The Assault On Fellowship - T. Austin-Sparks

The Assault on Fellowship
by T. Austin-Sparks 

 

There are few matters which go to the heart of the Lord's testimony more than the matter of fellowship between the Lord's people, and especially where there is particular responsibility for His testimony. The drive of the enemy and all his subtle and diabolical wit, as well as his pressure and his misrepresentations, will be directed toward destroying that relationship of fellowship. He will seek somehow to divide believers, and get in between. And if you are not careful you will resolve all such matters into merely natural problems and say: Well, it is incompatibility of temper! So-and-so is made this way, and the other person is made that way; you can never blend people who are so different in temperament and outlook! If you allow a conclusion of that kind your testimony is gone; you may as well abandon your position in the Lord and go and scour the world for people who in everything see eye to eye. Does it mean that the Lord's work, as entrusted to two or three or more together in one place, can only continue in so far as these children of His are able at all times to get on with one another on a natural basis? The Lord help His work if that is what is required. We have to look deeper than that.

This drive on fellowships and relationships is Satanic. There may be ground, there may be human elements, but those concerned should take this attitude toward one another: The Lord's testimony is bound up with our oneness; the Devil will do everything he can to destroy that, and to strike a blow, therefore, at the testimony! You and I are going to be one in the name of the Lord, and stand our ground against the enemy! There we have something altogether different from the attempt to get on with one another on a natural basis, we have a dynamic for fellowship. We have to get on with one another in the name of the Lord, or else the Lord's testimony is not established. There is something much bigger than a natural or human situation to be dealt with, and when we realise that back of what may truly be natural difficulties there is always something else at work, and that therefore we must keep these natural things in the place of the Cross, and stand together against the enemy, we will get through; but we will never do so by spending a lot of time trying to adjust ourselves to one another, and seeing how far we can work together. Standing shoulder to shoulder against the enemy who is assailing fellowship, we will find the way of triumphant fellowship. Come down on the natural level, and the enemy will soon make terrible havoc of the whole relationship.

Remember, then, that all these things which sometimes seem to be so natural are in principle deeper down, and the activity of the enemy is behind them in his seeking to circumvent that gain, that advance, that increase, that attaining unto dominion, and he must be withstood in these matters.

The Calling is Positive

In every situation and at all times the calling is positive. That heavenly calling is never negative, never neutral, never passive, but always positive. You may not have very much in your daily life to make the calling seem positive. It may be you go to business in the morning and fulfil your daily work, the trivial round, the common task, as we say, with very little variety entering into it. It is the same round day after day, week after week, month after month; the same people, the same surroundings, the same activities very largely. Only on the rarest occasion does something specially interesting come into the daily course. It would be so easy in a situation like that to say: Well, in my sphere of life there is not much of the glamour of a heavenly calling! My work is plain and simple. I have just to get on with it every day, and I see very little else beyond it. Remember that at all times, in all circumstances, the calling is positive.

Every day will provide some opportunity for you to learn spiritual ascendency; some occasion for you to bring in the value of your relationship with the Lord; to put to the test the resources which you have in Christ; to grow in grace; to know victories. How do you know but that in that very uninteresting, perhaps unpromising sphere of life you are on test on some of those great matters, such as faith, patience, or patient endurance. It would be interesting to know exactly what the throne of the Lord is made of. When we come to that throne, I wonder whether we shall find a throne of gold in a literal sense, or whether we shall find it made up of many things? When we come to analyse the throne we may find that it is made up of patience, faith, endurance, and all such moral elements, and that these elements constitute the power by which He governs. It is sharing the patience of Jesus Christ which is sharing the throne. There is something mighty in the ultimate outworking of the patience of Jesus, the faith of Jesus Christ, the endurance. These are the constituents of His throne.

He is working throne elements into us now in the drab, uninteresting life day by day. You may be on test for the throne. There may be bound up with the least interesting course of life some very, very real intention of the Lord. Let us remember that the heavenly calling is always positive, in all circumstances, in all places. We are on test for the throne, as to whether it shall function through us both here and hereafter.

