Healers of the Wounded

 This is a message the church must hear. "Healers of the Wounded" by Pastor Lee Shipp. Would to God we all had ears to hear and hearts to receive this message. There are so many prodigals, so many sinners who would come to God if the church truly had and manifested the heart and love of God. Preachers who preach without feeling the love and longing of God for the lost and dying and hurting in the world should not preach. Those who preach in anger and harshness, displeased with the appearance or mistakes or perceived wrongs of those around them, all wound and kill in the letter. If you haven't felt the broken heart of God for those in this world in desperate need you cannot be an accurate messenger or witness.

So many people would come home to God's House if they thought they could without facing harsh and unfriendly attitudes, hurtful comments because they have made mistakes, backslid, or for whatever reason don't "measure up" to the church folks' standards. This is a total misrepresentation of God and it delightful to the devil. Where is the burden for the lost? If the church truly believes Jesus is coming back any minute why are they so busy condemning or doing their own thing rather than seeking God for the lost? Willing to reach out in love that only the Holy Spirit can pour through us? Please, listen. So many have been wounded in the house of God by sharp and judgmental tongues or words spoken thoughtlessly. So many church folks are so busy trying to live their best life now caught up in purpose driven hogwash they have themselves completely missed the mark.

God have mercy on us and please forgive us for thinking more highly of ourselves than we should and neglecting You and Your purpose-which is at all cost to seek and save the lost. You didn't send a message of hell fire and damnation to the world, You sent Your Best, Your Son, who desperately loves humanity. He came to demonstrate who You are and how much You love people. God please forgive us for so misrepresenting You and please grant us the grace and courage to face you in an altar of prayer and sacrifice so You can change us into Your image.....

In the precious Name of Jesus,
Amen....

Christ is Our Example-Self Denial- BH Clendennen

Speaking the Truth in Love

Speak the truth in love out of concern for others well being. That is what this post is about. The Message link I want to share with you and hope you will take time to watch is titled "Feeding Christ" and pastor David Wilkerson recalls how the Lord dealt with him for his railing on other ministers, the church, thing that didn't measure up in his eyes. How sad he was when he saw what he had done. I see a lot of my Christian friends do this on Facebook. I have been guilty myself and had to repent. So I looked up what the Word of God says about railing because this stirred something in my heart this morning. Please read carefully. I'm asking God to shine the light in my heart and let nothing hide from Him.

1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat. 

This is not directed at the world, but at the church. And look at the company a railer is included with. To eat is to fellowship, in the Word. 

1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

If we are washed and cleansed of these things, we do not need to continue in them, including railing and reviling, for it's a thing of the fleshly human nature, Amen? In a world so full of sin and darkness and cruelty, may God purge it from His house and people. Scriptures studied, with the definition in the Greek of the word railer/reviler inclued, in listed order. Please take time to examine them with an open heart. I know it's a hard thing, and will require divine help to overcome this. But what He says is serious and we need to consider it.

Scriptures: Luke 23:39, 1 Cor 5:11, 6:10, 1 Tim 6:4, 1 Pet 3:9, 2 Pet 2:11, Jude verse 9. In listing order, Strong's # G987, G3060, G988, G3059, G989, G988. 

Definition, of the word identified by Strong's number in listing order:
1-To vilify, speaking of another without reverence or due respect, to defame, revile, speak evil of, slander, speak lightly/profanely of sacred things. To dishonor, malign, hurl abuse verbally.
2-abusive reviler, one who attacks with abusive language, spreads negative information about (example given in dictionary was Nazi Propaganda)
3-to vilify, evil speaking, railing against
4-to slander, criticism which is sustained, overly harsh, blaming, condemning, venomous language used to express blame or censure, bitter, deep seated ill will against.
5-expressing offensive reproach because of, speaking slanderous, harmful and often untrue or exaggerated speech to discredit or malign 

You can watch any news channel right now with the election coming up and see all of this on display by unregenerate politicians or media people. You see it in the world every where you go. And in many churches, you hear preachers doing it from the pulpit against things they don't like. I see it on Facebook every time I do log on among well meaning Christians, and I realize they are just tired and frustrated by what is wrong and condemning it. Many curse the darkness instead of being a vessel through which His light and life can shine. When we rail on others, on things that irritate us, that anger dims our light. When we act this way, railing on things we can't change, because we don't like it, we misrepresent Christ. We hurt and discourage others. I've seen preachers beat people with the Word of God, with good intentions but when the Word is delivered in tired, frustrated flesh, without anointing, the wounded walk out so discouraged they give up and don't come back many times. God showed Pastor Wilkerson how to behave this way was not His heart. He said the Lord revealed to him that he should have been moved with compassion for those who are out of the way, not piling on them in their condition.(Heb 7:25)

I Indeed...But He-My Utmost For His Highest

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

"I Indeed... But He"

“ I indeed baptize you with water . . but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire."  ” Matthew 3:11

Have I ever come to a place in my experience where I can say - "I indeed - but He"? Until that moment does come, I will never know what the baptism of the Holy Ghost means. I indeed am at an end, I cannot do a thing: but He begins just there - He does the things no one else can ever do. Am I prepared for His coming? Jesus cannot come as long as there is anything in the way either of goodness or badness. When He comes am I prepared for Him to drag into the light every wrong thing I have done? It is just there that He comes. Wherever I know I am unclean, He will put His feet; wherever I think I am clean, He will withdraw them.

