The Prophet Agabus
Acts 20 : 10. “And as we tarried there many days , there came down from Judea a certain prophet , named Agabus.”

1). Here was a prophet, doing a little fore telling that nobody wanted to hear about.

2)Acts 21:11 “And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdles, and bound his own hands and feet, and said , Thus saith the Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”
Thus saith the Holy Ghost.
Informing all within the range of his voice that sure and certain things would be brought to pass.

3) Here, look at what I’m doing. Bound his own hands and feet.
See, this is what they shall do!

4)Acts 21:12. “And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him (Paul) not to go up to Jerusalem.”
Isn’t this just the way we are, all wrapped up in the realm of time?
Not looking to Eternity or even to what the LORD would require; But to what they feared,        Or Wanted?

5)Acts 21:13-14 “Then Paul answered , What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased , saying , The will of the Lord be done.”
The will of the Lord be done…..this was Paul’s main reason for his existence.

6) But how long does it take us, before we come around to “ceasing” our own arguments, or tears, Or fears…about a thing?

7)Agabus spoke by the Holy Ghost his message of warning. Not to dissuade “the man”,      But to inform and prepare.

8) Acts11:28-29 ” And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea:”

Both mentions of this man have him foretelling events that must come to pass.
This time it was in order that relief might be sent to the Home Church in Judea.

9) If we will hear the Holy Spirit’s warnings , whether through His Word in Scripture, a message, or conversation with other believers.
The Holy Spirit will warn us of things to come up in our experience,

John 16:13 ” Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear , that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”

Paul was warned…he took notice of, wanting the Lord’s Will done, and was prepared.
The Church was warned…took notice of and sent relief to the Church in Judea.

10) When we are given warning, or exhortation, or instruction; we should take notice and get prepared….
That we might , as Paul, ” for I am ready(for what will happen)…for the name of the Lord Jesus”

The Reality of
Liberty of Service:

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
The reality of Liberty is to be changed into the Lord’s image in your life. We do not become God; but it is image, in respect, of likeness of character, and attitude.

Romans 8:29-30 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom He called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

To be conformed to Christ is to have great Liberty…for you have denied yourself to a extent that the Holy Spirit has Liberty within you, to use you as He wills; in the way He wills; in the place He wills.
Now the Holy Spirit has great power, and can do anything–in you and to you. Read Acts and it will show you rulers, centurions, and prison guards that have been moved by the power of the Holy Spirit for His people.
The Holy Spirit wants to use us to bring His Will to pass, but there are so many things that hinder the Spirit’s movements.
When I was young (a very long time ago), they used to give the example of rooms in our heart. You may let the Lord Jesus Christ in to your heart…but is He just given a small room in the back? Or allowed the run of the place, to go where He wants to, while you still own it? Or is He given your heart, Period.
Of course it is the Holy Spirit that actually resides in the spirit of the Christian. He is the One who works within us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)
He is the One who works in us to conform us to Christ Jesus.
Spiritual Liberty is the right of passage, or access to become what we were brought into being for.
And that “right of passage” comes to us, by removing anything and everything that is in opposition to God’s Will for our lives.
Let’s talk about access:
Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom we also have ACCESS by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

How many of us can say this last verse is our experience? Well, if we have the first verse (being justified by faith); we certainly can have the ACCESS into this grace (which is the unmerited favor of power ) and can go on till we, through the Holy Spirit’s control, have all that this last verse (hope, not ashamed, love of God shed abroad in our hearts) sets forth.
And we can have it in our everyday experience. That is what is promised. That is Spiritual Liberty. That is becoming what we were brought into this world for.

Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Foreknow has to do with people–He knew you in Eternity past. Thought of you and loved you.
Predestinate has to do with the path He has chosen for you to walk in, and actions of that path. Everything He places in our path is to lead us to a closer fellowship with Him and a greater knowledge of what He will do for us.

Romans 9:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”
“All things” means all things. And they work for God:
God’s good. God’s calling for us. God’s purpose for us.
He works in all things in our lives, for the good of His Will and Purpose for our lives.
He worked before we were born again to draw us to Him.
Once we are born again, the Holy Spirit within us, works to show us the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word to us; and His Will for us.
(John 16:13-14 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he shall show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.)

