There is a prophetic admonition to this but you have to know the background to receive this word.
There is a wonderful story of Rebekah in the book of Genesis. It always says wonderful things about God's plan and the wisdom of Eliezer (Abraham's Servant). I won't rehearse it, but you can read a summary of the story here.
Sixteen years ago, my oldest son was 26 years old and unmarried. He had been engaged once. Things didn't work out. He had been seriously involved, but nothing came of any of it.
His heart had been broken a couple times.
He was connected thru church with a family who's oldest child, was a charming young girl. She was 12 years old. She was able, had a servants heart and was to be admired. She had very much a spirit of Rebekah. I had met her a couple times. I liked her.
My son said to me once, "she's going to make some man a wonderful wife some day." I could see in his eyes that he loved her but because of the age difference was stand offish.
Carefully, I said, "Son, maybe that man is you if you are willing to wait for her". From that moment he decided to do just that. He never said anything to the parents or the young lady. He had to be very careful.
Three years later when she was 15 he went to the parents (who at this time loved our son like their own) and told them of his love for their daughter. By then, it was apparent to all that this love was reciprocal.
When she turned 17, he was 30 and they were married. Now, ten years later and four wonderful grandchildren later the Rebekah spirit has manifested fully. She is a wonderful wife to my son and I love her like the daughter we never had.
Last night I was at church picking up some plants from VBS. They were used for the Roman theme. There was a young girl there. Veronica. She is 12 years old. Second child in the family.
She insisted in helping me load the 25 or so (some very heavy) palms. Then she helped me water them. She helped me place them. And she did it with cheer. She did it with a servants heart. I never asked a thing of her, she just tried to be helpful. Like Rebekah.
I had the same thought about her I had about my Daughter in Law years ago. She will make some man a wonderful wife someday. Some young man is noticing this girls inner beauty. Her Rebekah spirit. Her willingness to "water camels", no matter what, is very attractive.
It stands in stark contrast to the spirit of the age that relies on externals, fads and pop culture.
I don't know Miley Cyrus but I don't think her spirit has a chance of equaling the spirit I saw in Veronica and Rebekah.
But, Miley Cyrus is the spirit of our age. Oh, one other thing, Veronica is Home Schooled. The spirit of the age is not infecting her from public schools.
Now, here's the word: Older women (moms) are to teach their daughters to comport themselves. It's not whats happening. Rebekahs are few among us. Those that are there are rare and to be treasured. If in fact a man is fortunate enough to marry one, he will do anything to bestow on her whatever he has. Raising a Rebekah is hard in this culture, but the Lord would say, She is worth more than Jewels. A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Proverbs 31:10. Become a Holy Ghost Jeweler producing girls of great worth, more precious than jewels. Don't let the world press you into it's mold. That just produces cheap junk jewelry in mass production.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
I know this woman and vouch for her word from God
"Walking By the Spirit with Character and Excellence"
Knowing the Spirit of the Lord will first and foremost determine our ability to walk by the Spirit. Becoming familiar through meditation and communion will enable us to become more and more one with Him as we become familiar with His ways, His voice, and His way of moving in and through us.
As we gain understanding in just how to go about building up our own spirit man in Him, we end up interfacing with His Spirit as often as possible through meditation, speaking in tongues, worship, and studying the Word. Becoming more like Him in our thoughts will only be realized as we familiarize ourselves with who He is and how He has presented Himself to us through all of Scripture and His interaction with mankind throughout history.
In doing a study on the Spirit of the Lord, we find that when the Spirit comes upon an individual, they do what they cannot do in their own strength. The angel speaking to Zechariah summed it up beautifully.
So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts."—Zechariah 4:6
And, it doesn't matter what their gifting is, it is increased beyond what they could do on their own. Just by looking at the variety of people the Spirit of the Lord came upon in Scripture and seeing the result, we see He is not a respecter of persons from Gideon to Ezekiel to David to Jesus. The list is long, but I want to mention a few in particular.