Today!

"Today if ye shall hear his voice..." Today, is while there is progress to be made, and while there is opportunity afforded. Progress can yet be made, therefore it is still "today". When the day ends there is no more progress to be made. There is opportunity today. When opportunity ends it will be no longer "today".

The Lord give us a response in our hearts to the call, to the voice, which is, Today!

Christ The Power Of God - T. Austin-Sparks

Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. (Romans 5:18 NLT)

The whole subject of spiritual power is most important. So many Christians find themselves involved in a continual struggle to live up to what they know to be God's standard. For them Christianity is a manner of life composed of various rules and regulations. They know what ought to be and what ought not to be, and they therefore struggle to attain to this level of living. Their consciences play a large part in this constant effort, and for this reason they suffer many fears and fail to experience the promised joys. Life for them has become a strenuous business, fraught with much disappointment and many failures. They may from time to time have a sense of attainment and success, with much resultant gladness, but with the fluctuating emotions of the soul, things seem to collapse and go all wrong. So it is that people find the Christian life burdensome; they long to know real victory, true deliverance and the joy of the Lord, whereas they experience the ups and downs of a constant struggle. The Christian life depicted in the New Testament seems so different from their actual experience that the devil is never slow to pounce in with his suggestions that a life of constant victory is quite impossible, so that all their hopes are but unreal dreams. Satan wants God's people to despair of knowing His power.

But there is an altogether different life, different because it is based on the entering into something already completed in Christ; not something to be attained to but rather that which has already been accomplished. It is not a standard to be lived up to, but a Person to be lived with. It is impossible to measure the vast difference between these two kinds of life. The former is one of self effort and defeat, while the other consists in enjoying the reality of Christ the power of God.

By T. Austin-Sparks from: “Christ The Power of God” 

Read the entire book in PDF form here 

The Purpose of Weakness - James Jarjou

The Purpose of Weakness

 by James Jarjou

“And he said unto me , My grace is sufficient for thee : for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmity that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2corinthians 12v 9)

Weakness is the nature of man; it is not a sin but a nature that reveals to man the need of a savior. It calls man to intimacy and union with His creator yet its purpose is easily misunderstood and perverted At the end, instead of bringing many to God it drives them away because of their lack of His knowledge or willful rebellion. 

When Adam was created, even before the fall, weakness was planted in Him that He might keep seeking God's strength, as God abides and walks in Him. Christ himself took this very nature of weakness in His humanity and lives above weakness because His father lives in him. 

 

When Christ cried “not my will but your will,” it revealed His weakness as a man. Not only that, but as a victorious man, because He lives not under the nature of His weakness but in the power of His  father's strength.

If we do not see our weakness, we cannot see the strength of Christ, which comes as He lives in us. God will have us know our attitude in the days of weakness should not be of fear of falling, but faith in His strength. When God allows us to be tempted in trials and adversity, He is always seeking to have His end in it. He is not just watching as a spectator of what the enemy is doing in us, but He has an aim and purpose in that. The purpose is, He wants us to know Him more, not to know him less, as we seem to feel in such periods of perplexity. We do not know God by just seeing Him in a physical bodily form, but as He manifests His strength and power in us. Yet how can he manifest His strength where it is not needed. It is the weak that need the strong. If we feel strong outside His strength there will be no need to seek His strength or presence.  

If we stop seeing our weakness we will stop seeing God's strength, and therefore cease to grow in Christ as we will see no need to seek His strength. If we do not want to see our weakness, it means we do not want to see Christ's strength or power manifested in us. God does not work or save us outside His saving knowledge or faith.

