This post was inspired by a needed conversation I recently had with a dear sister in Christ whereby, at the end of it, her most valid point was to remind me of details (out of context) of a challenging time in my life that took place 24 yrs ago…  Once again, I am inspired to write about a topic that in the past, I have only touch on briefly in my books or blog posts. So, this time I have chosen to give it my full attention.  With this post in particular, I will be prayerful that if you are someone who has experienced challenges in life and happen to have people around you who never cease to define you by them, then this post is REALLY going to bless you because pride is a human epidemic in the world, and no less prevalent within the Body of Christ.

IN CHRIST, YOU ARE NOT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES,

YOU ARE THE QUALITY OF YOUR FAITH

So, in this conversation, the general point this sister was making was that the work of the Holy Spirit is revealed through our “GOOD CHOICES.”  The best I could gather in the moment was that if you make good choices, life will be good, and if you make bad choices, life will be bad.  Hense, this is the substance of the believer’s walk of faith.  On the surface that almost sounds right!  Unfortunately, it’s not the whole truth and merely reflects a practical, superficial reality of the believer’s walk of faith.  Even further, if that were completely true, the divine work of faith would have no purpose. Under the circumstances, it was clear to see that this discussion was not worth the time to deliberate and I didn’t have the time to give.  So now, FAITH, and its characteristics through the work of redemption has become the topic of this post.

I think a good place to begin this dialog is to recognize that faith is an element of our human existence.  Everything man has created and accomplished throughout the centuries have come from the vision and will of the human spirit. This is a measure of faith that God has given to every man.

Romans 12:3

For I say to every man that is among you, through the grace given unto me, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Realize however, faith, according to the world’s standards, have become overshadowed by the redemptive work of Christ (as it applies to the believer), and as a result, faith,  has taken on a whole new meaning.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I believe a more biblically correct hypothesis about the work of the Holy Spirit and faith is best realized through the ministry of “faith in the presence of adversity.”  I say this because this is our example throughout the scriptures.  As a foundation, I believe all believers can agree, that the word of God is to be our guide for life, therefore, when we disobey God’s word, whether intentionally or in ignorance, we will reap a reward that is short of God’s goodness.  Likewise, faith is also our guide for life therefore, when faith is not exercised, either intentionally or in ignorance we will reap a spiritual reward short of God’s goodness.  Faith, in the life of the believer, was divinely designed to bring about superatural results (Luke 17:6).  Theses supernatural results are essentially the life in Christ that we read on the pages of God’s word.  So, the key here is to consider how God uses both faith and His word to bring about the miraculous transforming work of God in our character and life.  This is the goal and sole purpose of faith as a REDEMPTIVE work of God and I believe God’s primary tool to achieve this is through ADVERSITY.

IN THE SPIRIT, THERE IS A SEPARATION OF “CHURCH” AND “STATE”

WHEN THEY CLASH, YOU WILL HAVE ADVERSITY

ERRORS OF  FAITH

If bad life experiences are signs of error in the believer’s life, then how do we define error in our walk of faith?  I suspect secretly, the fear of error is what limits many believers from walking in God’s fullness.  Well, one way we are certain error happens is through sin, a “willful disobedience” of God’s word.  Let’s be clear, the nature of sin is not concerned about faith in God, quite frankly, its more concerned about faith in itself.  Sin essentially, is having knowledge of the truth while rebelliously disobeying for the sake of personal gain. Our first record of rebellion that we find in the scriptures is illustrated in the person of Lucifer (before creation) who became Satan (after creation), and this nature is what has defined the condition of mankind since the Fall of Adam and Eve.  Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise us to find that this nature is also alive within the Body of Christ, and you can be sure it will continue to destroy, contaminate and create major deficits in everything purposed by God.  You can be sure, the nature of sin will rise up in the hearts and lives of men until we learn how to courageously walk after the redemptive faith that God has given to us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  So, sin is clearly a rebellious error of faith.

As a foundation of faith, it is important to realize that the bible instructs the believer to have faith. It commands them to walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corin. 5:7)  It suggest that it only requires a little bit of faith to move mountains. (Luke 17:6)  We also learn that it is faith that makes us whole when we are in need of healing.  Yes, this powerful yet unassuming treasure from heaven called faith was given to the believer by God, as one of their most powerful spiritual gifts (1 Corin. 12:9).  Faith is not only supernatural, but it is as infinite and boundless as God Himself.  So, to define this gift within the constructs of the faith we see practiced in the world is nothing short of foolish. I might be taking a bit of a stretch, but I would even suggest that the faith practiced in the world, as it pertains to daily life, such as setting goals and strategizing life pursuits is merely a training ground for the faith that God is truly desiring His people to walk in.  Often, life altering adversities will show us this truth oh too well and we will learn how to walk in a redemptive level of faith quick, fast and in a hurry depending upon how desperate we are.  So, essentially, errors in faith (as we shall call it) can only be defined by how well our walk aligns to what is illustrated in God’s word and the manner in which God is leading someone in a given circumstance.  So then, evaluating error in faith is for the most part, an evaluation that can only be truly understood by God and the person He is leading. I will illustrate this further through examples of “Good Faith.”

The sad but true reality that presents a more true error of faith is the matter of FEAR and a lack of GRACE.  When fear or ignorance of God’s word is present, it will limit God, as well as our perspective of Him and it will limit what we will experience in Him pertaining to His word.  When redemptive faith is practiced and does not produce the expected results, a believer might experience personal doubt and disappointment as well as judgement, ridicule, and rejection from people who do not understand their journey.  However, this is the “divine pull” that is worked in redemptive faith, it keeps pulling you deeper as you persist to discern all that God has already done, presently saying and obviously still leading.  In reality, it is the Holy Spirit who won’t allow you to let go, even in the midst of disappointment because with each pull, He reveals more of His will, wisdom and purpose.  Eventually, you learn to just flow with it..”surrender” to His will.  This is why redemptive faith can never be subject to man’s opinions.  Unfortunately, when there is a lack of prayer, love, unity and grace, among believers, then criticism and judgment will often be your adversity on this faith journey however, you can be sure, God will use this for your good as well.  What is also very important to understand about redemptive faith is that it takes courage to walk in, and few are willing, if they don’t jump ship mid-stream.  Very often because of fear, we will maintain a walk of faith that is comfortable, practical and superficial and consequently, we will come to know God only within these limited  boundaries as well.

Exploring  Redemptive Faith

So, what does the redemptive faith of God look like?  Well let’s begin with the biblical definition of faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).   The Bible also says, “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” (Hab.2:4).  The overwhelming thing about redemptive faith is that it often leads us into deep spiritual waters of the unknown and often times, causes us to fear, feel intimidated and unsure because we are trusting in things we have not known and cannot see.  So, the redemptive faith that God has given to the believer through the resurrection of Christ, pertains to our pursuit to be fully surrendered to God’s will in ALL circumstances and with ALL things.  As a result, we will discover that God truly has a unique plan and purpose for our lives, the likes of which we would have never imagined. Possibly, to your surprise, it is in fact, the Holy Spirit that leads us into these deep waters according to that which He is working in us and calling us to.  This is in essence the ongoing life and journey of the believer’s redemptive walk of faith.  So, here is the mystery of redemptive faith:

God’s will is paramount. Our total surrender is required. His divine purpose in each of our lives is intentional and we will either walk in it consciously with full understanding and purpose or stumble upon it unconsciously with sporadic enlightenment and constant uncertainty about your divine purpose. In any case, God’s will, in some way shape or form is accomplished in our lives.

If this is where our journey leads, then what are the “deep waters?”  The deep waters reflects our life on earth, with all of its wickedness, idolatry and perversion whereby, God chooses to be glorified in the midst of it.  This means, that Satan has been granted permission to “take advantage” of all forms of life within God’s creation through the presence of darkness.  This darkness currently permeates the earth of which mankind lives from day to day.  This darkness is also the essence of blindness and ignorance to God’s law, a law that actually governs all things in the spiritual realm and consequently in the earth.  Thankfully, God has provided the world His light (presence) and truth (wisdom) to expel the darkness which is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Without this light and truth, our lives would be wickedly consumed and eternally destroyed.

So, if darkness is a part of God’s creation, this would mean that God “uses” the darkness for His good (Rom.8:28, Jam. 2:1-4).  Notice, He does not remove the darkness entirely (that day will come when Jesus returns).  However, God does allow Satan to remain in the atmosphere to continue doing what he does best, DECEIVE THE NATIONS. God intentionally allowed Satan’s presence to remain in the earth in order to demonstrate through His people, that only His light and truth, (not our works), will enable us to walk in the power and fulness of God’s word.

Ephesians 2:8-10

 Alive with Christ
…8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which is prepared in advance as our way of life.…

So what does this passage mean?  It means the redemptive walk of faith primarily has to do with becoming a “workmanship created in Christ Jesus” and consequently, become empowered to do “good works.”  Paul states here that this was meant to be the believer’s way of life!  Wow!  Now I sense this might shatter some realities of what the values of the believer should be.  This passage is suggesting that the redemptive work of Christ (in our character and life) has always been, and will continue to be the goal of our faith so that the good works of Christ can be accomplished in the earth. This is why believers should eagerly contend to encourage one another, and not judge, slander, tear down and discard one another.  Transformation of the heart, mind and spirit is a thing to be celebrated, not condemned.  When this supernatural transformation becomes a gift of good works through the power of Christ Jesus, this is not something to be jealous of but rather to be inspired by.

Okay, since we know what the goals of redemptive faith are, how does God mature our faith?   Well, unlike sin, it is the Holy Spirit who will sovereignly and intentionally lead us into various depths of darkness or come face to face with adversity for the sole purpose of training and exercising our faith in the midst of darkness.  When faith is effectively excercised (through the word of God), darkness is expelled by the light of God, and as a result, our lives are enlightened and transformed by His truth.  You see, when you walk by FAITH, God knows exactly how He will respond to your faith.  What will be your greatest learning curve is to realize that God’s response is more interested perfecting you instead of satisfying you. You see, God’s goodness more often is displayed through increased power and authority in the spirit (anointing) and the fruits of godliness that is a reflection of a victorious life.

Biblically, this darkness has been called many things.  In Psalm 23:3-4 it is the “Valley of the Shadow of Death.” In Exodus 19, it is the “Desert,” in Matthew 4:1-11 it is the “Wilderness” and in Matthew 27:32-56, it is called the “Cross of Crucifixion.”  You see, adversity is a byproduct of this redemptive faith and it’s experience is unique to every individual according to what God is working in their life.  This is essentially the redemptive faith LIFESTYLE, if you are intentional in cultivating a life in Christ.  Remember, “the just shall live by faith.”  Therefore, faith is heavens most priceless asset in the Believer’s life.

So, lets talk about the role of making good choices again.  Simply put, “good choices” is a common sense given to man, while “GOOD FAITH”is a  common sense of the spirit and both are worked, practiced, tested, and tried in a pursuit to know and walk in God’s will and purpose, both in heaven and on earth.  Now, what is most critical to remember, is that it is God who defines the journey.  A true walk of faith will remain confident that if God approved the atmosphere for the test and trials, it becomes our job to pursue Him, trust Him and practice His word according to how He is leading.  I can assure you, if faith carried you there, and you walk according to what God is requiring of you, you will bear fruit from each experience and they will be of PUREST GOLD.

So what exactly is “Good Faith?”  Only for the sake of this post am I using this term.  However, my personal definition would be, “One who is willing to believe God according to His leading at all cost, weighing together the spiritual wisdom of God’s word, earthly wisdom of human counsel, and divine revelation, (insights and spiritual intutiveness supernaturally revealed by God).  These counterparts of faith will serve as the instruments of faith in fulfilling God’s divine purposes.  As always, for a more sufficient definition, we must refer to the scriptures.

What is “GOOD FAITH?” Note the journeys, ordered by God, in the following examples.

Jesus:

Gethsemane

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Abraham:

Abraham Tested

22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

² Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

³ Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. ⁴ On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ⁵ He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

⁶ Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, ⁷ Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

⁸ Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

⁹ When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

¹² “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

¹³ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram^[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

¹⁵ The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time ¹⁶ and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, ¹⁸ and through your offspring^[b] all nations on earth will be blessed,^[c] because you have obeyed me.”

¹⁹ Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

Hosea:

1 The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash^[a] king of Israel:

Hosea’s Wife and Children

² When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” ³ So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

⁴ Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. ⁵ In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.”

⁶ Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them. ⁷ Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.”

⁸ After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. ⁹ Then the Lord said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God.^[b]

¹⁰ “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ ¹¹ The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.^[c]

Job:

Job’s Character and Wealth

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. ² There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. ³ He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. ⁴ His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed^[a] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

Satan Allowed to Test Job

⁶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan^[b] also came among them. ⁷ The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” ⁸ And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” ⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? ¹⁰ Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹ But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” ¹² And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Satan Takes Job’s Property and Children

¹³ Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants^[c] with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁶ While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁷ While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁸ While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

²⁰ Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. ²¹ And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

²² In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Okay, so as we consider these various stories of faith, that was counted as righteousness, let us also consider that these stories are our biblical models, illustrating the depths of faith that God is known to lead us into when we are fully surrendered to him.  Even more deeply, consider how this kind of faith was not stretched out on a cross through the person of Jesus Christ merely for gaining houses, cars, a high paying jobs, titles, worldly fame and power etc…no, each of these stories are to teach us God’s message about a transforming faith that He has made available to His people to impact the world from generation to generation.  This redemptive, transforming work of faith is first realized in the heart, mind and spirit of the believer and then to the world, of which they are able to touch both personally and corporately.  Can you see now, that it is likely blindness, foolishness and/or arrogance to think that our faith is validated by the things we obtain or possess in life and that this could be a faith that pleases God?  (Heb. 11:6).  Don’t forget, this kind of arrogance was Lucifer’s personal deception and down fall…essentially, the glory that he walked in, became his primary pursuit, instead of the glory and pursuits of God.

