FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM

As I was partaking of communion this morning, I was thinking of the passover meal that we know as the last supper when Jesus shared the bread and wine with His disciples.  The sharing of His body and blood in that way that night was the beginning of what we now celebrate at communion.  In Luke 22:15 it is recorded that Jesus said, "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer..."  I was thinking Jesus, how could you look forward to this meal with great desire, knowing the great suffering that you were about to go through? Shortly after sharing the bread and wine of that passover meal with the disciples, Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. ³⁵ And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." (Mark 14:34-36)

In light of that, how could Jesus have looked forward to that meal with great desire? As I was thinking about that, the scripture that came to mind was this.  "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)   Jesus was looking beyond the suffering and pain to the victory and joy that would be on the other side of the cross for Himself and for His disciples.

Because of the joy that was set before Him, I have often wondered if Jesus had a smile on His face as "He said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19:30) 

Simon Becomes Peter (Part 2)

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: ³² But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:31-32)

Jesus will do whatever is necessary to see us restored even as He did for Peter. 

Jesus told Peter that He had prayed for him.  We can be assured that even now the great intercessor, Jesus is interceding for us, as He did for Peter during that time.

After  Jesus' death and resurrection, when the women met the angel at the tomb his message to the women was "But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."  (Mark 16:7)  I find it interesting that the angel called him Peter, his new name and not Simon.  Jesus wanted them to make sure that Peter knew that the message was for him too, even though he had denied Jesus.

Shortly after that in an encounter recorded in John 21, Jesus asked Peter if He loved Him three times and told Peter to feed His sheep.  I believe in that encounter Peter was set free from his shame and guilt  and was restored by the love of the Lord Jesus. 

I believe that failure that exposed a weakness in Peter was a key event in Peter's life to prepare him for the important ministry role he had in the early church after he was restored.

Not long after that encounter with Jesus, by the sea, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and preached a sermon that resulted in 3,000 people being saved.  Later in Acts 5:15 was see that Peter walked in such an anointing that people were laid in the street so that when Peter walked by just his shadow would touch them and they would be healed. 

Peter had been admonished to strengthen his brothers after he was restored.  Jesus knew that Peter would come forth on the other side of this failure with something of substance that he could share with others.  Out of that experience Peter could now strengthen his brethren and feed the sheep in the Lord's pasture as one of the undershepherds of the Great and Good Shepherd (1 Peter 2 & 5)

Our healing and deliverance is not just for ourselves, but so we can then go and minister to others as well.

In Luke 22:33 Peter said "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death." Later Peter did go to prison and to death for the Lord, as he said he would.  But there was a work that needed to be done in his life before he was really ready to do that.  Jesus knew that as He looked at Peter that night.  But Jesus also knew that Simon would come forth on the other side as Peter, the rock.

Simon Becomes Peter (Part 1)

When Jesus first met Simon, He looked at him and called him "Peter," which means a rock.  (John 1:40-42)  In the Bible names were often changed by God to indicate a change of character or nature.  Jesus was seeing that Peter would indeed one day be a rock, one of solid character and one of the foundational apostles in the beginning of the church.

Just after the Last Supper, Jesus and Simon Peter had the following exchange:  "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: ³² But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. ³³ And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. ³⁴ And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me"  (Luke 22:31-34)

Jesus called him by his old name Simon, but also by his new name Peter. I believe it was because Jesus was letting him know that on the other side of his failure he would be restored and would indeed be Peter, the rock.  Although Simon Peter, would fail the coming test, he would not be disqualified. 

Jesus knew Peter was about to act out of his old nature, instead of the new man he was called to be.  Sometimes there are things in our lives that we do acting out of our old nature and it surprises us.  But it is not a surprise to God.  He knew it was in there all along and arranged a circumstance for it to come out so it could be dealt with.  Satan is often used as God's tool to sift us.  That sifting brings a purity.

The dictionary definition of sifting is ”examine (something) thoroughly so as to isolate that which is most important or useful." 

Peter was indeed sifted by this experience.  Jesus could see beyond the sifting that was about the take place in Peter's life. It was like Jesus was saying "you are going to fail in the coming test, but I still see the rock in you."

Jesus loves us as we are but He also loves us enough to not leave us in our current condition.  And He makes available to us all we need to become all He had in mind even before we were conceived. 

Just as Jesus had told him he would, Simon denied him. When he realized what he had done he went out and wept bitterly. 

(The only other place I have found it recorded in Scripture that Jesus called Simon by the name "Peter" is  Matthew 16:17-19 "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.")

