Since I have been saved the Bible has been the answer book to all my questions. I don't mean that I would think of a question then look up what the Scriptures said, but before the questions came I covered myself with mass portions of Scripture until the entirety of it became one, the Holy Spirit writing them on my heart.
I believed then, and so now, that "he would reveal His Word and wisdom to me in due time (His time) in that day that it was needed along with the grace to understand, teach or perform what was shown. I am thoroughly convinced that "to walk with Him we need to wait on Him, His timing, His anointing." All knowledge comes from Him, as does wisdom and faith," but all according to His will "on that day." Don't perceive that you can't gain Scriptural wisdom by just reading the Bible but know that the Word is Spirit and it is "the Mind of Christ", so we need to be full of that self same Spirit in order to "unlock the mysteries of Christ."
If, when I was a babe in Christ, someone would ask me a question, and I had not been revealed an answer that would "deliver or set free" then I would simply say "I don't know, I can pray about it but for now I can't make a supposition about that until I am sure that God has shown me the answer."
I believe this is the correct way to proceed with Scripture as one "in Christ." Don't know? Don't wing it! If your not part of the answer, don't become part of the problem. If your answer doesn't give hope through faith then it's causing confusion.
Now to lasts night question that the Holy Spirit put in my heart.
Why do marriages fail?
The direction this took is about false love having to do with a lack of faith. An emotional, carnal need for companionship instead of real Love "that's shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit." We know that the Love of God (for God is love) is given to us along with faith to believe and receive. Jesus Christ is "the Love of God" "no man cometh to the Father but by Me" "by grace (unconditional Love) we have believed through faith, so now we have the "outline" to know and receive real Love from the vertical and direct it horizontally to others. First we must receive it from above (freely you have received) then we must release it to others, (freely give). I truly believe that salvation is True Love to us and inspires us to Love God for His great deliverance from hell (justly ours) into His Eternal Promises.....Life and that more abundantly here and then eternally there. Because real Love is all encompassing, (God fills His creation and we, all men, live and move and have our being in Him), included in this is body, soul, mind, emotion, passion, compassion, and controls our thoughts, words and deeds, it fills every fiber of our completeness and makes us whole.
Companionship (outside of True Love, God) can become a deception from True Love, and have the same effect on both the non believer and ignorant believer, as it fills all the above "emptiness" of man but is only there to meet the needs that are left unsatisfied by True Love. So there is a "need, emptiness" in man that will be filled one way or another, but God only provides one answer and the Scriptures bear out that this True Love is Jesus Christ......the purest expression of "the Love of God."
At every decade since the beginning of creation, man has tried to replace God, or the gifts of God, (this discussion, Love), with something that would take away the need to be obedient, and obey His commands. The Hebrews wanted Moses, then they wanted a King, some religions need a priest, others need a pastor, (not that Christianity doesn't have structure in God's design), but that Christ is our High Priest, King, and Shepard, He is who we look to and the other ministerial anointing's: pastor, prophet, teacher ect., under His direction, nurture the Body of Christ. It was never meant (then or now) for man to replace the personal communion/intimacy with God by placing someone else between the two. We are the body, Christ is the Head. We are all under Him, all ministries equal, different functions, all necessary to complete the body.
So there should be no one taking the singular place of Christ but all connected to each other forming His Body supports (lifts up) the Head, Christ.
Because of the carnal practice of needing a mediator among men we have disconnected ourselves from the True source of Love and the intimacy and completeness that this brings.
Now both detached believers and non believers have lost hold of the True Source of Love and have fallen into "companionship" to be the answer, mans answer not God's.
So then why do marriages fail?
Any believer (who chooses) or non believer (who doesn't know any better), that feels the emptiness inside them will have a desire to fill the emptiness. If that person doesn't want to "obey God" and turn fully (for the believer) or firstly (non believer) back to God then they will "go the way of the world" and embrace the secular humanistic answers of man. They will embrace companionship with the false hope that it will fill in all the holes left by the absence of "their Creator." They will put the same expectations on companionship (which can and will fail) as they would on True Love (which never fails) with tragic results. This practice in both the church and in the secular realm has a failure rate of at least 50% first time and over 70% second time marriages. Remember that the big difference between True Love and companionship is the presence of God and Unconditional Love instead of an "effort to make function" based on a need to continue. True Love never fails because it always forgives, (70x7 daily), and is blessed by grace through faith, whereas companionship, not out of True Love, can only become exhausted by unequal effort by one or both sides and fail. Yes companionship can an does exist in True Love but it's existence is based on Gods Love and anointing through Christ it's originator.
Marriages fail because of the root problem.........lack of faith. Not just faith in anything but faith given by God to every man to find True Love and be made complete, as was God's purpose "in the beginning". Some may perceive that there are many things we can have faith in. This is a lie. Man cannot have faith in anything but God. He give it freely for us to find Him and return to His Lordship through Jesus Christ. He is the originator of faith for the purpose of our reuniting with Him for worship, meeting of needs, and Eternal Life.
To have faith in anything or one else is to practice idolatry. Nothing or no one else can insure that what you believe in will be performed according to your need. Nothing nor anyone can replace God for your needs the first one being salvation. That non optional stepping stone of Christ to God.
This must be understood in it's fullest and deepest context in order to receive the "grace that comes through faith" convenient for each day. Do you have faith in your new car? Then why are new cars broken down on the side of the road, and what does that do to your faith.
Christian faith is based on the promises of God to perform what He said according to His will, and His will is that "what God has joined together let no man set asunder."
Faith in the "True Love" supplies power to prevail by grace without end........never failing.
Companionship, outside of True Love, is the road map to failure.
Let God be True and every man a liar.
There are more facets to the sin that causes marriages to fail do to the lack of True Love being part of the marriage so more on that later.
For now this will suffice as the root problem to the massive failures in marriages today. Lack of True Love caused by lack of faith to know and receive that True Love.
