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Fundamental Concepts of
Preparing the Way
Lesson
1
Jesus Christ is the Pattern
Humans were created in the "image and likeness" of God, possessing all of God's traits.
Those traits are defined as the Fruit of the Spirit. "But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." GA 5:22
Jesus Christ is the Pattern for all humankind. If we are created in the image of God, then Jesus is how we would act under each circumstance. We don't have to force Him down anyone's throat. We just have to prove to the world that His traits work. He'll do the rest.
The family we have and the friends we have are lent to us so that we might act like Christ. He'll do the rest.
The more we are conscious of God, the more God is capable of shining through us. Let's work on remembering.
Lesson 2
Love and Joy
We as Christians should be the most loving and accepting of all. If we're right, our love and joy will sell others. If we're not, then may God change us to be right.
Joy is the outcome of the love we have for one another.
We don't have to beat people over the head with our message. If what we have is good, people will beat a path to our door to experience it.
It doesn't matter to us what your religion is. If you're in a church, stay there and give. If you're not, we won't stress you out. If you want help in finding one, we'll help.
God is as interested in getting in touch with us as we are in getting in touch with God.
Lesson
3
Talking & Listening to God
The spark of God in us is called the soul. The soul monitors constantly what we think, feel and say. It measures whether those things are in keeping with who the soul is. If they are, we experience peace. If not, we don't.
Prayer is talking to God
Meditation is listening to God.
Lesson
4
Doctrine of Individual Conscience
The Doctrine of Individual Conscience is one of the most important principles ever taught. "If any person lacks wisdom, let that person seek it from God, who gives it freely, never criticizing." If anyone tells you anything that you question or doubt, talk to God (pray), listen (meditate) and look for peace (the measure of harmony with God).
Whatever anyone shares with you, take a moment to share it with God. God will confirm it or deny it. In any case, you win. Keep what God confirms; discard the rest.
If we wish to know if anyone is representing God at any moment, look for God's traits - the Fruit of the Spirit - to show up. If they're not present in the moment, that person is not representing God in the moment. Then, don't follow them. Don't justify them. Don't find fault, but don't sell out your divine heritage. Choose thou.
Lesson
5
Love One Another
God is love. It's our job to love one another. The rest is up to God.
God did not say, "Like one another", He said, "Love one another".
The ends do not justify the means. The means justify the ends.
Lesson
6
Jesus said, " Be ye therefore perfect as your Heavenly Father is
perfect."
Jesus said in Mt. 5:48:
"Be ye therefore perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect".
According to historical Christian philosophical perspective, perfection is a
condition "in which nothing is wanting of its nature, purpose, or end. It
may be perfect in nature, yet imperfect inasmuch as it has not yet attained its
end."
If we use simple substitution, was Jesus saying, "be in a condition where
nothing is wanting in your nature?" If so, then perfection is well
within our grasp, if we rely on Jesus.
Even the dictionary defines perfect as, "lacking nothing essential to the
whole." Is it possible that God made us, lacking in nothing, and we
simply need to recognize that in Christ, we can strive for that condition of
excellence?
Lesson
7
Perfection is Love
Perfection may be measure
by how closely we align ourselves to the Great Commandment to love God and to
love others as ourselves.
Since God is love, the more we show love, the more we show God. Since God
is by definition perfect and God is love, then love by definition is manifesting
more God, more perfection.
Lesson
8
Consider what Paul wrote
in 1 Cor 13 on the subject of love:
Love is patient (God is patient)
Love is kind (God is kind)
Love is not jealous (God is not jealous)
Love is not pompous (God is not pompous)
Love is not inflated [or puffed up] (God is not inflated)
Love is not rude (God is not rude)
Love does not seek its own interests [does not boast of itself] (God does not
boast of Himself)
Love is not quick tempered (God is not quick tempered)
Love does not brood over injury (God does not brood over injury)
Love does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth (God does not
rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth)
Love bears all things (God bears all things)
Love believes all things (God believes all things)
Love hopes all things (God hopes all things)
Love endures all things (God endures all things)
When we consciously choose to show love in any of the
above ways, we show forth God, we show forth perfection.
