Water From The Word
Studies From the Word of God
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February 22, 2008

                     CLOTHED WITH GRACE AND TRUTH –
                      or THE POWER OF WEAKNESS

        Mercy and loving-kindness and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.  
Psalm 85:10 AMP
        And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1: 14, 17  NLT
       By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man, not by sacrificial offerings] iniquity is purged out of the
heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil.  Proverbs 16:6  AMP        
       From the time that Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and
found themselves naked before God, we have been trying to clothe ourselves.  Stripped of our God-given dignity
and power and purpose and plan we keep looking for another covering - other than what God provided.
       We attempt to clothe ourselves in the business of life, both good and bad, spiritual and sinful, we try to stay
busy enough to forget our nakedness.  We try to clothe our nakedness with possessions, with power and position.  
We try to clothe ourselves in contrived beauty.  All our attempts to cover ourselves are both fruitless and rebellious.  
       God did not call us to be powerful and strong but to walk in His strength and power.   He didn’t call us because
we are powerful and strong.  He called us because we are broken and wounded.  He calls us in our brokenness
and weakness.  So that He can impart His strength and His power to us.
       But first we must acknowledge our weakness and brokenness.  Most of us want to hide our weaknesses and
our brokenness.  We don’t want to reveal our frailty, our weakness.  We don’t want anyone else to know what we
have done or are capable of doing in our weakness.  We don’t want anyone to know what caused us to break or
how deeply we are broken.  God cannot impart His strength to us while we are still pretending we have our own
strength.  He cannot infuse us with His power while we are prideful of what we can accomplish on our own.  He will
not grant us His power and grace while we are hiding the truth or trying to cover it up.
       The truth is we are naked, we are weak, we are broken and we are pretty much helpless without God and His
strength and power.  And His desire is for us to be honest with each other and ourselves.  He wants us to clothe
ourselves in His truth and in His Grace.
       You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its
deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like
God in true righteousness and holiness. Eph 4:22-23 NIV
       Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  Therefore put on
the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you
have done everything, to stand.  Eph 6: 11,13
       Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Col 3:9-10
       Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience.  Col 3:12
        Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Col 3:13-14
       
      We need to make sure that we are clothed with the new man - that of God and His Spirit, that we are clothed in
His love and have put on the full armor.  There are things coming against the Body of Christ that will necessitate us
being covered with the armor so that we can stand against evil.  We need to be covered with the anointing and
power that comes through our submission to God – the One true God        God calls us where we are with the
weaknesses and troubles that we have in order to heal us, make us whole, to complete us and the work He began
in us, to trade His strength for our weakness, to give us His power and grace – so that we may be able to go out
and comfort others.  In order to do that, we must be willing to expose our weaknesses – past and present.
        I can tell my story of how God picked me up out of the pit I had dug for myself.  I can comfort others with the
knowledge that one time I was broken and weak but God healed me and made me whole.  I can tell everyone that
once I was blind but now I see, once I was stumbling but now God leads me.  That’s good.  But - it will be more
helpful if I get specific and real while I am covered with His truth and humility.
       I was dying.  I was depressed and unhappy.  I was slowing losing my ability to see reason and know the truth.  
I attempted suicide.  But God came to me and healed me.  He renewed my mind.  He healed me.  He exchanged His
joy for my sorrow.  He gave me peace to still my worried mind.  He clothed me with His righteousness and His grace
and truth.  He instilled a desire to live and serve Him.  God is able.  He is able to deliver anyone from whatever the
problem may be.          
       He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to
give them the same comfort God has given us.   2 Corinthians 1:4  NLT
       God can do more if I will become more honest.  If I will become transparent to allow Him to be seen, He will
shine forth brightly.  I can be honest and expose my present weaknesses as I allow Him to continue to work in me –
as I see who I am in Him.  And when I see myself as He sees me, as I see what He has called me to do for Him, as I
see what He can do in me – I can risk being honest and transparent to help others.  But only as I see who I am in
Christ can I be comfortable enough to take that risk.  When I become comfortable with who God created me to be,
who He has called me to be and be happy with that – only then am I able to be honest – clothed with grace and
truth to minister comfort to those He brings into my life.
       Christ went to the cross, clothed in weakness and rose from the grave clothed in power and strength.   We go
to the cross, clothed in our sin and weakness, broken and bruised.  We receive grace.  He clothes us in His
righteousness and His power, and we are healed and restored.
       And as we go on, progress in Him we must continue to exchange our weakness for His power, our humanness
for His Truth and Grace – and allow it to change us daily.  And at the same time stay honest and transparent.  Let
those that God has put us in relationship with, see our weaknesses so they give God glory for His power operating
within us – covering us.  Be transparent about our stumbling so people can be assured that just as God is
transforming us, lifting us up, restoring us, He will do the same in their life.  Then I can truly comfort others with what
I have received.  Let us clothe ourselves, cover ourselves with Him and all that He is.
       And the Word [Christ] became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled – fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile
– among us; and we [actually] saw His glory – His honor, His majesty; such glory as an only begotten son receives
from his father, full of grace (favor, loving kindness) and truth.  For while the Law was given through Moses, grace
– unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing – and truth came through Jesus Christ.  John 1: 14, 17  
AMPNov. 28, 2007

WHO IS ON THE THRONE?

       Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a  huge crowd, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the
Almighty, reigns.  Let us be glad and rejoice and honor Him.”  Rev. 19: 6- 7a  NLT
“…but the Lamb… He is Lord over all lords and King over all kings, and His people are the called and chosen and
faithful ones.”  Rev. 17:14  NLT

      If we are citizens of the Kingdom of God, then God is King.  He is King over all. He is ruler over everything –
every decision, every thing that we do or say is submitted to Him.  If self is still on the throne then we are in rebellion
to the King.  It may be a subtle, unannounced rebellion – with no swords drawn, no weapons at all – but rebellion it
is.  It may be hidden under a cloak of moral behavior and/or Christian works or “ministry” or church activity.  But the
heart unwilling to be controlled by another is still in control and the heart unwilling to be ruled and governed by God
is a rebellious heart.
      What I sense from much of the conversations I have with people and correspondence I receive is that many
people hove never been taught, have never learned what becoming a citizen of the Kingdom of God is all about and
have no idea how to do so.  

       For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the
dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 NLT

      Confessing that Jesus is Lord does not mean merely that you believe that Jesus is Lord.  It means that you are
declaring that Jesus is your King, your Master, your Lord, your Ruler, your Governor.  It is an acknowledgement of
His Lordship over you and your life.
      If you do not understand this when you say that Jesus is Lord, or if you never “confessed” Jesus as your Lord,
it will greatly hinder your progress in the Kingdom of God.
      Many people say they are Christians and many of those who claim to be – are genuinely born again Christians.  
Some are not.  Some have said a prayer or walked to the front of the church and professed salvation.  But they did
not surrender to God and His ways.  They did not volunteer to become citizens of the Kingdom of God.  They did
not commit to subject themselves to the leadership, the government of God.  They have not recognized God as
Supreme Leader, as King, as Lord over all.  But anything less is rebellion to the King.
      Many who- did surrender to God thought that was all there was to it.  But it is not a one-time and its done deal.  
It is a way of life.  It is a day by day surrender to God and His ways, a day by day removal of self from the throne.  
You must commit to it, continue in it, ignore, reject and deny the desire of your own flesh = SELF – while submitting
to the control and direction of God.
      It requires surrender to another – a higher authority – a change of allegiance.  It is a total life change.  It means
giving up the right to self-govern and accept the government of God.  Give up – surrender control of your life to
another, a greater power – God Himself.
      Living in the kingdom of God means being under the control of God.  First, at the time of coming to the Lord –
our salvation experience – we surrender – we give our life to God.  Then we grow and learn to live in a state of
surrender – living a life totally yielded to God.  We are to live a surrendered life.  If you have not already done so, I
urge you to give up – to surrender to God now.  And then daily surrender selfish desires and the need to be in
control, to choose our own way.  It is continuing day after day saying no to self and yes to God.  It is giving of
ourselves, our heart and our love and worship, our adoration to God.
      Love – according to the Greek and Hebrew definitions is - the ultimate expression of God’s loyalty, purity, and
mercy extended toward His people – to be reflected in human relationships of brotherly concern, marital fidelity, and
adoration of God.

