Those who aspire to be a partaker with the Lord in His end-time purposes must enter the School of Christ and be recreated, developed, and trained. These must pass through a process of crucifixion, testing, chastening, and correction.
For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:5-6
The first thing necessary is to discover this School of Preparation, then seek to gain entrance. One must know that this course of training is available before he can enter its classes. A knowledge of its requirements is helpful; accepting them is essential. Unless we submit to this time of processing, our participation in His end-time purposes cannot be obtained.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Except we, in some measure, come to understand God’s ways of working, we may find ourselves involved in that which is at cross-purposes with Him. He may be trying to crucify us through a certain individual, but all we see is someone trying to do us wrong. God may be applying the chastening rod, but we interpret it as someone wrongly abusing us.
Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
If we can recognize God at work refining us, we will find ourselves in His School of Preparation, without our being aware that we have entered the process of our preparation.
Before we will be able to rightly relate to the classroom lessons of this school, we must come into a practical relationship with the Holy Spirit as our director and teacher. Each individual will be in a class by himself, and receive the lessons specifically fitted to the crucifixion of his will, heart, and carnal nature. These deal inwardly, backward in correction concerning incidents of the past, and forward in preparation toward the intended position and work to occupy us in “that day.”
Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
Jesus, the Master builder, is at hand, diligently working with fullers soap, refiners fire, winnowing fan, trying circumstances, and unreasonable people. He will bring to bear all these, and many other crucifying, chastening, and correcting people and trying things, which are exactly suited to our individual processing.
The only safe way is to face them all as being a test, in which we are to overcome. See no man. Rather, see it as being appointed of the Lord. The Lord will formulate conditions, and set in our path persons adapted to reach and correct our every crooked, or warped tendency. We must accept and understand the fact that it is the Lord at work.
An almost endless variety of incidents, and people, may gather about us. The purpose of all is that He may be revealed in us as we properly respond to the many dealings by repentance and faith.
If we will remain steadfast and faithful, after we come through it all, we will have been prepared for His Kingdom purposes.
“…a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Masters use, and prepared unto every good work.” II Timothy 2:21
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4.24)
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Food
John 4:33 So the disciples began to say to one another, "Nobody has brought Him anything to eat, has he?"
The Lord Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting by Jacob’s well. His disciples had gone to the city to buy food, indicating that the Lord must indeed be hungry. There He meets a Samaritan woman. It was the will of God that He should speak to her and save her. He does what God has willed Him to do. His disciples subsequently return with the food and request Him to eat. But He says to them, “I have food to eat which you do not know about.” They then think that someone else must have brought Him food. Consequently, He plainly tells them, “The food which I have is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to accomplish His work.”
Eph 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.
His work should make us full instead of empty and hungry. Each time we labor we should feel full. If we find that we are hungry, something must be wrong. It is an indication that we should examine what we are doing. If we walk according to God’s will and not our own will, we should be strengthened. There are many external needs that are very compelling and outside persuasion is often very strong. We can find ourselves very busy doing many good things but there is only one thing that will truly satisfy us and build us up in the inner man. Let His Spirit bear witness with ours that we have truly touched His life in all that we undertake. We must do God’s will in order to be satisfied.
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.
The Lord Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting by Jacob’s well. His disciples had gone to the city to buy food, indicating that the Lord must indeed be hungry. There He meets a Samaritan woman. It was the will of God that He should speak to her and save her. He does what God has willed Him to do. His disciples subsequently return with the food and request Him to eat. But He says to them, “I have food to eat which you do not know about.” They then think that someone else must have brought Him food. Consequently, He plainly tells them, “The food which I have is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to accomplish His work.”
Eph 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.
His work should make us full instead of empty and hungry. Each time we labor we should feel full. If we find that we are hungry, something must be wrong. It is an indication that we should examine what we are doing. If we walk according to God’s will and not our own will, we should be strengthened. There are many external needs that are very compelling and outside persuasion is often very strong. We can find ourselves very busy doing many good things but there is only one thing that will truly satisfy us and build us up in the inner man. Let His Spirit bear witness with ours that we have truly touched His life in all that we undertake. We must do God’s will in order to be satisfied.
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Im Hungry
“Draw me, we will run after You. The King has brought me into His chambers.” Song of Solomon 1:4a.
This verse expresses in two words, a prayer that is vital to our spiritual well being. These words are easily remembered and may therefore be prayed often, “Draw me.”
Following our prayer of desire is a commitment to the Lord that we will indeed respond to Him, as He creates within us a spiritual hunger - “We will run after You.”
Finally, the marvelous result of the outworking of our prayer of desire and of the expression of our determination to respond to Him follows - “The King has brought me into His chambers.”
This essential prayer, “Draw me,” relates to the spiritual hunger that in varying degrees is resident within each of us. This hunger drive, a powerful basic “urge” at the foundation of all life, seeks its satisfaction in many ways.
In the physical realm, a baby is born hungry. The mother cannot produce this hunger within her child, she can only nourish it. The spiritual hunger within each of us is a creative act of God that comes from Him alone. It cannot be produced or imparted by man; but only by the Lord.
