Which Kingdom Are We of? - Michael Clerk

We know that Jesus was perfect in all His ways before God. What does it mean to be perfect in the eyes of our heavenly Father? Can we have such perfection?
When Jesus stood before Pilate being tried for His life, the man asked Him what He did to deserve crucifixion which the Jews, His own people, demanded. His answer was simple, “My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom was of this world my servants would come and fight.” Anyone that is found in this world that is not of the world religious/political system, but of the kingdom of God is an anathema to them and it. Just as Jesus was hated, called names and despised, so are they. This is why He said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19 KJ2000).
Jesus was not of the kosmos (world)– that system that controls the world and the satanic intelligence behind it. Jesus describe Satan as “the prince of this kosmos (world).” He said, “The prince of this kosmos has come and he has found nothing in me.” Satan could find nothing in Jesus to tempt Him over. If we have crucified the flesh and the lusts thereof, he can not find anything is us to use against us, either.
Jesus also told the religious leaders of that day, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do.” Jesus did not have an army, but the temple priests did. Peter drew his sword to do harm to the High Priest’s servant as Jesus’ self-appointed body guard and Jesus rebuked him. Today we see every nation and despot with his own army to protect and enforce its/his will, even big time preachers and evangelists have their own body guards. Even the ushers in churches are taught to operate in this capacity. Their actions show what kingdom they are of.
How many of those who call themselves “Christian” today are no different. Someone attacks their home country and all their patriotic juices start flowing and they desire to do harm back to those who attacked them. Look at the USA and the lust for war that was fanned to a furry by its “Christian” president and even from church pulpits after the attack of 9/11. What a contrast this is to the teachings of Jesus who said,
“You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love them who love you, what reward have you… Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48 KJ2000)

The Godly Fire to set the World Ablaze to bring about His Glory! (Mark James)

numbers 26: 8-10

The fire to remove those who rebel His Will......
..
8 The son of Pallu was Eliab, 9 and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the LORD. 10 The earth opened its mouth "BY THE WORDS OF OUR OWN MOUTH ??  and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the FIRE Devoured the 250 men. And they served as a WARNING SIGN.............
This spirit of rebellion is The spirit of Religious know-it all witchcraft as seen here with the followers of Korah. Warning Signs are posted everywhere Please take heed beloved to yourself that you follow after Him alone and Not rebellion. Follow along side those only who He has appointed in His body. This is His Body not yours or mine and He alone Placed you where he placed you and that's where you need to be to accomplish His will. You will know whom God put where by their Fruits, as in His fruit, the Fruit Jesus bore as well as Peter, James, The Beloved John and Paul Fruits likened to these alone and not polluted fruits of Sinful flesh.

God speaking with Moses

Deuteronomy 4:35-39
35 You Moses were shown these things so that you might KNOW that the LORD is God; besides him there is No Other. 36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire,
"this is His Holy fire and when you KNOW it you will remove your coverings from ones Feet and be clean as in washed" Blessed are the feet of them that bring Gods News!
cont....and you heard His words from out of the FIRE. 37 Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, 38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.
See the Place where the Enemies of God dwell? In the Land of Giants within! This is the Land that our God is leading us into Amen! Every Plant which My Heavenly Father has not Planted will be rotor Rooted Out..............The Land of our Christ Within Beloved! Yes this is our IN- Inheritance, Amen?
cont.....
39 Acknowledge and take to heart this Day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is No Other

