Steve Simms's Blog, page 271

A meeting of Jesus’ people should be like a mighty waterfall

The “gifts of the Spirit” are really “flows” of the Spirt–not handed to you externally, but flowing from within you. (John 7:38) You can’t grow strong in Christ if you have given a no-go to the Spirit’s inner flow.

Jesus said; “My sheep hear my voice.” The churches’ most inspiring sermons pale in comparison to that. Listen to Jesus.

A church service is a program and a program can never take the place of the Spirit freely flowing in your heart. Church should be like a mighty waterfall–the Spirit’s rivers roaring out of Christ’s people as we gather in His name.

Christianity that doesn’t freely flow in the Spirit, is mundanity. Have you let beavers dam the Spirit’s rivers in your heart and turn it into a swamp?

Water that doesn’t flow stagnates. That’s what happens when you shut down (quench) the Holy Spirit’s rivers inside you.

Watch our for the world’s influence. It gradually creates plaque that will harden your heart and eventually shut it down.

Dammed hearts that have shut down the Spirit’s flow are in danger of being damned. Open your heart to the living Jesus.

Too many Christians row in the flesh when they could flow in the Spirit. Church trains people to shut down the inner rivers of the Spirit and rely on the preacher instead. To only hear a preacher is one dimensional Christianity. It misses out on the direct witness of the Bible and roaring of the Spirit.

Talks about whitewater rafting can’t replace running the Colorado. Talks about God can’t replace flowing in the Spirit. Jump in!

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Experience solar power; be electrified by the Son

I live on solar power. I’m continually electrified by the Son! Fall in love with Jesus and you’ll be drawn into a new orbit that’s out of this world!

To orbit the risen Son, continually surrender to His gravitational pull. Don’t let anyone

or anything block the Sonshine from your life! It’s sad when we ignore the clean and renewable energy of the Son, for the fossil fuel of religion.

When clergy are between the people of God and the Son of God it causes an eclipse of the heart. It’s easy to sit through church and just “take up space” instead of soaring in the heavens with the Son of God! However, when church meets like a solar panel and lets the risen Son speak in and through ordinary people, the Son’s power is released. Jesus created the first solar cell (His ekklesia), uniting people’s hearts to listen to and obey the Son together.

Go solar! Follow and obey the risen Son of God! When you let the Son of God continually shine in your soul — that’s the real soul-er energy. Humanity wants to conquer outer space; but perhaps it would be wiser to first conquer the space between our ears!

Christianity turns into religion if we let tradition eclipse our heart. Theologian, Martin Buber (1878-1965) wrote: “Eclipse of the light of Heaven, eclipse of God – such indeed is the character of the historic hour through which the world is now passing.” Jesus, the Son of God, can be eclipsed; but He can never be extinguished!

Be a beam of the Son.; not a self-exalting one! Inner space is he final frontier! We need to learn to surrender out hearts completely to the living Son of God. After all, human hearts were designed to orbit the Son!

It’s an amazing thing to step out of a religious eclipse and be bedazzled by the Son! We humans have a choice. We can orbit the world or we can orbit the Son of God; but we can’t do both at the same time.

Prechurch Christianity orbited the risen Son. Today, church tends to think that the Son orbits it. (We need a new Galileo.)

Church has eclipsed the risen Son by hiding Him behind hierarchies, homiletics, hype, and human programs. We engage in synthetic homiletics — preaching without the invigorating power and life-transforming presence of the risen Jesus.  Church needs to orbit the risen Son; not eclipse Him!

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How effective would an army be with no hands-on training, but just a weekly 30 minute talk? (How about a church?)

How can church “close in prayer” since we are supposed to be open to God 24/7/365? Christ isn’t understandable, but He is embraceable. Embrace Him now!

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In August of 2017, my wife and I experienced both an eclipse of the sun and then an eclipse of the Son as we were made to stop 9 1/2 years of open, Spirit-led ekklesia at The Salvation Army Berry Street.

The body of Christ grows, nose to nose!

Jesus said:

“The light of the body is the eye.”

So let’s turn around and

Look into each other’s eyes

With unveiled faces,

And experience Christ,

The hope of glory,

Living in other believers.

Oneness in Christ

Is a matter of seeing

Into each other’s hearts,

Not a product of our heads.

Face to face, nose to nose;

With hearts open to each other,

That’s they way

The body of Christ grows.

Jesus said that we would

Experience inner flows;

Not that we would

Sit in rows!

So let Jesus make your heart flip;

Don’t settle for just a head trip.

The spiritual weapon of heart-felt Christian unity

People who try to avoid morally wrong thoughts, words, and behaviors, soon discover that they have an invisible, inner enemy that strongly resists their attempts to live morally. They get continually ambushed by anxiety, accusation, temptation, torment, depression, and many other negative emotions.

