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THE NARROW PATH

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PROPHETIC VISION – FUNNEL

A few days ago during a prayer meeting.  The Lord showed me a picture of a funnel.  While seeing a vision of a funnel might seem strange to some people when the Lord reveals pictures and dreams they are not to be taken lightly.  As I saw the picture

of the funnel I asked the Lord what the funnel represented.

The Lord said the funnel represents His people and their human temples/bodies.  The Lord then said that the funnels are upside down.  The picture the Lord showed me was our traditional method of using a funnel.

The Lord then said look at the funnel upside down.  So I visualized the funnel upside down.

 The Lord said, see with the narrow part up it is pointed directly to Him and there is less impurity, corruption, false teaching and manipulation.  More of a “pure” stream! I then asked the Lord about the volume of pouring into us as the rate of flow would be less upside down.  He said in the natural/human usage of the funnel (human temples) with the pouring right side up we might receive more volume being “poured into” us quicker but it is contaminated, impure and not soley from the Lord.

I then began to press into this vision more and the Lord said, see when the funnel is upside down the diameter is wider.  Your freedom is increased as well as your sphere of influence to reach my people.  I then visualized me standing under the funnel and realized how “bound” we standing under the “spout” of the funnel vs. when the funnel is upside down.

I believe the Lord’s message is critical in breaking false influences, false teachings and worldly contaminants from corrupting our spiritual growth and our spiritual callings from the Lord.  I believe the Lord is reiterating that everything must be tested in the spirit and in the Word of God and that we must seek revelations as well as witness in our spirits.  Many people have not put God first and this was a message that reinstates that the Lord needs to be put first.

I pray that you will receive the warning and insight in this prophetic vision and embrace the word of the Lord.  Seek first the Kingdom of the Lord.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

(Matthew 6:33 KJV)

God is “Not Trying”

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This article was written by a friend.

This morning God revealed to me some perception issues we have about Him and how we see and hear or rather don’t see and hear. In my conversation with my wife this morning, she stated “I think God is trying to help you do….…..” I responded “what if He is Not trying?” She said what do you mean? Are you saying God is not trying to help you?” I responded “say the same statement leaving out the word trying.” She said “I think God IS helping you do……” I was not trying to pick apart the obvious intention of my wife’s statement, but I discerned how our words reveal our mindset, in this case the outcome. I realized the Lord was revealing how many times I incorrectly use the word trying when I describe what He is doing, revealing my own mindset. The Lord many times will cause me to experience what He experiences from me, so I know what it feels like. Our clear perception of His truth makes it operational in our lives.

God has already overcome the world, He already finished His work. He is not unable to deliver what He promised. He is renewing our mind and He is leading us to truth. Despite my inability to perceive or receive does not change that He will bring His promises to pass. I believe that when we are using the word “trying” in our description of what God is doing, we reveal uncertainty in our mind about the outcome or finished result. If we have uncertainty in our mind we entertain the possibility of a different outcome than God’s promise.

Matthew 4:19 (NKJV) Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 25:21 (NKJV) His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

God is not trying to make you, He is making you! It seems a subtle difference of words, but reveals a huge difference in mindset. Can we believe He will rather than He is trying? Does that difference change our expectation and confidence in the midst of tribulation and trial? Does that change our perception of the steps He ordered for us and why we are standing where we are standing? I realized how subtle wrong perceptions can hinder the peace and confidence in the way we walk, whether knowing or hoping. The Lord spoke to me clearly on one occasion saying “your kingdom walk is in your “knows”, and what you speculate about I will bring to your knowing when you need to know it.” God knows we cannot be shaken from what we know. We walk confidently in what we know. However knowing His truth and love is paramount in walking in His truth in love.

Consider that God is not trying to make you like Him; He is making you like Him.

The Power Of One

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THE POWER OF ONE

 

I remember when I first decided to attend ministry school.  One man I worked with said to me:  “Glen, what can one man do and accomplish when the world is in darkness and subject to doom”.  I said Jesus Christ was only one man and how many lives has He saved?  I never got a response.  If God is not a respecter of persons then there is not one person that Jesus wants to perish.  Jesus wants all of us to have everlasting life, eternal life!