And you must love the Lord your God with all  your heart, all  your soul, and all your strength.  And you must
commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today.  De. 6:5-6
Jesus replied, “’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  This is the
first and greatest commandment. Matt. 22:37-39a  NLT

       If we truly love God with all our heart, mind, emotions, and will we will want to please Him.  We will want to obey
Him.  We will choose to make Him our Lord.
      When we surrender our heart to Jesus for salvation and then try to retain control over our lives we are out of
sync with God, out of tune, out of step, out of joint – and out of His will.  God calls us to complete and total
surrender in every area of our life, our heart, our soul, our mind our body - in everything  - in every way to Him. We
can’t obey the Scriptures we like and disobey the rest and expect to walk in the peace of god.  We are called to
surrender all to God – our finances, our family, our time, our talents, our desires, our hopes, our dreams, our
abilities, our homes, our attitude, our thoughts, our words – every thing – our choice of friends, our choice of books
to read, of TV programs to watch, or movies to see, our choice of clothes to wear – every thing.  
      Acknowledge that God is sovereign.  He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  He is supreme in power and
majesty.  Speak your love for Him.  Put God on the throne of your life, through the acceptance of His rule in your life
and by taking self off the throne and giving Him all your love and honor and praise.  And keep self off through daily
surrender to the rule, the government of God and daily worship.
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August 15, 2007
Renewing The Mind

Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world, but let your minds be remade and your whole
nature thus transformed.  Then you will be able to discern the will of God, and to know what is good, acceptable,
and perfect. Romans 12:2 TNEB
When I first began reading the Bible it was to learn.  I wanted to know God and His plan for me. I wanted to
learn all about God and His ways.  As I read there were many times that God spoke to me out of His word.  At
first I did not really understand, I just knew that as I read some verses would speak directly to my heart, to my
spirit.  I would sense God’s presence in a very real way. But it was not consistent – I did not know why some
days I would read and sense this communication between God and I and other days I would just read without
anything speaking to me.  
After reading Evelyn Christiansen’s book, Lord Change Me, I began to read the scriptures – purposefully - as a
means of hearing from God. As I remember, what she suggested was to read a particular portion of scripture, to
choose a chapter or chapters and read it until something in it ministered to you – spoke directly to your heart.  
Then stop there and ask God about it.  Pray over it.   What a change that brought in my life.  What a revelation!  
Later, I began to pray the scriptures.  As I read when I came to a verse that said exactly what I felt, I would just
use that verse as my prayer.  Many of them I wrote down to use everyday.  That opened the door to more
wonderful experiences with God and the Holy Spirit.  I discovered that when I prayed God’s word back to Him it
always touched His heart.  I knew He heard every scripture based prayer I prayed.  I found that I could not go
wrong praying His word.
I had read Romans 12:1-2 many times previously.  I knew that I needed a renewed mind.  But I didn’t always
see the results I wanted.  In the beginning I guess I thought it was all God’s work.  I was just to show up and let
Him do the changing.  Gradually, through study and prayer I found that I had a part in this work of renewing my
mind.  If I wanted to be free of the old thought patterns of fear, doubt, criticism, gossip, anger, etc., then I
would have to do something too.  It requires co-operation on my part.  I must be willing to be changed and
willing to work with God to see the change come.
I saw renewing of the mind as an exchange – giving up what is unwanted to get what is desired.  Get rid of all
the destructive, sinful, ways of thinking and find God’s way of thinking and talking and behaving to replace
them.  When I discovered it was not all up to God and I had something to do, I looked for a method, a way to get
rid of all the unwanted, undesirable thoughts.  
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…Pr. 23:7 NKJV
As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.  Pr. 27:19 NIV
I saw my mind as a garden.  Everything I read from God’s Word was a good planting in my garden.  I saw the old
thought patterns and attitudes as weeds in a garden.  I wanted to get rid of all the weeds and just have
beautiful flowers and fruit.  I thought I could just pull them up and I would be rid of them.  But I found that was
a hard job.  And sometimes it did not work at all.  I would think I had gotten rid of some angry thoughts, or
critical thoughts – or sinful thoughts of any sort, just to have them pop up again!  Some of those old thought
habits were so deeply rooted they were like dandelions and wild onions – almost impossible to pull up without
them breaking off in your hand and leaving the root to grow again.  I’d work at ridding my mind of certain types
of thoughts and think I had succeeded when I had only cleaned up what was on the surface; the roots were still
there.  In a few days or weeks new growth would spring up.
I would find myself thinking those old thoughts - like angry thoughts over something, or worrying over what
might happen, or fearful thoughts of possible events, or jealous thoughts about someone – remembering wrongs
done to me, thoughts of unforgiveness, resentful thoughts, thoughts of concern over people’s opinion of me,
thoughts of old temptations – all kinds of thoughts of the flesh and the world.         Those thoughts produced
feelings, and sometimes actions that I did not like or want.  And I knew that in order to change my feelings and
my actions I had to first change my thoughts.   Because as the scripture says how you think is a reflection of who
you are and it influence what you say just as what you say reflects what’s in your heart and causes you to act
out what you say.
I needed a renewed mind!  But I still did not understand how to get it.  I would start to work again to rid myself
of those “wrong” thoughts. I thought, “what I need is a supernatural weed killer”.  I needed a spiritual version
of Round-Up.   Well actually I had one, but I did not know it or know how to use it!  I had the word of God that
needed to be applied daily to kill those thoughts at the root, because dead weeds cannot keep popping up.  
Now I had gone from expecting God to do it all to trying to do it all myself!  Then God spoke to me through a
little detail of daily life.
One day I was walking to the kitchen sink with a cup half full of coffee.  Instead of pouring it out and rinsing out
the cup I just sat the cup in the sink and began to run water into it. As the water ran into the cup it gradually
became lighter and lighter. After a couple of minutes or so the water began to run clear in the cup.  What I had
done rather than empty the cup first and then refill it with water was to displace the coffee with water until it
held only water!  The water “pushed” the coffee out and took its place.  I didn’t exchange coffee for water.  I
displaced the coffee with water.
I sensed God showing me a wonderful illustration of how to receive a renewed mind.  I saw that I could use the
word of God to “displace” those old thought patterns and attitudes.  Then I would see a lasting change.  But it
would take a little while.  Just like running the water in the cup did not magically change the coffee into water,
it took a little time to move the coffee out with the water.  But the more water that I put in that cup the less
coffee I had.  And the more of God’s thoughts from His word that I “pour” into my mind the less of the old
thoughts of the old man will I have.  If I keep pouring in the word of God, before very long the old ways of
thinking will be gone as they are displaced by God’s word coming into my mind.  I knew God was speaking to my
heart, that if I would do my part of reading and studying His word, He would do His part of renewing and
changing my mind.  I had to choose to do my part, the reading and the prayerful study of His word to see Him do
His part of renewal.
So I began again to make the time and effort to read more of the Bible every day especially the verses that I
found that related to a particular thought pattern that I wanted to be free of.  If I was having a problem loving
someone, I read everything I could find in the Scriptures on love.  As a result I saw those old ways of thinking
(and acting) “pushed” out and replaced with God’s way of thinking!  If I was having problems forgiving, I read all
I could find in the Bible on forgiveness.  If I was worried about anything, I read all the Scriptures that spoke of
God’s care for me, of His love for me.
In the years since my discovery I have found that it continues to be a daily decision about what I choose to think
on.  I can choose to think God’s way with His word as a guide or I can choose to entertain thoughts in the old
way and let the pure water of the Word become contaminated –and  allow new weeds to grow in the garden of
my mind.  Then I have to work to purify it, to uproot those thoughts.  God makes a difference when I am a
willing and obedient participant.  God’s word makes a difference!  It changes us from the inside out.
Renewing your mind to think God’s thoughts will change what we think first – which will change what we say –
which will change how we feel – which will change how we act and what we do!  Changing how you think will
change who you are.  Put God’s word in your heart (spirit) and mind and it will renew your mind and your
emotions.
A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.  Pr. 16:23 NIV
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 NKJV
The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice.  The law of his God is in his heart;
none of his steps shall slide. Psalm 37:31 NKJV
The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.  Pr. 15:26 NIV
…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  Matt. 12:34
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To read more about our thoughts and actions go to the Heart Renderings pageJuly 27, 2007
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DON’T BE DISAPPOINTED – REJOICE!
Ro. 15:12  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
2 Cor. 12:10  Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the
sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak then I am strong.
1 Pe. 1: 6-7 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the
genuineness of your faith – being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire – may be
found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Pe. 4: 12-13  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among  you to test you, as
though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so
that you may also be glad and shout for joy when His glory is revealed.
I read the book, HEAVENLY MAN, recently.  It is the story of Brother Yun of China who was imprisoned several
times, tortured, beaten repeatedly, persecuted in may and varied ways – all while he was attempting to follow
the call of God to preach the gospel.
I began to read it without knowing what I would find.  When I got to the chapter about Brother Yun’s miraculous
escape from a high security prison I found something quite remarkable in the attitudes of all those involved.  
One of the other prisoners, Brother Xu, a fellow Christian leader in the Home Church Movement, who was
imprisoned with Brother Yun, spoke of Yun’s escape.  He said the Lord spoke to him to tell Yun, to try to escape.  
Then Yun had a vision and heard the Lord tell him to escape.  He thought it was truly impossible.  He was
crippled, he could not walk, he was carried everywhere by other prisoners.  He was guarded all the time.  He
was on the third floor with several iron gates between him and freedom.  And yet….
The day of the escape, after the vision from the Lord, Brother Yun was on his way to the bathroom.  He walked
down the corridor, past another prisoner coming back in from the courtyard.  As one come in the other when out
while the gate was open.  Yun walked out – right past a guard who never saw him.  This was repeated as he
walked through open gates, down stairs and outside across the courtyard with guards.  Then at last out the
main gates which were standing open – to freedom.  As he reached the street a taxi pulled up and he climbed in
and rode away!
What a miraculous event!  First God healed his unset broken and bruised legs and allowed him to walk.  Then He
closed the eyes of the guards who never saw him walking past them.  He opened all the gates – and He provided
the get-away car in the form of a taxi!  How marvelous is our God!
But what struck me is the reaction and attitude of all the Christian men – including leaders and home church
pastors who were left behind.  The first man who passed Yun in the corridor and watched him walk – walk past
a guard who seemed not to see him – raced to tell his cellmates of what was happening.  They all climbed on
their bunks to look out the window.  They watched as Yun emerged from the prison, walked across the
courtyard – unhindered and unnoticed by the guards - and out the main gate to freedom.  What did they do?  
They rejoiced!
These men who were still behind the gates and walls of the prison, who were still being tortured and beaten
and starved, marveled at God’s goodness and His power and rejoiced in their brother’s escape to freedom!  They
praised God for Yun.s liberty.  They rejoiced for him. In fact they were greatly encouraged by this powerful,
merciful act of God.  They knew that truly nothing was impossible with God.  These men who were lift behind,
these men who did not receive a miracle - did not feel neglected by God.  They were not disappointed that it
was not them that God chose to lead out to freedom.  They were not jealous or envious.  They were not
wallowing in self-pity.  They rejoiced and praised God for His goodness and His mercy!
Can we all learn to truly rejoice when we see God blessing others?  Can we praise God in the midst of our ordeal
while watching another receive a miracle?  Oh, I hope so!  I pray that we can.  Let us press in.  Let us repent
over self-pity, over jealousy and envy in our hearts. God longs for us to trust Him so completely that we can and
do rejoice regardless of our circumstances.  He longs for us to trust Him enough to rejoice in another’s blessing
and miracle even as we continue to suffer.  We can get to the place of inward joy and peace that abides no
matter what the outward condition. Then we are also able to rejoice when those who are rejoicing in their
deliverance, in their healing, in their rescue – in their miracle.  
And when we come that close to God’s character and holiness we will also receive our healing, our rescue, our
deliverance – even if it is not in the form or method we asked for or expected.  And after we receive our miracle
we must remember to still be able to weep with those who weep – those who are still in need of rescue, in need
of deliverance.  
Phil. 4:11  For I have learned to be content with whatever I have.  I know what it is to have little, and I know
what it is to have plenty.  In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going
hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
I Thess. 5:16 - 18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstance; for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.
Jas. 1:2-4 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trial of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you
know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may
be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
Ro. 15:12  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

