Layers – Part 5

If you’re willing to follow God’s process for growth, nothing can stop you.

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Ephesians 3:17b – . . . that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

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There is a place in God to which every believer should seek to attain.  It is called “the fulness of God.”  There are no two believers who are just alike.  Each of us is peculiar, unique, gifted in a certain manner for a particular function, and all growing at different rates.  But to come to that place called “the fulness of God,” we must all go through the same process, regardless of how quickly we might grow through it.  It begins with a foundation of prayer anchored in the Word of God.  Then we come to the matter of identity; knowing truly and accurately who you are in Christ.  The next layer we examined is the strengthening in the Lord that comes as we experience the riches of His glory.  And lastly, we looked at coming to that place of being securely anchored through the dwelling of the anointing in our lives by faith.  Today we discover the basis for than anchoring, and that is “being rooted and grounded in love.”

When delving into the Word of God, one of truly important things we must learn to do is to accurately define Biblical terms such as faith, love, righteousness, patience, joy, and many more.  As you study the Word of God, you will find that the greatest, most accurate, and clearest definitions of God’s terms are found in the Word of God.  For example, if you want the clearest definition of faith, read Hebrews 11:1.  Likewise, if you  want the clearest definition of the love of God, read 1 John 5:3.  There we read, “This is the love of God, that you keep His commandments.”  That is further proven in John 14:15 where Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”  You can find no clearer or more concise definition of the love of God than these two passages.  And from that, the conclusion to which we must come if we believe the Bible is that the love of God is not about feelings or emotions, or even good deeds for the sake of good deeds.  The love of God is manifest is the believer when that believer obeys the Word of God.

Do you want to add this layer of growth to your walk with the Lord?  I’m talking about “being rooted and grounded in love.”  Do you really want it?  Then discipline yourself to be a doer of the Word of God.  Jesus said to those who believed on Him by continuing in the Word of God, they would be known as His disciples, or disciplined ones.  The Word of God must be your daily portion with Father.  Read it, study it, meditate upon it, memorize it, learn it by heart, become intimate with it, and obey it.  In that manner, and in that manner only will you live “being rooted and grounded in love.”

Manna for Today – Ephesians 3:14-21; John 17; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Mark 11:22-24; 1 John 5:3; Galatians 5:6; 1 Corinthians 13; John 8:30-32

Layers – Part 4

There are levels of growth in Christ, and you don’t skip important issues and continue to grow.

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Ephesians 3:17a – That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith . . .

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The first point I must make today is use of the term “Christ.”  Our Text for Today does NOT say that “Jesus may dwell in your hearts by faith,” but rather “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.”  This is a very important distinction.  “Christ” is not part of Jesus’ Name.  It is His title.  His Name is Jesus, and He is “the Christ (the Anointed One).”  So, when we read our Text for Today, we should see more clearly that it speaks of the Anointed One, or the Anointing, dwelling you your heart by faith.  Then, when you view that through the lens of 1 John 2 (in our Manna for Today), we are looking at one of the Lord’s chief means of teaching and training the believer about how to walk in the functional power of Holy Spirit.  Always remember the words of Jesus when He stood to read in the synagogue, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He hath anointed me…” 

In Jesus’ statement about the connection between the anointing (Christ) and Holy Ghost in the Luke passage, we need to recognize the divine working order of the two in the life of a son of God.  Jesus clearly indicates that the anointing and the manifest presence of Holy Ghost are two different things.  Jesus states that Holy Ghost was upon Him in the present tense because He had been anointed in the past tense.  From this statement, we should clearly understand that Holy seeks the anointing in a person’s life as a means for manifesting Himself in power upon and through the anointed vessel.  The simplicity we need to see can be spoken in these words – No anointing, no power. 

Keep in mind that Holy Spirit is everywhere present at all times.  David wrote that even if he made his bed in hell, he could not escape from the presence of God.  But while is present everywhere at all times, He is NOT manifesting Himself everywhere at all times.  However, in that state of omnipresence, Holy Spirit is always seeking those to whom He can show Himself strong.  Such a person is one that is following the Lord, walking in His Word, living the love walk, living by faith, and making the anointing(s) that is in them available for Holy Spirit to use when that anointing is needed.  Sadly, too many Christians have hidden the anointing(s) that is in them, and are there not making them available for the power of God by Holy Ghost to rest upon them.  To live in a state of continual readiness demands that one walk by faith and not by sight.