The Lord will enlarge our spiritual capacity, as in faith we look to Him to cause us to become spiritually hungry. A primary means to accomplish this is to present ourselves before the Lord and then actively “wait upon Him.” As we wait, the Lord will work in our behalf, and He will respond to our desire for increased spiritual hunger and capacity.
“And unto one He gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took His journey.” Matthew 25:15.
These “talents” relate to our spiritual capacity. Once we become spiritually hungry, we must be careful to separate this newly acquired spiritual capacity from other desires and not allow some substitute to seemingly satisfy it. Nor should we seek some other means than the Lord Himself to satisfy our spiritual hunger.
As we actively look to the Lord and prayerfully ask Him to “draw us,” this hunger within us will intensify, causing us to cry out for its satisfaction. The Lord will respond, and He will come to “sup” with us. As we welcome His presence, and then “feed Him” with our worship, and with the expression of our commitment to “run after Him,” He in turn will “feed us,” fully satisfying our hunger with Himself.
“For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who partakes of My flesh and drinks My blood dwells in Me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent Me, and I live through the Father, so he who partakes of Me, even he shall live by Me.” John 6:55‑57.
Our Lord is a seeking God who is both desirous and anxious for our fellowship. He will, as we seek to better know Him, create within us the spiritual hunger that will lead us into His presence, that we might intimately, personally, sup with Him.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Pruning
When God takes His pruning knife in hand and begins to strip the unnecessary twigs and branches from His
chosen ones, the result of it all appears to be total devastation. We are always happy, of course, when He cuts
away something we know is harmful to our well being... some carnal habit or worldly desire that we know is
hindering the joy of Christian living. Or even some religious enterprise that we thought was for His glory... but
which turned out to be empty and void and unsatisfying. But generally our Gardener will cut much deeper than
we expected. I am not the judge as to how much of your work for God was carnal to begin with. But God will
often dissolve certain religious activities even if it was right for a season. And the reason we are troubled about
it is because we do not understand what God considers to be vital for bearing good fruit. We must come to the
renewed mind, and love Him more, before we will understand what is well pleasing in His sight. With the carnal
mind we are quick to presume that if the church is thriving and the crowds are straining the facilities... God
wants us to expand in order to keep up with it. He may allow you to do that, but His desire may be that you
separate it into smaller groups... that He might discover more and better fruit in harvest time. The apple tree
and the pear, and the peach... are much more beautiful before the pruning, than they are after. But the fruit
farmer is looking only for the fruit; and the beautiful tree in his eyes is the tree that has been trimmed down in a
way that will cause it to produce more and better fruit in harvest time.
Are we afraid to ask the Lord to prune us down to the shape and size that He has in mind? Or will we continue
to go our own way, hoping some how that He might spare the knife because of our achievements, or because
of our ambition to be successful in the work of the Master? Once we catch sight of the “more excellent way” we
will sincerely ask Him to strip away every little twig and branch, every carnal desire, every bit of high
mindedness and selfish ambition... if so be He might come and make His habitation in His inheritance that He
has redeemed for His own pleasure. We need much pruning in our lives, to bring us to the place where we
sincerely, and out from hearts of love and gratitude, are desirous of one thing, and one thing only... that God
alone might be glorified in all that we are doing.
chosen ones, the result of it all appears to be total devastation. We are always happy, of course, when He cuts
away something we know is harmful to our well being... some carnal habit or worldly desire that we know is
hindering the joy of Christian living. Or even some religious enterprise that we thought was for His glory... but
which turned out to be empty and void and unsatisfying. But generally our Gardener will cut much deeper than
we expected. I am not the judge as to how much of your work for God was carnal to begin with. But God will
often dissolve certain religious activities even if it was right for a season. And the reason we are troubled about
it is because we do not understand what God considers to be vital for bearing good fruit. We must come to the
renewed mind, and love Him more, before we will understand what is well pleasing in His sight. With the carnal
mind we are quick to presume that if the church is thriving and the crowds are straining the facilities... God
wants us to expand in order to keep up with it. He may allow you to do that, but His desire may be that you
separate it into smaller groups... that He might discover more and better fruit in harvest time. The apple tree
and the pear, and the peach... are much more beautiful before the pruning, than they are after. But the fruit
farmer is looking only for the fruit; and the beautiful tree in his eyes is the tree that has been trimmed down in a
way that will cause it to produce more and better fruit in harvest time.
Are we afraid to ask the Lord to prune us down to the shape and size that He has in mind? Or will we continue
to go our own way, hoping some how that He might spare the knife because of our achievements, or because
of our ambition to be successful in the work of the Master? Once we catch sight of the “more excellent way” we
will sincerely ask Him to strip away every little twig and branch, every carnal desire, every bit of high
mindedness and selfish ambition... if so be He might come and make His habitation in His inheritance that He
has redeemed for His own pleasure. We need much pruning in our lives, to bring us to the place where we
sincerely, and out from hearts of love and gratitude, are desirous of one thing, and one thing only... that God
alone might be glorified in all that we are doing.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Surprise Surprise Surprise
Do not be surprised if the Lord begins to move you from a circumstance in which you have been blessed, perhaps for months or even years. Because sometimes we are content and not seeking more and since He is very particular of our relationship to Him, He will desire to refine us some more.