Deuteronomy 32 18-22

18 You deserted the Rock, who fathered you;
   you forgot the God who gave you birth.
19 The LORD saw this and rejected them
   because he was angered by his sons and daughters.
20 “I will hide my face from them,” he said,
   “and see what their end will be;
for they are a perverse generation,
   children who are unfaithful. "Not good"
21 They made me jealous by what is no god
   and angered me with their worthless idols.
Little Children be child like and guard Yourself from false impressions of me as in your own impressions which are  Idols.
cont......I will make them envious by those who are not a people;
We/You  need to  guard against this self righteous  attitude so as to NOT PERISH with the world. God is separating a People once again as He did from the self righteous Religious leaders in the days of Jesus mortality in human flesh. God examines and looks upon the Heart, not your education or so-called knowledge of Him. As Paul said, this is ALL rubbish. He considered this and when he did he did he knew All of it was Dung, yes All of it. Nobody I mean nobody or very few had a knowledge of the scripture of the Law and the Prophets as Saul/Paul did. He said he had No Peers and yet it was all considered garbage, dung to Paul for the express Excellence of KNOWING and what he had found in His Lord Jesus alone.  The contrite Heart which is Broken before Him and then in the Presence of All is what God desires. This is what  we will See Coming in this hour.
cont......
   I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding.
22 For a FIRE will be kindled by my wrath,
   one that burns down to the realm of the dead below.
It will devour the earth and its harvests
   and set afire the foundations of the mountains.
every high place beloved will be brought down and made Low. This is a people beloved  as in the haughty ones of self.
1kings 19: 10-13
Elijah's is confronted with his misunderstanding of where God truly exists as He does allow for the Destroyer to destroy as is His Righteous judgement.But the Gospel truth be known ...that He is the God of Peace and All Love as He calls out to Elijah in the still quietness of His Voice of  Presence that always follows a storm of affliction with Healing .He is the God that heal-ith thee. As in Perfect HEALTH!
cont.......
10 He Elijah replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
 Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was NOT in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was NOT in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was NOT in the fire. And after the fire came a very gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Yes our God may allow for many things to bring us into His Presence, even FIRE! as we All KNOW He is a God that Consumes as FIRE. But as Elijah when we Hear His Precious kind and gentle voice, we also will come out of our cave of protection where His Precious voice of Peace "Be Still Now" And Know that I alone am God Amen!
job 28:5
5 The earth, from which food comes,
   is transformed below as by FIRE;
This is the Mystery of Transformation......Holy FIRE Not destructive fire!

Isaiah 29: 6-10

 6Thou shalt be visited by Jehovah of hosts with thunder and with earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the Flame of Consuming FIRE.
 7And the multitude of all the nations that war against Ariel, even all that war against her and her fortifications, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.
 8It shall even be as when the hungry dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; and he awaketh, and his soul is empty; or as when the thirsty dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; and he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul craveth: so shall the multitude of all the nations be that war against mount Zion.
 9Be astounded and astonished, blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
 10For Jehovah hath poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes; the prophets and your chiefs, the seers, hath he covered.
These are the false self serving deceivers who are deceived themselves and in turn also deceive you with the lustful desires of the lower realm as in the fleshly sences that are operating in Death as a result of their  appetites for that which is by Nature Natural. This is why it's so very subtle. Because as the saying goes if it feels so right then could it be wrong?
We live in a very FEEL GOOD society today as a result of the Lawlessness of humanity. NOT GOOD!!!

Joel 2: 28- 30

The Day of the LORD

 28 “And afterward,
   I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
   your old men will dream dreams,
   your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
   I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
30 I will show wonders in the heavens
   and on the earth,
   blood and fire and billows of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness
   and the moon to blood
   before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
32 And everyone who calls
   on the name of the LORD will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
   there will be deliverance,
   as the LORD has said,
even among the survivors
   whom the LORD calls