Let Peace Rule

Recently I was struggling with something and I said, "God give me peace."  He said, "You already have it." For a few seconds I was a bit puzzled because I certainly did not feel peace.  Then I realized what Holy Spirit was saying.  I have Holy Spirit inside me and one of the fruit of the Spirit is peace (Galatians 5:22). Then the following Scriptures came to mind:  

Colossians 3:15 ESV And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Romans 14:17 ESV For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

Sometimes I just have to tell myself to let peace rule. Instead of letting anxiety rule I needed to submit to the rulership of peace found in Jesus the Prince of Peace and the Holy Spirit.  

Return From Captivity

Jeremiah 31:3-6 ....Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. 5 Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. 6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.

God's people had a promise of coming out of captivity.  Even in their captivity He loved them with an everlasting love and continued to draw them, because God is love and He always loves. He promised that he would once again build. They would indeed be rebuilt.  And they would once again rejoice with tambourines and dancing.  And there would be a day when they would once again go up to Zion to worship.

If you have felt like you have been in captivity, please know that God has not forgotten you.  He loves you with His everlasting love.  He will rebuild your waste places and you will rejoice again. You will worship in Zion. You will meet with the Lord in Zion, the mountain of the house of the Lord.

The Word of God is true and His promise is sure.

Waiting In The Wilderness

Psalm 106:13-15 AMP 13 But they hastily forgot His works; they did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them, 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted and tried to restrain God [with their insistent desires] in the desert. 15 And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls and [thinned their numbers by] disease and death.

Oh Lord when I am in a wilderness time, may I be patient to wait for the revelation of and unfolding of Your plan. May I not insist on my own way or desire. God I don't want leanness of soul. I desire to be fat in the things of You. I want to sup with You at Your table and eat of Your great bounty. May I eat of the abundance of Your house and drink from the river of Your delights. May I eat from Your table prepared for me even in the presence of my enemies.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Psalm 36:8 ESV They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:....

Come As You Are

Romans 12:1-2 ESV  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

When we lay our lives before the Lord as a living sacrifice, sometimes we may think we can only bring the pure and undefiled parts, because the sacrifices God wanted were the best of the flock without blemish.  Only Jesus could come to God as that kind of pure, unblemished, perfect sacrifice. We can only bring our weakness and imperfection as a sacrifice unto God and let Him take it and transform us.

In this verse the fact it says "holy" may make us think we need to get ourselves cleaned up first.  It has to do with consecration unto God, a coming to Him based on Jesus' sacrifice. It is the only way to be acceptable.  All our attempts at being holy fall far short of the holiness of God that can only be manifest in our lives because of Jesus' sacrifice and our submission to Him. Holiness is a separation unto God and from the ways of this world.

We come boldly before the throne of grace based on the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We come with all our need to receive mercy and grace. If we wait until we are good enough, we will never come.  It is there before the throne that we are cleansed as we confess our sin and receive all we need to live a pure and holy life.

It is only as we come to Him with all our imperfections and needs that we can be transformed and become all He created us to be.

Hebrews 4:14-16 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

Titus 3:4-7 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

A New Walk

Jacob walked away from his night of wrestling with God, with a limp because of his hip being put out of joint. We also leave the wrestling match with what had been the strongest part put out of joint.  We walk away with a limp that requires a new dependence on the Lord, a dependence upon His strength and not our own.  We never walk the same again.

This reminds me of the following Scripture.  The woman came up from the wilderness where God had so worked in her life and she was so changed that she was unrecognizable.  She now walked in a place of dependence that she had never known. She walked into a deep love relationship with her Beloved.   

Song of Solomon 8:5-7 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee. ⁶ Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. ⁷ Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. ^.

A New Day, A New Identity, A New Walk (Part 2)

In the midst of wrestling with God, when asked what his name was Jacob had to admit that he was Jacob.  He was a deceiver, a swindler, a schemer.  (Genesis 32:22-32)

Being a deceiver, a swindler, a schemer, was a family trait.  Jacob's mother, Rebekah, helped him deceive his father to receive the blessing. (Genesis 27:5-17)  After that Jacob went to live with his uncle Laban, who deceived him by giving him Leah when he had served for seven years for Rachel. (Genesis 29:20-27)  Then Laban schemed over and over changing Jacob's wages time and again. (Genesis 31:4-7)  As Jacob was heading back to his homeland with his family and goods, his wife Rachel, Laban's daughter, deceived her father concerning the idols she had stolen. (Genesis 31:30-35)

We see that this was a family trait and it needed to go.  We may say "this is just the way I am" or "that is just the way my family is."  But if it is a character trait that is not honoring to God it must go. 

