3-3-2018    I Am Israel

    

                

                         Fighting the old nature    to become              a leader

Lying in my bed wrestling with some issues that, off and on, I have wrestled with for some time and doing some repentance, Father put Jacob/Israel on my heart.

If we know anything about these names we have come to learn that Jacob (1) means ‘supplanter’ also, according to Strong’s Concordance, Israel (2) translates ‘rule as God’.

When, in birth, Jacob seized Esau’s heel as they were being born (3).   It was an attempt (yet in the womb) to replace who would be his older brother.  It didn’t work.  Later, Jacob, with his mother’s (Rebekah) help, tricked his aging father (Isaac) into giving him the oldest sons blessing, which, did work.  And by the way, once done couldn’t be revoked (4).  Jacob was basically a wheeler/dealer much of his life but did get some payback in dealing with his father-in-law, Laban (5).  Then one night, as Jacob was returning to his homeland with his wives and family, he wrestled with a ‘man’ (6).  Jacob wrestled with God but did not give up.  He did not quit.  Because of this, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel and changed his character so Israel could rule in the power of the living God.  Interesting note: before “salvation”, while we are still living apart from God in this world, our character is one way but once we receive Jesus into our lives, our attitudes (character) change for the better.  At least, as long as we pursue Jesus, it does. 

The Lord showed me ‘sarah’ (7) and ‘el’ (8) as the root words for Israel.  ‘Sarah’ is to have princely power and ‘el’ is strength, great or Almighty (note the caps). That covers the ‘S’ through the ‘L’ so I asked Father about the ‘I’ and He said that means ‘me’, the individual, each and every believer.  I have the power of the Almighty!  In me!  In us!   As believers, WE have the power of the Almighty God living in us!  WOW!  Being Israel means that every true believer represents God (the Father) here on planet earth.  Because we have received Jesus into our hearts, we represent Him.  We have 

His power abiding in us!  We are the image of the living God as presented to the world.

 Jesus told His disciples that the Comforter dwelled with them and would be in them (9) and the Comforter IS the Holy Ghost (10).  While Jesus physically walked with them, the Holy Ghost abided ‘with’ the disciples through Jesus. After Jesus ascended, the Holy Ghost came and abided ‘in’ the disciples through the baptism.  Through our relationship with Jesus, the Holy Ghost takes up residence within us so, like the disciples, we can do the things Jesus did and greater (11).

Israel (1) means to “rule as God” and a closer look at the root words (Sarah & el) which imply as a prince, we shall have the strength of the Almighty.  Not to rule in the place of God, but rule as His ambassadors as we abide in His power here on planet earth.  To have dominion over that part of the earth He gives us.  We represent His love, in this world because Jesus resides in us through the Holy Ghost!  And in reflecting His love, we reflect His nature to the world. 

What Father showed me this morning is that I am ISRAEL!  All believers are Israel.  Obviously not the man, but just as Father changed Jacob’s nature, through salvation, He changes ours!  Changing our selfish nature to living in His true love (agape).  The indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. 

If you will, Jacob/Israel is Lucifer (12)/Satan’s (13) anti thesis.  Lucifer thought he could raise himself up above God so Father cast him out of heaven and Lucifer became our adversary – Satan.  Jacob tried to supplant Esau from birth keeping Esau from his “birthright”.  But, as we know, Esau’s heart was not right with God and, because Esau had sold his birthright, God brought him down (as with Lucifer) and raised Jacob up to become Israel, the one who would rule in God’s authority because of his obedience. Lucifer was brought down to become Satan because of his disobedience, thinking that he was more powerful than the Almighty God and was cast out of heaven (14, 15, 16).  Because of perseverance to pursue and become obedient to God, Jacob was raised up to become Israel, God’s representative here on earth.  Lucifer was cast down to become Satan because of disobedience and Jacob was raised up to become Israel because of obedience. 

Satan has become the embodiment of man trying to raise himself up (as God) and Israel is become the embodiment of God raising man up to his rightful place.    

Jesus said the comforter is with you and shall be in you, dwelling, abiding, living and so He is through our salvation experience.  The Holy Ghost dwells within us so we are the embodiment of the power of God – in this world. 

Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead as He walked on earth.  Jesus is our head and, as His body, we are complete in Him (17).  So today, we are the power of the living God displayed to the world!  At least, we should be and can be through our obedience to His Word.

So, the power of the eternal God is within us, ergo we have access to His power.  Jesus also tells the disciples (us) that we shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon us (18).  We just have to allow that power to operate in us and through us just as the disciples did over two millennia ago.  We anticipate the fullness of God coming into our lives, just as the disciples did in the upper room and yield to that power when it arrives, just as the disciples did.  And how do we receive that power?  We expect it and receive that infilling through the baptism of the Holy Ghost (19) then follow the leading of the Holy Ghost as we live our lives.

Knowing that the Holy Ghost is living within us and because of that we have the power of the living God within us, three passages begin to make sense.  Satan tells Adam and Eve they will be as gods, knowing good and evil (20).  This was when Adam and Eve were introduced to the concepts of abiding ‘in’ God (good) and rebelling against His authority (evil).  And, of course, all creation fell from innocence along with man. 

The Psalmist cries out to God as he felt God’s judgment among man was not just.  God declares man walks in darkness, even though He calls the children of the most High “gods” (21).  We are not children of the most High God because of disobedience, but because we come back into obedience (22).

Jesus reminds us that the law declares us ‘gods’.  Those to whom the word of God came (23).  In his innocence, Adam was called the son of God (24) but despite the fact Adam came to know the difference between good and evil, man regains his rightful place through obedience by being born again (25)’.  That is receiving Jesus into our heart (26) and then the power of God  comes by receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost, just as the disciples did.

Note, in these passages referring to us, gods is “little ‘g’”.  We are not equal to or better than God, as Satan thought, but we are Father’s representatives here in this world and Father gives us His power and His authority to operate in His stead here in this world (27). 

Every believer, should then be living for Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, because the Holy Ghost is alive, well and operating within our lives (as we are obedient).  As we grow in the Lord, because we are indeed the manifested power of the living God in this world, as true believers, we can all say “I am Israel!” 

