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Worshipping False Images of God

Worshipping False Images of God

If you are worshipping a God who torments souls forever, you are worshipping a false image of God crafted by Satan.  This is a WAKE UP call to not be deceived into believing a false image of God and to seek to know God in truth and spirit.  Christ is at the door, and no one wants to be as one in the verse below who thought he/she was worshipping Him, but wasn’t, but instead was serving a false image of the lawless one…

“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!’ Matthew 7:22-23

Seek God face to face outside the church system ways and doctrine, which proliferates this false images, and you will find a different God; a God of true, powerful, and righteous love. Not one who says, worship me or torment forever. But One who gave His life that you might be purified, sanctified and abide with Him in holy, righteous love forever.

False Images of Religions

Throughout religions there are an abundance of false images of God. And yes, the religion of Christianity has them too. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 One of the main ones is this concept of God torturing souls for eternity. It’s monstrous. It’s a doctrine/belief grounded in fear, torment, pain, and suffering. It’s used to scare people into “accepting Christ”. It’s the goodness of God that leads to repentance, not fear. Romans 2:4 Perfect love, which is God, drives out all fear. 1 John 4:18 Satan is of fear. God is of love. They are on opposite sides.

This image along with others is why believers are leaving the church system. The churches are worshipping false images of God. Why would you worship at a pagan temple? You wouldn’t. That’s why they leave. Lamentations 2:7, Matthew 24:5, 2 Corinthians 6:14

Satan’s Image of God

Satan makes himself to be as God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 He creates images which people worship, thus they are worshipping him. Revelation 13 As for the image of a false God in Christianity, we see it illustrated in Daniel 3 in the story of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, where all people were commanded, for it was law, to worship the image of him, he set up. If they didn’t they were thrown into a fiery furnace. Daniel 3:6-7 Sound familiar? Mainstream Christianity teaches a strikingly similar thing; if you don’t worship their God, then you thrown in the fiery furnace of eternal torment. This has been a prevailing “gospel” in much of Christianity; worship Christ or be eternally tormented. Is this the Christ, or an anti-Christ, standing where he shouldn’t and showing himself to be God?

Satan is far more shrewd than mere humans. He knows the scriptures and twists them so those who are who untaught by the Holy Spirit aren’t able to discern but believe his lies. 2 Peter 3:16 He is a roaring lion of fear.

Satan is the Father of lies and a murder from the beginning and many have fallen for his lies; as testified by this world of depravity.

John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

The description of a God of eternal torment ISN’T who the true living God of love is. This isn’t who Christ Jesus showed God to be at all! But the opposite. He came and demonstrated His love, mercy and compassion on a deceived, lost, broken and fallen humanity. Christ came to show us the love of the Father; His forgiveness of us while we were dead in our trespasses. Colossians 2:13 The message of His salvation for mankind and the message of eternal torment are in opposition to each other. Christ came to redeem souls; souls that can’t save themselves. He conquered death. His salvation plan entails restoration, regeneration and abundant love and mercy. If you deny what He did, you don’t know Him, and you deny Him.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

God’s Judgment

Yes there will be a judgment of flaming fire as our God is a consuming fire. 2 Thess 1:7-8 People are judged for their works, their beliefs.  But it’s of love because it destroys the wickedness that destroys us, and brings in His kingdom’s reign of righteousness and love. His judgment brings correction which leads the world learning righteousness. Isaiah 26:9 God’s plan of salvation is to save this lost world where no one sought Him. Isisah 53:6 It’s to train and establish their hearts in righteousness so they can walk in His ways and abide with Him in love for eternity. Hebrews 8:9-11 God loves us. In that love, He destroys wickedness that torments our souls; He doesn’t proliferate it for eternity. Wickedness will perish and all will know Him and praise Him for His abundant mercy on mankind.

Imagine living for an eternity knowing that your neighbor is being tortured for eternity. This is contrary to God, His character, and His plan of salvation that is the fulfillment of His righteousness, holiness, and love.