The Spirit of the Lord
It is said of Bezalel the son of Uri, an artisan in the temple of the Lord:
And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.—Exodus 31:3-5
The verses following these go on to speak of all the rest of the artisans who were bestowed with wisdom—a particular aspect of the Spirit of the Lord referenced in Isaiah 11 that enabled them to do more in the area of creativity and skill than they could do on their own.
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears.—Isaiah 11:2-3
It's interesting that not discerning with our "natural" eyes and ears goes hand-in-hand with having the Spirit of the Lord resting upon us. Of course, we hear that all the time, but we seem to be having a hard time actually navigating that way. I hate to say it again because I know I sound like a broken record, but—it really gets down to that Greek, Western, linear mindset we are steeped in.
Scripture also speaks of the Spirit of the Lord that rested on Moses being imparted to his 70 leaders. This time it had to do with the ability to lead, which evidently the 70 did not have prior to the Spirit being placed upon them.
'Then the Lord came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again. But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. —Numbers 11: 25-26
This is an amazing circumstance that the Spirit is not subject to time and space. Two who were listed didn't come to the same location for whatever reason, and yet the Spirit was released upon them in the very same fashion. I believe it is indicative not only of the Spirit bypassing the limits we would put on physical placement, but also showing us that what is released "in the cloud" or in the temple of which the cloud was representative, is meant also for the marketplace. It was the same release with the same result. It was offensive to their mindset but, nevertheless, the mind of the Spirit was true to the purpose of God.
Evidently, the Spirit coming upon them was for a particular impartation—of leadership. It did not, however, make them perfect in their motives. Their indignation, with the way of the Spirit, was made obvious by their reaction to the two who received the same portion even though they were "not at the meeting." That is why it is so very important to allow God to take us through the process of dying to our own selves and be able to embrace His ways fully. Being anointed with the Spirit is no guarantee of possessing the character needed to carry it. We must do our part to submit to becoming like Christ.
"Walking" By the Spirit
Walking by the Spirit is so much more than just moving in signs, wonders, miracles, leadership, gifting, prophecy, etc. It is not about "what we do", but rather it is about "who we are." We seem to be finally coming into the understanding that walking by the Spirit has as much to do with our heart as it does our abilities. Walking by the Spirit has been a rare thing in the Church, a lost art for sure. What I am excited about is that I believe we have turned a corner in our understanding of just how we need to posture ourselves before the Lord to carry what He wants to pour out.
I urge you to do a study on the ones who Scripture refers to as having the Spirit of the Lord placed upon or in them. I can't take the time to go through them all in this article, but it certainly gives us something to ponder in our hearts as we position ourselves in Him for the outpouring that is coming. I would like in particular to highlight Daniel.
First of all, the king was looking for "young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans" (Daniel 1:4).
We know as the story progresses that the king wanted them fed and taught by the ways of man prevalent in that day, being given the best that the natural realm could provide. Daniel and his 3 companions heard something different from the Lord and dared to step into it, walking by the Spirit in their dispensation of time. Scripture says that he was given favor to even be able to test what he was hearing as it was drastically different from the instruction given. I believe favor accompanies us as we obey the voice of the Spirit.
Long story short, "As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams" (Daniel 1:17).
What I want to draw our attention to is the phrase "God gave them" what they possessed. It was not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord that they were endowed. While the others followed the mind of man, they followed the wisdom of the Spirit and as Scripture states, they were ten times better than the others (verse 20). Not only that, they defied the laws of physics when thrown into the fire. They possessed excellence of mind, body and spirit, and they moved in what we would call "the supernatural." I believe it was simply a natural result of walking by the Spirit.
As a result, Daniel possessed all of the following. He was a supreme example of one who walks by the Spirit in that he possessed it all—body, mind, soul and spirit.