References

1          Strong’s 3290              “Yaaqob” (Jacob), supplanter, circumvent

2          Strong’s 3478              “Yisrael” (Israel)  rule as God

3          Gen. 25:24-26             Birth of Esau and Jacob                     

4          Gen. 27:15-30             Rebekah and Jacob trick Isaac

5          Gen. chapters 29-31   Jacob and Laban

6          Gen. 32:24-30             Jacob wrestles

7          Strong’s 8280              “Sarah”

8          Strong’s 410                “el”

9          John 14:16-17              Comforter dwelling in us

10        John 14:26                   Comforter is Holy Ghost

11        John 14:12-13              we can do the works Jesus did and greater

12        Strong’s 1966              “Heylel”, (it’s root “Halal” – 1984) morning star, be clear, boast,

rave    

13        Strong’s 7854              “Satan” withstand, enemy of good,

14        Isa. 14:1-24                 The fall of Lucifer

15        Luke 10:18                   Jesus saw Satan fall from heaven

16        Rev. 12:7-9                  Satan cast out of heaven

17        Col. 2:6-10                   Fullness of Godhead in Jesus

18        Acts 1:8                       Receive power after Holy Ghost has come upon us

19        Acts 1:8-2:4                 To the upper room and receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost

20        Gen. 3:4-5                   … you will be as gods knowing good and evil

21        Psalms 82:1-6             … have I not said you are gods, you children of the most High

22        1 John 1:9                    Confess our sins and God will cleanse us

23        John 10:34-35              … doesn’t the law say you are gods?  … to whom the Word of God

came

24        Luke 3:38                     … Seth was the son of Adam who was the Son of God

25        John 3:5-6                    … born of water and of t he Spirit

26        John 14:6                     … no man comes to the Father but by Me.

27        Luke 10:19                   I give you power … over all the power of the enemy

2-17-2018       Give us Power

               

                                                 God gives us explosive power

Before He ascended back into heaven (from whence He came (John16:28), the disciples were gathered around Jesus and they asked Him when would God restore Israel to its former glory.  A time of peace and prosperity (the end times).  But Jesus told them it wasn’t for them to know the times or the seasons of these events for Father has reserved this power for Himself.  This knowledge was His and His alone (Acts 1:6-7).

The Greek word used for power in this passage is exousia (Strong’s 1849) which is translated as authority, jurisdiction, privilege, etc.  Father put it only in His jurisdiction.  Jesus tells the disciples that only the Father knows the times (Mark13:32), not the angels, not even the Son.  Whoa, what did you say?  Jesus, the Son, is God, how can He not know?  Jesus is the Son of man, born after the flesh (Mary) and He is the Son of God, born after the Spirit (God, the Father).  Remember?  In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (past progressive – once done, always on going) (John 1:1), wrapped so closely that we can’t separate them.  As the “Word”/Son, Jesus knew everything the Father ever said.  He is the living Word of God.  Jesus told His disciples that everything that He heard from His Father He has shared with them (John 15:15).  But, Jesus couldn’t tell His disciples (nor us) when the end times would come because Father never spoke it.  And, even seated at the right hand of God (power, Luke 22:69), obviously if Jesus now knew, He would most likely tell us as He said to His disciples.

However, Jesus does tell us that we all shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon us and we shall be witness for Him in all Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the world (Acts 1:8).  So even when we receive power, we cannot exceed the power and authority which He (Jesus) has given us.  So if Jesus doesn’t know when the end times are coming, neither can we.  However, He does give us a clue as to when those times are approaching as Matthew writes in his gospel (chapter 24).

The judgment of man is committed to the Son (John 5:22) which is why we stated earlier that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the power of God (Luke 22:69).  The Greek word used in this passage is dunamis (Strong’s 1411) which is power with the implications of strength, abundance, miraculous ability, violent or mighty (as explosive).  Just as Pharaoh gave Joseph all authority over Egypt, Joseph was subject only to Pharaoh (Gen. 41:39-41), Father has given the Son not only the authority (exousia) but all power (dunamis) to ‘do’ as well.

Remember, Jesus gave the ‘twelve’ power over sickness and devils (Luke 9:1-6) and later the seventy (Luke 10:1-17).  Luke 9:1 Jesus sends them out in power (dunamis), the same power He promises us in Acts 1:8.  Now listen carefully, Jesus could ‘share’ His dunamis power with the disciples because He was with them, the full embodiment of the Godhead (Col. 8-9) including the Holy Ghost as depicted in His baptism by John when the Holy Ghost lighted upon Jesus (Matt. 3:16).  Okay, you say, but how could he share it?  Remember the woman with the blood issue?  She touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed.  Jesus felt virtue (dunamis) go out from Him (Mark 5:25-30).  All the woman did was touch Him and drew power from Him.  Jesus is capable of imparting His power (dunamis) as necessary.  He asked the question “who touched me”, but He knew who drew the power and He let it go out.  When Jesus healed, it was through His word which released His dunamis power.  A Centurion approached Jesus on behalf of his servant.  Jesus didn’t even have to touch for He healed the servant who was a long ways off (Matt. 8:5-13).  He didn’t speak healing into the woman at the well nor did he touch the centurion’s servant.  All power is His.  We have no more recorded dunamis activity, by anyone other than Jesus in the gospels.  However we do see it being exercised by the disciples after their baptism in the Holy Ghost as recorded in Acts chapter two.  After their initial baptism in the Holy Ghost, at which time we not only see the disciples speaking with new boldness, but from then on and through second and third generation disciples, we see them operating in dunamis power.  Second and third generations?  Philip was apparently a product of Peter’s ministry, a second generation (Acts 6:1-7).  Of course he was also an evangelist (Acts 8:1-8).  Aquilla and Priscilla were at least second generation.  We don’t know who brought them into the body, but they knew Paul (Acts 18:1-2) and were responsible for Apollos’ (3^rd gen.) ministry (Acts 18:24-28) kicking into high gear.  We see Paul speaking highly of Apollos throughout his first letter to the Corinthians indicating the status within the community Apollos had attained as a third generation disciple.

The book of Acts records, for us, at least three generations of the full operation of the Holy Ghost in believers.  Do you suppose this might be an indication that receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost was supposed to continue throughout all generations until Jesus’ return?   

Now Jesus reminds his disciples (after he had sent them out) that this same dunamis Spirit is with them now (at that time) and would be in them (John14:17).  Physically with them through the presence of Jesus (Himself) and in them through the baptism of the Holy Ghost (as recorded in Acts chapter two).

So Jesus tells His disciples that they will do the same works He did and greater because He was going to the Father (John 14:12), to be seated at the right hand, full power (dunamis).

Understand that when Jesus breathed on the disciples and said receive the Holy Ghost (John 20:21-23), this was not the baptism for dunamis power.  Rather they received authority in Christ (exousia), but not full power.  Jesus had to be at the right hand of the Father or be literally be with them, before the full power of the Holy Ghost could dwell within His disciples.   We know that Father promises the Holy Ghost (John 14:16) Then Jesus tells his disciples to receive the Holy Ghost (John 20:22).  Then, just before He ascended, Jesus tell the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the  promise (the Holy Ghost) (Acts 1:4), the infilling.    

