Getting Connected:

“Let no Christian parents fall into the delusion
that Sunday School is intended to ease them of their personal duties.
The first and most natural condition of things
is for Christian parents to train up their own children
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon


Getting Connected:

1 Samuel 25:1-42

Following the death of Samuel David moved into the Wilderness of Paran.

The Wilderness of Paran is situated in the eastern central region of the Sinai peninsula, north-east from the traditional Sinai and south-south-east of Kadesh, with the Arabah and the Gulf of Aqabah as its eastern border. It was to this wilderness that Hagar and Ishmael went after their expulsion from Abraham's household (Genesis 21:21). It was crossed by the Israelites following their exodus from Egypt (Numbers 10:12; 12:16), and from here Moses despatched men to spy out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:3, 26). The wilderness was also traversed by Hadad the Edomite on his flight to Egypt (1 Kings 11:18).

There David encountered the shepherds of the contentious and insolent Nabal. Nabal was a man of great wealth who had little concern for the needs of others. He was a Calebite who is described in the Word as being evil. Nabal’s name literally means “fool,” and in this account, he lived up to it.
When David and his men were passing through Nabal’s territory, they sent a message ahead requesting food to Him. They easily could have simply stolen some of his flock, but they acted righteously and had at times served to help protect his flocks. Nabal was unmoved, prideful and quickly refused their request. David took offense at his refusal, and was ready to wipe out Nabal and all the males of his family and servants.
To his good fortune, he happened to be married to Abigail, a woman who was intelligent, wise, insightful and beautiful. Her intercession with David no doubt saved Nabal’s life.
When Nabal offended David, Abigail took immediate steps to defuse the situation. She prepared a great feast and went out to meet David and his men. The feast was undoubtedly a welcome sight as David and his men were hungry and tired from being pursued by Saul and his army. The act of kindness acted to calm David and diverted him from seeking vengeance on Nabal.
When we intercede for another by meeting the needs of the one being offended, we establish a connection with them just as Abigail did with David.
When Abigail returned home she found her husband drunk. She wisely waited until he was sober before revealing what she had done. Her decisive actions in meeting the needs of David’s men, and speaking humbly before David, preserved her husband and family. When Abigail shared what she had done, Nabal’s “heart died within him so he became like a stone.” Ten days later he died.
David never forgot this encounter, and was greatly impressed with Abigail’s Godly demeanor and wisdom. She had demonstrated patients and submission in facing a stressful time. Her quick thinking, wisdom and problem solving skills were apparent to him; so-much-so that after Nabal’s death, David took her as his wife. Her leadership saved her family and secured her future… all through making the connection to David’s needs.
Relational skills are essential in the kingdom of God. Jesus brought focus to this point when he summarized kingdom life in two phrases:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart…
Love your neighbor as yourself…
Matthew 22:37-40
The kingdom revolves around our faith put into action through the building of relationships.
Our first and foremost responsibility is to commit to establishing and maintaining our relationship with the Lord.
From that relationship will flow the naturally supernatural relationships with others. The kingdom is all about building relationships.
People will welcome your witness for Christ once you have earned the right to speak into their lives by building a relationship with them.

We can learn a lot about life from this account of Abigail.
Abigail was ready to take the initial steps necessary, despite the risk, to resolve the problem facing her.
She made a connection with David by showing him deference, she admitted the wrong, and humbly asked David’s directly for the forgiveness for her husband’s actions.
She suggested to David that he would be wise not to kill her husband, so that his conscience would be free.
She encouraged David and acknowledged his anointing as king over Israel.
She assumed the responsibility for her husband’s sinful behavior.
She made a connection with David by focusing on his needs.
Abigail exemplified a generous spirit in the gifts that she brought.

Abigail in Hebrew means “the father’s joy.” I imagine that when we act with such restraint and wisdom, we too bring our heavenly Father great joy.

