The Heavens Declare the Existence and the Glory – of a Mighty God

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As we look up into the heavens – taking in the order and the grandeur of the morning and evening skies – we are given to understand that there is indeed “a mighty God”…… a God big enough to put together all of this that we see above us in the sky….. Indeed He IS talking to us – and making Himself known to all who will observe and truly consider – that the constellations we see in the evening sky –  and the faithful rising of the sun each morning – are far too complex and well ordered –  to be simply the product of a “Big Bang” or some other “cosmic accident.”

And I do not scorn that line of thinking – for it is not a bad thing to seek to find a reason – but apart from understanding that God’s ways and thinking are higher than yours and mine – you and I can never comprehend His power and operations…..Thus He set “a vision” for us to see in the morning and evening sky…

So I watched the sun rise this morning – with the splendor of its warm colors spreading across the sky…… It is glorious to be sure –  the soft fresh colors of the morning – and the darker hues we see in the evening – magnificent colors that melt away as the stars and their constellations begin to fill the night time sky.   What we see is a picture painted by the Great Creator – the grandeur of which  even the best of artists cannot quite capture….

But it is more than just a thing of beauty – because there is also the wonder-        For you can see the majesty and the love of its Creator…….                                 Indeed, He put it together perfectly – the hallmark of a new day and the setting to rest at evening of the same….. Then the multitude of stars – and the moon as they appear – beckoning to us to ponder how anyone could put such a masterpiece of incredible design and purpose there…..

No one could help but worship God and feel His presence –                                     Should they take the time to ponder……                                                                              Indeed – they would begin  to understand His way! …….                                               For the heavens declare the glory of God  –                                                                        There is no speech or language  where their “voice” is not heard!

* “The heavens – where the celestial bodies revolve –                                                          do declare the existence – and the glory of a mighty God!                                       Indeed the sky that is visible to our eyes – day unto day and night unto night –       if one will observe…do show forth His handiwork – even the operations of a mighty God!  There is no speech nor language where their “voice” is not heard…..They make their proclamation  –  that there is  a living God!!                                                  The heavens indeed ….. declare the glory of God.”

* Paraphrase Psalm 19:1-3

I Believe God that it shall be as He has said… Receiving the things God has Promised

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The post that I share with you today is about another one of those “I have learned” things….. All of these “I have learned things” fit into a category of things that I have longed to see “work” in my life – as they are laid out in the Word of God – one of those things being about receiving things God has promised….. which is the thing that I will share about with you today.

I still have plenty of room to grow in this,  but I have gained a lot of ground… The credit for that  would have to go to the Spirit of God (aka the Holy Spirit )  because He has never given up on me, but faithfully led me to the next step – even when that next step meant going back to pick up some things I should have already worked into my life.

Sometimes He has talked to me “in plain English” – as another person would – but what He would say has never been contrary to the principles in His Word.  I shared that because – there is no where in the bible that God tells any one to “move to Minnesota” (for example) – but He might tell you to do just that – and you would need to know that you have indeed heard His voice and not something that is out of your own thinking – (or “off the wall” from someone else’s thinking).  Hearing and recognizing His voice comes as you spend alone time with Him….. time in the Word, in prayer, in worship.  Those are some  things that bring you into His presence – and into a confidence of knowing Him…. which things are paramount for you and me in learning to “walk by faith” and receive the things that God has promised.

You see, when the Apostle Paul – on that ship being exceedingly tossed for days in a storm they referred to as “no small tempest”- told his shipmates   “Be of good cheer – for I believe God that it shall be even as He has told me”….. Paul could say that to them because he had come to know…… and learned to have full confidence in God – from whom he had just received word that very night – “not to be afraid because there would be no loss of any man’s life among them.  (Acts 27:13-44 ) So regardless of how that storm (or your storm) rages, he had learned – as we can learn – to take what God has said about it and “fight the good fight of faith”….. by holding fast to acknowledge what God has said – and so receive the promise.

In holding fast to what God has said – regardless of “how things look” – we will “through faith and patience” obtain the promise…….whether it be a certain scripture that He has quickened to us – or a word we hear from Him – as Paul heard the word from God about the storm and the lives of the men on the ship.  We can count on it because “all the promises of God in His son Jesus Christ are yes, and amen (aka “so be it”) – That means they are sure and trustworthy.  (II Corinthians 1:19,20).

His words are trustworthy because  He has said “I will not alter the words that have gone out of my lips.” Our part is to hold fast to the words He has spoken to us ….. And we can learn to do that – with patience – because He is faithful that promised.

I’m in there with you – having received a lot of promises….  And I’m still fighting the good fight of faith – ie. endeavoring to “hold fast to what He has said” – in order to receive other promises.  That’s how it works!…..Through faith and patience you and I WILL receive the things that God has promised!

Encouraged to Believe…. “Everything’s Going to be Okay”

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Several years ago, something happened in my relationship with the Lord that has continued to be a great encouragement to my faith “to believe God that it will be just as He has told me”…And  I believe that sharing my story will encourage your faith too…

It began as one of those unexpected things – a thing which could have easily became a major problem for me – if just one of the three people who needed to hear and obey God had failed to do so.

In those days – when stock markets were dropping and houses not selling – it took my best efforts just to keep the bills paid!  On this particular occasion, I had everything budgeted and was waiting on the pay check due in about a week for the rest of the money needed to pay my bills….. But this day, I was in for an unpleasant surprise… For when I arrived at work my employer asked me for the keys to the store… She was in the process of closing the business!  I gave her the keys.. We said our goodbyes.. and we both got in our cars to leave……

Was I feeling fearful??   I likely would have been – my circumstances being what they were (and too detailed to mention here) –  BUT GOD KNEW what was coming.. and He had already set the wheels in motion to supply what I was going to need!….

For just the day before – I had gotten a call from a pastor in another state who had often prayed for me and my family….. The conversation was brief and to the point… “I don’t know what this is about,” he said ” but the Lord told me to call you and tell you “that everything is going to be okay.” I responded that I didn’t know what it was about either, but thanked him for calling.  Thinking  about it, I knew him too well to doubt that he’d heard God – but knowing nothing of what was in the works at that time concerning my job, I laid those words aside.

Now back to the store where I had just lost my job….. As I got into my car to leave there,  I remembered the words of the old pastor from yesterday… And I said to God – “I don’t know “HOW” You’re going to do it – but I believe that “everything is going to be okay.. just as You said!”  And with that, I proceeded to make the short drive to my apartment – where – as I was still in the parking lot gathering my things to get out of the car, my cell phone rang….

Seeing that the call was coming from a friend in another state, I quickly answered it…… and heard an excited voice telling me that she had just been given quite a bit of money from a relative who “felt” that he should give her a small part of her inheritance NOW.”  She didn’t tell me the amount she had been given, but began excitedly to tell me that.. as she was being handed the money, she heard the Lord tell her to give me a certain amount of it!  I then proceeded to tell her about what had just happened to me – losing my job and with it, the pay check I needed to pay the bills… And then, hundreds of miles away, this friend rejoiced with me as we realized how God had been at work to meet my needs – and bring good things into both our lives!

The money that the Lord had instructed this friend to give to me was enough to take care of my bills for the two months ahead until I again had a steady income.  I am ever grateful for the three dear people who heard from God – and acted  on what He asked them to do!

