Manna fall from heaven Lord and feed my hungry soul Feed the very depths of me that I may walk on whole Living waters flow through me and quench my raging thirst For I am now redeemed by you, I who once was cursed Speak to me when I am low, that I may rise again Touch me in affliction Lord, deliver me from pain Rend the heavens and come down and light the way ahead For I have been delivered Lord, I who once was dead Consume me with your presence Lord and cast out every fear Lead the way through troubles Lord and dry up every tear Lift my eyes to the cross once more that I might see the cost For I was purchased by Your blood, I who once was lost Speak but a single word to me it is not by bread alone A vision of your majesty and the glory of your throne The beauty of your Holiness your splendor is all I find I see you high and lifted up, I who once was blind.
Archive for the ‘The presence of God’ Category
I who once was blind.
Posted by appolus on November 12, 2022
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, Jesus, poetry, praise and worship, revival, spiritual poetry, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
The true treasures of Heaven!
Posted by appolus on November 11, 2022
In 1544 there occurred what became know as “The great debasement.” Ushered in by an impoverished Henry V111 in order to increase his revenue, he simply put less gold in a coin but maintained its face value. Gold was reduced from 23 karat to 20 karat and the amount of silver in a coin was reduced from 92.5% to just 25%. There was somewhat of an out cry but for six years this policy prevailed, thus debasing the value of the whole currency, it was ye old inflation.
Part of Solomon’s treasure was three hundred shields of gold. (2 Chron 9:16) It was only a small part of his treasure but it was worth a vast fortune in today’s money. When that treasure was foolishly handled and displayed in pride and arrogance under Rehoboam, Shishak, King of Egypt came and took them all. The divided Kingdom could not stand against the might of Egypt. Rehoboam’s solution was to make 300 shields of brass. As the rising sun glistened on the brass shields, from a distance no one could tell that it was not gold, but it was not gold, it was a poor substitute.
Today’s brass is dimmed lights, smoke machines, stadium seating, concert style worship, flashing lights and laser shows. Add to that salesmen pitches and the power of positive thinking and “sermons,” by men who could easily be self help gurus or motivational speakers and the brass is complete. When the real treasure is gone, the presence of the Lord, then the replacement is brass and if that replacement is brass then the heavens above them is brass.
The riches of our dwelling place is in the Lord. The beauty of dwelling with Him produces the finest gold of unconditional love. The walls of our dwelling place are encrusted with the jewels of forgiveness and mercy. The windows of our dwelling places are draped with meekness and humility. Trophies of grace hang on every wall. They are framed with the finest materials of patience and kindness.He is our exceeding great reward and His presence is pure gold that can never be devalued by men. It is the riches that will last throughout eternity. We have no brass heavens above us, rather we have an open heaven. And from that open heaven it rains and the skies are rent and down flows the treasure of Heaven, God Himself!
Posted in Babylon, bible, Charismatic, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Church history, Daily devotional, Devotions, faith, God's love, hope, inspirational, Jesus, revival, strange fire, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Overcoming despair.
Posted by appolus on November 10, 2022
2Co 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life:
It is quite astonishing to see the transparency of Paul here. How many leaders would acknowledge such a depth of despair, even of life itself? How many saints would acknowledge this to each other? Especially men. Most of us are raised to be strong and to keep our innermost thoughts to ourselves, but here is Paul laying out his heart, his fears, his insecurities for everyone to read. And yet even in this he is teaching, he is becoming all things to all men so that he may comfort them. We cannot truly comfort others unless we can be honest and transparent. Once someone realizes that you have walked through the same fire as they have , they sit up and take notice. Paul assures us that his hope for you is steadfast because he knows that as you enter into the sufferings for Christ sake, you shall also enter into the consolation of Christ.
And how glorious is that consolation! Just to be known by Him, just to know that He knows what you are going through. To know that He stands with you in the midst of it all, then we trust Him. And that trust is our strength. It is that trust in Him that sees us through the fires. It is that trust in Him that elevates us above the storm. It is that trust in Him that causes despair to flee and be replaced with a blessed hope. To see Him in the midst of it all is to live. We know that the One who delivered us from the world will deliver us still from all of our calamities. And when He does, we then comfort others, who are going through the dark valleys of life and who are suffering for the cause of Christ, with the same comfort we ourselves were comforted with.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, healing, healing ministry, Jesus, revival, spiritual gifts, Spiritual warfare, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology | 4 Comments »
Death and hell has lost its victory!
Posted by appolus on November 8, 2022
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
What a glorious declaration! When our corruptible bodies are raised in in-corruption and our mortal bodies have put on immortality, there shall be a majestic shout that spans the heavens, that fills the very corners of everything that exists “Death is swallowed up in victory!” And while that is yet to come for those of us that are mere mortal men, we saints have already realized this in the blessed hope we have in the risen Christ. The echos of that truth reverberate to the depths of our spirits. Can you sense it even now saints? Can we say to death that we know its end? Where now lies your sting O death? Hell, where is your victory? It has been swallowed up by the greater victory, the victory of life over death, the victory of the Risen Christ” The first to rise but not the last!
If we only had hope in this life then what pitiful people we would be. Yet all of our blessed hope lies in the life to come. Christ has risen from the dead and He has become the first-fruits of those who have died in the last 2000 years! The time is coming soon when the Lord Jesus Christ delivers the Kingdom to God the Father, when all rule and all authority and all power comes to an end. All enemies will be put underneath the feet of Christ by Christ and the very last enemy shall be death! And when all these things have been made subject to our Lord then He Himself shall also be subject to the Father who had given Him all authority, that God may be all in all! These things are yet to come brothers and sisters but we live in the victory now. We shall die, but we do not fear death for Christ has overcome death. Hell exists for those who choose to go there, but we saints live in the victory of life over death, heaven over hell. Eternal life over eternal death. This is the victory that was and is and is to come. We have awoke to righteousness and we now walk in the beauty of His holiness, glory to God.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, End Times Eschatology, Eschatology - Study of the 'End Times', God's love, God's voice, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology | 1 Comment »
In that day when we gather together.
