Cross the Imaginary Line

One of the biggest obstacles to overcome for most people is crossing the imaginary line of “doing what’s acceptable to Christian culture” and “doing what’s necessary to fulfill the Word of God”.

For example, the Bible instructs us in at least two places to pray in tongues at all times or continually. If you are a carnally minded person you view this as just another hoop to jump through. But for the spiritually minded person we view this as a way in Christ that will build us up into the manifestation of the fullness of Christ.

In trying to equip the Church in Corinth to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, Paul wrote the following:

1 Corinthians 4:17

17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Paul taught the same thing everywhere and in every church: his ways in Christ for the purpose of presenting everyone mature in Christ.

The high calling of God in Christ Jesus is to “grow up into Christ in every way”. To reach “a place of spiritual maturity beyond which there is no progress”. Paul said concerning this, I “bear down upon the goal”.

Now, if we have the correct goal in mind, to manifest Jesus Christ in the measure of the stature of His fullness, and to bring all people groups in to the same mature sonship, then we can begin to ignore any voice or cultural representative that does not have the same goal.

But we can also begin to drive towards that goal with a New Testament filled with “my ways which are in Christ” including praying in tongues.

Praying in tongues with determination, zeal, focus, and perseverance will cause you to be built up into Christ becoming “strong in the Lord and the power of His might”. This is not a matter of the correct method, but it is a matter of winning, overcoming, and completing the mission.

What does a runner have to become in order to compete to win? Simple, whatever it takes. God is not interested in your best. He commands us to overcome and expects us to do it. To grow up INTO Christ our example, unto mature sonship, doing the same works and GREATER, and bringing all nations into this reality until the kingdoms of this world are “broken to pieces” by the strength of a people who have been made His kingdom.

All of these things progressing together until the influence of the ”one who holds the dominion of death” is removed and all of God’s enemies are “made His footstool” by the Church.