Another reason is to broaden us in our sympathy and understanding of each other. The one who has had but little trouble in life is not a particularly helpful person. But one who has gone through many trials, shattered hopes, and tragedies, has learned a valuable lesson. Those who have learned through experience are of great value.
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” II Corinthians 1:3-4
Then you can enter into perfect fellowship with a person who is in unspoken agony of spirit and pressure of trial, and pray with compassion and understanding. Then you are able to look beyond the frailty of flesh, and remembering that we are all but dust, are able to trust the Lord with a sublime faith for change and victory in the lives of those that The Lord would have you minister too.
Another reason is to broaden us in our sympathy and understanding of each other. The one who has had but little trouble in life is not a particularly helpful person. But one who has gone through many trials, shattered hopes, and tragedies, has learned a valuable lesson. Those who have learned through experience are of great value.
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” II Corinthians 1:3-4
Then you can enter into perfect fellowship with a person who is in unspoken agony of spirit and pressure of trial, and pray with compassion and understanding. Then you are able to look beyond the frailty of flesh, and remembering that we are all but dust, are able to trust the Lord with a sublime faith for change and victory in the lives of those that The Lord would have you minister too.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Prayer or Intercession
Our spiritual life must be established and abide upon a firm foundation. This “foundation” is our daily time of worship and prayer, which flows out from our innermost being to the Lord. It is not the amount of time (quantity) that we spend in worship and prayer that is important, but rather, the quality of this time.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For it is always he who asks that receives, he who seeks that finds, and he who knocks that has the door opened to him.”
“What man is there among you, who if his son shall ask him for bread will offer him a stone? Or if the son shall ask him for a fish will offer him a snake? If you then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him.” Mathew 7:7-11 Weymouth
There are three primary words in the above; ask, seek, and knock. The outworking of each of these produces a very different result.
Ask and “it” will be given. This “it” is that for which we are asking. It will be given to the one who asks. If we ask for bread, the Lord will not give us a stone. If we ask for fish, He will not give us a serpent. We can trust the Lord to rightly respond to our request.
In order to receive, this “asking” must be according to the will of the Lord, which we will come to know as we spend quality time in His presence. Faith will be imparted into our being, then we can ask in confidence, knowing that we will receive.
“Seeking” goes beyond our asking to receive something. “Seek, and you will find.” Seeking has to do with a spiritual discovery as we come to better know the Lord as a person. In the first, we are asking our Lord to provide “something” that we desire or need. In the second, we are asking the Lord to reveal Himself to us. In each of these, we receive, but very differently.
“Knocking” is distinct from either of the above. “Knock and it will be opened to you” – not given, but rather a doorway into a new realm will be opened before us. This “knocking” refers to a persistence in intercession that will lead to a birthing into a higher spiritual realm, or to an open door that had previously been closed.
I can say, “I will now pray.” I cannot say, “I will now intercede.” Prayer is initiated by the one who prays. Intercession is initiated by the Holy Spirit, to which I must respond. Intercession is very costly, because we must respond when this deep inner-knock of intercession is birthed within us. We cannot say, “I am busy now and will respond later.”
“Asking” gives release to our faith. But intercession is a process, at times painful, that results in a birthing. This intercessory birthing is very different from our asking or seeking.
A friend told me about his new car and described it in detail. When I asked if I could see it, he said he did not have it yet, but was “speaking” it into being. This will not work, but there is a Scriptural process that will work. “Asking” in itself is not sufficient. I must “seek” the Lord that He will actively move in my behalf, then I must respond to the Holy Spirit and “intercede” that it will be birthed into reality.
“Knock and it shall be opened to you.” That is, a way or process will be made available to us, and begin to open before us. Often, we may not understand this burden, but in the Lord’s time and way, it will become clear to us.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For it is always he who asks that receives, he who seeks that finds, and he who knocks that has the door opened to him.”
“What man is there among you, who if his son shall ask him for bread will offer him a stone? Or if the son shall ask him for a fish will offer him a snake? If you then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him.” Mathew 7:7-11 Weymouth
There are three primary words in the above; ask, seek, and knock. The outworking of each of these produces a very different result.
Ask and “it” will be given. This “it” is that for which we are asking. It will be given to the one who asks. If we ask for bread, the Lord will not give us a stone. If we ask for fish, He will not give us a serpent. We can trust the Lord to rightly respond to our request.
In order to receive, this “asking” must be according to the will of the Lord, which we will come to know as we spend quality time in His presence. Faith will be imparted into our being, then we can ask in confidence, knowing that we will receive.
“Seeking” goes beyond our asking to receive something. “Seek, and you will find.” Seeking has to do with a spiritual discovery as we come to better know the Lord as a person. In the first, we are asking our Lord to provide “something” that we desire or need. In the second, we are asking the Lord to reveal Himself to us. In each of these, we receive, but very differently.
“Knocking” is distinct from either of the above. “Knock and it will be opened to you” – not given, but rather a doorway into a new realm will be opened before us. This “knocking” refers to a persistence in intercession that will lead to a birthing into a higher spiritual realm, or to an open door that had previously been closed.
