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Day Thirteen

March 30, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Thirteen

Held Together- Transferring Your Confidence

“And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).”  Col 1:17

It is my hope that one day we will see the truth of things so clearly – that we will be amazed that we could ever have doubted… Him, or the fact that He has held all things.  1Cor 13:9-12 speaks of how we now see in a mirror dimly, but when perfection comes we will see clearly and with completeness.  I believe this is saying when Jesus manifestly returns we will actually “see” visually with completeness – for perfection will be before us.  But for now, I believe the saints have the capacity in Christ to grasp with fingers of faith a level of “spiritual vision” that can perceive perfectly.  We have already been brought out of darkness and into the Kingdom of the Son of His love (Col 1:13). When we see with eyes of faith we will see the truth and the truth will set us free.  Free from what?  Having confidence in the temporal over the eternal, sight over faith, natural over supernatural, etc. etc.

We can find hints of this in certain observations.  Take water for instance.  There is a scientific principle called cohesion (which is derivative from cohere in the Scripture above).  Try this!  Spill a bit of water on a waterproof table surface and also put a substantial drop of water nearby that spill, then trace a line of water from the drop to the spill.  The water from the drop will be drawn into the water mass of the spill.  This is cohesion.  They are united because of molecular likeness, and the greater body always draws the smaller.

As believers, we are like the water drop placed in proximity to the life and reality of Jesus Christ.  We are drawn to Him, we become more and more like Him — which draws us even closer to Him!  He draws us with the cords of man!  The more of Him we have, the more fully we cohere to Him– because of this property of cohesion.  He is our head spiritually, but He is also our center.  We are always moving closer to Him in intimacy.  In Him we cohere and are held together! We are most definitely “stuck” (in the very best sense) on Him!

When life storms or trials occur, the greatest damage occurs if we fail to remain stuck on Him, and instead put our trust in something else.  Our substance is not of “medical-likeness”, or “money-likeness.”  It is not of “world-likeness” or “man’s wisdom-likeness.”  It is of Christ-likeness!  So we must stick with the right thing – or rather the right One.  Nothing else has the inherent power to hold us together like Jesus.  Everything else is just a cheap imitation.  Stick with the Genuine, hold to the True.  No matter what — He’s got it all-together!

Be-loved.

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Day Twelve, Under-the-Influence

March 26, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Twelve

Forego Hasty or Premature Judgments!

“…He will both bring to light the secret things that are [now hidden] in darkness and disclose and expose the [secret] aims (motives and purposes) of hearts…” 1Cor4:5

We know from the book of John that Jesus was the Word incarnate – He was the Word made flesh.  Previously He had been known as the “Logos” – the Word God spoke, and thus it was through this Word that everything that has been created was created!

In the gospel of John we see that Jesus gave and spoke to us every word that the Father gave Him.  He didn’t exceed this with words of His own making, nor exclude anything that the Father gave Him.  So there is perfect agreement between what the Father charged Jesus to do and say, and what Jesus gave or manifested to us.  He is the standard of perfect obedience!  So when we think of the word as a double-edged sword, or as living and active (as in Hebrews 4:12), exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart – we know that we are talking about the very essence of the nature of Christ here.   Jesus is the revealer of the thoughts and hearts of men!

Even Mary the mother of Jesus was to experience this “revelation” as she was told in Luke 2:35 that a sword would pierce her own soul and that the thoughts and purposes of many hearts may be brought out and exposed.  This is a specific property of the word of God.  Like H2O is the essence of the property of water — this is the very nature of Jesus, and from this distinct nature come all of His revelatory gifts such as words of knowledge or wisdom.  On his own, man does not have this ability.  It is only available through God as He provides the insight.  Man likes to figure things out by logic and reason, but this is very different and childlike compared to the truth that is known through God’s revelation.

Hence it is no wonder that we are told to not make hasty or premature judgments until Jesus “shows up”.  Our judgments are at best inaccurate observations, or based on faulty logic and analysis.  They are fraught with error!  Only the word that is living and active can disclose and expose the secret motives and purposes of the heart.  Unless the Lord provides this insight through the Holy Spirit to us, we are only seeing things on the surface.  We are walking by sight – only.  We might think we “know” something because we believe we have good intelligence, or we know it firsthand (we saw this).  But we do not have all the truth.  That only is available “when the Lord comes.”

