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John 11:11-14 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. (12) Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. (13) Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. (14) Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (KJV)
God’s word was made flesh and dwelt among us in the form of Jesus Christ, who was sent from God to deliver mankind from a death sentence to one of eternal life. The things our Lord did and demonstrated are still available to His people today; those that God sends to speak words of life and wake people up from their spiritual stupors. When you see the phrase sleep it does refer to death also. Lazarus is someone we can identify with ourselves. And as we read yesterday, a man who was stuck in darkness, bound up in grave clothes whose life stunk, and was being resurrected from his sleep by the word of the Lord. We too were dead in sin and trespasses but are now made alive again so that we are able to walk in newness of life in the Spirit, no longer bound by the desires of the flesh. Ephesians 5:14-16 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (KJV) Many think and are taught that someday there will be a wonderful resurrection to a new eternal life with Christ, and for many of them they can hardly wait for that day to come. Those that have their spiritual senses exercised today know that now it is time to awaken from our spiritual stupor, arise from the dead and walk in the light of the glorious gospel of Christ and the path He chose for us before the foundation of the world. Thayer’s definition for awake: 1453 egeiro- to arouse, to cause to rise a) to arouse from sleep, to awake b) to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life Romans 13:11-14 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (13) Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. (14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (KJV) Have you woken up from the dead; are you arising now and heeding the spiritual calling, or are you all caught up in the striving and cares of this life? Now it is high time; time for you to be seated in the heavenly places with Christ, and not stuck in this dead end realm of the flesh with its dead end results. Your salvation is near, the Lord Himself is standing at your door knocking on the heart to see if you will let Him in and give you new life. Like with the example of Lazarus, He is ready to roll away the old stony heart and set you free to the only liberty you will find, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So are you heeding the call of our Lord; are you stepping out in faith into a new realm so that you can be partakers of the heavenly gift that God sent to us through His Son Jesus Christ? Now is the day of salvation, now it is much nearer than you thought; so will you get up from your spiritual hangover and answer the call, or will you sleep in and miss out on an eternal heavenly reward which is rightfully yours for the taking? Have you put on the whole armor of God which is Jesus Christ so that you will no longer be taken down by the fiery darts of the enemy and put back to sleep? Walk in the Spirit of Christ so that you no longer have to be in bondage to the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling its deadly desires which are contrary to our Lord’s desire for you. 1 Corinthians 15:31-34 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. (32) If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. (33) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (34) Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (KJV) Paul himself realized that in order to resurrect daily to this new life in Christ he would have to die on a daily basis. The outward or the old man continues to perish on a daily basis, because we are now walking by faith and relying more on our spiritual sight than the physical one. Our inward man should be renewed on a daily basis so that we stay awake and alert spiritually, and are not ambushed by the enemy. Are the eyes of your understanding enlightened to the things of the Spirit, or are they becoming heavy and you are drifting back to sleep again? Take heed to the warning in verse 33, because Paul did not say that evil communication might corrupt, but rather would corrupt good manners. These warnings are not put in the Bible just to fill in pages or finish a paragraph, but are there for the benefit of His people so they won’t be deceived back to sleep again, but rather stay awake and alert to the things of God. Some people are not aware of these things that many may consider little and trivial, but remember it only took a little leaven to leaven the whole lump, and for those that don’t operate in this knowledge, like Paul said, he speaks this to their shame. It’s one thing if the people of the world decide to ignore the word of the Lord and perish; it’s another to see God’s people perish because of their lack of knowledge in spiritual matters; which in the end is all that truly matters. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (KJV) The Bible says that we all need to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, coming to an understanding of God’s plan of salvation for ourselves so that we no longer have to guess, but know who we are in Christ, and find our place within the body. Many that have had a spiritual awakening at some time, end up falling back to sleep, this after becoming weak and sickly. It’s because of their lack of discernment and diligence, as well in making the Lord their priority that they ended up in this condition. The Bible warns us of the many false prophets that shall come preaching damnable heresies to the point of denying the Lord, and they bring upon themselves swift destruction. Not only will the false prophets suffer eternal consequences because what should have been the bread of life was actually polluted and full of deadly spiritual diseases which eat like a cancer, but those that follow them and lend their support to them will also suffer the same consequences as well. So wake up Church; you have a Bible and you have access to the throne of God so that you can sit together with Christ on a daily basis and hear His words firsthand; they are spirit and they are life to those that hear. Don’t fall asleep at the wheel again and end up in a ditch spinning your wheels, but stay alert and follow the only path that leads to eternal life, the same path our leader and forerunner Jesus Christ followed Himself. God bless and keep the faith. Have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 11:23-26 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. (24) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. (25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (KJV)
