Recipient of God's love

"To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:19

Nothing edifies the soul more then accepting and being recipient of God's love.

A submitted soul living and growing in the knowledge of God's love builds a house on a solid foundation.  This love that not only builds but restores a house and repairs a house.

The real heartfelt knowledge of God’s love establishes one's soul in Christ.  Promotes growth in ways the soul will probably never fully understand.    God’s love gives a wisdom that renews the chambers and hallways and rooms of our heart.  It grows and promotes affection for others.  It gives the warmth of grace where once only hardness fossilized the attitudes of the heart.  It bestows virtue by means of understanding the Lord of one’s life.  It waters with a blessedness that rust and moth and even time itself cannot touch.  God’s love preserves the soul as the petals of the heart seek and face the light of His love.

In short God loves helps us do all these things....
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7

The more we accept God's love, his Lordship and his authority as overseer of our life the more we can live in His love. 

His love emboldens an individual- not in himself/herself but in Christ Himself.

What is understood in the understandings of man as obligations of faith are carried out not in some kind of chore or rule but the freeing Spirit of God.  It as if the religious laws have disappeared because we accept God love that enables us to endure all things.       

God’s Spirit helps us live in the moment instead of our own thoughts of the moment.   Not by some human plan but God's plan.   Someone say that is crazy to relinquish control to God but I say if God knows what is best for me- then God's will be done.  Romans 8:28  says "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  

Besides who are we fooling by thinking we have control.  Do you really in the scope of things have control?  And what happens when you try to control?

Spirit and Truth- It is not us but Him....

In high school a couple of my friends and I went on an overnight hike up in the mountains.  We camped next to this lake and when we awoke and emerged from our tent the lake was still and it perfectly mirrored the majesty of mountain standing over it.  

I find some of the most powerful times we can have with the Lord are times were we have just quietly submitted ourselves to the Lord.  Where the waters of our soul have become still like that lake in the mountains.  Where the waters of our thoughts mirror God’s loving majesty standing over us.

“As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” Proverbs 27:19

We all have to ask ourselves everyday, where is our heart looking?

Example: I find when we have a powerful time of singing, worship and praise together... it is very organic. It is very genuine and very sincere.   It is often very spontaneous in how things are carried out, gifted and given -as souls are yielded to the Spirit of God.  And though things are spontaneous, they are somehow still orderly.  The time is not filled with disorder but harmony.   It reminds makes me of a tapestry or a patchwork quilt.  One might be singing with ordinary words, another words of angels, another utterances of praise, one words of prophecy, some dancing, some bowing, some with hands raised high, some hands spread out low as giving an offering and then you have the musicians and singers who are also playing and moving according to the Spirit.  All different yet we see each piece is sewed and threaded together in the Mastery of the Spirit of God.  Again this wasn't birthed out of some human plan but God's plan as we submitted ourselves to Him and mirror what we receive from His majesty.

When we strive for “some” affect.... because we had or someone else had previous success we resort to shallow “fleshly” thinking- where we are not submitted to God’s Spirit.

Success only comes when God works through the vessels and hearts of those vessels.

"And though they worshiped the LORD, they continued to follow the religious customs of the nations from which they came. And this is still going on among them today.  They follow their former practices instead of truly worshiping the LORD and obeying the laws, regulations, instructions and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel." 2 Kings 17:33-34

How often do Christian denominations and churches follow "religious" practices they have passed down from generation to generation instead of truly worship the LORD?  They do it "this" way because that is the way they have always done it. 

"Religious" practices do nothing for the soul.  I do not mind people thinking about former days -especially if it stirs them up in the Lord but there are these days as well.  For the word of God mentions times when people no longer called on God and stirred themselves to take hold of Him. Note Isaiah 64:7 

Live in these days as well as you remember the faithfulness of the Lord, looking forward and anticipating what else He wants to do in our lives.  

"He" not us... (think about Psalm 23) 

How we forget and allow ourselves to be thought of less of by circumstances and actions of others when God has called us into his kingdom and for  “such a time as this.”

 As the body of Christ, the Apostle Paul says we shouldn't hold on to the past or live in the past.

I find no maturing and knew revelation of Christ can be built upon just living in the past and even more foolishly deciding that we have already apprehended all there is to know of God.  Paul says he's forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to those things that are ahead that he might walk deeper in the call that Jesus Christ apprehended him for.

