Before I Go
by Neil
Well, here I am again back from another trip, more change,
shift, and a new perspective. It seems that every time I go
somewhere to teach or train it is the same, new thoughts and new
revelations (though they appear the same) happen as I give away
what I have. How do I change or shift as new revelation or a change
in perspective happens? Perspective is vitally important to
revelation. A fresh or new perspective changes what you see
standing in the same place. Thoughts and ideas that come in the
same environment but from a change of position cause us to see
things differently and also to see different things. A project
manager, a foreman, and a craftsman all see the same situation from
totally different perspectives. As we walk into different
situations as Christians, how we view others and ourselves changes
our effect on the situation and people.
Before I left to go to Australia, Father told me I needed
some new shoes. Comfortable, but new. I had felt that something
different was to happen but had no clue. Dana and I have been going
through a cleansing of our life. Like everyone we tend to establish
traditions that we live by that end up as prisons! They start out
as revelations or illuminations that we capture and live, but soon
become walls around life. We protect our living, our revelations.
That sounds crazy but every time we tend to move, those past
revelations and directions Father has given us become restraints as
they have become habits. They take us from relationship to
religion. I have been so aware of our tendencies as man to
establish rules and traditions out of every good thing that Father
gives us. It is our nature to protect that governs our living out
Father’s leading.
Anything that Holy Spirit brings to establish freedom can
end up as a guideline that becomes a prison perimeter of
restriction. I am not saying that restraints and restrictions are
intended to be a prison or that all are bad but we can sure change
them to be. The “fear factor” element of life becomes a “thought to
be protector” that creates a prison. The enemy is a deceiver,
destroyer and what we think of as a “good” fear (something that
protects us) is usually nothing more than a lie putting us in
bondage to restraint that keeps us from being the faith people we
are created to be.
I arrived in Australia and the first morning part of our
family there, the Kreigs and I started right off sharing our Jesus
with each other. The first word that came was, “you need some new
boots” by Lady Robin! I left with new shoes and then arrive and the
Word is, “new boots”! We went to a store and bought some Aussie
boots.
From that moment it was about a new perspective and walk.
It was seeing from a fresh viewpoint, walking in a place of rest
and freedom. The word from Dana that same morning half way around
the world from us was, “we needed to “shift” as Father has
implemented CHANGE. We needed to shift to walk in this place of
fresh revelation on intimacy, position and discipleship”.
We tend to be fearful of agreeing with Father and His Word
about our relationship with Him and the world at large. It seems
too lofty and holy for us when we read the scriptures about who we
are.. How can we BE sons of God and live like Jesus, be sent just
like Him? We talk of it, we like the sound of the words “I am a son
or daughter of God”. Yet it is just words. (our false humility,
what we have been taught as being humble, restrains us). Heaven
forbid if we expect Father to show Himself through us like He did
in Jesus! What would people think if I spoke like Jesus, acted like
Him and was His presence in this world? What if I displayed the
confidence Jesus did as a man when He walked this earth? What if I
knew Father always heard my prayer because I only speak what He
tells me too? We fear that would be heresy and pride! Pride is
actually man resisting or denying that which Father speaks and
decrees. Humility is trusting and obeying Father without thought,
being willing to be abased or abounding as a result of our trusting
obedience. Pride is to stand against what Father speaks, to assume
a position where I say that I know better than He. Herein lies
pride; “I can’t really be sent like Jesus and walk in what He
walked in, have intimacy with Father like He demonstrated as the
‘firstborn Son of God’, though He tells us that is who we are and
the position we have.”
To actually expect those words to be true is thought to be
heresy – to believe Father and act on it we fear is blasphemy,
pride or even arrogant. Religion does not like real relationship as
it is not controllable. It cannot be constrained.
These thoughts and words were our conversation as I began
this journey in Australia; “We need a fresh perspective of position
and responsibility. A fresh perspective of our relationship and the
intimacy with Father which we have been given!”
Every meeting seemed to build in me a shift in perspective
and a view afresh of our limited acceptance of all Father has
spoken and sent us to be. The thought of accepting and living and
doing as Jesus told us and to walk just like Him on this earth;
that is to do the things He did and told us to do and even greater
because He is now with Father – that thought that it is actually
possible seems like pretty crazy thinking! That is the crux; my
thinking it is crazy talk and thoughts. I find myself thinking that
these words of God are ludicrous and out of my reach. Here are a
few of the promises we seem to fear or not really apprehend; (there
are many more that insinuate we have so little understanding of who
we are.)
John 20:19-23 (NKJV) “Peace be with you.” When He had said
this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples
were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again,
“Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And
when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are
retained.”
Romans 8:14-17 (NKJV) “For as many as are led by the Spirit
of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit
of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption
by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears
witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if
children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if
indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified
together.”