There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.—Daniel 5:11-12
The exciting thing is that no matter what you were created to do during this lifetime, choosing to walk by the Spirit will bring increase in the natural while you are jointly partaking of the delight of moving by the Spirit. God always meant for the two realms to uphold each other, and I believe He created us in such a way that we can operate fully in both. That is the invitation as well as the challenge set before us. It is for us all, whether we are raising children at home, making discoveries in a science lab, preaching on the street, or creating the next work of art that the world scrambles to see.
In the end, the masses will not be captured by might, nor by power, BUT by the Spirit of the Lord!
JoAnn McFatter
WhiteDove Ministries
Email: contact@joannmcfatter.com
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
A Luther Portion for Reformation TODAY in the Prophetic
20 years ago while working in Germany, I became obsessed with the life times and places of Martin Luther. This was just before the wall came down. During a couple year's time I made a pilgrimage, sometimes more than once to places that he had lived, preached and worked. I wanted a sense of the man. I wanted to know the spirit of a man who was a key to reforming dead stinking religion in his day.
As a pentecostal christian I had much to admire about Luther. He studied the scriptures and began to ask, why. I had understanding of how the church that uses his name picked and chose those things that create structure when in fact that wasn't his intent all along. He was all about the priesthood of every believer. As I studied I found much wanting in the American Church of his namesake.
I won't get into theology but my upbringing in the Lutheran Church distorted the work and theology of a man God used to change the world, imperfect as he was, flawed, clumsy, human . Just like me.
Of course there were a few issues on which his writings would not pass muster today. But many of the books he penned are profoundly rich and I treasure them.
We attended great Pentecostal German Churches. I learned to love and admire the devotion of those German Christians. They reminded me of Luther. Like Reinhard Bonnke.
But, I had a holy discontent. I knew that there was a need for change. It was after the Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker revelations. I knew we needed to make a new start.
I wanted to be part of that change. I wanted to be an encourager of the change so desperately needed in an American Church that no longer worked.
Somehow I knew comprehending the anointing Luther had would be essential in understanding the last great Reformation. I asked Father to impart to me the same anointing that Martin Luther had.
One afternoon in Wittenburg at the Church where Luther is buried, all alone I was at his grave (he is buried in the floor) and asked for the same spirit He had. We visited the house where Luther and his family lived. I sat on a bench that I know he at one time sat upon. I asked for impartation, even over the hundreds of years. I stood in the little chapel that he preached in, it was smaller than I thought it would be. I knelt and asked for the same anointing.
Later we visited Wartburg Castle of a Mighty Fortress Fame. Much of it was museum in nature. But when I saw the room where he encountered the devil face to face and tossed the bottle of Ink at him, I stood in that room and asked for the same indignation and authority over dark forces.
I won't tell you I felt anything other than a connection to the great reformer and to our God.
We came back to the USA in the mid 90s with a different view of what a new Reformation might look like. What "church" could be like. It was different by far from what I saw all around me.
I was connected with people who were as hungry for change as I was. There was a prophecy (Hinkle) that changed my life. June 9, 1994. That God was going to change everything. The cleansing. A year later almost to the day Pensacola broke out. God was changing everything and it was time to get on board with what he was doing. All kinds of things began to happen. One of which was an encounter with Rodney Howard Browne before he was famous. He said to me, "Gene, this doesn't have to be unusual, you can LIVE LIKE THIS". I believed him. I do. To this day.
As changes began to accelerate, as things came into place. I recognized that the Gift of Teaching that I exercised in church was more than just taking a book or a course and walking thru it. I found myself extracting truth from books of the Bible in ways that many times astounded even me. I kept saying, I not that good a teacher. Something is going on here. People began to look to more than just understanding of scripture, but how does that apply to them. Prophetic.
In the late 90s it became clear that the gift God was imparting was not teaching but the prophetic office. Reformation thru the prophetic. Prophets and Apostles were not yet recognized by many -- YET.
The spirit of God had imparted to me some of what HE had imparted to Martin Luther. I was willing. So was HE.
At first I was tentative. I read books, I spent time with other prophetic people. I enjoyed and benefited from those times. I realized however that this anointing was unique to the Call of God on my life. It became apparent that to be "Trained" or Mentored to be what Father had appointed me to be could have become sacrilegious. I have been careful to allow Father to develop me and not rush off here or there to hear from "world" prophets.
