When we talk of living in the tree of life and speaking life into another’s spirit, what we are really getting at is allowing the flow of life and love that comes from Jesus to flow through us and on to others. In many ways this is NOT a how to subject. I cannot give you seven Biblical “secrets or keys” to speaking life to others. Out of the heart, the mouth speaks. It is more a matter of having the mind and heart of Christ, and living a surrendered life so Jesus can flow through you to others. The more of “us” there is, the greater the chance we will speak from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

So let us state it simply: “You” can’t do it consistently (speak life). Apart from Christ you can do nothing (spiritually). But, when you and I get totally out of the picture and live “your will be done” then Jesus can bring about the life flow through our mouths, or even through a donkey’s mouth for that matter. 

When we deeply understand Father’s love for us, then we can give up control (pride) of our lives and allow Him to do His agenda in and through us. First, it is my experience many in the modern church do not understand Father’s love as well as we could. Second, we live in a world that is constantly telling us to take charge, be in control, reach for your dreams, never say die, go for it, grab your destiny, shoot for the stars, don’t hold back, never quit, and be all you want to be. Our Bibles tell us the opposite – he who loses his life will find it! 

So, is it wrong then, to “try” and speak positively to family and friends? No, it is not at all wrong. To the degree we have surrendered to our Lord and King, it is probably to the degree we can reach into and touch another person’s spirit. The tap may not be fully opened, and the flow may not wash our friends over Niagara Falls, but any flow of God’s love and life is a good thing. At your next house church gathering, ask Father to inspire you to speak life into another. Sincerity is one of the keys, not the exact words you use. A kind compliment can change so much in this death filled world. Don’t be afraid. You will do just peachy!

While we partake in Christ’s sufferings, while we enter the Kingdom through much tribulation, while many diverse trials come upon us, let us remember the very nature of the blood covenant. Father has made a blood covenant with us through our Lord Jesus, and it is the defining relationship we have with our God.

In the modern western world we put little stock in covenant. It is little more than a word from another age. In our marriage covenants, we promise to stick with our mate until death separates us, but the minute we are unhappy we drop them like hot potatoes. In El Paso county in Colorado Springs, home to the head quarters of many national ministries,  the divorce rate is now running 70%.

I put it to you, if we fully understand the level of commitment found in the blood covenant we have with Father, we will have greater spiritual strength, and more willingness to let go and put all trust in God. We may give a lot of lip service to trusting in God but it is amazing how much we also rely on our own strength and wits. Both Genesis 15 and Jeremiah 38 give us good understanding of the blood covenant agreement. An animal, or animals, are selected, and they are then split in two and the parts separated on the ground. As you can imagine, the ground ends up soaked in blood. The two individuals making covenant come together in the center of the split animal surrounded by all the bloody flesh. It is a powerful ceremony. By standing in this circle of bloody flesh they are stating that if they break covenant, they should be cut in half like the slaughtered animal. They are stating that they agree to the terms of the covenant until death takes their lives. In the ancient world this covenant was totally binding. It is not an easy concept to the western mind.

Often, the individuals would cut themselves on the right arm, and join the two wounds, and their blood would mingle.

The New Covenant in the blood of Jesus is even more powerful. Jesus came and represented mankind in the covenant with Father. When we drink the blood, and eat the flesh of our Lord Jesus we are entering into the covenant agreement. Father will never draw back from the blood covenant agreement. For Him it is utterly unthinkable. We can walk forward boldly, putting trust in the covenant agreement.

There are times in our lives when the only thing left to believe in is the blood covenant love of Father, His character and promises. Those three truths give me strength when I feel very down and discouraged. Life is not meant to work from our selfish viewpoint, but it does work from God’s perspective. The dry, lonely desert works really well from Father’s viewpoint, bringing us back to the basic blood covenant, and His great commitment to that covenant. The desert brings us back to the love found in that blood covenant. Rehearse the power of the blood covenant Jesus made with you, and you with the Father. Rehearse the covenant love that surpasses all understanding. Rehearse the character of Father and Jesus. Take the time to study the blood covenant between David and Jonathan, and read our article on that relationship that clearly helps us understand the New Covenant! God bless you!

Blood covenants are serious business. The modern western world understands little about blood covenants. The blood covenant is binding. It is the basis of the very relationship we have with God. Understanding Father’s unconditional love for us and the new covenant go hand in hand. If we are totally grounded in the blood covenant, we can withstand anything.

The nation of Israel wanted to be like other nations. They wanted a physical King they could see and follow. They wanted something more tangible than an invisible God. God comforted Samuel, and told him the people where rejecting Him, not Samuel. The people chose a King named Saul. This was the people’s vote. God out, Saul in. God chooses a King named David, the shepherd boy. We now have the foundation for a great story. Two different families chosen to be the Kingly line! Power struggle, intrigue, drama, human emotion, it’s all there.

But this is a story about a blood covenant from which we may all gain strength and great comfort. It is a story about Father’s love for us, and the positive future we have regardless how dark the present is.

David loves God. Jonathan is from the family of Saul, but thinks so differently from the rest of the family. He loves God in a similar way as David. David and Jonathan make a covenant (1 Sam. 18:1-4). There is a oneness between them that is a taste of the Kingdom of God. Perhaps they cut their right arms and brought the wounds together and let the blood mingle. It is a covenant of deep love between them.

Many events unfold and there is a time when Saul is out to kill David. Jonathan comes to David and expands the covenant to include their future generations (1 Sam. 20:14-15). The blood covenant between David and Jonathan will endure all the horror to come. Later in 1 Samuel 23:16-17, Jonathan comes a third time to David and carries out a gesture that is a magnificent example to us all. He comes before his beloved friend, David, and states clearly that David will be King, and Jonathan will be David’s prince. Jonathan is next in line in the family of Saul to be King over Israel! But Jonathan is in harmony with God, and humbles himself before David. The covenant between them is a beautiful thing.

For Saul and Jonathan the end comes in a war with the Philistines. David becomes King proper, and rules the nation. During the final moments of Saul’s kingdom, the family is fleeing and the nurse maid running with Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, stumbles and drops him. He is crippled in both legs from a very early age.

