What I have been noticing about myself lately is that I seemed to have entered a season during which, almost like clockwork - just about every night - the Holy Spirit begins to speak. This has been going on now for the past 3 or 4 months. It always happens around 9:30 or 10:00. Why? I have no earthly idea. However, being no fool, I keep a pad handy. Whenever He begins to speak, I write.
One night in late October (the 28th to be exact) sometime around 10:45, He began to speak, and naturally, I started to write. Of course, our Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need at exactly the time we need it. Based on what I have been experiencing in my life, and in order to prepare me for the next level, the Holy Spirit shares from the Father's Heart. I am so thankful to Jesus that He has paved the way for me to enter into true fellowship with the Godhead!
What follows is sort of a "Faith Confession" based on what the Holy Spirit shared that night. I have purposed to make this my own and to speak it over my life frequently...daily even. I find it to be very beneficial to me and I'd like to share it with you. I hope that you find it to be helpful as well.
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THE WORD OF GOD
I am born of Incorruptible Seed - The Word of God. Every promise belongs to me. The Word of God transcends the natural realm and all of its circumstances. Because I am born of the Word, His Truth resides in me. I speak it continually. The Creative Truth that is the Word of God enables me to manifest every promise in it that pertains to me from the realm of the spirit to the realm of the natural; from the unseen to the seen, to birth it into the natural realm.
The Word of God does not lack - it is abundant. It existed before the world was. It is the very Essence of God. This is the Word-Seed that has been deposited in my spirit. As I release it into the natural realm, it carries creative power. It defeats my enemy. In fact, the enemy has already been defeated by the Word of God before the worlds were ever formed.
The enemy must bow to the Word of God. The Word of God is my authority. The Word of God created everything that was ever created - every form of creation - living and inanimate. The Word of God is my source. The Word of God is my Life. The Word of God is my victory. The Word of God is the Faith that I live by, wrapped in the Father's Love. The Word of God is my inheritance. The Word of God is my Father's Will and I choose to make it my will.
There is nothing greater than the Word of God. The Word of God is Jesus manifested in the earth. I am one with the Word of God because I am one with Jesus and the Father.
Be Blessed!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The Proper Focus: Your "Church," Your "Denomination," or Jesus?
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? [1 Corinthians 3:1-4]
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. [1 Corinthians 11:18]
For quite some time, I have been seeing a lot of division among the Body of Christ, and it saddens me. I will admit that growing up, my family was part of a denomination that taught a particular doctrine (I will not divulge either the denomination or the teaching -- I don't believe that it's relevant to the point I'm trying to make here). At the time, as a young boy, I was neither born-again nor was I (obviously) mature in the things of the Spirit (and I'm still learning, as we all are, the ways of the Kingdom). This particular denomination held itself in high esteem, to the point where it was almost as if they were the only ones that were truly following Jesus. It was debatable to them whether or not any other Christian could even make Heaven if they didn't belong to this particular denomination...scary, isn't it? Thankfully, since then I've been born-again, baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues (this denomination believed in speaking in tongues, by the way) and can now safely say that I do not consider myself part of any denomination.
Now don't get me wrong. This is not intended as a criticism of denominations, (there's carnality in many congregations that consider themselves "non-denominational" as well) but sometimes too much "structure" brings bondage. My point here is the level of carnality in the Body. Carnality causes division. Maturity brings unity. Carnality turns the focus on "me" and causes "me" to esteem "myself" better than others. This should really call for a closer examination of our Love walk, because Pride is the root here. Until we begin to realize that the focus is Jesus, we will never grow up into the place of maturity that the Father has planned for us both individually and corporately. Individually - because each member needs to understand his/her worth to the Body as a whole. This is most important. Without the "Individual" there is no "Corporate". The entrance into this reality is that first and foremost, we must utilize the Teacher that has been sent from Heaven in the Name of Jesus - the Holy Spirit. He has been sent to guide us into ALL TRUTH, show us things to come, and to HELP us to take our rightful place in the Body. Pray in the Holy Ghost...OFTEN. It is the ONLY way to rise above those things, such as false teaching, that will hinder us from fulfilling our calling.
Sadly, there are many in the Body who are not in their rightful place, causing confusion. This is very dangerous. Ministering, or serving from a position of carnality will have disastrous results. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Revelation. It is He that knows what the Father's Will is for each and every one of us and to ignore Him would be foolish. After all, isn't He the Spirit of Wisdom?
Praying in the Holy Ghost, and abiding in the Mature (Agape) Love of God will keep us on the right path. The Love of God keeps us humble, takes our eyes off ourselves and brings us to the realization that it's not about a denomination...we are all called to be disciplined followers of Jesus Christ. The key here is to choose to be chosen.
Let's ask ourselves this question: "Am I chosen?" Now this has nothing to do with whether or not you will make Heaven, but will have EVERYTHING to do with the reward you will receive when you get there. The disciplined follower of Christ, who has given his/her life for the Gospel...the one who chooses to serve the Master rather than him/herself by serving others, is the one who will receive the greater reward. This is how greatness in the Kingdom is measured.
And he [Jesus] said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. [Luke 9:23-24]
Be Blessed!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Worrying Is Not A Part Of Your New Nature
A few months ago in my quiet time, I distinctly heard the Holy Spirit say, "Stop Worshiping at the Altar of Worry!" Boy, talk about something that will get your attention...I never knew such a place existed! I was engaging in the wrong kind of worship! Truth be told, I have been known to worry from time to time (I know you have never had that problem, but I have - after all we're not talking about you - at least I don't think we are). Anyway, this is what I have discovered: whenever I give myself over to worry, I have given the enemy access to bombard my soul (mind, will, emotions) with all types of distraction. After all, worry leads to more worry. To choose to remain in unbelief (that's what worrying is) and give one's self over to meditate on circumstances gives the enemy a legal right to torment. Unbelief pleases the enemy, giving him something he can work with, in the same manner that Faith pleases God.