So we can receive the Holy Ghost with our salvation experience just as when Jesus breathed on His disciples (John 20) and we can exercise a certain authority (exousia) with this experience.  But, it takes the baptism of the Holy Ghost to receive dunamis power as the disciples experience in Acts chapter 2 (and beyond).  However, we have to expect and receive the baptism.  The disciples waited in Jerusalem, expecting to receive the baptism (Acts 1:4-5).  And then He (the Holy Ghost) did come to the disciples in the upper room, ten days after Jesus’ ascension.   Then the full power of the Holy Ghost sat upon each of them in that upper room when cloven tongues like fire which sat upon each of them giving them ability to speak in tongues as the Holy Ghost gave them utterance (Acts 2:3-4).

I’d like to take a moment to examine what happened on that day in the upper room.  The Holy Ghost came in and ‘sat’ upon each of them.  ‘Sat’ is the Greek word kathizo (Strong’s 2523) which means to sit, anoint, settle as to hover or dwell.  The Holy Ghost anointed the disciples.  He probably hovered over them briefly before settling, not only on them, but ‘in’ them.

Cloven is the Greek word diamerizo (Strong’s 1266) which means cloven or divided.  Think about sitting around a campfire at night watching the flames lash out at the night sky.  Don’t they sort of 

look like tongues of fire reaching up for the stars?

Like tongues, they would be licking out, but interestingly the word used for tongues here is the same as used for ‘speaking’ in tongues.  The Greek word is glossa (Strong’s 1100) which is a language, usually not naturally acquired.  Yet this is a physical manifestation reaching down to and entering into the disciples.  Interesting?  The Holy Ghost came down into the disciples so He could then manifest himself through their speaking (an outgoing action).  If you will, the Holy Ghost inhabits our words!  After all, the power of life and death are in what we say (Prov.18:21), right?

And so the disciples could see what was going on around them, these cloven tongues appeared as fire.  The Greek word here is pur (Strong’s 4442) which is fire, but not just fire, more like lightning.  I suspect that these weren’t just little specks of flame floating down upon the disciples, but came down in power, like a lightning bolt striking.  I don’t think anyone got fried, but can you imagine an hundred twenty people sitting around and then, for a moment, they all light up like a Christmas tree?  The power of the living God had just come upon them!  Their lives were already changed by knowing Jesus and now even something more has happened.  Their lives were enhanced even more through the infilling of His mighty Holy Spirit.  Amen?

The Holy Ghost gives us power (dunamis), but then we have to enact that power by believing, then doing.  Jesus tells us as to receive as we believe (Mark 11:24).  He also tells us faith without works is dead (James 2:15-20).  It helps to be as the Roman centurion who understood how faith works (Mark 7:2-9).  When Peter and John healed the man at the Beautiful Gate, they commanded him to stand.  Then they reached down and took the man’s hand and helped him to his feet (Acts 3:2-8).  James tells us, in his letter, to stand firm in what we believe and not doubt (James 1:5-8). 

At times we don’t realize the power because we haven’t asked.  Father doesn’t just give us power from on high because we’re a bunch of sweeties.  We do have to ask Him (James 4:1-7).  And even then we may not have because w desire to elevate ourselves rather than God.  Simon the sorcerer desired to have the ability to give the Holy Ghost, not to glorify God, but so people would think more of him (Acts 8:13-22). 

And there is another reason why we may not see the Holy Ghost operating in our lives.   Are we quenching Him?  Paul exhorts the Thessalonians do to several things and one of them is not to quench the Spirit (1 Thess.5:19).  Quench is the Greek word abennumi (Strong’s 4570) which is to quench, go out or extinguish.  We extinguish the Holy Ghost’s ability to work in our lives by denying Him the right to function and operate in and through our lives as He is intended.  Even to the degree where we don’t believe He fully operates today like He did two thousand years ago.  Lack of belief is quenching.

When we quench Him, we grieve Him because we tie his hands and He cannot do what He desires to do in our lives.  Grieve is the Greek word lupeo (Strong’s 3076) which is to grieve, make sorry, fill with heaviness.  When the Holy Ghost is grieved, His heart breaks and Father is grieved because we don’t allow Him to work in/through us which is why Paul tells the Ephesians not to grieve Holy Ghost (Eph. 4:30) for our redemption is sealed in Him.

 We desire power (dunamis) from God?  First we have to be His child (be saved).  We need to seek the full presence of the Holy Ghost for our lives and then invite Him into our lives.  We need to believe without doubting.  We have to ask for the right reasons – to glorify the one only true and living God who reigns forever and ever.  And we need to remember not to quench and/or grieve the Holy Ghost, once we’ve received Him.  Then, we need to put what we have received into action, in our own lives, that is let Holy Ghost do His job in us and through us.  Then He (the Holy Ghost) will reach out touching those around us because we have been obedient to Him.

Amen?

2/3/2018  The Gnome

 This dream came to me bright and early this past Thursday morning while I was yet sound asleep.  Not even in twilight yet.  When I say twilight I mean that time of sleep when I’m not really asleep, but my eyes haven’t yet opened and I’m totally aware of what’s going on around me.  My sound sleep is when I’m so far out you could fire a cannon right beside me and I wouldn’t know it.  This is one of those ‘real’ dreams where I wasn’t part of the action (one of the characters), but I was ‘on set’, aside, witnessing the action of all the characters.

This came between 6-6:30 AM on Feb. 1st.

There were all the creatures of the forest bringing gifts to who seemed to be the ‘king’, or at least, the “Lord of the forest”.  Along with those coming came what seemed to be a gnome. Smaller than all the others but carrying with him a yellow house with what looked like a silo attached to it.  He also had a basket with several items in it, one of which looked like a globe or ball.  This globe was basically white with red and green laced throughout and translucent.  It was clear, but one could not clearly see through it. 

Many challenged him and mocked him “What could he possibly have worth giving?”  He started to forage through his things, then turned displaying the globe and all who saw it were amazed.  It was gorgeous. This seemed to be his most prized possession.

The dream didn’t show how the yellow house and the basket containing the globe disappeared from the forest (in the dream), but what would be the next scene, a young boy, pre-school, one who reminded me of my grandson (who’s four), burst into his house (not my grandson’s house, it was different) setting the little yellow house and the basket on the floor.  He started foraging through the basket.  Finding the globe he proudly displayed it to everyone.  The basket and the yellow house were nearby sitting on the floor.  There were several children there and it seems an adult or two.   All the kids oohed and aahed over the globe and wanted it, but the little boy wouldn’t give it up.  Somehow, one of the little boys, named Mikey, ended up with the globe.  Again, all the kids wanted it, but Mikey desiring it too played keep away and started running around with it – catch me if you can.  Shortly it was announced that it was Mikey’s bedtime and he was taken upstairs to bed.

