The Whole Plan of God pt 3

Living by Hearing God's Voice

Russ and Mary Doty are based in Denver, where they serve on the eldership of Redemption City Church as well as the Ephesians 4 Team of New Covenant Ministries International. 

Since the restoration of God's original plan was a progressive revelation, we see that the O.T. points toward the N. T.  For example, the sacrificial system points toward the cross and Jesus' sacrificial death for our sins.  The tabernacle points toward relationship and the presence of God.  We see the curtain in the temple between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, where God's presence dwelt, torn in two from the top to the bottom.  God Himself tore it, accepting the sacrifice of Jesus, and making the way for us to come into His presence.  In the same way, possessing the land points toward the Kingdom.  Rom. 15.4 tells us that the things written before are for our benefit.  Jesus says in Matt. 5. 17-19, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."  In other words, the Old Testament still has much to teach us of God and His kingdom.  It was not a mistake that God made, that we should throw out.  We need a whole Bible theology; with that in mind turn with me to Deut. 8.1-3. "Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers.  And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.  So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord."  

This seems to say that God led the Israelites in the wilderness to "make them know" something that He considered incredibly important.  40 years to make them learn one thing really.  Man lives by hearing God's voice.  I think this points toward the Kingdom and lets us know that the Kingdom advances by hearing God's voice.  Not by human initiated good works.  Not by religious rules.  Not by planning and strategy, but by hearing God's voice.  Remember, partnership was His idea.  He has chosen to work with us, and through us.  This partnership was not man's idea.  God never intended us to do it on our own.  He always wanted us to walk with Him, to hear Him and work with Him.  He didn't expect us to have learned enough, or gained enough experience that we can do this kingdom thing on our own.  He always intended us to be dependent on Him.  

We see this same attitude in Jesus.  Jn. 5.19, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself (His own initiative), but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does the Son also does in like manner." 5.30, "I can of Myself do nothing..."  8.28, "...and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things."  12.49, "For I have not spoken on My own authority (initiative); but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command what I should say and what I should speak."  14.10, "The words that I speak to you I so not speak on My own authority (initiative)..."  Jesus didn't do what He did because He had a good plan, or because He studied well, but He walked in relationship with the Father.  He says of us, that "My sheep hear my voice..."

This seems to be such a key theme and emphasis of the Kingdom, yet is sadly lost in much of the church.  I grew up in a fundamental evangelical church, that taught that God has spoken in His word, the Bible.  If anyone said that they heard God's voice, we would look for the men in the white coats to come with strait jackets.  Yet, we would declare strongly that we were a "Bible believing" church.  In spite of believing the Bible, we had no place for the Holy Spirit, except as an academic doctrine of something experienced by the early church.  Don't talk of relationship; of hearing God's voice; of intimacy with the Living God.  Somehow much of the church has moved away from the relationship God intended to religious rules and self improvement.  How did we get there? How did the church go from relationship, epitomized by hearing God's voice, to a place of principles, doctrines and academia?  I am glad you asked.

From about 300 A.D. to about 1400 or 1500 A.D. the Catholic Church took on more and more authority in the culture, until the authority of the Pope and therefore the church became the strongest authority.  People who didn't toe the line were excommunicated and could not do business or even live.  This authority led to abuse (absolute power corrupts absolutely) even leading to the Inquisition.  The last few hundred years of this time period are call the Dark Ages.  About 1400 - 1500 we see a breaking away of this abusive authority.  In the north of Europe we have the Reformation; which was a returning to the authority of scripture.  This is epitomized by Martin Luther's stance when on trial.  "Show me from scripture... here I stand, I can do no other."  But, at the same time, in the south of Europe began what we now call the Renaissance.  Rather than a return to scripture this was a revival of classic philosophy.  The philosophy of Plato and Aristotle led to a scientific rationalism.  This wasn't an isolated thought here and there, but in a few years Neo-platonism permeated most of Europe.  In addition, the Moors captured North Africa and southern Spain, but their influence was very widespread.  They accept neo-platonism and made huge advances in math and science.  This philosophical worldview had such an influence that Thomas Aquinas attempts to make a rational appeal to Christianity, and begins, what latter came to be called Scholasticism.  Scholasticism was trying to reconcile Christian theology with philosophy, especially that of Aristotle and Neo-platonism. This trend has continued for 500 years.  While knowledge can be tested with an exam, relationship must bear fruit.  Colleges and Seminaries leaned more and more on teaching doctrines and theology, rather than producing disciples.  Christianity has come to be seen more as a system of doctrines and beliefs, than knowing Jesus and walking with Him.  This also brought about a major theological worldview shift.  That shift was from a Warfare Worldview to a Blueprint Worldview.