Holiness - Shaken But Not Stirred

“Give careful thought to your ways”.
You have seen My power, but you only see what you comprehend and so place Me in the confines of your understanding and those traditions and structures you feel safe in, which limits My Spirit within you. My ways are not your ways, your thoughts not My thoughts. You have seen little, but look outside, and see the vastness of the vision I have given you. It has barely begun. There are those crying out for help. There are those who have been driven away from Me through those under the banner of My Church, hurt and rejected because of attitudes and teachings not of Me.

I call My Church to Me not to their own understanding. Many forget that I come first. Come close in Me, allowing My Spirit to guide you.

So easily the words, “So What!” is said and felt. So What, there is false teaching taught that cause grief to people. So What, that there are people hurting amongst My people. So What, that situations left to grow out of proportion are causing bitterness, resentment, and division in the body of Christ.

So I say, “So What!” So What to your ministries. So What, to what you want to do. First sort out your relationships with Me and each other, then as these things come right, under the Kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ then your ministries will flow from you in Love, Power and Truth.

So rather, So What! Make it, So What?

So What are you going to do about it? There is much more to be done. I use My people to reveal My Glory. I wait to pour out My Spirit, Truth and Power on this land. I wait for your uncompromising submission to Me.

Wrong motives, losing sight of who Jesus really is:
Triumphal Entry – John 12:12-19

God in heaven looks on, He is happy to see the people honouring Jesus on arrival into Jerusalem and yet He was sad because He knew beyond that moment many of those people would also call for His death.

They recognised Him as King of Israel (John 12:13), they even saw a great Healer, a man of miracles (John 12:17-18) especially after raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44) but could not accept Him as the Messiah, the one who would save the world from sin. His ministry shook and yet the people were not stirred.

Jesus taught Holiness through Salvation in Him. Too often we can play at church and forget the reality of Him and His Kingship and Headship of His Church.

The enemy can distract our minds onto anything even those things that seem right so as to prevent us from entering into fullness in Christ and obedience to Him. The enemy would fill our time with anything, for when we come into obedience in Christ the enemy knows that everything we do will be even more powerful and successful. We hear the call to Holiness but are not stirred; we remain complacent in our busyness. We are shaken but not stirred.

Positional and Progressive Sanctification
(Purify from sin, make Holy)
God’s Work for Us, God’s Work in Us
Both are essential. Neglect the first, we grow fearful. Neglect the second we grow lazy.

Repent:
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Revelation 2:4-5

The Day of the Lord:
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
2 Peter 3:8-13

Armour of Light:
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.
Romans 13:12

Identity In Christ - *Who Do They Say I AM?"

I am no-one. I am only what God makes me. I am only what I allow Him to make me, which isn’t what He wants me to be.

To begin with, a foundational truth:
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Genesis 1:26-28

Image and Likeness, Dominion:
Identity and Authority are linked together. Authority comes out of our identity. A lot of our insecurity is due to a lack of identity. The ploy of the enemy is to prevent us knowing our identity; the enemy undermines us in our identity.

A policeman has authority, has an identity. His identity is through the uniform he wears. When he puts on the uniform he is immediately recognised as a man of authority and in that he knows that authority. His authority is given by the rulers of this country and he is under authority.

We have an Identity, we have an Authority only found in Jesus Christ.

Jesus – The Way, The Truth, The Life – John 14:6
Jesus knew His Identity, and He knew His God given authority. He was secure in that He knew who He was and is. He knew the strength of the Word of God, He is the Living Word.

Jesus tempted (Matthew 4:3-4) Son of God.
The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Building Blocks for Identity (Matthew 7:24-27) Revelation of Christ
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Could This Be Said Of Us? Fall of Man:

Sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-16) Secure in who you are.
Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. (One day) the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

Fundamental Error:
If you will do, you will be. (Fall of Man – Genesis 3:9 – “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”)

Identity through – Function, Success, Groups, etc.

Take heed, dear Friends, to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts, which are the leadings of God. Resist not His strivings within you. It is His light that shows us our darkness and leads to true repentance. The love of God draws us to Him, a redemptive love shown forth by Jesus Christ in His life and on the cross. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. As His disciples, we are called to live in the life and power of the Holy Spirit.

For Christianity is not a matter of conformity to doctrine and the observance of forms, but an overwhelming sense of the nearness of God, through the indwelling Spirit of Christ. It’s the rediscovery of primitive Christianity, proclaiming that ‘Christ had come to teach His people Himself.’ It’s having that direct communion with God without the mediation of church or priests, relying on the inward authority of the Spirit rather than on the outward authority of the church and tradition. It’s knowing and loving the Bible but also getting behind the written word to the sources of its inspiration.

John the Baptist new that in himself he was no-one and that his priority was to prepare for the one to come as to why he said in John 3:30, He must become greater; I must become less.

Foundation of Identity:
Jesus asked the question (Matthew 16:13-18) “Who do they say that I am?”

Our foundation is that, “He is the Christ.” Our foundation is on Christ.

Who you are is who you are in Christ. Who you are will never be found outside of Christ.

(Ephesians 1:1-20) Identity In Christ. (In Christ, In Him):

Word and Spirit need to come together.

V4 Chosen before foundations of the world. God had the whole plan in mind before it began.God knew me. Who I was going to be, all of me before the foundation of the world. We are not accidents. (Psalm 139:13-16)

V5 Predestined to be adopted as sons.We cannot say we were not wanted.
1. Birth (Born Again), New Creation by the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
2. Adoption. A decision to make someone part of your family.God’s initiative, not ours. A chosen identity. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

V6 It’s an unearned identity. It was freely given to us. God does not look at failure but at what we are to come and who we are in Christ.It is not an excuse for laziness, but if we did nothing else for Christ, He would still love us.

V7 If we don’t deal with sin, we will not deal with identity. Our problems is sin. We have the same value to the Father as Jesus Christ did. The King has paid the price for us. We are not called for success but to be faithful.

V10-12 The identity we have is eternal. No-one can take it away. It is an eternal security of our identity. An identity with a future hope that we shall be with Him, throughout all eternity.

V13-14 We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Access is by the Holy Spirit giving us revelation, imparted, dynamic truth.

Who you are is in Christ alone. Do you know your Identity?

Seed of Sin

A rich man arrives home. To update himself of events occurring while he was away he asked his driver. The driver speaks of one thing that came from a whole run of incidences. The man’s dog had been killed. He had it for 14 years and was very fond of it. On asking how, he was told by his £3,000 000 prize stallion that trampled the dog while escaping from the stable. Asking why it should escape from the stable which was 13th Century and a listed building, he was told that the chimney of the house fell on it destroying the stable. Asking how the chimney fell, he was told that the fire had burned the house down. Asking how the fire started he was told, by a cigarette catching on a blanket. Asking who’s cigarette, he was told the children were smoking, one was dead the other was in hospital. Finally he asked who gave them the cigarette. The answer was, you gave them. You gave them permission, you encouraged them. You said it was alright, that it was accepted. They were lead by your example.

