The Pursuit of Christ

“That I may win Christ”

Paul’s pursuit was to “win” or “gain” the fullness of the majesty and wonder of Christ. He was “reaching” unto something beyond the perspectives of man’s concepts and teachings. He was stretching, reaching, pressing unto the fullness. There existed in him a passion for the “One Thing”. In light of this “prize” he could not and would not rest in his current knowledge of Him. Oh, may we see afresh the vast horizons of glory reserved for those who feel the fire and call of God in Christ Jesus!

“If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily,
and follow me”
Luke 9:23

See: The One Thing

Brian Troxel

The New Fellowship

“Then thou shalt see, and flow together,
and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged”
Isaiah 60:5

There is a seeing in God which precipitates a flowing and a fellowship far beyond the words of men. It is a flowing in the very river of God. It is the nature of water to flow together as little rivulets flow into streams and streams flow into rivers and the rivers eventually empty themselves is into the ocean. So must it be for those whose flow is the result of seeing our majestic God. Jesus cried out in the full measure of His purposes for mankind…

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘
Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”
John 7:38

The river being the revelation of the believing, the believing is the power of seeing Him “who is invisible”. The flowing together of the true ones in Christ is effortless and spontaneous as He quickens the life within, For Christ Himself is the fountain and the Spring from which all life flows. They who walk with Him, live in Him and abide within the wonder-giving flow of His bounty cannot but “flow together” in His Goodness.

In our seeing Him comes the substantive ministration of a fellowship filled with repentance, cleansing and exhortation. Notice the process of those who walk with God… “Seeing”, “flowing together” and by such flowing we touch the “fear of the Lord” and the “enlargement of our hearts”! Who cannot but be drawn into such depths where in touching “the Holy” we find our hearts enlarged by a greater seeing and touching of Him. May we not settle for associations which stir not the heart nor breathe the fire of Him into the altars of our hearts.

There is even now in this Day a new dynamic of an interaction that is free from the mundane and pedantic words of men which is ignited by the seeing of Him.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim*”
Joel 3:18

It is into the valleys where those who know of this flowing together shall reach out by the love of God into the world around them. There is a fountain ready to break forth from the House of the Lord which shall flow into the valleys of mankind, a flowing which will bring men and women hope of a salvation that sets the captives free and brings a song of joy in the place where despair abounded. This seeing of Him prevents the stagnation and impotency of former things, because it is fresh and living with the Light and Life of Christ Himself.

God’s Word is calling men and women out of the old ways, the dead ways and the stagnant ways to begin to see Him anew in order to discover the flowing forth of a New Day and to touch the fellowship that comes from the awe and fear of the Lord.

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:18-19

True fellowship is the result of walking in the Light as HE is in the Light (1 John 1:7) and in its influence His people begin to arise to contend for their very life in God. There is an excitement, there is a land to be conquered and a freedom to be won! It is the Day of rising up in the hope and life of Christ Himself!

*Note: (shittim refers to the acacia tree and in type speaks of the love of God towards man… used in the tabernacle, the burning bush and above all the crown of thorns which Christ was pierced by the mockery of the world)

Shittim speaks of change and new things in God. It is the burning bush where God meets Moses and begins to prepare him for the deliverance of Israel. It was at Shittim where Moses delivered his farewell speech and final blessing to the people of God (Deuteronomy 31 — 33) and Joshua was set forth as Moses’ successor (Deuteronomy 31:14–29; 34:9).

There is a change coming which is even now beginning to flow from the mountain tops to those who feel the stirring of a new grace touching the hearts of those in whom the Light of Christ is breaking forth. It is by a new vision that the new flowing of fellowship is rising! Men and women are awaking from their slumber and lethargy to realize the paralysis of a faithless faith and are being challenged to rise up and walk in the New Day of the Body of Christ.

