by Rachel 4 Comments
1 Peter 1:15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
As long as you believe you are a victim of the world & sin, you will never believe the power of God’s righteousness working in and through you. Life is greater than death, for God is greater than all.
by Rachel 5 Comments
Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Does God know you? Is there an intimate exchange of truth and spirit between you and God? How do you know about Him, where/whom have you learned about God? How much of what you know have you learned from God Himself, and not another? Listen to your words; is it he/she said/taught or is it God taught me? Do you obey HIS truth, words of life spoken to your spirit? To know Him is to obey Him in love. For when you know Him, you become a part of Him. John 14:23, John 17:3
If you obey in love, then you seek, listen and follow His voice above all others in everything. You move from doing what you think is good to God directing your thoughts/actions/desires. 1 Corin 8:2 When you are led by the spirit of God, you are a son/daughter of God. Romans 8:14 This intimate interaction is to know God and to be known by Him.
1 Corinthians 8:3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
Major Stumbling Block to Being Known by God; Religion
A HUGE roadblock to knowing God in truth and spirit is clinging to a religion, even the religion of Christianity (vs. pure discipleship under Christ). Religion is man-made doctrines, structures, and images defining God and things pertaining to God. Religions create false images of God. So you are interacting with an image and not the true God, thus He doesn’t know you. You can’t learn about God from another, only as He reveals Himself to you. Just as you can not truly know someone until you meet him/her yourself. Religions try to define God to you; who He is, how to worship Him, and what He expects of you. This is being led by mankind’s ways and not the spirit of God. Receiving “understanding” second hand creates false images since you’ve never meet Him, just as with another person. The multitude of denominations reveals the magnitude of mankind’s doctrines and people following the dictates of their own hearts, verses seeking the one true God. Those of God are of one spirit, not divided. 1 Corin 1:10-13 Especially for us once churched people, we have to lay our beliefs before God and seek to know Him as He is, because our understanding of God and His ways have been crafted by others and are FULL of man-made images.
The warning of Christ in Matthew 7 strikes very deeply, no one wants to be one of those spoken of in those verses. Jeremiah 16:10-13, Matthew 7:22-23, Matthew 22:13-14 Most don’t think it’s them. Many who call Lord, Lord, believe they are worshipping and serving the true God. Yet, this passage testifies to the contrary, that they were following a false image. They were serving someone, but not God, so who? Following the lawless one, creates lawlessness.
Example: Images of God
As lies and deception permeate religions, people don’t realize they are worshiping a false image of God …
Image 1
A God who governs by fear and guilt.
Followers “come to Him” out of fear; to avoid eternal torment
He killed Jesus in pouring His wrath on him because of people’s sin
He eternally torments those who don’t worship Him as He says
He fosters a suffering life, “for your good”
Guilt abides in followers to move them to action
He has little power in people’s life, thus hardship and affliction
Life is one of suffering until one dies and goes to heaven
Evil is the victor for eternity; for lives spend eternity in hell
Hypocritical love and a judging spirit abound in followers in response to their beliefs
Image 2
A God who governs by righteous love
Followers “come to Him” out of love, not fear
He gave up His spirit so He could fill many to give them eternal life (1 Corin 2:8, 1 Peter 2:24)
Consequences of actions are for the sake of turning people to paths of life so they are healed and renewed
He uses chastening to keep people from the paths of death
He gives abundant life now to those who walk in truth
He came to redeem people from death, not send them there
His will is sovereign, thus death is destroyed, not victor
Love is in sincerity and truth
Mercy triumphs over judgment
Can you tell who is who? Can you see the different spirits? Can you see that many promote the first image; an image counter (anti) to the true God?
Purging False Images of God
Because of the abundance of false images:
1. Seek the instruction of God’s Spirit to teach and build a solid foundation of truth in your life.
2. Leave religion behind and take a break from the teachings of others so you can learn to become a disciple of Christ, and not others. It’s extremely honoring to God to seek Him with such diligence, to put your trust in Him to teach you for this is His command and desire.
3. In your time with Him each morning, put all church/religious doctrines aside and seek to know God as He is by listening to His Spirit speaking words of life to your spirit and through His Word.
4. Come in the humility that God desires; admitting you could be misled in your beliefs about Him, and seek to learn from Him. Psalm 25:9
5. Ask for all lies to be revealed and purged. Be willing to let go of every doctrine you learned in church/family/fellowships, and submit to His sovereignty and instruction.