Time passes. Mephibosheth is fed endless lies about David. With his grandfather Saul died, and his father, Jonathan dead, Mephibosheth is heir to the throne of Israel from the family viewpoint. Mephibosheth is fed all kinds of terrible lies of David stealing the throne and other made up evils. Mephibosheth lives on the edge of David’s Kingdom, probably carrying out acts of destruction against the Kingdom.

A day comes when David desires to express his covenant love to any living descendants of his good friend, Jonathan. He finds out where Mephibosheth is dwelling and has him brought to him. Picture the scene, with David’s men coming across the landscape on their horses, and Mephibosheth watching them approach. In Mephibosheth’s mind he must be considering it his last fifteen minutes on earth. All he knows about David are the lies. He is expecting David to wipe out the last of Saul’s family. In the next ten minutes David’s sword will be thrust through Mephibosheth’s vitals.

Consider the shock of Mephibosheth as David explains he has kept all the land, flocks, herds, and money of Saul and Jonathan for this very moment when he could pass it on to Mephibosheth! Not only that, but Mephibosheth is invited to King David’s table to dine with him for the rest of his life! What? Why?

Blood covenant. Perhaps David explained to a dumbfounded Mephibosheth the terms of the covenant made between David and Jonathan before Mephibosheth was even conceived. David may have explained the fact there was nothing Mephibosheth could do. He couldn’t earn it, pay for it, qualify for it. Nothing at all, but simply say, thank you, Lord. The blood covenant was intact. It’s terms and conditions were valid and he could not pay or earn the reward.

Mephibosheth now had a choice. Reject the incredible love of the blood covenant, take his chances being a troublemaker in David’s kingdom, and end up dead, or, accept the love in the blood covenant and allow it to pour into his heart and change him from the inside out.

It was all a bit much for Mephibosheth, and he openly considerered himself a dog.

It is a wonderful truth what covenant love can do. Mephibosheth, the terrorist, allows the covenant love in David’s heart to pour into his, and in a very real sense Mephibosheth enters into the very spirit of his father, Jonathan. He takes on a love for David like Jonathan had. It is a miracle. Mephibosheth’s mind and heart change. The spirit of Jonathan starts to lead his son Mephibosheth, and he begins to love David. Mephibosheth in Jonathan and Jonathan in Mephibosheth.

You in Jesus, and Jesus in you. There is nothing we can do. The blood covenant was made through the Lord Jesus long before we were conceived in our mother’s womb, and we are the inheritors. Any gospel that demanded from you and held up expectations to you that you were never able to reach – that was another gospel, not The Gospel.

Please do yourself a favor. Relax.  God has never left you. He may be taking you out into the desert right now, and you may be there a reasonably long time. Relax, don’t worry or fret. He made a blood covenant with you before you were born and He will live up to it. Everything painful happening to you right now is for your good in the long run. Just relax and leave it to Him. Focus on Jesus like you did when you were first called and enjoy his fellowship. Eat at the King’s table, and relax.

The house church movement is constantly growing with over 120,000,000 people worldwide involved is this style of worship and fellowship.  The need for new house gatherings will always be present, especially tree of life style gatherings where life and love flow, and people are drawn closer to Christ.

If you have not found a suitable house church near you, or you would like to be part of starting a house gathering, we are here to help. The organic tree of life approach is very simple, and Jesus centered. Starting a gathering is easy, and perhaps the hardest part is learning to get out of the way and letting Jesus lead His church!

How many people do I need?  “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there!”  You can start very small with two or three, but we also recommend not starting with a group over twelve.

Do I need to be a man?  The book of acts is very clear. Many of the house churches were in ladies homes! 

Do I need to be a strong leader type personality?  The body of Christ has already had it’s fair share of “Mr. Dynamic.” What we need are people who will let Jesus lead His own church. After all, He is the head of the church. Just be a person who loves God and wants to worship and love God with all your being. We will coach you on the rest.

Do we have to follow a certain worship style or music?  No. House gatherings are usually made up of people with similar tastes regarding worship since worship plays such an important role. Some house gatherings will have traditional hymns, some will have contempory music, still other house gatherings will have Western or Cowboy style music, yet others may love to sing accapella! 

Do I have to follow a bunch or rules made up by the Tree of Life House Church Network?  NO, with a capital N! The TOLHCN is a loose association of house gatherings that believe in worshipping and praising God with all our heart. No two house gatherings will be the same. We do ask, of course, that you be followers of Christ, and not a cultish group.

We are here to help. If you would like to start a home gathering, please give us a call at 918-919-1490, or email at tolhcn@gmail.com.  There is no cost to you. We are simply trying to help the house church movemant, and promote a tree of life approach to Christian living.

 Christianity is a religion, right?  I would answer no. Religion is a very twisted rigorous activity that constantly demands more and more of you. Religion is often mans attempt to appease or please God.  Religion’s message is you do not measure up and you must perform to get God to bless you. Religion hates the free flow of grace. Religion hates the free flow of unconditional love. Religion hates the fact God Himself is carrying out the New Covenant to a successful conclusion, to which God’s children will have a new heart, new mind and the laws of God written on their hearts – by God himself (Jer.31). New Covenant Christianity is a freedom from religion, and therefore subject to attack by those who love religion.

 Christianity is a behavior modification program, right? I would answer no.  In the end, walking with God has many by-products or fruits. Over the course of a life-time, walking with God will produce the fruit of behavior change, even personality change, but that is not the center of Christianity.

 Christianity is a great success management method, right? I would answer no. Mankind loves methods, recipes, steps to follow to success and blessings.  Just do A plus B and God will have to bless you with C.  Relationship on the spiritual level cannot be obtained by such means. To prove this God gave His people the Old Covenant. It was an agreement complete with a temple, priesthood, rituals, sacrifices, holy days, rules and regulations.  The promise was, follow this recipe perfectly and I will bless you. Break the recipe and I will curse you. He gave them hundreds of years to try to succeed and obtain the blessings. They failed totally. We can’t do it. Recipes are great if you are baking bread, but if you are to become sin free and enter into a deep relationship with the Holy by your own power, you will never succeed.

