Him we preach/Message to self-appointed prophets/Called to be Christ-like

Letter to a reluctant prophet

Dear Friend,

It is with a certain fearfulness that I respond to your inquiry, for I am not an authority on such things. I can certainly relate to your reluctance at being identified among the company of the prophets when so many false apostles, prophets, and teachers abound. I wish I could point you in a proper direction, but I can only point you towards the Lord. It is He who selects His messengers, and I have nothing to offer you by way of what to do.

At most, perhaps you can look upon me as an example of what NOT to do, and take some word of counsel from a weak brother who has made many mistakes and endured many failures along the way. Perhaps you too will have to make even the same mistakes in order to learn, yet following my advice could perhaps help you to avoid the unnecessary heartache and cruelty inflicted upon yourself and others when thinking that you are doing God a service.

I would counsel you, first of all, to be a Christian. Do not spend too much time focused on that which is prophetic. Do not come to others as a prophet, but as a child. Let Christ be your obsession, not the prophetic word. For "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." There need not be turmoil in your heart about your calling; it is clear that you are among those that are "the Called, according to His purpose." And what is His purpose? That you be "conformed to the image of His dear Son." That, above all, is your first calling.

Many are eager to wear the Prophet's mantle, but are reluctant to bear the Christian's cross. This cannot be. Given the choice between Christian or Prophet, choose Christian. Serve God as the earthen vessel you are, in the place you find yourself to be. Perhaps the Lord will indeed use you in some prophetic way, but if not then at least you have been faithful with the "one talent" you have been given. God will not give five talents to those who cannot be faithful with one, and will not give ten to those who cannot be faithful with five.

If you are a Christian first you will remember that you should walk softly, with meekness and humility, while esteeming others as better than yourself. Then the prophetic word, when and if it comes, will be seasoned with the appropriate amounts of mercy and grace. Remember that without love you will inevitably become as sounding brass - all judgment. If we cannot or will not stay in Love, God will set out to humble us shamefully before our brothers and sisters that we may know the depths of our hypocrisy and self-righteousness. That is evidence of HIS great love for all of us.

Now, concerning the prophetic word itself. God will give you the "what", but the "when" and the "how" are left up to you. "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." You can be right on target with the "what", but if you screw up the "when", and especially the "how", you do yourself and others unnecessary harm.

Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you (this speaks of RESTRAINT on the way WE want to go) and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls." What then? He gives us liberty to speak, but allows us to suffer for speaking out of ourselves. He bids us to be restrained, to take our liberty and give it back to Him, knowing that we can do nothing of ourselves. He does not force us to wear the yoke, but invites us saying "take My yoke." By giving up our freedom, we will receive it again.

No, we cannot just do what Jesus did, because Jesus bore the yoke of His Father at all times. We cast off the yoke so quickly. We are untrustworthy, but He is faithful. Let us not just imitate Him, but let us learn of Him. Let us not only be familiar with His Word, but let us become acquainted with His Ways. It is not enough to memorize what He said, we must take His yoke upon us and walk in tandem with Him.

Since Christ bids us to "learn of ME", beware of those who will try to gain access into your life with an inordinate desire to mentor or shepherd you. We may certainly seek the advice, prayers, and counsel of other mature believers. Even the little children in the Kingdom of God can teach us much. But people can only carry us so far, and there is a certain human pride which results in the teachers trying to form the students into their own image. This will not do. The Anointing, Who is the Christ, will teach you all things. His Spirit will lead you into all Truth. His grace is sufficient. There is no man or woman who can give you anything apart from what you have already in Jesus, for we have been "blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ".

Do you see dear friend, that God is more concerned with the messenger than the message? Do you see that the minister is more important than the ministry? If the messenger is wrong, the message will be wrong too. If the minister is wrong, the ministry will be wrong. And do you see that the Lord of the work is more important than the work of the Lord? Meditate on these things.

There really is no famine of the Word of God. If God is able to find the right vessel the Word will come forth in abundance. Therefore, He takes much time to mold, fashion, train, refine, purge, break down, build up, discipline and create His prophets. Yield to that process. It cannot be rushed, but it may certainly be hindered. We cannot force the Spirit, but we may certainly quench Him.

Ah, your gifts are given to you in a moment's time, but your fruit, your character, YOU, develops over many seasons of God's dealings. Do not be thrilled with your gifts, only observe if you are fruitful in Spirit, bearing much fruit, abounding in love, joy, peace, faithfulness, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, and self-control. You can be sure that there are more gifted people in the world than you, yet the fruit is what will remain when the gifts pass away. Never neglect the place of abiding in Him, and you will remain a fruitful branch in the Vine.

Expect misunderstanding. Expect persecution. Expect ridicule. Expect mistreatment. Expect suffering. Expect rejection. Then, you won't be surprised when it comes. And when it comes, shut your mouth, go to the cross, and die so you can live. Learn to kiss the hands that nail you to the cross, for as you are decreased, He is increased. It is not a better living we need, but a better dying. We cannot reach Pentecost but by way of Passover. There can be no resurrection without a crucifixion. There is no crown without a cross. To live, is Christ: to die is gain.

