Sharing God (Part 2)

In

part 1

, I examined the

challenges of persecution and how we address it,

in light of my own experience with those I love in the "New Age" or "Universe" movement, as the Church often refers to it. I spoke about Love, as it pertains to Christ, and touched on the appeal of this new movement to 'the youth' who are leaving the Church.

Here, I delve into the

similarities and differences

between the teachings of Christianity and the "New Age or "Universe" movement, and some considerations for how we can be

living examples of the Love of God in Christ,

through the Holy Spirit. Examples to 'the young people' and the world at large.

Source:

lovecoversall-godislove.blogspot.ca/2014/11/sharing-god-part-2.html

Christ and the "New Age" Movement

So many in the Church have risen up forcefully against the "New Age" or "Universe" movement. I can understand why. Still, we should pay attention.

Similarities

Here are some of their beliefs that we share:

• Love yourself. It's the only way you can love someone else. (Matthew 22:34-40 ESV)

• The world needs us to be all that we were made to be. (Matthew 25:14-30 ESV)

• Love is what everyone needs. Everything good comes from this. (again, Matthew 22:34-40 ESV)

• Be generous. Give when you can. (Matthew 25:31-40 ESV)

• Bless and you will be blessed. There's good in everyone. (Romans 12:14-21 MSG)

Differences

Here are a few places where we greatly differ:

• There is no right or wrong

• There is no absolute truth

• There is no God. 'God' is each of us and the collective us.

We can see where things begin to go awry in the absence of God in Christ. 

The enemy always uses a little truth to make the lies credible

 and our enemy is no fool. He's done a phenomenal job, right?

What's missing? 

The one thing that we all seem to miss when we raise this 'discussion' is

Salvation.

We know this is a matter of Life or Death.

We know this is precisely why the enemy has built in the element of "no right or wrong":

1. People were not designed to bear guilt, shame, feeling 'wrong' all the time. It's why we get sick.

2. Christ died to free us from all of that, reconcile us to God once and for all, so we can be whole.

3. "New Age" has to include all religions, which don't all free us, but they still have to 'free us'.

4. To do that, either everyone has to be 'good' or nothing is. So "New Age" just eliminates it.

As we should know by now, however,

ignoring something doesn't mean it no longer exists.

"Right and wrong" or "good and evil" is no different. Subconsciously, we all know this.

Eventually, Christian or "New Age", we all have to face it.

Freedom to Simply Be

To Christians, it seems ridiculous that someone would pass up Christ's sacrifice in favor of ignoring the existence of "good and evil", but if we move past our fear of questioning, we'll see that

right after Jesus tore the curtain to give us direct access to God, we let a few members of the Church build it right back up, again.

We almost immediately gave up our "freedom to simply be" exactly who we are before God, so that He could heal our hurts and release us to freely Love.

We too have been deceived.

The "New Age" or "Universe" movement has given that back, or has given the appearance of it.

Like the Church, however, you have it "as long as you agree with us".

Hence the persecution of the Christian philosophy. (I can only speak of my experience, but perhaps others feel it as well.)

The point is that

all human organization suffers from the politics of fear, control and manipulation.

How do we resolve that? As Christians, we have to

allow people to "get there when they get there".

No more, "you have to..." and quoting the Bible as a form of control to make those around us conform to our ideas of who God is.

We have to celebrate diversity,

share the word, starting in Christian community, and simply let people learn, respond and grow as they will. In all the parables,

God in Christ is always the only one allowed to "separate the weeds from the wheat".

It is only in relationship, through example,

that we open the door for Christ's Love and Salvation (not our Words, but the Holy Spirit, Himself) to reach anyone.

Did you come to know God because you were told, or because you had your own personal encounter with God and God's Love?

Don't force it. Let others enjoy the God-given freedom to Simply Be.

Are you free to Simply Be?

The root cause of our behavior as Christians is our own perspective of ourselves.

Do you love yourself as Christ loves you and has called you to love others? Do you really? So many of us believe it's

vanity or pride

to enjoy ourselves -

our physique, our features, our brains, our passions, our spirit (do you know your spirit?), our emotions, our unique person.

So much so that we dare not look to closely at ourselves. Well, then...

how on earth are you supposed to know what to take to God for healing if we don't know ourselves? (Hint:

It's not by what others tell us.) That's not personal, intimate relationship with God. If you are "not supposed to" stop to love and enjoy yourself,

how are you supposed to love others as you love yourself?

 Aah. Do you see?

That's exactly what we're doing.

