Belonging House Fellowship

Christ John Otto teaches on the Transfiguration and how listening to God and doing are one.   #unseenrealm #michealheiser #listening #lent #transfiguration   Belonging House International is a fellowship of Christian artists and creative people who are called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth.   We are here to help you grow and thrive as a Christian artist, develop in your relationship with God, experience transformation, and discover the change you can make in the world.   Our videos and teaching are designed to transform your spiritual life.  Your inner life determines your creative output. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto.  We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can find out more at https://belonging.house Fear not God can be trusted. #artists #Christian artists #thriving #discipleship #Jesus #Bible #creatives #creativity #healing #spiritual healing #prayer   

Matthew 5:17 says Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets.  This says something about the character and nature of God and his plan for our lives. Belonging House International is a fellowship of Christian artists and creative people who are called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth.   We are here to help you grow and thrive as a Christian artist, develop in your relationship with God, experience transformation, and discover the change you can make in the world.   Our videos and teaching are designed to transform your spiritual life.  Your inner life determines your creative output. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto.  We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can find out more at https://belonging.house Fear not God can be trusted. #artists #Christian artists #thriving #discipleship #Jesus #Bible #creatives #creativity #healing #spiritual healing #prayer   

  What is the purpose of light? To illuminate the darkness. And Jesus says, you are the light of the world, and you have no purpose  if you put that light under a bushel. The purpose of light  is to bring light to dark places. The religious mind thinks from the outside in, and that the darkness will make my light dim.   No. The light in you will make the darkness lighter. ---- You can support Belonging House athttps://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists, https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto.  We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can find out more at https://belonging.house Fear not God can be trusted.

I am going to make your head explode this Sunday as we look at the Wedding at Cana. This is the first recorded miracle in the Gospel of John and John states that this was the first miracle of Jesus. John says that through this miracle Jesus manifested his glory and this disciples believed in him.   That's a big thing to say about  wine at a party.   Maybe it's not about the wine. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto.  We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

This word "call" in Greek, Kaleo, appears 148 times in the New Testament. It is the greek word used for the Hebrew word "cara." This word first appears at the beginning of Genesis when God speaks and he calls the light day and the dark night. In the Bible, and especially in the Gospels, the word "call" has an intrinsic meaning. The call defines a person  and calls them out of one reality  and into another. So Jesus calls fishermen, and in the call itself is the power for those men  to leave their nets, leave their family legacy, leave their place in society, and follow Jesus. And in the call is another reality. The call defines you. So Jesus calls them and says, from now on you will be fishers of men.   Notice what Jesus does here. He does not say You were once fishermen, and now I am going to make you  Christian accountants.   No. The call of God transforms what they are, their natural gifts and abilities, into something much higher. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto.  We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

God is always calling us out of our illusions and into Kingdom reality. The religious worldly mind  calls us backward into the realm of the past. And that realm of the past will then cause us to live in unreality. God is present future. He is always talking about now and calling us into future. This is why, when we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and then we move into his reality. This is why you feel free. You are back in sync with God. Sadly, many people conjure up and relive the past over and over again and they are living and being defined by things that are gone. This is the illusion that God has not forgiven. The religious mind thinks God forgives us but we still have to do something to make it happen. This is not reality.   In today's gospel, Jesus comes to John and John declares that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And then John says this, my ministry is for a season. My ministry and my baptism is only here to point the way to someone else, and this one is here.   And then John gives us the point. The one coming after me will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. You will not be baptized in water, but in the Holy Spirit. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto.  We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord and I want to talk about a few BIG ideas that will lay out the next season of teaching.   In John chapter three one of the leaders of the sanhedrin, Nicodemus comes to Jesus secretly at night. And Nicodemus makes an observation to Jesus, no one could do the signs that you do unless God is with him.   And the Jesus replies, No one can enter the Kingdom of heaven unless he is born again. And then Jesus explains that unless you are born by water and the Holy Spirit you are not in the Kingdom. Flesh gives birth to flesh and spirit gives birth to spirit. The Kingdom of God is not a kingdom of talk, but a kingdom of power. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto.  We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

You are the light. Light is only useful in dark places. And you cannot be sacred space unless you learn to listen to the Lord, and do what he tells you. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

God delights in you. God is coming to earth, not as conqueror or warrior. God is coming to earth in peace with love, delight, and favor. Heaven is invading earth and it is an invasion of favor. Christmas is the miracle. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

