8/7/2016   Unity

UNITY

Begins at Home

When we think about unity, we think about 'oneness', like mindedness coming together for a single goal.

The word 'unity' pops up twice in the bible, once in Psalms 133 and the other in Ephesians 4.  The Hebrew word is yachad (3162) which carries the connotation of together, likewise, all at once, unity.  The Greek word is  henotes (1775) with the meanings of oneness, unanimity (looked up this word and Webster's says unanimous), unity.

Webster defines unity as oneness, not divided, harmony, totality of related parts and solidarity, among some other similar meanings.

So we might say that unity is multiple single parts coming together for a single purpose or to function as a single unit.

When we talk about unity we have to start with God.

            Genesis 1:1              In the beginning God … (v1)

  Genesis 1:2              … and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (v2)

  John 1:1-3            In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (v1).  The same was in the beginning with God (v2).  All things were made by Him and there was nothing made that was made without Him (v3).

  Col. 2:9                For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily.

God is the ultimate of unity so we have to start with Him.  After all, I mean what was before God?  The first four words of the bible are "In the beginning God", a single unit.  Not Tom and Dick and Harry, but but God, one being.  A second part of God is introduced in verse 2 as the Spirit of God moved upon the waters.  In John chapter 1 we see "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was 'with' God and the Word 'was' God",  as a third part of God but Colossians 2:9 brings absolute unity to God in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

As we read the scriptures, we see the Greek word for 'spirit' is pneuma (Strong's 4151) or breath and indicates the spirit of God or the living spirit of man.  In the Old Testament the word used when indicating God's Spirit is ruwach (Strong's 7307) indicating a blast of air, breath.  

So we see that God (The Being) spoke Words (Jesus the Son) and the breath of God (The Holy Ghost) carried those words into action.  

One being but three components, being, force and physical form.

I'm using John 15:1-10 as the Key Scripture for unity.

Jesus explains, in part, how He and the Father are one, in John 15 and then draws the implication that we should be one with the Son as the Son is with the Father.  UNITY!

Our title says that unity begins at home.  If we are to attain unity with our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, we must first desire, seek and find unity with our heavenly Father through His Son Jesus Christ because the Holy Ghost is guiding and directing us to do so.

The first four sections give us indication of what we need to understand and do so we can attain a "Closer Walk With God", or that is to come into unity with our creator.

Unity begins at home, that is with the individual (John 15:1-6)

Jesus says that He is the true vine and the Father is the husbandman. 

… He purges the branches that bear fruit so they might bear even more.

            We are clean through the Word Jesus give us

Abide in Me as I abide in you for the branches cannot bear fruit unless they abide in the vine

… you can do nothing without Me

If a man doesn’t abide in Me he is cast out and burned

We need to realize that we truly can do nothing without Him (He is our strength) and yet we can do all things through Him (ask and you shall receive [Matt. 7:7] and I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me [Phil. 4:13]).  Grabbing hold to this concept is the beginning of understanding our unity with God.

We need to do the will of the Father (Matt. 7:21-25)

Not everyone who says to Me “Lord, Lord” shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of My Father which is in heaven.

And many will say “In Your name haven’t we prophesied in your name, cast out devils and did many wonderful works?”

But I will profess to them “I never knew you.  Depart from Me, you who work iniquity.”

I will liken the man who hears My saying to a man who builds his house upon a rock … and the house will stand against adversity because it is built upon a (the) Rock.

James 2:17-20 tells us that faith without works is dead, but as we see in Matthew seven, works without faith is also dead (useless). We need to be sincere about what we're doing because many will say they do things in Jesus' name, but like with the scribes and Pharisees, they never really took the time to get to know Him (Jesus) so all that they do is go through the motions  We need to desire to please God and pleasing God means doing the works of His kingdom.  Unity with God produces kingdom existence.

We have to solidify our walk with Christ Jesus in order to have unity with anyone else (John 15:7-13)

            If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, ask what you will and it shall be done

            My Father is glorified when you bear much fruit and so shall you be My disciples

            As the Father has love Me, I have loved you.  Continue in My love.

If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love even as I have kept the Father’s commandments and abided in His love.

I have told you these things so that My joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full

My commandment is that you love one another as I have loved you

There is no greater love that a man can express, that that he lay his life down for his friends.

Jesus defines what it takes to be His disciple and how that equates to unity with Him. (be bold, read all of chapter 15 and don't just 'skim' it.  Read it!)  Once we have come to unity i Jesus, the door is open to come into unity with those around us.

We strive to become a friend of Jesus (John 15:14-18)
             You are My friends when you do what I command you
             I don't call you servants, a servant doesn't know what his Lord does
             but I call you friends 
             because I've shown you everything that I've heard from My Father 

We tell our 'best friend' everything that goes on in our life. We hold little, if anything back.
But, those who are just casual acquaintances we share only what we want them to know and at that only 'surface' information. We don't 'bare' our souls to them as we would our best friend. When we become best friends with Jesus, we develop a unity, a bond, that cannot be broken. This all becomes a two way street. We keep his commandment (to love) and indeed we learn to love Him. As we learn to love Him, we desire to keep His commandment. That my brothers and sisters is UNITY.