The reality was, God had put a specific spiritual DNA in me. A prophetic DNA. I, like Saul, becoming a different man.
More than ever, I see the hand of God. He has placed me as a Prophet. He has appointed me. Ordained me. Yes I have received public recognition from Churches, Friends, Pastors even denominations. It's good, but the reality is their recognition is far less important than the ordination of Father by His Spirit.
The ONE who really matters placed me where I stand now. A prophet of God.
I can't not be a prophet any more than I can change my gender. People ask how do I know that I'm a Prophet. I know because it's what I produce as a gift, it's what God anoints, It's what God Appoints and it's how God uses me. Sure I can do other things. But it's in the prophetic when Father takes charge. Right as it should be.
The office of Prophet is no different than the office of Pastor, Evangelist, Apostle, Teacher. I'm not the others. I am a Prophet. Just as an Evangelist is an Evangelist.
I do not just have a prophetic gift as one of the gifts of the Spirit. I have a calling, an office because it's not what I do, its who I am. That's what an office looks like. I am the place the gift dwells. In an office.
It doesn't make me better or worse. It does cause me to understand that for me the bar is raised. I'm thankful yet live in fear of the Lord that I not misuse the gift and office he has placed me in.
I think about how Luther must have felt, must have wondered and then he BECAME his calling.
His calling was his anchor. Just like mine.
The reformation has begun and I am willing to be whatever part of it Father calls me to... He will.
As a pentecostal christian I had much to admire about Luther. He studied the scriptures and began to ask, why. I had understanding of how the church that uses his name picked and chose those things that create structure when in fact that wasn't his intent all along. He was all about the priesthood of every believer. As I studied I found much wanting in the American Church of his namesake.
I won't get into theology but my upbringing in the Lutheran Church distorted the work and theology of a man God used to change the world, imperfect as he was, flawed, clumsy, human . Just like me.
Of course there were a few issues on which his writings would not pass muster today. But many of the books he penned are profoundly rich and I treasure them.
We attended great Pentecostal German Churches. I learned to love and admire the devotion of those German Christians. They reminded me of Luther. Like Reinhard Bonnke.
But, I had a holy discontent. I knew that there was a need for change. It was after the Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker revelations. I knew we needed to make a new start.
I wanted to be part of that change. I wanted to be an encourager of the change so desperately needed in an American Church that no longer worked.
Somehow I knew comprehending the anointing Luther had would be essential in understanding the last great Reformation. I asked Father to impart to me the same anointing that Martin Luther had.
One afternoon in Wittenburg at the Church where Luther is buried, all alone I was at his grave (he is buried in the floor) and asked for the same spirit He had. We visited the house where Luther and his family lived. I sat on a bench that I know he at one time sat upon. I asked for impartation, even over the hundreds of years. I stood in the little chapel that he preached in, it was smaller than I thought it would be. I knelt and asked for the same anointing.
Later we visited Wartburg Castle of a Mighty Fortress Fame. Much of it was museum in nature. But when I saw the room where he encountered the devil face to face and tossed the bottle of Ink at him, I stood in that room and asked for the same indignation and authority over dark forces.
I won't tell you I felt anything other than a connection to the great reformer and to our God.
We came back to the USA in the mid 90s with a different view of what a new Reformation might look like. What "church" could be like. It was different by far from what I saw all around me.
I was connected with people who were as hungry for change as I was. There was a prophecy (Hinkle) that changed my life. June 9, 1994. That God was going to change everything. The cleansing. A year later almost to the day Pensacola broke out. God was changing everything and it was time to get on board with what he was doing. All kinds of things began to happen. One of which was an encounter with Rodney Howard Browne before he was famous. He said to me, "Gene, this doesn't have to be unusual, you can LIVE LIKE THIS". I believed him. I do. To this day.
