Today's Encounter - The Temple of Living Stones

It's been a while since my last blog post but I am happy to be back blogging for those who are following these posts and hopefully encountering the living God as a result. That's the whole point of my life. Am I facilitating an encounter with God?

I had to blog today because as I sat at the piano to lead my mom and I into God's presence in worship inviting to be with us, we opened up ourselves to encountering Him and receiving revelation and impartation that has already transformed us. I  sense that as some point we are to start videotaping these sessions because they are so dynamic with times of spontaneous teachings. I believe as the situation in the world grows more tenuous, we need these times of encounter with our Father. Our time today was truly wonderful.

Today's Scriptures in answer to the question I asked the Lord today are:

1 Cor. 6:17-20                           Revelation 21:22-27           
Ephesians 2:19-22 (*21)           1 Peter 2:4-5
John 8:12                                  Luke 19:13

Our Prayers today:

Matthew 6: 9-15 (The Lord's Prayer)
Ephesians 6:10-20 (Encircling prayer)

Words from spontaneous worship:

1. From song "Open up our Eyes" - God is always fighting for us. The battle is the Lord's so that I am free to be me and you and free to be you. Really I am free to be the me I was created to be. He is always with us.

2. From the song "Sinking Deep" - We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. No longer is there a temple of brick and mortar that houses the presence of God but now His temple is made of living stones. The new  location for the Holy of Holies set apart for the Holy One is in us. We are as a people, the Church, His temple of living stones.

Hang on, you are about to be wowed,, not by my words but by what you and I have already read in the Word of God. The Word which is incredibly liberating yet awe inspiring.

As we worshiped The Lord was speaking over us being about free to be who He created us to be because as we follow and obey Him He has our backs, fighting our battles so that we may walk free, even carefree, especially in the spirit. (See Psalm 91, Philippians 4:6). We are not hindered by anything as long as we in in Him. That's a common theme you'll see in my writing. These posts are not intended those uninterested in following Christ. I have no gimmicks or deals for you. I can offer you an introduction to an incredible life in Christ but nothing of material worth. That being said, let's jump into this treasure trove of Scripture.

As that word came from the Lord about being the "temple of the Holy Spirit," no longer one of brick and mortar but of living stones. I had to ask the Lord, "Are there many temples, or one temple made up of many living stones. This was a real question. We set out to get the answer using His Word. The best place to find what He means when He speaks.

He answered our question and so much more:

1. 1 Corinthians 6:17-20 - Glorify God in Body and Spirit

 ¹⁷ But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. ¹⁸ Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. ¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body^[c] and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Verse 17 stopped us in our tracks, just about knocked the breath out of us. A person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. That is so hard to comprehend. No wonder sexual immorality for the believer is such a travesty, it's actually rather sickening based on this verse. Even though we know the Holy Spirit in the measure in which we have Him now is but a deposit of what is to come, when Jesus asked the Father to send us Holy Spirit, He was giving us as much as we could handle in our mortality, yet He knew to what degree we needed Him in order to be empowered to do all that He said we would do including having victory over sin. At that joining [when we genuinely come to Christ], our bodies and our human spirits become God's.


2.  Revelation 21:22-27 - The New Jerusalem

 ²² But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,^[j] for the glory^[k] of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. ²⁴ And the nations of those who are saved^[l] shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.^{[m] 25} Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). ²⁶ And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.^{[n] 27} But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes^[o] an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

In the City in which God will once again live with man, the New Jerusalem, there will not be a temple because Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ, will comprise the Temple. It's a sobering and awesome thought that we now occupy a position only the Father and the Son will when they come back to earth to reign. Friend, what does that say about who we are, and whose we, and how we ought to be occupying ourselves now? Does that not give new meaning to "Occupy [do business] until I return." (Luke 19:13: Parable of the Master who Left His servants in charge) There will also be no need for any other light such as the sun or moon. This also communicates to me that the veil that currently separates the natural from the supernatural realm will be no more since God, Whom we can now know only the Spirit because He is Spirit, wiill actually be the Light in the City.


3. Ephesians 2:19-22 (*21) - Christ the Cornerstone

¹⁹ Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Paul tells us here,  in answer to the question of whether we are individual temples or together make up one temple, that we are fitted together as one temple where God dwells---in the Spirit. Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone of the whole building (singular). This is another way of telling us what he wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 about being different parts but of one body. One injured part affects the entire body. Friend, this is another way of saying, "we absolutely need each other." This is coming from someone who is naturally a loner. That's naturally. In my God-ordained identify I am both people- and task-oriented. One could say extroverted introvert or the other way around. I need to be alone and with people to be my best me.


