I had an instructor in one of my master’s programs who used the phrase “Level of Consciousness,” in teaching community leadership. One class she opened the session telling us that we were going to learn to deal with difficult people. Everyone in the room immediately laughed, and I assumed, like myself, had that difficult person come to mind immediately. I was intrigued and looking forward to learning how to deal with … (You know who you are…and you are probably not reading this.)
Trick was on us though as she spent the first half of the class pointing out that WE were someone’s difficult person. Great job teach! Get us to lean in then knock us down. What was so brilliant was that in setting us up she did in fact move our level of consciousness.
This translates well to describe our life journey. As a child when we are in the 1st grade we will not be expected to operate at a 4th grade level. However, in 4th grade we most certainly comprehend the grades we’ve mastered. In the working world this translates as well. I had dinner with a very dear friend this last week (best Maple Bourbon Brussel Sprouts I have ever had) and we had not seen each other in quite a while so three hours went by fast. Our waiter was training, so he was accompanied by someone to help him learn the system. With each curve ball we hit him with, gluten free please – split the check please, he gained instruction and experience and moved up a level of consciousness. I have no doubt when I go back there (yes for more Maple Bourbon Brussel Sprouts) he will be handling it all on his own.
How does this apply to our walk with Christ?
At creation in the Garden, God walked with them in full perfect Glory. They were so covered in the presence of Yahweh that they didn’t even know fear or shame and were unaware of their own naked vulnerabilities. They were extremely conscious of God’s presence, until they chose otherwise. Being born children of the sin of Adam and Eve in spiritual death, we have a very high awareness of self, of fear, of shame, of vulnerabilities, but no experience in His Glory.
As we grow up and mature, we learn from what we are exposed to when we are young and by what we choose to seek when we get older. Our basis for a faith journey begins at home. We are taught by words, by deeds and more importantly, by example, where we should place our faith. Family traditions, religious practices, and culture all play a part in forming our trust. We learn to place our faith in people, structures, ideologies, philosophies and self. And into adulthood we generally find a place of comfort where we feel a sense of control and we find a survivable rhythm of life.
Regrettably, surviving life falls way short of what Jesus’s victory on the cross accomplished. He promised us in John 10:10 that he came so we may have life “abundantly.” That word abundantly is an adjective that is linked with words like extraordinary, remarkable, beyond what is necessary, ABUNDANCE. Christ purchased our lives that we may “walk with God in the cool of the day,” (Genesis 3:8) naked and unashamed.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ESV
So Why Don’t We?
It is in the daily choices we make. We are either choosing to live in survival of this earthly journey or we are can choose to seek abundance of the eternal realm. This choice has been with mankind since in the beginning, and we see it throughout scripture. God using situations, consequences, kings, judges and prophets to keep the people of Israel on track. When God called Abraham, he had to leave his father’s house and all that had formed him and in an encounter with Yahweh stepped into covenant to the unknown. From Egypt through the wilderness and into the promised land, He heralds them back to himself to come up a level. Meet Him on the Mountain! From the time of judges through the dynastic kingdoms, He beckons them to come closer.
In Isaiah Chapters 50, 51 and 52, Yahweh is directing Isaiah to bring a message to Israel. Over and over the phrases that you see are as follows:
“Listen”
“Give Attention”
“Lift up your eyes”
“Awake – Awake”
“Wake yourself, Wake yourself”
“Listen to me”
“Hear this”
What is Yahweh doing by speaking these words through His chosen prophet. He is calling Israel to another level of consciousness. But a consciousness of what? We see the answer to that in The Christ who is King, prophesied about in Isaiah 52, 53 and 54.
Emmanuel, God with Us. The King brings the Kingdom.
In the days of Jesus earthly ministry, He heralded the same call. The wording that was used by John the Baptist was, “repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2) And it is recorded in Matthew 4 that as Jesus began his earthly ministry, “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Vs. 17). What was Jesus saying to the people of the first century church?
“Listen”
“Give Attention”
“Lift up your eyes”
“Awake – Awake”
“Wake Yourself – Wake Yourself”
“Listen to me”
“Hear this”
SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD and His chosen son, the Christ!
Earthly Ministry Encounter:
Jesus called the 12 disciples, who left everything as Abraham did and followed Him. Walking as His disciples and seeing abundant life firsthand gave experience led testimony of who The Father truly is. Then they experienced The Cross – overwhelmed and confused they were just being brought a little higher as they encountered Him on that third day.
Resurrected Christ Encounter:
After His resurrection He walked the earth for and additional 40 days. We are told little of what he said, but in Acts1:3 it says he spoke again about the Kingdom of God. This was not a new topic, but the teacher was now the Resurrected Victorious Christ – Another Level!
Outpouring of Holy Spirit:
He also told them of the coming Holy Spirit (prophesied about Jeremiah 31:31; Ezekiel 11:14-21, and Ezekiel 36:22-29 and Ezekiel 37) and declared in John 14, to be the Spirit of truth – the “God with us” of the New Covenant. ANOTHER LEVEL!
LISTEN – The Spirit of God speaks to you and invites you into encounter – Choose to Hear!
GIVE ATTENTION – His goodness and mercy are at play in every event in your life!
LIFT UP YOUR EYES - The Spirit of God is removing old distractions from your focus and showing you NEW THINGS!
AWAKE – WAKE YOURSELF – It is up you to individually to stir yourself up. It says that King David “strengthened himself in the LORD.” (1 Samuel 30:6) We MUST learn to do this.
At a certain point before the Cross, Jesus called three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, and led them up to the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17) Those three were invited to a higher level of consciousness of the Kingdom of God and His Christ in Glory. I believe that we are being invited in the same way. God moves His Kingdom generationally and He is on the move today. There is a season of opportunity for us to move to a new level of revelation, understanding, awareness, glory and favor as we yield to Holy Spirit. It is for us individually, generationally and corporately. It’s time for the body of Christ to mature to another level of Kingdom Consciousness. It’s time to quit being limited to survival mode and be overwhelmed by the awareness of the abundant, extraordinary life that Christ promised.
Oh, that we would but listen…
Oh, that we would hear…
Your Kingdom Come,
Kammy