Love in Christ
J&E
"Be ye doers of the word and not just hearers." We need to do more than read the Scriptures, we need to live them. That's God's design for His word. You cannot live them without faith. "Without faith you cannot please God." Read, believe, live and Glorify your Father in Heaven. This blog will contain both the Scriptural insight and application in both teaching and example of "living the Word of God". May it challenge you as it does me in our daily journey.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Christ is a "transforming revelation"
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
One of the most exciting, maturing, and applicable revelations of the Epistles is that: They were not written for he unbeliever, they are written for the believer in Jesus Christ. All of God's word can be "applied" to every man, woman, and child that draws breath believer or other wise; but the pure intent of the Epistles was for the believer to be "trained up" in the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
"All Scripture............so that the man of God............will be equipped for every good work." The best of good works is the anointed presentation of the Gospel, followed by an outward show of living the Gospel, bringing forth the "manifestation of the Gospel" to prove that God's Word is the only Way, Truth and Light/Life, worth putting "faith" in, so that "others" can desire, then seek after the Revelation of Jesus Christ also.
In order to do this the "instructed and inspired" believer must cast off all carnal knowledge
of philosophy, and vain deceit of the traditions of man, not being conformed to this world, but "be transformed by the renewing of his mind" through the Holy Spirit by receiving his share of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Here in is the "spiritual quicksand" that those believers who "think" to have a spiritual show wallow into. Everyone who enters into salvation with Jesus Christ, at some point in time,
will want to "announce" his or her arrival to some spiritual plane by "mimicking" some teaching that may or may not be from Scripture, or application of Scripture, that may be contradictory to the True meaning. Pride goes before a fall. Any preaching, teaching, application, or instruction from Scripture must not violate any other Scripture and the Truth in any of the above practices "will" be proven by the originator of the Word, God! Paul had one of the best knowledge's of Gods Word for the time he lived in, but if you noticed his preaching, teaching and applications, (both in Word and deed), never violated OT writings, but was brought forth with revelation by the Holy Spirit, to create the NT writings, (in Christ), instructions for Gods plan through Christ. He preached using his portion of the revelation of Scripture given by God along with the other writers of the NT to clarify the "basics" of God's will for His new people. I say basics because God's written Word is complete and has been from the beginning of time, even before Creation, (and the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us), (He, Christ, was with Him in the beginning, and through Him all things were created, without Him nothing was created). Thus the Scripture is complete and basic, but the revelation (divine inspired understanding and application) of them comes with "seeking, asking, and knocking" with "faith" believing that what they say is True for yesterday, today and tomorrow. Eternal truth which knows no bounds in this "time set" creation or eternity. This is a God given revelation: "understanding the Scriptures". God's Word is Spirit and only those that have the Spirit of God will have the True understanding of His Word.........the revelation of Christ.
There has always been a remnant in the body of Christ. Those who beyond explanation believe, trust, expect, and enact the Word of God, not just because of teaching, but because of "inspiration" by the Holy Spirit, with a heart full of compassion for doing something, and the spirit to believe "all things are possible." Oh that His Body would be full of this type of worshiper/believer. Those who are not just "pew packers" with more arguments about "what can and what can't be done," carnal, ignorant, and always weakening the Word of God "because" they never seen it happen so it can't. Man's experiences placating what God's Word can or can't do instead of what God's Word can do through obedient and submitted vessels.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
One of the most exciting, maturing, and applicable revelations of the Epistles is that: They were not written for he unbeliever, they are written for the believer in Jesus Christ. All of God's word can be "applied" to every man, woman, and child that draws breath believer or other wise; but the pure intent of the Epistles was for the believer to be "trained up" in the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."All Scripture............so that the man of God............will be equipped for every good work." The best of good works is the anointed presentation of the Gospel, followed by an outward show of living the Gospel, bringing forth the "manifestation of the Gospel" to prove that God's Word is the only Way, Truth and Light/Life, worth putting "faith" in, so that "others" can desire, then seek after the Revelation of Jesus Christ also.
In order to do this the "instructed and inspired" believer must cast off all carnal knowledge
of philosophy, and vain deceit of the traditions of man, not being conformed to this world, but "be transformed by the renewing of his mind" through the Holy Spirit by receiving his share of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Here in is the "spiritual quicksand" that those believers who "think" to have a spiritual show wallow into. Everyone who enters into salvation with Jesus Christ, at some point in time,
will want to "announce" his or her arrival to some spiritual plane by "mimicking" some teaching that may or may not be from Scripture, or application of Scripture, that may be contradictory to the True meaning. Pride goes before a fall. Any preaching, teaching, application, or instruction from Scripture must not violate any other Scripture and the Truth in any of the above practices "will" be proven by the originator of the Word, God! Paul had one of the best knowledge's of Gods Word for the time he lived in, but if you noticed his preaching, teaching and applications, (both in Word and deed), never violated OT writings, but was brought forth with revelation by the Holy Spirit, to create the NT writings, (in Christ), instructions for Gods plan through Christ. He preached using his portion of the revelation of Scripture given by God along with the other writers of the NT to clarify the "basics" of God's will for His new people. I say basics because God's written Word is complete and has been from the beginning of time, even before Creation, (and the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us), (He, Christ, was with Him in the beginning, and through Him all things were created, without Him nothing was created). Thus the Scripture is complete and basic, but the revelation (divine inspired understanding and application) of them comes with "seeking, asking, and knocking" with "faith" believing that what they say is True for yesterday, today and tomorrow. Eternal truth which knows no bounds in this "time set" creation or eternity. This is a God given revelation: "understanding the Scriptures". God's Word is Spirit and only those that have the Spirit of God will have the True understanding of His Word.........the revelation of Christ.
There has always been a remnant in the body of Christ. Those who beyond explanation believe, trust, expect, and enact the Word of God, not just because of teaching, but because of "inspiration" by the Holy Spirit, with a heart full of compassion for doing something, and the spirit to believe "all things are possible." Oh that His Body would be full of this type of worshiper/believer. Those who are not just "pew packers" with more arguments about "what can and what can't be done," carnal, ignorant, and always weakening the Word of God "because" they never seen it happen so it can't. Man's experiences placating what God's Word can or can't do instead of what God's Word can do through obedient and submitted vessels.
"They worship Me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me."
