Dear Saints,
How are we to occupy until Christ returns?
ANSWER:We must not allow ourselves the option of being overcome by evil.
We must overcome evil with good! [Romans 12:21]
Let's unpack that statement.
Recently, I have read a wonderful little book by Nancy Missler entitled, The Choice. I highly recommend this online book as it reminds us of the process by which we are able to move beyond offense, surrendering all to Christ Jesus who lives in us. We surrender so that He can live His life through us. In making ourselves available to Christ in that way, that which really is impossible for you and I to do on our own in the natural can be done by Christ Jesus through us. I like Nancy Missler's explanation. You should read it for yourself. Just go to http://www.khouse.org. Look for the book,The Choice. The book is now available for a nominal fee on the khouse.org website. I recommend that you read it to have a full explanation.
Nancy Missler gives plenty of testimonial examples in her book, each having to do with events and people who individually have to make a choice whether to respond in the natural or to allow Christ to work through them to respond supra-naturally in very difficult situations, loving beyond human measure so that the targets of God's love will be set free.
The steps that Nancy Missler gives are based on the scriptures that describe the Tabernacle. Those steps are useful for our daily one-on-one interactions. For your convenience, what follows is a truncated version of her discussion. You really do need to read the book if want to fully understand the biblical principles involved.
Nancy Missler says,
1."We are to recognize and experience those negative thoughts" that have occurred as a consequence of offense.
2."We are to confess and repent of any thoughts that we have that are not of faith."
3."We are to give over to God all of the negative thoughts and emotions" and also "the root causes." [I strongly agree with Nancy on this point. Yes, after repenting we must give those hurt feelings, harsh words, and circumstances to Jesus. Give them all to Christ Jesus. I personally see them bundled up with a bow, and I say LORD Jesus, here they are. This is bigger than me. I give it all to you. And, I don't leave His presence until I know in my heart that transaction has been made.]
4. "We are to read God's word to replace that negative thinking with God's truth."
I have heard these steps put in various ways over the years, but the message remains clear. The message is one of personal surrender to Christ Jesus so that we can be cleaned up —repeatedly cleaned up, cleaned up after every offense-- so that the enemy of our souls will not be able to quench the power of God that resides within us by quenching the Holy Spirit.
The question I now grapple with is what does all this surrender mean for the entire body of Christ and then ultimately for our nation?
Of course, we are to exercise God's love individually so that when we each habitually experience the repentance and restoration to right fellowship with God, we will collectively represent Christ as the "Bride of Christ," without spot or blemish. I believe that until we, members the Church, do this surrender both individually and then collectively so that we can respond as Christ would have us, we may continue to be a stumbling block to many in the world and even to ourselves.
In fact, given the increase in offenses, the Holy Bible warns of the last days when love of God in many will wax cold.
"Because iniquity shall be multiplied,the love of the many shall wax cold" (Matt. 24:12 R.V.).
Let this chill not be the case on our watch!
Now, just a word about our response to societal conditions.
In our prodigal society, it is not enough to be right. I was reminded of this during my private prayer times this week. My prayer times seem to be prime times for God to correct me and I am thankful for that. Anyway, to simply be right—in essence, "love-less-ly right"-- is to be like the prodigal son that stayed home doing right things but he was working without having the Father's heart.
In no way do I mean to suggest that we should tolerate the intolerable when it is in our power to speak up or change that condition. Silence is cowardice. And, "Cowardice" is the first sin mentioned in the passage in Revelation 21:8 that is punishable by hell fire. Please Note "cowardice" is mentioned before murder.
Nor am I suggesting that we are to pay obedience to worldly notions that support calling "evil good, and good evil." Isaiah 5:20-21 warns against this. The Holy Bible says,
”Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness....
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!"
What we are called to do is set aside our lives in such a way that we make that which is priority to God our priority.
In the process, we are not to become a stumbling block to others.
Those are tall parameters for the task at hand. They can only be achieved by Christ Jesus as we allow Him moment by moment to live through us.