By asking Jacob to admit who had been, I believe God was putting His finger on that thing in his life at that time so it could be dealt with.  In the wrestling encounter, I believe God wanted to get at that core issue in the life and family line of Jacob.  That day when Jacob confessed who he had been God gave him a new name, a new identity.  Jacob was now Israel, which God had always intended him to be.  It probably took a little while to not think or act in the same way he always had.  Sometimes it takes a little bit to walk into the fullness of our new identity. 

Rest In God's Love

I felt like God wanted me to share the words of a song He gave me last summer....

I Love You

I find my place of rest

With my head upon Your  breast

And there I hear Your heart beat out this song

I love you, I love you, I love you

I love you, I love you, I love you, My child

May the song of my life be in rhythm and harmony

With the song of Your heart my God

As the fragrance of Your love saturates me

When this life, puts on, the press and the squeeze

May the fragrance of Your love flow out of me

So all the world will know the song of Your heart

I love you, I love you, I love you

I love you, I love you, I love you, My child

(then I heard the Lord say)

This is why you were created

This is why you were created, Oh My child

To know Me and My love, and walk with Me each day

My heart does long for you to know My love

In its length, and depth, and breadth, and height

So lay your head upon My breast

And there find your place of rest

And there you'll hear My heart beat out this song

I love you, I love you, I love you

I love you, I love you, I love you, My child

A New Day, A New Identity, A New Walk

Sometimes we hit a critical juncture in our journey with God.  It may require a face to face encounter with God in a wrestling match like Jacob had. (Genesis 32:22-32)

Jacob found himself in a difficult place, poised between his disgruntled father-in-law and his brother who had wanted to kill him.  He sent forth all he owned and all he held dear. He was left alone with God in the dark of the night. It was in that difficult place alone with God that Jacob found himself in a wrestling match with God.  Functioning as he always had was not going to work in this situation.  Jacob had to prevail with God.

There are times when we must wrestle with God in the darkness of the night until the light of the new day comes forth.  Even when the light of the new day begins to dawn, we can't let go until we receive the blessing we so desperately need. We may be done wrestling and we may have little or no strength left, but we can't let go.

It is possible that his nature as Jacob (deceiver, supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler) felt like a strength to him all those years.  It had gotten him a lot of things he wanted.  Even his "success" in being Jacob was a weakness and not the strength it may have felt like.  Jacob had to acknowledge who he was when he was asked, "What is your name?"  He had to acknowledge that he had indeed been a deceiver, supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler. That confession was necessary in order to receive his new name.  He now had a new identity as Israel, a prince with God or one who has power with God or one who prevails with God. In God's book Jacob was always meant to be Israel.  

To be given a new name/identity/nature and be changed in the encounter, we must first realize who we have been. We must confess it before God and let Him change us into who we really are.  We can be changed when we recognize and confess who we really have been.  God touches that place in us that we have relied on as a strength.  Then He can be our strength. 

Jacob walked away with a limp because of his hip being put out of joint. We also leave the wrestling match with what had been the strongest part put out of joint.  We walk away with a limp that requires a new dependence on the Lord, a dependence upon His strength and not our own.  We never walk the same again.

The scripture says that God "blessed him there."  Not sure if the blessing was the new identity,  the limp of a new dependence on God, or something else.  But Jacob did come away from that encounter into a new day, with a new identity, and a new walk.

Key To The Cage

A year or two ago while praying for someone, I saw a bird on a perch inside a locked cage. The bird had a key in its mouth.  It was the key that would unlock the cage and allow the bird to go free.

Often we have the key to our own freedom and we don't even know we have it.  Sometimes we may know we have it but we may choose not to use it.  Maybe we don't know quite how to use it.  Perhaps we are even afraid to use it, because of the unknown on the other side of that door and/or because we have become so used to and comfortable in our cage.

God has given us the key so we can be free to become all that He ordained us to be.

Jesus has purchased our liberty.  He has made the way for us to be free.  He whom the Son sets free is free indeed.  The Truth will set you free.

Often the key is the confession of our own mouth.  Perhaps in repentance.  Perhaps in declaration of the Word in agreement with what God has said about our life or situation.  It can be any number of things.

Maybe you feel stuck in a cage.  Ask God about the key to get free today.

