Our Part

It is the issue of "Relationship" that is of primary importance to our heavenly Father. It is the highest purpose for the creation of man that He might have fellowship with those who will freely yield their will to the will of the Father. It was from the place of intimate fellowship with the Creator that Adam was given Dominion of the Earth. It was the Fathers good pleasure to come in the cool of the evening to visit with His son and view the progress Adam made while dressing the garden. What a beautiful picture for us in our High calling.

(Php 3:10 JM-NT) to intimately and experientially know Him, and the ability (power) of His resurrection -- even the [other MSS: a] common sharing (participation, partnership and fellowship) of His experiences (which include passions and sufferings) -- being a man that is being continuously conformed to (being brought together with the form of; being configured to) His death,

It is from a place of trusted fellowship and intimate relationship that true spiritual authority is derived. We’ve made it far too complicated. Our calling and privilege for this generation is to develop a heart to know Him personally and hear His Voice for ourselves. No other formula or strategy will accomplish this. Each of us must answer the call within and give full and free expression to His life. It is not without cost. The cost is your life for His life. Lay yours down and take up the cross and follow Him. It is from this position of relationship that we come into fellowship with His body. The anointed word flows out of each of us as each joint supply's His Church. Our prayers for each other, Our praise for Him, Our witness to the world are all elevated to a higher realm as we each do our part. If we build Him a house of devotion He will flow through us in a ministry without measure!

Eph 4:16 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 proper functioning of each particular part there is brought about the growing of the body for its building up in love.

His Church His Kingdom

“And preaching the gospel to that city, and having made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, calling on them to continue in the faith, and that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:21-22


It is through “tribulation” that we are prepared for the Kingdom of God. The word “tribulation” means “to put pressure on.”


Tribulation - G2347
θλίψις thlipsis
Thayer Definition:
1) a pressing, pressing together, pressure
2) metaphorically oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits


This is more than the many daily pressures (tribulations) that we face in our lives. There is a “great tribulation”

in which an intense pressure from the enemy will come against us. If we are not presently feeling a measure of this pressure, then we may be less than fully committed to the Lord.

Therefore, there is a positive confession that each of us should make -

“Lord, no matter what you may allow, in order to perfect my life for
Your purposes, I totally submit myself to You, and to these things.”

It is very important that we understand that these pressures are not the result of the Lord being angry with us;

nor are they punishment. Rather, He is seeking to produce a quality within us that will enable us to stand and endure, in that day.

There is a progression, a higher calling to His Church that His Kingdom is at hand.
Because the message that will bring us into the Kingdom is different from the message to the Churches, the Lord has repeatedly said,

“Who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:9).



The ministry of the Church is to “Whomsoever.”
The ministry of the Kingdom is to “He who overcomes.”

The message of the Church leads to “Heaven.”
The message of the Kingdom leads to “The Throne.”

The desire of the Church is “Jesus abiding within.”
The desire of the Kingdom is “Jesus taking His place as The Head of His body.

The testimony of the Church is “I have Jesus.”
The testimony of the Kingdom is “Jesus has me.”

The Church operates through “Grace.”
The Kingdom operates under “Government.”

To enter the Church, we need “A message of salvation.”
To enter the Kingdom, we need “A message of preparation.”

 

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At the Cross At the Cross

What is this cross, and how do we take it up?

“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary (cross) the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would.” Galatians 5:17

There is an ongoing warfare, a struggle between our natural desires and His spiritual desire for us. Thus, there are two contrary wills at war with each other – “I will” and “Thy will.” When the “Thy will” (His purpose for us) is contrary to and crosses out the “I will” (our own wants), our cross is formed.

As we die to our own self-will, and then submit to and come into alignment with His will for us, we are indeed taking up our cross, thereby becoming one with Him (because our life is merged into His life, only the vertical member of the cross is left, we have become one with Him).

We are to overcome all self-centered feelings, such as spiritual indifference, laziness, self-will, and rebellion, and then apply these to the cross, that we might prosper in the outworking of His will for us. We then become an upright, fruit-bearing branch on the tree of life, as a reflection or extension of His life and purpose. We are doing as He would do.

The Apostle Paul cried from the depths of his being:

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12

Notice that Paul said, “That I might apprehend.” He understood that he had a choice to make. We too have a responsibility to apply the cross to the very root of our self-lives; our hungers, fears, and our reactions, that we might better follow Him.

“…The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12

There is a spiritual battle to be won in entering the Kingdom realm. Those who truly love the Lord, and who desire to be rightly related to Him in His Kingdom will press through every hindrance or obstacle.

The most important time for us in all of eternity is “right now.” We are making choices and decisions today that will affect our eternal position and reward. Eternal life is not future; we have that now as part of our redemption. “Where” we will be is a settled fact.

“What” we will be in eternity will be the result of the accumulated choices and decisions that we are making now, in our daily life experiences. Our “new creation life” is as a “seed” that has been deposited within us, which is being formulated and developed into completeness. When eventually it is released into the “soil” of eternity, it will unfold, revealing the full manifestation of what it had become during our present life experience.

Any seed, when planted, grows to express its particular nature. We need not add anything to it, but simply expose it to the right elements. Then, it will develop into the fullness of what it is. The extent to which we spiritually develop in the “here and now” will become our “measured state” (30, 60, or 100 fold) for all eternity.

Our present life (our spiritual development), primarily involves the formulation of this seed through the outworking of our willing obedience to Him (overcoming) in taking up our cross daily. Then, when we find ourselves in the “atmosphere of eternity,” the life that had been developed within this “seed” will be released into its full expression, in His eternal presence and purpose.

