*JOHN 17* vs. 3 "Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. vs. 11Holy Father, keep them faithful to Your Name, the name You gave Me, so that they may BE ONE as We are ONE. vs.17 Sanctify them to live in accordance with the truth; Your word is truth. vs.20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may BE ONE, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that you have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave me, that they may BE ONE as We are ONE— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to COMPLETE UNITY. Then the world will know that you sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me." -Jesus =)
Hello everyone =) So this post and the video I made (at the end) has been in my drafts since last summer. I got distracted from sharing the messages God was giving me to share coz I was too focussed on trying to explain myself, trying to get people to understand me, trying to defend myself and that really wore me out from blogging. My apologies to you and to God. Plus God's been working on me as well (post: Hair Revival). And I thank God for His patience and mercy and faithfulness to me. Without further ado (I talk too much about myself lol), let's get to the message of this post. [I give a lot of background so if you've been following my blog you can start at "Voltron: One New Man" and be sure to read Be ONE for the application :]
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So from the verses above it is God who unites us. Once we believe in Jesus we are adopted as royal sons and daughters in God's family (it is Jesus who reconciles us back to The Father by taking our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross). So we are connected, brothers and sisters, through His Name, His Word, His Spirit, Jesus' Blood. So there's no denying that we are connected. ♫ We are one. ♫
Hello everyone =) So this post and the video I made (at the end) has been in my drafts since last summer. I got distracted from sharing the messages God was giving me to share coz I was too focussed on trying to explain myself, trying to get people to understand me, trying to defend myself and that really wore me out from blogging. My apologies to you and to God. Plus God's been working on me as well (post: Hair Revival). And I thank God for His patience and mercy and faithfulness to me. Without further ado (I talk too much about myself lol), let's get to the message of this post. [I give a lot of background so if you've been following my blog you can start at "Voltron: One New Man" and be sure to read Be ONE for the application :]
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UNITY AND DIVERSITY
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."(Romans 15:5-7) (post: Spirit of Unity)So from the verses above it is God who unites us. Once we believe in Jesus we are adopted as royal sons and daughters in God's family (it is Jesus who reconciles us back to The Father by taking our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross). So we are connected, brothers and sisters, through His Name, His Word, His Spirit, Jesus' Blood. So there's no denying that we are connected. ♫ We are one. ♫
But just because we are connected doesn't mean that we are the same. Unity does equal uniformity. We have ethnic and cultural differences, gender and individual differences... as well as different spiritual gifts. There is diversity in the body of Christ.
So everything is cool so far. We are connected. And we are diverse. That's awesome coz God loves diversity -that's why He created us the way we are. But the point of the diversity is meant to be unity ( we are all incomplete without the different parts of the body. We need each other.) But then the problem comes in when our differences become the cause of division. That happens coz we don't apply this verse: "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." So the person(s) who are different from the majority of the group are either rejected or not even cared for to begin with so when they slip away no one cares to bring them back since their absence makes no difference. ♫ You are not one of us! You have never been one of us! ♫
This division in the church is usually not noticed or viewed as a problem because most people have the mentality that, "Well if you don't fit into this church then look for another one. Problem solved." If you still don't see anything wrong with that reasoning please check out the illustration I gave in What is the Church? post in "The Family of God" section. The problem becomes really clear from the perspective of the Church as a family, God's family. It's like saying, "We don't love you (wait we don't even see you coz you're different) and we don't want to learn how to love you either so go find some other people who will." That's really cold :(
Ok let me get personal coz that might be the only way to get practical... So I've noticed that the people who end up being unseen or rejected are some people from minority groups and also those with prophetic gifting. I learnt that from my own experience (I already shared my stories in previous posts so I don't want to repeat myself much. This is just a general overview for everyone)... I learnt that God gives a prophetic voice to the unseen and oppressed so that they could speak up exposing the division/disunity that most people may be unaware of and teach what changes could be made for real love to abound; and if nothing changes, to call out any systems in place that prevent true unity. But from my experience doing that made me misunderstood and I did feel like Kovu, rejected, but I later realized that it wasn't actually rejection; it was the fact that nothing changed, that distance between us had always existed. That hurt. But God kept reminding me: ♫ Look at your life through heaven's eyes. ♫ In my hurt and loneliness God's love shone through. He healed my heart and gave me words to share with the rest of His body. I stayed away at first because I thought no one wanted to be around me -that's when I discovered that it wasn't that but the fact that we weren't close to begin with... and everyone was complacent with that... everyone except me. So what kept me from pursuing the closeness I was longing for? I felt like I wasn't needed there. Everyone had their friends. I hadn't really shown how much I cared for most of our time together so I was discouraged since it seemed too late to start. But yeah, it was a lie that I wasn't needed because we all need each other.
