You Can't Have Both

Sitting before the Father this morning, I asked "Why is the suffering of sickness, disease, barrenness etc. as prevalent in the body of Christ as it is in the rest of the world?"

Forgive me if I am sounding a tad radical but the Word seems to say, repeatedly, that the issues that the world faces are not supposed to be in the church. Our Father, with all His accompanying names like Protector, Healer, Deliverer, Saviour, Peace etc. is continually watching out for us. His character is at our "disposal" day and night. Take for example Psalm 91 - the one we love to quote. Is it not replete with promises regarding our healing, deliverance, protection etc.

So why are we not manifesting it? Why does cancer take as many believers as non believers? What is wrong? Is it just me or is there a huge disconnect between truth and experience? The statistics of sickness, divorce, premature death, barrenness etc. are no different in the body of Christ than in the world.

I queried of the Father with as much of a spirit of humility and hunger I can muster. I have no desire to point fingers of blame. My first stop with this question is in the mirror! Because I have my own personal share of struggles that seem to contradict the promises of the Word, my question is as about me as anyone else.

As I sat there, this morning, I felt the Father say "If you operate according to the world system, then you will reap the world's issues." Eeek.

It makes sense, though.

Read through the Word. Frequently, the Father speaks through the writers: "Look, if you will NOT worship the same idols as everyone else. If you will sincerely walk according to MY WAYS, then HERE are the promises for you, hands down." From there, over and over, God pours forth promises of abundance in every aspect of life.

His ultimate plan is for a people totally "covered" by heaven: for the kingdom of heaven to invade His people. Now does anyone believe, for a second, that there is sickness in heaven? His blue print provides an open portal to heaven and all of its glory.

But ya know what we have done? Seriously. Look at how we "run" churches now-a-days. How many times have I heard a pastor say "Well a church is run like a business." Whew. That statement should cause us to tremble. You mean to tell me that we are running the "set apart ones" - the eccelesia - the SAME way corporate America runs its businesses? And then we want to turn around and claim the kingdom promises over our people?

Does anyone else see the double mindedness?

Or look at our families and personal lives? How much do we use the world system of impression management, manipulation, control, self deception etc to "get ahead"? Or to "make sure" we are not hurt, forgotten, left behind? Or to take care of us? How often do we stare at the rapid fall of the DOW industrial average because, truly, that is our Source rather than ponder the promises of providence from above? How many lives/ministries are more controlled by money -and how to obtain more of it- than the spirit of God?

Add to that the sins in our lives that we coddle or hide from everyone else.

God forgive us.

God fill us, anew, with a trembling at YOUR word. A fear of neglecting Your path.

We cannot live, even subtly or deceptively, under the kingdom of this world or keep hiding our sins yet also claim the promises of the kingdom of God. God is not a fool.

As long as we insist on directing our lives like everyone else we will reap the same results as everyone else - sickness, fear of financial ruin, stress, etc. It cannot be any other way or God would be mocked. In Galatians 6:9 He is emphatic "I will not be mocked. If you sow according to the flesh (soul/world system) you will reap accordingly. Only if you sow according to MY kingdom principles can you reap My kingdom rewards."

I have such a deep deep desire to see the Body rise up to be who she is called to be - the set apart ones who walk in the miraculous daily. I long to see that in my own life. Thus, I am humbled by what I perceive is the Lord's word to me today.

"Father continue to take me further away from ANYTHING in my life that is still tied to the world's system and its way of operating, even in the most hideous and hidden ways of selfish manipulation, self protection, pride and idolatry. Cleanse me of all sins - both hidden and apparent!!!"

The world needs to see something radically different from the sons of God. Oh how I pray we will begin to walk out the requirements of being His set apart ones in deep holiness. I also pray we will wrench ourselves free of its ways of conducting business and begin to operate according to an infallible trust in His kingdom principles.