Manna for Today – Ephesians 3:14-21; John 17; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Mark 11:22-24; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:1-6; 1 John 2:20-27; Luke 4:18; 2 Chronicles 16:9

Layers – Part 3

God has a divine order for things, but sadly, it is often overlooked.

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Ephesians 3:16 – That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

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After recognizing the foundation of the Word and prayer upon which you are laid, and then stepping into the process of discovering your true identity in Christ, that next layer that begins to unfold is your development of strength that comes by Holy Ghost in the inner man.  To be strengthened is to be made stronger.  In this case, the strengthening is the direct work of Holy Ghost in the human spirit.  What the believer must do in this scenario is to connect with Holy Spirit in a manner that not only allows this strengthening, but in fact, deliberately sparks it. 

It begins at the point of the new birth, but that is only the beginning.  That first encounter with Holy Ghost is the same power of God that was released through Holy Spirit at the resurrection of the Lord.  Oh, that every Christian would read and fully walk in the blessing of Acts 1:8, being filled (baptized in) with Holy Ghost, and by that, receiving the great power of that wonderful work of grace.  Jesus promised that wonderful gift to every believer who would ask and believe.  And once again, I write concerning the awesome power that comes into the believer’s life after receiving the baptism in Holy Ghost.

That power of which I write today is further enhanced by obedient action of the believer, especially as it relates to praying and worshipping in the Spirit.  Paul writes that when one prays in the Spirit, and that means praying in tongues as Holy Ghost gives the utterance, the believer edifies himself.  The word edify means to build up, to strengthen.  We further read in Jude 20 these wonderful words; “But you, beloved, building up yourself on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.”  Do you see it?  When one prays in the Holy Ghost, that person strengthens himself.  Such prayer is as close to the Father as one can come, for when one prays in the Spirit, he speaks mysteries to God that originate from Father’s heart and are His perfect will.  Paul also spoke of singing in the Spirit.  In that case, we are talking about praise and worship, which is communicating with Father.  Keep in mind that when you are communicating with Father, whether by petition and supplication, agreement, intercession, or praise and worship, such communication is properly called prayer.  While any prayer can refresh and encourage one’s whole being, when one prays in the spirit, they “build themselves up on their most holy faith.”  Many times in prayer, one may think that their faith is the problem, when it may be their failure to strengthen themselves to stand in their faith rather than fainting.

Manna for Today – Ephesians 3:14-21; John 17; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:12-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 14:4; Jude 20; Luke 11:13

Layers – Part 2

Is your identity in Christ truly settled in your heart?

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Ephesians 3:15 – Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named . . .

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Here are some thoughts for your consideration.  Your parents knew you, your name, your date of birth, your health history, and your address years before you did.  You responded to your name long before you could say it.  You said your first words without any understanding of what they meant.  Think about that.  Now for more.  Before you were allowed to go out of your house completely alone, you knew your name, could say and spell it, you knew your parents’ names, you knew your address, and if you had one, you knew your telephone number.  Generally, you had to be 16 years old before you could drive, and now, 18 years old before you can vote.  Why did all that take so long?  It’s a matter of layering – layering information until that information became knowledge that you could use, hopefully to keep you safe and on the right track in life. 

Life in the spirit is much the same.  Thought you may have been an adult when you were born again, and though you may have had a natural understanding that you had made a commitment to the Lord, it took time for you to grow in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of what had really happened to you.  Sadly, and for far too many believers, they have never come to a place of deep understanding of that experience.  How my heart aches for so many Christians that I have heard make the statement, “I’m just an old sinner saved by grace.”  Such a statement is a strong indicator that the speaker doesn’t really understand what happened to them at the point of the new birth.  The truth is that they were an old sinner, they have been saved by grace, and now they are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.  That’s what the Bible teaches, but for some reason, they never learned that.  Could it be that the person(s) responsible for teaching and discipling them was also ignorant of that truth?  Just a thought.

My point is that it is only as one grows, matures, and becomes more knowledgeable of the truth of God’s Word does one truly begin to learn and embrace their identity in the Lord.  The believer may be IN this earth, but they are not OF it.  As a believer, you are now an heir of God, a joint-heir with Christ, a new creature in Christ, and you should establish your identity upon who God says you are and NOT who man, especially the religious minded one, says you are.  I repeat an oft-used expression of mine – IF GOD SAID IT, THAT SETTLES IT!  To know your true identity in the Lord, you need quality time with the Lord, accurate teaching in the Word, a close acquaintance with Holy Ghost, and a teachable spirit that accepts the full authority of the Word of God above all else.

Manna for Today – Ephesians 3:14-21; John 17; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:12-14

Layers – Part 1

You should never attempt to build upward without a strong foundation.

