We have missed the message of Jesus! The esoteric message that Jesus brought to earth has been largely hijacked by the ego’s need to be right. Man wants to be in control and religious man, especially, wants an absolute black and white world wherein they of course are the good guys and all others who believe differently are the bad guys. I’m sure you know many of them. 
A quick triune test can be given to verify what I’m advocating by asking three questions.
Question # 1. What is the greatest gift that Jesus offered the world but that the world rejects?
Question # 2. What was the main message that Jesus brought to earth?
Question # 3. Where can we find (physical location) the answers to the first two questions?
Fundamental Christians, particularly and mainstream Christianity in general will offer salvation as the answer to question #1. I would submit though that the best answer is the COMFORTER. Jesus offered to send ANOTHER. Why would we need another? Why? Have you ever thought about that question? Answered that question?
Question number two is simply answered by the first words that Jesus spoke by saying, repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Unfortunately, religion has turned the Kingdom of God into the kingdom of man, the kingdom of Catholicism, the kingdom of Protestantism, and so forth.
Finally, instead of taking the narrow inner road, the church has taken the broader outer road. The Kingdom of God is not in dogma and doctrines, nor in creeds and confessions. Furthermore, literally, the Kingdom of God is not in any outer written form (can you say the Bible), but WITHIN! The Kingdom of God is WITHIN.
How different would the world be if Christianity was preaching and teaching on how we can embrace, commune and receive the Comforter and live God’s ways from WITHIN and not by man’s ways from without? Don’t hear in any of what I’ve said as a “put down” of the sacred Bible, but a caution not to put man’s interpretations of the Bible on a pedestal and go about the world self-righteously proclaiming how RIGHT we are and how wrong everyone else who disagrees with us is!
If you were wrong about God would you want to know it, would you be open to hearing other views?
Thanks for the answers, which to many may seem obvious, to others, ?. I’m waiting for a different response. Probably won’t have to wait long.
Perhaps it is because it is so much easier to deal with that which is seen as aposed to the unseen. But that which is seen is temporary and the unseen is eternal. We trust our five senses. But if we cannot see, feel, taste, smell, hear it we distrust. We should learn to distrust what we see in this natural world in order to experience the spiritual.
I am open to allowing God to define God to me experiencially everyday. Somedays are easier than others. Often I must block out the outside infuences. Being careful of the media I allow myself to see and read. Filtering movies and books and the news helps greatly. It is a choice to be made one day at a time and one moment at a time. The 23 Psalms says “The Lord is my shpherd, I have everything I need… Goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.
This song says it even better. By Jill Scott- Golden. Check it out.
http://www.lyrics.com/index.php/artists/lyric/jill-scott-lyrics-golden-t-10434075
I think it’s interesting that Jesus and Paul both stated the kingdom of God comes with power. in Mark 9:1, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” In I Cor. 4:20, Paul agreed, “The kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” People notice the display of God’s might that comes in the form of undeniable signs.
It seems the power comes when we decide to love God with all hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Mark 12:29-34) Jesus said that brings us into the mighty kingdom of God.
“It seems the power comes when we decide to love God with all hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Mark 12:29-34) Jesus said that brings us into the mighty kingdom of God.”
Amen Linda!
Has anyone else noticed in this phase of your walk, the need to be right is less an issue and the need to speak our opinion? It began with me, when I realized I could relax and trust the spirit to teach and guide me and it was ok to be confused a little for a while… as sometimes that is part of the learning process. Intense learning can be confusing at times (looks at the Saul to Paul experience).
That holy spirit has always been in the world, or even Jesus wouldn’t have been able to access it. The OT great kings and prophets knew him so you know there were many more. The spirit of truth is the spirit of wisdome, is the spirit of God.
As I read Ernie’s commentary early this morning, the word “wisdom” stuck with me so strongly, I couldn’t even remember what he wrote. I meditated on “wisdom” today and verses came to mind that I had a long time ago. Today I am beginning to understand, that because the spirit of truth is everywhere, it’s even in the marketplace and the streets, so even the common man out in the public places experiences it. God is generous… he lavishes out his goodnes and wisdom everywhere.
How many of you truly know a powerhouse man of few words? I’m not talking about a sour-puss, smoldering pile of discord that is surly and clams up when conversation doesnt go his way, but the wise, gentle, steady person who is so alert, friendly yet not a blabber mouth and seldom part of every conversation. He guards the truth he knows, maybe becuase he has already learned how much easier we too will get wisdom when we just “listen” and observe.
