CRUSHED GRAPES MINISTRY |
Frank B. Smith, Director, PO Box 3009, Vista, CA. 92085-3009 |
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June 15, 2006
Beloved,
The last newsletter had a great
deal of positive response. The reality of each of us being an expression
of Christ, and together being His literal, physical Body on earth, struck
a chord in many hearts. I would like to continue this theme today with the
question, “How does this happen, this being an expression of Christ?” or
“How do you become, here and now, what you already are in the heart and
mind of God?” or “What is the process of being conformed to His image?”
First, this is not for sinners.
This radiating of Christ (your essential nature), can only be done by
those who have died to the old, been born from above, and are walking in
the Holy Spirit. This is for those crucified on the cross with Jesus in
the waters of baptism and raised up out of the old into a brand new life
where the body of sin is literally done away with. (Romans 6:3-7)
Once we become this “new
creation,” our transformation is complete in the mind and heart of God.
Jesus said, “It is finished!” It is all finished in God for those who
died with Him and rose to the new life with/in Him.
The problem is that I still drag
around the residue of the old life. My soul realm (mind, will, and
emotions) has many unrenewed parts. Some of the contamination is
horrendous. I am trying in the Spirit, “to take hold of that for which
Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Phil 3:12) I pray like John, “He must
increase, I must decrease.”
I am now an instrument to radiate
the glory of Christ. The capacity to function this way is hindered by the
clutter of my unrenewed soul, the remnants of the old nature I still drag
around. Remember, however, this is not the real you. The real you is the
new creation. So the admonition is, “Live like who you are.” Let His
beautiful life shine brightly in your daily life.
Often our thoughts now shift to, I
need to pray, to read, to fast, to be disciplined….. whoa, whoa. Hold it,
hold it, hold it. All those things are very good, and they are an integral
part of our lives. However, I think for most of us, the presenting problem
is the mold that has trapped and holds us prisoner. It is more a breaking
than a doing. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern
of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” I think
it was J.B.Phillips who translates it, “Don’t let the world squeeze you
into its mold.” Colossians 2 warns us about being a captive to such
philosophy (v8), disqualified through religious observances (v16 – 18), or
caught up in submitting to worldly rules (v20).
Our impotence and lack of fruit is
largely the result of this mold, or cast, or pattern. The restricting
philosophy of this world system/religious system has snared us. Jesus
came into this world to give us life. He came to live His life in us and
through us. We, however, have turned this redemption of life into a
religion - a mold or pattern or structure. We establish “church houses”
where you punch in like a time clock, do church, and then punch out to
live life. What blasphemy! What pompous religious arrogance! As living
stones, we are church wherever we are, whenever it is, and whatever the
circumstances.
Break the mold. Shatter every
limiting religious philosophy that stands against the Word of God. Be
free. Be Christ in every situation. Listen and say whatever our Father
tells you by His Spirit within you. Heal the sick, raise the dead, preach
the good news to the poor. Give sight to the blind, freedom for the
prisoners, and hope for the downtrodden. Feed the hungry, clothe the
naked, and live like who you are.
I was now going to suggest we use
the term “gang” for “ecclesia” or “church.” Maybe next time, but think
about it and how the term fits for what we call church or fellowship.
Thank you for the prayers on
behalf of Sarah. Her biopsy did not show any malignancy, but the lymph
nodes are a mess. The pain continues and the battle rages on. May God work
His good out of this horrendous situation.
With love in Christ,
Frank, a leader in Jesus’ gang.
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