4. 1 Peter 2:4-5 - Jesus the Chosen Cornerstone and we His Living Stones

⁴ Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”^[b]7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,^[c]

“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”^[d]8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.”^[e]They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ¹⁰ who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

This is where the apostle Peter refers to the people of God as living stones following God's chosen Living Stone. Jesus Christ. Interesting that believers see Jesus as "precious" but to those who are disobedient, He is a "stumbling block and a rock of offense." You know the type. The ones who get so offended when you alert them of God's s standards asking "who are you to judge me?" when the Word of God is what judges them. These are people, whom I might add, we once were. We were disobedient, and often, defiantly so. How do we respond to these people? In love, yet unless you are lead by Holy Spirit, do not no try to correct them. They still know best and there is too much pride, and often pain, blocking the way forward. But never ever stop praying for them. Again, before we came to Christ, we were all once disobedient and defiant. Only the grace of God operating in our lives caused us to change and seek Him Who alone can save us from ourselves and that which is to come

5. John 8:12 - Follow the Light to Walk in Light

¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

It's interesting to note that this was when He exonerated the woman caught in adultery, challenging her accusers by telling them, "let he who is without sin, cast the first stone." Of course, there were none then, and angry mob that was ready to stone this woman to death, dissipated. I believe Jesus had just proven that all who follow self, or others, are walking in darkness and are therefore, all sinners. Only those who follow Him walk in the light and therefore walk free. This is the same chapter where He tells His disciples, "If you abide in my word [are obedient to my Word], you are indeed my disciples in deed [you will do what I do], and you shall know the truth [no longer deceived by the evil on into sin] and the truth shall make you free [outside of Me there is no freedom].

Matthew 5:14-16 - Believers are Salt and Light

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Summing it all up, first, we who belong to Christ are joined in one spirit with Him; therefore, sexual immorality is egregious and brings great harm. We are not our own;, our bodies and our spirits are God's. Second, when the Lord returns and sets up the New Jerusalem, there will be no temple building because the Father and Jesus will be the Temple. There will be no need for the sun and the moon because the Son will be the Light in the City. Third, we as the saints of God, have been built and fitted together, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus as the Chief Cornerstone, as the temple of God. Fourth, we are living stones being built up as a spiritual house in Christ. And fifth, we who follow Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, will never walk in darkness. He was the Light sent into this world and He still is. But we, His followers, are the be the lights to shine His light in this world.

Bottom line:
To put it into one full sentence, the theme of what I believe the Lord is telling us today, we are to occupy until He returns to once again to take His rightful place in this world. That means, we are the living stones that form His temple until He returns to be the Temple; we are His lights in this world until He returns to be the Light in that great City the New Jerusalem.

Take your positions, saints. It's never been more important. We are the generation upon  whom the end of the age has come. We must be found in position upon His return, but that is only possible if we stick together in the bond of His love.

Freedom Series: How to Secure True Freedom Indeed

True Freedom exists in Christ alone and is secured by following the recipe Jesus offered in the Gospel of John. As is the case with so many 'famous' Scriptures, many people try to apply this Word in a way that suits them rather than the way God originally intended. Why is that important? Because doing things God's way guarantees God's results. Just as all people crave true love, which by the way is only found in God, ("God is love," 1 John 4:8) so we all yearn for freedom. These are truly man's chief quests. Here we focus on the search for true freedom.

But how to achieve t, I mean really, achieve it? Hint: It is possible to be free...but it only exists in Christ. Jesus laid out the steps to true freedom in John 8:31-35.

First the definition of freedom: 

free·dom

ˈfrēdəm/

noun

1. the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

   "we do have some freedom of choice"

   • absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government.

     "he was a champion of Irish freedom"

     synonyms:

     independence, self-government, self-determination, self-rule, home rule,sovereignty, nonalignment, autonomy; democracy "revolution was the only path to freedom"
   • the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

     "the shark thrashed its way to freedom"

     synonyms:

     liberty, liberation, release, deliverance, delivery, discharge;

 (Source: Defition of freedom)

Here is the progression Jesus taught 

for achieving true freedom:

John 8:31-35 :

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Breaking it down into bite sized morsels

Action - Our Responsibility: Abide(Continue) in His Word
What does this mean? The word "abide" is the Greek word "men'-o" "It is a 
primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.

        Result 1: And thereby be His disciples indeed (His true followers)

We only have to read the Bible to know what Jesus' disciples did and how they lived. They were always with Him. They knew He was IT, the Man, the One upon Whom everything in the universe hung. The Messiah. There was no other to come after Him and there was none like Him before He came on the scene, or since. Through Him, mankind's final hope, a Hedge against certain destruction. But to be His disciple requires today exactly what it did then, continuing to follow Him and to obey His Word. 

