Taking Receipt....

I'm interested in pursuing the topic of Jesus restoring oneness even as the Father, Son and Spirit are One though three distinct entities if you will.   We also were created in three parts--spirit, soul and body.   I wrote in an earlier post concerning man's creation where God breathed in Adam the breath of life, which in the Hebrew the word for breath is in the plural form. Therefore it would be rendered more correctly "the breath of lives".  It is very interesting indeed!  I shared this information more clearly in the post Three Lives? Revisited  (scroll down to) March 22, 2014. 

Since Jesus came to "destroy the works of the devil" (I John 3:8)  it stands to reason that our individual need to be restored to oneness within ourselves would necessarily be of great import since man was created to live in perfect unity within himself and with God.

Until Ish and Isha-Hebrew for man and the one taken from his side-listened to another and followed him there was no schism anywhere. What a disaster that was!  Their oneness with God, creation and within was totally disrupted and they found themselves absolutely naked within and without and were barred from the Garden.  And by the way, that's when Adam changed Isha's name to Eve (Genesis 3:20).  He first called her, simply, Woman in Genesis 2:23.  

And here's an interesting bit of information: The reason they didn't know they were naked was because they weren't!  They were clothed with God's Glory-spiritual clothing for the spiritual beings they were created to be-the same clothing as God.  They became naked when they lost their oneness with their Father, losing the Glory that was naturally theirs as sons of God.  These two immortal spirits were now clothed only with fallen, naked flesh as everyone thereafter. 

Since God gave man authority under His LORDship to rule over the earth, only a man could get back what the enemy stole.  That's why Jesus came, and indeed as I mentioned earlier, He came to (utterly) destroy the works of the devil.  And He did accomplish that thoroughly.  This takes me back to the subject I want to share more about: since Jesus did all this, and we know it's true, why are we NOT walking in more of the wholeness, power and authority He died to restore to us while satisfying  the Father's heart, will and desire for us, His children, the Church.  Afterall the word church  in the Greek means called out ones, a governing body!  Sounds like He even restored what Adam and Eve lost concerning authority doesn't it?

Though we are seeing  greater numbers of people and ministries than ever before operating on a higher level of  spiritual maturity and authority, it is not so for the Church at large.  Many of us are just not satisfied at our seeming inability to break through issues we've been believing and trusting for, and perhaps struggling with for quite some time.  It has been an enigma, a many faceted enigma, but God is revealing more in this day and hour than ever before about such mysteries and exposing enemy tactics formed to hinder us from our high calling in Christ Jesus.  I've been one of those who seems to have been stalemated in a number of areas, and I'd like to share what God showed me about the main issue which caused me to still have some issues with them.

My mother would occasionally use an expression in calling out an individual by name saying something like, "Sally was slow, but she was old."  That gave Sally an excuse for being slow, but there was none  for a healthy younger person with plenty of energy to perform the task at hand.  The church is older, and we've been slow for a number of reasons, but it's time to get our youth restored and move up into our high places. My Goodness,  don't we all want to go there and remain!? 

This recent revelation, I believe, is one  the Church at large also has to receive in order to make a huge breakthrough into greater maturity, oneness and as overcomers who walk in the victory He provided for us.  

At this point, I'd like to share a little about the difference between revelation and information, because it was information that kept me from a personal working knowledge of a great basic truth.  It's not that I or most Christians don't have some knowledge of this particular truth and accept it as a fact, but often this knowledge has to become much more greatly received and understood on a personal level.  Simply put, information is a head knowledge of a truth while revelation is a heart knowledge of it-with the heart being the same as the spirit.   The following verse points to what I'm speaking about here.

1 Corinthians 2:11-12(KJV)

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

As does the following:

          Hebrews 4:12-13(KJV)

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

God knows how much true understanding we have, and as we continue to look to Him for the answers we need, He is faithful to show us in what area we need greater understanding.  So it is when He "opens" an area we are enabled to see it as we never have before.   This is revelation.  It starts with our spirit and then affects our understanding....it's not just information any longer, but truth which develops in us as we receive it and allow it to work in our lives.

This is part of the process of being restored to our individual oneness with Him as He teaches us to see and receive His truth--His way of seeing and understanding.   This is so amazing to me!  I'm hardly ever greatly surprised any longer when He shows me an area where my understanding has been so limited by my humanity...but I'm always thankful and truly amazed and humbled. 

So what did the Spirit open up to me that changed everything?  He said I needed to  "Take receipt of having been born again."  Oh my,  when He said it to me,  the Light came on and I understood!  I had no idea of how much being born again had been a general truth to me.  I agreed with the Word that it was so, but had never fully laid hold of it on a deep personal level.  

I hope to share more about the reality of it in later entries,  but you don't have to wait if you haven't fully "taken receipt" yourself.   God is right there where you are, and He's ready!  He'll begin to open up your understanding in a greater way even as He did when He joined the two on the road to Emmaus!  (Luke 24:13-35)  Just ask Him and see for yourself!

I haven't written very often this year, but I have been changing this year. 

