Category: God’s Purpose

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

2 Timothy 4:7

In my last blog post I shared about some personal loss. Many of you responded very graciously by sending me emails giving your condolences and words of encouragement. Thank you all so much for that! And, of course, your prayers!

During the last eight months (especially the first six months) I honestly felt that I wanted to die. Though I was not suicidal, I didn’t have the motivation or the desire to do anything or move on with my life. Others have told me that this is quite common when someone is mourning the loss of close loved ones. I also had no desire for the Lord’s work at all. In fact, I really didn’t do much of that at all.

In a way, it was like a death inside of me.

But God…

is the God of resurrection! In fact, God the Son came to tell us that He IS the Resurrection and the Life.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes into Me, though he may die, he shall live.”

John 11:25

This wonderful, glorious Christ lives inside of you and me, dear
Saints! And He IS Resurrection! You have the embodiment of resurrection life actually living inside of you right now! And this means much more than just believing or an intellectual understanding. It’s an actual apprehension. That is, a laying hold of a factual truth and then making it your’s and living it out in daily practice.

Apprehension – the Secret

Somehow, by God’s grace and mercy, in the midst of my despair and grieving I was able to reach out and grab a hold of this wonderful reality:

Resurrection Life lives inside of me!

WOW! What a Christ! What a Lord!

Not only does He live inside of us but we can take hold of that Life and actually live by it everyday. This is incredible! This is much more than wonderful! And because of this Life within us we can overcome any and all tribulation, trials, and negative circumstances. Not only can we overcome them, we can actually (by God’s grace) use them to grow and mature to whole new heights in Him. Just like I did with my own tragedies. Here again, by God’s grace and strength I was able to turn to Him and actually behold and fellowship with Him in it!

And here’s the most incredible thing about all of this:

He comes to me in brand new ways and loves me and fellowships with me in the depths of my spirit!

Oneness

Hey saints… aren’t you so glad that we are all one with this glorious Christ?

And He is one with us?

And that makes us all one with one another!

And it’s the oneness of the Church, the Body, the Bride, the Kingdom that will win the world!

God’s Eternal Purpose

You folks that read my blogs, articles, books, and audios probably know that I write and speak a lot about God’s eternal purpose.

There’s a good reason for this.

His purpose is the nearest and dearest thing on His heart!

In the scriptures there are many “identifiers” for this purpose.

Just to name a few:

• The Body of Christ

“The Church is called to be the visible expression of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul tells us that the body has many members but there is only one body, so it is with the Christ.”

I Cor. 12:12

• The Bridegroom and the Bride

The Church is also called together in a marriage. THE Marriage! Christ is our Groom and we, the Church, are His Bride!

Eph. 5:23-32

• Family/Household

God our Father. The Lord Jesus our Big Brother. We are all brothers and sisters in God’s family.

Eph. 2:18-20

• A Holy Temple

“As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 2:4,5

• The Kingdom of God

Obviously, a kingdom expresses the will, purposes, goals, and desires of the king. It is not only a place, but mostly a people. These people submit to the King and to one another… in love.

Of course, these are all metaphors for God’s eternal purpose. Which is to have for Himself a spiritual people to show forth His glory in this realm. There are many more such pictures of God’s purpose in the scriptures.

Bottom Line

So… in conclusion, how can I finish writing about something that is eternal? “Never” gonna happen!

But I can certainly make an attempt.

This eternal purpose that Paul writes about is the reason you were born. No… it wasn’t a mistake. God doesn’t do those! It’s the reason you are reading this blog post right now. Now, of course, God created us to have something called “free will”. That’s because our Creator is all about something called FREEDOM! Not just freedom to do what you want. But rather true freedom to do what HE wants!

Remember the prayer…

“Your kingdom come

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.”

Personal Note: This post will be the story of my own personal struggles in the last 6-7 months with: personal loss (my wife and mother), of losing my sense of direction and purpose for a while. And struggling with loneliness and emotional pain.