The initial seed of sin was that the man set the example saying that it was right and good. His mistake caused much pain and loss for himself and others. So easily we can blame others for our mistakes when we need to take responsibility for ourselves and our own mistakes.

Take responsibility for own actions.
It’s easy to give excuses, taking away the chance for healing and dissolving responsibility.

You load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
Luke 11:46

It’s said that family life is falling apart. That communication between children and parents has become difficult and maybe more, has been lost. Again it’s said that there’s a need to teach parents how to be parents that they need to go to some sort of counselling to make them better parents. Again the blame for failing families are put at the feet of the parents rather than that recognition that the expectations of those in Government, in law and in society itself have become so great that it’s crushed and caused family life to be lost sometimes impossible to meet. There is so much expectations put on people to be doing, rather than doing those things that really matter.

“Discipline” within the family has become a bad word. Many people are scared to discipline for fear of how easy it has become to break the law or even be imprisoned. Instead of law supporting discipline it crushes it, and then they wonder why children have no respect today. Obviously the effects of the restriction has moved into our schools, where they too struggle not only with a lack of respect but also they have to be continuously meeting targets and keeping records rather than doing the job in a fulfilling way for the children, but also for themselves.

Here at this point I would just like to add something sent around by email quite awhile ago, but saying much the same, and I now pass on. It reads……

Billy Graham's daughter was being interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" And Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.

She said "I believe that God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman that He is, I believe that He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to Give us His blessing and His protection if we demand that He leave us alone?"

I know there's been a lot of an email going around in regards to September 11th, but this really makes you think. If you don't have time, at least skim through it, but the bottom line is something to think about.... In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc.

Let's see, I think it started when Madeline Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body was found recently) complained she didn't want any prayer in our schools, and we said OK.

Then, someone said you better not read the Bible in school... the Bible that says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbour as yourself. And we said, OK.

Then, Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide) and we said, an expert should know what he's talking about so we said OK.

Then, someone said teachers and principals better not discipline our children when they misbehave. And the school administrators said no faculty member in this school better touch a student when they misbehave because we don't want any bad publicity, and we surely don't want to be sued (There's big difference between disciplining and touching, beating, smacking, humiliating, kicking, etc.) And we said, OK.

Then someone said, let's let our daughters have abortions if they want, and they won't even have to tell their parents. And we said, OK.

Then some wise school board member said, since boys will be boys and they're going to do it anyway, let's give our sons all the fun they desire, and we won't have to tell their parents they got them at school. And we said, OK.

Then some of our top elected officials said it doesn't matter what we do in private as long as we do our jobs. And agreeing with them, we said it doesn't matter to me what anyone, including the President, does in private as long as I have a job and the economy is good.

And then someone said let's print magazines with pictures of nude women and call it wholesome, down-to-earth appreciation for the beauty of the female body. And we said, OK.

And then someone else took that appreciation a step further and published pictures of nude children and then stepped further still by making them available on the Internet. And we said OK; they're entitled to their free speech.

And then the entertainment industry said, let's make TV shows and movies that promote profanity, violence, and illicit sex. And let's record music that encourages rape, drugs, murder, suicide, and satanic themes. And we said it's just entertainment, it has no adverse effect, and nobody takes it seriously anyway, so go right ahead.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

"Dear God, Why didn't you save the little girl killed in her classroom? " Sincerely, Concerned Student...
AND THE REPLY "Dear Concerned Student, I am not allowed in schools".
Sincerely, God.

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, think, say, or do anything the Bible says.

Funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan who, by the way, also "believes" in God.

Funny how we are quick to judge but not to be judged.

Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but the public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on Sunday, but be an invisible Christian the rest of the week.

Are you laughing? (Powerful and True isn’t it?)

It’s right that everyone should take responsibility for their own lives, their own decisions, and their own mistakes. That means everyone, including surely children as well, for if you withhold them responsibility for their actions you are helping them to grow up believing in a “no blame society” and that they have a right to do anything for it’s never their fault for they are only children. Although their lives need to be directed by adults they have the responsibility to accept or go against what is asked, and if they choose to go against they should be allowed that responsibility, and accept the consequences of their actions.

It has been made so easy to divorce, giving an environment of “I’m not getting my way, so I’m giving up, and I’ll take as much as I can.” The children suffer because the selfishness of the parent or parents, denying the children what they want and need just so they get what they want. The children grow up seeing how easy it is to give up, having to make the best of something they had no choice in.

For so long women have fought for equal rights to men. Suddenly it can appear that women want equal rights when it comes to work and yet within the family and especially within a family breaking-up it appears that women have more rights than the man. If divorce happens and where children are involved so often it is the wife who keeps the children and her security and the husband loses everything, with the feeling of having no rights at all, sometimes being left only with a enormous payment leaving their bank account each month to remember a marriage they didn’t give up on, but gave up on them. It appears that whether the husband was in the wrong or not it is the wife with more rights to a continued life than the husband who’s life is put on hold having to survive on very little, with a future of rejection, loneliness without his loved ones and sometimes never being able to do nothing more than survive. Again men get placed in the stereotyping of others. Suddenly all men are selfish, uncaring and abusive and yet women today can quite easily be that way but is ignored by those in authority for the fear that by taking the man’s position they are appearing to be prejudice against women, but in fairness ending up being prejudice against the man.

Sitting on a bus and you can hear the voices of certain people, not because you want to but because there are some people who like everyone to know their feelings. One was a young student, a girl full of herself and yet behind that exterior an interior crying out to be accepted, loved and needed. Yet again men coming under attack, where the girl had been let down by someone, within that having been bullied while at school, a sense of her attitude having been brought down to that, I want to be noticed, but her loudness just irritates people rather than draws them close. Her loudness meant to promote confidence in herself but really promotes an insecure life, needing, but not really knowing how.

Today women are devalued by men, and men are devalued by women. One fights for their rights generally at the cost of the other. You can see programs on the television. A women presenter talking to a man, who being a father is asking for his rights as a father with his children. There begins what seems to be a discrediting of the father’s aim because of a minority group and their approach to the situation. Rather than giving an unbiased view of both sides of an argument it seems the whole blame appears to be on one side. The value of both men and women has been knocked that it can be hard to see the true benefits of our existence together. There is a minority, both men and women who go after what they want no matter what, and it is this minority that places us all in the position of being stereotyped.

Once more there is the need to remember that there are those who abuse others in life, there are men and there are women who selfishly go after what they want, quite often being at the cost of others around them and at all cost being right or wrong, good or bad, whatever suits their need, but at the same time should we stereotype people? Once more there is a need to be able to say that if the husband walks out on the marriage then it is needed and right that he pays for his decision and takes responsibility within the consequences of his act, but also the same for the wife. Should it be that the wife gets all and the children when it has been they themselves that left and walked away possibly into another affair or giving up only because they stopped loving? Why is it that generally the husband still loses out?