This prophesy has been being poured out for two days Now as in two thousand years.It began on that 1st Pentecost when our brothers and Sisters received the Spirit of Jesus when they were gathered TOGETHER in His Name in the UPPER ROOM alone. This is when the Father poured out the Son Jesus upon All those who would call upon His Name. They came alive WithIN... and began to speak with a NEW tongue that was different, in that the language was from a different place, that needed a different Spirit to not only Hear it, but to be able to understand and interpret it as well, Amen? Well, now you can All See for yourselves the false wonders of the flesh that have been masquerading as the Spirit of our Lord Jesus.  But I want you to know something, that you can tell that old fox "Herod" saith our Master Jesus,  that today and tomorrow as in the millennium of one thousand 1000 and two thousand years 2000 I will do cures and cast out demons but on the day following the second day as in 2000 years, on that the 3rd day,  as in my Day always starts at night "darkness"  I will be Perfected. "don't let this ONE  Fact of God escape your notice beloved, that with God (1) Day is as a thousand years. DON'T LET THIS ONE THING ESCAPE FROM YOU SEEING IT BELOVED!!1 There was evening and Morning the 1st Day "Gods Day starts at night" and so on, but it was early in the morning of that 3rd day while all were sleeping but a few that He came forth and showed Himself . The Message(s) Angels voice of To-Day if we can  Hear His voice IS: Don't Seek for the Living One amongst anyone who is  Dead. Only join yourself to those who can See it "THAT DAY APPROACHING" with you so as to not be left out in the cold of winter while you have terrain to still cover. Let us  Pray beloved that this is not your Flight or Lot! This may sound self centered but it's NOT It's  Christ centered. Don't concern yourself with those who want to remain as Lot's wife did....God will deal with them in His Great Mercy as He did with Mrs. Lot turning her into a heap of salt that had lost it's savor which is God's sovereign Mercy alone.

Zephaniah 1: 14-18

 14 The great day of the LORD is near—
   near and is a Coming quickly.
The cry on the day of the LORD is bitter;
   the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry.
15 That day will be a day of wrath—
   a day of distress and anguish,
      a day of trouble and ruin,
   a day of darkness and gloom,
      a day of clouds and blackness—
 16 a day of trumpet and battle cry
against the fortified cities
   and against the corner towers.
17 “I will bring such distress on all people
   that they will grope about like those who are blind,
   because they have sinned against the LORD.
"See why it's expedient that we Obey and Cease from and Stop all Sinning? For if this is the case then you have not the Knowledge and or Know The Power of God that will deliver you from ALL unrighteousness the other side of the Veil which is the real of the flesh as in All that appears Amen!
cont.....Their blood will be poured out like dust
   and their entrails like dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold
   will be able to save them
   on the day of the LORDS  wrath.”
  In the FIRE of his jealousy
   the whole earth will be Consumed,
for he will make a sudden end
   of all who live on the earth.

Luke 12: 41-42

Not Peace Lord but Division- Jesus Speaking............

 41 When Peter asked Jesus , “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”
42 The Lord Jesus answered him, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper
   "for me this is who He is speaking to, The Wise Faithful Servants who are feeding His Flock" with His Words Not anyone Else's. These Servants  of His are Mute till He speaks through them. They are Obedient to Him alone and NEVER to another Voice of just barking Dogs of confusion. Although some may hold on to  a form of what appears to be  God-likeness "it's merely external religious counterfeits" but the Fire of this Present DAY will reveal it!! and Consume EVERYTHING THAT IS WOOD,HAY AND OR STUBBLE.

Meaning all that was produced by the Natural god of this Worlds mind "SOUL"we were subjected to as a result of the fall of our 1st Earthly parents Adam and our mother below Eve....OUR LOST SOUL!! That's why when a man turns to the Lord Christ "Who is the Spirit" then the Veil of his fleshly worldly carnal mind is removed, it's removed in Christ who is IN YOU, if indeed He is in you Amen. So weyou can now serve the Living God and not the one of this world of Sin and more of it which always produces and  leads to Death Amen!

 CONT....
   49 “I Jesus  have come to bring FIRE on the Earth, and how I Jesus wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!

Thank God for His Constraint Amen! so the Rest of us can complete His Baptism " Both Jesus our head and HIS body, "that's US we are One Spirit body with Him" for he who is joined to the Lord the Spirit - IS ONE SPIRIT" This is what He Jesus is  referring to here as we complete His baptism before the real finale of Fireworks commence. Amen?

CONT.....