Today it is a common knowledge that someday we will die and then be resurrected into the heavenly realm, or I should say that is the desire of every believer. However, if you notice the wording in verse 25, you will see our Lord makes the statement that ‘I am the resurrection as well as the life’, not I will be or have been, but I am, right now. Not only does He refer to Himself as the resurrection, but also the life; in fact by simply believing in Him we will never have to die. Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (KJV) Thayer’s definition for quicken: 2227 zoopoieo- 1) to produce alive, to begat or to bear living young 2) to cause to live, to make alive, to give life a) by spiritual power to arouse and invigorate b) to restore to life If you notice in verse 6, the word hath is used, something that has already taken place and continues to. We were all dead in our sins; our old fallen nature kept us separated from the things of God so that we were not able to partake of the new life in Christ. Now that you are a partaker of this new life by being born again into the realm of the Spirit, Christ is resurrected in you, and allows you to be a partaker of His heavenly kingdom. You are now resurrected from a spiritual death, a separation from God, and have access to the throne of God through the name of Jesus Christ so that you can sit and hear the message of Christ on a daily basis. These are the true riches of an exceeding grace that is available now, not just some day in the sweet bye and bye. Colossians 2:12-13 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (KJV) It’s a spiritual baptism that allows you to be spiritually risen with God from your dead end life in the flesh. Have you ever heard the term baptized by fire? Well, those that truly know the Lord have been baptized, identified as partakers of Christ by dying to self, allowing Him to resurrect and lead them on the path of life. In the Old Testament the children of Israel were considered to be baptized unto Moses as well, because the life they were now living was one that was following the commandments of God as He instructed Moses on how they should live. We too are identified with Christ, because we choose to be led by His spirit and not our old fallen nature which is influenced by the lusts of the flesh, thus giving us access to the heavenly realm. 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. (KJV) You know, in order for there to be a resurrection there first has to be a death. Although many claim they want to go to heaven, few are willing to die to get there; which spiritually is something that should be taking place right now. Crucifixion was and still is a most excruciating way to die, and one that truly does keep the body in subjection. The Lord is asking His people to take up their own cross on a daily basis and die to self so that they can walk in newness of life being led by the Spirit and not the lower nature. So who is leading and guiding you this day; and are you headed in the right direction, taking a seat in the heavenly realm so that you can hear the message of Christ, and carry out His personal plan of salvation He intended for you to walk in? The life we now live should be a life of faith of the Son of God; what He has done on our behalf, as well as what He would like to continue to do in and through you. Now the real question is, ‘will you let Him’? Romans 6:3-7 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin. (KJV) Remember what happened after our Lord was crucified? There was a resurrection that brought forth a new man. Those of us that allow our old nature to be crucified and buried will also experience the likeness of His resurrection by walking in newness of life, and not according to the old dead sinful nature. It is only those that truly die to sin who are freed from its deadly grasp, and are set free to walk in the Spirit and no longer fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Romans 6:8-11 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: (9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV) Verse 8 begins with the word ‘now’; a now faith in Jesus Christ that the life we now live in the flesh is one that will be by the faith of Him. We should be dead to sin so that we can now resurrect ourselves alive spiritually unto God through the one mediator between God and man, that being Jesus Christ our Lord. John 11:39-44 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. (40) Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? (41) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. (42) And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. (43) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. (44) And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. (KJV) If you look at the spiritual implications of what took place with Lazarus, you can see the similarities of how it parallels our own rebirth into the realm of the Spirit. We too at one time were bound up in sin and our life did stink as well, being dead spiritually and separated from our Lord. Once the stone, or should I say the stony heart was taken away, a new life was brought forth by the word of the Lord and resurrected. We were all bound up with sin and unbelief, but now we are loosed and set free to serve our Lord in spirit and in truth. Is everyday a new day with you; has the Son risen in you to enlighten you to the new life in Christ, or are you still spiritually bound in some dark realm? Arise and shine, and Christ shall give you life again. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Matthew 16:12-17 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (13) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (14) And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (15) He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (KJV)
The Lord had just warned the disciples of false doctrine, having used the example of a little leaven in the bread which can enter in and take over the whole lump. It doesn’t take much leaven to get into the lump in order for it to spread through the whole lump or congregation if you would, so that those that claimed to be a group of believers were actually a group of deceivers. Those that had the Son of God standing right before them and fulfilling all the scriptures they claimed to know and believe were actually working contrary to our Lord’s sound doctrine and had become enemies. Our Lord then proceeded to ask the disciples whom did men say that He the Son of man was and received multiple answers; when He asked them whom did they see Him as He received one answer and we see the doctrine the Lord acknowledged as His was according to the revelation of Christ. Just like with us, as happened to Peter, it takes a personal relationship with our Father in order to see and understand the truth so that we can continue to access Him through His Son, our one and only mediator which is Christ Jesus. Matthew 16:18-20 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (20) Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. (KJV) The rock our Lord was referring to is Christ not Peter which some claim; being the fact that we do not pray to God through Peter but rather through Jesus Christ. It is this revelation, this doctrine and only this doctrine that will hold up in our Father’s court of law; a law of faith which brings new life to our inner man by keeping our old man in subjection. This name of Christ is the key that unlocks all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God; and the lies and deceptions of hell which kept us bound are