It’s easy to say your life totally belongs to the Lord. People go forward at evangelistic crusades all the time and “give” their lives to God. Many times it’s because there is some crisis happening in their lives at the time and and they really need God to “bail” them out of jail, so to speak. Other times its a matter of really good preaching convincing many people to come forward. But honestly speaking, most people have a crisis or need in their lives when they come forward during an altar call.

But what about a crisis or crises in the life of a believer? Well, of course, I can only speak from my own experience and perspective.

About six months ago now my wife of forty-eight years passed away after a long bout with cancer. About three weeks after that my mother died. Of course, it’s impossible for me to put into words the kind of trauma, depression, some anger, and grieving that I went through. In fact, I am still going through that to some degree, though it is getting better (thank God!).

Sometimes within the course of one day I will break down and weep for no apparent reason. But then, usually, but not always, it will come to my mind why I am weeping. Most often it relates to losing someone in my life or missing someone I feel should be in my life. Also, there are what I call “triggers” which are situations, people, music, movies, or past experiences that bring back to my mind someone whom I have lost. I try to avoid those triggers if I can!

The Why of Transformation

We all know that God is in the “business” of transforming His people. Here are just a few example from the scriptures:

“Do not be comformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:6

And many more …

But it comes down to one question:

Why? Why does He transform us?

Why does God take us through suffering?

There can be only one answer to that very universal question:

It is for the completion of His eternal purpose!

Which leads to the most penetrating question ever:

What is His eternal purpose?

Well, that would definitely take more than a blog post to answer. But in the first place I would recommend you read the letter to the Ephesians. There are also links at the end of this blog post that will give you resources that will help you.

But (in a nutshell) the eternal purpose is all about God getting what He wanted since before creation: a Kingdom, a Body, a Bride, a City, a Community, a Family, and a House… all inside of a New Creation!

Not…

An institution, a club, an organization, a building (made of dead stones), a hierarchy, a business, a once per week ritual, etc, etc, etc.

In fact, it will take you the rest of your life (and beyond!) to discover all of the glories of this marvelous purpose!

In Conclusion

So you see, this is why God has been taking me through the “meat grinder”, so to speak. He wants to use me (and all of you as well!) to help bring about that glorious kingdom. It will take a crucified people who are dead to themselves but alive to God.

Please feel free to contact me at: milt@therebuilders.org

There are also many resources you can find about this subject and many others on our website here: http://www.therebuilders.org

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

1 John 2:15-17, 1 John 5:19 

In these passages the word “world” is kosmos in the original Greek.  This literally means the “world system”.  It’s very important for us, as believers, to understand that this world that we live in is a system.  That is, there is definitely a mind behind the system.  Actually, the kosmos is made up of many systems.  You could say that the “system” is made up of many “sub-systems”.

For example, in this kosmos there are systems such as: the economic system, the governmental system, the political system, the media system, the military system, and on it goes.  But the most treacherous system for believers is the religious system!  Of course, there are many religions in the world, but we are focusing on the so called “Christian religious system”.  This is what I would call “institutional Christianity” or the “institutional church”.

Some History

Now, of course, this religious system is very ancient.  Actually, it began in the Garden of Eden.  You know, when Adam and Eve first ate of that other tree?  Now, it’s important that we understand that from Satan’s perspective those kids eating from his tree wasn’t just about sin.  It was about control!  He is the usurper who will always (well, not always!) try to gain control over God’s creation.  So… now we have a fallen creation and a fallen humanity.  So now, everything that mankind touches is corrupt because the whole race is corrupt.

A New Adam and a New Race

And we all (hopefully) know the story.

“So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”   1 Co 15:45   

“However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.

The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.

As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.

As we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.”

1 Co 15:47-49

Here Paul discusses the two Men.  The first Adam (Man) became a living soul but the last Adam became a life giving Spirit.  And we who are in the last Adam (Christ) now bear the image of the heavenly.

So… now we can see that this is not about going to church, sitting in a pew, and listening to a sermon.  It is not about doing “good” or “religious things”.  It is not about memorizing scripture or “saying” your prayers.  No!  We are not talking about that realm at all.  Instead we are focusing on a whole new and different realm altogether.  It is a New Creation and a New Race.  And that creation is all about the New Man (or Adam).  That is, Jesus Christ Himself.  Not just things about Christ.  Not just things for Christ.  Not just things mentioning Christ.