Even in the life of work which we all have to partake in, the pressure is put upon all, expectations far too great to be doing with very little reward. Many people do jobs that are considered unskilled occupations, so the wage is rock bottom, but if those people didn’t do them then this country would fall apart. You will always need people to do those jobs which no one else would do, yet the professionals look down on it, so taking the less fortunate and the weak for granted, not seeing that those people deserve just as much as everyone else. Yes, there are people who take advantage of the system and they don’t really want to work, but there are many caught in the trap of those who selfishly go after wealth at all costs, generally at the cost of the less well off. In the end there are people at both ends of life who will abuse the system and we can all fall into being stereotyped. But in the end it’s the weak that lose. There are certain actions taken that cover up the real need, even adding to the problem, rather than seeing the issue as it really is with a need for everyone, individually, to stop being self-centred and to start considering others as people who have just as much to give, having worth and deserve as much as everyone else.

To counter-act the shortfall in pensions. It is said that people do not save and should be forced. That taxes should go up, or that the retirement age should become 70 years. All these options do is put more pressure on the people who haven’t got. Many people can’t save, can’t afford a home, can’t afford cars, and can’t afford holidays. Their wages are so little that it’s just enough to survive. You take out of what little they have then even survival becomes impossible. For them working till they drop is the only choice, which surely in itself is like slave labour?

You might be unfortunate to be getting old. You have worked for the past 30 years, proving your skills and perseverance in a job and yet if you’re unfortunate to lose your job you become within the unsaid thing “You’re too old.” Every reason would be given as to why you are not suitable for a job because to say you are too old is prejudice and not allowed yet behind it that is the reality of their decision. Your skills, your reliability, your proven commitment to work meaning nothing, almost having to start again, but of course even that comes down to, you’re too old. To cap it all the Government suggests that we work until we are 70 years of age. You can give your best years to working and yet it means nothing. Your abilities, your skills, your training and capabilities all devalued because of age, to prove that the work place has gone that direction can never be proven but it is strange how everyone knows it happens.

Now a days it’s hard to plan for your future because gone are the days when you could have the security of a job. It’s a very rash thing to go and give yourself a mortgage for a house, or a loan for a car, whatever, because many people today no longer have a job that you can say that you will be in 5 years time, some even as low as one months time, most jobs being under a short term contract, especially in the area of Agency Work. There you are paid much of the time the minimum wage and a lot less than a full-time worker for sometimes what is a very qualified job, only to be dismissed at the end of a contract. The only good thing that comes out of agency work is that you can gain experience in areas of work, but the bad thing is that you can become trapped within the need for work and the little there is, what there is generally are lowly, unskilled jobs that pay nothing but ask a lot. You’re left yet again struggling not only in survival mode but with no hope for a decent future; whether it’s a pension, a mortgage, a car, even a holiday like many others take for granted, they remain only dreams for you are unable to save in any way.

If as such people need to save for their pension then give the less well off a chance to save as well, by giving them an equal chance as everyone else. Why expect people who already have to work all hours to survive, now to work till they drop because they have no hope for retirement, their pension will not cover or, more so, they have never been able to afford a pension on their low salary? Why expect something that most people would not do themselves?

Even out of work can become difficult. The moment you are jobless the pressure then is to find a job. Till you do many need to enter the Benefit State. As if the pressure isn’t bad enough it is added to by the attitude that the only real aim is to get you off the unemployment list as quickly as possible, meeting targets. How can a life be lowered to just a target? It appears more important that you come off the list so once more those in charge can stand up and say, “look what we have achieved, getting the unemployment figure down.” In that you find it at the cost of the person who probably came under so much pressure through the expectations of others, took up the first job possible, not necessarily the best job suitable for them, and even not actually giving them the standard of life they deserve just like everyone else.

There are opportunities in work experience, which can be beneficial but also it can be misused and just as demoralising. You can work really well, doing a great job, the employers being quite impressed and yet still end up with nothing. All you have left is the feeling of being used, but yet again, feeling your best, even that isn’t good enough, a carrot just out of reach.

Even with the need for re-training in a new skill, or looking at a new career move, the support is not there for the less well off, which in itself keeps the person looking towards the unskilled sector. To learn new careers you need to be able to go back to college or university, (of course there are Apprenticeships, but they don’t seem to be around much these days, and as well as that for those who are too old, no one wants to give you one or is prepared to give one) within that you need to be able to pay the high costs. It’s said, “You can always take out a loan.” Amongst the great debt problem in this country people are advised to take out loans, immediately putting them in debt for thousands of pounds with no means of paying it back. Now wonder the country has a debt problem. Young adults are growing up starting there working lives in debt and those less well off remain in debts that strangle leaving, like everyone else who are not well off, in survival mode.

Whether we have a high powered job or a so called but necessary unskilled job, whether we are rich or poor, whether we are young or old, whether we are a man or a women we all deserve the same chances, and should be able to receive the same concern in the same situations that we all find ourselves in. If we are wrong then we should expect the consequences of our actions, if we are the one not in the wrong we shouldn’t have to pay for others mistakes, others wrong, others decisions. There needs to be a fresh concern for each other, and to move away from our self-centred lives and ambitions into consideration of others acknowledging that all have a right to have the best in life.

Once more I am reminded of God’s love and how different His love is to ours, as to why I place at the end of this, God’s Selfless Love, to follow and hopefully all would move in, in their consideration of others.

Unfortunately today God and the bible are not recognised by many people, yet the answers to life’s problems can be sorted if only people would turn to Him. Many of the scriptures quoted are towards His people and how we should act towards each other, but are these not attitudes that we all should look to take on board? In the last scripture it speaks of being united with Christ. As hard as it seems God is alive and He has given us a way to know Him. Scripture reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Surely no one can deny the morals and attitudes in the Bible are what love is. Whether it’s our family, towards our partners in marriage, our children, our schools, even our workplaces, and I must say even the church, these would be much happier places if we ALL show some self-less love in our lives, considering others as we would each want to be considered.

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:1-5

Finally; brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9

The Paul and Apollos Syndrome

For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour.
1 Corinthians 3:4-8

What do we consider the attitudes in this?

People look for someone to follow. They look for someone they believe can lead them further, they build those they choose up on a peddle stool, only to find they are human and make mistakes. It is then the choice, either, to turn away from that person they followed seeking someone new to follow, which in itself can turn to rejecting that person as though that person let them down. Or on recognising people are only human continues to stand by them because in the end it’s Jesus the true one to follow, not man.

Another difficulty for others is that they cannot ever meet a standard set by the person who looks at one higher than any other. For someone to step in the shoes of one being followed it can become impossible. The person that takes over can never compare to the one being followed, not because that person is wrong in that place but because it is a mind set (Beliefs that affect somebody’s attitude, behaviour and outlook) that that person can never meet the set standard.

Again the words:

Because you see me with no honour, in your eyes. You expect me to be disloyal.

It doesn’t mean a person is without honour or that the person is disloyal, it just means that’s the way someone has chosen to see the person.

Again we can put someone on such a high position that anyone else cannot reach the standard, which doesn’t mean they cannot or are wrong, it’s the way that has been chosen.

Promoting someone, putting them in a place above God can only end in discouragement for the one promoting, when that person lets you down. There is only one who should be lifted up and glorified, that is Christ Jesus. It has been that God has removed those that people promoted so as to turn them towards Him again instead of man.

