THE FALL OF ADAM- A LESSON FOR SAINTS

“Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2v4-7).

The body of man, is an instrument which is dictated by spiritual forces; either the power of darkness or the power of the kingdom of Light. This is what determines, the fruits of the character; it is to which of the power we submits to.

Back from the beginning, before the fall of Adam and Eve, they where filled with the inward practical knowledge, of the practical goodness, of the purity of the Eternal God in all holiness and righteousness.

They had both inward practical knowledge, and the fruits of the knowledge of the tree of Life within there lives. There was the fulfillment of both the letter and the spirit, the law of “Moses” and the Law of Christ, all within them. The inward knowledge they had reveals the danger of partaking the forbidden tree. They had the outward knowledge of the evil of the forbidden tree but they knew not what it means to partake in true inward practical knowledge of the forbidden tree, before the fall. There was innocence.

Before the fall, they had true inward knowledge of the tree of Life, and an outward knowledge of the tree of good and bad, but in the fall it is the reverse, they had the outward knowledge of the tree of life while they had a practical inward knowledge of the tree of the knowledge of good and bad. This is the mystery of the fall which work in the hearts of the once enlighten Children of God, it is always a reverse, a forsaking of the first Love. It is outward knowledge without Life, it works in diverse ways and measures in all of us, to divert us from practical Truth, yet that is the realm of the fall, the falling away from the simple inward Faith.

 The tree of Life will build and gives us the Heavenly Characters; or the fruits of the spirit while partaking in the forbidden tree will just build head knowledge of Spiritual Truths, no life, and just mere confession. This is the spirit which is more deceptive than the pharisaical spirit. It is that which speaks like a lamb because of former Lights, the spirit which was in Judas; that which betray the inward Light of Christ.

The Pharisees got the outward knowledge of the Letter, but they were never born of the spirit, never knew true inward knowledge through inward revelation. The children of Light easily discern them today, but the most deceptive ones are those that were once enlighten and knew what it means to hear Gods voice, but went   back into the fall, in forsaking there first love.

When the Children of Light like Adam forsake there first Love, they have all subtle outward knowledge to cover there nakedness, because they know right well how to use spiritual phrases to cover there nakedness. They must have something, do something to keep there name- there lost inheritance. It does not matter again whether they are in lust, anger, hatred, envy, malice, lies, carnality, covetousness etc. No, this does not strike them again, there conscience is seared, it is just a seeking of justification through outward head knowledge, not the justification that comes through faith in hearing and obeying the voice of Christ within.

In the natural, when an intelligent man and woman married, there Children are likely to be intelligent too. This proofs the fact that outward intelligent can have a link with the genes of the parent though all gifts are sure to comes from God.  This takes us back to the beginning. Now, when Adam and Eve fell from there first Love in to the dominion of the forbidden tree, they lost the true inward knowledge of the eternal being,  but there brain was able to keep the form or picture of the likeness of these knowledge, in an outward form, though now dimly because of the badness that comes from the fruit of the forbidden tree. This outward knowledge of the lost communion was later passed into all the offspring of Adam and Eve though not in the same exact measure through the genes. This is the Light of God in a very tiny measure through the conscience, which is able to reveal the moral Law of Moses (Romans 2v13-16). We can even find that even many Pagans will agree with us that gross sins like stealing, Adultery, robbery, murder is wrong. This is not natural, is a history of a knowledge that comes through a lost communion.

Likewise in the spiritual, when the Children of Light forsake there first love, the outward knowledge of this spiritual experience is always retain in forms, through the interpretation of the brain. This is where the deception comes in, it is a saying of words which appear right and spiritual but they come from the fall, a rotten tree.

This is also, where the enemy works to deceive us , he knows that we are not different from him if we only have this outward knowledge of spiritual truth in forms in the brain , what he fears is a practical working of those Truth within. He will have us divided through mere words and differences in interpretations of spiritual truths in scriptures but he will hate us divided because of our stand of Truth in all practical holiness and righteousness and a forsaking of Lies.

It is time to turn inward and ask the Spirit of Holiness to search our hearts, and reveals all rottenness within and purifies and destroys this though the Holy fire. Back to the first Love, first works through the works ordered by the spirit of Holiness. The joy and the surrendered heart in the first day of conversion comes from the first Love, it should increase not decrease. There is still mercy today and HE has things HE has prepared for us if we will come back, and forsake our hypocrisy and our idle religious games. Out from the fall, Adam is dead in Christ but only as we cling on Christ not outside Christ. He knows all our frames and weakness but this is were HIS strength is reveal , HE comes to call sinners to repentance , which is a turning away from a Life centered on Self to a Life govern by the Spirit of Holiness. Today is the day of Salvation, tomorrow might be late. All wrong the spirit, reveals in us needs to be settled now. Amen.