There have been a few, scattered throughout my adult life that I wish I had taken more time to pursue my instinct of walking closer with them a while. Maybe just hanging out around them, not necessarily trying to engage them with a comment like “tell me something O wise and learned one”…. but just soaking in that atmosphere of peace and goodness sensed when you’re around them. I’m pretty sure after a while, they will open up easily and readily. I know this is the work of the HS, but having the human experience of friend/teacher is a very rich rewarding experience… “a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” A brother is usually close to our own age, but these people are wiser and more consistent, less apt to correct me all the time. I need that kind of holy/human love experience of such a friend.
Don, it’s been my experience that loving people is easy to do when they’re lovable, but when they’re being contrary, the going gets tough. That’s when I realize it’s not my ability caring for them, but the Holy Spirit working through me, even with my imperfections! I am reminded of 2 Cor. 4:7, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”
Can relate easily Linda, but why wouldn’t it make more sense that we are STILL loving them as ourselves (loving them and ourselves from out of our old nature. When we are doing that, we are hard on ourselves, and hard on others and that is NOT indicative of loving anyone in the spirit.
Just a thought.
Jane, I’ve run into some situations where in my old nature, I couldn’t possibly have loved someone. I simply didn’t have the willingness, nor the perspective necessary to be kind to someone who was maltreating me. For those times, I’ve had to renew my mind with the appropriate scripture, while realizing the power behind my actions was the Holy Spirit, not me.
Geo- I want to have you as a Friend! Love your wisdom!!! Want to hang around with you!
Good Post, we can learn all together for the differences we have.
There’s so much to think about in here today. Maybe ALL of us have much deeper need for healing than we think. The more I am healed from my own past experiences, the more fruit ripens on my vine and simultnaeously more is comming towards me from other people and circumstances. I see it in my marriage and also in relationship with my children. (After all…. who’s the adult?) All my past seems longer ago and quite recently I notice the major ones aren’t dripping blood any more. My old habit of daily repentence over and over of the same old issues, was like picking the SAME scab off over and over.
Although I have at times accomplished this, it has not been fully sustainable always yet to my knowledge. I realize this may seem to be somewhat of an aloof answer as well. The answer to both #1 & #2 for myself would be, that we may inexorably trust/have faith in God with all our being/life/existence/heart/soul/strength/love etc, everything. I find that in the cross. Even just the thought of living Jesus’ words out in part scares the very fiber of most people. No one truly understands why the Messiah of the world went willingly to the cross. Here is the wisest man to ever roam the dusty hills of our planet. Jesus knew all the games that people play socially (world) and is evident in the way inwhich He calls them out openly throughout scripture. He had the faculties to know, even if He had been without the prophetic Spirit, where all He was doing was heading, for even His disciples whom had not recieved the ‘Ruwach ha’Kodesh’ yet, knew. ( i.e. Thomas proclaiming that they where heading to their death upon Jesus’ anouncement that they were returning to Jerusalem.) He at anytime could have become king as they wished to make Him. But God had already appointed Jesus king, it was up to us to just accept that. It is like the CEO of the company saying this is my man and then the mailroom clerk coming up and saying I want to make you the man. Laughable. Again mans understanding seemingly gets in Gods way. Man yet again tried to choose a king over God himself and they didn’t even realize it. They said yet again we want a king like all the other nations. So Jesus had to die for they did not accept that he was God incarnate. The ‘they’ is turned to we, for we still continue to do this to this day, in many ways. Which may be more understandable for Jesus is not in front of us, but we stand convicted of that being true from the evidence that the Holy Spirit leads us to. We now are afforded just glimpses as we are ready to recieve of the revelation of the cross, God’s death. Man would not die to God, so God willingly died to them, but God can’t stay dead. He can not denie Himself. And His love continues through the work of the Comforter or Another chance for us to recieve Gods love, if you will. God seemingly says O.K. maybe I came on a little too strong with My love so I’ll go and send you messages until you’re ready. In all things be blessed. I love you. =)
Just a thought as well, if the Kingdom be within and it is, would not the King wish to reside there. Praise Him!
Jeremy- He DOES whether we know it, recognize it, or awaken to it or not. It works best though when we SEE it and become ONE with what already IS.