The promise of the Lord is “To him that overcomes.” As we overcome through our willing obedience to the Lord (taking up our cross), He will bring into our life experience this “good land,” providing the atmosphere to fertilize and water the soil of our obedience. This will prepare us for the coming harvest, in which that which we have become will be lifted up from the earth into His higher purpose.

We must allow this process to find its full outworking in our lives. Then, when we stand before Him in that day, He will look upon each one of us and give us a new name, according to what He sees.

“To the one overcoming, I will give him to eat from the hidden manna. And I will give to him a white stone, and on the stone a new name having been written, which no one knows except the one receiving it.” Revelation 2:17 Literal translation

As we look back over our lives, the price that we paid will be as nothing, as we will be satisfied and fulfilled as we enter into our eternal relationship of communion and fellowship with Jesus.

You've Got Talent

“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. And to 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 25:14-15
Notice that these talents relate to our being enabled to function with the Lord in a Kingdom relationship. Therefore, especially at this present time, those who are actively seeking to go beyond their present spiritual experience within the Church are being “lifted” into a Kingdom relationship (sons of God) with the Lord.

To accomplish this, the Lord is making “talents” available to us.

“He gave… talents….” These “talents” are given to us by the Lord as a sovereign impartation, apart from any action on our part (a man traveling into a far country… and delivered His goods). They are a special “enabling” that will release us from the limitations of the natural realm, into our having the potential to function in the higher realms of the spiritual. These “realms” are unlimited, so we can progress as far as we are willing to go.

“He gave… to every man according to his several ability….” These talents have to do with our having both the capacity and ability to become all that the Lord would have us to be and do. No matter where we are in the progression of our spiritual development, it is very important that we receive (to every man according to his several ability) and use these “talents.” There is a stern warning to the one who received his talent, but did not use it.

Talent was given to each according to their capacity or potential - to one, one talent; to another, two talents; to another, five talents. Each of us differs in our created make-up. Some of us are very emotional and expressive, while others are extremely inward. Some are more sensitive than others. We differ because of our family backgrounds, our intellect, and the effects of the environment in which we live.

“After a long time the lord of those servants comes, and reckons with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His Lord said to him, Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.”

“He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.” Matthew 25:19-23

The one who was given “five talents” returned with ten, and the one who had received “two talents” came back with four. Initially, it would seem that this has to do with quantity, the two becoming four, and the five becoming ten. Instead, the Lord said exactly the same thing to both. He did not say, “much done.” Rather, He said, “well done.” In others words, it is not how much we have, it is what we do with what we have that is important.

“You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many” (a Millennial Kingdom function). It took the same commitment and effort for the two talents to become four, as for the five talents to become ten. This relates to a spiritual quality (faithfulness) that had been developed within each of those who received these talents.

This “faithfulness” relates to the Millennial Kingdom in operation. First, it refers to our ability to “rule” within us, over the totality of our being, in order to bring us into divine order. Second, then the Kingdom will begin to function through us, to affect others and eventually the world.

The one who had received and kept the “one talent” was rebuked by the Lord. Our being able to increase the number of the talents that we were given relates to our functioning in a cooperative relationship with our Lord. As we grow spiritually, this ability will increase.

Each of us has a certain amount of spiritual capacity or ability (talent), which we feel is never enough. The enemy loves to tell us that we are not spiritual, that we are not good enough nor worthy, and that we will never make it.

“Another parable put He forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.” Matthew 13:31-32

This “seed” (our talent or potential) may be so small that it can hardly be seen. But, if we will accept what we have, and remain faithful, in time, it will become a “tree” (what we have become), into which multitudes of those who are spiritually hungry (birds), will come to receive spiritual food (they will lodge in the branches of our spiritual experience). Again, it is not how much we have (mustard seed), but what we do with what we have, that is important.

Dont forget to vote

“Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.” Matthew 25:1-2
There is the same number (five) in each of these groups. The wise entered into the Marriage of the Lamb, but the foolish were turned away. There are different interpretations concerning these foolish virgins, as to their spiritual state. Some say that they were unsaved. But they all had lamps (salvation), and all went forth to meet the Bridegroom (equal opportunity).

“To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His Throne.” Revelation 3:21

In order for us to be among those who are overcomers and receive a reward, there must be the possibility of our not being an overcomer. Thus, for us to be an overcomer requires an effort on our part.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded….” Philippians 3:14-15

Paul recognized that we have a part in receiving the prize. The five wise entered with the Lord to the marriage, and therefore were given the right to sit with Him in His Throne, but the foolish did not. In that day, each one of us will find ourselves as being either among the wise, or among the foolish.

Thus, the parable of the ten virgins reveals the outworking of the opportunity that we have to become overcomers. The wise maintained oil for their lamps, but the lamps of the foolish were going out for lack of oil.

Thus, there was a distinct difference between them. It takes only one deciding vote to determine which group we will be in. Either we are, or we are not, overcomers.

“Command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.” Leviticus 24:2

This “Oil” is the result of our maintaining an active relationship with the Lord.

The foolish were told to go and buy for themselves. Later, they came back, which means they had received that which they had gone after. A great visitation is before us in which multitudes will be blessed. But the reward will be greatly diminished because the opportunity to become an overcomer may have passed.

“And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Matthew 25:10

Because it will be much easier to receive from the Lord during this end-time visitation, there may not be an opportunity to be among the five wise.

“Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say to you, I know you not.” Matthew 25:11-12

Some interpret this verse as meaning that these were not saved. Rather, the Lord is telling them that He had not approved them as being an “overcomer” and did not know them in this relationship. Therefore, they were not among the wise. They had missed their opportunity to become an overcomer. He did not “know” them as being His Bride.

Today, in the pressures of our present circumstances, we have the opportunity to buy oil, causing our lamps to burn brightly so we may be counted among the wise.

May we spend quality time in His presence, and thereby cast our vote to be among those who are wise.