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HEAR ING GOD
HOWTO HEAR AND D ISCERN THE WORDOF GOD IN YOUR L IFE
ED IT ION 1 – NOVEMBER 2017
THEDILEMMA......................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................4AGESANDFEASTS.........................................................................................................................................4THELAW.....................................................................................................................................................5
MAN’SSOLUTION–MANAGEANDCONTROL.......................................................................................7APPOINTSOMEONEELSETOHEARTHEWORDFORUS..........................................................................................7DENYOTHERSFROMHEARINGTHEWORD........................................................................................................8INSISTONTHE“PROPER”WAYGODSPEAKS.....................................................................................................11MUSTCONFIRMSCRIPTURE..........................................................................................................................13MUSTBEBALANCED....................................................................................................................................15MUSTBECONFIRMEDBYMANYWITNESSES.....................................................................................................15
WHATISOURPURPOSE?....................................................................................................................17
BELIEFS...............................................................................................................................................19
JESUSISTHERESURRECTIONANDTHELIFE........................................................................................24
GOD’SSOLUTION-SPIRITUALDISCERNMENT.....................................................................................26INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................26PRESENTATIONOFTHEWORD......................................................................................................................28ARMOROFGOD(SCALES)............................................................................................................................31IDENTIFICATION(FINS).................................................................................................................................32TRANSLATIONOFTHEWORD.........................................................................................................................36INTERPRETATIONOFTHEWORD(CUD)(MEDITATION)......................................................................................37VERIFICATIONOFTHEWORD(SPLITHOOF)(WITNESS)......................................................................................39PURIFICATIONOFTHEWORD(BLOOD)(DONOTEATTHEBLOOD).......................................................................40APPLICATIONOFTHEWORD(DOERSVSHEARERS)(FAITH).................................................................................41
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THEDILEMMA
InmostofthevariousChristiangroups,thepreachers,pastors,andpriests,aswellasmanyoftheauthorsandlaity,willpreachtheirmessagesundertheall-powerfulclaimthatGodgavethemthemessage.Wehearmanystatementssuchas–“Godsaysthis,”or“Thespiritledmetosaythat,”or“Scripturetellsussuchandsuch,”etc.
WhiletheyareeachclaimingtheirmessagesandinstructionsarefromGod,manytimestheyareindirectoppositiontoeachother.Wehearpreacherssayingthataparticularpassageofscripturemeansonething,whilesomeotherauthorclaimsittomeansomethingentirelydifferent.Wealsoseepassagesofscripturethatdirectlyseemtocontradicteachother.ItisnosmallwonderthatwehavesomanydifferentChristianchurches.Buthowcanweunderstandthis?CanweeverworshipinspiritandtruthwhenalmosteverybodyunderstandsadifferenttruthandclaimstheSpiritorbibletoldthemthattruth?HowcanweclaimthatGodprotectsHiswordandthenseesomanydifferentwaysofreadingit?Howisitpossibletoknowanytruth?
Beforetacklingthesequestions,I’dliketoprovidemyopinionastowhyweareinthisstate.
Inourbeing,wehavethreemodesofexistence,threebodies.Wehaveaphysicalbody,aspirit,andasoul.ThewordofGodcomestousinmanyways,butwhetheritentersthroughtheeye,theear,ortheheart,thefirstplaceitgoesistothespirit.Herethewordisheardbythespiritualearsandistranslatedintoalanguagethatweunderstand(Rom8:26).ItmattersnotwhetherthespiritualearsreceiveditdirectlyfromtheSpiritofGodorwhethertheyheardapersonspeakorwhethertheyreadabook,includingscripture.Inallthesecases,theyhearthewordwiththeirspiritualears.Iftheyhavenospiritualears,theydonotheartheword.Godisinthebusinessofgrowingspiritualears.
Oncethewordhasbeenheard,itisthentranslatedandsentontotheheartandmind.Thisistheareaofthesoul.Thesoulinterpretstheword.Unfortunately,thesoulisalsothehomeofouridols.Allourwantsanddesiresandpreconceivedideasarehousedhere.Ourtraditions,ourpressures,etc.,allfindahomeinoursoul.So,ourinterpretationisskewedbyalltheelementswithinoursoul.
Onceinterpreted,thewordisthensentontothebodywhereitisapplied.Thatis,thewordisacted(ornotacted)upon.Wepreachamessage,teachalesson,dosomething,ordonothing,butweactupontheheard,translated,andinterpretedword.Ofcourse,thebodyhasitsownproblems.Thereareissuesofself-control,temptation,laziness,andgluttony.Tomentionafew.
Asyoucansee,thereisplentyofopportunityforustogetthewordofGodwrong.First,wemaynotevenhearit.Then,wecouldhearit,butmistranslateit.Thesefirsttwoerrorsarebecauseoffaultyspiritualears.
Oncewepassthebarelyheardand/ormistranslatedmessageontothesoul,thesoulcompletelycorruptsthemessagebasedonourtraditions,ideologies,anddesires.Thisisjustastruewhenwereadscriptureaswhenwereceivedthewordfromthespirit.Eitherway,firstwemusthearthewordthroughthespiritandthenmoveitthroughthisprocess.Eventuallythecorruptedmessagereachesourbodyforaction.Weact,teach,orpreachincorrectly,butwehaveenoughspiritualmemorytorememberthatthewordoriginallycamefromGod,andsoinourincorrectnesswesay,“Godtoldme...”
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Itisverymuchliketheoldgameoftelephone,onlytheconsequencesaremuchmoreserious(seeEzekiel14,Jeremiah23).
Thisiswhyonepersoncanhaveacompletelydifferentinterpretationofscripturethananotherperson,andwhyonepersoncanhearGodsayingonethingwhileanotherhearsGodsayingsomethingopposite.ItisnotGodwhoishavingtroublecommunicating.ItisallpartofHisplan,butitisouridolsandsinthatpreventusfromunderstandingtruth.Theproblembecomescomplicatedbythefactthatonceinawhilewegetitright!Whenthishappens,wequicklybuildupasenseofprideinour“closeness”toGodortothetruth.Thiscausesfutureinterpretationstobecomecloudedandwearebackwherewewerebefore,butnowwehavefollowerswhowatchedus“getitright.”TheyfeedtheprideandsoonwearehearingGodsayingallsortsofthingsthatHesimplyisnotsaying.Manycultfollowingsanddenominationshadjustsuchastart–anoriginaltruththathashadmanyliespiledontopofit.Noneofusareimmunetothisproblem.ThetimeswhenthetruevoiceofGodisheard,translated,interpreted,andthenacteduponcorrectlyarerare.
Understandingtheseconceptsallowsustoseewhytherearesomanydifferentopinionsaboutwhatistrue.
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INTRODUCTION
Aswecontinuedownthispath,Iwanttoprefacethesemoduleswithawarning.SomeofwhatImustsayinordertoconveythismessagewillnotsitwellwithsomeofyou.Idonotmeananypersonalaccusationbyanyofit.Mystatementsaregeneralizationswithnoparticularpersonordenominationinmind.Ifyoufindyourselfwearingashoewithincrediblecomfort-itispurelycoincidence.ButIalsoaskthatbeforeyourejecttheseconcepts-pleaseweightheminyourspirit.PonderthembeforetheLord.Thendoasyoufeelled.
Also,Iamtryingtokeepthesemodulesveryshort-thereissomuchmoredetailIcouldoffertothosethataregenuinelyinterested.Iwillbeskimmingoversometopicswherewecoulddivemuchdeeper.IguessI’dneedtohearfromyouifadeeperdiveisdesiredandhowyouwouldwanttogoaboutaccomplishingit.
AGESANDFEASTS
Beforewecangetstraighttothesolutiontothissituation,Ineedtogiveabasicframeworkuponwhichtohangfuturemodules.Ifyouhavebeenreadingmyotherwritings,youmayknowthatIbelievethatthefeastsareindeedthemarkersfortheappointedtimesinthecyclic,spiralcalendarofGod.Therearemanysmallerfulfillmentsandsomemajorfulfillmentsofeachfeastandthecalendarhasnotyetbeencompleted.Butthespiraldoesnotonlyrepresentontheuniversalscale.ItmanifestsitselfwithinthecorporatebodyofChristaswellasdowntotheindividualwalkofeachbeliever.SomehavesaidthatthefeastsaretiedtotheMessiah-andofcoursetheyare-butinthesamewaythateverythingistiedtotheMessiah.HeistheLordoftheSabbath-HeistheLordoftheFeasts-HeistheJubilee.Butthefeastsalsoapplytotheindividualbelieveraswell.AndthisisdirectlytiedtoourabilitytohearthevoiceofGod.
GodistheGodoftheAgesandhehasbroughtusthroughseveralofthoseagessofar.However,hisplanofsalvationthroughoutalltheseagesisthesameforeveryone.Godusesseveralimages/illustrationstohelpusgrasptheages.Hespeaksofharvestsandvarious“fruits”oftheharvests.Hespeaksofchildbearingandpregnancy,HeusesHisfeasts,HeusesthestoriesoftheearlykingsofIsrael(Saul,David,andSolomon),Heevenusesthelivesofthechurchfathers(Abraham,Isaac,Jacobandhissons-andalltheirwives).Thechurchbeganlongbeforethecross.WhyisthisrelevanttohearingGod?BecauseabigpartofhearingandproperlyinterpretingGodisbeingabletosayAmentoHisplan.Notours.Weneedtoreviewthelifeofthecorporatechurchandthenwewillapplythattousasindividuals.
So,fromacorporatesense:
• thechurchhaditsPassoverexperiencewhentheyleftEgyptandthisalsobeganthePassoverAge.• thechurchwasbaptizedintheredseaandcameoutofthe“water”intolifejustasthesunwasrising
onthedayofFirstFruits.• thechurchwasgiventhelawonstoneatMt.SinaionPentecost• thechurchwasgiventheopportunitytomoveontothefallfeastswhen,onthedayofatonement,
theyfailedtocrossintothepromisedland.Onthisday,theybegantoseparateintothosethatcouldhearGodandthosethatcouldnot.
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ThesewereallforeshadowsofthefulfillmentinChrist:
• ChristfulfilledPassoverandendedthePassoverAge.• ChristfulfilledFirstFruitsbyascendingtoHisFatheronFirstFruits(thiswasnothisAscensionin
Acts)• TheHolySpiritwasgivenandbegantheprocessofwritingthelawonourheartsatPentecost-
startingthePentecostalAge
ThechurchhasbeeninthisPentecostalAgesincePentecostof33AD.Butwearecomingtotheveryendofthecurrentage.
Eachofus,inourownwalkalsoencountersthissamesequenceasGoddealswithusaccordingtoourownpersonalfeastschedule.ChristianityhasforgottenabouttheFeastsandthebeautyofGodrevealedwithinthem,butinthisclosingoftheage,HehaswonderfullybeguntheprocessofrestoringourunderstandingofHisschedulevsourschedule.Wehavebeenofthemindset-getsaved-gotoheaven.It’swhatisinbetweenthatweoftencan’tfigureoutanduponwhichmostofourdisagreementslie.
ThefeastshelpustounderstandhowGodisworkingwithus.OurmomentofbeliefisourPassoverexperience.Inourbeing,wehaverecognizedtheuselessnessofourownleavenedworkandclaimedthebloodofthelambtocoveroursin.Wethensymbolizethisviabaptism-wegodownintothesea(dietothelawofsinanddeath)andriseagainwithHim(tothenewnessoflife)onourownpersonalfirstfruits.Thenextthingmostofustendtodo?Where’sthepromisedland?LetmeinLord!We’rereadytomoveontotheFallFeasts(eventhough,inourChristianwalk,weneverperceiveditthatway).Butguesswhat-the“inbetween”isPentecost.
NowIcanhearallyouAssemblyofGodfolksaying-Amenbrother,preachit!Sorrytodisappoint,butIamnottalkingaboutPentecostfromtheperspectiveofthePentecostalmovementthatstartedinthelastcenturyorso.Thoughthereisaconnectiontothetimingofitall.I’mtalkingaboutPentecostfromtheperspectiveofGodandHisfeasts-I’mtalkingaboutHimwritingHisfierylawonourhearts.
Yousee,withoutexperiencingPentecostinourlives,wecannotexperiencethefallfeasts-trumpets,atonement,andtabernacles.Youaresaved,but,believeitornot,thatisnottheendofGodworkingwithyou!PraisetheFatherthatheisnotonlytheauthorofourfaith,butalsothefinisher.
Pentecostiswherewelearntohear,discern,andproperlyinterpretthevoiceofGod.
THELAW
Theword"law"or"thelaw"meansdifferentthingstodifferentpeopleandindifferentcontexts.ThetruelawisthecharacterofGod.Godwalksinrighteousnessandisholy.ItwasillustratedinthepersonofJesusChristasthewordincarnate.
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Nowatokenofthislaw-averyfinitemorselofit-wasgiventoMosesatMountSinaiandcommunicatedtoMosesatvariousothertimes.ThisistheOldTestamentLawandiswhatmostChristiansthinkaboutwhenonesaysthewordlaw.ItwasgivenatPentecostandwritteninstone.
TheHebrewpeoplethentooktheOldTestamentLawandattachedvariousmeaningstoitandwroteallthisdownintotheTalmud.ThisistheTraditionalJewishLaw.ItisimportanttorealizethattothetypicalJewishpersonthereisnodifferencebetweentheOldTestamentLawandtheTraditionalJewishLaw.Iftherewasadifference,deferencewouldbegiventotheTraditionalJewishLaw.
Christianstodayhavetheirowntraditionallaw;thatis,rulesofdo'sanddon'tsputuponthembysociety,theirchurch,theirfellowship,orthemselves.Thislawincludestheirsystemofmoralconductaswellasdefiningwhatisacceptabledoctrine.Icallthislaw,TraditionalChurchTeaching.
TheOldTestamentLawwasnotdoneawaywithwhenChristcametothisearth.Rather,thatwhichitreflects,(thecharacterofGod),wasillustratedbytheministryofChristwhofulfillsthelaw.JesusfulfillsHisowncharacter.TheessenceofthelawislovebecausetheessenceofGodisloveandthelawisfulfilledinlove.NewTestamentChristianityisnotpermittedtodisobeythislawanymorethenOldTestamentChristianity.Salvationwasneverachievedbythelawanditstillisnottoday!
Therehasbeenashiftfromthephysicaltothespiritualasitrelatestomankind’sunderstandingofthelaw.SomeoftheOldtestamentlawshavebeencompletelyfulfilledbyJesus,butthespiritandprincipalsofthoselawsarestillrepresentativeofthecharacterofGod.GodhasnotchangedandHestillactsaccordingtotheprincipalsofwhoHeis.
1Jo3:4Whosoevercommittethsintransgressethalsothelaw:forsinisthetransgressionofthelaw.Rom6:1Whatshallwesaythen?Shallwecontinueinsin,thatgracemayabound?
Johncallssinthetransgressionofthelaw,Paulthenindicatesthatwecannotcontinueinsinorlawlessness.Whatlawarewetalkingabout?
Rom7:6Butnowwearedeliveredfromthelaw,thatbeingdeadwhereinwewereheld;thatweshouldserveinnewnessofspirit,andnotintheoldnessoftheletter.Rom8:2-5ForthelawoftheSpiritoflifeinChristJesushathmademefreefromthelawofsinanddeath.(3)Forwhatthelawcouldnotdo,inthatitwasweakthroughtheflesh,GodsendinghisownSoninthelikenessofsinfulflesh,andforsin,condemnedsinintheflesh:(4)Thattherighteousnessofthelawmightbefulfilledinus,whowalknotaftertheflesh,butaftertheSpirit.(5)Fortheythatareafterthefleshdomindthethingsoftheflesh;buttheythatareaftertheSpiritthethingsoftheSpirit.
Thelawwenowfollowisthelawofthespirit.Theletterofthelawisinsufficienttoguideusintoalllove,butthespiritofthelawwillallowustowalkinrighteousness.ThisdoesnotremovetherighteousnessoftheOldTestamentLaw,nordoesitremoveourobligationtoobeyit.Itsimplypointsoutthatobeyingthelawdoesnotmeanfollowingtheletter,butthespirit,ofthelaw.TheOldTestamentLawisaguidetoamoreperfectreflectionofGod’scharacterandaswecomeintoagreementwiththislaw(throughourPentecostexperience)wefollowitnotbecauseofobedience,butbecauseweagreewithit.