Repentance does not bring a sense of sin, but a sense of unutterable unworthiness. When I repent, I realize that I am utterly helpless; I know all through me that I am not worthy even to bear His shoes. Have I repented like that? Or is there a lingering suggestion of standing up for myself? The reason God cannot come into my life is because I am not through into repentance.

"He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire." John does not speak of the baptism of the Holy Ghost as an experience, but as a work performed by Jesus Christ. "He shall baptize you." The only conscious experience those who are baptized with the Holy Ghost ever have is a sense of absolute unworthiness.

I indeed was this and that; but He came, and a marvellous thing happened. Get to the margin where He does everything.

"Do nothing unworthy of Him who represents you in heaven, and whom you represent on earth. He is faithful to you; be you so to Him...Be His witnesses; be His mirrors; be His living epistles. Let Him speak through you to the world. Let your life tell your fellow-men what He is, and what He is to you. Speak well of Him to men, as He speaks well of you to God. He has honoured you by giving you His name; He has blessed you by conferring on you sonship, and royalty, and an eternal heritage: see that you do justice to His love, and magnify His greatness."-HORATIO BONAR

Just a thought for today, well worth praying and meditating on......

We Must Choose The Way of Christ

This is posted on a wonderful website, Authentic Christianity.

We Must Choose the Way of Christ

**The following article is from the book - Living in the Heavenly Realms - and the chapter entitled "The Christian's Work: “ Believing and Yielding."

We often hear Christians condemning the Jews for choosing Barabbas over Jesus. And we wonder how this could have occurred. It may be helpful to realize that Barabbas represents someone who tried to further God's kingdom through his own efforts. The Son's way is to plant the seed in the ground in death and then to become fruitful in resurrection life. The way of Barabbas is to save self and then live for God through the zeal of human works. When presented with these two different ways, most people choose to save the flesh-life.

They will say, "Give us Barabbas."

But in the end it always results in the death of the Christ-life. And because it is effectively choosing carnality, this way of Barabbas is still killing others. Many have been turned away from Christ by the words that come out of the carnal hearts of professing Christians. Thus, we find this tragedy of the first century being repeated over and over again in the church today.

Someone once said, “Self is willing to permit the believer to do anything, give anything, sacrifice anything if it can only live.” People do not mind serving God if they can direct their own steps and have some of their own glory. But this is what permits Barabbas and Agag, with their carnal nature, to live.

Again, it has been said, “The Cross can only sever what you consent to part from. The severing of the Cross is not an actual experience, unless the will of the believer desires and consents to the actual separation in fact and practice.” God is very gracious. He patiently waits for each individual to make the choice to follow Jesus through the cross. Those who will honestly make the same decision that He did in the Garden of Gethsemane, can depend on the Spirit to then take them through the cross and into resurrection life in due time.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh (Rom. 13:14)

Since the Holy Spirit only works through yielded faith, how can He provide a complete severance from the old man and all that pertains to the old creation if you are still making ample provisions for the flesh? Whatever becomes food to the flesh  is dry fodder, or the food that perishes,' to the Spirit, and vice versa.

Do not love the world or the things of the world. With the Spirit's guidance, look for the things of the world that you tend to use for your spiritual support. What is it that your flesh insists on having? Examine your habits and routines. What leads you to do what you do? Again, what do you rely on for your spiritual support? While the body does have natural desires that will need to be met, they should never have dominion over the Spirit. Are you being led by the flesh or by the Spirit? Are you still seeking to have some of your own glory through the works of your own hands? If Christ's rivers of Living Water are not yet consistently flowing out of the heart in both good times and bad times, there is something preventing it. There is a need to search the heart with the Spirit and be prepared to surrender the most dearly loved Isaac.

God has provided all things to enjoy. But He did not intend for us to live by the flesh and turn the things into idols. Once we are truly living through the life of Christ in the heavenly realms we are enabled to walk in this world without being dependent upon its things for our spiritual support. Jesus lived in the world, and He was able to enjoy God's creation, but He did not receive His life from the world. The Son came to dispossess, to displace and to dethrone that old self-life so that God may gain complete possession of the human personality. It will never do to intellectually crown Christ as a puppet King and then live under the rule of Self-desire.

