Everybody has a different "idea" about what's important in living the Christian way.
We all agree that our journey starts with "faith in Jesus Christ". The "Confessing with our lips that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that He rose from the dead."
But from here on out the field of "application" broadens depending on where you fellowship and "who's feet you sit by."
"From the beginning" Scripture shows that man had an attraction for sin, and having a free will he decided to exercise that function.
Let me make clear how profound that "sin side" was in this "free will process."
Adam "was in the presence of God" when he first was created. Soon followed Eve to be his help meet and to "complete" Adam so that "they" could fill up "all the earth." They both walked with God in the garden daily and enjoyed His presence, Love, wisdom and instruction. Adam and Eve were face to face with God. They experienced His power and glory.
But still deep within the hearts of mankind represented by them even that kind of intimacy with God wasn't enough to keep their decisions on obedience to His Word. They eventually "ate of the fruit" and sinned/fell from "fellowship with God." We all bear the results of that first sinful decision of disobedience to God's Word. Remember that the "Word was with God from the beginning", then later "became flesh" and "dwelt among us" in God's perfect timing. It would seem like this disobedient streak would be replayed again when the "Word became flesh" and He went to His own and His own knew Him not. Adam and Eve were literally God's own and it didn't take them long to "know Him not" seemed like time clouded their hearts enough to allow for the temptation of sin to be stronger than the "glory of God." And so it was with "He came to His own, and His own knew Him not."
To make this thought crystal clear: The Jews had the Law, the prophets, and the writing of Moses, all of which pointed to the coming of their King. They should of recognized Him due to the Scriptures of their time and "obeyed Him" once again. Strike 2 for mankind. By the way, God wasn't ignorant to the fact that this would happen "from the beginning" before he created "man and woman", but followed through with His plan. The plan of Unconditional Love and redemption.
Sin had held the reins of mans heart exhibiting his "free will" choice of rebellion against God, (mankind's Father), up to the time of Christs appearance on earth, even until this very day, and until the judgement of it through the book of Revelations. Lets face it sin is still mankind's master until man "believes" in Jesus Christ for salvation then it becomes man's constant temptress until the grave. At this point I am sure that there are those who would argue different saying that after we believe in Jesus Christ we don't sin anymore but that is very wrong.
1 John 1: 8-10
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and His Word is not in us.
Believers are "sinners saved by grace." The difference is that the believer has Divine Intervention by our Father to resist sin by grace and the sacrifice of Jesus to cover our sin if we fail.
So this is a good point to jump off of to get to the Main Topic of this post:
Your Christian walk will only be as successful as "your Revelation of Jesus Christ."
So what does the Scriptural Word "Revelation" mean?
It simply means "Revealed".
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ" means that God divinely "opens our understanding in our spirit" so that we can "see" Jesus for who He is. He gives us a Revelation. Not a study, not a doctrine, not an idea, but an actual "experience", "fellowship", "understanding" of who He actually is in all His glory, Majesty, and Love. Something that we cannot get in any other way. A start to our "Revelation" of Jesus Christ. Many Christians know, (head knowledge), "about" Jesus but not many "experience" Jesus the way God our Father designed it to happen. Don't think that I am "busting chops" here for the sake of knit picking, not at all. I am sharing what a "growing Revelation of Jesus Christ" should consist of based on the "faith experience" that I have (and still continue to) walk through. This Revelation can only take place by faith, "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God", correct? The Word is Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ comes to us by faith as a Revelation. The Holy Spirit revealing the "Deity" of God the Son to us. Again: He is revealing the Heart of God to us through Jesus Christ by showing us what He did, how He listened to His Father, and how He did the very same things that He seen His Father doing. In other word He (Jesus) was obedient in thought, Word, and deed preforming His Fathers will. As should we during our "walk with Emmanuel, God with us" here in our only short lifetime. We will be conformed to "His image and likeness, us decreasing Him increasing, thereby working the very miracles He worked and greater because He has gone to the Father in heaven." This is a promise from God that we can only receive "through" Jesus Christ and that only by faith. So if our "revelation of Jesus Christ" is growing daily by faith, the eyes of our understanding being opened by the Holy Spirit, then we will not be unproductive in our walk. Jesus said: "if you don't believe what I say then believe the miracles." The miracles were always God's way to prove that what is being preached, the Gospel of Good news, was His pure Word and Truth and that He is "bearing witness" to that Truth through incredible "signs and wonders."
If you read the Bible out of the Spirit, out of faith, your unbelief will stifle your faith, and your "experience" of Scripture will be at best lacking. Scripture was meant to be both exciting and a warning for mankind. On one hand warning to that we will rely on the Holy Spirit to "keep us from sin", but on the other hand exciting to read all the precious promises in God through Jesus Christ to motivate us to "good works." When we see God working through the name of Jesus in our lives it humbles us to think that His Love has deemed us worthy of use, and our experience in the faith propels us to seek out more of His promises for us. He is willing to "equip" us to glorify His name in a way that no other religious following can. Giving us power over evil, sickness, infirmity of all kinds, and in some cases over death itself.
Christianity is ALIVE, LIVING, EXCITING and POWERFUL "because" our God is an awesome God, He reigns over heaven above, with wisdom, power and Love our God is an awesome God! He is confident that we, with the Holy Spirits help, can "turn this world upside down," in the name of Jesus. I am sure there are those out there that just shuts this kind of Truth off because "they haven't had it happen to them, but let me clear something up; if God made these promises and God cannot change, nor can His Word, then who's fault is it? Lets make this next statement clear: YOURS and yours only.
God cannot lie, He cannot change, He cannot mislead nor does He change His mind, there is no wavering in Him, that only leaves you! The sinner saved by grace. Rather you cried out to Jesus like the man with the demon possessed son that was thrown into fire and water to kill him, "Lord help my unbelief!"
Many will say that there is no such thing as a Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Word has been written and nothing else can be known. I agree with the written Word, but I also know that the amount of Truth that we as Christians over all time past have experienced of Scripture has hardly been a "scratch and sniff" revealing of what the Holy Spirit could actually reveal if "we" weren't such a "stiff necked and rebellious flock. Can you imagine the patience of God with us His children? Having given us all these promises, commands and blessings to call our own? And we stand before Him and ask for the frivolous when we could be taking authority over this lost and dying generation, with powerful signs and wonders, glorifying our Father in Heaven with the Truth that sets free?
As the "Lord lives" I can tell you that you will only be as close to God through Jesus Christ as "YOU" want to be. If you want to be a "second person believer" that has to hang on to only man for your relationship with God then you will be a babe all your Christian walk and have only your salvation to show for your faith. But if you on the other hand let the Word (both written and living, Jesus Christ) by Gods Holy Spirit, lead you and guide you into "all Truth" humbly seeking His promises, and being obedient to His commands, then you will have the doorways of heaven opened up to you, and you will receive "power" when that the Holy Spirit continually fills you for service with power and anointing to do Gods will.
Believe it or not "that's the way it is and it works!"
Arguments and opinions mean nothing to God when it comes to His design for man and his use. His Word is what matters and what you do with it. Dispensate all you want, craft "doctrines of man" till your heart dies from "lack of Truth", but your life will be without power, joy, and confidence, being swayed by every rumor and being filled with confusion. This is not God's plan for His people.
Your choice. How do you view God now?
That's why the most important factor in how we will walk out our Christian faith depends on what/who you believe God to be. Will you believe by faith that all that Scripture says about God and the Word is true or will you believe only what others say about a Christianity that has been stripped of power because "they have never seen such things."
Faith giving Power?
Or doubt giving defeat?
Who is your God?
