SIMILARITIES IN DOG TRAINING AND NEW BELIEVER TRAINING

Reading a magazine article about training a dog, the author had 8 commands he felt were necessary for a dog to learn. The first was to SIT. The two reasons were that it is a natural position for the dog to be in and an easy command to learn. They not only learn the command, but they learn the process of learning a command. 

COMMANDS: COME, STAY

The author believed these to be the next most important bc if your dog can obey these commands, then they can more easily obey the others. In fact, the author believed that if they didn’t know these commands, they couldn’t truly learn the others. We must learn to sit before we can do anything else. Sitting/resting in the Lord must be our starting place.

Then, I’ve seen time and time again where the Lord actually teaches us to stay even when it seems we should go, and to come unto Him in all things long before He ever teaches us to ‘go’. 

Sit, Walk, Stand by Watchman Nee

USE IN A MIGHTY WAY THINKING

We are so eager to go, even sometimes encouraged to do so long before we are ready to.

Example: prayer right after baptism for brand new believers to “be used in a mighty way for the Lord”. The picture in my mind is a mother sitting in her hospital bed holding her brand new baby and visitors coming to see the baby, telling the mother that they hope she uses her brand new baby in a mighty way. Or worse yet, leaning over to the baby and telling the baby that the Lord wants to use them in a mighty way this year. 

Yes, the Lord will actually use that baby in a mighty way, but without any help at all from the baby. The baby will simply live. Grow. Be. and by his very existence will impact the lives of his family. However, the family will also be used in a mighty way in the baby’s life. Providing abundant love, care, and protection – actually “doing” far more than the baby.

The baby learns by WATCHING first and then TRYING WITH HELP long before they ever go off and do on their own.

Working off the wrong GOAL!

PROBLEM WITH THIS THINKING

Pragmatism: an approach that assesses the truth of meaning of theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application.  If it meets the goal then do it.

* Teaches the end to justify the means. If the end is considered “converts” just about any “means” are acceptable to reach that goal.

* “If it works let’s do it” is unspiritual because it depends on technique rather than God to produce the desired effects- Form/Practices produces life vs life (God) giving birth to form(practices)

Leads to: Burn out, depression, never enough, under constant scrutiny, leaving the faith, spiritual immaturity

Natural talent is the driving force

Youthful ambition spent on “doing” rather than developing Christ’s character

Character vs Natural Talent

Our strength vs the Lord’s strength

The Character of the Lord’s Worker by Watchman Nee

GROWTH OF NEW BELIEVERS

How different would the growth of new believers be if instead of encouraging them to go out and do something for the Lord or be someone for the Lord we simply brought them into the family and loved, cared for, and protected them the same way we do a newborn? What if we actually waited until they had some growth in them before we started encouraging them to act.

So people are using the wrong spiritual growth chart  to measure their progress and find themselves either

Never measuring up

Prideful – I’ve already got it together- I have been a Christian for years

God’s view of spiritual maturity is 

Celebrating Christ’s Humanity at the Lord Supper

We have done an episode on #45 Reframing the Lord’s Supper

You can come to the Lord’s table with so many things to celebrate: 

BRIDE: You can declare the coming wedding feast! Loving on your bridegroom! Declaring all His excellencies!

HIS HEADSHIP and KINGDOM: You can declare that He is our savior and Lord. His ALL in ALLness!

FAMILY: That he is the firstborn, our brother, that we are sons and daughters of God. We can call him father. Thanking God for our new birth into His family.

Today we want to highlight His body and Life, His humanity as our own-

The Spiritual Man and the Natural Man- The Body of Christ by TAS

CHRIST EXCELLENT HUMANITY

“What is the interest? This loaf. What is this loaf? He says, “This is My body…” and it’s different from all others. It doesn’t belong to any other category, it is distinct and separate – something you need – there is not another Body like this. Of all the bodies in humanity, there’s not another Body like this. He said “A body didst Thou prepare for Me”, an act of God, a unique act of God, this Body. I repeat: there was no other Body like this one – a special act of God. His body from its birth was not an ordinary body; in its birth, was not an ordinary body.?” TAS

Something about this Man that you cannot understand; He’s different. And when taking the loaf as the symbol of His body, breaking it, and distributing it, accepting it as your own.

