Neil Cole's Blog, page 4

Two Related Conditions with One Solution: Preparing for Persecution, Part 2

<div class="MsoNormal">I am convinced that there are two related conditions we have not experienced in the Western Church in recent days: rapid multiplication movements and persecution. These two conditions are directly related to one another though the sources of these results are quite opposite. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qW_68rM9_ME..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qW_68rM9_ME..." height="200" width="133" /></a>I believe that we are not persecuted simply because our enemy is content with the way we currently are. Why would he want to mess up the church when we have done so for him with our selfish ambition, competitive spirit and greed? He’d be a fool to mess with that, and he is no fool. Our influence is marginalized in society and our reputation is of hateful and selfish people–the opposite of Jesus. Satan is quite content with a once a week, consumer driven, model of church that is a mere shell of what we are supposed to be.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The second thing we haven’t experienced in the Western Church is rapid multiplication and I believe that is not the enemy’s fault, but God’s. Frankly, God doesn’t want to multiply our current expressions of church because he doesn’t want more of them. He’s smart that way. Unhealthy things tend to become infertile and lose their ability to reproduce. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We must see these two factors change. The good news is that they will both change with only one solution: become a healthy threat to the darkness and God will want to multiply the church. That is something the enemy will attack. After years of traveling all over this nation and Europe I am delighted to say that we are finally on the verge of seeing these things happen. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The church is becoming healthier and more indigenous. I am seeing ordinary people empowered to carry the work of God’s kingdom out of the meeting place and into the market place where it is a threat to our common enemy. I believe multiplication and persecution are not far away. </div>

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Published on March 28, 2014 06:00

A Parable from the Past: Preparing for Persecution, Part One

<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qW_68rM9_ME..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qW_68rM9_ME..." height="200" width="133" /></a>I’m often asked if I feel that our organic church movement has accomplished all that I had hoped. The answer is no. We are not the movement that I hoped for…<i>yet</i>. But that is partly because I have always felt that what we were doing was preparing the church for what is coming: persecution. Because it has not come yet the movement has not fully realized all that it was meant to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see our work as sowing seeds for a future harvest, and I believe that future is getting closer every day.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>One of the heroes of my faith is Watchman Nee. God used him (and his contemporaries) to prepare the church in China before the Communist revolution took over. He launched the “Little Flock” movement, which was a radical departure from the Western church model that had been planted in China prior. It was smaller, simpler in structure, less expensive and more indigenous. The churches met in smaller gatherings in homes led by ordinary people with real jobs. <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When the communists took over the nation they arrested the church leaders (like Nee) and seized all church property. The indigenous expressions of simple churches meeting in homes not only survived…they thrived. The Cultural Revolution of Mao Tse-Tung sought to eliminate all religion from society in China but instead mobilized the church and it grew from about 2 million Christians in 1949 to over 60 million.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blo..." name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></a></span>It is estimated today that there may be upwards of 80 million Christians in China.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blo..." name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Contrast this with the church of Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church was dependent upon three things: holy buildings, holy men in robes, and holy services performed by those men in those buildings. When the communists took over in Russia they seized all the buildings and arrested or compromised all the leaders of the church. The church was devastated.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I carry deep inside a feeling that everything I have been about for the past 20 years is just preparing the bride of Christ for what is to come. Like Nee, I have been striving to bring health and simplicity back to the church, and with that an ability to ride out any storm that may come. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But there is another movement in America that looks far closer to the Russian church than the Chinese. Just as it was easy to decimate the church in Russia the church in the US may be equally weak and not surprising it is the same three areas that will be the downfall.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In the next week I will post a few ideas on this blog about how vulnerable our churches are to persecution and what I think may take place in the next couple years to expose those vulnerabilities. </div><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn" style="mso-element: footnote;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blo..." name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></a> Alan Hirsch, <i>The Forgotten Ways</i>, Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2006, p. 19</span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br /><div id="ftn" style="mso-element: footnote;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blo..." name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[2]</span></a> Philip Yancey, “Discreet and Dynamic: Why, with No Apparent Resources, Chinese Churches Thrive,” <i>Christianity Today,</i>July 2004, p. 72</span></div></div></div>