My God is the King of Kings and the Lord of Glory. He is the Holy one of Israel. The Alpha and Omega, the God of creation, and the King of Glory. He never changes and He keeps all His promises. He Loved us with an Unconditional Love the depth of which was show when He gave His only begotten Son to save our sinful souls. He gave us light and life so that we could "have life more abundantly."
That's my God!
Because He is who He is I have gone from faith to faith, and grown in grace to the point that I can hear His voice, have the mind of Christ, and by His promise I can humbly agree to Him "conforming me unto the life of Jesus Christ." With His help I can die to myself and He can increase in me. At the present time He is working His Unconditional Love in me and through me for others at an ever increasing rate. By His grace my fellowship with the Holy Spirit is growing stronger and I am becoming more sensitive to His heart. I believe that God is True, His promises are sure, and His blessings are real. This "seed of faith" that He started with in me will continue to grow until it has become a tree able to support others by His hand. My wife, family and I have seen and received many miracles and manifestations by the hand of God in the name of Jesus, some so powerful that they have actually restored both life and the quality of life back to others.
That's my God.
Again "who is your God?"
"Choose ye this day who you shall fallow, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord."
"Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you."
Love
J&E inTn
"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.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Monday, March 27, 2017
The power to persevere
The willingness to persevere is a very needed attribute in today's world.
Notice that I didn't say "willingness to persevere" in hard times? Or "willingness to persevere" in good times?
Just the "willingness to persevere" all the time, day or night, in season and out of season, everyday of your life. Everyday we are alive we will need to continue to make decisions, set examples, be a witness to Christ and every valuable character trait that we have in Him.
Life takes perseverance.
Life has challenges at all levels, daily, that need addressing. We can even get weary from "well doing", let alone getting weary from "not doing so well."
So what then gives us the "willingness or motivation" to persevere everyday of our lives, and be available to the needs of family, friends, neighbors, and others that just happen to "fall into the mix?"
What can possibly inspire us to have fresh energy to wake up every morning "meet" for the day?
Personally I believe that when we have someone we represent that has a plan for us, and what we are to do, we are stimulated by purpose. We are working for a Higher Authority, in the case of a Christian "God Himself", not only our "employer" but our Father also. So we are pressing on out of obedience at two levels of authority: Gods Word and our Father. Did anyone ever work for their father? Well this is different because our Father is Unconditional Love. He is not out to just make us better at a certain skill set, but He is out to conform us to be like Jesus our Brother and teach us about Unconditional Love so that we can Love others as ourselves. It's easy to work for an all Loving Father because "Love never fails" in His love for us or in our Love for others. Love is the great promoter of perseverance, because it can only reap a "good harvest" when sown with the help of the Spirit of God.
What does scripture say about weariness?
Matthew 11:28,29
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest."
We get rid of our weariness and burdens in the presence of Christ. This scripture is speaking to us, His brothers and sisters, it's speaking about a ever refreshing "oneness" with Christ through daily worship. That's how we "come to Him." When we "come to Him" with all the efforts that we need to make for the day (knowing that every effort, good or difficult, are burdens), and present them before Christ, He then takes them and gives us rest because they are now in "His hands."
First we come to Him in worship, then once in His presence we set our petitions before Him in prayer, by faith, so He can exchange them for a joy and peace so powerful that it manifests itself as rest. We experience His Loving "Yoke" (we are gently restrained to Him) so that we can "learn from Him". We learn that He is "gentle and humble in heart (towards all who will be yoked to Him) and that's where we find rest. The assurance that our burdens are going to be taken by Him and our weariness relieved.
This is how we willingly persevere on a continuing basis throughout our lives. We stay in worship and prayer in the spirit realm, and we stay persevering in this carnal realm refreshed and empowered by the Spirit of God.
Feed on the Word. Worship God, pray without ceasing in the Holy Spirit, then go out and set the captives free.
Love
J&E inTn
Notice that I didn't say "willingness to persevere" in hard times? Or "willingness to persevere" in good times?
Just the "willingness to persevere" all the time, day or night, in season and out of season, everyday of your life. Everyday we are alive we will need to continue to make decisions, set examples, be a witness to Christ and every valuable character trait that we have in Him.
Life takes perseverance.
Life has challenges at all levels, daily, that need addressing. We can even get weary from "well doing", let alone getting weary from "not doing so well."
So what then gives us the "willingness or motivation" to persevere everyday of our lives, and be available to the needs of family, friends, neighbors, and others that just happen to "fall into the mix?"
What can possibly inspire us to have fresh energy to wake up every morning "meet" for the day?
Personally I believe that when we have someone we represent that has a plan for us, and what we are to do, we are stimulated by purpose. We are working for a Higher Authority, in the case of a Christian "God Himself", not only our "employer" but our Father also. So we are pressing on out of obedience at two levels of authority: Gods Word and our Father. Did anyone ever work for their father? Well this is different because our Father is Unconditional Love. He is not out to just make us better at a certain skill set, but He is out to conform us to be like Jesus our Brother and teach us about Unconditional Love so that we can Love others as ourselves. It's easy to work for an all Loving Father because "Love never fails" in His love for us or in our Love for others. Love is the great promoter of perseverance, because it can only reap a "good harvest" when sown with the help of the Spirit of God.
What does scripture say about weariness?
Matthew 11:28,29
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest."
We get rid of our weariness and burdens in the presence of Christ. This scripture is speaking to us, His brothers and sisters, it's speaking about a ever refreshing "oneness" with Christ through daily worship. That's how we "come to Him." When we "come to Him" with all the efforts that we need to make for the day (knowing that every effort, good or difficult, are burdens), and present them before Christ, He then takes them and gives us rest because they are now in "His hands."
First we come to Him in worship, then once in His presence we set our petitions before Him in prayer, by faith, so He can exchange them for a joy and peace so powerful that it manifests itself as rest. We experience His Loving "Yoke" (we are gently restrained to Him) so that we can "learn from Him". We learn that He is "gentle and humble in heart (towards all who will be yoked to Him) and that's where we find rest. The assurance that our burdens are going to be taken by Him and our weariness relieved.
This is how we willingly persevere on a continuing basis throughout our lives. We stay in worship and prayer in the spirit realm, and we stay persevering in this carnal realm refreshed and empowered by the Spirit of God.
Feed on the Word. Worship God, pray without ceasing in the Holy Spirit, then go out and set the captives free.
Love
J&E inTn
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Thoughts on witnessing and Unconditional Love
People are a great passion of mine because they integrate Unconditional Love and encouragement into the performance of the second commandment.
This of course is only possible if the first commandment is in place. It's also only possible on a broad scale if "the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit."
God showing His Love for us teaches us how valuable we are to Him but also teaches us how others are valuable to us.
God did not call everyone to be a missionary in a foreign land somewhere, but He did call everyone to be a "local evangelist" where they are. Here!
How do we do that?
We don't know what to say?
What if they are offended?
All those questions are answered by one word: Love.
So you don't know the Romans Road........
So you don't do good with eye to eye..........
So you are self conscious and afraid........
Still the answer is Love. Period!
You do what you Love naturally. Nothing is easier than speaking about what you Love.
Hey, men do it! Ask any sports fan about their favorite team. I bet they can name every player and all their accomplishments. Why? Because of Love of the sport.
I'm a shooter. I enjoy hunting, guns, and ammo. Ask me a question and I will have an opinion there.
I have other hobbies that I enjoy such as curing meats. Ask me about aged, cured salami! In fact ask any of my friends about our meats. They will tell you that there is a certain joy that comes from the making and eating of them, as they have done both.
What we Love we seem to naturally incline to that subject once breached. Our eyes shine, our countenance lightens, and our speech is free and unfettered.
Why? Because of love of the subject.
Why not the Gospel? Why not "our story." Why not a natural progression into the needs of the one we are in front of?
