Microsoft Word - BOOKLET 01_INCLINE THINE (YOUR) EAR.docxAustralia & New Zealand. 2003. Re-edited 2017.
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* Points of distinction and emphasis, are used by our authorship solely to bring light to our dialogue.
* Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptural references appearing are quotations from the King James Bible ... computer software, E Sword version 10.2.1 © 2013 by Rick Meyers. www.e-sword.net
First Edition (2003, re-edited 2017)
Copyright © 2017. Australia by Robert.B.Dalton. Apart from the purpose of private study or review for archive retrieval, no part may be reproduced without the expressed and written permission of the authors (and/ or) their agents for “Menorah Publications.”
TM
Menorah
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Introduction.
The Holy Spirit has employed the use of this series to impact our lives as Husband and wife. We have both been intrigued as to the amount of Blessings that many of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ seem to miss out on.
We are convinced that the reason is because of our inattention to God’s inscribed Word. Praise Him for His Divine tolerance as we continue to grow in Him!
Proverbs 1 Verse 5(a) “A wise [man] will hear,
and will increase learning; …”
We married, in October of 1987 and have an awesome family of five plus four of Bob’s older children with altogether and to date twenty Grandchildren.
Bob has compiled and published materials helpful for growth and development in Christ Jesus. Sadly, but with great joy, Nikki passed into Glory to be with our Lord. 21st July, 2014.
Over the years, Bob has ministered as a Pastor/ Teacher and functioned as itinerant Preacher with a strong call to Missions.
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His desire, is to see more folk, coming out of
themselves, and going deeper into personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour, The Lord Jesus Christ.
This dialogue,
“… incline thine (your) ear …” is the first in the series entitled,
“New Beginnings …” Our format is based on the unfolding word of instruction as contained in…
Proverbs 2 Verses 1-5 “My son … if thou wilt ... receive ... My words, and ... hide ... My commandments with thee;”
(2) “So that thou ... incline thine ear ... unto
wisdom, [and] ... apply thine heart ... to
understanding;” (3) “Yea, if thou ... criest after knowledge … [and] ... liftest up thy voice ... for understanding;” (4) “If thou ... seekest ... her as silver, and ...
Searchest … for her as [for] hid treasures;” (5) “Then shalt thou understand … The Fear of The LORD … and find the knowledge of God.”
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We shall see as this lesson unfolds, that God our Father places extreme importance on the area
of “our hearts,” as a point of both “contact and (ongoing) communication,” this is described by us in our studies as
“Communion.”
Proverbs 2 Verse 2(b)
“... Incline thine (Your) Ear …”
There are two things noted in this life of ours, that The Lord Himself will constantly dig His heels in against…
The first one, is “the hard hearted,” and the second is “the stiff-necked” (or arrogantly proud.)
Hebrews 4 Verses 1-3 “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” (2) “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well
as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with Faith in them that heard [it].” (3) “For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, As I have sworn in My wrath, if they shall enter into My Rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”
Our Faith needs to be mixed with the hearing of The Word in order for
us to be able to carry out its doing.
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What we are finding as this series begins to unfold, is a very pleasant word of instruction.
“ … Incline your … Ear” “ … Apply your … Heart” “ … Search for hid … Treasures”
Three very distinct things which we as believers have to appropriate, if we expect to be able to walk in the Blessings of instruction that are
contained within “The Word of God.”
To my way of thinking, gold mining is exactly
that … mining. You have to “do,” in order to be able to “reap the benefits.” But the question remains, do you just want to pan for alluvial nuggets or mine for great chunks of ore!!!??
Colossians 3 Verses 12-17 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” (13) “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.”
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(14) “And above all these things [put on] charity,
(Love, God’s Love) which is ... the bond of perfectness.” (15) “And let the Peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
(16) “Let The Word of Christ (The Rhema, heard by the hearing of the heart of hearts) dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with Grace in your hearts to The Lord.”
(17) “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in The name ofTthe Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”
We need to begin to understand that we are to be in a place of “hearing with the ears ... Hearing,”
And “seeing with the eyes ... Seeing!” When the lights turn on so’s to speak,
then and only then can we “Grow on:”
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There lies a challenge, for each one of us the
Greek word for the word “Perfect,” is the Greek
word “Telios,” which literally means,
“that one has just now begun the process of ... beginning to grow up.”
How many, “ ... babes in Christ” are
there that you know of, that are trying to teach others to grow, when they themselves have not!!! Or more to the point, WILL NOT!”
Ironically this word, was the same word that The Lord used when He spoke to father Abraham and said to him,
“walk before Me, and be thou perfect.”
Genesis 17 Verse 1 “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him,
I [AM] The Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect.”
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The word “THOU,” means “YOU,” just
as assuredly as it refers to “ME!” God Himself, made direct reference to Abram
who He desired to be the literal,
“Father of many nations.”
The Lord God Almighty, found it fitting to want to use this man Abram as an example of His own,
“Perfecting touch on human-kind,” that is why The Lord said to him ...
“Walk before Me, and be thou perfect!”
“Perfect,” in that sense, relates to also the Hebrew equivalent, which is the Hebrew word,
“Tamiym” rendered as “a complete, mature, blameless and wholehearted desire toward God, His Will, His Purpose, and His Good Pleasure:”
That is why “The All-Sufficent One” God Himself could make direct and lasting Covenant.
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This my friend, is the depth of intimacy, friendship and relationship that He wants with ALL of us…
“Not just the selective elective !!!”
Philippians 3 Verses 12-18 “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (13) “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” (14) “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
(15) “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” (16) “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us
mind the same thing.” (17) “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”
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(18) “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the Cross of Christ:”
Just how many of us know, and understand that the basic tenets of our Christian Faith revolve around;
i) The Centrality of the Cross.
ii) The Blood of Jesus Christ.
iii) The infilling of The Holy Spirit.
After we have established the basics, we are
then in a position to grow ... but not before!
How many times have you come across someone who is newly converted to Christ who thinks that they have suddenly arrived!!!??
Let’s just look for a moment, as to where we go from here in order to be able to properly,
“ …incline our ears to hear.”
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Proverbs 14 Verses 9;12;14&16 Fools make a mock at sin:
but among the righteous [there is] favour.”
Verse12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.”
Verse14 “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.”
Verse16 “A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil:
but the fool rageth, and is confident.”
Psalm 1 Verses 1-6 “Blessed [is] the man ... that
walketh not ... in the counsel of the ungodly,
... nor standeth in ... the way of sinners, ... nor sitteth in ... the seat of the scornful.” (2) “But his delight [is] in The Law of The LORD; and in His Law doth he meditate day and night.” (3) “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (4) “The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”
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(5) “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” (6) “For The LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
From this we see the temptation to compromise the standard that God has set for us and if we do,
we soon find ourselves “walking” ... in the counsel of the ungodly and seeking their advice and counsel.
The direction for our lives, should only be “Christ-centred” and not “self-seeking.”
The next notch down in the ... “slide of compromise” is “standing” in the way of sinners.”
That is, you are so readily identified with the ways of ungodly compromise that no one can tell
“Who’s you are!”
