First, I believe it is essential to recognize that most of us out-of-the-camp types were at one point deeply immersed in the Christian religion. By grace we were lead out as we sought the Lord for a greater revelation of Christ – but from Babylon we came nonetheless. I believe the tendancy towards religion is intrinsically bound up in the human heart and has been since Adam and Eve attempted to hid their nakedness. It is only by the washing of the water of the Word that our minds are renewed to see that we are accepted in Christ because of His sacrifice and no longer need to make coverings for our nakedness. Indeed, we have been clothed with Christ and are no longer naked before God.

I also think it important to recognize that any position, regardless of how “present-truth” it may be, is subject to becoming Babylon-ized. For even though we have seen more of Christ and His purpose in the earth – our sight still falls far short of His glory. So then we must remain a people of pursuit, like Abraham, living in tents, continually pursuing that city whose builder and maker is God.

I agree with Mark, that a time is coming and now is when a strong prophetic declaration of Exodus is sweeping the earth. Those who have ears to hear have but one response…”Come out of her My people.” Most believers have seen and experienced the futility of “church.” But bantering over the inadequacies of the Christian religion is equally as futile. The rehearsal of past hurts and offences is not the way forward. We must be faithful to build according to the pattern we have seen and walk in love towards those who would speak against us. In the end, the Lord is our defense. I do see a day approaching wherein a bold prophetic and apostolic voice speaks back into Babylon, but I think that time is still to come.

So then what of those still in Babylon? What is our position towards them? I am struck by the parable of the wineskins and the wine. Notice what Luke brings out.

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old {wine} wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good {enough.}’ Luke 5:37-39

This passage is quite instructive. Here are a few points in brief for your consideration.

1. Jesus is using common sense to make His point. For these people it was quite obvious that no one would put new wine in an old wineskin. That should be obvious to us as well.
2. Jesus is concerned primarily for the wine, but secondarily for the skin. So then, for whatever reason, he does not want the old skin to be ruined. Maybe it is useful for those who are content to drink the old. Indeed, once that wine is fully drunk the skin becomes useless.
3. New wine = Fresh wineskins – Enough said!
4. See how strong a pull the taste of the hold has in that no one wishes for the new. (It should be noted that some manuscripts contain a word that suggests no one “immediately” desires the new.)

I believe Babylon is a position of the heart that we can find ourselves in regardless of the form we inhabit. And though the outworking of Babylon is manifest in old forms and traditions that have rendered the Word ineffective, we must continually guard against an internal Babylonian position so as not to rebuild that which the Lord has destroyed.

There is much to say regardig the Christian religion, but this will have to suffice for now. Perhaps part three will be forthcoming.

…to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col. 1:25-27

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Col. 2:13-15 NASB

What a great mystery we are partakers of in this age – that Christ is in us, and we are partakers of His glory! For He has chosen to make us His public display. First by forgiving us our transgressions, second by cancelling our debt, and then by revealing the power of His glory through us as we are transformed into the image of Christ.

His public display occured when He rose from the dead – and when He rose we were also raised to newness of life! Hallelujah – now we are His public display as the power of His resurrected life consumes the will and works of our old man and that life of sin. We have been made alive together with Him and stand complete in Him. And as we renew our minds by His word we begin to express His glory as we walk in His triumph over sin and self. The natural man cannot accomplish this, only the spiritual man who is pursuing the fulness of his inheritance in the resurrection. Notcie Paul’s heart in Phil. 3:10-14…

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Beloved, there is a goal in this life – namely, to walk in the reality of our resurrection in Christ so that the world will see His glorious power at work in the earth. Indeed, the whole earth longs for the children of God to manifest His kingdom in the earth as a living testimony in advance of His appearing. One day soon Jesus will return to reclaim what is rightfully His and He will recreate it according to His desire. But until then, we are called to be His public display – a glimpse into the reality of that glorious day.

