HOW TO LIVE A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE

This week I wanted to share with you this beautiful writing from Grace Gems. It speaks so well of exactly what the Lord has shown and taught me in my own life over the years, of what it is to walk in this world in every circumstance trusting the path that He has chosen for me. So often Christians are bewildered and downtrodden over their lot in life or the circumstances that come their way and fail to see God's had in it all and trust in the good He wants to do in them and what He wants to teach them in it. This article says it so well, and I could not possibly put it better. I hope you will be blessed.

How to Live a Beautiful Christian Life

J. R. Miller, 1880

We have only successfully acquired the art of living a Christian life—when we have learned to apply the principles of true religion, and enjoy its help and comfort in our daily life. It is easy to join in devotional exercises, to quote Bible promises, to extol the beauty of the Scriptures; but there are many who do these things—whose religion utterly fails them in the very places and at the very times—when it ought to prove their staff and stay!

All of us must go out from the sweet services of the Sunday—into a week of very real and very commonplace life. We must mingle with people who are not angels. We must pass through experiences that will naturally worry and vex us. Those about us, either wittingly or unwittingly, annoy and try us. We must mingle with those who do not love Christ. We all meet many troubles and worries in ordinary week-day life. There are continual irritations and annoyances.

The problem is to live a beautiful Christian life—in the face of all these hindrances! How can we get through the tangled briers which grow along our path—without having our hands and feet torn by them? How can we live sweetly—amid the vexing and irritating things and the multitude of little worries and frets which infest our way, and which we cannot evade?

It is not enough merely to 'get along' in any sort of way, to drag to the close of each long, wearisome day, happy when night comes to end the strife. Life should be a joy—and not a burden. We should live victoriously, ever master of our experiences, and not tossed by them like a leaf on the dashing waves. Every earnest Christian wants to live a truly beautiful life, whatever the circumstances may be.

A little child, when asked 'what it was to be a Christian,' replied, "For me, to be a Christian is to live as Jesus would live—and behave as Jesus would behave—if he were a little girl and lived at our house." No better definition of practical religion could be given. Each one of us is to live just as Jesus would—if he were living out our little life in the midst of its actual environment, standing all day just where we stand, mingling with the same people with whom we must mingle, and exposed to the very annoyances, trials and provocations to which we are exposed. We want to live a life that will please God, and that will bear witness on its face to the genuineness of our piety.

How can we do this? We must first recognize the fact that our life must be lived just in its own circumstances. We cannot at present change our surroundings. Whatever we are to make of our lives—must be made in the midst of our actual experiences. Here we must either win our victories—or suffer our defeats. We may think our lot is especially hard—and may wish it were otherwise. We may wish that we had a life of ease and luxury, amid softer scenes, with no briers or thorns, no worries or provocations. Then we would be always gentle, patient, serene, trustful, happy. How delightful it would be—never to have a care, an irritation, a cross, a single vexing thing!

But meanwhile this fact remains—that our aspiration cannot be realized, and that whatever our life is to be made, beautiful or marred, we must make it just where we are. No restless discontent can change our lot. We cannot get into any 'paradise' merely by longing for it. Other people may have other circumstances, possibly more pleasant than ours—but here are ours. We may as well settle this point at once, and accept the battle of life on this field—or else, while we are vainly wishing for a better chance, the opportunity for victory shall have passed.

The next thought is that the place in which we find ourselves is the place in which the Master desires us to live our life.

There is no haphazard in this world. God leads every one of his children by the right way. He knows where and under what influences each particular life will ripen best. One tree grows best in the sheltered valley, another by the water's edge, another on the bleak mountain-top swept by storms. There is always adaptation in nature. Every tree or plant is found in the locality where the conditions of its growth exist, and does God give more thought to trees and plants than to his own children? He places us amid the circumstances and experiences in which our life will grow and ripen the best. The peculiar discipline to which we are each subjected—is the discipline we each need to bring out in us the beauties and graces of true spiritual character. We are in the right school. We may think that we would ripen more quickly—in a more easy and luxurious life—but God knows what is best; he makes no mistakes.

There is a little fable which says that a primrose growing by itself in a shady corner of the garden, became discontented as it saw the other flowers in their mirthful beds in the sunshine, and begged to be moved to a more conspicuous place. Its prayer was granted. The gardener transplanted it to a more showy and sunny spot. It was greatly pleased—but there came a change over it immediately. Its blossoms lost much of their beauty and became pale and sickly. The hot sun caused them to faint and wither. So it prayed again to be taken back to its old place in the shade. The wise gardener knows best where to plant each flower, and so God, the divine Gardener, knows where His people will best grow into what he would have them to be. Some require the fierce storms, some will only thrive spiritually in the shadow of worldly adversity, and some come to ripeness more sweetly under the soft and gentle influences of prosperity, whose beauty, rough experiences would mar. He knows what is best for each one.

The next thought, is that it is possible to live a beautiful life anywhere. There is no position in this world in the allotment of Providence, in which it is not possible to be a true Christian, exemplifying all the virtues of Christianity. The grace of Christ has in it, potency enough to enable us to live godly, wherever we are called to dwell. When God chooses a home for us—he fits us for its peculiar trials. There is a beautiful law of adaptation that runs through all God's providence. Animals made to dwell amid Arctic snows are covered with warm furs. The camel's home is the desert, and a wondrous provision is made by which it can endure long journeys across the hot sands without drink. Birds are fitted for their flights in the air. Animals made to live among the mountain-crags, have feet prepared for climbing over the steep rocks. In all nature this law of special equipment and preparation for allotted places prevails.

And the same is true in spiritual life. God adapts his grace to the peculiarities of each one's necessity. For rough, flinty paths—he provides shoes of iron. He never sends any one to climb sharp, rugged mountain-sides, wearing silken slippers. He always gives sufficient grace. As the burdens grow heavier—the strength increases. As the difficulties thicken—the angel draws closer. As the trials become sorer—the trusting heart grows calmer. Jesus always sees his disciples, when they are toiling in the waves—and at the right moment comes to deliver them. Thus it becomes possible to live a true and victorious life—in any circumstances. Christ can as easily enable Joseph to remain pure and true, in heathen Egypt—as Benjamin in the shelter of his father's love. The sharper the temptations, the more of divine grace is granted. There is, therefore, no environment of trial, or difficulty or hardship—in which we cannot live beautiful lives of Christian fidelity and holy conduct.