Heb. 11:5-7

 The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah
…5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. 7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.…

A redemptive, transforming faith is fashioned over time through adversity and when its work has been perfected, its fruit will display the riches of God.  Now,  because faith is forming in the midst of adversity, it becomes even more important to make a clear distinction between FAITH and SIN once again.  You see, sin disobeys in the face of fear while faith obeys in the midst of fear.  This is why, “faith pleases God” (Heb. 11:6).  Each Believer’s journey of faith is prescribed by God.  This is why it is a sin to arrogantly judge one person’s journey against another.  Even the world understands this. There is a saying, “Never judge a man until you’ve walked in his shoes.”

The glory of God through faith is the celebration of God’s purposes fulfilled  in the life of His people.

I also believe the glory of God is revealed in the measure of faith that God calls us into based upon how he knows us. This is what we see in the stories of Jesus, Abraham, Moses, Job, Daniel, Joshua, Hosea Esther, in the life of the Apostles and Prophets and no doubt in YOU.

 Breach of Faith

Now, there is in fact something I’d like to call a “Breach of Faith.”  The word “breach” is often used on legal platforms and it makes reference to contracts that have been broken. When a contract has been broken, it is defined as a breach of contract. Therefore, a “breach of faith” would be to forget the God of our faith.  To forget that He is the light, truth and power that brings us through darkness and rewards us with His purpose, presence and power.  This is essentially what God warned the Israelites of in Deuteronomy 6:10-13, when He was preparing to lead them into the promised land. This is most certainly a dangerous place to walk in and it proved in time to be the downfall of the Israelites glory in God.  Why did this happen? Becaue they valued the glory of man more than the glory of God.

The work of redemptive faith is often one that purifys your walk of faith and aligns it more perfectly to God’s word. Therefore, with each step and every circumstance, you may sense God challenging you to relinquish your will, control and fears to Him by sacrificing your will and desires for His.  This process can have one of two outcomes.  We will either ignore God’s prompting and continue doing things our own way or we will surrender to God, feeling His constant chiseling upon our heart and life and be TRANSFORMED by it. These confrontations with the Holy Spirit can be termed, “Wrestling with God.” Essentially, the glory of man is the WILL of man and it always seems more appealing than God’s. When God takes the time to show Himself to us and impart His wisdom to us through each test and trial, realize He is also showing us how we are to walk by faith more consistantly and on a newer level. Although, when we receive His goodness only to walk away and ignore His wisdom we have committed a “Breach of Faith.”

So let me encourage you today.   If you are a believer who have or is presently on a journey of faith that you are not always understanding, liking, or feeling stretched beyond what you feel ready or capable of, be encouraged!  In the words of James, “Count it All Joy” because God is using your redemptive faith for a purpose He is working in you and through you.  Also realize, that like Job, there is something about your journey that God has already determined you have the faith for. So, I encourage you to simply trust God, however He leads you.  Don’t be afraid, there are no mistakes in God’s redemptive faith, there is only GRACE, because He is the one leading you.  Remember, God knows exactly what you are experiencing in the midst of the darkness, and in it, He is committed to partner with you in any way you put your faith practice.  Realize, with every experience that the Holy Spirit leads you into, His divine purpose is not only being worked out in you, but most certainly in the lives of all those He has connected you to in the journey.  Oftentimes, they don’t even realize it which is why they serve as God’s instruments of blessing or adversity in your life.  Trust me, “nothing” is random with God. He sees everything and always “kill two birds with one stone.”  In the end, God’s greater purpose will always be revealed and it will be undeniable and full of His grace and glory.

Considering the Fall

So, we can’t possibly talk about redemptive faith without mentioning Adam and Eve.  Adam and Eve were the very first human beings to embark on this radical journey of redemptive faith as a result of the Fall.  Don’t forget now, before the Fall, spiritual deception (darkness) was something they had never experienced before, yet God allowed it to be in the midst of them. Why? I propose, that it was to align consistantly with the parallels of light and darkness that He originally made at creation.  Unfortunately, as a result of the Fall, this darkness that was already a part of the heavenlies, would now  embody Satan’s presence and thereby, causing spiritual boundaries to form throughout creation of where God’s glory would begin and end.  To no surprise, this inner quest to find God, has become man’s journey of faith throughout the Old and New Covenant and it continues on into this present generation.  So, it was first with Adam and Eve, that they would find themselves wrestling to discern God’s will for the first time in their lives.  It would be in the atmosphere of deception that they would decide to eat the forbidden fruit, and as we all well know, THEY DID!

I am often humored when I hear many believers condemned Adam and Eve for the choice they made as if things would have been different if they were in their position.  Now this is a key point!  The point is, you were not in their position, nor privileged to have their insights, and perspectives. You did not understand the relationship they had with God and you could not comprehend the depth of deception that overwhelmed them. What is true however, is that these two individuals where the first of God’s human creation and no doubt, they had it ALL!  They had with them the daily presence of God, His custom designed garden was their dwelling place.  They had His instructions and were abundant in His goodness and still yet, they were deceived.  Trust me, every believer has wondered, how could this be?  I think it’s important to note with what, they were deceived to understand this.

The seductive conversation of the serpent was not a dialogue about loving God or obeying Him, it was a dialogue about “being like God” and gaining everything that made Him glorious and powerful.  Adam and Eve’s sin was a sin of  “ARROGANCE” conceived in the darkness of “blindness.”  This is clear to see because they already had and were (made in God’s image) what the serpent said they could become but for some reason they couldn’t see that anymore..BLINDNESS.  Spiritual blindness was conceived in the womb of DECEPTION.  I believe this because when we look at mankind today, we will see that every sinful act committed in the hearts of men continues to be the exact same temptation conceived in the darkness of deception. These were the same temptations that Satan brought before Jesus in the wilderness before Jesus began his ministry (Luke 4:1-13).   Believe it or not, these are the same temptations that are likely confronting you every day as you consider the philosophies, positions and material things of this world as treasures to be gained, and more valuable than the treasures of God.  It is complete arrogance for God’s own created being to tell Him they don’t need or want Him in their life and prefer to look to other things and gods to satisfy them.  This degree of arrogance is not bias to unbelievers alone, and so likewise to Adam and Eve, the blindness will cause you to forget who you truly are.

Hosea 4:6

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Therefore, the walk of redemptive faith has been given to every believer through Jesus Christ so he might know that the darkness that surrounds him every day can be “sifted like wheat” so that he/she might walk in the reality that the scriptures speak of.  This is why the believer’s redemptive faith is the most important thing in their life because it is the only way that they shall ever fully see God and walk in His might and power.

Conclusion

Through redemptive faith, we’ll discover how our national culture does not define who we are but rather our faith as a redeemed people of God does through His word. It is only with a redemptive faith that you will find a consistency in how people live and experience God no matter where they live on the planet.  Redemptive faith surrenders our hearts in such a way that it truly allows God to dictate His will in our lives instead of us dictating our own will to Him. More common in the western culture, believers live for God on their own terms until a crisis happen and then they’ll live life on God’s terms…through a redemptive faith.

It is only through the lenses of redemptive faith do we have a spiritual consciousness to look back on life and not only see God’s goodness, but also how He is indeed crafting out His divine plan for our lives from which we obtain His grace, peace and ever increasing faith to continue on His journey.  Only redemptive faith surrenders our hearts to a faith in God where we are immovable, unshakable and unstoppable for the cause of Christ whereby NOTHING can separate us from the love of God…not even death.

Bottom line, most people who don’t understand a redemptive walk of faith will look at you and scratch their heads and try to define you through the lens of their own spiritual experience. Consequently, they will either admire you or despise you.  In any case, redemptive faith will cause you to have Peace in God.

So then, if this is the redemptive, transforming faith that pleases God, then you must realize that our Heavenly Father is longing to see a day when every believer is courageously walking in the level of  faith by which they have been redeemed. This is the faith that is only chiseled by the humility of our life journeys through adversity that has been crafted by the majestic hands and power of God. Redemptive faith is the only thing that can truly achieve this reality of Kingdom living and the good news is, we can begin living in it any time, starting right NOW.

PRAYER OF SURRENDER

https://theprayerescape.wordpress.com/a-prayer-for-you/prayer-of-surrender/

(Pray this prayer when you are ready to experience intimacy with God, and hunger for a deeper relationship with Him. When you are ready  to understand fully His purpose and plan for you, the reason for your mere existence, surrender to Him, pour out all your heart and soul to Him in an act of  giving all up to Him. It’s okay to ask Him to help you to do it.)

“….may Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42),

Loving Father, I surrender to You today with all my heart and soul.  Please come into my heart in a deeper way.  I say “Yes” to You today.  I open all the secret places in my heart to you and say, “Come on in.”  Jesus, You are Lord of my whole life.  I believe in You and receive You as my Lord and Savior.  I hold nothing back.  Holy Spirit, bring me deeper conversion to the person of Jesus Christ.  I surrender all to you: my health, my family, my resources, occupation, skills, relationships, time management, successes and failures.  I release it, and let it go.  I surrender my understanding of how things out to be; my choices and my will.  I surrender to You the promises I have kept and the promises I have failed to keep.  I surrender my weaknesses and strengths to You.  I surrender my emotions, my fears, my insecurities, my everything.  I surrender _____________, ______________________, _______________________, _____________________. (Continue to surrender other areas as the Holy Spirit reveals them to you).  Lord, I surrender my entire life to You, the past, the present and the future.  In sickness and in health, in life and in death, I belong to You.

“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess.  You have given all of me.  To you, O Lord, and I return it.  All is Yours.  Dispose of it wholly according to Your will.  Give me Your Love and Your grace, for this is sufficient for me.”

(Php 3:8; Pr 23:26; Ro 12:1; Mt 16:24; Lk 14:33; Ps 143;10; Ps 40:8; Dt 6:5; Pr 3:5; Jer 29:13; Jn 3:16; 1 Pe 1:18-19; Tit 3:5; R 10:9;13; Ro 1:6; Ro 14:8; Ac 16:30; 1 John 5:1,5)

Since the presidency of Donald Trump, I have painfully learned that my political opinions must remain my private opinions.  If there is one subject that has the power to rip good relationships apart, or suddenly shift a pleasant discussion into a raging volatile debate, it is POLITICS!  I have learned that overlapping my passions in ministry with my passions in politics will serve counter-productive in the long run, if I desire to effectively uphold the cause of Christ.  Politics and religion is indeed a risky tight-rope to walk on because eventually, you will fail one or the other.  It is interesting how the issues of life that are passionate to both politics and religion often overlap.  So, is it possible to effectively lead in ministry and in politics simultaneously? Can a minister be an effective politician and can a politician be an effective minister?   If the task is going to be undertaken, I believe there are a few things that must be considered if in ministry, we desire to be true, to the cause of Christ.

I believe the most effective stance is a clearly defined one.  In each endeavor, the underlying conviction should be, for the “Cause of Christ.”  This is the cause that shapes and provides meaning and purpose to all other missions.  Truthfully, it should be the defining convictions of every godly leader.  Whether your leadership is in ministry, politics or any other profession, the underlying conviction of your mission (as a believer) should be the “Cause of Christ.”  So, what is the Cause of Christ?  I believe Matt. 5:13-16 illustrates this well.

Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Cause of Christ

The cause of Christ is essentially God’s voice, message, and principles embedded and impressed upon every aspect and condition of creation that his word speaks about.  However, this is quite challenging when leadership, fame and power is presented like a “hand-in-glove” to those appointed to influential positions.  The temptation to compromise, over indulge, relish in liberties, manipulate people, systems and opportunities for personal gain is an enormous weight for any human being to carry.  This is why the cause of Christ must be the conviction that shapes every professional endeavor and the heart of every godly leader.

So is it simply temptation that makes godly leadership hard?  I propose it’s not the compromise, nor the privilege, it is not all the liberties and it is not the power because all of these luxuries are too easy to obtain by leaders.  Instead, it is the “Cause of Christ” that creates the challenge.  It creates the sacred demands upon our faith that often results in tough decisions, and being misunderstood, ridiculed and it may require from us a few painful sacrifices.  The stark reality of this challenge is that honesty, self-control, taming the tongue, guarding our eyes, ears and appetites, while examining our hearts and true motives will always require much more courage, integrity and spiritual grit compared to the carnal, worldly minded, self-serving alternative in leadership.  You see, the underlying question of every spiritual leader who is considering to walk that infamous tight-rope should be, “What are my CONVICTIONS?  I propose, the answer to that question should always be, for the “Cause of Christ.”

The Balancing Act

A clear fact, seen in history, is that few political or spiritual leaders have blended these two unique professions particularly well.  This is because the spirit, mission and message of each profession has a way of demanding complete servitude to the passions that shape its cause.  Historically, we have had many well-known activist lead meaningful causes but were greatly compromised spiritually and morally or they were motivated by their own personal anger and turmoil.  Is there any question that this must have played a major role in jeopardizing or overshadowing the Cause of Christ, that now only speculation leaves us to consider what might have been the outcome if it were intact?