The Word of God has equipped us to combat any and every onslaught from the enemy. Whenever we open the door to any thought contrary to the Father's will for our life, the enemy rushes in. The devil is legalistic and he will take what you give him, but that's all he can take. He cannot take what is not legally his. Here's an example: If we choose to meditate on the present circumstances, that gives the devil room to give you more thoughts of despair, to show you and to tell you how hopeless things are and how they will never change. His mission is to destroy your hope. Hope is the bridge from Love to Faith. The enemy knows that we have received a taste of the Father's Love at the New Birth. If we continue to move forward into the place of the Agape of God where mature Love is, we will abide in Faith. His plan is to get you to abort - to stop before you get there. He knows what the result will be because he has seen it so many times from observing the many heroes of Faith over the course of human history.
This sounds strange to hear or to say, but our enemy "believes" more than we do! He knows the power of the Word, Worship, praying in the Spirit and Fasting. He knows the potential of the seed planted within us. So we combat him through praying in the Spirit, Fasting, Worship and the Word. Why do you think the trials and temptations come? To steal the seed! What is the seed? The Word of God that we have received! You see, the Word of God was planted in our spirit at the New Birth, translating that part of us - our spirit - from spiritual Death to Life; from darkness to light:
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. [Ps. 119:130]
It is at that point that saving Grace through Faith becomes a part of our life:
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. [Rom. 10:17]
Now the Faith that comes, or enters, has to work so that we may operate as true sons and daughters:
...faith which worketh by love. [Gal. 5:6b]
Remember the Word of God says the just - that's you - live by Faith (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38). If we operate in worry or torment, our Faith is stifled. Therefore we are encouraged to remain rooted and grounded in the Word of God:
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love [Eph. 3:17]
and to keep ourselves in the Love of God (Jude 21). Otherwise, Faith cannot be fully operational. That's why we count it all joy (James 1:2) when trials come - it shows us that we're on the right path! Have you ever noticed why there's such a fight in our lives before a great spiritual breakthrough? The devil doesn't want to give up any ground! Keep moving forward - remember, the devil is a defeated foe!
In closing, I'll leave you with this thought - something I heard recently in a message from Gary Carpenter (he's someone I reference a lot - I highly recommend his teachings - here's two links where you can listen to his teachings for free: http://www.garycarpenter.org/ and http://iktusnetmedia.com/c/Audio_-_Gary_Carpenter.html ). It's not a direct quote, but he said something to this effect: "Not all believers are Christians." Sobering, isn't it? Be aware that the devil himself and all the other fallen angels are also "believers" (James 2:19). Also bear in mind that a true "Christian," one who is considered "Christ-like" is a disciplined follower of Christ. We are called to be disciplined followers. Another must-listen series is by Pastor Jim Martin from Dayton, OH. He's currently teaching on discipleship. Here's the link: http://www.winterlive.com/grace/ (they're archived videos).
Keep pressing towards the mark - Jesus Himself, the author and finisher of our Faith. Be encouraged!
The Word of God has equipped us to combat any and every onslaught from the enemy. Whenever we open the door to any thought contrary to the Father's will for our life, the enemy rushes in. The devil is legalistic and he will take what you give him, but that's all he can take. He cannot take what is not legally his. Here's an example: If we choose to meditate on the present circumstances, that gives the devil room to give you more thoughts of despair, to show you and to tell you how hopeless things are and how they will never change. His mission is to destroy your hope. Hope is the bridge from Love to Faith. The enemy knows that we have received a taste of the Father's Love at the New Birth. If we continue to move forward into the place of the Agape of God where mature Love is, we will abide in Faith. His plan is to get you to abort - to stop before you get there. He knows what the result will be because he has seen it so many times from observing the many heroes of Faith over the course of human history.
This sounds strange to hear or to say, but our enemy "believes" more than we do! He knows the power of the Word, Worship, praying in the Spirit and Fasting. He knows the potential of the seed planted within us. So we combat him through praying in the Spirit, Fasting, Worship and the Word. Why do you think the trials and temptations come? To steal the seed! What is the seed? The Word of God that we have received! You see, the Word of God was planted in our spirit at the New Birth, translating that part of us - our spirit - from spiritual Death to Life; from darkness to light:
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. [Ps. 119:130]
It is at that point that saving Grace through Faith becomes a part of our life:
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. [Rom. 10:17]
Now the Faith that comes, or enters, has to work so that we may operate as true sons and daughters:
...faith which worketh by love. [Gal. 5:6b]
Remember the Word of God says the just - that's you - live by Faith (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38). If we operate in worry or torment, our Faith is stifled. Therefore we are encouraged to remain rooted and grounded in the Word of God:
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love [Eph. 3:17]
and to keep ourselves in the Love of God (Jude 21). Otherwise, Faith cannot be fully operational. That's why we count it all joy (James 1:2) when trials come - it shows us that we're on the right path! Have you ever noticed why there's such a fight in our lives before a great spiritual breakthrough? The devil doesn't want to give up any ground! Keep moving forward - remember, the devil is a defeated foe!
In closing, I'll leave you with this thought - something I heard recently in a message from Gary Carpenter (he's someone I reference a lot - I highly recommend his teachings - here's two links where you can listen to his teachings for free: http://www.garycarpenter.org/ and http://iktusnetmedia.com/c/Audio_-_Gary_Carpenter.html ). It's not a direct quote, but he said something to this effect: "Not all believers are Christians." Sobering, isn't it? Be aware that the devil himself and all the other fallen angels are also "believers" (James 2:19). Also bear in mind that a true "Christian," one who is considered "Christ-like" is a disciplined follower of Christ. We are called to be disciplined followers. Another must-listen series is by Pastor Jim Martin from Dayton, OH. He's currently teaching on discipleship. Here's the link: http://www.winterlive.com/grace/ (they're archived videos).