Because "there is nothing new under the sun", we see a witness to this virulent decemination even in the Book of Acts. With all the power and preaching of the Apostles that was made manifest by miracles and signs and wonders how many do we see actually picking up the "mantle" of mightiness that the throngs were witness to? Not many. Stephen, Philip, and a few others. The names are numerous about how many formed and served others in home churches but aside from preaching not much is mentioned about "manifestations."
Note: A huge number of converts to Christ were mentioned to be baptized in the Holy Spirit too, but this seemed to do little in an outward show other than tongues, (read 1 Cor 12-14). Even in this early and most perfect stage of Christianity, witnessed by flaming tongues with the coming of the Holy Spirit, most participants were "blessed" to sit back rejoicing and going about life's business with little "exertion" in the spirit realm. Paul made sure to mention how important it was not only to "seek" spiritual gifts but then to use them in exhortation of the church. He even went so far as to tell them to "desire" the gifts that serve the church in a deeper revelation. He made lighter of tongues than prophesy because of the outward show with little interpretation of the revelation. He even said to not use tongues loadly if there were no interpretation but to use them to pray quietly between yourself and God. I would like to see that happen in some congregations. He also said of prophesy that "two or three should prophesy and the rest judge". How many times has this happened with several prophets speaking with the others discerning.
I am sure that there are churches where these things still are implemented but like I say only "a remnant".
Here is a part of "the Revelation of Jesus Christ": God's Word is True from inception to consummation, from beginning to end, regardless whether you or I believe it or not, experience it or not, perform it or not, convinced of it or not, "let God be True and every man a liar." Because Jesus said: "I need not the witness of man" for He knew what was in a man. Would He say different today?
Here are a few thoughts about the Revelation of Jesus Christ:
It comes only by the Holy Spirit through the "written Word."
The Revelation of Christ always humbles regardless of how simple it seems.
It never violates any other Scripture.......any where in Scripture.
It always "lifts up" even if it is in the form of a rebuke. Truth sets free!
There will always be "a witness" by others to the revelation received.
It will generally be opposite to carnal thought and practice.
and worst of all:
It's generally "not well received" even by His people.
Here is what is needed to receive a continuing revelation:
A pure heart toward God.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Asking, seeking, and knocking for wisdom,knowledge and faith.
Faith believing it will come then waiting for it.
A desire to share the revelation which God will follow with signs and wonders.
God is good........All the time.
Love
J&E
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Do you need something inspirational today?
Years ago when Elise and I had a home church I heard this preacher at a pastors seminar. The anointing over this mans expression and verbal description of Jesus Christ is enough to make you throw you hands up in the air and weep with joy if not dance.
Here it is click on the link:
http://youtu.be/yzqTFNfeDnE
God bless and keep you in Christ as you "turn your eyes upon Jesus."
Love
J&E
Here it is click on the link:
http://youtu.be/yzqTFNfeDnE
God bless and keep you in Christ as you "turn your eyes upon Jesus."
Love
J&E
Monday, March 17, 2014
Where is God in my tragedy?
"When sorrows like sea billows roll.........whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul."
I don't have all the answers for every question about Scripture as to "how come this happens or how come that happens" and where is God in personal tragedy? I do know that "all" that God would have us to know is in His Word revealed by the Holy Spirit. These are the only sources of understanding that God has supplied us with to know His will from the beginning to the end.
God's word is Spirit and it takes a spiritual man, (a man who has the Spirit of God), to properly preach and teach what the Word of God says. Having the baptism in the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to receive the "revelations" in Scripture that God has for us "daily" convenient with His will. This is hard for the "believer" who has not the Holy Spirit to understand let alone make "righteous" judgments about what he presumes Scripture is saying. The standard practice with "the ignorant or unbelieving" is to try to master, with carnal knowledge, what is implied in God's Word which is then presented wrongly or incomplete at best. Then those in the same "spiritual" condition run with those erroneous lessons and propagate a lie or at best week application.
Two conditions must be in place to preach and teach the "deep things of God." First: is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Second: it has to be in God's timing, "today is the day, if you hear my voice do not harden your heart." We who are "in Christ" are not all at the same "time of hire for work in the fields" place in our walk. The reward for the labor is the same but we all start at a different time and place in the harvest field. So each individual Christian will need different instruction convenient for his walk "daily." Here is where the "strong" temptation comes in to run ahead of spiritual truth (knowledge/wisdom) to have a show of maturity but no depth of understanding. Shallow ground that causes the new sprouted faith to rise quickly then whither under adversity, for the "lack" of wisdom, the "why." Like a house built on the sand. When the waters rise and rage against the house it falls. I can even go so far on this "most important point" to say "we have (in some instances of teaching) become a house divided." A house divided will fall, and with all the "interpreted" applications of Scripture that collide with Truth our current state leaves us weak and loosing our ability to "posses the land." We even lack the revelation of what God is doing daily in our lives and why. Instead of falling on our knees and begging for wisdom from the Word, we collapse in spiritual defeat devoid of comfort and unable to comfort others when they are in the same position. If we had been diligent to "daily hear His voice" about "what He was daily teaching/showing us", instead of "running after our own agenda" we would be prepared for the most devastating events with grace and faith, not suffering defeat, having the "Mind of Christ" and the Holy Spirit for comfort and restoration. This does not mean that we will not "hurt" or "suffer some kind of emotional" reaction but it does mean that "God's grace is sufficient for us", and He will take us through.
So how do we get to this point? What is the answer?
The answer is in God's Word and comes by His Spirit. Hear is where "having the Mind of Christ" comes in. Most people "dissect" the Word into pieces to make is manageable to understand, but the Word is a whole, not a part, as we see in the verse "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The Word became Christ "God with us", not one dot or tittle left out or off, so it should be the same when it comes to understanding the Word. We should read God's Word (Jesus Christ) daily listening for God's voice to instruct us "convenient for that day" which will not segment the flow of God's instruction but present it complete in Christ "even as He is." All instruction or revelation, (God's Word revealed), by the Holy Spirit will always be complete with the whole of Scripture never eliminating or opposing at any point, as a "house built on a rock", able to withstand any adversity thrown at it. Hear is a side thought that will lend credence to the above statement: If any of God's Word has been eliminated through dispensation, or any other carnal means of interpretation by man, then the question that begs to be answered is "what part of Christ is missing?" If the gifts do not exist any more then what body part of Christ is deformed or missing? If what God has set in the church as positions then what part of the power of Christ is removed? Carry this thought over to "us the body of Christ and members in particular, now it becomes clear why His bride/church is "loosing its foundation." With that said it becomes clear why we are "questioning why." God has prepared His people to "overcome" all the obstacles of life with grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit so that we "fail not."