Instead, then, of yielding to discouragement when trials multiply and it becomes hard to live right, or of being satisfied with a broken peace and a very faulty life—it should be the settled purpose of each one to live, through the grace of God—a patient, gentle and unspotted life—in the place and amid the circumstances He allots to us. The true victory is not found in escaping or evading trials—but in rightly meeting and enduring them. The questions should not be, "How can I get out of these worries? How can I get into a place where there shall be no irritations, nothing to try my temper or put my patience to the test? How can I avoid the distractions that continually harass me?" There is nothing noble in such living. The soldier who flies to the rear when he smells the battle is no hero; he is a coward.

The questions should rather be, "How can I pass through these trying experiences, and not fail as a Christian? How can I endure these struggles, and not suffer defeat? How can I live amid these provocations, these reproaches and testings of my temper, and yet live sweetly, not speaking unadvisedly, bearing injuries meekly, returning gentle answers to insulting words?" This is the true problem of Christian living.

We are at school here. This life is disciplinary. Processes are not important: it is results we want. If a tree grow into majesty and strength, it matters not whether it is in the deep valley or on the cold peak, whether calm or storm nurtures it. If character develops into Christlike symmetry, what does it matter whether it be in ease and luxury—or through hardship? The important matter is not the process—but the result; not the means—but the end; and the end of all Christian nurture is spiritual loveliness. To be made truly noble and godlike—we should be willing to submit to any discipline.

Every obstacle to true living should, then, only nerve us with fresh determination to succeed. We should use each difficulty and hardship, as a leverage to gain some new advantage. We should compel our temptations to minister to us—instead of hindering us. We should regard all our provocations, annoyances and trials, of whatever sort—as practice-lessons in the application of the theories of Christian life. It will be seen in the end—that the hardships and difficulties are by no means the smallest blessings of our lives. Someone compares them to the weights of a clock, without which there could be no steady, orderly life.

The tree that grows where tempests toss its boughs and bend its trunk, often almost to breaking—is more firmly rooted than the tree which grows in the sequestered valley, where no storm ever brings stress or strain. The same is true in life. The grandest character is grown in hardship. Weakness of character, springs out of luxury. The best men the world ever reared—have been brought up in the school of adversity and hardship.

Besides, it is no heroism to live patiently—where there is no provocation, bravely where there is no danger, calmly where there is nothing to perturb. Not the hermit's cave—but the heart of busy life, tests, as well as makes character. If we can live patiently, lovingly and cheerfully, amid all our frets and irritations day after day, year after year, that is grander heroism than the farthest famed military exploits, for 'he who rules his own spirit—is better than he who captures a city.'

This is our allotted task. It is no easy one. It can be accomplished only by the most resolute decision, with unwavering purpose and incessant watchfulness.

Nor can it be accomplished without the continual help of Christ. Each one's battle must be a personal one. We may decline the struggle—but it will be declining also the joy of victory. No one can reach the summit—without climbing the steep mountain-path. We cannot be borne up on any strong shoulder. God does not put features of beauty into our lives—as the jeweler sets gems in clusters in a coronet. The unlovely elements are not magically removed and replaced by lovely ones. Each must win his way through struggles and efforts—to all noble attainments. The help of God is given only in cooperation with human aspiration and energy. While God works in us—we are to work out our own salvation. He who overcomes, shall be a pillar in the temple of God. We should accept the task with quiet joy. We shall fail many times.

Many a night we shall retire to weep at Christ's feet—over the day's defeat. In our efforts to follow the copy set for us by our Lord—we shall write many a crooked line, and leave many a blotted page blistered with tears of regret. Yet we must keep through all, a brave heart, an unfaltering purpose, and a calm, joyful confidence in God. Temporary defeat should only cause us to lean on Christ more fully. God is on the side of everyone who is loyally struggling to obey his divine will, and to grow into Christlikeness. And that means assured victory, to everyone whose heart fails not.

FELLOWSHIP OF GOD'S LOVE

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Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:1-3)

"But a danger exists on the other side. It may be, that we love the brethren because they are pleasant to us; they furnish us with agreeable society, in which our conscience is not wounded. A counter-proof is therefore given us. "Hereby we know that we love the children of God, if we love God and keep his commandments." It is not as children of God that I love the brethren, unless I love God of whom they are born. I may love them individually as companions, or I may love some among them, but not as the children of God, if I do not love God Himself. If God Himself has not His true place in my heart, that which bears the name of love to the brethren shuts out God; and that in so much the more complete and subtle manner, because our link with them bears the sacred name of brotherly love.

"Now there is a touchstone even for this love of God namely, obedience to His commands. If I walk with the brethren themselves in disobedience to their Father, it is certainly not because they are His children that I love them. If it were because I loved the Father and because they were His children, I should assuredly like them to obey Him. To walk then in disobedience with the children of God, under the pretext of brotherly love, is not to love them as the children of God. If I loved them as such, I should love their Father and my Father, and I could not walk in disobedience to Him and call it a proof that I loved them because they were His." ~J.N. Darby on 1 John 5

that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: and these things we write, that our joy may be made full. (1 John 1:3-4)

In Christ we can have blessed fellowship. Our fellowship with other believers is because of our fellowship with the Lord. When we come to Christ He brings us into fellowship with Himself and the Father, as we are cleansed from sin and made righteous with the righteousness of Christ alone. He gives us His Spirit and we have an inner "supping with Him" and He with us.

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. (Revelation 3:20)

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23)

That fellowship is based on a mutual love and obedience to the Lord and a mutual indwelling of God by His Spirit. It is never based on certain goals and motives we may have in common in this world or likes and dislikes, or political views, or anything of the flesh. True fellowship in God, is based on His fellowship with us, through the mutual salvation He alone gives through His grace by faith in His finished work on the cross. We may think we are loving with God's love and fellowshipping with those who are of other religions, trying to ignore God's Word and truth and compromising in order to agree on what we can agree on, but this is fleshly humanistic "fellowship" and not the love that God alone can put in the hearts of His true children. John, in his letter of 1 John, speaks of many things that prove the true love of God in a child of God and how it looks when acted on and lived by. There are marks of those who are His children and walk in His love. Such love produces the righteousness of Christ in a person's life. If they don't have that, they are still walking in darkness and blindness (1 John 2:9). There is no way our flesh can produce that kind of love. That kind of love is only a result of His Spirit living in us and our abiding in Him in obedience to His Word, by faith in Him and all He said. It is only a result of true fellowship with our Lord.