Keep pressing towards the mark - Jesus Himself, the author and finisher of our Faith. Be encouraged!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Who Are We, Anyway? (Don't Let Religion Lie to You!)
EDITOR'S NOTE: This was received last night (November 3rd) at around 9:30PM. It is pretty much unedited, because I wanted to leave everything in its proper context. At the end, there are two scripture references that came to me just as I finished writing. Normally, whenever I receive anything that I believe is relevant and needs to be shared with the Body, I will "sit" on it for a few days before I get a release to post. In this case, however, I am prompted to share immediately. Please read prayerfully and judge for yourselves. No criticism is intended. This is really just a short "primer" for believers as to their TRUE identity. As always, please feel free to add your comments. Please note that all comments are moderated. Thank you.
If we knew who we were, we would act accordingly. We make wrong petitions, make statements and pray prayers of unbelief because we do not understand our citizenship or our lineage. Sons do not beg. Everything has been provided for them by their Father. Their inheritance is sealed in the Blood. Never ask your Father for anything contrary to His Word. Thank Him for what He has already provided and speak it into existence. That is the stance of Faith. Faith says "DONE!". Have the Faith of God. That is your inheritance. The Life that you now live is through the Faith of the Son of God. The just - YOU- live by Faith. That is the "God" kind of Faith that is produced by the Love of God. This is the Faith through which you receive your daily provision. Nothing shall be impossible to you because of the Love your Father has for you. That Love was manifested in Jesus' Death, Burial and Resurrection - FOR YOU.
He sent Heaven's best to die for you - the manifestation of His Love, God the Son. Then He sent Heaven's Best to tutor you, comfort you and guide you - God the Holy Spirit.
God the Father sent Jesus the Son to die on your behalf so you could be a part of His Family. Jesus petitioned God the Father to send the best Teacher you could ever have, God the Holy Spirit. He has come to help you maintain what you have obtained through the finished work of Jesus on the Cross. The Holy Spirit is also the One to keep you from falling into any trap of the enemy that would lead you into error and deception. He is the One to help you to shed the old mind that came with the old man; the man that died at the moment you gave your life to Jesus. You now operate by the Mind of Christ, the mind of your new nature. Through the tutelage of the Holy Spirit, you now have the ability to think like God thinks, to speak like He speaks and to be an imitator of Jesus. You now have the ability to do the works of Jesus along with the "greater works", leading other people into the Kingdom, something that Jesus was not able to do while He was in the earth. He was able to demonstrate the Kingdom to mankind, but they could never enter into the New Covenant until the work of the Cross was complete and Jesus was ascended into Heaven, to sit at the Father's right hand.
Simple, isn't it? So why has religion complicated such a simple message? There's a simple answer for that as well. Many teachings from the pulpit nowadays are delivered from "human understanding" - birthed in the soul and taught from the soul - totally devoid of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is Spirit and Life; there is no carnality in it whatsoever. The human mind cannot comprehend something as simple as the Gospel message because the concept of Grace cannot penetrate the "rational" mind. The "natural" intellect operates by the notion that "I can only earn something by doing something in return". This is how the enemy blinds men's hearts.
You cannot rationalize the finished work of the Cross. You just accept it by Faith.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [John 3:16]
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. [1. Cor. 1:18]
If we knew who we were, we would act accordingly. We make wrong petitions, make statements and pray prayers of unbelief because we do not understand our citizenship or our lineage. Sons do not beg. Everything has been provided for them by their Father. Their inheritance is sealed in the Blood. Never ask your Father for anything contrary to His Word. Thank Him for what He has already provided and speak it into existence. That is the stance of Faith. Faith says "DONE!". Have the Faith of God. That is your inheritance. The Life that you now live is through the Faith of the Son of God. The just - YOU- live by Faith. That is the "God" kind of Faith that is produced by the Love of God. This is the Faith through which you receive your daily provision. Nothing shall be impossible to you because of the Love your Father has for you. That Love was manifested in Jesus' Death, Burial and Resurrection - FOR YOU.
He sent Heaven's best to die for you - the manifestation of His Love, God the Son. Then He sent Heaven's Best to tutor you, comfort you and guide you - God the Holy Spirit.
God the Father sent Jesus the Son to die on your behalf so you could be a part of His Family. Jesus petitioned God the Father to send the best Teacher you could ever have, God the Holy Spirit. He has come to help you maintain what you have obtained through the finished work of Jesus on the Cross. The Holy Spirit is also the One to keep you from falling into any trap of the enemy that would lead you into error and deception. He is the One to help you to shed the old mind that came with the old man; the man that died at the moment you gave your life to Jesus. You now operate by the Mind of Christ, the mind of your new nature. Through the tutelage of the Holy Spirit, you now have the ability to think like God thinks, to speak like He speaks and to be an imitator of Jesus. You now have the ability to do the works of Jesus along with the "greater works", leading other people into the Kingdom, something that Jesus was not able to do while He was in the earth. He was able to demonstrate the Kingdom to mankind, but they could never enter into the New Covenant until the work of the Cross was complete and Jesus was ascended into Heaven, to sit at the Father's right hand.
Simple, isn't it? So why has religion complicated such a simple message? There's a simple answer for that as well. Many teachings from the pulpit nowadays are delivered from "human understanding" - birthed in the soul and taught from the soul - totally devoid of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is Spirit and Life; there is no carnality in it whatsoever. The human mind cannot comprehend something as simple as the Gospel message because the concept of Grace cannot penetrate the "rational" mind. The "natural" intellect operates by the notion that "I can only earn something by doing something in return". This is how the enemy blinds men's hearts.
