Okay, I just came out of an amazing practicum class on transformation.  How the Lord is transforming villages, people groups, etc.  In the class, we discussed exactly what I just posted about.  Yet I want to bring some points up.

We all, as the redeemed, have the longing in us to see cities, villages, etc. shaken to the core with the gospel.  We also want God to be near us, living with us.  I love life, I love the land, etc.  But I want to see the communities I live in transformed by the power of Jesus and in one unison loving and following Him.  With this longing inside of me, though, I have been confronted by the institutional church’s answer to this:  political action and government takeover.  This I believe is wrong, entirely wrong.  Yet, not to be negative to the Bride of Jesus, this is what the church has always seen and done.

As followers of Jesus, we are children of Abraham.  We have been grafted into the promises of Israel.  We have never, ever replaced physical Israel.  We are a nation, grafted-in Gentile Israel.  The promises of Abraham are our own inheritance.  Thus I bring up 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  This is directly focused at a particular event to a particular audience.  Yet, due to what I just stated now pertains to us.  This is our land!

The promises of Abrham inclused the inhertitance of the entire earth.  This is our world.  The story of redemption is that all of creation will be restored, reconciled, and redemed.  That includes this land.  Our inheritance is ruling and reigning the earth with Jesus.  This is our land.

What happens though, because there are two words for flesh and world, we become somewhat gnostic in our understanding.  What do I mean?  There are at least two separate references to “world’ and “flesh”.  One speaks of the physical planet, cosmos, environment, reality, etc.  The other of the wicked systems of man; the demonically originated and controlled systems and institutions that stand against the knowledge of God.  One reference to flesh is nothing more than a descriptive word of our physical body and never used in a negative context.  The other is as Richard Liantonio describes, “that which corresponds to the age of Adam and participates in its death-drives. It is that which is in allegiance with everything contrary to God’s kingdom, God’s future for the world.”

The point of this being that our identiy as pilgrims on the earth is not a hatred of physical over spiritual, nor distain with this physical world.  No, we are pilgrims in the midst of this wicked, demonic reign.  Our hope and ultimate home is this earth, forever, culminated at Jesus second coming and ruling reign over the entire earth.  What we do is wait, pray, prepare, and proclaim that coming.

What has happened is that the church is void of all of those points.  But to focus on one, preparation.  Our lifestyles are so ingrained still in the wicked flesh – that contrary to the Kingdom of God.  Our response to sin has been hostility due to the bitterness of sin in our own heart.  What do I mean by that?  We react to the problem of abortion by protesting and fighing to political change, but what remains is unrepentant sin and corrupt, bitter hearts full of pride that will not repent.  Instead of fighting the United States government and justice system for the issue of Abortion, we should humble ourselves, seek Jesus, and turn from our wicked ways (repent), then we would see the transformation we are looking for.

Our goal is not to fight political issues.  No, it is to create a corporate capacity for the Lord to come and inhabit, which will automatically result in transformation of that locale.  It’s the glory of God coming into a city, the Gosepl being proclaimed with power and confirmed by signs and wonders, and that Word of God prevailing in that city.  The entire locale following Jesus, the thick heavy presence of God in the midst, and the entire city/population being transformed.

This will only take place when we repent of our sins and righteouness, our good deeds and our wicked ways.  It’s when we seek His prescene.  This is not our efforts, but only His presence.  Making ourselves, our assemblies a capacity and He making Himself a deluge.

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