OF

REDEMPTIVE FAITH

BY

J. FARRELL FISHER

Charles Wesley, in “Free Grace,” wrote: Jesus, “Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam’s helpless race.”

OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE: “EVIDENCES OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH”

CHAPTER TWO: “LIBERTY IN CHRIST OR A LICENSE TO SIN?”

CHAPTER THREE:”UNFORGIVENESS – UNFORGIVEN OR TRUE FAITH AND FOREVER FORGIVENESS?”

CHAPTER FOUR: “ABOUNDING MISERY AND CHAOS OR ADVOCACY PEACE AND BLESSING?”

CHAPTER FIVE: “WORLD PHILOSOPHERS OR WILLFUL PROMOTION BY GOD?”

CHAPTER SIX:”CHILDREN OF THE FLESH OR CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE?”

CHAPTER SEVEN:”SELF-EFFORT RIGHTEOUSNESS OR SOVEREIGN-IMPLANTED RIGHTEOUSNESS?”

CHAPTER EIGHT: “DARK NIGHTS – BRIGHT LIGHTS”

CHAPTER NINE: “HOW’S YOUR FAITH?”

CHAPTER TEN: “VOID OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH”

CHAPTER ELEVEN: “FAITHFULNESS OR DISTRESSING DISGUISES?”

CHAPTER TWELVE: “FAITH AND ITS FRUITFULNESS”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: “FAITH AND ITS FIGHT”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: “FAITH AND ITS OVERCOMING POWER”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: “HIDDEN SINS – FAITH’S EXPOSURE”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: “FAITH AND ITS STRONG FOUNDATION”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: “HALTING OPINIONS OR HOLY FAITH?”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: “TRUE FAITH – BY LEGALISM OR LOVE?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN: “A DESPISING OF FAITH OR THE GOODNESS OF TRUE FAITH?”

CHAPTER TWENTY: “FAITHLESS INDIFFERENCE OR REDEMPTIVE FAITH’S CELEBRATION?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: “A FLESHLY TENT OR FAITH’S MOUNTAIN-MANSION?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: “REDEMPTIVE FAITH’S FINAL DESTINATION”

CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

“Evidences of Redemptive Faith”? It was written anonymously, but I found it to be a strong statement as a foundation in introducing this new book. Someone wrote: “In all His dispensations God is at work for our good. In prosperity He tries our gratitude; in mediocrity, our contentment; in misfortune, our submission; in darkness, our faith; under temptation, our steadfastness; and at all times, our obedience and trust in Him.”

But I pray that as you begin this journey with me in this new book that you clearly understand it’s content has been, will be, for the purpose of unveiling “Redemptive Faith” – not ‘failing faith’ or ‘wilting faith’ or a ‘worked-up faith’ that so easily wears out because the ‘gift of God’s redemptive faith’ is absent!

There is a man’s mental faculty that some call ‘faith’, and assume it even rises above human reasoning, but it falls far, far short of “Redemptive Faith”! In his writing entitled “Things New and Old,” Robert Collyer said, “Faith makes the discords of the present the harmonies of the future,” and I couldn’t help but ask myself, “What kind of faith is that? Mental faith, philosophical faith, ‘flesh’-mastering faith? Is God’s “Redemptive Faith” simply to bring one to singing better songs with better notes? Or are the “Evidences of Redemptive Faith” for the purpose of ‘birthing’ “new men,” “new hearts,” “new relationships” with Holy God?” What about YOUR life?

CHAPTER ONE

“EVIDENCES OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH”

Allow me to lay, I pray, a strong foundation in the very first chapter of the book that I have entitled as “Evidences of Redemptive Faith.” Book Title and Chapter One Title! Why? Because of what I wrote in the introduction about “faith” in many men that has nothing to do with “Redemptive Faith”!

I’m sure I’ve used it in another book or sermon some time ago, but I knew I had to use the statement again in beginning this particular journey! “A true hero of saving faith is a man whose heart’s desire is to honor his Master and Lord and Savior and Redeemer through his awareness that Christ’s work of Redemption is God’s willingness to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth through your repentant heart, becoming God’s gathering of born-again believers whose very lives become God’s Throne on earth!”

But there is a hesitancy in many hearts because, like the publican in Luke 18:13, we know what we have been in the ‘flesh’, so opposite to the nature and character of Christ Jesus! The tax collector said, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” Jesus then said in Luke 18:14, “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.” [New Living Translation or NLT].

Think about the tax collector for a while. Give serious consideration of the awfulness of his occupation as he took advantage of people, even with Roman approval! He easily with governmental approval could take advantage of widows, the poor, the uninformed, and, yes, ‘steal’ from them to enrich himself as well as the government’s requested taxation. Who would ever know he was a ‘crook,’ a ‘thief,’ a ‘robber’ of the general public? HE KNEW!!

Sinful minds and hearts are cruelly equipped to take advantage of people to pump up their own bank accounts without one thought of its evil ways, intent only in enriching themselves at the expense of robbing others!

The Pharisees? One author described them as men “with eyes turned up to heaven with a sanctimonious gaze of hypocrisy,” but not the ‘tax collector’ – the weight of guilt has finally broken down the inner man even to personal despair, fear, and heart-ache! He KNOWS that he IS the SINNER, and he knows he needs the mercy and forgiveness of Holy God.

Are you aware of how many lost people, totally unaware of the evidences of redemptive faith, feel helplessly and hopelessly bound up, enslaved, captured, and cruelly accused by the devil himself of their unworthiness, stifled of any feeling of even ‘fleshly’ importance, convinced by the devil that they are the number one enemy of God and have no place in the gathering of true believers in the Body of Christ known as ‘the church’?

Do you have any understanding of what it means for a life to be totally spiritually bankrupt before Holy God? Are you aware also that at the same time one can be surrounded by people who make ‘professions’ of a faith that have no biblical substance at all – professors of certain ‘religious truths’ (?) someone fabricated but only seen by God as “pretense”?

In Matthew 23:13-16a (NLT) Jesus said: “How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. HYPOCRITES! For you won’t let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and you won’t go in yourselves. Yes, how terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him twice the son of hell as you yourselves are. Blind guides! How terrible it will be for you!”

Divine truth, eternal truth, biblical truth, redemptive truth, will always call for the “laid-down-life” of Christ before Holy God, and if ever, and it does happen, that one or many decide to no more follow His Lordship, disobedience becoming a death sentence spiritually, and they are “walking no more with Jesus,” (John 6:66), making themselves slaves of Satan, and, again, enemies of the love of God and the Cross of Christ!

Oswald Chambers wrote in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.270], “We are apt to lie back and bask in the wonderful experience we have had. If there is one standard in the New Testament revealed by the light of God and you do not come up to it, and do not feel inclined to come up to it, that is the beginning of backsliding, because it means your conscience does not answer to the truth. You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you for going on as a more true disciple of Jesus Christ or for going back as deserter.”

“Lord, help us! Because there are many without evidences of redemptive faith!” As we begin this journey of examining evidences of redemptive faith, WE MUST BEGIN WITH THE WORDS IN JOHN 3:1-9 WHERE JESUS BEGAN TO DEFINE THE REALITY OF THE “NEW BIRTH”! The Word of God tells us:

After dark one evening, a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to speak with Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “we all know that God has sent You to teach us. Your miraculous signs are proof enough that God is with you.”…

Jesus replied, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the kingdom of God.” “What do You mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”…

Jesus replied, “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water [the Word] and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don’t be surprised at My statement that you must be born again…

Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” “What do You mean?” Nicodemus asked.

Did Jesus say, “unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God”? That’s John 3:3! In 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 Paul instructs us as to the necessity of the ‘second birth’ when he wrote: “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.’…

But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by His Spirit, and His Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets. No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And God has actually given us His Spirit (not the world’s spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us…

When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t Christians can’t understand these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means…

We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can’t understand us at all. How could they? For, ‘Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give Him counsel?’ But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”

The older King James Version of Scripture says of 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him.”

Natural man or “new man”? Adamic nature or divine nature? Fleshly driven or Spirit-directed? Temporal or Eternal? Best efforts of human endeavors or blessed by Holy Spirit habitation in us and through us?

In Galatians 6:14-16 [NLT] Paul tells us: “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead…

It doesn’t make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. May God’s mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God.”

Confronted by the Resurrected Christ, whether in the Holy Word or through the witness of the Holy Spirit or the spiritual “aliveness” of friends or family, one is brought to the “valley of decision” – allegiance to Christ or devoted to ‘best effort philosophies,’ glorying in the Cross or ‘banking’ on my ‘counterfeit’ interpretation of surrender, understanding without hesitation God’s verdict on my sin and sin nature in its death on the Cross through Christ or void of any view that my sin nailed Jesus to the Cross, captured by the awareness and reality that my ‘sin nature’ placed Jesus as my substitute for the consequences of my sin on that Cruel Cross, nailing my old sin-natured man with Him at Calvary, God identifying “me” with His suffering, pain, and death, OR ignoring any interest in Jesus’ “shed-blood-sacrifice” to atone for my sin?

“New birth” is “new life” as the gift of God’s love, grace, and mercy! “New birth” is the “new day oneness with God Himself” with His Promise of Eternal Presence and Eternal Blessings! “New birth” is the declaration of one whose life was crucified with Christ, “and your real life is hidden with Christ in God”! Glory!

Oh, and then Paul said in Colossians 3:4, “And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory.” What an amazing revelation!

“Natural man” or REAL LIFE IN CHRIST? “Life-enslaved attempts” or CHRIST-FREEING ATONEMENT? In David Wilkerson’s book entitled “Victory Over Sin and Self,” in his introduction he wrote: “This book is for those seeking true peace of mind and freedom from a life-controlling evil. Even swingers have to face their lonely selves after the music stops. When the bars and discos close, the blues come rolling in. And for millions, Sundays are real downers. Somewhere along the line, the truth about ourselves has to be faced.”

And ‘the truth about ourselves’? “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And through Christ’s shed blood your sins are washed away, the old life put to death on His Cross, and His Resurrection Life abiding in and through your “new man”!

SECOND TRUTH OF EVIDENCES OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH? WE RECEIVE THE MIND OF CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO EXPLAIN TO US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW!

In 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 God’s Word trains us: “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.’…

But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by His Spirit, and His Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets. No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And God has actually given us His Spirit (not the world’s spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us…

When we tell you this, we do not use words of human wisdom. We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t Christians can’t understand these truths from God’s Spirit…

It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means. We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can’t understand us at all. How could they? For, ‘Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give Him counsel?’…

But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” [I don’t mind at all saying to you that, more likely than not, one’s lack of understanding of God’s will and God’s Word for a life is because of the absence of the Holy Spirit, revealing the need of the “new birth”! The inner presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life is evidence of “new birth” and God’s provision of the Spirit to guide us in all of God’s revealed Holy Truths! His absence? “You must be born again!”

THIRD TRUTH OF EVIDENCES OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH? ONE UNDERSTANDS THE SPIRITUAL NUTRITION OF THE WORD OF GOD AS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY IN ONE’S DAILY DIET!

Isn’t it amazing to you? As Jesus began His public ministry, the devil came to Him, challenging Jesus. And in Matthew 4:4 Jesus told the devil, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People need more than bread [physical bread] for their life; they must feed on every word of God.’”

Thank God for ‘fathers of the faith’ like Paul who poured out his spiritual journey to others, like Timothy! In 2 Timothy 3:12-17 Paul wrote: “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will go on deceiving others, and they themselves will be deceived…

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive that salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus…

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.”

It was Spurgeon who preached: [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol.7, p.149, Memorial Library], “He who takes the naked word of Christ to be the basis of his hope, stands on a rock while all other ground is sinking sand.”

“Nominal ‘Christians’, ‘professing believers,’ ‘self-assertive church members,’ ‘self-indulgent, self-righteous’ church crowds whose “righteousness” definitely exceeds the righteousness of the Old and New Testament scribes and Pharisees but absent of Jesus’ imputed, imparted, implanted divine righteousness, vowed their loyalty to the ‘church’ but have no understanding at all of the crucified, resurrected, victorious life God’s Word reveals’!

If a supernatural revival is needed today in America, and it is urgently needed, God must super-impose in all church crowds a massive, moving, mountain-ascending hunger for His Holy Word! When the Holy Word of God tells us in Luke 11:28, Jesus replying to a woman talking to Him about God blessing His mother, He responded: “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

Blessed are the Word-hungry, blessed are the obedient to the Word, blessed are those true disciples who live daily with the attitude, “His Word – my command, His Word-my daily bread, His Word – my eternal spiritual sustenance, His Word – my shout of Victory as I see the “walls of Jericho” coming down, His Word – my freedom from fleshly prisons of the spirit-man, His Word – my principality and power of Heaven’s divine order, His Word – my never-ending prescription to transform one’s self-effort to divine occupancy, sin-sickness to Holy Health in the fullness of His grace, mercy, and divine power, His Word – God’s eternal healing for our sick world’s disturbing pain and distressing shamelessness.”

Adam ‘lost us’ but the Word says, “Jesus found us;” Adam ‘hid us’ but the Word says “Jesus uncovered our hidden identities;” Adam ‘betrayed’ God’s calling but the Word tells us Jesus entrusted Himself in us; Adam, by his sin, blinded us all but the Word tells us Jesus gives us new vision; Adam escorted all mankind to a dark valley of oblivion to Divine Truth, hidden away in graves of deceit, unbelief, and spiritual death but the Word tells us that “Jesus came that we might have LIFE and have it abundantly!”

In John 14:15-21 our Lord tells us all about the vital importance of His Word, God’s Holy Word, the Sacred Scriptures, and how we all should be [being] obeying it! It says:

“If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads you into all truth. The world at large cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him, and doesn’t recognize Him…

But you do, because He lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans – I will come to you. In just a little while the world will not see Me again, but you will. For I will live again, and you will, too. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you…

Those who obey My commandments are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal Myself to each one of them.” And that Eternal Truth has not changed!

At 79 years of age, as of June 12, 2015, since early childhood in Sunday School and church, the Word of God has been my faithful guide. Psalm 119:9-19 tells us:

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your Word and following its rules. I have tried my best to find You – don’t let me wander from Your commands…

I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your principles. I have recited aloud all the laws You have given us. I have rejoiced in Your decrees as much as in riches…

I will study Your commandments and reflect on Your ways. I will delight in Your principles and not forget Your word. Be good to Your servant, that I may live and obey Your word…

Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your law. I am but a foreigner here on earth; I need the guidance of Your commands. Don’t hide them from me!”

FOURTH TRUTH OF EVIDENCES OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH? “THAT IS TO LOVE THE LORD OUR GOD WITH ALL OF OUR MIND, HEART, SOUL, AND STRENGTH, AND TO REACH OUT TO TOUCH OUR WORLD WITH GOD’S GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE, AS JESUS TOUCHED US, TRANSFORMED US, TOOLED US, AND TRIUMPHANTLY TABERNACLED IN US FOR THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF REACHING OTHERS THROUGH US!”

In the spiritual journey of faith we’re not alone but so blessed with His Holy Presence, empowered by His Holy Spirit, watched over by God our Father, and motivated by His eternal desire to touch our world through us, and instructed, equipped, and trained us as a missionary in a world desperately needing God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Mighty Holy Spirit – the Blessed “Three In One”!

In Romans 8:27-30 Paul unveiled further our eternal partnership with God in His evidences of Redemptive Faith. He wrote: “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them…

For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And He gave them right standing with Himself, and He promised them His glory.”

Are you aware God has a plan for every true believer’s life, calling, mission, and ministry? Do you understand God KNOWS YOUR NAME, YOUR IDENTITY, and He certainly knows HIS OWN ETERNAL DESIGN IN HIS BLUEPRINT OF YOUR LIFE, JOURNEY, AND MINISTRY?

There is not a believer, a born-again believer, anywhere on our planet who exists without Eternal Intention! God knows YOU, God has equipped YOU, God has empowered YOU, and God has promised YOU His glory, His honor, His eternal ministry – and if YOU are in Christ and Christ is in YOU, your circumstances of existence are ordained of God to uniquely work through you to touch your world with mercy and grace and love.

‘Happen-chance’ is a language that God does not speak! But our Lord clearly understands “ordained by God”! Oh, ‘coming upon you unexpectedly,’ from your point of view, can surely occur, but God is faithful in expediting His eternal mission through your life!

In fact, Romans 8:28 in the older King James Version of Scripture says, “All things work together for good to them that love God” – and I would assume if love of God is absent that ‘all things’ for you could be good, bad, insignificant, if you’re the master of your own destiny! But if God Himself sits on His Throne IN YOU, then hold on, get ready, be prepared, because Heaven is about to break loose in you and through you to His honor, glory, and praise!

In 1 Thessalonians 3:2-6 Paul had sent Timothy on an important mission. What is God saying to you as you read this Holy Word? “and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our co-worker for God and our brother in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from becoming disturbed by the troubles you were going through…

But, of course, you know that such troubles are going to happen to us Christians. Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come – and they did, as you well know. That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the Tempter had gotten the best of you and that all our work had been useless…

Now Timothy has just returned, bringing the good news that your faith and love are as strong as ever. He reports that you remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you.”

Holy servants of Christ live daily with divine opportunities to touch their world with God’s grace. Oswald Chambers called all Christian workers as “a sacramental ‘go-between,’ to be so identified with his Lord and the reality of His Redemption that He can continually bring His creating life through him.”

Are you available to Jesus for His faithful ministry through you to others? It was George Eliot who once wrote: “It is vain thought to flee from the work God appoints us, for the sake of finding a greater blessing, instead of seeking it where alone it is to be found – in loving obedience.”

I close this first chapter with words from Christina Georgina Rossetti’s “From House to House”:

“Although today He prunes my twigs with pain, Yet does His blood nourish and warm my root; Tomorrow I shall put forth buds again and clothe myself with fruit.”

Are YOU acquainted with “the fruit of the Spirit?”

CHAPTER TWO

“LIBERTY IN CHRIST OR A LICENSE TO SIN?”

It’s really amazing when you come to John 8 and read about Jesus talking to those who “believed in Him.” Verses 31-48 says, Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free?’”…

Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you…

I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” They answered and said to Jesus, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham…

But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.’ Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one father – God.”…

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from [or ‘out-of’] God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word…

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it…

But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell you the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words. Therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”…

Then the Jews answered Him and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

“Liberty in Christ Or A License to Sin?” You do understand that in a lot of churches across America today, and, yes, even across the vast world of ours, there are those who publicly teach and believe that “Christians” can’t do anything but sin until they get to heaven!

I just pray you hear Jesus for yourself saying, “I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin.” He does sin and he keeps on sinning, he does sin and he keeps on sinning, he does sin and he keeps on sinning – that’s the nature of a man who has fallen away from God, regardless of his ‘profession’!

In 2 Peter 2 Peter has been illuminating “the danger of false teachers” as we read Verses 12-22: “But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,

And will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.

They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; [Numbers 22]; but he was rebuked for his iniquity; a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’”

John 8:34? Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”

Would you dare consider slavery and bondage to a government that spurns God Almighty? And yet, the majority of our world is enslaved to godless governments – with or without people’s approval! Would you dare even look at or examine ‘religious traditions’ that have no relevance to revealed truth? Just think about those unreservedly committed to an Old Testament tradition that has already been fulfilled in the Resurrected Life of Christ!

Has ‘self-righteousness’ played a role in the bondage and slavery of men to themselves and what their ‘flesh’ dictates? Have you ever considered, thought about, entertained, dealt with the demonic bondage you’ve been a part of your whole life up until now? If you didn’t know it, Satan owns you and comes after you every day to fulfill his godless purposes!

In Job 1:6-22 we read: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the works of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away – indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

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

You do realize, you know, that every individual without the Lord and Savior in their hearts and minds, belong to Satan and the powers of darkness – they are enslaved, they’re bound with spiritual chains they can’t even see, and are imprisoned by him in a “slavish” state obeying the dictates of their ‘lord’ and ‘master’!

What about the real bondage and slavery to unbelief of the historic Christ and His able-ness to forgive you, set you free, and to fulfill God’s eternal destiny of your life? Enslaved to godless governments, enslaved, yes, even to some religious traditions, to ‘self-righteousness,’ to demonic bondage; what did Jesus say in Mark 4:15? “The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message, but SATAN COMES AT ONCE AND TAKES IT AWAY FROM THEM.” Bondage then – bondage now!

In 1 Timothy 5:15 Paul spoke of some “professors” who had no true possession of the title deed of their lives to place in Jesus’ hands: “For some have already turned aside after Satan.”

In Isaiah 61:1-3 the prophet informs us of Sovereign God’s eternal plan as he speaks of the Coming Messiah: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Do you truly understand ‘liberty’ or ‘freedom’? Without a doubt it is the liberty and freedom to totally ignore God and make a mess of your life and surroundings with a sad eternal consequence or the liberty and freedom to let God in Christ Jesus have His way in your life forever!

I found William Cowper’s statement to be so fundamentally true. He said: “To die for the truth is not to die merely for one’s faith or one’s country; it is to die for the world. Their blood shed is shed in confirmation of the noblest claim – the claim TO FEED UPON IMMORTAL TRUTH, TO WALK WITH GOD, AND BE DIVINELY FREE.” And if you didn’t know, Satanic freedom is greater bondage and enslavement! But (John 8:36), “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Liberty or liberated or liberation or freedom – tremendous words for every man regardless of his residence or rank or realm! That relates to personal liberty, national liberty, or even marital liberty in the sense that mates don’t enslave but free a partner to become highest in God’s determination for a husband or a wife in the mutual submission in the very fear of God!

Liberty or freedom is best understood as a person who has truly been in bondage in his/her past but who now is no longer in the chains of relationships but free and certainly able to respond to God for every choice that one makes.

Liberty or freedom is clearly revealed as the defense of the freedom of discovery of who God intends that man/woman to be and intends for that man/woman to do what honors God the most through his/her life, even at the point of suffering, or sacrifice, or the choice of death to himself/herself in every circumstance or situation.

But you ask: “What is liberty?” It is the eternal license of Heaven to honor God in submission and obedience. Bondage comes when the sin nature reigns, disobedience is the constant of one’s life, and a phony license of satisfying one’s ‘flesh’ or ‘old sin nature’ is a constant and even favored by the fallen majority.

I’m telling you without hesitation: one of the most God-honoring things a man can do is to shed his own blood in behalf of divine truth, in behalf of the all-out commitment to walk with God, and to exemplify freedom even as one is crucified for the redemptive faith in Christ alone!

Liberty in Christ overrules, let’s say, ‘freedom in America to determine one’s destiny’; there are literally millions in our nation who experience degrees of political freedom but are in bondage concerning their sin natures and rebellion towards the God who made them, lost them, and bought them with a price! Divine freedom, spiritual freedom, is so far superior to one’s political freedom. In fact, for a true believer, a loving smile will even be extended to his executioner as his head is chopped off! That’s true freedom and heavenly liberty!

What did Isaiah say, again, in Isaiah 61:1? “He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.”

Alexander Maclaren, in his “Expositions of Holy Scripture,” [Vol.10,John 1-10,p.349], said: “But when once you get to understand the depths of your own need, and the depths of your brother’s need, then nothing less than the Christ who died to solve the problem, insoluble else, of how to emancipate the soul and the world from the tyranny of sin, will be enough for you.”

John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” In Romans 6:15-18 we read: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slave whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that THOUGH YOU WERE SLAVES OF SIN, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. AND HAVING BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN, you became slaves of righteousness.”

There’s no greater word in the English language than the word “free” – and there’s no greater man on earth than the man who spends his life for the freedom of others. That’s Jesus!

Governmental bondage is for those who see no significance to the Godly-rule whose leadership is spiritual freedom that cares about, commits to, and continually seeks after setting captives free! And I firmly believe eternal honor is given to those who expend their lives to free others from the chains of civil bondage and are committed to seeing that men are possessing and enjoying God-given rights. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and blessing is not intended to be a USA only principle!

The chains of religious superstitions and demonic philosophies are violations of the very nature and character of God Himself! There are dark and deadly influences that will overshadow, shut down, oppress, and even enslave sincere but unsuspecting souls who are not rooted and grounded in God’s Holy Word!

The bondage of carnal desires and instinctive, fleshly, sin-anointed inclinations are abundant, taking one further downward than he/she already is, blackening the heart more, corrupting the mind unmercifully, rotting one more and more with the bad fruit of a deadly spiritual virus and disease, enslaving one more and more and more with the devil’s yoke of bondage.

But have you also become aware of the “time-bomb” of self-reformation and self-improvement and self-adulation as one promotes himself/herself and pats one’s back for that ‘fleshly’ accomplishment? Transformation is God’s business alone – ‘flesh’ improvement is the devil’s corner of our world! “Born again” is Jesus’ miracle of grace and mercy – acceptance by an unbelieving world is Satan’s push through you of his prominence and perversions and demonic pride.

Also, what about chained to the hurts and pains of the past? And one refuses to deal with it, expose it to the Light, forgive it through the Savior’s blood, and find reconciliation where needed? Some just blame God and never consider that their pains of their past was a ‘masterpiece’ of the devil himself! The devil is a ‘master-strategist’ and he knows how to capture, deceive, and embitter folks, certainly promoting unforgiveness and promoting ‘self-protection’ against what pains you, not realizing or knowing that exposure of past hurts can be Heaven’s help in holy healing!

Far more and deeper darkness and greater bondage is one’s, yes, ignorance of his/her spiritual death before God! It’s clear: Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…!” But how many do you know who would laugh at you because you quote them God’s Truth, and then pass you off as a religious ‘freak’? Others know their spiritual depravity, their present awareness of “guilty before Holy God”, and sense for themselves a spirit of hopelessness – “God’s love can’t be that extreme and unlimited to forgive me!” Here’s the Truth:

1 John 1:5-10 declares: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Again, John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” The Son? That’s the Son of God! That’s Emmanuel, ‘God with us’! That’s Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords, who willingly chose the Cross for Himself for our Redemption and our Release!

There’s no true freedom apart from Christ Jesus! The highest intellectual, the most brilliant scholar, is destined for the emptiness of divine recognition without Christ as Savior and Lord of his life! Self-effort righteousness is vain, slaps God in the face, and is a curse upon one’s life while Sovereign-implanted righteousness in Christ is one’s saving grace, Masterful mercy, and eternal likeness, liberty, and the loving stamp of God’s approval and our God-like identification!

Do you even understand your redemption and freedom and liberty was planned by God even before the world was created? In Revelation 13:8 we read, “All who dwell on the earth will worship, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.”

There’s several vital Truths I want to emphasize before I close this chapter. ONE, YOUR SALVATION SOVEREIGNLY PLANNED, PERSONALLY IMPLEMENTED, AND WILLINGLY CHOSEN BY JESUS WHO IS THE ETERNAL LAMB OF GOD! Isaiah 53:4-10 tells us,

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was lead as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked – but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”

TWO, YOUR SALVATION SACRIFICIALLY PURCHASED! In 1 Peter 1:18-24 we read, “KNOWING that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

Listen to Spurgeon!! [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol.8,p.201]: “You go free (clear of your sin debt) because He bore your burden (your sin-burden and guilt) for you. See Him bear His agony – ‘crushed beneath the millstone of the law, till all His head, His hair, His garments bloody be.’ See Him yonder, dragged to Pilate’s hall, bound, whipped like a common felon, scourged like a murderer, and dragged away by hell-hounds through the streets, fastened by those cruel fetters which went through His flesh to the accursed wood! See Him yielding up His liberty to the dungeon of death! There the Mighty One sleeps in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb. Dearly did He purchase with His own bondage the liberty which He so freely gives.”

THIRD, YOUR SALVATION SWEETLY PRESENTED! In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus, Lord and Savior, speaks to us ALL: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Jesus doesn’t come to you with a big stick but with open arms! He doesn’t come in anger but with mercy and grace! He doesn’t come in an accusatory tone but with holy admiration and heavenly love. He sees us as slaves to the world’s darkness and offers us His Eternal Light, He sees us imprisoned in the chains of sin and death and offers us forgiveness, freedom, and a forever relationship.

He comes to us and knocks on our hearts’ door because the truth is, no man has ever sought God on his own merit but only because of the Master’s mercy! That man in the deepest darkness of a hellish existence, alienated and separated from God, is offered an open door to Heaven, an eternal relationship with the Son of Light, and, yes, given us a mission responsibility of touching the unworthy around us with God’s Calvary Love!

FOURTH, YOUR SALVATION IS A PRESENT POSSESSION! There’s an interesting verse that David gave us when in Psalm 27:4 he said, “The one thing I ask of the Lord – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in His Temple.”

But a new day has dawned, a new event has occurred, a new residence has been established by God – and your redeemed, regenerated, re-made, restored to eternal intent body, has actually become the Temple of the Lord, His earthly dwelling place, His, yes, desired residence on this earth – and it’s IN YOU as a redeemed son or daughter of God!

Examine 1 Corinthians 3:16-17! “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”

Do you receive God’s Eternal Truth? Do you walk in it? Does Holy Scripture guide your life? Listen to 2 Corinthians 6:16-18! “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD! As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” In Ephesians 2:22 Paul reminds us, “in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Does the “building inspector” put His ‘OK’ on your life?

FIFTH, YOUR SALVATION IS A PERFECT PARDON! I love what Paul wrote to us and the Philippian church when he said in Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Do you understand, live by, grasp the truth every day that Holy God is, does, and will complete His good work in you, and that, really, His perfect pardon inspires YOU more and more to honor and bless the Holy One who has touched you with His grace and mercy and called you: ‘another son, another daughter, just like My Eternal Son, Jesus Christ’?

In Matthew 18:3 Jesus clearly said: “I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

“A perfect pardon”? That’s as a baby, a growing infant, a maturing child is totally dependent upon his parents, so our perfect pardon is our Lord and Savior overseeing our lives of faith as we grow and mature in Him – we’re birthed in the Kingdom as if we’ve already finished the race – He sees us as “complete in Christ” lacking nothing!

A hardened, godless heart, encountering Christ and surrendering to His Lordship and His salvation as the Promised Messiah and Savior, finds a new heart of total

Tenderness and love, like a stony heart that now beats with the heart-beat of Christ every moment since the moment of divi9ne conversion!

It was John Keats, in his “Letter to J.H. Reynolds,” who said: “There is an awful warmth about my heart like a load of immortality.” That’s so amazing, so true, and so encouraging and uplifting!

Hear the Word! “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY!” What does the Holy Word say to us? “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” Maybe these newly composed words will encourage and inspire you:

“Free from bondage because Christ paid the price, Free from the devil because our Lord broke his chains, Free to live victoriously because it’s King Jesus who reigns…

From God’s throne grace reigns, and Jesus shed His blood and there is remission; Because He paid the price of sin and death, there’s no condemnation – He’s given us a perfecting salvation…

His glorious calling will never be amended because Jesus’ sacrifice was holily attended – blood shed, LIFE DIED, but in God’s power our Lord was resurrected…

Self-effort is vain and always the same, but Jesus in His sacrifice glorified God’s Name; though troubled by the Cross He never saw it as His loss, but lifted up, He drank the cup of suffering and death to clothe us in God’s amazing grace.”

In John 11:25-26 Jesus told Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

There are such blessed, inspired, heart-warming words that Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:3-6! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials…”

Follow Alexander Maclaren’s words in his “Exposition of Holy Scriptures”: [ John 1-14, pps.349-350], “And, brethren, just as the ignoring of the fact of sin makes the real understanding of Christ and His word impossible, so it makes the real reception of Him for ourselves impossible. Many men are brought near to Jesus by other roads; thank God for it! There are a thousand ways to the Cross, but it is the Cross that we must clasp, if any in true sense we are to clasp Christ. And there is all the difference between the superficial, partial, and easy-going profession of Christianity which is so common among us today, and the life-and-death clutching and clinging to Him which comes when, and only when, a man feels that the tyrant whom he served as a slave is close behind him, and that his only chance of freedom is to hold fast by the horns of the altar of the sanctuary, and to cleave to the Christ in whom, and by whom alone, we are free indeed.”

1 Corinthians 15:31, “I die daily” – Is that YOUR testimony? 2 Corinthians 1:9, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead…”

What did Paul tell us in Galatians 5:1? “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again in a yoke of bondage.”

Many years ago Samuel Francis Smith wrote the song, “America”. One of the verses says: “Long may our land be bright With freedom’s holy light; Protect us by Your might, Great God, our King.”

Freedom! It’s “the pearl of great price” given to us by Christ alone through His shed blood at the Cross – and through the Cross, we’re set free to be free to choose daily to live only in and through His Resurrection Life and Hope!

CHAPTER THREE

“UNFORGIVENESS-UNFORGIVEN OR TRUE FAITH AND FOREVER FORGIVENESS”

It sounds like an extremely harsh title of a sermon or teaching, but His Word is truth and that is what His people are to stand upon. And I’m convinced, whether husband and wife, pastor and people, employer and employee, friend to friend, God’s Word is clear.

Come first to Matthew 6:12, 14-15! Get ready! Verse 12, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Verses 14-15, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Please look at the nature and character of Christ as you read Luke 23:33-34, “And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Sinless Jesus nailed to a Cross as a common criminal, but He said, “Father, forgive them.’” Holy Jesus, crucified as an unholy man, but He says, “Father forgive them.” Pure Jesus brutalized as an impure sinner, but He says, “Father, forgive them.”

There are some things you must wrestle with and come to a clear understanding about: Forgiveness is far better for any man than bank accounts filled with earthly riches – especially the forgiveness of God – but unforgiveness is self-imposed personal bankruptcy!

Forgiveness is of the spirit and nature of God Himself, while unforgiveness reveals the frailty and failures of fallen flesh. Forgiveness is a revelation of the indwelling nature and character of Christ, while unforgiveness is the unveiling of the malignant sick nature of “the old man”, the “first Adam,” “The fallen sinner” at odds with God Himself.

Forgiveness is freedom in and through the indwelling Holy Spirit, while unforgiveness is the living picture of a despairing soul, locked in a self-imposed cage of vanity and vindictiveness.

Forgiveness is peace and the portrait of the indwelling Christ, while unforgiveness is an enslaved, dying sinner, maybe even with sorrow and remorse but dreading to face the prospect of their future because they have an inkling their attitude is horribly wrong and even inexcusable, and even sense a bleak, dark future if things aren’t made right!

I read Spurgeon recently who said, because of unforgiveness: “You will bewail in everlasting misery the mercy that through your willfulness was unavailing.”

Religion without reality is, yes, a professing believer walking without eternal purpose to be conformed to the image of Christ but captured by his old sin nature and willfully walking in unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, resentment, holding grudges and determined to have his selfish way and refuse to bear witness to the spirit of Christ and His saving grace!

Relationships – and it doesn’t matter what the relationship is: marriage, business, church, friend to friend, family member to family member, parent to child or child to parent – relationship is not a matter of winning or losing, BUT…is God glorified in any of this or ‘flesh’ magnified? – what matters is whether or not we decide to walk in the nature and character of Christ and glorify Him in the good and the bad, in the down and the dirty, even ‘flesh’ activity or ‘Spirit’ activity.

Sometimes I wonder if God allows, permits, yes, difficult events or circumstances, to expose us as to how and where and why and with whom we choose to walk: with the forgivers or the unforgivers, flesh folk or Christ’s fullness folk, sweet Jesus or sour grapes? And Lamentations 3:32 gives us a challenging word: “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”

Oswald Chambers really hit a ‘grand-slam homer’ when he wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.241]: “Beware of the pleasant view of the Fatherhood of God – God is so loving and kind that of course He will forgive us. That sentiment has no place whatever in the New Testament. The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive sin and reinstate us in His favor is through the Cross of Christ, and in no other way. Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony of Calvary. It is possible to take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification with the simplicity of faith, and to forget at what enormous cost to God it was all made for us.”

Hear me! Forgiveness is the testimony of the Cross, the unveiling of the indwelling Christ, and the power that transforms circumstances and sets the captives free!

Unforgiveness denies God, closes the door on eternal relationships, honors the devil, and blemishes the name of Jesus!

I know you’re familiar with Stephen and his prophetic stand and preaching to Israel. Acts 7:51 says, Stephen speaking, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.”

And remember, they took him out of the city and stoned him, as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then in Acts 7:60 it says that he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

True believers walk in forgiveness. True believers choose the attitude and actions of their Savior and Lord because to do otherwise shames the holy name of Jesus. They’d rather take stones snuffing out the breath of life than deny the Lord’s spirit and grace and mercy.

And the one thing I want you to see out of Stephen’s testimony is its impact on one called Saul of Tarsus. After the stiff-necked Israelites stoned Stephen to death, Acts 7:58 says, “And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Acts 8:1 says, “Now Saul was consenting to his death.”

But then Saul met our Lord on the Damascus Road – he was redeemed, saved, transformed, set aside as a mighty witness of the Faith. In 2 Corinthians 2, the converted Saul, now Paul, had to deal with the church at Corinth in exercising church discipline but then failed to walk in loving forgiveness toward the brother. Look at 2 Corinthians 2:1-11,

“But I determined this within myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent – not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

Does Paul talk about forgiveness exercised in church discipline? You need to realize ‘restoration’ is always God’s intent in the necessity of church discipline.

My wife Sue and I celebrated our 50^th anniversary June 10, 2006. Friends from Temple, Texas, came to our celebration and gave us a print that said: “A successful marriage is the union of two great forgivers.” We loved and still love that gift! I’m SURE if I allowed Sue in on the writing of this chapter she’d say: “We never thought about divorce – the word ‘divorce’ was never allowed to be mentioned by any of our four children! But murder? That is on the table!”

Daniel 9:9 says, “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.” And that’s true – but don’t stop reading there! Look at Daniel 9:10-13!!

“We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws [His Word], which He set before us by His servants the prophets. Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.” [Is that a relevant passage for today?]

A number of years ago my son, Scott, and I were in the Phillipines doing pastors’ conferences and on a weekend an open-air crusade right outside Manila in a city park. Before the service our Filipino organizer asked me, “I know you’ll give an evangelistic invitation after your message, but will you also pray for the sick?” And, of course, I said “Yes”.

There were four Americans and four Filipino pastors that formed eight lines to pray for healing grace on the sick. A young mother stood before me after I’d prayed for several others. When she came I said, “Young lady, how can I help you?”

She said, “I’ve been sick for several weeks but I don’t know what it is.” Immediately I heard the Lord say, “Ask her about her husband.” And when I did, I saw the demons manifest all over her – her face began to contort, her teeth began to grind back and forth, anger began to boil over – and she said: “My husband left me and our three children three weeks ago for another woman – and I hate him.”

I said, “Young lady, I’d like to pray for you, but I can’t. God will not heal your sickness by accepting your hatred, bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness.” It rang a bell within her! She said, “What must I do?” And I said, “If you promise me, after I pray, that you’ll go find your husband and ask his forgiveness for your hatred and anger and unforgiveness toward him, I’ll pray for you – and God will heal you.” She said, “Yes”!

I prayed – brokenness came, tears began to flow, Christ Jesus began to be radiated all over her and in her. Though I never saw her again, I believe her new-found spirit and attitude even brought a wayward husband home to a new wife and his three children!

Come to Matthew 18:21-35! “Unforgiveness – Unforgiven!” Read it carefully at least five times! Forgiveness is the heart-cry of Jesus for Peter and all disciples! It’s not an option! I see several vital, important, life-altering truths from the lips of Jesus:

• Forgiveness is without limit! Matthew 18:22 2) God Himself settles accounts – there is a reckoning! Matthew 18:23

3)God calls a ‘spade’ a ‘spade’ and nothing less than what it is! Matthew 18:32, “wicked servant”!

4) There’s things God is ‘angry’ about and unforgiveness is one of them! Matthew 18:34

5) An unforgiving servant of God causes God to deliver that one to ‘the torturers’ – that’s delivered over to the demons, the powers of darkness, for hopefully correction, forgiveness, and a God-honoring life. Matthew 18:34

6) Because of unforgiveness God reinstitutes the debt! Matthew 18:34

7) God gives an unfailing promise – if one does not forgive from his heart his brother, God will not forgive us. Matthew 18:35

It’s important that you see how God uses the Deceiver, yes, the devil, the demons, the powers of darkness to discipline and hopefully bring correction to His own children. Come first to Isaiah 5:24-30:

“Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend as dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them, and the hills trembled.

Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar, [“THAT’S THEM – the demons!], and will whistle to them from the end of the earth; surely they shall come with speed, swiftly.

No one will be weary or stumble among them, no one will slumber or sleep; nor will the belt on their loins be loosed, nor the strap of their sandals be broken; whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent; their horses’ hooves will seem like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind. Their roaring will be like a lion, they will roar like young lions; Yes, they will roar and lay hold of their prey; they will carry it away safely, and no one will deliver.

In that day they will roar against them like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks to the land, Behold, darkness and sorrow; and the light is darkened by the clouds.” What an awesome passage!

But look also at Isaiah 7:18-19! “And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will “WHISTLE” for the fly that is in the farthest part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Syria. They will come, and all of them will rest in the desolate valleys and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all thorns and in all pastures.”

How illuminating is God’s Holy Word!! See if you’ve seen before or witnessed in churches what Job saw in Job 12:16-25! “With Him are strength and prudence. THE DECEIVED AND THE DECEIVER ARE HIS. He leads counselors away plundered, and makes fools of the judges. He loosens the bonds of kings, and binds their waist with a belt. He leads princes [priests, preachers, pastors] away plundered, and overthrows the mighty.

He deprives the trusted ones of speech, and takes away the discernment of the elders. He pours contempt on princes, and disarms the mighty. He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings the shadow of death to light. He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations and guides them.

He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and makes them wander in a pathless wilderness. They grope in the dark without light, and He makes them stagger like a drunken man.” Oh, God, help us!

One last Scripture: Come with me to Joel 2:4-13, and Verses 25-29! God tells the prophet about a people coming, great and strong, then He tells the prophet what’s coming down the pikes of life! “Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like swift steeds, so they run. With a noise like chariots over mountaintops they leap, like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array.

Before them the people writhe in pain; all faces are drained of color. They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; every one marches in formation, and they do not break ranks. They do not push one another, every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down. They run to and fro in the city, they run on the wall; they climb into the houses, they enter at the windows like a thief.

The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness. The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it?

Now, therefore, says the Lord, ‘Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.”

Verses 25-29, “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust. And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel; I am the Lord your Gods and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

And why is this? What’s the difference between the Isaiah passages we read and the last few verses of Joel we just finished reading?

Because we choose to walk in FORGIVENESS, not unforgiveness; we choose to walk in the Spirit, not futile flesh; we choose to die to sin, not celebrate it as under the blood, so we can live and act and do as we please!

Let me close with an awesome story. I was in Madras, India, now Chennai, India, having finished a pastors’ conference during the week, then preaching on a Sunday morning for the host pastor, Pratap Singh, a graduate of Lee University in my hometown of Cleveland, Tennessee. Pratap is a visionary and our Lord has blessed his ministry phenomenally and powerfully!

I preached that morning on “How Shall We Escape If We Neglect So Great A Salvation?” When I gave the invitation, a man in his mid-forties came forward, absolutely broken, weeping uncontrollably.

As Pratap was taking me to my hotel after the service, I said, “Pratap, tell me about the man who was so broken at the invitation.” He said, “He’s married to one of the ladies in our church with two grown children – 13 years ago he left his wife and children to go to California with a new engineering job. In 13 years he never talked to his wife or children, never sent one dime of support. In that 13-year period he lived in an adulterous relationship.

His wife never ceased to love him or pray for him. She went back to school, finished her degree, became a teacher, taught the children daily to pray for their father, honor him, love him, because one day he was coming home. She taught only love, respect, and confidence in God to hear and answer their prayers.

Pratap then said that last week the husband and father called the wife from the States to see if it was alright for him to come home to see the children. She said, “Oh, yes! They are going to be so happy and pleased that you are coming home. You are most welcome!”

He came – and they received him as if he’d never been away! When he came during our invitation time after I had preached, he told Pastor Pratap, “Please tell me of this Jesus who built such a loving, forgiving heart in my wife and children!” SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD – because of a wife who walked in forgiveness!

It was about 12-13 years ago I had returned as interim pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Winter Haven, Florida. I told Pratap’s story. Next morning my fishing buddy and I had launched our boat in a prime lake for big bass. I was ready to catch my lunker. About 30 minutes into our fishing extravaganza, I heard crying in the back of the boat!

“Bob, what’s the problem?” Bob Davidson said, “Pastor, I heard that story yesterday – I haven’t spoken to my 80-year-old-father in over a year. Sorry, but we’ve got to go in – I need to be forgiven and reconciled to my father!” We did – and he did – and God was honored!

Have you seen the picture? Unforgiveness – unforgiven! Forgiveness – forgiven! What will YOU do?

CHAPTER FOUR

“ABOUNDING MISERY AND CHAOS OR ADVOCACY PEACE AND BLESSING?”

I really don’t know for sure the public’s response to the Scripture I’m about to share, but I sense in my inner man an awful rejection of the Scripture. It comes from John 3:36 when John said, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

I’d personally say that what we’ve just read is a frightening and future event that you’d think most people would like to avoid! “The wrath of God abides on him!”

In Jeremiah 45:5 our Lord spoke: “And do you speak great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the Lord, “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”

The last part of that verse reminds me of “I must decrease – He must increase.” But the first part is about those who have not believed, trusted in, or relied upon, will not believe, and, as a result, the wrath of God abides on him.

“Abounding Misery and Chaos or Advocacy Peace and Blessing?” Jeremiah 32:38-40 speaks of those who enter an everlasting covenant with Holy God. It says: “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.”

But I want you to know that much or most of what Jeremiah wrote, he did so from behind prison bars! His devotion to Truth and its Author cost him dearly! At the very same time as he was writing from behind bars God was at work establishing the door to Advocacy Peace and Blessing! In fact, Jeremiah 33:30 tells us, God speaking to Jeremiah, and us, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Jeremiah didn’t know and never would know if Almighty God had not opened his door of understanding to “Advocacy Peace and Blessing” – he would have, as most men, only known “Abounding Misery and Chains.”

Godless, the majority of men know only “abounding misery and chaos,” while the few, broken by Holy God, discover “advocacy peace and blessing.” Show me a man of peace and eternal blessing and I’ll show you a man who’s been to the Cross of Calvary, to the very Cross of our Lord’s crucifixion!

It’s not a reason to rejoice at all, but in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Paul wrote: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the [exact] image of God, should shine on them.”

A ‘veiled gospel’ that has erupted in “abounding misery and chaos” and they don’t even know they are enveloped by it? Death is already at work in them!

Do you understand someone speaking of “a soul as base as mine”? That’s a picture of one “abounding in misery and chaos” who know nothing about amazing grace and eternal peace through Christ alone! They know and understand the paralysis of sin and the pulverizing power of a dead conscience, basically powerless to believe in Christ’s shed blood of the Atonement shed fully at Calvary’s Cross! Their own sin overpowers divine grace [or they choose that position] and fills them only with despair because they are turned totally inward! It’s as if the powers of darkness instill within unbelievers a deadly disease called ‘sin’ that breeds despondency, discouragement, doubts and fears, and cements their minds with lies that God Himself couldn’t help them, and all of a sudden they seem to be emotionally, rationally, and mentally paralyzed with hopelessness.

But if Jesus says, and He does, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest,” what He did 2000 years ago, He still does today! But people who are ‘heavy laden’ are acutely anguished, body, soul, and spirit, and add more ‘weights’ trying to overcome on their own with their burden of sin growing stronger with despair and discouragement intensifying.

Have you heard the defiant to ‘saving faith’? “If I try harder, I’ll find the peace I’m looking for.” “If I earn my place on an athletic team, I’ll quiet my demons.” “If I earn a lot of money, everything will be OK.” “If I make a name for myself, I’ll adjust the mental, moral, and spiritual problems.” “If I stay busy, busy, I won’t have time to worry, worry, doubt, doubt, or be afraid, afraid.”

Above all, they want to ignore God’s knock at the door of their heart. They want to totally shut out any references to the Cross and Christ’s shed blood. They want to refute the necessity of repentance and faith because that speaks of accountability before Holy God!

Opposite of self-effort and fleshly intent to be an overcomer of sin and death in and through one’s self is Jesus as He faced the judgment of unbelievers and the Cross, praying to the Father in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” So true, because every willful sin represents the nails in our Lord’s body!

In fact, in Matthew 24:12, Jesus said, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” But ‘cold-hearted’ people need to know that the Holy Word of God tells us, in Romans 5:20, “…But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,” Verse 21, “so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” And I believe that our Lord is telling us that the person who is the furtherest throw away from God is His target with the arrow of grace, mercy, and love – and though they’ve abounded in misery and chaos, our God is ABLE through advocacy peace and blessing, to birth new life, new hope, new purpose, with God glorifying Himself through a transformed sinner to a Heavenly saint!

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 speaks so clearly, hopefully, and powerfully about those who had abounded in misery and chaos, sinners separated, bound, hopeless – but they meet the Resurrected Christ and are ‘comforted’ by God! It says:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God…

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation…

And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.”

Abounding misery or Advocacy Peace? Abounding chaos or Advocacy Blessing? Tribulation or consolation? Trouble or comfort? Hopelessness or steadfastness? Sufferings or eternal salvation? Bondage or liberty and freedom? A sin-bound life of death and separation or sainthood by the Life and oneness with Christ? A paralysis of sin and guilt or the pleasure of forgiveness and freedom through our bondage-breaker, Jesus?

And the amazing, life-changing truth? Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Do you long for the Lord’s nearness to you? In Psalm 34:18 David said: “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite (or crushed) spirit.” David didn’t stop there but went on to say in Verse 19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Advocacy peace and blessing reigns supreme! Years ago Andrae Crouch wrote and sang the song entitled “Through It All.” It’s a spiritual classic! It says:

“I’ve had many tears and sorrows, I’ve had questions for tomorrow, there’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong…But in every situation, God gave me blessed consolation, that my trials come to only make me strong…

I’ve been to lots of places, I’ve seen a lot of faces, there’s been times I felt so all alone. But in my lonely hours, yes, those precious lonely hours, Jesus lets me know that I was His own…

I thank God for the mountains, and I thank God for the valleys, I thank Him for the storms He brought me through. For if I’d never had a problem, I wouldn’t know God could solve them, I’d never know what faith in God could do…

Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God…Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.”

No doubt this is why David wrote in Psalm 32:7, “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.” Do you believe, trusted in, relied upon, adhere to the Living Lord, experiencing the reality of the God who “gives songs in the night”?

Reading through Acts recently I came across Acts 16:25. “But at midnight Paul and Silas [imprisoned] were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

I’m telling you: Dark nights are our opportunities for “songs of light”! A night of sorrow may be your hallowed moment of Holy Presence like you’ve never known before! It may be in “the dark” when your enemies come to arouse and threaten you, but then Holy God steps in in the Light of His Glorious Presence! It may be a dark night of fear and doubt but Holy Truth raises you above it! It may be a dark night of worrisome anxiety but Holy Peace stands up in Holy Promises! And the dark night becomes your “song of light”!

Out of “The Mourning Bride,” William Congreve wrote: “What do the damned endure, but to despair?” Despair or to delight, sorrow or to celebrate, assaulted by the powers of darkness and the enemies of God or to be affirmed by our Advocate of peace and blessing?

It was John Calvin, in his “Institutes of the Christian Religion,” who wrote: “God foreordained for His own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation.” Are you the “called” or the “cursed”?

Can you believe it? Jesus dared to say, [Matthew 23:33], “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” I love what Thomas Scott once wrote when he said: “No affliction nor temptation, no guilt nor power of sin, no wounded spirit nor terrified conscience, should induce us to despair of help and comfort from God.”

Why? How? Who? Because His Word says: “Whosoever will may come.” That tells me of God’s pardon and forgiveness, not of His penalty and unforgiveness! What does Revelation 22:17 tell us? And the Spirit and the Bride say “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

Acts 2:21 tells us, “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” And how could even one resist the words of Jesus in John 11:25-26? “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” “Believe”? That means “trust in,” “rely upon,” “adhere to!!” Is that YOUR testimony of belief and trust and surrender to His Lordship? Do you really have a mind and heart yielded and trusting in Him?

It was Horace Bushnell who said, “Trust God for great things: with your five loaves and two fishes, He will show you a way to feed thousands.”

ABOUNDING MISERY AND CHAOS OR ADVOCACY PEACE AND BLESSING? I’m sure you understand that a Christ-less life is a life of continual, addictive sin but when we come to Christ as Lord we hear Him say, “Go and sin no more.”

But the beloved John tells us in 1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” John then said in Verse 6, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked,” and He never walked in sin but He went to the Cross to die for your sin and mine!

And before Father-God we see Jesus, our advocate, representing us before Him because of our faith and trust in our Lord and Savior’s atoning work in our behalf as our “legal attorney”!

I don’t know who wrote it but the words are so encouraging: “We have listened to the preacher – Truth by him has now been shown; But we want a Greater Teacher, from the everlasting throne: APPLICATION is the work of God alone.”

In 1 Thessalonians 5:5-11 there’s powerful statements of encouragement by Paul. It says: “You are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night nor the darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober…

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation…

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

Both the above Scripture and words by Spurgeon really challenge all true believers of their personal ministries! Spurgeon said: “As the spiritual guide of the flock of God along the intricate mazes of experience, it is the duty of the gospel minister to point out every turning of the road to heaven, to speak concerning its dangers or its privileges, and to warn any whom he may suspect to be in a position peculiarly perilous. Now, there is a portion of the road which leads from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, which has in it, perhaps, more dangers than any other portion of the way. It does not abound with lions; there are no dragons in it; it has no dark woods, and no deep pitfalls; yet more seeming pilgrims have been destroyed in that portion of the road than anywhere else, and not even Doubting Castle, with all its hosts of bones, can show so many who have been slain there. It is a part of the road called Enchanted Ground. The great geographer, John Bunyan, well pictured it when he said:

‘I then saw in my dream that they went on till they came into a certain country, whose air naturally tended to make one drowsy, if he came a stranger into it…’And here Hopeful began to be very dull, and heavy of sleep; wherefore he said unto Christian, I do now begin to grow so drowsy that I can scarcely hold up my eyes; let us lie down here, and take one nap…

‘Christian’: By no means, said the other, lest sleeping, we never awake more.

‘Hope’: Why, my brother? Sleep is sweet to the laboring man; we may be refreshed if we take a nap…

‘Christian’: Do you not remember that one of the shepherds bid us beware of the Enchanted Ground? He meant by that, that we should beware of sleeping; wherefore, ‘let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”

And Spurgeon went on to speak “concerning the condition of the majority of churches in the present day.” He said, “they are lying down on the settles of LUKEWARMNESS, in the Arbors of the Enchanted Ground. There is not that activity and zeal we could wish to see among them; they are not, perhaps, notably heterodox; they may not be invaded by the lion of persecution, but they are somewhat worse than that – they are lying down to slumber, like HEEDLESS and TOO-BOLD in the Arbor of Sloth. May God grant that His servants may be the means of arousing the church from its lethargy, and stirring it up from its slumbers, lest haply professors should sleep the sleep of death.”

What was the verse that inspired that? 1 Thessalonians 5:6, “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober [self-controlled].”

Advocacy peace and blessing does not breed abounding misery and chaos – but sin and self-abandonment to sin does just that! Sin and self-abandonment to sin breeds a person so insensitive to the things of God, making a person so subject to satanic deception, breeding spiritual paralysis concerning the things of God, and depriving one of true security but basically spiritually producing one so insecure of who he is and what he’s about! But I pray, not YOU, as you read this writing!

CHAPTER FIVE

“WORLD PHILOSOPHERS OR WILLFUL PROMOTION BY GOD”?

There’s an interesting couple of verses for you to examine carefully as you look at Psalm 75:6-7 where the psalmist says: “For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge; He puts down one, and sets up another.”

In Psalm 147:6 it speaks of God’s Word AND His providence: “The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.” All world philosophers are not “wicked”, but the majority are “too smart in themselves” to ever see God as necessary in their lives!

Didn’t Paul tell us 2000 years ago, in Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ”?

Acts 17:16-21 is about philosophical “new things” in opposition to the Eternal Truths of God. Follow it: Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit provoked him when he saw that the city was given over to idols…

Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshippers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there…

Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection…

And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”

For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.”

And if you follow it carefully, you’ll discern that ‘world philosophies’ are devotion to “wise things” that really have nothing to do with the heart – it’s all mental and divorced from the spiritual nature of fallen men!

Participants in world culture of which we all are a part does not mean we deny Him but affirm, surrender, and yield to our Lord and Savior who IS the King of kings and Lord of lords! It doesn’t mean we’re “not at home” unless we sell our souls as the majority of the world, but we recognize our “worldly home” is in need of God’s grace, mercy, and love.

World philosophers or willful promotion by God Himself! Read carefully Oswald Chambers in his writing, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [pps.175-176], “Beware of not acting upon what you see in your moments on the mount of God. If you don’t obey the light, it will turn into darkness. ‘If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is the darkness!’ The second you waive the question of sanctification [it means: ‘set apart to the glory of God only’!] or any other thing upon which God gives you light, you begin to get dry rot in your spiritual life. Continually bring the truth out into actuality; work it out in every domain, or the very light you have will prove a curse…The most difficult person to deal with is the one who has the smug satisfaction of an experience to which he can refer back, but who is not working it out in practical life. If you “say” you are sanctified, “show it”… Beware of any belief that makes you self-indulgent”! What’s that? What pleases me and doesn’t line up with the Spirit of God who sacrificed His all!

World ‘philosophers’ are so adept at convincing people that belief, trust, repentance and faith in Holy God is so unnecessary for the ‘smart folks’ – yet the educated crowd can center their lives in the darkest darkness and call it ‘light’!

It doesn’t take long to discover the worldly, self-righteous individual, or the ‘professor’ of self-satisfaction – and if you stay around them very long you sense a spirit of discontent with all they know and an uncertainty of mind as unbelief always brings on fractures in what they really think.

So often when the Holy Word and the convicting Holy Spirit is shared with a world philosopher, you’ll see and sense degrees of dismay in many because they’re on the threshold of discovering their lost condition and separation from God!

In life as a believer, transformed by the grace and mercy and love of God, aren’t you shocked at times when you see the worldly crowd comfortably seated at a worldly table, easily laughing at any worldly, gutter, dirty joke, when in the innermost heart is a person at war with Holy God, embittered by their own set of circumstances, AND WILL NOT LOOK UP TO THE CARING THRONE OF GOD AS THE GOD OF CALVARY’S CROSS?!?

Psalm 4:2 says, “How long, O you sons of men, will you turn My glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?” You realize there are “sons of men” and there are “sons of God”! You understand that there are those whose hearts are cemented in ‘earthly, fleshly values’ that are worthless in comparison to the heavenly treasures that increase in worth and blessing and true enrichment more and more!

In 2 Corinthians 4:1-4 Paul lifts the worldly veil that blinds or hinders true spiritual understanding of the gospel of Christ. He wrote: “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart…

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God…

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

And that will break your heart if it hasn’t already because there are those whom you know whose hearts are ‘veiled’ to truth and whose minds are ‘blinded’ by the god of this age – they at least feel comfortable in their spiritual state of lost-ness because they are not alone; tragically, they’re blinded to the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, not knowing they reflect the darkness of the devil himself!

“World philosophers”? It was Paul in Colossians 3:2 who said, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” And because you received the death of Christ and your crucifixion with Him, and you died, with the result that your life is now hidden with Christ IN GOD, verse 5, “therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

An ‘idol worshipper’? That’s the worldly ‘dude’ who has saved his life for himself because he loves the world and all that it offers, not God! I know that you are not totally ‘brain-dead’ because you look at our world today and you witness ‘civilization catastrophes’ that grow more corrupt and, yes, ‘sinful’, world-wide!

“World philosophers” certainly major on ‘riches’ any way you can get it! But they are void of understanding about what ‘great gain’ is all about. In 1 Timothy 6:6-10 Paul advised his spiritual son, saying: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out…

And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition…

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” When did that change? I believe when the author of Proverbs 14:24 spoke of “the crown of the wise”, he certainly was not speaking of “the crown of life” or “the crown of glory” because wisdom apart from God’s wisdom and revelations is a false righteousness that does not lead to repentance and true faith. It says: “The crown of the wise is their riches, but the foolishness of fools is folly.”

In Proverbs 1:28-33 the ‘wise-man’, inspired by God Himself, gives us ALL a word of warning: “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord…

They would [have] none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof…Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices… For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them…

But whoso hearkens unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.”

“World Philosophers or Willful Promotion By God?” Oh, I tell you, God’s Word is so rich and man’s worldly philosophies so bankrupt! Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Led by the world or led by God Himself?

What did Paul say in 11 Corinthians 4:3-5? “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who arte perishing, whose minds the god of this age [the devil] has blinded, who do not believer, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.”

Willful promotion by God? Bound in the flesh to the world philosophies, ideals, earthly gains, human pride in self-effort, but freed in Christ to divine life, eternal principles, heavenly blessings, holy privilege in sharing God’s faithful provisions, joy in the Lord forever not fleshly happiness, and a crown of glory and rejoi9cing that does not fade away, with an eternal family under the Fatherhood of God and His Sovereignty!

Willful promotion by God? We’re no longer “slaves of Satan” bound in satanic chains – in Christ we’re “sons and daughters of God” in the Heavenly Family! We’re no longer ‘flavorless’ but we’re the salt of the earth! We’re no longer ‘darkness’ – we’re light in the Lord! We’re no longer empty in the inner man, but filled with the Holy Presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!

We’re no longer of the unrighteous descendants but men and women who through repentance and faith in Christ have been declared righteous in the very righteousness of God imparted and implanted in our washed vessels of trust in Him! We’re not the “happy hour” crowd – we’re the eternally blessed members of the Royal Family of God! Our identity is no longer slaves of Satan, but now the very children of God! We’re not ‘impersonators’ of our Lord and Savior, but possessors of His Resurrection Life, “vessels of the Victor”!

We’re not distant stars blinking in the darkened nights of men’s souls but “lights” on a hill that cannot be hidden!

Robert Browning, in “Paracelsus”, wrote: “If I stoop into a dark tremendous sea of cloud, it is but for a time; I press God’s lamp to my breast; its splendor soon or late Will pierce the gloom; I shall emerge one day.” And even when destiny brings us temporarily to a “dark tremendous sea of cloud,” WE WILL EMERGE BRIGHTER THAN EVER BEFORE!”

We’re sons and daughters of God’s eternal faith, and though doubt, at times, will try to rob us of light’s glow and meaning, and even when I find myself in my darkest moment as a follower, I choose to rest in Him!

I found it so interesting that the agnostic or atheist, Robert Ingersoll, at his brother’s funeral, spoke and said: “From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no word. But in the night of Death, Hope sees a star, [but for him it was not the Bright and Morning Star whose name is Jesus!] and listening Love can hear the rustle of a wing.” Oh, that somehow he learned of the Love of God but I doubt he ever did!

If God gave you “existence”, did He do so apart from eternal purpose? Of course not! His one beckoning call is, “Be reconciled to God,” and in that ministry of reconciliation, the blood of Jesus takes center-stage, first place, the only door through which we can walk into the presence of God! It’s why in Matthew 5:8 Jesus said: “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.”

It was Thomas a’ Kempis who said: “simplicity reaches out after God; purity discovers and enjoys Him.”

I so appreciate Noah Webster’s description of ‘providence’ in his 1828 Dictionary. He said: “Providence – in theology the care and superintendence which God exercises over His creatures. He that acknowledges a creation and denies a ‘providence’, involves himself in a palpable contradiction; for the same power which caused a thing to exist is necessary to continue its existence…By divine providence is often understood God Himself.”

The God who made you, is He unable to save, sustain, and complete you to His good pleasure? In Romans 3:24-26 God’s Holy Word tells us: “being JUSTIFIED FREELY by His grace through the resurrection that is in Christ Jesus…

Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Thank God for Chambers’ insight! Listen to what he wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest”: [p.247], “The Gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the revelation which it brings is not palatable. There is a certain pride in man that will give and give, but to come and accept is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom, I will give myself in consecration, I will do anything, but do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is to accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.” BUT THAT’S IT! IT’S ALL OF HIM and not of us in the matter of our redemption, our re-birth, and our reconciliation!

He said a few sentences later, “He can do nothing for us if we think we are sufficient of ourselves, we have to enter His Kingdom through the door of destitution.” WOW!

Oh, I’m telling you: Jesus is to every repentant believer the complete and whole treasury of God!

Remember – we’re looking at “World Philosophy OR Willful Promotion By God”! And when “world philosophy” begins to surface strongly and willful promotion by God takes a backseat, you begin to sense a sad decaying of true faith, an allegiance to the flesh [your old sin nature – so anything goes!], even church attendance by many who have no intention of denying self and taking up His Cross [and our own], and suddenly the Word of God is set aside, truth is left outdoors, and doubt about the veracity of God’s Holy Word takes over the pulpit and the church pews and the classroom!

Philosophy may give a few insights or thoughts, but Christ Jesus births “new men”! It was the German theologian, Soren Kierkegaard, who said: “Not until man has become so utterly unhappy, or has grasped the woefulness of life so deeply that he is moved to say, and mean it: LIFE HAS NO VALUE FOR ME – NOT TILL THEN IS HE ABLE TO MAKE A BID FOR CHRISTIANITY.”

AND ALMIGHTY, HOLY, WISE, LOVING, CARING GOD STEPS UP TO REVEAL HIS UNCHANGING LOVE AND MATCHLESS MERCY TO WOUNDED HUMANITY BY OUR SELF-INFLICTED SIN NATURES!

John 3:14-18 illumines Heaven on earth! “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Paul built out of the Cross of Christ and His Resurrection eternal truth!! Look at Romans 5:6-11!! “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die…

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be [being] saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life…

And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”

There’s an old hymn entitled “Grace Greater Than Our Sin.” It says: “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt…Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled…

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, Threaten the soul with infinite loss; Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can we do to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide, Brighter than snow you may be today…

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe! You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within, Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.”

World philosophers or Willful Promotion By God? It’s your choice!

CHAPTER SIX

“CHILDREN OF THE FLESH OR CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE?”

Please, with all of your mental and spiritual feelings and faith and faculties, read Romans 9:1-5 with an alert mind and heart! It will reveal where one truly is in his/her faith walk of compassion for others or a lack of it. In Romans 9:1-5 it’s as if my aged Bible has been drenched again and again with tears of sadness. Paul wrote:

“I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh…

Who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”

Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, came through the “seed of Abraham,” but not all of Abraham’s descendants became “children of promise”, but only children of flesh, because that was their level of commitment, living only with a desire to be “religious” apart from surrender to obedience to God’s Holy Word!

In Romans 10:1-4 Paul went on to write: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge…

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

Paul clearly understood, was spiritually heart-broken over the Israelites who had a “zeal for God”, but not according to the revelation Truth of the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of the True, Eternal, and Historic Christ that they never saw with spiritual eyes, understood, or comprehended, but willfully rejected Him, ignored Him, and, yes, willingly had Him crucified!

Most Israelites denied Jesus Christ, deplored His presence in their Holy Book, denounced His preaching, and declared His worthiness only of the Cross. They had no sorrow, but in the prophetic passage of Isaiah 53:3 we learn of Christ Jesus, “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.”

I recently found a writing by Harriet Beecher Stowe that speaks of sorrow: “Sorrow is divine. Sorrow is reigning on all the thrones of the universe, and the crown of all crowns has been one of thorns. There have been many books that treat of the sympathy of sorrow, but only one that bids us glory in tribulation, and count it all joy when we fall into divers afflictions, that so we may be associated with that great fellowship of suffering of which the incarnate Son of God is the head, and through which He is carrying a redemptive conflict to a glorious victory over evil. If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him.”

Do you see and sense Paul’s sorrow over the Israelites denial of Jesus to be “that great fellowship of suffering” that you as a true believer in Christ Jesus share in? I have no hesitation in saying to you that grief, sadness, or sorrow are but the shadow of God’s Holy Presence over and around your life! It was Edwin Hubbell Chapin who said, “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seamed with scars; martyrs have put on their coronation robes glittering with fire, and through their tears have the sorrowful first seen the gates of heaven.” Glory!!

And we’re examining “children of the flesh” or “children of the Promise” with Paul as a child of the Promise willing to forego His place “in Christ” if His Israelite “family” could take his place! But it doesn’t happen, can’t happen – before Holy God every man stands alone before Him to answer for himself – “What then did YOU do with Jesus called the Christ?”

Listen to Romans 9:30-33! “What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone…

As it is written: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

The unbelieving Israelites “stumbled at the stumbling stone and stumbled over the rock of offense” [whose name is Jesus, the Promised Messiah] because they substituted self-effort for the Savior and Lord, and, yes, attempted self-improvement by trying to keep the Law given to expose their need of a Savior, and revealed by their disobedience to God’s revelation that they would establish their own righteousness and crucify God’s righteousness – and things haven’t changed thousands of years later!!

Have you forgotten or omitted what Isaiah had to say at least 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ? It’s reported by Paul in Romans 10:16-17, “But they [Israel] have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Yes, the majority of Israel, then and now, have rejected God’s compassionate heart and redemptive Way, going about to establish their own worthiness and ability to “do right”, failing to understand from Adam and Eve onward, God determined all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are unworthy, taking us all, yes, ALL, and CRUCIFYING US ALL WITH CHRIST!!

What did Paul tell us in Galatians 2:20? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Verse 27, I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

JESUS DID NOT DIE IN VAIN – He died in “VICTORY”!! Yes, He was then raised, by God, from the dead three days later, continuing to live in and through repentant, trusting, surrendered, believing “sinners” who by their repentance are now declared “saints”, servants of Christ, ambassadors of our Lord and Savior, messengers, earthly “point-men” of the Resurrected Christ, witnesses of His winning Way that in “death” there is the new reality of “Life in Christ” alone! In Galatians 3:26 Paul tells us, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

And, having been crucified with Christ, birthed into the Kingdom as babes in Christ, indwelt by His Resurrection Life and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, it doesn’t mean that “babes in Christ” attain to instant adulthood in the faith, but we learn! It is why in Galatians 5:1 Paul wrote to us, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

Have you ignored the Word in your daily walk? I remind you that Jesus tells us, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” I’ll guarantee you that most men eat physically three meals a day with snacks in between – but, please, tell me how spiritually the Word of God sits on a table and you only occasionally open it? You “LIVE” by the Word of God, you are to “HUNGER” for the Word of God, you “MATURE IN FAITH” by the Word of God!

Look at Colossians 2:9-10! “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him…” Oswald Chambers made a statement that aroused concern in me for “believers” who take lightly the importance of “studying to show yourselves approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed…” He said: “Disobedience in mind to the heavenly vision will make you a slave to points of view that are alien to Jesus Christ.”

Chambers wrote about a half-paragraph later: “We are apt to lie back and bask in the memory of the wonderful experience we have had. If there is one standard in the New Testament revealed by the light of God and you do not come up to it, and do not feel inclined to come up to it, that is the beginning of backsliding, because it means your conscience does not answer to the truth. You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you for going on as a more true disciple of Jesus Christ or for going back as a deserter.”

What do we find in John 6:60-68? It’s a startling revelation for some! It says: Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it?’ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life…

But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and would betray Him. And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”…

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of life.”

Disciples who “went back and walked with Him no more?” Was that “professors” who never fully surrendered to our Lord’s Indwelling Life? Was that “followers” who had never been freed from spiritual bondage? Was that sympathizers with a “cause” who never understood “divine change” from the old man to the new man, from the sinner to the “saint”, from the fleshly to the Spirit-led, from a temporal devotion and not eternal surrender to the Lord of all of life?

Too many ‘church-goers’ are those really who’ve never put their hands to the plow of the Lord in preparing the “fields of their lives” for His seed, fruit, and harvest! Too many so-called “believers” are just like Pharoah on a fleshly pursuit religiously for Moses, but Holy God had removed their ‘chariot wheels’ and Pharoah drowned in the deep waters without a “Life-Preserver” whose name is Jesus Christ! Too many “scribes and Pharisees” impose ‘traditions’ apart from Truth and so burden the people trying to seek that they only are able to talk about their tiredness, their futility, their sadness, their darkness, and not the “Light of the world” whose name is Jesus!

“Children of the flesh” or “Children of the Promise”? What was Paul’s Prayer in Romans 10:1-3? “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”

“Children of the flesh”? Without hesitation they are usually led by people who are “ZEALOUSY WRONG – EVEN OPPOSED TO THE REVELATION, UNVEILING, AND ACTUAL PRESENCE OF THE SAVIOR, LORD, AND REDEEMER, WILLING ONLY THAT HE BE CRUCIFIED!!”

That is a world of people who surround you totally indifferent to the Sacrifice of the Lamb of God to cover and wash away their sin and guilt by His precious blood! There is a world oblivious to His grace, mercy, and love! Oh, yes, some have a “zeal” FOR GOD, but they don’t even know, understand, or have a true desire to be reconciled to Him and under His Sovereign Rule as Lord, Savior, and Master!

Have you ever been around those absolutely “zealous” for their ‘church’ but void of redemptive love and a desire to truly honor the Lord and Savior through a surrendered walk to His Lordship? Have you ever been around those so vocal, so aroused, but off-base in every scriptural truth, and you wonder: “How many have bought the lies, misinterpretations, deceptions, and been led astray?”

But what about those who, yes, kill the opposition to their radical, devilish, unsound, ‘screwed-up’ teachings? It was Jesus Himself who said in Matthew 23:34-36, “Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”

You are aware that there were those, are those, who are so warped in their “religious minds” that they believe and believed that they were anointed servants doing God’s service killing others! How would you describe those unredeemed “scribes and Pharisees”? Would “self-righteous idiots” even get close? How about “spiritual ignoramuses”?

What was it Paul said in Romans 10:2-3? “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”

Fleshly righteousness or divine righteousness? The sinners’ righteousness or the Savior’s righteousness? Self-righteousness or God’s righteousness? Self-improvement righteousness or Sovereign-declared righteousness? Ignorant righteousness or Spirit-inspired, implanted righteousness? A righteousness that declares one “guilty” before Holy God of a cheap imitation or Jesus’ righteousness that declares one eternally innocent before Holy God? “Fig-leaf righteousness” or “tree of life righteousness”? “My own estimation” righteousness or God’s robe of righteousness? Head-strong righteousness or the “new Heart” righteousness? God-insulting human attempts or God-inspired finished work? Righteousness by hook or by crook or righteousness in and through Christ alone? Feverish attempts tirelessly or the faithful Atonement truthfully, refreshing us without end? Righteousness in what we do for our own salvation attempt or righteousness because of Who Jesus IS and what Jesus did 2000 years ago on the Cross? Salvation by man’s grit or salvation by the Master’s grace? Salvation by one’s “best efforts” religiously or salvation by the willingness to rest in the “Blood-bought” release from guilt and eternal separation and “death” by the sacrifice of Christ in “my,” “our,” “your,” behalf! DO YOU SEE, UNDERSTAND, RECEIVE, REST IN BEING “A CHILD OF PROMISE”?

I close this teaching with words from Oswald Chambers in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.271], “The sign that God is at work in us is that He corrupts confidence in the natural virtues, because they are not promises of what we are going to be, but remnants of what God created man to be. We will cling to the natural virtues, while all the time God is trying to get us into contact with the life of Jesus Christ which can never be described in terms of the natural virtues.” Dare I tell you? “Christ Jesus crucified your worst and your best” so that you, as a child of promise could live by the Life of Another, yes, Emmanuel, “God With Us,’ “God in us,” and “God through us”!! That’s “children of the Promises”!!

R. Kelso Carter wrote the old hymn entitled “Standing On the Promises”. It says:

“Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring; Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God…

Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God…

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord, Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, Standing on the promises of God…

Standing on the promises I cannot fall, Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call, Resting in my Savior, as my all in all, Standing on the promises of God.”

Tell me: What or Who are YOU standing upon?

CHAPTER SEVEN

“SELF-EFFORT RIGHTEOUSNESS OR SOVEREIGN_IMPLANTED RIGHTEOUSNESS?”

I want to lay a clear and solid and life-changing foundation for you out of Genesis 15:6 where the Holy Word tells us: “And he [Abram] believed in the Lord; and He [God] counted [credited, accounted] it to him for [or as] righteousness.”

But, fallen, faithless men are so assertive that they say: “I don’t need God because I can become righteous on my own – I’m able!” Faithless, or men of self-imposed faith, or ‘grand-creators’ of ‘self-effort religiosity and self-determined righteousness’ is a ‘sham’ with Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary saying of ‘sham’: “False, counterfeit, pretended…” And that is so on target!

It was Sir Francis Bacon who once said in the “New Atlantis,” “The reverence of a man’s self is, next to religion, the chiefest bridle of all vices.” Oh, how true is that!?! I was really shocked when I came across a statement By Benjamin Franklin: “God helps those who help themselves.” And I had to put a huge question mark by that statement! No! God helps those who empty themselves and trust God to fill them with Holy Presence through the Resurrection Life of Christ Jesus!

Yes, it’s the Cross of Christ before which lost men are to bow, but also one better would be placing his ‘self-effort’, his ‘self-promoting fleshly faith’, on the Cross of Christ or their ‘self-effort righteousness’ becomes a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the heart and mind, which leaves one eternally separated from Holy God!

Aren’t you aware of “pumped-up flesh” or “man-made principles of achieving, fleshly faith” that so easily identifies one as a ‘slave in bondage’ to “self-effort righteousness”? In Exodus 6:9 the Word says, “So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.” They weren’t even aware of their spiritual condition but had become ‘self-effort faith and righteousness’ even in their chains.

Do you remember Galatians 4:3 when Paul said: “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.” That’s ‘self-effort’ righteousness – no freedom but only bondage and slavery to a world culture.

I’m sure you’ve at least read Colossians 2:8 where Paul said: “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” He later said in Colossians 2:23, “These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

Self-effort righteousness is the constancy of self-enslavement. Self-effort righteousness is pulverizing pride with an awareness of its damage to one’s mind, soul, and spirit; it is one puffed up in himself just like Satan himself in opposition to Holy God. Job 35:12 speaks of those who at least ‘cry out,’ “but God does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.”

Listen to Proverbs 1:24-33! “Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, When your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you…

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke…

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure without fear of evil.”

Oh, but notice Isaiah 54:17! It says: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, AND THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS FROM [OR OUT OF] ME,” Says the Lord.”

Aren’t you aware of the great difference, the chasm, between “self-effort righteousness” and “Sovereignly-implanted righteousness”? A purchase price was paid for that “Sovereignly-implanted”, and the price paid was our Savior’s blood shed on the Cross! Is it ‘either-or’? Of course, it is – it always has been! Self in opposition to God, my righteousness to God’s righteousness, righteousness earned or His righteousness implanted? That’s you proud in yourself or you humbled by the awesomeness of God’s love, grace, and mercy!

You do understand, from earthly beginnings through Adam and Eve, until this present generation, the powers of darkness until now are out to sell Satan’s lie: “You can sin and not die!”

You and I have an enemy whose goal and ambition is spiritual blindness, eternal deafness, to the will, mind, and heart of Holy God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the voice and intimacy with God’s Holy Spirit! But His Word speaks louder, plainer, to the point of our Lord’s love, grace, and mercy – and if one listens and responds, he/she walks away from the bondage of self-righteousness and walks free in God’s Sovereign-implanted righteousness, a new man!

Self-effort righteousness is one’s self-determination of what gives him/her satisfaction or happiness. It’s fallen man/woman living by self-rule to give ‘peace’ to his/her passions as he/she settles in to satisfying the flesh [or old sin nature]! What or who controls my passions, my desires, my longings, my temptations, my fleshly fulfillment? “Whatever silences ‘the demons’ within and gives me a sense of reward for my ‘fallen-away-from-God’ decision!” Really?

Horatius Bonar put it like this: “No man can quench his thirst with sand, or with water from the Dead Sea; no man can find rest from his own character, however good, or from his own acts, however religious.”

Why? Because ‘self-effort righteousness’ is counterfeit, counter-productive and addictive like an illegal drug, not honoring God or giving glory to His Name! “Self-effort righteousness,” “self-control programs,” “self-attempts at being religious,” “self-mastery over sin and death and alienation and separation from God,” are attempts at a “new birth” that proves deathly at its inception! What’s a “good thought” if Truth is absent? What’s a “passionate prayer” if all you’re doing is indulging and promoting and calling attention to yourself, and even the name of Jesus is completely omitted?

Robert R. Brown once said: “It is part of our human nature, but there is that within us which always wants to make self the center of its own universe and, in that selfish way, wants to tear God from His throne and deny his brother and advance his own ambition.”

I love what Sir Walter Scott wrote in “The Lay of the Last Minstrel,” VI. He said: “The wretch concentered all in self, Living, shall forfeit fair renown, And, doubling dying, shall go down To the vile dust from whence he sprung, Unwept, unhonored and unsung.”

I’m telling you ‘self-mastery’ in one’s own determination of self-righteousness is Satan’s number-one achievement in your life if your only goal and ambition is to think well of yourself!

But I want you to look carefully at the eternal reality of “SOVEREIGN-IMPLANTED RIGHTEOUSNESS”! In 2 Corinthians 5:21 our Lord opens the heart and mind of true understanding and saving faith when He said through Paul: “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Oh, what a strong, redemptive revelation!

Speaking of the passage in 2 Corinthians 5:21, Oswald Chambers wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.224], “The modern view of the death of Jesus is that He died for our sins out of sympathy. The New Testament view is that He bore our sins not by sympathy, but by identification. He was ‘made to be sin.’ Our sins are removed because of the death of Jesus, and the explanation of His death is His obedience to His Father, not His sympathy with us. We are acceptable with God not because we have obeyed, or because we have promised to give up things, but because of the death of Christ, and in no other way. We say that Jesus Christ came to reveal the Fatherhood of God, the loving-kindness of God; the New Testament says He came to bear away the sin of the world. The revelation of His Father is to those to whom He has been introduced as Savior. Jesus Christ never spoke of Himself to the world as one Who revealed the Father, but as a stumbling block (see John 15:22-24).”…[In closing out his understanding of 2 Corinthians 5:21, Chambers said: “It is not Christ “for” me unless I am determined to have Christ formed “in” me.”]

Don’t ever forget or even overlook Isaiah 54:17! Remember, God said, “…This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from [out of] Me,” says the Lord!

Spurgeon preached on Isaiah’s word for us: [Spurgeon’s Sermons,” Memorial Library, Vol.2, p.164], “Now, if I wished to test you all, and might ask you only one question, I would ask this: What is your righteousness? O, I am as good as my neighbors. Go along with you; you are not my comrade. What is “your” righteousness? Well, I am rather better than my neighbors, for I go to chapel regularly. Off with you, sir; you do not know the watchword. And you next; “what is your righteousness? I have been baptized, and am a member of the church.” Yes, and so you may; and if that is your hope, you are all in the gall of bitterness. Now you next; what is your hope? O, I do all I can, and Christ makes up the rest. RUBBISH! You are a Babylonian, you are no Israelite; Christ is no make-weight – away with you. Here comes the last – What is your righteousness? My righteousness is filthy rags, except one righteousness which I have, which Christ wrought for me on Calvary, imputed to me by God Himself, which makes me pure and spotless as an angel. Ah, brother, you and I are fellow soldiers: I have found you out; that is the watchword. “Your righteousness is of Me, says the Lord.” I do not ask whether you are a Churchman, or whether you are Methodist, or Independents, or Baptists, if you do but know this watchword – ‘Your righteousness is of Me, says the Lord.” I can forgive all those other minor things, if you can sing: ‘Jesus, Your blood and righteousness, My beauty are, my glorious dress.”

Again, Isaiah so truly educates, informs, instructs, and inspires us as he tells us in Isaiah 64:6, us apart from saving grace and mercy, “But we are ALL like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.”

And when one becomes so aware of that true condition of unrighteousness, is graciously exposed to true righteousness, and knows without Christ’s shed blood washing his life, he’s hopeless, and, yes, begins to cry out, “God, be merciful to me THE sinner,” then and only then does the repentant heart begin to experience and appropriate and stand in with eternal confidence the righteousness of God!

Don’t you find it so amazing that Almighty God, author of His Holy Word, God of the Cross, practically informs us of who true believers are, and gives us a picture of both the righteous and unrighteous? For example, Jesus tells us about a wedding in Matthew 22 and opens our understanding of who is refused entrance for the wedding and who enters! This is Jesus telling, informing, revealing, yes, the ‘righteous’ who enter the wedding and the feast: Verses 11-13,

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Tell me about your preparation of attendance at that awesome, glorious, sacred, celebrated wedding of Christ Jesus and His bride! Are you the called, the chosen, the true faith-full bride of Christ who daily prepares for the wedding celebration? Or do you “seek to enter” on your own terms?

‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And you’re unsure what it is? Do you even consider, think about, put on, God’s gift of mercy and grace? But, you are aware that the independent soul takes on Frank Sinatra’s famous song, “I did it my way”? “Your way” is that distinguishing mark that shuts the door to your entrance to the eternal wedding!

‘Friend, you are not clothed in a wedding garment! Is there no respect, no acknowledgement in you, no desire to honor the King of kings and Lord of lords, or no appreciation of submission to His way?’

‘Friend, this is the prince’s wedding – not yours.’ And the wedding we’re seeing is a picture of Christ and His bride, but the ‘friend’ came dressed in rebellion, in disobedience, self-assertion, a breed of independent walks of life that only pours out contempt on the Crucified Christ and spits on His empty tomb!

Consider also that many are of the opinion that there’s more than one way to find acceptance with God – and multitudes are of the opinion’, “it’s what I believe, it’s how I feel, and God should accept my offering and share my way with His way!”

Where in God’s Holy Word do you ever find reconciliation with Him by man’s activity through that man’s personal wisdom, practical efforts of flesh driven self-effort being the sole remedy of his ‘salvation experience’ which is better called ‘evil evolution’!

I remind you again of what Paul preached in Romans 10:2-3! “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”

Are you familiar with the terms, IMPARTED, IMPUTED, IMPLANTED righteousness which comes out of the mind and heart and will of God only? Have you failed or neglected to read the words of God Himself through Isaiah the prophet? Isaiah 1:18-20 tells us: “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; through they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword;’ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Oh, how powerful, but look also at His convicting word in Isaiah 1:27-28:

“Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her penitents with righteousness. The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.”

Spurgeon spoke of “the insolence of self-righteousness” which so easily, emphatically, denies the righteousness of God through Christ! Oh, and then, of the ‘self-righteous’ religious crowd, he said: “Spiritually he [they] is a very well washed corpse – that is all.”

Haven’t you witnessed it, seen it, been astounded by the discomfort and denial of the chorus that speaks of: “Oh, the blood of Jesus” – and many want no part of it because it doesn’t highlight “what I do, what we do”!! And that’s outward religious appearance without an inner-heart change! “Born again” to them is offensive bible-babbling!

Irving Peake Johnson once wrote: “Righteousness as exemplified by Christ is not merely the absence of vice or the presence of virtue. It is a consuming passion for God which sends you forth in His name to establish His kingdom.”

Church attendance without recognizing your calling to establish His kingdom, bow to His rule daily, and practically to embrace Him in submission to His eternal purpose of reconciling a fallen world to Holy God, and seeing yourself brought in to His divine intent in YOU LIVING THROUGH HIM A RIGHTEOUS LIFE, and touching our world with His grace and mercy, is to be a participant on a playground pretending to be something or someone we’re really not!

In 1 Corinthians 15:34 Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote: “AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” And have you overlooked Romans 5:17? “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more, those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

He went on to say in Romans 6:13, “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

Oh, I pray, that you’ve rested in Paul’s words in Romans 10:9-10, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” YES, a heart matter! And one “believes unto righteousness, not “I’m able”!!

Self-effort righteousness or Sovereign-Implanted Righteousness? In Philippians 3:8-10 Paul defines the surpassing value of knowing, receiving, and resting in Christ Jesus: “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, NOT HAVING MY OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM THE LAW, but that which is through faith in Christ Jesus, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” WOW!

In closing, remember that “wedding” garment? Revelation 19:5-9 tells us, Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS.” Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

True sayings? IMPARTED, IMPUTED, IMPLANTED RIGHTEOUSNESS or your works of the flesh?

CHAPTER EIGHT

“DARK NIGHTS – BRIGHT LIGHTS”

I’ll never forget a “dark night” event in my home when I was about eleven to twelve years of age. I HAD GONE TO BED EARLY BECAUSE MY MOTHER AND STEP-FATHER WERE HAVING A PARTY. It was late, late, past midnight, maybe 3-4 a.m., when I was awakened by loud noises of things breaking, people screaming, as a drunken brawl occurred in the home. I was so frightened I just hid under the covers of my bed until about 5 a.m., and after I braved getting out from under the covers, I looked around to see devastation; all were gone including my mother, but my step-father was passed out on the bed in the guest room.

It was pitch-black night as I made my way to my grandparents’ home, so afraid, plus I had to go down an unlit alley-road to get to their home. I felt so safe when the lights came on and they opened their door to me. Needless to say, I never again experienced that ‘dark-night’ of the soul! [And you should know that, finally, within a few weeks of his eighty-ninth birthday, my step-father asked me to explain the Gospel of Christ to him once more – and he prayed to receive Christ! Weeks later, he died, a definitely changed man so at peace with our Lord and Savior! The nursing home that cared for him were shocked by his change!]

Jeremy Taylor, in his “Holy Living” writing, [p.259], said: “A man may be damned for despairing to be saved.” Thank God, my step-father finally saw, not “dark nights” but “bright lights” for his eternal journey with his Lord and Savior!

Dark nights? Leo Tolstoy, in his writing entitled “The Kingdom of God,” [ch.12], said: “The only significance of life consists on helping to establish the kingdom of God; and this can be done only by means of the acknowledgement and profession of the truth by each one of us.” But you do realize that darkened hearts, minds, and free wills delight in the fallen nature of men alienated and separated from Holy God! Their fleshly pleasures become deadly poison – and they’re so unaware of that dark night of the soul.

I love what Spurgeon wrote in “Spurgeon’s Sermons,” [Memorial Library, Vol.9,pps.176-177]: “He [God] makes not the child of God to be a serf, a slave, in fear of punishment, but he so changes the nature of men that they turn away with loathing from the things they once delighted in, and can no more indulge in the sins which were once sweet to them, than an angel could wallow in the mire with the swine. Oh! This is a gracious work, and this is a blessed covenant in which it is promised that we shall be taught to know and love and do the right thing with a willing mind.”

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines ‘darkness’ like this: “Absence of light; a state of being intellectually clouded; great trouble and distress; calamities; perplexities; empire of Satan; land of darkness – the grave.”

In John 3:19 we read: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL.” And even though Joel wrote prophetically to alert the people of Israel in his day, the prophetic word has relevance for today just as it did then! Joel 2:1-2 says, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand: a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains…”

Later, in Joel 2:25, God spoke about a land or a life that experiences “swarming, crawling, chewing locust.” God said, “So I will restore to you the years the swarming locust has eaten…My great army which I sent among you.” Why? Because His created people chose ‘self’ over God’s saving grace! They chose the fallen spirit over the Holy Spirit! They chose futile flesh over divine will, purpose, and power! They chose fleshly pleasures over the Holy Spirit! AND GOD SENDS THE LOCUST!

DARK DAYS? LET’S LOOK FIRST AT THE ‘LOCUST’ OF PERSONAL DESOLATION. Matthew 23:37-38 tells us, Jesus speaking, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you DESOLATE…”

Men actually, personally, choose to live an uninhabited life without God’s Presence. They choose ruin over His royal throne to bow before. They choose a ravaged, ruined, neglectful life of yieldedness to the Lord who loved them, laid His life down for them, and only desired to bless and fulfill their existence with divine presence! And the result? Micah 6:13-14 says, God speaking, “Therefore I will also make you sick by striking you, by making you desolate because of your sins. You shall eat, but not be satisfied; hunger shall be in your midst. You may carry some away, but shall not save them; and what you do rescue I will give over to the sword.”

How do you feel when you read a word like Isaiah 1:7 where it says: “Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; strangers devour your land in your presence; and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.”

DARK DAYS? SECOND, LET’S CONSIDER JOB 38:2 when God confronted Job and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” Hear me! “If man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” then how truly wise are those who “darken counsel by words without knowledge”?

Oh, there are those who seek counsel because they want to hear what they want to hear apart from the Word of God! Proverbs 12:5 clearly says, “…the counsels of the wicked are deceitful…”! But in Jeremiah 7:23-24 we read, God speaking, the Lord of hosts: “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.”

You’re either pressing in to the Lord or you’re falling away! You’re either found in the Light or bound in the darkness! You’re either made well in His Light or bound a prisoner in the darkness! You’re either made well in His Light or sickened by the devil’s darkness, being made ready with his demons for an eternal Hell of Light-absence!

THIRD, DARK DAYS? SPIRITUAL SIGHT AND INSIGHT OBLITERATED BY DISTRESSES! I love Psalm 107 because it is so informative and illustrative of a life with God or a life without Him. Psalm 107 challenges us to see life’s “troubles” as a “door-closer” to God or a “door-opener” to Him.

Four times in Psalm 107 the Word tells us: [Verses 6,13,19,and 28], “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.” And some choose, yes, choose to live in their ‘distresses’ without ever crying out to the Lord! But for the true believer, he/she understand “in the world you will have tribulation.” Consider Paul. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, “But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” Can you say: “Yes! Amen!!”

FOURTH, DARK DAYS? WHAT ABOUT EXCESSIVE AND BURDENING DISCOURAGEMENT OR DISAPPOINTMENT? As we consider the matter of discouragement or disappointment, is it possible that regardless of circumstances some would be unhappy if God gave them an unlimited inheritance or share of His abundant blessings?

But be assured, in this very historic moment of your life, if you have not yielded in repentance and faith in Christ alone, you have one choice to make of two opportunities: 1) You may find yourself under the dark shadows of judgment, separation from God forever, and a Hell with your “guilty” past or 2) You’ve chosen to walk in the Light of God’s love, grace, and mercy, with an eternal residence in our Lord’s Holy Presence!

The children of Joseph said to Joshua, in Joshua 17:14, that they were those whom “the Lord has blessed us until now”! Walking in our walk with the Lord is not a walk of discouragement but of blessing! Have you forgotten or overlooked Roman 8:16-17? “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Some have come to faith and then experienced the reality of persecution and isolation and are disenfranchised by family and friends, and were never of, yes, it’s pain and suffering at times. In Philippians 1:27-30 Paul wrote the Philippians and us!!, the following: “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not be terrified in any way by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you, it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict you saw in me and now hear in me.”

FIFTH, WHAT ABOUT THE DARK DAYS OF DISILLUSIONMENT OR DISPLEASURE OR DISAPPOINTMENT? My prayer for all of God’s people is for a true spirit of discernment as they engage a world of needy people around them. It’s so true that the God we serve is the One True and Living God who is moved with compassion for the wounded, the grief-stricken, the man or the woman overwhelmed by the awareness of their guilt and separation from God and that their sin nailed Jesus to the Cross!

Psalm 147:3 is so very clear: “He [the Lord God] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [or sorrows].”

What a magnificent and beautiful world our God has created – and yet beyond our small little world are universes of omnipotence, galaxies of divine glories, habitations of Holy Presence – yet He has time for the bleeding, wounded heart, the broken marriage, the lost and wandering son or daughter of faith – and especially does the Lord God Almighty sense the suffering, serious wounds of open rebellion, scarred hearts, and captive wills – and “the Great Physician” reaches out to touch those wounded hearts and sin-stricken souls, speaking “Peace” and healing grace and abundant mercy!

There’s an old U.S. African-American spiritual that says: “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There’s power enough in heaven, to cure a sin-sick soul…

Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain, But then the Holy Spirit Revives my soul again…

If you cannot sing like angels, If you can’t preach like Paul, You can tell the love of Jesus and say He died for all.”

In Luke 12:8-9 Jesus said: “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”

From “Dark Days”, let’s look joyfully at the “BRIGHT LIGHTS”! In John 3:18-21, 35-36, John said: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Verses 35-36, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him.”

It’s so interesting, convicting, and illuminating that James 1:17 tells us that, “Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

God the Father is the Father of lights without a doubt, and Jesus the Son IS the true light of the world. And in John 8:12 Jesus spoke saying: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” He’s not a liar, He’s not a lunatic, He’s not a deceiver, He’s not an evil spirit masquerading as Truth – HE IS THE TRUTH! He is the WAY! He is the Author of RESURRECTION LIFE, POWER, and HOPE!

If you are an unbeliever, a doubter, a denouncer of Christ, if you’re so sure and certain, then stand openly before the Cross of Jesus Christ and tell Him you’re an atheist, an unbeliever, an agnostic, a doubter – and you refuse to bow before God’s sacrificial Lamb who DIED FOR YOU, that you’re willing to live without Him because you choose to not live for Him so you can revel and rebel in your fallen state – and then just go to Hell forever with the devil and his demons and all your atheistic, agnostic, unbelieving ‘sinners’!!

Yes, Jesus IS “THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD”! But beyond the reality of His eternal resurrection life, is the story of true believers! In Ephesians 5:8-14 we see unfolding the historical truth of “children of light”! The Word says: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep,, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’”

How did that happen? In 1 Peter 2:9-10 Peter tells us, “But you [in Christ] are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

Jesus always had a passion for the true disciples to understand their role of oneness in Him. In John 12:35-36 He said, Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Did you see it? Repentant, faith believers BECOME “SONS OF LIGHT”!! It was John, later, who wrote 1 John 1:5-7, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” GLORY!

Are you familiar with the “New Jerusalem” which I truly believe to be present – not a future possibility, not a geographical location, but “Holy Presence” in and through the Resurrected Christ in a truly born-again believer? Revelation 21:22-27 tells us, “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

We’ve seen “the Father of lights, the Savior of Light”, the “sons of light” – let’s look now at His Holy Word, the Bible, God’s revelation or unveiling of Himself and us! Let’s examine Psalm 119!!

Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”

Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Psalm 119:14 says, “I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.”

Psalm 119:18 says, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.”

Psalm 119:24 says, “Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.”

Psalm 119:25 says, “My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.”

Psalm 119:28, “Strengthen me according to Your word.”

Psalm 119:37, “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.”

Psalm 119:54, “Your statutes have been my song in the house of my pilgrimage.”

Psalm 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.”

Psalm 119:72, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.”

Psalm 119:92, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.”

Psalm 119:101, “I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.”

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

Psalm 119:111, “Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.”

Psalm 119:120, “My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments.”

Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of Your words give light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

Psalm 119:133, “Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.”

Psalm 119:140, “Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.”

What did Jesus say in John 8:31-32? “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” So that leads me to:

“The church,” the local “assembly of believers,” “the functioning body of Christ visibly,” is to be a “Bright Light”! In Ephesians 5:22-32 Paul compares the husband and wife relationship as a picture of the church both universal and the local body of believers where one lives out his/her spiritual marriage to Christ! It says: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and bones.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

There is no doubt that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the Great Shepherd of the sheep, the flocks of God. But there are ‘under-shepherds’ assigned by God in caring for the local flocks of His sheep. In Christ, we are ‘gathered sheep’ under the oversight of a Christ-like, caring, under-shepherd who knows how to feed sheep, shear sheep, and guide them by the Word and Spirit to grow and mature and, yes, reproduce themselves to the honor of Christ!

Jesus Himself said in John 6:37-40, giving each repentant follower true hope: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

But I pray you remember that Jesus also said, “I didn’t come to be served, but to serve and to give My life a ransom for many.”

In the same chapter of John 6, verses 47-58 Jesus also said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven – not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

To be a part of a local church fellowship is both an honor and a calling – representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ looking out for others more than we look out for ourselves! The local assembly is “mutual submission”, yes, in the fear of the Lord, because it is to Him we each are held accountable as to our devotion or lack of it.

After 79 years of my life affiliated with a local church, I can say, even with a few “horror” stories, that I’ve been eternally blessed and seen birthed all around a sense of true brotherhood.

In John 17:20-23 Jesus prayed to Father-God: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

Hear Charles Haddon Spurgeon in his “Spurgeon’s Sermons”: [Memorial Library, Vol.18 “Spurgeon’s Sermons,” p.64], “Christians are not a miserable company of restless spirits; they are not a pack of dogs howling at one another, and smarting under the keeper’s leash; but they are a flock feeding in happy communion, while Jesus in their midst finds for them a place where they may rest at noon. He so loves His own, and so reveals Himself to His own, that they are a happy [blessed] people highly favored, and greatly honored. God has blessed them, and they shall be blessed, let the world say what it will concerning them.”

Timothy Dwight and Aaron Williams wrote the old hymn that needs a resurrection! It says: “I love Your kingdom, Lord, The house of Your abode, The Church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood.

I love Your Church, O God! Her walls before You stand, Dear as the apple of Your eye, And graven on Your hand.

For her my tears shall fall; for her my prayers ascend; To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.

Sure as Your truth shall last, To Zion shall be given, The brightest glories earth can yield, And highest bliss of heaven.” Amen?

Henry Ward Beecher made the following statement about the church: “The church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones.” Why not join the training and equipping as a “soldier” of the Cross?

Do you remember Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane? Matthew 26:39 says: He [Jesus] went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “Oh, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” And He went to the Cross – not sure momentarily it was where He wanted to be but where He needed to be, laying down His life in behalf of us!! Is that your prayer, your decision, your commitment to honor Christ through your “laid-down life”?

CHAPTER NINE

“HOW’S YOUR FAITH?”

It’s, yes, astounding to me that as I read Spurgeon for his pastoral insights and phenomenal handling of God’s Word, I came across statements that birthed a new direction of preparation in preaching or teaching God’s Word. He said, [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol.19,p.274], “The flesh sees honey in the drink, but faith at once perceives that there is poison in the cup.”

And there certainly is an eternity’s difference between man’s ‘flesh’ [his old, fallen sin nature] and God’s biblical faith. Spurgeon spoke about ‘flesh’ or ‘This sin is a very pleasurable thing, why should I not enjoy it? Surely I may eat this fruit which looks so charming, and is so much to be desired.” And you realize:

‘Flesh’ is blind to God and His Word. ‘Flesh’ is blind to sin, twisting Truth, distorting human personality and divine potential, grieving and gripping the inner man in Satanic slavery, promoting self-potential apart from divine intent, brutalizing divine purpose and plan, enslaving the ‘flesh’ to a godless life, omitting FAITH as THE DIVINE REMEDY OF AN IMPRISONED SOUL, substituting sin as the open door to true freedom when in reality it leads to chains and bondage and a cell or existence of fleshly limitation. “FLESH’ IS LIFE WITHOUT GOD, THE OLD MAN, THE FALLEN SIN NATURE!

Spurgeon went on to say so profoundly: “Faith spies the snake in the grass, and gives warning of it. Faith remembers death, judgment, the great reward, the just punishment, and that dread word – eternity. Faith sees the end as well as the beginning. Faith, while the feast is going on, reminds the revelers of the reckoning. Faith feels that she cannot buy the transient joys of the earth at the countless cost of an immortal soul. “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Blindness to God and His salvation is hopelessness with faithlessness as the uncertain foundation of one’s existence. Self-trust, self-determination, self-will, and self-rule are the four cornerstones of one’s empty dwellings but faith is the solid and sure foundation.

Without biblical faith, one is void of the understanding of the very heart of God. In Ezekial 18:31-32, God speaks today to you personally: “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die…? For I have no pleasure in the death of the one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”

That’s the very heart of the Lord God of Eternity – and He knows you, loves you, and wants you to be one with Him! It was John Calvin, in his “Institutes of the Christian Religion,” who wrote: “Faith is a knowledge of the benevolence of God toward us, and a certain persuasion of His veracity.”

It was Edwin Hubbell Chapin who said: “Skepticism has not founded empires, established principles, or changed the world’s heart. The great doers of history have always been men of faith.” So true!

And when it comes to human existence that is passionate for more, it’s only by faith that human existence is changed by Divine Presence through repentance toward God and FAITH in the finished work of Christ at the Cross! Truth-faith is “looking up to God,” “looking in to one’s heart-need,” and “looking around as to where one is to settle in serving and sharing our Lord and Savior”!

But, of course, multitudes live by ‘superstition’ rather than faith in God’s finished work. Others live by their mental superiority to the less fortunate, because it’s at least to them, ‘education’ that makes a man – not repentance and faith! Others have settled in to proving their own worth and value by what they do – not what has been done at Calvary’s Cross. It was Napoleon Bonaparte who once said: “All the scholastic scaffolding falls, as a ruined edifice, before one single word – faith.” It was Jesus who said in John 20:29, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed.”

Faith! What an intriguing, inspiring, entrusting word, that calls by personal examination, inward acknowledgement, and mind and heart full surrender to the God who blesses one with SAVING FAITH! Look at Ephesians 2:8!! “For by grace you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…”

Romans 1:16-17 is so clear! It says: (Paul speaking), “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew fist and also the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just [or justified or ‘just as if I’d never sinned’] shall live by faith.”

We WERE dead in our trespasses and sins, the Gospel is preached, the Spirit convicts and convinces, and by grace through faith, repenting, believing, and trusting, we are born to new life in Christ!

It was J.P. Scholfield who wrote the hymn, “Saved, Saved!” It says: “I’ve found a friend who is all to me, His love is ever true; I love to tell how He lifted me And what His grace can do for you…

He saves me from every sin and harm, Secures my soul each day; I’m leaning on His mighty arm. I know He’ll guide me all the way…

When poor and needy and all alone, In love He said to me, ‘Come unto Me and I’ll lead you home, To live with Me eternally…

Saved, by His power divine, Saved, to new life sublime! Life now is sweet and my joy is complete, For I’m saved, saved, saved!”

We’re SAVED BY FAITH, but I believe also that there is SECURITY IN FAITH! How could one ever believe that “God saves,” and yet His salvation is ‘insecure’? [Oh, I know there is a possibility of one who “falls away” – what a tragedy, but it has happened and, sadly, will happen! There are those who “take their eyes off the prize” and do “fall away”, a sad, serious, sinful consequence of disobedience or rebellion or defiance! Look at Hebrews 6:4-8, plus Luke 12:41-46!]

It may be Old Testament scripture but it is the Word of God, and the prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 26:2-4, said: “Open the gates that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. YOU [God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord is everlasting strength.”

In John 17:3 Jesus prayed to Father-God for us! He said: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Oswald Chambers, in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.93], wrote: “God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him. There are spots where that faith has not worked in us as yet, places untouched by the life of God. There were none of those spots in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours…The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.”

For the true believer there is to be that steadfastness of hope in us that what God has started, He will finish! In Job 13:15 Job told his ‘friends’: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” The process of faith requires the patience of faith, yes, patience with yourself!

Robert Browning, in “The Ring and the Book,” wrote: “There is but one way to browbeat this world, Dumb-founder doubt, and repay scorn in kind – To go on trusting, namely, till faith Move Mountains.” That means “hold on” in the journey of faith; “don’t let go” in the stressful times; “eyes on the goal” as you press in to Jesus!

In Revelation 3:10-13 Jesus speaks to us who are in His ‘church’ today: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

WE’RE SAVED BY FAITH, WE’RE SECURE IN FAITH, BUT ALSO THE JOURNEY OF FAITH IS A TEST OF CHOICE IN BEING EITHER INFLUENCED BY THE WORLD AROUND US OR OVERCOMING, YES, WORLDLY TESTS AND TEMPTATIONS BY EITHER REFUSING TO INDULGE IN THE FLESHLY STANDARDS IN THE WORLD OR TO LIVE SURRENDERED DAILY TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST! AND, I’m sure it’s both!

In 1 John 2:15-17 the beloved John challenges every believer: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him…

For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

It’s really interesting that Paul challenges all believers in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to “bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” when sadly, too many professing believers will yield to a world spirit that will dishonor Christ, but the Holy Spirit emphasizes one daily being transformed “by the renewing of the mind.”

There is a vast difference in human existence between those enslaved to their old sin natures or freed by the blood of Christ and birthed into “a new creation” that is, yes, divine in nature! In Ephesians 2:1-3 Paul described those in bondage to the “old man”: “And you He made alive, who were dead [spiritually dead to God] in trespasses and sins,

In which you once WALKED ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Among whom also WE ALL ONCE CONDUCTED OURSELVES IN THE LUSTS OF OUR FLESH, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

The ‘world spirit’ IS demonically inspired in powerful, tempting, lying, attractive and addictive with deadly alternatives and outcomes, enslaving, binding and bruising, contagious, producing sick spirits in the mind and heart, destroying, poisoning, entrapping, stripping of even common decency, which is what Paul was describing to Titus when in Titus 2:12 he spoke the opposite of worldly teaching that ‘covers’ or ‘denies’ ungodly and worldly lusts, but that true faith, saving faith, transforming faith, teaches us “to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

Worldly people are aware of ‘spiritual failure’ or ‘spiritual darkness’ or ‘spiritual emptiness’ which drives them to find ‘something’ or ‘someone’ to fill them up with something, but what they seek and find never satisfies because true satisfaction in life only comes by our Lord’s Resurrection Presence!

And guess what? His Holy Word tells us: 1 John 1:7, “If we walk in the light as He [Jesus] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sin.” GLORY TO GOD!

I love Oswald Chambers’ statement in “My Utmost For His Highest,” when he said: [p.268], “The evidence that I am delivered from sin is that I know the real nature of sin in me.” And, of course, we know, yes, we were “crucified with Christ,” sin, sin nature, and all contrary to the nature and character of God Himself!!

WE’VE SEEN THE FACT THAT WE’RE SAVED BY FAITH, WE’RE SECURE IN THE FAITH, WE FACE A TEST OF CHOICE IN OUR WALK, BUT ALSO WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO BUILD OURSELVES UP ON “YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH,” WHICH IS JUDE 20-21! It says:

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most Holy Faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life…”

You do understand “new birth” which tells us there are infants in the faith walk, children learning about the faith, teenagers tested about their allegiance to Truth, young adults, maturing adults, senior adults, all growing in grace and gripping the truth practically of a sanctifying faith, understanding maturely they’ve been “set apart” in honoring our Lord and Savior, and growing more in eternal love for their Lord and Savior!

I’m sure that much of our salvation-walk as infants in the faith and energetic children of faith is based upon, mostly, head faith, but as one matures in the faith-walk a person begins to discern ‘heart-faith’, that is, one willing to be led by the Holy Spirit of God and matured by faithfulness in and to God’s Holy Word.

No doubt this is why Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Saving, sanctifying faith is not in what I do, but what has been done through the sacrificial life of Christ and my absolute certainty and acceptance of His finished work on the Cross where he took me to the Cross with Him, and I was there crucified with Christ, and now He lives again and through my available body! It’s not “us” – it’s “Christ in us the hope of glory!”

There is such an illuminating word Jesus spoke in Luke 21:16-19. It says: “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience [steadfastness, disciplined walk] possess your souls.”

Does that relate to believers “putting on the whole armor of God”? Does that mean “seeking,” “searching,” “claiming,” “dressing,” “receiving,” all that our Lord has promised? I love Chambers’ words when he said: “Faith is not a pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love.” WOW! What are you building your life upon?

The journey of faith is a joyous journey, but sometimes there are those who “depart from the faith” – and it’s you and Jesus only! In 2 Timothy 4:16-18 Paul told his spiritual son, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be fully preached through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

In the previous chapter, Eight, you read “Dark Nights – Bright Lights.” Redemptive faith is not a dark night, but the “Bright Light” of Jesus Himself – and His Light never grows dim!

I pray you understand that at times a militaristic call to arms does arise for true believers, but without a doubt, I believe, Paul is talking here about a war against your own flesh, a war against the world spirit of unbelief, and a war against Satanic and demonic activity!

Discern Matthew 24:3-14 as you personally choose to do so, but don’t ignore or try to ‘sugar-coat’ our Lord’s words as He talked about the signs of the times and the end of “Israel’s age”! Jesus said: Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the ends of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you…

For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet…

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another…

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

I hope you understand that what has been spoken by Jesus is to alert ALL of “perilous times.” Our Lord and Savior high-lighted some very vital truths about these particular times called “last days”, which, no doubt, related to the rebellious nation, Israel, called “God’s Chosen People,” but a people who stubbornly rejected “Truth”, living “religiously” but “unsaved” or “born-again”!

Jesus said several things about those end times, and I believe also ultimately every nation’s “end-times”! Jesus said:

• It will be a time of great deception. Verses 4-5. 2) It will be a time of great conflict. Verses 6-7. 3) It will be a time of great suffering. Verses 8-10. 4) It will be a time of open sin. Verses 11-12. 5) It will be a time of great opportunity. Verses 13-14.

Are you prepared? Are you alert? Are you well-trained? Are you equipped? Are you prayed up? And, I would ask, ‘Are you ready to die for your faith?’ In Ephesians 6:16 Paul tells us, “above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

LASTLY, HAS ‘YOUR’ FAITH LED YOU TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO STAND FAST AND STRONG? In Galatians 5:1 Paul wrote: “Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

You do know that if Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed – no more bondage, no more slavery, no more chains, no more fear of an eternal Hell, no more entanglements of poor choices!

It was Robert J. McCracken who wrote: “We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls.” Oh, that once again true American history be restored to our classrooms!

Again, Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” I’m telling you, “standing fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,” is why John recorded Jesus’ word for us in Revelation 3:10, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

It’s more than enduring and persevering – it’s standing tall before Holy God with a heart of thanksgiving and joy for His gift of FAITH!! “For by grace you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves, it is THE GIFT OF GOD!” GLORY!!

Ray Palmer and Lowell Mason wrote the Hymn, “My Faith Looks Up To Thee.” It says:

“My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, O let me from this day Be wholly Thine!…

May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire; As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!…

While life’s dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my guide; Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow’s tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside…

When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream Shall o’er me roll; Blest Savior, then, in love, Fear and distrust remove, O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!”

CHAPTER TEN

“VOID OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH”

Reading the Book of Hosea recently, I came across an interesting, sad verse of Holy Scripture. Hosea 8:11-12 addresses ‘Ephraim’ but speaks of the very apostasy of Israel! It says: “Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin, they have become for him altars for sinning. I have written for him the great things of My law, but they were considered a strange thing.”

Are you aware of even America becoming a “strange thing” related to its avoidance of God’s historic, anointed Word? I know that Herrick Johnson wrote the following words many years ago, but it is so up to date with a nation that is being consumed with the spirit of ‘worldliness’: “Buying, possessing, accumulating, this is not worldliness. – But doing this in the love of it, with no love to God paramount – doing it so that thoughts of God and eternity are an intrusion – doing it so that one’s spirit is secularized in doing it – this is worldliness.”

A nation consumed by the spirit of worldliness? Yes, a people living a thankless existence, a people captured in the spirit of ungratefulness, a people that vainly shuts the door to God’s will and purpose for their very existence, a people imprisoned to the world, the flesh, and the devil, a people that “sing” the “songs” of “freedom”, not knowing the chains that bind their hearts and minds to Holy God and pump rebellion and disobedience through mortal ‘flesh’?

Would you dare agree with me that “brain-fed” men and women who major on “closed doors” to God Almighty uphold allegiance to their “common sense” and profess devotion to their “brilliance” as better service to themselves than the “redemptive faith” and shed blood of the Lamb of God for their sins and sin nature?

I pray that you clearly understand that Satan himself had a disrespect of Godly control and was consumed with the desire for ruling control over himself and the world as he saw it under his evil domination! As a result, we know the devil is the birther and author of lives consumed by deadened consciences ‘he promotes’! His ‘kingdom’ is this fallen world plagued by “religious activity void of the Holy Presence of the Resurrected Christ”!