        Result 2: You shall know the truth (in a world full of deception)

It's impossible to spend time with Jesus Christ and be easily deceived. In other words, the closer we get to Him, Who is Truth and the Light of the World, see clearer and clearer. We fall prey to deception when we stray from the Lord and His centrality in our lives. Of course, other things compete for our attention all day long but more and more we need to vigorously protect our time and commitment to the Lord.

        Result 3: The truth shall make you free

Deception and all its elements tend to fall away the closer we get to the Lord. John 1:1-5, a favorite, favorite Scripture of mine, tells us (paraphrased):

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and there was nothing made without Him that was made. In Him was the life and the life was the light of men, and the lights shone in the darkness and the darkness could not overcome it.

Who is the Word? Jesus Christ. He was in the beginning. He is the means by which God, Who is Spirit, made everything. He is also the Light of the world. What has to go when there is light? Darkness, hidden things, deception. So you see how intimacy with Christ not only keeps us on the path of Truth but it keeps us from being deceived. We are not blinded.

So here the truth makes us free from bondage to sin and deception, which itself, is designed to lead us into sin and eventually death.

        Result 4: If the Son frees you, you are free indeed (really free!)

Jesus is not speaking here about the "freedom" which Peter later warned of, essentially, leaving one form of bondage only to be given over to another.[See in Peter where he talks about returning to bondage of those who are themselves in bondage about the false teachers.]
Both Jesus and Peter recognize that true freedom only comes through Jesus Christ. See 2 Peter 2 about the deceptions, destructive doctrine, doom, depravity, and deceptions of false teachers. This is a chapter worth memorizing as is much of Scripture. Yet, we are living in the days of rampant deception that seeks primarily to ensnare the believer. Here is just a taste of Peter's warning to believers then and now: 

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.³ By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
(2 Peter 2:1-2 -  NKJV)

Finally, the freedom the Lord offers, once received, must be followed by total submission to Him in order to remain free. The "free indeed", means "really" free, free, as the little kids say, "for keeps". It also means free "in deed". That means our words, thoughts, and actions align with that freedom. Realizing that none of us get it right 100% of the time, the Lord is looking at the leanings of the heart. Are we quick to genuinely repent and trust Him to work through us to avoid the enemy's traps? Are we walking according to the leading of the Holy Spirit or are we led by our own desires? The Lord knows our brokenness and also those who truly love Him.

So if the Son has freed you, "Hallelujah!" If you are still seeking freedom, follow what the Lord Jesus Christ has said in the Scripture in John 8:31-32 and pray, pray, pray and pray some more. Get others you trust to join you in prayer until you see results. Then......

Help someone else. That is a great way to remain free. Help others to achieve their freedom by telling them about how He set you at liberty. You would be surprise how many would listen.

Let's pray. 

PRAYER FOR FREEDOM AND INCREASED COMMITMENT AND DISCERNMENT:

Dear Lord, how you have shown your love for us, over and over again. Many times we have ignored or failed to respond to that love. Now Lord, we are ready to submit to your rule and commit, truly commit, to your ways. 

Jesus, we need You especially in this season, this time. We are closing in on the time of your return and we want to remain in your word so that we can be ready to receive You. But Lord, until the time of Your return, we are in need of more discernment to know truth from lies. 

Help us, Lord! We are bankrupt and without You we cannot do anything worthwhile. 

Father, thank you for providing the Way, the Truth, and The Life in Jesus, that we might all be free if we choose to be. 

Lord, I want to continue in your Word, I want to be Your true disciple, I want to know the truth, I want to be free! 

You know my frame, that I am weak, but Lord, I know that when I am weak, then you are strong. 

You provided the Holy Spirit to help me in times of weakness. I now submit to you my whole being afresh and anew. I am keeping my eye on the Prize. Lord Jesus, thank you for hearing my prayer. I love You and cherish You. Have Your way, Lord, in Jesus mighty and matchless name we pray. Amen.

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Optimize your Productivity....Rest in Him!

Experience from a while back:

"Yesterday, I declared that I would focus and He honored that with a focus that I have not had in a while. The previous day I attended a prayer meeting where His presence was almost tangible. I was touched in a very deep place. By the time I arrived at my mom's all I could do was sleep. Such a deep sleep, the kind you have when you are anesthetized for surgery. The Holy Spirit does this to me sometimes after downloading word at church that He wants to 'install' into my being. It was that kind of 'nap' on Thursday. Then Friday was extremely productive without working for 10-12 hours. Incredible how after resting in Him productivity is exponentially increased regardless of how much time you spend. It's a mystery! His love is infinite. Why do we limit Him?