I can say, “I will now pray.” I cannot say, “I will now intercede.” Prayer is initiated by the one who prays. Intercession is initiated by the Holy Spirit, to which I must respond. Intercession is very costly, because we must respond when this deep inner-knock of intercession is birthed within us. We cannot say, “I am busy now and will respond later.”
“Asking” gives release to our faith. But intercession is a process, at times painful, that results in a birthing. This intercessory birthing is very different from our asking or seeking.
A friend told me about his new car and described it in detail. When I asked if I could see it, he said he did not have it yet, but was “speaking” it into being. This will not work, but there is a Scriptural process that will work. “Asking” in itself is not sufficient. I must “seek” the Lord that He will actively move in my behalf, then I must respond to the Holy Spirit and “intercede” that it will be birthed into reality.
“Knock and it shall be opened to you.” That is, a way or process will be made available to us, and begin to open before us. Often, we may not understand this burden, but in the Lord’s time and way, it will become clear to us.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Spirit of Life
“Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.”Hebrews 7:16
The Word says that the last enemy to be defeated, or overcome, is “death.”
“For He must reign, till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”I Corinthians 15:25-26
We cannot overcome death in heaven, rather, it must be done during our present span of life. Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.
“The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”John 10:10
So we might have and enjoy this more abundant life, the Lord is seeking to take us beyond our present understanding of the Word, into the full working of the “law of the Spirit of life.”
“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”Romans 8:4-6
For us to “walk in the Spirit” results from our heart obedience to the written Word and to the leadings of the Holy Spirit, which may seem as foolishness to many. For the Lord to accomplish this, we must present our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice.
When I “mind” the things of the Spirit, I become spiritually minded, which brings life and peace, because I have released the Lord to move in and through my life experience.No matter what my circumstances might be, I am to believe that “all things work together for my good.”This changes my attitude from becoming a victim of the “law of sin and death,” to my obtaining life and health through the “law of the Spirit of life.”
As I come under the working of the “Spirit of life,” I am healed and released from the process of death so I might live as an end-time witness of the power of God. The world will be greatly affected by this witness.
May the “law of the Spirit of life” have its full work in your life, by the grace of God
The Word says that the last enemy to be defeated, or overcome, is “death.”
“For He must reign, till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”I Corinthians 15:25-26
We cannot overcome death in heaven, rather, it must be done during our present span of life. Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.
“The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”John 10:10
So we might have and enjoy this more abundant life, the Lord is seeking to take us beyond our present understanding of the Word, into the full working of the “law of the Spirit of life.”
“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”Romans 8:4-6
For us to “walk in the Spirit” results from our heart obedience to the written Word and to the leadings of the Holy Spirit, which may seem as foolishness to many. For the Lord to accomplish this, we must present our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice.
When I “mind” the things of the Spirit, I become spiritually minded, which brings life and peace, because I have released the Lord to move in and through my life experience.No matter what my circumstances might be, I am to believe that “all things work together for my good.”This changes my attitude from becoming a victim of the “law of sin and death,” to my obtaining life and health through the “law of the Spirit of life.”
As I come under the working of the “Spirit of life,” I am healed and released from the process of death so I might live as an end-time witness of the power of God. The world will be greatly affected by this witness.
May the “law of the Spirit of life” have its full work in your life, by the grace of God
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The Kingdom
Jesus began His ministry with these words:
“…The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the Gospel.” Mark 1:15
His next words were to two fishermen, while they were working at their trade.
“And Jesus said to them, Come you after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17
Here, the message of the Kingdom was applied to the lives of these men through a practical application to their occupation. They had been fishers of fish. Now, Jesus is calling them to become fishers of men.
Note carefully that they were to continue fishing, but with a higher purpose in view. The Kingdom message in its functioning is intended to lift the earthly aspect of our vocation into a higher purpose.
The word “Kingdom” has been both misunderstood and misapplied. It is often relegated to a future millennium or to heaven. However, the claim of the Kingdom that Jesus is presenting is meant to be a present reality in the lives of all who will hear and respond.
The outworking of a Kingdom relationship to the Lord is to be both practical and effective in the every day life experience of those who desire to go beyond their present spiritual experience. It does not imply that those who respond will be suddenly be promoted into a place of prominence or rulership.
Rather, it expresses the coming of a Kingdom authority that will reign over the lives of all who will submit to its message, and permeate every aspect of our daily pattern of life.
This Kingdom is presented by Jesus as being “at hand.” That is, it is meant to work in the immediate circumstances of all who respond. It is not intended that it will find its function in some ethereal religious form, or in a future hope. Rather, it is presented as being attainable and touchable.
This Kingdom that is at hand requires our submission to the rule of God. To enter this Kingdom, we must embrace the rule of God and recognize the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal King, and then place everything that pertains to us in subjection to His Kingdom rule.