What does all that mean for us with regard to our society?
Folks, it means doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God, Christ Jesus!
It means living life in such a way that others will want what we have, that saving relationship with Christ Jesus.
It means that our primary occupation will be surrender to Christ Jesus while we are doing what God has called us to do. We are to work in the power of the Holy Spirit with Him working through us, being our wisdom and guiding our understanding through study of the Holy Bible, the full sum of which gives us right understanding of Who He is and desires to be in us.
It means not leaning on our own understanding, but in all of our ways acknowledging God for He alone can make our paths of life straight before Him. [Proverbs 3:5]
We are to put on the full armor of God. [Ephesians 6]
We are to come into agreement with God. Colossians 10:3-5, Amplified Version,says:
"For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasoning and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),…"
I especially like the Philips presentation of that same passage. It reads,
"The truth is that, although we lead normal human lives, the battle we are fighting is on the spiritual level. The very weapons we use are not human but powerful in God's warfare for the destruction of the enemy's strongholds. Our battle is to break down every deceptive argument and every imposing defense that men erect against the true knowledge of God. We fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ." Colossians 10:3-5.
We are to let our light -- that is the light of the world who is Christ Jesus residing in us -- so shine before men that they can see the good result and give glory to God, Our Father in Christ's name. [Olivia paraphrase of Matthew 5:16]
We must read the word of God and allow our minds to be renewed, transformed into the mind of Christ. We are to operate with that thankfulness of heart infused with the wisdom of God which is Christ Jesus Himself so that all may see our good works and give glory to God, Our Father, who is in heaven.
In The Choice Missler is quick to point to Christ' attributes, those qualities that Christ wishes to live through us. We are familiar with the list. Christ Jesus who lives in our heart can become Lord of our lives as we accept him and then constantly choose "moment by moment" as Missler says to allow Him to show himself in each circumstance.
I am so grateful for the reminder that if we love God, we will obey His commandments, commandments Christ Jesus summarized into two.
We are to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. And, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Matthew 22:37-40
Right?
But, what does that mean?
I have taken the liberty to paraphrase that Corinthians 13 passage to reflect Christ's attributes walked out by Him in us.
[Christ Jesus living through you and me] suffers long and is kind;
[Christ Jesus living through you and me] does not envy;
[Christ Jesus living through you and me] does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
[Christ Jesus living through you and me] never fails.
So,...How do we occupy until the KING of kings returns?
Answer:
We are to love God to the point of complete surrender to Him so that He can make us a clean vessel for His use. This surrender really does mean moment by moment dying to ourselves even in the midst of painful circumstances. Then, our God---Christ Jesus residing in us--- can then love others through us exhibiting all the love that Christ has, love that Christ Jesus was willing to die to give us, love strong enough to raise the dead.
Our real occupation must be to let Christ fully and functionally [moment to moment] live and love through us so that His Gospel may be received by a lost and dying world.
Christ Jesus living out our lives in us will maximize the likelihood that others will both hear His good news and believe it. If we allow Christ to live out His life in us, we really will become people of integrity, a "Bride without spot nor blemish" exhibiting no difference between what we say and what we do.
And, what does all this mean for the entire body of Christ and then for our nation?
In our moment to moment surrender to Christ Jesus there is the power to move mountains.
At those times, I encourage all of us to pray for ALL authorities. The heart of the King is in God's hands. As we commune with God, as surrendering to Christ Jesus becomes our constant occupation, Jesus will hear and answer our prayers. The prayers of the righteous--those abiding in Christ Jesus-- avail much. [James 5:16]
As we repent, Lord Jesus, please become our life!
To God be the glory for the great things He alone can do, will do, and has done in each of us!
HE is JESUS, the CHRIST, the ONE Who holds the Keys! It is HE who says,"Do not be afraid. I AM the First and the Last. I AM the Living One; I was dead, and behold I AM alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and Hades."--Revelation 1:17b, Holy Bible
Amen!
--Livvy McDonald :)<><
*A Reprint from January 2009.
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