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Jesus said, “I AM The Way, The Truth and The Life …”
And if we are standing in the way, then we’d better jolly well get out of the way!
If we “walk” ... “in the counsel of the ungodly;”
we shall “stand” ... “in the way of sinners;”
and then it won’t be long before we will,
“sit” ... “in the seat of the scornful,” and you know it’s a renowned fact
that if ... We, “WALK with,”
“STAND with,” and “SIT with,” well ... it
won’t be long before we will be drawn to “LIE DOWN” with them: and it’s an old adage that ...
“If you lie down with dogs, you can expect to get up with fleas!”
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“Walking, Standing and then Sitting!” The
net result being, “Ungodly, Sinners, who are
Scornful!”
Psalm 119 Verses 9-16 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?
by taking heed [thereto] according to Thy Word.” (10) “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments.”
(11) “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” (12) “Blessed [art] thou, O LORD: teach me Thy statutes.” (13) “With my lips have I declared all the judgments of Thy mouth.” (14) “I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as [much as] in all riches.” (15) “I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways.”(16) “I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy Word.”
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John 16 Verses 13-14 “Howbeit when He, The Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, [that] shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.” (14) “He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.”
The early Christian Brethren not merely
believed, they also knew. They had a kind of
experiential Faith which produced a definite knowledge of that which they held true.
1 John 5 Verse 20 “And we know that The Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, [even] in His Son Jesus Christ. This is The True God, and Eternal Life.”
Job Chapter 22 Verse 21 “Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.”
Do you notice, that God’s Peace, is always a natural outcome of obedience to His Word!!!???
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It follows that when our heart is full of Faith in
Christ Jesus, this Faith will find its proper expression as we confess Christ openly with our mouth.
2 Corinthians 4 Verse 13
“We having the same Spirit of Faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;”
Matthew 3 Verse 3(b) “ … The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye The Way of The Lord, make His paths straight.”
It’s natural, that when we hear a voice far off in the distance we tend to cock our ear in that direction. The reason as to why we do that, is so that we can more readily hear and identify the sound echoing in the distance:
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Now that you too have “inclined your ear,” we have caught your attention. This is what
“hearing” is all about … isn’t it marvellous how
we in our humanity all tend to suffer this same
unique problem. That of “selective hearing!” Yes, we all do tend to hear only what we want too!!!??
See, now that you think that I am getting close and about to touch a few tender spots you’re already thinking about putting this paper down.
Please don’t because if you do, your own thoughts have defeated what we are trying to teach you for your own benefit … but more to the point, for the Blessing of others.
When I pray, I talk directly to God, I don’t need the internet or social media.
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When I read The Bible, it’s His Word, speaking directly to me! And many have the afront to say that God doesn’t talk to them ... try listening!!!
The simple pathway to God’s Blessings is to “hear,” and “obey” His Voice.
Much is made of “hearing with the ears … hearing,” but there is none so blind as those that will not see and those that refuse to hear!
Matthew 13 Verses 10-16 “And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?” (11) “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of The Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given.” (12) “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.”
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(13) “Therefore speak I to them in parables:
because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” (14) “And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias,
which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:”(15) “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (16) “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.”
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Religion has kept many a good man and woman locked into legalistic bondage. But this is
not the “diligence” to which we relate, nor is it that which is preferable.
“ … giving all diligence ...”
This is an issue of the heart, it’s a heart that is
“in Love,” with it’s Saviour. So much so, that this person has a listening ear for The Voice of his (or her Beloved.
Jesus said,
John 10 Verse 27 “My sheep hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:”
That’s because their ear is ever ready to receive The Voice carried on the wind!
“Faith,” is a covering that adorns the heart ... the place where a mans treasure
is to be stored: “Heart Faith,” always produces definite change in those who profess it.
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Faith that is in the heart of man, must speak,
the very meaning of the word “confession,” just like the Greek word “homologia” means
literally, “saying the same as.”
Thus confession, for Christians, means that we
say the same thing with our mouth as God Himself has already said in His Word!
Paul is saying in …
Philippians 2 Verses 12(b) -13, “ ... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (13) “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [His] good pleasure.”
Here, the relationship is plain, firstly, God works
in us both “to will and to do.”
In this He gives us a heart toward Him and our spirit man, once dead to the things of God, is now alive.
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Secondly, it is then that we work out in our actions, … that which God has first worked in us:
The Holy Spirit imparts Faith from God according to the need.
This, “The Gift of Faith” adds to “the Fruit of Faith,” which is fruit imparted as an attribute The Father’s Own Nature.
This is revealed in our lives as the “Right-Wise-ness” of Christ Jesus indwelling in the heart producing change and transformation in both our old way of life, our habits, character, and even our mannerisms.
Not just the way in which one thinks, but in the
way that one now both “thinks, acts and lives” … anything less, is “sub- standard.”
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This is the meaning behind the term “new birth,” that is so freely thrown around these days.
To the “Christ-ian,” it means being “born again,” by The Spirit of The Living God.
“God working with our wills, to transform the old way of life, to that of the vibrancy of ... “The New!” Christ’s Life in us, “outworking and out growing the old:”
Ezekiel 36 Verses 26-27 “A new heart also will
I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
(27) “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them].”
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(Romans 7 Verses 5-25& Chapter 8:1-4)
Romans 7 Verse 5 “For when we were in the flesh,
the motions of sins, which were by the law,
did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.”
a) “ ... the motions of sins, ... ” b) “ ... did work in our members to
bring forth fruit unto death.”
“Motions” meaning literal passion, suffering
the Greek word is, “pathema.”
From this I am sure that one can almost feel the agonizing and gut- wrenching pain of sin at work.
This intensity at work within, can be likened to a woman in birth pangs ... the baby demands the satisfaction of birth and though the Mum suffers ... yet it will be born!
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I suspect that Paul was given a glimpse of how Jesus agonized in Gethsemane’s garden ... Suffering the weight, the pain, the agony of sins past, present and future.
Any wonder Jesus sweat with “Great drops of Blood.” I am certain that The Father allowed Him to view humanity caught in the throes of sin, caught in the trap and the resulting pain.
Temptation draws with a passion ... the victim caught then begins to suffer in a tar-pit of no escape.
James 1 Verses 12-15 “Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive
the crown of life, which The Lord hath promised to them that Love Him.” (13) “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man:” (14) “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” (15) “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
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2.) “Drawn away,” strong imaginations. (Verse 14)
3.) “Lust,” delight in viewing. (Verse 14)
4.) “Enticed,” weakening of the will. (Verse 14)
5.) “Lust conceived,” yielding to it. (Verse 15)
6.) “Sin,” sinful act committed. (Verse15)
7.) “death,” the wages, the payment of sin. (Verse15)
Maybe now we can understand a little of what Jesus said when He grieved over Peter ...
Luke 22 Verses 31-32 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as wheat:”
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(32) “But I have prayed for thee, that thy Faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Only the enemy of God’s Created would desire such a morbid outcome, that is to literally sift someone like wheat!
Grace, builds and adds strength to Faith it upholds God’s standard.
Under the Old Covenant dispensation of The Law, The Law became to us like a marriage agreement that lasted in its outworking till death.