Now we need to learn how to translate all this to those around us remembering that as we do to those in the body we do to who?  Jesus!  (Matt. 25:32-40 - because you've done it to the least ... ykou've done it to Me)

We band together with those who are like-minded for there is no fellowship between light and darkness (2 Corinth. 6:14-18)

How do we develop unity with others?

            Hebrews 10:25            Don’t forsake the assembling of ourselves together

                                                  If we don't come together (gather) how can we develop unity when no                                                   one else is around us?

John 15:14-27              You are My friends so I share all that I have with you … (v14,15)  … love one another (v17) … remember what I’ve told you, you are not greater than I … (v20) … I will send the Comforter (HG) … (v26) and you shall also bear witness because you have been with Me from the beginning (v27).

How can we develop unity if we have no friends?  We develop friendships as we share ourselves with others and the Holy Ghost will help us to do that.

Romans 14:17-19        Kingdom of God … righteousness, joy & peace in HG (v17).  Doing so is acceptable to God and approved of men (v18).  Follow things that make peace so we can edify one another (v19).
                                    As we follow the lifestyle Father intends for us and become peacemakers (Blessed are the peacemakers Matt. 5:9) we attain favor with God and God will give us favor with man which will lead to having friends which will lead to unity.

1 Thess. 5:8-24           Be sober, put on breastplate of faith & love and as a helmet hope in salvation (v8).  Christ is our salvation, live together with Him (v9,10).  Comfort and edify one another (v11),

Be aware of those who work among and have charge over us v12),

 esteem them in love and be at peace among yourselves (v13),

 Correct those who need help, support the weak and be patient towards all (v14),

Do that which is good to each other and everyone (v15),

Rejoice evermore (v16)

Pray without ceasing (v17)

Give thanks in all things (v18)

Don’t quench the Spirit (v19)

Don’t despise prophesying (v20)

Prove all things, hanging on to that which is good (v21)

Abstain from the appearance of evil (v22)

May the God of peace sanctify us wholly, and keep our spirit, soul and body blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (v23)

He who calls you is faithful and He will do it (v24) 

Read this list and read again, and again until it starts to sink in then add Gal. 5:22-24 for the fruit of the Spirit plus verses 25 & 26.  The list here is allowing the Holy Ghost to operate in us and through us and is an expression of the fruit of the Spirit being alive and well within us.  When these elements operate in our lives, and those with whom we associate with, we develop unity because we find that we are likeminded. 

Rev. 12:10-11     
And I hear aloud voice from heaven proclaim ‘Now has strength, Salvation,the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ is come for the one who accused of brothers day and night before God is cast down (v10)

And they (believers) overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony and that they didn’t love their lives, even unto death (v11)

The enemy spends his time accusing us but we have overcome all things of the enemy through the blood of Jesus Christ so we are able to apply all those things written in this list. Do some research for there is more in scripture which reveals how we should live which solidifies unity with our Lord and our brothers and sisters.

But we first have to come into unity with the Father through the Son then the Holy Ghost helps us develop unity in the body (especially of Christ).

Father wants us to walk in unity with Him and our brothers and sisters in Chris Jesus so we can be "ONE" with them as Father and Son already are one.

And one means unity.

In Jesus name, amen (let it be so)

7-23-2016   Due Season for living in God's love

                           

                    The Season is Flowing                                       To Walk With Jesus       

This past Sunday Father gave me the following lesson to bring to our church's bible study

DUE SEASON

FOR LIVING GOD’S LOVE

And to come into a true love relationship with our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord we need to:           

Mark 12:29-30      Hear oh, Israel, the first of all the commandments is this ‘the Lord our God is one Lord.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, this is the first commandment.’

Mark 12:31      the second is like this ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself’.  No other commandment is greater than these.

The rest are an explanation!

1                      Truly loving God

Five things must be true for us to truly express our love for God:

We must believe that He is (Heb. 11:6 – Without faith it is impossible to please (God) for he who comes to God must believe that He is and He rewards those who diligently seek Him)

If we don't believe God exists, "is", the rest will never happen.

We must give our hearts to Him (Romans 10:9-10 – If you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  With the heart man believes unto righteousness and confession unto salvation is made with the mouth.)

If we haven't given our hearts to Him, whom are we loving?  And giving Him our hearts means the next three points:

We must seek Him (Matt. 6:33 – Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you & Matt. 7:7 – Ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find knock and it shall be opened to you)

First and foremost we need to understand what the kingdom of God is and how His righteousness operates.  When we search, He'll show us.
Here I shared my high school girlfriend.  I was shy back in HS and this girl had taken a liking to me.  She worked in the school office so she had access to records and she searched out all that she could find out about me.  Then she approached me and asked if I would take  her to a school dance.  Point is, she wanted to know as much about me as she could before she even approached me.  God is asking us to do the same, the difference is we can spend a lifetime learning who He is.  The bible is our primary source for in it we find out about God's nature - what He likes, dislikes, is willing to do and what He expects and so forth.  He already knows us.  He would like us to get to know Him.  The best way to get facts about God is to study Him as my girlfriend did me.  We study the bible to show ourselves approved (2 Tim. 2:15) in that we come to know our Lord.