Lesson
9
The easiest way for
us to understand the nature of our Father in heaven is to use firstly what Jesus
had to say about God and us. Since Jesus is God made flesh, He is the
pattern for all of us. In order to best understand what and who God is,
let’s look first at the template left for us by Him and then add to that the
other positive things said about God in Scripture, by those who have had direct
contact with Him. Many people try to “harmonize” God based on their
limited concept of Him. However, we have the most direct evidence of what
God is like directly from Him through Jesus Christ.
Let us take Jesus at
His word and “become as little children”, seeking to understand our Father
through the words of His most healthy and well-adjusted child – Jesus!
In attempting to also become healthy and well-adjusted children, we can emulate Jesus and practice his viewpoint.
God is Spirit and expects to be worshiped in spirit and in truth. (Jn 4:24).
He is the God of the living (Mt. 22:32). He is interested in what happens to us here and now, while we are on earth. He is not the God of the dead, only concerned with those people and issues that have passed beyond earthly concerns.
God’s kingdom is at hand (Mk 1:15). We are poised for the Father’s kingship – our willingness to give partnership and authority to him. As healthy children, He promises that there is nothing we can’t ask him directly. Then, since His kingship is at hand (through active association with Jesus), we can take full advantage of the promise and enter into a healthy parent-child relationship with the Father.
The Lord our God is
One (Mk 12:29). We don’t worship a pluralistic God but rather a single
being that is fully aware of us. Through Jesus, we have a clear picture of
God’s personality and how He would act in flesh. If we match that
pattern, we match His expression and reap the benefits of His traits – the
Fruits of the Spirit. None of us would consciously turn away peace, love
and joy in exchange for suffering and deprivation.
Jesus gave the Disciples (the 72) that power to heal the sick, the bring peace to others, and say to them, “the kingdom of God is at hand” (Lk 10:9). If these are the signs of God’s kingdom, we should consider whether we still have the power to bring peace to others in His name and be active about it, even today ushering in the kingdom.
God is trustworthy (Jn
3:33).
Jesus is the bread of
God (Jn 6:33). He is what the Father uses to nourish us while we are
spending time in planet Earth.
God is glorified in
Jesus (Jn 13:31). By living our lives as He did, by acting towards others
as He did, we further glorify God. We glorify God when we cause
others to worship, adore and praise Him. That act allows others to
increase their awareness of Him, allowing Him to have greater effect in the
earth.
When other people see our good works, it glorifies the Father. (Mt. 5:16)
By loving our enemies
and praying for those who persecute us, we glorify God (Mt. 5:45). Often
we think this means that we should become doormats with others but this is
clearly not what Jesus was teaching. Jesus was encouraging us to take an
active stance towards those who have separated themselves from the love of God.
By praying for them and “wanting the best for them” (love) we free them from
further entrapment by actively giving them the fruits of the spirit through
God’s primary trait – love. God treats all of us children equally,
making the “sun to rise and set on the just and unjust alike”. Then,
we leave all judgment to Him.
We are commanded to be perfect as our Father is perfect in heaven. (Mt. 5:48) As stated in prior postings, perfection is measured only by the fruits of the spirit, not simply by external flawlessness. God is spirit and we must measure by spirit in order to fully understand Him.
God sees in secret
and rewards openly. (Mt. 6:4)
Like an exceptionally
good parent, God knows what we have need of before we ask (Mt. 6:8). Being
aware of this fact reduces earthly stress that says we must have a perfect
formula for asking. As children, even our halting and imperfect requests
are known and answered. The encouragement from Jesus is to feel
comfortable in asking, even with our imperfect and less than talented or mature
approach to talking with Dad.
How we forgive
others, God will forgive us. (Mt. 6:14).
If God can care for the many inanimate things in the earth, how much more so would he care for us – his children? (Mt. 6:26).
Lesson
10
More Instructions about Our Father from Jesus.
