Friday, December 8, 2017

Inner Workings from Heaven

The Stirring

It does not happen often that I start off my morning my watching a prophetic declaration from someone I am unfamiliar with. But several mornings ago, I noticed a video by a Nate Johnston. I'd never heard of him. And, oh my goodness! This brother was authentic and clearly under the unction of the Holy Spirit. So much so that as I laid back down afterwards, the gifts had clearly been stirred up in me and I saw an unusual vision, that I am now convinced was a heavenly one. It's so important to align with those who stir up, rather than try to stifle, the gifts God has placed in you for His purposes to be accomplished in and through your life.

The Vision:

I saw the arms of someone pushing a wheelbarrow of large "inner workings" of a pieces of machinery. They looked something like the one below but in one unit and shinier silver:



The 'person' had several of these "inner workings" in the wheelbarrow, which was itself pristine looking. Nothing looked old in this vision; everything in this place was pristine and new. It's an outdoor scene and I could see that these "inner-workings" were being returned to a holding pen. But the holding pen had no gate or locks. It simply had a doorway opening without an actual door or gate. In the holding area there were other inner-workings that had also been returned. The holding pen was not crowded by any means but there were several already in there so that it was not altogether empty.

The Interpretation
        2 Corinthians 5:17

These inner-workings, the Lord said, are the inner-working of the saints. These were the new things we received when we accepted Christ. At least, it is what we have access to whether we decide to use them is up to us. In other words, these were "heavenly inner-workings." 

The Spirit of the Lord "said" that these were inner-workings of the saints that had been returned (to sender) in effect. The Scripture that immediately came to mind, and still resonates is, 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new."

That is why these inner-workings were all pristine and new looking. They were new and that were heavenly.

So for the sake of clarity, let's take the whole context of the Scripture by going back a verse examining verses 16-21, which say: 

     No Longer a Worldly View

"16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer."

- The person who is now born of God, that is born of heaven through Jesus Christ, no longer regards life with a worldly point of view. They have become new with new insight guided by the Lord.

     Now a New Creation in Christ

1"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! "

- The key is to be found "in Christ." It's the only way to become this new creation. To be "in Christ" we have to follow closely after Him, letting His Word and actions guide ours. This is all facilitated by the Holy Spirit. Once a person has decided to be in Christ, that is purpose in their hearts to be "all in," their old nature is no more and the new nature has replaced it. 

However, what the vision demonstrates, a person may return that new nature to it's Sender an Maker. And I am sure that the implication here is that the person continues to believe and to portray to others that they are saved. Yet, their on the inside they are not. They are attempting to dupe God just as they dupe others. But God knows who belongs to Him and who does not. That is why the Scripture says that one day the Lord will actually say to those folks, "Depart from me, I never new you."

     The Ministry of Reconciliation

"18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: "

Without the inner workings from the Lord, we cannot reconcile others to Jesus because we ourselves are not truly reconciled. Once we are reconciled to God then, and only then, can we ourselves be reconcilers of others to God.

     The Message of Reconciliation

"19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."

- So once we are reconciled to Christ we are reconciled to God, the Father. And the reason we become new is that the sin of our past is taken away leaving us pristine and clean to be presented to God, then Father. There is no longer any sin separating us from God. Christ has taken it away. No, we not only have a ministry of reconciliation but the message of reconciliation through the preaching of the Gospel/giving our testimonies.

     Ambassadors for Christ the King and His Kingdom

"20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God."

- An ambassador is "an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country." He/she represents the interests of the country that sent them. So, too, do we represent the Kingdom of God and it's King, the Lord Jesus Christ. The ambassador is not self-interested so he does not speak for himself or act in his own interests. He asks for the One Who sent Him. In a way, Jesus was the ultimate Ambassador of the Kingdom of God because He did not do anything in self-interest or on His own authority but God's. He came as the ultimate Reconciler to reconcile mankind back to God.

