Tag Archives: Jesus

February 13, 2014 · 7:28 pm

Branches of Spiritual Life

2014-01-12 10.31.51If one was to pull a big ripe juicy apple from a tree you would have a picture that represents the common understanding of the relationship between God and mankind. By holding that freshly plucked apple we have depicted a separation between the apple and the tree. What is commonly understood is the immediate process of death. As the freshness drains from the fruit so too does the value of the apple. In other words the sooner the apple is eaten the more life it can transfer.

Likewise once the umbilical cord is cut and once the human consciousness is activated we children of God begin to learn that we are separated from God. Even thought that is not true there is nothing in this material realm that has been able to convince most humans that they are more than just sons and daughters of Adam, that they are the apples of God’s eye and that they can never be separated from God our heavenly Father. Just because a physical separation has taken place does not mean that a spiritual connection does not still exist.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Consciousness is simply our translation and perception of reality. Once Adam became convinced that he was separated from God, God in his mercy asked he and eve to leave the garden so they would not obtain eternal life convinced that they were separated from God. Today even the Christian orthodoxy holds to the belief that only after death are we humans again reunited never to be separated from God again.

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

The reason Jesus was sent and the purpose of His ministry was to convince all humans that they are and will always be the daughters and sons of God. One of His important titles and office of great authority is that of “Last Adam”. Jesus became the first human since Adam to possess a consciousness in this material world that would dare to declare that man is a child of God and that God and man are connected as one. His entire demonstration was interpreted as supernatural because from a material point of view there was no visible connection to a life source that produced the “miracles” displayed. As He tried to convince the members of the religious community during the time of His ministry they became fearful that His demonstrations of life would lead their followers away and so we humans conspired and killed Him.

The question of the post is; can we humans change our point of view from our material perspective to one that perceives from a spiritual or kingdom of God point of view and behold the life connection we have with God? God’s spiritual Kingdom gives life to all that are connected however the humanistic material kingdoms on earth gather resources (taxes, tithes, food, clothing etc.) to maintain the life of the kingdom.

John 15:7-8 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

1Corinthians 11:23-25; 28-30 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

Taking communion was to be a conscious reminder of the life connection and unity between man and God. Before Jesus there were hints that a day was coming that all would be made new. However because understanding this requires more than an earthly perspective the purpose and authority of Jesus ministry is mostly interpreted as something that happens after life on earth.

Still today most humans respond in the same way as Martha when facing the death of her brother.

John 11:20-24 Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

But the truth of all matter is that we humans have an eternal connection to God the source of life now, before death. Jesus understood this connection and embodied it, declared it and demonstrated it for the purpose letting us know we also have this connection.

Jesus declared and his words ask each of us today.

John 11:26-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

If we focus on verse 26 which states “whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” We can see the difference between the mind of Jesus and the mind of the average human. The gap is huge. Jesus is not disputing the truth about life after death, nor did our Father in heaven contradict that truth but used it when he asked Adam and Eve to leave the garden before they ate of the tree of eternal life. Eternal life with Eternal God is possible now and it is a reality that our consciousness must embrace.

In John 15:5 Jesus declares “I am the vine, you are the branches…” indicating that our function is to help people understand that they are connected to God’s life source and that life can flow through them as well. As ambassadors of a spiritual kingdom we live and work in this material realm helping all sons and daughters of God to understand that their life source connection to God is intact and may become active even if the illusion is that we are cutoff.

We are called children of light because we can illuminate the truth concerning this spiritual connection that was made available to all humans by the ministry of Jesus. Many are not ready to see or accept but that does not negate our obligation to live the reality of our understanding openly for anyone to see. To conceal this reality is like hiding a lamp under a basket. We each have been given authority to empower others to become conscious of this connection of life. Branches are not the source of life they are just the conduit that makes a path in this material realm.

I want to encourage us because we are of the Wi-Fi generation that understands connections beyond physical boundaries so we are not constrained by religious tradition or political protocol.  Our understanding liberates us to communicate truth of a spiritual nature even if our assignment is bound to this material realm. If we walk in love and speak truth in love we will see life blossom even in the most dark and chaotic places in this material realm. For where the life force of the Lord is, there will always be life and liberty.

Notice how this modern translation below puts the reality of this truth to a point somewhere in the future. How does your bible translation record the passage? Read, pray and ask God is this a now truth or is this only a future truth? If you feel like sharing please comment so I and other followers of this blog may know what God is speaking concerning the presentation of this truth pro or con. Thank You!

