Modern

"Who among you doesn't feel that you need to be closer to Jesus; and who is just simply ok with where they are at, not needing to go any deeper," I say to a group of people? No hands are raised in the audience, no amens either. "Ok! Now answer me. How much effort does it take to grow and to be closer to Him," (I pause)? "Huh," I reiterate. Still no answer...
   So, how much effort does it take to be closer to Him? Work is defined for us in physics as moving from one place to another something that has weight and occupies space. What about effort? Clearly, effort is measurable, is it not? We should therefore be able to determine a certain measure of result from an expended amount of effort. For example, say, if you pray more, will you not be closer to Him as a result. Then too, if you fast a lot, you will be closer to Him by order of degree? Fine, if you feed the poor also, that should help? Then how much effort does it take to be closer to Him, quantitatively, to gain what ideological measure of reward? Do you get out what you put in, or do you simply hope for whatever? Is there an amount? Where do you discover how much you should put in and what should you expect for it; also, for how long should you put in before you see results? Is there a time allotment that is magical, or just until? Won't you tell me?
   Many Christian lives are lived oft rising to the occasion of more fervent effort, particularly when things look dismal --especially when things look dismal, because it is a wake- up call when things go awry, and no doubt, the determined (those who like to have pre-eminence among you, even though sincere) will come up with something for a response concerning volume or application of effort. However, is it the definitive answer? Is it in the spirit of truth, (is it the spirit) or has your understanding done the best that it could strive to do, which is all that could be asked of you, you feel?

A valuable brother prayed this past week, "Lord, I thank you for conventional religion such as has endured for the ages." Personally, I still feel, a week later, like I was hit on the head with his prayer, (no harm of course). Yet, he was expressing what he was comfortable with, what he felt as he prayed, or what he feels secure with in his own experience and relations. We all want to be secure, not threatened by what we don't understand, among other things. So! So does Jesus want it! It is at the very heart of His love for us that we should be secure, sound in doctrine and in faith; and that is good to know, because it is what He wants that we ultimately must surrender to, which is what this is about.
What is it that we feel secure in, ultimately, in the interim? Definitively, this prayer has a key word that betrays something about posture and belief: That word is the denominationally diverse word ?religion'. My friends, Jesus is not a religion, praise His name, and thank Him! It deserves real contemplation. There is a huge, immense, humble reason why you should ponder this.
    In ceremonial effort to be close to Him, we make relationship with Him a religion because the darkness of our understanding falls short of the revelation of it as He is (in us). Yes, that word religion is sometimes as close as one can get to describing the relationship, and relationship is what it is all about, isn't it? It is also about communicating that relationship to others and with each other. Though, is religion relationship, or a way of substitutional thinking? Indeed, relationship is what it is all about - personal relationship, bottom line. Will anybody tell me that it is not? Religion, however is what you trust in to be true, how you perceive it to be, what you are comfortable with, what you believe about relationship and reward, not, you will notice -- who you believe in. Jesus is not a religion. He is a personal reality to whomever believes, our very life! Religion regrettably relegates him to a distance, leaving us wanting to be nearer, striving through various means to draw nearer. (a sin of striving is key to recognize here.)
    What is religion therefore, but man's natural, and or spiritual interpretation of the truth, of the outworking or inter-working of the relationship, which resultantly becomes to us rules, and patterns to follow to fill in for that which we do not fully comprehend? It is being subject to legalistic largess (pontificating), if you will. It is the imagination of what is expected of us, or what we should believe, or hold to. For interpretation usually is not the same as revelation. (Revelation is His revealing Himself, which is to the praise of His Glory always.) It is imaginative conception that often, in fact, must be cast down, according to Paul, and which comes out of the best understanding that can be mustered and agreed on by those assembling to proclaim a denominational umbrella for others to gather under. Potentially, it is barrier belief, sanctifying you from Him rather than to Him. It is usually pronounced or demonstrated by ceremony, articulated by do's and don'ts, and adhered to by condoning or not condoning behavior expected in others (meanwhile accusing or excusing one another says the King James).
    Through it, though ceremoniously cohesive for us as a body, giving us an umbrella of hope and togetherness (as opposed to someone else's I might add), He is regrettably somehow distant compared to how we think, hope or wish it would be; not as personally involved in our affairs, except maybe through some long distant prayer offered up through some meeting wherein He is glorified when the same is answered. But somebody else prayed it! Thank you Lord for each other that you have given us. Indeed, we need each other. But it is a long way from the church of the book of Acts you will readily admit.