Be clear about the huge distinction between a god of fear, Satan, and a God of love, the One True God.  The veil is being lifted on the images that Satan has set up; the anti-Christ who shows himself to be Christ, yet the opposite. Don’t give into the delusion. If you deny that Christ came to deliver this world from death .. then you are denying the true Christ, for this is who He is. 1 Corin 15:55 He is the victor. He is life. He will be all and in all.


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Making Cookies & Worship of Our Work

Making Cookies & Worship of Our Work

Don’t let the picture fool you, this is a VERY IMPORTANT truth to understand.

 

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

There is a saying around our house when we think we are doing anything to “help God out” that reminds us it’s all Him and nothing of us; we’re just making cookies. Anything “good” or “useful” we do for God is Him working in and through us and not us at all.

As a young girl, I loved helping my mom bake cookies; especially my much needed role as taster <smiles>. In my young mind, I believed I was a much greater help than I actually was. It was ALL my mom’s doing. Yet, my mom graciously allowed me to delight in the fun of baking with her. She gave me little tasks to do like stirring the ingredients together, which she always gave a few extra swirls. Yet to me, I was making some of the best cookies in the world!

She encouraged me in “helping” her because it was a wonderful bonding time for the both of us. She wanted me to “help”, but it wasn’t for my amazing assistance but because she loved me and took pleasure in making them together and seeing my joy in playing a part.

We are like the child who is helping their mom make cookies. We don’t do anything of good on our own; it’s all God. He lets us take part because it’s a delight to Him and us. We are able to do what we do because He is governing, directing and performing all things for us. We can’t throw God off; we won’t mess up His plans; and He works out all perfectly. In every action and word, as His offspring we can trust He is faithful in directing and using us according to His ways, which are not our ways.

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Establishing our own Righteousness 

Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

“Making Cookies” serves to remind us, we are not to be crafting our own righteousness, because we can’t. A twisted truth derived from the religious community is how we serve God. We want to be serving, working and doing for God because deep down it makes us feel like a better person; which is establishing our own righteousness. Instead of wholly relying on the righteous of God to fill and govern our lives, we are relying on ourselves.

Worshipping the Work of Our Hands

Isaiah 2:8 Their land is also full of idols; They worship the work of their own hands, That which their own fingers have made

This mentality leads to worshipping the work of our hands. It’s looking to our ability; as in to provide, protect, heal, redeem, teach, and fix situations; the essence of self-reliance, self-sufficient, being in control and independence. Matthew 7:22-23, Proverbs 14:16

Our Part: Abide

John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

God is spirit. We are flesh and spirit. To experience God in the flesh, we have to allow our spirits to be united, influenced and governed by Him. When we do, His nature manifests in our lives in the forms of peace, rest, power, joy, blessing, and righteous love.

Our part is to abide in unity with God. In fellowship with God that leads to unity, we are listening, obeying and gaining trust to relinquish all control to God’s ways and work. As our self-will steps aside, He runs our souls and lives. We cease to judge and work and He governs.  If I didn’t bake cookies with my mom, then I wouldn’t have taken part in that bonding time with her or the fruit of our interaction, yummy cookies. God moves through us. But any goodness or good works are of Him, not us. Big difference. Are you getting it?

Rest is Power

Psalm 57:2 I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.

Being attached to the vine and God moving through us as He wills is central to abiding in His rest. Hebrews 4:9-11 At rest, our self-will is nullified, and God’s will is ruling. We cease from our works and God works. In this rest, the power of God flows.

You see the true power of God, when you stop efforting and let Him work. To be governed (also used by) by God is to let go of all control, and let God determine each step; steps often counter to what you, religion, or the world would dictate. It’s letting go of all images of who and what you should be doing, and let God direct you daily. It’s following His still small voice, daily. Your life is His venue to work as He wills in you and others. In this our lives become a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1 In this state, we lack the awareness of what our left hand is doing from the right. Becuase its not us, but God.

Matthew 6:3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

This framework removes self-righteousness, because you aren’t doing anything but obeying His voice. It removes fears that you aren’t doing enough or did or said the wrong thing. In this truth, our hearts overflow with peace, praise and joy. So delight in making cookies and don’t make any more of it.