Tobeclear-Noneofthisisaboutsalvation.
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MAN’SSOLUTION–MANAGEANDCONTROL
Overtheyears,manhascomeupwiththeirwaysofsolvingthedilemmastatedinouropeningchapter.Thenextseveralpageswillcoversomeofman’s“solutions.”
APPOINTSOMEONEELSETOHEARTHEWORDFORUS
Godprovidedthechurchinthewildernessforourinstruction.TheexperiencesthatoccurredtotheHebrewchildren,aretheveryexperiencesthatthemodernchurchisexperiencing.WhatbeganatthefirstPentecostunderMoses,beganagainatthePentecostundertheholyspirit.The40yearsinthewildernessequatestoour40jubileesinthewildernesswaitingforChrist.
Let’stakealookatwhathappenedatthatfirstPentecost.ThepeoplehadtheoptiontohearthewordofGoddirectly:
Exo20:18Andallthepeoplesawthethunderings,andthelightnings,andthenoiseofthetrumpet,andthemountainsmoking:andwhenthepeoplesawit,theyremoved,andstoodafaroff.Exo20:19AndtheysaiduntoMoses,Speakthouwithus,andwewillhear:butletnotGodspeakwithus,lestwedie.Exo20:20AndMosessaiduntothepeople,Fearnot:forGodiscometoproveyou,andthathisfearmaybebeforeyourfaces,thatyesinnot.Exo20:21Andthepeoplestoodafaroff,andMosesdrewnearuntothethickdarknesswhereGodwas.
Instead,thepeoplewereafraidoftheconsequencesofhearingGod’svoice“lest[they]die.”Yousee,thewordofGodburns.Itisaconsumingfire.AtthePentecostinActsweseetheflamesupontheheadsalsorepresentingthefireofGodasitwritestheirlawintheheartsofthepeople.Todothisrequiresburningoffflesh.
Deu4:24FortheLORDthyGodisaconsumingfire,evenajealousGod.Deu4:33DideverpeoplehearthevoiceofGodspeakingoutofthemidstofthefire,asthouhastheard,andlive?Deu5:22ThesewordstheLORDspakeuntoallyourassemblyinthemountoutofthemidstofthefire,ofthecloud,andofthethickdarkness,withagreatvoice:andheaddednomore.Andhewrotethemintwotablesofstone,anddeliveredthemuntome.Deu5:23Anditcametopass,whenyeheardthevoiceoutofthemidstofthedarkness,(forthemountaindidburnwithfire,)thatyecamenearuntome,evenalltheheadsofyourtribes,andyourelders;Deu5:24Andyesaid,Behold,theLORDourGodhathshewedushisgloryandhisgreatness,andwehaveheardhisvoiceoutofthemidstofthefire:wehaveseenthisdaythatGoddothtalkwithman,andheliveth.Deu5:25Nowthereforewhyshouldwedie?forthisgreatfirewillconsumeus:ifwehearthevoiceoftheLORDourGodanymore,thenweshalldie.Deu5:26Forwhoisthereofallflesh,thathathheardthevoiceofthelivingGodspeakingoutofthemidstofthefire,aswehave,andlived?Deu5:27Gothounear,andhearallthattheLORDourGodshallsay:andspeakthouuntousallthattheLORDourGodshallspeakuntothee;andwewillhearit,anddoit.Deu5:28AndtheLORDheardthevoiceofyourwords,whenyespakeuntome;andtheLORDsaiduntome,Ihaveheardthevoiceofthewordsofthispeople,whichtheyhavespokenuntothee:theyhavewellsaidallthattheyhavespoken.Deu5:29Othatthereweresuchanheartinthem,thattheywouldfearme,andkeepallmycommandmentsalways,thatitmightbewellwiththem,andwiththeirchildrenforever!
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Deu5:30Gosaytothem,Getyouintoyourtentsagain.
TheHebrewpeopletoldMosestogohearfromGodandthenhecouldjustgivethemthemessage.Theywentbacktotheirtents.ButthatisnottheplanthatGodhasforhispeople.Hehascreatedustohear-andhespeakstousdirectly.Hesays:
Deu4:36Outofheavenhemadetheetohearhisvoice,thathemightinstructthee:anduponearthheshewedtheehisgreatfire;andthouheardesthiswordsoutofthemidstofthefire.
Thethingis,theHebrewpeopleweren’t100%wrong.ThewordofGoddoesburn.NoticethiswasallaPentecostevent.GodwassettingthestageforourPentecostexperience.Thatis,aswehearthewordofGod,itburnsoffourflesh.Itdestroysouridols.Itprovidesspiritualinstruction.
Later,Jesustellsustodenyourselvesandtakeuponourcrossdaily.Hewhowishestosavehislifeshallloseit.etc.Paulsayshediesdaily.Thetruthhurts.ThewordofGodburnsoffourflesh.
Whatdidthenewtestamentchurchdo?Well,itfollowedthepatternofthechurchinthewilderness.ItappointedmentohearthewordofGodforthem.Forthecatholicchurches,itisthepopeandthepriesthood.Butwehavealsocontinuedthepolicyintothereformation.Although,thereisabasicunderstandingthatGodmayspeaktopeople,wehaveputsuchrigidrestrictionsuponthis“word”thatmosthavegivenuphopeonhearing.Instead,theytrusttheirpastortobringthemthewordofGodeachweekandtheyreceivetheirinstructionthatway.Butoften,thiswordiscorruptedbytheprocessweoutlinedinthefirstmodule.
Onceagain,thisisnottheplanofGodforPentecost.ThisisachurchstuckinPassover.AndmanyChristiansarealsostuckinPassover.Theybelieve,theyhavecrossedtheRedsea,andthentheylaidafoundation,builtahouse,andstartingwaitingforheaven.ButGoddidnotstopafterhebroughtthepeopleoutofEgypt.HedidnotstopontheothersideoftheRedSea.Justlikethen,thepillarofcloudandthepillaroffirearestillleadingusintoalltruth.Ifwearenotabletomovewhenthespiritleads-wearenotwalkinginfaith.WearenotfulfillingPentecostinourlife.
Rom10:17Sothenfaithcomethbyhearing,andhearingbythewordofGod.Rom1:17ForthereinistherighteousnessofGodrevealedfromfaithtofaith:asitiswritten,Thejustshalllivebyfaith.
Man’sfirstsolutionistoappointsomeoneelsetohearthewordforthem.Manydon’tdothisconsciously.Wehavesimplygrownupunderthismethodology.ItneveroccurredtousthatwecouldorshouldheartheworddirectlyfromGod.IfanyonedoeseverfeeltheymayhaveheardthewordoftheLord,theyareusuallyshutdownprettyfastbytheirpeersorpastors.Often,theyareridiculedorcorrected.Veryrarelydopeopletrustthewordstheyhearletalonewhatothershear.Wewillcovermoreofthisinadifferentmodule.
DENYOTHERSFROMHEARINGTHEWORD
Thestoryoftheoldtestamentchurchcontinuesinotherbiblicalpassages.AsImentionedearlier,theearlykingsillustrateanothersetoftruths.Saul,Israel’sfirstKingwasgiventoIsraelaccordingtotheidols
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oftheirheart.Theydemandedaking-andGodgavethemwhattheywanted,butnotwhatwasbestforthem.ThisisapatternalsoforthoseofuswhowanttohearGod.Often,Heanswersaccordingtheidolsofourheart.Butthatlessonisnotforthismodule....
ThekingshipofSaulrepresents,again,thechurchduringPentecost.ItshouldbenosurprisetoanyonethatSaulreignedfor40years(40jubilees).AndbecauseGodiswhoheis,hemadesurethatSaulwasappointedonwhichday?
Let’stakealook:
1Sa12:17Isitnotwheatharvesttoday?IwillcalluntotheLORD,andheshallsendthunderandrain;thatyemayperceiveandseethatyourwickednessisgreat,whichyehavedoneinthesightoftheLORD,inaskingyouaking.
ThewheatharvestfirstfruitsweregatheredatPentecost.This,amongotherthings,allowsustoattachthereignofSaultothechurchduringthePentecostage.Let’slearnalessonfromSaul:
1Sa14:24AndthemenofIsraelweredistressedthatday:forSaulhadadjuredthepeople,saying,Cursedbethemanthateatethanyfooduntilevening,thatImaybeavengedonmineenemies.Sononeofthepeopletastedanyfood.1Sa14:25Andalltheyofthelandcametoawood;andtherewashoneyupontheground.1Sa14:26Andwhenthepeoplewerecomeintothewood,behold,thehoneydropped;butnomanputhishandtohismouth:forthepeoplefearedtheoath.1Sa14:27ButJonathanheardnotwhenhisfatherchargedthepeoplewiththeoath:whereforeheputforththeendoftherodthatwasinhishand,anddippeditinanhoneycomb,andputhishandtohismouth;andhiseyeswereenlightened.1Sa14:28Thenansweredoneofthepeople,andsaid,Thyfatherstraitlychargedthepeoplewithanoath,saying,Cursedbethemanthateatethanyfoodthisday.Andthepeoplewerefaint.1Sa14:29ThensaidJonathan,Myfatherhathtroubledtheland:see,Iprayyou,howmineeyeshavebeenenlightened,becauseItastedalittleofthishoney.1Sa14:30Howmuchmore,ifhaplythepeoplehadeatenfreelytodayofthespoiloftheirenemieswhichtheyfound?forhadtherenotbeennowamuchgreaterslaughteramongthePhilistines?
WeneedtocomebacktoJonathanagain,becausethestorystartsbeforethispartofscripture.Fornow,wewillfocusonthefactthatthe“appointed”leaderofthepeopleinsistedthatthepeoplenoteatfooduntilevening.Inscripture,foodrepresentsspiritualhearing.GoodfoodisthevoiceofGod.SoherewehavetheleaderinsistingthepeoplenothearthevoiceofGodandlearndirectlyfromHim.However,Jonathandidn’tgetthemessage.Ironically,thereasonshedidn’tgetthemessageisbecausehewasalreadyfollowingthespiritinhislifewhichbroughthimoutofthehearingofhisfather,theappointedleader.
Becauseofthis,Jonathantooktheendofhiswoodenrod(IhopeyouseetheCrosshere)anddippeditintothehoneycombandatethehoneybymeansoftherod.AndthenthebiblesaysthatJonathantasteditssweetness.NOPE.ItsaysJonathan’sbellywasfull.NOPE.Verse27-itsayshiseyeswereenlightened!Thisisaconfirmationthatwearenotlookingatfoodhere,buttruth.BymeansoftheCross,JonathanheardthevoiceofGodandhiseyeswereenlightened.Andguesswhat-Hewantsthisforeachofus!
Nowofcourse,thenaturalthingtodoiskillthisperson.Theycontradictedourinstructions,ourunderstanding,and,ofcourse,thecorrecthermeneutic!AndsofartherdowninthispassageweseethatSaulpreparestokillhissonforhis“disobedience.”Today,wedon’tsomuchkilleachother-butwekillthespiritandwedowhatwecantostiflethetruththatisrevealedtoindividuals.Inthiscase,thevictory
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JonathanachievedthroughtheSpiritofGodwassogreatthatthepeoplesteppedinandpreventedSaulfromkillinghisson.
SaulrepresentsthechurchofthePentecostage,andthischurchhasnottrulylearnedtowalkinPentecost.WewillseethatthroughoutSaul’slifehearingGodisaconstantissue.ButJonathan,theoffspringofSaul,livedinthefullnessofPentecost,heardthevoiceofGod,andwalkedinthespiritwithaneyetowardTabernacles.
WhywouldthechurchwanttokeeppeoplefromhearingthevoiceofGod?Therearesomepurereasons.Buttherearealsosomeimpureones.
1. Itcancauseconfusion.PeoplemayhearthewordofGodbutmaynotbeinterpretingortranslatingitcorrectlyandwithoutdiscernment,peoplemightdoallsortsof“ungodly”things.Theymightteach“errant”ideas.Thiscanconfusethebody.Often,weheartheverse“GodisnotaGodofconfusion.”asananswertothissituation,butthenweforgetthatGoddidconfusethelanguageatthetimeofBabelandthatJesusspokeinparablessothatthepeoplecouldnothearandbelieve.Clearly,alittleconfusionisnottheworstsituationintheeyesofGod.He’dmuchratherhaveconfusedpeoplewalkinginfaith,thencertainpeoplestagnatingindeath.Thisisespeciallytruewhenweconsiderthatmanyspiritualleaders-likeSaul-are“authorized”tohearandspeakforGod,buttheirmessagesarenopurerthanthosetowhomtheyarepreaching.
2. IfpeopleareabletohearthevoiceofGodthemselves,theymaydisagreewiththeleader.Theymaydiscoverthattheleadersareteachinginerror.Thisissimplynotacceptableanditisverydifficulttobuildchurchesthisway.ItismuchbettertokeeptheflockbabiesinChrist.Nomeatforthem.Youseemeatwillbegintorevealthemuch-neededspiritualdiscernment(alatertopic)thatwillreducetheconfusionandsolidifythetruth.Often,thistruthwilldifferfromthecurrentchurch/denominationteaching.
3. Somedenominationsdon'tpreventtheirpeoplefromhearing,orevenimplyanythingnegativeabouthearing.Instead,theyhavegonetothecompletelyoppositesideofthecoinandinsistthatifyouaren'thearingfromGodyouaren'tsaved.ThisalsoisashameandforcesaskewedhearingofGodthatissoconvolutedbytheidolsoftheheartsofthepeopledesperatelytryingtohearGodsotheycanclaimtheirsalvation.
Noticethecommonthreadofallthreeofthesescenarios-fear.ThesameissuetheHebrewchildrendealtwith.ThesameissuekingSauldealtwith.
Now,Iwillbecomingbacktothis,butIneedtoinjectthiscommentatthispoint-weCANhearthevoiceofGodthroughteachers.ThisisonewaythatGoddoescommunicatewithusandIwillbecomingbacktothisinalatersection.ButthekeyistohearthevoiceofGodintheteacher-notthevoiceoftheteacher.Seethedifference?ThevoiceofGodcomesinmanyways,teachersareoneofthem,buttheydonotreplaceourownhearingofthevoiceofGod.Asamatteroffact,IhopeyouarehearingChristthroughmywordsinthisdocument.Idon’twantyoutohearmyvoice.HowcanyouknowifitismyvoiceorthevoiceofGod?
WewillbecoveringthatinthefuturesectiononSpiritualDiscernment.Icangiveyouahint-ithasnothingtodowithusingyourmindtodecipherdaycounts,yourknowledgeofhistory,thetalmud,jewish
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tradition,ortheearlychurch.Itisnotevendeterminedbyhowmuchofthebibleyouknow,haveread,orhavememorized.Understandingthestarsandtheastronomicaltableswillnothelpyoudiscernspiritualtruth.Itisnotamethodofthemindatall.Itisnotdependentonbeingapastor,priest,ormissionary.Butwe'llsavethisbitfortheSpiritualDiscernmentmodule.
TheonlywaywecangrowthroughourPentecostexperienceistohearthevoiceofGod,letitburnoffourflesh,destroyouridols,growourfaith,andrestinHimtobringustoTabernacles!
INSISTONTHE“PROPER”WAYGODSPEAKS
Warning:thismodulehasthepotentialtostirthepotabit.Sofar,wecouldhavesaidAmen,asthemodulesdealtmainlywithleadership.ThisonegetsmuchclosertohomeasweallfindourselvessayingmanyofthethingsthatIwillbringupinthismodule.Also,onthesurface,manyofour“excuses”or“tests”seemvalid,orevennecessary,buttheyaredevicesthatpreventusfromknowingHim,hearingHim,andwalkinginfaith.Toclarify,Iwillbeillustratingcommon“objections/requirements”tohearingGod.Someofthoseareusedbyuseverydayandhaveevenbeenusedonthisforum-butIamnotthinkingofanyparticularperson.Pleasedon'ttakethispersonally-asIsaidbefore,iftheshoefits,thenholdituptotheLordandlethimconvictorconfirmyourposition.
Howmanytimeshaveweheardpeoplesaysomethinglike,“IfGodisreal,whydoesn’tHeshowhimself?”Or,“IfIcouldonlyseeamiracle,thenI’dbelieve.”,or“IfGodaudiblyspoketomethenIwouldlistenandobey.”Ofcourse,Jesuscontradictsthissaying,“neitherwilltheybepersuaded,thoughonerosefromthedead.”
