Assigned Influence

S - “But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. …“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” 2 Corinthians 10:13, 17-18 ESV

O - "The Area of Influence God assigned". What a great phrase and reality.  God already has it mind to assign us areas of influence which allow us to work with him in his purposes in people and on earth. He's not waiting for us to get it started, he's already working. [“But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working. … So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.” John 5:17, 19-20 ESV] He's not wanting us to 'take the lead' he wants us to follow. “Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.” John 6:5-6 ESV

A - Jesus never called me to a cause, only to himself ("Follow me and I will make you …"). He came to earth sent by the Father to work with him and he is still working to this very day. He doesn't want me to work for him but with him. He doesn’t want me to carve out my territory and make a name for myself "for him." Jesus made himself of no reputation. He wasn’t doing things to prove his worth or earn his way. This is the way he was sent and how he sends all others. [“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:5-7] I'll follow unto a boasting which is only in him and an influence which really is on earth like it is heaven.

P - Lord,

I accept the call to follow you and not take the lead; to work with you and not for you. I accept your assignment of influence which enables the beauty of your will on earth just like it happens in heaven. Thank you for wanting us, loving us and including us in your very self. I give my whole self back to you.

Steve

God's Self Portrait

S - "The Law was given by Moses, but Jesus Christ brought us underserved kindness and truth. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like." John 1:16-18 TLJ

O - Jesus was sent by the Father to clarify both his person and his purpose. The religious leaders of Jesus' day had distorted God's person and misrepresented his purpose. The very ones claiming to follow Moses and the Scriptures were way off on both.  Jesus, who is the Good News, confirms and reveals both the Father's person and purpose. He "has shown us what God is like."

v  “Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.” John 12:44-45 NIV

v  “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” John 12:49-50 NIV

v  “Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” John 5:19 NIV  

v  “Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.” John 14:8-11 NIV

A - When anyone sees Jesus they are seeing God the Father.  Whenever anyone hears Jesus they are hearing the Father.  Jesus only says what the Father is saying and only does what the Father is doing.  If anyone's picture (understanding of God's person and purpose) is NOT identical to Jesus they have the wrong picture (understanding of God's person and purpose).  What is my picture of the Father?  Is he the friend of sinners?  Is he one who washes dirty feet?  Jesus is the great and only clarifier. The Father of Jesus and the Father of religious thought is not the same guy! This was true in Jesus' day and remains true today.  I will believe Jesus about his Father.

P - Our Father in heaven,

You're the One who sent Jesus to us because of your great love for all people.  Thank you for the striking clarity his presence, life and words bring to all.  I admit that I had the wrong understanding of your person and purpose and you loved me anyway.  Thank you for giving me/us such a completely accurate picture.  You are more wonderful than I can imagine and Jesus confirms this to all.  Thank you for letting us/me live and pray in him and in his name.

I love you back,

Steve

On Assignment on Planet Earth

S - “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” John 5:21-24 NASB

O - Jesus says the Father is not judging anyone. Culture (religious and secular) is always judging everyone. There is only one judge and he has deferred judgment to the very end. Jesus is the judge and he is to be honored (τιμάω - to hold dear, count as precious, to value, revere, esteem) just like the Father. His consistent instruction to his friends and followers is do not judge. His consistent command is to love … God, each other, your neighbors and your enemies. To hear him unto eternal life and freedom from all judgment includes hearing him on judging and loving others.

A - Whatever the situation, Jesus always starts at unconditional love, leads with mercy and then addresses the facts (all of them). Culture (religious and secular) taught me to start with the facts, which inspire conditional love at best and not much mercy on the way to judging (called "tough love" ... long on tough and very short on love). Since I'm following Jesus and hearing him I'm admitting more than the error of my cultural training … I'm admitting my error and the rush to judgment it created in me and through me. Jesus isn't asking or wanting me (or anyone) to be his moral agent on planet earth (something I can't even do for myself - Romans 3:23) but rather the agent of his love. I accept the assignment and the only place to start every day and every situation. After all, it's the place he always starts with me.

P - Judge of all and judge of me,

I do respond to you and the honor you are due … the same as our Father in heaven. Thank you deferring all judgment so that all can come near and experience unconditional love and the mercy which sets and keeps us free. I accept your assignment as an agent of your unconditional love. I admit that I can never fully express this love until conditions arise. When they do, I will rely on you, your irrepressible life and love to empower me as you intend. Thank you for letting us live and pray in your name.

On assignment,

Steve

Yes

S - “But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us-by me and Silvanus and Timothy-was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.” 2 Corinthians 1:18-20 NASB

O - The promises of God are yes "in Him." The "in Him" is the sole focus of Paul's speaking and living. The "Him" is Jesus … Jesus the person not Jesus the concept. The "in Him" is NOT primarily a description of status but of relationship, person to person. Religion puts its focus on principles and status while the Kingdom is focused on a person and relationship. This is why Jesus answered the question about doing the work of God the way he did. “Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."” John 6:28-29 NASB

A - Religion taught me to put my trust and confidence in principles from Scripture and in a status based on promises. The problem is that the principles and promises are not self-contained. They are yes ONLY in a person. They are not yes in the concept or plan regarding a savior from heaven but literally in his person. He's not offering amnesty but adoption; not a change in status but in personal experience and ongoing relationship. Religion tells us to believe Scripture and then teaches us to live contrary to its teaching. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5)." I am not to lean on my own understanding of promises and principles but on a person in whom all of them are already yes. He is eternal life and all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him, not to principles, promises or concepts. His call and invitation remains the same "follow me."

P - God who relentlessly loves the world,

I accept your invitation and focus to follow Jesus unto the life that is really life. He is the good news and only in him are your promises yes. Thank you for offering, giving, your very self to all people and asking for all to return the favor. I say yes to you this day and every day. Thank you for letting us live and pray in Jesus (the person not a status).