He may show up manifestly for a moment, or He may send revelation through the Holy Spirit, or it might have to wait until His second coming.  But unless there has been a manifesting of His presence and truth in power, there is only a shadow of the truth available.  He is the revealer of the thoughts and hearts – and we must wait upon Him to cast light upon things that are hidden.

Thus we hold in abeyance the solidifying of an opinion that He has not precipitated nor confirmed!  Until the Lord discloses something, it is truly not yet known.  And if something is required to be known for pending action, we best be about the business of seeking His face and His truth.  Until that happens, we are just casting our own shadows on the wall – and those are all subject to change.

Let us realize our own limits to logically assess truth, and recognize our dependence on Him.  There is no getting around this fact — there is only counterfeiting it.

Be-loved!

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The Razor

March 24, 2011 by insolomonsporch

The Razor


There is a principle in life,

A law that each can see.

Requiring constant vigilance,

Against this entropy.


We see it every morning,

The harvest of the flesh.

What once was smooth and silken,

Now tender touch arrests.


With hyssop lay the lather,

Against the flesh each morn.

And with the two-edged sword,

Expose a heart reborn!


©1996 Sandra Gilloth

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Day Eleven, Under-the-Influence

March 23, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Eleven

Dealing with Hard Days

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city.” Prov 16:32

The idea of ruling our own spirit is initially foreign to us.  Even as believers we don’t often know what this means.  It is saying that as an act of your will (your soul), you are choosing to allow the Lord and His Life to rule in your regenerated spirit.  Your re-awakened spirit is then allowed to ascend to a place of rule over your soul and your physical body.  This ascended life is in charge.  Thus, the Kingdom of God actually begins to rule over your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and works through the agency of the Holy Spirit in your own spirit.

The Proverbs Scripture is providing a comparison of strengths.  It is revealing that a person ruled by their spirit (and by extension the Holy Spirit) is much greater in strength than the one who possesses massive physical force.  Why is this?  Natural strength is good, but it can only take you so far.  You might even conquer a city with it, but that is unsubstantial compared to your own heart and mind being ruled over by the Kingdom of God.  It is there, in that place of service and submission under the rule of the spirit that miracles can occur!  It is there – with the very life of Jesus ruling in us – that we can do greater works for the Kingdom!  This is why we are also instructed that physical conditioning is of some value, but the training and disciplining of our spiritual life is of much greater profit! (1Tim 4:8)

However, this place of greater works is also a place of complete dependence on the Holy Spirit and His leading in us.  It is a place of obedience to the word of God, and to the authority of Jesus Christ!  For this reason, the enemy (Satan) tries with great effort and strategy to derail this kind of spiritual growth.  The capacity that we have as well-ruled spirits to do great works for the Kingdom drives the enemy to fight tooth and nail to sabotage this kind of life.  He brings every difficulty he can to make our days hard and our heart weary in well-doing.  His goal is to keep us on the run and caught up in our fleshly lives and thinking so that we lose the position of abiding in the spirit and having it rule over us.

When you embark on this path of life in the spirit, the enemy will target you.  When you approach increasing maturity in it – the enemy will try and pull out every stop.  It may look like he is winning.  But do not believe it!  Continue on in the spirit, and leave no room to indulge the flesh whatsoever!  Do not look at yourself, but continue to see only the face of Christ!  The enemy will learn that his tactics are only helping to perfect you in Christ’s likeness.  As you submit to God, and resist every tactic of the enemy, he will flee from you.  Be-loved.

 

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Chapter 6, “The Bride is…Without Veil”, Imagine the Bride

March 21, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Chapter Six

The Bride is…Without Veil

“But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.” 2Cor3:16

 

We have been looking at various characteristics of the Bride of Christ all in an effort to clearly and with accuracy – “Imagine the Bride.”  We have seen how she has a focus which is different from the church.  We have looked at the profit of breaking in her life.  We have seen how she practices being un-offended.  We have explored how she is like a “dance at Mahanaim.”  And in the previous chapter – how she “is a wall.”  Now in this chapter we will examine the distinct likelihood that contrary to custom, and unlike tradition — the future Bride of Christ will be without a wedding veil.  Not that she will have committed a fashion blunder – and forgotten her veil.  Nor will she recklessly break with bridal protocol and choose to forgo wearing a veil.  No, I believe that that Bride will not wear a veil because she cannot.  Thus, just as Jesus himself often came in a line of Truth that clashed with established precedent – when it comes to wearing a bridal veil, I believe the Bride will be just as unconventional as the Lord.

