I and My Father are One! - a podcast by David K Payne

...Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” Once again, they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. – John 10:37-38 NLT

In John 10, I recorded a significant interaction between Jesus and the religious leaders of his time. Jesus performed miracles before them, which seemed to irritate them. What made it even more controversial was Jesus' audacity to elevate himself with his words, claiming a position synonymous with God. It struck me as odd because religion is all about understanding and connecting with God, the creator of the universe and the giver of life. However, religious leaders appeared more concerned with their position as intermediaries between God and people, viewing any claim of a direct relationship with God from outsiders as a threat to their authority. This tendency to prioritize power and control over others' spiritual growth was present in Jesus' time and seems to persist in modern religious settings.

Jesus' crucifixion resulted from his declaration as the son of God and his belief that others could share oneness with God. Interestingly, this clash of beliefs occurred then and still exists today. If anyone claims to have a personal relationship with God similar to what Jesus taught, it is most often met with resistance and criticism.

I've been thinking a lot lately (which can be dangerous, lol), and I've found it beneficial to step back from my life and observe it as if I were looking at someone else. This approach helps me gain a better understanding of my progress. I don't pretend to have all the answers and recognize the need for self-improvement. Reflecting on my spiritual journey, I've noticed that my reliance on God has grown more vital than ever, and my respect for the divine is at an all-time high. However, the burden of trying to know God through religious rituals and hard work has lifted. I now have a deep sense of knowing God, and I live my life with a newfound confidence that I hadn't experienced before. This state of mind is quite different from what I used to associate with religion.

I feel seamlessly and effortlessly connected with God, yet I would never claim to be God, as some would critically accuse such a declaration of being such a claim. It's just that I've entered a place of peace and confidence that goes beyond what I once preached or believed was possible. Sometimes I wonder if I'm moving closer to the effortless life that Jesus exemplified, even though I can't fully explain it. I know others might criticize and doubt my experience, just as I once did to those who claimed similar spiritual connections. But it feels like I'm starting to align myself with Christ's position—a place where strain and pretense vanish, and the promises of peace, abundant life, confident prayers, and miraculous works become real. I genuinely believe this transformation is happening within me.

This claim might appear unconventional, even heretical, and it certainly doesn't sit well with the religious norms of my time—just as it was during Jesus's era. Embracing such an idea challenges the role of organized religion, particularly the authority of self-appointed religious leaders, in shaping my relationship with God. It seeks to eliminate any intermediaries between myself and God, thereby stripping away the power wielded by such entities. Nevertheless, this bold assertion aligns with what Jesus proclaimed as a possibility.

At that moment you will know absolutely that I’m in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you. – John 14:20 The Message

I invite you to revisit the 14th to 16th chapters of John and read the words of Jesus recorded there. Please pay close attention to the promises he speaks of, such as abiding in the vine, asking for what we desire, and the interconnected relationship between the vine and its branches, which produces fruitful results that are effortless.

I want to be clear that I am not claiming my life meets the standards set by others or even by the teachings I have received about righteousness. If I evaluate my actions, they often need to catch up to what I believe they should historically or ideally be. However, when I consider the fruit of my life—like the presence of joy, peace, patience, compassion, and a sense of what true righteousness might be—I cannot deny that I am living in the very place that Jesus promises in these chapters, as recorded by John. It's a remarkable state of existence that nobody from my religious past would acknowledge as correct and a place my former self would have criticized. Yet, it's filled with the fruits of the Spirit that I once preached were possible but never truly experienced. I am amazed to be in this position—a place I don't deserve, can't attribute to any religious works and don't fully comprehend. Still, it's an undeniable place of life, peace, joy, contentment, and personal fulfillment.

I must address one more thing: I know what my old self would have cautioned my current self about—being deceived by believing in a lie. However, from my present vantage point, I would tell my former self and others still bound by the constraints of religion that this experience I'm living is far from deception. How could deception lead to bearing the fruits of the Spirit and igniting such profound love for God? This journey has fueled an insatiable desire to grow and witness the positive impact on others' lives through the peace, love, joy, and life I have discovered. Today, as I step back and observe my life, I am taken aback by the unexpected blessings and gratefulness that fills me, bringing a deep sense of peace.

Best

David

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