Five-Fold Today Prepare the Way - Increasing Humilty - The Heart of David - Rise Up A Cry - The Mandate of Jesus Christ - Buried Treasure - Tender Days - Scratch My Ears
Prepare the Way
George G. Delo
Paul reiterates his original contention — we are not to sin because
we are now under grace and not law. He makes it plain here that even
though we are free from the power of sin and have the grace to walk
in righteousness, we still have the ability to sin. God never removes
our free will. We can choose to disobey the Holy Spirit and move back
under the law of sin and death.
But Paul makes it clear that the consequences of returning to sin are
dire — we will be brought under bondage again to that sin which will
lead to death. We reap what we sow. The choice is ours. Jesus set us
free from the power of sin but like the proverb tells us: "As a dog
returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly" (Proverbs
26:11). Only a fool would want to return to a life of slavery and
death. Once we are set free we are commanded to stand fast in our
liberty by living a life of faith in Christ and not to return to the
yoke of bondage.
Once free we must remain free. Turning back to sin will bring new
life to the sin nature and restore its power over our lives. This is
why we are exhorted not to give the devil even a foothold. Once you
open that door he will take everything he can get. God has given us
the grace and power to live in righteousness and truth free from the
enemy's power but we must walk in it by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We must learn how to possess our vessels in sanctification and honor.
This is part of the renewal process of the word of God. Our minds are
to be renewed by the word of God and our new man is to be renewed in
knowledge. We are to grow in the grace of God and the knowledge of
the Lord Jesus Christ. The righteous are to live by faith. We are to
live in abiding, unbroken relationship with the Lord. As we walk in
the light we maintain fellowship with the Lord and His blood keeps us
clean from all sin and its power. I would suggest that you read
Joshua chapter 23 and see how the Israelites were exhorted to live
once they were brought into the promised land and had rest from their
enemies: adhering to God's word; keeping separate from the world;
cleaving to the Lord in love.
It is dangerous to turn back from the Lord after coming into the
truth of deliverance. We are warned several times in the scriptures
of the seriousness of turning back after being enlightened and
tasting of the goodness of God.
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain
fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will
devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies
without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much
worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has
trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant
by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of
grace? (Hebrews 10:26-29)
Paul is talking about those who have truly entered in to the fullness
of God — those who have received the knowledge of the truth and
tasted the heavenly gift and have received the Holy Spirit and have
tasted the word and experienced the power of God. He is talking to
those who have received the knowledge of truth, not just heard it;
those who have been sanctified by the blood of the covenant and the
grace of God. There is left no doubt he is talking about saved,
sanctified, serious Christians.
When once we have received the truth that sets us free and have
experienced the power of God's grace bringing us into the life of
Christ, and then we turn back in willful sin becoming slaves once
again to the power of darkness, we are putting Jesus to an open
shame, trampling Him underfoot, counting the sacrificial blood of the
covenant as some common thing, and insulting the Spirit of grace!
That's pretty serious. We are basically saying that the sacrifice of
Christ was all for nought, that His blood and grace were not good
enough for us. In olden times, when an army defeated its enemies,
they would take some of the captives and parade them in the streets
in cages to humiliate them and to celebrate their victory. When we
were crucified with Christ we made a public spectacle of Satan having
broken his hold over us and having removed his dominion and power
from our lives. But when we turn back to the bondage of sin, we now
make a public spectacle of Christ having denied the power of His
blood and grace. It is as though Christ is in a cage and Satan is
celebrating his victory over us once again.
These scriptures alone ought to show us the power of Christ's
atonement and its ability to set us free and enable us to live
righteously before God. As we began in Romans 6:15, What then? Shall
we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
It is unthinkable to take lightly what the Lord has done for us and
continue in a life of sin. His grace is not license to sin but rather
the power of God not to sin. Our members are to be instruments of
righteousness and truth that reveal the glory of God so that others
will see and believe and have life in Jesus Christ.
www.angelfire.com/va2/powerfortoday gdelo@juno.com
Increasing Humilty
David Howe
Increasing humility - With increasing humility comes increasing
spiritual authority.
Most to least - The way down is the way up.
Taking up your cross.
For the way down in the worlds eyes - Is the way up in the eyes of
God.
Dead to sin - Alive in Christ - More than conquerors - Obedience
better than sacrifice - Worshiping in spirit and truth.
Being like minded - Having the same love – One in spirit and purpose
- Without selfish ambition or vain conceit - Considering others
better than yourself - Welcoming Strangers.
Attitude the same as Christ Jesus – Shining as stars - As a city set
on a hill.
Servants Commissioned by God - Appointed unto service - Workmen
approved by God.