It wasn’t long when the little gnome finds his way into the house where all the children are.  I didn’t see him open the door, but it was ajar in the background after he had come in.  He was looking half dead, as if he had been half starved or travelled a very long journey.  As the children gathered around him, the diminutive fella looked up at all those in the house with pleading eyes, but not saying a word.  Now there were two “tubes” protruding from his back, through his coat.  They weren’t like medical tubing like for IV’s or anything, but were rather a part of him.  Sort of like two skinny volcanic cones poking up from the surface.  The taller (longer) one was between his shoulder blades with a shorter one a little farther down, about his lower back.   The little guy collapsed and when the children picked him up they noticed a gooey, green mess on the floor.  One of the adults went to get something with which clean the floor, then someone noticed that this ooze was coming out of the tubes on the gnome’s back.  Everyone felt sorry for the little guy but didn’t know what to do.

The gnome saw his yellow house and his basket and crawling, inched his way over to them, looking into the basket searching.  Somehow he conveyed to those there that he was looking for the globe.  The fact that he formed a circle with his forefinger and thumb might have given them a clue.  They realized what he meant so they all searched diligently for the globe.  It was nowhere to be found.  Then someone remembered Mikey was the last one with the globe, maybe he still had it.  Someone went upstairs to check, as Mikey was asleep.

Then I woke up but I had the ‘feeling’ that, sure enough, the globe was indeed with Mikey so it was recovered and brought to the gnome.  Somehow, I knew, giving the globe to the little guy related to his good health.  I knew in my spirit that the gnome would be OK.

After jotting down the afore, I had to take my car to a brother’s shop for he was doing some bodywork on a rear quarter panel for me.

Came back home and started my AM session.  After getting into things, ‘wanting to know the interpretation of the dream’ kept floating around in my head.  I reached a certain point in my session, because I couldn’t shake the dream, I stopped and said “Lord, You are the one who interprets dreams (Dan. 2:15-23, note v 19).  (I had the feeling that the gnome is me) So what’s going on?”

Father said the forest is indeed His kingdom of He who sits on the throne.  And even though others may not think much of what God has given us, Father is always ready to accept that which we bring when it comes with a pure heart and right intentions.  BUT the devil will try to steal and maybe even succeed, for a season, in taking that which we have to offer. 

Father said “The little gnome truly is me – and all the many like me whom He is currently raising up for the Spiritual explosion which is coming.  He said this is why I’ve been doing the blog so those souls can see and know that the things they are experiencing are not ‘just’ their imagination or something else.  It is the Lord’s doing.  Trying to get their attention so He can use them.  It IS happening with others.  I say this because He is continually showing me some of those whom He is raising up.  This is and has been a continually growing process as Father raises up those whom He has called.  And it will continue through the next season.

Again, the gnome is me and all those like me.  The globe represents three things, purity, the blood of Christ and new life.  Three most prized things in this life.  Without the blood of Jesus, we are all truly lost with no hope. But through the blood, we have not just the hope but the promise of eternal fellowship with the Father.  Purity is the life we live, following the lead of Jesus through the direction of the Holy Ghost.  The new life are the works we do here in this world using the gift or gifts, Father has given us so we can magnify and glorify Him as we edify and serve those around us in this world.  So the blood of Christ and a pure heart help us to work the calling Father has placed upon each of our lives.  

We ARE the temple of the living God, so the temple is always with/in us (1 Corinth. 6:19).  We don’t carry it as an external burden, but rather in our hearts where the Holy Spirit dwells.  The silo, of the little golden house, is the storage of blessing Father bestows upon us for our obedience.  The basket? Our works in this world.  Through our obedience to Him and through His precious blood, our works will produce new life not only in us, but to/for those whom we encounter.  Three things which we all should value dearly, as precious gold or silver.  Salvation with purity of heart and serving our Creator through works we perform in helping those around us. 

For me personally, I wrestle with elements in my life which are holding me back.  Remember Paul’s buffet from Satan? (2 Corinth. 12:6-8).  The ‘green ooze’? Any un-repented sins that may still be in my life.  Because of sin, we may find ourselves wandering in the wilderness for a season, but we know that through Christ Jesus we can reconnect with our “home”.  So, I find two things still holding me back, sins of which I may not even be aware yet, or even denied the existence thereof and then, all too often the church itself.  

I’ve been through several denominations and they were all willing to teach me as they believed.  But few were actually willing (maybe unable) to help me realize my potential in Jesus Christ.  Some churches actually ‘shot me down’ or hindered me because I was essentially ‘nobody’ so how could I know anything or become anybody.  I admit, in earlier years, I thought I knew a lot, but as I’ve grown, I’ve realized how little I really know.  Remember when we were teenagers?  (I speak for myself) I knew everything.  Those older than me understood nothing and I “knew it all” LOL).  AS I aged chronologically and started to seek the Lord, Father started showing me that I really knew and understood very little.  Yes I was learning, but on a scale of one to a hundred, when I thought I Knew it all, I actually knew about ‘.2%”.  And in retrospect, that might be generous.

Nonetheless, for many reasons, true growth opportunities were not available to me.  I felt ‘shut out’ or ‘down’.  Both mainstream and ‘Full Gospel’ churches have shown opportunities belong to those in “the in crowd”, the church cliques.  Father is surpassing the ‘in crowd’ He is raising up many ‘nobodies’ to His calling for the coming Spiritual explosion.  As Doug Addison says “God is raising up the rejected of the church” (www.dougaddison.com).  And He is providing opportunity to realize our full potential in Him.  All we have to do now is seek out the doors, then turn the knob to see which one(s) opens then walk through the open door.  Having done so, we then need to be obedient and pursue what God is showing us.

The dream ends with the little gnome still on the floor as the discovery of the globe is imminent.  We know the gnome will regain his Globe and all will be well.  That is, even though he had things hindering him before he could fully offer his gift to the “King of the forest”, things are coming together for him.  Yes he had to search for his treasure but soon, he’ll be able to return to the forest and present his gift.  The dream doesn’t tell me whether the tubes disappear or when the gnome gets back into the forest, but, as I said, I had the overwhelming feeling that all will be well with him. 

Once we recognize our gift, or maybe regain it, then we can present that gift to our King.   We do that by serving those around us.  Jesus, Himself, reminds us that what we do to least in the kingdom of God, we do unto Him (Matt. 25:40).  In serving others we reflect the love of Christ working in us and through us.

Amen?

Maybe Father will give me another dream, a sequel of victory in presenting my treasure before the Lord???  

1/20/2018       Really, just who is God?

                                                                                  

Is God some mythical, mystical being that lives somewhere out there beyond the stars?  I’m speaking to both believers and non-believers, for some, there is little difference in concept.  Is He some super astronaut who sends His angels to earth in flying saucers to occasionally check on us?  Is He something that we can morph into on our own (reincarnation)?  Or is He perhaps, just maybe, IS He the eternal being who created the heavens and the earth and all that we know?  Is He from everlasting to everlasting.

To know Him is to love Him and to love Him is getting to know Him better and love Him even more.  Don’t turn me off yet, but read on. 

