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Lordship of Christ in Our Lives

Lordship of Christ in Our Lives

Who is your Lord?

Who/what governs your spirit is your Lord. For most people, it’s a fortress of lies, because most are under the sway of this world, which is a cloud of lies governed by the Father of lies. 1 John 5:19, John 8:44 But I want to encourage you to seek the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth, to govern your souls because then you have eternal life, because who is of God never dies.

1 Corinthians 12:3 …and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Only by the Holy Spirit can we say that Jesus Christ is Lord in our lives, because it’s the Holy Spirit who prepares our soul to receive the Spirit of Christ, or the Spirit of God, so that He governs every aspect of our soul, thus has Lordship.

Holy Spirit Prepares The Temple

We are given the Holy Spirit to prepare our soul to receive the Spirit of God; to build His temple in us. 1 John 2:27 Having the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Spirit of God are two different things; they are different ways we relate to and experience God in our lives. The first prepares us for the second. When God comes to us as the Holy Spirit, He is coming to instruct and prepare our souls to receive His Spirit, the Spirit that was in Christ. Ephesians 4:13 The Holy Spirit is with us, but not one with our souls. John 16:13 When the Spirit of God is in us, then God is one with our souls. John 17:21

The Holy Spirit works with us to build the temple, our soul, which God can dwell in. Our part is to engage His instruction in all areas of our lives, make time to be taught by Him, be still to listen to Him, be a diligent student, a disciple, but greater be a child learning from his Father, acts few take time to do. For those who do, they are renewed in truth, thus prepared to be united to God in truth and spirit. John 15:8

God’s temple is our soul crafted in truth, a soul of truth. A soul of lies can’t house or be one with the Spirit of God. Thus the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. The Holy Spirit writes the truth on our hearts. Jeremiah 31:33 After our refinement, the Spirit of God comes makes His home in us. 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 5:10

John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Without a prepared soul for Christ to dwell in, He can’t be Lord of our soul because He can’t dwell within it. Our soul has to be washed and renewed in the word of truth. Truth brings life. Lies bring death. The soul prepared and renewed in truth is the soul who will receive His Spirit. This is why knowing God, the Truth, is the foundation to eternal life, which is Christ, the Spirit of God dwelling in us. John 17:3, Hebrews 3:10-11 This is why we are exhorted to get wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 4:7 By them God’s temple is built. Ephesians 2:19-22

Why Many Called, Few Chosen

When God indwelt human flesh in Christ, He gave the ability to all people to be able to build a temple in their soul, which He could dwell. However, though the seed, the Word, was provided to build that temple only some of it took root as in the parable of the sower. Matthew 13:3-9 Few walk this path of being Christ’s disciple and learning Truth from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 7:14 This is why there is an elect; a remnant of believers in the end. This is why many are called by few chosen. Matthew 22:14 Few have taken time to seek and learn truth directly from the Holy Spirit, to be prepared to be the dwelling place of God’s spirit. Few actually have become disciples of Christ, as the apostles were instructed to make. Matthew 28:19 Most have gone their own way giving lip service to the Lordship of Christ, making it something it wasn’t and leading themselves and many astray. Luke 6:39

Reality of God’s Spirit in You

If you are one who is going through this intimate instruction and are taught by God Himself, then God will come to dwell in your soul. John 6:45 He comes little by little, as you can imagine it’s a tremendous change and our minds need time to acclimate. But when He does it’s very clear. No crazy signs or visions are needed, because the very core of you changes.

As God fills you, so does all that He is including His righteousness. This is what it is to have the righteousness of Christ; it’s a very real change. You become right-minded, thus righteous, in your ways, desires, thoughts and actions. You become spirit-minded, as your thoughts are governed by Him. You experience the fruit of the spirit in tangible ways in your life; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control because His Spirit is in you. As God continues to fill you, these expand. You abide in rest in every area of your life. Hebrews 4:10 God governs your soul, so there is no effort; you are at rest like a child delighting in each moment of the day, as He directs you. Just as you didn’t have to effort to sin, you don’t have to effort to be or have any of these gifts. You just are, because the type of spirit directing your soul has changed. This experience is when Christ is truly Lord, when His kingdom has come to reign in you. You come to this Lordship by embracing the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life to bring you to this point of God’s Spirit filling you.

There are many who say Christ is Lord, yet they (or the fortress of lies) still govern their lives. They are fooling themselves. Perhaps, they are learning from the Holy Spirit, and in time will experience His Lordship, but most aren’t diligently learning truth from the Holy Spirit, being a disciple of Christ, so most are far from this reality. When your Spirit is governed by God Himself, your life testifies to His presence in you, all things become new. God’s Spirit in you is a magnificent reality. There is nothing fake about it, yet today it’s become gross hypocrisy that leads many astray. 2 Timothy 3:5

Be honest about who God is or isn’t to you and in your life. To have the Spirit of God is a tremendous reality, ones our lives but can’t help reflect. If as many professed to have Him did, this world would be a very different place. Think about it. This honesty is the first step toward Truth.