So if you want to boast, take pride in the things that make you weak, for when you are weak, you are strong - in Him. Be afraid of the praise and acceptance of others, for they are the fertilizer for the self-important and grandiose thoughts that are yours by nature anyway, which spring up in the shallow ground of your carnal mind. Carry about the Death of the Lord so you may have the Life of the Lord. Be ready to suffer with Him, that you may reign with Him.

And now, some practical advice:

As much as possible, stay away from money. Freely you have received, freely give.

Have no part in foolish and unlearned questions, either in the asking of them or in the answering of them. Give up your opinions and go to the cross.

Refuse to promote yourself, "your" word, or "your" ministry. If God gives you something to say, let Him see to the promotion of it.

The loftiest spiritual service will never take away from the most mundane earthly responsibility. Take care of your family, your pet, your lawn, your business, your neighbor. Keep your teeth brushed and your hair combed.

Don't be afraid to make tents. If you want to eat, work.

Be slow to anger and quick to forgive.

Before, you would never apologize even when you knew you were wrong. Now, be willing to apologize even when you know you are right.

This is my counsel, dear friend, and perhaps something I have said in this brief letter will bear witness with you. With these words then, I commit you to the care of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is able to complete the work which He has begun in you and see you through to maturity, as you are rooted and grounded in Him, being thoroughly equipped and strengthened by His Might which works in those who have taken up the cross to find power in weakness.

Of course, if I may serve you in any way, I hope you will call on me without hesitation, for

I am your brother,
Chip Brogden

Message to self-appointed prophets!

John the Baptist portrayed Jesus as the One with a fan in His hand.  "Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. "(Matt.3:12). 

Floor and chaff grow together. But at the time of winnowing, the farmer separates the grain from the chaff.  The farmer gathers the grains in the garner but burns up the chaff with unquenchable fire. The chaff in fact protects the grain from heat or cold and from any bacteria. The chaff does a very good job for the corn it covers. But ultimately it is thrown into unquenchable fire.  

Today we find many servants of God who claiming themselves "prophets" protect the grains from the attack of bacteria. But they remain as the chaff for ever.  They always do the ministry of condemnation of those who are in error or those who have been deceived by the Devil.  They kill the sheep which have already been wounded by the wolves. 

Prophet Isaiah prophesied on the ministry of Jesus. "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen: My Beloved, in Whom My soul is well pleased: I will My Spirit upon Him, and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.  He shall not strive, nor cry: neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory "(Matt.12:18-20). 

Jesus did not strive nor did He cry to subdue His enemies or to correct those who were in error.  He only spoke the truth but exposed the Pharisees and the Scribes.  He could have strived with them and convinced the whole world about the correctness of His doctrines. He could have cried loudly in the audience of the whole of Israel and justified His doctrines and His mission. He knew the weaknesses of Pharisees and the High Priests or the Roman rulers who crucified Him at the instance of the Pharisees and the High Priests.  He could have strived with them and shown to the whole world that He had a mission to redeem Israel and that the Pharisees and the High Priests were wrong. He could have quoted the Scriptures, argued with the Roman rulers and proved the Pharisees and the High Priests wrong.  He could have gone to every street and proved that the accusing Pharisees and the High Priests were doctrinally wrong. The man in the streets did not hear His voice.  He spoke in the synagogues and in the market places and taught the people. He gave His wonderful sermons on the Mount. Yet, the man in the streets did not hear His voice. Had they heard His voice, He would not have been crucified. The whole land of Israel would have revolted against His crucifixion. But, He did not justify Himself before the Roman rulers.  He kept quite before them. This was the secret of His ministry.  

Jesus did not break a bruised reed.  Nor did He quench the smoking flax.  He remained as the corn, fell on the ground and died for the whole world.  

Today, we condemn the weak sheep and kill through our swords the sheep already wounded by the Devil. We quench the smoking flax. This is the difference between our "so-called" prophetic ministry and the ministry of the Great Prophet. No doubt, Jesus took the whip in His hand and drove away the traders from the premises of the Temple. It happened only once. He did not strive to take the whip all the days of His ministry.  

I exhort my brethren and sisters who call themselves "prophets" to bring forth the love of Christ through their ministries. Let them neither strive nor cry. But they should shed tears before the Lord for those who are in error and should serve those who are in error with all the humility.   

A humble child of God who does not dare to call himself a prophet may manifest the love of Christ in his life.  And he might have been protected by a servant of God who claimed to be a prophet, from the false doctrines of "wolves in sheep's clothing".  The humble child of God concerned may become a grain to be gathered in the garner of Christ Jesus whereas the proud "prophet" may become a chaff to be burnt with unquenchable fire. Let both the corn and the chaff grow together in the same environment till the time of harvest.

Him we preach

Chip Brogden

"Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily" (Colossians 1:28,29).

Paul is writing to the Colossian Christians. He is writing to brothers and sisters in Christ whom he has never met face-to-face, and he is writing to them from jail. What will he say? How does he introduce himself? What we have in the first chapter of Colossians is very little about Paul himself. Instead, Paul takes the opportunity to introduce Another - or rather, to re-introduce Him. For we have here, in this first chapter of Colossians, that great revelation of Christ and God's Purpose: "That in all things [Christ] may have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18b). Everything about this first chapter of Colossians is designed to take us deeply into Christ, and these depths are so deep that it takes your breath away. This is Paul's introduction, and what an introduction it is!

