The Spiritual Journey of MankindSample

Day Four

Inside the Kingdom of God

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

How does a life change after Jesus Christ comes into it? It varies by person. With some there is an immediate turn-around, an about face, a complete turning away from their old ways. But these people are rare. Even so, they still need a process that grows them closer to Christ, and their identity in Him. For most new converts I believe Jesus describes the Kingdom of God in that life much like a seed that is planted and then grows in us (Matthew 13:31-32). Either way that we enter our relationship with Christ, there is a maturing process that must take place to get beyond our old hurts, hang-ups and perspectives that our old nature before Christ gave us. It takes time, and there is a maturing process that God has provided through His Church, and by way of the spiritual gifts He has placed in His family, to mature others. However, our old nature still interferes with God’s best plan. We see it next.

Once Learner entered the Kingdom he was met with a “Table of Sweets,” which represents shallow doctrine and easy believe-ism. This doctrine is easy to deliver, and on the outside looks fruitful. But it does not mature a believer. Actually, it becomes a detriment to the spiritual growth of Learner. Looking at the people who feed on this shallow, unchallenging doctrine, we see they continue to embrace the ways of the world and the effects of it. They are still susceptible and weak to resist the temptations they faced before Christ. They must go deeper to become the men and women God wants to make of them. This is why Influencer instructed Learner to not settle here.

A biblical truth that I believe with all of my heart is that we can never experience a true spiritual transformation in our life without coming into close proximity with Christ. The journey of Learner must go to this place found in the Inner Chamber to find his transformation. To stop his spiritual journey before this point at the Table of Sweets, he will not find it, nor will he become the man God wants to make of him.

The Banquet Table

“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,” 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (ESV)

There is a maturing plan for believers, and it is found through God’s word and its relevance to our life and circumstances. Learning to “self-feed” on God’s word will become a lifelong pursuit, and this will establish a spiritual roadmap to the Inner Chamber for Learner. But he must be carefully mentored with the process early on, and this is why God has established the church. If operating correctly, the church can provide this mentorship and support to grow a believer toward intimacy with Christ, if a church sees and embraces this value. The Banquet Table represents teachers, pastors, mentors, ministry leaders and other gifted believers whose gift it is to help grow a new believer. This gifted work is under the Head, which is Jesus Christ, and our gifts work in a coordinated fashion, as God’s Spirit leads us.

The Process – Abide in Me

I feel the message of John 15 is about abiding in Christ in a place of intimacy with Him. I believe this should be the lifelong journey of a follower of Christ. Along the way there are many obstacles that stand in the way. Discipleship is a process that should help a believer recognize both the invitation, the path, and the roadblocks. In my book I try to identify these things within the allegory through the truth of scripture. But I do it in story form so that it is read with the mind but understood at the heart level. I believe the Gospel and the word of God is meant to be understood at the heart level. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible says that in the King James version of the Bible, the brain is not mentioned once, but the heart is cited 826 times. Have we forgotten that our study of scripture requires our heart to be connected to God’s Spirit to truly understand His word? The fruit of correct discipleship is to create a heart change that conditions us to be led by the Spirit of God and to hear Him better.

I believe the discipleship process that is needed requires our focus on the Incarnate Word, the Person of Jesus rather than a limited preoccupation with the written word. I try to reveal this process in the book and move the reader to recognize where they are in their journey with Christ, and what awaits them if they are willing to follow the Bible’s leadership that will journey them closer to Jesus. The word of God is a sacred roadmap to the Treasure of the Universe, which is Jesus Christ. That is why my book is fortified with scripture to present my case, for I believe the scriptures themselves will show us the way.

I believe that true life transformation in a follower of Christ is found only by abiding in close proximity with the Holy Spirit. It is there that our hearts are recreated after God’s own heart, and it is there that we are more closely joined with Him. It is His invitation for God’s children to come and abide in Him as He abides in us. This is the story within the story of Journey to the Inner Chamber. That is our journey as followers of Christ.

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