Obviously after death, you could do no more
... you were dead!
The time to work at it, was gone, dead and buried with the victim became the claim of
“sin’s wages.”
Such was the contract of the Law, it became bondage. Paul is not saying that marriage is bondage, by no means, He is using the analogy that should be found as true commitment.
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As the husband and wife were under the covenant of marriage, so it was expected that fruit would be produced from the union of the couple.
But union under The Law, revealed the product of sin and death exposed to the light of God’s Holiness.
Romans 7 Verses 6-9 “But now we are delivered from the Law, that being dead
wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not [in] the oldness of the letter.” (7) “What shall we say then? [Is] the Law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the Law: for I had not known lust, except the Law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” (8) “But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the Law sin [was] dead.” (9) “For I was alive without the Law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”
Temptation and the lust to be tempted builds like pressure in a furnace boiler.
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In times of intense pressure, fiery lust burns at the heart of hearts to conceive the fruit called sin.
Either it is released or the boiler explodes ... temptation needs an outlet!
Australia is a peculiar nation in this regard in that in the natural scheme of things it requires the regularity of the intense heat of bush fires to burst the hard outer core of some species of native seed pods in order for them to germinate and produce the fruit which is locked within.
This is a wonderful picture describing the way that temptation burns in the bosom of man in order to burst forth the seeds of lust and lust when it has conceived brings forth sin and the fruit or wages of sin is death.
The plan of the enemy was to bring death to the ministry of Jesus, that is why he tempted Jesus personally.
1 Peter 4 Verses 12-13 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” (13) “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His Glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
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Romans 7 Verses 10-11 “And the commandment, which [was ordained] to life, I found [to be] unto death.” (11) “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew [me].”
Consider the indelible marks that are left on one’s body by the depth of penetration of the tattoo artists’ ink. Sin has an indelible stain of penetration that is why it is stated that The Word of God is the
only thing that can “divide asunder even to the very depth of the marrow and the bone.”
The taint of sin’s stain can only be washed from
the life of an individual by the Precious, Precious Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
You know you cannot take anything of “the old life” into “the new” lest it give a platform for future temptation!
Let it be fully understood that sin’s pre-occupation is to lull you into a sense of false security in order to slay you.
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Or bring you into bondage like a puppet, so that it will have it’s way with you whenever it desires. Ever seen a cat play with alive mouse? Once captured by the cat, the poor thing is literally teased and tormented to death!
I am reminded of a time that my wife and I stumbled upon a bubbling brook in the foothills of New Zealand’s volcanic region.
This was a place that contained the waterways, lakes and hatcheries for the trout that inhabited the area. In one small pond off to the side of the brook I saw a rainbow trout sunning itself in the still waters of the pond.
I always wanted to try “the art of tickling a trout” so I slipped my hand into the water and edged it up under the belly of the sleeping trout.
Stroking the belly brought the fish to raptures which soon had it lifted from the safety of the water below. Satisfied with my accomplishment it was returned to the water to recover from the shock of being deceived.
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What a picture of sin’s taint and the lulling
effect that it can have unless our lives are maintained by both devotion in communion and the washings of the water of The Word.
Romans 7 Verses 12-13 “Wherefore the Law [is] Holy, and the commandment Holy, and just, and good.” (13) “Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”
If you drop a drop of ink into a glass of water, what happens?
Doesn’t the water which was previously crystal clear become tainted?
Sin has a corresponding effect on the life of each and every individual concerned.
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Secondly, “a strong imagination.”
Thirdly, “taking delight in entertaining these thoughts and imaginations.”
Fourthly, “motions,” to be so afflicted with desire as to be magnetically drawn in by the thoughts.
And finally, number Five … “being content in involvement ... so much so that it is considered to be normal.
Romans 1 Verses 21-22 & 28 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [Him] not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
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(22) “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
Verse 28 “And even as they did not like to retain
God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (or not right!)”
When one is able to be untouched by the pull
of temptations, it is proof enough of the “Grace” at work in his life to produce the fruits of
“Endurance and Self-Control:”
James 1 Verse 12 “Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of Life, which the Lord hath promised to them that Love Him.”
1 Corinthians 9 Verses 24-27 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” (25) “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” (26) “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:”
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(27) “But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
1 Corinthians 10 Verses 11-12 “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (12) “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
Romans 12 Verse 21
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Thomas a’ Kempis (Quote,) 1 “Fire trieth iron, and temptation a just man.” “We know not oftentimes what we are able to do, but temptations do shew us what we are.” “Yet we must be watchful, especially in the beginning of temptation. For the enemy is then more easily overcome, if he be not suffered to enter the door of our hearts, but be resisted without the gate at his first knock.” “Wherefore one said, withstand the beginnings, for an after remedy comes often to late!”
(end quote.)
1 Thomas a’ Kempis “Imitation of Christ.” Blackie & Son Ltd. (London/Glasgow.)
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One might ask the question,
“How do I know the beginning from the end?” The answer for this comes from The Lord Jesus Himself concerning the question of the seriousness of adultery as an example.
Matthew 5 Verse 28 “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her
hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
What the eye does not see, the heart does not long for! If you entertain it, if you dwell on it ... you give place to the temptation or the area in which you are being tempted. If you dwell on it,
you can rest assured that it will overtake you!
Proficiency in “Grace,” shows that one has a mastery over various areas of his soul.
Job 3 Verse 25 “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.”
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Being “watchful,” means exactly that, it does not purport to a misguided pre-occupation or
paranoia. It is real, because it knows, that the area concerned is an area of weakness. God, has not called us to be judgmental regarding those who are being tempted.
This is what “compassion” and
“confidence” are all about. Support of the total body comes only as each muscle and sinew is both
supported and supporting ...
“Blind guides,” can be the only outcome of those who are not trained to be schooled and skilled by communion in awaiting The Master’s touch.
Screaming about your “experience” is
only a cop out for those who are dominating “soul - murderers” who are too proud to take time out to study to show themselves approved!
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F.B. Meyer once wrote, 2“When we see a
brother or sister in sin, there are two things that we do not know.”
Firstly, “We do not know how hard he or
she tried not to sin!”
Secondly, “We do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her.” “But more
importantly, we do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances!” Needless to say, “Guard yourself!” (end quote)
Galatians 6 Verse 1
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (2) “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ.”
2 (By courtesy of Steven Brown,) “Christianity Today.” (edit. 1993.)
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Romans 7 Verses 14-17 “For we know that the Law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.”
(15) “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” (16) “If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the Law that [it is] good.” (17) “Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”
More literally, the word “Temptation” can
be described as, “an allurement or attraction to do that which the conscience knows is not of God and ultimately determined as sin.”
To gain a better clarity, one could look to the example of a fisherman with a lure and a spinning reel. The lure is presented as an attraction or bait to entice the fish to leave caution to the wind and bite
the movement of seeming “temporal gain” that would satisfy the stomachs hunger pangs ...
“till the next time.”
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Once, not so long ago, there was both great art and craftsmanship applied to the handiwork involved in the production of fishing lures, flies and jigs ... but now, I feel that more fishermen are caught by these modern versions of their mass produced counterparts.
Romans 7 Verses 18-20 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.”
