Aged to Perfection

Christian spiritual maturity becomes increasingly evident as we grow more intimate with God.

Aged to Perfection

By Christine Cunningham And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ~ James 1:4 (NASB)
READING: Hebrews 6:1-16
Veteran missionary mentors told us we would need a pressure cooker for cooking meat in Colombia. But frightening memories of those hissing monsters that we saw in the kitchens of our mothers and grandmothers made us think anything would be better and safer than using a pressure cooker for cooking meat.
One week after settling into our new home, we prepared our first piece of beef and placed it in the oven to roast. After two hours and several tests for doneness, the roasting fork bouncing off the unyielding texture of the meat gave us a new appreciation for aged beef!
Aging both physically and spiritually, life’s process of maturing finds our physical bodies visibly deteriorating while being spiritually vibrant. Christian spiritual maturity becomes increasingly evident as we grow more intimate with God. It manifests through a humbleness that exhibits unhesitant responses to God’s direction as it is revealed to us.
Our heart, mind and spirit will remain hard and nonresponsive to the Holy Spirit if we do not let Him bring us through a process of aging that sometimes feels like we are hanging from a hook in what may seem like long periods of dry sub-freezing conditions! Willingness to respond without questioning God’s wisdom shows we have aged to a tenderness of humbly stepping into places where He leads us. The mature Christian find the most joy in cheerfully yielding to the will of God when he calls us into passages of growth.
Father, Help me to yield to your direction for my life. As I present myself to you each day, make me into the person you need so that what you want will be accomplished in a manner pleasing to you. Amen.

Right Investment of Time

"Now as [Paul] reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, 'Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.'" ACTS 24:25 When the time is short we must make the most of every opportunity and waste nothing. Ordinarily if we speak the Word to someone and they send us away, the best advice is to leave. Unfortunately, Paul was in prison and could not get away. Felix sent for him often but nothing ever changed. In this manner Paul witnessed to Felix for two years without any result whatsoever. Clearly this was a ruse of the enemy designed to frustrate the gifted apostle and sap his strength. Paul the prisoner had no choice but to come when Felix called for him; we who are free ought to be careful lest we find ourselves spending all our time talking to a Felix when there is a Cornelius praying to hear us speak the very words that Felix takes for granted. Source: "The Church in the Wilderness" by Chip Brogden http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-church-in-the-wilderness.html

DOING FLOWS FROM BEING

"Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." EPHESIANS 4:24 What is the Christian Life? It is leaving our ground altogether and coming onto the ground of Christ. It is deeper than a changed life - it is an exchanged life. Over time we can accomplish a change, but we can do nothing to exchange our life for His Life. This, from start to finish, is God's work, and it is a work of grace. What, after all, is Righteousness? What is true Holiness? Christ is not righteous because He does righteous things; He does righteous things because He is Righteousness. Christ is not holy because He does holy things; He does holy things because He is Holiness. His "doing" flows out of His "being" - and OUR "doing" flows out of His "being" as well. Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/lord-of-all.html

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

"Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." MATTHEW 5:44 The nature of the Kingdom of God is quite different, and its character reflects that difference. There is not a kingdom on the face of the earth that could ever adopt a philosophy that says "love your enemies." If you accept the premise that Jesus really is a King then you are compelled to acknowledge that this King and His Kingdom are truly not of this world. A national defense policy based on "Love Your Enemies" would be political and national suicide for any earthly government. This Heavenly Order is such a radical departure from the ways of the world that it requires some rather deep experiences with God before a person can really enter into the service of the King, because that service is so unlike anything anyone has ever seen or experienced. Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-irresistible-kingdom.html

WHOM SHALL I FEAR

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." 1 PETER 5:6 When we are submitted to the Lord, we find Grace. We find Peace. We find Rest. All things are in His hands, and He does all things well. We need not fear what any devil or any man can do to us. To be submitted to the Lord is to be under His care, under His guidance, under His power, under His protection. Whom shall I fear? What can man do to me? What can the devil do to me? If I have humbled myself beneath the mighty hand of God then He will exalt me in due season; He will justify me; He will defend me; He will fight for me. If our submission to God is complete, if our surrender to the Lord is total, then victory is assured. Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

HEAVENLY SOLUTIONS

"You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem." HEBREWS 12:22 All the prophets pointed to Jerusalem as the place where the Messiah would rule and reign. On the surface this seems self-evident. The trouble with this is that the nature of the Kingdom is spiritual, and so the location of the Kingdom is likewise spiritual. A spiritual kingdom is not going to have an earthly capital. Neither will it have an earthly temple, an earthly priesthood, or an earthly King. It will be in the earth, but it will not rise up from the earth. Earthly problems cannot be solved with earthly solutions. Earthly problems require Heavenly solutions. The fact that John saw the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven and settling upon the earth shows that this is something established by God Himself, quite beyond the command and control of man. Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-irresistible-kingdom.html

