Desperate brethren

Since joining 'the very few' in calling believers to flee Christendom and gathering with Jesus outside the camp, I have been receiving correspondence from disenchanted believers all over the world, on a regular basis.  Although the correspondence from these scattered pilgrims have been varied, the main topic which has been on the heart of so many, has been in the area of inquiry rather than comment, correction or criticism.  The great concern and deep burden these people have shared in common, who are either contemplating leaving the IC (the institutional church) or having recently left, has been in the area of finding like-minded believers for the purpose to fellowshiping with.

Now just how familiar sounding does this come across to so many of us who have been this way heretofore?  Especially when it is easy to understand how the support and encouragement of others would appear to be the most paramount thing to lean on, at this most crucial time in our walk.  Furthermore, what advice does one give to an individual or couple who have just left the social and spiritual comfort of familiarity, within the luxury and security of the religious mainstream; to utter loneliness, even rejection and castigation?  Especially with the awareness that judgement will be severer on those who teach and instruct others, than on those who serve or follow others.

Overall, with the full backing of scripture, this 'calling out' process is such an essential mandate to each individual, and comes part and parcel with the call of bearing your own cross daily, as well as living by faith in every sense of the word.  One must remember from the onset, scripture makes it so clear that it is impossible to please God without faith.  Moreover, a total abandonment to the wilderness outside religious officialdom, is nothing short of placing one's total trust in a God with whom we have to do.  Especially when God is found manoeuvring us to a place of total dependence in Him, where He can be the only one who can really meet our deep need at the end of the day.  This is the place where all props and visible support means are removed by God Himself through the circumstances He places us in, in order for us to know the reality of verses such as the following:

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen"!

This is the true biblical meaning of walking or living by faith, contrary to the way the word faith has been perverted and conveyed of late, within modern Christendom.  Additionally, nothing will twig in the spirit unless it is found or discerned by faith.  In this school of hardship there are no tangibles or outward accessories to take hold of.  Just the word of God and the reasons we find circumstances thrusting us this way, in order for it to become our daily bread in every level of our walk.  With all said and done, following is just one wee portion of Hebrews Eleven in what is referred to as the faith chapter.  May it twig to the hearer and be received by faith, remembering ...  there is no other way to please God:

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

The cross represents enduring all that is contrary to our carnal understanding in how we press on and inherit all we have been called to.  It may mean loosing everything.  Or at least, walking away from everything.  It may mean loosing our ability or confidence in the things we have relied on, to not only cope with in this life, but to succeed with and maintain a level of adequate living.  It may also mean being called to something without explanation.  Being misunderstood and without an explanation, is a death to endure in every sense of the word ...  when you have to move in a direction that may contradict our own human reasoning, of what friends may think (or close family members), of what the status quo expects, or what goes against the grain of common thinking.  With no explanation to offer or a justification of our actions and responses.  Is there a more humbling set of circumstances to be in, without a way to explain the situation to others, or without a way to get out of the situation? Especially, when everything counters logic and what others can see and expect from you.  As well as becoming an open target for misunderstanding, or even ridicule.

How does one feel when you are expecting, with confidence may I add, fruitfulness and a wide open place of blessing and enrichment to come into, then suddenly having the rug pulled from under you, leading you further into barrenness and fruitlessness?  While experiencing anything you place your hand to, turning to custard before you!  Is this not death and mortification in a nutshell?  Is this not the worst type of death in a way ...  a death that can't be explained while your existence cannot be removed or snuffed out of consciousness?  Unless it is physical death of course.  This is not what we are called to, is it?  Are we not called to blessing and spiritual prosperity?  Yes, but we cannot live or experience the resurrection life from above, unless we die first!  It is only when we take on this type of thinking that we can truly say and mean with conviction (and not just through a facile quote or lofty expression):

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Who enjoys being called to this cross to bear and place of humility to be exposed to?  Where all the spiritual warfare in the world initiated by yourself or others, and bringing down strongholds of the Devil, fail to take any effect!  However, it is a place, and the only place, where God can really meet us.  Meaning, the eventual fruit and increase that comes forth in our lives is truly heaven ordained and nothing of ourselves at all.  Where, in our condition of being utterly spent and dejected, God can break through as that timely miracle of deliverance, that we have subconsciously pinned every ounce of our hope and trust on, being expressed through an unseen cry from the heart ...  Godwards!  Yes, God is faithful, and will deliver in His time.  However, there must be a death process before the living process can take effect.  There must be a brick wall to face, before a breakthrough can occur, in other words.

With the word breakthrough coming to mind here, and thinking back to when I was trapped in the Pentecostal Movement; I heard a lot from the pulpit and common talk about breakthroughs. However, the breakthroughs that were spoken of then were more in reference to shouting and praying down the invisible strongholds that were supposedly around the church, because the church was not apparently functioning the way it should.  In most cases, it was nothing to do with the individual but 'the enemy without'.  Nor was it to do with the self life being destroyed like a broken earthen vessel being smashed, in order for the treasure inside (Christ in you) to be made visible for all to see.  After all, this type of breakthrough is painful, with no easy fix-it remedies as add-ons.  Nor with an assortment of acquaintances or church regulars around to scratch your back and pamper your wants.