AsthePentecostchurch“matured”,itbegantofindwaystocontrolthehearingofthewordofGod.Wehavealreadycoveredacoupleofthese:appointingaleadertohearforthem,insistingthattheflocknoteat/hear.Butthesesolutionsdidnotreallycontrolthesituation.ThereweremanypeskyscripturesthatimpliedthatwewouldhearthevoiceofGodandtherewasalsotheexperiencethatsomepeoplecontinuedtohearGodandconfusetheflock.Thechurchcouldn’toutrightdenytheideathatGodspeakstoHispeople,sotheycameupwithmuchmoresubtlewaysofcontrollingit.Itshouldbementioned,thatsomedenominationsdooutrightdenythatGodstillspeakstohispeople.Theybelieveandteachthatthegiftsarefinishedandnolongerrequired.Scriptureisallweneed.
Butevenoutsideofthesedenominations,wefindrestrictionafterrestrictionplaceduponhearingoftheword.Weclaim,"CertainlyGodspeakstoHispeople,but...".Therearecertainacceptablewaysofhearingandotherunacceptableways.Certaintimesareok,othertimesarenot.Godisallowedtospeakcertainwords,butnotothers.Godmustonlyspeakwithacertaintoneorqualityofvoice.We’llgetintotheparticulars,butfirstlet’slookatsomescripture:
1Ki19:5Andashelayandsleptunderajunipertree,behold,thenanangeltouchedhim,andsaiduntohim,Ariseandeat.1Ki19:6Andhelooked,and,behold,therewasacakebakenonthecoals,andacruseofwaterathishead.Andhedideatanddrink,andlaidhimdownagain.1Ki19:7AndtheangeloftheLORDcameagainthesecondtime,andtouchedhim,andsaid,Ariseandeat;becausethejourneyistoogreatforthee.
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1Ki19:8Andhearose,anddideatanddrink,andwentinthestrengthofthatmeatfortydaysandfortynightsuntoHorebthemountofGod.1Ki19:9Andhecamethitheruntoacave,andlodgedthere;and,behold,thewordoftheLORDcametohim,andhesaiduntohim,Whatdoestthouhere,Elijah?1Ki19:10Andhesaid,IhavebeenveryjealousfortheLORDGodofhosts:forthechildrenofIsraelhaveforsakenthycovenant,throwndownthinealtars,andslainthyprophetswiththesword;andI,evenIonly,amleft;andtheyseekmylife,totakeitaway.1Ki19:11Andhesaid,Goforth,andstanduponthemountbeforetheLORD.And,behold,theLORDpassedby,andagreatandstrongwindrentthemountains,andbrakeinpiecestherocksbeforetheLORD;buttheLORDwasnotinthewind:andafterthewindanearthquake;buttheLORDwasnotintheearthquake:1Ki19:12Andaftertheearthquakeafire;buttheLORDwasnotinthefire:andafterthefireastillsmallvoice.1Ki19:13Anditwasso,whenElijahheardit,thathewrappedhisfaceinhismantle,andwentout,andstoodintheenteringinofthecave.And,behold,therecameavoiceuntohim,andsaid,Whatdoestthouhere,Elijah?
HerewehaveamanofGodwhohasheardthevoiceofGodmanytimes,hascalleddownfirefromheaven,hasbeenfedbyangelsandyetstillneededtolearnhowtohearGod.Onceagain,thisisaPentecoststory-asamatteroffact,ElijahisonthesamemountainwhereGodvisitedMosesduringthatfirstPentecost.ItispossibleheisintheverycavethatMoseswasinwhenGodpassedbyhim.ThereareotherhintsofPentecostinthisstory,butthatwouldbecoveredinamoredetailedwriting.
Noticethesimilaritytoourcurrentday-GreatandStrongwind(hurricane),earthquake(earthquake),fire(firesoutwest),butthevoiceofGodwasnotinthosethings-insteaditcameintheformofastillsmallvoice.
NowtheparalleltoourmodernchurchisthatwedeterminetheproperwayforGodtospeak.WeexpectthatifGodisgoingtotalktous(whichwecan'tdeny)thenitbetterfollowacertainpattern.Iamgoingtolistourmodernday“earthquakes,winds,andfires”andifsomeonehearsoutsidetheseparameters-thenitwasnotfromGod!
1. Mustconfirmscripture-everythingweneedtoknowiscontainedinscripturealready2. Mustbebalanced3. Mustbeconfirmedbymanywitnesses4. Mustsoundacertainway5. Thepersonhearingmusthavecertaincredibility6. Mustbeaccompaniedbytrueresults7. Mustbetakenverylightly-shouldnotbeusedtoformdoctrine
Iwillsayrightupfront-alloftheseare100%false.Theyseemverylogicalandevenspiritualonthesurface.Iwouldevensaythatahugepartofthechurchteachesorenforcesorinsinuatestheseasnecessaryelementstoapplyingthewordheardbyindividuals.And,Iwouldguessthatsomeofyoureadingthesewordsrightnowarethinking-“wellnowyou’vegonetoofar!”
Theseprecepts,andothersIhavenotlisted,areourearthquakes,winds,andfires.Eachofthemcomesfromaheartoffear.Iknowthatasyoureadthisyoucaneasilysay,no-itiswisdomnotfear.Butremember,thewisdomofmanisfoolishnesstotheLord.
1Co2:14ButthenaturalmanreceivethnotthethingsoftheSpiritofGod:fortheyarefoolishnessuntohim:neithercanheknowthem,becausetheyarespirituallydiscerned.
Youshouldreadallof1Cor2atthispoint,butIwon’tpasteitallintothismodule.
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Whatseemslikewisdomtous-evenChristianwisdom-isnot.OnlyspiritualwisdomisrelevantintheinterpretingofGod’sword.Andthatdoesnotcomefromourhumanunderstanding,butisrevealedthroughhearingthewordofGod,andconfirmedinwalkinginthelightofthatwhichisrevealed.
MUSTCONFIRMSCRIPTURE
Let’stacklethisonerightofthebatbecauseitislikelywheremostofyouwillhaveconcernsaboutmymentalstate.
Thereareacouplewaysthatthisisanimproperrestriction:
1. Therealstatementbehindthisis:Yourwordmustbeconfirmedbymyinterpretationofscripture.
2. Godcanrevealthingsthatsimplyaren’tinexistingscripture
Dealingwithitem1,ourinterpretationofscripturemaybeformedbymanythingsfrompersonalstudy,denominationalteaching,mentoring,evenourownrevelationfromGod.Whensomeonesays,“Godtoldme….”weapplyourunderstandingofGod’swordtoeitheraccept,ignore,orrejectwhatthatpersonsaysGodtoldthem.
Now-letmebeclearaboutsomething-Godhasoneword.Hespeaksitinmanyways.Onewayisthroughscripture.Butthatisnottheonlyway.BecausewehavethewrittenwordofGodinthebible,wearetemptedtobelievethatwecanbe“morecertain”aboutourunderstandingofthatword,thansomeotherwordthatwehearinourspirit.Butthatisnottrue.Aswepointedoutin1Cor2.MancannomorediscernthewordofGodinthebiblethanintheirspirit.TheonlywaytodiscernspiritualtruthisthroughtheSpirit.Evenifyouarereadingthewordsonpaperrightinfrontofyou.Yousee,thebibleisnotalampuntoourfeet.Thewordisalampontoourfeet.
Itisfunny,becausewewillfullybelievethisaboutunbelievers.Wewillbesuretopreachthateveniftheyreadtheword,theysimplydonothavetheenlightenmentofthespirittoproperlyunderstand-ittakestheHolySpirittoopenoureyesandteachus.Butthenweassumethatthissamethingdoesnotapplytoourselves.HearingthewordofGodthroughthebibleisjustasimpossibleashearingthewordofGodinourspirit.AndIdaresay,itisevenmoredifficult,becausewestartfromtheassumptionthatweareunderstanding!Westartwithaclearidolinourheart/soulthatsays,“Iunderstandthisbetterbecauseitiswrittendowninthebible.”
AlthoughGoddoesnotcontradicthimself,fromourperspectivetherearemanycontradictionsinhearingGod’sword.Spirituallogicisdifferentthancarnal(fleshly)logic.Let’slookatsomeexamples.
• Peterontherooftopbeingtoldtoeatwhateverfoodhewished-atthetime,thiswouldhavebeenaviolationofGod’sapparentwordandthescriptures.Yes,weknowbetternow,butthatjustprovesthepointthatwhatwasknownatonetime,accordingtoscripture,wasnotsufficient.
• Hoseatoldtomarryanadulterouswoman-manywouldhavefoundthatreprehensibleintheeyesofthelawandtheproperinterpretationofscripture.
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• Abrahamtoldtosacrificethechildofpromise.Thiscouldneverhavebeenconfirmedbyanyone’sinterpretationofscripture-eventothisday.
Icouldgoonandon,butthesearefreshexamples.TherearemultipleexamplesofpeoplewhoheardfromGodandthewordwouldhavedirectlycontradictedanyone’sproperunderstandingofscripture.
Dealingwithitem2,thescripturescoveragreatmanythings.Butnoteverything.And,asweknow,thedefinitionastowhatactuallycomprises“thescriptures”haschangedovertime.Inbetweenthosetimes,whenonebookmayhavebeenincludedandanothernot,wasthescripturejustasperfect?WasthewordofGodjustasprotected?Indeed,ifwedon’tbelievethatGodspeakstomenoutsideofscripture,thenhowdowejustifythecannonitself?No,mostbelievethatmen,movedbythespiritofGod,selectedjusttherightsetofbookstoincludeinscripture.Thelistdidnotcomefromscriptureandthereforeourverydefinitionofwhatconstitutesscripturewasdeterminedoutsideofscripture.TherearemanyexamplesofmovementsoftheLordthatcannotbefoundinthebible.GodoncespoketomedetailsaboutaparticularpersonthatIcouldnothaveknownandwerenotinthebible.Theywereconfirmedafewminuteslater.Ironically,themessageHewastellingmewasnotevenaboutthatperson,butaboutthechurchingeneral.Thisisanotherstoryandonethatwouldbepartofthedetailedversionofthisstudy,butnotthisshortenedversion.Thepointis,Godrevealsthingsthatarenotinscripture.Thishappensthroughoutthescriptures.Iwouldevenadd,thatalmostalwayswhenGodtalksheisrevealingsomethingnew.
But,somewouldsay,whataboutifitcontradictsscripture.Forexample,"Godtoldmetostealthatloafofbread".Soonceagain,ourinterpretationofscriptureisthatwhenitsays,“Thoushaltnotsteal.”Itmeansjustthat.Prettysimple,right?Andsometimes,itreallymaybethatsimple,butnotnearlyasoftenaswehaveconvincedourselves.Oncewemakeourdeterminationon“thetruth”wetendtothinkitshouldbeobvioustoeveryone.Itbecomesanidoltousanditisobvioustous.Weteachourfriendsandfamily,theygrowupandteachtheirfamily,denominationsstart,overcenturies,muchofthechurchteachesthis“truth”,butitmayhaveneverbeentrueinthefirstplace.
Forallofuswhothink-yes,Icanseehowthathappenstoothers,butIamopentootherideas,watchout!OnlybyhearingthewordofGodcanyouburnofftheidolsinyourownheart.YoucannotbeburningofftheidolsthroughoneearandpouringwaterontheSpiritthroughtheother.
Oneofthecommonwayswe“discredit”thewordofGodheardbyothersistoimplythattheotherpersonisnotinterpretingscripturecorrectly.Wehaveacertainacceptablewaytointerpretthebible.WeusewordslikeEisegesis,Hermeneutic,context,idiom,literal,etc.Buteachoftheseisamanmadeconstruction.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheyhavenovalue.ButtheirvalueislimitedandshouldcertainlynotbeheldtoahigherstandardthanthewordofGod.Often,wewouldratherfollowthereligionofourhermeneuticthentheverywordofGod.Godisnotlimitedtoourconceptofhowtointerprethisword.Andoften,Ibelieveheintentionallysetsourconceptsonfire.
Now-inafuturemodule,Iwillcovertheideahowwecanthenmakeproperspiritualdiscernmentandhowwehandle,asabody,themultitudeofwordsheardbypeoplethatcausesomuchconfusioninthebody.Ijustneedtolayabitmorefoundationfirst.
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MUSTBEBALANCED
Therearemanyconceptsthatsoundgreatonthesurfaceandaremeantinthepurestsensebythepeoplespeakingaboutthem.Someoftheseconcepts,though,areabhorredbytheLord.Onesuchconceptisbalance.
ThereareafewthingsGodsayshehates,oneofthemisthestateofbeinglukewarm.Hewouldratherusbehotorcold.Heisan"allin"typeofGod.Heneverasksustobebalanced.Heasksustogiveeverylastpenny,todenyourselves,comeinlast,turntheothercheek,loveourenemies,beasacrifice,lovehimwithourwholeeverything,befoolishbeforetheworld,anddownrightdieforhisname'ssake.
Thereisnothingfurtherfromawalkoffaiththenabalancedperson.
NowIacceptthefactthatpeoplemeandifferentthingswhentheyusethewordbalance.Andthereisbiblicalevidencethatweshouldnottobeovertakenbyeverywhimofpassion.ZealwithoutknowledgeisnotthewayoftheLord.Fromthatstandpoint,balancemaybeawayofexpressingthis.ButthewordbringsinsomanymodernhiddenattachmentsthatIthinkweshouldavoidexpressingourwalkwithGodbyuseoftheword“balanced.”
Ourhearingmustbeaccompaniedwithdiscernment.Ifthatiswhatismeantbybalance,well,ok.Butthenlet’sjustsaydiscernmentinsteadofbalance.
TheGodIknowhasaglorioushistoryofkeepingusoffbalance
MUSTBECONFIRMEDBYMANYWITNESSES
Thisisaninterestingone.Thelawisclear,truthshouldbeconfirmedby2or3witnesses.Andyet,2or3witnessesoftenconfirmlies.Ontheotherhand,oftenwhensomethingisconfirmedby2or3witnesses,westilldismissitbecauseoftheotherreasonsdiscussedinthissectionoftheproperwaytohearGod.Sometimesweinsistonevenmorewitnesses,orindirectly,weappealtothemanywitnessoftheopposingposition.Howmanytimeshaveweheardsomeway,“Mostpeoplebelieve….”Or“Mostbiblicalscholarsagree….”
Whenwelookatthis-weonlyinsistonthetwoorthreewitnesseswhenwealreadydon'tbelieveit.Evenwiththetwoorthreewitnesses,wefindotherreasonstodismisstheword.
Weappealtothesuperiornumbersandusethistoupholdourversionoftruthanddenythewordheardbysomeoneelse.Wehavemultiplescripturalexampleswherethemajoritywassimplywrong.Hereareacouple:
*TheprophetsofBaaloutnumberedElijahin1Kings18
*TheprophetstoAhabandJehosephatoutnumberedMicaiah1Kings22
Icouldgoon.Whatweseeisthatvolumeofnumbersisnotrelevanttotruth.Asamatteroffact,inbothofthecasesabove,wedidnotevenhaveasecondwitnessotherthantheeventsthemselves.Thistiesintobalance.Thebalancedpersonwouldweigh(withbalances)thewordtheyarehearingwiththe
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“truth”fromothersandthendetermineifitisthevoiceofGod.ButtheonewalkingbyfaithhaslearnedtorecognizeHisshepherd’svoiceandobeyregardlessofmassappeal.
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WHATISOURPURPOSE?
Weoftenanswerthisquestionwithsomeformofstatementthatincludesthewords-“ToglorifyGod.”Idon’tdisagreethatthisisdefinitelypartofourpurpose,buthow?HowdoweglorifyGod?
Let’saskadifferentquestion-Whyareourchildrenhere?Whatistheirpurpose?Certainly,itisn’ttoglorifytheirparents,right?
Wellthetwomaybecloserthanyouthink.Weraiseourchildrenteachingthemrightfromwrong,discipliningthemwhennecessary,scolding,praising,mentoring,coaching,teaching,etc.Ourhopeisthatwhentheyhavegrown,theycanmakegoodandproperdecisions.Wewantthemtobepeoplewithcharacterwhoadheretoacodeofethicswefindacceptable.Wewantthemtomakegoodjudgements,tobehappy,tolearnfromtheirmistakes.Wewantthemtoraisegoodchildrenthemselves.Insodoing,theybringhonortousasparents.