On the contrary, we have seen great spiritual leaders offer admirable services to the people they serve, while remaining silent or even turning a blind eye on the political and social issues they were divinely appointed to stand for and fight for.  These are the spiritual leaders who (biblically), were divinely appointed to be a support and change agent within our communities.  They are the spiritual representatives whose collective leadership has the ability to impact our nation, for the Cause of Christ.

To compound matters even more, it is very likely these same leaders are also bombarded with opposition of a spiritual nature.  There is no doubt that each of them may be encountering specific problems, unique their profession, and because of their calling, they have been anointed and gifted to deal with these issues and understand them like no other.  Therefore, if you’re considering this juggling act, you not only want to be appointed for the job, but you better be anointed for it also.  This is why it is probably best for you to, “Know your lane, Walk in it, and Stay in it” in order to remain most effective at what you do.

In 1 Tim. 6:10, Paul states, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”  In Matt. 6:24, Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”  In Rev.3:15-17, the Angel states, “I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot.  How I wish you were one or the other.  So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spew you out of My mouth!”

So from the above passages it is clear, you cannot serve two masters 100%.  The scriptures suggest, you are either, “All-In” or you will be putting EVERYTHING at risk all for the sake of COMPROMISE.

Missional Over-lapping

So, how do we know when our message has been spewed (vomited) from the mouth of God?  It is when a leader’s mission has been compromised.   Their mission will lack supernatural power and a clear vision.  The plans of the leader will lack wisdom, understanding and foresight.  The leader will have a limited investment in the work because they lack the grace of God to carry it out.  Their message might appear confused, offensive, disjointed and inconsistent with their primary message. Their message will be incongruent with their true call.  All this can happen simply by what I’m defining as, “Missional Overlapping.”  You see, each leader’s anointing was designed to honor them so if you cross over too deeply onto a platform you were not anointed for, it will be very apparent.

Practically speaking, each leadership platform will require a unique set of gifts, skills, insight, shrewdness, savviness and wisdom that is common to leaders.  What might be acceptable, strong and effective on one platform may be offensive, weak and ineffective on another.  This is also true as it pertains to the content of a leaders message.  Each leader’s missional message must be clearly defined and relevant to their call.  An overlapped mission will also have an inconsistent, missional message.  This is why knowing your purpose in God must be a divine conviction because too many lives are at stake when we are confused about who we are and what we have been gifted and inspired, by God to do.

You see, anytime a minister’s message begins to assimilate too deeply with a political one or a politician’s message begins to assimilate too deeply with a religious one, both will come up lacking and ineffective in their true call.  This is because it is the Cause of Christ that makes each calling unique, purposeful and distinct (by design).  The key here is, they are a TEAM!  These uniquely anointed leaders were called to server one another.  In fact, their mission, work and effectiveness as leaders is most realized when they lead independent of one another yet interdependent of each other’s mission, gifts, and skills. The sad reality is that this beautiful camaraderie is hard to find because there is no awareness of a Cause for Christ in the hearts of many leaders today. When we are frustrated with such limited vision, and lack of leverage and support from our leaders,  there becomes the need to pray and cultivate the leadership we have and look towards a future hope to perpetuate the Cause of Christ.

The cause of Christ is essentially God’s voice, message, and principles

embedded and impressed upon every aspect and condition of creation

that his word speaks about.

Are you frustrated with your leadership?  Well, let me encourage you.  Praying for and strategically working with your current leadership is godly POWERFUL (1Tim. 2:1-3, Jam. 5:18-17).  Now, consider if these two leaders (bearing the Cause of Christ), came together to pray.   Well you can just imagine the impact they will have.  I think we all can agree that religion and policies are two elements that has shaped nations throughout history.  This is why the politician’s and the minister’s calling (when lived out as a Cause of Christ) are two, of the most powerful and influential roles to impact our world.  Now, make no mistake, this leadership anointing is not exclusive to politicians and ministers alone.  It is also relevant to leaders in our families, on our jobs, in our communities, schools, essentially any platform where appointed leaders are positioned to govern and lead a body of people both large or small.

Leaders in High Office

In a perfect world, all leaders would serve with a Cause of Christ.  This is what the kingdom of the millennial reign with Christ is referencing (Rev. 20:1-5).  So, because this is a challenging task to achieve, do you think we should not pursue it?  Absolutely NOT!  That’s because the Cause of Christ should begin with YOU!  As believers, we are inspired and moved by so many things around us and the most we do is talk about it.  Well let me be the first to  challenge you, “if you want change…then get some conviction and help make change.”   Life is pretty simple that way.  When you don’t do anything, you get what you get!  However, there are some things that will remain out of our control. Yet, this is still no reason to lose hope.  When leaders are placed in high offices (whether honestly or dishonestly), this is no accident and whether we agree or disagree with their appointment, we must always remember that God allowed it and in his sovereign will, he will deal justly with those who are sovereignly placed in these coveted positions.

As prophetic believers (and this is who we are as Christians), it becomes our responsibility to heed the word that commands us to pray for our leaders (1Tim. 2:1-3) because if they are compromised, they are capable of doing far more damage than they will good and this is why the believer’s most important asset is PRAYER!  The Believer’s life individually and corporately is always expressed apostolically, as a “Divine Assignment.”  If we are living out that assignment, it is not to talk about our leaders or tear them down but primarily, to pray for them because within their appointment, God has a greater agenda that he’s accomplishing, and it is only through prayer that we get “tuned in” to what God is working out.  Remember, God can use anyone to accomplish his agenda on the earth. He’s done it before, and he’ll do it again, and he’s currently doing it now in this present day.  You see, the Cause of Christ is ultimately about the Father’s business and every godly leader has a part to play in that plan.

We must also not forget that our biblical history had many wicked kings as well as godly kings and leaders.  As we read, it becomes very clear to see who was for God and who was against him. This is seen primarily through the king’s character and relationship with God. When wicked kings and leaders dishonored God, wickedness, perversion, war, class systems, corruption and civil unrest permeated the land. When godly kings and leaders honored God, peace, fear of God, victory in battles, economic health and godly principles governed the land. While these attributes may represent at the most basic level, a contrast of fruit among godly and wicked leadership, they do serve as markers for preliminary discernment.  When we become imprisoned and abused by wicked leadership it is important to remember that God used a Judas, God used a Pharaoh, God used a Nebuchadnezzar, God used the Pharisees, and God will use (before Jesus returns) an Antichrist (a global leader) who will rule and deceive the nations.  This is why the Cause of Christ must always be the foundation of leadership.  It is also why our world desperately needs godly leaders on every leadership platform; politically, spiritually, socially and economically and environmentally.

So let’s not get confused about our present leadership and fear the state of the world and it’s perceived future. God is in control!  It is only important that we stay in tune with God’s agenda so that believers, wherever they are, both individually and corporately are doing the will of God effectively, in partnership with him, anointed, and divinely assigned – for the CAUSE OF CHRIST.

(I have for some time wanted to write about this subject but I was often overwhelmed by the various approaches I could take.  I am grateful now for the grace God has given me to pen what I can at this time)

Who was Jesus REALLY?

1. Born a BASTARD (by social standards) Matt. 1:18-20
2. Was not an attractive man Is. 53:1-3
3. Skilled in a common trade Mark 6:3
4. Disrespected by brothers because they did not believe in him  Mark 3:21, John 7:2-5
5. Waited 18 years before starting his ministry, and it only lasted 3 YEARS Luke 2:41-52, Luke 3:23
6. Hated and oppressed by the Pharisees – “the religious folk” (They desired his down fall) Matt. 12:14
7. Followed by thousands primarily for his (spiritual gifts) miracles NOT his message  John 10:37-39
8. Was not honored and could not do any miracles in his hometown  Mark 6:4
9. Hung out with the societal rejects (less popular crowd) John 8:1, Mark 2:13-17
10. Owned no possessions Luke 9:58, Matt. 21:2
11. Never married
12. Was mocked and ridiculed for his spiritual calling and was a man of grief and many sorrows John 19:2
13. Was a man of much prayer and fasting  Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12, Mark 1:35, Matt. 4:2
14. He had a ministry team of 12 he could not always count on and only one best friend  Matt. 26:21
15. Was fatally betrayed by one of his ministry partners  Luke 22:48
16. Was thought of as arrogant and  called a DEVIL Matt. 12:24
17. He KNEW God, was one with him, and beloved by him John 5:19, John 10:30
18. Was uncommonly wise, kind, compassionate and gospel minded Matt. 11:28-30, Luke 23:34
19. Was lied on and falsely accused  Luke 6:7
20. Was murdered alongside murderers amidst shame and ridicule  Matt. 27:38
21. In spite of it all, Jesus was and still remains to be the son of God, promised Messiah, mankind’s risen Lord and Savior who redeemed the world from sin, who’s sitting right now at the right hand of the Father, interceding for all the saints, who is returning to gather his Bride to reign with him for all eternity.

Review the attributes of Jesus as a suffering servant again.  Honestly consider, in your own heart, how are you identifying with Christ?  If you saw him today would you recognize him? Would you love him or hate him? Would you honor and respect him?  On the day of Jesus crucifixion if you were watching in the crowd, what would you be shouting… “SAVE HIM!” or “CRUCIFY HIM!” 

While every believer would agree that their greatest desire is to be more like Jesus, the reality is that there is a price to pay for following Jesus, a cross that we all must take up if we are to be true followers of Christ.  In John 3:1-21, Jesus presents some hard choices to a Pharisee, a wealthy man in Matt.19:16-30, and to his disciples in Matt. 16:24-26, all who passionately desired to follow Jesus.  Jesus told them until you are born again and forsake all things, only than are you truly my disciples.  So then, what is this PRICE, this CROSS that defines the journey and life of the believer who follows Jesus?  How do we know if we are paying it or carrying it?

I believe a good place to start in understanding what God’s people look like is to simply take a deeper look at the dual characters of Christ, the “Suffering Servant” and “Resurrected King.”   These names serve as markers to distinguish the believer’s journey of faith and key attributes such as love, humility, repentance, forgiveness, patience, and generosity, as well as their culture, character, values, and lifestyle among others in the earth.  Their testimonies, peace of mind, presence and influence wherever you find them will in some way testify to a reality that they are “Living Jesus.”   You see, to identify with Christ and to follow him, means to be clothed with a cloak of authenticity that will surely separate the “sheep from the goats”  as Jesus so cleverly put it (Matt. 25:31-46).  Truth is, at some point and time in every believer’s life their journey of faith will challenge them to identify with Jesus’ living narrative, just as his disciples did.

The call to follow Christ is much more than weathering through a test or trial here and there (while they indeed serve a divine purpose).  I believe more accurately, it is the test and trials that God uses to shape our faith and deepen our relationship with Jesus as a sovereign yet unique design for each of us.  He does this so that we may mature and obtain the courage to one day fully take up our cross and follow him.  Now that’s something quite different isn’t it?   You see, God’s ultimate desire in this life of ours is to transform the believer into the image of his son.  So the obvious question is, how can you become the image of something unless you have been formed by the same instruments?

To be transformed into the image of Christ means that God is looking for every believer to discover who they are in him through Jesus Christ.  Their spiritual identity was not a title to merely be admired in name only but to be a tangible and most intentional presence in the earth.  God knew that the believer would feel like foreigners in a strange land when they were born into the family of God and as foreigners, they would have to courageously fight to be authentic and make their presence known.  The challenge however, is that if we don’t like fighting, don’t know what we’re fighting for, and don’t know who we are in God, the believer will easily retreat to the four corners of the boxing ring and sit down or worse, jump rope and join the audience of spectators!

Without flinching, Jesus told those sincere inquirers of his message to leave EVERYTHING and follow him, don’t even take time to bury your dead (Luke 9:60-61).  In another passage Jesus says he came to divide…

Matthew 6:34-42

³⁴ “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
³⁶     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’^[c]

³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

⁴⁰ “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

So you see, following Christ has a serious effect on our lives…should we be surprised?

The Cross of Christ

This is the cross of crucifixion that Jesus had to carry and be nailed to.  If this is His cross, then the first thing you will want to realize and fully commit to, with a clear understanding, is that YOUR CROSS (your call) will not spare you similar pain if you are truly committed to following Jesus.

What that means is that the road to developing you in your call will challenge the authenticity of your relationship with Jesus as it pertains to your vision, your intentions, your motives, your attitude, your heart, your values, your character, your thoughts, your dreams, your code of ethics, your financial stewardship, your relationships, your temperament, your patience, your love, your pride, your walk of faith and faithfulness and ALL this, will require you to “die on a cross” to any and everything you insist on controlling or having your way.  This is a cross that cannot be fabricated or manipulated by sincere sounding prayers, good works or Christianeese.  It is a cross that is able to penetrate even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow and it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb.4:12).  This cross you are proposing to carrying will require you to surrender everything you value in exchange for the refining hand of God to take the seed of HIS truth and replant it more deeply into the soil of a vessel that he has redeemed, renovated and resurrected in his glory.  That vessel is YOU!

Obviously, your cross is not a literal cross like the one Jesus carried.  However, the weight of the burden of sin that he carried on that cross and the faith that was required as a man to endure the cross will feel the same.  This is the work that must be accomplished if you truly want to be a representative of Christ in his purpose, presence, and power.

Romans 8:16-18

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

When the believer TRULY decides to take up their cross to follow Jesus it usually comes with a conviction (deep desire) and revelation to live life according to the reality and truth we see in Jesus.  This passionate inquiry will open a door that will reveal to them who Jesus REALLY is.  It will invite them to live life with a divine sense of purpose and to walk committed and in tune with God’s word as an honor to their creator.  Consequently, this cross of Christ will be handed to them, they will say yes, and the journey will begin.  So, what does that mean?