Spending time resting in Him does so much more than we think. Resting in Him is the best investment in our productivity that we can make. Be productive.....Rest in Him! If it's difficult at first, be patient with yourself and keep trying. He said "be still and know that I am God." So be still and know that He is God!"

The Gospel Truth [Re-sharing Previous Facebook note]

God does not NEED anyone or anything but DESIRES, no longs for, relationship with us, His created ones. We can become His children but only in His way. He made man and woman to be together according to His plan called marriage, so that they could be fruitful and multiply. Since the original man and woman disobeyed Him in the Garden of Eden, it is no longer possible for sinful man (all humans) to be in direct relationship with Holy God. Sin separates man from God. Therefore, man now needs a Mediator....and there is only ONE Person who qualifies. His name is Jesus Christ and He is the only Son of God. No one else qualifies because everyone else but Christ has sin. He was born of a virgin (mothered), not from the seed of a human man. God Himself by His Spirit impregnated her supernaturally. Yet Jesus walked this earth as 100% man though He was 100% God. 

That is hard to understand. But it’s important to note that He chose to walk the earth as 100% man, yet He did not sin. The Bible says He was tempted in every way that we are tempted...but without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) If He had sinned, He would have disqualified Himself from being that perfect sacrifice and therefore the only possible Mediator between man and God. So to recap, we need a Mediator because currently we cannot be in direct relationship with God because He is holy and we have sin that has passed down to us from our fore parents Adam and Eve. God never made man and man nor woman and woman to be together. So that point is not open to alternative interpretations. The basic fact is two men or two women would be puzzle pieces that do not fit. 

And because God is the Creator and we are the creation, He gets to determine HOW we come to Him and our CONDUCT before Him. He has decided that is it only through the perfect sacrifice of the Perfect One....Jesus Christ. There is NO OTHER WAY to God. Someone recently told me there are about 1700 religions in the U.S. alone. That's a staggering figure. But I am really not speaking about religion here. This is about relationship with Almighty God. Everyone has to ask himself the question: Do I want to take a gamble on eternity. And we all get to decide while here on earth whether we live in heaven or hell for eternity. These are the only two possible eternal addresses: Heaven or Hell. 

So God made the man and woman to be together and to be fruitful and multiply. He made only one way to be in relationship with Him while here on earth and that is through the Person of Jesus Christ. God's the Boss and that's His plan. Can the creation say to its creator, I don’t like your ways, so I’ll choose my own? No, the creation is subject to the rules of the creator. Similarly, God’s ways and means are His because He knows best. And although we can choose whether to follow our own ways or His, only following His ways will bring eternal success. Using our own ways that are contrary to His will bring dire consequences. Everyone MUST make a decision. And not making a decision for Christ is actually making a decision to reject God. 

What's the big deal you ask? Well, you are taking an unnecessary risk with your eternal life. And the decision has to be made while still on earth before death. Did someone tell you there is no God? Do you really believe that? Really? Do you really want to take that chance? Maybe your mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin or some other relative is a believer in the only Way to God through Christ and you think that's close enough. Unfortunately, belief in Christ by proxy (through another person) is also rejecting Christ and therefore rejecting God. It's not possible to be saved from a life without God by another mediator. Christ is the only Mediator, not grandma. But I thank God for mothers and grandmothers who pray for their relatives to become children of God for themselves. I have my mother to thank for that. It is very important to have family members who pray for you, but it will not be enough to save you. 

You may have faith in Christ but you don't want to go to church because you don't believe in ORGANIZE religion or be with a bunch of hypocrites. Well God does not give you a choice of how to serve Him. Let's face it, you are imperfect and churches made up of people are just like you....IMPERFECT. It's crucial to be part of a body of believers so that you can grow, learn and be protected from unnecessary error. Besides, no person is an island , we need to be around those who would encourage, build us up, pray for us and listen to our woes and the best part is in enjoying God's presence together. I am convinced that there some things God will only do when the Body of believers are together in one accord. Even God chose not to be alone in the universe, and He said of the man, Adam, that he should not be alone. That’s why He created Eve. Christ Himself had twelve best friends whom He taught the ways of God. 