"As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." (1 Corinthians 12: 20-26)
Oh yeah, so before I spoke up about anything God gave staff and other people vision and dreams about the division in the fellowship last year and the year before. Then last year He gave me the interpretation of those vision and dreams and told me to share them. I didn't want to because it was harsh truth and I knew it would lead me to being misunderstood but God told me to obey Him and yes it would lead me to being misunderstood and rejected but there would be unity in the end. So yeah, I understand why I was unofficially "exiled" and God used that time to work on me (post: Journey) and to re-direct me to different communities (post: Hair Revival) which has been part of my healing and restoration process. So though it was tough I am grateful for all I have been through. God has a way of turning things around for our good and His glory! So no hard feelings InterVarsity! I love y'all :-)
Oh yeah, so before I spoke up about anything God gave staff and other people vision and dreams about the division in the fellowship last year and the year before. Then last year He gave me the interpretation of those vision and dreams and told me to share them. I didn't want to because it was harsh truth and I knew it would lead me to being misunderstood but God told me to obey Him and yes it would lead me to being misunderstood and rejected but there would be unity in the end. So yeah, I understand why I was unofficially "exiled" and God used that time to work on me (post: Journey) and to re-direct me to different communities (post: Hair Revival) which has been part of my healing and restoration process. So though it was tough I am grateful for all I have been through. God has a way of turning things around for our good and His glory! So no hard feelings InterVarsity! I love y'all :-)
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VOLTRON: ONE NEW MAN
So yeah, I'm back at SB now because God gave me yet another chance to share the love He gives me here and to share my gifts (the gifts that The Holy Spirit wants to share with the body through me). I have wandered a lot, but in my wanderings God has taught me a lot. He gave me the aerial view of what's going on (and about to happen). I have some GREAT NEWS FOR Y'ALL!!! God is doing something NEW! He is up to something BIG! He is creating VOLTRON. (Listen to the song below)
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both [Jew and Gentile] ONE, and has broken down the middle wall of separation ... to create in Himself ONE NEW MAN ... in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:14-15,22). In the post, REAL Identity showed me why this whole racial rec/ unity thing that's brewing up is so big... because there is Hebrew blood amongst us and God is creating "One New Man" which will bring about an explosion of His glory! And miracles, signs and wonders! =) Check out Sid Roth's post about One New Man. God does this through us using the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Here's an excerpt from the BOOT CAMP! post:
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both [Jew and Gentile] ONE, and has broken down the middle wall of separation ... to create in Himself ONE NEW MAN ... in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:14-15,22). In the post, REAL Identity showed me why this whole racial rec/ unity thing that's brewing up is so big... because there is Hebrew blood amongst us and God is creating "One New Man" which will bring about an explosion of His glory! And miracles, signs and wonders! =) Check out Sid Roth's post about One New Man. God does this through us using the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Here's an excerpt from the BOOT CAMP! post:
♫ Somehow I'll make a man out of you ♫
"So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built upuntil we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect themature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4: 11-16)
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GLORY!!! FULLNESS OF LOVE. FULLNESS OF GOD