It is time to move beyond the elementary principles of the faith and press on towards maturity. Long enough have we hashed over basic doctrine, church structure and stylistic preference. Long enough have we held to the mentality where one says “I am of Paul” and another “I am of Apollos.” Oh that we would be a faithful generation that takes God at His word and walks in the reality of the coming age in this age! Such is the inheritance of the saints – to be His public display of having overcome sin, the flesh and the world. For we have been raised with Him and seated in heavenly places with Him. All that remains is living that reality as a witness to His great glory & power.

The Jordan begs to be crossed!

I think it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the Father has an eternal plan which He is unfolding through the body of Christ. By His soveriegn will He is moving toward the glorious finish of the Age of Sin with clear intent and strategic action. But He has chosen that humanity will be His instrument to effect His purpose. Therefore it is crucial that we become equally intent on discovering our specific place within His plan, regardless of how insignificant it may seem, and be faithful to run our race. Notice Paul’s words in the following passages.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 1 Cor. 9:24

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Tim. 4:7

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us… Heb. 12:1

These verses all speak of our race or course, but each has its own unique view and uses a different Greek word.

In 1 Cor. the word is stadion which references a specific type of race in the original Olympic games. This race was aprox. 200 yds in length and essentially a sprint. To win this race one had to run full out within a defined lane. Paul encourages us to run our course with all that is in us so that we might obtain the prize.

In 2 Tim. the word is dromos, a word also used in Acts 13:35 referencing John the Baptist, and by Paul in Acts 20:24 when addressing the Ephesian elders. This word is used to references a longer, more narrow race and came to be used in architecture to describe a long, narrow entrance way. Rightly used here Paul alludes to having completed a lengthy race, staying on track to the end.

Lastly, in Heb. the word is agon from which we get the word agony. This word is a general reference to any struggle, contest or competition. We see here that each of us has a struggle set before us and we are encouraged to lay aside weights and sins so that we might be victorious in that struggle.

So here is the point. There are many races to be run in this life: some are obviously self-centered, but others are concealed beneath a cloak of good intention, being done “For the Lord.” If we are careless we can run a race of our own design and expend considerable effort to do so only to find that we have run in vain. Should we run with all of His strength working in us? Should we press on to complete that race? Should we endure the struggle against sin and our own will like those who proved their faith before us? Yes, Yes and Yes! Let us then be wise and discerning so that we recieve the prize.

While reflecting on John chapter six and the feeding of the five-thousand I was struck by two different thoughts.

First by the reality of how we, like the loaves and fish, are often too small for the task God has laid before us. In this situation He asked the disciples to provide food for more than they could possibly feed; essentially, they were being asked to serve at a level beyond their capacity. I am reminded at how often the Father calls us to a work that is far too great for us so that we are required to rely on Him to see it fulfilled. Yet He places a demand on us saying, “You give them to eat.” (A statement actually found in the other Gospels’ accounts.)

When faced with such circumstances we often kick into doing mode. We strategize, plan, vision-cast and perform until we are spent, exhausted and burned-out. Instead, we must allow our offering to be broken and blessed by the Lord so that the little we bring to him can be multiplied – with enough remaining to feed ourselves. So many today are working the world system to bring about the work of God. Yet all our efforts to feed the multitude are in vain – for we will never have enough. We cannot look to our lack, but must look at His mighty power and present what we have to Him so that He can serve the people.

Second, and from quite a different angle, I was drawn to meditate on Jesus’ admonition to “Gather up the left over fragments so that nothing will be lost.” This reminded me of all those who have spent themselves in the Lord’s work who have been cast aside as fragments by the insatiable appetite of the religious. Remember, those who ate  were following Jesus to get their bellies full – not because of who He was. There are many dear brother and sisters who have unwittingly given their all for Jesus within a religious system that has done nothing more than ingest the best part and discard the rest. Many are laying on the ground in need of collection.

I maintain that the largest congregation of believers are those who never attend a church or fellowship. True enough, they should not forsake the assembling of themselves together, but sometimes the wounds are too deep. As David said,

For it is not an enemy who taunts me– then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me– then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng. Psalm 55:12-15

They love Jesus and want an authentic relationship with Him and others, but the betrayal and usary of those claiming to be “leaders” has left them spiritually masticated – in need of healing.  To that end we must labor so that none will be left over.

Oh how the body is in great need of restoration and recovery!