Jesus Christ is Perfect Theology, Ryan Kibbe – SOZO EP0015

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What do we mean when we say, Jesus Christ is Perfect Theology?

Jesus Christ as Perfect Theology means that we can’t come to know what God is truly like without Jesus. That God can only be known, and the whole of Scripture can only be interpreted, through Jesus alone. Jesus becomes the lens through which we view ALL of Scripture.

Whereas Job and ALL the Old covenant prophets are posing the question:

“God, who are You?”

Jesus is the answer:

“I AM what God is like.”

God-is-like-Jesus

God is Like Jesus

The book of Hebrews begins with this:

“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God.” Hebrews 1

Jesus said:

“If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father.” (John 14 NLT)

Jesus never said anything that the Father wasn’t giving him to say. Everything Jesus was given to say was carefully chosen by the Father to lead people into eternal life which Jesus defines for us as restored relationship! Also, Jesus never did anything on his own. He always partnered with what the Father was already doing. The Father was expressing “Himself” perfectly through Jesus Christ leading his lost children back home.

First of all, both Ryan and I begin in this talk by relating our understanding of God growing up in the church. He believed God would only love him if he remained faithful. Ryan talks about how so many of us partner with a cycle of shame and a performance mentality that we allow to define our relationship with God. We make it about us and not about the marvelous beauty and wonder of who God is and enjoying fellowship with Mr. Joy Himself.

Jesus Christ is Perfect Theology in You

A couple of Scriptures that Ryan Kibbe shared in this interview were:

“…as He is, so also are we in this world.” – 1 John 4:17

And:

“Christ in you the hope of glory” – Colossians 1:27 NASB

Ryan emphasized how Christ didn’t die for a doctrinal statement but to live in you and me to re-present the Father to an orphan minded world of what the Father is truly like.

I love that! When Ryan said that we re-present the Father to an orphan minded world I couldn’t help but think of the interview I just did with Mel Wild! We talked in that episode about how the Father’s embrace is healing the orphan minded in both the church and the world. As one poet once said, “Jesus wants to save Christians too.”

Listen to what John writes in the beginning of his Gospel:

“No one has ever yet seen God. The only begotten God, the One being in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known.” John 1:18 Berean Literal Bible

It seems that all the other prophets prior to Jesus have only have ever caught the faintest whispers of what God was truly like until Jesus revealed him. If we want to know what God is like, we look to Jesus.

All true prophets since Christ’s coming have Christ living in them. They can truly know the Good Shepherd and “see God” which is something Jesus said would be true for the pure in heart (or fully surrendered).

We, as Christ followers, are now displaying what God is like. Jesus in us is still putting God on display to the world saying through us, “this is what God is like.”

The apostle Paul writes in one of his letters to the Corinthians about beholding the glory of God and reflecting him to this orphan hearted world like Ryan mentions in this talk.

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

(This is where our band name Reflect Worship comes from! Check out our music here: www.reflectworship.com)

And again:

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

What About all our Carefully Crafted Doctrinal Statements of Theology?

While it may seem like a cop out to simply say, “Jesus Christ is Perfect Theology”, I actually see this perspective as the most brilliant way to live in unity and harmony with other believers. Personally, I refuse to even play the game of defining theology as hammering out a doctrinal statement anymore.

Theology is a Person.

If we are in relationship with Truth Himself (Yeshua, aka Jesus) then we know that all errors in our understanding of this Perfect Theology will be straightened out in time as we grow in relationship.

Relationship has always been the point!

As I mentioned before, Jesus defines Eternal Life as Relationship! If you don’t have relationship by actually coming to Jesus then you do not have eternal life.

It isn’t our perfect understanding of Theology that saves any of us, but Perfect Theology Himself who saves us. After all, Jesus own name spells out “I AM Salvation”.

May 16, 2018June 2, 2018

Shift Happens, Mel Wild (pt 2) – SOZO EP0014b

John 14:20 Shift Happens in the Father's Embrace

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Ready for a Paradigm Shift?

Mel Wild and I in part two of this interview start out by discussing a Scripture from John 14:20 that has brought a paradigm shift in our understanding of our relationship with God. (Check out Part One Here!)

“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” – Jesus

So what does this mean?

You have been united with Christ! The Trinity has moved in! You have been brought closer to God than you could have ever thought possible. We are now One with Love “Himself”.

God is Love in Whom We Live and Move and Have our Being

The truth of this Scripture in John 14:20 goes way deeper than most Christians know. I tend to think that many so called “New Agers” accept the truth of reality and what we are plugged into more readily than those that have grown up in the church. Many in the church have become wary and suspicious of the more radical (foundational) elements of their own faith!