Not lording it over others.
Look at how Paul lived for Christ - Look at his attitude - From
the least of the apostles to the chief of sinners - From a Pharisee
of Pharisees to freedom in the Word and spirit.
Dave Howe
The Heart of David
Don Franklin
Who can feed the hungry? Who can heal the multitudes? Who can prophesy
the future: the Nazarene, the Lord of Glory, He who walks on the water,
He who holds the winds in his right hand. The seas and the waves obey
him. Who can fill the house? What man can fill this place - only God,
only God. Cry unto God; cry unto God. "God of Israel, God of David, God
of Abraham faithful and true, we call upon God; we call upon God."
It is not through vain repetitious prayer that you shall be heard like the
heathen. It is not through hours and hours and hours and even cutting
yourself at the altar crying and crying; that is not why you will be
heard. But you will be heard for a purity of heart. You will be heard
for a right motive. You will be heard when your heart melts with Mine and
your soul thirsts for the things that I thirst for, saith the Lord.
When you desire to reach out and bring people in, to heal them and help
them and bless them and allow them to become part of your family, then
will Heaven hear; then will Heaven move. Then will the God of the Heavens
come and fulfill all that you have been crying for. Shout unto God with
the voice of triumph. Move with the heart of David. God hears the heart
of David. All your vain repetitions bounce off the stone walls of Heaven,
but God hears the heart of David and draws nigh unto those who have a
broken spirit and a contrite heart, to revive the spirit of the broken one.
Oh, I am the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity whose name is holy
and I dwell with those who have a broken and a contrite spirit to revive
the spirit of the contrite one. Call on God; call on God; call on God.
Call on the God of David who is concerned about the lambs of the flock,
who cares about the little ones. Call upon the tenderness, the mercy and
the love of God and see the miracle of the Lord.
Don Franklin @ Carpenters Home Church
Rise Up A Cry
Carylann Hartley
There shall rise up a cry from My people, not a cry of fear of pain, but a
battle cry that will break every stronghold of the enemy. That cry will
come forth in a power that you have not seen or heard before. I am preparing
My people now for the time is coming soon when you will need to walk in My
power and My strength more than you can even imagine.
Learn to do it now! Learn to be strong in Me! Learn to rely on Me and not
yourself or others. Learn to hear and obey My voice instantly so that you
will not falter or fall in the days ahead but rather be a part of My Army -
advancing to smash the enemy and release My people.
Be ready to shout the battle cry that will set the captives free. Prepare
and be free yourself. Come to Me and I will set you free!
Chart4God@aol.com
The Mandate of Jesus Christ
Jim Grayson
Why the Mandate?
As you go, preach this message: `The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the
sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7,8
Before we examine the aspects of the mandate Jesus gave the church, it
would be beneficial to answer the question of, "Why the mandate? Why did
Jesus issue this command to those who follow Him?" I've thought about that a
lot over the years. To me, the mandate is the will of God and Jesus always
did the will of the Father, as should we. If Jesus was obedient to His will,
then it should be the same for us but we have somehow exempted ourselves
through the centuries. The mandate was given to the followers of Jesus, all
of them, and it remains today. God is so willing to touch His kids that He
was and is willing to empower His kids to do so. It takes a life of death to
self for this to occur because no one can walk in that sort of power without
it. That, in itself, will disqualify most of us. That causes a pain in my
heart to think of that but it's true. If we are not walking in that power,
it's because we have disqualified ourselves in some way, most likely by being
blinded by the enemy to the fact we should have it to begin with. Unbelief
and lack of faith is killing us, beloved. It has been for many, many years.
We are to be imitators of God in all ways (Ephesians 5:1). We need to
understand that and stop lying down so the enemy can kill us.
The mandate exemplifies the power of the Cross of Christ. When the Bible
speaks of redemption, it means we have been set free from the law of sin and
death. That means the wages of sin which includes bondage, poverty, sickness
and even premature death...anything which rears it's unholy head against that
which is holy. The enemy has blinded us to this, also, for we only believe
we have been set free from sin but we don't believe we have been set free
from the effects of sin. Again, this is killing us. If we are intolerant of
sin in our lives and in the Body of Christ (we are intolerant, aren't we?),
then we should also be intolerant of the effects of sin. How can we go about
with such a cavalier attitude toward that which is killing us? How is it
we're so blind to the truth, that the mandate of Jesus is the full
representation of the Love of God. Look at these verses of Scripture.
