JESUS ON THE MOVE

Hi all,
Have you ever been in a service when you felt like Jesus was in the room? Have you ever sensed he was ministering to people, walking around, and you could feel his presence? Many have.

Maybe you've been in meetings where the presence of God was so thick you felt even a whisper would violate the sacredness of the moment? And all the while the activities of the service continued along their scheduled course, yet there he was meeting needs in the midst.

Did you sense that too?
Did you notice during those times that he did not interrupt the service nor draw attention to himself? He just went about his business, allowing worship or prayer to continue while he ministered to hearts and minds.

Sometimes he is so subtle a person will have just a fleeting realization that Jesus is in the midst, but it stays with them.

Take the yoke of meekness
He ministers in this way because he is humble, or as he said, "...learn of me for I am meek and lowly of heart..." (Mt 11:29) My experience has been that Jesus and the Father are the most humble people I know.

Remembering that "God is love" look at the humility of love as defined in I Corinthians 13:4-8: "Love is long suffering, does not envy, does not push itself forward, is not puffed up. Love does not behave in an unseemly manner, does not seek it's own, is not easily provoked, thinks the best of people, never rejoices in sin, but rejoices in truth. Love carries, hopes, and endures all things. Love never fails."

Now understand this: The Spirit of God will always flow consistent with the humble, meek, and lowly heart of Jesus, who is the image of the Father, whose IS love. To see Jesus is to see the Father (John 14:9)

Pretty simple really
At his return Jesus will be looking for individuals who bettered the lives of others within their sphere of influence including things like: I was naked and you clothed me, hungry and you fed me, sick and you visited.

Consider also a few verses in Ephesians 4: Walk worthy of your call (in Christ) in all lowliness and meekness, with all longsuffering, making allowances for one another in love; working to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Stop lying, speak truth, don't let the sun go down on your wrath, if you stole then get a job so you have money to give to those in need, let no corrupt talk come out your mouth, but speak things which build up. Let all bitterness, anger, and such be put away from you, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.

Pretty simple, pretty humble, pretty down to earth, isn't it?

Hear ye, hear ye! Step right up to see the show!
In II Corinthians 11:3-4 Paul warned of ministers who would corrupt believer's minds from the humble simplicity that is in Christ. He says they will present "another Jesus, another Spirit, and another gospel" through a process of metamorphosis (verses 11-13).

As we know with caterpillars who turn into butterflies, though initially its hard to see a change happening, once you see the completion of the metamorphosis it's plain that it doesn't even resemble the original.

In the same way, if you know the original humility and character of Jesus, you can easily recognize when another Jesus, gospel or spirit is being presented because it doesn't resemble the original "Jesus, Spirit, and gospel".

A Jesus that focuses on what God can do for me, is a different Jesus. A proud to keep-up-with-the-Jones's Jesus is a different Jesus. A Jesus that manipulates for money is a different Jesus. A Jesus that puts church policy or tradition above people, is a different Jesus.

In this passage Paul talked about how his heart and life were open and transparent to them, just as Jesus lived. In all ways he served them, even working a job for 18 months so he wouldn't burden them, the only time in 30+ years of ministry it's recorded he did that; he loved them so!

On with the show: A different gospel
By contrast he talks about people calling themselves apostles and ministers, but are in fact deceitful workers, glorying in the things of the flesh - lifted up with pride and showmanship.

A gospel that appeals to pride of man, is a different gospel. A gospel that uses formulas to manipulate God or man, is a different gospel. A gospel that thinks God is impressed with big buildings built 'for him and his use' is a different gospel. A gospel that turns God into the servant of man and man's fleshly desires, is a different gospel.

A different spirit
Paul says in verse 20 that a false or wrong-spirit based minister "...assumes control of your souls and makes slaves of you, devours your substance, spends your money and preys on you, is arrogant and puts on airs, and even strikes you on the face!" (Amplified Version)

(Paul uses a bit of sarcasm, "strikes you on your face" is a cultural reference saying they are insulted by these ministers yet don't even know their intelligence is being insulted. Paul says these ministers subject people to another spirit though done in Jesus' name, and offend the common sense and the intelligence of the people. They have become prey and fully submitted to that wrong spirit so they don't recognize manipulation when they should. Often it is only after they are out of that spirit's influence or start thinking for themselves 'outside the party line' before they see how dominated and deceived they were.)

While all sorts of ministries will soon be announcing conferences with lofty titles proclaiming what the Spirit is saying, the reality is the Holy Spirit always says that which is consistent with the humble nature of Jesus and the Father.

If anything, this is a year of getting back to basics; the real gospel. Not Hollywood Jesus, but Jerusalem Jesus. The Jesus that met in homes, ate meals with common folk, healed people, fed people, gave so much to those in need that when Judas left dinner around 9pm they assumed he was going to give money to someone. (John 13:29)

Jesus on the move
God is stirring a people who have ears to hear, to take back their faith, to stand on their own spiritual feet in relationship with others on the same page, and then living it out with meek and lowly hearts.

The reality is that Jesus is moving humbly as he always has; quietly in the midst of his body, barely noticed except to those who have ears to hear, hearts that feel, and feet to take action.

While all the hustle and bustle of Hollywood Jesus is being presented with state of the art sound and lights in luxurious buildings and a coffee shop in the foyer, Jerusalem Jesus is in our homes and communities taking food to a sick friend, talking to a couple whose marriage is at the breaking point, gathering money to pay someone's bill, and so forth.

We are to be Jerusalem Jesus, not Hollywood Jesus. Leave Hollywood Jesus to the actors on stage who have morphed the original Jesus, gospel, and Spirit into something unrecognizable from what the New Testament presents. There is a people who want to be conformed to His image, in traditional churches and home based alike, are you counted in that number?

Some thoughts this week, more on the subject next week.
Blessings,
John Fenn
www.supernaturalhousechurch.org