And He works within us, the faith and love to God; we so desperately need.
With these, we can, and do face what is ahead with confidence and rejoicing (remember Romans 5:2)

I have in my Christian experience, been so miserable….so miserable. But as the Lord pointed out to me; It was really because I wanted to be miserable.
I didn’t like the circumstances I was in: so I decided to be unhappy. Which led to blocked communication with the Lord. Which led to: “How come Your not helping me, Lord?”. Which led to misery; because I didn’t want to hear the answer.

Sound familiar? Ever had this experience?
Now, I could have denied myself; picked up that cross of circumstance,( happily for Him)and followed Him into whatever there was ahead….rejoicing.
But instead, I chose misery.
Of course, I confessed it , and got about what I should have in the first place…but what I lost by my willful action, I’ll never know.

Paul wrote:
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, there with to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need:”

Learning , growing, following; in all these we are to yield to the Holy Spirit within.
He will lead us on to Spiritual Liberty, If we will.

Continuing The Path to Reality
Psalms 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”

In our path to reality, we all must deal with our fear. I mentioned yesterday that we are often afraid to make Christ our King because of what He might ask of us. Yet if you hunger for a closer walk with the Lord, then we must understand that it is His love that calls us on with Him.
You will notice in the verses above, it is “Therefore will we not fear,”. When our wills will with God’s Will, power to do, is introduced–that is grace (the unmerited favor of power) for our lives, in the circumstances we are in NOW.

God never promises us that we will have no troubles in this world. On the contrary, sometimes the way He leads, seems to put us in the middle of extreme trouble: yet we may know that He is there with us. (And that should make all the difference)

Exodus 14:1-3, 5, 10-15, 21-23, 26-27, 30
“And the LORD
spake unto Moses, saying. Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon : before it shall ye encamp by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, they are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.
And it was told the king of Egypt that the people flee: and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up there eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: And the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. And they said unto Moses, because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, then that we should die in the wilderness.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not , stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went in after to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

And the LORD said unto Moses, stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore.”

This is an example, that I believe, we experience as Christians.
Our Adversary (the Devil), like Pharaoh’s hosts would seek to frighten us and overtake our progress in serving the Lord–today.(After all he wants you to serve him)
Yet the Lord has said, “Fear not, I am with you.”

When we feel pushed, surrounded, outnumbered, what should we do?

Hear what the Lord said to Moses: “Wherefore criest unto Me? Speak unto the children of Israel THAT THEY GO FORWARD”
That they hold a prayer meeting?
There are times for them, yet not when you already know what to do.
That we close our eyes to the situation, and put the whole thing out of our minds, hoping it will work itself out?
No….that we go forward with Him.

To not fear is to quiet yourself in the presence of God. (Notice it says in Psalms 46:1, a very PRESENT help). It is to will to be quiet, and to will to hear Him.
Then do what He says, looking not for results, but to Him for the next step.
We quite ourselves, the voice of complaints, or reason, and be still.
It is the next step you need to do.
One step with Jesus.
Psalm 46:10-11 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
Look at the promise here! You can know that He is God in these circumstances you are afraid of–God for you. The Lord of hosts always sees the battle around us, and in us; and says I am with you.

Still your heart and mind and hear Him today.
For the Lord said, ” Speak that they go forward.”

What fear is holding you to the same spot in your experience?

The Path to Reality

Matthew 6: 10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Since the fall of Adam, we have been a race in rebellion. Even when we are born again our wills can will against God’s will; and we can seek our own way.

So we must, as Christians, deal with our wills–to bring them into subjection to His Will.
And then to yield to the “way”, that will is to be brought to pass.

To understand this: let us define “Spiritual Reality”.
Our life of Faith is a journey, which takes every born again one–Christian– through this life and to Heaven.
Faith, as we spoke about in an earlier Blog, is that which makes the things of God “Real”. Spiritual Reality is the personal relationship with God; when He is King of your life (on the throne of your heart, is another way to say it) and you are His willing subject.
We have gotten so used to speaking of the love of God to us–and volumes could be written– that we forget He is Lord, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.
That He has the right to demand that His people will obey Him and His Word to them.