51 Do you think I Jesus  came to bring Peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

This is the sword that separates you from All that was born under the LAW of Sin, as in your Natural Being. Jesus is NOT bringing Peace to Adam He came to put an end to the World of EARTHS Adam. Don't you just HATE the World of Adam and all you see that he is doing and has done as a result of partaking of what he thought was good and evil but in reality we can All See that it's all Evil in the dawning  Light of the New Last Adam which is Christ IN YOU? We must also be set apart at this time from all those who may be a stumbling block to you as you ascend His Holy Mountain. Get thee behind me Satan for you are a stumbling block to me.......

These forces beloved are all invisible as in Spiritual Wickedness standing behind the human "forgive me" puppets. This is totally spiritual and invisible it's in a higher realm then human flesh. This is why we need to Not look upon Any Man as in the flesh, for if we do we will react to the flesh by that which appears as good when in reality it's still that same old same old Evil which only appeared as good Amen! If we don't SEE this we will be eaten alive by the Vipers and  serpents. Remember they have the rights to this realm till we a find our place of Victory alone in Christ, who IS our Life. Then it's Over!!
 So we SEE  Father has forgiven All flesh when He nailed it to His Cross and He has already brought Liberty and Immortality to Light through the message of Good News Amen! So we need to SEE this so we will Not be caught with our pants down "sorry" as in Naked and ashamed.  flesh is flesh and SPIRIT IS SPIRIT. Can't mix the two Masters!

cont.........
 54 He Jesus speaking to the crowd saith: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
My thought is that they were dead "spiritualy" and only seeing in the Natural realm, as He did say they were  correct when it came to the realm of appearance as in the Natural.
   57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Make Peace with your Enemies for shortly the God of All Peace shall crush Satan under your/His as in Jesus feet.

Hebrews 12: 25-28

For some who are Obedient will Enter, for others who are disobedient a Great Tribulation of Consuming Fire.............

25 See to it that you do not "don't do this" refuse Him who is speaking. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[e] 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Can you See here what is leaving and being removed forever beloved?

Yes it's those created things as in Adam and Company, Why?

 So that when All is said and done as Jesus said "it is and will finally show itself as completely Finished" Amen and Amen!

 Nothing and I'm telling you NO-THING will remain but God alone and His Immortal Creatures of Himself. Now this is Glory Amen!

The Wonder of it All is just over the Top when you See this as King David did and said......

Lord, who is Man that thou art so Mind Full of him???

 I believe with All my Heart that we  are something very-very Special in deed to our Father, as He also is Now to us,  as our Lord Christ Jesus  continually is revealing Himself to us who believe Amen!

cont.....
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a  "Kingdom that cannot be Shaken", let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and Awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Blessings To All those who have ears to hear and take heed unto themselves to do All that is required of him unto His Lord in this hour .
 For the Time is at Hand.............

A VISITATION OF LOVE, PEACE, AND GOODWILL TO THE WHOLE FLOCK OF GOD; NOW IN THIS THEIR DAY OF TRIAL AND HOUR OF TEMPTATION (Francis Howgill)

Dear friends and brethren, who have been called to believe by the holy calling of the Lord, unto sanctification and holiness, that you might inherit the promises of God; and that your souls might live, and partake of his goodness; that you might admire Him, and praise his Name forever, seeing the Lord, out of his rich love and mercy, has visited you, who sometime sat in the region and shadow of death, and were cast out of his presence, in the time of unbelief; and seeing He has caused his miraculous Light to shine upon you in his gracious visitation, and has given you to believe in his name, prize his love unto you; and let not his gracious benefits slip out of your minds; for fear that your hearts be filled with other things; that will corrupt your hearts, and make you an unfit habitation for the Lord to dwell in and among.

Dear friends! Bear my brotherly admonition and exhortation for the Lord has moved in my heart to write unto you in the bowels of his kind and tender love, and motion of his heavenly Spirit, to stir up your pure minds and consciences unto steadfastness in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ; and so much the more, that you all are watchful, seeing the times are perilous; for now the adversary goes about roaring and ravening, on the right hand and on the left, to destroy and devour that which God has brought forth in you; that he might regain you too under his power and government; and that he might revolt from the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, which stands in power and righteousness, and which is come, and has been of a truth manifested in great glory.