Several years have passed now, but I still feel a joy whenever I think of this “adventure” that I had in my relationship with the Lord and how it makes me ever mindful that.. you and I can believe God!  We can believe God that it shall be even as He has told us… and be encouraged “that everything is going to be okay!”  

I Have Learned … Dealing with Difficult Feelings and Emotions

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I share this post today about “dealing with difficult feelings and emotions” with compassion in my heart – because that is an area that used to “eat my lunch” – so that I very well understand how those things feel – and the way that they can negatively affect everything you need to do.  BUT this is one of the  “I have learned” things in my life…… not that I am always 100% perfect the minute I recognize a feeling I don’t like,  or an emotion that hurts – but I have learned what to do – and when I rise up and do it,  those things do not control my thinking or my day.

First of all, you must understand this – EMOTIONS CANNOT BE IGNORED! We struggle to get away from them – only to find that indeed they are still “with us” – they cannot be ignored!….. BUT  fortunately –  they can be “TURNED”!  I’ll show you an example of that in the Word of God……

I Samuel 30:1-19 (Paraphrased)  After being away for three days, David and his men returned to their place at Ziklag – only to find it burned and their wives and children all carried away captive……. “Then David and the men that were with him lifted up their voice and wept – until they had no more power to weep.” …..then came another “turn for the worse” ….. for David…..

“And David was greatly distressed – for the people spoke of stoning him – because the soul of every man was grieved for their wives, sons and daughters.. …..( which is not too surprising as people in deep grief often divert some of that grief to “assigning blame” for what has happened.) …. So that David who had suffered as much loss as the rest of them – now faced still another crisis…..  But the way that he chose to handle the mounting crisis is the thing that made ALL THE DIFFERENCE for him. 

So, what did he do?  Verse 6 says “David was greatly distressed —- but David….  but David did what? – “But David encouraged himself in the Lord!!  To give you a better idea of exactly what David did, I will give you the definition for the Hebrew word “encouraged”…..  It means:  “to fasten upon – be stubborn, strong, courageous – which, by so doing – is causative to heal, cure, fortify, strengthen, or repair a situation….. David CHOSE to encourage himself in the Lord….. and the Lord obviously began to influence the situation so that the men who wanted to stone David in their grief begin to think differently….

AND – David prayed –  he inquired of the Lord saying -“Shall I pursue after the troop/this enemy? Shall I overtake them? And the Lord answered him “Pursue; for you shall overtake them – and without fail recover all”!   We then read the report of the outcome in verses 18,19 ……  “And David recovered all that the enemy had carried away –  there was no person nor spoil of what had been taken that was not recovered……. David RECOVERED ALL!  Of course that is what was important to David and his men……

But for us today, I am pointing to THE REASON  he was able to recover all the loss – which, of course, was that he fastened his eyes on God – David steadied himself in the midst of his distress – and looked to God for help and direction.  In the same way, when we are confronted with challenging or hurtful situations,  we have a choice to either “embrace” the negative feelings and emotions that often accompany those situations – and let them” swallow us up” – OR – we can begin to encourage ourselves in the Lord so that we can think and hear what He would say to us more clearly…….

HOW do you do that??  I am going to just list some ways I have learned that work for me   (and everyone of them you will find in God’s word)……

First, pray anything that you know to pray if a person’s safety etc. is involved. Also, forgive anyone that needs forgiveness – do this by faith – feelings follow.

  • Begin to give thanks for different things/ways God has helped or blessed you.  (This has nothing to do with what you feel like at the time – for basing what you do on feelings and emotions is like building a house on shifting sand.) You give thanks because God is good and offers help and deliverance to those who look to Him.
  • You might put on music that lends to worship – and deliberately focus on Jesus and the deliverance you have already tasted by His hand. Get into worship!
  • You can start speaking to yourself in psalms and hymns – sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord – with thanksgiving for every good thing.  (Ephesians 5:18-20)
  • Speak God’s word as scriptures come to you. (God’s word has the power to change things and to accomplish what He sends it to do.)
  • Pray in the spirit quietly – and continue in these things until your mind and emotions have quieted….. which will lend to hearing any scripture or words of direction the Spirit of God would put in your spirit for you at this time.   (Jude 20,21)

Setting yourself to do any of those things will have the effect of turning negative or painful emotions.

In the beginning, I found it hard to “make myself” say what I “didn’t feel” – but over the years I have learned to not go so much by what my mind or emotions are saying at the moment – but rather to choose to take Jesus up on His invitation to come to Him with all your cares and let Him give you rest.  Once I established myself in choosing to not embrace the negative feelings – but to labor to turn those emotions, I have seen a change happen in less than 5 minutes, but that’s not always the case – and you need to stay there with God until you have quieted your mind and let Him have some time to touch you.  Then if there be a valid reason for any of those negative feelings, He WILL show you – because He delights in our well being – the well being that comes from walking in the truth.

God bless and keep you.

 

 

Part 2 – Being a Doer of the Word… Wielding the Sword of the Spirit

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In this post, I will share a little about learning to use the Word of God as your sword of deliverance against attacks of the enemy….as Jesus did. This enemy that I  refer to here is specifically referred to as “your adversary, the devil” in I Peter 5:8…. and also named “the tempter” in Matthew 4 – as he comes to tempt Jesus to do other than what God had sent Him to this earth to do…. That is where we see Jesus taking the Word of God to “answer” every thing that the devil suggests to Him that He should do – but each time, Jesus answered and said “It is written…..” – using the Word of God to shut the enemy down – ie. we see that after his third unsuccessful attempt to lure Jesus away from His standing in God, verse 11 says  “the devil left Him.” Jesus resisted the devil and he left!

And that is exactly what the Word instructs you and  I to do when we find ourselves being tempted by this enemy….. because according to I Peter 5:8,9  “your adversary, the devil – as a roaring lion – walketh about seeking whom he may devour (oppose, swallow up) – whom we are to “resist – stedfast in the faith (the faith in what God has said)”….  that means that we are to speak in line with what God has said.  When the enemy comes to suggest anything contrary to what God has said about a matter – then you and I are to resist that temptation by speaking according to what God has indeed said about that matter.   Being a “doer of the Word” means that we apply the Word to our situation…. for as we do this, we are ” announcing”-  in effect – that we believe God that it shall be even as He has told us.  That is our resistance – it affects to “disconnect” us/our situation from the suggestions that the enemy is tempting us to take over what God has said….  And we are told to hold fast to our speaking according to what God has said..for His words SHALL BE FULFILLED “in their season.” (Luke 1:20)

How can such things be??  We have to get out of our own (man’s) way of thinking – because as Isaiah 55:9-11 (paraphrased) tells us – God thinks higher than you and I do.  His ways are higher than our ways …. and what He speaks, He is able to perform and intends to perform.  And as we get to know and trust Him, we can more and more be able to say with the Apostle Paul (Acts 27:25) “I believe God that it shall be even as He told me” – in the face of a storm that had raged so violently for days against the ship he was in – that all hope that they could be saved had been taken away……but the Apostle Paul said “I believe God that it shall be even as He told me”! … and so it was – for him – and so it can be for us!

…….And like Mary, whom God had chosen to be the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38) – who though being a virgin at the time – understood that “with God nothing shall be impossible”…. and with these words: “Be it unto me according to Your Word”– gave her consent for the power of God to “overshadow/ envelope” her – causing this miracle of conception to take place in her.  Likewise with our words of agreement with what God has said, we release Him to begin to bring to pass the promise He has given us.  