Posted by appolus on November 6, 2022
1Co 14:24 But if all prophesy, and if an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
Note the word “all”. Over and over we see the word all. And again in verse 31 we are told “for you can all prophesy that all may learn and all may be encouraged. Six times in two verses the Scriptures hammer home the truth “all.” Genuine saints are all priests in a royal priesthood. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light! (1 Pet 2:9) All the saints have been called forth to cry out the praises of the One who called us out of darkness to show the world His marvelous light. We are His excellent ones. Specifically anointed to move under the manifestation of the Spirit and speak as He leads us to speak. And when we do as we are instructed to do , then, according to the Scriptures the unlearned or the unbeliever will fall down on his face and worship God because the secrets of his heart was revealed and he shall then reports to all that “God is truly among you.”
This is the plain reading of the scripture saints. To do it any other way is to be in direct conflict with God. To sit under the clergy/laity system is to directly violate the principles and the instructions here laid down by God Himself. What audacity to think we know better. The greatest injury perpetrated against the Church was robbing the Body of its fellowship, of its actual breaking of bread, its communion together. How it fellowshiped together, how it gathered together, how it worshiped together under the auspices of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, who oversaw, who hovered over all things, all of this was rejected by the professional clergy. To wait upon the Lord so that only He speaks, is the simple gathering of the brethren. Let us wait upon the Lord. Who shall He speak through? What shall He say? How will He encourage us? How will He discipline us? What song shall He have us to sing? The Holy Spirit knows all this and empowers all of this by being manifested among us through “all.” Not one man.
The devil himself has worked feverishly over the centuries through religious hands to tear down what is real and erect empty meaningless rituals that are then idolized. The modern day church is like a ship at sea that has lost its power and is now driven by the winds and the tides and the currents of the world. Lost and drifting, waiting to be swamped by the next big wave, the next modern thing, the next hellish doctrine of the world. And yet the true Body of believers are still operating under power, the power of the Holy Spirit manifesting Himself in our lives. The day is coming soon saints, when the pressures from a very hostile world will draw us back together. The weak will fall away, the feeble will fall away. Lovers of the world more than lovers of the Lord will fall away. Little by little the saints are being purged from the world and this is good, the hand of the Lord Himself is doing this. We shall come back together, and we shall worship as we have read in 1 Cor 14. The great persecution will soon be upon us but the gathering of the saints takes place at the same time. We shall truly be united in our sufferings and in the persecution. And there we shall find the same power that stopped the mouths of lions, that overcome the fiery furnace, that shook the prison and turned the whole world upside down.
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To reject this is to starve.
Posted by appolus on November 3, 2022
1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
I will probably have a couple of devotionals on this chapter. I believe it to be one of the most important “chapters,” in the NT. Nowhere else do we have such a description of an early gathering service. Paul clearly states that what he is saying in regard to these matters is ” commandments of the Lord.” He further states that if you believe that you are a ” prophet or spiritual,”or leaders among the brethren then you must acknowledge the things of which he has just written about. And what has he just written about? He has just relayed to us “commandments of the Lord,” as to how a service should be conducted. To ignore Paul in this is to actually ignore God. He ends the chapter just as he begins it by saying “therefore brethren , desire earnestly to prophecy and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Before I begin to talk about the manifestation of the Spirit among us in the service, in all its many demonstrations, we must speak to the purpose of it all. The purpose of the manifestation of the Spirit among us in the service is primarily for edification. The word edification or to edify is mentioned five times in this one chapter. Those who come to Christ must be fed. We know that God Himself fed the children of Israel in the desert. Manna fell from heaven and water poured forth from the Rock. If it were not for the supernatural hand of God, all of the children of Israel would have starved in very short order or returned to Egypt. Now, in the NT God also feeds His children, and just as the children of Israel in the desert, we too shall die if He does not feed us or we shall turn to the world. We must be edified. He who prophecies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.( 1 Cor 14:3) For he who prophecies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets that the gathering may receive edification. (1 Cor 14:5) Even so, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the gathering. (1 Cor 14:12) Let all things be done for edification. (1 Cor 14:26)
So brothers and sisters, you see the clear purpose of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit among us as we gather. It is to edify us. To feed us, to build us up. To strengthen us. If we are not edified then we are not fed. If we reject the clear commandments of God then we are not fed. A intellect will not nourish your body, it needs to be fed spiritual food. God has, in His great wisdom, laid out how we shall be fed and from what source we shall be fed from. He is the source. He alone. We are not building up the intellect, we are strengthening the inner man. The spiritual man. And He can only be fed in the prescribed manner. Jesus says to the devil in the garden that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God. And so our singular source of spiritual food comes from the Word of God and the mouth of God. And how then does this happen? By the manifestation of the Spirit in our midst when we gather. He edifies through the prophet. He edifies through the word of knowledge. He edifies through the word of wisdom. He edifies through the interpreted tongue. He edifies through the Word. He edifies through a teaching. He edifies us in worship as we sing praises unto Him. In all these things, and more, He speaks to us and His words are life. They feed the deepest parts of who we are that we may rise up and be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. It is by His Spirit alone we are fed. To reject this is to starve.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Church history, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, End Times Eschatology, gifts of the spirit, God's love, God's voice, Jesus, leaving the church, prophecy, prophet, Prophetess, religion, revival, signs and wonders, spiritual gifts, strange fire, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
From such men turn away.