As changes began to accelerate, as things came into place. I recognized that the Gift of Teaching that I exercised in church was more than just taking a book or a course and walking thru it. I found myself extracting truth from books of the Bible in ways that many times astounded even me. I kept saying, I not that good a teacher. Something is going on here. People began to look to more than just understanding of scripture, but how does that apply to them. Prophetic.
In the late 90s it became clear that the gift God was imparting was not teaching but the prophetic office. Reformation thru the prophetic. Prophets and Apostles were not yet recognized by many -- YET.
The spirit of God had imparted to me some of what HE had imparted to Martin Luther. I was willing. So was HE.
At first I was tentative. I read books, I spent time with other prophetic people. I enjoyed and benefited from those times. I realized however that this anointing was unique to the Call of God on my life. It became apparent that to be "Trained" or Mentored to be what Father had appointed me to be could have become sacrilegious. I have been careful to allow Father to develop me and not rush off here or there to hear from "world" prophets.
The reality was, God had put a specific spiritual DNA in me. A prophetic DNA. I, like Saul, becoming a different man.
More than ever, I see the hand of God. He has placed me as a Prophet. He has appointed me. Ordained me. Yes I have received public recognition from Churches, Friends, Pastors even denominations. It's good, but the reality is their recognition is far less important than the ordination of Father by His Spirit.
The ONE who really matters placed me where I stand now. A prophet of God.
I can't not be a prophet any more than I can change my gender. People ask how do I know that I'm a Prophet. I know because it's what I produce as a gift, it's what God anoints, It's what God Appoints and it's how God uses me. Sure I can do other things. But it's in the prophetic when Father takes charge. Right as it should be.
The office of Prophet is no different than the office of Pastor, Evangelist, Apostle, Teacher. I'm not the others. I am a Prophet. Just as an Evangelist is an Evangelist.
I do not just have a prophetic gift as one of the gifts of the Spirit. I have a calling, an office because it's not what I do, its who I am. That's what an office looks like. I am the place the gift dwells. In an office.
It doesn't make me better or worse. It does cause me to understand that for me the bar is raised. I'm thankful yet live in fear of the Lord that I not misuse the gift and office he has placed me in.
I think about how Luther must have felt, must have wondered and then he BECAME his calling.
His calling was his anchor. Just like mine.
The reformation has begun and I am willing to be whatever part of it Father calls me to... He will.
Monday, August 3, 2009
How to become Invisible
Your sin stands out perhaps to all around you, but to God you are so hidden in Jesus the Christ that you are invisible.
Your failures may seem impossible to ignore but when Father God sees them he reweaves them into all things working together for good so they are unseen, invisible.
When the spotlight of accusations come, difficulties, distress, God's glory comes and overshadows them with His brilliance. They become invisible in His light that outshines the sun.
You are invisible to the devil when you walk in HIS righteousness and not your own.
You are invincible, and when you fold yourself into His ways, you become just like Him.
Invisible to all but His love.
Your failures may seem impossible to ignore but when Father God sees them he reweaves them into all things working together for good so they are unseen, invisible.
When the spotlight of accusations come, difficulties, distress, God's glory comes and overshadows them with His brilliance. They become invisible in His light that outshines the sun.
You are invisible to the devil when you walk in HIS righteousness and not your own.
You are invincible, and when you fold yourself into His ways, you become just like Him.
Invisible to all but His love.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Call to the Warriors
A Prophetic Dream and confirmation from Nancy Minor.
"Listen my warriors! Your struggles have not been in vain. Your trials have sifted you in a way to separate the true warriors from the ranks. You have been called to a higher plain because I have a mission for you. You must stand strong and go forward. This mission is unlike any I have sent you on in the past. This mission will bring great victories if you faint not. Do not get weary in your prayers for the enemy desires to wear you out. Take your eyes off of the natural and see into the supernatural. Reach up, reach out and see if I will not deliver ALL of your enemies into your hands. The time for sorrow is past. The time for war is at hand. Cast out no one but gather them into my kingdom. Do not judge anyone’s value for that is my task. I can make winners out of losers. I can raise victory from the ashes of your lives. I am in process with a new thing. Say not “God is about to” in any area. Say instead “God is”, for I am about a new thing, it is springing forth NOW. No tomorrow, not in a while, but NOW. I AM!! I AM!! Stand where you are for I am sending orders to send you to where I have ordained you be for this warfare. Enter into MY war room and see if I will not give you direction. It is I that will order your steps. Take no care as to where you will go or how you will go or when you will go. Hear and obey and I will direct, I will guide, I will provide for every step of the way."