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Be a Tree: Rest

Be a Tree: Rest

One of my greatest temptations is to try to fix myself instead of entrust ALL to God. Not sure why it’s still an issue, as I’ve seen over and over again that my efforts avail to frustration, failure, and bondage while God’s work has brought deliverance. Perhaps until now I never really took time to consider just how useless my efforts are and more importantly how contrary they are to God’s instructions to rest in Him, thus a sin.

I suppose to be Mrs. Fix-it tempts me because this philosophy is everywhere in our society and it speaks to our desire to be in control (to be able to have life go according to our will). It paints the illusion that the changes I desire are occurring. This is why the self-help philosophy (as many religions are) is so captivating, you feel you are doing something, taking control, thus moving forward. But, it’s an illusion and instead places huge burdens we can’t really manage. Feeling the sand bags on my shoulders is a sure sign I’m striving when I should be trusting God.

God calls us to rest, wait, and trust. His commandments aren’t burdensome. 1 John 5:3 His yoke is easy and His burden light. Matthew 11:30 When we live His way, we are trusting in Him and not ourselves to perform ALL things for us. Psalm 57:2 God’s way is the only way that makes any real significant transformation for good, true good, in our lives because only He is good.

God calls us to enter into His rest. If we don’t we are being disobedient. Hebrews 4:10-11 Entering into His rest means to cease striving from ours works in all things as He did from His. Could God be that good? Yes.

Most every religion is about your works, about “the law”; what you do in your strength to be who you are suppose to be. They’re about taming your self-desires so that you live a life that is acceptable and good (according to that religion’s definitions of these terms). But what God, the Creator, calls us to isn’t a religion of laws, but to die to our self-will ruling altogether and become a new creation that is a part of His divine nature. As a part of Him, we desire what He does. It isn’t living out some law; it’s living according to His will because it’s who we are as a part of Him.

God is the Creator, not us. He invites us to be a new creation by His design and power. It isn’t taming our old self; it’s all the old things passing away and all things becoming new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 God is the One who works in us. Phil 2:13 We are His workmanship. Ephesians 2:10 It’s a completely different way of thinking that is unlike anything this world offers, because it can’t. The world can’t create something entirely new, but God can and does in us.

God’s gift of eternal life, His life, is real and powerful. The manifestation of His Spirit in us comes little by little, not all at once. This pacing is His design to teach us numerous truths along the way; mercy, love, grace, compassion, humility, perfection of His will, and His sovereignty. Think of all the things we learn by going through this process and it not being immediate. If instant transformation was best, then that is how God would have created it.

Because it isn’t an instant experience, when my impatience starts to intrude, I want to take charge and speed things up. It doesn’t work that way. I’m not the Creator, God is. My part is to rest in His work.

God compares us to trees to teach us about His process of design in making us into who He desires us to be. The tree is in the seed. But the tree is far greater than the seed. We start as a seed. As we are planted in good soil, God’s truth, we start to grow. A tree doesn’t effort its growth; it grows because it’s planted in good soil with proper water and light. We are to let God grow us into the plant He created us to be in all our uniqueness as we abide in Him. We are to let Him be the authority in who we are and what we do. He is God after all.

What is our part then? To abide in the good soil, God’s Truth, and leave the rest up to Him. We are the tree. Have you ever seen a tree strive to grow differently than it does?

When I think about being a part of the divine, I imagine God’s pure and perfect love united to truth flowing through me into the lives of others. Every thought, word and action is governed by His love. My temptation is to try to do this myself or at least speed things up. God gave us a much a better way than our own efforts. He gave us His Spirit and by His life dwelling in us, it changes everything. God makes my love abound, not me. 1 Thessalonians 3:12 When I try, not only am I striving and not resting, trying to tame my rebellious flesh, trying to do God’s job, embracing a “religion” instead of the power of God flowing through me, carrying a burden that I’ll never fulfill, but I’m disobeying God. 1 Thess 4:9

Be planted in good soil, and leave the rest to God. When you do, He will grow you into who you are supposed to be. You will grow in the manner and rate that is best for you. You will abide in rest and peace because you are doing your part and trusting God to do His. It’s truly a much better way to live and the only way to true and abundant life.

God is faithful, perfect in His care. Let go and trust Him. Have no confidence in the flesh or in your ability to “create” yourself. He calls us to this rest and level of trust.

Be A Tree

Workmanship of my Maker
Letting go of being my own creator

A beautiful tree of His design
Fashioned to a new state of mind.

Resting in the soil of truth eternal
Is my daily labor for this small kernel.

Nourished to a majestic tree
Fashioned as no other to be.

His light shines ever brighter
Lifting my soul somewhere higher.

To the heavenly places of His domain
Releasing the strongholds of suffering and pain.

My life I commit to His hands
Destroying the wickedness by His plans.

Breathing in my soul His life divine
A part of His nature, one of a kind.

All my striving is in vain
For I’m not the Creator, but the slain.

Letting go I surrender to His mold
New life awaits as I enter into His fold.