So God wants there to be diversity and unity not just for it's beauty but for the sake of His Name and His Word. God is the same Holy, Righteous and Just God of the Bible. Yes He is Love, Faithful, Gracious and Merciful. But He is still Holy, Righteous and Just. And all these attributes stem from His Love because God is Love (post: God is) Some people may think that those attributes only refer to the past but God is unchanging... It's the times that are changing though. The Bible, the Word of God, says that because of the increase of evil (corruption and injustice. Lack of love.) in the last days, The God of Justice will act. Yes we are in the last days read 2 Timothy 3:1-9. Isn't that a clear description of the times we are living in?? We are in the last days (drawing into the end of the age and the dawn of a new era. Note: the end of the age is not the end of the world. Revelation from The Spirit: Kingdom Come Down! post)
So anyway, ♫ when it's all been said, when it's all been done. When the race is run. Well, It all comes down to love. Did you learn to love? That's what you'll ask of me. ♫ That's the command Jesus gave us: To Love God with all that we are and to Love others deeply like Jesus did (to lay down our lives for others). Wanna hear some GREAT NEWS?? Well yeah it's the end of the age and the earth is about to groan like never before because... JESUS IS COMING REALLY SOON!! =) The Heavenly bridegroom is about to rapture His bride (that's why He wants us to get our act together {Love} coz that's what it's all about). [Note: there is a difference between rapture and the 2nd coming. And the rapture is not exactly what most people think it is. There's more to it. Revelation from The Spirit: To Be Human Again] So there's an urgency not just to receive God's love for ourselves but also to spread it. Coz that's what life's all about (Love). Read Romans 13: 8-14. All we need is Love =)
P.S: You don't have to agree with or believe the things I've shared. I wouldn't have believed it either if God hadn't revealed it to me Himself by His Spirit. So yeah, test everything you hear through waiting on God. But believe it or not, the point is preparation so you can just focus on the application :)
Back to the Question: HOW WILL THIS BE?? HOW WILL WE BE ONE (Voltron)?
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” [since it's impossible to birth this voltron baby] The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." (Luke 1: 34-35)
"For thus said the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, said the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, said the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, said the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, said the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2: 6-9)
"And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24: 49)
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”- Jesus to His disciples before ascending into heaven. (Acts 1:8)
Once again HOW WILL THIS BE??
"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." (Acts 1:4-5) What does it mean to wait on God? No it's not just sitting around it involves coming together to worship and pray together. (That's what the apostles did in Acts 1. Check out vs. 14. Post: A Time to SEEK)__________________________________________________________________________
APPLICATION: BE ONE
1. "Be ONE as We are ONE" -Jesus. God is 3 persons in One: Father, Spirit, Son. So how are we to be One like God is One? I'm not trying to tackle explaining the trinity but from what we see in the Word... The different persons of God may play different roles in accomplishing one goal. For example in the creation of the world in Genesis 1 -The Spirit was moving upon the waters (giving it the "unusual properties" it has ;), The Father was speaking stuff into existence, Jesus was the Word being sent out to create stuff and in making man God said, "Let Us make man in our image, in our likeness." So yeah, God works communally to accomplish His will.