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Published on March 27, 2014 06:00

Weakness is Key to APEST Team Building

<br /><div class="body-text">I have been part of a functioning APEST (Apostolic, Prophetic, Evangelistic,Shepherding, Teaching) team for over 20 years. Together we helped catalyze the organic church movement. We also combined to write<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Primal-Fire-Rei..." target="_blank"> Primal Fire.</a> </div><div class="body-text"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSXn4au_01I..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSXn4au_01I..." height="200" width="133" /></a> </div><div class="body-text">Left to myself I honestly would have formed a team of apostolic people and ignored the other gifts. This grave mistake is unfortunately quite common. By God's grace, I was not alone at the start, but with Phil Helfer (the Shepherd on our team). Because of Phil's gift the strengths of each gift were equally important and we built a team based on mutual submission rather than individual strengths.</div><div class="body-text"><br /></div><div class="body-text">Mutual submission is particularly necessary when addressing the APEST roles of Ephesians 4:11. In our twenty plus years of experience, we have found that focusing on our own gifts and the strengths they bring to the church does not produce unity at all. In fact, it’s almost guaranteed to bring separation. Rather than starting with our gifted orientation, we must begin by establishing genuine relationships with one another. Surrendering one’s own strength and glory for the benefit of others–which is really just love–is the foundation of unity. Focusing on one’s gift usually turns selfish, rather than unifying it tends to separate and divide. Our relationships must be more important than anyone’s agenda or ability. We have learned that abandoning all of our goals and dreams to maintain our love for one another can actually birth a far greater outcome.</div><div class="body-text"><br /></div><div class="body-text">Each one of the five gifts has an area of weakness that casts a shadow—a consequence of the gift that is not always positive. This shadow is always easier for others to recognize than it is for the one who casts the shadow. Until we recognize our own weaknesses, we will not achieve real unity. But when we come to recognize our own shadows, we begin to appreciate the other gifts more. The secret to forming a team of the various gifts is not to focus on the strengths of each one, but rather on their weaknesses. Only then will we have the unity necessary to be a potent, diverse team.</div><div class="body-text"><br /></div><div class="body-text">This post is adapted from our book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Primal-Fire-Rei..." target="_blank">Primal Fire </a></div>

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Published on March 26, 2014 07:00

