The Vineyard Church

The importance of healing in the New Testament (and in the Kingdom of God) once again rises to the forefront in Luke 14 as Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath in direct opposition to the religiosity of the Jewish leaders. He follows with a discourse on humility, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11), which leads to serving, "… the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” … those who, “do not have the means to repay you” (Luke 14:13-14). These are characteristics of people of the Kingdom, and the heart of The Vineyard … to love and serve others without expecting anything in return.

How is it really possible to do this? I think that we can get a few clues about this in Colossians chapters 3-4. The Apostle Paul encourages us to, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God’ (Col. 3:2-3). He also says, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col. 3:17). Where can we obtain this kind of focus? Again Paul directs us to, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving…” (Col. 4:2). He further admonishes us to, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col. 4:5-6).

These are some pretty incredible instructions for us to live by! I don’t know about you, but my flesh (i.e. sinful nature) resists this kind of living. We live in a consumer culture that continually pushes us to consider how to make “me” even better, first, on top, ahead of everyone else, etc. Yet, that is not the way of the Kingdom. When I break down the essence of chapters 3 & 4 in Colossians, I find twelve things that we are persuaded to “put off” (immorality, impurity, passion & lust, evil desire, greed, idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech, lying; Col. 3:5, 8-9) and twelve things to “put on” (compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, love, unity, peace, thankfulness, Word of Christ; Col. 3:12-16). I have become convinced that if I make the choice to focus on those things that I am to “put on” that all of the things that I am to “put off” will begin to diminish in my life. I believe that it is the Heart of the Father, for us to be transformed into His character, His nature while we are yet here on the earth so that others will have the opportunity to see and experience the Kingdom through how we conduct ourselves as we serve the Lord. Please join me in the prayer that Paul closes Colossians chapter 4 with, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it."

Kevin Hoffman