We are the same. We need to live, work and worship in community. That’s not a choice but a must. A person without Christian friends with whom he can communicate honestly and openly and be in accountability is in grave danger of falling away even if they are still physically going to church. In many ways, falling away from Christ in your heart is more dangerous than not going to church because you can be lulled into thinking all is well. But in other ways, when you are in church there is at least a chance you will be jolted back into right alignment with God. So if you are not in a church, find a good full-Bible believing church where you are loved and get the true Word of God and plug in there. It should be as local as possible so that you can serve in some capacity. 

And I know many people like to avoid the subject of the devil but that is foolish. Ignoring your enemy has never been a way to win a battle or even a war. We are to keep our eyes on the Lord and our mind on things that are good and peaceable (Philippians 4:8) but be mindful of our adversary the devil who prowls around like a roaring lion to see whom he can devour” (1 Peter 5:8) He devours believers by trying to destroy relationship with God and fellow believers. He comes to steal, to kill and to destroy (John 10:10). So we must be vigilant. And a major tactic the devil uses is to cause offense among believers, especially in churches. This not only destroys relationship with man but also with God. It also hampers our growth in Christ. I have to watch out for this all the time. So beware. You have an adversary. Who do you think is behind atheism and agnosticism, humanism, intellectualism and every other God-fewer isms? It’s the devil. But the bad news is the devil has the power over man ONLY because man has given it to him and in not believing in Christ. The Good News (GOSPEL ) is, that it’s all reversible by accepting and following Christ. 

The thing about truth is that it really doesn't matter whether you believe it. Although it’s good to believe it, it makes us free from the burden of sin. To know truth, we must know the One who personifies Truth and that is Jesus Christ. Truth is neither subject to, nor contingent upon your belief. It just IS. Jesus said it best; He said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to be Father but by Me." John 14:6. No one can have access to God except through Jesus Christ. So just as God does not NEED anyone or anything, He does not NEED us to believe but without that belief in the Way named Jesus Christ there is no access to God. So praying to God without access through Christ is similar to a person without relationship with the president showing up at the White House and seeking a meeting with him. On the other hand, Michelle, Malia or Sasha would have practically unlimited access to him. And I am sure that’s especially true when they NEED Him. He knows them but he does not know you. 

In this same way, God knows us through our relationship with Jesus Christ but without Jesus Christ He does not know us as one of His own. No Christ, no access to God. Know Christ, have access to God. Does God show grace toward all of His creation? Yes. As long as you are breathing, you are experiencing that grace. Without relationship with Him through Christ there is no guarantee of the answered call, or welcome upon an unexpected visit to His throne. Hebrews 4:16 tells me that I can “Come boldly before His throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace in my time of need.” That’s a guarantee that is only available through my relationship with Christ. God recognizes Sonia when I call, not because I’m is so wonderful but because I have a relationship with Him through my relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Isn’t it interesting that we have a choice to be His even though He made us. Of course, He knows everything about us. That’s why it’s ridiculous to stay away from God because of what you’ve done, no matter how bad you think it is. He already knows everything and loves you anyway. Just as He knew all of the things I’d done and loves me in a way that I still find quite daunting. He is the King above all other Kings and He is my Father. That just boggles my mind. 

God is good and God is love. Who wouldn't want to be closely connected to Someone who is always good and is Love personified? Maybe those of us in the Church have not been recognized for His love for each other and for our fellow human beings. It should be more obvious and I repent for all the times when I have been less than loving to my fellow believer sand my fellow human beings. 

But if you tell me that you know God but not in an emotional or experiential way, or that you went to seminary, have a million theological degrees and yet have no spiritual revelation of His love, I would doubt that you know Him at all or at most that you have intellectual knowledge of Him. But how is that valid Christianity that has keeping power, or the power to change, deliver or heal someone? Jesus tells the parable of the seeds that were planted in different places and only that which was sown in good ground, not the stony or thorny ground, where there can be no good development of deep roots. These areas which are inadequate for good planting and development makes it too easy for the enemy of our soul to come along and to steal the seed of the Word of God. Lacking that true relationship is like having an initial meeting with Christ and but not letting Him empower you to do the work you are called to do as His child. It’s like having a coat and instead of wearing it your keep it thrown over your arm. 

To be effective ministers of the Gospel we must “WEAR” Him. Short of that, we are being satisfied with just a down payment when the whole purchase price is being made available to you and you did not even have to provide the purchase price: salvation from sin, death and hell. Christ’s death on the Cross has purchased your salvation (access to God and the cleansing power of the blood of Christ) as well as the baptism of His Spirit (access to His power to do what He tells us to). It bought both, but most Christians are satisfied with knowledge because it makes them feel important and therefore, the down payment of the Holy Spirit Who comes to live on the inside of us to change us into the image of Christ, but forgetting that it’s also absolutely necessary to walk in the power of that salvation by also seeking and accepting His offer of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. To try to help the world where there is such hopelessness and despair with only the deposit without taking hold of all that God is offering is dangerous and foolish. It’s being satisfied with a lack of power which is needed for a true witness of the power of God to change lives as we try to EXPLAIN to the world about who Jesus is. Why should anyone believe explanation without the demonstration? 