So now the question: Why do bad things happen to Godly Christian people, and why does God allow all the evil in the world to go on seemingly without His intervention?
Here is an answer in part based on the completeness of His Word.
God knows all things, is everywhere at once (fills all His creation), and is all powerful. You must believe that first off. Any doubt in this area is like being in a sinking boat and shooting holes in the bottom to let the incoming water out.
This being true we can know that when God created all there is seen and unseen, He also knew before hand that we (man) would sin and fall short of the Glory of God causing His creation to succumb to destruction (the original "house divided"). Knowing this He still proceeded with creation already having a redemptive plan in place to enact "in it's time." He also created all things in Him, His presence, so that all, believer's and non believers (all creation) would be "of Him, through Him and to Him" that nothing would be outside of His Word. Everything in creation is in His presence and cannot escape the Truth of His Holiness or righteous judgement. They may not admit it but all are part of His footstool and because of that, and being in His presence, have exposure to a conscience knowing right from wrong.
All of creation was set in place by our Creator and then He rested. Another way of putting it is that the outline or map of how things work has been written in His Word and all we have to do is gain His understanding and application of it to have the Way of and to life. "Today if you hear My voice" is one of the keys to the map. By Omniscience He created all things, this means seen and unseen which includes His "time frame" to preform all His will, (remember creation is the complete expression of God's will for us), by Omnipresence He filled His creation so that nothing is out from under His Word or authority, and then by Omnipotent His complete power to "create out of nothing those things that exist" which then become under His Word to set limits and consequences for every thought, word and deed that takes place in creation (Him).
Nothing in the scope of creation is a surprise to God and nothing in creation was not seen before the beginning by God. All things were set in place before He started this creation including the writing of the Bible from Gen 1:1 to Revelations 22:21. Just for clarity: the Bible was place in the wise of a writing for one reason........to be a constant witness "against" us for reference throughout the existence of His creation, God knowing that, as with the serpent and Eve, that the spoken word can be twisted and used to deceive, but the written Word would be the moral reference that cannot change and "bears witness to the Truth that sets free." He even went one step beyond "setting" His Truth in writing by "making it flesh and having Him dwell among us for a while'. Note: though many deny the Deity of Christ none can deny the evidence of Christ as all of history is based on His life (birth) as the only true division of time/history: BC and AD. God's redemptive plan revealed "in it's proper/perfect time".
Moving on we, realizing that the written Scripture is a guide or map for God's creation. We realize that if we follow this guide and all it's instructions as a whole we will (by God's Spirit) gain revelation as to how it is "supposed" to work (according to His design, not our vain imaginations), and have the answers we seek to the questions that perplex us or "usurping authority" over us thus blocking grace and causing defeat.
God's design is based solely on authority......HIS authority. His design, His creation, His "in Him, through Him and to Him are all things," without doubt perfectly put together "eternally" the right way, the only way........His way.
That being settled all we have to do is "grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ" daily and all things (in accordance with His will and timing) will be accomplished according to His Word, commands and promises.
If we as His body find grace insufficient for the problem that oppresses than who is at fault? He who made and empowers the promises, or we His "representation" on earth who are supposed to be obedient to His authority? The verse come to mind: "Let God be true and every man a liar." We have been a "disobedient and gainsaying people." We are the ones who "fail and fall short of the Glory of God", even when He not only promised to give us gifts, and provided "power" through the Holy Spirit to preform them for His Glory. "We have become a stiff necked people" and this is not a new thing, for didn't Christ say to His disciples "Oh faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and suffer you". Why did He say that? Because after walking with Him all those years they still "were sinning" through lack of faith. After walking from city to city preforming miracles and preaching "the kingdom of God is neigh", seeing the power of God made manifest in proclamation of the Gospel, they were defeated by a stubborn demon who resisted leaving the boy. Lack of faith made them weak, not seeing the "will of God", (as they were commanded to perform), as "able" to do what He commanded to perform. They were then unable to receive grace and sinned through lack of faith leaving the needy boy in affliction. They knew the will of God, seen it's miraculous power over evil, then was defeated when it was put hard to test.
We are that way today, and so we are at times, through lack of knowing the "will of God", by not hearing His voice daily, oppressed by "disobedience" to God's Word and suffer defeat when tragedy comes against us. Again this does not relate to the emotional strife of tragedy that we feel but has to do with unanswerable defeat that we show to others that observe.
So here is the Scriptural process, at least in part, to answering this dilemma:
Be prepared daily by hearing God's voice and being instructed by His Word and Spirit in accordance with His will for "that" day. Remember we can learn and retain lessons from the past but we cannot receive grace for tomorrow. Instructions are good for a life time but grace is convenient for "today."
Believe His Word as it is written. Not your interpretation as to practice or existence. God's Word tells us to ask, seek and knock, knowing that in His perfect time we will receive of His promises as we are obedient to His commands, "if you love me you will obey my commands and my commands are not grievous", "and whatsoever you ask in my name that will I do, that the Father be glorified in the Son. If ye ask anything in my name I will do it." But all must be asked "according to His will": "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.…"
So how do you know the will of God?
I don't have all the answers for every question about Scripture as to "how come this happens or how come that happens" and where is God in personal tragedy? I do know that "all" that God would have us to know is in His Word revealed by the Holy Spirit. These are the only sources of understanding that God has supplied us with to know His will from the beginning to the end.
God's word is Spirit and it takes a spiritual man, (a man who has the Spirit of God), to properly preach and teach what the Word of God says. Having the baptism in the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to receive the "revelations" in Scripture that God has for us "daily" convenient with His will. This is hard for the "believer" who has not the Holy Spirit to understand let alone make "righteous" judgments about what he presumes Scripture is saying. The standard practice with "the ignorant or unbelieving" is to try to master, with carnal knowledge, what is implied in God's Word which is then presented wrongly or incomplete at best. Then those in the same "spiritual" condition run with those erroneous lessons and propagate a lie or at best week application.