This is exactly why we need a reformation! To come back to the roots of what it is to be a Christ follower. Will we be open to a deeper relationship with Jesus? Are we willing to receive all that Holy Spirit wants to teach us and reveal to us?

There isn’t more than Christ to discover but there is certainly more of Christ to discover. What do you think of that?

Christ and his identity and our identity in him must become the foundation for our lives! And what a joy it is to discover the mystical union and intimacy we share with God! Will we allow Holy Spirit to bring this shift into our hearts?

“God is love” (1 John 4) “in whom we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17).

Regarding the New Age

Since I brought up the New Age culture, the biggest flaw I have seen is the denial of Jesus Christ for who he truly is. Does the New Age honor Jesus Christ as the I AM? Do they recognize Jesus Christ as the Source and the Creator of all that is as the Bible reveals? Do they fail to respect or even know the Scriptures for what they are or as Jesus reveals them to be? Are they approaching truth from a wrong spirit? Even an Antichrist Spirit?

Yet many of those in the New Age recognize the fact that we live and move and have our being in love. Many of them know we come from and share the nature of this love at our core. That we are swimming in this love. That we were made in God’s image and likeness.

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May 14, 2018June 2, 2018

Shift Happens, Mel Wild (pt 1) – SOZO EP0014

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Transformation is rarely an easy process. Who among us actively seeks out our own change? Even if a paradigm shift (a new way of thinking – aka “repentance”) is better for us, it is still unknown. The unknown can be scary. What we know has become comfortable. Even though our experience may be miserable, it’s something we know and can control… Or so we think.

Shift Happens in the Father’s Embrace

Mel Wild in his book Sonshift talks about the shift that took place in his own life when he felt the embrace of the Father. At the time he was at the end of his rope with a business that was failing and relationships about to fail. God gave him the choice, “either face the hell in your life and work this out with me, or you can leave and do as you please.”

He was given a real choice because Love requires real freedom of choice.

He chose to face the hell of his own making and work it out with God. It was when he decided to get real with God that he experienced the profound love of the Father and this love shifted everything.

He writes:

“I suddenly felt my heavenly Fathers BIG arms of love around me, hugging all the vitriolic poison out of my soul.”

When I read that line I was stunned because I had just said to my wife minutes before reading this phrase from Mel’s book Sonshift, “I feel like there is a vitriol in my soul poisoning me.”

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What is the Vitriol that Poisons You?

The source of the poison in my heart was really my own lack of love. It was choosing “being right” over love. This lack of love poisoned my mind against others. I was judgmental of others. I imagined that they were all judging me as well.

My vitriol was a product of all the lies I believed about who God is and about my acceptance by, and identity in, him. My pride and fear and all my insecurities plagued my tenuous and troubled relationship with God. I often struggled with the feeling that I was a hopeless failure. I felt unworthy and unloved.

Am I good enough? Does God really love me as I am? What about all the times I have ignored or betrayed him? Does he really just forgive me? What about the lack of change I still see in my life? Am I really a new creation like the Bible says? How could I be, given my track record?

Jesus is the answer for all these questions.

Nothing ever changes or shifts for us if we only ever stare at our own problems yet refuse to shift our focus to the cure. The problem will be solved only when we look to the cure. Jesus is the cure.

Who is Mel Wild?

Mel Wild is God’s favorite (and so are you), and is the senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in Wisconsin. Mel’s passion is pursuing the Father’s heart in Christ and giving it away to others. He spends his time trailblazing the depths of God’s grace and documenting that journey in his blog: https://melwild.wordpress.com/

Mel and I have been blogging buddies for several years now. I tune into his blog from time to time and am encouraged by his interactions with what I have been writing.

Iconoclast of a Reformation Shift

One of Mel’s friends, Mark Hendrickson, has dubbed Mel an iconoclast. What does this mean?

The word Iconoclast “has also come to refer to aggressive statements or actions against any well-established status quo. It is a frequent component of major political or religious changes. People who engage in or support iconoclasm are called iconoclasts, a term that has come to be applied figuratively to any individual who challenges “cherished beliefs or venerated institutions on the grounds that they are erroneous or pernicious””. (Source)

Is there something about the status quo that needs challenging? Do any of us hold beliefs that are erroneous or pernicious?

ummm… yes.

What is Mel Wild challenging?

Mel says, “Let’s just be honest and say that in many ways American Evangelicalism is broken. The church needs reformation. The catalyst for this new reformation and Awakening coming to the church will center around the goodness and the grace and kindness of the Father.”

