1 Cor 14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
1 Cor 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Your Father say that we, your beloved children, are your building. I love that.
You also encourage us to pursue love, desire earnestly spiritual gifts, especially to prophesy.
You have been speaking to me about our being a building, the Body of Christ being a building.
A builder of houses lays the foundation, then frames the house, adds the walls one by one. He runs the electricity in the walls. Whatever he does, he is building; all that he does is toward the completion of the house.
All comes from you. As You say in 1 Cor 3:10, You lay the foundation, and others need to be careful in how they build on it. Jesus Christ firmly remaining THE foundation.
In thinking of the Body of Christ, Your beloved, it seems all you do is for its edification, its building up, so that You may be all in all. So that they may walk in Your fullness, being complete in Christ.
A builder may have a beautiful exterior and spend extravagantly to attain the most perfect house he can build. But without the electricity to make the house run and livable, it will not fulfill its purpose of being a home of comfort. A place of rest and a refuge from the busy world outside.
And so it seems to me, that is why we are to pursue love, the gifts, and especially that of prophesy. A home without love is not a home, it’s a place called a house.
Father, when You are telling us here “to pursue” You are saying it very strongly. You long for us to have a strong desire for love and to seek after it eagerly, earnestly; for the pursuit of love to be a serious priority in our lives. For without it we are nothing.
And the well from which it springs is the demonstration of Your love for us through Your Son Jesus Christ, Our Risen Lord.
From that well You are always building us up. How is that done? By the very body that You desire to build up. You tell us to desire the gifts, especially prophesy so that we are able to speak inspired words to one another. By telling us to desire to prophesy You are emphasizing the importance to strengthen, encourage, build up, and edify those around us in Love. It must be done through Your love or it has no life, it’s flat. Prophesy makes another person’s house a stronger house, a house with beaming lights that dispels darkness.
You, Almighty God, are putting the “electricity” in Your house. You are making Your building, the place where You reside, a place of comfort, peace and rest.
The foundation of all we do, the enduring lasting element, is the deep love You have for us.
Teach me Father, I have much to learn.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Being grounded
We always talk about a new Christian and getting them “grounded”. This I suppose Father means different things to different people. To some it means understanding the importance of being in church and being active in it. To others it means reading the Bible and understanding the basic tenets of our faith and having a relationship with God. Also learning about fellowship and the body of Christ. To me it means all these and so much more.
You say Father that we are to be grounded in Your love. The sum of all the above in our life is for us to experience Your love pulsating in our lives and in the lives of others through us.
So it seems that receiving Your love that You have already demonstrated to us, is the primary “grounding” that brings true changes to our natural heart. It is of utmost importance to seek to understand and receive; after all, that is the Gospel.
As a Christian grows, it seems that there is so much to learn, that we gain a lot of knowledge in all of these other areas, yet the intimate knowledge of Your love and what You have done for us through Your Son, Jesus, stays in our “head” and not in our heart.
That is so evident by the self-centeredness of the human heart.
The Gospel never ends in our life. The Cross has a depth that a lifetime of walking with You Lord, seems to me, only taps into a minor portion of that Divine Love because of its unfathomable length, depth, height, and width. Yet in Eph 3:17 Paul prays for the saints to be filled up with the fullness of God through the knowledge of Your love.
Is there anything that is more valuable than knowing this kind of love? This kind of love dispels the power of fear, turns away pride, and destroys the work of the enemy in our life and enables You, Father, the One True Living God, to complete and fulfill You plans in Your children’s lives.
Father, thank You so much for being my Father. One who knows me intimately and loves me as I am. One who will complete the work You began in me and Who is teaching me to look at You and what Jesus has done for us instead of my own life. The joy comes out of the Cross.
You say Father that we are to be grounded in Your love. The sum of all the above in our life is for us to experience Your love pulsating in our lives and in the lives of others through us.
So it seems that receiving Your love that You have already demonstrated to us, is the primary “grounding” that brings true changes to our natural heart. It is of utmost importance to seek to understand and receive; after all, that is the Gospel.
As a Christian grows, it seems that there is so much to learn, that we gain a lot of knowledge in all of these other areas, yet the intimate knowledge of Your love and what You have done for us through Your Son, Jesus, stays in our “head” and not in our heart.