6. Let God teach you so you are able to stand on the true Rock, the truth. Know Him as He is by coming come to Him in spirit (no images) and truth (as He is not by false images or doctrines.)
Testimony of His Presence in Your Life
How do you know you are known by God? You experience His presence. God is truth and love. If you are truly following God, your life bears the fruit of His presence and grows brighter and brighter in truth/light/righteousness unto the perfect day. Proverbs 4:18 His presence manifests wisdom, joy, peace, healing, blessing, rest, and the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 When you come to Him in truth, this is what you receive as you walk with Him in righteousness. It’s a witness to the truth. This fruit bearing reveals His presence in your life; fruit by His doing, not your self-efforts. Galatians 5:22-23 It’s not by self-effort that transformation comes, but by His Spirit taking over you. 1 Corin 6:9-10
Amos 5:21-24
I hate, I despise your feast days,
And I do not savor your sacred assemblies.
22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
I will not accept them,
Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.
23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs,
For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.
24 But let justice run down like water,
And righteousness like a mighty stream.
As God returns to redeem this earth, people will see what they were truly worshipping, as all is revealed. In that revelation, many will bear great shame and say Lord, Lord, Ezekiel 36:32, 43:10, Hosea 4:19 We need to put all religion aside and come to God one-on-one to listen and learn from Him as He has commanded, then we will discover the true God of amazing love and mercy. Amos 5:4-6
Amos 4:12 “Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”
by Rachel 2 Comments
John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.
Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ‘
Talking about how we can understand the deep truths of the Bible in the union of Christ’s spirit within us and the words of life.
1 Peter 4:15-17 But let NONE OF YOUR SUFFER as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Talking about different types of suffering, and how we don’t need to suffer because of sin. We’ve been given the grace to walk in righteousness, thus life, which we have been given in Christ.
by Rachel 2 Comments
1 Corinthians 2:16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God–and righteousness and sanctification and redemption–
Matthew 22:12-14 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a WEDDING GARMENT?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but FEW are chosen.”
Recently, I clearly saw the beast in each one of us; the internal beast that Christ came to destroy and put His Spirit of righteous love in its place. It was very powerful, full of lies of destruction, and in a form often undetected for what it truly is, though it abides within us. Christ battle isn’t against us; it’s against this internal beast of wickedness that seeks to destroy us. Understanding the true battle is essential to understanding God’s plan of salvation.
This internal beast is our corrupted controlling self-will influenced by evil. 1 John 5:19 It’s the controlling spirit of our soul, which we are born with, that makes us slaves to sin. Romans 6:16-19 It’s a corrupted operating system governing every thought and action in the ways of death instead of life. This operating system is full of lies, feasts on lies, and serves lies. (Lies that we hold as our truth.) Its outputs are lies; lies about who we are, who God is, what love is, what truth is and on and on. The lies manifest sin, which manifests pain, suffering, and hardship, which leads to death. James 1:14-16 This beastly entity abides in all people, thus why all are dead. 1 Corin 15:22 It’s contrary to God; therefore all it produces are the fruits of death. By giving us His spirit, Christ came to free mankind from this beast that imprisons our souls and makes us corrupted, defiled, vile, and dead. Now is the time for this promise to manifest. 1 Peter 1:5, 9, 13
This internal beast spirit rules us, until it’s put to death and a new governing spirit takes its place. This new spirit is the salvation of Christ given to all. We’ve hoped in this salvation of receiving a new operating system, the mind of Christ crafted in pure truth and righteous love that enables us to be eternal creations with God. That hope is now being realized to those who have been waiting and watching.
Preparation Period: Putting on the Wedding Garments
Now is the time to get dressed. God’s spirit is preparing those who come to Him in truth and spirit by clothing them in garments of pure light/truth/righteousness so they can be married to Christ, which means people are starting to walk in true righteousness by the power of God like never before.
