The closer we get to Christ, the more our lack of truth is exposed. This is why we gravitate toward systems that don’t challenge our hearts. Why do we hide from Jesus? Because when we are in front of Him, all that junk will be exposed and dragged to the surface. So we will have a choice to either deal with it or keep walking in the junk. The old saying is, Ignorance is bliss. It’s really not true though. We were created to walk and operate in the fullness that Christ made available to us through His glory. However, all of these wonderful possibilities are not automatically reality. The way these possibilities become reality depends on the degree that we are walking in wholeness – healing (Romans 12:1-2). There is an element of vulnerability and surrender involved. We need to accept the reality that we are broken and need to be fixed. Again, this requires surrender. What holds us back are the lies. If the enemy can convince you that you are not _______ enough, it will keep you from pressing into healing, and the dysfunction that characterizes our lives will become our reality. What holds us back are the untruths that we believe. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes to steal (the truth, the hope, the joy of serving) kill, and destroy (your identity), but He has come that we might have life and have it to the full!”
As God has uncovered the lies and replaced them with truth, I can walk in and enjoy the reality of living. The truth is so much better than holding on to the lie. Ignorance is never bliss and never equals abundant life. The road is narrow and few find it. It’s not just handed to us. It’s achieved when we get to the place where we say, “I am ready for my identity to be lost in you, Jesus. I am ready to lay down my identity and exchange it for the truth found in You.” When I accept that losing my identity is my number one ambition, it causes a shift into intentionality. We dont stumble into this… the violent take it by force. But, it’s a process, over time! We can either prolong or speed up the process by the degree to which we surrender to our healer. You want to speed it up? Surrender more. Surrender quicker. Surrender everything! The longer you hold to the lies, the longer the process will be.
Four Pitfalls of Fleshly Christianity: The Dangers and How to Overcome
Romans 8:5-8 “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”
Our flesh desires comfort, ease, happiness at all times. We go to the road of least resistance, we don’t want to step out of our comfort and if we are not careful, we bring our faith right with us and end up taking the wide easy path.
Fleshly Christianity really doesn’t want to know Jesus.
We are infatuated with wisdom ABOUT God but we really don’t want to KNOW God. We can quote scripture. But knowing God’s heart, knowing how He feels, that’s a different story. There’s a glorious opportunity we have to encounter Jesus but we often hide behind religion – the actions, the verbiage.
John 5:39-40 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.”
Religion can memorize scripture and totally miss Jesus. If you don’t let that word bounce off you and reflect the condition of your heart you will miss it. Just having a Bible open in front of you means nothing! It has to impact you on a deep level. Examine your heart! How it must grieve the heart of God to know how he made all of us unique and wants to use those for His glory and the first thing we do is to try and become like everyone around us – because we don’t know who we are! Religion does a great job of trying to conform us into homogeny. Romans 8:14 speaks about how the thing that keeps us from stepping out is fear. Religion is a man-made attempt at pleasing God. If it originates in the heart of God it will bring Him glory. If it originates in the heart of man, it brings glory to man (pride).
Fleshly Christianity doesn’t ask difficult questions.
Asking questions will often expose how much I really don’t know. Yet, do I even care to know? In the realm of a relationship, asking questions is not just an opportunity to know some of the “relational rules” and how we can stay on the surface so as not to rock the boat, but it is plunging in and asking the tough, uncomfortable questions. How little we really want to get to know each other intimately. Why do you believe what you believe? Is it because of what you have heard or is it because it something you have searched and prayed and wrestled and found out from the Lord? So often, we are like parrots and just repeat what we have heard. God is ok with us asking tough questions so that we encounter His truth for ourselves. Do I believe everything the Word says? Because if I don’t, I better start learning how to. It is easy to sit around singing poetic words in worship, but the truth is that they are not reality to US if our heart is not engaged. I can sing Amazing Grace … how sweet the sound, but do I really know and do I really feel how amazing His grace is?
Matthew 7:7-11 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
I will tell you this: how real and sincere your walk with the Lord is based on how many questions you ask Him. When we are in the midst of struggle do we ask God — how? what? where?
Fleshly Christianity is not preoccupied with encountering His presence in the secret place.
We get the privilege of “a one-on-one” with the King of kings! The enemy will say that you are too busy, or you don’t have time. We all have 24 hours a day. We choose what is most important to us. We are most free in His presence. If I am not seeking a time with Him every day, then I need a heart check. Matthew 10:27 talks about finding that secret place where God whispers in your ear. If He is not talking to you, and you can’t hear Him, then you are not listening or you have too much going on to hear Him. He wants us to sit in the quiet place and listen. Really listen. That’s when we will encounter Him.
Fleshly Christianity is not concerned with doing the will of God.
John 4:31-34 “Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But Jesus replied, ‘I have a kind of food you know nothing about.’ ‘Did someone bring him food while we were gone?’ the disciples asked each other. Then Jesus explained: ‘My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.'”
Food in the natural sustains, energizes, strengthens, satisfies and fills us. Sitting before the Father and doing His will is what sustains us. If you don’t eat in the natural you will dry up and die. The same is true of the spiritual. Ask God throughout the day, what is your will for the situation, for this moment.
Recap:
Know God.
Ask Questions.
Sit Before Him and Get Filled Up.
Go and Do His Will.
Joshua’s Message Notes: Andy Collins — Four Pitfalls of Fleshly Christianity, The Meeting Place 03.24.15