Yes, I love my Lord Jesus Christ, but I didn’t get to the point where I am today simply by confessing Him as my Savior.  Just as I spent thirty-four years getting to know my wife (before she went home to Jesus), I’ve spent a long time, and still getting to know my God.

Yes, I am in a great church today, but I’m not going to spout a bunch of church dogma.  My heavenly Father has been very careful to not let me get caught up in ‘denominational dogma’, but He has exposed me to who He is then confirmed it through my life experiences.  I guess I’m caught between a rock and a hard place with this for neither do I reject someone for not believing exactly as I do nor am I persuaded any one Christian denomination has the full story so I weigh whatever I hear against the bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Years ago Father showed me an image of a movie projector.  You know, the ones with the movie reel on one end and the take up reel on the other?  He showed me that as the movie was shown, someone would see something and say “That’s it!  This is what God wants me to know!”  So they went off to the side and created what became a denomination with that revelation.  But the movie kept rolling on.  Now, they may have been right in what they saw- partially.  Why?  Because they got all excited about something and quit watching the movie to build on the revelation they had discovered, they missed what else God had to show them. 

I am persuaded that each true Christian denomination has a piece of the truth, but not the whole truth.  Am I claiming to know the whole truth?  Not by a long shot.  Even though I can get around the bible reasonably well, I hardly know it from Genesis to Revelation.  Every year that passes, every month that passes, every week that passes, Father shows me something deeper in our relationship that I had not realized before.  And THIS is what I want to talk about today.  My relationship with my heavenly Father. 

So don’t tune me out just yet, but be patient and hear me out.

I usually cite scripture in this blog to show that I’m not making this stuff up.  It IS biblical.  So, obviously, the bible, the Word of God, is my foundation.  So today, a lot of scripture will be contained in what I say, I won’t be quoting ‘book, chapter, verse’.

I’m responsible for what I put in the blog and what I mean by that is that Father holds me accountable.  If I give you a bunch of “BS”, (I’m not talking scholastic degrees) I will suffer the consequences for my disobedience.  Yes, God is a loving God, but He’s also a just God and a righteous God.  So even though He’s longsuffering, ‘God don’t make no junk’ and He expects His children to be the same.

God is a God of revelation and THAT’s what I’m going to talk about.  So, sit back and buckle your seatbelts.  We’re going to take a ride that maybe you have or have not taken yet.

I was ‘saved’ in a Southern Baptist church.  My wife and I liked the pastor there so we counseled with him for marriage.  As I recall, the pastor hadn’t been in our church two years yet and he had a funny concept on marriage.  He believed that if the couple didn’t know Jesus, the marriage was doomed, therefore he wouldn’t perform the ceremony without knowing that the couple were saved.  When he challenged me on my salvation, I sidestepped his questions about knowing Jesus.  I thought I was doing pretty good, but he came back, more than once, getting more specific, until the Holy Spirit convicted me (in my heart) that no, I really never knew Jesus.  So I received Jesus there in his office.  At that time, I literally felt the burden of my sins lift from my being.  But, when I confessed Jesus I felt like a five hundred pound gorilla lifted up off my body.  That was the beginning of my relationship with my heavenly Father, even though I didn’t recognize it as such.  Later, when I was baptized in water, because I had already had my ‘spiritual’ experience with God, I felt nothing new when I got “dunked” in the baptismal.  As a side note:  my wife had lied about knowing Jesus that day in the pastor’s office, but a couple of years later she did receive our Lord and Savior into her heart.  We had moved to another area and were not in that particular church at the time, when we ran into the pastor and shared with him my wife’s experience.  He said he knew that she wasn’t ‘saved’ at the time, but he said that he knew it would only be a matter of time before she also gave heart to Jesus.

The way Father has dealt with me, over the years, in my Spiritual growth, is to expose me to what He wants me to know, then teach me about it.  Sometimes He would show me in the scriptures (bible), a few times He let me take some classes, at a local college or in the church.  Nonetheless, He taught me.   

At work, I knew some charismatic Catholics.  Through them, Father introduced me to the “baptism of the Holy Ghost”.  Now, I’ve never doubted my salvation from that day in the Southern Baptist preacher’s office, but I kept getting this tugging, nagging, in my heart to know more about God and now to learn more about this baptism in the Holy Ghost.  So Father started teaching me.  Academically I knew about it the baptism, but I had not yet experienced it. 

A preacher from Virginia had come into our community in Maryland.  He had a reputation for preaching an awesome word, then would have a healing service along with that. So, one weekend when he was in town, my wife and I went to hear him the local high school at which he was speaking.  He was a good speaker and got his point across and at the end of his ‘sermon’ he offered additional service.  “Those looking for salvation come over here.”  “Those wanting a healing, come here.”  “Those wanting to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost go over there.”  Can you guess which group my wife and I gathered with?  The baptism, of course.  Must’ve been about a dozen people in our group, including my wife and myself.  The leader explained a little bit about the ‘Baptism’ then encouraged us to speak in ‘tongues’.  Some were having a hard time so they said “Repeat after me.”  I learned later that this was called getting a ‘jump start’.  Nonetheless at the end of the time everybody had received the baptism, including my wife!  Everybody that is except me!

I was more spiritual than my wife (I thought) so what was wrong with me?  We went home, afterwards and we sat in the living room for half an hour, maybe even an hour, talking and praying and still nothing.  My wife got tired and excused herself to go to bed.  I stayed up questioning God as to why I was still without.  He set me on my knees (literally) before the couch and I heard Him say “Praise Me.”  So I did.  I don’t know exactly for how long, but, after a while, I couldn’t think of anything else in English and I was getting tired of repeating myself so I said “Lord, I’m getting nowhere.  What else can I do?”  His response was “Praise Me.”  I said “I am!”  He said “Let Me help you.”  I said to myself ‘now what?  This is crazy.’  I sat there silent for a short while, then I opened my mouth.  Not knowing what to expect, I started to praise God.  Expecting the same ole English words to pop out, to my amazement, it definitely was not!  It wasn’t what I heard at the school earlier that evening, but even though it was coming out of my mouth, it wasn’t me speaking.  At least, it wasn’t me making the words come out.  But it was coming up from deep down inside me.  At first, only a few words came out but it wasn’t long before I was spitting words out like a machine gunner with an endless supply of bullets.  I don’t know how long I was up that morning, a couple of hours at least.  But I was so excited about receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost, I didn’t think much about anything else.  Sometime later, I asked Father why the baptism of the Holy Ghost worked that way with me.  Why hadn’t I received along with the others at the rally?  He told me that He wanted me to know that the Baptism came from Him and I wasn’t just repeating some sounds I was hearing.  Thank you Jesus. 