Two conditions must be in place to preach and teach the "deep things of God." First: is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Second: it has to be in God's timing, "today is the day, if you hear my voice do not harden your heart." We who are "in Christ" are not all at the same "time of hire for work in the fields" place in our walk. The reward for the labor is the same but we all start at a different time and place in the harvest field. So each individual Christian will need different instruction convenient for his walk "daily." Here is where the "strong" temptation comes in to run ahead of spiritual truth (knowledge/wisdom) to have a show of maturity but no depth of understanding. Shallow ground that causes the new sprouted faith to rise quickly then whither under adversity, for the "lack" of wisdom, the "why." Like a house built on the sand. When the waters rise and rage against the house it falls. I can even go so far on this "most important point" to say "we have (in some instances of teaching) become a house divided." A house divided will fall, and with all the "interpreted" applications of Scripture that collide with Truth our current state leaves us weak and loosing our ability to "posses the land." We even lack the revelation of what God is doing daily in our lives and why. Instead of falling on our knees and begging for wisdom from the Word, we collapse in spiritual defeat devoid of comfort and unable to comfort others when they are in the same position. If we had been diligent to "daily hear His voice" about "what He was daily teaching/showing us", instead of "running after our own agenda" we would be prepared for the most devastating events with grace and faith, not suffering defeat, having the "Mind of Christ" and the Holy Spirit for comfort and restoration. This does not mean that we will not "hurt" or "suffer some kind of emotional" reaction but it does mean that "God's grace is sufficient for us", and He will take us through.
So how do we get to this point? What is the answer?
The answer is in God's Word and comes by His Spirit. Hear is where "having the Mind of Christ" comes in. Most people "dissect" the Word into pieces to make is manageable to understand, but the Word is a whole, not a part, as we see in the verse "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The Word became Christ "God with us", not one dot or tittle left out or off, so it should be the same when it comes to understanding the Word. We should read God's Word (Jesus Christ) daily listening for God's voice to instruct us "convenient for that day" which will not segment the flow of God's instruction but present it complete in Christ "even as He is." All instruction or revelation, (God's Word revealed), by the Holy Spirit will always be complete with the whole of Scripture never eliminating or opposing at any point, as a "house built on a rock", able to withstand any adversity thrown at it. Hear is a side thought that will lend credence to the above statement: If any of God's Word has been eliminated through dispensation, or any other carnal means of interpretation by man, then the question that begs to be answered is "what part of Christ is missing?" If the gifts do not exist any more then what body part of Christ is deformed or missing? If what God has set in the church as positions then what part of the power of Christ is removed? Carry this thought over to "us the body of Christ and members in particular, now it becomes clear why His bride/church is "loosing its foundation." With that said it becomes clear why we are "questioning why." God has prepared His people to "overcome" all the obstacles of life with grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit so that we "fail not."
So now the question: Why do bad things happen to Godly Christian people, and why does God allow all the evil in the world to go on seemingly without His intervention?
Here is an answer in part based on the completeness of His Word.
God knows all things, is everywhere at once (fills all His creation), and is all powerful. You must believe that first off. Any doubt in this area is like being in a sinking boat and shooting holes in the bottom to let the incoming water out.
This being true we can know that when God created all there is seen and unseen, He also knew before hand that we (man) would sin and fall short of the Glory of God causing His creation to succumb to destruction (the original "house divided"). Knowing this He still proceeded with creation already having a redemptive plan in place to enact "in it's time." He also created all things in Him, His presence, so that all, believer's and non believers (all creation) would be "of Him, through Him and to Him" that nothing would be outside of His Word. Everything in creation is in His presence and cannot escape the Truth of His Holiness or righteous judgement. They may not admit it but all are part of His footstool and because of that, and being in His presence, have exposure to a conscience knowing right from wrong.
All of creation was set in place by our Creator and then He rested. Another way of putting it is that the outline or map of how things work has been written in His Word and all we have to do is gain His understanding and application of it to have the Way of and to life. "Today if you hear My voice" is one of the keys to the map. By Omniscience He created all things, this means seen and unseen which includes His "time frame" to preform all His will, (remember creation is the complete expression of God's will for us), by Omnipresence He filled His creation so that nothing is out from under His Word or authority, and then by Omnipotent His complete power to "create out of nothing those things that exist" which then become under His Word to set limits and consequences for every thought, word and deed that takes place in creation (Him).
Nothing in the scope of creation is a surprise to God and nothing in creation was not seen before the beginning by God. All things were set in place before He started this creation including the writing of the Bible from Gen 1:1 to Revelations 22:21. Just for clarity: the Bible was place in the wise of a writing for one reason........to be a constant witness "against" us for reference throughout the existence of His creation, God knowing that, as with the serpent and Eve, that the spoken word can be twisted and used to deceive, but the written Word would be the moral reference that cannot change and "bears witness to the Truth that sets free." He even went one step beyond "setting" His Truth in writing by "making it flesh and having Him dwell among us for a while'. Note: though many deny the Deity of Christ none can deny the evidence of Christ as all of history is based on His life (birth) as the only true division of time/history: BC and AD. God's redemptive plan revealed "in it's proper/perfect time".
Moving on we, realizing that the written Scripture is a guide or map for God's creation. We realize that if we follow this guide and all it's instructions as a whole we will (by God's Spirit) gain revelation as to how it is "supposed" to work (according to His design, not our vain imaginations), and have the answers we seek to the questions that perplex us or "usurping authority" over us thus blocking grace and causing defeat.
God's design is based solely on authority......HIS authority. His design, His creation, His "in Him, through Him and to Him are all things," without doubt perfectly put together "eternally" the right way, the only way........His way.
That being settled all we have to do is "grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ" daily and all things (in accordance with His will and timing) will be accomplished according to His Word, commands and promises.
