would save all my allowances and when I got enough I would literally run to the variety shop and ask for the comics of heroes displayed on a string that ran from one end of the shop to the other. Oh, I had decided which ones I had wanted for a long time. Standing and watching them while my mom made her grocery requests, I calculated in my mind how long it would take me to save for them and which one was priority. I was 6 years old at the time. Superman, Batman, Captain America, Daredevil, Fantastic Four- you name it, I read it. Give me comics as a present and I would be in my little heaven.

So, when Christ showed me the Way in my teenage years, and I began to search the scriptures, I was filled with wonder at the heroes of the Bible. Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samson, Ruth, Samuel, David, Solomon, Daniel, Peter, Paul- men and women who, inspite of their areas of weaknesses, their “Kryptonite”, they eventually emerged victorious over the weakness to glorify God and to win the battle over self and evil.

Saul and David

This is a classic that I have always loved. There are so many lessons to be learned. Many times we read this and recognize in Saul – a man first chosen by God and then rejected because he sought to trust in himself rather than the God who called him. And then we see David, shepherd, psalmist, worshiper, giant slayer, warrior, king- a man after God’s heart.

The lives of both men have been topics of numerous sermons, books and other literature for years. Today, I wanted to draw our attention to perhaps a different perspective. And I want to start in the New Testament with the words of Paul, 1 Cor 1:27-19 (NKJV)- But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;  and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,  that no flesh should glory in His presence.“

Paul had a way with words. I want to focus on the word “chosen” which means according to Helps Word Studies -“speaking to a conclusion” – properly, to select (choose) out of, by a highly deliberate choice (i.e. real heart-preference) with a definite outcome (as with the destination of divine selection for salvation).”

So with this in mind, when Saul was chosen, he had these qualities according to 1 Sam 9:1-2 (NKJV) – “There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.”

Saul was chosen and the qualities listed are all physical- nothing about his heart. Then, according to 1 Sam 13:13-14 after Saul’s disobedience- “And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. ¹⁴ But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

This was the precept for  choosing of David. He was called “a man after God’s own heart”. What a declaration! David was chosen based on his relationship with God, his heart condition- not on his outward appearance or appeal. 1 Sam 16:7 (NKJV)-  But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

What’s the point?

Many times people use the story of Saul and David to show how God finds someone else to replace a person who appear to be disobedient and rebellious to His commands even though he was originally “chosen”. While that may be generally be true- I have another thought on this story.

I think it also underlines the battle between the flesh and spirit, the carnal man and the spiritual man.

In the context of the ekklesia today, God desires that we should all be saved. Even though a person may fall at times, God wants us to be overcomers. Let us not reject people based on the premise that God rejected Saul. Let us reject the works of the flesh and embrace people, learn to see that God loves them in-spite of their faults. Isn’t that the whole point of this?  Let us not put up imaginary barriers between the haves and the have-nots, the so-called “chosen” and the “rejected”. God loves us in spite of ourselves. He wants us to overcome and to succeed.

So let us not use this story to elevate one person over another, to cast down someone because they don’t fit in our world and our box and our bubble- let us instead use this to understand the war between the carnal man and the spiritual man, the war inside us and let us strive toward having and knowing the heart of God – that we may be able to shine forth our light that a darkened world may know Christ.

Isn’t it God’s plan for mankind to be saved? Salvation, justification, being a child of God is available for all. Being chosen really is about each one of us reaching our destiny. God has chosen us while we were yet sinners. So now we know the truth, let us not use it as a club to batter others because we are “better” than them. Let us not use the most vicious weapon of the enemy- “slander”- to kill of those who we esteem to be rebellious, stubborn or just not walking in what we want them to walk in, or what we want them to be.

Everyone has their calling. Perhaps instead of slandering a person, we should pray for the person, instead of casting out, we seek to include, instead of being legalistic, we allow Holy Spirit to work in our midst. If we catch the vision of God- that He seeks out that which is lost, then we can surely make a difference in the world.

There is coming a new wave of God- a wave of release and of deliverance. We have been bound by lies of the enemy too long. We have allowed works of darkness to fill our minds and hearts with fear and anger, with delusions of grandeur and personal kingdom building under the disguise of building God’s Kingdom. We are simply called to give the message of love, hope, faith and salvation to as many as we can- to build each other up and to apply God’s healing to those around us.