Before launching into the full discussion consider this additional point which establishes the importance of this issue – because it is about more than simply fashion, or protocol, or an outward statement.  Recall in Mt 22:11-14  Jesus is teaching the Pharisees concerning attire at the future wedding feast.  Jesus reveals that a man has slipped into the celebration without having on the appropriate wedding garment.  Jesus addresses the man kindly, calling him “Friend.”  He asks him how he came to be there without the proper attire, but that man is unable to respond.  The man is then gagged and tied up, and thrown into the darkness outside.  In the heavenly realm it appears that there is a great correlation between our spiritual state and what we get to wear at the marriage supper of the Lamb.  This is further validated by Rev 19:8, where the Bride’s fine linen and her right to wear it – is because of her righteous deeds and godly living while on the earth.

Hence, what we are and do here on earth is knitting a future wardrobe for us in heaven, and there will be no falsity in that process!  It is imperative that we recognize this fact now, and chose a course today which will store for us treasure in heaven, even bridal wear!  So then, onto the discussion at hand – why won’t the Bride wear a veil?

 

 

Divine Trouble-making and Destruction of Tradition

 

Jesus came to upset the order of things as a prelude to deliverance and freedom.  He upset ideas about what could properly be done on the Sabbath.  He literally over-turned and upset tables where temple priests were selling animals for sacrifice, thus terminating their practices and traditions of commerce in the outer courts. He upset the people over washing practices, and forever destroyed misconceptions that external rigors or oblations perfected or protected anyone from being defiled.   He taught that what defiles comes from within – well beyond where we can scrub clean.  He blasted ideas about monies promised to the synagogue being a legitimate excuse for anyone to not take care of their families.  It goes on and on.

Jesus came to upset the old order, and to usher in a higher, more perfect order.  Yet He is very clear in Mt 5:17.  He did not come to undo the law, but to fulfill and complete it!  Jesus’ very nature was to upset the old older – and yet fulfill all aspects of the law.  That is why it is not difficult for me to believe that at the future marriage supper of the Lamb, the Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords – will be without veil!  Against every general bridal protocol and custom practiced historically and today – I believe there will be a great departure ahead.  To understand the significance of this we must investigate history concerning the veil and what is to come.  Let us begin our exploration in the Old Testament.

The Temple Veil

 

The veil within the Temple created a division between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place, and as such served to both protect and separate.  It kept even the priests out of the Holy of Holies except for just one day of the year – the Day of Atonement.  In position, the veil hung immediately before the Mercy Seat, which was upon the Ark of Testimony.  Upon this Mercy Seat the cloud of God’s presence would appear and rest.  This Mercy Seat is where the Lord would receive the praise of His people.  It is also where He would manifest His Presence – the Shekinah Glory.  So the veil was a separator (of legal and protective importance) from the all-powerful presence of the most holy God.

Now however, you and me, believers in Christ Jesus – we are the very temple of God.  We are told in 1Cor 6:19 that our body is the very temple of the Holy Spirit – it is His sanctuary.  We were bought with a price, we are no longer our own.  When did this happen – this movement from a temple of stone and mortar to one of flesh and blood that is in-dwelt by the most-high God?  It happened at the Cross, when Jesus laid down His life to purchase us as His own.  Stay with me here now – this gets exciting!

Immediately after Jesus gave up His spirit on the cross, the curtain of the temple (also known as the veil) was torn in two from top to bottom.  The earth also shook at this time, and rocks were split open.  Tombs opened and many bodies of saints who were dead were raised to life and walked around the city of Jerusalem.  But focusing on the veil – it was torn from top to bottom.  This was not something any man could do.  This veil was immense and very thick.  It was only the hand of God, of Jesus Himself, making a way and opening up what previously was shut to us.  Only He could perform such a feat!  He made a way before us – that is open forever!  Our access to God the Father will never again be for one day a year, but His Son has made a way for continual, open access.  You and I have freedom of access to the God and Creator of the Universe that can never be taken away or diminished!  You must get this – the veil blocked our freedom to come before God!  The veil then stood as a proponent of slavery or bondage under the law and opposition to freedom.  This shall become clearer as we proceed.