Promoting someone as though they are needed above all others and that they can only achieve what God wants takes away that God can move in any willing heart. We hear of people who God is clearly working in or a place God is working in and then look at things as though only that person can bring God’s blessing or we can only receive God’s blessing by going to that place, when God would say, “I can use you, anyone with a willing heart, and that can be anywhere, right where you are.”

In the KJV we are called to Esteem One Another as More Important – Philippians 2:3 NIV
In humility consider others better than yourselves.

Esteeming means – regard, respect, admiration, high regard, good opinion, value, appreciate, prize, cherish, hold dear, admire

God asks us to love as He loves, but there is only one we should lift up high above all others and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rise Up! - That None Should Perish - Before Time Runs Out

A reminder of what I wrote at the top of, Rise Up - That None Should Perish

The Cry for Help:

On one side of a crevasse stands the church. On the other side the lost, those not knowing God, those not even realising they need God, but crying out for help. The church in some way oblivious to the cries, caught up in themselves and how they see things and how they choose to help, not seeing the real need and not meeting the real need.


Recently it's been shared that to myself is a continuation to this word in that those that are lost are falling over the edge of the crevasse. As the title suggests, I believe and with urgency that God is calling his church to Rise Up! That None Should Perish. Do we hear the call? To do this it is to put our differences aside and to step into what God has called us to do. God's Word says, To love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30) as well, love your neighbours as yourself. (Mark 12:31) Another reads, But Seek first his kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33) I believe that it is these specific scriptures that we begin with and should follow in all that we do in our relationship with God and with others, including the lost. It is with God we step out and it will be God's Spirit that will achieve that that we all know should be and that is to reach the lost.

About Looking Back

Before Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed, when Lot hesitated, the two angels grasped Lot and his wife and daughters, Genesis 19:17 reads, As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

Further on we read in Verse 26, But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Jesus by His Spirit took us by the hand and brought us out of our Sodom and Gomorrah and placed us on high ground, that ground being on the Rock, upon Himself, high above all things in Him. How many times we can hesitate in our walk, remaining in the past, not moving forward because of past hurts, only to being moved forward but then looking back causing us to stand still again. In Matthew 5:13 it reads, “You are the salt of the earth.” When we look back it’s like we become like Lot’s wife, pillars of salt, never moving and not being the salt of the earth that God asks us to be. What holds you back? Fear of being hurt again and again? Unforgiveness? Pride? Selfishness, Selfish-Ambitions? Or What? Look Forward, Trust in God and let go, giving Him all doubts, uncertainty and in confidence of who you are in Christ become the salt of the earth and as Matthew 5:16 reads, Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

In Haggai 2:9 it reads, “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the Lord Almighty. How often do we look back and remember times when God moved and in ourselves are always looking for that time again sometimes even trying to create those times again instead and forgetting that God has said that what He is about to do is a New Thing, and better than anything we have already seen. Although those experiences are not wrong God asks us to Look Forward. There are things beyond our comprehension, and possibly never known before, let God do it. He wants to shatter our illusions of Him.

No More Delay

The word of the Lord came to me; “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’? Say to them; ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel. But the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfil whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’

Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
Ezekiel 12:21-28

Don't Look Back, Look Forward and Step In

As we grow in the knowledge of God’s Word, Purposes and Will, and in the understanding of that knowledge, we need to seek, even ask for His wisdom to be revealed to us in how to fulfill that knowledge, showing true understanding and all to His Glory. Letting go of those things that keep us back from entering in, and taking hold of those things that will give glory to Jesus and give true purpose to our lives, as well as those deep meaningful relationships that God asks for and promoted through Jesus in all He did. Jesus promoted relationship, not what He did, what He did came out of relationship.

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33

The Kingdom and Righteousness is to do with Relationships, with God and with others, (God Commands Love, Mark 12:30-31) as a living example of the Righteousness of Jesus to others. From that all other things will come.

God asks –
Draw near to me and I shall draw near to you.
James 4:8

Suffering

In the beginning God made man sinless and perfect, in the image of Himself. He wanted man to be His friend. He wanted man to love Him freely. He wanted to share with love not by force. He wanted a loving freewill man not a robot. He gave us freedom of choice which meant a choice of being with Him or away from Him, also the choice between good and evil.

God had made all kinds of trees. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Then God said, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:9, 16-17)

Through the deceit of Satan towards Adam and Eve in the garden, all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. They chose not to obey God, we all today have the choice of obeying God or choosing our own sinful way. Sinful way, because sin is not just stealing, murder or what ever you consider to be evil, sin is also ignoring God, denying God.

With the fall of man, sin came into the world, death also came into the world. All creation became effected, corrupted, cursed because of man’s sin.
(Genesis 3:1-24)

The earth is wearing out (Isaiah 51:6). As our bodies decay, become diseased so is the earth. Can we blame God for a Tsunami, and ask how can He let this happen?

All over the world people build their homes in areas which are dangerous such as near to volcanoes. Is it God’s fault when the volcano explodes and destroys their homes and people? They knew the dangers and yet they chose to live by the volcano.

God loves all people even those living by the volcano. Most people ignore God today. If you love someone but that person ignored you, what would you feel? With all your heart you would want to help them but because they ignored you, your efforts would be futile because they wouldn’t recognise you. If someone hated you would you want to help them? You may love them but their hate would reject your help, so to bother may save them but it wouldn’t stop them rejecting you because they don’t recognise your help.

Suffering is not from God, it’s through someone somewhere choosing to go their way rather than God’s way. God can prevent suffering but people would still ignore Him and not recognise Him and His love for them.

God wants His family united with Him. He wants that unity with love not by force. God hates sin and it blocks the way to Him. It’s a selfish thing to expect a person to help you in your suffering and not return the thanks and love they deserve. People expect God to do so much but for what? Love is giving and receiving. Why should God give but not expect to receive?

God loves us so much that He gave His most precious gift, through His Son, Jesus Christ. The way is open again to knowing God but we can’t do it ourselves, only through Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins. He suffered more than we ever will and yet was completely innocent. He took all our sins on His shoulders and was crucified for showing nothing but God’s Love.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6

Testimonies and Reflections

Salvation!

Come to me, ALL who are weary and burdened, and I shall give you rest.

I believed in a possible God and yet He seemed distant and unreal, just stories.

There came a time my life felt in shatters, of not having my own identity, a life of my own. At my workplace I was asked to train someone up, his name was also Mike. We became friends and began to do things together. I shared the struggles and pain I was going through, where Mike said he would stand by me which caused me to think there’s something different about him. He knew me and I wanted to know him. He said, “If you read the bible, you will know me.” It had the right effect although incorrect. I read the bible and found that the words spoke into my life.

We began to go to church together. One day someone stood and gave a word, including, Matthew 11:28-30, which spoke to me. It was asked for the person to stand up; no one ever did even though it was continuously asked. It was me! I didn’t at that time understand what the gifts in the power of the Holy Spirit were. All I could think about was getting home and sharing what had happened with Mike in which he said that he knew. That night I knew I had given my heart to Jesus. For weeks I felt great joy and peace in my life.