     Becoming the Righteousness of God

"21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

- Jesus became the very embodiment of sin, our sin. I cannot even imagine what that must have looked like to the All-seeing One. It must have been hideous! God sent Jesus for this very reason, to die as the embodiment of sin. It was the only way to make us righteous in His eyes. That is why there is no righteousness apart from the Cross. Jesus did that and not we, the saints and children of God, those in Christ, have become the very righteousness of God. That is astounding!


The Scripture Applied to the Vision

Taking this Scripture apart, I find the meaning and the message of the vision. You see, the inner-workings come with a Manual , the Holy Bible along with the Teacher and Writer of the Scriptures. When the believer operates without consulting or contrary to the prescriptions and proscriptions of the Manual, they are effectively returning the heavenly inner-workings to the Giver. They are saying, in essence, we'll continue in our old way instead of using these new "inner-workings" by which to function. This can range from using old ways of being on one decision to backsliding completely. 

More plainly, the newness that we walk in as believers is only possible as we walk in lock step with heaven - as we follow Christ. The way to do that is by biblical conduct as we walk in the Spirit. God is not expecting us to be perfect in this flesh. But He does expect us to be led by His Spirit and so operate with the heavenly inner-workings He has given us. When we do not, we are constructively engaging in a "return" transaction.

Taking this all as a cohesive message from the Lord in walking out this passage of Scripture, if we do not maintain our newly minted heavenly inner-workings, we have nothing and no way in which to be effective ambassadors for Christ in this ministry of reconciliation. This means, we cannot reconcile the world with our clever eloquence, fine speeches, and charismatic ways. We must follow the biblical, not the worldly, model we once used, to reconcile the world to God. 


CONCLUSION

God's word is simple in so many ways. He simply asks to trust that He is not hiding the ball.  Yet we are encouraged to listen with spiritual ears, open our spiritual eyes, and yield our wills to Him so that He may use the gifts He has given us. We are to do all of this while conducting ourselves in the fruit of the Spirit. After all, if it's His work we are doing, we much do it in His way. When we do this, regardless of the levels of ability we may have, we will hear, ‘"Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’" [Matt. 15:21].

“God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply.”   - James Hudson Taylor  

CLOSING PRAYER:

Precious Lord. Thank you for my "inner-workings" from heaven. Thank you for the new me. Lord I will obey your Spirit as He leads me in reading my Manual, Your Word; as He leads me in prayer, in worship, and in following the examples of Jesus, Who constantly submitted to Your will, even to death. Please give me a hefty appetite for ingesting Your Word everyday, making it more important than my daily meals. Help me to treasure my time in Your presence above what I have in the past. Lord, I love you and want to live my life to please You. You are worthy of anything and everything I could ever offer you. The best I have to offer is my life! Take and use it as best You can so that I can hear from You: "Well done good and faithful servant." I pray this all in the holy and blessed name of Jesus. Amen.






Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Choosing the Path of Most Intensity




I was in the kitchen when it dawned on me that I tend to take the path of most intensity instead of the one of least resistance, as is most common. I sensed the Lord was counseling me to choose joy and peace over dealing with a situation in the most complex way. 

What does it mean to choose the path of most intensity?

Plain and simple, it means walking in the flesh. And while it might not be at all times, it could be in a particular area especially when expecting resistance. It's like gearing up for a battle when all the while God is planning and pointing to a more peaceful and joyful way. Sure the Lord gave me a gift for problem-solving, but the danger, if this gift is not submitted for Him to use in the way He sees fit,  is to default to problem-solving mode. It is the path of most-opportunities-to-be-proud. Something's up so I have to solve it. The arrogance of it! It means that unless the Lord is saying, "I want you to take this on", we have no business taking it on. It's as if we get spiritual amnesia and forget there is a God, Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are all three Persons of the Godhead, all the help we need when faced with the numerous challenges that life presents. 