All I've written about in the past has had to become more of a part of me from the inside out.  Revelation is one thing, manifestation is another. Revelation is suddenly seeing things more clearly in an instant-- a flash of light so to speak, but that light has to become part of us, one with us. That oneness within ourselves agrees with what Jesus intended us to be restored to In Him, one within and one with Him.  This is what manifestation of revelation is.  It all has to do with living out who He made us to be in our new birth.  

The more we understand the process and yield to it, the more readily the manifestation comes.  It has nothing to do with being religious, but it has everything to do with Life and that more abundant, receiving His love, His provision, His way of doing things and living out the life we have on a higher level than we ever could have lived alone without Him.

I'll leave you with a beautiful scripture.   One that I thought for quite sometime was very lovely and desired it even though I thought I had already received more of the reality of it than I had.  Even now after experiencing more, I see that I have only just begun to receive a greater portion of the riches of His grace in this area.

I pray the Blessing of the LORD upon you and His Peace to you and yours, even as the Angels declared at His birth,  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).  All we have to do is to accept His gracious offer and follow Him.  He is the greatest Gift we'll ever receive, and actually, we are His!  This truth makes it easy for me to agree with all who decide to trust His enabling to receive and to "learn the unforced rhythms of grace."


Matthew 11:28  The Message

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

The Living Word

The LORD said to me a while back to always call the Word, "The Living Word" and the following understanding came with what He said: It is living and when we  read it and receive it, it will produce what it is in us.   

Sounds like something He'd say, doesn't it? 

Here's a portion of the Living Word which helps me to  more consistently choose to allow the Word to do its work in me:

Isaiah 55:8-11  KJV

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

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

...and it will accomplish in us what He sent it forth to do as we choose to believe what He says rather than what we might be experiencing. Choosing to believe and to receive is key....that's where our faith comes in. He will never force anything on us-that's what the enemy does.  God always allows us to choose.  Always.  But if we do, He is faithful who promises and we, He and I or He and you, get to walk it out together.

Life Happens Indeed...

Wow! Life happens indeed.

Again, it's been a long time since I've written anything, but one thing I discovered in the many years I've kept a journal is that there is a pattern which has been pretty consistent: I'll write often for a number of months, then there will be a lapse before another entry.  The time lapse varies from year to year but none-the-less the pattern seems to always be the same.  I'll write about what the Spirit of the LORD is sharing with me for a period of time, and afterwards, I'll go on a journey in my everyday life to live out with His help in a deeper way all that He's revealed to me. 

Needless to say, it can be challenging.  Sometimes very challenging indeed!  And what seems to be funny about the process is that I'm not aware of this cycle while it's happening, but only see it when I become motivated to start writing again. 

So as it is with my journal, it is also with this blog.  Looks like another cycle has begun!  

Jesus, The One

(Note from the writer of this blog: It's been quite a while since my last post, but at times the reality of living out what I've written about takes precedence over writing. Greater maturity requires time, effort, sacrifice and much Grace.) 

   

In my previous posts I've written mostly about the schism which occurred within man when he was separated from the perfection of his unity with God and the unity within himself because of that divine connection.  It has already been established, in my point of view, that this separation entered man when the Adam fell out of fellowship with his Creator when he followed satan’s voice instead of God’s. You can read more about that in the archived March 22, 2014 post, Three Lives? Revisited.  But now, I’d like to close out 2014 with the answer God provided for man to be restored to such a wondrous position with Himself.  

   

One thing caused the separation, and only one thing can restore it, and it all has to begin at that point.  Just as the separation occurred at once in one life-changing event though the effects of the downfall increased with time, so does the restoration occur with one life-changing event increasing over time as we receive understanding and begin cooperating with Him in the process.  It’s our choice, just as it was Adam’s choice to follow a strange voice.

What is the One Thing?  The Word says concerning Jesus: the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Him bodily and we are complete In Him.  It is Jesus Himself, The Volunteer who provided the way to bring us back into Unity with The Father. Is this oversimplifying the process? Perhaps a bit, but as we know every journey must begin somewhere and that’s usually with a choice.  After all, the great fall of man came with one man’s choice and the reality of it became mankind's journey into the increasing darkness of it.  Our adversary hides himself in that darkness because that's what he is-Darkness-and it's what he has used successfully to keep man from the Light of Truth.  

The choice to receive and follow the One who made the way for the restoration of our perfect unity with Him has to begin somewhere, and the true beginning came at the birth of Jesus when He offered forgiveness and the full benefit of sonship to anyone who would receive it (because the work was as good as finished when He was born into the earth taking on the form of man).  And the great part of this is that it’s our choice and all we have to do to begin a new life journey is to believe and receive His offer!  We are not forced to follow His way, but He graciously provided it so man could be restored to even a greater place than the first Adam enjoyed in his beginning.  God fully intended him to grow in understanding in all things--growing into maturity of who he was really created to be--a living, breathing, powerful son of the Living God including the benefits, rights, authority and responsibility associated with such an exalted position.   

 If you read Psalm 8 you’ll discover that even the angels desired to know more about man.  They wanted to know who this created being was that God Himself visited him!  After all, their understanding  was limited to what they knew, that all of His created beings came to Him.  They had never seen God Himself go any where at anytime to seek out anyone before--much less spend time with them enjoying their company!  I mean really, what a deal! That understanding makes the following scripture concerning God's relationship with Jesus very enlightening! 