Saul eventually murdered himself- he committed suicide. Unless we step out of the carnality of the ekklesia, we will keep murdering those around us, and with it the mission of God implanted in the spiritual DNA of every believer. BEFORE DELIVERANCE COMES WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE SPIRIT OF MURDER WITHIN AND WITHOUT US.

Let us, in life’s journey- seek to be a “man after God’s own heart”. Let us seek to be heroes of the faith- God is looking out for us.  Amen

I came across this old woodman’s proverb while reading and thought how interesting to capture that much thought into one line.

While upright, the tree aspires to touch the sky. Tall, slender, attractive perhaps with beautiful green foliage.  Beautiful to the eye of the beholder. But if one were to try to measure the tree, the probability of coming up with an exact measurement is usually slim since this could be considered to be a moving target. Although with modern equipment such as laser technology, this probably could be done more accurately today. But back then, when felling a tree involved sweat equity and a few tools, measuring a tree, while it stood upright, was a daunting task.

It is usually true, that when we are in the valleys of life that, we truly see how small, how inadequate, how ineffective we really are. While we are on the mountain tops, perhaps of career success, financial success, family and other types of successes, we rarely take time to reflect on who we are.Sometimes we do, but usually the reflections lack a depth that come with falling on our knees in agony. Who has agony when they are successful? You hear about the agony of defeat, but not really the agony of success.

So my point is this. We, usually,  are best measured in the trials, the disappointments, the failures. Many times we look at these things despondently and perhaps fall into the trap of disillusion, discouragement and despair. Let us be reminded of a few things.

While it is human nature to feel rejected, lonely, heartbroken, despondent in the face of grief, illness, loss, fear, abandonment, war, strife, family crisis, financial and economic crisis, threats of annihilation and the list goes on- let us remember one thing-we are in  process. If we take a moment to reflect, we might come to the conclusion, that …”This too will pass”. Because, one of the greatest characteristics of humanity throughout any society, any age, is that we can hope.

It was once said that “Man can live about 40 days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope.”

Helen Keller also said “”Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope or confidence.”

HOPE is the great character trait embedded in each of us. And when we are down and being measured by all sorts of measuring sticks- it is the one thing that keeps us going. The psalmist says it beautifully in Psalm 23- (NKJV)

So despite being knocked down, trampled upon, beaten, abused, taken for granted- whatever the means to get us down, let us take comfort in the fact.

THIS IS JUST A PROCESS. IF WE CAN JUST UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS, WE WILL MAKE IT.

And, once we know this,  that the Master will never leave us, He is there with us every step of the way in the valley, we most surely will get to the end.

When I am down O Lord, let me reflect on the things you need me to learn. Help me to learn the lesson well that I may become a better person. Certainly, I am a work in progress. As noted in Jeremiah 18:1- we are but clay in the potter’s hand and He is in the process of perfecting us. The process involves being broken and put again on the potter’s wheel.

My prayer is this -“Give me strength and expand my hope as I am on this wheel of change- that I may know you, O Lord.”

Paul says it well in Phil 3:7-14 (NKJV) –But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us do the same. In the daily measuring process of our lives, let us press forward to our destinies in Christ.By the grace of Almighty God, the best is yet to come. Amen

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” Elie Wiesel, author, novelist, political activist, and Holocaust survivor of Hungarian Jewish descent, and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

How precise this quote is. How relevant it is today. For us, in the 21st century, whose lives are channeled by social media, television, fantasy games and more, we have become a people who could not care less about anything except what affects our immediate need or circumstance. Our humanity is being drained, our sense of self has become convoluted into a mixture of reality, science fiction and self delusion.

In the book of Revelation, there were seven ekklesias in Asia that Christ addressed specifically. Of these, two of them had no condemnation. The persecuted ekklesia at Smyrna and the ekklesia at Philadelphia. But, Christ had this to say to the ekklesia at Laodicea:

Rev 3:15-21 (NKJV)- I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Neither hot nor cold speaks of indifference. Not caring about anything outside our own selfish desires and needs. Because of indifference, Christ wants to vomit. He wishes this ekklesia will have some passion, some fervency. Instead, they care about their riches, their wealth, their sense of luxury having need of nothing. Christ admonishes the Laodiceans, that in spite of the sense of self, sense of satisfaction, their full bellies, that in reality they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked! This must have come as a shock to them.

Be zealous and repent!

The rebuke touches me because I have been indifferent. I have clothed myself with indifference like a garment to protect myself against the pain of a culture intoxicated with excess.

