Dearly in Love

Dearly in Love

‘On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:22-23)

I hate religion. Religion taught me that when reading this passage only the last half applies to today. The words prophecy and casting out demons I don’t actually need to worry about because it is not something people do in this day in age. Or is it?

Modern day church is governed by one of two things; either the political spirit or the religious spirit. Let’s take a look into these two categories. The political spirit doesn’t want to associate with sin because it wants to appear virtious. For example we look at Pilot in the Bible. When the people brought Jesus to Pilot to be crucified, instead of resisting the people and fighting for justice, he hands the blame onto them so he wouldn’t be associated with the guilt and not wanting to be associated with the sin. The political spirit runs churches in this way creating a false sense of justice. The other type of government run by modern day churches is the religious spirit. The religious spirit wants to judge, wants to have justice and wants to appear holy. For example we look at the Pharisees in the Bible. Pharisees were the lawmakers, the rule keepers and the leaders caring more about strict ruling rather than having compassion for the people. Jesus rebuked them countless times in the Bible because they were hypocrites. The religious spirit runs churches in the way of praising leaders to act like pharisees to keep the law in tact, rather than loving on the people. Religion wants to exalt you so high that no one can become like you or place you so low that people will walk on you. It’s either of these extremes because religion can’t handle giving people the right amount of honor deserved. These two reactions are celebrated in church. Why? Because that has all we have known. But I have discovered something coming to Bethel Church in Redding, California this year. There is a church (along with other hidden ones in the nation) that thrive under a different mindset. And that mindset can be described by living by the kingdom.

Healings, miracles, prophecy, casting out demons, apostles, prophets, words of knowledge, speaking in tongues, ect. are all things of today. I live these things out everyday at Bethel. I’m not trying to freak you out, rather enlighten you about this new revival awakening. These things are attributes of the kingdom. It’s not just ancient history for the apostles of the old days, it’s living breathing things that God still uses today. I once was taught that all things happen for a reason, even disease and sickness. And that if you had something terrible happen to you, it’s just a test God gives you to have faith in Him and you probably just have to wait to get to heaven to be healed. LIE. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus did the ultimate justice for us by conquering sin at the cross. His justice outdoes Satan’s injustice, and it’s our duty to heal people of sickness, wrecked marriages and disease. And heaven can be on earth right now. That’s what the apostles did in the Bible, they brought heaven to earth because that’s what they saw Jesus do. And Christians claim to be like Jesus, yet most don’t see anyone comanding people to be healed with faith in the power of God. You see faith and power comes in the presence. Most people don’t even know this stuff exists because they didn’t know a relationship with God could even exist; a real living two sided relationship. Before I came to Bethel I thought the only way to talk to God was to pray and sometimes He would answer. But now I’ve learned that God talks to us all the time, we just didn’t even know it. When we take time out of our day to just soak in His presence, to talk to Him about our day, ask Him questions, let Him love on us, we actually build up our relationship with God, just like we would a natural one on earth. And when we consistently do this, God in turn blesses us because He trusts us and healings and annointings come easier because we know our God and we know that He created those things for us to do. God is so desperate for relationship with us, even though religion tricks us into thinking He’s just a power searching distant God in Heaven wanting us to do His will. That’s actually Satan’s portrayal to entice us into only being for God, and not with God, which is the explanation of the passage at the beginning. When you are serving God without actually willing to get to know Him, you’re in a slave and master relationship. We’re called to a son and father relationship where He gives us commands ultimately for our benefit and protection because He loves us. But when we live in that slave and master relationship, we don’t give God the opportunity for Him to know us, and that’s why in the passage He told them to depart because He never actully knew them. That’s why it is so important to focus on relationship with God rather than works, because in the end religion wants you to be perfect when God only wanted your love.

Now hopefully you understand my dislike for religion. It’s because the gospel is not religion, it’s a love story. A love story that needs to be truly carried out today, and not just half way anymore. The full story needs to be told, and I plan to tell it. I’m called to revival and I am called to preach heaven is invading earth right now, the way God intended it all along. Also sorry I haven’t been posting as much, I have just been really busy with different things, but I plan to start posting more. So keep checking back! And also to learn more about Bethel Church and basically what I am living in everyday, read Danny Silk’s book, The Culture of Honor. He’s a pastor here, and it’s possibly one of my favorite books of all time. Be blessed!

Resource from Bill Johnson’s sermons.

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