Today there is a counterfeit "love" and a counterfeit "fellowship" that a counterfeit church preaches, by accepting all the sin and worldliness and false religion in one another and find some common ground to agree on, so they can fight for a common good. This kind of "love" says to accept sin, do not judge it, do not discern what is of God and what is not or try to admonish, rebuke, or expose what is false, in love, or do not try to hold to God's Word because that will bring division, and do not do anything that will offend, least of all preach the Word of God in truth. It says, do not tell someone they are a sinner and in dire need of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for salvation, and that they are in need of repentance for deliverance of sin. But Jesus tells us there is no fellowship with darkness, and indeed these things keep a person in darkness, where they never are able to see His true light. They are never able to escape those very sins that keep them there and cause all the problems they have in the world, and which are the reason for the evil in this world and worst of all, which will separate them from God and His love for all eternity. Jesus tells us we cannot have fellowship with this kind of darkness if we walk in fellowship with Him. He came to destroy the works of darkness, and to set men free.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

We have a blessed and wonderful fellowship with God when we become born again, and as we learn to walk in that fellowship day by day continually, we have a blessed fellowship with one another in Christ that causes us to desire His will in ourselves as well as in those we love of the family of God. It grieves our hearts to see our brothers and sisters stumbling into sin, because we love them as God loves them. It grieves our hearts to see someone led astray into false teachings, because we love the truth of God's Word, and understand the importance of that true light in our lives and desire the same truth and love and obedience to the truth in their lives for them, for God's glory and for their own sake as well. Our joy together is made full. When we are together enjoying the fellowship of His truth, we delight in each other and in God. Others see that light as well, and His love is manifested through us to the world.

When there is true fellowship with one another in Christ, the whole body is able to grow up together and is protected from outside forces of evil that would come in and corrupt the church. If a root of bitterness is allowed in the church and love does not take care to stop it, it will grow and poison the whole body.

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; (Hebrews 12:15)

Adam Clarke in his commentary states: "The root of bitterness is here used metaphorically for a bad man, or a man holding unsound doctrines, and endeavoring to spread them in the Church."

Jamieson, Faucett and Brown commentary states, "Root of bitterness comprehends every person (compare Hebrews 12:16) and every principle of doctrine or practice so radically corrupt as to spread corruption all around. The only safety is in rooting out such a root of bitterness."

If we love the Lord, Jesus says we will obey His commands to believe in Him...His whole Word and counsel, and walk in obedience to it, by loving our brethren. If we do so we will have fellowship with Him. We cannot have fellowship with Him if we are walking in sin, according to John's letter, which is inspired of the Holy Spirit, and if we say we do then we're a liar. If we are walking in true fellowship with Him in His light that light will also produce true fellowship and love with our brothers and sisters in Christ which will cause us to act as Christ would act when we see sin or departure from the truth with them. It will strive to keep that fellowship in tact with a love that will put the spiritual well-being of others, and the glory of God before our own well-being. It will be willing even to be rejected in order to try to keep another in the fellowship of the Lord. It will speak the truth in love for the sake of that fellowship.

A counterfeit "fellowship" seeks to not offend in order to maintain good feelings with another, rather than to bring one to the true fellowship that is with the Father and with the Son. This is a hard lesson for us. It is hard to learn to speak the truth in love to one another. It means a denying of ourselves. None of us wants to step on toes of another. None of us likes confrontation. And there is a place to wait for the Lord to show a person and to be patient, remembering the Lord's longsuffering patience with us as He dealt with us, but there are times when the Lord calls on us to speak up in love, sacrificing ourselves and risking rejection or confrontation. There is a time when we simply have to wait on the Lord to work in a person's heart to reveal truth that they have not the maturity yet to understand in the Lord, being an example, praying for them, speaking the Word of truth when He brings opportunity and in grace and humility, and there is a time when open rebuke needs to be done, also in grace and humility with love, seeking their restitution with the Lord. There is also a time when fellowship with another has to be broken because of sin unrepented of, or heresy or divisions they cling to and refuse correction for - also for their hopeful restitution to the Lord. How do we know which is the case?

We know because we are abiding in His Word, and in His fellowship, being obedient to it, allowing Him to correct and teach us, and fill us with His Spirit each day and motivate us by His love. If we walk in His light, His light will lead us and teach us by that "unction" or "anointing" He has given us...His Holy Spirit.

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. (1 John 2:24-28)

We learn to grow in our fellowship with Him and His love, and as we do we learn to grow in our fellowship and love with one another, and His Spirit in us teaches us and leads us into His love more and more. The more that love fills and motivates our lives, the more jealous and protective we are of that true fellowship with God and others. We can test our motives by the love of God shown us in His Word. If we are not walking in the light of His Word and His love, then we surely cannot help another to come into that light.

May the Lord work in each of us, that wonderful love and fellowship, bringing us to perfection! I will close with a wonderful prayer of Paul.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

SETTLING FOR LESS THAN GOD'S BEST

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For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." (John 10:4-5)

How the body of Christ settles for so much less than what our Lord has for us!! Oh how they fall for lies that promise them more and yet they are missing the MUCH MORE that God desires for them! There was a time in my life I sought the "more," yet I sought it in the wrong way, in the wrong places, and was deceived as to what that "more" was that God had for me. I wanted more of God. I wanted the utmost I could have of God. Yet, in my pursuit of that, I discovered I was settling for what I thought was "more" but actually was less. People seek the gifts but forget the giver. They seek experiences, but lose sight of the Head. They have an insatiable hunger for exciting experiences but miss God Himself. They seek His voice but not from the Word that He reveals His voice to them. They seek to know God through other's testimonies and experiences but fail to find the communion they can have with Jesus, Himself, through the communion and fellowship the Holy Spirit opens us up to in His Word. What a communion there is there! What a joy when that Word comes alive and speaks to you, intimately, to your heart of hearts, and it's as though it were written just for you as a love letter from your Savior, revealing Himself to you personally. How sad when a child of His feels they don't need it, and can substitute it with the teachings or unction of others, or subjective experiences, or inner thoughts and impressions without knowing His Word. How little they have if all they have is someone else's "knowledge" of God rather than learning daily to walk in intimate communion with Him and letting that Word speak to them personally. I at one time, let others be the "Holy Spirit" to me. Never again! He is my companion, counselor, comforter, revealer of God's truth, and He came into my heart through the Word of God, when I put my faith in that Word. I was born again through the Word, as I believed it and received the Holy Spirit. I was given life through the Word. I found more and more life the more I learned of Him through the Word and as the Word gripped my heart and took over my heart, His Spirit filled me more and more and empowered me more and more. I found the "fullness of the Spirit" as His Spirit, through His Word filled my mind and heart, rather than what others told me that fullness was.

