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Good morning. Today's video Reminder is to remind you to let the Holy Spirit be your teacher; who will lead and guide you into all truth. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning. This week's video Discern, is on the topic of the word "discern" in the Bible. Discernment is important; knowing what is of God and what isn't, for unto you it is given to know. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous week in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (KJV)
The Lord begins this chapter encouraging the believers not to be troubled but to continue believing. You can expect opposition as you take your place in the body of Christ, because the more grounded you become in the Lord the more of a threat you become to the enemy. You have a place prepared and ready for you to take up residence in, but there is a spiritual enemy who will do all he can to detour you and try and keep you in this fallen realm. Only the truth will set you free and allow you to carry out your heavenly calling so that you can be a true resident of the kingdom of God in Christ. Ephesians 3:9-12 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (10) To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (12) In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (KJV) Our fellowship with God, our citizenship with Him is described as a mystery, something hidden to the carnal man but readily revealed to those in Christ. There are principalities in the heavenly realm, like with a football team, the defense is stacked up at the goal line trying to deny you access to it. This principality, or as it is described the prince of the power of the air, the devil and his angels, will do all they can to try to talk you out of your inheritance and your rightful place in the body of Christ by attempting to deny you access to His kingdom. But to those that are in Christ and have His spirit bearing witness to their spirit, they will know the truth and boldly confidently access His kingdom by letting these principalities know who they are in Christ, and that these principalities need to step aside because they are going in. The only way one can know all the spiritual blessings they have been blessed with is by entering into the kingdom of God and staying seated with Christ to hear His doctrine of love and liberty in Him. Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (KJV) There is spiritual armor available to ward off spiritual resistance, so the more you keep the shield of faith up and operational the less likely you will be hit in the vitals with a fiery dart from the wicked one. Do know that there will be opposition to those that take up residency in their heavenly place, and that there are principalities and powers that will do all they can to pull you back into the realm of the flesh. Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (KJV) Strong’s definition for ‘persuaded’: 3982 peitho (pi'-tho); a primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively, to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty): KJV-- agree, assure, believe, have confidence, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield. Are you of the persuasion that nothing or no one is going to separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord? That no one or no being is going to keep you from accessing your heavenly reward? Those that know their rights and authority in Christ will continue in the faith grounded and settled and not allow themselves to be moved away or evicted from their heavenly place in Christ, but rather they will let the enemy know it is time to step aside as they go forward, and don’t let the door hit you on my way in. Luke 4:6-8 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. (7) If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. (8) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (KJV) Jesus of Nazareth knew who He was in Christ and how to access the kingdom of God despite opposition from principalities in heavenly places. In fact He knew that God promised His people that they would be the head and not the tail, so He put the devil in his place by walking past him and leaving him behind. When you encounter persecution or obstacles the devil tries to put in your path, will you be as quick to respond in the Spirit and put him in his place as well, that being a fallen one, or will you get caught up in petty wrestling matches in the affairs of this life? The more you stay seated in the heavenly realm in Christ, hearing His message, the more you will continue to move forward in your walk with Him and not let anyone tell you different. The Lord has prepared a place for you in His kingdom, now put the distractions behind you and obtain what is rightfully yours. Revelation 12:10-11 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (KJV) The enemy is like a little tattle tale, slinging mud at the believers to see if it will stick. Those that know their rights and authority in Christ will be blameless, without spot before Him. Once you have been cleansed by the washing of the water by the word of God it is imperative that you keep clean so that the mud does not stick. While accessing your place in the heavenly realm, do know there will be opposition, but do keep the persuasion and the mindset that nothing will come before your love for God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord who is seated at the right hand of the Father in the heavenly realm with a place for you right next to Him. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Mark 14:37-38 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? (38) Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. (KJV)