I believe that as we mature in Christ our approaches to challenges change, and change they must. For me, several months ago the Lord told me He was going to show me how to have more fun or that He wanted me to have more fun. I don't remember the exact words at the moment, but to Him, more fun was in my immediate future. I translated that into joy. That is why I believe He shared with me what He did today, that I tend to choose the past of most intensity. And to be transparent, that means the path of contention. Why is that? This is no excuse but I do believe if I were a man, I would have needed to be in the armed forces, or an athlete or some high-intensity vocation. But as a woman, yes, you can be fiery if that is how the Lord has made you, but Jesus was gentle as the Scriptures teach us. That is to be my default position. Jesus was also meek, that means He usually restrained His power. I do believe that Jesus may have listened more than He spoke because He was humble and lowly and did not need to be a loud-mouth to establish His identity. He knew Who and Whose He was. We ought to follow His example.

Jesus's modus operandi was simple: He did what He saw the Father do, said what He heard the Father say, and went where the Father led. He did not come to "fix" although He did. He came to follow His Father plan. Jesus was, and still is, the Way the Father accomplishes anything. The Father is the Source of the power and anything needed to carry out His plan. Father (Source), Son (Mode/Way), Holy Spirit (Revealer). Important disclaimer: All Parts of the Godhead has multiple names, these main names are used for illustrative purposes on this particular post.

I heard Robert Morris, senior pastor at Gateway Church is Houston, TX, say something I have never heard before. He said, that Holy Spirit is not His name but His function. He is the Spirit of God. God is His name. Same for the Jesus and the Father. All three Persons are God. Not different expressions or modes but three separate Beings, Who always operate in unity.

What does it mean to choose the path of joy and peace?

To choose the path of joy and peace, as the Holy Spirit counseled me last night, is to humble oneself realizing that we do not have all the answers and let God be God. He is the only One who sees all, knows all, and is all powerful. No other being either inside or outside of the universe can claim such prowess. In addition, the human body is not built to take on every stress and strain and essentially live a life of worry. God says, "Stop it." He says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." [Philippians 4:6-7].

THE ROLES

Those two little verses warns and promises a lot:

Your Part:

- Do not worry about anything
- Pray about all things that cause worry
- Thank God for the many things in your life and are from Him
- Be specific, be authentic, be transparent about what is causing you to worry in telling Him about the problem

God's part:

- Grants you peace that does not make sense
- Will keep you from all harm caused by anxiety and anxious thoughts
- You will maintain a healthy heart (stress over time kills)
- You will maintain you sanity (worry over time drives you mad)

Ok, So it's not at easy as it sounds ...

If you're having a hard time with Phil. 4:6-7, particularly in following God's commands in it, ask Him to grant you to grace to do it and to go through your trial with the peace and joy that only He can give you. There is a reason for the Scripture, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Joy and worry cannot co-exist. Worry weakens while joy strengthens. 

Peace and Joy are parts of the "Fruit of the Spirit"

The fact that peace and joy are parts of the Fruit of the Spirit is an indication that walking in the Spirit of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control means we are not simultaneously walking in the flesh and giving in to worry. You see, worry is self-idolatry. It means that although I am not built or meant to solve this problem, I have no other alternative but to do it. I means you make yourself god and have no One to depend upon. Worry, means your faith not in operation while worrying. 

Yet, we all do it. Why? This is because as humans, we are still battling the flesh. And just went we have learnt to trust God in a particular area, here comes another reason to worry. What's the key then? Stay in constant connection with God through His Holy Spirit. Now, this does not always have to be hours in prayer. God is always accessible and sometimes 1 minute to turn you heart and mind toward Him will alleviate that tendency and temptation to worry. Our regenerate spirits are already turned toward Him. It's our souls (mind, will, and emotions), that is still being transformed, that needs the extra help. 