Romans 8:18-22 (New Living Translation NLT)
The Future Glory
 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

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December 14, 2013 · 4:57 pm

Evidence Not Understood

 CAM00445I want to begin with a word of encouragement. God’s light is the evidence of His active Kingdom within our being and it may appear to be having little to no effect on the darkness in the world around us, but that is an illusion. We are children of light and light is the fruit of our being. Also God is the source of our being and His Kingdom shines out from within us. The only thing that restricts the work of God’s light shining through us, is us.

 My pre-question is, if we shine a flashlight down a dark well how far will the light shine? From our human point of view, our perception is only as good as we are able to detect the reflection of light returning to our eyes. But from lights point of view each photon will continue from its source unless there is something to reflect it from its path. We humans say light is absorbed if there is nothing to reflect it back so we can detect it. But is that true?

 So when we judge the evidence of our light which is actually the light of the Presence of God that is within, are we detecting the reflections from a human point of view or are we measuring lights effects from lights point of view? These two points of view is the difference between a spiritual and a material (religious) perspective. Without this understanding bible interpretation can become subjective to the culture (point of view) reading the scripture. As children and ambassadors of God we need to view His light from His point of view.

 John 1:5 (NKJV) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:5 (NLT) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

 It should be seen from both of these translations and interpretations above that there are two points of view. One is from the reader who is observing the light leave the source and the effect it is having on darkness. The other point of view is from light itself which understands that darkness has no effect on it. At the moment that darkness encounters light darkness is transformed into light and darkness exist no more. Also another property of light is that it is impossible to separate it from it source. The light in you is God.

 At first glance from our human material point of view it would seem that darkness has a power equal to that of light but that is not true. Even traditional scriptural interpretation tends to agree with that misunderstanding. If you happen to be open to prophetic words by our contemporary brothers and sisters some of them also confirm this misunderstanding of reality.

 Even the scientist of today interpret their observations by concluding that black holes, dark matter and the like have a power that even light cannot overcome. The current scientific mindset draws conclusions that a photon is no match for the gravitational pull of  a black hole’s darkness. Fear is the fruit of darkness and heaven help anything that becomes trapped within the gravitational effect of a black hole. And yet our universe is expanding 186,000 miles in all directions every second.

 My point is not to review the theories of emission and absorption as it relates to photons but to encourage us to add a different perspective in how we view reality and the kingdom of Light (God). Religion in my opinion is allowing fear to influence its world view by supporting an apocalyptic point of view that is focusing on the terrible (darkness) and ignoring the great (light) things that can and will happen in our future.

 In our personal lives of transformation we must acknowledge that we do not walk in perfect love (light) and therefore fear is a possible response to our perception of reality. Is the sun rising or is it setting in our understanding of scripture? Are we the last generation of Christians on earth or will our great-grandchildren get a chance to advance beyond our level of faith. More important have our spiritual communities reached their high water mark of faith and do we still think it possible for every member of our community to become like Jesus before we each individually give up the ghost? (Luke 6:40)

 Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (NLT) For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

 For example if your car has ever broken down and you have been alone and stopped on a dark wooded road at night with your headlights on you will experience this illusion. The illusion is that darkness is swallowing the light and this experience creates the misunderstanding and belief that if we had a greater source of light the edge of darkness and fear would move away from us to a greater distance. The true reality is that if we could move out to the point of light it would be just as bright and the comfort and peace we experience next to the car would be just as true. In fact, if we were on a hilltop lost in the woods ten miles away and saw the light from the headlights however faint, peace, comfort and hope would flood in even thought we are still ten miles away.  Standing alone next to the car we could mark at twenty feet where the light dims our fear begins to rise. However from the point of view of a lost person ten miles away that same mark twenty feet away from the car the place as where their hope is at maximum and fear ends.

 The same is true when we are standing in our stained glass buildings on Sunday morning. During our times of worship we take comfort from the light of our Father’s Presence and we look at the world outside the door of our sanctuary as a scary place. But from the other point of view many of the estranged men and women driving by our buildings of stained glass see our glimmer of light that we hide all week and say if I can just make it 10 more miles I will be safe.