Of self, for self, and by self has remained the threefold principle that governs the lives of countless members of Christ's church. A believer cannot wholeheartedly set his affections upon the things above while he is still living for the things of this world. And it is unimaginable to think that someone who has truly been seated with Christ in the heavenly realms, and has begun to share with Him in every spiritual blessing found in His life, could still be hankering for the things of earth and of time and of sense.

Some of our readers may have tasted of the heavenly life at some point in their past. But since that day they have slowly weighted themselves down with the things of this world. It has resulted in a loss of what they once possessed. If this is your case, may God give you the desire to lay aside every weight and once again look unto Jesus for His life in the heavenly realms. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. The only way to successfully combat the desires of the flesh is to implicitly obey every prompting or motion of the Spirit, be it ever so slight. Whether it be a warning, a check, a leading, or a teaching, all must be followed. Do not permit others to turn you away from truth with their human wisdom and rationalizations. You must listen to the Lord. Those who will yield to the leading of His Spirit in all matters, even though it may result in some difficulties and suffering, can depend on Him to faithfully take them into the life of promise where it is possible to reign with Him over all the works of the flesh.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith {so you may fully trust in God}, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now {in the lives of Christians in this world} and forever. Amen. (Jude 20-25)

In closing, we pray that each of God's called-out children will honestly seek the Lord in faith. There is a life of promise within the heavenly realms, and we need to begin living there today. Every member of the body needs to submit to the work that God has previously planned to work out through their lives. (Eph. 2:10) It is our only means for truly revealing His light of life and drawing other spiritually poor and lost souls out of the darkness of this world and into His heavenly kingdom on the highest plane.

He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Eph. 4:10-16)

When I read this article, I was very much convicted by the truth it contains. I can only add this quote from the late Pastor BH Clendennen "If we will make the right choice, God will enforce it."

Divine Order in the House of God, Part 1: The Tabernacle

This is a very revealing study on why there is such a famine for the actual Presence and Power of God among many of His people today. To read the entire notes, you may find them here. I must warn you, this is a word many will reject because it leaves no room for anyone but God's Holy Spirit to operate and be glorified. There is no provision for human nature, human wisdom, human effort in God's plan, in God's House. This is an offensive truth to many church goers. Still-we must realize it is so much better to listen to and take heed to this awesome God who never makes a mistake, is never wrong, never forgets or leaves anything out, and is infinitely wiser than we could ever be. 

I'm just going to list the highlights of this in depth study. Ask yourself how can we know the divine order-or God appointed order of His House? We go to the Word, we study, and we pray and ask Him to help us understand what He is saying in His Word. Specific Scripture References are given in the notes, but you can read this outlined in Exodus, Chapters 25-30, and chapter 40.

1. The first example of divine order in the House of God is that only God gives the Pattern for the House

of God, its service, its ministry, who is to operate in this ministry and service, how and when. It is not

up to man how to run the House of God, nor is it to be man's decisions on whom shall serve in the

House of God.  God set the requirements for their service.   

2. Every bit of material, every structure, every piece of furniture that was to go into the Tabernacle, everything  was going to be sacred, and set apart for divine service. (We are to live unto and for and by the power of God, serving Him in the power of His Holy Spirit, not serving ourselves, for we are not to live for ourselves, continuing to function in our own natural strength and reasoning and doing it our own way.)

3. The Tabernacle was called the Tent of the Congregation and the Tabernacle of Witness. These two

titles convey important truths. A gathering place of God's people, so He could be close to them, and a

place that would reveal to them His character, His nature and His Word. When we go to the House of God, it is to be a set apart place where we gather to worship God, learn of God, and fellowship with God and in the process be strengthened by God. We are to go to give ourselves, our praise, our worship, to God, not just going to get something from Him.The Word we hear should confirm what He has been teaching us at home. And yes, we should be seeking Him at home, spending time alone with Him ourselves. 

4. The Tabernacle was to be erected at the appointed time, by the people God appointed to set it up.  This was not work one could choose or not choose to do, or do it his own time or his own way; it was a calling God gave only to a select group of people. It was to be put up on the first day of the first month of the year. God told them it was to mark the beginning of the calendar year. He's the Beginning of everything, amen? And what would the Tabernacle be but a place, a vessel that would contain the Presence, Power and

Word of God? This leaves no place for people to get upset over something they don't like and go start their own church, now does it? It's God's way, not ours. He is to choose the minister, the singers, the teachers, the workers. Amen? He never makes mistakes for He knows the hearts. With God in control there will be no idolaters or adulterers in the pulpit, folks, nor in the Sunday school rooms or the choir.