That is so evident by the self-centeredness of the human heart.
The Gospel never ends in our life. The Cross has a depth that a lifetime of walking with You Lord, seems to me, only taps into a minor portion of that Divine Love because of its unfathomable length, depth, height, and width. Yet in Eph 3:17 Paul prays for the saints to be filled up with the fullness of God through the knowledge of Your love.
Is there anything that is more valuable than knowing this kind of love? This kind of love dispels the power of fear, turns away pride, and destroys the work of the enemy in our life and enables You, Father, the One True Living God, to complete and fulfill You plans in Your children’s lives.
Father, thank You so much for being my Father. One who knows me intimately and loves me as I am. One who will complete the work You began in me and Who is teaching me to look at You and what Jesus has done for us instead of my own life. The joy comes out of the Cross.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Rooted in Love
Father, you keep bringing to my mind Your Word along with the word “roots’.
Eph 3:17…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you being rooted and grounded in love,:18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length, and height and depth :19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Our roots are to be grounded in the depths of your divine love. With the grounding of roots in your love, comes the grace to comprehend and thereby “know” the love of our Savior. This kind of “knowing” is not of the human mind but is by the Spirit.
This is the fullness of God.
Col 2:6-7 As you have therefore received Christ (even Jesus the Lord) so walk in union with and conformity to Him :7 Have the roots (of your being) firmly and deeply planted (in Him) fixed and founded in Him, being continually built up in Him and established in Your faith…
Jesus completes me. He is the One who builds me up and establishes me in faith. He is the fullness of God. To me is made available the grace to walk in the fullness of God, the Creator of this world, of all things in heaven and earth.
How great a love the Father has bestowed on me that I should be called a child of God.
1 John 3:1
Eph 3:17…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you being rooted and grounded in love,:18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length, and height and depth :19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Our roots are to be grounded in the depths of your divine love. With the grounding of roots in your love, comes the grace to comprehend and thereby “know” the love of our Savior. This kind of “knowing” is not of the human mind but is by the Spirit.
This is the fullness of God.
Col 2:6-7 As you have therefore received Christ (even Jesus the Lord) so walk in union with and conformity to Him :7 Have the roots (of your being) firmly and deeply planted (in Him) fixed and founded in Him, being continually built up in Him and established in Your faith…
Jesus completes me. He is the One who builds me up and establishes me in faith. He is the fullness of God. To me is made available the grace to walk in the fullness of God, the Creator of this world, of all things in heaven and earth.
How great a love the Father has bestowed on me that I should be called a child of God.
1 John 3:1
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Be Subject
What brought my attention to Heb 12 was what You wrote in Col 3:19.
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.”
That word seemed very forward and strong. It is a warning.
Looking it up in the Greek lexicon, it means: to make bitter; produce a bitter taste in the stomach; exasperate, make angry, indignant.
Not good! This must happen a lot since you are giving a warning.
In Eph 5 21-29 you speak again of our marriage relationship.
Using a word the world does not like, Paul writes (Amplified)
:21 be subject to one another
:22 wives be subject to your husbands
:23 the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be subject in everything to their husbands
There are 17 references in Paul’s writings listed in the NAS concordance of the word “subject”.
6 verses refer to being subject to God and Christ.
9 verses refer to being subject to other people (including the world not to angels)
2 verses refer to being subject to slavery
The meaning of “subject” is to arrange under, to subordinate, to subject oneself, obey to submit to one’s control, to yield to one’s admonition or advice. In a non military use “it was a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility and carrying a burden”.
So, Father, I am trying to sort all this out back to husbands being embittered.
We know, as believers, of the struggle with the flesh. Spirit vs our unrenewed mind. Without question our flesh wants to rule--to make us subject to it. That means other outside influence to rule over us is against our natural way.
But biblical subjection does not exclude living in liberty “for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor 3:17). Being in subject to someone does not exclude love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. (Gal 522)
In subjection to God’s will, a man will not be embittered but lead with confidence in the One Who has called him. Faith enters into all aspects of his relationships and responsibilities.
He must stand against bitterness and his wife must stand against rulership.
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.”