The Bible identifies this inner enemy as, Satan or the devil (aka “the prince of darkness”) and his hordes of demons. Fortunately, we humans aren’t defenseless against our evil foe.

God has given us weapons. However, these weapons are not physical weapons, but spiritual. (You can’t overcome an invisible, supernatural enemy with natural weapons.)

The Bible teaches us about many spiritual weapons, such as, prayer, fasting, blessing others, speaking the truth in love, showing love to people who speak against us or hurt us, forgiveness, thinking on good things, inner resistance to wrong, surrender to Christ, Christ in you, and many more. However, one of the most neglected weapons, that increases the power of all the other spiritual weapons, is heart-felt unity and genuine community in the body of Christ.

Jesus said that the oneness of His followers would demonstrate to the world that He is really from God. In the Roman world, one of the most noticed characteristics of the early Christians was their deep love for one another.

However, at some point in church history, the enemy injected divisiveness into the body of Christ and we dropped our weapons of flowing and rejoicing together in the loving unity of the Spirit. Today we Christians are split into innumerable groups, tribes, sects, denominations, organizations, churches etc.; that are frequently hostile to one another (and at the best, mostly ignore each other). We are also, unbibilcally divided by race, nationality, politics, religious opinions, socio-economic level, etc.

Perhaps that explains why Christianity is in decline in the Western world. That also may explain why many Christians seem to have little power to live godly lives — why so many of us are under the influence and control of the same self-destructive spirits that control the world around us. We have laid down our weapons.

It’s hard to maintain a fight, to battle on, as a lone, solitary soldier. But when masses of individual soldiers come together as an army, united around common dreams and goals, and submitted to the same leadership, they become almost invincible.

Perhaps it’s time for us struggling, straggling Christians to take up the weapon of oneness by uniting under the direct leadership of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. But how can we do that? If all of us individually begin listening to the living Jesus, and then doing what He says (not what our particular group, tribe, religious opinions, traditions, or nation dictate), we will find ourselves, supernaturally united into the literally invincible army of God! (“The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”)

“To arms! To arms!” Take up the spiritual weapon of heart-to-heart oneness in Christ. Don’t wait for others to come and unite with you. Reach out with God’s love to all the Christians you know. Accept and embrace them as sisters and brothers in the Lord. Share an encouraging Scripture with them. Give them an edifying prophetic word. Pray with them and pray for them. As you encourage and strengthen them, God will do the same for you. Try it and see. Don’t drop your weapons!

Jesus said that Christians would experience inner flows of the Spirit; not that we would meet to sit in rows. Christians, like Legos, aren’t designed to sit in rows, but to interact with one another. Let Jesus release your inner aquifer and be the choreographer of your heart.

To be a Spirit-quencher is to miss out on life’s greatest adventure–being directly led by Christ living in you!  How can we “close in prayer” since we are supposed to be open to God 24/7/365?

Drawing a fish with a stranger

If you’re fishing for unity in the body of Christ, bait with your heart, not with minute theological details! To experience “reel” unity, we need to let the Holy Spirit pull us together!

 

The early Christians experienced a supernatural sense of oneness with one another. However, they had many enemies who were ready to arrest or kill them, so they had to be careful to correctly identify other believers.

 

One thing that they did was to use a fish as a symbol of their faith in Christ. The word “fish” in the Greek language makes an acrostic with the first letters of the phrase, “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.” 

 

It is said that sometimes when early Christians met a stranger that they would draw a curve in the dirt. If the other person was a Christ-follower, she or he would draw a reverse of the curve and complete a rough fish drawing. Then they could safely enjoy their miraculous unity in Christ, with one another.

 

Deep, heart-felt oneness with other Christ-followers is a tremendous source of strength and comfort. Why don’t we experience it more often?

 

This Bible verse can help us with that question: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” –Ephesians 4:3

 

The Greek word (“henotes”) translated as “unity” literally means “oneness.” I found these two definitions of it: “harmony from sharing likeness of nature with the Lord” and “the God produced unity between believers.”

 

Ephesians tells us to do everything we can to “keep” (“maintain”) the harmony with other believers that God has put in our heart. If we ignore our intimate, inner connection with other Christ-followers and fail to maintain it, we soon lose it.

 

Then instead of drawing a complete fish together, we hold on to and control our tiny (doctrinal or institutional) piece of God’s amazing world-wide fish puzzle. Today they say that the body of Christ is chopped up into about 70,000 independent organizational pieces. (Diced fish!)

