Breaking Ranks 3

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 The Invitation Has Been Sent Out

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”  Let each one who hears them say, “Come.”  Let the thirsty ones   Let them come and drink the water of life without charge.” Revelation 22:17

come- anyone who wants to.

Thirsty? Come! 

No matter who you are, no matter how long you have or have not been a Christian- God wants to change your life!   I believe he said, “Life and Life more abundantly.” 

I believe if life falls short of “abundantly”….

It’s time to break ranks. 

Just as people cannot break free from the bondage that holds them, people cannot break ranks unless they turn to Jesus, repent, let go and start letting God/Jesus teach you to live in the understanding/will of the Spirit of God.

Let this be a refreshing living word for us

Romans 12:2 says “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”

I think we can get into this rut or believe some lie that holds us back and from breaking rank where we truly experience what God wants for us.   

To truly live as God intends us to live we must “let” be reliant on Him in all things.  I mean how much of the burden do you carry? Are you “yoked” with God or not?   

Our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ lived in this way of thinking… and because He did, He continually broke ranks with the ways of men.  Think about it.  He crossed lines that men set.  He went against the grain of society norms.  Men hated and resented Him and do to this day because of who He IS -not truly understanding He is God- not us.

 

He even breaks ranks in the people He chooses to represent Him expecting us to break ranks as well and live by His example- in only being captive in Spirit (Him/God), not to ways of men. 

When we start to believe we are contained by “something” other then God what happens? I can tell you it’s pretty lousy.

But what happens to our cup when we allow God to stir and fill it up?

 Psalm 23:5-6 says…

“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessings.   Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”

 And Proverbs 21:1 says…

“The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he turns it wherever he pleases.”

 Think about it....

Hindered Prayers Part 1

Recently I was asked, “Jeff, why aren’t my prayers being answered?”

Why aren’t people’s prayers “seemingly” not answered? 

I am not going to pretend to know the answer but let’s look to the word of our God that stands forever, for some answers.
 

First I am reminded. You are not the only one who has ever felt that God is not hearing your prayers.

In the book of Daniel, Daniel is told his request has been heard but not answered because for twenty-one days the prince (demon) of the kingdom of Persia blocked the messenger until the archangel Michael helped him. Daniel 10:12-13

In the midst of the difficult circumstances bombarding him by the Devil, Job- thinking it was God said, “He has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes. I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me. You have become cruel to me; with the might of Your hand You persecute me…” Job 30:19-21

David wrote, “Hear my prayer, O LORD! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears.  For I am your guest- a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me.  Spare me so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more.” Psalm 39:12-13

David's very next Psalm reads, “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.  He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” Psalm 40:1-2

Besides them I have heard of other present day mature Christians speak of difficult times where it seemed God was silent to their prayers but as they reminded themselves and God of His promises- God showed that He did hear their prayers and made the provision they needed.  I too have cried out the LORD in hard times and God has come and rescued me in ways I didn’t expect that I hold dear to this day.
 

He will do the same for you as you turn to Him and continue to trust Him.  Don’t continue to grind your teeth on the sour but lean heavily upon him.  We are sometimes broken in order that we no longer wander away.  And in brokenness he carries us to show us His love and just how faithful He is.    

My sister bought me this sign with a lion on it that sits near by bed. It says, “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged for the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

He is with us wherever we go…

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

 
Hope this encourages anyone who needs to it.

Why Do We Lack?

I was going to write about patron client privilege but then God whispered this to me as I was driving.

“God is my provider.”

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” Psalm 54:4

We lack.   We hunger.  We thirst.  We fret.  We tire.  We doubt.  We fear.  We are unsettled. We are unsatisfied.  Because we don’t know or remember God is our provider, God is our help, God is the sustainer of our soul.

I know that is easy to say but to know... to know is all another matter entirely.    We all have these unsettling moments in our life but what stops the emotional earthquake?  What stops the walls from closing in?  What stops the landslide from overcoming?   What calms the storm on the rocky seas of life?  When do we suddenly stop walking in the deserts of this life and start walking in God's pastures of goodness?

Is God over our circumstances?  Another brother in Christ and I were talking about this… the conflicts, difficult circumstances, the let downs, betrayals, sideswipes, misunderstandings, the heaviness of life, the temptations, disappointments, loss, are all mended and ramified when we do what?

How does the dark shadows flee and the waters become clear?

The answer is when we turn to God.   He is the light that overcomes the darkness.   It’s in those trying times we become closer to God and dependent upon God.  Is this not true?