We're harsh self-critics, and so that's how we love the world. Are you willing to change that?

Speak Love.

It's the language we all speak, or are learning to speak.

Share Christ simply by being, but first, you have to learn to Be.

Only then, will He flow naturally in your conversation. How does He flow naturally? It's situational. You'll have to take the time to know yourself first.

Not the "photocopied Christian self"

most of us know, but

the individual Christian self

that God has called You to be in this world.

Know how YOU hear God,

so you'll hear Him in each situation, as you respond. Know your unique passions, call, purpose, so you know exactly how you fit into Christian community, and the larger global community.

Persecution by the Church against You

As I write this, I recommend that you go back to

part 1

, which addresses

how to deal with persecution in Love.

We have to first learn how to

love those "at home" before we can go out and love the world.

In much the same way as we have to learn to love ourselves before we can go out and love others.

We speak of persecution in the world, but I invite you to consider another kind of persecution.

Boundaries destroyed. Perspectives obliterated. Voices silenced. Based on good intentions,

but founded on fear, groupthink (

definition

) and a limited perspective of Love,

we the Church (knowingly and unknowingly) have forced diversity out.

The very diversity that Christ built into the individual beings that should make up the complete and healthy body of Christ, a body that truly reflects every single aspect of possibility that is us, in the image of God, we've shut it down. Today, the very small part of the body of Christ thrives in our Church(es) is represented by a small representation of the character of God. With good intentions,

the small 'majority'

are men of a certain age who've been domineering enough to

bend the will of those who could have represented the rest of the character of Christ.

Those men and the women who agree with those men.

This is not a call to attack them. It is, however, a call to step out of bondage and seek God yourself.

Your Journey of Freedom to Simply Be

I'd like to invite you on a true journey of freedom.

A journey of self-exploration in your being, rather than in rigid fear and logic. I challenge you to explore this world that God put us in.

You were born exactly when you were supposed to be born, into the right generation.

You are exactly where you were meant to be at this time (

Psalm 139 ESV

), in your spirit, body and soul (i.e. your mind, your will, your emotions).

This will be your platform for future inspiration. You'll be surprised.

I invite you to step out empowered by the love, faith, hope and joy of Christ,

not driven by fear of being wrong or deceived. Read the Word, know God in Christ, but KNOW God in Christ, in the fullness of who He really is. He made everything on this planet - spiritual and physical - and we cannot have dominion over what we do not know or understand.

Explore with God in Christ as your guide.

The world has, perhaps, followed the Spiritual things of God in Christ that we have avoided for fear of encountering demons and demonic deception. If so, then they have benefited from

where the revival of God in Christ has taken them and desired to take us

- on a walk of self-discovery so that we are more effective in Loving as God in Christ loves. It is time to wake up, Church. Open your eyes to what God is doing all around us.

Let Him do that in us, too. Walk in the fullness of Christ.

Already Redeemed. Already Free to Simply Be

This is what God wants for all the world (

Isaiah 1:18 ESV

)

"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool"

. You see,

we are already free to be.

We just have to know it, walk in it and share it by

Simply Being.

I pray, quite simply,

that today you begin the journey to find, know, love you, in Christ and, thereby, to know and love others, truly, on a deeper level. Amen.

Thanks for reading.

Are you on this journey? Share your encouraging experience!

Sharing God (Part 1)

Persecution. What does it look like to you? How do you respond? 

Joyce Meyer says "hurt people hurt people"

and she always reminds her audience that people are not our enemy, but "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (

Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV

). It is for this reason that we are to "put on the whole armour of God" (

Ephesians 6:10-20 ESV

) - so we remember who we are, who we stand

for

and who we stand

against

 - so we can walk with eyes wide open. This is what drove

Paul's response to persecution

in

Acts 16:20-33 (ESV)

If you're fortunate enough to have less fatal persecution, you have even more of an opportunity to

respond in Love.

(Disclaimer: I'm not the authority on this. I fail here everyday; I too am learning. You're welcomed to hold me accountable.)

Source:

lovecoversall-godislove.blogspot.ca/2014/11/sharing-god-part-1.html

Please note:

this is not to say that you have to put your face under someone's boot.

Love does not enable bad behaviour

. Love stands,

but leaves room for offenders to receive

grace, mercy

and

forgiveness.

The response you're called to is different in each situation, as each individual is 'persecuting' due to a different combination of

hurts, experiences, traumas

and

perspectives.