This is why when we make scriptural declarations we see so much happen in people's lives. When we declare scriptural truth, even if that truth is not yet reality for us, we begin to see movement from our broken reality into God's reality. The incarnation is everything. Jesus came into a broken world and said I am salvation I am God with you. I am close and I can bring the life and love of God into your broken reality and bring salvation. That word salvation means healing, wholeness, shalom, transformation and blessing. And so we declare salvation over situations. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Find out more at https://belonging.house

What do you do when the fulfilment comes and it is not what you expected?  There is a back side to the forerunner calling and we need to talk about it. God is fulfilling promises right now in our community, and it is important to understand a core piece of God's fulfillment. Most people miss the day of their visitation and the day of the fulfillment because they are expecting one thing and God does another. God fulfills the word and the promise but it does not look like what we expected. And when this happens people either get disappointed or offended. __ You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

In Scripture there is really only one forerunner, John the Baptist. His message can be broken down into four parts: 1.Prepare the Way for the coming of the Lord. 2. Change your thinking. 3. Produce works that show you have changed. 4.  He must increase and I must decrease: when he comes turn to him and be filled with the Holy Spirit. ______ You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

The prophetic word is the end from the beginning.  If God gives you a word, He is telling you how things are going to work out.  It is designed to give you prophetic hope.  Hope keeps you going. A lot of people live in what is or what was. They live in what their eyes tell them about now, or the illusion of their experience in the past. And out of this, they get trapped in a poverty mindset with no possibilities or options. The Lord lives in what is and what will be. #Advent #BelongingHouse #Prophetic #ListentoGod You can find out more at https://belonging.house You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com  

Patience is saying to Jesus, you are the most patient person in the Universe.  I need you to manifest your patience through me today. Settle it in your mind today. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

We are not living in ordinary times, but rather, a great time of shifting and transition.  I have been going over the words we received on our listening day.  I want to end this teaching today with a few practical thoughts for all of us going forward, but before I do that, let's talk about some big thoughts. I was asked a few days ago about the glory and how we carry the glory. And this related to something Bob Jones said before he died, that the glory of God was going to return to the church, and that the glory would accompany the great "end time" billion soul harvest, this harvest the described as the "House.   Related to this is the opposition those who are called to carry the glory would face. This opposition is described in Revelation as the "Harlot." --- You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com x

Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that you are the Son of God and the only way to God, that you died on the cross for my sins and rose again from the dead. That on the cross you were made a curse with every curse that is due to me, that I might be redeemed from the curse and enter into the blessing.  Lord, I confess any sins committed by me or by my ancestors. I ask your forgiveness. I also forgive every other person whoever harmed me or wronged me. I forgive them as I would have God forgive me. I also forgive myself. I renounce all contact with the occult in any form and I commit myself to get rid of any 'contact objects.'    And now Lord, having received by faith your forgiveness, with the authority I have as a child of God, I now release myself and those under my authority from any curse over our lives. Right now, in the name of Jesus, I declare release. I claim it and I receive it by faith. In the name of Jesus. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

The most powerful thing you can do in spiritual warfare is to look at Jesus. And as you ignore the demonic that is feeding on your attention and your rebellion, the demonic realm begins to get starved for attention and just goes away. The most powerful thing you can do is not lose the plot. This is humility. ---- You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

When I began our series on spiritual warfare for artists, I stated that everything we do in discipleship is spiritual war. Your life of prayer, your practice of listening to God, your choice to do what God asks of you, and your regular rhythm as an artist and creative person is just like the daily physical training of a marine. ---- You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

You can listen to an in depth understanding of witchcraft here: https://youtu.be/O10iAaOWR7A?si=L0qYwUpRnNFRPbK3 Derek Prince has a foundational message on this topic here: https://youtu.be/fjeeInjMoJc?si=OFn8wqyXr2YFboOa You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

You are dealing with spiritual forces who are outside of time. They will outwork you and they will outsmart you if you try to fight them using a carnal understanding. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

This is part three in the series: Clash of Kingdoms.  This week we look at the nature of the spiritual forces of evil.  I promise you will never look at a fish the same way again. Acts 19:11-20 You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

This is part two in the series: Clash of Kingdoms.  This week we look at the nature of the spiritual forces of evil.  I promise you will never look at a fish the same way again. Ephesians 6:10-20 You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com

The first in a series on Spiritual Warfare for Artists. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com  

Jesus is the Master Artisan. He is the Author of Beauty. He is more than a carpenter, and is the Creator incarnate.