Luke 17:20-21 “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
The kingdom of God is within you. As thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth.
In us.
The kingdom holds full sway when you are obedient to Christ Jesus.
Where the word of a King is, there is Power.

The question I ask is; Will you have Spiritual Reality?
Frankly, many people are afraid of a personal relationship with God–afraid of what He will ask, or call them to do. Afraid of what they will have to give up to have this relationship.
A set of rules; a routine of Church activities, and friends, is enough.
If this is true for you–then my message is not for you.
But if you want Spiritual Reality, then there is a path to it you need to follow:

As Christians we have the Holy Spirit within our spirits.
And we can yield to Christ through the new nature which the Holy Spirit gives us; or we can yield to our self life through the old nature.
You say, “OK, I get that; but how to, is the question?”

Here the cross comes into play–Not Christ’s cross–but ours.
Matthew 16: 24. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Our cross is: Anything that cuts across your will, where God’s Will is concerned.
The cross we bear is different for each; for it is the situations, and circumstances that cut across our lives. And we are to deny ourselves–what we would want or choose–to follow Him in obedience.
Example: One of the first things I was shown I had to deny myself in was time: I had to take time I usually gave to something else, for prayer time and devotions.
Or stopping what I was doing to call someone and just ask how they were. It went up from there to denying myself in clothes, and books.
Again, for each it is different; But it comes down to the will–Jesus is asking, if you will follow Him in this.

In some respects you can think of it as training….for what is ahead. For He must reign in our hearts to be King.
And each time we will with Him; we are brought closer to Him.
And you do this until you come to the place in your relationship, where you no longer resist the Lord’s Will in anything.
This is not sinless perfection–on earth there is no such thing
Nor is this even, instant obedience;
But you find your will is not WANTING TO REBELL, like it once did.
Once you had to fight with yourself to do His Will–now that choice is made–you will to do His will.
Now that does not mean you will always like it, but you will always do it.
This is what I call: Final Obedience…you will do as He commands, and there is no real question about your obedience.

Next:
Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
This growing relationship with Jesus leads you to deny yourself where your inner life is concerned.
This is not things–though certain people, or things may come up to show you your attitude–but it is the working out of peace, joy, long suffering,…all the things of the Holy Spirit’s fruit that is so often cut off because of our attitudes. (And this is true whether people see them or not–we can be very good at hiding our feelings, if we want) {You will find these fruits named in Galatians 5:22-23}
You see, The Lord sees these attitudes–knows us– and wants to pull us out of ourselves–anger, resentment, indifference, impatience, misery, and worry. (These are just a few of our heart’s thoughts)
He offers a life of growth. We are to grow up into Him–Eph. 4:15 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
We are to grow in grace–2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

But–and there is a but–we must will with Him in this.
We can “save” our self-life–our thoughts, attitudes, and feelings; but we will lose our Christ life. This is not losing salvation, but it is a childish life, where “me” is always first.

Or, we can will to lose our self-life, and by effort (because, let’s face it, losing anything for us is hard) gain our Christ life. A life of the Spirit’s guidance, encouragement, peace, and grace.

This is a thing of the heart–you cannot have both. You lose your self-life, or you lose your Christ life.
And He leads us on until all our life–our past, present, and future is covered. Your dreams, your hopes, your desires. Everything that is uniquely you–and you are unique–says I am in Christ.
Paul explained it in Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Our personality is the most precious thing (and I believe it is our souls) to God.
He does not destroy our personalities, He creates a new nature within us. New motives (and the first is a growing love to Christ), new attitudes, new responses…All worked within by the Holy Spirit for us PERSONALLY.
For we must remember Spiritual Reality is that personal relationship with God; when He is King of your life and you are His willing subject.
This is between you and your Lord–not something others need intrude in. He is your God. He is your Lord. He is your Comforter.

As you go along in this Path to Reality: you will be better equipped to fight the good fight of faith–for you and the Lord, together–have removed a great deal of what our Adversary (the Devil) uses on you,  to trip you up, tempt you, or hurt you.