So when we come to the end of this first chapter, down to verses 28 and 29, we gain some insight into Paul's purpose. What drives him? What is his intention? What is he called to do? And I think we can take this one verse in particular, verse 28, and apply it to the whole reason for creating "The School of Christ," and for having the ministry of Watchman.Net, because our purpose is exactly the same as Paul's. I am amazed at how much I have in common with brother Paul, and if I believed in reincarnation, I might think that I was Paul in a previous life! I don't really believe that, of course, but I am trying to convey just how close we are; it is as if we are hand in hand working towards this singular purpose.

And what exactly is this purpose? After giving us this magnificent vision of Christ in all His glory, in all His preeminence, in verse 28 Paul finally tells us something about what he is doing: "Him we preach." HIM we preach. HIM we preach. Who? Christ. This glorious Christ Jesus of Whom he has been speaking.

Now we might pause and consider the significance of those three words. Paul, you see, was not preaching some new religion he invented as an alternative to Judaism. Perhaps you have seen those history programs on television? I watched one the other day on the origins of Christianity. The producers interviewed these professors of religion and history, those "egg-heads" and intellectuals who are supposed to be experts. Do you know what they were saying? They were saying that Paul traveled all over the Roman Empire in order to establish the Christian religion.

Well, that sounds correct. I suppose most people simply accept that and move right along. But folks, Paul did no such thing. I may not have any theological training or seminary degrees but I tell you that Paul did not go around trying to establish the Christian religion, and he did not go about preaching the "institutes of Christian faith and doctrine." What was he doing? Verse 28 tells us precisely what he was doing: "Him we preach." HIM. HIM. HIM! Do you see that? Do you get it? Not a doctrine, or a religion, or a catechism, but a Person, an exceedingly great and precious Person, this Preeminent Christ. That, friends, is far greater than any mere religious doo-dad! Paul was not occupied with Christianity per se, and he would have nothing in common with the Churchianity we are all so familiar with; he was forever and always occupied with CHRIST. "Him we preach."

Do you know that Paul did not plant churches? I know everyone today is interested in church planting, and they believe the primary purpose of an apostle is to plant churches. I disagree with that premise because I do not see it in the Scriptures. Who planted the church in Antioch? Read the last half of Acts 11 and see for yourself. I say that there is only One Church, and Jesus is building it. That wonderful church in Antioch came into being because a handful of nameless believers left Jerusalem and decided that instead of preaching Jesus to the Jews only, they would preach Jesus to the Gentiles. Just see the progression of it, beginning with Acts 11:19. Then look at verse 20. What were they doing? "Preaching the Lord Jesus." They did not go to Antioch to teach them how to have a house church. They preached the Lord Jesus. HIM WE PREACH! In verse 21 we find that a great number of them believed. By the time we get down to verse 26 we find that the believers were now called disciples, and the whole lot of them were referred to as "the church." And it was there in Antioch that they were first called Christians.

Do you see the key here? Do you see the principle? You know, the Church of Antioch was not the result of some great church planting effort sponsored by the Church of Jerusalem. It came about because someone went and preached Jesus. HIM WE PREACH. That is the point. Do you see it? That is the key. If you want a "New Testament pattern" there you have it. It has nothing to do with where you meet, how often you meet, or what you do when you meet; it has to do with Whom you preach.

Now we can trace Paul's progress from the time he met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus all the way to the end of his life. We can chart it from beginning, to middle, to end and find a straight line from which he never deviates. He says, "Him we preach." Where did it start? Acts 9:20 says that after Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, "Immediately [Paul] preached Jesus Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God." Immediately! Whom did he preach? Jesus Christ.

Go forward a few years and take his temperature again. How does that wonderful book of Acts conclude? Paul is in custody now, under house arrest. "Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him" (Acts 28:30,31). He is still preaching and teaching Jesus. He has not wavered or changed one iota from the path he started.

Now go all the way to the end of his life. Before Caesar cut off his head, Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (II Timothy 4:7). What a powerful testimony! You see how the line is carried all the way through. He preached Jesus from the beginning right through to the end.

We have taken "church planting" as a goal, or a means to a goal, when the goal is not "church planting" at all. What were they really doing? Not planting churches, but planting Christ - sowing the Word, the Living Word, so that He will find some good ground to build His Church upon. Those who believed were called disciples, and together they are referred to as the Church. That is the right order of things. Christ must have the preeminence: the first, the full, and the final place, and when He has that kind of position then we will see disciples made and ekklesias come forth spontaneously.

In addition to the Scriptures we have already referenced, consider the following:

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).

"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole" (Acts 4:10).

"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ" (Acts 5:42).

"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them" (Acts 8:5).

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus" (Acts 8:35).

"[Paul] preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection" (Acts 17:18b).

"And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ" (Acts 18:5).

"And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to [Paul] into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening" (Acts 28:23).

"From Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ" (Romans 15:19b).

"We preach Christ crucified" (I Corinthians 1:23a).

"I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (I Corinthians 2:2).

"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord" (II Corinthians 4:5a).

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" (Galatians 3:1).

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14).

"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8).