John 3:16 (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Never underestimate the power of “The One” as there is only one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We all long for fellowship, companionship and intimacy and this being said we often feel alone in our burdens, trials and tribulations.  However, those who have made Jesus their Lord and Savior are never alone.  Jesus is interceding for us!

We must fully understand that those “in Christ” are never alone in Spirit.  Satan loves to inflict feelings of loneliness and unworthiness in our minds and hearts.  Satan would like nothing more than to keep us bound in these strongholds but have you ever considered that perhaps you might be in a  wilderness season of transformation?  Is the Lord separating you from the influences of man, society, family or friends?  Those of us who have persevered and endured through Christ Jesus know first hand about wilderness experiences.  Some of the greatest personal encounters with The Lord come from wilderness experiences.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:34-37 KJV)

How incredible is this, Jesus intercedes for us and makes intercession for us to the Father!  Now this is good news.  So let’s think about the power of one for a moment.  If ministry happens through us and not because of us then the power isn’t ours it’s from the abiding presence of The Holy Spirit.

We may often feel like we are alone in this world but the Truth is that God is omnipresent and The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

I have often walked alone “witnessing” in public as no one from church would want to come along.  The fact is that the world is starving spiritually for the presence of Jesus and many people need an encounter with the Lord and a revelation of The Father’s Heart.

Jesus said to preach the Gospel and Signs & Wonders will follow.  I have been in groups where people would focus on power, signs & wonders and when I would state that this was unhealthy, deceptive and Jesus spoke against this in the Bible I would be attacked.  No surprise, the greatest Sign & Wonder was Jesus Christ in the flesh and look what His people did to Him!

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. (Matthew 16:4 KJV)

I am not against Signs & Wonders nor denying the sovereignty of The Lord.  I personally have seen and witnessed the supernatural while ministering but my heart and focus is always on the heart of The Father and what The Lord wants to do for the person receiving ministry.  Before I even attempt to minister I give thanks to The Lord for what He is doing for/in that person and thank Him for trusting me to minister on His behalf.  This is communion with The Lord, it is about Him NOT me!  The supernatural happens because of Jesus not because of me and my focus is on what The Lord is doing and not the miracle.  We are to preach the true gospel and signs and wonders will follow.

When the flesh focuses on the miracle we normally minister by symptoms verses the root of the problem.  If we only focus on the symptom is the person being redeemed and totally restored being made whole?  Symptoms should lead to a diagnosis.  Does and alcoholic drink because he is an alcohol or is there a spiritual root that the alcohol is masking, suppressing, hiding, etc.  Treat the root and the symptoms leave!  If you only treat the symptoms  a person is not necessarily made whole.  Jesus didn’t say take two aspirins and come back in two weeks because he treated the root not merely the symptoms.  We should be seeking the Lord while listening to someones feelings, hurts or illnesses.  Revelations of truth break lies and strongholds. I could give countless testimonies of people asking for prayer because of their symptoms and when the Lord would reveal the root cause to me I would minister the revelations The Lord revealed to me and they would be set free and healed.  All honor and glory are The Lord’s not mine.

If satan is the master of deception and we are warned about false apostles, prophets and signs and wonders how can we discern what is of God?  Satan can never duplicate the Heart of Jesus.  In fact satan hates humility, repentance, mercy and grace.  If you want to grow in discernment you must focus on the heart and persona of Jesus Christ.  The crucifixion and resurrection of the Cross of Jesus must be embraced daily from a heart of thanksgiving, praise and worship.  We must never forget our personal testimony or what The Lord delivered us from and continues to deliver us from. (Gal 2:20)

Jesus stood in front of Satan tempted after coming out of the wilderness.  Satan used scripture and every means he knew to tempt Jesus yet Jesus remained humble.  Satan even wanted a demonstration of power from Jesus but Jesus did not have to prove anything.  This also happened when Jesus was on the cross when they said to Jesus if you are the King of the Jews surely you can remove yourself from that cross!  Pride is feed by power but humility stands in the face of pride and accusation because humility has nothing to prove.