That word seemed very forward and strong. It is a warning.
Looking it up in the Greek lexicon, it means: to make bitter; produce a bitter taste in the stomach; exasperate, make angry, indignant.
Not good! This must happen a lot since you are giving a warning.
In Eph 5 21-29 you speak again of our marriage relationship.
Using a word the world does not like, Paul writes (Amplified)
:21 be subject to one another
:22 wives be subject to your husbands
:23 the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be subject in everything to their husbands
There are 17 references in Paul’s writings listed in the NAS concordance of the word “subject”.
6 verses refer to being subject to God and Christ.
9 verses refer to being subject to other people (including the world not to angels)
2 verses refer to being subject to slavery
The meaning of “subject” is to arrange under, to subordinate, to subject oneself, obey to submit to one’s control, to yield to one’s admonition or advice. In a non military use “it was a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility and carrying a burden”.
So, Father, I am trying to sort all this out back to husbands being embittered.
We know, as believers, of the struggle with the flesh. Spirit vs our unrenewed mind. Without question our flesh wants to rule--to make us subject to it. That means other outside influence to rule over us is against our natural way.
But biblical subjection does not exclude living in liberty “for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor 3:17). Being in subject to someone does not exclude love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. (Gal 522)
In subjection to God’s will, a man will not be embittered but lead with confidence in the One Who has called him. Faith enters into all aspects of his relationships and responsibilities.
He must stand against bitterness and his wife must stand against rulership.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Bitter Roots
Heb 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.
:16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
You brought these to my attention Father yesterday.
The word bitterness in the bible means “extreme wickedness” according to Strong’s Greek Lexicon. Wow.
Also includes “a bitter root produces a bitter fruit”; bitter hatred.
I noticed, Lord, the Amplified and NIV use the word “harsh” in Col 3:19 for the word embittered. In Heb 12:15 You say “..in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness or hatred) shoot forth…”
When a person is bitter- they become harsh as they may also have resentfulness, irritations, and rancor, which means a deep seated ill will. . That’s why the definition can mean “extreme wickedness”. You are speaking of some heavy stuff here, Father.
You begin Heb 12:15 with “See to it..be on the watch to look (after one another)” which means I am to be on guard, watchful.
“that no root of bitterness…” Roots.
Looking up roots at infoplease.com taught me about the definition of “root”.
Root-the descending axis of a plant. A root absorbs water, and dissolves minerals from the soil, it anchors the plant and often stores food. The tiny root hairs in some plants are less than 1/3 inch in length.
Yet, in some cases, because there are so many they are able to collect enormous amounts of water, and by the spiraling forward thrust of the root tips pressure of their expanding cells there is sufficient force to split solid rocks.
Root systems often far exceed in mass the aboveground portion of the plant, as an alfalfa plant root can reach 40 feet. The combined length of all the roots of a mature rye plant has been measured at 380 miles. These types of roots are important in preventing soil erosion.
Roots are good, but as with many things, they can be evil.
S0, Father, roots are there whether we know it or not. They are feeding and watering us with something. They are establishing us, anchoring us in something and they store up their kind of food to great depths within us. They can be massive, be strong, and have power within us. They are growing.
Back to Heb 12:15. “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God,…”
So grace, superabundant grace is provided here and also strongly implies that it will enable me to conquer and turn away from bitter feelings as well as help others to.
“that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble. ...”
Bitterness, You say Father, causes trouble. We don’t need to complicate our lives with trouble.
The Amplified Bible says “in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness or hatred) shoot forth and cause trouble and bitter torment…”
Torment is a strong word. But this is truth telling us that bitterness is torment. And to think that torment would have roots in all parts of my soul; my heart, my mind, and my feelings, because of its far reaching roots, is something great to consider.
“and by it many be defiled.” Defile here means to pollute, contaminate someone.
Many? Our mates, children, our own dear precious family? Friends we love?
We would never purposely defile a loved one. Jesus makes it clear in the Gospels (Mt 15:18; Mrk 7:18, 23) that defilement comes from within. Yet roots of bitterness do defile, not just ourselves, but many.
You seem to speaking more to me about this...tomorrow then.
:16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
You brought these to my attention Father yesterday.