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Mount Zion is Awaiting You

Mount Zion is Awaiting You

 

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

In a previous post, I mentioned the transition that is occurring from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. The kingdom of darkness has been ruling since the Garden of Eden when self-will took over, but now history is replaying itself from the beginning and redemption is at hand. God is calling His people out of Babylon and to enter into Zion, the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. It’s your refuge, fortress and defense in these days, as I will show you.

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

As death came through one man, how much more life through the One? Yet we’ve haven’t seen this happen. Death and sin have clearly been reigning on the earth as lies prevailed. But that reign is coming to an end and faith is the victory. 1 John 5:4 The faith is the faith of Christ (belief of pure truth in the power and love of God); the only One with the faith to destroy death. This faith has entered the world as a mustard seed and is growing. Matthew 13:31-32 It’s a faith available to you by Christ’s spirit dwelling within you and leading you in the paths of righteous love. Hebrews 12:2 Your part is to listen and follow to His voice. It’s the baptism of the spirit, a good conscious, because you are directed and governed by God. 1 Peter 3:21

Romans 5:15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.

Entering Into The Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of God, Zion, is growing in power and grace. 1 Peter 1:13 This Kingdom of Truth is where God’s ways reign. Those who dwell there live by the spirit of God within them. Romans 8:14 They obey His still small voice saying, “walk this way” turning at His rebuke. Isaiah 30:21, Proverbs 1:23. In doing so they enter His rest, which is the venue of His power. (When you are at rest, complete trust in God, God is at work, thus His power flows through you.)

God’s truth is taking over and consuming the lies. If you are a part of Him, rest and peace will grow in your life as you follow His voice of truth. John 10:4  In following truth, you’ll escape the manifestation of the lies. 2 Thess 2:10 Being a part of Zion is being governed by God. Therefore, you are in a place of rest in your life, because it’s not your effort but His. Hebrews 4:9-11 Rest is the ark; it’s the good conscious of God in you. 1 Peter 3:20-21 Rest is the rapture out of the tribulation coming on the kingdom of darkness. Rev 3:10 Rest is trusting fully in God and not self, thus listening and walking in His ways. If you are living according to His ways, you are abiding in His kingdom and will experience rest on all sides as the wall of fire around the kingdom is your protection and defense. Zechariah 2:5, Hebrews 12:29 Now we see why we are instructed to diligently enter into this rest.

God’s spirit of righteous love is being poured out. Isaiah 44:3 If you have oil in your lamp, the spirit of truth in your soul, then you will embrace this voice of your Good Shepherd leading you into the green pastures and still waters (rest). Matthew 25:8-13

A Warning

I’ve talked about “fake” love in a recent video. The righteous love of God has never been poured out like it is now. In the void, people have entertained copycats of His love believing it to be His love. Matthew 7:22-23 It’s been forced and contrived. It’s a love that deceives one into thinking they have God’s love, when they don’t. Embracing a fake love is a blockade to engaging the true living God. God is real. Nothing about Him is fake. God abhors hypocrisy. It’s of the devil not God. Yet people have proclaimed His love when they haven’t experienced it. We give what we are. The Pharisees thought they knew God. They created an image of God, fake righteous love, that kept them from seeing pure love, even as He stood right in front of them. Make not the same mistake. When you have the love of God, nothing is the same in your life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 For those who have hoped and hungered for this love knowing their love is corrupted, now is the time for that hope to be fulfilled.

Our beliefs are going to fully manifest themselves. This is the judgment to come upon the world. 1 Corinthians 3:13 If we’ve been cultivating belief in the ways of this world, like religion and mankind’s wisdom, and letting these shape our beliefs instead of God, then the ramifications of those beliefs will be manifesting as the death that they are. If we’ve been cultivating belief in the true God, then we will heed His voice that leads to eternal life.

Have Ears to Hear

God is speaking to you. Listen. Listen to His voice guiding you. As you step out and follow in faith, you’ll learn to discern it more clearly. In time, you’ll want to give up all that is of the self-will and desire to be completely governed by Him, for He is the righteous love we desire. As you do, you will enter deeper into His rest. The Bible serves as a witness to confirm truth as you listen. Seek to trust in His voice above all others. As you trust in Him, all fear will flee for perfect love drives out fear.