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Strengthening The Kingdom

“Those who are intimate with God will never be intimidated by man.”
David Ravenhill


Strengthening The Kingdom:

There is an interesting account in the eleventh chapter of Second Chronicles that caught my eye today. I was reading through the account of Rehoboam’s reign in Jerusalem in the face of Israel’s revolt under Jeroboam the first king of Israel following Solomon’s reign of the ‘united kingdom’ (both Judah and Israel).
Jeroboam wanted to muster the troops of Judah and Benjamin to go out and fight what he saw as the rebellious Israelites under Jeroboam. But the word of the Lord came and told them not to go out to battle; and they obeyed the directive of God. In that instant the ‘united kingdom’ became divided into the kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Israel.
When Jeroboam came into power in Israel and he began to make sweeping spiritual changes.
14b …Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them (the Levites)
from serving as priests to the LORD.
15He set up priests of his own for the high places,
for the goat and for the calves which he had made.
2 Chronicles 11:14b-15 NIV
Jeroboam allowed for the worship of Baal and many false gods of the people… any god was welcomed but the God of Jerusalem. He erected two types of high places, one for Baal and another where he placated the people who worshipped the true God but under his own appointed priests (not the Levites).

The Levites and true believers who were in Israel abandoned everything including their possessions, and came to Jerusalem to serve under Rehoboam, where they could worship the true God.

14 The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property, and came to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD. 15 And he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made. 16 Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
2 Chronicles 11:14-16 NIV

“They set they hearts on seeking the LORD.”

It would seem that the enemy is still seeking to divide the people of God in the same way. The world system is teeming with the ‘spirit of Rehoboam’… any path the god, except the true path though Jesus Christ. 'If you want to stay here we expect you to be “politically correct” and accept the blood of goats and calves to be as acceptable as the blood of the Lamb of God.'

Many in the land knuckled under and went with the flow. But then there were those who refused to follow, and at great personal cost, they followed after the truth and sought after the Lord. There are those today following the same narrow path.
Notice what it says in verse 17.

They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, walking in the ways of David and Solomon during this time.
2 Chronicles 11:17 NIV

They strengthened the kingdom of Judah by their physically presence... yes. I believe, however, that the greatest strength they offered the kingdom was their integrity to follow after God in His prescribed manner. They were determined to seek God with all their hearts, despite the cost.

God is still seeking men and women who will do the same.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
Psalm 33:12 NIV

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The Bread of the Lord’s Presence:

“When God asks a question it’s not because He lacks answers.
God’s queries are designed to make us contemplate
who He is, and why he proclaims the things He does.
He is attempting to bring us to the place where we can lean on Him wholly -
rather than on our own understanding.”
Kris Vallotton
Bethel Church, Redding, California
@Christ Community Church 12-29-07


The Bread of the Lord’s Presence:

When was the last time that God used you to perform a miracle,

or to demonstrate His authority, or exercise a special sign or wonder?

For many Christians such actions have become a benchmark for measuring their spirituality. While I think we should earnestly desire to be used of God in this manner, I also believe that very pursuit can also become a idolatrous stumbling block for the believer.

1At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath,
and His disciples became hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat.
2But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him,
"Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath."
3But He said to them,
"Have you not read what David did
when he became hungry, he and his companions,
4how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread,
which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him,
but for the priests alone?
5"Or have you not read in the Law,
that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple
break the Sabbath and are innocent?
6"But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.
7"But if you had known what this means,
'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,'
you would not have condemned the innocent.
8"For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Matthew 12:1-8 NASB

Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets…

17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Matthew 5:17,18 NASB

…yet when his disciples violated the Law, by picking and eating grain on the Sabbath, Jesus was not the least bit offended by their actions. The Pharisees, on-the-other-hand, were incensed by their actions; after all they had “broken the Law,” and they were quick to challenge Jesus.
Religious types are today still becoming outraged by even the slightest violation of the law, because they are still trying to “work-their-way” into heaven.
Jesus was quick to point to the Scriptures and give them the example of David and his followers consumption of the “Bread of the Presence” when they were being pursued by king Saul and his army.

4The priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
5David answered the priest and said to him, "Surely women have been kept from us as previously when I set out and the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was an ordinary journey; how much more then today will their vessels be holy?"
6So the priest gave him consecrated bread; for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.
1 Samuel 21:4-6 NASB

David’s men were given the consecrated Bread of the Presence to satisfy their hunger. The disciples were allowed to eat the grain in the presence of the One who is the bread of life.

32Jesus then said to them,
"Truly, truly, I say to you,
it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven,
but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.
33"For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven,
and gives life to the world."
34Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread."
35Jesus said to them,
"I am the bread of life;
he who comes to Me will not hunger,
and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
John 6:32-35 NASB

When we partake of the Bread of Life, we become ambassadors for Christ’s life giving bread to the world around us. We partake of the Bread of His Presence by being in his presence. There is no greater responsibility, nor pleasure, than to be in His presence. Our highest priority must always be to be lead by the presence of the Lord. Being lead by the presence of the Lord is characterized by a lifestyle of worship, adoration and praise. We have our hearts and eyes focused on Him.

Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you,
but to fear the LORD your God,
to walk in all His ways and love Him,
and to serve the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deuteronomy 10:12 NASB

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 NASB

Each time we demonstrate the character of Christ that has been birthed in us because of His presence in our lives we are giving away His grace and mercy. The very heart of the Father is present in every kind act of compassion, each kind word or gentle gesture that we perform.

When the Pharisees tried to pin Jesus down with their observation, He subtly rebuked them saying:

"But if you had known what this means,
'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,'
you would not have condemned the innocent.
8"For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Matthew 12:7,8 NASB (quoting Hosea 6:6)

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6 NIV

Jesus was equating the presence of mercy and compassion with knowledge of the intimate presence of the God. Having an intimate relationship with the Lord is the only way that we will walk in the compassion and mercy of God.

The religious hypocrite will always focus on the deeds and shortcomings of others, but those who are lead by the Spirit of God will always walk in compassion and mercy so that another’s need is met.

Remember the question at the very beginning…
‘When was the last time that God used you to perform a miracle,
or to demonstrate His authority,
or exercise a special sign or wonder?’

I believe that while these things will follow after believers, the pursuit of them is the wrong approach. We need to pursue the giver of the gifts not the gifts. That said, many believers have been deceived in thinking that demonstrations of power, signs and wonders are the only marks of a spiritual life.

Each time we extend the love an grace of our hand to another, we have witnessed the Bread of His Presence being distributed. When we have compassion for another… it is His compassion. When we bring peace to the storm in another person’s life… it is His peace. When we wrap a loving arm around a grieving brother, sister or stranger on the street… we extend his arm of comfort… His presence. His presence brought into the life of another is the most significant miracle we can witness.

40"The King will answer and say to them,
'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it
to one of these brothers of Mine,
even the least of them,
you did it to Me.'
Matthew 25:40 NASB

When we minister in love and mercy to others, we are ministering to the Lord Himself. Our every small act of kindness, patience, longsuffering, gentleness…
each brings a smile to the Lord’s face. When we love them, we love the One who created them.
Love and the mercy and grace that are expressions of that love are birthed in us by God.

7Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is from God;
and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8The one who does not love
does not know God,
for God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 NASB

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Part 1 The Difficult Teachings of Jesus Christ

Sometimes the Lord calms the storm;
Sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child
as He leads them to victory.
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The Difficult Teachings of Jesus Christ: Part 1


For many Christians the red letter’s of the New Testament alone represent the words of the Lord. The Word proclaims:
1In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2He was in the beginning with God.
3All things came into being through Him,
and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it.
John 1:1-5 NASB

The entire Word of God represents the Word of God… it says that all Scripture is given
“All Scripture is inspired by God
and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction,
for training in righteousness;
17so that the man of God may be adequate,
equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB

Thus when we open the Scriptures, we must do so with balance and inclusiveness if we are to get a full understanding of how we are to walk before our God. This includes understanding what is required of us, and how we are to walk so that God’s will for our lives will overcome the desires and works of the enemy.

“For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh;
for these are in opposition to one another,
so that you may not do the things that you please.”
Galatians 5:17 NASB

There is a war raging within each of us between what is birthed of the Holy Spirit within us and the desires of our flesh. No one is exempt from the struggle, not you, nor I. The Scripture above was written to the Galatian church, to believers like us. The issue here is one of leading and surrender. Who will we choose to allow to be in the lead, our own earthly desires or the Spirit of God. We will only see victory and experience the fullness of our inheritance in Christ if we choose the way of the Spirit of God.
If we will choose to yield ourselves wholly to the wooing of the Spirit, in the grace of our Lord… we will not come under condemnation but walk in freedom.

1Therefore there is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
3For what the Law could not do,
weak as it was through the flesh,
God did: sending His own Son
in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin,
He condemned sin in the flesh,
4so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us,
who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5For those who are according to the flesh set their minds
on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit,
the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-5 NASB

Walking in the freedom of the Lord is a choice we must make each day. When we are diligent to do so we will not experience any condemnation because the very nature of Jesus Christ in us will set us free from the old law of sin and death. Jesus proclaims that yes, we will have tribulation in this world; but we should rejoice in that he has come to assure us victory over every area of sin, bondage and sickness.