Should we dare to encourage hope? Appreciation? Value? To someone that is in front of us working for minimum wage long hours in a get no place job. Others casting remarks, and ridiculing them for something that isn't their fault?
Lets not forget that the Gospel actually means "Good News". Good News of salvation and also the "Good News" of Unconditional Love.
Where most Christians go wrong is in thinking that "salvation" means only that we are saved by the "blood of Jesus."
WRONG! Wrong, Wrong!
Salvation includes: forgiveness of sins, a heavenly home, healing, deliverance, and all the precious promises of God our Father through His Son Jesus Christ. It is a total restoration of our ability to fellowship, worship, and know our Father. Salvation represents all that God has pre-set for us in Jesus Christ to receive as sons through Him. Salvation means that we can once again personally "walk with God." Our garden (like Adam) is our spiritual reunion with our Father in Heaven to "become one" with Him through Jesus Christ. Continually, through out the day and in the night watches.
As in the "beginning" God and man, Creator and created.
How do we get that across to the "person in our path?"
Love, Joy and the Peace of the Holy Spirit. This kind of countenance prepares the way for us to be "effective" witnesses to others around us. Joy is in our actions and eyes. You have seen it before.
When someone is joyful it is very obvious when you first lay eyes on them. Right? You don't fear that kind of person and you even feel yourself drawn to them.
Why are they like that? Would they care about me? Just seeing them makes me feel good!
So why not use that? How about a smile and "hey how you doing?" What about: "what a great day?" That opens the door to become "in contact" or break the ice to bestow verbal blessings on them and encouraging them. God may even open the door to the real "Good News" because "you care" enough to say something.
Don't forget you don't have to close "every deal"! Some plant, some water, but God makes it grow. Don't think you are the only sower or waterer in the field. God always has a follow up plan which includes other believers to complete the process. You are not working on your own. I think sometimes churches try to push ahead of the Holy Spirit in their teaching about witnessing and thereby derail God's plan in the life of the individual hearing the "Good News." If God is all wise (which He is) then He knows their lives as a story already told and He has the payment Jesus made for them ready to "save" them in "their time." We forget that we had to be sinners a long time before many of us were saved. Salvation didn't come to late for us. Well if God hadn't changed (and He never changes) then He will be just on time for them. Work with God by being prepared in season and out to present the "Gospel of Good News" to others and let the rest in God's redeeming hands.
I bet in many situations the first "seeds" scattered in the "fields of he hearts" is attitude about what others perceive we think of them before anything comes out of our lips. Then our "countenance" reflects our intentions. A smile and a joyful appearance will open up more doors to the needy heart then a scowl and rough verbiage.
I believe we win the right to be a witness. When someone sees they are valuable to you they "listen" to what you have to say. Sometimes being effective in witnessing is a form of pride and we all know that goes before a fall. I prefer to trust God for whatever success I have in "witnessing" the Gospel vs. having a book of numbers and names. Cults do that because they have no faith and believe that they have to prove to God what they have done.
God is Love and He gave His only Son, in Love that "none may perish". I believe if we Love the Word of God more than anything in our lives then "living the Gospel of Good News" will be as natural as breathing when it comes to others. Then whatever part of witnessing that is successful will bear all the fruits associated with salvation in the lives of others, eternal life, healing, deliverance, and whatever else is needed promised in Christ for all His that are coming into the fold.
Love Him, Worship Him, Praise Him, and bear witness to Him by the Holy Spirit, then all will be "well with your soul" and you will not be fruitless in showing God's Unconditional Love throughout all the Earth.
Love
J&E in Tn
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Why me Lord?
Many of us have said "Why me Lord?"
Times of trouble, financial problems, disease, loss of a loved one, things need fixing, and any other obstacle that seems to come against us in this life, this phrase gets asked of God. We all have said it and many of us have said it a lot.
Think back to these challenging times and think of the reason that this phrase had to be used. Something became very clear to me just days ago about this exclamation of woe, in fact some of this just now as I am writing this post. All most everything I can think of that comes against us is covered in the Word of God as a provision, or a promise that God has for us. To overcome all of them we need to be strong in faith and fervent in hope. In other word "we have to know God's will in these matters!"
There is nothing common to mankind that God in His Loving Word hasn't already "made a way for."
His strength in weakness.
His design for good finances.
His stripes for healing.
His raising the dead.
His provision for our physical needs.
God in no way has ever let us "without" provisions in any area of life. Never. Knowing God's will is paramount to gaining God's provision, and answers to all our questions about what we are experiencing in life.
His Word is His will! Period.
Know His Word, know His will.
First things first. Lets make a list that opens the heavens to "showers of blessings" in the wise of answers.
1. We start with an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, His son and our Brother. This is done through "for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; an with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
2. That intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ is made real by prayer, communicating with our Father in Heaven through His Son our Savior. This necessitates the need for the "Baptism in the Holy Spirit."
3. "Ask, seek, and knock." Here is where knowing God's Word and faith ("faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.") comes in to know how/what to pray. Persistence in prayer to God with passion, (expressing the petition) in the Holy Spirit, will bring down the "will of God" for you.
Remember in prayer that "anything outside of faith is sin," but it's also scriptural to pray "help me though my unbelief." Think of how "faith" comes in the verse above (by hearing) and make sure that you have enough of the Word in you to exhibit the "faith required."
Now lets get one thing straight about "asking and receiving", prayer is about "knowing God's will", right? Jesus said at Gethsemane "not my will but your will". Jesus knew God's will but still set the example of letting God perform "His will."
God's will is always "convenient for the day." For those with faith to ask in prayer about their petitions must also have faith to receive God's answer whether or not it fits what they want. Remember that God answers prayer according to His will for us "that day." That's why scripture says to pray without ceasing, we continue daily in prayer till God gives us peace about the petition, then we can rest in faith that we have our answer. From here on out we "wait on the Lord."
Also remember that some answers only come through "fasting and prayer." When "walking by faith" we must posses a knowledge of scripture "in our spirit," not our heads, and be "led by the Spirit." Walking by faith and led by the Spirit will produce powerful prayer and revelation from God.
Every time Elise and I faced obstacles in life that seemed that they could overcome us, or make us hopeless God encouraged us by His Word and His Spirit to "hold on" till He manifested His glory by giving us victory. Now lets put this in perspective here, some of these obstacles, having been prayed about in the Spirit, took 40+ years of faith and prayer to "know God's will." Ques what? His will was in our favor. Some prayer was "answered that day" but still took time and persistence, continuing in prayer with weeping for minutes or hours. This in particularly is True when praying for some types of healing or raising the dead. You won't know God's will unless you meet Him in prayer and stay there until He has prepared your heart to receive it in prayer. This can be instantaneous or a long time seeking it. We have seen "deliverance" in many arena's of need from finances to healing and the whole Biblical venue, some quick and some "over time." But we always received an answer for them.
Another motivator in prayer for someone is compassion. God is compassion because He is "Unconditional Love." He responds to compassion that is presented in/by prayer. God being Jesus in the flesh "wept" at the funeral of Lazarus, at Gethsemane for us His people. Weeping is a part of prayer that shows compassion, and the fact that you are experiencing in the heart what others are going through. God is moved by this and will respond.
Part of God's plan for us it to "build us up in faith" so that He can manifest His Glory in all the earth. He wants to show all the earth that there is no God like Him. He uses our obstacles for others to see how our faith in Him makes a difference. You are a living witness to His Love, power, and grace to all those around you. "Why me Lord" is an excellent reason to show forth His grace and Love to give hope to others.
Now what about the other side of "why me Lord?"
What side is that?
The "other" side!