In addressing the very effort to attain a level of godliness, to attain that closer walk, to get ahead with God, more than one pastor that I know of, earnestly wanting to blueprint it in a sermon, and encourage the masses has said, perhaps rightly, "The Kingdom suffereth violence and the violent take it by force." But my take on this passage is that it belongs to a situation such as they have in the Middle East, or in communist countries where Christians are imprisoned or killed for their faith. Like I said, you might show me otherwise, but to make my point, a key word here in this scripture is the word 'violent'. There is nothing violent about Christians or Christianity. Nada! Violence is the work of deep darkness. This is a horribly terrible word if you will only consider it literally. Moreover, take note. This passage, even if correct as stated, used to describe laying hold of the Kingdom as a prescription for those who would draw nearer to Him, says something in keeping with the opening question to this discussion.
   Like, do this, a proclamation exhorts. Tell me though, how much - did Jesus say - effort is needed? It is a valid question for the seeker, any seeker. Does God honor effort? You may think it is a truly dumb question, but quantify it therefore for me.
   Really. How much, out of what is given us to do, are we able to do? Anything? Even something such as Paul said, such as "Pray without ceasing," can you pray without ceasing? Or do you imagine it to mean make an effort to, or perhaps to mean every chance you get? Is that praying without ceasing?
    "Oh! That is just a figure of speech," you might say, which makes it easier for you to rationalize it. And what else can you do about it since you obviously fall short of being able to do? Therefore, what have you done? Your understanding doesn't know if it is really possible or not, so you have made a religious interpretation, thinking, oh God, I'm doing the best I can. Have mercy on me Lord and bless me. I showed up at church today for your mercy.
Your best isn't good enough. It wasn't to start out. It isn't now. "Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect (in effort of) in the flesh?"
    Or, another simple one, can you "In everything give thanks?" What about when your world crashes, or when you are disappointed about not getting a raise, or someone doesn't listen to you or whatever disappointment it may be. Say someone doesn't like you and hinders you in your work. Can you in everything give thanks? It is not easy when you don't understand why you should. You would rather pray to change the situation than mope around. Now how do you feel when that seems not to be answered? You certainly don't feel like giving thanks in the situation, and if you do manage to do so, is it real, or disingenuous? Therefore, isn't the point whether you give thanks? Are you equipped? It is a simple hope that He has for us to be able to do this, for "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord, and who are called according to His purpose."

    Anyway, it all amounts to this. We can be justified by effort, can we not? Whatever the measure is we don't know. We can lay hold of the Kingdom by sincere self-effort, and hard work, now that we are born again! True? Then Jesus died in vain. Is self-effort not self-election? It is contrary to all of His teachings. Every one.

