If we think of the Holy Spirit like a river

and of ourselves as being in His mighty river, then we entrust ourselves to Him, and go with the flow of His Spirit, and never try to swim against His current. He carries us in the direction we should be going as we sense where His river is flowing, and go with the flow.

It’s not so hard to be carried along by such a mighty current as the Spirit of the Living God, just as long as we believe that He IS TRULY such a mighty God, the LORD Jesus Christ, who said He will build His Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

It IS hard to swim against His mighty flow, to kick against the pricks. Let Him carry you along and you will be safe and so blessed. This speaks of ALL GRACE and ALL POWER flowing from Jesus and in Jesus alone.

How we relate to other Christians

will reflect exactly how we relate to God (1 John 1:3-7).

How we do Church will reflect exactly how we relate to God, what we think about Him and who we think He is.

If we have a superficial relationship to God, then we will naturally have a superficial Church. If we really don’t fellowship with God then how can we really fellowship with His children? It will just be on a superficial level.

If my relationship to God is an egocentric one; that is, primarily, it’s all about me, then, in relating to other Christians it will naturally be all about me.

Such are carnal Christians, and they can never really function together led by the Spirit, bcos they are always competing with one another. It will always be about them.

This is why the religious system exists: to control carnal Christians, and to program or drive along dead Christians, who do not have the maturity to function together as Church led by the Spirit. But the system never brings carnal Christians to maturity, it is just a carnal solution itself.

If my relationship to God is all about Him, then it follows that He will be at the center of every other true spiritual relationship, and Church is simply a set of true spiritual relationships (meeting in Jesus name).

Therefore, it’s our relation to God which needs to be addressed, and then every other relation will come into harmony, and the sum of those relationships is the Church.

Your word is a lamp unto my feet

Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

The word which comes from God lights the way for us. This means His word directs us and lights up the way ahead, just like headlights on a car.

Try driving at night without headlights, and you’re going to crash. Try living in these times without the light of the word of God illuminating your heart and mind, and lighting the way, and you’re going to crash.

Those who do not live by the Truth of Jesus Christ, by His words, are walking in the darkness.

Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

CHURCH WITHOUT FELLOWSHIP

Having church without having fellowship and love is like being a Christian but having no fellowship with Christ, or love for Christ.

It’s the same thing, and that’s the way most people like it these days.

Christian fellowship is simply what Christian love looks like in real life.

Jesus said, And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12-13)

So, such people will require a church without fellowship, a church without real relationship and commitment, a church that looks nothing like the early church, described in the NT.

They will only feel comfortable in a church where it is normal not to have real fellowship with anyone; where they can attend, and ease their conscience by doing their duty of attending, and then go home.

Satan attacks us from the outside

but God strengthens us from the inside, when we believe that Christ Jesus lives IN us. He is our strength. He lives in us, therefore our strength is an inner-strength, and not something on the surface, or superficial.

Therefore, feed the inner-man and spend less time on the outer man. Be more concerned about your heart than your skin.

Prayer is simply to reflect the heart of God

Prayer is simply to reflect the heart of God back to Him. As He reveals His heart to us concerning people and situations, then we simply pray according to that revelation.

We’re presupposing here that a person really wants to know God and to do His will. If that’s not the case, then that person will not be able to pray according to the heart of God, but merely their own selfish will, needs and desires. They will never come to know Jesus Christ.

We understand that He has called us to participate with Him, and be instrumental in what He is doing in people’s lives. As long as we understand that we are co-workers with God, and in God, then He will sustain us, and we won’t be discouraged too much.

Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit

is a key quality of the true Christian life.

Doing the NT pattern for the Church (1 Cor 14) inculcates, fosters, genders and progressively increases our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, as a way of living.

Such a life and such a Church is only possible if we are sensitive to the leading, prompting and instruction of the Holy Spirit.

God: Just too embarrassing to keep around

- Alan Keyes

Why should we be filled with the Holy Spirit?

Simply, to be filled with the Holy Spirit is when all of your being: every compartment, everything which pertains to who you are, is filled with the Spirit of Christ.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31

This defines what it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. All your heart is filled. All your soul is filled. All your mind is filled. All your strength is filled with Him. That part of you which cares for the needs of others is also filled with His Spirit so that you do care and act.

Why be filled? Bcos we can’t do anything unless we are. It is by virtue of the Holy Spirit filling every compartment, and all of our being, that we can love God with all our being and love others. Without His Spirit we can do nothing.

The Spirit-filled person believes in Jesus with all their being, with all that they are. Every fiber of their being BELIEVES God and trusts Him.

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love. Galatians 5:6

Faith works by love. Love comes first and faith follows and is the fruit of love.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit, then, means that if we are filled, then there’s no place for anything else other than His Spirit. No room for doubt, or for sin, or for stupid things. There’s just no room for them anymore. No empty space for them to fill. There is a Divine displacement. Fullness has trumped emptiness.

If there IS plenty of room for sin and doubt, then it’s clear we are not filled, and need to be.

