Available To God

Available To God
by Major Ian Thomas

This is a wonderful explanation of how the 'Corporate Body' of Christ functions in this world.
Summed up, it is being
Restfully Available - Instantly Obedient

Listen here

Christ In You

CHRIST IN YOU

We all have struggles in our Christian walk. Gross darkness covers the world of men. We know we must overcome, we must live by faith, we die to our flesh and the lusts thereof. In reading today, God pierced my heart with a truth that set me back on my heels. He has been showing me how 'reason' is an enemy of the cross.

As long as reason is in control, we will never overcome or live by faith, because faith and reason do not mix... they are not compatible... the one cancels out the other. "Faith is the substance of things longed for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith falls in the realm of the intangibles... and reason likes what it can see, feel, predict and control. All of our natural lives reason has been our guide. Reason did not put up a fuss when we asked Jesus to forgive us of our sins and come into our hearts. Even when we received the Holy Spirit, reason did not raise a ruckus. Reason can be very accommodating... to a point. But once you start delving into dying out completely to him; being led by the Spirit of God in all things... then reason let's you know that this time you've gone too far.
There is much in the Word of God about living by faith; taking up our cross and following Christ; that the way to God is through suffering. Right about now reason is getting very uncomfortable. But if one dares to really press in and seek to know the Living God, and be himself conformed to His image, "in living and if need be in dying," that's when reason let's us know this decision to follow Christ is getting more than a little out of hand and we are going overboard with this Christianity thing.
Well, that is exactly what I am seeing is what we must do. The Spirit of God searches all of our heart, mind and thoughts. He knows what is of Him and what must go. He knows how to prepare us that we may come before Him in an acceptable manner. Man can imitate holiness. He can clean up the outside of the cup so to speak. But only the Holy Spirit can bring us into genuine holiness before God. We need to know for a certainty, that if we want the deep things of God we must stop listening to reason, and let him die.
I feel led to share an experience I had a number of years ago. I was going through a time of major upheaval in my life then, with no home, no job and no prospects. Temporarily I was staying with my daughter and her family. One afternoon I was home alone. I had been seeking guidance, asking the Lord what I should do. I was standing in her living room looking out a big picture window. To my amazement, I was suddenly aware of a tiny man within my chest area. At first I was shocked, because I had never had any kind of supernatural type experience before. And I certainly had never conceived of the idea that there was someone within me. The closest way I can think of to explain what happened next is by way of comparison to the time-lapsed pictures we've seen of a flower opening... first the bud then slowly the petals open until there is the full bloom. Well, that is what it was like. No sooner was I aware of his presence, than he quickly expanded from a tiny man to a full-grown one, putting me on like a suit of clothes. I was aware of another's eyes looking out through mine, and the scene outside looked different. I was conscious of a great peace, at the same time a great strength, power and authority. This utterly unexpected sensation only lasted for a few moments, and then it was gone and I felt normal again [small, weak and insignificant]. But for those moments I had felt invincible, like I could do anything with Him in control [not me, but Christ in me]. There was no fear, just awe. I have often wondered about why this experience happened. My only conclusion is that perhaps I was given just a little foretaste, an unexpected sampling of what is possible with God. I am just a physical vessel, as we all are, that he desires to be available for His use when He wants to manifest Himself in the physical world. I believe that when God begins to move by His Spirit in these last days, He desires to use His Body [which is what we are] to set the captives free and defeat the enemy. We must know without any doubt, that it is ALL CHRIST… and not our programs, or what seems ‘good in our eyes.’
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Christ is within each one of us, if we have been born-again. Why is He so tiny that for the most part we are not even aware of His presence? Because He is waiting for us to let Him have control. When Jesus finished His work on the Cross of Calvary He said, "It is finished." He is now seated at the right hand of the Father in heavenly places, having all power and authority. At the same time, He is within each and every believer. His work is finished. We have a part in this, and our part is to believe every word Jesus said… To take up our cross and follow Him. Our flesh [carnal nature; natural reasoning] must be crucified just as He was. He who was sinless, gave the ultimate sacrifice that we might be saved. How can we, who are willing to accept such a great sacrifice on His part, now refuse to follow Him?
Paul spoke much about the need 'to die daily, yet not I live but Christ liveth in me.' We also must be willing to put reason on the chopping block. As we put down our reasoning thoughts and allow the Spirit of the Living God to quicken and renew our minds, the Christ within us will expand and grow. As we give Him control, we will more and more walk in His fullness. It is the "Christ within these mortal vessels, that is the hope for this world and the world to come." We are each one a part of His Body. May we seek to be ready to stand in that place designated for us and us alone. May we learn how to come before Him in an acceptable manner, and be found pleasing in His sight. May we apprehend "the hope of our calling." We already possess far more than we even realize.
Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Romans 8:7-14 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
This is a great mystery... how we can be dead to the world, yet alive in Christ. Our believing is critical. We must believe all that God says in His Word, and to us personally in our inner man... over all the doubts that reason can throw at us. We are required to believe in the invisible. Everything that the Lord tells us, reason will try to alter. "Oh, God doesn't really mean that," or "God wouldn't do that"... whatever the Lord is dealing with you about, reason will have an argument against in an attempt to alter or annul what the Spirit is saying. As the Spirit quickens our hearts and understanding we must keep our eye on Jesus and follow Him.
We pray to be used, and then when He tries to use us we take our eyes off of God and look at the situation and ourselves... we then see the impossible and refuse Him Who called us. We must realize that Christ is within, and we must allow Him to be Lord of ALL in our heart and mind, "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5. We will never come to perfection by means of reason and intellect. We must be willing to be a dead carcass. Only then, will we be a vessel that He can fully use as He desires. Only then will the scripture be fulfilled... "Christ in you." And equally important, you in Christ. No more struggle, no more doubt and fear. To dwell in His presence continually. Why are we fighting it?
My prayer is that God will so draw and quicken each and every believer till we all come to the fullness of the stature of Christ. Who do you want to be led by in what is coming? This is an individual choice each one of us must make. We determine who we are going to believe and follow. Dying is not a hot topic in most Christian circles today, but it should be. We can remain babes in Christ, or we can grow up and become full stature sons and daughters. If we choose to grow up... God will purge out all the mixture we acquired while sitting under the tutelage of men. There can be only one Head, and He is Jesus Christ. The cost is so minimal compared with the Glory of knowing God, of abiding in His presence, of entering into His rest. It is truly a mystery, why we are so slow to believe and act. So willing to accept salvation... and then be complacent about going further in God. Now is the time to wake up. Jesus didn't die for us so that we cold just give Him a tiny portion of our life. He paid the ultimate price so that we could be conformed to His image, and come boldly before His throne. He wants all of us, heart mind and soul. Listen to the Spirit.