Jabez Enlarge my Coast

There are many of you perhaps, who never heard of the man called Jabez, or if you read of him in the Bible it may have meant nothing to you. But this Old Testament character, as a type of the End-Time Sons of God, is very important to us today, and it behooves us to know what the Word has to say about him.
This man is mentioned in only one place in all the Scriptures. It does not tell us where he came from, who his father or mother were, nor does it give the names of any children. Yet in two verses in the official genealogies we learn more about this man than the hundreds of others listed with him: (1 Chr. 4:9, 10) “AND JABEZ WAS MORE HONOURABLE THAN HIS BRETHREN: AND HIS MOTHER CALLED HIS NAME JABEZ, SAYING BECAUSE I BARE HIM WITH SORROW, AND JABEZ CALLED ON THE GOD OF ISRAEL, SAYING, OH THAT THOU WOULDEST BLESS ME INDEED, AND ENLARGE MY COAST, AND THAT THINE HAND MIGHT BE WITH ME, AND THAT THOU WOULDEST KEEP ME FROM EVIL THAT IT MAY NOT GRIEVE ME! AND GOD GRANTED HIM THAT WHICH HE REQUESTED.
Born In Sorrow
The first nine chapters of this book are concerned almost entirely with the listing of names and recording of births. Suddenly, right in the middle of all this, God stops the records and tells us of a man named Jabez. His name means: “Causing pain”, and his mother said she called him that because she bore him with sorrow. Now didn’t all those listed cause pain when they were born? Yes, of course that’s part of the curse. But God points out that here is one that was brought forth in special travail and in great sorrow. What a picture of our Lord Jesus, the “man of sorrows”, and of His Body who are conformed to His image. The baby Jesus was not yet two months old when the prophet of God took him up in his arms and spoke by the Spirit to his mother and said that because of this baby a sword would pierce through her own soul also. None of us know the sorrow and shame and reproach this innocent young girl had to bear to bring this baby into the world. She was accused of casting away her virginity and shamefully violating her pledge to Joseph, her espoused, before they came together, she was “found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Notice that “SHE WAS FOUND WITH CHILD”. Who is going to believe her fantastic story of a visit by the angel Gabriel, and of her receiving seed for this child from no less than God Himself? Only God, who bottles up our tears, knows how many were shed when the scorn and reproaches began to fall upon this lovely young virgin. Sorrow. Yes, she knew sorrow, and shame, and the vile gossiping of wicked tongues. It cost something to bring this man Jesus into the world.
And it’s going to cost you something, dear one, to be an overcomer, and a part of this great army of God. Do you think you will be honored and acclaimed by the world, or the religious systems, or even by those close to you? Be not deceived. You will wet your pillow many nights in your loneliness and in misunderstandings, crying out: “Why Lord, Oh why does it have to be thus?” Yes, a sword shall be thrust through your own soul also, when you see friends and loved ones turning away from the Truth. And when they classify you as having been deceived and seduced by man, it shall pierce you through, tho you know in the deep of your heart that you have heard from God and the seed you have received is nothing less than the pure Word of God.
A Manchild is Born
Jesus is speaking to His disciples in John 16:21 where He said: “A WOMAN WHEN SHE IS IN TRAVAIL HATH SORROW, BECAUSE HER HOUR IS COME: BUT AS SOON AS SHE IS DELIVERED OF THE CHILD, SHE REMEMBERETH NO MORE THE ANGUISH, FOR JOY THAT A MAN IS BORN INTO THE WORLD.” Yes, there is great travail in bringing forth this manchild. But it shall produce the greatest joy this world has ever known. Jesus was the “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”, but Hebrews 1:9 says that God anointed Him with the oil of gladness above His fellows. Hebrews 12:2 says that for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame. He who knew the greatest sorrow and travail of soul, also knows the greatest joy among all those who are His brethren. Upon Him was heaped the greatest shame and reproach possible for He bore ALL our sins to Calvary, and to Him belongs all the glory and honor and praise. Bless His wonderful Name! And hear me today, beloved…… tho the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ shall suffer the greatest sorrow, travail, grief, and innumerable reproaches in bringing this Manchild company into existence, yet they shall know a joy that is absolutely beyond description with our weak human vocabularies. Those who enter into the actual experience of the Feast of Tabernacles, who taste of the realities of which that feast is a type, shall discover that it is a feast of Joy. For in Lev. 23:40 we are instructed to “rejoice before the Lord your God”, throughout the seven days of the feast. And Deut. 16:34 says: “Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days ……and thou shalt REJOICE in thy feast.” Hallelujah! Sons of God weep through the night, for in the morning thou shalt have joy and laughter, and tears and sorrow shall flee away. Let your heart travail before God, for this that He would do must come forth in sorrow. But know this, that with travailing shall come a glorious complete victory, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it! Look up, Jabez, thou man of sorrow, for joy is set before thee!
Born in Obscurity
History knows nothing of Jabez. He was God’s man. He was great only in the eyes of the Lord. Who was his father? Who was his mother? Was he the father of a great nation? What did he accomplish in life? No one knows. He is simply one of God’s “Are-Nots”. 1 Cor. 1:28 tells us that God hath chosen the “things which are not, to bring to nought things that are”: “FOR YOU SEE YOUR CALLING BRETHREN, HOW THAT NOT MANY WISE MEN AFTER THE FLESH, NOT MANY MIGHTY, NOT MANY NOBLE, ARE CALLED”. God chooses. And God chose Jabez. A strange unknown to the Jewish historians, a Holy Ghost interruption and interjection into the midst of their man made order. This is the picture of God’s Manchild in the end of the age. Just as their pattern, Jesus, was an unwanted and unwelcome intruder to the religious orders of His day, disrupting their ecclesiastical systems by a mighty manifestation of the power and glory of God. Just so, His Body shall bring a mighty deliverance to the sick and oppressed of the nations of the world, but they shall never be accepted by the religious systems and ecclesiastical order. Never. It is not the great ones, the mighty, the noble that He hath called, but rather the humble and simple people who are willing to accept Him as Lord and believe His Word. Quit trying to be somebody, dear ones! Like Jabez, be willing to be a nobody, one of God’s “are-nots”, that you might be chosen of God. Care not that you are not blazing a bright trail across the pages of history, doing great exploits that make men wonder, and making a name that men will exalt and long remember. Desire only to be in the perfect will of God, glorifying and exalting our wonderful Jesus!
A Higher Calling