no longer prevailing in our life, but rather are knocked down and being trampled upon, as we are walking in the liberty in Christ. Those things that have been kept bound in heaven are now loosed, and the windows of heaven are opened to pour out for you all the spiritual blessings in Christ; those things that have been hid from mankind but now ready to be revealed to those that wish to worship our God in spirit and in truth in the way He intended; those whom He is seeking that are willing to worship Him in this manner. Matthew 16:21-23 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. (22) Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. (23) But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. (KJV) What I find interesting is how once one is enlightened to the truth in Christ, that suddenly the message changes and is now one of self-denial, even to the point of death. If you notice even though Peter walked with our Lord and was close to Him our Lord didn’t look at him after the flesh, but was quick to point out that what Peter was speaking was contrary to sound doctrine, and even rebuked him openly for it. Though Peter may have meant well and was just being a nice guy, again nice guys (people pleasers) finish last, the Lord was just putting him in his place, despite how close and familiar he may have been to Him. Are you willing to take a stand as well for what you know as truth, so that if someone tries to bring a doctrine into your spiritual house that is contrary you would be just as quick to refute it as well, not letting a little leaven get in and spoil the whole lump? It’s not that you have to browbeat someone with it, but let it be known that it is not of God, and not according to the doctrine of Christ, but that of antichrist. Matthew 16:24-26 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. (25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (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? (KJV) Isn’t it interesting that the Lord is talking about taking up a cross before His own crucifixion, and that in order to be followers of Him we need to do the same? Now does this mean that in order for us to be inheritors of His kingdom we to need to be crucified like He was, or is there some deeper spiritual implication being brought forth? The cross our Lord is referring to in the above verses, is it a physical cross or a spiritual one? 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. (KJV) Are you basing your walk with what you think you should be doing, or are you letting someone else take over and have His way with and in you? Spiritually we are crucifying our own desires and lusts which have kept us in the dark and separated from the love of God. Our salvation is no longer based on works, or how much time we spend or have spent within a religious organization or structure, but we are now walking by faith of the Son of God, Christ, who now lives in us. Is your confidence based more on what you think you are doing on His behalf, or is it based in what He has done on our behalf and the work the He began in you? What new doctrine this truly is; that it no longer involves me, but someone greater who is within me and would like nothing better than to continue working on my behalf despite how it looks or appears to the outward man. Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (KJV) What a new way of life this truly is, a new doctrine He brings; that it is no longer looking out for number one, which the world says is self and its interests; but now we are looking to the things of the Spirit to find true joy and peace, the peace of God that goes beyond our own understanding. The more one does truly die to self and its interests, the more one is able to see into the realm of the Spirit, and come to a personal understanding of the mystery of the gospel which is hid to the carnal man but readily available to the spiritual one. Romans 6:5-7 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin. (KJV) Are you dying to get to heaven, or is this new doctrine foolish to you like it was to Peter, and to so many that still try to please our Father by their own works and not according to His working which works and can work in us mightily if we let it? The revelation of Christ and His doctrine is the beginning of a new life in Him, and the end of the old life of misery and heartache in the world. Are you dying for the things of God? Well, that is the only way it can be found. So if you wish to be a partaker of His resurrection and the things of His realm, then like our Lord you to will have to lay down your life spiritually in order to find this new life in Him. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (7) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (8) It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. (KJV)
When I see the word ‘lean’ I think of someone wavering, ready to take a fall, or like a boxer who has just taken a punch and is having a hard time standing. If you cut off the blood flow to the brain eventually it will cause one to pass out. The same holds true in the spiritual realm if you cut off the source of life, the word of God from the heart to renew the mind, eventually you will start wavering and falling on your face. As the heart is such a vital organ to our physical man, it is just as vital to our spiritual being as well. Have you seen the green labels on food products that say they are heart smart, something that is healthy for us? The word of God is heart smart as well, because a healthy dose of it will keep reminding us of the truth, that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. Have you desired a closer relationship with the Lord wanting more of Him in your life? Have you given a whole hearted effort, or are you still hanging on to the things of this life, your own understanding, something to fall back on in case this Lord thing doesn’t quite work out the way you thought it should? The Bible says the Lord is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think; the question is will you let Him? Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. (21) Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. (22) For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (KJV) Have you seen healthy people, how they eat right, exercise the body, and maintain the temple God gave them? For the Christian it begins in the heart with the word of God, which brings life to the spirit man and results in good health to the flesh. Who better to show us how to stay healthy, body, soul, and spirit, than the Creator Himself? The Bible makes reference to our lives as a race; a long distance race that we need to run with patience in order to endure to the end. If you have ever seen a marathon runner you notice they have maintained their temple, having eliminated any excess weight that would weigh them down and cause undue stress and strain on the heart. The same holds true with the Christian, many carry around excess spiritual weight, the cares and worries of things that they need to cast upon the Lord and leave them there. The fact that you wouldn’t see overweight or unhealthy people running a marathon race, or I should say