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Ephesians 3:14 – For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .

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When Jesus said He would build His church upon “this rock,” the rock about which He was speaking is the rock of revelation knowledge of His Word.  The Word is forever settled in heaven.  The Word, Jesus, is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  It is absolutely unchangeable.  One of the key activities to which the believer should be continually engaged in the laying of that foundation is prayer.  Praying the Word is laying the strongest possible foundation upon which to build your life, and the life of others, in the kingdom of God.  The foundation built in this manner is unshakeable. 

When you have needs in your own life, you need to be able to pray the prayer of faith.  That clearly indicates you must have knowledge of the Word, for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  Without faith it is impossible to please God, and praying without a foundation of the Word of God is not faith-based praying.  And while this is a hard saying, praying without faith as a foundation does not please Father, and therefore will not be heard and answered.    In order to pray a faith-based prayer, one must have knowledge of the Word of God relating to that prayer that it is indeed the will of God.  That is why one must “study to show himself approved unto God. “

When you pray for others, the same is true.  You need to be able to pray the prayer of faith, that is, a faith-based prayer, built soundly on the basis of the Word of God.  My friend, much of the prayer that people offer to the Lord is, in reality, sloppy prayer, built solely on desire and mental assent.  Such prayer is not acceptable to the Lord.  I did not write the Scriptures, and neither will I apologize for the truth set forth therein.  God’s Word is God’s Word, and regardless of how many have tried to weaken it, dilute it, and even pervert it, God’s Word is God’s Word, and it NEVER changes.  Once again, I write, “without faith it is impossible to please God.”  If you are praying for someone else, be sure your prayer is based on the Word of God, for then, and only then, can your prayer be truly faith-based.

I should note here that I am writing about praying in the understanding (your known language), NOT praying in the Spirit.  When you pray in the Spirit, it is as Holy Spirit gives utterance, and that prayer will ALWAYS be faith-based, for it is the perfect will of Father, and will ALWAYS line up with His Word. 

Manna for Today – Ephesians 3:14-21; Ephesians 6:10-18; Colossians 1:33-14; Philippians 1:3-11; Matthew 6:5-15; Psalm 119:89; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 2:15;         Mark 11:22-24

Divine Partnership

Faith is the heavenly currency for your divine partnership with the Lord.

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Proverbs 16:9 – A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

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The moment you were born again, accepting Jesus as Lord in your life, you entered into a divine partner-ship with the Lord that far surpasses anything most (and in fact, likely all) human minds have ever conceived.  The promises of the Lord to those who are His are marvelous beyond any natural comprehension.  Even in a natural partnership, there are great benefits that attract people to such a partnership, and from them, each partner expects to receive those benefits.  This is certainly no less true when one enters into partnership with the Lord.  A legally binding natural partnership is recorded in written documentation.  So is your partnership with the Lord.  The document is called the Word of God, and that document will NEVER pass away, become null or void, or fail to be upheld by the Lord.

Your partnership with the Lord is called covenant.  Ours is the New Covenant, and it (as well as the Old Covenant) is eternally settled in the heavens.  It is the Word of God that goes forth out of God’s mouth, and it shall not return void, but shall accompany to completion all that He has spoken.  In this divine partnership of which I write today, both partners, you and the Lord, have distinct roles to play.  Father has established the rules, or binding elements of the partnership contract (the Word of God).  There are “do’s” and “don’t’s.”  But for we who are partakers of the New Covenant, we have one primary law, that if obeyed, fulfills all the law.  That is the law of love.  We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  We are to love our neighbors as ourselves.  We are to love one another as Jesus loved us.  Fulfill these words, and you fulfill the law of love.  When that happens, the currency of God’s kingdom, FAITH, operates at its highest level, and with it there is no inflation.

In this marvelous partnership we find that not only are we please God (that requires faith), but He desires to please us.  It is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom.  It is His highest desire and greatest pleasure that we prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers.  If we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desire of our hearts.  He wants you to have whatsoever things you desire.  All this is absolutely Biblical.  Father wants us to enjoy it.  All these things speak to destination.  But for us to arrive at our desired destination, we need to follow His direction for our footsteps.  Remember, wherever you may desire to go, Father has already been there.  He knows the way to get you to your desired destination.  Enjoy the journey.

Manna for Today – (Read one chapter of Proverbs daily; Psalm 25:12; Romans 8:14; Psalm 2:7; Matthew 12:47; Mark 11:22-24; Romans 4:17; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 55:11;    Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 58:13-14

What Are We Doing with the Glory?

