SHARP ERO UPDATE #6

Friday February 1st, 2008

Distinguished Branches,

Today I ran into a young woman who was at the “Sermon on the Mount” portrayal at Regent Chapel on December 3rd, 2007. It was a quick encounter but she really encouraged me. She said the most powerful thing that happened for her during the portrayal was seeing some people on the staircase across from her get up from their seats and actually lean over the railing to see who I was talking to and what I saying. A revelation instantly hit her, she said, “This is what people did when Jesus was talking. They rushed to see what he was going to do and say next!”

She’s absolutely right. As Jesus finished delivering the “Sermon on the Mount” scripture tells us that the “crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (Matthew 7:28-9). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrew 13:8). Jesus was, is and forever will be the epitome of authenticity. He spoke from his innermost being and streams of living water flowed from within him by the power of the Holy Spirit. That reality will be true for us and anyone who really comes to Jesus and abides in him! (John 7:37-39).

The world does not hate religion. It loves religion. The world hates the Holy Spirit who exposes the world as a façade of fraudulence and condemns all sin. He is not a ‘performer’. He is reality! That is why I do not use the word ‘performance’ for the drama anymore. If I perform then I cut off the Holy Spirit’s power and I fail because I can nothing of real significance apart from him. It is a dramatic portrayal of Jesus.

Andrew Murray writes in his classical devotional book HUMILITY that, “We have our pride from Adam; we must have our humility from Christ. Pride rules in us with incredible power; it is ourselves, our very nature. Humility must become ours in the same way; it must be our true selves, our very nature”. The standard set forth in the Sermon on the Mount is the reflection of a humble heart submitted to the Spirit of God. To walk by faith is to walk in humility under the Spirit of God.

All things are possible WITH God! Is God with you? This is the foundation of a supernatural life that is dead to the corrupted selfish pride nature and is being perfected in the image of Christ. Jesus says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48). I guarantee you he was not joking! The crucifixion was not a joke! Selah!

persevering through vision,

Eric Ryan Olson