Amen

Cathy Morris

6/16/2001

And They Crucified Him by Art Katz

How is it indeed?

6 minutes will be well spent listening to this audio..

And They Crucified Him

by the late Art Katz

Negatively Speaking...?

Negatively Speaking…?

This evening I was listening to an audio on Sermon Index;
A Grain of Wheat by Major Ian Thomas.


Again I had one of those ‘aha’ moments when the light flickered a little brighter. As we progress down this road of life it is amazing how the Truths of The Gospel Of Christ never change, they remain steadfast and sure. But my, how our understanding of them is changed, as our eyes are opened to see them in more of heaven’s light than we did before. What he presented in this message was not ‘new’ to me. One of the greatest obstacles we face in our journey to know God, is that of thinking that we already know something and rushing on to find something new we can sink our teeth into. When the reality of the matter is, we have barely scratched the surface of comprehending the simplest and most basic principles of the Christian walk. People who have called themselves Christians for dozens of years still stammer and mumble when confronted with trying to explain to the unlearned what Jesus meant when he said, “eat my flesh and drink my blood;” being ‘born-again’ is incomprehensible to the natural man.

What struck me as I listened, was how beautifully he brought in the whole purpose of our Salvation. All my life I listened to countless sermons and altar calls, and they shared a common approach. The Gospel was presented in a negative manner in that sinners were pressured to accept Christ that they might escape hell. How refreshing to hear God’s purpose presented from a positive point of view.

Christ in you, the hope of Glory!

That Christ WILL come to us and make His abode within us, continuing His work, using us as his hands and feet and mouth.