We reap what we sow. Sow truth and righteous love by following the Good Shepherd’s voice; and you will grow in rest thus the power of God despite growing unrest around you.


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The End of Evil’s Reign

The End of Evil’s Reign

 

I’ve mentioned before, there are two paths leading to two spiritual kingdoms in this earth; one of lies and the other truth.

The kingdom of lies has prevailed since the Garden of Eden. Resulting in sin and death reigning. Lies believed and acted upon is sin and sin gives way to death and all it entails. James 1:15 Its dominion is extensive so that nothing of this flesh life is outside its influence. It’s the kingdom we are born into, thus born into sin. True believers have lived with the hope of redemption from this kingdom, and now this hope is coming to fruition as Christ’s spirit is resurrected in this earth.

Babylon is the kingdom of darkness (kingdom of lies, which is hell). Think of it as a huge web of interlocking lies that covers the earth and taints every thought and action of mankind. It’s a web that lays between mankind and God blinding them to His perfect righteous love. It shapes the core beliefs of mankind. It imprisions them from the truth. It controls their behaviors manifesting every type of evil; from obvious evil to evil disguised as good. It produces all that is contrary to God; every evil, pain, suffering, hardship, sickness, bondage, and death. Under its sway, people destroy themselves because they believe lies to be truth. It blocks them of what is of true life; contentment, joy, peace, rest, righteous love, abundance, value, wisdom, truth, eternal life. When lies rule in our minds, it manifests spiritual death.

The end of this earth age, as spoken in the Bible, is the end of this kingdom’s reign. In it’s destruction a new age is born; for as God destroys He creates. This transition has begun.

We’ve witnessed storms, hardships, around us. They are to awaken us to what lays ahead and thus my adamant warning to you; seek God for He is truth and in Him there is no death. Proverbs 12:28 In the end of this age, the lies are destroyed, and truth and righteousness take their place. Though this is a glorious truth, the journey into the kingdom of truth will be difficult to those who have built their lives on lies, and haven’t sought the word of life. Matthew 7:24-27, James 1:21 Without truth, people have no where to turn when their lies start imploding upon themselves. If we are living by lies, which we believe to be truth, and push deeper into those lies as times grow desperate because that’s all we’ve cultivated, then great tribulation awaits our spirits. But it doesn’t have to be, if we would seek God as He has instructed. Amos 5:4

As Christ’s spirit returns filling His prepared vessels, the destruction of the lies will advance. The lies are all the concepts, ideas, thoughts, behaviors that people live by and trust. They are concepts people believe to be truth; what they trust in to deliver them from whatever discomforts them, and prosper them in this earth.  As the lies are destroyed, the beliefs that people have trusted will no longer “deliver” or “work for” them. (They never did “work”, it was God’s mercy.) Instead, walking those ways will bring increasing unrest.  Psalm 52

For example, if you are trusting in your ability to provide for you household; the work of your hands, it will grow increasingly challenging. You’ll experience growing discomfort, angst, stress, worry, suffering and loss because those lies are being destroyed.

God has delayed Christ’s return desiring His creation to repent and give up their souls to be inhabited by Him; to be governed by His righteous love. 2 Peter 3:9 Its the only way to walk in righteousness, thus life. Though people have been governed by lies, His delay has kept back the full ramification of them. But as God returns, His very presence, a consuming fire, will destroy the lies, causing more angst for many, for He is truth and that is what truth does. If you are holding onto those lies and your life, house, is built on those lies, it will be destroyed, yet your spirit will be refined through the fire. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

As a consuming fire, if we are a part of God, we won’t be destroyed because we are walking in His ways which are life, which is replacing the lies. We will be like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, totally protected in the midst of the fire. Now is the time to flee Babylon (web of lies) and go to the mountain (truths) of God.

As in the days of Noah, a flood is upon us, not of water, but of God’s truth, the living water that will destroy the kingdom of darkness. You are either walking on the water with Christ, or sinking into the sea for lack of faith; a faith established by knowing and trusting God into rest where His power reigns.

