"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." - Matthew 10:16 ESV
The cosmic system is a complex wire framework operating and changing in tandem with the fallen souls of men. It's structure and solidity is determined in part by individual soul power and the group dynamic.
A person can escape to nature and bring only themselves but as soon as a group forms anywhere the cosmic system dynamic picks up right where it left off.
The only way to truly know a system is to experience the inside of it and the outside of it.
The redeemed soul has escaped and is sent back in again with eyes opened.
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." - Jude 1:20-25 ESV
We do in-reach among the other sheep but outreach is when we reach into the cosmic system as agents free of that system but with souls that can still be vulnerable to the dynamics involved.
"Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' " - John 20:26 ESV
The locked door was no barrier to Jesus neither was the wire frame of fear that blanked the room.
When we have received grace we are no longer looking for favor inside the system because we have found it outside the camp. Peace pulls us out of our culture and shows us the dynamic from the outside. Peace stills our minds so that we are free to see the patterns that were invisible to us when we were caught up in the motions.
Curse the culture if you want to but the strife and injustice is mostly the product of the souls involved. It isn't a mysterious 'them' that is calling the shots. Our souls power the system when we feed on the dust of a fallen life. The cosmic system is the faith field organized by fallen angels that presently blanket the Earth.
But before we go and break out the tin foil hats to feebly try and protect ourselves from ourselves we must know that the root of the issue is lostness not ignorance. If people are taken out by God and sent back in again then things can change for the better because God is able to 'keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy'.
We can discern the wire framework and step through it this weekend. There is a natural current that is moving in a set direction but we don't have to be moved by those forces. We have a new purpose and Heavenly priorities that move us. If we are citizens of Heaven then we are no longer under or energized by that power. It can affect us but we are above it even when we are in the middle of it.
"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." - Matthew 18:19-20 ESV
I'm not looking for a devil behind every rock and stone. I just want to love the people God has put in my life in unusual ways that ignores accepted barriers because it is really God loving people through me. I may be just a sheep but I can venture out among the wolves because I see something they don't see with a real peace that has been given to me by God.
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Showing posts with label Cosmos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cosmos. Show all posts
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Leviathan Is A Fresh Water Creature
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:13-16 ESV
I often think of this concept that there is a world system that has been declared as the enemy of the believer.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." - 1 John 2:15-17 ESV
"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory." - Matthew 4:8 ESV
"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." - Matthew 13:22 ESV
"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." - 1 John 5:19 KJV
It is almost like a plot out of a science fiction film. The idea that humanity exudes or is swimming in something diabolical and does not even know it. The last verse in 1 John makes the claim that we know that the world is like this. Someone who has faith in Christ looks around and realizes quickly that the culture they are in is much darker than the faith they have.
Can we rid ourselves from this 'world' that the Bible speaks of? People try. They try to pass or establish Biblically based laws and impose structure that is anti-world. America was formed by people who left Europe and many of them had this idea and wove it into the fabric of the national cloth. Salty people with a salty world view made for an incredible success story.
"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?... Lay your hands on him; remember the battle - you will not do it again!" - Job 41:1-3, 8 ESV
But, The world isn't passive and cords can't bind leviathan. The cords won't bind him for long. In His element he is the master.
I just want to quote the first verse again because I think it holds the answer for us.
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:13-16 ESV
Salt and light are the answer. The cosmos (world) does not function well in salt and light. Leviathan is a fresh water creature.
"Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it. Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise." - Proverbs 11:27-30 ESV
Changing rules must always be secondary to the great cause of changing hearts and minds. If people with changed minds can get a foothold in society they will change the rules as protection against the darkness they used to know but now disdain.
This principle is true for the individual also. More and stricter rules will not transform me. Salt and light will preserve and change me. Spending time with salty people will make me saltier. Exposure to the light of grace teaching and practical compassion will cause my values to change.
Don't we want to enter the bland situation and bring the presence of God into it? It won't be our personality that accomplishes that. It will be us co-laboring with God that does it.
I want to live salty and die salty.
--
I often think of this concept that there is a world system that has been declared as the enemy of the believer.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." - 1 John 2:15-17 ESV
"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory." - Matthew 4:8 ESV
"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." - Matthew 13:22 ESV
"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." - 1 John 5:19 KJV
It is almost like a plot out of a science fiction film. The idea that humanity exudes or is swimming in something diabolical and does not even know it. The last verse in 1 John makes the claim that we know that the world is like this. Someone who has faith in Christ looks around and realizes quickly that the culture they are in is much darker than the faith they have.
Can we rid ourselves from this 'world' that the Bible speaks of? People try. They try to pass or establish Biblically based laws and impose structure that is anti-world. America was formed by people who left Europe and many of them had this idea and wove it into the fabric of the national cloth. Salty people with a salty world view made for an incredible success story.
"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?... Lay your hands on him; remember the battle - you will not do it again!" - Job 41:1-3, 8 ESV
But, The world isn't passive and cords can't bind leviathan. The cords won't bind him for long. In His element he is the master.
I just want to quote the first verse again because I think it holds the answer for us.
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:13-16 ESV
Salt and light are the answer. The cosmos (world) does not function well in salt and light. Leviathan is a fresh water creature.
"Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it. Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise." - Proverbs 11:27-30 ESV
Changing rules must always be secondary to the great cause of changing hearts and minds. If people with changed minds can get a foothold in society they will change the rules as protection against the darkness they used to know but now disdain.
This principle is true for the individual also. More and stricter rules will not transform me. Salt and light will preserve and change me. Spending time with salty people will make me saltier. Exposure to the light of grace teaching and practical compassion will cause my values to change.
Don't we want to enter the bland situation and bring the presence of God into it? It won't be our personality that accomplishes that. It will be us co-laboring with God that does it.
I want to live salty and die salty.
--
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