In my prayer life, I’ve experienced what would seem to be a couple of different spiritual languages over the years, but when things get down and dirty (serious), certain sounds seem to always rise to the surface.  For me, sometimes is sounds a bit Yiddish (Jewish) and sometimes it sounds like what I’ve heard with some of the Native American dialects and sometimes I’m not even sure what it sounds like.  I can’t say, but it is what Father has given me.  And, yes, there have been times I doubted my experience for when I heard others speak in tongues, it didn’t sound so much like what I was doing.  Father got me over that.  He gives each of us our own unique language.  Does this mean I can’t sound like someone else?  Look at the various accents used in the English language.  You tell me “Can we be different and yet sound like someone else?”

Since this experience, Father has deepened my relationship with Him.  Yet, with the experiences I’ve had with Him since, He has shown me that I still have only scratched the surface of our relationship.  I think, maybe, because my feet are stuck in a bunch of sticky muck. My growth has been slow.  I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel (in my growth) but with each step I take, it seems as though two or more steps are added to the journey.

My next major step in my relationship with my heavenly Father has been revealed in the church I’m in today.  As I said, Father exposes me to something He wants me to know then He teaches me about it.  He blessed me with ‘salvation’, then has been teaching me what that really means ever since that day in the Baptist preacher’s office.  He has baptized me with His Holy Ghost and is still showing me how that continues to deepen our relationship. 

Even though He has spoken to me over the years about different things, and I was fully aware of what He was saying, yet those things didn’t REALLY register with me (I said my feet were stuck in a pile of muck).  And now, He’s showing me the so many ways in which He talks with me and teaches me and opening up so much more.  But there’s still such a long way to go. Sometimes it’s a soft still voice.  Other times it’s through birds, trees and flowers and not just nature but anything around me, a situation, people, whatever.  All I have to do is look and be aware.  This I’m still learning. 

Since my wife went to be with Him in 2005, when He talks with me, oft times there are actual, physical changes that take place in my being.  I might get a sensation all over my body, head to toe.  I may go to stand up and can’t because of my time with Him has been so focused on Spiritual, my physical energy is drained and I don’t have the energy to stand up.  That is, at least for a while.  It becomes almost impossible or at least very difficult to just stand up until my body settles back down.  

Father has given me a heart to receive what He has given me and that heart continues to crave more.  Even though I may challenge something, I don’t reject it until He has had time to show me about it. 

He has brought these things into my life gradually so that I wouldn’t freak, thinking maybe I’m having a stroke or heart attack or something.  Everything hasn’t happened all at once for though I haven’t been sure of many things over the years (I have a vivid imagination), but once I realize what is happening, I know it’s the Holy Ghost.  Father confirms the event during and after the experience.  How do I know?  Once my body has physically “settled down”, I’m back to ‘normal’, so to speak.  I can freely move again and those same little nagging aches and pains that went away during my experience, come back.  Oh, by the way, did I mention that when I’m in this state “nothing bothers me!”  I’m totally aware of my surroundings and, even though I don’t normally try to, I can speak under this condition.  I just can’t move because my body is – so – drained (for lack of better description).  As Tony the Tiger would say “It’s GREEEAAAT!  I just can’t physically do much.  And these situations only come upon me when I’m interacting with Father.

Father said to share this, too.  The first time I became aware of my physical incapacitation, Father literally dropped me to my knees then laid me out prone on the living room floor.  I didn’t know what was happening and I don’t know how long I laid there as He talked with me.  I was there for a while, but I had a sense of peace.  I knew that I wasn’t dying, or anything.  I remember trying to get up, at least to my knees, but couldn’t.  I laughed at myself for I was in clear view of the living room window to the front porch.  I thought to myself ‘if someone saw me there, they would surely think I was having some sort of physical crisis’.  There was no heart attack or such going on, but how could I have explained to them that I was feeling fine and nothing was wrong?  I just laying there.  So I laughed at my situation, then Father started speaking to me, putting things on my heart.  Once Father was finished speaking, obviously, I was eventually able to get up and resume my normal activities.

Now, you may ask “How do you know it’s God?”  My only response can be that the closer we walk with the Lord, the more obedient we become, the more we listen to Him, the Holy Ghost confirms, within our hearts, what’s going on.  Has any of us experienced the reality that each time we read a bible passage, it seems Father reveals something to us that is a little deeper than what we understood before?  This is revelation knowledge – understanding the deeper meaning of scripture.  The meaning God wants us to attain.  These ‘revelations’ remain consistent with God’s love and is consistent with scriptural truths, so we know that it is Him.  And we have that sense of peace in our spirit, at least I do.  Sometimes, Father may show us something that seems to be way out in left field, but as we listen to the Holy Ghost and continue searching the matter, Father shows us the confirmation – in His written word or maybe a word from another Christian or that sense of peace.  The more we understand about our relationship with the Lord, letting our human spirit commune with Him through the Holy Ghost, Father can talk more and more directly with us.  Sort of like Moses on the mount and the burning bush, but there’s no burning bush.  That burning bush is now in our heart.  For the most part, Father talks to us from within –from and to our hearts, which our brain then picks up on and “clues us in”. 

Now, to clarify, I’m not saying that I’m all that (I’m not) but I do know what Father has given me to know, and even though I cannot prove in scripture, about all my experiences.  I do have a question.  When people claim to have gone to heaven, how can we prove or disprove their claim?  There are only two ways we can know for sure.  One, we actually go there with them and witness the event in person, or two the Holy Ghost confirms within our spirit that the people are being honest and truthful and it is in agreement with God’s love.  And again, that sense of peace.  We know that the Holy Ghost leads us into all truth and we have the biblical accounts where both Apostle John (Rev. 1:10, Rev. 4:1-2) and Apostle Paul (2 Corinth. 12:2) speak of heavenly experiences which confirm that it can happen (established by two or three witnesses).  Otherwise, without personal knowledge or spiritual confirmation, we can’t prove yea or nay.  When the Holy Ghost ‘confirms” in our hearts, we just know because we have a peace, within our hearts, that whatever we are challenging is true.  The reverse is also true.  If something is not in agreement with God’s being, we get an uneasy feeling.  A feeling like something just isn’t right.  Now what I mean?  Coupled with the fact that I do seek God, the best that I can.  Am I obedient 24/7?  I wish!  But when I do mess up, I repent and then move forward.  God puts my confessed sins behind Him and so do I. 

I know my experiences are from God because the Holy Ghost confirms it with His peace in my heart.  This doesn’t make me any better or any worse than any other person out there.  It’s just how Father deals with me.  And I’m letting you know that if He does it with me, He’ll do it with and for anyone.

Am I declaring myself a “super Christian”?  God forbid.  But I do talk with my heavenly Father and He talks with me.  And He uses words from the bible (scripture) or people and experiences and feelings to confirm our interaction.  He teaches me things He wants me to know, that I can then share with others.  Have I arrived?  I don’t think so.  I will declare that I have arrived when I am standing literally in the presence of my Lord and Savior and He says to me “Welcome in My good and faithful servant.”  But I can experience Him here and now, in this world and I don’t have to be subject to what my enemy, Satan, throws at me.  Deal with it?  Yes.  Be subject?  NO!

