Spiritual Spankings

I just got my spiritual butt chewed big time. Some things that you read or hear just hit you and you can't help but say "ouch". Since I am hard headed and stubborn, I have been taken out to the spiritual woodshed for a spanking any number of times. This just cut me... so I share.

It starts with this question "If Jesus was all you had, would Jesus be enough for you?" Some many times I am disillusioned and disappointed in people or events. When they do not act the way that I think they should, or even the way that they say that they will, I get upset. Some people may think that would be understandable. But as a Christian, it really should be evident that I am one! I have a saying... you can't expect non-Christians to act like Christians, you can't expect baby Christians to act like mature Christians, and you can't expect mature Christians to be perfect. I know that it sounds annoyingly exclusive. Truth be told, I have met many non-Christians that are far more loving and generous than Christians that have walked with the Lord forever... including myself. Ouch to that. I want to love others so that people see that there is something different about me.

Okay, next item... "Many precious believers are in love with the things of the Lord, but they are not in love with the Lord Himself." Awww man. There are many times that I want to feel near to the Lord rather than be near to Him. The thing about being near to God is that you will always come away changed. Sometimes I would rather remain the same. Guilty again.

A little more..."Even with praise and worship it is possible to sing "about" Jesus and not truly worship Jesus. With preaching and teaching it is possible to talk "about" Jesus and not truly meet Jesus in what is shared. In prayer it is possible to talk "about" our needs and never actually commune with Jesus Himself." I could say a big, fat 'duh' here, but that would be rude. I have experienced this both as a worshipper and a worship leader. It is unpleasant from both angles. When you are leading, but not worshipping, it feels completely hollow. When you are leading and worshipping, but the ones that you are leading are not, it feels empty as well... almost like I failed in my job. I don't like feeling like a failure. (who does) However, it is everyone's responsibility to come prepared to love the Lord on Sunday... it is not my job to make that happen for someone else. It still stinks though.

"I have learned that stress, strife, disillusionment, dissatisfaction, bitterness, anger, hurt, misunderstanding, and confusion comes from everything said and done by religious people ABOUT the Lord, and IN THE NAME of the Lord, that does not, in fact, have anything to do with Jesus Himself." Whoa! Too true! That is honestly why I don't say anything to anyone unless I'm sure that I am supposed to... unless I'm so sad or angry that I'm not thinking straight... I did that one recently... boy, did I blow it! There are a whole lot nicer ways to express what I expressed in a nasty way. I have to be a little more circumspect next time I discuss something.

"How much of your focus is directed to the things of God, and not to God Himself? How much of your discussion centers on things about Jesus, and not Jesus Himself? Just look around. This brother is focused on end-time events, and that sister is devoted to inner healing. This brother is primarily concerned with prophetic things, while another sister is keenly interested in spiritual warfare. That brother is deeply involved with theological discussions, while that sister is in love with Christian music. One movement emphasizes this particular thing, and another group stands for another thing." Caught me! ouch!

This statement is so true that it hurts me desperately. "Many things compete for our time, attention, affection, energy, and money. But there is only one Lord Jesus. Just as some people cannot see the forest for the trees, I believe most sinners cannot see Jesus for the Christians. And I believe most Christians cannot see Jesus for the "church". Is Jesus enough?" Wow.

Here is the authors biblical solution. "Mark 3:14:
"And he ordained twelve, that they should BE WITH HIM, and that He might send them forth to preach."
You are called to be with Jesus. That is your calling. That is the primary thing, the highest ministry. Going forth to preach or do anything else is of secondary importance. We should be with Jesus; after that, He might send us forth to preach. But before Jesus said, "Go into all the world" He said, 'Be with Me.'"

The times in my life where I feel truly satisfied are when I was drawing near to God in a very real way. When I was immersed in knowing Him better, nothing else mattered. I didn't feel like I had to escape or run away... I was happy and serene with it. It was... well... cool. I live for moments like that.

"The call of the Lord is not more important than the Lord of the call." Deep, dude.

"If Jesus was all you had, would Jesus be enough for you? Or do you have to have all the "trappings" of Christianity, all the bells and whistles, all the toys and trinkets? Make no mistake: there is no life in the things that are ABOUT Jesus. There is life only in Jesus Himself." How often do I want things to look okay rather than be okay? Alright, most of the time I really would rather things be okay, but sometimes I just want the appearances because the interior jobs take so much work.

What this gentleman is saying is exactly what I needed to hear. "May I speak candidly? If you are dissatisfied and disappointed with your Christian walk today, it is only because of one thing: Jesus is not enough for you. Somewhere along the line, something else became more important than Jesus. Maybe you have become focused on the things ABOUT Jesus that are NOT Jesus. There is only one solution. You do not need more of the Lord, because He has already given Himself completely to you already. You just need less of everything else." Why do I need anything else when I have Jesus?

And here is the big finale.
"Remember.

Remember what it was like to hear His Voice, to be so filled with passion and love for Him, that you wanted nothing more than to sit at His feet, and hear His Word. Remember when you were so infatuated with Him that you did not want to do anything else. Remember what it was like to just be with Jesus. Go back to when Jesus first called you to be with Him. Go back to the time when all you had was Him. Go back to the time before you were planting churches, speaking prophetic words, preaching to the unsaved, pastoring the congregation, teaching the people, or leading worship. Go back to the time when there was no work, no ministry, no vision, no special calling - except Jesus calling you to be with Him. Remember when you said, "He's all I need!"

So what happened?

I pray the Lord will draw us after Himself and make us thoroughly sick and tired of things - especially the things that are ABOUT Him, but are NOT Him.

God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son, Jesus.

Well... is Jesus enough?"

I don't think that I need to say too much more... other than this is where you can find Chip Brogden's original article... http://www.livingcovenant.com/MiscArticles/Watchman%20Articles/IsJesusEnough.htm

Love to you all out there, Muffinhound