The spirit truly is ready and willing to serve the Lord, while it is the flesh that is weak and would rather be doing something else. You know, if you were hired to do a job and the boss came around and found you sleeping on the job, how long before you think you might end up fired? Which is what will happen to those that are spiritually asleep and not keeping watch over their salvation. The flesh is weak because it is limited to this fallen carnal realm; while the spirit truly is willing, able to operate in a realm where all things are possible. As I look around this fallen world I see many that are weak because they choose to lean to their own understanding, things they can see, and not into the unseen eternal realm where one can have access to the Lord and the power of His might. 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 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 Lord said many are called but few are chosen. As we see in verse 30 the many had become weak allowing sickness into the temple, and some are sleeping, in a spiritual stupor even to the point of death. Rather than examining themselves working out their own salvation, they gave in to the temptation of the flesh choosing an easier path rather than a straight and narrow one that leads to victory. Instead of watching and praying, exercising their spiritual senses to know and not just guess the difference between what was good and evil, they dosed off and let the enemy catch them with their guard down, making themselves an easy target. While you were eating and drinking in a place you thought was safe and healthy, you ended up ingesting a lot of poisonous doctrine, doctrines of man that catered more to the flesh than to the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-18 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (KJV) You know Church, there is still a law that is in play and that is the law of sin and death, which if the devil can catch a believer napping he would like nothing better than to have you put back under arrest and convicted. Once a believer has begun a walk in the Spirit it is vital to continue that walk, enduring to the end in order to obtain your eternal salvation. The more you walk in the Spirit the stronger you become, while on the flip side the more you stay in the flesh the weaker you are. As many as are led by the Spirit of God are truly the sons of God, and able to partake of His divine nature, operating in a realm so much higher and above all that we could ever ask or think of. Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (KJV) Sin, to put it in its simplest form, is unbelief. All sin is a result of unbelief which stems from one choosing the carnal over the Spirit. Death is the result of sin, which is another definition of sleep, and for some it will mean eternal separation from God. The law of faith is what brought you back from the dead and enlightened you to the realm of the Spirit allowing you to walk in a new life by leaving the old one behind. Just like with the laws of the land here on earth, there is an order to the law of the Spirit; one must abide by the law of faith, living a life that is based more on what I hear from God and less by what my fallen nature tries to dictate as truth. So which realm are you in today; are you up and at it, ready, willing, and able to worship our Lord today in Spirit and in truth, or are you still on your backside, knocked down and unconscious because you got sucker punched? 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) Once you enter the realm of the Spirit there are no laws or limitations on how far you can go, in fact you have just entered a realm that goes on for eternity. The question is how far are you willing to go? Well, if you are in the Spirit it never has to end; however, if you choose the flesh then it will come to an end, an end God did not intend for His people. When you pray and make your petitions to God through Jesus Christ you have tapped into a source of life that is not limited to what you can see, hear, or touch in this fallen realm, but it is able to do so much more above and beyond what you could have ever asked or thought of on your own. In fact when you revert back to the flesh, that being your carnal mind, then you have taken the Lord out of the equation by leaning to your own understanding; you then open yourself up again to the law of sin and death which has now cut off the source of living waters, which if it lasts to long will result in death. Proverbs 19:15-16 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. (16) He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. (KJV) Have you lost interest in your salvation; not as exciting as it used to be; instead of moving forward in your walk you have parked on the side of the road and are idling? Is the upkeep of your soul still your sole interest, or are you solely interested in what appeals more to the flesh than to the Spirit? 1Thessalonians 5:5-8 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (6) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (7) For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (8) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (KJV) There is a Son that shines eternally, it never goes down or dims, but rather is described as a daystar which arises in our heart and gives enlightenment to the believer. If you end up sleeping spiritually and in the dark, it is because you chose a dark fallen realm rather than the eternal one where there is no darkness, neither shadow of turning. Mark 14:38-41 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. (39) And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. (40) And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. (41) And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (KJV) When the enemy is heading your way and trying to bring you back under arrest will you be watching and praying so that you don’t enter into temptation, or will you be easy prey for him? The spirit is willing; the flesh is weak, and is a weak excuse for those that choose their own desires ahead of our Lord’s. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (KJV)