“JABEZ WAS MORE HONORABLE THAN HIS BRETHREN.” Here was a man who sought after God, who desired only His will. And the Word says that there was a difference recognized between him and his brethren. Same father, same mother. But a difference. A vast difference if you please. Jacob and Esau were twins, and being the elder Esau had the advantage and in many personal traits he was the more admirable. His father Isaac loved Esau and intended to give him the blessing. But Jacob was one who hungered for the blessing of God, and he respected not personal traits, advantages and traditions. He wanted that blessing, and purposed to have it. Esau cared little for spiritual blessings and birthrights. The Word of the Lord was not sacred to him. He was strong, he was self-sufficient, he could take care of himself. His own skill, his works would make a way for Him. But the Bible says that God loved Jacob and hated Esau. God made a difference between them, even before they were born.
There was a difference between Joseph and his brethren, the sons of Jacob. He knew it, and they also knew it and hated him for it. He had a calling of God on his life that they did not have. He hungered after the things of God, while they devised ways of getting rid of him. “He was more honorable than his brethren.” This difference between him and his brethren took him in strange places, on perilous journeys, through many testings and trials until it brought him to that place of finding the purpose of God in his life and fulfilling the Word of the Lord. He sat upon the throne and ruled with his King.
Beloved, regardless of what man may say, there IS a higher calling. There IS a difference between the Elect of God and their “brethren”. God has chosen. Know that “whosoever will may be saved”. But we are not dealing in this message with the “Whosoever will” of God. We are dealing with the Jabez company, the Chosen. One of the most violent criticisms of the Sonship message is that some fear we are trying to make ourselves better than others. “All are the same” they cry. But the Bible says that all are not the same. Some press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, while others are willing to settle for a “heaven to gain and a hell to shun”. And it is not a matter of making yourself better than others…… for Romans 9:16 is plain: “SO THEN IT IS NOT OF HIM THAT WILLETH, NOR OF HIM THAT RUNNETH, BUT OF GOD THAT SHEWETH MERCY.” There is no boasting in this for you sir, for this is the election of God.
But there is something you can do to keep yourself available to be chosen of God. You can keep your heart clean, desiring only Jesus and His will for your life. Eliab was the eldest of eight sons of Jesse. He was a strong, handsome young man, with many advantages. But when the prophet of God was sent to the house of Jesse to anoint the next King of Israel, and would have anointed Eliab…… God spoke to him that he was in error because he was looking upon the outward appearance, while God looked upon the heart. And He saw something in Eliab’s heart that disqualified him for the throne. Oh, he was from the right father, he was in the right family. But his heart was not right. So Samuel had to wait until they sent for David. He was the youngest, the least likely, just a stripling. But his heart was right. Hear me today, dear ones, there is a High Calling of God in Christ Jesus, and it is for those who have a right condition of heart. Jabez had the right kind of heart. He desired and hungered after the things of God. And he was more honorable than his brethren. Don’t blame it on me, but I tell you there IS a difference. God made it so. And it led David to the Throne. So shall it be with God’s elect. Out of the man-made ruts of denominational and sectarian systems, a glorious army of saints arise to be caught up in the divine purposes of Almighty God following the pattern Son. “Come out of her, my people” sounds forth the Spirit in thunderous tones, and there is a people who are hearing the first soundings of that trumpet and coming forth to be His alone. They will not be loved by those who refuse to hear the call of God. They will be misunderstood, rejected, and lied about. In 1 Sam. 17:30, we see David turning away from his own brother because of the scorn and opposition he received in moving toward the purpose of God in his life. It seems like those who are Christians, and preachers, should be the first to encourage you in going on with God into a higher calling and greater glory. But it is not always so. Some of your greatest opposition will come from those from whom you expected encouragement. But dare to press on into God! There is a difference, and others cannot understand why, but God knows, and our conforming is to His image alone.
Oh……!
As Jabez prayed, there was evidenced an intensity, an anguish of soul in the first word of his prayer. “Oh!” he cried, out of the very depths of his being. This was no “Now I lay me down to sleep” type of prayer. This was not something read out of a prayer-book, or a prayer memorized from the “good old days”. In the travail of his soul and his great desire to win a glorious victory in this spiritual battle, he laid his heart bare before God. Beloved the day for “playing church” is over. God has tolerated much foolishness in the past, and “winked at our ignorance”. But now He is calling forth an army who will rise into the heavenlies and put the enemy to flight. Our call is to build up and edify the Body of Christ, that they might tear down the strongholds of Satan and defeat the powers of darkness. This will take a people who are willing to come to grips with the realities of life.
One thing we know about Jabez’s activities–he was a man of prayer. He knew God in an intimate way, and he believed in prayer. He called upon God because he had faith that God was able and willing and that the answer would come. The things he desired were impossible in the natural, so he went to the one who could and would do the impossible. Oh, beloved, dare to believe and ask for the impossible. For it is the impossible that we must have to meet the need of a dying world. We must have the power of the supernatural, for the natural man cannot meet the tremendous needs facing us today. But let me add a word of caution. Some dear misguided folks are getting so supernatural these days that they don’t seem to need prayer. They have no use for the Bible, the written Word of God. They claim to be walking in heavenly places, so why should they be so earthly as to pray and read the Bible like the rest of us poor folks have to do? Why should they pray to Christ in heaven, lifting up their hands, when they have the Christ within? Why should they read what they call the “dead letter” of the written Word, when they claim that they have the living Word within, and what they speak is as inspired as what Jeremiah or Joel spoke? The trouble with that is it doesn’t work and it isn’t working in them. Of course, their failures to give life to their claims can be spiritualized away (if you have a strong stomach and a slightly seared over conscience and don’t mind violating the plain teachings of Scripture).