To be continued ….  entering into the Kingdom of God .


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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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Don’t Quench the Spirit

Don’t Quench the Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

How do you NOT quench the Holy Spirit? You cultivate a framework of truth within your soul.

At the gym, I saw a woman who I hadn’t seen in a while. I use to see her just about every time I was there. She looked great! She noticeably had still been coming. I felt a little prompting in my spirit to tell her how good she looked; to tell her the hard effort was paying off. Though, I had seen her many times, we had never exchanged words. The regulars at the gym know each other. We may not always say much, but we know who we are. I walked over and said something like, “I just wanted to tell you, you look great, I mean really good.” She smiled and said, “Thanks”. Then I went on with my workout and she hers. A week later, I saw her again. She handed me a card. She thanked me for what I had said to her. She had been struggling and I said exactly what she needed to hear. By her eyes, there was a lot behind that simple statement. For her to take time to write a note, it must have meant a lot. I thought I was giving a simple and obvious compliment. I’m learning that following a little prompting can manifest something much bigger.

We’ve all felt that little nudge in our spirit to do or say something. Sometimes we listen. Sometimes we don’t.

Why do we listen to some nudges and ignore others? This may seem like a superfluous issue, but it’s important to spend sometime contemplating it. If it’s the Holy Spirit leading us, we want to be responsive to Him and not ignore Him. Following His lead is the life we are to walk. Following His lead takes us down the paths of abundant life. When we listen and respond to Him, our ability to hear Him grows. If we don’t; it diminishes.

So why?

As we seek God’s face in the Bible with the instruction of the Holy Spirit, a framework of truth is established in our soul. This framework enhances the voice of the Holy Spirit because it’s a support system for His words. It allows Him to dwell more fully in us. Imagine your mind as a vast place. It’s filled with lies and truth. Whichever one is more predominant affects your ability to hear the Spirit, the voice of truth, at any one time and in certain areas. In the areas you know truth; you are more likely to hear Him. In the areas you don’t, you are less likely. In other words, if what He says is in line with your beliefs, His voice is more likely to be supported and acted upon. If what He says contradicts what you believe, it’s more likely to be ignored. This is why gaining the truth from the Bible by the instruction of the Spirit is critical.

For example, if you believe that compliments are great encouragements to others no matter how big or small, when the Spirit prompts you to give one you are more likely to. If you believe that they don’t really make a difference, you are more likely to ignore Him.

If we believe something contrary to God’s truth, it will be much harder to hear and thus respond to the Spirit’s leading. As soon as it enters our head, the lies start to quench His voice. Thoughts derived from fears, laziness, or irrelevance begin to smother the prompting.

For example, suppose we are part of an unhealthy fellowship and God wants to move us into a healthy one, so His Spirit starts nudging us. If we are untrained by the Word in this area, then we will be quick to dismiss the prompting. At that nudge, a flood of thoughts will pour into our minds about fear of being excluded, fear of appearing judging, justification that no fellowship is perfect, the lie that there’s no where else to go, and fear of losing friends and that little voice is suppressed. Without an accurate framework of truth about a healthy fellowship, we are more likely to dismiss the prompting to better pastures, because there is nothing to support His leading. Conversely, if we have been abiding in the Bible and building truth, then we are more likely to respond. When we do, then we move into a place where God wants us to be.

The key to walking in truth and following the Spirit’s prompting is to read, abide, and meditate on the ENTIRE Bible trusting the Holy Spirit to teach us. When we understand the lies that abound, then we realize our need for the truth. Truth breeds life, lies breed death. Thus whatever we are following, lies or truth, will manifest death or life in our lives.

Everything in the Bible is for our instruction. It’s the tool by which the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. Over time, as we abide in His instruction, a framework of truth is constructed in our soul. This framework guards us from deception and allows our spirit to flourish. Then as He prompts us to act, we have the support system within us to respond to His nudges and to follow them. This is how we begin to walk in wisdom, truth and abundant life.