“These things I have spoken to you,
so that in Me you may have peace
In the world you have tribulation,
but take courage; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33 NASB

What follows in Galatians is a sobering admonition
about the signs of back-sliding believers.

19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident,
which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy,
outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these,
of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you,
that those who practice such things
will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 NASB

[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (KJV)
Now the works of the flesh — By which that inward principle is discovered.
are manifest — Plain and undeniable.
The works are mentioned in the plural because they are distinct from,
and often inconsistent with, each other.
But "the fruit of the Spirit" is mentioned in the singular, Galatians 5:22, as being all consistent and connected together.
— He enumerates those "works of the flesh" to which the Galatians were most inclined; and those parts of "the fruit of the Spirit" of which they stood in the greatest need. We also are so inclined, and equally in need of the work and fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Some of the terms used here are self evident while others could use a little expanding on if we are to understand what these Scriptures are requiring of us.
Lasciviousness — The Greek word means anything inward or outward that is contrary to chastity.
It also means: bender. binge, blowout, bust, carousal, depravity, dissipation, drunkenness, excess, fornication, incontinence, indulgence, intemperance, lustful intimacy, lechery, lewdness, lust, orgy, overindulgence, revelry, seduction, fast living, gluttony, sensuality, or living life in the “fast lane.”
To the contrary, walking in the Spirit is characterized by benevolence (love), giving, unselfishness and mercifulness.
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (KJV)
Idolatry, witchcraft — That this means witchcraft, strictly speaking, it appears from its being joined with the worship of devil-gods, and not necessarily with murder. This is frequently and solemnly forbidden in the Old Testament. To deny therefore that there is, or ever was, any such thing, is, by plain consequence, to deny the authority both of the Old and New Testament.
Heresies are divisions in religious communities.
Emulations are: unnatural appitite, ardor, jealous aspirations, cravings, lustful drives, hunger, longing, sensual love or lust.
Life in the Spirit to the contrary leads to: contentment, humility, satisfaction and peace.
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Revellings — means to indulge in luxurious entertainments, to bask, carouse, carry-on, cut loose, fool around, frolick, gloat, indulge, relish, to blow off steam, savor, wallow in , kick up ones heel. The type of behavior engaged in by the first prodical son who took and squandered his father’s inheritance.
Some of the works here mentioned are wrought principally, if not entirely, in the mind; and yet they are called "works of the flesh." This makes it is clear, the apostle does not by "the flesh" mean just the body, or sensual appetites and inclinations only, but the corruption of human nature, as it spreads through all the powers of the soul, (the mind, will and emotions) as well as all the physical members of the body.
Of which I tell you before — Before the event, I forewarn you.
When we examine such Scriptures closely we begin to feel the weight of the requirements for walking in the kingdom of God.
First John 2:6 states clearly that “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”
Jesus walked in object purity! And he did so as a man in the flesh, to demonstrate to us that it is possible for us to do the same. To walk such a life we must walk in the Spirit as Jesus did. He overcame every obsticle and performed every miracle as a man being lead by the Spirit to complete His Father’s will. We are called to walk in the fullness of His stature.
“ …until we all attain to the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a mature man,
to the measure of the stature
which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:13 NASB

Jesus calls us still saying:
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48 NASB
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children”
Ephesians 5:1 NASB
because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
1 Peter 1:16 NASB (Quoting Leviticus: 11:44; 19:2; 20:7)
Jesus overcame temptation, and became the spotless Lamb of God, so that we could do the same. He proclaimed that it was better for us that He returned to the Father so that the Holy Spirit would come and lead us to all truth and victory.
The pattern of the carnal flesh is struggle – defeat – struggle – defeat… an endless cycle of bitter failure and depression. The pattern of a life in Jesus Christ, being lead of the Holy Spirit is grace to grace, holiness to holiness, victory to victory in the face of any and all opposition.

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Harnessed for Battle

"The richness of God's Word ought to determine our prayer,
not the poverty of our heart."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer


Harnessed for Battle
In the thirteenth chapter of Exodus, there is a curious juxtaposition in verses seventeen and eighteen. In verse seventeen, the children of Israel have just been delivered from captivity in Egypt and the Lord leads them, not to the promised land through the land of the Philistines (a war like and sinful people), but he takes them into the wilderness saying:

"Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, "The people might (repent) change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."
Exodus 13:7 NASB

In the very next verse there seems to be a contradiction in the account:

"Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up (harnessed) in martial array from the land of Egypt.
Exodus 13:18 NASB [my emphasis bold]

I have emphasized these two words (in these two verses) to look at a little closer, in order to focus on this seemingly inconsistent account.