 Our mission is simply to bring light to the lost. But it is only from lights point of view (Kingdom of God) will we ever be able to truly judge the impact that one photon can have as it penetrates the consciousness of a person who by all appearances just seems to crush the life out of every spark that escapes the source within us. We can hide the light if we choose, but we should know that it is the only hope for a world that cannot believe that they too are children of Light.

 John 6:63 (NLT) The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

 2 Peter 1:19 (NLT) Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

 Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV) So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

 John 1:4-5 (NLT)  The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

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November 4, 2013 · 5:13 pm

Evidence Of Things Not Seen

2013-11-04_egcc ripplesWhat humanity knows to be hidden and understands as spiritual truth has normally been explored by the various religious communities across the globe. Modern science has also awakened the human understanding to the sub-atomic world of quantum particles. Likewise the field of psychology continues to expand and probe the bounds of human consciousness which is located in the soul of every human individual. So as the 21st century dawns these unseen worlds, are being greatly explored by various sectors of humanity.

 The reason for the exploration is obvious. The visible material world on earth has many growing needs such as food, disease and energy. People of both science and faith explore with the hope of providing solutions to humanity’s problems by increasing our understanding of the reality that is not obviously visible to the naked eye. The scientific world markets its solutions so that we humans will use its newly developed technology. But what is the strategy being used by the faith community to get more humans to use the fruit of its revelations and deeper spiritual truths?

 Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

 Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

 If science is seeking its solutions in the material realm then we who are awakened to the Spirit realm obtain our solutions from that realm. In an open and free market of ideas the persons or groups that can bring the solutions to the table reap rewards for solutions that benefit humanity. If the religious people want God to get the glory then the marketing strategies need to make clear that by faith spiritual solutions are received from God for the benefit of all humanity.

 A key to strong faith is our connection to God and His Spiritual Kingdom. Some religious organizations seem to focus their marketing strategies on icons, books, videos, memberships and other material objects that can be exchanged for money instead of spiritual solutions and practices. God is spirit and that which he gives is spirit because spirit is the substance of all material things, and spirit itself has no material substance. So what applications and technology do we of the spiritual community use to turn spiritual substance into material items such as food, health and energy for all in humanity?   …Prayer!

 Prayer is the link between the realms of spirit and material. Humans are the unique part of creation that has access to both material and spiritual substance. Now that should make all humans feel special and equal. However unless we maintain an active consciousness of this link to the spiritual realm we limit our solutions to the material realm only.

 Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

 Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

 Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 John 2:10 (The description after Jesus turned water to wine) And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

 Jesus provided us with an excellent human example for obtaining benefits and solutions to the problems that humanity is now facing. He demonstrated a way that can transform humanity by helping each person to reach into the fullest potential that is coded within our designed. There is a consciousness of the relationship between Spirit and material that is beginning to emerge in the minds humankind.

 Today we find that some people of the Christian religion are exploring eastern styles of religion such as Buddhism in search for a religion more focused on personal transformation and non-traditional expressions for their spirituality. These people are finding common ground with people of eastern religious culture who are also in their search for truth and many are experiencing the benefits meditative and contemplative prayer. However because their first love was the Jesus of western culture religion they are wondering why Christianity does not offer like religious practices of meditative prayer that helps to transform the conscious mind as they search for deeper spiritual understanding.

But that is actually what is being rediscovered and explored by an emergent movement in Christianity today. In the main-stream of Christian communities these spiritual technologies were relegated to the monastic sub-culture of Catholicism and mostly ignored by the Protestant culture after the reformation. But now the value contemplative prayer and meditation are quickly becoming rediscovered as new technology and is once again being incorporated as essential spiritual practices in new emerging Christian communities.

   As many people return from eastern religions and join those that are emerging within old Christian religious traditions are newly rediscovering meditative styles of prayer such as Lectio Divina and Centering prayer which are becoming the new traditions of spiritual expression.  This blending is removing the cultural hostility and barriers between people of eastern and western religious traditions and establishing bonds of love and cooperation that is rippling throughout humanity.

 Not only does this technology provide material resources it actually strengthens the link between the spiritual and material realms. It is during times of silence and stillness that removes the dualistic thinking that separates the sub-cultures of humanity and integrates the realms of material and spirit into God’s Kingdom on earth. So be encouraged, humanity is on the brink of an evolutionary period that will benefit all humans in ways that cannot be seen as of yet. By using this style of prayer and meditation every person is without excuse and can bring forth evidence of things unseen.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Galatians 3:26-28 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Daniel 7:14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

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