The

Written Word

gives guidance, but the

Living Word, Christ,

the written word made life through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, guides in each situation.

You have to get to know Him.

I was prompted to write this because, in

my walk as an entrepreneur,

I have come across quite a lot of persecution for what I believe. I am not overt in my Christianity, and I explain why below, but people shut down or get defensive, in North America, when they hear that you're Christian. I've always believed that

we don't need to "defend God", but we need to "Love people".

This year, that belief was truly tested.

Christ moved me to Love, Pray for and Bless.

Self-Check:

Am I Persecuted? Am I Victim or Victor? Will I Cower, Argue or Love?

What does it look like to Respond in Love to Persecution?

Will you stand and share God? What does that mean to you? Fear of "being ashamed of God, lest He be ashamed of you" (

Mark 8:38 ESV

)

has led us to use Christ as a weapon, knowingly and unknowingly. This scripture, my beloved, is not about what you do with your lips, in every situation.

It's about the state of your heart.

  I do not in any way advocate being silent about our faith - we would be remiss in our love for God, our neighbors and our enemies, if we did. I am saying that, if our motive is always truly Love, then we'll know who, when and how, if at all. Sometimes, pray is our only call. My question is "are you listening?" Is your silence driven by 'love in Christ' or by 'fear of persecution'? It's not about letting everyone hear and see Jesus in literal ways all the time.

In fact, those He said He would say "depart from me; I never knew you" (

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

) to, were very visibly seen bearing His name. Why do you think that is?

1 Corinthians 13 (ESV)

comes to mind - "if you have all these, but have not Love..." People always quote

1 Corinthians 13:4

at weddings, but

click and read

the whole chapter (just 13 verses).

Responding in Love meets needs.

It's not about you being heard or seen.

If we're really listening to the needs of others to meet them in Love, we find that that's not what people need. In a world hurt by the Church itself (we need to acknowledge our part in that),

it is the presence of God (of Love) in Christ that brings healing.

I'm not saying don't say Jesus' name; when asked, or when led by the Holy Spirit, definitely, but

let your heart's reason always be Love.

This is why

Paul and Peter went where they were invited or led.

Love honours the God-given free will of those we encounter, as God honours ours. Love forced is not love.

Love freely given and freely received is whole Love.

Self-Check:

In light of all of this, what does responding in Love to Persecution really mean?

Will you go with God anywhere? Really? Are you sure?

Where are you willing to go to learn more about God?

Can you walk confidently in the supernatural, or is that your worst fear? What if there's an area of God's intimate Love that you can't meet until you go there? Will you go? I went into the 2014 Leadership Development Program, Level 1 (

LDP 1

) very skeptical, but I'll tell you, once you submit to hearing God, miracles happen. In October, we explored the culture of Salvation and Righteousness, but last month was the Supernatural. During the conversation, many expressed concern that 'young people' have moved away from the Church and "bought into" the "New Age" or "Universe" movement.

I ask you. If you can step out in faith, trusting that your God in Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, will not let you be deceived,

why do you think the "New Age" or "Universe" movement is so appealing to them?

Is this the return of Paganism or is it inspired by the movement Holy Spirit? I'm not writing this to upset you. I know that many have been deceived by this. What I'm asking you, is why? Perhaps, as the Church, we've missed it

because we weren't listening.

If 'the young people' were heard, invited into the conversation meaningfully, honoured in their opinions and experiences, would we all have grown, or would they still have left? Do we really trust and follow our God everywhere? What's their example?

Fear, control, manipulation and bullying are attractive to no one.

They are not fruits of the Holy Spirit, and they have driven 'the youth' away, in favor of the places where they actually find the fruits of the Holy Spirit. So I ask you again - why do you think the "New Age" or "Universe" movement is so appealing to them? Are you awake, paying attention?

Freedom, boundless Love, Grace, those are attractive. AND it's what God promised.

Self-Check:

Is the "New Age" movement really delivering what God promised? Is the Church?

Rediscovering God. What is the face of His Love Today?

Some say that 'the great revival' never ended,

but that we the Church stopped following when it meant going beyond boundaries that we could control. Recently, someone said that,

perhaps, the "New Age" or "Universe" movement has latched on to the revival,

simply because they were open, and we weren't. If God said "even the rocks will cry out", I imagine that He will work with whoever's listening. He even told the disciples, when they were having a hard time believing, to do His work and obey, and the testimonies of those they save will increase their faith.

The bridge, as always, is Christ.

His walk, His way. He Loved. He spoke of God as His father, as Love itself, to gentiles. Is your life an example?

