Our Path

Our “present attainment” of spiritual life and experience is the place to which we have been brought through Jesus Christ our Lord. All this is a preliminary training school for the ages yet to come. It is in the “here and now” that we make certain qualifications for our placement in the eternal ages. These qualifications will not be given to us spontaneously, when we get there. Rather, we are being qualified for them here, during this present time.

Then, in the eternal ages, that which has been acquired through discipline and training - through the surrender of our old life to the resurrection of the new - all of this will be projected upon another (higher) plane of living in the ages that are yet to come. Whatever we build up of spiritual value, vigor, and vision, during our lifetime - this is all that the Lord will take of us into eternity.

The method by which this is being accomplished will be the “way” in which we presently live - our reactions to the Word, and to the movings of the Holy Spirit. These are the mechanics which the Lord uses to trace the image and likeness of His Son upon our immortal spirit.

We who have been touched by eternal truth and are seeking to go further, must have a correct perspective and goal. The Lord is very busy building His Body, of which we are a member, training it and doing a thousand things within and through it, so in “that day” there will be something glorious and beautiful to be presented to our Lord, when we stand in His presence.

The day is coming when we will cast our crowns at His feet. This crown is made up of all that we have become, so that we may be presented to the Ancient of Days as the Bride of Christ.

Each of us has a certain degree of spiritual hunger. This hunger rests on certain levels of spiritual obedience and experience, ever seeking to take us further. Thus, there is a continual, progressive development in our spiritual living, moving us from one place of discovery and life, on into another level of discovery and life, and on to another. This speaks of “the spiritual ascent of our being back to the heart of God.” We do not belong here; we are here for just a few fleeting years of training and discipline, and then we will be taken.

We are to continually move from one level of spiritual understanding and experience to another. This is determined by the amount of spiritual illumination that we have obtained through our responses to the Lord’s presence, and His workings within us. Because we are reacting agents, we learn our lessons through these experiences. We were made this way in the structural law of our being so this might be possible.

I have many very real spiritual experiences in God, however, these do not make me less practical in my daily pattern of life experience. I have discovered that I must carefully order my steps, as I walk with the Lord. I must be continually sensitive to His voice and responsive to His presence. Then He will guide my path, as He disciplines and trains me in order to push me up into a higher order of spiritual reality and life.

Mind of Christ

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”  Philippians 2:5-8

Our experience and testimony should parallel that of our Lord Jesus Christ.  There is a particular quality of spiritual life and experience that our Lord expects to find that is both resident and developing within each of us, to bring us into spiritual maturity.

“Then answered Jesus and said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do: for whatsoever things He does, these also does the Son likewise. I can of My own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not My own will, but the will of the Father who has sent Me.”  John 5:19, 30

“I can of My own self do nothing.”  In total submission, our Lord experienced an active daily personal relationship with His Father.

The Church of our day is recorded in Scripture as presenting a witness which indicates that many are living in a lesser realm of spirituality and experience.

“Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”  Revelation 3:17

The Lord is saying that this end-time Church (Laodicea) is still a spiritual baby (naked), when they should have grown into spiritual maturity.  Their lack of spiritual growth is the result of not embracing the “mind-set” of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 2:5

Had they done this, their testimony would have been quite different.  Therefore, a word of correction is given:

“I counsel you (each one of us) to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you might be rich; and white raiment, that you might be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you might see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”  Revelation 3:18-19 

There is a present urgency in which we should be living according to the ordained pattern (let this mind be in you) which was given to govern and guide our spiritual life and growth.  This “pattern” (this mind… which was also in Christ Jesus) was manifestly lived to its fullest before us, by our Lord Jesus Christ.

“For it became Him... to make the captain of their salvation perfect (spiritually mature) through sufferings.”  Hebrews 2:10

Because of who He is (Deity), Jesus was “judicially” qualified to become our Saviour.  However, through life experience, He emptied Himself of Deity (Philippians 2:6-7), and “experientially” qualified Himself, by overcoming every obstacle that He faced, in order to become our Saviour.

“Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation to all them who obey Him.”  Hebrews 5:8-9

Because Jesus willingly laid aside His “judicial” position (who He is), through His “experiential” relationship to His Father (what He does) He was able to live out His commitment to always do His Father’s will, and to please His Father in all that He experienced.

“…I do always those things that please Him.”  John 8:29

Jesus never acted on His own, apart from the revealed will of His Father.  This resulted in a never-before-seen authority in His ministry, as His Word and His Life had become one.

“And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.”  Mark 1:22

It is the desire of the Father that we experience at least a “measure” of identification with our Lord.  Our being religious, or our knowing facts about Jesus in itself is not enough.  We are called to experientially know the Lord (that I may know Him).  As we die to our self-life (the power of His resurrection), we will come to the place of “identification” with Jesus in the “fellowship of His sufferings:”

“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death.”  Philippians 3:10

Unless we submit to this “pattern” of life, we will not be ready to be identified with Him in the glory to come.