 ...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (my emphasis)  

How interesting!  The person God sent to restore mankind's oneness with Him enjoyed the Presence of the Father with Him!  Sounds kind of like Adam's relationship with God in the Garden of Eden.  Though Adam failed when temptation came, the Last Adam didn't.  Jesus spoke a number of times, about only doing what He saw the Father do, and only saying what He heard the Father say thereby successfully living out what Adam failed to do.  See these confirming scriptures in John 5:19-20 and verse 30; John 8:28; John 12:49.  And the following is very telling, but seldom quoted with  the answer Jesus gave the scribe who asked what was the first (and greatest) commandment. Mark 12:29 follows:

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: (my emphasis) 

Most of us are familiar with the rest of the answer, but seeing it all in context is quite revealing. Mark 12:28-32 follows: 

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

Looking at these scriptures in the light of the subject at hand puts things in even greater perspective.  The LORD God is ONE even though He is Three in One-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-and there is no schism in Him, in Them, in what they think, say or do.  Jesus clearly explained that He was one with the Father in thought and deed in John 17:21-23 and desired also that we would be one in them so it must be possible. 

That God desires us to be one with Him and has provided the way to restore the heritage of sonship to us is truly mind boggling to consider!  To say it takes time to mature in the wholeness offered to us is a complete understatement, but none-the-less true!   To perhaps say it better, I'll borrow a popular phrase from a character in Toy Story: It will take "infinity and beyond!", but we have that kind of time with God if we'll just choose to start the journey while we're still here having the right and privilege to do so.

There's so much more to say about this and I hope to be able to share more in later posts.  Hopefully, it won't take as long as it did to start on this one.  I trust He will lead us all into that higher and better way of sharing in His way of seeing, speaking, doing and living, while keeping us within the realms of His grace and truth leaving behind all harshness and religiosity.  

Living "a higher and better way" reminds me of what my mother use to say when waking us in the mornings, "Rise and shine!"  Funny though, how that  expression is from the Word in Isaiah.  Since Jesus is the Light of the World, and His promise to us is that if we follow Him we won't walk in darkness, it makes me all the more want to "Rise and shine!"  So, I'll close with that Truth in the Word which we all can receive by faith from Him.  

 Isaiah 60:1-2  kjv

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and *his glory shall be seen upon thee.  (emphasis, mine) 

 * His glory is His Presence with us!  And in the light of what we've been looking into in this post, it means so much more. 

Second Closing: I just had to add this.  My favorite movie clip of  all time...sometimes people are not too happy with  the way our light shines! 

                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFpF5-mF-D8 

The True Source of Encouragement

This post concerns part of an email I received from KCM written by Kenneth Copeland.  It's a standard response, but very relevant and timely.  It's such an encouraging reminder of how to go about  the challenges we have to face in this life.  I plan to keep it as a reminder and  thought ya'll (a Southern United States colloquialism for whoever I'm speaking to at the moment) might like it, too.

 I added the bold type because when I look at it again, that's what I want to see first!

What's the biggest challenge you are facing today? Is it something to do with your health? Your finances? Your relationships? 

Let me encourage you on how to resolve your challenge. First of all, don't get so focused on the problem you can't hear what God has to say about it. Don't try to figure out what you're going to do instead of looking for what He can and will do. 

Second, ask Him! At some time in your life you have surely experienced His divine intervention. He hasn't changed. And He knows exactly what to do. He's always waiting and willing to get right in the middle of your situation and help you through it and finally, out of it. Don't be discouraged. Just turn your heart toward Him and let Him show you the way to go, the scripture to stand on, the words to say, the decision to make. He's there and He's waiting for you to ask.

As soon as I read it I felt it was a compliment to my last post.  While I was forwarding the email to some family and friends, it occurred to me that others might be encouraged by it as well.  So, to you my extended family and friends, I share it here.

In closing I'll leave you with the following word of encouragement from the greatest Encourager of all:

       John 16:33New International Version (NIV)

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

Life Happens

Since my last post lots of life has been happening, much to face, much to deal with-difficulties which are common to us all but unique in effect to us as individuals.  And since my  posts are based on our lives and God's provision, His bringing us back into the oneness we lost with Him and within ourselves, I've had great opportunity during this season to face and deal more effectively with those broken connections within which have kept me from living life more fully In Him.  Sometimes even in the midst or our greatest difficulties we discover root issues we've struggled with, perhaps unknowingly (well, mostly unknowingly!), that have kept us from living our lives more fully and victoriously even in the midst of great difficulty.

I hope to be back with more pretty soon.  Not with  the particulars of the circumstances of my life, because we all have those, and we don't need to be inundated with those of others at every turn.  But I would like to share a little portion of how very Good God Is and how He's so willing to bring us all into His Peace and provision in the midst of this crazy world we live in...

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world."   John 16:33

...and it is my desire to become more courageous through greater oneness with Him.


Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Used by Permission HCSB ©1999,2000,2002,2003,2009 Holman Bible Publishers. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.