 Christianity is the wonderful experience of walking with God, in freedom, in love, bathed in grace, and fellowshipping with Him in complete acceptance. Christianity is the love story of what God is doing, and how He is making it succeed. Christianity is all about the greatness of our God and what He is doing for us. It is a love story of unparalleled proportions and glory.  It is all about Him, and not about us and what we must perform.

 Christianity is the best good news the world has ever had.  But, be careful. There are a lot of twisted imitations of Christianity out there.

Other physical and spiritual things happen, but we never schedule anything but worship. It is our belief that Jesus has set us free, and bathing in Father’s love allows the Holy Spirit to carry out His great work in us and through us. We are changed from the inside out, not by programs or agendas, or our own efforts. Lasting change is a work of God, not man.

As the worship continues, people break into prayer. Sharing stories of what God is doing in people’s lives often occurs. Sometimes scripture is read and a short discussion follows, each person learning and contributing. At times one of our teens will present a new worship song they have written, and we will all jump in and learn the song.

We sometimes have a full meal together and take the Lord’s Supper, then make our way into deep worship. Wonderful conversation starts and ends the evening, and prayer for one another always works its way into the fellowship.

Although I have been a senior pastor, and involved in pastoral ministry for over thirty-two years, I do not lead the gathering. We all do our best to keep any human agenda out of the picture. We invite Jesus to take full charge frequently during the course of the gathering. Children, youth and adults are all part of the same worship. It is just the same as having all of your family together for Thanks Giving. Everyone in the family is part of the gathering. No one is ushered off to the far end of a building where they are put through a program.

There are many ways you can draw near to God; this is simply the way we gather.  We do strongly recommend however, leave the Head of the Body in full charge. When human beings start adding and tinkering, the flow of life and love gets skewed.

What is church?

We may never even ask ourselves such a question. We may take for granted so many things we miss some of the big ideas of the New Testament completely. How would you define church? Are they a group of people who gather to worship God? A group of believers who get together to hear a sermon and have a coffee?  Is it a building with a steeple or cross on top?

It has been said taking one hundred religious people and putting them inside a building with a steeple on top and calling it church is as silly as digging up eleven dead men at the cemetery and calling them a football team!

Jesus had more in mind than a gathering with several life-less activities happening.  We are a people who are to live bathed in the Father’s unconditional love. When we come in contact with other believers who are Holy Spirit led, there is to be a flow of life and love between us just as the Triune God enjoys. Life and love are to flow from Jesus through us to other believers, and the whole community of followers is  encouraged and strengthened through the fellowship.

Over the past thirty-five years I have been to a lot of gatherings where life and love did not flow. I did hear some good sermons. I did drink some good coffee, and talk some good football in the fellowship hall of many church buildings, but often never experienced the flow of life or love.

What if?  What if we had three hunters out wandering around in the forest, and these three people stumbled upon each other. They build a fire and sit down and discover they are all followers of Jesus. As the talk, the love of Father starts to flow, and they begin sharing on a deeper level. They reach a point of praying for one another and speaking words of life into each other’s spirit. As they listen to each other talk they grow in their understanding of Jesus and feel they are drawing nearer to him with each shared story. Let’s say this all happens on Tuesday afternoon deep in the forest. So, we have three hunters, sitting around a fire, singing, laughing, praying, sharing love and speaking life into each other’s spirit – would you call this church?  I would!

Why do we often get the concept of church backward? We make, create, build a situation complete with programs, systems, rituals, procedures and patterns, then we invite the people in so they can hear and experience spiritual growth. Does it work that way?  Our three hunters would not fit this man-made church situation to well, but the work of the Holy Spirit is able to do some wonderful things in these three smelly, cammo clothed followers.

We think “church” is a spiritual happening that occurs when deeply broken and humble believers get together for the purpose of worshipping God with all their heart, soul, mind and might. Church is when life-flow and love-flow occur and the people involved are changed forever. We believe this can potentially happen in a giant cathedral in Europe, around a campfire in the forest, or in a living-room anywhere in the world.

We also believe that when man starts to “build” ways, means, and systems to make it happen – it will be contaminated. The first century church lived so deeply bathed in Father’s love, and Jesus’ life, they got together frequently – often in homes, or under shade trees by the river. They flourished for three centuries this way, letting the Holy Spirit create church in His timing even if it wasn’t Sunday morning at 10:30 AM!

So what is house church? From our view point, house church is a gathering of believers who get together – anywhere will do – for the purpose of worshipping God extravagantly. No one individual is in charge of the gathering. There is no agenda other than worshipping. Other things do happen such as sharing stories of what God has done in people’s lives lately, reading of scripture and praying for one another, but these other spiritual things happen as the Holy Spirit leads. No two gatherings are ever the same. No human agenda rules. It is Jesus’ church, and we do our best to let Him lead.

This is how we see and define house church. We also agree our way is not the only way! See our article, What Happens at House Church?

Holiness, Character & The Tree of Life

I have no doubt some will have trouble with the idea of resting in the Spirit of Jesus as taught in our earlier chapters. The flesh has a real problem with the totally free expression of Father’s grace. In fact, our flesh wars against it. We want to do, to achieve, to overcome, to say, “I did it!”

The flesh wars with the spirit, the flesh resents Jesus getting all the glory. The flesh wants something to do. The flesh wants some glory, even if it’s to say, “I played a role.”

Some will say, Yes, but, what about holiness and building Godly character? Isn’t that important? When it comes to salvation, yes, we must trust Jesus, but surely we need to work hard to build character and stay away from the world’s bad influence? Shouldn’t we be striving to do those things?

No!

True holiness, not just a form of church culture, should be a product created by allowing the Holy Spirit to flow and do his work in us unhindered. When we rest in the Spirit, as Jesus states in Matt. 11:28-30, we are getting out of the way and allowing the one who said he was going to give us a new heart and a renewed mind ‑ do his work. Remember how strong God’s statement is in Jer. 31:33‑34?