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it…”
Isaiah 2:2

Brian Troxel

The Real Love

“Lovest thou me?”
John 21:15

“He who doesn’t love me
doesn’t keep my words…”
John 14:24

Jesus clarifies the verity of an individual’s love for Him. The criteria are simple as is the faith to walk in it. Many may declare their allegiance to Him, they may pray, they may speak of deep and esoteric things, they may ascribe to teachings and associations, but the Spirit of Christ cuts to the core. Obedience reveals the truth of our hearts toward Him.

Isaiah declares who it is that God sets His eye upon:

“…but I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word”
Isaiah 66:2

One who understands the enormity of God’s Word, and the inherent need to draw from Him the grace to walk in it, captures His notice. The religious readily acknowledge His Word yet feel no need to honour it with a life of obedience. They are not loving Him for who HE is, but for the sake of easing their conscience. They ascribe to His Salvation but not to His Lordship; they use grace to absolve themselves of the doing. They find refuge in His promises but remain unaffected by the power and love of Him through which the heart becomes subservient to that Word.

Jesus asks a penetrating question:

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord,
and do not the things which I say?”
Luke 6:46

There is no time like the present to face the truth concerning our relationship with Him. Jesus does not leave us with any ambiguity as to our condition. Do not let the obscurity of a false gospel blind us to His clear word. Religion will rob God’s Word of its authority and leave the conscience untouched. Rather let us allow the Word to strike our hearts with His full power and intent.

“He who doesn’t love me
doesn’t keep my words…”
John 14:24

The litmus test for our heart is not in what we know, how well we pray, or in how many good things we may involve ourselves. The proof of our love for Him is always obedience.

“If ye love me,
keep my commandments”
John 14:15

The true life is the simple life.

Those who truly love will truly obey.

Allow nothing else to cloud our hearts. Let our growing obedience to Him be the sole measure of our love. Love always serves the object of its desire. Those who love themselves will end up serving themselves – even in the Name of God. Those who love Him, serve only Him.

“…having been perfected,
He came to be the Author of eternal salvation
to all the ones obeying Him”
Hebrews 5:9

“God Himself – His thoughts, His will, His love, His judgments are men’s home. To think His thoughts, to choose His will, to judge His judgments, and thus to know that He is in us, with us, is to be at home”
– George MacDonald

See: Love and Lethargy

Brian Troxel

Faithfulness To Him

“For with the same measure you measure
it will be measured back to you…”
Luke 6:38

Spiritual resources come to those who give what they have. It matters not how little one has, it is what one does with what one has. The Law of Christ is “give and it shall be given…”.

Jesus is not talking here about the “unrighteous mammon” He is speaking of the true riches, His graces, His gifts, His Word and His resources. His dealings with us is always proportional to our dealings with Him. There is an expenditure in our giving, there are times of weariness, times of discouragement and loneliness, but there is also mingled in the process touches of His Joy in our lives as we give what we have to others. There are also seasons of refreshment and His watchful care to fill our hearts with fresh truths, new glimpses of His wonder and stirring in the hearts of those to whom we feel the impulse to cry out to God to raise them up to heights we have yet to see ourselves.

In all of these things we are reminded to “not grow weary in well doing… for WE SHALL REAP”! Such glorious promises to those who plow the fields, sow their seeds and pray for the rain of His Spirit to bring forth a New Generation fit and prepared for the “Master’s Use”. We are reminded that if there be no sowing there will be no reaping and the whole purpose of this life is to bear fruit unto Him for He alone is worthy.

May all those who give all that they have be encouraged for the harvest will surely come and He will be glorified. May God continue to purify our hearts that all of our giving be unto His Glory and that we shall glory with Him in His Glory. Continue to give, continue to sow, and continue to pray over that precious seed that there would be a harvest of hearts who live for Him, unto Him and through Him for eternity.

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed,
shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him”
Psalm 126:6

See: Hope and Faithfulness

Brian Troxel

Friendship in Christ

“A friend loveth at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity”
Proverbs 17:17

Friendships IN Christ grow deeper and stronger, bound by His cords of love. Friendships of the world, though good and pleasant, cannot touch the recesses of our being. True relationships are woven together by the fabric and substance of Christ. They require little effort, for the vitality is rooted in the eternal springs of His heart. There is a camaraderie, an ease of interaction, and an understanding of things unsaid. The mutual sharing of joys and sorrow are borne with a sense of honour and privilege.