When we are tried and tempted in weakness, such periods are not the time to be discourage and succumb to the voice of the enemy but it should be a time when we should cry “Lord I know it is for my own good that you allow me to be so tempted, afflicted and tried and not for my evil or ruin. It is time to rejoice, and not to fret, a time to wait on your power and not to yield to the power of darkness. A time to seek you more in prayers and not a time to forfeit prayers.”

 The days of weakness are the days of new things in Christ, but before we see the new we must first see the old. May we daily remember the fact that for Christ to perfect His work in us, He must need allows us to be tempted and tried in diverse means before He manifests His power in us. 

 

There is no longer any need to murmur, complain, be discouraged, disappointed by anything but to turn unto the Lord who reveals His power in our weakness. Where everyman will fall we have a Christ that will manifest His power in us, whose power is above all contrary powers, keeping us ever standing in Him.  Amen

Vessels with Moisture - Tinhearts

Vessels with Moisture

How lovely are the clouds that bring forth cleansing rain stir our faith to restore Your flame burning in our hearts again when we get too hot in shame let us back into Your light embracing the purpose for our gathering in Your Name Lord we know the mystery is unfolding rainbows surrounding Your throne in us allow us to join in unity upholding the precious Glory of Your Son when we all recognize our goal being perfected inwardly to join Your Spirit Holy matrimony with our soul Glory in the Highest is Your Name let us humbly bow when we come together sharing Your Word to nourish without blame drinking the Cup of Your precious blood in all tenderness and gratitude we praise You for this brother hood Ezekiel's bones being formed and glued different measures of gifts yet none the less all in Your perfect grace lifts allow Your mercy to touch each heart that is called by You forming as Your holy hands clutch as we remember Your blood was shed allow this reverence to always be in remembrance when we are being fed thank You for the clouds that bring rain Vessels with Holy moisture rivers of life giving waters again cleaning us to become pure   tinhearts~

Brokenness - T. Austin-Sparks

A Word on Brokenness

We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV)

All God’s purpose, all that God means for us on that other side of the Cross in union with Christ risen and exalted absolutely demands brokenness, complete brokenness, in all those concerned. Not just the brokenness of their pictures and outward hopes, but an inward brokenness. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves” (2 Cor. 4:7). The self-hood broken, broken vessels for heavenly eternal fullness.

The Cross is necessary for our breaking. It is not a pleasant note, I know, but in all faithfulness it must be said. This is the Lord’s word to you: that if you are not broken by the Cross, if you have not gone through an experience of real brokenness under the hand of God, all that the Lord means in you and through you will still be suspended, it will be impossible. If the Cross means one thing, it does mean that the Cross is the way to the glory and to heavenly fullness. It is the way of an inward breaking. Let me be very precise, because I know of different kinds of brokenness. I know the brokenness of disappointments, of disappointed hopes and expectations, but the kind of brokenness I am talking about is the brokenness of the self-hood, the strength of Self that holds its position and holds its ground and that will not let go. That is the kind of brokenness. This self-strength, whether it be intellectual and mental or whether it be emotional or whether it be in the will, that strength of the natural life has got to be broken as truly as the sinew of Jacob’s thigh had to be touched and withered. Something like that has to happen in us that we carry through the rest of our days. God has done something in the realm of our self-hood and we are broken men and women so far as self-sufficiency, self-assertiveness, self-confidence and every other form of Self is concerned. It must be.

By T. Austin-Sparks from: The Testimony of the Christ - Chapter 9

A Company of Men

A Company of Men

As we begin to interact with fellow believers, it quickly becomes apparent that we are not all on the same page, of the same mind and understanding. Each one comes with their own personal revelation, their own point of view. As we walk along the paths set before us, we have encounters with others, (these may well be predestined by God), where we have opportunity to share the love of God with one another. Not our knowledge, not our opinions, not our doctrines; our love. Each one of us are individuals, yet we are also members of the Body of Christ. We must learn how to receive the measure of Christ in each other. We all have lots to say; but we also must learn how to listen. We are quick to spots the flaws in our brother and sister, while we are blind to our own shortcomings. We have been adopted into the family of God, and as such we must learn the rules of God's household and abide by them. 

