Something that you've believed for long enough whether it be about yourself, others, God, the world or situations becomes a stronghold, a fortification, a well established concept. Even if its not true it has become true to you and every new experience is filtered through this stronghold. And when you want to break away from it in order to experience something new you can't because it has a STRONG HOLD on you! So where is the hope of freedom from this mindset found?
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 4-5
Ok, so what is this weaponry?
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have FULLY PREACHED THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
Romans 15:19
Paul was declaring the good news of mankinds redemption from debt toward God and inclusion in the Godhead Col2:9-10 and Paul is saying that this has the power to 'pull down strongholds' which are 'imaginations' and lofty principles opposed to the truth of God or equally described as humanistic reasonings and religious deceptions. Like a battering ram the Gospel impacts our misconceptions on every level, whether it be our self worth, our opinion of God, opinion of others and our experiences. It causes us to reconsider our whole life evaluation system because of Christ's obedience on our behalf. Its a message that reveals God's heart of love for mankind, that God has always valued man and wanted man to be restored to a union of greater significance than that of Adam. That man could now enjoy innocence before God and bought at a price no less than God himself incarnate as Jesus Christ. Through the gospel he invites us to enjoy friendship with Him without a hint of distance. This gospel of Christ when FULLY preached has the power to change your life forever!
Saturday 15 May 2010
Friday 14 May 2010
Stronghold’s of belief and the Gospel’s power to break them
There are certain fiercely guarded precepts of the Christian church that when challenged receive a passionate response. One such that comes to mind is what is fondly called ‘the Lord’s prayer’ the scriptures do not refer to it with this title but it has been magnified from its context and thereby taken out of context completely by its new label. It is often recited verbatim in most evangelical churches and some even teach on the virtue of such a prayer. Let me be clear by saying that it is not the prayer that is endorsed or taught by the present day, risen, re-glorified Jesus Christ!
It is largely overlooked that this prayer is not encouraged in the book of acts or the letters to the church, it has simply become a sacred cow that needs to be killed. I think that the biggest problem with this is the ‘historical Jesus’ that people hold dear and it is often implied that because Jesus said it whilst on earth then it must be true for us now. We must adjust our gaze to see that Jesus is present with us now as the risen Christ and that he is not separate from us but one with us, and how is he one with us? He was representing mankind when he died and rose again so that we could be delivered from the law of condemnation, so that we could appear holy and without blame before God the father in the same way that he appears. God has reconciled the world to himself, how? By not imputing their sins to them but instead to Jesus so that we go free and more than that, receive the gift of righteousness, the very righteousness of God. Imputed right standing with God does not fluctuate with our actions but remains constant and unchanging in the same way as God himself does. The quality of our relationship with God is not dependant on our right or wrong doing, if it was we’d be in trouble. No amount of confession can make our relationship with God any better than what it is right now. Our relationship with him is totally dependent on what Jesus accomplished at the cross 2000 years ago. No if’s or but’s about it. God has reconciled himself to mankind now will you receive that reconciliation? Will you believe the message of his finished work on your behalf today? 2Cor5:19-20
Knowing who is addressed makes the difference-
So what about ‘the Lord’s prayer’? Jesus was not speaking to them that were one with him. Jesus was not speaking to them ‘whom the lord will not impute sin’Rom4:8. Jesus was not speaking to them who are made righteous 2Cor5:21. Jesus was not speaking to them who are ‘forgiven ALL sins’Col2:13. Jesus was not speaking to the ‘forgiven’Col3:13. Jesus was not speaking to the ‘sanctified and perfected forever’Heb10:14
So who was he speaking to? ‘Jesus was a minister of the circumcision’ Rom16:8 and therefore his teaching was primarily directed to those that were under the law Gal4:4-5, to those that were in bondage to the law Gal5:1 therefore the way that they related to God is totally different to the way that we relate to God Heb8:6. Jesus was speaking to them that had to do good in order to be good Rom10:5. Jesus was speaking to them had to do all the law in order to be right with God Gal5:3. Jesus was speaking to them who were under conditional blessings Deut28 vs Eph1:3. Jesus was speaking to them who needed revelation that the law could not produce justification before God Rom3:20, Gal3:11.