This week is a celebration of thanksgiving. We have been doing this Belonging House adventure for nineteen years. There are some amazing things about this story, and how so many of the things that I did in the beginning became part of our DNA and part of our life together. We began praying in tongues together for fifteen minutes in my living room in Akron, Ohio. We celebrated holy communion together daily. We sat and listened to God together. We ate together. And all of this happened before we "formed" an organization.  

God is calling the artist and creative person to build the Kingdom of God on the earth.  In this teaching, Christ John Otto shares how Bezalel is a new Adam carrying out the original directions to Adam as the Image of God. Exodus 31:15  

Part two on the Big ideas for artists.  This week the Charashim from Zechariah 1:15-2:5.

The first in a series on Big Ideas for Artists.  Why you have power in the unseen realm as an artist or creative person. #incarnation #Artists #icon

How do you respond to Jesus? Our desire is to respond with a Kingdom grid.   The Father is always calling, always wooing. And there is a promise in scripture that very few people understand: If you draw near to me I will draw near to You.   A lot of people think that scripture says: If I repent hard enough, do the right stuff and serve God until he approves then I will have permission to come close but God may or may not be interested.   Jesus said, Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. For my yoke is easy, my burden is light. ---- Christ John Otto leads Belonging House International, a fellowship called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time, https://a.co/d/3hPEiHT The heart of Belonging House is our Friday email.  You can subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/44964233320d/friday-email-signup Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com We encourage artists to make the Belonging House commitment: https://belonginghouse.substack.com/p/our-commitment You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto https://buy.stripe.com/6oE9EG6ObfnF2nSbII You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

God calls some people to do things that do not make sense to the conventional order to push the direction. And honestly, if you look at history the people God choose are either a bit crazy or deeply broken. God chooses the people who are in desperate situations because they are desperate for God.   Christ John Otto leads Belonging House International, a fellowship called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time, https://a.co/d/3hPEiHT The heart of Belonging House is our Friday email.  You can subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/44964233320d/friday-email-signup Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com We encourage artists to make the Belonging House commitment: https://belonginghouse.substack.com/p/our-commitment You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto https://buy.stripe.com/6oE9EG6ObfnF2nSbII You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

A few weeks ago we sat down with some of our community to review prophetic words.  We talked in depth about geo-political shifts, how God is using Islam to reignite his church, and glory that is beginning to return to the Body of Christ.     Christ John Otto leads Belonging House International, a fellowship called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time, https://a.co/d/3hPEiHT The heart of Belonging House is our Friday email.  You can subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/44964233320d/friday-email-signup Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com We encourage artists to make the Belonging House commitment: https://belonginghouse.substack.com/p/our-commitment You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto https://buy.stripe.com/6oE9EG6ObfnF2nSbII You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

Christ John Otto leads Belonging House International, a fellowship called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. The heart of Belonging House is our Friday email.  You can subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/44964233320d/friday-email-signup Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com We encourage artists to make the Belonging House commitment: https://belonginghouse.substack.com/p/our-commitment You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto https://buy.stripe.com/6oE9EG6ObfnF2nSbII You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

Luke 9:58 Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the son of man has no where to lay his head. Luke 9:23 If any man would come after me, let him take up his cross daily, and follow me. --- Today we are going to end this talk with a few prayers. First, I want to break off of you any ways people have made false declarations over you. Some of you have aligned your hearts with these lies and so we may have to renounce them as well. There are many artists who listen to my teaching who have been cursed by their churches. So we are going to break that off. There are many of you who feel like God has called you to do radical things but there is resistance, both inward and outward, to keep you "normal" and to stop you from walking in obedience. We are going to break that off and we are going to pray for you. Some of you may need to turn from this and I am going to ask you to indicate to everyone here your desire to change direction and align with Jesus.   And then we are going to go after  all the false religious teaching that has kept some of you bound in poverty, lack, sickness, and death.   ---- Christ John Otto leads Belonging House International, a fellowship called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. The heart of Belonging House is our Friday email.  You can subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/44964233320d/friday-email-signup Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com We encourage artists to make the Belonging House commitment: https://belonginghouse.substack.com/p/our-commitment You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto https://buy.stripe.com/6oE9EG6ObfnF2nSbII You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