Why do so many keep going to man to find peace when it is not found in the realm of the flesh? God has poured out His spirit upon all flesh and provided mankind with a peaceable witness to truth so that we could rely more on His spiritual inward counsel and less on the outward limited one of mankind and his limited thinking. The things of God are given to us freely, yes freely, without charge, so put away your visa card and grab your Bible and let His Spirit bear witness with your spirit and give you an accurate account of salvation. If you desire to find peace, a true eternal one, then you need to go above and beyond this fallen realm to find it; then grab hold of it and never let go or allow the enemy to talk you out of it. I have heard so many versions and perversions of the Gospel growing up, doctrines that raised more questions and confusion than answers. It was only spending time in the word of God on a daily basis and praying to God through Jesus Christ that I was able to find peace and comfort, letting the truth set me free from fear and doubt. Which spirit is bearing witness with your spirit today; is it the Holy Spirit which is able to give an accurate account of heavenly things, or are you limiting yourself to mankind and his fallen carnal understanding which can never give an accurate account to the truth? Wonder why you don’t have total peace in your life? Simple, because you haven’t heard the total answer that will replace confusion with peace. John 14:23-27 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (24) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. (25) These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. (26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV) Despite much opposition to what was being spoken by our Lord, He only spoke the words of His Father, words that are spirit and they are life to the hearer. The Comforter is there to bring you comfort, despite what is taking place in the outward realm all around you and those that hold man to be true and consider God the liar. You may attend a fellowship and hear messages on a daily basis, but in the end it is only the Holy Spirit that can truly teach you the things of God and bring to remembrance what God’s true intention of His word is, while anything less will leave you in doubt. The Holy Spirit gives us an eyewitness accurate account to what is taking place in the realm of the Spirit, one that will hold up in God’s court as evidence based on fact. Mankind and his carnal thinking are only able to give an obscured, partial, inaccurate account of what they think took place and how God’s plan of salvation truly operates. If you desire to know all things then you will need to go to the source that knows all things, not just carnal but spiritual as well if you truly desire to have peace in your life and maintain it also. Hebrews 10:14-17 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (15) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, (16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (KJV) Court is now in session, your faith is on trial, God has sent a witness on your behalf so that you can be freed and walk in the liberty of Christ. While the enemy is accusing and pointing the finger at God’s people, slinging mud to see if it sticks; God has provided the Comforter so that you can stand up and say, I object to this line of questioning which is based on a lie and not on truth. When the enemy approaches you, are you prepared to cross examine and resist in the faith, or are you guilty as charged because you have rejected God’s counsel? When looking for truth, are you more apt to believe someone who was actually there and able to give an accurate eyewitness account; when your life is truly at stake are you going to give credence to someone who thinks they know but can’t actually say for sure? Better yet, the verdict is already in and God’s people have already been proven innocent, now the question is will you stay in His court, or will you jump bail? Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (KJV) Williams New Testament translation Hebrews 12:1 1. Therefore, as we have so vast a crowd of spectators in the grandstands, let us throw off every impediment and the sin that easily entangles our feet, and run with endurance the race for which we are entered, What’s the first thing lawyers do when preparing for a case? They go out and look for credible eyewitnesses that can give an accurate account of what took place. What’s the first thing you should be doing on a daily basis in order to maintain innocence with God? Seek out His truth in His word by those that were inspired by His Spirit to give us an accurate account of salvation. This book called the Bible is full of those that allowed the Comforter to speak through them and deliver a message of truth that sets us free and keeps us free from sin (which simply put is a result of unbelief). Are you able to parade a group of spiritual witnesses if needed so that you can maintain peace despite what the enemy is accusing you of, or will you be handcuffed and brought back into the bondage of sin again? Only those that know the truth can be set free, and only a truthful witness will provide that liberty, while anything less will have one stuck in a dark cell located in the fallen realm of mankind. I John 5:9-10 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. (10) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (KJV) All of my life growing up I received the witness of man, which was based on what was pleasing to mankind and his carnal nature, a witness that never brought peace. Once I allowed the Lord into my life and chose to serve Him I found the only peace that satisfies, and eliminated all the doubt and fear that I had in the unstable realm of man. Those that reject the witness of God are calling Him a liar, and choose to look for peace in a realm our Lord said it didn’t exist in. The peace of God is rock solid because it is founded on the foundation of God, Jesus Christ being the cornerstone of your salvation. The peace of this world and the cheap imitation of man is based on an unstable foundation, one that changes and fluctuates on a daily basis. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV) God bless and go in peace. Have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Williams New Testament translation for Colossians 3:15