God is love. 1 John 4:16
God is Love, my friends, and Love never, ever fails. One of the reasons
we have not seen the full manifestation of the resurrection power of the Holy
Spirit in our midst is we have not become fully convinced of the absolute
love of God. We say God loves us with a love we cannot comprehend but then
we say it's His will for us to be sick and in bondage. What on earth is
wrong with us? Until we come to the realization that God wants, greatly
desires, to bless us, heal us, make us prosper and set us free, we will never
walk in the mandate of Jesus...never. We'll stay just like we are, making
excuses for our lack of faith and understanding of the Scriptures which are
supposed to teach us the ways of God, the heart of God. Until we begin to
think with the mind of Christ, which is in every believer, we'll stay where
we are and continue to lack enough to help others, be in bondage, be sick and
die in agony. Until we agree with the mandate, that it is God's will to
save, heal, deliver and raise the dead, we'll continue to believe the lies
set forth by the enemy and by a lot of the leadership of the church. They
have presented a faith based on the past, not on the Word of God and it's to
their shame they have done so. Much of this was born centuries ago from the
harlot church of Rome. She will get her reward for the damage she has done
to God's people. That's God's promise.
The mandate is the love of God expressed to His kids on this earth. He
wants not only to save us and give us a Home in Heaven when we leave here but
He also wants to set us free, so we can set others free. How can we set
others free if we are in bondage ourselves? Can blind guides lead the blind?
They couldn't in the times of Jesus and they still can't today. They have
done much right but have done much to damage the image of a Holy, Righteous
and Loving Father God. It's time to set the record straight for in doing so,
we will prepare the Bride for the return of the soon coming Kingly Groom. It
must be done. Dare we to break out of the hellish patterns of our old
beliefs to accept the truth of God? I think so. We must.
I love you, beloved of God. You have my heart. Write me any time. I'd
love to hear from you for I, too, have much to learn.
Strength and Honor,
AFresheningWind@aol.com
Buried Treasure
Dan Durfee
I see a large ship, setting out to sea. It is like one of the old sailing
ships of the early-mid 1800s, with many sails, and very large. Picture it
if you can. See the wooden structure, see the many sails, listen for the
strong breeze. It has no engine, of course. It rides upon the wind. The
captain has learned how to catch the best gusts, and has become an expert of
both the sea and the sky. The flag it flies is brilliant and distinct. It
has a bright red cross, on a pure white background. It has a crest that
means "kind but uncompromising." It sails the waves, and it's captain uses
no written charts but one, and he follows it from within.
This day, like most, he comes suddenly upon the remains of another vessel,
destroyed by the wind and waves. All that is left on the surface of the sea
are planks and parts, to which the surviving crew cling for life. This one
had an enormous explosion of some kind, and there is smoke, and oil, and
panic everywhere.
The captain of the sailing ship sees the crew holding on to fragments of the
ship and hears their cries for rescue. He directs his vessel toward the
survivors and begins to help them onto his ship. Remarkably, some refuse
his rescue. Some will not let go of the pieces of what is left of their own
ship, even though it will no longer carry them anywhere, and even though the
pieces they cling to are sinking from being water logged. Others see the
flag and become angry; they will not submit to the captain of THIS ship.
"Go away," they declare! The captain weeps, and moves away; he knows he
can only pick up those who are willing to board. Sadly, many decide to stay
in the water, and many will drown and die there. But many, "desperate as
only the drowning can be," let go of their pieces of ship, and swim to the
large rescue vessel. Gladly they come on board, and happy they are to be
rescued. They are unusually grateful for the captain's help, and dedicate
their life to him. "Can we now be your crew and help?" Some, however,
simply want to get to land, and change their minds about helping, once they
are there. They have not seen that God has made them for the sea, and
cannot live long on the land. Even though the captain knows this, he must
let them go, too. Many stay with him, however, and they take many voyages
together. Their rescues are great. One time, they come upon what is left
of a ship, it's cargo, and crew, thrown overboard left for dead, by a band
of marauding pirates. For the most part, they find many ships that simply
were not built for the wind and the waves of the seas in this particular
time. The builders of these ships, constructed vessels with designs made
for an earlier time. They will not last in this one.
Eventually, many faithful crew members are trained, and given their own
ships to sail. "Remember," says the captain. "You can only stay afloat in
the seas we sail, if you fly the flag of your destiny, and refuse not anyone
who would be rescued." Happily, the ones he has trained believe, and not
one he has given his wisdom, love, and care fail in their mission. They,
like him, will give their lives for the lost. "Putting yourself at risk is
the very nature and heart of the Great Captain," he tells them. "Those in
the sea are not here for us; we are here for them. Are you willing,?" he
asks them at their commencement and release. All say, "yes."