These garments are necessary to 1. Stand in the day of the fiery trial coming upon the whole earth Isaiah 33:14-16 and 2. Come into the wedding feast to be joined with Christ for eternity. Matthew 22:12-14
How? Christ is pouring the eternal life spirit into souls who are ready and willing to receive. John 6:63 This Spirit of wisdom is the mind of Christ and it starts small within us. 1 Corin 1:30, Luke 17:21. If you live in righteousness, you live in eternal life. As we listen and obey His lead, He guides us into the paths of righteousness where there is no death. He leads us to abundant life inside and out. He leads us into the kingdom of heaven here on earth. He leads us to safety and protection in a world whose ways are crumbling and becoming full of depravity, pain and suffering. Our part is to listen and obey His instruction to us, which we can by His power filling us as we heed His word. Ephesians 1:19
Christ the perfect husband washing His Bride in the word. Ephesians 5:26, John 17:17 His Spirit is personally speaking words of life to souls who are listening. He’s teaching, leading and enabling people to abide in paths of righteousness. There is a new power working in the souls of those receiving Him. John 14:23 He is opening their eyes to see their sin and the consequences of it, thus enabling them to chose the way of life. Luke 4:18 As they walk uprightly, everything around them starts to change for life is replacing where death once dwelled. We create our surroundings by our faith. If we are walking in His righteousness, His faith, which is life, then we create life, eternal life, and works without end. These lives will stand victoriously in the judgment coming upon the earth. Transformations into deep joy, abundant rest, blessings and true love are occurring as people walk the paths of holiness by the power of His spirit in them. As a result, they are adorned with garments of holiness and prepared to enter the wedding feast.
To go through this transition, first we have to understand what is currently controlling us. When we see and understand this internal beast in us, then we can die to it, which is abandoning it. It isn’t simply turning from a sin here and here, but the source which sin comes from. It’s knowing the very core of us is corrupt and abandoning our self-will altogether. Romans 7:4 When we no longer listen or follow it, it loses all power. A lie is only powerful if you believe it as truth. Once truth enters in, it becomes nothing. Psalm 91:4
Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
But then what/who are we following? If we truly abandon our self-will, we will embrace the new operating system of the Spirit of Christ. We have to follow something. It starts with small steps of obedience to God’s voice of righteousness within us, and continues until He governs every aspect of our lives. This transition is sowing on the wedding garments. As a result, we are transformed into eternal creations and the world around changes as righteous love flows from us, thus the kingdom of God starts to be established on the earth.
Rejecting Christ’s Spirit
Many will not head this voice, and embrace the cleansing spirit of Christ knocking on the door of their hearts. Revelation 3:20 They will continue to follow the dictates of their own hearts. Jeremiah 16:12 Outside the kingdom of God (not heeding His voice) will be a place without mercy, as mercy is lifted to expose the works of darkness and reveal hearts. Jeremiah 16:5 Those outside will face eternal fire, eternal punishment, everlasting burnings, weeping and gnashing of teeth, and outer darkness … all descriptions of the judgment of God that will destroy the corrupted self-will spirit they refused to give up. It will be a tribulation unlike any other because wickedness and our corrupted self will perish.
All will be seasoned with fire. Mark 9:49 But if we have the garments of righteousness, the fire will not harm us. Instead we will be greatly rewarded and be to the praise, honor and glory of Christ. 1 Peter 1:7 If we don’t then we will suffer great loss, punishment for correction, and judgment by the works of our own doing. 1 Corin 3:15 Now is the time to seek God. To reap mercy and righteousness .. that He may pour His righteousness into us Hosea 10:12-14.
God will not be mocked we will reap what we sow. Sow the wedding garments so you can be married to Christ. Galatians 6:7 He has poured out His grace, that you may walk with Him in righteousness. Abide in this grace. 1 Peter 1:13
Thank Christ for the amazing gift of His spirit which can be united and enter our soul and govern us instead of the beast. This is our salvation, our defense, and our life for it is the spirit of eternal life.
Christ is coming as a thief. Where to look? Look within.
Matthew 24:43 “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Satan is the master in this verse. (notation 4-15-15: Satan is the cumulative false-judging self of humankind) The kingdoms of this world belong to him. Matthew 4:8-9 The whole world is under his sway. 1 John 5:19 At Christ’s return, Christ penetrates Satan’s kingdom of darkness as a thief thus in a way unknown to Satan and to the world.
The exact details of Christ’s return have been hidden from our eyes in the scriptures so the manifestation of His return is protected from Satan’s scheming as the verse above reveals. However, as the Day of the Lord and the revelation of Jesus Christ dawn upon us, we will start to learn and experience the perfection of God’s plan as it unfolds. God has been teaching me about this plan by opening up scriptures and putting them together in a perfect formation like I’ve never seen. Thus, one reason I believe the end is upon us. I’m sharing with you what I’m learning so that if you too are being taught by God, the posts will serve as a confirmation to some amazing truths. The truth is our protection. How important it is to seek, know, trust and believe.