 

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God” Romans 15:5-7.

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” Eph 5:27. 
 

Below is a timely excerpt from T. Austin-Sparks concerning our relationships to one another:

 

With God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. (Luke 1:37 AMP) 

It seems that when the Lord Jesus chose His twelve disciples there was, at the back of the choice and back of the purpose of having a company of men always with Him - the intention of showing and expressing what the character of the Firstborn is so far as relationship to other members of the Family is concerned. To put that in another way: if we study the characteristics of the Lord Jesus in relation to His own when He was here on the earth, we have a good example of what family characteristics are in the thought of the Father. For instance, take the imperfections, the shortcomings, the weaknesses of the twelve and see what the attitude of the Lord Jesus was toward them. The Holy Spirit takes no pains to cover up those faults and those flaws. There is no attempt made whatever to present those men as an ideal group. Their picture is painted true to life and all the difficult lines are there - the bad and the good - and nothing unpleasant is hidden from view. None of the lines are taken out of their faces. They are all clearly seen. The Lord Jesus was not dealing with an easy company, but a company which might often have provoked despair. But one thing was characteristic of Him in relation to a difficult handful, and that was His faith for them.

What faith the Lord Jesus had for those men! It was not that He had faith in them, neither was it that He had faith for them because of what He saw in them; but He had infinite faith in the Father for them. His attitude was: "Well, nothing is impossible with God. Here are these men; they are difficult and they could easily be My despair; they never seem to understand what I say! They always seem to get the wrong interpretation; they always seem to miss the point. When I say a thing they get it from an altogether wrong angle; they are utterly materialistic in their outlook, in their expectation and in their desires. They never see far beyond this world and their own personal interests. They seem totally incapable of getting a spiritual conception. And yet the Father can do wonders with a handful of men like that; nothing is impossible."

By T. Austin-Sparks from: Filled Unto All the Fullness of God - Chapter 10

All Things To All Men - Cathy Morris

All Things to All Men

“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” 1 Corinthians 9:22.

Have you ever considered just how 'we' are going to be made into the Body of Christ? I'm not talking about the assumption that everyone who claims to have had a born-again experience already are the Body; I'm talking about being transformed, being made a perfect reflection of the nature of Jesus, right here, right now, in our daily lives.

Do you ever find yourself resistant to change?  Each one of us have our own personal struggles, all have suffered.  Most have been out of organized religion for years.  We all come from different backgrounds, with different family, economical, educational, cultural backgrounds. We are at different stages of spiritual growth, with different ideas of what we think it means to be living in the 'last days,' with different visions and expectations of what is going to happen. The only uniting thing is our love of the Lord. 

The thing is, for so many years its just been 'me and the Lord,' that many of us are resistant to open up and let strangers in.  I know, because I've been one of them doing the resisting.  There have been so many hurts inflicted by others who professed to be christian that there is a strong tendency to hold back and not let anyone get too close.  I think it is a flesh thing more than anything else; because the minute a red flag goes up over some different perspective or point of view we are ready to turn our back and go back to the 'just me and the Lord....don't need anyone else' lifestyle. 

It has really opened my eyes to see how monumental a thing it will be to bring true 'unity in the spirit' to the body of Christ.  I keep being reminded of what Paul said about 'being all things to all men,' as I was never clear on what he meant by that.  From the interactions I have been exposed to for the past couple of years, after being completely content with being separated for so many years myself, I am beginning to wonder if he wasn't just speaking of being dead to all of his own opinions/feelings - Christ is the only one Who can be 'all things to all men.'  Was Paul speaking of loving them where they are, not from our flesh, but by opening our hearts and allowing the HOLY SPIRIT the freedom to love them through us? 

