Release Your Growth Potential

John 12:24-25 (Msg) “Except the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, it abides alone; but if it die, it bears much fruit.” Life is in the grain of wheat, but there is a shell on the outside. As long as that shell is not split open, the life and growth capability within the grain of wheat cannot be released and cannot sprout and grow unto its fullest potential.

The Rhythm of Healthy Life Growing in Christ “Healthy things grow, growing things change, changing things challenge us, challenge calls us to trust, trust leads us to obedience, obedience makes us healthy, healthy things grow…” The following passage from Ephesians provides impetus for the release of growth.

13 until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. 14 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. 15 God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love - like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. 16 He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love. Ephesians 4 (Msg)

Within those who possess the life of the Lord Jesus are one of two conditions in regards to growth; those in whom growth is confined, restricted, imprisoned and unable to come forth; and the other includes those in whom the Lord has forged a way to growth through brokenness, and life is thus released from within.  Growth potential, brokenness and release are essentially inter-twined in all believers.

The Lord’s plan and even longing within the life of his maturing followers is to bless the world through those who belong to Him. Growth and brokenness are the way of blessing-the way of release. Prolonged infancy produces ‘brats’ in Christ. Brats are rarely; if ever, a blessing to themselves or any others.

How much we need for Him to open our eyes, to see that everything which comes into our lives is for the growth and subsequent release of His life through ours…The Lord has not wasted even one thing-He is aiming at one objective: the breaking of the outward man (the soul) to release Himself through the heart. “From the heart flow the issues of life.” Proverbs

Papa recently shared a perspective within me that intrigued and awakened His heart like few things have. He shared something like this. Behind much of today’s presentation of Christianity is a theology of "becoming." This distortion does not produce growth, but a striving to become. Becoming more faithful, becoming more spiritual, becoming a better ______. You fill in the blanks. 

What are you presently “striving” to “become”? He went on to say, “I would rather see you live from a position of releasing, which always results in growth.  Releasing the God-given goodness, power, potential and life underneath the surface: It's the assumption of the 'already' rather than... the 'not-yet.' 

Aren’t “we” already, on our worst day, Christ in ----? The older I get in him, the more I have the hope of “releasing” Christ in me, the hope of Glory! I don’t think I have enough time left to “work” at becoming some elusive, religious, pious self. Maybe settling on “believing who we already are in Christ” and getting out of the way (releasing growth) is a better strategy?

(Psalm 92:12 RSV) “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

May we flourish and grow! Ron Ross

There is No Plan 'B'

"Still, it's what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he gives himself as an offering for sin so that he'd see life come from it--life, life, and more life. And God's plan will deeply prosper through him. Out of that terrible travail of soul, he'll see that it's worth it and be glad that he did it. Through what He experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many "righteous ones," as He himself carries the burden of their sins. 

Therefore I'll reward Him extravagantly--the best of everything, the highest honors--Because He looked death in the face and didn't flinch, because He embraced the company of the lowest. He took on His shoulders the sin of the many; He took up the cause of all the back sheep." Isaiah 53:10-12, (Msg). Where would we be had he not embraced the company of the lowest?

No ear has heard, no eye has seen, no mind can conceive, the wonderful things God has in store for those who love Him. The height, depth, width, and length of Papa's love are way above our ability to fully comprehend. We must simply place the fullness of our faith in Father's love-heart. Jesus, the only begotten Son has embraced all of His adopted brothers and sisters and become our Elder Brother.

As such; He lovingly shares His abundance of life, freedom from the tyranny and punishment of sin, and the making of our lives into what He calls "righteous ones." Today, no matter the circumstances, yours can be a life of life, life, and more life! No more sin consciousness, only love and righteousness consciousness!

What are life, life, and more life? In my experience it is the daily receiving of His life for myself, co-operating with the inner working of His life force in producing abundance of life, and then becoming a channel through which He is able to impart His life to others! He'll see to it that everything is worth it and you will be glad you embraced Him and His plan 'A'.

If you still see yourself as the 'lowest' and a 'black sheep'-then just go ahead and shout and hallelujah to your heart’s content!!! It is your cause He is taking up! Be 'nurtured' by plan 'A'.

In the firm grip of Plan “A”, Ron Ross

Aggresive Forgiveness-Grace

Aggressive Forgiveness-Grace

The challenge; believing the gospel of grace (aggressive forgiveness) for yourself and others, daily!

"Your salvation is not a reward for good behavior! It was a grace thing from start to finish; you had no hand in it. Even the gift to believe simply reflects His faith! (Ephesians 2:8-Mirror)

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith..."