It means that God will start ordering your life in surprising ways because he is now in full control.  It means that he’s going to require you to let go of your idols, values and anything you have adapted from the world in order to take on his values, principles, wisdom and perspectives.  It means he’s going to challenge you to confront, acknowledge and surrender every fear, wound, hang-up and soulish nature that separates you from God and from functioning in his life and freedom.  It means you will need to trust and obey him (his word) more than you trust yourself.  It means to be clothed with the nature of  Christ which (by the way), will cause you to be underestimated, misrepresented and misunderstood.  It means to follow after his ways, which will cause you to be hated, mocked, ridiculed and even persecuted by strangers and those near and dear all because you will not conform to their values, lifestyles and views.

It means God will orchestrate your life through steps of faith in such a way that it will cause you to no longer live life in the “safe zone” while forcing you to continually surrender to self and let God establish your steps according to his will and his way.  It means to trust God completely and allow your faith to mature in the shelter of his grace instead of the fire of your fears and the fears of others.  It means you will have a conviction to live life with a sense of “divine purpose” instead of living through “carnal ambitions.” It means your life and character will start looking and feeling like Jesus’ life and character… “an image of your Savior.”

When you truly take up your cross you will become so acquainted with Jesus sufferings and sacrifices that you will learn to say okay, “I totally get you Lord.”  You will mature and be groomed for the Father’s will in your life that will be according to the same template he groomed his son and likewise, in the same way Jesus groom his disciples. You will learn to be okay with the process chosen for you because you’ll realize this is the nature of true spiritual development; the divine plan of Jesus (through the Holy Spirit) in how he disciples the people of God.  Certainly in this generation, your personal sacrifices, sufferings, persecutions, imprisonment, death, burial and resurrection may not look exactly like our spiritual ancestors, but one thing is for sure, your spiritual wisdom, character and courage to represent Jesus, your spiritual identity, keen sense of mission, spiritual gifts, love and fellowship, your divine anointing and power in God, will ALL be the fruit born from such a journey.  It is without a doubt, the identifying marker of a life commissioned and transformed into the image of Christ Jesus.

Who is the Resurrected Jesus? 

• One whom the governments of God rest upon his shoulders. He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Is. 9:6
• Immanuel (God with us).  Matt. 1:23
• Great High Priest (Chief spiritual leader/mediator and intercessor for the Saints)  Heb. 4:14-16
• Seated at right hand of the Father (Reigning with God)  Mark 16:19
• First born of God (First born of redeemed mankind)  Col. 1:15
• Savior/Redeemer (Mankind’s eternal salvation)  Acts 4:12
• Lord/Reigning King (The believer’s eternal headship) Rom. 10:9
• Bride Groom/ Husband (Spouse of the Church/their kingdom reigning partner)  Rev. 19:7-9
• Promised Messiah (God’s fulfilled promised hope for mankind’s redemption)  Matt. 5:17, Is. 7:14
• Friend (Endearing confidant and companion of the people of God) John 15:15
• Spiritual Helper/Counselor/Comforter (The Holy Spirit – the spiritual presence and power of Jesus living inside every believer empowering them to live holy and to guide them into all truth) John 14:26, John 16:13
• Healer/Deliverer (The believer’s freedom fighter)  Ps. 18:2, James 5:14-15, Jer. 30:17
• Shepherd (A keeper/protector of God’s people)  Ps. 23
• Bread of Heaven (Eternal nourishment/provision) John 6:35
• The Infallible Word of God (The believer’s standard, creed, story of their heritage, weapon, and main resource for supernatural living) John 1:1-14
• Returning, Conquering King ( He who will rapture the Church and then judge the former world once and for all) Mark 13:26-30

Who are the Redeemed?

• Children of God (Begotten of God and recipient of their heavenly Father’s inheritance) John 1:12
• Peacemaker (Given a ministry of reconciliation/sons and daughters of God)  Matt. 5:9
• Friend of Jesus (Close companion of Jesus) John 15:14–15
• Disciples of Christ (Missional servants of Christ) Luke 14:33
• Follower of Christ (Believers in Christ’s who follow is teachings) 1Peter 2:21
• Holy People/Saints (Holy – set apart for God in character, principles and lifestyle) 1Peter 2:9
• Ambassadors of Christ (Government representative transacting business on behalf of God’s kingdom on the earth)  2Corin. 5:20
• Bride of Christ (Jesus betrothal and reigning eternal marital partner)  Rev. 19:7
• Abraham’s Seed (Descendant of Abraham’s promise)  Gal. 3:16, 29
• The Church/Body of Christ (Corporate/universal people of God and human living expression of Jesus Christ in the earth)  Col 1:18
• Family of God (A people born of the spirit of God) 1John 3:2-3, 12:50
• Royal Priesthood/Kingdom of Priest (A heritage and nation of Kingdom ministers) 1Peter 2:9
• A Peculiar People (Odd, strange, unusual, irregular, weird people of God)  2Corin. 5:7, 1Peter 2:9
• Zion/ Temple of God (God’s dwelling place)  Ps. 132:13, 1Corin. 6:19-20
• Light of the World/Salt of the earth (Bearers of God truth and spiritual influencers in the earth)  Matt. 5:13-14
• Armed Warrior (Armed solider)   Eph. 10:10-18

As you can see, the child of God does not only share in Christ’s suffering but also in his triumphs. If we are transformed by his sufferings on the cross, it is apparent our lives will also be glorified through his resurrection.  As a profound work of the cross, Jesus declares to his disciples a stunning revelation following his resurrection (Matt. 28:16-20),

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me”  Wow!  What a reestablishment!  As you can see, Jesus has authority in heaven and also on earth.  Now, this is sounding very familiar…

Luke 10:16-24

¹⁶ “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

²² “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

As God’s beloved children, we have received an inheritance from our heavenly Father…and it is the KINGDOM!  This is what Jesus was talking about in Luke 10.  You see, our spiritual inheritance should not be misinterpreted in the same way Jesus first coming (as the Messiah) was misinterpreted by the Hebrew people. We should be clear in our understanding of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and why.  God has spiritually redeemed us, positioned us, equipped us and commissioned us as Christ’s Ambassadors to execute his redemption plans and purposes in heaven and on the earth until Jesus return.  When Jesus redeemed us we did not become free agents, we became agents of Christ!  Well, agents have superior officers and agents have “assignments.”  It is within the parameters of the assignment that our freedoms and limitations are defined, and the word of God has prescribed this well for us.

This earth is not the believer’s home it is merely a place where we, as the children of God, have been temporary assigned (Heb. 13:14, 1Peter 2:11-12).  We are only here to accomplish a work that is passionately at the heart of God and the mission is still in progress.  When an agent becomes influenced by their enemy or loses sight about the nature of their assignment, they are described by their superiors as being “COMPROMISED.”  This is a serious problem because it means their agent’s mission has become compromised also.   This is what it is like when the believer defines their walk of faith and spiritual identify according to the passions, philosophies and systems of this world.  Remember, this world is not our home… “we are IN the world but not OF the world” (John 17:16).  Therefore, as Christ Ambassadors, we should be inquiring of God what our individual and corporate assignment (presence in the earth) should look like and of course this prayer of divine purpose will confront you with the inescapable question… “Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus?”  I perceive this is a question that confronts every new believer and continues to speak throughout their life (as a still small voice) in effort to obtain a definitive response.  It is a question that Jesus suggest we all will answer either now or during an era referred to as the “Great Tribulation” (Rev. 7:14).  My hope is that one day, you will ponder over this question again and have the courage to fully say YES!

“Meat for Meditation”

Review the attributes of Jesus as a triumphant King again.  How is your walk of faith, relationship with Jesus, and pursuit of divine purpose genuinely reflecting this knowledge and truth?  This may be a hard reality for some of us to face but this is why Christ died and rose for our sake, so we might be able to overcome and dominate the earth with his power and presence.

Review the attributes of the Redeemed.  When our lives are sharing in Christ’s resurrection, we will be adorned with a glory that displays him in purpose, presence and power.   How are you representing the joy of Christ’s resurrection (as a Redeemed Child of God) through your personal and spiritual attributes?  How is the reality of the triumphant Jesus being intentionally conveyed, seen and felt by others through your personal life and spiritual assignment?  How is God experienced supernaturally through your spiritual gifts as an Ambassador of Christ?  What do you think might have to decrease in you in order for Christ to increase and show forth God’s glory and power more authentically and genuinely?

Considering the TRUE image of Jesus as a Suffering Servant and Resurrected King, what do you think God might consider to be his TRUE riches of his kingdom?  What would you propose to be the image of Christ in your life as a suffering servant and reigning king (for queen)?  What do you propose are the byproducts of such glory and goodness that would be manifested in your life on earth?

Are you a believer called to pray for the life of a loved one, a personal condition, a civil or global matter?  Then realize you have been called to “INTERCEDE.”

Matthew 18:19-20

¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Practically speaking, what are intercessors REALLY?  The following definition might be helpful.

mi·li·tia

məˈliSHə/

noun

1. a military force that is raised from the civil population to supplement a regular army in an emergency.
   • a military force that engages in rebel or terrorist activities, typically in opposition to a regular army.
   • all able-bodied civilians eligible by law for military service.

This is what intercession really looks like, but to better understand it from a spiritual perspective, you must first, understand what PRAYER is because prayer is a form of intercession.

Definition of intercessory prayer from the Apostolic Institute:

The bible illustrates prayer as the vehicle that enables mankind to communicate with the Almighty Creator of the universe.  Prayer positions the believer for intimacy with God.  Prayer is a form of offering to God (Acts 10:4). Prayer is a sacrifice (Heb. 13:15). The believer’s prayers are favored by God (1 John 5:14). Prayer is the vehicle by which the believer obtains access into the spirit realm enabling them to exercise spiritual authority and power on a level playing field with their spiritual adversaries.

 Intercessory prayer is all of the above on behalf of ANOTHER.  Vision Intercessors commit to a tangible covenant agreement with their prayer partners.  Intercessory prayer is cultivated and shaped in each prayer partner whereby God may utilize them as an aid through love, encouragement and their spiritual gifts to accomplish His objectives in the life of their partnering believer. 

 Intercessory prayer is defined as a position where one stands in proxy for another. Intercessory prayer is taught as a discipline that defends, protects and represents alongside and on behalf of an independent, perplexed, venerable or weaker vessel.  The spiritual disciplines born through intercessory prayer are worked gracefully and supernaturally.  It begins with the command to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Mark 12:30-31) and to “lay down your life through the sacrifice of prayer for a friend.” (John 15:13-17)

So,  have you or a minimum group of 2 or 3 been called to intercession?  Has God placed upon your heart a spiritual assignment to pray for a loved one or about a civil or global matter?  Through this blog, it is my desire to help you realize what you truly are as a prayer force.  It is my hope that you will become thoroughly convinced that you are powerful in God and confident that the host of heaven is also waring with you!

The miracle-working power wrought through intercession is not so much about the cause as it is about the heart of the intercessors.

Ok, now what is most critical to understand as an intercessor is that those who are called to intercede must see themselves as “COVENANT” prayer partners.  This means they are in a prayer partnership, first with God, and secondly with the others they have commit themselves to pray with.  Why do I call them, “Covenant Prayer Partners?”  This is because any time you come into an agreement whether verbally or written, in the spiritual sense, it is a covenant…an agreement of the spirit!   Now practically speaking, you may not realize it, but as relational human beings, we establish covenants of all kinds every day. You can know there has been a covenant (a spiritual agreement/soul-tie) of some kind when the ungodly breaking of it feels like a betrayal or a destructive ripping part of something and leaving feelings of fear, shock, pain, mental turmoil, loss and a period of grief. This can happen with the breakup of friendships, marriages, job loss, theft and repossession of property, dropping out of school, and the list can go on.

A covenant is merely a biblical or spiritual term for the word “Agreement.”

cov·e·nant

 noun

noun: covenant; plural noun: covenants

1. 1.

an agreement.

• Law

a contract drawn up by deed.

• Law

a clause in a contract.

• Theology

an agreement that brings about a relationship of commitment between God and his people. The Jewish faith is based on the biblical covenants made with Abraham, Moses, and David.

verb

verb: covenant; 3rd person present: covenants; past tense: covenanted; past participle: covenanted; gerund or present participle: covenanting

1. 1.

agree, especially by lease, deed, or other legal contract.

The most notable covenants to the believer is the one found in their Holy Bible, they are called the “Old and New Covenant” aka, The Old and New Testament.  Yes, the bible is full of covenants.  The word covenant has a biblical origin. The Hebrew term for covenant is berith, and it occurs over 280 times in the Old Testament.  The English word covenant means “a coming together.”  A covenant is a mutual agreement, promise, pledge with terms and often times conditions on behalf of another.  Covenants in the Bible were an agreement between two people, between God and an individual, or between God and groups of individuals.  Covenants are “conditional” or “unconditional.”  A conditional covenant is forfeited of the promise if one person violates or defaults on his/her part of the agreement.  An unconditional covenant is an agreement where the default of one party does not negate the ultimate fulfillment and blessing of the covenant.

1Kings 8:23

And said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart

 Num. 25:13      

And it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”

Contrary to popular opinion, the terms of a covenant agreement are not designed to be rigid rules to bind up our freedom but rather, they are provided as the pathway or road map to “keeping to the covenant” that will Ensure its Promise!