Is Christ your barrier or your opening?

How does it work? In testing everything against the Word, and asking God to open my eyes, I've begun to see very plainly how much I've missed out on for fear of stepping out. Once I walked in Christ, when I listened to what my friends in the "New Age" or "Universe" movement were saying, I understood. I was no longer guardedly avoiding deception, but I was actively listening free in the knowledge that God would prevent deception. It was then, in that freedom, that

their words were "rightly divided in Christ".

It was so amazing!

I saw what was God's hand and what wasn't. I saw clearly what God's heart was for us as Christians -

to so want the freedom they walk in - that we'd pursue Him all the more, but now in new relationship!

In the supernatural, where a new level of intimacy lies. Where healing, miracles, love and freedom are possible. Where we are re-introduced to the power of our spoken words, in Christ. What it means to be responsible, in Christ, with our ability to speak things into being. Every new level of learning God leaves me in awe, in Love, anew. I invite you to join me. Pay attention to what's happening in the world, and you'll see your role in it.

You have a unique role!

Self-Check:

Is the Holy Spirit's moving? Am I willing to find out? If yes, what's my role?

I pray that, in Christ,

your heart for Love abounds, casting out all fear. I pray that you find within yourself a burning desire to go to the ends of the earth, with God in Christ, to know Him better. I pray that you are led first by the Holy Spirit, and then by community that serves to reinforce what the Word says and build you up in your pursuit of God. Finally,

I declare that fear, manipulation, control and bullying are things of the past,

in your walk with God and Church, and that you move forward in the

love, faith, hope, joy and freedom

that God has called us into. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

What's your experience? What has persecution looked like for you? How have you responded? How would you have liked to respond?

In

part 2

, I explore some tangible examples of what I've discussed above, and some potential solutions.

Your Love Encounter with God (Part 2)

In

Part 1

of this 2-part series “Your Love Encounter with God”, I focused solely on You and God, in God’s Love, highlighting that it is only when we know and understand what a Love Encounter with God looks like, that we can share it with others. That that is what draws people to God – His Love. After reading that, I hope you are in a better position to share God from a place of overflowing Love, in Part 2.

Love First, Not the Word First, Calls People

If you didn't read it yet, I mentioned in

part 1

that I'm doing the

Leadership Development Program, Level 1 (LDP1)

 developed and delivered in Christ by the 

Bethel Church in Redding California

., and that I was listening to Chris Gore's session, 

"Today is a Great Day

 for a Miracle

"

.

Chris’ message truly brought confirmation, for me, on what God has been saying to me recently. We hear and say all the time that 

"It is God's 

Love

 that draws people into relationship with Him"

,

 yet time and time again we introduce people to 

God's 

Word

 before we share God's Love

. We also forget that 

we

 are the vessels of that 

Love

;

 that people go to the Word of God 

after

 they've encountered God's 

Love

.

 It is only 

then

 that they start wanting to learn more about 

this God

 that 

loves them 

so intently, so completely.

Source: 

http://lovecoversall-godislove.blogspot.ca/2014/05/your-love-encounter-with-god-part-2.html

Once God Has Your Heart...

Our God wants us to

go back to basics,

so that we

learn to rest in Him.

It is in the simple rest of Loving God and being Loved by God, that we truly

get food, Love, to share.

Chris shared an experience where he didn't see someone (close to death) whom he'd prayed for get healed – daunting. Later, she did get healed! She told him that she'd never heard of God's Love as a Father – that she'd never had a father's love, when Chris said

"Daddy, please take this thing from her",

it shook her.

That

changed her world!

He couldn't do it without first making time to grow in His own knowledge of God's Love.

God wants first our hearts,

then time and a deep love relationship with us, then complete surrender of every area of our lives – so that we can be further filled with His love, then

when filled to overflow,

we walk out and love others because

we simply can’t help it.

All because we have a simple but deep Love Relationship with God.

Love is our action, our task that yields results.

Love is what we're called to, the Love of God. That love drives action - a free action that flows out of us, from the peace of God and the certainty that God will act (not 'me', but God).

Only God's Love – Not Our Works

Once we start striving, we're on shaky ground.

When we start arguing, taking offence, being afraid for/of anyone or anything, plotting to persuade, then we know that

we have missed it.

When we "drop a word" on someone and walk away with

no regard for how they receive it,

we have missed it. We're not responsible for making sure people feel what we intended, but we are to check our hearts to

ensure that we Loved.

