Is YOUR Life Your Own?

2/25/2001

Sunday Afternoon, February 25, 2001

A “well-known” international “leader and teacher” in the “house church movement” just said something VERY revealing today while visiting some Believers in the United States. If this has been relayed accurately (I truly hope not!), a question was posed about why we should revolve around a “here or there kingdom” and circle up the wagons primarily, or exclusively for some, around “set times and places.” (From the Record of the Holy Spirit, under Jesus’ leadership, or that of the Apostles, there is ZERO evidence that Followers of Jesus would ever slouch to “set times and places for pre-arranged programs and gimmicks and ‘bible studies.’”)

His answer tells it all about our wimpy, sloppy, worldly generation. The reason why “the house church movement,” as well as the so-called “system” (how much difference is there really, in most cases?) revolves around set times and places to define its existence (Sunday at 9:00, Tuesday at 7:30 for this, Friday at 7:00 for that...blah, blah)—is because, according to this “world-recognized leader and teacher and ‘church planter’...”

“Well, We All Still Have Our Lives To Lead, Don’t We?”

Unbelievably revealing, even to some listening to him say these words today, if this is accurate as it is said to be.

I guess some really ARE still their own—and NOT “bought for a price.”

“Doulos,” “slave”—what’s THAT?

“Well, We All Still Have Our Lives To Lead, Don’t We?”

OUTRAGEOUS! God is, beyond question, appalled at such situations where mere men tenaciously and jealously clench on to the reins of their own lives, and then attempt to wear the Name of His Son anyway. Grievous, grievous, grievous bankrupt unBiblical version of christianity. An embarrassment to the Name and Call and Glory of the Messiah. What cost the Father the life of His Son—is pushed into a little box for our convenience in this wicked and corrupt generation. Is THAT the “Bride who has made herself ready” for the Return of the Groom? Not a chance. Some SERIOUS repentance is in order.

“Anyone that claims to be in Christ, must walk as Jesus walked” (1 John 2:6).

Here is the picture of lives, even yet uneducated in the Teachings of Jesus, but transformed from the Power of darkness to the Kingdom of the Beloved Son, and now partakers of the Divine Nature, sealed with the Spirit of Christ Jesus living within, and therefore longing to walk as Jesus, their master, walked. They were brand new Christians!

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

“And 100% of those who had believed (3000+ who had just surrendered to Jesus’ Love) were continually together, and they lived with all of their personal possessions as if they were not theirs alone; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

“Day by day continuing with one mind in the park/courtyard, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:42-47).

“They were all (3000+) with one accord in Solomon’s park/porch” (Acts 5:12).

IF you or I accept some pigeonholed, pre-programmed, flesh-authored and world-conforming version of christianity, shame on us. HE gave His all. And He deserves better from us than that “WE-ALL-STILL-HAVE-OUR-LIVES-TO-LEAD” lukewarm nonsense.

Let’s instead, to the praise of His Glory, “Live and move and have our being” in Him, “admonishing one another daily, so that none are hardened and deceived by sin,” as “a hundred mothers, brothers, and sisters” in intimate, daily, light-walking, burden-bearing

CHRIST-IANITY—the LIVING, ANOINTED LIFE of CHRIST JESUS in His DAILY, LIVING, CONNECTED BODY!

“He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone” (Acts 4:11).