In the light of this discrimination in the types or kinds of humanity, what is He saying? 

“In taking My Body, you are declaring that you are a part of this other, different kind, or type of humanity”. You are saying that you have become a very part of this other order that Christ is, and that He has become a part of your being, that you are different from other people.” TAS

BREAD: His body, His Humanity

Breaking it and each taking a piece is saying we are Accepting, declaring, partaking of a new kind of Humanity- His body. 

We accept His humanity as our humanity- we are one flesh with Christ- Us in Him and Him in Us

“Is that what we mean every time we come to the Lord’s table, and every time we read 1 Corinthians 11? Is that really what we mean when we declare by this act that we are not of this world, we are not, in the innermost reality of our being, a part of this old creation?” TAS

Jesus offers us His humanity

Jesus offers us His humanity, which is a new humanity, to take on. We don’t try to imitate that humanity, we receive and express and live by that humanity. We become part of that new humanity. He has taken the old humanity away, but that’s the one we desperately try to cling to, that’s the one we love, that’s the one we want to celebrate — the old humanity. He is the new humanity. He gives us His body to partake of the new humanity. This new humanity is Himself expressed corporately through His body, the Church.

This new humanity is the one the Father accepts, not our old humanity, no matter how much it looks like His. It only looks like His, it isn’t His.

His humanity is the one that overcomes.

His humanity is the one that sits at the right hand of the Father.

His humanity is the one in the glory.

His humanity is the one the Father approves.

His humanity is the only one worth celebrating.

To try to see our humanity as something different, as something changed, more or better or more real because of Christ, without the context of actually having and living by His humanity is wrong. It is still a form of rebellion against the Father and His purpose.

NEW BOOK BY BRIDGET BABIONE

Going Through the Gospels With Your Kids: A Simple Method for Connecting With Jesus as a Family by Bridget Babione

Questions for Bridget:

Where did the inspiration for this book come from?

How did you choose to go through the gospels?

What if I have not studied scripture very much. I do not want to teach my kids something that might be wrong. Could I still use this book?

Is this book geared for more one on one teaching or could it be used for a few children of various ages?

The very informative book sleeve mentions not only learning more about Jesus but also prayer. How is prayer incorporated in teaching the gospels?

what do you hope for readers to gain from reading your book?

Where can we get more information?  I cannot wait to read this book!

Are there any other projects that you are currently working on?  

For more information: Tent & Altar

KIDS YOUTUBE BOOK REVIEW: hear from her kids about their experience of going through the book.

This book is ridiculously practical. It’s spiritual in that it points one to Christ, but it is terribly practical in the way it does it. Bridget gives plenty of step by step encouragement in going through the gospels with your kids. This book can help those of us who, like Bridget, are willing to stumble along the path and discover Jesus in every bump and bruise along the way. Knowing Him more is ours for the taking, and this book is another tool to help us do just that — a simple method for connecting with Jesus as a family.

 

DO YOU HAVE YOUR VISA?

We have several friends who have been trying to relocate/move to the United States.  The process of getting a VISA to stay in the United States for an extended period of time is very difficult.  This may come as a surprise to many of us who live in the United States.

We have spoken about Kingdom Communities in past episodes. Today we would like to look at what the citizens of these communities look like.

While getting a VISA example will fall apart or at least fall short at some point, it is a picture of the Eternal Purpose and becoming Kingdom Citizens.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Col 1:13

Disclaimer:  This is not a “should” list. This is not meant to be burdensome. This is not a check-off list. This is merely a list of some things that appear to be common among Kingdom Citizens. Christ is all and His wisdom far exceeds man’s understanding.

How to become a Kingdom Citizen:

* Find a Kingdom Community or Kingdom Cell (Frank Viola talk about these)

* Insurgence Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom by Frank Viola

* Counterfeit Kingdoms Episode 103

* Apply to be part of this community.

* This includes visiting the community.

* This application is a process. It takes time and does not happen overnight or quickly.

* There is a fee: It will cost you something up front, then it will cost you more of yourself.

* There is no dual citizenship: you have to give up your old citizenship.

* You have to provide a picture: there is a visible expression of Christ’s life on earth today.