Guesswhat-thisiswhatGodwantsfromus-hischildren.Themetaphorcanonlygosofar,buttheideasarethesame.GodaccomplishesthesegoalsthroughwhatIamcallingPentecost.Inthechurch,wetypicallycallthissanctification.Butthisword,byitself,isnotveryexplanatory.ByusingPentecostasapictureinvariousscripturepassagestheoutworkingbecomesclearer.ThisisGod’swayofshapingus.Ofcourse,Godisaperfectparent-sointheend,ourshapewilllookverymuchlikeHimandthereinliesHisGlory.
Throughoutourspiritualwalk,Godisworkingonus.Heistalkingtousallthetime.DuetowhatIoutlinedinthefirstmodule,werarelynotice.
InordertobringusintocommunionandagreementwithGodhemustemptyusofourflesh.BitbybitHeburnsoffourdesiresandbeliefs.Littlebylittle,onewordatatime,hedestroysthelustoftheeyes,lustoftheflesh,andprideoflifewithinus.TheHebrewchildrenwerecorrect-tohearGodistobeburned-andtodie.Unlesswedietoourselves,wewillnotbeabletohearordiscernthewordofGod.
Mostofuswouldagreewiththeneedtoburnoffourdesires-butmightstumblewiththeideaofburningoffourbeliefs.Apersonalstorymightbehelpful.
Mostofmyspirituallife,IpleadedwithGodtospeakwithme.Thereweremanyyearsofapparentsilenceinreturn.Butoccasionallytherewouldbeasmallwordandthatwouldforcemetosacrificeapartofmyself.WheneverIheardGod,somethingmorewouldneedtobedisposedoforgivenup.Iamnotnecessarilytalkingabout“sins”thatIindulgedin,butthatwould-bepartofit.Itreachedbeyondsins,andintoideas,goals,dreams,beliefs,etc.ThishappenedformanyyearsaspiecebypieceIbecamemoreandmoreemptyofmyselfandmoreandmorefilledwithHisrest.
ThenontheDayofAtonement2004,40daysbeforemy40thbirthday,GodgavemeasignificantmessagethatHewantedmetowriteandsendtothechurches.ThepointwastotalkaboutcomingintotheRestofGod.IwastodistributeittothechurchofAmericaandIselected4000churchestoreceivethismessage.Themessageconsistedofabout14pagesdealingwithsimilartopicsasthisthreadbutwithmorespecificsincertainareas.Godalsotoldmethatduringthe40daysfromAtonementtomy40thbirthdayHewasgoingtodemonstratetomeaportionofHisrest.HealsomentionedthatthoughIwouldsendthemessagetothechurches-notonewouldrepentand/orrespond.
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Duringthenext40days,IsawvictoriesinmylifethatIhadoftencriedouttotheLordasbeingtoodifficulttoovercome.Iwalkedinarighteousnessandpeaceinwaysthataredifficulttoexplainandarehardforotherstounderstandorbelieve.Unfortunately,afterthe40days,muchofmyoldselfreturned.Butmyunderstandingofthattimehasbeensealedinmyspirit.
Fortherecord-aftersendingout4000letters,notonechurchrespondedtomynote.
Oneofthethingsthatoccurredduringthistimewasanawarenessofhowworthlessmybeliefsystemwas.Someofitwasdownrightblasphemous.Iwasa“strong”Christian.Butovertheyearsofeatingwhatothershadfedme,IhadcollectedalotoftrashandIspeweditoutlikedungwhenItaughtothers.IusethistermspecificallybecausethisiswhatGodcallstheresultsoftheteachingofthosewhoarenotproperlyhearing,discerning,anddistributingthewordofGod.GodbroughtmetothecoreofmybeliefsandshowedmethatmuchofwhatIbelievedwasactuallypreventingmefromhearinganddiscerningGod’svoice.Muchofmybeliefsystemwereidolsinmyheart.Asamatteroffact,Iwasraisedapretty“good”boy.Thesininmylifewasactuallylessofahindrancethanmybeliefs.But,duringthattimeHealsorevealedtomethemeaningof“Whateverisnotoffaithissin.”Itwasaveryhumblingexperience.
Now,lestsomeofyoufeelthatyoucanunderstandhowmybeliefsystemshouldbestruckdown,butyoursaresolidandrighteous,IassureyouthatIwasaprettynormalChristian.Ididnothavesomefar-outbeliefs.IwasraisedBaptistandhadattendedEVFreeandotherprotestantdenominationsmywholelife.Iwasactive.ItaughtadultSundaySchool.Iadheredtothechurchstatementoffaith.
UntilHebrokeme,showedmeHisrest,andchangedmyviewofHim.Effectively,Istartedoverwiththisbasicunderstanding:
HeIsand
HeIs
whoHesays
HeIs.
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BELIEFS
HEISANDHEISWHOHESAYSHEIS.
Thiscore,whichGodpresentedtome,isathreefoldwitnessto"IAM".Itisasimplestatement,butthereissomuchpowerinit.Let’stakesometimetopickitapartjustalittle.
HeIs…
Godexists.Nomatterwhatelseweknow,feel,orbelieveaboutHim-Heexists.Thereisnoexplanationthatfitstheevidencebetter.Thisevidencecanbephysicalasinthewind,water,trees,stars,theBrooklynbridge,etc.Itcanbemetaphysicalasinmiracles,beauty,evil,love,etc.Itcanbelogicalasinrationalthought,proofs,scientificmethodologies,etc.Anditcanbespiritualasintheinnerconvictionwithinmyspirit.HeIs!Thisalsodemandshissovereignty.Heissopervasivethatheneednotclarifybeyond-HEIS.
andHeIswhoHesaysHeIs…
Thiscontainssomuch.
First,itimpliesthathetellsuswhoheis!HeisnotanunknownGod.Herevealshimself.
Second,itdemandsHisintegrity.Hetellsuswhoheis-buthereallyiswhohesaysheis.HeisHolyandhekeepshispromises.
ThatmeansIcanbeconfidentinHim.IcanrestinHim.IcantrustHim.
Next,itmeansthisbeliefsystemisallaboutHim-notaboutme.Itishiminthebeginning,himattheend,andhimallthewaythrough.
Inaway,thissimplestatementreflects,onceagain,thethreemainfeasts-HeIs(Passover-believeinme),andHeIswhohesays(Pentecost-hearme)HeIs(Tabernacles-becomeonewithme)
Someofyouareconcernedatthispoint.Youareuncomfortablethatthisbeliefsystemdoesnottalkabouttrinity,salvation,deathonthecross,resurrection,heavenandhell,depravityofman,rapture,baptism,communion,righteousness,etc.Pleasefeelfreetoaddyourfavoriteitemtothelist.
Iunderstandyourconcerns.IpromiseIamnotteaching“anothergospel.”Butlet’snotjumptooquicklyawayfromthispoint.Because,myfriends,thisisTHEpointweneedtoreallydrillhome.Icannotoverstatethis.Thesearejustelectronsonascreentoyourightnow,butIbelieveitwouldbegoodtobringthisstatementoffaithtoGodandmeditateonit.AskHimtoopentheeyesofyourheartinregardtoit.Onceweaddanythingtothis-wearethenfreetoaddmuchtothisandmuchofwhatwemightaddhasthepotentialtobeunnecessaryand/orerrant.
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Then,onceyouhavegiventhistoGod.Onceyouhavediedtoyourpersonaldesiresandbeliefs.Thenwecanslowly,eversoslowly,askthequestion:ButwhodoesHesayHeIs?Noticetheessenceofthisquestion.WearenotaskingWhat.WearenotaskingHow.WearenotevenaskingWhy.WearecertainlynotaskingWhen.WeareaskingWHO.ThewholepointistoknowHim,notdoctrine.
Formostofus,itwilltakeyearsofburningoffourfleshanddestroyingouridolsbeforewecanmoveontothisquestionwithhonesty.Thisburninghappenseachtimewehearhisvoiceandsubmittohiswill.Hewhowishestosavehislifewillloseit.Ourlifemustbelost,forHisname’ssake.Wemustdaily,denyourselves,takeupourcross,andfollowhim.Wecanonlydothisifwearehearinghisvoice.Wecanonlycorrectlydiscernhisinstructionsaswedenyourselvesandallowourselvestodie.
Rom1:17ForthereinistherighteousnessofGodrevealedfromfaithtofaith:asitiswritten,Thejustshalllivebyfaith.
Itseemsthesmarterweare,themoreschoolwehave,themoreseminarywehaveattended,theharderitistosimplyknowGod.Thisisalsotrueifwearerich,talented,healthy,etc.NowwemightstarttoseewhyGodneedstobringuslow,inordertoraiseusup.Wegetinourownwaysooften.Itseemssoappropriatetostudyscripture,memorize,etc.ButifwearenothearingtheSpirit,wearejustlookingatwordsonapage,formingourowndoctrineattheexpenseofknowingHim.
WhodoesHesaythatHeIs?Theheavensdeclareit,thewindshoutsit,thetreesandflowersstateit,allcreationsingsouthispraisesandtellsuswhoheis.
Rom1:20Fortheinvisiblethingsofhimfromthecreationoftheworldareclearlyseen,beingunderstoodbythethingsthataremade,evenhiseternalpowerandGodhead;sothattheyarewithoutexcuse:
Godspeaksitoutthrougheverything.Sometimesveryvocal,sometimescryptic,sometimessilently,sometimesplainasday.Herevealshimselfinhiswordbothwrittenandviaourspirit.Intruth,itisallhisWord.HeConceives,Hebreathes,HecompletesthroughhisWord.Webegintoseethatheisallpowerful,allknowing,heismorethanone,yetoneatthesametime.HeistheFather(conceives),theHolySpirit(breathes),andtheSon(Word).BecauseheissovereignhemayevencommunicateviaStrong’snumbers,gemetria,pyramids,donkeys,stones,etc.Butlikeallwords,wemustalsousespiritualdiscernment.Ifwestartwithapreconceiveddesire/belief,wehavealreadyeliminatedourabilitytoproperlydiscern.I'llskipthescriptureprooffornow,butheoftengivesuswordsthatagreewithouridols.
Heisinall,withall,andthroughall.Heisinchargeofeveryminutedetailofeverysingleeventthathappens.Nothingisoutsideofhiscontrol.Everyexperienceyouhave,everybreezeonyourcheek.Everyraindrop,everyleafinthewind,everyhowlofthewolf.Oh,mybrothersandsisters,wesounderestimatethepowerandintimacythatourFatherdeliversintoourlives.
Thesimpleprocessis:WehearOurfaithgrowsWeobeythroughfaithWeactinawaythatburnsoffourflesh,destroysouridols,andbringsaboutdeathtoourselvesWehear…..
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Thiscyclerepeatsoverandoverandbeginstogrowourspiritualearswhilealsocleaningoutourhouse.ThisinturnreducestheidolsinourheartandallowsforclearerunderstandingoftheWordwehear.Overtime,asGodworkstofinishthefaithhebeganinuswefindourselvescomingintoagreementwithhim.Indeed,aswecomeintoagreement,wefindourselvesdoingthatwhichhedesireswithoutHimhavingtotellus.Hisgoals,asourfather,arebeingcompleted.ThisisPentecost.HearingoftheWordsothatHisLawiswritteninourhearts.Itisnecessaryforustoachievespiritualmaturity.ItisnecessaryforustomoveintoTabernacles.Unfortunately,muchofthechurchwillstayattheirPassoverexperience.SavedtoHeaven,butnotcomingintoagreementwithGod.ButtothosewithaneyetowardTabernacles-Pentecostistheroadhome.
Wewillhaveourupsanddowns.Wearestillstuckinthisflesh.Thisisnotaperfectpath.Wemustbetriedwithfireuntilonlythepureisleft.Forabitofencouragementtothosewhoareonthispath-thereismuchdying.Butthebalmislovely.Hewillholdusup-hedoesthisforourgood.
Isa54:5ForthyMakeristhinehusband;theLORDofhostsishisname;andthyRedeemertheHolyOneofIsrael;TheGodofthewholeearthshallhebecalled.Isa54:6FortheLORDhathcalledtheeasawomanforsakenandgrievedinspirit,andawifeofyouth,whenthouwastrefused,saiththyGod.Isa54:7ForasmallmomenthaveIforsakenthee;butwithgreatmercieswillIgatherthee.Isa54:8InalittlewrathIhidmyfacefromtheeforamoment;butwitheverlastingkindnesswillIhavemercyonthee,saiththeLORDthyRedeemer.
Therearetimeswhenheappearstohaveforsakenus-butthisisbutamoment.Beatpeace-restinhim-forthereisnobetterplace,nodrug,nobeliefsystem,nopersonwhocomparestoknowingthesaviorandhearinghisvoice.
NOTE:Forthosewholookatthescriptureaboveandsay,HeistalkingaboutIsrael,youcan'tapplythistous,today.Oh,myfriend,Yes!Yes,wecan!
Nowthatwehavethebasicprecept,wecanbegintobuildonit.You’llnoticethatthebasicbeliefsystemdoesnotevendemandscripture.Butaswebegintoanswerthatquestion,“whodoeshesaythatHeIs?”Wefindonlyonesetofdocumentsthatevencomeclosetoholdingthetruth.Wecallthesedocumentsthebible.Theyexplainthebeginning,themiddle,andalotabouttheend.Though,onthesurface,theyseemconfusingandperhapsevenwrongwhenitcomestoscience,history,andarcheology,timeaftertime,withnewadvancementsinthoseareas,thebibleisprovencorrect,notfalse.
Thebiblecontainsfulfilledprophecy,consistencyinmessageovermanyyearsandmanyauthors,andlongevityofrecord.Also,thoseofuswhobelieveittobethewordofGodcanseeit’slivingnature.Ihavenodoubtthatwhenthetimecomes,Godwillrevealtousallthehiddenfeaturesofthebiblethatwearenotawareofandthatwillprovehiswisdomandpowerandtheauthorityofhiswrittenword.
WiththebibleourchosenwrittenWord,wemuststillapproachitwithwhatwehavelearnedsofar-itisthewordofGodbutthatdoesnotmeanthatwecantranslate,interpret,andapplyitcorrectlybysimplyreadingthewordsonthepage.Anythingeatenfromthewordmustendurethesamescrutinyasthatwhichweingestinotherforms.IexplainedthisinpreviouspostsinthisthreadsopleasegobackandreviewwhatImeansothatIdon’thavetorestateithere.Thekeyisthataswebuilduponourfoundation,wemustholdeachnewunderstandinglightlyuntilsuchatimeasitpassesourspiritual
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discernment-andthenwecanallowitintoourbeliefsystem.ButnoneofthesebeliefsthatweaddshouldeverbemoreimportantthansimplyknowingtheGodthatthebeliefisabout.
Myfriendsknowmetovaryingdegrees.Someknowwhatdaymybirthdayis.SomeknowwhatcolorsIlike.Someknowmydreamsandambitions.ButIwouldmuchrathermyfriendsspendtimebeingwithmethenstudytofigureoutwhatcolorIlikebest.Iwouldcertainlyratherhavethemhangoutwithme,thenarguingaboutwhatdayIwasborn.Thepointofthefriendshipisnotwhattheyknowaboutme.Thepointofthefriendshipisknowingmethroughqualitytimeandmutualphileolove.
Thatlastpointbearsrepeating-thepointofourrelationshipwithGodISourrelationshipwithGod.NOTwhatweknowaboutHim.But,somewouldask,couldn’tIbeabetterfriendifIknewwhenyourbirthdaywas,orwhatcolorsyouprefer?Icouldthengiveyoutailoredgiftsonyourbirthday.Yes,thismaybetrue,butwhatifyouunderstoodwrong?WhatifyouthoughtmybirthdaywasinDecemberwhenitwasinSeptember?WhatifyouthoughtIlikedgreenwhenIactuallypreferfuchsia?SoalongyoucomewithyourgreengiftinDecemberandsay,“IamhonoringyouwiththisspecialgreencelebrationinDecember.”Icouldcertainlyappreciateyourdesireandeffort,butIalreadyhaveaclosetfullofgreenstuff.
Nowtheastutepersonwillsay,seeyoujustprovedthatwedoneedtoaddthedetailtoourknowledge,otherwisewecan’thonorGodproperly.Therearereallytworesponsestothat.Yes.AndNo.