The words that God speaks  have the power to perform to bring about  WHATEVER  He has promised! …. But realize this – that HE HAS MADE US to be  labourers together with Him in this process….. BECAUSE…..He gives us His Word and it is with you and I even as He said to Mary  “Blessed is he or she that believes – for there shall be a performance of those things that were told her from the Lord.”

God’s Words – are the sword we use to cut off the suggestions of the enemy …. and they are the words we speak to bring forth what God has purposed for our lives and for His Kingdom!  Its not because you and I are such hot rods – but it is because God cannot fail – and His words SHALL BE FULFILLED in their season…. He wants us to get in there and believe so that they can be fulfilled in our lives!

 

Part 3 – Praying in the Spirit … Why Pray in Tongues ?

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When you or I speak or pray in an unknown tongue – we are not speaking to men, but to God …. in fact I Corinthians 14:2  informs us that in the spirit we are speaking /praying the mysteries of God.  . and as we pray those mysteries that God is depositing into our spirit – we are being “set up” for God to begin to direct us and our lives in those things that He desires for us and for the people for whom we pray.

God wisely and lovingly put this together in this way  – because you and I don’t always know (actually we seldom know)  the whole picture concerning things that we need to know …. but He wisely deposits the knowledge we need about  those things into our spirit as our spirit prays (I Cor 14:14)…. And one very good reason for that is  – as we see in  Romans 8:26 – “we know not what, or how to pray as we ought”…..And  just as God intends to answer the prayers that we give voice to in English – even so, those prayers we are giving voice to that come in tongues out of us as we pray in the spirit – He intends to answer!

And I can honestly tell you that my prayer life – both the satisfaction of it and the answers to prayer – multiplied as I learned to spend time praying in the spirit (that is because you are much more likely to be praying “according to His will”)…. And I quickly noticed how much more alive the Word of God became to me as well.  It is as the old quote says “the proof is in the pudding.”  So I was very soon “sold” on the value of praying in the spirit….. and  It didn’t hurt that a hero of mine – the Apostle Paul – valued personal prayer in the spirit so highly that he told the Corinthians “I thank my God that I pray in tongues more than you all”… (and you can note that he didn’t have time to waste on things that weren’t important!) – So since he urged us to “follow me as I follow the Lord” …..

Perhaps  praying in the spirit should likewise be a priority to you and me – don’t you think?   I can also tell you that after praying in tongues for 15 – 20 minutes or so, I will generally  feel/or hear some things in English rising up in my spirit to pray for – and I will go with that until it feels “emptied out” – then I begin again praying in the spirit until I finish the time I have to give to praying – or until something else rises up in my spirit such as worship or maybe one of the writings that He frequently downloads into my spirit.  I have also learned that I can continue quietly praying in the spirit even after I leave the “place” of prayer and become involved in house work – or driving the car – or laying down to rest,  etc, etc……

If you think I place great value on praying in the spirit, you are very right and if you think I am urging you to  spend a little time developing that habit, you are right again.  You can start by taking 15 minutes  out of your day (or more if you can) aside from other things and begin praying in tongues.  Day by day as you pray – the Spirit of God gives you the utterance – so that you can know it is as perfect a prayer as you could possibly pray … and one that He will take coming from your lips – and answer in the best possible ways as you continue in those times of fellowship with Him…… praying in the Holy Ghost – as Jude 20,21  refers to it.  I am excited for you as you begin “building yourself up praying in the Holy Ghost!”

Thank You Lord for this incredible gift You gave to the Church….. I pray that many more of Your people will come to understand its value and receive it as a precious gift from You to them.

“I Have Learned”……. Being a Do-er of the Word

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The Apostle Paul said… “I have learned to be “content” in whatever state – circumstance, or situation I find myself in.   (Philippians 4:11)  The key phrase used here that I will share some things about in this post – is –  “I have learned”….. We generally tend to emphasize other parts of that verse, but one day the Spirit of God really quickened that little 3 word phrase to me – and it has served as a goad to me to keep moving forward on many ocassions……

“I have learned” indicates a process entered into.  It also indicates a willingness to apply yourself to going through that process – even as we can see that the Apostle Paul made such a decision (in Philippians 3:8-11) when he determined to pursue a thing that he considered to be  paramount to every other thing in his life…..  And in the verses that followed that – he expressed the fervency of his pursuit to press toward that mark – but immediately thereafter – he assured the readers of this passage that he had not yet “got there” – ie. he was not as mature as he would like to be or could be, but nevertheless – and in spite of some mistakes along the way – he was purposed to keep walking and moving forward in that direction – doing his best to  mind the things/rules that he had learned along the way.

“I have learned” he tells us….. indicating that he gained some ground as he kept minding and putting into practice the things he was learning along the way.   That is actually what the “famous” Romans 8:28 passage is talking about.   Let’s look at that one for a moment….. Because we hear so much that “God is sovereign – and that settles the matter” – (which it does), but because we mostly fail to understand the details of,  and the God placed boundaries on that sovereignty – we therefore swallow  “hook, line, and sinker” the teaching that EVERYTHING that happens to us was sent by God….. and is therefore to be passively and humbly received…..  But is that what it truly says and means?

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.”

One day as I was reading that verse, I heard God ask me the question:  “Who is it that loves Me?”….. and before I even had time to ponder it, I heard Him tell me the answer –  ie. He directed me to look at John 14:21 & 23…”He that has My commandments (My Word) and keepeth it – he is the one that loves Me.. .If you love Me, you will keep My words”…  THIS IS THE ONE FOR WHOM ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD!  (….and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God!!)  BECAUSE  he that loves Me – God says – will keep My word”……..

We’re not talking about a long list of “do’s and don’ts” (although that will have some part in this because it is God’s word) – but rather He is telling us that when He directs us in some way – do that!… If He tells you whether or not to “buy that house” for example – or – If He has quickened a Word to you about stopping exaggerating the truth – or maybe you felt really convicted as you read His Word that you needed to stop overeating – then  begin as much as you know how to, to do that – and as you walk, continue to mind anything that you learn that applies to your walking according to “what or how” He has directed you….. BECAUSE… it all has a cumulative effect – like pieces of a puzzle – and that thing that He directed you to do will weave together with all the other things that He has been telling you to do – BECOMING A PART  of the “all things work together for your good” chain of keeping His word (s) -which He has promised to bless!

You see we can’t just live any old way and expect that all of the things that  come our way are working for our good – but God can,  and wants to work with us to have a better outcome and a lot less ongoing grief in our life…. He wants to weave His good into every area of our lives – even those places where we think that we’ve missed it so badly that it can never work out right!  But we can – like the Apostle Paul – realize how important and powerful God’s words are – and LEARN  to keep them – ie. Do as James 1:25  admonishes us to do by being not just a forgetful hearer, but be a doer of God’s Word – realizing that the Word of God has power to change things – because God is “one with His Word(s) – and He works with His Word to perform it (to bring what He has promised to pass).  It has taken some time for me to “get it”- but I have learned that following each thing as best I can that He directs me to do – or holding on to a promise He has given me – will indeed have  its part in working all things together for my good!

Part II – Praying in the Spirit – What IS the Purpose?