We must communicate with Him (Ephesians 6:18 – Praying always with all prayer (earnestly, worshiping God) and supplication (request) in the Spirit and watching with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.) (1Thess. 5:17 – pray without ceasing)

    

Getting to know Him means we have to start communicating with Him.  When we meet someone new, how can we get to know that person unless we communicate with them?  

We communicate with God through prayer as well as reading our bible - and He communicates with us via the same.  He also will speak to us through other Christians,, but we still need o know something about the bible so we can discern when things line up with God's nature/Word.  We can talk with God anytime or anywhere, taking a walk, driving our car, grocery shopping, lying in bed, etc. but Father appreciates our personal 'quiet time" when we are alone with Him and no other distractions.  He always hears us, but distractions often make it difficult for us to hear Him.  Even when reading our bible. Let me put it this way.  In the evening, the kids are in bed (if you have any), maybe the fireplace is lit and you and you spouse are sitting on the couch (or loveseat), arms around each other and you're feeling a bit 'cozy', would you appreciate an interruption?   Mom!  Dad!  Or even "bing bong" at the door.  Father would like the same type of time with each of us as well.  Quiet time is precious to Him and we should look forward to individual time with Him as well.  It is our time to talk with Him, I talk, He talks, He talks, I talk.  It is a two way street.  That's communication!

We must Worship Him (John 4:23-24 – … the time is coming and is even now when true worshipper shall worship Him in spirit and in truth for Father seeks such to worship Him.  God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.)

(Psalms 150:1-6 – Praise God in the sanctuary, firmament of His power, , for His mighty acts, because His excellence is great.   Praise Him with: the trumpet, stringed instruments, the harp, tambourines, dance and organs and the cymbals.  Everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Praise and worship!  There is no better way for us to express our love for Father by praising and thanking Him for all that does and has done for us.  We should be open, honest and sincere.  Worship begins with praise and thanksgiving but should move into a spiritual union with Him that only materializes as we focus on Him.  It's kinda like 'he looks into her eyes, she looks into his, then the 'look' moves a little deeper as they focus on each other and then BLAM!  They've embraced in that all loving kiss'.  I don't know that we can kiss God in the Spirit, but I do know that we an experience Him, His presence, in a way that nothing else can match.  Worshipping HIm is moving into a state where I know that He is 'my' God and at that moment nothing else matters.  It's just Father and me - nothing else!  Read Psalms 150 carefully.  In everything we say and do, talking, singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, no matter what we do, we do unto the Lord - and He will inhabit what we do (Psalms 22:3)

2          The Vine

Jesus reveals to us the relationship He desires with us as He explains the "Vine" to His disciples.

The vine (John 15: 1 – 8 -Jesus is the true vine & we are His branches, we abide in Him for without Him we can do nothing, when we abide in Him we will bear fruit)

1)    I am the vine/Father is husbandman

4)    Abide in Me and I in you/cannot bear fruit unless you abide in Me

5)     Much fruit from abiding in Me/do nothing without Me

6)        Not abiding/cast out & burned

7)        Abide in Me/My words abide in you/ask & it shall be done

8)         Father glorified by fruit bearing/evidence of discipleship       

Abide in Him (John 15:9-10 – Father has loved Me and I love you, continue in My love.  When you keep My commandments, you abide in My love just as I have abided in Father’s love by abiding in His commandments)

9)          Father loved Me/I loved you/continue in My Love

10)      Keep My commandments/you abide in My love/I have kept Father’s love         and abide in Him.

11)      Said this so My joy remains in you/your joy might be full

We become His friends (John 15:14-15 – You are My friends when I do whatever I command you.  Therefore I don’t call you servants because a servant doesn’t know what his master does but I call you friends because I have shared everything that I’ve heard from My Father with you.

    

12)      My commandment “love each other as I have loved you

13)       No greater love than to give life for friends

14)       Obeying My command makes you My friends

15)       You are no longer servants/servant doesn’t know what his master    does/you are My friends/I’ve told you everything I’ve heard from Father

In case you missed it, Jesus wants us to be so one with HIm that people can't tell us apart.  We show our love towards God through showing our love for Him by keeping His commandments and what did Mark 12 tell us that those commandments were?  To love God and our neighbor.  As we love Jesus, we find that He returns that love by sharing everything He knows with us because we have become His 'friends'.  And, as we see, we are an extension of Jesus - He IS the vine and we ARE the branches living in and expressing His love to those around us so that all might be drawn to Him.

                        
3          Loving our neighbor

                And, of course, we continue to express our love for Jesus by sharing that love with those                     around us as He has demonstrated His love towards us.  We remember that when we love                     the least in the kingdom, we've loved Jesus (Matt. 25:40)

                Mark 12:31      the second is like this ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself’…

                Romans 15:2     Let each of us please his neighbor for his (neighbor’s) good to edify                                                (build up) him.