Quit worrying so much. Worry has never positively added to our physical condition. God cares for flowers and trees. Surely he would care for us, His greatest creation. If He takes the time to care for “things” doesn’t it make sense that he would take even more time to care for his own children? We have to work at being aware of this grace and start to rely on it. (Mt 6: 27-28) Don’t worry about what we might eat, drink or wear. Be concerned with doing God’s will and learning to follow his lead. God already knows what we have need of. (Mt 6:31)
One of the greatest admonitions is to “Seek first the kingdom of God”. This helps us with our earthly priorities. Too often we seek a place or position over which we have absolute authority, rather than seeking a relationship with the ultimate authority. If we put God first and seek to hear his voice and do his will - to learn to do things his way - everything else will work out. A good habit for us to form is to say with all decisions, “Not my will but thine be done.” In this way, we are entering into an active relationship with the Father, seeking his authority over us in the smallest details. Of course, part of our tradition is the temptation to not make a decision. This is not the pattern found in Jesus. Instead, let’s be “heirs and joint heirs”, following his example and staying ever ready to accept God ’s authority over the simplest things. (Mt 6: 33)
In relating to God’s grace, Jesus tells us to not worry about tomorrow. This is not to say “don’t plan.” Instead, it’s an encouragement to not worry. Often, as Christians, we confuse this. In order to rely on God’s grace, the goodness and grace, the evil and tests we encounter daily are enough for any of us - as children - to deal with. Making a habit of saying “not my will,” removes the pressure that we have to do it all. Instead, we have to do our part (about 1%) and God does the rest. Scripture says “God gives the increase” which means we plant the seeds, he does the growing. (Mt 6:34)
Lesson
11
A Note on Judgment.
Jesus said, "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged." In this section, quoted in the old King James version as "judge not, lest you be judged", the concept of cause and effect is illustrated. This is representative of a higher form or observation of this law, since it allows for the possibility of us accepting being judged. Ask yourself, "what if I don't mind being judged?" Then, doesn't it give rise to a consciousness that says of the self righteous, "I don't mind being judged by the same standard! In fact, go ahead and judge me, since I'm glad that I am not like other men!" Of course, choosing a stance such as this is the epitome of stupidity since no one is completely above reproach. If we make honest mistakes, don't we wish to have that taken into consideration? Mistakes are different than intentional transgressions. Don't we treat our own children with kindness if they make a simple mistake? Isn't that the same standard by which we wish to be measured?
Jesus encourages us to look at our own shortcomings before we even consider those in another. If we were to apply the concepts found in the Greek, we would not "separate out" or "condemn" anyone for their breaking the law but rather work diligently with our brothers and sisters to help them stick to the narrow way. If we were honest with ourselves and worked to only remove our own shortcomings, it would be hard to notice the little transgressions in others. This doesn't indicate that we can't label those things that fall short of the Mark of the Higher Calling. But, don't condemn another. Don't even condemn ourselves. Don't label them or us less than a child of God because they have fallen short. Instead, label them and ourselves correctly for our own transgressions: a child of God who has fallen short. If it constitutes a mistake, then like Jesus we can say, "neither do I condemn thee." If it is a conscious transgression, then we can do whatever is corrective to that individual so that they might get the point and rise again to the higher standard. (Matt. 7:1-5)
Lesson
12
Important Concepts Restated
Let's take the time to
restate a couple of very important concepts, through which we can better
understand all Scripture:
1) We are made in the image and likeness of God (Ge 1:26), intended to have
dominion over all the earth.
2) Jesus was one with God (Jn 10:30) "He that has seen me has seen
the Father" (Jn 14:9) In short, he is the physical manifestation of
God.
3) Jesus prayed that we may be "one" as he and the Father were one. (Jn
17:11; 17:22). Our destiny and His desire is that we fulfill this one
essential desire of his.
4) All of Scripture may be viewed through this set of filters: we were
created to be his children, we have his traits within us and should use them to
measure ourselves by and Jesus' desire is that we can move back to this
relationship.
It is up to us to seek the deeper relationship. We should not in fact force others to hear our understanding of the truth but rather that we live in such a way that they see and internally respond (react positively) to what we do. If the traits of God are evident through us, others will hasten to return to that relationship. This then is the meaning of "Do not give what is holy to dogs, or cast pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot and turn and tear you to pieces." (Mt 7:6) Those who are seeking a deeper relationship with God will automatically see the fruits coming out of us and respond positively. Those who aren't will see our attempts as worthless, disregard the love we're trying to give and even turn against us, accusing us of all sorts of vile things. It is best to serve to live as a sign to those who seek and to leave those who don't in their own limited points of view.