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“I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all.”   (I Cor. 14:18) Who said that – and why would they place such high value on speaking with tongues?….. It was the Apostle Paul speaking to the Corinthian church – and to us who would even today be reading God’s Word……

(I made a point to tell you that it was spoken for us even today – because in many circles it is taught that the gifts of the Spirit are not for today – but there is no place in God’s Word that nullifies any of the spiritual gifts which God gave to the church after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.  A verse or two taken out of context has been used to appear to say that the gifts have passed away – but you would have to do away with MANY other new testament passages of scriptures in order for those one or two verses to stand – as evidence of the spiritual gifts having “passed away.” I am not trying to be ugly to anyone – for I have seen some things in the name of “spiritual gifts” that would turn me off too – but any true gift God has for us is too good to miss – simply because of misuse or misinformation….. So  my aim is only to share what the Word of God does have to say about this incredible gift of God for His church)

Incredible gift is right!….. that is “the why” for the Apostle Paul telling us that he speaks in tongues – “more than you all!” The Apostle Paul was a very busy man – and with all that he had to do for the care of the churches, he would not have had time – or taken time – for frivolous or trivial things!  That should tell us that it is important to look into this matter to see why he placed so much value on speaking/praying in tongues (aka praying in the spirit)…..

To begin with (in I Cor 14) – just four verses before he made the statement about his choice to spend time praying and speaking much in tongues – he tells us that … “if I pray in an unknown tongue – my spirit prayeth.” (verse 14)  And going back to verses 4 and 5,  he makes the statement “I wish that you all spoke with tongues”– and in verse 39 as he finishes that chapter – he tells us to “forbid not to speak with tongues” – all of these statements pointing to the fact that he found it very important that we understand the value that he placed on this gift…. and at the same time he made it clear that it can be used (misused) in a disorderly fashion in a church setting – that being the topic of that entire chapter…. . He was not belittling the gift (as some pull a verse or two out of the context of that whole chapter to say),  but rather he was addressing the proper use of the gift in a church setting so that all could benefit.  There is the church as a corporate body meeting together,  and there are the individual members of that body. The gifts were given to the individual members to profit withal…….“There are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit ….. and there are diversities of operations,  but it is the same God which worketh all in all – for the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (I Cor 12:4-7 paraphrased)……ie. Praying in the spirit – or any of these gifts that are used for the end result of ministering the life giving grace of God to others will benefit the minister – and the one(s) ministered to.  That is the “profit withal” that this scripture mentioned.

Okay, it’s an important gift – but “WHY”?   To begin to answer that I will share from two passages of scripture with you…… “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself…. for in the spirit he is speaking mysteries .” (I extracted two key statements here from I Corinthians 14:2,4 – highlighting them to you for a purpose)-  ie. “Edifieth himself” means “to be a housebuilder – to build (up), to construct – or instruct in such a way as to improve, enlighten or uplift and embolden.…..  That’s a lot of good stuff,  and at first look it might appear that this is a rather “self-serving” gift – but not so!

Why is that?  ….  Let’s look at one other scripture because one scripture often sheds light on other scriptures….. Jude 20, 21 :  “But you beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith – PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST – keep yourselves in the love of God…..   Hmmmmm … Indeed!  We do build ourselves up when we pray in the spirit (aka pray in the Holy Ghost) – and it is very important that we keep ourselves built up and strong – so that when the need arises, we are able also to help others……  And “keeping yourself in the love of God” –  (as this scripture attributes to praying in the Holy Ghost) – is no small thing either!

I’ve just shared with you a couple of super big reasons for developing the simple but strong discipline of praying in the spirit.  There’s more to share with you about this from the Word –  and from some personal experience about what has helped me along the way too – so I hope with all my heart that you who are reading this today will return to this blog for the next posts on this very important subject of praying in the spirit

….. And thank You Lord Jesus  for this incredible gift to your church!… and for unveiling its purpose in Your Word.

A Heart Attitude – a Secret Worth Paying Attention To

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The following is what the Lord gave to me this morning as I pondered why I should be feeling a little “dull” and “testy” ( which is a “flesh” thing/feeling.)…..

As I just began to ponder “the why” for such feelings – I picked up on something in my spirit – which was this….. “The secret to keeping things fresh and new – is a thankful heart.”  

(And now having my attention, He began to add more to what I had just heard!) ……

…… And having a thankful heart is also the secret to walking in and letting patience have its perfect(ing) work in us – which the Word of God tells us is very important – ie. “Count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations – knowing this- that the trying of your faith worketh patience….. So let patience have her perfect work – that you may be perfect (complete) and entire, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4).

In thinking about it, I can see how that having an overall thankful heart attitude makes it much easier to be patient – with things and with  people  ….  And we know that patience is the secret to possessing your soul (which is your mind, will, and emotions) – Luke 21:19.  Think about that one….. and the fact that  a thankful heart makes it so much easier to be patient!

So …. I see that developing a thankful heart is indeed the foundation from which other strong desirable qualities in our life are built upon.   I am not generally an ungrateful person, but I see today that there is still room for (and cause for ) improvement in having this irreplaceable heart attitude of thankfulness.  It is a wonderful virtue and a true strength of character…..which God in His love for us admonishes us to make it our heart attitude ….

“Forbear and forgive one another where there has been a quarrel – put on love in action!  Then let the peace of God rule in your heart… and be ye thankful.” Colossians  3:13-15  (paraphrased).

I hope this that I just shared with you will cause you – as it did me- to check out the attitude of your heart and see if there is room in you for more of this wonderful virtue of a thankful heart ….. It just might be the secret you need for the opening of some other doors for you!

 

 

These 3 Things — About that 3rd Thing – Praying in the Spirit

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“If I pray in an unknown tongue – my spirit prayeth – but my understanding is unfruitful.  What then? ….  I will pray with the spirit, and  I will pray with the understanding also.”   ( I Corinthians 14:14, 15a )

In the post on March 7th, I began to share with you about the three things have really helped me grow in the area of developing the ear of my spirit to hear…..  (I want to hear when God has something to say – don’t you?) In several of the posts since March 7th, I have shared a little with you about the first two of those 3 things  – one being: personal worship where you spend time alone with the Lord – giving thanks and worshiping Him. … And the other of the first two things being – getting alone to spend time with God in His Word – so that you come to understand the true value of it.

I would also tell you this about those first two things – which is that in spending time in personal worship and alone with God in His word – it is there that you will learn the “taste” of His presence more than anywhere else….. and knowing that “taste” is very important to your learning to hear His voice – and to recognize it from any other.  That is why I listed these as the first two things – ie. because they are foundational in learning to hear the voice of God.  They are the place that you learn to have sweet fellowship with Him.

But in this post, I will begin to share about the third one of those 3 things that have been so helpful to me in learning to hear the voice of God……(to say nothing of the wonderful fellowship you can have along the way).  This third thing is of course “praying in the spirit.” The scripture that I used to begin this post with in the first paragraph separates praying in the spirit from praying with your native or other natural language.  I feel that it is important to point that out to you because I have heard praying in the spirit “explained away” by saying something to the effect that it just means that you are “in the spirit” while you are praying to God in whatever your natural language is.  I will address that more in the next post by sharing more from the Word of God about it – indeed there are a number of scriptures that I will bring to you to further clarify and explain more about this subject while I am doing the coming posts on praying in the spirit……

But what I particularly would like to share with you today is to assure you that I have both friends who pray in the spirit and those who do not – and I would tell  you that ALL who receive Jesus as Savior are born again – and praying – or not praying in the spirit – does nothing to change that!