Posted by appolus on November 1, 2022
1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love , I am become as sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
In the previous sentence Paul tells us that we have to earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet, even above and beyond the best gifts, which we have indeed to earnestly desire, we must pursue love. It is not one or the other, God forbid. That’s a lie. Not only must the man or woman display the manifestation of the Spirit, above and beyond even that, He must walk in the greatest gift of all, love. Not human love, supernatural love. The kind of love that can only belong to the born again man or woman. The kind of love that shatters the gates of hell. The kind of love that inspired God to create us in the first place. The love that sent His only Son to die for the whole world. The kind of love that pursues us even when we are yet in our sin. The love that confounds hell itself. Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do. What kind of love motivated Jesus to cry this out in the midst of the greatest agony ever suffered? What kind of love would motivate Stephen to cry out the same thing even as those cruel merciless stones rained down upon his mortal body? Supernatural love. If one is truly endued with power from on high, that power will be first and foremost manifested in love in his or her life, the greatest manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
Paul begins with what love does not do or what it isn’t. It does not envy. It is not boastful. It is not full of pride. It does not behave in a deliberately offensive manner. It is not selfish. It is not easily provoked. It does not think the worse of people. It does not rejoice when others fall. Love, instead, revels in the truth, it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. Love, indeed, never fails. It never fails. For this love is the manifestation of God Himself, in His own and through His own. It can never fail because God never fails. It is eternal for God is eternal. When the end comes, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back and the Kingdom of God rules and reigns for all eternity then of course we wont have to hope any more, for all hope is fulfilled. We will no longer have to trust in the God that we cannot see, for now we shall see Him face to face.
Knowledge will vanish because we shall know as we are known. When all things are fulfilled in this manner, then love still stands forever. We are yet in this world, but the world to come is coming soon. Now we are like children, then we shall be complete in Him. Now we see in a mirror dimly, then face to face. Imagine it saints!!! There is now and there is then, we still exist in the now. And now we have the manifestation of the Spirit, then, all things are complete, perfect. And when that perfect has come, then all these other things, besides love, shall fall away. Do not let anyone fool you, do not be ignorant about these things brothers and sisters. For certain men have a form of Godliness, nevertheless they deny the power of God and say that it has ceased. From such men turn away.
Posted in bible, Charismatic, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, deception, delusion, Devotions, discernment, end times, End Times Eschatology, False Prophet, False Prophets, false teachers, God's love, God's voice, inspirational, Jesus, revival, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, Spiritual warfare, Spirituality, strange fire, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Given, set, appointed.
Posted by appolus on October 30, 2022
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.
The Scriptures plainly teach that the “manifestation of the Spirit,” is given to each one for the profit of all. It is given in such a way that in order that we may learn, in order that we might grow and becomes sons and daughters of the King. Without this edification, how could we grow? If a child is not being nourished properly then it is often referred to as “failure to thrive.” Failure to thrive is defined as “infants or children that fail to thrive seem to be dramatically smaller or shorter than other children of the same age.” I would argue that we live in a Christian generation that has failed to thrive, Failed to grow. A generation that is more Biblically illiterate than their counterparts from 300 years ago. Despite our instant access to the Word and commentaries and Greek and Hebrew translations, we are the most Biblically illiterate generation for several hundred years. Can I suggest that when we rid ourselves of the “manifestation of the Spirit,” through the gifts that are given to us by God Himself, we could do nothing else but fail to thrive.
In the verse above we see that these gifts are “given,” by God. And then we read in verse 18 that God has “set,” each member of the Body just as it pleased Him. And finally we see in verse 28 that God has “appointed,” those who apostles and prophets, evangelists and teachers and pastors and so on. So we can clearly see that God is intimately involved in ever aspect of His Body. He gives the gifts, He sets the members, He appoints those who are to lead. He does all of that. This is what makes it the Body. This is how we thrive. This is how we are edified, this is how we grow. He takes the foolish things of this world, He transforms them through the new birth, He feeds them milk as babe, He then introduces meat when it can be handled and that one begins to grow. He or she grows up into a son or a daughter of the King. This is all done in the confines of the Body, each part set by Him and moving in the gift given to them. They are led by servant leaders whose entire goal is to see the flock strong and healthy and following Jesus. This is God’s way and it is beautiful. Men so often have entirely different agendas. They may fill a building, but it is a building full of pygmies.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, gifts of the spirit, Jesus, revival, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology | 3 Comments »
Do not be ignorant in regard to spiritual gifts.
Posted by appolus on October 27, 2022
1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
When the Scriptures warn us about not being ignorant or not being deceived, the first thing we should do is sit up and take notice. There is always the danger of being deceived in all manner of teachings but especially in the areas we are being specifically warned about. This of course is the case with what Paul is going to say about the spiritual gifts. I trust you will agree with me when I say that one of the greatest “schisms,” that exists in Christendom is found in the subject of spiritual gifts. It actually creates a division that cannot be bridged. If one denies that there are spiritual gifts or that they no longer operate, then that one finds himself in direct conflict with the Word of God. I would argue that those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit and who operate in their giftings, given by the Holy Spirit Himself,cannot possibly have true and genuine fellowship with those who deny there very existence. For to deny that is to deny the Holy Spirit or to say, as many have, that the gifts are no the work of the Holy Spirit but indeed the devil himself.