                                      But Christ Himself!

That is the very Person of Christ.  He is the New Creation.  Those who are part of that New Creation live in and by that New Man who is Christ.  This is totally and utterly different and even directly opposed to the first Adam and his race.  Okay, so now this brings us back to 1 John and the fact that the whole world system (kosmos) lies under the power of the evil one.  And this includes all the “sub-systems” which includes the religious system.  But what exactly is the religious system?  Well, if you have read about church history at all you will know that as early on as the second century the Christian churches began to take on the forms and practices of the world system around them.

The centrality and headship of Jesus Christ were beginning to be replaced by man-made structures and organization.  The Church, who is the Family of God, stopped meeting in homes and looked toward lifeless buildings instead.  This was all instigated by men who were building their “ministries” instead of the kingdom of God.  This gave rise to humanism in the church.

One man or woman ministries became more popular than the Church herself.  Christian “superstars” began mega-churches built around their own ministries and personalities rather than Christ Himself.  The “every member functioning” that we see in the New Testament was almost totally lost.  The believers became spectators of the church “service” on Sunday morning.  If you aren’t the “Pastor” or part of “the staff” then you are simply an attendee and an audience.

Even the “church” buildings were designed and built to be auditoriums where you would only attend and watch the back of the heads of the people in the row in front of you!  Then, you would listen an oration (called a sermon) given by a trained speaker called a “pastor”.  There would also be some music with hymns or praise songs.  Many people I know have told me that the worship is their favorite part of the service because they get to participate.  By singing the songs!

Brothers and sisters, let’s be honest with ourselves and God.  Is this a picture of:

“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.

But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.

For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted”

1 Corinthians 14:26-31

Notice the phrases: “each one” and “one by one”

This doesn’t sound like a one-man show to me.

Not even close!

And what about the daily life of the church?  Is the church a loving family that loves to be together and share the life of Christ together?  Or are we too busy for that?  And that’s exactly why the Sunday morning service works so well for us.  There, we don’t actually have to lay down our lives for one another on a daily basis.  Isn’t living the church and being the church better than just going to church for a forty-five minute service?  Of course it’s better… it’s exactly what God designed for us.  It’s better for us, but more importantly, it’s better for Him.  Our God has an eternal purpose to have an expression of Himself on this earth and in this physical realm.  That expression is His church!

The Descriptors

The words or phrases used in the New Testament to describe the church of Jesus Christ are as follows:  Body of Christ, Family of God, Temple of the Holy Spirit, House of God, Bride of Christ, Kingdom of God, One New Man (humanity), New Race, New Creation, Priesthood of All Believers, Christ in You, the Mystery of God, the Eternal Purpose, the Saints (holy ones), His Inheritance, His Masterpiece, His Body, His Fullness, and many others!

Now… let me ask you a very penetrating question:

How in the world could such a group of people be so limited to actually sit in a pew and listen to a sermon on Sunday morning?

Dear brothers and sisters, there is so much more (incredibly more!) to this whole matter of being the church than we have ever imagined!

My wife, Mary and I have been working for the last thirty years to help believers realize their true calling as the Body of Christ.  If you are open to it, we have many resources and co-workers that could possibly help you.  All you have to do is respond to this email.

Here are the resources and contacts to help you:

Milt & Mary Rodriguez:

Website:  http://TheRebuilders.org       Blog:  http://MiltRodriguez.com/

The Rebuilders site has many resources such as articles, posts, audios, books, etc.

Also, here are a few FREE resources:

http://www.therebuilders.org/christ_in_3-DFreeDL.html

Some of our co-workers:

http://3rdrace.org/

http://terriorekklesia.blogspot.com/

http://searchingtogether.org

Seeing Christ from a Different Point of View

Introduction:

In this post I am sharing something which is very dear to my heart.  In fact, it’s so dear that I am in the process of writing a whole book on the subject!  (But more about that later on in this post.)  Knowing Christ deeply and intimately is the most important aspect of our walk with God.  Therefore, it is no wonder that the enemy of God has gone to great lengths to attempt to block and steal this from us.