Your greatest strength is quite often the very first thing attacked by Satan and your weakest trait is usually the one that The Lord  edifies to become your strongest.  Ponder this, if Satan can make you question your greatest strength/attribute everything else will crumble under it.  Satan attacks leadership and personal strengths because if he can deceive leadership or our strengths everything beneath easily crumbles.  If he can get leadership off track it is likely that those under leadership will be off track.  If your heart is hurting then you are capable of love but the enemy tells you that you will never be loved.  If you didn’t love or were not capable of love you wouldn’t feel the pain in the first place!  See how deceptive Satan is!  All the lies he speaks to you questioning your love and ability to be loved.

Only the Truth will set you free and those who have truly been set free by Jesus will be a lovers of His Truth!  This is real love, to love the Truth of His Word, Persona and Attributes of Jesus.  The Love of Christ Jesus is redeeming, restoring and embraceable, it doesn’t leave you in bondage, hurt and deception.  To be an overcomer we must stand on His Truth as well as our testimony and the “blood of the Lamb”.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11 KJV)

I have witnessed to many people and even performed  deliverances as led by the Spirit.  Some of these people tell me they have gone to many churches, received countless prayers and I tell them it’s not about the building it’s about The Lord.  The Lord is omnipresent and He is not confined to a building.   There is a stronghold and mindset which needs to be broken and that is that no man or church sets anyone free.  It is The Lord Jesus and only Jesus.  I am often asked about what church I attend and I tell people it is Jesus that sets them free and to Glorify Jesus.  Church is not my savior, Jesus Christ is my savior.  I love the church but not above Jesus Christ.  I don’t worship the temple above The Lord Of The Temple.  Jesus is to be the cornerstone of the Church and Lord of His Church.  Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord.

If you read the Psalms of David you will notice that his focus was on The Lord not man.  David gave all his thanks, praise, worship and repentance to The Lord.  He was never alone on the battle field because he knew his strength was in The Lord.

In Ephesians Chapter Six we read in verses 10 through 12 about the armor of God and warring against darkness, principalities and strongholds.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:10-12 KJV)

We are in a battle and at war! We are not to be complacent!  The complacency of the church and Christians has caused us to be reactive vs. proactive.

I can’t over emphasize enough the importance of The Father’s heart and the persona and character of Jesus in building strong spiritual discernment.  Many will tell you that we are not to discern the motives or hearts of the people and this is false.  We are not to condemn people but we are called to judge/discern.  Jesus is after our hearts and The Lord knows the motives and intentions of our hearts.

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)

As born again Christians we have the Living God The Holy Spirit and we are able to discern the hearts and motives of people by submitting everything to The Lord and our Spirit.  Quiet often statements that are true will be spoken to us but the motive and intentions are NOT truth!  They are deceptive, manipulative and meant to lead us astray.  

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:for they are foolishness unto him:neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.(1 Corinthians 2:15 KJV)

We are living in the end days and the second coming of the Lord is drawing near.  We must draw near and call upon the Lord with purity of heart, motive and sincerity.  We must submit fully to The Lord so He that began a good work can complete it.

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6 KJV)

 

Father I thank you that you will complete the good work within me, strengthening me, edifying me, sanctifying me into the likeness and image of your son Jesus Christ.  Father I thank you that your Word never returns null and void but is shaper than a double edge sword separating soul from spirit.  Father I submit my will and spirit to you, create in me a clean heart through the renewing of my mind in Jesus name I pray.

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11 KJV)

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10 KJV)

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)

 

Let us not forget about the Noah’s, Abraham’s, Moses and David’s or Mary who saw Jesus in the tomb!

 

Knowing Him and Trusting in His Love and Goodness

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Yesterday my niece and her husband lost their 10 month old baby girl.  In our grieving the Lord impressed upon me the words He spoke to me several years ago; “Your kingdom walk is in your knows and what you speculate about I will bring to your knowing when you need to know it.”  We cannot understand why we suffer such tragic loss in our life, but we know our Lord and that He is with us and we must rest in what we know in Him.  My wife Sherry felt impressed to write the following concerning the loss of little sweet Cate. I am posting these words because I believe they may be a salve to open wounds and a heavenly perspective for those suffering their own loss. This is the Facebook post she made:

“I by no means have been appointed official spokesperson by my wonderful family.  No one even knew I would post, nor did I know I would be posting anything on Facebook today.  The Lord has been dealing with my heart as Scott and I have been praying for sweet Brittany, Lane, Olivia and Ava, Kenny, Rhonda, Hayley (the most amazing Aunt in the world) and the entire Thompson, Baker and Roberts families.  I would first like to say that we love and appreciate everyone so much for your prayers and words of encouragement.  Where would we be without the Lord, and where would we be without all of you rallying around us so lovingly and prayerfully at the sorrowful passing of our beloved Baby Cate.  Cate was truly a precious gift from the Lord, as are all of our children.  As James says in scripture, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”  Baby Cate is a perfect gift that we have been so blessed to love and cherish and will continue to love and cherish as we remember her sweetness and beautiful face full of smiles.  Can anyone explain why things like this happen?  I sure cannot, and I will not try.  What the Lord has been dealing with me about is to trust who He is and know that there is no variation or shadow of turning with Him.  He is good all the time, His mercies are new every morning, His love and faithfulness is great and everlasting,  and there is nowhere we can go nor any pain we can go through that He does not cherish us and hold us in the palm of His hand.  We do mourn, as right now, Brittany and Lane would love nothing more than to have their little family together again, but we do not mourn as those who have no hope.  Our hope is in you Lord and the promise that we will see you, Cate and all of our loved ones in you again.  As you tell us in Isaiah, it is you, Lord, who gives us a crown of beauty instead of ashes and the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  We will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.  If you do not know this wonderful loving Jesus we serve, you can.  Please seek Him today with your whole heart, and He will meet you right where you are.  We love you all.”

God Bless you, and thank you Lord for allowing us to have each other and the precious gift of our time with baby Cate. We are grateful she is with you and we will be with her again because of you Lord.

 

Contend for Christ in Your Thoughts

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The Lord has been putting on my heart the issue of our thought life.  Our thoughts reveal our heart.

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…….

If entertaining evil thoughts precede and lead to the action of sin, conversely entertaining Godly thoughts lead to the action of love and confidence in the kingdom truths which leads to our kingdom walk.  Thoughts are not ours until we agree with them.  When we agree with heavenly inspired thoughts we produce Christ in us, while thoughts of worry, bitterness and strife produce despair.

Philippians 4:8 tells us:

[Meditate on These Things] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

In any vacuum of heavenly thoughts the seeds of despair are being sown.  We must sow seed of life and life more abundantly.  Our own intimacy with the Lord is increased as a result of our heavenly thought life, the choice to cast down ungodly thoughts and rest in what we know in Him. Our heart is the soil for His word and we can prepare our soil to grow the goodness of Christ in us by choosing a heavenly thought life.

Entertaining wrong thoughts birthed the sin we were washed clean from, but we still have to contend for holiness.  We must align our thought life with Christ to be overcomers and eliminate the distractions which hinder our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and cause us to fall short of walking in a pure gospel of Christ.

Renewing our mind is essential to believe the truth of Christ to the point of trust and obedience when our natural reasoning may bring a thought or conclusion in conflict with the word of God.

Romans 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

My Prayer for you:

Dear Father in heaven, I ask you in Jesus name to quicken to our spirit the thoughts which are not yours and the desire to cast them down, to live in the truth of your word and your hope.  May our hearts be purified so that we release pure love in which the world will see Jesus Christ in everything we say and expression of our behavior and choices.  Amen.

COMPROMISE – THE SILENT KILLER

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COMPROMISE – THE SILENT KILLER

 

 

Revelation 22:18–19 (AMP)

18 I [personally solemnly] warn everyone who listens to the statements of the prophecy [the predictions and the consolations and admonitions pertaining to them] in this book: If anyone shall add anything to them, God will add and lay upon him the plagues (the afflictions and the calamities) that are recorded and described in this book. 

19 And if anyone cancels or takes away from the statements of the book of this prophecy [these predictions relating to Christ’s kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions or warnings pertaining to them], God will cancel and take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the city of holiness (purity and hallowedness), which are described and promised in this book.

 

 

 

 

One of the greatest strongholds is compromise.  The word of God is not controversial in itself because the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever.  People are controversial because they conform the word around their life rather than the way, truth and life of Christ Jesus.  Let the Word of God be true and every man a liar.  If we are not careful we will go by our own beliefs rather than seeking the Lord and His Word.  I often hear people make statements where there is reproof that they don’t believe.  We must seek the Lord and not our own beliefs.