 

So, have we maintained the unity of the Spirit in the body of Christ? Not so well. Perhaps it is time to reach out to Christ-followers who don’t look, think, or act like you and discover and embrace their part of God’s fish!

 

Jesus came to revitalize us; not to ritualize us!

Jesus came to revitalize, revolutionize, and radicalize us, not to systematize, traditionalize, and ritualize us. The risen Jesus is radical, but church tries to make Him liturgical.

Church programs are a poor substitute for the living presence of Christ and His power. Robots need programs. Humans live lives. Let’s go beyond church programs and flow with the presence of the Holy Spirit. You can sit through many church programs and be unchanged, but if a Christ-gram enters your heart, you’re transformed in an instant!

Religious observers, passively watching church programs, can confuse the programs with Christ’s presence and miss out on His power. However, the reality of the resurrection means there is no need to substitute religious programs for the presence of Jesus.

Jesus said: “I am the way.” We don’t need a program because Jesus is the program!

Churches make it easy to follow men and programs, but Christians are called to follow Christ. The Bible lists divisions; “of Paul,” “of Cephas,” “of Apollos,” “of Christ,” & says “You are still worldly.” (1 Cor. 3)

Many people have Freudian’s but Christ wants to slip you a Godian! (Watch for His light!)

God has more answers than Google! Ask Him!” If you find faith to be monotony, then you’ve forgotten Me!” –God

Need a Christian, life coach?

My wife, Ernie Froedge Simms is a Christian coach. Most of her clients are women in their 20s-30s, who want to improve their relationship skills, and who need prayer and direction. She loves to work with any women who are making transitions in life in their careers, and dating and marriage issues.

Check out her coaching page @ https://www.noomii.com/users/ernie-froedge_simms

Also, here is an encouraging, 5-minute interview of Ernie. https://www.noomii.com/users/ernie-froedge_simms/get_user_interview_widget

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Lone Ranger vs. Lone Lecturer (Hi-yo, sermon!)

On Sunday mornings, in almost all churches, the “Lone Lecturer” rides again. “Hi-yo, sermon! (And if you disagree, you may be asked to leave, pronto!) It’s easy to think, “We do church the right way,” but is God limited to only one way? Surely church can be more than a lone lecturer and a group of loyal but lethargic, lay listeners!

Sometimes pastors tell people, “Don’t be a lone ranger,” and then they invite them to come hear a lone lecturer (themselves). However, if church would finally lay aside the unbiblical concept of laity, spiritual awakening would occur. Here a couple of pastor quotes criticizing the “lone ranger” idea.

“No Christian can be a lone ranger. We won’t make it on our own. We need each other to cling to Jesus.” –John Piper

“As Christians we’re called to belong, not just to believe. We are not meant to live lone-ranger lives; instead we are to belong to Christ’s family and be members of His body.” –Rick Warren

Lone ranger Christianity is unbiblical, but why don’t pastors ever criticize the other unbiblical concept of “lone lecturer”? (The Bible tells Christians what to do when they meet in 1 Corinthians 14:26.)

This quote from Bob Dylan explains how many people also feel about the “lone lecturer” concept:

“The Lone Ranger and Tonto are riding down the line, fixing everybody’s troubles everybody except mine.” –Bob Dylan

Many Christians need personal ministry, not just a lecture. Even more, they need to be given the opportunity and the confidence to minister to others. Perhaps it is time to break out of the traditional “lone lecture” church model.

Here’s how church usually goes: People repose in rows to hear what one man knows. The “Basic Church Program” seems to be: *Sing *Sit *Donate *Listen *Leave — (Variables: *Announcements *Readings *Rituals.) Attending church is like auditing a class. There’s no accountability to learn anything and no assessment or grade given.

However, Christ as a sermon topic can never compare to Christ, the risen Lord, speaking directly to your heart! When we meet to hear words about Jesus, but don’t meet with Jesus, we miss the purpose for meeting. Mt. 18:20.

Instead of living water rushing out of people’s inner being (John 7:38), church seems like a crowd watching a single faucet drip. Surely Jesus doesn’t want us to gather in His name and be monotonous!

You might need a preacher to explain the Christ in distant Heaven; but the Christ who lives inside you can speak for Himself!

Don’t let anyone give you a spiritual lobotomy and turn you into an empty bot. MDiv, DMin, PhD? The only degree that matters in Christianity is the “degree” of your surrender to the risen Jesus.

Since all Christians have direct access to King Jesus, there is no need for a religious hierarchy. A “Christian hierarchy” is an oxymoron like a “humility hierarchy.”

The fingers on a hand (although all different) listen to the head, and act as one. Perhaps the various members of the body of Christ could listen to our Head, Jesus Christ, and do the same.