Aswewillfind,whenwebegintohearwhoGodsaysheis,heissomeonewholikestohidethetruth.Andheissomeonewholikesforustosearchitout.(Someofyoujustbreathedahugesighofrelief!)But,Heisalsosomeonewhowouldratherhaveussitathisfeetinloveandworship,thenrunarounddoingabunchofthingsinhisnamethatheneveraskedustodo.Soyes,weseekHim.Yes,welookundertherocksandinthecrevicesofscripturetogathernibblesofnourishmentfromHisword.But,weholdeachofthosenibbleslightlyincomparisontothemuchmorevitalrelationshipwithHim.
Now,weallknowthesethings.Somearelikelythinking,wellthisisn’tnew.Weevenhaveasayingtoprotectthisconcept:“inessentials,unity;indoubtfulmatters,liberty;inallthings,charity."Theproblemisthatsooftenwedon’tadheretothissaying.Butanevendeeperproblemisthatwecan’tseemtodiscernwhichpointsareessentials,whichdoubtful,andwhichall.Sowebegintoseparateonmattersthataren’tevenessentialtoGod.Butthedeeperproblemthanallofthisiswhereitreallygetsscary.ThedeeperproblemisthatweplaceourbeliefshigherthanourrelationshipwithGod.Inreality,eventhoseofuswhoaresupersincereaboutourwalkcansoeasilyplace,WHATwebelievetobeequalorhigherthan,INWHOMwebelieve.
Yes-otherpeopledothat-butnotme!Really?Testthisyourselfrightnow-Howmanyofthethingsyoubelievecouldbechallengedandremovedfromyoubeforeyoustartedtoputupwalls?6-daycreation?Talkingsnake?Worldwideflood?Trinity?Secondcoming?Rapture?VirginBirth?EternalDamnation?LordshipSalvation?GracebasedSalvation?
Yousee,weallhaveourpointwhereinwesay-NO!Youcan’ttakethataway!Ifyoutakethatawaythenyou'renotsaved!Youdon’tevenbelieve“thegospel.”Andifyoutakethataway,youareaheretic.Fortherecord-I’mnottakinganythingawayintheposingofthisquestion.Justusingexamples.
Nowlet’sseethis:
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Mat10:22Andyeshallbehatedofallmenformyname'ssake:buthethatendurethtotheendshallbesaved.Mat24:13Buthethatshallendureuntotheend,thesameshallbesaved.Mar16:16Hethatbelievethandisbaptizedshallbesaved;buthethatbelievethnotshallbedamned.Joh10:9Iamthedoor:bymeifanymanenterin,heshallbesaved,andshallgoinandout,andfindpasture.Act2:21Anditshallcometopass,thatwhosoevershallcallonthenameoftheLordshallbesaved.Act16:31Andtheysaid,BelieveontheLordJesusChrist,andthoushaltbesaved,andthyhouse.Rom10:9ThatifthoushaltconfesswiththymouththeLordJesus,andshaltbelieveinthineheartthatGodhathraisedhimfromthedead,thoushaltbesavedRom10:13ForwhosoevershallcalluponthenameoftheLordshallbesaved.
Ilistedtheseversestoshowwhatisnotmentioned:doctrine,theology,eschatology,prophecy,dogma,etc.Romans10:9doesgiveusaspecificthingtobelieve,thatGodraisedJesusfromthedead(we’llcomebacktothislater).
EverythingelsemayhelpusunderstandGod.ItmayhelpusteachaboutGod.Butallthatknowledgewon’tsaveusandwon’tsaveothers.Andoften,itisthat“knowledge”thatdrivesothersawayandkeepsusfromactuallyhearingtheWordofGod.Weeachhaveourthresholdonwhatonemustbelievetobesaved.Wehaveourthresholdonwhatonemayteachandnotbeheretical.Buttheactualgospelismuchsimplerthanthat.
Rom5:8ButGodcommendethhislovetowardus,inthat,whilewewereyetsinners,Christdiedforus.
AmIsayingthatstudyingandunderstandingGodbetterandtryingtogaininsightintotheplanforthefutureiswrong?Absolutelynot!
Thewholepointofthissection,istoputourbeliefsintheirproperperspective.ToholdthemmuchlighterthanweholdourrelationshipwithJesus.JesusisgoingtosavemebecauseofWHOHEIS!NotbecauseofwhoIam.IputmytrustinHIM,notinmybeliefsystem.AndasIdothis,myabilitytoproperlyhear,interpret,andapplytheWordofGodinmylifeincreases.
Ponderthesethingsandmeditateabitonthefollowingpassages.Letitsinkin.
• Romans4:13-5:18• Heb11:17-19• John11• 2Cor.5:18-5:21
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JESUSISTHERESURRECTIONANDTHELIFE.
Thisisatriflingfacttopeoplewhohavebeensavedformanyyears.Butlet’snotskipoveritsoquickly.Weseethatthedisciples,Mary,andMarthaallhadthesamelackofunderstanding.ThesepeoplehadbeenwithJesuswhenhehealed,whenhefedthousands,whenhecalmedthestorms.Yettheystilldidnotunderstandthathewastheresurrectionandthelife.Likesomanyofus,theythoughthemeant,IwillcausetheresurrectionandIwillgivelife.TheyknewaboutHim.Buttheystilldidn’tknowHim.Heisalwaysinthepresent.
Abraham,though,knewHim(Gen22:1-19).Hedidnotconsiderhis“dead”body,norSarah’s“dead”wombtobeaproblemwhenheheardtheWordofthePromise.Andlater,whenHeheardGodandwastoldtoofferIsaacasasacrifice(intodeath),infaith,heobeyed.Let’slookcloseratthatfaith.
First,let’stakethetimetonoticethatthreetimes,Abrahamansweredthevoicesheheardwith,“HereIam”.ThefirsttimefromGod,thesecondtimefromIsaac,andthethirdtime,fromanangel.Hewascompletelyavailable-not“waitaminute,but,“hereIam”.HeheardthevoiceofGodinmanysources.Hewalkedinthefaithofwhatheheard.Butwhatwasthetruesourceofthatfaith?WeseeGen22,thatGodrewardshimbecausehedidnotwithholdhisonlyson.Onceagain,hewascompletelyavailabletoGod.EventheverythingthatGodhadpromisedhim,hewaswillingtogiveup.Hewastakinguphiscrossdaily,denyinghimself,andfollowingtheLord.
Butthatisnotreallytrue,isit?Imean,yes,itistrue,butitisnotthefullstory.Sure,Abrahamwasagreatguy.HegavehiswholebeingtoGod,hetrustedhim,hefollowedhim,hewalkedinfaithanditwascountedasrighteousness.Butwhy/howdidhedothat?Therewasnobibleatthattime.Hehadnoonetocomparenoteswith.What,aboutGod,madeAbrahamgiveupeverythingandfollowhim?
WehavetheanswerinHebrews11.TheansweristhatAbrahamKNEWGodandheknewthatGodwastheresurrectionandthelife.AbrahamKNEWGodandheknewthatHeIswhoHesaysHeIs.GodsaidhewouldmakeagreatnationfromIsaac.Inordertodothat,GodwouldneedtoraiseIsaacfromthedeadevenifAbrahamsacrificedhim.AbrahamnewGodwouldkeepHispromiseandthatHewasabletokeepHispromise.ButAbrahamalsoKNEWGod’scharacter,andknewthatGodwouldprovideaalternatesacrifice.AbrahamKNEWGod.
InJohn11,Jesuswept.ThepeopleatthetimethoughtitwasduetohisloveforLazarus.Theydidnotrealize,itwasbecauseofHisloveforthembuttheydidnotknowhim.Theyknewabouthim.Theysawthemiracles.ButtheydidnotknowHimforwhohereallywas.WeonlytrulybegintoknowJesusaswedenyourselves,pickupourcross,andfollowhim.Whatisyourcrosstoday?Askhim.He’lltellyou.Then,walkinthefaithofwhatyouhearandthiswillburnoffyourfleshandperfectyourfaith.
ThistriflingfactofJesusbeingtheresurrectionandthelifeissomuchbiggerthanChristianityhasunderstood.HEISTHERESURRECTIONANDTHELIFE.Everybabyconceived,Everykingcrowned,Everysparrowflying,Everyflowerblooming,Everyhaironyourhead,Everybreathyoutake.ItallhappensbecauseoftheactiveworkofJesus.IfJesushadnotdiedonthecrossandroseagain,nothingwouldexistoutsideofGod.TheonlyreasonthatanythingishereatallisbecauseofHiswork.Hedidnotjustsaveussowecouldgotoheavenwhenwedie.HesavedustobecomeallinallinHim.
1Co15:22ForasinAdamalldie,evensoinChristshallallbemadealive.
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1Co15:28Andwhenallthingsshallbesubdueduntohim,thenshalltheSonalsohimselfbesubjectuntohimthatputallthingsunderhim,thatGodmaybeallinall.Rom11:36Forofhim,andthroughhim,andtohim,areallthings:towhombegloryforever.Amen.
TheveryfabricofourexistenceisbecauseofwhatChristdidonthatcross.HEISTHERESURRECTIONANDTHELIFE.Ican’tsayitloudenough.
So,yeah,whenthevoiceofGodsoundswithinmyspirit,Iwillrespondinfaithandallowhimtoburnme,becauseonlyinmydeathcanItrulyseeHim-theLife.AndIwon’tletmybeliefsystemanddreamsgetinthewayofthat,becausemyreligion,mybeliefs,andmydesiresaretombsofdeadideasandconcepts,butHeisLife!EventhemostcherishedbeliefsareworthlesscomparedtotheLightthatshinesfromtheEyesofMyLord.
Oh,thereissomuchmoreIwanttosayhere!Myspiritsingswithsongsofthanksgivingfortheonewhowasandisandwillforeverbe.MyheartweepsfortheTruthtobefullyknownandunderstoodbyhispeople.IlongforthedaywhenHisrighteousnessshallcovertheEarthlikethewaterscoverthesea.WehavesodefamedthenameofChristinourattempttodefineHim.Indeed,wehaverecasthimintoourimageratherthanbeconformedintoHis.ButHewillraindownhistruthuponanobstinateandstubbornpeopleandHewillglorifyHisnameaboveallnamesandHewillbefaithfuleveninourunfaithfulness-notforus-butbecauseofWHOHEIS.
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GOD’SSOLUTION-SPIRITUALDISCERNMENT
Nowlet’stakealookatGod’ssolutiontothedilemmapostedintheopeningchapter.
INTRODUCTION
ItisimportanttopointoutthatIdon’tbelievethereisarightandwrongwaytodiscern.Idon’tthinkofitasascience.Itismoreofanart.Eventheword“art”isnotagoodwaytodescribeit.Iamgoingtodescribethediscernment“process”asitworksforme.Ibelievemyapproachisbothbiblicalandspiritual.
First-Ineedtoinventaword-spiralogos-IwillusethatwordtorepresentthesituationwhereGodspeakstosomeoneintheirSpiritthroughanactualsetofwords,notjustfeelingsorimpressions.Butitwouldnotincludeaudiblewords.
Godspeakstoeachofusindifferentways.Somethingthatmaybeeffectiveforme,maynotworkatallforsomeoneelse.HespeakstomeaccordingtowhatHeknowsIwillgrasp.Toothers,theverywayHespeakstome,willbetheirevidenceforthefactthatIamnothearingfromGod.Forexample,aperson(Beth),maybeveryadamantthateverywordofGodinthespiritmustbeconfirmedwithanalmostexactstatementfromScripture.Forher,ifthewordreceivedcannotbe100%andalmostidenticallyconfirmedfromscripture,itwasnotfromGod.So,whenGodspeakstoBeth,HemaybeveryspecificinHisuseofscripture.HemayevenuseexistingversestoconfirmforherwhatHeistellingher.Or,Hemaysimplyspeaktoherthroughscriptureandnotbotherspeakingtoherinanyotherway.ThisdoesnotmakehermoreorlessspecialintheeyesofGod,nordoesitmakewhatshehearsmoreorlessvitaltothebodyofChrist.
OthersdonothavethesamereservationsaboutexactconfirmationfromscripturethatBethhasandtherefore,Godspeakstotheminadifferentway.Also,therearegiftstheFathergivesthatalsoinfluencehowweheartheWordofGod.
I’mgoingtogetpersonalforabitjusttoallowyoutoseesomepossiblewaysthatGodcantalk.IwillshowyouhowHetalkstome.-Iwillusedspecificexamplesinordertobeasclearaspossible.
Forme,IhearGodinmultipleways:
1. Ihearhimspiralogosly.ThisissoregularformenowthatItakeitforgranted.ThenIslapmyselffortakingitforgrantedbecauseofhowbeautifulitis.HeandIhaveactuallysharedlaughter(atmyexpense)atthefactthatIsometimescrymyselftosleepingpleadingtohearHisvoiceandaskingwhereHeisandwhyHewon’ttalktome.Whywouldthatinducelaughter?BecausethewholetimeIamprayingthisway,IamalsocommuningwithHimaspartofmyprayer.Thisisconfusing,andhardtodescribe.Buteffectively,ItwouldbelikeBobandTomhavingaconversationaboutwhyTomnevertalkstoBob.Well,duh-theyaretalkingaboutitrightthen.So,Ilaugh,andinmyspirit,Helaughswithme.
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2. IhearHimthroughimpressions-mostpeoplewouldthinkofthisasintuition,butitisnotthatandithastakenmeyearstoknowthedifference.Itisaspecificunderstandingofasituationthatcouldnothavebeendescribedwithafewwords.IsimplyknowsomethingIcouldnototherwisehaveknown.
3. IhearHimthroughscripturalwisdom.Idon’tknowwhatelsetocallthis.Ireadscriptureandcanseethetruemeaningbehindthewordsinawaythatmanydon’t.Icanseethebiggerpicturefromapieceofscripturethatlooksonedimensionalonthesurface.Tome,itfeelsalmostlikex-rayvision.Iseethewords,butIseemuchmorethanthat-Iseethemultiplemeaningsbehindthewords.Icannotsimplyreadthebible.EverytimeIopenthebibleandstartreading,Iaminjectedintoacacophonyoftruth.
4. IhearGodthroughmyemotions.Thisoneisabitodd,butlikeamoodring,myemotionschangeasawayofmovingmyspirit.IfeelGodandthefeelingspeakstome.
5. IhearGodinmusic-allkindsofmusic(bothnaturalandmanmade).ThisalmostalwaysamountstoGodshowingmeHisbeautyandHisglory.
6. IhearGodthroughthevoice,media,andwritingsofothers-inthiscase,oneneedstolistenpastthespeaker,totheonewithinthespeaker.
Now,I’msuremanyofyouhavesimilarexperiences.I’malsosurethatmanyofyou,ifyouhaven’talreadygivenuponthisthread,feellikeIamnotintouchwithreality.IthastakenmeyearstounderstandthesevariouswaysGodwasspeakingtomeandtoknowwhentotrustwhatIwashearing.OthersmayhaveheardGodinotherways-Ihaveneverseenanangel,Ihaveneverheardanaudiblevoice,Ihaveneverhadaspiritualdream,Ihaveneverhadavision,andJesushasnotdirectlyappearedtome.Butthatisjustme.
IbelievethateverythingthatmakesuswhatwearecomestoplayinthehearingofGod.Somepeopleneedamorevisualrepresentationtoeitherhearorbelievewhattheyhearandactonit.Othersdon’t.Somepeopleneedwordsonapage,othersdon’t.Oneisn’tbetterthantheother.Justdifferent.Also,sometimessomeonewillhearorseesomethingandnotbeabletoexplainit-suchasadreamorvision-butanotherpersonknowsthemeaning.ThisbecomesacorporateWordfromGodandisedifyingtobothparties.
Inscripture,foodrepresentsspiritualintake.Hearingishowweeatspiritualfoodanditiswhatbuildsourfaith.Iwillstartusingfoodmetaphorsatthispoint.
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TakingacloserlookatsomeofthewayswecouldhearGod,wewillnoticethatmanyofthemapplytoallthreefacetsofourbeing.Let’stakedreamsasanexample:
• Wecanhavedreamsfromapurelyphysicalsource.Sometimeswhatweputinourbodycancauseustoseethingsordreamdreams.Thisisamoderntakeontheclassic,AChristmasCarol,whereScroogethinksthatperhapshisvisionofthedeadMarleyistheresultof“…anundigestedbitofbeef,ablotofmustard,acrumbofcheese,afragmentofanunderdonepotato….”