Unity Is Found Only in Humility

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” <blockquote class="tr_bq">––Ephesians 4:2 </blockquote><div class="heading-1"><br /></div><div class="body-fl">Ephesians 4:1-16 is the paramount text on the “called out ones” (<span class="cs-italic">ecclesia</span>). It is the Magna Carta of the Church. It begins and ends with <span class="cs-italic">unity</span>, which is not the same as <span class="cs-italic">uniformity</span>. In fact, unity amid great diversity is God’s desired intent. He loves diversity, but He also loves unity. This requires a common commitment to <span class="cs-italic">humility</span>. The off-ramp that leads to Unityville is neither “doctrine” nor “agreement.” It’s humility. It is amazing how often we try to make adherence to doctrine the glue that binds us together, yet the result is always division over minutia. Our glue is not a creed or statement of faith, but a common humbling of ourselves.</div><div class="body-fl"><br /></div><div class="body-text">Two humble people may not always agree, but if they are truly walking in humility, they will always get along, despite their differences. When each is more concerned for the betterment of the other, the two will live in harmony and achieve unity. When everyone strives to bless others, everyone is blessed.</div><div class="body-text"><br /></div><div class="body-text">Paul challenges us to live with humility, gentleness, patience, and tolerance. These are the qualities that lead to unity amid diversity. Notice what is <span class="cs-italic">not</span> on the list: agreement over doctrine, common practice, church models, heritage, culture, or style.</div><div class="body-text"><br /></div><div class="body-text">Paul says we are to diligently guard the unity that is ours because of the same Holy Spirit that dwells within us. This is not always easy; in fact, it’s hard work. Markus Barth, in commenting on the verb <span class="cs-italic">being diligent</span> says:</div><div class="extract">It is hardly possible to render exactly the urgency contained in the underlying Greek verb. Not only haste and passion, but a full effort of the whole man is meant, involving his will, sentiment, reason, physical strength, and total attitude.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blo..." name="_ednref" style="mso-endnote-id: edn;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3";"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;">[i]</span></span></span></a></div><div class="body-fl-sp">If we ever hope to attain to the “unity of the Spirit” that we are meant for, we must start from a place of humble submission to one another—especially with those who are different from us. Unity in diversity is a beautiful goal that we must press toward with all haste and urgency. It requires that we daily lift the interests of our brothers and sisters above our own.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSXn4au_01I..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSXn4au_01I..." height="200" width="133" /></a></div>This post is taken from my new book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Primal-Fire-Rei..." target="_blank">Primal Fire</a>. </div><div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="edn" style="mso-element: endnote;"><div class="MsoEndnoteText"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blo..." name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;">[i]</span></span></span></a>Markus Barth, <span class="cs-italic">Ephesians 4–6: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary</span> (The Anchor Bible), (New York: Doubleday, 1974), 428.</div></div></div>

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Published on March 24, 2014 12:27

The Abortion of Apostles & Prophets

Primal Fire refutes the cessationist argument, but specifically the view that the apostolic and prophetic gifts ended after the first century. Opposition to the prophetic and apostolic gifts is nothing new. Jesus spoke against the religious leaders of his day who were honoring the prophets that were previously killed by their own ancestors. He said:

Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them… For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute. (Luke 11:47-49)

Today the resistance toward the apostolic and prophetic from the religious institution is not any less. Instead of making martyrs of these people and then having to raise statues in their name, the religious leaders of our day have found it far easier to theologically define these gifts out of existence. Instead of killing them in public, they have aborted them in the wombs of their theological textbooks, classrooms, boardrooms and pulpits. They removed them before they can even become a problem. This is another way of killing them, without getting blood on their hands. They simply deny their existence and do not allow any place for them in the church. This they do with their Bibles open but without a syllable of Biblical support.
According to the apostle John, there will be apostles and prophets in the end times (Revelation 18:20). If these roles are found at both the beginning and the end–and there is no verse that indicates that they have ceased to be given–we can reasonably conclude that they are still around today.

My good friend Alan Hirsch points out how we all agree that the later results of Ephesians 4:11-16 is universal and for today. He also notes that scholars all agree that the first part of Ephesians 4:1-10 also has universal application today. Why then would we say that two (or three) of the gifts in the center of that passage are not for today? Nothing in the text would indicate that. In fact, there is a verse in that passage that seems to indicate that the work of all five gifts is still incomplete and currently essential (Ephesians 4:13).

Not only should we allow for their existence, but we should not be content without them. To suppose otherwise is detrimental to the church, to those who are meant to fulfill such roles and even to the world itself that needs to see Jesus as He truly is. We must end this abortion of the apostolic and prophetic in our churches.

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Published on March 07, 2014 08:00