If we as His body find grace insufficient for the problem that oppresses than who is at fault? He who made and empowers the promises, or we His "representation" on earth who are supposed to be obedient to His authority? The verse come to mind: "Let God be true and every man a liar." We have been a "disobedient and gainsaying people." We are the ones who "fail and fall short of the Glory of God", even when He not only promised to give us gifts, and provided "power" through the Holy Spirit to preform them for His Glory. "We have become a stiff necked people" and this is not a new thing, for didn't Christ say to His disciples "Oh faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and suffer you". Why did He say that? Because after walking with Him all those years they still "were sinning" through lack of faith. After walking from city to city preforming miracles and preaching "the kingdom of God is neigh", seeing the power of God made manifest in proclamation of the Gospel, they were defeated by a stubborn demon who resisted leaving the boy. Lack of faith made them weak, not seeing the "will of God", (as they were commanded to perform), as "able" to do what He commanded to perform. They were then unable to receive grace and sinned through lack of faith leaving the needy boy in affliction. They knew the will of God, seen it's miraculous power over evil, then was defeated when it was put hard to test.
We are that way today, and so we are at times, through lack of knowing the "will of God", by not hearing His voice daily, oppressed by "disobedience" to God's Word and suffer defeat when tragedy comes against us. Again this does not relate to the emotional strife of tragedy that we feel but has to do with unanswerable defeat that we show to others that observe.
So here is the Scriptural process, at least in part, to answering this dilemma:
Be prepared daily by hearing God's voice and being instructed by His Word and Spirit in accordance with His will for "that" day. Remember we can learn and retain lessons from the past but we cannot receive grace for tomorrow. Instructions are good for a life time but grace is convenient for "today."
Believe His Word as it is written. Not your interpretation as to practice or existence. God's Word tells us to ask, seek and knock, knowing that in His perfect time we will receive of His promises as we are obedient to His commands, "if you love me you will obey my commands and my commands are not grievous", "and whatsoever you ask in my name that will I do, that the Father be glorified in the Son. If ye ask anything in my name I will do it." But all must be asked "according to His will": "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.…"
So how do you know the will of God?
His will is shown in His Word which both denotes the "doing" and His "timing." So to know His will we have to "know His Word" by the Spirit not our vain imaginations. The other side to this application is "to be obedient" to His Word and partake in all His commands. If you don't obey a stop sign there is "consequences", if you don't obey the carrying out of His commands there is consequences. You cannot "receive" unless you ask in His name, but you cannot ask unless you have faith that His Word is true. Praying a petition without faith is an insult to God and His Word. It's saying "meet my needs Almighty God.......if you can." Nothing is impossible with God when the asking is in Jesus name and according to His will. We "fail" because we don't "apply" the commands which bring His promises because we are, for lack of a better word, embarrassed! If we do not obey His commands to do them we WILL NOT receive the promises that has been set aside for us to prove His power, authority and Truth to all His creation. We both loose, believer and non believer. We both suffer the consequences of our "lack of faith" as does the whole world and this allows these insulting questions to come up as an affront to the Divinity of God. Not all "His people" practice laying on of hands and are disobedient to His commands to "heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, and preach the Word with signs and wonders following. Why? Again carnal teachings, lack of Biblical practices, derision that these things still happen or embarrassment. Questions like this are asked: What if I (we) are bold to pray and nothing happens? My church doesn't practice these things so what should I do? How do I know whether or not it is God's will?
The first two questions fall under the verse that says: "if you deny me before men I will deny you before the Father," it boils down to the fear of man is greater than obedience to God's commands which then also causes the command to "Glorify your Father in Heaven" to fail. This is based on ignorance which is the cause for "lack of faith." The third question can be answered with "lack of discipline". This proves that we know not the Word of God, we haven't "listened to His voice as long as it is called today", and we that we would rather question God than be "faithful" to His instructions.
Here is an example:
A child suffers and dies............
I know what I am talking about in this because we lost 4 out of 13.
Our emotional grief was devastating but our spiritual grief was even greater. With the first two we were lost, not prepared with prayer, not knowing how to "ask in His name", ( we knew the Scriptures but had no spiritual revelation at the time for the promises or commands), and quite frankly we embarrassed God, not having any hope, just carnal despair, of little faith. Healing and trust was a long process that ended up in "being prepared" for the next time. The third loss came with great prayer and preparation from the first sign of trouble. Though we still lost the child God worked an incredible miracle in the process that redeemed and strengthened our faith by raising my wife from the dead, an after effect of the miscarriage. She hemorrhaged out of blood in the bathroom. I could of just called 911 but instead, "being full of faith and the Holy Spirit" I fell upon her face to face and cried out to God for around 10 minutes saying "in Jesus name, in Jesus name." I was then giving the ability to pray as having no words, with deep groans and weeping, like Jesus that night in the garden, and as Paul said: "praying with my mind and with my spirit". After that we knew God's will was for her to live and the baby was to be with Him. Perfect peace followed, not fear or questions, not vain imaginations, but the perfect will of God according to His word and His timing. Ask and you shall receive. Ask according to His will "convenient for that day" and it shall be added unto you.
Most the time we never know the will of God in distressing matters because we are used to "not asking" showing that we are agreeable with defeat, passive about the situation as "it isn't me", or placing our hope in the medical field and thinking that we don't really have to rely on God for this one. I will take this one step further about the medical field: We pray for the situation first that God would guide the hands and minds of the doctors before we pray with faith that He would take the lead to heal divinely Himself first if at all. We walk by sight not by faith. Doctors first God as co-pilot. Oh ye of little faith. How long shall God put up with us. We are to put it in God's hands first and foremost then if He leads (not our fear) then the doctors second. "If there be any sick among you let them call for the elders to lay hands on them and pray the prayer of faith" I add "first", then they discerning the will of God will know what to do next. Oh by the way by praying the prayer of faith I don't want to imply a lazy, nonchalant voicing of words; but a well prepared (with fasting if needed) Spirit led utterance, with those only who believe, taking time to "seek God's face" and know His will.
Another point to make is this: some are taken because of the times to come. God, already knowing all things, (our lives as a story already told, our members before they were formed in the womb,) knew our trials and tribulations ahead of us and prepared a way out of them. Sometimes that "way out" is death. He made us and He knows us better than ourselves so He knows when one of His will fall and this is the answer that brings Him the most Glory. His gain, but sometimes our pain. If we look a the big picture we are the ones that are in the lesser place, and we should rejoice for those going home. Grieve our loss but praise His gain. Death is the victory as the old hymn goes.