“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel

after that time,” declares the LORD.

“I will put my law in their minds

and write it on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

34        No longer will a man teach his neighbor,

or a man his brother, saying, “Know the LORD,

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest,”

declares the LORD.

“For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”(Jer. 31:33‑34, NIV)

These wonderful changes are the work of God, not the flesh. Our job or role is to fully cooperate; to get out of the way and allow the Spirit of Jesus to do His work. Each time we jump in and do our thing we are slowing down the whole process and creating circumstances that can contribute to burnout. A good example is the very idea of the Tree of Life. After people who have worshiped God in the Tree of Good and Evil learn about the Tree of Life they often get very excited and rush out with the idea of being a Tree of Lifer from that moment on. The more they try to live in the Tree of Life, the more they find themselves living and reacting out of the Tree of Good and Evil.

There is only one way to fully jump into the Tree of Life and stay there most of the time. Give up your striving, and let the Spirit take over and guide your life, thoughts, actions and reactions. The Holy Spirit will empower you and inspire you to live in one tree only and that will be the Tree of Life. As the new mind and the new heart are developing inside you under the creative skill of the Holy Spirit, your behavior changes as a by-product of your new thinking! It is nothing less than the handiwork of God, not human striving. Holiness is a creative work of God.

Yes, some believers think the changed behavior is Christianity. So they work hard by their own efforts to modify their behavior, and be Christian. The entire process of the New Covenant is something God is doing. Our role is to cooperate. Remember when Jesus describes our role, He tells us to come to Him, His yoke – the one He lays on us – is easy. The burden He gives us is light (Matt 11:28-30). Jesus describes it as rest. He wants to give us rest. We don=t want rest! We want to do things ourselves, even though we (mankind) proved beyond a shadow of a doubt under the Old Covenant that we can not achieve holiness or righteousness ourselves.

In all areas of holiness and character building, we are speaking of a wonderful work of the Spirit, and our role is to rest in him. I think in many of our conversations we will always speak about such matters as if it were something we are to accomplish, but we need to remember that is not the case. We play our part by surrendering to the Spirit’s lead, and these profound changes are God’s responsibility.

“But, you’re washing away everything that Christianity seems to be. You’re watering down everything into a cute cliche’ ‑ “rest in the Spirit!”

Please remember Matt. 11:28‑30. This is not a cute cliche’. This is the reality of the New Covenant in Jesus= blood. In Gal. 4:4, we are told Jesus came at the fullness of time. He came when the religion of the Old Testament had been perverted to its maximum legalism. People were weary and burdened. The New Covenant Jesus was introducing was radically new. It was not just the next covenant in the series. It was new in its very nature.

Previous covenants had been made between God and man. The New Covenant is about God playing the role of both covenant representatives. Father and Jesus. The newness of the covenant does not mean the next one in a series. Remember when you were a child, and you received your first tricycle? After mastering it, and growing several inches taller, you started riding a small two wheeler with training wheels. Next, your dad removed the training wheels and you learned balance. Next, your third new cycle was a full size two wheeler. After that, you may have bought for yourself an expensive mountain bike, or perhaps a motorcycle. With each cycle in the series, you proudly announced your new cycle to your friends. The cycles were new in the sense that each one was the next in the series.

That does not describe the New Covenant God made with man. This covenant is new in the sense that it is radically different than anything previous. It is not the next one in the series. It stands by itself as a monument to Father=s love for His lost children. He is to do it all. He makes the covenant – both sides, both representatives. He puts the new mind in us. He puts the new heart in us. He writes His laws on our heart. He is our God. He is our King. He is responsible to finish the faith He started in us. Praise God!

When we read Jer. 31:33‑34 and contemplate the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we begin to see the New Covenant is all about God approaching us and saying, “Look my children, what I have done for you!” The New Covenant has nothing to do with how we can please or impress Him so that He will bless us. The New Covenant has nothing to do with our performance, hair style, worship style or warm smile. The New Covenant is all about the redeeming work of Jesus in saving mankind. The reason Jesus gets the glory is because Jesus does it all!

To rest in the Spirit is anything but a cliche’. It is a bold act of faith. When life crashes down around us and we feel the need to act or react, resting in the Spirit and placing all of our trust in Him is one of the challenges of this life. Cliche’? Not a chance.

Rest in the Spirit

Without a doubt, part of the key to learning to live in the tree of life is to learn to “rest” in the very spirit of Jesus Christ. When we are weary, heavily burdened by religion, Jesus calls us to himself and promises us rest. Why, why, why is rest an action verb for so many leaders and believers? Where did we get the idea we had to save the church and the world? Yes, we are the body of Christ. We are His ambassadors. But unless we do this work in His power, it will not succeed. Here’s a statement to chew on. Unless we stop working so hard and learn how to rest, nothing will get done!

Jesus was serious. As long as we, with our wonderful driven personalities, keep striving and trying to do it all by our own strength, we can never rest in His spirit. We will run by our own resources until we come to an end of ourselves, and burn out. At Smoldering Wick Ministries we view burnout as a blessing, for this very reason. It forces us to rest and allows the power of God to flow.

I grew up in the Canadian Rockies, and our family also lived in Colorado for three years. I have been rock climbing for 38 years. Let me use a climbing example to make a point about resting in the spirit. This truth is vital to living in the New Covenant fully.

Picture in your mind the scariest mountain face or rock wall you have ever seen. As a rock climber, my task, my dream, my desire, is to surmount this “impossible” goal. It’s analogous to the Christian walk.

I might start my rock climbing adventure by purchasing rock climbing books and reading them over and over. But I find when I go out to the rock, I can’t make much of the advice and teaching work. So I read and re‑read the books again. But the more I try to follow the teaching the more frustrated I become. So, I start attending climbing conferences and seminars even when I can’t afford it. I want to learn from the big name speakers who entitle some of their lectures “Seven Keys to Climbing Cracks”, and “The Golden Secret of Face Climbing”. I attend conference after conference and re‑read all my instruction books, yet, I can’t apply the ideas and methods well enough to climb this rock wall. I become even more frustrated. What’s wrong with me? Maybe I wasn’t meant to be a climber? Perhaps I’m supposed to be a simple tourist who stands at the bottom and watches everybody else climb.