In the past, we have tried to do that by having our doctrines in order, being 'right,' according to our own understanding and experiences in this life.  The things that got us this far, (into the wilderness, cut off and alone with God) have done their work and fulfilled their purpose, now it is time to move out into... we know not where, to do we know not what. It is much like a baby bird being kicked out of its nest and having to fly.... scary.

We can feel threatened, yes, even by other believers.  They come in with their concepts and their problems, and things don't always mesh.  We don't see eye to eye on every jot and tittle; we can't always relate to their history and how the Lord has dealt with them in their life, because it is so different from our own experience.  They may be in a place we haven't walked in yet, so we don't understand where they are coming from.  Our flesh just doesn't want to have to deal with it. We all have the ever present, 'why, why, why?' why did this happen? why did they say this or that? why do I feel this way? why can't they hear me? why am I even trying?'   And the answer is always the same...

Love them, no matter what, just as Christ loved us. 

Be willing to die for them, just as He died for us.

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ... We want the glory; we want to know Him; but we can resist His ways (which are so not our ways).  We are all sinners saved by grace.  We all fall short when we say or do what seems right in our own eyes. Our flesh is satisfied with receiving grace, but not so generous when it comes to extending the same to others. Our flesh wants to set limits on who we love; they should be deserving; we should be in agreement with them;... Really? We will have to discard that attitude if we are committed to growing up in Christ.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” 1 Peter 3:18.

Friends, we are being put to death in the flesh, that we may then be raised in newness of life by the Spirit.

Jesus tells us...

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” John 13:34.

There is a unity found where we can come together in mental agreement based on commonly shared beliefs, principles, etc., but this can also be nothing more than religious flesh. Then there is a unity brought about by the Spirit of God, which totally disregards all of the barriers our flesh can erect. We must ask ourselves then... what is going to distinguish the true from the counterfeit? The answer is simple: our love.

“Love is patient, is kind. Love is not jealous. Love is not bragging, is not puffed up, is not indecent, is not self-seeking, is not incensed, is not taking account of evil, is not rejoicing in injustice, yet is rejoicing together with the truth, is forgoing all, is believing all, is expecting all, is enduring all. Love is never lapsing...” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 In what Spirit are we coming together? Another spirit can imitate many things; but genuine love is not one of them. In our flesh we cannot love in the face of evil, we cannot see with the eyes of God, we cannot sacrifice for the unrepentant, the just for the unjust.

It is not recorded, but it stands to reason that there may well have been other believers present when Stephen was stoned. And if so, then those same believers may have seen Saul of Tarsus there as well. They would have seen with their own eyes, that he was fully approving of the act. Having been witness to this, one can only imagine their skepticism when later this man, this Saul came to them, now bearing the name of Paul, claiming to having met with the Christ on the road to Damascus, and having been born-again. And we think we have been wronged and have the right to bear grudges? Just imagine how difficult it must have been for those believers to accept Paul into their fellowship?

The nature of mankind has not changed. We have leaned on the arm of the flesh and our carnal understanding all of our lives. To live by the Spirit, to judge all things by the Spirit is not something we can just talk about doing. Our words and our actions reflect what spirit we are of.

“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” 1 John 4:2-13.

Are we to believe that 'Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God' is limited to acknowledging that 2000 years ago a man named Jesus was born into this world? Or is there much more?... Jesus is the Head of the Body (church, ekklesia). The body is many membered, from every tribe and kindred and nation. For Jesus to come in the flesh, in every age, would mean that He came by His Spirit in His Body. In that light, we could understand that when we receive the Spirit of Christ in our brother and sister, in whatever measure it is there, we are receiving HIM. And when we reject and refuse the Christ in our brother and sister, we are rejecting and acting against Christ. That should sober us up in a hurry.

We need to start recognizing that it is by loving one another, that God dwells in us, and His Love is perfected in us.

All things to all men.....

“Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” 1 Corinthians 10:33.

“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another” 1 Corinthians 12:25.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me” John 13:20.

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.   And of some have compassion, making a difference:  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.   Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen"  Jude 1:21-25.

