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Servants of Christ Foundations Class #1 Over the years, we’ve been involved in teaching a “foundations” course for new Christians. Sometimes Christians who have spent a lot of time in church activities but not a lot of time “in the Spirit” (as was the apostle John one Sunday morning on the isle of Patmos) have also attended. The course tries to cover some of the “elementary teachings” that the writer of Hebrews lists at the beginning of chapter six: Repentance from dead works Faith toward God The doctrine of Baptisms The laying on of hands The resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment Tasting the heavenly gift Partaking of the Holy Spirit You might ask why we’ve spent time on these “elementary” teachings and other fundamental principles when there are so many important topics in our Christian walk to touch other than elementary doctrines. There are two reasons for our attention. The first is that they are foundational; they help hold up and help provide a necessary structure for other important Christian principles. Secondly, we have seen tremendous fruit in the lives of individuals and couples who later built on the foundation they received. I cannot overly emphasize how much pain has been avoided in my life and the lives of others by getting straight on some of these “elementary teachings.” I don’t mean in any way to take away from “the solid food” that the writer of Hebrews wants to get his listeners to enjoy, but “milk” is mighty good at the start. I’ve also noted that many people in our culture who believe in Jesus at some level have not had much foundational teaching. It was not always this way. In the early days of the church, foundational teachings were seriously delivered both before and after a man or woman became a Christian. These were not academic discussions, but addressed to the issues of life and death with great seriousness and force. We would like to do the same! The Problem of the Kingdoms Perhaps you’ve read Victor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning or seen clips of survivors of the Nazi death camps. I often think we are like those prisoners before they are killed or rescued. The picture in my mind is of a wooden barracks perhaps 20 feet wide and 100 feet long. It is amidst many barracks arranged in rows within high barbed wire fencing. I can see the gun towers through the screen on my barracks and hear the Germans as they joke and abuse my comrades. The smell within the crowded room is nauseating, and our “beds” are planks one on top of another. This reality, the real nature of what Jesus calls the Kingdom of darkness, is much more real than we realize. My perception is that very few people have any idea of the nature of the “kingdom” in which they live and their situation in it. Some of us are victims and prisoners. Some of us are guards for this dark kingdom. Since we share in the same bondage, we often mistake our strange camaraderie as something good. But the truth is there are two kingdoms, not one. There is the Kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan and the Kingdom of light ruled by the God. Two Kingdoms, Two Governments. (Matt. 12:18): It is so important to each one of us to be clear on this. There are two Kingdoms and we are either in one or the other. It was at the heart of what Jesus proclaimed while on the earth: “the good news (or “gospel”) of the Kingdom of God.” In other words, he came talking about the good news of a kingdom and government where God was not only in charge but operating that kingdom as a good father. This was great news since Jesus came to provide a way to get out of the other kingdom. Just as Jesus would shift between the image of God as King to the image of God as Father, he would also shift between the image of Satan as Prince of Darkness to Satan as an evil father. The apostle John records Jesus’ painful words to the Pharisees in the last half of the eighth chapter of his gospel: “You are of your father the devil, and you want the desires of your father.” Salvation: A Process It is helpful to see that God employs a process to get us out of the Kingdom of darkness. Think again of the barracks in enemy territory. Picture yourself in your bunk. Imagine that far off in England, the King and his prime minister knows of your capture and present location. Imagine that the King wants to get you into His kingdom and out of enemy territory. When does your salvation begin? The moment the King knows of your capture since immediately he plans your release! But are you free at that moment? No, but each step of the way your full salvation comes more eminent. Take the picture a bit further. Commandoes are called and orders are given. Supplies are mustered and helicopters dispatched. Not far from your camp the commandoes and their leader parachute to the ground. Are you saved now? No, but the fullness of your salvation becomes more eminent. The commandoes reach the wire, and cut right through. They rush to the door of the barracks, open it and whisper your name. Once again the fullness of your salvation becomes more eminent. The leader steps to the edge of your bunk. “I am here to take you out. Let’s go!” You are dumb founded, but until the door opened you had no idea that anyone was coming. The terror of the guards, the machine guns in the towers, the howling dogs and failed escape attempts are before you. The terror grips you inside. It’s bad in the barracks, but at least you are still alive. Do you get up and go or not? Of course, you do not escape if you are unwilling to go. But let’s assume you get out of the bunk and leave the barracks. Are you “saved” at this point? No, but the fullness of your salvation becomes much more eminent. You still must cross the yard, go through the wire and find the helicopters. Are you then saved? No, the copters must fly out of enemy territory. Is the enemy shooting at you? Yes! Is it easy? No! But the fullness of you salvation grows more eminent. The copters land in England, and you are whisked to the palace. Entering the throne room, you see the great King seated before you. He motions for you to come forward and as you step toward him, he rises and descends