Many people won’t believe that Christ is real unless you can SHOW them that Christ IS real. As the Body of Christ, His representatives on earth, we’re it. We need to be healing and setting the captives free as He empowers us. Why should they give up their witch doctor who can demonstrate a degree of demonic power when we can’t even demonstrate the power of God whose power so far surpasses that of the enemy’s that there no comparison. We have to stop believing the devil’s lies and start believing Jesus. He said we would do more miracles than He did because He was going to the Father. That we should heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, set the demonized free. The fact that He said that we’d do more is because the list above is not exhaustive but inclusive. 

Summing this simple message all up...God made us all and loves us all exactly the same. He loves you so much He allows you to make the choice not to love Him back and to choose not to be with Him for eternity. His desire is that everyone would choose Him, but unlike despotic individuals and governments, He would never FORCE His will upon you. Love never forces, tries to control or manipulate. But love does correct an errant child. God is also holy and cannot abide with sin. He must judge sin. People hate to hear that but it's the truth. The wonderful thing about God is that He is also merciful and chooses mercy over judgment whenever and wherever possible. God is also righteous and to be righteous before Him we must be in right standing with Christ. Our sins need to be confessed to Him and repented of sincerely. Righteousness before God relies completely on our relationship with Christ. It is the shed blood of Christ that makes us spotless without sin. He has been the atonement for our sin. Our righteousness, holiness and sanctification before God is based solely on what Christ did but for that to be maintained we cannot live a life of habitual and purposeful sin. Thank God that He sees us through “BLOOD” colored glasses when we follow in Christ.

Okay, so you believe but you are worried that you are still not perfect. Well, take your walk with Christ a day at a time and do what He tells you to do. It is when you do the will of God you are being perfect. When you obey what He has already laid out in His word and what He is speaking to you in your heart you are being perfect as He intends us to be. People get all bent out of shape about the 10 Commandments but we so often fail to realize that Jesus summed them all up in 2 Commandments: Love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. If you love God, you will do as He says. By the way that is the way to PROVE your love for God, not by mere words. Love moves us to action and so does faith. Faith and love must exist together and you cannot have one without the other. So if you love God you will obey Him and if you love everyone else as much as you do yourself, then none of the other Commandments are necessary. That means, if you love everyone else as you love yourself, you would not kill, steal, lie, cheat or those things that you would not do against yourself.

To conclude this note, I will say this that Love captured my heart because even after I became a Christian I had no revelation of His love until I asked Him to teach me how to love Him which is necessary for knowing how to love others. I had a blockage that only He could remove. I am still learning and will be for all of my life. I am writing here because I am motivated to tell others about Christ and His work in me. Why? Because He is coming back soon to put things to right here on earth (even if it’s 50 years from now, it’s soon compared to eternity) or you may meet Him before His return to earth. Either way, you and me (everyone on earth past, present and future) will all have to explain our lives and what we’ve done with the truth and with the knowledge of Jesus Christ as the only Mediator. Every individual will be subject to this. No one is exempt and no one can hide under another person, religion or government. At the point when we have to give that account either upon Christ’s return or in death, it will be too late to change anything. And it will be too late to accept salvation through relationship with Christ . Today is the day to get right with God. He has been waiting with open arms for you….all of your life. 

(Please write me if you need Scripture citations)

Excerpt From mini-book "A Table Narrative of the Seven Churches of Revelation"

Purchase full book of "A Table Narrative of the Seven Churches of Revelation" and other publications on Amazon at Auriol Sonia Morris' Author Page

CHAPTER ONE

EPHESUS:

THE LOVELESS CHURCH

Scripture

Revelation 2:1-7.

The Loveless Church

2 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 

² “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 

³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 

⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 

⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 

⁶ But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

⁷ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

Please note:

The word “angel” referring to the recipients of John’s letters is the word for messenger, which was the head bishop or pastor of the church. There would be no need to write a letter to a spirit, the most common use of the word.

Church

Ephesus

Characterization

Loveless

Christ Appears as …

He Who holds the 7 stars in His right hand, Who walks in the midst of the 7 golden lampstands

Credits

works, labor, patience, cannot bear those who are evil, have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, have found them liars; have persevered, have patience, have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. You hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Charges

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Remedies 

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Risks

Or else I will come quickly and remove the lampstand from its place – unless you repent.