There's a popular trend today among believers that we can just "listen to the Holy Spirit speak to us" and ignore the Word, or without having to read the Word. I believe this is one more ploy of the enemy again to discredit the Word, as though it were not the mind of the Spirit, or what the Spirit says to the church, as if we could separate the two. The Holy Spirit gave the Word, speaks to us through the Word, and never ever disagrees with the Word that is written. There is no true discernment without the written Word. As I sit at His feet and read that Word...that very Word of God Himself given to me to learn of Him, to know Him, and to commune with Him, He speaks to me. He opens up my understanding. He brings tremendous joy and assurance and hope and faith. Through it I am able to truly hear the Spirit's voice and commune with Him. He also chastises me in it, quickens me, cleanses me, and restores me when I am in any way veering off the path. His Spirit bears witness with my spirit as I read it in faith and reveals His truth and wisdom to my heart there. He communes with me there and lets me know His very heart. He gives discernment so that I know what is of Him and what His will and heart is, so that I am not led astray by those who teach something opposed to His Word. I am alert as soon as I hear a teaching contrary to it, because I've become familiar with it, and I won't listen to the voice of another. Sometimes the fellowship I have with Him there raises me up to such ecstasy and joy that I feel I could just walk into Heaven itself! Yet it brings me down to earth where I must walk for now and empowers me to do so.

How very, very sad when we settle for less from God, than the real thing, thinking we are getting more. The Corinthians were like that. They thought themselves spiritually superior yet they settled for a very debase carnality that was exposed when Paul brought them the true Word of God to discern. They had false apostles coming to them discrediting the Word God gave to Paul and giving their own word claiming an authority that was not given by God. But Paul, who was chosen of God, approved of God, brought them back to the Word that was approved of God, given by God Himself, and proven to be of God - that Word which agreed with all the prophets and Jesus, which was predicted to come.

Robert Hawker, Poor Man's Commentary, on Philippians 4:4-7:

"Reader! bear with me, while I remind you again and again, (for I need to be continually reminded myself,) that these blessed Scriptures are not Paul’s, but the words of God the Holy Ghost. Paul is but the penman of them. It is God the Spirit which endited them; for all scripture is given by inspiration of God. 2 Timothy 3:16. We are too apt to lose sight of this. And when, we do, we forget with it, that the promises in Christ Jesus, are not yea, and nay; but yea, and Amen. 2 Corinthians 1:19-20. The one before us, is on this account, sweet. The peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

That is the same Word we have today. It cuts, it divides, it proves what is good, and it discerns good from evil. And if we allow it to do that in our hearts, it sets us free to be in genuine fellowship with our Savior and have an intimacy with Him that we will never find otherwise. We won't find it through so-called spiritual experiences, but the faith in the Word and fellowship with Him there as we are washed and cleansed and strengthened in that Word will bring us precious experience that is genuine and will produce true fruit in our lives and through us to others. If we are listening to an "inner voice" alone, without the word, chances are that we are listening to our own heart and flesh, or worse yet, the voice of another. His Word is our protection and discernment. If we are truly "listening to the Spirit" we will also find that He directs us to His Word and we find agreement with the Word there where what He speaks to us is confirmed. We will find the Spirit and the written Word agree, and if we love one we love the other. It will glorify God and work in us a death of self and life unto Him. If we are not in the Word and learning to know God and listen to Him there, then we are in danger of another spirit deceiving us, masquerading as the Holy Spirit's voice, and that voice will draw us away from the Word and make us feel we don't need it, and will cause us to neglect the Word. It will glorify "self" and please the "self." God's Spirit NEVER tells us not to read the Word or that it is not important or that we don't need it or have to obey it. If you are "hearing" a voice tell you that, it is not God, I can assure you whole heartedly. This was the same problem Paul refuted in many of his epistles against the Gnostics of the day. Today we have Gnosticism again in the church: "The Gnostics thought that one must directly experience the spirit to learn the truth, this being apart from the word. Stepping over into the supernatural, experience becomes the teacher and gives them real knowledge. What was and is now being taught is spirit to spirit communication that is completely outside the Biblical revelation given by the apostles." http://letusreason.org/Latrain18.htm The Gnostic Jesus, A Gnostic Christianity

Part 2, http://letusreason.org/Latrain19.htm : "The recipients of the apostles letters had the Scriptures. Knowing God through a book was considered Head knowledge, it was inferior to the early Gnostics and it is today to the modern Gnostics! The teachings of the apostles was not sufficient, the spirit was the revelator for the new knowledge by experience. Those who hear God’s voice through the Scriptures are accused of worshipping a book called by some bibliolatry. But any voice that teaches outside the Scripture, and is not finding its source in Scripture-- will lead one away from the God of the Scripture. The book is to lead us and keep us in correct understanding and in the will of God. His word works with the Holy Spirit."

When I am truly hearing the Holy Spirit I am delighting in His Word and my heart is brought to a place where I am most able to do that. I am being made free of myself through the Word and cleansed from all in my heart that opposes it or fears it or repels me from it. If I am troubled by His Word and stay away from it, and think I am "hearing God" without facing that Word's examination of my heart and correction, just hearing niceties that make me feel good, I am deceiving myself and settling for so much less. When we face those difficulties in the Word, even agonize through them in prayer as we study the whole Word, we find that the Holy Spirit teaches us, uses that Word to cleanse us, to set us free in our hearts and minds, and fills us with the life that is meant to come to us through it. I've been so blessed when, at times, I have been confused over the Word and I simply asked the Holy Spirit to teach me and give me understanding, and He did! He opened up my understanding and made me see it clearly. And it brought life. Too often those who just think they "listen to the Spirit" listen to what they want to hear...and claim it is God telling them, even if it contradicts His Word. They are listening to their own spirit, their own flesh, and convincing themselves it's God. The enemy will oblige them and confirm that over and over through others as well, to assure them they don't have to obey the written Word of God, calling it "legalism" or "the letter that killeth." They take sides with the flesh rather than God by doing so. If our hearts want what we want, we'll find a way to even "hear God" tell us that's what we can have or do. I know! I've been there! Our hearts are deceptive. I've been deceived by my own heart and led to compromise. When I got into the Word, I was shown the truth and was convicted, cut to the heart, and finally as I submitted to Him, was set free so that I could truly hear Him, and not another voice. We must "die" before we can "live." It's the Word that unites us with Him in that death and raises us up to newness of life in Him, as we believe it, and yield to it.