Now because praying in the spirit (aka praying in tongues) has been a subject  with some controversy attached to it within the Body of Christ as well as outside of it – I am proceeding here with consideration of that fact – but I must as the Lord reminded me when I started this blog -“speak His Word faithfully.” …. So that I likely cannot please everyone who reads this, but my first loyalty is to God and to His Word – and though I do not  purpose to offend anyone, I  cannot speak contrary to what I see and hear and know of the Word of God….. It is just too important …..But I pray that each of you as readers will be like the Berean Christians (Acts 17:11) who “searched the scriptures daily to see for themselves whether the things they were being taught were indeed true.” You and I owe that much to ourselves I think.

I’ve kept it short today – just presenting the very beginning of what I want to share with you “about that 3rd thing – praying in the spirit.” But for those of you who are hungry to know what is in the Word of God concerning this subject – please join me for the next post – which will take us a little further into the scriptures about this.

Seek to Know the Realities of God’s Kingdom

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Is your life about striving to get the “accolades” that come when one is an “overnight success” …. and the popularity/fame that may come with it…. ?  Those things alone are often fleeting – and empty at the end – as things and people more “relevant” take that place…..

Therefore, why not rather seek to know the realities of God’s Kingdom – which will never end – and each one has a place reserved for them…..And although all these things are hidden to the natural eye of man , yet God’s invitation to receive Jesus – the Door to knowing Him…… to all men, this invitation God does extend….

The invitation accepted….. and the journey begins.  There are challenges, yes – but you can be sure that deep within…                                                                                   you will find much satisfaction, contentment and confidence – when your heart is to do the Lord’s bidding – ie. walk out the plan that He put together especially for you!  Because walking upon that path is the greatest success any person can know or even think to do – for when you choose to walk God’s path, He will walk there with you …… and ever stay close…..

….. as you give Him the praise and worship that He deserves, always looking to Him for the things that you need and what is best to do – learning to keep the eyes of your spirit on the horizon – where He purposes to open up new venues for you!

There’s nothing boring about walking His way you see ….                                              for the spirit of a man can hold more strength, more joy than the flesh ever can. And that is because…..it is by the spirit that you are “connected” to Him      –  when you are born again (John 3:1-8) –  and by way of this Spirit to spirit connection that you then have with Him,  He can impart peace and many other things that you pray for and need.  He can answer your questions – and inform you of His plans. (John 16:12-15)

So stay close to Him and learn to live more aware of this Spirit to spirit relationship you have with Him.  (John 4:22-24). … *spending time in His word, giving thanks and worshiping Him – and finally praying in the spirit – (as well as in words that you understand) …..  For *these things all lend to developing that ear that He gave you to hear – those things that He would say and impart to you……

… . So that at the end of this life, you can depart with peace because you know Him – the Giver of that life that is so much better than the accolades of men.  Glory be to God – my goal then – will be to seek to know and walk with Him!  For as the scripture says ….

“Godliness is profitable unto all things – having promise for the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”  (I Timothy 4:8)   Amen!

Available to All – the Door to Fellowship With God

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There I was – so many years ago – “pondering” how this could be…                Someone so “big” – and so “mighty”- as to bring all this about – even all of  creation that we can see …. It stymies the mind! …… just to try to figure it all out!

But our mind has it’s limits – ie. there is “a stopping place”……..                               Where reason can take us no further –                                                                                 than the proof we have from tasting and seeing……. Who God IS …… when we fellowship with Him! …. and the miracles that happen when we “believe and pray.”

Miracles that come in all  “sizes and shapes” – and far too many – (and too accurate as they are seen to fit the need) – for it to just be circumstance or chance – all these miracles that I have seen…                  And that “taste” that I just mentioned – nothing on earth carries that kind of atmosphere! …..  like that when you sit or stand in His presence.  Indeed – something that tastes so wonderful is definitely there!…….  No other way to explain it – God’s presence – with the aura it carries – so incredibly   unique and certainly “unforgettable”…. it astounds me – that the God of all the earth – the great Creator – who so loves us, would meet you and I there!

What else, Father – (Father of my born again spirit) – could I tell them? …….          How can I explain ‘YOU’ to someone who doesn’t know You – and thinks they don’t want to …. are even “bent” on not believing!  But it is even as Your Word says – the “natural man” cannot know – has no way of receiving – the things of Your Kingdom and of Your Spirit …….

That is – except a man should ponder who You are – (and “if” You are) –       For in such a case, Father God – You are not far from any one of us –                       When we become open to know the truth – about You – and Your Kingdom …..   For You set  “a Door” there in that place – a door for the truth to come through!     We can try another way – God gave you and I that choice – but Jesus is the  door that God set in place – to which Jesus testifies – “I am the way,  the truth,  and the life.”  (John 14:6)

Why then does a man “fight”? ….. and even vehemently oppose ….. the very life that God chose – to make a man whole?

Indeed it is time – time to “be still and know”- to ponder His existence -Even whether it be so!! …….. Then end it all by asking “if You are real, please let me know – dear Jesus – if You be the Son of God – reveal to me that it is so” … Lest I resume this long search …. and finally come to my end – empty and void of all the life that You, Father God, did intend.

But here today – with all my heart I give you to know – that He is as real as the bible tells us so……  and that door to fellowship with Him is available to all men!

A Practical Tip for Getting the Word in You

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Today, I want to share a very practical thing that you can do which has helped me tremendously in getting more of the Word of God in me with very little effort on my part.   In fact, I have so felt the benefits of doing this – that 20 years after I first started  – I still do it to make the most of my time!

What I am referring to is listening to the word of God on CD (or other device as you please) during the night.  I started out programming one book of the bible to repeat, started it  playing as I went to bed and just let it play all night long.   I keep the volume at a lower “pleasant” level as I sleep.  I had little or no trouble getting accustomed to this low level “noise” going as I sleep.  In addition to that I would tell you that even though I generally sleep easily and well – I have found it to be helpful to just relax and listen quietly when I happen to go to bed extra tired – and I seldom get to listen to a whole book of any size without going to sleep before it gets to the end.

Do you actually hear it/does it actually help?  YES!   I asked the Lord that question myself – more than once – and He graciously let me see that indeed I was hearing and getting as much out of it as if I were reading it during the day.  More than once I woke up and found myself in my mind beginning to speak the next words that would be playing – BEFORE – they were actually spoken on the CD….. and this happened with verses of scripture that I was not real familiar with – so you can see that the Word is being “heard and hidden” inside you as you let yourself hear it being spoken over and again.

Is this to be a “substitute for setting and reading the Word where you draw aside to spend time with the Lord?  NO – it is not a substitute, but a very helpful and profitable “supplement” to that.  

And I would also advise you to keep a notebook and pen at your bedside – (or a recording device you can speak into) – BECAUSE – many times when I am first waking up (or during the night at times)  the Spirit of God will quicken one or more of the scriptures to me – and I am careful to jot down enough of it so that as soon as I can, I will set down with the bible and go to that particular scripture and start reading and listening for anything that He wanted to show me about it.  Sometimes the scripture that was quickened is for direction that I needed or holds the answer to a question I have asked Him

This that I have just shared with you has helped me immeasurably to get the Word of God in me – and I would be very very pleased if this little shared tip helps someone who is reading this.  God bless and keep you!

