The Rock and the Work; Seeing and Believing

There is a spirit of confusion that roams the sea of Christian thought. Doctrine, dogma, legalism, and Christian mythos are many times infected with the seeds of confusion. We grasp onto these things, attempting to understand, seeking knowledge, and they grow into collective patterns that hinder spiritual growth. You can break free from many of these ideas and teachings, but some are so ingrained, so deeply rooted in the culture of modern Christianity that it takes real revelation from God to break through them. As a simple example, most modern depictions of angels are mythological constructs, far from reality.

Why pick on the angels? Well, it's a simple topic, and will be unlikely to offend most people. Be prepared, when you do see spiritual reality, to experience rejection at the hands of even those you are close to. The wise man holds his tongue in this regard. Let your speech about what God reveals to you be in faith, that way the rejection you experience will not have been in vain. Now, angels are in the texts, and come in two forms. Spiritual beings and humans. They are God's messengers, and deliver something from God.

They don't have wings. Oh, there it is, modern Christian mythology at its finest. There are spiritual beings in the texts that do have wings, but none of them are angels. So, believe me or not, or perhaps you already have this vision of God's messengers, it matters not. I simply raise this to illustrate a product of the "spirit of confusion". If you are a warrior, here is one of your enemies. Walking in the light with the anointing cuts straight through this devious evil. Do that in faith and you will experience victory.

How does this relate to the "Rock and the Work" you ask? Well, I get distracted easily. My ADHD and dyslexia with a couple cups of coffee sends the brain on trail after train of random thoughts at times. And when I ponder and meditate on God, listening for His voice, looking for new vision, these don't help much. And yesterday was one of those days, one too many cups of espresso. So I was following my two year old around, praying, and she pointed at a big rock, and tried to pick it up saying "Rock, rock!"

My mind went to Peter, who's name means rock, and to Jesus words:

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

This is in answer to Peter telling Jesus "you are the Son of the Living God".

The very foundation of all Christ has done, will do, and is doing in this world is in this vision, which is revealed to us by God, of Jesus Himself. The vision is what Jesus utilizes to build us together. It is so simple, yet we miss it so often. We must ask God to show us His Son. We must cry out for vision. Make yourself desire it, bend your heart to want it so badly it hurts. Agonize over it. Knowing that Jesus is the Son of the Living God is one thing. But lets see it, experience it, walk in that vision every day. I want to see the Son, more and more. I want my eyes to be opened to the fullness of Christ.

There is no confusion in this. From the first instant you received faith, to this moment now, seeing Jesus, gaining revelation, is not tied to any doctrine. The growing vision, see more of the Son of God, has no connection to our various practices and dogmas. It simply happens. God opens our eyes to see. And it is from that the Church is constructed.

Seeing the body built together is seeing Jesus. Perceiving the building of the Church comes from God alone. No teaching can make you see it, only revelation from God. This leads to my other huge desire, to build the body. To do God's work. How do we do it? What is that work practically? We see this same desire in the original disciples who wanted to do the work of God.

These followers, after seeing the works that Jesus had done, inquired about the work:

They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Ok, now that is beyond simple. There can be no confusion in Jesus words here. We must believe. But how is this the work of God?

To really believe requires faith. I could believe in Santa Clause, but I have never experienced Santa. To believe in Jesus, faith was put in your heart by God. That is certainly an ongoing process. If you want to believe more, get more faith. To get more faith, we need to ask for it, cry out for more faith. God will hear us, He will increase your measure of faith. And in that, you will believe. The work of God will happen.

Notice how it is not doing good works, or anything specific. No charity, no evangelism, no ministry, no giving of time or money. It is in simply believing that the work is accomplished. In gaining that new measure of faith, in walking in that increased belief, you will be doing the work. It could be anything, the whole range of your life's activities can be open for God to build His Church when you believe more and more. But now, through faith, it will be Jesus in you doing the work. And He will be doing it with power and love beyond anything you ever experienced.

As a caveat, don't stop serving because you are questioning what God wants of you. Don't stop giving, or donating, doing charity. But see that the only profit will come when it is the Lord doing it in you. And if you can't see that, if you don't feel it, you absolutely need more faith. God will give it to you. Your belief will increase beyond measure. And His work, that work close to the heart of God, will be accomplished.

Seeing and believing, the core of how we can become a powerful instrument for God. And it can happen right now.

Lord, give me a new vision of you, increase my faith to believe beyond myself. Grant to each reader that gust of wind that sweeps confusion away and makes clear the Son of the Living God right here walking with us. We want to see you. We want to expand our belief. We need an outpouring of faith. Let everything that can see You give praise. Let that life You have put in me, the very life which overcame death, explode in a fountain of thanks. Make us Your body, one which works Your works right here, right now.