So friend, stay in the Word of God. Worship all the them. And I mean really worship. Playing worship songs is nice and can start you on your way but true worship comes from inside of you and often, Holy Spirit will give you your heart unique song to God. He loves to hear those! And of course, as mentioned above, pray, pray, pray. That means, have a conversation with God, of course with the proper protocol and don't forget to listen, too. 

Conclusion

Relinquishing Control

Now, in order to choose joy and peace, it requires a certain degree of letting go, mostly of the control of directing how the issue will play out. We must leave the outcomes to the Lord and simply do our part, our responsibility. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us not to lean on our own understanding but in all of our ways, acknowledge the Lord and He will direct our paths. HE will direct it, not us.

It is also important to remember that relinquishing control to God means that we cannot assign control to another unless God instructs us to do so. He has to be paramount, and as children of the Light, we are never alone and never without the Counsel of our Leader. We can proceed with confidence that relinquishing control means the best outcomes at all times, whether possible or "impossible".

So don't default to the road of intensity and contention, we must follow the Lord and choose His path which will always lead to peace and joy. That's how we stay strong in the battle, whether natural or supernatural. Yes, we are at war, but I am convinced, God gains nothing when we become battle-weary, scraped up, and unwilling to go on. No! We are overcomers because He showed us how when He overcame the world! He warned us that trouble is inevitable. "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." [John 16:33].


We never lose our joy. That's why the Psalmist, Paul, and Peter exhort us to rejoice at all times, especially in our adversity.


Other great Scriptures for your daily diet

Psalm 5:11
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.


Psalm 9:2
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.


1 Peter 1:6                
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

1 Peter 1:8whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,



1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 John 5:5
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 Peter 1:3-12 [The passage in context]


Heavenly Inheritance

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen[a] you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us[b] they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

Rejoice!
Angels can only "inquire" of what we know by experience in Christ! And the prophets of old yearned to know and to live in this dispensation of the Kingdom of God, the age of Christ. Hallelujah!














































Friday, August 11, 2017

What Are You Doing in Your Waiting Time and What is God Doing?

I heard my "brother" Robert Morris say something yesterday that greatly encouraged me and I do believe it will encourage you, too. He was recounting and teaching on the story of Joseph. We all know about his life. And lots of people like to point out his "pit to the palace" journey, focusing mostly on the palace. Many people also like to claim to be "Josephs" in their own families. Whether or not that is true, there are some key things we need to remember. Joseph had a God-given destiny and purpose and he chose to honor God with his life. He was not off doing his own thing and pleasing himself. He risked prison, about 13 years of it, because he lived a life of honor.

So what did I hear my brother, Robert Morris say? He said that until the prophetic word over Joseph's life was fulfilled, the literal Word of God tested him. That's what goes on in the waiting time. It's a time when great discouragement, oppression, and depression can threaten the prophetic word and you are tempted to give up and give in. It was true for Joseph and it is true for us as well. And always remember that "[Y]our waiting time is not wasted time." [Pastor Tim Williams of Time Square Church.] 

THE LITERAL WORD OF GOD WILL TEST YOU UNTIL THE PROPHETIC WORD OF GOD OVER YOUR LIFE COMES TO PASS.

And we know it's not just one "word," that is true for every prophetic word that He has spoken over you in a given area. He cannot entrust to you what His Word has not proven in you. He will prove you. David, the Psalmist, more that once  would ask God to prove him, test him, see whether he could be trusted in a particular area. (See Psalms 26, and 139) And we can use the life of David for demonstration. He failed certain tests at certain times yet he humbled himself in repentance and God would give him another chance. After all, God called him "a man after My own heart." Not only that, God established an eternal kingdom in David, in whose line the Lord Jesus Christ was born.

David's Failures

Remember how he arranged for Bathsheba's husband to be killed after he had slept with her. But remember how he withstood the counsel of his men to kill King Saul when he had the golden opportunity to kill him and to be rid of his "Saul" problem. In the end, David passed his many tests, accomplishing his destiny and purpose, and died in dignity and honor before His God. 