……….and have a good night!

The Word and the Spirit – Awakening Your Ear to Hear

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In this beginning post  (and the ones to follow) about the value of the Word of God in developing the ear of your spirit to hear, I will be sharing both the practical side of this issue and the spiritual aspects ……. because it requires some of both in order to live a victorious Christian’s life.

You and I can set and listen to,  or read the Word of God – that’s practical –  it’s “our part,”  but because it is “spirit and life” (John 6:63) you will need to hear what the Spirit of God is saying even as you read – in order for faith to come.  That is because faith is a gift and even “a part of God” that is  resident in His word.  With a careful reading or study of John 14 and John 16 you will easily see that God intended our primary teacher of His word to be the Holy Spirit (aka the Spirit of Truth). Without Him as our teacher, we have dry letter of the law…. but Jesus came to give us something much better – a new covenant – a living word – “full of grace and truth”  (John 1:1-17).  What we hear may bring a much needed miracle to our life – or it may simply be instruction about which way to go with something.  One is supernatural….one is practical.  Sometimes we need both!

Do you recall the account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus – which I shared with you in the March 26 post?  (Developing Your Capacity to Hear and Recognize God’s Voice)…..  When was it  that those two realized that it was Jesus Himself who had joined them as they walked and wondered aloud about all the things that had come to pass since they had seen Jesus taken and crucified?  When did they realize it was indeed Jesus whom they listened to as He walked with them and opened the scriptures to them?

Verses 30-32 (Luke 24) tell us that it was in the”breaking of bread together” that their eyes were opened and they knew Him. The “breaking of bread” represents the Word of God broken for them……  Several times in John 6:47-51 Jesus refers to Himself as the “bread of life”….. ” I am that bread of life……. which come down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die”  (spirit food for spirit life) …..  I am the living bread which came down from Heaven”…..  And their hearts “burned” they said – as He shared the scriptures concerning Himself to them….. and then as He “brake the bread” and gave of it to them – that was when they realized who Jesus was…..  A quickening took place in their hearts – and revelation came as they were finally quiet enough to get past their own reasonings about seeing Jesus die -and now to listen to what was in their hearts as they had spent time listening to Him.

…… And so it is much the same with you and I as we draw aside to spend time in the Word of God with Him…..  We have His Word – and God is eager to speak to us – to show and tell us the things that we need to hear.  He gave us the Spirit of Truth to quicken the words to us that He wants us to hear – and with that quickening we “hear” and we see (by revelation) what we did not see  before.  This “quickening” of the Word has to do with “life” – for when the Spirit of God quickens something from God’s Word to us there is an “imparting” of the life that is in God’s Word into our spirit – and with that quickening there is revelation – a revealing of things in our spirit.

The revealing of these things brings in God’s light on the matter…… Does not Proverbs 20:27 tell us that “the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord” – through which He intends to give us light to see by…….  and  Psalm 112:4 says  “Unto the upright there arises  light in the darkness – because God is gracious and full of compassion for us.”    He wants us to hear what He has to say – so we can see what we need to see.

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In the next posts about the value of God’s Word, I would like to share some things concerning the character and the supernatural effects of God’s Word in the ordinary affairs of life as we come to understand the practical application of what He has given us.

“Recapping” of Some Things Important to Hearing in the Spirit

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If you and I are going to learn to hear His voice – as Jesus, “the Good Shepherd” told us we could  in John 10:4,11,14  – then it is important that we understand some things about what happened to us when we received Jesus as our Savior….as we see in this recap of some things from my January 15 & 22 posts about our beginnings in Him …..

The first important thing that you must understand is that new life came into your spirit – in the form of a spiritual rebirth which the bible refers to as being “born again” (John 3:1-8).  In that spiritual rebirth you and I received eternal life and a new nature in our spirit. ….. Inherent within that new nature is the desire to know and follow after God – the father of our born again spirit… and Jesus His son, who paid the price to redeem us back to God. John 17:3  explicitly tells us that …….” this is life eternal – that they might know You, the only true God,  and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”  Now we can come to know Him because He gave us that capacity with the new birth that took place in our spirit.the moment we received Jesus.

All of this adds up to the fact that we had a new dimension added to our life when we received Jesus –  giving you and I the capacity to begin to see and understand the things of the Kingdom of God – including “an ear to hear” in our born again spirit – so that we can learn to hear and recognize the “voice of God” – and be led by the Spirit of God.   Being born again is the start of this Spirit to spirit relationship with God – the beginning of our capacity to hear and know “His voice.”

We need to hear the voice of God – His Spirit  speaking to us (He is the One that Jesus promised to send to us to be our teacher and guide –  and to bring to our remembrance the things that He has already said to us (John 14:16,17,26)  Also in John 16:12-15  Jesus tells us: “I have many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now – but when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth. He will take what He hears from God the Father and show it unto you.  All things that the Father has are Mine – these things He will show unto you that I may be glorified ….. and He will show you things to come.”  These are things we need to hear!  And…….

To recap what I have just shared, I would say this – God gave us ears to hear in our born again spirit – and in His word,  He tells us clearly that He wants us to hear – hear what the Spirit is saying!….And these few things that I have spoken to you about today are some things important to that hearing in the spirit…. (Matthew 13:9;  Luke 14:35;  Revelation 2:7,  11, 17, 29 & Revelation 3:6, 13, 20, 22.)

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On March 7th, I began sharing about the things I have found to be most helpful in developing our ability to hear in the spirit – and pertaining to that I shared several posts about the value of personal worship – and now in the next posts I purpose to begin sharing some things about understanding the true value of God’s word and how that very much plays a  part in developing our hearing in the spirit.

 

Learning to Hear and to Recognize the Voice of God

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“Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures”? !

Such was the hindsight of the two disciples after they had met and conversed with the risen Jesus along their way to Emmaus (Luke 24:1-13-32) …… And now – after the fact – it was like “ohhh man…. He was right there with us … talking to us as we walked – and we did not even recognize Him!

They didn’t recognize Jesus because they were so filled with their own thoughts and reasonings that they “couldn’t see the forest for the trees” – as we often say when we have had something right in front of our face and yet failed to see it ….. Why?…..Because their reasonings – ie. both the “possiblilities” and the “impossiblilities”  of the circumstances  (see the March 26 post) that filled their minds and thinking this day – blinded them to the same thing that often blinds us to the truth –  the fact of who God”IS” – that He operates on a higher level than we do….. &  that when God is involved,  we just might be confronted with some things that are wonderful – but “difficult” for us to understand …… that is unless we learn to consider – even in the midst of our reasonings – that God lives in the supernatural!! …. And if He says it ,  He can do it!!

Our hearing God by the hearing ear of our spirit is also a supernatural thing… . It is a Spirit to spirit hearing – a hearing that belongs to the spirit of a man that has been born again…. Yes – God can – and He has spoken (in certain times and for specific purposes) to men who were not born again – but after receiving Jesus, we were “born again” – and with that new birth that took place in our spirit,  we were  given the capacity to hear God speaking to us.  But it is like all our human capacities to learn and grow in different ways – in that it has to be developed!  

But let’s get back to the two that had met the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus ….. and to what they shared with each other about that experience – ie .”Didn’t our heart burn within us – while He talked with us by the way,  and while He opened to us the scriptures”?