The ‘kingdom of darkness’, authored by the devil himself, is rabid resistance to anything, anyone who has a relationship with Holy God – if you belong to Christ, you have an enemy who promotes spiritual death to Holy God! The devil is not interested in “redemptive reconciliation” with Holy God through the blood sacrifice of Jesus – so he sends out his army of demons and fleshly slaves to turn you away from Christ Jesus!

In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 Paul wrote: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…”

And I tell you: THERE IS NO LOYALTY TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST APART FROM HIS BLOOD REDEMPTION AT CALVARY’S CROSS!! What did Paul tell us in Galatians 3:26? “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

But, sadly, in John 5:39-47, Jesus exposed ‘religious Jews’ who rejected His blood redemption! Jesus said: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life…

I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive…

How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and you do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you before the Father; there is one who accuses you – Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My word?”

Follow carefully Hebrews 10:19-23!! “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God,…

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” How blessed are these words to spiritually needy hearts!?!

If it’s in a man’s mind and heart to please God, what is the end of that journey of faith? But if it is not in a man’s mind and heart to please God, what doors has he opened to missing out on oneness with Christ Jesus and eternal blessings? Read with me Hebrews 6:1-6!

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits…

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

There are no doubts in my mind at all about those who’ve been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, partaken of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, because my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, does not “die” again on the cruel Cross, and allow Himself to be put in “open shame” – He is now exalted at the right hand throne of God as King of kings and Lord of lords!

I choose resurrection life, resurrection power, and resurrection hope! But to choose to set aside Christ Jesus is to choose a path “Void of Faith”, embracing self-righteousness, self-will, and self-destiny! And the results of that choice?

FIRST, VOID OF FAITH IS THE CHOICE OF THE ABSENCE OF DIVINE LIFE. Are you aware of our Lord’s anointed word through Paul in Galatians 5:24? “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” But ‘void of redemptive faith’, many choose the ‘death-walk’ of the flesh [old sin-nature] over “resurrection life in Christ!” They ‘love’ the flesh with its passions and desires!

Galatians 5:19-21 illumines, I pray, a fallen man’s deathly path! “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Are you at all familiar with one being eternally banished from the presence of Holy God? Do you understand the healthiest physical specimen on the face of the earth without “eternal hope” because he/she lives with the absence of redemptive faith, having the physical desire only to satisfy his/her lusts, with no desire at all to be one with God, know Him, or please Him, but ingrained to honor the very worst of fallen humanity’s grave sin-sickness?

If the Holy Word challenges us with “without faith it is impossible to please God,” [Hebrews 11:6], is it because fallen mankind feels he can decide what God should accept from him, even if it comes from a selfish heart, selfish life, and selfish motive? You do understand that much of ‘religious faith’ that is not ‘redemptive faith’ can capture people to the point they become ‘self-determining’ of what should please God!

And my text here, Galatians 5:24, reveals, yes, the necessity of flesh crucified with its passions and desires if we are to become partakers of His “resurrection life, power, and hope”! I thank God for the precious privilege of witnessing world-wide people who conduct their own funerals of death to the old man, death to the old sin nature, and gladly accepting the eternal truth of them being “crucified with Christ”, and glad of it!

Void of faith is the absence of divine life? In Matthew 16:24-26 Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, or loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

One void in redemptive faith is one in perverted ‘love’ of his sinful self, his shell of fleshly domination, denying the need of divine life, in ‘love’ with self-will, self-pleasure, counterfeiting ‘lust’ as true love, and declaring self-achievements as true offerings to a God he/she has no desire to honor or serve or bless! And what did Jesus say? “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself”?

SECOND, VOID OF FAITH IS THE ABSENCE OF THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. In Philippians 1:9-11 Paul shared his prayer for all true believers. He prayed: “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Christ Jesus, to the glory and praise of God.”

Oh, in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, I believe Paul, by the Holy Spirit, reveals why many in the lost world without Christ don’t know or understand because many, commissioned by Jesus as “ambassadors”, are not fulfilling their calling as true “witnesses” of the living, redemptive faith! He said: “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

In Christ, partakers of the very righteousness of God! Did we just read, “For He [God!] made Him [Jesus Christ!] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”? What did Jesus say in John 15:4? “Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

And just how spiritually enriching is Galatians 5:22-25? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Are you a “spiritual fruit-bearer”? In John 15:5 Jesus said: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing.”

THIRD, VOID OF FAITH IS THE ABSENCE OF ETERNAL PURPOSE. As Paul wrote his letter to the Philippian church fellowship and us, he so longed for them and for us to be spiritually alerted to eternal purpose. But sadly I’m not sure this awareness is faithfully taught by most of the churches today!

Paul wrote in Philippians 1:19-21, “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

A ‘living faith’ IS “the Indwelling Christ” – and the victorious warrior lives by the “life of Another – even by Jesus only!”

In Colossians 1:26-28 Paul highlights God’s “eternal purpose”: “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” What an amazing Word from God to us who repent and trust in Christ’s eternal purpose!

In “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.249], Oswald Chambers wrote: “There is only one relationship that [eternally] matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.” Amen?

FOURTH, VOID OF FAITH IS THE ABSENCE OF BIBLICAL AWARENESS. In Matthew 4:1-4 we read about Jesus in the wilderness, “led by the Spirit …to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew said, “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But Jesus answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

But are you aware that many “professing believers” live on a starvation diet when it comes to the Word of God? In John 6:63 Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” Then in Verse 64 Jesus shared, “But there are some of you who do not believe.” And Jesus was talking about those who seldom, if ever, put their feet under the table of the Lord, feeding faithfully, daily, off His life-giving Word!

Is it a stretch for you that “you cannot believe and respond to the Word you do not know”?

Also, after saying in John 6:63-64 that, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life, But there are some of you who do not believe,” in Verses 66-68, we read, “From that time ‘many of His disciples’ went back and walked no more with Him. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’”

‘Void of faith is the absence of biblical awareness?’ Follow with me 1 Corinthians 2:9-12!! But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!

FIFTH, VOID OF FAITH IS THE ABSENCE OF HEAVENLY PLEASURE. As Jesus continued to minister and equip His circle of disciples, He said to them in Luke 12:31-32, “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Are you aware of “God’s good pleasure”?

In Hebrews 11:24-27 Moses was a man of God with a consuming passion of being a recipient of God’s heavenly pleasures, not ignoring them, but faithfully appropriating them to the very honor of God! The Word tells us: “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, CHOOSING RATHER TO SUFFER AFFLICTION WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

Did you notice “the passing pleasures of sin”? That wasn’t Moses’ desire or ambition or purpose! His holy purpose was “the Father’s good pleasure”! What blesses God? What honors the Son? What gives glory to the Holy Spirit? Heavenly pleasure to God, through YOU, is YOU led out of yourself to dying to yourself that the Resurrection Life of Christ be manifested in and through your mortal flesh!

Do you understand abandonment to fleshly pleasure and so “all in” to God’s pleasure becomes your earthly ambition to His glory, honor, and praise? But if you are ‘void of faith’, your earthly existence simply produces headaches and heartaches and certainly gives you no lasting pleasure that brings glory to Him through your earthly walk!

Last, VOID OF FAITH IS THE ABSENCE OF THE PASSION TO KNOW WHAT GOD SAYS. Or, I might explain my intent here in a better way by asking, “Is there a ‘counterfeit’ of outward allegiance apart from the desire to truly be one with God?”

You do understand that it truly is in a man’s mind and heart to decide if he’s even interested in the things of God – he will either open or close that door!

It’s more than mental assent – it’s heart surrender, full surrender, to the honor and glory of God alone! In the old “Broadman Hymnal” of 1940 there is a hymn written by W.S. Weeden and J.W.VanDeVenter entitled “I Surrender All”. It says:’

“All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow; Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior, wholly Thine; Let me feel the Holy Spirit – Truly know that You are mine.

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Your love and power, Let Your blessing fall on me.

I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”

Is that true of you? Have You truly taken hold of Him who is Lord, Savior, Master of all? Have you ventured your all on Him? It was Spurgeon who once said: “I shall not be delivered from the wrath to come, by believing that His atonement is sufficient; but I shall be saved, by making that atonement my trust, my refuge, and my all.”

Tell me about YOUR “Redemptive Faith” – a void, a vacuum, or a Victorius Faith because it is faith in the finished work of Christ alone?!?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“FAITHFULNESS OR DISTRESSING DISGUISES?”

I don’t know how you’ll respond to the title of this message because only you really know the secret chambers of your heart and mind. Why? Appearances can be deceiving; outward ‘show’ can be simply fictitious, uneventful heart-change, or a desire not to be exposed to what one really believes.

It was C.S.Lewis who once wrote: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because of it I see everything else.” But then in a real world of life and death, success or failure, blessing and disappointment, true examples and pretenders, wise or blinded, divine fruit or diseased or dis-eased citizens, people will either “press in to Him” or fall away by their own free will – “nothing to do with Jesus – I have my own religion!”

Don’t you find it interesting, convicting, and challenging, that in Revelation 2:10b, Jesus tells us: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”? Is it possible that some begin the walk of faith, are faithful for a period of time in what they know, and then walk away? “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Are bad turns made away from the highway of holiness that lead to ‘dead-end’ places? Does disappointment in one’s self or others mean, “I choose to be disappointed in Jesus also”? If a ‘Texas dust storm’ can restrict your vision, can a believer’s storm of doubt cast dark shadows on one’s devotion and allegiance and all-out surrender to the King of kings and Lord of lords?

Oh, and hear me – can a preacher-pastor’s ‘falling away’ be the ‘straw that breaks the camel’s back,’ and you decide, “I want nothing more to do with ‘phony Christianity’?”

In Ezekial 18:23 God spoke: “Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” And whatever is opposite of the Word and the will of God and His ways is determined wicked and brings a judgment of death – and God says, “turn from YOUR ways and live!” He went on to say in Verses 31-32, “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord. “Therefore turn and live!”

I know, and I assume you also know, that there are “distressing disguises”! It’s so evident by spiritual blindness, unholy hearing, willful rejection, painful indifference, yes, even deeply-wounded scars from spiritual events of the past that one holds on to, residence in a jail of unforgiveness because someone, somehow, somewhere led them down, they believe, to a place, a practice, a persuasion that didn’t line up with the desire for a ‘godly lifestyle’ but an ungodly lifestyle even when the Word declared and still declares ‘separate from sinners.’

I’m really sorry, but I do not see projected in God’s Holy Word ‘comfort’ or ‘comfortable’ or ‘pleasurable for the flesh’ in a world where Holy Truth is seen as needed to be suppressed and certainly worthless in schools, universities, or any governmental institution locally or nationally!

How dangerous is it for men of all standings, places, rankings, abilities or, education or the absence of it, to find themselves in a place they don’t feel comfortable, identifying themselves as men unreservedly sold out to Christ so they ignore the church Jesus loved and gave Himself for, going the way of “silent allegiance” when Jesus instructs us to identify ourselves as His true followers and devoted to build up, strengthen, and, yes, laboring for His church-body’s success?

“Distressing disguises”? Are you ever confronted by those who once have known Truth and then, all of a sudden, because of multitudinous fleshly crises, the door was opened to cast doubt on the Word of God? Sadly, I’ve known men over the years who so devotedly shared God’s Holy Word, but crisis came from business, family, spiritual family, resulting in undefinable criticism, and like a wounded ‘puppy’ they crawl away from upholding Truth!

“Distressing Disguises”? Are you aware of those who have been ingrained with partial truth and they profess “Peace, peace! When there is no peace”? [Jeremiah 6:14]. It’s as if the ‘gospel’ they held onto was ‘peaches and cream’ without Jesus’ word, “In the world you will have tribulation!” I would urge every disciple over the next three to four months to devote himself/herself to the four gospels and determine if Jesus ever talked about a ‘trouble-free walk of discipleship!’

“Distressing disguises”? Do you remember in the Gospel of John Jesus telling the scribes and Pharisees that denying Him was the result that they never knew the One True and Living God? In John 8:13 they told Jesus, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.” In the eighth chapter alone Jesus told the ‘religious crowd’ about 4 times, similar to Verse 21, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”

“Distressing disguises”? I hope it doesn’t seriously offend you if I tell you that there are “sticklers” for legalism apart from God’s grace, mercy, and love! On the tablet of stone God carved out and imprinted Ten Commandments that exposed men as true ‘law-breakers’ in need of mercy, grace, and love, but deception blinded men to their true need of God because they graded by the ‘curve’, wanting acceptance by self-effort rather than acceptance through the finished work of Christ at the Cross, with God then writing His love, His law, and His liberty on a redeemed heart! How about your devotion? Is it by law or the very love of Calvary’s Cross and the reality of Jesus’ empty tomb and present residence in Heaven at the throne of God interceding in your behalf?

“Distressing disguises”? Have you not wrapped your mind around the fact that fallen humanity is fully absorbed in the mind-set and heart- absorption of materialism, and the more one has, the nearer he/she is to God? Yet, our Lord and Savior and True Master of all of life has said, Matthew 16:24-26, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life [for himself] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

“Distressing disguises”? You’ll remember as Moses was leading Israel to the Promised Land there came a time when he went up on the mountain for an alone-time with God that became a long time – and his people became anxious.

They went to Aaron and told him, Exodus 32:1, “Up, make us gods which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what is become of him.” Verse 4 tells us that he, Aaron, received golden earrings from the people, and fashioned it with a graving tool into a “molten calf”; and the people said, “This be our gods who brought us out of the land of Egypt.” Then the end of Verse 6 tells us, “and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” God then told Moses, “your people, Moses, which you brought out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them.”

Has anything changed? What is it that has become your own ‘distressing disguise’? Reality speaks so loud and clear as when Samuel said in 1 Samuel 10:19, about some in Israel, “And you have this day rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to Him, “No, set a king over us!”

At least David had the sane attitude of brokenness, repentance, and turning from that which scarred him and others so deeply. In Psalm 25:17-22 he prayed: “The troubles of my heart have enlarged; bring me out of my distresses! Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.”

I’m sure you’ll remember Paul challenging the church at Corinth when he said in 2 Corinthians 6:12, “You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.” And he paid a heavy price for standing in truth! He said to the Corinthians and us in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, FOR CHRIST’S SAKE. For when I am weak, then I am strong [in Him].”

Paul further testified in 2 Corinthians 13:4-6, “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.”

In Christ you are made to soar, not to sink; you’re a new creation in Him to live victoriously, not defeated; in Him you overcome the devil himself and his temptations, not swallowed up in a sea of denial of truth or ocean depths of drownings in deceptions opposite of Holy Revelation, Eternal Truth, and His ever-abiding presence in you!

“Distressing disguises”? I picked up again recently Mark Levin’s book entitled “LIBERTY OR TYRANNY,” sub-titled “A Conservative Manifesto.” I read it several years ago, but on the back cover of his book he had a statement of Abraham Lincoln, spoken in 1864. Lincoln said, “We all declare liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men’s labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name – liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names – liberty and tyranny.”

Do you remember the unbelieving Pharoah of Egypt? In Exodus 5:1-2 we read, “Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharoah, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ And Pharoah said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.’”

It’s certainly not always true, but it seems, for some like Pharoah, that ‘wealth’ or ‘riches’ lead an awful lot of people to bow down in idolatry and not live in worship, praise, or thanksgiving, with adoration, exaltation, submission, and loyalty to the God who laid down His Son at the Cross! “That’s not MY calling!” – have you ever heard that? “I serve the Lord who blesses me,” yet the Lord God Almighty, Emmanuel (“God With Us”), Savior and Lord, Master of all of life, said in Deuteronomy 30:14-20, “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, THAT YOU MAY DO IT. [“Why, You legalistic God! Who would want to submit to Your Word, Your Will, Your way? Not me!”] See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God WILL BLESS YOU in the land which you go to possess. BUT IF YOUR HEART TURNS AWAY SO THAT YOU DO NOT HEAR [and some choose, ‘I don’t want to hear what God says!’] and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today THAT YOU SHALL SURELY PERISH; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

[And just as a reminder if you have questions about what you just read and its spiritual relevance to New Testament disciples, John 8:56 says, Jesus speaking: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”]

“Distressing disguises”! I pastored a church many years ago in which a very visible leader became involved in an adulterous relationship with another church member. In my office he denied it and assured me it never happened.

A few weeks later I received a late night call to hurry to a particular home where the police had already arrived. The church leader was in the home of his adulteress mate with an irate, almost uncontrollable husband.

The church leader had lied and then resigned his visible office in the church. I advised our church officers or deacons that this situation required church discipline, but they ALL said, “He’s our friend, and it won’t happen. He deserved better than having to care for a sick wife!’ Within a short time, God moved our leadership role as pastor elsewhere!

When open sin is ignored it manifests itself in abundant rebellion to God’s Holy Word – I heard years later that adultery, broken marriages, and a suffering church had about died, until several pastors later God placed His new man in a strong place of leadership – now, the church prospers spiritually.

“Distressing disguises”! I was reading Spurgeon recently. [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol.15, pps. 78-79]. He said: “Is it so, that because you are yourself a member of a flourishing church, and because you enjoy all sorts of Christian privileges, you therefore harden your heart concerning dying churches and desponding saints? Do you imagine that the body can be sick, and yet you as a member of it will not suffer? I tell you, if the church of God goes aside it will be to your injury; if the truth of God be not preached you will be a loser; if a Christian life be not vigorous you will be weakened.” (p.80), “If you are not creating a holy warmth, the chill of sin is freezing you.”

‘Ice-berg city’ – the gathering of chilled believers! ‘Ice-berg city’ – the union place of divided allegiances! ‘Ice-berg city’ – the creeping sickness of unconscious allegiance to self-birthing of paralyzed infants who don’t know where they came from or where they are headed. The Lord Jesus said in Revelation 3:11, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” [It would be worth your effort and time to research about “your crown.”]

“Distressing disguises”! It was so interesting and challenging recently when in Luke 16:1-13 I read about the parable of the unjust steward. Read carefully and consider your walk as a professing disciple of Christ! Jesus also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.

So he called him and said to him, “What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.” [I pray you realize “stewardship” has much more to do in your walk than what you “give” in money!]

Then the steward said within himself, “What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.” So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Is Jesus teaching us about faithfulness in ‘little things’? Is He teaching us about money and its blessing or curse? Is He informing us about faithfulness in what belongs to another man? But now, let’s transition from “distressing disguises” to “FAITHFULNESS”! We’ve just witnessed Jesus talking about “faithfulness” in three ways. Is there more in His precious and powerful Word we should discern and apply?

It’s not difficult to grasp or understand or comprehend the subject of “faithfulness” – the battle comes when faith and faithfulness must be exercised and YOU must discern for yourself, ‘a walk of fleshly sight and its desires OR a walk of faith and faithfulness to honor the God of the Cross and the empty tomb and His eternal reign!

I do not know or understand how a person reads or hears read Ephesians 2:4-8, 12-13, and determines to walk away from saving grace! It says: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…Verses 12-13, that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH AND BY FAITH ALONE! That’s what you just read!

WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH! Examine Romans 3:19-26 very, very carefully: “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Do you remember the lame man outside the temple asking alms as Peter and John were about to go in? Follow Acts 3:6-16, 19-20, 23, 26:

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them – walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Soloman’s Porch, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: ‘Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pontius Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.

But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know.

Verses 19-20, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before…

Verse 23, And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people…Verse 26, To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

WE ARE TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH. In Acts 14:21-22 Paul was endeavoring to build a solid foundation in new disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. The Word says: “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND, RECEIVE, WALK IN THE WALK OF OUR HEART, MIND, SOUL, AND SPIRIT PURIFICATION BY FAITH. Acts 15:6-9 says: Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” [Don’t ever overlook, minimize, or ignore God saying, “..by faith”!! Which leads us to:

WE ARE TO WALK IN THE PEACEFUL REST OF FAITH LIKE ABRAHAM. In Romans 4:1-8 we read of the faith of faithful Abraham: “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

WE ARE TO BE EMPOWERED BY FAITH – NOT IN THE EARTHLY WISDOM OF MEN. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 instructs us: Paul speaking, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

WE ARE TO BE AT PEACE IN OURSELVES BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST AT THE CROSS. Galatians 2:20 illumines our minds and hearts as Paul tells us: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh II live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Verse 21, I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

WE ARE TO BE DILIGENT TO THE END BECAUSE OF OUR INHERITANCE OF GOD’S PROMISES. In Hebrews 6:11-12 we see our calling as true believers: “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

WE ARE TO BE WELL-TRAINED, PERSONALLY DISCIPLINED, AS A TRUE SOLDIER IN GOD’S ARMY, NOT GIVEN AN ‘AWOL’ SPIRIT, BUT DEVOTED TO HIM AND THE CHURCH JESUS LOVED AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR AND THE WORLD MINISTRY OF EVANGELISM HE INSTILLED! Paul wrote young Timothy as a wise spiritual father, 2 Timothy 2:1-4, “You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

Earlier, in 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul told Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

You do understand that we serve a God and Lord and Savior who is so ever faithful to us! In Lamentations 3:22-27 Jeremiah shared both a broken heart because of Israel’s sin but also a peaceful heart and soul because he knew the faithfulness of God’s compassion:

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS!! ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.”

And I have no doubts that this is why Isaiah encourages us in Isaiah 25:1 because he knew God’s faithfulness: “O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”

Because of our Lord’s faithfulness, His people sprout and bear His fruitfulness! Because of our Lord’s faithfulness to us, our faithfulness to Him is not to be a probability but a sure certainty! Because of our Lord’s faithfulness, we don’t enlist for a seat in a church pew but a place in the front-line of a holy war! Because of our Lord’s faithfulness, we’re not to be inventers of simply religious activities but fully surrendered lives available to His presence, power, purpose, and promises to be expressed through our available lives!

It was the old “The Defender” who had this quote: “Faith is dead to doubt, dumb to discouragement, blind to impossibilities.” How true!

Off-key lives are invaded by the “Master-Tuner” and discords vanish and perfect harmonies erupt! When repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross finds a permanent home, empty barrels become the overflowing presence of His never-ending LIFE!!

Faithfulness is not a philosophy but Divine Presence, holy certainty, continual blessing, and a sacred marriage of eternal bliss!

Faithfulness is the Shining Sonlight of the resident Christ within, the evidence of God’s Holy Presence, and the certainty of the Holy Spirit’s fulfilling ministry in sons and daughters of faith.

It was B.B. McKinney who wrote the old hymn, “Have Faith In God.” “Have faith in God when your pathway is lonely, He sees and knows all the way you have trod; Never alone are the least of His children; Have faith in God, Have faith in God.

Have faith in God when your prayers are unanswered, Your earnest plea He will never forget; Wait on the Lord, trust His Word and be patient; Have faith in God, He’ll answer yet.

Have faith in God in your pain and your sorrow, His heart is touched with your grief and despair; Cast all your cares and your burdens upon Him, and leave them there, oh, leave them there.

Have faith in God though all else fail about you; Have faith in God, He provides for His own; He cannot fail though all kingdoms perish, He rules, He reigns upon His throne.” AMEN?

CHAPTER TWELVE

“FAITH AND ITS FRUITFULNESS”

Faith? Mental assent but no moral change? Best effort or dead to self, alive in Christ? Fleshly efforts or Master-Full Presence? Self-discipline or divine provision? Carnal creativity filling one full of fleshly pride or spiritual awareness of God’s Holy Presence honoring Himself through you? Faith? Pats on the back for one’s fleshly ambition and determination without God’s help or the “pity-me-awareness” that “I didn’t think I needed God’s help, but I do”?

Do you remember John the Baptist’s statement or declaration in John 3:30? “He must increase, but I must decrease”? I was reading this Scripture in Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.60], and inspired for this chapter when he said, “Over and over again, we become ‘amateur providences’, we come in and prevent God; and say – “This and that must not be.” Instead of proving friends of the Bridegroom, we put our sympathy in the way, and the soul will one day say – “That one was a thief, he stole my affections from Jesus, and I lost my vision of Him.”

But it’s not only ‘lost visions’ and ‘stolen affections’ – it relates heavily to fleshly indulgences, inordinate affections, inspired ‘self-awareness’, and a scripture-less absence of divine, eternal intent and purpose as a vessel through which Christ is Himself!

True biblical faith is not faith in ourselves or a mindful determination of our personal ‘qualities’ that can help the cause of Christ in our world today – it’s the “crucified life” made available to His “Resurrection Presence” in us and through us!

So much of ‘religious activity’ today relates to promotion of self or the dedication of the ‘old man’ with all of his natural abilities, personal instincts, human strengths and resources, that many ‘offer’ to God, when in Romans 6:13 Paul wrote wisely: “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

How futile for fallen men to consecrate their fallen sin natures to God’s glory! I hate to tell you, but God is not interested in you presenting your “old man” on an altar of dedication – 1 Peter 1:18 speaks of “your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers” when God tells us of the “precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” given to resurrect us all from the dead and bringing us into true “Faith and Its Fruitfulness”, not in aimless conduct but atoned creations!

But there is no fruitfulness apart from redemptive faith! In Romans 6:15-22 Paul instructs us all in “Faith and Its Fruitfulness”: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness…

I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, “you have YOUR FRUIT” to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

Did you catch it? In the “old man” walk, “what fruit did you have in the things of which you are now ashamed”? But, if Christ IS your gift of eternal life, tell me about your becoming “God’s slave” and now your “fruit to holiness”!! The “old man” walk is “bad, unacceptable, and imperfect” while the true walk of faith is “transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The lack of redemptive faith in one’s life is the evidence of ‘self-assertion,’ the evidence of unwillingness to be ‘ruled over’ by Holy God, the evidence of selfish ideals, strong self-wills, fleshly idols, sinful entrapments, even contentment in falling short of the glory of God!

But early in this chapter I pray, yes, you’re convicted that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!” And I assure you that “Faith and Its Fruitfulness” is a vital part of understanding God’s “Master-Full” purpose in the salvation event that begins your journey into “the glory of God”, granting you, like Paul, “the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ”!

In Romans 8:27-30 we read: “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit of God is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose…

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [predetermined] to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” [Can you say, “Glory”?] Do you know what Hebrews 2:10 says? “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, ‘IN BRINGING MANY SONS TO GLORY’, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

Are YOU really aware of God the Father’s purpose in “bringing many sons to glory”? It was Peter who wrote in 2 Peter 1:2-4, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Would you dare highlight what Peter tells us about “WHAT GOD HIMSELF HAS DONE IN OUR BEHALF”? Multiplied grace and peace, granted us the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord, divine power granted us all things relating to life and godliness, expanded to us the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, He personally called us to Himself, He gave us great and precious promises, He opened the door that we might be partakers of, yes, the divine nature, and granted us the way of escape from corruption and lust that is poisoning the world! “Amazing Grace”!!

Thank God for men like Paul who interceded for both the Ephesians and us today when he wrote in Ephesians 1:15-21, “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus [where is YOUR “faith” placed?] and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”

“Faith in the Lord Jesus”? But you do realize that many faithless, unbelieving, self-centered individuals, reject ‘biblical faith’ and pour themselves into cynicism, a radical faith in themselves without God, and void of any answers for their guilt, their emptiness, their skepticism, their soul-darkness, their constant, off-key discords, trying to live their best on their philosophical probabilities, their false pride, and even their vain, irrational belief in “life’s success” without God!

This is why in Romans 1:16-17 Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew and also for the Greek. For in it [in what?] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.” And that’s “FAITH in the finished work of Christ at the Cross of Calvary and nothing else!”

You are aware of many people who deny saving grace and redemptive faith and are out to prove by ‘self-effort’ they can ‘redeem’ themselves from their fallen sin natures, which is so utterly ridiculous! I high-lighted in the previous chapter Romans 3:19-26, which I urge you to read again right now before continuing, but beyond that passage, wrestle with Romans 3:28,31-32,and Romans 4:1-8!

Paul emphasized “faith accounted to him for righteousness.” Faith in what or who? In Romans 6:4-11 we read, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life…

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, KNOWING THIS, that our old man was crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin….

For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him…

For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. LIKEWISE YOU ALSO, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” DO YOU THINK THIS MIGHT BE WHY PAUL SAID: “I DIE DAILY” – or “I take the sentence of death unto myself that the resurrection life of Christ might be manifested in my mortal flesh!”?

“FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION”! That, my friends, is “the finished work”! It’s more than rational what Jesus did in obedience to the Father – it is historically, eternally revelational and divinely regenerative, making all things new! This, no doubt, is why Merv Rosell once said: “Faith is saying “Amen” to God!”

Faith IS heaven opened daily to see and know and converse with and surrender to God the Father seated on the Throne of Glory, Christ Jesus seated beside Him, and the Holy Spirit enveloping the Godhead in His Crown and Cloud of Glory, and those of redemptive faith singing our hymns of praise and adoration – and that’s already begun even before we get there!

Faith is God’s gift of eternal light that never dims, but even when times and spaces experience darkness , His gift of faith never is overwhelmed or overshadowed by that darkness because His gift of light and faith extends our vision and understanding even beyond what we can see with the naked eye!

Faithlessness is ‘out of harmony’ lives producing ‘off-key’ results, but redemptive faith is experiencing daily God’s “Hallelujah Chorus”! Faithlessness IS the very absence of God in one’s life continually producing for eternity’s sake the spirit of hopelessness, but ‘in Christ’ one lays hold of the hope that never dies!

It was Robert Cecil who once said: “Faith makes all evil good to us, and all good better; unbelief makes all evil good, and all evil worse. Faith laughs at the shaking of the spear; unbelief trembles at the shaking of a leaf, unbelief starves the soul; faith finds food in famine, and a table in the wilderness. In the greatest danger, faith says, ‘I have a great God.’ When outward strength is broken, faith rests on the promises. In the midst of sorrow, faith draws the sting out of every trouble, and takes out the bitterness from every affliction.”

I find it so strange and bewildering that faithless men have no understanding or comprehension of God so loving the world at large, and that lost man in particular, to the point that He desperately wants him and will not be satisfied or blessed without him – so He demonstrates the depth of His love for that, yes, one lost sinner, by sacrificing His Son on the Cross! He, the God of Calvary’s loving sacrifice, is passionate for fallen mankind to be “partakers of His divine nature”!

The salvation work of faith is not a matter of personal ‘reformation’ or the best effort of personal ‘refinement’ or even personal ‘restructuring’ of one’s priorities, but understanding and resting in the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross in our behalf! In Acts 2:36-39 we read, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’…

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and [because you have repented] let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…

For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

And I guarantee you, “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and faith in Christ alone!”

That’s repentance and faith and obedience publicly exercised! And one becomes the literal vessel of God’s Holy, Resurrected, Indwelling Presence!

Now, as a result of true redemptive “faith”, one begins the redemptive walk and journey in “fruitfulness”! In fact, in Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus instructs us in how we discern “false prophets”! He said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS…

Do men gather grapes from thorn-bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit…

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

Are you aware that in the walk of biblical faith that there must be also the walk of discerning men producing “bad fruit” and men producing “good fruit”? Didn’t Jesus Himself say, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them,” evil men or godly men! ? !

Thank God, our Lord and Savior, by His Holy Presence in the lives of truly repentant and born again men, produces “fruit” to honor and bless the Living God and Father of us all! Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

Understanding God’s creation, we know from Adam’s story in the birth of humanity that Almighty God revealed to him a choice between “the tree of life” which is very God of very God, or the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” It was Watchman Nee who wrote in his “The Normal Christian Life,” [pps.80-81], “He [God] planted two trees, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…These two trees, then, typify two deep principles; they represent two planes[plains actually] of life, the divine and the human. The ‘tree of life’ is God Himself for God is life. He is the highest form of life, and He is also the source and goal of life…If Adam should take the tree of life, he would partake of the life of God. Thus he would become a ‘son’ of God, in the sense of having in him a life that derived from God. There you would have God’s life in union with man; a race of men having the life on God in them and ‘living in constant dependence upon God for that life.’ But if instead Adam should turn the other way, and take of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, then he would develop his own manhood along natural lines apart from God.”

And the result of ‘life’ apart from God? That’s fallen countenances, fallen-away minds and hearts, failed inheritances, spiritually dead bodies wandering in life apart from eternal purpose, fallen away sickness of sin and its consequences,, fallen away from heaven on earth, Truth fallen away, “crowns” fallen away, fallen away from divine Presence and divine blessing, fallen from holiness and sinking in to the depths of sin and death, fallen into a deep sleep, and fallen away from grace, mercy, and love!

Oh, but look at the Eternally blessed Word of God in John 1:12-13! “But as many as received Him [Christ Jesus], to them He [God] gave the right to become children of God to those who believe [trust in, rely upon, adhere to] in His name; who were born, not of blood, not of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” The question of eternal significance for you? “Have you truly “been born again, the second time, born from above, born of God”?

You’ll remember that in Matthew 7:17-20 Christ Jesus told us: “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

It was John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, who said in Matthew 3:8, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…”, indicating “good fruit” that comes out of the overflow of a "new,” “born-again,” “repentant,” “reconciled to God individual”!

Holy God does not send out His “messengers”, His “ambassadors”, with a message of ‘reformation’ or re-construction or re-adjustments, but a message of the second birth; “Tell them, ‘You must be born again!’”

When you study intently Jesus’ words about new disciples and their ministries, you learn about ‘soil preparation, seed planting, and, yes, harvest of the fruit that comes out of good trees,’ and in the spiritual realm, that’s lost life soil preparation, that’s planting the ‘seed’ of the Word of God, and seeing birthed through your witness redeemed lives! And Jesus tells us “the fields are already white, ready for harvest”! Are YOU harvesting?

Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” But that wise ministry of winning souls to Christ is not by the best of human effort but availability to the Holy Spirit! Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

One of those “redemptive evidences” of true faith is found in John 7:38-39 when Jesus said: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Oswald Chambers wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.184], “Think of the healing and far-flung rivers nursing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up marvelous truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is an indication of the wider power of the river He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has nourished in you mighty torrents of blessing for others.”

I don’t know how you’ll respond to it, but I want you to consider very seriously the words of Proverbs 12:14a and Verse 17-20! “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth…” Verses 17-20, “He who speaks truth declared righteousness, but a false witness, deceit. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy.”

“A redemptive evidence”? In Galatians 5:22-25 Paul tells us: “But the fruit of the Spirit [compare that with the fruit of the flesh!] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Thank God! Jesus was exalted to the right hand of Father-God, and the Holy Spirit was sent to crown Jesus in us as King of kings and Lord of lords, and to be God’s provision in us and through us to honor Christ Jesus in our daily walks and eternal ministries! Thank God! The Holy Spirit is God’s gracious gift to every redeemed believer!

Richard A. Kelly wrote the hymn, “Holy Spirit, Lead Us,” in the early 1940’s (I think!). It says: “O Holy Spirit, lead us, we pray, We need Your guidance all through the day; If You but teach us to know Your ways, We follow gladly and sing Your praise.

We need Your power along life’s way, Come, gracious Spirit, abide today; Endue with love, You Mighty One, Oh, help us now to say, “Your will be done.”

Comfort our hearts, hear, us, we pray, Give us Your strength from day to day; If we but follow, make You our Guide, Your peace will be ours, and joy abide.”

Receive Jesus’ words about the Holy Spirit in John 16:12-14! “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine, and declare it to you.” Amen?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“FAITH AND ITS FIGHT”

James, the brother of Jesus, asked an interesting, intriguing question in James 4:1 when he said, “Where do wars and fights come from among you?” And it’s really amazing what he had to say when in James 1:2-3 he wrote: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials [troubles, testing, turmoils etc.], knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Joy when you’re going through “a state of great commotion, confusion, or disturbance; tumult; agitation; disquietness; [even] turbulence, disorder, uproar?” [That’s the Random House Collegiate Dictionary!].

And that can relate to “Faith and Its Fight”? What did John say in Revelation 1:9-10? “I, John, both your brother [in the faith!], and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience [or steadfastness] of Jesus Christ, was on the island of Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet…” These are amazing words of revelation because the Beloved John had been imprisoned for proclaiming the faith!

Have you ever considered through ‘history’ that the blowing of the trumpet was the announcement of entering the battle? And, sadly, far too many “professing Christians” don’t even know of the warfare that concerns “Faith and the Fight”! To come to the Lord Jesus Christ in humble faith and surrender is to report for “warfare duty” in and for the Faith! One does not usually expect that the acceptance of the grace of God is a release to lifetime spiritual warfare – but it’s the open door in a “warfare” that can be physical or spiritual or mental or moral!

How do you respond or react to Paul’s words in Romans 5:10? “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life.” Your coming to Christ in true redemptive faith and repentance is the offering of your life as a living sacrifice, ready for the battles that surrender to Jesus brings on.

And as a “soldier of the Cross,” what about the daily discipline of preparation to fight the good fight of faith? There ARE great enemies to one’s very life of faith in Christ! In Luke 21:19 Jesus very clearly said: “By your patience [steadfastness] possess your souls.” Would you think Jesus was telling disciples, “Prepare your souls for the warfare of the faith?”

Spiritual warfare is a daily experience of every true believer that relates to the world, the flesh, and the devil! Our fellowship-church this past Sunday sang a song about, “Every high thing must come down, every stronghold shall be broken!” Every habitual sin will be uprooted out of your life, if YOU belong to Jesus! There will be a shattering of fleshly pride and flesh-pumping promotion! God intends every ‘house-desolating’ to come to an end, home deception rooted out, and family desecration healed!

There is even a major war in the business-world area; I don’t believe you’d be shocked by ‘commercial corruption’ or ‘banking frauds’ or even ‘medical malpractice’ by deceitful doctors! How evil can even some governmental leaders become as they deceitfully use ‘public funds’ to enrich themselves or betray their oaths of office or dishonor Holy God before the public they are supposed to be ‘serving’? I’m sure this general warfare in life, in relationships, in families, in governments, was a part of what Peter was talking about in 2 Peter 1 and the end of Verse 4 when he spoke of “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”!

Didn’t Peter also expose the danger of false prophets in 2 Peter 2 with their “destructive heresies”, and in Verses 1 and 2 enlightening us about them: “even ‘denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.’”

Peter spoke later in 2 Peter 2:13b-15a saying, “They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray…loving the wages of unrighteousness.” Does that sound familiar, or ring a bell, or sound an alarm or a ‘wake-up call’? But it’s not only that men have “forsaken the right way and gone astray,” or men “carousing in their own deceptions,” or men “having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin,” or men who “love the wages of unrighteousness” – in Acts 17:22, Paul said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious,” but they didn’t know the King of kings and the Lord of lords! And Paul preached to them “Christ Jesus” because “in Him we live and move and have our being”!

He then said, Acts 17:30, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent!” Why? Because, “He [God] has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

LET’S EXAMINE FIRST THE REALITY OF GOD JUDGING THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS BY THE MAN WHOM HE HAS ORDAINED! In Psalm 9 there are several verses I want to use in laying the foundation of God’s “judgment” – and here, it is the judgment of the “world”! Psalm 9:7-8 King David wrote: “But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.”

In Psalm 9:15-17 the inspired Word of God is so clear! It says: “The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. [Meditation]. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Oh, and then in Verse 20, David wrote: “Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men.” So true of men – but God IS Holy God, and Holy God judges “the world.”

Thank God for the prophetic Word of God that can be, has been, and will be for those nations and individuals who “have ears to hear”! Isaiah 13:11-13 no doubt was a direct Word to “faithless” Israel, but it certainly extends to all nations and all peoples! God said, “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, a man more than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth will move out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts and in the day of His fierce anger.”

God told Jeremiah to “prophesy against them all these words, and say to them: [Jeremiah 25:30-33}, “The Lord will roar from on high, and utter His voice from His holy habitation; He will roar mightily against His fold. He will give a shout, as those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise will come to the ends of the earth – for the Lord has a controversy with the nations; He will plead His case with all flesh. He will give those who are wicked to the sword,’ says the Lord. Thus says the Lord: “Behold, disaster shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the farthest parts of the earth. And at that day the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall become refuse on the ground.”

I have no doubts that God intended through His ‘world creation’ including man was to be a place of true spiritual life, not a place of the reality of spiritual death in the lives of fallen humanity! I’m convinced His intent in and through the world was for it to be truly a house of praise, but it became for mankind a place of death, a prison for the rebellious, and a hospital for the spiritually sick and the mentally insane who chose the powers of darkness over God’s Kingdom of Light!

It was Robert E. Lee in a “Letter to his Wife” who wrote: “What a glorious world Almighty God has given us! How thankless and ungrateful we are, and how we labor to mar His gifts.” And, no doubt, this is why the beloved John, in 1 John 2:17, wrote: “The world passes away, and the lust thereof.”

Wasn’t it Tennyson who spoke about “this gross, hard-seeming world [being] our misshaping vision of the Powers behind the world, that make our griefs our gains”? And, without a doubt, is it not fallen mankind that so disquiets, disturbs, even disrobes, or tries to, God’s glorious Creation, making it an abode of snared lives rather than the people of love, grace, and mercy?

There is an interesting passage in Luke 18:31 when the Word says, “Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, [and He unveiled all that was to happen to Him and even to His disciples!]…with Verse 34 saying, “But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.”

And, sadly, many, many believers have never come to an understanding of “laid-down-lives” to make eternal difference in a dark, lost, unbelieving world, and that as Jesus chose the Cross for Himself, so do true believers in laying down their lives in witness to the world!

In 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Paul said, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.”

In Christ, YOU are ushering in to a darkened world the very “Light of the world” whose name is Jesus Christ! You “have this treasure” in an earthen vessel so that through you men witness “the excellence of the power of God,” and what has made the difference in your life can make the eternal difference in their earthly existence also! Witnesses to the world!

“Faith and its fight?” SECOND, LET’S EXAMINE THE REALITY OF AN ENEMY OF CHRIST AND OURSELVES CALLED THE “FLESH”, YOUR OLD SIN NATURE, FALLEN ADAM, THE OLD MAN. If Jesus says, and He does, “That which is born of flesh is flesh,” has that unveiling of man’s fallen sin nature changed? “Flesh IS flesh” – and if there is a change it is because of one’s birth in the Spirit!

In fact, in John 3:3 Jesus told Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” adding in Verse 5, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water [water of the Word implanted] and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” What an awesome revelation!

In Peter’s epistle, 1 Peter 1:22-23, Peter enlightens us, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, [purified by the blood of the Lamb!], having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever..”, then saying in Verse 25, “But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Paul wrote a very vital word for us in Ephesians 5:25-27, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

“Sanctify” is a word meaning “set apart for the glory of God”, with Paul adding by the Holy Spirit, “and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word”! That ‘word’ is the God-inspired, God-breathed word!

The “flesh,” your own old sin nature, your ‘fallen self’ away from God, your “old man,” is the ancient heredity of sin and the sin nature of all mankind from Adam UNTIL the last born man on earth! I love what Oswald Chambers wrote: “My Utmost For His Highest,”[p.208], “The revelation of the Bible is not that Jesus Christ took upon Himself our fleshly sins, but that He took upon Himself the heredity of sin which no man can touch. God made His own Son to be sin that He might make the sinner a saint. All through the Bible it is revealed that Our Lord bore the sin of the world by “identification”, not by “sympathy”. He deliberately took upon His own shoulders, and bore in His own Person, the whole massed sin of the human race – “He [God] has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin,” and by so doing He put the whole human race on the basis of Redemption. Jesus Christ rehabilitated the human race. He put it back to where God designed it to be, and anyone can enter into union with God on the ground of what Our Lord has done on the Cross.”

In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” And that’s because of our Adamic, fallen, sinful, away-from-God choice! Fallen mankind finds ‘temporary’ pleasure in rebellion to Holy God! Natural mankind reflects the nature, character, instincts, obstinacy, fleshly pride, willful rebellion against God and His Holy Word, declaring independence from God, disobedient, disconnected from holy guidance and amazing grace, determined to deify the soul and live separated from Holy God!

Oh, but then because of God’s eternal love for all mankind, Isaiah 7:14 reveals, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” And that birth was with eternal purpose because through Christ the ‘rotten flesh of sinful man’, by God’s grace and mercy, can be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, with the door being opened in every repentant heart, where Paul tells us in Galatians 4:19, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” And as Christ is being ‘formed in me’, God begins the work of sovereign grace to “work through me in exalting and glorifying Christ on earth as He is glorified in Heaven!”

And because our faith and hope is in and through Christ Jesus, in Galatians 5:24, Paul challenges every born-again believer, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” We love Him because He first loved us – and in this ‘love relationship’, who loves in rebellion, disobedience, and disfigurement of the One who loves you more than you love yourself? Look at the Cross!

THIRD, CONSIDER CAREFULLY YOUR “MAJORITY” ENEMY CALLED SATAN OR THE DEVIL! In 1 Peter 5:8-9 we find highly important and valuable words about Satan we all must receive! Peter said: “Be sober [‘serious-minded’], be vigilant [‘on guard!]; because your adversary [your enemy] the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

How important is a disciple’s understanding of his spiritual warfare with Satan? It is so interesting to read a very short verse in Ephesians 4:27 when Paul said: “nor give place to the devil.”

It was Jude, in Jude 9, who wrote “to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ,” saying, “Yet Michael the archangel, IN CONTENDING WITH THE DEVIL, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” That sounds to me like, “when Satan comes against you, tune in Jesus only!”

Paul wrote to Timothy, in 1 Timothy 3:6-7, about ‘bishop’ qualifications, saying, “not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

That tells me your “majority enemy” is out to entice you, entrap you, oppress you, deceive you, condemn you, possess you even with demon powers and forces, sow wild seeds in your life, grievously vex and torment you, even blind you to the reality of God’s great love for you demonstrated in Christ’s Cross! It was John Dryden, in his “Absalom and Achitophel, [Pt.1,l.79], who wrote: “When to sin our biased nature leans, The careful devil is still at hand with means.”

How vitally important is the Word of God concerning our understanding of the devil as our enemy, yet most of the world, even the unsaved, are fully aware of his destructive work all around! Even highly trained and mentally educated will admit to his existence because they see the evidence all around them!

Do you find it amazing that Christ Jesus, in confronting the “religious Jews”, said of them, John 8:43-45, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me.” With whom do YOU stand? With Satan or the Savior? I’ve never known a more accursed individual than that man who has voluntarily given his soul to the devil and the demon powers! He has no comprehension of the devil’s desire to control him, consume him, and destroy him! Even sadder when the major majorities of cities, states, or nations, are people who deny God His rightful place but will embrace and esteem Satan as he hand-heart-and-mind “cuffs” them as he imprints his ‘profanities’ upon them! Aren’t you aware of how easily he distracts men from the love of God as they embrace the lusts of Satan? Satan has no logic – he just majors on lust! This may be why in “Hamlet” William Shakespeare wrote: “and the devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape,” because he understands men major on “eye-sight” rather than true heart-motivation! He even mentioned another time about those who “sugar over the devil himself”!

And I hate to tell you, but Satan is “a cradle-rocker” and a youth contaminator, and an adult assassin, who is out to destroy, to denigrate, to infiltrate body, soul, and spirit; he assaults, he attacks, he aspirates any heart or mind turning toward “evidences of redemptive faith” or allegiance to Holy God in Christ! Oh, but he delights in “false religions” void of the love of God and Calvary’s Cross!

But John 12:31-33 tells us: Jesus speaking, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.” And the Cross hasn’t defeated your enemy, Satan?

That’s the New King James Version with Satan called “the ruler of this world.” In other places he’s called ‘the prince of this world,’ but whatever you want to call him, “the devil IS the devil” and rules over “a hell of a place and people”! And isn’t it true that “their foolish hearts were darkened”, and if so, is it not the devil himself that ushered in “darkness”?

And, thank God, Colossians 1:13-14 tells us: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

You are aware of imitation, counterfeit, rotten ‘fruit’ that the devil strongly favors: fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, idolatry, deceitful lusts, blindness of the heart, greediness, bitterness, wrath, anger, evil speaking, hatred or malice, unforgiveness, unbelief, lies, hypocrisy, disobedience – just a few characteristics to describe the evil nature and character of the devil who is out to enslave you to his domination!

In 2 Timothy 2:24-26 Paul has explained to Timothy how humble and patient true servants of Christ are to be with those captured by Satan! He said: And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

That, my friends, is an awesome statement unbelievers must be made aware of! Some do not even know that without Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior they are slaves to Satan and his horrific kingdom of darkness! Spiritual enslavement to the devil is a very dark place and position to live in! If you didn’t know it, a strong self-assertive will is nothing more than one who walks around in the devil’s prison-garb! Satan so blinds his ‘sin-slaves’ that they seldom ‘break away or break out’ of their grasp of understanding of “falling short of the glory of God”!

But what did Christ Jesus do in His coming? John 1:14 says, “And the Word [Christ Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” And what happens when we turn from Satan and to Christ Jesus? John 1:16 says, “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.”

We ALL have a choice: remain a ‘son’ of Satan or “child of God”! John 1:12-13 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in [trust in, rely upon, adhere to] His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

It was Hattie E. Buell and Rev. John B. Summer who wrote the old hymn, “A Child of the King.” It says:

“My Father is rich in houses and lands, He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands! Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold, His coffers are full, He has riches untold…

My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men, Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them; But now He is pleading our pardon on high, That we may be His when He comes by and by…

I once was an outcast stranger on earth, A sinner by choice, And an alien by birth; But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down, An heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown…

A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there; Though exiled from home, yet, still I may sing: All glory to God, I’m a child of the King…

I’m a child of the King, A child of the King; With Jesus my Savior I’m a child of the King.” AMEN?

I close this chapter with 1 Timothy 6:11-16! “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”

Will you be exalted at the Throne of God with Christ because you fought the good fight of Faith?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“FAITH AND ITS OVERCOMING POWER”

1 John 5:4-5 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

How easy is it at times for one to be ‘overcome’ rather than being an ‘overcomer’ by the gift of redemptive faith and its overcoming power? I’m sure you’re familiar with the passage of Scripture in Luke 8:22-25! It says, Now it happened, on a certain day, that He [Jesus] got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.

But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

Most of unredeemed mankind today lives in an unconscious state of awareness of God’s presence in or around them when the storms of life arise, and they live in fear and trembling rather than in faith and its overcoming power! You are aware that there are those who look down on those who possess “faith in God”, perceiving it to be a sign of fleshly weakness rather than the blessing of faith in His overcoming power.

For example, are you aware that when the Word of God in Genesis 5:24 says “Enoch walked with God”, many will frown upon it as an insult to a man’s self-worth and self-strength?

The beloved John heard about things Jesus had been doing, and He sent two of His disciples to ask Jesus, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus, in Matthew 11:25, said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Verse 26, Even so, Father, for it seemed good in Your sight.” It’s never easy for “the wise and prudent”, as they see themselves smarter than God Himself, but humble “babes” are reachable and teachable by the Master-Teacher!

And what about what Malachi wrote in Malachi 2 describing Israel like a husband “dealing treacherously with the wife of his youth,” saying Verse 16, “Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously,” with God Himself, followed by Verse 17, “You have wearied the Lord with your words…”?

No doubt that Jesus was talking to ‘the multitude’ in Israel, ‘religiously active’ but far from understanding Redemptive Faith, when He said in Matthew 17:17, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you [or put up with you].” In “Idylls of the King: Merlin and Vivien,” Tennyson wrote, “Faith and unfaith can ne’er be equal powers; Unfaith in aught [or nothing] is want of faith in all,” which for many means ‘no faith in God at all’!

I mentioned Enoch early in this chapter, but I want you to grasp also what was said about Enoch in Hebrews 11:5-6 – “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

But “self-faith” is not a rewarder but a thief that robs, based on ‘high’ self-esteem, ‘high’ personal importance, and a ‘low view’ of anyone who looks outside himself to the loving God!

At the same time, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul brings awareness to the table when “apostasy” surfaces! He said: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…” If there is a battle against one’s devotion to Christ, what are the Spirit and the Word telling us as to how we overcome? 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 says, “ – always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” Paul also said in 2 Corinthians 1:9, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead…” So why “self-faith” when one can be, has been, and forever will be choosing the sentence of death to the “old man” daily that the Resurrection Life of Christ Jesus may be manifested in our mortal body with the gift of everlasting life? Paul said elsewhere, “I die daily”! Do you? And that for the purpose of giving Christ His rightful place in us as King of kings and Lord of lords!

“Faith and its overcoming power”? Born of flesh is the “birth of spiritual death,” but born of the Spirit is the “birth of eternal life”! “Master, we’re perishing in the stormy sea of life,” and Jesus still says, “Where is your faith”?

And where is YOUR faith when you find yourself being assaulted by Satan and the demon powers of Hell itself? Let’s look at Jesus’ response when He was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.” It’s found in Luke 4:1-13. Verse 2b tells us, “And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.” [That was a “fast”.]. And in that forty day period He was continually tempted.

Let’s examine the three primary areas that the devil will “tempt” YOU as he did Jesus!

• There is the temptation of the “lust of the flesh”! Matthew 4:3, And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread,” with Jesus responding to the devil in Verse 4, But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
• There is the temptation of the “lust of the eyes”! Matthew 4:5-8, Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

• There is the temptation of the “boastful pride of life.” Matthew 4:9-12, Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” Then Verse 14 says, Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

Let me give you a biblical word of encouragement in overcoming ‘temptation’ as your enemy comes against you! This is “Faith and its overcoming power” as it relates to a true believer! 1 Corinthians 10:13! “No temptation has overtaken you except as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

But beyond the devil’s temptations to lead you astray, are you aware of, yes, the horrific struggle that goes on as one is maturing in his faith, and battling between the ‘flesh’ and the Spirit, or the ‘old man’ trying to resurrect and be released in the “new man”?

In Galatians 5:24 Paul instructs us, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” We saw earlier in one of the previous chapters Paul affirming his death to himself daily and standing victorious in Christ’s Resurrection Life. In 1 Corinthians 15:31 he said, “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I DIE DAILY!”

If YOU belong to Christ, you understand spiritual warfare, whether you and the devil, you and the world spirit, but just as real, your battle with the old sin nature that is out to be resurrected through you! Jesus said to ALL, Matthew 16:24-25, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

The awesome warfare of the “new man” fighting the “old man” is not just a warfare of heaven against hell, but in reality at times the “born again” man has to face the “good, better, and best” in himself, shutting out Christ in him and through him, and in a spirit of unawareness, self-promoting the natural man and closing the door of heavenly presence in the supernatural!!

Oswald Chambers said in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.257], “If we do not sacrifice the natural to the spiritual, the natural life will mock at the life of the Son of God in us and produce a continual swither [swither meaning perplexity, confusion]. This is always the result of an undisciplined spiritual nature. We go wrong because we stubbornly refuse to discipline ourselves, physically, morally, or mentally. “I wasn’t disciplined when I was a child.” You must discipline yourself now. If you do not, you will ruin the whole of your personal life for God.”

“Where is your faith” as you fight the good fight of faith, “new man” versus “old man”? But also are you alerted to the very depravity and doom of “false teachers,” “phony preachers,” and “counterfeit disciples” or “shell churches” without “ANY Holy Presence”?

There are no doubts concerning faithful, God-honoring, holy men who were moved to teach and preach, moved by the Holy Spirit! But 2 Peter 2:1-20 majors on ‘darkened doctrines’, disobedient, foreign to God teachers, religious teachers with depraved minds and diseased hearts,, men blinded by the powers of darkness, diseased in their teachings, bound by the devil himself as his slave of corruption and indecency, even poisoning the minds of some believers!

Oh, and 2 Peter 2:21 says, “For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.” And that SURELY ought to “scare the Hell out of some people”!

“Faith and its overcoming power?” The church of our Lord and Savior had made inroads into Rome. Before Paul went there to die, he had written the epistle to the newly formed church or body of believers there. In Romans 12:9-21 the apostle shared a vital word to the believers there about brotherly love, merciful living, and the demonstration of overcoming evil with good. Follow his word:

Verses 9-21, “Let love be without hypocrisy [or “play-acting,” “stage performance or imitation”], Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality…

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion…

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will replay,’ says the Lord…

Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Oh, how different is the ‘fallen family of humanity’ from the “Holy Family of God”! And when God says to all, “Choose you this day whom you will serve,” what is YOUR response? Far too many shy away from “Faith and its overcoming power” and succumb to faithlessness and its destructive influences! But, “this is the day the Lord has made”, and He’d be overjoyed to see you surrendering yourself to His sovereignty and His salvation blessing through His Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

In Revelation 2:7 John wrote: I believe Jesus speaking: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Amen?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“HIDDEN SINS – FAITH’S EXPOSURE”

Are you truly aware of how evil “hidden sins” really are? How do you feel when a “pretender” is exposed? A “pretender” is one who makes false confessions because he/she is so expert about lying and deceiving those around him/her! And there are “professional braggers” who are highly efficient in spiritual cosmetics that cover over “the real person”, at least for awhile. Can you comprehend a man so full of himself that he can’t begin to consider his need of God’s sovereign grace and mercy, and had rather ‘lie’ about how ‘spiritual’ he is when, really, he possesses a bankrupt spirit of faith?

Fullness of self is one’s prideful way of neglecting his/her need of saving grace! A comical, out-going extrovert is often the “crown prince” of self-deception! A man who is a “master” of self-control is often living on the faulty foundation of self-pride, self-awareness, and self-hate, without a clue of his/her need of saving grace.

Have you ever witnessed that man, that woman, who appear to place themselves humbly on an altar of sacrifice for others’ needs when it surfaces they were simply magnifying ‘self-love’ and hopefully drawing attention to themselves? How inconsistent do you find the ‘service’ of men who robbed God of His intent of “laid-down lives” caring for others more than caring for themselves, but selfishness overrules their ‘self-sacrifice’ and they go around patting themselves on their backs!

It was William Ewart Gladstone who once said, “Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race.” And if you didn’t know or understand: Selfishness is the curse of ‘self-centeredness’ dominated by the very fallen nature of sin instituted by devilish, demonic activity and control – and the more ‘respectable’, the greater bondage, and the higher – the prison walls!

2 Thessalonians 2 is Paul teaching Timothy, and us, about a “Day” of apostasy and a great falling away! Verses 3-12 enlighten us as to the dangers those “falling away” from Christ will face:

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved…

And for this reason God will send them strong delusions, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

What fallen man, what unbeliever, what rebellious sinner, do you know that doesn’t “take pleasure in unrighteousness”? What man, captured in all unrighteous deception, do you know who has no desire to hear from you sharing with him biblical truth? And certainly, they have no desire to hear Jesus Himself say to them as He did to “the scribes and Pharisees,” Matthew 23:33, “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?”

“Serpents, brood of vipers”? And who is that? That’s those who have no interest at all in the death of Jesus on Calvary’s Cross – their interest, their consuming motivation, their ‘self-professed motivation’ is nothing more than their fleshly desire to please, enjoy, celebrate, and live by their sinful natures, their worldly pleasures, their ‘ecstasy indifference’ to the will, the Word, and the pleasure of God in all His heavenly desires for them!

There is such a powerful, convicting, encouraging word that God gives us through King David in Psalm 19:7-14! Rest in it! The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether….

More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? CLEANSE ME FROM SECRET FAULTS…

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

“Hidden sins – Faith’s exposure”! Do you think David had a clear understanding of what it meant to him, and us, about “Cleanse me from secret faults”? You’ll remember that in Genesis 6:5 “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” and God was so sorrowful over His creation of man that He was ready to destroy them, but the end of Verse 7 tells us, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” and the earth inhabitants were spared.

Enter Abram! And in Genesis 15 we find a covenant relationship between Abram and Holy God with Verse 6 telling us, “And he [Abram[ believed in the Lord, and He, ‘God Almighty’, accounted [or credited] to Abram’s account God’s righteousness!,” and through human history, though the “many” hide their sin and ‘pretend’ everything is ‘OK’ as they intentionally break God’s Law, a ‘remnant’ of humanity become living witnesses of the redemptive faith God has given us, while a fallen world goes on in its “hidden sins” but with more and more open rebellion and an unashamed spirit of their Godlessness!

In Jeremiah 32:19 the prophet addresses the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, saying: “You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.”

It was the great English preacher of the past in England, Charles Spurgeon, who once said: “The sins that we see and confess are but like the farmer’s samples which he brings to market, when he has left his granary full at home.”

Are you aware that multitudes who live in “open sin” and rebellion to God’s Holy Word, seldom admit what they do is sin and defiance of God, but there are those who know it’s sin, and being ashamed, will cover it over, even denying their fallen state before Holy God! It might be good for you to be asking yourself and others why it is they like things to take place in “the dark of night” or why it is their wicked choices are “in secret”!

Sadly, most enslaved to their sin nature, and ashamed of it, need to be challenged again by what we just read from the prophet Jeremiah three paragraphs ago, who said in Jeremiah 32:19, “You [God] are great in counsel and mighty in work, FOR YOUR EYES ARE OPEN TO ALL THE WAYS OF THE SONS OF MEN, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.” [Do you know the biblical difference between “good fruit” and “rotten fruit”?] And there is nothing “secret” to the eyes of Holy God!

Do you remember Sarai’s servant named Hagar who bore Abram a son? In Genesis 16:13 we read: “Then she [Hagar] called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, ‘Have I also here seen Him who sees me?’”

There is no “hiding” from God, yet in this day and time of modern history, far too many are unashamed of their sinful ways and could care less if God sees or doesn’t see what they “enjoy” temporarily – and it is temporary enjoyment with His guarantee of eternal punishment if there is no repentance and turning from their SIN to the Savior and Lord of a blessed life!

What are we learning concerning “Hidden Sins – Faith’s Exposure”? It’s for sure, we are fully aware that nothing is hidden from Holy God! We are fully aware that before man came into existence God knew of the necessity of “the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world!” We are fully aware that God the Father was out to birth a new “family of faith” through His blood redemption at Calvary’s Cross!

In 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Paul declared under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” Does that mean that now since Jesus paid the price for man’s forgiveness that ALL MEN ARE NOW SAVED?

Of course not, which is why Paul added, in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, “Now then, we [of repentance and true faith] are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf [His earthly representatives, ambassadors], be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Do you understand? You are either “the righteousness of God in Christ” or you choose to be the unrighteousness of the devil in your sinful self, though Christ Jesus paid your debt 2000 years ago!

“Hidden sins – Faith’s exposure”? Do you grasp the difference between “pretense” and “Holy Presence”? What about a “contradiction” and true conversion? Are there men who are perverters of truth rather than being men fully persuaded Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and they’re willing to die for Him and His unveiling of Eternal Truth?

“Hidden sins – Faith’s exposure”? If the God of Creation made us to honor and reflect Himself, how is it men so carelessly, recklessly, and proudly, walk this earth God made, as devils in multitudinous disguises, in rebellion, in disobedience, parading as ‘perfect sons’, when in reality, under their cloaks and masks, are marred men who are out to satisfy only their sinful lusts, their self-centered pride, and their strong attachment to the spirit of a fallen world – of Heaven’s God they have no interest!

But when “Faith” exposes not only their sinfulness, and then opens the door to heavenly living on earth through Christ Jesus, yes, if necessary, they are willing to walk with Him alone, even if no one else follows Him!

As Paul wrote Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:16-18, we find encouraging words! “At my first defense no one stood with me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

But, of course, many churches teach that if Jesus delivers us from every evil work and preserves us for His heavenly kingdom, that’s a future prospect not a present reality! And they ignore Jesus teaching His disciples to pray, as He said in Matthew 6:9-10, In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN…”, and Jesus ended “The Lord’s Prayer” in Verse 13b, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. [Or “So be it, Lord!”].

“Faith’s Exposure” is leading people out of darkness into His marvelous Light, out of separation from God to Oneness in Him, out of unbelief in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior to exalting Him in their hearts, minds, and homes, as our deliverance from bondage to freedom in Him with our chains broken, and then blessed and endued with power from on high, and that’s in “the here and now”, not when we get to heaven someday!

“Faith’s Exposure” was certainly intended for Jews first because the “Promised Messiah” was to come through them, but most Jews rejected Christ Jesus then and most Jews reject Him now because they loved or love their religious activities more than desired “saving grace and saving faith” – they desired only religious observances more than “new life in Christ” through repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at Calvary’s Cross!

Follow Acts 10:34-45 carefully!! Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Christ Jesus – He is Lord of all – that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree…

Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to those who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. While Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.”

God the Father “anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power”, but not His disciples? And, yes, God DOES anoint every disciple, then and now, with the Holy Spirit and with power! Being one with Christ is to be endued with power from on high!

And that ‘anointing’ God releases in you enabling you to proclaim a mighty witness of the Lord Jesus! Isn’t that Acts 1:8?

That ‘anointing’ is also God releasing His power in you to live a holy life! In Romans 8:11-14 we read, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you…

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

Plus, the ‘anointing’ of the Holy Spirit upon and in you is God’s power unveiling in you to see and witness God manifesting Himself in mighty deeds and wonders! In 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 we read, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one as He wills.”

As I come to a close in this particular chapter on “Hidden Sins – Faith’s Exposure”, I must examine the danger of “faith-people” who choose recklessness in their walks as “professors of faith” and, yes, allow sin to begin dominating them rather than honoring the Indwelling Christ! [I know this irritates those who deny one can ever lose his/her salvation, but…].

Come, first, to Joshua 24:19-20, where Joshua said: “You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will NOT FORGIVE your transgressions nor your sins. IF YOU FORSAKE THE LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.”

Oh, then Jesus comes along to shatter ‘safety and security’ in those who believe it isn’t possible in the New Covenant for Jesus to do His disciples harm and consume them! “Faith’s Exposure”? What does Luke 12:45-46 tell us, Jesus Himself speaking? “But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and APPOINT HIM HIS PORTION WITH THE UNBELIEVERS.” [Check Jeremiah 34:18-20!].

It sounds to me like every disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ should avoid “Hidden Sins” since “Faith’s Exposure” includes ‘believers’ compromising their professed faith in Christ Jesus!

I must have you to also look carefully at 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 where Paul alerted us, saying: “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us HOW YOU OUGHT TO WALK AND TO PLEASE GOD; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus…

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”

If the will of God is “your sanctification,” how is it there are those in Christ who choose to exercise themselves at times in unholy fashion choosing immoral styles of life to satisfy their old sin natures? Sanctification IS unveiling Christ in and through us – immoral choices is resurrecting that which “died with Christ” on the Cross with, yes, the “penalty” – “the wages of sin is death”! When did that change?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“FAITH AND ITS STRONG FOUNDATION”

How do you look upon a ‘home-builder’ that you see beginning construction on the plans of an expensive home but you notice he doesn’t build a strong foundation first upon which to construct the home of someone’s dreams? Would you dare to construct, whether office building or home, without a strong foundation? Faith without a strong foundation is a mind and a life void of intelligent, biblical understanding, without an ounce of spiritual awareness of a relationship to Holy God.

Do you remember our Lord and Savior weeping over Jerusalem? In Luke 19:41-44 we read, Now as He [Jesus Christ, the Promised Messiah] drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes…

For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

What if there is a leveling of a life because that life never considered the vital importance of its “proper foundation”? It didn’t even consider the weakness of life without the foundation of God Himself! In Luke 6:46-49 Christ Jesus instructs us as to the results of ‘no foundation’ or “the foundation of a house built on the Rock!” It says:

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation of the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock…

But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently, and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

But you know as well as I do that Jesus was challenging us about “Faith and Its Strong Foundation”! A man without true faith and a Word-based foundation is a man who will know one day and forever regret his faithlessness that unveils for him only unfathomable sadness, a perturbed, troubled mind, and a morbid awareness of what he avoided in his self-centered life!

Faith is not weakness but eternally divine strength and confidence and assurance of one, yes, being “more than conqueror in and through Christ Jesus”! Faith is not an unsure foundation but full awareness of His ability, His promise, His assurance, His provision of His overcoming Life that never fades away or dies! If YOU fade in His faith, it’s your fleshly choice, not His divine promise or provision, because our Lord and Savior has revealed to us, RECEIVE JESUS’WORD!!, John 11:40, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

As you are studying with me about “Faith and Its Strong Foundation”, it’s my prayer that you are not a ‘modern-day’ unbeliever who has no desire to know what Jesus says, but that YOU are so convicted and so concerned about the right foundation for your life as you prepare for eternity! And without a doubt, you’ll not avoid ‘the sanctuary of your soul’ and its eternal dwelling!

In Hebrews 12:25-28 is a powerful word for the awakening of your soul before God if it’s necessary! It says: “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more ‘shall we not escape’ if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.’ Now this, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” Is it YOU that Holy God will consume with fire?

So, I would challenge you initially in this chapter that “THE ABSENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD IN ONE’S LIFE THROUGH INDIFFERENCE OR AN UNIMPORTANT ATTITUDE” is of major concern. You’ll remember, I pray, what Jesus said to Satan when led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil in Matthew 4:4.

The first temptation was, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” And even as Jesus was training young disciples in the faith-walk, in John 6:63, He said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

Before our Lord’s ascension to heaven, in Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus told His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, TEACHING THEM to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” [Or “So be it!]

Peter was a strong disciple as he matured in the Faith, guided by the Holy Spirit! In 1 Peter 1:22-25 he wrote: “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Is an absence of the Word of God in one’s life an open door to spiritual malnutrition? How does one ‘obey’ what he/she does not know? No Word – no life; no Word – no growth; no Word – no spirit of discernment; no Word – no strong spiritual health; no Word – no unfolding of the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ; no Word – no calling or obedience in ministry and service; no Word – no grasping of “the Master-plan” in building a life and witness!

“Babes in Christ” are like observing that infant even learning to stand or how to take a step – and usually that’s with many falls. Babes in Christ usually have no understanding of ‘spiritual currency values’ and will waste rather than treasure what is of vital importance! Babes in Christ, maturing in their journeys, will often speak without even understanding what they’ve said or heard.

“THE ABSENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD IN ONE’S LIFE ALSO INVALIDATES ONE’S PROFESSION BECAUSE OBEDIENCE TO GOD”S WORD IS EVIDENCE OF THE HEART-SURRENDER TO THE WILL, THE WORD, AND THE WAYS OF GOD!!”

In Luke 6:46 the Lord Jesus asks, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do the things which I say?” The evidence of true faith? “Yes, Lord whatever You say, I receive and I will do. My faith will not be a philosophical indulgence or hidden vices that I hold on to – my mind, my heart, my will is more than a ‘profession’ of some religious beliefs – it’s the eternal POSSESSION of ‘Christ in me’ being released through me as I obey Your inspired revelation of divine purpose, plan, and power!”

Holy God, King Jesus, and the Eternal Spirit, have not called us to live on mental and even spiritual fiction, but divine revelation! Again, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not do the things that I say?”

It was George Macdonald in his “Marquis of Lossie”, [ch.72], who wrote: “I find the doing of the will of God, leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.” Michael Eyquem de Montaigne once said: “The first law that ever God gave to man was a law of obedience; it was a commandment pure and simple, wherein man had nothing to inquire after or to dispute, for as much as to obey is the proper office of a rational soul acknowledging a heavenly superior and benefactor. From obedience and submission spring all other virtues, as all sin does from self-opinion and self-will.”

Just how convicting and how powerful and how instructive do you find 1 Corinthians 3:9-17?!? It says: “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire…

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”

SO…!!! Does this involve the “Master-plan” discovery, study, preparation, and execution, or is true discipleship just “wing it” the “best” you know how? Is Christ Jesus YOUR Lord and Savior and “boss” of your life, your walk, your testimony, your job description? And if He is, is obedience to Him the evidence of your laying down your life daily to submit to His every command?

If YOU are building or constructing your life to “house” the King of kings and the Lord of lords, how thorough and complete is your understanding of “crucified with Christ” so that the resurrection life of Christ is manifested in your mortal flesh? Spurgeon once preached, “If truth will carry you no further than despair, better that you stop in despair than gain a hope by a lie.”

Also, I want you to carefully sense through God’s Word “THE WISDOM OF A WISE MASTER-HOME BUILDER AND THE FOOLISHNESS OF AN UNWISE BUILDER!” “FOOLISH LIFE-BUILDING”? An unwise life-builder? Through Isaiah, in Isaiah 45:6-7, God spoke: “I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.’” Oh, and then in Verse 24, for those who are unwise ‘life-builders’, God speaks: “To Him men shall come, and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him.”

It’s never changed: Psalm 14:1, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” And whether it’s the “fool” or an unbeliever who rejects saving grace, mercy, and love, all who fail to “look unto God Himself, and be saved”, have based their ‘decisions’ on human merit, basing even their appeal to God, if they ever had one, on fleshly worthiness rather than Godly conviction because ‘respectable goodness’ is what they see all men possessing, but not “sin natures” requiring repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at Calvary’s Cross!

“Foolish Life-Building”? That’s “enemies” of Holy God! Romans 5:10 declares, “For if when we were enemies…,” and how frustrating is that to a “foolish life-builder” who wants to serve God, if he ever does, on his own terms – and to declare him an enemy of God when he doesn’t even know or understand that it was HIS sin that nailed Jesus to the Cross, is ‘spiritual madness’, so he/she determines no relationship to “those brain-dead Christians”!

“Foolish Life-Building”? “Blood covenant relationship” with God absolutely builds resentment in multitudes who want a relationship with God on their terms! It’s why Oswald Chambers wrote: “Man has to go out of himself in his covenant with God as God goes out of Himself in His covenant with man. It is a question of faith in God – the rarest thing; we have faith only in our feelings. I do not believe God unless He will give me something in my hand whereby I know I have it, then I say – “Now I believe.” There is no faith there. “LOOK UNTO ME [God says], and be saved.”

Are you not aware of those who are willing to build a relationship with God on their terms but will frown on and fight against “His blood shed for me? I don’t think so – ‘godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation…?’ I don’t need to repent! If God wants me, let Him accept my effort, my worldly sorrow if He thinks I’ve done something wrong! But I don’t bend and I don’t bow and I’ll not be broken by your God humiliating people, or trying to, but your God doesn’t trouble me, impress me, or shock me into bowing down before Him, He ought to bow before me!”

“Foolish Life-Building”? Are you aware of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:25? “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”

How familiar are you in this modern-day of television advertisements and what they put their emphasis on? Is it ‘common sense’ or “Holy scents and sense” that should direct, motivate, and inspire our lives? What motivates you and those around you? Earthly, fleshly satisfactions or Eternal, Faith-filled blessings? Foolish Life-Building blinds one to God’s heavenly intention and enslaves an unrepentant man to devilish and demonic bondages – and most of our world doesn’t even know there’s a difference because they are ‘foreigners’ to Faith, and satisfied in their ‘slavery’!

But Let’s Shift To “The Wisdom of a WISE MASTER HOME-BUILDER”! Luke 6:46-48 is so strongly evident as to spiritual, eternal, God-authored wisdom and understanding related to “Life-Building”! It says: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.”

Do you remember Paul telling the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:19), “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God”? And that includes the religious world of Judaism that ignored the prophecies of the “Coming Messiah” through them, even being that instrument of unbelief, denial, and crucifixion of the King of kings and Lord of lords! It’s why Jesus said in Luke 16:8, “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.”

You’ll remember Ezekiel 13:2 where God said, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and [Don’t miss this!!] say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’” And the ‘foolish’ prophets of Israel “follow their own spirits and have seen nothing”! God said a few verses later, “they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace.”

Ezekiel 13:22 God spoke then to Israel and speaks NOW to America, “Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life” – all of this because “they envision futility and practice divination”! [Was Jerusalem destroyed? Did God tell them the Old Covenant is gone and only the New, Blood Covenant in Christ remains?] Do YOU know that “GOD IS THE LORD”, and the God of saving grace through Christ alone?

Foolish men build foolishly – wise men build wisely! Foolish men craft lives to satisfy the old sin nature – wise men receive the gift of resurrection life, mercy, and eternal hope through repentance toward God and faith in our Lord’s “finished work”! Foolish men ‘bank’ on human wisdom as the ‘flesh-market’ crashes – wise men entrust themselves to God’s grace with eternal ‘interest’ and ‘profits’ forever multiplying! Foolish men base their lives now, future, and forever on what they “possess” – wise men rest in God’s declarations of who they are ‘in Christ’- His eternal identification of true identity!

It was Martin Luther who once said: “Riches are the pettiest and least worthy gifts which God can give a man. What are they to God’s Word, to bodily gifts, such as beauty and health; or to the gifts of the mind, such as understanding, skill, wisdom! Yet men toil for them day and night, and take no rest. Therefore God commonly gives riches to foolish people to whom he gives nothing else.”

What is it for you – riches of this world or the true riches of His eternal kingdom? Is it “treasures upon earth” that you are passionate for as moths and rust corrupt, and thieves steal, or truly “heavenly riches”? How easy is it for a worldly man to crave, to labor incessantly, to be absolutely crippled by the ‘desire’ to be rich, but sadly bankrupt in the desire to not only know God, but bankrupt in the passion, desire, and will to love, serve, bless, honor Him in who one is and fully aware of Who one serves? Fleshly men, intent on earthly wealth, are encumbered so strongly by earthly riches, that they are empty of eternal desire to know and serve God alone!

Trouble arises when a man makes earthly riches the driving force of his life and is void of desire to be rich in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ! God help us that we see in our nation, not an attitude that overvalues riches and wealth, but truly values submission to Christ the greatest of eternal wealth and the greatest of the riches of the rich!

The prophet Jeremiah heard Holy God speak: Jeremiah 9:23-24, Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.

In Revelation 21:5 we read, Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And then He said to John [to us!], “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

What did the Beloved John write? Examine 1 John 5: 4-5! “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes [relies upon, trusts in, adheres to] that Jesus is the Son of God.”

God says what? “Behold, I make all things new!” “New creations”? “New birth”? “New songs of praise and adoration?” “A new spirit?” “the blood of a new covenant?” “New man?” “A new nature?” “New calling?” “New Highway?” “New Testimony?” “New guidance – “The Lord led me!” “New power?” “New goals, purposes, and ambitions?” “New life-manifestations?” “New anointings, aims, and ambitions?” “New eyes that see as God sees?” “New confidence, trust, and surrender to God Almighty?” “New visions?” “New desires?” “A new heart?”

Though we were weakness incarnate, weakness manifested, old, self-centered, dominated by darkness, in Christ Jesus we’re made strong, old man crucified, new man birthed by His grace and mercy, from ‘self’ redeemed and new life through His regenerating power, though ‘darkness’, now made “Light”, though flesh-dominated through the Spirit made spiritually strong because as He is so are we in this world!

We were ‘flesh’, but now ‘in Christ’ we are in-filled with the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit! It was Watchman Nee who once wrote: “Living in the Spirit means that I trust the Holy Spirit to do in me what I cannot do myself.” Then he said, “not trying but trusting, not struggling but resting in Him!”

In Exodus 14:13-14 Moses said to his people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish FOR YOU today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you will see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

You saw in an earlier chapter that Jesus, led by the Spirit, went into the wilderness for a purpose – to be tempted, tested by the devil. And Satan came against Jesus in three distinct ways which were meant to bring Jesus to trust in Himself rather than God’s Word, trust in Himself rather than God’s angels, and trust in Himself rather than God’s Presence! And if Christ looked out, around, and up for God’s overseeing of His earthly walk, we should “Suck it up” without “looking up”?

1 John 5:11-12 tells us: “And this is the testimony: that God has [already, in Christ!] given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” I tell you, ‘Living on the growing edge of eternal life is living in total trust, dependence, and faith in Christ, who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think’!! Yes! We do not “suck it up” – we look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!

I have no doubts that this also is why Paul wrote 2 Corinthians 4:11! “For we who live [in the Faith of Christ Jesus] are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh…Verse 12, So death is working in us…” for the manifestation of His Life through us by the fruit of His Holy Spirit! “In Christ” we are not called to ‘best efforts’, natural strengths, or soul-dynamics – Jesus crucified all that with us crucified with Him on the Cross, your worst, your best, your in-between – ‘wake up’! Your ‘flesh profits nothing’, but “Christ in YOU is the hope of glory!”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“HALTING OPINIONS OR HOLY FAITH?”

1 Kings 18 is an awesome, convicting, convincing, converting passage of Scripture as one sees a prophet of God, Elijah, astounding vast numbers of Israel as he stood against 450 priests of a false god, just as ‘true prophets’ of God today stand against another ‘religious crowd’ in bondage to false teachings of false religions that some call ‘the elite of the Christian community’!

I’ve often wondered how God looks upon circumstances today like Elijah faced in his day, and is there a legitimate comparison between one true prophet of God and religious men today, about 450 in number against a ‘lone voice’? Two to 800? Three to 1600? Four to 2000? And you do understand: Mt. Carmel is visited by one true prophet, with 450 prophets also there to preach and defend their deceit, with Ahab calling for “all the children of Israel” also to assemble.

Most of the children of Israel were unsure where their devotion should lie – Holy God or Jezebel’s god, as the legitimate ‘fear of God’ in a lot of Israel was still in many minds, but Jezebel was demanding allegiance to Baal! A spiritual war has been going on for some time – and Elijah comes forward to challenge those WHO ARE “halting between two opinions”. True men of faith were not there!

In 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah takes a stand: “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word,” and I say to you, “Silence is not golden – it’s treason!”

It’s so interesting that even in the New Testament we find false allegiances! In Acts 13:4-12 we read about Barnabas and Saul “separated …for the work to which I have called them.” It says:

“So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant….

Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulose, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God…

But Elymas the sorcerer, (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?…

And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

Remember, the ‘gathered crowd’ before Elijah was men, women, of ‘different opinions’, not the Solid Rock souls centered in redemptive faith!

Earlier, in Acts 8, before his conversion, Saul (to become Paul) had consented to Stephen’s stoning, even leading a great persecution of the church at Jerusalem. And though he “made havoc of the church” there, a major awakening was happening, with Acts 8:8 telling us, “And there was great joy in that city,” (Samaria)!

But beginning in Acts 8:9 we read about a ‘certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”…

And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized…

Then Simon himself also believed [mental consent apart from heart conversion?]; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done…

[It’s interesting as we come to Verse 14 and following that my new Holman Bible, NKJV edition, highlights the next section as “The Sorcerer’s Sin”!] Now when the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit…

For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying: “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”…

But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

Elijah was confronted by a ‘gathered crowd’ of people with ‘different opinions’, but no understanding of true “Redemptive Faith”! Where do we find ourselves today in the “gathered crowds” of settled opinions as they seek to build “their understanding” of ‘kingdom living’ but, sadly, apart from the “King of kings and Lord of lords”?

FIRST, GATHERED CROWDS TODAY HAVE DETERMINED FOR THEMSELVES WHAT GOD OR GODS THEY SHOULD SERVE AND WHAT SHOULD BE THE END RESULT OF DEVOTION TO THE GOD THEY CHOOSE TO SERVE.

In Matthew 6:24 the “King of kings and Lord of lords” clearly said: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” And I’m convinced Jesus understood the vast difference between true devotion to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and fleshly devotion and loyalty to the “false gods” of devilish activities in their “trumped-up faiths and demands”, like Jezebel and her bondage to Baal!

In Romans 3:23-24 Paul revealed by the Holy Spirit, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

A lost world “falls short of the glory of God;” world religions fall short of the glory of God; alienated, separated from God individuals, because of their sin natures, fall short of the glory of God; and, sad to say, there are many preachers today who have no clue of saving grace, and certainly operate in darkness rather than the glorious clouds of divine, heavenly glory!

Did you quickly pass over Paul speaking about “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith…,” (Romans 3:24)? There is ONLY ONE “BLOOD REDEMPTION” that ushers in the glory of Almighty, Holy, Merciful God, and that is the precious blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ! When men sin, they forfeit, cancel, close the door of their hearts and lives to God’s eternal glory, remaining empty vessels, striving by the best of fleshly efforts, to bring them up to a point where God recognizes their fleshly, religious best, and He receives them because they show good effort – trying rather than trusting, believing but not re-born, religious but not redeemed, believers but not “blood-bought” sons and daughters of saving faith!

Receive Romans 8:12-17!! “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For is you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Gathered crowds determining today what god or gods they should serve and what should be the end result of devotion to the God they choose to serve? 2 Peter 1:2-4 tells us, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, [or to you, like Jezebel, does ‘Baal’ sound better?], as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, THROUGH the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

“Blood Redemption through Christ Jesus ushers in God’s glory?” In Exodus 33:14-23, we read about Moses’ encounter with Holy God! “And God said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”…

So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” And Moses said, “Please, show Me Your glory.” Then God said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”

And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.” [Old Testament limitation!] As great as Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Isaiah, or any other prophet were, they lived in “shadows” of glory, but then Jesus came!

And our Lord and Savior taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, In this manner, therefore, pray: “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN”

If Christ Jesus reigns today, and He does, thank Him that He ushered in God’s kingdom in heaven to its residency in the hearts and lives of His people! Jesus IS King of His Kingdom, and it is not future, it is present tense in the here and now. And the question is, “Are YOU extending His Kingdom Reign, expressing His Kingdom spirit, and constantly being energized through His Kingdom power?”

SECOND, GATHERED CROWDS TODAY HAVE IGNORED CHRIST JESUS AND HIS “GIFTS” OF THE SPIRIT AND FUNCTION BY THE BEST EFFORTS OF FALLEN, SINFUL, GODLESS ‘FLESH’! Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” So mankind faces a choice: A haughty spirit or The Holy Spirit?

What’s our theme in this book? “Evidences of Redemptive Faith”! And I don’t know of a better, more revealing evidence than the Very Presence of the Holy Spirit! But “gathered crowds” today, certainly captured by “the spirit of fallen flesh”, had rather ‘minister’ their lost-ness under the domination and manipulation of the devil who rules the kingdom of darkness and promotes loyalty to one’s sin-nature!

“Baal worship”, “haughty spirits,” “rebellion against God,” “motivation in and by one’s old sin-nature,” “unbelief in redemptive faith,” “guided by the ‘curse’ of Satanic lies,” “self-nature the principle of one’s falling away,” “bondage under the powers of darkness,” “captured consciences,” “attaining rather than atoned,” “self-justification,” “devilish and demonic deception”, “self-defense before the throne of God on judgment day self-assured He will be proud of our efforts at self-righteousness,” “confidence in self-determination to prove God wrong if there is a god,” “good conduct in my fleshly best – that ought to convince God,” “I refuse to budge away from my demonstration of prideful living,” “clean behavior is good grounds for divine acceptance – if not, it’s God that has the problem,” “trying is as perfecting as trusting,” “reaching from within a heart and mind of self-determination is as relevant as ‘resting’ in Another’s finished work!”

No, a thousand times no! “In Christ” we are not that ‘gathered crowd’ operating out of their ‘fleshly best’ – “In Christ” we are those “convicted by the Holy Spirit,” birthed to “new life In The Spirit,” set aside and dedicated and in-filled in our hearts with God’s love to be shed abroad through us by the anointing and in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), “sealed by the Holy Spirit,” “received of Father-God His promise of our gift of the Holy Spirit,” Jesus said, John 16:12-14, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

I love the dynamic word of God in Romans 8:26-27, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Thank God for the Holy Spirit of God who makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God, but you’re unsure you’ll have God’s help in a disciple’s journey of faith?

The journey of a disciple certainly faces the battleground between ‘flesh’ and the Spirit! In Romans 8:12-14 Paul said: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but IF BY THE SPIRIT you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” The daily discipline of “living by the Spirit” is a discipline, sadly, many disciples have not learned about or been trained and equipped in – “Spirit-filled” is another gift of our loving Heavenly Father that many know nothing about “receive the Holy Spirit”!

Over my 79 years of life I’ve learned a powerful lesson: “Lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” I believe God’s Holy Spirit is our “Guide” in the spiritual world of discipleship! God redeems us as we are convicted by the Holy Spirit; God resides within us through Holy Spirit presence; God releases us to be His witnesses of the “Good News” of man’s redemption! In Acts 1:8, before His Ascension, Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Are you aware of Paul’s powerful word in Romans 8:16-17? “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, IF INDEED WE SUFFER WITH HIM, that we may also be glorified together.” What an awesome revelation, and even understanding, why many have little compulsion to be a ‘witness’ because fleshly opposition can even at times be vicious! I know this particular ‘word’ will not sit well with some ‘believers’, but here it is: “True faith is obedient faith, and obedience IS true faith!” Are you our Lord’s witness?

THIRD, GATHERED CROWDS OFTEN ARE THOSE ‘PROFESSING BELIEVERS AND FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST JESUS’ WHO “RISE UP” AND THEN FALL AWAY! Come with me to Luke 12:42-46, a passage of Scripture that ought to “scare the hell out of any professing believer” who “wanders away”! It says: And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. BUT IF that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” It’s really interesting that these same words are found in Jeremiah 34:17-20 as God reminded “falling away Jews” of what happened to them in their non-exercising-way-of-faith-and-obedience!

God said through Jeremiah: Therefore thus says the Lord: “You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and every one to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim liberty to you,’ says the Lord – to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine! And I will deliver you to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth. And I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between the parts of it – the princes of Judah, the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf – I will give them into the hands of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. Their dead bodies shall be for meat for the birds of the heaven and the birds of the earth.”

How is YOUR “blood covenant obedience in Christ”? In “My Utmost For His Highest” by Oswald Chambers, he wrote the following: [p.8], “If we obey God it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the sting comes in. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight, but it costs those who do not love Him a good deal. If we obey God it will mean that other people’s plans are upset, and they will gibe us with it – “You call this Christianity?” We can prevent the suffering; but if we are going to obey God, we must not prevent it, we must let the cost be paid.”

In Jeremiah, did God say, “You have not obeyed Me,” and a heavy price was paid for Israel’s disobedience? Chambers went on to say: “Beware of the inclination to dictate to God as to what you will allow to happen if you obey Him.” [You are aware: many “Christians” will say to you, “Obedience IS an option in the age of grace,” when true grace says, “Why do YOU call Me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?” Enough said, again and again and again!!

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“TRUE FAITH – BY LEGALISM OR LOVE?”

In Galatians 5:1-7 Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, clearly reveals one of spiritual life’s greatest battles between ‘Truth’ and ‘fleshly performances’! He said: “Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”

It’s so amazing to me that the people God entrusted the birth of His Son to became the very ones to nail Him to Calvary’s tree! In John 5:36-40 Jesus spoke so powerfully exposing devotion to legalism over the fruit of faith and obedience. He said:

“But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish – the very works that I do – bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You [in your legalistic frame of mind of loyalty to God’s law] have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

Could this be why Peter said in 1 Peter 4:17-19, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF GOD? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

“Straight-laced legalists” are powerful enemies of the Godhead, because their ‘faith’ is in themselves, and their ‘works’ crucify the Lamb of God! The love equation is totally lost in “self-performance”! Spiritual legalists are not interested in ‘professors of faith’ having to die to themselves – what for? Their lives, guided by human effort, they believe to be the greatest gifts God ever received from earthly mankind!

They sure had a problem with Paul, and still do, when he said in 2 Corinthians 1:9-12, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death [that’s spiritual death!], and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons for the gift granted to us through many.”

“Trust in himself?” How foreign is that with the unveiling of liberty, freedom, and empowerment in Christ alone? No! Paul trusted in Christ alone, which is why he said in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “…I die daily”!! And what did Paul say in Galatians 5:1? “Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again in a yoke of bondage.”

Are YOU aware your old life was crucified with Christ? Are YOU daily, as a true disciple of Christ, accounting on the ledger sheet of your life, that, yes, you died with Him on the Cross, and have been raised by Him into “new life”, AND are you available every day to Him as you present your body as a living sacrifice, that the resurrection life of Christ may be manifested in your mortal flesh?

Romans 1:16-17 is so strongly enlightening and powerful and redemptive! Paul said: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

In my New King James version, Deuteronomy 32 is entitled “The Song of Moses,” and beginning in Verse 15 Moses sings a sad commentary on Israel’s rejection of Holy God: Deuteronomy 32:15-20, “But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; you grew fat, you grew thick; you are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation [Christ Jesus, their Promised Messiah!]…

They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; with abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals that your fathers did not fear…

Of the Rock who begot you [Christ Jesus their Promised Messiah], you are unmindful [of Him], and have forgotten the God who fathered you. And when the Lord saw it, He spurned them, because of the provocations of His sons and daughters….

And He [God Almighty that Israel rejected!] said: “I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children IN WHOM IS NO FAITH.”

They rejected the True Lamb of God; they rejected the very prophecy of the Coming Messiah; they rejected ‘a royal priesthood’; they wanted no part of the “King of kings and the Lord of lords”! I want you to follow with me Hebrews 10:1-4 initially,

“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they [Israel] offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered?…

For the worshippers, once purified, would have no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sin.”

Then the author of Hebrews, from Verses 7-10, tells us, Christ speaking: Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come – in the volume of the book it is written of Me – TO DO YOUR WILL, O God.’ Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

“True Faith – By Legalism Or Love”? And, I pray, you’ve already seen that it is of true biblical faith because of the “love of God”, not legally bound in an attempt to fulfill God’s law – the law was given to expose man’s inability to keep it, revealing the need of salvation through Christ with God’s law then written on the hearts of “new-born men”!!

True Faith? IT IS GOD’S GIFT OF DIVINE ABILITY THROUGH FAITH TO HONOR HIM, EXALT HIM, SHARE HIM, BLESS HIM, BELIEVE HIM, TRUST HIM, UNDERSTAND HIS COMING, AND WHY WE REST IN HIM! And I pray you see and sense and surrender to Him as you truly fathom in fullness what the “Living Faith” is all about!

God’s gift of faith is the sovereign gift of understanding of why Christ came, who He truly is, what He lovingly sacrificed on the Cross, enlightening the heart and mind of man to Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope in and through the Resurrected Christ Jesus!

God’s gift of faith is His unveiling of Himself on the throne of glory! Though He sits, He is not silent, nor is He separated from His Creation and you and me – He sent Jesus because “God so loved the world,” God so loved you and me as if we were the only ones to ever live, but He knew we had to be reconciled, and only God can bring divine reconciliation with lost sinners!

Trusting “in Him” is not enjoying a piece of heavenly cake as some would have you to think – “repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s finished work at the Cross” is a painful process because a man convicted and convinced by the Holy Spirit sees his “model life crucified,” his respectable status among worldly men shattered, the ‘re-birthing’ process never easy when “true confessions” are required, nothing hidden, especially since God knows it all about your “fallen-away-position”!

But “True Faith” your gift from God? Through all the painful exposure, the spiritual birthing process, the godly sorrow…do you remember 2 Corinthians 7:10? “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

“True Faith”? It is a mind-blowing, heart-explosion, spirit-eruption of the greatness of the God who has called us to Himself! I don’t even know how men ignore the Holy Word of God, BUT, “In the beginning God…” is enough for me to want to know Him as the God of Creation. But what about knowing the God of conviction who draws men to Himself? And, the Cross of Christ doesn’t faze you as you consider the eternal reality of Holy God?

“True Faith”? “God loves ME! He proved His love for me in while I was still the sinner He sent Christ to redeem me from my sins!” And true faith? It is “rest,” it is “trust,” it is the willing acceptance of my old life without God “crucified with Christ,” and “new life” graciously given to me as I repent and rest in the Resurrected Christ!

“True Faith”? IT IS GOD’S SOVEREIGN DETERMINATION OF THE WAY OF RECONCILIATION BECAUSE FLESHLY ATTEMPTS WERE PUT TO DEATH AT THE CROSS! Broken laws, broken lives! Rebelliously leaning, a reach-up impossible! Saved by positive mind-sets, “phony bologna”! Meritorious intent, not by seasoned law-breakers! Past defects, present bankruptcy! Good works, gross results!

No! “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God!” Salvation blessing is by the heart of God alone – and He desired our reconciliation! How would one even begin to consider possibilities when Sovereign God determined, “by the blood of the Lamb”? That’s pure, heavenly, kind, gracious, and merciful because it is the overflow of God’s Holy Love!

We don’t boast – we “rest” in God’s blessing! We don’t attempt to attain – we “rest” in His Atonement! We don’t brag that we can do better – broken by Spirit-conviction, we confess to Holy God!

We don’t stand before the throne of Holy God to assure Him that we are able – No! We stand, having repented of our sin, to thank Him and thank Him and thank Him and thank Him for His amazing love and grace and mercy in allowing His Son, our Savior, to take our place on the cruel Cross!

“True Faith”? IT IS DESIGNED BY GOD, UPON MAN”S REPENTANCE AND RECONCILIATION, TO EQUIP US IN HEAVEN’S BLESSING OF ETERNAL LOVE! Again, look at Galatians 5:6 where Paul said, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”

True faith isn’t dead effort – it’s heavenly wisdom, divine presence, eternal Spirit, and, yes, Holy Presence with the fruit of the Spirit blooming every day as one rests in Him!

True faith is divine ‘creation’ evidenced again of Holy God’s awesome blessings! In Galatians 5:22-25 we learn about the Holy Spirit’s presence and production in and through us: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

“God so loved the world…?” “God so loved the world that He gave…?” “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…?” “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall have everlasting life…?” Do YOU see it? True Faith is God’s gracious gift of the blessing of eternal love poured out in repentant hearts by the Holy Spirit to touch our world with God’s amazing love! Jesus even told us to “Love your enemies!” Which leads us to…..

“True Faith”? PRAISE GOD! IT IS DIVINE TRANSFORMATION FROM LIVES OF ASTOUNDING SELFISHNESS AND SOULISHNESS TO “NEW CREATIONS” IN CHRIST! In Ezekiel 18:4 God said through the prophet, “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die.”

The brother of Jesus, James, tells us in James 1:21-27, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, [‘meekness’? Basically, a teachable spirit able to receive divine truth and apply it!], which is able to save your souls…

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was…

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty [the laying down of life in the Cross & receiving resurrection life, which is freedom and true liberty!] and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does…

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

Do you see abandonment of the ‘old man,’ and acceptance of the ‘new man’ through Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 we , in a spirit of rejoicing and thanksgiving, read: “Therefore, if anyone is “in Christ,” he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation…

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He [God the Father] made Him [Jesus the Son] who knew no sin to BE SIN FOR US, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Oh, what an “exchanged life”! “In Christ” – free from the law of sin and death! “In Christ” – reconciled to Holy God! “In Christ” – freed from the sadness of fleshly selfishness and blessed with the joy of the Lord! “In Christ” – freed from the bondage of weak and beggarly elements that enslave, and filled with the release of all of Heaven’s blessings and rewards and provision!

Just a few thoughts erupting in me as I consider our divine transformation in and through Christ Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and coming, in and through the presence of the Holy Spirit to dwell with in us:

“Gone are the days of dismal darkness, birthed in me as a slave to ‘lost-ness’; Born in sin with no hope within, born as an alien and a stranger to promise, born without God in the world of the ‘flesh’, born by nature as a child of wrath, born to walk on the devil’s path…

Then Christ Jesus came, O bless His holy name; His coming so beyond a ‘door to Heaven’, Jesus came to bless us with new leaven. Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us, washed us and cleansed us, and planted us in “new sod”, that wherever we walked, we walked united with Holy God!…

The wondrous blessing, thank God for sins forgiven, But praise to Jesus for our eternal gift, Gathered to God by His gracious lift, raised by His power from a saddening rift; Love overcame one having to remain the same, so separated and alienated from Holy God, But Jesus came, shed His blood in Heaven’s “new flood”, bought sons and daughters of repentance and faith, opening for us Heaven’s eternal Gate!”

“True Faith”? IT IS THE DIVINELY DESIGNED ATTITUDE OF HEART AND MIND BY WHICH A LOST AND DYING WORLD WITNESSES THE LIFE-CHANGING “LET” THAT LIFTS ONE IN THE VERY BREATH OF GOD!

In Romans 3:4 Paul said, “Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.” And God IS TRUTH! “LET” True God speak His truth through you, which calls for “let-ting” God declare His Sovereign Word through you by His anointing!

2 Timothy 2:19 speaks loudly: “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’” “LET?” Well, what about departing from iniquity?

Are you at all familiar with Isaiah 55:6-7? “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” “Let”? Open the door, man in need! “Let”? Surrender, guilty sinner!” “Let”? Yield to His Lordship, rebellious one – He died for you that you might be free from bondage!

“Let”? Oswald Chambers wrote: [“My Utmost For His Highest”, p.252], “When once you are rooted in Reality, nothing can shake you. If your faith is in experiences, anything that happens is likely to upset that faith; but nothing can ever upset God or the almighty Reality of Redemption; base your faith on that, and you are as eternally secure as God.” Wow! What a powerful Truth!!

“Let?” In Psalm 68:1-3 is David’s song of appeal to God, which can be yours right now if YOU claim it for yourself and your family! “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. BUT let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.”

David mentioned God’s enemies, those who hate Him, the wicked, but when “God arises” and steps forth, the wicked perish at the presence of God! Is His presence in you? “LET Him loose!” Has Almighty God chosen you as His vessel of “Let-ting Him loose around you?”

It’s not always true but children can be, at times, strong demonstrators of the very spirit of “Let God be God in me!” At the same time there can be disastrous demonstrations of selfishness, rebellion, disobedience, even ‘horror’ stories of all-out opposition to Holy God in children. There is in the birthed human souls a spirit of “let me! let me!” That’s tyranny in, yes, childish “tanks”! And the spiritual warfare with eternal results is on!

Do you remember Jesus saying after He went into the synagogue in his ‘hometown’ of Nazareth on the Sabbath, as He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah, He found the place where it was written: [Luke 4:18-19],

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

After reading this glorious prophetic passage of One to come, Christ Jesus said in Verse 21, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,” – and that got Jesus “thrust out of the city!” Later, the day came when the majority of Israel, including chief priests, scribes and Pharisees, and the general public, said: “LET Him be crucified!” And Jesus was nailed to the Cross because of your sin and mine!

Isn’t there a chorus being sung at times by the church that says: “He loved us, O how He loved us, O how He loved you and me”? It was James Rowe and Howard E. Smith who wrote the old hymn entitled “Love Lifted Me”. It says:

“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

All my heart to Him I give, Ever to Him I’ll cling, In His blessed presence live, Ever His praises sing. Love so mighty and so true Merits my soul’s best songs; Faithful, loving service, too, To Him belongs.

Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves; He will lift you by His love Out of the angry waves. He’s the Master of the sea, Billows His will obey; He your Savior wants to be – Be saved today.

Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me!”

Lifted or drowning in the sea of your sin? Sorry if you’ve been ‘blinded’ to the love of God for you through the Cross of Christ – but there is no other way of reconciliation to Holy God – only through the blood of the Cross where the Lamb of God shed His blood for your forgiveness, and through the Master’s true Redemption are you reconciled to God! So, “Let God!!” For you: death or life?

2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“A DESPISING OF FAITH OR THE GOODNESS OF TRUE FAITH?”

Romans 2:1-4 is an illuminating of one’s despising of faith when Paul wrote: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

It was earlier, in Romans 1:20, that Holy God used Paul to expose ‘unbelief’ as an excuse for one’s sin, disobedience, and rebellion to Holy God! He said: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

Oh, but then in Verse 21 Paul stated why their guilt was and is today so real: “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

And as you continued in Romans 1, did you notice three times that the Word says in chapter one, Verse 24 first, “God gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie [“you can sin and not die!”], Verse 26 second, “God gave them up to vile passions, Verse 28 third time, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind…”

Now, I want you to come back with me to Romans 2 and follow what the impact is of “Not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance,” reading so carefully Romans 2:5-11! “But in accordance with your hardness and impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness – indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works for what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”

Did you notice as you read Paul’s writings his ‘personal’ indictments – not names but natures, not ineffectual rantings but sensitive revelations, not surface language that touches no one but powerful expressions of convicting truths that “hit home”, and one wonders, “What’s next as the preacher nails me?” Some will be so shaky that they wonder if there’s any possibility they’ll be able to escape God’s judgment!

Have you ever sensed “mass madness” as you publicly preached, maybe in an open-air evangelistic crusade as Billy Graham did superbly, and ‘murder’ becomes your possible demise at the hands of angry, rebellious, sin-managed men, which the Word of God so easily inflames defiance of Eternal Truth? I traveled over India for 25 years, preaching and teaching, and as a result was threatened many times with, “Come back here tomorrow night doing what you’ve been doing up until now, and we will kill you!” One time my Tamil translator called my hotel the next day saying, “Papa Farrell, what are we going to do?” And I assured him that we were going back to preach again in the same place! We did – and the two enemy leaders of a group of twelve received Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives! They had come with their machetes and clubs and left with a new “Master” and an eternal purpose of serving the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

Several truths we must wrap our minds and hearts around as we look at Romans 2:4 specifically! FIRST, THERE IS NO ESCAPING THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, WHETHER PERSONALLY IN THE WORLD HERE AND NOW, OR AT THE THRONE OF HIS ETERNAL JUDGMENT SEAT IN THE FUTURE!

Christ Jesus tells us in John 3:18-20, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; [belief being more than intellectual assent into His existence, but believing, resting in, adhering to, surrendering to His Lordship, and yielding to His control], but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

Understand! It’s ‘fallen men’ who “loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil,” and Paul amplified our understanding when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He [God] made Him [Christ Jesus] who KNEW NO SIN to become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” And in YOUR UNBELIEF you reject God’s love, grace, and mercy, without facing God’s “wrath” and God’s “judgment”?

Your sin and mine nailed Christ Jesus to the Cross; Oswald Chambers once said very truthfully: “Other religions deal with sins; the Bible alone deals with sin.” And Christ Jesus who KNEW NO SIN took our sin natures unto Himself and faced the eternal judgment of Holy God in our place, He cleared the sin-debt by His precious blood, pleasing Holy God as repentant hearts and their faith in Christ’s finished work at the Cross turned from God’s judgment to His grace and mercy.

IF “it pleased God….to reveal His Son in me,” what is that all about? In Hebrews 9:26b-28 we read, “…but now, once at the end of the ages, He [Jesus] has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation,” pointing you to “but after this the judgment”!

At the judgment seat of Almighty God – before death or after death? To the true repentant believer? 2 Corinthians 4:11 says, “For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” But without Christ Jesus? Manifestation of the Satanic spirit!

SECOND, A DESPISING OF TRUE FAITH AND GOD’S GOODNESS? ISN’T THAT BECAUSE FALLEN MEN CHOOSE THE HARDNESS OF HEARTS AND THE IMPENITENCE OF MIND, SOUL, AND FLESHLY, REBELLIOUS SPIRITS, INSTEAD OF THE LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY OF GOD? Are you aware of how obstinate many people become when “God” enters a conversation?

It was Thomas a Kempis who once wrote: “Were the works of God readily understandable by human reason, they would be neither wonderful nor unspeakable.” But we need to understand and grasp the eternal reality that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction,” [Proverbs 1:7], because “fools” despise “Redemptive Faith” and God’s treasured goodness!

A despising of true faith and God’s goodness? Have you ever been around those so expressive of their resentment of those who’ve chosen to stand on the foundation of redemptive faith? There are those constantly expressing what Oswald Chambers called “the despicable meanness of the miserable faith we have”, when Chambers went on to say, Christ Jesus is made unto us [of faith] “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” But there are haters of Biblical Truth because they are haters of God Himself!

In Isaiah 5:20-21 the prophet delivers words of “Woe”! He said, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” You are aware of those who live with a “mixture” of good and evil, and pat themselves on the back for being so benevolent with their understanding of their fallen natures! No! That’s not ‘understanding’ but the evidence of spiritual blindness! And there are many people who have decided “to do evil that good may come of it”!

It was Augustus Williams and Julius Charles Hare, in “Guesses at Truth,” [p.444] who wrote: “He who does evil that good may come, pays a toll to the devil to let him in heaven,” but the devil has no keys at all that will open the door of heaven for a ‘sinner’ to enter since he himself is eternally locked out, desiring to void the true Heaven and give you a free pass to his hellish dwelling!

I know nothing of Walt Whitman’s faith or lack of redemptive faith, but in a writing entitled “Roaming in Thought,” he wrote: “Roaming in thought over the Universe, I saw the little that is Good steadily hastening toward immortality and the vast all that is called Evil I saw hastening to merge itself and become lost and dead.”

A despising of true, redemptive faith and God’s goodness? It is a mental frame of mind, a darkened heart, and a deceived individual blinded in the reality of mental slavery to the knowledge of a fallen world, and an individual who substitutes moral mediocrity for the blessing of God’s presence Himself and His life-giving Word that never fails but only fills full!

But ‘blackened hearts’ and enslaved minds and wills to the devil himself and strongly controlled by a fallen world in rebellion to Holy God, have a hard time in surrendering to divine truth. Charles Spurgeon once preached in England, “We can learn nothing of the gospel except by feeling its truths. There are some sciences that may be learned by the head, but the science of Christ crucified can only be learned by the heart.”

A despising of true, redemptive faith and God’s goodness? ‘Enslaved hearts’? Didn’t we see earlier, Luke 4:18, Jesus identifying Himself as the One “proclaiming liberty to the captives”? Do you remember Paul reminding the Galatians, in Galatians 4:3, “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world,”?

Elements of the world? In 1 John 2:15-18 the beloved John wrote: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world [in rebellion against God!], the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

I thank God for redemptive faith that conquers even the very ‘fear of death’ – I remember a friend many, many years ago, now at peace with the Lord, but then had a crippling fear of dying. But there is a “God-remedy” and His name is Christ Jesus! My friend, now, confidently has no fear of dying! Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

A despising of true redemptive faith and God’s goodness? Do you ever sense the despising of true faith and God’s goodness in its ‘zenith’ of hypocrisy? In Matthew 23:27 Jesus delivered a major blow to that spirit when He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Verse 28, Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Another few words I wrote as I was studying for this chapter: “Worldly men may cry Saved! Saved! at every turn, but unaware they’re candidates to burn; strong imitations as they play the ‘religious’ name, but in their hearts they and the devil play the same game!…

Pious ‘pretense’ makes no sense as pious pigs attempt to imitate sheep, never knowing what they face in eternity’s deeps; down, down, down they plunge into the pit of desperation, As God assigns men their eternal place of separation…

Rejecting true faith and settling in sin, men begin to consider “what might have been,” but rebellion is dark and its consequences the same, as one rejects Christ and bows before his own name! Beams in the sinner’s eyes is not a good disguise, though God is not impressed by one’s outward part, as God is intent on exposing the sinner’s heart.

Even devils quote Scripture when they want to deceive, and evil souls will foolishly receive a word to pump ‘flesh’ and imitate heaven’s ‘rest’, as day by day they attempt to ‘do their best.’ But ‘best’ is not better when God makes Atonement, holy desiring to wash away men’s guilt by the blood of the Lamb, with a new monogram: Son of God, daughter of faith, fully surrendered, and entering His gate!”

Let’s shift gears now from “reverse” away from God to the forward march of the true faith of God’s eternal “goodness”! In Psalm 25:4, above this verse, I had written: “Open the Way in which I should be walking!” Psalm 25:4-5 says, “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day,” followed by Verse 6 which says, “Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, for they are from of old.”

We’ve seen earlier in this chapter how some despise true redemptive faith and God’s goodness with the root cause being bound by one’s old sin nature and they ‘wall’ themselves away from God’s Presence and eternal provisions. Then, by God’s grace and mercy, they discover the entrenchments walling them away from God can be filled with His eternal love and blessed with His forgiveness, Presence, and eternal purpose!

And we learn quickly the “soldier of the Cross” must wage warfare with the old sin nature that tries to raise its ugly head and the forces of the powers of darkness! This is why Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but “mighty in God” for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

But fighting this spiritual warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil, it is not in independence from God, but total dependence upon “the God who is able!” Are you aware that Jesus Himself said, John 5:18-20, Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Christ Jesus, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Then Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.”

And we “marvel” at the works of God Almighty; we marvel at the works of Christ Jesus the Son; and you should marvel at the works Jesus desires to do through YOU!

I firmly believe Almighty God is on ‘tiptoes’ at times, looking down on you and me, to see if we, like Paul said, “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” In Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest,” he gives us convicting insight! [p.186]. He said, “It is inconceivable, but true nevertheless, that saints are not bringing every project into captivity, but are doing work for God at the instigation of their own human nature which has not been spiritualized by determined discipline…We are apt to forget that a man is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation; he is committed to Jesus Christ’s view of God, of the world, of sin and of the devil, and this will mean that he must recognize the responsibility of being transformed by the renewing of his mind.”

Has there been in you a rejection of true redemptive faith and the goodness of God in your walk of faith? Christ’s earthly walk was the walk of demonstration of what true redemptive faith is all about and demonstrating the awesomeness of the goodness of Holy God! Let me remind you of what Paul wrote in Romans 2:4! “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

The goodness of God? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes [trusts, relies upon, adheres to] in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Characteristics are more than one’s mental description of God – they are WHO GOD IS! “GOD IS LOVE!”

And I believe I understand a fallen world more each day as I learn of the depth, height, length of God’s love for us, and understand: Without God’s love, the fallen world we live in becomes more empty and more void and distant from the God of eternal love!

Martin Luther once preached, “Love is an image of God, and not a lifeless image, but the living essence of the divine nature which beams full of all goodness.” Would you ever try to say that you are a servant of God yet have no love for the least of those around you, or profess love for Him without one thought of how YOU can touch an unbelieving world around you? The goodness of God!

My “New King James Holman Bible” edition titles Psalm 23 as “The Lord the Shepherd of His People,” and I love it! Follow with an open heart the goodness of Holy God!

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake….

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over…

Surely “goodness and mercy” shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

I have no hesitation in saying to you that God’s pure love in the redeemed heart and life of a repentant man/woman is the actual crowning grace of Holy Presence! It’s His “goodness” poured out through human vessels willing to be daily on His altar of sacrifice and service, even a martyring like a beheading if it honors Him through our personal death!

Yea, there is a sustaining quality of the presence of God’s love in us that no action or attitude against us can ever quench. It was Thomas Traherne, in his “Centuries of Meditations” who wrote: “You are as prone to love as the sun is to shine; it being the most delightful and natural employment of the Soul of Man; without which you are dark and miserable. For certainly he that delights not in [God’s] Love makes vain the universe, and is of necessity to himself the greatest burden.”

I tell you: IT IS BURDENSOME TO BE WITHOUT THE LOVE OF GOD! It is cruel and enslaving to live apart from the goodness and love of Holy God! Didn’t Paul tell us in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,”? It was Samuel Johnson who once wrote: “The two great movers of the human mind are the desire of good, and the fear of evil,” but what about what moves the “new born mind” of the redeemed? It is not only the mind of a smart man, but a mind made over by the mind of God Himself! Do you comprehend the lost-ness, the sinful nature of fallen man, the warped will of self and ‘flesh’, the brain-deadness of one who calls evil good and good evil, and omits from his life the Eternal Word of the God of Redeeming Goodness?

I was reading again recently Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Aurora Leigh”, [Bk.1V, l.499], related to the subject of goodness. She wrote:

“Good critics who have stamped out poet’s hope, Good statesmen who pulled ruin on the state, Good patriots who for a theory risked a cause,…

Good kings who disemboweled for a tax, Good popes who brought all good to jeopardy, Good Christians who sat still in easy chairs, And damned the world for standing up – Now may the good God pardon all good men!”

Sorry! But “good men” apart from true repentance and redeeming faith will bust Hell wide open! But “good men” redeemed by the blood of the Lamb can glorify God on earth as He is in Heaven! Good and Godly and governed men, indwelt by Christ, can, will, and do, turn their worlds upside down and inside out to the Glory of God!

Daniel Webster once wrote: “Real goodness does not attach itself merely to this life – it points to another world. Political or professional reputation cannot last forever, but a conscience void of offense before God and man is an inheritance for eternity.”

William Williams and Thomas Hastings wrote the old Hymn, “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.” It says: “Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim thro’ this barren land; I am weak, but You are mighty, Hold me with Your powerful hand; Bread of Heaven, Feed me till I want no more…

Open now the crystal fountain From whence the healing waters flow; Let the fiery, cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey thro’; Strong Deliverer, Be forever my Strength and Shield.” AMEN?