enduring to the end, spiritually those that don’t train themselves on a daily basis to hear the Lord and let His word flow in the heart will not last long in the heavenly race either, enduring to the end. The more you train yourself in the things of God the more you will learn to keep your body in subjection to the Spirit and not end up dropping out of the race, being dehydrated due to a lack of living waters. Psalms 119:10-11 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. (11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (KJV) Have you ever tried to do something and your heart just wasn’t into it? Or how about the endless New Year resolutions people make, only to make the same ones the following year? How many people get caught up in the work out ads on TV where they show some young person in great shape who claims that they only had to work out for a few minutes a day to get these great results? So when the people end up buying these devices, for most, they find out that they make a great place to hang their wet laundry on. The same holds true with your spiritual walk, unless the word of God gets into the heart and becomes an actual way of life, it will soon be forgotten, put on the shelf, and you will end up back where you started, like as a runner with good intentions but never able to go forward. Again the word of God is just as vital as the flow of blood to and from the heart; which, without a healthy flow through us will result in the body shutting down, unable to function. Jeremiah 17:9-11 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (10) I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (11) As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool. (KJV) So how does God judge this race, the course He has set for each of us to run? While many may look good and sound good in the outward realm, God is looking to the inward man to see what their motivation is and what it is that they truly treasure. Mankind is like a partridge, they are constantly hatching new methods and devices based on their own understanding, which is based more on a love of money, not the love of God. As an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise in the physical realm will cause the body to shut down in the physical, nothing will shut down the spiritual quicker than the love of money, or any other care of this life which drowns men in destruction, and chokes the life out of many. Just as an unhealthy flow of blood and oxygen will shut a runner down in his tracks, many a godly person that has answered the call of God in the beginning of their walk end up having a spiritual heart attack and keel over because of a lack of healthy doctrine to the heart. We have all been deceived and duped in the past by the cheap imitations of the devil trying to pull us back into the realm of the flesh by leaning to our own understanding. Where your treasure is, is where the heart will be also; and it will determine whether you have stayed on course, the path of life that God has set for you to run, or whether you are sidetracked by your own understanding which is deceitful, and have now placed your own desires above all other things, including the things of God. Ephesians 6:5-8 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; (6) Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; (7) With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: (8) Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. (KJV) Singleness of heart means it is not self seeking. So who are you seeking your approval from, and what are your true motives for everything you are doing today, this moment? Are you looking to the Lord to receive your reward seeking His approval only, or are you doing things to please man? Whatever your motive truly is, God already knows and is not fooled. The question is, do you truly know what is heart smart and able to keep you in good standing with our Father today? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Luke 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. (KJV)
When a person is born again or born a new into the realm of the Spirit you realize that in order to maintain this life you need to hear how to continue in it so that you can grow strong in the Lord and maintain an intimate relationship with Him. Our Father is a God of the now and not the past. It is of utmost importance that one realizes that when you become a new creation in Christ old things are passed away, dead, and all things should now become new. You should now be viewing your life from a spiritual viewpoint, and able to rightly divide the difference between what is right and wrong, not according to mans’ standards, but God’s. You should now be experiencing a new life of peace and joy based on your inward vision, and not on what the outward would try to dictate. Hebrews 10:18-22 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (KJV) There is a new and living way to serve a living God, and it has been available for roughly the last 2000 years because of the offering of Jesus Christ. Instead of waiting for a priest to enter into the holy realm for us once a year according to the old law, we now have access anytime, at anyplace we choose to call upon the name of the Lord. With this opportunity afforded to us by a living mediator who is able to cleanse our hearts with pure living waters, why would anyone settle for less and keep operating in old dead rituals, carnal washings (water baptisms), which look good to the outward but do nothing for our inward? If you desire to serve the living God, His word says the just shall live by faith; and Church it is just that simple, because without faith it is impossible to please God. Jesus Christ is the only way, the only truth, and the only life that will lead you to your heavenly inheritance. Hebrews 8:10-13 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (13) In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (KJV) Why do God’s people, or those that claim to be serving Him, still hang onto old laws and rituals that are dead and decaying? If you had an old car that was falling apart and not worth fixing again, you wouldn’t waste your time and money with it. If you had access to a brand new vehicle free of charge, would you not take the deal in a heartbeat? So why do so many people go around with a bunch of broken down rusted out jalopies rather than jump into a brand new vehicle every day and take a ride that leads us to our Father? Matthew 9:16-17 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. (17) Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. (KJV) You ever hear the term ‘trying to drive a square peg into a round hole’? It doesn’t fit, nor was it meant to fit. And the more you try the more you will end up throwing a fit and be discouraged. The same holds true with God; when you try to put the new back into the old it doesn’t work. In fact as verse 16 says it actually ends up worse, to the point that it will end up perishing as verse 17 makes reference to. So remember Church, our God is a God of the living, not anything dead or perishing. The more one is surrounded by dead things the less attractive it is; in fact it becomes quite unhealthy