"One final matter," he reminds them, "and this is most critical. Though
you are not made for the land, you must return to the land and replenish
your stores. Do not forget! Even in all of your rescuing, you must
remember that you can only carry the provisional limits of your ship. And
your crew needs rest and solitude as well. A good captain never forgets.
For we were all once in the sea ourselves."
dandurfee1@netscape.net
Tender Days
Ray Mossie
I had a dream two nights ago that I was doing ministry and every word, even
the simplest expression, I spoke had great power and miracles, signs and
wonders followed. It seemed unusual, as this is certainly not the case
currently in the natural. However, it was all God and I was amazed. In the
dream, the devil was absolutely beside himself with anger. He released the
hordes of hell against me in an attempt to kill me and shut me up. However,
there was a great army of angels, which God had positioned around me so that
nothing could touch me. These guardian angels went with me everywhere. When I
awoke, I was excited and felt very refreshed. Then today when I awoke, the
Lord spoke to me. He said.
"Do not pack a bag and leave yet, for the tender days are coming."
I asked, "What are the 'tender days' my Lord?"
He said.
The tender days are days when there will be a great out pouring of My Spirit
as has never, ever been seen before. It will be a time of great rejoicing for
My people, says the Lord.but, it will be a time of great trouble for My
enemies. The time is coming, says the Lord, when I will bring in My Shekinah,
(sp?) Glory into your temples and you will find that things that were
impossible will come to pass instantly. You will move mountains with your
words, says the Lord. Keep in mind that you must be obedient to the unction
and calling of My Spirit, says the Lord. I AM calling the high priests of My
family into action. You will take cities by storm with only your words, and
My power, says the Lord. Come into My presence now and call forth a might
army of My angels to do my bidding. Don't any longer settle for second place.
Come sup with Me, and dine at My table that I have prepared for you. For have
I not said in My word that I have prepared a place for you? Now go and walk
that fine line between righteousness & truth, and death & evil, for I have
made a path for you, narrow and straight. Come to Me now for the time is
ripe, the harvest is near. You needn't fear any longer the works of the evil
one, for I have taken care of him. He is no longer a threat to you. Don't
give up hope, but give in to My glory and wait on Me, for I will send you
forth in honor among men. No longer will you play second fiddle. You will
keep the precious ones safe with your words of wisdom. Keep working; keep
moving ahead, time is short. Come into My purposes now. Don't delay any
longer. Come to Me now, says the Lord of hosts. Amen. Ezekiel Chapter 5 and
Chapters 28-29.
Scratch My Ears
By Chuck McLean
In recent weeks, I have become more and more aware of the truth of Paul's
warning to Timothy. Growing up, I was taught that people who would not
"endure sound doctrine" were people who didn't want to hear the Bible any
more. But many of the folks I see today who will not endure sound doctrine
are avid Bible readers and religious TV viewers. They are attending all
the conferences, filling notebooks full of sermon notes. They are some of
the most religious people I know.
Some have become quasi-experts in Jewish tradition. They are observing the
feasts and wearing yarmulkes and prayer shawls. They follow after rabbis
and eschew the name "Jesus" for the more Hebraic "Yeshua". There are
rapidly-growing cadres of kosher charismatics and wannabe Israelites.
Others have become end-time prophecy wizards. They follow Israeli current
events in the newspaper as Holy Writ. They chart the current geopolitical
winds, divining Israel's past and present to find the American Christian's
place in the Last Days. They measure every rising world leader to ferret
out the Antichrist.
Then, there are the new "Freedom Riders" who have shaken off the shackles
of their religious past to such an extent that their freedom is their new
Promised Land. These are the modern Corinthians: so free and open-minded
that even gross sin and heresy are simply marks of shedding religious
bondage.
So, what am I on my soapbox about? It is about Paul's idea of "enduring
sound doctrine". I am seeing so many today whose endurance is running out,
causing them to become sidetracked on their spiritual journey. For to
"endure" sound doctrine is to bear up under the changes in our lives and
in our hearts that come with the formation of the character of Christ. It
is to remain still as the truth re-forms us in Christ's image. And make no
mistake, there is endurance involved.
Paul tells Timothy to "correct, rebuke, and encourage; with great patience
and careful instruction". But this is not always a pleasant process. Who
wants to be corrected and rebuked? Who wants their ideas or
interpretations challenged? Who wants their life examined and the
unregenerate parts brought to light? No chastisement is pleasant at the
time, and many have decided that they no longer wish to endure it.