Two Covenants:Types and Shadows of Slavery & Freedom

 

In the book of Galatians, chapter four, Paul sets up a profound and striking parallel.  He revisits the story of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis (especially Gen 22:17), and re-acquaints us with both of Abraham’s sons.  Abraham’s first son, Ishmael, is the progeny of his union with his wife’s maid Hagar — who is a slave or bond-maid.  Abraham’s second son, Isaac, is the offspring of his union with his wife Sarah — who is a free-woman.  Paul explains that this is an allegory.  Hagar and Sarah actually represent two different covenants, two different lineages.  One covenant had its foundation in the law given from Mt Sinai and concerns children destined for slavery.  This first covenant (Hagar) also corresponds to present day Jerusalem, for she is still in bondage/slavery with her children to the law.  The second covenant (Sarah) has its foundations in the Jerusalem that is above (the Messianic Kingdom of Christ) which is free, and she is the mother of free children – in Christ Jesus.

So there are two covenants and two lineages in operation and force today that we must recognize because they have great bearing on the discussion of the veil.  The children of the first covenant (from Hagar who was a slave) and even the present Jerusalem, remain under slavery even today.  They are of natural, physical decent; they have had an ordinary physical birth.  Hence they remain under the first covenant law – that which was brought by Moses.

The children of the second covenant (from the Jerusalem above/the Messianic Kingdom of Christ) are all free.  They have had a second birth, beyond natural decent – in fact supernatural!  They owe their freedom (and being born again) to the second covenant, brought by Jesus, Who came to make us children of promise – like Isaac!

Now carefully follow the path we are about to take.  Don’t wander off!  This is very profound because of the promise the Father gave Abraham back in Genesis.  Remember, God, as a Theophany (the pre-incarnate Christ) visited Abraham and Sarah and promised them a son – Isaac. Again – Isaac was the son of promise.  He was the son who had a miraculous birth because Sarah and Abraham were well beyond child bearing years.  It was God’s creative miracle that made it possible for them to bear Isaac.  But listen!  This promise to Abraham was given (Paul says in Gal 3:17) 430 years before the law was given by Moses!  Therefore, the promise of freedom and son-ship was given way before the Mosaic Law was ever established!  While the covenant of promise to Abraham could bring new life (Isaac), the covenant of the Law could only produce children from Mt. Sinai (of natural birth, bond-servants)!  However the covenant of Law can never supersede the covenant of promise because the promise was given first.

What does this have to do with a veil?  Look at 2Cor 3:16:  “…whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.” Everyone who has come to Jesus and confessed Him as their Savior has had the veil stripped away!  The Bride is devoted and follows Jesus.  She is born again of a supernatural birth!  Jesus stripped her veil away when she came to repentance! She would not now go back and put that veil on again!  It would be like reverting to the Law as if it was the supreme arbeiter! This is why the Bride cannot wear a veil. You cannot be supernaturally birthed as a child of promise and then return to a natural birth.  You cannot be freed as a child of promise and return then to slavery.  You cannot put your hand to the plow and then look backward and remain fit for the Kingdom of God!

The word says in 2Cor 3:13, “Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it].”  The best the Law can ever do for you is bring a splendor that vanishes;  it can only be a ministry of doom (decline).  The glory and splendor that abides and remains is the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ!  This is a surpassing glory that never diminishes.  No veil could compete with it – nor is the veil needed anymore to protect or separate!  But even to this day, when the law is read to the Israelites, it affirms and fortifies the veil that still lies [on their hearts].  It has not been yet lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away with. (2Cor 3:10-15)

The final point is this.  Christ has made us free!  Through His sacrifice He has made us like Isaac — children of promise.  We are told to stand fast in that liberty, and to not be hampered and ensnared ever again and submit to a yoke of slavery which has been put off! (Gal 5:1)  The Bride will stand fast in this way.  She will never again submit to a yoke of slavery, for her Lord has made her free.  No veil (denoting slavery to the law) will ever cover or hide or obscure her again!  May we in Christ embrace this fact! To the Lord be the glory!

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Day Ten, Under-the-Influence

March 16, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Ten

Heed the Call to Simplicity

“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”  NKJV 2Cor 11:3

In the Garden of Eden, Satan baited Eve to doubt and disbelieve God’s intentions by posing questions to her.  Watchman Nee describes with great detail this attack in The Spiritual Man, and how this tactic was used to cause Eve to employ her mind to answer his questions.  Though we may not see it, the attack was a malicious and deliberate attempt to get Eve to stir up her soul (specifically her mind), so her soul would expand in its efforts of thinking and depart from under the rule of the spirit within her.  The spirit was the part of her, and Adam, that could commune with God.  To destroy the rule of their spirits was to destroy this fellowship with God.

