The Normal Christian Life

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”  (Jn. 1:4)

After my retirement, my wife and I moved unto an acreage.  A large part of the reason for this move was our understanding of the times we live in.  We are preparing for more glorious and more difficult days ahead.  As much as possible, we want our needs to be met apart from the world’s economic system, but more importantly, we want to be a source of blessing to other believers.  Greater than the natural preparations, however, are the spiritual ones.  As we turn to see what the Lord is saying to His people, we are learning to dwell in our union with Him.  This union is not just for our spirit life, but for the natural life as well.

Although we live in the natural world, the normal Christian life is not natural, it is spiritual.  When we say “spiritual” we think of prayer and ministry.  It certainly is that, but it is also Christ living a day-to-day life through us.  Have you ever thought about the first thirty years of Jesus’ life.  At the age of twelve, He was found in the temple teaching the scholars of Israel.  Although He said He should be about His Father’s business (Lu. 2:49), He left Jerusalem and returned to Nazareth with His parents, “and was subject to them” (Lu. 2:51).  In returning to Nazareth, He was not putting off being about His Father’s business; He was only putting off the ministry part of it.  The Father’s business is not just preaching, teaching, and healing (Matt. 9:35).  “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic. 6:8). 

The normal Christian life is to let Christ live through us (Col. 3:3,4).  Christ desires to live every aspect of our life.  We are to live “in Him” spiritually as He live “in us” naturally.  It requires a constant act of faith to submit our soul and body to Christ.  The normal Christian life is spiritual because it is our spirit, in union with Christ, living in our body, through our soul.  We can walk with the Holy Spirit in everyday life.  Religion separates the secular from the religious, but Christ in us is both King and Priest.  There is an anointing for daily living in the same way that there is an anointing for ministry.  It is accessed by faith through thanksgiving and praise.  As we walk this way, we will experience more peace and joy.  “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col. 3:17).

In the book The Call, Rick Joyner describes a vision of the end-time army of the Lord.  It concerns the plan of the Lord to prepare His Church for the last great battle.  In the vision, the army is composed of three groups.  “As I watched, I noticed that the plain was dry and dusty before the army, but immediately after the first twelve divisions passed, the earth was dark green, with trees giving shade and bearing fruit and pure streams flowing throughout the land.  This army was restoring the earth.” (The Call, p. 142).  The second group in the army was not as focussed as the first group because the soldiers were hindered by the selfish ambitions.  “They left bridges and many buildings, but the ground was not left in as good of shape as before they had passed.  The grass was not as green, the streams were somewhat muddied, and much of the fruit had been taken.” (The Call, p. 142).  The third group did not at all behave like the first two.  They were plagued with in-fighting.  After they passed over the land, “The grass was either gone or so trampled into the earth that it could not be seen.  The few trees that remained were stripped.  The streams were polluted.  The bridges were broken down and impassable.  The buildings were left in shambles.  It seemed that this group had undone all the good that the first two had done.” (The Call, p. 142, 143).  In seeing this, and sensing the Lord’s displeasure with the third group, Rick asked why He did not just remove this third group.  The Lord responded that most of the Church was still in the third group but that it would not be so in the end.

The Lord is preparing His people to be like the first group.  He is coming for a Bride that is “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:27).  Most of the Church is not there yet, but the good news is that some are, and many have moved out of the third group.  We are still in a time of preparation, but the day is coming when we will be judged.  Before the last battle, the Lord will discipline His army.  “Know that I will no longer abide those who remain in the condition of the third group.  Then I will stop the march of the entire army until those in this group have been disciplined to become soldiers or dispersed.  I will discipline those in the second group to cast off their evil ambitions and live for Me and My Truth.  Then My army will march forth, not to destroy, but to give life.” (The Call, p. 150). 

As children of light, we are called to produce life wherever we go.  His life in us is the light that shines in the darkness.  The normal Christian life is prophetic in nature; God speaks and acts through us.  “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev. 19:10).  We cannot separate the natural things we do from our calling to be children of light.  Living life in fellowship with Christ is an act of worship (Ro. 12:1).  To walk this way is to walk in the wisdom from above.  “Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.” (Jas. 3:13-15).