Every Spiritual Blessing

From his imprisonment, with a guard chained to him at all times, Paul is inspired to write: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).  Some time later Paul was dragged off and beheaded.

The flippant and self-centered way this scripture verse is interpreted, taught, and used today by so many is not only shameful but severely stifles spiritual maturity.  So let's set things straight.  Here are the cliff notes version:

Study

1.    Eulogetos:  1st use of blessing/ an adjective/ it is only used of God/ God alone is worthy of all this kind of blessing or praise from all people/ Blessed be the God
2.    Eulogeo:  2nd use of blessing/ an action/ it means that a good word has been spoken that confers that which is beneficial/ Christ did this and we are the recipients/ the One who has blessed us
3.    Eulogia:  3rd use of blessing/ a noun/ a bountiful gift or blessing that is the benefits of the blessings in Christ/ BUT this blessing comes with lots of clarity:  every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ
1. Every:  all our spiritual needs are provided in Christ
2. Spiritual:  Pneumatikos - the invisible sphere where the Holy Spirit brings faith and revelation (understanding) of Christ
3. In the Heavenly Realms:  Epouranios - epi "fitting" and ouranos "heaven" - we receive what is "fitting" from the standpoint of the heavenly realms
4. In Christ:  it came from Christ and is contained in Christ

Why Does This Matter?

1. Christ is to be received and honored, not so we can get all our little whims and wishes and limited perspectives satisfied, but so that we may be filled with all spiritual blessings from heaven.

2. Spiritual blessings are not necessarily connected to healings, miracles, or financial prosperity.  If they are, God will need to apologize to Paul.

3. If we focus on cultivating the spiritual blessings available to us in Christ (forgiveness, redemption, holiness, hope, peace, love, godly wisdom, joy, and so much more) then God will take care of the rest.

Have you fallen into the habit of only associating the blessings of Christ with those things that you want?  Those things that only align with your limited perspective?  

We receive what is "fitting" from the standpoint of the heavenly realms.  And the last time I checked, heaven does not consult with me on these matters!  This is why mature faith is so important.  It moves us into a place of contentment and peace and alignment with the heavenly realms regardless of our limitation in understanding His ways.  As for me, I hope to be found striving for that however challenging it might be.  For only in Christ is every spiritual blessing contained.

And then Paul was dragged off and beheaded.

Ex nihilo,

R.J. Rhoden

When He Saw The Crowds

It's interesting that what seems to have prompted Jesus to begin teaching the Sermon on the Mount was when he saw the crowds (Matthew 5:1).  Why would growing popularity and the presence of a swarming crowd inspire Jesus to teach some of his hardest sayings?  If miracles and healings were drawing a crowd, why jeopardize this momentum with a series of teachings that would most certainly drive many away?

The abrupt transition from Healer to Teacher that occurs in Matthew 4:25 - 5:1 should jump off the pages for us with repeating shouts from Jesus: Take note of what I am modeling for you.  Be aware of crowd-infatuation and it's potential to lure you away from the core principles of the Kingdom of God.  I submit that this abrupt transition by Jesus, in all its meaning, is actually the first teaching of the Sermon on the Mount not "blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

While the specific thoughts and intent of Jesus are not revealed, I would like to suggest that Jesus' prompting to begin teaching was due to this truth:  Miracles and healings create a crowd, but they do not create disciples. And Jesus' mission was, and continues to be through the Church, to reconcile humanity to God by cultivating disciples.  Crowds, miracles, and healings are great and should be anticipated along the way, but discipleship is the mission.  And the two do not always go together.

Now, in anticipation of the "but what about __________?" questions that can often be asked, as they should be, in response to this kind of observation - namely the complexity of crowd-drawing v. discipleship tensions that exist in ministry - here are some clarifying statements:

• Crowds are not bad.  3,000 people believed in Jesus on the day of Pentecost.  Quite a big crowd.  But how crowds influence you determines whether they are bad or good.

• Discipleship efforts should never be used as an excuse for lack of water baptisms.  Salvation is the first step of discipleship.  Ministries without new declarations of faith in Jesus will die. 

• The quality of discipleship happening in a ministry should be multi-layered throughout the community - not solely dependent on one sermon a week.

• "Holy Remnant Mindset" (which I define as "we are small because we preach the hard, true gospel here and only a few holy people are willing to receive it") is antithetical to the Gospel.  The Good News attracts - not all the time but much of the time.  If your leadership is chronically driving people away, there are flaws in your leadership.

• Challenging, Kingdom principles can be taught to those on the margin of faith with a tone of love, hope, patience, and goodness that draws them in to a deeper walk with Jesus.  We don't need to assume that they are only looking for entertainment. 