Next I obtain a teacher. A master. I travel up to Estes Park, Colorado, and get personal instruction from one of the best in the world ‑ a young man named Tommy Caldwell. He shows me how he does it. I try to imitate Tommy. If this is how Tommy jams his hand into the crack, then I jam my hand exactly the same way. If this is how Tommy jams his climbing shoe into the crack, then that’s exactly how I jam my shoe into the crack.

“Just do what the master does,” everybody keeps telling me. “Just imitate the master. Climb as he climbs.”  Sure, sounds real simple. So why doesn’t it work?

“Well, maybe you are rebelling against the master without realizing it.”

When I hear comments this stupid I really start to wonder about the IQ level of climbers. The more I try to imitate Tommy Caldwell, the more I seem to fail and become deeply discouraged.

The more I fail, the more I want to throw away all my climbing gear and buy a bowling ball! Imitating the master feels like a short cut to burnout. Imitating the master is a short cut to burnout!

Tommy has power and strength in a different dimension than I do. As hard as I try, my biceps, forearms and legs only have so much strength and endurance. My attempts to imitate Tommy only leave me feeling like a complete failure. My desire and reality seem to be growing apart ‑ a sure sign burnout is growing within me.

Now . . . what if? What if the very spirit of Tommy Caldwell could enter into my being. What if his spirit filled me and worked with my muscles, my mind and my desires. Tommy’s thoughts would become my thoughts. Tommy’s power and strength would become my strength. He maintains his personality and I maintain mine. After all, he’s Tommy Caldwell and I’m Kim Wenzel!

Now, Tommy starts to climb the rock wall, using my body to climb. That’s correct, I become the body of Tommy Caldwell! His spirit guides and directs my every move – if I let him. What’s my role? How can I allow the spirit of Tommy to empower my muscles, tendons, and ligaments? How can I allow the mind of Tommy to make decisions about which hand hold to use, which foot hold to use? How can I make this work? Simple, but not easy!

I need to stay out of the way, even though I am totally involved! I need to back off, even though I am front and center! I need to surrender myself, even though I am the very package which contains Tommy’s spirit!  I need to learn how to be totally involved, yet resting in Tommy’s spirit!

My muscles can now draw on a power and strength beyond themselves. My nerves, ligaments and muscles now work in perfect harmony.

I don’t have to worry myself silly about all the safety laws and rules governing climbing ‑ Tommy’s spirit is in total harmony with all the rules. I don’t have to worry myself silly trying to remember all the principles in the climbing books I have read ‑ Tommy’s spirit is the sum total of all the books, methods, principles and techniques.

I no longer need to stress myself out and get headaches trying to decide which hand holds to use. Even this stress can be left up to Tommy. The more I understand this concept, the more I really can rest in him. No longer do I have to cry out to Father, AJust tell me which foothold to use! Just tell me, Father! You’re the God of love, just give me the answer!” Now . . .  I just relax, and let the spirit of Tommy decide which hold to use.

But, if I ever decide to step in and choose a different hand hold than the one Tommy wants to use, his spirit will back off and let me do it my way. This action quickly leads to muscle fatigue and burnout. I start to panic and complain and scream and even start to blame Tommy for the mess I quickly find myself in!

Resting in Tommy’s spirit puts me into a situation where my responses to the lead of his spirit can be called faith. Tommy’s spirit directs my arm up and jams two fingers in a crack. I look at my situation. I am 1,000 feet off the ground on the rock wall. Tommy’s spirit has jammed only two of my fingers into the crack. Fear of falling to my death seems too real to ignore. What do I do? My response to the lead of Tommy’s spirit reveals my faith. I either trust Tommy with my life or I don’t. Either I believe he knows what he is doing, or I don’t. Either he has my best interests at heart or he doesn’t. I may choose to step out of resting mode and take matters into my own hands. I direct my entire arm to fit into the crack. Tommy’s spirit will allow this. Now I find I cannot move upward or downward! I’m stuck in the crack, rapidly growing tired and frustrated. Tommy’s spirit is very kind. He does not laugh at me, or say, “I told you so.”

If I never learn to rest in Tommy’s spirit, then all my talk about faith is meaningless. The word has no real application when I am not working with Tommy’s spirit. My faith is a response to his lead. The rest of faith occurs when I stay out of the way and enjoy the climb Tommy’s doing using my body. Burnout is what occurs when I keep stepping in and trying to climb the unclimbable wall myself.

When I learn to rest in the very spirit of Tommy Caldwell, I find myself reaching the summit of the mountain. But here is another potential problem of my flesh. I, Kim, stand on the summit, but, it’s Tommy who gets all the glory. After all, he is the one who just did the climb ‑ all of it ‑ using my body. Tommy has the right to raise his arms and shout for joy in success. My flesh wars against this. My flesh wants to raise its arms and shout, “I did it!”

For my flesh, Tommy getting all the glory is no small pebble along the mountain trail. This is a stumbling stone. In reality, it is the very cornerstone of a successful climb to the summit, but, to the flesh it is a stumbling stone. The spirit of Tommy Caldwell will allow my flesh to take over the climb as many times as need be to where I totally burn out in a heap of exhaustion. I must come to the place where I unconditionally surrender myself and rest.

Here’s a hard question. How much of your ministry and walk has been resting in the spirit of the Lord Jesus? Answer yourself honestly and it may be the beginning of a whole new chapter of your life!

One of the biggest problems for North American leaders and believers is the John Wayne Syndrome. To rest, and let someone else do it for us is simply un-American. We worship the self-made super-star in business and sports. Even within the North American church we seem to worship the self-made stars whom we look to for answers and direction – even though the Bible says the Holy Spirit is our teacher!