• Wecanhavedreamsfromapurelysoulishsource-whatweputintoourmindandheartcanalsoinducedreams.Childrenwhowatchascarymovietendtohavescarydreamsafterward.Peoplewhospendalotoftimestudyingeschatologyaremorelikelytohaverapturedreams.
• Wecanhavedreamsfromaspiritualsource-whatweputintoourspiritualbeingcancausespiritualdreams,someofthesearefromGod.Somenot.
Tosomedegree,thisistrueformanyofthewayswepotentiallyhearGod.Sohowcanwetellthedifference?Andhowdowelimitthenon-spiritual,andnon-Godlywords?
PickingaparttheactofhearingGod,weendupwiththesebasicsteps:
1. Presentationoftheword(Scales)(ArmorofGod)2. Identificationofthesourceoftheword(Fins)(PathofRighteousness)3. Translationoftheword(IntheSpirit)(GrievenottheSpirit)(FaithnotSight)4. Interpretationoftheword(Cud)(Meditation)5. Verificationoftheword(Splithoof)(Witness)6. Purificationoftheword(Blood)(Donoteattheblood)7. Applicationoftheword(doersvshearers)(Faith)
Beginningwiththenextmodule-wewillstartgoingthroughthesesteps.
PRESENTATIONOFTHEWORD
Weleftoffwiththisbasicprocess.Rememberthisisnotascience-sodocumentinganyofthislimitaprocessthat,byitsverynature,isunlimited.Buttreatingthislikealooseframework,hearingGodconsistsof:
1.Presentationoftheword(Scales)(ArmorofGod)
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2.Identificationofthesourceoftheword(Fins)(PathofRighteousness)
3.Translationoftheword(IntheSpirit)(GrievenottheSpirit)(FaithnotSight)
4.Interpretationoftheword(Cud)(Meditation)
5.Verificationoftheword(Splithoof)(Witness)
6.Purificationoftheword(Blood)(Donoteattheblood)
7.Applicationoftheword(doersvshearers)(Faith)
Note:Thissequencecantakeyearsfrompoint1topoint7-oritcanallhappeninasplitsecond.
Note:GodcansupersedethisprocesswheneverHewants-ifheneedsustohearandact-wewill.Evenifweareadonkey!
Note:HearingGodisnotsomethingyoucanjustdecidetodo.Readingthismaterialexplainsthings,butwillnotproduceanabilitytohearGod.Thisissomethingyougrowinto.Understandingtheseideasmayfocusyourgrowth,butthisisnotanovernightsolution.
Sonowwegettotheheartofthematter-HowdowehearGod?HowdoweknowthatwhatwehearisGod?HowdoweknowwhatGodissaying?HowtowecorrectlyunderstandwhatHeissaying?Howdoweapplyittoourlivesandthelivesofothers?Youarewondering,whydidn’tIjuststartwiththissection?Whyallthatbackground,whenthisiswherewereallywantedtoget?Asweprogressthroughthisframework,thebackgroundwillproveitsusefulness.
Mat4:4Butheansweredandsaid,Itiswritten,Manshallnotlivebybreadalone,butbyeverywordthatproceedethoutofthemouthofGod.
Inscripture,foodrepresentsspiritualnourishment.Justasinthephysicalrealm,somefoodisbetterthanothers.Wecannotliveonlyonphysicalbread.WemustalsoheartheWordofGod.JesusisnotonlyreferringtotheBiblehere.HeisreferringtoeverywordthatproceedsfromthemouthofGod.
Aswecoveredearlierinthethread-thelawofGodrepresentshisCharacter-andisspiritual.ItjustsohappensthatGodhassomelawsinvolvingwhatweshouldeat.Whenonelooksatthespiritualmeaningoftheselaws,webegintoseeapatternforhowtoproperlyconsumespiritualfood.We’llnotgettoodeepintothisanalysis,butfeelfreetoworkthoughthefoodlawstowhateverextentyouwish.I’lljustcoverthisfromaverysurfacelevel.(Itshouldbenoted,thatmyinterpretationofthesefoodlawsisstilldeveloping-butthesesurfaceprincipalsseemappropriate).
Gen9:4Butfleshwiththelifethereof,whichisthebloodthereof,shallyenoteat.Lev11:3Whatsoeverparteththehoof,andisclovenfooted,andcheweththecud,amongthebeasts,thatshallyeeat.Lev11:9Theseshallyeeatofallthatareinthewaters:whatsoeverhathfinsandscalesinthewaters,intheseas,andintherivers,themshallyeeat.Lev11:21Yetthesemayyeeatofeveryflyingcreepingthingthatgoethuponallfour,whichhavelegsabovetheirfeet,toleapwithalupontheearth;Lev11Donoteatbirdsofpreyorscavengerbirds.NOTE:thisisapersonalinterpretationfromalistof24birdswecannoteat.
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ThefirststepinhearingGodisthepresentationoftheword.Beforeanythingelsecanhappen,wemustheartheword.Formany,thisstep,initself,isachallenge.WehavebeentaughtforsolongthateitherGodisn’tspeakingtous,orifHeis,wecan’tpossiblyhearHim,andif,bysomeimpossiblechanceHespeakstousandwehearHim,itistoodangeroustoactuponitwithoutconfirmationfrom12passagesofscripture,6deacons,andpossiblyamiracle.Ok-thatwasabitsarcastic,butyougettheidea.Effectively,wehavebeentrainednottohearGod.
Partnerthiswiththenoiseoftheworldandtheconfusionofvoiceswithinourhead-itisnowonderthatsofewpeoplearehearingGodandthosethatthinktheyarealldisagreewithotherswhothinktheyare!
So,whatisneededinorderforustohear?Scales.SomemayhavewonderedwhyIputthisHearingGodthreadintheSpiritualWarfaresection.ItisbecausetheveryactofhearingGodisspiritualwarfare,eveninthemostpeacefulsettings.Thereisabattleonforyoursoul.Itstartsbydistractingandtryingtokillyourbody.Incontinuesthroughdeceivingandcorruptingyoursoul.Anditmovesuponyourspiritaswelltoinducedoubt,greed,lust,andpride.
Imaginearadiothatcouldreceiveallstationsatthesametime-itwouldpreventtheradiofrombeingeffectiveatall.Ourspiritsareconstantlyhearing-butthenoiseissuchacacophony,thatwecannotdistinguishthestillsmallvoicethatisGod’s.Andso,wemusttakeonthemindsetofasoldier,focusedonthemission,andintunewithourencryptedchainofcommand.Inordertodothis,wemustputonthefullamourofGod.Let’slookatthiscommonpassage:
Eph6:11PutonthewholearmourofGod,thatyemaybeabletostandagainstthewilesofthedevil.Eph6:12Forwewrestlenotagainstfleshandblood,butagainstprincipalities,againstpowers,againsttherulersofthedarknessofthisworld,againstspiritualwickednessinhighplaces.Eph6:13WhereforetakeuntoyouthewholearmourofGod,thatyemaybeabletowithstandintheevilday,andhavingdoneall,tostand.Eph6:14Standtherefore,havingyourloinsgirtaboutwithtruth,andhavingonthebreastplateofrighteousness;Eph6:15Andyourfeetshodwiththepreparationofthegospelofpeace;Eph6:16Aboveall,takingtheshieldoffaith,wherewithyeshallbeabletoquenchallthefierydartsofthewicked.Eph6:17Andtakethehelmetofsalvation,andtheswordoftheSpirit,whichisthewordofGod:Eph6:18PrayingalwayswithallprayerandsupplicationintheSpirit,andwatchingthereuntowithallperseveranceandsupplicationforallsaints;Eph6:19Andforme,thatutterancemaybegivenuntome,thatImayopenmymouthboldly,tomakeknownthemysteryofthegospel,Eph6:20ForwhichIamanambassadorinbonds:thatthereinImayspeakboldly,asIoughttospeak.
WeseethatputtingonthearmorisanecessaryrequirementinordertodiscernGodandstand.Weseethatintheevilday,thisrequirementiscrucial.Alsonoticeverse19-inthiscontext,Paulindicateshewillreceive“utterance”whichinturnenableshim(viafaith,whichcomesfromhearing)toactandspeakboldly-asheoughttospeak.Noticethesequence.
Armor-Stand-Ask-andthensteps1-7-Paulwantstospeakwithauthoritywhatheoughttospeak.
So,weeatonlythingswithscalesandfinsfromthewater.WetranslatethistothespiritualtruththatwemustbewearingthearmorofGod(Scales)toproperlyhearHim.SomeofyoumaynotunderstandhowIammakingthisleapoflogic.HoldituptotheLordandseewhatHeconfirmsforyou.
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So,tofinishpoint1-wemustnowanalyzetheArmorofGod.Wehaveoftentalkedaboutit,buthaveweeverthoughtthroughwhatitmeans?How,exactlydoIputonthearmorofGod?I’lldoaquickanalysisasitpertainstohearingGod.
ARMOROFGOD(SCALES)
Reminder:Iamsharingbasedonmycurrentunderstanding,butmywalkwiththeLordisoneofconstantlyholdingthingsuptoHim.Idon'tpeppermypostswith"inmyopinion"verymuchbecausethatjustaddswordstothepage.ButpleaseknowthatIamstillgrowinginmyunderstandingandcanlearnfromothersaswell.
WeoftentalkaboutputtingonthearmorofGod,butwerarelytalkabouthowtodothis.Whatdoesitmeantoputonthehelmetofsalvation?Tellingme"Putonthearmor"doesnottellmehow.InordertotakethisfromacutemetaphortoaspiritualrealityIwillgiveyoumyquicktakeonthearmorofGod-particularlyinconnectionwithhearingGod.
Loins
Theloinsrepresentourenergyandwhatweproduce-Truthshouldbetheprimaryfocusofourefforts.Wecannotstandonliesordeception.Wegirtourloinswithtruthbywalkinginintegritytotheword.Wearewhoweare.Ifwepretendwearesomethingelse,orthatErrorisTruth,wearenotputtingourselvesinapositiontoheartruth(wordofGod)whenhespeaks.
Breastplate
Thebreastplateprotectsourheartandlungs-Theheartrepresentingourdesires,thelungsrepresentingourvoice.Weputonthebreastplatebydesiringrighteousnessabovesin,byholdingallthingsbeforetheLord,byspeakingrightlyandwithholdingjudgmentuntiltheFatherrevealsrighteousjudgementtous.ThisiswherewebecomeonewiththeFatherasourdesiresandwords,becomeHisdesiresandwords.WhenweholdourowndesireshigherthanHisorwhenwejudgesituationsandpeoplebeforewehaveheardfromtheFather,wecloseoutthevoiceofGod.
Footarmor
Thefeetrepresentourmessage-
Rom10:15Howbeautifularethefeetofthemthatpreachthegospelofpeace,andbringgladtidingsofgoodthings!
Thiswillbedifficultformanyofyou,buttheGospelastaughtbythedominateportionofChristianityisnottheGospelofPeace.IhavestartedadifferentthreadontheRestorationofAllThingswhereIintendtosharemyconceptofthegospelofpeace.TheGospelofPeaceteaches:
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• Loveyourenemy-insteadof-Killortortureyourenemy• God’swordwillnotreturnvoid-insteadof-Man’sorSatan’swillisgreaterthanGod’s• GodWinsAll-insteadof-Godlosesmuch
WithoutunderstandingtheGospelofPeace,oneisinapositionthatmakesitdifficulttohearGod.Fortheyareprimarilylisteningtoadifferentspirit.WeshodourfeetwithpreparationfortheGospelofPeace,bylearninganddeliveringthemessageoftheGospelofPeace.Wemustreceivethismessagefirst-andthendeliverittoothers.Onceourmessageistrue-theonewhogaveusthemessage(God),isbetterabletobeheard.ThisismainlytrueduetothefactthatuntilwecomeintoagreementwiththeGospelofPeace,wedonotknowGodforwhoHeisandthishindersourabilitytohearhisWord.
ShieldandSword
TheshieldisprimarilydefensiveastheSwordisprimarilyoffensive.However,bothcanbeusedineithercontext.Ourfaithisourdefense.Butnotsomuchhowthatjustsounded.ItisnotOURfaiththatwetrustin,butHISfaithfulness.Wewearourshieldbyrestinginhim,whichisouractoffaith,andthisprovidesustheconfidence,yeseventheauthority,toextinguishanyattack.TheswordisthewordofGod.Theonlyactionableweaponswehaveareourmessage(feet)andthewordofGod.Wewieldourswordwhenweactonwhatwehearinfaith.Andwhatweheariswhatwepreach.Ifwecouldperfectlyhear,andifwecouldperfectlyact,wewouldonlydoastheFathertellsusandeverythingHetellsus,wewoulddo.
Helmet
Thehelmetprotectsourhead,whichrepresentsourunderstandingandourknowledge.Thisispartofoursoulandiseasilycorrupted.Weputonthehelmetwhenwehaveconfidenceinoursalvation.Butwearenotsatisfiedinoursalvation.Thisismuchbroaderthanjustus.Wearenotinthisbattleforourownpersonalvictory.Wearefightingforall.Anythingless,issecondbest.Totrulywearthehelmetofsalvation,onemustbereadytogivetheirlifeforanother.ForwearelookingtowardtheglorioussalvationoftheLord.ThisisaboutHim,notaboutusasindividuals.WhenweseeHimasSalvation-asTheresurrectionandtheLife-asTheJubilee-AstheLambofGodwhichtakesawaythesinoftheworld-thenwearewearingthehelmetandabletohearhimmoreclearly.
Therearenoabsolutesinthisarmor.Onedoesnotneedtowearallparts100%effectivelytohearGod.However,thecloserwegrowtoknowingGod-themorewesayAmentohisword-thebetterweareabletohearhimandtohaveconfidenceinwhatwearehearing.Asthishappens,thearmorwillfitbetterandbetter,furtherenablingourhearingoftheword.
IDENTIFICATION(FINS)
Onceawordhasbeenpresentedtous,wemoveontostep2:Identification.Whospokethisword?WasitGod?WasitMe?Wasitsomeotherspirit?Itisimportanttokeepinmind;thisframeworkisafluidguide.IamnotconsciousofthisframeworkeverytimeIhear.Iamnotcheckingoffthepointsonestepatatime.Itallflowstogether.Butforthepurposeofinstructionandunderstanding,Ihavebrokenitoutintothesesevensteps.
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Whenweeatfoodfromthewater-itshouldhavefins.Thefinsrepresentpurpose,intent,guidance.Isourwalkoneofpurpose?Areweonthepathofrighteousness?ArewebeingguidedbytheHolySpirit?
Manyofusarequitedistractedbytheworldaroundus.Wemovefromoneactivitytotheother.Onedayflowsintothenextintothenext.IfwestoptoconsiderGodandpraywetendtotreatitlikeanevent.WeGOtochurch.WeSAYourprayers.WeREADtheword.Thefinlifeisnotlikethat.Thefinlifekeepsusupright,movingforward,andguided.Wedon’t'Gotochurch,becauseweAREthechurch.Wedon'tSayourprayersbecausewepraywithoutceasing.Wedon'tReadtheword,becausewearecommuningwithTheWordmomentbymoment.
Whenwewalk(swim)thisway-identifyingifthespeakerisGodisrelativelysimple-becausewearecommuningwithHimaspartofournormalmotion.Ontheotherhand,ifweonlytakemomentshereandtheretowalkinfaith,ifwescheduleourtimeswiththeFather,weareeasilyconfusedbythevariousfoodthatcomesourwayandtheauthorofthosewordsisnotnearlyasclear.