Death before resurrection

Therefore, think it not odd dear saint that the Lord has brought you to that utter lonely place of emptiness and barrenness, where the only one who can truly meet your need is the Lord God Himself. After all, death is as much the Lord's will as resurrection life, and as walking in the victory and liberty of this new life.  This is the principle of the cross and in the words of Jesus:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."

It takes the crust of the seed (the outer shell of the old man) to die and break, in order for the life inside the seed to spring forth, where in the end, a multiplication takes place.  The same principle applying when Paul said to the Colossians:

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

How many of us are prepared to remain hid with Christ, in obscurity; in the closet of tears, fears and prayers; without notice and acknowledgement, as Christ was in the bowls of the earth?  Until He shall appear and bring us forth into glory at His choosing (in the here and now or the life to come)!

I remember someone along time ago, when I was just a baby in Jesus, saying how God always adds and subtracts, then multiplies.  This was so simple and clear, it has stayed with me to this day and rings as true as it did in those early days ...  God adds (us to His family, calling, blessing).  Then He baptizes us in trials and testing, chastisement and personal dealings.  This is the taking away part, when we come to a place of knowing we are nothing in ourselves, but only wind in the air or as clay from the ground, and that any increase can only be of Him and by Him.  This is the increase where the multiplication part goes beyond what we think or can conceive what God will do for us.  Just like the case of Job, when he ended up with nothing, followed by receiving more than what he ever had before, after God brought restoration.  Or as in the case of Hannah, who was barren and fruitless and in utter despair.  Who could only direct her cry and great need ...  upwards, to her Maker! Again, the miracle life came forth in the nick of time.

I could go on and mention the case of Sarah, who was barren and beyond time, without hope in the carnal earthly sense, where God broke through with the timely blessing and miracle.  Not to forget to mention the prodigal son, who had everything, but had to be buried in humility and brokenness, due to the self life he pursued.  Where at the end of living in pig sties and coveting pigs' fodder, he ended up better in his restored state than his former.

Here, I must also make reference to Paul:  Oh, who would covet his exciting ministry?  Okay, how about the cost of Paul's ministry? ...  Experiencing literal blindness and rejection of the saints! Escaping over walls in baskets!  Sought after by Jewish assassins everywhere he went!  Constantly hassled by a spiritual thorn in the flesh!  There was much much more to really think about ...  he said,  "Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities."

This of course is the reason Paul took "pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."  Still want a glorious ministry similar to Paul?  Yes, we could go on and on with other real life examples from the scripture, but as in the words of Paul again ...   "It is a faithful saying:  For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him"!

If Christ is in us, as scripture says He is when we abide in Him, then this treasure in earthen vessels can only be released (made manifest) for others to partake from, when and if that expensive alabaster box is broken.  This way the sweet fragrance of Christ is released and becomes real to the world around, just as the crucified life makes real the resurrection life of Christ ...  "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved"!

Yes, this is the principle of the cross!  Yes, it means suffering and mortification!  With no apologies ...  someone has to tell us this, or remind us of this!  The reason Paul said to his friends,  "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"

It is finished ... or was it?

Here's the meaning of the cross in a nutshell:  The cross is God's remedy for fallen man in reconciling man back to Himself, on the grounds of man accepting this remedy solely, totally and fully on God's terms and condition (in what we do with Jesus), and nothing else!  Meaning, outside of this remedy (in what we do with Jesus), there is no short cuts, alternative means, substitutes, or deferment of payment.

As mere believers we usually have no problem declaring sin was done away with at the cross, do we?  If we claim to be biblical or abiding in the Christian faith that is!  Especially when using the word sin we are referring to our personal bad traits (or awkward habits) such as anger, pride, or selfishness, or such like.  The reasons being, in many cases, by turning things around for selfish reasons, such as what Hebrews 3:13 refers to as "the deceitfulness of sin", we approve, or excuse, or whitewash sin, not realizing that this is also sin.  It is also how stealthily and cunningly sin can operate, in that it renders the cross useless right away, by distorting and misrepresenting (if not ignoring) the reason for the cross in the first place.

F'instance, I have just mentioned these three words ...  anger, pride, and selfishness!  Now let's take a look at how we can cleverly side-step these things by intellectual manoeuvring:  By avoiding the cross, anger can be dealt with superficially by the 'damage control' apparatus conveniently set in place by the system, in what is now termed 'anger management'.  In the same way pride can be explained away by mastering the use of false humility or "showing off" self-denial.  You know ...  by advertising how sacrificial we are to duty, care, and responsibility, by our kind acts of benevolence and mercy.  Basically, operating in a modern or redefined form of piety to puff the ego with adulation.

Dealing with how selfishness can be turned around to look auspicious, we have the thriving 'self improvement' industry pampering our good intentions under the guise of building good self-esteem, flowing over into the "prosperity" and "blab it and grab it" teaching. Yes, sin is still very deceitful as ever, and able to adapt and justify itself with mass acceptance.  As well as being pampered and soothed through good works, by giving itself a clean bill of approval.  The very reason Galatians 5:24 tells us not only to crucify the flesh with its lusts, but also with its affections.  Which is basically those things we may treasure, count dear, or having sacrificed a life time to secure or procure.  In the end, these things mean nothing to God, who only looks for a contrite and a pliable heart to respond towards His will.

