Our Blog is sent out with our hope that it will remind, instruct, and encourage Christians in God’s Word.
And we pray for God to speak to you from them….”to attend the reading, and preaching of His Word”. To help, encourage, enlighten the path that we are walking in.

The Voice of God.
Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

It is not reading , or seeing,(although that may be the means); but “hearing” the word of God, that increases our faith.
If we do not “hear” His Word to us personally, then the scriptures, and messages, and even personal testimonies, will do us little good.
They may make us more knowledgable, it is true. Unfortunately, unless the knowledge becomes personal to us; to lead us closer to Christ; it just bounces around in our head.
But, if we “hear” His Word to us personally,(and this can be though Scriptures, messages, and personal testimonies) then the Holy Spirit uses it like a double-edged sword….to divide in us, what is of Him and what is of us.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
When we “hear” the Voice of God in our spirits, our faith is increased, and we believe to obedience. (It is interesting to note how many times the Lord Jesus exhorts the people to “hear.” Eight times He cries out : “he that hath ears to hear, let him hear”; in the gospels.)
This can be the reality of our walk with Christ Jesus.
Our Adversary, the Devil, as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), would frighten or tempt us away from following the Lord.
He tries to get you to concentrate on the circumstances surrounding some problem:
To look at what others are saying about this situation; Or to see things the way the world looks at them, or the results that could come from it.
But this is to seek a remedy for the symptoms of our disease, only.
When what we need is the Physician of our souls to speak to us and give us directions; for the problem itself.

As an example we will talk about Samuel.( 1 Samuel 1:11, 20-28) As a child, given to the Lord by his Mother, Hannah. She had asked for him from the Lord, and had given him to the Lord, and he became a helper to Eli, who was the High Priest. Eli was old and his eyes were growing dim, so Samuel would help him.
One night as they lay in the Holy Place, to “order the lamp”(Exodus 27:21), so the light would not go out; the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel, who had not heard God’s Voice before, thought it was Eli calling him.(Maybe he needed for him to go get something). So he went to Eli, “Here am I”. But Eli , half asleep said, “What? Go back to sleep, I did not call you”. Twice more this happened, Until, Eli realized that the Lord was calling Samuel.
(Two things to notice: Samuel’s diligence. To keep going to Eli, when he thought he called him.
And that Eli must have realized that the Lord speaking to Samuel, and not to him, was something important. And Eli wanted to encourage any who the Lord had called.)

1 Samuel 3:7-10 “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if He call thee that thou shalt say, speak Lord; for thy servant heareth.
So Samuel went and laid down in his place. And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.”
Samuel was uncertain of the results; Yet certain of the instructions; So when called again, Samuel answered, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth”
Samuel hadn’t chosen God; God had chosen Samuel, as He chooses all His servants; By calling them to hear and obey Him.
But then Samuel, having heard what the Lord told him, he also chose to obey.
1 Samuel 3:16, 18
“The Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.”
“And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemth him good.”

God called Samuel to His light. So, God calls us to the light of His Word…to hear His Voice.
In the situations of our lives,(yes, I use this phrase a lot, because Christianity is very practical…it is for where we live), He wants to guide us in them, through them, in His Light, by His Voice.
How He speaks to us, matters not. He speaks to us through His Word. He speaks to us through gentle or strong impression. But He does speak. He is not silent.
He will show us His Will.
John 7:17 (Living New Testament) “If any man really determines to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it be of God or whether it is merely my own.”

Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on the know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

Hebrews 13:5, 8
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.”
All these verses speak about God’s faithfulness to us.
Let us, will to hear Him; and will to Obey Him, and His Word to us.
He is still calling His servants on, to follow Him.

Will you come to the light He is shining for you in His Word?
And say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth?
Will you obey His call to follow Him ?
You may not know what is ahead; But you can know, He has prepared every step for you in it….with Him.

The LORDSHIP of CHRIST

John 14: 21 “He that hath my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

What a tremendous promise!!!
How much do we have this?

Yes, we are born again. But do we obey His Word to us?
To make Christ, LORD;
there can be no outstanding disobedience.
No place where you are running the show.

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.”

I preach on this a lot. There is no place, or time, where we can disregard this verse…..IF WE ARE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
Disciple simply means that you are under the discipline of a certain Master….or that you accept and help to spread the teaching of your Master.

You must deny yourself , take up your cross, and follow HIM.
This is between you and your Lord. You do not bear a cross in a crowd, nor do others bear it for you.
Each is called to bear their own cross.

The “Cross” for each of us is really individual. It is what cuts across our wills. We will to do one thing….and Jesus wants us to do another. The Lord’s will cuts across our will.
What will we choose?
Will we “deny ourself” and choose the “cross” of Christ’s Will? And Follow Him, just like He denied Himself and always chose the Father’s Will?

Then we can go on in our experience with Christ and :
Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
Refuse the Cross, try to save your Life, and be certain you will lose it.

