The Death of a Dream

 By Francis Frangipane

It's amazing how many twists and turns we travel in life searching for personal significance. We can accept occasional anonymity when giving to charity or in playing a behind-the-scenes role, but we do not want our entire lives to be anonymous. The idea that life, or precisely my life, never achieved anything of significance - that one's dreams, it turns out, were mostly unattainable illusions - is the closest thing to death we can experience while still appearing alive.

In counseling middle-aged and older people who were struggling with depression, I found their emotional heaviness often came from the realization that their life dreams (such as ministry or revival or being involved in something significant) were not going to be fulfilled. Even though they were Christians, where once faith and vision led them, now there was a void inside.

Yet, is the search for significance over because we have grown older? No, it doesn't have to be. Of course, when I speak of becoming significant or fulfilling one's dream, I am not speaking from a human perspective nor in reference to earthly significance. For the only true and enduring significance is that which God ascribes to us, not man. Thus, our lives can take on eternal significance if we pursue the fullness of Christ.

Some day we each will appear before the throne of God. He will look at our character - what we made of ourselves, what we overcame and, more importantly, how much like Christ we had become. At that point, our significance will be established by the only view that matters: God's.

But to be awarded the praise of God, we must make bold and courageous decisions now. Regardless of our age or the season of our lives, let us renew our passion to truly follow Christ. Here, in pursuit of conformity to Christ in all things, is the path to true significance. This is the dream we can still fulfill.

For each of you in search of life's true meaning, we encourage you to consider enrolling in the In Christ's Image Training course. These training messages are aimed at laying the foundation of Christ's life in your heart. These are powerful, life changing insights that the Lord has given me that will attract the living Presence of Christ to your soul.

It's not too late to obtain true, eternal significance. 

Learn more at www.icitc.org. 

When the Lord Builds His House

By Francis Frangipane

It is possible for Christ's church to be so properly aligned with heaven that the Spirit of the Lord actually displaces the powers of darkness over our cities. To the degree that the church is so joined to God, the Lord's Presence guards the city: crime and immorality proportionally decline; revival begins to spontaneously break out. But be forewarned, only if the Lord builds His house will He then guard our cities (Psalm 127:1).

The Corporate, Citywide Church
"And the house, while it was being built, was built of stone prepared at the quarry, and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool heard in the house while it was being  built" (I Kings 6:7).

During these past 25 to 30 years God has had His church "at the quarry " shaping the leaders, preparing their hearts to become a living dwelling place, a spiritual house of the Lord. Under the hammer of the Word, many pastors and lay people have softened their doctrinal opinions. God has been reducing their definition of Christianity to the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ (see 2 Cor 11:3). At the same time, the Lord has also laid His axe to the root system of jealousy and selfish ambition (see James 3:16).

To Attain the Fullness of Christ

By Francis Frangipane

There is a new stirring from the Holy Spirit. The Lord's goal is for us is to abide in Jesus. John taught, "The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked" (1 John 2:6). If we truly abide in Him, we will walk even "as He walked."

The first-century saints had the words of Jesus and they had the Spirit of Jesus. In that simplicity the church enjoyed unsurpassed greatness and power. We also are becoming true disciples, seeking to walk even as Jesus walked. This is the singular essential requirement in unifying the church: we each desire for Christ's image to be established in our hearts.

The Upward Call

By Francis Frangipane

Many challenge the idea that, as mere humans, we can actually perceive the Lord's thoughts. We have too often heard those who proclaimed that "God told" them such and such when it wasn't true. Still, because others fail to hear clearly should that disqualify us from reaching for the potential stated in Scripture? Let not the failures of others stop our pursuit of Christ's likeness. Others argue, even using Scripture, "Who has known the mind of the Lord?" (1 Cor. 2:16). 

Yes, certainly, the Lord has His pocket full of awesome surprises. I am not saying we can "figure out" all there is to the divine nature. I am stating only that we do not have to sleepwalk or float through life; we can be led by a true, living word from God that is directed personally to us.

Possessing the Mind of Christ

By Francis Frangipane

To See as Jesus Sees
"He who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:15-16).

This is one of the most staggering statements made in the New Testament. Paul says that it is actually possible to be free of our carnal, jealous, fearful, unbelieving thought-life and, in its place, possess "the mind of Christ"!

This promise is wonderfully profound. Indeed, it is one thing to be taught edifying principles and truths about the Lord, yet quite another to actually possess the very thought-life of Christ! Listen to what Paul says,

The Power of a Transcendent Life, Part 2

By Francis Frangipane 

In our last message, we stated that the destiny of every Christian, according to Paul, is to be conformed "to the image of [God’s] Son" (Rom 8:29). Typically, when I remind people that our core destiny is Christlikeness, most people just nod, affirming the general truthfulness of my statement. However, they really do not believe that it is true. Indeed, when people think of their destiny, they first think of something they will do for God, something that involves the visible demonstration of a unique gifting or ministry calling. But neither our gifts nor a specific calling represent the core reality of our destiny. 

So, let me state it again: Our destiny is to be Christlike. Our responsibilities and gifts may be as varied as the seasons of our lives, but our enduring destiny is that part of us that becomes Christlike in nature. God wants us to develop our gifts and, of course, He has created us to fulfill certain tasks or ministries, but we must never lose sight of the main purpose of our existence, which is to become like Jesus in all things.