We will not be perfect in this journey

 – no one is – but

we can be transparent and loving when we're secure in God's Love for us.

This is why it's so important for us to

go to God,

not just with our plans, our ministries, our calling/purpose, but

simply with ourselves, for some Love!

We have to have down time with God, just laughing at nonsense, being in His presence and

basking in His Love,

to be able to share that complete Love with others.

Evangelism, the great commission,

our call as Christians – is that – sharing the Love of God. Those we share simple, true love with, will pursue Him after.

My Prayer for You

In the name of our Loving God, our Father, in Christ Jesus, through the intercession of the Holy Spirit, I lift up your hearts – our hearts – and ask for the slate to be cleared, of all woes, responsibilities and fears for a moment. I declare, now, that God will teach us to guard our time with Him jealously, and that we don't use that time for works, but for Love Relationship. I stand in faith on the knowledge that

it is finished,

and that His Love will overflow from us wherever we go, in all that we do. That people will see a "new glow" about us, and want it. I believe that You, God, will use our tongues, hands, our entire beings, to

pour forth Your Love,

so that others will draw near You – not just us – in pursuit of More. Amen!

I hope that this 2-part series has rejuvenated you, in some way! Bless you! (

Click here for

Part 1.

)

Are you really an evangelist?

What does evangelism look like to you?

Actual man running for his life from a Hippo |

Bill's Channel, Youtube

Is this what you do? Is that because "the end is near" and "the harvest is ripe" (

Matthew 9:35-38 ESV

)?

Or do you build relationships before telling others why you (not why they should) walk the Christian walk? The harvest

is

ripe (

Luke 10:1-3 ESV

), the end 

is

 near and God has made you willing. Even then,

all

 are to come to Him

because we get a revelation of Him, His love, not because we have to.

Jesus didn't run after people to spread the gospel

either. In fact (apart from those in synagogues) people came to Jesus - Jesus did not go out and make people listen to Him. He often went to the Mount for time alone with God, away from the crowds that were following Him; not the crowd He ran after and forced to listen.

Real evangelism versus rushed evangelism

Evangelism has a bad name because, 

like the rest of the world, we have no patience.

Perhaps we don't trust that God can complete His plan. We want "instant Christianity" and when that doesn't work, we say "at least a seed was planted". Did we first check the soil to determine how to plant that seed? Or did you throw seeds - smiling or ranting, depending - and 'hope for the best'? (Parable of the Sower

Luke 8:1-15 ESV

)

No one is saying that you never spread the Word "on the spot";

people come to us everyday and we just don't notice.

The Holy Spirit in His wisdom will give your opportunities, and tell you when to speak. He will even give you the words.  Ask for opportunities. I've had them even when I didn't want them. University e.g.:

• Me: "I can't meet on Sundays; I'm at Church"

• Guy: "Really?! Why?! Why do you believe in a God who would wipe out the earth and save just Noah's family?!"

• [Side note: Now, I really care for and pray for him, and I'm not sure I gave the right answer, but this is where I was lead at the time...]

• Me: "Because I wasn't there when He wiped out the earth, back then, but I'm here now and I see Him in my life daily. I will not tell you to believe because I do, but I will tell you to ask God and you'll get answers. God isn't limited by our imperfect logic. He actually knows and sees all."

There was more, and I'm paraphrasing, but he did chew on it for a while. He still comes at me - he's passionate not badgering - when we meet (4 years later), and God still gives me a Word for him each time. It's amazing.

Being willing vessels

It truly is amazing 

when we really let God use us

 (not let us use us) to share 

His

 gospel in Jesus Christ through the intercession of the Holy Spirit. We are called to walk, weep and eat with those we pray for, truly 

get to know them, before we speak into their lives.

 Even then, we'd only know 30% of their story. Most of us know maybe 40-70% of ourselves; they're likely the same.

Believe me, 

God is willing and able to do immeasurably more than we can imagine.

 We don't have to rush the great command; not even in these last days. There are many desperate ears waiting and listening for an answer - 

find those hearts, that God has made ready to receive, and speak to them.

 Let the Holy Spirit lead you so you speak in words they understand. We don't need to be perfect; just ready, willing vessels.

There's a huge "ripe harvest" without hounding those who don't want the Word yet. 

Pray for those who don't want the Word yet.

 Love them and let them be until Christ calls them; it may not be through you, but another.

Can this be the face of evangelism?

Source: 

http://rufiojones.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/baby-tweety-en-baby-sylvester-2.jpg

Bless you.