RSS

Death – A God’s Eye View #prayerinthespirit

19 Feb

GravesIn my last post, I talked about the three parts of our being – body, soul, and spirit.  Knowing all of this, let’s move on to an understanding of just how our spirit operates.  To do this we must go back to the beginning when man was first created.

There are a few basic things that I have no Scripture for, but I have to take on faith, knowing what the Word of God infers.  First, I believe what Jesus said – that God desires true worshippers who worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Second, I believe that God created Adam to be absolutely perfect and that in this perfect state Adam communicated with God the way God wanted him to.  Because of these two beliefs I infer that Adam, in his perfect state, did not communicate with God using his flesh.

All of the interaction between God and Adam took place in the realm of the spirit.  I also believe, if you will stick with me for a moment, that the Scripture will bear this out.

And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
Genesis 2:16-17

When I read this passage, I see Adam hearing in his spirit the command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  He was warned that if he did ever eat it he would surely, definitely, absolutely, DIE.  My problem was this – when Adam ate from the tree, he didn’t die.  At least he didn’t die according to our modern society’s concept of death.

What I found was that we don’t understand what God means when He uses the word death.  We usually only see it from the earthly standpoint.  Just because our body stops functioning does not constitute death to God.

We are told in the letter to the Romans to “Count yourself dead to sin” (Romans 6:11).  Paul said that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. (II Cor. 5:8)  This tells me that when my body stops working, I merely change residences.

To understand the events in the Garden, I need to know what God means when He uses the word death.  A careful study of the Word will prove that when God says that someone has died, it means that communication has stopped.  There is no longer any capability to interact with that person.

That’s why, in the parable of the Prodigal Son, the father said, “My son was dead, but now is alive.” (Luke 15:24)  The prodigal was not physically dead, but the father could not communicate with him.  So, to the father, he was dead.

Even among Christians we’re told not to grieve like the world that has no hope.  We understand that when we attend the funeral of a fellow believer, the parting is only temporary.  Why do Christians grieve?  Because of a temporary loss of fellowship.

This concept is important to our subject.  In my next post, I’ll apply it to Adam’s situation.

Question: How does this view of death explain sin’s affect upon us?

© Nick Zaccardi 2014

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on February 19, 2014 in Prayer, Prayer in the Spirit

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

In the Spirit – A Special Time & Place

17 Feb

MeditationI’ve been posting about the intimacy that comes from worshipping God in spirit.  That brings us to another question. What does in the spirit mean?  It’s a common enough expression throughout the Word of God, but do we really know what it means?

On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet…
Revelation 1:10

This is the Apostle John describing what took place just as the Lord was about to show him the Revelation he recorded in the Scripture.  He went out of way to let us know that he was not just eating breakfast or reading the newspaper.  He was in the spirit.

It sounds like this is a special place.  Of course, that’s only logical.  Even in our natural lives intimacy with another person requires a special time and place.  A man could not be intimate with his wife in the stands at a hockey game.

In the same way, intimacy with God requires a special time and place – that is being in the spirit.

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.
Philippians 3:3

In this section, Paul is talking about those who were trying to place Old Testament rules on Gentile believers.  It’s about the overcoming church that he writes, “It is we who worship God in spirit.”  We are the ones who boast only in Christ.  True Christianity places no confidence in flesh.

The Scripture is clear that flesh and blood cannot worship at the level of the spirit.  The Biblical picture always shows that in worship, our flesh must be prostrate and silent.  That’s why we read things like, “I fell at His feet like a dead man.”

This means that my hands cannot worship God.  Neither can my mouth, my feet or my entire body.

Worship can only be an act of my spirit.  So, if I don’t understand how my spirit operates, then I really can’t understand true worship.

Let’s start with the basics.  God created us all in His image.  He is a three-part being – Father, Son, and Spirit.  God created us with the same three parts.  We have a body, a soul, and a spirit.

Our soul is who we are.  It’s the seat of our mind, memories, personality, and emotions.  My soul is the real me.  When I want to talk to you, it’s not your body I want to talk to, but your soul – the person inside the body.