"What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice" (Philippians 1:18).

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him" (Colossians 2:6).

So Paul tells us the secret of his success and the key to the whole New Testament - for that matter, the key to the whole Bible and the Key to Everything. After presenting us with this glorious unveiling of Christ, Paul does not say, "This is WHAT we preach," but "This is WHOM we preach." Christianity as an institution has long been occupied with things: churches, clergy, teachings, doctrines, religious things. The "house church movement" is similarly engrossed in the dynamics of how to meet, where to meet, and what to do when meeting. The "charismatic movement" is obsessed with alleged manifestations and spiritual gifts. The "prophetic movement" is absorbed with what they think God is saying, doing, or about to do. Paul was preoccupied with a Person, and the difference between what we preach today and Whom he preached then explains how and why he was part of a small remnant of people who were able to turn the world upside down without the aid of the Internet, television programs, or international conferences and meetings.

When people touch Christianity today they are mostly touching a religious way of thinking or living or acting or talking - not Biblical Christianity, but mere Churchianity. They are touching external things such as where, when, and how church services are to be conducted, things such as which nuance of church doctrine is correct, and so on. But seldom do they touch a real Person, and seldom are we able to get at the Person Who stands above and beyond all these other things. Compared to Him it is all so much minutia, all so very petty. Well, all I can say is Paul did not get lost in minutia. Once he caught sight of Christ he never let go of Him.

So Paul preached Christ. "Him we preach." Now, he had a certain way of going about it. Let's keep reading Colossians 1, verse 28: "Him we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom." I see so much in so few words! There are two dynamics here. Warning every man and teaching every man. Warning and teaching. Here we see the ministry of a watchman. I would say, friends, that we need both the warning and the teaching. Warning, I believe, represents the prophetic ministry. That's not all there is to the prophetic ministry, but it is a major aspect of it. And of course, teaching. Prophets and teachers working together. Going back to the church in Antioch, you see prophets and teachers gathered together in Acts 13:1, ministering to the Lord. Now most of the time, prophets and teachers are in conflict. Prophets tend to rely on inspiration and revelation, while teachers tend to rely on searching out and studying the Scriptures. Very rarely do you see the two functions coming together in a single person, but when they do it is extraordinarily powerful. Paul was that kind of person. He had incredible prophetic insight and revelation, and he also had the ability to translate what he was seeing and teach it to others. We desperately need the prophetic gifts and the teaching gifts working together in one accord.

Let us keep reading verse 28: "Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom." In ALL wisdom. You know, a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. Every denomination is based on a little bit of knowledge taken to an extreme, and before long that specialty becomes the thing they stand for. Free Will, Pentecostal, African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Holiness, Apostolic, Prophetic, Reformed, Charismatic, House Church, all of them stand for a particular "thing" and make that "thing" their distinctive. We even have denominations for different races. I spent over half my life in a denomination, and since leaving that denomination I have traveled about and seen a number of groups, some of which I would call cults (although they would not call themselves cults). There is very little difference between a cult and a denomination, the only real difference being that the first group is demonized and the second group is Christianized. You can find fault with that if you like, but my point is that it is all based on a little bit of knowledge, a little germ of truth, but it does not represent "all wisdom."

There are only two sources of wisdom: the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, and both these are always pointing us to Christ, "in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). We need a good working knowledge of the Scriptures and a good working relationship with the Spirit in order to say we are truly speaking with all wisdom. The Scriptures are the objective standard by which all our subjective revelations may be measured. Let me explain what I mean. If you come to me and say, "God told me thus and so," how do I know whether to believe you or not? What if I come to you and say the same thing? You should not just take my word for it. We cannot trust ourselves. We need something outside of ourselves by which we can judge and test all things. This is what we have in the Scriptures. I can take the Scriptures and weigh what you are saying, and you can do the same thing with me. If it lines up with the Scriptures then we can accept it, but if it does not, then we can reject it. That is what it means to exercise good, sound spiritual discernment.

Or look at it the other way. Take the Scriptures without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Just use your mind and try to figure it all out. What will be the result? Error and deception. Just see what a man like Joseph Smith or a woman like Mary Baker-Eddy can do by taking one or two passages out of context! They did not know how to rightly divide the Scriptures, and they did not submit themselves to the authority of the Holy Spirit, the One Who interprets the Scriptures for us. To take the Scriptures and try to study them the same way you would study math or history or social studies is a grave mistake. Give a Bible to someone who does not have the Spirit of God for a teacher and you end up with either a Pharisee or a false prophet. Jesus pointed out that even though the Pharisees searched the Scriptures they failed to recognize Him, refused to come to Him, and eventually got rid of him - all the while clinging to their carnal understanding of the Law, and quoting Scripture the whole time! Why, even the devil can quote Scripture, just as he did in the temptation of Christ.

What am I getting at? I am saying that the Holy Spirit confirms the truth revealed within the Scriptures, and the Scriptures confirm the truth that is revealed by the Spirit (or, disproves what is purported to be the Spirit when it is not the Spirit). We need both, and this is what I see in that one key phrase: "in all wisdom." And if you notice again, the prophetic ministry relies heavily on the Spirit, while the teaching ministry relies heavily on the Scriptures. When they are working together you have harmony and balance. So Paul preached Christ, he brought warning as well as teaching, and he used "all wisdom", both the Spirit and the Scriptures, to accomplish the mission.