You cannot rationalize the finished work of the Cross. You just accept it by Faith.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [John 3:16]
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. [1. Cor. 1:18]
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Soul Service, or Spirit Fellowship?
You do not serve God with your soul. You serve Him with your spirit. Many of us in the Body (I count myself among this number) have from time to time made this grave mistake. Continuing to do this can shipwreck your faith.
Let's consider a few things here. What is generally defined as a man's soul? The Mind, Will, Emotions and Intellect (or as I heard one preacher say once, concerning the Intellect, Will and Emotions: "Your Thinker, your Chooser and your Feeler"). The Word of God instructs us to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). The faith that you operate by is not really yours - it did not originate with you - it is from the realm of the spirit. The language that you have been given is the language of the spirit. That's why praying in the Spirit is so important if we are to walk by the spirit, or sightless, as it pertains to the natural. This faith that is edified through praying in tongues is your inheritance from your Father in Heaven.
"After The Whirlwind"(2010) - Mixed Media, 18"x24"
Paul talks about this life of faith in 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.
So we see here that the faith that we have been given as our inheritance is "God" faith. Jesus instructed His disciples to have "faith in God" (Mark 11:22). A more accurate translation would be to have the faith OF God, or God's own faith. This faith can only be activated by "God" love (Gal. 5:6), or Agape - the same self-less Love that produces action, or Charity, as in the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians. Here's some truth for you. You can never really believe your Heavenly Father for ANY promise that He has made for you through His Word until you receive a revelation of His Love for you. Understand that if He loves you, and He cannot lie, then why wouldn't He give you everything that He has promised to you through the finished work of Jesus on the Cross? (Rom. 8:32) Simple, isn't it? So how come we have struggled so much to believe this Truth? Guess where the opposition is coming from that always brings unbelief? That's right...it's your soul!
There's a reason why Jude 21 follows Jude 20. It shows the relationship between Faith and Love - you should never separate them! Jude 20 says:
But ye, beloved, BUILDING UP YOURSELVES ON YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Followed by Jude 21:
KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
In Romans chapter 8, Paul asks, "What can separate us from the Love of Christ?" The answer for us all should be, "NOTHING"! The Life of Faith that we are called to walk in can only be done in, by and through the spirit. The Spirit of God IN us co-laboring with our born-again spirit. That is the Walk of Power!
Every revelation concerning the the things of the Kingdom of God is delivered directly to your spirit via the Holy Spirit. Your soul gets it later. Many times, whenever I receive a download, it takes my mind a little while to "process" what I receive from the Holy Spirit (that's just me - perhaps some of you are much quicker on the uptake. I have to let it "marinate"). I'll "know" it, but I can't explain it - my intellect cannot grasp it all. Sometimes I have to "pray the mysteries" (that's praying in tongues) some more in order to "make sense" of it all. This would be an example of the Mind of Christ gradually bringing the understanding to my natural mind...I love that process!
Once there was a change of Covenants, the way man related to God was now different. The Old Covenant saints could only serve God with their soul. It was the best they could do while having a spiritually dead nature. That's what Paul was referring to in Romans 7 when he wrote this:
So then WITH THE MIND I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Rom. 7:25b)
The man under the Old Covenant served God with his soul; he had no nature with which to keep the Law. The purpose of the Law, however was never for him to keep it - only to show him the death nature that he was operating out of.
In the Romans 7 scenario above, Paul has put himself in the place of a spiritually dead man who is under the dispensation of Law - this is not, as some would believe, a born-again believer struggling with his flesh. We see this in the 8th chapter of Romans (I won't get into this at length at the present time, but I will recommend listening to the FREE teaching series "The Born Again Trail" (CD 1091-1096 - 6 volumes of 10 messages each) from Dave Roberson Ministries. (He breaks it down in detail, better than I ever could - see the link below for download).
There was now a Nature that has come directly from God through Jesus - the "glory" that Jesus referred to in His intercessory prayer for us in John 17:22. With this Nature everything is based on Spirit-to-spirit Love fellowship - Godhead with offspring. It exemplifies everything that the Christian family is all about; Father with His children, children amongst each other. Is there any wonder why the enemy attacks the family unit and the Christian family so much? This relationship/fellowship encompasses all that God is, beginning with His Love. The Love commandment is the summation of the Ten Commandments - Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, all your mind and all your strength, and the second - Love your neighbor as yourself. This supernatural Love is the greatest thing there is. It is the very Love that rescued you from the death nature and the hell that you were destined for. Love is birthed in the Spirit and is the avenue into the Kingdom of God.
I would also like to recommend teachings by Alan Taylor, based in Tulsa, OK. He has recently been teaching messages along the lines of what I like to call "soul" service in the Kingdom. He approaches the subject from a slightly different perspective, but I believe they are a must listen nonetheless. You can access his website and teachings here:
http://www.iktusnetmedia.com/c/Audio_-_Alan_Taylor.html
"Soulish" leadership cannot accomplish spiritual goals. If we were to put our confidence in our emotions and our feelings, we would become like a man stumbling around in darkness (come to think of it, that's how some of us were BEFORE we were born-again)! That's why it is so very vital that we pray in the spirit.
Can you imagine someone called to preach who doesn't pray in tongues continually? That person would be preaching entirely from his/her intellect! Feeding the sheep "soul" food instead of "Spirit" food to grow them up...can you just imagine the doctrine? Talk about poison...scary stuff! It's bad enough that we have Spirit-filled preachers spouting junk...but I won't go there...not now, at least. Praying in tongues is a REVELATION Gift. There's a great teaching by Pastor Dave Roberson called "Tongues for the Believer"(CD411). A link to this FREE teaching series can be found here:
http://www.daveroberson.org/series.aspx
I'll leave you with this:
For God is my witness, WHOM I SERVE WITH MY SPIRIT in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; (Rom. 1:9)
Your spirit is the part of you that fellowships with God. Your soul and your flesh have no place in the Holy of Holies. Paul said that He served God with his spirit. Jesus, our High Priest, operated the same way: in concert with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Is there any better example?