Jesus said, “Come you after Me.” If we do not recognize Him as our personal King and then allow the operation of the Kingdom in our lives, we will not be able to abide in the place of His calling. If our lives are as they were before salvation, plus the salt of religion, we are falling far short of His claim upon us, and His desire for us.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Today, Jesus is establishing His true Church in divine order and authority. Things that the Lord once winked at in the past will no longer be left unchallenged in our lives. Everything that can be shaken is shaking, until it has been reduced to the place where it will be able to submit to His Kingdom claim.
Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force.
The Lord will no longer allow His people to remain in the realm of blessing alone. He is causing them to acknowledge the claim of His Kingdom upon their lives. He is bringing each one of us to the place where we must make a decision as to what we will do with this Kingdom that He said “is at hand.”
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Kingdom is a present reality. In its present form, the outworking of it will be manifested within us as “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). All else will pass away.
Do not draw back.
Accept what Jesus is saying to you, and then press into this Kingdom.
“…The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the Gospel.” Mark 1:15
His next words were to two fishermen, while they were working at their trade.
“And Jesus said to them, Come you after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17
Here, the message of the Kingdom was applied to the lives of these men through a practical application to their occupation. They had been fishers of fish. Now, Jesus is calling them to become fishers of men.
Note carefully that they were to continue fishing, but with a higher purpose in view. The Kingdom message in its functioning is intended to lift the earthly aspect of our vocation into a higher purpose.
The word “Kingdom” has been both misunderstood and misapplied. It is often relegated to a future millennium or to heaven. However, the claim of the Kingdom that Jesus is presenting is meant to be a present reality in the lives of all who will hear and respond.
The outworking of a Kingdom relationship to the Lord is to be both practical and effective in the every day life experience of those who desire to go beyond their present spiritual experience. It does not imply that those who respond will be suddenly be promoted into a place of prominence or rulership.
Rather, it expresses the coming of a Kingdom authority that will reign over the lives of all who will submit to its message, and permeate every aspect of our daily pattern of life.
This Kingdom is presented by Jesus as being “at hand.” That is, it is meant to work in the immediate circumstances of all who respond. It is not intended that it will find its function in some ethereal religious form, or in a future hope. Rather, it is presented as being attainable and touchable.
This Kingdom that is at hand requires our submission to the rule of God. To enter this Kingdom, we must embrace the rule of God and recognize the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal King, and then place everything that pertains to us in subjection to His Kingdom rule.
Jesus said, “Come you after Me.” If we do not recognize Him as our personal King and then allow the operation of the Kingdom in our lives, we will not be able to abide in the place of His calling. If our lives are as they were before salvation, plus the salt of religion, we are falling far short of His claim upon us, and His desire for us.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Today, Jesus is establishing His true Church in divine order and authority. Things that the Lord once winked at in the past will no longer be left unchallenged in our lives. Everything that can be shaken is shaking, until it has been reduced to the place where it will be able to submit to His Kingdom claim.
Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force.
The Lord will no longer allow His people to remain in the realm of blessing alone. He is causing them to acknowledge the claim of His Kingdom upon their lives. He is bringing each one of us to the place where we must make a decision as to what we will do with this Kingdom that He said “is at hand.”
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Kingdom is a present reality. In its present form, the outworking of it will be manifested within us as “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). All else will pass away.
Do not draw back.
Accept what Jesus is saying to you, and then press into this Kingdom.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Spiritual Spanking
We are chastened when we do something that we should not be doing, and as a concerned Father, the Lord deals with us. Whenever I am spiritually spanked and corrected, I rejoice, as the Word says, “Whom the Lord loves, He corrects.”
“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:5-6
The Lord is hindered in chastening us when we have not given, or surrendered to Him the right to all that we are and have. In the Garden of Eden, Adam gave up his dependence on the Lord and chose to become independent by eating from the tree of (self) knowledge. Later, an animal was slain and Adam was covered with its skin. He was forgiven but what he had eaten was still within him, and now he had the “right” to choose for himself what he would do or not do.
Although we are forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we also still have within us the right to our own lives, as through Adam, we also “ate” of the tree of self-knowledge.
When I saw this, I carefully gave back to the Lord the right to do as I please. Jesus is my Savior, but now He is more than this - He has become my Lord. Therefore, I can place myself under His headship and ask Him to chasten me, that I might enter into and possess all that He has for me.
As we rightly respond to the process of being tested and corrected, we grow spiritually and enter into our spiritual identity as being a mature son. Now we are ready to be scourged, which is beyond our being chastened, as the Word tells us that “every son whom the Lord receives, He scourges” (Hebrews 12:6).
We are chastened when we do something wrong. Our being scourged has nothing to do with any wrong doing. Rather, it has to do with the reduction of our independence, and is an indication that we are doing everything right (every son He receives).
Scourging reaches into the very depth of our being and crucifies our self-life (our right to our own ways), and removes our propensity towards all self-sufficiency.
“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:5-6
The Lord is hindered in chastening us when we have not given, or surrendered to Him the right to all that we are and have. In the Garden of Eden, Adam gave up his dependence on the Lord and chose to become independent by eating from the tree of (self) knowledge. Later, an animal was slain and Adam was covered with its skin. He was forgiven but what he had eaten was still within him, and now he had the “right” to choose for himself what he would do or not do.
Although we are forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we also still have within us the right to our own lives, as through Adam, we also “ate” of the tree of self-knowledge.