Now, here, the Apostle Paul presents a warning so that a similar evil will be averted today by believers who possess a regenerated spirit in Christ.  He is warning that our minds may lead us into the very same corruption as Eve experienced, a corruption characterized by fleshly thinking and doing, and a dependence on our soul vice the spirit as it is moved and led by Christ.

If you are a believer in Christ you actually have two minds.  You have your natural mind that you were born with.  But through your regenerated spirit you also have the mind of Christ.  Romans chapter eight discusses this duality, especially verses 1-18.  May you study them and receive revelation!  But in very simple terms, imagine you are a dog-sled and that there are two different dogs that like to lead you (the sled).  One dog is the flesh dog, one is the spirit dog.  Depending on which dog is allowed to lead – that is the nature of the things he pursues.  The flesh dog pursues the things of the flesh and seeks to gratify those desires.  The spirit dog seeks those things of the spirit and seeks to gratify the desires of the spirit.

So essentially Paul is warning us to let the spirit dog always be the lead dog, and let the flesh dog die of boredom and non-use!  The importance of this is not to be minimized!  Your flesh dog – can never please God (Rom 8:8), and it will always lead you astray.  The profoundness of this notion is underscored by the meaning of “simplicity” in 2Cor 11:3.

This word simplicity is haplotes (#572) in the Strong’s Greek.  It means singleness, without dissimilation or self-seeking.  The word is also derived from (#573) haplous, which adds the aspect of a particle of union, and being folded together.

Our flesh is “self-seeking.”  Our spirit is Christ-seeking.  Paul’s admonition to pursue simplicity in effect means never be self-seeking, thus never flesh-led!  Further, to have union in Christ – to be folded together implies we seek the same things, have similar perspective, and have the same goal as Christ Jesus – thus be spirit-led, following the dictates of the spirit.  This is having the simplicity in Christ Jesus!  It is singular devotion that is pure and of one substance with Him.  It is uncorrupted.

The point is – once the enemy finds a strategy that works, he generally keeps running with it.  Getting Eve to rely on her mind (flesh) rather than remain dependent on the spirit worked in the Garden – so he sees no reason to change his playbook.  He believes it will cause you also to fall.  But for you – hear the words of Paul and do not allow the enemy’s tactics to succeed again!  Let the flesh dog die – surrender and renounce the use of your flesh.  Reckon yourselves as being dead to sin but alive to Him.  And yield/offer “yourselves” (all of your faculties and members – all of your soul) to Him as instruments of righteousness (Rom 6:13).  Be-loved …

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Day Nine, Under-the-Influence

March 14, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Nine

Active Resistance

“… Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the harlots will get into the kingdom of heaven before you.”  Amp Mt 21:31

There are two Scriptures I find especially heart-breaking and even scary, with a third depicting fatal intransigence in the heart of man.  These are: Isaiah 30:15; and Matthew 23:37, and Matthew 21:31.

In the first two passages I hear the heart of Jesus break because what He is offering is being refused.  In the third, a similar terminal resistance is also displayed.  Let’s look at each.

Isaiah 30:15 is a favorite Scripture of mine.  It paints a simple yet clear picture of salvation and victory in Christ Jesus.  It is a place where we return to Him, rest in Him, and become strong in Him.  And yet – His offer in this passage is scorned.  It is not wanted by the Israelites of the time.  It is as if the greatest possible gift is extended with Hands yearning for it to be accepted, but it is refused!  The abrupt slamming shut from the doors of many hearts is almost perceptible– as if the gift was insulting, or offensive.

Equally sad is the Scripture in Matthew 23:37, where Jesus is crying out to the city of Jerusalem saying, “…How often would I have gathered your children together as a mother fowl gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused!”  At this, Jesus tells them that their house is now forsaken and desolate – and with this the Olive Branch of Israel is cut-off from the Tree, and the wild olive branch of the gentile church is grafted on, until the ingathering of the gentiles is complete.  What was rejected by Israel – is picked up by gentiles for the time of the church age.