CHAPTER TWENTY

“FAITHLESS INDIFFERENCE OR REDEMPTIVE FAITH’S CELEBRATION?”

In Numbers 23:21 God put a word on Balaam’s mouth, “He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a King is among them.”

It’s an amazing passage of Scripture when one learns “it’s God’s desire to be with him,” and “the shout of a King is among them.” Is King Jesus with and in you, and does King Jesus shout, rejoice, celebrate His presence in you, around you, above you?

Moses had died, and God spoke to Joshua about leading the children of Israel with confidence and assurance when He said in Joshua 1: 5, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” Think of it! Yes, God with YOU by faith!

Do you remember or are you acquainted with God testing Abraham in Genesis 22? God said, Verse 2, “Take your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” They traveled together, Abraham taking the wood for the burnt offering, laying it on Isaac’s back. Isaac said to his father, Abraham, “My father!…Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

“My son, God will provide.” As they arrive where God told them to go, Isaac said to his father, ‘Dad, we have the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham responded in Verse 8, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” Abraham built the offering altar, placed wood where it should be, bound Isaac to the altar, and then Abraham “stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. The Angel of the Lord (the Messenger! I believe it was Jesus!) called to Abraham and then said, Verse 12, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

The location was given a new name: “The-Lord-Will-Provide,” and then the Angel said, Verse 16, “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son – blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. Verse 18, In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Do you realize the insanity of modern-day men who definitely hear God’s call, but turn a deaf ear and walk away? And walking away from God’s witness to any man is utter spiritual disobedience, but Abraham heard the voice, responded in utter surrender and obedience, willing to put his only son on the altar, and I believe then celebrate because he believed, if God had him sacrifice his only son, God could, would, and did raise him from the dead! I tell you, Isaac was dead in the mind of his father as he placed him on the altar, and he gained a greater vision of God, no doubt even seeing Christ Jesus in all his experiences!

And do you remember that Christ Jesus said, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he was glad”? It’s God’s remnant in Abraham’s day, the remnant in King David’s day, the remnant in Isaiah’s day, the remnant in Esther’s day, the remnant in Paul, John, and Peter’s day, and, yes, there is the remnant in our day! How do we know? As with Jacob, “The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of the King is among them!” Christ Jesus is the Angel who is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

PLEASE CONSIDER THAT GOD HIMSELF HAS PROMISED US, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” That’s Hebrews 13:5! Its author, responding to God’s promise, then said, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Does that mean we will never face opposition or be consciously attacked by the very demons of Hell or accused, abused, attacked by fallen men of an unbelieving world? In 2 Timothy 3:10-15 we read Paul’s enlightenment and encouragement of Timothy. He said: “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

But even with Redemptive Faith’s Celebration there is a world of “faithless indifference”! Some are even vocally indignant, willing to “curse God and die”! In Romans 2:8 Paul mentioned those “who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness…”.

“Faithless Indifference” is one of the side effects of the “disease of sin and death” that every man comes into God’s world with – oh, God gave Adam and Eve the right to decide, and they instituted “unrighteousness and unbelief” because they accepted Satan’s lie, “You can sin and not die”! And, sadly, in this dark day of modern-day America, we see for many, indifference to freedom and liberty in Christ, satisfied to live with the devil’s chains and bondage! That “disease” has symptoms, like ‘ungodliness’ and worldly lusts, and it grows and spreads and kills and destroys!

“Faithless indifference” can be a spreading contamination because of the “deception” of being guided by world opinions rather than Holy Revelation in and through God’s awesome Word and will.

Oh, and then, how do you define “Evil men and imposters” who grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived? They have NO discernment! Have you sensed danger for friends, family, or foes, and rather than them gaining insight by a spiritual awakening, they allow a ‘passing impulse’ and go on spiritually disintegrating?

In John 2:23-25 the Lord Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover. Follow what He witnessed! “Now when He [Jesus] was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.” And He KNOWS what is in me, and He knows what is in you!

There is great insight from Oswald Chambers as we examine our dark world and ache for its coming to “the Light”. He said: [“My Utmost For His Highest”. P.154], “There is only one Being Who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Why Our Lord is apparently so severe regarding every human relationship is because He knows that every relationship not based on loyalty to Himself will end in disaster. Our Lord trusted no man, yet He was never suspicious, never bitter. Our Lord’s confidence in God and in what His grace could do for any man, was so perfect that He despaired of no one. If our trust is placed in human beings, we shall end in despairing of everyone.”

“Faithless indifference”? Has it come to be because some allow fleshly “doubts and fears” to dominate their daily existence? In James 1:2-4 the brother of Jesus wrote: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ‘ask in faith’, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not THAT MAN suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a ‘double-minded man, unstable in all his ways’.”

“Faithless indifference”? Is there such a thing as ‘human ingenuity’ that takes the place in a lot of hearts over “spiritual surrender, trust, and salvation” through Christ alone? Is it that men become blinded to spiritual realities because “the cares of this world” take precedence and allegiance over reliance and trust in the eternal provisions and blessings of God Himself?

Are you aware of the consequences of faithless indifference? We saw earlier that “pride goes before a fall,” but do YOU even sense that self-conceit is probably the strongest and greatest curse that captures men’s minds, wills, and emotions? Do you sense in yourself at times or in others the reality of unrestrained passions and desires? And that is so injurious to fallen mankind, but they refuse to confront themselves and seek God alone!

Are there undesirable results of a Godless, faithless existence? No doubt it is a “lawless life” that has eternal penalties. “The wages of sin is death”, but that doesn’t trouble you? “Separated from God” is not a consideration for you? “Flesh,” the old sin nature, is pleasurable, even when the Holy Word declares the enjoyment is “the passing pleasures of sin,” [Hebrews 11:25]?

Charles Caleb Colton, in his day, made a wise, convicting statement when he said: “After hypocrites, the greatest dupes the devil has are those who exhaust an anxious existence in the disappointments and vexations of business, and live miserable and meanly only to die magnificently and rich. – They serve the devil without receiving his wages, and for the empty foolery of dying rich, pay down their health, happiness, and integrity,” and you can’t help but wonder about their wives, their children, or their friends!

Have you ever heard a friend or a neighbor or a professor or teacher say to you, “My greatest desire or ambition is to have, to have more, and to work harder and harder to accumulate a small fortune,” without understanding, that may ‘gain you the whole world’, but at the cost of “losing your soul”!

I must tell you, if you don’t already know, that living for this world without allegiance to Holy God, breeds in the human heart and mind what the author of Proverbs called “deceit” – Proverbs 12:20-23, “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace [with God] have joy. No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” And to say “faithless indifference” about the need of “reconciled to God” is justifiable is to identify one’s self as an enslaved, blinded, servant of Satan!

Paul’s anointed word in Romans 7:11 tells us: “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.” Deceit is such a poison to men! In 2 Timothy 3:13 we read, “But evil men and “imposters” will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

If you faithfully read and accept the Word of God, not as fiction but fact, I’m sure you’re familiar with Luke 8 and the parable of the sower, (Verses 5-8). From Verse 9-10 we read: Then the disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this mean?” And Jesus said to them, “To you [true disciples] it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.” The parable was given to those who have chosen and continue to choose the pathway of “faithless indifference” to Loving God, His Holy Word, His loving Son, and His Holy Spirit.

In John 12:39-41 we read, “Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: ‘He [God] has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’ These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.”

Paul had been a Jewish rabbi, even participating in putting Christians to death, but Christ Jesus met him on the Damascus Road and he came to Christ in faith and obedience. In 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 we learn of that gracious and merciful journey Paul had:

“Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech – unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away [passing away of the Old Testament Covenant because the New Blood Covenant instituted by Christ was now present!]. But their minds were blinded {Israel}. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil was taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, [born-again, redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb believers], with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Do you see, sense, and surrender to the “new-born life in Christ” and become a part of “REDEMPTIVE FAITH’S CELEBRATION”? Do you truly stand in awe with your unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord? Are you truly aware of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:8? “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”! Purity in the heart of a true believer is “washed in the blood of the Lamb,” “declared to be sons and daughters of God by grace…for obedience to the faith…among whom you [who are in Christ] also are the called of Jesus Christ,” “new creations,” “possessors of new, eternal, God-ordained purpose,” “singers of new songs,” “new names,” recipients of the “new and living way,” “new-born” as babes in Christ on the journey of faith and obedience, and you KNOW because you “desire the milk of God’s Word that you may grow thereby,” and YOU KNOW what it is to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit and to glorify Christ through you as He is glorified in Heaven!

For me, there is such an exhilarating word of God in Revelation 4:1! “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

Around the throne are those in worship, praise, and adoration, saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Oh, and before the chapter ends, the Word tells us, they cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For YOU created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

It’s by the eternal will and His awesome power that the world and all its universes exist! It’s by the eternal will and His awesome power His Son, Christ Jesus, came, born of the virgin Mary! It’s by the awesome love of God, by His amazing grace, and His appointed Way, you and I are reconciled to Holy God through the Cross of Christ! And by His Sovereign assignments, having birthed us to new life in Christ, we’re appointed ambassadors of Christ with eternal representation of Holy God in our world that surrounds us!

But the blessed realization of “Redemptive Faith’s Celebration”? Discipleship is the walk of faith in oneness with Christ Jesus! 1 John 1:7 tells us: “But if we walk in the light as HE is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Walking in the light with Light’s Creator and Sustainer! Walking in the Light of His magnificent Presence! Walking in the Light revealing to others the True Light of their eternal Day! Walking in the Light of His commands! Walking in the Light blessed with the fruit of His Spirit! Walking in the Light as a soldier of the Cross, yes, and if necessary, laying down our lives even in death to honor Him!

To walk with Christ, as one, in “Redemptive Faith’s Celebration”, we walk worthy of Him in bearing His name and His mission. To walk with Christ, is to walk in the “ought-ness” of pleasing and honoring Him. To walk with Christ, is to walk revealing His name. To walk with Christ, is to walk as ‘children of light,’ not darkness. To walk with Christ, is to walk in the divine, agape love, as Christ loved us. To walk with Christ, is to walk in a worthy manner of Him, of our vocation and ministry of Christ, and to walk in a worthy manner lovingly unveiling His desire to see the whole world redeemed by His blood!

In Isaiah 49:7-13 is a prophetic word from God-appointed Israel who was ‘falling away’ and the people of the “new covenant” in Christ Jesus: Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to the Servant of rulers [that’s the Messiah, Christ Jesus!]; Kings shall see and arise, Princes also shall worship, because of the Lord WHO IS FAITHFUL, the Holy One of Israel; AND HE HAS CHOSEN “YOU”…

Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; that You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves,’ [Or “come to the Light”!!]…

“They shall feed along the roads [of life’s journeys], and their pastures shall be [even] on all desolate heights. [“I, God, will be there!]. They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them; for He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of [living] water He will guide them…

I will make each of My mountains a road, and My highways shall be elevated. [Do you walk with Him in His chosen “high places for you”?]. Surely these shall come from afar; Look! Those from the north and the west, and these from the land of Sinim [Aswan,Egypt].”

Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.”

Chosen of God, but you have nothing to “celebrate” about? Fed by God, but YOU have no spiritual food to eat? Thirsty, but you know nothing about “the springs of Living Water”? Appointed and anointed, but you know nothing about God’s eternal destiny, purpose, and plan for your life?

Do you know what Almighty God said about you in Isaiah 49:16? “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands!” OH, and then in Isaiah 49:26, God said, “I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” Glory! Yes, Glory to Almighty God, because He authored “Redemptive Faith’s Celebration”, and Your and I were eternally appointed and anointed to be a part through our lives honoring Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior!

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“A FLESHLY TENT OR FAITH’S MOUNTAIN-MANSION?”

Paul, no doubt, in 2 Corinthians 5, used language referring to our eternal home though we are presently in an earthly body; but, at the same time, I see Paul also describing those who choose “flesh” over the Spirit, now-ness over the eternal, my building, my earthly house governed by ‘me’ over God’s gift of “Heaven coming down and glory filling my soul”, self-effort in establishing “my fleshly tent” or God promising YOU being the very habitation of God, yes, His earthly Holy Temple and dwelling-place: “Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”!!

What did Paul say in 2 Corinthians 5:1-5? “For we know that if our earthly house, [or body], this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked…

For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”

And did you receive or just ‘fly by’ Paul telling us about “mortality being swallowed up by life,” which IS Resurrection life, Resurrection Power, Resurrection Hope, which IS the very oneness with and in Christ Jesus our Lord? In Verses 17-21 of 2 Corinthians 5 Paul added, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new…

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation…

NOW THEN, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Without Christ living in us as Lord, Savior, Master of our lives, all mankind are nothing more than ‘fleshly tents’ when God’s desire is that we ALL through repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s finished work on Calvary’s Cross are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, regenerated by God, filled with the Holy Spirit, given new names, new purposes, new identities, and being constructed by God Himself, we’re “Holy Temples”, “Faith’s Mountain-Mansions,” yes, residences of the living God! [2 Corinthians 6:16!].

“Fleshly tents”? I’m not sure if it’s true in every corner of the world, but in the U.S.A tents are temporary dwelling places, understanding your fleshly body is not that in which God desires to dwell! He loves YOU more than you love yourself, and His desire for you is a transformation of your life into a spiritual body, the eternal home of Holy God, the Resurrected Christ, and the powerful Holy Spirit!

It’s really amazing to me that there was a time in King David’s life that he had no understanding of the blessing of God in and through him as God’s dwelling! In Psalm 84:1-2 David wrote: “How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God,” adding in Verse 10, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

And, of course, you know, or should know that Israel built an awesome tabernacle or temple that God never intended, because it was God’s desire that every repentant heart become His holy residence! Acts 7:47 says, “But Solomon built Him a house,” then telling us in Verse 48, “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands…”! If God is IN a church building, it’s because His people of faith are there! 2 Corinthians 6:16b, “For YOU are the temple of the living God.”

But it is not “fleshly tents” that are the dwelling place of God! Clearly, it is “born-again believers”, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, God’s “new creations,” men and women, and, yes, boys and girls, whose lives have been fully surrendered to Christ’s Lordship, with the Word telling us, “Your [redeemed] body has become the temple of the Holy Spirit, the residence of Christ, and the very throne of the God who rules!”

Receive Oswald Chambers’ words out of his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.233]: “When we preach the historic facts of the life and death of Our Lord as they are conveyed in the New Testament, our words are made sacramental, [meaning: ‘powerfully binding’], God uses them on the ground of His Redemption to create in those who listen that which is not created otherwise. If we preach the effects of Redemption in human life instead of the revelation regarding Jesus, the result in those who listen is not new birth, but refined spiritual culture, and the Spirit of God cannot witness to it because such preaching is in another domain. We have to see that we are in such living sympathy with God that as we proclaim His truth He can create in souls the things which He alone can do.”

It’s so very clear what the Word of God declares, which is more than likely why a world of lost sinners ignore the Word – they have no desire to be confronted and challenged by the Holy Word! For instance, in Galatians 5:24 (NKJ VERSION), Paul wrote: “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Earlier, in Ephesians 2:11-13, Paul talked about Peter in his early spiritually immaturity, eating with Gentiles, but if Jewish leaders showed up, Peter withdrew and separated himself, “fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.”

Beginning in Ephesians 2:14-16, we see what so gripped Paul’s heart, even about “fleshly” compromise in immature, young disciples, not fully equipped as yet as examples of the indwelling Christ. He said: “But when I saw that they were not straight-forward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law “no flesh” shall be justified.”

It is not, never has been, never will be, allegiance to religious dogmas that brings salvation and reconciliation to Holy God, but by the “blood Atonement” of Christ Jesus through His sacrifice on the Cross! And again, Galatians 5:24, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Do you think it might be why Paul talked about “taking the sentence of death daily that the resurrection life of Christ might be manifested through mortal flesh?”

This is what our Lord and Savior taught His disciples, in Matthew 16:24-26, when He said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life (for himself) will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

A doctrine of fleshly living apart from redemptive faith? “Self-indulgence is the sacred right of every man!” That’s not God’s truth but a fallen man’s opinion! What did Christ Jesus say in Luke 14:26-27, and Verse 33?

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. [That’s “hate” by comparison to Christ’s love for us!] And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple…Verse 33, So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” [And ‘forsaking’ is also by comparison – what you have does not enslave you as a prisoner in bondage!]. That’s costly commitment to Christ that I’m not sure if a lot of “believers” truly understand!

“Fleshly tents”? It was Paul, former Jewish rabbi named Saul of Tarsus, who wrote in Romans 7:21-25 about how one can claim allegiance to striving to do “right” but experiencing the true bondage of doing “wrong”:

“I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.[Doing ‘good’ saves you, redeems you, re-births you?]. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, [without Christ!], with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Did you see it? “I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into the law of sin which is [was] in my members.” Earlier, in Romans 2:5-6, Paul said, “But in accordance with your hardness and impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’. Then Verse 8,… to those who are ‘self-seeking’ and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness – indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil…”.

Dare I tell you what ‘evil’ really is? It’s the absence of God from one’s life; it’s substituting ‘flesh’ for the Spirit; it’s the philosophical mind substituted for the very mind of Christ; it’s worldly allegiance to a flag but void of heart allegiance to Father-God through Christ; it’s devotion to sin-nature captivity rather than the freedom Christ brings; it’s the amplification and devotion to “me” and no devotion to the King of kings and Lord of lords; it’s imitation rather than the imparted life of Christ through repentance and redemptive faith; it’s selective allegiance apart from “crucified with Christ”; it’s human pride in surrender and personal imprisonment to the deification of the “old sin-natured man”, yes, in allegiance to the devil himself!

“Fleshly tents”? Godless men overflowing with devotion to self-interests, self-pride, self-indulgence, worshipping the works of their own hearts and minds, and building godless lives in abandonment of Holy Faith, erecting in personal glory that which soon will fall, fail, and go crumbling into Hell!

It’s one “keeping himself fit” for a lost and dying world with no allegiance to the One who made him, lost him, and then bought him by the blood of the Lamb at Calvary! His/her devotion is to “death”, not the eternal resurrection life of Christ; their devotion, apart from the Savior and Lord, is allegiance to an unholy dream and ambition that has no hope of eternal blessing; their ‘religion’ is “self-manipulation” with determination to be Hell’s top award-winner!

“Fleshly tents”? It was Augustine who once prayed: “O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.” Self-vindication is the “fleshly tent” of a life that sees no evil living in man-made swamps that smell! Are you aware that masses in our world today have no conviction about living in the “darkness of unbelief” about God’s love, grace, and mercy?

Have you come across the passage of Scripture in Luke 19:42 when Jesus drew near Jerusalem and wept over it? Of course, today He doesn’t weep over cities because they ALL are so faithful to Him! Right? WRONG!! Jesus said then and now to the cities that reject Him,

“If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” And a verse later He speaks of the enemy coming and building a wall around them and an embankment, surrounding them and closing in on every side!

Are you alert to the “strange gods” that surround men today? Are “whited sepulchers” recognizable to you by what Jesus tells you? And personally, YOU – tell me about your prayer life because YOU have such great need of Him, or, is prayerlessness evidence of a “sham” faith? “Come to Me,” but you seldom do, because your ‘flesh’ determines, “You have no need of Him!”

“Fleshly tents”? They want no part of ‘suffering,’ or ‘faith tested,’ or ‘fiery trials,’ or ‘isolated by the world around you’ because of your faith-stand, because of your devotion to the Word of God without which a true disciple cannot live, because of a heart-felt desire and motivation to please and honor God in all things, and because you understand, true disciples ARE “living sacrifices”!

‘Fallen flesh’ really has NO spiritual thirsts for the truths of God; ‘fallen flesh’ has an idol it bows to, usually being one’s own self-image and devotion to satisfy its lusts; ‘fallen flesh’ is the vehicle they travel in, getting nowhere, but greater bondage to the devil and further away from God; ‘fallen flesh’ is a stubborn disease of spiritual death that will not die; ‘fallen flesh’ is more than personal prejudice – it is the demonic presence of spiritual darkness that refuses the very Light of one’s day!

Oh, but praise God! There is a way of escape from “fleshly tents” and ascending to the heights of “Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”! What did Paul say in 2 Corinthians 5:1? “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

In Hebrews 6:17-20 the “wisdom-author” wrote: “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to ‘the heirs of promise’ the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us… This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Let me give you a glimpse of “Faith’s Mountain-Mansion” and the hope we have as an anchor to our souls! 2 Peter 1:10-11 says, “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Have you made your calling and election sure? Is YOUR anchor of hope submerged in the “waters of His Word,” anchored deep in the bedrock of His awesome promises, and tied strongly in the ship of your redemptive faith?

Sure? But didn’t the Hebrews passage also say “sure” and “steadfast”? In Colossians 2:5-7, Paul wrote: “For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order “and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ”. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”

Now, as we look at “Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”, let’s give ourselves serious consideration of what is vital for us in spiritual celebration of divine Truth! HOW COULD WE EVER CONSIDER a future home beyond this physical world we’re in if we never consider Christ saying, “YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN”? That’s born the second time of the Spirit. That’s redeemed by the blood, regenerated by the Spirit, and recognized by Father-God as, “Yes, he/she is my son, my daughter, my child!”

What did Jesus say in John 3:3? To Nicodemus he said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

“New birth” by repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross as He shed His own innocent blood that your sins could be washed away, the gift of faith given, new life abounding, oneness with Christ assured, yielded to His calling and ministry through me, hungry for His Word, hungry for the fullness of His Holy Spirit, hungry for His purpose fulfilled through me as I present my life daily to Him on the altar as a living sacrifice to the glory, honor, and praise of Father-God!

But having been born again, the journey of faith had and has the certainty of a physical death for almost all true believers from the beginning of time to the present – the physical death of man is a certainty as long as our Lord extends our earthly journeys a few years, a hundred years, a thousand years, or ten thousand years – no man knows! The emphasis in this chapter is “the choice of life in Christ over the corruption of life in the “flesh”, or old Adam, or living in the temporary nature of sinful pleasure, WITHOUT GOD THE FATHER loving us, caring for us, providing for us as only He can do with divine blessings after divine blessings after divine blessings rather than spiritual corruption, spiritual sickness, and spiritual death!

No doubt Paul emphasized the reality of a believer’s physical death without one fear, one anxious moment, one “Oh, No”, because he understood translation, he understood “absent from the body – present with the Lord”! I believe if Paul had the muscular body like a “Mr. America”, there would be no pride in that but boastfulness in his “rest” in Christ, with no fear of the physical body seeking to exist because of his enemies! More important to him was preparation to meet Christ in “the heavenly home” as Christ is there preparing for Paul’s eternal home-coming!

At the same time there are many true disciples whose physical bodies are weak, at times physically ill, at times troubled by life’s stresses; at times there are true believers who live with on again, off again struggles; at times some believers’ lives are like the little children blowing bubbles, with the blown bubbles feeling so weak, so small, so susceptible to heavy, stormy “winds”, and they’re here, then gone!

Tell me, if you have the time, do you know about the spiritual stresses of a “laid-down life” to the glory of God, bruised, buffeted, battered by fleshly unbelievers or demoniacally inspired enemies of God, out to shame you, out to harass you, out to trouble you, discourage you, harm you, antagonize your devotion to your Lord and Savior! It does happen, but I believe I’m reminded of the Word in Proverbs 3:25-26, “Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.”

Though you may face troubling perils, our Lord and Savior gives us the peace that passes all understanding. Opposition to your witness may arise, even from “religious, modern-day Pharisees and scribes” who in their hearts are enemies of God, though professing their pride in their spiritual elite-ness!

The sin-infested, spiritually sick, blinded young man who killed with gunfire the pastor in Charleston, South Carolina, and seven or eight other church family in a prayer meeting back in the early spring of 2015, was disastrous, but not victorious, because true “born-again believers”, though the body doesn’t function, are “sealed” by the blood the Lamb, and NEVER DIE though the tent may fall down! I love Spurgeon’s comment about death: “Death, as it pulls away our sackcloth canopy, will reveal to our wondering eyes the palace of the King wherein we shall dwell forever, and, therefore, what cause have we to be alarmed at it?” [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol. 14, p.148].

“Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”? In Matthew 19:29, receive Christ Jesus’ awesome word of promise! “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, ‘for My name’s sake,’ shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”

The testimony of Paul the Apostle is so strongly earth-moving and self-shattering when one truly hears it! You are Now! In Acts 20: 22-24 we are so awed by his words of testimony: “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

“Faith’s Mountain-Mansion” inspires a testimony of great blessing to one’s self and to others, but be assured the glorious journey will often be thrust into some, if not many, diabolical situations! I’m not sure of the exact time period, but I would say about 30-35 years ago. I was pastoring, and toward the end of pastoring a particular church in a southern state, a diabolical situation began to break out, and tales were spread that were so false and foreign to me and to my wife, Sue. “The pastor is having an affair!” That was the falsehood being spread – untrue, because if true, I would have been dead! I may have mentioned earlier in this book or another I’ve written, when someone asked Sue if we had ever considered divorcing one another; she replied, “Divorce is a word never to be uttered in our home from us or our four children, but “murder”? Now that would be my choice!” I’m alive at 79 years of age, married to the same Sue since June 10, 1956!

It was so interesting that my daughter, Susan, was a PE teacher and coach in a local high school. [We had several hundred people who left our church and went to the local “First Church”.] A young man, co-teacher with Susan at her high school came to her one day, asking Susan, “How is your Dad and Mother?” and Susan responded, “They’re doing great,” which was so very true! The young co-teacher responded, “Susan you need to know that I was a part of the First Church my first years of life, schools, following my parents every Sunday. I learned something heart-breaking over the years: ‘If there was a pastor weak in the Word, ‘First Church’ loved him, but every pastor strong in the Word, they’d crucify him, lie about him, label him unworthy to be their pastor, isolate him, until he left the church. Your parents are truly blessed! And when I was on my own, I walked away from “First Church” never to enter its doors again. Let your parents know how blessed they are to be out of the lion’s den!”

Be assured! “Chains and tribulations await you as a disciple of Christ Jesus!” It was David, King David, who wrote “a declaration of faith” in Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Verse 5 then says, “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” Oh, and then Verse 10 says, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.”

And God the Father did just that! My father and mother divorced when I was three years of age. I was taken to my mother’s parents to live as she went to another city to work. My Dad remained in his hometown. I seldom saw either one of them for about ten years, my Dad only when I went, by bus, to his city and his parents. He was never in my home before or after I married Sue. My mother remarried when I was about twelve, and then I went to live with her and her husband, Frank.

I love Proverbs 11:8 which clearly states, “The righteous is delivered from trouble.” Triumphant over trouble is one of redemptive faith’s greatest truths! In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 Paul tells us, from His Holy Spirit anointing, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.”

I pray you grasp the significance of the Cross of Christ, not only His victory over our sin and death, but over the devil and his demon powers AND his “angels of deceit, darkness, and death,” even evil men and women so far away from Loving God! Colossians 2:15 tells us, “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

Fanny J. Crosby wrote the old hymn, “Redeemed.” The second verse of that strong “faith-song” says: “Redeemed and so happy in Jesus, No language my rapture can tell; I know that the light of His presence With me does continually dwell…Redeemed, redeemed, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed, redeemed, His child, and forever I am.”

IF “the righteous is delivered from trouble,” [by God Himself], why then, more often than not, are believers living in doubt or fear? In Psalm 106:44 & 47 the psalmist wrote: Verse 44, “Nevertheless He regarded their affliction when He heard their cry,” and Verse 47, they cry: “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles [strangers to faith and hope in Him!], to give thanks to Your holy name, to TRIUMPH in Your praise.”

It was Oswald Chambers who wrote in “My Utmost For His Highest,” [p.109], “We act like pagans in a crisis, only one out of a crowd is daring enough to bank his faith in the character of God.”

Do you remember Jesus shortly before His crucifixion? “Father-God, if it’s possible let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless not My will but Your will be done.” He went to the Cross, He suffered, bled, and died; He was placed in a borrowed tomb; three days later He arose from the grave! Triumphantly trusting even through troubling times or events!

“Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”? What about the life that you now live, having professed your faith in Christ Jesus? There are several verses I want you to see in Romans 6.

First, Romans 6:5-6, “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”

Second, and last, Romans 6:10-11, “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Is Jesus YOUR Lord and Savior and the Master-Ruler of your life? Are you still “living” in a “fleshly tent”, subject to your ‘old-man inclinations’, Or have you died to that and ascended to “Faith’s Mountain-Mansion”?

AGAIN!! “Heaven came down, and glory filled my soul!!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“REDEMPTIVE FAITH’S FINAL DESTINATION”

To you, how vital and important are the words of Christ Jesus? Are His words true or untrue, right or wrong, of the very Spirit of God or the best and worst of a man’s fleshly nature? As you’re reading this chapter, as you’re examining your own mind and heart, as you’re weighing truth or fiction, I pray the passion of your soul is to know the difference between deception and divine revelation!

In Psalm 9:7-10 David sang: “But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”

You’ve heard it I’m sure: “That’s Old Testament scripture that relates to the Jewish nation – New Testament truth has voided God ‘preparing His throne for judgment.’” Really?

In 1 Peter 4:1-5 Peter tells us, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God…

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles – when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you…

They will give an account to Him WHO IS READY TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.” But also examine 1 Peter 4:17-18 where Peter said also very clearly, very distinctly: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’” God’s Throne has been prepared for JUDGMENT!!

As I was reading 2 Corinthians 10 recently, I was spiritually awakened in “shock and awe” as I read Verses 4-5: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal [or ‘fleshly’] but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

You’ll find Psalm 46:10 an interesting Verse when God says: “Be still, and know that I am God.” In contemplation, in reflection, in evaluation, in reconciliation, there is a time to ‘be still, and watch God work,” but in spiritual warfare and eternal destiny, you better appropriate the weapons of your warfare that God provides the child of redemptive faith, and “fight the good fight of faith!”

In Revelation 12:7-11 God informs us of the war in Heaven before our world was birthed and built and blessed by Almighty God. There was ‘rebellion’ on Satan’s part. The Holy Word tells us: “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him…And then in Verse 11 God’s inspired word tells us, And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their own testimony.” It hasn’t changed because in Christ “we are more than conquerors,” we are victorious soldiers of the Cross through Christ’s eternal victory over Satan!

Satan has a residence – it’s formerly known address? “Hell” itself is his dwelling forever! It was Alighieri Dante, in his “Inferno”, who wrote: “Here sighs, pliants, [or bending and yielding], and voices of the deepest woe resounded through the starless sky. Strange languages, horrid cries, accents of grief and wrath, voices deep and hoarse, with hands clenched in despair, made a commotion which whirled forever through that air of everlasting gloom, even as sand when whirlwinds sweep the ground.”

And though many carelessly deny Satan’s existence, his “presence” is witnessed in “that air of everlasting gloom”! His ‘home’ or horrid place of residence? It’s ‘Hell,’ the place of absence and unbelief in Redemptive Faith, the location of “lost-ness” and denial of grace, mercy, and love, where ‘gloating’ in self-ability becomes eternally destructive in the death that will not die, “for the wages of sin IS death,” which the devil bathes in every moment of every day!

In 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 we find an alarming word that ought to “scare the Hell out of unbelievers”, but many just shake it off, denying their sin, guilt, and Satan! But hear God’s Word! “And then the lawless one will be revealed, [the unbeliever, the prisoner of Satan], whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason GOD WILL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE THE LIE, [Which is, “You can sin and not die,” the very Lie of Satan to Eve and Adam!], that they all may be condemned who did not believe the TRUTH but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Just how explanatory do you find that truth?

In Matthew 5:22 Jesus spoke of “the danger of hell fire”! Do you remember Christ Jesus condemning the scribes and Pharisees, leaders of Judaism in His day, in Matthew 23:31-33? He said, “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?”

“Hell?” It’s the gathering place of the fallen man of good intentions, the gathering place of lust-filled and cheap imitations, the self-constructed ‘temple’ of ‘fleshly indulgences’ from which men try to explain that they didn’t want to be there, but they could do no other thing but sin recklessly!

“Hell?” Christ Jesus said in Matthew 7:13, “…for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”

“Hell?” Pains and chains imprisoning unbelievers in a death that will not die! It is a “fool’s” residence that has no light, no love, no liberty, and no chance of liberation! Hell is worldly pleasures that means wild decay and distress untouched by eternal grace and mercy! Hell is unbelief that blinds, and is ‘torture’ intended by Satan and never ending, day and night in the dungeons of darkness! Oh, and there reside blinded teachers teaching the devil’s ways without any spiritual sight or spiritual insight, with a constant burbling of drowning sounds that will not drown, except for the song and sounds of misery!

“Hell?” It’s a ‘prison’ with walls of a dungeon and ‘darkness’ as the residence of the devil himself with any ‘light’ being the eternal “fright-light” of demonic torture! It’s pictures on the walls of one’s prison-cell? Fleshly pictures of ‘love’ for the devil and all his demonic, demonized, destructive ravaging of ‘flesh’ that will not die!

“Hell?” Oh, so easy to descend! No way of escape, a constant abode of the Devil and Hell’s eternal rape and plunder! Zones of deep sadness and regret with no hope of any peace, shady light from Hell’s flames that never die out but reveal constantly sights of shame, sadness, suffering, spiritual sicknesses with no cure!

“Hell?” Joseph Beaumont once wrote: “Tell me not of the fire and the worm, and the blackness and darkness of hell. To my terrified conscience there is hell enough in this representation of it, that it is the common sewer of all that is abominable and abandoned and reckless as to principle, and depraved as to morals, the one common eddy where all things are polluted and wretched and filthy are gathered together.” I’d say here – “Enough of Hell! Tell me about Heaven!”

“Heaven?” In Matthew 8:11, Jesus tells us, “And I say to you that many will come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” Wow! The blessings and privileges of knowing that “in Christ” you have a seat in Eternal Heaven even sitting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!

It is “a place”, not a premise; it is “a location”, not an ‘imaginative dream’; it is “a heavenly promise”, not an “off-the-wall pipe-dream”! It is God’s after-life home forever for every true redeemed son and daughter; it is His “resting place” for the sons and daughters of faith who laid down their lives, having been ‘crucified with Christ’, and raised up in Resurrection power to serve their Lord and Master forever! In fact, Isaiah 28:5 speaks with a holy promise, “In that day the Lord of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people (true born-again believers!), with Isaiah 28:12 also revealing, To whom He said, “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,” and yet only the remnant of Israel heard God’s promise! Do YOU hear Him today, looking forward to your eternal “home” in Heaven?

“Heaven?” Thank God for “eternal fellowship” beyond the here and now but forever with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; “eternal fellowship” with all the saints of all the ages, “eternal fellowship” with the angels who watched over us and cared for us, even when we didn’t even know they were around; and can you begin to fathom Heaven’s “redeemed choir” with their “Hallelujah” symphony of praise and adoration and blessing of God?

I cannot imagine a Heaven apart from fellowship with the Godhead, fellowship with family and friends, fellowship with the true Body of Christ, fellowship with the martyrs, the bruised, the broken, the battered, who were so blessed, fellowship with the stalwart servants of the ages who so exalted Him in their walks of faith, ministry, and service unto the Savior!

“Heaven?” I pray you didn’t miss our Lord’s intentional purpose in Matthew 8:11! Christ Jesus said: “And I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” How does even a “professing believer” think he/she can live without true fellowship in the here and now with the Word telling us, “forsaking not the assembling of yourselves ‘together’ as the manner of some is,” because the assembly around YOU is in need of you and the gifts He has given you for “body life” and “body ministry”!?!

“Heaven?” In Revelation 7:9-10 we read: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Oh, but that is not all! Revelation 7:13-17 we read: Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

“Heaven?” Its residents? It’s the imperfect declared perfect by their faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross; it’s the spiritually blind made to see by the ‘touch of the Master’s hands”; it’s the deaf who couldn’t hear a word of God but Christ Jesus majors on new hearing; it’s the enslaved to sin who have their chains broken by the Blood of the Lamb and they celebrate Salvation’s freedom; black, white, red, or yellow – applied grace, mercy, and the love of God, opened by God Himself are the “impartial gates of eternal life”; worthy enemies of God have met Him in resistance only to be broken, born-again, and blessed with presence in His eternal home; sad sinners broken by the devil are made to smile by God’s healing grace, and lifted from bondage to His eternal place; sorrow over sin and separation from Holy God, brokenness over personal shame, and rejoicing over the word “forgiven”, opens Heaven’s gates!

“Heaven?” The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The author of Hebrews said in Hebrews 10:34, “…knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.”

Samuel Rutherford wrote: “The hope of heaven under troubles is like wind and sails to the soul.” And often ‘troubles’, ‘trials’, and ‘tribulations’, are the stepping stones to Holy Presence! But in that walk of redemptive faith, often experiencing the sadness of the soul, that walk abounds in a spirit of rejoicing, even celebration, and the singing of praises to God, because you know you “never walk alone”! Though our steps of redemptive faith are often steps that would bankrupt others spiritually without Christ, to the born-again citizen with “dual citizenship”, earth and heaven, we fight the good fight of life bank-rolled with “the treasury of everlasting joy,” [Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part II].

“Heaven?” I may ‘limp’ in my earthly journey, but I guarantee you, when the door of Heaven is opened for me after my physical death, I’ll leap into His arms! At the same time, even in the earthly pilgrimage of a true disciple, birthed into the family of God, do you not ever taste Heaven’s divine pleasures and eternal joys? Are YOU “registered in heaven”? That’s Hebrews 12:23!

Oh, but hear me! What good is “Heaven” for you ‘then’ if Jesus Christ is not your “All in all” NOW? “Profession without His possession”? “Belief” in certain of His truths but void of His Holy Presence as “Christ in you the hope of glory”? “Belief”, but absent of Heavenly behavior?

Christ’s Holy Presence in you is evidence of His heavenly fruit through you! It was Leslie D. Weatherhead in, “This Is The Victory,” [Abingdon Press] who wrote, “The opposite of joy is not sorrow. It is unbelief.” And tragically many “professing Christians” [?] know nothing of “the joy of their salvation”!

“Heaven?” Have you ever heard “arrogant” preachers, some church folk, even highly successful businessmen or some athletes, “pumping their ‘flesh’”, promoting their ‘spirituality’, talking about their ‘Successes’, their achievements, their prosperity, knowing nothing about “forsaking all and following Christ”? They just may be “shocked” at what door is opened to them upon their deaths!

And many look to wealthy men across the world, whether those men are Christian or not, and see men who are without any consideration that heavenly wealth, Heaven’s treasures, more than likely are totally opposite or void of any heavenly meaning for them related to Eternity’s sake, or even value their wealth as a tool of God Himself to extend His Kingdom and express His love!

It was Thomas Dreier who once said: “All progress is made by men of faith who believe in what is right and, what is more important, actually do what is right in their own private affairs. You cannot add to the peace and good will of the world if you fail to create an atmosphere of harmony and love right where you live and work.”

“Heaven?” Redemptive Faith’s Final Destination? Can you imagine a man who thinks, believes, rests in, follows, or promotes the fleshly ideal that ‘heaven is a reward for those who do well on earth’? IT IS NOT ACHIEVEMENT THAT OPENS HEAVEN’S DOOR FOR ANY MAN – IT’S ONLY THE BLOOD ATONEMENT OF CHRIST JESUS THAT ALLOWS ANY MAN TO ENTER! It is not ‘merit’ but mercy; it is not self-determination, but dependence upon Sovereign God’s provision; it is not ‘trying’ but trusting in the finished work of Christ at Calvary’s Cross!

“Heaven or Hell”? Eternally real is both, one for blessing and the other the curse, one eternally joyful and the other forever sad and tormented, one the Living Water of the Eternal Word and the other the dry, dusty, dirty, Water-less desert, without any hope of eternal satisfaction or even provision to quench one’s eternal thirst!

And I remind you of what the King of kings and Lord of lords, Christ Jesus, Emmanuel, had to say in John 3:19! “Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

My “NKJ” version entitles Psalm 37 as “The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked”, followed by Verses 1-9 which says: “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb…

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass…

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass…

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret – it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.”

Grant Colfax Tullar, with Mrs. Frank A. Breck, wrote the hymn entitled “Face to Face.” It says: “Face to face with Christ my Saviour, Face to face – what will it be – When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me?

Only faintly now I see Him, With the darkling veil between; But a blessed day is coming, When His glory shall be seen.

What rejoicing in His presence, When are banished grief and pain; When the crooked ways are straightened, And the dark things shall be plain.

Face to face! O blissful moment! Face to face – to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so.”

In your mind and your heart, do YOU know how much Christ Jesus loves YOU?

“Evidences of Redemptive Faith”? Washed heart, new mind, divine consciousness, peace passing all understanding, a love of God’s Word and devotion to it, abiding awareness of divine presence, the very fruit of the Holy Spirit, obedience to the Lord’s calling and mission, the able-ness of God in overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil, a full assurance of understanding, of the hope until the end, and the full assurance of redemptive faith, an awareness of beautiful feet busy about sharing the faith that saves, the soakings of the showers of blessing from heaven, the whitening of the Lamb’s blood that washes our hearts, “changes” in the twinkling of an eye, a spiritual “soldier” who knows how to fight the good fight of faith, God’s gift of the very crown of righteousness, deliverance – the demons had to leave, satisfied desires by the Desire of Heaven implanted within us, visible edification of Christ’s indwelling, the full assurance of faith and faithfulness, glory, glory, and more glory, genuine faith more precious than gold, the guarantee of the Holy Spirit as God’s gift, healing hands and helps, an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away, joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, kept by the power, authority, and love of God, kingdom life, kingdom blessing, kingdom presence, kingdom keys, holy love, holy visions, holy victories, great mercies, rich mercies, faithful mercies, the oil of gladness, abundant redemption, faithful and full reconciliation, a renewed, steadfast spirit within, a crown of righteousness, a crown of glory, a crown of eternal richness , the Lord’s song, the Lord’s strength, the Lord’s authority, the Lord’s support, the True Light, the True Bread, the True Freedom, the True Love that never changes or dies!

But you believe your ‘savior,’ your ‘sponsor’, your ‘supporter’ has better, stronger, more satisfying and rewarding ‘helps’, when he’s a helpless, hopeless, hard, hellish representative? “Give me a break!!”

[The “Conclusion” follows on next page!]

CONCLUSION

“YOUR ENDING?” A toss-up or avoidance of any consideration of your ‘after-life’ or triumphant Truth that sees you through to everlasting Victory In Jesus?

For you, what will it be? Government over God, even self-government over His Sovereign Rule, rebellion over Revelation, or the “Curses” over His Blessings?

Do you sincerely believe ‘self-will’ tops Divine Will? Is it ‘Me’ over the Master, fleshly thoughts over Spiritual Truth, or spiritual death over Eternal Life?

For you, is it the prostitution of peace and life over the Presence of the Prince of Peace and Author of Eternal Living? Are you one who is so willingly defiant or are you the “Wonderful-ly Dependent” one accepting His Resurrection Life?

Are you ‘man-minded’ or Godly ministered to? Is it, for you, fallen ‘flesh’ or Victorious Faith, Sin-paralysis or the Savior’s Perfecting Gifts?

Do you follow the philosophical words of men or the Word of Truth of the Author and Finisher of Eternal Faith? Is it man-made successes you follow without honoring God or God-ordained and implemented victories that honor our Lord alone? Are you a spiritual gorilla of the devil’s army or a true soldier of Christ Jesus’ Heavenly Service of mercy, grace, and love?

Are you a part of the unbelievers who have made a mindless, heartless, sick choice of faithless living or a part of the family of believers who have truly repented of faithless living, of believers, true believers, who repent of their sinful natures before Holy God and rest in the finished work of Christ at the Cross, knowing and believing and trusting in the Holy Spirit’s ministry of eternal reconciliation to Holy God?

But, have you heard it? “Jesus was only a man”, when in reality He was and is Emmanuel, “God with us,” with the question every man will answer, “Is HE YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD AND REDEEMER?”

Is it man’s licentiousness or God’s Word that one is devoted to? Is it a government’s laws that should guide us or God’s true liberty that frees us? Is it even the religions of fallen men’s creation that calls one to observe and obey their rules or the Revelation and unveiling of God’s Eternal Truth and His Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ?

Is it man’s educational systems alone apart from divine conversion or God’s birthing of spiritual life, spiritual equipping, and spiritual training, that honors Him through their available lives to His glory? Is it man’s fleshly, selfish, sinful choices, or the Providence, Provision, Person, and Purpose of Almighty God?

Is it the ‘whims’ of fallen mankind or the eternal Wisdom of Almighty God? Is it what pleases, satisfies, proves what a sinful manhood is capable of or a redeemed life, ‘born again’, to share His Eternal Life, His Powerful Presence, and His Abiding Hope?

Is it self-indulgence to the extreme in satisfying one’s old sin-nature that has separated one from Holy God or the divine conviction of the Holy Spirit that turns one away from sin to a life of oneness with Christ Jesus who paid the price at Calvary to free us, forgive us, and fulfill us with His abiding presence in us?

“Everybody does it” is no comfort in the hour of holy judgment as one stands before Holy God at His throne of judgment, while the Holy Spirit strived to convict and convert one to profess “faith” in Eternal Life through the finished work of Christ Jesus at the Cross, illuminating us that we were crucified with Him, and raised up in His Eternal Life and His Eternal Resurrection Power to be His “new creations”!

“Fleshly successes” are not sufficient when it comes to reconciliation to Holy God – only the shed blood of Christ alone washes men from the guilt of self-love, self-indulgence, and self-rule and ruin – it’s only the Lamb’s blood that washes darkness from the ruined hearts of fallen men, giving them hearts washed as white as snow through Jesus’ blood sacrifice!

For you, has it been ‘self-promoted success’ in the place of Christ Jesus’ willing sacrifice, your ‘self-determination’ in the place of Jesus’ Selfless-Demonstration of true holy love, your ‘self-evaluation’ of what you determined should appease God in your rebellion, resistance, and disregard of the love of Calvary’s Cross?

You’ve heard it: “A man’s productivity should be enough to satisfy God’s displeasure; a man’s ‘performance’ should guarantee God’s standing ovation; a man’s achievements should show the Blood Atonement was unnecessary.”

Really? YOU really believe that? Man’s best in place of the blessing of God’s love, grace, and mercy? And you have no fear of Holy God?

In Luke 12:4-5 Christ Jesus said: “And I say to you, ‘My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; and I say to you, fear Him!” Amen?

By J.Farrell Fisher

July 6-8, 2017

There’s an interesting question Jesus asked while here in His earthly body in Luke 18:8b, “…when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” I’m sure, as a student of the Word, that you’re familiar with Jesus’ words about Old Testament Judaism coming to a close, and how there would be times of great deception, times of great open sin, but it would be foolish to say that Jesus wasn’t concerned about anytime but then when He asked that question!

“Will Jesus, when He comes again, find faith on the earth?” In our time period of human history, are there “good souls unredeemed”? Are there those who’ve never been confronted with why they’re here and why Christ died for them particularly? But we certainly know there are billions of people through history up until now who by His grace, mercy, and love, and through their repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s finished work at the Cross, have been “born again”, becoming a child of the King, “Godly spirits washed in Christ’s blood”!

Unredeemed souls or Godly spirits washed in Christ’s blood? Flesh-bent or Spirit-birthed? Here-and-now citizens of their fleshly kingdoms or the born-again into the Eternal kingdom of Christ? Devotees of the ancient who live in unbelief or the cherished sons and daughters of faith who live in the “washing”? Devotees of the ancient fallen world loving it more than God or the “renewed spirits” of grace and mercy living, yes, in the eternal in, with, and through the Resurrected Christ and Reigning God Almighty on His Throne? The ‘self-serving’ of the immediate present or the “selfless, crucified with Christ” and living to His glory in the here-and-now, AND to celebrate after earthly death in His eternal Presence around the Throne of God?

Unredeemed souls? Good souls as well as evil souls? “Flesh-achievers” who see no value in you as a believer looking to “Another”? “I believe in the supremacy of my existence without any concern about ‘His supposed plan for my life’?” It’s not a ‘modern-movement’ but birthed when Adam and Eve listened to Satan more than to the God who birthed them! Look through human history – you’ll be shocked by the number of people who lived “dreamless existences” apart from the “dreams of God-blessed, eternal meaning and reality, through the “blood-sacrifice” of the Son of God”!

Unredeemed souls? God-less existence? Masters-of-science but void of THE Master of life? Atheistic and atoned for but an believing one content to live ‘life’ apart from Holy God’s intent? It’s amazing to me what I read in Genesis 9:12-17! And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for the perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant (the rainbow) which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Yet how many godless souls are there who never consider the Sovereignty of God and His mercy toward them, yes, “drowning’ in the flood waters of sin and unbelief? How many? Merciful God is ignored, denied, cursed, and unbelievers live in carnal, self-composed, self-centered, self-absorbed thoughts about their ‘fleshly existence’ without a concern at all for the love, grace, and mercy of God! Godless souls, many of them, will live their lives in ‘fleshly, respectable goodness’, while also there are the evil, the morally wrong and shameless, like many known by “their evil dispositions”, unaware of the extent Satan will go to destroy them and all around them who need “blood redemption”! There ARE the “extremists”, yes, even of loyalty to their fallen sin natures!

Unredeemed souls? Some live with an attitude of despicable meanness while others live ‘peaceably’ with their absence of faith; some live, so at peace, with their ‘self-intent’ that they easily develop a ‘fetish’ and ‘worship’ and ‘allegiance’ to their ‘godless ways’! Unredeemed souls seldom, if ever, have any thoughts or inspirations about ‘reliance upon God?’- why, they’ll ask! “You don’t know me or my natural instincts, my incredible virtues, my self-centered personal impulses and incredible inner strengths – who needs your God?”

Unredeemed souls? Their ‘common sense’, besides Satan himself, is their worst enemy! Their ‘common-sense-carelessness’, related to eternal intent, becomes their strong foundation of infidelity, blinding themselves to the fact that their cares of their worldly dreams are as strong and blinding as Satan’s intent to sidetrack them to devotion of the Living God and Loving Savior! Have you ever witnessed in the faithless the despair which erupts when all they’ve worked for becomes meaningless to them? I’ve heard of some of the wealthiest men in the world, when it came time to die, who said, on their deathbeds, “What I worked for, what I gained, what I have now, means nothing to me as I face the grave.”

But it’s more than ‘a grave’ that one has to face! What does Proverbs 11:31 tell us? “If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.” My Holman Study Bible, NKJV, footnote says, “But if God’s impartial judgment begins with the righteous, then the sinner will not escape” his own day before Holy God to give an account of his/her spiritual stupidity! Peter, in 1 Peter 4:18, quoted Proverbs 11:31!

Unredeemed souls? You’ve witnessed it: unredeemed souls walking with a ‘spiritual strut’ in self-pride and arrogance that breaks God’s heart! They major on the ‘common sense of godlessness’, majoring on ‘ordinary wits’, and blinded to the snares of Satan concerning the Lord Jesus’ vicarious intercession at the Cross and His victory over that which keeps unbelievers in their ‘graves of sin and death’!

Unredeemed souls? You are aware that Christ Jesus ‘chose’ the twelve disciples, not because He saw in them superb, ingrained natural abilities able to help Him in His task, but ‘vessels’ to be washed in His blood, crucifying all that they, and us, are in our ‘flesh’, resurrecting “the twelve” and you and me, designating US as “temples” in which His Presence can be manifested, honoring and glorifying His Father!

In Luke 18:31-34 we read, Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them (and to you and me?), “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken. (Oh, really? But modern-day folks? Neither do they know or understand the things which were spoken!

“They understood none of these things”? Oswald Chambers in “My Utmost For His Highest” (p.159) wrote the following: “God called Jesus Christ to what seemed unmitigated disaster. Jesus Christ called His disciples to see Him put to death; He led every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken. Jesus Christ’s life was an absolute failure from every standpoint but God’s. But what seemed failure from man’s standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God’s because God’s purpose is never man’s.

Chambers continued: There comes the baffling call of God in our lives also. The call of God can never be stated explicitly; it is implicit. The call of God is like the call of the sea, no one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him. It cannot be stated definitely what the call of God is to, because His call is to be in comradeship with Himself for His own purposes, and the test is to believe that God knows what He is after. The things that happen do not happen by chance, they happen entirely in the decree of God. God is working out His purposes.”

Yet how many surround you in your modern world who have no grasp at all of what Holy God had planned through their available lives as they lived unavailable to Him for only what “pleases my flesh”! At the same time, are you aware of those who “pump” their flesh-mindedness of “how pleased God must be to have me with all my talents and gifts available to Him”! Really? Or is it, “They understood none of these things”?

I’ve often wondered how many ‘church folk’ live with a true passion and concern about living out their ‘life in Christ’ in such a way that all honor, praise, and thanksgiving goes to Him because they chose death to their old man and rejoice in the miracle of God’s grace that their “new man in Christ” has become His holy tabernacle and temple through which He’s allowed to be Himself in “vessels” of earthly bodies as the faithful take the sentence of death daily unto themselves that His resurrection life will be manifested in and through their mortal flesh – and that has nothing to do with one’s talents, one’s mind, or one’s willful determination to “be a good Christian”.

Again, Oswald Chambers said: (p.158), “The bravery of God in trusting us! You say – ‘But He has been unwise to choose me, because there is nothing in me; I am not of any value.’ THAT IS WHY HE CHOSE YOU! As long as you think there is something in you, He cannot choose you because you have ends of your own to serve; but if you have let Him bring you to the end of your self-sufficiency then He can choose you to go with Him to Jerusalem, and that will mean the fulfillment of purposes which He does not discuss with you.” (Aren’t you thankful that He only uses ‘empty vessels’ with nothing to brag about but Him?)

“Good Souls Unredeemed Or Godly Spirits Washed In Christ’s Blood”? I’ve always appreciated John Wesley’s writings of great Hymns. One entitled “O For a Thousand Tongues” says in the fourth verse, “He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me.” But you hear the proud unredeemed souls asserting, “Your Savior (?) talks about the power of canceled sin when I don’t have any sin? He sets the prisoner free? I’ve never been in jail! His blood makes the foulest clean? What an insult! His blood was availed for ME? You Christians are mind-warped, brainless, and ‘charmed’ by a charlatan!” That’s many in modern-day America! They have no shame spitting on Christ Jesus, THE Savior and Lord, THE Redeemer, yes, THE ‘restorer’ of men’s souls!

In Psalm 23 David sang: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He RESTORES MY SOUL; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You (Lord Jesus) are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Do you see, celebrate, rejoice in, rest in, rely upon “The True Shepherd” who restores your soul to eternal intent, with the never-ending promise, “of goodness and mercy following you all the days of your life, assured you’ll dwell in the house of the Lord forever”?

Good souls unredeemed are blinded, by choice, to the declaration of Sovereign Care! Good souls unredeemed are ‘satisfied’ with ‘wilderness wanderings’ rather than “Promised Land Blessings”! Good souls unredeemed are ‘far from Holy God’ constructing their own ‘idols’ of imitation living! Good souls unredeemed make God’s desired plan of heritage an abomination! Good souls unredeemed walk after, live in, invest their lives in that which is actually consuming them with no eternal profit to the honor of God existing for them!

God said, in Jeremiah 2:11-13, “Has a nation (Israel) changed its gods, which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory for what does not profit. Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate,” says the Lord. For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns – broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

And how many do you personally know whom “Loving God” led them ‘in the Way’, but they forsook Him and drifted into the wilderness of wickedness, unbelief, and ‘self-idol’ worship – degenerate plants of alien vines, ‘washing themselves in iniquitous soaps thinking they can fool God’, ‘playing the harlot,’ with their backs turned from the only Savior and Lord!

Again, in Jeremiah 2:19-22, God unveils not only Israel, His initial ‘chosen people’, but all men in every nation of the world who live, many, “compromised lives” before Him, and the “many” professing allegiance but are nothing more than “degenerate plants of an alien vine”, so foreign to the nature and character of Christ Jesus!

God’s Word came to Jeremiah saying, “Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the Lord your God, and the fear of Me is not in you,” says the Lord of hosts.

For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; and you said, ‘I will not transgress,’ when on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down, playing the harlot. Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me into the degenerate plant of an alien vine? For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord God.

I want to close this message about “Good Souls Unredeemed Or Godly Spirits washed in Christ’s Blood” with words from Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 1:17-24! The Apostle Paul said: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ (Prudent? ‘Self-figuring of what’s important to them from the best of human nature, but void of God’s Presence within them!). Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe (trust in, rely upon, adhere to). For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God AND the wisdom of God.”

Listening To The Redemptive Voices

Intro: There is one thing that must be settled in every human heart – redemptive faith is never the result of fleshly sight and fleshly hearing! Oh, all across the world everyday people are hearing voices that they think they ought to heed and follow.

In Deuteronomy 18:9-22 God is so gracious to forewarn His people: LISTEN!! “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations…There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer,, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. [That’s a demon!!]. For all who do those things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you. The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ – when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken;; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of Him.” Do you understand how many ‘prophetic voices’ are around you every day? – and their conscious or unconscious desire is to lead you away from God, away from His purpose, away from His Person and APPOINTED PROPHET?

Are you aware that ever since the Fall of man in God’s Garden of Holiness that even a ‘snake’ showed up there voicing deception and never spoke “TRUTH”?

And because of the Fall, there is the need of Redemption and Reconciliation with Holy God, regeneration through faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross – Redemption is God’s Reality, Redemption is God’s Restoration, Redemption is God’s Release into the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

But too many have ears superbly trained to hear what they want to hear, to hear what pumps their flesh, to hear what everybody does so they can fit in with anyone but the God who made them, lost them, but then bought them with a price!

I say to you: Beware of any voice, anywhere, anytime, that competes, contends against, or tries to contradict the Voice of Jesus only, the Voice of the One True and Living God, and beware of the voices that speak their opinions and not the revelation of His Word!

Redeemed men have redeemed ears to hear and serve God because they’re blessed with a divine love-gift of a life that hears Him speak, responds to His voice, and reaches out for His destiny and purpose in them and through them.

Redeemed men are not such that are inclined to tell God what they think He ought to do or to let out for His approval their plans, their ambitions, and their determination to “get ‘er done” with or without Holy Him.

Redeemed men, blessed as “partakers of the divine nature,” are men who know and understand that it “pleased God…to reveal His Son in [them}..” and they comprehend their “walks” as disciples are an overflow, a release, a service, to the honor of Christ out of the explanation of sheer love, sacrificial devotion, spontaneous obedience to the Proven Voice and Living Word within them!

Do you remember Genesis 15? Verse 1 says, “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’” THAT’S FAITH IN GOD – NOT FAITH IN HIMSELF! And God gives Abram a vision –

Verse 5, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them…So shall your descendants be.”….”How will this be?”, Abram was asking. And God cut a blood covenant with Abram! WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?…Verse 11 says, “And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.” Oh, what a fighter, what a defender of the Faith, what a warrior in the eternal warfare of the ages! RIGHT?….Verse 12, “Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; [Ever felt you’ve been in a deep spiritual sleep?]…and behold, HORROR & GREAT DARKNESS FELL UPON HIM.”….Verse 17 tells us: in that darkness “a smoking oven & a burning torched passed between those pieces,” God assuring Abram “he was on the right journey”!

COVENANT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED! At the end of chapter 16, it says Abram was 86 years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.” [13 years before Genesis 17:1!] – “When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said: “I am Almighty God; walk before me and be blameless.” Verse 3 – Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him…” He gave Abram a new name: Abram was ‘Exalted Father’ – Abraham was “Father of a Multitude”!

Sue &nd I established early in our marriage a mutual covenant – a covenant of prayer for our line of the Fishers to be established for a 1000 generations to honor God – WE HAD HEARD HIS VOICE!

In Job 42:2 Job said to the Lord, “I know that You can do all things and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted.”….And this, no doubt, is why David wrote the 23^rd Psalm out of a heart that had learned to listen to God’s heart-beat and God’s Voice!! ….[READ!!]

In 2 Timothy 2:7-9 Paul wrote: “Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not bound or chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

I’m telling you: YOU NEED TO STRIP FROM YOUR MINDS the thin gauzes of doubt, unbelief, speculation, indifference, and irreverence toward God’s Voice, and put on yourself the Royal Robe of Submission, Surrender, and SOLE RELIANCE on the VOICE OF GOD, not the wagging tongues from defiled hearts & rebellious minds who’ve determined: “WE DON’T NEED TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE!!” – I’m telling you: RUN even from a classroom, or a doctor’s office, or from a lawyer who is the ‘Law’ unto himself!

Listen to Dr. R.G. Lee out of his famous book “Payday Someday,” [pps. 55-56]. Dr. Lee preached: “In this Word of God which can never be bound or imprisoned, the historian has found his most thrilling chapters, the artist his loveliest conceptions, the poet his loftiest themes, God’s prophets their divinest messages, ethics its greatest authority, philosophy its profoundest inspiration, oratory its most beautiful quotations to bejewel its grandest flights, and many writers multitudinous themes and suggestions that blossom like rare and fragrant flowers in the world’s vast garden of literature.”

Do you understand that when one turns a deaf ear to “Redemptive Voices”, they have personally awakened in themselves afresh and anew the death knell to blessing, liberty, freedom, guidance, and the eternal destiny of fullness in Christ?

What did Paul say to the Athenians? “In Him [in Christ] we live, and move, and have our being”! And, I say, “Thank God for those who listen, hear, and respond in faith and obedience to the Redemptive Voices!”

FIRST, WE NEED TO HEAR, LISTEN, AND RESPOND TO THE VOICE OF THE LAW OF GOD. I want you to come to Exodus 19:4-6 and witness precious privilege, a treasured possession, a holy vow, and a Godly promise. The Word Says: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”…Then look at verse 19, ‘Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.” And then comes the voice of Holy Exposure in Exodus 20:1-21!!

Why the Ten Commandments engraved on those tablets of stone? Come to Galatians 3:10!! Are you ready? “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.’” – Law’s Purpose? Galatians 3:24 tells us: “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Verse 7 has already told us “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” Why?

In John 8:56 Jesus said of Abraham: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”…THE LAW CARRIES EVERY MAN TO THE HOLY BAR OF GOD! THE LAW CONDEMNS EVERY MAN FOR VIOLATIONS! THE BROKEN LAW CAUSES US TO CAST OURSELVES ON THE MERCY SEAT and GRACE and LOVE OF GOD TO LEARN HIS ETERNAL WAY OF SALVATION and HEALING PROVISION

Look at the 10 Commandments, Listen to the Voice of God speaking, and then LEAN ON HIM in repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s finished work at the Cross!!…..THE VOICE OF THE LAW CONDEMNS –THE VOICE OF THE CROSS LIBERATES!….THE VOICE OF THE LAW SEPARATES – THE VOICE OF THE CROSS UNITES!….THE VOICE OF THE LAW EMBITTERS – THE VOICE OF THE CROSS SWEETENS!…THE VOICE OF THE LAW DECLARES JUDGMENT – THE VOICE OF THE CROSS DECLARES INNOCENCE!…THE VOICE OF THE LAW DECLARES DARKNESS TO THE SOUL – THE VOICE OF THE CROSS DECLARES “LIGHT” TO THE SAINTS!…

I want you to hear words from the great British preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, dead now almost 150 years ago: [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, Vol. 4, pps. 237-238],…”Now, I beseech you, hear this word and believe it: ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.’ Oh, you can say, ‘I believe this Word – it is true – blessed be His dear name; it is true to me, for whatever I may not be, I KNOW THAT I AM A SINNER; [a Law-of-God breaker!]:…And, good Lord. You know when I say I am a sinner, I do not mean what I used to mean by that word. I mean that I am a real sinner. [A LAW OF GOD VIOLATER!!]. I mean that if you should damn me, I deserve it; if You should cast me from Your presence forever, it is only what I merited [ earned] richly. O my Lord, I am a sinner; I am a hopeless sinner, unless You save me; I am a helpless sinner, unless You deliver me. I have no hope in my self-righteousness; and Lord, I bless Your name, there is one thing else, I am a sorrowful sinner, for sin grieves me; I cannot rest, I am troubled. Oh, if I could get rid of sin, I would be holy, even as God is holy, Lord, I believe.’ But I hear an objector cry out, ‘What, sir, believe that Christ died for me simply because I am a sinner!’ yes, even so. ‘No sir; but if I had a little righteousness; if I could pray well, I should then think Christ died for me.’ No, that would not be faith at all, that would be self-confidence. Faith believes in Christ when it sees sin to be black, and trusts in Him to remove it all. Now, poor sinner, with all your sin about you [Law-breaking etc.], take this promise in your hands, go home today, or if you can’t, do it before you get home – go home, I say, upstairs alone, down by your bedside, and pour out your heart, ‘O Lord, it is all true what the preacher said today; I am condemned, and Lord, I deserve it. O Lord, I’ve tried to do better, and I have done nothing with it at all, but have only grown worse. O Lord, I have slighted Your grace, I have despised Your Gospel: I wonder You haven’t damned me years ago; Lord, I marvel at myself, that You suffer such a base wretch as I am to live at all. I have despised a mother’s teaching, I have forgotten a father’s prayers. Lord, I have forgotten You; I have broken the Sabbath, taken Your name in vain. I have done everything that is wrong; and if You condemn me, what can I say? Lord, I am done before Your presence. I have nothing to plead. But Lord, I come to tell You, You have said in the Word of God, ‘Him that comes unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.’ Lord, I come; my only plea is that You have said, ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.’ [Sinners? Law of God breakers and violators!!] Lord, I am THE SINNER; He [Jesus] came to save ME; I trust in it – sink or swim – Lord, this is my only hope..[THE LAW] has pointed me to Christ alone!”

I wish you could have heard my son’s Youth Minister preach recently on Mark 9:7-8, “And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!’ Suddenly when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but Jesus only with themselves.”

SECOND, WE NEED TO HEAR, LISTEN, AND RESPOND TO THE VOICES OF HEAVEN’S ANGELS AND DEPARTED SAINTS….Come to Revelation 11:15-18, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He [Jesus] shall reign forever and ever!’ And the 24 elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying, ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come. Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.” [You do understand! God isn’t talking about non-environmentalists here!!}

I want to ask you a very serious question! Are you aware that there are loud voices opposed to God, loud voices intent on the destruction of the earth, of God-ordained intent, God-ordained purpose, and a God-ordained ‘way of life’?….Rather than ushering in ‘heaven on earth just as it is in heaven now,’ there are co-conspirators intent on ‘hell on earth as it is in hell right now’!

I love reading John Piper – and, in his book, “A Godward Life,” he wrote: [pps.207, 209], “Jesus had a lively, daily awareness of heaven & hell. These awesome realities were always relevant for the way He lived and taught. He was radically reasonable about these things. If we will live forever in bliss or torment, then securing the one and escaping the other is more important than most of what we think about…So He motivated loving actions with the hope of God’s fellowship in heaven, and he motivated radical purity with the fear of separation & torment in hell. For Jesus a profound desire for heaven and a potent fear of hell were practical, daily parts of living a glad and holy life….We are playing games if we say we long for heaven more than this earth & then live like earthbound people.” And then Piper quoted I John 3:3, “Everyone who has this hope fixed on [Christ] purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Back in the early ‘80’s as I was pastoring Highlands Church in Ocala, Florida, it was the spring of the year. Into the Sunday a.m. fellowship walked a man & woman I’d never seen before – he had a white suit on and his lady friend, coal-black hair, also had a white suit. They filled out a visitor’s card and the address was the apartment complex across the street from the church. As per every Tuesday I made the visit, invited in, found out about his nationally known Christian ministry of piano with Rex Humbard’s church and even numerous appearances with Bill Gaither.

After casual and cordial conversation, he then informed me that the two were not married, that they both had left their mates and children so they could be together! I WAS STUNNED, to say the least!…I then carefully dismissed myself and asked the man if he could come by my office the next morning – he agreed. Wednesday morning had almost passed – it was lunch time and I needed to go eat with Sue. But, as I was leaving, the man opened the church door, big smile on his face, then said: “Pastor Fisher, what did you think about what I told you yesterday about me and my lady friend?”….I pointed my finger at the man and said to him: “Sir, you are an adulterer and the woman you’re living with is an adulteress. And unless you both repent you’re bound for Hell! And I want you to know, unless you repent, don’t step foot in this door of God’s church.”…I walked out – and left him standing with his mouth wide open.

One year later, 2:30 a.m. in the morning I received a phone call. It was this man. He was weeping, crying, hard for him to talk, but I heard him through his tears say: “Pastor Fisher, I want to thank you. You are the only pastor nationally who told me the truth. Across Canada and America I asked leading pastors, well-known pastors, what they thought – and all but you said, “It’s OK, Brother; God wants you happy!”….NO!! GOD ISN’T INTERESTED IN YOUR HAPPINESS – HE WANTS YOU HOLY!!

The piano player and his wife had been reconciled, God had given them a ministry to troubled marriages, and they wanted to come to Ocala and share what God had done through truth shared!…Please, please, hear me: There are those “spiritually lost, spiritually destitute, spiritually inclined” to deny truth and destroy the earth – but there are the servants of God, the prophets, and the saints who’ve heard His Voice, Fear His name, and are willing to stand, & yes, die for eternal truth!

THIRD, WE NEED TO HEAR, LISTEN, AND RESPOND TO THE VOICE OF GOD CALLING OUT FOR VOLUNTEERS! Come to Isaiah 6:1-9! “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’ And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away and your sin is purged.’ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ And He said, ‘Go, & tell this people:…”

Did you catch it? I don’t know how you could miss it! Isaiah said what? “..I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go FOR US?” US?…ALMIGHTY GOD – LOVING SON and THE HOLY SPIRIT CALL TO US!! “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’; …And Isaiah responded: “Here am I! Send me.”

Are you aware that every day, men and women, boys and girls, are confronted by open doors to the habitations of the temporal or the habitations of the Eternal?….You are either pressed in to ‘pathological self-obsessions,’ ‘acute self-consciousness,’ the childish framework of ‘me, my, mine’ – or you’ve heard God’s Holy Voice calling out: “Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?”

In Mark 1:14-15 Jesus had begun His public ministry. Mark wrote: “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, & believe in the gospel.” BUT THAT’S NOT ALL

Look at Mark 1:16-17!! “And as HE [Jesus] walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon & Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them: “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

In Dallas Willard’s “The Divine Conspiracy,” Willard wrote: “This is a call for us to reconsider how we have been approaching our life, in light of the fact that we now, in the presence of Jesus, have the option of living within the surrounding movements of God’s eternal purposes, of taking our life into His life.”….I’d rather say, “taking His life into our lives,” and with Isaiah say: “Here am I! Send me!” “I want to be what you want me to be! I want to go where you want me to go! I’ll be a shoe-shiner for the glory of Christ! I’ll be a carpenter for the honor of my Lord. I’ll be a musician for the honor & blessing of Christ Jesus. I’ll be a scientist, and especially one who affirms God’s creative genius – not one who denies it. I’ll be a doctor extending my Lord’s healing grace and power.”

How can one profess redemptive life and redemptive love and redemptive liberty and redemptive privileges, and not say with Isaiah: ‘Here am I! Send me!’………You may find yourself so very much at home with the Rangers and the Mavericks and the Phil Micklesons and your pets and favorite movie stars – but you need to grasp that it is God who made you, the Lord who saved you, and a world that needs you out there! Out there is a God-birthed, God-blessed, God-bathed, God-enveloped world that needs Him!….Have you ever heard it? “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal”? And you understand – you can be heaven’s messenger of healing grace!….With transparent, transformed, and triumphant lives because of God’s grace and mercy, with the flames of our Lord’s unquenchable love, with a faithful and truthful presence and an available “Send me,” we can change the world around us!

It was Henry Ward Beecher who wrote: “Consecration is not wrapping one’s self in a holy web in a sanctuary & then coming forth after prayer and twilight meditation and saying, ‘There, I am [now] consecrated.’ Consecration is going out into the world where God is and using every power for His glory. It is taking all advantages [opportunities, crises] as trust funds – as confidential debts owed to God. It is simply dedicating one’s life, in its whole flow, to God’s service.”

FOURTH, AND LAST, WE NEED TO HEAR, LISTEN, AND RESPOND TO THE VOICE OF CHRIST – SAVED OR UNSAVED, LOST OR FOUND, SPIRITUALLY RE-BORN OR SPIRITUALLY DEAD!….Come to Revelation 3:18-22!….Let me tell you of the love of Jesus!! “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

It was Charles Morrison who once said: “The love of God is no mere sentimental feeling; it is REDEMPTIVE POWER.”……….Harold Cooke Phillips put it like this: “This coming to know Christ is what makes Christian truth redemptive truth, the truth that transforms, not just the truth that informs…”….I want to close with an old hymn!!

“My Faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, O let me from this day Be wholly Thine!…Verse 2, May Thy rich grace impart, Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire; As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee, Pure, Warm, and changeless be A living fire!…Verse 3, While life’s dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my guide; Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow’s tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside…Verse 4, When ends life’s transcient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream Shall o’er me roll, Blest Savior, then, in love, fear and distrust remove; O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!”

What is our Lord saying to us? From “Ashes to Fire”, From slave of Satan to son and servant of Holy God,

From a world-promoter to a world-changer, From a life of indifference to a life of passion to be God’s instrument in touching others with His grace and mercy,

From a nobody to His somebody, From chains to freedom in Christ,

From a darkened soul to an enlightened spirit,

From self-consumption to spirit-sacrifice,

From deaf ears and blinded eyes to one who hears and sees and responds to our Lord’s compassion for the needy!

By: J.Farrell Fisher, August 15-17, 2017

Let me just put it out plainly: “Racists’ Assertions” are the most absurd, asinine, asphyxiating, asylum-leaning attitudes that unveil arrogance and racial stupidity as dangerous as anything I know that can isolate, separate, divide, and destroy human relations whether locally, statewide, nationally, or world-wide! And beyond that, it is saying to Holy God, “Though You intended cooperation, affirmation, and loyalty to one another, You, God, opened the Pandora box of troubles, pain, and hostility in the hearts of men and women who have no appreciation for anyone different from what they see themselves as being, and You made a mistake.” How stupid does that sound?

Racial intolerance exposes hardened hearts filled with ‘self-pride’, ‘selfish attitudes’, and ‘sickened hearts and minds’ with Satanically controlled wills, deformed, defiant, and departing ideas further and further away from the God of amazing love and awesome grace. Racists reveal within a nation the central attitude of the hearts and minds of people who live under Satan’s control in obstinacy, rebellion against others who aren’t their skin color, clouded minds to the truth of God’s desire of His world of the whites, the blacks, the browns, and even the combination of all colors! God’s desire is for men of every race and color to extend His love, express His grace, and edify one another in the Spirit of His heart, mind, intent, and eternal will and pleasure!

Racists are enraged with anything or anyone who doesn’t see ‘hatred’ of other colors than theirs as being “stupid folks” who ought to be hurt, harmed, and even annihilated if they refuse to bow down to “forced separation of the races”!

Highly interesting truth in 1 John 5:1-2 when the beloved one wrote: “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also LOVES HIM WHO IS BEGOTTEN OF HIM. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.” But YOU are rebellious enough, unbelieving enough, defiant enough, that if you’re told by Christ to love all in His name, you’ll just join “satan’s band” and play his tune of disrupting, alienating, separating, and fighting against “unity among, yes, God’s people”!

Of course, there is a huge difference between the ‘kingdoms of fallen men’ and THE KINGDOM OF GOD. The ‘kingdoms of fallen men’ are, yes, under the direct influence and administration of Satan himself! Satan loves “race riots” and the people who promote them! He’s a ‘master of deception’ and thrives on keeping people alienated, separated, hating one another, mistreating one another, disrupting any attempts by “Peace of God” people, missionaries, disciples, churches, and governments in bringing people together under God’s Sovereign Administration!

And, of course, fallen men re-born through the blood of the Lamb, in their immaturity, in their lack of understanding of the nature and character of God, are often bound by their ‘vicissitudes’ or ‘changing phases’ until they, yes, mature “in Christ” – so, let patience, love, grace, and mercy abound when you witness spiritual stupidity! Be bold with God’s love for all, including immature believers who don’t as yet know the “BIGNESS” of God’s heart!

Racial bias is antagonism with God Himself and all He has created! Racists live shackled in an evil conscience and seek to pervert the minds of any that they can with their horrific, ungodly, bitter resentment of ALL who are not just like them! In my 81 years of life I have witnessed men of various colors who honored the King of kings and Lord of lords. Some of the greatest preachers I ever heard were black preachers with brilliant, Word-based, Spirit-anointed, heart-warming truths that “touched” Heaven’s Throne and shut Hell’s gates! But…,

racists are the “dark clouds” of some cities, some churches, even some pulpits! “Dark clouds” are blinding and binding! “Dark clouds” are ‘self-willed’ “stallions” that want to toss you as a lover of men’s souls, any color, and stomp you to the ground! God’s world was never intended by Him to be the location of ‘racism’ but the “Community of love and grace”! Racism is a triumph of evil, and for it to remain is for individuals, families, cities, schools, churches, governments, and leaders to be silent!

Do you understand and grasp that WE live in a God-birthed world and, I have no doubts, God didn’t intend evil but a world of His blessing and blessings, but He also knew He had no desire for “robots” but fully surrendered lives to His love and Lordship – and that has to be chosen!

The ‘darkness’ of “racists assertions” is overshadowed by God’s rays of light, of hope, of help, of courage, of commitment to be His followers who want “Light” over every city, state, and nation in the world – and those ‘rays of light’ are to be His children of redeemed faith, washed in the blood of the Lamb, and declared to be sons and daughters of His eternal family, regardless of the color of a man’s skin!

Where there is EVIL, and racism IS EVIL, there must be the weapons of God’s warfare against it – and His weapons are His own children of faith made strong in the “fruit” of His Spirit! Has it ever dawned on you that as a follower of Christ that you have been commissioned in the midst of a “racist’s time” to stand as a “tool” in His hand to speak Truth to one bound by racial resentment?

All racism, white against black, black against white, is evil deception that needs the renewal of Faith in the Fatherhood of Holy God! Your life, your witness, your relationships WITH ALL people-groups is to BE God’s disc of His infinite, all-inclusive light and love of all men! “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,” and, redeeming YOU was to extend His life, express His love, and prove His power!

But some are indifferent to God’s great concern of bringing all people groups together under His Lordship! The nature of fallen men, by choice, is beastly, devilish, self-centered, indifferent to anybody of any color but his/her own. Charles Caleb Colton once wrote: “There are three modes of bearing the ills of life: by indifference, which is the most common; by philosophy, which is the most ostentatious; and by religion, which is the most effectual.” (Sadly, in this 21^st Century, ‘effectual religions’ isolate rather than inspire “togetherness under Christ’s Lordship”!). When it comes to “racism”, it endures in many hearts because of, yes, indifference about any of another color than his own; or ostentatious ‘white pride’ or ‘black pride’; or, sad to say, “Religious orientation”, and some who’ve just determined that it’s best just to take care of your own! Really?

Even if the Word in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 instructs to “Abstain from every form of evil”? Sorry! But I believe to be indifferent to those of another color other than your own is the height of religious bigotry, spiritual stubbornness, and ‘piggish prejudice’, with one indulging in another form of evil!

If one promotes separation of the races, how does he/she relate to the “Fatherhood of God”? Ignore His compassion for every life, regardless of race, or ‘self-determine’ that “Holy God understands my prejudices, and He forgives me”? Really? What may be ‘truth’ to you may be criminal in the eyes of God! Just as there are ‘scarecrows’ flying around your sky, it doesn’t mean “God allows Scare-Crows, black or white, to keep the ‘religious’ scared of unveiling God’s heart in the ‘true church’, which I grew up singing about: “red, yellow, black or white, all are precious in His sight”!

I was a pastor for about 22 years before God called me to preach, teach, and evangelize across India mostly, but other nations in Asia and Africa as well. It was never in my “spiritual genes” to choose for myself what nations, cities, or races I was willing to serve – I wanted to be available to every race, because it was for them, as well as me, that Christ Jesus shed His blood on the Cross! We’re not called to tolerate ‘racism’ but to see it transformed into ‘citizens’ of the eternal Kingdom of God, regardless of race, color, or even men’s creeds – we’re captives of the very heart, mind, and will of God! And, MY GOD “SO LOVED THE WORLD”!

Do you understand that whether black or white, red or tan, the imagination of human hearts is evil continually unless there is by God’s grace and love a heart, mind, and will change, fully surrendered to His Sovereignty? I’m sure this is why David wrote in Psalm 37:1-3, “Do not fret because of evildoers (Dare I tell you that “racists” regardless of skin color ARE evildoers?), nor be envious of the workers of iniquity (of vocal racists!). For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good (Yes, it’s time to “do good” in the U.S.A. concerning race relations); dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

We’re called to “The Redeemer’s Atonement” in personal salvation and “new life” ministry and representation and proclamation! An old hymn entitled “Jesus Calls Us”, written in the early 1930’s by Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander and William H. Jude says: “Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult Of our life’s wild, restless sea, Day by day His sweet voice sounds, Saying, “Christian, follow Me.”

Jesus calls us from the worship Of the vain world’s golden store, From each idol that would keep us, Saying, “Christian, love Me more.”

In our joys and in our sorrows, Days of toil and hours of ease, Still He calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love Me more than these.”

Jesus calls us: by God’s mercies, Savior, may we hear Your call, Give our hearts to Your obedience, Serve and love You best of all.”

Jesus calls us, yes! But Jesus also knocks on the doors of mens’ hearts! In Revelation 3:20-22 we read, Jesus speaking, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

And you don’t think sitting with Christ on His throne and listening to His voice would include, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel”? In Matthew 20:27-28 Jesus said: “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

When the call to follow Jesus comes and the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, it’s vital to understand, yes, what He is leading you into after your “New Life” birthing in Christ! Going back to the prophetic Word in Isaiah 53, we hear that “Holy Calling” of ministry service in Jesus’ Name! It says: Isaiah53:11-12, “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My Righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

It’s so interesting to me to hear Christ Jesus say in John 12:26, “If anyone serves Me, let Him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” And, in following Jesus through the Four Gospels, where and what do you find Him doing? Watching, witnessing, ministering, comforting, challenging, confronting, caring, touching His needy world with redemptive ,heart-changing, Life-giving care?

In Acts 1:8 we read, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Local ministry, area ministry, statewide ministry, national ministry, and, yes, world-wide ministry! All disciples are not called and set aside for world-wide ministries, but they are called to support those who are and express His love to every “race” where they are!

Discipleship “in Christ”, yes, DEMANDS availability for Him to be Himself in you and through you for God’s honor, His praise, and the fulfillment of His heart’s desire – “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes (trusts in, relies upon, adheres to) in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

In his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” (p.198), Oswald Chambers wrote: “The summing up of our Lord’s teaching is that the relationship He demands is an impossible one unless He has done a supernatural work in us. Jesus Christ demands that there be not the slightest trace of resentment even expressed in the heart of a disciple when he meets with tyranny and injustice. No enthusiasm will ever stand the strain that Jesus Christ will put upon His worker, only one thing will, and that is a personal relationship to Himself which has gone through the mill of His spring-cleaning until there is only one purpose left – I am here for God to send me where He will. Every other thing may get fogged, but this relationship to Jesus Christ must never be.”

Yet, how many believers, even pastors and their churches, live in a “fogged relationship with no concern for those outside the confines of their local (?) assembly”? ‘Local’ SHOULD highlight for disciples touching one’s needy world around them with the amazing grace of loving, caring God – but it’s so easy and so demonic to be proud of one’s ‘religious self’ without an ounce of concern about the perishing world around them!

Fanny Crosby and William H. Doane published the old hymn “Rescue the Perishing” in “The American Hymnal”, copyrighted in 1933!! Of course, modern-day churches aren’t moved by “classic hymns of Truth”! It says:

“Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying, Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; Weep o’er the erring one, Lift up the fallen, Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.

Tho’ they are slighting Him, Still He is waiting, Waiting the penitent child to receive; Plead with them earnestly, Plead with them gently, He will forgive if they only believe.

Down in the human heart, Crushed by the tempter, Feelings lie buried that grace can restore; Touched by a loving heart, Wakened by kindness, Chords that are broken can vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, Duty demands it; Strength for your labor the Lord will provide; Back to the narrow way, Patiently win them; Tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died.

Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.” Amen?

With all my heart, I believe it’s time for churches, pastors, and all disciples in every corner of God’s globe to examine their hearts and ministries as to whether or not they are committed to and fulfilling His command to “Go into every corner, nook, location, “in His Name”, as His representatives, ambassadors, messengers, “sent ones”, missionaries, faithfully sharing His love, grace, and mercy! ARE YOU?

_{FACING NEW DAYS CONFIDENTLY}

_{Time. What is it? The seconds, minutes or hours on your wrist watch? For the ancients was time just the shadow on their sun dial? Is time the gauging of the midnight hour on your old grandfather clock? Is it the grains of sand seeping through the hour glass?}

Tolstoy, in “War and Peace,” said: “Time is infinite movement without one moment of rest.” Sometimes I say YES to that! J.A. Van Horn, in “Physics Today,” said: “To the philosopher, time is one of the fundamental quantities. To the average man, time has something to do with dinner.” Longfellow wrote in “Hyperion,” “Time is the life of the soul.” That definition gets a little closer to the truth! Plato put it like this: “Time is the image of eternity.”

Considering all of the prior attempts at defining time, I believe a better explanation would be, “Time is the moment for a life, with the brush of faith, to stroke on the canvas of one’s being the masterpiece of the presence of God, the reflection of the eternal, through repentance, reconciliation, and redemption.”

Look with me at Ecclesiastes 3:1-9. “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven – a time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build up. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing. A Time to search, and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?”

And verse 9 brings us to the moment of divine confrontation, “What eternal profit is there in the daily investment of my life?”

In “A Psalm of Life,” Longfellow wrote: “Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us footprints on the sand of time.” Leah Richmond said, “There is a time to be born and a time to die, says Solomon, and it is the momento of a truly wise man; but there is an interval between these two times of infinite importance.”

In Galatians 4:10,11, Paul is talking to a church who saw only the “surface” and had not yet majored on the “substance.” “You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.”

Jesus spoke to the multitude in Luke 12:54-56, “And He was also saying to the multitude, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?”

The Psalmist had a discerning of the days when in Psalm 39:4-7 he said, “Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the extent of my days, let me know how transient I am. Behold, You have made my days as handbreaths, and my lifetime as nothing in Your sight, surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Surely every man walks about as a phantom; surely they make an uproar for nothing; he amasses riches, and does not know who will gather them. And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.”

I want us to study what we must possess in order to face new days confidently. FIRST, WE MUST KNOW THE DAYS ARE DIVINELY ORDAINED.

Psalm 31:15 says, “My times are in God’s hand…” Do you believe that, or is each day just an accident of the ages? Ecclesiastes 8:15 speaks of “the days of [a man’s] life which God gives him under the sun.” Are the days of my life gifts of His grace? Is He in control of those seconds, minutes, hours, days on the clock of my life?

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” How awesome when we see it!

I believe without a doubt that multitudes never come into confident living in their hour because they’ve never seen themselves as a piece of the puzzle that God is putting together. I believe that many never come into confident living in their marriages because they have never really seen their marriages as an interpretation to the world of what Christ and His bride are like. I believe that far too many businessmen have missed eternal blessings because they’ve built, they think, businesses as a reward of their own diligence and not a tool to honor God and expand His kingdom.

Frederick William Faber: “The surest method of arriving at a knowledge of God’s eternal purposes about us is to be found in the right use of the present moment. Each hour comes with some little fagot of God’s will fastened upon its back.” I would only add, “…not some little fagot of God’s will, but the full assurance of divine intent fastened to your heart!”

Paul, in Acts 17:26-28, said to the aimless Athenians, “And He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist…”

Isaiah 49:5 says, “And now the Lord says, Who formed ME from the womb to be His servant…” And because I know my days and times are ordained of God, according to Psalm 62:8, I will “Trust in Him at all times…” In verse 5 the Psalmist said, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation (or hope) is from Him.”

And because I know my days and times are ordained of God, according to Psalm 34:1, “I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth…” And because I know my days and times are ordained of God, I’ll not see change as a disaster, but as a blessing! Daniel 2:20-22 says, “Daniel answered and said, let the name of the Lord be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. And it is He who changes the times and epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.”

In Robert Wise’s book, “When The Night Is Too Long,” he quotes a poem written by Ruth Harms Calkin entitled “Once For All.” The poem was found in the belongings of a friend, Jan Wolfard, who had helped him with typing over the years. Jan had suffered from a serious mental illness, he says, “triggered by the failure of her marriage.” But with God’s help and Robert Wise’s, she’d climbed back. At the age of 38, she died. In her belongings they came across Ruth Calkin’s poem: “Lord, may I settle it once and for all that I am dealing directly with You. You need never apologize for any plan You ordain for me since nothing but good can come from Your hand. You are sufficient for every changing circumstance in my God-planned life, for every unchanging circumstance as well.”

Do you sense divine ordination over your life? In Jeremiah 1:9,10, Jeremiah says, “Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Is God’s divine ordination written on your mind and heart yet? Look with me at Psalm 139:16, “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your Book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”

WE MUST SEE THE DAYS AS DAYS OF DIVINE OPPORTUNITY. In Ephesians 1:5,6, Paul said, “having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will – to the praise of the glory of His grace.” Verse 12 goes on to say, “that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.” And verse 14 reiterates, “to the praise of His glory.”

Days of divine opportunity are to be days of magnifying Him! 2 Corinthians 5:18 says, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”

To the Galatians, Paul put it like this: “but when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace…to reveal His Son in me!”

Robert Wise, in “When The Night Is Too Long,” tells an awesome story of Christ-like ministry and response as we walk life’s paths of opportunity:

“Kitty Hart is an amazingly energetic woman with great drive. An x-ray technician, she has also raised two out-standing sons. Perhaps the most remarkable quality one discovers as Kitty talks is her energetic buoyancy and zest for living. Considering the extraordinary pain that has filled her life, her optimism is confounding. The fact that she is alive is itself something of a miracle.

As a teenage Jewish girl, Kitty and her family were torn apart by the Nazi assault that ripped her world to pieces. As her family struggled to survive annihilation, they were separated. She and her mother were shipped to Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland. Her father and her brother disappeared.

Kitty discovered quickly that survival depended on doing daily jobs too nauseating to describe. Such tasks as carrying out buckets of human waste from latrines provided minimal shelter to keep winter ice storms from devouring her. Removing jewelry and other items from bodies being prepared for crematoriums gave her precious trinkets with which to bargain for bits of food. Being on a detail that spent the days throwing bodies onto wagons kept her out of the endless flow of human traffic toward the crematoriums. Kitty’s adolescence was spent in pursuit of an existence that seems worse than death.

The horror of the murder of six million Jews is so overwhelming that statistics have persuaded many that people are essentially only animals. The Hitlers, Himmlers, Eichmanns, and Mengelas seem to prove the hypothesis that humanity is no more than the most cunning and dangerous of all species. The death camps suggest that survival of the fittest is a fact and the only measure of right in this universe. So the experience of Kitty Hart poses an unavoidable question for us. Can people really be a reflection of a God of love?

As the years dragged on, Kitty was subjected to horrors that only increased with time. During one period she worked in the infirmary. As the sick poured in, Kitty found old friends and relatives among the multitude. Reunions were a singular source of joy when she was able to smuggle in a crumb of bread or an article of clothing to help someone survive. On one of those bleak winter mornings, the commandant appeared, demanding that the entire infirmary be emptied into waiting trucks. Instantly everyone knew that must mean death.

The influx of more and more Jews had produced an overload of sick people. The Nazi solution for the crowding was to exterminate the present population. Since none would survive anyway, recovering patients were only marking time until they disappeared.

Kitty knew there was no alternative but to comply with the orders, which soldiers stood ready to enforce with club and bayonet. One by one she helped her friends out of the cold, shabby sick bay on their way to death. At such moments the terror and horror that mingled with overwhelming anger created a single desire. Should she survive, the day would come when she would avenge the butchery. Hate kept Kitty alive.

Even though the end of the war was at hand and the defeat of the Nazis had become imminent, Kitty and her mother were sent on a death march to another camp. All that kept her bleeding feet moving was the burning intention to get her hands on her German captors. Germans of any shape or size. Germans who would bleed and die as her people had. Germans who could be strangled.

On the final day of their imprisonment, Kitty and her mother noticed that men in strange uniforms were walking outside the barbed wire. Then an SS guard appeared and announced surrender to the Allies. Immediately the prisoners turned on him, tearing his uniform from his body. As the other inmates beat him, Kitty saw his dagger fall to the ground. Instantly she grabbed the knife and ran for the gate out of the camp. Surging together, the prisoners rampaged into the town seeking food. Kitty clutched at the dagger with one thought in mind. Somewhere she would find a German to try to even a score that had never been settled.

Breaking down the door to one of the village houses they poured in seeking food. The house appeared empty until a prisoner noticed a door that went down to the basement. Quickly Kitty descended the stairs with the knife in the air, poised for attack. From out of the shadows the forms of people began to emerge. There they were. Germans who were trapped just as Kitty and her friends had been for all those years.

“Throw it!” someone yelled in her ear. “Stick them!” As one man stepped from the group, Kitty drew her arm over her head ready to plunge the knife into his chest.

“Throw it!” the man behind her screamed. With the blade overhead, a most contrary impulse surged up from her soul. An almost lost emotion touched her intention. Deep within the recesses of her mind, compassion arose. Unexpected goodness froze the knife in the air. Her obsession with revenge gave way to thoughts of forgiveness. To Kitty’s amazement, her own hand turned, hurling the knife against a wall where it fell harmlessly to the floor.

“I realized that if I killed the man, the Nazis would have succeeded in making me like them,” she now reflects. By bearing humiliation and degradation with forgiveness, Kitty demonstrated that the inhumanity of the Nazis was only a momentary perversion of true humanity. Kitty is living proof that the image of God can be obscured, but not destroyed. The worst life offers produced in her a transcendent quality of character.

Kitty found that she was changed by her decision. By exchanging benevolence for bestiality, she profited the most.

How can the effect of years filled with hate be revised in a few moments of forgiveness? Nothing compares with the power of love. No cleansing agent, no scouring powder, no catharsis can accomplish what a few moments of absolution will do for the soul. The darkest depths of hate reveal most fully the highest possibilities of love.” WOW! DAYS OF OPPORTUNITY – days of ministry to reveal Christ!

WE MUST SEE THE DAYS AS DAYS OF OCCUPATION! Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 says, “I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Luke 10:13 makes a similar point: “So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Occupy (or do business) till I come.” Do you remember young Jesus’ response to His parents when they came back to Jerusalem to find him? Luke 2:49, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

George Macdonald, in the “Marquis of Losaie”, wrote, “I find the doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.”

** DAYS OF OCCUPATION ARE DAYS OF DECISIONS – Ephesians 1:1 says, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God…” What is the will of God for your life? I Corinthians 2:2 says, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Ephesians 6:6 says, “servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart…”

**DAYS OF OCCUPATION ARE DAYS OF DETERMINATION – Look with me at 2 Samuel 23:10-12, “He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain. Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hazarite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory.”

Henry Parry Liddon says, “Nothing is really lost by sacrifice; everything is lost by failure to obey God’s call.” John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, “In simple trust like theirs who heard beside the Syrian Sea the gracious calling of the Lord, let us, like them, without a word rise up and follow God.”

Hebrews 12:2-3 says, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.”

** DAYS OF OCCUPATION ARE DAYS OF DISCIPLINE – Look carefully at I Corinthians 9:23-27 and ask yourself, “Is my walk with Christ disciplined?” “And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body, and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”

As Paul came near the end of his life, he wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

WE MUST SEE THE DAYS AS DAYS OF ORDER: Do you remember “good King Hezekiah?” In 2 Kings 20:1-2 Hezekiah was sick and near death and Isaiah the prophet went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.” In Amos 4:2 God said, “Prepare to meet your God!!” Set your house in order! Days of order are days of preparation, examination, devotedness and readiness.

In Luke 16:2 Jesus speaks of the rich man’s steward when he called him to himself and said, “What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship…”

To the church at Corinth Paul said, “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” Set your house in order.

Matthew 25:10 speaks of those five foolish virgins: “And while the five foolish virgins went to buy, the bridegroom, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding. And the door was shut.” Set your house in order!

Revelation 19:7 also speaks of a wedding. “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and HIS WIFE HAS MADE HERSELF READY.” Set your house in order!

Oswald Chambers, in “My Utmost For His Highest” wrote, “The great need for the Christian worker is to be ready to face Jesus Christ at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience is. The battle is not against sin or difficulties or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in work that we are not ready to face Jesus Christ at every turn. That is the one great need, not the facing of our belief, or our creed, the question whether we are of any use, but to face Him…Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical connections. The only way a worker can keep true to God is by being ready for the Lord’s surprise visits. It is not service that matters, but intense spiritual reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn…If you are ‘looking off unto Jesus’ avoiding the call of the religious age you live in, and setting your heart on what He wants, on thinking on His line, you will be the only one who is ready. Trust no one, not even the finest saint who ever walked this earth, ignore him, if he hinders your sight of Jesus Christ.” SET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER!

WE MUST LIVE THE DAYS WITH THE PROMISE OF OVERCOMING! I John 5:4 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world – our faith!”

In I Corinthians 15:57 we read, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Is it so? Then…”These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace; In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”

We are not called to Christ to be men and women filled with pessimistic fear, but men and women empowered by a powerful faith of “Victory In Jesus.” We are not called to Christ to be disciples clouded by doubts, but disciples who are gloriously certain of our conquest because of the unconquerable majesty of Christ. We are not called to Christ to be His servants bathed in the foul smell of failure and short coming, but servants flooded with the heavenly perfume of Christ’s joy, His triumphant victory, and His overcoming life.

We don’t walk despondently toward heaven’s gates, we ride the chariot of faith radiant in the triumphant procession of oneness with Christ. We don’t walk toward heaven’s gates hoping that at least some of our time we are triumphant in Christ, the Word says God “always” leads us in triumph in Christ! We walk toward heaven’s gates because we willfully chained ourselves to Christ, responding to the unfathomable love of the Victor!

George Matheson wrote the text to the hymn, “O Love That Will Not Let Me God.” Those four verses say: “O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.

O Light that follows all my way, I yield my flickering torch to Thee; my heart restores its borrowed ray, that in Thy sunshine’s blaze, its day may brighter, fairer be.

O joy that seeks me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee; I trace this rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that many shall tearless be.

O grace that lifts up my head, I dare not ask to fly from Thee; I lay in dust life’s glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red, life that shall endless be.”

By J. Farrell Fisher

September 2, 2016

There’s an interesting verse in Jeremiah 45:5 where the Lord Himself speaks: “And do not seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the Lord. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” And, if God is no respecter of persons, (and He’s not!), then what He said through the prophet to Baruch, does the same hold true to you? Is YOUR “gutsy grit” what Holy God desires from you or a broken, repentant heart, and truly godly sorrow over the sinful state of your God-less life?

One of the saddest words in all of Scripture, so definitive of “fallen men”, is found in Proverbs 21:2 where the Word declares: “Every way of man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.” A gutsy, gritty heart or a heart of Godly sorrow? A gilded heart of showy appearances or a graced heart of Godly indwelling?

Do you sense any of “gutsy grit” around you, whether child, youth, young adult, or aging adult? Do you ever view the “culture of fleshly intellect” and shake your head as you visualize “cultural unbelief” and fleshly rejection of Holy God and His love and purpose for all fallen men?

Jonathan Edwards, in his writing, “The Freedom of the Will,” wrote: “The heart (that’s the heart of fallen men!) is like a viper, hissing, and spitting poison at God.” The hearts of “fallen men”, alienated and separated from Holy God, are yielded to the aim of pursuing and satisfying the ‘flesh’ and its indulgences with no consideration of eternal purpose or what pleases and honors Holy God with His desire that they be reconciled to Him through the blood of the Lamb of God!

“Fallen men”, large in prominence or known by few, are no different! Both are citizens of the kingdom of darkness and the devil, intent on satisfying all fleshly desires, accepting of “seeming shows,” indulging in vain delights, programmed by civilized ‘stupidity’, critical of true men of redeeming faith through the Blood, satisfied with mental allegiance apart from ‘heart-transformation,’ and certainly with “No fear of God” but only acknowledgement of His existence, even if that! Faith, to them, is simply an awareness of God, if even that by some, but absent from true repentance and redeeming faith and them becoming the temple of Holy Presence on earth! Faith, to them, is for far too many, even some pastors, the faith of possibilities, not the faith of divine realities, which is why ‘philosophy’, factual or fiction, at least governs some’s ‘mental allegiance’!

“Gutsy grit” is never able to translate or transform the ‘chord discords’ or ‘off-key’ fleshly realities into an ‘orchestrated-life-harmony’ apart from the grace and the mercy of God! It was Thomas Carlyle who once said: [“The Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations,” edited by Frank S. Mead, Fleming H. Revell com., Westwood New Jersey,p.456], “There is but one thing without honor, smitten with eternal barrenness, inability to do or to be, and that is unbelief. He who believes nothing, who believes only the show of things, is not in relation with nature or fact at all.”

Do you remember Moses and Aaron going in to Pharoah of Egypt and telling him, (Exodus 5:1-2), “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” And Pharoah said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” Yet, in Exodus 14 we read of the destruction of the Egyptian armies AND Pharoah with Verse 28 telling us, “Not so much as one of them remained,” and certainly not “gritted Pharoah”! And, dare I tell you, FROM HELL PHAROAH STILL GRIEVES AND GROANS, BUT NOW VOID OF HIS GUTSY GRIT!

“Gutsy grit” by unbelievers and rejecters of Resurrection Life in Christ are men, past, present, and future, who will reveal to you, if you’re ever able to ask them, (I hope not!), “We know now only anthems of despair, the themes of avenging demons, the scary, constant, unyielding voices of devilish phantoms,” or Harriet Beecher Stowe’s words, “No one is so thoroughly superstitious as the godless man. Life and death to him are haunted grounds, filled with goblin forms of vague and shadowy dread.”

There is no evil so great as the evil of the rejection of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and life in and through Christ, just as Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:12b, “If we deny Him, He [the One True and Living God, the Resurrected Christ], ALSO will deny us.”

I find the anointed spirit of Paul so needed in this 21^st Century in our own journey of faith, and especially as one is cemented and grounded in the Holy Word, and fully aware of the fallacy of “gutsy grit”, and fully aware of the need of “godly sorrow”, “redemptive faith,” “and true repentance”! In 2 Timothy 2:23-26 he wrote: “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that THEY MAY COME TO THEIR SENSES AND ESCAPE THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

Do YOU find that a frightening statement that unbelievers are those “snared by the devil”, functioning in their lives according to his wants, desires, and plans? Isn’t it amazing, shocking, awakening, alerting to you to even hear Jesus, in Revelation 3:9, even mention “those of the synagogue of Satan”? SO…let’s just call on “gutsy grit” to see us through in our earthly warfare with the devil and the powers of darkness – right? WRONG!

Examine Revelation 12:7-12! And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. AND THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND BY THE WORD OF THEIR OWN TESTIMONY, AND THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES TO THE DEATH. THEREFORE rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!

Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

But, hear me! Whether it’s the world, the flesh, or the devil, Psalm 50:15 tells us: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” What a promise! Dare I ask YOU? “Do YOU stand on the promises in “gutsy grit” or “REST” in the finished work of Christ “At Calvary”? What does the Holy Word tell us in Ephesians 6:10-18?

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord [ Does that sound like “gutsy grit” to you?] and IN the power of HIS MIGHT. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

STAND THEREFORE, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [that’s imparted, implanted, imputed righteousness by the grace and mercy of God!], and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints –“

Dare I tell you that the day of your ‘helpless feeling’ can be, should be, must be, the day of full awareness of ALL God Himself wants to be and to do through you? Proverbs 3:1-6 is a powerful expression from God that should be the launching of your life of faith and trust through “Godly Sorrow” from a heart and life that does not lean on “gutsy grit” or “fleshly best” but God’s mercy, grace, and love! It says: “My son, do not forget my law (the wisdom and instruction from “trust” in the Lord!), but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, And SO find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. [Look now at Verses 13, and 21-26]! “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.” That’s the wisdom of God and the understanding the Holy Spirit gives to you as you faithfully feed on His Word! Verses 21-26 says, “My son, let them not depart from your eyes – keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be LIFE TO YOUR SOUL and GRACE TO YOUR NECK.

Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.”

So…what does a fleshly, sinful, mortal man do to obtain his personal salvation? Do you remember Paul and Silas imprisoned for the faith in Acts 16 when the jailer came to them after a great earthquake, finding all the prison doors opened, and Paul and Silas still there! He was ready to kill himself, but went in to Paul and Silas asking, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And it wasn’t ‘saved from an earthquake but “saved from his sins”! And in Acts 16:31 Paul and Silas told him, “Believe [trust in, rely upon, adhere to] on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

That’s: BE FINISHED WITH YOURSELF AND ANY ATTEMPT AT BEING “RELIGIOUS”, AND REST IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST AT THE CROSS! Have you never received, rested in, or relied upon 2 Corinthians 5:17? “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he IS a ‘new creation’; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

“In Christ” we sing a “new song”! “In Christ” we walk in “newness of life” and serve Him in “newness of spirit”! The Lord Jesus said in Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I make all things new…!” We’re ‘clothed’ with “new garments”, we “LIVE” by a “new and living way,” He grants us a “new name”, He bestows upon us out of our death the reality of “new-born”, a “new covenant,” a “new heart and a new spirit,” and as “newborn babes in Christ” we desire, hunger for, rest in, and are assured of His able-ness to keep what we’ve committed unto Him and to keep what He has committed unto us!

2 Corinthians 5:21 declares: “For He (God) made Him (Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God In Him.” ARE YOU “the righteousness of God IN CHRIST JESUS”? Hear me!

“In Christ” we are no longer ‘mere men’ but sons and daughters of redemptive faith birthed by God to bear, share, unveil His Name!

“In Christ”, by God’s mercy, grace, and love, we’ve been set apart to be “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own special, blood-bought people”!

“In Christ”, ‘born again by the Spirit into the Holy Family of God, we are declared by Him to be the “righteousness of God in Christ Jesus”! We’re now “sons and daughters” of our Heavenly Father!

Our lives, now “in Christ”, are “hidden with Christ in God”! We’ve been “raised up to be seated with Him in heavenly places at the very right hand of God the Father!

Our lives “in Christ” are now identified as “ministers of reconciliation” and “ambassadors of Christ”! We’ve been counted worthy to walk with Christ, entrusted with His Gospel!

Christ Jesus is the Bridegroom – we’re “the bride of Christ”! We’re now “trustees of the ‘mysteries’! We’re “witnesses” of His Redeeming Grace! God even says of all repentant believers that they are “priests and kings unto Him.”

To God, we are the ‘fragrance of Christ,’ His ‘peace-makers’ in a troubled world, His disciples and disciplers, His “soldiers of the Cross”! We’re “more than conquerors” – we’re “new creations”!

“In Christ” we’re “living sacrifices”, eternal epistles, poems of the grace, mercy, and love of God! Doesn’t the Word declare the truth and reality, and visual presence of “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, or ‘disciples’ meaning “Followers of Christ”?

“In Christ” we’re “servants” of the King of kings and Lord of lords – we bear the image of the Heavenly Man, because WE ARE ‘the called, the separated, the anointed, indwelt by all the very fullness of God”!

“In Christ” we are His messengers, His proclaimers, the heralds of His gospel or ‘good news’! “In Him” we ARE the “glorious Body of Christ,” members of the Holy Body in particular!

“In Christ” we’re “vessels” through which God Himself reveals His Son, we’re “salt” and “light”, we’re the “Symphony” God sings about, the music of His heart, and over us He sings the sounds of joy and sweet pleasure!

It’s time to settle it for Eternity! Are you a ‘mere man’ or “the anointed, appointed, affirmed holy man of God, infilled by the Holy Spirit to be His holy messengers?

Are you a ‘mere man’ or the biblically-declared “mighty men of valor”? Are you a ‘worldly, anxious ant’ or an “ambassador of Christ”? Are you a ‘mere man’ or a son or daughter of the family of Father-God?

Are you a ‘mere man’ or a “true minister and servant of reconciliation”? Are you simply a ‘mere man’ or a true witness of Saving Grace, Master-Full Mercy, and overflowing in Calvary’s Song of eternal love and Christ-Alone “Blood Redemption”?

Are YOU a “witness” of “Saving Grace”? Are YOU “the elect,” the “set-apart”, the “chosen of God”? Are YOU “the apple of God’s eye”? Are YOU His “workmanship”? Are YOU a “partner with God”, a “vessel of honor before Him daily”, available for Him to do as He pleases through YOU?

Are You “clay in the hands of the Potter, being sculpted into His Holy Image and Likeness”? Are you a “partaker of the divine nature”, one with Him, the fullness of Him who fills all in all?

You do realize that a ‘roller coaster’, at least once in your life, ought to be fun to ‘play on’, but the “ups and downs”, the “around and around” moves you nowhere in life in relation to Holy God! A ‘ferris wheel’ at the State Fair will get you ‘up’ momentarily to look “over” for a brief glimpse of the beautiful side, but then it’s down again and around again to the same old circumstances!

And anonymous writer penned these words: “Do you know what makes man the most suffering of all creatures? It is that he has one foot in the finite and the other in the infinite, and that he is torn between the two worlds.” Are You “torn” or “settled” on the True Foundation of Eternal Life, Christ Jesus, our Lord, Savior, Redeemer, Reconciler of men to God?

“MENTAL MISTAKES OF MISGUIDED MEN”

I don’t know how anyone can read Paul’s message in Romans 1 and not understand the “mental mistakes of misguided men”! Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote in Verses 16-26, and Verse 28, the following:

Romans 1:16-26,28 says: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every who believes (or trusts in!); to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (or the African, the Arminian, the European, the American, the South American, the Asian, any man on any continent of the entire world!!);

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith (or “trust”)’. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Because that which may be known of God IS MANIFEST IN THEM; for God shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they (all mankind then and now!) are without excuse: BECAUSE THAT, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful; but became vain in their imaginations (or ‘speculations’), and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore GOD ALSO GAVE THEM UP to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause GOD GAVE THEM UP unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Verse 28, And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A REPROBATE MIND, to do those things which are not convenient..”! AND THEY GOT FILLED UP! LOOK AT VERSES 28b-32!

“…and God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful; Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

OH!! Then in Romans 2:4-16 Paul tells us about the “captured by Christ” or the “contentious ones opposed to repentance and faith in Christ alone”, saying, “Or do you despise the riches of God’s goodness and forbearance or longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you TO REPENTANCE? But after your hardness and impenitent heart treasures up unto yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:

BUT unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also the Gentile; BUT glory, honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile; BUT glory, honor, and peace to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentiles; (Every man working good? Honoring, yielded to, surrendered to the King of kings and Lord of lords, being the “temple” in which the eternal Christ dwells to extend His Kingdom, express His love, and prove His power, THROUGH YOU?).

For there is no respect of persons with God. (Although many feel God ought to respect them concerning their “best effort”, even when it has nothing to do with “True Faith”?). For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the DOERS of the law shall be justified.

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

The mental, yes, and the ‘blinded, darkened, unbelieving heart’ explain, expose, and uncover the personal, religious, and, for many, the national indifference to Divine Revelation and Unveiling of the One and Only Savior and Lord, Christ Jesus! BUT, the “captured by Christ” no longer live under the bondage of unbelief, religious pretense, or religious ‘best-effort’ mentality! They accept “crucified with Christ” and “raised up in the newness of His resurrected, reigning ministry”, daily taking the sentence of death to the “old man”, yielding daily to His Indwelling Presence in the “new man”, again, extending His Kingdom, proving His power, and expressing His love, THROUGH THE TRUE, REPENTANT, YIELDED BELIEVER TO HIS EVER ABIDING PRESENCE IN YOU, HIS “NEW TEMPLE”, having repented, and willfully choosing to allow Jesus, yes, to be Himself through you!!!

MERCY is the measure of the very heart of God told to all of fallen humanity, but not all of fallen humanity even know, care, or are out to find God’s mercy – they say,“In our best effort we’re OK”! REALLY? But this is why the Holy Word says, in Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let US therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.”

To be without Christ Jesus, abiding within, ruling and reigning, expressing Himself as “the Light of the world” in you and around you and through you, is willfully choosing to be your own lord, striving to overcome only what is overcome through the blood of the Lamb of God, infecting your world more and more with the radical consequences of a ‘sin-loving’ but ‘religious, empty, self-serving life’, convinced by deceived religious thinkers that “best effort” is all Holy God is concerned about, never considering His “Temple Presence” in true repentant, yielded choice of “Christ in me, for me, through me”, extending His eternal Presence, in the avenue and street of the “born-again believers”, those believers willing to choose death daily to their old self , that His Resurrected Life in you might be, not simply prominent for a world to witness but preeminent in HIS SELF EXPRESSION IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU DAILY!!!

Do YOU really know the “cost of true faith”, the “cost of true religion”, the “cost of true abandonment of the best of fleshly effort”? In Luke 14:25-27 we read, And there went great multitudes with Him: and He turned, and said unto them, “If any man come to Me, and hate not his father; and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whosoever does not bear His cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.” How clear is that for you?

Christ Jesus comes! Receive Revelation 3:19-22!! “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and him with Me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.”

Christ Jesus comes! And as He comes, through the witness of the Holy Spirit and His awesome Word, He exposes the unrestrained sinfulness of men AND unveils the unrestrained love of God!

Christ Jesus still abides in the repentant heart and trusting mind that says “No” to the world, one’s old sin nature, and even to Satan himself, but true believers say “Yes” to the resurrected, reigning Christ! In 2 Corinthians 1:19-24 Paul enlightens us even more, saying, “For all the promises of God in Christ are ‘yes’, and in Him ‘Amen’, unto the glory of God through repentant, trusting believers;

Who Now He which establishes us with you in Christ, (establish means “makes to stand”), AND ‘anointed’ us is God Himself; who has also ‘sealed us’ and given the earnest of the Spirit (the guarantee, the abiding treasure, the never-ending pledge) of the Spirit in our hearts.

Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy; for by faith you stand.”

Dare I ask you? Do you believe? Are you trusting in Him, His Word, His ever abiding Presence? Is it by Faith in Him you stand, walk, live, unveiling His Resurrected Presence in your daily journey through life wherever it carries you?

In the old “Broadman Hymnal”, published in 1940 by The Broadman Press of Nashville, Tennessee. It says: “O come, all you faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come you, O come to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him born the King of angels;

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, O sing, all you bright hosts of heaven above; Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

Yes, Lord, we greet You, born this happy morning, Jesus, to You be all glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.”

This Easter Sunday! Is it your declaration of submission to His earthly reign through His abiding presence in you? Or do you need to open the door of your heart, maybe for the first time, saying, “Christ, be Jesus in me; No longer me but Thee; Resurrection Power, fill me this hour; Jesus, be Jesus in me”? Can you say right now: “Make ME this day another earthly residence where you reign as King of my heart and life”?

By J.Farrell Fisher, June 3-5, 2018

I don’t know how this title question hits you, but I’m convinced large numbers of “religious ‘professors of faith’, pastoral leaders, ‘faithful’ (?) church folk, modern-day teachers, denominational leaders, national ‘religious’ devotees, are going to be absolutely shocked and amazed when, before the eternal throne of glory Jesus sits, then says to them, Matthew 7:21-23,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Jesus affirmed Himself “Lord” twice through the false professors saying that there are those who know His name without being united in the Spirit of His mission! It’s not simply knowing His name by even affirming His Lordship; many have that record and acknowledgement ‘without submitting to His authority’, allowing Him to do His work in them, or obeying His commands.