    Ephesians 6:18 - …   and watching with all perseverance and supplication for all                                                   the saints

We treat those around us as we would like to be treated because Jesus treats us with             respect and love and we do what Jesus did and those things which would edify those around us (1 Corinth. 14:26).  I know.  I know.  The passage only says 'church but when we treat all people with respect and do things for their good, we never know who will come into God's kingdom because of our kindness.  PTL

Father desires us to start living like we truly understand who He is and what our relationship should be.  This is the season to walk closer with God and start living for Him like we are serious about living for Him.  Father told me a long time ago that I can walk as close to Him as I dare.  As I age, I'm getting bolder and I find myself walking closer with HIm than I ever have before.  How close do you dare to walk with the Creator of all that is?
       

7/8/2016    DUE SEASON/Proper Alignment

                  

I call this 'Due Season/Proper Alignment because we are currently in a season where Father is maturing His children.  That is He is in the process of helping us walk closer with Him than ever before. Drawing (those of us who will) into a relationship like what He had with Adam and Eve when He walked with them in the garden (Gen. 3:8)

The Hebrew (OT) word used for due is 'choq' (choke) and the Greek (NT) word is 'ideos'.  both words carry the connotation of 'due, appointed, accustomed or set'.  'nuff said?

The Hebrew has four words used for season but 'mowed' and 'zeman' cover the other two and carry the meaning of season, year, time or appointed (time).

two words are used in the Greek 'kairos' and 'kronos' both which are similar as they designate season, fixed time, convenient or particular (time).

The passages where each word is used clarifies why which word was chosen by the writers.

I have the privilege of presenting this word at church on Sunday and what I am presenting here is the basic gist of what will be said at that time
.

 The key verse is  Ecclesiastes 3:1(-8)  "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven…"  Interesting that back in the '60's, the protest rock group the Byrds recorded a song based on this passage from the bible and it did well for them and I'll be using this recording with which to open the word on Sunday.

In talking about "Due Season/Proper Alignment" we need to keep six things in mind:

1                                  Who knows what God is going to do?   Romans 11:33-34    … For who has known the mind of the Lord?  Who has been His counsellor?... 

2                                  The Lord gives us understanding   2 Timothy 2:7     Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things.  And Acts 17:10-12 ... and they searched (the Bereans) the scriptures daily to see of those things were so.

3                                  The Holy Ghost reveals things to us.   1 Corinthians 2:9-10 …  But God has revealed them (all things) to us through His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God

4                                  Jesus doesn’t lie to us.   John 14:2    … If it were not so, I would have told you …

5                                  Jesus didn’t reveal everything before the resurrection.   John 16:12-15       I have things to tell you but you can’t bear them right now

                                    However when the Spirit of truth is come He will guide you into all truth …

                                    He shall glorify Me … He shall receive what I have and show it to you

Everything the Father has is mine and He shall take from what I have and show it to you.

6                                  Jesus did share more things before the ascension.   Acts 1:3 He showed             Himself alive with proof for forty days speaking about the kingdom of God.

                                    
And a seventh thing:  Ecclesiastes 3:1   To everything there is a season  

5 ½ years remain of a 7 year season which started 1/1/2015 according to many modern day prophets.

This is a time of growth and change for individuals and the church.

            A time set aside as we learn how to walk closer to our heavenly Father

            And for the church as that individual growth impacts the life of the body of Christ (the                         church).  I might add that I am experiencing personal growth in my own life like never before and that growth is accelerating. 

Now is the season when Father is preparing His children to be ready for the next season. 

Spiritual growth for His children

This is the time Father has set apart for all His children to draw closer to Him.  (John 17:20-21 – one with the Father thru Jesus)

            Not just ‘knowing’ who He is but

            Closer means to discover who God truly is,

What our relationship with Him should become and

not just 'learn' but then do it!  Because the Holy Ghost is alive and well within our hearts and we now live for Him. 

He is the one leading us down the pathways we need to go (Matt. 6:33 – seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness …)

(Matt. 7:14 – straight is the gate and narrow is the way to life …)

He is using new or various methods to accomplish this so individual approaches will be unique and inspiring (hopefully). (1 Corinth. 12:1-31 – we are all member of the body with different gifts and different talents).  Even though those talents may overlap, God has given each of us a unique of expressing that gift so no one is exactly alike.  We can expect new, different and exciting ways in which to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ, not just to the lost, but to re-establish the church (in His love and in His will) as well.

Father gave me a word on the Watchman 9/24,26 & 30, 2014.  Unfortunately the posts only go back to 1/15, but in that word from 9/24 the 24^th  represents the Priesthood.  We are a royal priesthood before God Almighty designated to bring God’s redemption to the world, at His timing through creative works.  We will experience a break with tradition and Father will provide new methods of reaching the ‘lost’.

This is a season for growth and change as Father brings His children into proper alignment.

That means ‘living in His love’ by keeping His commandments (John 14:15). 