Your soul is housed in a thing called your flesh or your body.  This is the part of your being that allows your soul to interact and communicate in the physical, natural realm.  It’s the part of you that can taste, smell, touch, hear, and see.

Unfortunately, this is the part of your being that’s marred by sin.  Because Adam chose the path of rebellion, the flesh now desires to be first place in your life.  This is what causes most of our trouble.

The third part of our being is our spirit.  This is the part of us that allows our soul to interact and communicate in the spiritual realm.  This is the dimension where God, angels and demons usually dwell.  It’s with your spirit that God desires to have fellowship with you on His level.

Question: Why is overcoming the flesh so important to the believer?

© Nick Zaccardi 2014

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on February 17, 2014 in Prayer, Prayer in the Spirit

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Best Way to Worship

14 Feb

TowerIn my last post I talked about being intimate with God in the place of worship.

Of course that brings us to the next logical question.  What’s the best way to worship God?  That was a very controversial subject in Jesus’ day.  As you’ll see it’s just as controversial today – but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Worship was especially divisive between the Jews and the Samaritans.  This was brought out in the discourse between Jesus and the woman at the well.  The Lord was trying to get her to talk about spiritual things by explaining to her about His ability to give her living water.

Instead, to change the subject, the woman brought up the controversy about where true worship was to take place.  Was it in Jerusalem, as the Jews believed, or the mountain where the Samaritans went.

Jesus told her that true worship is not about place.  You see, they had the same misconception that we do.  We refer to the “worship service” and we call our buildings “houses of worship”.  The fact is that very little worship, if any, goes on in these places.

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:23-24

This is one of the most powerful, yet ignored verses in the Bible.  This should be the foundation of everything we understand about true worship.  Christ uses “worship” 5 times in these two verses.  His emphasis is clear, yet we never plumb the depths of what He’s saying.

He’s talking about the true worshippers of the Father.  Are we those who truly desire to lean forward and kiss the Father?  If so, then we must kiss Him in spirit.  This is not a function of our flesh.  I cannot do anything with my body that will bring forth the intimacy that God desires to have with us.

Make no mistake about it, this is one of the greatest desires of the heart of God.  The above Scripture says that the Father is actively seeking these people.  God desperately wants intimacy with His people.  Are you that person that God is searching for?  Are you a worshipper of the Father in spirit and in truth?

There’s something interesting that I noticed in this verse when I studied it in the original Greek language.  I found that some of the English words are not in the original text.  They were added by the translators to make it more readable.

I believe that a more accurate translation would be; God’s Spirit and those who want to lean forward to kiss Him must lean forward to kiss in spirit and truth.  The emphasis that Christ is bringing clearly teaches that God is seeking intimacy.

As we all know, intimacy can never be a “one way street.”  For it to truly be intimate, as I lean forward to kiss Him, God must also lean forward to kiss me.  It’s almost too good to be true.  The God of the universe wants a close, intimate relationship with me. (and you!)

Question: How intimate of a relationship do you want with God?

© Nick Zaccardi 2014

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on February 14, 2014 in Prayer, Prayer in the Spirit

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Worship – The Place of Power #trueworship

12 Feb

PowerWithout a doubt, the Bible teaches that God’s power flows to us through the Holy Spirit.  In my last post we looked at what Jesus said in John, chapter 7.

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.  Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
John 7:38-39

The first thing the Lord told us was that you must believe as the Scripture declares.  We can’t just believe anything that we want.  It will not work with faith simply for faith’s sake.  Our faith must be firmly based in the Word of God.

In order to get into the flow of God’s power we must trust Him as the Scripture declares.  We must also couple this with the knowledge that power involves intimacy with the Lord.  We must remain, abide, live, dwell, and reside in Him.  If intimacy with God is the priority, then we must ask ourselves what’s the most intimate place, spiritually?

There’s a biblical word that’s used for the concept of spiritual intimacy with God.  The meaning has been all but lost to modern Christians.  I’m hoping that the church will once again make this their goal.  The word I’m speaking about is WORSHIP.

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word translated worship means to prostrate yourself or to lay down with God.  In the New Testament, the Greek word they used for worship literally means to lean forward as if to kiss.  Both of these concepts involve intimacy.  You would never want to lay down with someone or kiss someone unless the moment was just right.