So now we turn to the last Scripture Matthew 21:31, and its tie-in.  Jesus has been debating with the chief priests of the Jews and the elders.  They ask Him from where His authority is derived.  Before answering, He asks where they believe John the Baptist’s authority is from – heaven or men.  They choose to not answer, because they see they would lose from either choice.  If they say it was from heaven – they will be conceding to Jesus that His authority is from heaven as well and will have no recourse but to receive His claims that He is the Savior.  This they do not want!  But to say John’s authority was from man would get them into trouble with their people who believed He was a prophet.  So they abstain from answering which halts any further progression of truth.  Seeing the brick wall they have thrown up against Him, Jesus approaches from a different tact – a more simple strategy:  the story of two sons and which does the will of the Father.  Not seeing His intent, they answer with the correct choice – the first son is the one who has done the will of the Father.  Jesus then validates that John’s authority came from heaven and chastises them for not believing John because even the harlots and tax collectors believed this.  Therefore, those will enter the kingdom before these whom He is talking to.

All significance here pivots on the story of the two sons.  It was the first son (who initially refused to go to work in the vineyard but later changed his mind and went) who is the one who does the Father’s will.  This is the timeless message from Jesus’ heart!  Change your mind!  Change your way of thinking, and enter the kingdom of heaven.  Do not be like the ancestors in Isaiah’s time who actively resisted and said –“We will not,” when offered salvation and rest!  Do not be like the residents of Jerusalem who refused to be gathered into His arms like a brood of baby chicks!  Do not actively resist like the chief priests and elders who were caught up in a political power struggle for what they thought was status quo and control!  His cry to all is be like the first son — change your mind and enter the vineyard!

Let us all hear this cry of Jesus’ heart and share it!  Let us not remain in active resistance to what He offers!  Let us have the wisdom of the first son – and do the Father’s will.  Be-loved.

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Day Eight, Under-the-Influence

March 9, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Eight

Two Wisdoms

“This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.” Darby Jas 3:15

There is a wisdom that you should not be looking for – and should never yield to!  This wisdom is your soulish natural wisdom – stuff that belongs to your old nature.  It is what you were born with.  But it is the stuff which the Lord will not operate out of – for it is flesh!  The wisdom you want – is from above, from your second nature – that is the redemptive nature of Jesus Christ.  You can only walk in it when you are saved, and continuously yield all of “yourself” to Jesus as a living sacrifice, reckoning yourself as “dead to sin, but alive to Him.”

If you are already saved, the potential to operate in the wisdom from above is always there, ready – and waiting.  You must first yield and surrender your old nature and your natural wisdom – it must be handed over to the Lord, daily!  It is a continuous process – renouncing that old nature so that you may walk in the new redemptive nature of Christ.  It is in-fact a conscious refusal to operate outside of the life of Christ which dwells in us.  The moment we fail to do this, that old nature, and our old wisdom stands ready to be the “fall back” posture – literally!  However, it is indeed earthly — (it is of the flesh – and therefore profits nothing)!  It is natural, and even devilish!  Why?  Because the closest thing in us to Satan is our old reprobate, rebellious, fleshly nature, which includes even the wisdom of our soul.  And yet many of us are unfortunately ignorant of this.

How do we know what wisdom we are operating in – that from our earthly nature, or that from Christ which is from above?  We know it by the result.  If we use our “natural” wisdom – then there will be produced jealousy, envy, contention, rivalry, confusion, unrest, disharmony, rebellion, and all sorts of evil and vile practices (Amp Jas 3:16).  However, true wisdom from Christ and His nature operating in us yields unobtrusive humility! (Jas 3:13)  That is because the wisdom from above is a perfect representation of the nature of Christ Himself.  Indeed it IS Christ in us – the hope of glory!  His wisdom is first of all PURE (it is not defiled but of a single substance).  It is also peace-loving, courteous, considerate, and gentle.  (Are you seeing Jesus yet?)  It is willing to yield to reason (reason prompted and led by the Holy Spirit).  It is also full of compassion and good fruits.  It is whole-hearted (not divided in interests serving more than one master), and it is straight-forward, impartial, and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

In any given moment, you and I (if we are believers) have the opportunity to walk in our earthly wisdom (which becomes an incubator for great evil), or in the wisdom from above (which produces great blessing and life).  Look around you.  Either you will see carcasses of death, contention, jealousy, and every evil thing, or you will see fruits of righteousness and peace.  These are the warning lights on the dashboard of our lives.  Pay attention!  Do not be deceived!  Before you unfolds the choice to walk out a life: full of life (from Christ’s wisdom); or full of death (from our earthly wisdom) — of blessings or cursings.  Choose LIFE!

