God Lives and Works Through His Church

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , ,

Ephesians 2:18-22

For through him (Jesus Christ) we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by] the Spirit.

Where is God’s home?

Since HE is omnipresent, which means everywhere at the same time, we may not emphasize at times that includes within you and me – the Church.  For Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ and individual members of it.” In other places we are told:

  • Through the Holy Spirit, we are baptized into the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
  • Everyone who has the Holy Spirit living within them, belongs to Christ. (Romans 8:9-11)
  • You are God’s temple. (I Corinthians 3:17)
  • The Church’s mission is to recruit and train others in Christ’s teachings. (Mathew 28:19-20)
  • Jesus Christ is the head of HIS Church. (Colossians 1:18)
  • The Church is the “Body of Christ” – Jesus Christ’s hands and feet on earth today. (Ephesians 1:22)

The Biblical Church is not an institution, a denomination, nor a faith community. The Church consists of people allowing the Holy Spirit to live and work and lead through their heart, mind, and soul. And where the Holy Spirit is, so is Father God and Jesus Christ – the Triune God.

Yes, people attend a faith community which may consist of Believers full of God’s Spirit and also those who are seeking God. And yes, there are faith communities where God’s Spirit is dormant while people go about doing their business as they desire acting for God yet without following the lead of Jesus Christ. And yes, there are faith communities small in number but leverage their hands and feet to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit doing God’s work and reflecting HIS glory throughout their community. And everything in between.

We are all a work under God’s construction. Yesterday, I didn’t know God. Today, I know him a tiny more than yesterday. Tomorrow, hopefully we will grow and discover more about HIM. It is the same for all of us individually and collectively.

Some faith organizations are more vibrant than others. Some faith organizations are dead in Spirit and full of themselves. And many faith organizations are in between. But God’s universal Church, consisting of those with the Spirit fully living within their being, are actively reflecting the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.  They gladly seek to be led by the Holy Spirit in service to God and mankind.

You shall know them by their fruit. (Matthew 7:20; Luke 8:14)

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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Copyright 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Live the Good News

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,

2 Timothy 3:5

…having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

People like to put on a good front. We dress for success. When others are watching, we paste on a smile of happiness. Yet, one of our fears is to be discovered we are not the person we pretend to be.

I recall as a youth around 17 years old coming across a quote. I do not know who to give credit too and I may not have the exact words, but paraphrasing it read: “Shame on my parents for making me who I am, but shame on me for staying that way.” This quote has stayed with me my entire life. It always reminds me not to accept being a victim but realize we can choose to change.

After following Christ for a whole number of years, I woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and felt the impact of one of those spiritual slaps. It shook me. I came to realize my life was far from how a disciple’s life is described through the pages of the Bible. I would read how an apprentice of Jesus Christ would experience HIS peace, joy, and love along with all the other fruit of the Holy Spirit. How a student of Jesus would yearn to be like his Rabbi. Yet when honesty took me by the hand, I had to admit the emptiness was deafening.

Yes, I put on a good show. The smile, the handshake, the proper words at the right time, everything one is trained to work a room for personal gain. But the power of God was missing. I questioned my beliefs. Was the Christian faith a facade? Another religion created by people to control the masses and make one feel good about themselves? Well, it wasn’t working for me.

Then, we dug deeper. Remember the quote: Shame on my parents (teachers) for making me who I am, but shame on me for staying that way, became my mantra. Opening the Bible, we began an in-depth study of being a follower of Jesus Christ. And as any long-term student of HIS will attest, HE led me through Scripture, books, and people and eventually to a place of repentance of failing to empty myself for HIS name sake.

To live the good news of Jesus Christ means replacing oneself as the central core of life with HIM, his Spirit, and his God. When one empties themselves of pride, channels their desires built on the Triune God’s value system, and puts into practice the ways of HIS government, one begins to experience the power of a relationship with the Creator of the universe.

The inner sanctuary of the human heart becomes a peaceful and joyous home for your Maker. You begin to realize God lives in you and moves you like a partner on a ballroom dance floor. You don’t understand all the nuances, but learn to trust someone who loves you so much you cannot fully express the thankfulness of the situation.

The power of God resides in you. Yet you need to learn how to allow God full access into your inner chambers of the heart and mind. When you do, you begin to experience and express real godliness in your life without even attempting to make it happen. You begin to live the Good News, experience the Good News, and share the Good News with others.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Fear Mongers

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms ,

2 Timothy 1:7

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Fear is the weapon of the enemy. They manipulate fear for profit, power, and control. Whether we are speaking about a boss whose leadership style is to control your every move or the media who needs your attention to stay in business, fear is the drug of choice.

Movies are made to capture your emotional fear factor. In politics, fear is used to raise money, votes, and opinions. Those who disagree with you, threaten you with violence. Throughout history, fear has shown its ugly components to suppress human potential and social flourishment. 

Jesus stated in the gospel of Matthew,“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

They are fear mongers. They use fear as the tool of choice. They know what they do and laugh at the people who fall prey to their weapon. Yet God, as Paul writes his letter to Timothy, has empowered us with a spirit, not only to defend us from fear, but to offensively combat fear. “For He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The Spirit which lives within each child of God expresses His power, love, and personal control to see through the empty lies of the enemy.

Fear has to do with punishment. But perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18) is how the apostle John stated it in one of his letters to the churches. Love is the solution. Not worldly love which is nominal in it impact. But God’s love which resides in you. The same love that created the universe, became human, lived and died a sinless death, and lives for the fulfillment of HIS purpose, you now possess. Let God’s love overwhelm you and allow HIM to fully live in you. Love overcomes all things, including the fear bomb.

Love, along with knowing the truth, sets us free from fear. Jesus stated, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Understanding Jesus’ teaching and who HE IS lays the groundwork for separating the lies, falsehoods, and hypocrisy we are undated each and every day. Without this knowledge and relationship, one is thrown into the over-the-top, information overload human machine which overwhelms your emotional and intelligent brain center into a paralyzed state of fear and frenzy.

But be of good cheer. The emotional hole these fear mongers seek to fill can be quickly eradicated through the Spirit of the living God who wants to do more than just reside in you. HE wants you to experience life with HIM to the fullest. He is fearful of nothing and wants you to know HE wants to share HIS character and attributes with you. When you align yourself with HIM and allow HIM to have HIS way with you, you will then truly experience life without fanatical fear. You will know how to separate real fear from the delusional hype.

The with-God life is more real and lasting than anything this world throws your way. Catch it and watch the fear dissipate before your very eyes.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved