Celestial Dimensions

Unity of the Spirit

2011-07-01T17:32:00.000-07:00

Unity of the Spirit

The reason why we as believers cannot bring unity to the body of Christ is because we are not the Spirit, but in the Spirit. We are to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We must know the difference between what God has done and will do, and what we should and must do.
Look at Ephesians 4: 1-6 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
So God has already joind us together with Himsef in the Spirit and we are to walk it out in the natural as Christ unfolds in and through us, this ' walking it out ' comes at the cost of our natural minds being disintegrated and obliterated, in it's place is the mind of Christ. This is not magical but practical.
1 Corinthians 2:16 But we have the mind of Christ. ( Now )
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Note that we were baptized into one body, past tense. By the Spirit not by human effort and conferences. We are to keep it, not create it. Adam was placed in the garden to tend and to keep it not to plant it. Genesis 2:15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
The spiritual sense of the natural account of the garden of Eden is that man was in a state of delight, a delight that was the effect of being and thinking good and truth in fellowship with the Almighty GOD. Adam was simply to maintain this relationship, tend and keep the garden. Those who do not know that the Word has a spiritual sense cannot know these truths, for they are revealed by the Spirit to the hungry believer.
Ephesians 2:6 ... and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Note that God has raised us up together already, all this is as to our spirit. Man as to his spirit is in the spirit world and as to his body is in the natural world. So for any one to try to do naturally what can only be done and has been done spiritually is contray and bound to end in failure. This is why all the messages and conferences on unity of the body has resulted in more division and confusion. Where natural delight terminates spiritual delight begins. When our best natural efforts to recover that which is lost prove unsuccessful, we are in a state of mind to turn our thoughts and direct our efforts into a new and higher channel. When the natural fails we are better prepared to turn to the supernatural. When our own intelligence and prudence are found to leave our desires unsatisfied and our object unattained, we are more ready to place our reliance on the wisdom and providence of God; and only need some friendly voice, either from within or from without, to direct us to the true Source of our help and happiness.
Your hand does not have to try to be one with you, it was formed in your mother's womb before you understood what a hand is, even so before we grow in Christ to understand spiritual things we were made one in Him by His Spirit and baptism.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ( We did not even know )
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
Note this is NOW not in the future.
When we lose the sense of our individuality, ownership, and rights, then we begin to know that we are one, not doctrinally or theologically but Spiritually in the Spirit, then we effortlessly call each other brethren. Different levels of our spiritual maturity places us in various parts of the same body of Christ, and so simultaneously in the various realms of the heavens, but this is a deeper subject so I'll leave that for another time.
God bless you abundantly, as you draw near to HIM, He will draw near to you.
In Christ,
Brother Roland

Earthquake - A Change Of State

2011-03-26T06:05:00.000-07:00

The church is falling away more and more to false teachings and errors, at the same time many of the saints are advancing to higher heights. The cause of earthquakes is the changing states of the church in the heavens, for the natural world is only the effects of the spiritual world. That's why in Matthew 24: 1- 14 Jesus said that there will be earthquakes in different places, this is not the end, in verse 12 he says that the love of many will grow cold and these are believers He's talking about. As the love for God grows cold in the church they fall away to love of self, worldliness, entertainment, materialism, and sensuality. the maturing believers at the same time move up in the Sprit, this process causes the shifting movement in the lower parts of the earth, earthquakes in the natural world are the end results.
                                   When Jesus was crucified ( Matthew 27:51-56 ) as soon as He gave up the spirit there was an earthquake, the reason was that the Jewish church had fallen away and the new church was being established, a new dispensation was born, the chief corner stone rejected by the old religious order was laid for a new covenant, as this happened in the spirit the effect was felt on earth in the form of an earthquake.
                                    When Paul and Silas was in prison (Acts 16:26) , they prayed and as the forces of hell was retreating in the spirit there was an earthquake. See also Acts 4:31 In Matthew 24 : 29 Jesus said that the powers of heavens shall be shaken. See also Hebrews 12:25-29
The reason why there were not many earthquakes mentioned in the Old Testament is that the church was not yet established in reality, it existed in types, shadows, and representatives in the Law. Jesus had not come as yet to redeem man for regeneration and transformation.
                                     In Matthew 28:1-2 When Mary came to the tomb an angel descended from heaven and there was an earthquake, note carefully that it says that it was the end of the sabbath, now this is the key, everything that happened to our Lord Jesus brought an end to the old types, shadows and representatives, He fulfilled them for they spoke of Him, as He fulfilled them they passed away into their realities in the Spirit world. That sabbath was the very last one in history as the day of Pentecost was in Acts 2 . The Law is not destroyed it was fulfilled, like a seed dies to become a tree for it is a tree in seed form, even so man dies to come into the full experience of his spirit whether in heaven or in hell.
                                     In Revelation 8, 11 earthquakes are mentioned again. Always confirming that a change of state has occurred in the church. In chapter 16 the great last earthquake is mentioned, that by "an earthquake" changes in the state of the church are signified, may be seen above and as earthquakes are lighter and more severe, here the most severe, because it is said that such an earthquake had not occurred since men were made, it is manifest that by "the earthquake" here are signified the shakings, convulsions, and overturning of all things in the church, and the drawing of them down from heaven. By "being divided into three parts" is signified to be altogether destroyed; for by "being divided" in the Word is signified to be dissipated, because in that case they do not cohere, and by "three" is signified all and the whole ; hence by "being divided into three parts" is signified to be altogether destroyed. How can such a catastrophy come to the church ? The answer is that the church has the Word of God which causes conjunction with Jesus Christ, and to pervert, profane, and falsify the Word is not a light thing. When you have a seed and it does not die in the earth to reach it's potential of a fruitbearing tree, then that seed rots and becomes nothing.
                                     He that endures to the end shall be saved. God bless you.

STRENGTH FOR THE WAY

2011-01-31T15:34:00.000-08:00

                                     STRENGTH FOR THE WAY
                                                                        The challenges, oppositions, obligations, and responsibilities we are faced with today can drain and sap our strength to serve the Lord Jesus Christ with the zeal He desires. So we need to be constantly drawing new and fresh life from Jesus the vine. He said in John chapter 6: 53 that if we do not eat of His body and drink of his blood, then we will have no life. To eat His body and drink His blood in the spirit means to apprehend, appropriate, and incorporate into our lives His good and His truth.
Jesus said in John 15: 1- 8 that without Him we can do nothing. The natural, physical body has it’s life from this world but is controlled and vivified by the spirit of man flowing into and through it. The body is dead for the born again believer, because he has come into the revelation that man is spirit living in a body and has a soul which is will, mind, and emotions. Romans 6: 1-11. This spiritual body is maturing in the natural body as we live passing through this world, as we are being regenerated we put off the qualities of the earthly, natural man, and put on the qualities of the nature of Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1: 4 ; 1 Corinthians 15: 40-50. It’s is not enough to have doctrines in the mind, we need also to have those teachings formed in our will by love to God and our neighbour by doing good continually, and this not for merit but acknowledging that it’s Christ in us who does the works.
                                   To live daily and keep this focus we need to guard against fainting. In the natural fainting means to lose consciousness, grow weary and weak. Spiritually we can lose our focus as to who we are in Christ, what we are called to do for Him, how we are to live before the world, why we are here, and where we are going. If we lose this vision we are fainting. The purpose of this message is to strengthen us and to look into the Word of God for truth to help us overcome fainting in the way.
In Isaiah 40 we see the Lord saying that those who wait on Him shall renew or exchange their strength. We cannot faint in the Lord’s strength, we faint in ours. During the process of regeneration God orchestrates our circumstances as we walk faithfully in Him, and He brings us to the point of exhaustion so that we can see for ourselves that we are weak and faint, we then long for the resurrection power of the Lord and when we call upon Him, wonder of wonders His might and power flows into us and we are strong. This has to be practised throughout our journey on earth for us to be perfected. So then as the strength of the believer is removed, the strength of the Lord is resident ministering healing for the body, for as said before the body is dependent upon the spirit and not the reverse. 2 Corinthians 4: 7-18
Isaiah 40: 28- 31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait ( this word means to bind together ) on the LORD
Shall renew ( exchange ) their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
                                    In Ephesians 1:15 - 22 we read of Paul the Apostle praying for the saints that the eyes of their understanding being enlightened they may know what is the hope of God’s calling, he mentions that they may know also, “ ….. what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ..” There we have it, God wants us to know experientially the power He used in raising up the Lord Jesus from the dead. How can we know this power except we first come to an end of our own power. Those of us who want to own our lives cannot hope to come to theses revelations, even as the caterpillar cannot hope to become a beautiful butterfly and avoid the process of transformation in the cocoon.
                            Matthew 15: 32 Jesus looked at the multitude and saw that if they did not have something to eat they would faint on the way, they were with Him for three days and was now hungry. Three is the number of Divine completion, when we have been with the Lord for a time in our own strength He sees we are in a position for a miracle of receiving spiritual food from Him, if not we won’t be able to go on. We must seek him for spiritual food and then we won’t grow faint.
                                Psalm 27: 13 David said he would have fainted had he not believed …
We must believe the promises of the Lord and keep hope alive, then we will not faint.

Luke 18:1 Jesus said we are to pray at all times, which means in all states. Time in the natural means state in the spiritual. So prayer is a weapon against growing faint. Prayer is desire, not just asking for this and that, for who can pray words always ? However we can all have constant desire in our hearts welling up into our minds bringing hope, this of course means spiritual desires that the Lord sees and observes as prayer. That is what the Lord meant when he said that men should always pray.

Hebrews 12: 1-3 Here we are admonished to keep in mind the things Jesus endured as He walked among men on earth, and in doing so we will not grow faint. In verse 5 we see that the correction of the Lord in our lives can lead to discouragement if we do not focus properly on His dealings with us.

So with this short exhortation be encouraged that the Lord loves you and you are His chosen, the moment you believed and received you were impregnated by the Word of God and now the process has begun to conform you to His image and likeness. Go all the way to perfection and don’t faint. God bless.

In Christ,

Brother Roland

A New Understanding

2010-09-08T19:53:00.000-07:00

                                             A NEW UNDERSTANDING

                                        In the book of Hebrews 8: 7- 13 we read ' For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbour, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away '.
                                  Trusting in and depending upon the Lord for His anointing we are going to look into attaining a new understanding. Proverbs 4:7 says ' Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding '. What is understanding ? It is the capacity or organ of sight of the internal, inner man. Every person has an internal and an external man, these two are to be and act as one, but sin has so disordered man that today you can hardly find singular people even among the church, except we are regenerated this duplicity will not cease. The case today is that man manipulates his understanding from his will internally to give an expression of what pleases him and is beneficial to his natural life. To attain to a new understanding this must change.
                                  Continuing with what is the understanding we must also look into memory, a component. Memory is created and formed by storing knowledge of images, scents, sounds, feelings, and tastes from the time a newborn is in the mothers' womb and increases when he comes into the world. This process cannot be measured nor explained by any natural man or instrument, we can only grasp the general meaning. This memory which is all natural ( because we are born into the natural world ), then forms an understanding for the will of man, that the two may be a person. The desires of a person belongs to their will, the emotions and affections belong to the mind or understanding. Emotions are formed by the conjunction of the will and the understanding, or is the effect of that conjunction/agreement, thus people agree on some things, and feel differently about the same issues in life.
                                 To point out the difference between the will and the understanding , one may know what is right because of being taught the truth, this is in memory and forms the understanding, yet by a deliberate act this same one does/acts on the contrary. In the scriptures King Saul knew that David was not his enemy yet he pursued David to kill him, Saul desired the honour he had lost through disobedience to the Word of God by the Prophet Samuel , he saw that David was now honoured. A clear example of how we can know and understand truth and yet do evil. There are many examples in the scriptures that teach us the difference between the understanding/mind and the will. So then, though the understanding may be in truth, the will can be in impurity and evil intent. To him that knows what to do and does not do it, it is sin. The man who buried the talent that was given to him by the master, wilfully hid what he understood to be true and the right thing to do.
                                  The reason why we must have a new understanding is that it is the only way for us to be regenerated and conform to the image of Jesus Christ. Romans 8: 29 -30 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
                                    The process of being regenerated begins with being born again, which is being born from above, from God. Our natural parents give birth to our natural bodies and aids our natural minds, added to this is what one inherits through hereditary means. God the Father of spirits gives birth to our spirits, or quickens/makes alive from the dead our spirits. Proverbs Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.
                                    Luke 11:33 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lamp stand, that those who come in may see the light.
All other efforts to be spiritual though sincere are in vain, no one can be saved except by Jesus Christ, He alone lights the candle or lamp which is the spirit of man, religious teachings only go into the same natural understanding and from thence is manipulated by the unconverted to show forth his religion, but there is no reality of heavenly life until a new understanding and will is formed by Jesus Christ.
                                     Note that in the scripture we began with, God said that if there was no fault with the first covenant there would not be a need for a second. The fault was that the Law exposed the weakness and sinful nature of man, and his helplessness to keep it, for it could only indoctrinate and not regenerate man, forcing man to do what his will and love was opposed to. Romans 8: 3-4 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
                                   Romans 8: 7-8 ..the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
                                   So the coming of Jesus Christ to establish a new covenant was necessary, now the old religious efforts have vanished. Why can't the natural man please God ? It's because his heart always wants to go back to Egypt which represents the past old life of bondage to and delight in the earthly, worldly pleasures of sin. In the Old Testament we see Israel always breaking away from the Lord and going the way of other nations. Why ? because the law was not written on their hearts, the Holy Spirit was not yet given, only promised. They were to be obedient to the rules and ordinances naturally, but they soon grew weary in doing this, only a remnant like the prophets and a few humble folks continued in the law faithfully.   Now that the Holy Spirit is come and we can serve God willingly and naturally out of love from our hearts, because He is joined to our spirits . Corinthians 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
                                 The Law is now written on our hearts/will, but note that first it is put in our minds. There is a difference in putting in the mind and writing on the heart that we cannot bypass. Transformation takes place only as the mind/understanding is renewed. When God says He will put the Law in our minds, this is done spiritually through the agency of the angels and spirits sent forth from the Lord in the form of thoughts to our minds. If those thoughts are rejected by our will the new understanding cannot be formed, neither a new will. A falsehood or error will remain in the place of that new thought sent from the Lord to regenerate us. The temple must be cleansed.
                                 Writing in the spirit means to keep in the memory, that is why the new heart/will is formed by keeping in memory the new thoughts put by the Lord into the new mind. This process creates conflicts between the old man and the new man for a while, until we gain the victory and be established in the present truth. This is what the new creation is all about.
                                    Note also in our scripture that because Israel ( this is the spiritual man ) continued not in the covenant, God disregarded them. he did not disown them or disinherit them. He could not regard their religious behaviour, or give attention to it. When we behave like the Israelites in our walk with God the same will happen to us. Many of the churches today are experiencing this disregard, that is why though they are Gods' people they have no revelation, no real fellowship and community life. They interpret the Word of God naturally to their own stagnation. The reason is they love this world and their own lives more than God, and they keep in memory the same old mentality. They make up the 30 and 60 folds dimensions of the Kingdom of God. They also become the churches that have lost their hearing, let him that has an ear to hear, hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Gods' love for us will never cease but he cannot regard our rebellion and disrespect for him.
                                    1 Corinthians 2 :13-16 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
                                     We cannot grasp spiritual teachings with the natural mind. All heresies, errors, and falsehoods are due to men of corrupt and natural minds trying to interpret the scriptures, using the historical natural word which only keeps the mind on the sense of external and literal things. The natural literal Word conceals the spiritual sense of the Word like the clouds hide the sun. So only by revelation can we come to a true understanding of the Word of God, this is why we were given the Holy Spirit, to know the things that are freely given to us. 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
                                    Jesus said when the Spirit comes He will guide us into all truth, note He will guide, therefore we must follow not lead. John 16: 12 - 15 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
                                      When the new understanding is formed, a foundation is laid for more understanding, the capacity to accommodate God is increased, this joyous process is eternal and everlasting and is eternal life. The opposite is true, when men harden themselves and reject the new understanding, a foundation is laid for error and falsehood, the capacity to accommodate evil spirits is enlarged, this sad and vexing process is hell and continues for eternity for those who confirm themselves in evil by rejecting Jesus Christ. So it is irresponsible and utterly abominable to teach of a magical transformation into heaven for anyone, God will judge those who teach that people can live a life of total demonic activity and evil practices and suddenly be forgiven and enter eternal life. This is a form of insanity making God appear to break and violate His own Divine order for the salvation of those who do not want to be saved. It is impossible for God to lie, impossible. We are not to bring Him down to our level of humanism, but to reach up to Him through the Spirit out of our fleshly humanity.


                                                  Understanding The Will Of God

                                     Romans 12 :1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
                                     Here we see the need for the new mind/understanding , it's the only method for transformation, which in turn reveals the will of God in each dimension of the kingdom of God. The good will of God is on the 30 fold level and is also called the sovereign will of God, Israel. Here at this level the new born again believer learns the principles of the Lords' Kingdom, this lays a foundation for increase into the higher realms of the Kingdom, also a protection is given should the believer reject Jesus on certain points, this protection is to stop the believer from going up and intrude into higher places without a new mind, resulting in total destruction. We saw what happened to the two sons of Aaron who went into the Holy of Holies against Gods’ command. See Leviticus 10:1-3 .
                                     The 30 fold believer loves the Lord but also loves himself and the world . Remember when Adam sinned, God sent him out of the garden and placed the Cherubim to protect the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3: 22-24 Then the LORD God said, Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever — therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
                                  The acceptable will of God is for those who are of the 60 fold realm of Gods' kingdom, Jerusalem, and have advanced from a babes' stage into a disciplined level of spirituality. This is also called the permissive will of God, here God will permit certain things that are not destructive to our spiritual growth, working with us to eradicate the fleshly things that cannot enter heaven. In this realm the disciple loves the Lord more than the 30 fold believer but still loves the world and himself along with loving the Lord.
                                  The perfect will of God is also called the Divine will of God and is for the 100 fold sons of God., Mount Zion. This dimension of Gods' Kingdom is filled with those who love the Lord and only the Lord, they say thy will be done and only thy will be done.
                                   To discern any aspect of Gods' will one must be transformed, and this is done by the renewing of the mind. This renewal takes place as we read the Word and receive the teachings that obliterates the old mind of Adam and allow the mind of Christ to unfold. 1 Corinthians 15 : 45-49 And so it is written, The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
                                  Concerning the three dimensions of Heaven see the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:18-23 ; Mark 4:13-20 ; Luke 8:11-15 . Also study the three courts of the Tabernacle of Moses in the Old Testament ; The outer court, the Holy place, and the Holy Of Holies.

                                            The Eyes Of Your Understanding Being Enlightened

                                     Ephesians 1:15 - 23 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

                                 The eyes of the understanding are the new perceptions or way of seeing things from Gods' point of view, because the mind has been renewed it is now enlightened. Faith is come and it attracts the light of Heaven. The natural mind/understanding is darkness but as the believer receives new insight from the Lord through His Word, the mind is filled with light and sees in agreement with Jesus. Note that knowing the true hope of Gods' calling is dependent upon this enlightened understanding. Ephesians 4:17-19 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Note their understanding was darkened because of the blindness of their heart, no light in the mind and no good in the will. Let's look at 2 Corinthians 4: 3 - 6 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
                                The god of this world blinds the mind of those who reject Christ as saviour by making the earthly, worldly life look real and promising. Little do they know that they are dead in trespasses and sin. Ephesians 2: 1- 10 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
                                      Other helpful scriptures to look up. Luke 24:45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Timothy 2:7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
God bless you.
In Christ
Everflowinglife

Staying The Course

2010-08-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

Staying The Course

I Samuel 30: 1-6 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

During our early days of regeneration God makes sure that we are well supported and encouraged. He's a faithful father who pities His children, but as we grow to spiritual manhood we are placed is situations where we discover that what worked for us as children, is not working for us now as adults. The Word of God says, ' my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge '.

In our portion of scripture David is fleeing from Saul and had come to Ziklag given to him by the Philistines. He and his men wanted to go with the Philistines to war against Israel but the lords of the Philistines did not want that, thinking that maybe in the battle David might switch sides. When David and his men came back to Ziklag where they had left their families, they saw that they were missing, taken captives by the Amalekites. The men with David spoke of stoning him, while he himself was greatly distressed. This stoning we must remember is based on the Law, and is the penalty for certain sins, David's men were judging him as a false leader, a false prophet, because what was happening was far from victorious or successful.

David came to a place in his life where all courage was fading fast, but the Word says, ' but David encouraged himself in the Lord '. We learn from this account that there are times in our lives when we, as David did when faced with so much discouragement, must encourage ourselves. The Lord expects that of us because He has brought us to such a place of spiritual maturity, and childish supports won't work anymore. We must learn to depend on the Holy Spirit alone.

The enemy want us to lose courage and give up, but Jesus has anointed us to win. How did David encourage himself in the Lord ? Note that it's in the Lord he encouraged himself, not in fantasy, dreaming, falsehood, or vain imaginations, or evil plans. To encourage ourselves in the Lord we have to remember that it was the Lord who called and saved us, all our victories and miracles are from the Lord, we are what we are by the grace of God, God chose us we did not choose Him. Soon courgae will be ignited. No matter how much there is to discourage us, there is much more to encourage us to go on in the Lord.

How to build courage ?

Joshua 1: 8-9 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

The word of God must be in our mouths, not only in our minds or on the bookshelf or bed. we must speak the Word at all times, our conversation is from heaven, we are citizens of heaven. So we build courage by the way we speak.

Romans 15: 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

We build courage by taking to heart that what was written was for us.