A Mustard Seed
Christ’s kingdom starts as a mustard seed. Matthew 13:31 His Kingdom is within us.
Luke 17:21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Many are looking externally for Christ’s Kingdom, just as they did in the NT at Christ’s first coming. The religious people of Christ’s day read the scriptures, but they did not understand. They didn’t trust upon God’s timing for revelation but relied on their own logical deduction. Hebrews 4:2, 1 Corin 2:14 Never a good idea. As a result they conceived of an image of His Kingdom of their own creation, an image that they clung to as truth and therefore missed Christ although He stood right in front of them.
The same situation is happening again. People are looking and waiting for physical images of Christ’s return, which they’ve received from religious leaders. For example, they are looking for people to be physically raptured into the clouds or to disappear. They are waiting for the physical body of Christ to come in the physical clouds. There are many variations and many images. And until people see events that fit their man-contrived images, they won’t think Christ has returned. Don’t fall into the same trap, but seek to be taught by God through the scriptures. To learn of God, we have to be willing to let go of all images, otherwise those images will mar and hide the true God, truth, and what lies ahead.
There is much confusion about Christ’s return, and much speculation is outwardly focused. But if that is your focus, you will miss the call of the Bridegroom.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
The Kingdom of God is Within
The Kingdom of God is built from within us. We are the temple. Christ died so that His Spirit could be resurrected in us. He gave up His Spirit as it was, so that He could be resurrected in many.
John 12:23-24 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified ” Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
Christ’s physical resurrection is a testimony that His words are true. It’s proof to His words; He came to destroy death, give life, and resurrect our dead spiritual souls by filling us with His perfect righteous spirit. (Things we are waiting to see fulfilled, which I believe is beginning as the fig tree buds Matthew 24:31-32)
Bridegroom’s Call
With Christ coming as a thief, a separation will occur that you see throughout the NT. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 Some are hearing His call, thus being filled with His faith/spirit, which is growing in them a new mind. Hebrews 12:2 This new mind is their salvation as they become new creations; creations who can stand in the fiery presence of a holy God. Isaiah 33:6 They are experiencing a truly born-again experience as all becomes new in and by Christ. As they receive the mind of Christ and thus walking in true wisdom, they are growing in peace, true love, joy and righteousness as they are being filled with Him. They are entering the Kingdom of Heaven on earth; a place of safety and rest.
Others are not attending to that call, because they are holding onto false images. They are headed deeper in the wrong direction. This path leads to outer darkness, a place without mercy as mercy is being lifted to reveal the works of darkness and bring in judgment. Matthew 22:13, Hosea 1:6, 2 Thess 2:6-11 It’s a place of increasing fear as one bad decision leads to another. The kingdom of darkness, ruled by Satan who rules by fear, is God’s tool of judgment as people’s choices and beliefs are manifesting for what they are – rebellion to God thus full of death and destruction. Luke 21:25-26 God’s mercy has sustained people and protected them, when it is lifted the depravity of their minds will be revealed leading to more depravity. The wisdom they thought they had will manifest for what it is, ways of death. Luke 19:26
When the mustard seed reveals itself, Satan knows His time is short, woe to the inhabitants of the earth. Now is the time to listen to the Bridegroom’s call and become an inhabitant of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Revelation 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
Talking about how this has been greatly neglected … it is gaining the mind of Christ, which is our salvation through the Tribulation.
God speaks to us in a still, small voice .. by Christ, His spirit becomes our good conscience to lead us into the paths of righteousness. True repentance is listening and following His counsel, direction and word to us within our spirit (harmonizing with the Bible) that leads us in the details of our lives. This is truly the helmet of salvation because as we walk this path of repentance, we gain the mind of Christ. Christ is our salvation – this mind is our salvation for it saves us from ourselves, our controlling self-will. That newness of mind is our protection these days and the days ahead as Christ will destroy all that is not of Him. He is the truth. If we hold onto the lies and don’t embrace His counsel to each one of us, we are going to suffer in the coming tribulation. Now is the time to repent .. truly repent
Living Light