Actually, their claims are a large part of their downfall, for one error leads to another. And when a boastful claim is finally exposed by Scripture, they have to propound another error in order to explain away that Scripture. On and on. There is no claims, but he knew how to think big and ask largely. Those who are coming into true Sonship are not found making big claims about themselves, their ministry, or their spirituality. They do not need to make claims, for that which God is bringing them into is so much greater than anything they could ask or think or boast about. And just a glimpse of even a part of this glorious inheritance humbles their hearts, for they are made to realize how little they deserve it, and that it cometh not by their works or their knowledge. A revelation of the Grace of God floods their souls like a mighty tidal wave sweeping in upon a parched land! Oh, how good God is!
It’s You I Want Lord
“OH THAT THOU WOULDEST BLESS ME INDEED”, Jabez cried. And when we get a revelation of the grace of God, how it makes our hearts fill up with praises to our wonderful Lord! How our mouths are filled with laughter and our tongues with singing! No one else can satisfy the desire of our soul, it takes Him alone. The things of the world hold no charm, the ambitions of life fade into insignificance before the ever increasing brightness of His glory. Hallelujah! Hast thou sacrificed earthly things for the Lord thy God? Hast thou done without for His name’s sake? Why does they heart ask if the Lord hath seen? Is not His eye ever upon His own? Dost thou think that what the Lord thy God hath prepared for thee is any less than that which thou has given up in this world? Nay! But know thou this day that thy heart shall be amazed at that which the Lord shall do for those who follow on to know Him in His fulness. So let thy heart desire only Him, and let thy mouth speak only of His goodness, so shall the way be open for an abundant entrance into the Kingdom which the Father hath prepared for His own! Glory to God in the Highest!
“That THOU wouldest bless”. Jabez wanted the perfect will of God. Before he asked for anything else, he asked for that which the Lord would desire. This is the attitude of the true sons of God, those today who are finding that the great desire of their hearts is to do always that which pleased Him. Jesus, the Pattern, was a perfect example of this. In John chapter 8, verse 29, Jesus spoke: “AND HE THAT SENT ME IS WITH ME: THE FATHER HATH NOT LEFT ME ALONE; FOR I DO ALWAYS THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE HIM”. Most church trouble usually starts when someone doesn’t get THEIR way. But in Sonship, they don’t care to have their own way, and knowing that He is on the Throne and is going to have His way in spite of what man will do, brings a wonderful rest and delivers from all strife.
Enlarge My Coast
Now we come to the heart of his request, Jabez found that as he moved in the purposes of God for his life, there was a necessity for enlargement. One time this place was large enough, but no longer. His growth in God brought fresh and increased vision, and moved his horizons back. Ever onward and upward is the direction of those who are hearing the voice of God in our generation. For we find we have not reached the ultimate in God, we have not found the end of “the unsearchable riches of Christ”. When you quit pushing back, the horizons close in upon you and become high walls that hold you bound in man’s sectarian ways and beliefs. When you stop enlarging your place in God, then you begin to shrivel up into a tiny dried up memorial of better yesterdays.
There is a promise of God in Deut. 19:20 that “THE LORD THY GOD SHALL ENLARGE THY BORDER, AS HE HATH PROMISED THEE”. And there is a challenge to us in Isa. 54:2 as the prophet makes clear our responsibility to act upon the promise of God–”ENLARGE THE PLACE OF THY TENT, AND LET THEM STRETCH FORTH THE CURTAINS OF THING HABITATIONS: SPARE NOT, LENGTHEN THY CORDS, AND STRENGTHEN THY STAKES.” When a movement becomes stationary, it turns into a monument and the picture is not pretty to those who see by the eye of the Spirit. But somehow, there has always been a remnant, an elect whose hearts heard the call of the Spirit to move on into greater things in the progressive purposes of God. History is a strange thing, how it repeats itself in principle. Yet it seems there are so many who cannot learn from it. They have fallen into the same snare of their forefathers. And the Elect of God have continued to “come out of her”. A Revival becomes a movement. Leaders arise. Horizons are set. Borders are recognized. Stakes are driven. Theology becomes static, experiences become doctrine and theory. The movement organizes and becomes another denomination. With God preaching the funeral and the heavenly host acting as pall bearers, the burial is complete. But God calls life out of death, draws forth a living organism out of the organizations of man, and the march is on again! Glory to God, brother, you can’t keep those who have heard the voice of the Spirit from pressing into the One who has called them into a life of progressive reality.
The Bed is Too Short
Isa. 28:20 says: “FOR THE BED IS SHORTER THAN THAT A MAN CAN STRETCH HIMSELF ON IT: AND THE COVERING NARROWER THAN THAT HE CAN WRAP HIMSELF IN IT.” What a miserable night you’ll have trying to fit into a bed that once had room to turn around in. What has happened? Has the bed shrunk? No, the man has grown. If he doesn’t grow according to the natural processes, he becomes a monstrosity, and a freak. How the church world is flooded with spiritual freaks who have failed to grow, and now cannot find their way out of their baby beds. Many are so tangled up in their “coverings” that they are smothering to death.
Notice that the bed is shorter than a man can stretch on…… it is not too short for babies. Our little baby is perfectly happy with sleeping in a bed in which I would be absolutely miserable. In fact, my 200 pounds would probably break it down if I tried to get into it. I once preached for a dear brother who lived in some Sunday School rooms in the church, and his living quarters were quite limited. He and his wife had a small room converted into a bedroom for themselves, and their three small children all slept in another room in a baby bed and two small bunk beds. When I arrived, they put the baby in the bed with them, put their little girl in the baby bed and…… guess where I slept? Right! In the youth bed which was far too narrow and over a foot too short. For me, that is. It was just the right size for the child. Nothing wrong with the bed. Just that it was not built for a man. And I had grown to a maturity beyond where I could be satisfied with that which had suited me fine in days gone by. Oh, dear ones, recognize what has happened to you. You have been feeding on the good Word of God, and your growth has gone beyond the static theologies and methods of yesterday. Quit trying to stretch the old cover to fit you, and stop trying to cramp your growing spirit into the old beds where others seem able to sleep on in their graveyard peace. All you will be able to do is rip the covers and kick the slats out of the bed, and they won’t like it at all. I’m speaking, of course, to those who are growing to maturity in Him. Know where you are in God. Enlarge your coast, push back your limitations, stretch out your horizons and lengthen your cords. God is on the move, and so are His people, His own, His Elect!
A New Coat Every Year