If we want to hear God, we must have hearts that are cleansed of sin and self, and open to His will alone, and not our own. If we want to hear God we must come into His light where all is made plain. The Word does that. It is His light. I divides between soul and spirit. It reveals the holiness of God.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

That Word is Jesus, Himself, and He has revealed Himself in His written Word, which NEVER disagrees with Jesus "the living Word," but confirms, clarifies, reveals, and glorifies Him. If we want to know the heart of Jesus, we won't if we are not reading His Word.

There are those who say, "what about those who don't have the Word?" Wow! Those people would about give up anything to have it! They feel the lack without it and hunger for it! They know how much more they could know of God through His Word! Check out this video of Chinese Christians receiving Bibles for the first time. People in persecuted countries would give up all they have if someone would give them a Bible! Yet we who have the Word in abundance ignore it! I believe God gives supernatural grace and reveals Himself to those under such persecution, because their hearts are cleansed by the suffering they have endured as they surrender to Him and stand for Him regardless of what they must endure. If the Spirit speaks to them, it will always be His Word...in agreement with and the same as what the written Word is. That is no comparison to those in America who have a life of ease, and pleasure, thinking God is speaking to them telling them they don't need His Word, they can just "listen to His Spirit" and that He gives them everything they want, and who settle for less. He who has much, much will be required of him, on that day when we stand before Him. What will you say when you see that His Word was given to you and you ignored it, you didn't love it, you weren't hungry for it, and you neglected it thinking a "voice" in your heart was all you needed. What will you say when you see the treasure you could have had, and you settled for less? What will you say when you face the truth then, as you will, instead of facing His Word now and letting it work in you? What will you say when you see how much time you spent reading so many books ABOUT Him, and failed to seek out and understand His book and know Him through that? And why would a child of God not love and hunger for the very Word and will and heart of his Father? Only if he is not in fellowship with his Father.

Oh Lord, help us not to fall for something less than You! Less than Your Word! Less than everything You have provided for us and given to us and want to make us in Christ! Open eyes to see the deception of this teaching, and the lies of the enemy to rob them of all You have for them in Christ Jesus! Expose the lies that promise a "fullness of the Spirit" through experience, when they are actually being led to neglect the fullness of the Spirit that is true and which they can receive through Your powerful living Word! Open our eyes to the true Jesus of the Bible, and not the gnostic jesus of many today.

Open our eyes Lord
We want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch Him
And say that we love Him.

Open our ears Lord
And help us to listen,
Open our eyes Lord
We want to see Jesus.

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, (Philippians 1:9)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

WHERE GOD DWELLS

 

　

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And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

(Genesis 28:17)

"this is none other but the house of God; wherefore he afterwards called it Bethel, which signifies the house of God; and so the church of God is often called, Psalm 23:6; which is of God's building, where he dwells, and his family is, of which he is the master and governor; which he beautifies and adorns, fills, repairs, and defends."

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

There is one house of God, and there is one foundation that house is built upon. The house of God must be built upon the sure and solid foundation of Jesus Christ alone, and His true Gospel. There are many who try to enter into the house of God and teach and build upon it, but if they are not building on the true foundation, all is a loss, and there is destruction.

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

(1 Corinthians 3:10-17)

What is the "house of God" or the "temple" but the place where God dwells? Under the old covenant the temple was the dwelling place of God. Now we, the church, are God's temple, or "dwelling place." He dwells in His church, His "called out ones" - those called out of this world to be indwelt by His Spirit, made new, and become His children, who HE gives the power to be children of God, not by the will of man but by that power of God (John 1:12-13, Romans 8:28-30). The foundation of that dwelling place is the righteousness of Christ alone. That dwelling place must be holy, clean, and pure. It is false concepts of His salvation, and His Gospel that corrupt or pollute the church. In the church of the Corinthians there had come in false apostles who were corrupting the house of God, trying to lay another foundation. Only that which is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ will stand in the end, Who is the foundation of every structure which shall stand firm in every test of fire. How very important it is, then, that we are careful not to add to, or take away from, the true understanding of that foundation, but that we understand the work of our Savior and what that salvation is. Without the understanding of that foundation, the house becomes polluted. There's no true "obedience" to Him, if not based on the true Gospel and the foundation of our relationship with Him, and faith in His righteousness alone.

Some work to build upon that foundation of grace. Some work to build another foundation of grace plus works. Where does God dwell? He dwells only in the house He builds.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

(1 Peter 2:4-8)

The Jews totally missed it because they stumbled over their own self-righteousness, that of "law keeping" and did not understand or accept the righteousness God provided - that is by grace through faith alone, in which by believing, His law is put into their hearts. To them He became a stumbling stone. They "disobeyed" the word... the word of salvation by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ. They were so sure and so ingrained in the law that they failed to see its purpose and fulfillment. The same can happen to us when we become so ingrained in a way of seeing things. It is those who simply believe "into" Him who become His dwelling place. How difficult it is for us humans to receive this word! Even those in the church, those who have been born again by faith, have difficulty receiving completely, that it is not by any works of their own, that they are made a dwelling place of God forever. They say they believe in His grace, yet, they fear they must keep themselves by their works. They contradict themselves. Yet they don't see it. It is so hard for our pride to fully accept and trust in the full grace of God and the power of His salvation. They fear a message of grace will mean "lawlessness" because they fail to understand the power of His salvation and what it is. But it is actually quite the opposite - it is failing to see this that leads to defeat in our Christian life.

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

(Galatians 3:1-3)

The house of God will only be perfected in the same way that it was begun. Anything we add to it will be wood, hay, and stubble. 

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

(Colossians 2:6-7)

There are those who feel they must warn against "lawlessness" to those who are born again, claiming to believe our salvation is all of grace through faith, yet contradicting themselves by saying we must live under a fear of condemnation if we do not have works that are good enough to keep us. On one hand they speak of grace, and on the other nullify it. They build straw man arguments against those who trust in Christ alone as the sole means of their salvation, so build wrongly upon that foundation. There is no victory in our lives over sin, other than that power which comes through faith in the true foundation of our salvation, which is forever. If not for faith in the security and hope of that salvation being in Him alone, we are weakened in our walk, and our faith becomes self-focused rather than a true leaning on that which is already accomplished in Christ. In Christ we are a new creature, with a new heart. We have a new nature that is His indwelling Spirit in us, which raises us up to newness of life. It is that power in us alone that continues in us and never leaves us, and Who conforms us to the image of Christ. When we understand that, we are set free from "lawlessness" and empowered to walk by that same rule of life, of faith in Him. The fear that if I trust in the security of my salvation in Christ, I will give in to lawlessness is a straw man argument, and shows a misunderstanding of His salvation, what it is, and the power of regeneration of the Holy Spirit. We are His house. He dwells in us. He keeps us. And true faith in that sets us free to live in true obedience...the obedience of faith.