Like David, we will pass some tests, and we will fail some. God is proving us, he is testing us in all areas of our lives where He has spoken a prophetic word. And are not be in fear but to be encouraged and move boldly by faith in the One Who gave the prophetic word and Whose literal Word tests us.

We cannot get to the second word without first going through the first. Put another way, you have to "pass" through the first (literal Word of God) before being entrusted with the second (prophetic word of God).

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO PASS THE TEST OF THE LITERAL WORD OF GOD?

LIVE A LIFE THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE BIBLE LIVING BY BIBLICAL IDEALS, WITH A BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW, AND NEITHER ACCEPTING NOR COMPROMISING WITH UNBIBLICAL CONDUCT, DEEDS, OR WORDS, REMEMBERING THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR HELPER TO LEAD US INTO ALL TRUTH.

This is simple yet in our daily lives we hit some right on the mark while we miss others. Thankfully, God is faithful because He never leaves us nor forsakes us. We always have access to the empowerment to obey Him. God is merciful as His mercies toward us are new every morning and they endure forever. He is gentle, patient, and kind. I say all of this because while He is an all consuming fire with power that is incomprehensible to us, His attitude toward us is first and foremost -- LOVE, because GOD IS LOVE!

OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN TESTED BY THE WORD OF GOD

But before I end this short piece of encouragement for your waiting time. Think of a few individuals from the Bible who failed their 'life' tests and others to passed: 

1. King Saul [FAILED] - the Word of the Lord tested him and he failed and continued to fail, never repenting and dying in disgrace and dishonor. The kingdom of Israel forever ripped out of his hands and the hands of his descendants.

2. Saul who became Paul [PASSED] - He passed his test once he had his "Road to Damascus" experience. He humbled himself and served God for the rest of his life to the point of martyrdom.

3. Abraham [PASSED]- He began as an idol worshipper yet when the literal Word of God from the mouth of God came, he believed God and became the father of our faith.

4. Ananias and Saphira [FAILED] - Ordinary people like you and I who received the Word of God through the apostles under the unction of the Holy Spirit, which tested them. They failed miserably, suffering the instant sentence of death for grieving the Holy Spirit through lying. 

[We could go deeper into the lives of these individuals and it would make a great study, but that is not the purpose of this piece.]

God wants us to know that His Word tests us so that He can prove us until His prophetic word over our lives can be fulfilled. For this we should be very thankful because there is nothing like a premature fulfillment to destroy the one who received the word and those they lead and influence. 

YOU AND ME

So....

What about you? Which story above will be the pattern for your life. Will it be a legacy of victory by living according to the literal Word of God in the Bible or one of failure for ignoring your Hope which is in Christ Jesus? You get to choose.

As for me ... I intend to pass my tests under the literal Word of God so that the prophetic word of God over my life will come to pass. Admittedly, I have missed some, quite a bit, but thank God for grace and second, third, and fourth chances. As we are turned toward God, He metes out to us, showers of His grace to go on to be victorious over the hindrances in our lives that keep us bogged down and tethered to that which is unprofitable. But, God ...! For some of us, it often takes a miracle to overcome the hurdles of impossibility.

Thank God, He specializes in impossibilities! 

You see our lives before God are a gigantic "IF...THEN..." statements. Consider Deuteronomy 28 where God tells the Israelites, if you would do this, then this would happen. If you would obey my commandments (all that I tell you to do), you will be blessed. If not, you will be cursed. Simple.

The WORD WILL TEST YOU. And while some people around us might be fooled into thinking we are sincere, God can never be duped. He knows if you are genuinely His. Our lives are all naked before Him.

Be encouraged, no one wants us to pass His tests more than God does and through the Holy Spirit, the Teacher gives us the answers so that we can all pass our tests!