if not buried. The same holds true in the spiritual realm; and the more one hangs onto dead things, eventually they end up dead too. 2 Corinthians 3:7-12 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: (8) How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? (9) For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. (10) For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. (11) For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. (12) Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: (KJV) Having access to a law of faith that excels above and beyond the old law which is done away, why would someone keep going back to the graveyard to find something living? Using as simple and plainness of speech as possible, if you wish to remain in good standing with our Father, it can only be done by the new and living way, not in some has- been worn out dead, died and forgotten works of the law which will not bring new life. Williams reference for Romans 7:1-6 1. Do you not know, brothers -- for I speak to those who are acquainted with the law -- that the law can press its claim over a man only so long as he lives? 2. For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies, she is freed from the marriage bond. 3. So if she marries another man while her husband is living, she is called an adulteress, but if he dies, she is free from that marriage bond, so that she will not be an adulteress though later married to another man. 4. So, my brothers, you too in the body of Christ have ended your relation to the law, so that you may be married to another husband, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5. For when we were living in accordance with our lower nature, the sinful passions that were aroused by the law were operating in the parts of our bodies to make us bear fruit that leads to death. 6. But now we have been freed from our relation to the law; we have ended our relation to that by which we once were held in bonds, so that we may serve in a new spiritual way and not in the old literalistic way. Romans 7:1-6 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? (2) For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. (3) So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. (4) Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. (5) For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (6) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (KJV) Under the old covenant the law was in play for that time, and so in order to have a relationship with God it was done according to the works of it. You need to realize that once this was done away, dead died and buried by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, you are now free to engage in a new life of liberty and freedom apart from the law so that you can now partake of living waters which will bring forth the fruit of the Spirit within you. Now being delivered from death, it is time to go to the well of life so that you can continue to be alive and well in the newness of the Spirit and not the oldness of the letter of the law which is a killer. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (KJV)
There is still only one gift given that will bring life to the spirit and bring forth an everlasting joy and peace to those that receive it. Do you know the Son that is given to us so that you can reap this bountiful unending reward of joy and peace to all that know how to operate in His realm? 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; (5) That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; (6) Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: (7) So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: (8) Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV) Jesus was the child born of the flesh, the vessel God used to house His gift from above, Christ the Son of the living God. Those that receive this gift and have knowledge of His Son given, will be able to walk in the grace of God and give you an utterance of this testimony which is being confirmed within those that continue in this fellowship of the gift given by the Father through the Son. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (KJV) This gift has come gift wrapped in the form of an earthen vessel, which is ready to be unwrapped and revealed to those seeking its contents by the Spirit. Many look at the gift of God and see the outward package and the promises of what it can deliver, but never unwrap it and put it to use. Until this gift is revealed personally and put to use being utilized properly the way it was intended, most will walk away and look for something else and neglect the gift God gave to all mankind. John 4:9-14 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (10) Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (11) The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? (12) Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? (13) Jesus answered and said unto her, (14) Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (KJV) Many today still judge by the outward and miss the opportunity to partake of the gift of God that is being presented right in front of them. Many still seek to fulfill the physical need first, leaving the spiritual seed within dehydrated and thirsting for living waters. The gift of God is Christ, the Son within the vessel of Jesus of Nazareth, who was speaking on behalf of God to give this woman access to the gift of life. Are you still looking in the outward to find this gift, or will you seek within the realm of God for His living waters which quench our spiritual thirst? Do you know the voice of God and who it is you are getting your instructions from today so that you can effectively access this gift and utilize it correctly, or are you like many running to and fro to a bunch of dry polluted stagnant wells that are drawing the life out of the believer rather than drawing them nearer to the living well of life? Life is a gift, that’s why they call it the present. So how are you presenting His gift? Are you showing others how to unwrap it and reveal its inward contents? Acts 4:8-12 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, (9) If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; (10) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (KJV) Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost was able to demonstrate this gift, having seen an impotent man made whole. Though mankind has put many labels on the gift of God and wrapped it up in many colorful and different packages, there is still only one name given and no other way to access this gift except by the name of Jesus Christ. So try and try as mankind will, no matter how many times they try to go to the well of life they will come away empty and thirsty. The only way one can tap into this gift, the well of eternal life, is with an eternal name that will reveal its contents and allow you to drink freely. 1 Peter 4:10-11 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (11) If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (KJV) Remember how you received this gift by hearing and not by works? As you minister this gift of eternal life, it is only by the ability that God has given so that you can see His results. There is a well of life springing forth from within you, and the only way you can tap into this giver of life is through His Son Jesus Christ; God’s true gift given to all mankind. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (KJV)