15. Let the peace that Christ can give keep on acting as umpire in your hearts, for you were called to this state as members of one body. And practice being thankful. Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (KJV) In baseball an umpire makes the final decision which determines an outcome of a play, something that can be vital concerning the final score. In the realm of Christianity, being Christ like, it’s the peace of God that should be the deciding factor in all your decisions so that you don’t end up making a bad call. The word ‘rule’ has many interesting definitions, all of which mean the same thing; umpire, prevail, determine is another one, all pointing to the same outcome, or what should be the outcome for the believer. Is it truly the peace of God that rules in all your decisions, or are you still seeking peace in a realm our Lord said it didn’t truly exist? John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV) Did you ever stop and realize that there is another peace the enemy would like you to fall for? I will give you a hint; it is located in a fallen realm. All through the Bible the Lord has given promises to God’s people that the devil has tried to imitate, and though it looks so good on the outside its results are empty and useless, vain would be another way of describing it. While God promises things that look impossible to us at times and yet are still peaceful, the enemy will try to entice us with something that is too good to be true because that is exactly what it is. While God will show you the truth of a matter as well as the consequences, the enemy will only show people the highlight reel of what they think they are missing out on and all that is available to those that choose temporal things over eternal ones. Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; (9) And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (10) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (KJV) You know, the enemy did try to entice our Lord with a false peace, one that looked so good to the outward but would have been an abomination to the inward man. While our Lord knew the difference between the peace of God and the short term peace of this world, there are many that have and continue to fall for a cheap thrill ride in the flesh, which like a roller coaster climbs slowly but comes down much quicker and crashes. Oh the things of this life can look so good, but remember the eyes of man are never satisfied; so what you went chasing after today will get old and you will be off and running after some other dead end fleshly desire that promises much and delivers nothing but heartache and misery. Knowing the difference, rightly dividing the word of truth so that you can separate soul and spirit, what is of the flesh and what is spiritual in nature, should be the deciding factor in your walk as well. Romans 4:16-20 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (17) (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (18) Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. (19) And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: (20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (KJV) This man Abraham was some 99 years old when a promise of a son was given to him. How easily it would have been to doubt and wonder, based on the outward circumstances and not an inward peace. We serve a God who gives life to the dead; situations that seem dead in our realm are alive and well in the realm of God ready to birth and spring forth to those that trust in Him. The just shall live by faith, a faith not in what is seen which is temporal, but rather in that which is unseen to the eyes of man but readily revealed to the eyes of our understanding. So what are you holding to today, and what is the ruling factor in all your decisions, is it based on the outward or inward peace? When I look at verse 20 and see the term staggering, it reminds me of someone that has taken a hit and is ready to go down, someone who got blindsided and sucker punched by the enemy. The peace of God is truly a ruling factor and passes our own understanding; the question is will you allow it to be a ruling factor in your life? 2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (KJV) The enemy would like to show you a highlight reel based on sight, the outward one that entices the flesh; the only problem is the reality reel of consequences is kept out of sight and hidden to those that have been blinded. The path of life that leads to salvation is a spiritual one, a path not heavily traveled because many choose to walk the other way, looking for coming attractions rather than seeking one based on reality. Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (KJV) When you see the word ‘keep’, it means to guard and protect. We have been given the Holy Spirit to comfort us, to keep us from evil and show us the path of life. This peace is given to us for our protection so that we won’t get hit with a spiritual virus which can infect and pull down a believer. Keeping your spiritual senses exercised, discerning the difference between what is of God and what is being presented as being of God will keep one healthy and fit in the realm of the Spirit, while anything less will have you staggering and ready to fall face first in the realm our Lord provided deliverance from. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV)