The Current Situation

Dear brothers and sisters, please don’t misunderstand me at this point.  I am not making a judgement call here.  I am simply making an observation.

Most believers do not know their Lord in a deep way!  Sad to say that most believers are either steeped in religion, institutionalism, or guilt-driven, duty-motivated religious activity.

Most only know Him in an anemic, pathetically superficial way.  He is not really their All in all but rather a God that you “say your prayers to” and run to when help is needed.  In other words, He is a God of our convenience.

For many believers He is only a God that you ask, ask, and ask some more.  He is kind of like a big Santa Claus in the sky!  You want your “asking” to be answered so you go to a building on Sunday morning, sit in a pew and listen to a sermon.  Then you put something in the offering plate and feel better about yourself because you actually gave something!

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am here to let you know that there is a much, much better way!  You can actually know this Lord more intimately than your closest friend and even your spouse.  You can actually walk in His presence all throughout your day and (in varying degrees) sense Him and touch Him continuously.  He is one who sticks closer to you than any brother or friend.  In fact, the scriptures tell us that if you have surrendered your life to Him then He has come to live inside of you!  Wow!  You can’t get any closer than that.

So I am asking you, dear reader, to open your heart, mind, and spirit to learn to see Him in (perhaps) a totally new way.

The True Diamond

He is like a great diamond.  As you hold this great jewel in your hand, you begin to notice something that is quite startling.  As you hold it up in your hand and begin to move it around in the light, you will see many different colors depending upon your point of view.

If you learn to view our Lord from many different angels and in many different ways then you will “behold” a Christ much greater than you ever thought possible.  In fact, there are literally endless ways to see Him.  You will discover many “new” aspects of this Christ as you view Him and experience Him in many new ways.

The Major Hindrance

This may sound very wonderful and all, I mean, who wouldn’t want to “behold” this incredible Christ?  But you need to know that there is a problem.  Paul calls it the veil.

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,
and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.
But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.
But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;
but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Here the veil is referring to the Law of Moses and our own old flesh natures.  In our time we can relate this to the religious (legalistic) nature of mankind and the power of the fallen soul-life.

Many Christians are driven by a sense of duty to God.  They are motivated by what I call the “should” of religion.

“I should get up in the morning to pray”

“I should share Christ with people at work”

“I should go to church on Sunday morning”

“I should read my bible every day”

And on and on it goes…

Many Christians need to be set free from the “shoulds!”

The key to the Christian life is not doing things out of a sense of guilt, or pressure, or duty.  This is not the Christian life!

The Christian life is simply one thing…

You and I living by the Life of Christ within us!

He IS the Christian life.

Now, you may be thinking, “yes, Milt, that’s all well and good but we need to know practically how to abide in this Christ.”

I understand.  However, that would take a whole book to explain.

But, guess what?  I’m writing such a book right now!  It will be titled “Eyes Wide Open” – Learning to see and Experience an Indwelling Christ.  In this book I am going into great detail both spiritually and practically to help believers to behold this wonderful Lord.  The book is broken down into three parts:

• A life Changing Revelation of Jesus Christ
• How you can know this Christ deeply and intimately
• How groups of believers (churches) can know Him and live by His life together.

All of this help is given after over thirty-five years of experience helping believers in this way.

But we need your help!

You can help us get the word out about this unique book.  You can tell your friends, relatives, home groups, bible study groups, etc.

If you would like to be notified when this book is published then all you need to do is send us an email at: milt@therebuilders.org

In the subject line of the email type the words: Eyes Wide Open Book

We will add you to a special email list for those interested.  Even though this unique book probably won’t be available until late 2020 or early 2021, you can still tell others about it.  And we will work on making it available as soon as possible.

*Special Gift! Also, if you add your email to the list, I will send you a FREE copy of my ebook entitled: “Christ in 3-D.”  This ebook will give you a good introduction to seeing a Christ you have never known before.