The two births are a result of two different seeds, one is of the flesh and one is of the Spirit. As one grows and matures in the Lord they wean themselves from the things of this world and become more dependent on the things of the Lord. As children in the flesh, our desires were things that appealed to the flesh without any thought of its consequences. Whatever looked good, sounded good, and appealed to the outward is what we pursued after. You have a spiritual seed within you that was brought to life and resurrected by your hearing the word of God, the living waters that are able to nourish a spiritual seed. It is vital now that you learn how to nurture that seed within and to be able to discern what it takes to bring it to maturity. The effort and diligence you put in the past to feed the flesh and its desires will now have to be redirected to the inward seed if you wish to see this seed grow to maturity. 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (KJV) Jesus of Nazareth was a man born of the flesh after the seed of David and the first to be reborn in the Spirit to manifest God’s plan of salvation to all mankind. This is a great mystery and continues to be to this day because so many are looking to the outward for some great savior, when in fact this Savior will only become a reality to those in the Spirit. Of these two, God is able to make one new man so making peace; bringing the plan of reconciliation to a fallen world. Romans 8:15-17 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (KJV) It takes one to know one. In other words, are you allowing the Spirit to bear witness with your spirit, to give an eyewitness account to the things of God, to give life and nourishment to the inner man so that you can receive the reward of adoption? Do you take the time on a daily basis in the word of God so that you too can be justified in the Spirit, despite what you may suffer from those that seek their justification from man? You are now a joint heir with Christ, the first born of all creation, so that you too can be glorified with Him and receive your eternal inheritance. Romans 1:3-4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; (4) And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: (KJV) One is born of flesh, Jesus of Nazareth; the other seed is the Son of God (Christ) which is where our power source comes from. If any man has not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His and is unable to walk in the newness of life given them. Just as we have parents in the flesh to nurture their newborn child, we have a Father in heaven that is ready, willing and able to nurture and feed His newborn offspring as well. As we require daily nourishment for the outward man, it is vital to feed the inward man also if one is to grow strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Adam was put in the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it. You have a spiritual garden as well that takes a constant maintenance plan so that you don’t end up on the outside looking in. Do you know the difference between the flesh and the Spirit? Do you seek the things that will feed your spirit man or are you still chasing cheap, short lived, emotional fixes that only appease the flesh and not the Spirit? You wouldn’t abandon your own offspring and leave it for dead; so why do many abandon God’s offspring and leave it for dead? A parent in the flesh can be tried and convicted for child abandonment, and someday you will have to give an account of what you have done with the seed of God that was reborn in you; and hopefully when the going got tough you didn’t bail out on the Son either. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (KJV) In December each year when so many talk of the birth of the Savior, we see much of the attention focused on the physical seed and not the spiritual. A child that was born in this realm was Jesus of Nazareth and the Son given to us is Christ which is in you and is our only hope of glory. So, where is your focus today and what realm are you looking into in order to nourish the new birth within you? Are you blindly following the traditions and doctrines of man which claim some days are more special than others, or are you walking in the peace of God that is available to any and at any time for those that seek to worship Him in Spirit and in truth? God is not a god of the dead and their dead end doctrines, but a God of the living, those that live in the Spirit and seek their justification by faith. John 8:31-37 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (33) They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? (34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (35) And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. (36) If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (37) I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. (KJV) Many still claim they are of God according to their physical birthright and end up neglecting their spiritual one. It doesn’t matter to God what your family name is in the flesh, its only those that are joint heirs with Christ and follow His example that are born free and continue in the freedom of knowing the truth set forth in the word of God. Once you have been set free it is up to you to continue walking in the liberty in Christ and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (KJV)
Is there a pure river of living waters flowing abundantly from you, watering and bringing life to yourself and those you come in contact with? It began as a pure river; is it still pure, or has it been tainted with man-made additives that change the texture of it? Did you know that you are going to have to give account of how much of these living waters you let flow through you, and how pure it comes out from your heart? Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (KJV) An idle word is like turning on a faucet and no water comes out; it might make some sounds from the air going through it, but it is not producing the desired results. As our physical body requires water on a daily basis, being that our bodies are made up mostly of water, your spirit man requires a daily dose as well, or it will end up dehydrated and wither away. Our tongue simply put is either bringing forth words of life or it is an unruly evil full of deadly poison, which if left unchecked will have eternal consequences. The seed within you is Christ which is spiritual, and it takes the spiritual living water of the word of God on a continual basis if it is going to grow up and mature. Matthew 4:3-4 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (4) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (KJV) What’s the first thing that proceeds from your mouth when confronted with situations of this life? Is it the word of God and what He is speaking, or will you give into the tempter and seek to fulfill the physical need first? Not