As I said before, we have all but lost the concept of what true worship is all about today.  To most Christians, leadership included, the difference between praise and worship is that praise is the fast songs and worship is the slow songs.

Actually, if you study the Scripture, you’ll find that both the fast and slow songs are praise.  This is because anything that we do toward God with our flesh (sing, clap, dance, etc.) is praise.

According to the Word, worship is a function of our spirit.  That’s why throughout the Old and New Testaments, whenever the position of worship is described, the worshipper is always prostrate or leaning on something.

Praise is always my flesh giving glory to God.  It’s a team effort.  That’s why when we’re in a meeting, the bigger the crowd, the more incredible the praise.

Worship, on the other hand, is just me and God.  Think about the times in church during the praise time when suddenly a “holy hush” comes over the congregation.  This is when the Lord is calling us to be intimate with Him.  It’s usually the most uncomfortable time there is in church.  That is because we are so unused to true worship.

What we have to realize is that if power requires intimacy, then worship is the place of power.

Question: How comfortable are you with being quiet before the Lord?

© Nick Zaccardi 2014

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on February 12, 2014 in Prayer, Prayer in the Spirit

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Accessing the Throne Room of God #trueworship

10 Feb

ThroneTrue power only flows into our life through the Holy Spirit.  I want to take a series of posts to look at the mechanics of just how the Holy Spirit works in us.  We will obviously need to look at many issues that affect our spiritual intimacy with the Lord.

Throughout our search we must always keep in mind that it’s the Spirit, not the law, which should be at work in us.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

It should be obvious that the Holy Spirit is involved in the flow of power to us.  This is the ability to produce change in our lives.  Specifically, it’s the power that changes us into the Lord’s likeness.

As we move from glory to glory the world should see this change and be drawn to the Savior.  This should be the number one reason why we want the power of God manifest in us.

The first question at this point is how do I plug into the power of the Holy Spirit?  We know that in the natural, power flows like a river.  It requires some sort of channel to move through.

This is why there are electrical wires.  Your car has a power train to transmit the power from the engine to the wheels.  There must always be something to transfer the power from one location to another.  It’s the same with the Spirit of God.

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.  Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
John 7:38-39

Jesus likens the flow of the Holy Spirit to a river of living water.  At this point the disciples could not comprehend what the Lord was saying because the Holy Spirit had not yet been given to reside in men.

However, this does apply to us since we live on the other side of the cross.  Jesus tells us that out of our inner being the current of life will flow because of the Holy Spirit in us.  If power flows through a channel from one place to another, then what’s the source of this river?

The Apostle John got a glimpse of the headwaters.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Revelation 22:1

What an incredible revelation of the Lord.  This means that through the Holy Spirit we have a direct connection between us and the very throne of God.  To neglect this awesome gift is beyond imagining.  We need to cultivate our intimacy with the Lord.

Question: Why do some believers place such a low value on the Holy Spirit within them?

© Nick Zaccardi 2014

 
2 Comments

Posted by on February 10, 2014 in Prayer, Prayer in the Spirit

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Choose Understanding

07 Feb

DimThe Bible talks a lot about understanding.  Unfortunately we live in a society that runs from it, because with understanding, comes responsibility.  Once I understand something, I’m responsible to walk in it.

The Jewish people were much the same as our world when it came to the ministry of Christ.  Because they rejected understanding, they lost out on a blessing.

For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.
Matthew 13:15

The fact is that understanding takes place in the heart.  The Greek word for understanding literally means to put together.  It’s in the heart that I begin to put together all the things that I’ve seen and experienced.

But that takes thought and meditation on your life.  Most people don’t want to do that.  They would rather just have a quick explanation about why things are the way they are.

“If I just had more money, I’d be happy.”

“If my parents had loved me more, my life would have turned out better.”

Understanding makes us responsible for our choices and responses.  That’s why it seems so hard to win the lost to Christ in our generation.

What happens if I try to plant the seed of the Gospel in a heart with no understanding?