Lighting Fires in the Church Today

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-font-alt:"ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 0 16778247 0 131072 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;} span.woj {mso-style-name:woj;} p.body-text, li.body-text, div.body-text {mso-style-name:body-text; mso-style-link:"body-text Char"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-indent:.25in; mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;} span.body-textChar {mso-style-name:"body-text Char"; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-style-link:body-text; color:black;} p.body-fl, li.body-fl, div.body-fl {mso-style-name:body-fl; mso-style-parent:body-text; mso-style-next:body-text; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;} p.heading-1, li.heading-1, div.heading-1 {mso-style-name:heading-1; mso-style-parent:body-text; mso-style-next:body-fl; margin-top:12.0pt; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:none; page-break-after:avoid; mso-hyphenate:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black; font-weight:bold; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style> <br /><div class="heading-1"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1sGa8GinRx4..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1sGa8GinRx4..." height="148" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> John MacArthur stirred up controversy</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> recently</span></span> with a conference launching a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Strange-Fire-Of..." target="_blank"><i>Strange Fire</i>. </a>MacArthur is a cessationist that has consistently taught that any spiritual gift that is miraculous is no longer given to the church today. <i>Strange Fire</i> is now the third book published by him saying as much (<i>The Charismatics</i>, 1978; <i>Charismatic Chaos</i>, 1993). In his new book, he postulates that those who practice Chairsmatic phenomena could be guilty of a counterfeit revival, which he likens to the strange fire offered to God by Aaron's sons. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Besides Mark Driscoll's very public response, promoting his own book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Call-Resurgence..." target="_blank"><i>A Call to Resurgence</i></a>, there are now several books with the word "Fire" in their title, some in direct response to MacArthur's work. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Strange-Fire-Pu..." target="_blank"><i>From Strange Fire to Purifying Fire</i></a> (Nov 2013, by Caldwell), <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Fire-..." target="_blank">Authentic Fire</a></i> (Dec 2013, by Brown), and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Fire-Balan..." target="_blank"><i>Holy Fire</i></a> (Jan 2014, by Kendall) all came out within weeks of my own book on the gifts of Ephesians 4:11 called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Primal-Fire-Rei..." target="_blank"><i>Primal Fire</i></a> (Feb 2014) </span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qUriz5QB5rM..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qUriz5QB5rM..." height="200" width="133" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I assure you that the title <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Primal-Fire-Rei..." target="_blank">Primal Fire</a> </i>was chosen for this book five years ago (Alan Hirsch suggested the title) and the choice had nothing to do with MacArthur's new book/controversy. Though my book came out last, "Primal" means first, so I guess I win...t</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he last shall be first</span></span>. kidding. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">That said, it could very well be that God is bringing these issues to our attention because it is time to pay attention. I believe it is time to find balance and release the diversity of gifts in the body so that the church can operate in health and reflect the wholeness of Jesus to the world. Perhaps God is wanting to settle this issue now and <i>fire</i> is the picture He is using to get his truth across. Lets pay attention, after all, He is a consuming fire. </span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UhcU5BPEC3Q..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UhcU5BPEC3Q..." height="200" width="133" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">While the choice of the name <i>Primal Fire</i> had nothing to do with MacAruthur's book, it does nevertheless address the Holy Spirit, the gifts of both the Spirit (1 Cor. 12; Rom. 12) and Jesus (Eph. 4:11), and the cessationist point of view that MacArthur espouses. The book is about far more than that, but it does address those things. As former cessationists, however, the authors of <i>Primal Fire</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> (myself with our APEST team)</span></span> </i>all have come from MacArthur's point of view, but we are no longer there. In fact, two of those named on the cover were on staff under the current dean of the Master's seminary (which MacArthur founded) and one of those named graduated from Masters and is a former assistant youth pastor on MacArthur's staff. So we understand the point of view, we just no longer see it as biblically valid.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In<i> Primal Fire</i> we articulate that there are unhealthy extremes on both sides of the church aisle when it comes to gifts. We must move closer to both the Spirit and the Word. The evidence and authority of God's work is not the gifts, but the fruit of the Spirit. Discussion of the gifts void of love does not bring freedom, health or life. Simply attacking the other side by using extremes to define all who are different than you doesn't either. </span></span></div>

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Published on March 05, 2014 08:00

Ideally, Change is not an Option, but the Norm

If the propositions presented in Primal Fire are at all true than there will need to be changes made in how we relate to one another and the world. Change is never an easy proposition for Christians, but I believe it should be.