Mat14:14AndJesuswentforth,andsawagreatmultitude,andwasmovedwithcompassiontowardthem,andhehealedtheirsick.Mat14:15Andwhenitwasevening,hisdisciplescametohim,saying,Thisisadesertplace,andthetimeisnowpast;sendthemultitudeaway,thattheymaygointothevillages,andbuythemselvesvictuals.Mat14:16ButJesussaiduntothem,Theyneednotdepart;giveyethemtoeat.Mat14:17Andtheysayuntohim,Wehaveherebutfiveloaves,andtwofishes.Mat14:18Hesaid,Bringthemhithertome.Mat14:19Andhecommandedthemultitudetositdownonthegrass,andtookthefiveloaves,andthetwofishes,andlookinguptoheaven,heblessed,andbrake,andgavetheloavestohisdisciples,andthedisciplestothemultitude.Mat14:20Andtheydidalleat,andwerefilled:andtheytookupofthefragmentsthatremainedtwelvebasketsfull.Mat14:21Andtheythathadeatenwereaboutfivethousandmen,besidewomenandchildren.Mat14:22AndstraightwayJesusconstrainedhisdisciplestogetintoaship,andtogobeforehimuntotheotherside,whilehesentthemultitudesaway.Mat14:23Andwhenhehadsentthemultitudesaway,hewentupintoamountainaparttopray:andwhentheeveningwascome,hewastherealone.Mat14:24Buttheshipwasnowinthemidstofthesea,tossedwithwaves:forthewindwascontrary.Mat14:25AndinthefourthwatchofthenightJesuswentuntothem,walkingonthesea.Mat14:26Andwhenthedisciplessawhimwalkingonthesea,theyweretroubled,saying,Itisaspirit;andtheycriedoutforfear.Mat14:27ButstraightwayJesusspakeuntothem,saying,Beofgoodcheer;itisI;benotafraid.Mat14:28AndPeteransweredhimandsaid,Lord,ifitbethou,bidmecomeuntotheeonthewater.Mat14:29Andhesaid,Come.AndwhenPeterwascomedownoutoftheship,hewalkedonthewater,togotoJesus.Mat14:30Butwhenhesawthewindboisterous,hewasafraid;andbeginningtosink,hecried,saying,Lord,saveme.Mat14:31AndimmediatelyJesusstretchedforthhishand,andcaughthim,andsaiduntohim,Othouoflittlefaith,whereforedidstthoudoubt?Mat14:32Andwhentheywerecomeintotheship,thewindceased.Mat14:33Thentheythatwereintheshipcameandworshippedhim,saying,OfatruththouarttheSonofGod.
Theseversesaretypicallybrokenintotwostories.Iwillbecombiningthemintoonelesson.Thereisalsocontentpertainingtothislessonearlierinthischapterandlaterinthechapter,butIwillconfinemyselftothepassagegivenabove.
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Jesushasgoneintoaremotelocationandthepeoplefollowedhim.Hespentthedaywalkingamongthemandhealingtheirsick.Pleasetrytopicturethis,thereareabout5000peopleinthisarea.Peopleweretalking,shoutingtooneanother.Childrenwereplayingandrunningaround.Aspeoplewouldreceivehealing,I’msuretherewasweeping,andpraising.Other’swouldask,“Whathappened?”andthestorieswouldspreadacrossthegroup.Thedisciplesweremovingamongthepeopleaswell,likelyarrangingforJesustocometosomegrouporanotherthathadaneed.
WethinkofJesusasGod-butremember,inhisstate-hewashuman.Thewholeday,asthiswasgoingon,Jesuswas“swimming”inthecrowd.Hewaslivingafinlife.HewascommuningwiththeFather,hearingHisvoice,actingonHisinstructionswithfaithandauthority.Perhapssomethinglikethis....
Thereisachild,Father,blessher,whatisyourwillforher.Sheshouldbehealed,myson.Child-yourfaithhasmadeyouwhole.Father,thedayisgrowinglong,Iamweary.Mystrengthissufficientforyou.YesFather,sustainme.Father,mypeopledonotknowyou,bringthemtomesothatImayshowthemyou.Iwill,myson.Iwill.Father,thisoldmanisonhisdeathbed.Lethimgomyson.Soonhewillbewithme.I’lltakecareofthisone.Father,mydisciplesareconfused.Ihavesomethinginstoreforthem.We’llbeteachingthemlater.Father,myfeetarehurting.Stinkstobeyou,doesn'tit!Thanks,Father,veryfunny.Youcangetawaylaterandrest,thetimeissoshort.Iknow.Ihearyou.
Hewasintentonhismission,focusedonhispurpose,prayingwithoutceasing,onewiththeFather.
Meanwhile,hisdisciplesweredistractedbythecrowd.Sure,theysawthehealing.Theyblessedthepeoplewithwhattheycould.Theycomfortedwiththeirwordsandwiththeirmessage.TheyprovidedlogisticsupporttogetJesustotherightplaceattherighttime.Butevenwhiledoingtheworkofthekingdom,theyalsosawtheskybeginningtodrawontowardevening.Theysawthechallengeofbeinginsucharemotelocation.Andtheywerebeginningtobemoreconcernedaboutthephysicalsituationthanthespiritual.
Sofinally,theycometoJesusandsay,“Hey,teacher,weneedtosendthesepeopleawaysotheycaneatandwe’rekindoftiredandhungry,too.”
Father,theyhaveapoint,thepeopleneedtobefed.Myson,wehavebeenfeedingthemallday.Buttoprovethistothepeopleandtoyourdisciples.Let’sreallygivethemsomefood!
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Jesustellshisdisciples-sofeedthem.Givethemfood.Theyrespond,"Ah,Jesus,wehavelittlefoodtogive."
Sometimes,wefeelthatthefoodwehavetoofferisnotsufficient.Sowegivenone.Or,wedonottrustthesourceofourfoodandsowedon’twanttoofferit.Butifwewalkthefinlife,webegintotrustthesourceofourfoodand,bytheauthorityofourfaith,sharethatfoodwithothers.
I’mgoingtoskipoverthefactthatthisfoodwasbarleyandfish.Thatisalessonforanotherday.Iamalsoskippingoverthefactthattherewere5000people.Thishasrestorationimplications.Butisnotpartofthistopic.
Son,takethebreadandbreakit-becausethefewmustbebrokeninorderforthemanytobefed.YesFather.
Jesusthen,inacknowledgmenttotheFatherandinthepresenceofall,breaksthebreadandthengivesitbacktothedisciplestofeedthemultitude.Thedisciplesheardthewordandpasseditouttothemultitude.
ButthedisciplesstillneededalessononhearingthewordsoJesussentthemintothesea.Wherefishswim.
Astormaroseandthedisciples,stillhavingnotlearnedtopraywithoutceasingandtorestintheFather,aredealingwiththeirsituationathandwhensuddenlytheyseeJesuswalkingtowardthemonthewater.But,thewindisloud,lifeisdistractingthem,thewavesaretossing,andtherearesomanythingsgoingon-theydon’trecognizewhoheis.EvenwhenJesusisrightwithus,wedon'ttendtorecognizehimduetothethingsinlifethatstealourfocusandtakeusofftheintentionalcourse.
Isthismyvoice?IsthisGod’s?Oristhisthevoiceofsomespirit?Theybecameafraid.SoJesuscallsouttothem.ItisI.Buttheyarestillnotsure-nowtheyhaveheardhisvoice-butstilldon’trecognizeit.SoPetersays,Lord,makeaclearcommandofme.ThenI’llknowitisyou.Ifwedon’trecognizehisvoice,weaskforclearerinstructions.Weaskforsigns.Weaskforconfirmation.Thiswaywedon’trequireasmuchfaith.Buteventhoughweaskforthesethingsoutofourweakness,manytimes,Godiswillingtocomply,soJesussays,Come.
AndPeter,nowcertain-Stepsontothewater.Hegrowsfins.Heiswalkinginfaith.HeisindirectcontactwithGod.HehashiseyesonHimandPeter’searsareopen.Heislivinghislifemomentbymoment.
Butthenthewindgrowstoo“boisterous”.Thedistractionsoflifecreepinagain.ThemomentwasoverandHecouldnolongerhearthevoiceofHisLord.Withouthearing,helosthisfaith.Withoutfaith,helosthisauthority-hecan'tact.Hebeginstoperish.Tosink.Jesustoucheshim,chideshimforhislackoffaith,andrescueshim.
Thisisthestateofourlife.Weareinaboatandthestormragesaroundus.Evenattimeswhenwefeelincontrol-wearen’t.Andlately,thestormhasbecomemoreandmoreboisterous.WemusthavefinsandbeconstantlyandintentionallyincommunionwiththeFather.Then,whenwehearHisvoice.Itwillbeeasytoidentify.Othersmaynotagreewithus-buthey,we'rewalkingonwaterwhiletheyaresittingintheboat!
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TRANSLATIONOFTHEWORD
Wewillstepawayfromthefoodlawsforamoment,becausethisnextstage(translation)isdonebytheHolySpirit-notus.Ok,wehaveheardtheword,wehavedeterminedthewordisfromGod,butatsomepoint,theheavenlylanguagemustbetranslatedintosomethingthatwecanunderstand.Thisalsohasimplicationsforspeakingintongues,butIamnotcoveringtonguesaspartofthisthread.
Rom8:26-27LikewisetheSpiritalsohelpethourinfirmities:forweknownotwhatweshouldprayforasweought:buttheSpirititselfmakethintercessionforuswithgroaningswhichcannotbeuttered.AndhethatsearcheththeheartsknowethwhatisthemindoftheSpirit,becausehemakethintercessionforthesaintsaccordingtothewillofGod.1Cor13:1ThoughIspeakwiththetonguesofmenandofangels,andhavenotcharity,Iambecomeassoundingbrass,oratinklingcymbal.1Cor14:2Forhethatspeakethinanunknowntonguespeakethnotuntomen,butuntoGod:fornomanunderstandethhim;howbeitinthespirithespeakethmysteries.
MypointinraisingtheseversesistoshowthatthereisevidenceoftheexistenceofalanguageofGodthatcannotbecomprehendedbyhumans.AndwealsoseethattheHolySpiritcanmakeintercessioninthislanguageonourbehalf.Thesamehappensinreverse.
Althoughthisisnotaworkthatweactivelyparticipatein,Ibelievewecanimpacttheprocess.Wefindthephrase,"inthespirit"ofteninscripture,andmanyofthosetimesitisreferingtohearingGod.Buthowdoesonebecome"inthespirit"?Isitsomethingwecanchoose?Doesitjusthappen?
Gal2:19-3:3ForIthroughthelawamdeadtothelaw,thatImightliveuntoGod.IamcrucifiedwithChrist:neverthelessIlive;yetnotI,butChristlivethinme:andthelifewhichInowliveinthefleshIlivebythefaithoftheSonofGod,wholovedme,andgavehimselfforme.IdonotfrustratethegraceofGod:forifrighteousnesscomebythelaw,thenChristisdeadinvain.OfoolishGalatians,whohathbewitchedyou,thatyeshouldnotobeythetruth,beforewhoseeyesJesusChristhathbeenevidentlysetforth,crucifiedamongyou?ThisonlywouldIlearnofyou,ReceivedyetheSpiritbytheworksofthelaw,orbythehearingoffaith?Areyesofoolish?havingbegunintheSpirit,areyenowmadeperfectbytheflesh?
Webegintogetahinthere-weareinthespirit,whenwearenottrustingtheflesh.Weknowtoapplythistooursalvation.Butitshouldalsobeappliedtoourdaytodaywalk.Weareconstantlyfindingourselvesbeingpresentedwithopportunitiestoaccomplishspiritualtaskswithourflesh.Whenwedoso,wearenotinthespirit.
Includedinthepassageonthearmorofgodisaprecioustidbit,andjustasinoursteps,thearmorcomesfirstand"inthespirit"comeslater-inEph6weseethearmorofGodpresentedfirstandthenimmediatelyfollowedby:
Eph6:18PrayingalwayswithallprayerandsupplicationintheSpirit,andwatchingthereuntowithallperseveranceandsupplicationforallsaints;
Wearestartingtodiscoverapatternhere-toaccomplishspiritualthings,wedosointhespirit.Noticeverse2fromGal3above,"orbythehearingoffaith?".Weaccomplishspiritualmatters,notbymovingflesh,butbymovingthespiritinGodandthenactinguponwhatwehearbytheauthorityofourfaith.
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Herearesomeotherexamplesofthecounternatureofthefleshandthespirit:
Rom2:29ButheisaJew,whichisoneinwardly;andcircumcisionisthatoftheheart,inthespirit,andnotintheletter;whosepraiseisnotofmen,butofGod.Rom8:9Butyearenotintheflesh,butintheSpirit,ifsobethattheSpiritofGoddwellinyou.NowifanymanhavenottheSpiritofChrist,heisnoneofhis.Gal5:16ThisIsaythen,WalkintheSpirit,andyeshallnotfulfilthelustoftheflesh.Php3:3Forwearethecircumcision,whichworshipGodinthespirit,andrejoiceinChristJesus,andhavenoconfidenceintheflesh.Col2:5ForthoughIbeabsentintheflesh,yetamIwithyouinthespirit,joyingandbeholdingyourorder,andthesteadfastnessofyourfaithinChrist.
Thepointisthis-whenweputourconfidenceintheflesh,wegrievethespirit.Whenwefocusonourflesh,wearenotintunewiththespiritandourhearingisgarbled.Thetranslationisnotbeingdone.
Now,therecouldbeawholethreadonwalkinginthespiritandnotintheflesh.Butthatbeginstofalloutsidethescopeofthisthread,otherthantosay-ToenhanceandincreasethetranslationsfromtheHolySpirit,wemustputofftheoldmanandputonthenew.Wemustwalkinthespirit.Isupposeifrequested,IcouldstartathreadonWalkinginthespirit,butIthinkwemayneedtofinishthemajorthreadsIcurrentlyhavegoingfirst.
INTERPRETATIONOFTHEWORD(CUD)(MEDITATION)
Whenweeatfoodthatwalksuponthelandwearetoeatthefoodthatchewsthecudandhasasplithoof.Thesetwo"laws"reallyworktogether,butI’llcoverthecudinthispostandthesplithoofinthenext.
Weheartheword,determineitisofGod,thewordistranslated,andthenweingestit.Soithasjustmovedfromthespiritintothesoul.WeswallowedthewordofGod.Butoursoulisnottrustworthy,aswehavealreadydiscussedatthebeginningofthisthread.Thesouliswhereouridolsare.Andso,Godtellsusthatweneedtoperformaprocessbywhichoursoulandspiritworktogethertopreparethewordfordigestion.
Thisprocessischewingthecud,andwecallitmeditation.Thisisnotsomenewageconceptofmeditation,butrather,atimeperiodduringwhichweswallowtheword,letitsit,bringitbackuptoourspiritformorehearing,swallowit,letitsit,bringitbackformorehearing….
Yougetthepoint.Bysubjectingthewordtooursoul,whichappliesknowledge,desires,hopes,dreamswhileatthesametimesubmittingitbacktotheLordinthespirit,itturnsoursoulishknowledgeandunderstandingintowisdom.ThisallowsfortheappropriateinterpretationofwhatGodistellingus.
Ifwesimplyswallowedthewordandmovedon,mostofwhatweheardwouldbecorruptedbyourownknowledgeanddesires.Someofthesesoulishimpulsesarepureinintent,butthatdoesnotmakethemcorrect.
Eze14:1ThencamecertainoftheeldersofIsraeluntome,andsatbeforeme.Eze14:2AndthewordoftheLORDcameuntome,saying,
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Eze14:3Sonofman,thesemenhavesetuptheiridolsintheirheart,andputthestumblingblockoftheiriniquitybeforetheirface:shouldIbeenquiredofatallbythem?Eze14:4Thereforespeakuntothem,andsayuntothem,ThussaiththeLordGOD;EverymanofthehouseofIsraelthatsettethuphisidolsinhisheart,andputteththestumblingblockofhisiniquitybeforehisface,andcomethtotheprophet;ItheLORDwillanswerhimthatcomethaccordingtothemultitudeofhisidols;Eze14:5ThatImaytakethehouseofIsraelintheirownheart,becausetheyareallestrangedfrommethroughtheiridols.
HereweseethattheidolsofourheartcanchangewhatwehearfromtheLord.ThewordfromGodwillcometousaccordingtotheidolsofourheart.TheeldersofIsraelknewwhattheywantedtohearfromtheLord-sotheLordtoldthemwhattheywantedtohear.Lestyousay,butthatwouldmakeGodaliar,andthatcan’tbetrue:
Eze14:9Andiftheprophetbedeceivedwhenhehathspokenathing,ItheLORDhavedeceivedthatprophet,andIwillstretchoutmyhanduponhim,andwilldestroyhimfromthemidstofmypeopleIsrael.
Don’tblameme.
Letusbeclear,thesoulsoftheeldersarewhatdeceivedthem.GodgavethemawordthattheycouldnotinterpretcorrectlybecauseoftheiridolsandGodallowedtheirunderstandingtostand.Iftheyhadmeditatedontheword,iftheyhadsubmitteditbacktotheLord(alongwitheverythingelsewehavebeentalkingabout),theywouldhaveseenthattheiridolswerecorruptingtheirunderstandingandturnfromtheiridolsandcorrectlyinterpretthewordfromGod.