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is the seed sown along the path.
Matthew 13:19

Without understanding, Satan can snatch the seed right out of your heart.  The one receiving the Gospel must put it together with their whole life experience without Christ.  That’s why in this society, with the Word of God everywhere, many are rejecting the Gospel.

Our generation is taught to not understand.

“If it feels good, do it.”

Understanding protects the Gospel seed.  This should help us to minister in this society.  For instance, if someone says they’re an atheist, don’t just tell them what the Bible says.  They don’t want to understand it, so it will have no effect.

Instead, tell them, “I’m going to pray that God will make Himself real to you.  When He does, I’ll be there to talk to you about it.”  Then as you go through your day, continue in prayer for them.  This gives the Holy Spirit a chance to work on them.

As the Spirit of God starts to bring light into their experience, they’ll come to a point of decision.  Then it’s up to them whether they want to walk in their new found understanding.  That’s always the first step to God – choosing understanding.

Of course it doesn’t stop when we accept Christ as our Lord.  We must continue in it our whole lives.  It’s the basis for all we do in the Lord.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:17

Question: How did understanding play a key role in your salvation experience?

© Nick Zaccardi 2014

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on February 7, 2014 in Ministry, Prayer, Word of God

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are We Creating a Church Full of Liars? #praiseandworship

05 Feb

Music SmokeFirst, let me say that I feel privileged that the Lord has me living in this period of history.  We’re at such an exciting time in the body of Christ.  It’s my desire to be at the cutting edge of what the Lord’s doing in His people.

One of the areas I see this, is in praise and worship.  This generation has given rise to worship leaders who reached new heights in their songs and choruses.  Singing some of these new songs opens up my spirit to the deeper work of God in me.

That being said, there’s a negative aspect to this as well.  I’ve found that marginal, shallow believers, singing those same songs, have replaced singing for experience.

Just because I sing, “Jesus, You are everything,” doesn’t necessarily means that it’s true in my life.  The Lord saw this as a problem in Israel.

“What do you think?  There was a man who had two sons.  He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.  He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.  For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did.  And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
Matthew 21:28-32

The Pharisees that Jesus was talking to looked like they were serving God, but in truth they were after their own agenda.  They needed to be shocked back to reality.

Please understand; I realize that in many instances we need to sing and praise “higher” than our current level.  In our hearts we’re aspiring to a deeper walk in Christ and these songs push us to press in to the manifestation of it.  I have no problem with that.

My concern is over the Christians who are in denial.  They’re living for themselves and think that singing about a powerful walk with God is the same as experiencing it.

Somehow, like in Christ’s ministry, we need to communicate the difference to our people.  This needs to be done with love, sensitivity, and respect.  Then we’ll see the affects that these songs should truly be working in all of God’s people.

Question: What are some praise and worship songs that have caused you to grow in Christ?

© Nick Zaccardi 2014

 
2 Comments

Posted by on February 5, 2014 in Ministry, Music, The Church

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Discipleship – The Cost and the Glory #discipleship

03 Feb

Jet Plane to NowhereI’ve been posting about discipleship.  How far are you willing to go to follow Christ?  The Lord doesn’t make it sound very convenient.

In my last post we saw that Christ said it involved picking up your cross and following Him.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:26

Most people get tripped up by this verse because they don’t understand the usage of the word hate in the Scripture.  This word has no emotional attachment to it.  It’s just like the word agape, used to convey the idea of love.  Hate is a choice rather than an emotion.

This word hate means a choice to not participate with.  There are times when being a disciple of Christ means that you choose not to participate in every family event.  Maybe it’s a baby shower or a graduation party that’s held on a Sunday morning.

Christ is saying that if you choose to participate with your family over the Lord, then it shows that you’re not a disciple.  You might be a believer who loves God.  But you have yet to choose the high road of discipleship.

Following Christ can be very inconvenient at times.  However, if you want the same results as Christ, you must live as He does.

Jesus also makes the point that we must count the cost of discipleship.

“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:33

If you find your Christian walk to be easy, then you’re not yet a disciple.  The closer you follow to Christ, the harder your choices will become.  But there is a bright side.  The longer you serve the Lord, the easier it will be to make those choices.