This is where your habits and characteristics are concerned. What makes you , you.
(I have always had a temper….now you can control it. That can be natural , and have nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. But when the Lord dealt with me about it…He said that EVERY TIME I’M MAD, I’M WRONG.
But, Lord, some time I’m RIGHT!!!
No, every time you get mad—you’re wrong. So, to deny myself, and lose my life in myself; Every time I start to get mad–even when the reason is right; I stop, and deny myself, and ask The Lord for help to deal with the situation the way He wants)
(I have also had a habit of asking “why?” Why this ,Lord? Why that , Lord? This went on and on, until the Lord dealt with me about my asking Him “Why”. HE dealt with me rather severely….until it began to “hurt” when I would even think “Why?” I learned that it was NOT my business to ask “Why?” About the circumstances of my life, but to surrender them, And myself , to do what He wants about them!)
To lose your self life , really…it must be for Jesus Sake.
He must be our REASON for living.
We are born…we had no choice, there. We are, and can not be annihilated. We will exist for eternity–somewhere. And in our life , we choose our friends, our work ,and what is important to us.
But now we are also born again.
And that places a whole new range of choices before us. And the 1st choice is always, Who will choose for us? Who’s Will, will we follow?
Will we continue in our natural way of thinking, and choose ?
Or will we “deny ourselves” and let Jesus choose for us?

To find our Christ Life is to find our natural opinions, giving way to Christ’s ; and finding also the power to live them.
Can you turn the other cheek….Can you love the members of Christ’s body….Can you forgive…Can you diligently stand against the wiles of the Devil….Can you hold on until the end? And most important, Can you do it out of love for the Lord Jesus?

In our self life….no.    For the motive for our self life is us. Even when we do good, it is for a reason to improve, show off, or gain for self.
In our Christ life , the Holy Spirit supplies these “graces”. Or fruits.

Galatians 5: 22-24. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts”
So to “find” your Christ Life, you must lose your self life.

This is a process. Where you and the Lord “walk” together every day. Where He shows you this attitude that needs denying; Or that habit that needs changing.
Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed.”
This agreement is with the Lord.

It is always, IF ANY MAN WILL. It is our wills He deals with. They are the makers of action.
Our minds understand information.
Our hearts feel emotion.
But Jesus deals with neither, here.
He deals with our wills. To will after Him.

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Could you value something, Anything, more that your Soul?
Is there anything on this Earth that could possibly be of more value that your Eternal Soul?
Well, if there is, then you will lose your Christ Life for it.
You see, when you are born again…you learn the Value of your Soul…..Christ died for it.
He gave up all His glory in Heaven, to come and save it.
He became a man; that as man –the perfect man–He might fulfill the Law of God , that He might be the perfect sacrifice to take away our sins…..that we might have peace with God, and life thru His Name.

The Value of our souls to God is great…for He gave His Son to die to save them.
When we are born again, the value of our soul before God is clearly seen.

Now, it can become “blurred” by life and circumstance….but the truth is there.

So, again Christ asks. “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

The Water of Life
Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. Let him that hears say, come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

John 7:37-39 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried,
Saying,   If any man thirst, come unto me, and drink. He that believes on me, as
The Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this
Spake he of the Spirit, which they which believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)”

Water in Scripture speaks of the Holly Spirit; Cleansing and purifying, refreshing and encouraging.

In the beginning in Eden there was one river divided into four; “to water the garden”–the place God made for man. (Genesis 2:10-14)

In the end, one of the last things Jesus tells John in the Revelation is:
“…and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely”

Water is a necessity in our life; and it is a symbol of the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s
Influence in the life of the believer, usually through the Word of God.

Since, as Christians, we too are journeying thru the “wilderness” of this world; one of
The best examples of our need of the water of life is Israel; and the five instances of water; given them in the wilderness wanderings.
The first was Marah:
Having come miraculously through the Red Sea; God brings His people three days into the wilderness and proves them.

Would they look to Him, since they had seen both the Passover Night’s results and
The Red Sea Victory?
Exodus 15: 22-24. “So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur, and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no
Water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah,
For they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people
Murmured against Moses, saying , What shall we drink?”

Three days and the two million Israelites were going dry. Further problems: when the water was reached, it was bitter or harmful to drink.
How often it is the case with us , we look for continued good, because we have had a special blessing; but then, trouble/difficulties.
And it often seems to get worse. We feel the Lord is not hearing us–the waters are bitter.

What do we do? Cry to the Lord in complaint or in submission?
Exodus 15:25-26 “And he cried unto the LORD; and the Lord showed him a tree, which
When he cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: There He made for them
A statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them. And said, If thou will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in
His sight, and wilt give ear unto His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will
Put none of these diseases upon thee, which I brought upon the Egyptians: for I
Am the LORD that healeth thee.”