When God by His Spirit "meets" you where you are at, night or day, awake or sleeping, working or playing! When His presence "falls" upon you to give a new revelation of scripture, or personal healing, maybe just to let you know He Loves you and your in His heart.
That side. What about when He uses you to meet a need in someones life like in a healing, maybe a good Word in due time, possibly just "weep with the weeping and laugh with the laughing". The side of God manifesting His glory thru you to someone in need, to share His Love with them in some way, that humbling sense of being "used by God." "Lord why me."
The other day during a tv show the Holy Spirit met me at the couch with His presence just to show me His Love for me. I cried in my heart: "why me Lord," thank you for meeting me here, I am so unworthy of your presence, at best a sinner, and yet your here, with me.
Emanuel "God with us." Its a wonderful experience to have God with us.
I believe that if we "walk in the Spirit" we will "experience" both sides of the "Lord why me" statement. It's good to have this balance in our relationship with God. We need He gives, He gives, we are blessed to have His comfort and provision. Comfort and provision of Love, Joy and Peace in the Holy Spirit. "Use" by Him for others, "Emmanuel with us" in us, for our own nurturing and sense of son-ship or belonging to with our Heavenly Fathers family.
Next time "why me Lord" pops up balance it with both sides of the question: prayer for petitions and humility that God found you worthy to prove to the world you are His.
Love
J&E in Tn
Times of trouble, financial problems, disease, loss of a loved one, things need fixing, and any other obstacle that seems to come against us in this life, this phrase gets asked of God. We all have said it and many of us have said it a lot.
Think back to these challenging times and think of the reason that this phrase had to be used. Something became very clear to me just days ago about this exclamation of woe, in fact some of this just now as I am writing this post. All most everything I can think of that comes against us is covered in the Word of God as a provision, or a promise that God has for us. To overcome all of them we need to be strong in faith and fervent in hope. In other word "we have to know God's will in these matters!"
There is nothing common to mankind that God in His Loving Word hasn't already "made a way for."
His strength in weakness.
His design for good finances.
His stripes for healing.
His raising the dead.
His provision for our physical needs.
God in no way has ever let us "without" provisions in any area of life. Never. Knowing God's will is paramount to gaining God's provision, and answers to all our questions about what we are experiencing in life.
His Word is His will! Period.
Know His Word, know His will.
First things first. Lets make a list that opens the heavens to "showers of blessings" in the wise of answers.
1. We start with an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, His son and our Brother. This is done through "for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; an with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
2. That intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ is made real by prayer, communicating with our Father in Heaven through His Son our Savior. This necessitates the need for the "Baptism in the Holy Spirit."
3. "Ask, seek, and knock." Here is where knowing God's Word and faith ("faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.") comes in to know how/what to pray. Persistence in prayer to God with passion, (expressing the petition) in the Holy Spirit, will bring down the "will of God" for you.
Remember in prayer that "anything outside of faith is sin," but it's also scriptural to pray "help me though my unbelief." Think of how "faith" comes in the verse above (by hearing) and make sure that you have enough of the Word in you to exhibit the "faith required."
Now lets get one thing straight about "asking and receiving", prayer is about "knowing God's will", right? Jesus said at Gethsemane "not my will but your will". Jesus knew God's will but still set the example of letting God perform "His will."
God's will is always "convenient for the day." For those with faith to ask in prayer about their petitions must also have faith to receive God's answer whether or not it fits what they want. Remember that God answers prayer according to His will for us "that day." That's why scripture says to pray without ceasing, we continue daily in prayer till God gives us peace about the petition, then we can rest in faith that we have our answer. From here on out we "wait on the Lord."
Also remember that some answers only come through "fasting and prayer." When "walking by faith" we must posses a knowledge of scripture "in our spirit," not our heads, and be "led by the Spirit." Walking by faith and led by the Spirit will produce powerful prayer and revelation from God.
Every time Elise and I faced obstacles in life that seemed that they could overcome us, or make us hopeless God encouraged us by His Word and His Spirit to "hold on" till He manifested His glory by giving us victory. Now lets put this in perspective here, some of these obstacles, having been prayed about in the Spirit, took 40+ years of faith and prayer to "know God's will." Ques what? His will was in our favor. Some prayer was "answered that day" but still took time and persistence, continuing in prayer with weeping for minutes or hours. This in particularly is True when praying for some types of healing or raising the dead. You won't know God's will unless you meet Him in prayer and stay there until He has prepared your heart to receive it in prayer. This can be instantaneous or a long time seeking it. We have seen "deliverance" in many arena's of need from finances to healing and the whole Biblical venue, some quick and some "over time." But we always received an answer for them.
Another motivator in prayer for someone is compassion. God is compassion because He is "Unconditional Love." He responds to compassion that is presented in/by prayer. God being Jesus in the flesh "wept" at the funeral of Lazarus, at Gethsemane for us His people. Weeping is a part of prayer that shows compassion, and the fact that you are experiencing in the heart what others are going through. God is moved by this and will respond.
Part of God's plan for us it to "build us up in faith" so that He can manifest His Glory in all the earth. He wants to show all the earth that there is no God like Him. He uses our obstacles for others to see how our faith in Him makes a difference. You are a living witness to His Love, power, and grace to all those around you. "Why me Lord" is an excellent reason to show forth His grace and Love to give hope to others.
Now what about the other side of "why me Lord?"
What side is that?
The "other" side!
When God by His Spirit "meets" you where you are at, night or day, awake or sleeping, working or playing! When His presence "falls" upon you to give a new revelation of scripture, or personal healing, maybe just to let you know He Loves you and your in His heart.
That side. What about when He uses you to meet a need in someones life like in a healing, maybe a good Word in due time, possibly just "weep with the weeping and laugh with the laughing". The side of God manifesting His glory thru you to someone in need, to share His Love with them in some way, that humbling sense of being "used by God." "Lord why me."
The other day during a tv show the Holy Spirit met me at the couch with His presence just to show me His Love for me. I cried in my heart: "why me Lord," thank you for meeting me here, I am so unworthy of your presence, at best a sinner, and yet your here, with me.
Emanuel "God with us." Its a wonderful experience to have God with us.
I believe that if we "walk in the Spirit" we will "experience" both sides of the "Lord why me" statement. It's good to have this balance in our relationship with God. We need He gives, He gives, we are blessed to have His comfort and provision. Comfort and provision of Love, Joy and Peace in the Holy Spirit. "Use" by Him for others, "Emmanuel with us" in us, for our own nurturing and sense of son-ship or belonging to with our Heavenly Fathers family.
Next time "why me Lord" pops up balance it with both sides of the question: prayer for petitions and humility that God found you worthy to prove to the world you are His.
Love
J&E in Tn
Friday, March 24, 2017
From the beginning "Man, woman, wife" the true value of a woman.
I've heard some pretty sad accounts by Christian men about the positions the wife/woman fill in a marriage. If these few verses doesn't answer the main question about why God created women as wives then we need (as men) to apologize to our wives for our ignorance.
Genesis 2: 20-24
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
1. She is a "Help Meet."
Help Meet does not mean a whipping post for all our ungodly emotions, undisciplined desires, or a personal servant.
2. He (God) took a rib and closed up the flesh. And the rib He had taken from man, He (God) made a woman and brought her to man.
Taking the rib and closing up the flesh shows that she cannot go back from whence she was made to be one, but that she would become one with him through the God ordained order of marriage.
3. He brought her to man!
God brought her to man. Man didn't date, go online, search bars, but God brought her to man. Get that picture? Man wasn't even looking and God met his need with a Help Meet that He deemed necessary as a life partner.
4. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
So now we are told by God to leave our father and mother and cleave to our wives, and become one flesh.