Many times, if we do not play by the rules, we become outcasts. It starts from a very young age. The schools try to categorize you into the various buckets based on your ability to fit into a “one size fit all” curriculum. And once you do not fit in, the shaming begins and continues into adulthood. So, many times, people put on a garment of indifference to dull the senses and the pain. It affects our entire lives. It seems as if we have a generation of people who have covered themselves in the garments of indifference to hide away things that may cast light on our weakness, our frailty, our humanity. We encase ourselves in a bubble. But the problem with this is that God understands our weakness. When we are weak, He is strong in us. When we hide behind masks of indifference, pretty soon, the masks becomes our personality. Remember Jim Carrey’s movie .”The Mask”?

But we must become fervent again. Put aside the frailities and our egg shells and launch out into the deep. We cannot love if we are afraid of being hurt. We cannot succeed if we are not passionate. Where has our passion for God gone? How long will we continue to live in a bubble of pretences and fantasy. Sooner or later – whether by God’s hands or by man’s, the bubble will burst and then we find that we are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked“.

Why don’t we look onto the Lord for help? He counsels us “to buy from [Him] gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”

Most assuredly, let us begin with those around us. Let us truly love those He brings us into contact with. Not the love that we  most likely have been exposed to- where we love ONLY if we are loved. Rather, let us begin again with 1 Cor 13:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Love is unconditional. Can we really do it? I bet we can.

John 10:7-10
So Jesus said to them again, “I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

What is abundant living? If we were to listen to modern day preaching of the word of God, we surely would be led to believe that it is our right to name it and claim it, that if we were to come upon hard times, that there is something spiritually wrong with us, that if we are not living the “blessed” life, there is certainly something wrong with our faith and our walk in Christ.

And certainly, I once believed this  myself. I gave my money as a “seed” expecting God to send me more money. I wanted to be wealthy so I can help others and be able to give to others and be a blessing to others. I wanted the American dream and to be a good christian as well. Were not the two things really one? If I gained the wealth by pursuing happiness, sowing and investing-am I not doing what God commanded me to do? If I sought to be better than my neighbor and to outshine the Jones or to keep up and outshine the neighbor- isn’t that living the abundant life?

Sadly, no matter which way we turn this teaching, it is certainly a tainted truth. As it was in the garden of Eden, when the deceiver twisted God’s word by inserting the little word “not”- so it is today. The tactics and strategy are the same. Why- you may ask? Because even in the 21st century, where we have all these creature comforts, the hearts and souls and minds of men and women remain essentially the same. We have strayed from God and would like to make our own way back to Him. But no matter what our efforts may be, the Word remains clear- Jesus Christ is the door.

And as the door, we must enter in through Him. But wait-for many Christians you may ask- haven’t I done all that I am doing so that I may please Him?  Consider this- in order to live the abundant live- we have to enter the door- Christ. And you say- old news- I have done that. And in addition to that you say- all the wealth that I have accumulated is to glorify God.

STOP- God did not say wealth= abundance. The word abundance comes from the Greek word “huperperissos’ meaning “more than, exceedingly or extreme, beyond all measure”. but the context of this scripture must be read in the light of the scripture before and after. The previous words speak of a thief-the one who came to steal, to kill or slaughter or to sacrifice and to destroy. While all these words appear to be synonymous, they are are a description of the enemy of spiritual selves. His attacks are commonly  manifests into our thinking, our beliefs, our culture and our physical and communal lives. “As he (a man) thinks in his heart, so is he” Prov 23:7 (NKJV).

In order to understand abundance- we need to first see the condition that created the vacuum. Where we were once measured and limited by our circumstances, our station, our position – when we walk through the Door- washed in the blood of the sacrificed Lamb of God- we are walking into a life without measure. How dare we limit ourselves to abundant life as “wealth” and being “blessed”? Christ did not walk through this life displaying wealth or being “blessed” as is on display today. Ask ourselves the simple yet complex questions-

1. Am I hearing the Word of God or the interpretation of the Word by men?
2. Am I truly glorifying God in my being, my mind, my soul?
3. Am I entangled in a web of false expectations…am I being deceived?

If Christ is the Door, we can

1. Only live beyond measure in Him
2. Beyond measure is not about wealth or riches- it is about your soul and spirit
3. And while, it is good to have food on your table and shelter and a few creature comforts- remember this- it is not only what we have and what we gain materially and physically that matters- it is what we gain spiritually through our relationship with Christ that matters. This we can freely give away …. it costs nothing to speak about God ….except it can cost us everything…. our losing of self, our imaginary props and foolish things that so easily beguile us from the true abundance- Christ Himself and His Kingdom.