“When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe….”  II Thessalonians 1:10

For this to be worked out in our lives, we must come to both understand and experience “His mind.”   Only then can we relate to the things that He went through, and as a result, find our place of identification with Him in His throne, which He desires us to have.

 It had been prophesied in Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem.  However, Jesus allowed the knowledge of His birth in Bethlehem to become obscure.  Thus, “Jesus of Bethlehem” became known as “Jesus of Nazareth.”  It was commonly said of Him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?  Shall Christ come out of Galilee?  Search and look: for out of Galilee arises no prophet” (John 1:46; 7:41, 52).

To the natural eye, it could not be known that He was the Christ.  A true knowing of His identity could only come by revelation.  The Church leaders, along with the multitudes of that day, failed to see the Messiah, “Jesus of Bethlehem,” through the garb of “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus had purposely allowed a reproach to remain upon Himself, so that only those who had a “spiritual eye” would understand who He really is.  The Apostle Paul, who understood this, prayed, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you might know...” (Ephesians 1:18).

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we esteemed Him not…He came to His own, and His own received Him not.”  Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11

Jesus did not fit into the “pattern” of life and ministry that was expected of Him by the religious leaders of that day.  This lack of spiritual understanding and perception in mankind was heartbreaking to Jesus.  He intensely desired to be known and understood.

It was only after the completion of two years of ministry that Jesus dared to ask His disciples a most crucial question: “Who am I?” (Matthew 16:15).  He asked this question knowing that His true identity could not be known by outward observation, but only through hearing from His Father, who had sent Him.

The sorrow, grief, and rejection as foretold in Isaiah 53 was intensely felt by Jesus at this moment, as He awaited their answer to His question.

“And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Matthew 16:16

Jesus was overjoyed; Peter had come to see beyond “Jesus of Nazareth.”

“And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood (outward observation) has not revealed it to you, but My Father (inward revelation) which is in heaven.”  Matthew 16:17

In other words, Jesus said: “Simon, you now have an ear to hear. You have come into the experience of hearing from the Father, even as I hear from Him.  Now, you will be able to obey Him, even as I fully obey Him.”  The disciples had come to the place of spiritual perception.  They could see beyond the surface manifestation of “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Now, Jesus could say, “You are Peter (a small stone that is of the same substance as I), and upon this rock (the ability to hear and obey the Father) I will build My Church” (Matthew 16:18).

The future of the Church hung upon their giving the right answer to this question that Jesus had asked concerning His identity.  The nature and function of the Church is to be “spiritual,” not “natural.”  Therefore, Jesus had permitted this reproach to be upon Himself, that His disciples would look to the Father above, as the source for building the Church.

“From that time forth began Jesus to show....”  The disciples had to see beyond the guise of “Jesus of Nazareth” before He could lead them on.  Now, they were in the place where they would hear from above, and all that was left for Him to accomplish was to prepare them for His death on the cross.

In the early days of the Pentecostal movement, speaking in “Tongues” was considered to be a reproach.  Today this reproach is gone, as it is popular to be Spirit-filled and function in the gifts.  However, there is yet a reproach (sonship).  For those who have a discerning eye and see beyond the present movement, and who seek to come into full maturity as an overcomer, the reproach remains.

God always wraps His best in a package for which few are willing to pay the price.  “Jesus of Nazareth” had no apparent value.  It was said: “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”  The same question is yet being asked by those who are not willing to go further in spiritual things - “I see no value or purpose in this, let us stay with the past; it is safe and accepted.”

In Hebrews 13:13, we are exhorted to “Go forth therefore to Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.”  Today, many are pressing onward, seeking all that He has for them.  These are willing to pay the price of identity with the reproach of “Jesus of Nazareth” in order to gain the pearl of great price.

Are you willing to embrace His “mind,” knowing that it will require the death of all that is Adamic and religious, and the bearing of “His reproach?”

“Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name.”  Philippians 2:9

Then we also, being of the same mind (being one with Him), will partake with Him in the glory to come.

Its the little things

Our spiritual life is far more than the sum of the spiritual information we have gathered, or of any collection of our spiritual experiences. The foundation of our spiritual life (or lack of it) is the accumulative result of the decisions and choices we have made on our spiritual journey.

The core and substance of our spirituality relates to the unity of heart and spirit gained through our making right choices and decisions. Our making these right choices and decisions is never easy.

No matter who, or where we are, we must make decisions as to what we will do, or where we will go. The ever present temptation is to compromise and go along with the questionable or difficult situations that we often find ourselves in.