This day we remember the Body and Blood. The Body was offered, it was blessed and dedicated, it was broken, and it was give to us.   As a young person in the Episcopal church I was taught a deceptively simple rhyme crafted by Queen Elizabeth I:   Twas God the Word that spake it. He took the Bread and brake it. And what the word did make it, That I believe, and take it.   God the Word made flesh took bread, gave thanks and declared over it a new reality, and in the breaking of that bread, the reality was released to us, and we can receive it. ----- You can get the Belonging House Friday Email at https://mailchi.mp/44964233320d/friday-email-signup Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

The God of the Bible  is the Most Relational Being in the Universe.   Bishop Robert Barron, once talked about the uniqueness of the Christian God. God is Love. And then he paraphrased St. Augustine's Treatise on the Holy Trinity. The Father is the Lover. The Son is the Beloved. And the Holy Spirit is the bond of Love between them.   The Father is the Lover. The Son is the Beloved. And the Holy Spirit is the bond of Love between them.   And Jesus says this in this Gospel. Everything I have is from the Father. The Father gives it to me. And the Holy Spirit is going to give it to you.   And St. Athanasius said that out of this relationship between the members of the Godhead, there is creativity. It is like a nuclear reaction. The interaction between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is by nature a creative force. ----- You can get the Belonging House Friday Email at https://mailchi.mp/44964233320d/friday-email-signup Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

Genesis 11:1-9 Exodus 19:3-8, 16-20 Joel 2: 28-32 Acts 2:1-11 John 20:19-23   If you aren't paying attention, Pentecost seems to be the most random event in history. A group of people  praying in a room in Jerusalem suddenly  see fire on their heads and they begin to speak in various languages.   And many people and churches do not understand why Pentecost is important and they call it the birthday of the church. And for people who believe that the Holy Spirit  withdrew a generation later, they try to downplay this event and look at it as an anomaly.   This is why we read all these lessons each year to show that Pentecost  is part of a continuum in Scripture, and also a great restoration of God's original plan.   Pentecost is the fulfillment of everything the Messiah said he would do.   The Holy Spirit is the author of scripture, and the central character throughout. This is one of the interesting aspects of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always directs the attention to someone else. You can miss the Holy Spirit in the Bible if you are not looking.   The Bible begins with the Holy Spirit  hovering over the waters  and out of this chaos comes order. The Holy Spirit always brings order out of chaos. Normal Christianity is Charismatic. You can get the Belonging House Friday Email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

Simon Sinek once said that great leaders lead from their "why." I once worked for an art company that gave the staff random directions but never told us what we were doing or why we were doing it. And I recall the directions were always in bits, one task at a time. It was very frustrating, and the end goal always suffered because the staff did not know why they were doing it. Eventually I quit.   A lot of people think God is like this. That everything is on a need to know basis, and that we are given directions to obey. And if you miss it, well it sucks to be you. Back to being an unhappy Christian trying to make  the mean old man in the sky happy.   This is not Christianity. God is in relationship with you, and he wants you to know why. ------------ You can get the Belonging House Friday Email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

The Father Speaks. The Son does, the Holy Spirit manifests.   And so the Father  calls a new creation. He sends his Son. And what does the Son do? The son only does what He sees the Father doing. The Father initiates, and the Son administrates. The Son carries out the word of the Father. And so the Son becomes sin for us. The son empties himself and becomes a servant. The Son becomes the word made flesh. The son conquers death and rises from the dead. But these things are limited by the physical reality that Jesus is one person.   The Father has spoken, the Son has done his work, but the Holy Spirit must bring it into manifestation.   You cannot know God, or the Word without the Holy Spirit. You cannot love Jesus or keep his words without the Holy Spirit. ----- You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

This week we share a long form conversation with a member of the Belonging House Community, LaChé Heron.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

You are not a sinner. Sin is not what defines you. Sin is nothing more than static on your new identity, because Holies do not live in sin. And as you hear the Shepherds voice, and you present your body to the Shepherd, you are more and more transformed into the real you. Jesus tells you who you are. Jesus reminds you of his love. Jesus encourages you to become more and more your true identity in Christ. And everything that sticks to you, with the static cling of sin, will fall away.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