only did the answer proceed from the mouth of God, but it flowed through our Lord and preceded from His mouth as well, providing the answer God had for that particular situation. How many times when confronted with a need, or someone comes to you with a need, do you let the word of God proceed from your mouth so that it can accomplish the thing that is pleasing to God? It is your words you will have to give account of someday, and if your words and the Lord’s are one in the same, there will be no problem, so make sure before you speak. Matthew 15:18-20 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (20) These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (KJV) Many get caught up in the letter of the law; being more concerned with carnal washings and making the outward look good, while their inward man is dead and decaying. The word of God came from the throne pure, but somewhere downstream it got polluted, which is what the word defile means, and became unhealthy and tainted. Many lawsuits are filed on behalf of those that live downstream from factories that have tainted the rivers, and allowed pollution and poisons to proceed into the mainstream of the river, and some have caused sickness and death. Someday you to will have to stand in God’s court and give account of any additives or pollutants that you have dumped into the mainstream of your heart and of those around you. So being the fact that it left the throne of God in a pure state, He expects that it will have stayed that way when you give your own personal account before Him. If someone poisoned you or one of your children you would certainly be looking for justice; and that is exactly what will take place someday before the throne as well. So I pray that you checked the water before you turned on the faucet. Proverbs 18:7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. (KJV) What you allowed into the heart is what is coming out of the mouth; so if you don’t keep a close watch on it, you may find that what was supposed to be watering the crops has been tainted, and is choking and killing the life out of yourself and those around you. Your mouth can either bind the devil or bind the Lord from working in you. Your tongue can either loose you from bondage or keep you snared in the realm of destruction. Proverbs 15:2-4 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. (3) The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (4) A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. (KJV) Oh but it was just a little joke, I was just kidding around. That’s fine except for the fact that there is not anything the Lord doesn’t see or hear, and I am quite certain His memory is pretty good also. So someday when you go to retell your joke or try kidding with Him, you may find out the hard way that He wasn’t kidding around with you. Basically He is going to ask, what happened to my clear river of life, how did it get so tainted and polluted and what was your part in it? Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: (19) And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (KJV) If you have added your own interpretation to the word of God to make it fit with your way of thinking, just as man has added many chemicals and additives to our rivers and streams, God said He has something to give in return as well. So if you have plagued yourself and those around you with false doctrine, then you have taken away the true meaning of the Word; for which God also said He will take away your part out of the book of life. In conclusion, your words have eternal consequences, so make sure you know what you are speaking before you open your mouth. Don’t get caught up in the mainstream of popular opinions and doctrines of man, but rather go with the flow of the pure river of life, and proceed forward to your eternal reward which is rightfully yours for the taking. God bless; and it would do you good to take some time to study for yourself about the tongue, and see how many times it is referred to throughout the Bible, and how vital our words truly are. Dearly loved, have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (KJV)
Did you ever realize there is power in the tongue? Are you aware of how important words are, and that they are described as either death or life? Are the words you are speaking bringing life to you as well as those around you, or are they tearing you down and keeping you in bondage? Matthew 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (KJV) Are you speaking in line with the word of God, so that the Word can go forth and produce spirit and life to the situation you are speaking to, or are you speaking words of doubt which bind the Lord from working in the area you have need of? You have the power and ability by your own words, to allow God the opportunity to work through you, or to allow the enemy to stop the flow of living waters from proceeding from your mouth. Mark 11:23-24 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (24) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (KJV) A mountain can be anything that appears big in our walk that needs to be dealt with in order to continue on the path of life. Sometimes it can be an obstacle in front of us that needs to be dealt with, or it can be something from our past that needs to be cast down and left in the sea of forgetfulness. No matter how much of a mountain of doubt we have allowed to come in view and try to block our vision, speaking words of life and believing that God is able to do what He promised will eliminate this distraction. Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (KJV) Faith is our ability to hear the message delivered by Christ, and walk in the framework of the victory God intended for us. Think of God as an artist, who painted a picture of you and the life He intended for you to live. As long as you stay within the framework of the Spirit, you are able to see the picture of the blueprint He drew up for you before the foundation of the world. It’s when we step out of the framework of faith, that we enter a realm of doubt and confusion; then life becomes an uphill struggle, without ever reaching the top or able to see a victorious conclusion. The children of Israel wandered around the mountain for forty years because they allowed doubt and unbelief into the camp. Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; (KJV) As one matures in the Lord they become steadier in their walk, and not so many ups and downs as when they were younger. It’s a lot easier walking a straight path, on a level surface, than wandering back and forth and up and down, living in doubt and confusion. You learn to cast all your care upon the Lord; not only casting it upon Him, but leaving it in His hands, and not trying to handle things on your own. Words like I can’t believe it, or I doubt it, will open the door for the enemy to step in with a mountain of doubt and confusion to block the path of life the Lord has set for you to walk in. Psalms 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. (KJV) Remember, when you see the word ‘perfect’ it refers to a mature person; one that has learned to speak in line with the word of God, no matter what comes along their path. A person that is willing to walk by faith and not by sight, or any of our other physical senses, is the one that keeps His words within the framework of the Spirit, and does not speak anything contrary to sound doctrine that will bind the Lord from working within them, and through them, and for them. The peace of God, which goes beyond your understanding despite what the outward circumstances may try to dictate will take you to places in your walk above and beyond what you could have ever asked or thought of. That is why we need to let the peace of God rule in all our decisions; letting the word of God be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. Proverbs 4:20-24 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. (21) Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. (22) For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (23) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (24) Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. (KJV) The tongue is an extension of our heart; so what we allow into the heart is what is going to come out of the mouth, which is either going to be life or death. If you don’t like what has manifested in your life, you need to ask yourself ‘what kind of words have I been putting out?’ Words of life will open the windows of heaven and allow the Lord to pour out for you a blessing; words contrary to Him will shut that opportunity, and reopen the door for the enemy to come in and steal our joy and peace. Death and life, for or against Him, you have the choice of which fruit you are going to partake of this day; so if you don’t like what is coming up in your spiritual garden, it would do you well to check what kind of seed you planted in it. Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. (KJV) A breach in the spirit means there has been a break or a fracture in the relationship; and what was a person speaking words of life, is now entered a realm of death. You need to take the time to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, so that there will be no break in your relationship with the Father, and He doesn’t have to ask you some day, ‘say what?’ God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)
The wages for a life of sin is death, separation from our Father for eternity. It’s literally a hell of a reward for all those that serve the devil and spend their lives to satisfy their own desires of the flesh and neglecting the will of our Father. Salvation is actually a gift given to all mankind, sent forth from our Father and manifested to us by His Son, to deliver us from all our destructions. Now the question each and every one of us needs to answer is this; have we received this gift or have we neglected it and are looking elsewhere for our answer? John 1:10-12 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (KJV) What would it be like for you parents, to be able to have everything a child would need to grow up healthy and mature, only to watch them neglect your gift of love, and end up malnourished and sick? For those that live in cold climates, to have coats and all the winter clothing that is needed for the child, just to watch them walk out the door and not be dressed for the weather. And yet with all that our Father has done for his people, for their benefit, only to see how few receive the gift and walk in the spiritual provisions He has provided for His children; how it must hurt Him as well to see His people walk out into a cold dark world not properly dressed and fed either. The plan is established, the gift given, His spirit poured out on all mankind, now a matter of who is willing to receive it and walk in the blessings afforded through this gift. Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV) There is a perfect plan of salvation made just for you; a path of good works which were drawn up like a blueprint for you to follow after; a free gift for any and all that would receive it this day. We are His workmanship; and what a piece of work we all are, and can continue to be, if we allow Him to have His way with us. Some claim that salvation is not something we can earn and therefore it is something we cannot lose. However, like with any gift, some have taken their gift and exchanged it for something else more appealing to the lower nature, and not to the new nature we received in Christ. Romans 1:22-25 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (KJV) The word ‘changed’ actually means to exchange. So instead of being content with what the Lord has provided, they look elsewhere for their answer, and just like clockwork the enemy is ready and waiting to give them a cheap imitation of what the real gift can provide. So instead of letting the truth set them free, they are overcome again with the subtle doctrines of man and end up worshipping and serving their own lusts and desires, rather than seeking the things of God and what He desires for them. It’s not that the devil has the power to pull anyone out of the kingdom, but rather uses slick underhanded methods to try and talk you out of it, and get you to settle for a far less inferior plan, which in many cases gives the glory to man and not to God. Don’t be taken in by these larger than life ministers who claim they are God’s gift to mankind. In many cases what appears to be too good to be true usually is. 1 Timothy 4:14-16 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (15) Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. (16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (KJV) How would you like it if you gave a gift to someone close to you, something that was of great value, only to show up one day at their house and find it discarded and thrown in the garbage? If you really knew the true value of what you have been given and what you have access to, and the sacrifice it took to get you this gift, you would give yourself wholly to it as well, not holding back, but receiving all that is yours as well as sharing it with all you come in contact with. 1 Peter 4:10-11 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (11) If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (KJV) As with any gift it comes with an instruction manual so that you can keep it operational and not void the warranty. This is a free gift given to you so that you can partake of our Lord’s divine nature and continue to minister words of life to those that are willing to let Him speak through you. So what have you done with this gift? Is it alive and real today, or is it a discarded memory of something many talk of, but not walk in? Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (KJV) You have been given the same measure of faith that Jesus Christ was given when He walked this planet. He considers His church the pearl of great price and was willing to die on our behalf. So today, are you holding fast to what is rightfully yours, or have you neglected it? Some day we will have to give an account of what we have done with this gift, and I pray that you will be able to measure up and not be discarded as well. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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