Covenant agreements have an intrinsic power to uncover TRUTH, truth which reveals the depth of our commitment to God and those we are committed to. When we personally wrestle with a covenant term it is a sign that we have lost sight of the integrity of our commitment and of the spirit from which the covenant was formed.  Covenants are designed to remind us of the truth that established a relationship of unity, love and respect and it also identifies the foundations upon which the covenant relationship can be cultivated and grow. This is why “keeping covenant” is so important. Each opportunity that a term is honored, updated or revised for the good of the covenant, it represents a personal act of faith in belief of the covenant. When a term is dishonored, it represents a loss of faith, unity and love in the covenant relationship.

     The power embedded in the prayers of intercessors is nestled in their love, unity and commitment to KEEP COVENANT.

“TOGETHER, Nothing is Impossible.”

So, the next time you establish a verbal or written agreement with someone or something, “BEWARE” as you will discover that by the nature of the spirit from which humanity has been created, you will be investing in far more than you realize so a word of advice, be WISE, be THOUGHTFUL and be TRUE.

So, to sum things up, intercessors are covenant prayer partners. They are believers who commit themselves to prayer with Jesus Christ, as their chief intercessor (Rom. 8:34) and oftentimes with others.  They serve as a “Spiritual Militia” alongside angelic armies for the purpose of arresting ungodly, unlawful spiritual activities and imprisonments that are in heavenly kingdoms in a effort to bring things into right alignment with God in the earth.

Matthew 6:10

¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 18:18

¹⁸ “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

So, have you been called by God to be an Intercessor? Be encouraged!  This is a worthy task.  It is the call that shakes spiritual kingdoms, move mountain like circumstances, makes the impossible possible, set captives free and it is the main ingredient from which miracles are formed.  As you intercede rest assure, God will speak and he will lead you to his sovereign victory because Jesus is the general of heaven’s armies.  In this cause, you need only to follow his orders, “His Will… His Way”

DNA

ˌdē ˌen ˈā/

noun

deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.

• the fundamental and distinctive characteristics or qualities of someone or something, especially when regarded as unchangeable.

To best understand this biological constituent of the human body as a spiritual dynamic, I believe it is necessary to review how Jesus illustrated this complex concept to a man named Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee and a member of the council in Jerusalem. Note: Nicodemus would be considered in his generation a respected, wise and devote religious man.  Indeed, an insightful man he was.  In this passage we see he was wise enough to realize that there must be something deeper to the walk of faith he was currently experiencing which consequently, prompted him to seek after Jesus.  In his dialog with Jesus, Nicodemus discovers how Jesus identifies who God’s spiritual people truly are.  This story is found in John3:1-21.

Nicodemus said to Jesus, “No one could do the miraculous signs that you do unless God were with him.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus said to him, “how can a man be born a second time, can he?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth unless a person is born of water and spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the spirit is the spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, “you must be born from above.”  The wind blows wherever it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going.  So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit.”  Nicodemus replied, “How can these things be?  Jesus answered, “You are a teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things?”  I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.  If I have told you people about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?  No one has ascended from heaven, except the Son of Man.  Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert (Num. 21:9, John 3:14), so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 

There are 14 important points Jesus emphasized in answer to Nicodemus:

1. To know God, you must be born from ABOVE (born of God).
2. Being born from above enables you to “SEE” the Kingdom of God
3. Being born from above enables you to be like Jesus
4. Being born from above will cause God to be with you
5. The process of being born of God is a different process to that of being born of the Flesh.
6. Even though Nicodemus was a respected teacher of Israel and seated on the council (experts in religious truth) he STILL did not understand the concepts of the spirit on how to become a child of God.
7. Jesus shows us that if he taught the religious leaders about the practical things of the world and they “chose” not to believe him, how will they believe him if he told them about spiritual things?  Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised if people don’t readily receive your message.
8. After being Born Again, in order to be like Jesus, you must expect to be rejected by men for no good reason or unrighteously judged by them. This might include those who deem themselves religious, even some religious teachers.
9. To be Born Again is to recognize that Jesus is the ONLY way to know the true living God and he must be lifted up (worshiped) if we are to be delivered, healed and made alive in Christ.
10. The reality of birth in the spirit is essentially “another” experience of  walking in a New Life.
11. Like the wind, the Spirit is not something you can see, however, it is something you can feel.
12. The Kingdom of God can only be seen after being born of the spirit (spiritual sight).
13. To be born of water and spirit is to be reborn in the heart (mind) and in spirit (nature/character)
14. The signs of being Born Again are

• A spirit born of God (through faith in Jesus Christ)
• Supernatural gifts
• Godly wisdom
• Divine revelation
• Grace to stand strong against mainstream religious thought
• Faith that believes in Christ ALONE for the sake of establishing God’s light and truth in the earth
• Like Jesus, having a spiritual mandate that is aligned with God’s will and salvation plan.
• A renewed heart and spirit fostering a godly character and lifestyle, as a distinction among men

.

The people of God first and foremost is a “New Creation,” in essence, they are “Prophetic Beings,” born of water and spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:5).  The term, “Human Being” denotes a person being born from human DNA; in contrast, a “Prophetic Being” is a person being born of spiritual DNA.  This new creation is prophetic because their new found awareness of the kingdom allows them to testify of things that were, is, and is to come by divine insight and understanding imparted through the spiritual DNA of their Heavenly Father – through Jesus Christ.  As Prophetic Beings, we have been given supernatural gifts by the spirit of God (1Cor. 12:1-29).

Our supernatural gifts are activated by faith and of the sovereign will of God. Their born again nature is identified by the “Fruits of the Spirit” perpetuated by the love they have for God and their fellow men (Matt. 22:36-40).  This spiritual fruit is authenticated by a love that mirrors the love, mercy and sacrifice found in Jesus Christ (1John3:16-20, John 15:13, John 14:15).  We are warned that without this love, we will become a religious, powerless, elegantly dressed, noisy expression of godliness (1Cor. 13:1-2). We discover here that the prophetic people of God were meant to be a godly distinction among unsaved people in the earth serving as a witness to Jesus Christ and ministers of his message.  The prophetic people are essentially Kingdom Ambassadors (2 Corin. 5:20).  An Ambassador is a high-ranking officer who represents his or her own government while living in another country; they are an authorized representative or messenger.

The people of God are not only ambassadors, they are also spiritual warriors (Eph. 6:10-18), and an army of ranking commissioned officers that are capable of governing, protecting, defending, discerning and policing the activities and influences in the heavenlies that influence the earth.  The prophetic people of God are a body of believers who walk in daily awareness of their spiritual DNA while diligently monitoring their fallen soul, filtering every thought, idea, and suggestion through the word of God (Rom. 12:2).  The Holy Spirit lives inside their mortal bodies serving as a place of residence and sacred temple for him to dwell. (1 Corn. 6:19).  The prophetic people of God like Jesus, live to accomplish the will of their Heavenly Father in the earth (John 5:19, Matt. 6:10) and now look to Jesus as their Commander and Chief in this effort (2 Tim. 2:3-4, Eph. 2:20).

The prophetic people of God are not a people perfect in nature as you would think but instead, they are a people who faithfully walk after the perfect will and ways of God in an effort to be transformed into Christ’s likeness.  This is a “Perfecting Work” and those who are truly the people of God are intentionally yielding themselves to this process DAILY.   This miraculous transformation is only achieved through a growing love and respect for their Heavenly Father and Lord, Jesus Christ, God’s one and only flesh born son.  The prophetic people of God walk circumspectly in the earth realizing the earth is not their home – it is the land of their military assignment with a spiritual mission they are to carry out both individually and corporately (Matt. 28:16-20, 2 Corn. 10:3, 2 Tim. 2:3-4).  The prophetic people of God as mentioned previously, are purpose minded and assignment driven.  They are Apostolic in nature and militarily structured as a spiritually gifted, commissioned people of God. They are a spiritual nation and also a spiritual army.

Apostolic simply refers to the ministry of the apostles as being “Sent Ones.”  The word apostle is a Greek word “Apostolos,” meaning a delegate, an ambassador of the gospel, an official commissioner of Christ, and a messenger that He has sent.  Mark 16:15-16 suggest that every believer has been sent therefore, the overall ministry and mission of every child of God is an “Apostolic” one; establishing God’s kingdom in the earth and formed in the same way Jesus groomed His disciples to carry out His will in divine purpose, presence, and power.  Together they are unified in their mission.  They are a people ever striving by faith towards unity and maturity in Christ and they are individual practitioners in loving – God’s Way (Eph. 4:14-16).  The prophetic people of God is the Bride of Christ and she is powerful and glorious when she is properly dressed and it is this bride that Jesus (the Bride Groom) is coming back for despite popular opinions, other religious doctrines or personal beliefs (Rev.19:7-9, 21:1-2, Eph. 5:25-27).

Discussion

 Are you truly an Ambassador of God’s Kingdom?  Review the signs, points 1-14.  Are you clear about your assignment as Christ Ambassador?  Review the following passages (2 Corin. chapters 5, 6, 7:1, Mark 16:15-16, Matt. chapter 10, 5:13-18).  In what areas of your life are you being challenged in this mission?  List your challenge areas and exactly how these areas are weighing on you (family, finances, health, relationships, school, work, church ministry, etc.). This might become a special prayer list.  How does social media deplete you (contaminate your character) in this call?  How does social media contribute to this call?  What might be a good balance?  How does your church or fellowship groups support your development in this call?  What are your personal endeavors and disciplines to cultivate growth in this area?  Journal your thoughts.

Frequently, my posts are inspired by scripture, prayer time or an early morning encounter with God.  However this time, I was inspired by a conversation I had during one of my Life Discipleship ministry sessions.  Here, this beautiful, faith-filled, God-fearing woman is being stretched in faith while learning how to be a wife that sanctifies her husband according to (1Corin. 7:14).  Her husband is experiencing “Male Mid-life Crisis” (on the surface) although it is apparent it has been triggered by a slow drift from his relationship with God over a period of years.  This is something that can happen to any of us if we are not continually mindful of the true meaning of our lives as a people of God.

In my conversation with this fragile yet courageous loving wife, we discovered once again how our life struggles have an uncanny way in letting us know the ways in which our walk of faith is not as solid as we believed.  It is in times like these that the refreshing of our faith sheds light on the deeper revelations of God’s word.  In our case, the biblical definition of FAITH took on a whole new meaning…

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1)

Many of us are familiar with this passage of scripture and find it fairly easy to apply when we are trying to achieve things in life on a practical level like finishing school, buying a house, purchasing your ideal car, pursuing a new job etc.  However, I’d like to challenge you today to consider this passage as it pertains to living out the word of God.  I believe too often we perceive the word of God to be more like “guidelines” instead of the rule.  Although consider this was not what Jesus meant when he said: “if you LOVE me you will keep my commands.”(John 14:15) 

So the question becomes, how do we live out such a high standard of living?  Is it even possible?  I believe the answer lies within the supernatural power of God.

Truth is, we were never meant to live out God’s word in the power of our own strength because it is a “Supernatural Standard.”  So if the just shall live by faith (Heb. 10:38), then how will “faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen,” manifest the supernatural in our lives?  How do we apply this supernatural standard to our carnal nature and expect supernatural results in areas such as our character, our temperament, our tongue, our marriage, our relationships, our health, to those in authority, in our roles as parents, as employees and church members, as pastors and leaders, as fellow believers, as mere children of God?  These are most certainly areas in life where this beloved scripture would serve us more notably and in supernatural ways.

Wow! So in essence, FAITH applied in this way would be to “believe in something (a godly lifestyle) we cannot see and hope for something (a godly character) we have not yet achieved.”  Wouldn’t you agree this is not an easy thing to do?  That’s because FAITH was not intended to be easy!

I would suggest than, that a REAL walk of faith might look more like a constant (painful) shifting in “Moving forward and Backwards.”  Faith requires courage.  Faith is activated by LOVE.  The evidence of our love is TRUST, trust in God, which empowers us to love others under the guidance and protection of His word.  This is how we are able to stand confident through any situation. This is how we are able to keep God’s commands.

The reality here is that the walk of FAITH is a PROCESS!  It is perfected with TIME.  You see, God sets the goal and our standard for living out His word.  It is through a greater trust in God’s truth (than in our own) that we are supernaturally stretched and transformed into the likeness of Christ and only THEN, are we able to live out a “God kind of faith” from which we are able to truly see God, know Him, hear Him and live in the blessed reality of His Kingdom.  Faith calls us out to love God more than the things we think we need both physically and emotionally, to believe in His truth above our circumstances and to trust in the wisdom of His word more than the wisdom of our thoughts, fears, and doubts.

What does this mean?  It means, when we are earnestly walking by faith, we can be vulnerable with God’s word because “THERE IS NO FAILURE WITH GOD.”  Now that’s something to shout about!  This is why “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)  God’s word was meant to be tried and tested as it becomes an opportunity for God to show Himself faithful and true in you, and through you.

You see God knew our human (sin-prone) nature could NEVER acquire the supernatural faith He was calling us into.  Therefore, full “trust in God,” through His word, is what will empower us to live supernatural lives and that is, to walk in a faith that pleases God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path”(Prov. 3:5-6)

So the next time you feel like you’ve let God down and feel ashamed or guilty for not living up to His standard, simply brush yourself off and tell God what was hard about these steps of faith.  Meditate upon how you blew it, why it was hard to trust Him, what you learned about yourself, others, and most importantly God’s love, mercy, and grace.  Often times greater awareness will be all you need to refresh your faith in order to take the steps you couldn’t take before.  In any case, while you rest in the quietness of truth and reconciliation, know that fresh seeds of faith are being replanted in you and you will find that your walk of faith will become more and more honest, intentional, attainable and supernaturally empowered because God’s word is now ALIVE in your HEART and not just in your head.