[quote] … “you are now going to be qualified to receive, by my indwelling Holy Spirit the very life I lived. So that the things that I did you will do and greater works than these, because you are going to be added to my new corporate body on earth. And the life that I have lived clothed with the simplest humanity that my Father fashioned for me in the womb of Mary, this new body my Father is going to present to me. A corporate body. Having been with you, I will be in you. I am not going to leave you comfortless. You will receive power from on high. And the power that you will receive will be nothing less than my presence. I will come to you. And live in you”… [end quote - about midway through the message].

This entire message is on dying to self, like the grain of wheat, so that you can be raised up in newness of life, not of your own doing but God indwelling you. That in itself is enough to blow our minds. I guess that I never realized how negative the hell-fire-and-brimstone approach was, because it was all I had ever heard growing up. Perhaps it helped to pave the way for today’s man-centered easy-believism. People were so tired of the negatives, the things that they had to give up, they turned aside to follow another gospel that was geared to cater to their flesh with no repentance required. If you think about it, we have a whole lot more negative baggage that we drag around with us thinking that it is the way it’s supposed to be, while completely missing the point, never entering into the LIFE that Christ died for us to have. He gave his life to bring us into spiritual union with himself, literally. We have an incredible opportunity and challenge before us friends, in one of the darkest hours humanity has ever faced. We are called to be members of Christ’s corporate body in this world, under his headship, continuing to do the work of the Father. “And greater works than these shall you do, because I go to the Father.”

[quote] … “Now you can see what a wonderfully rich gospel it is that we have to preach. You never invite anybody to come just for it’s forgiveness. You never invite anybody to come to Jesus just to get to heaven. There’s only one valued reason why you and I should ever invite any man, woman boy or girl to come to the Lord Jesus, and that is, for the Lord Jesus. That He himself might step into their humanity and fill them with himself. So that their bodies might become temples of the Living God. So that they might literally baptized by the Holy Spirit into his body, they might become living members individually of his corporate body in general”… [end quote].

This is so awesome. We might have known that we would get negative results when we used a negative approach. This approach is anything but negative. It’s all about LIFE, the new life found in Christ!

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” John 10:10.

Amen & Amen,

Cathy Morris
4/25/2010

A Soul-Spirit Understanding

A Soul-Spirit Understanding
By: Norman Grubb

A special key is given us for our daily stabilising by the writer to the Hebrews. He says that this life has rest, not strain, as its basis (Heb.4:1-11). It is the rest God has enjoyed since He rested on the seventh day after completing the creation, and that Israel was supposed to enter into in the land of Canaan. But then he says that the true rest is what we have in Christ, our Joshua. That rest is by no means a folding of the hands, but a fully active life, where it is a thrill to live because we have adequacy at our centre, not inadequacy. Living life without what it takes to live it is strain. Living life with what it takes to live it is rest.

He describes this resting life by saying that “He that has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His.” Living by my own works was when I was the worker. The rest life will have even more works, for He is the worker; but that type of working is resting. The key to entering into His rest and continuing in it is by a revelation not so clearly stated anywhere else in the Bible. It is in knowing the difference between soul and spirit (4:12).
We already know that spirit is ourselves joined to Himself. Soul and body are the means by which we express ourselves and live our fully active lives. But as long as we are confused between what we are in our inner spirit-selves, with the ways by which we express ourselves through outer soul and body, we are in trouble.

He likens the difference between soul and spirit to the joints and marrow in our physical bodes. The marrow is the inner life of the bones (spirit). The joints are the way by which that inner life goes into action through hands and feet, etc. (or soul). And he says we have spirit and soul so mixed up that it takes a revelation for us to see the difference. “For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit” (4:12).

In simple terms, in our spirits we love, by our soul-emotions and body-actions we express our love. In spirit we are “knowers”. Through soul we express our knowledge by our reasoning faculty. (Peter exemplifies the relationship between those two when he says we give “a reason for the hope that is in us.”) So soul and body are the only precious means by which we—our spirit and God’s Spirit by us—can express ourselves. Spirit in the union is stillness, for the universal is always still. (“Be still and know that I am God.”) This is the still small voice by which God spoke to Elijah. Spirit can be compared to the sea, which is a still source of power. The soul is like the waves which dash about as the expression of that power. The power is in the sea, not in the waves.