How many times I haven’t followed those promptings, but justified them away. This post has been truly convicting and enlightening to me. But the past is done. It’s time to press forward and persist in cultivating the framework of truth in our souls so we don’t quench the Spirit, but listen and act. When we do, we will become a useful tool of God. We are able to walk in His will of life and not ours of death. We are able to walk in a unity with God. We are able to impact others in ways we’ll never thought we could because the Spirit is moving through us.


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Circle of Life … PART 2

Circle of Life … PART 2

Continued from previous post … Circles of Life … To be Born Again Part 1

To be “born again” or “born from above” is to be born of the spirit of God leaving the spirit of man behind. John 3 Only by being born again into the spirit of God can we escape the bondage of the spirit of man because it is only then that we leave that circle.

Once born for a second time, the source of who we are isn’t of man but of God, thus we are new creation. Galatians 2:20. The source changes everything. No longer are we connected and tied to the corruption. Instead we are connected to God thus eternal life. Therefore the “issues” we developed and owned start to fade as the chord is broken.

Consider what this means. It’s tremendous. No longer are we bound to that spirit of man and all the corruption is creates. No longer are we bound to our destructive behaviors. No longer are we bound to our past. No longer are we bound to those who hurt us. This is a significant part of what it means to be born again – you literally start feeling and acting like a new creation. Once you’ve truly experienced this new life – it will blow your mind – literally… (more on that in a minute). It frees you from the corruption thus your “issues” and you are truly able to move into a different place in our soul leaving the corrupted past behind.

HOWEVER, though we are born of the Spirit of God, we can still walk in the old life like we are still in the other circle. We do this because our minds are not aligned to our new spirits. Our spirit is there – our minds have to catch up. Our bodies are machines; machines that are trained to function and respond in a certain way. Most of what we do is automated – our responses, thinking, attitudes, and perspectives. And all of these were developed when we were attached to the spirit of man, thus they are formed in corruption. Thus, our minds need to be rewired to align with our new spirit. Our machines need retraining and it starts with the hub – the mind, which directs everything else. Beliefs, ways of thinking, emotions, perspectives, attitudes, lies, and deception are all aspects of our minds that have to be renewed in God’s truth and wisdom.

As we seek God’s wisdom in the Bible and the Holy Spirit’s instruction, our minds are rewired to be in sync with the spirit of God. As a result, the “issues” we had start to dissolve and we start to live in freedom. The fruits of the spirit, the words and ways of God, God’s wisdom and truth take their place.

The renewing of the mind is a process; it isn’t instant. Further, it requires our participation. It takes dedication to seeking God’s instruction, a willingness to let go, to walk in God’s ways, and a strong desire for truth. If we don’t make this journey of renewal we will remain trapped to the spirit of man by our minds, though we have been severed from it. This is how many believers live. It’s a sad state because they have been given the key to freedom yet fail to use it.

It’s like a man who has been in prison and one day released. Though free, he continues to live as a prisoner. He doesn’t understand what it means to be free because he has been imprisoned for so long. His mind is wired to think like a prisoner and therefore hasn’t come in sync with the reality of his condition, freedom.

The renewal of our mind is an essential component of experiencing the new life we’ve been given. Though we are free we can still live like we aren’t. Spiritual birth isn’t our choice just as physical birth isn’t, but this renewal is where we do have a choice. John 3:6 When the disciples asked what is the work of God, Jesus responded it is our work is to believe in Him, which is our new life. John 6:28-29 That means our part is to spend time with God, abide in His Word, listen to the Holy Spirit, and respond in obedience to His leading. If we do, over time our minds are transformed and come in line with the spirit of God. When our minds are transform to a certain extent, we literally feel born again and like a new creation.

When we seek and commit to the journey of developing a transformed mind, we will start experiencing amazing freedom, fruit of the spirit of God, the Kingdom of God, and a new reality. We’ll experience the freedom, joy, abundance and love we’ve longed for.

Our minds are a powerful tool. We can choose to seek God and His truth or we can choose to remain as we always have been.