All governance is set up by God, in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in every "organization" is God's structure of authority. We (mankind) in every way copy His "chain of authority". We have the head, (top authority), and those under his authority, then the workers in the fields. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
For any government or business to be successful they must have rules, and codes of operation to live by. If you work for one of these entities you will quickly find out that there are consequences for breaking or not obeying the rules. There are also "benefits" to obeying the rules which result in good consequences. As this structure is taken from God's design we have to asses that God works the same way. Blessings and curses, gains and losses, based on our knowing and putting into practice His commands and promises.
Remember that He is conforming us into the "Image and likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ, now, here on earth, to do those things He did and greater things, seeing His Father doing His word and doing it also (knowing His will), preaching the kingdom of God is at hand with signs and wonders. Now how are we going to accomplish this if we don't believe what Our Father has commanded and promised (not to mentioned "empowered") us to do.
Lack of discernment is another area that we wallow in. That is why spiritual discernment is a gift of the Spirit. Without it we don't know how to pray or what to pray against. Our battle is against spiritual wickedness in high places many times. Some are trying to oppress us and others have free reign because we have invited them in to do that. When my wife died I didn't bind the devil, I asked in Jesus name for her return to life. She wasn't demon possessed she was dead from hemorrhaging, that was discernment.
How about the sick and healing?
The prayer of faith is about asking God to reveal His will. Yes it takes faith and having the gift of healing certainly would help but putting it on a personal basis it's still about knowing and experiencing the will of God for that time and person. Are you bold to ask? Have you faith? If so you qualify to be obedient and offer up the "prayer of faith". Now comes the hard part...What if the results are negative after truly crying out in the spirit to God with faith? Then you have your answer as to what God's will was. Remember it's not your will but "thine will be done." Jesus is the best example of knowing His Fathers will through prayer with a negative response.........in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here He cried out sweating blood in the prayers intensity, really wanting to have the cup taken from Him and what was the end of His prayer and the outcome? "Not my will but thy will be done", and it was, the answer was "stay the course I have put you in".
Surely God's own Son, sinless, holy, pure, untouched by the world would get what He asked for? Right? Sorry. Jesus knew that He came for one purpose and one purpose only: to redeem all mankind by fulfilling the prophesies and spilling His atoning blood on the cross, becoming a curse, letting His obedience to His Fathers plan end in agonizing death ( the likes of which no one has ever received again), then by gaining the victory over sin and death by His Resurrection.
If God could answer His only begotten Son this way why should we feel that we are pushed beyond the limits when we experience the same answer at times to our prayers. To question God's answer is to question God's authority. God has a design for praise when the answer is yes and for grieving when the answer is no. Grieving is not "blaming God" but brings closure to the loss that we experience.
Remember that God is "manifesting Himself in all the earth" through what we are asking in prayer during times of distress. Ours or others. His hand is not shortened as to not being able to work miracles today and in days of past.
Don't let "others" leaders or otherwise diminish your faith through fear or false teachings.
Know God through Jesus Christ.
Believe His commands and promises.
Act upon His commands and promises.
Do not be bound by fear of "the answer".
If you don't ask you will never know what it would of been.
Here is a question you should be asking:
How many sick stayed sick, how many possessed stayed possessed, how many blind are still blind, how many died that are still dead BECAUSE you didn't ask?
You will never know on this side will you? I bet you will know when you stand "face to face" on that day. Then you will look upon His face and fall down in shame to think that "so much more could of been done if we only knew".
When you get there, and you see those that have gone on before, that you knew here in life, what will you think about "doing nothing in their time of need?"
BELIEVE
OBEY
PRAY
PREACH
&
PERFORM
GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN
AND THE GRACE OF GOD THE FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU. AMEN
With all Love in Christ
J&E
Sunday, March 16, 2014
How does God inspire us?
We talk about the "attributes of God" His works, His Deity, His commands and His Love, but what about that side of Him that is mostly left out from our observation and practice. That part of His character that doesn't get called to the forefront of study or revelation. A part that would increase worship and heighten intimacy. The part that should challenge and direct our hearts to "be as He is." Or that would give the "double edge sword, His Word," a razor sharp blade when it comes to obeying His commands and walking in His ways.
He is the "Way, Truth and Light/Life" which means that "being in Him" is more than just being part of Him, but being challenged by "His Excellent Nature" to preform our walk before others in a way that "proves" our "oneness with Him, and Love for Him.
Of all that God has shown us of Himself in scripture, the one underlying thread that isn't as obvious but equal to His Glory and Holiness is His Excellence and the working thereof. God shows not only the "highest form of Excellence" but it is present in "all" His workings whether it be in "thought, Word or deed" toward His creation. He cannot sin, cannot change, cannot loose His love for us, and nothing He does can be called "little" (such as a "little" miracle) or mundane. He has always been and ever will be, His throne is secure, and nothing we can "think, do or say" will ever catch Him off guard or surprise Him.
His Excellence is complete in Himself and now that we look at it we are challenged and have hope of like accomplishment for us; His followers.
He commands us to be like His Son Jesus Christ to do those things that He did and greater things, supplying us with a limitless amount of daily grace to accomplish the task while empowering us with the Holy Spirit and power to get it done.
We are all familiar with the above but what we fail to see is His Excellence and the finality of His heart toward us. Many can be filled with the Holy Spirit but what about the practice of His Excellence in "thought, word and deed", that pure heart of compassion to work His works and Glorify His Name while being "conformed" in His image and likeness even as we were designed in creation. When he made us in "His image and likeness" He also made us in His Excellence of heart and included that in His "conforming us" after Himself and His Son.
This short lifespan if for one purpose: Returning to Him from our sinful nature and becoming His "mirrored" image for those who "know Him not yet" to turn their "damnation" into "salvation" thus begetting "like kind" and filling up "all the earth with the knowledge of Him."