There’s a beautiful story in the Bible about the Spirit bringing forth a Prophet to judge Israel. He started with the barren woman. Then He brought a tiny baby into the picture. But the baby grew, a steady progressive growth. The story is told in the first three chapters of first Samuel. And in chapter 2 verses 18-19 we read: “BUT SAMUEL MINISTERED BEFORE THE LORD, BEING A CHILD, GIRDED WITH A LINEN EPHOD, MOREOVER HIS MOTHER MADE HIM A LITTLE COAT, AND BROUGHT IT TO HIM FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WHEN SHE CAME UP WITH HER HUSBAND TO OFFER THE YEARLY SACRIFICE”. What a lovely picture of motherly love. Tho she had given him to the Lord, yet there was still a care for his needs, and a constant remembrance. Also what a picture of growth. For why did Hannah bring a new coat every year? Why did she not make one tough enough and sturdy enough to last several years? A man who has reached the end of his growing period may wear a coat for several years. I have two winter suits which I bought while I was still working for an insurance company in Oklahoma several years ago. My summer suit was bought for me by a church on the East Coast nearly three years ago. And they still fit, and as long as they hold together I don’t intend to buy any more. But my boys have to have new clothes every year, and it seems that my dear wife is always working on a dress for one of the girls. Because they hardly get a coat or pair of shoes broke in good till they’re growing out of them.
And Samuel was a growing boy. And his mother was wise enough to know that. So with loving hands she made him a new coat every year. One that would fit him, and meet his growing needs. Would to God that religious leaders of today were as wise. They seem to think that once they have received some experience and established some doctrines and written down their statement of fundamental beliefs, that God will never speak again or that His people will never receive any more from God or grow beyond their limited little boundaries. In the natural, parents are brought each fall to the shocking realization of the facts of life. School starts, and the barefoot boy goes to put on his shoes only to discover that he can’t get his feet into them…… And the winter coat that was so warm last winter and is not near worn out, suddenly seems to have shrunk until the sleeves come halfway to the elbow, and the button cannot stretch to the button-holes. What has happened? Your boy is growing, mother. And you might as well make up your mind to get him some clothes that fit, or you’ll never get him to the schoolhouse. For he’ll go to the woods and play hookey rather than face his fellow students with his overalls halfway to his knees and buttons popping all over. Yet in the spiritual, some of God’s people who have seen the truth and have grown in God seem to think that they can continue to wear the trappings of a Revival 40 years in the past. And those who continue to try to stir up the dead ashes of a move of the Spirit that God gave 12 or 15 years ago should learn something from Sister Hannah. She knew that this thing had to be enlarged continually to take care of the needs of God’s Prophet.
For he was not going to quit growing just because of something good and beautiful that had been given to him last year. And this truth, dear ones, is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hallelujah to His great Name!
Thine Hand with Me
Notice that with every enlargement in God comes a renewed attack by the forces of hell, and a greater need for the next part of the prayer of Jabez: “ENLARGE MY COAST, AND THAT THINE HAND MIGHT BE WITH ME.” Don’t you know, Jabez, that it’s the hand that holds the rod and administers discipline? Oh, yes, but you see, sir, His rod and His chastisements comfort me. They make me to know that I’m His son. So I long for His hand to be with me, in fact I need it for my perfection. God gave the 5 ministry gifts known as the “hand” ministry, for the perfecting of the saints. Appreciate them, and be glad for them, beloved. For though the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers mentioned in Eph. 4:11 may be used of God to administer discipline at times, it is for your edification and good. But God’s hand is not only a chastising hand, it is also a protective and giving hand.
Thou Openest Thine Hand
In Psa. 145:14-16 we read these inspired words: “THE LORD UPHOLDETH ALL THAT FALL, AND RAISETH UP ALL THOSE THAT BE BOWED DOWN. THE EYES OF ALL WAIT UPON THEE: AND THOU GIVEST THEM THEIR MEAT IN DUE SEASON. THOU OPENEST THINE HAND, AND SATISFIETH THE DESIRE OF EVERY LIVING THING. Now, there is so much in this portion of the scripture that we couldn’t possibly get to it in one message. But the one thought that I want to draw your attention to is contained in these words: “THOU OPENEST THINE HAND”. Notice that it is His hand, and that He has the power to open it. And when it is opened, the desires of all creation are satisfied. Romans chapter 8 gives us the time element for the fulfillment of this promise: “FOR I RECKON THAT THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME ARE NOT WORTHY TO BE COMPARED WITH THE GLORY WHICH SHALL BE REVEALED IN US. FOR THE EARNEST EXPECTATION OF THE CREATION WAITETH FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD. BECAUSE THE CREATION ITSELF ALSO SHALL BE DELIVERED FROM THE BONDAGE INTO THE GLORIOUS LIBERTY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD. FOR WE KNOW THAT THE WHOLE CREATION GROANETH AND TRAVAILETH IN PAIN TOGETHER UNTIL NOW, AND NOT ONLY THEY, BUT OURSELVES ALSO, WHICH HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, EVEN WE OURSELVES GROAN WITHIN OURSELVES, WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, TO WIT, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY.”
Yes, all creation is groaning for the full opening of God’s hand. And we ourselves groan for this, also. No one longs for this glorious day any more than those who are true ministers of Christ and have been placed as members of the “hand” by the Spirit of God. And the true Body of Christ, like Jabez, earnestly desire the ministry of the hand of the Lord. This ministry, when fully opened and manifested or unveiled to the world, will truly satisfy the desires and longings of every living thing.
Not a Clenched Fist
God knows that we have had too much of closed fist type of ministry. The Body of Christ in general has suffered much from being beaten down by a clenched fist ministry that cared little for their needs and desires. And this has not been limited to denominations and sectarian ecclesiastical orders. Many are the non-denominational or “independent” preachers who have made merchandise of the people of God and used them for their own gain. The closed fist is a grasping hand, always taking from the people, but never able to give. Never satisfied, never full, but eternally grasping for more until the people are drained and empty. And then the clenched fist becomes a club to beat them into a discouraged defeat. And something else. The clenched fist is a fighting hand, always full of strife, never able to make peace. How often we have heard them say in a harsh, belligerent voice: “I’m going to contend for the faith”. Yes, they’re contentious alright. What they really mean is, that if you don’t line up with their ideas and measure up to their standards, they will beat you into line. God open YOUR hand and deliver us from the closed fist of man.

