February 2014 was a whirlwind of travel. One stop was Gastonia, NC where Keeli and I spoke at the Grace Upon Grace conference. I began by reading a quote from John Crowder. This quote is one of the most detoxing, myth busting, religious attitude killers I’ve ever heard. So often, believers observe and mimic the patterns and habits of leaders in the church. But the wonderful thing about maturing as a believer is that we don’t have to stick with those bad habits. There is grace to move on and come to a fuller understanding of Jesus Christ’s finished work and your inclusion in that work. In today’s world of social media, skewed facts, hasty conclusions, and brutal attacks are prevalent. In fact, one would conclude that most believers feel more called to be a watchdog or whistle-blower than a minister of the Gospel. It’s a tendency developed by self-righteous living. True discernment is not publicly calling out the faults of others, nor is it a gift to be abused by self-exaltation. Discernment is a gift, like every gift, that should be operated from a place of love.

With that said, don’t be quick to get on a bandwagon of divisiveness, hate, slander, or libel towards other brothers and sisters in Christ because their church has activity you may not be familiar with, teaching you don’t agree with (or completely understand), or trends that are foreign. I implore you: do not jump to conclusions without understanding the context. Any “watchdog” can create a blog and spout off hate, create division, and be an instrument of confusion to the church and the world. Nasty blogs tend to bind rather than create an allowance to enjoy God’s grace and freedom.

After speaking, Keeli and I teamed up with our friends, BJ and Lisa Sullivan, and had an opportunity to pray with an array of people. It was one of the best times of prophetic ministry we have ever had. The message of grace tends to free people from the idea that something else must be done in addition to Jesus' finished work. The requests weren’t weird, strange, or off the wall. The requests for prayer were real and honest. No super spiritual conspiracy theories or deliverance from the yabba-dabba-doo spirit of Beebop and Rocksteady (Ninja Turtle reference!). The Holy Spirit did amazing things, called people back to a place where they were fulfilling their call, began restoring marriages, and speaking His language of love to them.

This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. The quote that I read from John Crowder’s video “A New Language”. May the words bring a newfound freedom into your life.

I am not pressing in anymore. I’ve been pressed into.
I’m not contending anymore. I’ve been contended for.
I’m not a God chaser anymore. He moves way too fast. He chased me down, roped and hog-tied me, bagged and dragged me.
I’m not seeking God anymore. He found me.
I’m not even drawing close to God. We’re not getting closer. We are in union. We are Siamese twins.
You will never hear me say anything about overcoming the flesh. The fleshly nature was circumcised away.
You will never hear me say anything about killing the old man. The old man has been co-crucified with Christ.
Some people say, “You’re only human.” I’m not. I’m a new creation.
Some people say, “Well, nobody’s perfect.” I am. Unless you think Christ was incompetent on the cross.
Some people say, “Well, we’re all sinners.” What Bible verse is that? As a matter of fact, John says if you continue in sin, you’re a child of the devil.
I don’t talk about dry times. I don’t talk about dark nights of the soul. I’m done with dessert theology.
I’m not asking Him to purify my heart. He gave me a new one.
I’m not asking Him to open the heavens. The veil of His flesh was torn and all of heaven was open with it.
I’m not asking Him to take me into the holy of holies. That’s where I’m seated right now.
I don’t pump people up into intercession. I think He’s done an adequate job of it.
I don’t pump people up into fasting. He fasted so that I could feast.
I don’t pump people up into godly sorrow. He was a man of sorrow so we could be a people of joy.
I don’t overemphasize confession. It’s just admitting your sins to see that they’re already forgiven.
I don’t overemphasize my faith. It’s His faith that saved me.
I don’t overemphasize repentance. It’s a fruit of salvation, not the price tag to buy it.
I don’t talk about insiders or outsiders. I don’t talk about saved or unsaved. I don’t talk about good or evil. I don’t talk about yin and yang. I don’t talk about good cop-bad cop. I’m just talking about Jesus and His inclusion of all humanity on the cross. And I don’t talk about forgiven or unforgiven. The only distinction is believer or unbeliever. The Gospel changes everything… The scandal of grace.

To watch the entire video, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e25DSxQcp7Q

Jonathan Fawcett

In 2006, I not only met my wife, but I met her father, Kermit. Kermit, to this day, is one of the boldest men I have ever met. He preaches straight up grace, heals the sick, casts out devils, prophecies what he hears the Lord speak, and is an outpouring of constant revelation. Every week, Kermit calls me after ministering at a local prison. Each time, I hear about men believing in Jesus Christ because of the power of the Holy Spirit. Cancers are dissolving, Hepatitis is disappearing, broken bones are being restored and new hearts begin beating in these men’s chests. I dare say that to see miracles in a church meeting, one has to be arrested! Kermit has been steady, obedient, and ever increasing in his boldness to see lives transformed for God’s glory. I wanted to do the same. Here is my question: Are you a convert or a disciple? When I met Kermit, I became a disciple.

A disciple does not idolize the person who teaches them. They make themselves available to learn from someone who has experience. Don’t subject yourself to being a disciple of someone who is depressed, inconsistent, double minded, or doesn’t read and believe the Word of God through the lens of New Covenant grace.

Sometimes, discipleship will leave you in moments of shock. If your way of thinking doesn’t change for your betterment, then you may want someone else to teach you. I remember when Kermit sat across the table from me and said, “I don’t ask forgiveness for sins.” My jaw probably hit the table. I was in shock. You may even be shouting at the computer screen, “Heresy!”

We have been conditioned to believe that forgiveness is obtained by confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness. If this is true, then why did Jesus never mention it? Why did Paul never mention it? I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” What you may not have known is that I John 1 was written to a sect known as the Gnostics. This was a group that infiltrated the early church and was corrupted by believing that Jesus did not come in the flesh and therefore did not believe there was a need to be forgiven of sins. (To watch a great teaching on Gnosticism and how it continues to infiltrate the church, click here.) When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He was praying an Old Covenant prayer.

At the cross, we were saved by grace. We were forgiven when He was on that cross. Asking for forgiveness does not accomplish something that was not already taken care of. Our transgressions are separated from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12) and our iniquities were thrown to the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19). Romans 6:11 (AMP) says, “Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.” As Romans 8:1 (AMP) states, “Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.”

The statement that Kermit made, as contrary as it is to mainstream American church teaching, actually aligns with the Word of God. Praise God for people who can read God’s Word with understanding through the lens of grace without compromising the finished work of the cross!

My challenge to you: If you have not been personally discipled by someone who is seasoned and experienced in the glory of God (hint: just because a person has been ordained and has a theological degree (or as my friend calls it: being "hermaneutered”), does not qualify one as a believer or expert in moving in the power of the Spirit. Get with someone who is intimate with Jesus, hears His voice, demonstrates His power on a regular basis, reveals Christ, dreams big, and lives victoriously in the glory, for His glory, operating from the glory. For me, Kermit was and is that person. He has been a coach who has been patient with me as I went through seasons of striving, shadow boxing warfare, and silly attempts of trying to accomplish something Jesus already did. He stirs me with testimonies and encourages me to do the same. He has never neglected to recognize the call of God on my life. Because of his investment in me, I have fallen more in love with Jesus as I continually gain an understanding of what Christ has accomplished for the entire world.

Jonathan Fawcett

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