 

John 14:6 (AMP)

6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.

 

Romans 3:4 (AMP)

4 By no means! Let God be found true though every human being is false and a liar, as it is written, That You may be justified and shown to be upright in what You say, and prevail when You are judged [by sinful men]. [Ps. 51:4.]

 

If it is controversial it is subject to compromise.  Jesus did not walk in compromise He walked in TRUTH for He is Truth!  He did not use the Word of God selectively for His own benefit taking scripture out of context or sugar coating it to make it more palatable. 

 

I have heard Christians make statements such as “The Holy Spirit affirms my identity”.  While that appeal to the fallen man and flesh it is not the truth.  The Holy Spirit affirms who Christ is in us.  Jesus did not die to become like us He died as us, so we could become like Him reconciling us back to our created value and image!  The Holy Spirit does not conform to man it conforms to Christ Jesus by conviction of sin leading us to repentance, holiness and sanctification.  

 

Genesis 1:27 (AMP)

27 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. [Col. 3:9, 10; James 3:8, 9.]

 

When we remove any virtue of Christ Jesus such as HIS righteousness and truth we are left with a false and perverted love.  One that conforms to our liking and not who Christ Jesus is.  We are called to be lovers of Christ Jesus, The Word of God and to hunger and thirst for His righteousness.  

 

Matthew 5:6 (AMP)

6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! [Isa. 55:1, 2.]

 

 

 

To be true to your word is to have integrity.  God is true to His word and promises and while heaven and earth may pass the Word of God is forever.  We must partner with the promises and truth of the Word of God and with Jesus.  We must not compromise by picking and choosing what to believe.  We must embrace, trust and believe in the whole council of God and all of His Word not using partiality or picking and choosing what suits us.  Your freedom is not a natural freedom it is a spiritual freedom.  Jesus never promised life would be easy He said He overcame the world and we too could overcome the world abiding in Christ Jesus.

 

I have heard people embrace the Grace of God while denying the Power and Sovereignty of God and His resurrection power.  Ridiculous statements like he or she has only been save a few years, how can they know or discern.  Salvation is not subject to time, it is a confession of the heart and believing in faith that Jesus died on the cross on our behalf and was resurrected on our behalf bearing our sins and death to our sinful nature.  Sanctification and holiness is a continued working process of the Grace of God in our hearts renewing our minds and conforming us to the image and likeness of Christ Jesus.

 

When we compare our spirituality to other professing believers we take our eyes of the Lord and allow jealousy, pride, strife and gossip to come into our hearts.  Your “calling and gifting” is yours, mine is mine.  We are called to work together embracing one anothers gifts and callings to equip and edify the saints.  

 

Ephesians 4:12 (AMP)

12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),

 

 

 

When you compromise you also compromise the spiritual well being and eternal life of those around you.  Humans seek humans for approval and it is easy to fall victim to compromise when you need, desire and seek approval from others regarding what the Lord God has spoken to you and called you to do.  

 

Those that hear the Lord’s voice don’t seek second opinions from man they seek quiet time with the Lord to walk in the Lord’s perfect will and timing.  God has a perfect time for everything and does not rule by hope, chance or wishes. Every Word of God will come to pass.  The question is will you parter with all of His truth, Word and promises in the fullness of your heart with total commitment standing on the Word and promises of God.

 

Don’t let emotions rule your thoughts and perceptions lead you astray.  Seek the Lord and the truth of His Word standing firm partnering with truth.  The Holy Spirit leads to all truth and is not capable of lying.  

 

John 16:13 (AMP)

13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

 

 

Father I pray that if there are any lies which have become false truths in my life that you expose them now.  Father bring light where there is darkness.  Bring truth where there is deception.  Father I thank you that you never change and that you are true to your Word.  Father help me to partner with your truth and promises.  Help me to be bold in your truth, standing in your truth and speaking in your truth.  Father I thank you that you are not a God of compromise but of completion.  Father help me to partner with your promises and truth.  Father create in me a pure heart with a passion and hunger for your truth and righteousness.  Father create in me a pure and humble heart, for those with a pure heart shall see God.  I ask this in Jesus name.  