(19) “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (20) “Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”
How many times have we heard the worldly statement ...
“I would that I could but I can’t so I shan’t!”
“Will,” is made of no effect, without the operation of “Divine Grace” in the life of the believer which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt.
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Ephesians 2 Verses 8-9 “For by Grace are ye
saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] The Gift of God:” (9) “Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Sin is a law, which wages war in our members.
Sin as a law, brings us into captivity both to “sin” and “death.”
Any time we will do good, evil is present, because of the presence of sin as a law in
“unsaved man” the authoritative power of sin is because it is a law ... our will, cannot do battle
against the law without the enabling of “Divine Grace” ...
Scripture does not assert in any way shape or form that a born again Christian can never commit sin!
1 Peter 1 Verse 23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
It is God’s Word that is incorruptible, the old nature that is within us is that which is corrupt.
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What scripture does say is that once a
Christian is born again, a completely new nature is birthed by the seed of God’s Word into our being. This new nature is described by Paul the apostle as “the new man.”
Ephesians 4 Verses 22-24 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;”
(23) “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” (24) “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
The unregenerate man is inevitably a slave to his own corrupt fallen nature.
The kind of life which a “Born again Christian” lives is an outworking of the new nature which is contained within.
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As long as the “old man” is kept in subjection to “the new man” there is proper “control,” “order,” “balance,” “victory” and “peace” in the life of the believer.
They are then in fact, “Born again,” not like the throng of “the religionist” or “the hypocrite” which prove to me, that they are nothing more than being … “bored again!!!??”
Whenever the old man is allowed to rise up and regain control, the consequence is inevitable failure, backsliding into sin and defeat. That is why it is so important to continue to ...
“ ... seek the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby.”
Romans 8 Verses 1-4 “[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (2) “For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death.”
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(3) “For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” (4) “That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
As Jim Williams has stated in his book
3 “Wisdom the missing link,” (Quote)
“If the A,B,C of life is Attitude, Balance and Contentment, then seek “Balance in ALL things.”
(end quote.)
Attitude, determines your altitude ... are our thoughts seated in Heavenly places or do they remain grounded at zero?
If we walk in balance, our walk and or growth into the things of God will be progressive, we will never be unbalanced.
3 Williams, Jim. “Wisdom ... The Missing Link.” . Clark & Matheson.
Hamilton. N.Z. edit 1986
“ … Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Paul was telling Timothy, don’t waste your time
on trivial things ... We waste so much time today on trivia!
Romans 10 Verses 8-11 “But what saith it?
The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, ... and in thy heart: that is, ... The word of Faith, which we preach;” (9) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved.” (10) “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (11) “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” (Distinctions mine.)
“ ... The Word of Faith,”
The Greek word for “Faith,” is the word
“pistis,” (4102) which means, “a firm persuasion, or moral conviction of the truthfulness of God.” “It is an unwavering confident assurance on Christ Jesus for salvation!”
Mark 11 Verse 22 “And Jesus answering saith unto them,
have Faith (“pistis,”) in God.”
Hebrews 10 Verses 38-39 “Now the just shall live ... by Faith: ( “pistis,”) but if [any man] draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.” (39) “But we are not of them who draw back unto
perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
Hebrews 11 Verse 1 “Now Faith is the substance ... (Greek, “Hupostasis,”) of
things hoped for, ... the evidence of things not seen.”
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In the Greek language, “Hupostasis,” (5287) is a word that defines, “that which underlies the substance, the Reality.” “Christ Jesus, is the very image of His, that is, God’s substance (hupostasis).”
Literally, “an assured, firm concrete support ... God said it, it is settled forever!”
“It is Finished!!!”
The difference between,
“Faith and Hope, is Rest!” It is a Rest, of a confident trust:
It knows and trusts, without a shadow of a doubt! It does not need to prove itself like a
“Doubting Thomas:”
i) We being moved,
ii) We being moved,
iii) We being moved,
iv) We being moved,
v) We being moved,
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“I can do all things ...
through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
This is Bible Faith, Where …“the can’t do, becomes “the can do!” Where ... “the powerless, becomes “the powerful!”
The “Living Water,” flowing now,
producing change and transformation into the nature of “Everlasting Life,” so that we are fit for “The Kingdom and The King of all Kings:”
Luke 11 Verse 20 “But if I with The Finger of God cast out devils, no doubt The kingdom of God is come upon you.”
“ ... if I with the finger of God … ”
Psalm 27 Verse 13 “[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see The Goodness of The LORD in the land of the living.”
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“Right here, and right now” ... The Eternal Truths revealed in the out working of God’s Word in my life.
“RIGHT HERE, AND RIGHT NOW!”
This is where ...
IN YOU,
CHRIST IN YOU ... GOT IT!”
An old Pentecostal preacher by the name of Billy Sunday once said,
“If you want a revival, then draw a circle, and stand in the middle!”
These are the “Steps of Faith,”
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i) Romans 4 Verse 17(b)
“ ... and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”
ii) Romans 4 Verse 18(a)
“ ... contrary to hope, in hope believed … ”
If this was said of Abraham,
what about YOU!!!???
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
iii) 1 Corinthians 2 Verse 5
“That your Faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in The Power of God.”
2 Corinthians 4 Verses 16-18 “For which cause we
faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day.”
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(17) “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and]
eternal weight of Glory;” (18) “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] Eternal.”
The Word of God,
“The Food of Faith,” that keeps the channels open and keeps The Power of God flowing.
By looking with the eyes of the renewed man, the eyes of the Spirit, the eyes of Faith, knowledge of God intensifies in the steps of Faith, “and thats how Faith perfects the Vision!”
The reservoir of potential of God’s Word in you, is the provision for “Faith in Action.”
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If The Word is not in you, then what comes out … is nothing BUT YOU!
God’s Word tells us, that,
“Christ in you,” is the Power of God unto salvation for all them that believe but we must be “doers of the Word, for without Faith it’s impossible to please (and be pleasing to) God.”
What child of God in their right mind, would not want to be pleasing toward their Heavenly Father?
The link, is The Word of God, quickened and made alive by The Holy Spirit, the line of truth, the line of communication, Christ Jesus ... He Himself is the embodiment of all truth.
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Colossians 3 Verse 16(a)
in all wisdom: … ”
“Therefore sow, to produce Faith Food from God:”
“Thinking,” “The Word.” “Sharing, “The Word.” “Speaking,” “The Word.” “Studying,” “The Word.”
“Incorruptible seed, produces, pure and incorruptible Faith! ”
Romans 10 Verse 17 “So then Faith, …” (The Greek word, “Pistis,” 4102, This actual
substance which is called “Faith,” it comes to us, by us ... hearing!)
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“Faith ... cometh by hearing, … ”
God’s prescribed method of Faith being built within our lives , is for we to take His seed Word into our heart of hearts,
“by the hearing of our ears:”
Again we relate to the Greek, and the word,
“Okouo,” 191, it means, “to give ear,” we
make a choice, (“to hearken to,”) or “carry out that word.”
Because we have placed ourselves in a position to be able to understand and in understanding act upon (that word!)
“ ... and hearing by The Word of God.”