May God give understanding and Light upon this message.
Life is a journey–Who will you travel with?

We started this blog { ascribeinstructedinthekingdomofheaven}, to share things new and old which we have learned over the years, as Christians.

Some are messages I preached for years.
Some are Sunday Bible lessons.
So we publish under: Preaching, Teaching, and Notes.
All are given with the prayer that they may meet a need in those reading them.

We were given principles years ago which laid out for us the Way we should teach to fellow Christians. One of them is:

“It is not a matter of especially gifted members, but rather of just normal Christians, each fitted into his or her place in the Body. Each with that particular portion that the Lord has given them.”
With this in mind; let us consider our place and our portion.

2 Peter 1:8 “For if these things be in you , and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This is a very powerful statement, for God has called us to bring forth fruit to His glory and honor. And for God to bring forth fruit through us we must yield to the power of the Holy Spirit with in us.

When we think of the great power of God, we often think of deeds of valor or mighty acts done in time past; told us in the Scriptures.

But the most powerful and greatest revelation of God to the world is through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:2-3 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high”
This is POWER…HE IS POWER.
This revelation was 1st by the earthly ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ; but now as Jesus is seated at God’s right hand , having obtained All Authority anew.
He now reveals Himself through His mystical Body, His Elect, His Church, here on earth.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body , being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
For the body is not one member, but many.”
1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular”

We show forth Christ when we yield to the Holy Spirit ; For it is the Holy Spirit who lifts up the Lord Jesus in the lives of believers.
It is as we yield to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within; day by day.
It is the Holy Spirit Who fits you into your place.
How?
1st He shows you your place. Then He empowers you for it, with the ability to do it.

(I have always been terrified about speaking in front of people. Writing, fine. But speaking in front of real people is NOT FINE. The 1st time I was called to preach before people who were not of my Church…I felt the lump in my throat getting larger and larger. I had to swallow and swallow. I thought I would not be able to do it.

Then The Holy Spirit reminded me of a story I will repeat here:
A soldier, who was later called to preach, was in the 1st World War. The trenches and ladders would be full of men, waiting to go up over the top and into the battle.
Usually that meant the firing was already going on and MANY men were killed, often a few steps from the top.
So on the ladder this soldier stood…so scared he was shaking. So he started talking to his body, “You go ahead and shake…I am going to take you up this ladder and over the top no matter how hard you shake.” And he did. He said it got him over the top every time.
The Holy Spirit reminded me of the story…for I had to do what he called me to: I was going to take myself up there and preach…..And when I did: the power to speak clearly–no more lumps or swallowing–was there.)

If He calls you to a work, gives you a gift then He will indeed be the power within you to do it, and by yielding to the Holy Spirit–willing with the Holy Spirit, you will be lifting up the Lord Jesus in your life and will be fitted in your place in His Body.

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
The Holy Spirit does the lifting up of Christ within us
The Father draws men to Christ thru us
But our part is to yield to the Holy Spirit

To attain to that which you were brought into being for.

So we go back to Peter:
2 Peter 1:3-8 ” According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ”
(Here that translation we talked about yesterday in our blog, is seen. His divine power has given us all things that have to do with life and godliness. Because we have escaped the corruption–darkness–that is in the world through lust.)
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;” (Beside what God gave us by translating us out of darkness and into the light of His Kingdom; [We spoke about this yesterday in our Blog “The Holy Spirit”} we are also to add to our faith, “virtue”–this is “artea” in Greek, and means “force”. It is not the virtue or force of “dunamis”, from which we set the word dynamite, from the Lord Jesus [Mark 5:30, from the teaching we had several days ago] ; but rather the force of the Holy Spirit within you–artea. For by faith we are to yield to the light of the Holy Spirit and be light–and light is very forceful–for it gives us knowledge; of ourselves and of our God for us)

“And to knowledge, temperance; And to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness;” (From that knowledge we get through the Holy Spirit’s power or force within us, we can begin to be moderate in all our dealings–not angry or sad or happy or troubled…up and down, but more deliberate and calm—for the Holy Spirit is ordering our reactions. And deliberate actions lead to patience with others, for the Holy Spirit guides us to see in His light; which leads by the Holy Spirit to godliness, or Reverence, which is an attitude of awe to God in all the things we do;)

“And to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.” (When we develop this wonder and awe in the everyday dealings with God, then we deal more kindly with our brothers in Christ; and in this kindness to them, we show God’s love; which is the old English “charity”; to all mankind.)