We come to the end of verse 28, a very rich verse indeed, but there is more. Every word is priceless. We are about to discover the reason behind all this. Whenever we see the word "that" in Scripture we should listen carefully because we are about to be told the "why", the reason, the purpose behind what was just stated. Now Paul writes, "Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom." Why do you do it, Paul? What makes you tick? What motivates you? What are you driving at? What is the point? What is the goal? "That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."

Now when we see the word "perfect" here, let us understand that the sense of the word does not mean sinless perfection, but rather, spiritual maturity. Perfection, according to Paul, is spiritual adulthood. It is the full-knowledge of Christ. We will have more to say about that later today. But for now, recall that in I Corinthians 13:10-12, Paul talks about it. He says, "When that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." He then talks about speaking, understanding, and thinking like a child until he became a man, and then he put the childish things away. And he talks about seeing through a glass darkly versus seeing face to face. What does it all mean? Spiritual maturity, coming to the full-knowledge of Christ. As children we only see in part; that is immaturity. Perfection is seeing face to face. That is intimacy. Seeing Who face to face? Seeing Christ - and I do not take that to mean seeing the Lord after I die. That has nothing to do with spiritual maturity, that is the natural direction of life. Paul declares that the light of the knowledge of the glory of God has shone in our hearts already, and can be seen in the face of Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 4:6). We are talking about seeing Christ in the Scriptures, seeing Christ in our hearts, seeing Christ in our circumstances, seeing Christ in our brothers and sisters, seeing Christ at work in the world around us. To see all things of Him, all things through Him, and all things to Him (cf. Romans 11:36) is spiritual perfection.

What an awesome goal! And if you are keeping count, you will see that three times now Paul has said, "Every man." He says we warn every man, we teach every man, and our goal is to present every man perfect in Christ. Every man! Is this hyperbole? Does Paul really think he can do it? Well, remember he is the one who tells us that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (cf. Philippians 2:10,11). He is the one who tells Timothy to pray "for all men... for God will have all men to be saved and to come to the full-knowledge of the Truth" (I Timothy 2:1-4ff). Either Paul is delusional or he is pursuing a worthy goal that is truly bigger than himself, bigger than just having a little ministry or planting a few churches here and there; something that is flowing right out of the heart of God Himself. He has "every man" in view (not just the Church), and no one is excluded, because God includes all men, and Paul cannot settle for less than what God intends. "He is the Savior of all men," Paul declares, "and especially those who believe" (I Timothy 4:10). This is the Savior Whom Paul preached. What an awesome thing this is, and awesome is too weak of a word to describe it. The very idea makes your head spin. It might even drive some to despair, the enormity of it.

Paul might have buckled under the pressure. He certainly grew weary. He certainly was misunderstood, rejected, and persecuted. He suffered so much. What kept him going? Verse 29 of Colossians 1 says, "To this end I labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily." He labors, and he strives. That's the way Paul was. Laboring and striving, even when he was laboring and striving for the wrong things, he was absolutely dedicated to the mission. But there is something more extraordinary at work in Paul, something more than sheer willpower or determination. I tell you willpower will only take you so far. Willpower is overrated. We need something else, something supernatural, something that does not rely upon my limited willpower. What was it? "I strive according to HIS WORKING which works in me mightily." It was not the strength of Paul, but the strength of Christ in Paul, and through this Christ, Paul said, "I can do all things" (Philippians 4:13). All things!

So Christ was working mightily in Paul in order to accomplish His Purpose. Did Paul succeed? Yes - but Paul did not see the fulfillment of that glorious mission. Paul was finished, but God's Purpose was not. God's Purpose would continue on beyond Paul, down through the generations, and today the torch is being handed off to this generation, and when our time has passed, if the Lord tarries, we will hand the torch off to the next generation. How could Paul have imagined that we would be here today, nearly two thousand years later, discussing those letters of his, getting captivated by that same Christ Whom he preached?

And so we have taken this small passage of Scripture for our very own, because I believe it speaks to the exact purpose for which we have come together in this School of Christ. If someone asks, "What is your goal? What is your reason for living? Why this website, and why this School of Christ? What are you getting at?" My answer is this: we preach Christ, and we warn every man and teach every man with all wisdom, that we may bring every man into a perfect, complete, mature, and fully-developed relationship with Jesus Christ. To this end we will labor and strive according to His working which works in us mightily. Amen.

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Called to Be Christ-Like

Recently, a dear Christian woman told me, "I'm learning my purpose in life through a class I'm taking." She was finishing an eight-week course meant to help people discover their calling. She said everyone in the class was anxious to find their purpose.

I heard a pastor on the radio advertising something similar. He offered to help listeners discover their spiritual gifts. If you would request his questionnaire, fill it out and send it in, his staff would evaluate your particular gifts. Then they would tell you how to find your place in the body of Christ.

A frustrated ministry couple wrote to me, "We've been looking for ways to fulfill God's calling in our lives. But we've run into all kinds of hindrances. We're so discouraged, at times we feel like giving up." Maybe this couple will turn to the resources these others are using. I'm sure such tools are helpful to some degree. The Bible says God gives gifts to his people, and I believe there are special callings.