This is an hour the power of darkness is let loose to try the faith of those who dwell upon the earth; and he is let loose for a season. Blessed are those who hide themselves under the shadow of the Almighty, and under the wings of Christ Jesus, who is given for a redeemer, a savior, and a preserver of men, that the wicked one touches them not. Now the devil rages, because one stronger than he who rules in the world has come, and has begun to dispossess the strong man, and bind him, and cast him out. Now he rages and stirs up all the temptations, within and without, and all his instruments to join with him, to make war for him; in order that Christ may not rule; who is the heir of all things, and given for a leader, and to be the head of the body his Church, in which He alone has a right to rule; because the Lord of the whole earth, yes of heaven and earth, has put all power into his hands, to bind and to loose; to bring out of captivity, and to lead captivity captive. That life and immortality may again inhabit in the sons of men. That truth and righteousness may predominate. That mercy and love may sit on the throne. That salvation may take hold on the ends of the earth, and this power be made known from sea to sea. That all who wait for Him and love his appearance now when He is made manifest, may rejoice in goodness and life, and may be made glad as Zebulun and Naphtali beyond Jordan, in the days of old, upon whom sprung up a marvelous light. That the whole earth may be filled with his praise and glory, which has been filled with darkness, violence, and cruelty, in the time of the devil and antichrist's reign, which has been long and great in the earth. So that the hearts of the sons of men have been corrupted, and they have gone backward from the Lord; and have degenerated into a strange nature; and have brought forth evil and corrupt fruit like that of Sodom. Those who do evil are not ashamed, neither do they blush, but have become impudent through long habit of evil, and hard and impenetrable; upon whom the hammer of the Lord must come, and His indignation poured on.

But you whom God has called out of this state, into a state of redemption and purity, by his Son, the Light of the world, who has illuminated the eyes of your minds, consciences, and understandings, that you may bear witness to Him who is true, and a testimony against the world that lies in wickedness, and pleads for it, and lives in it, as though it were the way to happiness, - hold fast your liberty, hold fast your faith, hold fast your hope, hold fast your testimony. Let none take your crown; and so much the more as you are compassed with temptations, and the times are perilous; so much the more you all have need to keep near the Lord.

Dearly beloved, let not the Philistines stop your wells; for then you might perish in the drought, for lack of moisture. The Lord will perform his promise, and keep covenant with those who keep covenant with Him; but if you forsake Him in your hearts in what is made manifest, then He will forsake you; and then you are left to the mercy of your adversary, which will be cruel. Therefore heed not the pride of Moab, nor the reviling of the children of Ammon; for they are unholy in heart, and the moth shall eat them up as a garment.

Oh! If any draw back from following the Lamb through suffering, they will be smitten; and the Lord will have no pleasure in them. What will Amalek say, when Israel turn their backs in the day of battle, but, "Where is their God, in whom they trusted?" And, "He that brought them forth was not able to deliver them to the end!" Oh! That such things might never be spoken of now in Gath or Ashkelon; as in the days of old! For fear that the sons of the Philistines triumph, and the daughters thereof rejoice in their wickedness; for this would make the hearts of the Israel of God to mourn.

This is the day of the Lamb's war indeed in our age, and a day of battle, though his weapons are not carnal, but spiritual. There is none that goes to war, and entangles himself, that has a purpose to hold out and is resolved to continue with Him in suffering; but will shake off these things that encumber, for fear that he should not obtain the victory, promise, or crown, which all who endure hardship to the end shall receive. O dear friends! Look above all visible things; and stand out of them all, and loose from them, that the enemy does not ensnare you. What! Is not the earth the Lord's, and the fullness thereof? And has not He given the utmost part of the earth for a possession to his Son? What! Was not Abraham our father blessed, when he was faithful, and obeyed the voice of the Lord; and went out of his own country, he knew not where? Was not the Lord with him wherever he went; and his blessing upon him, when he sojourned in a strange land? Did not God treat him kindly in Mesopotamia, and among the Hittites? And was not he loved and feared among his enemies? Was not John, the beloved and faithful disciple of Christ, banished into Patmos for the testimony he held? Were not Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, children of captivity, cast into the furnace? And Daniel too among the lions, for the testimony they held against the common worship of nations commanded by the law.