Bill Britton

It's Time To Change Out Our Filters !

It’s Time To Change Out Our Filters!

There has never been a time in the history of the world like the hour we are now in.  For years, in His grace and mercy, God has been telling His Own to “Prepare.”  How do we do this?  The thing that Father has been quickening to me over the past 2 years sounds simple… ‘Let go and let God.’  But as any who have tried to do this have discovered, it is not even possible to do in our own strength and understanding. 

We are all familiar with the necessity of changing the filters in our furnace and cars, to keep them running properly.  Well, we are all in dire need of having the filters in our minds changed out, and replaced with the ‘mind of Christ.’  The more immersed in religion we become, the more complex system of religious filters are installed in our thinking.   Accumulating knowledge is a necessary and integral part of the human life, in order to survive in this world. 

However, if we are following Christ; if we have received the incorruptible seed; we are now members of the household of God… and now we must learn to live our lives according to an entirely new set of rules.  No longer can we live according to our own thoughts and inclinations; our fleshly appetites, opinions or prejudices.  The majority of believers are imprisoned by their own religious thinking.  Religion sets up filters to process everything that crosses your path.  Religion puts ‘God’ in a box.  We are trained to see ourselves in a certain light, (i.e. the redeemed, the called and chosen, the heirs of Christ destined to rule and reign), while at the same time judging everyone outside of our little group as being not quite up to par.  We are trained to be suspicious and judgmental, even unconsciously comparing ourselves to others; their perspective to ours.  This should not be….‘For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise’ 2 Cor 10:12.

Do you believe that when God looks down on the earth, He sees all the denominations men has built according to their own understanding… or does He see 'HIS CHILDREN,' without all the walls of separation we have erected that divide us one from another?  Do we imagine that heaven is segregated into religious camps?  If not, then why do we behave that way here and now?

We are all familiar with John 3:16  ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life’.  But how many of us are equally familiar with 1 John 3:16  ‘Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren’.   

Jesus came to fulfill the law.   When we say that we are not under the law, but under the new covenant, then I would ask you what is ‘new’ in the new covenant?  The only thing new is this… John 13:34  ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.’

I pray that we willingly submit to the rod of correction in our own lives, instead of trying to set everyone else straight.  As we humble ourselves before God, He will bring up every secret thing hidden in our hearts that is not pleasing in HIS sight.  Every wrong thought and wrong attitude we are carrying around in us will be exposed and brought forth to the light of correction.  We will be conformed to His Image, not as we have imagined Him to be, but as He truly is.  

Love – This is the crux of the matter.  This is what separates the sheep from the goats; the wheat from the tares; the wise virgins from the foolish virgins. 

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” Gal 5:13.

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death” 1 John 3:14.

“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord” Eph 5:6-10.

“For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” 1 Cor 10:17.

How we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ reveals much more than we may realize.  “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” John 3:19.   We should be aware that in the things that we ‘do’ (our deeds), we are demonstrating either God’s love, or we are demonstrating evil (malice, hurtful, mischief)?