A "straw man argument" according to Wikipedia:

A　straw man　is a common type of　argument　and is an　informal fallacy　based on the misrepresentation of an opponent's argument.[1]　To be successful, a straw man argument requires that the audience be ignorant or uninformed of the original argument.

The so-called typical "attacking a straw man" argument creates the illusion of having completely refuted or defeated an opponent's proposition by covertly replacing it with a different proposition (i.e., "stand up a straw man") and then to refute or defeat that false argument ("knock down a straw man") instead of the original proposition.

"Lawlessness" or "license to sin" as being the consequence of believing we are secure in Christ is the straw man set up to defeat. When there is a misrepresentation of what salvation is, and what it entails, assuming that one who is born again is no different in nature than one who is not born again, other than "belief" in Jesus, then it's easy to argue that they must keep themselves and fear losing their salvation. It's as though one can be "in and out" of Jesus, based on strength of will or performance or "enough faith." But when one fully understands what the salvation that Jesus worked in us when we were born of His Spirit, put "into Christ," and given a new nature/heart/will, cleansed wholly and imputed with the righteousness of Christ, this is seen clearly to be a straw man argument. The right foundation is laid and built upon. We are "in Christ" forever, sharing His death and resurrection. We are transferred from death to life forever and have "eternal life." Every understanding of the Gospel and of Scripture has to come from the true foundation. And that foundation is sure, strong, and stable, and will not fail. Every false teaching comes out of a misrepresentation of that foundation.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."

(John 5:24)

The Holy Spirit is given to us "forever" and never leaves us, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever"

(John 14:16)

No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

(1 John 3:9)

How are we to build upon the true foundation? The true foundation must be understood in order to build upon that alone. We build on it only by reinforcing the same as our foundation of every teaching, and every work we do in Christ and for His service, by faith in Him alone and our assurance in His finished work. That foundation is ALWAYS central in our entire work and walk. In assurance of His work we are strong. In faith in His indwelling us, we walk and we work, not so that we are kept, but because we are kept. Our life, our power, our hope, and our faith springs from His indwelling us. The house of God then, is being continually built up and nurtured in that strength, and in a true faith where He dwells. As John Gill said in the above quote, "which is of God's building, where he dwells, and his family is, of which he is the master and governor; which he beautifies and adorns, fills, repairs, and defends.

In my own experience, when others had misunderstood and mistaught that foundation to me, in my early Christian life, my struggle with sin was a defeated struggle. When I no longer was under fear of condemnation but relied on and had security and assurance of the full power of His finished work, sin was overcome, love took over, and my life and growth in Him sprung from the right foundation and was nurtured, built up, and strengthened. Though they thought their warnings would produce holiness in me, they only produced lack of faith and understanding in the power of His salvation from which the only real power and love to walk in victory comes. That misunderstanding caused nothing but "wood, hay, and stubble" in my own Christian life, as it will in the house of God.

F.B. Meyer, Through The Bible Day By Day, on Ephesians 2:1-10:

　

"Notice, also, the past tense which describes the finality of Christ’s work, Ephesians 2:5-6. In the purpose of God we have been raised from the grave of sin and are seated with the risen Lord in the place of acceptance and victory. We were one with Christ when He lay in the grave and arose. In God’s thought we have already taken our seat with the glorified Christ upon the throne; only the pity is that we do not believe this or act as if we had done so (emphasis mine). All this is the gift of God’s unmerited love. By grace have we been brought into this position, and by grace are we maintained in it. We are of God’s "making;" such is the Greek word for workmanship, Ephesians 2:10. We have been created for good works; they have been planned for us and we have only to walk in them."

May the Lord open our eyes of understanding to have a revelation of the true power and completeness of His salvation for the body of Christ to dwell in and through which He dwells in us, that same power that rose Christ from the dead, which raised us up also to be seated with Him in the Heavenlies. It is that power which works in us, conforms us to His image, and keeps us. We are not created by good works, but we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus...UNTO good works which He prepared for us (Ephesians 1:13-2:10). What wonderful joy in His salvation and power to walk in those works by true faith in Him we receive when we understand this! Then the house of God is truly blessed!

Mary's Gift - Our Hope

What a blessing this day is for all those who know the Lord! No matter what you are dealing with in your life right now, whether things are going well, and you have a happy family to celebrate with, or you find yourself in sorrow or troubles or hardship, we have one sure hope and one light to look to.  We have a promise.  The same promise given to Mary, that day when the angel Gabriel came to her and said a Savior would be born in her.  She believed him, and she humbly submitted herself to him...

"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." (Luke 1:38)

In the same simple humble faith as Mary, we too can submit ourselves to the Lord in faith in His Word... a sure Word that is to come to pass, just as it did then, and will continue to do for those who trust in and lean on Him. And that promise of hope that He gave when He said He would come again for His own, to take them to be with Him where He is, forever more to be with Him, will also come to pass, just as that promise of His first coming did.  What joy! Even in a dark world, when things are taken from us, when we see evil abounding, we never lose our hope because it is in Him alone, and is not dependent on anything we have or don't have in this world. 

I pray for the world to look to that hope today, and see the unspeakable promise that God has given to the world through Jesus Christ His Son. No matter how hard the enemy tries to stomp out that light, it will continue to shine brighter and brighter until that day.


What gift has He brought you Mary?
What did the angel say?
What gift did He bring you Mary?
Tell me why do you sing?
Sing...sing His praise!
My soul does magnify the Lord
And my spirit....
Rejoices in God my Saviour
For He that is mighty...
He hath done great things!
And Holy...Holy is His name!
What message did He bring you Mary?
Nothing s impossible with God.
The Son of God now lives within you,
And now this is why you sing...
Sing...sing His praise!
My soul does magnify the Lord
And my spirit...
Rejoices in God my Saviour
For He that is mighty...
He hath done great things!
And Holy...Holy is His name!
Because you believed Him, Mary,
Oh so blessed are you!
What He promised was accomplished
And now in your heart you sing...
Sing...sing His praise!
My soul does magnify the Lord
And my spirit...
Rejoices in God my Saviour
For He that is mighty...
He hath done great things!
And Holy...Holy is His name!
This gift I want to bring to you now
If you will so believe
The Son of God can live within you
Like Mary...you will sing!
Sing...sing His praise!
My soul does magnify the Lord
And my spirit...
Rejoices in God my Saviour
For He that is mighty...
He hath done great things!
And Holy...Holy is His name!
© by Ginny Larsen 1992        

THIS "DANGEROUS" CHRIST

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THIS "DANGEROUS" CHRIST

The leaders of Jesus day sought to silence this "dangerous" Christ, fearing Him greatly. Today the world tries to silence Him as well. They would just as surely crucify Him as did those of Jesus day, and in fact are doing so by killing and silencing His church in any way they can. Why do you suppose they fear this humble servant that came only to bring light and life eternal to mankind?