So our danger and problem, till we are awakened to it, is to mistake the surges of the waves (soul-emotions) for the unmoved and still centre (spirit). We get into trouble when we mistake the variable emotions of the soul for our still spirit centre. The waves are depressions, hurts, jealousies, fears, lust; or alternatively, feelings of deadness, uselessness list. The same happens with our soul in its reasoning activities. All kinds of disturbing or evil thoughts can pour into us. These are the influence of the outer appearances of things on our mental attitudes, with all the doubts and questionings they may bring. The Scripture in Hebrews also compares soul and spirit to “the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Intents are our spirit—the fixed purposes of the heart. Thoughts are our soul-varied opinions about the intents.

That is also why John in his letter makes a differentiation between our hearts and God (3:19-21). He says: “If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things.” Here “heart” represents feelings, or soul, and we can get plenty of condemnation in our feeling. God who knows all and doesn’t condemn, speaks His assuring word through our spirits.

It is easy to be drawn strongly by some outward desire of the heart and to seem helpless against it. But in my spirit centre, where God is, I know my real desire is His will and He keeps His firm hold on me. A friend recently wrote of a strong desire for a certain thing: “But in this I felt myself kept. This keeping made me angry at times, because I wanted to have my own way and I knew I could not. I knew that it could never be because it wasn’t what the real me wanted.” Spirit and soul!

A person says to me, “What do I do when I say I am Christ as me, and yet there’s someone I hate? I laugh and reply, “You are kidding yourself. You can’t hate; you can’t hate. You can only feel you do on your soul-emotional level and mistake that for hate. Hate is only love reversed, and you are live, which is He in you, and you love by the set purpose of the will; and you know that if the real need arose you would give yourself for the one you hate.” While soul-love is emotion, spirit-love is will; and we are fixed in that kind of love. We may feel more like we are in hell, and yet we are in heaven.

So we see ourselves in our spirit centre where He and we are one in spirit and all things are our in Him. Soul and body are our wonderful means of endless spirit expression. And having grasped, by the revelation of the word, and dividing asunder between soul and spirit, I do not fear my soul and body, or even more foolishly, wish I was without their disturbing reactions. No, I thankfully see myself as a whole person, God’s whole person, and He having equipped me with these fascinating means of living out my full life as a whole self with Himself, in all of my life’s activities. And because they are wholly His, I will put no limits on the liberated use of my soul and body. Equally, I totally enjoy the fact that He has me safely in hand, with the surges of the negatives temporarily flooding in, and spirit winning its battles over soul and body diversions so that I am “kept by the power of God” and “having all sufficiency in all things, abound unto every good work.”

I hope we have it very clear that emotions of all kinds are soulish, whether high or low; very precious as our means of self-and God-expression, but equally the means by which so many disturbed feelings can be active in us; and we now know how to recognise them for what they are and not mistake them for spirit.

Taken from http://www.normangrubb.com/Articles/ULASoulSpiritUnderstanding.htm

The Ministry Of Christ In You

The Ministry Of Christ In You,

an audio message from Norman Rideout.

This message is absolutely awesome! If you will spend 40 minutes of your time and listen to what this brother shares, you will be richly rewarded.

If after hearing this message, you would like to know more, this is a link to an overview of the work that Norman and others are doing among the villages of Northern Thailand.

Ponta Geet Sampan
(Reconciliation Ministry)

Holy Writ

Holy Writ

This may sound very strange to many of you, I know it did to me at first, but if you will bear with me I will try to explain what I am seeing.

This life is a spiritual journey. For the follower of Christ Jesus, our salvation is when the seed of new life is sown in our hearts. “Old things are passed away, all things become new” is how Paul described it. We are called to live by the Spirit and not the Flesh. Only problem is, few have understanding of what it means to live by the Spirit. Therefore we settle for keeping the doctrines and commandments of men, giving of our time and finances to support the local ‘ministry’ in a sincere attempt to fulfill Jesus’ commandments to ‘follow him.’

Then there is the growing up in Christ, to become full stature sons and daughters. All of these things are subjects that could be delved into in great depth. Living by the Spirit and growing up in Christ are critical requirements to the Christian, especially in these last days. What I feel led to address has to do with ‘Scripture,’ and how we use it, and misuse it.