Eze14:6ThereforesayuntothehouseofIsrael,ThussaiththeLordGOD;Repent,andturnyourselvesfromyouridols;andturnawayyourfacesfromallyourabominations.Eze14:11ThatthehouseofIsraelmaygonomoreastrayfromme,neitherbepollutedanymorewithalltheirtransgressions;butthattheymaybemypeople,andImaybetheirGod,saiththeLordGOD.
EventhepurposeofdeceivingthemenwasmeanttorestorethepeopletotheirGod.
Whenwearemoreconcernedaboutproperinterpretationthanweareinourowndoctrines,beliefs,desires,etc.ThenourdelightistrulyinHiswordandHistruth.Thenwearelikethis:
Psa1:2ButhisdelightisinthelawoftheLORD;andinhislawdothhemeditatedayandnight.Psa1:3Andheshallbelikeatreeplantedbytheriversofwater,thatbringethforthhisfruitinhisseason;hisleafalsoshallnotwither;andwhatsoeverhedoethshallprosper.
ThelawisthecharacteroftheWord-theWordisJesus.
I’mgoingtothrowsomethingfromJamesinhere.WewillbemovingintomoreofJames’wordsaswefinishoffthisthreadandsothiswouldbeagoodtimetobeginthatintroduction.
Jas1:19Wherefore,mybelovedbrethren,leteverymanbeswifttohear,slowtospeak,slowtowrath:
Jameswasapplyingtothisonething-butthatisthebeautyofGod,hespeakssomuchwithsolittle.Thispolicyalsoappliestowhatwehear-hearquickly-butthenmeditateonit.Don’timmediatelyspeakitbackout.Chewthecudawhile.HolditbackuptotheLord.HowmightyoubecorruptingHisword?
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VERIFICATIONOFTHEWORD(SPLITHOOF)(WITNESS)
Aswementionedinthelastsection,thefoodwetakefromthelandmustchewthecudanddividethehoof(splithoof).Thesplithooftellsusthatweneedawitnesstowhatwehear.WeshouldnotconsiderourinterpretationofwhatGodhastoldas“truth”untilithasbeenestablishedthroughasecondwitness.
Deu19:15Onewitnessshallnotriseupagainstamanforanyiniquity,orforanysin,inanysinthathesinneth:atthemouthoftwowitnesses,oratthemouthofthreewitnesses,shallthematterbeestablished.2Co13:1ThisisthethirdtimeIamcomingtoyou.Inthemouthoftwoorthreewitnessesshalleverywordbeestablished.
Thisdoesnotmeanweignorewordsthathavenotbeenseconded.Westillneedtotakeitseriously,butbeforeweactuponit,weseekasecondorthirdwitness.
Now,forthoseofyouconcernedatthebeginningofthisthreadthatIwasdismissingscriptureasaproperwaytoverifyawordfromtheLord,youmayfinallybreatheasighofrelief.Manytimes,ourverificationwillcomefromscriptureasoursecondwitness.Andwhatwehearshouldcertainlynotcontradictscripture.WhatwemustconstantlykeepinmindisthatourprocesstohearGodthroughthebibleisexactlythesameaswhatIhavedefinedinthisthread.ThebibleisnotmagicalinitsabilitytocauseustohearGod.ItisjustonemorewaythatGodspeakstousandthiswordmustgothroughthesameframeworkasotherwordsofGod.
Godwillconfirmhiswordthroughanotherword.Itcouldbethroughproperlyinterpretedscripture,songs,anotherperson,circumstances,miracles,signs,etc.
Butwemustbeverycareful,becauseonceweheartheword,identifyitasGod,haveittranslated,andnowinterpreted-weareatourweakestplace-Imean,theCreatoroftheuniversejustspoketousandweunderstood!Howawesomeisthat!Almostanythingthathappensnext,canbemadetoseemlikeadoublewitness.Yousee,wejustgrewanewidolinourheartandthatidolcamedirectlyfromGod.Tous-itdoesnotseemlikeanidolatall-butanaltertotheAlmightywhichwearereadytothrowourlivesupon.
I’veusedthisbeforesoIwilljusttouchonthesurface.AbrahamheardfromGodthathewouldhaveasonviaSarah.Hethenhadason.Fromthissonwouldcomeagreatandinnumerablenation.ThiswaswordfromGod.ItbecameanidolinAbraham’sheart.ThenAbrahamwastoldtosacrificethisson.
Nowwait-thiswouldbeawordfromGodthatistheoppositeofthefirstwordfromGod.So,Abraham,expectingasecondwitness,nowseemstobehearingthatthefirstwordmaynothaveactuallybeenfromGod.
Doyouseethis?Hecouldhavesaid,basedonthefirstwordandidolinhisheart-No.thiswordtosacrificemysonisnotfromGodforseveralreasons.Iwillnotobey.Hedidnotdothis.Insteadhemeditatedontheword,heldituptothefatherandwalkedinthefaithofbothwordsatthesametime.Whilestillbelievingthefirstword,hesetouttoaccomplishthesecondword.
Now-everythingwehavelearnedinthisthread(andsomestilltocome)istaughtinthisstory.TheunbelievablefaiththatAbrahamwalkedinshouldstunus.Onlybecausehislifemanifestedwhatwehavebeenteachinginthisthreadwasthispossible.Andhehadtolearnthisthroughislife.Evenafterthe
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promiseofason,AbrahamwalkedinthefleshtoaccomplishGod’sspiritualpurpose-thisneededtobedonetoteachushowtocastoffourownHagar-butitalsowasdonetoperfectAbraham’sfaith.
Goddidendupconfirming,throughthewitnessofhisangelandtheram,thatHisfirstwordwasindeedtrue.Andinthisstory,welearnthatwetoohaveaonewhowassacrificedforus.ButwealsohavelearnedthatevenawordfromGodshouldnotstandasanidolinourheart.
PURIFICATIONOFTHEWORD(BLOOD)(DONOTEATTHEBLOOD)
Therearetwomoreprimaryfoodlawsthatdealwithwhichmeatfromtheairwecaneat,andwhichinsectswecaneat.
IamstillholdingtheselawsuptotheLordforunderstanding,butthebirdslawseemstobedealingwithadistinctionbetweenanimalsthateatdeadbodiesandonesthatdon’t.Wecombinethiswithanotherlawthatstatesweshouldnoteatthebloodofananimal“forthelifeisintheblood.”
Ibelievethisisthefinalprocessbeforeweactuponwhatwehaveheard.Wehavenowheardtheword,identifieditasfromGod,translatedintoourtongue,interpretedtheword,andverifiedourcorrectunderstandingwithadditionalwitnesses.Beforeweactonthisword,wecauseittopassonemoretest-or,afiltrationprocess.Thetestisthis-doesitbringlife,ordeath.Isitfromabloodthirstymindset?
Manytimes,weknowthetruth,butwerevealitfromamindsetthatdestroysinsteadofbuildsup.Forinstance,wemayknowthatthetruegospelisagospelofgrace,notofworks,butifwedeliverthismessagefromastandpointof“toldyouso”or“yougotitwrong”or“you’renotreallysavedbecauseyouaretrustingyourownworks”,etc.Yougettheidea.Ifwedeliverthemessagewithaserpent’stongue-anddemonstratemuchlessgracethanthemessagewearebringing-thenwehavenotyetfiltered(purified)themessage.
Wemustspeakthetruth-But,wemustspeakitinlove.Thiscanbeachallengeattimes,dependingonthetruth.Butevenverypainfultruthcanbedeliveredwithlove.
Alltoooften,weknowtherightanswer.Weknowwhatneedstobecorrectedinsomeoneorsomesituation.Butwedeliverthemessageinsuchawaythatwedestroytheactualmessage.Therecipientcan’thearthemessageoverthevoiceanddemeanorofthemessenger.
Thelifeisintheblood-wedonoteatthelife-weaddtoit.WhatevermessageyouhaveheardfromGodfilterittoremovethebloodthirsty-nessfirst.SometimesthiswilltaketimeasyouasktheFathertogiveyoutheproperspiritwithwhichtodeliverthemessage.Iseethisstepignoredveryoftenanditissopainfultowatch.Sooftenour"rightness"getsinthewayofourloveliness.
Abrotherorsister,armedwiththetruthandtheauthorityoftheWordofGod,chastisesanotherordeliversamessageinharshnessandwoundsthespiritofanother.
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Loveispatient,loveiskind.Readtherestof1Cor13toseethecharacteristicsoflove(beyondthescopeofthisthread)andpassyourmessageandmannerthroughthosetestsfirst-thenmoveonthefinalstage-Application.
APPLICATIONOFTHEWORD(DOERSVSHEARERS)(FAITH)
Thiswillbemyfinalpostinthisthreadotherthantoanswerquestionsorconcernsthatothersmayhave.
Sohereweare:
1. Presentationoftheword(Scales)(ArmorofGod)2. Identificationofthesourceoftheword(Fins)(PathofRighteousness)3. Translationoftheword(IntheSpirit)(GrievenottheSpirit)(FaithnotSight)4. Interpretationoftheword(Cud)(Meditation)5. Verificationoftheword(Splithoof)(Witness)6. Purificationoftheword(Blood)(Donoteattheblood)7. Applicationoftheword(doersvshearers)(Faith)
WehavehadaWordpresentedtousandbecausewewerewearingtheArmorofGodwewereprotectedfrommanyotherwordsthatcouldhavemadeitourway,butwalkingthepathofrighteousnessandbeingguidedbytheHolySpiritwearemoreeasilyabletorecognizethevoiceofourLord.AstheLordtranslatesthewordintosomethingwecanunderstandwebegintheprocessofmeditatingonthewordreceivedandholdingitlightlybackouttotheLordforconfirmation.Thissecondwitnesscomesandconfirmsthefirstandweensureourmessage/actionwillbedeliveredinawaythatdoesnot“shedblood”,butrather,bringslight.
Sonowwemustapplytheword.AndIusethe“must”intentionally.Thisisouractoffaith.Arewedoersofthewordorhearersonly?
Jas1:22Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly,deceivingyourownselves.
GoodoldJames,whogeneratessomuchconflictinhistellingustodoworkstoproveourfaith.ButJamesisnottalkingaboutworksoutsideoffaith.Heistalkingaboutworksoffaith.
Rom14:23…forwhatsoeverisnotoffaithissin.
Yes,Itotallyjustpulledthatoutofcontext.It’sok.
Jas1:6Butlethimaskinfaith,nothingwavering.Forhethatwaverethislikeawaveoftheseadrivenwiththewindandtossed.Jas1:7ForletnotthatmanthinkthatheshallreceiveanythingoftheLord.Jas1:8Adoublemindedmanisunstableinallhisways.Jas1:19Wherefore,mybelovedbrethren,leteverymanbeswifttohear,slowtospeak,slowtowrath:Jas1:21Whereforelayapartallfilthinessandsuperfluityofnaughtiness,andreceivewithmeeknesstheengraftedword,whichisabletosaveyoursouls.Jas1:22Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly,deceivingyourownselves.
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Jas1:23Forifanybeaheareroftheword,andnotadoer,heislikeuntoamanbeholdinghisnaturalfaceinaglass:Jas1:24Forhebeholdethhimself,andgoethhisway,andstraightwayforgettethwhatmannerofmanhewas.Jas1:25Butwhosolookethintotheperfectlawofliberty,andcontinueththerein,hebeingnotaforgetfulhearer,butadoerofthework,thismanshallbeblessedinhisdeed.Jas2:14Whatdothitprofit,mybrethren,thoughamansayhehathfaith,andhavenotworks?canfaithsavehim?Jas2:15Ifabrotherorsisterbenaked,anddestituteofdailyfood,Jas2:16Andoneofyousayuntothem,Departinpeace,beyewarmedandfilled;notwithstandingyegivethemnotthosethingswhichareneedfultothebody;whatdothitprofit?Jas2:17Evensofaith,ifithathnotworks,isdead,beingalone.Jas2:18Yea,amanmaysay,Thouhastfaith,andIhaveworks:shewmethyfaithwithoutthyworks,andIwillshewtheemyfaithbymyworks.Jas2:19ThoubelievestthatthereisoneGod;thoudoestwell:thedevilsalsobelieve,andtremble.Jas2:20Butwiltthouknow,Ovainman,thatfaithwithoutworksisdead?Jas2:21WasnotAbrahamourfatherjustifiedbyworks,whenhehadofferedIsaachissonuponthealtar?Jas2:22Seestthouhowfaithwroughtwithhisworks,andbyworkswasfaithmadeperfect?Jas2:23Andthescripturewasfulfilledwhichsaith,AbrahambelievedGod,anditwasimputeduntohimforrighteousness:andhewascalledtheFriendofGod.Jas2:24Yeseethenhowthatbyworksamanisjustified,andnotbyfaithonly.Jas2:25LikewisealsowasnotRahabtheharlotjustifiedbyworks,whenshehadreceivedthemessengers,andhadsentthemoutanotherway?Jas2:26Forasthebodywithoutthespiritisdead,sofaithwithoutworksisdeadalso.Jas5:15Andtheprayeroffaithshallsavethesick,andtheLordshallraisehimup;andifhehavecommittedsins,theyshallbeforgivenhim.
Jamesisnotreferringtotheworksofsomanybelieverstoday,whoseeaneedandrushtosolveit.Orwhodesiretobeseenanddosomethingthatdisplaysthemselves.Thesearenotactsoffaith.Theseareactsofsinanddeath.Remember,
Rom10:17Sothenfaithcomethbyhearing,andhearingbythewordofGod.
Ifwearenotdoingworksaccordingtowhatwehear-wearenotwalkinginfaith.Buttheoppositeistrueaswell.Ifwehear,anddonotwalkintheauthorityofthefaiththatwejustreceivedthroughtheword-wearealsonotwalkinginfaith.
Wemustrespondbysteppingoutontothewater.Wedonotdemonstrateourfaithintheboat.Ifwereceiveawordanddonotact,accordingtoJames,wedonothavefaith.ThesearetheworksthatJamesisspeakingof.Theworksthatresultfromaspiritledlifeoffaith.Theworksthatresultasthelaststageofspiritualdiscernmentwhenweapplywhatwehavebeentold.
ThereasonIincludethisasthelaststageofdiscernmentistwo-fold:1.Wemayneverbesureuntilwestepoutinfaith.2.Aswequenchthespirit,ourabilitytoapplytherestofthestagesofdiscernmentarehindered.Itisacyclethatstrengthensorweakens.
Therefore-ourfaith-withoutourworksisdead.WhydoesJamessay,“Canfaithsavehim?”Aren’twetaughtthatitisourfaiththatsavesus?Aren’twetaughtwearenotsavedbyworks?No,ourfaithdoesnotsaveus.No,ourworksdonotsaveus.Jesussavesus.(PleaseseetheRestorationofAllThingsthread)OurfaithinthefactthatJesussavesprovidesthefueltoobeyHisWord.
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ThisideaofwalkinginthespiritisadeepertopicandthoughitisdeeplyconnectedtothetopicofhearingGod,itwouldprobablybebesttomakeitaseparatethread.ItconnectstoknowingGod’swillforourlives,makingdecisionsinlife,handlingsinandtemptation,healingandothermightyworks,prophecy,teaching,discipleship,andmore.
ThekeystartswithhowwereactwhenwehearGod.Doweobey?Dowemakeexcuses?Ordoweshyawaybecause,itmightnothavereallybeenGod?Arewedouble-minded?Dowestepoutinfaithandthengrowafraid?Doweavoidsteppingoutatall?IfwewanttohearGod-wemustthenapplywhatHetellsus.Itmaybeasacrificehewishesustomake.Itmaybeahealing.Itmaybeanexhortationtoabrotherorsister.ItmaybearequesttouseHisresourcesthatyouareatenantof,forapurposeatanappointedtime.ItmaybeamessagetoyoupersonallyortheBodyatlarge.Whateveritis,walkintheauthoritythatyourfaithprovideswhenyouhearGod.
Mydearbrothersandsisters,theydon’tcallitfaithfornothing!IfJesuswasstandingrightnexttousandtellingusinstraightEnglish,whattodo.Wewouldn'tneedanyfaithtoobey.
Now-goforthandheartheLord!