Thursday, May 26, 2011

Living Beyond by Ron McGatlin

LIVING BEYOND




By Ron McGatlin



Many people of God believe that the nations of the world are headed into a time of strong corrective judgment. There are a number of views about what this means and how to prepare or respond in light of the impending season of potentially severe difficulty. Is it possible to live in peace and have a prosperous soul in such times as appear to be coming upon the world? The next question that arises is what, if anything is beyond this potentially difficult and destructive season?



God is opening a door before His people, a door to a life far beyond the life we have been living.



Far beyond the cares of this life, a door has opened for those who will to enter.



Beyond the noise of strife and struggle lies an ocean of peace and quiet – unlimited power awaits those who will enter. The potential of the ages has come to rest upon those who will receive it. The life for which many have striven passes away beyond the door.



The glory of our accomplishments and achievements fades – our previous life melts like heated wax. Substance of natural human mind-power and human strength of soul is like a wax statue in the heat of this day of the Lord.



Peace is a place beyond understanding - above knowledge and activity. It is a place of ultimate strength and assurance – a place where faith is easy and labor is not hard – it is truly a place where our yokes are easy and our burdens light.



Entering this open door is an individual personal thing. No natural person can carry you through. Only Christ Jesus can walk with you through the door to peace. The door’s name is oneness with God. Becoming one with God through Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit is the door to REST. No longer alone and no longer striving to do or become. It is a place of having arrived at living beyond all need. Nothing is lacking that is needed to be at a place of rest in peace. Truly all is well with our soul and our anchor holds in the solid rock when the sea billows roll. Natural circumstances have nothing at all to do with this rest in God.



Oneness with God precedes unity with others.



How shall two walk together except they be agreed, and what fellowship has light with darkness?



Becoming one Spirit with Christ Jesus leads to having the mind of Christ. His will becomes our will. His character and nature become ours. We become as Christ is in this world. True unity first develops between us and God. We then have the potential to be in perfect unity with every other person who is also walking in oneness with God. After becoming one with Christ we need only to connect and gather with others who are one with God to experience walking in true unity with one another.



"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” ~ Jesus



Entering the open door into peace is the beginning of entering into fruitful productive living. Walking in oneness with Christ brings limitless love, power, and wisdom to begin to effect spiritual change in the natural world. Coming together in unity (oneness) with others multiplies the potential to bring change to the world.



"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." ~ Jesus



Where there are two or more in true unity, there is increased power to bring forth the kingdom of God. Being gathered together in His name speaks of a gathering of individuals who are one with Christ and with each other. There is a powerful supernatural corporate presence of Christ in the midst of believers, who are one with Christ and gathered together in agreement. Multitudes truly walking in oneness with Christ could have tremendous impact upon the world.



A group in oneness with Christ has awesome potential in prayer. Agreement in prayer is vital to the kingdom coming forth in a community and in the world. A powerful manifest presence of God can show up among a gathering where all those present are in agreement in Christ. However, when there are people present as part of a gathering who are not becoming one with Christ, the power and manifest presence in the group will be lacking.



If we are one with Christ, we will experience a lack of intimate relationship at the same spiritual depth of oneness with those who are not. Those who are not becoming one with God will not be in full unity with those who are. There can and should be relationship. But there will not be same depth of full unity. In oneness with Christ there is always the love of God flowing to everyone. However, there will not be the same level of receiving from everyone.



God will not become one with that which is not holy.



God’s mercy and the blood of Christ shed on the cross are for redemption of sinners. The grace of God is the cleansing work of Christ in the Holy Spirit indwelling and empowering the redeemed to become pure and holy people of God. True holiness in this life is a possibility and God’s desire for every person who comes to Christ. However, to enter into full REST in this life, we must mature through the process of cleansing from mixture by fully cooperating with and appropriating the finished work of Christ in us by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God will not fill completely and fully abide in vessels of unholy mixture. The Spirit and the blood are present to save, heal, and deliver us in preparation for our being completely saturated and filled with the Spirit of God. Saved and cleansed we become clean vessels set apart to become one Spirit with Christ. Father in Christ, Christ in us, and us in Christ, we become one with God.



All this and more is possible for each of us, IF we will seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth.



But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ~ Paul



Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~ Paul



Keep on pursuing love. It never fails

and His kingdom never ends.



Ron McGatlin



www.openheaven.com

basileia@earthlink.net