And this will “make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”

God places us as He chooses, and we can ; by cooperating with the Holy Spirit; turn “I can’t help it”, Into the possible.
In fact, I have found, that He places us in many of our circumstances; so we will turn to Him more readily, learn to trust more fully and seek Him first.

God wants us to know Him in all the circumstances of our lives, and His provision for us.

THE HOLY SPIRIT Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” Breathed into his no…

Source: Preaching, Teaching, and Notes

THE HOLY SPIRIT

Genesis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul”

Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life:
This is how the spirit of man was formed…by God’s breath;
This was where the Holy Spirit dwelt, before the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden.

1Thessalonians 5:23-24 “And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.”
We lost the Holy Spirit at our fall, but He comes back into our spirits at
Regeneration, When we are Born Again.

Romans 12:1 ” I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly , acceptable unto God, which is your
Reasonable service.”
If you wish to do this aright, it would help if you would think about the terms used here.
Who are you to present your body to?
It is not the Lord Jesus–He has His own body.
It is not the Father, Who ask for this sacrifice–He remains upon His Throne.

But Christ said He would send a Comforter to us–It is to Him, we present our bodies.
John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;”
God gives you the privilege and the indescribable Honor of presenting your bodies to
The Holy Spirit; to be His dwelling place on Earth.

This must be a deliberate act of the will. It is a Once Done Thing….deliberately
Done again and again as the need arises.

We do not think so, but as fallen creatures; We do not really possess much of
Ourselves.
Think of children, as they learn to use their hands, they can begin to write, tie shoes,
Lift things….things they could not do at first.
So it is with the giving ourselves to the Holy Spirit….as we give Him our bodies–He takes all of us….but it is as we gain more and more ability in the Spirit ; than we can
Again and again, give HIM more.

Col. 1:12-13 ” Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be
Partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the
Power of Darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.”
This is all done Spiritually for us.
But it rests with us to get it done Practically, in our everyday experience.

Partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in Light.
Delivered us from the Power of Darkness.
Translated us into the Kingdom of HIS dear SON.

Translated means that God has deposed the kingdom of darkness within us;
And exchanged that kingdom for the Kingdom of His dear Son, Which is a Kingdom
Of Light.

This is all ours—bought and paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ.
But yet to be Obtained by us in our everyday experiences…Getting light into the situations of each day. And it is all done thru the Holy Spirit within us.
As we yield to Him.
To Obtain this promise? You present your body to Him, and then through the force,
Of His presence in your spirit ; you bring everything that is you, under the control of Jesus to be used as He sees fit.
For it is He “that works within you , both to will and to do, of His good pleasure.”(Philippians 1:13)

Romans 8:29 ” For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate, to be
Conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many
Brethren.”
Your task and my task, by the Holy Spirit’s force within is: to be conformed in
Believing Obedience to Christ. As He obeyed His Father’s Will even unto death, so
We should obey Christ Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit , so we “die” to our
Self-life, and are completely yielded to God.
This is to be that living sacrifice to God. And this is in your everyday life. The circumstance which makes up your days. Work. Home. Church.
He wants us to bring everything to Him; and He, by the Holy Spirit within, will make
Real that Kingdom of Light , of Joy, of Peace; of His dear Son within us there.

1Thessalonians 5:24 ” Faithful is He that calleth, you, Who also will do it.”

GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN

Joshua 14:12 “Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said”
After they had taken the Promised Land, it was divided to the tribes. And the 1st to come was the tribe of Judah. And the 1st to seek to get his Possession was Caleb.
It was a possession promised him, years earlier; And now was the time to receive it.

Joshua 14:6-12 “Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb…said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea.
Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said , these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day 85 years old.
As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now , for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heard in that day how the Anankim were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, than I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.”