SO WALK IN HIM

"As you received Christ Jesus the Lord [the Narrow Gate], so walk in Him [the Narrow Path]." COLOSSIANS 2:6 ESV We come to the Lord admitting that we cannot save ourselves, and He does the saving. That is the Gate. Now we come to the Lord every day, admitting that we cannot enter the Kingdom, and He does what it takes to conform us into His image. That is the Path. Hence, I have no secret for the Christian Life, but Christ. I have no key, but Christ. I have no method, but Christ. I have no formula, but Christ. I have no technique, but Christ. I have no life, but Christ - for it is no longer I who lives, it is Christ Who lives in me (Galatians 2:20). In Him, through Him, because of Him, and by Him we may enter the Kingdom. Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

ALL THINGS SUBDUED TO HIMSELF

"He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." PHILIPPIANS 3:21 What a mighty God we serve! Exactly how the Lord goes about bringing all things into submission unto Himself is... how can we describe it? It is an art. It is a science. There is a process at work in this universe. Do you see it? It is a process through which the Lord is continually refining, purging, molding, chastening, disciplining, judging, and conforming all things. This process is working itself out on every level, from galaxies, to nations, to the innermost recesses of the souls of men, right down to the very last disciple and sinner. Throw yourself onto the Rock and be broken; or wait for it to fall on you and be ground into powder (Luke 20:18, Daniel 2:34,35). Either way, sooner or later, the Rock wins, for "He MUST increase, but I MUST decrease" (John 3:30). Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/the-irresistible-kingdom.html

free indeed

"The Truth shall make you free." JOHN 8:32 The Cross must be embraced and taken up daily as a principle of living. This is the practical application of taking up the Cross. If we ever lay down the Cross and attempt anything in our own power then we will be defeated. But as we continually reckon ourselves "dead indeed to sin but alive to God in Christ" (Romans 6:11) then what is true in principle eventually becomes true in our experience: sin begins to lose its power to control us, and we begin to see that we do have a choice. We will begin to see that we are no longer slaves to sin, but "if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

HE WILL BE IN YOU

"You know Him; for He dwells with you, and will be in you." JOHN 14:17 Just as Testimony follows Revelation, so Life follows Light. We simply know what to do because He Himself is doing it through us. If we have put on the Lord Jesus then we need not look to the past, or to the future. We need not look up to the heavens, or down upon the earth. We need not look outward at all, for the Kingdom of God is within us. The One Who said, "I am with you, and will be in you" has now taken up residence within all who believe. Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/lord-of-all.html

hunger for righteousness

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." MATTHEW 5:6 To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to look forward to the promise of new heavens and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13): to long for it, to desire it, to pine for it, to seek it, to prepare for it and to keep praying for it until it arrives. It implies that we are not content with things just the way they are, and we are not satisfied to just let things go along as they always have. We hate sin, we hate the effects of sin upon this earth, and we mourn the consequences of man's inhumanity to man and rebellion towards God; but we have hope for a better day, a better life, a better world where Righteousness Himself is living among us. Until such time, we are hungry and thirsty for more of what we have only just begun to taste.

NOT VOLUNTEERS BUT DISCIPLES

"Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 All those who want power with God must see that His power is released through our weakness. Do realize that you are weak whether you admit it or not, but the power of humility is in recognizing and agreeing before God that we really can do nothing of our own selves. God's power is not for those with natural charisma, talent, leadership skills, education, training, or "connections." God is not looking for volunteers to serve at their own convenience as their schedule permits, but calls for disciples who will lay down their lives. The flesh counts for nothing in spiritual matters. Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden http://theschoolofchrist.org/books/embrace-the-cross.html

The LAST-DAY CHURCH

NOTE from ANDREW: The Bible declares in both Joel and Acts that in the Last Days, God's Spirit will be poured out upon "all flesh". And yet many today say there is "no hope" for the church in the Last Days - and that it is "only apostasy" that can be expected. Below is what David Wilkerson wrote on this topic before he died. We would appreciate your comments, my friends. The LAST-DAY CHURCH -David Wilkerson. I believe God´s vision for His last-day church is based on His revealed Word-because the Bible clearly outlines what the church of Jesus Christ will be like just prior to His coming. The church in America is far from what God envisioned it to be. For the most part, entire denominations today operate without the Holy Spirit. They are devoid of the presence of Jesus and bankrupt of all spiritual gifts. They practice a form of religion without any power, conviction or saving message. They are cozy with the world and are more political than spiritual. They appease sin, wink at divorce and ridicule the supernatural, while tossing aside all teaching about heaven, hell, repentance and judgment. The New Testament church made devils tremble! It drove legions of demons into the abyss, prayed prison doors open, made rulers cringe in fear. Those early believers had such faith and power that cripples rose up leaping and beggars became evangelists. They believed in the supernatural and they opened blind eyes, unstopped deaf ears and healed all manner of diseases. They even raised the dead! I am not saying God´s last-day church will be a repeat or copy of the first-century church. No-I am saying it will be even greater than that! It will be mightier, stronger, with an ever greater revelation of Jesus. It will have greater unction from the Spirit than ever- greater even than at Pentecost! God always saves His best wine for last! The prophet Daniel confirms this. He said that certain prophetic truths were locked up, only to be revealed in the last days: "For the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. . . . And none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand" (Daniel 12:9-10). Today the Holy Spirit is revealing these things to spiritual, discerning saints! "It is written: `Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.´ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). The Lord is preparing a powerful yet humble army of shepherds after His own heart and also a remnant congregation of hungry sheep who have turned away from the deadness and sin of the modern church. The scene is being set for that church which will be hot, not lukewarm-and it will rock the very foundations of hell. No power on earth will be able to ignore or despise it! -Please comment on this topic at the following website- http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/