Galatians 3:26 - 4:7 (NKJV) “For you are all sons of God
through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized
into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then
you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (4:1)
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ
at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under
guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even
so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of
the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent
forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those
who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son
into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no
longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through
Christ.”
1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) “But you are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you
may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into
His marvelous light;”
2 Peter 1:2-4 (NKJV) “Grace and peace be multiplied to you
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power
has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by
which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious
promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust.”
1 John 3:2 (NKJV) “Beloved, now we are children of God; and
it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that
when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as
He is.”
1 John 4:15-17 (NKJV) “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the
Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and
believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who
abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been
perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of
judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”
Finding myself in these scriptures and many more in the New
Testament that say similar statements is scary and a bit
intimidating to say the least. Yet the frustration I find
everywhere is that we are not walking in these promises of whom we
are or seeing what we know should be happening.
I am sure we need a perspective change, a shift in our
thinking. What if the scriptures are actually true? Now there is a
unique thought!
Our frustration at not seeing and living an overcoming life
filled with His miraculous presence working through us proves who
we are! Frustrations stem from knowing something is true yet not
seeing it happen. I have not found many Christians who was not
frustrated at not being used miraculously by the Lord or hearing
His voice clearly. Why? because we are created in His image and
sent just like Him! And we are not walking like Him.
We are taught to “cast down our imaginations and every high
thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV) “For though we walk in the
flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that
exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought
into captivity to the obedience of Christ, …”
That would mean we cast down those thoughts that do not
line up with what scripture says - the scripture principles.
Thoughts like, “I can’t be like Jesus; I may be a son but I don’t
hear His voice; I am not worthy to be used to see someone healed; I
don’t know enough; my obedience is not important I am just a
believer; I do not know enough scripture; etc.
How much scripture do we have to know to be a son or
daughter of God? I have always thought that sonship or being
someone’s child was something we were born into? It is not
something we work to attain. it is who we are, PERIOD!!! Nothing,
no works, nothing will bring me to the place of being a son other
than my acceptance and acknowledgement of the truth that I am.
When I come to the point of accepting the truth that I am
God’s child or son that will change my perspective on everything I
read in scripture. A shift in position causes old things to pass
away and all things to become new! The promises of a Father are
thought of as much different from that of a master. My works do not
help me “attain” sonship. They are the result of who I am. I have a
desire to please my Father; I do not fear losing my position, I am
His child! I have a responsibility to honor, obey, and sacrifice
for my family that is not a burden but a response of love! It is a
blessing to be a part of fulfilling Father’s desires. I know that
if Father sends me to do something I carry His authority – as I am
sent or under authority – Like Jesus! All is possible in the
intimate relationship of Father and son or daughter! I do not have
to “conjure” up faith, I am walking in Love and “faith works by
Love” (Gal. 5:6…b).
In Paul’s great prayer found in Ephesians 3:14-21 we find
some amazing realities that need to be a part of us for us to
understand the complete expanse of His Love that we may be filled
with “all the fullness of God” now.
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NKJV) “For this reason I bow my knees to
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in
heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to
the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His
Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be
able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length
and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes
knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now
to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we
ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be
glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and
ever. Amen.”
•We must recognize it is “according to the riches of His
glory” that we receive or are granted the strength needed, not by
our works.
•It is through being strengthened with might by His Spirit
IN the inner man that we have the faith to believe in the reality –
Christ lives in our hearts!
The above statements are THE PLACE we must live in to be
considered “rooted and grounded in Love”. We must know we are His
sons and daughters and that it is His works that have brought this
position to us, not ours!
Only then can we go one to understand or comprehend the
love of God that passes knowledge (a work based understanding) so
we can be filled with the fullness of God! That is to BE Children
of God in reality not just have the head knowledge of our position.
We are just coming to the understanding that all of the
Word is about an intimate relationship with Father. We are getting
close to being “rooted and grounded in Love”. It is not about
getting to heaven.
John 17:3 (NKJV) “And this is eternal life, that they may
know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have
sent.”
Salvation is about restored intimacy, not getting to
heaven. Heaven is a byproduct of relationship, not the goal of
life. Repentance leads us to the position of being the man (people)
God created us to be, living with Him in fellowship and creation
through the sacrifice Jesus was. His blood poured out restores us
to a place better than the original as no one can annul Jesus’
covenant. Jesus is the revelation of who man was created to be –
the second Adam. He was “the first born”, and we are all children
of God in Christ made in His (God’s) image and likeness! We need a
change in perspective and a shift in position!
We can walk like Jesus and live anticipating God to do
through us what He did through Jesus, (Jn. 14:12). He is the first-
born and Lord of All. We are joint heirs through and with HIM and
children of God now!
We will never see what we want to see until we are willing
to see what we do not want to see. It takes a new perspective and a
shift in our thinking to bring us to the freedom to be – like
Jesus… sons of God!
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