When I saw this, I carefully gave back to the Lord the right to do as I please. Jesus is my Savior, but now He is more than this - He has become my Lord. Therefore, I can place myself under His headship and ask Him to chasten me, that I might enter into and possess all that He has for me.
As we rightly respond to the process of being tested and corrected, we grow spiritually and enter into our spiritual identity as being a mature son. Now we are ready to be scourged, which is beyond our being chastened, as the Word tells us that “every son whom the Lord receives, He scourges” (Hebrews 12:6).
We are chastened when we do something wrong. Our being scourged has nothing to do with any wrong doing. Rather, it has to do with the reduction of our independence, and is an indication that we are doing everything right (every son He receives).
Scourging reaches into the very depth of our being and crucifies our self-life (our right to our own ways), and removes our propensity towards all self-sufficiency.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
One Talen One Left
“But as the days of Noah were, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:37
Thus, His return will be in a time that is similar to the days in which Noah lived.
“For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark.” Matthew 24:38
They were occupied with the every day things of life, and laughed at Noah for building a boat on dry land. When Noah entered the ark, it was God who shut the door of protection. The people did not understand until it was too late, when the flood came and took them away. It will be this way again, at the coming of the Lord.
“Then two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” Matthew 24:40
The meaning of the word “be taken” is “to be taken hold of, embraced, and become associated with someone.” It is comparable to my taking my wife into my arms. Thus it is taking unto one’s self whatever is to be taken. The word for “left” is a word which means “to be forsaken.” It is very important that our understanding of these words is correct.
“...God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water.” I Peter 3:20
The Lord embraced these eight souls by putting an “ark” around them. Then He Himself closed the door and they were safe. When the Son of Man comes, He will not take us and fly away. The ark did not go up to heaven, rather it stayed on the earth, rising on top of the waters of judgment.
Thus, His return will be in a time that is similar to the days in which Noah lived.
“For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark.” Matthew 24:38
They were occupied with the every day things of life, and laughed at Noah for building a boat on dry land. When Noah entered the ark, it was God who shut the door of protection. The people did not understand until it was too late, when the flood came and took them away. It will be this way again, at the coming of the Lord.
“Then two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” Matthew 24:40
The meaning of the word “be taken” is “to be taken hold of, embraced, and become associated with someone.” It is comparable to my taking my wife into my arms. Thus it is taking unto one’s self whatever is to be taken. The word for “left” is a word which means “to be forsaken.” It is very important that our understanding of these words is correct.
“...God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water.” I Peter 3:20
The Lord embraced these eight souls by putting an “ark” around them. Then He Himself closed the door and they were safe. When the Son of Man comes, He will not take us and fly away. The ark did not go up to heaven, rather it stayed on the earth, rising on top of the waters of judgment.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Let Us Pray
God, He has so arranged His plans and methods that there is always a call for response and cooperation on our part. In accord with this policy of the Divine Creator, He has always put into His unfolding purposes something for us to do.
As the Captain of our salvation, He took up the work of intercession in deep passion, in the Garden of Gethsemane.
“In the days of His flesh, with bitter cries and tears, He offered prayers and supplications….” Hebrews 5:7 Moffatt
“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
However, it is not enough that Jesus alone has thus become our Great Intercessor. Though originating in God, every great spiritual movement has come forth out of travail, and groanings in intercession. The new move of God at this hour requires powerful intercessions and soul travail. The appointed Divine way of bringing to pass the great works of God is by prayer and intercession. The present day “movings” of God in preparing a Bride company is no exception.
It calls for mighty prevailing prayer.
There are those who are called to be much given to intercession. These are being dealt with to intercede concerning these movements of the Lord, at this present time, recognizing that this intercessory calling is of the greatest importance.
However, this urgent need is not being acted upon by the Lord’s people as it should. There must be intercessions and earnest prayer that God will give boldness and utterance in the Spirit, to declare these truths. The minds and spirits of the Lord’s children should be open to understand and grasp these things which pertain to present hour conditions, both as to the spiritual advancement of the saints of God, the time of the judgment of Gentile nations.
This is the hour of the preparation of the Bride. There must, and shall come forth the mighty currents and tides of spiritual life, gifts of the Spirit, transformations of individual character, and a rich and copious flow of prophecy, wisdom, and knowledge by the Spirit; prophetic declarations that will shake the world, and prepare the Lord’s people for the coming of the King.
There must be intercessory groups that are in one accord, united to pray, and who supplicate and intercede for the same things.
As the Captain of our salvation, He took up the work of intercession in deep passion, in the Garden of Gethsemane.
“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24.
However, it is not enough that Jesus alone has thus become our Great Intercessor. Though originating in God, every great spiritual movement has come forth out of travail, and groanings in intercession. The new move of God at this hour requires powerful intercessions and soul travail. The appointed Divine way of bringing to pass the great works of God is by prayer and intercession. The present day “movings” of God in preparing a Bride company is no exception.
It calls for mighty prevailing prayer.
There are those who are called to be much given to intercession. These are being dealt with to intercede concerning these movements of the Lord, at this present time, recognizing that this intercessory calling is of the greatest importance.