God Himself has apportioned these gifts to men and women and has personally appointed apostles and prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. And every genuine saint has been given a gift so that he or she is a vital part of the ministry of the fellowship. And is therefore used in the edification of the Body in whatever degree the Lord sees fit. The Body of Christ cannot work or be edified outside the plan of God. This is His plan, these are His appointments and these gifts are given by Him. It is the Lord and the Lord alone who is building His Church so than no man can boast. Now this directly confronts and contradicts the man made clergy/laity system. They cannot operate side by side, its not possible. There is one Lord and His name is not “senior pastor.” Jesus alone has the preeminence. He alone guides and directs and feeds His flock through His own appointments and His own gifts. He is entirely in charge. This has been co-opted by men, hijacked if you like. And wherever that happens, men and women begin to spiritually starve. And so we see in our day that the broad swath of of what calls itself Christian is entirely emaciated.
Jesus has created the genuine saints to be united in Him. To be of one mind and one body, held together by the greatest gift of all, love. The world will know us by our love for one another. It whispers in the wind but is heard loudly wherever it is found. We are held together by its bonds. We are bond-servants to love and must stay within its confines. When the gifts are operating in the fellowship, it is an intimate thing. It draws us close to each other. We “know,” each other in ways that cannot be known outside of God’s plan for us. This system that God has created to water His own garden is the only way for genuine growth. Only by His hand can we grow. Only by His hand can we love as we ought to love. Only by His hand could a disparate group of people from a thousand different backgrounds stand together as one. This is His magnificent creation and it only works if we follow His directions. What audacious mind could ever believe that he knows better than God? We must follow God’s directions to the letter and He has clearly laid this out in regard to spiritual gifts. Do not be ignorant in this brothers and sisters. Stay close to the Lord and if men refuse to follow the Lord in this then they must be allowed to wander of. As the old song goes, “if none goes with me, still I will follow.”
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Drinking from the Rock that is higher than I.
Posted by appolus on October 25, 2022
1Co 10:4 ……. for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Jesus is the Rock that is with us. Even in the wilderness, especially in the wilderness, He is the Rock that never leaves us nor forsakes us. He causes the cloud to cover us from the searing heat of our trials and tribulations, and He causes the fire to light up the night so that we may see our way through and not be overcome by the cold. He leads us and He guides us in the ways that we should go. He waters our thirsty souls and feeds our spirits where there seems to be no water and there seems to be no food. Not only do we survive in these conditions, we begin to thrive. Our circumstances may be unstable in all their ways, but the Rock beneath our feet immovable. Our lot in this life may be poor in comparison to the earthly riches of this world, but we are rich in the treasures of heaven and of the Kingdom to come. We store up our spiritual riches here in this world that we may be rich in the things that are important to God in the next.
You would think that all who were offered such gifts from heaven would thrive. Yet, even in the most difficult of circumstances, where it would seem natural to reach out and take the hand of God, so many turn this hand away. They complain and they grumble and are disobedient to the God that they know. They desire in their heart to return to where they came from, like the dog returning to its vomit. Imagine desiring to be enslaved just so you knew where you next crumbs were coming from? Rather than continuing to trust the God who has helped you over and over again and in whom you have witnessed His delivering power. We who stand should always take heed lest we fall. A heart full of thanksgiving, one that is obedient to follow His lead is a heart that thrives even in the harshest desert. And if we can do this in the wilderness, just imagine what we shall do in the land to come that shall be overflowing with milk and honey.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, faith, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology | 2 Comments »
Where are all the miracles? The age of Simony?
Posted by appolus on October 24, 2022
Signs and wonders and miracles follow those who believe. It follows the dramatic transformation of souls, which is of course the greatest miracle of all. A large majority of Christendom seem only transfixed on miracles. We see in Acts 8-9 a man called Simon magician or sorcerer. Upon seeing the power of the Apostles, he wanted the same power and desired to “purchase,” it. Of course he is sternly rebuked. He is never mentioned in Scripture again. In extra biblical writings it seems he continued in his sorcery while still being around the Christian community. He gave rise to the word “Simony,” which means “using religion for profit.” Men like Simon would never move in the power of God. May I suggest we live in an age of Simony. There is so little evidence of the miraculous power of God in Christendom because Christendom in large part is run by men who “use religion for profit.” God is still a miracle working God, therefore if there is a fundamental lack of the true supernatural power among that which names itself the church, then that is a reflection on them and not upon our Lord who never changes.
If God has not changed, and of course He has not, then why it is that there is next to no supernatural power on display in what we call the church today? Can I suggest that one of the major causes is “Simony” those who “use religion for profit.” And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? (Judges 6:13) Where are all the miracles Gideon asks? The very first thing Gideon had to do was tear down the idols of his fathers. What Gideon did, we will not do. The traditions of our fathers still stand and they are more important to us than the commandments of God. The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things over and over again and expect different results. If there is a crisis and a lack of genuine power within the ranks of Christendom, then the answer is not to dim the lights, bring on the smoke machines and turn Sunday services into secular looking concerts. The answer, as always, lies within the Word of God and His commandments. 1 Cor 14. This is the model, and if we refuse to return to the Word of God in order to maintain our own traditions and the salaries of “senior pastors and so called worship leaders” then, of course, not only will nothing change, it will only get worse.
Posted in Babylon, bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Church history, churches, consequences of sin, Daily devotional, Devotions, discernment, end times, End Times Eschatology, Eschatology - Study of the 'End Times', God's voice, Jesus, miracles, revival, signs and wonders, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology | 1 Comment »
The imperishable Crown!
Posted by appolus on October 23, 2022
1Co 9:25 And every one who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown; but we an imperishable.