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June 21, 2007

IRON SHARPENS IRON

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.  Pr. 27: 17  NIV

God spoke to me that we are each important to the other.  We each have our personal assignments from Him.  
We each have our personal path laid out for us.  But our paths intersect with many others – both those who are
followers of Christ and those who are not yet followers.  And we have instructions and directions – guidelines –
concerning our responsibilities to the others in our lives.  As iron sharpens iron – to make it usable as a tool, so
one person sharpens another – to enable us to be more useable, more useful to the Master and more valuable to
each other.
The Lord led me to James 5: 19:  My dear brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders away from the
truth and is brought back again, you can be sure that the one who brings that person back will save that sinner
from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.
So since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does this mean we can go on sinning?  Of course not! Don’t you
realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master?  You can choose sin, which leads to death, or
you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.  Romans 6:15-16 NLT  (emphasis added)
We do not want to call each other a sinner.  We do not want to be guilty of judging others.  We do not want to
look to closely at what others are doing – because we know what we are doing.  (Except for those who delight
in pointing out the sins of others and telling others all about it.)  But we are called to love enough to look, to
judge righteously, to speak out and to encourage, uplift and build up one another.
The first question that comes to mind is, “What is sin?”  Hamartano is the Greek work translated as sin in these
verses.  The definition for sin found in Strong’s Concordance is: to miss the mark (and so not share the prize) to
err, to offend, sin, trespass.  Sin is missing the mark – as an arrow misses the bull’s eye or misses the target and
lands someplace that is useless – it does not win the prize.  If you aim at a deer and hit a tree you have no meat
to take home.   You have accomplished nothing.  You have lost the prize.  To win the prize you must hit the
target.  At the fair’s shooting booth, when you shoot at the ducks moving across in front of you, you do not win
the prize if you do not hit the ducks.
So it is in our spiritual life.  God has given us a target to aim for and a prize to go after.  It is to follow His ways,
live by His Word, follow His guidance, to put Him first in our lives, to love Him with our entire being, our spirit,
soul and body, our mind will and emotions, and to love others as well.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other.  Just as I have loved you, you should love each
other.  Your love for one another will prove that you are My disciples.”  John 13:34 NLT
When we fail to put Him, His word, and His way first, we have missed the mark.  When we fail to believe His love
for us  - to believe it cleanses us from sin, protects us and delivers us, we miss the mark.  When we believe His
love for us we cannot help but love Him in return and in our love for Him we become not only willing, but also
eager to lay aside our own desires, our own ideas, our own way to follow His plan for us.  When we fail to love
others as He loves us we miss the mark.
And James tell us that we are to love each other enough that we are willing to speak out, to reach out and to
help bring a brother or sister back from failure, to help them take aim again to hit the mark God has placed
before them.  He also instructs us to go to one another in humility to confess our own failures, our own misses in
order that we may be healed – brought back on course.  
When we put this next to Paul’s writing to the Ephesians, (Ch. 4:23-25, 27, 29) that we are to renew our minds,
change our attitudes so that we can speak the truth in love to each other – while not giving any place to the
enemy to come in.  And to be sure that our words – even when words of correction – be spoken with the intent
to build up, to strengthen, to give direction and hope to them, according to the needs of the person.  Our intent
must be for the good of the other person.  Speak what God is giving you to say in love, with the purpose of
helping the person find God’s will in the situations he is facing.
Look at this along with Gal. 6:1-2:  Brother, if someone is caught in a sin [remember sin is missing the mark] you
who are spiritual [you who are being led by Holy Spirit] should restore him gently.  But watch yourself, or you
also may be tempted.  Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  {Inserts
added]
What is the law of Christ?  John 15:1 tells us:  “My command is this: Love each other, as I have love you.”  How
does Jesus love us?  How did He love the disciples that He lived and walked with?  He loved them redemptively.  
His love was focused on redemption and reconciliation to God.  He led them to God the Father, He gave them the
Word of God, He instructed, counseled, corrected, them in the ways of God.  And when necessary, He rebuked
them with the same intent  - to keep them on course, to keep them on the path God chose for them, to help
them find and hit the mark and please God.
Romans 15:1 tells us that we who are strong – in faith – in hope – in the Word of God – should bear with the
failing of the weak.  That each of us should seek to please our neighbor for his good – to build him up.  We are
to stretch ourselves going when we would rather not, speaking when we would choose to keep quiet – in order
to help our brother or sister find His way, to build him up, to encourage him and help him on his quest to stay on
course and to hit the mark.
1 Thess. 5:14 And we urge you brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be
patient with everyone.
Sometimes we do not recognize the weakness in others as weakness.  We see it as sin, or as failure and we
judge the person for their failure.  Or judge them for their sin as we perceive it.  God is calling us to see
weakness as weakness – as a lack of strength and determination to do what needs to be done or to abstain from
what should not be done.  We are to pray and seek God on behalf of those we love in Christ, to ask the Lord to
help us recognize weaknesses without judging.  Then we are to be willing – to make ourselves available - to
give encouragement where needed, to speak the truth where necessary, to be instruments of God to help bring
our brothers and sisters back on course, to help others hit the mark – while we humble ourselves to follow
James instructions to confess our failure, our faults, our shortcoming and our sins to those God has given to us as
fellow followers of Christ.  In this way we can sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron.  We can draw someone
back from the brink – of discouragement, of failure, of hopelessness, of whatever is causing them to “miss the
mark”.  And we can more consistently hit the mark of loving God and loving others as He loves us.
Watch out, so that you do not lose the prize for which we have been working so hard.  Be diligent so that you
will receive your full reward.  2 John 1:8

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May 31, 2007

SURRENDER – Part II

Surrender to God’s Will Through Obedience

“He told them, 'My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.'… He … fell face down on the ground, praying,
'My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.  Yet I want Your will, not mine.' ”  
Matt. 26:38-39 NLT
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears, to the one
who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.   8Although he was a son,
he learned obedience from what he suffered.    Heb. 5:7-8 NIV
Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.   Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his
rights as God.   He made himself nothing, [He laid aside his mighty power and glory.] he took the humble
position of a slave and appeared in human form.   And in human form he obediently humbled himself even
further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.  Because of this, God raised him up….  12b And now… you must be
even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.   
For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.  Phillip. 2:5-
9a, 12b-13 NLT
In Matthew 26 Jesus is surrendering His will to the Father’s will.  So to get to the place of walking in Phillip 2:13
where God is working is us the desire (or will) to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him – we must
start by surrendering to His will.
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.  How much more
should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!  Heb. 12:8  NIV
In Heb. 5 Paul says that Jesus learned obedience through his sufferings.  And then God qualified Him.  It took
suffering and obedience and surrender to come into the place or position of being qualified to do God’s will and
receive His promotion and reward.
Then in Phillip 2 Paul writes that we are to have the same attitude that Jesus had.  We are to lay down our
demands, give up our rights, lay down whatever power or success or giftedness we have in the natural, consider
ourselves as having no good in ourselves, take the position of service, humble ourselves, then God will raise us
up as He raised Him up.  When we humble ourselves, surrender our will to God, accept His will; then He will raise
us up to glorify Himself.
Then He will work in us, changing our desires, putting within us the desire to do His will – as we lay aside our
own selfish desires.  Then He will empower us to do His will.  He will give us the power to do whatever He wills
us to do!
As we yield our will to Him, accepting His plan, our will is changed.  It is transformed, infused with His will.  Once
we give up the right to choose our will and yield to His choice for us we have placed ourselves under His
guidance and direction.  And He will fill us with His strength and power.
As we move in surrendered obedience to follow His direction He leads us into victory.  And on the way He
changes us.  He emboldens us as He empowers us to carry out His assignment.
He will empower us.  He will promote us.  And we will see His plan unfold as we surrender and obey.  As we
carry out our assignment we will accomplish His will.  This gives new meaning to Ps. 37:5 “Commit your way to
the Lord.  Trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.”  And to 2Cor. 12:9  “… My grace is sufficient for you.  
For My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  
God wants us to surrender – obey and trust Him, to commit ourselves, and our way to Him.  And He will perfect
His strength in our weakness.  He will bring victory.  He will enable us in every way necessary to accomplish the
assignments He gives us.