You and I cannot walk deeper in the call/purpose/the love unless our revelation of Jesus Christ deepens in our heart not just our mind.   That we might know how wide, how long, how high, how deep his love really is....  For in Christ our Father has glorious unlimited resources for us to gain a greater confidence in him, to be encouraged, to grow and mature, and have a growing relationship with Him which is made possible by His Holy Spirit.

Remember what Paul wrote:  [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….” Philippians 3:10

It is not by might or power but by His Spirit! (Note Zechariah 4:6). Those lost in the world cannot receive from His Spirit because they aren't looking for Him and don't have Him living inside of them- for when we gave our lives to Christ He not only changed our heart but gave His Spirit to us as well so we might (by our choice) become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly. 

Jesus says, "I am the truth, the way and life, no one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.   I have found this statement to be more then true.

No one can receive from God deeper building revelations of God unless they give their lives to God.

 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 says  "But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, more ear heard, nor have entered the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has reveal them to us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even  so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." 

God wants us to have a deeper growing revelation of Himself so that we might live in the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  I am reminded of all .... Ephesians 3:14-20

To think that the Creator of all the universe wants to share this with us is amazing yet so many ignore this fact. 

I read this morning- there is no such thing as chance. "For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways." Note: Isaiah 64:4-5

It is important to wait for Him.  To thank Him, to do right,  and remember in thought and deed the ways of God.  All very difficult and even impossible without the assistance of God in one's life.  

How often does God do the same thing the same way every time… even during our personal devotional time with Him?   For He makes all things new does he not?

Our devotional time may start with us submitting to Him but from then on out it is Him that is guiding and directing.  And sometimes this can be frustrating because just about the time we think we know how God works it seems He changes it on us.

 I have found God doesn’t like when we try to fit Him in a box in our mind.  I think He doesn’t want us to put Him in a box because He doesn’t want us to live in a box.   After all we are to live/abide in Him and His Love.   We are to discover nothing is impossible with God but with a box you are limited to the possibilities and you are limiting God as well.

God wants us to know that He works in many ways- not just in the ways we think He works in.   

Have you ever seen the wind caught in a box?  Me either.      

     

So trust Him…. Let God work and He will reveal more of Himself to us and as we mature in His wonderful loving revelation of Himself -we will manifest Him in ways we didn't think possible because He was allowed to have control.  We come open handed, no agenda, no presumption, submitted and seeking Him with anticipation.  All eyes and hearts on Him, who is our hope, strength and all and all.    

How I ponder these things in my heart and am thankful for them.

To Know Him- Continued

“Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.  Cry out for insight and understanding.  Search for them as you would lost money and hidden treasure.  Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God.  For God grants wisdom!  From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly.  He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity.  He guards the paths of justice and protects those who are faithful to him.  Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair and you will know how to find the right course of action every time.  For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.” Proverbs 2:2-10

From knowing to knowing.

We can all “know” the mechanics on how to do something through how-to-books, tutorials, YouTube videos and so on but if we do not apply the knowledge in experience- the knowledge just sits there in our heads.

We can listen to someone tell us how to ride a bike but unless we actually try riding a bike we won’t “know” how to ride a bike.

I find that true with the knowledge God gives us.    God doesn’t want us to just “intellectually” know about him and his wisdom and store it some mental grain elevator never to be used or eaten but he wants us to take that wisdom and apply it to our life through the situations and circumstances and trials in our life.   

Have you ever thought about as God’s people asked God why, what, who, when, where and so on...  was God’s faithfulness not also being tried and tested as well in the human soul?

What is being poured into the human soul? What is being cast inside the human soul in the furnace of life? Who’s likeness are we being formed into as we trust in God?

“… And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more…” Note: 2 Corinthians 3:18

Quick note:

We must live our lives in a manner that won’t bring sorrow or quench His Holy Spirit for we receive God’s wisdom and power through the Holy Spirit. 

Scriptures: Ephesians 4:30, John 16:13-15, 1 Thessalonians 1:5 & 5:19

Look how beautifully the Lord has dressed them.  They live in the Lord and the Lord lives in them.  Look and see how the Lord takes care of them.  Look and see how the Lord takes cares of them as they trust in him.  The Lord will not let evil overtake them. Look at the simple soul who trusts and holds tight to God – they glorify Him in their life.  Look how God clothes them.  And how they glorify Him in ways they didn’t even imagine.