 

Matthew 5:8 (AMP)

8 Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous—possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God! [Ps. 24:3, 4.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOVER’S OF TRUTH

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LOVER’S OF TRUTH

Morning, October 25

 

“For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.” 

— 2 John 2

 

Once let the truth of God obtain an entrance into the human heart and subdue the whole man unto itself, no power human or infernal can dislodge it. We entertain it not as a guest but as the master of the house—this is a Christian necessity, he is no Christian who doth not thus believe. Those who feel the vital power of the gospel, and know the might of the Holy Ghost as he opens, applies, and seals the Lord’s Word, would sooner be torn to pieces than be rent away from the gospel of their salvation. What a thousand mercies are wrapped up in the assurance that the truth will be with us for ever; will be our living support, our dying comfort, our rising song, our eternal glory; this is Christian privilege, without it our faith were little worth. Some truths we outgrow and leave behind, for they are but rudiments and lessons for beginners, but we cannot thus deal with Divine truth, for though it is sweet food for babes, it is in the highest sense strong meat for men. The truth that we are sinners is painfully with us to humble and make us watchful; the more blessed truth that whosoever believeth on the Lord Jesus shall be saved, abides with us as our hope and joy. Experience, so far from loosening our hold of the doctrines of grace, has knit us to them more and more firmly; our grounds and motives for believing are now more strong, more numerous than ever, and we have reason to expect that it will be so till in death we clasp the Saviour in our arms. 

 

Wherever this abiding love of truth can be discovered, we are bound to exercise our love. No narrow circle can contain our gracious sympathies, wide as the election of grace must be our communion of heart. Much of error may be mingled with truth received, let us war with the error but still love the brother for the measure of truth which we see in him; above all let us love and spread the truth ourselves. 

 

 Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

Walking In Truth

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“For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.” 

— 3 John 3

 

The truth was in Gaius, and Gaius walked in the truth. If the first had not been the case, the second could never have occurred; and if the second could not be said of him the first would have been a mere pretence. Truth must enter into the soul, penetrate and saturate it, or else it is of no value. Doctrines held as a matter of creed are like bread in the hand, which ministers no nourishment to the frame; but doctrine accepted by the heart, is as food digested, which, by assimilation, sustains and builds up the body. In us truth must be a living force, an active energy, an indwelling reality, a part of the woof and warp of our being. If it be in us, we cannot henceforth part with it. A man may lose his garments or his limbs, but his inward parts are vital, and cannot be torn away without absolute loss of life. A Christian can die, but he cannot deny the truth. Now it is a rule of nature that the inward affects the outward, as light shines from the centre of the lantern through the glass: when, therefore, the truth is kindled within, its brightness soon beams forth in the outward life and conversation. It is said that the food of certain worms colours the cocoons of silk which they spin: and just so the nutriment upon which a man’s inward nature lives gives a tinge to every word and deed proceeding from him. To walk in the truth, imports a life of integrity, holiness, faithfulness, and simplicity—the natural product of those principles of truth which the gospel teaches, and which the Spirit of God enables us to receive. We may judge of the secrets of the soul by their manifestation in the man’s conversation. Be it ours to-day, O gracious Spirit, to be ruled and governed by thy divine authority, so that nothing false or sinful may reign in our hearts, lest it extend its malignant influence to our daily walk among men. 

 

 Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

Truth Requires Obedience

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Walking in Truth Requires Obedience

 

Jesus, the son of God is also the way the truth and the life. So it’s obvious Jesus is all truth and yet one of the final temptations Jesus faced was to pass the cup and not follow the Father’s will to the cross of Calvary. I am so thankful Jesus loved the Father unto the point of laying down His life for there is no greater gift indeed and Jesus followed the very commandments He had spoken! 

 

Walking in truth includes obedience to the Father’s will and ways through the Lordship of Christ Jesus. Knowledge without application is dead works!


John 15:13 (AMP)
13 No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.

Matthew 22:36–40 (AMP)
36 Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments are light—which are heavy?] 
37 And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). [Deut. 6:5.]
38 This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. 
39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. [Lev. 19:18.]
40 These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

James 2:17 (AMP)
17 So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).

Revelation 12:11 (AMP)
11 And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].