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Let’s just look for a moment, to see His Word has to say about this ...
Proverbs 2 Verses 1-5
“My son, if thou wilt ... receive ... My Words, and ... hide ... My Commandments with thee;” (2) “So that thou ... incline thine ear ... unto wisdom, [and] ... apply thine heart ... to Understanding;” (3) “Yea, if thou ... criest after knowledge, ... [and] ... liftest up thy voice ... for understanding;” (4) “If thou ... seekest ... her as silver, and ... Searchest for her as [for] hid treasures;” (5) “Then shalt thou understand the Fear of the LORD, … and find the knowledge of God.”
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Notice that there are five natural divisions (or sections) to this word of instruction.
“ ... Incline thine ear … ”
“ ... Apply thine heart … ”
“ … The Knowledge of God.”
God speaks through His Word to us in the “present tense,” in regard to His son or daughter ... “My child.”
The first instance, relates to the depth of intimacy that our Heavenly Father desires in that He takes the initiative and reaches out to us as His dear children.
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Secondly, the requirement on our behalf is
to … “incline our ear attentively to the word of His instruction.”
Thirdly, the next word is “if” which indicates a conditional response on our behalf.
He calls, we respond ... AND IF ONLY WE WILL!
The remaining four verses each contain two related conditions.
Once we understand this, then we can understand how critical it is that we are both “attentive and receptive” to the word of God’s command.
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So there are eight vital requirements for receiving what God has in His Word.
1) Proverbs 2 Verse 1 “My son, if thou wilt ... receive ... My Words, and ... hide ... My Commandments with thee;”
The key words here are ... “Receive” and
“Hide”Or, “Treasure” ... the word is
suggesting what we receive of God’s Words, we will not hesitate to “hide” (as precious treasure) deep in the hidden places of our heart of hearts!
2) Proverbs 2 Verse 2 “So that thou ... incline thine ear ... unto wisdom, [and] ... apply thine heart ... to understanding;”
This use of the “ear” and “heart” speaks of
“being attentive.” These first four
instructions involve a distinctive choice on our behalf.
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“ ... doers and not just Hearers!”
This instruction, carrys with it a warning for our own ultimate benefit.
James 1 Verses 22&25 “But be ye doers of The
Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Verse (25) “But whoso looketh into the perfect Law of Liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer,
but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
3) Proverbs 2 Verse 3
“Yea, if thou ... criest after knowledge, [and] ... liftest up thy voice for understanding;”
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Literally crying out for ... “knowledge and lifting up our voice to gain understanding, far above that of the voice of the crowd:”
This speaks of our hearts desire to be fed and in doing so, we need to speak out and discuss it in prayer and with our Lord.
It indicates both our “participation” and “discussion.”
4) Proverbs 2 Verse 4 “If thou ... seekest ... her as
silver, and ... searchest for her as [for] hid treasures;”
The enemy of our souls is on constant maneuverings to “seek and destroy” but in Christ Jesus we
are encouraged along the river of “Living Waters,” to both “seek and search, for His hidden treasures and pearls of great price!”
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we do it in His Word!”
Proverbs 2 Verse 5
“Then shalt thou understand ... The Fear of The LORD, and find The Knowledge of God.”
This verse indicates reward for the diligence
with which we seek for Him, that is Jesus, “The Living Word.”
God’s Word gives us the ultimate standard for genuine character, The Nature and Character of the Man, Christ Jesus.
Notice that I said “The Nature and The Character of the Man Christ Jesus!”
Not some “over-zealous, trumped up fake” … but the reality of Jesus, who is both Lord and Christ!
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As this is revealed to us, we have two inter-dependent sources of discovery on this journey.
Firstly, our personal relationship with, The Lord Jesus Christ ...
“The Living Word.”
I think, that its so important for us to remember
the “Faithfulness” of Jesus our Saviour.
Thomas doubted Him, yet Jesus came to
Thomas. Jesus was not going to let a door or four walls stop the relationship. He came to Thomas, and He’ll come to you,
Try asking, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Secondly, the written Word, the
Bible, speaks directly into our lives for “strength and guidance.” It both exhorts and instructs
away from the failures of our past.
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Both sources confirm our future and “the hope of our calling.”
Both transform from “the inside out, to the right side up!”
Both reveal, “Jesus and The Father and our citizenship now!”
The key thought to Proverbs 2 Verse 5, revolves around our discernment and don’t forget,
this is but one of the growth stages of development “toward our maturing in Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 3 Verses 1-5 “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have [free] course, and be Glorified, even as [it is] with you:” (2) “And that we may be delivered from
unreasonable and wicked men: ... for all [men] have not Faith.” (3) “But The Lord is Faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep [you] from evil.” (4) “And we have confidence in the Lord
touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.”
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(5) “And the Lord direct your hearts into The Love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”
Discerning The Fear of The Lord brings with it the knowledge of God ... not from the basis of head knowledge but on the basis of what is
“engrafted into the heart!” So, we see that the key words for our application are:
1) “Receive … ”
engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.”
Not as an unteachable know it all! There are many that have this attitude of “Been there, done that!” But we must remember that
“attitude, does determine your altitude!”
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Are we seated with Christ in heavenly places? Or does our “self- righteous” thought life keep you grounded.
As someone has said, “A man wrapped up in “Self,” makes for a very small parcel!”
2) “Treasure … ” Again, “Where the heart is, there
the treasure is also!!!”
Proverbs 15 Verse 6 “In the house of the righteous [is] much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.”
Matthew 6 Verse 21
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
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3) “Attentive … ”
Means “inclining or bowing down your ear to concentrate on what is being said:”
Nehemiah 8 Verses 3-4(a) “And he read therein before the street that [was] before the water gate from the morning until midday,
before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people ... [were attentive] ... unto the book of the Law.” (4) “And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; … ”
4) “Apply to the heart … ” This is a sure indication of Humility,
“teach me Lord.”
Proverbs 22 Verses 17-21
“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, … and apply thine heart unto My knowledge.”
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(18) “For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.” (19) “That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.” (20) “Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,” (21) “That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of Truth; that thou mightest answer the words of Truth to them that send unto thee?”
5) “Cry out for knowledge …”
Praying fervently for, earnestly searching and seeking. This requires labour on our behalf, if we are “half-hearted toward the things of God then we can only expect back what we put into the relationship!
The diligence of our seeking reveals our heart intent! We will always search out for those things that mean something to us: And if it’s the knowledge of The Holy mores the better!
Proverbs 1 Verse 7
“The Fear of The LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
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Isaiah 28 Verses 9-10 “Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts.” (10) “For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little:”
6) “Understanding … ” (And discernment.)
If one is reasonably able to understand the facts, then they are able to carry out that word of instuction. It does not make any sense for us to hear, and yet not understand what it is that we have heard.
If you have no understanding, if you are not able to discern then the way is open, and it is possible for you to be deceived.
This is the prime example of those that get drawn into religious cults through the manipulations of deception and a corresponding lack of knowledge concerning God’s Word!
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The Hebrew word, “to discern” is, “Nakar” (5234) and it means, “to regard or recognise, pay attention to and to be aquainted with.”