Knowing Jesus has given me my identity, a life and a relationship with a God who is very real and meets all my needs.

God Bless You Mike for your obedience and for being a good friend.

Knowing God’s Joy, Knowing God’s Sadness

Many years ago in my early years as a Christian, I was at a meeting of my church. For a long time God had been beginning to use me in my gifting of Worship. Although from even before being a Christian I could sing, just as most of my family could, I knew little concerning worship songs. For a while it was not an easy thing for me to learn words of a song off by heart, so my possible choices were limited. But with that I do want to say that God can and does use you where you are and with little as you have, as long as you are willing.In the meeting we were in Worship and at a certain part of the meeting I felt strongly that God wanted for me to sing out. The chorus that came to mind was,

I will come and Bow Down at Your Feet Lord Jesus

At that point being young in faith I became very nervous and inside, but when it was appropriate I came in, where I found that no-one joined in.

At that time I lived in a small studio flat, and on my way home I found that the chorus was playing over and over in my mind (I think a lot of people know what that can be like, like a recording playing over and over again). I got inside my door, shut and locked it. I was doing things around the flat when suddenly I stopped and with horror realised something about the chorus which was still there playing away in my mind. I realised I was singing,

In Your Presence there is Sadness and Joy, instead of, there is fullness of joy.

My heart dropped. I began to cry out to God. Why! My mind racing, All those leaders there, what a stupid thing to do and there I believed it of God, and I did a thing like that. I knelt in front of my bed crying, with all I could think was, Why? Why did you let me do it?

Suddenly I felt overwhelmed by the Love of God. A sense of his presence and He spoke saying, “You sang it the way I wanted you to.” He followed, “Many Christians today so want my fullness and joy, and that’s all they want, but there are few who want to know when I am sad, and how even those in my church hurt me, and what makes me sad. But I am glad that you care for when I am sad, and what makes me sad.”

That was a very tender moment for me.

The Day I Wanted to Run Away

For along time it had been like God revealing Church to me. What it was and what it wasn’t. I began to recognise that God was calling for Restoration of His Church. The moment I acknowledged it and began to open myself to God using me in this direction, things began to get difficult, I also felt no one listened.

I remember being sat at work one day and I’d been praying telling God that I had had enough of restoration. I didn’t want to know it anymore, it was becoming too difficult.

Each break I would get out my book. At that point I was reading a book by Terry Virgo, Weak People, Mighty God. The book covered three character studies from the Bible, Elijah, David and Jonah. I’d reached the study of Jonah and at that break I began to read the second chapter, How Can You Sleep?

It read:
God had plans for Jonah, ‘But Jonah ran…’ (Jon 1:3). I wonder how often this is the case with us. God had plans for Mike, but Mike ran.

Immediately the Holy Spirit convicted me and reminded me of what I had just said about restoration. By saying what I said it was like I was running away. To that day I have committed my life to what I now believe God’s calling is for my life.

Restoration!

Reflections

Freedom

It was lies that kept me bound. A seed of untruth that my enemy nurtured. It was grace that set me free. The truth of my Lord, victory, your triumph over sin and over death. You paid a debt you didn’t owe, to satisfy a debt I couldn’t pay. You stood me on a hill with light all around me. Though dark clouds surround me you keep me in the light of your truth where sin and death cannot penetrate. Above me you place a rainbow, a reminder of your promises and that you will fulfill all you have promised. You gave me feet of faith, continuously moving forward, never standing still. Walking new avenues, always improving. Never looking back, letting go of that which feels comfortable, holding on to freedom to change, not knowing what new thing is around the corner but trusting in the perfector of my faith. You gave me eyes of faith, a vision to grab hold of, a promise to be kept. A purpose not of mine, a vision of what’s to come, not knowing how, not knowing when but shared, trusting in the perfector of my faith. You say expect the unexpected and do not strive. You cannot be put in a box. When things look impossible you make possible. You make a way where there seems no other way. If God seems far away we need ask, Who’s moved?

Darkness overwhelms the people. Children of light, let your light shine before men. Share in compassion and reachout to them, not with cold professionalism, but with tender mercy. You will do everything you have promised. Lord, your love is eternal. Complete the work that you have begun.

Love

I felt misunderstood, my words unable to convey my heart. I was lost and alone, my whole being a life of despair. Why does love fail? Why do people hurt each other? Why do we stop loving when things get hard? Questions, questions, questions, so many questions.

I Praise You Lord, for you gave the answers. I cried out to you and there you were. New life and a new hope, for you are the answer. In you I have refuge and strength to meet each day. I praise you in my spirit even when outwardly I feel the pressures of life. Your Love endures forever. Bigger than any mountain, deeper than the oceans is your love. Your Love never fails, in you there is peace.

Proclaim salvation to the nations; raise his banner of love. Why is it so hard for those words, “I Love You,” and that love to be given? Lord examine our love and change us. Father your love never fails, give us that love.

Trust

Lord I don’t know who to trust. I trust you but it’s people I don’t trust. I thankyou for those I do trust, but Lord, what of those I don’t find easy? Those of whom I find hard to believe that what they say is given in actions, when often their actions have not backed up their words. Lord I want to trust them; I don’t know what to do. Forgive me Lord for I too can be like them. I sense the hurt of people outside and to why they don’t trust your people, because our love does not appear real. Help me, I need You!

Father, I praise You, I worship you. You’ve touched my life in a way, never before, and yet I know there’s more. More love, more power. More of you in my life. I seek your face, for there is no higher calling. I place you on the highest place for there is no-one greater than you, and, “I Love You.” Glorify your name in me; let your light shine from me. Quiet my mind, calm my restless heart. Make me more like you. May your love and joy abound and fill me with your peace.

People of God. Let us seek the good in all. Let us look through God’s eyes and see each other as he would see us. It’s that we see his glory in each of us. Let our trust be in him who dwells in each of us and in unity take the land he has given us.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

Life With and In the Holy Spirit

Come to the still, still waters. Step into the clear, pure water. By faith follow the way of the Spirit.

Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and Perfecter of your faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

As the sun rises so does my love for you. As the sun melts snow on a snow covered hill, so my Son melts your heart, from it coming freshness, life and power through my Holy Spirit.

Draw near to me and I shall draw near to you.
James 4:8

As an early morning mist covers the hills taking away sharpness and clarity of sight, so to those who seek Me, nothing is clear, but all is there. Although you see not clearly, I am there, for I have said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” And that, “I am Faithful.”

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:1,6

We live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

Salvation Through the Holy Spirit

At home I’d been producing a diagram on what to me was a revelation of the scripture,

‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Zechariah 4:6

The Holy Spirit began revealing that scripture in my day to day life. I was sat at work, opposite me was my supervisor. I’d heard a joke spoken out within a message on Sunday at Church and I felt the Spirit say, “Tell Russell the joke.” At first I hesitated, but I couldn’t ignore what was being said so I plucked up the courage and told Russell the joke. That began one of the most uplifting weeks of my life.