• Leading a large ministry requires significant leadership capacity and skill.  We should never assume that a large ministry means a shallow ministry.  There are large and small ministries that are unhealthy, and there are large and small ministries that are healthy.

• Creativity is not necessarily an indication of an entertainment-only ministry.  The first characteristic of God we discover in Scripture is that He creates with endless beauty and awe-inspiring works for our senses.  Let's use all the tools available to us to spread the Gospel.

• Laughter is good.  Discipleship does not equal seriousness only! Scripture says, "The joy of the Lord is our strength."  A ministry that does not laugh together is a ministry that is limiting the work and strength of the Lord in their midst. 

Ex nihilo,

R.J. Rhoden

It's Not About Us

Why couldn't we drive it out?  
Mark 9:28

After having front row seats to Jesus' life-changing work in a young boy and his father, the disciples could only think of themselves.  I never cease to be amazed at our capacity to make everything about us.  We're so good at turning God moments into "us" moments.  I often wonder if the core of our sinful nature is simply good ole fashion selfishness?  We say that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, but we actually live loving ourselves with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

So how did Jesus respond?  First, Jesus did not rebuke the disciples.  Are you not so grateful for the grace of Jesus as He grows us?  He mostly teaches.  Rebukes are reserved for only the occasional necessity.  Jesus matures us through new revelations of Spirit and Truth rather than through fear or condemnation.

Secondly, Jesus elevated the importance of prayer over ability.  Prayer connects us to the One who prepares and empowers us to flow in Kingdom authority and discernment.  Ability implies human effort and skill.  In short, Jesus was saying to His disciples and to us:  "You" will never drive it out.  It's not about you; it's about the power of God flowing through you.  

There is a subtle yet significant difference between those statements.  The former turns the attention to us.  The latter turns the attention to the Great I Am - in whom all power, authority, life, and love exist eternally.  You and I exhibit these qualities not from anything we have done but entirely from what He has done for us.

And thirdly, Jesus' response implied that the kind of prayer He is referring to is a lifestyle of "pre-prayered-ness." I'm not sure if anyone else has already laid claim to that phrase?  If not, I claim it now!!  Interestingly, Jesus never prayed right before He healed the boy.  So He is not referring to a special crafted prayer in the moment.  Rather, He is implying and teaching:  Pray without ceasing.  Be prayed up daily so you are ready when called upon.  These kind come out only when your life is in continual alignment with the Father.

There is a special kind of power that flows through us when we are called upon to minister or pray or encourage or help or heal, and the will of the Father has already been stirring in us from prior times of prayer.  That, my friends, is pre-prayered-ness.  It is what Jesus modeled for us and is that which we are to strive for daily.

I conclude with a question directed to myself first and you second:  How many remain lost, broken and/or wounded as Believers remain selfish and powerless from refusing to cultivate a life of prayer without ceasing?

Ex nihilo,

R.J. Rhoden

Sowing in Tears

Psalm 126

It's early - still dark outside.  The faithful one is up and sitting quietly with the Lord.  She is tired but full of hope.  Her questions are many.  Will the cries of my heart receive swift action from on high today?  Will the bills get paid?  Will my wayward child finally return to his rightful place at the Lord's table?  Will my neighbor be healed?  Will God use my next prayer-sermon-song-conversation-idea as a catalyst for spiritual awakening among the people I serve?  

And the tears flow sliding down her cheeks.  She wipes them, for they are not tears of fear or anger or doubt or lack of determination.  They are the tears of hope experienced by one who fully believes in the power and promises of God.  She questions not His faithfulness but her own patience in seeing the fulfillment of all He has planned.  She renews her mind as she sows in tears.  She renews her devotion as she sows in tears.  She renews her plans as she sows in tears.  She laughs.  When will I reap with songs of joy?

Her quiet preparation for the day is your preparation for the day.  Her name is your name.  Her tears are your tears.  You will reap with songs of joy with her because you too are a child of God - the One who turns small seeds for sowing into bundles of joyful songs.  You see, God moves from small to big; from hidden to revealed; from unnoticed to displayed; and from confusion to clarity.  But through it all He lovingly and faithfully shows that He is for you not against you.  He is the giver of life and strength.  He is Truth.  He takes her hand and leads her out for another day with Him.  

She is you.