    Now, I am going to tell you something wonderfully strange. He doesn't ask you to do anything that He doesn't do for you himself. But how to uncover this, to make it your experience, your practice: you will have to repent and humble yourself to learn this. This is about spiritual truth and power, and about relationship (which equals spiritual truth and power).
Do you believe that zeal can be a sin? It can be. When you move in your hearts to zealous acts, but He didn't go before you, you, by self-election, trespass Him. In fact, you ignore Him in trying to serve Him, please Him. That is not a good thing. Yet, everybody has zeal. It seems right. In fact, you'd feel guilty if it were absent, as though you were doing something wrong, or being lukewarm. Yet He allows us to do it. He doesn't carry a big stick; but he allows us to knock our heads, and we still do not grasp that we should back up to square one to find what is going wrong. We just keep listening to that guilty feeling and keep on trying. Before we know it, life is gone, and a lot of suffering before it. Who do you think tricks us with that guilty feeling, which keeps us trying?
It is about repentance, which validates our relationship, which leads to spiritual truth and power. What is repentance? It is to turn from - no! Yes. It is to turn from sin? It is to turn from unbelief, though you don't agree with that. Unbelief leads to our sin. All sin can be traced to unbelief. But we'll get to that. There is no compromise on this whatsoever, I will tell you explicitly.
    Want a prescription? It is in the word. Jesus said, well, says, to forsake all and follow Him. How many of you will feel absolutely rejoicing and comfortable hearing that. Selah! None! I'll answer that for you because I full well know. I am human too. You are comfortable where you are at, with the affairs of your life. You have trepidation, just to consider the ramifications of the verse if you are truly faced from the pulpit with this. You wish it wasn't there. Isn't that how we are? The personal ramifications are huge. You already think you have it made, in a way. Why would you want to explore this now?
Because, this commandment has not changed, it remains true for the believer. Yet somehow you have relegated it to far less than secondary status as you have become comfortable with what you have and where you are. You possess yourself in your heart, and all that you have. Talk about moving out of your comfort zone in just a simple matter. It is terrible, it is forbidden to consider forsaking all in order to follow. And of course you have a religious notion about what it means to accommodate your conscience, or you ignore it as much as possible.
It shows your lack of trust. You worry enough about changing a small habit. There may be things that you are willing to give up, you consider, if you ponder this, but there is something that you just would die over, if you had to give it up. You need to get before Him and come to an offer, or ask if you have done this to His satisfaction. At least confess just how hard it is and seek His help, if so that you have difficulty coming to this point, recognizing that He expects this of you. And don't come to any erroneous conclusions about this. You need to be prepared in your heart according to this matter. Don't by any means go out and sell all your goods or tell anybody to get lost. Just quit possessing them unto Him. That is, transfer possession of all to Him. Only He can give you this revelation. It is all or nothing.
Not only that, here are other snares that snag you. If you ask Him to reveal your heart to you, would you find jealousy there? (Don't ask Him to reveal your heart to you unless you are willing to repent of some things.) Part of forsaking all would mean to turn from jealousy. It could be something else, and there is a lot to choose from, but the affairs of the heart are what keep us out of the promise of life. Instead of recognizing something like jealousy, or envy, and dealing with it, we let it fester. Or, we deny or suppress it or worse yet, accept it. Do you know what the result is? We become hardened. Our spirituality becomes dull.
You know, He says to take up our cross and follow Him, (which ties in with forsaking all) but as alluded to earlier in this conversation, we develop a religious interpretation of what that means and overlook what He would have us to realize about it, how it works. And I will tell you, He is a one hundred percent, non-compromising God on this matter. Until you are willing to go one hundred percent in this marriage, you will not see the results that He would pour out to you in your relationship. But we still show up at church and want to be blessed. Bless the name of our God that He is merciful and does not abandon us.
I once made a statement to the church that all things are revealed to Him to whom we have to do (KJV). The lash back that I heard was unexpected. It is a simple fact, yet we love the darkness and revolt at the prospect. We don't want the thoughts of our heart to be revealed. Of course it is just easier to ignore this simple truth, recorded in the word and go on receiving the mercy and forgiveness, while abiding in our condition that grace may abound. But He is gentle and kind, and just to forgive us. He tells us not to be afraid. (Come boldly to the throne of Grace.) I tell you myself, just be honest, even about not wanting to change. He will listen with a sympathetic ear. He is for you, but on His terms of course. And you are rich in Him, but cannot come to discover it as long as you hide part of yourself in the dark, cringing that He might see you as you are. He sees it anyway. The light exposes you. It is my prayer for you that you will not panic. Come to Him in your prayer closet. He is a masterful Master full of wonder and love. He will even listen to your unwillingness without scolding you. He knows that you are willing or wanting. Only you are afraid. He will help you let go. But you have to be committed.
"Come to me ye who labor and who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," says He. He could have said in the same breath, "If you forsake all and follow me." But do you have it? Wouldn't you know it if you did? It is a simple step, yet a very big one. It is like when your father throws you up in the air, and then he catches you. Or better yet, you are up in a tree and can't get down. So he says to jump, he will catch you. You commit to it, because you know you must, even if you don't move, even if you have to sit there and ponder it. At least you reckon with it. You ?purpose', if you will.