The word bitterness in the bible means “extreme wickedness” according to Strong’s Greek Lexicon. Wow.
Also includes “a bitter root produces a bitter fruit”; bitter hatred.
I noticed, Lord, the Amplified and NIV use the word “harsh” in Col 3:19 for the word embittered. In Heb 12:15 You say “..in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness or hatred) shoot forth…”
When a person is bitter- they become harsh as they may also have resentfulness, irritations, and rancor, which means a deep seated ill will. . That’s why the definition can mean “extreme wickedness”. You are speaking of some heavy stuff here, Father.
You begin Heb 12:15 with “See to it..be on the watch to look (after one another)” which means I am to be on guard, watchful.
“that no root of bitterness…” Roots.
Looking up roots at infoplease.com taught me about the definition of “root”.
Root-the descending axis of a plant. A root absorbs water, and dissolves minerals from the soil, it anchors the plant and often stores food. The tiny root hairs in some plants are less than 1/3 inch in length.
Yet, in some cases, because there are so many they are able to collect enormous amounts of water, and by the spiraling forward thrust of the root tips pressure of their expanding cells there is sufficient force to split solid rocks.
Root systems often far exceed in mass the aboveground portion of the plant, as an alfalfa plant root can reach 40 feet. The combined length of all the roots of a mature rye plant has been measured at 380 miles. These types of roots are important in preventing soil erosion.
Roots are good, but as with many things, they can be evil.
S0, Father, roots are there whether we know it or not. They are feeding and watering us with something. They are establishing us, anchoring us in something and they store up their kind of food to great depths within us. They can be massive, be strong, and have power within us. They are growing.
Back to Heb 12:15. “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God,…”
So grace, superabundant grace is provided here and also strongly implies that it will enable me to conquer and turn away from bitter feelings as well as help others to.
“that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble. ...”
Bitterness, You say Father, causes trouble. We don’t need to complicate our lives with trouble.
The Amplified Bible says “in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness or hatred) shoot forth and cause trouble and bitter torment…”
Torment is a strong word. But this is truth telling us that bitterness is torment. And to think that torment would have roots in all parts of my soul; my heart, my mind, and my feelings, because of its far reaching roots, is something great to consider.
“and by it many be defiled.” Defile here means to pollute, contaminate someone.
Many? Our mates, children, our own dear precious family? Friends we love?
We would never purposely defile a loved one. Jesus makes it clear in the Gospels (Mt 15:18; Mrk 7:18, 23) that defilement comes from within. Yet roots of bitterness do defile, not just ourselves, but many.
You seem to speaking more to me about this...tomorrow then.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
A Secret Place
Hidden in a Secret Place
Col 3:3 You have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
This I love Father. You brought it to me again.
Hidden means to hide, conceal, be hid, escape notice.
My own life is concealed. My own life is to be hidden, my own life is to escape notice.
Wow.
Metaphorically hidden is used as “to conceal (that it may not become known).
As You focused my eyes on this verse Father, You brought the thought to me that I have died and now that I died, I have life. To the world that absolutely does not make sense.
Now that I am dead, I have life.
Matt 5:14 You hide these things from the wise and intelligent and reveal them to babies.
(Col 2:3) You say that what also is “hidden” in Christ is “every treasure of wisdom and knowledge.
The word “hidden” in Col 2 has not only the idea of being concealed but also of “being stored up”. Stored up for Your children. You stored up for me all wisdom and knowledge.
Where is it? It is hidden in Whom I am hidden with in God.
You have a treasure for me that is accessible to me because I am hiding with Your Son in You, Father.
In this secret place of the Most High is where my life is and also is Christ and also all wisdom and knowledge.
What a wonderful place to be! It is a secret place. A safe place. A place of rest.
Col 3:3 You have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
This I love Father. You brought it to me again.
Hidden means to hide, conceal, be hid, escape notice.
My own life is concealed. My own life is to be hidden, my own life is to escape notice.
Wow.
Metaphorically hidden is used as “to conceal (that it may not become known).
As You focused my eyes on this verse Father, You brought the thought to me that I have died and now that I died, I have life. To the world that absolutely does not make sense.
Now that I am dead, I have life.
