Kingdom Modeling

Kingdom Modeling

A child learns through modeling. If he sees the parents model the way of living, the child learns likewise.

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. - John 5:19

Some charismatics take this verse to the extreme and say that Jesus always followed exactly what the Father was saying and doing. In other words, if the Father says, "Walk three steps", Jesus walked ONLY three steps. If the Father is drinking a cup of water, Jesus followed EXACTLY and drank a cup of water.

Nothing is further from the truth, because God did not create robots. He created beings who are alive and have the FREE will to choose and a heart to desire and respond.

This is the same for Jesus. For John 5:19, what Jesus was showing is simply modeling. He saw the Father's model in everything. In modeling, you catch the heartbeat, not just the action. Because many things are caught, rather than taught. Teaching requires only the head, but imparting requires the heart, which comes through modeling.

Moses knew God's ways; Israel knew His works, but Jesus knew His heart. This is why Jesus is the Way to the Father. If we know The Way, we know the heart of the Father.

In John 5:19, Jesus knew the heart of the Father. In providing to those in need, He didn't need to wait and pray, "Father, what are You doing? Are You giving now?" In healing the sick, He didn't need to wait and pray "Father, is it the right time NOW to heal this person?" In living out His life, He didn't need to wait and pray, "Father, what shall I eat today? Rice or noodles?" For His food is to do the will of Him who sent Him.

Jesus moved and did according to the heart of the Father. When you know His heart, you don't have to keep waiting upon the Lord. God is not waiting for you to wait on Him. He is waiting for you to move like Him. The church is still waiting for the move of God, when God is waiting for the church to get up and be the move of God.

Jesus learnt through modeling. A child also learns through modeling. In the Kingdom, we too, learn through modeling.

This is why we need more Christian models in the marketplace. We need businessmen who walk in integrity and live out the kingdom values. The church institution has its place to do equipping, but a pastor, evangelist, prophet, etc. cannot model to the marketplace how to live out Lifestyle Christianity in the marketplace. 

Preaching about it and living from it are completely different. A parent can teach the child how to live right, but if the parent doesn't model and live out for the child to see what he has taught, the child will not be empowered.

Similarly, the pulpit can teach what is right, but it won't empower believers to live out what is right. So many Christians (and I have encountered alot in my industry) in the marketplace are living as though they have never been to church. This is why we need models to model to them what the pulpit cannot do. For we all learn through modeling.

By His grace, may we arise and grow to become the models, and represent Christ in the marketplace. "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few..." Someone said, "Missions is about the state of the heart." You don't need to drop everything and become a missionary in another country. You are already a missionary. You just need to step out and influence your present culture. Jesus!