God Will Make A Way

Last Thursday was Purim, a Jewish holiday which commemorates the Jews being saved from the evil plot of Haman in ancient Persia.  Wednesday night during a time of worship God began to speak about making a way where there seems to be no way as He did for the Jewish people when Esther interceded for her people. 

God will make a way where there seems to be no way.  He has the solution ready before we even know there is a problem.

When evil Haman persuaded King Ahasuerus to make the decree against the Jewish people in an attempt to destroy them, God already had Esther positioned in the king's palace.  Once the decree was made known, Mordecai made Esther aware of the  situation.  She overcame her initial reluctance of possibly losing her life by going before the king without being summoned.  Her life and the lives of her people were in danger if she did not intercede.  She had indeed come to the kingdom for such a time as this.  (Esther 4:14)

Once the problem was known to the king, there was now a need for a solution.  Evil Haman was hung on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. And God gave great wisdom to Esther and Mordecai. He gave them a plan by which the Jewish race could be saved.  

Once a decree was made in Persia it could not be reversed.  But God made a way for the Jewish people to protect themselves and thus preserve the Jewish nation of people scattered throughout the Persian empire. 

Just as in this situation God knows in advance and makes provision of a way through the difficulties even before we know there is a problem.  God sees in advance and makes a way where there seems to be no way.  He is the way maker.  He is the Way.  He is the Provider. 

Pro=in advance

Vision= to see

Isaiah 43:18-19 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. ¹⁹ Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Heart Connection

About a year ago, one day while I was at the piano worshiping the Lord, He began to speak the following to me:

"O my child come and sit with me a while.  I am so lonely in the depths of my heart, come and sit with me a while that I might share my heart. Many will have a surface relationship with Me.  But few will share My heart. My bride will share my heart.  Many run here and there to try to find Me.  And many will even pray, but few will share my heart. Come and be with Me, My child, and I will share My heart with you."

I believe that cry in God's heart is for each one of us. With the billions of people in the earth, God is lonely for a heart to heart relationship with each one. I believe there is a special slot/spot in God's heart carved out for each one.  And when that slot/spot is filled it brings satisfaction to God's heart. The deepest satisfaction comes when there is a real heart to heart connection.

The Lion Was A Lamb

We must first take on the sacrificial lamb nature of Christ in order to be enabled to take on the authoritative lion nature of Christ. The lion nature of Christ is rooted or built upon the lamb nature of Christ.

John was told that "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."...... John turned around and "saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” " (Rev. 5:4-10 ESV)

John was told the Lion could open the seals, but John saw the Lamb take the book and open the seals. It was the Lion, who as a Lamb had shed His blood and redeemed mankind
, that had the authority to open the book.

In order to rule and reign with Christ we must also conquer/prevail/overcome while walking in the Lamb nature of Christ.  Only those who have taken on that nature can truly be trusted with the authority to rule with Christ.  

Revelation 2;26-27 ESV The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father

Revelation 3:21 ESV  The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

.

Just A Lamb of God

In the song "Lamb of God" by Twila Paris, the last phrase says "til I am just a lamb of God." Some time ago this really struck me as I sang it. I must become a lamb like the Lamb of God.  The bride must become of the same nature as her Bridegroom.  That lamb nature of Christ must become my nature, as well, in order to truly be one.

(dictionary definition of Nature=the basic or inherent features of something, especially when seen as characteristic of it....  synonyms: essence, inherent/basic/essential qualities or features, character, complexion)

I remember when I was in Bible school as we were starting the Book of John, when the teacher got to John 1:29, where John the Baptist spoke of Jesus as the Lamb of God, the teacher started to talk about the lamb nature of Christ.  As he did, the Spirit of God made Himself known in the room and people began to break and weep and that was the end of any teaching by man on that day.  We spent the spent the rest of that class in the presence of the Lord as He spoke to and dealt with us individually.   Obviously walking in the lamb nature of Christ is important.