The glory Jesus gave us was a gift.  What are you doing with it?

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John 17:22-23 – And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

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The question of “Where is the glory?” has now been answered, and that absolutely correctly, according to the Scriptures.  The glory of which I write, that is, the “glory as of the only begotten of the Father” IS IN YOU!  That being settled, another question is now necessary.  What are we doing with the glory?  The reason I ask that question is that it appears to me that we, the body of Christ as a whole, are sorely missing the mark and falling short of all Father desires to do in us, with us, through us, to us, and for us with the presence of that glory.  Think of what I’m saying in this light.  Jesus said that we, the members of His body, should be doing the same works that He did, and even greater works.  I know that we are seeing “greater works,” for people are being born again and Spirit filled in this hour.  Neither of those things could happen until AFTER Jesus was raised from the dead and Holy Spirit had been sent.  But my simple question is this;  why is there so little of the manifestation of the power of God in the arena of healing, deliverance, provision, miracles, and signs and wonders?

Once again, keep in mind, Jesus has given us His glory, that that is the “glory as of the only begotten of the Father.”  Please stop and give that some serious thought.  This is not the glory someone thinks of as coming with fame or fortune.  Those things have their own kind of glory.  But you and I have been given the “glory as of the only begotten of the Father.”  That, my dear friend, is glory beyond imagination, and access to power and majesty beyond comprehension.  WE HAVE IT!   But what are we doing with it? 

Have we, the church, received this wonderful treasure of God’s glory only to hide it in some dark place in our life, thus making it non-effective in our lives?  In reality, the glory of the Lord and Holy Ghost are the same.  The Scriptures declare that it was the glory of God that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 6:4), and in another place, it was the Spirit of God that did that work (Romans 8:11).  Does Holy Ghost dwell in you?  Are you a born-again child of God?  Then you have the “glory as of the only begotten of the Father” dwelling in you.  Yield yourself to the Lord, allow His Spirit to work in you as He wills, and in so doing, be that vessel in which the glory is not hidden, but is openly revealed, honoring the Lord as we should.

Manna for Today – John 17; John 1:14;  Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 12:48; John 14:12-14; 1 John 4:17

Where Is the Glory? – Part 4

I love the song lyric, “O the glory of Your presence; we Your people, give you reverence…”

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Where Is the Glory – Part 4

John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

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Today I being with John 17:22 that states very clearly, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.”  I urge you to take a few moments and read this verse along with our Text for Today, allowing it to sink deeply into your heart and soul.  In both verses, the Greek word for “glory” is the same – DOXA.  This is the infallible Word of God, not simply found in the Bible but found the same book, written by the same author.  They are inextricably tied together.  To that end, I offer you some questions for the sake of establishing absolute clarity of this great truth.

• In our Text for Today, about whose glory are we speaking?  The glory of the Christ. 
• Who gave Him that glory?  Father God. 
• Are we correct in saying that the “glory as of the only begotten of the Father” is the glory Father gave to Jesus?  According to the words of Jesus Himself in John 17:22, indeed we are. 
• What did Jesus say, in John 17:22, that He had done with the glory that was given to Him?  Jesus said of the glory Father had given Him, that He had given it to those who believed on Him.
• Is there a reference that makes it clear Jesus included every Christian as recipient of that glory?  Emphatically, YES!  Jesus said in John 17:20 that the prayer He was praying was not for His current disciples alone, but “but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.”  And that, my dear friend, includes you and me.  Praise be unto God!

It is at this point that we come to the definitive answer to the question we’ve been examining for these four days.  Where is the glory?  And the answer is, “It is in you, child of God.”  The glory Father gave to Jesus, the “glory as of the only begotten of the Father,” is in you!  If you say you are a Christian, then it is incumbent upon you to believe the Scriptures.  That is all I have presented to you on this matter.  It is the Scriptures that declare the glory Father gave to Jesus, the “glory as of the only begotten of the Father,” has been given to you by Jesus Himself, and that Jesus declared it so to the Father in His John 17 High Priestly prayer.  Still, at least one more question remains.  What are we doing with it?

Manna for Today – John 1:1-14; John 17; 1 John 5:7; Luke 1:26-38; Isaiah 7:14; Romans 1:16;  Hebrews 1:3; Romans 10:6-17; Ephesians 2:1-10; Matthew 5:18; Mark 13:31; Hebrews 4:16

Where Is the Glory – Part 3

Oh, how wonderful is the fullness of God’s glory!