Matt 5:14 You hide these things from the wise and intelligent and reveal them to babies.
(Col 2:3) You say that what also is “hidden” in Christ is “every treasure of wisdom and knowledge.
The word “hidden” in Col 2 has not only the idea of being concealed but also of “being stored up”. Stored up for Your children. You stored up for me all wisdom and knowledge.
Where is it? It is hidden in Whom I am hidden with in God.
You have a treasure for me that is accessible to me because I am hiding with Your Son in You, Father.
In this secret place of the Most High is where my life is and also is Christ and also all wisdom and knowledge.
What a wonderful place to be! It is a secret place. A safe place. A place of rest.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
God Listening
It seems, Father, You are helping me to understand more that Your love for me is the fountain from which flows joy. The more understanding my heart receives about what You have done for me at the Cross-demonstrating Your love for me-the more joy I experience.
In thinking of Bro. Lawrence’s encouragement to “do all for the love of God”, You are showing me that he centered his mind on Your Presence and doing all for you love. That is what brought his joy; Your love being expressed in the daily routine of his life and chores so that being on his knees in prayer was the same as when he was washing dishes.
What does this mean?
Doing all for the love of God is centering our heart on the love You so freely poured into our hearts. Every aspect of our life is guided by this.
“Listening” for the love of God is listening to someone even if we disagree with one another to hear their heart. God “listening” understands where they have light and where light has not yet been received. God “listening” is not being threatened or impatient as they seek to express themselves. Not impatiently waiting to answer, but giving them, allowing them the freedom to finish their thoughts uninterrupted. (Prov 18:13) Trusting that the Holy Spirit will give us the appropriate truth to answer with grace and His love. God listening is resting in Christ.
In thinking of Bro. Lawrence’s encouragement to “do all for the love of God”, You are showing me that he centered his mind on Your Presence and doing all for you love. That is what brought his joy; Your love being expressed in the daily routine of his life and chores so that being on his knees in prayer was the same as when he was washing dishes.
What does this mean?
Doing all for the love of God is centering our heart on the love You so freely poured into our hearts. Every aspect of our life is guided by this.
“Listening” for the love of God is listening to someone even if we disagree with one another to hear their heart. God “listening” understands where they have light and where light has not yet been received. God “listening” is not being threatened or impatient as they seek to express themselves. Not impatiently waiting to answer, but giving them, allowing them the freedom to finish their thoughts uninterrupted. (Prov 18:13) Trusting that the Holy Spirit will give us the appropriate truth to answer with grace and His love. God listening is resting in Christ.
Bro. Lawrence
On reading Rev 12:11 You reminded me Father, of Bro. Lawrence and the little book written about his life, “Practicing the Presence of God”. He repeatedly said “do all for the love of God.” He says this over and over.
Do all for the love of God. This man led a very simple life but one that was absolutely filled to the max with joy. He did not do any “great” things in the eyes of the world but the joy of the Lord was so dominant in all that he did, his life has been an example to believers for hundreds of years.
All in an average life might be cleaning dishes, mopping floors, laundry, cooking, listening, speaking, giving, receiving, reading, working, loving and being loved.
Doing all things for the love of God gave Bro. Lawrence an extraordinary life in Christ.
His joy could not be contained. His life was Your life, Father. He was not afraid to lose his life in Yours.
This is different than our own efforts to be good, unselfish, and kind to everyone, or to do a “good job”. “Doing” out of what you did for me at Calvary is divine love, it is Your life having its perfect way in us.
Do all for the love of God. This man led a very simple life but one that was absolutely filled to the max with joy. He did not do any “great” things in the eyes of the world but the joy of the Lord was so dominant in all that he did, his life has been an example to believers for hundreds of years.
All in an average life might be cleaning dishes, mopping floors, laundry, cooking, listening, speaking, giving, receiving, reading, working, loving and being loved.
Doing all things for the love of God gave Bro. Lawrence an extraordinary life in Christ.
His joy could not be contained. His life was Your life, Father. He was not afraid to lose his life in Yours.
This is different than our own efforts to be good, unselfish, and kind to everyone, or to do a “good job”. “Doing” out of what you did for me at Calvary is divine love, it is Your life having its perfect way in us.
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