The time between Passover and Pentecost is 50 days, the same number of days between Israel's deliverance from Israel and the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. The counting of the omer is the time in between these two powerful events that foreshadow our salvation and the baptism in the Holy Ghost. This is the time we actually count aloud each of these days, a foreshadowing of the waiting the disciples did in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. Some today are in the valley of decision on receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit just as many Jewish people today wait during this time for the celebration of the giving of the Law. The Holy Spirit is so needed today to guide us into ALL truth. He is truly our helper and counselor and power.

By Chris McDonald

PART II

TEXT: Leviticus 23:15
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete:

As we pick up part two of this study on the counting of the omer, let me restate something from part one that is very important to remember. Religion keeps count of your progress in such a way if you fail more than once you are automatically labeled as sinful and wicked. Grace does not keep that same account! We are such hypocrites sometime in the body. We are so quick to judge others based upon their actions but when we judge ourselves we always judge ourselves based upon our intentions! Our neighbor uses a cuss word and he's "not right with God I guess." We use that same cuss word by accident and "we just lost our temper, we're ok with God!" Sound familiar? "They smoke those cigarettes because they are just a bunch of backsliders." When we smoke a cigarette, "it's just one of those habits I'm dealing with." That is religion and it stinks to high heaven in the nostrils of God. He is not pleased with those attitudes in our hearts. Religion will tear down someone seeking to find their way with God instead of building them up. God's process of Grace gives room for failure but it does not give room for presumptuous sin. What you did two years ago you're not doing today. As Christians we seek NOT to find reasons to sin, but we find reasons to live for righteousness. If we fail, we repent quickly and continue striving to overcome those sins in our lives and hearts.

3. Spiritual Maturity Is A Call For Us To Be Grounded In The Truth

John 8:32-36
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  [33] They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? [34] Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. [35] And the servant abides not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. [36] If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Eph. 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Eph. 3:17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Col. 2:6-7
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: [7] Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

2 Peter 1:12
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

 Spiritual maturity is a call to the body to become grounded in the truth of the gospel. This generation is a generation that has not known or heard the true gospel preached. I say that mainly of the American church. The gospel message IS being preached in other parts of the world at the present time at great cost. We Americans in our luxury and obnoxious selfishness don't give the persecution of our fellow saints a second thought but many preach this precious gospel at the cost of their lives. Paul, along with Peter, calls us to be "ESTABLISHED" in the "present truth." Jesus said I am the TRUTH the way and the Life. The truth is not an abstract doctrine, even though doctrine plays a major role in finding truth. It's important to have our doctrine correct to be sure. False doctrine can send souls to hell friend. A person who sits under a false prophet or teacher and believes that which the individual is preaching can be influenced in such a way as to never receive the knowledge of the truth of the Lord Jesus. Paul said that would be an earmark of the last days - "ever learning," but NEVER being able to comprehend and come to the knowledge of the real truth.

  The real truth is JESUS. ALL TRUTH IS IN HIM! HE is the substance of what we believe. If what we are listening to is pushing us and challenging us to become more like CHRIST then we can be sure what we are listening to is from God. If what we are listening to is causing us to become more like our fellow man or become indoctrinated in a certain creed or movement, we can be sure it is false. Secular humanism has seeped into the church in these last days and the gospel most hear is nothing more than wrapped up New-Age humanism. It's a message that elevates man to a place where man controls his life and is able to make himself better through a myriad of methods and operations. The church bites into this apple with great glee offering sinful man psychology and a sort of all other formulas for victory.

 Let me tell you something this day. Hear what the SPIRIT says to the church friend. There is NO other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved and that is the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Christ crucified and the power of His death on the cross is the only answer for man's ills and bondages. The alcoholic will never be free by sitting on a shrink's sofa but by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sir, your marriage is going to hell in a hand basket, NOT because you are having psychological "issues" with intimacy. The issue is not about your emotional state, it's about SIN. SIN is the problem. It may be both parties, it may be the husband or it may be the wife - but SIN is the problem. And when SIN is the issue, there is only one remedy for sin and that is the finished work of Christ and the blood of the Lord Jesus.