Let's consider a few things here. What is generally defined as a man's soul? The Mind, Will, Emotions and Intellect (or as I heard one preacher say once, concerning the Intellect, Will and Emotions: "Your Thinker, your Chooser and your Feeler"). The Word of God instructs us to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). The faith that you operate by is not really yours - it did not originate with you - it is from the realm of the spirit. The language that you have been given is the language of the spirit. That's why praying in the Spirit is so important if we are to walk by the spirit, or sightless, as it pertains to the natural. This faith that is edified through praying in tongues is your inheritance from your Father in Heaven.
Paul talks about this life of faith in 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.
So we see here that the faith that we have been given as our inheritance is "God" faith. Jesus instructed His disciples to have "faith in God" (Mark 11:22). A more accurate translation would be to have the faith OF God, or God's own faith. This faith can only be activated by "God" love (Gal. 5:6), or Agape - the same self-less Love that produces action, or Charity, as in the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians. Here's some truth for you. You can never really believe your Heavenly Father for ANY promise that He has made for you through His Word until you receive a revelation of His Love for you. Understand that if He loves you, and He cannot lie, then why wouldn't He give you everything that He has promised to you through the finished work of Jesus on the Cross? (Rom. 8:32) Simple, isn't it? So how come we have struggled so much to believe this Truth? Guess where the opposition is coming from that always brings unbelief? That's right...it's your soul!
There's a reason why Jude 21 follows Jude 20. It shows the relationship between Faith and Love - you should never separate them! Jude 20 says:
But ye, beloved, BUILDING UP YOURSELVES ON YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Followed by Jude 21:
KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
In Romans chapter 8, Paul asks, "What can separate us from the Love of Christ?" The answer for us all should be, "NOTHING"! The Life of Faith that we are called to walk in can only be done in, by and through the spirit. The Spirit of God IN us co-laboring with our born-again spirit. That is the Walk of Power!
Every revelation concerning the the things of the Kingdom of God is delivered directly to your spirit via the Holy Spirit. Your soul gets it later. Many times, whenever I receive a download, it takes my mind a little while to "process" what I receive from the Holy Spirit (that's just me - perhaps some of you are much quicker on the uptake. I have to let it "marinate"). I'll "know" it, but I can't explain it - my intellect cannot grasp it all. Sometimes I have to "pray the mysteries" (that's praying in tongues) some more in order to "make sense" of it all. This would be an example of the Mind of Christ gradually bringing the understanding to my natural mind...I love that process!
Once there was a change of Covenants, the way man related to God was now different. The Old Covenant saints could only serve God with their soul. It was the best they could do while having a spiritually dead nature. That's what Paul was referring to in Romans 7 when he wrote this:
So then WITH THE MIND I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Rom. 7:25b)
The man under the Old Covenant served God with his soul; he had no nature with which to keep the Law. The purpose of the Law, however was never for him to keep it - only to show him the death nature that he was operating out of.
In the Romans 7 scenario above, Paul has put himself in the place of a spiritually dead man who is under the dispensation of Law - this is not, as some would believe, a born-again believer struggling with his flesh. We see this in the 8th chapter of Romans (I won't get into this at length at the present time, but I will recommend listening to the FREE teaching series "The Born Again Trail" (CD 1091-1096 - 6 volumes of 10 messages each) from Dave Roberson Ministries. (He breaks it down in detail, better than I ever could - see the link below for download).
There was now a Nature that has come directly from God through Jesus - the "glory" that Jesus referred to in His intercessory prayer for us in John 17:22. With this Nature everything is based on Spirit-to-spirit Love fellowship - Godhead with offspring. It exemplifies everything that the Christian family is all about; Father with His children, children amongst each other. Is there any wonder why the enemy attacks the family unit and the Christian family so much? This relationship/fellowship encompasses all that God is, beginning with His Love. The Love commandment is the summation of the Ten Commandments - Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, all your mind and all your strength, and the second - Love your neighbor as yourself. This supernatural Love is the greatest thing there is. It is the very Love that rescued you from the death nature and the hell that you were destined for. Love is birthed in the Spirit and is the avenue into the Kingdom of God.
I would also like to recommend teachings by Alan Taylor, based in Tulsa, OK. He has recently been teaching messages along the lines of what I like to call "soul" service in the Kingdom. He approaches the subject from a slightly different perspective, but I believe they are a must listen nonetheless. You can access his website and teachings here:
http://www.iktusnetmedia.com/c/Audio_-_Alan_Taylor.html
"Soulish" leadership cannot accomplish spiritual goals. If we were to put our confidence in our emotions and our feelings, we would become like a man stumbling around in darkness (come to think of it, that's how some of us were BEFORE we were born-again)! That's why it is so very vital that we pray in the spirit.
Can you imagine someone called to preach who doesn't pray in tongues continually? That person would be preaching entirely from his/her intellect! Feeding the sheep "soul" food instead of "Spirit" food to grow them up...can you just imagine the doctrine? Talk about poison...scary stuff! It's bad enough that we have Spirit-filled preachers spouting junk...but I won't go there...not now, at least. Praying in tongues is a REVELATION Gift. There's a great teaching by Pastor Dave Roberson called "Tongues for the Believer"(CD411). A link to this FREE teaching series can be found here:
http://www.daveroberson.org/series.aspx
I'll leave you with this:
For God is my witness, WHOM I SERVE WITH MY SPIRIT in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; (Rom. 1:9)
Your spirit is the part of you that fellowships with God. Your soul and your flesh have no place in the Holy of Holies. Paul said that He served God with his spirit. Jesus, our High Priest, operated the same way: in concert with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Is there any better example?
