Archive for June, 2016

Fruit Inspection

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

As we approach the fullness of times it becomes increasingly important to assess our personal progress in becoming mature sons and daughters of the MOST HIGH GOD.  Sadly, there are those who have abandoned the narrow path Jesus revealed as “The Way” and for whatever reason many more were never aware of the path.  This path is based on the revelation of Love and thus the fruit produced must in some way express that revelation even if only in a relatively small manner.

How do we know where we stand?  The cemetery is filled with those who had good intentions but never acted upon them.  The hospitals and clinics are also overrunning with those who have yet to receive HIS healing touch.  We must not let the world’s current situation defer our hope but continue pressing onward and upward to our high calling.

In Romans chapter 7, Paul wrote:

4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.

People will rationalize away why they are not bearing fruit on behalf of the Kingdom.  They will claim that their circumstances prevent them from acting on behalf of the Kingdom and if only things were different!  Each of us gets up each morning and has the opportunity to decide which path we will take- life or death.  The path we take will in essence produce its designated fruit.  It is our choice even though some would try to convince us that we have no choice and our fate is sealed.  I say that you cannot disregard the reality that if our fate was already decided, Jesus’ ministry would not have been required and the path He revealed would not have been a “choice” to other wayward paths.

Most people simply want to stay in a protected “comfort zone” and are unwilling to leave it even though it will produce no good fruit.  No faith is required in that passive state and those people will be known as becoming lukewarm.  In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapter 3, the beloved disciple wrote:

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

We must press on and leave behind those past customs and traditions which would hold us back.  We must assess our fruit and be completely and brutally honest with ourselves.  We must not lay blame on others but accept responsibility for our own past acts and repent.  Set your eyes on that path which leads up the mountain to the City of Zion.  Your ascent begins by taking one step at a time.  Don’t look back but instead know that FATHER will provide you sustenance as you make the trek.

In Philippians chapter 3, it is as though Paul knew exactly where we are at today:

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

The harvest is quickly turning white and is soon to come.  Let us be fully prepared and active on behalf of the Kingdom.  If we are unwilling to inspect our own fruit, there will a Righteous Fruit Inspector that will!

Unity or Division

Thursday, June 2nd, 2016

Is it better to be right all the time or be in unity?  I marvel at how the ego of a person promotes strife and division.  Everyone has a unique set of beliefs based on their makeup and history of interaction with others.  Life’s experiences play a part in what each individual believes and that belief system is often the source of strife between two people.  In Mark chapter 3, Jesus spoke:

24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Jesus spoke the above parable when the scribes accused Him of being associated with Satan because He had the power to cast out demons.  But Jesus presented a Truth which is applicable in many situations: strife and division cause destruction whether in a household or a nation. 

Who determines right and wrong?  Only Our Heavenly Father has the complete picture of the situation whereas neither party knows all aspects of the issue at hand.  Divorce In America is as prevalent among Christians as it is among non-Christians.  Why?  People would have you believe that it is mainly due to money but I would say it is due to lack of unity in the marriage.  Typically one or both spouses in the marriage have an ego issue.  They have a greater need or desire to be right rather than be in unity.  If they based their marriage on Love, unity would prevail.

Your ego demands you to be superior and exalted above the other person and is the source of your motivation to be right all the time.  Love has a willingness to consider the other person whether they are right or wrong for it seeks unity.  Oh yes, there are times when you must take action to protect the one who is wrong but it is the exception, not the rule.

One of the primary reasons for the ministry of Jesus Christ was to bring us into unity with FATHER.  How can we be in full unity with HIM if we cannot be in unity with one another?  FATHER has brought forth by HIS expressed Word the standard of Truth for us to refer to in all matters.  Further, HE has provided us the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in our individual walks.