This message is shoved out the door by most churches today and is rejected by many. But when the dust clears and all is revealed in the day of the Lord, I pray I be found embracing the cross of Christ at all costs because it is the POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION to those who believe. It is FOOLISHNESS to them who perish. When the storms of time come, friend the anchor that will keep you safe through the storm is the power of the blood of Jesus. NOTHING in my hand I bring, SIMPLY TO THY CROSS I'll CLING! TRUTH is centered around His finished work, not man's ability to bring himself out of man's horrible pit. Man is more lost than man will ever want to admit. When God found us, He found a MESS. NOTHING was worth saving. Nothing He saw was worth shedding blood for - but HE DID. Because of HIS MERCY and GRACE to a rebellious, fallen, hell-bound human race, He broke the chains of darkness and set mankind free from all His ills. And when the church ceases to place its faith in what HE HAS DONE, we have apostatized.

In these last days, to grow up unto Christ, we must be GROUNDED in the TRUTH. We must have an encounter with the one whom the truth embodies - CHRIST.

Ephes. 4:21
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

4. Spiritual Maturity is the ability to discern the truth and error and staying free from deception.

Ephes. 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

2 Tim. 2:15
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Hebrews 5:11-14
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. [12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. [13] For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

John 8:32-36 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  [33] They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? [34] Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. [35] And the servant abides not in the house for ever: but the Son abides ever. [36] If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.


We know that in these last days one of the enemy's greatest weapons will be deception. Deception comes in many forms and fashions. There is a deception that comes as we have stated from false teaching. But there is another deception that is even more deadly and that is the type of deception that causes us to deceive ourselves. Self-deception is one of the worst states ANY of us can find ourselves in. Paul said that many of those he wrote to were "dull of hearing," and in need of "milk." He said that "meat" is only available to those destined to exercised to discern both good and evil.

I can tell you from my own experiences that I am not even close to this. I know many times the Lord has tried to speak to me and because of my being "dull of hearing," I have not heard His voice. Many times when we do things that are our own will and not His it's because we have not heard from Him and done things according to our own heart, not His. It's a serious issue in the body today. How many churches have been built in the name of man, instead of a God-given ordained call? How many ministries are being built right now on a man-birthed revelation instead of God?

 I had lunch with a dear pastor friend this week who serves on the pastoral staff of a huge church in N. Georgia. One thing he told me that is happening in his community is the utter shamelessness of division among many church pastors and leaders. There is such a sectarian spirit today that says if you don't belong to us and don't believe the way we do then we don't want to fellowship with you or have any thing to do with what you may be doing for God. 90% of the problem he said was so many splits among the churches as men seek to build a kingdom to themselves and not God. We are DULL OF HEARING and BABES. There is coming a separation to the church soon of those who will say "NO" to this type of outreach.

Satan said "I will 'make' myself just like the most High." And the church world today is trying to 'make' themselves like God instead of allowing the Lord to change our hearts and make us what HE wants us to be, not what our denominations tell us we should be. There is an experience, a pillar of fire experience, that separates the true from the false. The false will agree with salvation, but it won't touch the glory of God. The false counterfeit spirit will walk side by side with the true move of God, but when it comes time to become partakers of the pillar of fire, the rubber hits the road and it reveals itself as one from the enemy, not the Lord.

  THAT SPIRIT INFESTS THE CHURCH today in an awful manner. The separation that is coming is going to divide the mature from those who continue to be dull of hearing and do not wish to change. We MUST be able to discern good and evil in these last days. The false spirit today that grips the body looks so much like God that as Jesus spoke, 'even the very elect,' would be deceived if possible. One of the main components of this false spirit is the attitude that the laity and the clergy are two separate entities and the laity must answer to the clergy in matters pertaining to God.