Rewards

To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the Tree of Life in midst of Paradise of God

Observation and Lesson:

From the initial glowing report this church received from Jesus Christ, one could scarcely imagine what would come next. They engage in some very good work and clearly at a very high level to recognize lying apostles. But when Jesus follows this glowing report with “Nevertheless,…” it’s as if all they had on the credit side of their spiritual balance sheet was about to be wiped away completely. What was their “crime?” They “forgot their First Love.”

So we understand from the Scripture that the people of the church at Ephesus got so caught up in the works, which they clearly did well, but forgot the One for Whom there were doing them. Forgetting your “first works?” What are the “first works?” The Scripture does not say exactly but we can glean this from Scripture when Jesus gave us the Greatest and Second Greatest Commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, strength, and mind, and your neighbor as yourself.. They had lost sight of love, the reason for the existence of the Church, which is to demonstrate God’s love and to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Without this love connection to God, the church was like a ship without a rudder. How could they know His desires and direction when they had left Him behind? And how could they love those God had entrusted to them without loving Him first and foremost? He personifies love so, everything flows out of that place. Without love, what is left? The work. But then, not even the first work. Sometimes it so much easier to throw oneself into a comfortable routine; perhaps focusing on the needs of people, the world around them, and whatever seemed good to do.

But they were so focused on the tasks that they left the Lord of the tasks behind. The works may mimic a love relationship but it’s a façade without the Object of that love. Oh, it’s impressive. The "such and such church is involved in every and anything but not by the will of God because they neither have a connection to Him nor His will."

Where there is no love, there is no life. So this loveless church is therefore also, lifeless. That’s the reason the reward given to those who follow His remedy to repent, will be to eat from the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God.

That brings us to the ones who do not repent. The implication here is that to disobey God and refuse to repent is to not enter into the Paradise of God and to not eat from the Tree of Life.

The key here is to beware of being involved in too many tasks so as to forget the primary purpose of walking this walk of faith. That purpose is intimate relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, facilitated by the Holy Spirit, Who keeps us connected to the Godhead.

The Gospel in one sentence: The Father sent His Son to redeem us from our lost condition and broken fellowship with God by His sacrificial death on a Roman cross; once the Son returned to the Father in heaven, He asked Him to send the Holy Spirit that we might be in constant contact with Him as He leads us into all truth and empowers us to do His will.

Purchase full book of "A Table Narrative of the Seven Churches of Revelation" and other publications on Amazon at Auriol Sonia Morris' Author Page

Why did Jesus Respond the Way He Did When His Family Came to See Him?

Why did Jesus not go to His family when they sent for Him? And why did He respond as He did to their visit? These are great questions and ones that I will tackle in this blog post. The nerve, you say! Hang on, I believe what the Lord shared around this same time in His Word really answers these questions for us, although somewhat indirectly. He truly experienced everything that we do even though His family and followers knew He was the Son of God.. Remember, He never minced or wasted words, and I believe everything He said then and says now is to encourage us that whatever we face, He faced first and He had it worst.

Three Scriptures give us clues as to reasons for His response when He was told His family had came to see Him and wanted Him to come to them. We are not told whether He went to them eventually, but He certainly did not drop what He was doing to obey their summons. Instead, He used it as a teachable moment. Jesus told us in several Scriptures what might have been the scenario to explain His response to His followers about his visiting relatives..

First, He told us what type of response to our calling we might expect from our families:
"A prophet is not without honor but in his own home." This same statement was made in three somewhat different ways but with the same meaning. People who are familiar with you have a difficult time recognizing you for who you are in Christ, especially regarding His equipping and giftings to do His bidding. Let's look at these accounts.

In Matthew 13:57, 

"So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”

In Mark 6:4, 

"But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”

John 4:44

"For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country."

Second, and in connection to the first point, we see that, "He could not do many miracles there but healed a few sick people." This was in His Home town. We are told their level of unbelief was so great that miracles did not flow in that atmosphere. Here is the account in Mark 6:1-6.

Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. ² And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! ³ Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”  ⁵ Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

You've heard it said, "familiarity breeds contempt." People are offended when they perceive that you are trying to hold yourself out as special. The contempt comes from that offense. They are offended that you think you're special. This offense is quite blinding because if they were to stop and submit to God, then they would realize that they, too, are special. That is by God's design. Everyone of us is a unique version of ourselves. Not even the most identical of identical twins are exactly identical. We each have our own unique set of finger prints, tongue print (yes, I said, tongue), eyes, body shape, and the list goes on. And that's before we include the spiritual gifts each person received from God that are unique to them. The point is, there ought not be any competition among us. Jealousy is a device of the evil one to bring disunity. We should rejoice when people are yielded to God in using all of who they are to glorify Him, and to expand His Kingdom.