Right... we could simply give up but when we turn to God, He enriches us in those circumstances.

Without God we are a just like a bird with a broken wing, hopping around -trying to deal with the situation by our own means.

Do we really believe God’s goodness and unfailing love pursues us all the days of our life? Psalm 23:6

Jesus says “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” Matthew 5:3

Do we show and tell God our need or do we just suck it up, deal with it, suffer in it?

Is God, Jehovah Jireh of our life?

Spiritual famines in our life come when we assume some kind of control or everything is out of control but in reality God is in control and nothing is out of control if we allow him to have control. 

The walls may crumble and fall, the clouds may give no rain, but all things that are inconsistent are not God.   It's easy to say we walk by faith not by sight but often we rely on sight, sight that blinds us to the enrichment God wants to bless our soul with.  Things that often can not be described in words.

We must be careful.  Our perceptions and imaginations fail us.  We see two hundred things to be done, an ailment, a loss of a job, a child needing money for college tuition where we are so overwhelmed and frazzled- we forget to bring God onto the balancing scales of our life. 

We say how come the Israelites couldn't remember God leading them through the vast and dreadful wilderness, the thirsty and waterless land with its venomous snakes and scorpions and bringing a gushing stream of water from the hard rock?  Maybe they too got carry away in the cares of this life. 

Are we as forgetful?  It could be the very root of why we lack.   

Doesn't God say?

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:19

 
Remember our words have power.  Just as we can speak goodness and life into our life and other people’s lives we can speak things into our life that God doesn’t wish, desire or want for us or others. 

God is our provider and sustainer.   He always has.   The reason we speak foolish things into our and other peoples lives is because we are either uneducated about what God wants for our life or have forgotten who GOD is to be in our life.   Are we to walk this life alone?  Of course not! What kind of encouragement would that be in Christ Jesus. 
 

God will supply what?

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

What about evil?

"If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling.  For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.  They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.  You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.  When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.  I will rescue them and honor them.  I will satisfy them with long life and give them my salvation.” Psalm 91:9-16

By His stripes we are what?

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

He gives you what?

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Think about Peter and the coin in the fish (Matthew 17:27).  The flowers in the field.  The birds of the air (Matthew 6:25-34). 

As you can see we are not just talking about material and physical needs here but what our soul needs.  Just this morning I woke to the words,

 "Your kingdom come your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". Matthew 6:10

Then as I pondered this God's Spirit gave me another verse.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

I wondered if the word "will" was the same type of "will" in both verses.  I found it was.

God's will is to be our sustainer.  He provides because He cares and loves us.

You know what I find interesting...  Him being our sustainer is us looking to Him.   It makes sense doesn't it?  I mean how can we seek God's hand of provision if we aren't looking to his hand. We lack because we do not look to Him.  We lack because we do not ask Him.

People often mess this up... people look to people, money and things to fulfill what they lack.  In other words we love people, money and things expecting to get a return on our investment and we stumble and hurt when this doesn't happen.   We even occasionally blame God for the failures and letdowns.  God says to love Him with all our heart, all our mind, all our strength and all soul and there we are assured our needs will be met.  We are assured His will be done for us and in us which we find is truly good, acceptable and perfect.  The world thinks this is crazy.  How can one have peace and sanity in hard times but what they don't realize... it's not the circumstances that sustain us but God.  And what is most awesome of all is His will carries on into eternity as we trust Him.
    

Is that not something to smile about?  If not, genuinely ask God to make this a reality in your heart today.

The Sick Forest

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“This forest feels sick, as if a disease lies upon it.  Is there no way around?” J.R.R. Tolkien

This line struck a cord in my soul.

I have always had a special place for trees.  I grew up in a place where enormous evergreen and maple trees grow and stand.  I enjoyed playing in them and amongst them.  I have great memories of the trees that filled the greenbelts and woods of my childhood home. 

Today I like growing trees in pots on my back porch.  Some have grown from seed and acorn, others I have discovered while tending to my yard and garden.  Little presents from God. White crape myrtles and boxwood elders seem to be my favorite.  

Trees are beautiful things but that wasn’t the main reason why Tolkien’s sentence echoed in the chambers of my soul.    

It was the correlation that my soul drew upon.  It was the illustration that God Himself often makes in His word…  How trees symbolically represent people.

“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”  Referenced from Isaiah 61. 
 