(A chapter excerpt from my new book, “The Vision Intercessor Handbook”)

If there is ever a topic that will cause major anxiety it is ACCOUNTABILITY.  Whether it is at work as employees, within the church as fellow believers, at school as students, as friends or at home as spouses, parents or children, accountability is something no one is really that thrilled about having in their life.  In general, the expectation to live responsible and accountable can sometimes overwhelm us in particular, when we have doubts about our ability to do it well.  As believers, we are well aware of our call to love, to live holy, to walk righteous, and to live by faith and for many believers, this responsibility seems almost impossible to do with a measure of perfection.  As a result, our accountability to the Call of Salvation have become a topic of contention among believers and unbelievers alike, prompting claims of hypocrisy plaguing the Christian nation; condemning them for disgraceful acts, fights, crimes, and immorality. It appears now the greater crime is that these offenses are no longer being called into question, discipline or reproof as the word of God suggest.

It seems the concept “sinner saved by grace” has become nothing more than a license for the believer to concede to their propensity to sin, while forgetting that Apostle Paul made it very clear,  “BY NO MEANS” (Rom. 6:15) was grace to be taken for granted.  So, what are we to do?

The definition of Accountability is; the quality or state of being accountable; an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.

A common misconception about this term that is even implied by its definition is that, accountability is simply being responsible to an expectation.  While this definition may be true, I believe there is another perspective about accountability that is worth examining.  Accountability is also about preparation or positioning oneself to be responsible.  Accountability is about WHAT one does to ensure their ability to be responsible.  Accountability is NOT about being perfect or righteous which is where most of our anxiety comes from. Spiritual accountability is about a heart that desires to be responsible to God and being submitted to Him while utilizing the standards of His word to employ those efforts.

Most people who kick themselves for being spiritually weak or irresponsible in a particular area of life may find that their greatest down fall had more to do with a lack of respect and understanding of the power of preparation in a specific area where accountability is needed.  The beautiful thing about accountability is that even when we make a mistake, the call to accountability will also provide a responsible approach to achieving reconciliation.  You see, there is NO FAILURE with ACCOUNTABILITY!  This is the beautiful nature of the “Ministry of Accountability” and within this ministry is the transforming work of God.

The following scriptures should be reviewed as a study.  Read each passage in four different translations (NKJ/NLT/HCSB/ MESSAGE). It is designed to help you look at the believer’s call to accountability with new lenses that will impart hope, passion, and faith to live according to God’s plan for your life with a new found wisdom, commitment and power.

When a person doesn’t have anyone in their life to hold them accountable, that person will live a life that is SELF CONSUMED.  Let’s look at Proverbs 27:1-7

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.  ² Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.  ³ A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. ⁴ Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? ⁵ Better is open rebuke than hidden love. ⁶ Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. ⁷ One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.

It appears that those who live without accountability will seek to obtain self-confidence through their own efforts; a confidence that would otherwise come from their relationship with God and loving relationships. When we are in relationships, we are compelled and sometimes forced to love them, communicate, interact, respond, make commitments, follow through… in other words, “BE ACCOUNTABLE” to the dynamics of those relationships.  When we don’t have genuine loving relationships there is no accountability.  The key word here is “genuine” which implies “from the heart.”  When our lives are full and rich in healthy relationships with God and others, we are not easily offended and able to walk with an inner peace and confidence even in the midst of adversity.  Verse 17 says “Iron sharpens iron.”  This implies that our relationship with God and with others will encourage, inspire, correct and perfect our lives as we strive to live out the two greatest commandments which are, loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matt.22:36-40).  The Ministry of Accountability is really all about the “practice” of walking “FULLY EQUIPPED,” Spiritually!  The believer is very fortunate in this regard as they are not left to accomplish this in their own strength.  They have been instructed to respond to every situation in life according to the standards of God.  Having a genuine growing relationship with God will make this easier to achieve.

In 1Corn. 13:4-8 we read about LOVE.  However, it seems the depth of love commanded from this passage have fallen on “fainted hearts” meaning, while the illustration is passionate and heartwarming, it has somehow become more of a tall list of expectations that are used mainly for inspiration and not something to be attained.  So, how do we REALLY live out love?  I believe it is through Accountability. Through the Ministry of Accountability, we learn how to have “GODLY RELATIONSHIPS” both with God and man. While 1Corn.13 may tell us what love is, what we learn through the Ministry of Accountability is HOW love is actually manifested through our lives, for example:

1. Galatians 6:1-2 – What to do if someone you know sins or makes a mistake

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

2. Matthew 18:15-17 – What to do if someone offends you

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

3. James 5:16 – What to do when you sin or make a mistake

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

4. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – Why there is a need to have at least ONE accountability partner

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep

warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

5. James 5:19-20 – How we respond to the backslider

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

6. Ephesians 4:25 – Honoring the power of our words

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

7. Hebrews 10:25 -The value of meeting regularly with likeminded believers

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

8. Galatians 6:2 -The value of supporting one another in hard times

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

9. Colossians 3:16 – How we should teach and encourage one another in the word

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

10. Ephesians 4:32 – How we should treat one another

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

And the list goes on.  What I found most interesting from these passages is that it implies that living without accountability will make us self-centered and vulnerable to the deceitful nature of sin.   Accountability advises believers to exhort (encourage) one another DAILY.  This is something that will clearly be a step of faith because it seems that it is more natural to be critical, judgmental and jealous of others than to be loving, encouraging and hopeful.  This negative ungodly fruit is in essence the deceitfulness of sin.  Therefore, honoring the Ministry of Accountability apparently guards us against it.  You see, the word of God is our first and primary “Accountability Partner!” As we look to it to keep us, guard us and prepare us for the temptations that confront us daily; accountability creates an environment of encouragement and righteousness that cultivates our lives; enabling God’s genuine love to flow and make our lives rich in His presence.

1Corn. 6:1-8 illustrates the role of accountability when there are legal disputes among believers.  Somehow this mere circumstance sounds like an oxymoron.  Considering the biblical standard of love and peace and the commitment to righteous living that the believer’s walk is supposed to be built upon, why should there be legal disputes among us, Right?…but clearly there are.  In matters such as these, the discussion of accountability in regards to judging disputes has its focused on something surprisingly different in the following passages.  It is the reality that the believer has been ordained to be a peacemaker and judge.  In fact, they have been appointed by God to judge the WORLD!

1Corn.6:1-8                                                                                                                                                                                                

When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers…

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Matthew 5:9

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

The Ministry of Accountability has a judicial system divinely built within the doctrine that governs the community of believers.  It is a model of the judicial system that will govern the Millennial Reign where the believers rule for one thousand years and are positioned to judge the nations.  Wow!  What an eye opener.  Oh how we have forgotten this reality of our spiritual heritage.  So, the way we handle our disputes should be written upon our peacemaker hearts that is in accountability to the ministry of reconciliation; to which we’ve all been called (2Corn. 5:18).

Living accountable to this call will cause us to put into practice the way we will judge disputes in the era that is yet to come.  Paul reminds us of who we are in Christ Jesus and admonishes us that we ought to learn how to settle disputes among us and not to bring our lives shame by going to the courts of sinful men.  You see, accountability not only holds us to righteous living, it also holds us accountable to our spiritual identity so we might be a true light in the world.

This deeper spiritual awareness reminds me of the passage that tells us not to store up treasure on earth that fades away but to be mindful to store up treasures that are eternal (Matt. 6:19-21).  It now seems clear to see that when the believer submits his/her life to be accountable to the word of God and to one another they essentially position themselves for a walk of faith that is genuine, empowered, authentic and ever transforming into the image of Jesus Christ.

Living Accountable Lives

As mentioned, the subject of accountability carries a great weight of anxiety.  So, maintaining a right perspective about accountability will enable us to truly be accountable.  Remember, accountability is NOT about being perfect or righteous as it is about being spiritually prepared and equipped; having a heart that desires to be spiritually responsible in all circumstances.  This simply requires us to trust and submit to God, utilizing His standards (which is the word of God) that will empower and teach us HOW to live genuine godly lives.

I would conclude now that the entire bible is an instruction manual on how to live ACCOUNTABLE.  The understanding here is that the power of accountability is found in the standards of God…so we must trust the standard, not a person and most certainly not ourselves.  This is where many stumble and stress about living righteous.  Living righteous is not about following rules. It is about “Keeping Covenant.”  Think about it, relationships of all kind mature and grow because each party understood the terms of their covenant with one another (both spoken and unspoken).  They CHOSE to trust the terms and so in keeping them, it would ensure a healthy loving relationship.  In essence, they chose to live “Set Apart” (holy) and “Righteous” to their covenant terms.  They chose to live contrary to the lifestyles of those around them.  You see, God knew the ability to live righteous was not in our nature as human beings because we are sinful by nature.  In fact, those we have chosen to be in relationship with will by default, become our “accountability partner.”  Yes! It is through these special chosen relationships that God will use every bump in the road to encourage us to re-evaluate our covenant terms with God (as it pertains to our relationships) and then decide if we are truly committed to love God and others for LIFE.  The Ministry of Accountability helps us to understand the importance of our “life in the spirit.”  Life in the spirit engages us beyond a person’s physical presence, it is the life of God that flows “through us” spiritually.  It is the life of God’s spirit and presence.  Broken relationships don’t begin with a separation. It begins with a broken spirit, long before physical separation takes place.  This is why the Ministry of Accountability is a gift from God.

You see, the work of accountability is “Ministry” not misery!  This means its work is divine in nature, bearing supernatural elements, achieving spiritual purposes and producing supernatural fruit in God.  Like everything divine, we experience a supernatural presence and intervention of God when we exercise it.  It seems reasonable to say then, that accountability is the divine tool or discipline that enables every believer to live a supernatural life in God and with men.  The Ministry of Accountability teaches us to love and value this kind of support and therefore, it should be something everyone should seek out.  For example, Galatians 6:1-18 suggests that each person is responsible to restore a fellow believer caught in a transgression.  It warns to keep watch upon our own lives, lest we are tempted also.  This is fascinating for many reasons.  You see, too often we tend to run away or pull back from someone in error or caught in a transgression. We are easy to judge, gossip and condemn or we may smugly tell them what they need to do.  This passage suggests that when we do this, we become prideful and subject for an equal fall – making us hypocritical and blind to God’s greater will.  This attitude appears to be a common criticism from the world about the church and Christians within the Body of Christ.  The Ministry of Accountability instructs us to go after and restore one another in a spirit of love and gentleness and to bear one another’s burdens.  This would suggest that in doing so we are guarded against fear, pride, deception, and hypocrisy.  Protection is GOOD!

Ephes. 4:1-32 suggests you should walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called (with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love and eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace). You see, the title “Child of God” really means something.  If we are pursuing the genuine ministry of accountability, then we will walk in humility and gentleness, with patience, and bearing with one another.”  Could this be the key to living accountable?  What then enables us to walk in humility, gentleness, patience?  I believe it is simply submission to the standards of God’s word.  It is a constant admission of “Not my will but thy will be done.”  This kind of obedience doesn’t scrutinize and judge God’s word, it simply trusts in His ways above anything else and as a result, we receive His supernatural purpose, presence, and power in our lives.  We don’t even need to worry if we are good at anything because we are led by an humble, submissive and loving heart.  God will make everything come out just right when we place His desires above our own.  Luke 17:3 reminds us to “pay attention to ourselves.”  What is interesting here is that we will see that the greatest work of accountability is when we pay attention to how we treat others and in particular with those who offend us.

You see, those we have chosen to walk accountable to should remind us of God’s truth. They will support and encourage us to pursue the will and purposes of God in our lives even when it’s hard.  When each person is committed to God to do their part, then the Ministry of Accountability is manifested perfectly.  Now, Hebrews 13:17-21 directs our attention to how we should relate to leaders among us. It simply instructs us to submit to them.  Notice it doesn’t define what kind of leaders they are.  We want to assume these are pastors, employers, government and civic leaders etc.  However, these authority figures can be represented by almost anyone like husbands, teachers, group leaders, spiritual parents and mentors and most importantly, God.  I believe the Ministry of Accountability keeps us humble so we may be able to honor and respect those who have been appointed to govern our lives (whether we like them or not).  This structure of accountability pleases God because it cultivates an environment of order, peace, and harmony with God and among men.  It will also challenge us to remain mindful in being accountable to the word of God and to one another.

The Ministry of Accountability creates an atmosphere of compassion and growth!  Romans 15:17 encourages us to consider those who are weak among us.  Weakness could be referred to as physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, financial and economic weaknesses.  The Ministry of Accountability causes us to be discerning of our own spirit of arrogance and pride that would look down upon the weak, thinking we are better than they are.  Even worse, shamefully we might endeavor to keep them down in order to feel strong. This passage suggests that genuine concern for the weak produces compassion and harmony and is in alignment with the ministry of Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us to consider how to stir up one another in love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, but encouraging one another, and all the more as we see the Day of the Lord drawing near.  The Ministry of Accountability calls us to be proactive in our relationships, in particular among believers.  Love, peace, and harmony doesn’t just happen, it happens when we actively stir up the standards of God.  Being accountable doesn’t require us to like, or agree with the standards of God; we merely need to trust, submit and obey them.  The blessing they hold will come only after we act in obedience and its outcome is so rich that it will encourage us to continue in them and in time, it will become a desire of our heart.  What is also important to realize is that the Ministry of Accountability is a missional work until Jesus Christ returns.  You see, if we let down our guard in the work of accountability we will become vulnerable and prone to error and offense.  The standard of God is what clothes us as a people of God and without it, we walk naked and ashamed of God, causing our godly presence among men to diminish in the earth.  You see, the Ministry of Accountability is a POWERFUL thing in our lives.