Yes, sin was totally done away with at the cross.  Which is a lot more manifold and comprehensive to what deceitful man will admit or be willing to adhere to.  This is because the cross does in fact cover a much wider ground than what we may have been taught at Sunday School, First Principles, or Bible College, let alone from the Sabbath or Sunday pulpit, or whatever holy day one esteems to be special.  Even if some may go further than salvation to proclaiming physical or psychological healing through the cross.  Or even material prosperity through the cross.  Bearing in mind of course, it has always been God's will to heal, restore, or save; even pre cross and pre Old Covenant.  The reason we serve a God who changes not.

Following are three major things that were utterly and eternally done away with at the cross, which have been neatly omitted or excused in the religious world.  The three spheres of influence we refer to here are politics, religion, and war.  These are far too close to home to be exposed in cosy, carnal Christendom.  Furthermore, I would like to prove from scripture how clear, precise and conclusive these remarks are towards these three unclean spirits of influence:

Politics

Politics is the apparatus set up by man to replace a righteous king leading by righteous decree.  It thrives in both democratic or autocratic climates, as well as in both monarchic or republican situations. At the core of politics is the art of gamesmanship, power struggles and the shifting sand of policy making.  The very reason for its existence and meaning ...  "the science and art of political government"!  This is because, politics or politicking as a whole, is to do with expedience, relativity, and relevance (to suit the state of time).  In essence and at the end of the day, politics has nothing to do with morals, ethics, or virtue, outside of using these things as just a means to an end.  In other words, with politics the end result is what counts and not how or what means you use to get there.  If skulduggery, plotting, or manipulation is used, it adapts or improvises, to exploit and come in a guise of respectability, decency, or credibility, or whatever cover suits the occasion.

When a sinner (the whosoever) is born again, this person is translated automatically (by faith) from darkness into the kingdom of light, where all things are made manifest.  Making merchandise of the gospel and exploiting the flock, and engineering clergy above laity, is operating in the realm of politics and not in the Spirit of truth.  In order to walk in the light and minister truth, all hindrances to this are crucified through the cross.

Religion

Basically, religion is glorifying dead works whereas the cross is death to dead works.  As I always ascertain ...  religion is nothing to do with the cross whatsoever but is man's substitute for it.  How can it have anything to do with it, when the cross did away with religion?

Some would argue that the cross only did away with the Jewish religion, being a representative of good works and deeds of the flesh (whether referred to as Judaism or the old Levitical Priesthood). Once again, this type of thinking not only denies the cross was total, but that God makes allowances for, or accommodates other faiths to some degree.  Not so!  Religion is man's form of setting up a counterfeit faith or inventing another way in serving God, contradicting God's way in the first place.  Moreover, the Jewish religion of the Old Testament was also a metaphor of all man's endeavours to live righteously or justifiably, through serving the dead letter or observing ceremony.  You cannot place you trust in any religion and Christ at the same time.  The two are totally contradictory, where one stands alone and the other offers another way around it.

Yes, religion was done away with at the cross rendering man's way in obtaining or finding God redundant at worst, and a white elephant at best.  Religion will keep man in a sense of elation and occupied in feeling he is doing a good service or pleasing God, while the end will destroy him.  However, those that don't try and side-step the cross and come to Calvary broken, will live forever and enter paradise.  In the meantime, they will be free from false obligation and religious dependency, and serve the Lord in childlike simplicity, being heaven's light to this dark, confused and deceived world.

War

With both politics and religion being banished at the cross, guess what ...  there would be no need or reason for war at all!  Moreover, the reality is ...  war (the enmity between two parties) was nailed to the cross two thousand years ago and now declares peace and good will for ALL men.  Trouble is ...  because man rejects the cross he still lives in a crossless (meaning Christless) world where politics, religion and war continue on their destructive pave downwards, taking their toll and countless millions with them in their decent.

Yes, like the Levitical priesthood, war was once necessary for God's people, but is now not necessary at all.  This goes for the political, carnal or military sense.  Which is due to the fact that when a person is born again they are to love and pray for their enemies, being at peace with ALL men, in order to win some.  Whereas, any conflict they now experience, is due to the spiritual realm, as the world chooses a lie above the truth, and rejects the message of the gospel of the peace bearer.  This not only creates hostility towards this gospel and its messengers, but can be violent towards them, to the point of trying to eliminate its message as well as the message bearer.

Yes, they will shoot the messenger (both literally and figuratively) in order to silence the message, as this message is both a stumbling block and rock of offence to them.  An offence, because it is an accusation against their godless lifestyle.  Or it exposes the folly in their religious good deeds.  Moreover, because it shows up their phoney religious alternative, in setting up a pseudo system in order for folk to be trapped by, and be denied the kingdom.

Here it is again folks!  All summed up in these three beautiful words of Jesus from the cross ...  "it is finished"!!!