When God speaks to us, it is not at all uncommon to “feel” something “alive” with that hearing – and even though we learn to recognize His voice in much the same way that we learned to recognize that special voice of our mother or our father from the voice of any other – so we can learn to recognize the “voice” of God as well.  But understand, that there is “the recognizing” – AND – there is “the hearing” – so that we can  recognize who it is that we are hearing.

This is important because at times, even as we are maturing in that hearing by our spirit – we can be in the midst of deep thoughts about something – and have to question if we heard God speak a word to us.  That too is not uncommon – but at times when we have laid a question “about what to do” before the Lord – we must learn to quiet our mind – with its “reasonings” about that matter…..note that those “reasonings” of their minds was why  the two who walked with Jesus did not recognize Him …… So – we must learn to quiet our mind so that it is not so busy trying “to solve the problem” that we are hearing so many “answers” that they tend to get all tangled together!   When that is happening with your mind – it’s really kind of like trying to hear someone talking to you over the phone – all the while, someone beside you is talking to you (90 miles an hour ) at the same time – get the picture?

So, how do you quiet a “busy mind”?  I can share with you here some things that helped me when I was first learning this – all of which involve getting your mind to focus on something else.  One –  Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace – whose mind is stayed on Thee.”  You can do this by meditating on a verse of scripture – or by focusing on memorizing that scripture.  Another thing I used to do when the focus on the problem was “eating my lunch” was that I would actually call a friend and ask them to give me something to pray about for someone in need.  Listening to and singing along with good music will also divert your mind from its insistence on solving a problem that only God knows the real way out of.

Now days I do not have a major problem with quieting my mind – but when I do have the least inclination in that direction , I usually do one of these three things: I begin deliberately giving thanks to God – or I will slip over into personal worship – or I set myself to begin praying in the spirit – any of these never fail to bring me into His presence where – as the Psalmist shares in Psalm 16:7-11  that “setting the Lord before you causes your heart to be glad, your tongue to rejoice, and your flesh also to rest.

The problem is not  that God does not want to communicate with His children, but the problem is that we aren’t hearing as we should…. but that is a problem with a solution – which is to LEARN to hear.  If that is a desire of your heart, know that God is ready to teach you and take you to that place of hearing – better and better – that is so greatly desired by those who know Him.  You CAN learn to hear and recognize the voice of God!  I did – after many years of longing for that….. and now in these posts starting with March 11 and going until ??  I will be sharing with you the things that have helped (and are helping) me!….those things are straight from the Word of God!  and by the way  I write because I hear –  to me that is so exciting!

About Time and Choices

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Ever noticed a quiet “tug of war” going on when part of you wants to take some time to spend with God?

He gives the invitation – and we “hear” it…..  we feel the pull in our spirit             Then it is up to us – ie. the “ball” is in our court we know                                                And we can “say yes” or we can in effect “say no”!                                                          “No” …. there are other things to do and places to go.

Over the years – if we haven’t gotten to know Him very well by then – we can remember a time – (and it was some time ago!) when our heart was captured at the first thought of spending time with Him  …. We’d run eagerly to be with Him – to taste those moments of delight in that fellowship with Him.  But time passes and other things slip in – “lesser things” that we struggle to fit in….                   And in our heart we did not intend – to let all those other things –         lesser things of course – fill our time that we had once purposed to be for Him.

But we have an enemy in the spirit realm (I Peter 5:8 & Ephesians 6:10-12) …… who subtley plots how he can get in- to convince us that all those lesser things must be taken care of  NOW – certainly before we have any time left to spend ….  in those delightful times with Jesus – our best Friend!

For us who are born again, it is a CHOICE – one that we each have set before us……  a choice that we will indeed make……..                                                                       While for us to choose Him first – Jesus does wait!                                                          He waits …….  and the wonderful Holy Spirit will draw us –                                     But it is still our choice to make! …….  and the struggle is there –                         And the admonition of scripture “to seek God’s Kingdom first”!                            And if we choose that blessed way – the thing that our heart wants most –      To set at Jesus’ feet and be taught by Him … letting His wonderful presence permeate within ……

We all have certain responsibilities – and to “lay on the couch” instead of fulfilling them – is NOT  what this is about !  But when He calls to us – and       we feel that “pull” in our spirit – that is time that should belong to Him –         and when we embrace that time as His – we will find ourselves  – our time,   our hearts – blessed and refreshed – and ready to go forward…..                           into those things that belong to us as “our job” – our “responsibility”…… and     we take His peace with us – all because we chose to yield to that “call,” that “pull” in our spirit.  I’ve done it both ways – ie. I’ve “said Yes” and I’ve said “No” but  I KNOW  which way is better – and ……

It is the choice I never regret – and the incredible thing is – that then He walks with me – even goes out ahead of me – to help me and set up the day!!   Then everything that truly  needs doing seems to get done faster – even to just fall into place!  And I take His peace with me – all because I chose to yield   to that “pull” in my spirit.  That’s my definition of a glorious day!

It’s about  “TIME and CHOICES”! …..  and we each get to choose…

Developing Your Capacity to Hear and Recognize God’s Voice

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

When you are born again – and getting to know Jesus, the main thing you want is to know Him more!…..   That is because it opens the door to the best and most important things that you can know in this world.

And this is not a “self serving” thing because our having personal fellowship with Jesus and God the Father – affects us in every relationship that we have.  I’m still “flesh and blood” after being born again ….  but I had this new dimension added to my life – the capacity to get to know Him and to begin to understand the things of the Kingdom of God.

……. But notice that I used the word “capacity“….  because if you stay so caught up in the affairs of this life that you do not take the time to get to know the One who gave you this new life in Him – then you may be very little different in many respects than those who have not accepted Jesus as Savior….. “I’ve seen that,  and I say that –  because  it is in our times of  personal fellowship with Him that we get to know Him – who He is and what He is like – and the things that belong to us because of that relationship. We spend time with Him …..  we get to know the “taste and the feel” of His presence –  and (a bonus!) we see a definite and very desirable change taking place in us! …… And it is no small thing that as we are enjoying all of this – that our capacity to recognize God’s voice is also growing!!

What is it like to “hear” God speaking to you personally??

This following  narrative  about two people that had walked with Jesus as His disciples – may very well express what it often  feels like to hear and recognize His voice….

LUKE 24: 13 – 32 (paraphrased):  On the third day after Jesus had been crucified, two of His disciples were walking to the village of Emmaus – which was about 60 furlongs from Jerusalem.  As they walked, they talked of all the things that had come to pass in the last few days – including the fact that some women  (also followers of Jesus)  had gone to the sepulcher of Jesus earlier that day  and found not Jesus, but had instead seen a vision of angels there – saying that Jesus was risen from the dead. …..

Thus as these two disciples walked on the road to Emmaus – talking and reasoning together” about all these things  – Jesus Himself drew near and started walking with them ….. But their eyes were held fast (“blinded” as it were)  by their reasonings (ie. that Jesus was dead) – so that they did not recognize Him.  “What are you talking about?”  Jesus asked the two.  In reply the two began to explain about who they had thought Jesus was – – but now He was dead – having been crucified and buried – this being the third day after His death …… along with the details of the women who had gone to the tomb  earlier in the day and seen “a vision of angels which said Jesus was alive!” ….. So that the two were filled this day with all kinds of thoughts and reasonings about what could possibly be going on here!   To which reasonings Jesus answered –  “Fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken;  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory”? ….. And then as they continued walking, Jesus expounded unto the two from all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.