Revelation  This Kingdom is not one of outward appearances, but a kingdom of internal realities. As Jesus said, his body was the temple, and it would be destroyed, and on the third day it would be raised up. On the cross the veil of his temple was torn, his heart was pierced, and out of that temple of his body flowed blood and water. That water, was the Holy Spirit.   To be a Christian  is to be a little Christ, a temple of the Holy Spirit.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse  

Jesus Christ did not come to start a religion, but rather, he came to establish his Kingdom.   And on this eighth day of Easter, we look at the second half of John 20, and what Jesus did first after his victory over death. He gave the ability to forgive sin in the power of the Holy Spirit.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse    

Follow the Love in John's gospel. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

Today we have one of the gospel readings that has captured the imaginations of millions of people. This wild story, where a woman is in the act of adultery, and dragged into the temple precincts, and they are about to stone her. And of course, this episode is a test  to see what Jesus will do. They are trying to provoke him so that they have a pretext to claim he is a false prophet, so that they can stone him along with the woman.   Lots of people have talked about the obvious facts. No one commits adultery alone. Where is the other party? Was he the married one? And why were all these scribes and pharisees in the right place at the right time?   And of course, the real thing, the thing that everyone is confused about. Why did Jesus stop and write on the ground, and what did the writing say?   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

This Sunday is about repentance. As it says in Hosea: Come, let us return to the Lord who has stricken us, and he will heal us, and on the third day he will raise us up. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse  

We have to be reminded continually that Jesus Christ did not come to start a religion but rather he came to establish a Kingdom. Our religious grids sometimes keep us from the Kingdom. At the same time, a lot of people think that the Body of Christ is a jelly-fish. All that matters is my relationship with Jesus and everything else is up for grabs. Have you noticed that jellyfish never build anything? The Kingdom as it says in Revelation is taking the world from a wild garden to a city. And cities and kingdoms have order. We see this in Leviticus. There is a very clear order about God's plan for his people. They were first given holidays, then an order for the pattern of worship, and then rules for life. This was about creating a culture.     You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse Jay Ayliff's teaching on the word Leitourgeo: https://youtu.be/vWnKIq95M48?si=8O2B1mSm9GinsPH5 Nick Cave's blog: https://www.theredhandfiles.com/what-does-it-take-to-be-free/ My book Very God is here: https://a.co/d/07LeXYh

Legend tells us that Joseph of Arimathea a tin merchant, came to Glastonbury, and put his staff in the ground and it sprouted. This tree blooms twice a year in the spring and on Christmas. And this tree, the Glastonbury Thorn, is the root of Christianity in Britain. And by the way, this tree, genetically linked to the eastern mediterranean, survives through cuttings and still blooms at Christmas.   In the undercroft of the York Minster is a tile from the first century, and that tile is inscribed with the monogram of Christ, the Chi-Rho. So we have two bits of evidence that Christianity has been in Britain for two-thousand years. And it is the tree from which Belonging House springs. Belonging House International is a community of artists and creative people called to build Jesus a throne in the earth.  In other words, we make disciples who will disciple the nations in the world of creativity.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse   We have a community for those who have made the Belonging House Commitment on Mighty Network. https://belonging-house.mn.co

Belonging House International is a community of artists and creative people called to build Jesus a throne in the earth.  In other words, we make disciples who will disciple the nations in the world of creativity.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto   We have a community for those who have made the Belonging House Commitment on Mighty Network. https://belonging-house.mn.co  

Belonging House International is a community of artists and creative people called to build Jesus a throne in the earth.  In other words, we make disciples who will disciple the nations in the world of creativity.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto   We have a community for those who have made the Belonging House Commitment on Mighty Network. https://belonging-house.mn.co

From the beginning, I have tried to model a basic ethic of hospitality, and model the "Golden Rule." Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.   Put other people first.   Oddly, some of you have seen this in action, when we have had a few bad apples in our own mix. Folks have interpreted my kindness to the ungrateful as weakness, and sometimes folks try to take advantage of me.   These situations do not change reality. In the Kingdom  reality is Take up your cross and follow Jesus to his death, and your death. You become a disciple when you do this. And when you choose to be a disciple, you begin to become a master copy of the Icon of the Father, Jesus Christ. And we are promised, that if we share in his suffering we will share in his glory.   Christ John Otto is the founder of Belonging House.  We are called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth.   You can find him at https://x.com/ChristJohnOtto https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto  

Christ John Otto is the founder of Belonging House.  We are called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth.   You can find him at https://x.com/ChristJohnOtto https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto