Hi all,
First
2 points about my Facebook videos - the first is make sure if searching
on Facebook for me you are searching for John C Fenn and not John Fenn
(there are several I've found out), and secondly, they are now also
posted on YouTube.com so if you are't on Facebook, just go to
www.youtube.com and enter a search for John C Fenn and my videos from
Facebook and other teaching and interview videos I've done will come up.
How not to be a legalistic believer...
Those in a relationship founded upon performance don't know the one they think demands such performance.
Case
in point: When I was growing up my dad had very strict rules, and it
was through obeying those rules we were allowed to know him, which meant
we knew the rules more than we knew him. He was like a building with a
scaffolding covering it. To get to him I had to get through the
scaffolding of rules and regulations, which was never allowed, so I
could only know the scaffolding he erected.
One
of the most regimented times was at dinner, where we were instructed as
future young men of society. It was required we sit up straight,
keeping one hand gently in our lap, never an elbow on the table, and
speak only when spoken to. Dad would quiz us about our day one by one.
When dad was finished he would announce we may now talk freely, so that
even our 'free talk' time was regulated with a distinct start and
distinct end.
The
routine of a service in the auditorium church is like a scaffolding
erected by man around the heart of the Father God and Lord Jesus - to
get to them you have to get through the scaffolding - but it is designed
so that can never happen. The only way knowing God as presented in the
auditorium church is through the structure of the church, leaving people
with a church experience more than a God experience.
In
a church culture that has substituted emotion for the presence of God, a
schedule for the move of the Spirit, and fleshly or demonic
manifestations taken for 'God being all over them', how does a person
escape religiosity?
"And this is eternal life; That they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." John 17:3, Jesus speaking
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me." John 14:6
These 2 verses show Jesus is the way but the Father is the destination, and knowing the Father is in fact the point.
I'm
not suggesting anyone reading this who realizes they know Jesus but
don't know the Father well, which often happens when a person transfers a
horrible or non-existing relationship with an earth-father to their
heavenly Father, isn't born again - not at all. I am saying if you only
know the Lord Jesus but don't feel you know the Father as well or equal
to how you know the Lord, there is room for growth. Jesus' prayer in
John 17 was that we would know the Father - He is always moving in that
direction in a life-long process.
How to not be legalistic - know the Father
Some
may recall this that I've shared before: While watching a rerun of a
TV show I had seen many times before it occurred to me the Father knows
everything, and therefore like me watching that rerun I knew so well, He
must lead a boring life. So I asked Him, 'Father, where do you find
fulfillment?" Immediately He responded, "I enjoy the process." The
Father is a Spirit, but He created a physical world. By living in us by
His Spirit He experiences the limitations of human life in the physical
world, and He enjoys the process we call discipleship.
Legalism
cuts off process. Legalism constrains an individual within a well
defined or understood framework that removes individual personality and
gifts. A person cannot grow as a human being nor as a Christian if
constrained by legalism. Legalism is not flexible. Legalism is all about
performance, not relationship.
The Father enjoys the process. You may also recall this that I've shared many times:
One
comment Jesus made during a visitation: "You know, people get saved for
Ephesians 2:6." (Our Father...has raised us up together and made us sit
together with Him in heavenly places in Christ) When I asked what He
meant He said v6 represented who we are in Him, our righteousness, our
authority, and people come to the Father because He is drawing them as
they seek truth, or are in a tragic situation and turn to Him, and so
on. But then with a tilt of His head and big smile He said, "But the
Father and I saved you for verse 7!"
Verse
7 says: "So that in the ages to come He (Father) might continue to show
forth the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus."
Our
Father and Lord are already thinking about the ages to come and what
kindnesses and exceeding grace they will show us - they are not dreaming
up rules and regulations by which they may make us perform for them in
ages yet to be seen.
What I do is when I first wake up, I greet the Father and ask Him if there is anyone He wants me to pray for
I'll
lay there from a few moments to 30 minutes or more, praying in the
spirit as people come to mind, floating across my mind up from my spirit
- not me thinking them up - but floating up from my spirit is the best
way I know to describe it, like a quiet suggestion that has the presence
of the Father attached to their name...and I pray for them until the
next person's name floats up...
Have
you noticed not a single prayer in the epistles is to Jesus nor to the
Holy Spirit* , but only to the Father? (*He only repeats what He hears
and searches for what the Father has for us, so requests are never made
to Him, John 16:13, I Cor 2:9-12)
Did
you notice Jesus' instructions in the Lord's prayer of Luke 11 is to
address the Father: Our Father in heaven, holy is your name...
I
suggest if you don't know the Father, you start talking to Him,
including Him in your life first as your Creator. Demonstrate a core
thankfulness for nature, for Him thinking you up, for Him causing you to
be born at this time in history, for the natural world around you
whenever you notice beauty, order, and design. Just say, 'Beautiful
sunrise Father' and things like 'Wow, look at the tree Father, amazing
design to make a leaf dying for the season turn so colorful" and when
you do things like that, revelation starts to flow.
The most basic form of knowing the Father according to Romans 1: 20-21, Acts 14:17
and others, is from creation. In the above example of thanking Him for
the colorful leaves as they die for the season, you will find revelation
flowing about life and death and His processes - if you will continue
to focus down in your spirit, in your deepest parts of your knowing.
Start
there...just talk to the Father, He loves the process. He is already
planning the ages to come. Be relationship based in your faith, not
structure based. New subject next week, until then, blessings,
John Fenn
New CD/MP3 Series
When the Grace has Lifted From What You are Doing
When
Israel traveled in the wilderness the Lord covered them by a cloud in
daytime and fire for heat and light at night. When the cloud moved they
knew it was time to move on. Today we liken 'the cloud' to grace to do a
job, to hang in there with a tough relationship, to stay at a church,
and so on. When there is no more grace to be where we are, or no more
grace to continue pouring ourselves out for another person, but we
wonder if it is us or is God saying move on – what to do! How do we know
when the grace has moved? This series is based on principles seen in
Israel’s walk in the wilderness following the cloud combined with real
life stories to impart wisdom for knowing where God’s grace is leading
next. 
Just a word about our On-line Video Bible School
- these classes, so far; Old Testament I & II, Righteousness and
Our Authority in Christ - are a go-at-your-own-pace, no test, investment
in your own faith and understanding of the Word and Lord. Once
registered, your password is good for a whole year so you can take your
time, but as I'm hearing from students, once they start they have a hard
time stopping! Each class is about 45-55 minutes long, so they are in
easy to receive segments...consider investing in a deeper study of the
things of God!
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