Be-loved.

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The Least Vessel

March 8, 2011 by insolomonsporch

The Least Vessel


In the Great Hall, some vessels stood tall,

Proclaiming their value and worth.

While other vessels, more common and rough,

Were frequently targets of mirth.


This night as most, with the Master turned in,

The Great Hall stood silent and still–

Except for the smoldering coals on the hearth,

And the echoes of voices within.


With studied eloquence a voice flowed forth,

From the shelf of the “porcelains and golds.”

“A vessel refined in beauty and love

Is something quite wondrous to behold.”


“It’s pleasing to eye, and smooth to touch,

Of elemental beauty and grace.

With such value, quality and craftsmanship rare,

It must be the one in first place.”


“Well now!” spluttered the urn rough-cast in clay,

That sat in its place on the floor.

“How can you possibly be in first-place,

When I can carry much more?”


“We urns, of course, are the workhorses here.

We know our purpose and place.

“It’s volume that counts!” he boasted loudly.

“Not that glazed look on your face!”


The porcelains were shattered, and ready to fight,

But just then the Gold Goblet spoke:

“You all are missing the main point it seems.

Your posturing is quite a joke!”


“It’s what’s inside which matters most,

And all of you know gold is best!”

But the Gold was plated on top of tin,

So he was as poor as the rest!


At that, the Great Hall erupted with laughter,

And peals of hilarious mirth.

As each recalled the Master’s grimace,

When the goblet poured out its worth.


The taste was metallic, like licking iron,

For the Gold always tainted his load.

And though conditioned many a time,

The taste of its pride would not go.


The laughter died as a blade of light,

Pierced through the room from the door.

Then the Master entered His cup to retrieve,

That He’d left part full from before.


Now all beheld with quiet wonder,

His cup — that was simple and plain.

Without a thing to recommend it,

It was chosen again and again.


Not Gold, not Porcelain, not anything,

Could it claim that established its place.

But willing to hold in the Master’s service,

And to be held in His loving embrace.

©2005 Sandra Gilloth

Posted in Poetry | Leave a Comment »

Day Seven, Under-the-Influence

March 3, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Seven

Why we lift Him Up

“…When you have lifted up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will realize (know, understand) that I am He [for Whom you look] and that I do nothing of Myself (of My own accord or on My own authority), but I say [exactly] what My Father has taught Me.” Amp Jn 8:28

We must get this straight.  We first lift the Lord in our hearts, in praise, in adoration, by the Spirit – for ourselves because He is the One for Whom we continue to look and yearn for.  I am the first one to benefit in lifting Him up, and it is for my benefit that I even do so.  If I am looking for someone else to benefit, it is in a sense saying, “You need Him more than I.”  This would be false.  We all need Him more and more and we will never cease to need Him.  If I want someone else to be impacted, then I am keeping the Lord at arm’s length to me, and probably using Him as a 2X4 for someone else.

Why is this so important?  This must be clear.  I will always need Him as much if not more than someone else, and unless I first see my need, then I am first seeing someone else’s speck – of which I have a plank in my own eye of the same material.  It becomes an issue of falseness.  I can only minister out of what I have already received.  If I am not currently receiving – I am saying I have no need.  Self-sufficiency is the enemy here!  It removes us from intimacy and says, “I’m good.”  But we are only good because of the goodness of the One within us, and we never have enough of Him to be good on our own.  When we say I am good – we are attempting to minister from our-selves and that brings us to the second point here.

Jesus never ministered out of Himself – but only out of the Father.  He ministered from the Father’s accord, authority, and what the Father had taught Him.  He, Creator of the Universe, made Himself completely dependent on the Father.  Every word He used was one given to Him by the Father.  Jesus’ prayer in John 17:8 is a revelation of this fact.  “For the [uttered] words that You gave Me I have given them….” This is a critical point, for in the same way Jesus made Himself completely dependent – so should we be on Him.  When this dependence is a fact, then we will never have occasion for passing on the chance to lift Him up!  He will be everything to us and our gratitude to Him will become a cascading fountain of praise.  That is what will get someone else’s attention – the genuineness of our lifting Him up, because we understand … He IS THE ONE for Whom we look!

Be-loved.

Posted in Under-the-Influence, Devo Shorts 2011 | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

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