It has been almost a month now and it is going by fast. I am settling into more of a groove. Our house came down with a bit of sickness, and that was nasty. My roommate caught the worst of it, sleeping eighteen hours at a time, but I just have a little of bit of it. There are seven of us here in my house and three in my room. I am so glad I am here in this house. Community life is what it’s about. It isn’t always easy, but it is what I need. When you rub up against people every day all week long things in you and them raise to the surface. It would be easier to live alone, with my own room, but I think that living in community expedites God’s process in my life. It’s like being married . . . sort of. It is at least like having a family or living with your brothers. I see things come to the surface and realize that my character needs refining. They are a good group of men here, and quite the musicians, too. We have a good time.
We have killed three black widows so far, but “it’s no big deal”. We are going to start ripping out the nasty carpet in the house and that will freshen it up a bit. There’s a nice hard wood floor underneath. I have really been interested in health and nutrition this last year. I have wanted to start eating healthier but I wasn’t sure where to start. My buddy Cj told me he was going to go on a detox so I decided to join him. I am on day #5 of fruits and veggies and legumes. And we are trying to go as organic as we can. We bought an organic box of produce from a local farmer that he delivers to homes. It’s going pretty well. I haven’t really lost much weight and I think I feel better already, although I’ll get a better feel for it in a few weeks.
I know this is exactly where I am supposed to be for this season in my life. There is no other place I can think of that would be better for this time in my life with God, to grow and train into the man He desires. I am in the right place at the right time. Bethel is so healthy, so well rounded. It is called the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, and with reason, but that is only a part of what they are training us up to do and be.
First year is all about identity, realizing who we are in Christ. Kris Vallotton (co-founder and senior overseer of the school) was teaching about the third generation of the school back in 2000. The year finished great by all physical standards. God had done so much and all the students and staff were pumped as they graduated. But something inside Kris didn’t feel right. It kept nagging at him and finally he asked God about it and God told him “You taught royal principles to slaves.” The third year the school ran was the first year that students from out of the church were coming in and they didn’t have the same identity in Christ that those who grew up in the church atmosphere had. So, the school was equipped with power and given the mandate but the were still living like paupers instead of princes
Moses had to grow up in the king’s palace because a man who is enslaved internally can not free people externally. The Hebrews had a slave mentality and God needed their “savior” to know his royal identity. You always reduce the environment around you to the environment within you. That is why we can not bring the kingdom of God to those around us unless it is in us, and that starts with living in our true relationship to God (Mat. 3:17).
If I am really God’s son then where is my power and authority. I am a new creation in Christ, the old has gone the new has come. I have been made in God’s image, like him. I am his son, co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17), co-laborers with him. And Christ said, “All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me so go make disciples of every nation . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Mat. 28:18-20). Jesus had all authority and power and he gave that to his disciples and that counts me in as well.
The term “body of Christ” is thrown around a lot. But if we literally are the tangible body of Christ for the world today then that means something. It means that we are called to walk out what he walked out on the earth, to carry on where he left off, to do exactly as he did. Jesus commanded his disciples to heal the sick, cleanse the leper, drive out demons and raise the dead (Mat. 10) and he commanded them to teach us everything he taught them. He set up a model; he would teach them, then they would teach others who would teach others and so on.
So about the issue of identity, I am realizing that I am made to walk like Christ walked (1 J. 2:6), I am made to do what he did and even greater things. I will walk in power, I will heal the sick and raise the dead because there is no other option. Jesus commanded us to heal the sick. I am God’s son, and he has given me his power and authority to bring his kingdom to earth. Some of this I understand in my mind but I am learning to live out as reality.
Everything flows from how we envision ourselves. We can not act inconsistently with who we believe we are. There is so much solid teaching about identity here at the school. They are driving it home. I know that’s what God is going to be working on in me. Royal identity in Christ. It is going to be a reality in my life. If I fully knew who I was I would know the authority and power that is mine to walk in. But because I haven’t healed too many sick people or raised many from the dead, I have a bit to learn.
There is so much to write about. I will write more on a separate blog just to break it up. The perspective here is so healthy and holistic. It isn’t just about healing people and doing miracles for the sake of it; it is not an entertainment gig. The end goal is love. If we do not have love, we have nothing. The goal is that people would know the love of Christ in a real way. It isn’t about doing the stuff it is about knowing God. The signs, miracles and manifest power open a door to connect people with Jesus, they point them to his love.
Tracy Evans, a missionary from Mozambique spoke today at school. That was good. They are walking by faith over their. She told some cool stories. They feed 600 babies milk every week. I believe they also feed the 600 caregivers and staff as well. They have never missed a meal but many weeks they look into the food storage and only have one bag of milk left. She spends about $2000 on milk a week. God always provides though. Back a while ago they were going to stop at a 100 babies because it was getting to be too much, but they turned away a little girl and the founder couldn’t sleep all night till she sent a runner in the morning to bring the mother back and now they are up to 600.
Here’s some of the books I have read and am in the process of reading:
Already read:
• When Heaven Invades Earth – Bill Johnson
• Sexual Revolution – Kris Valloton
• The World Aflame – Rick Joyner
Reading:
• The Happy Intercessor – Beni Johnson
• The Hayford Bible Handbook – Jack Hayford
• Christian History Made Easy – Timothy Paul Jones
• Basic Training for the Prophetic – Kris Valloton
Future Reading:
• Experiencing the Father’s Embrace – Jack Frost
• Supernatural Ways of Royalty – Kris V.
• The Ultimate Treasure Hunt – Kevin Dedmon
• That All May Prophecy – Steve Thompson
• Culture of Honor – Danny Silk
• God’s General’s – Roberts Liardon
• Strengthen yourself in the Lord – Bill J.
I would recommend any one of those books (even the one’s I haven’t read) There’s a few other I will probably read, but that’s the bulk of it. Bethel is an amazing environment. Honestly there is no other place in the world I would rather be than right here for this season. These last couple days I come home and my brain is fried from the day’s download. They bring the heat and there is a lot to process. The goal here is to raise up revivalists to be released into every mountain of society; revivalists who walk in the spirit and in faith, yet also love God with all their mind and have learned how to think for themselves.
Besides the classes part of it, my Aunt Mindy and Uncle Bear came and visited a few weeks ago and that was really cool. They came down in their fifth wheel and we got to spend time together and go to some church services and have a cook out with my house mates. Until next time, Shalom.