We began to share and I soon began to see that the Holy Spirit was very much moving on his life and mine. That evening I had finally finished the diagram at home and thought I’d take it into work. The next morning, Russell on arrival said to me he had had two dreams that night.
1. He dreamt the words, ‘You Know the Way.’ It turned out that he had read Journey into Life. He’d also said that he didn’t like the book but had never got rid of it.
2. He dreamt he was walking what was like a diagram and he could only go one way as all other directions were blocked.
My heart leapt when he said the dreams, in particular the second. I asked him, “What else can you say about the diagram, were there colours?” He replied, “Yes, the only way I could go was along a red path.”

With that I said, “I think you need to see this.” I got out the diagram and showed him it to which he saw that there was a red line on it. I explained the diagram to which I told him that there are three sets of lines on the diagram, all different colours. Two sets of lines ended in two circles, representing might and power. The third which was not a circle and was red was representing the way of the Spirit, the only way to go.

God had not only encouraged me in what I had done but he had used it to answer Russell’s dream. From then it was a mighty week or two with God’s Spirit between us, ending in Russell giving his heart to Jesus, realising there was no other way. Hallelujah!

Leading of the Spirit - Get Up and Leave

It was a time after I was baptised. With me there had been two others baptised as well, a young girl and an even younger boy of between 12 and 13 years of age. The boy was nervous and it was like God say, “Take care of him.”As time went on I became a friend to the family, where one day the parents approached me asking whether I could talk to the boy as something had happened and he needed support. We talked and he opened up, with me feeling that there were things he needed to be taught being a young Christian. With the parents agreement, backing and acceptance it was arranged that we would meet once a week to share the bible and for him to be able to share his feelings.

The day came to what he thought was the first meeting and had so arranged with me on the Sunday at Church.

I was at work when I felt strongly that God was saying I had to take half day and go and see the parents. I didn’t understand but it wouldn’t go away, so I left work and began to drive to their home. For some unexplained reason I began driving away from their home heading towards my home, I was saying to God, “If I am meant to be going to see the parents, why is it I’m going away in another direction?”

I was driving by a nearby park, going round a bend when in front of me I saw the parents. I stopped the car and went to them, on which they told me that the boy had made a mistake and that the meetings would not be starting until the following week.

If I had of gone straight to their home I would have missed them, for they were not there and I would not have found out about the boys mistake. As strange as sometimes things can be, if you sense God’s direction follow it, because there may be a perfectly good reason.

You have the Spirit, God asks that you live by the Spirit

But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:26

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.
John 16:13

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.
John 4:23-24

Might
We can not succeed in our own might. We end up going in circles.Before Paul went onto describe the Armour of God he writes

“Finally be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.”
Ephesians 6:10

David and Goliath – 1 Samuel 17

David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear.
Verses 22-24

David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
Verse 26

The army saw Goliath in relation to themselves and trembled; David saw Goliath in relation to God and triumphed.

You plus Jesus equals a majority.

Power
We can not succeed in our own power. We end up going in circles.

The bible is to most, just a book. Many read and it is just words written on paper, with its discrepancies to them, a book of stories and much more.

Christians know it as the Word of God and yet they use it unfortunately for their own benefit. They go to the Word and pick out a bible verse to fit what they are going through to what they want to hear and stand on it in prayer and then when nothing happens wonder why God has not come through for them, when God is saying, “No that is not what I am saying, this is what I want to say and to do.” We misuse the Word of God. We end up going in circles.

By My Spirit
It’s as God’s Word says in Zechariah 4:6

‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty

We can not do anything in our own strength or might. We can not do anything in our own power or in the misuse of God’s Word. We will only find that strength, that power through the Holy Spirit. It is the looking beyond our circumstance, our obstacle, the attack to the True and Living Word our Lord Jesus Christ, our Intermediate to our Father in heaven, where by His Spirit, He proves His Word as living and active and sharper than a double-edged sword. He Defeats the enemy, where though, remembering our foe is already defeated. He removes the obstacle, He stops the attack and changes the circumstances where in that He matures us, moving us on closer and stronger in Him.

Circles – Allow the Holy Spirit to cut the circle, closing the past and making paths straight.

Prayer - If You Would Seek Me With All Your Heart

Prayer involves a relationship with God. A relationship that has all the tenderness and joy that we receive from our fellow human beings.

I was praying, laying my job interview before God and I said,
“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Right on the last word, it was covered by a releasing of a build up of wind from my mouth, a belch.

I apologised to God, where suddenly it was like seeing a vision of him laughing, as to seeing the humorous side of it. It caused me to laugh which at that point of feeling the warmth of his love upon me, I burst into tears of joy.I said, “I Love You!”
With a still small voice God replied, “I Love You!” Still seeing his face and feeling loved by him.

Another tender moment, in Knowing God Loves ME.

Plans
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13

Be Faithful in Prayer
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:9-12

One thing about prayer, and that is to remember that communication between two people is a two way thing. Sometimes we spend more time talking than listening. We need to give God room, he has a lot more to say to us than we might believe, more than we have to say to him. It is about listening as much to him as it is us sharing our hearts with him, for it is God’s Will that should be our main priority, not ours.

God, the Father, His Good, Pleasing and Perfect Will:
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.
1 John 5:14-15

The Son and the Holy Spirit Intercedes On Our Behalf

God the Son, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Romans 8:31-34

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5

God the Holy Spirit, who Guides and Leads Us into All Truth:
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
Romans 8:26-27

Hallelujah!
Help in times of need, in prayer and in accordance with God’s Will.

From the Heart
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:5-8

Do you find it hard to pray? Do you find you close up because you feel others always pray better, with more words? We get so tied down with words.

Be Encouraged!

One word from the Heart is more important than many words for the sake of it.

Come to the Throne of Grace
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Ephesians 3:12


Are You With Me?

God loves you so much he welcomes you into His Presence. With
Freedom and Confidence!


For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.
1 Peter 3:12

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” – but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no-one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
1 Corinthians 2:9-12

Rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally; brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9

Ask, Seek and Knock
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:7-12

Now this could be the tricky part. God has said that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can move mountains. Ever felt as though your faith must be smaller than a mustard seed, have you ever seen the size of a mustard seed?

Lord, help us in our unbelief.

Faith
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20

Jesus replied, “ I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig-tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Matthew 21:21-22

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:24

As the boy’s father exclaimed to Jesus (Mark 9:24), maybe we need say the same:

“I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.”

A Barrier in Prayer

There is one possible obstacle that outways all others. That is possibly Unforgiveness:

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
Mark 11:25

Again within the subject of prayer, Jesus said:
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:14-15

We need to be constantly Watchful:
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2

We Must Forgive as God has Forgiven Us.

Put on the Full Armour of God:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:10-20

Support in Prayer:
“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:19-20

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray: Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:13-16

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Acts 1:14

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and in prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4

It’s Time We Prayed.