It’s all about cultivating an attitude – I am nothing else but a disciple.  It may sound like a tough road, but in the end it’s worth it.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
John 15:7-8

The way of discipleship leads to a fulfilled life.  There’s a manifestation of the power of God working through you.  When you live at this level it becomes obvious to all those around you.  Your life shows the fruit of the spirit.

It’s apparent that you couldn’t produce the blessings that you’re walking in.  God is at work in you.  That’s the ultimate goal.  Living as a disciple shows God’s glory.

It’s that glory that will draw others to Christ.  This is what the Christian walk is all about.

Question: How much is the glory of God worth to you?

© Nick Zaccardi 2014

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on February 3, 2014 in Power of God, Revival

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Do You have Room for the Word? #discipleship

31 Jan

WeedsIn my last post I talked about what Jesus said that it means to be His disciple in John, chapter 8.  It requires us to remain in His Word.  Our response to this truth is an issue today.

Even though Jesus was speaking to those who believed in Him, their response was surprising.  They were offended that He said they needed to be set free.

“We’ve never been a slave to anything or anyone.”

“You’ve gone too far, Jesus.”

“I know you are Abraham’s descendants.  Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.”
John 8:37

Jesus knew that they were believers.  The problem was that they had no admittance, pass, designated space for His Word.  Because they wanted to justify themselves, their minds rejected what Christ was telling them.  Later in His teaching, Jesus explained why this happened.

Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
John 8:43

He literally said that it was because they did not have the power to hear my logos.  In order to let the Word of God work its change in our lives, we need to draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul even wrote about it.

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14

It’s the Holy Spirit who helps us to hear God’s Word.  But don’t get the idea that it’s an easy thing.  The state of the modern church, pastors included – proves just the opposite.  Think about what Christ taught concerning the difficulties involved in discipleship.

And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27

That doesn’t sound very convenient.  Picking up something that points to the death of my flesh.  Then, as if that’s not enough, I have to watch closely to where Christ is moving, and follow in His footsteps.

It’s no wonder that in the current version of Christianity, we use the word “disciple” to mean anyone who has received salvation.  We need to get back to the radical discipleship that Jesus taught.

In my next post I’ll talk about just how inconvenient this is.

Question: How far are you willing to be inconvenienced for Christ?

© Nick Zaccardi 2014

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on January 31, 2014 in Ministry, Revival, Word of God

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What does it take to be a Disciple? #discipleship

29 Jan

ClassGod wants us to walk in the full rights of sonship as His children.  This means that we’re walking in the authority and responsibility that comes with it.  To get to that point, we must undergo the process of discipleship.  What does that mean?

At one point in His ministry, Jesus was speaking to a crowd about why He came to the earth.

Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.
John 8:30

This was a good response.  There were believers sprinkled through the crowd, listening to His every word.  They were the ones that the Lord was focusing on as He continued.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32

Talking specifically to those that believed, He explained that faith is not the goal.  It’s merely the beginning of the journey.

Here in America we’ve gone through the “Faith Movement”.  Regardless of how you feel about it, this movement changed the entire face of the church.  But there’s still more that God wants to do in us.

What comes next is that little word that changes everything. IF!  Its conditional – “If you live, remain, dwell in my Word…”

The next step after faith is to live in God’s Word.  Its living in the Word that makes you a disciple.  There’s a difference in Scripture between believers and disciples.

When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, you become a believer.  The Holy Spirit takes up residence in you and you’re on your way to heaven.  Becoming a disciple is a whole other choice.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”
John 15:1-3

This is the result of discipleship.  Once we know the truth – by remaining in His Word – we are set free from sin by that Word.

This is the foundation for all that we do in Christ.  It’s by the Word that the power of God is manifest in us.  What I’m talking about is the Word you hear as you’re intimate with Christ.

That’s how Jesus operated.  By remaining in the Father’s Word, He had 100% results.  The Lord could heal, walk on water, calm a storm, raise the dead, or feed five thousand.  All this because He remained in the Word He heard from the Father.

Question: What will it take for us to walk in this level of discipleship?

© Nick Zaccardi 2014

 
2 Comments

Posted by on January 29, 2014 in Faith, Revival, Word of God

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older posts
Newer posts →