Who knows? Each of us may be especially suited to be priests to a special people that - just because of our existence, because of our expression - and may reach them by ripple effect. Think of how powerful the love of Christ could be if we focused our attention on being the love of God right where we find ourselves. Then, we touch each person in our homes, in our communities with the power of that love, giving them living proof that the Lord to whom we bind ourselves is real and alive in and through us. The more love we give, the more souls we save.
Lesson
13
Teaching the Children of God How to Approach Dad
In many places in Scripture, Jesus attempts to help us understand how our relationship to a loving Father should be. Here is another of those concepts and what a guarantee it is. "Ask and it will be given to you." The underlying context is that once we ask, the Father - of his own accord - will give us what we seek. It's a pretty heady guarantee. Also, the phrase is so simple in its declarative beauty. There is no buildup or leading up to it but rather is delivered within the context of the entire Sermon on the Mount; a treatise on how we should act toward each other and how we might relate to God.
Consider if we were speaking to children and wanted to convey to them the greatest sense of confidence. From that perspective, the best thing that our Older Brother could say to us would be, "Listen. I've been there and I know how Dad thinks. I know how he reacts to us as his children and I want to convey to you my brothers and sisters, this most powerful admonition. Ask Dad and he will deliver. Seek - go looking for the answers - and Dad will help you find whatever you're looking for. If there is a door closed to you, knock on it and Dad will open it up for you." Considering out desire to raise healthy children, isn't it great to know that the Father's desire is quite the same or greater than our own?
Next, Jesus uses our own sense of natural kindness toward our offspring to bring home his point. Which one of us would respond to pleas and cries of hunger with not just a response but a cruel one? We cry out to Dad that we're hungry. Instead of slice of bread would we expect a stone? Sure, we've received something in response to our plea but nothing usable. Considering our human failings and shortcomings, if we would never do such a thing to our own children, how can we expect a Being whose nature is love to do any less than we would. (Mt 7: 7-11)
Lesson
14
The Golden Rule
The most powerful tool for
having our lives work in the way God intended is found in the Golden Rule.
In common parlance, the rule teaches us to treat others in the way we want to be
treated. It is found stated in various ways throughout most of the
religions of the world. So, one might think that God really wanted us to
get the point. In Hinduism, it says, "do naught [nothing] to others
which if done to thee would cause thee pain." The Mahabharata
(believed to be written between 300 bc and 300 ad).
The Talmud says, "what is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man.
That is the entire law. The rest is commentary". In
Zoroastrianism, it is
stated that "whatever is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto
others."
Shayast-na-shayast. The Buddhist faith, fully established by Buddha's
death in 486 bc says, "hurt not others with that which pains
yourself". These are just some of the variants and religions in which
is found this most striking concept - put yourself in the other persons shoes.
Finally, the real power in Jesus
presentation of the idea - "whatsoever you would that men would do to you, do ye even so to them...," [Mt 7:12, KJV]
is the statement which follows: "This is the law and the prophets
[emphasis added]. In the King James Version, it is written for this is the
law." It sets up that the idea that we should do it, because it is
the law; not a law but the law. We believe that Jesus was attempting to
teach the simplicity of how we can smoothly traverse life in this planet and yet
it seems to be the most difficult task for each of us. We can think of all
kinds of excuses to not treat each other this way. If we consider that a
prophet is one who "speaks on behalf of another," Jesus goes so far as
to indicate that this may have been the entire reason for chosen individuals to
speak on behalf of God - if we would only get the point to treat each other as
we want to be treated, how many of the world's ills would disappear. War
would be no more, since very few people desire to be hurt or destroyed.
Let's add to this idea that the primary reason for treating others as we wish to
be treated is based upon Jesus' desire that we "may be one" as he and
the Father are one, since we're basically children of the same family. [Mt
7:12]