  Friend, I believe in godly submission, but when it comes to Chris McDonald's eternal soul and destiny, I am not putting that in ANY man's hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO YOU HEAR WHAT I SAY TO YOU. I am the one responsible for my eternal soul. I am the one responsible for the intimacy level between me and my Lord Jesus. A preacher or a priest cannot purchase intimacy for you. But the church preaches "submission, submission, submission," and hides a more sinister spirit that seeks to destroy the TRUE work of the HOLY GHOST in one's lives. PREACHER, PASTOR, you are NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is your job to lead the sheep to a deeper level of intimacy with Christ through the HOLY SPIRIT. The reason most of our people are neck deep in deception is the fact we have not allowed the Holy Spirit, who is called the Spirit of Truth, to keep us from evil and deception. Spiritual maturity is a state where we are not tossed to and fro and we're free from the spirits of deception. We HEAR the voice of God for OURSELVES, not because our preacher tells us it's ok or not ok to believe God.

5.Spiritual Maturity is a process leading us to speak the truth in love

Ephes. 4:15
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Romans 15:14
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Col. 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

  We must speak the truth in love to this generation. Some want to speak the truth without love while some want to speak just love without telling the truth. We must do both. We are in a time when we must ADMONISH one another right now. There is such a call in these last days for encouragers and mature voices that will speak the truth in love. When we are spiritual mature, we will be full of goodness and full of ALL KNOWLEDGE. These two things will allow us to be able to "admonish one another."

 6. Spiritual Maturity is a Call To Grow Up In Him and Grow Constantly, Never Stagnating, That Produces Unity

Ephes. 4:15
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

1 Peter 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Ephes. 4:16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

2 Cor. 1:10
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

2 Cor. 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.


 Spiritual maturity is a process that is not easy. I know in this modern age of Christianity we think everything is going to happen yesterday when it pertains to growth and neighbor that is naive at best. I will turn 40 in January and as I write these words I know in my heart that I'm LIGHT YEARS away from the level of maturity I want to be at in God. I am still growing up. I see certain areas of my life that I think I'm progressing in a little bit but other areas I still struggle in daily. The process we're going through is where we no longer have a "word" but we BECOME the living word! We know longer claim a promise, we become the PROMISE! This generation of church goers have nothing more to offer the world than an argument about doctrine and theology. God is wanting so much more from us. He's wanting to do major surgery on us to the point where we have a real true blue experience, intimate encounter with the Lord to the point that no one argues with us about our theology because we're not talking about doctrine, we're talking about experiences. Being changed from glory to glory requires a transformation that precious few want to endure but it will be necessary as a whole before the church experiences revival.

 The end result of this work in our hearts will be true unity. As we write these words, we are days away from our Pentecost conference concerning the Jewish roots of our faith and the dynamics of the Jewish feast of Shavuot. One element of the day of Pentecost was the unity of the first church - they were all in "one accord." ALL things were common among them. No one had preeminence over the other. They were more than just a family unit, they were a functioning BODY for the Kingdom of God on the Earth.  We are so busy building churches today that we have forgotten that our goal is not "church" it's the KINGDOM! When we become Kingdom minded it won't matter who gets the glory for what is going on. When we are Kingdom minded we won't become offended at the drop of a hat. When we become Kingdom minded the only aching desire of our heart will be intimacy with GOD and His Son Jesus Christ. When we become Kingdom minded the greatest cry coming from our hearts will NOT be "Lord, bless me, bless me, bless me," but "Lord, let me bless YOU, let me bless YOU, let me bless YOU" and as a result of that become a blessing, promise and WORD to others on a living, daily basis.

 Our pastor spoke last night about the anointing and how it is vital we all have one. He was right on target. What I say now is not to change what he said but just add a thought. Anointing IS important without a doubt. To do the works of Christ we must have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. But to reach a generation bound by the gross powers of darkness this generation faces today we must also have AUTHORITY in heaven to go along with that anointing. It's not just enough to cast out devils. It's not just enough to do many wonderful works. Many  will stand before Jesus one day having done those things to be cast out of the Kingdom because as He said, "I never knew you." You can have an anointing and not know Christ. You can have power and not have Kingdom credentials. If you don't believe me, ask Judas Iscariot. He was as anointed as any of the other11 while on Earth walking with Jesus. But he never had authority in heaven. Spiritual maturity is when we walk in both anointing AND authority. A better word for authority is intimacy perhaps but it goes even beyond intimacy. It goes to REALITY. A reality of walking, talking, seeing, experiencing the FATHER, Son and HOLY GHOST on a daily basis.