Did not Christ endure the death of the cross, and the contradiction of sinners? Was He not condemned by most? Did not the believing Hebrews, who were banished, wander in sheep skins and goat skins, into dens and caves of the earth, for the hope they held and the country they looked for? Did not Moses through faith forsake Pharaoh’s court, and become companion of poor brick-makers in captivity?

A cloud of witnesses might be brought, even of those who died in the faith, and yet are not make partakers of the promises, who many of them saw not what you have seen, nor heard those things that you have heard; nor enjoyed what God has made many partakers of; and have we not a great cloud of witnesses in this our own age? Some who have not loved their lives unto death, for the testimony they received, believed, and held fast to the end, to death? Have not many died in prison with severe usage? Have not some been hung and died a shameful death, and finished their course with joy and peace? Have not many endured great, hard, and long imprisonments for years? Are they weary yet? No, have not many suffered the seizure of their property; and do they not have a reward seven times greater in their bosoms?

O! Let the consideration of these things dwell in your hearts, and provoke you to suffering with joy, that in the midst of tribulation, as it abounds, you may feel according to the promise of God, your joy much more abound, to carry you above it. Indeed, now the time has come, whoever manifests himself to be on the Lord's side must suffer; and he who will not, but turns back into the broad way, and runs with the herd of swine into the sea of common pollution, must perish there; and indeed there is no place for halting. If God is God, follow Him; if Baal is he, go after him. Therefore let none draw you aside from what you are persuaded of in your conscience by the Spirit of the Lord; neither join with that you know He disallows; and in the obedience you will have peace and joy. Look not at those who draw back, for they go to perdition, but rather after those who continue faithful, who shall receive honor, glory, immortality and everlasting life.

In the fresh, heavenly power of God, meet together and worship Him, as at other times; though the decree has gone forth; and the more because you have been therein refreshed, comforted, and edified; and let none persuade you from that innocent duty, in worshiping God in his Spirit, and assembling yourselves together, for the strengthening of one another. For this is the will of God, and acceptable in his sight; as many of you well know. Watch and pray, for fear that you fall into temptation, and into the snare of the wicked one. The God of heaven and earth establish all your hearts, that you may glorify Him in your generation, and be a sweet smell unto Him in bonds or liberty, in life or death, is the prayer of him who has sought the Lord, and is determined so to do on all your behalf, until the Lord by his power, treads Satan under your feet, that you may triumph over all, rejoicing and praising God, and the Lamb, that lives forever, for evermore, Amen.

Your dear brother in the patience and sufferings of Christ, who abounds in perfect love to all the faithful flock of Christ everywhere,

Christ within us (Carol James)

We are all pressing on into the fullness of the Christ within us at different measures and still united in His most excellent Spirit drawing us all into His Glory to fulfill His plan in all of us by His doings not ours or not by our feelings. Not by power or by might but by his Spirit. One petal at a time unfolding as the light shines into it's presence to burn off all impurities.

We must die to ourselves in order for His Spirit to be able to bring forth His growth in us. How can we stand before Him in our presence if we cannot even stand in our own presence.

God is bring forth a mighty people filled with His glory and power to conquer and be the over-comers of all flesh. That is the goal and we are passing the baton as we move closer and closer. neck stretched out on tippy toe. A people interwoven with His vines willing to die for each other through the power of His LOVE that is the strength that binds the branches together. Love is all in all the power and strength we all need to become ONE in Him.

Glory to the most high God that loves us so much He died for us! Praise Him as He does His work in us feeding us through His humble servants. taking the bread that is given to nourish and strengthen us according to our ability to hear and see what the Spirit is telling us. As each of us gives to the body different nutrients we cannot let our egos rule but allow our humbleness to accept what is before us and praise the Lord for what we have. Thank you Father for the table you have set before us. Let us be humble and praise you in every word that comes before us in Your holy name. In the knowing that what ever God brings together let no man or principalities try to pull apart.