If my people , who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
2 Chronicles 7:14-15

Lord Light the Fire
Heal Our Land, Today

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
John 15:7

Actions and Prayer:
It’s not enough to pray but be the answer to prayer. God calls us to act on prayer, a part to play, instead of just words. (Concerning Spiritual Warfare – Spiritual Warfare is broader than just praying. Loving someone is spiritual warfare. Practical things of helping someone all help to battle and is spiritual warfare.)

Making a Choice - Coming to the Line

A long time ago I received what I believed was from God. It was a dream where there were others in it, being with me, but I felt that God was saying that each one represented part of myself.

My human self (of the World)

My child like self, the innocence of my life but as well the naivety in my life

My hidden self, that part of me hidden from people and to some extent myself

My spirit in line with Christ

We were standing at a crossroads, looking towards a town. We were given a choice of taking the long route of danger and darkness or the short route being easy and safe. Two people warn of difficulties and the need to be prepared. On hearing this I (My spirit in line with Christ) say to the others, “Are you hearing this, it’s true?” We chose the long route, as we went we had glimpses of woods and areas to come.

As well I received a word that spoke to, Push On.
God saying that I was fully equipped, and that I was to speak out the things of God as He had given. As well that God had placed a great treasure within.

And again a word came that God is ploughing up the ground of my life removing the stones and planting seed that will produce an abundance of fruit.

Knowing God’s Voice:
God asks that all His children know His voice for themselves in a personal relationship. Heart to heart, Spirit to spirit, the prophetic confirms, not dictates, those things already revealed to the person.

Which means that when you hear it, you should know it as confirmation of what is and has been on your heart, if not giving you more understanding of what He has said to you.

In Front of You:
God had shown me personally, that He has plans for me but to know all the plans all at once would be overwhelming to me and I would not be able to take it all in. This I believe He does for all who follow Him.

God gives to you as and when you need and are ready. To give too much all at once can cause you to lose sight of how to get there and start trying to bring things about yourself instead of in His time.

He takes you step by step. When you get used to the first part He’ll add the next part and the next until suddenly you find yourself living in the Promise of God, that, that He said, and in it He has equipped you and built you to His glory in it.

Whether a Word, a Vision or a Promise, when God has given it to and for someone, He then takes that person and causes them to look in front of them. It’s the getting there that God wants to look at, and that is with Him.

Coming to the Line:
I had to make a choice, I could have stayed in the comfort of what I had, I could have taken the easy way in life, the safe way. I could have remained in that place where my life never really moved forward in God’s purpose, never really coming out of those struggles I found myself in but had built a life around them where they could remain hidden, but comfortable, even bearable as far as the world would see it.

But I had to make that decision to move out from it, not knowing how, not seeing what there was for me, only holding in faith that God had a greater purpose for me. Not understanding anything at that point but trusting in the Perfector of my faith. With a heart open and heartfelt I was saying to God, “Lord I don’t understand, It even scares me, I don’t even know what to do next, but Lord I choose to step towards You, I choose to step into Your way, Your purpose for me.”

I believe He asks that of All of us, that it’s time to allow the healing of the past, to let go of the past and to step to the line and together step into the water. That is a decision that only you can make. No one else can make that decision for you.

Come to the line, come to the shore line and step into the waters:

Come to the still, still waters. Step into the clear, pure water. By faith follow the way of the Spirit.

God would say, “Move out of your areas of ability and move into His ability.”
Let’s see what He can do.

Faith requires action. When the priest’s carrying the Ark, their feet actually touched the water. When they actually stepped into it, God acted. – Joshua 3:15-16.

Togetherness of Faith and Love, Opposite and Against Fear:

Faith Through Love
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians 5:6

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
1 John 4:18

Don’t Look Back

Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and Perfecter of your faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel 36:26-27

Before the Throne of God:

Pure Heart

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 51:10-12

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24

Hebrews 4:14-16 Throne of Grace
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Ephesians 3:12 Freedom and Confidence
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally; brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9

You’re on Holy Ground Every Step of the Way:


This is Holy Ground, we’re standing on Holy Ground. For the Lord is here and where He is, is Holy.

We are standing on Holy Ground. And I know that there are angels all around.
Let us praise, Jesus now. We are standing in His presence on Holy Ground.

Where ever your feet tread, where ever you stand is Holy Ground. Why? Because the Lord is always with you. You are His Temple and the Spirit of the Lord dwells within you and upon you, and He is Holy. With that the angels are with you in that place. They are there with charge over you, to care for you. They are there to do God’s bidding in the support of God’s children and we are God’s children, you are a child of God.

God’s Temple – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

Ministering Angels – Hebrews 1:13-14
To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

The Weak and the Foolish – 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no-one may boast before him.

My Grace is Sufficient – 2 Corinthians 12:9
But he (The Lord) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”


“The Lord Bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

Rise Up! - That None Should Perish

The Cry for Help:

On one side of a crevasse stands the church. On the other side the lost, those not knowing God, those not even realising they need God, but crying out for help. The church in some way oblivious to the cries, caught up in themselves and how they see things and how they choose to help, not seeing the real need and not meeting the real need.

Be Real:

People run away not so much from God but our perspective of God, our failings, our unreality. Let us take off our masks and become real to God, real to each other and real to those outside in need and crying out for help.

(The word below I believe anointed of God comes from the book written by Terry Virgo, Weak Men, Mighty God. How true the words are.)

Tender Mercy Towards the Lost:

‘I Love them and I gave my Son to save them. I am not far from any one of them. They could hear the gospel message and respond, and their lives could be changed. I want you to share my compassion and reachout to them –

Not with cold professionalism, but with tender mercy.’

Our Response, What Should It Be?

God has a plan, a future for us all that only He can bring about, in the moving and the power of the Holy Spirit, in a relationship with Him that He planned from the beginning and that is the only way to go in a productive and effective way. The all important thing is relationship. A relationship with God the Father, through God the Son, the Lord Jesus and with God the Holy Spirit, which in that our relationship with each and every one else becomes the church that God purposed us to be. Maybe a better way to put it, the PEOPLE that God purposed us to be, His people, a chosen people.

Many may be saying, if you’re still reading that is, “But our church is helping and moving in God.”

Praise God!

I don’t deny that, there are pockets. God doesn’t stop even if we do. But please look at this country of ours, then realise how small your church is. This country needs more, and most of the so called church today have become ineffective and unproductive for Christ.

Individual Response

Salvation:

Salvation is for the individual. No one can make that step of faith for another. God looks for our personal response to Him and the great redemptive message given through Grace by Jesus Christ on the cross.

Healing Lives:

Healing in our lives begins with the individual. No one can deal with your problems for you. It is your response to God that changes your situations. No one can make that response for you. It’s the submitting of your life to Him and allowing His Holy Spirit to move in your heart. So easily we blame others. We look at their faults when we should look at our own. Routed in that blame there is bitterness and unforgiveness, barriers to the Holy Spirit.

Heal Our Nation:

The Healing of our nation begins with the individual. It is each and everyone’s response to the call of God. It begins with the individual and as they share it grows and God is able to move collectively.