Look at the peace that adorns their humble sincere façade.  They are intimately acquainted with God knowing he is constantly watching over them and involved in every detail.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit

This reminds me of Jeremiah 17:7-8, Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 8:11-14, Isaiah 11:2-5, Psalm 121:1-8, Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 46:1-11, Matthew 5:3, Matthew 6:10, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 22:1-14, Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:6-7,

Peter writes: “As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.  He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness!”  2 Peter 1:3

His divine power at work in our heart

Paul’s writes,  “And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”  Ephesians 3:17-19

His divine power is the intimacy we have living in our heart….  And in the heart the things of hope, faith and love grow.  And there they season and flavor the thoughts of the mind which produce godly words and actions.

Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

Quick note:

Experience:  (I won’t belabor this point.)  Definitely we know experience brings credibility of God in our life.  Experiences with God build intimacy between us the creation and our creator.  

The experiences we have are not just for us but also for others. 

For Romans 10:14-15 says: ^“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Quickened by the Holy Spirit.

As we mature and grow in God we find instances of “quickening”.   Quickening as I have come to know it is a godly spirit driven thought or urging that doesn’t come off the top of our head or our intelligence.  It is a word or truth or unveiled truth/revelation either heard in the ear or mind or seen in a vision of the believer.  It is used to warn, educate, direct, remind, encourage, correct, heal and empower.   You didn’t come up with it on your own.  It didn’t come from our “immediate intelligence.” It just showed up.  And when we think about it we know we can’t take credit for this because of how it came but it is just another reminder that God deserves all the credit and He is alive and working in us.

Quickening: Is for you or the one God wants you to minister to.

I am reminded of Peter in Acts 2 where is quotes Joel 2:28-32.  The Holy Spirit has been poured upon the believers of Jesus Christ.  The believers started speaking in languages they didn’t know -about the wonderful things God had done.  Some people wondered how this was possible for these people to speak their specific language when they weren’t even from the same region they came from.  Others started to mock the speakers saying these people were just drunk.  It just sounded like their language.  But Peter stepped forward and corrected them and the Holy Spirit dropped in his mind the scripture from Joel.  Think about it, out of all the Old Testament Peter picks that one scripture.

Often when we quietly and humbly seek God for help, He quickens our soul with a word just for that moment and season.

 David wrote, “I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD according unto they word.” Psalm 119:107

I remember feeling overwhelmed recently and God whispered, “Don’t worry, just pray.” Instantly a peace came over my soul.

So what does the concordance say about the word “quicken”?  

“Quicken” means: “to make alive”.  When I think of that phrase I think of the word “manifest.”  We a believers in Christ are to manifest God.  

1 Corinthians 12:7 says “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”  

To quicken means

1.           spiritual power to arouse and invigorate

2.          to restore to life

3.          to give increase life: thus the physical life

4.        to endued with new and greater powers of life 

We know this is only made possible because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.

 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

God quickens us to share a word with others and because it came from Him, the hearers have assurance that what we have said is true.   “…. It was not only with words but also with power for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true…” Note: 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Sometimes God quickens us to action or to do something.   

I remember a pastor told us a story of him and his family driving on a mountain road.  A man directing traffic told him to stop in this specific place but then God told the pastor to move the car to another place.   It was only a few moments later a big truck lost its brakes and came roaring down the hill and through the very place him and his family were told to park a few moments before.   If they had not moved, they would have been plowed over by the truck.

Even right now as I write this blog God is giving me instruction and insight.  He is stirring up and invigorating me and inspiring me with his word.  I have never gone to bible school or college.  It is He, the Holy Spirit, at work in me that is teaching.

Spirit and truth

How can you worship someone if don’t know them.  Have you ever wondered about that? 

I am reminded of Romans 1:21 “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks.  And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  The result was that their minds became dark and confused.” 

Jesus said “But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.  The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth,”  John 4:23-24

When we think of  “worship” we tend to think of it as “praise and worship”.  I remember going to church before I was saved and getting nothing out of praise and worship – and the reason I didn’t get anything out of it was because I didn’t know God.  I didn’t know the truth of God and God’s Spirit was not living in me.  So how could I have worshipped God in spirit and truth?

I have been finding in life that “worship” is more the “praise and worship” - it is a way of life.    Worshipping God is realizing and growing in whom God is… He is to be feared, respected, loved and we are to abide/live/and trust in His Spirit.  And in knowing Him we gain peace beyond our understanding, vitality in our being, strength of heart, comfort, and joy. 

One last thought:  Worshipping God in spirit and truth is to love God.  God gives us this commandment to love him but the commandment is not so much for him as it is for us.

If we know God who is love… and his love sustains and empowers us then to know Him has great power does it not?

Love is partnership between you and God:  His love helps us bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. His love never fails.  Note: 1 Corinthians 13:7