Amen & Amen,

Cathy Morris

Complete Surrender - 1956

Below is a prophetic word passed down from father to daughter that was 

given in 1956 to an unknown person in Africa.  May we have ears to hear 

and hearts to receive this message, for it contains the keys to being set

free from and dethrone 'self'...  

Complete Surrender - 1956

"The only sacrifice acceptable to God, from the days of My ministry to 

this present day has been, as I informed you, the sacrifice of a broken 

heart and a contrite spirit. From that day on an offering of blood has 

been an abomination, though appointed anciently in symbology of My 

sacrifice upon the cross. In its appointed time the symbol was fulfilled, 

the sacrifice for which the symbol was appointed, for I came and 

fulfilled the ancient law. Thereafter such sacrifices were forever ended 

and were no longer acceptable before the throne of God. 

Neither has a sacrifice of one's time, services, his wealth and offerings

been able to take the place of the appointed sacrifice henceforth 

required at the hand of man. Know this,  beloved, the only complete, 

acceptable sacrifice is the appointed one which our Father has 

ordained, even the sacrifice, or offering, of a contrite spirit and a 

broken, or open heart.
 
This sacrificial offering alone involves the complete surrender of the 

'self' to me. It demands the sacrifice of your pride, your personal 

opinions, your bigotry, your errors and mistakes. Yea, this is the only 

acceptable offering, the only sacrifice worthy of the fulfilled promise of 

My Life sacrificed upon the cross for you, even the Lamb slain from the

 foundation of the world. This sacrifice of my life was the pattern by 

which your own lives could be perfected. My life surrender but portrays

the offering of the little, mortal self, the complete surrender of your 

misguided wills to the great and Holy Will of your Father. This sacrifice 

that is required of your crucifies your selfish traits, your sensual lusts 

and fulfills the utter surrender of even your pain and anguish and 

suffering and heartbreaks to Me.
 
Those who think they can serve me fully in any other way than by this 

appointed offering of a broken heart, or breaking heart, and in a spirit 

humbled and subdued devotion are laboring in vain. This sacrifice is the

 complete surrender of your wills to the will of God.
 
No high positions, that feed your pride, no endless years of service, no 

tithes nor offerings, no filling of missions can fulfill the great law, nor 

provide the necessary sacrifice of acceptability. These services and 

offerings are but minor contributions, though you give all your time and 

talents, though often they will help you find the way to offer up your 

broken hearts to me, they are not the fulfilling of the law. Of themselves 

they hold no power upon my altar for these services are not the 

appointed offering ordained at the hand of My Father. And until you 

have given 'self' or your personal 'will' in complete and utter surrender, 

in contriteness of spirit, and your broken or opened hearts, your works 

have no power or efficacy and your sacrifices are mostly vain as far as

 the fulfilling of the law is concerned.
 
Only the complete surrender of the 'self' or your own will through the 

open heart and with a humble spirit can fulfill the required law of 

sacrifice and prepare you for your anointing of the Divine Light of Christ.
 
The release of your broken hearts contains all the outpouring burdens 

of your past mistakes, your pride and weaknesses and failures and the 

complete and utter surrender of your immature, erring wills.
 
When you, beloved, have learned the power of this required sacrifice 

and abide by this sacred law your mortal selves will step aside and you 

will be prepared to receive the divine anointing of Light  and the joy of 

My fullness. 
 
You will no longer be afflicted with the deadly 'I' diseases that have 

blinded My children for ages, for you will be healed. Yea, My dearly 

beloved, you will become open channels through which MY love can 

pour forth to help bless and heal the world.
 
Know this, my chosen and elect, the easiest simplest way to get the 

right attitude in which to offer up your broken hearts is through a daily, 

hourly practice of the First and Great Commandment, for in it are all the 

keys of righteousness and the divine keys of fulfillment. The heart is 

softened through love and prayer and its seal is broken and it is opened

 wide to the full outpouring of MY divine love.
 