Notice how man is made whole again by "cleaving to his wife"? She can't enter into that rib area but she can "become one" once again by cleaving to each other. So man in the physical realm is, in a sense made whole again" by cleaving to his wife. So the wife/woman "by God's design" completes the husband/man so that the two can become one in the sight of God, from whence man is made in His image and likeness, and she in the man's image and likeness thereby in the image and likeness of God by coming from man. Man and woman become one person and both become in the image and likeness of God. Man first (first person in creation), then woman (second person in creation) through man.
Scripture says that "a man should love his woman/wife as he loves himself", "his own body!" Woman is a part of "his own body" through a rib creation. So he is commanded to love her with equal passion and devotion because that's the way it was set up in the beginning. Later in the NT this fact is discussed more with more guidelines laid out. You men should go look them up, the search will do you good as it will be in context not just this introductory version.
Every time Jesus was asked a hard twisted question that seemed to go against the law he would say "in the beginning" giving God's perfect design not the twisted version of the time He lived in. Any questions? Just go back to the beginning and the Holy Spirit will make all things clear to us "in His time.
Love God.
Love your wives.
Love one another.
Love never fails.
Love makes the people loved become "precious" in our sight.
Love
J&E in Tn
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Tonight God moved me
Tonight I was watching a movie with my wife and interwoven within it's theme was the basis of "religion" and a semblance of "Bible believing."
As this theme developed towards the end of the movie, my heart began to break because of the authenticity of the failures that it manifested in the lives of those who were supposed to believe.
Why?
Because there are many (possibly the majority) of believers who actually have no foundation for their faith. Things get hard, hope fails, evil seems to triumph, and despair sets in. Those who were once strong become weak, those who were once wise become foolish, those who were once victorious are defeated. No foundation! In church every Sunday, yes. Sunday school, yes. Wednesday nights, yes. Having what seems to be a "good foundation" when sand was the base, not rock!
We all react differently when bad or evil comes against us, but we all partake of the same Savior, Spirit, and grace. Again why? It's simple. We all have the same potential but it's how we "enter in" to that potential that makes the difference. Some enter by shear will power or strength, some enter by "faith" with humility and meekness that comes through genuine grace.
One of the problems:
I have said it before but it begs repeating again,
"All Scripture is God breathed", and "the spiritual man knows all things." What makes you a "spiritual man"? Certainly the only answer is the Holy Spirit through the blood of Christ by the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
But wait! Maybe you don't believe that? Maybe your definition of "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" is a different "way" than what God's Word says? Maybe, just maybe, God wasn't being specific about this matter and it's open to "INTERPRETATION"?
Alas, the whole root of the problem is laid naked, we are wiser than God!
So many who "proclaim" the Word of God for salvation ignore the rest of it and pick and choose what chapters and verses are still "FOR TODAY"!
Their weakness comes from the "incomplete" Word of God.
Let me make this a little more obvious:
God's Word "cannot change." Therefor God cannot change as God and His Word are one in the same.
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One in Three Persons. Nothing now, before, or in the future will ever fail about the Word of God. He said it and like it or not YOU cannot change it. You have not the power, or the authority to do so, regardless of all your training, teaching, or twisting, "Let God be true and every man a liar." That ends that part.
If the above be True then any Scripture that doesn't fit you, or hasn't worked for you is still "Unchanging Scripture" and you are the one that's wrong, in other words a "liar."
Whether or not it has "happened to you" in your walk, or whether or not you have experienced it doesn't make you the authority as to it's valid place in the believers life today. God said it so that ends it regardless of "your opinion!" In fact if you contradict the Word of God because you lack the anointing to walk in it then you are a deceiver "having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof."
Stating it rightly: "Your lack of faith in the Word has reaped what you have sown, plant little do to lack of faith, reap little or nothing."
Because you built on sand don't tell others that you will help them build their house next door.
God is omniscient, that means "He knows all", every thought, every invention, every piece of wisdom, from before creation to the very end.
To us His Word is prophetic but to Him it's a "story already told" before it happens. You cannot outsmart Him, surprise Him, or impress Him in any way, not by thought, word or deed. Nothing is new to Him.
In that unfathomable Wisdom He presented us His written Word. Perfect in choice of Words, sentence structure, spirit and presentation. No need to interpret what the all wise God has written, He wrote it for us to understand it perfectly "by His Spirit." If you seek wisdom aside from His plan, you will end up submitting yourself to your own ideas which "fall short of His Glory."
As I have said in the past: if you eliminate any chapter or verse in the Bible what part of Christ or His Body are you eliminating? The mouth maybe, that would be His prophetic calling both in Himself and His church. What about the eye or ear? What do they represent of His physical being and in the Body of Christ? Remember, whether we can fathom it or not "His Word became flesh and dwelt among us", the written Word came to life in body form, representing perfectly in the flesh Jesus Christ as He appeared "in due time."
If you believe anything else than this then your foundation is built on sand, that's why it cannot stand when the storms of evil assail us. Our armor is incomplete and we try to stand on our own instead of us having "His strength in our weakness."
Like it or not "His Word is our meat and drink." So if you only eat the "feel good" offerings in the Bible what will your spiritual strength have to draw on in the "day of battle."
Paul commands us to "move from milk to "real meat." Real meat........the whole Word of God, not just the desserts, strong meat.
How you "feed"on His Word is how you will respond to the rigors of spiritual battles in "high" places. Fight or fold? You decide.
Faith was never meant to be just the trump card to getting into heaven, but the conduit to grace that brings all the precious promises of God to us through Christ. He does this so that He can lift Him (Christ) up to call all men unto Himself. How does He do that? By backing up every believer who preaches the gospel by word or action, with a witness of signs and wonders that no other God can do to prove that only He is the True God, and only His Word is the True salvation.
So if your faith is little or weak you will not believe (wholeheartedly) Scripture to the "preforming" of it through Gods promises to us in Christ.
Note: Christianity was designed to be an "EXPERIENCE" through faith of all the power and demonstration of our God to a dying mankind that needs eternal rescuing.
If you don't believe beyond salvation that this is True then how will you reach others? You give them the right to argue that you are wrong as you cannot show them the proof that God gives all believers through the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
I have witnessed to many men on the jobs about Jesus Christ and the gospel, and I am sure that I was not the only one that God had set in their lives to "run into." But the difference was, when they became injured and our paths crossed the Gospel could be "made real" to them by refreshing their memory of what they had been told, and then having the boldness to ask if they wanted prayer for their infirmity for healing. More times than not they actually watched there infirmity's vanish and complete healing take place. Vain sinners were dancing around saying with elation "praise God, thank you Jesus." God intervened in their lives because someone believed the "entire" Word of God and put it into practice, then God manifested His glory to prove His Word is True.
Men I used to work with came out of coma's in the Name of Jesus, sight restored, hearing opened. muteness rendered void. "Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly." Life for us and life for those that God would bring across our paths both eternal and physical. Jesus said, "go ye into all the earth, preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons", so whats stopping the majority of us? Fear.........John said: "perfect love cast out fear".
If we have "perfect Love" toward God (for the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit), and our fellow man then God is free to "work His will" in our lives and in those He put around us for His glory.
All of this comes from the confidence we have by faith in His Word to believe "the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth" in Jesus name. Knowing that He will do His will to glorify His name and lift up Jesus to call all men unto Himself.
Convinced yet?
We are weak but He is strong. Do you want your strength or His?
Do you want your thoughts, ideas and interpretations or do you want His Word, promises, and Spirit?
Lets give faith a try from here on out. You know that your faith will grow as you hear and believe His Word. "Faith comes by hearing and that hearing by the Word of God."
I have many things to write because, since I was saved, I made the Word of God the most important meat in my life by believing it without question or doubt. By faith.