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“But as my people watched, I destroyed the Amorites, though they were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks.  I destroyed the fruit of their branches and dug out their roots” Amos 2:9     

“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing." Ezekiel 47:12

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. "For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:8

Even our LORD Jesus Christ is referred to as a tree or branch in scripture.

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1

Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the Lord;” Zechariah 6:12

How differently I think of the cedars of Lebanon that Solomon used to construct the temple of the Lord. For this event was to illustrate what was to come. It was to show us how the Lord and King, Jesus Christ, would use God’s forests (so to speak) to construct the living temple where he would dwell.

  “Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

A temple that the red dragon, Satan, would love to destroy in as many ways as possible.

 ^“And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.” Revelation 12:17

Tolkien’s speaks of a sick forest, a forest that has been put under an evil spell, a poison that has allowed evil to undermine and weaken the forest of Mirkwood.   It has caused the trees, under closer examination, to become bare and fruitless and pale.   Evil has been allowed to weave its webs there and those assigned to task of overseeing these forests have been overwhelmed at the decline and condition of these once beautiful woodlands.  

It has reminded of such verses in the bible.

 “You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” Revelation 3:17

  

“The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:10

^“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:12-12

Now it’s NOT hard to imagine why Satan, the deceiver, would try to convince many with his skilled poisonous whispers "division from God".  In fact Satan tried to separate God’s chosen creation, made in God’s image, by encouraging Eve and Adam to question God in the Garden of Eden.   Satan still tempts individuals with the temporal pleasures and foolish opinions of fallen men -that God is not all that important.   Satan uses items such as money and the securities and comforts of the world that never satisfy in hopes to keep many away from God.   Blinded by the dragon's sickness these people become disenchanted, selfish and close-minded about life.   

For how many... have you known, who inadvertently took their eyes off God and found themselves in a dark predicament?   

Have you ever thought everything is meaningless and pointless because you have failed to seek, surrender your perspective and been appreciative to God for the things He has given you?

Satan tries his hardest to get people’s eyes off of God, who is the sustainer and light of men. (Why do you think Satan works so hard to get God’s name out of “this” and out of “that”?)  For God is the LIFE giving Spirit and without Him we would be doomed to become like the Forest of Mirkwood or the still trees of Narnia. 

“And the trees, they retreated so deep into themselves that they haven’t been heard from since.”…. Narnia movie quote.

Ever been in the presence of such a tree or gathering of trees?  Their thoughts continue in same circular pattern that drives them into a dark deep hole.  They lose track of the path in which they were to stay on.  They don’t seem to remember to look up for a way out. 

  

Fortunately by the grace of God, we have been awakened from such dreadful heavy states just as David.

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again--my Savior and my God!” Psalm 43:5

Jesus said,

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3

What a mighty verse to stop the dark allure of spreading its blight and causing inner spoil of blackness and rot. 

Here is another...

“³ Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.” Revelation 3:3

We need a good shaking from time to time to knock off the cold heavy snow from our branches that hasn’t allowed us to hear or see clearly.  We need a good wind to stir us to allow our roots to grow down into God's love. 

In transplanting my trees, I find some become root bound.  I have to cut the roots on the side of the root ball so they will grow properly in the ground.   We too can put ourselves in a pot of our own making and become root bound in our own understanding and stop maturing and becoming fruitful.  BUT God because He loves us took us out of that pot, cut the root bound away and placed us in His fertile soil with no pots!!!  God doesn't set limitations on us but we do.

   

 ^“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ 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 is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:16-19

So when you feel the allure to trust in something other then God or when all you seem to see is darkness, the mundane, and the meaningless of the world -submit to God and he will lift you up- James 4:10. 

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Remember Satan wants to undermine and sicken the forest of God.  He wants to destroy the tree that you are in God.  He wants to tear down the temple and it's beauty that God is creating in you.  He wants to contaminate your mind and heart with his dragon sickness just as illustrated with Thorin Oakshield in the Hobbit who exhibited hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, division, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy… these are just some of the symptoms listed in Galatians 5:19-21.  A sickness if not awakened and healed from, leads to no eternal life in heaven.   

Satan does not want you to become what God has planned for you.  He wants you to close and blockade the doors and shut them so no light comes in and darkness can have it's way with you.

Think of it this way, Satan knows…   

Who wants to look at a sick tree? Who wants to go into a sick forest? Would you use rotten trees to build a house?  Of course not! Get the picture?

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:7-8

“I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3:11-13

Relentless 2

In the movie, Tomorrowland, there was a quote I appreciated but without changing the meaning, I am going to exchange the word "wolves" with "spirits".