Tree of Life – Matter of Heart

In the table below we attempt to give you an idea of the differences between the two trees. Really what we are talking about is a matter of heart; a direction of spirit. Two believers can look exactly the same, carrying out the same activity, but one may live in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the other in the tree of life. One’s efforts will be a blessing of life to those around them, the other will radiate death to those around them. Use this simple table to help you get the gist of the differences. The table in no way represents actions cast in stone. To think of certain actions as defining the two trees is a big mistake. These are simple examples to help you get the feel of the tree of life; an aid to catch the direction of the spirit of each tree. Please let me repeat myself. The difference between the two trees is a way of thinking, a direction of spirit . The difference is a way of seeing, a world view, and an overall approach to live through that view.  The tree of life is a worldview or life-view where we practically believe light will overcome darkness, good will overcome evil, love will overcome hate, peace will overcome war, forgiveness will overcome bitterness.

Tree of Life ‑ Leads to Life

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Leads to Death

The reason the Tree of life promotes life is because it points to life Himself. It is the very flow of Father’s love through us. When we speak life, act life, serve life to others, we are touching their very spirit, as well as their heart. The very life flow of God is touching them. The flow of blood covenant love is entering their being, and impacting their heart and spirit. That promotes life in us also because life has flowed through us to others.

Death is another story. When we move in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil we are heading for death even when it seems so logical that we are doing what is good. Remember, in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, even good leads to death. Amazing! Shocking! Evil also leads to death! So, put it together: Good leads to death, being preoccupied with right and wrong leads to death, evil leads to death. But, life leads to real life in others and ourselves.

Tree of Life Values – Flow of Life Changes People from the Inside Out.

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil Values – See, Know, Judge, Blame toward self and others.

The flesh finds judging and blaming others a natural automatic activity. Speaking death to others becomes an unrecognized natural way of speaking in both business and family. Humor on TV and in movies becomes based on this way of thinking. It is a natural part of the lost person=s world view.

The tree of life individual believes that in the end, truth triumphs over falsehood, right triumphs over wrong, good triumphs over evil, love triumphs over hate. The values of the tree of life individual allow him to relax and trust God because of these triumphs. This person knows the flow of blood covenant love can change hearts and spirits.

Tree of Life ‑ Bless and Forgive

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Hold a Grudge and Justify

In the tree of life we are not interested in “who’s done wrong” but rather, how can we bless and speak life into a person or a situation. We want to promote life, and the flow of God’s life to others. We will forgive and move on. We will bless those who curse us. We will bless those who spitefully use us.

In the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, we tend to get very angry at those who hurt us. We blame them. We hold them responsible for our unhappiness. Even if we made a mistake, it is their fault we are in pain right now. They are to blame!

Tree of Life ‑ Accept Responsibility

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Displace Responsibility

The first two humans who ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil pointed their fingers at someone else for their misfortune. Humans had never done that before. Lucifer had. Suddenly instead of supporting and helping one another as they had in their short past, they now were placing responsibility on another and claiming innocence for themselves. What a sad scenario.

When you live in the tree of life you accept responsibility regardless of the circumstances. You are now a new creation in Christ, and the fact your mother or father mistreated you when you were a child is a sad fact, but it is no longer an excuse for you. You are new in Jesus and must go forward and do the life-giving thing, and move on. Finger pointing and blaming others is counter productive.

Tree of Life ‑ Live in Freedom

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Live in Victimization

When you do not point the finger of blame at another, when you do not displace responsibility, but rather, take responsibility for yourself completely, you experience a freedom that you can only enjoy when you are in a close walk with the Lord Jesus. You look to Him with optimism, not your enemies with blame. The spirit dimension is the limit, not the earthly lows of blaming and condemning others for your problems.

Victimization is the deepest prison anyone in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil can ever live in. It is a state of hopelessness.

Tree of Life ‑ Flow in Unconditional Love

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Struggle in Fear

Tree of Lifers come to know and understand Father’s unconditional love and they rejoice. They walk in love and the freedom Jesus won them, and the wrong kind of fear is not in the equation.

Tree of the knowledge of good and evil people are very concerned about right and wrong and pleasing God, and have a fear that they are not measuring up. If they are not blessed it simply must mean they are failing in some area. Life becomes a guessing game on how to please God and avoid the fear of failure.

Tree of Life ‑ Accepting, Believing the Best

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Evaluating, Suspicious

Is the glass half full or half empty? When one of your major purposes in life is to speak and convey life to everyone around you, you tend to see the bright side of all circumstances. You know even if things are looking grim, by speaking the flow of God’s life into a situation, it can only get better. You realize the most powerful force there is, is God’s love and all it can accomplish against human odds. When you live in the tree of life you are not naive, thinking everybody honest and fair. You know they are human, and human nature can be horrid. But, with the wisdom of a serpent, and the kindness and gentleness of a dove, you move through life carefully, but positively, because you know God is sovereign and His plan is going to succeed even if the glass is half empty!

In the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you are the expert in right and wrong, and you can see wrong far too clearly in everyone else. You become suspicious. You see others as sinners and failures rather than future children of God who are a work in progress. You’re the guy or gal who says, “Watch out for Christians, they will rip you off as fast as anyone!”

Tree of Life ‑ Positive and Encouraging

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Critical and Cynical

With the very life flow of God inside them, tree of lifers naturally speak the words that make for life in another’s spirit. They are acutely aware of the proverbs that speak about words containing life or death.

Again, it sounds repetitive, but in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil where your focus is often right and wrong, what can I do and what can’t I do, you become critical of others who do the things you can’t, and in time this gives way to cynicism. Elijah stomping around in the desert saying to himself repeatedly that he was the only faithful one left and everyone else in Israel was a loser is a classic example. God had to remind him there were at least seven thousand others who had never bent the knee to Baal.

Tree of Life ‑ Concerned about Life and Death Issues

Tree of the Knowledge Good and Evil ‑ Concerned about Right and Wrong

Jesus was so concerned that the lost should hear the message of life, he hung out with the biggest sinners in town. He was frequently invited over to their homes for meals and fellowship. He was not overly concerned with their outward appearance and immediate short comings. He knew all things would be taken care of in due time. What mattered was speaking life and love into their being, so that their focus was redirected, and their understanding corrected. Jesus accepted them where the lost presently were, and loved them in a direction toward the Kingdom.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil fellow is very concerned with how circumstances look right now, and he is often self-absorbed wondering how he and others are measuring up in God’s eyes.