Mel Wild challenges misunderstandings of the true nature of Jesus and our identity in Christ. He challenges everything that doesn’t reflect the Father’s heart of love and grace toward all his children (all of humanity).

Together, Mel and I are reaching out for the spiritual orphans whether they be the prodigal or the older brother (See Luke 15). Jesus loves you all and wants to bring a liberating Love Shift into your heart and bring transformation in the best possible ways. He wants to hug the vitriol out of us all. Are you in?

Will you trust Jesus to shift you?

(Subscribe and Stay tuned for Part 2!)

ps. I referenced a video in this talk about my own personal revelation into the John 14:20 Scripture:

“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” – Jesus

Here is that video:

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Please consider donating toward this ministry. Donations are via our worship ministry Reflect Worship. Please visit www.reflectworship.com for more information or visit www.reflect.bandcamp.com to download our music!

March 14, 2018March 18, 2018

St. Patrick’s Confession – SOZO EP0007

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Enjoy this reading of St. Patrick Confession – with hilariously unique intro and read with an accent!

The only thing you really need to know about St. Patrick is that he was fond of all things green – wearing green robes (as you can see from the very accurate portrayal of him below), was fond of drinking green beer, giving out shamrocks, and dancing with leprechauns. He carried a staff and with it drove all the snakes out of Ireland (I heard from from a reliable source that he put ’em all in a wooden box and threw ’em in the river).

What can truly be known of the life of St. Patrick? Many legends and myths surround the man but thankfully there are two documents that scholars believe to have been written by Patrick himself. The Confessio and his Epistola. (Source material for these and much other historical evidence can be found HERE).

Here is the episode where I read St Patrick’s Epistola or his “Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus”!

St Patrick and His Breastplate

Sorry, but “St. Patrick’s” Breastplate does not seem to have been written by the man himself. A friend of mine really digs this writing, however, so maybe it’s worth checking out?

My favorite line of “Patrick’s” Breastplate prayer/hymn is:

“Christ in the poop”

Christ certainly does enter our poop to be with us when we insist on sitting in it, doesn’t he? The angels are ever changing our poopy diapers when we choose sin. I don’t know too many who aren’t actively playing in the poop. Maybe I need some more friends who actually know and love Jesus?

Okay, so he is actually referencing the poop deck on a ship… or so I would imagine.

Here is the entire poem (thanks Wikipedia):

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
God’s Power to guide me,
God’s Might to uphold me,
God’s Wisdom to teach me,
God’s Eye to watch over me,
God’s Ear to hear me,
God’s Word to give me speech,
God’s Hand to guide me,
God’s Way to lie before me,
God’s Shield to shelter me,
God’s Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

So, whatdya tink o that? eh?

Could the Legends of St. Patrick be True?

There are a great deal of legends and stories about Patrick that are not verifiable. (How can you verify events of nearly 1600 years ago?) As one who seeks to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I still have more thorough research to do myself to ascertain what is true or not.

I certainly would like to believe that Patrick raised the dead among the Irish as some documents have claimed. The following article is from a friend and mentor and fellow blogger and pastor and simply just a beloved child of God just like you, Mel Wild: https://melwild.wordpress.com/2015/03/16/the-man-who-raises-dead-people-remembering-st-patrick/

Here’s a snippet from the above blog where St. Patrick himself personally attested to these miracles:

“And let those who will, laugh and scorn–I shall not be silent; nor shall I hide the signs and wonders which the Lord has shown me many years before they came to pass, as He knows everything even before the times of the world.”

“The Lord hath given to me, though humble, the power of working miracles among a barbarous people, such as are not recorded to have been worked by the great Apostles; inasmuch as, in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I have raised from the dead bodies that have been buried many years….”

– Quotes from his “Letters” (Confessions and Letter to Coroticus)

By the way, Mel Wild will likely and perhaps be future guest on this show in the near future?

(Of course I know raising the dead is possible because my very first Sozo Episode was to interview Robby Dawkins who had raised someone from the dead!)

Even St. Patrick himself in his Confession hints to a great many more stories that never made it into any lasting work by the man… so we think. Perhaps many of the legends were based on fact and actual events. Who knows?

Did Patrick teach the Trinity with a Shamrock? Maybe.

Trivia fact for the day: St. Patricks given name is Maywen Succot

I had a real fun time crafting the intro and hope you enjoy it, and learning more about this man we honor every March 17th for his courage and obedience and the impact he had on the nation of Ireland and the world!