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May 28, 2007

SURRENDER – Part I

The Lord has spoken to His children to/through me, and some of His prophets repeatedly over the past year
regarding two main themes.  One is calling us out of fear into trust and faith in Him.  Two is calling us out of
“middle of the road”, lukewarm, passionless Christianity into an all-out – on fire, wholehearted abandonment to
God in every area of life.
He is continuing to remind us to surrender all to Him, to serve Him with our whole heart, full of faith – trusting in
Him.  And then walk in His peace.  I have seen a thread running through many of the prophecies of the past year
or so of an under girding encouragement.  Our Father God is encouraging His children to press in and press on in
complete reliance on Him.  Trust Him in every thing.
I have found that many of God’s children do not understand the word surrender.  If you look at history including
biblical accounts of military surrender, of nations surrendering to other nations, you will find there are always
terms to surrender- terms that must be met.  Just as peace talks that take place before hand, attempting to
avoid war, or to bring a war to a cease fire, there are terms that must be met by those talking part.
“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king.  Will he not first sit down and consider whether
he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?  If he is not
able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same
way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple”.  Lu. 14:31-33
I have read that at the end of the Civil War in the US there were negotiations for surrender.  The Confederate
army had to agree to the terms of surrender set forth by the Union leaders. There were required to relinquish –
to lay down all weapons and all ammunition.  They were also required to give up their uniforms.  They had to
strip down to their underwear in some cases.   They were required to make oaths [promises] asserting they
would not again take up the battle.   They had to stand naked – bare before the victors and after giving up all
they possessed, give up their rights to regain it.
Those are just some of the stipulations given in the terms of surrender for them.  God has terms we must meet
in our surrender to Him.
He requires an unqualified relinquishment of all that we have and hold.  He wants us to strip ourselves of all that
is of self and come to Him naked.  We are called upon to relinquish our own power of the flesh and depend upon
His power.  We are called to give up our rights – all our rights – and to submit to His complete authority and
government. We must give up our right to our own personal ideas and accept His ways, His instruction, His
thoughts.  We must surrender all our plans and accept His plan.  We must become willing to no longer have any
voice in the planning of our lives – but only accept His will, His plan in His timing in His way.  It is total surrender
– a complete yielding, in subjection to Him, giving up of all that we have thought, planned, desired – while it is
also a complete acceptance of whatever God has planned for us, whatever He desires for us, whatever His
thoughts are toward us.  We strip ourselves of all that we have and are to receive all that He has and is!  
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a
loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all
things.  I consider them rubbish,  that I may gain Christ….  Ph. 3:7-8
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and
follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.  Mt. 16:24-
25
If we do not come to the place of surrender we will not find the peace we are seeking.  There is no real lasting
peace without meeting the terms of surrender.  We will not receive God’s best if we are not willing to allow Him
the authority to rule in our lives.  He is calling us to holiness, to righteousness, to purity – and it will come
through our surrender to Him.  
It is not a hostile take-over.  It is not a bloody battle to the death.   God gives us a choice. It is a personal choice
to surrender.  We choose death to self and accept His life.  We can choose to surrender or not.  But we will not
find the benefits of serving Him until we meet the terms of surrender to Him.  It is not middle of the road
thinking.  We can’t sit on the fence.  We can no longer accept His way in one area and reject it in another.  He is
calling us to surrender all to Him, to give Him everything we are, everything we have, everything we ever hoped
for, everything we ever thought in order to joyfully accept His wonderful plan for us.  And we can only do that
when we truly see and believe His great love for us.  When we know deep within that He loves us – truly loves
us with His unconditional love – then we can easily make the unconditional surrender that He is asking for.  
It is really a quite remarkable exchange – unconditional surrender for unconditional love.  Surrender is not a
requirement for unconditional love.  He just loves us.  Surrender brings His incomprehensible peace that goes
beyond our wildest expectation.  It is the requirement for His uninterrupted intimacy with us; and it is the
requirement for us to see His unlimited power working in and through us.  If we want to see signs and wonders
in our lives and the lives of those around us we must first meet the terms of surrender.
It seems to me as if everything I have ever wanted or will want follows surrender.  

Submit: [Greek] to surrender, to yield, to become weak, to submit self, to subordinate, to obey,  to be under
obedience, to put under obedience, to be subject to, to be in subjection, to submit self unto.

Trust: [Greek] to expect, to have thing hoped for, TRUST, to anticipate with pleasure in hope and confidence –
FAITH, HOPE.  [Hebrew]: to rely by inward certainty, to believe, to agree         with, to have confidence in, to
obey, to trust, to yield.
Literal Hebrew means to lie face down on ground in submission

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~~~~~~
May 22, 2007

HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME

I am the Lord; that is my name!  I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.  Isaiah 42:8 NIV
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is
the first and greatest commandment.”  Mt. 22: 37-38 NIV
How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes
from the only God?  John 5:44 NIV
Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in [Jesus].  But… they would not confess their faith
for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.  
John 12:42 -43 NIV
And now about prayer.  When you pray don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners
and in the synagogues where everyone can see them I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get.  Don’
t be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!  Mt. 6:5, 8 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God.  Philippians 4:6 NIV
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone…. This is
good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to … come to the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one
God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus….  1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV

Why does God require us to praise Him?  Why does He tell us over and over to give Him praise?  Does He need
our praise because He is insecure?  No!  God knows that if we do not praise Him – if we do not see that He alone
deserves our praise – we will praise each other excessively.  If we do not exalt Him we will exalt each other.  
And when we exalt one another we take our eyes off God as the children of Israel did when they built a golden
calf and began to worship it.  God wants our glory, our exaltation, and our worship to be directed to Him and no
other.
Why does God require us to pray and ask Him for what we need and desire when He already knows what we
need?  Because He knows that if we do not ask Him and expect Him to answer then we will curry favor from
each other – especially from the strong, the powerful or the rich.  He wants us to come to Him rather than to be
indebted to or in bondage to one another.  He is our provider and He wants to prove Himself to us.  He knows
that if we look to each other for what we need we will soon stop looking to Him.  We will forget our God and
seek favor from people.
God has given us a perfect plan – honor Him, praise Him, seek Him and His ways in everything – and we will
prosper.  Why does God want us to bring all our cares, all our problems to Him?  Because He knows us.  If we do
not tell Him our problems we will tell each other.  And we may very well tell the wrong person who could cause
us more problems.  If we do not go to Him for the solutions to our problems we will either try to solve them
ourselves or we will expect or depend upon another to solve our problems.  If we don’t pray to God and look to
Him we begin to look around for another savior, another messiah and become deceived and lost.  
He alone has all that we need.  He knows our nature, knows our needs as well as our limitations.  He also knows
that if we seek answers, help, comfort and praise from each other we will be disappointed and hurt.  So He calls
us to Himself.

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May 4, 2007
FEASTING ON THE WORD

Be sure to obey the commands of the Lord your God and the rules and laws he has given you.  Do what the Lord says is good and
right so that things will go well for you.  Then you may go in and take the good land the Lord promised to your ancestors.
Deuteronomy 6:17-18 NCV
Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies. … The
entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. …My heart stands in awe of Your word.  I rejoice at Your
word as one who finds great treasure.  Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble. …Give me
understanding according to Your word.  Psalm 119: 97-98, 130, 161a –162, 165, 169b NKJV
Most Christians want to read God’s Word, to study the Bible.  But many aren’t sure how to study or how to get started.  There are
many programs designed to help us learn to study the Word.  There are quite a number of Study Bibles now available.  There are
many translations of the Bible – all of which makes Bible study easier.  There are concordances and Bible dictionaries designed to help
us in the pursuit of Bible knowledge.  There are plans for reading the Bible through in a year.  There are Bibles that are already divided
into 365 daily readings.  And there are web sites with Bible search programs for any word in the Bible in many different translations.
In the beginning of my walk with God, I read out of hunger for God’s Word.  I couldn’t get enough – it was so good to me.  I wasn’t
trying to read certain books or passages.  I wasn’t trying to read according to a specific time or plan.  I just read out of love for God
and His Word.  I might choose the passage from the Sunday sermon to start with and just go on from there.  Then I read a book at a
time but at random.  I might start with Paul’s letter to the Philippians and then go to the book of Acts then the Psalms.   I just kept
track of which books I had read.  Then I read through from Genesis to Revelation.  Then I read a Chronological Bible through.
Then I heard someone say to read two chapters in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament along with one in Psalms and
one in Proverbs everyday to read the Bible through in a year.  I tried that for a while.   Then about 25 years ago, I read the book
LORD CHANGE ME, by Evelyn Christenson.  She suggested choosing a book of the Bible and then read until Holy Spirit speaks to you.  
Then stop there and pray over it.  Find out all that God wants to reveal to you about the passage you have read. I followed her
instructions and found it very effective.  
Whatever method of study you use, whichever plan for reading the Bible – the important thing is to take it in, to meditate on it, to
make it a part of yourself and to apply what you read to your life.  To make it a part of whom you are and how you live.  Just reading
for the sake of reading, or studying to gain knowledge – without using that knowledge to change your heart, your attitudes, your
habits, and your life is like preparing a meal and never eating it.  You need to feast on the Word of God, not just study the menu..  
Chew it, savor it, swallow it and be enriched by it.  Chewing, savoring, that’s meditating on it, speaking it, pondering it, and taking it
into your heart and soul to enrich your spirit.
But you, mortal, hear what I say to you; do not be rebellious…; open your mouth and eat what I give you.  I looked and a hand was
stretched out to me, and a written scroll was in it.  He spread it before me; it had writing on the front and on the back… He said to
me, O mortal eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, he gave me the scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.  So I opened my
mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.  He said to me, Mortal, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.  Then I ate
it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey.  
Ezek. 2:8-10; 3:1-3 NRSV
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for
they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.  Prov. 4:20-21 NIV
Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart….
Jerm. 15:18 NRSV
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March 30, 2007
Looking into the Word of God