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Thoughts on Worship: Perfect Love, The Absence of Fear
I just finished listening (again) to a teaching by Gary Carpenter entitled "Free From Worry and Fear" available via this link: http://www.iktusnetmedia.com/c/Audio_-_Gary_Carpenter.html
I HIGHLY recommend it. While listening to it, the Holy Spirit confirmed so much of what He has been sharing with me over the past few months. Many of us are familiar with the passage of scripture in 1 John 4:18:
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Perfect Love casts out Fear. The Father has placed His Love in us. The Truth is, Jesus Himself has stepped in on the inside of us. We have the Life of God -- the Spirit of Christ -- resident on the inside of us. The Holy Spirit has been sent to ABIDE with us, and He's not going anywhere. His Ministry is to help us enforce that authority that we have received as sons and daughters so that we can operate in our dominion in this earth realm. The Father's Love in us is what we return to Him in our worship. His Love in us is perfected (matured) in us as we abide in His Word, doing His sayings:
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. [1 John 2:5]
As this love is perfected, that perfect Love that we give to Him in adoration then communes with Him Who is Perfect Love, producing Divine Intimacy. Intimacy between Godhead and us, His creation. In that Divine Love is total absence of fear. Fear cannot inhabit that Love. Circumstances and everything that accompany them are totally absent in that secret place of Divine Love. This is the Holy of Holies. the place of Miracles. The place of "Rest" from fruitless "Works". These works are a by-product of fear (Gary mentioned in his teaching that "works" is the opposite of Faith - more confirmation - I love it when the Holy Spirit shares the same thing with so many across the Body!) The Book of Hebrews deals a lot with the "rest" that we have entered into as believers, especially in chapter 4. Our faith is based solely on the "finished work" of Jesus on the cross. The Faith of God operates in His rest. Labor to enter into that rest. Oh, by the way - worship can produce the Faith to get your prayers answered - I truly believe that.
A teaching series I'd like to recommend is by Pastor Dave Roberson entitled Private Worship (CD 612) it's available at his website for FREE streaming or download: http://www.daveroberson.org/series.aspx . A lot of what I'm sharing here is covered there in much more depth.
We were created to worship God. Worship should be our lifestyle. Daily koinonia (one definition of this Greek word is "communion by intimate participation") is what the Father desires from us. I often think about someone like Smith Wigglesworth "The Apostle of Faith". He operated in so many miracles: raising the dead, limbs growing out, etc. His credo was "only believe". He KNEW His Father, and he spent much of his life in Divine fellowship. He spent enough time in the Holy of Holies to receive the faith for miracles, healings and everything that is produced by the Father's Love.
Your earthly tabernacle was created to worship the creator who made it. Worship Him out of your spirit - the eternal part of you that will survive this present earthly realm. Your spirit is the true you. In your human, born-again spirit is Life, Light, Love, Joy, Peace, Prosperity, Faith - everything that is eternal. Throughout all of eternity we will worship Him in Heaven - you might as well start now. The Father lends His ear to all that worship Him in spirit and in truth and he hears their petitions. SPIRIT: Your born-again spirit in communion with the Godhead. TRUTH: His Word is Truth. His Word, spoken to Him in adoration - in Faith - is what He responds to (see Isaiah 55:11). If He has heard those petitions, consider them answered!
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. [John 9:31]
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitons that we desired of Him. [1 John 5:14-15]
May we all operate in the Grace that is necessary to walk in that place of daily fellowship with Him so that His Will may be accomplished in our lives.
I HIGHLY recommend it. While listening to it, the Holy Spirit confirmed so much of what He has been sharing with me over the past few months. Many of us are familiar with the passage of scripture in 1 John 4:18:
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Perfect Love casts out Fear. The Father has placed His Love in us. The Truth is, Jesus Himself has stepped in on the inside of us. We have the Life of God -- the Spirit of Christ -- resident on the inside of us. The Holy Spirit has been sent to ABIDE with us, and He's not going anywhere. His Ministry is to help us enforce that authority that we have received as sons and daughters so that we can operate in our dominion in this earth realm. The Father's Love in us is what we return to Him in our worship. His Love in us is perfected (matured) in us as we abide in His Word, doing His sayings:
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. [1 John 2:5]
As this love is perfected, that perfect Love that we give to Him in adoration then communes with Him Who is Perfect Love, producing Divine Intimacy. Intimacy between Godhead and us, His creation. In that Divine Love is total absence of fear. Fear cannot inhabit that Love. Circumstances and everything that accompany them are totally absent in that secret place of Divine Love. This is the Holy of Holies. the place of Miracles. The place of "Rest" from fruitless "Works". These works are a by-product of fear (Gary mentioned in his teaching that "works" is the opposite of Faith - more confirmation - I love it when the Holy Spirit shares the same thing with so many across the Body!) The Book of Hebrews deals a lot with the "rest" that we have entered into as believers, especially in chapter 4. Our faith is based solely on the "finished work" of Jesus on the cross. The Faith of God operates in His rest. Labor to enter into that rest. Oh, by the way - worship can produce the Faith to get your prayers answered - I truly believe that.
A teaching series I'd like to recommend is by Pastor Dave Roberson entitled Private Worship (CD 612) it's available at his website for FREE streaming or download: http://www.daveroberson.org/series.aspx . A lot of what I'm sharing here is covered there in much more depth.