Here are my notes from that class concerning the lamb nature of Christ:
1) Simple-no plans of His own, no schemes of His own, to only do the will of the Father,  (2 Cor. 11:1-3 simplicity in Christ; Amplified Bible vs. 3 whole hearted, pure, and sincere devotion)
2) Shorn- no resistance, didn't fight back, submitted to the dealings of God
3) Silent-did not try to justify Himself when He was misunderstood
4) Spotless-no bitterness, etc.  only a heart of love




Isaiah 53:7- 8 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Lamb of God
by Twila Paris

Your only Son
No sin to hide
But You have sent Him,
From Your side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the Lamb of God

Your gift of Love
They crucified
They laughed and scorned him as he died
The humble King
They named a fraud
And sacrificed the Lamb of God

Chorus:
Oh Lamb of God, Sweet lamb of God
I love the Holy Lamb of God
Oh wash me in His precious Blood
My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God

I was so lost I should have died
But You have brought me to Your side
To be led by Your staff and rod
And to be called the lamb of God

Chorus
Oh Lamb of God, Sweet lamb of God
I love the Holy Lamb of God
Oh wash me in His precious Blood
'til I am just a lamb of God

Water of Life

Recently I was thinking again about the importance of drinking the refreshing water of life that comes forth from the throne.

God rebuked the people of Judah for forsaking Him who is the fountain of living water and digging for themselves cisterns.  Cisterns are man-made sources of drinking water.  It becomes stagnant and contaminated.  It is like partaking of religious man-made ideas as opposed to partaking of the life force that comes from a vibrant relationship with God. The ever fresh flowing waters of the river that comes from God are far different than the stale stagnant water of a cistern.

We can take what was once fresh living water and put it into a cistern and it gets stale and stagnant. Or we can daily come to and drink from the fresh flowing water of life.

Jeremiah 2:13   For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. 

Revelation 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

Psalm 36:7-9   How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. 

Welcome Home

When the prodigal son "came to himself," he realized that the hired servants in his father's house were much better taken care of than he was, at the present time.  So he decided to go home and ask his father to make him a hired servant.  When he got back home, his father met him and embraced him. The son stated that he had sinned against his father and heaven, but he never got to the part about asking to be made a hired servant.  His father clothed him in a robe, put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.  The ring indicated authority in the father's house.  The shoes on his feet indicated his place in the family. (Servants didn't wear shoes.)  I assume the robe also indicated a place of sonship as well.

Although he thought he only deserved to be made a hired servant, he was reinstated into the family as a son .  Sometimes as Christians when we return and the Father welcomes us back to his house and back to his table of fellowship, we still act like hired servants. Because we feel like we don't deserve to sit at the Father's table we may stay at distance, maybe even living at a distance in the servant's quarters instead of in the Father's house.

The Father's heart desire is for us to dwell with Him in His house and eat with Him at His table.  His call is for us to come and fellowship with Him no matter where we have wondered or how we have previously squandered our inheritance. Father is always looking to welcome us back into His house as His son (daughter).

 Isaiah 1:18-19 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.

Luke 15:17-24 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry

Walk With God

God takes pleasure in us in each stage of our growth.  Too often I think of the great big perfect God expecting absolute perfection.  But there is a process that is necessary to get closer to that perfection. God is ok with the process.  Actually He is the One who set things up that way.

God goes through the process with us.  Or at least He wants to. We can only truly become all that He created us to be by learning to walk with Him and let Him be our guide through the process.

Adam and Eve walked with God and tended the garden God gave to them.  They were in process as was the garden they were to tend.  I believe as they walked with God they grew in the knowledge of God each day up until the time of the fall. They experienced God in ways we cannot even imagine at this point.  There are dimensions they experienced that were lost when they sinned.  But I believe we can recapture at least some of them as we learn to walk with God and live in the Spirit realm, getting more and more free from our earthly sinful nature.

Enoch walked with God until he no longer walked in this earth realm.  Adam would still have been alive when Enoch was born.  Perhaps Enoch learned from Adam what it was like to walk with God in the way that he had in the garden, and stepped into that.  What prevents us in this day from walking with God in that way as well???

Ephesians 2:10 ESV  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

Hebrews 11:5-6 ESV By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

No Record Of Wrongs

1 Corinthians 13:4-5  NIV Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Recently God reminded me that love keeps no record of wrongs.  We are to keep no record of the wrongs that people have committed against us.  And God keeps no record of the wrongs we have committed against Him.  Once we have repented our sins are put as far from us as the east is from the west. They are cast into the depths of the sea.

Psalm 103:11-12 KJV For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 

Micah 7:18-19 KJV Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 

As I was remembering a past sin and taking it before the Lord once again, He reminded me that He keeps no record of wrongs. And He told me that I should not keep a record of those wrongs either. I was to let the past forgiven sins stay under the blood and let the past stay in the past.  I needed to stay current with Him.

When the enemy tries to bring up the past we can point to the blood of Jesus and go on.  The accuser loves to continue to remind of the past and sometimes our memory banks bring it up too. We need to use the blood of Jesus like an eraser.