The Ministry of Accountability is a discipleship principle!  In fact, Philippians 3:17 suggest we have only to imitate the walk of those who live an exemplary godly life – in summary, “model after those who model after Christ.”  This is indeed at the heart and soul of good discipleship where mentoring and spiritual parenting is most useful.  It also seems accountability is most talked about in the world when it comes to money!  It seems when the topic of accountability comes up most people think of stewardship ie., FINANCES.  As you can see the Ministry of Accountability covers a gamut of different topics.  However, while accountability in finances could easily stand alone as a study, I believe Matthew 23:23 and Matt. 6:23 highlights the important points.

Matt. 23:23

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”

 Matt. 6:23

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Throughout the Gospels, we read how Jesus considered the Pharisees an ungodly, has-been, religious group whose degenerated doctrine has now become a heavy weight upon the people of God.  Jesus’ New Covenant message was quite a contrast from what the Pharisees were preaching.  Jesus was explicit in clarifying which of these ethical standards (money or justice) was more important while both were considered valuable.  Deuteronomy 16:17 seem to speak to the heart of what Jesus was conveying to the Pharisees; “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you.”  It now seems apparent, that the Ministry of Accountability has a host of highly regarded principles leaving none to be overlooked.

The most important thing to understand about the Ministry of Accountability is to realize that God is ALWAYS concerned about our RELATIONSHIPS…the one we have with Him and those we have with others.  This is what Jesus described as the two greatest commandments in Matt. 22:36-40.  Accountability is formed as a threefold cord.  We are accountable to God, His word and to men.  We are empowered to walk accountable when we submit to the divine support that comes from God, His word and fellow trustworthy believers.  The Ministry of Accountability was divinely designed for the purpose of growing and cultivating these important relationships and God has carefully illustrated in His word how to live it out.

Are you a SAVED, SATISFIED, SASSY Single Woman?  I believe I am, which is why I always like to share something encouraging for all the “Single Ladies” (and men) during Valentine season. You see, holiness (living set apart) is NOT DEAD and it doesn’t have to be boring either.  If you think it is, then consider, you may need to reevaluate your social influences!

So, this time I decided I’m going to be very transparent for the sake of providing a clear guide that will support those who still believe in a biblical approach to love and romance before marriage.  Dating is not something I do much of, but when I do, I have a clear understanding of what I’m investing in.  Is my plan perfect?  Probably not.  Is there a guarantee you will find your soulmate? Humm, hard to say, but I believe for the avid dating types, it will guard you against danger, reckless heartbreak, and regret. What I can tell you for sure is that this is MY PLAN and it’s working for me.

Introduction:

When a man and woman decide they want to get to know each other better they are in essence giving each other an invitation to LOVE.  In my peacemaking book, Skills for Life, there are three principles I signatured on the topic of love that I value greatly, they are;

“Love is living God’s way…SKILLFULLY”

“Skill is the missing link between godly principles and practice.”

“Love does not command people to be perfect.  It commands people to address each           situation with the perfectness of LOVE”

When it comes to Love & Romance for singles,  I believe the Bible is very clear about its standard.

1 Corin. 6:18-20

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

 1 Corin. 7:2

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

Heb. 13:4

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

 It is apparent, our present social culture no longer believes in the value of these biblical principles and it appears that the sentiments are equally shared among many Christian believers as well.

I believe the reason for this is because many can attest that it seems like there are as many divorced Christian couples as there are divorce non-believing couples. Although, here are the facts.

***Professor Bradley Wright, a sociologist at the University of Connecticut, explains from his analysis of people who identify as Christians but rarely attend church, that 60 percent of these have been divorced. Of those who attend church regularly, 38 percent have been divorced.¹ © 2011 Focus on the Family.

Other data from additional sociologists of family and religion suggest a significant marital stability divide between those who take their faith seriously and those who do not.  Bradford Wilcox, a leading sociologist at the University of Virginia and director of the National Marriage Project, finds from his own analysis that “active conservative Protestants” who regularly attend church have are 35 percent less likely to divorce compared to those who have no affiliation. Nominally attending conservative Protestants are 20 percent more likely to divorce, compared to secular Americans.² © 2011 Focus on the Family

In addition, it seems reasonable to presume that both you and I may know some secular marriages that appear equally as healthy and happy as some Christian ones, so what then is the purpose for a biblical standard in dating relationships?  The answer, I believe, is in the quest for finding “True Love.”  God’s ways are a mystery (1 John 4:8, Eph. 1:9) and it is only found when we align our lives with His word.  The awareness of righteousness is inherently within every human being but the power to walk in it is another thing altogether.  That is why there are some people who find true love and may not know God and yet there are others who claim to know God and still have not surrendered to His way.  This is because you must be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind (Rom. 12:2).  The greater revelation here is that God’s principles for living are available for ANYONE to embrace but salvation and relationship with our creator and Heavenly Father ONLY comes through Jesus Christ.  So if a happy relationship becomes more valuable than the need for spiritual salvation, then you’ve sadly missed the point of God’s life-giving grace that comes to us through true love and romance.  You see, whether a couple finds Christ during dating (ideally) or during marriage, this was ALWAYS the goal in the heart of God and true love is merely a vehicle in accomplishing this among endearing couples.

So why is true love so challenging?  It is because God’s love is a command, which suggests it is not innately within us. Therefore, God’s love is presented to us as a CHOICE!  The best way to describe God’s love is that it is a “spiritual skill” and when it is courageously practiced, it will always produce the fruits of God’s spirit in its time.  Therefore, when we know what to do and we don’t do it, we have made a definitive choice NOT to love and as a result, sin will abound.

I believe the scriptures about holiness and obtaining from fornication divinely provides us a pathway for avoiding the distractions and diabolical spiritual entanglements that are positioned to robbed us from the power to walk in this supernatural gift of love.  In addition, holiness purifies our heart so we might fully recognize the grace, privilege, and blessing of God’s word that empowers us to walk in True Love as a gift from God.

Below you will see that I’ve taken the liberty to share with you my personal plan on how to honor God’s principles in a dating lifestyle as a godly woman.  Love & Romance before marriage doesn’t have to be boring or a painful struggle.  As God intended, it should be a fun and exciting adventure that is well defined, sacred, sincere and strategic as it flows and grows.

Love & Romance, prior to marriage, should evolve out of 3 stages: COURTSHIP, DATING, and EXCLUSIVITY.  Ideally, the full length of a healthy dating relationship that ultimately leads to marriage should be appropriately 1-3 years (considering growing pains).

Note: If there is no clear view to marriage after dating someone for 3 years…it is certainly time to consider moving on.  Below is my basic outline for enjoying godly Love & Romance.

PATHWAY TO GODLY DATING

 Stage 1 – Courtship: 

This is the stage where you first meet and it’s exciting, mysterious and fun because you’ve finally met someone where the feelings seem mutual. This stage is very superficial though. There’s no romance on this stage. It is pure friendship and focused on just getting to know each other. During this stage, intimacy is experienced through “conversation.” If you think you’re on to a good thing…then you will be able to talk for HOURS sometimes 2, 3, 4, 5 hours, in one sitting, and not even realize it!  Conversation on this level can be compared to what you might imagine good sex to be like, “you just can’t get enough of it.” LOL. This level of engagement is all about learning each other.  You will talk about values, beliefs, family life,  relationships, life experiences, likes and dislikes, habits, quirks, convictions goals etc. There’s full transparency during this stage (at least you assume it is). There is also no affectionate language or interaction on this stage. You may not even go out for a couple of weeks and if you do, it is random such as for a cup of coffee, movie, shopping or a bite to eat, all purely platonic.

Now, communication is a key spiritual tool during courtship. It has the power to discern a number of things about what is blooming between the two of you and it is critical to pay attention to!  This is when a trusted, mature godly friend or mentor will come in handy to sound off some of your concerns if needed.  Communication is the cornerstone of ALL types of relationships and it has the ability to make or break even the best of them.  HOW, WHEN and the WAY you communicate, in particular as issues arise, will certainly tell if your courtship will come to a screeching halt or continue flowing to the next level. Communication will reveal the areas of your heart and life that you both walk in agreement.  You can be sure, if there’s going to be any obstructions during courtship, communication will reveal it!  If there is going to be continual growth in this budding romance, then a healthy approach in how you communicate (which builds trust) will advance you to the next stage which is DATING.  Because this stage has no exclusive commitments, courtship is an “open relationship” meaning, you can have many “friends!”  It is only when either of you realizes there is a genuine romantic interest between the two of you that dating becomes an option. This is when the relationship dynamics become more sensitive because who wants to be one of several dates!  Well, this is why holiness is so important.

Duration:  This stage typically last 3-6 months, however, after about a month, you should start seeing significant things about each other that will surface and it will command your attention.  If you decide to continue as friends, consider there has been no harm/no loss and hearts are still intact, safe and sound. This is the blessing of COURTSHIP.

Stage 2 – Dating:

This is the stage where you invest your heart and your life for a season of testing. It is probably the stage that most people fear and feel greatly challenged. This is the stage oftentimes that will make or break a relationship. This is a stage most people take for granted and disrespect healthy boundaries; allowing the “Author of Confusion” (Satan) to come in to kill, still and destroy what might have been something beautiful or to lead you into the comfort lifestyle of “Christian Carnality.”  In any case, most believer’s will agree that they can sense these options were not God’s best for their lives (John 10:10, Gal. 5:17).

Ok, so this is the stage where you REALLY like each other and you let each other know it. You’re obviously growing closer and now you want to spend more time together. You might even travel together (separate quarters of course.) You are now affectionately engaging; exchanging sweet hugs and kisses (in moderation), holding hands, you might lounge on a sunny beach together, enjoy entertainment in public settings and group dating is highly encouraged but not necessary.  In essence, you are doing things that most endearing couples do, except for sex! (not on any level). You are enjoying each other’s company, companionship and you might even take on a few adventures together that will show you how well you work together as a team. This is also the stage where you work through the real stuff in a relationship.  You may disagree, argue and disappoint each other.  You may have a crisis that will test your loyalty and devotion toward one another.  In short, “the honeymoon” of the Courtship Stage is over and you’re now in the trenches of what it takes to really live out a relationship of love. This is the stage where you will know each other by your FRUIT!  It will be all about what you DO, not what you say on this stage.  Consistency will be the gauge to determine the heart of a man or woman so let time reveal what’s true.  Dating is the season for serious investments, you won’t be able to fake it here!  Breakups in this stage might be hard but it will be for obvious reasons for which you will thank God for.

During the Dating Stage, you can break off the relationship at any time without too much pain or regret for reasons of what I like to call the “3Ds,” DISTRUST, DISRESPECT, and DISLIKE. Hey, if after three months of dating and you still feel like you don’t know your mate or he/she can’t be trusted, they disrespect you with their words or actions without conviction or you find you really just want to be their friend, these are opportunities to shift your relationship back into the Courtship Stage and count it all JOY!  This can also be the stage that both of you determine neither of you are perfect and realize you are better and happier together than you are apart, which will lead you to the next stage, EXCLUSIVITY.

Duration:  Now, very often this stage may overlap the Courting Stage, therefore, the Dating Stage alone can last 6-12 months.

Stage 3 – Exclusivity:

Exclusivity means just what it says, your relationship is EXCLUSIVE to one another alone.  The Dating Stage makes a distinction in this regard.  During dating, you are exploring your feelings and compatibility both practically and spiritually to see if you will ever become exclusive.  Indeed, that should be the goal.  The Dating Stage is not for hanging out!  Dating can be a dangerous stage if aimlessly prolonged because there is a level of romance that can easily take advantage of your emotions and trip you up if you’re not intentional about your objectives.  In fact, if after 3-5 months of dating and you haven’t become exclusive then consider, you probably won’t, because it’s not that hard to know if you really care about someone and want to progress forward.  So you can see, God’s standard for romance truly holds us ACCOUNTABLE, and it’s all in our best interest.

Aright! You are EXCLUSIVE!  Well, this stage is all about the future! You have determined that you are serious about each other and there is no other person you want to occupy your time with. This is the stage where you may acknowledge your love for one another.  It is clear, you are serious about each other and you are now contemplating “marriage” and there’s no secret about it.  In fact, your general conversation will become more about how well you can build a future together and in some cases, you might be already adjusting your life and future plans in order to make it possible. This is probably the shortest stage because passions may be running high by now and because of the growing love that you share, you’re not going to drag out this stage any longer than necessary if you’re going to stay in the will of God, and I believe this is exactly how God designed it.  Exclusivity should be a restful stage because all the “extra” nonsense you commonly experience during dating is laid to rest. You have decided, you are going to be LOVERS, COMPANIONS and a TEAM…to the Glory of God!

Duration: This stage often overlaps with the Dating Stage.  Therefore, it should last about 4 to 6 additional months after a quality dating period before there’s an engagement.