Here is the language of faith. Faith sees God 1st.

Joshua 14:6 (above)
“Thou knows the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee.”

He lays the stress on “Thus Saith The Lord.”
Just where it ought to be.
He could have spoken of his faithfulness.
Or bravery, standing against the many who wanted to turn back.

But instead Caleb spoke only what God said. What he wanted was that portion that the Lord had for him. And he was willing to go up against the giants in that Mountain to have it.
At 85, he was as strong as he was at 40. God had kept him alive and strong thru the wilderness wanderings ; and the war which took the land.

Now, he was to go and personally, with his family, take their possession….and he was ready for it. Faith sees God 1st. And what God HAD GIVEN him , was his. All he had to do was go and get it.

The Anankim were giants, there cities were “great and fenced”. Fortresses.
But all Caleb had to do was what he was told about them, and he knew God COULD NOT , NOR, WOULD NOT FAIL HIM.

Caleb’s testimony was (Joshua 14:7) “…and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.”
This also is the language of faith.
A heart that wants God’s Will, will follow on in faith to have it.
Caleb had entered the Promise Land, quite sure that it was all that God said it was.

And it was!!
Everyone agreed that it was; but the problem?
The price to pay for it.
Faith sees God 1st. And when faith is not active…then something else is in the line of vision where God should be.

Numbers 13:27-28″And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sent us, AND SURELY IT FLOWS WITH MILD AND HONEY; and this the fruit of it
NEVERTHELESS THE PEOPLE BE STRONG THAT DWELL IN THE LAND, AND THE CITIES ARE WALLED, AND VERY GREAT: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.”
Numbers 13:30 ” And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, LET US GO UP AT ONCE, AND POSSESS IT; FOR WE ARE WELL ABLE TO OVERCOME IT.”

How could they overcome? Only by God’s power….but Caleb, by faith,saw that power on their side.
And God is well Able. He blesses faith most…tho He often “takes care of” all His children…it is faith, He honors.
So, when Caleb steps out on faith and says “Let’s do what God wants, and go up at once. He has brought us here against superior odds. He has fed us, clothed us, kept us from wild animals, and people….Let us honor His Word and His Might and go in.”

God honored Caleb.
God promised him that he would “go in” and have his promised land.

And now, old, but full of the strength of faith he always had, Caleb comes to get his possession.
“I am as strong this day , as I was in the day Moses sent me.”
And Caleb took his land, from the giants, and dwelt there.

God loves to bless faith, our faith.
And faith is active…belief in the heart, and obedience in the life.

GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN…was our title, and we ask you:
What has God promised you?
Have you traveled the Way He has lead, to gain it?
Do you also believe that , despite the difficulties, “WE ARE WELL ABLE TO OVERCOME” ?
Faith sees God 1st….that is in promise and in obedience.

The Lord Jesus said when He was here:
Matthew 9:28-29 “And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus said unto them, BELIEVE YE THAT I AM ABLE TO DO THIS? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
Then touched he their eyes, saying, ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH BE IT UNTO YOU.”

Often the Lord deals with us in this way…according to our faith.
He blesses most, those who trust Him.

The Scribe Which Is Instructed Unto the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 13:52 ” Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.”

We are starting this blog for Christians. To strengthen and encourage God’s people to seek, and trust the Lord.
All given with the prayer that they meet the need of those who read them.

We believe that one of the greatest needs of this Church Age is to understand and Have Christ’s kingdom come within the heart of each of His own.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.”(KJV)

Notice it is “in earth”, not on it.
This is His Personal Kingdom coming with in your life. When you make Him King, and He reigns there.
When we are born again (John 3:3, 7) and “ye must be born again”….we enter His kingdom as His citizens. But it is only when we are obedient to His laws and ordinances that we make Him King in our lives.

If we are still “running the show” ; He is not King, Personally.
“Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done.”
When this becomes a fact in our everyday lives, we are subjects of that Kingdom, and expressions of it:
Our Wills are His, and are then empowered to do His Will.
For it is then, He sits on the Throne of our Hearts.

Not that we make others do His Will….but that WE DO HIS WILL.