Paul stated in 2 Timothy 3:16 “Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action):”

The continuation of his thought is verse 17, “So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Scripture here is: G1124; a document, that is, holy Writ (or its contents or a statement in it): - scripture; taken from G1125; A primary verb; to “grave”, especially to write; figuratively to describe: - describe, write (-ing, -ten).

Paul was speaking to Timothy in a letter, describing the purpose of the scriptures. I seriously doubt that he had the foreknowledge that his letters would be preserved down through the centuries and compiled with the writings they already had at that time, written by other men moved by the unction of the same Holy Spirit, in what we know today as the Holy Bible. He was simply sharing from his heart as the Spirit moved him to share. What makes the words ‘Holy’ is the Spirit behind the Words.

We have the very same Spirit abiding in our hearts today. And I believe that He would have us know that it is His desire to speak to others today, just as He spoke through the writers of the Holy Bible. Some of us would be hard pressed to answer if we could not ‘quote scripture.’ And that is the problem. After 2000 years of translating, interpreting and denominationalizing the Holy Writ, man has pretty much made the Bible say whatever they so desired. We may believe that we are responding in the proper manner when we quote scripture to an enquiring individual. We anticipate that it will mean to them what it means to us, which is seldom if ever the case.

Paul is an excellent example, since he wrote the majority of the New Testament, and there is a good chance that what we quote will be something he wrote in one of his Epistles. We would do well to remember that he was not quoting anyone. He oftentimes referenced the writings of the Old Testament Prophets, as he was well-versed in them according to his religious training prior to his encounter with the Living Christ on the Damascus Road. Yet what he shared was in the now. It was new and fresh, alive. Because that is what Jesus was to him. ALIVE! And he spoke under the unction of the Holy Spirit… describing spiritual things, from his own personal experience and revelation.

As born again followers of Christ, we are called to do the same thing. Speaking only when and how the Spirit leads us to speak. It is unfortunate that many today think that because they can quote scripture line and verse, they are somehow more spiritual and knowledgeable than others. They fail to take into account that demons and Satan himself can quote scripture as well. It started in the Garden when the serpent stated, “Yea, hath God said.” Every false doctrine flourishing today can show you from the Bible how their teaching is ‘Scriptural.’
It is the Spirit behind the words makes all the difference. Down through the ages, men have used the Scriptures to subjugate and control others, while utterly failing to comprehend the spiritual mysteries they contain. Jesus is the Word Made Flesh. He didn’t just talk religiously, He lived it. Paul lived it. And we are called to live it as well.

In all the years it had never occurred to me before that it is the Spirit and not simply the words. I had never realized the depth of LIFE we must walk in. Believers throw scripture around like its some kind of magic talisman. Especially in this generation, with the ‘name it, claim it’ teachings of recent years. We have all seen Ministers screaming scripture at the top of their lungs, commanding something to happen. Compare their theatrics with men of old like Smith Wigglesworth. He ‘walked’ in such an anointing of the Spirit of God that many times he didn’t even have to speak a word, and people at a distance would fall to their knees weeping in repentance from the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.

In Christianity we have thousands of denominations all divided one from another by differences in interpretation of scripture and application of same. This is to our shame. Our best and brightest is no match for the revelation only the Spirit can give. When the light goes on and we see for the first time , by the Spirit, we can only stand back in awe at how blind we were and how amazing God is.

I am realizing that the life I am seeking is not found solely in the Scriptures, as the words are but the vehicle. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God sent His Word to man, to do the work in us that Paul stated above… “and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action): So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

If there were some magic power in the words themselves, then all of the wolves uttering them would be making a greater impact on the world at large. If we just had to memorize and recite the right combination of words to overcome the enemy, then Jesus need not have paid the price for our redemption back to God. Demons do not tremble because a man or woman has the right words. Demons only tremble because of the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit within a servant of the cross.