Yet I'm convinced by Scripture there is only one core purpose for all believers. Our specific callings are gathered up in this single purpose, and every gift springs from it. And if we miss this purpose, all our desires and pursuits will be in vain.

Jesus sums up our core purpose in John 15:16: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit." Our purpose is simply this: we are all called and chosen to bear fruit.

What is the fruit we are to bear? Many sincere Christians think bearing fruit means simply to bring souls to Christ. But to bear fruit means something much larger even than soul-winning.

The fruit Jesus is talking about is Christ-likeness. Simply put, bearing fruit means reflecting the likeness of Jesus. And the phrase "much fruit" means "the ever-increasing likeness of Christ."

Growing more and more into Jesus' likeness is our core purpose in life. It has to be central to all our activities, our lifestyle, our relationships. Indeed, all our gifts and callings — our work, ministry and witness — must flow out of this core purpose.

If I am not Christ-like at heart — if I'm not becoming noticeably more like him — I have totally missed God's purpose for my life. It doesn't matter what I accomplish for his kingdom. If I miss this one purpose, I have lived, preached and striven in vain.

You see, God's purpose for me can't be fulfilled by what I do for Christ. It can't be measured by anything I achieve, even if I heal the sick or cast out demons. No, God's purpose is fulfilled in me only by what I am becoming in him. Christ-likeness isn't about what I do for the Lord, but about how I'm being transformed into his likeness.

In the disciples' minds, the temple in Jerusalem was a great, godly work, a magnificent accomplishment. They took Jesus on a tour to show him the grandeur of the structures, the huge crowds who gathered daily, all the religious activities that took place there. They thought Christ would be just as impressed with it as they were.

Instead, Jesus threw a wet blanket on their enthusiasm. He told them, in essence, "This is all coming down. Not one stone here will remain. All these crowds are going to scatter, and even the shepherds will flee. Everything here that impresses you — everything that looks so religious — is going to be rejected. And it will happen because this is not Christ-revealing. It is man-centered, and it's man-revealing."

The fact is, the disciples had been focusing on the wrong temple. They had their eyes on this man-made temple. Their focus was on the religious activity. And they were being impressed by the wrong things. What happened there did not represent the Father. The temple had become a den of thieves and moneychangers. The prophets and priests were out for themselves. They even robbed and abused their own parents. The temple was not about Christ's purposes at all.

In short, Jesus refocused the disciples' attention on the spiritual temple. As Paul would later write to the church, "Don't you know your body is the temple of the Lord?"

I believe that many Christians today are like the disciples. We're impressed by huge church edifices, by multitudes who stream in on Sunday, by the uniqueness of the worship, by multiple programs and ministries. But Jesus' message to us is clear: we are not to focus on buildings of stone and metal, on forms of worship or on how church is conducted. Those things will only distract us. Instead, our focus should be on our spiritual temple.

The fact is, the Holy Spirit is in his temple at all times. He abides in our bodies. And he is prepared at any moment to bring us into his purpose. That means we have to have our spiritual house in order.

There are times we are called to speak righteous judgment. Scripture calls every Christian to expose false doctrines and false prophets. Ministers especially are to denounce in God's house that which is unlike Christ.

But Peter says judgment begins in the house of God. And "house" doesn't mean just the church, but our human temple as well. I am to judge myself — to look at the condition of my own temple — before I'm able to judge anything I see in the church.

Jesus says, "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away… If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:2, 6). Whatever in the church isn't a reflection of Christ — whatever is corrupt or false, or doesn't bring his people into his likeness — will be dealt with. Jesus will cast it out. And he'll cause that ministry and its wicked perpetrators to wither. He'll eventually expose it, bankrupt it and shut it down.

I'm convinced that if any Christian living today could have walked through the temple in Jesus' time, he would have been grieved by what he saw. Priests pocketing money on the side, greed and corruption, money madness — all of it would be shocking. That Christian would wonder, "How long will the Lord endure such foolishness in his house?"

Yet, the truth is, the condition of the temple would have been nothing for us to worry about. Jesus did cast out the wickedness there. He brought in a cord and whip and cleansed his Father's house. And he brought down all the corrupt ministries that were operating in it.

Today, we serve the same temple-cleansing Christ. And he's faithful to cast out all corruption in his church, in his time and his way. If he chose, he could bring down every false prophet overnight. Therefore, we're to trust him to take care of his church. Our part is to make sure that no worldliness creeps into our own human temple.

Paul says, "We are called according to his purpose." "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Paul's message here is simple: "All things ought to be working out for good in the lives of those who love God and walk in his ways."

This truth causes me to wonder: why is there so much discouragement and distress among Christians? Why are so many pastors worn out, weary and leaving the ministry in droves around the world? Why is there such awful competition between ministries?

I see churches everywhere mired in materialism and deep in debt. And all the while, the people beg for answers in their lives. I ask you, how could this be the abundant life Paul says we're supposed to enjoy? It doesn't look anything like a good life. Honestly, it looks like a life of misery. Just go into any Christian bookstore and read the titles on the shelves. Most are self-help books on how to overcome loneliness, how to survive depression, how to find fulfillment. Why is this?