So with God as our Heavenly Father, Christ as our "living example", and the Holy Spirit to "teach us and remind us of all things" revealing to us the mystery of "from whence we came and where we go"; we can be assured of the "Excellent" example we have been empowered to "reproduce" and do so with a willing heart and great joy.
That being said I say:
The desire for Excellence starts in the heart (inspired by Christ likeness), then it forms an attitude that inspires it's practice, and manifests itself in our outward actions replicating Christ.
Excellence is "to Him, in Him, and of Him" for the world to see and experience though us.
Be of an Excellent Spirit!
Love
In Christ
J&E
He is the "Way, Truth and Light/Life" which means that "being in Him" is more than just being part of Him, but being challenged by "His Excellent Nature" to preform our walk before others in a way that "proves" our "oneness with Him, and Love for Him.
Of all that God has shown us of Himself in scripture, the one underlying thread that isn't as obvious but equal to His Glory and Holiness is His Excellence and the working thereof. God shows not only the "highest form of Excellence" but it is present in "all" His workings whether it be in "thought, Word or deed" toward His creation. He cannot sin, cannot change, cannot loose His love for us, and nothing He does can be called "little" (such as a "little" miracle) or mundane. He has always been and ever will be, His throne is secure, and nothing we can "think, do or say" will ever catch Him off guard or surprise Him.
His Excellence is complete in Himself and now that we look at it we are challenged and have hope of like accomplishment for us; His followers.
He commands us to be like His Son Jesus Christ to do those things that He did and greater things, supplying us with a limitless amount of daily grace to accomplish the task while empowering us with the Holy Spirit and power to get it done.
We are all familiar with the above but what we fail to see is His Excellence and the finality of His heart toward us. Many can be filled with the Holy Spirit but what about the practice of His Excellence in "thought, word and deed", that pure heart of compassion to work His works and Glorify His Name while being "conformed" in His image and likeness even as we were designed in creation. When he made us in "His image and likeness" He also made us in His Excellence of heart and included that in His "conforming us" after Himself and His Son.
This short lifespan if for one purpose: Returning to Him from our sinful nature and becoming His "mirrored" image for those who "know Him not yet" to turn their "damnation" into "salvation" thus begetting "like kind" and filling up "all the earth with the knowledge of Him."
So with God as our Heavenly Father, Christ as our "living example", and the Holy Spirit to "teach us and remind us of all things" revealing to us the mystery of "from whence we came and where we go"; we can be assured of the "Excellent" example we have been empowered to "reproduce" and do so with a willing heart and great joy.
That being said I say:
The desire for Excellence starts in the heart (inspired by Christ likeness), then it forms an attitude that inspires it's practice, and manifests itself in our outward actions replicating Christ.
Excellence is "to Him, in Him, and of Him" for the world to see and experience though us.
Be of an Excellent Spirit!
Love
In Christ
J&E
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
S.O.P. Standard Operating Procedure
A glorious morning always follows an incredible night.
At 5 am this morning I was laying there taking an assessment of my life so far.
Not every little meaningless detail (not that they are truly meaningless, for the some is equal to the whole), but the "driving factors of my life."
The major commonality that threads through my life has been passion. In everything. When I was a youth I was passionately foolish. A major goof off. If it wasn't for a laugh it wasn't worth the effort. Not to say there wasn't a serious side to me but the balance certainly wasn't 50/50. It wan't caused by my environment, or my parents instruction, nor peer pressure, it was a decision. That's how I felt accepted (my own way) and dealt with the "living of life." The mature side of me, (the smaller percentage), was way ahead of its time just as passionately. I knew at an early age that "I was made (built) for hard physical labor. I knew that it was honorable to resist the need to expect or be involved in lust. I had the goal of a proper marriage and a family. And I also knew that I would accept the responsibility of a focused and dedicated life in every area that I participated in.
That same passion one day was "harvested" by the Gospel, and life changed. Not that at any point I was "perfect", but "being perfected."
So at 5 am this morning as I laid there I was passionate about prayer, confession of failures toward God, Elise, Children and all whom I have let down or failed. But I was also rejoicing in the cleansing that comes from that confession through the Blood of Christ.
Yes perfection (not excellence of effort) has eluded me for most of my life, (not for lack of effort), but passion has not.
Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Yes there is a lot of "things" that I practice and work toward perfection on, Faith, Family, Friends, Food, and maintenance of body and property, but one thing is for sure "its done with "passion".
I wait passionately for the next moment of revelation that once again causes me to lift my hand heavenward for cleansing and rejoicing with that bittersweet experience of "God with me the hope of glory."
Love
J&E
At 5 am this morning I was laying there taking an assessment of my life so far.
Not every little meaningless detail (not that they are truly meaningless, for the some is equal to the whole), but the "driving factors of my life."
The major commonality that threads through my life has been passion. In everything. When I was a youth I was passionately foolish. A major goof off. If it wasn't for a laugh it wasn't worth the effort. Not to say there wasn't a serious side to me but the balance certainly wasn't 50/50. It wan't caused by my environment, or my parents instruction, nor peer pressure, it was a decision. That's how I felt accepted (my own way) and dealt with the "living of life." The mature side of me, (the smaller percentage), was way ahead of its time just as passionately. I knew at an early age that "I was made (built) for hard physical labor. I knew that it was honorable to resist the need to expect or be involved in lust. I had the goal of a proper marriage and a family. And I also knew that I would accept the responsibility of a focused and dedicated life in every area that I participated in.
That same passion one day was "harvested" by the Gospel, and life changed. Not that at any point I was "perfect", but "being perfected."
So at 5 am this morning as I laid there I was passionate about prayer, confession of failures toward God, Elise, Children and all whom I have let down or failed. But I was also rejoicing in the cleansing that comes from that confession through the Blood of Christ.
Yes perfection (not excellence of effort) has eluded me for most of my life, (not for lack of effort), but passion has not.
Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Yes there is a lot of "things" that I practice and work toward perfection on, Faith, Family, Friends, Food, and maintenance of body and property, but one thing is for sure "its done with "passion".
I wait passionately for the next moment of revelation that once again causes me to lift my hand heavenward for cleansing and rejoicing with that bittersweet experience of "God with me the hope of glory."
Love
J&E