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Just what are the teachings of this "dangerous" Christ? Is He a terrorist, that teaches His children to go about slaughtering every man, woman, and child that won't conform to Him? Is He demanding that they live as oppressed slaves? No, He is not, yet the world accepts that kind of religion. They accept a religion of men of lawlessness with no conscience, ruthless in all their ways, unmerciful and hateful, full of lies and deceit, and they reject the man of truth and light, the man of love and deliverance for their souls. They call Him the dangerous One. Why is He so dangerous? The pope recently made a statement that those "fundamentalist Christians are more dangerous than ISIS." Really? Why mister pope? Why do we scare you so much? Are we threatening to slaughter you if you do not conform to us? Have we beheaded anyone? Have we slaughtered innocent children? Why do you fear Christ so much? The very Christ you claim to serve? Is it because He exposes your sin and calls you to repentance? Is it because you would have to be held accountable to Him? This is the reason the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus day crucified Him.

Do you fear Christ? Do you fear the Gospel? If you're a child of God, you have found life and joy and freedom in that Gospel. You know that it is the only hope of the world and the only freedom and life that can be found. You understand that the world is under the sway of the evil one and cannot come into that light without painfully being exposed. It's their only hope of being delivered, so the enemy seeks in every way to deceive and to destroy that message of hope, calling it evil and calling evil good.

These are some of the teachings of this "dangerous" Christ and His "dangerous" church...His true church...His "called out ones" who have been called out of the darkness and deception of this world. This is what an "extremist" Christian believes... one who is loving Christ and following the fundamentals of His Word. He would only become extreme in His love toward God and his fellow man. The "fundamentals" of Christianity are simply the Words that Jesus taught. If we kept them what would they make us?

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:1-8a)

And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)

"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (John 15:17)

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:7-11)

There are many more examples of what Christ has called His "called out ones" to. And what are we "called out" from? From the world of sin and darkness. There is a difference in His children from all other religions in the world. He calls us to radical love. Islam is called to radical hatred, violence, and destruction. Christ calls us to such a love as will love even those enemies of His, reaching out to them with the Gospel of truth and love, the only Gospel (good news) that saves and promises hope for all eternity, free of evil and hatred and violence once and for all. That's pretty radical. Why does the world fear this? They fear having the truth of their love of sin exposed, and they fear having to give up being their own gods, which they can never truly be anyway. They fear God taking control of their lives, even though that means their only true freedom, yet they cling to their sin which keeps them in bondage and oppression. They fear "extremist" fundamental Christians that offer the truth that leads to eternal life, because they love their darkness. So they make up their own god, their own "good" justifying their sin, and calling it good, and calling good evil, clinging to their darkness.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." (John 3:16-21)

And for this reason Bibles are burned, Christians are imprisoned, lied about, falsely accused, scorned, mocked, marginalized, and the world embraces, instead, something evil in its place, even though that causes them terror and suffering. It's nothing but insanity. Yet insanity is the absence of God. When one rejects God, they accept various forms of insanity.

From Webster's 1828 dictionary: INSAN'ITY, n. The state of being unsound in mind; derangement of intellect; madness. Insanity is chiefly used, and the word is applicable to any degree of mental derangement, from slight delirium or wandering, to distraction.

It is Christ Who gives a sound mind. "...For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7-8)

Sound mind... sōphronismos
Thayer Definition: 1) an admonishing or calling to soundness of mind, to moderation and self-control

And what is the fruit of those "fundamental" believers who are filled with His Spirit? What is "fundamental" anyway? Webster's 1828 dictionary: FUNDAMENT'AL, n. A leading or primary principle, rule, law or article, which serves as the ground work of a system; essential part; as the fundamentals of the christian faith.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24)

And in contrast what is the fruit of those still in bondage to clinging to those passions and desires of the flesh and this world?

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:17-21)

Let us then, as His children, seek to be true followers of Him, as dangerous as He is, filled with His love, forgiving our enemies, holding forth His love to all, even those who would mistreat us, lie about us, persecute us, take away our rights, and crucify us. Let us be radical in our love as He was laying down His own life for us even while we were His enemies. Let's seek to be filled with His Spirit bearing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, being lights in a dark world that will stand out in stark contrast to that darkness, knowing we have a hope that is sure and awaits all who will come to that light. It's not much longer. This life is short and temporary. But the life He has given to us and is in us, is forever more and nothing and nobody can take it away from us. If we don't hold to the fundamentals of faith in Christ, we have no true faith at all in Him.

Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. (1 John 2:24)

My prayer today is that many will turn from clinging to lies and come to this dangerous Christ. Yes, He is very dangerous in regard to our sin. He seeks to crucify it and end it in our lives. He seeks to radically free us from it, so that we can partake of His holiness and live with Him in His glory forever, never again to be stained by it or touched by it. He seeks to wipe every tear from our eyes. He seeks to give us an eternity of glory and pleasure forevermore. He seeks to make us His own dear children sharing in His inheritance. Yet people would rather cling to themselves no matter what the cost. Lord, open our eyes to seek Your life, giving up ourselves, no matter what the cost for that!

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.

THY JUDGMENTS ARE A GREAT DEEP

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Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. (Psalms 36:6)

"God's dealings with men are not to be fathomed by every boaster who demands to see a why for every wherefore. The Lord is not to be questioned by us as to why this and why that. He has reasons, but he does not choose to submit them to our foolish consideration. Far and wide, terrible and irresistible like the ocean are the providential dispensations of God: at one time they appear as peaceful as the unrippled sea of glass; at another tossed with tempest and whirlwind, but evermore most glorious and full of mystery. Who shall discover the springs of the sea? He who shall do this may hope to comprehend the providence of the Eternal." ~The Treasury Of David, Charles Spurgeon

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. (Psalms 36:7)

Though we cannot fathom God's love or justice, His righteousness, His workings with men, yet we can trust Him, in His perfect love, and His mercy and compassion. This is how the child of God can rest and even give thanks in the midst of suffering and trials and hardships on this earthly pilgrimage. What a God we serve! He is a perfect God. Perfect in holiness, and in righteousness, and in love, and in every way conceivable. There is no flaw in Him. Do we want there to be? Sometimes I think we do. We want Him to stoop down to our level and see things the way we do, and make exceptions in His perfect plan for us so we can have things our own way, or have our comfort or security in this world undisturbed. I'm speaking from my own heart of experience. I'll admit, there have been times I wish God would bend a little, while under His dealings - just this once God!