Your earthly tabernacle was created to worship the creator who made it. Worship Him out of your spirit - the eternal part of you that will survive this present earthly realm. Your spirit is the true you. In your human, born-again spirit is Life, Light, Love, Joy, Peace, Prosperity, Faith - everything that is eternal. Throughout all of eternity we will worship Him in Heaven - you might as well start now. The Father lends His ear to all that worship Him in spirit and in truth and he hears their petitions. SPIRIT: Your born-again spirit in communion with the Godhead. TRUTH: His Word is Truth. His Word, spoken to Him in adoration - in Faith - is what He responds to (see Isaiah 55:11). If He has heard those petitions, consider them answered!
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. [John 9:31]
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitons that we desired of Him. [1 John 5:14-15]
May we all operate in the Grace that is necessary to walk in that place of daily fellowship with Him so that His Will may be accomplished in our lives.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Are You Being "Shifted"?
Over the past few months I have been sensing in my spirit that many of those who have been "displaced" from jobs and careers (some after many years) are really being re-directed, or "shifted". What do I mean by this? Some of us (I include myself because I'm also a part of that number) should really seek to find out what the purpose of the Father is in all of this.
A lot of folks are looking at this from a different perspective. They will think that "I have lost (or ''am losing'') my job." It is not a matter of losing. Don't think of it as a loss. Rather, it might just be a season of promotion, out of a place of SELF-directed provision into a place of GOD-directed provision. This is the place where we are free to serve Christ alone--not a job--every day. A place of resting in His promises of provision.
It is vital that we hear His instructions regarding this, however. If you feel that you're called to full-time ministry, don't quit your job because you feel that's what you should do. No decision should ever be made based on emotions. You will almost always regret it. If it's His Will, the transition will be smooth, and His timing is always impeccable. Remember, the Father desires that many remain in the workplace for the purpose of financing the Kingdom through where He has placed them, and also to harvest the souls of the lost that you work alongside. You must determine with the help of the Holy Spirit if your ministry is in the marketplace or elsewhere. That is your responsibility as God's steward.
Many are looking to get back in the marketplace via networking on the Internet, looking at the classifieds, etc. I believe that those that have been praying in the spirit (in the case of some, years and years) will come to the realization that they have prayed themselves into the very place spiritually--and maybe sometimes geographically--that the Father has reserved for them. Romans 8:28 says "all things work together for our good". In context, this is based on what the Apostle Paul shares in the preceding verses (I won't get into that here--that will be for another time--maybe. Suffice it to say that it has to do with praying in tongues). We should always bear in mind that as His sons and daughters, Father always provides for us. It is the Fruit of His Love manifesting in our lives. Worrying is fruitless. Take no thought for the future, but patiently wait in His presence with fasting,worship and praying in the spirit. Constantly study and speak His Word (His Will) over your life and it will come to pass. It is His guarantee to you. Remember, Father knows best.
A lot of folks are looking at this from a different perspective. They will think that "I have lost (or ''am losing'') my job." It is not a matter of losing. Don't think of it as a loss. Rather, it might just be a season of promotion, out of a place of SELF-directed provision into a place of GOD-directed provision. This is the place where we are free to serve Christ alone--not a job--every day. A place of resting in His promises of provision.
It is vital that we hear His instructions regarding this, however. If you feel that you're called to full-time ministry, don't quit your job because you feel that's what you should do. No decision should ever be made based on emotions. You will almost always regret it. If it's His Will, the transition will be smooth, and His timing is always impeccable. Remember, the Father desires that many remain in the workplace for the purpose of financing the Kingdom through where He has placed them, and also to harvest the souls of the lost that you work alongside. You must determine with the help of the Holy Spirit if your ministry is in the marketplace or elsewhere. That is your responsibility as God's steward.
Many are looking to get back in the marketplace via networking on the Internet, looking at the classifieds, etc. I believe that those that have been praying in the spirit (in the case of some, years and years) will come to the realization that they have prayed themselves into the very place spiritually--and maybe sometimes geographically--that the Father has reserved for them. Romans 8:28 says "all things work together for our good". In context, this is based on what the Apostle Paul shares in the preceding verses (I won't get into that here--that will be for another time--maybe. Suffice it to say that it has to do with praying in tongues). We should always bear in mind that as His sons and daughters, Father always provides for us. It is the Fruit of His Love manifesting in our lives. Worrying is fruitless. Take no thought for the future, but patiently wait in His presence with fasting,worship and praying in the spirit. Constantly study and speak His Word (His Will) over your life and it will come to pass. It is His guarantee to you. Remember, Father knows best.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Renewing of the Mind, Part 2 - The Weeds in Your Garden
More often than not, my temptation will not be the same as yours. Why? Simply because of what the enemy has planted in the garden of my soul before the moment of my New Birth. However, because the Holy Spirit knows each of us so well, we have been given a spiritual deposit of Grace to overcome whatever trial or temptation comes our way. The devil knows us by way of observation. Our God knows us from the DNA that He has given us. we have been created in His Image - all the way from the lineage of Adam to now, the Fall notwithstanding. We carry the body inherited from Adam, but we have the spirit which is of Christ. The spirit man on the inside is His creation, whether the spirit is dead and needs to be quickened to life, as in the unbeliever, or life as in the born-again believer.
In the period of time before we were born-again, the enemy had planted various seeds of despair in the garden of our soul. This is done in many ways. Words might have been spoken over our lives. Words of death, curses of varying degrees ("You'll always be like your mother/father", "You'll always have ___________ disease/addiction for the rest of your life", "You'll never amount to anything", etc.) These are the weeds produced by those seeds.
At the point of our new birth, the Life of God enters into our spirit. However, the soul needs a complete overhaul. memories, emotions, addictions (legal and illegal) need to be healed. That's where the Holy Spirit comes in. fasting, Praying in Tongues, Worship, Speaking, Studying, Meditating and Assimilating the Word continually is the antidote. This is where the healing process begins. Deliverance from addictions and every other stronghold that torments is the end result.