Coming to grips with the fact that He (Jesus) is the vine and we are His branches (John 15:1-12).  We are an extension of Jesus and as He could do nothing without the Father, we an do nothing without Him.

This is the time which He has appointed, the DUE SEASON, for these things to be so. (Jer. 5:24 – former and latter rain appointed for harvest) (James 5:7 – husbandman waits patiently for early and latter rain).  Father is preparing for the harvest and we are a part of the latter rain (outpouring of the Holy Ghost).

The early or former rain prepares the ground for planting providing water for germination and growth.  The latter rain gives the fruit a greater fullness ripening it for harvest (This is where we are today-ripening, not ripened but ripening).  Father is preparing to 'harvest' us as products of this season so we can go out and plant and harvest for Him in the next.

Spiritual growth corresponds to our maturing to our fullest (potential) becoming ready to serve or ‘live for’ our Lord.

We are reading our bible thereby enriching our minds.  Studying to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15) and continually renewing our minds (Roman 12:2)

We are seeking a more potent and effective prayer life whereby we enhance our relationship with Father and our impact on man.  We build ourselves in faith, praying in the Holy Ghost (Jude 20) remembering that the effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16)

We become bolder to share what Father gives us so others may come to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  (Ephesians 6:19)

And in so doing we find ourselves coming into “proper alignment’ in a relationship which Father desires to have with us, as He walked in the garden with Adam & Eve in the cool of the evening (Gen. 3:8)

Father’s desire for us to realize who He really is, beyond a shadow of any doubt and what our relationship with Him should become.  (Jer. 24:7 – I will give them a heart to know Me, they shall be My People and I shall be their God and they shall come back to Me with their whole heart)

He desires children who love Him and do not doubt and believe that He is (Hebrews 11:6) and who obey His voice, we tell the Lord to speak for we are listening .   (1 Samuel 3:9-10)

This is the time appointed for preparation of what may be the most exciting time mankind has ever known.  ( to everything there is a season)

This is our DUE SEASON to come back into PROPER ALIGNMENT into His will so He can accomplish His will in and through our lives here on planet earth.

Will we conquer the world?  Not according to the book of Revelation

Can we impact that part of the world Father gives each one of us?  Most assuredly and that’s what He expects us to do.  We each have a realm or sphere of influence, small or great, and Father expects us to be the best witness for Jesus within that realm, obedient in actions and speaking boldly the things of God to those whom the Lord sets before us.

Father said to share one parting thought here and that is a quote from the 'Beatitudes' in Matthew 5 particularly verse 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!"  (The exclamation point is my addition)

Again this is our DUE SEASON, now is the time to act and come into PROPER ALIGNMENT with the Father.  It is our time  to truly come to know Him and live for Him.  That He is our God and there is no doubt in our hearts or our minds that He is our Lord.  He is bringing us into a deeper, fuller relationship with Him as He prepares us this season so we can be ready to minister in the next season.

Amen.

                                                           COMING EVENT:
                                                      "PROPER ALIGNMENT"

                                                    

                                                        Wellspring of Life FWC 

                                                    Summer conference/workshops.

Where:          Clarion Hotel/Roadway Inn
                       Entrance E (designated on corner of building)
                       901 Dual Highway (Rte. 40)
                       Hagerstown, Md. 21740

When:             7/15/2016      6:00 PM    Registration
                                              7:00 PM     Praise & Worship
                         7/16/2016     8:00 AM    Registration
                                               9:00 AM    Morning Glory
                                              10:30 AM   Workshops begin

Healing, deliverance, prayer, praise dance and worship!  This event is the place to be to learn how to get into proper alignment with the Word of God and enable you to break free and go forth in all that God has called YOU to do!
                                               
Come bask in the glory of the Lord!

PS:  Lunch is provided

6-24-2016   BROKEN ALIGNMENT/REALIGNMENT REVISITED

Two weeks ago my pastor asked me to bring a word on 'Heavenly Realignment'.  Our Fellowship is holding its fourth annual Conference in July and take a wild guess at what our theme is this year - "Heavenly Realignment".  Father quickly reminded me of the 4/2/2016 blog entry "Broken Alignment/Realignment" so knowing I already had a basis of what to say I said "Sure".

When I pulled up that 4/2 entry, Father pointed out to me that we spent a lot of time speaking on how His church has gotten out of alignment, but only a mention of how to get back into 'realignment'.  He gave me another page as a 'hit list' on how to get back into realignment.  I had what would take about 20 - 30 minutes to talk about (or more).  Pastor ended up praying for people's needs that day (just about the entire service) and as I noticed that time was slipping away I said to myself "OK, don't think we're going to get to this today.  Then as we were winding down my pastor says "OK.  Buck is now going to bring us an overview of "Heavenly Alignment."  I said to myself "Whoa!  Lord, I don't want to keep these folks here any longer than necessary.  I need you help me tighten this half hour or so presentation up a bit."  A long story short, Father presented all the points of the information I had planned on, with examples, in less than twelve minutes.  He didn't use a lot of detail, but enough words to get the point across.