There are two spirits who are always fighting. One is darkness and despair. The other is light and hope. The question is… which spirit wins?
 
... The one you feed.

 

What would the difference be, in our life, if we continually laid aside the things that weigh us down and entangle us? What would it show the world, about WHO is your Lord?

Hebrews 12:1-3 says:

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

What kinds of things can we lay aside?

·      We can lay aside this perverse world- all it approves, all it encourages, all it hates, all it denies, all it strikes at, resorts to, conspires, fights for and tries to hide.

“We do not fight flesh and blood but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” 

·      We can lay aside the enemy.  Satan hates God and those who represent God and those formed in the image of God.  Satan often uses what he hates to destroy what he hates.   Satan is a thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy.   He is the father of all lies and deception.  He has an enchanted tongue -manipulative, slippery and dangerous.  He loves to draw us in for a fight but when he comes soliciting a response ask Jesus “Will you get that?”  

But if you take the bait, and find yourself down on the mat of this life and Satan starts counting down… remember he is not the refereeing official of your life but God is.  And by God’s amazing mercy and grace, get up because He who is in you is greater then he who is the world.  

Remember Jesus has won the fight for us- now we just have to finish the race and we aren’t even to do that alone.

·      We can lay aside circumstances of life, the false illusions of what the world calls life, and the burdens of this life that so easily tires us.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

·      We can lay aside the subtle things that cause us to inadvertently step down from the ROCK that gave us LIFE and LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY.  Stay alert of precarious rickety ladders of consciousness that set the mind in motion to themes of bleak, mundane, barren, hopeless outlooks. Watch out for fears, anxieties, imaginations, ideals of productivity, human philosophy, and unsatisfying self-filling prophecy that gets the best of us.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Jeremiah 1:9

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" 2 Corinthians 10:5

"But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
 
  ·   And finally lay aside the sin.  Don’t travel down sins tempting highway, seek Jesus who was tempted by never sinned.  Ask God to show you a way out.  

“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.” Hebrews 4:15

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Sin leads to death… Sin steals our joy, peace, hope… it separates us from living in the power of God, which gives us life.  Shame and guilt of sin keeps us from speaking the truth to others and if we do speak it, it feels false because of conviction of sin.  When we sin our mindset is tarnish and our reputation is hurt and even destroyed.
 

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:9

But undeservedly, there is renewal and strengthening of one’s soul when one genuinely confesses their sin to God and seeks Him for forgiveness because Jesus, who is paid for our unrighteous, separates us from the burdens of our sinfulness that we may learn from our mistakes, remain hopeful and finish the race.

“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12

So let me ask again ... What would the difference be, in our life, if we let go of these things that weigh us down and entangle us?  What would say about the LORD of our life? Would they aid in helping you remain in God's relentless Spirit?

Relentless 1

The “Way” was the name for the Christians before they were called  “Christians”.  They were called the “Way” because they followed Jesus Christ who is the “Way”.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Peter, John, Paul, Philip, Thomas, Luke and so on… lived in the “Way” which empowered them to think outside the confines of the fleshly understanding.  Their reality, birthed by the Holy Spirit, expounded into the reality of God.  They lived in the world but knew they were no longer of the world system of understanding.  So when they found themselves in physical restraints and circumstances they endured and accomplished many great and mighty things in God/ Jesus Christ.   

Has the name Christian, however good, somehow caused us to forget the “Way”?  Has it become like the word “Faith”, used but absent of relationship with God and guidance from God?

Some say action is faith but is it? We can do many “well-meaning” actions that are not spearheaded by God but of out of human traditions and understandings.  And I have seen the bed ridden have more faith in their eyes and heart then those using their mouths and hands.

The first church body had to deal with a great many entanglements including persecution from the world in which it lived but it was fueled and living by God’s RELENTLESS Spirit.

Jesus said,

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
  

The Way is living outside mirror maze of ourselves,our ideology of faith and of course the world.  It shatters those mirrors so we can see outside the box that has kept us captive and a stranger to reality of God.    

We are start to see each day, hour, minute are from God - and that we are to live and learn to live in the relentlessness Spirit of God.  He pulls down all the strongholds that try to exalt themselves over God. 