* There are Visas that you can get if you have a sponsor:  Christ is our sponsor

What are the characteristics of  Kingdom People?

* They live with a purpose.

There is a purpose for a Kingdom Community:  The purpose is to live by the indwelling life of Christ. To pursue the eternal purpose of God with other brothers and sisters. Exploring together the realities of the Lord and His house.  They are a visible expression of the bride of Christ.

* They seek the Lord and His purpose alone and together.

Beholding Him together

Sharing together what is being revealed of the Lord

* They spend time together. They are in each other’s lives.

* They relate to one another because of their pursuit of Christ and not necessarily 

* because they share likes, dislikes, interests, hobbies or sports teams.

* They love each other.

* They die to themselves daily. 

* They give up their wants, wish dreams, preferences-for Christ’s.

* They consider others over themselves. 

* They are vulnerable (teachable, approachable, malleable)

* They tilt toward yes.

* They see the world through a heavenly vision.

* They see the systems of the world.

* They do not fret over money, jobs, status, safety

* They are generous with their time and money

* Their personalities and creativity, which are varied, as creation and is encouraged.

* They are not automatons or robots. Groupthink is not encouraged.

* The groupthink: the practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or individual responsibility.

* They live by another life that is not their own.

Your Citizenship can be revoked?

You refuse to live by the Life of the Kingdom Community.

You refuse to stop living in sin or open rebellion to the Lord.

Heavenly Perspective:

The Kingdom Community is not the end game. It is not eternal. It has a finite lifespan.

It may not stay together.

A New Hope

How often are you on social media? Do you come away depressed or energized after spending time on the various platforms? Well, admittedly, that’s due in large part to who or what you follow? But from my (R.C.) experience, it’s getting more and more difficult to not get angry or become saddened or discouraged from what I see on social media. The same is true for when I’m trying to find something new to watch on Netflix. Too much of the content that’s pushed my way is so depressing. Even from Christians. Maybe especially from Christians. I see a lot of the world living without hope. And it’s heartbreaking to see Christians doing the same. Why? 

Because we have Christ in us — THE HOPE OF GLORY!

If there are any people on earth who are to live with hope, it’s Christians. We are God’s people. We are His hope in this world. And when we live, act, speak without this hope, be it in real life or on social media, then we betray the very Hope of Glory Himself, Jesus Christ.

Anyway, it has been a recent trend that we’ve all been noticing: this world is showing just how little hope it has. But it constantly, continually looks for hope in humanity or any other man made things or ideas. And many Christians buy into this. But saints! We have Hope Himself living within us. We are in Christ, and He is the reality of Hope.. So, let us today explore this hope we have.

What is hope?

Noun

the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best:

a particular instance of this feeling:

Verb (used with object)

to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.

to believe, desire, or trust:

Verb (used without object)

to feel that something desired may happen:

Archaic . to place trust; rely (usually followed by in).

When you lack hope, it drains you of energy.

Hope in scripture

(Psalm 31:24) Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in Yahweh.

(Psalm 39:7) Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.

(Psalm 43:5) Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him: my Savior, my helper, and my God.

(Psalm 71:5) For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth.

(Romans 8: 24-25) 24 For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? 25 But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.

(Romans 15:4-6) 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus, 6 that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Romans 15:13) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

(2 Cor. 3:12) Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech

(Galatians 5:5) For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

(Ephesians 1:17-21) 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; 18 having the eyes of your hearts[a] enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20 which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power,

Problems with Prooftexting (sometimes “proof-texting” or “proof texting”)

Ever been in a conversation with someone when that person pulls a piece of scripture seemingly out of thin air to prove a point? But you still have to do some mental gymnastics to follow their reasoning? Well, that’s called proof texting.

What is proof texting?

the practice of using isolated, out-of-context quotations from a document to establish a proposition in eisegesis (introducing one’s own presuppositions, agendas, or biases).

One of my (R.C.’s) personal favorites used to be Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. I used to apply this to wrestling, school, and other life experiences. When, in context, that scripture, and more to the point that truth, has nothing to do with my wrestling or grades or anything else for which I abused it.