We have to run this race in such a way that we are trying to win. An athlete is totally committed to his or her sport. They will not do anything that would undermine their ability to be in the best shape that they could be. This is a fairly simple truth which has been preached on a lot and few would disagree with the truth of it. Yet, the context of chapter nine is money. It seems like Paul is complaining about not being supported financially. He then lays out the reasoned argument as to why he should be just like some of the the other Apostles. He says things like “who plants a vineyard and does not eat of the fruit?” And again “you shall not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain.” And then he uses the always interesting word “nevertheless.” This adverb is used in a sentence after a concession. He concedes that the rule is that he should be supported “but.” And it is the but that is interesting.
“We have not used this but endure all things lest we hinder the Gospel.” “That when I preach the Gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.” It follows that just because you can do a thing, does not mean you should. An athlete does not have to train every day. He or she does not have to rigidly watch their diets. They have the freedom to do such things, but would it be wise? Would it hinder their ability to run the race properly? And of course, it would. This is what Paul is saying in chapter nine, which is so often used in defense of countless ministries being supported. Paul disciplines himself and refrains from what could be lawfully his “lest when I have preached to others I myself should not be disqualified.” The gospel is central to everything that Paul does. He lives and breathes the Gospel. He even goes as far as to say that “it would be better for me to die than anyone should make his boasting void.” Death would be more appealing to Paul than anyone accuse him of preaching the Gospel for money’s sake.
This passion that causes us to run the race is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself! The genuine saint is horrified if he or she would do anything that would bring their Lord and His gospel into disrepute. They would rather suffer the loss. Saints, how then do we run this race? In some kind of half heart-ed measure? Shall we not run this race of life like the top athletes who disciplines their body in order to win the price? And that price is but for a perishable crown, something that can never last. Yet we for an imperishable crown! For holiness sake! For glories sake! For righteousness sake? For Christ’s sake! These are all eternal. With our eyes firmly set upon the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel, we run, not like those of the world who run for money and for fame and for fortune. Our treasure lies in heaven above. We store up our treasure by running the race with everything that we have, holding nothing back. Laying down every single thing that would hinder us and the Gospel of Jesus and the Kingdom. This is our calling brothers and sisters, to lay it all down, starting with our rights. Paul was laying down his right.The only right we really have is the right to suffer and die for the cause of Christ! And we know that those who suffer with Christ shall reign with Him. That is our reward, that is our “imperishable crown.”
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The perfect love of God!
Posted by appolus on October 20, 2022
1Co 8:3 But if any man loves God, the same is known of him.
What does it mean to love God? Ask the majority of people if they love God and they will quickly say yes. It is, of course, the correct answer. Yet as we know, words do not equate to love. If you are married to a man who beats you but tells you that he loves you, you can be certain that man knows nothing of love. You may be his possession, but he certainly does not love you. In short we shall know if someone loves someone, not by what they say but but what they do. That is not to detract from words, words are important. When true love and words combine, then a majestic noise is heard in the heavenly’s We will talk about what we are passionate about. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak. Yet actions certainly do speak louder than words, it is a cliche for a reason. Love is sacrificial. We see the highest example of this on the cross where Jesus died for us. Love is obedient, we see that in Gethsemane where Jesus struggles yet in the end He is obedient to His Father because of His great love and desire to do His Fathers will.
Jesus taught us that there is no greater love in this world than when a man lays down his life for a friend. This is not an issue of the head, but it is an issue of the heart. Knowledge promotes pride in us and makes us arrogant. Yet love promotes self sacrifice and it edifies the soul. Knowledge in the wrong hands can cause our weak brothers and sisters to perish, but love would rather deny itself than see another fall. We know that we love because we were first loved. God loves us and when we love Him there is a vital connection. When we enter into the love of God then we have the capacity to love as God loves. We are one in Him as Jesus and the Father are one, we enter into that unity. We can never love that which we have never encountered. It is vital to encounter God. The crowd in Acts chapter two encountered God through the power of the Holy Spirit spoken through Peter. This encounter led many to cry out to God and embrace the God they encountered. Many more rejected that very same encounter. Further on in Acts chapter seven we see the Holy Spirit again encounter men through Stephen, these men violently reject God.
If love were to be numbered, one being the most basic human love, and ten being God, we could never engage people in the love of God lest we ourselves had encountered a ten, God. If you were raised in a household where you experienced a three, then that is the capacity that you have. You cannot love beyond that which you have encountered. Yet, when a human being encounters the love of God and loves God back, then that one is “known,” of God. That one carries the favor of God. That one walks in His love and His grace and His mercy. The number ten which reflects the perfect love of God is revealed to us through Jesus our Lord and Him crucified. It is only how we react to this revelation that can determine if we shall walk in the love of God. No matter how much you think you love and no matter what capacity you think you have for love, outside of Calvary and your encounter with it, you have but a fleshly love. You might think that your love is special and that you would lay your life down for a loved one. Much of the world would do this. Who would lay down their life or the life of their own son for someone who hates them and hates there son? Only God. To encounter God and receive His love is to be swallowed whole by glory.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, faith, God's love, God's voice, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology | 3 Comments »
Expungement.
Posted by appolus on October 19, 2022
I want to share a personal testimony. Many of you, my brothers and sisters in the Lord, over the years, have prayed for my family. I praise the Lord for that. Prayers for youngest son Daniel who has Down Syndrome, and prayers for my oldest son Christopher, who had, to say the least, a very challenging life due to sin and breaking the law. He is 38 now, but all of his troubles really began back in high school. The police were at our door a lot. After he left high school he just kept on going. Alcohol and drugs and crimes related to that. Violence and lies. It broke me as a father and I threw myself at the feet of Jesus. If I tried to get up on my own two feet, I would quickly be knocked back down. I was in over my head and I had no idea how to handle that. The old Frank was constantly screaming for control. It was really an exhausting battle. I was being thoroughly broken. I cried out to God from the depths of my heart, on my knees, more times than I can remember. In the quiet of the night, walking the floor, many many tears. In the morning getting up, and being strong again for the family.