Do not mistakenly assume that I am minimizing the importance, the necessity even that we meditate on and study the Holy Bible. What I am trying to convey is that just as “Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration)” … so are the words God is speaking today, in this hour, when they are inspired by the same Holy Spirit of God. Jesus said in John 15:15 “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

God is still speaking today! May we be in such close relationship with HIM, that we will have the ears to hear and the eyes to see, and the heart to obey… that we may be counted among His friends. We are entering into the climax of the ages. There has never been a day or hour like this before. I see no difference in using and misusing God’s Word to us, be it old or new. Always remember, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Amen & Amen

Cathy Morris
4/16/2010

Religion Replacing Relationship

RELIGION REPLACING RELATIONSHIP

Leviticus 26:12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

In the above verses we have evidence from both God the Father in the Old Testament and Jesus Christ the Son in the New Testament that if we will love and obey, they will come to us and dwell within our very being. As believers and followers of Christ, His indwelling should be our primary goal. In today's world we are deluged with religions of all kinds. We are bombarded with rhetoric using the name of Jesus. But there is little knowledge or understanding today of what the true Gospel of Christ is. Like little children, we are quick to say "I know, I know," when in reality we are void of comprehension. This is evidenced by our lack of power and discernment. Take special note of what our Lord said here. If a man love me, he will keep my words. We cannot love the Lord and love ourselves equally. It is impossible for us to keep His words in our own strength, which is why we so desperately need the indwelling of Christ within. If we fail to keep His words, then our professed love is shallow and has no real root or substance; we will fall. It is time to wake up and realize that all of God's promises to man are conditional. It is for us individually to respond in like manner to God's greatest gift. Our part in this love exchange is to walk in obedience to God's commandments rather than to satisfy our flesh, to seek the approval of God rather than what we want or the approval of men.

Continue reading here

A Note On 'Perspective'

A Note on Perspective

Perspective is defined as being: a particular evaluation of a situation or facts, especially from one person's point of view.

Everyone has their own perspective on things. This morning I was grieved to read of something that is taking place in the body of Christ, and in the process of mulling over what is happening I realized that for many it boils down to perspective. Some judge it as completely acceptable while others find it to be an abomination. The “it” can be anything. What matters is what each one of us do with the many ‘it’s’ that are all around us. How do we manage to bring our perspective into alignment with God’s perspective? Since after all… HIS is the only perspective that matters.

What troubles me is that far too often we don’t even take God’s perspective into consideration, while we lean heavily on the perspective of others, especially leaders whom we greatly admire. Somehow we seem to have the innate ability to confuse the message with the messenger. We have the same contentions today that the early Church had… “that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:11-13.

Although it is not done intentionally, we cannot seem to keep ourselves from putting those by whom we have been blessed on a little higher level than everyone else. That is our flesh friends. What is happening on a grand scale today, is that leaders whom God has used mightily in the past, are wandering from the narrow path and entering into the broad road of compromising for the sake of unity, and in the process those who have been following them for years are going right along with them.

The unity they are seeking to bring about is within what we call the Church. I say ‘what we call the Church,’ because when we speak of the Church we think of the one we belong to or came out of. The outward edifices and organizations built by men, to worship God.

So how are we to know the difference between our own perspective and God’s? The answer is far too simple to be very satisfying to our flesh.

By His Spirit.

Take note of what Paul said in Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Notice that he did not say, for as many as are members of this or that group, or followers of this or that man. No, the sole defining factor lies in being led by the Spirit of God, and not our own or any one else’s carnal judgments. It is a hard thing to have been richly blessed by another’s teaching, when they suddenly introduce ‘another way.’ I pray that we all will be sensitive to our inner witness if this occurs in your life. We cannot trust our reasoning mind to ‘sort things out,’ for reason will find any number of ways to justify going down the wrong road. This is happening across the denominational spectrum today, and many are being deeply hurt by it. If you are wrestling with what to do in a situation in your life, give it to the Lord. He alone knows each persons heart. We were never called to be ‘answer men and women,’ we were called to follow Christ, to die to our flesh and live by the power of His Spirit. If you need peace in your life, you will find it in letting go and putting it in God’s most capable hands. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” Isaiah 26:3.

Be careful... whose disciple you are and who you are following.

Amen & Amen

Cathy Morris
04/ 04/2010

The Mother of All Secrets

The Mother of All Secrets

This is an eye opening video presentation worth watching, linked here simply that you may know. It is no wonder that the Bible tells us that ‘the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God.’ As long as flesh sits ‘enthroned’ within man, he will always try to find another way to reach perfection and eternal life.

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

There is NO OTHER WAY!