Moses was dry , too; but there was not murmuring from him–only seeking the Lord
For direction. This is faith in action. The Holy Spirit often uses “bitter waters” to
Stir up our faith to seek and trust the Lord.
Israel shows, that to most of them; He was not a God to trust and obey: but
Only to complain to because they do not have what they think they should have.

Still, and this is very blessed; The Lord gave instruction to them all–with promise.
If you will hear and obey My voice and Word; I will keep you from all that I judged
Egypt with;
And then He gives them a new name whereby they could call on Him: I am the Lord
That Heals you.

The second water was Elim:
Exodus 15:27 “And they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water, and
Three score and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.”

Here were twelve wells. One for each tribe.
Fullness for each individual believer is set forth here in Elim.
Usually when our faith is proved; whether we are corrected or not; a blessing is given afterwards. To show us what God wants to give if we will follow Him in faith.

The third water was Rephidim:
Exodus 17:1-6 “And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the
Wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD,
And pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.
Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? Wherefore do ye tempt
The Lord? And the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against
Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to
Kill us and our children, and our cattle with thirst? And Moses cried unto the LORD
Saying, What shall I do unto this people? They be almost ready to stone me.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee the elders of Israel; and thy rod , with which thou smotest the river, take in thy hand and
Go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shall
Smite the rock; and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.
And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

This was the water given from the smitten rock; it was right before Mt. Sinai, where
The Law was given.
This shows that God gives the Spirit. To encourage and help us with the Word that
He gives.
(1 Corinthians 10:4 “And did all drink this same spiritual drink; for they drank of that
Spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”)
But how do we receive Him and His Word? The Israelites went on to Sinai: some feared God; and others (and , yes, they were few), went on and worshipped.

Enlightenment from the Scriptures, only comes through the Holy Spirit. None can “see” God in the true beauty of Holiness, except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Chronicles 16:29, 1Chronicles 20:21)

None can enjoy His commandments (to them), except by the Holy Spirit’s workings.

Israel refused to obey the Lord again and again; and afterwards, when they came to
The Promised Land, refused to go in.

They were then sent out to wander in the wilderness till all the first generation which
Came from Egypt were almost dead. Then they headed back to the Land; some,
Dieing; others learning from the corrections sent.

The fourth water was from the rock which was to be spoken to:
Numbers 20: 1-11 ” Then came the children of Israel…into the desert of Zin…and the abode in Kadesh;…And there was no water for the congregation: And
They gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people…spake, saying,…And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?…And Moses and Aaron
Went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the Tabernacle of the
Congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared
Unto them. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying, Take the rod, and gather the
Assembly together, thou and thy brother Aaron, and speak ye unto the rock before
Their eyes, and it shall give forth its water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water
Out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation…drink.
And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as He commanded him. And Moses
And Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, And he said unto them, Hear now ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And
Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water
Came out abundantly, and the congregation drank,…”

Here the second generation of Israelites were going back; near the entering of the Land again;
But no water.
How often have we had barren times: in service, in devotions, in prayer?
We are as “dry” and ready, it would seem to us, to “perish”.
Why have You brought us this way, Lord?
This generation needed to learn the sufficiency of their God. So…
Moses was told to “speak” to the Rock ( a symbol of Christ in Heaven, where our
Prayers for help come and are answered. And how are they answered? By help,
Instruction, and grace through the Holy Spirit abiding in us.)
Moses failed; in anger he struck the Rock (Not that we can boast that we have not done the same thing in our angry prayers at times.)
But God gave water in grace to His People.
It appears, here, God was not really angry with the congregation. Instead He was testing this second generation. He was ready to teach them a lesson about the
Relationship they were to have with Him.
In a few months they were going to cross the Jordan and possess the Land.
And how would that be done?
By “speaking” to Him; getting direction from Him and being obedient by faith.

What a lesson God wanted to teach! What a lesson we all need to learn.

The fifth water was at Beer:
Numbers 21:16-18 ” And from thence they went to Beer. This is the well
Whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them
Water. Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: the princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it , by the direction of the lawgiver, with
Their staves…”
The princes and nobles of the people were gathered and told to “dig” a well with the
Staff that was in their hand!
An amazing moment; when the leaders of the people were giving water from the
well to the people, by their own actions. This was not through Moses, but through the Leaders of the people

God was showing them how He would provide for them and their families, through their obedience.
It is a blessed thing when the Lord shows us how we can be a blessing under the
Holy Spirit’s influence and power to others.

Right after this, this second generation entered into their first battle and won!

Numbers 21:23-24 “And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border:
But Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the
Wilderness: And he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land…”

How many lessons does the Lord try and teach us?
How many times has He given more of the Holy Spirit’s grace and influence to us; and What have we done with it.
The first generation used none of the lessons, instructions and blessings
They were as these:
2 Timothy 3:7 “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

The second generation was corrected often; Victories and failures, both–but they
Took the land promised them, possessed their possessions, however imperfectly.

What of us? What are we doing with the Waters of Life offered us?

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.”