Gleaning or Harvesting?
Hearing From God for yourself - a guest post from Nancy Minor. Good Read:
"Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn." - Rth_2:2
Brown-Driver_Briggs' Lexicon Glean: 1) to pick up, gather, glean, gather up. To collect oneself.
Merriam-Webster Old Irish : he selects. intransitive verb1: to gather grain or other produce left by reapers2: to gather information or material bit by bit. transitive verb1 a: to pick up after a reaper b: to strip (as a field) of the leavings of reapers2 a: to gather (as information) bit by bit b: to pick over in search of relevant material
HARVEST: Latin Carpere ( from whence we get car·pe di·em- pluck or seize the day!)To Pluck, gather, transitive verb 1 a: to gather in (a crop)
Do you know the difference between gleaning and harvesting? When you harvest a field, you go into a field that is ripe and full of produce and you start picking the fruit. When you go to glean, you are taking the leftovers from where others have already harvested. Or you are picking through material that has already been harvested to see what you can find that may be of use to you. So you are either looking through the left over pile, or you are digging through someone else's treasures to glean from their precious efforts.
Now there is nothing wrong per-se' with gleaning from other people's knowledge and understanding. That is why there are Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers- for the edifying and building up of the saints to equip them for the work of the ministry.
I am going to make a radical statement next, but before you stone me
(my minister friends and blog readers at large-) please read ALL the way to the bottom!
There IS something wrong, if you always have to run to this preacher or that minister, or some prophet to receive "a word from the Lord."
But aren't they put into place to give us the Word of the Lord? Yes, in their offices, they are put into that position of authority and responsibility by the Lord Himself ( unless they are self appointed, man called, and then you'd better discern and run!) And God does give us those words to speak. The problem lies in the expectation and responsibility of the hearers. Some, (not all) think they can ONLY hear God through another Man or Woman of God. Just as some erroneously believe that they must go through their local church official to get to God.
Paul addresses this: 1Ti 2:5 (AMP) For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (MSG) that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us--Jesus,
God Himself speaks on this in the Old Testament BEFORE Jesus was born- how much more loudly and eloquently is the saying now?
Isaiah 1:18 (CEV) I, the LORD, invite you to come and talk it over. Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool.
Now surely the Lord would not invite us to come into His Chambers to "talk things over," if He did not intend to speak directly to us!
Do not become SO accustom to spoon feeding, that you can not graze for yourself. The shepherd's job was to lead the sheep to good grazing ground, and to watch over them while they ate, guarding them against attack of any kind.
Jesus said: John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Now I want to break that down for you a little. "To go in and out." What does He mean, in and out? The word "IN' has these meanings in the Greek: to enter, of things: as food, that enters into the eater’s mouth, of entrance into any condition, state of things, society, employment, to arise, come into existence, begin to be, to come into life.
The shepherd watched that the sheep don't get into nightshade or some other poisonous plant. So too , we need to be mindful what we eat! Scripture tells us, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19. That doesn't mean just money!
When you enter "IN" you begin to "BE" what God intended for you all along. You come into a condition of being IN Christ, connected to the vine. You find (spiritual) employment in God's Kingdom, and start to really LIVE the ZOE (God kind of) life.
So then why would you "Go OUT"? Good question! Let's look at the meanings. Strong's Concordance puts it simply: "spread abroad. " Thayer's: 1) to go or come forth of 1a) with mention of the place out of which one goes, or the point from which he departs.