If we were to travel back in time to the ‘sermon on the mount’ Jesus would have to shoo us away exclaiming ‘this is not for you to hear!’ we do have it written in our bible but purely for insight into the unfolding revelation of redemption. Paul instructed Timothy to ‘rightly divide the word of truth’ the implication is that there is a wrong way to do it! We do not take the whole of scripture and try and apply it to our lives today like you would eat a whole meal of randomly mixed ingredients, it will make you sick. I have noticed that some think it necessary to defend the historical Jesus when we talk like this but he needs no defending just contextual understanding. We do not make little of Jesus earthly ministry but we do put it into context with the system he ministered under and the new system he brought into effect by his death and resurrection. We don’t elevate Paul’s words over Jesus words; we recognize that Paul’s words were consistent with the resurrected Christ in relation to the new system of mankind’s inclusion in the Godhead Col2:9-10.
Let’s look at how we approach forgiving others with this perspective ‘be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake HAS FORGIVEN YOU.’ Ephesians 4:32
Now under this new system of relating to God our forgiveness is not dependant on us forgiving others for it is already a done deal, God has already forgiven us all our sins Col2:13
It is largely overlooked that this prayer is not encouraged in the book of acts or the letters to the church, it has simply become a sacred cow that needs to be killed. I think that the biggest problem with this is the ‘historical Jesus’ that people hold dear and it is often implied that because Jesus said it whilst on earth then it must be true for us now. We must adjust our gaze to see that Jesus is present with us now as the risen Christ and that he is not separate from us but one with us, and how is he one with us? He was representing mankind when he died and rose again so that we could be delivered from the law of condemnation, so that we could appear holy and without blame before God the father in the same way that he appears. God has reconciled the world to himself, how? By not imputing their sins to them but instead to Jesus so that we go free and more than that, receive the gift of righteousness, the very righteousness of God. Imputed right standing with God does not fluctuate with our actions but remains constant and unchanging in the same way as God himself does. The quality of our relationship with God is not dependant on our right or wrong doing, if it was we’d be in trouble. No amount of confession can make our relationship with God any better than what it is right now. Our relationship with him is totally dependent on what Jesus accomplished at the cross 2000 years ago. No if’s or but’s about it. God has reconciled himself to mankind now will you receive that reconciliation? Will you believe the message of his finished work on your behalf today? 2Cor5:19-20
Knowing who is addressed makes the difference-
So what about ‘the Lord’s prayer’? Jesus was not speaking to them that were one with him. Jesus was not speaking to them ‘whom the lord will not impute sin’Rom4:8. Jesus was not speaking to them who are made righteous 2Cor5:21. Jesus was not speaking to them who are ‘forgiven ALL sins’Col2:13. Jesus was not speaking to the ‘forgiven’Col3:13. Jesus was not speaking to the ‘sanctified and perfected forever’Heb10:14
So who was he speaking to? ‘Jesus was a minister of the circumcision’ Rom16:8 and therefore his teaching was primarily directed to those that were under the law Gal4:4-5, to those that were in bondage to the law Gal5:1 therefore the way that they related to God is totally different to the way that we relate to God Heb8:6. Jesus was speaking to them that had to do good in order to be good Rom10:5. Jesus was speaking to them had to do all the law in order to be right with God Gal5:3. Jesus was speaking to them who were under conditional blessings Deut28 vs Eph1:3. Jesus was speaking to them who needed revelation that the law could not produce justification before God Rom3:20, Gal3:11.
If we were to travel back in time to the ‘sermon on the mount’ Jesus would have to shoo us away exclaiming ‘this is not for you to hear!’ we do have it written in our bible but purely for insight into the unfolding revelation of redemption. Paul instructed Timothy to ‘rightly divide the word of truth’ the implication is that there is a wrong way to do it! We do not take the whole of scripture and try and apply it to our lives today like you would eat a whole meal of randomly mixed ingredients, it will make you sick. I have noticed that some think it necessary to defend the historical Jesus when we talk like this but he needs no defending just contextual understanding. We do not make little of Jesus earthly ministry but we do put it into context with the system he ministered under and the new system he brought into effect by his death and resurrection. We don’t elevate Paul’s words over Jesus words; we recognize that Paul’s words were consistent with the resurrected Christ in relation to the new system of mankind’s inclusion in the Godhead Col2:9-10.
Let’s look at how we approach forgiving others with this perspective ‘be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake HAS FORGIVEN YOU.’ Ephesians 4:32
Now under this new system of relating to God our forgiveness is not dependant on us forgiving others for it is already a done deal, God has already forgiven us all our sins Col2:13
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