I resolve to walk in the freedom and all the benefits that I have obtained as a son of my Heavenly Father.
How about you?
In the period of time before we were born-again, the enemy had planted various seeds of despair in the garden of our soul. This is done in many ways. Words might have been spoken over our lives. Words of death, curses of varying degrees ("You'll always be like your mother/father", "You'll always have ___________ disease/addiction for the rest of your life", "You'll never amount to anything", etc.) These are the weeds produced by those seeds.
At the point of our new birth, the Life of God enters into our spirit. However, the soul needs a complete overhaul. memories, emotions, addictions (legal and illegal) need to be healed. That's where the Holy Spirit comes in. fasting, Praying in Tongues, Worship, Speaking, Studying, Meditating and Assimilating the Word continually is the antidote. This is where the healing process begins. Deliverance from addictions and every other stronghold that torments is the end result.
I resolve to walk in the freedom and all the benefits that I have obtained as a son of my Heavenly Father.
How about you?
The Renewing of the Mind and Learning How to Exercise Your Authority (It's a Process...)
First spirit, then soul, then body. At the New Birth, our spirit was quickened from death to life. That was instantaneous. The second, and the hardest process, is the sanctification of our soul. The truth of the matter is, this process isn't hard at all. It's only because of the way we have always been trained to think - by our soul (the mind, the will, the emotions, the intellect) that causes this stage of growth to be so difficult. Enter the Holy Spirit, our personal Tutor - to expedite the process. How can we speed up this stage of our spiritual growth? By turning ourselves over to the Third Member of the Godhead. This is the ministry, the assignment, that He has been sent to perform in the earth in each and every one of us as believers.
Through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of praying in tongues, we are able to shut off our minds and our spirit does the praying (Romans 8:26). To the believer, our mind - our natural thinking - can be our own worst enemy. Because we have been trained to think a certain way by the world's system, we have to "un-learn" everything that we have learned previously through the tutelage of man. We cannot operate with the Mind of Christ otherwise. This Mind is part of the inheritance that we have been given freely as sons and daughters of the Most High. It is only by operating in the Mind of Christ that we are able to fully obey the instructions that are given to us during daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit. This is a requirement of every son and daughter - our "reasonable service" (Romans 12:1-2; Proverbs 8:34). Total life prosperity is the end result (Psalm 1:1-3; Joshua 1:8).
Satan has tried to counterfeit this operation of the Holy Spirit through various forms: Transcendental Meditation (TM), Zen Buddhism and other Eastern religious practices are just a few. Even the Church of Scientology uses the term "clear" to describe what its followers do in order to de-clutter their minds so that they are able to receive the brainwashing that this cult utilizes.
The reason why this process of renewing of the mind remains such a challenge to the believer is because that is the primary area that the enemy attacks. His assignment is always to entice you to make the wrong decision. This is done through emotions that are empowered by circumstances and the systems of thoughts that drive those emotions. The only way to to combat this assault is to employ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Nothing else. You don't reason with the devil. That is a fight you will never win. You use the Word of God ONLY -- and while you're at it, remind him of his rightful place -- under your feet. Then you tell him to SHUT UP, and COMMAND him to leave. He has to. You have that kind of authority through your new nature, the position of right standing that you have with the Father through the finished work of Jesus the Son on the cross. This is the position that your Comforter/Helper has come to help you to enforce.
The whole Truth is this: maintaining the position that you have attained through the shed Blood of Jesus on the cross is not hard at all. It's easy. Religion has lied to us long enough, and we don't have to listen anymore. This is an "open book" test. All you have to do is open The Book. The answers are all right there. If you don't know how to find them, ask the Holy Spirit. After all, He wrote it! (2 Timothy 4:16-17)
Through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of praying in tongues, we are able to shut off our minds and our spirit does the praying (Romans 8:26). To the believer, our mind - our natural thinking - can be our own worst enemy. Because we have been trained to think a certain way by the world's system, we have to "un-learn" everything that we have learned previously through the tutelage of man. We cannot operate with the Mind of Christ otherwise. This Mind is part of the inheritance that we have been given freely as sons and daughters of the Most High. It is only by operating in the Mind of Christ that we are able to fully obey the instructions that are given to us during daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit. This is a requirement of every son and daughter - our "reasonable service" (Romans 12:1-2; Proverbs 8:34). Total life prosperity is the end result (Psalm 1:1-3; Joshua 1:8).
Satan has tried to counterfeit this operation of the Holy Spirit through various forms: Transcendental Meditation (TM), Zen Buddhism and other Eastern religious practices are just a few. Even the Church of Scientology uses the term "clear" to describe what its followers do in order to de-clutter their minds so that they are able to receive the brainwashing that this cult utilizes.
The reason why this process of renewing of the mind remains such a challenge to the believer is because that is the primary area that the enemy attacks. His assignment is always to entice you to make the wrong decision. This is done through emotions that are empowered by circumstances and the systems of thoughts that drive those emotions. The only way to to combat this assault is to employ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Nothing else. You don't reason with the devil. That is a fight you will never win. You use the Word of God ONLY -- and while you're at it, remind him of his rightful place -- under your feet. Then you tell him to SHUT UP, and COMMAND him to leave. He has to. You have that kind of authority through your new nature, the position of right standing that you have with the Father through the finished work of Jesus the Son on the cross. This is the position that your Comforter/Helper has come to help you to enforce.
The whole Truth is this: maintaining the position that you have attained through the shed Blood of Jesus on the cross is not hard at all. It's easy. Religion has lied to us long enough, and we don't have to listen anymore. This is an "open book" test. All you have to do is open The Book. The answers are all right there. If you don't know how to find them, ask the Holy Spirit. After all, He wrote it! (2 Timothy 4:16-17)
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