In Conclusion:

Something I believe we must never forget is that God is the author of ALL things created.  This means our universe, our world, our bodies, our relationships, marriage, family is all created by God.  Even the standard in how we are to live, love and worship God and more specifically, the way we are to love one another, is a “divine design.” (John 13:34-35). The dynamics of love and romance is no exception.  God has a standard.  While it may not be written out in full detail, I believe we all can agree that there is enough in the word of God to work with that will enable the Spirit of God to illustrate the rest (as he did for me).   Pursuing holiness is our sacred right and only the believer has the power of God available to them to live it out.

Certainly, if God created our sensual desires He had something good in mind that it was to accomplish.  God did not intend for our passions to tempt us into sin but rather, to recognize that sin becomes realized when righteousness (right living) is misused by doing things outside of the will and order of God.  We must continue to hold to the truth that there is a better way to live and it has been designed by God.  Love & romance God’s way is embedded in holiness and it leaves nothing lacking in bringing salvation, joy and fulfillment to our lives. Best of all, God’s pathway to love and romance will graciously hold us accountable to His standard of love (in our best interest), enabling each of us to fully enjoy the journey in finding true love with beauty, dignity, safety, and joy.

The Holiness Dare

Share this article with other believers to determine if they too desire a godly approach to dating.  As you come into agreement, commit to gathering once a month over coffee or lunch to discuss your dating values and to pray for each other and hold one another accountable when dating.  As each of you become actively dating, commit to chat/connect weekly, be transparent and to work through and identify your dating challenges specific to this plan. Talk to the Holy Spirit daily about this and journal your experience.

HAPPY DATING!

Always, at the close of a year and the beginning of a new, we take time for reflection and evaluation, with hope and promise for the BLESSING OF GOD in the new year.

I have discovered that the blessings of God are rich and overflowing daily in our lives if we know what to look for. When we understand what the blessing of God really is, I believe we will change the way we pray and we will become much more grateful and able to see how blessed we truly are.

On that note, I look to the following scriptures that seem to sum this up nicely.

Matt. 5:45

so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Reflection :
The blessing of God as an “earthly reward” is given to both the just and unjust, there is no distinction, and its PROVISION is designed to encourage us to be “children of our Father in heaven.”  So, don’t despair when you see the wicked prosper, this is simply a reflection of the season of grace we currently live in, where sin and Satan abounds.  The provisional blessing of God is also a reflection of the depth of love that God has for all humanity. Therefore, we shouldn’t take His liberality personal.

Proverbs 10:22

 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Reflection :

Now the blessings of God that is full of GRACE “has no sorrow with it” and because it is free from burden, we are able to bear much fruit, to the glory of God.

So let us not be deceived in believing the blessing of God through “provision” and “grace” was meant for reasons to boast and glorify ourselves. No, the blessing of God is a reward of God’s loving kindness for just being His creation.  It comes so that our “grateful” hearts might serve Him even more!  It comes so we might be set free to serve God without restraints and manifest His visions in the earth through our faithful service. So don’t shamefully boast in mere THINGS without also bearing a “heavenly fruit” to show for it.  Otherwise, you have your reward (applause), and they are blessing in vain.

Scripture References:

Matt.5:45, Proverbs 10:22, Matt. 6:19-20, Proverbs 13:22, Rom. 11:29, Mark 8:36, Luke 9:1-5, Matt. 6:10

Prayer of Blessing:

Oh Lord let us in 2018 discover even more, the walk of faith that will reward with the true blessings of your PROVISION & GRACE. The blessings that compels us to love and serve you more out of grateful hearts.  The blessings that are both small and great that bears no labor, weights or burdens to maintain or sustain it. Bless us Lord so that we might be truly set free to worship you as you so greatly desire. This is what our hearts truly long for…and this is what we seek.

In Jesus name, Amen.

*Discover how I came to learn this at: http://www.karengaithersministries/my-journey

Sharing with you just an excerpt from the “Sum of My Call” workbook.  It is taken from the closing section called “Inspirational Notes.”  I love this chapter because it radically shakes up and disrupts our traditional thinking, definition and meaning of fellowship gatherings, ie “church.”  I think you’re going to enjoy reading this…who knows, you just might be set FREE!

~ . ~

The word of God encourages the believer to fellowship one with another as a responsibility of their faith because as a principle of God, it is certain to add “Sweetness” to their life.  This sweetness causes us to walk in the spirit – exchanging blessing and spiritual gifts that ONLY comes from God.  This sweetness adds value to our lives; it builds us up in love, provides accountability and creates a blessed unity among believers.  Fellowship of this kind also develops a sense of culture and spiritual courage through strength in numbers.

Every believer needs the life and spirit of God to keep them united and walking in faith, hope and love.  This life and spirit of God is organically imparted through the bonds of Fellowship.  Yes, the REAL joys in life truly come from a thriving relationship with God and with others.  This lifestyle of fellowship fulfills the two greatest commandments Jesus spoke of in Matt. 22:36-40 which commands us essentially to “Love God” and “Love One Another.”  How we do that is within the construct of our relationships and how effective we are in our relationships will be determined by how well we nurture them through FELLOWSHIP.  Lastly, as prayer intercessors and spiritual warriors the bible is clear that a united prayer force is powerful and invokes an even greater response from God.  This is a benefit exclusive to fellowship.

Matt. 18:19-20

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Joshua 23:10

One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised.

While it may seem as though fellowship only provides the simple joys in life, the truth is, these “simple joys” are not easily obtained because relationships are complex.  Relationships are often compromised by pride, selfishness and sin. This is why fellowship must be embraced as a command of God if its blessing is going to be realized.  If we were to consider for a moment what the various keys of the kingdom were that Jesus spoke of to Peter in Matt.16:19, I would say that the “Key of Fellowship” might have been one of them.  The call to fellowship is clearly a spiritual principle and if we are not in regular fellowship with other believers or experiencing healthy relationships through fellowship then our walk of faith can become seriously compromised and slowly depleted of God’s life, love and spirit.

Healthy fellowship, like relationships is hard to find and many may opt to not be a part of one or become selective in their participation due to bad experiences.  While their reasons may be valid, the fact still remains that it is a biblical principle strongly encouraged by God and anything God desires for His people is not only good for them it is a blessing to their lives that must be sought after.  The bible has much to say about fellowship.

Hebrews 10:24-25

“and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Philemon 1:6

“and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.”

1 Corinthians 14:26

“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation Let all things be done for edification.”

Psalm 55:14

“We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng.”

So the critical question becomes, what constitutes a suitable fellowship?  Let’s consider the words of Jesus in Matt. 18:19-20  19″Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Let’s take a moment here to clarify a long standing misconception.  The weekly religious experience of believers meeting in a specific facility for worship is not “CHURCH.”  The bible defines the “collective people of God” as the Church and the Body of Christ.  Therefore, wherever they gather, outside, online, in a house, in a tent, in a building, in a school, a restaurant, or a warehouse they are THE CHURCH.  They are not defined by their bare or beautiful walls that confine them.  More importantly, whether they are 2 or 20,000 wherever the people of God are gathered in the name of Christ Jesus, God will be present among them to bless, edify, heal deliver and set them free.

I’m sure it is easy for those of us who are “church cultured” to consider that in the days of King Solomon, the beauty, holiness, craftsmanship and royal and priestly regalia that was a part of honoring God in the temple was right and appropriate for the house of God then, and should be our example for the house of worship today.  This is indeed a wonderful concept, if that were truly what we see in churches today, but let’s be honest, its not!  Furthermore, this order of worship is an Old Testament practice and since that time the prophet Joel has declared a coming new era and the resurrection of Jesus has confirmed and announced that this new era has indeed come.  As New Covenant Believers we also know that the temple of God is no longer an Ark, it is not a building made with stone, wood or iron, it is a temple made with flesh and blood; it is our living bodies and our walk of faith have become a daily living sacrifice unto God (Rom. 12:1, 1Corn. 6:19).  This is why the Church could be considered a “church without walls.”  She is a living, breathing, growing organism belonging to God.  She is a mobilized presence of God all over the world. This is an image of the Church that can only be realized when the people of God come together for fellowship.

When we consider more deeply what a church without walls looks like it is clear that wherever an individual believer is, God is present.  When they collectively come together…God has the ability to be even more present.  God is not present in just music, preaching, celebration and pageantry; He is most present through a living word expressed through a collective people of faith that believes they have the power to be a light in ills of darkness.  God is present in the working of miracles, testimonies, corporate prayer and prophetic revelation.  He is present in the Church through their love and unity and as an agent of change within the communities they are called to.  God is present in a Church that is missional and focused on life transformation, not for the sake of worldly success but for the sake of divine purpose and representing God in the earth. God is present in the compelling truth of sound doctrine and the fundamentals of practical Christian living.  God is present in the Church through the motivating words herald from His passionate messengers and prophetic music and dance. God is present through the empowerment of Christ-centered education, mentoring and spiritual parenting and the dynamics of family as a culture for cultivating the next generation of godly leaders.  God is present in a Church without walls through the network of believers who are increasingly alert, ready and watchful as they await Jesus’ second return.  This is what the Fellowship of Believers should look like.  This is the image and mandate of the collective body that is called “The Church of Jesus Christ.”

Joel 2:28-29New Living Translation (NLT)

The Lord’s Promise of His Spirit

^28 [a]“Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
²⁹ In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants—men and women alike.

Jerimiah 31:33

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

1Corinthians. 6:19

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

The principle of fellowship should not be blanketed with a shallow definition of merely being a Christian gathering. When we view fellowship as “the church without walls” we are able to remove our religious perceptions of fellowship and allow the fellowship of believers to be more rightly defined by its people, power, love, faith, community and work.  A church without walls does’nt have to meet on any particular day of the week or meet a set number of days of the week to be a legitimate fellowship.  Remember, “wherever 2-3 are gathered in my name”…Matt. 18:20.   This means a fellowship can be 2-3, meeting every day, once a week, once a month etc.  The point I’m making here is that a fellowship is defined by the nature of the group and the nature or culture of the group will define the group’s nuances.  When believers come together in faith and mission at a set time with a set purpose they are a MINISTRY OF FELLOWSHIP and God has promised to be in the midst of them.

Now, when we view fellowship in the light of scripture as a “church without walls” it then becomes easy to see that the believer is able to be a part of a variety of different fellowships at one time.  No longer will traditional church systems have to carry the unnecessary burden of recruiting and maintaining memberships, control the liberties of parishioners from fellowshipping with other groups and coerce parishioners to give financially to sustain the financial responsibilities of elaborate buildings and any number of required staff salaries.  The blessing of genuine Christ-centered fellowships is that they are fueled by vision, passion, love, faith and conviction. This means the various needs, projects and goals of a particular group is accomplished collectively among their fellowship family or network.  Furthermore, if salaries are necessary they should be few, reserved for most needed full/part-time fellowship administrators and the salaries should be collectively decided upon by fellowship partners.

No doubt this concept of fellowship may break the mold of our traditional concept of church. It might even appear that I’m suggesting that exclusive membership with a local church is not encouraged. I believe the best answer to these questions is MAYBE. This is most certainly an individual choice and the best way to determine what is right for you is to discern what God is speaking to YOU about the matter-right where you are.  In any case, the most important thing to understand about fellowship is that the believer’s life cannot and should not be lived without it. This is the framework where the family of God and His kingdom is realized on earth. This is the platform for ministry, discipleship, accountability, counsel, developing friendships and receiving love and support as you weather through the challenges of life and the perplexities of Christian living.  The truth of the matter is that no one fellowship has it all, as you are living and growing in Christ as a life long journey.  Therefore, every believer should endeavor to be led by God as to what and where to be actively involved.  This could be one fellowship or a variety of fellowships where each unique mission and work is effectively transforming your heart, mind and life to the glory of God.

While it may be that you will not backslide by missing a Sunday service or two however, it is for certain if you do not have the ministry of fellowship as an intricate part of your spiritual life you will soon discover the wicked fruits of isolation and the challenges of a stale, handicapped walk of faith slowly consume you.  Trying to live without a consistent source of meaningful fellowship is an unwise choice for the average believer and even more for those serving in leadership.  Many leaders have learned the hard way that their role does not exempt them from the fundamental disciplines and principles of godly living.  In fact, it would be reasonable to say that these standards would apply even more for leaders and their families because of the weight of responsibility that they carry in the work of leading “other people’s lives.”

Embracing the biblical principle for fellowship as a standard for Christian living is no doubt a major component in understanding the Ministry of Fellowship.  However, let me suggest that it is only the beginning.  While fellowship may be the vehicle to gather the people together, what happens within each fellowship is what characterizes the significance of its work.  This work is the “Ministry” that sets Christ-centered fellowships a part from any other fellowship.  The following chapters provide a clear and biblical illustration of what this work of ministry should look like.

*(For the sake of this blog, I will just list them with out reflections) Ps.55, Acts 2. 1John 1, Heb. 13, Gal. 2, Philip. 1, Phile. 1, 1 Corn. 14

In conclusion, the ministry of fellowship is not defined by numbers of participants, size and beauty of a building, property or a fellowship with elaborate programs and performances.

The Ministry of Fellowship that God desires, is a simple concept, it is personal and intimate in love, faith, work, discipleship and ministry.  It is one where God is present, magnified through His people and where genuine love abounds. The rest that is added to such gatherings could be considered extra, entertaining and inspirational.   No doubt all efforts of what we call church today serves a legitimate purpose in worship and fellowship however, if it is truly accomplishing the “Ministry” of fellowship, it is collaborative, prophetic, missional, and most of all, transforming people’s lives through the power of God.