Then HIS KINGDOM HAS COME ….WITH IN US.

It is a great feeling to come to the place where the arguments WITH GOD, end; and the Holy Spirit–instead of correcting , empowers to go forward in peace, joy and faith.

AND HOW SHALL HIS KINGDOM COME?
Luke 18:8 “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?”

This is “on the earth”.
There are some who believe that His Kingdom will be brought in, when enough of His Own are praying for it.
I do not know if that is true.
But I do know that readiness for His return will be conditioned by prayer:

Luke 18:1 “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Jesus speaks here, of the closing days of the Church Age. Just before He returns. Just how the times will be, and just what we should be doing about it .

Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.”

Everyday we hear and see more of what Jesus said would happen….happen.
And what are we to do about it? Hide our heads….Act out…..wring our hands in fear?
No! That is not it!!
Look up! Lift up your heads!
1st turn your eyes away from the world-system.
2nd be actively seeking the joy and peace of God for each situation you need to go thru, till He comes.

We should rejoice in seeing these come to pass , even as Jesus said they would.
We should be praying. “Amen! Even so Come LORD JESUS”
And we should be “loving His Appearing”. For there is a Crown of Righteousness laid up for all who Love His Appearing! (2 Timothy 4:8)

Luke 18:2-7 “Saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
And there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Tho I fear not God, nor regard man;
Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge says.
And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, tho He bear long with them?”

If this were a Roman Judge (the Jews were always in 3’s). He would not care much for the needs of a Jew. Especially one of no importance, like a widow. For she could do him no damage!
But she kept coming back! She was often in his court!

Now he feared not God nor regarded man.
So anything he did , would be on a personal level….without thought of anything or anyone else.
Not because of pressure from someone or something.

But she kept coming! Avenge me of mine Adversary!
This is not a request for punishment of her Adversary.
But for a Decree, issued by this Judge, that would give her PROTECTION from his injustices.
To keep him from harming her.
LIKE A RESTRAINING ORDER ISSUED TODAY

Luke 18:5 “Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

“She weary me”; Literally means. “She give me a black eye”
Her always appearing there , in his court, might ruin his reputation!
People might get the wrong idea about him.

This Judge acted from only self-involved motives.
From this consideration–alone–he thought it best to avenge her.

And our Lord said “Hear what the unjust judge says”
Because the Lord Jesus wanted to show that all the judge’s motives were personal…yet what she sought ; she got.

Then our Lord Jesus contrasts the unjust judge and God. Shall not GOD surely do right?
Shall He not avenge His own elect? From their Adversary?
And how are we to ask?

Luke18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Faint means to weaken in purpose, or spirit; to languish; TO JUST GIVE UP.

When we pray, we ought to believe that God is going to hear and keep at it until we know He does.

Luke 18:7 “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, tho he bear long with them?”

We are not what we ought to be in this Age; yet He bears long with us.
Wanting us to be other than we are ….to enjoy the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit’s enablement. To get us out from the Adversary’s injustices. To know the power of life (abundant life) as obedient subjects of His kingdom now.
Loving us, rebuking us, and chastening us that we might become full sons.

Luke 18:8 “I tell you (and this is the Lord Jesus speaking) that he WILL avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?”

Yes, He will avenge us…speedily.
“Heavenly Father, Avenge me of my Adversary!”
This is like a restraining order, remember; against our Adversary , the Devil.
To keep him from hurting us.
And we should always ask for such decrees against our Adversary.
He will not only issue such Decrees, He will do so speedily.

Yet , Jesus asked; “shall he find faith on the earth?” Not that He doesn’t know….but to AWAKEN US to the VERY DANGEROUS TIME IN WHICH WE LIVE.

There are temptations, cares, enemies of God, worldly pleasures, evil companions, …..
All of them can be used by our Adversary to “hurt us”.
To keep us from entering into God’s Best for us.

The Devil seeks to defeat every child of God….not in Salvation.
But in Progress.
To keep them children , when they should go on to maturity in the faith.

To keep them self-centered, instead of Christ-centered; That will devour up a whole lifetime of works and attitudes.