You did not invent faith; it was God's faith to begin with! It is from faith to faith, (Rom. 1:17) He is both the source and conclusion of faith." (Heb. 12:2)

This "aggressive" forgiveness--grace journey progresses in/by a 'mind shift' away from re-penance (faith in the law) to (faith in grace). "The word 'repentance' is a fabricated word from the Latin, penance, and to even give it more 'religious' milage, the English rendering became re-penance!" Francois du Toit 

That is not what the Greek word means at all! The true word that sets the journey of grace, by faith in motion is 'Metanoia'. This comes from (meta)-meaning together with, and (nous) meaning mind, together with God's mind; continuously perpetuated by a 'radical mind-shift.'

Romans 3:27 "A mind shift from trying to impress God with/by your behavior to faith righteousness in Christ, is fundamental. There is no life left in the old system, it is dead and gone; you have to move on."

Francois du Toit's research on 're-penance' and its misuse; 'a shifting and change of mind' gets you thinking/meditating/focused on 'transformation'. Repentance is a vital 'part' of the grace, by faith journey of being transformed into the image of Christ. Why? Because it gets us to turn away (once and for all) from a failed, fallen minding of ourselves; and turning us to living in God's mind-set.

We can now truly move on beyond 're-penance' and the sin-consciousness it produces to a moment by moment awareness of sharing in and being covered by Christ's righteousness. God's mind-set, thoughts and opinion of us becomes our plumbline. We literally take on the 'mind of Christ.'

Man, via 'religion' built a doctrine of 're-penance'; which gets us to agree with a faith based on our performance, instead of the finished work of Christ. And this renders us 'impotent' to the power of being transformed completely into the image of Christ by grace, through faith. 

Further; the thief never owned, nor gets ownership of us! He merely takes advantage of our fallen mind-set, and perpetuates this lie, as the accuser of the brethren. "God did not buy man back from the devil, but in the New Covenant of Grace, He redeemed us from our own ignorance, our fallen (Adamic) mindsets." 

The fallen mind-set passed laws of performance for acceptance. "All that passing laws against sin did was produce more law-breakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah (Jesus), invites us into life--a life that goes on and on and on, world without end." Romans 5:20-21 (Msg)

Papa's minding of us becomes a continuous re-minding of our acceptance in the beloved, not performance! 

In the grip of Papa’s Aggressive grace, Ron Ross

The Problem with Not Knowing

by Keith Gardner

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." [Genesis 12:1 (NIV)]

 Abram was comfortably living with his father, doing what all good sons of his time did; working for and living under the protection and provision of his dad. When God asked Abram to leave his family He was also asking him go against the culture and social norms of the day. There is no doubt that this was a huge request. To Abram the request must have not only sounded odd, but it must have been a very frightening idea. Like the prodigal son of Jesus’ New Testament story, Abram would have asked for and received his inheritance. Afterwards, he set off for a new place not knowing where he was going.

Until then...

“Until then…”

"The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!" For all the thirsty in need of their river... For all the sleeping hearts waking from their slumber... For everyone still standing at the shorelines... "Come!"

For all the hurting souls running from their healer... For all the skeptics running from an answer... Let everyone who hears these words, say,” Come!"  For the Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!"

For all the Pharisees, empty on the inside...For all the lovers who spent their love on a lie...For the forgotten, the Father's Heart says, "Come!"

For all the Fatherless, looking for approval...For all the daughters, who've never heard they're beautiful...Let everyone who hears these word say, "Come!" For the Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!" Amen and Amen...

Come Lord Jesus, Come again! Until then, Until then...Grace and Peace be ours, Amen and Amen. Amen, "Come!" Lord Jesus. :Come" Again! Until then, until then...Grace and Peace be ours, Amen!" Until You come again, Peace be ours, Amen! For the Spirit and the Bride say "Come!" Matt Maher, from "The Love in Between"

"In a loud voice they sang, "Worthy is the Lamb!" Who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and glory and praise!" Rev. 5:12

Each of us has moments lived between the Love! When we seem only to know a world system, free-falling into a fallen, decaying state! And then moments later;  life is abundant and resurrected; ravished by loving grace and peace in a beautiful world. It is true, always! "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness therein."

We can't handle this seeming bipolar spiritual state, without daily experiencing this precious voice, inviting us to "Come!" His voice reminds us that His grace and peace are more than enough and more real than the fallen state of this world system! We must "Come" and we must be in godly relationships that support us "Between the Love."

"There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless--a miserable business!

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm (in this cold world system). But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (you, your spiritual friend and Jesus are always victorious)." Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 (NIV)

In the grip of Papa's grace, peace and relational reality-in between the Love! Enjoy this powerful song from Matt Maher, Ron

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The Grace To Be by Ron Ross

The Grace to be...

"Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of the 'brightest and the best' among you, not many of the influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses chose these 'no-bodies' to expose the hollow pretensions of the 'somebody’s'? (1 Corinthians 1:26-27, The Message.)

1:26 You might as well admit it my Brothers, it was not your academic qualifications or your

good looks or social connections that influenced God to identify you in Christ.

1:27 It is almost as if God deliberately handpicked the wacky of this world to embarrass the

wise; the rejects to put to shame the noble.

1:28 The ones with no pedigree of any prominence; the 'nobodies' in society attracted

God's initiative to unveil his blueprint opinion in order to redefine man. Thus he

rendered any other social standard entirely irrelevant and inappropriate.

1:29 Every reason for man's boasting in himself dwindles into insignificance before God.

1:30 Of God's doing are we in Christ. He is both the genesis and genius of our wisdom; a

wisdom that reveals how righteous, sanctified and redeemed we are in Him.

(In God's economy, Christ represents us; what man could never achieve through personal discipline and willpower as taught in every religion, God's faith accomplished in Christ. Of his design are we in Christ; We are associated in oneness with him. Our wisdom is sourced in this union! Also our righteousness and holiness originate from him. Holiness =wholeness and harmony, spirit, soul and body. Our redemption is sanctioned in him. He redeemed our identity, our sanity, our health, our joy, our peace, our innocence and our complete well-being! Knox Translation: "It is from him that we take our origin.")

1:31 This is what Jeremiah meant when he wrote: "Let not the wise man glory in his

wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;

but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD

who practice steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I

delight, says the LORD."  1 Cor. 1:26-31 (Mirror) (Jer.9:23,24) (He is our claim to fame)

It's not who we were when He calls us, it's who we become after He calls us, that matters. Everything we are is 'grace'! On our own merits, we cannot receive this life, for even receiving it is a gift of grace. "The grace to grasp grace is grace" Brennen Manning.

This grace enables us to discover who we really are. It empowers us to live in our true identity-to be our true self and live out of the heart Jesus gave us. 'To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you everybody else, means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting,'' E.E. Cummings.

Live today in the grace to be who He is making you to be!

In the grip of Papa’s grace to be, Ron Ross

In Summation by Ron Ross

“Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don't really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.

This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants; that anyone who sees the Son and aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time.” (John 6:39-40, The Message)

What is meant by summation? Summing up is to bring to a conclusion-the final say! Following are some definitions for a Summation:

1.     Final argument in court

2.    Summary of something said…a summary of something said and/or written

3.    Total…the total amount or aggregate

4.    Addition…the process of adding something up to find a total

5.    In conclusion-bringing to a close

Jesus used some very strong words in this passage that got me meditating on why we worry so much. If in fact; if these definitive words of Jesus are true, (they are) then we need to adjust our system of belief. Yes, is the right answer according to the words of Jesus! Let’s take a closer look at His assertion of completion.

In these days of explosive uncertainty, we need an anchor for our dreams, hopes and faith. Jesus is that anchor of certainty! He knew we would go through very uncertain and difficult times and provides us with unshakable assurance. Can we finish this race with a certain excellent outcome? YES!!!

Jesus hit the bulls’ eye that obliterates worry, uncertainty, doubt and unbelief. His declaration on Calvary’s Cross is the foundation upon which all faith is built: “It is finished”. 

That means His redemptive work is complete. He summed up everything needed for our salvation, hopes, destiny and dreams. We have a brand new reality! The old is gone forever and the “NEW” has come forever! “Everything handed over to me by the Father is completed-not a single detail—missed—and at the wrap up of time I’ll have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole.” You can rest in His peace, grace and love. 

In the grip of Papa’s certainty! Ron Ross

Life: Inside Out!

“I can’t do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide. You can trust my decision because I’m not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders. If I were simply speaking on my own account, it would be an empty self-serving witness.” (John 5:30, The Message)

I’m sure you can identify with the attitude of Jesus. You know; listening before deciding or doing. Or, here’s the really easy one…most of us is well versed in putting others before ourselves. Helping ‘others’ first is our motto. 

Then; since we are never out to get our own way and totally committed to carrying out the plans and directives of ‘the boss’ (Lord means #1 boss), we could never be mistaken for being an empty self-serving witness. Well, maybe we are occasionally mistaken as being self-focused. But, if we seem somewhat ‘narcissist’, it is only because we are so miss-understood.