Let's pass our tests so that we can get to our promises!!




Sunday, July 30, 2017

Faith or Law: Which Came First?

In Christianity, the understanding of the relationship between faith and the law is often a muddled one. However, it's becoming one of my favorite topics as the Lord seems to bring it to my attention often. It's as if it's really important for us to "get it." So, I was not surprised when I asked Him what He wanted to share with my mom and I once I arrived back at home from church. As we sat down together, I prayed and He said to read Galatians 3 as it relates to Philippians 4 (the applicable discourse begins at 3:17). I had no idea what the relationship was but we were about to find out. Crucial Scriptures in Galatians 3:17-18, 23-24.

A little background on these 2 letters from the Apostle Paul, who wrote at least the one to the Philippians from the "comfort" of a Roman prison, particularly house arreas. I know this from Paul himself who sent greetings from those of the faith who were of the household of Caesar. But we know from history that Paul was under house arrest in Rome when he penned the letter to his spiritual children. 

I want to keep this short and pertinent to what the Lord was saying to us today and why He led us to these Scriptures. I'll give you a clue: He wanted to teach us about identity and on the one hand and how it plays out on the others hand. How do we walk out this identity in Christ as we live this life of faith free from the subjection of the law. It is important to never deny the importance of the law before the better covenant of faith, but which came first? Both.

Now that I have your attention, let's dive in ...

GALATIANS 3 (New King James Version)

THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT

Justification by Faith 

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

THE LAW HAD ITS PLACE WITH ALL OF ITS LIMITATIONS

The Law Brings a Curse

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

THE LONG AWAITED PROMISE WAS FULFILLED IN CHRIST

The Changeless Promise

15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

THE LAW WAS OUR GUARD UNTIL THE FULFILLMENT OF THE SEED

Purpose of the Law

19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

OUR IDENTITY THROUGH FAITH NO MATTER WHAT OUR STATION

Sons and Heirs

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians+3&version=NKJV)


The reason I said both the law and the covenant of faith came first is because the Abrahamic Covenant was a covenant of faith. "Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness." He had faith in God that He could bring about whatever He promised. But Abraham's faith was not enough to win back the whole world to the Father. That was not his role. Only One could accomplish that "impossible" feat. Yet, he did receive the Promised Seed, Jesus Christ, Whom God would indeed use to redeem the world - winning back His family through His First Son!

This promise came to Abraham 430 years before God gave Moses the law to guard the people from sin until the fullness of time when the Promise Seed, Jesus Christ, would come. So the covenant of faith, as it were, came before the law and was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, as was the law. "17 Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." (Matt. 5:17). So see that Jesus really is the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega. He was before the Law (the promise of Him), and He manifested in the earth as the incarnate God, after the Law. Is that not good stuff?

Philippians 4  (New King James Version)

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

THE HOPE WE HAVE IN THE LIFE OF FAITH: JOY, UNITY, AND THE POWER OF PRAYER

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

OUR THOUGHT LIFE: A CRUCIAL COMPONENT TO WALKING OUT THIS FAITH

Meditate on These Things

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

THE SECURITY OF GENEROSITY TOWARD KINGDOM EXPLOITS

Philippian Generosity

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greeting and Blessing

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.



Here, Paul is imploring the believers to be and remain united in Christ, with joy, never overwhelmed but always prayerful. He shares that they are to reign in their thought lives and focus only on that which is "noble, ...just, ... pure, ... lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." He does not just say think on these things but "meditate" on them; fill your mind with them." Why? "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7). In other words, you become what you meditate on. 

In summary, we have dealt with our identity as it relates to the law and living by faith through Christ the Promised Seed from the Scripture in Galatians and from the letter Paul wrote to the Philippians while under house arrest in Rome, he shared some practical ways to live out that identity to the glory of God. 