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.  He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.  Ps. 55:22

Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He
cares for you.  1 Pe. 5:4-7
“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life
more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or story
away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feed them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can
add a single hour to his life?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ Or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these
things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Mt. 6: 25-27, 31-32
According to these verses we must throw out the burden, the cares before we find His care, His provision, His sustaining power in our
lives.  There are things we must let go of – throw away from us in order to receive what God has for us.
I looked up the word care from 1 Peter.  The Greek word is merimna which means distractions, anxieties, burdens and worries.  It is
anything that divides your attention.  The word means to be anxious ahead of time – before anything happens – about what might
happen.  It is unnecessary worry.  God has the provision for all our needs.  He cares about our daily needs and our special needs.  And
He has a way to meet them.
The word translated as worry in Matthew 6 is from the same root word.  The Greek word is merimnao – It means to divide.  It
suggests distractions, preoccupation with things that cause anxiety, stress or pressure.
So from this we can see that we need to let go of distractions, worries, preoccupation with things that may never happen, worry
about how things will work out, worry about whether or not God can do what we think needs to be done.  We need to throw away or
cast off these distracting worrisome thoughts in order to find what God actually wants to do in our situations.
As I read these verses I was reminded of the old wells that people used in days gone by.  In order to get water from those old
fashioned wells you must drop the bucket down into the well until it hits the water level.  Then you can pull it back up full of water.  
You must first let go of the bucket before you can take hold of the water that you need and desire.
You can stand in front of the well full of doubt about whether or not you can draw water from the well – never tossing the bucket in
to get the water.  That leaves you dry.  If you stand at the well thinking, “What if the rope breaks and I lose the bucket?  What if I
can’t pull it back up?  What if the well caves in?  What if the well is dry?”  None of those questions will allow you to get the water.  You
can stand there and wish and hope forever and still not have any water in your bucket!
We do the same kind of thing with our every day life.  Many times we allow doubt or fear to come in concerning what we see
happening.  Many are not trusting God to perform His word and carry them through to victory.  You can stand in worry – holding on
to the cares and worries. Or you can take God at His word.  You can hold on to His promises with confidence – trusting in Him and let
go of the bucket.  Then when you have let it down into the well  - past where you can see – deeper than you can reach – then you will
find the water that you need waiting for you to pull up to meet your needs.  The water is there we just need to trust that it is and
toss the bucket in.
As I read and meditated on these verses the Lord spoke to me by His Spirit:  
“There are wells of water for you to drink, there are wells of provision to meet your every need.  There are wells of wisdom to guide
you in this season of life, there are wells of refreshing awaiting you – but you must let go of what you have.  Let go of the bucket.  Let
it down into the well – into the unknown, into the darkness.  Let it go.  Only then will your receive the fullness of the promise.”
While we are letting go we must hold on to some things.  
So do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God,
you will receive what He has promised.  Heb. 10:35-36
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we o not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.  Heb.
11:1
Hold on to all that is of God and His word.  Hold on to confidence in God.  Hold on to faith.  Hold on in faith to what you believe is
promised in God’s word.  Hold on to His Word.
Let go of problems.  Let go of people.  Let go of what you think you are supposed to do.  Let go of men’s opinions.  Let go of how
things look – what you can see.  Let go of fleshly desire.  Let go of your rights.  Let go – say no – to worldly distractions.  Let go of
the need to build yourself up.  Let go of your love of what is comfortable and easy.  Let go of what you think you need – what you
think you want or long for.  Let go of the bucket. Let go of all worry and concern holding on in faith to the Word of God and see what
He will do.
Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing.  Now it shall spring forth.  Shall you
not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  Is. 43:18-19
God promises that if we will let go of past experiences, past wounds, past trials He will do a new thing in our lives.  And this new thing
will be as dramatic as a road through the wilderness or rivers in the desert.   We need to forget the former things.  Let go of the past
with all it held.  Get rid of old mindsets and opinions.  Stop limiting God and His ability to meet every need even if it requires building a
road where there was no road – diverting water where there was no water flowing.  God can do anything.  He is willing and able to
care for us and to take all our cares if we will let them go.  Then we can see the “new thing” He is waiting to do in our lives.
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March 14, 2007

Becoming like Him

Most Christians long to be more like Jesus.  And He longs for us to become like Him!  He desires that we develop His character within
us.  So we both want the same thing!  The question becomes how do we see it happen.  
Let’s look at a few scriptures.  
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  Therefore we were buried
with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should
walk in newness of life.  (8) Now if we died with Christ, we believe we should also live with Him.  Ro. 6:3-4, 8
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.  Gal. 2:20
Likewise, you also reckon yourselves to be dead, indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  …Present yourselves to God
as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness.  Ro. 6:11, 13b
Most assuredly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much
grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  John 12:24-25
I am the Vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.  John
15:5  
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.  2 Cor. 3:5
Whatever good we are, whatever righteousness we possess is because of the life of God flowing in us and through us.  We are
children of God.  We are branches of the Vine.  Just as every branch draws its life from the vine we draw life from our connection to
Jesus.  We draw life from the life of God within us. And as the branch can only bear the fruit of the vine it is connected to, so we can
only show the characteristics of our Father as we stay connected to Him.
I was told early in life that I was like my mother.  And today people still tell me I look like my mother, and I sound like her.  That is
because I have the same genetic makeup.  I have DNA like her.  Her characteristics were born in me as she gave life to me at birth.  
And because I grew up in the house with her observing her ways, hearing her voice, seeing her example.  I didn’t have to decide to
pattern my life like hers.  It happened naturally.  I have some of her personality traits, some of her character traits.  I resemble her –
sometimes in ways I didn’t want to.  I inherited from her some of all that she is.  I didn’t get to pick and choose what I inherited.
In the second birth we receive the characteristics of Father God, and elder brother, Jesus.  We get the seed of all that God is planted
within us.  As we grow and develop, and mature in Him we will exhibit more of more of His character.  We have been grafted into the
Vine – now the life force flowing through us is God’s life force.  The direction of our life changes.  Our desires change.  We are in the
process of being transformed into His image – into His likeness.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service.  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.  Ro. 12:1-2
And be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true
righteousness and holiness.  Eph. 4:23-24
If, as in Galatians 2 we have died to the old  - the person that we were before our spiritual birth – and have been raised up to a new
life as a new person – as the word of God says in Romans 6 – then we must rely on - trust the life force flowing through us to
transform us as we present ourselves to Him as that living sacrifice He is calling us to be.  Our part is to present ourselves, to reckon
ourselves as dead to the old ways and the flesh while being alive to Christ and the new man – the new ways, new thoughts and new
desires.
Jesus said, “Take up your cross daily.”  That means we must die to our flesh – our old man– daily.  We must put to death by
reckoning  – our old attitudes and thought patterns, our old way of speaking - all that is not of God and the new man – while drawing
deeply of the new life within us and from the written word of God.
This is my comfort in affliction for Your word has given me life.  Ps. 119: 50
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandments of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes, … more to be
desired are they than gold, yea than much find gold; sweeter also than honey in the honeycomb.  Ps. 19: 8-10
My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my saying.  Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of
your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh. Pr. 4:20-22
Eat the Word of God – read it, chew on it – think on it, ponder it, take it into your heart and mind.  It gives life.  It brings joy.  It
brings peace.  It transforms us into the image of Jesus as we are renewed in our minds.
Is it is obvious to others who gave you life?  Do people see God in you?  Do they feel His hand, find His heart, and sense His love and
grace in you?  Is your heritage from the second birth as apparent as your natural heritage?  Oh how I want to be like Him!
Every leaf of any tree tells you which tree it is.  An elm leaf tells you it is an elm tree by its shape, its form, its color, and its veins.  It is
unique to the elm tree.  Do you identify the vine that you are a branch of?  If so it is by staying connected – staying in that vital life
giving union with Him.  Keep that union through prayer, through worship, through reaching down deep into the word of God to draw
strength and life from Him.  
“If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask what you wish, and it shall be done for you.  By this is My Father glorified, that you
bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”  John 15:7-8
Abide in His Word.  Abide in Jesus.
When we speak of dying to the old and being in the new are we ignoring our physical world?  NO!  We are spiritual people living in
both the physical and spiritual worlds at the same time.  That means that we must continue – daily – to put to death the old man and
allow the life of God to come forth in us.  Put on the new man.  Put off the old man.  Reckon it to be done.  It is an ongoing work on
our part as well as God’s part.  We must stay connected to the life force of Jesus, stay in the Word – feed our new spiritual man - to
be transformed into His image.
God does His part as we do ours.  He supplies the life.  He supplies the growth hormones we need!  He teaches, guides, leads us and
takes us deeper and deeper in Him.  As we grow deeper into the Vine we begin to take on His character; and His attributes begin to
flourish in us.  Reach deep into the Word.  Soak in the water of the Word.  Soak in the presence of God.  And trust Him.  You will be
transformed.