Therefore, YIELD afresh all that you are to God, by faith.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Romans 6:12-13

Everything in the Kingdom of God happens by virtue of faith, and by subsequently being filled with the Holy Spirit.

This only would I learn of you, Received you 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 made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:2-3

The politics of morality

Obama has just announced that he now supports homosexual marriage. He is the first sitting President to say that.

He does not explain, though, on what basis he formerly considered it immoral. If it’s OK now, why wasn’t it OK before? He doesn’t tell us how bad became good, how sin transformed into righteousness.

I’m assuming he previously thought it immoral, for if he had thought it moral, and nothing to be ashamed of, why wouldn’t he have supported it from the start?

With any shift in morality we should demand a definition of morality and an acknowledgment of one’s source and standard of it.

In his announcement speech, he implied that it was the monogamous aspect of same-sex couples, who are faithfully devoted to one another, which entitles them to marriage rights.

So, now, Obama is judging homosexuals who have multiple partners as immoral, and monogamous couples as moral? He’s implying that there is something immoral about homosexuals who have more than one partner, but those who are monogamous have earned the right to be married.

Where does he get his shifting moral standards from, how does he define morality, and what’s next?

You could have at least some respect for a man who had the integrity to answer that.

I will hasten my word to perform it

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what see you? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the LORD unto me, You have well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. Jeremiah 1:11-12

Then said the Lord unto me, thou hast well seen,…. The thing seen is a very proper emblem of what I am about to do, and the quick dispatch that will be made therein: for l will hasten my word to perform it; the words , “shoked ani”, “I will hasten”, or “I am hastening”, are in allusion to “shoked”, the name of the almond tree in Hebrew; which is so called because it is quick and early, and, as it were, hastens to bring forth its flowers, leaves, and fruit; in like manner the Lord says he would hasten to perform what he had said or should say by him concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and the captivity of the people, and every thing else he should give him in commission to say.

From: Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

The word that God sends out, He will quickly perform it, it will spring forth as quickly as an almond tree does. He speaks His word and then watches over it to perform it. He does what He says.

What the LORD said to the prophet, “I am watching over my word to perform it.” (Jer 1:12) provides a clue to the leading of God in our lives. There is no space, not matter how seemingly small and insignificant, where the Word of God is not already at work (Heb 1:3; 11:3; 2 Pet 3:5-7). Our first task of our spirituality is to watch the Word and obey it. ““The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”” (Rom 10:8). Our Father will never require anything more from us other than to watch what he was saying and doing in our midst and conform to it. It is a brilliant privilege to be called to be co-workers who cooperate with the artistry of the Lord in his amazing work of forming us in the image of Christ (Rom 8:28-30; 2 Cor 6:1). This is a process whereby we are being eternalised.

As we learn from the Spirit to watch the dialogue between the Father and Son that runs through everything our sense of the wisdom and goodness of God never ceases to grow (Eph 4:6; Col 1:15f). The interconnections of the plans and purposes of God running through our lives and all creation are countless and inexpressibly wonderful (Ps 139:17; Rom 11:33-36). Yet so few Christians seem to be able to “see” these astounding linkages. An awesome sense of the simplicity and incomprehensible depth of the everyday activity of God…

Work and family life, and even church-going, can seem so dull and predictable. Mostly we are “practical atheists” who believe that we need to get on with our lives and “make things happen”. Many wish for the spectacular and overt signs of God’s hand in signs and wonders but few devote themselves to discerning the direction that the Spirit is already taking in his usual hidden ministry in the world. Popular Christian perception is shaped by countless principles, patterns and religious programmes, but the materials for God’s great son-making plan are what is happening in our everyday life! The interconnections of God are everywhere, “In him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28), but they are largely subterranean and ignored.

- John Yates

The true value of things

It behooves us to know the true value of things – to not overvalue or undervalue anything before the LORD. In our natural state we will overvalue and undervalue – our values will be at variance with Jesus’ values.

There should be true equity in our lives. Being conformed to Christ also means being conformed to the value He places on things – not more or less than the value He ascribes.

With anything or anyone you come into contact with today, what value does Jesus place on it, or on him or her?

What price will you put on a man’s soul?

Philip goes to hell

The present Hell is a holding prison where people are held for the Judgment Day.

To say that demons torment people in hell is an extra-Biblical revelation : The Bible is silent about that, no mention of it happening. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be true, but that it’s most probably not true.

Regarding people’s sufferings there, whether demons do it or not, it wouldn’t make it any worse than how the LORD Jesus described it.

The Bible does not warn people of being tormented by the devil. It warns of being tormented by God, under His wrath, which is infinitely worse than being tormented by the devil.

Jesus warned people about hell, then why wouldn’t we?

It’s not nice to ignore the LORD Jesus

When you pray, say... Luke 11:12

After this manner therefore pray… Matthew 6:9

That’s fine, that worked for you, Jesus, but I have my own style of prayer, I’m sure you won’t mind!