5.  We see here a picture of the Tabernacle-a foreshadowing of Christ, surrounded by flesh. He was at

the Center. He is to have the Preeminence in all things. He is the Source of all life, of all that is holy,

and all that is true. The Divine Design of the Tabernacle speaks of the order of God.

6. The Tabernacle itself was to be anointed with the holy anointing oil, and all that was in it. Every vessel, every dish, every bowl, every piece of furniture, everything was to be anointed with the oil. This sanctified it and qualified it to be in the service of the Tabernacle of God.  It was to hallowed---pronounced, and observed, regarded  by all as holy or hallowed. (This illustrates the necessity of being born of, filled with and led by the Holy Spirit. His Presence in us sanctifies, or sets us apart for God's divine purpose.)

7. It was to be a sacred place, set apart by and for the ministry to God and of God and His high priest. Nothing else. Service was to be done in there to God, that the people might be blessed and fed spiritual truth-the Word of God. There was to be bread, which is the Word of God. There was to be oil for the light in the Tabernacle. This is the Holy Spirit who gives light, or understanding to the hearer of the Word, and makes it alive within them-makes it a reality not just a dead letter. There was to be light--revelation-again from the Holy Spirit who alone is able to reveal truth to us, to reveal Christ to us.

8. There was to be incense offered up before the Ark, on the golden altar of incense which stood in

front of the Ark just outside the veil in the Holy Place. This golden altar represents the intercession of

the High Priest, Christ, that is before the Throne with the prayers of the saints. The incense is the prayers of the saints, offered up to the throne of God with the coals of fire from the brazen altar of sacrifice that tested the purity of the incense, offered with the fragrance and intercession of Christ to make them acceptable. This means these prayers must also be inspired by and aided by the Holy Spirit for we know not what or how to pray as we should. Anything that is not hid in Christ, or tries to goes to the throne not through Christ will be rejected. He said His House was to be a House of Prayer. There was to be regular and special times of communication with God. Prayers from people not sanctified, not set apart who are casual about the things of God can and will bring judgment and wrath-not answers. (See Lev. 10) For a minister to lead people who aren't serious about the things of God in prayer is to lead them into gross sin against God. They offer strange fire-something that is the result of human inspiration, human effort, human desires, to God. There is no provision for flesh in His Presence. 

9. Every vessel in the Tabernacle, including the Tabernacle itself, every instrument had its own God

appointed service just as we are to abide in the calling wherewith God has called us. He did not

consult with Moses and ask Moses who he wanted to do any of these things. God chose the people He

wanted to do what needed doing when it was to be done. The leadership is to be chosen by the Holy Spirit and the resulting choices men make concerning those who will be serving and ministering in the House of God must be given to them by the Lord as they seek Him in prayer. 

10. Every vessel (person operating in the ministry or service of the Tabernacle) had to be sanctified-which means it was or they were set apart by and for God for the purpose He chose.  This Tabernacle was only to be used in the service to and for God-as He prescribed. He alone was the Source of life, help, provision and deliverance to His people.

*****God never granted any reason or precedent to even wonder if there were any exceptions. He left no room for drama teams and plays, no political activism, no skits, no bake sales, puppet shows, dance and praise teams, no singings or fund raisers, power teams or pagan holiday celebrations-except for those He prescribed which pointed to spiritual truth and His Son. This is flesh trying to raise money to fulfill its religious desires because God will not. Sometimes these are sincere and want to do good, but we must operate within the bounds God set.

11. Right outside the Door of the Tabernacle-another illustration of Christ who is the Door-the only

entrance into God's Presence, was to be the bronze laver. This was a basin to be filled with water. The

priests were commanded to wash their hands and feet before entering the holy place inside the

Tabernacle. To enter without washing meant death. This shows us it's necessary that those who

approach God must have clean hands and clean feet. They must be living clean and honest lives-according to God's ways not man's nor their own ideas. 

Now you ask yourself this: when Israel walked in the will of God, did He not provide for their every need?  Did He not ensure they left Egypt with everything they would need in a wilderness to build this Tabernacle? He provided everything.  It's only when we operate in the natural realm we run out of provision and have to either hit our knees and cry out to God or resort to other methods and human effort.  

There were to be no worldly things or events in or around the Tabernacle, like bingo games, trunk or treat or any other thing that would entertain the flesh. This is an offensive truth to people and it provokes that human nature that is always opposed to God and what is holy. I have diligently searched this Holy Word of God and can find NO precedent, no allowance for any of these things that are so common in what is supposed to be His house today.  It's simply not there. Maybe that is why His glory and His presence isn't either. I do find Him instructing us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make NO provision for the flesh. To do so, to bring any of the world's methods of operating in to the Sanctuary is to profane it, defile it and can and will result in bringing God's judgment and wrath down on it and the people. He will not bear witness of what is not truth nor what He refuses to sanction.