The word repent (Strongs 5162) is from the
Hebrew word nacham [naw cham]
this word means: to sigh or breath strongly (as from fear)
to be sorry or pity ones previous action or choice
to rue, pity or repent

So here we have the picture of a people who have:

1- been held in captivity for four hundred years
2- been dramatically and miraculously rescued
and lead out of bondage
3- now being sorry, and quite frankly “being scared to death”
and wanting to go back to captivity rather than face the unknown, or possibility of retaliation from Pharaoh

In today’s language we would probably say they were
“shaking in their boots”.

In the very next verse the Spirit of God tells us they were “harnessed.”

The word harnessed (Strongs 2571) is from the
Hebrew word chamush [khaw moosh]

this word means: to be staunch,
able bodied soldiers
well armed, stout, or harnessed

Here we have quite a different picture
of a people who are marching as an army
totally equipped and ready for battle,
having been trained and armed for the fight,
and willingly ready to enter with purpose and fortitude.

What a curious juxtaposition the Holy Spirit gives us here.

The Old Testament accounts are filled with “types” and “shadows” of eternal truths, that are brought to fruition in the new testament church. Indeed scripture makes it clear that the very physical battles that the nation of Israel faced are mirrors of the spiritual battles that each of us face today individually and corporately.

"Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come."
I Corinthians 10:11 NASB

It is so easy for us to look back at the accounts given in God’s Word and say: “How could they have been so foolish...couldn’t they see what God was doing right before their eyes...how could Peter have denied Jesus?”

Yet these verses, I believe, have a very real and very timely word for us as Christians today. In this Old Testament situation there is a spiritual parallel to our personal walk with the Lord today, as well as to the churches.
Have we not been as the children of Israel?

1- They were held captive in Egypt.

1- We were held captive in Sin.

2- They were delivered miraculously by the mighty hand of God
from the bondage of Egypt and the rule of Pharaoh

2- We have been delivered miraculously by
the mighty hand of God
by faith in His dear Son,
from the bondage of sin (Egypt)
and the rule of Satan (Pharaoh)


3- They were equipped for battle...
given the example that God would fight their battles for them
if they would only trust and obey Him....

"and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands."

[spoken by David as he prepared to fight Goliath]
I Samuel 17:47

but....they could not consistently see this
and time after time they fell back into bondage and lost battles because of their low view of God.

3- We as Christians today, stand victorious in Christ Jesus
Hallelujah!
We are equipped and ready for battle... in Him
because “the Battle is” still “the Lord’s” but He has said:
“It is finished!” (John 19:30)

So many times I see brothers, sisters (and myself) struggling with this issue of being equipped for battle, but not being harnessed to the understanding and faith which enables us to move out in the authority and power that Christ has given us. How many times I have fallen short of the mark because I allowed “the prince of this world” to block my vision of the Ancient of Days. Without vision the people perish says Proverbs 29:18.

How often do we struggle with returning to the comfort zone of our sin (our Egypt) and submit to the task-master-pharaoh (satan) rather than to step out in faith and confront the enemy and smite him in the awesome power of the Lord.

"Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly."
Proverbs 26:11

The Christian today who is effective for the gospel of Jesus Christ is one who is harnessed to the yolk of the Master, one who knows and heeds the voice of The Good Shepherd, one who has an intimate relationship in prayer, praise and meditation - times of intimacy with the Author and Finisher of their faith. One who walks in the light, and is lead by the Spirit, is equipped and able to do battle.

“For though we walk in the flesh,
we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ;
And having in a readiness to revenge
all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

II Corinthians 10:3-6

May the Lord God Almighty give us vision to see Him face to face, as our buckler and strong tower, that we might be harnessed to see His kingdom established, and His Gospel fulfilled, and His return shortened.