It all came to a head when he was arrested for a very serious crime. The police had been watching him for many months and they had turned one of the guys who bought from him and sent him in to make a purchase and that is when they swooped in and arrested him. They wanted him to turn on the guy above him, but he refused to. And so he was under house arrest awaiting trial. He had to blow into a machine which also takes your picture. Unbeknownst to me, he had a bottle of Whiskey in the basement. A surprise call on the machine at 2am in the morning caught him of guard. He was to turn himself in immediately to be incarcerated. Rather than doing that, he cut the GPS unit of his ankle ( a felony in and of itself) and went on the run for well over a year. We had the US Marshals at out door. He ended up in Scotland and then finally he was caught by the Federales in Mexico. Extradited to Florida and then extradited to Kansas. He was finally home. I agreed to get him a “good,” lawyer, but only if he pleaded guilty to his charges. He reluctantly agreed.
He was remanded in jail and was eventually sentenced to three years in Lansing state prison in Kansas. For the first time in our whole lives, we really began to establish a relationship. I would visit him most Saturdays. In the middle of all of this we faced two horrible court battles in order just to see our grandson. Through every moment in this story there was miracle after miracle, not least the miracle of our sanity. My wife and I grew much closer together and a few times we would just look at pictures of Christoper and Mason and cry together. It was “our pain.” It is hard to explain God’s favor sometimes but every step of the way, He was one step ahead of us. When I was down and thought I could not get back up, He picked me up. When my mind was like a violent sea with mountainous waves, He came to me and whispered that He was jealous for my thoughts and suddenly the waters were still.
It has been around eight years now since Christopher has been released. He committed his life to Jesus and has been out of trouble. A few months ago he came to me and told me he was going to apply to have his three felonies expunged. I was delighted with that idea. Myself and a dear brother prayed about this, as did Christopher’s Godly grandma. Two of the three records were expunged but the most serious of the crimes, the drug dealing was not. When he was sentenced he was put on a drug dealing registry. Very few States have them but Kansas did. For 15 years he has to register with the local Sheriff every three months and pay a fee. If he traveled anywhere in the county, the local Sheriff of where he was going had to be notified. The Judges hands were tied, by law, he could not expunge it. We thanked and praised the Lord for the two that were expunged and committed the other one to His will. About three weeks ago Christopher got a letter from the prosecutors office. The law had just been changed. If you had stayed out of trouble for five years after your probation was over, then the judge now has the discretion to expunge. Yesterday Christopher was in front of the judge and this final part of his history was erased.
I thought about the world expungement. In practical terms it means that if you look up Christopher’s record now, he does not have one. It is like he never had this past. How many of us have been Spiritually expunged? No matter our past, the forgiveness and mercy and grace of the Lord wipes it all away, born again. Renewed. I want to take a minute today to publicly thank my Heavenly Father! And my Lord Jesus Christ who sticks closer to us than a brother. And the power of the Holy Spirit to move over and over again. No matter how many waves threaten to drown us, His hand kept our heads above water. We stand, because of His great love. An incredibly broken situation that seemed to be irreparable, has been put back together by the magnificent Hand of God. Maybe you think your own situation or your family situation is broken beyond repair? Its a lie. There is nothing that God cannot put back together. Take your pieces and bring them before the throne. It is there alone that an all powerful, loving God can take the ashes of your situation and make something beautiful out of it. There is a history of rebellion in my family, but there is a greater history of redemption.
Posted in bible, Charisma Magazine, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, churches, consequences of sin, Daily devotional, Devotions, faith, intimacy, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
The vital nature of fellowship.
Posted by appolus on October 18, 2022
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, with anyone named a brother who is sexually immoral or, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; not even to eat with such a person.
Fellowship, is one of the most vital aspects of our faith. First and foremost is our fellowship with the Lord. Unless we are vitally connected to Him then we have no power. He alone is the reason that we stand. He alone is the reason that we have been transformed. It is His love and His grace and His mercy that we totally rely upon to live. We cannot let anything or anyone come between us and the Lord. If something or someone is hindering our walk with the Lord we must choose. Who shall you choose to offend? Will you offend the Lord so that you may not offend a friend? These are the kinds of choices that shape us. Who shall we be in Christ? This phrase “named a brother,” is interesting. Paul could have just wrote brother, but he did not. The inference is obvious. Just because you call yourself a brother, or a sister, in no way means that you are. We shall know them by their fruit the Word tells us.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2Co 6:14) People who profess to be Christians but who live in any of the sins mentioned above are not to be fellowshipped with. This is the plain reading of the Scripture. This is the great flaw in most of what we call “churches,” today. It is vital oh saint that you gather together with other people who have a like minded passion for Jesus and His Word. Only you can discern what this means to you. What does the Word say? What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? The communion of the saints is such a vital part of who we are as Christians, but it must be with other saints living a Biblical life, it cannot be with false professors. How can I know this Frank? You must discern it by the Word and by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Remember saints, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A man or woman will talk about their passions. The Spirit in you will witness with the Spirit in others. Only by this kind of fellowship comes growth. You cannot grow in any other way other than that which is prescribed by the Word of God.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
Where could we flee from His Spirit?
Posted by appolus on October 16, 2022
Where could we flee from His Spirit? Even if we take the wings of the morning and flee to the uttermost parts of the earth, He is there and if darkness believes it can swallow us whole it is sadly mistaken for even the very darkness is Light to our God.
Could there have been a darker time than Calvary where even in the natural there was a supernatural gross darkness. Yet …….yet……God. God alone commands light to shine forth from darkness! He calls forth the dead to arise and be swallowed whole in His impenetrable light. What can penetrate His light? Nothing, least of all darkness which in its essence is but the absence of light.