Thomas’ example of the root of the word and also window vs. mirror approach to scripture

There are a few reasons why we proof-text or take scripture out of its context

Unable to see the bigger picture or narrative of scripture

This is seeing the scriptures from the vantage point of God’s Eternal Purpose

All of scripture points to a climax of the Father summing all things up in Christ Jesus so that Jesus may hand over all things to the Father so that God may be all in all (1 Cor. 15:1-28). This does not take away the situational context in any given passage but gives greater meaning to it. John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me

Tradition

We’ve heard someone quote scripture and simply believe it never taking the time to look into it for ourselves.

Misunderstanding/Ignorance

Sometimes we just don’t understand  what a scripture means and simply need help

Using scripture to push one’s own agenda which can often lead to proof-texting

Prosperity teaching

Old Covenant eyes

So what context are we talking about?

The worldview of the writers and audience (versus Reading through modern worldview) and

The eternal purpose

Proverbs 23:6-8

6 Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, 7 for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.“Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. 8You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words

John 20:29-31  29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Is. 55:6-9 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Is. 55:10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

“For I know the plans I have for you,

Reframing The To the Saints Podcast

(Do people think that our TTS podcast is a meeting?)

We are Seven Saints coming together to express the life of Christ. So the To the Saints podcast must be a church meeting, right? I mean “where two or three are gathered, there I will be in their midst” and all that, am I right?

That’s not true, R.C.!

There are many different ways of meeting together around the Lord. A corporate meeting where the Saints gather under the headship of Christ to express His life back to Him and to each other is not the same thing as a couple people in a coffee shop or a group having a game night or seven folks creating a podcast, even if the content of each gathering is centered around the Lord being all and in all.  

So what is this podcast?

Vision

Let us press on to maturity

Purpose

Why we are doing this

So what are the Similarities & Differences between TTS and a meeting?

Similarities

Both led by the spirit

All saints functioning

Preparation

* Both Reveal Christ

Differences

* TTS more polished worked through before speaking vs a meeting lots of pauses and processing things

* Refining process learning to lay down our lives for one another, you don’t see our disagreements.

Not a lot of reframing of thing in meetings.  

Preparation

Sharing in the preparation of a podcast is sharing some time and experience together, but it not really sharing our lives with each other in the way of body life.

From the website:

ABOUT TO THE SAINTS

Spiritually speaking: We are followers of The Way who have been enraptured by our Lord and His Ageless Purpose, His Ultimate Intention. We are believers in Jesus Christ who have come to love the cross and its foolishness because we’ve had a foretaste of the resurrection that follows.

Practically speaking: We are three families and a single brother who have all spent time in vocational ministry, but are now following the Lord outside the institutional system. We have all experienced organic/natural/real church life and are now moving wherever the Lord leads to plant expressions of Christ in cities all over the US.

To the Saints started out as a two-hour radio program on Sunday afternoons in Austin, TX. Now, we’re just on the line sharing what we’ve seen and experienced on a weekly(ish) podcast.

 

You know what Thomas loves about Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee?  Its the scenes where they drive on the same nasty streets as the rest of us.  They really are just people… Just like us; we do all the same stuff everyone else does, and we’re none the better for it.  

You likely have an idea of what you wish it was, because that is comforting to know that even if you don’t have your wish dream, at least you believe it’s POSSIBLE, which provides some psychological comfort.

Conclusion:

One thing to remember saints: with each group out there, the Lord has a different type of fruit that he is producing. The “to the saints” ministry is the fruit of the group(s) that we have been a part of with each other. As your group grows and is developed into what the Lord wants, there surely will be fruit, but it won’t look the same as the ministry we have. Celebrate what unique gifts the Lord is birthing in your group

Jesus as the Door (John 10:9)

Question from a listener (Taffy K, 4/25)

Subject: Question from a Listener (Jesus, the Door)

Message Body:

Good day. I am still shocked by the podcast y’all did on living by the Lord’s Indwelling life, and I have to listen to it again soon… But upon reading Milt Rodriguez’s blog post on ‘Into Another Realm’ I was caught off guard… I had not considered Jesus’ statement in John 10:9 about Himself being the Door seriously… Have you all done a podcast on this or can do one? I asked y’all specifically because even though I did not say, the perspectives that you all shared on Body Life changed me… I love that particular episode and it’s one of my favorites… Please don’t underestimate the clarity that you all have been bringing to the Body of Christ… I have been changed… Love you all…

We’ve previously talked about seeing pictures of Christ in the movies and in popular songs. But how about this for a challenge: Can Christ be found in songs from children’s movies—you know, the often bubbly, cheesy songs written for kids’ movies?