There is no fear of saying the wrong thing or of “stepping on toes”; these things weary the soul. Spontaneity is the atmosphere of friends and the mark of true brotherhood. It is the result of child-like faith discovering the joy and freedom found only in Christ.

Bonds are strengthened through the storms of life, the fears, the failures and the triumphs of one another. Jealously and envy find no home within the selfless strands of these bonds; when one succeeds it brings great joy to the heart of the other.

Though these friendships may be rare, it makes them all the more valued. They give us glimpses of His Heart for His Body.

“That they ALL may be one;  as thou,
Father, art in me, and I in thee,
that they also may be one in us”
John 17:21

Brian Troxel

The Necessity of Life

“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”
Matthew 6:15

It is crucial that we live with a clear conscience to all and a heart which speaks the truth in love. The great sorrows and regrets of life are often unexpressed love, unforgiveness and resentments for which the grave ends all hope of reconciliation here. The power of Christ presses men and women to make amends now in order to enjoy the fruits of His forgiveness now. May we embrace the power of these words and the resulting work of grace to free our souls from the anguish of “deeds left undone”.

“The bitterest tears shed over graves
are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone”
Harriet Beecher

Brian Troxel

The “Go” of God!

The “Go” of God

Prayer and Knowing His Will

Prayer is the means to discovering the “Go” of God’s Will. It is in our time with Him that He communicates and empowers. In the enormity of Jesus facing Calvary’s wretched death, He who knew no sin about to become the sin-bearer of the world, He drew near unto His Father for strength and grace to walk out the Will of the Father. So it must be for us. Through the intimacy of prayer, we hear Him speak and have the privilege of participating in His Will in the earth.

“…making known to us the mystery of His will,
according to His good pleasure
which He purposed in Himself”
– Ephesians 1:9

The KJV of this verse speaks of something past tense: “having made known to us the mystery of His will”. There is something amiss in this past-tense translation which is not at all expressed in the original Greek. The Will of God is a daily thing. It is a mystery which unfolds as we commune with Him and allow His Lordship to speak into our hearts His purposes for the now of life. The true Christian Life is an adventure which can only be experienced through the medium of Obedience. Paul, writing to the Church at Ephesus, used the Greek participle concerning God “making known unto us the mystery of HIS will”. How blessed we are to discover fresh opportunities of Faith to walk in His purposes!

The more we obey the impulse of the Spirit the more we discover confidence; a growing boldness, a dynamic which arises out of our own experience with God. It is here the depth of our prayer life is revealed and established. Prayer without the communication of the Will of God to us should be disconcerting, for prayer is simply the participation of our heart with His. Obedience and prayer are harmonious. I know from my own personal experience the wrestling and struggles to obey that which He has given me to DO in my time alone with Him. Knowing and discovering His Will is a mystery which is only solved when I personally step into it. I can have a word or an impression of God to go, but until that step is taken His Will lingers, unfulfilled.

“Go ye therefore…”
Matthew 28:19

“Go” is the impulse of God; “Go” is God’s heart to His Own. It is the word of God for us to explore, venture and invest ourselves in His purposes to make His salvation known to this world. What does that “Go” look like to you? Where does that “Go” personally take you? That is the exciting thing about the glory of prayer! The Go of God is bound up in us first coming in prayer, the secret place of communion (co-union) with Him.

“Come now therefore,
and I will send thee…”
Exodus 3:10

Unless we come to Him with a heart alive and burning with a desire to do His Will there will never be a “sending”. His Will is waiting for you to take His deliverance, His word of life and His love to heal the broken and lost of humanity. His House is filled with many who need His touch in their lives. Do we not hear the “Go” of God within our own hearts to be involved in making Him known?

It is the “lukewarm” who say, “I am rich, and I am made rich, and I have need of nothing”. They are content and feel no need to venture into the world around them nor expend themselves in making Him known. Those who need nothing will see nothing concerning the will of God. The soil which at one time received the seed of life with gladness has now become infested with the cares and comforts of this life and the life is choked with the thorns and thistles of their own sowing.

