In God's Image! - Part 3

Good day. Today we are posting Part 3 of a six part newsletter series In God's Image! written in 1996 by our dear brother, fellow steward and ambassador of the mystery of Christ, Larry Gazelka. Our prayer is that you will be blessed and encouraged by this newsletter series. Have a very blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. ***You can download a copy of the writings for personal use only by clicking on the Built Anew Ministries Archive page link above and scroll down to the year 1996.

In God's Image!     v18n49
Part Three


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)

What is in your picture frame? Is the picture within your frame, in the image and likeness of God?

By His Word, the worlds were framed! They were complete; totally put together, and held together by the word of God. To this very day, His words carry out the exact specifications of what He sent His Word to do.

Everything that Father sent His Word to do, is still accomplished, and brought to light each and every day! Let’s take a look at part of Psalms 119.

Psalms 119:89-93 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. (KJV)

Did you happen to notice, that His Word is settled in heaven? The faithfulness of Father’s Word is to all generations! Father cannot, and will not deny himself. Although, we do have the choice to accept or reject the Word of God in and for our lives. Father does not play favorites, as many people think and believe. Father affords the same opportunity of salvation to all that will open their ears, to hear what His Spirit is saying unto the Church.

He established the earth, and then gave man dominion over it, (and look at the mess that we have made of it). Even in and amongst the Church, (which is supposed to be the body of Christ), we have back-biting, divisions, strife, envying, lust, greed, and the list could go on and on...! We have become imitators of man and the devil, rather than imitators of Father through Jesus Christ. We, for the most part, have started in the Spirit of Christ, and now think that we are made perfect by the flesh.

Father’s Word continues faithfully till this very day, that you are reading this. For all of the promises of God, are yea, and amen! His Word continues to work, whether we believe it or not. It is up to each of us as an individual, whether it works for or against us.

Unless God’s law is a delight to my life, I will perish because of the very essence of life that His word provides (John 10:10). It is the joy of the Lord that is our strength. It is when I am content and satisfied with where Father has me, that I am able to put His light on the scene. Without allowing Father total access to my heart, I will not be satisfied or content with what He asks of me.

To perish in mine own afflictions, means that I have informed Father, that my plans and decisions for my life, are better then His. Thus, my afflictions (poverty, misery, and any other assortment of troubles), are what will dominate and control my life. It means that we have chosen to no longer conform ourselves to the image and likeness of God.

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)

Romans 3:27-28 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith… (KJV)

We cannot change the laws that God has set in place and motion. His Word works whether we believe it or not. The choice is quite simple; do you choose to have the Word work with and for you, or against you?

A good example for us to take a look at is, gravity. How many of us have ever seen it? Yet, whether you believe in it or not, it still works. You have never seen it per say, but yet it is always there; working for or against you. You can not feel gravity by touch, yet it is there. If you were to walk off of the top of a five story building, and all the way to the ground, you continue to tell God that His law of gravity does not work, you would be wrong. Possibly even dead wrong!

The same is true with the law of faith. Your words are framing the world that is around you. And in most instances, we have become servants to the world around us, rather than having dominion over it. Could this maybe, be why we are not to be of the world?

Just as Father’s words are truth, they are also His servants; they work for Him. All that He created was and is good. It is only as the devil gets us to speak in his behalf, that they become perverted and evil.

Why doesn’t the church teach in these areas? Could it be, that if they tell the truth, that they have been wrong in this area, then we would take a close look at how much more they have also taught us wrong in?

Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 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)

The writer of Hebrews says, that now faith is! Right now! Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but right here and now! Where are you standing in accordance with God’s Word? (Keep in mind the Polaroid snapshot). How clear is your passport picture becoming? Faith comes by hearing, stopping all distractions, and giving audience to Father as He attempts to talk with those who are willing to listen.

How much of the Word do you truly believe in, let alone to act upon it? Do you truly take Father at His Word, or do you put restrictions and limitations on Him?

Matthew 12:34-37 … for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 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)

What is in the abundance of your heart? Did you know and realize, that the words that you speak, give a total picture of what is in your heart? It gives those around you, a vivid picture of what you believe. It shows them the character of who and what you are. It is either going to be good or evil, but it cannot be both. Remember, James in his epistle, tells us quite plainly, that you cannot have sweet water and bitter water coming out of the same fountain. It has to be one or the other, but not both.

You, and you alone, will give account of every idle word that you speak. There will be no one else that you will be able to blame. With your own mouth you will either be justified or condemned.

Are you speaking words of life? (Proverbs 18:21). Are all of the words that you speak employed for the kingdom of God? What kind of servants are working for you?
 
That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ
Larry Gazelka
 
Next week: In God’s Image! Part 4