Radical Disciples – A Remnant Revolution

OUR DISPOSITION AT THE ALTAR WILL AFFECT OUR POSITION IN THE KINGDOM

Don Atkin
http://www.DonAtkin.com

· Present your bodies a living sacrifice.
· Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Forty years ago, I knew EVERYTHING. Thirty years ago, I knew MOST things. Twenty years ago, I knew SOME things. Ten years ago, I knew VERY LITTLE. Today, I’m with Paul:

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

For me, decreasing so that Jesus might increase in me has been a lifelong challenge. Whatever the question, I was the answer (at least in my mind). I am so thankful for those dear, patient saints who put up with me during those early years.

I specifically remember * (almost thirty years ago) being part of a local group of ministers who met together for fellowship and prayer each week. I always had the answers—until, one day, when the Holy Spirit was ready to discipline me about ruling my own spirit.

He who rules his own spirit is better than he who takes a city.
I already had visions of “taking cities.” But was still very carnal—earthbound—in how that was to be accomplished. The school of the Spirit was opening (for me) for a new session. I had my first assignment: “I want you to remain silent for four of these weekly meetings, beginning today.”
Someone asked, “Where does the Bible say _______________________?” I immediately responded with book, chapter and verse. Conviction enveloped me. I was GUILTY to the max! “Oh, Father. Please forgive me! “No problem, My son. Your four weeks can begin next week.” BTW, I was wrong in the Scripture I referenced, adding to my humiliation.

It took me seven painful weeks to learn this lesson. Ruling our spirits is a primary governmental (kingdom) essential. By so doing we are able to rightly steward divine truth, the mysteries of the kingdom.

The high road that leads toward the oneness of the body of Christ is paved with sincere humility and navigated by diligence and discipline. By the grace of God, I am what I am.

Jesus—the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world–has been, is now, and will be forever, the foundation of our gospel and the Head of His body, the church. This has been, is now, and will be forever, the Seed of eternal truth. “I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”—I AM, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

JESUS, THE PRESENT PERFECT LAMB
Let’s look to Jesus in the present perfect tense. His sacrificial death was a reality in the mind of eternal God from the foundation of the world. God was not surprised by Adam’s fall or Israel’s failure.
Provision had already been written into the schematics of God’s master plan for His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

The time/space limitations of our humanity have been swallowed up into the context of God’s eternal personhood. Jesus—current fix for all generations—reaches both backward and forward from Calvary’s cross, to draw those who believe unto eternal life in Him.

The bronze altar in the Outer Court of Moses’ Tabernacle was a type and shadow of the cross/crucifixion. The cross of Calvary was Jesus’ springboard to victory, the appropriate prototype for all mankind.

Our cross is the ante-type, and our springboard to victory!

“And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him.”

OUR POSTURE ON THE CROSS DETERMINES OUR POSITION IN CHRIST!

There’s a whole lot of mocking going on! There’s a whole lot of unfinished business in the church! The way to royalty is through the cross. When leaders step away from the cross to judge and criticize brethren or to quibble over paradigms, they leave their crowns on the mercy seat.

The only recourse or remedy is to return to the mercy seat through repentance, and in the hope of having the plank removed from our own eyes. This is the only way that we might be renewed in hope, and graced once again to obey the new commandment—that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

LOVE KEEPS US NEAR THE CROSS!
Above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.

First priority—above all things—most of all—be proactive in sustaining fervent love for one another. Do so as if your life depends upon it.

The resources are available (in resurrection life) for us to obey in faith and to find our delight in releasing this love among one another. Love has taken up permanent residence in us, and is always available to fill the place we give Him. We are without excuse.

Jesus will meet us at the cross, be with us in dying to self, and bring us forth into newness of life. He is the way, the truth and the life—the access to the Father. If we want to be in Him and have Him in us in resurrection power, then we must meet Him in the cross. Authentic spiritual service precludes any other options.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

TOSSED, BLOWN AND IMMATURE
The bronze altar (typifying humanity) is immediately available to us in the outer court. We leave all of our human judgments and other limitations there on the altar, by faith, and move into the Holy Place, where the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us. It is there in the enlightened realm of the Holy Place that we find our particular identity and placement in Him, ala the golden table of shewbread.

Whenever we step out of that place (backslide) and begin again to judge others, we are no longer in the flow of the Spirit. We’ve once again put off Christ, and clothed ourselves with filthy rags. We have chosen to arm ourselves with the strength of our own flesh.

We have returned to the dung heap, forsaking gold, silver and precious stones, and are building with wood, hay and straw.

Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it (the foundation—Christ) endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

A PLEA TO ELDERS AND EQUIPPERS, FATHERS AND MASTER BUILDERS
There is a huge weight upon us; a stricter judgment awaits us.
It is good (not) to do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Perhaps our highest service to our King, perhaps our greatest devotion to our Father, is our example to the flock of God. People need to see love in our actions and hear love in what we speak.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Where there are brethren, fellowship them.
Where there are issues, deal with them. (Wisdom is ours for the asking.)
Where there are problems, solve them. (God has the solutions we need.)
Where there are differences, embrace them. (God is not finished with us yet.)

We need to back into our brothers’ tents with blankets, and cover their nakedness! Moreover, we should make tunics and linen trousers to cover their (our brothers’) nakedness, so that when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place, that they do not incur iniquity and die.

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.