~ Rachel DiPaolo
August 4, 2011


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Why Leave the Church System??

Why Leave the Church System??

In this society, we’ve been conditioned to be handed things with instant gratification. (money – credit cards, food – McDonald’s, necessities – Walmart, relationships – Facebook, success – network marketing). We’re being taught and conditioned to this mindset. This mentality has become foundational to the church system – people tell you who God is and what God wants from you; then you do it.

Being a part of organized religion is often a first step for many of us, because we don’t know what else to do. So we follow what others tell us to do. But some of us come to a place where we sense there is “more”. And a restless awakens our hearts to seek after that “more” we are being called to and often that means moving beyond the boundaries of organized religion.

In organized religion as a whole, instead of you seeking to deeply know God, you are handed a pre-packaged God; a package deal of say a prayer, join the church, serve the church, and go to heaven. The church institution tells you how to pray, how to worship, how to tithe, and how to serve God. Instead of being lead by the Holy Spirit; you are led by a human. Each week you’re instructed by others on who God is, how to act and what He wants – instead of seeking Him yourself. However, seeking is foundational to a life with God. This is the one act that should be done above all others; yet it is deemed optional and not necessary. That slight in error has a grievous ripple effect.

1 Chronicles 16:10-11 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually

As God (and what a life following Him entails) are “handed” to you, seeking isn’t necessary. The act of spending time one-on-one daily with God seeking His face and the instruction of the Holy Spirit isn’t deemed essential to eternal life; therefore that’s why most don’t do it. However, in reality you gain the essentials to true life through seeking. Seeking leads to knowing, which leads to trusting, which leads to a true belief, repentance of self, dying to self, true surrender and a love for God that puts Him first. In addition, there is often a fear instilled in believers by the church in seeking on their own. They are warned to be careful to not go astray – in other words, the church will protect you from going astray. This false fear breeds the blind leading the blind mentality. Matthew 15:14

Since we’ve been conditioned by the society at large to be “handed” things it doesn’t cause us to pause when it pertains to God – though it should. God is not calling us to a religion but to a relationship. The church structure today is like giving someone a distorted painting of a place verses travelling there and experiencing it yourself. The church hands you a picture of the kingdom, a relationship with God, yet prohibits people from entering in by this plug and play mentality. Matthew 23:13 As one is captivated by the spoon-feeding, because it does have a temporary high as all instant things do, no “personal” relationship is developed by the believer. There is only an engagement to a structured system telling you who God is and what He wants from you. The relationship is with the church, not God.

With this pre-packaged God, people can’t hear God. It’s not part of the package because all they receive is from a person, not God. They aren’t connected to God. They only have a faulty image, and haven’t walked, talked and gone through life with Him. Thus their beliefs are in the system and not God. Their trust is in the words of people and not God. They’ve gone through life with an image and praying to that image, because they haven’t spent time seeking God’s face to know Him as He is, something no one else can do for them. Because they haven’t sought; they don’t see the difference. Only in the light, do you realize the darkness. Therefore they aren’t listening to God. They are listening to people talk about God believing they have a relationship because that is what they are told. This “receiving” and not “seeking”  is how many are and will be deceived.

This ever increasing mentality is one reason why those who are seeking are leaving the church – they see it for what it is; an offering of pre-packaged God. They aren’t into following people but God. They don’t want a faulty image handed to them. They want a real relationship. They want true fellowship with God and others. They see the idolatry of it. They see the damage of it; the plug and play that leaves souls starving and bound in affliction, pain, and loneliness as they once were.

As the church system is structured – individual seeking isn’t necessary. It’s optional. Yet, that is the one act that is to be above all others for a believer. Seeking leads to knowing, trusting and abiding with God in truth and spirit. It isn’t instant. It’s a journey that most are kept from walking by this erroneous mentality.

Like the other instant gratifications in our lives that have brought more problems than good, quadruple that and you have a taste of what this mentality does to a soul as it keeps them from an intimate union with God. Matthew 23:15

God loves us more than we can imagine. He wants us to intimately know Him, not live in some substitute reality of Him. Seek Him and you’ll find true life.

Pre-Packaged God

Come and see what we have to offer thee
A God of instant play, don’t delay
A ticket to heaven, come eat the leaven
No time to waste, come in haste

We give all you seek, we are humble and meek
Worship with us, as us, be us
One of our kind is a path for the blind
Say a prayer, live without care
Be good to your brother, love your mother

All is fulfilled with only a small bill
Your soul to keep, to own, to reap
We’ll fill your need, we’ll stop the bleed
Look no more, serve the board

Grow our club, to one blood
By a pre-packaged God to give a lost mob
Count the numbers, rejoice in the plunder
Souls trapped in lies, bound by disguise

In us you can trust, listen to us you must
No need to seek, we have the answers to keep
Don’t seek in private, don’t even try it
You’ll be taken away by evil’s sway
Stay with us, be us, trust us

A pre-packaged God, the path to trod

~Rachel DiPaolo