The Treasure of Christ

If I look back at the past month and examine the themes of what God has been teaching me there is one that resounds above the others. That is, the call that is on my life as a Christian to extend justice and grace to those around me. It is really easy to talk about aspects of the Kingdom of God, but it is a much different thing to apply it to my hands and feet. The past month I have been deeply convicted and challenged in terms of making my relationship with God expand. We are a dynamic creation, just like our God is dynamic. We are able to feel, we are able to express emotions, we are able to reach out and touch others.

I often hear people debate aspects of the Christian faith; deciding if prophesy is valuable, or saying it's all about learning more (theology), or it's all about only justice for others, then there's always the debate over miracles and signs. At the end of it all, I can just get frustrated. Last night I was spending time alone with God, and he challenged me to pursue the FULLNESS of the gospel. Meaning, all that is encompassed in the Word of God. I was led to a quote last night by Bill Johnson. He said,

"Anything we do well is only because of grace. Our gifts are only by grace. Even faith is a gift from God. Signs and wonders are not the whole gospel. Neither is it whole without them. The miracle realm has opened up because of His Word and His presence. We pursue the miracles out of compassion for people and an obligation to God to utilize what He gave us - The Holy Spirit. But He is the treasure." -Bill Johnson

What a sobering statement that refines what ones attitude should be when approaching the Word of God and the work of His Kingdom. Some say to not pursue miracles or prophesy, but how can one not pursue that which is so clearly ingrained within the gospel message just as much as justice or worship are. We are an extremist culture; It's always one or the other. But friends, there is no "one or the other" in Christ's gospel. It's all or nothing. It's all sourced in the treasure that is Christ Jesus crucified.

God's word says that the greatest of all things is love. That our greatest mandate is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, soul and mind. And then to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The early church of Acts simply pursued these things, and they did not limit or decide what it should look like. Rather, they allowed the Holy Spirit to mandate their actions, they had hearts of submission. Every act that was done by them, from feeding the hungry, to healing the sick, to casting out demons, to pursuing the presence of God and experiencing prophesy and the gift of tongues; all were done out of their love for God and their love for others. Submitting and surrendering to God's Spirit causes a release; control is handed over to Him and every action thereafter is mandated by the Spirit's leading - this is how I resolve to live my life. If God says "lay your hands on that person and prophesy", "Go and heal that person in my name", "Go feed that individual", "Go encourage them", "Go and administer my justice in that persons life", or, "Come and be with me and let me fill you with my Spirit"; I want to do it, I want it all because I know that this is the fullness of the Gospel of Christ.  
I don't think it can be any more blatant. It's all good, and it all must be done out of submission to God's Spirit. Don't limit the potential that is in Christ.

Be Blessed,
Nick B.