It's because we've got it all wrong. We aren't called to be successes, to be free of all trouble, to be special, to "make it." No, we're missing the one calling, the one focus, that's meant to be central to our lives: to become fruitful in the likeness of Christ.

When I was twenty-nine years old, an older, well-known evangelist asked me to lunch. He advised me, "If you don't make it by the time you're fifty, you'll never make it. I have five more years, and after that, my chances for success are gone. So, I'm going to start a national TV program."

I thought to myself, "Make it? This doesn't sound like the language of Christ's calling." Soon after that, God put this man on the shelf. He was lost in oblivion, all his dreams shattered. Sadly, I hear tales like his in my travels these days. Several ministers have told me, "I'm going to build a mega-church."

A man who once attended our church told me, "I get so angry when I see everyone else making it big time, while I have so many financial needs. It's my turn now. I'm going to do whatever it takes." The last I heard of that man, the law was after him.

The truth is, many of us are called to be ordinary Christians. Yet we put such pressure on ourselves to keep up with the competitive spirit in the world today. We drive our children to be doctors, lawyers, prominent business people, even "successful" ministers. But we don't have to produce anything to find our purpose in life. We don't have to erect buildings, write books or draw crowds. Paul says we are predestined to be conformed to the likeness of Christ, and that is our one purpose: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29).

Jesus was totally given to the Father, and that was everything to him. He stated, "I don't do or say anything except what my Father tells me." Paul is telling us that every believer is to follow the same pattern and direction, to have the same core interest: "I am here for my Lord."

So, do you want to bear the "much fruit" that springs forth from becoming more like Christ? I asked myself that question as I prepared this message. And the Spirit whispered to me, "David, you have to be willing to look at how you deal with others."

Simply put, bearing fruit comes down to how we treat people. We fulfill our life's purpose only as we begin to love others as Christ has loved us. And we grow more Christ-like as our love for others increases. Jesus said, "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love" (John 15:9). His command is clear and simple: "Go and love others. Give to others the unconditional love I have shown you."

The Spirit impressed on me three areas where Christ's unconditional love must begin:

1. This love has to begin in our homes. Jesus' command has to do with how I treat my spouse and children. For single people, it involves how you treat roommates, fellow Christians, the people closest to you.

This truth was at the core of Malachi's prophecy to Israel. God said to the priests of that day, "This ye have done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand" (Malachi 2:13). God was saying, "I no longer accept your offering or your worship. I won't receive anything you bring."

Why didn't God accept these men's ministry any longer? "Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously… Take heed" (2:14–15). It all had to do with their marriages.

There's no getting around it. If I am to become the man and minister God has called me to be, then my wife must be able to say honestly before heaven, hell and all the world: "My husband loves me with the love of Christ. He makes mistakes, but he's growing more patient and understanding with me. He's becoming more tender and caring. And he prays with me. He isn't a phony. He is what he preaches."

Now, I help pastor what would be called a mega-church. I conduct ministers' conferences around the world, preaching to thousands at a time. I founded Teen Challenge, a Christian rehabilitation ministry for alcoholics and drug addicts, which now has 500 centers worldwide. I've written some twenty books, helped establish a Bible school, set up a home for abandoned mothers and their children. I've had honors heaped on me.

But if this isn't my wife's testimony — if she has a secret pain in her heart, thinking, "My husband isn't the man of God he pretends to be" — then everything in my life is in vain. All my works — the preaching, the accomplishments, the charitable giving, the many travels — amount to nothing. I am a withering, useless branch that doesn't bear the fruit of Christ-likeness. Jesus will cause others to see the death in me, and I'll be worth little to his kingdom.

You can evangelize all you want, witnessing and passing out tracts. You can go to church week after week and sing praises to God. But what does your spouse have to say about you? What kind of life do you lead in your home?

A middle-aged pastor and his wife came to me brokenhearted and weeping. The minister told me through tears, "Brother Dave, I have sinned against God and my wife. I've committed adultery." He shook with godly sorrow as he confessed his sin to me. Then his wife turned to me and said softly, "I've forgiven him. His repentance is real to me. I know he isn't that kind of man. I'm confident the Lord will restore us."

I was privileged to witness the beginnings of a beautiful healing. We can never make up for our past failures. But when there is true repentance, God promises to restore all that the cankerworm has destroyed.

Yet, the treachery that Malachi describes isn't just about adultery or fornication. It includes everything that can be called un-Christ-like, such as mean-spiritedness, bitterness and dishonesty. These kinds of treacheries also void our lifetime accomplishments. God says to all who commit them, "I will not accept your works, your worship or anything you bring to me. I have a controversy with you."

I deeply wish every couple who enjoys a Christ-centered marriage would rise up and tell the truth: "It isn't easy." Marriage is a day-by-day effort, in the same way the Christian life is. Like the way of the Cross, it means giving up your rights daily. Of course, Satan knows your heart is set on becoming more Christ-like in your home, so he's constantly going to bring about trials.

In short, there is no other school as difficult and intense as the school of marriage. And you never graduate. God is making it clear to us: Our life with our loved ones is the pinnacle, the very summit, of all our testings. If we get it wrong here, we'll have it wrong everywhere else in our life.