Many times each day, we make “little” decisions (seemingly to us) that feed either the carnal, or the spiritual aspect of our being. The accumulation of these choices result in our becoming either carnal, or spiritual.

As our spiritual decisions begin to outweigh in some measure, the negative pulls, we become an overcomer. To the extent that we rise above carnal soulish desires, we are lifted into a place of union with our Lord, and we grow spiritually.

“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

Our position with Jesus in this “Throne” relationship is the result of our overcoming (rising above) all that is earthly and carnal. We are given this privilege of being seated with Him in His Throne (as His Bride), as a result of the accumulation of right decisions and choices (being an overcomer).

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7

The more decisions we make that are toward the Lord, the easier it becomes to make these decisions. The further down the road we go in our walk with Him, the more detached we become from all that is carnal, or a temptation to us. In the beginning, it will be difficult, but as we progress, it will become easier.

Keeping It Real

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25
To “live in the Spirit” is a state of being in which we have died to our self-life and have yielded the totality of all that we are and have to Jesus, so He can live His life through us as a present day witness.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me….” Galatians 2:20
“I live; yet not I.” This requires us to live on a high plain of integrity and commitment in order to maintain the necessary spiritual sensitivity that will make this possible.
“If we are living by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us be guided” Galatians 5:25 BBE
To “walk in the Spirit” is to live one step at a time, with every aspect of our life experience being lived in total yieldedness and willing obedience to the will and purpose of our Lord.
As we walk with the poise of our spirit upward toward the Lord, His abiding presence and peace will confirm that we are walking in the center of His will.
Now, we are both living and walking in the Spirit.
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts….” Colossians 3:15
The word “rule” means to judge, or arbitrate. Should we take a misstep, a voice of correction (Holy Spirit conviction) will speak to us, saying:
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk you in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21

Religion

“…Where the Spirit is Lord, there is liberty.”  II Corinthians 3:17 Paraphrase

At this present time, many are feeling an intense burden for the Body of Christ and sense that something, beyond our present level of understanding, is about to unfold.  It is very important that the mistakes of the past are not repeated during this coming visitation.

The Word of the Lord to the seven Churches (Revelation 2:1-3:22) prefigures the progression of events that span the entire Church Age.  Indications as to why past visitations did not come into the fullness of all that was intended, or why they did not last, can be found within the Word of the Lord to each of these seven Churches.

The first of these, the Church at Ephesus, was told that they had departed from their “first love” (Revelation 2:4).  This was the Church that witnessed the faith and power of the early Apostles who had personally experienced the presence of the resurrected Jesus.  The Lord expected those within the Church at Ephesus to maintain this experience of His personal (manifest) presence, but they had already begun to fall away.

The Church of Ephesus was commended, however, because they “hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (Revelation 2:6).  There is no explanation given in Scripture as to who these Nicolaitans were.  However, we can come to an understanding of their identity through the meaning of the word “Nicolaitan” itself.

“Nikao” means to conquer or consume the “Laos” or laity, the people.  Those who became identified as being Nicolaitans advocated a compromise with the world system so Christians would be able to take part, without embarrassment, in the social and religious activities of the society in which they lived.  In the time of the Church at Ephesus, the Nicolaitan teaching allowed Christians to participate in the Roman civil religion.

This resulted in the withdrawal of the manifested presence of the Lord from their meetings, which caused the loss of the spontaneous, quickening power and stirrings of the Spirit that came to the members of this Church.  Thus, the Nicolaitans represent a clergy that departed from the “presence and power” of the supernatural, and substituted “form and ritual” in its place.  The compromise that they advocated caused the “dulling of the spirits” of the Lord’s people, as they became conversant with the society and practices of their time.

Also, the “clergy” gained control over the functions of ministry, and did away with the spontaneity of worship that resulted in the manifest power of God being present.  Thus, the people became “spectators” to the functioning of the clergy.

In His message to the Church at Ephesus, the Lord clearly said that He hated the deeds of a clergy that causes His people to depart from experiencing His manifest presence and the operation of the supernatural.  In Ephesus, these Nicolaitans were present, but hated.  In the third Church, Pergamos, they are again mentioned by the Lord, “So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (Revelation 2:15).  Here, they were firmly entrenched.

Then in the fourth Church, Thyatira, the Lord said, “But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine.” (Revelation 2:24).  By now, the Nicolaitans were in control, and only a remnant remained.