“For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” Mat 12:37.   Our actions speak even louder than our words, for we can use words that might sound good to the carnal ear, even while maliciously attacking a brother or sister in the Lord over a difference of doctrine or belief.  How we hear depends upon our filters, and we need to have our filters changed.  “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” Eph 4:23;  “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you” Eph 4:29.

Jesus clearly told us that in this world we would have tribulation.  But let us not be the source of tribulation to our brothers and sisters.  Shouldn’t we be seeking that our own minds be renewed, instead of assuming that we have already arrived, as the religious spirits will staunchly affirm?  If we can’t handle it when everyone doesn’t tell us how wonderful we are, we are not following Christ.  If we go on the attack over differing points of view and doctrinal interpetation, we are not even remotely walking in love.  Are we not charged to enter in to the new life in Christ... that suffering is how we are perfected?  “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” Acts 14:22.

The Church as it exists in the world today is splintered and divided, one against another.   If what we see demonstrated is a representation of God, then one could only assume that He is spiteful, vindictive, critical, harsh, demanding self-centered and self serving, because these are the things the world sees manifested by those who call themselves ‘Christian.’   And it is religious thinking (mindsets) that allows this to exist, even flourish.  Completely contrary to 1 Cor 1:10  “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”   We have all manner of justifications and excuses for this, primarily being – “oh, but I didn’t mean it that way,” but none of them will hold up when we stand before a Righteous God.  We can cling to our filters, and justify our own wrongdoing, or we can seek the light that will dispel all the darkness within our own hearts.  And as this happens in us, we are changed, we are transformed in our inner man.  We can submit, or we can resist.  We can hold onto our clogged, dirty, polluted filters… or we can lay down all of our wants, our desires, our accumulated knowledge at His feet, in all humility. 

Jesus said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” John 17:3.   We can settle for knowing things about God… or we can submit to the operations of the Spirit within our own heart, and allow HIM to cleanse us, molding and shaping us into a vessel of honor, that we need not be ashamed at His appearing.  May we choose wisely.

Amen & Amen

Cathy Morris

A General Letter for Saints to Consider the Foundation of a True Corporate Fellowship

“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.” (Galatians 2v 11-13 ).

“And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only [are my] fellow workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.” (Colossians 4v11).

“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.” (1 Corinthians 5v 11).

The above scriptures in the measure of the Light of Christ I have, reveals to me, that there are differences which we can allow in our fellowship with other believers, while there are others we must never allow. One type of it is a wrong doctrinal concept in the head while the other is a wrong practical behavior through the Lust of the flesh.

The quotation in Galatians above partly reveals our responsibility in correcting our brothers and sisters in Christ who may be doctrinal wrong in there concept of certain gospel truth, while the one in Colossians reveals the need of our willingness to allow the fellowship of those brothers or sisters in Christ, who might be doctrinally wrong about certain Gospel truth.

This does not mean we should take it lightly when our brothers or sisters in Christ are gone wrong doctrinally. In reality every false gospel concept can lead to a walk in the lust of flesh, but until then we have no right to separate them from our fellowship. This was what Paul was doing he boldly preach against the doctrine of Circumcision as part of the salvation in Christ but in the quoted scripture in Colossians above we found him in fellowship with these brethren though they were doctrinally wrong in some areas. Fellowship does not mean we should not correct or rebuke each others but to separate a believer from any fellowship base on some petty doctrinal difference is not right. It is the fornicator, covetous, idolater, railer, drunkard or an extortioner who claims to be a brother or sister in Christ that we must cast away from our fellowship.

We should also not forget that, there is a possibility of being wrong about a certain Gospel truth while daily walking in the spirit in holiness and righteousness; while I might have all the correct doctrines in the head while walking in the lust of the Flesh. This is why the work of the Gospel cannot be done by our natural wisdom and understanding; we must daily wait on the master to send us to weed out the tares from the wheat. Very complex for human wisdom, we must judge not by the flesh or by our natural wisdom but we must wait in patience for the Lord to Judge the Hidden works of darkness in HIS own time.

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” (1 Corinthians 4v1-5). I feel to add the words below the spirit of the Lord gave me some time ago concerning Judging.

“You that desired truth and pure divine LIFE, fret not yourselves because of those that oppose the TRUTH, out of a good motive but without the spirit. Nothing is in us to defend HIS truth, Except HE DEFEND IT IN US. HE must DO the work in all, for HE IS THE JUDGE OF ALL. Those that will call us MINISTERS OF SATAN change or reduce nothing IN US. It is not He that approved himself that is accepted by God - but the one HE APPROVED. The apostles persuaded the believers to show themselves approved unto God, not man. Keep walking in the LIGHT you receive from HIM in your daily activities. This is your foundation, and only in this way you will ever be established IN HIM.  All of us are blind to the Heavenly world and laws until HE reveals us a little by little through HIS SPIRIT.  About those that misunderstand us and oppose us, HE will give us words to give them from time to time, but until then, let us leave the Tares and the wheat to grow together. The LORD of the Harvest knows how to deal with the situation at the right time.