In fact, many living in ‘religious fantasy’ rather than “redemption’s reality” are void of the importance of truly ‘taking heed to themselves’, just as Jesus spoke in Luke 21:34-36 when He said them and, yes, TO US: “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For IT WILL COME AS A SNARE ON ALL THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH. Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Dare I tell you? Believe I will! “Carousing and drunkenness is more than careless indulgence in alcoholic beverages and ‘strong drink’, but even, yes, the ‘indulgence’ in religious activity apart from being “born again”, apart from being vessels of Holy Presence, apart from being instruments of His righteousness, or commissioned under His authority allowing Him to be Himself in you and through you! God isn’t interested in what you do ‘for Him’ but only in what YOU allow Him to be and do in you and through you as, yes, His temple of Holy Presence!

The validation of true disciples is not in what they allow themselves to do ‘for Christ’, but for them daily taking the sentence of death to themselves that give Him the open door to manifest Himself through them! It’s a matter of availability for Him to be Himself through yielded, surrendered, opened doors of the heart for Him to walk in and through! How many have you known who owned pianos but never learned to allow the “Master Pianist” to play through them? True Christians are not defined by what they do for Jesus but by being individuals who allow Him to be Himself in them and through them! True Christianity finds its eternal identity in allowing Jesus’ Resurrected Presence to find ‘open doors’ for His Eternal Presence to be Himself in them and through them as Holy God has found them to be available vessels of His Holy Presence!

Much of supposed Christianity across our world today is ‘pretense’ of the true revelation! Most of the modern Christian world today sees their faith as ‘church membership’ apart from Resurrection Presence and, yes, Christ being Himself through them! What did Paul say in Colossians 1:24-28, “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the “mystery” which has been hidden from ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Are YOU aware of, yes, “the mystery of the glory” of the church at large, which IS “Christ IN Jew and Gentiles who make themselves available to all Jesus IS and always has been – the Conquering, Victorious, Reigning Lord over sin and death”? In the known world of today how many have you witnessed who truly grasped “Christ in me my hope of glory”?

Our known world is barren of true redemptive faith; it is bewildering by those who challenge them to be free of ‘self’ as Jesus crucified it and therefore gladly and continually rejoicing yielded themselves fully to His Resurrection Presence! Most of the known religious world of today is embittered that God saw them worthy only of crucifixion with Christ! They’ll privately and publicly blaspheme His Holy Name when they learn the Truth of “crucified with Christ”, from the strongest intellectual to the limited mind, from the strongest of human flesh to the weakest physical body trying to be spiritual, from the fleshly proud learning life without God’s Resurrection Presence is nothing more than the ‘stench of death continuing to die’!

Though ‘fallen humanity’ has been deeply wounded and ‘fallen away from God’, the truth of the Word of God is that Holy God reached down, out, and around to the fallen, knocks on their hearts’ doors, unveils the awareness of their need of “new life, new hope, new power, and new purpose”, seriously wounded by their native, fleshly, self-fulfilling natures, but by the grace, mercy, and love of God, through Holy Spirit conviction and by the ‘gift’ of repentance offered as the ‘door opener’ between God and man, and ‘the gift of faith’ gladly given, one grasps the full, true meaning of the work of Christ at Calvary’s Cross, with sinners becoming saints in and through Christ alone! A ‘saint’? One set apart as “His temple pf Holy Presence”!

God isn’t interested in religious or spiritual robots that have no say in a choice or lack of it when it comes to spiritual devotion. Every human life must decide “on their own they choose to serve Me or not – I will not stamp mankind’s devotion to Me unless it is only in and through their response to Christ’s knocking at their heart’s door and the offering by Him of the gift of His shed blood, the blood of the Lamb of God, crucified so that they may desire by Me my offering of grace, mercy, and love through My Son’s finished work at the Cross.”

A few words I’ve written for hopefully greater enlightenment for sinners and the saints. I wrote:

“Though wounded we may have been by our natural, native, fleshly sin, by the grace and mercy of God through the Spirit-conviction and repentance, we receive inheritance of the gifted Presence of Holy God, through Christ’s blood, and now sealed by the Spirit as sons and daughters of God!

Christ in you the hope of glory – what an amazing, eternal reality! Though having strayed and become ‘lost’ on our own ‘self-ordained range,’ God sought us out to bring us to His home through divine ‘heavenly change’.

Christ’s Resurrection Life is man’s eternal hope, but how many do you know who live as if the Savior doesn’t exist? Once again, even often, they will sense “His knock at the door,” but because of unbelief and religious rationalization they will not soar in heavenly places, but sorrow in tears and sadness forever – because they know, “We didn’t answer!”

Some have discovered: “To Be Is To Live For the Purpose and Plan and Power of God”, but never ask about “The Door” to His Holy Presence, and are spiritually illiterate about His “keys to the Kingdom”!

Yet some know of the keys to the Kingdom yet hidden them away in their personal heart-deception, never desiring to take and insert the keys of repentance and faith into His everlasting Kingdom!

But it’s time to awake, time to arise, time to surmise, how to stand up and look into His merciful, gracious, loving eyes, repenting of your sin, resting in His blessing, turning to His promises of one’s eternal residence.”

But does pride, prejudices, or personal persuasion speak to you identifying afresh the reality of sad but certain ‘godless living.’? Or, possibly, is there in YOU the comforting, strengthening, enlightening, assuring Word in you, “Christ in Me, my hope of glory”, authored by the convicting Holy Spirit?

To be “in Christ” is no longer one’s identity in the register of all fallen sinners, blinded mankind, or Satan’s fallen and conquered captives, but one “in Christ” who knows “blood-forgiven,” blessed with repentance and faith as new-born sons and daughters of the eternal family of God, no longer descendants of Satan’s deceitful clan, captured, blinded, and forever ‘perishing’ but never dying family of Satan’s devotees to faithlessness, indifference, and strong unbelief in the eternal purpose of Holy God, yet gloriously Holy Spirit convicted, convinced, and converted into the “new identity” of divine royalty, sons and daughters of God because, soldiers of the Cross, yes, and truly “washed in the blood of the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus, God’s Son” as “new creations” of His “Amazing Grace”!!

It was Robert H. Coleman of Dallas, Texas, who in 1933 had a hymn entitled “O Happy Day” published by the Broadman Press, written by Philip Doddridge and E.F. Rimbault entitled, “O Happy Day”. It says: “O happy day that fixed my choice on You, my Savior and my God!

O happy bond, that seals my vow To Him who merits all my love! Let cheerful anthems fill His house While to that sacred shrine I move.

It’s done; the great transaction’s done! I am my Lord’s, and He is mine; He drew me, and I followed on, Charmed to confess the voice divine.

High Heaven, that heard the solemn vow, That vow renewed shall daily hear, Till in life’s latest hour I bow, And bless in death a bond so dear.

Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away! He taught me how to watch and pray, and live rejoicing every day; Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away!”

You need to “get on board”, and never tire as you travel together with Him and His growing ‘family of faith and obedience’, submitted hour by hour, day by day, with the Prince of Peace Presence, with His Kingly Persuasion, and with the Spirit’s Power Anointing, fulfilling your calling as His earthly representative! You no longer are turned to the world’s opinions but to the Savior’s Holy Word, not to self but to the savior, not to appearances but to the reality of His abiding presence in the life of faith He’s chosen to be His earthly Tabernacle!

The Lord Jesus describes the true children of faith when in Matthew 20:25-28 He said: But Jesus called them to Himself and said: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – JUST AS the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

How different from the man-made philosophies of fallen men who ignore the Eternal Presence of the Resurrected, Reigning, Enriching Savior and Lord! In Romans 1:24-25 Paul wrote, “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, WHO EXCHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR THE LIE, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

At the same time consider Hebrews 9:14! “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God!”

And upon His discovery and enlightment to the “Amazing Grace”, he wrote to all believers, Colossians 5:13, For you, brethren, have been called to liberty, only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh (which is your old sin nature!), but through love serve one another.”

What a difference between the “old man” and the “new man in Christ”! The “old man”? Barren of divine life and holy presence, bewildered through indifference to the call of God, bitter in the inner man, easily blaspheming the name of Jesus, blind to the Truth, blotted, bonded and enslaved with a dangerous breach from God’s Presence, definitely breached away from Eternal, Abiding Presence as “the chief musician sang in Psalm 60:1-5, O God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; Oh, restore us again! You have made the earth tremble; You have broken it; Heal its breaches, for it is shaking. You have shown Your people hard things; You have made us drink the wine of confusion. (Yet) You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth. That Your beloved may be delivered, save with Your right hand and hear me.” [Do YOU call out to God to hear you because of your passion concern for the “lost” who surround you?].

THIS IS A “NEW DAY” OF DIVINE OPPORTUNITY TO BE “RESTORED”, “RENEWED”, “RE-BORN”, “REGENERATED”, “REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB”, “REFITTED WITH HOLY PRESENCE, HOLY PURPOSE, AND HOLY POWER”! Bow down before Him so He can raise you up, confess so He may cleanse you and wash pure as the blood of the Lamb of God is pure, “RELIGHTENING YOUR MIND AND HEART TO ETERNAL TRUTH”, “RE-EQUIPPING YOU WITH THE CHOSEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SEND YOU OUT TO THE NEEDY LIVES SURROUNDING YOU”, AND “CHOOSING TO BE THE DIVINE REPRESENTATIVE OF HOLY PRESENCE”, YES, FOR THE WORLD AROUND YOU TO WITNESS HOW TO EXCHANGE THE LIE OF THEIR LIVES FOR HIS ETERNAL TRUTH , CHRIST JESUS WHO NEVER CHANGES”!! Amen!

By J. FARRELL FISHER, APRIL 11-13, 2017

The Random House College Dictionary, Revised Edition, 1975, (Copyrighted by Random House Inc., New York), defines ‘fate’ in several ways: “Something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune; lot. (Or), ultimate agency by which the order of things is prescribed. (Or) that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny. (Or) a prophetic declaration of what must be: death, destruction, or ruin, Or (JFF), life in Christ, complete in Christ, eternal blessing in Christ!” What’s YOUR choice?

Choice? “I choose to do my ‘best’, hoping that is acceptable to the Living God!” It’s not and never has been! It’s so amazing to me that even in the old covenant days of Judaism Holy God gave “precious promises”! In Ezekiel 36:22-27, God spoke to Israel and us!

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your Sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I (Holy God!) will sanctify My great name, which you have profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you (the “water of the Word of God”?), and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (tender toward God, purified within, yielded to His Sovereign will!). I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.”

Sadly, much of Israel in those days did not take God at His Word, but there was a “true remnant” that submitted themselves to the sovereignty of God, to His Spirit, and “LIVED” in and through His Holy Promises!

But, do you remember, in Matthew 23:12-13, Jesus went into the temple of God (in Jerusalem) and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And Jesus said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.’”

Is it possible that God, desiring your body to be the “temple of His Holy presence” has sadly seen it become a fleshly temple of self-indulgence? God’s desire, will, and purpose of redeemed flesh is becoming His “Holy Temple”, but “the world, the flesh, and the devil” see it as opportunity for “a den of robbers” stifling God’s intent and ‘lusting’ in the flesh, choosing ‘desolate houses’ instead of the desire, will, and pleasure of being the vessel of His Holy Presence, satisfied with the identity of ‘the den of robbers’, which they sanitized by fleshly, acceptable deception!

In Joshua 24:14-25 there is an amazing story that has resemblance to “professors” today without “possession” of faithfulness to God’s promises! It says: “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! (Lay out FOR YOURSELF what Joshua just said to the, at least, inquisitive Israelis!).

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY whom YOU will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

The beloved John, standing with two of his disciples, in John 1:35, ‘looking at Jesus as He walked’, said: “Behold, the Lamb of God”! But earlier, in John 1:29, it says, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Doesn’t that astonish you? IF the sin of the world has been washed away through the shed blood of the Lamb of God, if forgiven, what keeps one from being united with the Savior? It’s their desire, will, and pleasure to do as their flesh dictates, not what Jesus demands! In fact, in Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus unveiled why even some ‘believers’ don’t enter the eternal Kingdom! He said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Fate? Is that determined by ‘what way you choose’ to live your life’s journey – by YOUR GRIT OR BY HIS GRACE? In Matthew 7:13-14 the Lord Jesus declared, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and DIFFICULT IS THE WAY which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Do you understand, comprehend, and are able to discern the difference between spiritual ‘natural affinities’ and ‘the sufferings of this present time’ as Paul wrote about in Romans 8:18-29? Receive it! My New King James highlights these key verses as “From Suffering To Glory”! It says:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits FOR THE REVEALING OF THE (TRUE) SONS OF GOD. For the creation was subjected to futility ( the deep, deep vacuum of ungodliness!), not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; (there’s no other way for spiritual blessing other than the habitation of Christ in the repentant heart!)… because the creation itself also WILL BE delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of the children of God. [I don’t know what the “end of the world folks” do with ‘the creation itself delivered from a bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children itself’!]. Verse 22 & following: For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now (even now? Even into the 21^st Century?). Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were SAVED IN THIS HOPE, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession FOR US with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that all things work together FOR GOOD to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Are you ‘brethren’ or simply a “good church member”? AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, yes, an eternal difference!

The “FATE” of the ungodly, the unbeliever, the pretender? And with “Fate” foremost in many lives, what about the “promised Fury of the Lord”? In Mark 9: 19 Jesus shared a convicting, scary warning when He said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?” Oh, and then in Verse 42 Jesus said, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”

Is it the ungodly, the unbeliever, or the ‘pretender’ who “deceives little ones”, causing them to stumble, and ‘the offender in religious deceit’ who finds himself with ‘a millstone hung around his neck, and thrown into the sea’ of eternal separation from God and eternal punishment at the hands of the devil and his demons?

In Isaiah 2:10-12, and Verses 17-19, as Isaiah hears, sees, and understands the judgment, the fate of the ungodly, the unbeliever, and the pretenders, his heart and mind and spirit becomes aware of “the terror of the Lord AND the glory of His majesty.” Do YOU understand it and find yourself humbled before Holy God? Hear the Word! Isaiah 2:10-12 says, “Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of “the Lord of hosts” shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up – and it shall be brought low –“

Then Isaiah 2:17-19 says, “The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. But the idols He shall utterly abolish. They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, FROM THE TERROR OF THE LORD and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily.”

There is an illuminating word from Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:2 when he wrote, and no doubt taught publicly, on the streets, and, yes, even in the temples! He said: “But we (Paul and his associates in Christ!) have renounced ‘the hidden things of shame’, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” The “hidden things of shame”? Violaters of the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Word of God need to be aware of 2 Corinthians 4:5 speaks about “the Lord coming, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart.” For some, it may be glorious what the Spirit of Christ witnesses, but for others there is THE EXPOSURE of the hidden things of darkness in his heart and mind!

Will you be hiding from the Lord when He comes “to shake your earth, your world” mightily? There are ‘compromising religious people’ who thrive in walking both sides of the streets, one flesh-side, the other the Spirit and holy side! Loving God but pumping the flesh, feeding the ‘spirit-heart and mind’ but indulging the “hidden lusts of a divided life”, Holy Spirit interest but pummeled by self-interests – yes, divided-mind devotees to Christ with little interest in the Holy Word of God, when the Word declares that “Man does not live by physical bread alone but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”!

There will be a day of judgment coming – not only for unbelievers, but the game-players in the Christian community, as well as every sold-out, yielded, born-again, Spirit-filled child of the King!

In Colossians 1:24-29 we get a view, the introduction of, the unveiling of, yes, a “sold-out disciple” of Christ Jesus! Is this our introduction, picture, viewing of the reality of “The Finished Work”? To the church at Colossae Paul wrote: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, TO FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, BUT NOW HAS BEEN REVEALED TO HIS SAINTS. TO THEM God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: WHICH IS ‘CHRIST IN YOU’, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, THAT WE MAY PRESENT EVERY MAN PERFECT IN CHRIST JESUS.”

Is “EVERY MAN PERFECT IN CHRIST JESUS”? Is the Gospel a “FINISHED WORK”? Of course, IT IS! But it doesn’t mean “every man” is automatically now “a child of the King”! In Luke 24:46-49 Jesus said: “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS SHOULD BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME TO ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem. And you, repentant disciples, are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you, but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Consider ‘modern-day’ churches around you! Would you say that “repentance” IS the major message of churches to the ‘lost’ and ‘unreconciled to God’? Or, is it, “Make sure you’re a member of a local church’, which could be an invitation to “miss Christ”! Did Paul talk about “fulfilling the Word of God”; yet how often have you heard the “compromisers” talk about: “That’s salvation by works!” Absolutely not! It’s the evidence true salvation has occurred! Do you know the “bible teacher” is on target or void of the mission of Christ? Is he “pressing in” to Christ and “preaching”, “bearing witness to the lost”, of their need of His saving grace, mercy, and love?

I’ve often wondered if in Romans 12:2, as Paul wrote about, “Don’t be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world”, if that would include the patterns of the church world that too often are totally silent and unproductive about “missions” and “evangelism”! In James Montgomery Boice’s book, “Whatever Happened To The Gospel of Grace?” (Crossway Books, Good News Publishers, Copyright, 2001, p.42), he wrote about the church “breaking away from and repudiating the world’s ‘worldview’,” but there came a huge question to me, after 30 years of ‘overseas missions’, proclaiming Christ, even on major streets of needy ‘world’ cities, “Has the church-at-large been ‘transformed by the renewing of its mind, and does evangelism and missions take its place as a major endeavor of the church’?”

In Boice’s book he included a statement from Harry Blamires that came from Blamires’ book, “The Christian Mind: How Should A Christian Think?” (p.44). “To think secularly is to think within a frame of reference bounded by the limits of our life on earth; it is to keep one’s calculations rooted in this – worldly criteria. To think Christianity is to accept all things with the mind as related, directly or indirectly, to man’s eternal destiny as the redeemed and chosen child of God.” CHOSEN? CHOSEN WITH A PURPOSE AND PLAN? In YOU, is there an awareness and commitment to, “YOU shall be My WITNESSES?”, but no understanding in you that YOU ARE TO TELL THE WORLD AROUND YOU OF GOD’S SAVING GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE IN AND THROUGH CHRIST’S CALVARY’S CROSS?

I close this teaching with an old hymn entitled “Rise Up, O Men of God”, written by William Pierson Merrill and Aaron Williams, in the old “Broadman Hymnal”, (published by The Broadman Press, Nashville, Tenn., 1940!). It says: “Rise up, O men of God, Have done with lesser things; Give heart and mind and soul and strength TO SERVE THE KING OF KINGS!

Rise, up, O men of God! His kingdom tarries long; Bring in this day of brotherhood And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God! The Church for you does wait, Her strength unequal to her task; Rise up, and make her great!

Lift high the cross of Christ! Tread where His feet have trod; As brothers of the Son of man, Rise up, O men of God!”

I don’t know how YOU respond to God’s Holy Word, but John 6:53-56 is clear, convicting, and challenging! The Lord Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him.”

In Verse 60 many of His disciples voiced a major concern: “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” Oh, but then we read in Verse 66, “From that time many of His disciples WENT BACK and WALKED WITH HIM NO MORE,” yet some still “sat” in ‘church pews’ within a ‘grain’ of commitment to “be My witnesses”! God, help us!

October 29-31, 2017

There’s an extremely interesting verse of Scripture in Psalm 65:4 when David “sang” a hymn to, primarily the Lord Himself, but also to men David knew God desired and desires to enlighten about their relationship to Him. The Verse says, “Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that He may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple.”

Are YOU “the chosen of God” or is He hidden from your eyes and are you hidden from His glory because of a ‘fleshly’, hardened heart and mind toward His revealed Truth with that Truth remaining, by YOUR personal choice, “hidden from your eyes” without redemptive faith in “the heavenly hope and help in Christ alone”?

For some who are worldly and ‘fleshly’, and stymied by Satanic influence, even ‘religious’ men can profess, assert their dignified relationship to God, unite with a ‘church gathering’, and yet be an eternity apart from King Jesus because emotionally they know they have a need they can’t explain, even their tears have no redemptive flow, and their ‘will-worship’ is void of faith’s true yieldedness and, yes, full surrender to the King of kings and Lord of lords! Their ‘religious faith’ becomes a ‘religious game’ they enjoy playing, but Christ, though knocking on their hearts’ doors, is not allowed to enter and transform their lives into His tabernacle of Holy Presence!

And to the woman at the well in John 4:23-24 Jesus said: “..the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Unrepentant men and women, in the natural life, are void of ‘spirit and void of Truth’ – they are ‘without Christ resident, ruling, and reigning in them, for them, and through them’! They are aliens away from and strangers to His Kingdom-Rule and Reign! In themselves they have no eternal hope and are void of His presence, though He knocks on the door of their hearts! But Paul stated in Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Dare I ask you? “Have YOU been truly washed in the blood of the Lamb of God and has your very life become the “Tabernacle” of His abiding Presence”? To the ‘religious crowd of His day’, in John 6:63-64, Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh (Old sin-natured life) profits nothing. The words that I speak to you they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Pretenders are not true sons and daughters in the Holy Family of God!

Christ Jesus said two things in John 3 I want to highlight for you: John 3:3, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Then, John 3:5-6! “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (physical birth) and the Spirit (spiritual birth), he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

The Apostle Paul was very intent on truly equipping his young followers on the Truth of redemptive, life-changing, Christ honoring devotion. In Titus 3:3-7 he wrote: “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

“Hidden glory”? Has it ever entered your mind or inquisitive nature related to knowing, discerning, receiving, and applying the wisdom of God daily in your spiritual walk, if you have one? In Job 28:20-28, Job proclaimed, “From where then does wisdom come? AND where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.

Destruction and death say, ‘We have heard a report about it with our ears.’ God understands its way, and He knows its place. For He looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heavens, To establish a weight for the wind, and apportion the waters by measure.

When He made a law for the rain, and a path for the thunderbolt, then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out. AND TO MAN HE SAID, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’”

Consider this!!: THE CREATION OF THE WORLD IS ENOUGH TO KNOW OF THE GREATNESS, THE POWER, AND THE AMAZING GRACE AND LOVE OF GOD TO, YES, TURN A SINFUL HEART TO THE MERCY, GRACE, AND POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD! Yet, many men live avoiding ‘wisdom’ and choosing the ‘way’ of their sinful natures, living with no fear of God but by faith in their natural abilities, living with no spiritual concerns for now or for the eternal that stands before every man every minute of every day, living as if there is no spiritual domain of life but living only for the “best” or “worst” that they know has their hearts and minds for today – no consideration of eternal destiny!

In Psalm 19:9-14 the “redeemed servant”, King David, wrote: “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

Yet the sad truth is that many are blinded even to their fallen away from God sin nature, a defective mind darkened to the Light of eternal truth, and captivated by their devotion to fleshly pleasures without any consideration of God’s eternal love in breaking the chains of their bondage in body, mind, and soul, setting them free to willfully glorify God on earth as He is in heaven – but they resist Truth, resist the Holy Spirit, resist the Resurrected Christ, and resist His earthly witnesses of and through His chosen people!

Hear me! There is a ‘flesh nature’ and there is a miracle Spirit-nature; there is an unregenerated state of physical existence and the grace-filled life of spiritual birth; there is a mind-filled, scholarly knowledge that is void of redemptive, Spirit-convicted and Spirit-converted life by the seed of the Holy Word of God, but, by the Holy Spirit, there is the conversion to “new life in Christ” by the Spirit who plants the ‘seed of God’s Word’ and tends until the miraculous “new birth” occurs, and then stays with us until He guides us into all truth!

Finding God doesn’t come by sincere analysis, devoted educational discernment, or the lowest or highest level of human reasoning – God finds us, God confronts us, God convicts us, and God Himself knocks on our hearts door, desiring to come in to be Himself in your heart as He continually is in Heaven! The “hidden treasures” of God come as He finds us, knocks on our hearts’ doors, calls for repentance toward Him and faith alone in Christ’s finished work at the Cross and the empty tomb, then having truly repented and forsaken the “old-Adam-nature”, and birthed as a new-born babe into the family of faith, we feed on “the Bread of Life,” on the “milk of the Word”, maturing even to the “meat of the Word” and to the “fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ”! (Are YOU a maturing child of faith or ‘a cheap imitation’?).

Yet, it’s frightening to me to hear some ‘church-goers’ talk about having no interest in the daily devotion to the Word of God – they’ll say, “I’m saved now, and that’s all that matters” – and I want to ‘shout out’ about their scriptural stupidity! “Man does not live by bread alone, he lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God!” Every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God IS the seed of the “new birthing” – not attempting “best effort” but allowing the “Word-seed” out of the mouth of God to germinate its intent in us! And in Psalm 119:9-11 the psalmist wrote: “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your COMMANDMENTS! Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Do you understand that biblical truth? Sin will keep you from the Word of God OR the Word of God will keep you from sin!

In Jeremiah 15:16 the prophet wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” Do you in faithfulness feed daily on the awesome, authoritative, anchoring Word of faith and truth?

TELL ME: What is ‘Christ’s redemption through His blood’? What is “the riches of His grace which abounds to those who are ‘in Christ’”? What is “the mystery of His will” and how do you discover, discern, depend upon, and declare it? What is your “inheritance in Christ”? AND, what is His foreordained purpose for the New-born life in Christ? Do you know of, discern, appropriate, live by, “the exceeding greatness of His power”? If His Resurrection is “the fullness of Him who fills (all believers) all in all, is your testimony-walk in a dark world the “Light of His Resurrection Presence” because your ‘blood-bought life’ in Christ is manifested in you and through you as you faithfully feed on His Life-giving Word? Do you live as an extension of His life, an expression of His love, and the proof of His power?

Did Paul say that “the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God”? There is no “divine life” for the natural man who resists the conviction and convincing of the Holy Spirit but seeks even ‘holiness’ by his/her best efforts – controlled spiritually by the ‘best’ of human reasoning closing the door to the Holy Spirit’s miraculous gifting of “new life in Christ”! It is not simply being aware of one’s need of the Holy Spirit’s purpose in the redemptive birthing but being fully aware of the need to be guided by the Holy Spirit daily in one’s maturing process – receiving Jesus but neglecting the Holy Spirit shuts the door on heavenly maturity that unveils “Christ in you the hope of glory”!

And the author of Hebrews , Hebrews 10:29c, speaks of the danger of “insulting the Spirit of grace” – and when I read that, I wondered, “how often have ‘faithful’ church-folk insulted the Spirit of grace because they personally sensed no need of being guided by anyone – they are satisfied with their limited, short-fall, yes, far- away-from Holy God in their religious activity”! But in Galatians 5:25 Paul wrote: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit,” saying in Galatians 6:8, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."

Is it possible that in our modern-day ‘church society’ that there are those who try to live out their faith in that “best effort styling” void of the Holy Spirit’s eternal guidance? Paul wrote to Timothy, 2 Timothy 3:4-5, about “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER. And from such people turn away” – that’s people unashamedly in the church fellowship who “resist the truth”, (2 Timothy 3:8!). And many of those who live apart from the Holy Spirit will call you a “kook” for your spiritual devotion through the leadership of Spirit-guidance! Sadly, even some ‘professing believers’ live subjectively in their own thoughts and not objectively by Spirit exposure. They are ‘guided’ by earthly mind-sets and not ‘governed’ by Spirit-controlled, Spirit-directed, Spirit-inspired Holy Will and Holy Ways and the Holy Word – their ‘fleshly’ control is all they need!

“Hidden Glory, Hardened Hearts, Hollow Spiritual Intent, Heavy in “I’m OK, you’re OK. Who needs saving grace, mercy, and love of an absentee-god? I choose ‘self’ over your Savior, my spiritual death over His gift of forgiveness and everlasting life, my fleshly opinions over His Holy Revelation, my thoughts over His Truth, my way, my highway, my earthly understanding, of my mind-filled subjective thinking void of the unveiling of His Spoken and Resurrected and Living Word, my ‘law of living in the ‘best’ I choose, not God’s exposure of the law of sin and death nor even of His “gift” of grace, mercy, and love – I choose grit, ‘make-it-on-your-own’ lifestyle, and even breaking the chains of Satan and a sinful nature without the sacrifice of Christ that I don’t need!”

How many do you intercede for who live in ‘self-made lifestyles’ without any concern for God’s gift of forgiveness, reconciliation, and “new-birth” in and through the Lord Jesus Christ alone?

In 2 Peter 1: 1b-4 the beloved Peter exposes ‘inclination without appropriation, thoughts without transformation, argumentation without acceptance, theories without Truth, and even ‘thirst’ but no desire for “living Water”! He said:

“To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as HIS DIVINE POWER has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust,” adding in Verses 10-11,

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, (Don’t forget, God said of some, “I called, but you refused”! Are YOU faithfully responding obediently to His holy instruction for your life?), for if you do these things you will never stumble; (but how many do you know who heard “God’s call” but turned deaf ears to His love, grace, and mercy, settling for their ‘grit’ rather than His grace!) for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Do you remember that Old Testament passage that says, God speaking, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you”? Dare I tell you? Believe I will! That’s the shed blood of Christ shed to bring YOU into “At-One-Ment” with Him through your repentance, faith, and obedience of being the vessel through which Christ is invited to BE HIMSELF in you and through you!

Don’t you think it’s time to “let go and let God His merciful Way in and through your life”? His merciful Way is Christ Jesus and His finished work alone – not your godless disinterest in the eternal purpose of God for your earthly existence! There’s an old hymn that I just remembered about “Come Home” – and that Home is the heart of Christ beating vibrantly in you, for you, and through you! It’s time once again to “Come to Jesus”, and He will give you “rest”! The hymn is entitled “Softly and Tenderly” written by Will L. Thompson. It says:

“Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me; See on the portals He’s waiting and watching, Watching for you and for me.

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, Pleading for you and for me? Why should we linger and heed not His mercies, Mercies for you and for me?

Time now is fleeting, the moments are passing, Passing from you and from me; Shadows are gathering, death-beds are coming, Coming for you and for me.

O, for the wonderful love He has promised, Promised for you and for me; Tho’ we have sinned He has mercy and pardon, Pardon for you and for me.

Come home…come home…You who are weary, come home. Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home.”

Dare I tell you? Believe I will! “It’s time to come home to Jesus! Repent before Holy God the Father and Rest in the finished work of Christ at the Cross and Empty Tomb, showing YOU Resurrection Life, resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope! Come home to Jesus NOW!” Amen?

BY:J.FARRELL FISHER, DEC. 2-4, 2017

In Proverbs 23:4-5, 12, and 17-19, are extremely wise, necessary words for all men, but especially to true believers! It says, Verses 4-5, “Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”

Verse 12 says, “Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge.” (Would you think that means ‘turn your hearts and minds TO God’s Word’ and ‘your ears to “Biblical Truth”?’).

Verses 17-19 says, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope (in Him and His Word!) will not be cut off. Hear, my son, and be wise; and guide your heart in the way.”

What ‘way’ do you choose to walk in? “Mindful indulgence or Mastered independence?” In Matthew 6:19-21 the Lord Jesus said: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Is there a reason for what Christ said? In Colossians 3:5 Paul wrote, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.”

All unbelievers and ‘sons of disobedience’ WALK in “mindful indulgence” completely unaware of the consequences! In Romans 8:8 Paul wrote, “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God”, meaning that those who live ‘in the flesh’ dominated by their old sin-natures cannot please God, emphasizing even more in Romans 8:13 saying, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die…”, unveiling unregenerate people who are, yes, hostile to God, and in the ‘flesh’ cannot create, invent, manufacture, or idealize ‘holy living’ – that takes a miracle of the love, grace, and mercy of God!

‘Mindful indulgence’ is the result of the birthings of perverted generations as Romans 3:23 clearly announces, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!” Natural man “misses the mark” and needs “Blood Redemption” by the purely innocent shed blood of the Son of God who knew no sin yet willfully took our sin natures to the Cross with Him!

In Romans 3:10-18 Paul quoted Old Testament passages to open men’s eyes, minds, and hearts to the need of their “blood redemption through Christ” saying: “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.

They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” “Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

“Mindful indulgence” is ‘self-effort’ denying the need of ‘sovereign provision’ in any form or any Person, seeking to ‘justify’ one’s life by ‘grit’, refusing the grace of God; and, of course, there are those who believe by ‘working at it’ their effort ought to be “passed” with flying colors, rather than “Resting” in the finished work of Christ at the Cross and the empty tomb, making available Resurrection Life, Resurrection Hope, and Resurrection Power!! Romans 3:24 clearly tells us, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, WHOM GOD SET FORTH AS A PROPITIATION BY HIS BLOOD…!!!”

It’s so convicting and heart-breaking to become aware of, yes, multitudes who truly believe their ‘working at being a better person’, or for some, they just don’t care what God thinks about them – but…Romans 4:4 is clear: “Now to him who works (at making himself/herself acceptable before Holy God), the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.” Is ‘true salvation’ “working at it” or “RESTING” in Christ’s “finished work at the Cross”?

In John 5:38-40 Christ Jesus exposed the “religious Pharisees” of His day, as He does today with ‘modern-day’, religious activists who, yes, major on “self-effort” rather than His “finished work”! John wrote: “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe (trust in, rely upon, adhere to!). You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

In John 17:11b-19 the Lord Jesus prayed for His new disciples that He’d soon be departing from, saying, “…Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition (Judas), that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify (Set apart) them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”

Question! “Have YOU been ‘set apart’ for the glory of God alone? Do YOU live to unveil the Indwelling Christ to the ‘lost world’ around you? Are YOU His messenger, His ambassador, His witness of saving grace, mercy, and love? Do YOU by “life example” reveal to your world your allegiance to King Jesus?

“Mindful Allegiance” is a life “too busy” with one’s natural surroundings to be concerned with, involved in, or a messenger of “King-dom Allegiance”! Some in church fellowships that, as disciples, the Lord Jesus said to them and us in Matthew 16: 17-19, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, (Farrell Fisher, David Clark, T.Roy Jones, anointed wife of a strong, trusting husband, medical doctor “So and so”, banker, car-washer, educator), for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, AND ON THIS ROCK (OF FAITH, TRUST, AND OBEDIENCE!) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR “BINDING AND LOOSING MINISTRY!” Do YOU realize that YOU are either binding kingdom ministry on the earth around you OR you are loosing the Kingdom of Christ around you by, yes, your faithful ministry as an appointed, anointed servant of the Master or is it just an ‘imitator’, ‘do nothing’ church member?

Are YOU a “kingdom minister”? In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”, with more enlightment for true believers and servants of the Master coming in John 18:36-38 when Jesus said: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Right before His ascension, in Acts 1:7-8, the Lord Jesus said to His new disciples, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. BUT YOU shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Witnesses, messengers, ambassadors, proclaimers, servants in the Name and for the honor and glory of Christ in us and through us, because in you the Word reveals a redeemed life filled with the Holy Spirit, being, yes, guided by the Holy Spirit in being a faithful witness to the unredeemed around you?

But, sadly, the Holy Word of God reveals the truth that there are those who, according to Romans 2:4-11, should have God’s holy judgment against them clearly revealed! Paul wrote: “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? BUT in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ‘who will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; BUT TO THOSE WHO ARE SELF-SEEKING AND DO NOT OBEY TRUTH, BUT OBEY UNRIGHTEOUSNESS – indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who seeks what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”

I’m sure that at least most ‘professing believers’ know what is commonly called the “Lord’s Prayer” as He taught His new disciples in Matthew 6 unveiling it with powerful instructions in Verses 5-8 followed by the “Lord’s Prayer” in Verses 9-13! Receive our Lord’s powerful ministry AND instruction through His teaching!

Matthew 6:5-8, “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites (or “play actors”). For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Verses 9-13 follows – Receive our Lord’s Prayer! It says: In this manner, therefore, pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

“Mastered Independence”? That’s a life conquered by the love of God, set free from the law of sin and death by the blood of the Lamb, governed by His Kingdom rule and revelation, freed from the “chains of Satanic bondage”, issued the “Master’s instruction of heavenly independence from the worldly aims of godlessness, from a world system of self-dependence, from the ‘flesh’ stronghold of sin and death, and from the darkness of demonic activity”, and discerning of what, yes, fallen mankind and, sadly, some believers are influenced by as John was inspired to write in 1 John 2:15-17,

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

And “Mastered Independence”? That’s pastors, churches, families, individuals, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, then loosed in a fallen world, yes, “mastered independently” to BE “salt and light” in one’s darkened world, not making sure the “salt and light” is protected by the four walls of a church building, but poured out faithfully in the streets of one’s city, state, nation, and its world!

I’ve often wondered if pastors and churches today “rest” in the Word of God, then find themselves “released” to touch the World God loves with the message of His Son. In Isaiah 54:1-3 merciful God is touching His ‘barren people’ who’ve failed to be “poured out drink offerings” to a thirsty, dry, unredeemed world! Receive His Word!! “Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord. Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall EXPAND to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited.”

It’s time for “stained glass curtains” hiding too many disciples faith to be removed, maybe, allowing the “True Light” to shine in the streets where they walk, work, witness, worship, and willfully share their faith in Christ! Our Lord and Savior willfully left the “Throne Room of God” to pour out His life to our needy world, and I believe He wants us, yes, laying down our lives in the streets of the cities of our world! Great witnesses are mortal men and women touched and taken over by Jesus, tutored by the Holy Spirit, and commissioned by Christ to see transformed lives by faithful witnesses who share God’s eternal love, grace, and mercy for, yes, ALL of fallen mankind!

Grace E. Uhler once wrote: “For God so loved the world, not just a few, The wise and Great, the noble and the true, Or those of favored class or race or hue. God so loved the world. Do you?”

It’s time for modern-day churches, faithful pastors, families of faith and biblical mission to lose themselves in a flood of Calvary’s love, faithfully becoming “poured-out drink offerings” to this spiritually dehydrated world! Amen? Sadly, some ‘professing disciples’ are the result of a ‘dead faith’ that isn’t worth sharing, so they don’t, because their ‘faith’ isn’t of any value in them or around them because they’ve never comprehended the end result of Christ-less living! “God, help us, convict us, prepare us, and pour us out to our thirsty world!” Amen?

SEPT.11-SEPT. 12, 2017, by J.FARRELL FISHER

In Genesis 1:26 the God-head had a sovereign meeting , God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and the Father said in Genesis 1:26, God speaking, “Let Us make man in our image, according to our likeness…”, but the Father was not interested in ‘spiritual robots’ that had no will to respond positively or negatively – God wanted the human race to be His by choice in the mind and heart of men, not a ‘push-button’ philosophy void of man’s free will!

But it didn’t take long for ‘trouble’ to brew because in Genesis 3 the “serpent” appeared! (That’s Satan!), and how did he address Eve who’d been told by God, “You may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.” And Satan’s response? “You surely will not die”, they ate of the forbidden fruit – AND SURELY DIED the spiritual death that we all have inherited through “flesh”!

Be assured! Satan casts doubt on the Word of God! Satan twists the truth! Satan spawns doubt, confusion, and unbelief! Satan spouts “the Lie” – “You surely shall not die”, but they did and so does modern man today!

In Romans 1:20-23 Paul said: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, SO THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into ‘images’ made like corruptible man -“!

Oh! And then Paul unveiled what God DID to expose their fallen nature saying: Romans 1:24, “God..gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

Romans 1:25, who exchanged the truth of God for THE LIE (one can sin and not die!), worshipping and serving the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Romans 1:26, “God…gave them up to vile passions.” Romans 1:28, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind…”

Romans 1:32, “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

Oh, but then in Colossians 1:12-18 the Apostle Paul magnifies the “preeminence of Christ and His precious promises”, saying: “giving thanks to the Father who has ‘qualified’ us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS and CONVEYED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE SON OF HIS LOVE, in whom we HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins. He (Christ Jesus) is the image (exact, perfect likeness) of the invisible God, the firstborn over all (the old or “new”) creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him AND for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (or are “held together”). And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

Question! “Are YOU loyal to Christ Jesus in all things, or, have you reserved a segment of your life under your own administration?” “Do YOU declare allegiance to Christ Jesus, yet sense, in yourself, ‘There are some things He may ask me to do, but He must be mistaken because that’s not in my reasonable ‘notions’ for a sane man to do?’” Or, “Isn’t obedience my option in the days of grace and mercy? Don’t I have the right to say, ‘Yes, Lord, that may be true for others, but not for me?’” How ‘fool-ish’ some ‘believers’ become!

In Psalm 102:12-13, 18-22 are uplifting verses when one faces a ‘down-grading’ world, religious gatherings, or, yes, a demonic system! It says: Verses 12-13, “But You, O Lord, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your name to all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion (Your chosen people!); for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. (Is THIS your set time?).

Verses 18-22, This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven the Lord viewed the earth (Is His eye still on you?), To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death, To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem, When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.”

Please come with me to Hebrews 11:8-10 and ask: “As Christ has called me to come and follow Him, where does He lead me?” The Hebrew passage? “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

And, DO YOU, as a professor of faith in Christ, do you know of the “new Jerusalem” which is, yes, a part of the present then, now, and forever abiding place for the true disciples of Christ IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD? We come into this “capital city” of the Kingdom of God because our forever residence is assured in and through Christ alone – we repented, put our faith and trust in Him alone, and Holy God declared us citizens of Christ’s Kingdom!

“Calvary the Cross”! Are YOU identified with Christ in His death on the cruel Cross over 2000 years ago? What does Galatians 2:20-21 tell us? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the “life” which I now live in the flesh I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God…”

I tell you, there are many, many men and women who ignore the crucifixion of Christ to their present loss and ignore their destiny without Him in a dark world of devilish, demonic, and unbeliever-rage, not knowing or appreciating the horrible scourging, suffering, and dying by Christ Jesus for them, as if they were the only humans ever to live! The Cross of Christ was dreadfully real because He dreadfully took your sin nature and mine, dying, to put an end to those who had no way of being reconciled to God the Father unless the Son paid the price Himself for our sin, our death, and our separation from the God who loves us more than we love ourselves – He WAS the “sinless One”, yet He took our sins unto Himself, and shed His own blood, and died, that we might have the opportunity of being reconciled to God, God’s Way – through “Jesus Only”!

Do you think this just might be why Paul said in Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”? Oh, and how does ‘worldly wisdom’ compare to divine wisdom or do I not even go there? Don’t believe I will – why waste my time and yours when even the worldly know their limited wisdom can’t even compare to His, so even though they may deny His wisdom, they latch their ‘star’ to it and soar to the moon! Right?

It was William Cowper, in his writing, “The Task”, (Bk.111, l.221), who wrote: “God never meant that man should scale the heavens by strides of human wisdom,” but I’ll guarantee you that man aligning himself with God’s wisdom, as yet, we haven’t seen how high and how far a man can really go as he, they, we ‘lean not to our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge Him’, or give Him His rightful place in our lives, minds, and hearts as “Lord, Savior, and Master” of our lives!

For the man who intellectualizes the world for his own purposes and plans apart from being yielded to the eternal, divine, ‘mind-of-God’ intention, is a secularist intent on shutting out God in Christ from His redemptive, blood-bought purpose! The ‘man of the world’, with no paramount love, faith, and trust in Holy God, is a ‘substitute’, ‘bench-warmer’ that never really plays God’s intended ‘game of life and faith’, but sits, missing out on the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ! It was, yes, Robert E. Lee, in a “Letter to his Wife”, who wrote: “What a glorious world Almighty God has given us! How thankless and ungrateful we are, and how we labor to mar His gifts.”

Marred gifts? Does that ring a bell in your mind and heart? In Jeremiah 18:1-10, rather than simply a kingdom like Israel, think of the kingdom of YOUR own heart, family, your nation, your world! It says: The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into ANOTHER VESSEL, as it seemed good to the potter to make. THEN the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, (O house of the Fishers, O house of Ft.Worth, Bedford, Dallas, Texas, or my growing up city of Cleveland, Tennessee), can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it, if it does evil in My sight so that IT DOES NOT OBEY MY VOICE, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.”

Benefitted or blasted by the, yes, judgment of God? Blessed or ‘pulled down further’ to the reaches of Hell itself? Built up in faith by God’s glory, power, and mercy or assigned your self-willed bondage under Satan’s domination? Truly, I do not believe or even think that the majority of unbelievers knows what awaits a godless existence in eternity – if they did, there would be an about-face from Hell’s gates to outstretched arms and hands reaching out for God’s mercy, but even then, it could be too late!

In Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest”, (p.56), Chambers wrote so wisely: “I have to cleanse myself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (And he’s already taught that cleansing is through the Lamb’s Blood alone!) until both are in agreement with the nature of God. Is the mind of my spirit in perfect agreement with the life of the Son of God in me, or am I insubordinate in intellect? Am I forming the mind of Christ, Who never spoke from His right to Himself, but maintained an inner watchfulness whereby He continually submitted His spirit to His Father? I have the responsibility of keeping my spirit in agreement with His Spirit, and by degrees Jesus lifts me up to where He lived – in perfect consecration to His Father’s will, paying no attention to any other thing. Am I perfecting this type of holiness in the fear of God? Is God getting His way with me, and are other people beginning to see God in my life more and more?” What a challenge to every ‘professing believer’!

“Calvary the Cross – Calvary the Call!” Do you know what Jeremiah 7:13 says? God spoke then, He speaks now! “I called, but you did not answer.” In fact, the content is, “I called over and over and over, but you refused to answer My calling to YOU!” But “Calvary the Call”? In 1 Corinthians 9:16 Paul said: ‘For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” Necessity laid, yes, upon every believer? Without a doubt! In the old “Broadman Hymnal” is a song, I’m afraid, many of my Baptist friends never really understood or sang. It’s entitled, “The Kingdom Is Coming.” (of course, if any believed it, to them it was a future event in the “last days”, not in the “here and now”! It says:

“From all the dark places Of earth’s heathen races, O see how the thick shadows fly! The voice of salvation Awakes every nation, Come over and help us, they cry.

The sunlight is glancing Over armies advancing, To conquer the kingdoms of sin; Our Lord shall possess them, His presence shall bless them, His beauty shall enter them in.

With shouting and singing, And jubilant ringing, Their arms of rebellion cast down; At last every nation The Lord of salvation Their King and Redeemer shall crown!

The kingdom is coming, [jff: And IT CAME!! King Jesus Reigns NOW!], O tell you the story, God’s banner exalted shall be! The earth shall be full of His knowledge and glory, As waters that cover the sea.” AND IT DOES, CONTINUES TO BE, AND FOREVER WILL BE!!! Amen?

You do understand that fallen men who live without “blood redemption” through Christ alone usually live without any fear of Satan because once he has domination over a life, most men live unassuming lives of the dangerous hold and orders by Satan, being totally oblivious to his schemes, strategies, and ‘saltless lives of any divine truth’, so they continue in their chains and bondage, because all they see around them are men and women demonized just like them!

But, Paul, for years upon years, lived under the ‘religious control’ of that which along with the rest of fallen humanity crucified Christ! But a day came when “fearing God” was birthed in a heart and mind that lived under the assault of Satan without any fear!

According to 2 Corinthians 5:11, Paul wrote: “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” But even in Proverbs 1:7 Holy God set in the hearts of ‘wise men’ the blessing of fearing God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction,” and so they live without fear of God but stupefied under the influence of Satan with little or no sense of the need of God’s saving grace!

It was Robert Herrick in his writing, “God’s Price and Man’s Price, saying: “God bought men here with His heart’s blood expense; and man sold God here for base thirty pence.”

Do you remember Paul’s passionate preaching to the Corinthians when in 2 Corinthians 6:12 he wrote them saying, “You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections”? And their own affections were poisoned by their ‘false teachers,’ by their ‘corrupted parents and families’, by a ‘religious nation’ walking on its own alienated and separated from Holy God!

I’ve come to the basic conviction that ‘fallen men’, influenced strongly by a “fear of Satan rather than a fear of God”, are diseased and dis-eased by spiritual stubbornness that, yes, breeds spiritual stodginess, birthing “the graceless or inelegant” in one’s mind and heart, void of the absence of divine life within that comes only by “Repentance toward God and Faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross and the Empty Tomb”!

Yes, there IS a ‘black fear of Satan” that binds one to his world of godlessness, but there is the reality of a “White Fear of God” that so wants, desires, and urges His participation, presence, and power, in washing away the black fear of Satan by the red, shed blood of Christ the Lamb!

And if one, maybe like yourself, who wavers between ‘fearing Satan or fearing God’, tries to avoid “examining your own heart,” one then must be confronted and convicted with the reality of one’s sin and the sin nature that avoids examining one’s need of Him, determined to rest in my own way AND Satan’s way because he/she is not sure he/she wants to yield to the sovereignty of God Almighty, because the Word of God and the Spirit of God says, Isaiah 60:16b, “You shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob”; and the “Redeemer” bought us all with a price from our enslavement and bondage, not only from our old sin natures, but from the domination of Satanic control or slavery to the powers of darkness!

But if ever one faces up to the reality of his/her alienation and separation from God, there is the reality of conviction that “I have been more devoted to and serving the world, the flesh, and the devil more than even a thought about God” – and that should break a man’s heart and bring him to his knees before Holy God!

At the same time, it would be vitally important to seriously study and examine what Christ Jesus went through in His agony of Gethsemane! Oswald Chambers was inspired by Holy God in writing in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” (p.69), using Matthew 26:36,38 as his foundation. He wrote: (“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” Verse 38, Then Jesus said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

Chambers then wrote: “We can never fathom the agony in Gethsemane, but at least we need not misunderstand it. It is the agony of God and Man in one, face to face with sin (and I say, sin’s consequence!). We know nothing about Gethsemane in personal experience. Gethsemane and Calvary stand for something unique; they are the gateway into Life for us.

It was not the death on the cross that Jesus feared in Gethsemane; He stated most emphatically that He came on purpose to die. In Gethsemane He feared lest He might not get through as Son of Man. He would get through as Son of God – Satan could not touch Him there; but Satan’s onslaught was that He would get through as an isolated Figure only; and that would mean that He could be no Savior.

Read the record of the agony in the light of the temptation: “Then the devil left Him for a season.” In Gethsemane Satan came back and was again overthrown. Satan’s final onslaught against our Lord as “Son of Man” is in Gethsemane. The agony in Gethsemane is the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Savior of the world. The veil is drawn aside to reveal all it cost Him to make it possible for us to become sons of God.

His agony is the basis of the simplicity of our salvation. The Cross of Christ is a triumph for “the Son of Man”. It was not only a sign that Our Lord had triumphed, but that He had triumphed to save the human race. Every human being can get through into the presence of God now because of what the Son of Man went through.”

Sadly, though forgiven through the shed blood of the Lamb of God, forgiven men and women can still choose to go their own way – not Christ’s! And though forgiven, they choose the domain of darkness, not the Kingdom of Light! Jesus’ response to the forgiven who choose Satan’s wide-open door and kingdom of darkness? Matthew 25:41, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels (or ‘messengers’).”

If you didn’t know, Acts 24:15 declares, Paul speaking after being arrested, “I have hope in God…that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust,” with the just graced with a free pass into Heaven’s eternal Presence, but a costly ticket for the unjust and no longer any way to pay themselves out of Hell’s forever darkness, deceit, and damnation!

In the early, early days of church beginnings, after Jesus’ crucifixion, and, of course, after Judas’ betrayal and sad suicide, we read in Acts 1:21-22, “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” And Verse 26 then says that Matthias “was numbered with the eleven apostles.” In spite of Satan, there is Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope!

I’m awed every time I read the declaration of Paul about Christ Jesus risen from the dead, and certainly Christ Jesus our only hope of a blessed life in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – the Triumphant Three in One! But I’m also aware that as Christ Jesus prayed in His early days of ministry, in Matthew 6:13 He prayed, “But deliver us from evil,” and no doubt, “deliver us from the evil one, Satan!”

God help us to never turn our minds away from Him, but to abide through Christ in God’s indwelling as He calls His children His temple or His tabernacle! We turn to Him in our weaknesses and in our strengths, we turn to Him when we sense and know that Satan and his soldiers are out to wipe out our faith, surrender, devotion, and allegiance to the God who made us, lost us, and bought us at a price! We turn to Him, because of repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s finished work at the Cross, that, yes, we became citizens of His Kingdom, sons and daughters of the family of God, and that we were commissioned to turn our world to submission to the will of God as revealed through Christ Jesus!

One of the major problems both unbelievers and believers have is that we grew up in our old sin natures in allegiance, whether one understood it or not, of being a part of the kingdom of the flesh, the kingdom of world influences, and the kingdom of the dominion and rule of Satan himself, bruised in what one author described as “manifold seductiveness.”

But “manifold seductiveness” has been exposed by Christ Jesus, and His shed blood has set mankind free from the seductiveness of Satan whether they recognize and accept his defeat or not! In 1 Corinthians 15:12-28 there is a monumental unveiling of Christ concerning the defeat and conquest over every ‘enemy’ you face. Paul wrote:

“Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our pre aching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up – if in fact the dead do not rise.

For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

For HE MUST REIGN till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For ‘He has put all things under His feet.’ But when He says ‘all things are put under Him,’ it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”

If Satan was and is THE major opponent to Christ Jesus, is he THE major antagonist to the disciples of Christ? Satan lies to you about God as he did to Eve! Satan is antagonistic against any follower of Christ or any church that stands for eternal Truth! Satan is an ‘opportunist’, examining most and testing most at their weakest moment!

In fact, in 1 Peter 5:8, Peter, yes, was inspired to write by God, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,” followed by Verse 9 and Peter’s instruction, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

Are YOU “of the brotherhood in the world”, but you’ve never known demonic testings? Could it be, sadly, that your ‘proposed faith in Christ’ is no threat to Satan? The world, the flesh or old sin nature, and Satan himself are, yes, great threats to those who’ve been chosen and respond to God’s invitation, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest” – and that “rest from” includes Satan’s testings of your faith!

I came across a “treasure” one day in an old book store in Waco, Texas, years ago. It was a book entitled “Mrs. Browning”, authored by Elizabeth Barret Browning from 1826 to 1844, over two hundred years ago. One poem is entitled, “The Soul’s Travailing”, and is about five pages long! I’m only going to share a few lines! She wrote:

“I dwell amid the city. The great humanity which beats its life along the stony streets, Like a strong unsunned river In a self-made course, is ever Rolling on, rolling on! –

I sit and hear it as it rolls, That flow of souls! The infinite tendencies, In the finite, chafed and pent, – In the finite, turbulent! – The long, drear monotone, made of many tones that rise Each to each as contraries! –

The rich man’s ambling steeds – lolling their necks as the chariot comes With its inward gleam of the eddying plumes! – The poor man’s abject needs – The feet that wearily, wearily roam, Unquickened by thoughts of the fire at home –

The cry of the babe unheard of its mother, though it lies on her breast, while she thinks of the other Laid yesterday in tomb! – The whine of voices that have made Their own grief’s sacredness a trade – The curse that ringeth hollowly The crime against the misery – [Several paragraphs down, I’ll close it with a few more words from Browning:],

I dwell amid the city, and hear the flow of souls! I do not hear the several contraries – I do not hear the separate tone that rolls in act or speech, For pomp or trade, for merrymake or folly – I hear the confluence and sun of each, And that is melancholy! – The voice is a complain, O crowned city, The blue sky covering you, like God’s great pity! “

Yet, hear me, many “amid the city” where you dwell, are ill-informed, because as one man wrote years ago, “The devil’s ever kind to his own.” (Alexander Brome, “New Montebank”).

There’s an old, old hymn you’ve probably never heard, written by William Pierson Merrill and Aaron Williams. It’s entitled “Rise Up, O Men of God”. It says: “Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things; Give heart and mind and soul and strength To serve the King of kings.

Rise up, O men of God! His kingdom tarries long; Bring in the day of brotherhood And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God! The Church for you does wait, Her strength unequal to her task; Rise up, and make her great!

Lift high the cross of Christ! Tread where His feet have trod; As brothers of the Son of man, Rise up, O men of God!”

Are you “up” to joining Christ in delivering fallen humanity from the evil one and extending Christ’s “Kingdom-Rule”, yes, over Satan and his evil ones? You don’t “make the best of it as you can” in your battle with the powers of darkness – you Trust Christ to be Himself in you, delivering you from Satan and his soldiers! Christ is Victor over sin and death – and Christ is Victor over Satan! Amen?

By J.Farrell Fisher, March 20-22, 2017

It’s amazing to me that some interpret the Word of God as a possibility, not a reality! It’s amazing to me that some hear Jesus say, “Come to Me and I will give you rest”, but doubt that that is a Word of eternal Assurance!

In Colossians 2:13-14 Paul wrote under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has MADE ALIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Paul went further in Colossians 4:12 saying, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

Extremely interesting and powerful verses in John 17:1-4 when Jesus said to Father-God, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son, also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO AS MANY AS YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM. And this IS ETERNAL LIFE, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” FINISHED? OR YOU JUST HOPE, MAYBE, SO?

It’s so interesting that some ‘profess’ a walk of faith but never enter the “fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ”! In Hebrews 4: 6-10 the author is blessed with the spiritual awareness of some “pretenders” to the true faith rather than legitimate sons and daughters of the royal family of God. It says: “Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, ‘Today,’ after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has also ceased from his works as God did from His.” Christ Jesus’ work on Calvary’s Cross WAS and IS God’s finished work providing redemption and release of ‘trusting, repentant, believing hearts’ who “rest” because their sin and old sin nature was crucified with Christ, and they’ve been raised out of spiritual death TO eternal LIFE in and through the shed blood of the Lamb of God!

Redeemed hearts are not to be hardened hearts but “living sacrifices”! In Romans 12: 1-2 the Apostle challenges all believers, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that YOU present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be (being) transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

“Transformed”? That’s ‘squeezed, pressed into a mold, divinely made over or birthed, re-born, renewed, miraculously changed’ from the flesh nature to a divine nature, holy character, and from an earthly appearance to a heavenly man or woman by supernatural resurrection through Jesus’ shed blood and by the Holy Spirit’s gift of resurrection power into a “new creation”!

It’s really, really interesting that we find Paul saying in Philippians 1:15-18, “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former (“pretenders”) preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”

Even the Lord Jesus, in Matthew 24:11-13, said: “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But HE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Dare I ask you? I will! How often have you heard preaching today about “the gospel of the kingdom” that is “preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations”? Are you aware that there ARE “gospels of ‘denominations’”, gospels of pretenders, gospels of ‘false prophets’ and some ‘fleshly pastors’, gospels of some people who sincerely desire to be ‘religious’ apart from “born again”?

The “wise man” in Proverbs 3:5-6 declared, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on (or unto) your own understanding (or self-interpretation); in all your ways acknowledge Him (give Christ His rightful place as Lord, Savior, Master of your life), and He shall direct your paths.”

But how many ‘religious people do you know who “call my own shots, determine what I religiously believe to be the right path, settling in to religious, self-will”? It was St. Augustine who once wrote: “Beware of despairing about yourself; you are commanded to put your trust in God, and not in yourself.”

What is Deuteronomy 28:52 speaking about when it says, “the walls in which you trusted”, unaware the walls of self-trust, religious affiliations, ‘best effort’ WILL COME TUMBLING DOWN? Isaiah 50:10 gets clearer to the true, God-desiring man. It says: “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him TRUST in the name of the Lord and RELY upon his God.” Hoping to be saved or fully aware you have been saved, born again, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, reconciled to God, established as a true son or daughter of the royal family of Father-God in and through Christ alone?

FIRST, FOR THE TRULY GOD-FEARING MAN, WOMAN, BOY OR GIRL, IT’S NOT ‘HOPING TO BE SAVED’ BUT FULLY AWARE I HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH THE BLOOD-ATONEMENT OF CHRIST MY LORD, THE RESURRECTED, REIGNING, ROYALLY-BLESSED KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS REVEALED OR UNVEILED IN GOD’S HOLY WORD!

In Ephesians 1:7 we read, “In Him (in Christ alone) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God’s grace.”

As the Apostle extended the Gospel Truth, there were many responders along with the ‘pretenders’, like many ‘religious’ Jewish imitators but not possessors of the Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope – they made ‘war’ against the True Remnant, killing the majority of true believers across Israel!

It’s interesting to read 2 Corinthians 7:9-10! Paul said: “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

There IS ‘fleshly sorrow’ for some, but godly sorrow erupts in repentance ‘leading to salvation, not to be regretted’ for the truly God-fearing man, woman, boy or girl! In 2 Corinthians 6:1 Paul challenges you and me about receiving, as we rest in, the true grace of God! He said: “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” How is that a possibility? Because ‘fleshly grace’ is an attempt at making one’s self ‘better’, but Godly conviction and the gift of repentance leads to ‘bitterness’ about one’s godless life but “blessing after blessing” because His conviction of our sin and sin nature and Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection leads the repentant heart to “the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ”!

Are YOU aware of the reality of ‘triumphant poverty’ in the Spirit-realm because some sincere but uninformed ‘believers’ “rest” in their “spiritual best performances” apart from blood redemption, Holy Spirit conviction, God’s gift of true faith, redeemed lives testifying of the Amazing Grace of God, And Holy Spirit witness and power raising true sons and daughters UP in the family “Tree of Faith”!

Hear me! True sons and daughters of “blood redemption faith” lean not to their own understanding, but in all their ways they give Christ His rightful place as Lord, Savior, and Master of their lives!

True sons and daughters of blood redemption faith, yes, bow daily before Christ Jesus who is our “Priest-Intercessor”, Holy Prophet, feeding us daily manna from Heaven, and King of kings over us, subduing faithfully, yes, fleshly rebellion and disobedience from our ‘old man-nature’!

True sons and daughters of redemptive faith comprehend, understand, and yield to His Presence within them, even as the world, the flesh, and the devil would lead them astray!

True sons and daughters of redemptive faith live unashamed of their allegiance to their Lord and Savior, yes, openly unveiling that faith to family, friends, classmates, employers and employees, even strangers on their streets! They “follow the Lamb” wherever He leads and directs!

True sons and daughters of redemptive faith understand “their charge to keep”! Charles Wesley wrote an old hymn entitled “A Charge to Keep.” It says: “A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify; Who gave His Son my soul to save, And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill, – O may it all my powers engage To do my Master’s will.

Arm me with jealous care, As in Your sight to live; And O, Your servant, Lord, prepare a strict account to give!”

True sons and daughters of redemptive faith live in the “blessed assurance” of eternal hope as Hebrews 6:19 declares: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the presence behind the veil.”

SECOND, FOR THE TRULY GOD-FEARING MAN, WOMAN, BOY OR GIRL, I’D BE AMISS NOT TO TELL YOU OF GOD’S GIFT IN THE RESURRECTED, REIGNING CHRIST OF THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMES YOUR WORLD! Receive 1 John 5:4! “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”

Oh, but then 1 John 5:5 strengthens one’s understanding when John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote: “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes (trusts in, relies upon, adheres to) that Jesus IS the Son of God.” In John 1:14 the beloved John wrote: “And the Word (Christ Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

If “Christ in you is the hope of glory,” is there IN YOU the reality of ‘overcoming, conquering, victorious trust’ regardless of what the world, the flesh, or the devil throws at you? Psalm 22:3-5 is an amazing unveiling of, yes, Old Testament ‘saints’ who looked to the coming of the Promised Messiah! “But You (Christ Jesus, Promised Messiah) are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed.”

And regardless of what the world, the flesh, or the devil throws at you, “in Christ” Paul said in Romans 8:37-39, “Yet in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH CHRIST WHO LOVED US. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

THIRD, FOR THE SANE, SANCTIFIED, SAINTED, SENT TRUE DISCIPLE OF CHRIST THERE IS BIBLICAL WISDOM ABOUT HIS/HER JOURNEY WITH ONE’S LORD, SAVIOR, AND MASTER OF A REDEEMED LIFE! In Psalm 46:1-5 we read: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth re removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the most high. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.”

Dare I shall a word of personal testimony? Believe I will! I came out of a broken marriage and ‘family’ (?) – my father and mother divorcing when I was three years of age. I had been taken by my mother to live with her parents from age three to about twelve. Both grandparents were active Christians, but also, my mother’s two younger sisters were still at home, one sister about four years older than me and the other about six years older – both heavily involved in the First Baptist Church of Cleveland, Tennessee. The younger sister was pianist for the church there for many years. Grandparents, two aunts, and godly men in our home church settled in on me to be intercessors, witnesses, and ‘cross-bearers’ in my behalf! I was challenged early not to lean to my own understanding but to trust in, rely upon, and adhere my walk in obedience and submission to the King of kings and Lord of Lords. I’ve been the recipient of a blessed, fulfilling, miraculous life, not only in ministry service as a pastor and missionary, but superbly blessed with an awesome wife and three Godly sons and a daughter. I’m not sure if there is any man anywhere more blessed than I have been!

FOURTH, THE SEPARATED SON AND DAUGHTER OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH IS BLESSED WITH AN AWESOME OUTPOURING OF UNENDING LOVE AND FAITHFUL HELP FROM CARING, MERCIFUL, INTERCEDING GOD IN AND THROUGH CHRIST! In Jeremiah 31:2-3 the prophet assures us of God’s CONTINUING OUTPOURING of intercessory help! He said: Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword FOUND GRACE in the wilderness – Israel, when I went to give him rest.” The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

Sadly, of course, there are some “drawn” by Father-God who do not respond in repentance and obedience but unbelief and defiance! There are those who “gad about”, but then there are those who “give in” in full surrender to the King of kings and Lord of lords – and you’ll know them by “the fruit of the Spirit” that radiates Christ in them and through them.”

Receive 2 Corinthians 5:14-15! “For the love of Christ compels us, because we thus judge: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” If He died for all, and He did, then why are some saved and others lost, separated, alienated forever from Father-God? Because, though forgiven, they choose to be ‘masters’ of their own destinies – and what lies ahead for an unrepentant, self-motivated, manly achiever in ‘self-righteousness’ is “eternal death and separation from Holy God!

Never forget: “God so loved the world…AND YOU IN PARTICULAR! “ He loves you and drawn you to Himself – will you repent, receive, and rest in Christ’s finished work or do you continue on your own? I John 4:9 declares: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” If we say ‘yes’, then it leads us to:

FIFTH, THERE IS IN THE ETERNAL REALITY OF THE “NEW-BORN” IN CHRIST WHO ARE BATHED IN HIS ETERNAL RIVER OF EVERLASTING PEACE, STRENGTH, AND HOPE! Isaiah 26:2-4 says clearly: “Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” And, “in Christ” does His everlasting strength sustain us and empower us to live the overcoming life of the world, the flesh, and the devil? ABSOLUTELY!

Psalm 5:11-12 says: “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You (Holy God) defend them, (protect or cover); let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.”

SIXTH, THERE IS THE ETERNAL EVIDENCE IN THE “CHRIST-CHILD” OF THE TESTIMONY OF A THANKFUL HEART! How clear is Romans 8:28 where Paul wrote the following words? “And WE KNOW that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

But that’s not all! Receive Romans 8:29! “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.”

And if you are His, what does 2 Corinthians 3:18 tell us? “But we all, with unveiled face (no fleshly ‘mask’ anymore!), beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Glory!

Psalm 91:11-16 the Holy Word declares: “For He (God the Father) shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, (demons!) the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

Because he(JFF) has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known (and keeps on knowing!) My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” What is He unveiling to YOU?

Tell me about YOUR daily entrance “into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with your never-ending praise”!

I close with a statement from Ravi Zacharias who wrote in his “A Life Out of Nothing,” “I come away with the absolute certainty that God has ordered my steps and that God was there, even in the darkest moments of my life. I know this as surely as I know I exist. This is the most certain truth I possess, and it is truly liberating.” Liberated in the Spirit of Christ or bound in the chains of one’s own fleshliness?

BY: J.FARRELL FISHER, AUGUST 27-28, 2017

The title is not original at all with me but heard on national television about certain ‘criminals’ who couldn’t conceive the seriousness of the charge because they were so sure they were doing what was right! How stupid can one be? Yet much of fallen humanity today, alienated and separated from God, are clueless as to their guilt, alienation, and separation from God. And, of course, the felon minds, mostly, refuse to admit there is a God that they are, supposedly, supposed to be accountable to!

Depraved minds rain “innocent pleas” when Holy God desires “new-born” divine minds choosing lives yielded for the purpose of glorifying God on earth through Christ as He is in Heaven! Just maybe, there are those specific, godless people Holy God doesn’t choose, even though He died for them, shed His own blood on the Cross, and arose desiring those to be His whose hearts beat with passion and desire to be His ‘tabernacle’ on earth, but some sadly refuse!

It’s either submission to the will of God for one’s life or his/her own insistence they’ll go their own ‘way’ – and He allows that decision, evidenced by godless living! Submission to the will of God goes against the grain of fleshly desire to remain “misdemeanor minds in a felony world”, understanding for the humbled, broken, and ‘faith-seekers’, “There must be a better life than man at his best demonstrates!” And they learn, “Jesus IS the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes TO God but through Me!”

“Misdemeanor minds in a felony world” are personally deafened by choice to sense, hear, or desire to even know or do the will of God, deepened and drowning in the dangerous ‘sea waters’ of godless brainlessness and darkened, hardened hearts! You may have read some of Frank C. Laubach’s “Letters by a Modern Mystic”, (1884-1970), but one of his classic statements that alerted me to this message was a statement saying, that he became “disgusted with the pettiness and futility of my unled self” – and I thought, “How true of all men without God!”

I’m convinced that the “misdemeanor minded” are individuals who pay no attention to “the Wind that blows wherever it wishes, and even hear its sound, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes” – their attitude? “Get me out of this windy place!” But one who faces the reality of “wind conviction” can experience the reality of being “born from above, born of God, born of the Spirit” becoming “new men and new women in Christ”!

“Misdemeanor minds in a felony world” are relentless and tireless in avoiding any confrontations about God! Even in the educational fields, or ‘high business commerce’, in both professional and private lives, and, sadly, even in the ‘creative’ arts, plus the masses of unbelievers, there is a drought of any desire to know God, be apprehended by Him, or to have to acknowledge a need of any ‘saving grace’ outside themselves!

Do you remember the prophetic words of Isaiah when in Isaiah 1:2-9 he spoke unveiling the sad dilemmas of sinful nations like Israel became, except for its remnant. Isaiah wrote: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: ‘I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me; the ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.’ (Are you aware of that fleshly spirit around you?).

Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity; a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward. Why should you be stricken again? (By God?). You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints.

From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; they have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment. Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; strangers devour your land in your presence; and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Unless the Lord of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah.”

And, do you know what Verse 10 follows with? “Hear the word of the Lord!” Has that changed much, if any? God still calls today for men to hear Him, but, for many, ‘deaf ears’ rule, or ‘professors of a faith’ will substitute ‘religious rituals’ trying to ‘atone’ for their guilt themselves apart from the ‘Lamb’s blood through His crucifixion, followed by His Resurrection’, with the promise to birth “new lives” making them His Holy Temple of abiding Presence! THAT would change their lives too much, so they settle for religious pretense!

Included in ‘fallen men’s religious pretense’ is: BE INVOLVED AND COMMITTED TO WHATEVER MAKES YOU “HAPPY”. The problem with that is that Holy God isn’t interested in your fleshly happiness but your holiness because of the true working of Christ’s shed blood! Fleshly happiness, even in men’s best efforts, is academy award winning effort in intense cravings for life’s meaning that can only be discerned through the Blood Atonement – and that only occurs when one craves for oneness with God, and settles that desire God’s Way! Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me!”

In John 7:38 Jesus said: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘out of his heart will flow rivers of living water,” explaining in the very next verse that He spoke of the flow of the Holy Spirit in one’s life as they leaned on and trusted in the ministry of the Holy Spirit and not their “best effort determination”! Do you understand that there are a ton of things representing ‘flesh’ or your old sin nature that must go, and a ton of things of God’s blessing and provision the Spirit wants to release in you if you’re willing to give Him His rightful place! Are YOU abandoned to Spirit-anointing and His guidance in, through, and over your walk of faith?

In 2 Peter 1:21, just after he had spoken about ‘a light shining in dark places,” he said: “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.”

Sad to say, too many ‘disciples of Christ’ are not informed about the necessity of Holy Spirit anointing, abiding, equipping, gifting, and training by the Holy Spirit – it’s ‘strange’ to far too many believers! But Paul equipped His followers in Romans 15:13 when he wrote: “Now may the God of hope fill you WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, that YOU may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Jude really laid a super-strong foundation when he wrote in Jude 20-25 the following: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, (Is that “Standing on the Promises?”), praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

And on some have compassion, making a distinction, but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh (or old sin-nature). NOW to HIM who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” AND, do YOU say “Amen to that”?

Some “build themselves up” on their self-evaluation and their self-confidence which is ‘zero’ in comparison to “Holy Faith, Holy Promises, and Holy Ability”! They are blind to God and His promises!

For one powerful promise, God tells us: “I’m Able to “keep you from stumbling”, when ‘flesh’ ALWAYS leans to stumbling and ‘falling away’! Second promise? “I’m Able “to present you faultless before the presence of My glory”, when ‘flesh-presence’ is riddled with weakness’! Third promise? “I’m able to bless you with exceeding joy”, when ‘godless vessels’ attempt only to ‘be happy’ but fails over and over! Fourth promise? “I’m able to bless you now AND forever throughout all eternity!”

Yet, how many do you know who are aware of the last four promises yet never execute in faith and obedience? What did Jesus say in John 14:6? “I am the way, the truth, and the life; not a single person comes to My Father except through Me.” Do you know anything about “the deer that pants for the water”? I love Wood Kroll’s comment in his book “7 Secrets to Spiritual Success”. He said: (p.49), “Don’t thirst for God for what you can get out of Him. Love God not what He can do for you, but because there is no equal to Him….This kind of intimacy is not found through the experience of salvation alone, but through the ongoing desire of a longing heart, thirsting after God.” Glory!

Isaiah, the prophet, elaborated in Isaiah 64:6-8, saying: “But WE ARE ALL LIKE AN UNCLEAN THING, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us, and have consumed us because of our iniquities. BUT NOW, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; and we all are the work of Your hand.”

Dare I tell you that you are either being ‘shaped by the world, your sin-nature, or Satan’ OR you “YIELD” to the Sovereign hands of Holy God, yes, to mold you in the exact likeness of Christ Jesus Himself”! It’s either a “maimed life” or it’s a “MASTER-ED LIFE” carefully and wonderfully being shaped into the image of Christ!

A.W.Tozer, in his writing, “The Pursuit of God”, (Camp Hill, Penn.: Christian Publications,Inc., 1982, p.12), wrote: “We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit. The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him. All the time we are pursuing Him we are already in His hand: ‘Thy right hand upholdeth me.’” SO TRUE!

If Holy God plants within us, yes, the desire to even turn to Him and know Him, is it then because of our ‘fleshly ingenuity’ that we become capable to discern God’s will for us? And, I say to you, absolutely not! Flesh will misinterpret, limit, change, inspire, to fit into us what flesh wants, but the Holy Spirit of God, yes, “guides us into all truth”! In Romans 8:9-11 Paul instructs and inspires us about “Spirit-Anointed Living”! He said:

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he/she is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Oh, and then in Romans 8:14, Paul clearly spells out the EVIDENCE OF A TRUE SON OF GOD: “For as many as are led by the Spirit, these are sons of God.”

Do you remember when Jesus came and found the disciples sleeping? Mark 14:37 tells us Jesus said, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Peter was sure he’d never be made to stumble, but he did! But some believers are not aware of the mental construction of defensive walls against the powers of darkness wanting to invade you and infect you with “Satan’s brand of temptation”, alluring you away from a truly Christ-honoring walk!

Hear the wise man of Proverbs as he spoke in Proverbs 23:26-28! “My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. For a harlot is a deep pit, and a seductress is a narrow well. She also lies in wait as for a victim, and increases the unfaithful among men.” Earlier, in Proverbs 6:27-29, the Holy Spirit says, “Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; whoever touches her shall not be innocent.”

How do you receive and benefit from God’s “gift” of the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth or do you ignore the ministry of the Spirit? And knowing “Christ in you” is your hope of glory, abiding within you, how blind spiritually must you be to recklessly choose to indulge His “temple of grace” into your house of illicit activity? No “born again believer” lives without the Holy Spirit living within, but that doesn’t mean we’re automatically free from embarrassing Him! And since He does abide in every true born- again believer, is it that the Spirit is insensitive to the enemies’ spiritual warfare against those who want us in their darkness or us being ignorant ourselves to win the war against the demons or us just ‘stupid’ about what the Spirit longs to be and do for us?

“Misdemeanor minds in a felony world” or new hearts and lives birthed into the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and us “resting in Him” as our hope of glory, yes, against the fallen world, the failing flesh, and futile Satan and his demons? “Choose you this day whom you will serve!” And every day you need to make that choice! “Yes, Lord, I am Yours, and I have no desire to live indulging a misdemeanor mind in a felony world, but longing day by day to live in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ!”

A few fresh words just birthed: “Living in the Light of our Lord’s victorious Way, gone from the dark paths of sin that cause me to stray; Lord, no longer darkness for me, but the Light of Your eternal Day!

I now know the love of God perfected, Because I know it was for me He was resurrected; Grace once denied I now take to my side; and thanks to the Spirit who helps me abide!

Days in the flesh are only fleshly understood, Dark shadows bring demons to my mind covering my mind with a hood; But when the Spirit comes He comes to enlighten, to fade the night and spark the Day of Jesus’ Presence in His eternal Way.

Though stranded at times in stupid deception, the Spirit comes to show me the Loving Father’s reception; the Spirit is clear about God’s power to forgive, and the bright Day awaiting as to Jesus I bow.

Though disconsolate in spirit when to Jesus I bow, His faithful Word of mercy shows me how, that from the Light I’ve been straying, His love for me is never failing, and His Ship of Faith is ready for my sailing!

So, Holy Spirit, lead us all to pray, that from the darkness we may depart, and rest in peace before our Lord’s merciful heart. Spirit of God, empower us this day, and by Your power endue us with love never failing, with love excelling to honor our King.” AMEN?

By: J.Farrell Fisher, September 16-17, 2017

Very, very interesting when reading 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 Paul said: “For though we (in the flesh physically, and, yes, spiritually) walk in the flesh (our physical bodies), we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts ITSELF against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Is ‘your obedience’ to Christ Jesus absolutely essential in overcoming disobedience in your walk as a disciple? Of course it is, but many scold themselves rather than daily taking the sentence of death to the old man that the resurrection life of Christ may be manifested in their mortal flesh.

Many “professing Christians” are thankful for their “justification” by God Himself “as if they’d never sinned”, but “sanctification”, or set apart for the glory of God in Christ alone, becomes a major hurdle that some never appropriate in and through Christ Jesus! Christ Jesus dealt with our “sin natures” in and through His “blood redemption” at Calvary’s Cross, but the battle between ‘flesh’ and spirit, between the old man and the new man, between the natural of the past and the Spirit-life of the present, faces an on-going struggle, battle, and warfare that has to be “fought” in and through Biblical Faith alone, not one’s “best effort”, but resting in Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the world of fallen mankind around Him!

In his book “My Utmost For His Highest”, (p.185-186), Oswald chambers wrote: “Deliverance from sin is not deliverance from human nature. There are things in human nature, such as prejudices, which the saint has to destroy by neglect; and other things which have to be destroyed by violence, i.e., by the Divine strength imparted by God’s Spirit…It is only when God has altered our disposition and we have entered into the experience of sanctification that the fight begins. The warfare is not against sin; we can never fight against sin: Jesus Christ deals with sin in Redemption. The conflict is along the line of turning our natural life into a spiritual life, and this is never done easily, nor does God intend it to be done easily. It is done only by a series of moral choices. God does not make us holy in the sense of character; He makes us holy in the sense of innocence, and we have to turn that innocence into holy character by a series of moral choices. These choices are continually in antagonism to the entrenchments of our natural life, the things which erect themselves as ramparts against the knowledge of God. We can either go back and make ourselves of no account in the kingdom of God, or we can determinedly demolish these things and let Jesus bring another son to glory.”

Again, what did Paul tell us in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5? “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…”!!

The obedience of Christ? Captive to the obedience of Christ? Bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ? Is it possible in a modern world that some ‘disciples’ have been ill-trained in some church communities that ‘obedience is an option in the age of grace’, even if Jesus said in Luke 6:46, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not do the things which I say?” Are you not aware that Christ Jesus calls us to a life of submission and obedience to, yes, King Jesus and to God as our Father and the Holy Spirit as our “Guide”?

“Christ Jesus is what?” “Christ Jesus – My Giver, Guide, and Guardian!” It’s as if some ‘believers’ (and I use that word hesitantly!) have never read the foundation-truth of Galatians 1:20-21a! Paul said: “I (we) have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives IN ME; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside (or frustrate) the grace of God.”

Some fail to see that true discipleship IS “living by THE faith (that is in) in the Son of God!” Our faith or His faith? And that’s the problem: Many live or try to live by their ‘faith’, in themselves, and not the true faith in Christ’s work in and through the Cross and the empty tomb!

Our hearts “burn within us” when we live in and through His Resurrection Presence! The Holy Word teaches us three things which MUST BE the true foundation of our saving faith! It Says, FIRST:

“CHRIST JESUS IS MY GIVER!” Vitally important passage in Matthew 11:25-30 when Jesus said: “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent (IN THEIR OWN EYES) and have revealed them to babes. (That’s the “new-born” in Christ!). Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. (Do we today survey, examine, decide what’s best for us in what ‘we see’ or from “God’s sight, His eyes, His purpose for us in and through Christ?).

All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Do you remember Paul’s anointed word in Galatians 5:1? “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Are you truly aware of, yes, the yoke of bondage and the yoke of liberty? A yoke of bondage is a yoke of personal imprisonment to your old sin nature! The yoke of liberty is Christ’s yoke of freedom from the law of sin and death – He CONQUERED BOTH SIN AND DEATH, and HE LIVES AS OUR VICTOR, the One who is more than conqueror over your old life of sin and transgression against the law and the death it always produces! We who are “in Christ” are not living by our “best effort” of imitating Christ – we ARE “more than conquerors through Him who loved us and gave Himself for us” – we live, we obey, we overcome, we live victoriously because He “paid it all, all to Him we owe, sin had left a crimson stain, but He washed it white as snow!”

Christ Jesus opened the closed door to God’s Presence and unveiled One living and dying for the will of God, and Galatians 6:24 tells us, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” But there can be, and too often is, in the lives of ‘professing believers’ a counterfeit of outward allegiance apart from the Christ-like desire of being one with God and His attitude of: “Lord, what would You have Me to do?” What did Paul later say in Galatians 6:14? “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Christ Jesus our eternal, blessed “Giver”? Matthew 10:1, “Jesus gave us power over unclean, demonic spirits!” In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus spoke about the gifts of the talents and how some honored Him while there were those who dishonored Him! OH, and He “broke the bread and gave them the juice to drink!” He gave some their ‘sight’ who had been blind! (Let that sink in!). How about John 1:12-13? John said, “But as many as received Him (gave Him His rightful place in their hearts as Savior and Lord!) to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born (regenerated), not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, BUT BORN OF GOD!” Have YOU truly been “born again”?

“CHRIST JESUS IS ALSO YOUR GUIDE!” Genesis 24:27 says: “As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me…”. Again, what did Jesus say to the Father? “Lord, what would You have me to do?” Our Savior, the Lord Jesus, lived His earthly existence in complete and total obedience to the Father! And, it’s not our option whether we will or we won’t – if YOU won’t, you don’t know Christ Jesus as Lord, Savior, and Master over your life!

Hear Oswald chambers again! (“My Utmost…p.237-238): “Most of us live on the borders of consciousness – consciously serving, consciously devoted to God. All this is immature, it is not the real life yet. The mature stage is the life of a child which is never conscious; we become so abandoned to God that the consciousness of being used never enters in. When we are consciously being used as broken bread and poured-out wine, there is another stage to be reached where all consciousness of ourselves and of what God is doing through us is eliminated. A saint (one “set apart” to the glory of God only) is never consciously a saint; a saint is consciously dependent on God.”

Are you familiar with Psalm 25? Examine Verses 12-15 where David said: “Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him shall God teach in the way God chooses. He himself shall live in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.” To be without true, redemptive faith in God is to live trapped in the “net” of the world, the flesh or old sin nature, and to be under Satan’s domination!

But Christ Jesus takes us out of the “trap” and guides into the spiritual plains of eternal blessings and heavenly fulfillment!

William Williams and Thomas Hastings, in the old Broadman Hymnal of 1940, (published by The Broadman Press, Nashville, Tenn.), the blessed and scripturally founded hymn entitled, “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”. It says: “Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim thro’ this barren land; I am weak, but You are mighty, Hold me with Your powerful hand; Bread of Heaven, Feed me till I want no more; Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.

Open now Your crystal fountain Whence the healing waters flow; Let the fiery, cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey thro’; Strong Deliverer, Be Thou still my Strength and Shield; Strong Deliverer, Be Thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside; Bear me thro’ the swelling current, Land me safe on Canaan’s side; Songs of praises I will ever giver to You, Songs of praises I will ever give to You.”

Christ Jesus my Giver, Christ Jesus my Guide, and, LAST, “CHRIST JESUS OUR GUARDIAN”! In Isaiah 60:1-3 you see a strong Word of Holy God for the “true remnant of trusting Israel” but even of the “gentiles”, like us today, who trust in God’s faithfulness through His Son and our Savior and Lord! Isaiah wrote:

“Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; BUT the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

Dare I ask YOU? Believe I will! “Have YOU been ‘raised up’ in the brightness of Resurrection Light, Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope?” In Matthew 4:16-17 Jesus came to the ‘regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying’: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death LIGHT HAS DAWNED.”

Oh, and then He disappointed those who like the “darkness” because in Verse 17 Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And through His life, His ministry, His death, His resurrection, THE KINGDOM OF GOD CAME ON EARTH AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN HEAVEN!!! If you are “in Christ”, you’re not looking for His Kingdom-Rule out there in the “sweet by and by” – YOU, IN CHRIST”, are reigning in the kingdom of your own heart and life to His glory, honor, and praise, extending His kingdom, expressing His love, and proving His power!

Another old hymn says: “THE KINGDOM IS COMING” specifically saying: “From all the dark places Of earth’s heathen races, O see how the thick shadows fly! The voice of salvation Awakes every nation, Come over and help us, they cry.

The sunlight is glancing over armies advancing To conquer the kingdoms of sin; Our Lord shall possess them, His presence shall bless them, His beauty shall enter them in.

With shouting and singing, And jubilant ringing, Their arms of rebellion cast down; At last every nation The Lord of salvation Their King and Redeemer shall crown!

The kingdom is coming, O tell you the story, God’s banner exalted shall be! The earth shall be full of His knowledge and glory, As waters that cover the sea.” And what did Jesus say as He began His earthly ministry? Matthew 6:33, “But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” ARE YOU BEING “ADDED TO” BY THE CHRIST WHO FILLS ALL IN ALL?

In Luke 21:19 our Lord and Savior said: “By your steadfastness possess your souls,” understanding Christ Jesus IS the door and we enter kingdom living in and through Him, and when He says “possess your souls”, He was so aware of those who seldom accept discipleship responsibility, but many failing to “build” on the foundation He laid and is, ignoring His promises, provision, and power, choosing to ‘live out the faith’ with undisciplined, ‘fleshly’, or unaroused allegiance to the King of kings! They are blinded, clouded, or willfully neglectful of discipleship, yes, responsibility! They ‘joined the church’, got ‘baptized’, and for far too many that is the height of their spiritual assignment!

Oh, but beyond that, there is an ignoring willfully or ignoring spiritually the reality of the Holy Spirit in “guiding us into all truth”! You’ve heard it! “I got saved, baptized, and joined a church – nothing else is necessary.” Really? I believe Jesus said, “Forsake all, and follow Me,” and does that mean, having forsaken all, we’re willfully committed to extend His Kingdom, express His love, and prove His power?

I close with a very old hymn from the early 1900’s entitled “You Christian Heralds!” It says: “You Christian heralds! Go proclaim Salvation through Immanuel’s name; To distant climes the tidings bear, And plant the Rose of Sharon there.

He’ll shield you with a wall of fire, With flaming zeal your hearts inspire, Bid raging winds their fury cease, And hush the tempest into peace.

And when our labors all are o’er, Then shall we meet to part no more – Meet with the blood-bought throng to fall, And crown our Jesus – Lord of all.” AMEN?

By: J.FARRELL FISHER, AUGUST 21-23, 2017

It’s really astounding to me that some immature believers sincerely believe they are the “called” to fight the good fight of faith “in Christ’s place” – and if that is their ‘frame of reference’ in living out their calling as a believer, be assured, they are greatly deceived!

In Matthew 16:21-25 we find Christ Jesus telling His disciples about His coming death. It says: From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Then Jesus said TO HIS DISCIPLES, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

In our modern-day there are many who feel by ‘joining a church’ that they are ‘fighting for’ the honor of Christ, but, sadly, that attitude, that frame of reference about discipleship is foreign to what Jesus taught and explained by His life journey. The “fellowship of believers” in and through the church fellowship is vitally important! “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is!” But when it comes to “serving the Lord” the disciples were “discipled” not to “fight for” Christ but to “fight from” Him!

In 2 Corinthians 1:9 Paul wrote: “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, THAT WE SHOULD NOT TRUST IN OURSELVES but in God who raises the dead…!” He said later in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us DIFFUSES the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.”

The “triumph” in the walk and witnessing of redemptive faith is not well-planned, fleshly best, but is ‘willful choice daily’ to be dead to the old man and allowing Resurrected Jesus to have an available vessel in and through which He expresses Himself, or a ‘temple’ yielded to His abiding Presence in and through which He chooses to validate Himself in a passionate, Spirit-anointed witness through YOU! Our lives are the ‘book-covering’ while Christ Jesus is the content! This is why Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:2-6,

“You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an EPISTLE OF CHRIST, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”

“Fighting For” is the absence of the sentence of death in ourselves, “Fighting For” is ‘peddling the word of God’, “Fighting For” is emitting the spirit of fleshly death at its best, “Fighting For” is ‘the aroma of death leading to death’, and, sadly, ensuring it, “Fighting For” is ‘church-mentality’ void of the ink of the Spirit of God, “Fighting For” is human self-sufficiency written with imitation ink and void of the Spirit who, yes, gives life.

“Fighting For” is ‘walking in craftiness’, ‘handling the word of God deceitfully’, and sharing with others a ‘veiled gospel’, the ‘god of this age’ blinding unbelievers and choking believers lest the glory of Christ would shine through them!

“Fighting For” is taking pride in one’s ‘earthen vessel’, even treasuring it unwittingly, wanting the “power” to be the best of flesh rather than the very power of God! “Fighting For” is the immature believer, undiscipled, who is “restricted by his/her own affections”, not the heart of the Indwelling Christ beating within them!

In 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 Paul reminds the Corinthian believers and us of where our “strength” in fighting the good fight of faith comes from, or more clearly, “IN WHOM”! He said, “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness OF CHRIST – who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (or ‘fleshly’) but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Paul the Apostle didn’t choose to live by the “best effort” philosophy of some immature disciples in their spiritual walks, by ‘arming’ himself with the best human invented war weapons, or by his own invention of ‘flesh-minded’ rhetorical or philosophical reasoning, stating strongly, anointed in the Spirit, in Ephesians 6:10-18,

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having gird your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

Tell me about your prayer ministry from the “best efforts” of your flesh OR do you pray resting in the Christ within and appropriating the POWER of HIS MIGHT? We do face “the wiles of the devil”, but THERE IS THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, not your ‘fleshly desires’ to be an overcomer by YOUR “self-determination”! It’s “your best”, which means you’re “whipped”, or Christ Jesus in you being YOUR “more than conqueror Victor” over the world, the flesh, or Satan himself!

“Fighting For or Fighting From”? Do you understand how Holy God desires to have available “vessels” through which He is able to be Himself and touch individual lives, needs, and purposes THROUGH YOU? Have you overlooked, denied, or never known the eternal Truth? “CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY”? In YOUR spiritual journey, day by day, is it with the TRUTH? The TRUTH? 2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us in triumph in Christ, AND THROUGH US diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” I’d say that that is “Living In” and “Fighting From”, not ‘living trying’ but Living Triumphant, Fighting From His abiding presence within!

In 1 Peter 4:2 Peter challenges all believers “that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” If God says, and He does, “I have chosen you”, dare we congratulate God on His wisdom for being able to discern our ‘potential’, or is it His grace, mercy, and love, willing to use our ‘will-less awareness’ of “Why me?” Almighty God, the Faithful Creator, the Loving Father, the Discerning Genius of spiritual matters, desires the “empty” vessels that He fills with Holy Presence, or as Oswald Chambers wrote: “Paul’s secret joy was that God took him, a red-handed rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive, and now that is all he is here for,” and, praise God, you learn you’re a cleansed vessel by the blood of the Lamb, through which Loving God, obedient Son, and the Holy Spirit, touches your world around you with Christ’s Presence released through you!

If God sovereignly chose you before the foundation of our world, and He did, was He interested in ‘robots’ or rescued, renewed, re-born sons and daughters, washed in the blood of the Lamb and available to all He desires to be and to do in you and through you? He crucified your ‘old life’, and by grace and mercy and love, raises it up as He resurrected Jesus, “giving us a future and a hope”, and that is, “a new, useful vessel” in which the Resurrected, Reigning Christ is able to extend Himself and express His love for all of sinful, fallen, alienated and separated humanity, yes, in need of the Savior and Deliverer from Satan’s grasp!

Natural men and women have the opportunity of witnessing SUPERNATURAL, DIVINE PRESENCE making their bodies the “Holy Temples” of Resurrection Presence! Do you fully understand or grasp the reality of God as the “Faithful Creator”? Examine the undeniable physical cosmos and its glory – is its future firmly in the hands of its Creator? If so, in the spiritual realm of a “new-born Life”, do we fret or faith His faithfulness in fulfilling the work He started within us? Why do doubts and fears even arise? Is it from demonic influences of, “Has God really said?”, or worldly philosophies that major on man’s genius of “flesh abilities”, or the ‘flesh-nature’ itself that so wants ‘fleshly advancement’ apart from the grace and power and provision of God “in Christ”?

In Psalm 71:1-2 the psalmist was a realist concerning true awareness of the victorious status of one “fighting for” or “fighting from”. He said: “In You, O lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, and cause me to escape; incline Your ear to me, and save me.” But have YOU decided it’s YOUR “best effort”, it’s YOUR “self-determination”, or your “confidence” in your own abilities that makes the difference in your journey of the ‘flesh’ or the Spirit?

How is it that “famous Christians” became famous? Do YOU understand that “famous Christians” never advanced their personal abilities, but they saw their “ordinariness” in Kingdom Living to be authored by the Holy Spirit of God? What does Matthew 6:33 tell us? “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” So, if God clothes the lilies of the field, can He cloth you in Kingdom ministry, not “your best”, but His faithful provision of the Christ within you as His hope of glory for you and through you?

Religions abound worldwide, but where, in the Word, did Holy God ever endorse fallen men’s devotion to their own religious ideals? Yes, it was not only for fallen humanity that Christ Jesus came to sacrifice His life for their reconciliation to God, but to replace ‘religious ideals’ with the “redemption through the blood of the Lamb of God”, thus through repentance toward God and faith in Christ’s “finished work” at the Cross, men and women, boys and girls, would learn to live by the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ Jesus! No other way exists before the throne of Holy God!

B.B. McKinney and Hattie Bell Allen wrote the Hymn, “Christ for the Whole Wide World!” It says: “Christ for the whole wide world! Our task has just begun, For millions wait in every land The message of God’s Son. Shall they be left in sin, To die without His Word, Without the Savior Jesus Christ, Because they never heard?

Christ for the whole wide world! His message must be sent To millions dying in their sin To call them to repent. Christ Jesus died to save, But they can never know Until we bring our gifts of love And bid His heralds go!

Christ for the whole wide world! His heralds will proclaim Salvation for men everywhere in Jesus’ blessed name. And we who cannot go To bear His tidings far Will pray for those who take the Word – And witness where we are.

We will give, we will pray, We will witness every day, That the millions of the whole wide world May know our Savior’s love.”

Is that YOUR song OR do YOU no longer sing?

BY:J.FARRELL FISHER, MAY 2-3, 2019

THE PSALMIST, IN PSALM 111, WAS,(YES), INSPIRED TO WRITE, VERSE 5, “GOD HAS GIVEN MEAT UNTO THEM THAT FEAR HIM: HE WILL EVER BE MINDFUL OF HIS COVENANT.” BUT ‘ILLOGICAL DEBATERS’, STRONGLY ‘POISONED’ BY ‘GOD-RESENTERS’ ACCEPT ‘LESSONS’ (?) FROM THE ‘FLESH OR SIN-NATURED’ MEN OR WOMEN, WHO RATHER THAN “TRUST GOD” WHO BIRTHED MANKIND WITH THE CHOICE FOR THEIR LIFE’S JOURNEY TURN INWARD & AROUND BUT NOT TO GOD, WHO,YES,EVEN THOUGH HE “KNOCKS”, AND THEY REFUSE TO OPEN THE HEART’S DOOR BECAUSE THEY ‘LOVE’ “FLESH” NOT SPIRIT, LOVING A “LOST WORLD’S RESENTMENT OF DEVOTION TO GOD”,SO, “GUIDED BY ‘HEART-DEAD, MIND-BLINDED’, AND WARPED WILLS DECEIVED BY SATAN HIMSELF”, THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO FOOLISHLY CHOOSE TO REMAIN SEPARATED FROM GOD, UNDER SATAN’S DOMINATION, BLINDED BY ‘A FOOLISH LOST-WORLD MENTALITY’, UNAWARE THEY’VE CHOSEN ‘ILLOGICAL, NATURAL,DEMONIC,AND ‘HELLISH’ INSIGHT THAT LEAVES MERCIFUL, LOVING, GRACIOUS, CARING GOD & HIS WILL, WORD, & WAYS OUT OF THEIR LIVES, SO THEY “CHOOSE” THE WORLD’S GODLESS SPIRIT, THE SIN-NATURE’S DEPRAVITY, AND SATAN’S BLINDNESS!!

“ILLOGICAL DEBATERS” ARE OFTEN BLINDED BY AN INNER ‘ATTITUDE’, STRONG BUT WEAK AND DEFENSELESS, THAT, “UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT SIN”, THEY LIVE HOLDING ONTO, ‘IN SOME’, A “WILDER-LESS”, “WONDER-LESS”, “WISDOM-LESS”, “WITNESS-LESS” ATTITUDE THAT EVEN ‘BELIEVERS’ (?) WHO CALL THEMSELVES ‘DISCIPLES OF CHRIST’, CAN’T DO ANYTHING BUT SIN SINCE ‘BEING SAVED’ (?), THOUGH JESUS TOLD HIS THE MAN IN THE TEMPLE THAT HE HEALED, JOHN 5:14, “BEHOLD, YOU ARE MADE WHOLE:SIN NO MORE, LEST A WORSE THING COME UPON YOU.”

“ILLOGICAL DEBATERS”? IN TITUS 3:2-11 PAUL STOUTLY AND WISELY WROTE: “TO SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN, TO BE NO BRAWLERS, BUT GENTLE, SHOWING ALL MEEKNESS UNTO ALL MEN.

FOR WE OURSELVES ALSO WERE SOMETIMES FOOLISH,DISOBEDIENT,DECEIVED,SERVING DIVERS LUSTS AND PLEASURES, LIVING IN MALICE AND ENVY, HATEFUL, AND HATING ONE ANOTHER. BUT AFTER THAT THE KINDNESS AND LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR TOWARD MAN APPEARED, NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST;

WHICH HE SHED ON US ABUNDANTLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR; THAT BEING JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE (JUSTIFIED? “JUST-AS-IF-WE’D-NEVER-SINNED!”), WE SHOULD BE MADE HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE.

THICH IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND THESE THINGS I WILL THAT YOU AFFIRM CONSTANTLY, THAT THEY WHICH HAVE BELIEVED IN GOD MIGHT BE CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS, THESE THINGS ARE GOOD AND PROFITABLE UNTO MEN. BUT AVOID FOOLISH QUESTIONS, AND GENEALOGIES, AND CONTENTIONS, AND STRIVINGS ABOUT THE LAW; FOR THEY ARE UNPROFITABLE AND VAIN.

A MAN THAT IS A HERETIC AFTER THE FIRST AND SECOND ADMONITION REJECT; KNOWING THAT HE THAT IS SUCH SUBVERTED, AND SINS, BEING CONDEMNED OF HIMSELF.” WHAT A POWERFUL, ENLIGHTENING, CONVICTING REVELATION OF THE HOLY WORD!!

“ILLOGICAL DEBATERS” ARE DESCRIBED IN PSALM 2:1-4! THE PSALMIST ASKS, “WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE, AND THE PEOPLE IMAGINE A VAIN THING? THE KINGS OF THE

EARTH SET THEMSELVES, AND THE RULERS TAKE COUNSEL TOGETHER, AGAINST THE LORD, AND AGAINST HIS ANOINTED, SAYING ‘LET US BREAK THEIR BANDS ASUNDER, AND CAST AWAY THEIR CORDS FROM US. HE THAT SITS IN THE HEAVENS SHALL LAUGH; THE LORD SHALL HAVE THEM IN DERISION. ( THAT WORD ‘DERISION’ MEANS, ‘RIDICULE’ OR ‘MOCKERY’!)

PLUS, IT’S SATAN HIMSELF & HIS DEMONIC WARRIORS THAT “PUT CORDS & BANDS” ON THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF ALL BIRTHED MANKIND WHO MUST RECEIVE CHRIST’S BLOOD REDEMPTION FOR THEM TO BE FREE FROM SATANIC BONDAGE!

BUT, IN THIS MOMENT, THIS TIME PERIOD OF YOUR LIFE, ARE YOU AN “ILLOGICAL DEBATER” OR ARE “YOU” A “CONVINCED,CONVERTED, CONSECRATED, CONFIRMED TRUE DISCIPLE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST”? A VERY ENLIGHTENING VERSE IS FOUND IN HEBREWS 11:4! “BY FAITH ABEL OFFERED UNTO GOD A MORE EXCELLENT SACRIFICE THAN CAIN, BY WHICH HE OBTAINED WITNESS THAT HE WAS RIGHTEOUS, GOD TESTIFYING OF HIS GIFTS; AND BY IT BEING DEAD YET SPEAKS.” (A WITNESS THAT ‘CONTINUES’, EVEN AFTER ‘YOU’ DIED? “AMAZING GRACE”!!).

ARE “YOU” CONVINCED? AND “CONVINCED”, DO “YOU” ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO “CONVINCE” OTHERS THROUGH YOU? IN MATTHEW 10:19-20, JESUS TELLS US: “BUT WHEN THEY DELIVER YOU UP, TAKE NO THOUGHT HOW OR WHAT YOU SHALL SPEAK: FOR IT SHALL BE GIVING YOU IN THAT SAME HOUR WHAT YOU SHALL SPEAK. FOR IT IS NOT YOU THAT SPEAKS, BUT THE SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER WHICH SPEAKS IN YOU (AND “THROUGH YOU”!).”

“CONVINCED” BECAUSE YOU “WERE CONVERTED”? IS THAT “BORN AGAIN”, GRACE-FILLED, SPIRIT-BIRTHED, SPIRIT-ENLIGHTENED, SPIRIT-CONFIRMED,SPIRIT-ANOINTED, SPIRIT-GUIDED, TO TOUCH YOUR WORLD WITH THE ETERNAL GOSPEL STORY OF GOD’S POWER TO SAVE OTHERS THROUGH YOU AS YOU LIFT UP THE MESSAGE OF “BLOOD REDEMPTION, RECONCILIATION, AND REACHING OUT THROUGH YOU WITH HIS AMAZING GRACE TO OTHERS?”

“CONVINCED”, “CONVERTED”, BUT ARE YOU “CONSECRATED”? IS THAT “SET APART”, AS ONE DISTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT BY THE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD, “BORN AGAIN”, A “NEW CREATION” NO LONGER ONLY UNTO ONE’S SELF, BUT “CAPTURED, CONVERTED, CONSECRATED, ONE BECOMES CHRIST’S “ROYAL AMBASSADOR”, COMMISSIONED BY CHRIST TO BE HIS WITNESS TO A WORLD THAT NEEDS TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD, REPENTING OF SIN AND SEPARATION FROM HIM, BUT THEN “SET APART” FOR THE UNVEILING OF THE GLORY, GRACE, AND MERCY OF GOD THROUGH YOU BECAUE OF THE RESURRECTED, REIGNING CHRIST WITHIN YOU!!

“CONVINCED,CONVERTED, CONSECRATED” – GOOD, EXCELLENT, GRACE-GIVEN – AND – “CONFIRMED” BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, EVIDENCED BY THE “FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT” MULTIPLYING IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU!

MARCUS M.WELLS, IN “THE AMERICAN HYMNAL”, PUBLISHED IN 1933, BY THE BROADMAN PRESS OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, (P.188),WROTE THE HYMN, “HOLY SPIRIT, FAITHFUL GUIDE”. IT SAYS: “HOLY SPIRIT, FAITHFUL GUIDE, EVER NEAR THE CHRISTIAN’S SIDE; GENTLY LEAD US BY THE HAND, PILGRIMS IN A DESERT LAND;

EVER PRESENT, TRUEST FRIEND, EVER NEAR YOUR AID TO LEND, LEAVE US NOT TO DOUBT AND FEAR, GROPING ON IN DARKNESS DREAR.

WHEN OUR DAYS OF TOIL SHALL CEASE, WAITING STILL FOR SWEET RELEASE, NOTHING LEFT BUT HEAVEN AND PRAYER, WONDERING IF OUR NAMES WERE THERE.

THEN JESUS SPEAKS! WHISPERING SOFTLY, ‘WANDERER, COME! FOLLOW ME, I’LL GUIDE YOU HOME!

WEARY SOULS FOREVER REJOICE, WHILE THEY HEAR THAT SWEETEST VOICE, WHEN THE STORMS ARE RAGING SORE, HEARTS GROW FAINT, AND HOPES GIVE O’ER,

WADING DEEP THE DISMAL FLOOD, PLEADING NAUGHT BUT JESUS’ BLOOD, THE SPIRIT SPEAKS, WHISPERING SOFTLY, “WAN DERER , COME! FOLLOW ME, I’LL GUIDE YOU HOME!”IS THE WORD, THE “TRUTH”, THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOUR GUIDE TO VICTORY OR IN “BEST EFFORT”, “FLESH-SPIRIT”, “SATAN-DECEIVED” ATTEMPTS TO BE ‘CHRIST-LIKE’, HAVE YOU “FALLEN AWAY” FROM THE FULLNESS OF THE BLESSING OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST?

HE IS THE “FULLNESS”, BUT YOU “TRIED” RATHER THAN “TRUSTED”? “ATTEMPTED” RATHER THAN “ATONED”? “SELF-EFFORT” RATHER THAN “BOUGHT WITH A PRICE”, ‘PAID FOR’ REDEMPTION BY THE SHED BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD BECAUSE “GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD”? IN WHOM WILL “YOU” STAND WITH BEFORE HOLY GOD AT HIS ETERNAL JUDGMENT SEAT WHEN YOUR DAY OF DEATH COMES?!?

By. J.Farrell Fisher, July 22, 2016

Did you happen to catch the national TV exposure of Prince George of England’s picture of him (a three-year old!) feeding a dog from his ice-cream cone? A ‘brilliant’ (?) British citizen vowed: “I will not rest until Prince George of England is someday denied the throne for feeding a dog an ice cream cone!”

That’s like ‘intellectual’ university professors and ‘intellectual’ boards of directors declaring “belief in God here, validating Him, affirming Him, upholding Him, will not be allowed in this university or our corporate businesses”, while they continue to seal their own ultimate doom by unveiling their ‘intellectual’ stupidity – ‘ national kids’ or ‘dogs’ fed by the immature players of “godless governments”!

But, if there is a ‘man’, a ‘family’, or a ‘nation’ that “FEARS” the Lord, what is the ultimate result? In Psalm 25:12-21 we read, “Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He Himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show “them” His covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for (apart from You) I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have (are, will be, about to be) enlarged; bring me out of my distresses! Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I Wait For You, the ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD!”

“Nations” ‘taught’ in the way God chooses? Or “nations” dwelling in ‘spiritual poverty’? Are “nations” inheriting the earth or bankrupting themselves? Are “nations” recipients of the “blessings of the blood covenant in Christ” or blinded to those blessings? Are they “plucked out” of deathly situations or descending into them? Do their “troubles” enlarge or diminish, becoming “more desolate and afflicted”, or delivered by the very hand of God from them? Do nations today “wait upon the Lord”, yield to His sovereign leadership and protection and provisions, letting biblical integrity and uprightness preserve, sustain, and strengthen them? Is it “the Father’s world” or, temporarily, has it been confiscated by ungodly, unprincipled, selfish, self-indulgent ‘politicians’ and bankrupt citizens ‘trying’ their “best”, which does nothing but produces “godlessness” and introduces “divine judgment”?

Are you aware of how devoted many ‘nations’, ‘professors’, and ‘godless peoples and regions’ are, “devoted” to the ‘natural’ but incensed about the “supernatural”, opposed to the “seekers of divine Truth and His truths”, even “angry, resistant to, and diabolically opposed to national evangelism, mission, and allegiance to the God and Savior whose desire and intent is on ‘redeeming them’?”

Do you realize the choices, desires, programs, disciplines of spiritual nations in their willful intents of upholding, promoting, practicing, instituting, and honoring the God who birthed them, or fully aware of the “death-nail” deliberations, determinations, and decisions, that “God in politics” is unacceptable, un-national, and “not our ‘cup of tea’”! So they drink the “kool-aid” of “godlessness”!

Will it be the “movies” of the majority of Hollywood’s ‘brainless’, or the message of the revealed Word of God by His “privileged, appointed, anointed witnesses”? Will it be the “messages and basic principles of ‘ungodly professors’ and ‘proclaimers’ of ‘ungodly expositions’ of their “godless nations”, with the intent of constantly educating schools and universities and students in opposition to Eternal Truths, and especially opposed to “the Author and Finisher of True Faith”? Will it be in cities, states, nations, schools, universities, courts, the “expositions” of ‘godless men’ or the profound, prophetic, personalized “TRUTHS” of redeemed men, re-born servants of the Most High God, and available vessels of all the “Redeemer’s revelation- desires to save YOUR world”?

Will it be “living expressions, vibrant testimonies, miraculous occurrings and events and expectations, verbal declarations of transformation in the hearts and lives of men and women, inheriting the ‘good, acceptable, and perfect will of God’, and His mandate and His message and His “good news” to the warped, maligned, shamed images and opened-unveilings of sin’s captives and the devil’s disciples, with the clear, true, distinct proclamation of “new births”, “new names”, a “new covenant,” “new bottles” for the eternal ‘wine’ of holy presence, “new hearts”, a “new spirit”, a “new creation”, a “new name”, and recipients of a “new and living way” – and with all my heart and mind, I am fully convinced that Paul’s declaration in Romans 6:4 was God’s desire and intent, not only for individuals but nations: “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also (individually and nationally) should walk “in newness of life.”

Even in Romans 7:6 Paul informs us, both individually and, I believe, for the nations, “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we (as a nation or individually or corporately) should serve in newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” “God, please, please, overrule the nations that do not want your compassionate governing and ruling and usher in the next “Great Spiritual Awakening” because of our heart’s desire and Your willful proclamation and willful intervention and divine pleasure!”

National days of reasoning, apart from God, are nations “void of divine counsel” and “victims of godless rulers” and, sadly, “veneers of superficial, fleshly appearances”, giving allegiances to their own ‘gods’, like Isaiah’s vision from God for His own ‘chosen nation’, Israel, (Isaiah 1:4), “Alas, sinful nation! A people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward.”

It’s really interesting as you’re reading through the Word of God to come to a passage like 2 Kings 17:24-29, then Verses 32-36, and see a “nation’s professors” yet remain ‘religious’ apart from “possession” of His Truths!

2 Kings 17:24-29 says: Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities. And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the Lord; therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “the nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land.”

Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let them teach them the rituals of the God of the land.” Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the Lord.

However every nation continued to make gods of its own, and put them in the shrines on the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities where they dwelt. {Oh, how delightful! They are really religious, but totally unredeemed!} The “pretense” continued! Look at Verses 32-36!

So they ‘feared the Lord’, and from every class they appointed FOR THEMSELVES ‘priests’ of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places. They feared the Lord, “YET SERVED THEIR OWN GODS” – according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.

TO THIS DAY they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the Lord, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the Lord had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel, with whom the Lord had made a covenant and charged them, saying: “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them; but the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, and to Him you shall sacrifice.”

[Dare I tell you? Hebrews 9:24-28 declares that the true redemption sacrifice is “Emmanuel” or “God in flesh”; THAT’s Christ Jesus!] Hear the Word! “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another – He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world;

But now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away SIN by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time apart from sin, for salvation.”

And dare I also say, because of one’s repentance toward God and faith in the Redeemer’s “finished work”, they become, you in Christ become, Temples of Holy Presence! “New Holy Temples”! You, me, the transformed, the redeemed, the blood-bought, yes, by “the blood of the Lamb of God” who is Christ alone!

But hear me! National allegiances to the world, the flesh or old sin nature, and, sadly, allegiances to the devil, the demons, or their dark, enslaving influences, are in many not simply ‘prominent’ but ‘preeminent’ over Holy God and His Holy Revelation and divine will, and in their lame assertions “men at their best efforts” deny Him, have no need of Him or His love, grace, and mercy, saying, “Why does your God think we can’t care for ourselves”?

Because in our own efforts there is no “blood redemption”, there is no “reconciliation”, there is no “seed” of “new birth”, and there is no fulfillment or blessing or miracle of divine transformation! This age of the 21^st Century is fast becoming the “age of grey”, not black or white, but “do as you desire” without any consideration of or devotion to the God of our creation and His Word, His will, His ways – the “age of grey”! But “White”- that’s “washed in the blood of the Lamb” and divinely declared as “white as snow” – not the pigment of one’s skin but the purity of his/her heart! Glory! And black? Hearts fully surrendered and bond in sin and death, bondage and misspent opportunity to know Him, love Him, and serve Him, and ultimately eternal separation in Hell under the awful domination of the devil and his demons, and miserable existence eternally with the “shattered-by-God” because of their stubbornness, unbelief, disobedience, and distaste for the Savior and Redeemer, King of kings and Lord of lords! Enough of “the old man”, the “fallen creation of unbelief” and the “world of rejection of Loving, Caring, Merciful Holy God”!

WHAT ABOUT NATIONS MADE NEW? In Revelation 22 John said, after hearing Him who sat on the Throne in Revelation 21:5 declaring, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” “I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes (that’s overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil!) shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and ALL LIARS shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

[I believe I would contemplate about God Himself declaring “a second death” that never dies!] Have you never seen that Revelation 22:1-5 declares, not something “out there”, “maybe thousands of years away”, but that as “Jesus comes quickly” into “new born lives” and “redeemed nations”, with Verse 7 assuring us, saying, “Blessed is he [individual or nation!] who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book?” For the sake of nations, please listen, receive, claim, stand on, proclaim Verses 1-5 of Revelation 22!!!It says:

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree WERE FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS.

And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” ARE YOU “IN CHRIST” IN THIS VERY MOMENT AND FOR THE REST OF YOUR EARTHLY DWELLING TRULY ALLOWING HIS LIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH YOU?