If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, where is the end?

Do you know what the gist of the epistles is, if you could boil it down to one statement? The church asserted themselves in their effort, and when confronted they asked, "Who knows Jesus better than we already do?" The answer to this is Jesus. And Jesus gave us Paul, the instrument of edification, the guide, the instruction of the Lord, whom they did not readily celebrate or hearken to, or see Jesus in. Did he not say, when they overlooked (as did Israel, and the coming of the Lord), the grace and wisdom given to him (Paul), to which Paul responded, "Does not the Lord choose the base things, the despised, to make His truth known?" Like them, you are looking on the top shelf in the cabinet for the cookie, but it is in the bottom drawer right where you can reach it.
Elijah for example was buffeted, sprinkled and shaken, but the Lord came to Him in a still, small, unexpected voice. For what it is worth, you are now conditioned to listen for a still small voice, and He may be speaking in a whirlwind! Bottom line: You should ask Him what you don't know that you don't know. Sincerity will get you a long way, there.
You were baptized in the Holy Spirit that you might walk in the newness of life: "To as many as received Him, gave He power to become, sons of God." To as many as received (your salvation experience), gave He power (Baptism in the Holy Spirit), that they may become - sons, experientially, in this life. Doesn't He often do things is threes?
You already have it of course. You are just standing in the way. But simply getting out of the way is as distinct as any revelation experience that you have known thus far.
But let's think about what it means to become sons. Jesus was (is) a son. And did He not call us brethren? Who? They who do the will of God: "These are my mother and brethren who do the will of God." He called us brethren, and therefore we are as sons. A similar mention is included in the Lords Prayer, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." So then, we become sons by doing after all, but doing what? It depends on what His will is, and if you are short of it, you are in the twilight, rather than the light. However, you are making an effort to be in the light.
About that it says, "No flesh shall glory in His presence." Your effort isn't good enough. "Not by power, nor by might, but by my spirit, says the Lord." Your effort isn't good enough. "His strength is made perfect in weakness." Your strength isn't good enough. In fact, it stands in the way. And using the previous scripture about having begun in the spirit, "?Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." What is the will of the flesh or the will of man but the effort of? So that, if you start in the spirit, are you then going to accomplish anything by the will of the flesh? That is how Paul said it to the Galatians? Elsewhere he said it a little differently, but it was the same.
So, it is not by effort: Here finally is the simple part you were looking for - but by receiving. However you cannot receive while you are effort-ing. Nor can you receive if you are not sanctified. You cannot be sanctified if you are effort-ing, for you are out of His rest. You are stoned - dead. It is the opposite of sanctifying yourself. I know that effort-ing isn't a word. It is clearer for this purpose than saying ?striving', though. OK?
It is like trying to bolt two parts together, this matter of trying to line up with God, with His will. If the holes don't line up, the bolt will not go through both parts; therefore they will not be one. So too, if you don't line up with Jesus, heaven is bottled up and you are not a wellspring thereof. Or do you want to explain to me another reason Christianity seems to dry up sometimes?
So, you become sons of God by sanctification unto the truth, which is the will of God. Therefore, you must know what this means in order to benefit! He made it clear that He would pour out, pressed down, shaken together, if you will only meet the conditions. Repentance comes into play. It involves your beliefs, understanding what it is to take up the cross, as well as turning from sins, receiving the sprinkling of blood over the heart, receiving His life, walking in the newness, recognizing His dominion. Better yet, you accept the facts the way they are. He will meet you in newness of life. You will be a well-spring of blessing.

Michael Harrison