Third, and this is our focus, in Matthew 12, Jesus was busy ministering God's Word when His earthly family came to visit Him so they requested that He come to them at the gate. His response was shocking to say the least, especially to moms. Here is the account in Matthew:

Matthew 12:46-50

46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.  ⁴⁷ Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”              48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”  ⁴⁹ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!  ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

And in Mark:

Mark 3:31-35

31 Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.  ³² And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.”   33 But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?”   ³⁴ And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! ³⁵ For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

Note His response: "Who is my mother, my brother, and my sister, but those who do the will of God." This is what the Lord quickened to me recently: it is very common, if not expected, that one's own family has a very difficult time receiving the person as anything other than their sibling, daughter, son, mother, father, etc. And perhaps more so if they are a minister and used by God in many ways that honestly are even needed within that family. But you would be hard-pressed to do any miracles there because the lack of receptivity and unbelief would be so high. It is impossible? Of course not. But Jesus was saying that's the norm so get used to it. And I believe we are to be humble about it but not let it overshadow, dumb down or  thwart the ministry God does through us. No need to be obnoxious but not need to become a turtle either. 

Yes, I believe His family came to see Him during such a period of, for lack of a better word, "dishonor." Notice, they summoned Him to come to them. If you really believed in His ministry and that your big Brother and Son was the Son of God, would you summon Him like a little boy while He was working, or go to Him or better yet, wait until He was done to see Him afterwards. I realize some of this seems like conjecture as I flesh this out but given what Jesus was saying, it just might have been the case. It is at least not inconsistent which with very words of encouragement to His disciples. 

What do you do when you hold a person in higher esteem than yourself? Do you summon them to your presence or do you go to where they are, and wait for them if per chance you can get a personal meeting? It's the dignitary's schedule one needs to fit into not the other way around. Get my point? Jesus was having this very challenge in His life and so He encouraged us with the Scripture that we can expect to be dishonored among our own blood relatives and not to be surprised because He was first. And since we are not the King of kings and Lord of lords, it should be even more expected in our lives. God will use you with those who are willing to received His ministry through you. However, through His grace and mercy our own just might come into the fold and join hands as they choose to. In the meantime, we remain humble and love and serve our families according to God's plan....always. 

So let's take all of this together. You will notice all tree of these points happen in close proximity in the Scriptures. Therefore, this should lend credibility to my main point that Jesus was experiencing this rejection and persecution among his family and countrymen. As a matter of fact the Gospels explicitly tell us this even in the Messianic OT Scriptures such as Isaiah 53:1-9. 

Isaiah 53:3 

He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 

That is why He focused His ministry on those who cared to receive it. Many followed Him, some were presented to Him by family members, while others sent for Him. Jesus never forced Himself into anyone's life or heart, neither did He use any forceful or manipulative ways to get anyone to either listen to His message or follow Him. That must always be by a person's free will. And of course, to love Him is to obey Him and to follow in His footsteps. Disciples are followers, not those who give lip-service only but those who are connected to the Vine and bear fruit. (See John 15 where Jesus taught His disciples lessons about the Kingdom in a vineyard).

Again, I believe the Lord is encouraging us that unless "called upon" by Holy Spirit or given an invitation in some form by the receivers who are family members, friends, or associates, to 'minister' in our giftings - whether it is deliverance, healing, prayer, etc. - we are to be , the loving spouse, sibling, son, daughter, or parent, until there is that willingness to receive from the Lord through us - via our physical tent and spiritual giftings. Sometimes it just won't happen, while at other times, by God's amazing grace, change takes place so that God would be able to use you among your own. When that happens, it's a glorious and beautiful time. But all of the glory must go to Him.

This is not a pleasant business and long-suffering, patience, and perseverance are crucial in these times and situations. However, I believe it keeps us humans ministers humble as God continues to build our character of loving in all situations. This happens when not everyone accepts us in terms of our gifts right away, otherwise, we will feel the need to always be considered special or set apart and not in the way God intended it. Until we can responsibly administer our gifts, God allows some to dishonor us but woe to those who do when it is undeserving. And to those who glorify Him in how He uses us, He offers blessings. I have seen it so many times. 

I can think of not better words to end this post than those of Jesus when He said in 
Matthew 10:40-42: 

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. ⁴¹ He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

God bless you, friends. Please remember to post a comment if this has blessed you in anyway.