People of the Way. > It takes time to unwind the American mindset. For too long we have taught too much American Jesus and too little Bible Jesus. We are so entangled in the American way that it cannot be untangled quickly. We need to slow down. But that too, goes against our American way.

People of the Way live in the paradox. Gentiles like a way that seems right to man, but refuses to believe the paradoxes of Christ could be true. To them a paradox is a paradox, and not to be given any real consideration. It’s absurd.

Paradox = A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be true.

It takes a lot of faith to live in the paradox. The American way in all of its materialism does not gel well with our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. So most Americans cling to their motorboat ways and reject the motorless sailboat, even though they may claim to be walking in the Spirit. They actually believe the American Jesus is the way, and that is why they never really know His words of “I will give you REST”, or perfect peace passes all understanding, or be not entangled in this world, or the truth will set you FREE.

A popular paradox is that less can be more. How can that be true? And yet, if God is part of the equation, it is absolutely true. The motorboat person has no faith for that. To him the sailboat is too mystical and slow. I have this manmade motor I can get there in half the time! And I can go against the wind any time I want. Why should I be completely dependent upon the wind? (Perhaps something called surrender?)

Americans love to “blaze their own trail”! However… what does it mean for our steps to be ordered of the Lord? And is the fire from heaven? Or manmade? Anyone can start a fire. We can burn down all kinds of stuff. Anyone can impregnate a woman and bring Ishmael’s into the world, but where’s Isaac? (The child of true faith?) (They that wait upon the Lord.)

Who are the Elijah’s that can call fire down from heaven? Did he not spend time in a cave seeking the whispers of God? But that is too slow! I don’t have the time or patience for that. Besides, I got this motor. We have a greater revelation. If I rev this motor enough, I’ll make it happen.

Hhmmm. That so. How about this paradox? “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)

That’s a paradox if I ever heard one, but very possible if God is in the equation. Godwalkers live in the paradox. Enoch is a prime example. He literally was taken by God and did not see death. But here in America, people look at you in very strange ways.

Someone asked me about our barn burning down. They thought I would be depressed, upset, stressed. They couldn’t believe I already moved on to what God wants to do with the fire! His power to do something good! 150,000 dollar barn that we had 19,000 on, and he couldn’t believe that didn’t bother me. I had to cheer him up!

So…until we get this American Jesus unwound, be prepared all you Godwalkers out there, it might be lonely. I experience that a lot. A new friend I met is wrestling with my teaching even now. Not sure he is going to stay around. Right now we are like the odd couple. But as more begin seeing the real Jesus and the power of His walk, we will enjoy the fellowship! No longer misunderstood!

God’s ways are not our ways, but as we learn them, they can become our ways. The people of His Ways. This opens a whole different “Way” of living for us. The Garden of Eden is rebirthed “IN” us. God works from the inside out. The world from the outside in. And the world cannot dictate what we have “inside” us! They might take the external stuff, but have no power over the internal and eternal. Amen!

So… Jesus said to be NOT like the Gentiles. The world wants to go faster and faster. If someone invents faster instant potatoes, the world will buy into it. So I say we need to slow down. We especially need to slow down when it comes to putting on our priestly garbs each day, that armor of light hanging in our prayer closet. We need to dress slowly and intentionally. That way when we go forth, there is nothing “external” that can defeat us. And the anointing is so great we do not even break a sweat! Real faith does not sweat! The body may sweat from an exertion, but I pray through till my soul has peace. That is L7D. That is our fighting style. Sabbath Style. That is the Garden of Eden alive and well in us.

God delights in the paradox because it proves it is Him and not us. We really do fail in the paradoxes of life. It also weeds out all those white belts not serious about learning His Ways. The peace passing all understanding is for the Enochs of the world, and all those listed in Hebrews Eleven Hall of Faith. Even those who died and suffered. It is for those who really desire to Kung Fu their Bible, and not just know God from a distance. They want the deep, not the shallow.

I will end today with some verses from the MESSAGE Bible. As a friend of mine said, I have a love/hate relationship with the Message Bible. Sometimes it leaves out such an important point, but then other times it sure has a way of saying something. ENJOY.

“I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree. “For as the sky SOARS HIGH above the earth, (God calls us to the high places.), so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.”

(From here God explains a supernatural key as to how things work, if we are a student who learns.)

“Just as rain and snow descends from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for the farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.”

“So you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life.” (And it goes on to describe the supernatural life.) (Isaiah 55:6-12)

The typical American reads these words and thinks this is a way to get rich and testify of God because of how much He has blessed them. That’s the American Jesus. The Bible Jesus said it was more blessed to give than receive. God is speaking of a Garden of Eden supernaturally in you now, and a home in heaven when were done here. Now that is true riches.