I said I wanted to talk about my relationship with my heavenly Father and I have.  Some of you may say “Whoa!  That’s awesome!” and walk away, shaking your head in disbelief.  Some of you may say “I’m with you brother, I know what you’re talking about.”  And others may say “Praise the Lord!  Keep growin’, but you still have more things to experience.”  Many of you may know a lot more scripture than I and know it better.  I’m glad and thankful for you.  Many of you may pray a lot more and better than I do.  I thank God for your dedication.  Many of you can speak better than I.  Praise God for He has or is calling you to a ministry.  But I say “Thank You Jesus for all that you’ve done for me.”  And I look forward to what’s still down the road.

So who is God?  Not just my Savior, but my friend and my companion who will never leave me nor forsake me – despite my shortcomings.

So, knowing that I have not yet to experience all that God has for me, my story continues …

Amen?

1-6-2018      Rebuilding God’s Temple

At the end of the month, our pastor will usually set a topic and ask for volunteers to do a presentation each week over the next month on that topic for Sunday morning bible study.  Because of the Christmas holiday, no one was assigned for December 31^st.  An oversight?  Possibly, because no one had volunteered for that week and we had a special speaker coming in for our Christmas program and things got a little hectic.  Anyway, the 31^st came and there was no one planned to bring a lesson.  

Father told me to be prepared and I did get the nod after everyone arrived on Sunday.   What Father had me be ready for was “Building God’s House”.

Early Saturday morning, (it could have been Friday AM), between three and six (yes, that’s AM), before I had gotten out of bed for the day (long before), Father was mulling some things through my heart (mind) about how He has been restructuring His House.  Nothing new, for He has been showing me things in this area for the past couple of years now, BUT this time He was focusing on rebuilding His house and that teamwork played a big part of rebuilding His temple in the Old Testament.  In my heart, He focused on what He had been doing with His church for some time and where He is leading us now.

I knew that there was a passage about rebuilding in the Old Testament and Nehemiah camel to mind.  But, no.  Nehemiah was called to rebuild the “walls” of Jerusalem and yes, there was teamwork involved with that, but Father said to me “I said rebuilding My temple.”  I said “OK.”  I started searching Google for rebuilding the temple and sure enough, Father led me to Ezra, whom God commissioned to get the “temple” rebuilt.  There are only ten chapters in Ezra, two of which focused on genealogy.  Father said that even though Israel faced opposition in their task, look at the favor He gave Israel through three kings – Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes (we might remember two of them for they were kings who followed Nebuchadnezzar’s reign in the book of Daniel). 

So, we’re going to take an overview look at the book of Ezra then see how it applies to the church 

(the body of Jesus Christ) today.

Ezra (the temple)

Ezra 1:2           The authorization by king Cyrus to rebuild the temple

Eza 2:1-70       The family counts (how many of Israel were involved?  Over 30,000 counted & many more families named)

Ezra 3:2           Altar for burnt offerings built

Ezra 4:1-6        The resistance from their neighbors, those around them (pretending to want to help, but??)

Ezra 5:1-17      The perseverance of Israel & support from king Darius

Ezra 6:8           God’s favor for completion of the temple

Ezra 6:15-16    The house completed

Ezra 7:13         Artaxerxes gives many from Israel permission to return to Jerusalem

Ezra 8:1-36      Those returning take their possessions plus all the spoils Nebuchadnezzar took had taken earlier

Ezra 9:1-15      Ezra acknowledges Israel’s sin while in captivity

Ezra 10:1-19    Cleansing the people and the temple of God of strange (ungodly) things   

What does this mean for us today?

Father has been restructuring the church since John Wycliffe translated the Latin Vulgate into English in the late 1300’s.  Both he and Martin Luther had a passion to provide a bible which the ‘people’ (the common man) could read for themselves.  The subsequent events in the church history since then have been God bringing His people back into alignment with His Word.   The beginning was bringing the bible to the common man late 1300’s/early 1400’s), then the Protestant Reformation of the 1500’s and into the 1600’s, the First Great Awakening of the 1700’s, the Great Awakening of the 1800’s, The Pentecostal Movement of the late 1800’s/early 1900’s, the Charismatic Movement of the mid 1900’s and now the Prophetic movement of the late 1900’s to present.  Seven seasons, six past (each roughly one hundred years) and now into the seventh.  Each phase designed to bring Christianity back into a closer relationship with our heavenly Father and in its own way, each has.

These seasons brought Christians from a relationship with God which was coming from only priests and ministers to where ‘we’ can understand the bible for ourselves, with the Holy Spirit leading us.  After all, He will lead us into all truth, will He not (John 16:13)?  But, more importantly, Father is bringing us to where we come to realize He doesn’t just want us to know ‘about Him’, a long distance relationship, but He desires to get up close and personal.  Mano e mano, or mano e womano.  Father has carried us through seveal stages of growth so the knowledge of our relationship with our Lord and Savior would grow to where we are today, ready to take that final step in our relationship – to walk with God!  To actually live in His presence even though we are still here on planet earth.  Heaven may not rest upon the whole earth at this time, but the kingdom of God is alive and well in our hearts so we can endure the things we face here in this world and influence that part of the world in the realm of our influence.  We live for Jesus!

We ARE the light of this world (Matt. 5:14), a commission Jesus gave us “Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all those things I have commanded you.”  I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:19-20).  And Jesus requires us to love, in God’s love (John 15:10) for God is love (1 John 4:7).

There is a Spiritual Explosion coming – soon.  I don’t mean within centuries (as we’ve already waited since the apostle’s time), I mean soon, within a few years.  Listen to the teachers and today’s prophets, they’re all talking about it – now, a great revival.  And the talk is intensifying.  Most prophets agree that we are in a seven year period.  But this is a growth period where Father is establishing His cadre of believers to go out and introduce the world to His true love and the true kingdom of God.  Not just a pretend facade.

Just as Father was rebuilding the “temple’ in the book of Ezra, He is rebuilding His temple, the body of Jesus Christ, today and as we said, has been doing so for a while now. 

Just as in Ezekiel, Father has gathered up all those old, dried, bleached white bones of Israel, which have been scattered all over the place, Father has been bringing those old, dry bones of today’s church back together (spiritually), setting them up in His proper alignment so those bones can be properly interconnected and in their proper places.  He has been connecting those bones with sinews and tendons so they don’t become disarrayed and scattered again, but hang together, like they’re supposed to.  He’s covering those bones and sinews with spiritual muscle so we can do what He’s called us to do.  He’s covering those bones, sinews and muscle with skin so we can look like the church we’re supposed to be – a reflection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  And now!  Now!  He’s infilling us with new levels of His Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost so we can do all the things that Jesus did – and more (John 14:12).  We are being filled afresh, to a new and greater level with His Holy Spirit so we can reflect a greater degree of His love.