More important, in preparing for this event, again, Father had reminded me how little time was spent on fixing the 'misalignment' of His body.  Sooooo today we're going to spend some more time focusing on how to get back into proper alignment with our heavenly Father.

Father started with how our alignment, our relationship with HIm became broken to begin with.  Adam and Eve were in perfect alignment with Father until they they 'sinned and ate the 'forbidden' fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  God gave them a promise that He would re-establish that alignment, or relationship (Gen. chapter 3).   Since that time, Father has been trying to re-establish that relationship.  I say 'trying' because He has to deal with us (humans) and He did give us 'freewill' (to choose what we want to do [Joshua 24:14-15]).  We have the freedom to tell God "no".  Not a good choice, but we can do that of our own freewill.  

To help us re-establish our relationship with Him, Father shows us throughout the Old Testament how much He loves us hoping that we might come to the realization that in order to please Him and have a relationship with Him we must yield our hearts to Him.  Because Father is a Spirit, we have to realize that we need to worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23).  To help us understand this concept He gave Moses the "Law" to help the children of Israel understand what they needed to do (as well as us today), and the culmination of this understanding comes at the 'cross of Jesus'.

A man has no greater love than to give his life for his friends (John 15:13) and Jesus did just that on the cross.  And because the Father and the Son are one (John 1:1 & chapter 14), when we love Jesus, we love Father and as we will see, love is the basis of realignment.

In the Jewish temple of Jesus' time, as it is called "Herod's temple" was broken down into four basic parts, five if you count the area outside the temple.  Upon first entering one came into the "Women's" courtyard.  He would then pass through a gate entering the "Priest's" courtyard where they offered the sacrifices up to the Lord and in Priest's courtyard stood the "Holy Place".  The Holy Place housed the sanctuary and the "Holy of Holies".  The sanctuary is where they offered up incense to the Lord and stored all the paraphernalia used in the worship services, clothing, etc.  The Holy of Holies was God's room, in the Holy Place, separated from the sanctuary by a curtain, or a veil, and into which only the high priest could enter once a year to make an offering for the people's sin.  When Jesus died on the cross this veil was torn from the top to the bottom (Matt. 27:50-51) giving each man (and woman) access to the Holy of Holies through Jesus Christ.  As Jesus is our high priest, let us therefore come boldly before God's Throne (Hebrews 4:14-16).

And now, we're going to talk a little more about how we can come back into "Heavenly alignment" with our Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

We must accept the fact that God exists (Hebrews 11:6) and that He desires that all men be saved and come into the knowledge  of truth, or should I say into fellowship with Him (1 Timothy 2:3-4), or we have nowhere to start.

Father reminded me of the story of the man with the swept and garnished house out whom a devil had been cast (Luke 11:24-26).  The unclean spirit wanders about looking for a place to rest and when he can find one he goes back to the man out of whom he had been cast.  Finding the house (man) clean, neat and tidy, the devil brings seven more spirits with him and moves back in making the man's new condition worse than before.  In other words, if we have a devil (habit or practice) cast out of our lives and even though we're looking pretty good we are susceptible to more problems unless we fill that cleaned out, empty hole with something else.  The best way is to fill that open space with the knowledge of God and His love so we can live in accordance to His will.  This in turn gives us the strength to resist and protects us against further assaults of the evil one.

To get the ball rolling, we need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) and that will bring us to the first step in our journey - realizing that God is the answer to all things.

Of course, that first step is to let Jesus into our hearts (Romans 10:9).  If we haven't let the Lord Jesus into our lives, it will be most difficult to get back into alignment when we have no clue what we're trying to align with o how to do it.  To do this, we pray a 'sinner's prayer' where we acknowlede that Jesus is the Messiah, He died on the cross to cleanse (redeem) us from our sin nature and sins.  Through His blood he 'buys' us back from sin bondage and brings us into the freedom of God's kingdom so we repent of those sins, inviting Jesus into our lives.  We determine not to go back into those sinful actions and dedicate our lives to Christ Jesus (Romans 10:9).

Then we seek Him with all our  hearts (Matthew 22:36-40).   We must decide that God is first and foremost in our hearts and our thinking, that everything revolves around His love which is what we should now be endeavoring to learn exactly what that is and how to apply it to our lives (John 15:1-15).

As we learn and apply God's love into our lives, we discover that this is bringing us into a closer relationship with Him.  We need to renew our minds daily (Romans 12:2)  by studying to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15) and that we aren't ignorant of the ways of our Lord.  Jesus said "I am the living bread ... the bread I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:51)".  And Jesus in the flesh is the word of God (John 1:1 & 14) and the written word (the bible) is our account of the living Word.

It is not enough to 'just' hear the Word of God because our pastor or an evangelist comes in and preaches a good word, but we have to know the bible for ourselves (2 Timothy 2:15) and be as King David who kept God's word in his heart (Proverbs 4:20-21).  We have to 'read' as well as hear.