toward you, arms outstretched. You are flabbergasted to learn that he considers you family. He has adopted you. A Huge Difference between the Kingdoms In this flight of the imagination, I see several important things. First, there is a huge difference between the kingdoms. Germany functioned, produced goods, waged war, but it was an evil kingdom whose real intent was the destruction of all that was good and honorable in exchange for that which was called good and honorable but was in fact horrible. We must see this, because it will motivate us to get out. Unfortunately, most of us have allowed ourselves to be enslaved. Jesus sees us as “slaves to sin.” The apostle John records Jesus’ words in the eighth chapter of his gospel: “Everyone who commits sin is the slave to sin.” The good news is that Jesus comes to free us from slavery and gets us not only out of the barracks but out of the Kingdom of darkness as well. A sentence later, Jesus says “If therefore the Son shall free you, you shall be free indeed.” From time to time I spend time in reflective prayer. I ask Father to give me a word or scripture on which to focus. Not long ago I felt Him impressing on my consciousness Jesus’ words “I have come to set you free!” Off and on for thirty minutes I let this reality soak into my being. You too may wish to listen to Father speak into your heart. “You shall be free indeed!” God At Work Long Before We Realize It A second recognition from the little story about the barracks is that God works to free us long before we realize it. Also, we see that many are involved in the work, yet those in the barracks are totally unaware of the activity. This is the way it is with us. God pursues us through many avenues and through many people from the time of our birth. My good friend Terry Smith is skilled at helping others create “genograms” of their lives. Genograms look like genealogy trees – only relationships and major events are also traced. If there was tension in a relationship between siblings or between grandfather and father, it is shown by a jagged line. A good relationship is graphed with two double lines. Alcoholism, suicide, murder, abuse – all types of life dominating events are included. One of the main things Terry looks for is how God has pursued the person’s life being graphed. He will put a small cross wherever he finds God’s footprint. Rarely do people realize how much God has tried to intervene until they actually get out of darkness and begin to process their past. A third reality revealed in the story is the critical moment when the commando reaches your bunk. Regardless of God’s best laid plans, if you won’t get out of the bunk you won’t get out of the barracks, much less the Kingdom of darkness. You have to be willing to leave everything behind. Nothing will help you on the journey; anything you bring will only weigh you down. Many people whom I love dearly have never been willing to get out of the bunk. Truthfully, there are some aspects of prison that have some value. You certainly are not alone, and you share in common with those around you a sense of comradeship. Many people choose to stay. I suspect they don’t fully realize that the gas chamber awaits them. It is essential that you get up and go! In religious language, this key moment coincides with coming to faith, repentance (turning away from the Kingdom of darkness), and baptism. You won’t leave if you don’t believe there is a much better Kingdom elsewhere. You also have to believe that those who have come to you can get you there. In one sense, Jesus is the one who gets you out and takes you to the palace. If you don’t believe it, you won’t go. You also have to leave everything behind. This is part of repenting: turning away from everything in your former life and going another way. Finally comes baptism. Baptism is getting out of the bunk and leaving the barracks. It’s not just what you are thinking; it’s what you are doing. Everyone can see your movement: leaving behind one life to take up another. A fifth reflection concerns the trip home. Don’t be surprised if you take enemy fire. Be surprised if you don’t! Satan doesn’t want anyone to leave his control. He will try to shoot you down. He may even send his own commandoes to recapture you. Getting to where God really wants you to go is not a piece of cake. Expect trouble and be prepared. The people that have come for you should have God’s weapons, and you are given your own as soon as you get to the copter. My last reflection is that getting into the Kingdom of light does not fully resolve all of your issues with the Kingdom of darkness. Remember when the Israelites left Egypt after 400 years of slavery. It only took a day for them to get out of Egypt, but it took forty years in the wilderness to get Egypt out of them! Your habits, your thought patterns, your entertainments, your friends, – all these need to change substantially if you are going to fully embrace the new culture of God’s kingdom. 1. The nature of the Kings 2. The nature of man  3. God’s heart, His tendency to unilaterally bind Himself to His creation and especially to people. 4. What does it mean to be covenantial? War versus Peace. One will. A salt block. (Gen 15:1-21, 17:1-2; use your Strong’s – see #1285 and #1254; also Deut. 7:9, Gen. 24:27, 1Kings 8:23, Micah 6:8; Eph. 2:14-15). 5. The cost of covenant. Abram/Abraham; Sarai/Sarah; Jacob/Israel (Gen. 17:1-21, Gen. 35:9-15) Jesus describes three areas in Luke 14:25-35) 6. The strength of covenant. Fruitfulness. (John 6:38) 7. The book of the Covenants with God. (2Chron. 34:29-31) These can be seen as one expanding binding of God’s will and provision. a. Noah b. Abraham c. Moses and Israel d. David e. Jeremiah 31:31-34 8. The process of changing Kingdoms is entering into covenant with God. All of the elements: a. Sign (Gen 8:20-22, Gen. 17:11) b. Name Change (Gen. 17:4-5, Gen 17:15) c. Meal (Gen 15:1-21; Ex 24:8-18; Luke 22:20) d. Rewards (Ex. 19:5ff) e. Obligations f. Shedding of precious blood (Gen 15, Ex. 24:5-8, Lev. 17:11) 9. The great problem from God’s side: His holiness and His justice. 10. Symbols of covenant. 11. Entering into covenant.  |
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