If we consider the outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon the early disciples the ‘early rain’ surely we are moving into a time where the ‘latter rain’ is coming and this state will surely overshadow that which those early disciples did before (Haggai 2:9) for the latter state of the house shall be greater than the first.

The ‘rains’ coming and Father is preparing His children to be ready.  Like the five wise virgins who made sure they had enough oil and were ready when the bridegroom would come (Matt.25:1-13).  The five wise virgins were in a state of constant readiness.  That is it didn’t matter when the bridegroom returned, they would be and were ready.  They were living for Jesus on a daily basis.  They didn’t just know a neat catch phrase “WWJD” (what would Jesus do), they were living in the reality of that phrase. 

This means that we have to understand something about the bible so we can know God’s love for ourselves, on a personal level AND we have to listen to the Holy Ghost for direction for our lives so we can share that love with those around us.  Uh, that just might mean we actually have to ask for help (from Him), then listen, confirming what we hear in our heart with scripture – until we truly learn to hear God’s voice for ourselves.  When Samuel came to Eli, in the middle of the night, it took Eli three times before he realized it was God who was calling his young charge.  Samuel did as Eli suggested and when he heard God call his name a fourth time his response was “Speak, for your servant hears.” (1 Sam. 3:1-10) and Samuel became God’s spokesperson (final judge, if you will) the rest of the days he spent here on earth (remember, Samuel anointed Saul, then David as kings of Israel, no more judges).

Do we hear God?  Are we listening?  When we do hear it, do we know our heavenly Father’s voice?  It is distinctive but the enemy will throw up smoke screens and try to confuse us.   That’s why we need to know scripture, so we can know God’s nature so we can rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).  So we can know HIS voice.

Some of those dogmatic, denominational barriers have been softening.  Many Christians are actually realizing the common denominator is Jesus Christ and that means our being obedient to God, the Father, and His Word. 

The body of Christ is a body for a purpose.  Just as Israel came together, working together, to accomplish a unified goal – to rebuild the temple of God, today’s church needs to fully realize we need to work together to accomplish Father’s will in this world.  God gives each of us a specific talent.  It may be like someone else’s gift, but it is unique to the individual that only “I” can do it in the way God has given me.  Several of us may have the same gift, but we each have our own unique approach.  Some may hear me while others turn a deaf ear, but those same ‘others’ may listen to you speaking the same word because your approach is different.  Amen?

So God gives each of us a talent (gift) but “I” can’t go to everyone in the world, so Father gives many people the same talent so the world might be reached. 

And Father metes out different talents for there are many different things that need to be done.  Think of a stage production.  Of course, there are the actors, but before the play goes to stage, there had to be writers writing the storyline and script.  You need a director to assure the actors do their part.  There have to be stage hands to move props and equipment around.  There have to be lighting technicians so the audience can see the action on the stage and sound technicians.  There have to be musicians and a musical director so moods can be set for each scene.  There have to be secretaries to answer the phones and, of course, there has to be a producer (at least one), or else who foots the bill until ticket sales are realized?  There are many unique tasks to be performed and often more than person performing a given task.  TEAMWORK!  No task is less important than another.  All are necessary in order for the production to ‘come off’.

With all our denominations, has the church lost sight of teamwork within the body of Christ?  Arguing over church “dogmas”, arguing over who is right and who isn’t, rather than focusing on living in, through and for Jesus?  The devil has kept us divided and the church has suffered for it.

  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not even remotely suggesting one huge megachurch.  Even within our fellowships, we have to work together and even though we work as a team, accomplishing many different tasks. I am still me, a unique individual.  God does not want us to lose our individuality, but He does expect us to cooperate.  So, whether we are a single fellowship, a Christian denomination (Baptist, Lutheran, etc.) or the body of Christ as  a whole (all components), we need to realize that if we have confessed Jesus, believe Father has raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9) and He is now seated at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34, Acts 7:55-56) in all glory waiting to come back for His church (1 Thess. 4:13-17).  We need to cooperate.  A house divided cannot stand (Mark 3:25).  We wonder why things have been so difficult in the church.  We are not working in unison.        

Of course, where Father is working in Jesus through the Holy Ghost, the enemy (Satan) will oppose.  Just as those around Jerusalem spoke against the rebuilding the physical temple, more so, we can expect greater opposition as God rebuilds His Spiritual temple here on earth.  But understand this, Satan cannot come against us without the Father’s permission (Job 1:6-12).  Having said that, Father does buffet us to keep us on track, that is why He allows Satan to come against us, for our benefit (2 Corinth. 12:1-9, Paul’s thorn).  We need to remember that Jesus is always with us (Heb. 13:5-8).  We are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:37-39) because we abide in Him (John 15:1-13).

 And as we see in Ezra, Father will give us favor with those around us, even those in authority.  In this book (Ezra) God’s favor is shown through several kings not only the beginning, but in the continuance and conclusion of the building of the temple.  Can we expect any less as Father rebuilds His Spiritual temple?  Jesus said He would raise the temple on the third day (John 2:19), not the one of stone and mortar but the Spiritual temple of God (John 20:1-31) and we, also, are the temple of God, are we not (1 Corinth. 6:19)?  Jesus had favor with the Father and with man (Luke 2:52) and He promises us the same (Prov. 3:1-4), as we abide in Him.  God’s favor is a shield for us as we are righteous (in Christ Jesus) (Psalms 5:12).  Paul encourages the Romans (us) to present ourselves acceptable to God, being humble and remembering that we are all the body of Christ (Romans 12:1-5).  Father will grow us individually and in unity.

We have a calling on our lives, no matter how great or how small (there is no small task with God).  First, we need to recognize what that calling is, pursue it, then perform the task Father has set before us. 

As we grow there will be opposition, we also need to keep in mind that it is not the person or situation that’s coming against us but Satan and/or his demons.  We take on the whole armor of God for we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood but against the powers, principalities, rulers of darkness which are in this world operating under spiritual wickedness in high places so we should not falter but rather stand fast in Jesus Christ (Eph. 6:10-12).

And as we stand in Christ Jesus, we will discover that we have favor not only with God, but with those around us.

Now, I mentioned a Spiritual explosion and many of today’s preachers and prophets are talking about a great revival coming. 

I prefer to say “Spiritual explosion” because what is coming after this season is more than just a ‘revival’.  Two years ago I asked Father what is coming after this season and He said “a Spiritual explosion’.  Father is putting the components in place during these seven years which started in January 2015.  We will see rumblings and some manifestation of the explosion as these seven years progress, but in the next seven years the explosion fully manifest.  It will be going full steam!  God will be glorified amidst spiritual warfare and souls will come to know His true love and how to abide in Him.  Thus all believers can secure their place in heaven (John 14:2-3), their name in the book of life (John 20:12-15).

Amen?