Shall He find “faith” on the earth?
This faith here is (in the Greek “pistis”). Conviction of truth or the truthfulness of God. Reliance upon Christ for salvation and CONSTANCY IN SUCH PROFESSION.

Do you TRUST Christ for Salvation, but not for today?
Shall we not all apprehend that for which we are apprehended of Christ Jesus?

Has the Church ever had so much riches as it has today?
With so little results?

Why is it we see so little Reality in a Christian’s Profession?
I don’t know…but I am sure it is a matter of the Heart.

I believe that today many claim the Promise; without having the corresponding experience of that Promise.
They honor the Word, while rejecting the living LORD of that Word.
As Israel of old, they draw near with their lips, to God; but their hearts are far from HIM.
For I believe it is a matter of the heart. Who or What do you love?
Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”
What “life” will you have?
1 Peter 1:3 ” According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, thru the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue”
He “hath given”. Then why don’t we have it in practice?
Because the PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST COSTS US . He wants to “COME” and reign in our lives, with that joy and power that comes with HIMSELF.

What takes 1st place in your life?
To what do you give final obedience….for surely this is your God.

Matthew 6:10 “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven”
He is King. But is He my King? Is He your King?
Who sits on the throne of your heart?

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

He stands ready to do. To do for you. And Jesus has said God will issue such Decrees against our Adversary when we cry unto Him.
So where does that place us?
And just what kind of Christians ought we to be; with so much offered?
He is King….Will you make Him your King?

And This is the Victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith

1 John 5:4 “For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith”

Faith is defined in our Bibles as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1).  And it is the substance which makes real the things of God.   By it you “see”, we are given light or enlightenment for our path. (Ephesians 1:14-19)By it we are given “hearing” , for the Scriptures open up and you hear the voice of God to you through them.   By it we are given “power” for the life we live, for God’s heart responds to faith in Him.  By it we are given peace–peace with God.(Romans 5:1)

It is evidence, for it proves itself again and again by saving us in the time of fear, doubt, and temptation; proving God’s faithfulness.

Mark 5:24-34 “And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.      And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,   And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had,  and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,    When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.     For she said,  If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.     And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.   And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him , turned him about in the press, and said,   Who touched my clothes?     And his disciples said unto him,  Thou seest the  multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou,  Who touched me?     And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.     But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.       And he said unto her,    Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”

This “Virtue”  here is  “Dunamis” in the Greek, a word from which we get Dynamite.  It  is “force,  miraculous power” and certainly it was.

But the thing I want to point out was….It wasn’t anything that He did for   He gave no command concerning her.   He did not pray for her,   nor did He touch her personally.  She touched Him, by faith, in the belief that touching the hem of His garment would be enough.   It was!

It was her faith, and the dilligent use of the means–her going and reaching out to His hem as he walked by–that caused this Virtue to come out of Him.

The Power was His,  the faith hers,  which brought His virtue to come out of Him.

I believe this is important to us, because we can touch Him in just the same way today.   Without some special manifestation from Him.   But our faith drawing , what we need from Him.

By the exercising of our faith, this virtue will be granted to us.

Also notice, He was “thronged”, or crowded.  There were a lot of people pushing up against Him.   But virtue only went out of Him to her.

It is also true that though she had faith that He could heal her,  yet she mistrusted His goodness.   She trembled when He asked for her to come forward…because that is what He was doing when He said,  “Who touched my clothes?”   Coming forward was  hard, but look what it gave her?

A personal word from the Lord,  “Daughter (to make known to her, He knew she was of the house of Israel. Those to whom He was sent.), thy faith hath made thee whole; (giving her the key to future actions where He was concerned);  go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. (If it was healed why did He repeat this   “Be whole” again?   Because He was showing her that He would have spoken on her behalf, had she asked Him.)

Faith is that which makes the things of God, Real.  Real to us.   We call it Spiritual Reality.      And if God is real to you ; what lies ahead is a whole new viewpoint.

She knew He could heal her, but she never expected He would help her….Faith broke through the barrier of fear and brought two miracles.   She was healed, and she was seen and blessed.

Let your faith be encouraged by looking to Jesus Christ.