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March 6, 2007
Bearing Fruit, Taming the Tongue and Loving One Another

Last Sunday morning as I read in the Amplified Bible I was impressed to go to John to read the chapter (15) on Jesus as the Vine and
we are the branches.  I also had a verse from James going through my mind.  I wasn’t sure exactly where it was but I thought it was
chapter 3 or 5.  As I turned pages to get to chapter 15 of John, I glanced down at two verses that were underlined in ch. 13:34-35
and was impressed to read this first:
I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another.  Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.  
By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].
I read these verses as I had many times and this time without giving a lot of importance to them at the moment.  I turned on over
and read John 15:1- 5, 7 - 8
I Am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.  Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away
(trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and
richer and more excellent fruit.  You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I
have discussed with you.]  Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you.  [Live in Me and I will live in you.]  Just as no branch can bear fruit of
itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me.  I am the Vine; you are the
branches.  Whoever lives in me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit.  However, apart from me [cut off from vital union with Me]
you can do nothing. If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask
whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.  When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified and you
show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.
I knew that God’s will is for us to bear fruit.  I knew that verse 16 says that He chose us and appointed us to bear fruit.   We know
that we cannot produce fruit through our own efforts.  We produce fruit, as we stay connected to the Vine.  It is the vital life giving
union that is important.  When we remain connected to the Vine then his life will flow into us as sap flows through a tree into every
branch.  Our fruit will be the natural result of our connection.  We cannot make fruit appear in our lives any more than we can force
fruit to appear on a tree that is not mature enough to produce fruit or on a limb that has been cut off from the tree.  If an apple tree
is planted in good soil and receives adequate water and sunlight it will just naturally produce apples.  
If we look on down to verse 17 Jesus repeats that He commands that we love one another.  It is clear that Jesus wants us to love
each other.  He says it is how others will know that we belong to Him – by that special love that we have for our brothers and sisters
in Christ Jesus.  So our love for one another must be different than our love for other people in our lives outside the circle of
believers.  Our love must be unique in order for the world to take note and know that we are followers of Christ because of our love.  
What is it that makes our love unique?
As I thought about these verses I kept remembering the verse from James about snatching someone from the brink of destruction if
you warn them of their sin.  I turned to James to look and began reading in chapter two, I moved on to chapter three.  I read
through four and five as well.  Several verses stood out to me and I knew Holy Spirit was leading me and would speak something to
me, even though I had not yet found the verse in my mind.  But these verses stood out to me:
My brethren, pay no servile regard to people [show no prejudice, (and) no partiality].  Do not  [attempt to] hold and practice the faith
of our Lord Jesus Christ [the Lord] of glory [together with snobbery]!  4) Are you not discriminating among your own and becoming
critics and judges with wrong motives? 8) If indeed you [really] fulfill the royal Law in accordance with the Scripture, you shall love
your neighbor as [you love] yourself, you do well.   But if you show servile regard (prejudice, favoritism) for people, you commit sin
and are rebuked and convicted by the Law as violators and offenders.
James 2:1, 4, 8-9 AMP
It was easy to see how this portion of Scripture connected to the first in John 13 about loving each other.    We must put aside
prejudice.  We must not criticize or judge with wrong motives.  We are not to show partiality – elevating the status of some while
ignoring others that we don’t like as well.  But I still wasn’t sure how it linked to John 15 yet.  So I continued to read.
For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things.  And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things],
he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature.  8) But the human
tongue can be tamed by no man.  It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless the Lord and
Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God’s likeness!  Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing.  These
things my brethren, ought not to be so.  Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter?  
17) But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle).  [It is willing to]
yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts,
wavering and insincerity).  James 3:2, 8-11, 17
My brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse one another.  He that maligns a brother or judges his brother is maligning and
criticizing the Law and judging the Law.  But if you judge the Law, you are not a practicer of the Law but a censor and judge [of it].    
One only is the Lawgiver and Judge Who is able to save and to destroy [the One Who has the absolute power of life and death].  [But
you] who are you that [you presume to] pass judgment on your neighbor?    James 4: 11-12
I know this is a lot of Scripture, but please bear with me and continue to read.  The Lord revealed some relevant truth and brought it
all together for us to benefit by.
Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, our false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another,
that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and hearts].  The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous
man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].  James 5:16
So… the Lord wants us to walk in love and to bear fruit.  He expects us to bear fruit.  The Father  will prune us – if we are not bearing
fruit he will cut us back, if we are bearing fruit He will prune us so that we will bear more abundant fruit.  He commands us to love one
another.  Then He speaks through James about our tongue – our tendency to speak evil of one another.  James says that if we do
not offend others with our tongues, if we never say the wrong thing we are fully developed in character.   We are not to judge and
criticize others, we are not to gossip, or malign another’s character.  That is a part of walking in love – of loving others as we love
ourselves.  
Then he speaks of confessing our faults to one another in order to be healed and restored to a spiritual state of mind and heart.   It
seems that there is a connection between confessing our faults to one another and bearing fruit, especially the fruit of love.  There is
much to this confessing to one another that we do not understand.  
When we humble ourselves and confess the areas that we are having trouble in obeying God’s word, no matter what it is, we open
the door for healing and for restoration.  Sometimes that restoration is between us, and God, many times it is between us and
another person in our life.  It happens often that we separate ourselves from one another through the words of our mouths.  Many
are quick to judge another.  Sometimes we have such prejudice, such strong mindsets toward specific types of people that we are
completely unaware of that we are preventing our own growth, we are not bearing fruit and we are bringing offense to others!  None
of this is God’s will for us.
On the way to church, the friend I was riding with shared with me that she had been reading in 2 timothy that morning, specifically in
chapter four verse two.  So I turned there immediately and saw how God wraps things up for us.
Herald and preach the Word!  Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be
favorable or unfavorable.  [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome you as preacher of the
Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.]  And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and
encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.  2 Tim. 4:2
So now I knew how to tie in the verse in James I had started out looking for.  James 5:19-20 [My] brethren, if anyone among you
strays from the Truth and falls into error and another [person] brings him back [to God]. Let the [latter] one be sure that whoever
turns a sinner from his evil course will save [that one’s] soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins [procure the pardon of the
many sins committed by the convert].
We are our brother’s keepers in a sense.  We are to love people enough to speak the truth (in love) when it is needed.  We can bring
people who are straying off God’s chosen path back to Him, we can cover a multitude of sin, and we can and will produce fruit -
abundant fruit, we can speak the word of God to warn, rebuke, correct, urge and encourage others, we can control our tongues, we
can – we will grow up spiritually and help others to grow with us…if we will stay in vital union with the Vine.  We can keep our tongue
from speaking evil, we can stop gossiping and judging, we can love others as we love ourselves…if we stay in vital life giving union
with Jesus.  
If we are drawing life from Him through our vital union with Him, if we are continually being washed by the Word …we will love, we
will bear excellent fruit and we will speak what we hear Him saying in every situation.  That’s a very important distinction.  We need to
be connected – in vital union with Jesus so that we hear what He is saying about any given situation.  Then instead of speaking our
opinions, our thoughts, our imaginations – we can speak what we hear Him saying.  What a difference that will make in all our lives.  
We will speak even when it is uncomfortable, inconvenient and unwelcome.  We will be empowered to speak as we stay in both His
presence and His Word.  As the Word becomes a part of who we are, as it penetrates our every thought it will change our attitudes,
change our habits, change our opinions and change our words.   We will confess our weaknesses to those who can help bring us into
healing and restoration. While we are being changed into His likeness through our connection to Him – that vital union - we will walk
in obedience to His command to love others, we will guard our tongues, we will speak as He leads us and we will bear abundant,
excellent fruit!
But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ.