So, why have we complicated and obscured the simple message of Jesus by building multitudes of independent religious institutions around it. (When the living Jesus isn’t allowed to freely flow through everyday people, Christianity becomes an institution.) To formalize and systematize Christian worship seems to take away from Jesus being the Head of it. When we begin to see through Christ’s eyes (and not our own) we will see as one body, not as thousands of religious organizations.

Human explanations have divided Christians; however, divine revelation can unite us as one! Let’s listen to and obey Jesus!Church tends to limit divine revelation to the distant past and settle for human explaination today; but that’s not biblical!

The world’s greatest apathy is God-neutrality. Churches seem to want God’s neutrality; not the totality of complete surrender to the reality of the living Jesus.

What would happen in a church if Jesus suddenly opened the eyes of the bland? Let the Spirit’s inner rivers freely flow and soon they will manifest a manna-fest of God’s revelation inside you.

The Spirit gently soothes and guides your heart; but the demons prefer to divide and torment your heart. The Holy Spirit gently prompts you; but the demons prefer to stomp you. In your conscience you can hear Jesus giving you wisdom and direction so you can avoid evil, self-destruction, and guilt. Obey Him!

Even if you don’t believe in prayer, it makes much more sense than worry! If your lifestyle doesn’t show Christ, you might not know Christ.

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Don’t Let China Keep You Away From Crazy Bible Stuff!

I just read that China has forbidden the sale of Bibles online. Why would a huge country like China be afraid of a book? Well, China isn’t alone. I have a Bible cover that has these words on it: “This Book Is Illegal In 52 Countries.” Why?

Because, the Bible does amazing things in the lives of people who take the time to read it. My friend, Jay Tyler, and I have a video series about crazy things in the Bible that we call: Crazy Bible Stuff . This episode is about the Bible, itself.

Dare to go beyond the censors. Don’t let them push you around!

Watch this video. Our enthusiasm about the Bible is contagious. It wall make you want to read it electronically or in a physical copy! It’s the B-I-B-L-E. Check it out:

Where did disunity & divisiveness come from?

Who wrecked the unity, love, and harmony in the Garden of Eden? Well, Adam blamed Eve. Then Eve blamed the serpent, but the serpent didn’t have a leg to stand on.

Even after raising so much Cain, the next generation didn’t do so well either. Adam and Eve’s boys tried to get along, but they weren’t able. Allan Boesak put it this way: “What always strikes me in the story of Cain and Abel is how often the word ‘brother’ is used. Cain killed his ‘brother.’ God says it was ‘the blood of your brother.’ The killing was done to another human being, a child of God like you, breaking that sacred bond of common humanity.”

Ever since then, human history has been full of people killing people. Today culture has advanced to mass shootings of strangers, suicide bombers, ‘collateral damage,’ poison gas, cruise missiles, and even mass vehicular homicide.

Of course, most human beings don’t actually kill people, but the Bible says (in 1 John 3:15): “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer.” Hatred (and might I add ‘unkindness,’) like murder, breaks “that sacred bond of common humanity.” (There sure is a lot of hatred and unkindness spewing out in the 21st century).

The good news of Christianity is that Jesus came to make a way for people (who are not able in their own power) to experience healing and restoration from the mess we’ve made of our relationships with one another and with God. Jesus did that on the Cross by personally paying the debt for all the wrongs ever done against God and other human beings. Then He rose from the dead and came as the Holy Spirit, offering to forgive the sins of and to live inside any person who will surrender to follow Him in love and humility.

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Where Eve’s boys weren’t able to do right, and where you’ve not been able to be perfectly “good” from within your deepest being; the risen Jesus wants to live His life of amazing love, in and through you.

Will you let Jesus do that? If so, you will immediately begin to experience amazing unity with other people (even strangers and/or people you disagree with) who are allowing the risen Jesus to live in and through them. What Eve’s boys (and all the rest of us humans) could never do, Jesus is ready to do in and through you, now.

Then, when groups of people are willing to live and meet in that supernatural unity, it proves to those who see that unity in action, that Jesus is really from the Father! That’s what Jesus prayed for His followers in John 17:21: “that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.”

That’s what happened to me. As an agnostic, I walked in an informal meeting of Christians who openly loved one another in the Spirit. The caring community I saw among them, demonstrated to me the reality of Jesus Christ in a moment, and changed my life forever.

Jesus is able to reveal Himself to all sorts of people, if we will just push our arguments, our pride, our politics, divisions, our anger, our judgments, and our hatred, aside and let the living Jesus love others through us. Try it and see!

I first published this @ https://www.onebody.life/single-post/2018/04/13/Did-raising-Cain-wreck-humanitys-unity