This teaching of “compromise” by the clergy led to a progressive spiritual declension that culminated in the Dark Ages.  During this time of intense spiritual apostasy and darkness, a spark of revelation concerning “Justification by Faith” came to Martin Luther.  This began a progressive restoration that developed within the fifth Church, Sardis, and found its full outworking in the last two Churches, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

Concerning the fifth Church, Sardis, the Lord said, “I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead” (Revelation 3:1).  This Church had returned to right doctrine, but failed to experience the restoration of the fervent “first love” that had been lost at Ephesus.  Apparently, the Nicolaitans still exercised considerable control, and hindered the Lord’s people to the extent that they were not able to experience the “quickening” of the manifest presence of the Lord, nor the “power” of the Holy Spirit moving in their meetings.

The sixth Church, Philadelphia, speaks of an overcoming Church that experienced an “open heaven.” Of this Church, the Lord said:

“…I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength....”  Revelation 3:8

Here, the Nicolaitans were totally defeated and lost all of their influence and control.  This Church had cultivated the presence of “He that has the key of David, He that opens, and no man shuts: and shuts, and no man opens” (Revelation 3:7).  The Lord’s manifest presence burned within them, and all bondage melted away, as the Holy Spirit had His way in their lives and assemblies.

Once again, the Lord’s people possessed this same fervent “first love” for the Lord that had been lost at Ephesus.  At this present time, there are those who are also experiencing the manifest presence and power of the Lord.  These have contended for, and gained an open door into the operation of the supernatural in their meetings.  Much will be accomplished through a present-day “Philadelphia Church” that will allow an open display of the Lord’s presence and power.

Seventh and last is the Church of the Laodiceans.  The Word of the Lord to this Church is:

“Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”  Revelation 3:17

This present-day Church has been blessed with more prosperity, gifts, and ministry than any previous Church.  Though it is quick to testify about these blessings, this Church is exposed by the Lord as being spiritually immature (blind and naked). 

However, this prosperity, both spiritual and natural, is not the primary cause of their spiritual blindness and nakedness.  Their problem rests in the fact that they did not recognize their spiritual need - “and have need of nothing.”  They were satisfied with the things that they possess and were not seeking after the One who gave all this.  Therefore, the Lord is revealed as standing outside of this prosperous Laodicean Church, knocking upon its door, seeking to attract their attention:

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”  Revelation 3:20

Because this Church had lost its sensitivity to His voice, the call of the Lord changed to seeking out individuals - those who would respond to His knocking on the “door” of their spirit (if any man).

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans has caused this Church to become “dull of spirit.”  The acceptance of, and adjustment to material prosperity has effectively hindered the visitation of the Lord within this end-time Church.  This is one of the primary causes of the failure of the “Charismatic” visitation (their emphasis on prosperity).

Thus, the Nicolaitan spirit that sought to bring about compromise with the world system in the early Church is still present within the Church of our day.  Jesus clearly said, “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).  James told us that “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

Notice the contrast between these two present-day Churches.  In Philadelphia, the Lord has set before them an “open door” into the revelation of His manifest presence, and the operation of the supernatural in their midst.  In Laodicea, He is outside of the Church knocking upon a “closed door,” seeking out any individuals who are able to hear His voice, inviting them to turn aside and commune with Him.

The Lord counsels those who willingly open the door of their spirit to Him, to “buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich” (Revelation 3:18).  This “gold” speaks of the divine nature as being of far greater value than all of these external riches that they possess and rejoice in.

A glorious promise is given to those who choose to turn aside from this materialistic spirit within the Laodicean Church:

“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

This is the greatest of the promises that were given to these seven Churches, yet the most difficult to attain, even more so today, because of the many subtle deceptions that must be discerned, especially the intensity of the temptations that must be resisted.  These hindrances to true spirituality, that must be overcome, are greater than any pressures that other generations had to face.  It is easy to compromise, but the cost is high, as those who do will not be able to hear the gentle knock of the Lord on the door of their spirit – “If any man hear My voice.”

The Lord is looking for those who are willing to pay the price in order to be a part of the “Church at Philadelphia,” and gain the spiritual life and strength that is available therein.  Few will pay the price, because the “Church at Laodicea” is very popular.  It knows and uses the techniques that will bring about Church growth and material prosperity.

At this present time, the Lord is making the following passage of Scripture very real to those seeking a higher level of personal communion with Him.

“I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me… that I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasure” Proverbs 8:17, 21

The word “Philadelphia” is derived from the Greek word “phileo.”  This is the highest form of human love (phileo) and speaks of compatibility in relationship – “I love them that love Me.”  This speaks of those who are experiencing a new “first love” for Jesus Himself.

Those who turn aside from all that is religious and self-serving, and are gathered together in the out-flowing of His love through them, are finding an eternal treasure that they had little anticipated.  They will never be disappointed as they pass unhindered through this “open door” into His glorious presence.

 “That I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance (the Lord Himself); and I will fill their treasure” (a new “first love” for Jesus Himself).