Layers of Spiritual Reality

What does God see now, in this instant? What is the full movement of the Spirit now, in this age? There is a pushing of the Spirit, from within all who have received faith in Christ, to display eternal life right now. This is throughout the earth, in all peoples, in every corner. Now, does God respect the boundaries of man, the divisions we have, between cultures, geography, governments, blood, anything? I do not believe these are His concern. He is the Ruler of those that rule, the one who raises up, and tears down. But His heart is toward the growth in the Spirit of His Son. The expansion of life to all man.

So for us practically, where do we 'draw the line'? We divide ourselves up into countries and states, counties and cities. But what is the movement of the Spirit that is closest to where you are? How do you get a vision of that, become part of what God is actually doing? Now this is not a slight to all the efforts of the faithful to spread the word, to do good works.

But the true intention of the Spirit is revealed in the display of faithful ones moving in the Spirit. There must be changed lives, repentance, healings, prophetic movement, spiritual utterances, and in fullness all the gifts displayed by the body. And we will know the movement in more ways, God will raise up men as gifts in our midst, to function in the Spirit for the edification of the body. Even further expression of His power, beyond what is written or imagined, is entirely possible for God.

Is this happening in your community? The Spirit is ready to move by faith, to pour forth into the world, right where you are. Do you want this to happen? Can you see it happening in your meetings? We are facing two major cultural blockages to this movement. Perhaps they are the same thing. But I will tell what is on my heart, as two things.

The first is the practical culture of 'church' in our society. Did you pick your church? Were you led there by the Spirit? There is no right or wrong, but what does God see in your community? You live and work somewhere, you are around the same people every day. This range of people that you are exposed to is the community in which you live. You may not see them much, or consider them at all, but there they are. An when God looks to the body in your community, He sees all those around you, that live and work in the same area. All of the believers in Jesus as the Messiah near you.

Now, it gets trickier, because the Spirit moves strongly in those who are built together into a practical expression of the body of Christ. This is where He moves with power. This is the expression of the King, the pouring out into the world of the life giving flow. And there may be no such expressions in your community, or hundreds. But the practical expression of the body requires closeness, commitment, sacrifice. It does not just happen.

Of course God is free to move however He chooses. I think of the great revivals in the past, some are unbelievable. Yet even in these, if what is left behind from place to place is a fading reflection of a powerful movement, the transformation is incomplete. So to see the body where you live, to be a part of that expression, requires that you commit to a people, that you meet with them, and move in life with them.

This is where the culture of church becomes a hindrance to the expression of Christ. Yes we must meet somewhere. And we must meet together at regular times. Not everyone can go to the same place, at the same time. But why do we persist in supporting this church or that church, this building or that building. And are you a member? Of what? A organization run by men? Does God have any special requirement or regulation about that?

Of course I do not advocate the abolishment of any groups practices, just the opening of the eyes to see the expression of faith in our communities. We are drawn to 'special' buildings, magnanimous pastors, pleasing worship bands. But these are not what anchors the body. I was struck especially today, when a man walked into our worship service, and asked if it was such and such church. I said "No, that group meets at a different time, but come on in!" He replied, "No, I will come back for (so and so's --insert name of pastor here--) church."

I was taken aback, and God opened my eyes to how far we are from practicing His reality. Now it can be simple miscommunication, but I have been to the meeting in question, and it has been infected by a cult of personality. There is no such thing as pastor so and so's church. Even in casual conversation, this is a sign of deep blindness. Just as there is no such thing in the Spirit as Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Catholics, Non-Denoms, or any other group with a label on it.

And that is not to say that labels are bad, but the practice of division is a sign of the lack of vision in the believers. The are blind to the full life in their communities because of these walls, and are held back from that measure of faith that will unleash the power of God locally. There is nothing wrong with having a place to meet. Of maintaining services for the people of God. But membership is by the Spirit, unto the reality of believers in your comunity. Any other separation, by doctrine or business, anything of mans construction, is a hindrance to the manifestation of power.

We can individually overcome many of these walls, simply by claiming membership of His church locally, no matter where you meet. The roof over your head simply keeps the rain of the brother next to you. And down the street are plenty more brothers and sisters joining with you in service to the living God. See it in your prayer life, walk it in your daily life. Promote the local church where you live.

Now, for the second part, it is the deaf and blind state of our hearts. We are experiencing in this day a cultural Christianity that focuses upon the self. Upon what God can do for me. Upon what He has for me in the future. About how we can experience peace. How we can be free of problems. About the love that will come to us in Christ. These are all true, all good things. And real promises of the Living God. But in almost every way, what we practice spiritually is self focused.

I know it sounds harsh, it sounds unbelievable. But I hear over and over about the individual in relationship to God. And very little about experiencing God in the body, from the living water inside one another. Our Christian books are about the self. Our popular Christian music is about the self. And worst of all, the majority of our church practices are promoting the me focused spiritual life. Oh listen with a heart for the Lord dear saint. I do not criticize any one church, any congregation, any body of believers.

But if you are living for Him, then you are suplying life in the Spirit to the body. And that life will flow out of you when you meet together. Sure, there are difficulties, roadblocks to the functioning body. But we have settled for the lowest common form of meeting. We gather together looking for life instead of bringing it. Again, if you are living for Him, you are living for the Body of Christ. It can be no other way, but that you are a supply of spiritual things to that body.

Don't get me wrong, some are here for to be gifts unto the body, as ministers unto the flock. And it is right to submit ourselves to leadership in the body. But can you, dear saint, persist in a walk with God where you do not overflow in life? Can you meet together, and not ever move in the Spirit? Fear God, dear ones, for if you are not displaying life, you will become stagnant inside, grasping for something. You will become ripe for the self focused lie that has permeated cultural Christianity in this day.

Be a fountain of eternal life. Push in with God to the supply. Do not let yourself fall asleep in rows, relying upon a few men to give you life each week. This is not the order of God, not the proper alignment of our walk together.

Perhaps these two things are related, the fractured social constructs that wall up our communities of faith and the self serving spirituality prevalent in this day. What ever the cause, the cure is clear. Each individual that experiences a vision of the actual 'church', that collection of believers in their community, will punch a whole in those walls. Each one who sees the reality of laying down the self and gaining Him, moves the body one step closer to functioning.

May the living God create in you a new faith, enough to perceive Him in the body, and strive for more of that life display. Lord, take the words of my heart and use them as you wish. Craft in me a connection, that my words would be simple and in line with what you are speaking in this day. May Your Glory fill the earth now!