What circle do you want to be a part of? 1 Corinthians 15:22


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Living in the Kingdom of God NOW

Living in the Kingdom of God

NOW

Beach Walk

The other day as I was walking on the beach, I reflected upon on the bleakness of our times contrasted to the beautiful truth of God’s Kingdom here on earth. I thought about how many people are waiting for heaven when God has given us access to His Kingdom now – something few truly enter into. Most are sitting on the sideline waiting and missing out on an incredible journey now. The reflection took me back to that poignant moment in my walk – the realization of the realness of His Kingdom here on earth and in my life.

The Realness of the Kingdom on Earth

One morning many years ago, my husband came into the kitchen where I was sitting having my quiet time. He said, “Can I interrupt you for a moment?” “Sure!” I said. I’m always ready to hear an insight. He said (paraphrasing) from what he was reading and what the spirit was teaching the Kingdom of God in our lives is just as real as this physical life. Therefore, dwelling it affects our earthly lives now in very powerful and real ways. We are called to a different existence now. His words confirmed what I had been learning. Often God teaches us individually similar truths at similar times – it never ceases to amaze us.

We dived into an extraordinary conversation about the Kingdom. We volleyed back and forth on what God was showing us. Our study, our circumstances, and our conversation were uncovering this mind altering truth. God was unveiling the mystery of His Kingdom. That day catapulted our lives in a new direction. The Kingdom of God became real like the sand that runs through your fingers and the surf that dashes across your feet. We discern it differently than the physical world but its affect on us is more potent than what we see. The impact in our lives from dwelling in God’s Kingdom affects our health, family, marriage, work, everything. It isn’t pie in the sky; it’s pie you eat. We were transitioning from hearing the truth of the Kingdom to it becoming our home. It’s like hearing about a country verses traveling there.

What is the Kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God is within us. It is God’s Spirit within us. It is Him conquering the territory of our soul and moving in as King and us stepping aside. It is us being reconciled back to God through Christ’s sacrifice and dwelling in the presence of God and all that He is. In His presence, His Kingdom, I’ve experienced in substantive ways His love, mercy, truth, joy, peace, rest, comfort, deliverance, healing, power, strength, protection, provision, purity, goodness, purpose, beauty, wisdom, counsel, freedom, instruction, perfection, and sovereignty – all far beyond what the world offers. And when those things fill your life your life changes dramatically. Meditating on what He has given me in each one of these is something I often do. As we seek God’s face with our heart and soul in the truth of His Word, then these treasures become apart of our lives. It’s tremendous as I’m discovering.

The Focus of Jesus’ Teaching

Luke 4:43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

The Kingdom is the focus of Jesus’ teaching. It is the reason He came to earth. It is the place He opened to us with His eternal sacrifice, as His gift of righteousness opened the door. We need His righteousness because we have none and we only enter this Kingdom if we are spotless. The travesty is many are spiritually born and given this gift, but are stuck in the birth canal. If we neglect to enter in, learn, seek, and explore this new place then we abandon what Jesus brought us, abundant life. For God is life. It’s something we seek with our spiritual eyes, because it isn’t discerned with our physical eyes, but its power in our lives that dominates everything we do see.

The world functions by its wisdom and we, the children of God, by God’s. Just as we are born into the physical world, we are born into this spiritual one. For those who aren’t born into the spiritual, their lives function and are limited by the rules of the physical world. For us who have been spiritually born, we have a new set of rules that govern our lives as we live according to God’s wisdom. How we succeed, fulfill our dreams, define our purpose, make decisions, and obtain wisdom; and what brings joy, pleasure, and happiness are some of the areas where we learn and enjoy a new way of living.

The Journey into the Kingdom

Coming to understand how to live in our new life takes time. Just as we grow physically learning to function in the earthly realm, we grow spiritually. In order to do both we eat. In one we consume food, in the other the Truth, the Word. If we don’t nourish our spirits we won’t mature and will continue to live as we always have, outside His promises. How many mal-nourished Christians do you see? How many do you see feasting on the pure Word, and not man’s watered-down interpretation? If we ate more of His pure truth we would grow and live as we are called in His presence and not as mere men. 1 Corinthians 3:3 Why don’t you see the affects of the Kingdom in people’s lives? Because they aren’t eating or aren’t eating and digesting the pure Word of God.