2. Christ-likeness also has to do with how I treat those outside my family. To be Christ-like is to acknowledge Jesus in others. In my travels, I meet many precious men and women whom I know are given wholly to the Lord. The moment I meet them, my heart leaps. Even though we've never met before, I have a witness from the Holy Spirit that they're full of Christ.

I can still see some of their faces: pastors, bishops, poor street evangelists. And the moment I met them, I realized without a word being spoken, "This man has been with Jesus. This woman is satisfied in Christ." In greeting them, I always say the one thing I would want others to say of me: "Brother, sister, I see Jesus in you." I don't mean it as flattery; it is the witness of the Holy Spirit.

We know that Christ-likeness means loving others as he loves us. Yet it also means loving our enemies — those who hate us, who despitefully use us, who aren't capable of loving us. And we're to do this expecting nothing in return. Of course, loving this way is impossible, in human terms. There aren't any how-to books, any sets of principles, or any amount of human intelligence to show us how to love our enemies as Christ loves us. Yet we're commanded to do it. And we're to do it with ever-increasing purpose. According to Jesus, that's the fruit we are to bear.

So, how do we do it? How do I love the Muslim who spat in my face a block away from our church? How do I love the people who run Internet Web sites calling me a false prophet? How do I love homosexuals who parade down Fifth Avenue carrying signs declaring, "Jesus Was Gay"? How do I truly love them in Christ? I don't even know how to love other Christians in my own ability.

Very simply, it has to be the work of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus prayed to the Father, "That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:26). Christ asks the Father to put his love in us. And he promises that the Holy Spirit will show us how to live out that love:

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you…. He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:13–15).

Do you hear what Jesus is saying here? The Holy Ghost will faithfully gather up all the ways Christ loved others and "show it to you." Indeed, the Spirit delights in showing us more of Jesus. It's the reason he dwells in our bodily temples: to teach Christ to us. "Ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you…. He shall teach you all things" (John 14:17, 26).

3. Finally, an un-Christ-like division in the church has robbed it of power and influence in every nation. In apostolic times, the church was so filled with Christ's authority, it caused kings and rulers to tremble. Paul and his young pastors and evangelists preached fearlessly. They filled entire cities and nations with the message of Jesus. Here was a church known for its Christ-likeness, its power to affect heaven and earth.

Yet today, much of the church has been left a weak, feeble institution, with little of Christ's authority. It is being mocked and ridiculed the world over. As I travel from nation to nation, I can see why. I often find the church in a sad condition, marked by narrow denominationalism. Each group claims to be of Christ and to preach a biblical gospel. Yet in some cases, these groups can't even sit down at a table together.

Happily, in many nations, Christian leaders cross denominational lines to help bring about our conferences. But a great divide often still exists between cultures and races. Certain groups are looked down upon and aren't even invited to the meetings. Also, new religious movements are springing up everywhere, with true revival taking place. But some of these have become exclusive, claiming they alone have the truth.

Finally, there is another kind of division in the church that is absolutely un-Christ-like. It is the chasm between the large and the small: those who are doing big things in the Lord's name, versus those who are called to smaller works.

God has a rebuke for this kind of division: "Who hath despised the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4:10). This was his word to the Israelites who despised the temple foundation laid by Zerubbabel. They looked down on the new work because it wasn't as spectacular as Solomon's temple.

Likewise today, many pastors' conferences are emphasizing mega-church growth. Ministers from small churches are being told, in so many words, "Attend this mega-church pastor's seminar, and you'll find the keys to success. You'll eventually have a church as big as his." Yet this only causes pastors to become more discouraged. They end up convinced, "I'm not doing anything significant for God. He just isn't using me."

I honestly would love to attend a ministers' conference where all the speakers were pastors from small or average-size churches. I don't have any desire to hear about how to build a large church or raise a huge budget. I would rather hear twenty or thirty small-church pastors speak about what God is saying to them, about the revelation of Christ they're receiving.

Maybe you're thinking, "I'm one of those little people. The things I do in God's kingdom are so small. I'm not involved in anything important for the Lord." That is not the case. Let me tell you how I believe God sees this whole matter.

The most useful people in the church of Jesus Christ are those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Yes, some people are doing great things that are seen and heard by many. But some of those ministers don't have eyes to see the needs of hurting people. They are project-oriented rather than need-oriented.

The simple fact is, the Christ who lives in me is not blind or deaf. And his Word says, "Whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:17). Jesus sees all the needs and hurts around me. He hears the groanings and cries of the distressed and bound. And if I am to be more like him, then I need his eyes to see the same things.

This is the love of Christ: to hear the distressing cry of the fatherless, the child of the ghetto…the lonely, muffled cry of the homosexual who's sick of his sin, drowning his torment in alcohol…the agonized cries of the hungry, the poor, the imprisoned. Being like Christ is having such "eyes to see and ears to hear."

Oh, Lord, give me a listening ear. Help me to quit telling people how much I know. Instead, help me to hear what you're saying to those who have no public voice. Help me to be a student at the feet of unknown pastors and servants in the body who are truly bearing much fruit. Let me hear what you're saying through them. And let me love others not in word only, but in deed and in truth.