Then expanding that great love to the soul, that you might love with all 

the soul, brings a contriteness of Spirit that is overwhelming. It brings 

with it the baptism of tenderness, compassion, forgiveness and 

holiness. It is a surrender of soul that is bathed in tears, not tears filled 

with anguish and despair, nor tears fraught in desperate agony, but the 

fruitful, life-giving, joyous tears of renewal and singing ecstasy as all 

anguish and sorrow and despair is released unto the Lord.
 
This is the surrender of your broken heart, that the Love and Light and 

Glory of God's great love might take its place.
 
Then as this great love that is shed forth through your heart, diffusing 

your soul, penetrates and fills your mind the blindness thereof will be 

removed and you will begin to comprehend all things, even those great 

and mighty things that have been hidden from the foundation of the 

world. Yea, you will begin to have a part in their fulfillment, for they will 

be fulfilled in you.
 
As you learn to stand in the Light you will be filled with Light. Your great 

burden of 'self' will be turned over to Me and being held in the flame of 

love flowing forth from the center of your souls it shall be reborn, a 'new

 creature'. Yea, it will be born of love and born of God. For so it is that 

the purifying flame of love, as it pours through your own open heart and 

contrite spirit, will purify your life and cleanse your soul. This inner flame

 removes the weaknesses, heals the errors, transforms the mistakes. 

The symbol of baptism is but the symbol of this inner reality.
 
The old laws are not broken by these greater truths, they are fulfilled in 

them, for he who fulfills that first great and Holy Commandment, and the 

second, which is so like unto it they are almost identical, will have 

fulfilled all the laws and kept all the commandments. For such there is no

 law. They are no longer under the law."

Seventy Times Seven

Seventy Times Seven

Our hearts cry may well be....

“[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]” Php 3:10-11.

So what is hindering us? What is holding us back? Is there a difference between our inner hearts cry, and what we manifest in our daily lives? “US” is where the problem lies. Since 2000 the Lord has continually brought three things to the forefront and placed great emphasis upon them. They are belief, obedience and the fear of the Lord.

Belief:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” Hebrews 11:6.

Obedience:

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Fear of the Lord:

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” Matthew 10:28.

“And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation” Luke 1:50.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever” Psalms 111:10.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” Proverbs 9:10.

Lately, He has shifted gears and brought to the forefront three new things: honesty, forgiveness and our perceptions of God. I'm one of His slower children, so it seems that I require a lot of repetition before I finally 'get it.'

We have learned that we cannot trust /rely on our emotions; our own thoughts or the knowledge of men. We are dependent upon the Lord for everything. We've come so far, and left so much behind that we think surely we must be almost there. But still there is something we are lacking. Some of us have been separated for a long time. Fellowship with like-minded believers has been scarce. What I am discovering is that when we are connected with others, there is still division and strife; misunderstandings and hurt feelings. With an on-line fellowship it is very easy to cut people off and sever the relationship. It just takes a few clicks of the mouse and they are gone as if they never existed. How fortunate we are that God does not treat us the same way we treat others.

Paul summed it up pretty succinctly in the 13^th chapter of 1 Corinthians -

13:1-11 “IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me), I gain nothing. Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth]. For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded). When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.” (Amplified)

We say with our lips that we love God with all of our hearts; yet somehow we still stumble when called upon to love our brother and sister. Just as our physical bodies are made up of millions of individual cells; so each one of us individually are a PART of the Body of Christ. It is time to wake up to the fact that we need to be joined, connected to, all of the other parts in order to function, as a body. Many have been set apart for so many years, alone with God, being taught of the Spirit, that they have become comfortable in this state. I know, because I have been one of them. You see, in our carnality, we are limited in our capacity to love. The scope of God's love is beyond our ability to fully comprehend. We embrace and rejoice that God loves us, but are not always willing to extend the same grace to others. If we are wronged, injured, slandered, attacked, what is our first response? Do we turn the other cheek? Do we even remember Jesus' response to Peter? “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” Matthew 18:21-22.