However, this urgent need is not being acted upon by the Lord’s people as it should. There must be intercessions and earnest prayer that God will give boldness and utterance in the Spirit, to declare these truths. The minds and spirits of the Lord’s children should be open to understand and grasp these things which pertain to present hour conditions, both as to the spiritual advancement of the saints of God, the time of the judgment of Gentile nations.
“But this I confess to you, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.” Acts 24:14
This is the hour of the preparation of the Bride. There must, and shall come forth the mighty currents and tides of spiritual life, gifts of the Spirit, transformations of individual character, and a rich and copious flow of prophecy, wisdom, and knowledge by the Spirit; prophetic declarations that will shake the world, and prepare the Lord’s people for the coming of the King.
There must be intercessory groups that are in one accord, united to pray, and who supplicate and intercede for the same things.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Martha, Martha, Martha
“Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word.” Luke 10:38-39
“Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.” John 11:1
Martha was always busy, as she was taken up with “things.” She saw the needs of others and faithfully served them. While Martha was doing this, Mary was just sitting. She only saw Jesus and was singularly interested in what He was saying.
At the same time Lazarus, who was very sick, was dying. Here is represented a divine balance in our Christian experience, portrayed by two sisters and a brother. Notice that these are related to each other, and are not to be separated. Therefore, we should be able to relate, in some measure, to all three.
Our ability to serve is given to us by the Lord. Thus, ministry is portrayed as being feminine (Martha). Our devotion to the Lord is expressed through our being a bride to Christ, and is also portrayed as feminine (Mary). Our Adamic nature is portrayed as masculine (Lazarus).
“…If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24
The (adamic) nature within us is to be crucified. Therefore, Lazarus is dying.
Each member of this family functioned together and supplied their particular part. Martha served, while Mary waited. When Martha criticized Mary, Jesus did not tell her to sit down and wait like Mary. Rather, He said, “Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (See Luke 10:40- 42). Martha was to continue serving, because it is necessary. He is saying that our service should not push into, or take over, our devotional life.
When Jesus was asked by Mary and Martha to come and pray for Lazarus, He stayed away for two days, waiting for Lazarus to die. Thus, His relationship to, and dealings with each of these was quite different. If we are not hearing rightly from the Lord, we may become sympathetic and pray for the adamic nature to be healed. Jesus waited, that resurrection life could come and Lazarus be released from all that bound him in his adamic grave.
“And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them, Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:43-44
The fact that Jesus stayed away for two days has a present day message for us. The Church Age lasted for two thousand years (two prophetic days). We are at the end of this time, and those who have died to their self-life are about to be loosed from all that hinders, which will result in the greatest visitation this world has ever witnessed.
The “household” in Bethany, which Jesus loved to visit, is resident within each one of us. The occupants, two sisters and a brother, are to fulfill their particular part and function within each aspect of our spiritual life experience.
Therefore, we must allow each of these, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, to live out their particular part within us to the fullest, in order to bring us to the highest of our potential.
May we, as being a balanced spiritual adult, attract Jesus, as He seeks for a household to visit.
Then, when He comes into our home, the “Martha” within us will enable us to serve those in need. As the “Mary” within us waits at His feet, Jesus will make Himself personally known to us. And, “Lazarus,” our self-life, will begin to die, so we can be resurrected into a higher level of identity and relationship with the Lord.
__________________
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Buy Gold
“I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire….” Revelation 3:18
This “counsel” is given by Jesus to the Laodicean Church, who said that they were “rich and increased in goods” (Revelation 3:17). Their emphasis was on the external blessing and provision of the Lord, rather than upon their being changed “within.”
This “gold” that is to be refined in fire, is the “divine nature” of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our lives purified - with all the dross and sediments removed in the “refiners fire” so that His life might be revealed through our lives – our being transparent in His presence, as a “sea of glass.”
Another purpose in our being “tried in the fire” is to prepare us to be a container of “His glory.”
Jesus ascended in glory, and He is increasingly releasing and imparting that glory, in these last days.
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” II Corinthians 3:18
This “open face” is the result of the “veil” having been “rent” when Jesus died on the cross, so we can again enter into the manifest presence of the Lord. The reason why we behold “as in a glass” the glory of the Lord is that this “glass” acts as a “shield” which allows us to experience as much glory as we can handle. As our capacity increases, the level of glory that we experience will also increase.
The Apostle Paul was on his way to persecute the Church when the Lord suddenly appeared in such glory that he fell from his horse and was blinded. The manifestation of glory was so great, that he had to be prayed for to restore his sight. Much of what Paul said of his “pressing toward the mark” was that he never forgot the manifestation of glory that he experienced, and he contended to again experience this level of glory.
One of the many “facets” of the glory of the Lord is that it has an effect which is like our looking into a “mirror.” When the glory appears, we see the reflection of ourselves as we presently are, in contrast to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. We see how far we are from what we should be. We need to experience the glory, not because we have prayed enough or that we have done all the right things, but rather so we can truly repent.
This “counsel” is given by Jesus to the Laodicean Church, who said that they were “rich and increased in goods” (Revelation 3:17). Their emphasis was on the external blessing and provision of the Lord, rather than upon their being changed “within.”