Tree of Life ‑ Walk in Innocence/Anointing Flows

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Walk in a Competitive Spirit

The tree of life pastor doesn’t try to make things happen. He leaves that to God. He, his mate and the other leaders in the congregation simply walk with the faithful innocence Adam and Eve had in the garden. God is in charge, and let=s get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit do the driving. These men and women are not concerned with how others view them. They stand up and preach life-giving sermons week after week in a childlike innocence, and if someone=s church is growing at a faster pace than theirs, well, so be it, praise God.

Leaders in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil can be very competitive. So competitive it often leads to congregational or denominational politics that are so ugly I don’t want to talk about it!  Church splits and gossip and destruction of the body of Christ are often the products.

Tree of Life ‑ Give People their Freedom

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Controlling, Manipulating, Micro-managing

No one really tries to escape America. Some threaten to move away before each Presidential election if their candidate doesn’t get elected! But one problem America does have, is illegal immigrants sneaking into America. They want in because there is freedom here in America. Your creativity and innovation has no limits in America. You can come from a poor country, and become anything you dream of in America! So it is in a church living in the tree of life. People are not micro-managed, but rather, have freedom to develop, be creative, and jump into innovative ministries that help the community.

When a church is micro-managed by a control freak pastor, he will need to build a Berlin wall around the church to keep the people in! Often the tree of the knowledge of good and evil leader doesn’t think of the people as a work in progress. Rather, he often is trying to make them over into his own image. He usually doesn’t realize this fact.

Tree of Life ‑ Let others have Responsibility for Themselves

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Feel Responsible for Others – Interfere.

We love and want to help the children of God, but, we can’t live their lives for them. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil leader doesn’t know that. He’s the interfering fixer of everyone’s problem and concern. It is all part of his concern about how the church looks.

The tree of life leader lovingly preaches and teaches the word of God, but he also leaves a lot for Jesus to do for each person. After all, it is Jesus’ church!

Tree of Life ‑ Give People the Freedom to Develop God’s Gifts in their Lives and Ministry.

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Others must do it Your Way ‑ the Only Way.

The tree of life pastor becomes a coach to help every member develop their gifts and ministries. He or she is an encourager, a trouble shooter in fine tuning members’ ministries. But he is not a dictator.

For the tree of the knowledge of good and evil leader, there is only one way to do something. His way. After all he is the ordained leader. If you don’t do it his way you are in rebellion against God’s authority! His leadership crushes creativity and innovation. People with new ideas become discouraged and head for the back door. If the tree of the knowledge of good and evil leader does agree to do something like a small group ministry, he will write a two inch thick manual for all small group leaders to follow to the letter, that way he is still in control even if he can’t be present to micro-manage!

Tree of Life ‑ An easy loving Sweet Spirit

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ A Sour Spirit, Controlling, Selfish, Suspicious.

When right and wrong and impressing God are not the main focus of your life, you can relax and be kind and gentle to all people. You’re not hung up on getting it right or making others get it right. You love people, teach them the truth, and leave the rest to Jesus. Everyone is a work in progress, and that progress is according to Father’s time table, not yours!

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil leader may appear very kind and loving on the outside, but inside he or she wants the development and progress of others according to their own timetable. They often become frustrated when people don’t respond to their personal wishes. They become depressed when the attendance at mid-week Bible study isn’t what the leader thinks it should be!

Tree of Life ‑ A Helpful Attitude

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ A Finger‑pointing Spirit

A church member presents a personal problem. The tree of life leader is helpful and patient. The member’s problem or failure is not a reflection on his pastoring abilities. He cares and does what he can to promote life and direction in the member’s life.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil leader points out why the member is having problems with their teens. He has the answers, and he isn=t afraid to point the finger of blame on the dad, and tell him he’s blown his child rearing. The leader justifies treating the member this way by saying he will not compromise with the truth! “I will teach what is true even if it hurts. I will not be a wishy-washy pastor!” Then the tree of the knowledge of good and evil leader wonders why the member will never come to him again for advice!

Tree of Life ‑ Speaking Words of Life

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Speaking Sarcasm, Suspicion, Defeat.

People love talking to someone who lives in the tree of life. Somehow it is so encouraging, yet realistic at the same time. Their words are not exaggerating, but they are filled with hope and inspiration. They remind us of God’s purpose and all that Jesus did for us, and we walk away knowing Jesus will finish what he started in us. Their speech is not filled with why America is going down the tubes, and how everyone at work is a liar and a thief. Nor is their speech filled with who did what wrong at church last week, or how the church would grow faster if we had a decent pastor! That’s talk for the other tree!

Tree of Life ‑ Allowing Differences of Opinion, even Different Interpretations of Scripture in non‑Salvation Issues

Tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil ‑ Believing or Teaching Your Interpretation as an Absolute

The tree of lifer can sit down in a donut shop with another believer from another church and have a grand conversation and wonderful fellowship, because they focus on the absolutes of scripture; the salvation issues. They don’t get hung up on different church cultures and interpretations. If they pray in tongues and the other person doesn’t, it’s no big deal. Speaking life into the other is more important.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil fellow may not even show up at the donut shop depending on what his church teaches about the sin of eating donuts!

Tree of Life ‑ Focus on the Absolutes of Scripture (heaven and hell issues)

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Make Life and Death issues out of Everything You Believe

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil fellow places everything he believes inside the circle he might call true Christianity. If you don=t fit inside that circle, you may not be in the Kingdom of God. But what if you have a different interpretation on a non-salvation issue? To the tree of the knowledge of good and evil fellow there may not be such a thing as a non-salvation issue! Everything, including which translation of the Bible you read may have to do with salvation!

Tree of Life ‑ Focus Teaching on Life and Jesus Himself

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Focus Teaching on Right and Wrong

When you are hung up on pleasing and impressing God, you end up focused on fence laws. You don’t ask, “How can I keep the law?”  Rather you think in terms of, “What can I do and what can=t I do?”