I am reminded of the words of Gamaliel as he strongly warned the Sanhedrin…

“I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go!  For if their purpose or activity is of human origin it will fail.  But if is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:38-39

In a manner of speaking, we don't want to be fighting against God in our life- we want to live in the "Way" which God intends for us... That not men, circumstance, day, month, year or evil can stop us from living the relentless life He prepared for us, planned for us, paved for us and wants for us. 

Lord give us fresh eyes as we read these verses… eyes that no only see the words but what is being revealed behind the words, and allow what we see to be set alive by your Spirit in our soul- that it will do what it was intended to do in this time forward. 

SOUL NEED PART 1

THE SOUL NEED/KEEPING YOUR FEET

It is a dark thing to take hold of one’s life, to try to measure it and compare it, comprehend it’s worth and purpose, to weigh it, and how empty and confusing we see it.  But how often do we do such things? As if we hold the ballpoint pen of life in our human hands and we are the author and finisher of our life.  For no one knows for certain what will come of the day or when the physical death will come.

 

Our mind, making the “human” eye the master, makes the heart heavy, burdensome and it slips into slippery slopes of torturous thoughts and imaginations making us symptomatic to things that may not even be true or come into being.
   

And after repeatedly consorting with the word of God and the Spirit, we always find these are things were never meant for us to carry but how often do we allow them to latch on and squeeze binding us like slave.
   

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1

I do understand how the soul is deep… it is like throwing a torch into a chasm and never finding its bottom.  It is like asking those deep questions of the heart and seemly only hearing the echoes of the questions taunt back.  Clearly the soul “continually” needs something greater then itself to guide and fill it.

It doesn’t need the philosophy of men and every opinion under the sun.  It needs truth and a spirit that reveals the truth in all the different and deepening aspects of the truth, for even what is perceived is not always the truth.

Jesus Christ, LORD and Savior said, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-15

When God declares something through the Spirit, he wants us trust in it, to take to heart, to rely upon it and even speak it over our lives. 

“The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul:  He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:  thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Sure goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23

When we only look to ourselves, we might as well muzzle the wings of the butterfly, bondage the eyes with a blindfold, spin and spin until we lose all sense of equilibrium and fill the muscles of the heart with lead.  We might as well believe everything; every human opinion has spoken about us- good or bad.  We might as well put an emphasis on all the circumstances and situations that have ever happened in our life even though the sun set long ago over those hills and seas. 
  

And if the struggles we now face are embraced with those same old eyes – what hope is there?  What ignorance…sorrow… and drudgery follows?

Where does the unmindful eye end up? 

The LORD himself said, “The lamp of the body is the eye.  If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23

We seem to forget,

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’”  Lamentations 3:22-24

Not only do we forget to apprehend these Godly principles in our life continually by relying on the Spirit of God but apply them to other people’s life as well. NOTE: James 3, Matthew 7:1-5.  

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23 

We lose heart and fail to enter His rest because we don’t submit and humble ourselves to God.    

“So we see that they were not allowed to enter his rest because of their unbelief.” Hebrews 3:19

Unbelief stems fro the natural eye, the understandings of self a heart that is ruled by the flesh.  It comes from putting confidence in the flesh.  It comes from lack of focus/trust in God.

I am reminded of a smoker who resorts to the nicotine of a cigarette or a drinker who consumes alcohol to relieve stress.  What are the results of turning to those destructive things again and again?  What results when we don’t look to God?  Aren’t those results just a foolish? Aren’t those just as poisoning and damaging?  Some of you know what I am talking about when I say, “Who needs an enemy when you have yourself?”
 

Noteworthy: Besides Satan uses as his persuasions, the lack of or the abundance of worldly possessions or ideals to suck us in.  He wants us to be stuck in the wisdom of world.  He doesn’t want us to be set free and built up in the wisdom of God and His love. Scriptures: 1 John 2:15-17, James 3:13-18, Proverbs 4:27  

I find the issues and naggings of life easily ambush the soul but those who turn to and are immersed in the presence of God have a life of goodness.

“Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

God/Jesus who created us made it certain that His Spirit would fit us PERFECTLY.  He made certain that when we would “heed” His Spirit, He would fill the soul’s need. 

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:14

“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have not confidence in the flesh,” Philippians 3:4

The flesh’s first instinct is to take things into it’s own hands INSTEAD of submitting to God and turning the situation over to God.  Which causes us to worry, fret, have anxiety, become frustrated, depressed, etc…. In other words the flesh antagonizes the soul.  But when we submit to God, it causes the Spirit of God to override the flesh’s knee-jerk reactions and keeps our soul from being swept away with whatever comes.

“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