Meanwhile, I’ll be back from the funny farm right after I arrive in the state of ‘reality’. All kidding aside; we do sometimes get our priorities eschewed. Jesus is a very sweet savior, loving brother and friend. But, He is also King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Lest we lose sight of the finished work of the Cross and forget the price He paid to lead us all the way to completion.

This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants; that anyone who sees the Son and aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time.” (John 6:35-40, The Message)

Jesus; rightfully so, is still calling for those who will, to “follow him”. As you respectfully and intentionally follow him, you find there is much to repair, re-order, heal, mature and change on the inside before the outside looks better. Discipleship helps us become equipped to follow his example. Those who hear as Jesus heard can follow as Jesus followed.

“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant.”(Ephesians 5:1-2, The Message)

Basically, what we learn from Jesus is how he lived his life in direct, regular response to His Father’s love from the inside out. A total shift of how we lived (BC-before Christ) must take place. All of our “best thinking” got us to where we are in every aspect of life. Our beliefs, viewpoints, perspective, and world-view must be challenged to the core!

The fundamental flaw was that our “best thinking” did not include listening to God’s continuous message of love. If Jesus said, “I listen—then I decide” should we do any less? I had to come (all of us do) to the point of confessing “my life has been stuck on stupid” and left to my own devices, it is un-manageable and out of control. 

If we keep projecting the blame for our repeated struggles and failures on forces on the outside of us, we will keep getting the same results. The only sane starting point is to close our mouths and open our ears (especially the ears of our heart). That may be why we have two ears and one mouth—we are made to listen twice as much as we talk.

Too be nurtured is to listen from our heart. Invite and let Jesus teach you to listen, think, and then live from the inside—out; not from the outside—in! “My heart has heard you say, Come and talk with me, O my people. And my heart responds, Lord, I am coming.” (Psalm 27) We will be amazed to hear from Jesus; “What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours!”

You will be nurtured from the inside—out by Papa’s great love! Ron Ross

Heart Seminary

Heart Seminary

"I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer...Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me..."

"When you're joined with me and I with you, the relationship intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant...This is how my Father shows who He is--when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples." John 15:1a, 4, 5b, 8, The Message.

My good friend Ken reminded me the other day what the word 'Seminary' means: "A well tilled, fertile piece of ground, where young plants can grow." That is profound on many levels. But, let's just consider it on a personal level.

The Bible is consistently clear in comparing a fertile heart to fertile ground. 'But the one that received the seed that fell on good soil (earlier Jesus had established that the soil signified the heart) is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.' Jesus also said--I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual.

God has been plowing, tilling, cultivating and generally preparing the ground of most hearts I know-especially poignant; (and sometimes painful) my own. It takes whatever it takes! My friend Alan is a dairy farmer. I have watched how much focus he gives to the ground. The care with which he plants is incredible! There is no 'wiggle room' if you desire a good and plentiful harvest. Mostly it calls for plain old hard work and brow sweating faith/faithfulness. The harvest is always in the hands of Papa-Farmer.

So much is at stake in 'the harvest'. Being joined intimately and organically with Jesus and Papa Farmer, living-making our home in Him...just as He does in us are the main issues. "Keep the main thing, the main thing” (Peter Lord). Just as critical is to leave immaturity behind and mature as disciples. Again-a focused, hard, sweaty investment of all He gives us to ‘plant’ with. Come to the 'seminary of the heart'. 

It is here that I daily discern, God himself speaking into my heart: the supreme value, intimate relationship and deep sense of belonging that’s in Him. This ’intimate and organic’ relationship is the main course of study in the ‘seminary of the heart’.  I like to call it ‘the School of Christ’. 

His constant desire for you in this ‘Seminary of the heart’ is that you might be overwhelmed with the knowledge of His dream for your lives. His dream can be summed up in one word: Christ. His mirror image in/of you restores your identity to innocence!

In this school/seminary: “You learned Christ! My assumption is that you paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with the old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.” Ephesians 4: 20a-24, The Message..

Just a gentle reminder-Paul was not talking just about ‘sin’; he was also talking about ‘leaning on our own understanding’ and utilizing human logic and reason or philosophy as the route to growth and learning. 

Maturity and heart understanding are more relational pursuits than intellectual! Not only is ‘harvest’ the by-product of ‘Seminary for the Heart’, but; so are maturity, destiny and purpose. Papa, Jesus and Holy Spirit are beckoning me into ‘intimate and organic’ relationship. How about you?

Someone recently asked me why I write so much? It’s like someone is calling out to me, writing it all down is my way of calling back to them.  I guess you could say it is my homework in ‘The School of Christ’ and ‘Seminary for the Heart’! Grades are not the issue, relating to the teacher is. 

In the grip of Papa’s Grace, Ron Ross