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John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

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When the Word was made flesh, He, Jesus, dwelled among men.  As He dwelled among men, something became clear to them.  They saw “His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.”  Jesus, the Word made flesh, carried with Him, on Him, and in Him the manifest glory of God.  And because, at that time, Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, walking perfectly in the will of His Father, imagine the greatness, the dynamic, the power, the awesomeness of that glory.  We will discuss that in a later edition of our Second Miler, but today we will look at a wonderful characteristic of that glory.  It was “full of grace and truth.”  Let’s take a deeper look.

“Grace and truth” are tied inextricably together.  I am not writing about natural grace or truth, but of the supernatural grace of God that only comes through faith, and the supernatural truth of God’s Word that is eternally fixed, unchangeable, and unalterable.  From a Biblical perspective, “grace” can be accurately defined as that gift from God that makes up what is lacking in a man to put that man on a working par with Jesus.  Think of it in this manner.  Note that we are saved “by grace THROUGH faith.”  We are to come to the throne of grace boldly to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  There are two key phrases here that are necessary to understand the access to and flow of grace.  Grace flows THROUGH faith, and while mercy is freely poured out when we come to the throne of grace, grace itself must be FOUND.  Please consider these truths from the Word of God.  For grace to have its place and do its work, it must be found in an atmosphere of faith through which it can flow.  When you need grace manifest in your life, make sure you have a sure foundation of the Word of God by which a faith foundation can be established.

Now we come to “truth.”  I am not speaking about what so many would call truth as they speak with accuracy about current facts.  My friend, facts can change.  Real truth NEVER changes.  Regardless of the age, the culture, the circumstances, or ethnicity, real truth NEVER changes.  Jesus, the Word made flesh said He was “the way, the truth, and the life.”  That being said, we can only conclude that God’s Word is THE TRUTH.  Anything less than that is, at best, suspect, for it can never achieve the standard established by the infallible Word of the living God.  These are the elements, “truth and grace” that fill the glory of God.  Today I ask you once again.  Where is the glory?

Manna for Today – John 1:1-14; John 17; 1 John 5:7; Luke 1:26-38; Isaiah 7:14; Romans 1:16;  Hebrews 1:3; Romans 10:6-17; Ephesians 2:1-10; Matthew 5:18; Mark 13:31; Hebrews 4:16

Where Is the Glory? – Part 2

We have received His glory.  What are we doing with it?

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John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

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Today I continue writing to you concerning what I perceive to be a greatly depleted use, manifestation of, and affect of the glory of God in His church.  Opening our Text for Today, we read the words, “And the Word was made flesh.”  We know that Jesus is One with the Father and Holy Ghost.  We know that Jehovah has the power to do anything for which faith calls.  He created the heaven and the earth, and all that is in them.  He took elements of that creation, such as dust, and along with Jesus and Holy Spirit MADE man and woman, breathing His Own life, authority, and ability into them.  But after man’s fall, and the subsequent transfer of all the power and authority Father had given him into the hands of Satan, the plan of redemption had to be instigated.  And for that to happen, Jesus, the Word, had to become flesh.  So, our question today is, “How was the Word made flesh?”

God sent Gabriel to a virgin named Mary in the town of Nazareth.  He called her, “Highly favored.”  That clearly indicates that Mary was a woman of faith.  She was a woman who, upon hearing the Word of God, would be faithful to receive it, believe it, and act upon it.  Mary was told that she would bear a son, and that His Name would be called Jesus.  She never doubted that word from the Lord, but she did have one question.  Such a thing as a virgin giving birth, while naturally impossible, the Scriptures had foretold it, and Mary was a woman of faith.  She believed in and accepted as unalterable truth, the Word of God.  She simply wanted to know HOW it could happen; NOT IF.

Gabriel answered that question.  He told her that Holy Ghost would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her, and by that she would conceive and bear a son.  The Bible calls “the Gospel of Christ” the “power of God unto salvation.”  From that, we understand the power of God is the Word of God.  Mary understood the creative power of God’s Word.  With that understanding, she had something dynamic to say about the message Gabriel brought her.  Look closely at her words in Luke 1:38.  Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”  She believed God, as Abraham did, and it was accounted unto her as righteousness.  And it was out of that righteousness that she spoke according to Romans 10, releasing her faith, allowing the Word of God to come alive in her.  Thus, “the Word was made flesh.”

Manna for Today – John 1:1-14; John 17; 1 John 5:7; Luke 1:26-38; Isaiah 7:14; Romans 1:16;  Hebrews 1:3; Romans 10:6-17