Matthew 7:20-21  - Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:22-23  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
 

 As I close this short journal series let me say a few things. I have not reached this place yet. I dare say that any of you reading this journal to this point can say "I have reached this place." Only the proud and immature boast of such things. True maturity always, always, always, always keeps us in a place of humility knowing that we still have room to grow.  About three weeks ago a close friend of mine and me had a breakdown in communication and as a result I got very hurt at him. I stewed and stewed and stewed for a week vowing to cut off the relationship and yada yada yada. I thought something he did was deliberate and took it offensively. Since it had to do with ministry it made it that much worse. Up until that point I had really been "proud" of myself thinking "boy, I sure am growing in Christ!"

 When this happened it shattered my view of the level of maturity I THOUGHT I was at. I realized that I was so far off from the level of spiritual growth God wanted me it made me weep for many days after.  And that is my point in bringing this up. You and I may THINK we are mature when at that very moment God sends something along the way, or allows a close friend to hurt us, to show us just how desperately in NEED OF HIM we still are and always will be! My friend and I have reconciled since then but it opened my eyes to the fact that I'm FAR from where I need to be with Jesus. I am part of the Body of Christ. I am PART, not the WHOLE! Things that happen to me and around me do not necessarily have anything to do with ME, but they have EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HIM! When I get sensitive and become offended at what people say about me - I'm acting immature. When I refuse to seek reconciliation in matters and hold grudges and resentments, I'm acting immature. When I seek religious experiences instead of seeking intimacy with God, I'm acting immature. When I seek to build a ministry, instead of seeking to build the Kingdom, I'm acting immature.

 Let me encourage you as I close here. This process of maturity may be painful, lonely, heart breaking and at times make you feel like giving up. DON'T LOSE HEART! The Lord's chastening of us is to produce FRUIT, not destroy us. He will never leave us or forsake us in this journey. It may feel like it at times, but He is always there. His grace is sufficient to keep us safe in the dark days and bring great relief and blessing in the brighter days. Some of you are going through things right now and you don't understand why. It's the season of omer in the church. The Lord is bringing us into maturity in a way that we have never seen before. His love will produce this in us, not the Law.

Hebrews 12:8
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

        The counting of the omer is a call to spiritual growth and maturity. Our pastor told the church last night that it's time to grow up. The church we attend is about two years old now, Lisa and I having attended for six months now, and is at the same growth level as it was when it basically started. The pastor's call to us is my call to you today - GROW UP UNTO CHRIST. Throw everything aside and abandon yourselves to seeking HIS FACE and intimacy with HIM. Come along side today with Him on the Emmaus Road and allow His words to cause your heart to BURN inside. His words always do! Man's words leave us empty and wanting more. Anointing is great and God knows the church needs all the anointing it can get, but AUTHORITY is more important. As we count the omer up to Pentecost, let us move on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of dead works as we become more like JESUS.

Hebrews 12:1-3
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Hebrews 6:1-3
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, [2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [3] And this will we do, if God permit.

As we enter the Pentecostal season, let us remember that we DO have a cloud of witnesses who have gone before us paving the way for the future. LET US LAY ASIDE THE WEIGHT AND THE SIN which does so easily beset us. Let us RUN this race with patience and LOOK TO JESUS the author and finisher of our faith. Who, for the joy set before him, endured the CROSS, despising the shame. Spiritual maturity takes us back to the cross! Funny isn't it. Even spiritual growth centers around the finished work of our Saviour. Grow up today. Become like Jesus and let's see the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us. Blessings.

Heavenly Father, in Jesus name, forgive us Lord for seeking power, miracles and prosperity instead of seeking after YOU. Forgive your church today for its state of immaturity. Lord we know you love the church and want it to become mature, not wanting anything, not carried about with every wind of doctrine and sleight of men, but GROUNDED in the truth and centered on JESUS. Bring us to that place today during this Pentecost season in 2004. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.