We go out and spread abroad (make mention of) the goodness of the Lord that we experience in His Presence. We go forth and spread out like a tree planted by the waters that the shepherd led us to... and we provide shelter for others by what we have in our lives through the time we spent IN His Presence.
Find Pasture:
1) pasturage, fodder, food 1a) fig. he shall not want the needful supplies for the true life 2) growth, increase (like gangrene increases- so too we should spread and increase) even as is spoken of in 2Corinthians:
2Cor. 2:14 But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, 2Co 2:15 For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: 2Co 2:16 To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh].
Jesus said HE is our shepherd and IN HIM we will find pasture and be fed and grow. Does He use others to bless us? Yes, absolutely! But He doesn't want us to always be looking for the next person with the next "new word" for us. He has plenty of "Words" for us. Most of them are found in the BIBLE! He will supplement that with "a Word" through a
willing vessel. But we should be seeking HIS WORD not "Words." Seeking HIM, not "A Word from Him" but seeking HE HIMSELF.
When we "GO IN" we will find sweet intimacy and communion and "words" tenderly spoken to our hearts, as well as words of correction and warning.
Jesus tells us something so profound and beautiful in the Word and yet we have skipped over it in favor of running to another meeting to "get a word!"
John 16:25-27 I have told you these things in parables (veiled language, allegories, dark sayings); the hour is now coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I shall tell you about the Father in plain words and openly (without reserve). At that time you will ask (pray) in My Name; and I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf [for it will be unnecessary]. For the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father.
For those of you who have been caught up in that cycle of running and seeking and never being satisfied, I urge you: "Come into His presence and settle down and let Him speak to your heart." He longs for that more than you!
And to my fellow ministers, I issue this gentle reminder: "Watch that you do not perpetuate dependency on YOU instead of the Lord. Always point them to the Lord and to His Word, even when delivering the God given message He would have you to speak. Our job is to equip them, not make them co-dependent!"
Oh me! or Amen! Stone me if you must! I have spoken what He put into my heart to speak. I trust that you will "chew on it" for a while.
"Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn." - Rth_2:2
Brown-Driver_Briggs' Lexicon Glean: 1) to pick up, gather, glean, gather up. To collect oneself.
Merriam-Webster Old Irish : he selects. intransitive verb1: to gather grain or other produce left by reapers2: to gather information or material bit by bit. transitive verb1 a: to pick up after a reaper b: to strip (as a field) of the leavings of reapers2 a: to gather (as information) bit by bit b: to pick over in search of relevant material
HARVEST: Latin Carpere ( from whence we get car·pe di·em- pluck or seize the day!)To Pluck, gather, transitive verb 1 a: to gather in (a crop)
Do you know the difference between gleaning and harvesting? When you harvest a field, you go into a field that is ripe and full of produce and you start picking the fruit. When you go to glean, you are taking the leftovers from where others have already harvested. Or you are picking through material that has already been harvested to see what you can find that may be of use to you. So you are either looking through the left over pile, or you are digging through someone else's treasures to glean from their precious efforts.
Now there is nothing wrong per-se' with gleaning from other people's knowledge and understanding. That is why there are Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers- for the edifying and building up of the saints to equip them for the work of the ministry.
I am going to make a radical statement next, but before you stone me
(my minister friends and blog readers at large-) please read ALL the way to the bottom!
There IS something wrong, if you always have to run to this preacher or that minister, or some prophet to receive "a word from the Lord."
But aren't they put into place to give us the Word of the Lord? Yes, in their offices, they are put into that position of authority and responsibility by the Lord Himself ( unless they are self appointed, man called, and then you'd better discern and run!) And God does give us those words to speak. The problem lies in the expectation and responsibility of the hearers. Some, (not all) think they can ONLY hear God through another Man or Woman of God. Just as some erroneously believe that they must go through their local church official to get to God.
Paul addresses this: 1Ti 2:5 (AMP) For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (MSG) that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us--Jesus,
God Himself speaks on this in the Old Testament BEFORE Jesus was born- how much more loudly and eloquently is the saying now?