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February 18, 2007
NO CONDEMNATION

John 12:47 NAS  If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but
to save the world.
Ro. 14:22  NKJV  Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
See Ro. 14:14-18
Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but
according to the Spirit

Someone asked the question, “Does this mean, as long as we are walking according to the Spirit, there is NO condemnation, but as
soon as we are walking in the flesh we can count on receiving some condemnation?   
The answer is no.  It does not mean that if you walk in the flesh you will receive condemnation and if you walk in the Spirit you
won't.  First of all it is not as much about walking in the flesh vs. walking in the spirit as it is about the work that Jesus
accomplished on the cross.  We do not walk according to the flesh because we have the indwelling Spirit to guide us into walking
according to the Spirit.
We have no condemnation from God - because He took it all.  We have no condemnation because we are new creatures through
the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus.  We have no condemnation because we are children of the Kingdom, children of God.  Holy
Spirit brings conviction to us when we do walk in the flesh rather than condemnation.  We are discussing condemnation – from the
enemy though our own mind or through other people - versus conviction from God.
And many times when we are not walking according to the flesh - we are pleasing God - the enemy will come to tell us that we are
doing something wrong.  He brings condemnation.  That's one reason why he is called the accuser of the brethren.  Because he
accuses, he points the finger, he condemns.
Satan and people will condemn us, judge us and criticize us even when we are doing everything we know to do – when we are
pleasing God, when we are faithful in prayer and faithful in spending time in the word of God, faithful to walk in obedience.  That’s
why it is so important to know the difference between Holy Spirit conviction and condemnation from the enemy.
When we do fail in any way, when we do walk in the flesh and commit sin - we are not condemned but rather we are corrected and
disciplined by a Holy God - because we are under the blood.  Are we convicted by Holy Spirit, whose job it is to convict of sin and
teach us the right way?  Yes!  Holy Spirit will tell us what we are doing wrong and how to correct it.  That is conviction.  But neither
He, nor God the Father, nor our Savior, Jesus will condemn us.  
There is NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.  That’s the big difference between condemnation from the enemy and
conviction by Holy Spirit – condemnation just says you are wrong, wrong, wrong!  Conviction says, “this is what you are doing
wrong.  And this is how to correct it.  Holy Spirit always gives us a solution to the problem.  He gives us the guidelines to change
and He does it in love.  We don’t feel shamed and condemned when we are corrected by Holy Spirit.
Will God discipline us?  Yes!  He will correct us first through conviction and correction/ instruction of Holy Spirit who is here to
guide us, direct us to the right path, and walk along side us to encourage us and comfort us.  Then if we do not heed Holy Spirit's
direction/correction/conviction we will be disciplined as children.  We have a loving Heavenly Father who will correct us through
discipline if we are disobedient.  But only after we have been instructed of the right way and refused to walk in it.  But we are still
His children.  We are still under the blood of Jesus with its cleansing, rescuing, saving power.  God can't disown us.  He is in
covenant with us.  He is our Father no matter how we behave.  And He will never condemn us.
Please, don’t misunderstand – we can choose to walk away.  We can deny God and choose not to follow Him and His way at any
time.  It is our choice to serve God or not.  But He will not discard us because we have erred, sinned, failed or disappointed Him
and neglected His will for us.  And again, He does not condemn us.
Condemnation is from/through the enemy.  And it is a trick to make us think that we are condemned by God when we are not.
Satan and his followers work to rob, steal and destroy.  He wants to rob our peace, our joy, our faith, and steal our focus.  If he can
get our focus on what he is telling us is wrong with us - get our focus on a "problem area" then we no longer are focused on God,
and His goodness, His grace, and His promises.
If he can divert our energies into fighting a false problem, a shadow enemy then we will not be available to do what Holy Spirit is
guiding us to do.  We will not be spending our time in prayer if we are full of condemnation.  We will not be reaching out to others if
we have lost our own peace.  We will not be encouraging others if we are unable to believe in our own right standing with God.
Jas. 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given him
without reproach.
Without reproach = Strong defines it as without mocking, ridiculing, scolding, insulting, and using words angrily or sarcastically.  =
God gives us wisdom without reminding us of our unworthiness - without condemnation.  He is ready to give us all that we need to
walk in right standing with Him.
Gal. 4:4-7 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem
those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent for the "Spirit
of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba Father!'"  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of
God through Christ.  v.28  Now, we brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise...  31 So then brethren, we are not children of
the bondwoman but of the free.
Gal. 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Understand that you receive the promise of the infilling, the baptism, the leadership- of Holy Spirit the same way you receive
salvation - by believing the work done on the cross cleanses you from sin and that the "guarantee" of the Holy Spirit is the seal of
God's covenant with you to write His laws in your heart and mind.  
Live under the leadership/guidance/control of Holy Spirit - obeying His leadership - following His direction - knowing that this will
defeat the enemy and change you – teaching you how to deny your fleshly inclinations toward sin and follow His leadership.  
Then believe that this will result in the formation or Jesus Christ within you.  Believe that you are being transformed day by day
through your obedience.  Believe that you are being transformed by the renewing of your mind as you contemplate on the Word of
God with the assistance of Holy Spirit.
Eph. 4:17 This I say, therefore and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in the futility of
their mind.
Don't try to analyze things; don't try to figure out how to be right before God - accept the work of the cross, which has made you
right with God.  
Eph. 4:21-22  If indeed you have heard [Jesus] and have been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus, ... and be renewed in the spirit
of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.
See Ro. 12:1-2
Ro. 3:23-24; 4:13, 16;   For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ... to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier
of the one who has faith in Jesus.  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.  
It’s not so much about what you do - it is about what you believe about the work of Jesus Christ that makes you stand before God in
righteousness without condemnation.
Ro. 4:5  But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.  13
For the promise that he would be heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the
righteousness of faith.  16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the
seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
Ro. 5:1-2, 6-9, 18-19 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through
whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.   6 For when we were
still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly.  8 ... God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through
Him.  18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's
righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.  For as by one man's disobedience many were made
sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
Condemnation came through Adam and Eve's rebellion.  Justification and peace with God came through Christ's obedience - a gift
freely given to us that we cannot earn and do not deserve.  But because we are children - and children of promise we can believe
in and walk in that peace and freedom from condemnation.  We can choose to walk in obedience free from condemnation.  Is that a
license to sin?  No!  It is freedom to be all that God has called us to be.
Ro.6: 1-9, 11-14 What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  Certainly not!  How shall we who died to
sin live any longer in it? 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that
we should no long be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we
shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.  Death no longer has dominion over
him.  11  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Therefore do
not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey it in its lusts.  And do not present your members as instruments of
unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of
righteousness to God.  For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
So then, reckon yourself; call yourself dead to sin and alive to God and His Holy Spirit to obey Him in righteousness.  Recognize it –
count it as done - accomplished at the cross.  Then present yourself to God to be transformed into the likeness of the Son, Jesus.  
Give yourself to God - daily (Ro.12-2) and walk in faith of the accomplished work of the blood of Jesus and follow hard after Holy
Spirit's leadership.  Because you are justified you have peace - but only if you believe it.
Ps. 37: 17, 23 -24   For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; but the LORD upholds the righteous.  23 A person’s steps are
confirmed by the LORD; He establishes him and delights in his way.  24 When he falls, he shall not be down and out; for the LORD
upholds his hand.   MLB
John 3:17-18 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through
Him. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not
believed in the name of the only Son of God.   MLB
Eph. 2:8-10   For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that is not of yourselves; it is God’s gift.  
Ephesians 2:9 It is not by works, so that no one may boast; 10 for we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God previously prepared for us so that we should live in them.  MLB
Is. 30:21  “When you turn, whether to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in
it!”  MLB

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Feb. 10, 2007

DID I MISS A TURN?

(Read Matthew 1:18 – 2:23 and Luke 1:26 –38, 2:1-40 to see the whole story of Mary and Joseph.)

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth,…to a virgin named Mary.  “Don’t be frightened, Mary,” the angel told her, “for God has
decided to bless you!  You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus.”  Mary asked the angel, “But how
can I have a baby?  I am a virgin.”  The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will
overshadow you.  So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”   Luke 1:26b- 27a, 30-31, 34-35
NLT        
Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born.  His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph.  But while she was still a virgin,
she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.  Joseph, her fiancé, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to
disgrace her publicly.  As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.  “Joseph, son of
David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary.  For the child within her has been conceived by the
Holy Spirit.  And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:18-22 NLT

…His way is perfect; the promise of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.   2 Samuel 22:31 NRSV

God spoke to Joseph and Mary separately of what was to come, of what He was doing in their lives.  
They had to choose to believe and follow His instructions.  
Look at all the changes and moves that Mary and Joseph and Jesus went through to get where God wanted them.  First, Mary had to
choose to believe the angel that appeared to her to tell her that the Holy Spirit would come to her and she would become pregnant
with the Son of God. I can just hear what we would say today, “yeah, right!”  I think she may have had a difficult time with this too.
Then Joseph had to believe the angel in his dream was indeed from God and that he was to wed Mary even though she was pregnant
and it was not his child.  Now how hard was that to swallow?  He had to believe that he had heard from God and that Mary was
carrying the Son of God inside her body.  And that he was to play a part in the drama.  He had to be willing to accept the role God had
chosen for him in the life of Mary and God’s son.  I believe that was very difficult.  Don’t you?  Then they both had to believe that God
was truly speaking to them and leading them, that He had chosen them for this great honor.  (Even though at the time it seemed to
bring more shame than honor in the eyes of the world.)
Sometimes, in fact many times, the path God chooses for us, the role He chooses for us is not what we would choose for ourselves.  
It is difficult to follow God’s way without questioning and doubting or whining – unless we are constantly in touch and in tune with
God through prayer and praise.
Then Joseph and Mary were told to travel to Bethlehem to register for the census.
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout th eRoman Empire. And because
Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home.  He traveled there from the village
of Nazareth, in Galilee.  He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time.  And while they were there, the
time came for her baby to be born.  Luke 2:1, 4-6 NLT
Yet when they got to Bethlehem there was no room for them anyplace!  It certainly looked as if they were in the wrong place at the
wrong time!   And it wasn’t over yet!  After the baby Jesus was born and Mary’s purification time (following childbirth) was up they
took Him and traveled to Jerusalem to present Jesus at the temple and offer the required sacrifice.  
Then another angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary and the baby to Egypt to prevent King Herod from
killing the child.  (See Mt. 2:13-14)  They had to stay there until Herod died.  And again, an angel appeared to Joseph to direct him to
take Mary and Jesus back to Israel.  (See Mt.2:19-20)  Yet as they traveled they found out that Herod’s son was ruling.  Joseph was
afraid to go there and being warned by God yet again in a dream, (Mt. 2:22-23) they went to Galilee, to Nazareth.
Now to the human eye, to our minds it would look like they were running around on their own and didn’t have a clue about where
they should be.  But God was leading every step of the way.  It is a truth of God – His ways are not our ways, they are higher. His
ways do not look like our ways.  They are different.  It almost looks to us sometimes as if God has told us to do something that we
cannot do.  Or we may think. “Well that must be for some future time, it sure doesn’t fit this situation”.
It’s always easier when things are great than when we encounter difficulties.  Sometimes things seem to go really crazy.  And it’s hard
to tell if you’re up or down, facing north or south.  But even when we cannot understand – when everything looks wrong - if we will
obey God anyway, He will lead the way and open the right door.  And it will work out to accomplish His purpose.  Sometimes God will
lead us to a place that isn’t ready for us yet or that we have to circle around and come back to it just as Mary and Joseph and Abram
and Sarai.  Let God lead.  You follow.  Trust Him.
Commit your way to the Lord – roll and repose (each care of) your load on Him; trust (lean on, rely on and be confident) also in Him,
and He will bring it to pass.  Psalms 37: 5 AMP
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct
your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6 NJKV