But Paul does not warn Timothy that these folks will drop their Christian
identity and go back to the world. In fact, the opposite phenomenon takes
place. They get more religious yet. They get more teachers, more sermons,
more books and tapes. Rather than have the character of Christ formed in
them, they seek to gain sufficient "spiritual" or "mystical" knowledge
that such a thing as crucifying the flesh becomes a distant memory. They
seek advancement in the Kingdom by the acquisition of mysteries. They have
"itching ears", the desire to hear just one more piece of information that
will bring them spiritual stature.
Enter the teachers, the knowledge vendors, the hawkers of "hidden
revelations". Highly in demand, they generally ply their trade at long
distance, far from personal accountability. These teachers proudly display
their resumes in order to establish their credibility, telling of the
organizations they have built or the degrees they have earned. Christians
gather their books and tapes by the carload, but know almost nothing of
the character of these men on a personal basis. (When the King James
Version says "they will 'heap' to themselves teachers", I can't help but
visualize a heap of books and tapes.)
The stock and trade of such teachers is "hidden" knowledge. The simplicity
of the Gospel is scorned and replaced by ethereal mysteries. "If they only
knew what I have discovered, then they would understand the mind of God."
"If only other men had what I have (my wisdom, dreams, visions, PhD in
Attic Greek, Jewish bloodlines, etc.) what spiritual giants they would
be!" And Christians flock to this, as they have since the first century,
hoping to draw near to God by their knowledge rather than by the ongoing
work of Christ. It is far easier to learn "new things" than it is to be
crucified and remade in the likeness of the Son of God.
Such soulish desires lead to the next stage of Paul's warning, that these
men "will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to
myths". This is not an intentional step, but a mark of the inherent
deception in the process. No one consciously decides, "Enough of this
reality, I'm going to Fantasyland for the rest of my life!" But they do
indeed take that path.
It is the seduction of Eve all over again, only with new music and
choreography. Satan, although he is the Father of Lies, has a limited
repertoire. That is, he knows only a few deceptive tunes, which he dusts
off and rearranges for every new generation of men. The folly of knowledge
that turns men from truth to myths is directly from the Garden of Eden.
Here's a replay of one of Satan's Golden Oldies:
"Dear, dear Eve! All you do all day is take care of this silly garden.
Don't you ever get tired of being second banana to that clod Adam? If you
only had that added revelation, that God-knowledge, you would be somebody!
The only thing that stands between being like you and being like God is
that special secret knowledge! It's hanging there on that big green tree.
Don't you want it? I know God's been withholding it from you, but I have
access to it. Let me pick one for you. Just take a big bite of this juicy
mystery knowledge. Tastes good, hmm? Opens your eyes, doesn't it? You
know
things God knows, like good and evil. See, you're already wiser than
anyone you know. Well, wiser than anyone except me... your friend, the
serpent. Why don't you see if Adam wants a bite?"
The modern parallel is easily seen. Men seek someone to improve their
minds, rather than change their hearts. We seek to be like God by our
knowledge, rather than to know Christ through his sufferings. And there
are always men available to guide us in this path. It is the man-road to
godhood... and it leads to death. Always has, always will.
If you see these things, please understand the next encouragement Paul
gives Timothy. "Keep your head in all things, endure hardship..." When you
face off with the mystery sellers, you will find that what they are
offering is much more attractive to the carnal man than is "take up your
cross and follow Me". You will see deceptions from the most blatant to the
most subtle. You will find real Christians swallowing real myths hook,
line, and sinker. Keep your head. God is not panicked, nor does he write
off his children. Speak the truth in love and intercede faithfully for the
brothers.
Be prepared to endure hardship. The fundamentals of Christianity will
become foolishness to some, and you will be called a fool for choosing it
over certain "new revelations". You may lose your accustomed influence.
You may be considered old-fashioned or backward if you hang on to the
simple truth of God's word. But that is of no consequence. God will give
you the grace to walk without judgment, neither judging nor being subject
to.
Chuck McLean
July 4, 2001
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under
grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present
yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey,
whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to
righteousness? (Romans 6:15,16).
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us
free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1).
That each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in
sanctification and honor (1 Thessalonians 4:4).
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have
tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy
Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the
age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance,
since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him
to an open shame (Hebrews 6:4-6).
gdelo@juno.com
Wellspring prophetic ministries England.
davehowe@fdn.co.uk
http://www.carpentershomechurch.net/prophpray.htmWhy do you call me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46
Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8
Hail the Lamb!
Love,
Jim Grayson
Lexington, Kentucky USA
afresheningwind@AOL.comIn returning and rest you shall be saved (delivered, rescued); in quietness
and confidence shall be your strength. Isa. 30.15
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct,
rebuke, and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. For the
time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to
suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of
teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their
ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head
in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,
discharge all the duties of your ministry. --2 Timothy 4:2-5
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