Ex nihilo,

R.J. Rhoden

 

Word From The Lord: Sunday March 20, 2022

I humbly submit this word from the Lord that was given to me on Sunday morning March 20, 2022 at Risen Nation church in Keller, Texas

The Lord would say to us:

I love people not platforms.  Jesus died for people not platforms; He rose again for people not platforms; He ascended to the right hand of the Father for people not platforms; and He is coming again for people not platforms.  Only people will live for eternity.

People are the objects of my love.  Platforms are merely the medium used to communicate my love for people.

So why do you covet someone else's platform?  Why do you compare platforms?  Why do you seek platforms rather than people?  Who has told you that your platform is insufficient?  Do you not realize that I use all kinds of platforms?

I use unnoticed platforms:  The birth of the Savior of the world.

I use relational platforms:  The Calling of the Disciples

I use one on one platforms:  Nicodemus

I use public platforms:  Jesus' teachings and healings

I use religious platforms:  Jesus' reading of Isaiah in the synagogue

I use dinner table platforms:  The last supper

I use large platforms:  The day of Pentecost

I use writing platforms:  The inspired Word of God

I use prison platforms:  Paul

I use exiled platforms:  Revelation 

And many more.  

Different platforms but the same power of God is active in all of them.

In these Last days I will pour out my blessing and anointing on those who focus on people not platforms.  I free you from the burden and chase of platforms and release you to an abundant life of singing, laughing, dancing, witnessing, ministering, and praying upon the platform I have placed you.

Test me and see if I will not be faithful to this promise.

Ex nihilo,

R.J. Rhoden

 

7 Ways Education Has Ruined Me

I sometimes hear people say things like:  "Don't let education ruin your passion for God." Or "I read the Bible not textbooks that can ruin me." Or "I had a [nephew] on fire for God until he went to seminary.  He was ruined there."

So I am officially going on record acknowledging that, yes, education has ruined me too.  Here are the 7 ways:

     1.  It taught me how to rightly divide God's Word and develop biblical interpretational skills ensuring accurate content whenever I teach or preach.  It ruined me from being able to teach and preach whatever idea pops into my mind.

     2.  It taught me to think theologically.  It ruined me from being able to chase after whatever theological fad is in vogue.

     3.  It taught me to be a good listener to a variety of voices learning how to extract the "take-aways" and ignore the nuggets that are questionable.  It ruined from being able to listen to whatever podcast my itching ears want to hear and accept the entire teaching as gospel truth.

     4.  It taught me to know the difference between the essentials and the non-essentials affording me the opportunity to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ from many different traditions.  It ruined me from being isolated within my fellowship having no outside collegiality or interaction.

     5.  It taught me to be deeply honored and grateful for being Pentecostal enjoying the global impact and size of our movement.  It ruined me from small thinking and false inferiority associated with being a part of an on-the-other-side-of-the-tracks church.

     6.  It taught me to write and develop my thoughts through words expanding my ministry to both the spoken and written word.  It ruined me from always using the excuse that I'm not a good writer.

     7.  It taught me to be a lifelong learner.  It ruined me from living a life of mediocre thinking rarely expanding my brain.

Ex nihilo,

R.J. Rhoden, President

Ascent.edu

The Day The Song Won't End

I have the annoying love of playing a song I like over and over and over.  I can remember rewinding the tape back in the 80's to listen to the song just one more time.  One road trip of doing this, I almost brought my sisters to the brink of mutiny over the control of the tape deck (haven't used that term in a while).  To this day they will claim it was the closest they have ever come to being brainwashed.

But I have pressed on over the decades fully embracing my annoying love.  I stopped years ago trying to analyze why I don't get bored with the song or even end up hating it.  I just simply don't, of course, much to the dismay of those closest to me that have a more normal song-listening practice.

However, I can offer one simple explanation for my madness:  I get happy when the song begins, and I get sad when the song ends.  Pretty deep, huh?  I'm sure smarter people could give a more academic or even neurological reason for my love of repetition, but I'm content with my simple explanation.

And leaning into it a little more, I believe that my chronic wonder with how my soul is being fully prepared for Eternity might offer some insight as well.  Perhaps my annoying love is actually a small taste of that which is to come:  The day the song won't end. The day that the words penned by John as he was caught up in the Spirit will no longer be words for me to read but a reality for me to experience.  The day where I will be with the angels and every tribe, tongue and nation singing together:  Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise (Revelation 5).  In that Day, my annoying love will no longer be annoying.  It will be the norm.

So in the meantime, give some grace to those who love playing the same song over and over again, and maybe give it a try yourself.  Who knows?  Maybe your soul, if you listen close enough, will whisper of the coming Day of Glory, the Day of Heavenly bliss, the Day the Song Won't End.

Ex nihilo,

R.J. Rhoden