The tree of lifer lives in the reality of two things. Love God and love your fellow man. Living in the tree of life accomplishes both. Decisions are made based on ways and means of loving people toward the Kingdom. Decisions are made by asking if this or that leads to life. Right and wrong, good and evil still exist to the tree of life fellow, but that is not their focus. Promoting life is the focus.

Tree of Life ‑ Believers fall in love with Jesus – Read their Bibles and Pray with great Joy

Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Religious approach to Prayer and Study

In the tree of life the believer falls head over heels in love with Jesus, and the resulting by-product is a great enthusiasm for knowing Jesus better. They love their Bibles and love reading and praying because it draws them closer to their King.

People in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil read and study because it is a good Christian discipline. The pastor said good Christians read their Bibles so you read your Bible, but it can become a chore instead of a joy.

Tree of Life ‑ Use Bible to bring Joy and Hope to Others

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Use Bible as a Weapon of Tyranny to show failure in People’s Lives

The Bible can be a wonderful book of life to the lost, or it can be a weapon of tyranny in the hands of someone whose focus is right and wrong. In the hands of this type of person, the Bible becomes the source of knowledge upon which the seeing- knowing- judging-blaming value system is based. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil person uses their Bible to turn people away with their judging, self-righteous approach. We can use the Bible to turn people on to God, or turn them off Christianity forever!

Tree of Life ‑ Church Board  – Proactive Support of Pastor

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Board becomes Self-Serving god

Probably any form of church government will work, if, everybody in authority lives in the tree of life. A board operating in the tree of life has deep respect and Godly fear of the office God created called, “Pastor.” They work with the pastor, not against him, and they do so in a manner that promotes life. Even when there is disagreement over a plan or an approach, the meetings are handled in a life-giving manner ( I have to admit, this one is a real stretch. Better chance of a cow jumping over the moon!)

There is no talk behind the pastor’s back. There are no huddles in the dark parking lot after the board has left the church and the pastor is not present. God help any pastor who has tree of the knowledge of good and evil people on his board. Let the power struggles begin!

Tree of Life ‑ Parents who Communicate Love and Acceptance to Children

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Parents making Right and Wrong more Important than Relationship

When your parents had to correct you as a child, were you left with the assurance they loved you and you would always be their child? I hope so. Or, after the tongue lashing, were you left thinking your parents cared more about other peoples’ opinions and feelings than your own? Did you feel they might disown you someday?

Tree of Life ‑ A Genuine Unconditional Love for People

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ An Inner Contempt for People

Some people in leadership don’t really love people. They have a problem with people never measuring up to expectations. Deep inside they come to resent people.

The tree of life individual comes to love people in a simple manner. The flow of God’s love into them causes a real love for others, despite the fact people do disappoint them. The flow of life and blood covenant love does make all the difference.

Tree of Life ‑ Lifestyle of Giving

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Lifestyle of Getting that is Disguised as Giving

When life and blood covenant love is pouring into you, the most natural response becomes giving away. You live by the philosophy “what’s mine is yours.” In the story of the Lost Son in Luke chapter 15, the Father lives by this philosophy. The younger son lives by the idea, “what’s yours is mine.” His older brother who gets so upset with the younger returning to the farm lives by the philosophy, “what’s mine is mine.” Only the Father in the story lives in the tree of life.

In the tree of life we come to understand we can not out-give our Father. There is no need to hoard. The more we give away, the more the Father fills us with His love and life.

Tree of Life ‑ Live in the New Way of the Spirit

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Live in the Old Way of the Written Code

Even for the modern legalist who claims to be living in the New Covenant, you will find a whole list of do=s and don=ts because of the focus on right and wrong, good and evil. It is important to impress God so the blessings will flow.

In the tree of life the individual understands there is a new approach, a new way to relate to God. It is no longer performance based religion. It is now love and relationship. God blesses us because he loves us. We now learn to rest in His very Spirit (Matt 11:28) and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. We are now life and love oriented, not performance based. We walk in the spirit, not in a behavior modification program of do’s and don’ts.

Tree of Life ‑ Giving Congregation Freedom – Respecting their Adult Decisions

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Keeping an Attendance Sheet at church and calling everyone on Monday to see why they were not in church Sunday

The control freak leader is the one most likely to burnout, and drives everyone away from himself. In the tree of life we respect people’s decisions, even if we disagree with their opinions. We simply can’t live other people’s lives for them. Remember, God does not force us to do anything. He gives us lots of space, and he allows us to reap what we sow. We must do the same. Our job as believers is to love people into the direction of life.

Tree of Life – Jesus’ words and actions working with the Woman caught in Adultery

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil ‑ Pharisees words and motives regarding Woman caught in Adultery

The Pharisees were technically correct. The law was clear regarding adultery. The penalty was death by stoning. Jesus worked within the framework of the law and gave the Pharisees the right to stone her. He simply asked that it be done in a certain order, starting with the Pharisee who had never sinned.

What is truly exciting to notice is how Jesus worked with this lady caught in great sin. First he writes or draws on the ground, pulling the leering eyes of the men off the woman, who was probably just wrapped in a blanket. Then, at the end he turned to her and made two life-giving statements. “Neither do I accuse you.   Go and sin no more.” His actions and his words spoke life into this woman. There was no brow beating. No lecture on how she was ruining her life, her marriage and disgracing her children. Those would be natural consequences of her actions. Jesus spoke life to this woman to give her hope for the future.

I think you get the gist of it. Remember, we are not really talking about a set of behaviors. We are talking about two ways of thinking. Two attitudes toward life; two philosophical views toward the same events in life: one way of thinking inspired by love and the Holy Spirit, the other way of thinking driven by the darkness of human nature disguised by noble ideals.

The best way to move into the Tree of Life is to learn to “rest” in the very spirit of Jesus. Fully stepping into the New Covenant means entering into a rest in Jesus’ spirit, and moving away from living half in the old way of the written code and half in the new way of the spirit.