I don't have all the answers but the ones I don't have I don't need at this time. God gives all wisdom in His time. As long as I am alive seeking His heart and face I will be open to the every growing revelation of Jesus Christ that He will give me "in His time!"
Sand or rock?
Real meat or milk?
Faith or doubt?
Unconditional Love or judgement?
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
I pray this small thought gives you hope and inspires you to greatness aiding His Kingdom to come.
God bless and keep.
J&E in Tn
As this theme developed towards the end of the movie, my heart began to break because of the authenticity of the failures that it manifested in the lives of those who were supposed to believe.
Why?
Because there are many (possibly the majority) of believers who actually have no foundation for their faith. Things get hard, hope fails, evil seems to triumph, and despair sets in. Those who were once strong become weak, those who were once wise become foolish, those who were once victorious are defeated. No foundation! In church every Sunday, yes. Sunday school, yes. Wednesday nights, yes. Having what seems to be a "good foundation" when sand was the base, not rock!
We all react differently when bad or evil comes against us, but we all partake of the same Savior, Spirit, and grace. Again why? It's simple. We all have the same potential but it's how we "enter in" to that potential that makes the difference. Some enter by shear will power or strength, some enter by "faith" with humility and meekness that comes through genuine grace.
One of the problems:
I have said it before but it begs repeating again,
"All Scripture is God breathed", and "the spiritual man knows all things." What makes you a "spiritual man"? Certainly the only answer is the Holy Spirit through the blood of Christ by the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
But wait! Maybe you don't believe that? Maybe your definition of "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" is a different "way" than what God's Word says? Maybe, just maybe, God wasn't being specific about this matter and it's open to "INTERPRETATION"?
Alas, the whole root of the problem is laid naked, we are wiser than God!
So many who "proclaim" the Word of God for salvation ignore the rest of it and pick and choose what chapters and verses are still "FOR TODAY"!
Their weakness comes from the "incomplete" Word of God.
Let me make this a little more obvious:
God's Word "cannot change." Therefor God cannot change as God and His Word are one in the same.
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One in Three Persons. Nothing now, before, or in the future will ever fail about the Word of God. He said it and like it or not YOU cannot change it. You have not the power, or the authority to do so, regardless of all your training, teaching, or twisting, "Let God be true and every man a liar." That ends that part.
If the above be True then any Scripture that doesn't fit you, or hasn't worked for you is still "Unchanging Scripture" and you are the one that's wrong, in other words a "liar."
Whether or not it has "happened to you" in your walk, or whether or not you have experienced it doesn't make you the authority as to it's valid place in the believers life today. God said it so that ends it regardless of "your opinion!" In fact if you contradict the Word of God because you lack the anointing to walk in it then you are a deceiver "having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof."
Stating it rightly: "Your lack of faith in the Word has reaped what you have sown, plant little do to lack of faith, reap little or nothing."
Because you built on sand don't tell others that you will help them build their house next door.
God is omniscient, that means "He knows all", every thought, every invention, every piece of wisdom, from before creation to the very end.
To us His Word is prophetic but to Him it's a "story already told" before it happens. You cannot outsmart Him, surprise Him, or impress Him in any way, not by thought, word or deed. Nothing is new to Him.
In that unfathomable Wisdom He presented us His written Word. Perfect in choice of Words, sentence structure, spirit and presentation. No need to interpret what the all wise God has written, He wrote it for us to understand it perfectly "by His Spirit." If you seek wisdom aside from His plan, you will end up submitting yourself to your own ideas which "fall short of His Glory."
As I have said in the past: if you eliminate any chapter or verse in the Bible what part of Christ or His Body are you eliminating? The mouth maybe, that would be His prophetic calling both in Himself and His church. What about the eye or ear? What do they represent of His physical being and in the Body of Christ? Remember, whether we can fathom it or not "His Word became flesh and dwelt among us", the written Word came to life in body form, representing perfectly in the flesh Jesus Christ as He appeared "in due time."
If you believe anything else than this then your foundation is built on sand, that's why it cannot stand when the storms of evil assail us. Our armor is incomplete and we try to stand on our own instead of us having "His strength in our weakness."
Like it or not "His Word is our meat and drink." So if you only eat the "feel good" offerings in the Bible what will your spiritual strength have to draw on in the "day of battle."
Paul commands us to "move from milk to "real meat." Real meat........the whole Word of God, not just the desserts, strong meat.
How you "feed"on His Word is how you will respond to the rigors of spiritual battles in "high" places. Fight or fold? You decide.
Faith was never meant to be just the trump card to getting into heaven, but the conduit to grace that brings all the precious promises of God to us through Christ. He does this so that He can lift Him (Christ) up to call all men unto Himself. How does He do that? By backing up every believer who preaches the gospel by word or action, with a witness of signs and wonders that no other God can do to prove that only He is the True God, and only His Word is the True salvation.
So if your faith is little or weak you will not believe (wholeheartedly) Scripture to the "preforming" of it through Gods promises to us in Christ.
Note: Christianity was designed to be an "EXPERIENCE" through faith of all the power and demonstration of our God to a dying mankind that needs eternal rescuing.
If you don't believe beyond salvation that this is True then how will you reach others? You give them the right to argue that you are wrong as you cannot show them the proof that God gives all believers through the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
I have witnessed to many men on the jobs about Jesus Christ and the gospel, and I am sure that I was not the only one that God had set in their lives to "run into." But the difference was, when they became injured and our paths crossed the Gospel could be "made real" to them by refreshing their memory of what they had been told, and then having the boldness to ask if they wanted prayer for their infirmity for healing. More times than not they actually watched there infirmity's vanish and complete healing take place. Vain sinners were dancing around saying with elation "praise God, thank you Jesus." God intervened in their lives because someone believed the "entire" Word of God and put it into practice, then God manifested His glory to prove His Word is True.
Men I used to work with came out of coma's in the Name of Jesus, sight restored, hearing opened. muteness rendered void. "Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly." Life for us and life for those that God would bring across our paths both eternal and physical. Jesus said, "go ye into all the earth, preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons", so whats stopping the majority of us? Fear.........John said: "perfect love cast out fear".
If we have "perfect Love" toward God (for the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit), and our fellow man then God is free to "work His will" in our lives and in those He put around us for His glory.
All of this comes from the confidence we have by faith in His Word to believe "the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth" in Jesus name. Knowing that He will do His will to glorify His name and lift up Jesus to call all men unto Himself.
Convinced yet?
We are weak but He is strong. Do you want your strength or His?
Do you want your thoughts, ideas and interpretations or do you want His Word, promises, and Spirit?
Lets give faith a try from here on out. You know that your faith will grow as you hear and believe His Word. "Faith comes by hearing and that hearing by the Word of God."
I have many things to write because, since I was saved, I made the Word of God the most important meat in my life by believing it without question or doubt. By faith.
I don't have all the answers but the ones I don't have I don't need at this time. God gives all wisdom in His time. As long as I am alive seeking His heart and face I will be open to the every growing revelation of Jesus Christ that He will give me "in His time!"
Sand or rock?
Real meat or milk?
Faith or doubt?
Unconditional Love or judgement?
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
I pray this small thought gives you hope and inspires you to greatness aiding His Kingdom to come.
God bless and keep.
J&E in Tn
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Reflections on my "fist person" relationship with God.
I personally believe in a "first person relationship" with God. That means that it's God first in everything. Praying without ceasing, in everything giving thanks, bringing every thought into subjection to the mind of Christ, and being led by the Holy Spirit. Few people get to complete success in this arena during this life but you will never succeed if you don't start now. Having these Biblical practice on my side sets the "life filter" to fine filtering in everything I do. It helps me "think before I speak", and "listen to what's being said" before I react. It also helps me put "the mind of Christ" ahead of my mind of flesh. Just a great means of "slowing down" and "making me think" as I walk through the day just who I am representing with my life.