The word metanoia(translated “repentance” in English versions of the New Testament) literally means “to change one’s mind.” Frankly, a Christian life without repentance is a counterfeit. The natural pattern of the Christian life is to repent and believe, to put off the old and put on the new in its place. This is not something we do just once at the beginning of our new life in Christ, but something we do at the beginning of every day...and at each day's end. If we look back over the past couple of years and cannot find that we have changed our point of view about anything, then perhaps we’re not learning and walking in the practice and pattern of an authentic Christian life—a life meant for constant renewal as we are molded progressively into the image of Christ. The gospel itself is all about transformation and change. Status quo is incompatible with the Christian life. Our faith is one of perpetual, daily change.
The sign of a true learner is not just the knowledge he or she has accumulated, but also the ideas that have been jettisoned. Sometimes the discard pile is as interesting as the growing library of new ideas. You can tell a lot about a person by what he or she has tossed aside. When someone’s point of view doesn’t change across a lifetime of education, I tend to distrust that such a person has really learned anything. Can you live your whole life listening to God and never change your point of view? I think not. That would assume that you are already right about everything and have nothing to learn or change. I cannot trust such a person.
Many people have inherited a theological framework into which they plug all new learning. If something doesn’t fit into the original paradigm, they discard it without any true consideration. This is a type of closed-mindedness that can only grow so far. Unfortunately, too many teachers and theologians are like this. I fear that often the people who have read the most and given their lives to teaching others have actually changed the least in their world view and are not learners at all. They simply look for ways to substantiate their current point of view, not challenge it. Too often our theology becomes our truth, and before long even the Bible must submit to our doctrines. We say that our faith is sola scriptura (by Scripture alone), but then we place them under submission to our theological systems. But, in truth, God’s Word stands alone and is not subject to our systems and categories.
In the church, our default settings must be changed if we are ever going to release a movement. What got us here will never lead us there. Unlearning is as important as learning for empowering the missional church. In fact, the lessons we must learn are really quite simple, but the ones we must unlearn are complex and deeply embedded in how most churches are assembled and operated. In the end, it boils down to two basic things: helping people realize what they already have and releasing them on an unsuspecting world. That is how the church is meant to function.

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Published on March 03, 2014 12:21

Release the Primal Fire Within, Part Two

Perhaps the greatest impediment to the church’s work in the world is not discovering what to do but what to stop doing. So much of what happens in the church is programs and methods designed to put something intothe disciples. But as we’ve seen in the previous post, we have the fullness of Christ and all His gifts already within us. So, what’s needed instead of a “putting in” is a drawing outof what Jesus has already placed there.

Leadership in the New Testament is about equipping the saints to serve the Head, not doing ministry for them...or even to them. We are not to strive to get our teaching into the saints, but to equip them to use the deposit already in them to teach others. This is a radical change in approach for those who lead.

Church leadership must shift from trying to put good stuff into Christians and start releasing the God-stuff already within. That is a complete 180º turn for most in church ministry. The deposit is already made and the treasure is within, sealed with a pledge that cannot be broken (2 Tim 1:14; Eph 1:13-14). Christ in you is the hope of glory...and nothing else is (Col 1:27). Our role as leaders is not to try and add anything to it in some egotistic way as if we have anything that deserves to be in the same conversation. Imagine telling people that they have the powerful, continual, presence of the Spirit of Christ within them, and if they just add my teaching or read my book they can be used by God. Sounds awful doesn't it. Because it is. Our role is to help people realize what they already have and walk in that power rather than try and put anything within them. All leadership, speaking, books and methods should be about that.

Maturity in Christ is about discovering who you are in Christ, rather than trying to become something that you are not. Equippers have a single role, help people discover what it means to be connected to the Head and to serve Jesus.