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:12-14. In the original Greek it reads: Put on, then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, pitiful compassions, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another and dealing graciously among yourselves, if anyone should be having a complaint against any. According as the Lord also deals graciously with you, thus also you. Now over all these put on love, which is the tie of maturity.

Honesty, Forgiveness, our Perception of God:

As we press on toward spiritual maturity; we must guard our hearts in all honesty. Along with Love, Honesty is an absolute requirement for entering into sonship. Truly it is written:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” Jeremiah 17:9 -10. We can slip into putting our trust in our experiences and revelations, assuming that because of them we are mature. We must never forget (lose sight of) the standard. The standard is Christ; His Nature. We can 'study to show ourselves approved,' we can experience dreams, visions, manifestations, yet these things are not our foundation. These things will pass away. There is no truth other than Christ Himself.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” John 14:6.

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” Matthew 7:12.

A few months ago, an old saint shared this observation which bears witness; “one of the greatest obstacles we face today as believers is found in our ability to 'receive the Christ' in one another.”

In 1^st Timothy Paul exhorts... “(5) Now the consummation of the charge is love out of a clean heart and a good conscience and unfeigned faith.” He goes on instructing how we are to conduct ourselves; using himself as an example: (12-14) Grateful am I to Him Who invigorates me, Christ Jesus, our Lord, for He deems me faithful, assigning me a service, I, who formerly was a calumniator and a persecutor and an outrager: but I was shown mercy, seeing that I do it being ignorant, in unbelief. Yet the grace of our Lord overwhelms, with faith and love in Christ Jesus....

(18-20)This charge I am committing to you, child Timothy, according to the preceding prophecies over you, that in them you may be warring the ideal warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some, thrusting away, have made shipwreck as to the faith; of whom are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I give up to Satan, that they may be trained not to calumniate. (Greek Concordant)

In the Greek Paul used the word calumniate. KJV translated calumniate as blaspheme, which means: to insult religion; to treat God or sacred things disrespectfully through words or actions. While what Paul actually said has an entirely different meaning.

Calumniate means: to accuse somebody falsely, or slander somebody. This puts an entirely different light on what is being conveyed. Paul was as learned in the law as any man of his day. Before his encounter with the risen Christ, according to his understanding he was 'doing right' by his persecution of the early church. While watching the stoning of Stephen, he was fully convinced that what was happening was righteous. But when the LIGHT of the Nature of Christ opened his understanding as to WHO CHRIST IS, he abhorred his former understanding and actions, counting it all as dung. We are just as prone to judging others based upon our perceptions of God; our beliefs; our feelings and opinions. And when we do not wait upon the Spirit, but speak/act out of our own mind, we are usually just as wrong.

“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination [exceedingly disgusting and hateful] to the Lord” Proverbs 17:15.

Throughout the scriptures we are given instruction as to how we are to treat one another. Consider these:

“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” Matthew 10:42.

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” Matthew 18:6.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ” Galatians 6:1-2.

“But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses” Mark 11:26.

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” James 4:17.

Truly it is written, “...it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23. In our own strength we cannot walk in love, honesty or forgiveness. When Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy times seven in a day, He was making a point. By the time we forgave someone 77 times, even to our flesh... forgiving would become automatic; an attitude of the heart, we would no longer have to consider the matter. Whenever we feel unjustly wronged, we would do well to remember 'seventy times seven'...and apply it. I don't believe that God desires that we imagine what He is like. Since He has openly stated that He desires for us to know Him intimately. Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”

When those around us see us, and interact with us, what do they see? Christ... or religious flesh? Remember always.... “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men” 2 Corinthians 3:2. Our lives are an open book that others are reading every day, whether we are aware of it or not.

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” 2 Corinthians 13:11.

Amen & Amen,

Cathy