"There is glory which surpasses glory. There is power which surpasses power. Therefore, the perfect things have opened to us, together with the hidden things of truth.This is the way it is: it is revealed to him alone, not hidden in the darkness and the night, but hidden in a perfect day and a holy light."

If we know the truth, we shall find the fruits of the truth within us. If we are joined to it, it will bring our fulfillment.
 

Most things in the world, as long as their inner parts are hidden, stand upright and live. If they are revealed, they die.For so long as the root of wickedness is hidden, it is strong. But when it is recognized, it is dissolved. When it is revealed, it perishes. That is why the Word says, "Already the axe is laid at the root of the trees" (Mt 3:10). It will not merely cut - what is cut sprouts again - but the ax penetrates deeply, until it brings up the root. Jesus pulled out the root of the whole place, while others did it only partially. As for ourselves, let each one of us dig down after the root of evil which is within one, and let one pluck it out of one's heart from the root. It will be plucked out if we recognize it. But if we are ignorant of it, it takes root in us and produces its fruit in our heart. It masters us. We are its slaves. It takes us captive, to make us do what we do not want; and what we do want, we do not do. It is powerful because we have not recognized it. While it exists it is active. Spiritual warfare, strong hold and lofty imaginations.

The Samaritan gave nothing but wine and oil to the wounded man. It is nothing other than the ointment. It healed the wounds, for "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 P 4:8).

We must recognize that which we don't like in someone else is usually what must die in ourselves in order for that perfect love to shine out from our very being.

I was thinking about what Jesus said to His apostles right before He had to leave them.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

That is all we must do and allow Him to finish the work He has prepared for us to be done in us. As we allow the Spirit to move in and through us and we focus on Him not us, then and only then will we see the precious promised begin to come forth. As we take our "minds" off of "SELF" and enter into His rest. Peace be still and know that I Am God ;)

Much love to all our precious brothers and sisters!

I pray that this message is received in the pureness that in which it is sent in all love and humility, in perfect respect for His body of Christ.

Love;

Carol

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. - xox

All Things to All Men

“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” 1 Corinthians 9:22.

Have you ever considered just how 'we' are going to be made into the Body of Christ? I'm not talking about the assumption that everyone who claims to have had a born-again experience already are the Body; I'm talking about being transformed, being made a perfect reflection of the nature of Jesus, right here, right now, in our daily lives.

Do you ever find yourself resistant to change?  Each one of us have our own personal struggles, all have suffered.  Most have been out of organized religion for years.  We all come from different backgrounds, with different family, economical, educational, cultural backgrounds. We are at different stages of spiritual growth, with different ideas of what we think it means to be living in the 'last days,' with different visions and expectations of what is going to happen. The only uniting thing is our love of the Lord. 

The thing is, for so many years its just been 'me and the Lord,' that many of us are resistant to open up and let strangers in.  I know, because I've been one of them doing the resisting.  There have been so many hurts inflicted by others who professed to be christian that there is a strong tendency to hold back and not let anyone get too close.  I think it is a flesh thing more than anything else; because the minute a red flag goes up over some different perspective or point of view we are ready to turn our back and go back to the 'just me and the Lord....don't need anyone else' lifestyle. 

It has really opened my eyes to see how monumental a thing it will be to bring true 'unity in the spirit' to the body of Christ.  I keep being reminded of what Paul said about 'being all things to all men,' as I was never clear on what he meant by that.  From the interactions I have been exposed to for the past couple of years, after being completely content with being separated for so many years myself, I am beginning to wonder if he wasn't just speaking of being dead to all of his own opinions/feelings - Christ is the only one Who can be 'all things to all men.'  Was Paul speaking of loving them where they are, not from our flesh, but by opening our hearts and allowing the HOLY SPIRIT the freedom to love them through us? 