Proverbs 3 Verses 13-24 “Happy [is] the man [that]
findeth Wisdom, and the man [that] getteth
Understanding.” (14) “For the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.” (15) “She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” (16) “Length of days [is] in her right hand; [and] in her left hand riches and honour.” (17) “Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, and all
her paths [are] peace.” (18) “She [is] a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy [is every one] that retaineth her.” (19) “The LORD by
Wisdom hath founded the earth; by
Understanding hath he established the
heavens.” (20) “By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.” (21) “My son, let not them depart from
thine eyes: keep sound Wisdom and Discretion:” (22) “So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.”
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(23) “Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.” (24) “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”
7) “Seeking … ”
Psalm 27 Verse 8 “[When Thou saidst], Seek ye My Face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.”
Psalm 27 Verse 4 “One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His Temple.”
8) “Searching … ”
Jeremiah 29 Verses 11-14(a) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith The LORD,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (12) “Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me,
and I will hearken unto you.”
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(13) “And ye shall seek Me, and find [Me], when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” (14) “And I will be found of you, saith the LORD:”
Finding the treasure, does require effort on our behalf. Sure, salvation comes on a plate so’s to
speak. But a walk needs to be applied, “and it’s not all roses I can assure you!”
Digging is hard work, so too is ploughing, God is offering to us His treasures ... for the purpose of Glorifying Him and the edification of others!
Isaiah 33 Verse 6
“And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, [and] strength of salvation: The Fear of The LORD [is] His treasure.”
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When you labour, you show by your diligence,
that you are open and receptive to what The Holy Spirit is saying.” These are the vessels to whom The Holy Ghost loves to pour into:
The question we need to ask is, are we
desirous to be “living vessels of honour!!!???” The best way to prepare the vessel is by Paul’s key,
To “renew the mind.”
And, as God declares ...
Hebrews 11 Verse 6 “But without Faith [it is] impossible to please [Him]:
for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
God Blesses you with what He promises ...
“Wisdom, Understanding and Discernment.”
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And need I remind you that God’s Word contains within its pages literally thousands of
promises, all based both on and in “The Fear of The Lord!” And this is just the beginning toward,
“studying to show ourselves approved:”
“When the heart is full, it overflows through the mouth; the natural outcome, is that your heart is filled with gratitude and you just want to share your joy with those around you.”
When our heart is full of Faith, this Faith will find its proper expression as we confess Christ openly with our mouth.
A Faith that is held back, without any open confession (or expression), is an incomplete Faith.
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2 Corinthians 4 Verse 13
“We having the same spirit of Faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;”
Faith, must speak, it must be expressed in
confession with the mouth. “What comes out of the mouth is a sure indication of the condition of the heart!”
The English word “Confession,” just like
the Greek word “Homologia,” means literally
“saying the same as.”
It is a man’s word of logical expression, “the fire that is running through his bones has only one outlet” ... the expression that comes out of the mouth.
“What comes out of the mouth, reveals the condition of the heart!”
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Matthew 15 Verses 10-11 “And He called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:” (11) “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”
There comes a time of total declaration of “Praise,” “Testimony,” “Worship” and “Adoration.” The words of our mouth in literal agreement with The Word of God!
“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks!”
Like the word “Homogenised,” the translation verifies the fact that the man’s word is an “evenly spread and balanced testimony concerning his life in Christ and Christ in his life!”
Proverbs 15 Verse 14 “The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.”
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We believe in our heart what God has said in
His Word, “this is Faith,” expressed through the mouth.
Thereafter, we naturally say the same with our mouth as we believe in our heart - “this is Confession.”
Romans10 Verses 8-10 “But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, The Word of Faith, which we preach;” (9) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth The Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved.” (10) “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
“Both Faith and confession” centre in one and the same thing, the Truth of God’s Word and the Word of God established in the life:
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Luke 6 Verse 45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
Christ Jesus, is called the High Priest of our confession, this means that Christ in Heaven serves as our Advocate and Representative
in respect of every Truth of God’s Word to which we on earth confess with our mouth.
But whenever we fail to confess our Faith on earth, we in that sense, limit Heaven‘s response to act on our behalf. James says in his epistle,
James 4 Verse 2 “You have not because you ask not.”
The simple answer to this problem is to open your mouth and pray. Open your mouth and speak to The Lord.
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Speak to Him about everything. Do you know, that there is not one thing about your life that He’s not interested in!
Or do we not understand that He already knows! Like a Loving Dad, He just wants us to be open enough to talk it through with Him. This is the simplicity of prayer.
Do you remember The Lord’s Own comments concerning His servant Job?
Job 1 Verse 8 “And the LORD said unto satan, Hast thou considered My servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”
I don’t know about you, but this scripture really caught my attention. Almighty God Himself in discussion with the devil concerning His servant Job.
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A man truly after God’s Own Heart! And Almighty God’s reply to the enemy of our souls!!!
“ ... [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and
an upright man, … ”
By closing our lips on earth, we also close the lips of our Advocate in Heaven. The extent of Christ’s High-Priestly ministry on our behalf in Heaven could in that sense be determined by the extent of our confession on earth.
How would you like The Father God to be talking about you like that, all that I can say to that,
is WOW!!!???
Matthew 10 Verses 32-33
“Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in Heaven.” (33) “But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in Heaven.”
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Scriptural Faith then is a condition of the heart, not the mind.
It is in the present, not the future. It produces a positive change in our behaviour and experience ... NOW!
It is based solely on God’s Word, and accepts the testimony of the senses only when this agrees with the testimony of God’s Word. It is
expressed by confession with the mouth.
Habakkuk 2 Verse 4(b)
“ ... but the Just shall Live by His Faith.”
Or, “the Righteous shall live by His Faith.” In Romans 14 Verse 23, Paul actually applies this principle to the simple, familiar act of eating, for he says,
“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because
[he eateth] not of Faith: for whatsoever [is] not of Faith ... is sin.”
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This shows that, in the life of Righteousness which alone is acceptable to God, even an act so commonplace as eating food must proceed from Faith. As we see in the Scriptural acknowledgment
of “Grace” for food,
“the Giving of thanks ...!”
In Ecclesiastes 5 Verse 17, Solomon gives us a picture of the carnal, sensual man who makes no room for God in his daily life:
Ecclesiastes 5 Verse 17“All his days also he eateth in darkness, and [he hath] much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.”
This description is still as true today, as when Solomon wrote it. Not to eat in Faith is to eat in
“darkness,” and three consequences that
commonly follow this are “sorrow, sickness and anger.” It is very costly to shut God out of our daily living!
Exodus 23 Verse 25 “And ye shall serve The LORD
your God, and He shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.”
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So that we can see, that there is an inseperable link between God’s provision of food, water and health!
To many of us, this simple act of “giving thanks” before meals comes easy because it is
the way that we were raised. And further more, it was considered as normal common courtesy or just plain good manners! What has happened!!!??
True Faith distinguishes between those things which are within the province of man, and those things which are within the province of God.
“You … do the simple thing; God will do the complicated thing.
You do the small thing; God will do the great thing. You do the possible thing;
God will do the impossible thing!”
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AVAILABLE TO MAN ...