Williams New Testament translation for John 14:26-27 26. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send to represent me, will teach you everything Himself, and cause you to remember everything that I have told you. 27. I now leave you the blessing of peace, I give you the blessing of my own peace. I myself do not give it in the way the world gives it. Stop letting your hearts be troubled or timid. Strong’s definition for ‘peace’: 1515 eirene (i-ray'-nay); probably from a primary verb eiro (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity: KJV-- one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again. Where are you finding peace and comfort today; is it in the promises of man, or are you holding to the promise of God? Mankind promises peace, however the peace that they promise is short lived, based on promises that can be changed or broken; while the peace of God is based on truth, from a God that cannot and will not lie. God’s word and promises are given for our benefit and do not change or fluctuate like the economy of this world; while mankind makes promises based on what is best for their benefit; and so once something or someone is no longer of benefit to them they are discarded. Just like with a job, or a house, or any other temporal thing that you may have had promised, in this realm it can change quickly, while the things of God are eternal because we serve an unchangeable God who is not subject to the laws and limitations of this fallen realm. God gave us a comforter so that we could find just that, comfort in the realm of the Spirit even though things are chaotic in the outward one. Isaiah 26:3-5 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (4) Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: (5) For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust. (KJV) As a man thinks in his heart so is he, and so will be the realm he operates in also. A perfect love will cast out all fear because you are keeping your mind renewed in the promises of God and allowing Him to have the final say in your walk despite what may change in the outward realm. So, while things all around us may be changing on a daily basis, your love and that peace which you have found in the realm of the Spirit does not have to change or fluctuate with the times. How strong and deep are you rooted in the truth; do you change and jump ship if the winds of doctrine start blowing contrary to what is truth? No matter what man says or tries to dictate, God is still in control and able to do above all that we could ever ask or think because that is the realm He operates in; above and beyond the realm of a fallen mankind and their empty self serving promises. Mark 4:37-41 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. (38) And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? (39) And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (40) And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (41) And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (KJV) You know, what we see demonstrated in the above example illustrates a perfect example of how we should be training ourselves spiritually. When a wind of doctrine comes your way, or a storm arises in your walk, what is your first response, faith or fear? Well if your first pursuit and interest on a daily basis is seeking first the kingdom of God then you would be more apt to respond in the Spirit rather than react according to the flesh. Our Lord was able to see a calm restored to the situation because He held to the promise of God and allowed His peace to rule, one that passes our own understanding but is still in effect despite the outward circumstances. Practice can make one perfect. So the more you become faithful in the least, the more you will be prepared and ready for bigger things that come along and try to impede your walk in the Spirit. Isaiah 57:19-21 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. (20) But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. (21) There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. (KJV) Oh, and expect to find some opposition while walking in this peace because the enemy will blow through and bombard God’s people; sometimes digging up the dirt and mire from your past to try to blow you off course. Just because others don’t have the peace of God doesn’t mean you have to lower your standards and end up back in the pigpen, becoming entangled in the affairs of this life which drowns many in destruction and despair. So which way are you headed today; and what is guiding your ship; is it one that is safe and secure, or are there holes in your doctrine and you are sinking fast? Jeremiah 6:13-15 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. (14) They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. (15) Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. (KJV) The world and its worldly people can only give a partial answer, and provide a temporal or temporary peace that does not last, and neither do those that rely on it. There are a lot of false prophets that promise liberty in the form of religion, but they themselves are nothing less than cheap hucksters looking out more for their own interests than the congregations. Do you know truly what the peace of God is and how to maintain it, or are you riding the waves of popular opinions floating aimlessly on the dead sea? 1Thessalonians 5:2-4 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (3) For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (4) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (KJV) Those that have the eyes of their understanding open and enlightened will know the difference between what man calls peace and the peace of God which is unchangeable. Are your eyes open and your spiritual senses operational so that if there is a storm brewing you will be prepared, or will you be caught out in the middle of the sea struggling in the muck and mire of this fallen world? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (4) Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (5) 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)