GOD AND THE NATIONS OF FAITH? 1. God “designs them”: red, yellow, black or white, they are precious in His sight!”

2. God “delights in obedience or, yes, delights in separating alienating, and destroying the rebellious”!

3.God “delivers them” out of all their troubles, wars, famines, or from ‘godless’, disobedient, faithless rulers!

4. God “disciplines them” like immaturity, childish ‘brats’ until they become mature national “sons or daughters” of the redemptive faith.

5. God “dictates”! It’s His Word or the world’s highways, His Truths or the world’s temptations, His will or the world’s or the nations’ allegiance to their “free-from-God-spirit”!

Dare I apply Romans 14:19 to “nations” as well as “individuals, families, communities, states, or churches”? Paul said: “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one (even “nations”?) may edify one another.” How do you relate, respond, or react, to the inspired word of Paul in Galatians 3:8-9 when he said, “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED’. So then those (individuals, families, states, and nations?) are blessed with believing Abraham,” which doesn’t insist all nations are submitted, surrendered to, or celebrate Holy God, but many nations KNOW the need of God as Savior, Lord, Redeemer, Ruler, Guide, Overseer, and Sovereign Administrator of their governmental affairs!

I want to close this teaching with a word from Barnabas and Paul about allegiances to “useless things”, (even “nations” doing so!): Acts 14:8-22, And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose (pagan) temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and we preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

Does that tell us that, yes, even “God-blessed” nations have, do, or will, face trouble, tribulations, and trials? Without a doubt! But, “In Him”, “WE SHALL OVERCOME!”

By J. Farrell Fisher, July 9-11, 2017

Paul gives us holy, eternal, and life-changing truth when in 1 Corinthians 2:14 he wrote: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned,” even mentioning in 1 Corinthians 3:3 about those, in the Corinthian church, who “are carnal and behaving like mere men”!

How clear was Christ Jesus when in John 3:6 He said to Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh,’ and that’s true of every natural man – and born of flesh, his greatest need is to be “born of the Spirit”!

As you study the Word of God, are you clear about why Christ Jesus “exposed” the religious Jews of His day? In John 8:31-44 is an unveiling of the “True seed” and those of Satan’s family loyalists! It says: The Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, “You will be made free.” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin (present tense, continuous action!) is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” They answered Him, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.”

Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father – God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from (or out of) God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

To be confronted by Christ Jesus is to have one’s heart and mind exposed to Truth, to the need of blood redemption, to the alternative of ‘life in Christ’ or death under Satan’s domination, or to “the desires of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do,” or to resurrection life, resurrection power, or resurrection hope!

If you continued in John 8:48-51, you’d discover your greatest hope! Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

“Never see death”? We all ‘see’ death, but Christ Jesus was saying that if anyone stands in His Word he’ll never be held in death’s bondage eternally but live in His life throughout eternity, and those who live without Him will be held eternally under Satan’s control in the death that never dies with all unbelievers! And dare I to say, “to live without Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior and Master of one’s life is to be bound by a hopeless and unfulfilling existence forever and ever”?

And one has to wonder: “Why the great chasm between ‘professing Christians (?)’ and true disciples, true followers, true sold-out-disciples?”

I was highly impressed and encouraged when I read in Dallas Willard’s book, “The Great Omission”, in his introduction, he satiated, “The governing assumption today, among professing Christians, is that we can be ‘Christians’ forever and never become disciples.” And he called it the Great Omission with Great Disparity flourishing, or, “Will they break out of churches to be His Church”? So, I would assume, one of the greatest needs across ‘modern-day’ church life is the necessity of re-instituting “making disciples”!

So, let’s examine, FIRST, in discovering YOUR greatest need: HAVE YOU TRULY BEEN RECONCILED TO GOD THROUGH THE GIFT OF CHRIST JESUS IN REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD AND TRUE FAITH IN CHRIST’S REDEMPTIVE WORK THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION?

In 2 Corinthians 7:10 Paul tells us, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” Didn’t Jesus say in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”?

My concern? Sometimes one’s grief about his circumstances and situations in life is but the shadow of God’s convicting presence apart from a true desire to be reconciled to God! But Isaiah 61:1-3 unveils a true repentant mind and heart! It says: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn,

To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

It was William Cowper who once wrote: “The path of sorrow, and that path alone, leads to the land where sorrow is unknown; no traveler ever reached that blessed abode who found not thorns or briers in his road.” And I would ask YOU, “Have you recognized, repented of, and seen the blood of the Lamb removing from you what separated you from Him? Is there, was there, sorrow in your heart when the Holy Spirit convicted you, if He did, of your sin and separation from Holy God?

It was Harriet Beecher Stow who many years ago wrote: [The Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations, Fleming H. Revell Com., Westwood, N.J.], “Sorrow is divine. Sorrow is reigning on all the thrones of the universe, and the crown of all crowns has been one of thorns. There are many books that treat of the sympathy of sorrow, but only one that bids us glory in tribulation, and count it all joy when we fall into divers afflictions, that so we may be associated with that great fellowship of suffering of which the Incarnate Son of God is the head, and through which He is carrying a redemptive conflict to a glorious victory over evil. If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him.”

How familiar ARE YOU WITH THE Book of Lamentations? [But, of course, there are those who would say, “Old Testament truths have nothing to do with New Testament disciples,” but I would say, “These folks are far, far from the Truth!”]. You should read ALL of Lamentations, but let me share Lamentations 1:12-16!!

“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which has been brought upon me, which the Lord has inflicted in the day of His fierce anger.

From above He has sent fire into my bones, and it overpowered them; He has spread a net for my feet and turned me back; He has made me desolate and faint all the day. The yoke of my transgressions was bound; they were woven together by His hands and thrust upon my neck. He made my strength fail; the Lord has delivered me into the hands of those whom I am not able to withstand.

The Lord has trampled underfoot all my mighty men in my midst; He has called an assembly against me to crush my young men; the Lord trampled as in a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah. For these things I weep; my eye, my eye overflows with water; because the comforter, who should restore my life, is far from me; my children are desolate because the enemy prevailed.”

SECOND, HAS YOUR LIFE SITUATIONS BROUGHT YOU TO THE ETERNAL SITUATION OF EXAMINING YOURSELF, DETERMINING WHAT REALLY HAS YOUR HEART? I’m really sorry if the Word offends you, but YOU must examine what really has your heart! It’s as if some church folk today, and certainly those in and of the world, are convinced it’s their choice as to what rules and reigns in their own hearts!

And it was Oswald Chambers who once commented on either ‘selective affinity (that) dies’ or the ‘sanctified abandonment’ of lives that live in and through Christ only! [“My Utmost For His Highest,” p.120]. He said: “You cannot consecrate what is not yours; there is only one thing you can consecrate to God, and that is your right to yourself (Romans 12:1). If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experience out of you. God’s experiments always succeed. The one mark of a saint (One set apart to God’s glory!) is the moral originality which springs from abandonment to Jesus Christ. In the life of a saint there is this amazing wellspring of original life all the time; the Spirit of God is a well of water springing up, perennially fresh. The saint realizes that it is God Who engineers circumstances, consequently there is no whine, but a reckless abandon to Jesus.”

And the question of this very moment for you before Holy God is: Are you abandoned only to the glory of Christ alone or does ‘selective affinity’ rule and reign over you? What YOU face in your life’s pilgrimage up until now, have those ‘life experiences’ brought you to what or who has your heart?

THIRD, HAVING BEEN RECONCILED, HAVING DETERMINED WHO HAS YOUR HEART, AND NOW AS “THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS”, ARE YOU EXERCISING THROUGH GOD’S DIVINE POWER ALL AUTHORITY OVER THE THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS?

You do understand that in the ‘religious world’, including even your local church setting, that you will find some awareness or awakenings we all need to be alerted to! For example: There can be an inclination to without the appropriation of, there can be thoughtful considerations without transformation, there can be argumentation without acceptance by God, there can be theories of the mind religiously without Truth that transforms, and one can possess a ‘thirst’ but no desire for the “Living Water’!

In 2 Peter 1:1-11 Peter awakens us to the true righteous remnant! (And I’ll never forget Miss Bertha Smith, missionary to China most of her adult life, who said on an occasion, teaching in a church I pastored: “Probably 90-95% of the church pastors in America need to be “born again”!” I tell you, it scared Hell out of some pastors that day!) Peter wrote:

“To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, AS HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN TO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue,

To virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren, nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

THEREFORE, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Our modern-day world, related to ‘Christian activity’, is faced with, I believe, three distinct choices that people everywhere can choose from: 1) Cultural Christianity (where a very significant number have chosen to live, 2) World religions, that number millions upon millions, or 3) Christ-Given Re-Birth! In fact, in John 3:3, Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In the kingdom of God, King Jesus rules and reigns! Does He rule over, in, through your heart, mind, spirit, and body?

A spiritual evaluation? 1) Is there in you “undivided devotion”? Check Luke 14: 26! 2) Is there costly commitment? Check Luke 14:27! 3) Is there costly analysis? Check Luke 14:31! 4) Is there “awesome and full surrender? Luke 14:33!

Frank S. Mead wrote “The March of Eleven Men”. Listen with both mind and heart!! “James the brother of Jesus and James the son of Zebedee preach and are killed by mobs in Jerusalem; Matthew is slain on a sword in Ethiopia; Philip is hanged in Phrygia; Bartholomew flayed alive in Armenia. Andrew is crucified in Achaia, Thomas is run through with a lance in East India, Thaddeus is shot to death with arrows, a cross goes up in Persia for Simon the Zealot, and another in Rome for Peter. Matthias is beheaded; only John escapes a martyr’s grave.”

D.W.Whittle and May Whittle Moody wrote an old hymn entitled “Moment by Moment”. (The American Hymnal of 1933). It says: “Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine; living with Jesus, a new life divine; Looking to Jesus till glory does shine, Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Never a trial that He is not there, Never a burden that He does not bear; Never a sorrow that He does not share, Moment by moment, I’m under His care.

Never a heartache, and never a groan, Never a teardrop and never a moan; Never a danger but there on the throne, Moment by moment He thinks of His own.

Never a weakness that He does not feel, Never a sickness that He cannot heal; Moment by moment, in woe or in weal, Jesus, my Savior, abides with me still.”

In “Christ Ascended,” Michael Bruce wrote: “In every pang that rends the heart, The Man of Sorrows has a part.” He’s with you, He’s in you, He works through you!

Can you say that Christ Jesus is your “everlasting portion”, more than a friend or life, all along your ‘pilgrim journey’, but the Lord and Savior of your inner strength?

Can you say, “not for ease or worldly pleasure, not even for fame will your prayer be, but you’ll gladly toil, even suffer, if it gives glory and honor to Him”?

Can you say, “Lead me, if necessary through the vale of shadows, Just bear me over the fitful seas, Knowing the gate of life eternal, Open it wide, Lord, for You and me”?

In Ephesians 1:11-14 are powerful verses unveiling “our greatest needs” met and fulfilled in and through Christ alone! It says: “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise pf His glory.”

YOUR GREATEST NEED? To be reconciled to Holy God through Christ! To be forgiven because of His shed blood! To come into oneness with God through Christ, His ambassador and reconciler! To be made a part of the Holy Family as sons and daughters birthed by the Spirit of God! To understand and make yourself available to others as His messenger! To see the significance of being joined with the choir of angels and fellow family members singing in the heart daily the “Hallelujah Chorus” as a “born-again” song-bird of Saving Faith!

November 22, 2016

Titus 2:1-14 Paul highlights both “fleshly adornment and/or Christ’s atonement”, with, of course, a powerful presentation of what it means to be both Christ-honoring disciples AND pure, sound, well-trained churches touching our world with His saving grace! It says:

“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for SOUND DOCTRINE: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things – that they may admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say to you. Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” [We’ll meditate on these previous verses soon, but I want you to also examine 1 John 3:1-9!].

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now are we children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”

It’s also interesting, having read these two powerful texts from Paul and John to see Paul also saying in Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” And, if Christ has made you free, why under God’s beautiful blue heavens would you want, even for a moment, to indulge yourself in the “sins of the flesh” when you’ve been made “one in the Spirit with the Son of God, even God Himself”?

It may be because one or someone has bought into the devil’s lie that “you can sin and not die”! The Lord Jesus even had to condemn the “religious Pharisees” when in John 5:39-40 He said of them (and some of us?), “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. BUT YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO COME TO ME (the PROMISED MESSIAH, SAVIOR, REDEEMER, AND LORD!) that you may have life.”

Did Paul say, “Stand fast IN THE LIBERTY BY WHICH CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE”? It’s Christ alone, in His Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope, that sets the captives free to be vessels in and through which the Life of Christ continues to be Himself, in us, as we take daily the sentence of death to our old selves that the Resurrection Life of Christ may be manifested in our mortal flesh! Oswald Chambers put it like this in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,”, (p.92), “There is only one liberty, the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.” Chambers said on the same page, “These are days of tremendous enterprises, days when we are trying to work for God, and therein is the snare. Profoundly speaking, we can never work for God. Jesus takes us over for “HIS” enterprises, “His” building schemes entirely, and no soul has any right to claim where he shall be put (or what he/she thinks he/she shall do!).”

John the Baptist made a bold, profound, convicting statement when in John 3:30 he said: “He, the Messiah, the Savior and Lord, the coming King of kings and Lord of lords, MUST INCREASE, but I must decrease,” and some “professors of faith” resent that because they believe they are more than able to live out their faith apart from His presence in them! How phony is that since “Christ in you IS the hope of glory”?!

But “fleshly adornment” is also seen vividly in “religious pretenders” who know nothing about “born again”! God is not up to promoting a man’s sense and pride in his/her natural virtues, the pumping of their ‘flesh-devotion’, or their corrupt confidence in their ‘fleshly abilities’!

It was Eliphaz who told Job in Job 4:6, “Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope?” He went on, in Verse 17, to ask Job, “Can a mortal be more righteous then God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?” And then in Verse 21 he asked, “Does not their own excellence go away? They die, even without wisdom.” And I’m sure, without a doubt, that that is true of some, but not all of the disciples of Christ!

In “The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning”, one of her writings is entitled “The Soul’s Traveling,” but I only desire to take line quotes from a very long poem. She wrote: “I dwell amid the city. The great humanity which beats its life along the stony streets, like a strong unsunned river, In a self-made course, is ever Rolling on, rolling on!…

I dwell amid the city, and hear the flow of souls! I do not hear the several contraries – I do not hear the separate tones that rolls in acts or speech, for pomp or trade, for merrymake or folly – I hear the confluence and sum of each, And that is melancholy! – The voice is a complaint, O crowned city, The blue sky covering you, like God’s great pity! –

And as they touch your soul, they borrow as of its grandeur, of its sorrow, That deathly odour which the clay leaves on its deathlessness always. Always! Always! Must this be? Rapid Soul from city gone, Do you carry inwardly what does make the city’s moan? Must this sigh of your own haunt you with humanity?

O fair, fair Nature! Are we thus impotent and querulous among thy workings glorious, – among thy fulnesses that still leave us vacant and defiled, and wailing like a kissed child, kissed soft against his will?”

And as Elizabeth Barrett Browning was ending this dramatic poetic reality of ‘fallen mankind’, she spoke of ‘human vainness ‘unless they travel upward to God’s Throne!’ And then she wrote ,”There sittest THOU, the satisfying ONE, With blood for sins, and holy perfectings for all requirements – while th’ archangel, raising toward Your face his full ecstatic gazing, Forgets the rush and rapture of his wings!”

But “fleshly adornment” is vain! The ONLY supernatural life, again, is “Christ in you the hope of glory”! Conscious holiness in a fleshly mind is “deception” and truly “grieves” the Holy Spirit! Conscious holiness in a fleshly mind resents and reacts adversely to Jesus Himself even saying, “Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, but you do not do what I say?” “Self-conscious” holiness resents the Cross and celebrates “self-intelligence” and operates on the basis of religious “self-effort”!

But Romans 5:10-11 declares: “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be [being] saved by His life.”

As the author of Hebrews closed out his amazing revelation, he said, in Hebrews 13:20-21, “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT, make you complete in every good work TO DO HIS WILL, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

And if we’re redeemed, reconciled, re-born in and through the blood of the Lamb of God, if we’re “pardoned, forgiven, made new through His blood”, if we’re “delivered from the penalty of sin, blessed with a new identity ‘in Christ’”, why or how even does one consistently look inward to himself rather than upward to the God of eternal forgiveness with the old sin nature obliterated and the new divine nature freely given? 1 John 1:7 clearly says, “…and the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sin.” Human power, fleshly will, self-pardon never erases sin’s debt before Holy God, only the blood of the Lamb! There is nothing so disadvantageous as a haughty and proud spirit that rebuffs the shed blood of the Lamb of God and wilts before the mercy and grace of God, proud of his/her ‘self-sacrifice’ that is ghostly, godless, governed by the unnatural, and guaranteed by the Word of eternal death and separation from Holy God and the Loving Savior!

It was James Milner who once wrote: “While a man rests on his own merits for acceptance with God, it is of little consequence whether he be a pagan idolater, or a proud, ignorant Pharisee. – I know not which of the two is most distant from the kingdom of God.” [The Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations, Fleming H. Revell Company, Westwood, New Jersey, p.401]. But by His grace and mercy and love, through repentance toward God and faith alone in Christ’s finished work at the Cross, the true foundation of the born-again believer’s life is not to the ‘athletic principle of ‘best effort’ but to the Person, power, and presence of Christ as the only explanation in you of Divine Life!

And ‘resting on one’s own merits’ for acceptance with God is becoming aware of vacant seat assignments at His banqueting table because invited guests refused to show up! “Fleshly adornment” for a religious ritual on a “fleshly altar” become easily adaptable by many in place of true repentance, true faith, and the true calling for one’s ‘religious accommodations’ and, on their terms, void of the never-fading clear picture of true disciples who DO FORSAKE ALL AND FOLLOW JESUS ONLY!

In Joshua 24:14-15 Joshua spoke then, and he still speaks now! “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served…Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether strange gods…or the gods ‘fallen men’ bow down to around you! But as for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”

In some way, or even many ways, Christ Jesus stands at the door of every man or woman’s heart and He knocks, when in Truth, HE IS THE DOOR by which we enter into oneness with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, “the three-in-one”! In John 10:1-5, listen to King Jesus! “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

In Verse 7 Jesus said, “I AM the door of the sheep!” In Verse 9 He said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture…Verse 10b, “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Glory! But… if Jesus knocks, do all answer and enter in? Do you understand, witness, or grasp the reality of fleshly obstinacy in some minds and hearts?

And what began in Genesis continued on even to the end of Revelation and all across human history even to this very hour! And “the choice” is always there! In our day, it’s Hollywood movies or the revealed Word of God, messages and basic principles of Godly living or the godless living spouted by godless professors in their curriculums and teachings of godless living, or godless world leaders with the ‘expositions’ of godless men, OR the profound, prophetic teachings of Redeemed men, re-born servants of God and available vessels of ALL the Redeemer desires to reveal, unveil, and do through repentant, faithful hearts!

It’s not “astute minds” that reveals the grace, mercy, and love of God, but “new-born lives” redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, anointed and overflowing with “rivers of living water”, and bathed in the assurance of His words of hope, of heavenly glory, and of the will to live to the honor, glory, and blessing of Christ alone through us! Is Jesus ‘prominent’ in you or is He “preeminent in you”?

In 1 Corinthians 2:4 Paul stated: “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” True disciples yielding daily to the anointing of the Holy Spirit that Christ Jesus WILL BE ILLUMINATED THROUGH THEM? What did Jesus say about Himself as He walked out His eternal earthly calling, ministry, and purpose? In John 17:13-19 we are challenged, convicted, and consecrated by the very words of Christ Himself as He sees us, even now, His ambassadors in a needy world, amply equipped by the Spirit of Truth! Jesus said:

“But now I come to You (Father-God), and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word (Have YOU truly received the Word?); and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. SANCTIFY THEM (or “set them apart”) by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. AND FOR THEIR SAKES I SANCTIFY (or willfully set apart!) Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” Do YOU see “yourself” SET APART TO THE GLORY AND HONOR OF GOD?

Hear me! It’s God’s desire for you and me to be His royal, faithful ambassadors of the true faith with vibrant testimonies, verbal declarations, of the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God – or even as some believers did in Jesus’ day or our own day, they yield to warped, maligned, shamed images and opened-unveilings of sin’s captives, deceived by the world, the flesh, and the devil, and drift, or fall away, and, yes, shame the Name they profess to be aligned with. God, help us!

It was Thomas Watson who once said: “A true saint is a divine landscape or picture, where all the rare beauties of Christ are lively portrayed and drawn forth. He has the same spirit, the same judgment, the same will with Christ.”

In the old “American Hymnal” of 1933, there is a classic hymn written by John Bakewell and Louis von Esch which says: (“Hail, CHRIST Once Despised”):

‘Hail, You once despised Jesus! Hail, You Galilean King! You did suffer to release us; You did free salvation bring. Hail, You agonizing Savior, Bearer of our sin and shame! By Your mercies we find favor; Life is given through Your name.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed, All our sins on You were laid; By almighty love anointed, You have full atonement made. All Your people are forgiven, Through the virtue of Your blood; Opened is the gate of Heaven; Peace is made between man and God.

Jesus, hail! Enthroned in glory, There forever to abide; All the heavenly hosts adore You, Seated at Your Father’s side; There for sinners You are pleading; there You do our place prepare; Ever for us interceding, Till in glory we appear.

Worship, honor, power, and blessing, You are worthy to receive; Loudest praises, without ceasing, Meet it is for us to give. Help, you bright angelic spirits, Bring your sweetest, noblest lays; Help to sing our Savior’s merits; Help to chant Immanuel’s praise!”

What is YOUR ‘angelic song of the redeemed’ or do you even have one? Hebrews 10:14 declares: “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” As a result of God’s mercy for us in Christ, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:29-30, “…that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, who became FOR US wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’”! AMEN? That’s “unholy men made holy”, that’s “unrighteous men declared righteous”, that’s “ indicted men forgiven, freed, and filled with the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” that’s “the ‘incomplete’ declared complete in Christ our Lord and Savior”!

Another old hymn in closing this message entitled “Glory to His Name” written by Rev. E.A.Hoffman and Rev. J.H. Stockton out of the same old “The American Hymnal! It says:

“Down at the cross where my Savior died, Down where for cleansing from sin I cried, There to my heart was the blood applied; Glory to His name.

I am so wondrously saved from sin, Jesus so sweetly abides within, There at the cross where He took me in; Glory to His name.

Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin, I am so glad I have entered in; There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean; Glory to His name.

Come to this fountain so rich and so sweet; Cast your poor soul at the Savior’s feet; Plunge in today, and be made complete; Glory to His name.

Glory to His name,…Glory to His name;…There to my heart was the blood applied; Glory to His name.” Amen? Will YOU bow and sing: “Glory to His name ONLY”?

By: J. Farrell Fisher, July, 2017

There’s a powerful, eye-opening, convicting statement when Isaiah said in Isaiah 64:6-7, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us, and have consumed us because of our iniquities. [You are aware, I would think, that the ‘unclean thing’ or ‘filthy rags’ are rags stained, like a woman’s disposable rags, from her menstrual cycle!). And, how many do you know outside the ‘redeemed community’ who ‘appreciate’ Holy God’s description of their sinful lives and condemned position as ‘a menstrual rag’ prior to its ‘waste basket’ tossing?

In another prophetic book, Ezekiel 37, the prophet, in Verse One, describes, in a vision, “The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.” In Verse Three God asked Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And Ezekiel said to Him, “O Lord God, You know.” Oh, and then there is the eternal calling of Holy God upon His ‘chosen people’ saying to an Ezekiel and every true, blood-bought servant of the Most High God, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you (physical breath or the spiritual breath of Holy God?), and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring (new) flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.’”

You are, more than likely, fully aware that many within the professing ‘church family’ are void of understanding or comprehension of “sinners made saints,” the “lost being found,” the “ungodly declared godly through God’s grace,” or the “worldly becoming true citizens of the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior”! The unredeemed have only a “grave address”, living without any hope in themselves to influence their world redemptively, but can do an admirable job in “fleshly best” living apart from God, leaving their “friends” as unredeemed as themselves! Only God’s amazing grace unveils what human nature looks like apart from “Christ in you the hope of glory”!

I’M SURE YOU’RE AWARE OF WHAT Genesis 6:5 DECLARES early in ‘human history’! It says: “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Romans 3:23 clearly says: “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And, sadly, many are aware of the glory of God but more devoted to their sin and sin nature! But they do not understand that “the wages of sin is death” when they are so alive in themselves to what their fallen flesh dictates! And impregnation with devotion to the old sin nature continues until convicted by the Holy Spirit and converted to “new life” in Christ! It was Spurgeon who once said: “Sin is a sovereign till sovereign grace dethrones it.” So true!

The counterfeit of obedience to God, if there is any inclination to that ‘thought’, is one’s “best effort” of determination to prove what many perceive “ought to please Him as He sees my strong self-will”! And nowhere in the Word of God do you find any indication of God desiring you to do your ‘best’ but acknowledging and resting in YOUR “crucifixion with Christ at the Cross” and receiving the fullness of the blessing of His Resurrection Life as you repent! Isn’t this what Paul was telling us in 2 Corinthians 7:10? “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

You haven’t forgotten already Isaiah’s declaration of fallen men’s hearts before Holy God in Isaiah 64:6-7a? “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; [and in the ‘flesh’, the old sin-nature] we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And THERE IS NO ONE WHO CALLS ON GOD’S NAME, who stirs himself up to take hold of you,” BUT Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:20, “BEHOLD, I stand at the door (of your heart!) and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

And this is why I know Paul wrote in Romans 15:13, “NOW may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing (trusting in, relying upon, adhering to!), that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Several things I want you to “rest in” as you see: “It’s A Matter Of The Heart!” FIRST, IT’S A MATTER OF HEART CONVICTION INITIATED BY THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! Receive Spurgeon’s words in “My Utmost For His Highest,” (p.255), when he wrote: “The entrance into the Kingdom is through the panging pains of repentance crashing into a man’s respectable goodness; then the Holy Ghost, Who produces these agonies, begins the formation of the Son of God in the life.”

In 1 John 4:9-13 the beloved John wrote: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By THIS WE KNOW THAT WE ABIDE IN HIM, AND HE IN US, BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN US OF HIS SPIRIT.” Have YOU received, rested in, and relying upon the Holy Spirit daily?

Even in the short ‘epistle’ of Jude he wrote: Verses 20-21, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

SECOND, IT’S A MATTER OF THE HEART CONCERNING HEART PREPARATION DAILY FOR NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDING HIS PRESENCE WITHIN US BUT YIELDING TO HIS LEADERSHIP THROUGH US IN GLORIFYING AND HONORING THE LORD JESUS! In the Galatian letter Paul wrote: Galatians 6:8, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” How vital is it to you in your journey of faith to be daily yielded to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in you and through you?

There Is, for some, a counterfeit of allegiance apart from full desire to be one WITH God and honoring the Christ within by being yielded to the Holy Spirit! It’s as if for them the Holy Spirit is an unnecessary part of the Godhead! But for true believers who honor Christ in their daily walks of faith, there is a deliberate, daily determination to be “led by the Holy Spirit”!

The Lord Jesus said in John 16:13-14 of the work or ministry of the Holy Spirit in every true believer: “…when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears (from God the Father) He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine, and declare it to you.”

You do realize, out of spiritual immaturity or out-right rebellion, that some believers live with a pious attitude worked up in their flesh and minds with ‘good intentions’ but fall far short of glorifying or honoring Christ Jesus when we’ve just read King Jesus saying, “He, the Holy Spirit, will glorify Me!” Grace includes God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to the true child of the King! In John 7:37-38 we read: On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believed in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Do you remember Jesus’ conversation with “the woman at the well” in John 4:23-24? He said: “…the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

THIRD, IT’S A MATTER OF HEART-AND- MIND TRANSFORMATION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! Paul told us in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be (being) transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Even in the Old Testament, Ezekial 11:19, as God informed Israel and the world-at-large of a coming “new covenant”, He declared, “Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of the flesh and give them a heart of (tender) flesh”, willing to follow His Word and His Spirit!

In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 Paul also exposes ‘fleshly’ disciples and pretenders, even demonic presence, desiring to keep people from the “eternal Truth”! He said: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to THEIR works,” not God’s work through Spirit-anointing, presence, and power within His true disciples!

Do you ever find yourself in a “so-called spiritual gathering” where some are so easily led astray, even falling away, because they bought in to ‘fleshly lies’ substituted for spiritual, eternal Truth? In 1 Timothy 6:20-21 Paul wrote to his spiritual son and us saying, “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge – by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.”

The Spirit-inspired Word of 1 Peter 4:1-2 says, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

Disciples of Christ today are often challenged, criticized, condemned, or ostracized by the ‘kingdoms’ or ‘worldly men’ of devotion to the “best of human ability”, whether by godless governments, spiritually-mindless educators, unbelieving entrepreneurs, or unredeemed neighbors who see your love of Christ, His Word, and His church as ‘misplaced, brainless devotion’ to an empty cause! But in 1 Peter 4:13-14 Peter went on to say: “…rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, FOR the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”

FOURTH, IT’S A MATTER OF HEART-ILLUMINATION AS TO THE REALITY AND EVIDENCE OF SPIRIT-ANOINTED SERVANTS OF CHRIST! In Matthew 7:15-20 our Lord and Savior warns us, saying, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn-bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

Paul had given a substantive challenge when in Galatians 5:16 he said: I say then: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” In Verses 22-25 he then instructed us: “But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” There are no ‘short-cuts’ to victorious living as a disciple of Christ or “cheap-shots of my best effort” – Death to self only and life in His Resurrection fullness, no fleshly, personal ambition but only His revelation and unveiling of the Spirit, no individual determination to reveal or unveil Christ ‘through me”, but only, as Jesus said, “You’ll know them by their fruit!”

Isaac Watts and George F. Handel really nailed it when they wrote the old Christmas classic together entitled “Joy To The World.” It says: “Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, and Heaven and nature sing!

Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy!

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found! He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love!” What song of faith do you sing right now in your life?

BY:J.FARRELL FISHER, MAY 18-19,2019

IN JUDE 3-4 (BARCLAY’S TRANSLATION) WE READ: “FOR CERTAIN MEN HAVE WORMED THEIR WAY INTO THE CHURCH – LONG BEFORE THIS THEY WERE DESIGNATED FOR JUDGMENT – IMPIOUS CREATURES THEY ARE – WHO TWIST THE GRACE OF GOD INTO A JUSTIFICATION OF BLATANT IMMORALITY, & WHO DENY OUR ONLY MASTER & LORD, JESUS CHRIST.”

HUMANITY WORLDWIDE IS EITHER LIVING UNDER THE DARK CLOUD OF PERVERTED GRACE, OR LIVING IN THE “LIGHT” OF GOD’S PERFECTING GRACE! THEY HAVE RECEIVED EITHER A ‘TWISTED GRACE’ THAT LEADS TO HELL OR THE “TRUTHFUL GRACE” THAT LEADS TO HEAVENLY LIVING WHETHER ON EARTH OR IN ONE’S AFTER-LIFE “IN CHRIST”!

MUCH OF ‘FALLEN HUMANITY’ HAS BEEN DECEIVED BY ‘CHEAP GRACE’ OR ENLIGHTENED & EMPOWERED BY COSTLY GRACE! ONE EITHER WALKS IN DANGER TODAY WITH A TRIFLING GRACE OR HE/SHE WALKS IN CONFIDENCE & ASSURANCE WITH THE TREASURES OF SCRIPTURAL GRACE BECAUSE HE/SHE LEFT ALL TO FOLLOW JESUS!

PERVERTED GRACE ALLOWS COMPROMISE IN A ‘SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN’ (?) TO MAINTAIN HIS FLESHLY, SINFUL, LUSTFUL, ‘DO-YOUR-OWN-THING’ LIFESTYLE BECAUSE UNDER THE “GRACE”, THEIR ‘FLESHLY GREASE’,THAT THEY ‘LOVE’ (?), THEY WALK RELIGIOUSLY BLINDED TO GOD’S PERFECTING GRACE ! BE ASSURED! THERE ARE THOSE WHO “TURN THE GRACE OF GOD INTO THEIR FLESHLY LICIENTIOUSNESS!”

IN HEBREWS 12:14-17 WE FIND CONVICTING & ENLIGHTENING WORDS!! “FOLLOW PEACE WITH ALL MEN, & HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD; LOOKING DILIGENTLY LEST ANY MAN FALL SHORT OF THE GRACE OF GOD; LEST ANY ROOT OF BITTERNESS SPRINGING UP TROUBLES YOU, & THEREBY MANY BE DEFILED;

LEST THERE BE ANY FORNICATOR, OR PROFANE PERSON, AS ESAU, WHO FOR ONE MORSEL OF MEAT SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT. FOR YOU KNOW HOW THAT AFTERWARD, WHEN HE WOULD HAVE INHERITED THE BLESSING, HE WAS REJECTED: FOR HE FOUND NO PLACE OF REPENTANCE, THOUGH HE SOUGHT IT CAREFULLY WITH TEARS.” HE CAME SHORT OF THE GRACE OF GOD? OH! AND THEN EXAMINE HEBREWS 10:29!! “OF HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT, SUPPOSE YOU, SHALL HE BE THOUGHT WORTHY, WHO HAS TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, & HAS COUNTED THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT, WHEREWITH HE WAS SANCTIFIED(OR ‘SET APART’), AN UNHOLY THING, & HAS DONE DESPITE TO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?”

“PERVERTED GRACE OR PERFECTING GRACE”? IN ROMANS 6:12-18 WE HEAR GLORIOUS HALLELUJAH TRUTHS! PAUL WROTE: “LET NOT SIN THEREFORE REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY THAT YOU SHOULD OBEY IT IN THE LUSTS THEREOF. NEITHER YIELD YOU YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO SIN, BUT YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD, AS THOSE THAT ARE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD, & YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO GOD.

FOR SIN SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU: FOR YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE. WHAT THEN? SHALL WE SIN, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE? GOD FORBID. KNOW YOU NOT THAT TO WHOM YOU YIELD YOURSELVES SERVANTS TO OBEY, HIS SERVANTS YOU ARE TO WHOM YOU OBEY; WHETHER OF SIN UNTO DEATH, OR OF “OBEDIENCE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS”? BUT GOD BE THANKED, THAT YOU “WERE” SERVANTS OF SIN, BUT YOU HAVE OBEYED FROM THE HEART THAT FORM OF DOCTRINE WHICH WAS DELIVERED YOU. BEING THEN MADE FREE FROM SIN, YOU BECAME THE SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

“PERVERTED GRACE OR PERFECTING GRACE?”

FIRST:PERFECTING GRACE IS THE GRACE THAT UNVEILS THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST & BRINGS MOURNING! IN ZECHARIAH 12:10 WE READ: “AND I WILL POUR UPON THE HOUSE OF DAVID, & UPON THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, THE SPIRIT OF GRACE & OF SUPPLICATIONS; & THEY SHALL LOOK UPON ME WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED, & THEY SHALL MOURN FOR HIM, AS ONE MOURNS FOR HIS ONLY SON, & SHALL BE IN BITTERNESS FOR HIM, AS ONE THAT IS IN BITTERNESS FOR HIS FIRSTBORN.” DID YOU SEE ‘THE SPIRIT OF BITTERNESS’ OVER THE CRUCIFIED ONE WHOM FALLEN MANKIND ALL CONSENTED TO?

IN EPHESIANS 2:4-8 PAUL WROTE: “BUT GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY,FOR HIS GREAT LOVE WHEREWITH HE LOVED US, EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SINS, HAS QUICKENED US TOGETHER WITH CHRIST, (BY GRACE YOU ARE SAVED;), AND HAS RAISED US UP TOGETHER, & MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST: THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHOW THE “EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE” IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS. FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH; & THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD.” GLORY!

IF YOU DIDN’T QUITE FULLY UNDERSTAND THOSE SCRIPTURES, EXAMINE HEBREWS 2:9-11 PLUS VERSES 14-15!! HEBREWS 2:9-11, “BUT WE SEE JESUS, WHO WAS MADE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS FOR THE SUFFERING OF DEATH, CROWNED WITH GLORY & HONOR, TO MAKE THE CAPTAIN OF THEIR SALVATION PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERINGS. FOR BOTH HE THAT SANCTIFIES AND THEY WHO ARE SANCTIFIED ARE ALL OF ONE: FOR WHICH CAUSE HE IS NOT ASHAMED TO CALL US BROTHERS.

NOW!! HEBREWS 2:14-15! “FORASMUCH THEN AS THE CHILDREN ARE PARTAKERS OF FLESH & BLOOD, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME; THAT THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, THAT IS, THE DEVIL; AND DELIVER THEM WHO THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT TO BONDAGE.” PERFECTING GRACE? THE GRACE THAT FREES ONE FROM ITS SINFUL SELF? THE GRACE THAT BREAKS THE BONDS OF SATANIC BONDAGE? THE GRACE THAT DECLARES ONE COMPLETE IN CHRIST LACKING NOTHING? THE GRACE THAT RECONCILES US UNTO GOD?

SECOND, PERFECTING GRACE IS SAVING GRACE THAT BRINGS FORGIVENESS OF SINS & BONDAGE TO THE SIN-NATURE! EPHESIANS 1:7-8 “CLEARLY SAYS”: “IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH “CHRIST’S BLOOD” THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE; WHEREIN HE HAS ABOUNDED TOWARD US IN ALL WISDOM & PRUDENCE.”

DARE “YOU” TO CONSIDER “THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE” THAT ABUNDANTLY FLOURISHES IN “THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS”? LUKE 1:77 DESCRIBES IT FROM GOD’S LOVING MIND, HEART, & SPIRIT AS FOLLOWS: “TO GIVE TO HIS PEOPLE THE KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION “BY” THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS”! CHRIST JESUS, ON THE CROSS, BOTH FORGAVE OUR SINS & FREELY GAVE TO ALL FALLEN MANKIND “THE KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION”!!

1 PETER 2:2 DECLARES, “AND CHRIST JESUS IS THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS: &NOT FOR OUR’S ONLY, BUT ALSO FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD”! YET, “FORGIVEN OF THEIR SINS” DOESN’T MEAN “RECONCILED “TO” GOD” WITHOUT TRUE REPENTANCE & EARNEST FAITH IN HIS “FINISHED WORK”! (DON’T YOU FIND IT HEART-BREAKING TO KNOW, THOUGH ‘FORGIVEN’, THERE ARE THOSE WHO MISS OUT ON THEIR ETERNAL HEAVENLY HOME TO ‘DOWN-GRADE’ TO HELL, TO SATAN, TO HIS DEMON FORCES, &, YES, EVEN ‘BELIEVERS’ WHO COULDN’T, WOULDN’T, DIDN’T REPENT & “REST” IN CHRIST’S SHED BLOOD & HIS RESURRECTION PRESENCE?!!?

IN 1 TIMOTHY 4:10 PAUL WROTE: “FOR THEREFORE WE BOTH LABOR & SUFFER REPROACH, BECAUSE WE TRUST IN THE LIVING GOD, WHO “IS” THE SAVIOR OF ALL MEN, SPECIALLY OF THOSE THAT BELIEVE (OR “TRUST”,OR “RELIES UPON”!!).

THIRD,PERFECTING GRACE IS INSTRUCTING GRACE THAT CALLS GOD’S TRUE SONS TO “HOLY LIVING”! IN TITUS 2:10B,-15, PAUL SAID, “…THAT THEY MAY ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR IN ALL THINGS. FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN, TEACHING US THAT, DENYING UNGODLINESS & WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, & GODLY, IN THIS PRESENT WORLD,

VERSES 13-15 SAYING, LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE,& THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF THE GREAT GOD & OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST; WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY, & PURIFY UNTO HIMSELF A PECULIAR PEOPLE,ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS. THESE THINGS SPEAK, & EXHORT, & REBUKE WITH ALL AUTHORITY. LET NO MAN DESPISE YOU.”

“HOLY LIVING”? HEBREWS 12:14 SAYS, “FOLLOW PEACE WITH ALL MEN, & HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD.” IN 1 THESSALONIANS 4:7 PAUL EXPLAINED: “FOR GOD HAS NOT CALLED US UNTO UNCLEANNESS, BUT UNTO HOLINESS.” YET, HOW MANY HAVE YOU KNOWN IN “THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY” (?) WHO,YES, “PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST”? (GALATIANS 1:6-7)!

FOURTH,PERFECTING GRACE IS REVEALED CLEARLY IN THE LABOR OF LOVE THAT CAUSES & CHALLENGES MEN TO LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR OTHERS!! IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:8-20 THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE, INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, “AND LAST OF ALL,HE WAS SEEN OF ME ALSO, AS OF ONE BORN OUT OF DUE TIME.

FOR I AM THE LEAST OF THE APOSTLES, THAT AM NOT MEET TO BE CALLED AN APOSTLE, BECAUSE I PERSECUTED THE CHURCH OF GOD.BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM: & HIS GRACE WHICH WAS BESTOWED UPON ME WAS NOT IN VAIN; BUT I LABORED MORE ABUNDANTLY THAN THEY ALL: YET NOT I, BUT THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS WITH ME.

THEREFORE WHETHER IT WERE I OR THEY, SO WE PREACH, & SO YOU BELIEVED.NOW IF CHRIST BE PREACHED THAT HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, HOW SAY SOME AMONG YOU THAT THERE IS NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD? BUT IF THERE BE NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, THEN IS CHRIST NOT RISEN; AND IF CHRIST BE NOT RISEN, THEN IS OUR PREACHING IN VAIN, & YOUR FAITH IS ALSO VAIN. YES, & WE ARE FOUND FALSE WITNESSES OF GOD; BECAUSE WE HAVE TESTIFIED OF GOD THAT HE RAISED UP CHRIST; WHOM HE RAISED NOT UP, IF SO BE THAT THE DEAD RISE NOT.

FOR IF THE DEAD RISE NOT, THEN IS NOT CHRIST RAISED: & IF CHRIST BE NOT RAISED, YOUR FAITH IS VAIN; & YOU ARE YET IN YOUR SINS.THEN THEY ALSO WHICH ARE FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST ARE PERISHED. IF IN THIS LIFE ONLY WE HAVE HOPE IN CHRIST, WE ARE OF ALL MEN MOST MISERABLE. BUT “NOW” IS CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD, & BECOME THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THEM THAT SLEPT.”

AND “RAISED FROM THE DEAD” SPIRITUALLY, TO “NEW LIFE IN CHRIST”,AS JESUS LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US, DOES THAT MEAN, “THANK GOD I’M SAVED”, BUT YOU HAVE NO CONCERN FOR OTHERS WHO NEED TO KNOW, MUST KNOW, WILL KNOW, BECAUSE “YOU” ARE HIS PRESENT WITNESS OF AMAZING GRACE & MERCY & LOVE? IN EPHESIANS 2:8-10 PAUL ALSO WROTE, “FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH; & THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS,WHICH GOD HAS BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.”

HIS WORKMANSHIP? HIS NEW CREATIONS THAT ARE CREATED FOR & ORDAINED BY GOD TO BE HIS WITNESSES OF “REDEEMED IN & THROUGH & BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD,” CHRIST JESUS, GOD’S WILLING SACRIFICE, TO RECONCILE US UNTO HIMSELF?

AND “REDEEMED”, WE’RE NOT CALLED TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES IN REACHING OTHERS WITH THE “GOOD NEWS”? ACTS 4:33 SAYS, “AND WITH GREAT POWER GAVE THE APOSTLES WITNESS OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS; & GREAT GRACE WAS UPON THEM ALL.” (OH, HOW WE NEED TO SEE AGAIN THE CHURCH , THE DISCIPLES, BEARING WITNESS TO “SAVING GRACE”!

FIFTH, PERFECTING GRACE IS “COMMITMENT” TO UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITY OF GRACE FOR EVERYONE! ACTS 11:18-23 TELLS US, “WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THINGS, THEY HELD THEIR PEACE, & GLORIFIED GOD, SAYING, THEN HAS GOD ALSO TO THE GENTILES GRANTED REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE."NOW” THEY WHICH WERE SCATTERED ABROAD UPON THE PERSECUTION THAT AROSE ABOUT STEPHEN TRAVELLED AS FAR AS PNENICE & CYPRUS, & ANTIOCH, PREACHING THE WORD TO NONE BUT UNTO THE JEWS ONLY.

AND SOME OF THEM WERE MEN OFCYPRUS&CYRENE, WHICH, WHEN THEY WERE COME TO ANTIOCH, SPOKE UNTO THE GRECIANS, PREACHING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS WITH THEM; & A GREAT NUMBER BELIEVED, & TURNED TO THE LORD. THEN TIDINGS OF THESE THINGS CAME UNTO THE EARS OF THE CHURCH WHICH WAS IN JERUSALEM; & THEY SENT FORTH BARNABAS, THAT HE SHOULD GO AS FAR AS ANTIOCH. WHO, WHEN HE CAME, & HAD SEEN THE GRACE OF GOD, WAS GLAD, & EXHORTED THEM ALL, THAT WITH PURPOSE OF HEART THEY WOULD CLEAVE UNTO THE LORD.”

SIXTH, PERFECTING GRACE IS GRACE THAT GIVES WARNING & THE CALL TO JUDGMENT! ACTS 13:37-43 TELLS US, “BUT HE, WHOM GOD RAISED AGAIN, SAW NO CORRUPTION.BE IT KNOWN UNTO YOU THEREFORE, MEN & BRETHREN, THAT THROUGH THIS MAN IS PREACHED UNTO YOU THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS: & BY HIM ALL THAT BELIEVE (OR TRUSTS HIS WORD!)ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, FROM WHICH YOU COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW OF MOSES. BEWARE THEREFORE, LEST THAT COME UPON YOU, WHICH IS SPOKEN OF IN THE PROPHETS; BEHOLD, YOU DESPISERS (OR SCOFFERS!), AND WONDER, & PERISH:FOR I WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU SHALL IN NO WISE BELIEVE, THOUGH A MAN DECLARE IT TO YOU.

AND WHEN THE JEWS WERE GONE OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE, THE GENTILES BESOUGHT THAT THESE WORDS MIGHT BE PREACHED TO THEM THE NEXT SABBATH.NOW WHEN THE CONGREGATION WAS BROKEN UP, MANY OF THE JEWS & RELIGIOUS PROSELYTES FOLLOWED PAUL & BARNABAS: WHO, SPEAKING TO THEM, PERSUADED THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE GRACE OF GOD.” “WARNING &A CALL TO JUDGMENT? ARE “YOU” READY FOR YOUR CALL?

SEVENTH,PERFECTING GRACE IS GRACE THAT LEAVES US THE REMNANT OF ENCOURAGEMENT! IN EZRA 9:8 WE READ, “AND NOW FOR A LITTLE SPACE GRACE HAS BEEN SHOWN FROM THE LORD OUR GOD, TO LEAVE US A REMNANT TO ESCAPE, & TO GIVE US A NAIL IN HIS HOLY PLACE, THAT OUR GOD MAY LIGHTEN OUR EYES, & GIVE US A LITTLE REVIVING IN OUR BONDAGE.”

DO “YOU” KNOW ABOUT WHAT “A LITTLE GRACE” MEANS FOR YOU IN YOUR TIME OF ‘TROUBLE’? TO SAY THAT BELIEVERS NEVER FACE TRIALS IS TO LIVE WITH A MIND BLINDED TO “LIFE’S REALITIES” OF A TRUE BELIEVER LIVING IN OPPOSITION TO THE WORLD, THE FLESH, OR TO SATAN & HIS DEMON-HOARDES, WHO ARE NOT PLEASED WITH “SOLD-OUT, UNAFRAID, SPIRITUALLY IGNITED SONS & DAUGHTERS OF GOD LIVING AS SERVANTS UNTO THEIR LORD & SAVIOR”!

EIGHTH, PERFECTING GRACE IS GRACE THAT SAYS WHAT CHRIST JESUS SAYS!! IN PSALM 45:2 PARAPHRASED SAYS: “YOU, LORD JESUS, ARE FAIRER THAN THE CHILDREN OF MEN: GRACE IS POURED INTO YOUR LIPS; THEREFORE GOD HAS BLESSED YOU FOREVER & EVER!” AND CHRIST JESUS POURS HIS GRACE ALL OVER EVERY TRUE BELIEVER TO GUARD US, GIRD US, GRIP US,GIVE US, & GLADLY GLORIFY US JUST AS HE IS!!

IN COLOSSIANS 4:6 WE READ, “LET YOUR SPEECH BE ALWAYS WITH GRACE, SEASONED WITH SALT, THAT YOU MAY KNOW HOW YOU OUGHT TO ANSWER EVERY MAN.”

NINTH, PERFECTING GRACE IS REIGNING GRACE! HOW “GIFTING” IS THE WORD OF GOD’S GRACE! IN ROMANS 5:15b-21 WE READ OF “GRACE”, NOT GREASE! “FOR IF THROUGH THE OFFENSE OF ONE MANY BE DEAD, MUCH MORE THE GRACE OF GOD,& THE GIFT BY GRACE, WHICH IS BY ONE MAN, JESUS CHRIST,HAS ABOUNDED UNTO MANY. AND NOT AS IT WAS BY ONE THAT SINNED,SO IS THE GIFT: FOR THE JUDGMENT WAS BY ONE TO CONDEMNATION, BUT THE FREE GIFT IS OF MANY OFFENCES UNTO JUSTIFICATION.(“JUST-AS-IF-I’D-NEVER SINNED!!”).

FOR IF BY ONE MAN’S OFFENCE DEATH REIGNED BY ONE; MUCH MORE THEY WHICH RECEIVE ABUNDANCE OF GRACE & OF THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL REIGN IN LIFE BY ONE, JESUS CHRIST. THEREFORE AS BY THE OFFENCE OF ONE JUDGMENT CAME UPON ALL MEN TO CONDEMNATION, EVEN SO BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF ONE THE FREE GIFT CAME UPON ALL MEN UNTO JUSTIFICATION OF LIFE.FOR AS BY ONE MAN’S DISOBEDIENCE (ADAM) MANY WERE MADE SINNERS, SO BY THE OBEDIENCE OF ONE SHALL MANY BE MADE RIGHTEOUS. MOREOVER THE LAW ENTERED, THAT THE OFFENCE MIGHT ABOUND. BUT WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND: THAT AS SIN HAS REIGNED UNTO DEATH, EVEN SO MIGHT GRACE REIGN THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO ETERNAL LIFE BY JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.”

ARE “YOU” ON “SHOUTING GROUNDS” YET TO HONOR KING JESUS WHO WILLINGLY TOOK OUR PLACE ON THE CROSS THAT WE MIGHT TRULY BE BLESSED, GIVING US THE FREE GIFT OF FAITH & TRUST IN HIS WORK AT CALVARY, BECAUSE WHEN HE DIED THERE, HE CARRIED YOUR SINFUL NATURE WITH HIM THAT YOU MIGHT WILLINGLY & LOVINGLY YIELD TO THE RESURRECTED CHRIST WHO IS THE KING OF GLORY, DESIROUS OF YOUR REDEEMED LIFE BY HIS BLOOD BECOMING HIS “EARTHLY RESIDENCE” WHERE HE CONTINUES TO BE HIMSELF THROUGH YOU TO YOUR NEEDY WORLD! JESUS WANTS TO “REIGN” IN YOU & THROUGH YOU!

TENTH, PERFECTING GRACE “IS” GIFTING GRACE!! EPHESIANS 4:7-8 TELLS US, “BUT UNTO EVERY ONE OF US (THOSE “IN CHRIST”!) IS GIVEN GRACE ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE GIFT OF CHRIST. WHEREFORE HE SAYS, WHEN HE ASCENDED UP ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, & GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN.”

WHAT’S YOUR GIFT IF YOU TRULY ARE “IN CHRIST”? I SLOW DOWN WITH REVELATION 22:22! IT SAYS: (SPEAKING OF THE “NEW JERUSALEM”!), AND I SAW NO TEMPLE THEREIN; FOR THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY & THE LAMB ARE THE TEMPLE OF IT.” IN THE OLD “BROADMAN HYMNAL” FROM THE BROADMAN PRESS IN NASHVILLE, TENN., (COPYRIGHTED BY BROADMAN IN 1940,P.284), IS A HYMN THAT SAYS: “IT’S SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS, JUST TO TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD; JUST TO REST UPON HIS PROMISE, JUST TO KNOW “THUS SAYS THE LORD.”

O HOW SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS, JUST TO TRUST HIS CLEANSING BLOOD; JUST IN SIMPLE FAITH TO PLUNGE ME ‘NEATH THE HEALING, CLEANSING FLOOD!

YES, IT’S SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS, JUST FROM SIN & SELF TO CEASE; JUST FROM JESUS SIMPLY TAKING LIFE & REST, AND JOY & PEACE.

I’M SO GLAD I LEARNED TO TRUST YOU, PRECIOUS JESUS, SAVIOR & FRIEND; AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE WITH ME, & WILL BE WITH ME TO THE END.

JESUS, JESUS, HOW I TRUST HIM, HOW I’VE PROVED HIM O’ER & O’ER; JESUS, JESUS, PRECIOUS JESUS! O FOR GRACE TO TRUST YOU MORE!” AMEN?

There is, according to Biblical Truth, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the “Three in One”! In this writing, we’re going to be examining one’s “encounter with the Holy Spirit”! Let it be clearly known: no man has ever come to redemption in Christ apart from the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit!

It’s so interesting and enlightening what the Word of God declares about the “natural man” in 1 Corinthians 2:14 where Paul wrote: “But the ‘natural man’ does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” In 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Paul continued his enlightenment of the “new-born in Christ” about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He said:

“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age (Satan!) has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image (or unveiling) of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.”

And the God who commanded ‘light to shine out of darkness’, shining in our hearts ‘the light of the knowledge of the glory of God’, in, through, and by the face of Jesus Christ? God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, the amazing God of “Three in One”, opens our eyes, minds, and hearts by His Spirit, manifesting to us “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God IN THE FACE OF CHRIST JESUS”?

It would be so interesting, so illuminating, for one to search out his/her nature in comparison to the nature, character, presence, and living example of Christ Jesus! In 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 Paul added, “always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal body.” Is your ‘walk of faith’ in the naturalness of “fallen men” or in the supernatural presence of the Resurrected Christ? Is your life testimony one of full surrender and allegiance to your ‘old flesh’ under one’s own ‘self-allegiance’ or a life testimony of the very evidence of Spirit-supernatural birthing and blessing? Let’s look at the Word since man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God!

FIRST, WE KNOW WE’VE ENCOUNTERED THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEEN LED TO CHRIST BECAUSE OF OUR ENCOUNTER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE DIVINE CONVICTION OF OUR SIN! In Isaiah 6: 4-5 the prophet had a holy encounter with the Spirit of the Living God! He said: And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

And Isaiah was “touched”, and Verse 7 tells us he became aware of sovereign grace, mercy, and love, and he heard the Voice: Verse 7, “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” He learned of the cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb of God and put his faith in Him, not his own best efforts!

What does John 1:29 tells us as John and two of his new disciples saw Jesus walking before him? He said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” And later, in John 16:7-8, Jesus said: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…”! The Spirit turns one from self-absorption in sin to the eternal desire of ‘finished with the old man of sin and its bondage’ to the fulfillment of sin forgiven and Resurrection Life manifested through me in the “new man” by His mercy, grace and love!

George Matheson and A.L. Peace wrote the old hymn entitled “O Love That Will Not Let Me go”, published in the “American Hymnal”, by Broadman Press in 1933! It says: “O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in You; I give You back the life I owe, That in Your ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be.

O Light that follows all my way, I yield my flickering torch to You; My heart restores its borrowed ray, That in Your sunshine’s glow its day May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seeks me through pain, I cannot close my heart to You; I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that lifts up my head, I dare not ask to hide from You; I lay in dust life’s glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms read Life that shall endless be.”

And it is because of God’s great love for us that He sends the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment!

SECOND, WE KNOW WE’VE ENCOUNTERED THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHEN CONVICTED, WE WILLINGLY TURN TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF BIBLICAL TRUTH ENLIGHTENED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! You are aware that there is across the world, then and now, a coldness, an insensitive spirit to the reality of Biblical Truth!

Unredeemed hearts and minds are clear, perfect examples of fallen mankind’s obstinacy toward Holy God’s desire to lift one out of the domain of darkness into the eternal kingdom of light! The spirit of ‘fleshly independence from God’ is bound in the strong wall of godless ‘independence and self-will’, actually, for many, deifying one’s self as more important, more satisfying, more fulfilling than being yielded to the God who made them, lost them, and bought them with the price of the Lamb’s blood shed at Calvary in their place!

In 1 John 2:3-6 are several verses of vital ‘self-examination’ of how devoted and faithful we are, or are not, in obedience to our Living Lord and Savior! “Now by this we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as He walked.”

Do you remember Paul’s illuminating word in Ephesians 4:30? “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Has there been a ‘grieving’ of the Holy Spirit concerning your walk as Christ’s disciple and earthly ambassador? In 1 Corinthians 6:17 Paul stated, “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him,” adding in Verses 19-20, “Or DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

You’ll remember that early in Jesus’ ministry there were some disciples ‘troubled’ and ‘offended’ by some of the things Jesus had to say. In John 6:60-64 we read, Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”

When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Would you please circle, “It is the Spirit who gives life”?

Come to John 14:15-18 and Verses 23, 25-26 where Jesus added to His disciples understanding of the need of the Holy Spirit! He said, Verses 15-18, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” Then..

Verses 23, 25-26! “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” Verses 25-26 says: “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

THIRD, BECAUSE OF OUR AWARENESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S PRESENCE WITHIN US, AND OUR AWARENESS OF HIS GUIDANCE THROUGH THE WORD, WE ALSO MUST BECOME FULLY AWARE OF THE SPIRIT’S DESIRE TO HONOR CHRIST THROUGH US! In John 16:14 the Lord Jesus clearly told the disciples then and now, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

Oswald Chambers made a powerful statement in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” (p.248), when he said: “When I commit myself to the revelation made in the New Testament, I receive from God the gift of the Holy Spirit Who begins to interpret to me what Jesus did; and does in me subjectively all that Jesus Christ did for me objectively.”

And ‘subjectively’ the Spirit is up to unveiling mankind’s eternal help in and through Christ alone! In Romans 5:5 Paul said: “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

If God poured out His love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, was it strictly for a believer’s ‘well’ or reservoir of personal benefit or for the believer to be led by the Spirit in extending Christ’s kingdom-rule, releasing His love to the unloved, and unveiling the supernatural power of God in the Spirit to make eternal differences in one’s life, marriage, occupation, or ministry?

FOURTH, BECAUSE OF OUR AWARENESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S INDWELLING IN OUR REDEEMED HEARTS, IS IT ALSO BECAUSE HOLY GOD UNDERSTOOD AND STILL UNDERSTANDS THE MAJOR WARFARE BETWEEN FLESH AND THE SPIRIT? In Galatians 5: 16-18 the Apostle Paul wrote: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law (of ‘try your best’!).”

Oh, and then in Galatians 5:19-25, Paul unveils for us the differences between a ‘flesh walk’ and the “Spirit-filled walk”! It says: Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, THAT THOSE WHO PRACTICE SUCH THINGS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”

The “Spirit-filled walk”? Ephesians 5:22-25 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

The identifying ‘stamp’ of the ‘flesh walk’ is one’s approval of, participation with, and defense of ‘alive unto’ the world, the flesh, and the devil, but the identifying mark of a Spirit-filled disciple of Christ is not one’s imitation of Him, but one’s death to self daily that the Resurrection Presence of Christ may be manifested, unveiled, and loosed through a yielded vessel to the Lord’s intent in and through that surrendered life to His and the Spirit’s Lordship!

FIFTH, IN THE SPIRIT’S INDWELLING OF EVERY BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER, HE IS THERE, NOT AS A FREQUENT VISITOR, BUT THE RESIDENT INTERCESSOR FOR EVERY TRUE BELIEVER WHO YIELDS TO HIM. In Romans 8:26-27 we read, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He MAKES INTERCESSION for the saints according to the will of God.”

What an awesome revelation! YOUR BODY IS THE RESIDENT TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – and He’s there to intercede in your behalf before Sovereign God! Does this mean I personally need never to pray? I don’t believe that’s what Jesus taught us – check out in your Concordance every time when Jesus said, “When you pray…”! And, yes, at the same time we give the Holy Spirit the blessing of His intercessory praying in our behalf. Just as Jesus said, “I and My Father are one,” in the same vein of eternal relationships between God and the redeemed heart, ‘In Christ’ our bodies become the temples of Holy Spirit presence, and we become “One in the Spirit” and He intercedes in our behalf when we are even so limited in what WE should ask of God the Father – so the Holy Spirit intercedes! It was J.B.Dykes, in the old “American Hymnal” of 1933, published by The Broadman Press, Nashville, Tenn., who wrote the prayer hymn “Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove,” (p.178). It says: “Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove, With all Your quickening powers; Kindle a flame of sacred love In these cold hearts of ours.

In vain we tune our formal songs, In vain we strive to rise; Hosannas languish on our tongues, And our devotion dies.

Dear Lord, and shall we ever live At this poor dying rate? Our love so fain, so cold to You, And Yours to us so great!

Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all Your quickening powers; Come, shed abroad a Savior’s love, And that shall kindle ours.”

Is there the ‘kindling fire’ of the Holy Spirit in you? Have you been “birthed by the Spirit,” “blessed by the Spirit,” “guided by the Spirit,” “empowered by the Spirit with Heaven’s radiant, glowing, strengthening power”? Another prayer hymn in the same hymnal was written by B.B.McKinney and Edwin Hatch entitled “Breathe On Me.” It says: “Holy Spirit, breathe on me, until my heart is clean; Let sunshine fill its inmost part, With not a cloud between.

Holy Spirit, breathe on me, My stubborn will subdue; Teach me in words of living flame What Christ would have me do.

Holy Spirit, breathe on me, Fill me with power divine; Kindle a flame of love and zeal Within this heart of mine.

Holy Spirit, breathe on me, Till I am all Your own, Until my will is lost in Yours, To live for You alone.

Breathe on me, breathe on me, Holy Spirit, breathe on me, On My heart, cleanse every part, Holy Spirit, breathe on me.” Is that your prayer need of the day?

By J.FARRELL FISHER, JUNE 13-15, 2017

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 reveals so much about folks who are deceived and, yes, true believers who have been enlightened. The Word says, “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits. Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” But SOME do!

It was in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 that the Apostle Paul highlighted the difference between ‘fleshly determinations or divine discernment” when he wrote: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…”! Have YOU been brought into a state of life of obedience to King Jesus our Lord and Savior and Master of our redeemed lives?

Did Paul mention ‘warfare’? I was just a small boy when the Second World War broke out. I was under the care of my grandparents from three years of age to about twelve. And I’ll never forget Papa Lemons glued to his radio in his main chair listening intently because he had two sons in Armed Services, one a “flight engineer” for a bomber and the other a “top turret gunner on a bomber”! My granddad was intent about learning all he could about warfare because he knew his sons could be killed – he did know about intercessory prayer!

But some around us are aware of national warfare more than they are the warfare between Heaven and hell, even unaware of the demonic warfare for the captivity of one’s soul under devilish domination – they’re blind and deaf about their separation from God as they give themselves fully to the natural, the fleshly, the worldly without a thought about why Christ took them to the Cross to be crucified with Him, then resurrected from the dead spiritually to a “new creation,” a “new life”, and an “eternal hope”!

Fleshly lives, living by fleshly determinations, yes, are enraptured with ‘fleshly imaginations and every fleshly thing that exalts itself or one’s self from the true knowledge of God’!

In Hebrews 2, having amplified ‘bringing many sons to glory’, the author unveils the intent of Christ, in His coming, AND His willful offering for our salvation though He knew the pain and trouble involved in crucifixion! Hebrews 2:14-18 tells us, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil (or Satan!), and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”

But, if the Lord Jesus “suffered” because of Satan’s temptations, modern believers even in the reality of Christ’s “suffering”, see no place for “modern Christians today ever believing they’ll be tempted by the same devil or having to suffer to overcome”! All I can say is, “They are not students of the Holy Word of God or they excuse Jesus not meaning what He said”! “In the world you’ll have great tribulation,” “In the world of a disciple’s walk there will be demonic opposition,” “In the world of ‘churchianity’ be careful of the false teachers who resent My Word,” “In the world of ‘Christian professionalism’ be alerted to the, yes, false teachers and preachers who deny the devil and his demons – they are foreign to the mind, heart, and spirit of the Living God and the Resurrected Christ and the Holy Word” especially of Revelation 12:7-17!! The Holy Words says:

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and the angels fought with the dragon (or Satan); and the dragon and his angels (demons) fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, WHO DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the ‘accuser’ of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has COME DOWN TO YOU HAVING GREAT WRATH, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

But remember, and never forget or overlook, Hebrews 2:14-15, because it illumines ‘fallen mankind’ in need of the Deliverer! “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

Unbelievers without Christ are dominated, controlled, instructed by the devil who operates in and out of the power of death – and unbelievers don’t even know they are tools of Satan, from the highest intellectual PhD professor to the lowest slave of darkness, all under his subjection to bondage, godlessness, and faithlessness!

“Fleshly determinations”? Just how big do you see this problem in the church, in the minds of those who’ve never truly been disciples in the Spirit of Christ who faced ‘warfare’ with the devil and won?

Paul instructs us wisely in Colossians 2:18-20 & 2: 23-3:6 “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly PUFFED UP BY HIS FLESHLY MIND, and not holding fast to the Head (King Jesus), from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations –

Chapter 2:23-3:6 then says, These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. 3:1-6 then says: If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears (manifested or unveiled!), then you shall also appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry (and it’s also the very nature of the devil!). Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.” Be assured: A SELF-IMPOSED LIFESTYLE IS THE VERY RESIDENCE AND THRONE OF SATAN AND HIS DEMONS!

Let’s shift gears!! If the Holy Spirit of God “guides us into all Truth”, if Satan is out to “deceive us” who are in Christ, then what does Satan do to turn us away from a true walk in Christ?

FIRST, SATAN TWISTS BIBLICAL TRUTH, EVEN ENCOURAGING COOPERATION AND PARTICIPATION WITH GOOD AND EVIL, BUT HIGHLY OPPOSED TO HOLY TRUTH, PRODUCING COOPERATORS WITH THE DEVIL BUT NOT DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF HOLY GOD! Look at Genesis 3:1-24, the whole chapter! It says:

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’? [Casting doubt on the Word of God!]. And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.”

Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” SO when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, AND THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. [A ‘covering’ does not convert, transform, or make new – it only promotes pretense, self-illusion, and clouds one’s vision of the need of the Savior and Lord!].

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves ( and unbelieving men and women are still “hiding themselves” from divine reality!) from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. (I call this man-made “Fig-Leaf Religion”!).

Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” [That’s the eternal clear calling to every man, woman, boy or girl – WHERE ARE YOU?]. So Adam said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” [Where are YOU hiding yourself right now as Holy God calls your name?].

And God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” [Blaming behavior?]. And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than any beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

To the woman God said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you.” [If you didn’t know, husbands ‘ruling over their wives as well as wives ruling over their husbands’ is an anathema – if a husband is the ‘head of the wife’ it’s because he has chosen to walk as the servant of Christ! Jesus said, “I didn’t come to be served, but to serve and to lay down my life as a ransom for the many!” True biblical marriage is “mutual submissiveness in the will of God”!].

Verse 17, Then God said to Adam, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, “You shall not eat of it,” ‘Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.’”

Verse 20, And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. [Tunics of skin? Why not the robes of righteousness? Because Adam and Eve were not righteous! Why not clothed with salvation? Because Adam and Eve fell away from Holy God! Why not clothed in blood redemption? Because Adam and Eve walked with closed ears to spiritual Truth! Why not clothed in blessed assurance? Because, remember, in Luke 8:2 Christ Jesus met a certain man from the city “who had demons for a long time. And he wore NO CLOTHES, nor did he live in a house but in tombs.” He didn’t know what to do about Jesus, but Jesus knew what to do with him!

In Verse 30 Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”, because many demons had entered him. And they (the demons) begged Jesus that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. (For them, a herd of swine would do! So they begged Jesus that He would permit them to enter the swine. He did!).

The scene changes dramatically! Verse 35, Then the city went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, AND FOUND THE MAN FROM WHOM THE DEMONS HAD DEPARTED, SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS, clothed and in his right mind. And his fellow citizens were afraid. They even asked Jesus to depart from them “for they were seized with great fear.” They departed further away from Christ Jesus as men still do today!

Jesus told the man set free from his demons: “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” Are YOU telling what great things God has done for you through Christ?

SECOND, YOU MUST SEE HOW SOME MEN LIVE IN THEIR IMAGINARY ‘SELF-CLOTHING’ APART FROM THE GIFTS OF HOLY GOD – FLESHLY DETERMINATIONS APART FROM DIVINE DISCERNMENT AND HOLY INSPIRATION! It’s so awakening to discern what happened to, yes, religious Jews when the Apostle Paul “stripped” Judaism of its pretense and ‘play-acting’! In 2 Timothy 3:1-7 Paul wrote: “But know this, that in the last days (of Judaism! Not ‘end-times’ as some allege!) perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! [A form of godliness is not godliness!].

For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these men also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.”

Oh, but then there are “the few” as Jesus told us: “Few there be who find it, or find the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life in Christ Jesus alone!”

In 2 Timothy 3:14-17 we learn about “divine discernment and holy inspiration”! Paul wrote: “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

THIRD, ONE MUST COME TO “REST”, NOT IN WHAT HE OR HIS FALLEN WORLD AROUND HIM DETERMINES AS ACCEPTABLE, BUT “RESTING” IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST AT THE CROSS, LIFE BURIED, THEN RESURRECTED IN THE FULLNESS OF THE BLESSING OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST!

In Galatians 5:24-25 Paul wrote: “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

I love Oswald Chambers’ wisdom and enlightment in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” (p.256), “It is the things that are right and noble and good from the natural standpoint that keep us back from God’s best. To discern that natural virtues antagonize surrender to God, is to bring our soul into the center of its greatest battle. Very few of us debate with the sordid and evil and wrong, but we do debate with the good. It is the good that hates the best, and the higher up you get in the scale of natural virtues, the more intense is the opposition to Jesus Christ. (But, Chambers then said:), “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh” – it is going to cost the natural in you everything, not something. Jesus said – “If any man will be My disciple, let him deny himself…”. Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence.” Amen?

FOURTH AND LAST, THERE MUST BE A WILLFUL, FULL SURRENDER OF WHAT THE “OLD MAN LOVES” AND WHAT ,YES, CHRIST JESUS DEMANDS! There’s an inspiring Verse in Psalm 138:8 when David, King David, wrote: “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me,” and we can rest assured, “In Christ, our Lord, Savior, and Master of our lives WILL PERFECT IN US THAT WHICH CONCERNS HIS NAME, HIS MISSION, HIS PURPOSE”!

Prior to Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, He prayed for His disciples then AND even NOW! John 17 unveils Christ’s intent for, yes, every single disciple: Verse 6, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world…”

Verse 8, “I have given them the words which You have given Me…”. Verse 9, “I pray for them…”. Verse 17, “Sanctify them by Your truth. You word is truth…” Verse 18, “I have sent them into the world…” to be salt and light! Verse 20, “I pray for those who will believe in Me through their word…”. Verse 22, “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them,” – Are YOU living in, under, through, around His glory-cloud? [A glory hidden in the privacy of one’s proud heart, or a glory shared to the needy world around you?]. Verse 23, “that the world may know that You sent Me, and have loved the world as You have loved Me.”

I believe it’s time for, yes, every disciple to begin praying, “Lord, what is Your eternal, perfect, Christ-honoring purpose for my life? It was George Eliot who once wrote: “It is vain thought to flee from the work God appoints us, for the sake of finding a greater blessing, instead of seeking it where alone it is to be found – in loving obedience?”

It’s so clear! In John 4:34 Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” Can you say, as Jesus did, before His crucifixion, John 17:4, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. Verse 5, AND NOW, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

Can you take yourself back before the world was and see God’s planned intent, ministry, and way of glorifying Himself through YOU? It’s time!!

BY: J.FARRELL FISHER, SEPT.23-25, 2019

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE ‘LESS AND LESS’ OF FALLEN HUMANITY WITHOUT FULL, SERIOUS, COMPLETE EXAMINATION OF GOD’S “MORE AND MORE”? THE ONE THING THE WORD OF GOD DECLARES WITHOUT WAVERING IS FOUND IN JOSHUA 24:15 WHEN JOSHUA SAID: “And if it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you shall serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorities, in whose land you dwell; BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”

In Deuteronomy 30:19-20a, Moses declared, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; choose life, that both you and your seed may live (and that’s in the Abiding Presence of Christ, before the Throne of God, filled with the Holy Spirit who birthed your life through true repentance and faith!), that both you and your seed may live; That you (and yours!) may love the Lord your God, AND that you may obey His voice, and that you may cleave unto Him (Is that “holding fast?), for He is your life, and the length of your earthly days…!” But! Look at the “Christ-less life” as it chooses ‘self’ over the “Savior”, ‘sin’ over the “Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus”, ‘worldly pleasure, wandering from God pursuits’ over the Lord’s freedom-gift of “His Eternal Life & Presence”!

“LESS & LESS?” IN JOB 2:7-10 WE READ, “SO WENT SATAN FORTH FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, SMOTE JOB WITH SORE BOILS FROM THE SOLE OF HIS FOOT UNTO THE CROWN. AND HE TOOK WITH HIM A POTSHARD TO SCRAPE HIMSELF ALL OVER; AND HE SAT DOWN WITH THE ASHES.

THEN SAID HIS WIFE UNTO HIM, “DO YOU STILL RETAIN YOUR INTEGRITY? CURSE GOD AND DIE.” BUT JOB SAID TO HIS WIFE, “YOU SPEAK AS ONE OF THE FOOLISH WOMEN SPEAKS. WHAT? SHALL WE RECEIVE GOOD AT THE HAND OF THE GOD, AND SHALL WE NOT RECEIVE EVIL? IN ALL THIS JOB DID NOT SIN WITH HIS LIPS.

“LESS &LESS OR MORE &MORE?” IN JOB 19:23-27 ARE FOUND MORE INSPIRING WORDS ABOUT THE “LESS & LESS OR THE MORE & MORE”: JOB SAID, “OH THAT MY WORDS WERE NOW WRITTEN! OH THAT THEY WERE PRINTED IN A BOOK! THAT THEY WERE GRAVEN WITH AN IRON PEN AND LEAD IN THE ROCK FOR EVER!

FOR I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES, AND THAT HE SHALL STAND AT THE LATTER DAY UPON THE EARTH; (AND KEEP ON STANDING THERE?): AND THOUGH AFTER MY SKIN WORMS DESTROY MY BODY, YET IN MY FLESH SHALL I SEE GOD.”

“LESS & LESS?” MANKIND WAS BIRTHED BY GOD IN HUMAN FORM, YES, WITH THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE! ADAM’S NATURE OR GOD’S NATURE? FLESH OR SPIRIT? WRONG OR RIGHT OR WRONG MINGLED IN WITH A TASTE OF RIGHT? SELF-EMPTINESS OR SOVEREIGN FULLNESS? A HELLISH, DEVILISH, DEMONIC WORLD’S BEST OR: “HEAVEN CAME DOWN AND GLORY FILLED YOUR SOUL”?

A GREAT OLD HYMN OF THE 1940’S IN THE OLD BROADMAN HYMNAL (P.357) SAYS: “ARE YOU TIRED OF THE LIFE YOU’RE NOW LIVING? ARE YOU WEARY OF SIN AND ITS SNARES? ARE YOU SEEKING FOR THAT WHICH IS LASTING? LOOK TO JESUS; YOU’LL FIND THAT HE CARES.

ARE YOU LONGING TO KNOW HIS FORGIVENESS? DO YOU YEARN TO BE FREE FROM ALL SIN? DOES YOUR LONELY HEART LEAP WHEN YOU WITNESS GOD’S WONDERFUL LOVE FOR ALL MEN?

LOOK TO JESUS THE BLESSED REDEEMER, GIVE YOUR HEART, AND YOUR ALL TO THE LORD; TO HIS OPEN ARMS RUN FOR SALVATION, HE HAS PROMISED IT ALL IN HIS WORD.

HE IS WATCHING, HE IS WAITING, HE IS LONGING YOUR SOUL TO SET FREE; WEARY ONE, GIVE YOUR HEART TO THE SAVIOR, LIVE WITH HIM THROUGH ALL ETERNITY.”

DO YOU KNOW, DO YOU UNDERSTAND, DO YOU COMPREHEND, THAT LIFE AFTER DEATH IS EITHER HELL OR HEAVEN, CONTINUING ‘FLESH-BONDAGE UNDER SATAN’S CONTROL’ OR “ETERNAL FREEDOM FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH”, BECAUSE YOU ARE, WERE, WILL NOW FOREVER BE FREE FROM THAT LAW OF SIN AND DEATH BECAUSE OF THE SHED BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD? LIFE NOW & LIFE AFTER DEATH IS EITHER ‘FLESH’ OR SPIRIT, HUMAN NATURE OR DIVINE NATURE FOREVER FLOWING THROUGH YOUR VEINS, MIND, AND HEART, WRONG NATURE OR RIGHT NATURE, SELF-EMPTINESS OR SOVEREIGN FULLNESS. AND YOU? YOUR ALL IN ALL OR CHRIST IN YOU YOUR ONLY HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE, ETERNAL BLESSING, ETERNAL PRESENCE, YES, ETERNAL BEFORE THE THRONE OF CHRIST JESUS WILLING TO DAILY BE HIS “FOOT-WASHER”?!!!?

AGAIN, IN JOSHUA 24:25-28, WE FIND POWERFULLY CONVICTING WORDS: “SO JOSHUA MADE A COVENANT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT DAY, AND SET THEM A STATUTE AND AN ORDINANCE IN SHECHEM. AND JOSHUA WROTE THESE WORDS IN “THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF GOD”, AND TOOK A GREAT STONE, AND SET IT UP THERE UNDER AN OAK, THAT WAS BY THE SANCTUARY OF THE LORD. SO JOSHUA SAID UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE, BEHOLD, THIS STONE SHALL BE A WITNESS UNTO US; FOR IT HAS HEARD ALL THE WORDS OF THE LORD WHICH HE SPOKE UNTO US; IT SHALL BE THEREFORE A WITNESS UNTO YOU, UNLESS YOU DENY YOUR GOD. SO JOSHUA LET THE PEOPLE DEPART, EVERY MAN UNTO HIS INHERITANCE.”

“EVERY MAN UNTO HIS INHERITANCE”?“THIS STONE A WITNESS UNTO YOU”? GOD’S WORD CUT INTO A LARGE NATURAL STONE WRITTEN FOR MEN TO READ? AND YOUR INHERITANCE? SOME READ, SOME TRUSTED, SOME OBEYED, AND EXTENDED THE KINGDOM OF GOD THEN! BUT DO YOU KNOW GOD DECLARES IN HIS WORDS THE “NEW STONE” FOR MEN TO READ? IN LUKE 20:9-13 JESUS TELLS US ABOUT A MAN PLANTING A VINEYARD:

THEN BEGAN JESUS TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THIS PARABLE: “A CERTAIN MAN PLANTED A VINEYARD, AND LET IT FORTH TO HUSBAND-MEN, AND WENT FORTH INTO A FAR COUNTRY FOR A LONG TIME. AND AT THE SEASON HE SENT A SERVANT TO HIS HUSBANDMEN, AND WENT INTO A FAR COUNTRY FOR A LONG TIME.

AND AT THE SEASON HE SENT A SERVANT TO THE HUSBANDMEN, THAT THEY SHOULD GIVE HIM OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINEYARD; BUT THE HUSBANDMEN BEAT HIM, AND SENT HIM AWAY EMPTY. AND AGAIN HE SENT ANOTHER SERVANT; AND THEY BEAT HIM ALSO, AND ENTREATED HIM SHAMEFULLY, AND SENT HIM AWAY EMPTY.

AND AGAIN HE SENT ANOTHER SERVANT; AND THEY BEAT HIM ALSO, AND ENTREATED HIM SHAMEFULLY, AND SENT HIM AWAY EMPTY. AND AGAIN HE SENT A THIRD; AND THEY WOUNDED HIM ALSO, AND CAST HIM OUT. THEN SAID THE LORD OF THE VINEYARD, WHAT SHALL I DO? I WILL SEND MY BELOVED SON; IT MAY BE THEY WILL REVERENCE HIM WHEN THEY SEE HIM.” DARE I ASK? WHO IS THE LORD OF THE VINEYARD? THAT’S ALMIGHTY, HOLY, PASSIONATE GOD OVERSEEING HIS WORLD OF LOST MANKIND, DEAD-FRUIT, WILLFUL SINNERS – AND BECAUSE HE’S THE GOD OF LOVE, MERCY, AND GRACE, WITH A FORGIVING HEART, HE SENDS HIS OWN SON TO BE THE SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SIN, THE SAVIOR FROM YOUR MISGUIDED, DECEIVED, SIN-BOUND, SATANIC-CONTROLLED MIND, BLACKENED HEART, AND A WORLDLY PERCEPTION AND DETERMINATION TO DO AS “FLESH, THE WORLD AROUND YOU, AND SATAN PROGRAMS YOU INTO!!!”

SATAN’S INTENT? SATAN’S INITIATIVE? DESTROY THE HEIRS OF FAITH! DESTROY THEIR SAVIOR AND LORD! DESTROY THE HOPE OF ETERNAL PURPOSE, OF HEAVENLY PLEASURE, OF THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, BUT OVERFLOWS YOUR MIND AND HEART WITH THE REALITY OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION-PRESENCE!! DESTROY ANY HOPE OF AN OVERCOMING LIFE OF THE WORLD, YOUR OLD SIN-NATURE, OR SATAN AND DEMONIC PRESENCE AND ACTIVITY! SATAN SAYS, “YOU’RE MINE TO DO IN YOUR FLESH WHAT HELL INTENDS, NOT HEAVEN OR WHAT A SO-CALLED ‘LORD AND SAVIOR’ SAYS!”

DARE I SAY IT? I BELIEVE I WILL! “YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE UNDER THE CLOUD OF SATANIC DECEPTION ANY LONGER!!” THERE IS THE REALITY, THE ETERNAL TRUTH, THE BLESSED ASSURANCE, THAT IN CHRIST JESUS YOU CAN BE “MORE THAN A CONQUEROR” OVER THE WORLD-SPIRIT, OVER THE SIN-NATURE DISEASE, AND THE ‘DIS-EASE’ OF WORLDLINESS, OF A SIN-BOUND MIND AND HEART, AND SATANIC-PRETENSE!

IN ROMANS 8:8-14 WE READ, “SO THEN THEY THAT ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD. BUT YOU ARE NOT IN THE FLESH, BUT IN THE SPIRIT, IF SO BE THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU. NOW IF ANY MAN DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NONE OF HIS. AND IF CHRIST BE IN YOU, THE BODY IS DEAD, BECAUSE OF SIN; BUT THE SPIRIT IS LIFE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. (IF THE SPIRIT IS LIFE IN YOU BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, DOES THAT MEAN AS A NEW, TRUE BELIEVER IT’S “OK!” IF I SIN NOW AND THEN AS I PLEASE?).

BUT IF THE SPIRIT OF HIM THAT RAISED UP JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELL IN YOU, HE THAT RAISED UP CHRIST FROM THE DEAD SHALL ALSO QUICKEN (MAKE ALIVE HIMSELF IN YOU!) YOUR MORTAL BODIES BY HIS SPIRIT THAT DWELLS IN YOU. THEREFORE, BRETHREN, WE ARE DEBTORS, NOT TO THE FLESH (YOUR OLD SIN-NATURE!), TO LIVE AFTER THE FLESH.

FOR IF YOU LIVE AFTER THE FLESH, YOU SHALL DIE; BUT IF YOU THROUGH THE SPIRIT DO MORTIFY THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, YOU SHALL LIVE. FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD.”

LESS & LESS OR MORE & MORE? IT IS A CHOICE YOU MAKE! “BEST EFFORT OR SOVEREIGN BLESSING?” THE INTELLECTUAL MIND-SET OF SELF-DETERMINATION OR THE HEART AND MIND WASHED CLEAN THROUGH THE SHED BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD BY THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE BIRTH IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN GUIDING YOU INTO THE REALITY OF THE GIFT OF ABIDING TRUTH, EVEN CHRIST JESUS EXPRESSING HIMSELF IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE AGAINST SATAN AND HIS DEMON FORCES THROUGH YOU AS YOU REJOICE WITNESSING JESUS BEING JESUS, SAVIOR AND LORD, AND KING AND SOVEREIGN OVER SATAN, YOUR OLD WORLD ALLEGIANCE, AND YOUR WARPED, GODLESS ALLEGIANCE TO YOUR “CHURCH” THAT MOSTLY ‘PRETENDS’, EVEN UPSET IF YOU ASSERT LOYALTY TO THE INDWELLING CHRIST BUT NOT LOYALTY TO THEIR ‘CHURCH OF IMITATION’!

IN REVELATION 7:9-17 WE READ ABOUT THE “SEALED SERVANTS OF GOD’’! “AFTER THIS I BEHELD, AND, LO, A GREAT MULTITUDE, WHICH NO MAN COULD NUMBER, OF ALL NATIONS, AND KINDREDS, AND PEOPLE, AND TONGUES, STOOD BEFORE THE THRONE, AND BEFORE THE LAMB, CLOTHED WITH WHITE ROBES, AND PALMS IN THEIR HANDS;

AND CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAYING, SALVATION TO OUR GOD WHO SITS UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB. AND ALL THE ANGELS STOOD ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE, AND ABOUT THE ELDERS AND THE FOUR BEASTS, AND FELL BEFORE THE THRONE ON THEIR FACES, AND WORSHIPPED GOD. SAYING, AMEN: BLESSING, AND GLORY, AND WISDOM, AND THANKSGIVING, AND HONOR, AND POWER, AND MIGHT, BE UNTO OUR GOD FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN. AND ONE OF THE ELDERS ANSWERED, SAYING UNTO ME, WHAT ARE THESE WHICH ARE ARRAYED IN WHITE ROBES? AND WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

AND I SAID UNTO HIM, SIR, YOU KNOW. AND HE SAID TO ME, THESE ARE THEY WHICH CAME OUT OF GREAT TRIBULATION, AND HAVE WASHED THEIR ROBES, AND MADE THEM WHITE IN & THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. THEREFORE ARE THEY BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD, AND SERVE HIM DAY AND NIGHT IN HIS TEMPLE: AND HE THAT SITS ON THE THRONE SHALL DWELL AMONG THEM.

THEY SHALL HUNGER NO MORE, NEITHER THIRST ANY MORE; NEITHER SHALL THE SUN LIGHT ON THEM, NOR ANY HEAT. FOR THE LAMB WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE SHALL FEED THEM, AND SHALL LEAD THEM UNTO LIVING FOUNTAINS OF WATERS; AND GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR LIVES.”

“LESS AND LESS OR MORE AND MORE?” DO YOU WALK ‘LESS AND LESS’ IN WILLFUL CONDEMNATION AND SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS BECAUSE YOU’VE ASSURED YOURSELF THAT HOLY GOD WILL BE PLEASED WITH YOUR “BEST EFFORT” OR THAT YOU “JOINED A CHURCH” OR THAT YOU ‘TRY HARD TO DO THE RIGHT THING’?

PLEASE COME WITH ME TO ROMANS 8 EXAMINING CAREFULLY VERSES 1-10! “THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH (THAT MEANS “STILL IN LOVE WITH YOUR OLD SIN-NATURE!”), BUT YOU WALK IN AND AFTER THE HOLY SPIRIT. FOR THE LAW OF “THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS” HAS MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. FOR WHAT THE LAW COULD NOT DO, IN THAT IT WAS WEAK THROUGH THE FLESH, GOD SENDING HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, AND FOR SIN, CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH ( THE FLESH? IS THAT THE OLD MAN BIRTHED INTO PHYSICAL LIFE WITH THE CHOICE OF SELF-ALLEGIANCE OR THE CHOICE OF THE NEED OF GOD IN THEM?);

THAT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE ‘FLESH’ (OR ALLEGIANCE AND DEVOTION IN SATISFYING THE CONDEMNED ‘SIN NATURE’!), BUT THEY WALK AFTER, IN, BY, GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! FOR THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE FLESH DO MIND (ATTEND TO) THE THINGS OF THE FLESH; BUT THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE SPIRIT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT. FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH; BUT TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE. BECAUSE THE CARNAL MIND IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD; FOR IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD, NEITHER INDEED CAN BE. SO THEN THEY THAT ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD. BUT YOU ARE NOT IN THE FLESH, BUT IN THE SPIRIT, IF SO BE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU. NOW IF ANY MAN DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NONE OF HIS CHILDREN. AND IF CHRIST BE IN YOU, THE BODY IS DEAD, BECAUSE OF SIN; BUT THE SPIRIT IS LIFE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

FROM THE “BREAKFRONT DAILY” FROM THE COLSON CENTER, THERE WAS A WRITING ON “ACADEMIC AND CORPORATE ‘WOKENESS’: THE REAL THREAT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.” (IT WAS RECORDED BY JOHN STONESTREET WITH ROBERTA RIVERA.) IN IT THEY WROTE THE FOLLOWING: (A PORTION ONLY!) “THE SOUND YOU HEAR IS DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS SLAMMING SHUT EVERYWHERE. BASICALLY, ANY ORGANIZATION THAT RUNS AFOUL OF THE NEW SEXUAL ORTHODOXY THAT’S DRIVING THIS NEW POLICY WILL FIND IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT YALE LAW SCHOOL GRADS; AND THOSE GRADS WHOSE MOTIVATIONS RUN TOWARD NON-PROFIT OR PUBLIC SERVICE WILL FIND THEIR CHOICES SIGNIFICANTLY NARROWED.

YALES’ BLATANT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS BELIEFS IS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF WHERE THE GREATEST CHALLENGE TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM CURRENTLY LIES IN OUR CULTURE. AS DAVID FRENCH WROTE AT NATIONAL REVIEW, ONE OF ‘THE PRIME SOURCES OF [CULTURE WAR] CONFLICT IS THE INCREASING TENDENCY TO USE THE FINANCIAL AND CULTURAL POWER OF PROGRESSIVE INSTITUTIONS TO FORCE SOCIAL CHANGE REGARDLESS OF THE UNDERLYING MISSION OF THE INSTITUTION.”

AND I SAY TO YOU, “UNLESS THERE IS A SECOND, A THIRD, A FORTH, A FIFTH, “GREAT AWAKENING”, MAYBE EVEN MORE, OUR NATION WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE, MAYBE, FINANCIALLY RICHER, BUT PROBABLY BARREN OF THE LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY OF HOLY GOD! SHUT THE DOOR ON GOD? AND HE’LL SHUT THE DOOR ON YOU!!” BUT, IN JOHN 7:37, JESUS SAID, “IF ANYONE THIRSTS (FOR GOD?), LET HIM COME TO ME AND DRINK.”(NKJV EDITION).

LET ME SHARE THIS MESSAGE FROM PSALM 97 EXALTING THE MAJESTY OF GOD’S REIGN IN THE HUMAN HEART ADVANCING HIS KINGDOM THROUGH THEM: “THE LORD REIGNS: LET THE MULTITUDE OF ISLES BE GLAD THEREOF (BECAUSE OF IT!). CLOUDS AND DARKNESS ARE ROUND ABOUT HIM: RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGMENT ARE THE HABITATION OF HIS THRONE.

A FIRE GOES BEFORE HIM, AND BURNS UP HIS ENEMIES ROUND ABOUT. HIS LIGHTNINGS ENLIGHTENED THE WORLD: THE EARTH SAW, AND TREMBLED. THE HILLS MELTED LIKE WAX AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD OF THE WHOLE EARTH. THE HEAVENS DECLARE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THE PEOPLE SEE HIS GLORY. CONFOUNDED BE ALL THEY THAT SERVE GRAVEN IMAGES, THAT BOAST THEMSELVES OF IDOLS: WORSHIP HIM, ALL YOU GODS.

ZION HEARD, AND WAS GLAD; AND THE DAUGHTERS OF JUDAH REJOICED BECAUSE OF YOUR JUDGMENTS, O LORD. FOR YOU, LORD, ARE HIGH ABOVE ALL THE EARTH: YOU ARE EXALTED FAR ABOVE ALL GODS. YOU THAT LOVE THE LORD, HATE EVIL; HE PRESERVES THE SOULS OF HIS SAINTS (THE “SET-APART ONES”?); HE DELIVERS THEM OUT OF THE HAND OF THE WICKED. LIGHT IS SOWN FOR THE RIGHTEOUS, AND GLADNESS FOR THE UPRIGHT IN HEART. REJOICE IN THE LORD, YOU RIGHTEOUS ONES; AND GIVE THANKS AT THE REMEMBRANCE OF HIS HOLINESS.” WHEN I COME TO HEBREWS 9:14, I REJOICE IN THE “HALLELUJAH TRUTH”! “HOW MUCH MORE SHALL THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, WHO THROUGH THE ETERNAL SPIRIT OFFERED HIMSELF WITHOUT SPOT TO GOD (JESUS WAS YOUR SIN OFFERING!!), PURGING YOUR CONSCIENCE FROM ‘DEAD WORKS’ TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD.”

ARE “YOU” RE-BORN? HAVE YOU BEEN TRANSFORMED FROM A CHILD OF DARKNESS TO THE CHILD OF ETERNAL LIGHT BECAUSE OF YOUR REPENTANCE, YOUR SAVING FAITH, AND YOUR DESIRE TO DAILY HONOR HIM WHEREVER YOU GO AND IN WHATEVER YOU DO? HEAR ME! CHRIST JESUS “IS” RESURRECTION PRESENCE, RESURRECTION POWER, RESURRECTION PRIVILEGE, ARRIVING, ABIDING, ASKING, EVEN PLEADING: “OPEN YOUR HEART’S DOOR, AND I WILL COME IN.”

CHRIST BLED – SO HE PLEADS, HE KNOCKS ON YOUR HEARTS’ DOORS, COMPASSIONATELY SAYING, “SIN NO LONGER IS TO BE YOUR MASTER ANYMORE. MY BLOOD I’VE SHED, YOUR BOOK OF LIFE I’VE READ – AND MY SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SIN?” FOR CHRIST JESUS, IT’S AS IF YOUR SIN HAD NEVER BEEN!! (ARE YOU A REJOICING, THANKFUL, CELEBRATING SON AND DAUGHTER OF GOD, OR ARE YOU “TUNED IN” TO ALL THE WORLD, YOUR OLD SIN-NATURE, AND SATAN HIMSELF HAS TO DECEIVE YOU? WHY NOT, RIGHT NOW, ACCEPT YOUR CRUCIFIXION WITH CHRIST TO DO AWAY WITH YOUR OLD SELF, BEING “RAISED UP IN THE NEWNESS OF HIS EVERLASTING LIFE AND PRESENCE” TO LEAD YOU THROUGH THE DARK SHADOWS OF EARTHLY EXISTENCE INTO THE PRESENT FULLNESS OF HIS FOREVER REIGN? YOUR DAY – GOD’S TIME?

‘PLAYED FOR THE FOOL’

OR

“PURCHASED BY GOD”?

Beyond the shadow of any fleshly doubt is the reality that there is not a man or woman who has ever lived without an awareness of the presence of God, even if it’s only the acknowledgement He HAS KNOCKED ON THEIR HEART’S DOOR! AND, IF HOLY GOD BIRTHED MANKIND WITH AN AWARENESS OF HIM, what is it that blinds one to what he/she already knows? Would you be bold enough, truthful enough, to admit, though now you deny Him, that you have been possessed and over-run by a strong spirit of “natural individuality” that says, “For me, NO NEED OF GOD”? Could it be ‘deceived by Satan’?

“No need of God?” Psalm 14:1 clearly declares, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” But, at least for true believers, understanding spiritual identity as ‘new-born sons and daughters of God’, one is aware of the warfare that does exist in the unbeliever’s heart as one truly ‘deceived by the powers of darkness’! Most unbelievers being ‘played by the powers of darkness’ as “fools” are blinded to, yes, the grace and mercy and love of God as “new-born sons and daughters by the Holy Spirit”, having been “crucified with Christ”, old sin-natures done away with, with Satan and his demons telling folks, “That’s just impossible – natural sin-natures done away with and Resurrection Life manifested in you? Impossible! Be satisfied with your sin-nature; God will still love you.” Really?

In Galatians 2:17-21 Paul illumines the “crucified life” that has now been “justified” by Christ’s death on the Cross. He wrote: But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME; and the life which I now live in the flesh (the old man!) I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” WHAT AN AWESOME, LIBERATING, CHRIST-HONORING WORD!

Yet the fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ Really? In Exodus 5:1-2 the Word tells us, Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh (of Egypt), “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’

And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” He bought his personal ticket to the eternal Hell, choosing separation from Him as his personal choice.

Yet how many unbelievers do you know who live casually, comfortably, supposedly convinced “life without your God and His Son is a life I choose that is superior and more satisfying than your walk as a disciple of Christ”! There is a spiritual war related to the true saving of souls in and through Christ only, but the spirit of a darkened world, the independence of a self-sufficient soul, and the vainness of a proud ‘self-made man’ pumped up by Satan and his demons deceives the minds of many of “no need of faith in your ‘saving’ God – we’re sufficient in ourselves”!

But in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 the Apostle Paul wrote: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Know anyone exalting himself/herself against the knowledge of God?

Yes, many are “played for the fool” by Satan, demonic forces, the world spirit, and a strong, self-independent, soul existing life, they think, with no need of merciful God! Yes, though many are “played for the fool” by Satan, at the same time there ARE multitudes who understand that “in Christ” one no longer has to be enslaved to the old sin nature because, by His “blood-purchase” Jesus set us free from the law of sin and death, freed us from the world’s deceitful bondage and slavery, and, yes, freed us from the chains of fleshly death into the ‘Kingdom-Crown of liberty, freedom, and the peace that passes all understanding – through the “Lamb’s Blood” we were washed, birthed, and indwelt with the fullness of the blessing of His Resurrection Life, Resurrection Hope, and Resurrection Power!

Through His “blood purchase” we were delivered from bondage to WALK IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE, to WALK IN OUR NEW IDENTITY, and to WALK EMPOWERED BY THE MIGHTY HOLY SPIRIT AND OUR TRUST AND OBEDIENCE TO HIS ETERNAL WORD! YES, “IN CHRIST” WE “BRING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST”! WE “quit trying” and learned “to trust His ever faithful Word and His abiding Presence in us being Himself through us to honor, glorify, and BE the LIFE” THAT HONORS MERCIFUL, LOVING, COMPASSIONATE, ENABLING GOD!!

Yet, still, many ‘believers’, many ‘followers of Christ’, many ‘disciples’, have those ‘lapse moments’, having, yes, sinned then doubted whether they can ever again see themselves as sons or daughters of Holy God, living in immense frustration with the ‘old self’ blinding, clouding out, or thinking they’ve lost their identity as a true servant of Christ Jesus! Dare I tell you? Believe I will!

IF GOD BIRTHED YOU INTO HIS KINGDOM, IF ONE ‘STEPS AWAY’ IN A MOMENT OF SELF-INDULGENCE, DOES “FATHER-GOD” DISOWN A CHILD OF FAITH, BECAUSE IN A MOMENT OF IMMATURE, CHILDISH ABANDONMENT, HOLY GOD WRITES THEM OFF AS UNWORTHY, NOT TRUST-WORTHY ENOUGH TO BE CALLED HIS SON OR DAUGHTER ANY LONGER? SATAN WILL TELL YOU THAT – BUT NOT YOUR LOVING FATHER!

There was a time in Paul the Apostle’s life when in the ‘present tense’ he called himself ‘a miserable man’, and that was a time period in his life as merciful God was pouring the Word through him, yet he KNEW those ‘moments’ he’d strayed away – but he learned, “God wouldn’t let me go where I foolishly had chosen to walk for a time, but held on to me, and wouldn’t let me go”!

Holy God uses ‘life-walk-failures-as-disciples’ TO BE MOMENTS OF ETERNAL EDUCATION IN THE MERCY, LOVE, AND GRACE OF GOD! Receive Paul’s inspired testimony in Romans 7:21-8:14!! “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, THE ONE WHO WILLS TO DO GOOD. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I THANK GOD – THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 8:1-14 follows: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (New Covenant!) has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors –not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” How SPIRITUALLY CLEAR IS THAT TO YOU?

“Led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God?” Sons of God, birthed by the Spirit, led by the Spirit, guided by the Spirit, gifted by the Spirit, are blessed with “the glorious liberty of the children of God”, no longer pawns of the powers of darkness! It’s so interesting to read in Jeremiah 17:10, God speaking, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS, according to the fruit of his doings.” A difference between ‘the fruit of a man’s doings’ OR is there an opportunistic way of things that please and honor Holy God blessed by the Holy Spirit in a yielded vessel’s life?

In Galatians 5:22-25 Paul wrote: “But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. AND those who are Christ’s HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH (DAILY!) WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES. (SO…) IF we live in the Spirit, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT.”

‘Best effort’? OR “SPIRIT-BLESSED”? ‘Trying’ OR “TRUSTING THE SPIRIT TO HONOR CHRIST THROUGH YOU AS YOU DAILY CHOOSE TO LIVE THE LIFE HONORING CHRIST JESUS BY THE BLESSED FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ALLOWED TO BE HIMSELF IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU?

The third verse of the old hymn published by The Broadman Press, Nashville, Tennessee, in 1940, says: “Come, Holy Comforter, Your sacred witness bear In this glad hour: You who Almighty ART, NOW RULE IN EVERY HEART, and ne’er from us depart, Spirit of power.”

I.H.Meredith in the same hymnal wrote “Seal Us, O Holy Spirit.”

“Seal us, O Holy Spirit, Grant us Your impress, we pray; We would be more like the Savior, Stamped with His image today.

Seal us, O Holy Spirit, Help us Your likeness to show; Then from our lives unto others Streams of rich blessings shall flow.

Seal us, O Holy Spirit, Make Us Your own this hour; Let us be useful, dear Master, Seal us with witnessing power.

Seal us, seal us, Seal us just now, we pray; Seal us, O Holy Spirit, Seal us for service today.”

Concerning YOU in your present path of ‘faith’, as if misguided, diluted, or truthfully a lack of faith, choosing for yourself again the mortal sphere of misguided men, OR have you willfully stepped over into the immortal sphere of the redeemed, the “blood-bought”, the “new-born”, indwelt by the Spirit of the Resurrection Life of Christ, anointed by the Holy Spirit sensing more and more every day of, yes, the “fruit of the Spirit” as God’s Holy Word verifies it? Does “the tree of your life of saving faith” flourish with the “Fresh Fruit of the Holy Spirit”?

In his book entitled “Inklings of God”, Kurt Bruner used a quote by Winston Churchill in his Introduction that says: “Man will occasionally STUMBLE OVER THE TRUTH, BUT MOST OF THE TIME HE WILL PICK HIMSELF UP AND CONTINUE ON,” and I say, totally ignoring ‘divine intervention’!

But do YOU realize how true that statement is? And, especially when confronted by Christ Himself saying to us all, “You MUST be born again, born from above, born of the Spirit,” but many are offended, resentful, and continue on in unbelief.

I was impressed by Kurt Bruner when later in the same book, (p.147), he said, “Frankly, I embrace the Christian faith because it points to a God who expects us to behave ourselves but who also knows we can’t.” But do YOU also know that God KNOWS we can’t ‘redeem’ ourselves? Yet, man-made ‘religions’ worldwide think and act ‘synthetically’, thinking they are ‘authentically’ worshipping, even though like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, deny Christ, the Promised Messiah, and deny His calling: “You must be born again”, and still today the ‘synthetic’ denies the “authentic”, “eternal reality of the Crucified, Resurrected Lord and Savior”!

And, sadly, many modern-day, so-called ‘Christian churches’, live in the façade of even active denial of “new birth” when they believe ‘church membership’ is the same!

Walter Chantry, in his writing, “Today’s Gospel,” (p.13), wrote: “Products of modern evangelism are often sad examples of Christianity. They make a profession of faith, and then continue to live like the world… ‘Decisions’ for Christ mean very little. Only a small proportion of those who ‘make decisions’ evidence the grace of a transformed life.”

But sadly a large number of American churches AND some preachers major on a “you can do it” mentality rather than “Christ in you the hope of glory”! No wonder Socrates became a well-appreciated philosopher! He once said: “To move the world we must first move ourselves.” Where do you find that in the Word of Almighty God? Didn’t Paul tell us, 2 Corinthians 1:9, [New Chain Reference Bible], “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead”?

Most humans all across the world in their nations, or here in the USA, are mostly oblivious to the state of their spiritual death and separation from Holy God! Spiritual success in life is not by the mental philosophy of ‘whatever you sense, you can succeed,’ which may have some ‘truth’ for the ‘flesh’, but has no relevance at all to the spiritual dimension that most know nothing about!

So many today, yes, even worldwide, are locked into the philosophy of ‘self-achievement’ so strongly that rewarding ‘self’ with pats on one’s back blocks, denies, ignores, or starves any Word, leaning, or turning from that ‘self’ to the “Savior”! Life is not a ‘do what you can’ mental philosophy, but an eternal opportunity to be ONE with God Himself through Christ alone!

It’s amazing to me, and exciting, as I read a statement by Benjamin Franklin. He said several hundred years ago,(?), “There is perhaps not one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of ‘my humility’.” That’s Why we were “crucified with Christ”!

Are you aware though, at times, of the “embarrassing encumbrances” that are brought on a lot of ‘church folk’ who are swamped by ‘self-importance’, who are drowning in ‘self-worth’ that Christ crucified, and stubbornly, stupidly, studiously in pagan teachings, devote themselves to “what we’ve become” apart from the revealed knowledge of God as to the Way, the only Way, to their salvation, healing, deliverance, and completion?

David F. Wells, in his book, “No Place For Truth,” [Wm.B.Eerdmans Publ. Com., Grand Rapids, Mich., & Inter-Varsity Press, Leichester, England, 1993], so unveiled for me a story that encouraged this message! [Introduction, p.10}” Wells wrote: “In saying that I am a staunch disbeliever in the modern world, I do not wish to appear immodest, as if I come finished with the knowledge of a new discovery. In fact, I do not. In this connection, I will remember G.K.Chesterton’s story about the restless yachtsman who set sail from England with the intention of arriving at an exotic South Sea Island. After many days, he sighted land and, as soon as he could, beached his boat and ventured inland. Before him stood a dreadful pagan temple. Undaunted, he decided to claim it for England. He scaled its walls and bravely planted the Union Jack [flag] at its pinnacle. Only then did he realize that what he had scaled was the Brighton Pavilion on England’s south coast! He thought he had sailed a straight line, but because of an unfortunate miscalculation he had ACTUALLY TRAVELED IN A CIRCLE. He imagined that he was first in the land, but it turned out that he was the last.”

Do you realize, sense, or discern, that many, many people begin their “religious journeys” on the basis of men’s speculations about what they think God expects rather than Jesus’ declaration: “You MUST be born again”?

Do you remember Paul saying in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, [and I would say also, “and don’t be conformed to a man-made religious world”!], but be {being} transformed by the renewing of your mind.” And what the Holy Word through Christ Jesus teaches is not simply a ‘mind change’ but a mind changed by the birthing of a new heart through our Lord’s love, grace, and mercy, AS A RESULT OF HOLY-SPIRIT-CONVICTION AND HOLY SPIRIT CONVERSION!

Several verses from John 3 that I want to use in the foundation and overview of this message: John 3:5-7 says: (Amplified Bible), Jesus answered, “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, except a man be born of water (that’s the “water of the Word”!) and (even) the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.[Ezekial 36:25-27].

What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh – of the physical is physical; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not – do not be surprised, astonished – at My telling you, “You must all be born anew (from above).”

Oh, and then in John 3:16-21 (Amplified Bible) we read: ‘FOR god so greatly loved AND dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only-begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts, clings to, relies upon) Him shall not perish – come to destruction, be lost – but have everlasting life.

For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge – to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on – the world; but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.

He who believes on Him – who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him – is not judged (he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation; he incurs no damnation). But he who does not believe (not cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already; (he has already been convicted; has already received his sentence) because he has not believed on and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. – He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.

The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: that the Light is come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. [Isaiah 5:20].

For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the light and will not come out into the light, but shrinks from it, lest his works – his deeds, his activities, his conduct – be exposed and reproved. BUT HE WHO PRACTICES TRUTH – who does what is right (according to God’s Word, will, and His ways!) – comes out into the light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are, wrought with God – divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence upon Him.”

“EVIDENCES OF NEW BIRTH CONVERSIONS”? FIRST, NO LONGER IS THERE THE DENIAL OF ONE’S ‘OLD MAN’ SIN NATURE AND SEPARATION FROM GOD BUT A PASSIONATE LONGING OF RECONCILIATION!

Sometimes it takes a Holy Word from God to release His deep conviction in one’s lost, alienated, separated from Him awareness in unbelieving hearts; and I believe 2 Peter 2:4-5 can be that ‘shock awareness’ in some hearts and minds! It says: [Amplified Bible], “For God [even] SPARED NOT ANGELS THAT SINNED, BUT CAST THEM INTO HELL, DELIVERING THEM TO BE KEPT THERE IN PITS OF GLOOM TILL THE JUDGMENT AND THEIR (FINAL) DOOM. And He spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven other persons, when He brought a flood upon the world of ungodly [people].”

Notice! GOD DIDN”T EVEN SPARE ANGELS WHO SINNED BUT CAST THEM INTO HELL! GOD DIDN”T SPARE EVEN THE ANCIENT WORLD, EVEN ‘RELIGIOUS PRETENDERS’ CALLED “JUDAIZERS”, OR ‘PROMINENT’, WELL-KNOWN NATIONAL POLITICAL LEADERS, OR THE “DO MY BEST” CROWD OF the ‘self-anointed’ who worship and are devoted to their old sin natures as personal points of admiration to which they yield themselves!

In fact, Hebrews 10:25-31, my prayer is that “IT WILL SCARE HELL OUT OF YOU, IF NEEDED TO!” It says: “Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the HABIT OF SOME PEOPLE, but admonishing – warning, urging and encouraging – one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

For if we go on deliberately and willfully sinning after once acquiring the knowledge of the Truth, there is no longer any sacrifice to atone for [our] sins – no further offering to which we look forward. [There is nothing left for us then] but a kind of awful and fearful prospect and expectation of divine judgment and the fury of burning wrath and indignation which will consume those who put themselves in opposition [to God]. [Isaiah 26:11].

Any person who has violated and [thus] rejected AND set at naught the Law of Moses is put to death without pity or mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. [Deut. 17:2-6]. How much worse (sterner and heavier) punishment do you suppose he will be judged to deserve who has spurned AND [thus] trampled under foot the Son of God, and who has considered the covenant blood by which he was consecrated common and unhallowed, thus profaning it and insulting the (Holy) Spirit (Who imparts) grace – the unmerited favor and blessing of God? {Exo.24:8}.

For we know Him Who said, Vengeance is Mine – retribution and the meting out of full justice rest with Me; I will repay – I will exact the compensation, says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge and determine and solve and settle the cause and the cases of His people. It is a fearful (formidable and terrible) thing to incur the divine penalties AND be cast into the hands of the living God!”

IF you were “crucified with Christ”, does that not mean He took YOU, your old sin nature, your old godless-living life, and PUT IT TO DEATH on the Cross with Him as He shed His blood that ALL YOUR SIN AND MINE MIGHT BE WASHED AWAY? Why ‘resurrect’ what Jesus crucified?

SECOND, “EVIDENCE OF NEW-BIRTH CONVERSION”? “NO LONGER A DEEP, ABIDING LOVE OF THE WORLDLY INFLUENCES OR PEACE WITH ALL THE DEVILISH AND DEMONIC INFLUENCES AND CONTROL”! Here’s how John relates this, as we read his anointed exposure and heavenly challenge in 1 John 2:2-6!

“And He – that same Jesus Himself – is the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours alone but also for [the sins of] the whole world. And this is how we may discern [daily by experience] that we are coming to know Him – to perceive, recognize, understand and become better acquainted with Him: if we keep (bear in mind, observe, practice) His teachings (precepts, commandments).

Whoever says, I know Him – I perceive, recognize, understand and am acquainted with Him – but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth [of the Gospel] is not in him.

But he who keeps [treasures] His Word – who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety – truly in him has the love of ‘and’ for God has been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this we may perceive and know and recognize and be sure that we are in Him;

Whoever says he abides in Him ought – as a personal debt – to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.”

Christ Jesus was so aware of both the religious influences of false Judaism (not the true “remnant”!) and the darkness of devilish, demonic activities through man-made ‘religious expressions’, when in John 6:57-69, He said, with Peter then grabbing hold and holding on to “Jesus Only”:

“Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live (by, through, because of) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me – who takes Me for his food and is nourished by Me – shall [in his turn] live through and because of Me. This is the Bread which came down from heaven. It is not like the manna which our forefathers ate and yet died. He who takes this Bread for his food shall live forever.

He said these things in a synagogue while He was teaching at Capernaum. When His disciples heard this, many of them said, This is a hard and difficult and strange saying – an offensive and unbearable message. Who can stand to hear it? – Who can be expected to listen to such teaching?

But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were complaining and protesting and grumbling about it, said to them: Is this a stumbling block and an offense to you? – Does this upset and displease and shock and scandalize you? What then [will be your reaction] if you should see the Son of Man ascending to the place where He was before?

It is the Spirit that gives life – He is the Life-giver; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever – there is no profit in it. The words (truth) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life. But [still] some of you fail to believe and trust and have faith. For Jesus knew from the first who did not believe and had no faith, and who would betray Him and be false to Him.

And He said, This is why I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him – unless he is enabled to do so – by the Father. After this many of His disciples drew back – returned to their old associations – and no longer accompanied Him.

Jesus said to the twelve, Will you also go away? And do you too desire to leave Me? Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life. And we have learned to believe and trust; and [more], we have come to know [surely] that You are the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of the living God.”

There is such a vast difference between ‘religious’ individuals who WILL FALL AWAY and the vital picture and reality of a regenerated soul, indwelt by and led by the Holy Spirit! In John 6:63 Jesus said: “It is the Spirit that gives life – He is the Life-giver; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever – there is no profit in it. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life.”

I love Watchman Nee’s word in his book, “Ye Search The Scriptures,” [Christian Fellowship Publishers, Inc. New York, Copyright 1974], (p.16), “Canst thou by searching find out God”, challenges the Book of Job (11:7). God is never arrived at through research. He is found by one way only – through the regenerated spirit.”

In 1 Corinthians 2:1-4, “As for myself, brethren, when I came to you I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery or secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom;

For I resolved to know nothing – to be acquainted with nothing; to make a display of the knowledge of [nothing] – among you except Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Him crucified. And I (passed into a state of) weakness and was in fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had ] among you.

And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them.”

An unbelieving world, a self-indulgent flesh, and a demonically, devilish controlled mind will create and establish all kinds of ‘religious mannerisms’ but oppose “You must be born again”! For the most part, fallen humanity and the devil’s crowd and, yes, ‘church pretenders’ will settle for religious entertainment but highly oppose no longer living for yourself but living for Christ alone!