_________________________________________________
This post is adapted from content in my book Primal Fire.

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Published on February 27, 2014 12:49

Release The Primal Fire Within, Part One

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-font-alt:"ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 0 16778247 0 131072 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;} p.body-text, li.body-text, div.body-text {mso-style-name:body-text; mso-style-link:"body-text Char"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-indent:.25in; mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;} span.body-textChar {mso-style-name:"body-text Char"; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-style-link:body-text; color:black;} p.body-first, li.body-first, div.body-first {mso-style-name:body-first; mso-style-parent:body-text; mso-style-next:body-text; margin-top:12.0pt; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style></div><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hetty Green, called the witch of wall street, died in 1914 as the richest woman in the world with an estate worth between $100 and $200 million dollars (that’s a lot of money now, but much, much more then). Though wealthy beyond belief, she lived like a pauper. She would eat cold oatmeal because she refused to pay the expense to heat the water. She would rarely pay the expense to clean her clothes so she was always dressed in worn and dark clothing looking like she came off the streets. When her son injured his leg, she took so long looking for a free clinic for his care that eventually he lost his leg due to infection. </span></span><br /><div class="body-text"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="body-text"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qUriz5QB5rM..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qUriz5QB5rM..." height="200" width="132" /></a>Like royal heirs living like paupers, we often act as if we’re unaware of the immense power available to us. As bearers of the image of God, there is far more to who we are than most of us realize. It is time for the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Primal-Fire-Rei..." target="_blank">primal fire</a> that is Christ in us to be awakened and released.</span></span></div><div class="body-text"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those who have accepted the grace of God in Christ, our Lord has <span class="cs-italic">already</span> invested all that He has in us. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:3). All that we need to live godly in Christ Jesus is already ours (2 Peter 1:3). We lack nothing. Realize what is already within you (Christ). . . and let it leak out naturally in your words and actions. Stop living life as if you just need a little bit more. There isn't more, you already have more than enough in Christ. You are spiritually wealthy. </span></span><br /><div class="body-text"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="body-text"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jesus came, died, rose, and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us with His power. The true beauty within us is liberated, enhanced, and empowered by the good news of redemption and the resulting mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory. We don’t have to <span class="cs-italic">gain</span> more spirituality; we simply need to live out what is already invested in us. If we are “<i>in</i> Christ,” and thus a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17), everything we need is <span class="cs-italic">already</span>within us—young or old, black or white, male or female, rich or poor.</span></span></div><div class="body-text"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="body-text"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If we are in Christ, we don’t need to try to <span class="cs-italic">gain</span> the riches of Christ; we need to realize that Christ’s full treasure is <span class="cs-italic">already</span> within us. Doing good works, memorizing more Scripture, praying more, and devoting ourselves to spiritual disciplines will not gain us any more spiritual blessings than we already have. All we will ever need or want is already found within us, and not as the result of good works that we can boast about (Ephesians 2:8-10). In fact, taking the pathway of <span class="cs-italic">performance</span> in an effort to gain <span class="cs-italic">godliness</span> will only hinder the release of the true blessing that is already within us (Gal. 5:1-12). We need to open our eyes to what we already have, rather than setting our sights on what we think we need.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div class="body-text"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are not spiritual paupers, but spiritually wealthy beyond our wildest dreams. Live like an heir of the kingdom of God...and share the true wealth.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This post is adapted from content in my book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Primal-Fire-Rei..." target="_blank">Primal Fire</a>. </span></span></div><div class="body-text"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>

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Published on February 24, 2014 09:52

God is Saying Something, We Best Listen

Four books by good friends in the missional church conversation are coming out at the same time and address related themes––but in very different ways. Do not think that if you read one, you have read them all, for that could not be further from the truth. There is actually very little overlap in the content, instead they seem to each build on one another as though designed to do so.

Mike Frost, Casesar Kalinowski, Hugh Halter and myself are friends who are frequently together addressing the missional church and training folks around the world. The four books being released are Incarnate by Mike Frost, Transformed by Casear Kalinowski, Flesh , by Hugh Halter and Primal Fire by myself.