“GOD AND ONE MAN ARE THE MAJORITY!”
God Loves to keep the channel (or the way) of communication open, are you hearing?
“Incline Your Ear … !”
2 Corinthians 1 Verse 20 “For all the promises of God (not some of the promises of God, but all the promises of God) in Him
(Christ) [are] (not were, nor will be, but are here and now) Yes, and in Him Amen, (not merely “Yes,” but a double affirmative “Yes” and “Amen“) unto
The Glory of God by us (not through
various groups in different ages but through us who receive these words today.)”
(Derek Prince Version)
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In the New Testament, under Jesus, God brings His people into a land of promises. God showed Joshua the principle of active, personal, appropriating Faith. He said in,
Joshua 1 Verse 3 “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, …”
But Joshua had to go into the land and it was only Caleb and Joshua that gave a,
“good report …”
impossibilities. But all God was saying, was …
“Go, on over!!!”
Psalm 37 Verse 5
trust also in Him;
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definite act; the word “trust,” denotes a continuing attitude.
This kind of active, appropriating Faith is the key to victorious Christian living. It must be based on the promises of God’s Word, and it must follow the three successive steps:
Firstly, “find” … the appropriate promise;
Secondly, “fulfill” … all the conditions attached;
Thirdly, “claim” … the fulfillment of the promise.
Subject to these conditions, the scope of the Christian’s Faith is as wide as the promises of God.
i) Lay personal “claim” to the promise.
ii) “Work” it through in your life as the promise explains.
iii) “Walk” into its fulfillment and give both
“Glory and Testimony to the Lord.”
Faith in the heart always results in definite, positive response to the facts.
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Romans 10 Verses 8-9
“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, The Word of Faith, which we preach;” (9) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth The Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
The experience of salvation comes to each soul only as a result of this personal response to The Gospel.
Here Paul first explains that salvation comes through believing with the heart, and confessing with the mouth, the Truth of the Gospel. Then he concludes his explanation of the way of salvation by saying:
Romans 10 Verse 13 “For whosoever shall ... call ... upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved.”
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The “whosoever,” is You! Not your wife, your son or daughter but each individual must make their own personal choice for Jesus … He did for you, He died for YOU! But then He rose again … for YOU!
Jesus declares, John 6 Verse 37(b)
“... and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”
John 4 Verse 14 “But whosoever ... drinketh ... of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into Everlasting Life.”
Here the act of receiving Salvation is compared to drinking water.
Revelation 22 Verse 17
“And ... The Spirit and the bride ... say,
Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take The Water of Life freely.”
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Right here, “the Bride” declares with The Holy Spirit, The Faithfulness of The Groom ... The Lord Jesus Christ.
He speaks directly to each individual soul who has heard The Gospel and who desires to respond by opening the heart’s door and receiving Christ within.
Revelation 3 Verse 20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”
In John 1 Verses 11-13, the word used by the apostle John to denote this active response to the
Gospel is “receive.” In these three verses John writes, concerning Christ:
John 1 Verses 11-13“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” (12) “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on His Name:”
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(13) “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, ... but of God.”
Here the key thought is that of personally
“receiving” Christ. The result of this response of Faith is described by John as becoming a child of God, so we see that in each case where the Gospel is presented, Faith is required to make a simple, personal response. And the words used to describe this response are,
i) “Call” ii) “Come” iii) “Drink” iv) “Receive.” ‘Bout time you did ... A-men!
Why don’t you take the time right now to bow
your head, “incline your ear” toward Him as you pray this simple prayer with us to receive Him into your heart by Faith:
Dear Jesus … “I thank you for shedding your Precious Blood for me:” “Thank you for dying for me, thank you for rising from the dead for me:” “I now receive you into my heart by Faith as Lord and Saviour.”
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“Please help me to live my life in your Will and Your Way, in your Precious name I pray …
A-men:”
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Bibliography of Reference Material.
Darby, John Nelson. “Synopsis of the Books of the Bible.” Copyright 1995 L. Hodgett
Henry, Matthew. “Commentary on The Whole Bible.” Hendrickson publications. (1991 edit.)
Hira, Peter. “Home Group Study Series.” New Zealand. (1985 edit.)
Kempis Thomas a’ “Imitation of Christ.” Blackie & Son Ltd. (London/Glasgow.)
Kidner, Derek. “The Proverbs.” The Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Inter-Varsity Press. Leicester, England. (1996 edit.)
Lockman Foundation, “Amplified Bible.” (Chapter reference notes.) Zondervan Bible Publishers.(1987 edit.)
Maxwell, John.C. Skyline Wesleyan Church, San Deigo, California, U.S.A.
Morgan, G.Campbell. “Handbook for Bible Teachers and Preachers.” Baker Book House (1994 edit.)
Strong, James. “Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible.” Hendrickson publications. (1995 edit.)
Thompson, Frank C. “Thompson Chain Reference Bible.” B.B.Kirkbridge Bible Company,Inc.
(K.J.V. 1964 edit.)
Vine, W. E. “Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.”
Thomas Nelson, inc., Publishers. (1985 edit.)
Williams, Jim. “Wisdom ... The Missing Link.” Clark & Matheson. (1986 edit.) Hamilton. N.Z.
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TM
No.1 - “Let us go on …” No.2 - The “how to,” called …
Repentance: No.3 - The “can do,” Faith from God: No.4 - “Baptism … the waters.”
No.5 - “The Laying on of Hands:” No.6 - “Resurrection of the dead.”
No.7 - “The Eternal Godhead:”
“ ... Going on to perfection ... !”
The first of a three part series of Bible Studies, these lay the foundation teachings of our Faith based on Hebrews 6 Verses 1-2. Good for young disciples, each lesson is prepared so it can be used as private, group or classroom study material.
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Series, “Growing Discipleship …”
“The Be- Attitudes, Love‘s Divine Attitudes” Matthew 5 Verses 3-11
1.“Blessed” … “are the poor in spirit.” 2.“Blessed” … “are they that mourn.” 3.“Blessed” … “are the meek.” 4.“Blessed” … “are they which do hunger.” 5.“Blessed” … “are the merciful.” 6.“Blessed” … “are the pure in heart.” 7.“Blessed” … “are the peacemakers.” 8.“Blessed,” “are they which are persecuted.”
If you “be in Christ,” then it stands to reason, that whatever curved balls are thrown
to you in this life, you will “Be-in-Christ’s- Attitude,” and not react in an inappropriate manner. As hard as that may be!
“Blessed are …” relates to the present tense, to the here and now, not only to the future. But from here, to there and beyond!
This second of a three part series of Bible studies, are designed to help understand the development of our Christian Character in our day to day walk.
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That ye might be ... “partakers.” 2 Peter 1 Verses 1-11
1.) “And beside this, giving all diligence ...”
2.) “... add to your Faith virtue ...”
3.) “… and to virtue knowledge;”
4.) “And to knowledge temperance; …”
5.) “ … and to temperance patience; …”
6.) “ … and to patience godliness;”
7.) “And to godliness brotherly kindness; …”
8.) “ … and to brotherly kindness charity (or LOVE.)”
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“Discipleship that Overcomes,”
And is titled,
That ye might be ... “partakers.”