Love
J&E inTn
Maturity
Maturity: the word that encompasses every facet of our being, spiritual, mental, and physical. Most of us never realize that we "prove" our maturity by how we live our life, speak, think, express ourselves, and interact with others, both God and man.
It's a phenomenon that is the same on all levels of life, spiritual, physical, mental, all facets. It starts out on every level as a "baby" then is supposed to "grow" as we grow in all arenas. Each area that "we are" grows at different speeds based on "instruction, interest, and necessity". Some areas slower and others much quicker, again depending on what's important and "expected", but grow we must like it or not.
Some people think that "I don't care what people say, I can be myself and if people don't like it, tough." Well this is the kind of argument that shows that "maturity" isn't on their minds/hearts.
Anyone who refuses to grow up or mature becomes obvious to all around them.
Of all three arenas for maturity to not take place the worst is in the spiritual one. If we are spiritually "immature" all the other areas will be effected.
All our thoughts, words, and deeds come from our spiritual maturity side. The more lax we are here then the more lax we will be mentally and physically.
Spiritual growth/maturity comes from faith in God's Word: "now faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." No faith, no hearing, no spiritual growth. Don't confuse this with just reading the Word of God, because when we just read without faith to believe/obey then the only scripture we have on our side is "my Word shall not come back void." Reading with only the human intellect and not the Spirit of God, will eliminate the purpose of the Holy Spirit to "remind us and teach us all things that He said." Many people to date just read the Bible and have no more understanding then "the doctrines of man." "God's Word is spirit and it must be discerned spiritually. One of the true reasons for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This is how the Christian "matures." The Holy Spirit also takes us from the "milk of the faith" into the "meat of the faith." If the babe, (both physical and spiritual), doesn't go from milk to real food they are unhealthy and many times perish.
Babe's always ask why, and then to the wrong person. Babe's look to those around them to give them the answer that they need to end the need.
Mature believers ask God first, and not just for the answers but for the grace to go through the situation, glorifying their Father in Heaven.
Spiritual maturity will give grace to:
Control the mind,
Control the mouth,
Control our thoughts,
Control our desires,
Control our hearts "as a man thinks in his heart so is he."
When we interact with others, all facets of maturity is immediately made known to those with whom we interact with. The tone of our expression, (malice, hate, foolishness, anger, putting down, insult, argument, and every foul way), proves to them how mature or immature we are, and spiritually (where we draw our moral compass from) where we are coming from, the influence of God or the devil.
The argument that God doesn't exist to allow for childlike behavior is at best an insult that paints a foolish self portrait.
Everyone starts somewhere as a babe.
Everyone wants to grow up and be respected at some point.
As believers we are instructed to "to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ", thereby becoming the vessel of God to glorify HIs name in all the earth.
This is a real growing maturity that is valuable in every facet that it is expressed in.
Love
J&E inTn
Monday, March 13, 2017
The wife and her value.
The Wife:
Many times I have posted about the relationship between man and woman as husband and wife.
Many times I have posted openly about the Unconditional Love that I have for my wife and how I express that.
I have received recurring communications from other peoples wives about how "their husbands don't treat them as precious." For a world view this is the normal, almost acceptable. But for the Christian husband and wife it is not only unacceptable, but it violates the precious comparison between "Christ and His bride (the church). Biblical marriage between a man and woman carries the same configuration of relationship as Christ and His bride. Nothing else in the Bible is given this incredible honor and responsibility as a man and woman in a Christian marriage.
With Christian marriages going south as much as secular marriages, or in some cases a higher percentage, what is wrong?
With Christian marriages on the down swing how does this effect Christ and His bride in the spirit realm?
We all know that for many things on earth there is a "type" in the heavens/spirit realm. Christ and His bride in the spirit realm and man and wife here on earth. Are they tied together by divine decree? Does the failure of marriages in the earthly realm warn us of the condition in the spirit realm? Is Christ and His bride suffering the same breakdown for the same reasons?
Lets look at several reasons for Christ and His bride being misrepresented as is a man and a woman in marriage.
Christ is the groom, His bride the church.
How does Christ treat His bride? Ephesians 5:25b "Husbands, so love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it."
He literally died for "His bride the church". He laid down His life to take ownership of His bride body, soul, and spirit. He did this out or love by extreme sacrifice for (us) His brides "total" good. This "total" good was both in the now, and in the forever. Our eternal good. Now I am not just talking about "for our best welfare", but for our "eternal good". We know that only God is good, so we can understand the good that only God is becomes our (His Brides) treatment by Christ our Groom. Unconditionally Loving good. We are treated this way not because of merit but because of Unconditional Love.
How does this "good" treatment relate to His bride the church?
Lets see:
He gave His life for us His bride........greatest blessing/miracle ever.
He meets all our needs.
He heals us.
He restores our soul.
He turns the evil worked against us into good.
He promises us spiritual gifts.
He endues us with power. (For those who will seek/tarry after the Holy Spirit)
He intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father.
He is tender to us (even when we deserve worse.)
He comforts us.
He rejoices over us.
He reveals Himself to us.
He gives us hope and the unending example to follow and how to express Unconditional Love.
The list goes on and on but by now you see that being part of His bride is to receive of His "goodness",
So if we His bride are this "precious", and this marriage of Christ and His believers are compared to the marriage of a man and a woman, then how precious should our wives be to us, their husbands?
Here in is the problem with marriages both religious and secular. We do not as "believers" transfer that Unconditional Love that we experience from our Groom to our wives.
Here are some reason we as men fail:
Ephesians 5:28
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Colossians 3:19
Husbands, Love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
1 Peter 3:7
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Here is a good scriptural basis for a "self analysis" of our treatment of our wives and women to start with.
Do you love your wife like your own body? She knows if you do or not. They can tell just by the way you treat them against how you treat yourself. Here is a piece of Truth that sets free: Just ask her!
I bet in many cases the amount of money spent by the husband on toys outshines the amount of money spent on the things she needs to take care of the husband and the living quarters.
What about the husbands conversation with the wife? She doesn't think like a man so it's easy to see that she may not have the same thought patterns as the husband. She thinks as a woman, that's why you married her. She's different by God's design so that the two of you being united can complete each other and become one. Is your conversations a always "filled with grace?" Grace being Unconditional Love, unmerited favor, patience? Or is it critical, insulting, or abusive? Maybe your conversation is neither. Maybe it doesn't tear down nor build up. That's just as bad. Women are sensitive as to "how you talk" to them. Actions, demeanor, tone, and temperance speak louder than words, and if it doesn't edify then it rebuked. "Be ye not bitter against them!" Think before you speak, remember that the tongue "is unruly" and can shipwreck a relationship quickly.
"Dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel."
Hmmm! That's real wisdom there. "According to knowledge" didn't realize till now that this could mean that if you don't then you must be "unwise"? Maybe ignorant? I don't know what do you think?
"Giving honor to the wife", wow.......no wondering about what that means. A woman that is honored knows that she is treasured, respected, "precious." Now that kind of treatment sets the wife free to "be in subjection to her husband"and builds up the marriage with love and appreciation.
Ever think why God's Word "commands" the husband to love the wife but only commands the wife to "be in subjection"? As we stated before: if the husband loves his wife with Unconditional Love in all his "thoughts, words, and deeds", then his wife will be set free to submit and then Unconditionally Love him back. They become one in spirit and in flesh. This is so powerful that they, in their Unconditional Love for one another show forth Christ and His bride, His church and how that Unconditional Love can work both in the spirit real and here on earth.
God is glorified through this kind of living and loving.