Even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we shall fear no evil. He shall make us lie down beside still waters. He calms the storms that rage in our hearts and minds and souls. Indeed He restores our souls. He keeps us walking in the paths of righteousness.
He and He alone comforts us to the very core of our beings. He anoints our heads with oil so that even in the midst of the battle our cups runneth over. And until the last days of our lives we are overcome with goodness and mercy. And at all times and into eternity we shall dwell in the depths of the Father’s heart.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, Jesus, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology | 1 Comment »
How then shall we reign?
Posted by appolus on October 16, 2022
1Co 4:8 You are already full. Yow are already rich, you have reigned as kings without us:
You are rich, you have increased in goods and have need of nothing! Jesus says this to the church at Laodicea and yet as we find out from the Lord, they were actually , wretched, miserable and poor, blind and naked. This is the tragedy of what happens when pride rises in the hearts of men. They become disconnected to the one who truly sustains them. They begin to look to themselves and are proud at what they see. They look to numbers. How many people in your church? How many churches affiliated? How much money in the offering plate? How much money in the bank? How big is your church? How big is your house? Are you on the radio? Are you on TV? Are you rich in all of these things? You may not say it out loud that you have “need for nothing,” but of course the Lord knows the heart.
And in another application Paul is correct. Genuine saints are rich, they are full, they shall rule and reign with Christ if they indeed suffer with Him. We have an abundance of grace. We are overwhelmed with mercy. We are full of the favor of God, and the love of the Lord extends to us as far as the east is from the west. Who could be richer than that? Paul explains this to the Corinthians by telling them how he and the other Apostles live. They have hungered he says. They have been poorly clothed. They have often been beaten and are oftentimes homeless. They all labor with their own hands to put food on their own tables. They are hated not loved. They are reviled and persecuted yet…….. they are rich beyond measure! We see this richness displayed by Paul and Silas when they worshiped in the depths of a dungeon. We see this great faith displayed when Paul said that he counted all loss as “dung,” as long as he was “found in Him.
This is the great treasure saints. God says that He is our exceeding great reward! And it is in this reward that we see the genuine saints thrive. Some men fill themselves with grace and love and mercy and forgiveness, and with these treasures given, they freely give them to others. This is rich. Other men fill their bank accounts with money and gather properties and land. They seek power and influence and stature. The desire of a man’s heart is not hidden from God. He sees and He judges rightly. Paul describes how he and his fellows Apostles live, and then advises others to imitate them. (1 Cor 4:11-16) Is this how we see “leaders,” live today? Or do they rule as kings without God and His saints? There is enmity between the desires of this world and the desires of the saints. Today there are millions of “instructors in Christ,” but not many genuine leaders. Paul instructs would be leaders to follow His example. Look at a “leaders,” hands. Are there calluses there? Look at Paul’s back, his stripes testify to his leadership.
Posted in Babylon, bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, End Times Eschatology, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology | 1 Comment »
Wood , Hay and Stubble
Posted by appolus on October 13, 2022
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (1Co 3:11-12)
There is but one foundation and His name is Jesus. How then shall we build upon that which was laid down for us? There are those who receive the love truth of the Word and the Lord Jesus Christ, high and lifted up. Nothing will cause them to deviate from what they have been taught by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Though cultures may change and systems may be added, they will have none of it. The traditions of men mean nothing to them, only the preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified. They determined in their hearts to not know anything other than this, the great foundation of Christ. Though men may persecute them and burn them, the fire that men kindle cannot destroy the works of God in them, rather it but purifies them. They stand immovable upon the solid foundation and this is precious in the sight of God. Precious like spiritual gold and silver and precious stones.
Now, there are many who build upon His foundation with wood and hay and stubble. In any fire these elements burn up quickly and it leaves but ashes behind. Men will find out in that great day of what elements their work was of. I put it to you that most of what we see in Christendom today is but wood and hay and stubble. It shall all be swept away in the fire of God’s judgment and those involved will suffer great loss and come out of it with but his soul saved if he is indeed the Lord’s. Imagine the great tragedy of a lifetimes work gone in a moment of time. What you thought was precious, all of your works and efforts, revealed to be but wood, hay and stubble. Yet those whose works endure shall receive a reward. What works you might ask? The works of love and joy and peace in the midst of hatred and insecurity and anxiousness. The works of obedience to the Lord and to His word despite the traditions of men who set themselves up to come against anyone who would challenge their traditions and the authority they have.
God does not judge the outer man, he judges the inner secrets of the heart. He is not impressed with huge buildings and organizations of. He does not dwell in temples built by human hands. Heaven is His throne and earth is His footstool. In the last 2000 years these institutions have been led by stiff-necked men who always resist the Holy Spirit. They reject the Word of God in favor of the traditions of men and the pursuit of power and authority. It is all wood and hay and stubble. And yet there are the few who have built upon the true foundation with Truth and endurance, suffering and overcoming, to them belong the reward. They may have been hated here on earth but they walked in the love of God. They may not have a “ministry,’ as men measure these things but they minster to the Lord before His throne with the tears of their broken-hearts and their contrite spirits. Their narrow road home is laid upon the foundation of Christ and Him crucified. To walk this way is to suffer indignities. To be broken. To be ridiculed and rejected by men. To be seen as nothing according to the measurements of men but to have great treasure indeed in the economy of God. We are rich brothers and sisters, never forget that. Into our hands and hearts was placed gold and silver and precious jewels. And by these we have been called to enrich others.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Church history, church mafia, churches, Daily devotional, Devotions, discernment, end times, End Times Eschatology, Eschatology - Study of the 'End Times', gifts of the spirit, God's love, God's voice, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Who then is Paul? And who is Apollos?