In the past, we have tried to do that by having our doctrines in order, being 'right,' according to our own understanding and experiences in this life.  The things that got us this far, (into the wilderness, cut off and alone with God) have done their work and fulfilled their purpose, now it is time to move out into... we know not where, to do we know not what. It is much like a baby bird being kicked out of its nest and having to fly.... scary.

We can feel threatened, yes, even by other believers.  They come in with their concepts and their problems, and things don't always mesh.  We don't see eye to eye on every jot and tittle; we can't always relate to their history and how the Lord has dealt with them in their life, because it is so different from our own experience.  They may be in a place we haven't walked in yet, so we don't understand where they are coming from.  Our flesh just doesn't want to have to deal with it. We all have the ever present, 'why, why, why?' why did this happen? why did they say this or that? why do I feel this way? why can't they hear me? why am I even trying?'   And the answer is always the same...

Love them, no matter what, just as Christ loved us. 

Be willing to die for them, just as He died for us.

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ... We want the glory; we want to know Him; but we can resist His ways (which are so not our ways).  We are all sinners saved by grace.  We all fall short when we say or do what seems right in our own eyes. Our flesh is satisfied with receiving grace, but not so generous when it comes to extending the same to others. Our flesh wants to set limits on who we love; they should be deserving; we should be in agreement with them;... Really? We will have to discard that attitude if we are committed to growing up in Christ.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” 1 Peter 3:18.

Friends, we are being put to death in the flesh, that we may then be raised in newness of life by the Spirit.

Jesus tells us...

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” John 13:34.

There is a unity found where we can come together in mental agreement based on commonly shared beliefs, principles, etc., but this can also be nothing more than religious flesh. Then there is a unity brought about by the Spirit of God, which totally disregards all of the barriers our flesh can erect. We must ask ourselves then... what is going to distinguish the true from the counterfeit? The answer is simple: our love.

“Love is patient, is kind. Love is not jealous. Love is not bragging, is not puffed up, is not indecent, is not self-seeking, is not incensed, is not taking account of evil, is not rejoicing in injustice, yet is rejoicing together with the truth, is forgoing all, is believing all, is expecting all, is enduring all. Love is never lapsing...” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 In what Spirit are we coming together? Another spirit can imitate many things; but genuine love is not one of them. In our flesh we cannot love in the face of evil, we cannot see with the eyes of God, we cannot sacrifice for the unrepentant, the just for the unjust.

It is not recorded, but it stands to reason that there may well have been other believers present when Stephen was stoned. And if so, then those same believers may have seen Saul of Tarsus there as well. They would have seen with their own eyes, that he was fully approving of the act. Having been witness to this, one can only imagine their skepticism when later this man, this Saul came to them, now bearing the name of Paul, claiming to having met with the Christ on the road to Damascus, and having been born-again. And we think we have been wronged and have the right to bear grudges? Just imagine how difficult it must have been for those believers to accept Paul into their fellowship?

The nature of mankind has not changed. We have leaned on the arm of the flesh and our carnal understanding all of our lives. To live by the Spirit, to judge all things by the Spirit is not something we can just talk about doing. Our words and our actions reflect what spirit we are of.

“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” 1 John 4:2-13.

Are we to believe that 'Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God' is limited to acknowledging that 2000 years ago a man named Jesus was born into this world? Or is there much more?... Jesus is the Head of the Body (church, ekklesia). The body is many membered, from every tribe and kindred and nation. For Jesus to come in the flesh, in every age, would mean that He came by His Spirit in His Body. In that light, we could understand that when we receive the Spirit of Christ in our brother and sister, in whatever measure it is there, we are receiving HIM. And when we reject and refuse the Christ in our brother and sister, we are rejecting and acting against Christ. That should sober us up in a hurry.

We need to start recognizing that it is by loving one another, that God dwells in us, and His Love is perfected in us.

All things to all men.....

“Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” 1 Corinthians 10:33.

“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another” 1 Corinthians 12:25.

“He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me” Matthew 10:40.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me” John 13:20.

Amen & Amen,

Cathy Morris