People will know that we are moving back into alignment with the Father because we are striving to become one with Him through Jesus (John 15:1-10), that is we come to realize that Jesus is the vine and we are His branches (extensions of His love) and we show this by living in that same love because we have grown to understand what it actually is (John chapters 14, 15 & 16).  Chapters 14, 15, 16 & 17 of the Gospel of John go into great detail of how we ought to 'hide' our lives in Jesus Christ so we can become 'one' with Him (and the Father), which brings us back into the heavenly alignment Father has intended for our lives.

We need to know the Word for ourselves so we can apply it into our own lives. Learning and knowing the Word begins with the individual, then grows into the family and then beyond. Imagine what it would be like if the whole world truly lived for Jesus.

A slack line means the circles move higher or lower than the center line.  The Father and the Son are at the ends of that string of circles (at the beginning of this week's entry),  bringing the line taut so that all the circles are brought into perfect alignment.  After all, broad is the way to destruction while straight is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

Choose 'LIFE' as in 'living' for and through Jesus.

Amen

6-10-2016   The Master Builder Part IV

 

  

  

 Sixth, he adds ‘finishing’ touches, paint, trim, etc.  Things that help the house look nice

            God adds the finishing touches to His creation (including man) (Gen. 1:24-31)

And God said “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle, creeping things, beasts of the earth, each after its own kind.  And it was so.  God made the beast of the earth after his kind, the cattle after their kind, everything that creeps upon the earth after its kind and God saw that it was good.  And God said “Le us make man in our image and our likeness and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth and every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him and He created male and female.  And God blessed them and said to them “Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, subdue it for I have given you dominion over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”  And God said “Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth and every tree which bears fruit with its own seed and it shall be meat for you.  And to every beast of the earth and fowl of the air and everything which creeps upon the earth in which there is life, I have given every green herb for meat.  And it was so.  And God saw everything that He had made and saw that it was very good.  And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. 

God adds the finished touches to His creation.  He created all the animals and determined what they should look like and how they should act and finally He created man.  All the finishing touches that would make His ‘house’ look how He wanted and function how He desired is complete.  His ‘coup de tat’, of course, was man, whom He made in His image.  The word used for ‘image here’ is the Hebrew word ‘tselem which means phantom, resemblance or a representative figure ‘of’.  Man is God’s representative here on earth and is a reflection, or should be, of who God is and that’s why He gave man dominion over the earth.  God’s house, the planet earth, is complete, even with someone to take care of it, man. 

Now don’t confuse house with temple.  Believers in Jesus, as in the New Covenant church, are God’s temple here on earth because the Holy Ghosts dwells within us.  The Greek word used for temple is ‘naos’ which means temple or shrine but its root word is ‘naio’ which means to dwell.  God came down go visit Adam and Eve on planet earth, but He did not dwell here on planet earth.  He came down and visited with man.  After Jesus’ ascension, through the Holy Ghost Father comes down, not to just visit with us, but to live within us, His temple here on planet earth.  Consider that when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments upon Mt. Sinai, Moses was up on the mount speaking with God but the people were at the foot hearing thunderings and the sound of trumpets and saw lightnings and smoke upon the mountain.  God spoke to the people, even Moses from outside our body. Today He speaks to us from our hearts because the Holy Ghost dwells within us.

Okay, at this point, everything is now in place in God’s house and ready for use.  Everything is ready for Him to enjoy.  Ready, even though what man is yet to do (disobey).

At this stage, a man finishes the interior walls and trim.  He does what he desires to make the outside of the house look nice, grass, trees, shrubs and flowers, etc.  He brings in his furniture, appliances, puts pictures and other wall décor on the walls to satisfy his likes. His house is now habitable on the inside and looks nice on the outside, too.  His house is now finished and ready to move in.  He has what he wants so he does – moves in and kicks his heels up.

I have found that my life has been a little more involved.  I find that I grow from infancy, through childhood, my teen years and into ‘adulthood’.  Physically, in adulthood, my house (my body) is complete but I still have to consider upkeep and maintenance.  As I desire, to keep my body working right I might add exercise to my regimen, running, lifting weight, swimming, whatever, taking vitamins and eating right.  I might read to exercise my mind and learn new skills that will help me earn a livable income.  My body is mature (adult) and should be capable of doing that which I require.  I’m ready to push on through life.     

I find that I have another house to build now, my spiritual house or my relationship with God, the Father.  I’ve given my heart to Jesus, I’ve received some ‘basic’ training, Father has honed out some rough edges and (initially) it would seem that things are in place for me to sit back and enjoy my relationship with God because my ‘salvation’ is secure.  BUT, spiritually I’m just an infant.  Even though I may know God’s law (the Ten Commandments) I now need to learn how to apply them to my life and grow so I can live a reasonable life in service to my God, abiding in His love – and exactly what that really means (but that’s another lesson – a life-long lesson).

So, just as a man, with his family growing, may want to make a new addition to his house, I find that as I grow spiritually, Father wants me to grow and expand my horizons.  I find Him making spiritual additions to my life as He sheds some things from my life and/or shows me new areas in which He wants me to venture.  New additions to my house which means learning some new things, doing things in a new way in my life.  Laying more foundation to my existing one and building thereon.  But then, that’s why the seventh day has no end. 