Matt 7:17 In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.

Keys steps in being the Christian God wants you to be.

While a lot of people run after titles such as pastor, prophet, apostle, teacher, the perfume of a person is not in their title, but in their character.  “What a man builds with his gifts, he can just as quickly destroy by his character. 1″

1. Treat others as you would have have them treat you. It must be the motto in your life. This scripture holds the key to your whole walk in Christ. We must take it seriously and live it. If we judge ourselves by our intentions and other by their actions, we need to re-evaluate, re-program, re-set our thinking. In everything, treat others how we would like to be treated. But also go one step further. Manage your expectations, so that when someone does not treat you with respect or love, it does not bring bitterness. Continue to treat others with kindness, love and compassion. If you hear something negative about a fellow Christian, either dismiss it, or if you have a concern,  go directly to the person who was gossiped about  to inquire rather than spread the gossip in the name of “praying for the person”. If the situation was reversed, you would appreciate someone coming directly to you.
2. Understand what you can and what you cannot do- you are limited. You are part of the Body of Christ and as A MEMBER- you have a part to play, a function, a contribution BUT you cannot do it all. Therefore, welcome others and see their potential to be what you cannot be and to do what you cannot do. A leader sees this in others and strives to cultivate and lift others up. It is not about your kingdom, your legacy or your ambition. It is about Christ and His Kingdom. Seek first His Kingdom and our lives will be better for it.  Put away the need to be in control and delegate to others who may excel in those areas that you don’t.
3. Learn to love others for who they are and what they can be. People are not your pet projects to turn into what you think is best for you and for your purposes. Too many times I have seen lives ruined because people with influence over others, try to tell them what should be and try to fit square pegs into round holes. Instead, see people as how God sees them- He loved each person so much that he died for that person. Each person was created in His image for His purpose- not yours. Look out for their interest and not yours no matter how attractive and practical your interests may appear. “Great leaders want others to supersede them. Insecure leaders can’t release the limelight. 1″
4. Don’t live in a bubble. Let others speak into your life. It is “ego” that says that you have it all. The Body of Christ is filled with people who can help build and encourage you. Seek them out. You may be gifted but your gifts come from God. Accept encouragement from others who may not have a title or a platform. God does not need a title or a platform to speak His words.
5. Always, your words pale in the shadow of your actions. So while your lips move and form words that seek to communicate one thing, your actions do more than words to either back up what you say or nullify it. So when you speak about love but your actions speak selfishness and disregard- you nullify your words and they become a waste of breathe and just air. The medium for transmission of words spoken on behalf of God must always be LOVE. So when you speak- speak carefully and make sure you back it up with ACTIONS. “Never forget: people will follow your bad traits more than your good ones. 1″
6. Stop the blame game. Why is it always someone else’s fault and not yours? We are quick to see fault in others and point out that the reason we cannot get to a certain point is because the other person stands in front of us. How sad when we can only see someone else’s negatives, rather than seeing our own shortcomings, lack of foresight and narrowness of thought. We need to own up to our mistakes, failures and lack of foresight. “Blaming others and guilt-tripping them is the mark of a poor leader. Good leaders acknowledge their mistakes and take responsibility. 1”
7. Promises, Promises, Promises- spoken in the heat of conversation but never fulfilled. We must be careful with our words. Don’t inflate our own egos and people’s opinions of us by promising what we cannot deliver. And even if we have good intentions, let our yes be yes and our no be no. If we cannot do it- say so. Better to surprise someone with a good deed rather than promise a good deed and fail to do it. One brings gratitude- the other brings disappointment, resentment and erosion of trust and respect.
8. Relationships are important and we must seek to mend relationships, build bridges and fences. Sometimes that entails humbling ourselves, even when it is not entirely our fault. Taking the high road and not allowing ourselves to dwell in the pits of self pity, blame and resentment is a mark of a servant of God. It certainly takes a lot to admit a mistake but it takes even more to step back  and apologize when the mistake is not ours. Always count the cost and put others first.
9. Everyone wants to lead and no-one wants to serve. So if all we have is a bunch of leaders and no servants, the house soon becomes chaotic. But the mark of a leader is first the heart of a servant. Put aside the need for control, the outward show of washing of feet and let us follow the Master.  Become excellent at actually serving rather than talking about serving and seeking to be the one in control.

Phil 2: 1-11 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross! As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

1. Frank Viola