In Philippians chapter 1, Paul wrote:

15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:

16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;

17 but the latter out of love,

From what standpoint do you operate from- selfish ambition or Love?  Ambition is an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction.  When you add “selfish” to ambition it denotes an intent to achieve something at the expense of another.  If you are hurting others in a quest to be right, you are not walking in Love and you have further need to mature in Christ.  You are causing division among the brethren.

Each of us must die to “self” and that includes having to be right all the time.  In a marriage when unity is sought, the strength within is magnified for there is peace in the household.  This allows FATHER to bring forth greater blessing in all areas.

Proverbs 6:14 reveals the core issue with strife:

Perversity is in his heart,
He devises evil continually,
He sows discord (strife).

The person who promotes division and strife has a “perversity” in his heart.  That person is difficult to deal with and is contrary, argumentative.  Do you sow discord in your sphere of influence or do you promote unity?  If all believers would simply move toward unity rather than look for ways to separate themselves from others, there would be a major change in each nation.  You must see if you have a bond of Love to work from.  If Love is in the midst to two people, all other issues can be resolved because Love is the “glue” allowing full unity to come forth.  When division arises, often you will be missing the key ingredient… Love.

The City of Zion

Wednesday, June 1st, 2016

In Psalm 87:

1 His foundation is in the holy mountains.

2 ​​The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

3 ​​Glorious things are spoken of you, ​​O city of God!Selah

​4 ​​“I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me;

​​Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: ​‘​This one was born there.’ ”

​5 ​​And of Zion it will be said,

​​“This one and that one were born in her; and the Most High Himself shall establish her.”

6 ​​The LORD will record,

​​When He registers the peoples: ​​“This one was born there.”Selah

​7 ​​Both the singers and the players on instruments say, ​​“All my springs are in you.”

The City of Zion represents the dwelling place of FATHER and those who belong to HIM.  Its foundation is Love and its walls represent Truth and faith.  The walls separate those whose hearts are pure from all others.  Within this “city” dwells those whom FATHER has registered as being designated to bring forth life to a dying world.  It is the light set upon the hill to guide all into HIS Truth.

It is HIM WHO establishes each one of us for HIS purpose and we sense this as we continue our walk.  As you are led to read these words it is not by coincidence but part of HIS Divine Plan working in your life.  You hunger for the fullness of HIS SPIRIT to operate in your life and be assured that it is HIS Divine Intent for that purity of desire to take place and come forth as a wellspring of life.  There are many who would attempt to divert your attention and they may succeed on a temporary basis but you return to the City of Zion knowing that it is the dwelling place of THE MOST HIGH.

Registration is required for citizenship.  FATHER knows the location of all HIS sons and daughters and has dispatched angels to insure their mandates be completed on schedule.  Know that any apparent delay has been accounted for in your walk and purpose.   FATHER knows the end from the beginning and everything in between.  As we mature in our revelation of Love and its application to others, we see the necessity for all of our encounters.  Some of those encounters may be emotionally challenging but we must not let those emotions overtake and divert our attention from our calling.  We will be tested and tried so that we can be assayed and found to be 100% pure, allowing for extra purging to attain the level of purity required for registration.

100% pure gold is transparent whereas 99.999% isn’t.  Let us ascend forth to the City of Zion and enter its gates with praise and thanksgiving.  Let Truth be our guiding light and protection.  Let the wisdom and understanding undergird our individual dwellings as we inhabit the City.

In Revelation chapter 21, the beloved disciple wrote:

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).

26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

We must not let lies nor deception be found among those whom we dwell with for those traits disqualify entry into the Holy City.  If sin enters the “camp”, it must be removed and not allowed to take root.  We must take a stand and prevent our emotions from dictating our actions in this area.  We must stand behind the Truth in all matters.  Being registered in the City requires us to be uncompromising as we walk out our specific purpose on behalf of mankind.  FATHER will protect HIS City and its inhabitants by all means necessary. 

There is a music originating out of this City that is unlike any other.  My wife has heard a few of the songs and singers as of late for the time is near.  Let this be encouraging to us all as we ascend up the mountain and enter through the gates of this great City.