The theme that is overriding all four books is that Christ within us is what makes all the difference in the people of God and their mission in this world. But this theme is addressed in very divergent ways with distinct voices. None of these books are a rerun.

I am convinced that God is saying something important that couldn't be entrusted with just one author or one book. Why not take a short season to delve into this subject by studying these four books one after another? It seems as though God has providentially arranged at this kairos moment to address this important topic. I am inclined to believe that God is saying something to us of utmost importance and he has moved through several people to say it in fullness.

Incarnate By Mike Frost

I have read many of Mike's books and was truly moved and challenged by this one. In fact, I couldn't just skim it in a fast read (as I fully intended); I had to read it slowly and take notes. I didn't really have time to do this, but I had to––it was that good. I think it may actually be his best yet, and that is saying a lot.

Let me just say that I have always loved Mike's books, but he is actually getting better with age! This man is pursuing Christ, learning and maturing as he does. That does not mean his earlier works are not good, but that he is getting better, and I think that is one of the highest praises a follower of Christ can receive.

I would argue, however, that Incarnate is misnamed. It is less about incarnation, and more about the fact that we are living excarnate lives: void of authentic human connections. With cutting social commentary, this book rips a useless band-aid off a lethal wound exposing a serious issue for us all.

Transformed by Caesar Kalinowski

Caesar is a newer author and I was pleasantly surprised by his writing skill. I have known Caesar as a missional practitioner as well as a bold thinker and communicator, but that doesn't always translate into a good book. In this case it does. He not only communicates profound ideas, but he also does so with many real life examples and moving stories.

Transformed is about how the gospel changes us from within so that we live from our new identity in Christ as God's children on mission rather than seeking a sense of importance from external behavior. It flows well and is easy to read.

Flesh by Hugh Halter

I have read most of Hugh's books. He is a prophetic voice and a great story teller. This book is no exception. While I was reading this book I felt self-conscious because of my tears. At other times I would embarrass myself while sitting in a cafe as I bust out laughing at some of his stories. Like Mike (and a good bottle of Scotch), Hugh seems to get better with age.

I understand that Mike and Hugh were originally writing a single book together, but the Lord made it clear that these were two separate works on the same subject but from different angles. I am glad they listened because the result is two very different books that are both needed.

Primal Fire by Neil Cole

Primal Fire is probably my most important work to date. I value all my books in different ways, but the implications of this one affects every kind of church and every kind of Christian in the most profound ways.

Fire is often used to represent God in the Bible. He is the first fire––the primal fire––that consumes, purifies, heals, forges, warms and provides light and serves up nourishment. Whereas the Primal Fire was something people saw at a distance and even followed behind in the Old Testament, in the New Testament it rests upon us and has taken residence within us. The fire now burns within and should be contagious and spread.

This book is a fresh take on Ephesians 4:1-16 and specifically the difference the five gifts of verse 11 makes in the health, development and reproduction of churches. I believe that the Primal Fire within us is Christ and that His strengths are measured to us in five gifts: apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, shepherding and teaching.

I have known that I was to write this book for 15 years. I tried writing it a few different times and even had to cancel a contract with a major publisher (and pay back the advance) because the timing and content of the book wasn't right...until now.

It cannot be coincidence that these four books all have come out at once. Perhaps they tell a full story together.

Incarnate (Frost) sets the table for the dinner and whets our appetites for what is to come. Transformed (Kalinowski) prepares the food in the kitchen so that it is served fresh and warm. Flesh (Halter) brings it out to the table where we all can see it, smell it, and taste it's goodness. This is a full meal, not just hors d'oeuvres being served up, and Primal Fire (Cole) addresses the menu with all the ingredients and recipes of each course for a balanced culinary experience.

Perhaps an important question to ask is why did we each feel led to write on this theme at this time in this specific way? I suggest that there is an important message that God wants to get across and He is doing so from at least four different angles so that it is a holistic message. Bon appetite!

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Published on February 21, 2014 10:35