So how can we apply that? Like I mentioned in the previous post we can be united in outreach. That doesn't mean we all have to organize one joint outreach event -yes that would be a cool application as well- but let's say Real Life is organizing an International Justice Week this week and they are doing a film screening about human traficking tonight at 7pm and a 5K Justice Run on Saturday, and say you're in InterVarsity or any other fellowship, and then you're like, "I didn't put on this event but it's such a great opportunity for the The Gospel to go forth in the campus. So I'll invite all my non-christian friends and also my christian friends and my church to support this. Yay! Let the Name of Jesus be lifted High! By all means!" ;D For more info on events this week: https://www.facebook.com/ucsbsinternationaljusticeweek. THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL. VOLTRON NEEDS TO BE BORN TO BRING IN THE GREAT HARVEST :D
We can also be united in prayer. By going to each other's prayer meetings (put on by different groups). And also by just praying together whenever about whatever :)
Friends,... family, it's about time for us to grow up in love. To stop fighting (or being apathetic) and to love each other deeply. The day of the Lord is at hand and there's a world in darkness out there so let's be light. Let us love each other! We need each other to grasp how high, long, deep and wide the love of Christ is. Fullness of Love will bring the Fullness of God so let's fix our eyes on JESUS (post: Rooted in Love and The Fullness =)
We can also be united in prayer. By going to each other's prayer meetings (put on by different groups). And also by just praying together whenever about whatever :)
Friends,... family, it's about time for us to grow up in love. To stop fighting (or being apathetic) and to love each other deeply. The day of the Lord is at hand and there's a world in darkness out there so let's be light. Let us love each other! We need each other to grasp how high, long, deep and wide the love of Christ is. Fullness of Love will bring the Fullness of God so let's fix our eyes on JESUS (post: Rooted in Love and The Fullness =)
2. Come to VOLTRON'S BIRTHDAY PARTY / FAMILY REUNION aka WITH ONE VOICE WORSHIP AND PRAYER NIGHT on Saturday May 25th, 2013 7pm at Storke Plaza, UCSB. -
There shall be GLORY and dessert! =)
It's so awesome how God gave Troy this vision to see unity in the body through worship at the beginning of the year and in all the fellowships I've been going to the theme of unity and love has been recurring. I am really hopeful for this event. I am certain that God will fulfill His promises to us. He will rain down more of His Spirit of Power, Love and self-control. We need His Power and Love to be able to love each other and others like He wants us to. So let's all COME TOGETHER and WORSHIP THE KING. EVERYONE is invited. Whether or not you believe. Come with your burdens and doubts. Just COME as you are. God will display His glory :-) Yeah it's a 3 day weekend but don't go home. Invite your family! =) https://www.facebook.com/events/154232828083168/?fref=ts
I learnt most of what I've shared through my experiences being in InterVarsity. InterVarsity, we've been through a lot. Let's forget the past and move forward together. Yes most of you are graduating but God wants us to send us out in love and power so it's not too late for unity and love... Let's reunite! I love you and miss you all. He makes beautiful things out the dust. He makes beautiful things out of us! And yeah let's just love each other and do life together. Let's carry each other's burdens. We were not alone. We are ONE =)
I learnt most of what I've shared through my experiences being in InterVarsity. InterVarsity, we've been through a lot. Let's forget the past and move forward together. Yes most of you are graduating but God wants us to send us out in love and power so it's not too late for unity and love... Let's reunite! I love you and miss you all. He makes beautiful things out the dust. He makes beautiful things out of us! And yeah let's just love each other and do life together. Let's carry each other's burdens. We were not alone. We are ONE =)
♫ There's just one chief end to man's purpose and one main reason for existence. All man's vain and high ambitions will one day be brought low. For You alone will be exalted in that day. Worthless goals will be exposed as idols we have made. You'll be seen as rightful King and from our hearts we'll sing: All is for Your glory! All this for Your Name! That in all things You may have pre-eminence. That in all things You may have the first place ♫
"During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the Name of God for ever and ever; Wisdom and Power are His. He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise You, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king. ” (Daniel 2: 20-23)
-All the glory goes to God for using me to pass this message. (Yeah should have passed it on earlier -I pulled a Jonah/Elijah. Sorry!) Feel free to share any questions or comment you may have. Most of my posts are for a Christian audience so if you don't get what I shared and are confused about stuff -I'd love to meet up with you and talk. But yeah, I believe God is bringing racial reconciliation/unity (Real Love = Deep Love) through His Spirit in His Church... soon! So let there be love all around the world! Let's just Praise Jesus! He is worthy and so able! =) Here's my Quick Testimony! if you're interested. Peace and love, Charlene =)
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