1 Corinthians 10 : 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

We build courage by coming to grips the truth, that what we are going through is not more than we have ability to endure. We must look for the way of escape that the Lord has provided in the midst of temptation

Hebrews 6 :4 -6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

We build courage by looking ahead at the dangers that await failure to depend on the Holy Spirit. Our strength comes to exhaustion that we may learn to put on the strength of the Lord, and not trust in ourselves. This is what happened to David.

Numbers 32 : 6-9 ' And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: ' Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here? Now why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD has given them? Thus your fathers did when I sent them away from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the LORD had given them '.

Those who are complacent, afraid, and have no desire for increase in God can be a discouragement to us, we must be able to discern this and build up our courage to advance in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. The Kingdom is an ever increasing realm of infinite wisdom and knowledge. God stretches us to increase our capacity to receive more of Him, remember He is the substance of all He imparts to us, they are His qualities, not something that He can give outside of Himself. Anything the Lord gives outside of Himself is natural and material and subject to destruction. Such as money, buildings, clothes, cars etc. Pursuit of these things are vain and brings only vexation, but seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to us.

Hebrews 2 : 1 1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

Paying attention to what we have heard from the Lord and keeping it in our hearts is a sure way to build up our courage. Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against you.

Finally we can build our courage by focusing on Jesus Christ, exalting Him above all else.

Hebrews 12 : 1-3 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

God bless.

Everflowinglife

THE BELIEVERS' RESPONSIBILITY

2010-08-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

The time of the singing of the birds is come.

THE BELIEVERS' RESPONSIBILITY

1 Corinthians 3: 10-15 “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw (stubble), each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire’.

The foundation is Jesus Christ, the manifested form of the Divine essence, the visible representation of the invisible, unapproachable light, God.

Isaiah 28: 16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “ Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.

A stone for a foundation. Jesus is that foundation. What is the stone? The truth that declares that Jesus is Son of the Living God. He is the only mediator between man and God. Those who approach God are confused because God cannot be comprehended by man, thus all the confusion with religions.

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

Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘ The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Luke 20:18 Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” Some stumble, others will be winnowed, there will be a separation as to their understanding and doctrines. The chaff from the wheat, the husk from the corn.

Daniel 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Acts 4:10-12 Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1 Timothy 6:14-16 That you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

White speaks of righteousness, purity, truth separated from falsehoods, living in the sunlight.

Believers are to be careful how they build upon the stone/truth that Jesus is the Son of the Living God which is the foundation of their spiritual life. The teachings and doctrines going upon this foundation stone is likened to gold ( good from God) ; silver ( truth from God); precious stones ( spiritual truths that lead to greater good); wood ( natural human good, humanism for reputation and honours, advantage and respect); hay ( animal/beasts food, feeding the natural affections);

Stubble ( pride and wickedness, feeding the natural affection of self and the world)

MalachI 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the LORD of hosts.

This is talking about the church.

Isaiah 47: 12-14 Stand now with your enchantments . And the multitude of your sorceries, In which you have laboured from your youth— Perhaps you will be able to profit, Perhaps you will prevail. You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels;
Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, And the monthly prognosticators Stand up and save you From what shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble, The fire shall burn them; They shall not deliver themselves From the power of the flame;
It shall not be a coal to be warmed by, Nor a fire to sit before!
THE REWARD

2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

Colossians 3:24 Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

The Lord is the inheritance and reward.

Hebrews 10:35 We must be faithful, confident, and steadfast. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

Revelation 22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
God bless you.
In Christ Jesus,
Everflowinglife

The New Creation - 2 Corinthians 5: 17

2010-08-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

The New Creation

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.

To be in Christ is to be vitally function member of His body, for the church is the body of Christ and we are members in particular. The body being the general description of the church and each believer being a particular member. God is using our natural body to help us understand His spiritual body the church. Every hair on our body is a member of the body and has a specific purpose. The English word church comes from the Greek word ekklesia ( ek-klay-see'-ah ) and means a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation -assembly, church. One dictionary says it means a people called out, gathered together to discuss the affairs of state.

No one really joins the church except they are born again of the Holy Spirit and this incorporates them into the body of Christ, making them a particular part with some degree of function. 1 Corinthians 12: 12-18 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

Romans 8: ' But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his '. When we are born again we are in the spirit and Christ is in us not with us, He is with humanity to affect them with His great love to win them to be saved, after we are saved He is in us.