What did Paul write in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1? Don’t miss, overlook, or casually kind of knod at his word!! It says: [Again, Amplified Bible!], “Do not be unequally yoked up with unbelievers – do not make mismated alliances with them, or come under a different yoke with then [inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light fellowship with darkness?

What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For (In Christ!) WE ARE the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

SO, come out from among (unbelievers), and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

7:1, Therefore, since these great promises are ours, beloved, LET US CLEANSE ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit,, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the (reverential) fear of God.”

I have no doubts that even most ‘church folk’ easily accept the blood of the Cross for their forgiveness but will rebel, excuse, accuse faithful men of the Word for lying when they even share Jesus saying, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, but you do not do what I Say?” Dare I tell YOU that obedience is not an option in the age of grace?

Spiritual focus, even in a religious setting, is more often on fleshly concerns rather than divine revelation or the ultimate Will of God’s eternal intent? I love what Charles Stanley wrote in his booklet, “In Touch”, [April,2016, p.13], “The Lord isn’t looking for people who change a few habits by sheer force of will; He’s calling people to surrender to Him…We don’t evolve into a saved people by deleting old habits and instituting better religious ones; we are transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ when we believe [trust in, rely upon, adhere to] Him.”

Many ‘church folk’ are highly appreciative of ‘compromisers’ because they ‘believe’ that “fleshly indulgence is justified because, though one is ‘saved’, he/she cannot do anything but sin until Christ comes again – so they blame God rather than trust His Truth! They are euphorically violent to those who uphold Jesus’ Word, like when He said, “Go, and sin no more,” but they believe sin in a believer is ‘normal, and that without ‘guilt’, because “God is love”.

There’s even by some a ‘ministerial’ maligning of the Holy Word because they feel ‘justified’ in ungodly behavior though a professing believer. And in the world around you there is philosophical rationalization because of spiritual ‘brain-tumors’ called resistance to Holy Truth! “Who needs a ‘Savior’? We’re OK , you with or without Christ are OK”! Really?

But I can tell you without hesitation that to continue sinning as a ‘believer’ is to deny Jesus’ Victory at the Cross and to refute Jesus’ words in John 15:22, “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but NOW they have no excuse for their sin.”

Do you remember Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:34? “Awake (from your drunken stupor and return) to sober sense and your right minds, AND SIN NO MORE. For some of you have not the knowledge of God – you are utterly and willfully and disgracefully ignorant, and continue to be so, LACKING THE SENSE OF GOD’S PRESENCE AND ALL TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM. I say this to your shame.”

But, in Isaiah 41:8-15, there is a powerful word of hope to, ‘sometimes’, discouraged disciples who’ve ‘tried’ to live the overcoming life, (with no ‘discipleship’ training), but only a sad pastoral “do your best”. IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW, at the Cross Jesus took YOUR worst and YOUR best, and it was “crucified with Christ”! Look at Isaiah’s ‘Word of Hope’!

• Isaiah 41:9, “I have chosen you and not cast you off.” 2) Verse 10, “Fear not…for I am with you.” 3) Verse 10, “I AM your God…(Elohim), meaning the “high and lifted up, the mighty One,” and He’s ‘able’ to sustain us, strengthen us, and guard us (if we let Him) against the world you face, the “old man” trying to resurrect, AND even victorious over Satan! 4) Verse 10, “I WILL STRENGTHEN AND HARDEN YOU TO [DIFFICULTIES]…”. This is probably why Paul shared, “When I am weak, then I am strong,” because he did not lean on ‘fleshly abilities’ but Holy Presence – ‘Christ in YOU the hope of glory’! 5) Verse 10 again – “I will hold you up and retain you with My victorious right hand of rightness and justice.” God said in Isaiah 42:13, “The Lord will go forth as a mighty man; HE WILL ROUSE HIS ZEALOUS INDIGNATION AND VENGENCE LIKE A WARRIOR; HE WILL CRY, YES, HE WILL SHOUT ALOUD, HE WILL DO MIGHTILY AGAINST HIS ENEMIES.” 6) Verses 11-13 – “Behold, all they who are enraged and inflamed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; they who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall PERISH. You shall seek those who contend with you, and shall not find them; they who war against you shall be as nothing, as nothing at all.” 7) Verse 15 – “Behold, I will make you to be a new, sharp, threshing instrument having teeth…” In 2 Corinthians 13:10 Paul wrote: “So I write these things while I am absent from you, that when I come to you I may not have to DEAL SHARPLY in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me, [to be employed, however] for building [you] up and not tearing you down.” The “SHARP TOOL” of Holy Truth will ‘shape’ you in His image or ‘silence’ your voice if you betray Him!

“Evidence of NEW-BIRTH CONVERSIONS”, sharpened in life by His Word, Will, and Work OR slicing to threads the disobeying, compromising, contented disciple who “plays” on both sides of the street? WHICH LEADS US TO NUMBER THREE AND LAST: “NO LONGER DEVOTION TO WALK OUT ONE’S LIFE OF ‘FAITH’ (?) ON THE “STREETS OF SELF-INDULGENCES AND SELF-FLESH EMPHASES,” BUT STEPPING FAITHFULLY ON THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS!

In Colossians 2:5-10 Paul so strongly lays the foundation of a truly birthed and overcoming ‘Life In Christ’! “For though I am away from you in body, yet I am with you in spirit, delighted at the sight of your [standing shoulder to shoulder in such] orderly array and the firmness and the solid front and steadfastness of your faith in Christ, [that leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness]. As you therefore received the Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk – regulate your lives and conduct yourselves – in union and conformity to Him.

Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him] – fixed and founded in Him – being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.

See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism, and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human traditions – men’s ideas of the material [rather than the spiritual] world – just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe, and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ, the Messiah.

For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead), continues to dwell in bodily form – giving complete expression of the divine nature. AND you [in Christ] are in Him, made full and have come to fullness of life – in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and reach full spiritual stature. And He is the Head of all rule and authority – of every angelic principality and power.”

Don’t you think this foundation of the true “Evidence of New-Birth Conversion” is seen in what Paul wrote to us? And it strongly agrees with what Christ Himself said when in John 7:37-38 we read: “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me – who cleaves to and trusts in and relies upon Me – as the Scripture has said, Out from his innermost being springs and rivers of living water shall flow (continuously).”

Even in the walk of redemptive faith there are doors before us – some to condemnation, frustration, and captivity, while others are Christ’s ‘door’ to liberty, freedom from bondage to the old sin nature and ‘birthed’ to the freedom of everlasting life in the here and now, in and through Christ alone! SO…it’s either:

Self-directed in one’s ‘walk of faith’ OR “born-again to new LIFE IN CHRIST”; it’s either a ‘kingdom rule’ that is fleshly rich in sensual satisfactions or the Holy Spirit-enriched life in the very wealth of Holy God and Heaven’s Son, better known as “Emmanuel”, or “God With Us, God in Us, God through Us”, because of Resurrection Life in Christ, Resurrection Power through Christ, and Resurrection Hope instilled within us by His Holy Presence!

It’s ‘philosophically-wise’ in godless ways or personally and intimately blessed with the very “mind of Christ”! It’s either trained by the best of a world’s ‘master’ deceivers, even the devil himself, or Sovereignly guided by the Holy Spirit, truly enriched by the treasures of His Holy Word, and “Master-led” disciple makers who “feed” us on the “bread of life,” the “milk of the Word,” and upon the very “meat” of God’s Holy Truth!

The claim of Christ that He had come that we might have life and that abundant was not a fictitipous claim of a ‘false prophet’ but from the Creator of mankind and the Savior and Lord over mankind!

Jesus said: “I AM THE DOOR” to reconciliation with God, the door of divine forgiveness, the door to abiding presence of God within repentant and faith-filled hearts, and the door of receiving, walking in, and being blessed by the fruit of His Holy Life and His Holy Spirit!

Don’t you find it sad and heart-breaking that you see around you, yes, multitudes who are ‘satisfied’ with the ‘flesh-life’ and all it has to offer, closing the door on the love, grace, and mercy of God. But time will unveil for many the fundamental reality that vocational and financial successes fall short of filling the inner hunger that only Christ Jesus meets and fills!

In Catherine Marshall’s book, “Something More,” [COPYRIGHT, 1961, by Catherine Marshall, Published by Chosen Books, Lincoln, Va. 22078], (p.3), she wrote about “the famous Hollywood actress, Mary Astor, (who) has known the fairy-tale of movie stardom. An Academy Award, glamourous marriages, two children, several Beverly Hills mansions, furs, jewels, publicity – what more could any woman want? Yet Mary Astor admitted in print that ‘for years – even in the midst of fame and glamor – I yearned for contentment, happiness. It took me almost twenty years to go from idle curiosity about religion…to meeting God as a Person and a Father, and knowing that walking in (redemptive) faith meant growing up.”

AND THAT “GROWING UP” IS “FALLING DOWN” before the King of kings and Lord of lords, REPENTING, TRUSTING, RESTING IN HIS FINISHED WORK AT THE CROSS< AND EXPERIENCING THE REALITY OF HIS INDWELLING PRESENCE THROUGH THE “EVIDENCES OF A NEW-BIRTH” RELATIONSHIP!

IS YOUR BODY NOW THE “HOLY TEMPLE”?

By: J.FARRELL FISHER, AUGUST 12-13, 2017

Very interesting Verses in Titus 1:15-16 which says: “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they DENY HIM, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”

Would you be bold enough to say that behavior, aligning with the Holy Word or not, ‘fleshly works’ or Spirit-anointed servants, are easily identifiable by the “fruit” their walk produces? In Matthew 7:15-20 the Lord Jesus said: (Be assured as you read this passage that “false prophets” are representative of “sheep-professing godless lives”!),

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in ‘sheep’s clothing’, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn-bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

Oh, and then in Matthew 7:21, the Lord Jesus really exposes the, yes, visible difference between ‘shepherdless sheep’ and the ‘sheep’ birthed by the True Shepherd! Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN!”

Godless lives and shepherdless sheep are confronted by their own consciences, the call of God to repentance and faith and they shut their ears, minds, and wills to God’s invitation and sacrificial provision, embracing their own ‘respectable goodness’ without any need of God’s “blood redemption”, and insisting that there is no need of being ‘sorry’ before Holy God, because they’ve done nothing to offend “your merciful God; so leave us unbelievers alone”!

Have you ever heard an ‘unbeliever’ say, “I have no desire for Jesus’ broken bread and poured out wine – my pious superiority and intellectual genius blocks out your Savior’s request of me – you and He don’t know who I am!” If the Lord Jesus says, “Trust in the Lord and His finished work at the Cross and the empty tomb and His present reign at the right hand of God as God sits on His throne,” what does the unbeliever say? “I’m OK – you’re OK; stand up for who you are and for what you do in the best effort of human flesh?”

Godless lives, shepherdless sheep, wandering unbelievers, will and do argue with God and His messengers, because they are bound to self-will, bound to self-pleasure, bound to their own ‘lordship’ with no desire to hear what Holy God DEMANDS! In fact, in 1 Corinthians 2:14, Paul wrote: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned;” which reminds us of why early in His ministry the Lord Jesus in John 3:3 said to Nicodemus, “a religious leader of Judaism”, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” followed by Verses 5-6, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Is that the natural man ‘born of human flesh’, inheriting the spirit of the natural man, which is “I do as I please without any consideration of the God who made me, lost me, bought me with a price, but in my best mind I discern there was no reason for Christ Jesus to include me on the Cross because I’m a good man”? Yet the Holy Word declares, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” which tells me Almighty God wanted men in their free wills choosing, desiring, longing to be the man He desired for His fullness not their fleshly emptiness, His blessing not their sin-nature curse, His gift of everlasting life through the “Good News” of the Everlasting, Unending, Seeking Gospel not their ‘fleshly benefits’ as they saw them for themselves!

Here’s how Peter described “Guarded, Guided, Girded By The True Shepherd”: In 1 Peter 2:4-5 Peter illumines our minds and hearts saying: “Coming to Him (King Jesus) as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

He enlightened us more, and, yes, inspired us when in 1 Peter 2:9-10, Peter wrote: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” Oh, but then in 1 Peter 2:24-25, the Apostle identifies lives under the administration of the True Shepherd! He said:

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died TO sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Glory! Are YOU freed from the bondage of sin? Have YOU, yes, DIED TO YOUR OLD SIN NATURE? Have you been healed of your ‘sin disease’? Have you truly returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul? Do YOU see yourself as a member of the “holy priesthood”? Have YOU obtained mercy? Are YOU living daily fully aware of your presence in the Holy Place?

In Hebrews 10:19-23 we read: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A TRUE HEART in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

That 19^th Verse ought to be a daily reminder of what Christ Jesus has done for us. And one thing is for sure: Christ Jesus is the Son of God, Emmanuel, or “God with us”, and yet He said, “I didn’t come to be served but to serve and to give My life a ransom for many.” So the true disciple does not live in pride or arrogance about ‘who I am’, in stodginess, about his/her spiritual relationship with Holy God, or in spiritual pettiness about what he/she does “for” Christ, but determined daily to be dead to self, but in my redeemed, blood-washed life in Christ, I choose to “let Jesus BE Jesus in me”, expressing Himself as only He can!

Are YOU guarded, guided, and girded by the True Shepherd? Guarded? In Genesis 24:27 the servant of the Lord said, “As for me, being in the way, the Lord led me…”! As your “guard” the Lord Jesus will never lead you away from the “straight and narrow” way – in fact, in His abiding presence in you He’s promised “never to leave you nor forsake you.”

But also in the community of faith, in the body of Christ, in the assembly of the saints, as fellow soldiers in the army of the Lord, we do have, (Yes!), the responsibility of looking out for one another! In Ezekiel 38:7 the Word tells us: “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; AND BE A GUARD FOR THEM.”

There have been times when I served as a pastor of local churches before my “missions ministry” overseas that I had to confront men, women, teenagers in churches I pastored to warn them of dangerous steps I saw them making that didn’t not line up with the Resurrected Christ they professed to be loyal to! It could cost you ‘friendships’ whether they were truly in the faith or not!

Guarding goes hand to hand with “guiding”! In Psalm 78:70-72 we read: “He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; From following the ewes that had young He brought him, TO SHEPHERD JACON HIS PEOPLE, AND ISRAEL HIS INHERITANCE. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.”

No doubt there are times when God’s people have been a disappointment to Him, but He has no desire to cast any away, and in Psalm 106:44, even when God’s wrath had been kindled against His own people, the Word tells us: “Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry.”

Hebrews 5:7-11 tells us about Jesus’ suffering yet guided to the Cross by our caring Father-God! The Word says: “…who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all WHO OBEY HIM, called by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.”

Jesus was “guided to the Cross” by Father-God – and there’s not one true child of faith who will be guided in any other way! Didn’t Jesus say, “Take up your cross and follow Me?” When did that change? Yes, YOU are “guided to take up the cross to your old life that the resurrection life of Christ may be manifested in your mortal flesh.” ARE YOU WILLFULLY, PURPOSEFULLY, DAILY TAKING THE SENTENCE OF DEATH UNTO YOUR OLD SELF SO CHRIST MAY BE MANIFESTED THROUGH YOU?

“Guarded”? Are YOU? “GUIDED” by the Word and Spirit? Are YOU? If so, there is the grace of God’s GIRDING YOUR LIFE, YOUR FAITH, YOUR WALK, YOUR MINISTRY AND CALLING! I’m sure that there are many “professing” believers who, when they read Psalm 18:39, are shocked, and I pray alerted to all God desires to do in them, for them, through them, because of their maturing, growing faith in Him! The Word says, “For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.” (Who rises up against you? Consider the world, your old sin nature, and Satan and his armies of ‘demon distracters’!).

And ALL of the “guarding”, the “guiding”, and the “girding” is because the psalmist went on to say in Psalm 18:46-50, “The Lord LIVES! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name. Great deliverance He gives to His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and His descendants forevermore.”

In John 8:34-36 the beloved disciple wrote, Jesus speaking, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son (Son of God, the Promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, Emmanuel or “God with us”, Savior and Reigning Lord) makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Free from the law of sin and death, free from the bondage and slavery of godless men, nations, rulers of the flesh-nature, free from the chains of spiritual slavery that binds people, free from the deceptions of an unbelieving world, free from the masters of governmental rebellion against God nationally, statewide, or locally, free from the ‘masters’ in the world of fleshly deceptions, free from Satan’s lie that one can sin and not die, free from the deception of a good ‘in the flesh’ bloodline without a need of blood redemption, free from the curse of separation from Holy God!

And when we’re blood-bought as a result of Christ’s Cross-payment in our behalf as He suffered and bled and died in our place, and we repent and put our faith in what He did in our place, there is, by the Spirit, our birthing into the new, eternal Life in Christ! Our God, the giver of eternal gifts, yes, GIVES US the good and perfect gift from God, His Son and our Savior and Lord, and blesses us, and keeps on blessing us!

But one more great blessing from God through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior: He “Guarded” us, He “Guided” us, He “Girded” us, HE “Graced” us! And that amazing grace IS His gift of mercy! I remind you of Hebrews 2:9-10! It says: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy BUT NOW HAVE OBTAINED MERCY.” But YOU have a ‘better way to live your life’ than be the vessel, the temple, the building housing Jesus’ Holy Presence?

From the old “American Hymnal” published in 1933 by The Broadman Press of Nashville, Tennessee, there’s a hymn entitled: “Hark, Ten Thousand Harps” that says:

“Hark, ten thousand harps and voices Sound the note of praise above! Jesus reigns, and Heaven rejoices, Jesus reigns, the God of love; See, He sits on yonder throne; Jesus rules the world alone, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!

Jesus, hail! Whose glory brightens All above, and gives it worth; Lord of life, Your smile enlightens, Cheers and charms Your saints on earth; When we think of love like Yours, Lord, we own Your love divine. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!

Savior, hasten Your appearing; Bring, O bring the glorious day, When the awful summons hearing, Heaven and earth shall pass away; Then with golden harps we’ll sing, “Glory, Glory to our King!” Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!”

Are YOU in the “Amen” corner of praise, thanksgiving, and surrender to the King of kings and Lord of lords? Have you prepared YOUR heart for eternity around His Sovereign Throne, ruling, still, in love, mercy, and grace? This just may be why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.” Now, say “Amen” to God’s glory because, Yes, YOU are committed to honor Him as you yield to His Sovereign Reign through you!

By J.Farrell Fisher, Jan.17-18, 2017

A “reject” in our modern day? For some, a “reject” is someone that should just be thrown away, because, in a sick society’s opinion that ‘person’ is unqualified, even for life, and should be discarded, useless to the ‘public good’, unsatisfactory when evaluated by the ‘super smart,’ ‘highly qualified’, or ‘self-sainted’ and certainly able to discern a “reject’s” usefulness to an elite society or not!

Some who become ‘judge and jury’ of a society’s ‘qualifications’ for admittance are certainly adept, professional, and determined not to have anything to do with the “low-lifes,” the “outsiders,” the “uneducated,” the “visibly weak and insignificant”, the “foreigners” to a society’s usefulness in making a nation great, and certainly determined that “these have no part with us”!

And, sadly, my question is: “Does it ever happen in church life that there comes a place in a church’s ministry when “life’s rejects” should be rejected and utmost care given to who it is one gives his/their attention to”?

But be assured of one thing: In the darkest shadows of human existence, Holy God has His eyes on the “least” a modern-day society or “self-serving ‘church’” thinks ‘worthy’ or ‘needy’ of their time, consideration, or witness, because “God so loved the world that He gave His own Son” for their redemption, reconciliation, re-birth, and eternal ‘rest’ in the Holy Family of God!

There’s a quote in Acts 2:21 from Joel when Peter said: “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (delivered, escaped, freed)!” But today, some refuse ‘ministry’ to rejects?

I don’t know if you’ve sensed it or not in your reading of the Bible, but even Christ Jesus, THE ONLY LORD AND SAVIOR of all mankind – there is no other Redeemer – is considered by many, religious or not, as a “reject” worthy only of the Cross! In Acts 2:22-25 Peter preached to “the men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem,” ( and ultimately Holy God extended that message to all of Israel and to every corner of the globe!), Peter declaring, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know – Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; WHOM GOD RAISED UP, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”

Question. Do you see it, as Christ Jesus was taken by, yes, ‘lawless hands’ and crucified by them, that those who crucified Him were a part of the whole of fallen humanity who needed blood redemption? “God so loved the world!” Even a world of “lawless hands”, ‘religious activity professionals’, the ‘mockers’, lives enslaved to the old sin nature that separates them from God, the promiscuous, the profane, the perverted? “There’s hope for them?” Absolutely!

But in the midst of a “fallen-away world” from Holy God you find ‘life’ primed by self-importance over Sovereign-intent, ‘flesh’s finest’ in place of the fullness of redemptive faith, passionate indulgences in the place of Prince of Peace birthing and blessing, the ‘preyed-on’ by the powers of darkness rather than the ‘prayed-over’ by the conquering King of liberty and freedom from sin’s chains and bondage, internally in the heart satisfied with their ‘self-importance’ more than eternally joined by repentance and faith to the King of kings and Lord of lords!

And, I speak of the ‘good folks’, decent but deceived, productive but paralyzed spiritually, warped in the ‘spirit-realm’ but ‘winsome’ in a sinful society, marred but adaptable, playful but perverted in a ‘people’s world’ of pleasures and perversions and ‘pass-times’ that have forgotten Holy God and majored on the promotion of “satisfying the flesh’!

I’ve often wondered and, yes, examined if what took place in ‘religious’ Israel has any significance of ‘modern-day’ participants as they attempt to adapt their world, their flesh, AND their devil to a ‘desire’ to be a part of God’s family at the same time.

If you were to examine Ezekiel 36 you’d find a true picture of ‘old religious devotees’ and, yes, the true hope of “new covenant blessings”! In Verses 22-27 we find an awesome picture of loving God’s eternal intent! It says, God speaking through Ezekiel to us in the 21^st Century: Therefore say to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord God: ‘I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,’ says the Lord God, ‘when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

[Would it be important to examine what it means to “profane God’s holy name among the nations”? What is one’s ‘filthiness’ or one’s devotion to idols? And do you grasp and understand “hearts of stone”?]

And one does that knowing also that Holy God declared in Ezekiel 36:26-27, which I want to repeat: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Life’s ‘rejects’ received, beginning the journey of ‘royalty’ in the Holy Family of God and found faithful because of the Spirit God puts within us!

LIFE’S REJECTS RECEIVED? Let’s look to John 4 where Holy God unveils the receiving of life’s rejects! It doesn’t take long there to see and sense Holy God’s overseeing and, yes, His determination of one who NEEDS Him! It’s about a Samaritan woman who meets Christ Jesus! What thrills and touches my heart and mind so deeply? John 4:4 states, “But He (Christ Jesus) needed to go through Samaria.”

What was “the need”? What was pressing in on His spirit to ‘go through an area that most Jews considered being defiled by one’s presence there’? Does ministry to the ‘unclean’, the ‘foul’, the ‘dirty’, the ‘polluted,’ the ‘tainted’ automatically corrupt the true saints of God? That thought is so foreign to the nature, the character, the eternal intent of Holy God! “God so loved the world that He gave His Son” to come and rescue the rejects! That has never changed and has stood even before the world was formed and man had been created!

It was Bernard Iddings Bell in his writing “Argosy” who said: “I should like to see Christian leaders disregard their timid followers and, like Francis of Assisi or John Wesley, go out of the church buildings, shake the dust of denominationalism from impatient feet, and appeal to the folks generally. Americans will listen to religion if and when it claims to have relationship to real life. Let the churches recognize that their job is not to nurture the pious nearly so much as it is to rouse, convict of sin, convert, a pagan nation.” Amen?

But notice in Verse 7 of John 4 that a ‘woman of Samaria’ came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” The Samaritan woman said to Jesus in Verse 9, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

Verse 10, Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She’s dumbfounded! She responded in Verse 11, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?” In Verse 13 Jesus said to her, “Whoever drinks of this (well) water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” She said to Jesus in Verse 15, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to drink.” Verse 16? Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” Verse 17, The woman answered Him and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for Verse 18, you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”

The ‘religious defense’ is intensified as the woman, in Verses 19-20 said to Jesus, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus then said to her in Verses 21-24,

“Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.” This woman at least professed an awareness of the “Messiah coming (who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus then said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” She “rested” in Christ and became a “rest-teller”!

Life’s rejects received? It’s so interesting to me, and heart and mind gripping, when I come to John 5 and see Jesus going up to Jerusalem. He went to a pool that had five porches. John 5:3 says, “In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.” [Are there ‘porches’ today where ‘sick people’ scurry about hoping for a ‘stirring’ and ‘healing’ of what ails them?].

John 5:5 says, “Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. WHEN JESUS SAW HIM LYING THERE, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, Jesus said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” What a question! But so legitimate because many settle in to what a ‘fleshly life’ offers and have no ambition for “healing grace and mercy”! In Philip Bennett Power’s book, “The ‘I Wills’ of Christ”, [The Banner of Truth Trust, 1984,pps.51-52], Power spoke of “the one great truth that is all powerful everywhere,” then sharing , “There was once a caravan crossing to the north of India, and numbering in its company a godly and devoted missionary. As it passed along, a poor old man was overcome by the heat and labours of the journey, and sinking down was left to perish on the road. The missionary saw him, and kneeling down at his side, when the rest had passed along, whispered into his ear, “Brother, what is your hope?” The dying man raised himself a little to reply, and with a great effort succeeded in answering, “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin!” and immediately expired with the effort. The missionary was greatly astonished at the answer, and in the calm and peaceful appearance of the man, he felt assured he had died in Christ. How, or where, he thought, could this man, seemingly a heathen, have got this hope? And as he thought of it, he observed a piece of paper grasped tightly in the hand of the corpse, which he succeeded in getting out. What do you think was his surprise and delight, when he found it was a single leaf of the Bible, containing the first chapter of the first Epistle of John, in which these words occur! On that page the man had found the gospel.” “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin!” Has He cleansed you?

Do you grasp it, rest in it, rely upon it? In Christ, one is translated, by faith, from darkness into Eternal Light, from bondage to liberty, from sin to sanctification, from ‘flesh-realm’ to the “Spirit-world”, from chains of Satanic bondage to the freedom of the character and nature of Christ, from a world of the flesh and hellish existence to the kingdom of the Spirit and heavenly blessings now and forever, from a consciousness of sin-bondage to an abiding confidence in His presence within the repentant heart, and the true recipient of His pleasure, and power! I close with Jesus’ words in John 6:51-58, and notice, Jesus said these things in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum!

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven – not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” Reject, renegade, or re-born?

BY: J.FARRELL FISHER, August 28-29, 2018

It’s so very, very obvious that there are “positive enemies” of the Living God, hostile to Him and to His Son, the Lord Jesus, and ‘closing the doors of both heart and mind’ to the Holy Spirit, choosing to ‘self-destruct’ in unbelief, rejection of Truth, and ‘content’ in their, yes, warring rejection, continuous assault, and stupid denial of His eternal Presence!

Very, very interesting, eye-opening, and, I hope, shocking is the revelation of the “positive enemies” but also the “perplexed pretenders”, and then, about the “Prince of Peace’s” unveiling, exposing, and convicting truth found in Galatians 3:10-14, 16-22!!

Galatians 3:10-14 first says: “For as many as are of the works of the law are UNDER THE CURSE, for it is written, ‘Cursed is every one that continues not in ALL Things which are written in the book of the Law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

And the law is not of faith (redemptive faith!): but ‘The man that does them shall live in them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made ‘A Curse For Us’; for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree; That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Oh, and then Paul wrote in Verses 16-22, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He says not, ‘And to seeds, as of many’; ‘but as of one, and to your seed, which is Christ.

And this I say, that the COVENANT, that was confirmed before of GOD IN CHRIST, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise; BUT God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serves the law?

It was ADDED because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a ‘mediator’ of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

BUT the Scripture has concluded ALL UNDER SIN, that the Promise by faith of Jesus Christ (or in The “Finished Work at Calvary”) might be given to them that believe (or ‘trust in, rely upon, adhere to’).”

Aren’t you awed, alerted, and inspired, when you read Hebrews 4:1-2, plus Verses 7-12 and Verses 14-16? The Holy Word declares: Hebrews 4:1-2, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. (Isn’t that interesting? We don’t have to be concerned today about any “falling short”, do we?). For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: BUT the Word preached did not profit them, NOT BEING MIXED WITH ‘REDEMPTIVE FAITH’ IN THEM THAT HEARD IT.” (Intellectually adherent without inspirational obedience?).

Verses 7-12, “ Again, He limited a certain day, saying in David, ‘Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.’ For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward spoken of another day? There remains, there is, there always has been, ‘a rest to the people of God’. (“COME TO ME, I WILL GIVE YOU REST!” But YOU don’t receive it?).

For he that is entered into His ‘rest’, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labor therefore to enter (or accept, receive) that ‘rest’, ceasing from ‘trying to prove a ‘work’ already completed by Christ Himself’, as God did from His! Let us labor (ceasing from “best effort”!) therefore, TO ENTER THAT REST, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. FOR the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Verses 14-16 follows, saying, “Seeing then that we have a Great High Priest (Christ Jesus!), that has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of infirmities; but WAS in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let US therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, AND find GRACE TO HELP in time of need.” WHAT AN AWESOME REVELATION!!

BUT, “Positive Enemies” then and now still live in the sad state of unbelief, of denial, of strong release of ‘self-determination’, ignoring God’s Call with ‘clogged ears, cold hearts, and corrupted minds’, powerfully influenced by the ‘lost’ world around them, the demonically-controlled mind in them, and, yes, by Satan himself, who provokes, who ‘lies’, who ‘twists’, and, as Peter said in Acts 5:3, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to ‘pretend’ that you did what He said, when you choose not to!!!!”

Either “Christ in YOU” IS ‘your hope of glory’ OR, rather than a ‘positive enemy’, you live religiously as a “perplexed pretender”!!

Whether a ‘positive enemy’, or a ‘perplexed pretender’, both CAN BE described as ‘heinous and heartless and, yes, mind-corrupted’, willfully, ignorantly, consistently, living a heinous, heartless, cold, iced, corrupt, Satan-inspired and deceived- birthing, but ‘trying to live a religious life overshadowed by a willfully chosen, a worldwide common acceptance of the fallen nature’, able to live acceptably in the ‘flesh-nature’ a sinful, religious life that IS devoted to ‘best effort’, even though falling short of what God offers, never fearing awakening to Hell’s unveiling of your Christ-rejecting, self-accepting sin nature that produced “death’ and ‘separation from God’, and, as one now sees himself as a true ‘self-pretender’, and then one says, after learning of their ‘pretense’, though unveiled by the convicting Holy Spirit, “God should be ashamed” as He turns from their ‘closed door of the heart and mind’, thankful, not for “pretense”, but thankful for the gift of repentance, relaxed, ‘resting’, rejoicing, released, and NOW bearing witness of, yes, eternal joy in and through Christ alone, so thankful, so appreciative, so rejoicing, that He’s able to exceedingly accomplish above all we think, consider, or try to instill ourselves, but a consistent heart-cry and mind-set: “Jesus, BE Jesus in me, no longer me but Thee, Resurrection Power, fill ME this hour, JESUS, BE JESUS IN ME!!” The question of the hour?

Are You a ‘positive enemy’, a perplexed pretender, or, yes, truly, a “Prince of Peace Disciple, follower, witness, royal ambassador, who understands “redeemed container”, where in and through, King Jesus reigns!”

Positive enemies, perplexed pretenders are, as Spurgeon used to say, “Sorry arguments in one’s pretense – ‘to be damned in a crowd is no more comfortable than to be damned alone.” And, yes, ‘positive enemies, perplexed pretenders’, are both under the eternal condemnation of King Jesus! That’s Galatians 3:10! In his book of “Spurgeon’s Sermons”, (Volume Four, p.229), Spurgeon said: “But,” says another, “there are many things I have not done, but still I have been very virtuous”, Spurgeon continuing, “Poor excuse that is, also. Suppose you have been virtuous; suppose you have avoided many vices: TURN TO MY TEXT. It is not my word, but God’s – turn to it – “all things.” It does not say “some things.” – “Cursed is every one that continues not in ALL Things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Now,

Have you performed all virtues? Have you shunned all vices? Do you stand up and plead, “I never was a drunkard?” – Yet you shall be damned if you’ve been a fornicator. Do you reply, “I never was unclean?” Yet you HAVE broken the Sabbath. Do you plead guiltless of that charge? Do you declare that you have never broken the Sabbath? You HAVE taken God’s name in vain, have you not? Somewhere or other God’s law can smite you. IT IS CERTAIN (let your conscience now speak and assert what I assert) – it is certain you HAVE NOT CONTINUED “in all things which are written in the book of the law.” No, more, I do not believe you have continued in any one commandment of God to the full, for the commandment is exceeding broad.” (Does James 2:10 tell us: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all”?). Spurgeon continued:

It is not the overt act, merely, that will damn a man; it IS THE THOUGHT, the imagination, the conception of sin, that is sufficient to RUIN A SOUL. Remember, my dear hearers, I am speaking now God’s own word, not a harsh doctrine of my own. If you had never committed one single act of sin, yet the thought of sin, the imagination of it would be enough to sweep your soul into Hell for ever.

If you had been born in a cell, and had never been able to come out into the world, either to commit acts of lasciviousness, murder, or robbery, yet the thought of evil in that lone cell might be enough to cast your soul forever from the face of God. Oh! There is no man here that can hope to escape. We must every one of us bow our heads before God, and cry, “Guilty, Lord, guilty – every one of us is guilty – ‘cursed is “every one” that continues not in “all things” which are written in the book of the law to do them’.” AGAIN, James 2:10! “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL.” Hear me! Merciful God warns you!

IF YOU ARE NOT COVERED IN THE BLOOD OF THE HOLY LAMB OF GOD, SATURATED IN IT FROM THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD TO THE TIP OF YOUR TOES, 99.9% covered, but a tenth uncovered, you’ll never enter the “Glory- land”! James 2:10! “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one little point, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL.”

For you and me? There’s no hope but to, yes, be crucified with Christ, the old man and his/her sin nature, crucified with Christ, no more enamored in sinful pleasure like a ‘hair’, but, yes, daily taking the sentence of death unto your old sin-nature that the Resurrection of the Indwelling Christ finds His home in the crucified life, but “new-born” into the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ!!!

Are YOU not even aware of impenitent and, yes, unbelieving hearts and minds? But, if convicted by the Holy Spirit, convinced to ‘rest alone’ in Him, “washed in the blood of the Lamb, one is raised up , by grace and mercy, to be the tabernacle, the temple of Christ’s abiding Presence!” It’s why Paul said, “I DIE DAILY”, so the Resurrection Life of Christ may be manifested IN my mortal flesh!”

And Christ Jesus PROMISED: Don’t miss this! Luke 13:1-9, but also Verses 23-30!! FIRST, Luke 13:1-9, There were present at that season some that told Him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, “Suppose you, that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, No; but except YOU REPENT, you shall ALL likewise perish.

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and slew them, think you that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise PERISH.” He spoke also this parable, Verses 6-9, “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit from the tree, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of the vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none; CUT IT DOWN; why comber the ground?

And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig it, and dung it. And if it bear fruit, well; if not, then after (the test!!!) you shall cut it down.”

OH!! And then Verses 23-30!!! And again Jesus said, “Whereunto shall I liken (or enlighten, inform, or unveil) THE KINGDOM-RULE OF GOD? It is like ‘leaven’, which a woman took and hid it in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto Him, ‘Lord, are there few that be saved?’ And Jesus said unto them (ALL!!), “Strive to enter in at the ‘strait gate’ (OR “The DOOR”!): for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able…

When once the master of the house is risen up, and has SHUT THE DOOR, and you begin to ‘stand outside’, and to knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us’; and he shall answer and say unto you, I KNOW YOU NOT…; Then shall you begin to say, ‘We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.” But he shall say,

“I tell you, I know not from whence you came; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and you yourselves shut out!

And they shall come from the east and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down IN the KINGDOM OF GOD. And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”

“Positive Enemies, Perplexed Pretenders, OR Prince of Peace “New-Birthed Disciples of Christ Jesus”?

Again, “Choose YOU this day whom YOU will serve, but as for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!” Servant or ‘pretender’? A son/daughter of Holy God or a ‘slave’ of Satan? A “citizen of God’s eternal Kingdom under the reign of Christ or a ‘captive’ of the ‘dark kingdom’ of Satanic rule”?

GET READY!! Romans 7: 4-18, 20-25, followed by Romans 8:1-18, 24-30, and Verses 35-39, plus, Romans 9:6-8, and Verses 32-10:4, followed by Verses 8-13!!

CONFRONTED BY CHRIST AND HIS SPIRIT AND HOLY WORD, CONVICTED, CONVINCED, CONFESSED, CONVERTED, AND CROWNED WITH HIS “ABIDING PRESENCE” WITH HIM SAYING, “FOLLOW ME, AND I’LL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN, MY FAITHFUL WITNESS, FOLLOW ME, AND I’LL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU, FOLLOW ME, AND I, KING JESUS, WILL “BLESS YOU”! Psalm 103:1-12, and Verses 17-22 says:

Psalm 103:1-12, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, BLESS His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your disease; Who redeems the life from destruction; AND BEHOLD, crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel.

The Lord IS merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Verses 17-22, But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them. The Lord has prepared His throne in the heavens; and His Kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, you His angels (or His messengers!), that excel in strength, do His commandments, hearkens unto the voice of His Word. Bless YOU the Lord, all your hosts; you ministers of His, that do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion: BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL.” IS THAT YOUR TESTIMONY?

Do YOU “TESTIFY” that loving, merciful, gracious, caring God, CLAIMED YOU, EVEN AS HE “KNOCKED ON THE DOOR< AND INVITED HIM IN?”

Having “claimed me”, birthed me in His Spirit, then, DOES HE TELL US TO “TRY YOUR BEST”, OR “BE LED BY THE WORD, BY THE SPIRIT, AND BY HIS PROMISE: “I’LL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU”?, and knowing His “blessed assurance”, how could any ‘child of faith’ walk away from the “LOVER OF HIS SOUL?” How could a “born-again disciple of Christ” entertain a “tempting, untruthful, treacherous Satan or His demons”? Or, How could, yes, a citizen of the Kingdom of Christ “fall away” as a ‘victim’ of, yes, ‘worldly deceptions’?

It’s time to “Rise Up, O Men of God, Be Done With ‘lesser things’, Give heart and mind and soul and strength (and time!) To serve the King of kings!

Lift high the cross of Christ! Tread where His feet trod; As brothers of the Son of man, Rise up, O men of God!” AMEN?

Don’t we sing sometimes, at least we used to,: “Glory, glory, Hallelujah, glory, glory, Hallelujah, glory, glory, Hallelujah, HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON!!” And it never dies! But do you die, turning deaf ears and cold hearts to God?

“ABANDONING HOPE OR ABIDING IN HOPE?”

In the Random House Collegiate Dictionary the word “hope” is described as follows: “The feeling that what is desired is also possible, or that events may turn out for the best..; to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence..; that something desired may happen..; trust, rely.” And no doubt, redeemed or not, there are people gripped in their minds with a “hope” that what they put their faith in may happen or it may not happen. But ‘fleshly hope’ is nowhere near Biblical hope! Some, both out of or in the church “hope things turn out for the ‘best’,” or like others they live, they strive, they ‘try’, but live in a state of mind AND heart : “I hope against hope,” which IS a sad state of mental, physical, and spiritual levels of living! Why not ABIDE IN BIBLICAL HOPE without being swayed by the world, the flesh, or the devil?

In John 15:4-11 the Lord Jesus tells us: Jesus says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing.

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, AND My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Would you say that Jesus was extremely clear when He said that if you and I as believers “abide in Him” that we will be strongly held in the arms of Him whose arms cannot be broken? Did He also say that only in and through Him does Sovereign fruitfulness become a reality? And in that “rest” in Him only, did He also say that abiding in Him supernaturally allows divine fruitfulness, to bud and produce, yes, the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of Christ, the fruit of God?

But, notice John 15:2! “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit the Father takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” And in the branch should one, yes, be concerned about minimum or maximum ‘fruit-production’? Is the “fruit” that the Word declares the evidence of one’s “new birth experience” or an unredeemed life that just “hopes for the best”, but hoping for the best is not the same as “resting in the hope Christ has promised” which is “His best” revealed in His full surrender to God the Father’s “Before Creation, but settled in His Mind, His Heart, and His Will: “My Son will be the “hope of all repentant, trusting hearts, in reconciliation to My eternal purpose for created, sin-bound men who are only set free from godlessness and led by Christ into the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Do you remember Jesus saying thousands of years after Abraham’s birth, life, and death that “Abraham rejoiced to see My day and he was glad?” Father-God knew that in the reality of men’s birthing on earth He didn’t want “spiritual zombies” as sons and daughters but people free to choose whether they wanted to be independent of God or dependent upon Him for mercy and grace! And, yes, Abraham and many Old Testament citizens learned of the Coming Messiah who would be the “blood sacrifice” in behalf of repentant hearts and souls.

But, sadly, multitudes abandoned hope from God holding on to “best effort” human genius! That’s like Pharoah of Egypt, confronted in Exodus 5 by Moses and Aaron on a mission from God, telling Pharoah that Holy God said to “Let My people go” from their Egyptian bondage and slavery with Pharoah saying in Exodus 5:2, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

Even though Sovereign God determined the Savior of the world would come as “Emmanuel” or “God in flesh”, and that He would come being born of the Virgin Mary, only true, God-trusting Old Testament believers of Israel put their faith in the Savior their physical eyes would never see, indicating certainly “spiritual vision” far outweighs being able to see with only physical eyes! Yes, “Abraham (having never seen) rejoiced to see My day, and he was glad!”

Most of Israel abandoned hope although they were devoted to religious observances! Most of the world today doesn’t even look back to the Cross of Christ as most of Israel in the Old Testament didn’t look forward to His coming! They were satisfied with their religious observances even as they practiced, yes, a godless lifestyle, heavily reinforced with religious activities, never sensing the Voice of Christ or the Holy Spirit’s unveiling of Christ to them. Why? “Who needs a Savior when we’re capable of doing whatever our natural or religious minds determine! We’re able to be religiously devoted!”

And there are still those even today who “take up stones to throw at Christ”! To them it was justified because they didn’t see the great “I AM” Jesus as worthy of anything but stoning! But, I urge you, reflect upon Saul’s attitude toward the prophet Samuel who had just learned from God, “Saul doesn’t follow Me”, and Holy God instructed Samuel to tell Saul, as well as all unbelievers today, 1 Samuel 15:22-23, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.”

Of course, we don’t have to be concerned in the church today about being called ‘kings’, or do we? In Revelation 5:9-10, “the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. And they sang a new song, saying: (Speaking to the Lamb of God, King Jesus!), “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and nation, (GET READY!!!), and have MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS TO OUR GOD; AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH.”

That’s not when you die and go to heaven, but when on earth you choose the sentence of death unto yourself that the Resurrection Life of Christ may be manifested in you as He anoints YOU IN HIM to reign upon the earth!

But around you daily you cross paths with people who “abandon hope” and refuse to even consider “abiding in hope” because some tell them, “If you even rang God’s heavenly doorbell, He wouldn’t answer you because even God can’t help the hopeless,” which is so foreign to the mind, heart, and will of God. I tell you, God is able to save, heal, deliver the worst sinner on the face of the earth if he/she, in true repentance and faith calls out for God’s mercy and grace!

But I tell you also, there is a huge difference between a ‘religious hope fabricated by men’ and redemptive hope written forever by the shed blood of the Lamb of God who still says: “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” I don’t know who wrote it, but I came across an anonymous statement: “There is more hope for a self-convicted sinner than there is for a self-conceited saint,” and to that I say, “Amen!”

I wrote a few words I pray will enlighten you, bless you, and encourage you – no title yet, just a few, I hope, challenging words!!

“Lord Jesus, Son of God, Savior of repentant, faith-believing minds and hearts, Open our understanding of all Your gracious deeds as, by Your Spirit, we examine our heart-felt needs!

That’s the need to abandon hopelessness and be swept up in the sea of Your abiding hope! Our wanderings without you birthed a life of a world of grief because, we as your children, rested in ourselves as thieves.

In ourselves, no hope; in ourselves, no cure; in ourselves, no help; becoming hopeless and helpless, blinded by ‘flesh’, deceived by Satan, fooled by the world, we dance the death that will not die, even blinding ourselves to God’s open eye!

There are dark clouds for men without God, but gracious God, in amazing love, placed His Son on our very sod; hope is His gift, mercy His song, His invitation to Him belong!

“Come to Me and I’ll give you rest, find your place in Heaven’s nest – no longer the sad song of life’s frustration, but washed in His blood, indwelt in your body, you see your heart as My destination.”

There is for your life, though clouds may come, the starlight of heaven shining on your home. Circumstances may arise with Satan’s intent to discourage your walk, but never give in to his empty talk.

Christ Jesus has spoken, and His received Word need never be broken! He ever abides to stand by your side, that you in His glory may continue to abide. His sunset of hope, like an anchor to hold, is never swept away but continually abides to stand by your side, His promise that cannot be denied!” Amen?

“Abandoning Hope Or Abiding in Hope?” I pray you’ll join me in “Abiding in Hope”! Let’s look first at “God’s Amazing Promise”! In Hebrews 6:9-20 we read: “But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.’ And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. [A forty year wait!].

For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, DETERMINED TO SHOW MORE ABUNDANTLY TO THE HEIRS OF PROMISE THE IMMUTABILITY OF HIS COUNSEL, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. [Did Abraham ‘lay hold of the hope’ AFTER HE HAD PATIENTLY ENDURED? Again, there is ‘birth’, ‘infancy’, ‘youth’, ‘young adult’, and the ‘senior fully matured in the faith’!].

Hebrews 6:19-20 continues: “This hope we have AS AN ANCHOR OF THE SOUL, BOTH SURE AND STEADFAST, and which enters the “Presence” behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Are YOU “standing on our Lord’s promises and resting in the sure Word of God that never fades away or changes?

SECOND, ABIDING IN HOPE IS BEING ENRICHED BY THE ANOINTED WORD OF GOD! Don’t ever forget or overlook in ‘discipleship training’ the words of Jesus in Matthew 4:4 as Jesus responded to Satan’s temptations! He said: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Tell me, first, about your physical dieting! Do you at least try to eat three square meals a day? BUT, is there the necessity of ‘spiritual feeding’ of the redeemed soul? If you eat three square meals a day to maintain your physical body, what about maintaining the ‘spiritual life’ that MUST BE NOURISHED IN THE BREAD, MEAT, AND VEGETABLES AND HONEY OF GOD’S SPIRIT-WORD?

In John 6:63-64 Jesus said: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” How many ‘believers’ and ‘church folk’ have crossed your path who insist there is no need of discipline in the Word “after” one had been born again?

Very interesting Verse in Psalm 49:20! “A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, is like the beasts that perish.” And, I thought: How many honorable men in the church or outside the church are esteemed but couldn’t give you one word about himself as a student of God’s Holy Word feeding on it daily? Are you “being enriched” by the living and abiding Word of God?

THIRD, ABIDING IN HOPE IS BEING SUSTAINED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! In Romans 8: 1-2 Paul wrote: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh (one’s old sin nature), but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Abandoning hope is the determination to choose to live by one’s best effort without any need of “God’s interference” with one proving he/she can do it on one’s own determination! But Holy God just happens to be smarter than fallen mankind’s assessment of himself, God fully aware ‘in the flesh’ fallen mankind cannot, does not, will not live the overcoming life against the world, one’s old sin nature, or Satan’s interference; therefore merciful God sustains us by the Holy Spirit in divine conviction, divine conversion, and divine consecration – the Holy Spirit sustains true believers!

In Romans 8:8-11 Paul continued laying the foundation for a true believer “abiding in hope”! He wrote: “So then those who are in the flesh (living under the control of their old sin nature) cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And IF Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Holy Spirit who dwells in you.”

But there are those ‘professing believers’, ‘active church members’, even ‘preachers’, who say, “Oh, someday, in the sweet by and by, we’ll finally experiencing what it means to live in Christ’s fullness!” Yet Paul wrote in Romans 15:29, “But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” Really? In the here and now? That’s the true gospel! And “in Christ” you can “live with joy by the will of God,” “daily refreshed in His resurrection life, resurrection power, and resurrection hope”! I say to you: NEVER FORGET Martin Luther’s words in his famous hymn that says: “A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe Does seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing, Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God’s own choosing. Do you ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth is His name, From age to age the same, And He must win the battle.

And tho’ this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, For God has willed His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim – We tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, For lo! His doom is sure: One little world shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers – No thanks to them – abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through Him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also; The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.” Can YOU say AMEN to the grace, mercy, and love of God as YOUR ABIDING HOPE, or do you presently walk on “the sinking sands” of fleshly suffocation?

By J. Farrell Fisher, December 29-30, 2016

Abounding Grace, flowing like a mighty river with no beginning and no end, freely flowing to give ‘the water of life’, granting any man freedom from his strife.

Abounding Grace has seen men’s lives so enslaved to their sinful strife, so bound to the fallen sin-nature, so empty as a vessel broken, seeing life only as an unwanted token.

Abounding grace confronts the void, so desirous to convert their spoil, from empty lives to divinely forgiven, no longer to seek what dictated to them as a slave of darkness.

Abounding Grace is not a gate to an empty city, but a gracious ‘door of life’ free from God’s pity, and the ‘open door’ to the fullness of His Presence, guaranteed by His forever Resurrection Radiance!

Abounding Grace is saved by faith, the gift of God to all the human race – but not all are interested in God’s Way of Life, but sadly contented to live in the spoil of a sin-dominated strife.

Abounding grace confronts, in love, the perverse depravity of one’s self-driven nature, blinded to the reality of God’s loving revelation; the ‘city of pity’ is a life without His presence, with the godless mind like a rich man in his castle – “No need of God, I’m fleshly protected!”

Abounding grace understands ‘infidelity’ with no problem or pain with nullified ‘blessings’, but in unending love and a passionate heart, God was intent to give fallen men an eternal fresh start – the door closed to one’s old sinful self, and a new life in Christ raised by His grace with no longer a desire to depart!

Abounding grace exposes ‘self-love’ and unveils God’s heart, so intent on turning fallen men from their ‘hellish’ start; a ‘hellish’ start is pains and chains, and a death that will not die, a ‘fool’s’ dwelling with no agape love, no heavenly liberty, and no eternal light; one would think that, at least some, would turn to God’s grace, dying to flesh, but raised in His eternal Spirit!

Abounding grace is God’s glory released with glory the open door to God’s full, inexhaustible presence; like the sun, the Son of God’s arising is the Precious ‘Son’ in His awesome and eternal brightness!

Abounding grace is God’s mercy and love in full display, intent to restore fallen men to His Son’s replay, fully surrendered to Christ as Lord, captive men find chains’ broken and divine Life fully restored!

Abounding grace cannot be bound because, though inward and spiritual, it cannot be hidden, because in its full release its presence is the ‘new heart’s desire’ to honor Christ in one’s choices of life, no longer bound in sin’s selfish strife!

Abounding grace is not ‘self-made candles lit’ but life inflamed by Resurrection Presence, fully, willfully surrendered to His Eternal Essence; grace that is strength, and strength that is His fully released, abiding presence, giving to men, not a cheap imitation, but the abiding reality of His transforming Essence!

Abounding grace is not simply the “Law of God’ detecting, but the Love of God in Christ fully unveiling the heart of God and His ever-abiding desire to set a soul on fire with God’s inward and visible Resurrection, Reigning Presence!

Abounding grace is NOT ‘flesh-inspired’, like a candle that supposedly sets it’s self on fire; No, abounding grace is the richness of the Spirit, fully displayed in His unfailing efforts, in faithfully extending and expressing His great love, so gentle and sweet as the beautiful turtle dove!

Abounding grace is not ‘self-made’ determination to ‘do the will of God’, but is Spirit-inspired, Spirit-released anointing of the gracious ministry of God, unveiling special providence and supernatural power and anointing of the, yes, Sovereign, Eternal, Ever-Available, even Ever-Anxious Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s will through you!!

Abounding grace IS the “Supernatural Sun” that never sets, but moves in God’s timing in ‘high-lighting’ His best; no ‘wit’ of self-change but Sovereign administration, demonstrating the never-ending fullness of His ever-abiding purpose of Eternal-Anointing Ever-Present!

Abounding grace doesn’t ‘cover sin’ but always washes away by the blood of the Lamb the sin that crushes, the sin that mars, but through Christ’s blood raises a forgiven man as one of His “stars”! “Eternal Brightness” is abounding grace’s inward manifestation, no longer ruled by darkish limitation, but sovereignly anointed in Spirit-demonstration.

But Abounding Grace IS Spirit- Impartment of Atoning Gifts in the lives of men, redeemed by the Blood, fully released in the Spirit, ‘touching’ one’s world of need with the testimony of the gift of His redeeming love, seen at the Cross, verified by an empty tomb, Christ forever reigning in redeemed hearts by the Light of His Atoning Gift, like a mother with the ‘baby’ in her womb!

Spirit- Impartment of Atoning Gifts, individually and sovereignly implanted with no desire for any ‘rifts’, but a redeemed heart forgiven, sovereignly reconciled, with a new-life extension of His Holy intervention, expanding His kingdom in the fruit of His Spirit, willfully choosing Himself as the “Atoner” to wash away any ‘rift’.

Atoning Gifts ARE the “riches of His grace,” graciously extended to all the fallen human race; not everyone responds to the divine invitation, but to those who do, they know the heavenly inspiration! “Gifted of God”, whether in strength or in thought, Spirit- Anointing is what God has wrought!

Atoning Gifts are not ‘fleshly embellished’, but eternally given in God’s manifestation; adorned with His gifts, no fictitious addition, no ornament or imitation, but Holy Spirit-anointing in sovereign administration to testify of Jesus and His Resurrection Presence!

Atoning Gifts, whether in strength or thought, are only alive in His spiritual health, not the ‘best of men’ even with their wealth – whether the wealth of an account or that stature of one’s achievements, it’s only Christ’s Presence that extends His deliverance!

Atoning Gifts are not ‘nickels in a plate’, but the newness of Life in a new eternal beginning! Birthed in the womb of God’s very heart, “new babes” in Christ live a life never ending! Eternal is the nature of “blood atonement”, not simply one’s awareness of ‘after-death’ life, but avoidance of atonement one lives on in Hell or captured By His blood and forever one lives as heir of the Bell that rings of His Life that never ceases!

Atoning Gifts are not one’s ‘self-improvement’, not one’s inclusion of an awesome ‘self-awareness’, or, like Belshazzar with a ‘vision’, but no room for God in the inn of his life and reign! It was Emily Dickinson, in her “POEMS: BELSHAZZAR HAD A LETTER”, who said: “Belshazzar had a letter, – He never had but one; Belshazzar’s correspondence Concluded and begun In that immortal copy The conscience of us All can read without its glasses on revelation’s wall.” Yet for many, they simply stall!

Atoning Gifts are reverential revelations as the Majesty of God is forever revered, but no fear of God, no faith in His love, fallen men continue seeking their fulfillment of ‘flesh-exaltation,’ bowing before their altar like unbelievers of the past, they bow to worship in that which does not last!

Atoning Gifts? Christ’s open door to forgiveness and reconciliation, so boldly stated, “Follow Me, and I’ll make you fishers of men,” becomes rationalized by His eternal “If”, because, in man’s fleshly worship, he adores what his sinful nature bows to, so captured in devotion to his own call, and no desire to hear “If” when, “I am my all in all”!

Atoning Gifts? If Christ’s ‘free gift’ is “acceptance as I am,” will fallen men acknowledge their crucifixion with Christ was eternally sound because in myself I was eternally bound – bound to a nature that was not of God, but resembled the sod on which cows shed their blobs?

Atoning Gifts? Freedom from a ‘private life’, but purchased and owned and ruled by our Lord, who willingly walked from Heaven’s Door to Hell’s Gate, no longer ‘my world within my way,’ but “purchased by Christ’s blood”, forever living as a ‘saint set apart’ to honor Him in all that now rules our hearts – Kingdom allegiance is the theme of our lives, forever empowered by the Spirit who endows every true believer in his/her moment of power! We’re “not our own”, but purchased by His blood, we are His rivers spreading in God’s eternal flood!

Atoning Gifts? Reconciled to God, we shall be being saved by His life – sacrificial life like His death on the Cross, redeemed men see ‘death to self’ no longer a loss, but redeemed by the blood, and made one in His resurrection, His chosen people manifest Heavenly Reflection! ‘Astute minds’ are ‘self-reflections’ while “Atoned Lives” are Heaven’s manifestations – salt and light in a tasteless, darkened world, Christ’s holy men walk to restore all that was lost in their sinful choices, but all regained in His Calvary manifestation!

No ‘make-shift’ stars of a fleshly creation, but the Holy Presence of Heaven’s “Star of Bethlehem” never fading, but more gloriously illuminated when ‘death to self’ is unreservedly yielded, faith in Christ becomes His hymn of praise as yielded hearts glory in His Cross, dead to themselves, raised in “new life”, anointed in His Spirit,, and lifting Him up, His Spirit in us, testifies of Christ!

It was John Newton and Francis J. Haydn, in the 1930’s classic hymnal, entitled “The American Hymnal, who wrote the Hymn, “Glorious Things of Christ Are Spoken,” which in “Abounding Grace and Atoning Gifts”, has been the theme in this day of my life, December 29, 2016! It says:

‘Glorious things of You are spoken, Zion, city of our God; He whose word cannot be broken, Formed you for His own abode; On the Rock of Ages founded, What can shake your sure repose? With salvation’s walls surrounded, You may smile at all your foes.

See, the streams of living waters, Springing from eternal love, Well supply your sons and daughters, And all fear of want remove; Who can faint, while such a river, Ever flows their thirst to assuage? Grace, which, like the Lord, the Giver, Never fails from age to age.

Round each habitation hovering, See the clouds and fire appear For a glory and a covering, Showing that the Lord is near! Glorious things of you are spoken, Zion, city of our God; He, whose word cannot be broken, Formed you for His own abode.”

What did Paul challenge us with in 1 Corinthians 10:31? “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” AMEN?

OR ONE’S DENIAL?”

NOVEMBER 17-20, 2017, by J.Farrell Fisher

I found an interesting statement in Dallas Willard’s book entitled “The Great Omission”, and the first sentence of his first chapter said the following, “The word ‘Disciple’ occurs 269 times in the New Testament. ‘Christian’ is found three times…”! He went on to say, “The New Testament is a book about disciples, by disciples, and for disciples of Jesus Christ.”

In our modern-day 21^st Century time period, I’m afraid I have to say that I’m not sure that across the “church community” that “church folk” really comprehend “separation from God” because of their ‘sin-natures’ or, if they do, do they accept God’s VERDICT of ‘sinner’ that needs to be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, and yielded to Him as a vessel in which the Resurrected Christ is able to be Himself as truly Lord and Savior – “born again, born the second time of the Spirit” is strange terms for too many – “I’m a ‘church member, and have been most of my life”, but finished with the ‘old man’, crushed by God’s verdict of sin and death? Strange terms!

“One’s denial of God’s verdict” concerning their ‘First Adam’ sin nature is rampant, and especially when a society majors on ‘mental superiority’ without any concern for ‘godless’ hearts or ‘blinded’ minds related to spiritual awareness of one’s need of Holy God through Christ in fulfilling His eternal intent through the “Blood Redemption” of innocent Jesus’ sacrifice “At The Cross”!!

“One’s Denial?” or “Acceptance of God’s Verdict?” In 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 the Apostle Paul wrote: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, WHOSE MINDS THE GOD OF THIS AGE HAS BLINDED, (Do you think ‘the god of your age is Satan and his deceiving ways?), who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

One’s denial of God’s verdict is the intentional verdict of fleshly pride to live, be, and do as one pleases without any concern for the divine intent of God in birthing human life, not as an existing, fleshly, independent creation, but a “willful vessel of divine presence”, fully surrendered and yielded to the Master’s management! But there are those with no interest in “Christ in you the hope of glory”! Grit is their calling card with no concern for the love, grace, or mercy of God “in Christ”!

THE STORMS OF LIFE?”

By: J.FARRELL FISHER, MARCH 27-28, 2017

How inspirational and life-strengthening do YOU find the Word of Holy God for your daily life and existence, good days or bad, in trouble or triumph, in days of gladness or sadness, in times of weariness and exhaustion with self but even with self at its best – is it mind-reasoning or the Master’s revelation?

Interesting verses in Isaiah 40:27-31! The nation of Israel, at least the majority of ‘religious pretenders’, had come to a troubled time, and Isaiah spoke saying : Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my just claim is passed over by my God”? [They felt abandoned by God in their rebellion although He abided at their ‘door’]. The prophet then said: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

“FLESH FAINTS! THE FALLEN SIN-NATURE AT ITS BEST FALLS SHORT AND NEVER ENTERS “THE FULLNESS OF THE BLESSING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!” SIN-DOMINATED LIVES NEVER OVERCOME SPIRITUAL DEATH BY A ‘BEST-EFFORT STRATEGY’! STRONG-MINDED RELIGIONISTS ARE DETERMINED BUT VOID OF THE REALITY OF REDEEMED LIVES BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB!

In John 1:10-13 the beloved John wrote: “He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own (the Jewish community), and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in (rest in, rely upon, adhere to, submit to) His name: who were born, not of blood (physical descendants), not of the will of the flesh (best effort), nor of the will of man (strong masculinity), but of God.”

There is an ‘eternal difference’ between those who live in the “shadows of religious faith” and the “true friends of God” who live in the blood-bought “land of the redeemed (by the shed blood of Christ!)”.

It was Thomas Adams who wrote (The Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations, Edited by Frank S. Mead, Fleming H. Revell Comp.,Westwood, NJ.): “Grace comes into the soul, as the morning sun into the world; first a dawning; then a light; and at last the sun in his full and excellent brightness.” Soulish awareness – a dawning of the need of God; soulish alertness in hope – they hear Truth of the Redeemer; soulish enlightment-as Jesus and His eternal purpose is unveiled by the Holy Spirit!

In Romans 1:1-6 Paul illumines our minds and hearts about our entrance into God’s designed and blessed “storm shelter”! He said: “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle [Your calling? Disciple, pastor, evangelist. Missionary, teacher, witness, ambassador?], separated to the gospel of God, which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures (then, that was the Old Testament!), concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called Of Jesus Christ;…”

The “separated”, although in the world, are not ‘of the world’ any longer – yet many ‘church-folk’ ‘profess’ but never are “possessed” in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ Jesus as the called of Jesus Christ! Have you missed, been blinded to, or untrained in the eternal Truth as Paul challenged us, Romans 1:1, “separated TO the gospel of God!” Are you aware that there are many who are about “separating themselves” yet missing Christ Jesus? How numerous are the “white-washers” attempting to cover themselves apart from the atoning blood of the Lamb of God! And the Gospel of the Lamb of God has nothing to do with a man’s ‘religious interests’, his ‘flesh-efforts’, or his/her ‘maxed-out attempts at imitating Christ’!

But, also, one of the major tragedies and misunderstandings or maligned teachings is, that when one comes to Christ, he/she is then exempt from “the storms of life”, when in the reality of biblical truth we’re not “sheltered from” but “sheltered in” the storms of life!

In John 16:33 there is an informative word from Jesus to every true follower of the Master. He said: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

I want you to follow carefully Hebrews 5:5-9 because it unveils, yes, “not sheltered from, but sheltered IN the storms of life”! “So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He (God the Father) who said to Him (God the Son): “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” As He also said in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, YET He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. AND having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him…”

Dare I remind you? True disciples of Christ are not “sheltered FROM the storms of life”, but “sheltered IN the storms of life”! It’s so interesting to hear the prophet, Isaiah, say in Isaiah 32:13, “On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers, yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city…”! I don’t think Eliphaz was unwise in saying, yes, to Job in Job’s troubles. Job 5:7-11 is Eliphaz’s encouragement to Job to SEEK GOD when ‘troubles’ emerge! He said: “Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward. But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause – Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number. He gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields. He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.” (Thank You, Lord God Almighty, yes, for Your sovereign watch-care over us!)

Are you aware that the walk of faith is not always smooth highways but bumpy roads, not always exempt from tribulation but exalted in it and over it, not a ‘fleshly lesson’ of “grit” in overcoming but the spiritual Truth of grace that abounds and overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil?

In Mark4:35-41 there is Christ Jesus on the boat in the midst of a great windstorm with the waves beating against the boat to the point the disciples were sure they were about to sink! Verse 38 says, But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’ In Verse 39 it says: Then Jesus arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” I tell you: God’s intent, design, purpose, and promise IS: “Peace in life’s storms, not peace from them”!

Yes, I KNOW! There can be, sometimes are, or often will be, ‘crashing winds’ that move over one’s life circumstances, tumultuous winds of trouble that want to take you down, sudden, unexpected storms that “blow against the mind and spirit”- but you need to know: the grace of God is stronger than your earth’s stoutest winds, more powerful than the tempter’s desire to slay you, with John Newton’s testimony a shining example of what yours and mine should always be when in “Amazing Grace” he wrote: “Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come, It’s grace that brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.”

Though there may be ‘darkness’ before you, or around you now, don’t lay the ‘darkness’ of your life circumstance as “troubles God has ordained for you”, but seek to understand, unveil, and expose the world of trouble that surrounds you, look inward to the old sin nature that defiles you, and consider the “devil” as the composer of life’s music of heartache, despair, and ‘venomous’ “snake-bites!”

Do you clearly understand the ministry of Emmanuel, “God in Flesh”, Promised Messiah, Lord and Savior, King of kings and Lord of lords? And He suffered, bled, and died, and we were “crucified with Christ”! And the “suffering Savior” willingly met, in life’s inevitable storms, Father-God and again and again “rested in the Father”!

What has “compassed you about” in your pilgrimage as Jesus Himself was “compassed about” in His journey? In Job 26:10-12 Job delivered a powerful statement of understanding that should enlighten you even more about what YOU may be facing in “storms” from the world, the flesh, and the devil: “He (God!) drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters (“stormy seas, troubling waters”?), AT THE BOUNDARY OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS. The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at His rebuke. He stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding HE BREAKS UP THE STORM.” Glory!

Remember! The message you’re reading is: “Sheltered From Or Sheltered In The Storms?” And it’s vitally important that YOU understand – inviting Christ Jesus into your life is to open the door to the reality of world-indifference to your faith, while at the same time opposed to all Christ Jesus stands for in your life! Salvation in Christ is the open door to the “storms” an unbelieving world will release! Hear the Lord’s words in John 15:18-19, and John 16:1-4!!

John 15:18-19 says, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet, because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Oh, and then, in John 16:1-4, hear The Lord and Savior again:

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.”

If, for now or up to now, you haven’t experienced any “storm clouds”, be alert – they will move in and over your walk of faith or over a life even void of faith! Storms do arise, dark clouds do move in at times, wild, frenzied events do boil up to sweep you away from devotion to Christ Jesus!

Interesting verses for our spiritual insight concerning the “storms of life”! It says, in Hebrews 5:5-9, speaking of Jesus, understanding, “as He is so are we in this world,” “So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He (God) who said to Him (Jesus): “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, YET HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE BY THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him…”!! Christ Jesus walked through the “storms of life”, understanding it was His calling as well as ours!

How interesting and illuminating do you find Mark 10:21b, “and come, take up your cross, and follow Me,” yet how many do you know who see “suffering”, “bearing one’s cross”, as foreign to so-called “modern-day discipleship”! They’ll say: “That can’t be true – suffering is for sinners, not saints!” Yet how wrong is that twisted theology, denying one must ‘take up his cross, and follow Jesus’ down worldly streets and avenues’! To be “in Christ” is to dwell amidst a crowd of worldly followers of the world spirit, world design, and world intent, which doesn’t include (in their worldly minds!) obeying or submitting to His holy reign where we live.

In John 3:27-36 there is another clear difference between “Sheltered From” or “Sheltered In The Storms of Life”! It says: John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but I have been sent before Him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He (Christ Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.

He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.

The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in (trusts in, relies upon, adheres to) the Son has everlasting life; and he who does believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on Him.” Christ Jesus IS our Shelter in the midst of life’s storms!

Another challenging, Scriptural awakening call is found in John 7, as Jesus was confronted by the ‘religious Pharisees’, in Verse 15, saying of Jesus, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true; and no unrighteousness is in Him.”

Are there those today who “speak from themselves seeking his/her own glory”? Or are there those today sent by Christ to unveil His eternal Truth? In John17:6-8 Jesus said, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; AND THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEM, and have known surely that I came forth from You (or out of Him!); and they have believed that You sent Me.”

“Sheltered From Or Sheltered IN The Storms of Life”? I close this teaching with an old, old hymn written by Mrs. Cecil F. Alexander and William H. Jude found in “The Old American Hymnal”, composed by Robert H. Coleman in 1933! It’s entitled “Jesus Calls Us”, saying: “Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea, Day by day His sweet voice sounds, Saying, “Christian follow Me.”

Jesus calls us from the worship Of the vain world’s golden store, From each idol that would keep us, Saying, “Christian, love Me more.”

In our joys and in our sorrows, Days of toil and hours of ease, Still He calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love Me more than these.”

Jesus calls us: by Your mercies, Savior, may we hear Your call, Give our hearts to Your obedience, Serve and love You best of all.”

Give our hearts to His obedience? Did Jesus ever willfully go out opposed to the Father’s will? NO! He went out graciously centered and yielded to the reality of being “Sheltered In the storms of life”!! Amen?

SERVANTS OF THE ONE TRUE GOD?”

BY:J.FARRELL FISHER,JUNE23-24,2019

I REMEMBER A PHRASE OF ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING WHEN SHE WROTE: “THE BLUE OF HEAVEN IS LARGER THEN THE CLOUD”; & IT’S SO TRUE THAT “SLAVES OF WORLD CULTURES DO LIVE IN ‘DARKNESS’, OR ‘THE CLOUD OF SELF-INTEREST ONLY’,REGARDLESS OF THE PRICE TO BE PAID TO KEEP ONE IN THE ‘DARK WORLD’ OF THEIR SELF-SERVING LIFE, BUT THE SERVANTS OF THE ONE TRUE GOD LIVE IN THE “LIGHT” THAT NEVER CEASES TO SHINE, EVEN WHEN THE WORLD, THE OLD SIN-NATURE, OR THE ‘FLESH’ WOULD LIKE TO OVER-RULE THE “LIGHT” SO THEY CAN CONTINUE IN THAT ENSLAVING WORLD CULTURE OF ‘DARKNESS’!

BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THERE ARE, EVEN IN THIS 21^ST CENTURY, MILLIONS & MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CHOSEN BY GOD HIMSELF TO BE HIS SERVANTS, “FOOT-WASHERS OF KING JESUS”, &,YES, WILLING SERVANTS OF THE “SLAVES OF WORLD-CULTURES” SO THAT THE ‘SLAVES’ CAN AT LEAST ‘SEE THE LIGHT’ WHETHER THEY CHOOSE TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A WILLING SERVANT OR NOT!

SLAVES OF WORLD CULTURES ‘LIVE’ UNDER THAT ‘CLOUD OF DARKNESS’ THOUGH THEY THEMSELVES INTERPRET ‘DARKNESS’ AS ‘light’ FOR THEIR WORLD! SLAVES OF WORLD CULTURES SEE NO NEED OF GOD ABIDING WITH THEM SINCE IN THEMSELVES THEY’VE DISCERNED THE ‘FLESH LIFE’S’ “WISDOM” (?) TO THRESH OUT FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THEY ‘SEED’ IN THEIR SIN-NATURED SOULS!!

YET, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF EARTHLY HUMAN EXISTENCE, THERE HAVE BEEN INDIVIDUALS WHO DISCERNED, BY THE GRACE OF GOD EVEN THEN, THAT ‘THEY’ ARE ON THIS EARTH WITH ETERNAL PURPOSE INTENDED, &,YES, LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEY NEITHER SHEDDED OR THREADED THE “NEED” OF THE “BLOOD ATONEMENT” THROUGH THE ‘COMING’ SACRIFICE OF THE KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS, BIRTHED BY MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, WHO THEN FACED THE “CROSS”, “DEATH”, & “RESURRECTION” TO REIGN SUPREMELY FOREVER AS THE VICTORIOUS CONQUEROR OVER THE ‘FLESH’, THE ‘WORLD’, & YES, OVER SATAN HIMSELF! “JESUS IS LORD OVER ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER”!!!

IN THE OLD “BROADMAN HYMNAL” OF 1940, (PUBLISHED BY “BROADMAN PRESS”, NASHVILLE, TENN.”) IS A HYMN WRITTEN BY FANNY J.CROSBY & ROBERT LOWRY ENTITLED, “ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME.” IT SAYS: “ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME; WHAT HAVE I TO ASK BESIDE? CAN I DOUBT HIS TENDER MERCY, WHO THROUGH LIFE HAS BEEN MY GUIDE? HEAVELY PEACE, DIVINEST COMFORT, HERE BY FAITH IN HIM TO DWELL! FOR I KNOW, WHATE’ER BEFALL ME, JESUS DOES ALL THINGS WELL.

ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME, CHEERS EACH WINDING PATH I TREAD, GIVES ME GRACE FOR EVERY TRIAL, FEEDS ME WITH THE LIVING BREAD. THOUGH MY WEARY STEPS MAY FALTER, & MY SOUL ATHIRST MAY BE, GUSHING FROM THE “ROCK” BEFORE ME, LO! A SPRING OF JOY I SEE.

ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME; OH, THE FULLNESS OF HIS LOVE! PERFECT REST TO ME IS PROMISED IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ABOVE. WHEN MY SPIRIT, CLOTHED IMMORTAL, WINGS ITS FLIGHT TO REALMS OF DAY, THIS MY SONG THRO’ ENDLESS AGES: JESUS LED ME ALL THE WAY.”

BUT! “SLAVES UNDER A WORLD CULTURE”, WARPED, NOT ONLY BY THE ‘FLESHLY’ REIGN OF ONE’S OLD SIN-NATURE, NOT ONLY BY THAT WARPED, GODLESS CULTURE, BUT ALSO BY SATAN HIMSELF? IN LUKE 22:31-32, THE LORD SAID TO SIMON PETER, “SIMON, SIMON, BEHOLD, SATAN HAS DESIRED TO HAVE YOU, THAT HE MAY SIFT YOU AS WHEAT: BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU, THAT YOUR FAITH FAIL NOT: & WHEN YOU ARE CONVERTED, STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS (IN THE FAITH!).” AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE THOSE WHO DO NOT CHOOSE TO LIVE IN THE “UNCHANGING, ETERNAL, REDEMPTIVE TRUTH” FOUND IN THE “SHED BLOOD”, THE “BURIAL”, & THE “RESURRECTION OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST”!

IN EPHESIANS 2:12 PAUL WROTE: “THAT AT THAT TIME YOU WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, & STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, HAVING NO HOPE, & WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD.” HAS THAT CHANGED? IS THERE STILL THOSE IN THE WORLD TODAY WHO ARE “STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, WHO (IN THEMSELVES) HAVE NO HOPE OF A BLESSED, ETERNAL LIFE, WHO, SADLY, LIVE WITHOUT HOLY GOD IN THEIR EVERY-DAY LIVES”?

“SLAVES UNDER A WORLD CULTURE”? IS THAT THE “SPIRITUALLY UNCLOTHED”? HOW CLEAR WAS JOHN WHEN HE WROTE IN 1 JOHN 3:10 HE WROTE: “IN THIS THE CHILDREN OF GOD ARE MANIFEST, & THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL: WHOSOEVER DOES NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, NEITHER HE THAT LOVES NOT HIS BROTHER.” IS IT CLEAR TO YOU THAT TRUE UNBELIEF IN GOD HAS MORE TO DO WITH WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR YOU THROUGH CHRIST AT THE CROSS & EMPTY TOMB, READY, UPON YOUR WILLINGNESS TO OPEN YOUR HEART’S DOOR & ALLOW HIM TO COME IN? (HE’S KNOCKED BEFORE – HE’S STILL KNOCKS TODAY UPON EVERY LIFE, EVERY PEOPLE, EVERY NATION, EVEN EVERY MODERN-DAY ‘CHURCH GATHERING’, ASKING TO COME IN!) BUT: “SLAVES UNDER A WORLD CULTURE” LIVE BOUND UNDER THAT ‘CLOUD OF UNBELIEF’! MAY 10, 2016, I WROTE THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

“UNBELIEF IS THE ROAD TO SUPERSTITION WITH THE DEVIL’S INTENT OF GOD’S ELIMINATION. TO HIM, TRUTH IS A LIE, AS SOULS TO HIM EASILY DENY THE ONE TRUE GOD & SAVIOR OF MEN, TO BE DECEIVED BY SATAN’S DECEPTIVE SPIN.

“YOU WON’T DIE” WAS HIS VOICE TO EVE, AS HE CAME TO EASILY DECEIVE, TO TURN HER FROM GOD TO THE FLESHLY SOD, SELDOM EVEN GIVING AN INCH OF ‘A FLESH NOD TO GOD’!

‘WISE MEN’ ARE THE DEVIL’S ‘DUMBED-DOWN’, EVENTUALLY CHANGING THEIR SMILES INTO FROWNS; ‘PLEASURE-SEEKERS’ ARE HIS MAIN TARGETS, “PLEASING GOD?”, NOT EVEN A NOD!

“SIN IS GOD’S TERM,” SATAN SO EASILY SPOUTS, BLINDING MEN TO WHAT GOD’S ALL ABOUT. SEPARATION FROM “TRUTH” IS HIS MAIN OCCUPATION: “QUIT LISTENING TO THOSE WHO SPEAK OF “GOD’S RESTORATION”!”

SATAN WANTS YOU BOUND, SPIRITUALLY UNSOUND, INDULGING THE ‘FLESH’ TO YOUR OWN SATISFACTION. TO HIM, GOD’S INTENT HAS NO RELEVANCE TO A DEVIL’S PROGRAM OF ONE’S PERSONAL DEVASTATION.

“ME, MY, MINE” ARE HIS THEMES OF PERSONAL PRAISE, WITH NO DESIRE OF HEAVENLY ANTHEMS RAISED” – ‘DENY YOURSELF’? WHAT A RIDICULOUS REQUEST! GIVE ME YOUR ‘WILL’ AS YOUR MOST BELOVED BEQUEST!”

BUT THE SAVIOR OF MEN, CHRIST JESUS IS HIS NAME, NEEDS NO ‘HALL OF FAME’, BECAUSE ACROSS OUR VAST WORLDS IS HIS SIGNATURE STAMPED, & ESPECIALLY IN THE LIVES OF MEN WHO WITH CHRIST HAVE CAMPED.

FORGIVENESS OF SIN IS HIS DIVINE APPOINTMENT & RENEWAL OF TRUE FAITH IN THE SAVIOR’S ANOINTMENTS – “FREE AT LAST” IS THEIR HOLY CRY AS UPON THE SAVIOR THEY FAITHFULLY RELY.

“SET APART” TO HIS GLORY, TRANSFORMING MEN HIS EVERLASTING STORY, WITH REPENTANT MEN BECOMING WITNESSES OF HIM, EXTENDING HIS KINGDOM, YES, WITH REDEMPTIVE HYMNS.

SPENDING THEIR LIVES IN HIS GLORIFICATION, DAILY DESIRING HIS CONTINUOUS EXALTATION, TRUE MEN OF FAITH WILL HONOR THE SON, AS DAY BY DAY, PERSON BY PERSON, THEY SHARE CHRIST’S TRUTH OF DIVINE RESTORATION.

THERE COMES A TIME WHEN ONE EXAMINES HIS LIFE, & BEGINS TO EVALUATE, “HAVE I ENDED SOME STRIFE, AS I POINTED OTHERS TO THE SAVIOR OF THEIR LIFE?” “HAVE I SHOWN THEM THE DOOR TO THE FRUIT OF HIS SPIRIT,” FULLY DESIRING HIS HOLY BLESSING AS I SHOWED THEM “THE DOOR” TO HIS PRECIOUS RESTING”?

“COME UNTO ME”, IS STILL HIS CALL, AS REPENTANT MEN FAITHFULLY FALL, RESTING IN HIS ‘FINISHED WORK’, THEY RISE TO DUTY & CALLING THAT THEY’LL NEVER SHIRK!

BUT IF YOU’RE NOT PREPARED FOR THE DAY OF DEATH, WHAT WILL YOUR FLORIST HAVE TO POST ON YOUR DOOR? DEAD FLOWERS FOR A LIFE POORLY LIVED, OR A WELCOMING WREATH TO GOD’S HOLY PRESENCE, BECAUSE YOU AT LEAST BOASTED IN HIS FINISHED WORK & YOUR RESTORATION?

BIRTHED TO “NEW LIFE” – & IN HIM YOU NEVER DIE, BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE, YOU ETERNALLY RELY – FROM THE DOOR OF DEATH TO HIS THRONE ON HIGH, YOU GIVE EVIDENCE: “ON HIM, I’LL NEVER DENY”, BUT CONSTANTLY HEAR HIS FAITHFUL REPLY: ‘YOUR WALK OF FAITH HAS FINISHED ITS COURSE – WELCOME HOME, SON, TO YOUR MERCIFUL REWARD.”

EXAMINE FOR YOURSELF EPHESIANS 2 WHERE HOLY GOD INSPIRED PAUL TO EXPOSE THE SINFUL CONDITION OF ALL MEN, TO UNVEIL SALVATION THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, & TO UNVEIL THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF GOD FOR JEW & GENTILE! “GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD!”

SLAVES OF WORLD CULTURES OR SERVANTS OF THE ONE TRUE GOD? IN 1 KINGS 18:21 ELIJAH CHALLENGED MEN THEN & NOW WHEN HE ASKED, “HOW LONG HALT YOU BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLLOW HIM; BUT IF BAAL, THEN FOLLOW HIM.” AND THE PEOPLE ANSWERED HIM NOT A WORD.”

YES, “SLAVES OF ‘RELIGIOUS’ WORLD CULTURES FACE THE SAME ETERNAL JUDGMENT OF THE WORLD’S DETERMINED OPPOSERS OF GOD’S MERCY, HIS GRACE, & HIS LOVE – THEY WANT TO ‘PROVE TO THEMSELVES’ THAT THEY DIDN’T THEN NOR NOW DESERVED ‘CRUCIFIXION WITH CHRIST’!

SEVERAL THINGS YOU MUST BE AWARE OF RELATED TO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ‘FLESH-RELIGIOUS-CULTURES’ & THE ETERNAL TRUTH OF THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST JESUS! WHAT WAS IT THAT ELIJAH WAS INSISTING UPON?

FOR ONE THING, PROPHETIC MINISTRY DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN ‘RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY –LIKE THE WORSHIP OF BAAL OR ANY FALSE GOD’ & THE TRUE WORSHIP OF HOLY GOD APART FROM ANY COMPROMISING MIND HEART, & SPIRIT!

SECONDLY, PROPHETIC MINISTRY DOESN’T WASTE TIME WITH FOLKS WHO WANT TO ‘THINK’ ABOUT BOWING BEFORE GOD OR NOT! WHAT DID THE PROPHET SAY? “HOW LONG HALT YOU BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLLOW HIM: BUT IF BAAL, FOLLOW HIM.” AND THE PEOPLE ANSWERED HIM NOT A WORD.”

HOW LONG HALT YOU? HESITATING ELDERLY MEN STILL SHAKE WITH A CANE IN HAND, BUT THEY STILL CAN’T DECIDE ABOUT THEIR ‘GRIT’ OR GOD’S GRACE! IT’S NOT MORE TIME THAT YOU NEED, BUT TRUE TRUST IN THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD TO SEEK YOU OUT, EXPOSE YOUR STATE OF MIND & HEART, & UNVEIL FOR YOU HIS BLESSED FINISHED WORK THROUGH THE WILLFUL YIELDEDNESS OF CHRIST TO TAKE YOU TO THE CROSS WITH HIM & GET RID OF THAT SATANIC, SIN-CONTROLLED MIND & HEART!

IN THE THIRD PLACE, SLAVES OF WORLD CULTURES, THOUGH ON THE SURFACE, APPEAR TO ‘BE RELIGIOUS’, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH YIELDING TO AN ALREADY “FINISHED WORK”? DOES “LIMP-LUSTER” ALLEGIANCE DEFINE TRUE DISCIPLES? IT WAS SPURGEON, IN HIS MEMORIAL LIBRARY SERIES, (VOLUME 3,P.183-184), WHO SAID: [IT’S AWESOME! GET READY!!], “I SPEAK NOT, THIS MORNING, TO THE THOROUGHLY WORLDLY; WITH THEM I HAVE NOTHING NOW TO DO; ANOTHER TIME I MAY ADDRESS THEM. BUT NOW I AM SPEAKING TO YOU WHO ARE SEEKING TO SERVE GOD & TO SERVE SATAN; YOU WHO ARE TRYING TO BE CHRISTIAN WORLDLINGS, TRYING TO BE MEMBERS OF THAT EXTRAORDINARY CORPORATION, CALLED THE ‘RELIGIOUS WORLD,’ WHICH IS A THING THAT NEVER HAD AN EXISTENCE EXCEPT IN TITLE. YOU ARE ENDEAVORING, IF YOU CAN, TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND WHICH IT SHALL BE; YOU KNOW YOU CAN NOT SERVE BOTH, & YOU ARE COMING NOW TO THE PERIOD WHEN YOU ARE SAYING, ‘WHICH SHALL IT BE? SHALL I GO THOROUGHLY INTO SIN, & REVEL IN THE PLEASURES OF THE EARTH, “OR” BECOME A SERVANT OF GOD?” NOW, I SAY TO YOU THIS MORNING, AS THE PROPHET DID, ‘HOW LONG HALT YOU?’ SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN HALTING UNTIL YOUR HAIR HAS GROWN GRAY; THE SIXTIETH YEAR OF SOME OF YOU IS DRAWING NIGH. IS NOT SIXTY YEARS LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE YOUR CHOICE? ‘HOW LONG HALT YOU?’”

FOURTH, SERVANTS OF THE ONE TRUE GOD? OH, THAT WALK OF FAITH IS SO FAR BEYOND ‘MENTAL ASSENT’ – IT’S FOUNDATION IS RESPONSE TO JESUS’ CHALLENGE IN LUKE 6:46-49 WHEN HE SAID: “ & WHY DO YOU CALL ME, LORD, LORD, & DO NOT THE THINGS WHICH I SAY? WHOSOEVER COMES TO ME, & HEARS MY SAYINGS, & DOES THEM, I WILL SHOW YOU TO WHOM HE IS LIKE:

HE IS LIKE A MAN WHICH BUILT A HOUSE, & DIGGED DEEP, & LAID THE FOUNDATION ON A ROCK; & WHEN THE FLOOD AROSE, THE STREAM BEAT VEHEMENTLY UPON THAT HOUSE, & COULD NOT SHAKE IT: FOR IT WAS FOUNDED UPON A ROCK. BUT HE THAT HEARETH, & DOEST NOT, IS LIKE A MAN THAT WITHOUT A FOUNDATION BUILT A HOUSE UPON THE EARTH; AGAINST WHICH THE STREAM DID BEAT VEHEMENTLY, & IMMEDIATELY IT FELL, & THE RUIN OF THAT HOUSE WAS GREAT.”

I MUST SHARE PAUL THE APOSTLE’S WORDS IN 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-4:21!! (READ ALL!)

I WANT YOU TO HEAR WORDS FROM “THE AMERICAN HYMNAL” OF A HYMN BY DANIEL C.ROBERTS & GEORGE W.WARREN ENTITLED, “GOD OF OUR FATHERS, WHOSE ALMIGHTY HAND.” IT SAYS: “GOD OF OUR FATHERS, WHOSE ALMIGHTY HAND LEADS FORTH IN BEAUTY ALL THE STARRY BAND OF SHINING WORLDS IN SPLENDOR THRO’ THE SKIES, OUR GRATEFUL SONGS BEFORE YOUR THRONE ARISE.

YOUR LOVE DIVINE HAS LED US IN THE PAST, IN THIS FREE LAND BY YOU OUR LOT IS CAST; YOU BE OUR RULER, GUARDIAN, GUIDE & STAY, YOUR WORD OUR LAW, YOUR PATHS OUR CHOSEN WAY.

FROM WAR’S ALARMS, FROM DEADLY PESTILENCE, YOU BE OUR STRONG ARM OUR EVER SURE DEFENCE; YOUR TRUE FAITH IN OUR HEARTS INCRESE, YOUR BOUNTEOUS GOODNESS NOURISH US IN PEACE.

REFRESH YOUR PEOPLE ON THEIR TOILSOME WAY, LEAD US FROM NIGHT TO NEVER-ENDING DAY; FILL ALL OUR LIVES WITH LOVE & GRACE DIVINE, & GLORY, LAUD & PRAISE BE EVER THINE. AMEN! OR “SO BE IT!!” CAN “YOU” SAY AMEN TO THAT?

IS YOUR ‘LIFE OF FAITH IN CHRIST’ LIVED VICTORIOUSLY BECAUSE OF HIS ABIDING PRESENCE IN YOU, OR ARE YOU STILL HELD BACK FROM HIS ETERNAL VICTORY BY THE “BEST” YOUR ‘FLESH’ HAS TO OFFER? OR, UNDERSTANDING, MY OLD SIN-NATURE WAS CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, AND WHEN THE RESURRECTED CHRIST KNOCKED ON YOUR HEART’S DOOR, DID YOU WILLFULLY OPEN THE DOOR FOR HIM TO COME INTO YOU, EXTENDING HIS LOVE, EXPRESSING HIS POWER, & YOU, ‘DEAD TO SELF’, INVITED THE KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS TO BE HIMSELF THROUGH YOU, REIGNING SUPREMELY AS “VICTOR OVER THE WORLD, YOUR SIN-NATURE, & SATAN HIMSELF”?? AND,DO “YOU” ‘DIE DAILY’, TAKING THE SENTENCE OF DEATH UNTO YOURSELF IN ORDER THAT HIS RESURRECTION PRESENCE WILL BE MANIFESTED IN YOU & THROUGH YOU MOMENT BY MOMENT, DAY BY DAY, YES, ETERNALLY IN HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM RULE OVER THE LAW OF SIN & DEATH?

IN “THE AMERICAN HYMNAL” PUBLISHED IN 1933 BY BROADMAN PRESS, NASHVILLE, TENN., IS A HYMN ENTITLED, (P93), “YOU SERVANTS OF GOD, YOUR MASTER PROCLAIM”, (BY C.WESLEY & F.J.HAYDEN.). IT SAYS: “YOU SERVANTS OF GOD, YOUR MASTER PROCLAIM, & PUBLISH ABROAD HIS WONDERFUL NAME; THE NAME ALL-VICTORIOUS OF JESUS EXTOL; HIS KINGDOM IS GLORIOUS, HE RULES OVER ALL.

GOD RULES ON HIGH, ALMIGHTY TO SAVE; & STILL HE IS NIGH- HIS PRESENCE WE HAVE; THE GREAT CONGREGATION HIS TRIUMPH SHALL SING, ASCRIBING SALVATION TO JESUS OUR KING.

SALVATION TO OUR GOD, WHO SITS ON THE THRONE, LET ALL CRY ALOUD & HONOR THE SON; THE PRAISES OF JESUS THE ANGELS PROCLAIM, FALL DOWN ON THEIR FACES & WORSHIP THE LAMB.

THEN LET US ADORE & GIVE HIM HIS RIGHT, ALL GLORY, & POWER, & WISDOM & MIGHT; ALL HONOR & BLESSING WITH ANGELS ABOVE, & THANKS NEVER CEASING, & INFINITE LOVE.”

DO “YOU” HONOR HIM & BLESS HIS NAME FOR THE ETERNAL SALVATION HE BOUGHT & BROUGHT TO YOU THROUGH HIS “BLOOD SACRIFICE”?

SERVANTS OF THE ONE TRUE GOD?”

BY:J.FARRELL FISHER,JUNE23-24,2019

I REMEMBER A PHRASE OF ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING WHEN SHE WROTE: “THE BLUE OF HEAVEN IS LARGER THEN THE CLOUD”; & IT’S SO TRUE THAT “SLAVES OF WORLD CULTURES DO LIVE IN ‘DARKNESS’, OR ‘THE CLOUD OF SELF-INTEREST ONLY’,REGARDLESS OF THE PRICE TO BE PAID TO KEEP ONE IN THE ‘DARK WORLD’ OF THEIR SELF-SERVING LIFE, BUT THE SERVANTS OF THE ONE TRUE GOD LIVE IN THE “LIGHT” THAT NEVER CEASES TO SHINE, EVEN WHEN THE WORLD, THE OLD SIN-NATURE, OR THE ‘FLESH’ WOULD LIKE TO OVER-RULE THE “LIGHT” SO THEY CAN CONTINUE IN THAT ENSLAVING WORLD CULTURE OF ‘DARKNESS’!

BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THERE ARE, EVEN IN THIS 21^ST CENTURY, MILLIONS & MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CHOSEN BY GOD HIMSELF TO BE HIS SERVANTS, “FOOT-WASHERS OF KING JESUS”, &,YES, WILLING SERVANTS OF THE “SLAVES OF WORLD-CULTURES” SO THAT THE ‘SLAVES’ CAN AT LEAST ‘SEE THE LIGHT’ WHETHER THEY CHOOSE TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A WILLING SERVANT OR NOT!

SLAVES OF WORLD CULTURES ‘LIVE’ UNDER THAT ‘CLOUD OF DARKNESS’ THOUGH THEY THEMSELVES INTERPRET ‘DARKNESS’ AS ‘light’ FOR THEIR WORLD! SLAVES OF WORLD CULTURES SEE NO NEED OF GOD ABIDING WITH THEM SINCE IN THEMSELVES THEY’VE DISCERNED THE ‘FLESH LIFE’S’ “WISDOM” (?) TO THRESH OUT FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THEY ‘SEED’ IN THEIR SIN-NATURED SOULS!!

YET, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF EARTHLY HUMAN EXISTENCE, THERE HAVE BEEN INDIVIDUALS WHO DISCERNED, BY THE GRACE OF GOD EVEN THEN, THAT ‘THEY’ ARE ON THIS EARTH WITH ETERNAL PURPOSE INTENDED, &,YES, LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEY NEITHER SHEDDED OR THREADED THE “NEED” OF THE “BLOOD ATONEMENT” THROUGH THE ‘COMING’ SACRIFICE OF THE KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS, BIRTHED BY MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, WHO THEN FACED THE “CROSS”, “DEATH”, & “RESURRECTION” TO REIGN SUPREMELY FOREVER AS THE VICTORIOUS CONQUEROR OVER THE ‘FLESH’, THE ‘WORLD’, & YES, OVER SATAN HIMSELF! “JESUS IS LORD OVER ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER”!!!

IN THE OLD “BROADMAN HYMNAL” OF 1940, (PUBLISHED BY “BROADMAN PRESS”, NASHVILLE, TENN.”) IS A HYMN WRITTEN BY FANNY J.CROSBY & ROBERT LOWRY ENTITLED, “ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME.” IT SAYS: “ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME; WHAT HAVE I TO ASK BESIDE? CAN I DOUBT HIS TENDER MERCY, WHO THROUGH LIFE HAS BEEN MY GUIDE? HEAVELY PEACE, DIVINEST COMFORT, HERE BY FAITH IN HIM TO DWELL! FOR I KNOW, WHATE’ER BEFALL ME, JESUS DOES ALL THINGS WELL.

ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME, CHEERS EACH WINDING PATH I TREAD, GIVES ME GRACE FOR EVERY TRIAL, FEEDS ME WITH THE LIVING BREAD. THOUGH MY WEARY STEPS MAY FALTER, & MY SOUL ATHIRST MAY BE, GUSHING FROM THE “ROCK” BEFORE ME, LO! A SPRING OF JOY I SEE.

ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME; OH, THE FULLNESS OF HIS LOVE! PERFECT REST TO ME IS PROMISED IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ABOVE. WHEN MY SPIRIT, CLOTHED IMMORTAL, WINGS ITS FLIGHT TO REALMS OF DAY, THIS MY SONG THRO’ ENDLESS AGES: JESUS LED ME ALL THE WAY.”

BUT! “SLAVES UNDER A WORLD CULTURE”, WARPED, NOT ONLY BY THE ‘FLESHLY’ REIGN OF ONE’S OLD SIN-NATURE, NOT ONLY BY THAT WARPED, GODLESS CULTURE, BUT ALSO BY SATAN HIMSELF? IN LUKE 22:31-32, THE LORD SAID TO SIMON PETER, “SIMON, SIMON, BEHOLD, SATAN HAS DESIRED TO HAVE YOU, THAT HE MAY SIFT YOU AS WHEAT: BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU, THAT YOUR FAITH FAIL NOT: & WHEN YOU ARE CONVERTED, STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS (IN THE FAITH!).” AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE THOSE WHO DO NOT CHOOSE TO LIVE IN THE “UNCHANGING, ETERNAL, REDEMPTIVE TRUTH” FOUND IN THE “SHED BLOOD”, THE “BURIAL”, & THE “RESURRECTION OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST”!

IN EPHESIANS 2:12 PAUL WROTE: “THAT AT THAT TIME YOU WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, & STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, HAVING NO HOPE, & WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD.” HAS THAT CHANGED? IS THERE STILL THOSE IN THE WORLD TODAY WHO ARE “STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, WHO (IN THEMSELVES) HAVE NO HOPE OF A BLESSED, ETERNAL LIFE, WHO, SADLY, LIVE WITHOUT HOLY GOD IN THEIR EVERY-DAY LIVES”?

“SLAVES UNDER A WORLD CULTURE”? IS THAT THE “SPIRITUALLY UNCLOTHED”? HOW CLEAR WAS JOHN WHEN HE WROTE IN 1 JOHN 3:10 HE WROTE: “IN THIS THE CHILDREN OF GOD ARE MANIFEST, & THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL: WHOSOEVER DOES NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, NEITHER HE THAT LOVES NOT HIS BROTHER.” IS IT CLEAR TO YOU THAT TRUE UNBELIEF IN GOD HAS MORE TO DO WITH WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR YOU THROUGH CHRIST AT THE CROSS & EMPTY TOMB, READY, UPON YOUR WILLINGNESS TO OPEN YOUR HEART’S DOOR & ALLOW HIM TO COME IN? (HE’S KNOCKED BEFORE – HE’S STILL KNOCKS TODAY UPON EVERY LIFE, EVERY PEOPLE, EVERY NATION, EVEN EVERY MODERN-DAY ‘CHURCH GATHERING’, ASKING TO COME IN!) BUT: “SLAVES UNDER A WORLD CULTURE” LIVE BOUND UNDER THAT ‘CLOUD OF UNBELIEF’! MAY 10, 2016, I WROTE THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

“UNBELIEF IS THE ROAD TO SUPERSTITION WITH THE DEVIL’S INTENT OF GOD’S ELIMINATION. TO HIM, TRUTH IS A LIE, AS SOULS TO HIM EASILY DENY THE ONE TRUE GOD & SAVIOR OF MEN, TO BE DECEIVED BY SATAN’S DECEPTIVE SPIN.

“YOU WON’T DIE” WAS HIS VOICE TO EVE, AS HE CAME TO EASILY DECEIVE, TO TURN HER FROM GOD TO THE FLESHLY SOD, SELDOM EVEN GIVING AN INCH OF ‘A FLESH NOD TO GOD’!

‘WISE MEN’ ARE THE DEVIL’S ‘DUMBED-DOWN’, EVENTUALLY CHANGING THEIR SMILES INTO FROWNS; ‘PLEASURE-SEEKERS’ ARE HIS MAIN TARGETS, “PLEASING GOD?”, NOT EVEN A NOD!

“SIN IS GOD’S TERM,” SATAN SO EASILY SPOUTS, BLINDING MEN TO WHAT GOD’S ALL ABOUT. SEPARATION FROM “TRUTH” IS HIS MAIN OCCUPATION: “QUIT LISTENING TO THOSE WHO SPEAK OF “GOD’S RESTORATION”!”

SATAN WANTS YOU BOUND, SPIRITUALLY UNSOUND, INDULGING THE ‘FLESH’ TO YOUR OWN SATISFACTION. TO HIM, GOD’S INTENT HAS NO RELEVANCE TO A DEVIL’S PROGRAM OF ONE’S PERSONAL DEVASTATION.

“ME, MY, MINE” ARE HIS THEMES OF PERSONAL PRAISE, WITH NO DESIRE OF HEAVENLY ANTHEMS RAISED” – ‘DENY YOURSELF’? WHAT A RIDICULOUS REQUEST! GIVE ME YOUR ‘WILL’ AS YOUR MOST BELOVED BEQUEST!”

BUT THE SAVIOR OF MEN, CHRIST JESUS IS HIS NAME, NEEDS NO ‘HALL OF FAME’, BECAUSE ACROSS OUR VAST WORLDS IS HIS SIGNATURE STAMPED, & ESPECIALLY IN THE LIVES OF MEN WHO WITH CHRIST HAVE CAMPED.

FORGIVENESS OF SIN IS HIS DIVINE APPOINTMENT & RENEWAL OF TRUE FAITH IN THE SAVIOR’S ANOINTMENTS – “FREE AT LAST” IS THEIR HOLY CRY AS UPON THE SAVIOR THEY FAITHFULLY RELY.

“SET APART” TO HIS GLORY, TRANSFORMING MEN HIS EVERLASTING STORY, WITH REPENTANT MEN BECOMING WITNESSES OF HIM, EXTENDING HIS KINGDOM, YES, WITH REDEMPTIVE HYMNS.

SPENDING THEIR LIVES IN HIS GLORIFICATION, DAILY DESIRING HIS CONTINUOUS EXALTATION, TRUE MEN OF FAITH WILL HONOR THE SON, AS DAY BY DAY, PERSON BY PERSON, THEY SHARE CHRIST’S TRUTH OF DIVINE RESTORATION.

THERE COMES A TIME WHEN ONE EXAMINES HIS LIFE, & BEGINS TO EVALUATE, “HAVE I ENDED SOME STRIFE, AS I POINTED OTHERS TO THE SAVIOR OF THEIR LIFE?” “HAVE I SHOWN THEM THE DOOR TO THE FRUIT OF HIS SPIRIT,” FULLY DESIRING HIS HOLY BLESSING AS I SHOWED THEM “THE DOOR” TO HIS PRECIOUS RESTING”?

“COME UNTO ME”, IS STILL HIS CALL, AS REPENTANT MEN FAITHFULLY FALL, RESTING IN HIS ‘FINISHED WORK’, THEY RISE TO DUTY & CALLING THAT THEY’LL NEVER SHIRK!

BUT IF YOU’RE NOT PREPARED FOR THE DAY OF DEATH, WHAT WILL YOUR FLORIST HAVE TO POST ON YOUR DOOR? DEAD FLOWERS FOR A LIFE POORLY LIVED, OR A WELCOMING WREATH TO GOD’S HOLY PRESENCE, BECAUSE YOU AT LEAST BOASTED IN HIS FINISHED WORK & YOUR RESTORATION?

BIRTHED TO “NEW LIFE” – & IN HIM YOU NEVER DIE, BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE, YOU ETERNALLY RELY – FROM THE DOOR OF DEATH TO HIS THRONE ON HIGH, YOU GIVE EVIDENCE: “ON HIM, I’LL NEVER DENY”, BUT CONSTANTLY HEAR HIS FAITHFUL REPLY: ‘YOUR WALK OF FAITH HAS FINISHED ITS COURSE – WELCOME HOME, SON, TO YOUR MERCIFUL REWARD.”

EXAMINE FOR YOURSELF EPHESIANS 2 WHERE HOLY GOD INSPIRED PAUL TO EXPOSE THE SINFUL CONDITION OF ALL MEN, TO UNVEIL SALVATION THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, & TO UNVEIL THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF GOD FOR JEW & GENTILE! “GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD!”

SLAVES OF WORLD CULTURES OR SERVANTS OF THE ONE TRUE GOD? IN 1 KINGS 18:21 ELIJAH CHALLENGED MEN THEN & NOW WHEN HE ASKED, “HOW LONG HALT YOU BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLLOW HIM; BUT IF BAAL, THEN FOLLOW HIM.” AND THE PEOPLE ANSWERED HIM NOT A WORD.”

YES, “SLAVES OF ‘RELIGIOUS’ WORLD CULTURES FACE THE SAME ETERNAL JUDGMENT OF THE WORLD’S DETERMINED OPPOSERS OF GOD’S MERCY, HIS GRACE, & HIS LOVE – THEY WANT TO ‘PROVE TO THEMSELVES’ THAT THEY DIDN’T THEN NOR NOW DESERVED ‘CRUCIFIXION WITH CHRIST’!

SEVERAL THINGS YOU MUST BE AWARE OF RELATED TO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ‘FLESH-RELIGIOUS-CULTURES’ & THE ETERNAL TRUTH OF THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST JESUS! WHAT WAS IT THAT ELIJAH WAS INSISTING UPON?

FOR ONE THING, PROPHETIC MINISTRY DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN ‘RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY –LIKE THE WORSHIP OF BAAL OR ANY FALSE GOD’ & THE TRUE WORSHIP OF HOLY GOD APART FROM ANY COMPROMISING MIND HEART, & SPIRIT!

SECONDLY, PROPHETIC MINISTRY DOESN’T WASTE TIME WITH FOLKS WHO WANT TO ‘THINK’ ABOUT BOWING BEFORE GOD OR NOT! WHAT DID THE PROPHET SAY? “HOW LONG HALT YOU BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLLOW HIM: BUT IF BAAL, FOLLOW HIM.” AND THE PEOPLE ANSWERED HIM NOT A WORD.”

HOW LONG HALT YOU? HESITATING ELDERLY MEN STILL SHAKE WITH A CANE IN HAND, BUT THEY STILL CAN’T DECIDE ABOUT THEIR ‘GRIT’ OR GOD’S GRACE! IT’S NOT MORE TIME THAT YOU NEED, BUT TRUE TRUST IN THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD TO SEEK YOU OUT, EXPOSE YOUR STATE OF MIND & HEART, & UNVEIL FOR YOU HIS BLESSED FINISHED WORK THROUGH THE WILLFUL YIELDEDNESS OF CHRIST TO TAKE YOU TO THE CROSS WITH HIM & GET RID OF THAT SATANIC, SIN-CONTROLLED MIND & HEART!

IN THE THIRD PLACE, SLAVES OF WORLD CULTURES, THOUGH ON THE SURFACE, APPEAR TO ‘BE RELIGIOUS’, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH YIELDING TO AN ALREADY “FINISHED WORK”? DOES “LIMP-LUSTER” ALLEGIANCE DEFINE TRUE DISCIPLES? IT WAS SPURGEON, IN HIS MEMORIAL LIBRARY SERIES, (VOLUME 3,P.183-184), WHO SAID: [IT’S AWESOME! GET READY!!], “I SPEAK NOT, THIS MORNING, TO THE THOROUGHLY WORLDLY; WITH THEM I HAVE NOTHING NOW TO DO; ANOTHER TIME I MAY ADDRESS THEM. BUT NOW I AM SPEAKING TO YOU WHO ARE SEEKING TO SERVE GOD & TO SERVE SATAN; YOU WHO ARE TRYING TO BE CHRISTIAN WORLDLINGS, TRYING TO BE MEMBERS OF THAT EXTRAORDINARY CORPORATION, CALLED THE ‘RELIGIOUS WORLD,’ WHICH IS A THING THAT NEVER HAD AN EXISTENCE EXCEPT IN TITLE. YOU ARE ENDEAVORING, IF YOU CAN, TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND WHICH IT SHALL BE; YOU KNOW YOU CAN NOT SERVE BOTH, & YOU ARE COMING NOW TO THE PERIOD WHEN YOU ARE SAYING, ‘WHICH SHALL IT BE? SHALL I GO THOROUGHLY INTO SIN, & REVEL IN THE PLEASURES OF THE EARTH, “OR” BECOME A SERVANT OF GOD?” NOW, I SAY TO YOU THIS MORNING, AS THE PROPHET DID, ‘HOW LONG HALT YOU?’ SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN HALTING UNTIL YOUR HAIR HAS GROWN GRAY; THE SIXTIETH YEAR OF SOME OF YOU IS DRAWING NIGH. IS NOT SIXTY YEARS LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE YOUR CHOICE? ‘HOW LONG HALT YOU?’”

FOURTH, SERVANTS OF THE ONE TRUE GOD? OH, THAT WALK OF FAITH IS SO FAR BEYOND ‘MENTAL ASSENT’ – IT’S FOUNDATION IS RESPONSE TO JESUS’ CHALLENGE IN LUKE 6:46-49 WHEN HE SAID: “ & WHY DO YOU CALL ME, LORD, LORD, & DO NOT THE THINGS WHICH I SAY? WHOSOEVER COMES TO ME, & HEARS MY SAYINGS, & DOES THEM, I WILL SHOW YOU TO WHOM HE IS LIKE:

HE IS LIKE A MAN WHICH BUILT A HOUSE, & DIGGED DEEP, & LAID THE FOUNDATION ON A ROCK; & WHEN THE FLOOD AROSE, THE STREAM BEAT VEHEMENTLY UPON THAT HOUSE, & COULD NOT SHAKE IT: FOR IT WAS FOUNDED UPON A ROCK. BUT HE THAT HEARETH, & DOEST NOT, IS LIKE A MAN THAT WITHOUT A FOUNDATION BUILT A HOUSE UPON THE EARTH; AGAINST WHICH THE STREAM DID BEAT VEHEMENTLY, & IMMEDIATELY IT FELL, & THE RUIN OF THAT HOUSE WAS GREAT.”

I MUST SHARE PAUL THE APOSTLE’S WORDS IN 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-4:21!! (READ ALL!)

I WANT YOU TO HEAR WORDS FROM “THE AMERICAN HYMNAL” OF A HYMN BY DANIEL C.ROBERTS & GEORGE W.WARREN ENTITLED, “GOD OF OUR FATHERS, WHOSE ALMIGHTY HAND.” IT SAYS: “GOD OF OUR FATHERS, WHOSE ALMIGHTY HAND LEADS FORTH IN BEAUTY ALL THE STARRY BAND OF SHINING WORLDS IN SPLENDOR THRO’ THE SKIES, OUR GRATEFUL SONGS BEFORE YOUR THRONE ARISE.

YOUR LOVE DIVINE HAS LED US IN THE PAST, IN THIS FREE LAND BY YOU OUR LOT IS CAST; YOU BE OUR RULER, GUARDIAN, GUIDE & STAY, YOUR WORD OUR LAW, YOUR PATHS OUR CHOSEN WAY.

FROM WAR’S ALARMS, FROM DEADLY PESTILENCE, YOU BE OUR STRONG ARM OUR EVER SURE DEFENCE; YOUR TRUE FAITH IN OUR HEARTS INCRESE, YOUR BOUNTEOUS GOODNESS NOURISH US IN PEACE.

REFRESH YOUR PEOPLE ON THEIR TOILSOME WAY, LEAD US FROM NIGHT TO NEVER-ENDING DAY; FILL ALL OUR LIVES WITH LOVE & GRACE DIVINE, & GLORY, LAUD & PRAISE BE EVER THINE. AMEN! OR “SO BE IT!!” CAN “YOU” SAY AMEN TO THAT?

IS YOUR ‘LIFE OF FAITH IN CHRIST’ LIVED VICTORIOUSLY BECAUSE OF HIS ABIDING PRESENCE IN YOU, OR ARE YOU STILL HELD BACK FROM HIS ETERNAL VICTORY BY THE “BEST” YOUR ‘FLESH’ HAS TO OFFER? OR, UNDERSTANDING, MY OLD SIN-NATURE WAS CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, AND WHEN THE RESURRECTED CHRIST KNOCKED ON YOUR HEART’S DOOR, DID YOU WILLFULLY OPEN THE DOOR FOR HIM TO COME INTO YOU, EXTENDING HIS LOVE, EXPRESSING HIS POWER, & YOU, ‘DEAD TO SELF’, INVITED THE KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS TO BE HIMSELF THROUGH YOU, REIGNING SUPREMELY AS “VICTOR OVER THE WORLD, YOUR SIN-NATURE, & SATAN HIMSELF”?? AND,DO “YOU” ‘DIE DAILY’, TAKING THE SENTENCE OF DEATH UNTO YOURSELF IN ORDER THAT HIS RESURRECTION PRESENCE WILL BE MANIFESTED IN YOU & THROUGH YOU MOMENT BY MOMENT, DAY BY DAY, YES, ETERNALLY IN HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM RULE OVER THE LAW OF SIN & DEATH?

IN “THE AMERICAN HYMNAL” PUBLISHED IN 1933 BY BROADMAN PRESS, NASHVILLE, TENN., IS A HYMN ENTITLED, (P93), “YOU SERVANTS OF GOD, YOUR MASTER PROCLAIM”, (BY C.WESLEY & F.J.HAYDEN.). IT SAYS: “YOU SERVANTS OF GOD, YOUR MASTER PROCLAIM, & PUBLISH ABROAD HIS WONDERFUL NAME; THE NAME ALL-VICTORIOUS OF JESUS EXTOL; HIS KINGDOM IS GLORIOUS, HE RULES OVER ALL.

GOD RULES ON HIGH, ALMIGHTY TO SAVE; & STILL HE IS NIGH- HIS PRESENCE WE HAVE; THE GREAT CONGREGATION HIS TRIUMPH SHALL SING, ASCRIBING SALVATION TO JESUS OUR KING.

SALVATION TO OUR GOD, WHO SITS ON THE THRONE, LET ALL CRY ALOUD & HONOR THE SON; THE PRAISES OF JESUS THE ANGELS PROCLAIM, FALL DOWN ON THEIR FACES & WORSHIP THE LAMB.

THEN LET US ADORE & GIVE HIM HIS RIGHT, ALL GLORY, & POWER, & WISDOM & MIGHT; ALL HONOR & BLESSING WITH ANGELS ABOVE, & THANKS NEVER CEASING, & INFINITE LOVE.”

DO “YOU” HONOR HIM & BLESS HIS NAME FOR THE ETERNAL SALVATION HE BOUGHT & BROUGHT TO YOU THROUGH HIS “BLOOD SACRIFICE”?

J.FARRELL FISHER, MAY 31,2019

HOW AWARE ARE YOU OF, YES, THE DANGER OF “ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES”? THOSE SATAN-INSPIRED & FALLEN-NATURE ‘DISEASES’ HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COMMON & ACCEPTABLE, EVEN BY ADAM & EVE THO’ EMBARASSED WHEN THEY REALIZED THEIR ‘NAKEDNESS’; GENESIS 3:7 SAYS, “AND THE EYES OF THEM BOTH WERE OPENED, & THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED; & THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER, & MADE THEMSELVES APRONS.”