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Come into My Presence

Two characteristics of a Christian are giving and forgiving.
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Come into My Presence

This Morning an image of the Lord was shared
during praise and worship at our church.
‘The King of Righteousness stood with His scepter extended (granting permission to come into His presence and speak our request). In His right arm was His royal robe. The robe was a deep dark purple with golden threads embroidered in the velvet-like material. The robe was hooded with pristine white fur around the hood and neck of the robe. The Lord stood with the royal robe extended awaiting us to put it on.’
As this picture was being shared
I believe I heard the voice of the Lord saying the following:
“Come close to Me…
Come to Daddy…
Come into My presence…
In My presence is fullness of joy
In My presence is peace
In My presence is My fragrance
In My presence is compassion
In My presence is safety
In My presence is the truth
In My presence is your inheritance
In My presence is solid ground
In My presence is purpose
In My presence is authority
In My presence is your destiny
In My presence is strength
In My presence is new life
In My presence is wisdom
In My presence is grace
In My presence is righteousness
In My presence is promise
In My presence is a new song
In My presence is power
In My presence is victory
In My presence is hope
In My presence is abundant life
In My presence is light
In My presence is a table of provision
In My presence is encouragement
In My presence is security
In My presence is mercy
In My presence is comfort
In My presence is knowledge
In My presence is holiness
In My presence is a new song
In My presence is your soul’s delight…
Come close to Me…
Come to Daddy…
Come into My presence."

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The Purifier for Holy Living:

“Unless the soul is fed and exercised daily, it becomes weak and shriveled. It remains discontented, confused, restless.”
Billy Graham

Life Wisdom from Billy Graham (p19)


The Purifier for Holy Living:

23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,
he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24for once he has looked at himself and gone away,
he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty,
and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer,
this man will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:23-25 NASB

Purity of life is not the pursuit of perfection, but rather the quest to be liberated from those things that inhibit our effectiveness for the kingdom of God. We desire to see the power of God demonstrated through our lives, so that those around us can see Christ in us.
The James text shows that the Word of God is like a mirror – a means of reflecting our true nature. The implication here is not that we simply see in the mirror, but that we allow the corrective influence of God’s Word to act upon and conform our lives to the image of Christ Jesus.
There is another implication within this divine phrase – that we should avoid the temptation to utilize the Word of God to judge the walks of others… i.e. that we remove the beam from our own eye and not be consumed with removing a speck from our brother or sisters eye.

2"For in the way you judge, you will be judged;
and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye,
but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4"Or how can you say to your brother,
'Let me take the speck out of your eye,'
and behold, the log is in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:2-4 NASB

2 Corinthians 3:18 also likens the Word of God to a mirror…

18But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror
the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image
from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB

…but it likens the image to the fullness of Christ Jesus Himself.

The Word of God reveals the character of Christ to us that we may measure our own progress in becoming more and more like Him – from glory to glory through His marvelous grace.
God continually is asking us to die to self, so that we may be more like His beloved Son.

29For those whom He foreknew,
He also predestined to become
conformed to the image of His Son,
so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Romans 8:29

11And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets,
and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service,
to the building up of the body of Christ;
13until we all attain to the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a mature man, to the measure of the stature
which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
14As a result, we are no longer to be children,
tossed here and there by waves
and carried about by every wind of doctrine,
by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15but speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in all aspects into Him
who is the head, even Christ,
16from whom the whole body,
being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies,
according to the proper working of each individual part,
causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NASB

Jeremiah 29:9 speaks of the Word of God as a fire. The fire of God has two distinct purposes in our lives. First it purges us from the things that inhibit our intimacy with Him. Secondly it ignites us for service!

12For the word of God is living and active
and sharper than any two-edged sword,
and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit,
of both joints and marrow,
and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB

God’s Holy Word is a powerful cleansing and delivering agent.
The Word of God says that we are to work our salvation with fear and trembling…
(Philippians 2:12) … salvation should always lead to service. It is the height of self-deception to believe that the goal of the Christian walk is simply to attend church and hear the word each week. James implores us not simply to be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word!

“But prove yourselves doers of the word,
and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
James 1:22 NASB

The Word must bring transformation to our lives that we may be vessels fit for the Masters use.

21 “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things,
he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master,
prepared for every good work.”
2 Timothy 2:21 NASB

There are those who hear the Word, and agree with what it says… but they quickly forget about it failing to apply it to their lives. (See Matthew 13 - The Parable of the Sower)

" For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Luke 9:26 NASB

It is the one who hears the Word and continues in it who is blessed.
He who does the will of my Father

" He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."
John 14:21 NASB

God’s Word is the perfect law of liberty. The Scriptures never enslave or place in the bondage of legalism, but rather it frees us to keep the commands and precepts of God out of love and devotion to the One who redeemed us from sin and death!

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