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Jan. 17, 2007   
THE PLACE OF REST

There is a rest in God that many Christians have not entered into.  It is a place of rest – fully leaning on God that keeps anxiety at bay that enables
us to endure with patience and walk in the peace of God - whatever comes into our lives.  It does not mean that we will not experience pain and
distress, that we will not have tears and brokenness.  However it does mean that in the midst of the problems, in the midst of the pain and
brokenness we can find rest in the Lord.  
Some of us fail to enter into this rest because we will not spend the time with the Lord and in His holy word required to become mature, to be
conformed into His image.  Some of us fail through simple unbelief.
Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters.  Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.  You
must warn each other every day, as long as it is called  “today”, so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are
faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.  But never forget the warning:
“Today you must listen to His voice.  Don’t harden your hearts against Him as Israel did when they rebelled.”  
And to whom was God speaking when He vowed that they would never enter His place of rest?  He was speaking to those who disobeyed Him.  So
we see that they were not allowed to enter His rest because of their unbelief.  
God’s promise of entering His place of rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to get there.  For this Good
News – that God has prepared a place of rest – has been announced to us just as it was to them.  But it did them no good because they didn’t
believe what God told them.  For only we who believe can enter His place of rest.      So God’s rest is there for people to enter.  But those who
formerly heard the Good News, failed to enter because they disobeyed God.  So God set another time for entering His place of rest, and that time is
today.  
This new place of rest was not the land of Canaan, where Joshua led them.  If it had been, God would not have spoken later about another day of
rest.  So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.  For all who enter into God’s rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested
after creating the world.  Let us do our best to enter that place of rest.  For anyone who disobeys God, as the people of Israel did, will fall.
That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God.  Let us cling to Him and never stop trusting Him.  This High
Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do; yet He did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne
of our gracious God.  There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.
Heb. 3:12-15,  18-19, 4: 1-4, 6-11  NLB
I looked up rest in Webster’s dictionary and found, 1. rest: (noun) calm, repose, 2.a. freedom from activity or labor. b. a state of motionlessness or
inactivity. 3. something used for support, a place for resting or lodging  4. peace of mind or spirit  5. silence  6. free of anxieties. A.  [to] rest: (verb)
1.to refrain from labor or exertion, to cease working or exerting oneself, cease activity.  2. to be free from anxiety or disturbance. 3. to sit or lie
supported  b. to obtain ease or refreshment through the cessation of activity and anxiety. c. to be still or quiet.  4. to lie or lean upon a support
that holds.  4. to remain confident: TRUST. b. to be based or founded on sound precedents. 5. to place on a support.  6. to be firmly fixed.
So, if we are to enter into the rest that the writer of Hebrew’s is speaking of we will cease all our own attempts to work things out according to our
will and instead surrender every part of our lives to a trustworthy God and allow Him to direct us and reveal the solutions to the problems we face
or to deliver us from them or give us the patience we need to go through them.  We will go to His Word and spend time with Him asking Him for the
answers as well as for the peace that we lack.   “Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living
God.”  
We can be free of the stress of trying to solve every problem, trying to figure out what to do next – when we enter into the rest God has for us
that enables us to do nothing while we wait for Him to do all that needs to be done or reveal to us what He would have us to do.  When we see
Him as our steadfast support and we lean on Him, content to let Him see us through whatever we face we will have peace and calm.  And we will
only see Him as our Support see Him as steadfast and trustworthy by spending time with Him and in His word.  We must get to know Him in the
deepest sense of the word – know.  “Let us do our best to enter that place of rest.”  
When we become silent – stop our complaining and murmuring, stop begging God for the answers He has already given and seek Him for His
presence alone, when we learn to trust Him wholeheartedly without reservation, we will experience this special rest planned for us.  We will
experience the refreshing and comfort that comes only from relying upon, leaning on and trusting in His perfect ability while recognizing our own
pitiful lack of ability.  We will find the peace that comes from relying on His perfect knowledge of all things rather than our own deficiency of
wisdom.  We will come into His rest by stopping our own striving in our absence of personal power seeing that He is all powerful and willing to move
on our behalf.
These verses seem to clearly say that if we do not trust God to care for us, if we do not believe that is His plan and His will for us to trust Him then
we are deceived and operating in the sin of unbelief.  God is adamant that we are to believe His word and act accordingly.  If we believe that He
loves us then we need to live as if we believe it.  We need to live in the knowledge that His love includes His protection, His deliverance, His
impartation of peace, joy, longsuffering, gentleness, comfort, wisdom – whatever we need for the moment He will freely give as we ask – believing
Him to perform His Word in our lives.  “Let us cling to Him and never stop trusting Him.”  
There is another verse that sheds more light on this.  Luke 8:14-15:  The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on
their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.  But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble
and good heart who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
How can we say we believe that God is Love, God is Sovereign, God is Peace, God is Omniscient, God is our Provider, our Deliverer, our Savior, our
Healer, our Father – and yet not trust Him to lead us, not trust Him to speak to us, not trust Him to heal us, not trust Him to deliver us, to love us
to provide what we need?  How can we say He is light and then complain that we cannot see because of the darkness of our situation?
The verses above say that the reason we do not enter this rest is because of our unbelief!  The promise of this rest still stands.  “God’s promise of
entering His place of rest still stands.”   God did not recount it.  He did not change.  He does not change and He cannot lie.  
Ps. 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. RSV
1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the might hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him for He
cares for you.
Here again we need to look at the meaning of these words – take time to think of what the Word actually says.  Let’s look at care: (merimna)
distractions, anxieties, burdens and worries.  Merimna means to be anxious today about what life might or might not bring tomorrow.  We must be
careful not to allow the distractions of daily life to cause us not to trust God.  We must not be distracted by our problems and fail to lean on Him.
In the use of the cares as in “He cares for you” we find a completely different meaning: cares: interested in, to have concern for. He is concerned
over everything that concerns us.  And He has the answer.  Now, what does casting mean: casting: throw upon, cast upon.
First we must know that God cares for us.  We must believe that He loves us and cares for us before we can trust Him enough to cast our worries
and concerns on Him.  We must accept His love for us before we can truly put our confidence in Him.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is
impossible to please God, because anyone who come to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”  We
must believe that God wants to reward us that He plans to bless us and that begins by His answering our questions.
We must know God’s character to know we can trust Him, to know we can put our confidence in Him to give Him all our worries in faith, believing
that God will graciously, lovingly bring the answer.  One facet of God’s character is love.  He is Love.   He is the God of Love.  John 3: 16 says that He
loves us enough to sacrifice His Son for us – in our place.  1 John 4:10 – In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His
Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Verse 18 goes on to say, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves
torment.  But he who fears has not been mad perfect in love.  19) We love Him because He first loved us.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Romans. 5:8.  How much more can we depend
on His love as His children, heirs of His promise.
The word love used here is agape and it is an undefeatable, benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest good for the
other person, no matter what he does.  It is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return.
God can only do the right thing, as He is the God of all righteousness – the Righteous God.  He will always do the right thing for us in every
situation, in every problem.  Since He is the all-knowing God He knows every problem, every trial, every temptation, we face even before we tell Him.  
And since He is the God of all wisdom, He has the wise solution, the perfect solution, and the right answer to our every question, our every dilemma,
our worst problem, and our biggest tragedy.  He has what we need and He is more than willing to give it to us if we ask.
And because He is Almighty God, the All-powerful God, we can have confidence that He is able to not only catch every thing that we throw at Him
(casting all our cares) He can properly dispose of it.  He has the power and wisdom to tackle every problem and bring victory and success.
I pray today that you will open your heart and your mind to the goodness of God, the love of God, the mercy and grace of God and recognize His
great care for you and His ability to do whatever needs to be done in you to bring you to the place He has chosen for you.  And He is the one who
enables us to walk in obedience to every instruction in His word.  Step into that place of rest.  See yourself as standing in a place of complete faith
and reliance on God and His Holy Spirit.  Rest in Him.

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WATER FROM THE WORD
Refreshing, encouragement and guidance
From the Word of God
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