The greatest antilogy!

"What is this crazy person writing?" you many say yourself if you read the title of this blog. An antilogy, also called and auto-antonym is a word that can have an opposite meaning of itself. An example of an antilogy would be the word clip. Used in one sentence if could mean to hold something together tightly. Used in another sentence it could mean to cut something off. Get it? Okay, honestly this isn't an English lesson I promise. Read on if you'd like to know the spiritual connection I'm gonna be making here....

One of my spiritual mentors encouraged me to chew on Luke 14:25-35 recently. I've read this passage several times in the past few weeks. One thing that's really hit me as I've read over this text is that the CROSS is the greatest antilogy in history! It's death, but it's also life! To the sinner and the unbeliever the cross means nothing more than "yeah Jesus died on one of those"/ It's a tool of death. But the the Christ follower it's life! In Luke 14:27 Jesus tells us "whoever does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Does this mean we will have to physically die for our faith as Jesus and most of the apostles did? Well...if we were only counted so worthy the reward would be great. Study what the bible has to say about those who are physically killed in this world for their faith. I have come to the conclusion that one must be counted worthy because of the life they have lived on earth to ever inherit the opportunity to die for their faith, but that's a theological tid bit that we don't have time to discuss and frankly I may not be qualified to share my opinion on.

But here's the deal...I believe that the first cross we as Christians must ever carry to be qualified for something greater is the putting to death of our flesh. Most Christians never make it that far. Most people Christains absolutely included are nothing more than slaves to their flesh. We act, speak on, make decisions based on what we feel constantly. But I believe that if we can go to a deep level in killing our flesh the antilogy of the Cross will come to light as absolute life to our spirit!

Death is never pretty...to carry the cross of death to flesh may not be the most enjoyable experience. The cost is great, but as Jesus states we must count the cost and determine weather we want ALL that God has for us in this life and in eternity or not. Life and death is set before us which life will we choose? Abundant or average Christianity? Will we chose to let the flesh live because it's easier and it feels good and it's too hard to kill it anyway? Or will we fight until victory is ours until flesh has been killed and our spirit is alive on a level we had never thought truly possible? I get the fact that God works in our lives daily, and he's in the small things of life. But don't EVER let that fact deceive you into thinking God intends for your life to be ordinary! The devil would love for you to come to terms with the thinking that I'll just be a normal christain and whatever God wants to do in my life he'll do. But the bible is clear the "the Kindom of God is forcefully advanceing and the violent take it by force". We settle for ordinary because we simply won't pay the price for anything greater. Killing the flesh will cost you pleasure, convenience, time, energy, and the ability to walk by what you see, and the ability to see yourself as average. But Jesus says this is what a true disciple does. Are you a disciple or you among one of the many average christains, luke warm, unpassionate, self centered, and weak? Don't trick yourself into thinking the tough things you go through in life is your cross...if that were true everyone would be a disciple right? The cross is something you choose to take up and take responsibility for after counting the cost of doing so. Not what comes your way as a natural recource of living on a cursed Earth, and certainly not the fruit of living life your own way. The flesh is the first thing we must nail to the cross...but in that death there is a life to which no comparison can be made.

I have counted the cost, I have stepped over the line, my decision has been made. I am and always will be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I'm not perfect, my flesh is not yet dead. I fight it daily. Some days are better than others, but I never give up the fight. I am a warrior, and my flesh will indeed die. Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ! It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I NOW live I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
Do you have the guts to count the cost friends? Do you have it in you to go against normal Christianity and go for something greater? Any old fish can swim downstream with the current of the world, but it takes a fighter to swim upstream against normal, against average. God has a great plan for your life. I hope you made it all the way to the end of this post withour being overly offended. My purpose isn't to make you mad, but some times we need words that challenge us to change our thinking and get out of our comfort zones! Put a microscope on your own life today and let God's spirit tell you where your flesh is beating you and hodling you back from the best he has for you. Let it induce change in your life. Make Jesus, not other Christains, your Momma or your Daddy be your standard for the life you live. Put the word of God to the test. He is faithful to his word!

Love ya,

Chad

Wait...did God move?

If one of the traits of God is that he is omni present...Why is it that we as Christians are constantly going in and out of his presence? Is it because he moved? Or took his presence away from us? When we feel the glory of God in a worship service or a prayer meeting does that mean God just came into the room? Well if the theological concept of God's omni presence is true (I believe it is) then God was there already. So what changed?

I believe as a Christan I have the ability to constantly live my life in the glorious presence of God. Do I do it? No....Why? Because it's a costly venture. It takes me giving up my life for the life God intended for me. Giving up my thoughts for God's thoughts. It requires consistent repositioning of myself into God's presence. Because when I feel God and when you feel God it doesn't mean that he's moved to come hang out with you. It means that you and I have moved to go hang out with him!

This is the reason a consistent prayer life is important. This is the reason it's important to worship every day and read God's word every day. Because we reposition ourselves to access something that's available to us 24/7...God's glorious presence. I am determined to become a person who can live life in God's presence. In his presence is fullness of joy and peace! In his presence we are empowered to be and do all God dreams for us to be and do! The moments of sacrifice, the times of giving up what the flesh would prefer to do will pale in comparison to the glory of what our lives could be if we would learn to live in his presence and walk in his power! Let's go for it...!