The new creation is the one born of the Spirit of God and old things have passed away and all, not some but all things have become new. Whenever you receive something new, if you have an existing one it immediately becomes old by the introduction of the new one. As believers in Christ the natural life has now become old and dead, that's why it is written that we are buried with Him in baptism. Romans 6: 3-8 ' Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him '. This is the new creation.

Hebrews 8: 13 ' In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away '. The law and it's ordinances is now old because all it typified, figured, and represented has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ who has established a new covenant. The Law has not been destroyed as some think, it is now written in our minds and in our hearts by the Spirit of God, in our minds to create a new understanding and in our hearts to create a new will. The natural old law/covenant said what to do and not to do, but the new Law/covenant of grace says what to think and what not to think, this is more excellent. The old law brought a remembrance of sin, Hebrews 10: 3 ' But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year ': The new one removes sin consciousness by the Holy Spirit living in our hearts convicting us of wrong doing. Hebrews 8: 10 ' For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more '.

We have to be careful that we do not avoid the responsibility of being faithful to Christ by deliberately misinterpreting the passing away of the old covenant. Bear in mind the old law was a representation of spiritual things to come, what has passed away is not the heavenly substance but the representative lifeless rituals. Those who struggle with the old law and it's rules and regulations have not allowed old things to pass away and all things to become new.

Isaiah 43: 18-19 ' Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert '. Here we find a great mystery of how the old creation passes away and the key is found in the wilderness. Throughout the scriptures there is mention of the wilderness. The secret is that the wilderness represents a place or state in which the believer goes thru a devastation which removes the old mentality and concepts of life and the world of the natural man, this is because the mind of Christ is being imparted so that the believer may have God's view of everything. Many , sad to say, rebel and resist this regenerative process and never grow spiritually. They belong to the 30 or 60 fold dimension of the Kingdom of God. Those who belong to the 100 fold realm stay in the potter's Hand and are made properly and orderly. When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt He brought them into the wilderness to get the bondage mentality out of them. You know what they did to Him for His love.

The process of regeneration is the removal of our old life and the impartation of the Life of Jesus Christ . The creation account in Genesis has figured in it the new creation of the church. We the new believers come to Jesus they are not as yet formed, but are without form and void because they are new. The Lord then forms us and make us to become functioning members of His church, not spectators or an audience waiting to be entertained. The church is not a social gathering, it's a fellowship. We are brethren .

There are three stages in being made a fully functioning member of the church. Three is the number of Divine completion, God is not finished until He completes His work in three stages. We have to be careful with listening to teachings that make us the centre of the Gospel and not Jesus Christ, when we are God centred we are heaven bound, when we are self centred we are earth bound and the cares of this life move in and make us unfruitful in the things of God. Men want to make the Gospel more attractive than it is and promise believers things that God Himself do not promise. God is the God of order.

Isaiah 43: 7 ' Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him '. Here are the three stages of spiritual development for the making of the people of God. Here again in Isaiah 45: 18 ' For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else '.

In Ephesians 3: 7 ' Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power '. Paul the Apostle was made a minister, true ministers are made by the Hand of the Lord. Jesus said to the disciples come and follow Him and He will make them fishers of men. There is a making beloved before we can be of eternal value to the Lord.

Here now is a making that no human can or will ever be able to know and understand fully. Jesus Christ was made like unto us, what a grief and devastation this caused him no one will ever know, He faced that all alone there was none with Him. He had to do it to deliver us. Hebrews 2: 14 - 17 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and did not have any hereditary evil internally, nor had He any actual evil; but He had only hereditary evil externally, or from the virgin, His mother; while an ordinary man has evil by heredity from both his parents, and actual evil besides. This is why no one can ever know what it took the Lord to be made like unto us, to be tempted like us and overcome all the evils that plague us. He had to allow Himself to feel the delight that we would feel when we delight in evil, and yet not entertain that delight but conquer and destroy it.

2 Corinthians 5: 21 ' For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him '. Who can grasp the magnitude of the process that Jesus Christ went through in being made like us sinners. What grace and love God has bestowed upon us beloved that we should be called the sons of God. 2 John 3: " Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure ".

God bless you.

In Christ,

Everflowinglife.

Don't Give Up, Don't Give In

2010-08-19T11:18:00.001-07:00

Don't Give Up, Don't Give In

Rest assured that God is not ashamed to be called our God when we seek Him diligently. When we press to be holy and righteous, good and faithful, though we are plagued by pitfalls, opposition and ridicule, shame and disgrace, failure and disappointment, dreams and visions that fade away, God is not ashamed to be called our God.