Your Agenda in Prayer

"Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
MATTHEW 6:10

The chief objective of prayer is to bring us into cooperation with
the Father so that we are harmonious with Him - with respect to our
love relationship as well as our working relationship. Much time
and effort in prayer is spent trying to get God involved with OUR
agenda, with OUR plans, with OUR goals, with OUR cause, with OUR
needs, real or imagined. But after all, who is the Master? Who is
the servant? Whose will are we seeking anyway: ours, or His?

If our agenda is not harmonious with His then our agenda has to go.
Most of our prayers are simply too small, too narrow-minded, and
too constricted. We do not see anything beyond our present
surroundings. We have not seen the big picture. We do not have a
heavenly perspective. So to begin with we must empty ourselves of
all preconceived ideas and seek the Lord's Will and the Lord's
Kingdom when we pray, for this truly honors the Father.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden

The Great Movement of God

"That in all things He may have the preeminence."
COLOSSIANS 1:18

The unavoidable, inevitable conclusion is that Christ will have the
preeminence - not just in some things, but in all things. To
achieve this, He works one-on-one with His disciples. He then
gathers all His disciples together into a spiritual family where
they grow and learn together. This spiritual family then invites
the rest of the world to join them in giving Christ the preeminence
in all things, so that "God may be all in all" (1 Corinthians
15:28).

At the risk of over-simplifying the process, that is the essence of
this great movement of God. The point must be reiterated that Jesus
is the atoning sacrifice for all sins: "not for ours only but also
for the whole world" (1 John 2:2) and He has sent His
representatives into "all the world" to "preach the Gospel to every
creature" (Mark 16:15).


Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden

Overcoming Tribulation

"[Paul and Barnabas] returned... strengthening the souls of the
disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, 'We
must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.'"
ACTS 14:22


Our idea of overcoming is to avoid tribulation, not pass through
it. We certainly do not connect entering the Kingdom with going
through tribulation. We think having the victory means eliminating
all tribulation. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In order to enter the Kingdom there must be an increase of Christ
and a decrease of Self. This is an ongoing process, and by it we
judge how far along the Path we have progressed.

But how is Self decreased? The answer is in our circumstances and
trials. They are sufficient to decrease us. We need not do anything
but wait for them to come, and see them as our opportunity to have
Self decreased and Christ increased.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden

Only in the Beloved

"No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven,
that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven."
JOHN 3:13

No one has ascended because no one can ascend. Rest assured that if
it were possible, someone would have done it! But just as we cannot
make ourselves acceptable to God on the basis of anything we have
done, so too we cannot ascend and seat ourselves at the right hand
of God. We are accepted only in the Beloved; we are saved only in
the Beloved; and only in the Beloved can we be raised from the
dead, ascend and be seated in the heavenlies.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden

ALL THINGS PUT UNDER HIM

"We do not yet see all things put under Him.
But we see Jesus... for Whom are all things and
by Whom are all things."
HEBREWS 2:8-10

Do we see it yet? Not in its fullness, no. We have a little here,
and a little there. Where this has already happened, where we
actually see and experience Christ having the preeminence, it is
called the Kingdom of God. It is not a visible thing, but an
invisible thing, for Jesus said the Kingdom is not seen, but is
within you.

Eventually the Kingdom of God will swallow up the entire Creation
and Christ will have the preeminence in all things. Why? Because
all things are for Him, and all things were by Him.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden

Submit, Then Resist

"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore
submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
JAMES 4:6,7


So many times we try to resist, but we are defeated. Why? Simply
because we attempt to resist the devil before we have first
submitted ourselves to God. There is a proper order that must be
observed without fail.

First, we must understand the principle of God resisting the proud
but giving grace to the humble. This is the foundation of
everything we do. Second, the word "therefore" signifies that those
who learn this principle will act upon it accordingly. If they
understand the truth just stated, they will submit "therefore" to
God. Third, as a result of their submitting to God, they will find
the devil flees whenever and wherever they offer him resistance.

The word "flee" means "to run away in terror." How wonderful! How
delicious to see the devil running from us in terror, instead of
the other way around!

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden

INHERITING THE EARTH

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
MATTHEW 5:5

The idea of the meek inheriting the earth is found throughout the
Book of Psalms. When someone is poor in spirit and mourns over his
own sins and the sins of others, pride and arrogance are
eliminated. A person who knows he is no better than the rest will
not be easily lifted up above his brothers and sisters. But this
meekness does not imply lack of power, or spineless passivity. It
is power, but it is power under the control of love and without the
poison of self-interest and self-seeking.

To have power, and to use that power only for the good and
well-being of others, is meekness. Jesus perfectly demonstrates how
power that operates through meekness cannot be quenched, whereas
temporal power and people who play politics always come to a bad
end.