IN HUMAN NATURE, VOID OF SOVEREIGN PRESENCE THROUGH THE “BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD, THE RESURRECTED SAVIOR”, THERE IS NO HOPE OR TRUE ACCEPTANCE OF THE ETERNAL SALVATION THAT PROPERLY “DRESSES THE SPIRITUALLY NAKEDNESS IN UNREGENERATE LIVES” APART FROM GOD’S KNOCK ON A NAKED ONE’S HEART, HIS KNOCK TO ALERT THE NAKED ONE’S MIND, & BY HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTION TO UNVEIL THE WILL OF FALLEN MAN OF HIS/HER NEED TO “REPENT, REST IN, REACH FOR THE FREE GIFT OF AMAZING GRACE” & BE WRAPPED IN THE “FREE GIFT OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST” SINCE “ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRE” IS DESCRIBED BY HOLY GOD IN ISAIAH 64:6 AS: (LET ME SHARE THE WHOLE VERSE!),

“BUT WE ARE ALL AS AN UNCLEAN THING, & ALL ‘OUR’ RIGHTEOUSNESSES ARE AS FILTHY RAGS (THAT’S MENSTRUAL RAGS!); & WE ALL DO FADE AS A LEAF; & OUR INIQUITIES, LIKE THE WIND, HAVE TAKEN US AWAY.” ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES IS A “NEVER LOOSING TIME EFFORT” & A“BINDING,BLINDING,BELITTLING, AND SAD BESMEARMENT OF THE SOVEREIGN PRICELESSNESS OF GOD’S GRACE”!

CERTAINLY HOLY GOD, IN HIS OMNISCIENCE, “KNEW” WHEN HE CREATED MANKIND WITH FREEDOM OF CHOICE OF ALLEGIANCE TO “HIM” OR ALLEGIANCE TO “SELF” THAT “SELF” WOULD HAVE A CRUDE CROSS TO WALK OVER THAT LED TO HELL ITSELF, BUT GOD WANTED THEM ON THE “BRIDGE OF AMAZING LOVE, GRACE, & MERCY, TO BE BEFORE THEM WITH A CHOICE: FAULTY BRIDGE OR THE FAITHFUL BRIDGE OF THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST HIS SON”! “ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES”? IT WAS ALEXANDER MACLAREN WHO LONG AGO TOOK THE STRONG, RIGHT, CONVICTING STAND SAYING,”THAT WHICH OF ALL THINGS UNFITS MAN FOR THE RECEPTION OF CHRIST AS A SAVIOR, IS NOT GROSS PROFLIGACY & OUTWARD,VEHEMENT TRANSGRESSION, BUT IT IS SELF-COMPLACENCY, FATAL SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, & SELF-SUFFICIENCY.” WOW! OH, HOW TRUE!

“ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES” ARE ALSO CONSTRUCTED ON THE ‘FAULTY FOUNDATION’ OF ‘FLESHLY INFIDELITY’! RICHARD CECIL ONCE SAID, “THE NURSE OF INFIDELITY IS SENSUALITY.” AGAIN, SO TRUE! AND IF THAT’S ‘BLIND REASONING’ TO YOU, BE ASSURED THERE IS THE “GREAT PHYSICIAN”, CHRIST JESUS WHO DOES “OPEN BLIND SPIRITUAL EYES”! IN MATTHEW 9:1-13 THE WORD DECLARES: AND JESUS ENTERED INTO A SHIP, & PASSED OVER, & CAME INTO HIS OWN CITY. & BEHOLD, THEY BROUGHT TO HIM A MAN SICK OF PALSY, LYING ON A BED; & JESUS SEEING THEIR FAITH SAID UNTO THE SICK OF PALSY: “SON, BE OF GOOD CHEER; YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN YOU.”

AND, BEHOLD, CERTAIN OF THE SCRIBES SAID WITHIN THEMSELVES, THIS MAN BLASPHEMES. & JESUS KNOWING THEIR THOUGHTS SAID, “WHEREFORE THINK YOU EVIL IN YOUR HEARTS? FOR WHETHER IS EASIER, TO SAY, ‘YOUR SINS BE FORGIVEN YOU; OR TO SAY, ARISE, & WALK? BUT THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT THE SON OF MAN HAS POWER ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS, (THENSAID HE TO THE SICK OF THE PALSY), ARISE, TAKE UP YOUR BED, & GO INTO YOUR HOUSE.” AND HE AROSE, & DEPARTED TO HIS HOUSE.

BUT WHEN THE MULTITUDES SAW IT, THEY MARVELED, & GLORIFIED GOD, WHICH HAD GIVEN SUCH POWER UNTO MEN. & AS JESUS PASSED FORTH FROM THERE, THEY MARVELLED, & GLORIFIED GOD, WHICH HAD GIVEN SUCH POWER UNTO MEN. & AS JESUS PASSED FROM THERE, HE SAW A MAN NAMED MATTHEW, SITTING AT THE SEAT OF CUSTOM: & HE SAID UNTO HIM, “FOLLOW ME.” AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS JESUS SAT AT MEAT IN THE HOUSE, BEHOLD, MANY PUBLICANS & SINNERS CAME & SAT DOWN WITH JESUS & HIS DISCIPLES. & WHEN THE PHARISEES SAW IT, THEY SAID UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, WHY DOES YOUR MASTER EAT WITH PUBLICANS & SINNERS? BUT WHEN JESUS HEARD IT, HE SAID UNTO THEM, “THEY THAT BE WHOLE NEED NOT A PHYSICIAN, BUT THEY THAT ARE SICK. BUT YOU GO & LEARN WHAT THAT MEANS, I WILL HAVE MERCY, & NOT SACRIFICE; FOR I AM NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS TO REPENTANCE.”

“ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES?” COULD IT BE, THAT EVEN IN ‘TOUGH TIMES’, ‘SERIOUS,PERSONAL WARFARES’, ‘QUESTIONS ABOUT VICES,IMMORAL HABITS, OR A ‘FAULT’, A ‘SLIGHT DEFECT’, OR ‘A LITTLE BIT OF DEGRADING BEHAVIOR’,THAT MEN & WOMEN, & YOUTH & KIDS TODAY, SEE THEIR EXPERIENCE AS ‘LEARNING TO GROW UP & MATURE’, RATHER THAN ROBERT BURNS’ FAMOUS STATEMENT, “PERHAPS THE CHRISTIAN VOLUME IS THE THEME, HOW GUILTLESS BLOOD FOR GUILTY MAN WAS SHED, HOW HE WHO BORE IN HEAVEN THE SECOND NAME HAD NOT ON EARTH WHEREON TO LAY HIS HEAD.” ROBERT BURNS WAS SPEAKING OF KING JESUS WHO “LIVED & DIED, NOT “IN” SIN, BUT HE LIVED, THEN DIED “FOR SIN” TO WASH AWAY ITS PENALTY IN THE ROYAL BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD WHO’D NEVER SINNED!

IN PHILIPPIANS 2:5-13 PAUL WROTE, “LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS: WHO,BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD…(I MUST INSERT AN AWAKENING WORD FROM GOD IN JEREMIAH 17:5, “THUS SAYS THE LORD: CURSED BE THE MAN THAT TRUSTS IN MAN, & MAKES FLESH HIS ARM, & WHOSE HEART DEPARTED FROM THE LORD.” WELL, CONSIDER THIS: CHRIST JESUS NEVER DEPARTED FROM GOD THE FATHER,NEVER! HE WAS & IS GOD IN HUMAN FORM! THERE “IS” THE HOLY TRINITY: GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, & GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ETERNAL “THREE IN ONE”!!), NOW, BACK TO PHILIPPIANS 2:7-13, BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, & TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT, & WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN;

AND BEING FOUND IN FASHION AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, & BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS.WHEREFORE GOD ALSO HAS HIGHLY EXALTED HIM, & GIVEN HIM A NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME: THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THINGS IN HEAVEN, & THINGS IN EARTH, & THINGS UNDER THE EARTH; & THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. WHEREFORE, MY BELOVED,AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, NOT AS IN MY PRESENCE ONLY, BUT NOW MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION IN FEAR & TREMBLING. FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKS IN YOU BOTH TO WILL & TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE.”

THAT LAST SCRIPTURE EXPLAINING “IT’S GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU,” SHOCKS THE ‘SELF-CENTERED “CHRISTIAN” DEVOTEE’ WHO SEES HIMSELF BEING A GOOD ‘FOLLOWER’, BUT IS EASILY ENRAGED WHEN HE/SHE LEARNS THEY’VE BEEN SHAMMED BY ‘RELIGIOUS LEADERS’ RATHER THAN “SHIELDED” BY THE SPIRIT, WHO,YES, INFORMS US OF BEING ‘INFLAMED’ BY THE “STAR” IN THE EAST! MATT.2:2 SAYS, “WHERE IS HE THAT IS BORN KING OF THE JEWS? FOR WE HAVE SEEN HIS STAR IN THE EAST, & HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM.” A “STAR” GIVES LIGHT! OH, & IN JOHN 8:12, THE LORD JESUS SAID: “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: HE THAT FOLLOWS ME SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT SHALL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.”

BUT, SELF-CENTERED ‘PROFESSORS OF FAITH’ WHO PROFESS BUT KNOW NOTHING OF BEING “POSSESSED, OWNED, RULED OVER BY THE INDWELLING CHRIST WHO DOESN’T TAKE YOU INTO DARK PATHWAYS”, BUT “ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES” WILL CAPTURE YOU IN “DARKNESS” RATHER THAN YOU FAITHFULLY BEING LED BY “THE LIGHT OF LIFE, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN HIS RESURRECTED PRESENCE IN YOU AFTER YOUR FINISHED WORK OF FAITH & TRUST IN HIM ALONE – NOT “BEST EFFORT, FALSE ‘CHRISTIANITY’”!!!

AND TO THOSE “ENSLAVED” TO THE FALSE CLAIMS OF JUDAISM IN HIS DAY, REJECTING HIS JOHN 8:12 CLAIM, JESUS THEN SAID IN JOHN 8:24, “I SAID THEREFORE UNTO YOU, THAT YOU SHALL DIE IN YOUR SINS; FOR IF YOU BELIEVE NOT (TRUST NOT,ADHERE NOT TO ME) THAT I AM THE “TRUE MESSIAH”, “GOD IN FLESH”, YOU SHALL DIE IN YOUR SINS”; & THAT INCLUDES, “REGARDLESS HOW ‘RELIGIOUS’ YOU THINK YOU ARE”!! OH, THE LORD JESUS WASN’T FINISHED YET IN HIS EXPOSURE OF THE “JEWISH RELIGIOUS PRETENDERS”! IN JOHN 8:38 JESUS SAID: “I SPEAK THAT WHICH I HAVE SEEN WITH MY FATHER, & YOU “DO” THAT WHICH YOU HAVE SEEN WITH YOUR “father”, (OR SATAN HIMSELF, THE DEVIL OF HELL!).” AND EVEN THOUGH PAUL UNDERSTOOD CLEARLY ‘RELIGIOUS DECEPTION’ IN HIS JEWISH COMMUNITY, AS HE WROTE TO HIS SPIRITUAL SON IN THE FAITH, TIMOTHY, IN 2 TIMOTHY 2:15-26, HE WROTE: “STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDS NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH. BUT SHUN PROFANE & VAIN BABBLINGS: FOR THEY WILL INCREASE UNTO MORE UNGODLINESS. AND ‘THEIR’ WORD WILL EAT AS DOES A CANKER; OF WHOM IS HYMENAEUS & PHILETUS; WHO CONCERNING THE TRUTH HAVE ERRED, SAYING THAT THE RESURRECTION IS PAST ALREADY; & OVERTHROW THE FAITH OF SOME.

NEVERTHELESS THE FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDS SURE, HAVING THIS SEAL, “THE LORD KNOWS THOSE THAT ARE HIS.” &, “LET EVERY ONE THAT NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY. BUT IN A GREAT HOUSE THERE ARE NOT ONLY VESSELS OF GOLD & OF SILVER, BUT ALSO OF WOOD & OF EARTH; & SOME TO HONOR, & SOME TO DISHONOR. IF A MAN THEREFORE PURGE HIMSELF FROM THESE, HE SHALL BE A VESSEL UNTO HONOR,SANCTIFIED,& MEET FOR THE MASTER’S USE, & PREPARED UNTO EVERY GOOD WORK. FLEE ALSO YOUTHFUL LUSTS: BUT FOLLOW RIGHTEOUSNESS, FAITH, CHARITY, PEACE, WITH THEM THAT CALL ON THE LORD OUT OF A PURE HEART.

BUT FOOLISH & UNLEARNED QUESTIONS AVOID, KNOWING THAT THEY GENDER STRIFES (OR SPECULATIONS!). AND THE SERVANT OF THE LORD MUST NOT STRIVE; BUT BE GENTLE UNTO ALL MEN, APT TO TEACH, PATIENT, IN MEEKNESS INSTRUCTING THOSE “THAT OPPOSE THEMSELVES”; IF GOD PERADVENTURE WILL GIVE THEM, REPENTANCE TO THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF THE TRUTH; & THAT THEY MAY RECOVER THEMSELVES OUT OF THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL, WHO ARE TAKEN CAPTIVE BY HIM AT HIS WILL.”

‘SNARED BY SATAN’? ‘TAKEN CAPTIVE BY SATAN AT HIS WILL’? IT WAS JOHN DRYDEN, IN HIS WRITING, “ABSALOM & ACHITOPHEL”, (PT.1,L.79), WHO SAID: “WHEN TO SIN OUR BIASED NATURE LEANS, THE CAREFUL DEVIL IS STILL AT HAND WITH MEANS.” OR, EVEN ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING’S WRITING IN “AURORA LEIGH,” (BK.7,L,105), WHO WROTE: “THE DEVIL’S MOST DEVILISH WHEN RESPECTABLE.”

OH, BUT ONE OF THE BEST STATEMENTS I READ ABOUT SATAN’S ‘BEST’? IN HIS WRITING: “SUENOS”,BY SIR ROGER L’ ESTRANGE, HE SAID: “WHEN THE DEVIL PREACHES THE WORLD’S NEAR AN END.” AND HE, SATAN, PREACHES “ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES”, EVEN PROCLAIMING, “APPROVED BY GOD HIMSELF”! REALLY? ARE YOU AWARE THAT THERE ARE THOSE “RELIGIOUS FOLK” WHO “FEEDS ON ASHES”? THAT’S ISAIAH 44:20! “HE FEEDS ON ASHES; A DECEIVED HEART HAS TURNED HIM ASIDE, THAT CANNOT DELIVER HIS SOUL, NOR SAY, ‘IS THERE NOT A LIE IN MY RIGHT HAND’?”

“ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES”? PAUL SAID IN GALATIANS 6:3, “FOR IF A MAN THINKS HIMSELF TO BE SOMETHING, WHEN HE IS NOTHING, HE DECEIVES HIMSELF.” IT’S TRUE! “ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES” ARE THE FOUNDATION STONES OF “RELIGIOUS PRETENCE” & “RELIGIOUS FABRICATIONS” WITH NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SACRIFICIAL BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD ATONING FOR THEIR FALLING AWAY FROM GOD’S GRACED WAY OF LIVING, GOD HAVING CRUCIFIED THE OLD SIN-NATURE WITH CHRIST, & OFFERING JESUS’S RESURRECTED PRESENCE IN THE BODY GOD HAS DESCRIBED AS ‘WORTHY’ ONLY OF BEING CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST!

“ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES”? IN GENESIS 11:4 WE READ ABOUT WHAT FALLEN MEN CONSIDER THEIR ‘REMEDY’FOR THEIR ‘RELIGIOUS PRETENCES’: AND THEY SAID, “GO TO, LET US BUILD A CITY & A TOWER, WHOSE TOP MAY REACH TO HEAVEN; & LET US MAKE A NAME, LEST WE BE SCATTERED ABROAD UPON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH.” BUT, ZEALOUS SELF OR RELIGIOUS DESIRES, HAVE NOT, CANNOT, WILL NOT BE RECONCILED TO HOLY GOD – ONLY BY CHRIST’S SHED BLOOD ON THE CROSS DO MEN FIND THEIR SINS WASHED AWAY & “NEW BIRTH” GENERATING, BY GOD’S GRACE, HIS ABIDING PRESENCE IN THE REDEEMED HEART & LIFE!!

OH, BUT THERE IS: “THE SOVEREIGN PRICELESSNESS OF GOD’S GRACE”!!! ROMANS 6:23 ILLUMINATELY DESCRIBES IT AS PAUL, INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WROTE: “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN OR THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” WHAT DID PAUL ALSO TELL US IN ROMANS 8:32? HE (GOD) THAT SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON,BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL, HOW SHALL HE NOT WITH HIM ALSO FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?” IN ERIC METAXAS’ BOOK, “7 MEN & THE SECRETS OF THEIR GREATNESS”, INTRODUCED THE BOOK, SAYING, (P.XIV),

“NOW, MY OWN PERSONAL ‘GREATEST’ ROLE MODEL IS JESUS. &YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT HE DIDN’T JUST TALK. OF COURSE HE SAID A LOT OF EXTRAORDINARY THINGS, BUT HE ALSO LIVED WITH HIS DISCIPLES FOR THREE YEARS. THEY SAW HIM EAT & SLEEP& PERFORM MIRACLES. THEY SAW HIM LIVE LIFE & SUFFER & DIE. THEY SAW HIM INTERACT WITH ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING THEMSELVES. HE LIVED AMONG THEM. THAT’S THE MAIN WAY THAT HE COMMUNICATED HIMSELF TO THE MEN WHO WOULD COMMUNICATE HIM TO THE WORLD. THAT’S HOW HE MADE DISCIPLES – WHO WOULD MAKE DISCIPLES, WHO WOULD MAKE DISCIPLES. SO FROM THE GOSPEL STORIES OF JESUS’ LIFE, YOU GET THE IDEA THAT SEEING A PERSON’S LIFE IS AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT AS GETTING A LIST OF LESSONS FROM THAT PERSON. YES, SERMONS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT SEEING THE ACTUAL LIFE OF THE GUY WHO GIVES THE SERMON MIGHT BE EVEN MORE POWERFUL. AND YOU GET THE IDEA THAT HOW YOU LIVE AFFECTS OTHERS. IT TEACHES THEM HOW TO LIVE.”

IN PROVERBS 3:5-8 THE “WISE MAN” WROTE, “TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART; & LEAN NOT UNTO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM ( THAT’S GIVING JESUS THE REINS OF YOUR LIFE, NOT YOU ‘PERFORMING’ FOR HIM!), & HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS. BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES; FEAR THE LORD, & DEPART FROM EVIL. IT SHALL BE HEATH TO YOUR NAVEL, & MARROW TO YOUR BONES.” HOLY GOD SAID TO ISAIAH IN ISAIAH 55:11, “SO SHALL MY WORD BE THAT GOES FORTH OUT OF MY MOUTH:IT SHALL NOT RETUTN TO ME VOID, BUT IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PLEASE, & IT SHALL PROSPER IN THE THING WHEREIN I SENT IT.”

ARE “YOU” FACING LIFE’S “ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES”, REJECTING THEM, ABANDONING THEM, & SHUTTING THE DOOR ON THEM? THEN ARE “YOU” ACCEPTING “THE SOVEREIGN PRICELESSNESS OF GOD’S GRACE”? THERE’S AN OLD “BENEDICTION” CHORUS IN THE BACK OF THE 1940 BROADMAN HYMNAL THAT SAYS: “MAY THE GRACE OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOR, & THE FATHER’S BOUNDLESS LOVE, WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT’S FAVOR, REST UPON US FROM ABOVE. AMEN, OR SO BE IT.” IS THERE A “SO BE IT” IN YOUR SPIRITUAL VOCABULARY & YOUR DAILY SPIRITUAL PILGRIMAGE?

ALSO IN THAT SAME OLD HYMNAL IS ANOTHER “SONG-MESSAGE” ENTITLED, “FOLLOW, I WILL FOLLOW THEE”. IT SAYS: “JESUS CALLS ME, I MUST FOLLOW, FOLLOW HIM TODAY; WHEN HIS TENDER VOICE IS PLEADING, HOW CAN I DELAY? JESUS CALLS ME, I MUST FOLLOW, FOLLOW EVERY HOUR, KNOW THE BLESSING OF HIS PRESENCE, KNOW THE FULLNESS OF HIS POWER.

JESUS CALLS US, I MUST FOLLOW, FOLLOW HIM ALWAYS; WHEN MY SAVIOR GOES BEFORE ME I CAN NEVER STRAY.

FOLLOW, I WILL FOLLOW YOU, MY LORD, FOLLOW EVERY PASSING DAY; MY TOMORROWS ARE ALL KNOWN OF THEE; YOU WILL LEAD ME ALL THE WAY.” BEING LED BY GOD TRULY IS BEING LED BY HIS GRACE, HIS MERCY, & HIS LOVE!

EXODUS 13:18 TELLS US THAT GOD LEADS US THROUGH LIFE’S WILDERNESSES. ISAIAH 63:12 SAYS GOD LED US WITH HIS RIGHT HAND.ROMANS 8:14 SAYS WE’RE LED BY GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT, & ESPECIALLY SINCE THE WORD SAYS, THE SPIRIT GUIDES US INTO ALL TRUTH! WHAT ABOUT THE INSPIRATION OF GALATIANS 5:16-25? THIS I SAY THEN, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, & YOU SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH. FOR THE FLESH LUSTS AGAINST THE SPIRIT, & THE SPIRIT AGAINST THE FLESH: & THESE ARE CONTRARY THE ONE TO THE OTHER: SO THAT YOU CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD.BUT IF YOU BE LED OF THE SPIRIT, YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW.

NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE MANIFEST, WHICH ARE THESE: ADULTERY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNES, LASCIVIOUSNESS, IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, HATRED, VARIANCE, EMULATIONS, WRATH, STRIFE, SEDITIONS, HERESIES, ENVYINGS, MURDERS, DRUNKENNESS, REVELLINGS, & SUCH LIKE: OF THE WHICH I TELL YOU BEFORE, AS I HAVE ALSO TOLD YOU IN TIME PAST, THAT THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE,JOY,PEACE, LONGSUFFERING,GENTLENESS,GOODNESS,FAITH, MEEKNESS,TEMPERANCE; AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW. AND THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S “HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH, WITH THE AFFECTIONS & LUSTS. IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT.”

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WALK? “BEST EFFORT”? “TRYING HARD”? OR, DAY BY DAY, “TAKING THE SENTENCE OF DEATH DAILY TO THE OLD SIN-NATURE, THE OLD MAN, THAT THE RESURRECTION LIFE OF CHRIST MAY BE MANIFESTED IN YOUR MORTAL FLESH”? IN THE OLD “THE AMERICAN HYMNAL”, (PUBLISHED IN 1933, BY BROADMAN PRESS, NASHVILLE,TENN.P.43)IS A HYMN ENTITLED “MOMENT BY MOMENT.” IT SAYS: “DYING WITH JESUS, BY DEATH RECKONED MINE; LIVING WITH JESUS, A NEW LIFE DIVINE; LOOKING TO JESUS TILL GLORY DOES SHINE, MOMENT BY MOMENT, O LORD, I AM THINE.

NEVER A TRIAL THAT HE IS NOT THERE, NEVER A BURDEN THAT HE DOES NOT BEAR; NEVER A SORROW THAT HE DOES NOT SHARE, MOMENT BY MOMENT, I’M UNDER HIS CARE.

NEVER A HEARTACHE, & NEVER A GROAN, NEVER A TEARDROP & NEVER A MOAN;NEVER A DANGER BUT THERE ON THE THRONE, MOMENT BY MOMENT HE THINKS OF HIS OWN.

NEVER A WEAKNESS THAT HE DOES NOT FEEL, NEVER A SICKNESS THAT HE CANNOT HEAL; MOMENT BY MOMENT, IN WOE OR IN WEAL, JESUS, MY SAVIOR, ABIDES WITH ME STILL.

MOMENT BY MOMENT I’M KEPT IN HIS LOVE; MOMENT BY MOMENT I’VE LIFE FROM ABOVE;LOOKING TO JESUS TILL GLORY DOES SHINE; MOMENT BY MOMENT, O LORD, I AM THINE.” FOR YOU,IS IT “ZEALOUS SELF-DESIRES OR THE SOVEREIGN PRICLESSNESS OF GOD’S GRACE”? I MUST SHARE COLOSSIANS 2:6-17!! “AS YOU HAVE THEREFORE RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS THE LORD, SO WALK IN HIM; ROOTED & BUILT UPON HIM, & STABLISHED IN THE FAITH, AS YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT, ABOUNDING THEREIN WITH THANKSGIVING. BEWARE LEST ANY MAN SPOIL (OR TAKE YOU CAPTIVE!)THROUGH PHILOSOPHY & VAIN DECEIT, AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, & NOT AFTER CHRIST. FOR IN HIM DWELLS ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY. & YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, WHICH IS THE HEAD OF ALL PRINCIPALITY & POWER: IN WHOM ALSO YOU ARE CIRCUMCISED WITH THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, IN PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF SINS OF THE FLESH (OR OLD ‘SIN-NATURE’) BY THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST: BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, WHEREIN ALSO YOU ARE RISEN WITH HIM THROUGH THE FAITH OF THE OPERATION OF GOD, WHO HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.

AND YOU, BEING DEAD IN YOUR SINS & THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH HAS HE QUICKENED TOGETHER WITH HIM, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES; BLOTTING OUT THE HANDWRITING OF ORDINANCES THAT WAS AGAINST US, WHICH WAS CONTRARY TO US, & TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS; & HAVING SPOILED PRINCIPALITIES & POWERS, HE MADE A SHOW OF THEM OPENLY, TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN IT.

LET NO MAN THEREFORE JUDGE YOU IN MEAT, OR IN DRINK, OR IN RESPECT OF AN HOLYDAY, OR OF THE NEW MOON, OR OF THE SABBATH DAYS; WHICH ARE A SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME; BUT THE BODY IS OF CHRIST.”IN CLOSING, CONSIDER SERIOUSLY COLOSSIANS 3:1-5A,PLUS VERSES 15-17! “IF YOU THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST IS SITTING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. SET YOUR AFFECTION (MIND) ON THINGS ABOVE (ETERNAL), NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH. FOR YOU ARE DEAD, & YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. WHEN CHRIST, WHO IS OUR LIFE SHALL APPEAR, THEN SHALL YOU ALSO APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY. MORTIFY THEREFORE YOUR MEMBERS WHICH ARE UPON THE EARTH…” VERSES 15-17, “AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, TO THE WHICH ALSO YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE BODY; & BE THANKFUL. LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM; TEACHING & ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN PSALMS & HYMNS & SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS TO THE LORD. AND WHATSOEVER YOU DO IN WORD OR DEED, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS TO GOD & THE FATHER BY HIM.” AMEN? I PRAY SO!

By J. Farrell Fisher, January 23-25, 2017

In 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 there is a strong challenge to the stubborn indifference to fallen man’s challenge to Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross in their behalf because they see nothing in themselves worthy of death! Paul wrote: “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’”

I’m assuming that YOU are aware, for the most part, of the blindness of many of the world’s civilizations concerning their ‘standing’ before God – most sense no need of Him because in them there is nothing needed to be redeemed from! Most are “waders” in the shallow waters of their existence with no awareness of what abides in the dark depths of the human heart, or the dark spaces of a nation’s blackened heart, alienated and separated from Holy God! Human and, yes, national ‘blindness’ to one’s spiritual condition is best described in Mark 4:18-19 when Jesus said, “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, AND THE CARES OF THIS WORLD, THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, AND THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS ENTERING IN CHOKE THE WORD, and it becomes unfruitful.” They have no shame!

And the Proverbs author really sought to awaken both ‘saint’ and sinner when in Proverbs 11:31 he wrote: “If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth (by God Himself), how much more the ungodly and the sinner.” The former Memphis, Tennessee pastor, Dr. R.G.Lee, once preached a never forgotten message entitled “Payday Someday!” For the ungodly and the sinner who ignore, deny, excuse the sin nature and its ‘deathliness’, the ‘door’ to forgiveness, healing, and the “new life in Christ” remains firmly closed, locked, blocked, and men continue in the sin and sinfulness of “red-handed mutiny” and defiance of Holy God and His loving heart for them proven at the Cross!

Reckless unbelief, fleshly hypocrisy, irrational denial of one’s need of reconciliation with the God who made them, lost them, then bought them with the shed blood of the Lamb of God, stiff-necks, sin-clouded minds, and darkened hearts, mold, prepare, shape, and tarnish their lives with the devil’s marks of ownership, and then in their daily lives insult, curse, and continually deny the loving, merciful, caring heart of Holy God!

There are those firmly rooted in their old sin natures who are ‘in love’ with what they see as “the nobility of human nature” when the Holy Word declares in Romans 3:23, “for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So… “shedding the shame, and living to the glory of Christ’s name” OR embracing the shame and living to the goriness and godlessness of YOUR name and YOUR fame? The old, sin-nature- bound men seem ‘hell-bent’ on preserving their independence from God, leaning on their ‘foul love’ of the ‘flesh’, and, yes, worshipping the mis-alignment of one’s heart with God, ‘satisfied’ with the world, the flesh, and the devil’!

Oh, but then we read in the Corinthian letter by Paul that “God chose the foolish,” that “God chose the weak,” that “God chose the base things of the world and the things which are despised,” that “God chose the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” In fact, in John 5:48 Jesus said: “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (I rest easier when I see ‘perfect’ as “perfected by His grace, mercy, and love”!). But, imperfect men, repentant in heart AND mind, trusting in Christ alone, are not a religious society’s ‘elite’, but the Kingdom of God “elect”, God smothering man’s fleshly pride in the “blood of the Lamb”!

The ‘elite’ rather than the “elect of God” are those who resemble ‘the humiliation of Babylon’ as seen in Isaiah 47, but in Verses12-13 of chapter 46, God said, “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness: I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel My glory.”

As Isaiah 47:3 unfolds, Holy God exposes, not only Babylon’s nakedness, but the spiritual nakedness of every fallen man! Verse 3 then says, (which is an eternal principle of Holy God!), “Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yes, your shame will be seen;…” with God then saying in Verses 8-11, Therefore hear this now, YOU WHO ARE GIVEN TO (FLESHLY) PLEASURES, WHO DWELL SECURELY (in ‘self-trust), WHO SAY IN YOUR HEART, “I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow (or widower), nor shall I know the loss of children”; But these two things shall come upon you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children, and (a marriage partner). They shall come upon you in their fullness because of the multitude of your sorceries, for the great abundance of your enchantments.

For you have trusted in your wickedness; [Would it be advisable for you to search out in the Word what God calls ‘wickedness’?]. You have said, ‘No one sees me’; your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’ Therefore evil shall come upon you; you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; you will not be able to put if off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know.” That’s fleshly independence erected as one’s ‘god before which he/she bows daily to worship’! But there IS the eternal reality of one bowing, confessing, surrendering, devoted to the King of kings and Lord of lords! And 1 Corinthians 1:28 we’re told Holy God “chooses” the things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence,” but IN Christ Jesus we’re declared wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

It was Spurgeon who once preached, “The grace which is found in any man, and the glory and eternal life to which any attain, are all THE GIFTS OF GOD’S ELECTION, and are not bestowed according to the will of man.” [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol.8, p293].

How clear to you is Ephesians 2:8-10? “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is THE GIFT OF GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast. FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus for good works, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND that we should walk in them.”

True believers? Those “graced by God,” those who are recipients of His mercy, those who lean not to their own understanding, but in all their ways give God His rightful place as True Sovereign, Loving Savior, and compassionate Lord and Master, extending His life, expressing His love, and proving His power through a repentant, yielded, surrendered life! No doubt this is why David prayed in Psalm 86:3-5, “Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I cry to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and ABUNDANT IN MERCY to all those who call upon You.” How clear is Romans 9:16? Paul said, “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”

David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51:1-13 certainly ought to capture and guide any ‘convicted by the Spirit’ sinner! David said: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight – that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.” WHAT AN AWESOME REVELATION! But, I wonder sometimes, how many “disciples, pastors, churches today” live with the zeal of King David to touch the lost, needy world with the message of repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross, and beyond the empty tombs to “street evangelism” and “missions”!

Paul gives us a true picture of the “redeemed” when In Galatians 4:3-7 he wrote about our “adoption” as sons and daughters of Holy God through God’s Son the Lord Jesus: Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God had sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

You are aware that the world, the flesh, the devil are ‘slaves’ in bondage – a statement in an old hymn said: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love,” and there becomes instilled in a born-again life with its trials, temptations, and troubles, that apart from God’s grace, there would be mass ‘fallings-away’! But because we ARE ‘sons of faith”, Holy God sent the Spirit to guard, protect, empower, and oversee our journey of faith into the fullness of Christ Himself!

And, because of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to true sons and daughters of the faith, Simon Peter broadens our understanding of the Spirit’s ministry beyond “born of the Spirit” to being “anointed by the Spirit” to bear witness of Christ! In 1 Peter 1:2 he speaks to “the elect” which was and is “according to the foreknowledge of God,” set apart by the Spirit “for obedience”! “You shall be My witnesses…to the uttermost parts of the earth!”

It’s amazing to me, and awe-inspiring, that in Acts 4:8, I read about Peter, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” with Verse 13 telling and inspiring me, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Many of the intellectual elites in our modern-day assume they are smarter than God Himself! It’s been a ‘philosophically debated argument’ that “Christ and His teachings” don’t measure up to their ‘philosophical brilliance’ whose numbers are few, while today billions upon billions of re-born mankind ‘in Christ’ are conquering the nations!

IN fact, Paul was very clear in his anointing in the Holy Spirit when he said in Romans 3:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight… for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” How clear is that? And law-breaking in the Word of God is to shatter one’s self-image and then willingly to cast himself/herself upon the mercy, grace, and love of God! Jesus still says: “You must be born again. That which is flesh is flesh, but that which is of the Spirit is spiritual reality, sovereign oneness with the Savior, and declared vessels washed and cleansed and indwelt in Resurrection life, Resurrection power, and resurrection hope!

Have YOU died? Colossians 3:3 declares, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Why did Paul say, “I die daily”? Because he wanted no part ever with the ‘old man,’ the ‘sinner’, the rebellious loyalist to one’s sin nature, but was passionate in his desire, motivation, and prayer to be found loyal to the “new life” in Christ! Yes, Paul put on the “new man” daily who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…with Christ as his “All in all!” Paul said in Galatians 6:14-15,

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” ARE YOU CHRIST’S NEW CREATION?

Are you living in darkness or have you come to “The Light of life in Christ”? In 1 John 1:7 John wrote: “But if we walk in the light as He (Jesus) is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sin.” In the old “American Hymnal” of the 1930’s there is a hymn entitled, “There Is A Fountain”, written by William Cowper and Lowell Mason. It says: “There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins; And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day; And there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Your precious blood Shall never lose its power, Till all the ransomed church of God Be saved, to sin no more.

Ever since, by faith, I saw the stream Your flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme, And shall be till I die.

Then, in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Your power to save, When this poor lisping, stammering tongue Lies silent in the grave.”

What’s your song that you sing to the glory of God alone?

By J. Farrell Fisher, January 23-25, 2017

In 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 there is a strong challenge to the stubborn indifference to fallen man’s challenge to Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross in their behalf because they see nothing in themselves worthy of death! Paul wrote: “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’”

I’m assuming that YOU are aware, for the most part, of the blindness of many of the world’s civilizations concerning their ‘standing’ before God – most sense no need of Him because in them there is nothing needed to be redeemed from! Most are “waders” in the shallow waters of their existence with no awareness of what abides in the dark depths of the human heart, or the dark spaces of a nation’s blackened heart, alienated and separated from Holy God! Human and, yes, national ‘blindness’ to one’s spiritual condition is best described in Mark 4:18-19 when Jesus said, “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, AND THE CARES OF THIS WORLD, THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, AND THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS ENTERING IN CHOKE THE WORD, and it becomes unfruitful.” They have no shame!

And the Proverbs author really sought to awaken both ‘saint’ and sinner when in Proverbs 11:31 he wrote: “If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth (by God Himself), how much more the ungodly and the sinner.” The former Memphis, Tennessee pastor, Dr. R.G.Lee, once preached a never forgotten message entitled “Payday Someday!” For the ungodly and the sinner who ignore, deny, excuse the sin nature and its ‘deathliness’, the ‘door’ to forgiveness, healing, and the “new life in Christ” remains firmly closed, locked, blocked, and men continue in the sin and sinfulness of “red-handed mutiny” and defiance of Holy God and His loving heart for them proven at the Cross!

Reckless unbelief, fleshly hypocrisy, irrational denial of one’s need of reconciliation with the God who made them, lost them, then bought them with the shed blood of the Lamb of God, stiff-necks, sin-clouded minds, and darkened hearts, mold, prepare, shape, and tarnish their lives with the devil’s marks of ownership, and then in their daily lives insult, curse, and continually deny the loving, merciful, caring heart of Holy God!

There are those firmly rooted in their old sin natures who are ‘in love’ with what they see as “the nobility of human nature” when the Holy Word declares in Romans 3:23, “for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So… “shedding the shame, and living to the glory of Christ’s name” OR embracing the shame and living to the goriness and godlessness of YOUR name and YOUR fame? The old, sin-nature- bound men seem ‘hell-bent’ on preserving their independence from God, leaning on their ‘foul love’ of the ‘flesh’, and, yes, worshipping the mis-alignment of one’s heart with God, ‘satisfied’ with the world, the flesh, and the devil’!

Oh, but then we read in the Corinthian letter by Paul that “God chose the foolish,” that “God chose the weak,” that “God chose the base things of the world and the things which are despised,” that “God chose the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” In fact, in John 5:48 Jesus said: “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (I rest easier when I see ‘perfect’ as “perfected by His grace, mercy, and love”!). But, imperfect men, repentant in heart AND mind, trusting in Christ alone, are not a religious society’s ‘elite’, but the Kingdom of God “elect”, God smothering man’s fleshly pride in the “blood of the Lamb”!

The ‘elite’ rather than the “elect of God” are those who resemble ‘the humiliation of Babylon’ as seen in Isaiah 47, but in Verses12-13 of chapter 46, God said, “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness: I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel My glory.”

As Isaiah 47:3 unfolds, Holy God exposes, not only Babylon’s nakedness, but the spiritual nakedness of every fallen man! Verse 3 then says, (which is an eternal principle of Holy God!), “Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yes, your shame will be seen;…” with God then saying in Verses 8-11, Therefore hear this now, YOU WHO ARE GIVEN TO (FLESHLY) PLEASURES, WHO DWELL SECURELY (in ‘self-trust), WHO SAY IN YOUR HEART, “I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow (or widower), nor shall I know the loss of children”; But these two things shall come upon you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children, and (a marriage partner). They shall come upon you in their fullness because of the multitude of your sorceries, for the great abundance of your enchantments.

For you have trusted in your wickedness; [Would it be advisable for you to search out in the Word what God calls ‘wickedness’?]. You have said, ‘No one sees me’; your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’ Therefore evil shall come upon you; you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; you will not be able to put if off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know.” That’s fleshly independence erected as one’s ‘god before which he/she bows daily to worship’! But there IS the eternal reality of one bowing, confessing, surrendering, devoted to the King of kings and Lord of lords! And 1 Corinthians 1:28 we’re told Holy God “chooses” the things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence,” but IN Christ Jesus we’re declared wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

It was Spurgeon who once preached, “The grace which is found in any man, and the glory and eternal life to which any attain, are all THE GIFTS OF GOD’S ELECTION, and are not bestowed according to the will of man.” [Spurgeon’s Sermons, Vol.8, p293].

How clear to you is Ephesians 2:8-10? “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is THE GIFT OF GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast. FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus for good works, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND that we should walk in them.”

True believers? Those “graced by God,” those who are recipients of His mercy, those who lean not to their own understanding, but in all their ways give God His rightful place as True Sovereign, Loving Savior, and compassionate Lord and Master, extending His life, expressing His love, and proving His power through a repentant, yielded, surrendered life! No doubt this is why David prayed in Psalm 86:3-5, “Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I cry to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and ABUNDANT IN MERCY to all those who call upon You.” How clear is Romans 9:16? Paul said, “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”

David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51:1-13 certainly ought to capture and guide any ‘convicted by the Spirit’ sinner! David said: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight – that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.” WHAT AN AWESOME REVELATION! But, I wonder sometimes, how many “disciples, pastors, churches today” live with the zeal of King David to touch the lost, needy world with the message of repentance toward God and faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross, and beyond the empty tombs to “street evangelism” and “missions”!

Paul gives us a true picture of the “redeemed” when In Galatians 4:3-7 he wrote about our “adoption” as sons and daughters of Holy God through God’s Son the Lord Jesus: Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God had sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

You are aware that the world, the flesh, the devil are ‘slaves’ in bondage – a statement in an old hymn said: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love,” and there becomes instilled in a born-again life with its trials, temptations, and troubles, that apart from God’s grace, there would be mass ‘fallings-away’! But because we ARE ‘sons of faith”, Holy God sent the Spirit to guard, protect, empower, and oversee our journey of faith into the fullness of Christ Himself!

And, because of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to true sons and daughters of the faith, Simon Peter broadens our understanding of the Spirit’s ministry beyond “born of the Spirit” to being “anointed by the Spirit” to bear witness of Christ! In 1 Peter 1:2 he speaks to “the elect” which was and is “according to the foreknowledge of God,” set apart by the Spirit “for obedience”! “You shall be My witnesses…to the uttermost parts of the earth!”

It’s amazing to me, and awe-inspiring, that in Acts 4:8, I read about Peter, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” with Verse 13 telling and inspiring me, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Many of the intellectual elites in our modern-day assume they are smarter than God Himself! It’s been a ‘philosophically debated argument’ that “Christ and His teachings” don’t measure up to their ‘philosophical brilliance’ whose numbers are few, while today billions upon billions of re-born mankind ‘in Christ’ are conquering the nations!

IN fact, Paul was very clear in his anointing in the Holy Spirit when he said in Romans 3:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight… for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” How clear is that? And law-breaking in the Word of God is to shatter one’s self-image and then willingly to cast himself/herself upon the mercy, grace, and love of God! Jesus still says: “You must be born again. That which is flesh is flesh, but that which is of the Spirit is spiritual reality, sovereign oneness with the Savior, and declared vessels washed and cleansed and indwelt in Resurrection life, Resurrection power, and resurrection hope!

Have YOU died? Colossians 3:3 declares, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Why did Paul say, “I die daily”? Because he wanted no part ever with the ‘old man,’ the ‘sinner’, the rebellious loyalist to one’s sin nature, but was passionate in his desire, motivation, and prayer to be found loyal to the “new life” in Christ! Yes, Paul put on the “new man” daily who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…with Christ as his “All in all!” Paul said in Galatians 6:14-15,

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” ARE YOU CHRIST’S NEW CREATION?

Are you living in darkness or have you come to “The Light of life in Christ”? In 1 John 1:7 John wrote: “But if we walk in the light as He (Jesus) is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sin.” In the old “American Hymnal” of the 1930’s there is a hymn entitled, “There Is A Fountain”, written by William Cowper and Lowell Mason. It says: “There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins; And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day; And there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Your precious blood Shall never lose its power, Till all the ransomed church of God Be saved, to sin no more.

Ever since, by faith, I saw the stream Your flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme, And shall be till I die.

Then, in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Your power to save, When this poor lisping, stammering tongue Lies silent in the grave.”

What’s your song that you sing to the glory of God alone?

OF CHRIST’S NAME!”

By J.Farrell Fisher, September 28, 2016

You’ll remember that I wrote a teaching recently entitled, “Bearing the Name, Living With Shame”! And it certainly majored on “pretenders”, “imitation game-players in the spiritual arena”, or like the scribes and Pharisees about whom Christ Jesus spoke “woes”, in one case saying, (Matthew 23:14), “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.”

There is a powerful, encouraging, challenging word in Psalm 4:2-3 when David “sang”: “How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him”, saying in Verse 8, “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

What you’ve just read from the Psalms is both a song of divine safety, Prince of Peace gifting, and a song of living to the Glory of Christ’s Name, because through His shed blood, we are reconciled to the protective arms of Almighty, Holy, Loving, Caring, Holy God and His family of redemptive faith!

“Shedding the Shame”? The prophet, Isaiah, in Isaiah 54, began the chapter alerting attention to the “barren ones…who have not born,” alerting us to the fact and reality that, “For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord!

Oh, but then in Isaiah 54:3, enlightening the “true remnant of Israel”, are God’s promises to them, and us, “For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited.”

And then in Verses 4-8, the prophet increases the intensity of excitement, saying, “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; (not Mohammed, not Confusius, not the idols of pagan peoples with their pagan gods); He is called the God of the whole earth!

For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused, says your God. “For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; BUT WITH EVERLASTING KINDNESS I WILL HAVE MERCY ON YOU,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.”

And when Holy God “sheds your shame”, He then said in Isaiah 54:14, “In righteousness you [Now!] shall be established [or “made to stand!],” adding in Verse 17, “This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.

Nor a ‘self-attained’ righteousness but a divinely implanted righteousness, not a recollection in one’s mind about God, but reconciliation with God through repentance and faith, not a positive ‘best effort’, but a persuasive, perpetual, powerful, Prince of Peace miracle of grace, not a collection or gathering of like-minded folks, but a conversion of the flesh-minded to the very mind of Christ, not a mental adjustment of a moral nature, but the might and miraculous power of Holy God; Oh, but then Paul, in Titus 3:5-7, declared, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, THROUGH the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that HAVING BEEN JUSTIFIED [declared ‘just as if we’d never sinned’!] by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” WHAT A DECLARATION OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH!

In “The Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations” that I turn to frequently as I write, I came across a statement by someone named Dwight E. Stevenson,(p.67), that shocked me! Whoever he is, Dwight Stevenson is credited with the following: “The Christian church is not a congregation of righteous people. It is a society of those who are not good.” And, I immediately was ‘sickened’, all because a man declares the ‘church’ ‘a society of those who are not good’! The ‘church’ of the Lord Jesus Christ is the “gathered” by Christ through their repentance and faith, and before Holy God the Bridegroom, Jesus, was united with you, His believing, trusting, yielded bride, “the righteous”, whom Jesus described in Matthew 13: 43, “Then the RIGHTEOUS will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

But as Jesus dealt with the ‘spiritual elite’ of Israel in His day of ministry on earth, the scribes and Pharisees, he spoke directly to a ‘seeking’ Pharisee, Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, in John 3:3-9, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (that’s ‘the water of the Word’!) and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said, to Him, “How can these things be?”

“Shedding the Shame – Living To The Glory of His Name”! How familiar are you with Ephesians 2:8-16? Paul wrote: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

THREFORE REMEMBER that you, once Gentiles in the flesh – who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands – that at that time YOU WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING ALIENS from the commonwealth of Israel and STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, HAVING NO HOPE and WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD.

BUT NOW in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, [That’s God and man!] and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinance, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.”

Oh, we clearly know that man without God is fully described when in Romans 3:23 Paul said, “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..”, but then in Verse 24-26 continues, (thank God!), “being JUSTIFIED FREELY by His grace through THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS, whom GOD SET FORTH AS A PROPITIATION BY HIS BLOOD, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Let Biblical Truth sink in!! “Brought near by the blood of Christ”, the open door to the Holy Presence of God! “No separation from God but oneness with Him” through the blood! “Holy God births ‘new men’ through faith in Christ’s sacrifice”!

“Reconciled to God through Christ’s Cross”! “Redeemed” by the blood of the Lamb”! “Peace with God through Christ alone”! “Justified freely by God’s grace through Christ’s blood sacrifice”! “From ‘strangers to God’ to sons of God through Christ”! “Hopeless without the hope only Jesus gives to be brought into the Holy Family of God”! “God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus”! “Through Christ’s Cross, the old sin nature crucified – Resurrected, He grants Holy Presence within every true son and daughter of faith”! “Grit grounded and buried – grace the love gift of God in and through Christ Jesus”!

“No wavering before the promises of God in unbelief, but fully convinced that what God has promised, He’s ABLE to fulfill, in you”! “No excusing God’s sentence of death on your old nature, old man, old fleshly ambitions, but daily celebration and thanksgiving for being reconciled to God through the blood of the Lamb”! “No longer bound by the shame of a godless life, fleshly rebellion, loveless indifference, worldly desires, but NOW consumed with the passion to KNOW HIM and THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, and THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS”!

Do YOU rejoice “in Christ” every day? Do YOU thank Him, every day, for your new, eternal, heavenly identity? Do YOU praise God that NOTHING has to separate YOU from God’s love because of WHO Christ Jesus is? Paul says in Romans 8: 37-39, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created things, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

But “the battle, the warfare,” to separate us from our Savior is not any ‘small disturbance’ as we live in this world, but the battle-fronts of the world, the flesh, and the devil are faced in our life’s journey, regularly, looking for opportune moments to turn us away from our Lord and Savior! Paul assures us of “Victory In Jesus” when we lean not to our own understanding BUT Lean on Jesus, the Spirit, and the Word, reminding ourselves to Whom we truly belong!

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Paul reminds us again of the spiritual war-clouds, war-storms we will face! “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high things that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

How ‘strange’ a term Paul highlights for our modern day in America and American churches! Did he really say, “bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” and as a result refute the point many churches, pastors, leaders assert: “To say Christians have to obey” is, for them, to assert you don’t have to obey – “that would be salvation by works”! No, True salvation births a yielded, surrendered, willing heart, desirous of pleasing the Lord, Master, and Savior who has made true disciples His Holy Temple!

“Christ in you the hope of glory”, but you choose the choice of whether today you want Jesus to be Jesus in you, but when and how and where you please?

True believers are temples of Holy Presence! True believers are men so desirous of honoring Christ in them! True believers understand He ‘predestined’ repentant hearts and yielded souls to, yes, be conformed to the image of God’s Son, and that they clearly understand God called them to His intent, justified them, sanctified them, and glorified them in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

“LIVING TO THE GLORY OF HIS NAME”? Is this why God inspired Paul to instruct us, enlighten us, empower us in Romans 12:1-2? “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world but be [being!] transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

IF we are true believers living to the glory of His Name, are we, yes, praying daily, “Lord, your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, in us, through us, and by our devotion to Your Holy Presence to extend Your life to others, express Your love to others, and prove, yes, Your present life and power, extending Your Kingdom-rule, and fulfilling the eternal ‘heart-beat of the Father for His Kingdom-rule through others’”?

Even King David became awed by God’s purpose when in Psalm 40:5-10 he prayed: “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; my ears You have opened. [Are YOU hearing the voice of God speaking to YOU?]. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.

Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart. I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly; indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.”

“LIVING TO THE GLORY OF HIS NAME”? It was Leo Tolstoy, in his writing, “The Kingdom of God,” (Chapter 12), who wrote: “The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God; and this can be done only by means of the acknowledgement and profession of the truth by each of us.” How true, and yet many believers remain “silent servants”, embracing ‘a tale told by others’ but not worthy enough for them to lay down their lives extending His Kingdom, expressing the fruit of His Spirit, and proving, by faithful trust, His power and able-ness in bringing others to His glory, grace, mercy, love, and eternal purpose through them! Are you “fruitful” in the extending and expressing and enlightening of Kingdom Living under Christ’s Lordship?

I heard a black disciple, not a pastor, speak in my son’s (Scott) church recently and hearing him say: “Churches are full but their doors are closed,” and what he was speaking about was a ‘cloud of unconcern’ for those of another race, with few outreach ministries, black or white, in both cultures!

I read an interesting quote from Frederick William Robertson, {“The Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations”, compiled by Frank S.Mead, p.294}: “In these two things the greatness of man consists, to have God dwelling in us as to impart His character to us, and to have Him dwelling in us, that we recognize his presence, and know that we are His, and He is ours. – The one is salvation; the other, the assurance of it.” But I add a third: A deep awareness of responsibility in extending His Kingdom rule and expressing His love to the “lost” who need His “Blood-Redemption” also for their wayward walks apart from Him and His eternal purpose and plan through their redeemed lives!

“LIVING TO THE GLORY OF HIS NAME”? Holy God “convicts” one of his sin nature and need of redemption! Holy God “bears witness” through Christ’s Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and His desire to make your heart and life His earthly tabernacle and sanctuary of Holy Presence: Again, “Christ in YOU the hope of glory”! Holy God mandates in every new believer’s heart this word, Acts 1:8, “But YOU shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; AND YOU SHALL BE WITNESSES TO ME IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE END OF THE EARTH.” Didn’t Paul say later, in Acts 2:32, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” Glory!

It’s so interesting AND convicting when we read in Matthew 20:25-28 that as Jesus called His disciples to Himself, He said: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

“LIVING TO THE GLORY OF HIS NAME”? We just read that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” The one thing you ought to be assured of in this moment is that Christ came to You, forgave you, redeemed you, and anointed and appointed YOU to live and share the glory of His Name!! Christ Jesus came to unveil God’s mercy to you and through you!

In John 10:10b, Christ Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” HE CAME TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY, but how many around YOU are you seeing who lay their lives down for the lost, the alienated, the separated from God who so needs His love, grace, and mercy?

Hear me, “The soul that sins (and keeps on sinning) shall die,” but the soul that repents, returns, confesses and forsakes his sin, finds mercy and grace through the Lamb’s blood! And the “new, bright, eternal day” dawns and one begins to live to the glory of His Name, His honor, His praise! Spurgeon quoted an old, old hymn from his day, (Spurgeon’s Sermons, Memorial Library, p.66), that says: “Come, guilty souls, and flee away, and look to Jesus’ wounds; This is the accepted Gospel day, Wherein free grace abounds….God loved His church, and gave His Son to drink the cup of wrath; And Jesus says He’ll cast out none Who come to Him in faith.” Faith is more than awareness – it’s trust!

By J. Farrell Fisher, July 7, 2016

I was recently reading a new book by pastor-friend, Jim Hylton, entitled “Being At Ease”, subtitled Thinking At Ease – Lessening Disease. It is a powerful, challenging, encouraging, informative read that every disciple of Christ ought to read. My son, Scott, bought the book for me and had Jim sign it with “To Farrell a special friend!” Jim Hylton, with a scripture reference, Luke 12:32, then shared Jesus speaking, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

I’ve often wondered how many ‘pulpit pastors’ have majored on the reality of “kingdom living” through “The Divine Miracle of a Transformed Life”! Are you familiar with Romans 12:2 where Paul challenged the Roman disciples and us saying, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be [‘being’] transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

It was after the Bruce Jenner – Caitlyn Jenner diabolical disaster that Sue and I heard a psychiatrist, Dr. Paul R. McHugh, speaking about Jenner, and spoke of “the disorder of assumption” – and I’ve often wondered about how many so-called ‘Christians’ who are “pretenders” having never experienced, lived by, or taught the truth of “The Divine Miracle of a Transformed Mind,” but are, too many, ‘professors of faith’ who will someday fall into the perilous state of Hosea’s word from God when in Hosea 4:6 the prophet recorded Holy God saying, “My people perish for lack of knowledge.”

To be ‘found in Christ’ is what Jim stated as “the mystery of God” or the “secret of God”, quoting Colossians 1:26-27, [The Message Version of the Bible], “This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of his or her background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you; therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple.”

But the sad reality for many, even some ‘professors of faith’, is never being possessed, owned, bought, indwelt by Christ, through repentance toward God and faith in His finished work at Calvary’s Cross, resting in “saved by grace through faith”, and being declared by God Himself as a true son or daughter of the blood redemption, but living with or contending with or conquered by the sad reality of a worldly mind with no eternal purpose, practicing mental and spiritual gymnastics apart from the thoughts and truths of God, even educational geniuses of worldly thought apart from the thoughts, truths, or mind of Holy God, or, yes, even a redeemed life with an uninformed mind or a born-again believer living on a starvation diet apart from the ‘bread,’ the ‘milk’, or the ‘meat of God’s Word’.

Pre-salvation is a state of mind and heart, void of redemptive faith, but governed by an attitude of “enemies of God”, “helpless”, “hopeless”, yet loved by God to the extent of the sacrifice of His Son on the cruel Cross that we might be redeemed through “the blood of the Lamb,’ reconciled, regenerated, restored to His eternal state and plan as sons and daughters of true redemptive faith, “sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling” (1 Corinthians 1:12), no longer enemies or pretenders or professors, but “possessors” of Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope that is eternal!

In 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 Paul gloriously declared, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we thus judge: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God IN HIM.”

Are you at all familiar with Ezekial 11 as God informed the prophet and Israel and us of His “New Covenant” that was coming? Verses 19-21 declares: “Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes (or My Word) and keep My judgments and do them, and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord.

There’s a description in Isaiah 28:14 about scornful men in Israel who lived in deception, professing one thing, but living another, even the religious majority of Israel , living in deception with their idols, with sexual immorality, and the shedding of innocent blood as some offered their own children as bodily sacrifices in God’s Holy Temple! Isaiah 28:15 tells us of many in Israel who “made a covenant with death”, even admitting, “For we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.”

And in Isaiah 29: 13-16a Holy God prophetically declared for both then and now, Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, BUT have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, a marvelous work and a wonder; [my son, Scott, described it as “shock and awe”!], for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.” Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord, and their works are in the dark; They say, ‘Who sees us?’ and, ‘Who knows us?’ Surely you have turned things around!” In fact, earlier in Isaiah 1:12-21, Holy God spoke:

“When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting !!! Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.

When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. IF you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. How the faithful city has become a harlot!”

What you’ve just read is a sad indictment against “pretenders” who “profess” religious loyalty but deny “blood redemption” through the sacrificial Lamb of God! It’s like Moses and Aaron confronting the Pharoah of Egypt with Pharoah saying in Verse 2, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go,” telling him, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness,’” eventually leading to Pharoah and his armies being swept away in the Sea of God’s judgment!

If you are familiar with the Psalms, you’ll remember in Psalm 1:1-2 that David described “the blessed man” who “walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night;” then stating in Verses 4-6, “The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

Psalm 2 then unveils “the realness of rebellion”, which is people plotting “vain things”, taking personal counsel against Holy God! As a result, in Verse 4-5, God describes “the rareness of personal laughter” because Holy God, yes, does and will “distress them in His deep displeasure”! Oh, but then in Verse 6, Holy God unveils “the revelation of compassion” as He sets His King on “My holy hill of Zion” called Mt. Calvary! Then, Verses 7-11, Holy God introduced “the richness of relationship”, Yes! “You are My Son, today I have begotten You,” with holy sons and daughters, “serving the Lord with fear, and rejoicing with trembling” faithfully “kissing the Son” because they no longer have any desire to experience God’s anger or perish in their self-centered ways, but long for, pursue, and rest in “the blessing” of putting their trust in Christ Jesus only!

“The Divine Miracle of a Transformed Mind”! I find Colossians 3:16 to be such a powerful word of encouragement as Paul wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

How did David describe this attitude of heart and mind in Psalm 100? “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”

I, years ago, highlighted Psalm 34 as one’s “Lordship Ministry”, 1) Calling for a life of praise, “I will bless the Lord at all times,” 2) Calling for a life of continual seeking of Him and His will and Word, Verse 4, 3) Becoming aware of His “birthing changes”, Verse 6, as this Poor man cried out, the Lord hearing, and saving him out of all his troubles, 4) Verse 7, Awed by His release of angelic ministries, 5) Awed in Verses 15-16 by His fastened eyes and opened ears to the cries of His righteous ones, 6) Promising us deliverance, Verses 17-18, as the “righteous cry out to Him, God hearing, and God delivering them OUT OF ALL THEIR TROUBLES!” Hear me! Verse 18, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit,” 7) With a firm declaration of Lordship ministry! Verse 19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Our Lord and Savior transforms trouble into triumph, pain into praise, even ‘wars’ into righteous deliverance!

In the process of “The Miracle of a Transformed Mind”, at times the walk of a true disciple is faced with the clouds of terror, the clouds of temptations, the clouds of triviality, and, for some, the clouds of fleshly treason against the One True Living God and the Resurrected King of kings and Lord of lords, and even against the Holy Spirit! At the same time, God empowers His true disciples to exercise fortitude in the midst of faithless, formidable, frightening opposition! And “The Miracle of the Transformed Mind” is KNOWING there are consumers of religious fabrications or confessors of eternal Truth!

Some walk in their path of redemptive faith apart from the divine revelation and explanation of God’s eternal intent that His children of faith live, not under a man-made philosophy, but under revelation of holy truth and divine authority! In Colossians 2:1-10 Paul wrote:

“For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, who is the head of all principality and power.”

How clear was Paul to the Ephesians and us, when he instructed “the saints who are in Ephesus, and [the] faithful in Christ Jesus”, testifying in the Lord, that [Ephesians 4:17-24], “you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, AND THAT YOU PUT ON THE NEW MAN which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” How awesome is that?!?

Do you understand, receive, and walk in “the new beginning”, that through Christ Jesus alone God has granted to you “a new spirit” under a “new covenant”, miraculously birthing “a new creation”, instructing us to sing to Holy God “a new song”, yes, with “shouts of joy”? The biblical command you read in the previous paragraph is: “put on the NEW MAN which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

Colossians 1:6-7 declares: [NASB], “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord [or received Christ Jesus as Lord over your life], so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and NOW being built up in Him and established [or “made to stand”] in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”

If Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life”, and you are now “in Him”, are you experiencing day by day resurrection life, resurrection power, resurrection presence, and resurrection hope? Do YOU think, ‘as He is so am I’? If Jesus IS “the Light of the world”, and He now lives in you, how do you explain unfruitful works of darkness in your pilgrimage with Him? If Jesus ‘overcame’ and He lives in you, then why is there, in you, at times, the ‘overcoming spirit’ of the world of lawlessness, indifference, or ingratitude?

Or, for you, with Paul, does “the thorn in the flesh” speak to you at times? In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 the apostle alerted us, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

“The Miracle of a Transformed Mind”? Though ‘birthed in the world with an old sin nature’, and ‘thorned in the flesh’ by the devil and demons, even ‘held captive by a godless world spirit’, the Savior came whose Name is Jesus, and the “new day” dawned for a blessed deliverance.

Though ‘birthed in bondage’ as a slave to the sin nature, blackened in mind and heart to a destructive life, void of trust in God’s eternal purpose, mankind wandered in a world of unending strife.

Though ‘best’ effort arose in place of a ‘blessed life’, humanity continued in godless strife; “I am able to do as I please” without a thought of sin’s dreaded disease – a state of mind, a darkened heart, a fleshly will that set God apart. No need of Him – we’re fit and trim, happy in sin, unaware of any consequences.”

Though ‘birthed in spiritual death’ sinners sincerely try to make sense of their emptiness, their godlessness, their imaginary happiness, even declaring for themselves that darkness is light, that self-determination is might, and that willful rebellion to Holy God is a fleshly right.

Though going through life in defense of self-will, they blind themselves to God’s holy will; and walking alone apart from divine purpose, fallen mankind walks in pride and arrogance, never knowing their spiritual emptiness and brokenness, never receiving the gift of God’s mercy and graciousness.

Though granted by God with an awesome free-will, most men in their selfishness never take time to be still; time to look inward, time to look upward, for most men is time to be selfish, time to be enslaved to the pleasures of flesh, but no time to look inward to their godless existence!

Though challenged by God and calling men out, most will relax in their sin-natures of drought, deaf ears to God and eyes that are blinded to God’s invitation and His awesome provisions – oneness with Him and His blessed intent to fill each new heart with Sovereign promises, His Holy Presence, and a heart of assent, raised from death to life, from poverty to wealth, a child of the King in His family of the blessed!

“The Miracle of a Transformed Mind”? I close with Paul’s words to the Philippians in Philippians 3:7-14, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have (fully) apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Amen?

Do you understand, comprehend, receive the Biblical revelation of, yes, “the virgin birth of Jesus Christ,” or do you side with the unbelievers, the skeptics, the doubters, the verbal refuters of what the Holy Bible tells us about our Lord and Savior’s virgin birth?

I was on a trip in September, 2014, with some very dear friends, and while on this trip a friend shared with me that a mutual friend of ours told him that he did not believe in the virgin birth although he attends church regularly. Being in the medical field he had determined that it wasn’t possible for a ‘virgin birth’ and he didn’t feel that a relationship with God was dependent on what one believed about Jesus Christ of Nazareth related to a virgin birth.

Without hesitation, I say to you, I do not agree but firmly believe in the Triune God of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – One God with three identities or three ministries for the sake of fallen mankind of which we all are a part because we came from Adam and Eve who “fell” and needed to be reconciled to Holy God.

It’s always interesting to read and re-read Genesis 1:26 where the Holy Word tells us: Then God said, [Question! Did He or didn’t He ‘say’?], “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” Verse 27, So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” “Us?” A lie, a figment of a man’s mind, an illusion that has nothing to do with fleshly reality?

But what is Genesis 3 about? Oh…there’s a serpent present! That’s the devil or Satan who, 1)Casts doubt on the Word of God, 2) Twists the Truth and distorts it, 3) Confuses humankind, 4) Speaks “the Lie”, [you can sin and not die], 5) Spews doubt, unbelief, and entices men to deception!

And Genesis 3:8 tells us about Adam and Eve [and all of fallen mankind!] who “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God.” Men have been hiding from God ever since that day in the Garden of Eden and, of course, have even clothed themselves in all forms of religious deceptions.

Genesis 3:24 tells us: “So He drove out the man…and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” That’s an amazing, awesome revelation when you tie all of God’s Word together both Old and New Testament. A flaming sword? But in later Scripture we read of the “sword” that has been “dipped in blood”! Isaiah 34:5-6 tells us, “For My sword shall be bathed in heaven; indeed it shall come down on Edom, and on the people of My curse for judgment. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood. It is made overflowing with fatness, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.”

No doubt this is an Old Testament picture of “shed blood” authored by God in both judgment and redemption. For to the rebellious and unbelieving it is severe judgment. For the repentant and believing and faithful, it is the shed blood of the Lamb of God poured out by God Himself!

But the shed blood of the Lamb of God is the blood of Jesus WHO IS THE LAMB OF GOD! Jesus IS Immanuel, “GOD WITH US,” because the perfect Lamb of God was and is the sinless sacrifice determined by God, yes, even BEFORE the foundation of our world as we know it! Revelation 13:8 clearly tells us of the Lamb ‘slain from the foundation of the world.”

And the other interesting truth found in Genesis 3:24 is that “the flaming sword which turned every way, TO GUARD THE WAY TO THE TREE OF LIFE,” but in your compromised minds you’ve never seen the ‘tree of life’ as the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus? Have you never seen the sword of the Lord as the Word of God that never fades away? Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

What did our Lord and Savior and Master of life tell us in Matthew 4:4, yes, quoting His WORD from Deuteronomy 8:3? “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”

Oh, hear me, I am firmly convinced that God wants to put His FINGER-PRINT, His PALM-PRINT on our lives by our receiving the Word of God as our true ‘bread of life’ – and He does so through the LIVING WORD, JESUS, and the WRITTEN WORD, His Holy inspired Word!

Before I attempt to fully examine “The Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ,” after reading Deuteronomy 8:3, I want you to carefully examine Deuteronomy 8:11-19!! “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,…

Lest – when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied;…

When your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock;…

Who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and the He might test you, to do you good in the end – then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’…

And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.”

Oh, I see – you believe in “the Lord your God” but you do not accept Jesus as Emmanuel or the Holy Spirit who guides us into all Truth? And you do not accept that it takes God Himself as the Lamb, the sacrificial Lamb, who would be the “sacrifice” for your sin? I want you to examine carefully Isaiah 7:14 where the Immanuel prophecy tells us: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” [Or, “God-with-us”].

The Hebrew terminology for the word “virginity” is the word b’tulah, but Isaiah’s word that he was inspired to write was ‘almah’ or ‘a young woman of marriageable age’ because young women of that Old Testament age WERE (mostly) VIRGINS and their marriage preparation was purity of body as well as purity of heart! I’d say that’s a little different from godless societies!

Genesis 24 is such a powerful word for parents today as it unveils Abraham’s heart and spirit concerning a marriage partner for his son Isaac. Abraham had sent a faithful servant to find, not an unbeliever or immoral woman, but a bride for Isaac who was of his God’s calling and expectation of a, yes, holy bride, pure and set apart to honor God through her devoted life to her husband. The servant found Rebekah, and Deuteronomy 24:16 says, “Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her…”

In Genesis 24:26-27 we read about this Godly servant: Then the man bowed down his head and worshipped the Lord. And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” Did you notice, were you alerted as a parent, has it been your consideration to lean upon the leadership of Holy Almighty God, in both the dating patterns and marriage choices of your children?

Hear this servant in Genesis 24:42-44 and verse 48! “And this day I came to the well and said, ‘O Lord God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go, behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, ‘Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,’ and she says to me, ‘Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,’ – let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’ Verse 48. “And I bowed my head and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son.”

But what about the New Testament revelation of ‘virgin’? In Matthew 1:23 we have a direct quote of Isaiah 7:14 but with the Greek word of ‘parthenos’ specifically used and defined as ‘virgin’. I also find Luke 1:1-4 extremely important. Luke, the physician, wrote: Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things written from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”

Did you pause and reflect upon verse 4? “that YOU MAY KNOW THE CERTAINTY OF THOSE THINGS IN WHICH YOU WERE INSTRUCTED” –CERTAINTY? You mean a physician who walked with Jesus Christ the Promised Messiah knew that Jesus was virgin-born without a doubt?

Both Matthew and Luke, inspired by the Holy Spirit, guided by the Holy Spirit, assured by the Holy Spirit, tell us that Jesus was birthed in a supernatural way, that a virgin was blessed with the seed of God Himself in her womb apart from a human, sexual event, and that she, yes, birthed the Son of God!

How would one define “the deity of Jesus” apart from the virgin birth? Adam’s ‘fallen race’ was and is desperate for DIVINE INTERVENTION – why? Because Holy God requires DIVINE REDEMPTION, DESTINED AND DEFINED RECONCILIATION, and A DISTINCT RESURRECTION. Luke 2:6-7 tells us: So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

I tell you, if you are not awed by Luke 2:8-14, I’d reach out for a miraculous healing of a hardened heart and a stubborn, un-submissive mind! It says: Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid…

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”…

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

And I believe as I continue reading in Luke 2 that I hear the ‘doubters’ description of Simeon as “Silly Simeon,” as “Sickly Simeon,” or as “Short-changed Simeon in the brain”: Luke 2:25-35 tells us, And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him….

And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Did you leap over Luke 1:27? That’s when Luke unveiled the answer to every man’s unbelief! “For with God nothing will be impossible!” “THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST?”

FIRST, THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS ETERNALLY PLANNED IN THE FATHER’S HEART BECAUSE GOD THE FATHER KNEW WHAT ‘MAN’ WOULD DO. The author of Hebrews had no doubt about Jesus but only divine unveiling. In Hebrews 1:1-3 we read, God, who at various times and in various ways, spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, THROUGH WHOM ALSO HE MADE THE WORLDS; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

I encourage you to reflect upon those words and receive God’s Word to us in verse 2, [God] “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, THROUGH WHOM ALSO HE [JESUS] made the worlds…” Before the world was, Jesus IS! As the world was being made, it was Jesus in design, Jesus in implementation, and Jesus with His eternal signature revealing Himself: DIVINE IN PURPOSE, DIVINE IN ITS PRINCIPLES, DIVINE IN ITS PRECIOUSNESS, DIVINE IN ITS ETERNAL PROGRAM, [Glorifying the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!].

Have you ignored John 1:1-4? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS GOD. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

Oh, but then one comes to Colossians 1:15-18! It says, ‘God illumining His eternal purpose through Christ Jesus,’ : “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that IN ALL THINGS HE MAY HAVE THE PREEMINENCE.”

Have you forgotten or overlooked Isaiah 43:21? “This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.” And in Isaiah 43:25 our Lord speaks: “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” I don’t know about you but I am awed as I read that our Lord and Savior blotted out our transgressions by the covering and washing in and through His blood “for My own sake”!! I sense our Lord saying to us that through the Cross our Lord and Savior WANTED TO DRAW US TO HIMSELF! HE WANTS YOU AS AN ETERNAL PART OF THE HOLY, DIVINE, ETERNAL FAMILY who are placed “under His wings”! “For my own sake” means Jesus is forever blessed and enriched through your relationship with Him.

Does Hebrews 1:10-12 encourage you as you sense our world today is in our Lord’s hands? And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; and they will grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.”

I John 1:1-4 is such an encouraging passage about experiencing true joy in your life of faith. It says: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life – the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us – that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

SECOND, THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS PROPHETICALLY ANNOUNCED. It’s not possible to include all prophetic announcements about the VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST, but you need to know that in the Old Testament there are at least 700 verses concerning the coming of the Messiah, and He was, is, always will be Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

I’ve already shared earlier Isaiah 7:14, but it’s so important for you to wrap your mind and heart around and on the Holy verse! Do you understand also the Christmas hymn entitled “Joy To The World”? Isaiah 9:6-7 announces: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Did you see it? “His government, His name, His kingdom, His throne, His rule and reign”!! [But He doesn’t rule your heart, your mind, your very life, because you believe “Jesus was only a man – not Emmanuel?”]

Look carefully at the prophetic announcements of His Virgin Birth because, yes, He IS ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’! What were those announcements? His ‘Kingdom’ was to be and is a “Blood-Bought Kingdom,” a ‘Kingdom’ that was and is “Sacrificial In Nature,” a ‘Kingdom’ that was and is “Ruler-based,” a ‘Kingdom’ that “Shines with the Light of God’s Glory,” a ‘Kingdom’ that is “Holy Presence Dominated,” and a ‘Kingdom’ of “Eternal-Mission Purpose” designed, implemented, and empowered by God through “vessels” like you and me!

Have you overlooked Isaiah 61:1-3? Yes, it IS about Jesus!! “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified.”

Oh, and I challenge you: Receive for yourself Isaiah 61:7!! “Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.”

Even in the New Testament there is prophetic utterance as in Luke 1:67-79, and the Dayspring came!!

THIRD, THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS AND IS SCRIPTURALLY, HISTORICALLY, AND PERSONALLY EVALUATED. Don’t you find it amazing that the Gospel of Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ? And you don’t know WHO HE IS OR WHERE HE CAME FROM? [Read it carefully in Matthew 1:1-17.] Oh, but then Matthew, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes Matthew 1:18-25 telling us, Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit…

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit…

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, ‘God with us.’”

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.”

Have you thoroughly evaluated Galatians 1:1-5? And have you personally experienced the intent of God in revealing Christ Jesus to you? In Galatians 1:15-16, 22-24, Paul reveals God’s divine intent for every true believer:

Galatians 1:1-5, Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me. Grace to you and peace from God the Father AND our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Galatians 1:15-16, But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me…”

Galatians 1:22-24, And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me.

Are you of the “mind-set” that ‘Jesus is not divine – never was, never is, and never will be?’ This is why Paul encouraged and challenged and informed the church at Colossae and us in Colossians 2:8-10, “Beware least anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Oh, then Paul unveils for us God’s pointing to His purpose, His pleasure, His perfection in you and through you! He wrote in Colossians 3:1-3, 10, 15-17, the following: If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Verse 10, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…

Verses 15-17, And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord . And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Do you remember Pontius Pilate asking the people as Jesus was brought before him, Matthew 27:22-26? Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.”

And when YOU stand before Holy God in your day of judgment before Him, He’ll ask you: “What did you do with My Son WHO IS THE PROMISED MESSIAH and SAVIOR who is called the Christ?” – What will be YOUR answer?

FOURTH, THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, YES, REQUIRES BELIEVING AND TRUSTING AND OBEYING GOD HIMSELF. In Hebrews 10:26-29 we read: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries…

Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment do you suppose, will be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”

The author of Hebrews, inspired, yes, by the Holy Spirit, wrote in Hebrews 10:31 and verses 35-39, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God… Verses 35-39, Therefore do not cast away your confidence which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: ‘For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.’ But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

And how does Hebrews 11:6 awaken our souls and spirits? “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Question!! Do you believe the Gospel of Christ is eternal? It’s not simply a New Testament revelation – it’s always been in the heart of Eternal, Compassionate, Merciful, Gracious, and Loving God. He tells us in Hebrews 11:23-28 as we read about the faith of Moses: “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command…

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward…

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”

Holy God then calls US: Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

If I were you, I’d search diligently “the grace and mercy of God,” and especially if you’ve doubted for yourself and then discerned that He is not what or who God and Himself and you have decided because it does determine your eternal future past this earthly existence! In Hebrews 12:12-17 we read: “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord; Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;…

Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”

Hear me! And hear God’s Holy Word! Holy Scripture is not man’s best of fleshly, mental rationalism but DIVINE REVELATION! And it is not the modern-day philosophy of ‘churchianity’ but Resurrection Life, Power, Purpose, and Hope in and through Jesus Only!

Did you know that in the Old Testament alone that it is recorded over and over: “This is what God says”? What about the New Testament? Let me give you a taste of what New Testament disciples stood on: I Peter 1:18-21 says: “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you…”

Again, the author of Hebrews so longed to awaken unbelieving hearts even in those who professed faith in God only but couldn’t accept “blood redemption” in and through the Crucified Christ who was known as Emmanuel – “God in Flesh!” In Hebrews 3:1-2, 5-6, 12-14 and the BIG “IF” in verse 14, plus Hebrews 4:11-12, 14-16, we read: Hebrews 3:1-2, “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.”

Hebrews 3:5-6, And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Hebrews 3:12-14, Beware brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ IF we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…”

Hebrews 4:11-12, Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:14-16, Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I close this study with a vital passage written by Paul in Ephesians 1:4-14, “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself,…

That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both of which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him, who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory…

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Yes, to the praise of His glory, Jesus Christ, born of the virgin, lived a sinless life, sacrificed His life on the Cross for us who were dead in our trespasses and sins, but washed in His blood, we are free from the law of sin and death, and rejoice evermore in the Son of God, our Savior and Lord, our Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Eternal Hope! That is: Jesus Only!!

Let the world go to hell in a handbasket; we’re going to heaven in a whirlwind. Amen? Glory to the Lord. God bless you.

Farrell Fisher

Introduction to the Book of Nahum
Okay, let’s take our Bibles and come to Nahum, the book of Nahum, one of the minor prophets. Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. I’m going to get you at the matter at hand. Page 104-5 in my Bible. The book of Nahum. I want to basically read the first three verses. We’re going to be talking about the great wind this morning. The book against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum, the Elkoshite.

God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; The Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked.

Now, don’t you ever forget that.

The Lord has His way in the whirlwind.

You know, that ought to be enough for every one of us this morning.

The Holiness of God
It ought to be enough to settle in our hearts that we understand there is a holy God. There is a God who is jealous. There is a God who avenges. There is a God who executes judgment on the wicked. And it ought to settle in our hearts, our minds, that we’re going to live differently from the wicked. We’re going to live differently from those who are enemies of God. We’re going to live differently from those who repudiate the word of God. We’re going to make a choice because we know the reality and the truth that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God never changes.

The Great Need of Humanity
I think the great need of every human life is to get in on what God is up to. I’m going to tell you, you haven’t begun to live at all until you’ve revived in your heart you’ve been to be in on what God is up to. Most of the world around you, getting in on what their peer group is up to. Getting in on what even their ungodly family is up to. Getting in on what their local culture is up to. But wise men are those who realize that the greatest need of any human life is to get in on what God is up to. God is moving. God is active. God is involved in human affairs. And therefore I ought to be on God’s side rather than man’s side.

Repentance and Judgment
Here is Jonah with a burden against Nineveh. Here are two men motivated by a loving, praying, holy God to share a message with a city. Nineveh, the Bible describes it as that great city. In fact, it says it’s an extremely great city. And for the first time, it was a city of sinfulness. It was a city of wickedness. It was a city that was warned of God, that unless it repented, it would be destroyed. The Bible tells us that that city did repent. But then the Bible also says the Lord had His way in the very end.

Divine Retribution and Redemption
Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.

The Reality of Death and Eternal Life
It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment. So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.

Living in Light of God’s Truth
As we come to the end of the year and the beginning of a new, I encourage you to examine what is being sown in your life. Are you sowing seeds of blessing or curse, life or death, leading to the gates of heaven or the gates of hell? Remember, every one of us is accountable for our own lives before God. We can’t blame anyone else. God is God, and you’re on your own. You’ve got to answer to Him. Amen? Amen. Well, the Lord bless you.

Blessing
Y’all just have a good last week of the year. It’s just about upon us, folks. 1999, can you believe that? It’s right before us, 1999. We pray it’ll be one of the greatest years we’ve ever known, to see the hand of God, the purposes of God, the plans of God, and the presence of God. And we just rest in Him. Let the world go to hell in a handbasket; we’re going to heaven in a whirlwind. Amen? Glory to the Lord. God bless you.

“CITIZENS OF HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM”?”

J.FARRELL FISHER, MAY 4-5,2019

IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, IT’S BEEN AMAZING TO ME AT GOD’S INSPIRATION IN ME IN WRITING, I PRAY, BLESSED TEACHINGS THAT WILL TEACH & REACH MANY FOR TRUE SALVATION IN THE SAVIOR’S NAME BY CONVICTION, CONVERSION, CONSECRATION, AND THEN,COMMISSIONING OF CHILDREN OF FAITH AS HIS MESSENGERS, AMBASSADORS, SERVANTS, PASTORS & TEACHERS & EVEN AS MISSIONARIES! AS WELL AS TEACHINGS, OUR LORD HAS EVEN INSPIRED POETRY IN ME EVERY NOW & THEN! HERE’S A SAMPLE: “STRANGERS IN A GOD-BLESSED LAND, SELFISHLY LIVING AS ‘SLAVES’ TO A WORLD, A DEVIL, & A ‘FLESHLY’ BAND; IGNORING GOD & SINGING THEIR OWN SONG, ‘OFF-KEY’’, THEY’RE LOUD & SINFULLY STRONG.

STRANGERS TO “TRUTH” & ALL THINGS RIGHT, THEY WANDER ON EARTH IN THEIR ‘SOULISH NIGHT’, IGNORING THE GOD OF LOVE & LIGHT, DANCING & PRANCING & JUMPING IN THEIR SIN, THEY EASILY TURN AWAY FROM “GOD’S: MIGHT HAVE BEEN!”

“NEW LIFE IN CHRIST” IS TO THEM A ‘BORE’, BECAUSE LIFE ON THEIR OWN IS IN INDULGENT & SINFUL TREASURE, BUT VOID OF GOD, IT’S SIN-NATURE’S ‘PLEASURE’(?).

SO DAY BY DAY IN THEIR SELFISH WAY, THEY WILLFULLY LIVE BLINDED TO GOD’S “BEST & BETTER DAY”; THAT’S THE DAY OF REDEMPTION FOR SOULS IN SIN, BUT THEY WILLFULLY IGNORE WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.”

“STRANGERS IN A GOD-BLESSED LAND”? IN THE LAST PART OF HEBREWS 11:13,THERE IS A PHRASE DESCRIBING HEBREW BELIEVERS BEFORE THEY FOUND, YES, BY GOD’S MERCY & GRACE, THE TRUE PATH OF BLOOD REDEMPTION: PAUL WROTE, THAT MANY WERE: “STRANGERS & PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH”, AT LEAST FOR AWHILE, THEN‘HEARING GOD’S PROMISE’, WERE PERSUADED TO HOLD ON FROM THAT DAY FORWARD TO THEIR COMING CROWNING IN THE BLESSING OF SPIRITUAL FREEDOM THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST’S GOSPEL FOREVER & EVER EVEN AFTER THEIR EARTHLY PHYSICAL DEATH TO LIVE ETERNALLY WITH CHRIST IN HEAVEN, NOT HELL, STILL FAITHFULLY READY TO “WASH THE MASTER’S FEET THERE AS THEY DID HERE!”

IN “THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGIOUS QUOTATIONS”, WILLIAM COWPER AUTHORED WORDS HE ENTITLED “LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS”, SAYING: “BLIND UNBELIEF IS SURE TO ERR, AND SCAN GOD’S WORK IN VAIN; GOD IS HIS OWN INTERPRETER, AND HE WILL MAKE IT PLAIN.”

BUT, STRANGERS IN A GOD-BLESSED LAND? STRANGERS TO GOD HIMSELF? STRANGERS TO HIS SON, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? STRANGERS TO HIS HOLY SPIRIT? STRANGERS TO HIS ETERNAL WORD, HIS “MILK”, HIS “BREAD”, HIS “FRUIT”, HIS “PATHWAY”, HIS “GUIDING LIGHT” & STRANGERS TO HIS“GRACIOUS MAP OF BLOOD REDEMPTION & RECONCILIATION WITH THE HOLY FATHER FOR ALL MANKIND”, THRU TRUST IN CHRIST’S SHED BLOOD, HIS DEATH, HIS RESURRECTION, HIS ASCENSION, CROWNED IN GLORY, SEATED ON GOD’S THRONE & INTERCEDING FOR YOU IN PARTICULAR AS IF YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE THE LORD JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED FOR?

HE TOOK WITH HIM TO THE CROSS YOUR OLD SIN-NATURE & MINE. WHEN JESUS ALLOWED HIS CRUCIFIXION, HE KNEW “YOU” HAD TO BE “CRUCIFIED WITH HIM”, YOUR ‘OLD MAN’ YOUR ‘OLD SIN-NATURE, YOUR ‘OLD LIFE DECEIVED BY SATAN HIMSELF’! HOW CAN I SHARE THIS TRUTH WITHOUT ITS FOUNDATION IN GENESIS 2:1-14?

THUS THE HEAVENS & THE EARTH WERE FINISHED, AND ALL THE HOST OF THEM. AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY GOD ENDED HIS WORK WHICH HE HAD MADE; AND GOD BLESSED THE SEVENTH DAY, & SANCTIFIED IT (OR “SET IT APART”); AND HE RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORK WHICH HE HAD MADE.

THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF THE HEAVENS & THE EARTH WHEN THEY WERE CREATED, IN THE DAY THAT THE LORD GOD MADE THE EARTH & THE HEAVENS. AND EVERY PLANT OF THE FIELD BEFORE IT WAS IN THE EARTH, AND EVERY HERB OF THE FIELD BEFORE IT GREW; FOR THE LORD GOD HAD NOT CAUSED IT TO RAIN UPON THE EARTH, AND THERE WAS NOT A MAN TO TILL THE GROUND.

BUT THERE WENT UP A MIST FROM THE EARTH, & WATERED THE WHOLE FACE OF THE GROUND. AND THE LORD FORMED MAN OF THE DUST OF THE GROUND, & BREATHED INTO HIS NOSTRILS THE BREATH OF LIFE; AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL. (BUT ONLY A LIVING SOUL, BECAUSE, AS YET, NOT “NEW-BORN” CITIZENS OF GOD’S ETERNAL KINGDOM & HIS SPIRITUAL FAMILY!).

VERSE 8 &FOLLOWING: AND THE LORD GOD PLANTED A GARDEN EASTWARD IN EDEN; AND THERE HE PUT THE MAN WHOM HE HAD FORMED. AND OUT OF THE GROUND MADE THE LORD GOD TO GROW EVERY TREE THAT IS PLEASANT TO YOUR SIGHT, AND GOOD FOR FOOD; THE TREE OF LIFE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, & THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD & EVIL.

AND A RIVER WENT OUT OF EDEN TO WATER THE GARDEN; AND FROM THERE IT WAS PARTED, & BECAME INTO FOUR HEADS. THE NAME OF THE FIRST IS PISON; THAT IS IT WHICH COMPASSES THE WHOLE LAND OF HAVILAH, WHERE THERE IS GOLD; [INTERESTING WORD,HAVILAH; EXODUS 15:22 SPEAKS OF THOSE WHO “WENT OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS OF SHUR…”. IT WAS SW OF PALESTINE! OH, “WHERE THERE IS GOLD”!]

LITERALLY,PHYSICAL GOLD CAN CAPTURE A MAN TO THE POINT HE’S SO ENRAPTURED WITH FINDING “GOLD” THAT HE/SHE MISSES GOD!

VERSE 12 SAYS, “ AND THE GOLD OF THAT LAND IS GOOD; THERE IS BDELLIUM & THE ONXY STONE.” BUT YOU UNDERSTAND, MANY ARE ‘ENSLAVED’ TOWARD, LITERALLY, ‘GOLD’ BUT RESISTANT TO THE GIFT OF GOD OF ‘SPIRITUAL GOLD’, TO THE POINT, MANY ‘PROFESSORS OF FAITH’ LIVE BANKRUPT, PENNILESS LIVES OF FAITH, IGNORING WHAT THE TRUE INHERITANCE OF “BORN-AGAIN SAINTS ARE”,& LIVING A SPIRITUALLY ‘POVERTY-WALK’, LIKE A ‘BEGGAR’ ON A STREET CORNER, ‘SIN-NATURE RICH,BUT SPIRITUALLY IMPOVERISHED’, POOR & BABKRUPT AS “HELL” IS ITSELF UNDER SATAN’S FOREVER IMPRISONMENT!!!

BUT IN 1 PETER 2:9 THE APOSTLE SAID, “BUT YOU, (DISCIPLE OF CHRIST!), ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PECULIAR PEOPLE, THAT “YOU” SHOULD SHOW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO HAS CALLED YOU OUT OF (YOUR) DARKNESS INTO “HIS” MARVELOUS LIGHT”! REALLY? “STRANGERS IN A GOD-BLESSED LAND?” OR: “BORN-AGAIN CITIZENS OF HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM?”

ARE “YOU” A BORN-AGAIN CITIZEN OF HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM?” ARE “YOU” LIVING FOR THE “LEAST” THE WORLD AROUND YOU OFFERS, OR DO YOU PASSIONATELY PURSUE ALL GOD SAYS YOU ARE “IN CHRIST”?

I AFFIRM THIS TEACHING WITH THE WORDS OF PAUL IN EPHESIANS 2:13-22! “BUT NOW ‘IN CHRIST JESUS’ YOU WHO SOMETIMES WERE FAR OFF ARE MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. FOR HE IS OUR PEACE, WHO HAS MADE BOTH ONE (THE HOLY SAVIOR & THE SANCTIFIED “SAINT”!), AND HAD BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL OF PARTITION BETWEEN US;

HAVING ABOLISHED IN HIS ‘FLESHLY BODY’ THE ENMITY, EVEN THE LAW OF COMMANDMENTS CONTAINED IN ORDINANCES; FOR TO MAKE IN HIMSELF OF TWAIN ONE NEW MAN, SO MAKING PEACE; AND THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD IN ONE BODY BY THE CROSS, HAVING SLAIN THE ENMITY THEREBY:

AND CAME & PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHICH WERE AFAR OFF, & TO THEM THAT ARE NEAR.

(IS THAT ‘NEAR’ BUT NOT “RE-BORN”, ‘NEAR’

BUT NOT “SPIRIT-BIRTHED & SPIRIT-FILLED”?).

FOR THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, WE BOTH HAVE ACCESS BY ONE SPIRIT UNTO THE FATHER. “NOW” THEREFORE YOU ARE NO MORE STRANGERS & FOREIGNERS, BUT FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS, & OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD.

AND ARE BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES & PROPHETS, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNER STONE; IN WHOM ALL THE BUILDING FITLY FRAMED TOGETHER GROWS UNTO AN HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LAND: IN WHOM YOU ALSO ARE BUILT TOGETHER FOR AN HABITATION OF GOD THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT.” (CAN YOU SAY, “AMEN”?).

THERE IS A HYMN OF GREAT IMPORTANCE, A HYMN FROM THE “BROADMAN HYMNAL”,(PUBLISHED BY THE BROADMAN PRESS, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE,IN THE YEAR, 1940!). THE TITLE? “THERE IS A LAND OF PURE DELIGHT”(P.216)!( WHERE HAVE YOU CHOSEN, OR, BEEN CHOSEN, TO DWELL?)

“THERE IS A LAND OF PURE DELIGHT, WHERE SAINTS IMMORTAL REIGN; ETERNAL DAY EXCLUDES THE NIGHT, & PLEASURES BANISH PAIN.THERE EVERLASTING SPRING ABIDES, & NEVER WITHERING FLOWERS; DEATH, LIKE A NARROW SEA, DIVIDES THIS HEAVENLY LAND FROM OURS.

SWEET FIELDS BEYOND THE SWELLING FLOOD STAND DRESSED IN LIVING GREEN; SO TO THE JEWS OLD CANAAN STOOD, WHILE JORDAN ROLLED BETWEEN. BUT TIMOROUS MORTALS START & SHRINK TO CROSS THE NARROW SEA, AND LINGER,SHIVERING, ON THE BRINK, & FEAR TO LAUNCH AWAY.

OH, COULD WE MAKE OUR DOUBTS REMOVE, THOSE GLOOMY DOUBTS THAT RISE, AND SEE THE CANAAN THAT WE LOVE WITH UNBECLOUDED EYES! COULD WE BUT CLIMB WHERE MOSES STOOD, AND VIEW THE LANDSCAPE O’ER, NOT JORDAN’S STREAM NOR DEATH’S COLD FLOOD SHOULD FRIGHT US FROM THE SHORE.”

ARE “YOU” IN THE “LAND OF PURE DELIGHT” OR ARE YOU STILL WALKING IN “THE LAND OF SELF, FLESH, FALLEN WORLD WITH SATAN’S DELIGHT & YOUR DECEPTIVE REWARD?” IN OUR CHURCH WORSHIP THIS MORNING AT “NORTHWOODS CHURCH” IN KELLER, TEXAS, I HEARD A SONG I’D NEVER HEARD BEFORE – IT’S FAIRLY NEW, ENTITLED, “JESUS CHRIST, MY LIVING HOPE”, (BETHEL MUSIC; ADORANDO PUBLISHING HOUSE) I CLOSE THIS MESSAGE WITH THE WORDS:

“HOW GREAT THE CHASM THAT LAY BETWEEN US, HOW HIGH THE MOUNTAIN I COULD NOT CLIMB. IN DESPERATION I TURNED TO HEAVEN AND SPOKE “YOUR NAME” INTO THE NIGHT.

THEN THRU’ THE DARKNESS YOUR LOVING KINDNESS (GOD’S!) TORE THRU’ THE SHADOWS OF MY SOUL.

THE WORK IS FINISHED THE END IS WRITTEN, JESUS CHRIST MY LIVING HOPE.

WHO COULD IMAGINE SO GREAT A MERCY, WHAT COULD FATHOM SUCH BOUNDLESS GRACE? THE GOD OF AGES STEPPED DOWN FROM GLORY TO WEAR MY SIN AND BEAR MY SHAME.

THE CROSS HAS SPOKEN – I AM FORGIVEN – THE KING OF KINGS CALLS ME HIS OWN. BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR, I’M YOURS FOREVER, JESUS CHRIST MY LIVING HOPE.

HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE ONE WHO SET ME FREE, HALLELUJAH! DEATH HAS LOST ITS GRIP ON ME! YOU HAVE BROKEN EVERY CHAIN, THERE’S SALVATION IN YOUR NAME, JESUS CHRIST, MY LIVING HOPE

THEN CAME THE MORNING THAT SEALED THE PROMISE YOUR BURIED BODY BEGAN TO BREATHE; OUT OF THE SILENCE THE ROARING LION DECLARED THE GRACE HAS NO CLAIM ON ME. “JESUS YOURS IS THE VICTORY.”

HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE ONE WHO SET ME FREE, HALLELUJAH, DEATH HAS LOST ITS GRIP ON ME. YOU HAVE BROKEN EVERY CHAIN THERE’S SALVATION IN YOUR NAME – JESUS CHRIST MY LIVING HOPE SHOW LESS OF ME AND MORE OF THEE.” CAN YOU SAY: “HALLELUJAH! GLORY!TO HIS NAME”? WITH OPEN-ARMS-JESUS SAYS, “COME TO ME!”

EVERY HUNGRY SOUL”!

BY: J.FARRELL FISHER,JUNE 28-30,2019

YES, IT WAS KING JESUS, THE PROMISED MESSIAH OF GOD FOR ISRAEL & THOSE OF FAITH WHO WOULD COME LATER, WHO IN MATTHEW 4:4 SAID, “IT IS WRITTEN, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.” SOME LEARN ETERNAL TRUTH, SOME NEVER HEAR IT, & SOME HEAR IT & WILLFULLY REJECT IT, WHILE OTHERS KNOW, YES, THERE IS A HEART & MIND HUNGER TO HEAR, RECEIVE, & WALK IN THE WORD OF HOLY GOD WHETHER THEY DO OR NOT! BUT WHERE DO YOU SIT, WALK, & STAND CONCERNING ‘YOUR SPIRITUAL APPETITE’?

IN 2 CORINTHIANS 13:5 PAUL STATED TO THE CORINTHIANS ‘FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST’ (?), EXAMINE YOURSELVES, WHETHER YOU BE IN THE FAITH (OR NOT);PROVE YOUR OWN SELVES. KNOW YOU NOT YOUR OWN SELVES, HOW THAT JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU, EXCEPT YOU BE REPROBATES?”

GALATIANS 6:1-9 IS A TRULY CONVICTING, CHALLENGING WORD. IT SAYS,”BRETHREN, IF A MAN BE OVERTAKEN IN A FAULT, YOU WHICH ARE SPIRITUAL, RESTORE SUCH AN ONE IN THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS; CONSIDERING YOURSELF LEST YOU ALSO BE TEMPTED. BEAR YOU ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS, & SO FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST. FOR IF A MAN THINK HIMSELF TO BE SOMETHING, WHEN HE IS NOTHING, HE DECEIVES HIMSELF.BUT LET EVERY MAN PROVE HIS OWN WORK, & THEN SHALL HE HAVE REJOICING IN HIMSELF ALONE, & NOT IN ANOTHER. FOR EVERY MAN SHALL BEAR HIS OWN BURDEN.

LET HIM THAT IS TAUGHT IN THE WORD COMMUNICATE UNTO HIM THAT TEACHES IN ALL GOOD THINGS (THERE ARE ‘GOOD THINGS TAUGHT BY ALL MEN BUT ALL MEN WHO TEACH ‘GOOD THINGS’, MANY OR MOST, ARE ‘LOST’, ‘ALIENATED’, ‘SEPARATED’ FROM HOLY GOD, & APART FROM CHRIST’S BLOOD REDEMPTION & THEIR REPENTANCE, THEY MAY LIVE ‘GOOD LIVES’ BUT VOID OF THE PRESENCE OF THE LIVING GOD IN THEIR HEARTS & LIVES THROUGH BIBLICAL REPENTANCE & ACCEPTANCE OF THE GIFT OF TRUE FAITH’, NOT EARNED BUT MERCIFULLY GIVEN BY THE HEART OF GOD!!). BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED; FOR WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWS, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP. FOR HE THAT SOWS TO HIS FLESH SHALL OF THE FLESH REAP CORRUPTION; BUT HE THAT SOWS TO THE SPIRIT SHALL OF THE SPIRIT REAP LIFE EVERLASTING. AND LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP, IF WE FAINT NOT.”

CONSIDER THE VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A ‘FARMER’ WHO PREPARES HIS FIELD FOR THE SPRING PLANTING OF HIS ESSENTIAL GARDEN TO SUSTAIN HIM & THE FARMER WHO DOES NOT PULL WEEDS, DOES NOT PLOW, BUT JUST “FEELS”, IF HE GETS SEED IN THE GROUND, WEEDS & ALL, THAT HE’LL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN HIMSELF & HIS FAMILY! PROVERBS 19:15 SAYS, “LAZINESS CASTS ONE INTO A DEEP SLEEP, & AN IDLE PERSON WILL SUFFER HUNGER.”

WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT IN PHYSICAL HUMANITY THAT A MAN CANNOT LIVE BY ‘PHYSICAL BREAD’ ALONE & THAT THE BODY, WITHOUT PROPER NOURISHMENT, MAGNIFIES IT’S SOON DEPARTURE – BUT, FAR MORE DISTURBING, IS THE MAN OR WOMAN WHO IGNORES THE SPIRITUAL CRIES WITHIN THE HUMAN HEART, BODY, SOUL, & MIND, NEEDING THE SPIRITUAL PRESENCE & PROVISION & PRESIDING & PRESERVING OF THE LIVING SAVIOR & LORD WHO KNOCKS ON EVERY HEART’S DOOR, YES, ASKING TO HAVE “YOU” OPEN YOUR HEART’S DOOR & ALLOW HIM TO COME IN!

REVELATION 3:20 TELLS US, JESUS SPEAKING, “BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR & KNOCK. IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE & OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM & DINE WITH HIM, & HE WITH ME.” OH, & HEBREWS 12:25 SAYS, “SEE THAT YOU DO NOT REFUSE HIM WHO SPEAKS,” & THE RESURRECTED, REIGNING CHRIST, THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT, KNOCKS & HE KNOCKS, & HE KNOCKS – HE LONGINGLY DESIRES TO ENTER & BLESS YOUR LIFE’S JOURNEY WITH, YES, HIS RESURRECTION PRESENCE!!!

THERE IS AN “ETERNAL MYSTERY” THAT, SADLY, TOO MANY WORLD-BOUND PEOPLE HAVE NO DESIRE TO HEAR ABOUT, UNDERSTAND, & BE BLESSED BY: COLOSSIANS 1:24-29!! “I NOW REJOICE IN MY SUFFERINGS FOR YOU, & FILL UP IN MY FLESH WHAT IS LACKING IN THE AFFLICTIONS OF CHRIST, FOR THE SAKE OF HIS BODY, WHICH IS THE CHURCH, OF WHICH I BECAME A MINISTER ACCORDING TO THE STEWARDSHIP FROM GOD WHICH WAS GIVEN TO ME FOR YOU, TO FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD, THE MYSTERY WHICH HAS BEEN HIDDEN FROM AGES & FROM GENERATIONS, BUT NOW HAS BEEN REVEALED TO HIS SAINTS (OR ‘SET-APART-ONES’!). TO THEM GOD WILLED TO MAKE KNOWN WHAT ARE THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF THIS MYSTERY: WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY. HIM WE PREACH, WARNING EVERY MAN & TEACHING EVERY MAN IN ALL WISDOM, THAT WE MAY PRESENT EVERY MAN PERFECT IN CHRIST JESUS. TO THIS END I ALSO LABOR, STRIVING ACCORDING TO HIS WORKING WHICH WORKS IN ME MIGHTILY.”

THE QUESTION OF THIS VERY MOMENT IS: IS YOUR WALK IN THIS MODERN WORLD A WALK OF A “HUNGRY LIFE KNOWING ITS NEED TO BE FAITHFULLY ‘FED BY GOD HIMSELF THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD’ DAILY?” IN MATTHEW 4:4 THE LORD JESUS, CHALLENGED BY SATAN HIMSELF, SAID, “IT IS WRITTEN, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.” [IN THAT HISTORIC TIME PERIOD, IT WAS ONLY THE OLD TESTAMENT, BUT PRAISE GOD, GOD PRODUCED THE NEW TESTAMENT THROUGH OBEDIENT SERVANTS WHO HEARD HIS VOICE & OBEYED FOR THE WRITINGS OF EVERY NEW TESTAMENT BOOK & ALL ITS CHAPTERS!]

THE LORD JESUS, IN JOHN 6:60-71,SPOKE TO, YES, MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES THEN, WHO “CHOSE” TO WALK AWAY FROM HIM! THE WORD SAYS: THEREFORE MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, SAID, ‘THIS IS A HARD SAYING; WHO CAN UNDERSTAND IT?’ WHEN JESUS KNEW IN HIMSELF THAT HIS DISCIPLES COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS, HE SAID TO THEM, ‘DOES THIS OFFEND YOU? WHAT THEN IF YOU SHOULD SEE THE SON OF MAN ASCEND WHERE HE WAS BEFORE? IT IS THE SPIRIT WHO GIVES LIFE; THE FLESH (‘OLD SIN-NATURE’) PROFITS NOTHING. THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK TO YOU ARE SPIRIT, & THEY ARE LIFE. BUT THERE ARE SOME OF YOU WHO DO NOT BELIEVE.’

FOR JESUS KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING WHO THEY WERE WHO DID NOT BELIEVE, & WHO WOULD BETRAY HIM. AND HE SAID, ‘THEREFORE I HAVE SAID TO YOU THAT NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS IT HAS BEEN GRANTED TO HIM BY MY FATHER.’ FROM THAT TIME MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WENT BACK & WALKED NO MORE WITH HIM. THEN JESUS SAID TO THE TWELVE, ‘DO YOU ALSO WANT TO GO AWAY?’ BUT SIMON PETER ANSWERED HIM, ‘LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE. ALSO WE HAVE COME TO BELIEVE & KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.’ JESUS ANSWERED THEM, ‘DID I NOT CHOOSE YOU, THE TWELVE, & ONE OF YOU IS A DEVIL?’ HE SPOKE OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, THE SON OF SIMON, FOR IT WAS HE WHO WOULD BETRAY HIM, BEING ONE OF THE TWELVE.”

IT WAS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, IN HIS WRITING “MACBETH”, (ACT 1, SC.3,L.74), WHO SAID OF HIM, “STANDS NOT WITHIN THE PROSPECT OF BELIEF,” WHICH IS, SADLY, SO TRUE OF MANY PEOPLE WORLD-WIDE! IN HIS WRITING “THE ESSAYS: OF ATHEISM”, SIR FRANCIS BACON WROTE: “THEY THAT DENY A GOD DESTROY MAN’S NOBILITY; FOR CERTAINLY MAN IS OF KIN TO THE BEASTS BY HIS BODY; & IF HE BE NOT OF KIN TO GOD BY HIS SPIRIT, HE IS A BASE & IGNOBLE CREATURE.” WELL, THAT CERTAINLY DOESN’T SIT WELL IN AN ‘ATHEISTIC COMMUNITY’ OR STRICTLY UNBELIEVERS IN BIBLICAL SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST IN HIS CALVARY CROSS DEATH & THREE DAYS LATER HIS GODLY RESURRECTION! EXAMINE MARK 9:14-29! IT SAYS: AND WHEN HE CAME TO HIS DISCIPLES, HE SAW A GREAT MULTITUDE AROUND THEM, & SCRIBES DISPUTING WITH THE. IMMEDIATELY, WHEN THEY SAW HIM, ALL THE PEOPLE WERE GREATLY AMAZED, & RUNNING TO HIM, GREETED HIM. & HE ASKED THE SCRIBES, “WHAT ARE YOU DISCUSSING WITH THEM?”

THEN ONE OF THE CROWD ANSWERED & SAID, “TEACHER, I BROUGHT YOU MY SON, WHO HAS A MUTE SPIRIT. & WHEREVER IT SEIZES HIM, IT THROWS HIM DOWN; HE FOAMS AT THE MOUTH, GNASHES HIS TEETH, & BECOMES RIGID. SO I SPOKE TO YOUR DISCIPLES, THAT THEY SHOULD CAST IT OUT, BUT THEY COULD NOT.” JESUS ANSWERED HIM & SAID, “O FAITHLESS GENERATION, HOW LONG SHALL I BE WITH YOU? HOW LONG SHALL I BEAR WITH YOU? BRING HIM TO ME.” THEN THEY BROUGHT HIM TO JESUS. & WHEN HE SAW JESUS, IMMEDIATELY THE ‘SPIRIT’ CONVULSED HIM, & HE FELL TO THE GROUND & WALLOWED, FOAMING AT THE MOUTH. SO HE (JESUS) ASKED HIS FATHER, “HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN HAPPENING TO HIM?” & HE SAID, “FROM CHILDHOOD. & OFTEN HE HAS THROWN HIM BOTH INTO THE FIRE & INTO THE WATER TO DESTROY HIM. BUT IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, HAVE COMPASSION ON US & HELP US.” JESUS SAID TO HIM, “IF YOU CAN BELIEVE (TRUST, STAND ON, RELY UPON), ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM WHO BELIEVES.” IMMEDIATELY THE FATHER OF THE CHILD CRIED OUT & SAID WITH TEARS, “LORD, I BELIEVE; HELP MY UNBELIEF!”

WHEN JESUS SAW THAT THE PEOPLE CAME RUNNING TOGETHER, HE REBUKED THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT, SAYING TO IT, “DEAF & DUMB SPIRIT, I COMMAND YOU, COME OUT OF HIM & ENTER HIM NO MORE.” THEN THE ‘SPIRIT’ CRIED OUT, CONVULSED HIM GREATLY, & CAME OUT OF HIM. & HE BECAME AS ONE DEAD, SO THAT MANY SAID, “HE IS DEAD.” BUT JESUS TOOK HIM BY THE HAND & LIFTED HIM UP, & HE AROSE. AND WHEN HE HAD COME INTO THE HOUSE, HIS DISCIPLES ASKED HIM PRIVATELY, “WHY COULD WE NOT CAST IT OUT?” SO HE SAID TO THEM, “THIS KIND CAN COME OUT BY NOTHING BUT PRAYER & FASTING.” SO IN OUR MODERN-DAY CHURCHES, WHO IS IT WHO PRAYS & FASTS FOR THE HEALING & DELIVERANCE OF SIN-BOUND, DEMON-BOUND, WORLD-BOUND MEN OR WOMEN? IS IT HAPPENING AROUND YOU?

IF IT IS TO BE A PART OF A MODERN-DAY DISCIPLE’S WALK OF FAITH, WHAT IS INVOLVED IN TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF DELIVERANCE, HEALING, &, YES, A TRUE SALVATION MESSAGE? AND, “IS THERE FOR EVERY HUMAN SOUL AN APPETITE FOR, YES, THE GOOD, THE ACCEPTABLE, OR THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD?” DARE I SAY IT? BELIEVE I WILL! “”ALL” THAT MATTERS IS “THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD”! THAT MEANS SEVERAL THINGS OF ETERNAL IMPORTANCE!

FIRST, AS A PHYSICAL DOCTOR EVALUATES YOUR PHYSICAL CONDITION, DO “YOU” ALLOW GOD AS “THE GREAT PHYSICIAN” TO DIAGNOSE YOUR SPIRITUAL STATE OR CONDITION? HIS CONCLUSION? ROMANS 3:23, “FOR ‘ALL’ HAVE SINNED & FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD!” & WHAT DOES ROMANS 6:23 TELL US? “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN “IS” DEATH…! BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” (BUT HOW MANY PASTORS, CHRISTIANS, CHURCHES ARE THERE WHO TALK ABOUT, YES, “FORGIVENESS NOW – BUT ABIDING PRESENCE IN THE FUTURE”? THEY SAY, “GOD’S GIFT OF CHRIST IS KIND & GRACIOUS, BUT HE KNOWS OUR WALK (IN OURSELVES IN ‘BEST EFFORT’ WILL STUMBLE AT TIMES!”)” NO! A THOUSAND TIMES, “NO”! GALATIANS 2:20-21 SAYS, “I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME; & THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE (FLESHLY BODY) I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, & GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME. I DO NOT FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD.” UNDERSTAND! THE ONE “TRYING HIS BEST” HAS NOT CHOSEN THE GRACE OF GOD BUT HIS/HER ‘GRITLINESS’!

IN GALATIANS 6:14-18 PAUL WROTE: “BUT GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY SAVE IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM THE WORLD IS CRUCIFIED UNTO ME, & I UNTO THE WORLD. FOR IN CHRIST JESUS NEITHER CIRCUMCISION AVAILETH ANYTHING, NOR UNCIRCUMCISION, BUT A NEW CREATION.

AND AS MANY AS WALK ACCORDING TO THIS RULE, PEACE BE ON THEM, & MERCY, & UPON THE ISRAEL OF GOD. FROM HENCEFORTH LET NO MAN TROUBLE ME: FOR I BEAR IN MY BODY THE MARKS OF THE LORD JESUS. BRETHREN, THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOUR SPIRIT. AMEN.” WERE “YOU” CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST ON THE CROSS?

SECOND, THERE MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & ACCEPTANCE PERSONALLY OF YOU IN YOUR FLESHLY HEART, MIND, & SPIRIT AS, YES, ‘THE SINNER’ SEPARATED FROM HOLY GOD! IN GALATIANS 5:19-21 PAUL UNVEILED THE DANGER OF “THE WORKS OF THE FLESH” WHEN HE SAID, “NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE MANIFEST (UNVEILED), WHICH ARE THESE: ADULTERY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, LASCIVIOUSNESS, IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, VARIANCE, EMULATIONS, WRATH, STRIFE, SEDITIONS, HERESIES, ENVYINGS, MURDERS, DRUNKENNESS, REVELLINGS, & SUCH LIKE: OF THE WHICH I TELL YOU BEFORE, AS I HAVE ALSO TOLD YOU IN TIME PAST, THAT THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”

DIDN’T PAUL ALSO SAY IN 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9, “KNOW YOU NOT THAT THE UNRIGHTEOUS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD?” WHAT YOU HEARD IN GALATIANS UNVEILED AS “THE WORKS OF THE FLESH” IS THE NATURALLY BIRTHED PHYSICAL EXISTENCE IN NEED OF BEING MIRACULOUSLY “BORN AGAIN”! PAUL TOLD THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH, (1 CORINTHIANS 15:50), “NOW THIS I SAY, BRETHREN, THAT ‘FLESH & BLOOD’ CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD; NEITHER DOES CORRUPTION INHERIT INCORRUPTION.” IT IS A DANGEROUS, DEFILED, SIN-SICK LIFE THAT WILLFULLY DENIES, REFUTES, LIES ABOUT HOLY GOD’S CLEAR EXPOSURE OF A SIN-PRACTICING LIFE!

THIRD, IT REQUIRES “SPIRITUAL MEDICATION” FROM THE ETERNAL “GREAT PHYSICIAN”, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! IN MATTHEW 9:1-8 WE FIND OUR LORD’S HEALING MINISTRY AMPLIFIED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! IT SAYS, “AND JESUS ENTERED INTO A SHIP & PASSED OVER, & CAME INTO HIS OWN CITY. & BEHOLD,THEY BROUGHT TO HIM A MAN SICK OF THE PALSY, LYING ON A BED: & JESUS SEEING THEIR FAITH SAID UNTO THE SICK OF THE PALSY, ‘SON, BE OF GOOD CHEER; YOUR SINS BE FORGIVEN YOU.’ & BEHOLD, CERTAIN OF THE SCRIBES SAID WITHIN THEMSELVES, ‘THIS MAN BLASPHEMES’. & JESUS KNOWING THEIR THOUGHTS SAID, “WHEREFORE THINK YOU EVIL IN YOUR HEARTS? FOR WHETHER IS EASIER, TO SAY, ‘YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN YOU; OR TO SAY, ARISE & WALK?

BUT THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT THE SON OF MAN HAS POWER ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS, (THEN SAID HE TO THE SICK OF THE PALSY,) “ARISE, TAKE UP YOUR BED, & GO UNTO YOUR HOUSE.” & HE AROSE & DEPARTED TO HIS HOUSE. BUT WHEN THE MULTITUDES SAW IT, THEY MARVELED, & GLORIFIED GOD, WHICH HAD GIVEN SUCH POWER UNTO MEN.”

BY:J.FARRELL FISHER,MAY 20-21,2019

IN THE RANDOM HOUSECOLLEGIATE DICTIONARY OF 1975, THE WORD ‘AFFIRMATION’ IS DEFINED AS “THE ACT OF AFFIRMING,THE STATE OF BEING AFFIRMED,AN ASSERTION OF TRUTH OR EXISTENCE OF SOMETHING; A PROPOSITION OR IDEA SUPPORTED BY SUCH AN ASSERTION; CONFIRMATION OR RATIFICATION.”

‘ASPIRATION’? SAME DICTIONARY: “STRONG DESIRE,AIM OR AMBITION; A GOAL OR OBJECT DESIRED”! SO, WHAT ABOUT “THE AFFIRMATION TO ASPIRATIONS?” 1 TIMOTHY 3:1 SAYS, “THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING: IF A MAN DESIRES THE POSITION OF OVERSEER, HE DESIRES A GOOD WORK.” BUT…IF ASPIRATIONS ARE NOT INSPIRED BY GOD,THOUGH ZEALOUS, BECOME NOTHING MORE THAN ‘FLESH-EFFORT ZEAL’ WITHOUT AN OUNCE OF “SPIRIT-ANOINTING & APPOINTING& AFFIRMING”!!