Relationship with God:

Building a relationship with God should be our personal aim. No one can build for us.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30

So often we put others first. Relationship like marriage, you have to work at it.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty
Zechariah 4:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
John 14:6

Shared Responsibility:

God causes us not to be independent but dependant upon Him but also upon Christ’s body, His Church. We have a responsibility to each other and that we use our calling, our gifts all for the benefit of others. As we all walk the path set before us, we have a responsibility to support each other in what ever way God asks. We are to be encouragers, in that we help release people into ministry, in the use of their gifts and the fulfilment of their calling, we can become an obstacle to others if as such we do not take up that responsibility. We have an individual responsibility and we have a shared responsibility in encouragement and support. We greatly weaken the effectiveness of the Body of Christ by with holding what God asks of us in our support and encouragement for each other.

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain.
Psalm 127:1

Ownership:

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18 KJ

There’s a need to own a vision. When we say, “Yes,” to something doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in that place of owning it. You can say yes but not be involved, but God needs us to own it and be involved in it as with something you own, you take care of it, you nurture it and you abide in it.

As the Church we need to own a vision, nurture that vision and abide in it. Remembering it is God’s Church, God’s Vision, so He needs to lead it, and we need to be prepared for it and to prepare.

Some maybe thinking that it’s Jesus we should abide in, not a vision, and how true that is. But don’t you see the vision is the abiding in the Father, abiding in the Lord Jesus and the abiding in the Holy Spirit. All other things come from that in Love, Power and Truth. The practicalities and the working out of it here on earth come from the in working upon us by the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. It’s from that the outpouring can take place upon the land around us. The most important part of a vision is our relationship with and in the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

I’ve been taught about Prophecy, that in it God wants to raise us to His standard. God gives a prophecy for the future but then He looks at what is in front of us, generally character. Every Word brings character application. He wants to establish the Word in us. But is this not what God wants in all we do? Too often we expect God to come down to our level, to fit in with what we want, to give us what we want instead of looking to what He wants, raising our standards to His.

God would ask of us to deal with internal things and the external things take care of itself. He tells us not to lean on our own understanding. Not to let the soul rule the spirit. To put aside preconceived ideas and be led by the Holy Spirit. We are not to let the circumstances challenge the Word but the Word challenge the circumstances. God works in changing us in the circumstances.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 2:9-10

God’s Love is UNCONDITIONAL, where as God’s Blessings are CONDITIONAL.

Are We Shaken But Not Stirred?

Triumphal Entry – John 12:12-19
Wrong motives, losing sight of who Jesus really is:

God in heaven looks on, He is happy to see the people honouring Jesus on arrival into Jerusalem and yet He was sad because He knew beyond that moment many of those people would also call for His death.

They recognised Him as King of Israel (John 12:13), they even saw a great Healer, a man of miracles (John 12:17-18) especially after raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44) but could not accept Him as the Messiah, the one who would save the world from sin. His ministry shook and yet the people were not stirred.

Jesus taught Holiness through Salvation in Him. Too often we can play at church and forget the reality of Him and His Kingship and Headship of His Church.

The enemy can distract our minds onto anything even those things that seem right so as to prevent us from entering into fullness in Christ and obedience to Him. The enemy would fill our time with anything, for when we come into obedience in Christ the enemy knows that everything we do will be even more powerful and successful. We hear the call to Holiness but are not stirred; we remain complacent in our busyness. We are shaken but not stirred.

God told Hosea to go to his adulteress wife, Gomer and show her love, forgiveness, as God has compassion for Israel, despite their worship of other gods.
Hosea 3:1

Restoration:

Restoring us is not taking us out of one body and putting us in another. When we were born we were born to one body, that body sinned and God has not said, “I’m going to restore you and take you from this body of sin and put you in another.” We still have the same body but His restoration work within us helps us to continue in the body of sin.

Restoration isn’t taking you out of one Church because someone upset you or you upset someone. Restoration is working with what you have and making that new, it’s even as far as possible restoring that broken relationship where many people would prefer to give up because it’s easier.

You can’t restore something that has not been born yet, you restore only what already is.

The prodigal son was restored through him returning to his family, not through going somewhere else and starting another family, or going back but not having anything to do with his family but making a new one.

If you build something new from something that is through pain, pride, unforgiveness, insecurity and falseness you build on a very unstable foundation. Something born of God would be born out of forgiveness, grace, mercy and love, the foundation on Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Spirit, Soul and Body

Whenever the three parts that make up a human being today are spoken about it tends to be put in the order of – Body, Soul and Spirit. Even – Mind, Body and Soul. Leaving out the Spirit.

But in the Bible the order has changed – Spirit, Soul and Body

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Is not God, Spirit. Has God not said in his Word:

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.
John 4:23-24

Has he not also said:

Seek first his kingdom (Spirit) and his righteousness (Soul) and all these things will be given to you as well (Body).
Matthew 6:33

Be Honest!

We need to be honest with ourselves and God where we are.

What Motivates Us?
Is Your Life Spirit Lead?


“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

God Desires…

Obedience Rather Than Sacrifice

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice.”
1 Samuel 15:22

God Desires…

A Surrendered Life Rather Than a Committed Life

You can be committed to something but a surrendered heart means that within that commitment you recognise that you can do nothing without God. We can be committed but leave God out of what we are committed to.

But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7

God Desires…

A Pliable Heart Rather Than a Perfect Heart

God recognises, more so, knows, that in this life we will never have a perfect heart, but he asks that we have one that is pliable.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel 36:26-27

Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and Perfecter of your faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Draw near to me and I shall draw near to you.
James 4:8

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16

We Have a Choice

OLD nature or NEW nature?

It is said that something is not biblical and yet that is the way we are, it could be wrong and yet that is what we do. Why on acknowledging something wrong do we still expect it? Should we not rather say, it is wrong so let’s not do it but trust instead in the Lord and what He says?

There are laws that can not be broken, that even God expects us to follow, for we are in the world. (Matthew 17:24-27, 22:15-21). But also there are ways, not law but brought about by people’s mistrust or people’s endeavour to control, when we should say, “No, God does not do things that way.” Should we say, “No,” to God’s Way?

We fill our lives with doing, we push God into a corner, too busy to hear what He has or wants. Like Martha (Luke 10:38-42) we to can question people who want to follow God’s way rather than be dictated to by what is expected in the world, making them to be super spiritual people, instead of seeing that there is a choice made, a closeness with God, a call to His side that out weighs everything else.


The Struggle Within

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it , but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.
Romans 7:14 -19

Sound Familiar?

Jacob and Esau

Rebekah enquires of the Lord:

The babies jostled each other within her and she said, “Why is this happening to me? So she went to enquire of the Lord.

The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Genesis 25:22-23

Even though God has redeemed you and made you His child, you still have two natures within you wrestling for control. What is the answer? The oldest (your flesh) must submit to the youngest (your new nature).

Who will win?
The one you feed, protect, and develop most!

For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law; but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Romans 7:22-25

You Have a Potential so Great!
Reach out to God, and Outreach to Others
In the Will of God
The Attitude of Christ Jesus
And
The Leading and Power of the Holy Spirit

Be Ambassadors of His Love
To Those
In Need and Crying Out for Help