Regardless where you are starting in this application as a husband the time to make changes is now. The longer the wife is scorned through bad treatment, course language, or rough joking, the longer it will take to win her trust back and resolve the injuries. But be consistent! When you start pray for grace and rely on the Holy Spirit to give you a right heart, mind and tongue to carry out this task. Restore you marriage before you ruin it, if that's where you are now.
Remember that you can always get help from your wife by actually asking her to "make you aware" when you are falling away from this goal.
Pray for a dream or vision, or a revelation of the Love of Christ to help encourage and guide you. This actually happened to me when I asked God to teach me about Unconditional Love. But I sought it with all my heart for a long time, continually.
Here's what happened:
I was given a vision of the last supper, and the scriptures came alive.
John 13:23
"Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved"
Many times I have posted about the relationship between man and woman as husband and wife.
Many times I have posted openly about the Unconditional Love that I have for my wife and how I express that.
I have received recurring communications from other peoples wives about how "their husbands don't treat them as precious." For a world view this is the normal, almost acceptable. But for the Christian husband and wife it is not only unacceptable, but it violates the precious comparison between "Christ and His bride (the church). Biblical marriage between a man and woman carries the same configuration of relationship as Christ and His bride. Nothing else in the Bible is given this incredible honor and responsibility as a man and woman in a Christian marriage.
With Christian marriages going south as much as secular marriages, or in some cases a higher percentage, what is wrong?
With Christian marriages on the down swing how does this effect Christ and His bride in the spirit realm?
We all know that for many things on earth there is a "type" in the heavens/spirit realm. Christ and His bride in the spirit realm and man and wife here on earth. Are they tied together by divine decree? Does the failure of marriages in the earthly realm warn us of the condition in the spirit realm? Is Christ and His bride suffering the same breakdown for the same reasons?
Lets look at several reasons for Christ and His bride being misrepresented as is a man and a woman in marriage.
Christ is the groom, His bride the church.
How does Christ treat His bride? Ephesians 5:25b "Husbands, so love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it."
He literally died for "His bride the church". He laid down His life to take ownership of His bride body, soul, and spirit. He did this out or love by extreme sacrifice for (us) His brides "total" good. This "total" good was both in the now, and in the forever. Our eternal good. Now I am not just talking about "for our best welfare", but for our "eternal good". We know that only God is good, so we can understand the good that only God is becomes our (His Brides) treatment by Christ our Groom. Unconditionally Loving good. We are treated this way not because of merit but because of Unconditional Love.
How does this "good" treatment relate to His bride the church?
Lets see:
He gave His life for us His bride........greatest blessing/miracle ever.
He meets all our needs.
He heals us.
He restores our soul.
He turns the evil worked against us into good.
He promises us spiritual gifts.
He endues us with power. (For those who will seek/tarry after the Holy Spirit)
He intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father.
He is tender to us (even when we deserve worse.)
He comforts us.
He rejoices over us.
He reveals Himself to us.
He gives us hope and the unending example to follow and how to express Unconditional Love.
The list goes on and on but by now you see that being part of His bride is to receive of His "goodness",
So if we His bride are this "precious", and this marriage of Christ and His believers are compared to the marriage of a man and a woman, then how precious should our wives be to us, their husbands?
Here in is the problem with marriages both religious and secular. We do not as "believers" transfer that Unconditional Love that we experience from our Groom to our wives.
Here are some reason we as men fail:
Ephesians 5:28
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Colossians 3:19
Husbands, Love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
1 Peter 3:7
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Here is a good scriptural basis for a "self analysis" of our treatment of our wives and women to start with.
Do you love your wife like your own body? She knows if you do or not. They can tell just by the way you treat them against how you treat yourself. Here is a piece of Truth that sets free: Just ask her!
I bet in many cases the amount of money spent by the husband on toys outshines the amount of money spent on the things she needs to take care of the husband and the living quarters.
What about the husbands conversation with the wife? She doesn't think like a man so it's easy to see that she may not have the same thought patterns as the husband. She thinks as a woman, that's why you married her. She's different by God's design so that the two of you being united can complete each other and become one. Is your conversations a always "filled with grace?" Grace being Unconditional Love, unmerited favor, patience? Or is it critical, insulting, or abusive? Maybe your conversation is neither. Maybe it doesn't tear down nor build up. That's just as bad. Women are sensitive as to "how you talk" to them. Actions, demeanor, tone, and temperance speak louder than words, and if it doesn't edify then it rebuked. "Be ye not bitter against them!" Think before you speak, remember that the tongue "is unruly" and can shipwreck a relationship quickly.
"Dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel."
Hmmm! That's real wisdom there. "According to knowledge" didn't realize till now that this could mean that if you don't then you must be "unwise"? Maybe ignorant? I don't know what do you think?
"Giving honor to the wife", wow.......no wondering about what that means. A woman that is honored knows that she is treasured, respected, "precious." Now that kind of treatment sets the wife free to "be in subjection to her husband"and builds up the marriage with love and appreciation.
Ever think why God's Word "commands" the husband to love the wife but only commands the wife to "be in subjection"? As we stated before: if the husband loves his wife with Unconditional Love in all his "thoughts, words, and deeds", then his wife will be set free to submit and then Unconditionally Love him back. They become one in spirit and in flesh. This is so powerful that they, in their Unconditional Love for one another show forth Christ and His bride, His church and how that Unconditional Love can work both in the spirit real and here on earth.
God is glorified through this kind of living and loving.
Regardless where you are starting in this application as a husband the time to make changes is now. The longer the wife is scorned through bad treatment, course language, or rough joking, the longer it will take to win her trust back and resolve the injuries. But be consistent! When you start pray for grace and rely on the Holy Spirit to give you a right heart, mind and tongue to carry out this task. Restore you marriage before you ruin it, if that's where you are now.
Remember that you can always get help from your wife by actually asking her to "make you aware" when you are falling away from this goal.
Pray for a dream or vision, or a revelation of the Love of Christ to help encourage and guide you. This actually happened to me when I asked God to teach me about Unconditional Love. But I sought it with all my heart for a long time, continually.
Here's what happened:
I was given a vision of the last supper, and the scriptures came alive.
John 13:23
"Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved"
As I looked upon this vision I also felt the situation in it's spiritual significance. I looked upon James "the beloved" laying on Jesus bosom and Jesus went about the business at hand talking with His disciples. The moment was very tender and none of the other disciples even noticed this act of love. As I studied this vision I couldn't understand the whole significance of what it meant so I asked the Holy Spirit what it meant. He showed me that Jesus was showing His Love and acceptance of John and his expression of closeness by letting him experience the safe haven of True Love. How that True Love is not ashamed to receive any gesture of it's (moral) expression, and offers no resistance to it. In fact the person showing this tender and deep love could take confidence in the fact that the expression is accepted entirely and without resistance.
Then He said "so it should be with your wife". The thought then came to me that my wife, (your wife), should not be afraid, ashamed, or other wise redirected to say or express anything to her husband that will be met with a withdrawing or negative attitude, action, or word. She should feel that on any level that I (you) are a safe haven for her thoughts, emotions, questions, dreams, needs, and the cares she expresses with an true interest in her expressions. Like John lying on Jesus bosom. Completely safe, loved, undeterred from his expression of closeness and knowing that he will in no wise receive rejection on any level now or later.
Well husbands the ball is in your court.
"For the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit".
"For we have all received of His goodness."
Maybe having received of both of the above we could "meet" some of it out to the next best gift that God gave us after Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Women are a precious gift and should be so treated.
Tell them you Love them.
Kiss them often and tenderly.
A hug now and then during the day won't hurt a thing.
Constantly tell them you Love them with all your sincerity, passion, words, and then show them how special they are in your deeds towards them.
Above all pray for them, respect them, honor them.
Love
J&E