Steve

There is no Cause of/for the Real Christ

S - "But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also." Acts 23:11 NASB … “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else,” Philippians 1:-12-13

O - These verses are the two times in the NASB New Testament where the idea of a cause for or of Christ is presented.  Both times the term "cause" is completely absent in the Greek.  In Acts 23 Jesus actually says to Paul "as you have solemnly witnessed the things concerning me".  He did NOT give witness to a cause but to a person.  In Philippians it says literally "the bonds of me manifest in Christ" i.e. imprisonment in Christ … not in a cause.  Humans want other humans to think there is a cause worth giving one's life to. Hell wants humans to think they are called to a cause. Heaven wants all humans to know they are not called to a cause but to a person.  Jesus never called one person to a cause … only to himself.  "Follow Me" is the call (money, missions [i.e. causes/projects] and methods all want to divide us). Jesus wants us all together in one spirit, mind and heart following him. Any cause for Christ comes not from heaven but from earth or hell.

A - Communists, Capitalists, Atheists, Military, Political and Religious Leaders all love causes.  The cause provides them with a tool to enlist, direct, judge and even execute others.  All causes eventually end in division and death … all of them (religious causes are among the worst).  Jesus calls the entire human race to himself … never to a cause.  While he has given me various assignments over the years they were never the point of my life or daily activity.  He is the point … and all who follow him are known by the only one qualifier he identified: all will know you are following me if you love one another. The cause will want me to love it more than someone who appears to be hindering or resisting it.  It's what tragically divided Paul and Barnabas (cf. Acts 15:36-39). Jesus doesn’t' want us divided but united.  It's very specific in his living (John 10), teaching (John 15) and praying (John17).  We're called to Jesus and to live as an answer to his prayer rather than a cause of it.  I want to be an answer and not a cause … I will follow him.

P - Lord who is life,

I accept your call to yourself … and am grateful to work with you in what you've already decided to do.  Thank you for wanting us to work with you and never for you.  Thank you for not calling me to a cause but to your very self.  You lead and I'll follow according to love. 

I love you back,

Steve 

First does not Mean Exclusively

S - "You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. … For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets ... have spoken have foretold these days. … When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” "(Acts 3:15, 22-24, 26 NIV)

O - Peter's explanation and exhortation to the people is exclusively focused on the person, name and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was sent to earth to clarify once for all the person and purposes of God. God "sent him first" to the Jews but not exclusively to them. Jesus was sent and given to all. To this the Scriptures have consistently witnessed and "foretold these days". The great and tragic misunderstanding of the religion of Jesus' day was that the Christ was only for those belonging to that religion. This deceptive and divisive error remains in many of the religions of our day, with Christianity sadly leading the way. It is time, as Peter points out, to "listen to everything he [i.e. Jesus] tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off".  He says: "“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10:14-16 NIV)

A - What if I/we believe Jesus about Jesus instead of someone else about Jesus? What if I/we believe Jesus about earth and not just heaven?  What if I/we decide to admit that religion is just culture and welcome God's Kingdom on earth the way they do in heaven? Intentionally, humbly and without exception. Jesus said to Nicodemus and he says to me/all: "Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" (John 3:11-12 NIV)

P - Shepherd of the sheep and friend of sinners,

I want to welcome you and your kingdom on earth, in me and through me just like they do in heaven. I am so glad you are calling the whole world to yourself and not to a religion, cause or particular world view. Thank you for sheep from many flocks and for letting me be among them. I love you back. You lead and I'll follow.

Baaaaa:),

Steve

Forget the Outcome and Ask Anything

S - "When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” … Jesus said to them [the Pharisees], “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him." (Matthew 21:20-22, 31-32 NIV)

O - Two very different statements to two very different groups of people and yet the point is the same for both. What exactly are the disciples to believe so that they will receive whatever they ask for in prayer?  What exactly was the way of righteousness that John showed the Pharisees which they did not believe?  The answer? Jesus; Jesus the person not the theological concept.  He is to be the recipient of a faith which does not doubt and he is more than the way of righteousness. In fact, he is righteousness itself. The one who believes Jesus can ask anything. The one who believes Jesus will enter and live in the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Jesus is the exact image and representation of his Father, the righteous One.  

A - Religion taught me to "believe and not doubt" an outcome.  If the desired outcome did not materialize then the obvious and only cause was that I had doubted and ruined the whole thing.  So, the next teaching of religion was that I had to get and keep out all doubt.  Any flicker in me would produce another complete failure.  Finally, it taught me that even though neither of the previous "lessons" worked if only I engaged them with more intensity and stamina I would finally get what I asked for … but that didn't work either.  Now I am discovering what Jesus meant and how he lived. Jesus believed in his Father, not in withering trees. He didn't work at keeping doubt out he lived continually in his Father and his Father lived in him … the exact relationship he wants and offers to all who will follow. He's not requiring us to get doubt out but to let him in and abide in him.  On the heels of a faith failure He said to the twelve: "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. “(Matthew 17:20; cf. Luke 17:6 NIV) The person of Jesus makes nothing impossible; he keeps everything possible for the one who believes.

P - Lord Jesus,

Thank you that the work of God is to believe your person and this alone makes and keeps everything possible … it's the only dynamic which enables anyone to ask anything unto mulberry trees in the ocean and that which is too wonderful.  I welcome the beauty of you who are righteousness living in me and me living in you unto all you already have in mind to do and me asking whatever I wish.  I accept your invitation and instruction … I believe you and then ask for anything … and then it is done for me rather than me trying to do for you.  Amazing … because you are.

All in and all my love,

Steve