IT WAS JOHN ARBUTHNOT, IN HIS WRITING “GNOTHI SEATON” (L.3), THAT SAID: “TO BLISS UNKNOWN MY LOFTY SOUL ASPIRES, MY LOT UNEQUAL TO MY VAST DESIRES.” ABSOLUTELY! BECAUSE “GIFTINGS,CALLINGS,

TALENTS,AMBITIONS,DREAMS OR VISIONS, THAT COME IN MAN ARE NOT GOD’S DESIGN, INTENT, CALLING, & EQUIPPING” – THERE MUST BE: “FATHER-GOD, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME TO BE, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME TO DO?” DESTINY IS A MAN’S PEACEABLE BUT GODLESS CHOICE OR TROUBLED ‘SEA OF LIFE’ IF HE/SHE CHOOSES TO “GO IT MY WAY”,RATHER THAN THE GOOD, ACCEPTABLE,& PERFECT WILL OF GOD!

JOHN MILTON,IN HIS “PARADISE LOST”,(BK.X11,L.64), WROTE: “EXECRABLE SON! SO TO ASPIRE ABOVE HIS BRETHREN, TO HIMSELF ASSUMING AUTHORITY USURPED, FROM GOD NOT GIVEN.” THAT STATEMENT ISN’T EVEN STRANGE TO YOU IS IT? OR,ARE YOU A SINATRA, “I DO IT MY WAY” KIND OF GUY OR GAL?

SO, FALLEN MANKIND, THE UNREDEEMED, THE ‘SEPARATED FROM GOD CROWD’, THE SELF-CENTERED, YES, ‘god unto myself’ guy or gal, BRUTALIZING, BRUTIFYING, BLASTING,BATTERING DIVINE TRUTH TO SETTLE FOR THE “HIGHWAY OF THE WORLD, THE FLESH, & SATAN HIMSELF”!!

BUT,I’M SURE IF YOU’RE READING THIS MESSAGE, THAT YOU KNOW THERE IS SUCH A VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ‘FLESHLY AMBITION’ & THE ASPIRATION TO BE OR TO DO WHATEVER “GOD” DESIRES FOR YOUR LIFE! AN ASPIRATION OF LEADERSHIP WITHOUT A WILLFUL CRUCIFIXION OF ‘SELF-GLORY’ BECOMES NOTHING MORE THAN A CORONATION TO VAINNESS & SELF-IMPORTANCE. THE ASPIRATION OF LEADERSHIP THAT HONORS GOD IS NOT CARNAL AMBITION BUT SPIRIT-ANOINTED PASSION TO BE FREE OF “SELF”, FULLY YIELDED & SURRENDERED TO THE LORDSHIP MANAGEMENT OF “CHRIST IN YOU, THROUGH YOU, FOR YOU”, STILL PRESENT IN YOU TO BE HIMSELF, THE “SACRIFICIAL, CRUCIFIED, RAISED-FROM-THE-DEAD JESUS” BEING HIMSELF!!!

SPIRITUAL ASPIRATION IS NOT THE ‘BEST EFFORTS OF FALLEN FLESH’ BUT REDEEMED, BLOOD-BOUGHT MEN & WOMEN AS “TEMPLES” IN WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT LIGHTS THE FLAMES OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTED PRESENCE EXTENDING HIMSELF THROUGH “YOU”!! SPIRITUAL ASPIRATION IS NOT BASED ON HOW MANY SERVANTS I HAVE IN THE LITTLE KINGDOM I’M BUILDING, LIKE A ‘STREET-GANG BOSS’ RUNNING HIS CRIMINAL ‘ENTERPRISE’, BUT THE NUMBER I SERVE IN JESUS’ NAME BECAUSE THE SAVIOR IN ME DESIRED THROUGH ME TO POUR OUT TO THE ‘THIRSTY’ A DRINK OFFERING. SPIRITUAL ASPIRATION IS ALSO NOT AN UNSATISFIED THIRST FOR POWER & PROMINENCE, BUT A SATISFIED THIRST FOR MEETING OTHERS’ NEEDS EXPECTING NOTHING IN RETURN. SPIRITUAL ASPIRATION IS NOT A CONSIDERATION FOR A PLACE OF RANK OR TITLE BUT AN INWARD PASSION TO SEE THAT CHRIST IS UPLIFTED & HONORED AS I BOW AT THE FEET OF OTHERS TO DO AS CHRIST STILL DOES!

OSWALD CHAMBERS, IN “SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP,” (P.16) MADE A POWERFUL STATEMENT ABOUT THE NEED OF THE CHURCH: “THE OVERRIDING NEEDS OF THE CHURCH, IF IT IS TO DISCHARGE ITS OBLIGATION TO THE RISING GENERATION, IS FOR A LEADERSHIP THAT IS AUTHORITATIVE, SPIRITUAL, & SACRIFICIAL…(LISTEN!)…AUTHORITATIVE, BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE TO BE LED BY ONE WHO KNOWS WHERE HE IS GOING & WHO INSPIRES CONFIDENCE. THEY FOLLOW ALMOST WITHOUT QUESTION THE MAN WHO SHOWS HIMSELF WISE &STRONG, WHO ADHERES TO WHAT HE BELIEVES…SPIRITUAL, BECAUSE A LEADERSHIP THAT IS UNSPIRITUAL, THAT CAN BE FULLY EXPLAINED IN TERMS OF THE NATURAL, ALTHOUGH EVER SO ATTRACTIVE & COMPETENT, WILL ONLY RESULT IN STERILITY & MORAL & SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY…SACRIFICIAL, BECAUSE MODELED ON THE LIFE OF THE “ONE” WHO GAVE HIMSELF A SACRIFICE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD, WHO LEFT US AN EXAMPLE THAT “WE SHALL FOLLOW HIS STEPS.”

ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT THE ESSENCE OF TRUE LEADERSHIP, MATTHEW 20:25-28: “BUT JESUS CALLED THEM TO HIMSELF & SAID: ‘YOU KNOW THAT THE RULERS OF THE GENTILES LORD IT OVER THEM. YET IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU; BUT WHOEVER DESIRES TO BECOME GREAT AMONG YOU, LET HIM BE YOUR SERVANT. AND WHOEVER DESIRES TO BE FIRST AMONG YOU, LET HIM BE YOUR SLAVE – JUST AS THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, & TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.”

SECOND: I WANT YOU TO SEE THE AFFIRMATION OF THE ASPIRATION OF THE PLEASURE OF GOD! IN 1 THESSALONIANS 4:1 WE READ, “FINALLY THEN, BRETHREN, WE URGE & EXHORT IN THE LORD JESUS THAT YOU SHOULD ABOUND MORE & MORE, JUST AS YOU RECEIVED FROM US, ‘HOW’ YOU OUGHT TO WALK & TO PLEASE GOD.” TO THE GALATIANS PAUL MADE IT EVEN CLEARER: GALATIANS 1:10, “FOR DO I NOW PERSUADE MEN OR GOD? OR DO I SEEK TO PLEASE MEN? FOR IF I STILL PLEASED MEN, I WOULD NOT BE A BONDSERVANT OF CHRIST.”

DO YOU REALIZE HOW FOREIGN A CONCEPT THIS IS TO FALLEN HUMANITY? THE WHOLE BENT OF MOST FOLKS IS THE APPROVAL OF MEN MORE THAN THE APPROVAL OF GOD! RECEIVE ROMANS 15:1-3! “WE THEN WHO ARE STRONG OUGHT TO BEAR WITH THE SCRUPLES OF THE WEAK, & NOT TO PLEASE OURSELVES. LET EACH OF US PLEASE HIS NEIGHBOR FOR HIS GOOD, LEADING TO EDIFICATION. FOR EVEN CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF; BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU (GOD) FELL ON ME.”

THIS IS WHY PAUL STRONGLY AFFIRMS “SPIRIT-ANOINTED LIVING” AS IN ROMANS 8:8 WHEN HE SAID, “SO THEN, THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH (OLD ‘SIN-NATURE PROMINENCE’!) CANNOT PLEASE GOD.” SPIRIT-ANOINTED LIVING IS TAKING WILLFULLY, DAILY, THAT SENTENCE OF DEATH UNTO OURSELVES THAT THE RESURRECTION LIFE OF CHRIST MAY BE MANIFESTED OR RELEASED IN OUR MORTAL BODIES! LISTEN TO JOHN 8:29, JESUS SAYING, “AND HE WHO SENT ME IS WITH ME. THE FATHER HAS NOT LEFT ME ALONE, FOR I ALWAYS DO THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE HIM.” I’M GOING TO TALL YOU, 1 SAMUEL 12:22 OUGHT TO RATTLE THE RAFTERS OF YOUR REDEEMED LIFE! IT SAYS: “FOR THE LORD WILL NOT FORSAKE HIS PEOPLE, FOR HIS GREAT NAME’S SAKE, “BECAUSE” IT HAS PLEASED THE LORD TO MAKE YOU HIS PEOPLE.” (THAT’S HIM “MAKING YOU”, NOT YOU TRYING TO INTERPRET HIM!!).

ARE YOU THE POSSESSOR OF A WHITE-HOT AFFECTION TO PLEASE GOD? AND THAT WHITE-HOT AFFECTION TO PLEASE GOD IS ALWAYS BECAUSE OF GOD’S GRACE WHICH FAR TOO MANY PROFESSING BELIEVERS HAVE MISINTERPRETED AS “GREASE” – JUST SLIDING INTO HEAVEN DOING THE SAME THINGS THE DEVIL GOT KICKED OUT FOR!

TRUE GRACE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN “PARDON” – IT’S POWER! 2 THESSALONIANS 1:11-12 SAYS, “THEREFORE WE ALSO PRAY ALWAYS FOR YOU THAT OUR GOD WOULD COUNT YOU WORTHY TO THIS CALLING, & FULFILL ALL THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS GOODNESS & THE WORK OF FAITH WITH POWER. THAT THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST MAY BE GLORIFIED IN YOU, & YOU IN HIM, (LISTEN!) ACCORDING TO THE GRACE OF OUR GOD & THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!”

GRACE THAT IS POWER? TITUS 2:11-14 SAYS: “FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN, TEACHING US THAT, DENYING UNGODLINESS & WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, & GODLY IN THE PRESENT AGE, LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE & GLORIOUS APPEARING (OR FULL MANIFESTATION) OF OUR GREAT GOD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM EVERY LAWLESS DEED & PURIFY FOR HIMSELF HIS OEN SPECIAL PEOPLE, ZEALOUS FOR GOOD WORKS.”

(GOOD WORKS? “BEST EFFORTS” OR THE ‘GOOD WORKS’ OF DAILY DEATH TO SELF THAT CHRIST MAY BE MANIFESTED IN & THROUGH YOUR MORTAL FLESH, YES, YOU, DYING DAILY, THAT CHRIST MAY BE RELEASED TO BE HIMSELF THROUGH YOU, WE THEN “WITNESS” HIS PRESENT MINISTRY & CARE OF OTHERS THROUGH US?) I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE TRUTH JOHN PIPER WROTE WHEN HE SAID: “WE ARE HIS PLEASURE WHEN HE IS OUR TREASURE.” (THE PLEASURERS OF GOD, MULTONOMAH PUBLISHERS, SISTERS, OR.,97759, P.250.). WE’RE NOT “IVORY TOWER” INHABITANTS, BUT INITIATED TRUSTEES OF THE INSPIRED TRUTH OF GOD THAT, THAT WHICH TRULY PLEASES GOD, IS A LIFE LAID DOWN DAILY CHOOSING “CHRIST IN US AS OUR ONLY HOPE OF GLORY”!

IN ISAIAH 55:11, GOD SPEAKING, “SO SHALL MY WORD BE THAT GOES FORTH FROM MY MOUTH; IT SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME VOID, BUT IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I PLEASE & IT SHALL PROSPER IN THE THING FOR WHICH I SENT IT.” (ARE YOU ‘PROSPERING’ BECAUSE YOUR PASSION IS TO PLEASE GOD OR YOUR PASSION IS.. “THE SENTENCE OF DEATH DAILY TO YOUR OLD SELF THAT THE RESURRECTED LIFE OF CHRIST MAY BE MANIFESTED DAILY THROUGH YOUR MORTAL FLESH”?

THIRD, THE AFFIRMATION OF ASPIRATION MUST BE YOUR ASCENT TO HEAVENLY LIVING IN THE HERE & NOW- NOT AFTER YOU DIE! THE PASSION OF TRUE BELIEVERS? IT’S THE PASSION OF SEEING, REALIZING, SUBMITTING TO SEEING CHRIST ON HIS THRONE NOW, IN YOU, BEING HIMSELF,NOT SEEING HIM AFTER YOU DIE & ‘GO THE HEAVEN’! PSALM 37:4 IS SO CLEAR: “DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD, & HE SHALL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART.” DO YOU REMEMBER THOSE HEROES OF THE FAITH IN HEBREWS 11? VERSE 16 SAYS, “BUT NOW THEY DESIRE A BETTER, THAT IS, A HEAVENLY COUNTRY…”

WHEN YOU’RE PRESSED IN THE FLESH, YOU’RE ASKING, “IS THERE ANYTHING OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD WORTH LIVING FOR OR DYING FOR?” WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR “LIFE IS A VAPOR THAT APPEARS BRIEFLY & THEN VANISHES AWAY,” YOU’RE ASKING, “IS THERE ANYTHING OF ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE?” WHEN YOU BECOME AWARE OF HOW INFANTILE, FLEETING, & UNIMPORTANT YOUR FLESHLY THOUGHTS ARE, YOU’RE ASKING, “WHAT IS THERE OF VALUE TO RENEW MY MIND?” WHEN YOU SEE THE DOWNGRADING, THE DEGRADATION, THE DARK SIDE OF A “BRITTANY SPEARS,” YOU BEGIN ASKING YOURSELF, “IS THERE A BETTER REFLECTION TO LIVE OUT BEFORE MY WORLD?”

RECEIVE COLOSSIANS 3:1-4! “IF THEN YOU WERE RAISED WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST IS, SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS OF THE EARTH. FOR YOU DIED (DID YOU?), AND YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. WHEN CHRIST WHO IS OUR LIFE APPEARS, THEN YOU ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.”

MANY YEARS AGO IN A CHURCH I PASTORED SOMEONE CAME WITH A BROKEN HEART…”PASTOR, YOU KNOW ‘SO&SO’,A LEADER AMONG OUR YOUTH BUT SHE’S FAST GAINING THE REPUTATION OF BEING PROMISCUOUS & I’M REALLY CONCERNED FOR HER, FOR OUR YOUTH, BUT MOST OF ALL THE CAUSE OF CHRIST SINCE SHE’S SO VOCAL ABOUT HER FAITH.” I TOLD HER, ‘I’M GLAD YOU CAME.I’LL REACH OUT TO HER.’

I ASKED HER TO COME BY MY OFFICE FOR A VISIT. AND WHEN SHE DID I TOLD HER OF HER FAST-GROWING REPUTATION THAT WAS NOT GOOD. I ASKED HER, “WHEN YOU GAVE YOUR HEART TO CHRIST DID YOU BELIEVE THAT DIDN’T INCLUDE YOUR GLANDS? DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOU’RE FAST BECOMING LIKE A TACKLING DUMMY ON AN ATHELETIC FIELD THAT BOYS LIKE TO HIT ON OR…DO YOU NOT REALIZE GOD MEANS YOU TO BE A JEWEL, A ROYAL TREASURE, A HOLY GIFT OF THE HUSBAND HE’S PICKED OUT FOR YOU?” AND SHE BROKE DOWN & WEPT & SOBBED & REPENTED & GAVE HER GLANDS TO GOD! HER REPUTATION CHANGED & SHE BECAME A GLOWING WITNESS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

LIFE IS MADE OF CHOICES: THE GLORY OF GOD OR THE GORINESS OF A MANGLED, MESSED-UP, MISDIRECTED, SELF-INFLICTED SICKNESS CALLED ‘SIN’? THE CURSE OF ONE’S FALLEN SIN-NATURE OR THE BLESSING OF GOD’S PRESENCE? THE WRECK & RECKLESSNESS OF A MISSPENT LIFE OR THE “LIFE” OF ETERNAL PRESENCE, ETERNAL VALUES, & ETERNAL PROMISES?

I REALLY LOVE WHAT WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT WROTE LONG AGO: “SO LIVE THAT WHEN YOUR SUMMONS COMES TO JOIN THE INNUMERABLE CARAVAN WHICH MOVES ON..TO THAT MYSTERIOUS REALM WHERE EACH SHALL TAKE HIS CHAMBER IN THE SILENT HALLS OF DEATH…YOU GO NOT, LIKE THE QUARRY-SLAVE AT NIGHT, SCOURGED TO HIS DUNGEON, BUT SUSTAINED & SOOTHED…BY AN UNFALTERING TRUST, APPROACH YOUR GRACE LIKE ONE THAT WRAPS THE DRAPERY OF HIS COUCH ABOUT HIM, & LIES DOWN TO PLEASANT DREAMS.” ISN’T IT SAD THAT SO MANY DO NOT LIE DOWN TO PLEASANT DREAMS BUT NIGHTMARES BECAUSE THERE IS NO ASPIRATION OF THE ASCENT TO HEAVENLY LIVING ?

FOURTH, THERE IS THE AFFIRMATION OF ASPIRATION TO THE APPROPRIATION & ASSIMILATION OF YOUR GOD-APPOINTED, GOD-ANOINTED SPIRITUAL GIFT & MINISTRY! 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 SAYS, “PURSUE LOVE, & DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, BUT ESPECIALLY THAT YOU MAY PROPHESY.” DID PAUL SAY, “DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS”..? IT OUGHT TO BE AN ALL-CONSUMING PASSION THAT THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD & THE HOLY SPIRIT YOU DISCOVER THE SPIRITUAL MOTIVATION OF YOUR LIFE AS DEFINED BY GOD!

LOOK AT 1 CORINTHIANS 12:11, “BUT ONE & THE SAME SPIRIT WORKS ALL THESE THINGS, DISTRIBUTING TO EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY AS HE ( GOD) WILLS.” ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING IN HER “SONNETS FROM THE PORTURUESE”,( NUMBER 26), WROTE: “GOD’S GIFTS PUT MAN’S BEST DREAMS TO SHAME.” SO TRUE! EXAMINE ALSO 1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10 & 18-31! IT SAYS: “BUT THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT IS GIVEN TO EACH ONE FOR THE PROFIT OF ALL: FOR TO ONE IS GIVEN THE WORD OF WISDOM THROUGH THE SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THE SAME SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER FAITH BY THE SAME SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER GIFTS OF HEALINGS BY THE SAME SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER THE WORKING OF MIRACLES, TO ANOTHER PROPHECY, TO ANOTHER DISCRNING OF SPIRITS, TO ANOTHER DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES, TO ANOTHER THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES.

VERSE 18-31, BUT NOW GOD HAS SET THE MEMBERS, EACH ONE OF THEM, IN THE BODY JUST AS HE PLEASED. AND IF THEY WERE ALL ONE MEMBER, WHERE WOULD THE BODY BE? BUT NOW INDEED THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS, YET ONE BODY. AND THE EYE CANNOT SAY TO THE HAND, ‘I HAVE NO NEED OF YOU’, NOR AGAIN THE HEAD TO THE FEET, ‘I HAVE NO NEED OF YOU.’ NO, MUCH RATHER, THOSE MEMBERS OF THE BODY WHICH SEEM TO BE WEAKER ARE NECESSARY. AND THOSE MEMBERS OF THE BODY WHICH WE THINK TO BE LESS HONORABLE, ON THESE WE BESTOW GREATER HONOR; & OUR UNPRESENETABLE PARTS HAVE GREATERMODESTY, BUT OUR PRESENTABLE PARTS HAVE NO NEED. BUT GOD COMPOSED THE BODY, HAVING GIVEN GREATER HONOR TO THAT PART WHICH LACKS IT,THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISM IN THE BODY, BUT THAT THE MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. AND IF ONE MEMBER SUFFERS, ALL THE MEMBERS SUFFER WITH IT; OR IF ONE MEMBER IS HONORED, ALL THE MEMBERS REJOICE WITH IT.

NOW YOU ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, & MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY. AND GOD HAS APPOINTED THESE IN THE CHURCH: FIRST APOSTLES, SECOND PROPHETS, THIRD TEACHERS, AFTER THAT MIRACLES, THEN GIFTS OF HEALINGS. HELPS, ADMINISTRATIONS, VARIETIES OF TONGUES. ARE ALL APOSTLES? ARE ALL PROPHETS? AREE ALL TEACHERS? ARE ALL WORKERS OF MIRACLES? DO ALL HAVE GIFTS OF HEALINGS? DO ALL INTERPRET? BUT EARNESTLY DESIRE THE BEST GIFTS. AND YET I SHOW YOU A MORE EXCELLENT WAY.”

LISTEN TO CHUCH SWINDOLL IN “THE QUEST FOR CHARACTER”, (P.146), “MARBLES OR GRAPES, WHICH WILL IT BE? EVERY CONGREGATION HAS A CHOICE. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BE A BAG MARBLES, INDEPENDENT, HARD, LOUD, UNMARKED, & UNAFFECTED BY OTHERS. OR YOU CAN BE A BUNCH OF GRAPES..FRAGRANT, SOFT, BLENDING, MINGLING, FLOWING INTO ONE ANOTHER’S LIVES. MARBLES ARE MADE TO BE COUNTED & KEPT. GRAPES ARE MADE TO BE BRUISED & USED. MARBLES SCAR & CLANK. GRAPES YIELD & CLING.” SO TRUE! GRAPES MAKE SWEET WINE – MARBLES BANG AROUND & MAKE NOISE! WHAT’S CALVARY MADE OF? LOUD MARBLES OR SWEET WINE?

FIFTH, THE AFFIRMATION OF ASPIRATION IS AN ARRIVAL OF BEING WHAT, WHERE, & WHY GOD WANTS ME TO BE, WHO I AM “IN CHRIST”& WHAT CHRIST WANTS TO DO IN ME & THROUGH ME, WHICH IS WHY WE CHOOSE DAILY, “DEATH TO SELF – THAT CHRIST’S MANIFESTED PRESENCE MIGHT BE RELEASED THROUGH US! IN ROMANS 15:22-24,29,32, WE READ: VERSES 22-24, “FOR THIS REASON I ALSO HAVE BEEN MUCH HINDERED FROM COMING TO YOU. BUT NOW NO LONGER HAVING A PLACE IN THESE PARTS, & HAVING A GREAT DESIRE THESE MANY YEARS TO COME TO YOU, WHENEVER I JOURNEY TO SPAIN, I SHALL COME TO YOU. FOR I HOPE TO SEE YOU ON MY JOURNEY, & TO BE HELPED ON MY WAY THERE BY YOU, IF FIRT I MAY ENJOY YOUR COMPANY FOR A WHILE. VERSE 29, BUT I KNOW THAT WHEN I COME TO YOU, I SHALL COME IN THE FULLNESS OF THE BLESSING OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, VERSE 32, THAT I MAY COME TO YOU WITH JOY BY THE WILL OF GOD, & MAY BE REFRESHED TOGETHER WITH YOU.”

GALATIANS 4:4 TELLS US: “BUT WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON, BORN OF A WOMAN, BORN UNDER THE LAW, Verse 5, TO REDEEM THOSE WHO WERE UNDER THE LAW, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION AS SONS.” GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON –RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT PURPOSE!

RECEIVE JESUS’ RESPONSE IN JOHN 4:34! “MY FOOD IS TO DO THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME, & TO FINISH HIS WORK.” WHAT IS THE “FOOD” THAT YOU’RE PARTAKING OF? THE “FOOD” OF SELF-WILL OR THE “FOOD” OF THE MASTER’S WILL? IN JOHN 5:30, JESUS SAID, “I CAN OF MYSELF DO NOTHING…I DO NOT SEEK MY OWN WILL BUT THE WILL OF THE FATHER WHO SENT ME.” IN JOHN 6:36 JESUS SAID, “FOR I CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, NOT TO DO MY OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME.” AND HE SAID IN JOHN 10:18, “NO ONE TAKES (MY LIFE) FROM ME,BUT I LAY IT DOWN OF MYSELF. I HAVE POWER TO LAY IT DOWN, & I HAVE POWER TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN.” WHAT AWESOME POWER!

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL? DO YOU UNDERSTAND “ADOPTION AS SONS”? DO YOU UNDERSTAND “PLACED BY GOD ACCORDING TO HIS TIME, HIS PLACE, & HIS PURPOSE”? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WALKING ON THE BASIS OF DIVINE WILL – NOT FLESHLY LIKES OR DISLIKES? CAN YOU REALLY SAY, “YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH, IN MY LIFE, THROUGH MY SOVEREIGNLY CIRCUMSCRIBED PLACEMENT, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN?” CAN YOU REALLY SAY, “I WANT TO BE WHERE GOD WANTS ME TO BE –EVEN A CROSS ON GOLGOTHA’S HILL?”

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, IN HENRY V111,(ACT 3, SCENE 2, LINE 456) WROTE: “HAD I BUT SERVED GOD WITH HALF THE ZEAL I SERVED MY KING, HE WOULD NOT IN MINE AGE HAVE LEFT ME NAKED TO MINE ENEMIES.” OH, HOW MUCH TRUTH IS IN THAT POETRY? WE SERVE OURSELVES ABOUT WHERE WE’RE GOING TO BE & WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO, RATHER THAN THE WILL OF GOD –AND,AS A RESULT, WE GO “WELL-DRESSED” IN OUR OWN WAY WHEREVER WE WANT TO BE…BUT DO NOT KNOW, BEFORE GOD, WE’RE STRIPPED NAKED! PROVERBS 16:7 SAYS, “WHEN A MAN’S WAYS PLEASE THE LORD,HE MAKES EVEN HIS ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE WITH HIM.”

IS YOUR HEART-CRY, “GOD, I WANT TO BE EXACTLY WHERE YOU PLACE ME, WHERE YOU WANT ME, WHERE I WILL BE A VESSEL UNTO YOUR HONOR & THAT THROUGH ME THE RESURRECTED CHRIST CONTINUES TO HONOR HIMSELF & YOU IN THE GREATEST FASHION OF HIS RESURRECTED PRESENCE, RESURRECTED POWER, & RESURRECTED PURPOSE?” CAN “YOU” SAY AMEN TO THAT?

IN THE “BROADMAN HYMNAL”, PUBLISHED IN NASHVILLE,TENN.,IN 1940,(P236),IS A HYMN ENTITLED “LEAD ON, O KING ETERNAL.” IT SAYS: “LEAD ON, O KING ETERNAL, THE DAY OF MARCH HAS COME;HENCEFORTH INFIELDS OF CONQUEST YOUR TENTS SHALL BE OUR HOME;THRO’ DAYS OF PREPARATION YOUR GRACE HAS MADE US STRONG, & NOW,O KING ETERNAL, WE LIFT OUR BATTLE SONG.

LEAD ON, O KING ETERNAL, TILL SIN’S FIERCE WAR SHALL CEASE, & HOLINESS SHALL WHISPER THE SWEET AMEN OF PEACE; FOR NOT WITH SWORDS LOUD CLASHING, NOR ROLL OF STIRRING DRUMS; WITH DEEDS OF LOVE & MERCY, THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM COMES.

LEAD ON, O KING ETERNAL, WE FOLLOW, NOT WITH FEARS; FOR GLADNESS BREAKS LIKE MORNING WHERE’ER YOUR FACE APPEARS; YOUR CROSS IS LIFTED O’ER US; WE JOURNEY IN ITS LIGHT: THE CROWN AWAITS THE CONQUEST;LEAD ON,O GOD OF MIGHT.”

WHAT’S THE SONG YOU SING IN YOUR PRESENT DAY JOURNEY OF FAITH, OR SONGLESS BECAUSE YOU STAND ON A FAULTY FOUNDATION OF FAITHLESSNESS, UNBELIEF, & EVEN RESENTMENT THAT “GOD” KNOWS YOU NEED TO BE SAVED, WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, BORN-AGAIN, & COMMISSIONED AS, YES, THE ROYAL AMBASSADOR OF CHRIST JESUS? OR ARE THERE JUST NO SONGS IN YOU TO DESCRIBE A FAITHLESS LIFE?

By J.Farrell Fisher

In Psalm 91:9-16 (NASB) there is an awesome and amazing revelation about “the redeemed” and their “care-taker angels.” It says: “For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor any plague come near your tent. For He [Holy God] WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING YOU, TO GUARD YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent (dragon) you will trample down. Because he has loved me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

He will call upon Me, and I will rescue him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him, and let him behold My salvation.”

Has Holy God ‘given His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways? Have YOU ever experienced, been alerted to, aware of, and amazed by His “angelic presence” as the “Redeemed of God”, or just unaware of His angelic ministry?

Are you acquainted with “the heavenly hosts” that surround, stand by, and guard you, as a child of the King, in all your ways? Even though you may see yourself as a fleshly creature of mere existence, God, in His infinite wisdom, mercy, and grace, surrounds you with His ministering and caring angels.

Sadly, most men apart from Christ, are more familiar with demons than they are the caring angels of God for His children!

William Cowper, in his writing entitled “CHARITY”, (1.435), wrote: “When one holds communion with the skies Has filled his urn where these pure waters rise, And once more mingles with us meaner things, ‘Tis’ even as if an angel shook his wings.” HAVE YOU OBSERVED “THE SHAKING OF ANGELS’WINGS”?

I tell you, “Angels’ wings are not fiction but a taste of Holy, Heavenly Presence, with the awesome responsibility of unveiling redemptive faith, not reckless fiction! There’s an old French Proverb that once spoke of “young angel, an old devil.”

Gerald Massey, in his writing, “Ballad of Babe Christabel”, wrote: “In this dim world of clouding cares, We rarely know, till ‘wildered eyes’ See white wings lessening up the skies, The angels with us unawares.”

Don’t you think this is why Hebrews 13:2 tells us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Are you not aware that often “the shepherds” who tend God’s flocks are not only pastors but angels?

Skakespeare, in his writing “Hamlet”, spoke of “A ministering angel shall my sister be.” Do you welcome “ministering angels”? Do you remember Mary giving birth to her first-born son? Luke 2:7-14 declares: And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be a sign for you, you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.” Suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

But you are unsure about angels attending, watching over, caring for, encouraging every new-born son AND DAUGHTER OF Holy God through Christ Jesus? Religions birth demons – Jesus blesses His children with angels!

Several things we must be aware of concerning “The Angelic Songs of the Redeemed”:

FIRST, IN PSALM 91:11, WE READ IN THE BEGINNING, THAT “GOD WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING YOU, TO GUARD YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS.” Are you at all familiar with “green lights” or “red lights” or “yellow (caution) lights”?

If you’re a Word of God student, you know that in Hebrews 1:13-14, the author declared: “But to which of the angels has He ever said: ‘Sit at My right hand, UNTIL I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet’? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”

In Titus 3:5-7 Paul taught Timothy and us, that “He (Christ) saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

And as “eternal insurance” caring God gives us not only His Word but His angels to see us through this dark maze of men’s and the world’s “self-imposed godlessness”!

Whether you as a true believer have heard it or not, whenever trouble comes to a son or daughter of faith, the angels sing about God’s divine protection! They sing of His abiding Presence every step you take in your walk of faith.

When trials come, the angels’ song of triumphant victory is sung, rings out, and covers you! When traps are laid by the powers of darkness, the angels sing about the door of deliverance! When the deep seas and oceans of life erupt in destructive waves by devilish powers, the angels are singing, “Peace be still!”

Can you even begin to imagine the roars of the Heavenly Chorus of Angels when the true believer takes his last breath of earthly, fleshly existence, and is then welcomed by the angelic chorus to the Heavenly Presence around the throne of God and the King of kings?

SECOND, THE ANGELIC SONG OF THE REDEEMED IS THE SONG THAT HONORS THE KING WHO STEPPED DOWN FROM HIS THRONE TO TAKE ON HUMAN FLESH, SERVE THE NEEDY, AND BLESS HIS PEOPLE IN SACRIFICIAL TESTIMONY AND GOD’S TRIUMPHANT WAY OVER SIN AND DEATH!

Do you remember Mary standing outside Jesus’ tomb weeping, and then, as she stooped and looked into the tomb where the body of Jesus had been lying, she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been lying. Then said to her, “Woman, Mary, why are you weeping?”

She said to the angels, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Then Jesus appeared to Mary, and she initially didn’t know who the Resurrected Jesus was – she supposed Him to be a gardener! But Jesus spoke: “Mary!”

Dare I tell you, Mary grabbed Jesus and held on and in Hebrew called Him ‘Rabboni’! Graciously Jesus spoke to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father, but go to my brethren, and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.”

John 20:21 says, “Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord, and that He said these things to her.” Do you think she may have sung “a new song”? Maybe B.B. McKinney’s “He Lives On High”? [The American Hymnal, by Robert H. Coleman, Broadman Press, Nashville, Tennessee. 1933].

“Christ the Savior came from heaven’s glory, To redeem the lost from sin and shame; On His brow He wore the thorn-crown glory, and upon Calvary He took my blame.

He arose from death and all its sorrow, To dwell in that land of joy and love; He is coming back some glad tomorrow, and He’ll take all His children home above.

Weary soul, to Jesus come confessing, Redemption from sin He offers you; Look to Jesus and receive the blessing, there is joy and victory!

He lives on high, He lives on high, Triumphant over sin and all its stain; He lives on high, He lives on high; Someday He’s coming again.”

Yes, and He gently knocks on your heart’s door: “Open – and I will come in to sup with you, and you with Me!”

THIRD, THE ANGELIC SON OF THE REDEEMED IS THE SONG OF JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ANGELS OF GOD OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS.” THAT’S LUKE 15:10! A redeemed heart causes the angels to sing! A sinner transformed is the eruption of angelic hymns of praise and thanksgiving! A redeemed life is the key and the eternal note and music of angelic songs of praise and thanksgiving and the Hallelujahs of “Blessed Blood Redemption”!

Heirs of immortality, blessed with Holy Presence, are continually over-shadowed by angelic choruses of thanksgiving and praise! Recipients of Sovereign grace and mercy become the celebration ‘key-notes’ of Heaven’s Eternal Praise, Presence, and awesome angelic choruses of hymns and praise!

Psalm 34:7 declares: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.” And you’re unsure that “rescue angels” have a reason for singing?

Have you wrapped your mind, your heart, your spirit, as a redeemed child of God around Psalm 98? Do you think it just might be an angelic song about REDEMPTION? BLOOD REDEMPTION THROUGH THE MESSIAH, EMMANUEL, or “GOD WITH US”?

“O sing to the Lord a new song, For He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.

The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the lands of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Shout joyfully to the Lord with the lyre; with the lyre and the sound of melody, With trumpets and the sound of the horn Shout before the King, the Lord.

Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and all those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing for joy Before the Lord; for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”

HEAR ME!! SINGING HYMNS OF PRAISE is because redeemed sons and daughters of God join in with Heaven’s angels to exalt gratify, rejoice in, thank, and praise the King of kings and Lord of lords who came and sacrificed His life for you and me!

Again, what did Jesus tell the scribes and Pharisees about “one sinner who repents”? Luke 15:10! “I TELL YOU, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Angels sing? Angels rejoice? Angels celebrate THE “Amazing Grace” of a redeemed sinner blessed with the gift of Resurrection Life? Angels gather, angels take their trumpets, their horns of celebration, their drums of unceasing joy and blessing of God’s “new-born” sons and daughters of faith, and they sing?

Angels KNOW THE WORD OF GOD, not the flimsy reasons of pretenders and preachers, yes, many unsure of “everlasting life”? Yes, “there is joy in the presence of God over one sinner who repents.”

Angels HAVE HEARD JESUS SAY OVER AND OVER, (John 10:27-30), “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

FOURTH, THE ANGELS’ SONGS OVER THE REDEEMED ARE, SHOULD BE, MUST BE, THE CONGREGATIONAL SONG OF THE REDEEMED OF GOD’S AWESOME MERCY, OF HIS EMANCIPATING GRACE, AND HIS LIBERATING POWER TO THOSE YOU LOVE, CARE ABOUT, PRAY FOR, AND YOU CELEBRATE IN THE DEVIL’s KIDS BECOMING SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ETERNAL FAITH AND HOPE, CELEBRATING THE “NEW COUNTENANCE” OF A REDEEMED HISBAND, OR A WANDERING WIFE BROUGHT HOME, SONS AND DAUGHTERS CAPTURED BY THE MASTER’S GRACE AND MERCY POURED OUT THROUGH LOVING PARENTS, OR THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATE ENSLAVED TO THE PASSIONS OF THE UNGODLY, FREED FROM BONDAGE TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU IN JESUS’ EVERLASTING PROMISE OF ONENESS WITH HIM, THE FAMILY OF GOD, AND WITH THE HOLY ANGELS!

Today, God calls for true heroes of saving faith, of the blood redemption through Christ’s Cross, that they be men and women whose heart’s desire is to honor their Master and Lord and Loving God and the Holy Spirit, through their awareness that Christ’s work of redemption is God’s willingness to establish the Kingdom of Heaven ON EARTH through their repentant hearts and their redeemed lives, becoming God’s gathering of born-again believers whose very lives become God’s Throne on earth, and their hearts and homes becoming “open doors” to a needy world.

Does it have to be said of You, “Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night”, because you live with a songless faith or purpose? [Job 35:10].

But what if you know “the angels’ song of TRUST”? Job 13:15, “Though He slay me, I will hope, I will trust in Him.”

HELL MAY ERUPT – BUT HEAVEN ON EARTH OVERCOMES! DEMONS MAY ROAR – BUT ANGELS AND SAINTS REJOICE. FALLEN HUMANITY, CURSED NATION,GODLESS GOVERNMENTS, may celebrate their decadence, but the redeemed of the lord and the heavenly chorus of the angels sing: “AMAZING GRACE”!!

By J.Farrell Fisher, December 12-14, 2017

Recently from a television show I heard the statement, “To thine own self be true.” I think it came from Shakespeare in “Hamlet”. But the huge, life-changing or life-destroying question is, “What ‘self’?” Scripturally there is the ‘old self’ or the ‘new self’, the ‘old man’ or the ‘new man,’ the ‘fleshly birthed self’ or the ‘spiritually birthed new man’! And the challenge to answer ‘what self?’ is ever before both the unredeemed and the blood-bought servants of Christ, before the ‘lost’ or the “found”, before the devoted to their flesh-nature or the “re-born” through Holy Spirit birthing!

Do you understand that millions and millions of people live on the “self-philosophy” ingrained by unredeemed parents, blinded by godless educators, and governed by one’s old sin-nature, while in the Spirit-world of “Blood-redemption” and Holy Spirit-Indwelling there are those who’ve had unveiled to them the “true faith”? The truly “born-again” are governed by the Indwelling Christ and the eternal Word of God, yes, revealed in the Bible and from the testimonies of “new-born” sons and daughters of the “True Faith”!

It’s so interesting to me that in Proverbs 6:16-19 the “wise man” unveiled for us the seven things God Himself “hates”! It says: “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven (things) are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”

Do you realize or sense the height that some unbelievers rise to in devising their own wicked plans to opposition to eternal Truth or willfully speak ‘lies’, sowing discord in the minds of some who desire the truth but are coerced by friends, family, or forceful world persuaders in rejecting Truth and settling into ‘flesh-acceptance’ of the godless?

In the early days of the birthing of the church through Christ’s Resurrection presence, Acts 19:23 tells us “there arose a great commotion about the Way.” (Are you aware of any great commotions today about the Way? Check out many university campuses and classrooms!). Acts 19:24-34 unveils this strong opposition that continues worldwide even to the present century! It says:

“For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.

So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.” Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s traveling companions. And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.

Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

I pray you “get the drift”! You are aware of strong, significant, sick opposition, at times in some places, where people arise to defend themselves in their sinful natures, defend their own ‘idolatrous’ ways, and would just as soon see “followers of Christ” martyred than to meet the demands of Biblical Truth: “Repent or else!” In fact, in Acts 20:17-24, Paul testified,

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;

How I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly from house to house, testifying to Jews and also to Greeks, REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD AND FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

And, thank God, Paul stressed, emphasized, declared the True Faith that begins to be unveiled with repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ! He said later in Acts 20:27-28, “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

The True Faith Unveiled? Yes, it begins, having been convicted of our sin and separation from Holy God by the Holy Spirit, and enlightened by the Spirit and the Word of Truth, that apart from Christ men and nations are hopeless, convicted men and women rest in the finished work of Christ at Calvary’s cross, repenting and resting and reaching moment by moment into the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Mrs. H.M.Hall and John T.Grape wrote an old hymn entitled “Jesus Paid It All.” It says: “I hear the Savior say, “Your strength indeed is small, Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me your all in all.

Lord, now indeed I find Your power and You alone, Can change the leper’s spots, And melt the heart of stone.

For nothing good have I Whereby Your grace to claim – I’ll wash my garments white In the blood of Calvary’s Lamb.

And when, before the throne, I stand in Him complete, “Jesus died my soul to save,” My lips shall still repeat.

Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

I was so inspired by the words of Richard Baxter found in “The Saint’s Everlasting Rest,” (VI), when he wrote: “Despair of ever being saved, ‘except you be born again,’ or of seeing God ‘without holiness,’ or of having part of Christ except you ‘love Him above father, mother, or your own life.’ This kind of despair is one of the first steps to heaven.”

What did Jesus Himself tell us in John 10:9-11? “I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it abundantly.”

SECOND, HAVING REPENTED TOWARD GOD AND RESTED BY FAITH IN HIS RESURRECTED PRESENCE, WE BEGIN THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY FROM INFANCY, TO CHILDHOOD, TO YOUTHFUL ADVANCE IN THE FAITH, AND TO ‘ADULT’ MATURITY! In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we read, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Didn’t the Lord and Savior say that “you must be born again”? And if that’s true, and it is, are “infants” in the faith mature in every phase of the divine ‘life in Christ’?

Don’t you find it interesting that in 1 John 2:1 that the beloved John addressed new believers to whom he wrote as “my little children”? Arrogance or spiritual wisdom and understanding? Later in 1 John 2:12-14 he discussed ‘little children,’ ‘fathers of the faith’, and ‘young men’. Follow: “I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.

I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.”

The strong foundation for one’s redeemed life is the reality, the miracle of grace, the transformation from spiritual blindness and alienation from God to an assured, changed servant of the Redeemer and Lord. In John 9:24-25 the arrogant, religious Pharisees were challenging the man born blind that Jesus healed. The Pharisees said to the “new-born” man, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner”, speaking of Christ Jesus the Healer-Redeemer, with the “healed man” answering in verse 25, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

And, of course, the Pharisees wanted no part with a “Healer”, telling the healed blind man, in verse 29, “We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” The “healed man” responded in Verse 30, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes,” saying also in verse 33, “If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

The ‘religious Pharisees’, then and now, were and are intent on silencing voices of Truth and redemptive faith through Christ alone, so the “healed man” was cast out! When Jesus heard that they had cast him out, Jesus sought the formerly blind man, saying to him in Verse 35: “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He said: Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus responded, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” And the formerly blind man said, “Lord, I believe!”(I trust in, rely upon, and adhere to the Blessed Redeemer!).

The Lord Jesus then responded in Verse 39, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” The ‘non-seers’ who have their eyes opened are made by grace to be seers of the True Christ, but the “seers” who don’t see the Christ are “made blind”! And, the “redeemed to see” the eternal Truth are “gifted” by the grace of God and begin their pilgrimage in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

THIRD, THAT JOURNEY OF FAITH IN THE “MASTER-TEACHER” IS A LIFE OF SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE TO HIS EXAMPLE! In Luke 22:24-27 we learn about an early dispute among Jesus’ disciples as to which of them should be considered as the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. BUT NOT SO AMONG YOU; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you at the One who serves!”

Horatius Bonar once said: “Go, labour on; spend and be spent – your joy to do the Father’s will; it is the way the Master went; should not the servant tread it still?” And ‘service’ in and through and for the honor of Christ Jesus is not “best-effort- attempts” to be like Him, but allowing Him to be Himself through our available vessel!

According to Psalm 100:2-4 there is such illuminating understanding of what service to Him is all about, which is finished with one’s self-motivation’ and allowing Him to be His all in all in and through us! The psalm of thanksgiving, in verses 2-4 says, “Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. KNOW that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.”

Yes, it is “Christ in you that is the hope of glory,” not fine-tuned, best effort ‘flesh’ but Holy Presence being Himself in obedience to the Father’s eternal, heavenly will! Perfect liberty in Christ Is death to one’s self that His Resurrected, Reining Presence may be released through children of the True Faith!

If there is gladness in a redeemed heart, it goes beyond the reality of one’s forgiveness in and through the Master’s shed blood, death, and resurrection, but in the reality of His Resurrection Presence, being Himself in us and through us! Did Paul tell us in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I die daily”? Died daily? In 2 Corinthians 1:9 he said, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raise the dead…” And, in Christ we were raised to “new life” which is “Christ in you the hope of glory”!

Isn’t there a modern-day chorus that says: “Jesus, be Jesus in me, no longer me but Thee; ‘Resurrection Power’ fill me this hour, Jesus, be Jesus in me”? That’s the journey of faith in the “Master-Teacher”, which even for Him was a life of submission and obedience to His Father in heaven! “Father, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” And that was through His availability to the Father as a surrendered Son, yes, even the Cross!

By: J. Farrell Fisher, July 23-25, 2017

Would you describe a created world as an unexplainable, freak event of nature OR the handiwork of God who is able to create as He pleases? Would you also describe human beings with free wills to choose whether they want to rule over their own minds and hearts or be surrendered willfully to the God who ordained their human existence for His heart-plans of rescuing the perishing as their Heaven-ordained ministries?

There’s a huge difference between men who speak of the positive awareness of and availability of the God who made them, birthed them, and calls them to join Him in world redemption or join the crowd of negative spiritual intents, always leaning strongly on their ‘mindfulness’ of self-ability to rule over self even if, at times, they, yes, do question if their rebellion against God is justified!

And, certainly, there are strong-willed dads and arrogant, self-centered moms who unitedly or dividedly teach, promote, insist on “our children, our sons and daughters” walking their paths or ‘my path as a dad or mom’ of ‘wondering if God really exists’! Sadly, those parental premonitions, for some sons and daughters, births within them even ‘half-truths’ about unbelief, but for many sons and daughters under stiff-necked moms and dads, it’s full-bore because they were ‘cut’ from the ‘same cloth’ of demonic, worldly, and self-centered overseers!

Wondering? Is it really true? Does God exist? Is it inevitable that fallen mankind, or some of them, may open the wrong door and choose ‘godlessness’ why some never bend, bow, or give in to unbelief about God’s reality! In fact, in Psalm 14:1, out of a ‘song’ of David, we read: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” But ‘the fool’ who denies God’s existence often is only standing up for his right to do wrong, sure, “if there is a God, He isn’t concerned about what I choose to do”! It’s more likely than not that the ‘foolish unbeliever’ is “sure” if there is a God, “that God isn’t concerned about what I choose to do – I’m a free man,” which is true that he/she is free to destroy their lives rather than choose to live by the Life of Another – “even your God, Messiah, or Savior and Lord”!

The ‘wonderers’ are usually extremely busy people, enthroning their ‘jobs’ or ‘occupations’, highly committed to ‘stay busy’ because “who needs relaxed time to consider whether God is real or not”! And enthroning their work means little time to wrestle with, “What about God”? “Self-reasonable, self-explainable men” understand they don’t have to busy themselves concerned about God because “our sensibleness is our argument God doesn’t exist” but blinded to Satan’s deceit, “Did God really say if you sin you will die? You won’t die!”

Yet the Holy Word declares: “The wages of sin is death!” So ‘wonderers’ live in their doubts, buy the devil’s lies, and darken their minds and hearts to the reality of God’s amazing love and grace and mercy! It was Spurgeon who once said, “It is never worthwhile to make rents in a garment for the sake of mending them, nor to create doubts in order to show how cleverly we can quiet them.” So true! Your doubts never cloud the reality of God’s eternal existence, but open wide-doors to an invitation to live one’s life without God! And doing so, many choose to live with nature’s goods with no desire to live under nature’s God! That’s like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s writing entitled, “Fiftieth Birthday of Agassiz”, saying: “Come, wander with me,” she said, “Into regions yet untrod; and read what is still unread in the manuscripts of God.”

That’s why Psalm 19:1 says: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Few earthlings, if any, see what ‘space pilots’ see as they fly to realms most of us only get a small glimpse at, but ‘space pilots’ who do come home, upon arrival, are still AWED by Creator-God!! Most of them are not ‘wonderers’ (?), but worshippers of God and adoring what they viewed in His awesome Creation!

Wonderers? “Is there a God? Should I know Him? Am I accountable to Him for what He has entrusted to me? How should I respond to what I see Him do?” In Mark 1:25-28 you’ll find Christ Jesus casting out a demon (or unclean spirit)! The unclean spirit had said to Jesus, “What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who You are – the Holy One of God!”

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.”

Questioners are more often than not ‘wonderers’ who are consumed by ‘fleshly intelligence’ only without little, if any, spiritual discernment! Would it shock you for me to say that I sincerely believe, yes, even fallen men are, at least at times, aware of the reality of Holy God?

And the ‘wonderers’ who are aware of God’s presence will turn more inward to their continuing destruction or upward to their “Rescue”! Paul’s description in Ephesians 2:1-4 is so on target: He spoke in Verse 1 about those “who were dead in their trespasses and sins, Verse 2, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we ALL once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and WERE BY NATURE children of wrath, just as the others.”

In Ephesians 2:11-12 He heightens what ought to be greater conviction of living without Christ as Lord, Savior, Healer, and Deliverer! “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh – who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands – that at that time YOU WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, being ALIENS from the commonwealth of Israel, and STRANGERS from the covenant of promise, HAVING NO HOPE, AND WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD.” Does that description break your heart? Are you stirred at all about how Holy God sees you without Christ in your ever-darkening world??

Oh, but then, beside the chasm ‘wondering’ digs in you, ARE YOU AWARE THAT WONDERING WILL LEAD TO “WANDERING”, SADLY, EVEN FURTHER FROM THE GOD OF THE CROSS AND EMPTY TOMB!

I’m not sure if you’re aware of Biblical history as it related to the Israelites and their journeys from the ‘wilderness’ into the Promised Land, but the Word tells us that there were those Israelites who wandered away, even after “spying out” the Promised Land! In Numbers 14:27-38 we read: (The Lord speaking to Moses and Aaron), “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you:

The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in the wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty-years old and above. Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised.

But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in the wilderness. And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.

I the Lord have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.’” Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.”

Would you say that following the directions of the Lord is essential and necessary? Well, of course, you’ll hear verbally from a lot of pulpits or Sunday School classes, “Well, of course, obedience is an option in the age of grace,” when the Lord Jesus said, “Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, but you do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46!).

Many ‘believers’ in churches today across America will ‘profess faith in Christ’ and willfully then choose to do as they please, without a word of, “Lord, what would You have me to do?” Pretending is not lending any credibility to one’s “profession of faith”! I’m sure the angels of Heaven are shocked by “deaf-eared professors” in a lot of churches professing faith while they willfully and consistently disobey divine revelation! Often in New Testament Scriptures the “wanderers” are referred to as the “anti-christs”!!

In 1 John 2:15-19 the “beloved John” wrote: “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. For all that is in the world – THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE (BOASTFUL) PRIDE OF LIFE – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, EVEN NOW MANY ANTICHRISTS HAVE COME, by which we know that it is the last hour. (Immediately, just a few years later it was the destruction of Jerusalem by invading armies!). John continued:

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with is; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”

And John went on to say, “But you, true disciple, you have an anointing from the Holy Spirit, and you know all things.” The Spirit of God guides you into all truth, and you know it’s Truth by the very witness of the Holy Spirit!

In the spiritual world, as well as the natural world, it’s affirmed: One knows the difference between wild wolves and peaceful sheep, except for some in the church who have no discernment biblically but only personal opinions; and there are those in the church who’ll call sheep wolves or wolves sheep – doesn’t matter to them as long as they are not bitten by ‘wild animals’, though at times because of poverty of spirit, they’ll affirm wolves who attack innocent sheep! Our “last days” of modern-day ‘Christianity’ is being invaded by “the wild side”!

BUT, LAST OF ALL, THERE ARE THOSE WHO LIVE A LIFE OF REDEMPTIVE FAITH WILLFULLY WORSHIPPING! In Colossians 3:1-12 Paul builds a strong foundation defining the “true worshippers”! He said: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, (which, sadly, rules out a lot of ‘church folk’!),not on things on the earth. For you died (Did YOU?), and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. THEREFORE put to death your members which are on (and of) the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

BUT NOW you yourselves (professing faith in Christ!) are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another (all liars go to Hell!), since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering…”, eternal evidences of a reigning Savior and Lord! A “dill pickle” ‘believer’ is so opposite of a “sweet pickle” unveiling the Christ he/she knows they trusted in! Oh, I know our ‘salvation walk’ is a process, but from infancy, through childhood and teen years, to young adults, maturing adults, and mature “seniors of faith”, every person is not to lean upon himself/herself but learn to let Christ “reign” in and through your journey of maturing in your faith-walk to honor Christ by the daily sentence of death to ‘self’ that He might reign supremely and superbly through you!

Redemptive reality is not a ‘reflection’ of Jesus but a release from within of His abiding Presence since through “new birth” He established His “Holy Temple” IN YOU! What did Paul say in Galatians 6:14-15? “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.”

Tell me about your personal awareness of your life “crucified with Christ” and how His Resurrection Presence is easily identifying for you ‘death without Him’ OR “eternal Life and Holy Presence in you”! What did Joshua say? “Choose for yourselves whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we choose to be His earthly temple or tabernacle” through which He extends His LIFE, expresses His love, and proves His power!

Have YOU died? Is your life hidden with Christ in God? Are YOU His “new creation”? Do YOU live for the glory and honor of Christ ONLY, or are you determined to “make a name for myself”? In Christ we do not live to elicit fleshly obedience to human inclinations – but day by day taking the sentence of death to ourselves that His presence will be manifested in us and through us for the glory of God alone! Can YOU say with Paul, 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, OR whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”?

Fanny J. Crosby wrote an old hymn entitled “I Am Thine, O Lord” that says: “I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Your voice, And it told Your love to me; But I long to rise in the arms of faith, And be closer drawn to Thee.

Consecrate me now to Your service, Lord, By the power of grace divine; Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, And my will be lost in Thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour That before Your throne I spend, When I kneel in prayer, and with You, my God, I commune as friend with friend!

There are depths of love that I cannot know Till I cross the narrow sea; There are heights of joy that I may not reach Till I rest in peace with Thee.

SO…Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, To the cross where You died; Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, To Your precious, bleeding side.” Amen?

“THE HOLY TRUTH OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION-LIFE!”

RESURRECTION POWER, RESURRECTION PRESENCE, RESURRECTION PRIVILEGE, ARRIVING, ABIDING, ASKING, EVEN PLEADING,CHRIST JESUS, RESURRECTED AND REIGNING, SAYS: “OPEN YOUR HEART’S DOOR, AND I, JESUS, WILL COME IN.” CHRIST BLED, CHRIST PLEADS, CHRIST KNOCKS ON YOUR HEART’S DOOR”, COMPASSIONATELY SAYING, “SIN NO LONGER YOUR MASTER ANYMORE. MY BLOOD I’VE SHED, YOUR BOOK OF LIFE I’VE READ – AND MY SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SIN? IT’S FOR ME AS IF YOUR SIN NEVER HAD BEEN!”

THOUGH SIN IS ONE’S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FROM GOD, PRODUCING THE “GRAVE OF LIFE” IN WHICH ONE DWELLS, THE SAVIOR COMES SAYING, “THE GLOOM IS GONE, YOUR TOMB IS NOW EMPTY; MY RESURRECTION IS YOUR LIFE OF PLENTY!

MY PLENTY IS YOUR GIFT OF GRACE, MY INTERCESSION IS YOUR GIFT OF A NEW PLACE! MY PLAN IS ‘IMMORTAL HOPE THAT DISPELS THE GLOOM, WITH MANY ANGELS MAKING SURE OF YOUR ROOM’!

EARTH MAY STILL REMAIN EARTH, ASHES WILL HOLD ON AS ASHES, DUST WILL BE DUST – BUT IN RESURRECTION LIFE, WE LIVE OVERCOMING STRIFE, THE GRAVE, AND THE DUST HAS LOST ITS STING – WE ONLY HEAR THE ANGELS SING!

CHRIST IS WELCOMED AS DEPARTED SAINTS SING, AND WE WHO FOLLOW WILL MAKE THE HEAVENS RING! YES, JOY TO OUR WORLD NEVER TO SUBSIDE, BECAUSE JESUS OUR LORD FOREVER ABIDES!

NEVER TO LEAVE US, NEVER TO FORSAKE US, NEVER TO SAY TO US, “THIS IS NOT YOUR PLACE! THOUGH EARTHLY TIME IS REAL, ETERNAL LIFE REMAINS, AND HEAVEN ON EARTH WILL NEVER BE RESTRAINED!

ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU –MARRIED IN MERCY, GRACE, AND LOVE, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THOUGH I DIED ON A CROSS, BURIED IN A TOMB, THREE DAYS LATER I ROSE AGAIN, SO YOU WILL TASTE DEATH BUT CELEBRATE MORE IN RESURRECTION LIFE ETERNALLY; THAT’S HEAVENLY PRESENCE IN SHARED IMMORTALITY.

THE ‘SON-DIAL’ IS SET, THE SON AND MOON NEVER FALL, BECAUSE CHRIST JESUS IS LORD OVER ALL! REJOICE YOU SAINTS; IN YOUR SAVIOR ABIDE, BECAUSE JESUS OUR LORD NEVER HIDES! HE’S EVER-PRESENT YOUR LIFE TO WATCH OVER, WHEN SATAN IN DARKNESS SEEKS YOU TO CLOSE, JESUS SINGS, BECAUSE HE AROSE!

AND OVER YOUR LIFE OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE AND SERVICE IN THE KING’S NAME, KING JESUS REJOICES AND REVEALS YOUR FAME – MADE FAMOUS IN CHRIST BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD THAT HE SHED, CONTINUALLY PRAISING BECAUSE OF THE FAITH YOU HAVE READ.

TRUSTING HIS WORD, PROVIDENTIALLY IN FAITH WE’RE FULLY BLESSED, CONFIDING IN ‘PROVIDENCE’, WE SURELY “REST”! THOUGH TESTED AND PRESSED AND HEMMED IN ON EVERY SIDE, CHRIST JESUS IS LORD AND SAVIOR REIGNING OVER YOU UNTIL HIS ETERNAL LIGHT SHINES THROUGH.

IN CHRIST YOU’RE VICTORIOUS, THOUGH IT SEEMS YOU OUGHT TO FROWN, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS RESURRECTION PRESENSE IN YOU, ALL SATAN CAN DO IS ACT LIKE A CLOWN. YOU ARE THE WINNER BECAUSE “IN CHRIST” YOU ABIDE, KNOWING JESUS STANDS WITH YOU, BEHIND YOU, AND BY YOUR SIDE.TOUGH, ROUGH, FIERCE TIMES MAY COME YOUR WAY, LIKE A SPARROW THAT SUDDENLY FALLS TO THE GROUND, BUT THE RESURRECTED SAVIOR WILL SURELY BE FOUND, KEEPING WATCH OVER HIS CHILDREN AS THE FATHER OF THEIR FAITH; STRONG IN HIS WORD, SOUND IN HIS WILL – WHEN HIS CHILDREN ARE TESTED, HE DOESN’T REMAIN STILL!

THE “PURE IN HEART” ARE THOSE WHO SEE GOD, WHILE THE SPIRITUALLY BLIND ARE THOSE WITHOUT HOPE WHO SPEAK IN FLESHLY ELOQUENCE WHILE THEIR CHAINS GROW TIGHTER, BUT THE CHILDREN OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE ARE TRUE SAINTS WITH NO DESIRE OF ANY TAINTS! KNOWING GOD LOVES THE “PURE IN HEART”, A MAN OF TRUE FAITH NEVER LETS ‘RUST’ REMAIN, BUT EVERY DAY HE TAKES THE SENTENCE OF DEATH THAT HE MIGHT CONTINUALLY REJOICE IN HEAVEN’S DOMAIN! THE “PURE IN HEART” NEVER CONSIDER FORSAKING THE WORD’S BIBLICAL STANDARDS, BUT DAILY TAKE THE SENTENCE OF DEATH TO THE OLD MAN THAT THE NEW MAN “IN CHRIST” MAY UNCEASINGLY REJOICE, SECURELY RESTING ON HIS FAITHFUL PROMISES, MIRRORS OF HIS ABIDING PRESENCE!

“IN CHRIST” ONE’S HEART IS TO BE TRANSPARENT AS PURE CRYSTAL; “IN CHRIST” ONE’S MIND IS THE SOUL’S NEW IMAGE, EVEN FIGHTING TO BE BOLD TO KEEP IT PURE! “CHRIST IN YOU IS YOUR HOPE OF GLORY”, HIM FAITHFULLY STANDING TO FIGHT YOUR FIGHT OF FAITH WHEN THE ‘STORM CLOUDS’ RISE, SATAN SURE THAT HE AND HIS DEMONS CAN TAKE YOU DOWN HOPING YOU NEVER RISE TO RESIST THEIR FLOOD; SO IN FAITH PLEAD THE BLOOD!!“THE HOLY TRUTH OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTED LIFE HAS NEVER LOST ITS POWER”! SO IN JESUS, IN THIS HOUR OF EARTHLY TESTINGS, RELAX IN THE WORD, THE SPIRIT, AND THE PROMISES, WATCHING JESUS FIGHT FOR YOU AS GOD’S VICTOR! HE’S MORE THAN CONQUEROR – HE’S ETERNAL VICTOR, OVER THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND SATAN!”

THAT’S THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN A VESSEL (ME,YOU!),THAT SO DESIRES HOLY GOD TO RELEASE,UNVEIL, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST’S PRESENCE, SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, HAVING HIS WAY “IN ME,IN YOU AS WE HEAR OR READ HIS MESSAGE”! ARE YOU FAMILIAR AT ALL WITH THE POWERFUL UNVEILING OF CHRIST JESUS IN JOHN ONE? THAT’S WHERE THE APOSTLE JOHN WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE THE FOLLOWING:

JOHN 1:1-5,”IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.(IS THAT JESUS, “THE RESURRECTED, REIGNING, ‘RICH IN LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY’, THE SOVEREIGN MERCIFUL SAVIOR AND LORD?”)

THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD. ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANY THING MADE THAT WAS MADE. IN HIM WAS LIFE,(LITERALLY, “IN THE HOLY SPIRIT’S BIRTHING, AND WITH THE “CREATOR’S ETERNAL BLESSING”,JESUS PROMISING “I’LL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU!”); AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN. (BUT) THE “LIGHT” SHINES IN DARKNESS; AND THE DARKNESS COMPREHENDED IT NOT.”

UNBELIEVERS, IN THEIR DARKNESS, HAVE TO HAVE A WITNESS THAT, YES, THERE IS “THE LIGHT OF CHRIST” THAT CAN TAKE ONE OUT OF THE EMPTINESS OF A SPIRITUALLY DARKENED, SIN-FILLED,SATANICALLY DEVISED,SELF-RULING EXISTENCE TO BRING ONE INTO “THE FULLNESS OF THE BLESSING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!”

LET THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE “YOU” OUT OF SPIRITUAL DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT UNVEILING FOR YOU THE HEAVENLY,ETERNALLY, LIFE-GIVING SAVIOR AND LORD WHO FOREVER REIGNS VICTORIOUSLY THROUGH REPENTANT, “TRUSTING” HEARTS AND SOULS, WHO “TAKE UP THE CROSS, CHOOSING TO FOLLOW JESUS”!

NOTICE,JOHN 1:6-7, “THERE WAS A MAN SENT FROMGOD, WHOSE NAMES WAS JOHN. THE SAME CAME FOR A WITNESS, TO BEAR WITNESS OF THE LIGHT, THAT ALL MEN MIGHT BELIEVE (OR TRUST, SURRENDER, YIELD!).” WHY? BECAUSE RELYING UPON ONE’S INNER,SOCIAL,SELF-ACCEPTED RIGHT TO RULE WITHOUT THE HEAVENLY FATHER’S, YES, INNER SPIRIT AGENDA IN A REPENTANT, TRUSTING HEART, THAT, YES, CHOOSES “DYING DAILY TO ‘THAT’ SELF SO THAT RESURRECTED JESUS IS GIVEN HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE TO LIVE IN YOU AND REIGN THROUGH YOU, TOUCHING YOUR WORLD WITH HIS LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY, WITH YOU AS HIS “WISE, REPENTING, TRUSTING, YIELDED SERVANT,OBEYING TO ‘GO INTO ALL YOUR WORLD PREACHING THE GOSPEL, WITNESSING OF HIS ETERNAL ‘MASTER-WORK’ IN BIRTHING DEAD SPIRITUAL LIVES INTO TEMPLES OF THE INDWELLING LORD AND SAVIOR, HIS HOLY SPIRIT, AND HIS ETERNAL VISION OF WORLD REDEMPTION, THROUGH “YOU” IN FAITHFUL MINISTRY OF INTRODUCING THOSE AROUND YOU WITH THE “GOOD NEWS” OF CHRIST JESUS’S BLOOD SACRIFICE, RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD, AND REIGNING ETERNALLY IN REPENTANT MINDS AND HEARTS, ALLOWING, “JESUS, BE JESUS, IN ME – NO LONGER ME, BUT THEE; RESURRECTION POWER, FILL ME THIS HOUR, JESUS, BE JESUS IN ME!”

ALSO, IN JOHN 1, NOTICE VERSES 8-16! “JOHN WAS NOT THAT LIGHT, BUT WAS SENT TO “BEAR WITNESS” OF THAT LIGHT. THAT WAS THE TRUE LIGHT, JESUS, WHICH LIGHTS EVERY MAN THAT COMES INTO THE WORLD. (THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS AN AMAZING UNVEILING OF EVERY MAN IN ANY NATION – HOLY GOD HAS BORNER ‘WITNESS’ UNTO THEM WHETHER THEY RECEIVE IT OR NOT!!!). JOHN CONTINUES, VERSES 10-16,

JESUS WAS IN THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM, AND THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT. HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN (HIS JEWISH HERITAGE, HIS EARTHLY RELATIVES!), HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT. “BUT” AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM HE GAVE POWER TO BECOME SONS OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE (OR “TRUST”) ON HIS NAME:

WHICH WERE BORN, NOT OF BLOOD, NOR OF THE WILL OF THE ‘FLESH’ (OR OLD SIN-NATURE’), NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD. AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US, (AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF FATHER-GOD!DID “YOU”?), FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.JOHN BORE (&BARES) WITNESS OF HIM, CRYING OUT, SAYING, THIS WAS “HE” OF WHOM I SPOKE, ‘HE THAT COMES AFTER ME IS PREFERRED BEFORE ME; FOR HE WAS BEFORE ME. AND OF HIS FULLNESS HAVE ALL WE RECEIVED, AND GRACE FOR GRACE.”

GRACE FOR GRACE? GRACE GIVEN-GRACE SHARED! GRACE WORKING IN ME – GRACE WORKING THROUGH ME! GRACE FOR THE LOST – GRACE FOR THE FOUND! GRACE TO EXPOUND-GRACE TO ENLIGHTEN OTHERS! GRACE TO GROUND ONE ON THE TRUE FOUNDATION OF VICTORIOUS LIVING – GRACE TO TRANSPORT US THROUGH THE GRAVE UNTO OUR EARTHLY MINISTRIES THEN UNTO OUR ETERNAL HOME AROUND CHRIST’S THRONE, GOD GRACIOUSLY ALLOWING US TO ETERNALLY BE CHRIST’S “FOOT-WASHERS” AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE KING OF GLORY!

DEATH IS AND HAS NO “STING” –IT’S THE OPENING OF THE DOOR TO UNENDING SERVICE TO THE RESURRECTED SAVIOR AND LORD ON HIS THRONE! RESURRECTION LIFE! RESURRECTION POWER! RESURRECTION GLORY AND GRACE AND GLOW!

IN THE OLD BROADMAN HYMNAL PUBLISHED BY BROADMAN PRESS, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, COPYRIGHTED IN 1940, IS THE OLD HYMN “PEACE!BE STILL!”, WRITTEN BY MARY BAKER AND H.R.PALMER. IT SAYS:

“MASTER, THE TEMPEST IS RAGING! THE BILLOWS ARE TOSSING HIGH! THE SKY IS O’ER-SHADOWED WITH BLACKNESS, NO SHELTER OR HELP IS NIGH: “CAREST YOU NOT THAT WE PERISH?” HOW CAN YOU LIE ASLEEP? WHEN EACH MOMENT SO MADLY IS THREATENING A GRACE IN THE ANGRY DEEP?

MASTER, WITH ANGUISH OF SPIRIT I BOW IN MY GRIEF TODAY; THE DEPTHS OF MY SAD HEART ARE TROUBLED; O WAKEN AND SAVE, I PRAY! TORRENTS OF SIN AND OF ANGUISH SWEEP O’ER MY SINKING SOUL! AND I PERISH! I PERISH, DEAR MASTER; O HASTEN, AND TAKE CONTROL!

MASTER, THE TERROR IS OVER, THE ELEMENTS SWEETLY REST; EARTH’S SUN IN THE CALM LAKE IS MIRRORED, AND HEAVEN’S WITHIN MY BREAST. LINGER, O BLESSED REDEEMER, LEAVE ME ALONE NO MORE; AND WITH JOY I SHALL MAKE THE BLEST HARBOR, AND REST ON THE BLISSFUL SHORE.

“THE WINDS AND THE WAVES SHALL OBEY GOD’S WILL, PEACE, BE STILL!” WHETHER THE WRATH OF A STORM-TOSSED SEA, OR DEMONS, OR MEN, OR WHATEVER IT BE, NO WATER CAN SWALLOW THE SHIP WHERE LIES “THE MASTER” OF OCEAN AND EARTH AND SKIES; THEY ALL SHALL SWEETLY OBEY MY WILL; PEACE, BE STILL!” ARE “YOU”AT PEACE WITH HOLY GOD, BY CHRIST JESUS, CONVICTED, CONVINCED, CONSECRATED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT?

IN EXODUS 14:8, PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT, LIKE SATAN OVER HELL, HAD HIS HEART HARDENED, AND HE CONTINUED PURSUING THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, LIKE SATAN TODAY STILL PURSUES THE SONS OF FAITH, THE CHILDREN OF GOD, THE JOINT-HEIRS AND ANOINTED AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST JESUS,BUT IN VERSES 13-14 WE READ: AND MOSES SAID UNTO THE PEOPLE, “FEAR YOU NOT, STAND STILL, AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD, WHICH HE SHALL SHEW TO YOU TODAY; FOR THE EGYPTIANS (THEN, BUT THE WORLD, YOUR OLD SIN-NATURE, AND SATAN NOW!) WHOM YOU HAVE SEEN TODAY, YOU SHALL SEE THEM AGAIN NO MORE FOR EVER. THE LORD SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU, AND YOU SHALL HOLD YOUR PEACE.”

“THE HOLY TRUTH OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION LIFE?” THAT’S INHERITING THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST IN YOU AS YOU DAILY DIE TO YOUR OLD SELF THAT THE “NEW MAN” IN CHRIST MAY BE MANIFESTED THROUGH YOUR MORTAL FLESH! AND YOU KNOW IT’S REALITY BY THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT OF CHRIST WHO ESTABLISHES THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITHIN AND BEARS FRUIT! GALATIANS 5:22-25 SAYS, “BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS (TEMPERANCE OR SELF CONTROL!); AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW. (AS A RESULT) VERSE 24 SAYS, AND THEY THAT “ARE CHRIST’S” HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH (DAILY!?!) WITH ITS AFFECTIONS AND LUSTS. VERSE 25! “IF WE LIVE ‘IN THE SPIRIT’, LET US ALSO “WALK IN THE SPIRIT”!

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY OF FAITH IN THE CHURCH, YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NATION, AND THE WORLD! ARE YOU THE “FAITHFUL AMBASSADOR OF CHRIST THE LORD”? IN A BOOK I HAD PUBLISHED IN OCTOBER, 2006, ENTITLED “OUR GRACIOUS GOD”, ON PPS.90-91, I WROTE: “I CAME ACROSS A STORY THAT SO EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN MY LIFE. LOCATION –BELLE CHASE, LOUISIANA. A COUPLE WAS OUT ON A ROMANTIC DRIVE THROUGH A WOODED SECTION. ONE OF THEM GLANCED ASIDE TO SEE A SHIMMERING, WHITE GLOW THAT CAUGHT THE EYES. THEY DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND A DEAD TEENAGER HANGING FROM A TREE LIMB WITH A BED-SHEET WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK. HE LEFT A NOTE ADDRESSED TO “MOM AND DAD.” IT SAID:

“I NEVER DID DEVELOP INTO A REAL PERSON AND I CANNOT TOLERATE THE FALSE AND EMPTY EXISTENCE I HAD CREATED. WHAT FRUSTRATED ME MOST IN THE LAST YEAR WAS THAT I HAD BUILT NO TIES TO FAMILY OR FRIENDS. THERE WAS NOTHING OF LASTING WORTH AND VALUE. I LED A DETACHED EXISTENCE. I AM A BOMB OF FRUSTRATION AND SHOULD NEVER MARRY OR HAVE CHILDREN. IT IS SAFEST TO DEFUSE THE BOMB HARMLESSLY NOW, SIMPLY CREMATE ME AS JOHN DOE.” I WENT ON CLOSING OUT THAT CHAPTER, WRITING: “NO ONE EVER CLAIMED HIM OR TO HAVE KNOWN HIM. HE TRULY DIED ‘alone’,(a lonely, godless, unbelieving ‘child’!).THAT SO EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN THE STORY OF MY LIFE. COMING OUT OF A FAMILY OF A BROKEN MARRIAGE, I WAS THREE YEARS OF AGE, TAKEN TO LIVE WITH MY GRANDPARENTS –AND EVEN THOUGH THEY LOVED ME, THERE WAS THAT GNAWING EMPTINESS OF UNIMPORTANCE TO ANYBODY. ALL THROUGH THE YEARS OF MY LIFE (EVEN COLLEGE & SEMINARY!!!) UNTIL MY LATE THIRTIES SUICIDE WAS A POSSIBILITY – BUT SOMETHING HELD ME BACK UNTIL I WAS BORN AGAIN IN FEBRUARY, 1974!! IT WAS THE LOVE OF MY WIFE, SUE, MY CHILDREN, THE LOVE OF FAMILY, AND YES THE LOVE OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, THEIR LOVE FOR HIM SHINING THE LIGHT THAT GOD HIMSELF ALWAYS LOVED ME AND WANTED TO BE MY SAVIOR, MY SHIELD, AND MY PROTECTOR AND PROVIDER AND PROVISION OF “CHRIST IN ME, MY HOPE OF GLORY”, YES, MY GUARANTEE OF “MORE THAN A CONQUEROR THROUGH CHRIST WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.

TELL ME! WHAT ABOUT YOU NOW, THROUGH DEATH’S DOOR, ENTERING AN EVERLASTING HOME: “IN CHRIST”, HEAVEN! APART FROM HIM, “AN ETERNAL HELL WITH SATAN, THE WORLD, AND UNREDEEMED LIVES”! CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY!!

By: J. Farrell Fisher, July 17-19, 2017

“Your life-journey”? There is no doubt all ‘life-journeys’ begin in the ‘natural’ necessitating the need of “blood Redemption” through the Cross of Christ to transform, natural, fallen humanity into sons and daughters of Father-God! Natural man in his highest form of fallen humanity never nears the mind, heart, spirit of Almighty God or the Son who came to be the sacrifice and Savior of the fallen! Natural journeys travel different highways than the Highway of God! Natural journeys, in the majority of lives, are lived to refute the need of God’s intervention in their lives at all!

To ‘trust’ natural abilities is to “step” into the footprints of men very proud of their natural abilities, never considering reconciliation with the eternal purpose of God that Adam and Eve never considered important, in fact, they bought the “lie” of Satan that one can sin and not die!

In Romans 3:23-26 the Spirit-anointed words of Paul must enlighten us all: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, BEING JUSTIFIED FREELY by His grace through the redemption (the “blood redemption”) that is in Christ Jesus, WHOM GOD SET FORTH AS A PROPITIATION BY HIS BLOOD, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Dare I say it? I believe I will! Major religions of the world that by-pass, ignore, and seek to negate Christ’s shed blood through His Cross are nothing more than “religious demons” out to uplift ‘natural man’ to ‘godlikeness’ which denies Jesus Christ in every way, other than, “just add Him in as a compliment to what we’re religiously all about,” which is nothing more than “spitting” in Jesus’ face as they led Him to His crucifixion, proving their ‘justification’ of one’s religious “best”!

“Life-journeys” that flow out of unrepentant, unbelieving hearts are the journeys of wanderers who’ve been blinded by the powers of darkness to God’s amazing grace and unending love, wandering in the regions of worldly, fleshly, and demonic activity, like a ‘desert-journey’ with no shade, no springs, striving to make it through to a ‘comfortable place’! “Nature-lovers” ought to be God-lovers, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they are re-born sons and daughters of God, though one would hope, pray, and desire that they truly be “Mastered by the Master”!

It was George B. Cheever, in “The Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations,” (P.316), who wrote: “The man who can really, in living union of the mind and heart, converse with God through nature, finds in the material forms around him, a source of power and happiness inexhaustible, and like the life of angels. – The highest life and glory of man is to be alive unto God; and when this grandeur of sensibility to Him, and this power of communion with Him is carried, as the habit of the soul, into the forms of nature, then the walls of our world are as the gates of heaven.”

Did YOU receive it? “The highest life and glory of man is to be alive UNTO GOD”, and, of course, with Heaven’s Gates widely opened “to the repentant heart whose faith is in Christ alone”!

One of the sad words in the New Testament is found in 2 Timothy 4:16-17 when Paul wrote: “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. BUT the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” Didn’t David write in Psalm 22:21, “Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen”? You are aware that ‘animals’ often represented physical and religious enemies of divine truth. Enemies often appear ‘domesticated’ when in reality they are only waiting on their opportune moment to shame, defame, or lead one astray from his/her devotion to Christ Jesus!

But my deep conviction? To be Heavenly relevant is to be earthly radical in willing obedience to all our Lord Says! In Luke 6:46 Jesus said, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do the things which I say?” True disciples, deeply convicted, openly honest before Holy God, willfully trusting the words of Christ Jesus, breaking the bonds of fleshly obedience in the sinful way, full confession, full confidence that Christ Jesus means what He says, convicted and convinced by the Holy Spirit, a man, a woman, boy or girl, “confesses, surrenders, and rests in Christ alone for eternal life now and in the hereafter”, even ‘leaning not to their own understanding (fully), but “trusting” the Lord with all their hearts, leaning not to their own understanding, but in all their ways giving Jesus His rightful place in their hearts, yes, to direct every step, with the Proverbs author saying in Proverbs 3:7-8, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”

The beloved John really hit a strong ‘home-run of faith and obedience’ when in 1 John 3:7-10 he wrote: “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ the Messiah is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. FOR THIS PURPOSE THE SON OF GOD WAS MANIFESTED, THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL. Whoever has been born of God (“New birth”, birthed of the Spirit, second birth!) DOES NOT SIN (Present tense, continuous action! Doesn’t sin and keep on sinning!) Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”

Do you understand or realize that every day of a disciple’s life there are huge choices of “doing sin like the rest of the fallen world” OR “doing righteousness as your chosen way of Life in Christ Jesus”? And didn’t John say in 1 John 3:7, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous.” In fact, in 1 John 2:29, John had said, “If you know that He (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the ‘three in One’!) is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” In Christ we are no longer ‘slaves’ to one’s old sin nature but “servants” of the “Master of Service” who didn’t come to be served but to serve and to lay down His life as the ransom for many!

Man in a fallen world, under the domination of Satan himself, under the powerful influences of godless men, men in a fallen world who will, for some, ‘profess’ allegiance to religious trends which are feeble imitations of “Resurrected Life, Resurrected Power, and Resurrected Hope” that comes only through the Resurrection Presence of Christ in his/her “new-born Life in Christ”! It’s the “burning bush” of Old Testament fame that has come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ! It’s the same voice of God speaking to Jeremiah who calls each of us by name, knocks on our heart’s doors, illumines our minds in the glow of His grace, telling each of us as He did to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:8), “Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you”, says the Lord.

And, certainly, our major enemy is Satan himself, along with his well-deceived ‘demons of darkness’ trained by your enemy, Satan, to influence you to “the best of your natural life”, to immerse you in the ill-advised life-influence of ‘self-assertiveness’, self-independence from any ruling authority but your own mind, your diseased ‘flesh’, and your darkened ambition of making sure any sinful thought in you comes to full fruition’! A godless world, a rebellious Satan, and a natural sin-nature blinds unbelievers in the world and even some ‘compromising’ individuals in the church, in attendance, every time their church doors are open so they can camouflage their darkened, demonized, and undisciplined ‘walk of faith’!

And you’ve often wondered why Jesus said what He did in Matthew 16:24-26? “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross (The “sentence of death daily”?), and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life (for self-indulgence?) will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake (living to honor Christ only!) will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

Oswald Chambers, in his book “My Utmost For His Highest”, wrote: (p.256), Galatians 5:24-25, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Chambers wrote: “It is the things that are right and noble and good from the natural standpoint that keep us back from God’s best. To discern that natural virtues antagonize surrender to God, is to bring our soul into the center of its greatest battle. Very few of us debate with the sordid and evil and wrong, but we do debate with the good. It is the good that hates the best, and the higher up you get in the scale of the natural virtues, the more intense is the opposition to Jesus Christ. ‘They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh” (Daily!!) – it is going to cost the natural in you everything, not something. Jesus said: “If ant man will be My disciple, let him DENY HIMSELF,” i.e., his right to himself, and a man has to realize Who Jesus Christ is before he will do it. Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence.”

Do you remember what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:9-10? “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves (actually saying in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus, I DIE DAILY”) – that’s, yes, DAILY taking the sentence of death to one’s old sin nature and fleshly desires in order that RESURRECTION LIFE IN CHRIST MAY BE MANIFESTED IN MORTAL FLESH MOMENT BY MOMENT, not when you get to heaven someday!

I hate to disappoint many ‘professing believers’ but Christ’s TRUTH can never be hidden – He spoke with eternal intent to turn men away from Satan’s deceptions to bring men into the Light of His eternal Truth! He said in Luke 14:27-33, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it – lest, after he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. SO LIKEWISE, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

Have you ever heard it? “I’d be a disciple of Christ IF…”, or “I’d like to be a part of kingdom living under Christ’s Lordship IF..” or “It’s inviting and alluring, but there are parts of my personal desires I want to hold onto,” or “My vision for my earthly existence doesn’t include taking that sentence of death unto myself”, or “God’s vision for me is not what I desire to satisfy my own inner self” – on and on and on, unbelieving men will choose ‘self’ over the Savior, ‘my will’ over the eternal divine will of God, ‘my fleshly ambitions’ over Holy God’s eternal intent for my life, with some even determining “satisfying my earthly dreams over any eternal purpose of your Holy God”!

Again, Oswald Chambers wrote, (p.92), “All that we build is going to be inspected by God. Is God going to detect in His searching fire that we have built on the foundation of Jesus some enterprise of our own? These are days of tremendous enterprises, days when we are trying to work for God, and therein is the snare. Profoundly speaking, we can never work for God. Jesus takes us over for HIS enterprises, HIS building schemes entirely, and no soul has any right to claim where he shall be put.” IS THAT CLEAR?

There’s an old hymn entitled “The Haven of Rest”, (copyrighted in 1889 by John J. Hood) – it says: “My soul in sad exile was out on life’s sea, So burdened with sin and distrest, Till I heard a sweet voice saying, “Make Me your choice,” And I entered the haven of rest.

I yielded myself to His tender embrace, And, faith taking hold of the word, My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul: The haven of rest is my Lord.

The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole, Has been the old story so blest, Of Jesus, who’ll save whosoever will have A home in the haven of rest.

Oh, come to the Savior, He patiently waits, To save by His power divine; Come, anchor your soul in the haven of rest, And say, “My Beloved is mine.”

I’ve anchored my soul in the haven of rest, I’ll sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep o’er the wild stormy deep, In Jesus I’m safe evermore.”

Has that been sealed in your heart? “Safe evermore – in Christ alone?” Dallas Willard, in his writing “The Great Omission” closed out his book saying: (p.228), “Those who think that the cultivation of inner Christ-likeness through personal discipleship to Jesus amounts to a “privatization” of our faith in Him (“quietism” and “pietism” are words often used in that connection) simply do not understand how the spiritual life in Christ works. You CANNOT privatize the fire of God that burns through the life of a disciple of Jesus. This was Jesus’s point in saying that “a city built on a hill cannot be hidden,” and that one does not “light a candle and put it under a bushel.” (Matthew 5:14-15; Mark 4:21; Luke 11:33).

Be assured! Man-made inventions of ‘religious faiths’ may survive through men’s earthly pilgrimages, but not before the Throne of Almighty God! His question to you in that moment before His Throne? “What did you do with Jesus called the Christ?” That determines your destiny in the here and now AND before the Judgment Throne of Holy God!

“THE JOY OF A HOLY HOPE!”

It’s so interesting, convicting, and illuminating to read the Book of Job, seeing the extremes of serious doubts and unbeliefs, but then to see a man coming into the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! There was a time period of doubts, fears, and unbelief, but by the grace and mercy and love of God Job became an overcomer, victorious through God’s faithful pursuit of his soul! In Job 42:5 we read Job saying to the Lord, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear: but now my eye sees You!” Verse 10 says, “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends; also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

In Job 31 Job highlighted the fatal, false steps of unbelievers who choose the ‘flesh walk’ totally void of the Spirit’s blessing, hearts ‘deceived’ and ending up experiencing ‘the consuming fire’, inheriting a consuming destruction, and rewarding one with spiritual bankruptcy eternally! I don’t know who said it, but I read in the “Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations”, (p.231), the following statement: “Life with Christ is an endless hope, without Him a hopeless end.” So very, very true! But there are many who refuse to answer God’s knock at their hearts’ doors, willfully, ignorantly slamming the heart’s doors when the Savior knocks!

“The Joy of The Holy Hope” but you choose a ‘faithless life’ that without Christ dissipates into a coveted state of eternal captivity under the control of the demons of Hell and Satan accepting you as their and his forever slave in darkness forever, separated from King Jesus and the Holy Father and the Holy Spirit who so desired to “guide you in all eternal Truth”? One never comes into the blessed state of life who never truly trusts in the eternal redemptive hope found in Christ’s crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascension to the eternal throne of God patiently waiting for the full increase of redeeming grace manifested in the minds and hearts of all born-again-‘faithers’!!

As I write this truth I do so just a few weeks AFTER!! I’m sure if you’ve attended any churches you found some singing, “O Little Town of Bethlehem, The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight” – And that’s about the celebration of the birth of Christ who came to “set the captives free” through His sacrificial death, His Resurrection, His present reign at the right-hand throne of God, and ‘His resting men and women’ who, yes, let Christ in them BE their hope of eternal glory!

Dare I say it? Believe I will! “Lost eternal hope is the fainting, falling, faithless life that “play-acts” life’s purpose as he, she refuses to answer Christ’s “knock” at their heart’s door!”

Are you aware that there are, sadly, multitudes world-wide who, yes, choose to live in a darkened, gray, indeterminate world of spiritual unbelief, no mindful consideration of revealed truth, no “fix” on eternal spiritual Truth, and, for them, absolutely no consideration of anything the Holy Spirit, God the Father, or Christ Jesus has to say, and certainly, for many, no consideration of anything Christians or churches have to say?!?

“Christ in you the hope of glory”? Yet multitudes live their lives independent of Holy God and His “Holy Hope”, living lives in “false hopes”, not lives established on the eternal Truths spoken by God! Multitudes ignore God’s holy knock on their hearts’ doors, certain in themselves but uncertain about heavenly help! Are YOU living your life on uncertain foundations? Consider several uncertainties!

One, consider the uncertainty of one’s trust in his/her conception of true beauty! Psalm 39:11 says, “When you with rebukes correct a man for iniquity, you make his beauty to consume away like a moth; surely every man (without God in Christ as his/her Savior and Lord) IS VANITY!”

Two, consider the shallowness of fleshly trust in men! Psalm 146:3 clearly says, “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help,” but put your trust only in God’s promises! How clear to you is 2 Corinthians 1:20? “All the promises of God in Christ Jesus are ‘yes’, and in Him “AMEN”, unto the glory of God.”

Three, consider the ‘fleshly pride’ in one’s self-allegiance that has no room for “trust in the finished work of Christ alone at Calvary”! In 2 Corinthians 1:9 Paul the Apostle said, “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.” Men who are ‘fleshly alive’ and ‘preeminently alive’ in themselves exchange a false identity God never desired for them to be deceived in, and even for the ‘fool’, he says, “There is no God”, when forever and ever the Resurrected Lord and Savior reigns and keeps on reigning to the Father’s glory, honor, and praise!

Four, examine the reality of the troubling tombs of godless lives, yes, men/women, boys and girls, with “darkened hearts, warped wits, and worldly wills”, because there is eternal difference between ‘fleshly darkness’ and Christ Jesus God’s “Eternal Spiritual Light”!

Fifth, in 1 Thessalonians 2, Verses 4-13 we learn about our “calling” by Christ into His eternal Kingdom! Paul wrote: “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which tries our hearts. Foe neither at any time used we flattering words, as you know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, whom we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.

For you remember, brethren, our labor and travail; for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father does his children, That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you unto His kingdom and His glory. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe.”

Dare I say it? Simply mental belief apart from full surrender to the Lordship of Christ with His “gift” of resurrection presence, eternal forgiveness, and new life, new purpose, new power, and new privilege, IS ‘head knowledge’ absent of a “new heart”! And that end result? Religious activities with open doors to Satan’s realm of deception rather than “kingdom allegiance” under the Banner of the Resurrected, Reigning, Royal King of kings and Lord of lords!

But because of grace that leads one to faith, as Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:13-15, we “gird up the loins of our minds, being sober (eternally seriously minded!!), and hoping to the end for the grace that is to be brought to us as Christ is revealed in us, As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in our ignorance; But as He which called us IS HOLY, so you be holy in all manner of conversation or your walk through the journey of your earthly pilgrimage with Christ as your Lord, your Savior, and your guardian presence with Christ in you!!

Do YOU truly have the spiritual understanding of reconciliation to Holy God in and through the blood sacrifice of Christ and His victorious resurrection, now continuing to reign at the right hand Throne of Holy God, yet telling us He also makes the redeemed heart His place of earthly residence? Do you daily take the sentence of death to your old man in order for the Resurrected, Reigning Christ to be Himself in you and through you?

Hear me! Living without “Christ in you” as Savior and Lord is to be a life residing in abiding, hellish darkness, not freed into the “Light” of Resurrection Presence!

I truly love what John Wesley wrote in his writing entitled “Christian Perfection”! Wesley said, “The holiest of men still need Christ as their Prophet, as “the light of the world.” For He does not give them light but from moment to moment; the instant He withdraws, all is darkness. They still need Christ as their King, for God does not give them a stock of holiness. But unless they receive a supply every moment, nothing but unholiness would remain. They still need Christ as their Priest, to make atonement for their holy things. Even perfect holiness is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ.”

Much of modern-day ‘Christianity’ is based upon misdirected curiosity but with limited inquiry totally short of, yes, the divine revelation! Reject the mystery of Christ’s existence, or look upon Him as only a historic person and riddle of a past life short-lived for only about 33 years, and the mixed mess of examining Christ Jesus sadly surfaces for some as only an “inexplicable riddle”!

SO…what does one do with John 3:16? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes (or Trusts) in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Blaise Pascal once said, “Jesus Christ is God to whom we can approach without pride, and before whom we may abase ourselves without despair.” Why? How? Because we understand through the revelation of God’s Holy Word that “all sinners were crucified with Christ on His Cross, buried with Him in His grave, but raised with Him through God’s power, released in us by, yes, our God-given faith and heart-led repentance, new-born, then filled with the Holy Spirit, and commissioned as His royal ambassadors! YES! We willfully crown Him in our hearts as “Lord of all”, you and me included because He called us, convicted us, converted us, anointed us, and declared us as His chosen, adoptive children in the Holy Family of God!!

Is it any wonder to you that “in Christ”, through the gifts of repentance and faith, that guided by the Holy Spirit you live royally blessed with the whole treasury that flows out of God’s heart, through His throne, through His Son, and, yes, through His born-again, new-birthed sons and daughters as the richness of His grace abounds, His graciousness embraces the true child of faith, and continues from one’s spiritual birth, to enrich their lives of faith with Heaven’s treasures??

Hear me! The Christian faith is not an intellectual theory or a self-centered speculation – it IS Christ’s Resurrection Presence living in the repentant heart and life resting in His promises! I grew up from early childhood of my home church in Cleveland, Tennessee, singing from the very old “American Hymnal” the hymn by R. Kelso Carter entitled “Standing On the Promises”, but you do know that far too many ‘professing Christians’ just “Sit On The Premises”, mindless of Christ’s intent of a repentant heart and faith-captured life becoming the Temple of His Holy Presence, yes, Christ in you, through you, as you daily take the sentence of death to yourself so that He might reign through you, extending His life, expressing His love, and proving His power! The Hymn?

“Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Thro’ eternal ages let His praises ring; Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord, Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall, Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call, Resting in my Savior, as my all in all, standing on the promises of God.”

ARE YOU STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD? The “Promises” are Merciful God’s “Creative Providence” in action, in you, for all around you to discover the Christ in you which can be their hope of eternal life, eternal rest, and eternal “Victory In Jesus”!! AMEN?

Once an outcast – but in Christ NOW a son or daughter in His redeemed, blood-bought family! Once living in darkness – but NOW living in the “Light” of His abiding Presence!

Once separated from God – but Christ’s coming, Christ’s Cross, Christ’s empty tomb, Christ’s “faithful knocking” at the hearts doors of all redeemed sons and daughters, Christ’s abiding presence and His constant, personal persuasion, blessedly favors us not to rest in “best effort, human trying” but trusting His Word: “I’ll never leave you nor forsake you”!!

In the old “American Hymnal” published in 1933 by the editor, Robert H. Colman, written by Fanny J. Crosby and W.H. Doane, is the hymn “Safe In The Arms of Jesus.” It says: “Safe in the arms of Jesus, There by His love overshadowed, Sweetly my soul shall rest. Hark! It’s the voice of angels, Borne in a song to me, Over the fields of glory, Over the jasper sea…Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast, There by His love overshadowed, Sweetly my soul shall rest.” Amen? Are YOU “Safe In The Arms of Jesus”? Proverbs 29:25 states, “The fear of man brings a snare; but whoso puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe,” followed by Verse 26 which says, “Many seek the ruler’s favor; but every man’s judgment comes from the Lord.”

By J.Farrell Fisher, December 11-13, 2016

It’s not an uncommon experience for a person to come under divine conviction, but the circumstances can or will vary for every individual. In the experience of Isaiah who became a prophet of God, during the time period when King Uzziah died, Isaiah said in Isaiah 6:1, “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple”, and the Holy Presence shook him to his core!

Isaiah said, in Isaiah 6:5, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Though he was ‘in the Temple’ regularly, only when Holy God unveiled Himself to Isaiah was he strongly and deeply aware of his need of blood redemption and true reconciliation to Holy God.

Isaiah 6:6 says, “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” The Random House College Dictionary of 1975 defines a seraphim as “one of the celestial beings hovering above God’s throne…a member of the highest order of angels.”

In God’s office and ministry of Sovereign over men or nations, He’s not removed from His awareness of men and their need of reconciliation, and can or will do as He pleases to bring about awareness of one’s need for true repentance and the way of mind and heart-change in one’s life! In Isaiah’s circumstance, as it must be for any reconciled to God, he/she, in divine presence are brought to a full awareness of his/her uncleanness before God with clear understanding of the need of sin-purging, heart-washing, and the birthing of understanding of availability of one’s self to God in whatever ministry or calling or heavenly role HE ASSIGNS TO US!

In Isaiah 6: 8 Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” “Us”? The Holy Trinity! Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! And in the midst of a needy world, “THEY” settle on assignments of all true servants of God, from the greatest to the least!

Oh, but then notice in Isaiah 6: 8, Isaiah responded in a truly yielded response, “Here am I! Send me.” How clear does Paul make it for us several thousand years later when in Romans 6:15-18 he, by the Spirit, unveiled the powerful path of holy obedience! “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you WERE slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. AND HAVING BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN, YOU BECAME SLAVES (OR SERVANTS) OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Yet, in modern-day American churches, some call obedience ‘salvation by works’, so they ‘rest’ in their compromise, disobedience, and are perfectly satisfied to live their ‘faith experience’ fruitless, self-filled, demon-controlled, but feel “blessed by my religious identity” rather than their “Birth-Marks by the Holy Spirit”!

Don’t you find it so interesting and liberating to hear Jesus in Luke 4:18-19 quoting from Isaiah 61:1? “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

YOU WERE A SERVANT OF SIN! YOU WERE ENSLAVED TO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS! YOU WERE, APART FROM “BLOOD REDEMPTION”, A ‘SINATRA” FAN: “I DID IT MY WAY,” never understanding walking with Christ on the Highway of Holiness! Dare I ask you if you’ve truly been liberated, set free from the bondage of your old sin-nature, chains broken from demonic allegiance, yet possibly playing an Academy Award – WINNER of ‘Pretense’ rather than “Complete in Christ,” “Perfected by Grace,” and a testimony of “Spirit-anointing”, walking in His control, His fruit, and His power or anointing?

Do you remember Paul sharing his testimony, recounting his conversion experience, with King Agrippa in Acts 26? Beginning in Verse 13-20 we read: “..at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” GLORY!! WHAT AN ENLIGHTENING PASSAGE OF THE WORD!

I’m sure you remember, in Matthew 18:1-5, As the disciples came to Jesus, they asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” Is ‘humbling one’s self before Holy God and King Jesus and the Spirit of God’ the true and only door to Holy Presence and a Holy Life or have you ‘self-determined how able you are in yourself to please Him’? Willful, self-wits does not line up with “put on the new man”!

It was Oswald Chambers who wrote in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” (p.270), “We deify independence and willfulness and call them by the wrong name. What God looks on as obstinate weakness, we call strength.” Does that ring true with you in, maybe only at times, a view of “I’m able! I can be like Jesus!”? No! He crucified you and me with Himself to end one’s conviction that our lives in Him consists of the ‘abundance of spiritual strengths we possess in ourselves’! In Romans 13:14 Paul wrote: “But PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts,” and spiritual pride apart from Christ is one of the suffocating ‘lifestyles’ of ‘self-made, professing disciples’!

But, did Jesus say, in Matthew 18:3, “Assuredly, I SAY TO YOU, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven”? Oh, and then what was it Paul said in Galatians 4:19? “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you”! And, ‘kids in the faith’ begin to truly mature and grow as they ‘lean not to their own understanding’, but learn to give Him His rightful place as they receive, recognize, and rest in “Christ in me the hope of glory”!

There’s a big “if” in 1 John 1:7 where the beloved John wrote: “But IF we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” And, please tell me: How does a true ‘child of the King’ ever come to the place where he/she excuses their life of willful sin when the Lord Jesus took the sin and sin-nature to the Cross and shed His own blood that we might be free from its domination, degrading, and darkening impact of temptation and willful surrender to ‘it’ rather than to the eternal freedom of His Lordship?

Come with me now to Luke 2:25-35 which is the eternal track of faith I want our train of faith running on! It says: And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Dare I tell you that “the sword of the Lord” is double-edged? For unbelievers “the sword of the Lord” is the painful penalty of separation from God, the severing of an eternal relationship with Him because of unbelief, AND the ‘piercing of eternal death that never dies’, while on the other hand ‘the piercing’ is DIVINE CONVICTION that breaks the hardened heart and reveals the need of reconciliation to Holy God through the blood sacrifice of Christ at Calvary’s Cross!

In 1 John 1:5-7 John declared: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. BUT if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

When YOU professed Christ as Lord and Savior and Master and Lord over your “new-born” life, was there, in you, the understanding and the willful acceptance of your ‘death to sin’ and your ‘faith in the gracious gift of the impartation of His Resurrection Presence’, His total and complete perfection, and His unrivaled power to cleanse you from all sin and the sin-nature? Do you know that 1 John 4:17 declares, “…because as He is, so are we in this world”? You’re the ‘temple or tabernacle’ – Christ Jesus fills you with His Holy Presence!

How clear did the Lord Jesus make it for Nicodemus, a former Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews? In John 3: 3-6 Jesus told Nicodemus and Us, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (the water of the Word of God) and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Apart from the “new birth” there is no eternal testimony of the “new-born-life- in- Christ”!

In Matthew 10: 32-33 Jesus said: “Therefore whoever confesses (and keeps on confessing) Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Denying Christ before men can be “professing, church-attending pretenders” who know nothing about “being born again,” transformed, or regenerated by the Spirit of God into a “new creation”, and in Luke 12:56 Jesus described or spoke about some who are “hypocrites” or pretenders, religious ‘play-actors’!

God help us as modern-day disciples of Christ that we preach, teach, witness to, explain, and proclaim the “saving Grace and mercy” of a “new-born life” in and through the Holy Spirit! Jesus explained to the woman of Samaria in John 4:23-24, “But the hour is coming, AND NOW IS, when the TRUE WORSHIPPERS will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

You’ll remember that Christ’s encounter with the woman we just read about in John 4:23-24 came about after Jesus came to her, in Verse 7, saying, “Give Me a drink.” In Verse 9 she said to Jesus, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

What an awesome declaration of the difference between ‘water’ and ‘living water’, yet many drink from wells of water dispensing selfish satisfactions but have nothing to do with the “living water of the Word” that births new lives, new hearts, new intents to honor Holy God alone!

This may be why the Hebrews author was inspired to write in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently see Him.”

There’s an informative, inspiring, enlightening, liberating word in Jeremiah 29:11-13 for not only the captive Jews but for every sin-bound man or woman across the world today! It says: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. THEN you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will search for Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

In Philippians 3:7-11 we find, not the piercing sword of fleshly awareness and attainment in “our best spiritual endeavor”, but the piercing sword of divine fulfillment as we allow His Word to birth us into “new lives”, signed by God alone! It says: “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also have counted all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which IS THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, BEING CONFORMED TO HIS DEATH, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Oh, but then Peter truly challenges us who ARE “followers of Christ Jesus,” His sons and daughters of redemptive faith, the appointed, anointed, and assigned disciples who are to touch our world with His saving grace, not to become lax, or possess any spiritual sluggishness or indifference to His calling and assignment of our lives, when in 2 Peter 1:2-15 he wrote: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power HAS GIVEN TO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

But also FOR THIS VERY REASON, [Because “in Christ” we’re so blessed AND partakers of the divine nature!], giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren, nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is short-sided, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be EVEN MORE DILIGENT to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior.

For this reason I WILL NOT BE NEGLIGENT TO REMIND YOU always of these things, though you KNOW AND ARE ESTABLISHED IN THE PRESENT TRUTH. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this (earthly) tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.”

I turned 80 years of age this past June 12, 2016. My grandfather Fisher died at 78 years of age. My father, Jim Fisher, died at 78 years of age. I see, without hesitation, that I am highly blessed of our Lord and Savior, and thankful for my loving wife, Sue, three sons and a daughter, nine grandkids, and great-grand kids that grow in numbers every year!

And then, in 2 Peter 1:16b- 19, an awesome word of assurance, trustworthiness in the revealed Word of God and Christ’s many promises as Peter wrote: we “were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He (Jesus) received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. AND so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;…”

What has Christ Jesus “confirmed” in YOU? Have YOU heard His voice, seen His ‘star’ of hope and heavenly blessing, and do you live with His “Blessed Assurance”?!?

To the Philippian congregation and the masses in this century who walk faithfully with Christ, Paul said, in Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Is Holy God at work in you, transforming the old man into the “new creation” of the Resurrection Life of Christ in your mortal flesh? Does “the piercing sword of eternal Truth” remind you that it was YOUR SIN AND SIN NATURE that brought about the crucifixion of Christ? Again, what did Paul remind us of in Galatians 2:20-21a? “I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (bodily presence) I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God…”! John Newton and B.B.McKinney wrote the hymn, “He Died For Me.” It says:

“I saw One hanging on a tree, In agony and blood; He fixed His languid eyes on me, As near His cross I stood.

Sure, never, till my latest breath, Can I forget that look: It seemed to charge me with His death, Tho’ not a word He spoke.

My conscience felt and owned the guilt, And plunged me in despair; I saw my sins His blood had spilt, And helped to nail Him there.

A second look He gave, which said, “I freely all forgive; This blood is for your ransom paid, I die that you may live.”

It was for me, upon a tree He died in agony, And now I give my life to live, For Him who died for me.” Has the Cross of Christ pierced through your heart and mind to wash you “clean and pure” with His blood?

By J.Farrell Fisher, December 11-13, 2016

It’s not an uncommon experience for a person to come under divine conviction, but the circumstances can or will vary for every individual. In the experience of Isaiah who became a prophet of God, during the time period when King Uzziah died, Isaiah said in Isaiah 6:1, “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple”, and the Holy Presence shook him to his core!

Isaiah said, in Isaiah 6:5, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Though he was ‘in the Temple’ regularly, only when Holy God unveiled Himself to Isaiah was he strongly and deeply aware of his need of blood redemption and true reconciliation to Holy God.

Isaiah 6:6 says, “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” The Random House College Dictionary of 1975 defines a seraphim as “one of the celestial beings hovering above God’s throne…a member of the highest order of angels.”

In God’s office and ministry of Sovereign over men or nations, He’s not removed from His awareness of men and their need of reconciliation, and can or will do as He pleases to bring about awareness of one’s need for true repentance and the way of mind and heart-change in one’s life! In Isaiah’s circumstance, as it must be for any reconciled to God, he/she, in divine presence are brought to a full awareness of his/her uncleanness before God with clear understanding of the need of sin-purging, heart-washing, and the birthing of understanding of availability of one’s self to God in whatever ministry or calling or heavenly role HE ASSIGNS TO US!

In Isaiah 6: 8 Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” “Us”? The Holy Trinity! Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! And in the midst of a needy world, “THEY” settle on assignments of all true servants of God, from the greatest to the least!

Oh, but then notice in Isaiah 6: 8, Isaiah responded in a truly yielded response, “Here am I! Send me.” How clear does Paul make it for us several thousand years later when in Romans 6:15-18 he, by the Spirit, unveiled the powerful path of holy obedience! “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you WERE slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. AND HAVING BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN, YOU BECAME SLAVES (OR SERVANTS) OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Yet, in modern-day American churches, some call obedience ‘salvation by works’, so they ‘rest’ in their compromise, disobedience, and are perfectly satisfied to live their ‘faith experience’ fruitless, self-filled, demon-controlled, but feel “blessed by my religious identity” rather than their “Birth-Marks by the Holy Spirit”!

Don’t you find it so interesting and liberating to hear Jesus in Luke 4:18-19 quoting from Isaiah 61:1? “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

YOU WERE A SERVANT OF SIN! YOU WERE ENSLAVED TO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS! YOU WERE, APART FROM “BLOOD REDEMPTION”, A ‘SINATRA” FAN: “I DID IT MY WAY,” never understanding walking with Christ on the Highway of Holiness! Dare I ask you if you’ve truly been liberated, set free from the bondage of your old sin-nature, chains broken from demonic allegiance, yet possibly playing an Academy Award – WINNER of ‘Pretense’ rather than “Complete in Christ,” “Perfected by Grace,” and a testimony of “Spirit-anointing”, walking in His control, His fruit, and His power or anointing?

Do you remember Paul sharing his testimony, recounting his conversion experience, with King Agrippa in Acts 26? Beginning in Verse 13-20 we read: “..at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” GLORY!! WHAT AN ENLIGHTENING PASSAGE OF THE WORD!

I’m sure you remember, in Matthew 18:1-5, As the disciples came to Jesus, they asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” Is ‘humbling one’s self before Holy God and King Jesus and the Spirit of God’ the true and only door to Holy Presence and a Holy Life or have you ‘self-determined how able you are in yourself to please Him’? Willful, self-wits does not line up with “put on the new man”!

It was Oswald Chambers who wrote in his book, “My Utmost For His Highest,” (p.270), “We deify independence and willfulness and call them by the wrong name. What God looks on as obstinate weakness, we call strength.” Does that ring true with you in, maybe only at times, a view of “I’m able! I can be like Jesus!”? No! He crucified you and me with Himself to end one’s conviction that our lives in Him consists of the ‘abundance of spiritual strengths we possess in ourselves’! In Romans 13:14 Paul wrote: “But PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts,” and spiritual pride apart from Christ is one of the suffocating ‘lifestyles’ of ‘self-made, professing disciples’!

But, did Jesus say, in Matthew 18:3, “Assuredly, I SAY TO YOU, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven”? Oh, and then what was it Paul said in Galatians 4:19? “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you”! And, ‘kids in the faith’ begin to truly mature and grow as they ‘lean not to their own understanding’, but learn to give Him His rightful place as they receive, recognize, and rest in “Christ in me the hope of glory”!

There’s a big “if” in 1 John 1:7 where the beloved John wrote: “But IF we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” And, please tell me: How does a true ‘child of the King’ ever come to the place where he/she excuses their life of willful sin when the Lord Jesus took the sin and sin-nature to the Cross and shed His own blood that we might be free from its domination, degrading, and darkening impact of temptation and willful surrender to ‘it’ rather than to the eternal freedom of His Lordship?

Come with me now to Luke 2:25-35 which is the eternal track of faith I want our train of faith running on! It says: And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Dare I tell you that “the sword of the Lord” is double-edged? For unbelievers “the sword of the Lord” is the painful penalty of separation from God, the severing of an eternal relationship with Him because of unbelief, AND the ‘piercing of eternal death that never dies’, while on the other hand ‘the piercing’ is DIVINE CONVICTION that breaks the hardened heart and reveals the need of reconciliation to Holy God through the blood sacrifice of Christ at Calvary’s Cross!

In 1 John 1:5-7 John declared: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. BUT if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

When YOU professed Christ as Lord and Savior and Master and Lord over your “new-born” life, was there, in you, the understanding and the willful acceptance of your ‘death to sin’ and your ‘faith in the gracious gift of the impartation of His Resurrection Presence’, His total and complete perfection, and His unrivaled power to cleanse you from all sin and the sin-nature? Do you know that 1 John 4:17 declares, “…because as He is, so are we in this world”? You’re the ‘temple or tabernacle’ – Christ Jesus fills you with His Holy Presence!

How clear did the Lord Jesus make it for Nicodemus, a former Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews? In John 3: 3-6 Jesus told Nicodemus and Us, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (the water of the Word of God) and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Apart from the “new birth” there is no eternal testimony of the “new-born-life- in- Christ”!

In Matthew 10: 32-33 Jesus said: “Therefore whoever confesses (and keeps on confessing) Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Denying Christ before men can be “professing, church-attending pretenders” who know nothing about “being born again,” transformed, or regenerated by the Spirit of God into a “new creation”, and in Luke 12:56 Jesus described or spoke about some who are “hypocrites” or pretenders, religious ‘play-actors’!

God help us as modern-day disciples of Christ that we preach, teach, witness to, explain, and proclaim the “saving Grace and mercy” of a “new-born life” in and through the Holy Spirit! Jesus explained to the woman of Samaria in John 4:23-24, “But the hour is coming, AND NOW IS, when the TRUE WORSHIPPERS will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

You’ll remember that Christ’s encounter with the woman we just read about in John 4:23-24 came about after Jesus came to her, in Verse 7, saying, “Give Me a drink.” In Verse 9 she said to Jesus, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

What an awesome declaration of the difference between ‘water’ and ‘living water’, yet many drink from wells of water dispensing selfish satisfactions but have nothing to do with the “living water of the Word” that births new lives, new hearts, new intents to honor Holy God alone!

This may be why the Hebrews author was inspired to write in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently see Him.”

There’s an informative, inspiring, enlightening, liberating word in Jeremiah 29:11-13 for not only the captive Jews but for every sin-bound man or woman across the world today! It says: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. THEN you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will search for Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

In Philippians 3:7-11 we find, not the piercing sword of fleshly awareness and attainment in “our best spiritual endeavor”, but the piercing sword of divine fulfillment as we allow His Word to birth us into “new lives”, signed by God alone! It says: “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also have counted all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which IS THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, BEING CONFORMED TO HIS DEATH, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Oh, but then Peter truly challenges us who ARE “followers of Christ Jesus,” His sons and daughters of redemptive faith, the appointed, anointed, and assigned disciples who are to touch our world with His saving grace, not to become lax, or possess any spiritual sluggishness or indifference to His calling and assignment of our lives, when in 2 Peter 1:2-15 he wrote: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power HAS GIVEN TO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

But also FOR THIS VERY REASON, [Because “in Christ” we’re so blessed AND partakers of the divine nature!], giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren, nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is short-sided, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be EVEN MORE DILIGENT to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior.

For this reason I WILL NOT BE NEGLIGENT TO REMIND YOU always of these things, though you KNOW AND ARE ESTABLISHED IN THE PRESENT TRUTH. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this (earthly) tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.”

I turned 80 years of age this past June 12, 2016. My grandfather Fisher died at 78 years of age. My father, Jim Fisher, died at 78 years of age. I see, without hesitation, that I am highly blessed of our Lord and Savior, and thankful for my loving wife, Sue, three sons and a daughter, nine grandkids, and great-grand kids that grow in numbers every year!

And then, in 2 Peter 1:16b- 19, an awesome word of assurance, trustworthiness in the revealed Word of God and Christ’s many promises as Peter wrote: we “were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He (Jesus) received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. AND so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;…”

What has Christ Jesus “confirmed” in YOU? Have YOU heard His voice, seen His ‘star’ of hope and heavenly blessing, and do you live with His “Blessed Assurance”?!?

To the Philippian congregation and the masses in this century who walk faithfully with Christ, Paul said, in Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Is Holy God at work in you, transforming the old man into the “new creation” of the Resurrection Life of Christ in your mortal flesh? Does “the piercing sword of eternal Truth” remind you that it was YOUR SIN AND SIN NATURE that brought about the crucifixion of Christ? Again, what did Paul remind us of in Galatians 2:20-21a? “I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (bodily presence) I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God…”! John Newton and B.B.McKinney wrote the hymn, “He Died For Me.” It says:

“I saw One hanging on a tree, In agony and blood; He fixed His languid eyes on me, As near His cross I stood.

Sure, never, till my latest breath, Can I forget that look: It seemed to charge me with His death, Tho’ not a word He spoke.

My conscience felt and owned the guilt, And plunged me in despair; I saw my sins His blood had spilt, And helped to nail Him there.

A second look He gave, which said, “I freely all forgive; This blood is for your ransom paid, I die that you may live.”

It was for me, upon a tree He died in agony, And now I give my life to live, For Him who died for me.” Has the Cross of Christ pierced through your heart and mind to wash you “clean and pure” with His blood?