What a great Heavenly Father we have! He won't bend, as sometimes we parents will do for our own children if they cry enough, or wine enough. We so often bend our better judgment for them thinking just this once, it won't hurt them. Our Heavenly Father's love is steadfast, unmovable, and unchanging. How can perfection change? Perfection would no longer be perfection if it were to change. God is perfect. He does not need to arrive at perfection. He is perfection and the sole standard of it. That can never change or be altered.

What security we have knowing that! You've heard the saying, "if you can't understand what He's doing, trust His hand." Is that based on Scripture? Yes, I believe it is. We cannot possibly understand all He does, all He orchestrates, all He allows, and all the whys behind that. We can make ourselves bitter and miserable trying to. I could never understand the person who could not believe in God unless they could understand Him. When you believe in Him, your understanding and knowledge of Him grows, but not before. He has given us His Word, and enough light and evidence all around us, if we will but see it. It is our hearts that blind us to Him. Open our eyes Lord! There is so much to discover. I believe He wants to reveal it to us, and waits for us to seek Him out. But seeking Him must be in humility in order to receive anything from Him.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

Men will spend lots of money to go to schools to learn knowledge. They will read a multitude of books to gain more understanding. Yet they fail to go to the One Who has the store of all knowledge of all things to learn of Him and to know Him. "...in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3)

I believe God, in all His magnificence and beauty and glory wants to be known, and He has made us in such a way that we want to be known. We long for someone to really desire to know us intimately and understand our heart of hearts. Yet even the most intimate relationship between soul mates in this earth cannot compare to what God has made us for. He has created us to know Him intimately and to be known by Him.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Yet here and now, we walk by faith, not knowing fully. We don't know Him fully, or understand Him fully, yet He has called us to learn of Him and to know Him more and more until that day we see Him face to face.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)

He is a treasure for us to seek continually and draw from. Why do we let any other pursuit in life cloud that out or distract us?

There are those who seem to think they have a "deeper" knowledge, and that not from the Word of God, but claim deeper spiritual experiences, even visions and revelations directly from God outside of the Bible, and you have to come to them, not the Word, in order to get that from God. These same people discourage others from reading the Word or from depending on it, and lift up their own experiences and visions and prophecies higher than God's Word itself, drawing people away from God. They are nothing more than the old Gnostics that Paul and John both dealt with in their day. God has given us His perfect Word that has all we need in it in this life to know Him and draw close to Him. He's given us His Spirit in our inner beings to illumine that Word to us and speak it to our hearts bringing faith and life, enabling us to walk as He walked in this earth. Many are drawn and seduced by these, as they seem to have something more special than the rest. They are mesmerized by them and drawn away into their heresies and caught up in their delusions.

God tests our hearts. Many times in seeking something "deeper" we are only truly seeking our own advancement and personal power. Will you go wherever He leads? do whatever He calls? accept whatever position you are given? Oh we're so quick to think of doing great things for our God and to say "yes!" I'll go wherever You want me to go dear Lord, I'll be what You want me to be!" But what if He calls you to a humble life of weakness in this world? What if where He wants you to go is in situations that are lonely, isolated, where there is no glamour or glory, where people despise you, where you are misunderstood, where you stand alone against the tide of deception, where you plug away day after day faithfully, yet see no instant results. What if He calls you to simply be His humble child and live a day to day life allowing His Spirit to work in you and through you to those around you, with no special "ministry?" What if He calls you to much grief and sorrow in your life, and loss after loss? Will you seek to know Him in that? Will you seek out the depths of God and to learn of His judgments? I'm asking myself these questions, because I believe God has asked them of me in many different times of my life. I went to Bible college as a young girl, thinking to have a special ministry of some kind where I would win many souls for Christ and do great things for God. I was full of zeal, but not full of knowledge. I thought I knew God, but I had so much more to learn of Him. One day, when I was at a chapel service in Bible college, I was at the altar earnestly praying, "Lord what is Your will for my life?" I was willing to go to another country and be a missionary, or to do anything He asked. The answer came to me as quite a surprise as the Lord spoke to my spirit, "to be my child."

Wow! I didn't get that! Not at all! Just to be Your child, Lord? I've since learned just how great that is, and how great a calling it is. JUST to be His child! All else that flows from us that will be of any significance or good in anyone's life around us, comes from that first. We may minimize that, but until we learn to be His child and walk as His child, and trust as His child, and grow as His child, and be His child around others and in our earthly relationships and ups and downs and joys and sorrows, we cannot really be anything for Him at all. It's as His child, in the humility of a child, that we learn to know Him the best of all. Do we really want to know Him? Learn to be His child, just as Jesus, as He walked this earth, walked in unity and full faith and reliance on His Father for all.

We can't know all there is to know about God right now. We can't understand all the whys. Many times life doesn't make sense to us. We may never get an answer in this life as to why God let certain things happen. Sometimes we do. Yet we can look at the cross and know that we can trust that kind of perfect love not to fail us.

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32)

What if God is not calling you to an exciting place somewhere? What if He's calling you to a mundane life of faith, perhaps in unhappy circumstances? Are you as willing to say yes to that as you are to anything else? Or maybe He's calling you to step out of your comfort zone and reach out more, or to do something quite beyond your nature. Whatever He's calling you to, are you willing to be His child, and walk wherever He leads you to and whatever He leads you to? "If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it." I like that saying, because I've found it true and it gives me hope for whatever lies ahead as well. This is a God that I can trust for that. His judgments may be a "great deep" but His love has been made quite manifest to us in a way that we can know whatever is in that "great deep" of God Himself is trustworthy and good.

Thank You dear Heavenly Father, for Who You are! For all You are! and that we have such incredible blessings and joy in just getting glimpses here below of that wondrous glory of You! I thank You and praise Your wonderful name!

If you are not sure you have eternal life, if you want to know more about salvation through Jesus Christ, and how you can be sure, you can read more about it here.