A CAUTION: THE LAW IS NEITHER UNIMPORTANT NOR WITHOUT PURPOSE BECAUSE UNBELIEVERS AND BACKSLIDERS LIVE SUBJECT TO/UNDER IT, WHILE IT HAS BEEN FULFILLED IN CHRIST, AND BY EXTENSION, BY THOSE WHO FOLLOW CHRIST. 






Friday, January 20, 2017

INTEGRATION OF FAITH, "VISIONING", AND KINGDOM WEALTH - PART I

Hi, friends. For those who like to read my posts, so sorry for the long intervals between them. It's been a pretty hectic last couple of months. However, that does not mean that the Lord is not revealing Himself in new ways in terms of wisdom in walking before Him daily. There have been some real gems of late that not only benefits me but for those who would catch what I am sharing here in their spirit, it could and should, revolutionize your view of how God "visions" and "provisions" His Kingdom exploits prepared for your hands. He recently gave me a gem of a lesson and I am sharing it with your hear. Please check out the videos as well. The first one is the teaching on faith and kingdom weath, while the second one summarized and wraps up the whole point again. You can't hear/see this too many times.

Important Scriptures that undergird this word: Habakkuk 2:2-3;

The Just Live by Faith

Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
“Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.

VISIONING

So God's giving you a big vision. It's big, it's scary, and you know it's impossible without Him. Congratulations! You are the proud "parent" of a bouncing baby vision. But before you celebrate with the "proverbial" cigar, hang on a minute. Don't run out to tell all your friends yet. The first thing to do is to get alone with God for the strategy and the specifics of the vision. I know people who have run full speed ahead after the initial revelation only to fall flat on their faces. Ahem! I would be one of those people. But, there is no shame in it if you learn from it. God knows how to pick us up, dust us off, give us a loving pat on the hind-quarters and lead us on our way again. It's time to quiet yourself before the Lord for however long it takes to get a sense of peace that you have the first part to work on, and your will do it from a place of Sabbath rest - not frenzy. Yes, we are in the end times. Yes, there is a sense of urgency! No, we do not need to panic - no matter what it is and what He has revealed. Obviously, that also depends on what it is. If He is giving you a word about something catastrophic, then that's another matter. I am more referring to a vision for something God wants you to create more that a vision of a warning or something like that. For instance, Tommy Barnett's Dreamcenter in Los Angeles, CA. He said that vision that he thought was dead, took 40 years to become reality. Thank God he did not quite at year 39.

So write the vision in a prominent place where you will see it everyday. At the appointed time, reveal it to others who are on the same page and assigned by God to help bring it about. Don't blab it to everyone. Be led of the Holy Spirit, this is not yours it is God's.

I love the admonition of verse 4, it makes it clear that God is not envisioning the proud person but the humble person who lives by faith. The proud person is unrighteous, and unjust. He has no place before God. The humble, on the other hand, is just before God and will live persist by faith.


Hebrews 11:1-3, and


By Faith We Understand

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.


Haggiai 2:1-9

The Coming Glory of God’s House

In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple[a] in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!
“For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations,[b] and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

God is telling them that He is with them and that they need not fear. Here, God promises the remnant access to His endless resources to accomplish His purpose, Kingdom resources, more glory, so that's advancement and improvement of the positioning of the past, and finally, peace. To put that into modern language, that's money, power and influence, and peace, God's shalom. This is glorious. All of this so that they could get God's house done. This tells us that these things that the world craves, when we obtain them through godly means, they are for Kingdom purposes. Does God want us to be poor and destitute? I doubt it! What God wants is for us to not make something or someone else our little god to try to replace Him. Running, seeking, and hungering after these things will make a person an idolater and such a person cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.



INTEGRATION BETWEEN FAITH & KINGDOM RESOURCES
00:26:04


WRAPPING UP FAITH FOR KINGDOM RESOURCES TO COMPLETE THE VISION 00:11:33


PRAYER UNDERGIRDS IT ALL!
00:03:39