For us to know and live in the Kingdom was and still is Christ’s passion. We don’t have to wait until heaven to experience a life with God that far exceeds what the world offers. Our response to Jesus’ gift of His life that allows us entrance into this world is seeking understanding and belief in all the promises of our new home. If we don’t take the time to discover its treasures, we never leave the airport. We stay just outside a world that would transform our lives. We remain in the wasteland of endless striving and insatiable hungers. Jesus came to give us life, life in His Kingdom. In it we find the abundant life He came to give. As His bride, it is our part to enter in and explore and we do by stirring the deep.

Verses to ponder about the treasures of God’s kingdom:

1. Blessing

Proverbs 10:22, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 115: 12-15

2. Provision

Psalm 81:10, 16, Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:25-33

3. Healing

Matthew 10:7-8, 2 Kings 20:5b, Psalm 30:2, James 5:15-16

4. Peace with God

Philippians 4:7 , John 14:27, John 16:33, Ephesians 2:14

5. Happiness/Joy

Psalm 144:15 , Proverbs 16:20, Proverbs 3:13, Job 5:17

6. Rest

Psalm 116:7, Psalm 55:2,2 Matthew 11:28, Philippians 4:11-13

7. Protection/Safety

Psalm 50:15, Psalm 4:8, Psalm 91:9-11, Psalm 71:3

8. Freedom

John 8:32,36, 1 Corinthians 6:12, Psalm 119:45, 2 Corinthians 3:17

9. Deliverance

Isaiah 40:4, Psalm 34:17, Psalm 32:10 , Proverbs 13:15

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Lost Art of Reflection

Lost Art of Reflection

 

Journaling = connecting and listening to your inner life.

In this busy world, who has time to sit down and reflect on life? Most people don’t. We obsess about things (now we were treated, worrying about the future, children, marriages, work and so on) as we busily try to get through the day, but that isn’t reflection. That obsessive mind talk is our soul creating mayhem because we haven’t given it time to truly process what is going on.

This world has moved far from God’s truth. With our self-wills running wild without the truth to guide us, we are creating all kinds of evil, madness, and out of control behaviors. And one is a busyness and lifestyle so consuming that we have no time to engage in the art of reflection; an art that brings harmony, centeredness, and truth to our lives. A life of reflection is a vital aspect of spiritual health.

The art of reflection is taking time to journal. Why journal? Because for most of us when we think without the guidance and focus of a pen or a keyboard our minds wander so that we can’t complete the thought we started with. Writing guides and grounds our thoughts. It puts a thought in a form we can grab a hold of and contemplate. Without the pen, we end up with a mind swarming with broken and uncompleted thoughts. Journaling allows a thorough reflection of what’s going on in our spirits and how the outside world, circumstances and people are affecting us and how we are affecting others. It allows us to process what is going on, to reflect and mediate on it. We start to see ourselves, others and situations from a clearer perspective – and when we dwell in the presence of God we see more inline with the truth. For Christians the act of reflection is extremely powerful because it isn’t just us trying to work out what is happening in our inner world, but we have the spirit of truth, the spirit of God, searching our depths and giving us the ability to see the truth.

In his book, “Ordering your Private world”, Gordon MacDonald realized how journaling helped him to come “to grips with an enormous part of his inner person that he had never been fully honest about.” I found this very true in my own life. There have been numerous times when I have sat down to write in my journal that I gained tremendous insights into myself and my situations. I thought an issue was about one thing and it ended up being about something else. Sometimes it amazes me what is truly going on in my soul, and I often wonder where I would be if I hadn’t taken the time to stop and reflect. I would probably still be trapped in my old ways of thinking and acting in a stupor and that means doing things I wish I hadn’t and creating a life I didn’t want. Once aware of the truth then we can act and respond in a way that fosters truth and life and not lies and death.

Journaling within the presence of God brings truth and thus freedom and true life to our lives. It is a time of quiet and focus which allows us to hear not only ourselves but the spirit of God dwelling in us shedding light, wisdom and truth into our souls.

If you don’t journal or haven’t in a long time, now is the time to start.