We have the choice of turning back because we have the memories of the past, but the past is dead and darkness. We know now that satan controlled us when we were without Christ, so going back means that we will give the devil place in our lives. It's God we seek not what He can give us. Mary did not have all the knowledge that the Scribes and Pharisees had of the scriptures, but she knew the voice of our Lord when He called her name, she sought after Him not what He could give, this beloved is love. Of such people God is not ashamed to be called their God.

What temptation are you faced with today, what trouble or distress, fear or doubt, what opposition or barrenness wearies you ? Do you love God ? Is He the central focus of your life ? Do you calculate everything with Him as the principal factor?Then keep on hoping and don't give up and don't give in. In your present state because your intent is to give God your best, God is not ashamed to be called your God.

Rejoice and be glad for God the living God who was manifested in the person of Jesus Christ, is not ashamed to be called your God.

Hebrews 11:8-16 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

In Christ,

Everflowinglife

THINGS THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN

2010-08-19T08:43:00.000-07:00

THINGS THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN

Job 1:20-22

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “ Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

We all know the story of Job and the trials he faced, how God rewarded him in the end, and how it was satan that desired to destroy Job. Please note that in the account it was God who asked satan in verse 8, ‘have you considered my servant Job‘; not the man Job or any person named Job, but My servant Job. Job was a servant of God, God acknowledged him as such. What is going to befall Job is not any punishment or persecution as from God, this kind of thinking is perverse and misrepresents the Living God. After what God had to say about Job it would be foolish to think that God was punishing him for some unknown reason by using satan to crush his spirit. No beloved, there is a secret that the Lord wants us to see about the lives of His servants on earth.

Job means ‘ the hated or persecuted one ’ . The true servants of God

will be hated and persecuted in this world, but bear in mind there is a limit to how far God will permit the enemy to go. Let’s read:

John 17: 14-16 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

John 15:18 - 25 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

Hatred and persecution against the church does not come from people, flesh and blood, but from the forces of darkness in the spirit world that knows that Jesus has redeemed us unto Himself. ( Ephesians 6: 12 ) They know we no longer belong to this world and are strangers and pilgrims in it, they know that we are messengers, servants of the Lord seeking to win souls unto the resurrected Christ. They seek permission to sift us as wheat is sifted. Wheat speaks of that which is good. Let’s see what the Lord said to Peter concerning this topic;

Luke 22:31-34 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Why didn’t the Lord just stop satan from attacking Peter? Surely satan will not desire anyone for anything good. The secret is that like Job, Peter was a servant of God and approved.

The particulars of the lives of the men in the Bible are recorded to teach us, to give us the understanding of things we are going thru as servants of the Lord. That we may have encouragement and not faint. The scriptures says that my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; Hosea 4:6 . That’s right beloved God’s own people are sometimes destroyed because they lack the knowledge they need to understand their difficult circumstances, and are sometimes fooled by their comfortable ones. Jesus said the devil comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy . The Lord did not stop satan from attacking Peter, because it was a process that would convert Peter and equip him to strengthen the brethren. He knew that satan could not destroy Peter, and neither can the devil destroy you, on the contrary he can only serve to cause to come forth that which God has built in you. Further down Peter said that he was ready to go to prison and death with the Lord, but Jesus said before morning breaks Peter would deny Him. This desire to both go to prison and to die with Jesus was not yet built by God in Peter‘s spirit, it was only in his mind, we see that the shaking soon shook that desire out of him. Later on in Peter’s life this same desire was built in his spirit by Christ Jesus, history says he was killed for the master he served.

Now in Hebrews 12:25-29 Please read this. Here we see that God’s Voice which comes to us in His Word will shake heaven and earth, the things that are made will be shaken, but the things which cannot be shaken will remain. The secret in the shaking of Job’s life is the revelation that one thing remained unshakeable, his worship of God, this is where his integrity came from. Satan wanted Job to curse God to His face, this meant that the worship God had established in Job’s interior life would be destroyed and in it’s place would be planted cursing. What the Lord builds is indestructible.

The one thing that satan couldn’t destroy in Peter’s life was that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. The ability to worship God was something God Himself had built in Job by revelation, the same God revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Son of the Living God. ( Matthew 16:16 ) These two things in these men’s lives was unshakeable; its clear other things were shaken out, Peter denied the Lord and Job said the thing I feared is come upon me; because they were made and made up, but only what God has done in our lives remain, and remain unshakeable. These unshakeable things are made manifest every time we are under attack from the enemy, whatever form he may take. God bless you.
In Christ,
Everflowinglife