Advocate

OK this post has significant meaning to me I will admit. For lack of a better term , I would describe it as true 'insight' . Hope you will benefit from it in some living way.




Are you seeking an advocate for your life? How about in a spouse, a parent, a friend, a co worker? I tell you it is the very nature of the flesh to seek this advocacy out. For the fleshly mind will not only look for it but, will go to great lengths to conform to anything that shows promise in it's potential to be an advocate for it. This advocacy is only in the realm of MAN. It is a seeking after justification in THIS world. A fleshly advocate is something or someone that can make a person feel justified and 'OK'. Whether at work with a work mate or a spouse or a child, man seeks anything and everything to be his advocate. You think I am full of bologna? Really? You sure?  How many times have you watched a mother seeking comfort for her 'ways' of doing things by 'inadvertently' teaching there child the same things THEY are comfortable with about themselves? Or a young boy to become friends with another based on the idea that they BOTH hate there elementary teacher? Or a sister finding solace in a sibling who can' back them up' on just how 'unfair' dad is? It is that voice inside that screams out "now I am defend-able"! "WE said so!". Yeah it is no longer just 'me' or 'you' saying it/living it. It's 'US'. See, WE are right and WE are justified. We are 'special'. Guess what? THAT my friend will all end in...DESTRUCTION.. Yes, just as Jesus said. For an earthly advocate does not satisfy and is not our place in Christ. Why? Because WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE ALREADY! You can not have both. If you are in Christ, you have an advocate in Jesus Christ the Righteous. Let us not play along with the world in seeking out anything or anyone else. For our God is a consuming fire. We are not called to self justification but, to Christ. We are not called to use others for the purpose of the flesh[to help justify us] but,  to love one another in the freedom brought in Jesus Christ. You can not do both.


Adam

Spider Webs

I have been thinking lately about the time I had in 'church'.[for some years] I was reflecting not so much on the experiences themselves but, more on what it all represented. For I have found that to be truly alive in Christ and present in 'church' to be almost polar opposites. I have seen great pressure coming from within the institution [and ALL the world] to allow the impartation of fleshly wisdom to come into our lives through the thing we call 'church'. I am not saying that God can not use this ultimately for our advantage but, just maybe not in the way WE are expecting it to.[for we have even learned to turn that verse into fleshly reason too] For there is a certain PRESSURE[I have been loving that word lately] that comes with being around that worldly philosophy so prevalent in church. Interestingly that same pressure does seem or appear to be coming from God. Yeah I said APPEAR. It is not from God. I repeat,...NOT. That pressure comes from the evil one and you will see it in the religious of both Jesus' day  AND our day. In fact you will see it in the world period. From the "good" or the "bad". Just give it time. You may be sitting RIGHT NEXT to that pressure right now. That pressure could be speaking to you through many who should be the very ones to support you and lift you up.[well at least according to the original design] That pressure might be pushing at you and creeping into your thoughts, attempting to cast down the new mind of Christ in you. Let us not be afraid to stand against that pressure as the freedom in Christ is released to us in the midst of it.

The Body and Bits and Pieces

Most of us do not notice the agreement between the letters written by the various Apostles in the Bible. That is often because the writing style is so different. Yet the reality behind the writing styles is cohesive and one.[joined] In Christ we have His body and in that body exists varying  'styles ' of communication. Some communication can take months, years and even decades to understand but, all true communication is communicated regardless. For the Spirit that resides in us is continually at work within you and I. He breaks down walls of what is passing away even in the midst of miscommunication and misunderstanding. We just do not look to or for that. But, hey He has got that too. We all have different vessels, styles and even 'gifts'[whatever that truly is?] probably but, one thing is for sure. Christ remains the focal point of all things. For He and He alone is the substance of true Life! Nothing  in the realm of  all creation whether in Heaven, down below, or on earth can replace Him, nothing can successfully destroy Him, His work, or His own. For they always conquer through and in Him!!

Acceptance

A thought today:

'Acceptance' of the flesh is earthly.. and though seemingly admirable, it actually stirs up sin, hidden or else revealed. The living and true acceptance the Father caused us to live in produces good fruit! For he who has ears to hear let him hear!