Posted by appolus on October 11, 2022
1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos?
Who indeed? We humans love to deify men. We love to lift them up and glorify them. Christians in particular love to do this. It is really an abomination to God and shall not be overlooked. Diotrephes is the logical conclusion of the lifting up of men which is why the apostle Paul tackles this issue head on. If we elevate men, men will love it. If we desire to follow men, and we so often do, the very same men will love it. They will, of course, for decorum’s sake, deny any of this. Even as men lift them aloft above their heads, they will feign giving Jesus the glory, but their actions and the actions they allow in others denies this. Paul smashes into this head on in his typical style and no holds barred words. “Neither he who plants is anything, not he who waters, but God who gives the increase,” is everything. We are nothing without God, even that which we have was given to us. What then can we glory in, other than Christ? How could we ever let stand for one minute anyone who would try and raise us up? God forbid.
He who plants and he who waters are one. One Body. One work here on earth. Nothing rises above the spiritual parapet save Jesus Christ. If you look up and see a man, God help that men. If you look up and try to raise up that man to anything other than what He is in Christ, part of the Body, one in nature, then God help you. All of it robs from God who gives the increase. All of it robs from Christ who is preeminent. Its all robbery, its all theft, its all religion. Diotrephes loved the preeminence and allowed himself to be raised up and encouraged others to raise him up. Men like this make themselves indispensable . This means they steer the sheep towards reliance upon them and not the great Shepherd. Do you know anyone like this? Unless we are forever pointing men towards the Word of God and the risen Christ then we are of the priesthood of Diotrephes. Carnal in nature, carnal in spirit and if it remains so, then lost forever. Jesus Christ first, Jesus last and Jesus forever. The old enemy has caught more men in this trap then any other. More seductive than women, more seductive than money, the greatest seducer of all, power and the desire for it and the lust of it, in all its many manifestations.
My uncle was a dispatch rider in the WW2. He was a private. It was a dangerous mission so the High Command were never going to waste men of higher rank in delivering messages. In the scale of things, in the order of importance, the rider was the least important. You could always replace the rider, but motorbikes were hard to come by. What was important was the message. The one giving it and the one receiving it. It is so in the Kingdom. The one delivering it is can be readily replaced. We brothers and sisters should remember that lest we think too much of ourselves. We are simply one. The message is all important. And whether we ride the bike or maintain the bike then that is all well and good, but the message Giver and the recipient of the message is of vital importance. The message is preeminent and Jesus is the message. Jesus is the author, and by His Blood He came to deliver this message Himself. What general or high ranking officials would ever lower themselves by delivering the message themselves? Yet, the greatest communication ever delivered to men had to be delivered by the greatest one that existed, the One who ever existed, God’s only Begotten Son. Remember this with all of your hearts brothers and sisters, some of us plant, some of us water, but God……but God….but God always has and always will, give the increase by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Posted in Babylon, bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, church of england, church of scotland, consequences of sin, Counterfeit Jesus, Daily devotional, Devotions, faith, false teachers, heresy, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology | 8 Comments »
We are that temple that no eye has seen.
Posted by appolus on October 9, 2022
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Taken from Isa 64:4 we see here repeated the marvel of the prophet as he talks about those who love God and who wait upon Him, and with expectation, rejoice in what is coming through God’s hand. No amount of wisdom or knowledge nor understanding could give anyone even a glimpse of the things that God was preparing for those who loved Him. The Christ Himself was coming! God, in the flesh, was coming to walk this earth among men! He was coming to establish a connection with Father, long since broken by sin. He was coming to defeat hell and death and sin. Who could understand such things before He came? Who could see that He was coming to the whole world? The seed of Abraham would bless all nations. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus……..there is neither Jew nor Greek….. slave nor free…..male nor female …..you are all one in Christ Jesus.” For those who would be born again and baptized into a Christ who would be rejected, tortured, ridiculed and spat on and nailed to a tree
And yet we also see a glorious future revelation. “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” (John 14:2-4) This place, in His Fathers house, that the Lord has prepared for us who know Him, is a place that we know, according to Jesus. And though no eye has seen nor ear heard nor has it entered into the hearts of man, these things which God has prepared for those who love Him, those who know the Lord, know these things by the Spirit of revelation. Upon our hearts are written His law and in the depths of this heart God has revealed these things to us. “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” (1 Cor 2:10) We “know,’ brothers and sisters, we know. The very same Spirit of God searches the depths of the Father and reveals these things to His own that men outside of the Kingdom know nothing of.
Kingdom knowledge that is but a mystery and foolishness to men, is clear to the saints. We walk in a certainty and an assurance of things to come. We “know,” things,’by the Spirit of God. We recognize other saints by the Spirit of God. He witnesses to our spirits. Men should not be surprised at this. As someone who was born and raised in Scotland, no matter where I am in the world and I hear a Scottish accent, I immediately can identify a fellow countryman. Dear saints, it is so in the Spirit. I speak to a certain man or a woman and I hear the “accent,” of God. I hear the unmistakable language of the Spirit in another though they come from lands far from me yet we both belong to the same Kingdom which has its own language which resonates in the depths of my spirit. An utter joy to hear and recognize another saint. And in this I am not speaking about the gift of tongues. A language of the heart that can only be spoken by those who have “seen,” His glory. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks! We “know,’ things that are not known by natural men, for we are supernatural men and women. Our spiritual eye has seen, and our spiritual ear has heard the glory of God. It has indeed invaded the very depths of who we are. We see Him high and lifted up and the train of His robe fills the temple. We are that temple.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, discernment, Jesus, revival, sanctification, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
A Call To The Remnant 