Fine, have your own style, but do not ignore the commands of the LORD Jesus Christ. Give Him the honor of your obedience. Pray the LORD’s prayer simply bcos He said you should. Like Peter said, …Nevertheless at your word I will let down the net. Luke 5:5

If you obey, then, hopefully, light will dawn in your heart as to WHY He said to pray in this manner. You will understand why it is a non-negotiable. You will understand the authority behind what the LORD Jesus commanded.

Obedience always precedes knowledge.

Sure, people have made it into a dead religious liturgy. So what. As if you will allow others mistakes to govern what you do?

…After this MANNER therefore pray… Manner means a protocol, a guide. Meaning, you can spend as long as you like expanding on each point of the prayer, and applying it to the people whom you feel you should pray for. You could spend hours praying over just the first two lines.

Therefore, the LORD Jesus did not mean that you just have to “say the prayer” or recite it – to rattle it off quickly, and then say you’ve prayed it. You may not have prayed it. You may merely have recited it, and there’s a world of difference.

Could be dangerous to meet a man whom you think is just like Jesus

It might be dangerous to meet someone whom you think is just like Jesus, as you may end up following that person and not Jesus. You may begin to listen more to them than to Jesus.

Surely, in God’s great economy and wisdom He doesn’t allow men in His Church to be seen or viewed as perfect examples of Jesus. He always works things so that we can differentiate between and see that which is God’s grace and gifting in a man, and that which is mere sinful human flesh, so that we don’t think more highly of any man, than we should – so we don’t look to them at the expense of looking to Jesus – so that we always test what they say with the Word of God, and filter out the human, cultural, traditional, or any other element.

God will always reveal, in some measure, the nakedness and natural human weakness of any man He uses in His Church, so that we are reminded, and never lose sight of the fact that they ARE only men, and not Jesus, and then we can better appreciate His grace working in them. It’s the weakness of the vessels of clay which magnifies the glory of the grace of God working in such weak and imperfect vessels.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

This is the wisdom of God for it to be that way.

For though I would desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or that he hears of me. 2 Corinthians 12:6

So, if you can see weakness and imperfection in a Christian leader, then that is a good thing: God has revealed that to you, so you can tell the difference between what is of God and what is not, and only receive that which is of God.

If you can’t see that a leader is just a man, with the same weaknesses which you have, then that is dangerous.

Do you want to understand what is happening?

Do you want to understand what will soon happen in the world? Or bury your head in the sand?

Then read Daniel 7, Revelation 13, and 17 (for starters). You will see a common thread.

You will see that Daniel 7 is in parallel to Revelation 13 and 17 – that is, they speak of the same events (of course, there are MANY other references as well).

For example:

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
(Dan 7:25)

Compare with:

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all tribes, and tongues, and nations.
(Rev 13:7)

….He shall speak great words against the most High...

Compare with:

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come the falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
(2Thess 2:3-4)

Here’s another parallel:

And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
(Dan 7:24)

Compare with:

And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
(Rev 17:12)

Check it out, before the LORD, and you will see that God is in control of history, that hard times are coming for us, and that Jesus is indeed coming soon for those who love Him. We need to patiently endure and occupy, overcome till He comes.

Know that there is truly a war on the saints going on now, and overcome …by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death. Revelation 12:11

HUMANS ARE VERY VAIN

They don’t like it that Jesus is right and they are wrong. They think that fact is some threat to their self-identity.

Yes, it is. The truth of Jesus does threaten the human ego with death. Jesus hands us a cross (an instrument of death) and asks us to take it up and follow Him. The one who carries his cross is on his road to certain death, and he ain’t coming back. He’s going to be obliterated by that cross, but what is left is all the eternal glory of the Son of God freely imputed to us, for His glory. Hallelujah!

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he has, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33

This means, that in relation to Jesus, we forsake everything for Him : meaning, that now He comes first, and now He rules over everything in our life, so, therefore, considering this, all things are now forsaken from the preeminence they once had in our heart, and they no longer compete with Jesus for first place. We forsake all that we have. We consider it forsaken in relation to Jesus’ preeminence and rule.

The things, all that we have, now, can never over-rule Him, but now we USE these things according to His rule, and we rejoice that every-thing now has a meaning in our life, in relation to Jesus’ rule and authority over it, His life.

If we have not forsaken all for Jesus, then our life is meaningless, bcos without His rule over it it HAS no meaning or eternal value and glory.

“Did you forget that it’s all about me, and my Son?”

MESSAGE FROM GOD: Look up! Can you see me? Did you forget that it’s all about me, and my Son?

Nothing has any meaning if it is not considered in relation to who Jesus Christ is.

Everything derives its meaning, and value, and its place in the scheme of things, from Him and who He is.

If we disconnect from this truth, then we walk in unreality, and in untruth, and we live a lie.

PRAY FOR GOD TO SOFTEN HEARTS TOWARD HIM

Pray we will have His wisdom to be instrumental in that process. Preach with that goal in mind, that Jesus will melt and conquer hearts and draw them toward Him.

JD Farag on Joshua 9

Excellent teaching!