Light the candles, break out the cake, let’s all gather around and celebrate an occasion that’s only half right and only half the equation, that being the physical birth into the realm of the flesh. While it is a blessing to be born into this realm healthy, it is the second birth or rebirth that is so much more vital yet so overlooked. Now that you have arrived and have been a part of this physical realm, unless you are reborn into the realm of the Spirit you cannot see or give an accurate account of what is happening in that realm. Happiness is an emotion, one based on happenings, while the joy of the Lord is our strength, one that will only be found in the realm of the Spirit. Once one is born again, which the Bible says all heaven rejoices when one sinner repents, talk about a party with your spiritual candle being lit so that you can see the path of life and walk in the love, joy, and peace of God, as well as receiving the gift of life which is eternal. With that in mind which realm are you operating in today and which birth has priority in your life, the physical or the spiritual? 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (KJV) The Lord has set a table for you and provided a spiritual meal as well to celebrate your new birth into the realm of the Spirit. Keep in mind though, that this only takes place in the realm of the Spirit, a realm our Lord operates in and desires for you too as well. Unless you are able to see clearly for yourself the things of God, how could you ever give an accurate account of what is taking place, and what God has done to provide salvation and a new birth for you? While many are so caught up with physical traditions and doctrines of man, being half right does not make you all right, but rather leaves you on the outside trying to see through a veil. Just like these people that get saved and then think it is their duty to witness to the cults, or what they perceive as cults, by reading other peoples scripts on how to handle these situations. Talk about dumb and dumber; unless you can see and know for yourself what the word of God truly says and means you have no reason engaging in these endless strivings and contentions that pull you down rather than build you up. Just like when you were born and had parents that celebrated your arrival into this realm, you have a spiritual Father in heaven that wishes to give you of His kingdom by opening your eyes to His truth so that you can walk in the liberty of Christ. So while many observe days, and months, times and seasons, some in the form of birthdays, keep in mind that there needs to be a rebirth day if one really wishes to have something to celebrate. And you parents that are quick to run out and buy gifts to please the child, have you given them the greatest gift and presented them with the eternal gift of life available in Christ, or are you just focusing on temporal things that never last? Every year when a certain date comes along you are quick to remind, and I am sure you are reminded by the child that their birthday is soon, but are you as quick to remind them as well as yourself how important it is that they partake of the new birth in order to receive the gift of life? Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV) You know these children you claim to love and want nothing but the best for them, are you showing them the things of God and the importance of His gift, or are you more concerned with putting on a good party? As a parent you warn your child of the many dangers in the physical realm, but do you teach them the consequences of the spiritual one, you know that realm that lasts for eternity and not this temporal one? Yet with this in mind, if I was to ask you honestly which one gets the most attention I would be willing to say that most of the focus was on cake and ice cream, and not spirit and life. Next time you decide to gather around and start singing happy birthday ask yourself if there will really be a celebration of birth, a rebirth into the realm of God to see all that He has provided for His people. The gift you give and focus your attention on, is it really the gift of God which leads us to eternal life, or is it on the temporal, keeping the attention and focus limited to the carnal fallen realm of mankind? 1 Peter 1:22-25 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (KJV) With our lives being described in the book of James as being a mist or a vapor that appears for a short time then vanishes, as well as a flower that blossoms for a short time and then withers way, which realm are you looking at today to keep yourself pure? Again we see the word purified, which refers to being free from carnality, believing the pure word of God which allows us to see His true meaning and intent for our lives. With a life in the flesh so short lived and yet so useless in its way of thinking, why do so many still point more to the physical realm than the spiritual? You see for yourself how in order to be purified it takes living spiritual waters to cleanse the soul and keep it pure from manmade additives and doctrines. So with this in mind, next time certain dates come along and you are reminded of certain births, which one will you be pointing yourself as well as others to; something temporal or eternal? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Matthew 21:12-14 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, (13) And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (14) And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. (KJV)
When you see the term ‘temple of God’ you should now be thinking about yourself; replacing the thoughts and ideas of buildings and religious organizations with the fact that you are the temple that God now occupies and wishes to work in and through. Once our Lord came into your life and basically turned your way of thinking upside down, what was once a house occupied with carnal thinking is now a communication center, a house of prayer between God and you, the believer. God sent His word and healed us so that we could be delivered from our destructions, letting His truth provide the freedom and way of escape. Now that the healing has taken place, including as we see in verse 14 bringing sight to the blind, it is vital that we allow the Lord to have His way so that we can continue to keep His house in order. Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (KJV) Blessed are (not was or going to be, but right now this day blessed), those that are pure in heart; not losing sight of the victory we have in Christ but continuing in the faith hearing the message delivered by Christ and no longer walking according to the carnal senses. Without a vision the people perish. Without a pure heart being motivated by a love for God you will not be able to see God and His plan of salvation He has for you personally; but rather like with the blind, you will end up following what others are telling you. The Lord has removed the impurities in your life; things that were unhealthy to your walk have been cast out, like with cataract surgery, it improves the vision. It is up to you to hear the pure word of God for yourself; no longer relying on second hand versions or in many cases perversions, but exercising your spiritual senses, like a water filter, to keep yourself healthy. If you drew a glass of water and it was dirty and tainted, let alone the fact that it smelled awful, you wouldn’t drink it would you? Thus the reason why we have these senses; our physical ones, to keep our carnal bodies healthy; and spiritual senses to keep the spiritual one healthy and in order. Are you as diligent with your spiritual senses as you are with the physical? Knowing that the spiritual is so much greater than the physical do you honestly give more attention to the outward man or the inward one? How good is your vision today; is there division, blurriness, and double vision caused by being double minded and unstable? Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV) Thayer’s definition for ‘pure’: 53 hagnos- 1) exciting reverence, venerable, sacred 2) pure a) pure from carnality, chaste, modest b) pure from every fault, immaculate c) clean I found this definition for pure rather interesting; definition ‘a’, referring to the fact that it is free from carnality. Our Lord is very specific in the book of John to point out that it is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh profits nothing; the words our Lord speaks are Spirit and they are life, free from any impurities or additives of mankind. Just as mankind has polluted its waters over the years which has resulted in unhealthy often times unseen small impurities, mankind has tainted and added their own versions to the word of God to fit their own fallen lifestyles rather than rising up and walking in the realm of the Spirit. But many times also it is just a matter of lazy complacent Christians who are described as the blind followers of the blind, whose spiritual senses are dull and what could be referred to as stupid to the things of their eternal life. Are you able today to confidently, boldly, know that you are walking the path of life our Lord intended for you, or are you blindly following the leading of others because your eyes have gotten heavy and you are sleepwalking? Matthew 13:13-16 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (14) And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: (15) For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (16) But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (KJV) How is one able to see, but yet not see, how does that work? Have you ever heard the term ‘turning a deaf ear’, or how about looking the other way? Many read the scriptures but don’t see the spiritual meaning of them; they can hear what is being said but not know the meaning of it. Thayer’s definition for ‘gross’: 3975 pachuno- 1) to make thick, to make fat, to fatten 2) metaphorically, to make stupid (to render the soul dull or callous) Talk about grossing someone out! It is people who profess to know God but have closed their eyes and ears to the truth, that being their spiritual ones. People that should know the truth and grow stronger in the Lord and the power of His might are blindly walking around like a bunch of drunks in the middle of the night. He that has ears to hear, let them hear; blessed are your eyes because you have allowed the Lord to open the eyes of your understanding so that you could walk in the realm of the Spirit and do those things that are pleasing in His sight, which by the way His sight is spiritual, looking to the inward. Have you got your ears on good buddy, that is how one is asked when being called for on a CB radio; and only those that have their eyes and ears open to the spiritual realm will be able to see God and the meaning of His word, while all others will be in a ditch spinning their wheels. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 3:3-4 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (4) God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (KJV)
How about a new motto for all believers, I now let God be true and man the liar. What if everyone else tells you something contrary to sound doctrine, will you bend and give in to peer pressure or are you grounded enough to let the word of God rule in your walk? Maybe you think this is not possible, well remember a guy named Noah, he had a choice to listen and follow the rest of the world, or to let one be true in his life that being God and His word. Remember it’s by our words we will either be justified or condemned, so as long as your words and God’s word are one in the same then you will remain in good standing with our Father. What if some around you don’t believe, maybe even those that you have been close to in the past, will you let that influence you or will you continue in the faith grounded and settled and not moved away? Discernment, rightly dividing the word of truth knowing the difference between the pure word of God and its spiritual meaning and interpretation, and mankind’s take on things. The reason man changes the meaning and distorts the truth is so that they can justify their lower fallen nature, which may fool some, but will be openly exposed to those that have their spiritual senses exercised to discern between good and evil intentions of the heart. Luke 18:24-27 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! (25) For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (26) And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? (27) And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. (KJV) Have you ever stopped to think about a couple of words used throughout the Bible, those being possible and impossible? What mankind calls possible God says is impossible, and