Yep! Although we have all probably experienced the Lord through kids’ songs before, I had a concentrated dose not long ago on the three-day trip from Texas to Colorado with a six, five, and two-year-old in the car wanting to listen to “their” songs. It was fun to hear the Lord come through so many of the songs, and often quite helpful when patience might be running a bit thin and frustration is building (“Let it Go,” right?).

Today we are going to play several songs for you and tell you what we heard in each one.  

Songs

*The first song is a doozy. It is from…drumroll…an Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. The lyrics to this song are surprisingly right-on as a song from the Church to the Father through Christ (except for one line where the song says “even in your mistakes” and of course we know the Lord does not make mistakes.)

“Home” by Alvin and the Chipmunks from Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip

Oh, you shine bright

Brighter than all the stars

Brighter than fireworks

So, I give you all my love

 

And you’re perfection

Even in your mistakes

Give affection

Even when your heart aches

When I’m away

You’re who I’m thinking of

Because

 

You are my home, home, home

Wherever I may roam

You are the place where

I can rest my weary bones

You are my home, home, home

You are my home, home, home

 

You’re a diamond (brightening)

Brightening my cloudy skies (sparkling)

Sparkling all through the night (light)

Light me up like fireflies

 

See you shining

Even in the darkness

Stand beside me

When I don’t deserve it

That’s why I say

I give you all my love

Because

 

You are my home, home, home

Wherever I may roam

You are the place where

I can rest my weary bones

You are my home, home, home

You are my home, home, home

 

You’re my number one, there’s no doubt

And we stick together throughout

Like boy scouts, we about

All for one ’till lights out

So Dave, where you at?

Wave your hands, front to back

Everybody take a look around

At my dad, out in the crowd (oh)

I love you dad (oh, oh, oh)

(Oh, oh, oh)

(Oh, oh, oh)

(Oh, oh, oh)

You are my home, home, home

*This next song is from the movie Rio and is a love song—between parrots. But let’s say we think of it as a Bride singing to her Bridegroom.

“Fly Love” by Jamie Foxx from Rio

Wasn’t really thinkin’, wasn’t lookin’, wasn’t searching

for an answer

In the moonlight

When I saw your face

 

Saw you lookin’ at me, saw you peeking out from under moonbeams

Through the palm trees

Swayin’ in the breeze

 

I know, I’m feelin’ so much more than ever before

And so I’m giving more to you than I thought I could do

Don’t know how it happened, don’t know why, but you don’t

really need a reason

When the stars shine

Just to fall in love

 

Made to love each other, made to be together, for a lifetime

In the sunshine

Flying in the sky

 

I know I’m feelin’ so much more than ever before

And so I’m giving more to you than I thought I could do

Ooh

Now I know love is real

So when the sky high, as the angels try

Andrew’s Favorite Podcast is now on Youtube! Listen and Subscribe!

“We have to be continually reminded of what we believe, neither this belief nor any other will automatically remain in the mind. It must be fed.” – C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Israelites were commanded to regularly remember and talk about God. Deut. 6

Set your minds on things above.

We now have the help of the Spirit – our natural minds are being renewed through the spirit.

Hebrews 10:16

“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

Romans 8:6

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Movie: the Notebook (she needed to be reminded)

We remind one another – a responsibility of the church. We will all remind, we will all be reminded

Practically – when new believers come into the Family they need to be taught and this actually strengthens the “older” believers. They are reminded as the younger ones are taught.

As a homeschooling mom, I have learned so much more by teaching than I ever learned just by learning.

This is ONE of the reasons it is vital for all members to function. We learn from sharing just as much as we learn from receiving.

We are constantly being fed the message of the world. It is everywhere.

We have to be intentional to eat the message of God, in Christ, by the Spirit.

The church is the Kingdom of God in the earth, and it is where we are fed the message of God.