These lessons come from the second letter of Peter and work well alongside the previous series
entitled, “The Beatitudes” which cover the development of our Christian Character.
If a man has come to the place of little or no growth, then surely, he has remained as a babe. If he has not given himself over to be dealt with by The Spirit of Grace, then he is marked by the arm of the flesh.
He is still a Christian, but a carnal Christian, a babe in Christ. But if he completely surrenders his will to The Holy Spirit, he will rapidly and willingly choose to put down the deeds of the flesh and become what God’s Word calls a
“ Spiritual man.”
Series, “The Parables of Christ ...” (Matthew 13 Verses 1-53)
The disciples, they had heard His first four parables spoken to the listening crowd ... the multitude.
Jesus did not use parables in the earlier part of His ministry, and when He began to use them, it was a matter of surprise to his disciples, who asked Him His reason for doing so.
Matthew 13 Verses 10-13 “And the disciples came,
and said unto Him, Why speakest Thou unto them in parables?” (11) “He answered and said unto them,
Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of The Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given.”
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(12) “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” (13) “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”
The whole thing turns on the distinction
between “earnest inquirers” and
“careless hearers.” The earnest inquirer has ears to hear; the other has not.
That is, instead of apprehending The Truth, he is only perplexed and confused by it, and instead of going away enriched, he is poorer than ever.
The meaning is so simple and familiar, that even a child can understand it. Being of the nature to connect with everyday things, things that are frequently observed.
Parables, are the meal prepared for us by The Lord of The Harvest, He prepares a meal for each of His laborers, though they are few, all are well fed.
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He has seen to it, that a young lad now brings to the table,
“Five loaves and two fish!”
This is something for us all to well consider, they had twelve baskets full, after the crowd was fed.
Jesus took the twelve, and turned the world inside out, to the right side up!
Many may bring the Scriptures to the mind, but The Lord alone can prepare the mind to receive His Word: Our Master, our Saviour Jesus differs from
all other teachers ... they may reach the ear, but only He can instruct the heart! “Others may teach what is to be believed, but only Jesus can teach us how to believe!”
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(1) - “The Parable of The Sower.”
(2) - “The Parable of The Tares.”
(3) - “The Parable of The Mustard Seed.”
(4) - “The Parable of The Leaven.”
(5) - “The Parable of The Hidden Treasure.”
(6) - “The Pearl of Great Price.”
(7) - “The Parable of The Drag Net.”
(8) – “The Scribe and The Householder.”
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Series, “The Gleanings ...”
Not such a strange word really, but a word which is not often used to day. What does it mean
for us “to glean?” In simple terms, it means
“to gather together.”
deeper into “Relationship” with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We, are gathering and gleaning in the fields of our kinsman Redeemer King Jesus.
“The Gleanings,” was written out of gratitude for my own Salvation, and the way that He my King has Blessed me by revealing more about Himself as together we build the Relationship that religion cannot offer!
Many, many Brothers and Sisters in Christ are desperately hungry and we who feed at His table
have a “duty of care” to share with those around us. This is the reason for this series.
To answer questions and have all things in
common ... the basis of “communion, common-union” so enjoy, grow deeper into Jesus Christ and be Blessed.
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Acts 2 Verses 44-46(a) “And all that believed were together, and had all things common;” (45) “And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”
(46a) “And they, continuing daily with one accord ...”
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(1) - What is ... “Sin?” (2) - The “how too,” called,
“Repentance.” (3) - The “Squeeze” of Temptation. (4) - “The Tongue ...”
taming the unruly member! (5) - The “can do,” Faith from God: (6) - The Growth of “Grace.” (7) - “Baptism,” the waters. (8) - “The Holy Spirit.” (9) - “The Laying on of Hands.”
(10) - “Divine Healing.” (11) - “The Resurrection.” (12) - “The Eternal Godhead ...”
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(2) – “Living in Submission.”
(6) – “Prayer and Fasting.”
(9) –“Double portion Anointing.”
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Poem: “The Garden of My Heart …”
In the garden I the arrived with dawn, the air was crisp, it was still, the birds delighted the morning sun. It was quite, The Lord whispered Oh, my heart
“look, write, see and hear.”
I saw the sky, Heaven’s blue skirt. The glow of, Your Handiwork, painted in clouds. Then said He in
“the garden of my heart,” “In seeing, see, in hearing hear,” I was hearing The Voice of our God! Thank You Jesus!!!
My hand trembles at His Touch, The Anointing of His Spirit flows … I write, please Lord, please tell me more. His reply to my soul,
“You have much to hear!”
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There is a glow in my heart that say’s, this is
“the grain” that I want in my storehouse:
Jesus used the description of harvested grain as a wonderful way of showing us why it is
important for “whole grains” of wheat to have
“The Husk” removed.
If grain that is harvested has “the husk” intact, then it will not be stored well for later use. As a matter of fact, you are inviting the spread of mould.
Grain is normally harvested when ripe, and the
“ripened husks” are winnowed. This is the process whereby the grains themselves, are tossed into the air and as they do, they rub against each other to remove the outer sheaf or husk.
God’s desire, is that we play an active role to work with The Holy Spirit in and through our lives to remove the excess baggage. To remove the old
covering, so that the “pure whole grain” will remain.
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be no “Bushel of former days!”
A bushel measure, was a standard measure and filled a woven basket made to the bushel size and was used to store that measure in a dry and safe manner till it was required to be used:
Matthew 5 Verse 15 “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”
You stick a lighted flame under a dry woven basket and it will either smother the flame, or set fire to the house!
“I must decrease, in order that He increase!”
Grain, was bought to the “threshing floor,” and there it was threshed. The sheaves, were beaten with a rod or with a winnowing fork in order to separate the grain from the stork.
Once the pile of grain was a reasonable height, it was time to see the leathery husks come off. To achieve the removal of the husk, the grains were tossed into the air to land on a round cane basket.
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They were then flipped up into the air, until the husk blew off into the breeze.
Winnowed grain, de-husked, and dry, now ready for proper storage in the garner or granary till the time of use. All the husk, was then burned off.
Matthew 3 Verse 12 “Whose fan is in His Hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
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Series, “New Beginnings …”
1. “Incline Your Ear … ” 2. “Apply thine (Your) Heart.” 3. “Search for Hid Treasures … ” 4. “The Fear of The Lord, … ”
(Wisdom’s Beginning) 5. “The Knowledge of God … ”
The Holy Spirit has employed the use of this series to impact our lives as Husband and wife. We have both been intrigued as to the amount of Blessings that many of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ seem to miss out on.
We are convinced that the reason is because of our inattention to God’s inscribed Word. Praise Him for His Divine tolerance as we continue to grow in Him!
Proverbs 1 Verse 5(a)
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Proverbs 9 Verses 9-11 “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (10) “The Fear of The LORD is the beginning of Wisdom: and The Knowledge of The Holy is understanding.” (11) “For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.”
Our format for this series,
“New Beginnings …”
is based on the unfolding word of instruction as contained in…
Proverbs 2 Verses 1-5 “My son … if thou wilt ... receive ... My words, and ... hide ... My commandments with thee;”
(2) “So that tho