Seventh, he sits back and enjoys the fruits of his labor

            God enjoyed His creation (Gen. 2:1-3)

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and the host of them.  And on the seventh day, God ended His work which He had made and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.  And He blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because in that day He had rested from all His work which God created and made.

Father got to enjoy His new creation for a season.  He gave man authority to take care of His creation.  He would take walks in the garden in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve and fellowship with them.  Heaven on earth?  For a season. 

But, when Satan approached, Eve was deceived and Adam made a willful choice to follow suit and the relationship the Father was broken.  And as they say, the rest of the story (the bible) is Father’s attempts to bring man back into His fellowship. 

A man can relax and enjoy his house just doing maintenance and upkeep for a season.  Then the man decides to add a game room (or something) to his house or they have more children than bedrooms.  He has to build a new addition to his house which means laying an extended foundation (for new additions) and building some more onto that new, extended foundation.  Growth means work.

I find that I can enjoy my ‘salvation experience’ for a season, then we (Father and I) start building again.  He starts showing me more things that He wants me to know and that means expanding my foundation with new learning.  It means that I can’t just sit back, kick up my heels and sip tea all afternoon.  These growing experiences are good and rewarding but it also means I have to do more work.  My house isn’t really ‘finished’ it isn’t really complete. 

I find myself realizing what the bible says by “the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).  I discover the reality of perfecting of the saints, edifying the body of Christ, coming into the unity of faith, coming into the knowledge of the Son, coming into a perfect man as measured by the qualities of Jesus Christ so we are not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:12-14) and what that involves.

My Conclusion 

As Father has given me this example for my understanding of how His creation correlates to a man building his ‘home’ and our spiritual establishment and growth in Jesus Christ I pass this on to you in the hopes that those of you who may have been wrestling with some of the same things that I have might have come to a better understanding of our relationship with our heavenly Father.  And be mindful, there’s much more than can be written about these areas of life, but I didn’t want to go into a lot of detail.  Just enough to give you something to think about.

Father had to decide, or create a place, where to build His house by establishing light and darkness in an empty space. 

He cleared the ‘land’ by separating the ‘waters’ (nothingness) with firmament setting the dimensions for outer space, atmosphere and water.  In other words He cleared or prepared the land upon which He could build. 

He brought dryland forth and established parameters by which His creation would operate and abide thus creating a foundation for his house. 

He established roles for His creation thus putting up a ‘structure’ in which His creation could exist.  Father creates purpose (how it should function) for the things in His creation, the job of each part of creation. 

He then brings in everything that the house will need to function properly, supplying all needs and making it look ‘good’.

He then adds the final trim with the final touch being man to take care of His creation, His house.

After all this, He ‘kicks back’ and catches His breath to enjoy His creation/house.  But as we know,  a man’s (nor God’s) work is never done for it wasn’t long before the man He created got off track and our Father had to establish the format in which to bring man back into alignment.

The man has to decide where he wants to build so he finds the plot that suits his fancy.  Then he clears the land, and that means removing the trees, shrubs rocks and so forth that aren’t desired so the land is clear and free to build upon.  Then he lays foundation so his house will set on solid ground.  He begins to build the frame, walls, roof, flooring, etc. so his house will have the shape and look he wants.  Then he adds the finishing touches so his house will look good and be comfortable by painting his house with colors he likes, the appropriate ‘trim and making sure his yard looks the way he wants.  Then He moves in and catches his breath enjoying that lounge chair in the back yard or the recliner in the living room sipping iced tea (or whatever).  He relaxes, that is until he decides to make some changes or additions to his house.

I find that in My life I gave my heart to Jesus, then I discovered that I needed to acquire a better understanding of the rules and regulations by which I should live.   God’s guidelines.  Even though I was saved, I still had excess baggage to unload (yield to Father via Jesus as the Holy Ghost prompted).  I had to start learning what my relationship with Father really meant and to start developing a relationship with those around me. After all, what we do the least in the kingdom of God, we do to Jesus (Matt. 25:40).  New experiences mean new growth and a fuller understanding of my relationship with Father.  I found my thinking being rearranged and discovered I might have to do things a little differently than what I’ve grown accustomed to in order to have a closer walk with Father.  I’ve had to learn new skills so that I could expand my ‘house’.  And even today, though I’ve learned a lot, I realize I still have a long way to go.  I find that if I had a hundred mile journey to travel, I feel that I’ve only travelled twenty or so miles (if I’m lucky) and I thought I was taking giant steps in so doing.  BUT as I look back I discover that I’ve only been taking itty bitty baby steps as I’ve travelled along.  But Father continues to expose me to deeper truths so I can have a closer walk with Him.  And even though I feel like I have done a lot of work with this ole house, I definitely appreciate what Father has already done and even though I can see the goal for which I’m striving, I still have quite a way to go.  But I take courage for I know that as long as I stay focused on my Lord Jesus, He will guide me as the Holy Ghost leads me to the completion of this house.  And this house will be complete when I enter into eternity with my Lord and Savior.