Those that think they can defend the faith through carnal and natural intelligence are the most miserable and will be found denying the Very LORD they are trying to defend, if it is not in the Spirit, and the Spirit’s leading. It is good to know, when to speak and when to be quiet, when to weed out the tares and when to leave all to grow together. It should be the LORD’s work, not our intellect, our emotion or zeal, but that which truly comes from HIM. It will be amazing at the Judgment seat when many who try to kill, correct, and judge carnally all in the name of defending the very TRUTH they claim to defend are found to be out of the way of TRUTH and fighting against it, for they use not the right tool, in building HIS CHURCH which is only and can only be established IN THE SPIRIT. Friends spiritual things are spiritual and can only be built by the SPIRIT.   LET THE SPIRIT BE OUR JUDGE AND GUIDE IN ALL THINGS.   If we judge ourselves we will not be condemned with the world.

Amen.

James Jarjou

‘THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF GOD BY FAITH’

God is Holy and every creature that worship Him must be holy. It does not come by one night , but it is a personal pressing to the transformation into the image of God . This image is not of appearance but is a complete submission to the will of God , wherein you loss all things for the Excellency of Christ JESUS.

How long shall darkness overwhelm this real?  How long shall men be subject to sin (iniquity)?  How long shall the earth be control by the forces of the prince of the power of the air (the devil)?

“Awake to righteousness, and sin not” (1 corinthians 15: 34). Many generation have been deceive through their so called pastor, evangelist, teachers and prophets, who never look unto the perfection in Christ JESUS. Been bought by His precious blood through redemption.  He is able to present us before the Father , by His own righteousness being put within our inward and outward vessels (body members).

Men have been deceived by this verse in the scripture, “all our righteousness is as filthy rags,”(Isaiah 64: 6). There are two kinds of righteousness found in the scripture;

1)      By man’s ability, “mine own righteousness, which is of the law,” (Philip. 3: 9).

2)      By God’s grace, “that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philip. 3: 9).

The law have help man to abstain from the outward sins which are even condemn by human nature.  As it is written, “knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for slayers , for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers , for liars, for perjured, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 1: 9-10).

Therefore through the commandments in the law, a person can keep himself or herself from the above listed sins.

Brethren no one can judge you, when you holdfast unto the righteousness of the law. With the law you will have no trouble with men , because as you cleave to the law your conscience will bear innocence in the their sight.

But not so in Christ JESUS, as it is in the law. In Christ, we focus our attention on the inward, because all our actions (deeds) , thoughts and emotions do proceed from within our inward parts (body members). As it is written, “For from within, out of the  hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit , lasciviousness ,an evil eye , blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within, and defile (make unclean) the man” (Mark  7: 21-23). As we look unto our inward desires and intentions, there appear a battle field, that trouble us and brings us to an ‘inward trouble’ whenever we want to do something.

Friends, only Christ JESUS can make us see the iniquities that are within us. These iniquities are the ones that make humans to have eternal condemnation,   as it is written “depart from me ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7: 23). As we look unto the scriptural context of the word ‘Iniquity’, we found that, it is the living character in humans which hinder us in the paths of righteousness of God in Christ JESUS, it hinder us in the way to please God, and also hinder us to wait in the patience which is in Christ JESUS.

Brethren, many Christians have been blinded by the devil, by keeping them from looking to their inwards parts, where the ‘Sit’ of Christ is found, but instead the devil make them live by their flesh and walk in the flesh. He hinder them from acknowledging Christ. Because a Christian live a victorious life by acknowledgement of the Will of God, who inspires through His Holy Spirit.

Preachers, have deceived many congregations with the verse in Isaiah 64: 6. It will be very hard for them to preach the Holiness and Righteousness of God, because they didn’t experience it in them.

It was iniquity that have make the righteousness to be as filthy rags, because, outwardly we found ourselves guiltless before men, but inwardly we are found guilty before the Omniscience of God. But we have the Blood of JESUS that cleanse and make us purer before God. It is only the Light of Christ, that make us see the ‘dead bones’(sinful nature) in us. When we look at Isaiah, he was called a prophet of God. He never knew that he is a man of unclean lips. But when God reveal Himself before him (Isaiah), he saw his unworthiness and his iniquities. As it is written, “… woe is me! For am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto  me, having live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar; And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo,  this had touch thy lips; and thy iniquity is taken away and thy sin purged”(Isaiah 6: 5-6). Although he was a chosen prophet, but God want him to be perfect.

Our perfectness is determined through the cleansings of our sins and iniquity. We can also see iniquity in a vacuum  (empty space) as an ‘unpleasant object’ living in humans and which make a man to be become defile (unclean) before the LORD. Therefore, is very abominable in the sight of God. Christians (together with preachers) become lukewarm, when Iniquity is bounding in them. They will outwardly show unto their fellow humans that they serve God, but inwardly they are fill with comprise because “ the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and they become unfruitful”.

Christ JESUS, has made us know the signs of apostasy and those who will live in a comprising Christian life. As it is written, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24: 12). It is iniquity that make a person to become lukewarm and also make him or her live a life contrary to the Will of God. A lukewarm Christian is seen in the scripture as an individual or a congregation, who is neither cold nor hot.

You are called to live in the Righteousness of God through faith in Christ JESUS,  not that which is found in the law. For in the law, man abstain from the visible (outward) sin; but in Christ JESUS, you will see yourself walking in the grace of God, and purge from both visible (inward) and invisible (inward) sins and iniquities. These you will attain through the Fear of God walking in you inwardly, by the Power of the Holy Spirit, who will teach you the Righteousness of God.

Friend, submit yourself to JESUS who is the Savior of our soul, and He it is that condemn the ungodly (who live in the flesh) and justify the righteous (who please God). Be strong, rooted and stabilize in Him.

            The Peace of the Lord be with you.

                                                                                         By David Demba