what man says is impossible to God it is just another day at the office; in fact His word says that with Him all things are possible. Did you realize that once you were born again into the realm of the Spirit you now entered a realm with no boundaries or limitations, a realm where God is able to do above and beyond all that you could have ever asked or thought of? Oh but how often man comes along and tries to talk you out of that realm with words of doubt and fear because of their limited carnal thinking, trying to justify and make excuses for their fallen nature. While mankind judges according to the outward and many claim that by being rich they are blessed of God, the Lord had a different take on it when confronted with the rich man in the above verses. Back in those times, just as it is today, the rich are looked up to in this world and given special privileges, while in reality all our Lord is concerned with is the motive of our heart. While mankind has come up with thousands and thousands of denominations and interpretations for God’s plan of salvation, the word of God is quite clear to point out that there is only one Lord and one faith that will be accepted by our Father. Knowing the difference between what God says is possible, and what man says is a life and death matter. Because in the end only one interpretation will allow you access to your eternal inheritance, while anything else will be turned away at the door. Luke 18:28-30 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. (29) And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, (30) Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (KJV) We see Peter being a bit concerned where he stands with the Lord, having just found out that being rich was not all it was cracked up to be, especially when so many of the greedy Scribes and Pharisees had been preaching it. Is there a doctrine, teaching, or ritual you are still holding to that is contrary to what you know is truth, even if it is something that is popular with the world? Is there something or someone you see in verse 29 that is holding you back in your walk, something that still has more of an influence on you than God does? I bring this up for the same reason the Lord did, because no man can serve two masters, or as the word of God points out, a house divided will fall. When the word of God refers to receiving more in this present time, are you looking to the outward and judging according to that realm, or are you thinking in line with what the Lord intends for His people, all the treasures of His wisdom and knowledge? You wonder why your walk with the Lord seems stale and at a standstill at times, or maybe right now? It may be time to do a personal inventory, to make sure that something you may still be holding onto that our Lord is saying is impossible for you to move forward with, is now something you may possibly need to let go of in order to receive a full reward from Him. But know this, the enemy is going to fight you to hang onto these dead things, trying to get you to focus on what you are missing out on, and not on the blessings God has in store for your obedience. Know this too, that the longer you hang onto something our Lord says is dead the more you become like the thing He is asking you to let go of, or forsake. Hebrews 11:6-7 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (7) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (KJV) Mankind has developed so many religions and different ways which they think they can please God with; when in reality it simply comes down to faith, your ability to personally hear the message of God delivered by Christ, and let His spirit lead and guide you through this present evil world. We see a man named Noah and read the account of how he built this ark, but did you ever stop and think of the ridicule and persecution this man must have endured? Talk about letting God be true and man the liar, it was only Noah and his family, eight souls that made it through the flood because He chose faith. Doesn’t the word of God describe the end times and the coming of our Lord as being similar to the days of Noah; so if it was faith in what man said was impossible, would it not be possible to say that only faith today will provide the deliverance as well? Romans 9:31-33 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (32) Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (33) As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (KJV) Even God’s original chosen people continue this day to try to worship our Lord according to the works of the law and not by faith; which the Lord said without faith it would be impossible to please Him. As I look around today I still see many who hold to outward laws and rituals, some claiming that you have to show up to certain buildings on certain special days or you won’t be saved. Bottom line, unless you have a personal relationship with God through a working knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ you are none of His, but rather operating in a realm our Lord clearly says is impossible to please Him in. With God, all things are truly possible to them that believe, while anything else is telling God He is the liar and man is true, yikes. Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (KJV) There is truly a difference between what man says is possible and what God has to say on the matter; now the question is, who will you hold to? If there is anything or anyone you are trying to hold onto that has more of an influence on you than God, then it will be impossible to serve Him. However if you are willing to sell out from the ways of the world and all its worldly people then you will find that all things are now possible for you, because you are willing to believe in someone greater in you than he that is within the world. Someday all mankind is going to find out that God is true, it was mankind and his fallen nature that chose to believe the lie, so why not let that be today? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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