As they drew near to Emmaus,  the two constrained  Jesus to stay with them, sup with them – and as Jesus sat at meat with them,  He took bread and blessed it – broke and gave of it to them   ….. And their eyes were opened and they knew (recognized) Him….  And He vanished out of their sight …..  Then they said one to the other  “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us by the way,  and while He opened the scriptures to us?!!”

I could not give you a better description (in a nutshell) than what those two on the road to Emmaus just said about hearing His voice.

We were created with divine purpose – to very personally and experientially  know God our Creator …. John 17:3  “And this is life eternal  – that  they might know  You – the only true God,  and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” 

There is no doubt that He wants us to hear and recognize His voice – How many times did Jesus say “he that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying?  (Seven times in Revelation 2 and 3 – as well as several times in the gospels)   God gave us “an ear to hear” in our born again spirit – and it is very important that we spend one on one time with Him and start developing that capacity  we have in our born again spirit to hear Him.  He’s got things to say to you that you both need and want to hear …..  So … How’s your hearing?

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This and the three posts – on March 13, 17, & 20 – are the first posts in a series  that started March 11 about  “These Three Things …. Training Your Spirit to Hear” .  I have been sharing about the value of personal worship in getting to know the “feel” of God’s presence and in developing your spirit to hear and recognize His voice.  I’ll continue with the second and third things that we need for that in the coming posts on this blog.  I hope this is helpful to some of you.   Have a wonderful rest of your day!

Personal Worship …. Touching God’s Heart and Tasting His Presence

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

The following is a Prophetic Word Received Jan13,2013

We are coming into – are already in the beginnings of miraculous restorations  Such” miracles” will soon be commonplace in the Body of Christ.

(How shall this be?)…..  Men and  women, even children – yielding themselves to worship God.  Worship of a “purer” vein than most have tasted in our churches.  This worship will fill the homes and  the lives – the personal lives – of those who love Him.  He is our God , and we will  give the honor due Him.  We will  love, worship and adore Him.

Our God will have a people who deeply worship Him ….. (Did not Jesus say to the religious leaders who asked Him to rebuke *the multitude who began to worship Jesus as He made His way into Jerusalem  (Luke 19:29-40) ” I tell you that if *these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out!”)    Yes, our God will  have a people who deeply worship Him – out of hearts set upon Him.  We’re talking about “first love” – the deepest affection of our heart belonging (where it belongs) –  to Him!  Our God reigns – first in our hearts who say we love Him – then in the world;  for He is soon to rule and reign on the earth which He made.   We are in that dispensation of time when we will see all things gathered back into His hands.  (ICorinthians 15:22-28  & Ephesians 1:10)

He is our God, and we will worship Him.  In true worship, all things are possible!…. and through us – by the mighty power of the Spirit of God working in us –  the world will  see Him!   He only is the King of Glory – and He will  be Lord and God and King in this world – for the kingdoms of this world are soon to be the kingdoms of our God!

Jesus, You are worthy of all glory and honor and praise – You are our God, and we worship You.  The kingdoms of this world – the earth and all things in it – are soon to be the kingdoms of our God!    (End of the prophetic word) – and into a short teaching on…..

…. Personal Worship…. When we take the time to worship the Lord, we touch His heart and we taste His presence.

God “dwells in the light” – and we also begin to be surrounded with that same light – even when our circumstances look dark – as we surrender our time, our heart and our mind to focus on Him – on who He is, what His Word says – and the incredible things He has done and does still do.   In fact He wants us to learn to “walk” in the light with Him – so that He is not hard to find when our circumstances try to dictate things of darkness to us.   (I John 1:3-7  tells us that we can “walk in the light” and stay in fellowship with Him)

The Psalmist said ” I have set  the Lord always before me – because He is at my right hand – I shall not be moved …..  therefore my heart is glad,  my tongue rejoices,  and my flesh also – shall rest in hope.” (Psalm 16:7)  Spending time with Him causes the flesh side of our being to rest – and experience “hope.”…. Also, the words “I have set” indicate that this is something you and I are to do.  God has given us the “tools” we need to work with – but it is up to us to make the choice  to learn how to use them!

How about choosing to become one of those worshipers that God seeks for?!

(John 4:23,24  “The hour cometh and now is – when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth – for the Father seeks such to worship Him.  God is a Spirit;  and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”)

You and I are triune beings – spirit, soul and body – just as it tells us  in I Thessalonians ..5:23.  We are to give some attention to the development of each one of the three – but God made the spirit to dominate the other two. (The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord – which He illuminates as we set our hearts and give some time aside with Him – Proverbs 20:27 & Psalms 18:28).    If you and I give ourselves to use the “tools” God gives us to feed and develop our spirit – it will be the one that dominates in our life as God intended…..  And we are seeing from this and recent posts on this blog that PERSONAL WORSHIP is one of the main gifts/tools  that He put in the born again spirit of man to help us connect with Him and develop a healthy strong spirit within us.

There is more than one way to spend personal time in worship …  For some music is special – Psalms 150.   Others may love to dance before the Lord in some of their alone time with Him –  Psalm 149:3;  Psalm 150:4. ….. And   Psalm 100:1,2   invites us to “come before Him with singing – ditto with Ephesians 5:18,19 and Colossians 3:16 ! … while Psalm 46 calls us into a “stillness” as does the 23rd Psalm as we meditate on “who He is and what He has done and will do.”   Psalms 63:5  and  103:1-6 invite us to bless His name and be joyful as we think about (and always remember!) all His  benefits – and the blessings of just knowing Him.!….  Speaking and celebrating His Word – acknowledging and giving thanks for all that He is to us – and for His promises that are always “yes and amen” to those who believe that His Word is true.   (Philippians 2:16 and II Corinthians 1:20)

……Whatever you do….. learn to worship – you’ll “touch God’s heart” and taste His presence.  You can’t do better than that …. because … “in His presence is fullness of joy”!

An Invitation to Worship and Believe

~ kathrynspen ~ 4 Comments

For those who know Who I am,  I am asking you to learn  to look to Me for the things that you need – you can always turn to Me – for comfort, for help, for security ….. for whatever it is that you need.

Lift up your head – give thanks and worship Me – for in My presence it becomes easy to believe!

Worship Me for who I am to you …. For I am your Provider and your Keeper –        The One that will never leave you ….  I will always be there.                                        And please realize that wherever  you are – you  can touch Me!                                  You can learn to draw whatever it is that you need from Me –                                         Even all things that I have promised you in My word – just remember that nothing is too hard for Me …….  And that all things are possible to the one that believes!

I am the living bread – the bread of life….  and if you learn to look to Me,                     I will sustain you through the hardest of days…..                                                                  And if need be, I could even cause the ravens to feed you!  (I did that for Elijah – Am I not the same God today ? …. And would I not do the same for you?! )            So trust My word that it is true – and worship Me!   For indeed I do ….             inhabit your worship and praise! …. And in My presence you’ll find it easy to believe.

“And all things – whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing – you shall receive!”  (Matthew 21:22 )   This is My personal invitation to you – so worship Me and learn to believe!!