It is needful that we draw away from lukewarm living, carelessness and deception. Let us discover afresh the secret chambers of prayer and communion with Him. It is in this holy place that we feel the Fire of His Being igniting the altar of our hearts.

“Come now therefore,
and I will send thee…”
Exodus 3:10

God has a very simple and powerful remedy for us all: Prayer. The kind where we meet with Him and spend time alone in the holy atmosphere of His majesty. Not prayers asking Him for things, but prayers of communion where we learn to simply wait, child-like, without any other need but HIM. It is as we thus wait upon Him that we will find a renewing of our strength and a rising up to the honour of doing His Will. Prayer to the true child of God is not optional; it is the essential element of a fruitful life in Christ!

See: Alone With God

Ω

Eternal destinies are bound within our faithfulness to the talents He has graciously given us. The slothful, disobedient and the careless reap the disregard they show to the deposits of His gifts to us.

“And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine…”
Matthew 25:25

To which Jesus declares:

“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”
Matthew 25:30

“It is not the incorrect that the Lord despises but the proud; it is not the hot or the cold that the Lord spews out of his mouth but the lukewarm. When we are standing still out of fear of being wrong, we will certainly be regarded by him as ‘wicked and slothful’ not cautiously prudent.”
– Eric Foley

Brian Troxel

Jonathan Edwards

“A true and faithful Christian does not make holy living an accidental thing. It is his great concern. As the business of the soldier is to fight, so the business of the Christian is to be like Christ”
– Jonathan Edwards

Holy lives are the result of spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul’s life exemplified one who was ardent, diligent and consistent in his pursuit of the “one thing”. The Holy Spirit has been given to lead us into the fulness of Truth, the fulness of Christ living and ruling within our hearts. He has come that we may come into the wonder of all Christ is.

Whenever the scriptures speak of life they speak of His life, there is no life outside of Him. There can be no other call or desire within the life of the true disciple. He is and there is no other.

“For of him, and through him, and to him,
are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen”
Romans 11:36

Brian Troxel

A.W. Tozer – Pure Desire

“Lord…I want constantly to be aware of Thy overshadowing Presence…I want to live so fully in the Spirit that all my thought may be as sweet incense ascending to Thee.”
– A.W. Tozer

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple”
Psalm 27:4

See A.W. Tozer Quote – Bread for Others

Have This Mind Today

“Have this mind in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 2:5

The sheer thought of having His Mind created within us is staggering as well as sobering. God never calls us to heights unattainable. He who measures the talents (minas) to us “according to their ability” knows our frame and our weaknesses. His expectations are not established upon our strengths but are rooted in His provision. The Call of God to us is therefore within the reach of everyone. His grace is not limited by the miry clay of our human composition. It is here where we stand upon the magnitude of an accountability unto Him who has made us able to walk in heavenly places. Grace requires response. Faith is the ability to respond to His Call. The personal Call of God in Christ to each of us requires faith, a faith which is revealed in our obedience to that Call.

Faithless belief will declare its allegiance to Christ, but will fail to respond to the Call of Christ. It is here where we need to forsake the deceptive cloak which we weave for ourselves, a false comfort in something other than truth. Truth pierces our false self – it cuts into the very essence of our being in order to bring us into the wonder of selfless living.

His ministry to us is relentless, His Call is ever filled with the divine enablement to walk in deeper places, to live beyond the veil of human impotency and to reach unto the High Call of God in Christ Jesus. His corrections and His grace bid us to be His hands in this world, to be His Light which reaches into the dimness of humanity to touch the Hem of His Endless Life for themselves. This is not a time to be crowded in by the limitations of fear and isolated living. The “mind of Christ” is ever available to those who by faith hear His Call to Obey the inspiration of His Life.

“No man has the mind of Christ,
except him who makes it his business to obey him”
George MacDonald

See – The Renewing Work of Christ

Brian Troxel