Isaiah 1:18 (CEV) I, the LORD, invite you to come and talk it over. Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool.
Now surely the Lord would not invite us to come into His Chambers to "talk things over," if He did not intend to speak directly to us!
Do not become SO accustom to spoon feeding, that you can not graze for yourself. The shepherd's job was to lead the sheep to good grazing ground, and to watch over them while they ate, guarding them against attack of any kind.
Jesus said: John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Now I want to break that down for you a little. "To go in and out." What does He mean, in and out? The word "IN' has these meanings in the Greek: to enter, of things: as food, that enters into the eater’s mouth, of entrance into any condition, state of things, society, employment, to arise, come into existence, begin to be, to come into life.
The shepherd watched that the sheep don't get into nightshade or some other poisonous plant. So too , we need to be mindful what we eat! Scripture tells us, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19. That doesn't mean just money!
When you enter "IN" you begin to "BE" what God intended for you all along. You come into a condition of being IN Christ, connected to the vine. You find (spiritual) employment in God's Kingdom, and start to really LIVE the ZOE (God kind of) life.
So then why would you "Go OUT"? Good question! Let's look at the meanings. Strong's Concordance puts it simply: "spread abroad. " Thayer's: 1) to go or come forth of 1a) with mention of the place out of which one goes, or the point from which he departs.
We go out and spread abroad (make mention of) the goodness of the Lord that we experience in His Presence. We go forth and spread out like a tree planted by the waters that the shepherd led us to... and we provide shelter for others by what we have in our lives through the time we spent IN His Presence.
Find Pasture:
1) pasturage, fodder, food 1a) fig. he shall not want the needful supplies for the true life 2) growth, increase (like gangrene increases- so too we should spread and increase) even as is spoken of in 2Corinthians:
2Cor. 2:14 But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, 2Co 2:15 For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: 2Co 2:16 To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh].
Jesus said HE is our shepherd and IN HIM we will find pasture and be fed and grow. Does He use others to bless us? Yes, absolutely! But He doesn't want us to always be looking for the next person with the next "new word" for us. He has plenty of "Words" for us. Most of them are found in the BIBLE! He will supplement that with "a Word" through a
willing vessel. But we should be seeking HIS WORD not "Words." Seeking HIM, not "A Word from Him" but seeking HE HIMSELF.
When we "GO IN" we will find sweet intimacy and communion and "words" tenderly spoken to our hearts, as well as words of correction and warning.
Jesus tells us something so profound and beautiful in the Word and yet we have skipped over it in favor of running to another meeting to "get a word!"
John 16:25-27 I have told you these things in parables (veiled language, allegories, dark sayings); the hour is now coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I shall tell you about the Father in plain words and openly (without reserve). At that time you will ask (pray) in My Name; and I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf [for it will be unnecessary]. For the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father.
For those of you who have been caught up in that cycle of running and seeking and never being satisfied, I urge you: "Come into His presence and settle down and let Him speak to your heart." He longs for that more than you!
And to my fellow ministers, I issue this gentle reminder: "Watch that you do not perpetuate dependency on YOU instead of the Lord. Always point them to the Lord and to His Word, even when delivering the God given message He would have you to speak. Our job is to equip them, not make them co-dependent!"
Oh me! or Amen! Stone me if you must! I have spoken what He put into my heart to speak. I trust that you will "chew on it" for a while.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
There isn't much to be done
We try too hard. We put too much effort into being who God created us to be.
The reality is we have little to do with our own sanctification. He makes it all possible by his grace and the Holy Spirit.
If we just obey, we are fine.
That's the plan..... To be who we were created to be from the foundation of the earth.
Good works in Christ Jesus.
That was easy!
The reality is we have little to do with our own sanctification. He makes it all possible by his grace and the Holy Spirit.
If we just obey, we are fine.
That's the plan..... To be who we were created to be from the foundation of the earth.
Good works in Christ Jesus.
That was easy!
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