This “gold” that is to be refined in fire, is the “divine nature” of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our lives purified - with all the dross and sediments removed in the “refiners fire” so that His life might be revealed through our lives – our being transparent in His presence, as a “sea of glass.”
“And before the throne there was a sea of glass like to crystal.” Revelation 4:6
Another purpose in our being “tried in the fire” is to prepare us to be a container of “His glory.”
“Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you. And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3
Jesus ascended in glory, and He is increasingly releasing and imparting that glory, in these last days.
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” II Corinthians 3:18
This “open face” is the result of the “veil” having been “rent” when Jesus died on the cross, so we can again enter into the manifest presence of the Lord. The reason why we behold “as in a glass” the glory of the Lord is that this “glass” acts as a “shield” which allows us to experience as much glory as we can handle. As our capacity increases, the level of glory that we experience will also increase.
The Apostle Paul was on his way to persecute the Church when the Lord suddenly appeared in such glory that he fell from his horse and was blinded. The manifestation of glory was so great, that he had to be prayed for to restore his sight. Much of what Paul said of his “pressing toward the mark” was that he never forgot the manifestation of glory that he experienced, and he contended to again experience this level of glory.
One of the many “facets” of the glory of the Lord is that it has an effect which is like our looking into a “mirror.” When the glory appears, we see the reflection of ourselves as we presently are, in contrast to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. We see how far we are from what we should be. We need to experience the glory, not because we have prayed enough or that we have done all the right things, but rather so we can truly repent.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
What's Happening
Eph 4:16 (wnt) "For it is under His direction that the whole body is perfectly
adjusted and united by every joint that furnishes its supplies; and by the
adjusted and united by every joint that furnishes its supplies; and by the
proper functioning of each particular part there is brought about the
growing of the body for its building up in love."
As we grow spiritually, the Lord may use us in some special way or ministry.
When this happens, we tend to place an emphasis upon this particular aspect of
our experience, and neglect other areas of our spiritual growth. This may cause
us loss, as it is necessary that “each particular part” of our spiritual experience
furnishes its supply, so we will be balanced in our spiritual growth.
On the surface, these different areas of our spiritual experience may appear to
be contrary to each other. Each of us is called to some aspect of ministry, or
witness. We are also called to a life of devotion and prayer in which we come
apart to be alone with the Lord, and to wait upon Him. Along with these two
aspects of our spiritual development, our Adamic nature is to go through a
process of crucifixion and die, that we might experience resurrection life.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Present Truth
Today also, there are those within the Church who have fully committed the totality of their being to the Lord, and are being called apart to receive a fresh word from the Lord. This speaks of the absolute necessity of our receiving a “present word” concerning preparation (our being an end-time corporate John the Baptist), to become a witness of the Lord’s manifest presence in these last days. Therefore, we must make the right choices to bring this witness into its full expression, first within and then through us.
This religious system, which the Lord by-passed, had experienced the glory of God and had received much by direct revelation from the Lord. However, they became dependent upon past experiences for their present standing with the Lord. The fact that the Lord had moved through them in the past was not enough to equip them for the present need. They were incapable of hearing a present word concerning the soon to appear “Lamb of God.”
During this present time, there are those who are being called apart concerning the soon to appear “Lion of the tribe of Judah.” Therefore, there must be within each of us a present seeking of the Lord, even though we may have received much revelation from Him. Yesterday’s revelation is not enough to prepare us to face today’s problems and pressures.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
The Greater Work
The "One lit match will make some light,
but multiplied thousands of matches together
will make a brilliant light. Though each one of
us is insignificant within ourselves, there is a greater work,
because now all that Jesus did during His time on earth
will again be done corporately, through a people who
satan thought he had defeated, but now have become
the present day expression of the life of Jesus.
"Greater work" then, is the corporate expression of His
will being done. Jesus, "the light of the world," will
increasingly light the entire atmosphere of the world as
His resurrection glory begins to shine out through the corporate Body of Christ.
but multiplied thousands of matches together
will make a brilliant light. Though each one of
us is insignificant within ourselves, there is a greater work,
because now all that Jesus did during His time on earth
will again be done corporately, through a people who
satan thought he had defeated, but now have become
the present day expression of the life of Jesus.
"Greater work" then, is the corporate expression of His
will being done. Jesus, "the light of the world," will
increasingly light the entire atmosphere of the world as
His resurrection glory begins to shine out through the corporate Body of Christ.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Consecration
Revelation is the first step to holiness, and consecration is the second. A day must come in our lives, as definite as the day of our conversion, when we give up all right to ourselves and submit to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. Consecration will not silence the accusing monitor; its voice must be followed; that and nothing else can ever please God. Conscience simply demands our obedience; it does not require us to serve God in any spectacular way. Only an unconditional and unrestricted acceptance of the reproach of conscience with a corresponding willingness to do what is revealed can show how perfect is our consecration, how truly we hate sin how sincerely we desire to do God's will. A forgiven sinner is quite different from an ordinary sinner, and a consecrated Christian is quite different from an ordinary Christian.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)