We know that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, as spoken in Hebrews 11:1. As I was somewhat fixated on this sometime last week, I looked up each primary word of this scripture in the concordance and then wrote out the expanded meaning based on this. This is what I came up with: Our firm confidence in TRUTH – Him, the Truth, Yahusha ha Mashiach -- is the firm foundation that brings us the steadfastness in our minds of those things that can we wait for with joy and assurance; it is the very conviction by which those things that are not perceived by the eyes or senses will be proven, or brought to pass. And now today as I have been reading and meditating on the content in the devotional from Fields of Gold titled, “Faith Can Wait”, I was led again to Hebrews 11 and 12 for reading. As I read Hebrews 11, I began to pray it for myself, and then an “enlightenment” (for lack of a better term) came with a quickening of my spirit. This is when I know I have to write.
is because I have not truly perfected living out what I wrote in my previous writing. It has never been my intention to write out something I think I have attained but instead about my desire and struggles to actually attain it!!
Because we know that Abel’s sacrifice was “more excellent” and was accepted by the Father, we know that it pleased Him and was therefore born in faith. In verse 5 of chapter 11 of Hebrews, we see the pleasing faith of Enoch that contributed to his being translated into Heaven, with the ultimate testimony that Enoch simply “pleased God”. Then in verse 6, we are told that it is impossible to please Father without faith and believing that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Considering all this context, we know beyond any doubt that Abel’s sacrifice was from perfect faith in his heart, and therefore, his heart was right before God. Then there’s Cain. We know that Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted by God. It is obvious that his sacrifice was born out of flesh, which was motivated by obligation or even a desire to compete with his brother. We are shown clearly in Genesis 4:5-7 in both Father’s words to Cain and his responses that his heart simply was not right before God. This so clearly highlights the contrast to Abel’s sacrifice, which was led by the Spirit and offered in true faith with no regard for anything outside of pleasing Father. What can we know about Cain’s heart? If he offered a sacrifice that he determined from his own flesh out of a spirit of obligation or even of competition with his brother, we know his heart was impure and tainted. And obviously, Father knew this beforehand. As I was pondering this, I immediately, I thought of the word “guile” as was the focus of a recent devotional I heard titled, “The Silence of the Lamb” (so worth reading!). Guile is any type of ulterior motive or self-focused reason for doing something, and it is obviously never born out of a heart of pure faith. Cain’s sacrifice was the outward manifestation of the guile in his heart, which prevented him from doing anything for the love of Father. His focus was not on Father even a bit, but it was fully fixated on self, clearly birthed from pride. Obviously, the state of Cain’s heart was a very serious matter, as it caused his sacrifice to be rejected, as well as set the stage for the offense of murder. But it is also obvious from the scriptures that this was not the end all, be all for him. Father said to him, “If thou doth well, shalt thou not be accepted…?” And this was after Father came to Cain upon his fallen countenance when his sacrifice was not accepted. It is obvious Father was trying to correct Cain and show him the acceptable way. And we know the story… Cain made the decision to take out his frustration on his brother instead of focusing on addressing the weaknesses in his own heart that Father so lovingly attempted to show him, which ultimately manifested in murder. The key is… it all started with his heart not being right before God. It all started with a sacrifice being birthed from his own flesh with impure motives, as opposed to faith and love. This is what gets my attention! How many times have I done this during my “walk of faith”?!! Who can know the desperately wicked heart of man? Anything at all, no matter how good it may look on the outside, that is not of faith… is DEAD. I have struggled with a “doer” mentality towards Father for so very long, feeling as if I must do and do to be accepted. This started in early childhood and has had many opportunities to fester throughout my life. This mindset is faulty to the core, and most importantly, it is the fruit of a heart that is “not right before God”. This mindset had become an “identity” that was all too familiar and comfortable since it had been with me for so long, and it took on the outward appearance of accomplishment and success. And oh is that a lie from the pit!! I can write about this now, because it has been clearly identified, confessed, and is now changing every single day! And I will say that Father has shown me much compassion as I’ve worked through this. He knows why I’ve struggled with this, and He has seen that I desire to overcome and walk in purity of Yahusha and not myself. We start with the desire and obedience, and then He gently and lovingly works it out. The year 2020 was a year of great progress for me in this area, but it was the outcome of much pain. Father used this pain along with loneliness and solitude to cause me to lean upon Him in a way I never had, solely through the strength of His Son working in me. We have to be willing to go through this to work out this “way of Cain” within us. It was through great pain that He began to purify my tainted heart, and He still is!! As I have said it to Father repeatedly… I cannot – can not – do this without Christ. I cannot do anything without my Vine; my Source. I will wither and die in my self-sufficiency without Him. I want this little “doer” in me to be DEAD and BURIED! The heart must be literally split open and purged of those “Cainly” tendencies that are deep within, and then in all obedience in humility be filled with the perfect love of Yahusha. And when the perfect love comes, the pure heart results. Only then can we begin to see and sustain the changes in ourselves that we so desperately want, operating out of a heart totally submitted and driven by Him. Let’s read the expanded version of Hebrews 11:1 one more time and compare it to the “doer” and self-sufficient mindset I explained above – or just calling it was it is – the mindset of Cain. Our firm confidence in TRUTH – Him, the Truth, Yahusha ha Mashiach -- is the firm foundation that brings us the steadfastness in our minds of those things that we wait for with joy and assurance; it is the very conviction by which those things that are not perceived by the eyes or senses will be proven, or brought to pass. There is no self in faith; not even human senses. It is only the firm confidence in Yahusha that comes through a pure heart. It is He who gives us the hope needed to sustain our faith (faith = hope = faith!), and it is He who makes us His workmanship and ambassadors. Self is non-existent in faith. My motivation to press on hard for the victory in this area is fueled by knowing that a heart that is the slightest bit “not right” before God cannot and will not be accepted, nor will it ever be pleasing. We must be aware that there are many of us who are or have been influenced by this “Cainly” mindset at varying levels, and many times it attempts to creep in again given the right set of circumstances. And we must also be aware that regardless of where it comes from, its foundation is always pride. As I remind myself, I say... Everything I offer to my Heavenly Father must be done by my faith in the Son’s finished work at Calvary, through the leading of His Spirit, consistently for His glory and praise, and always birthed from a heart filled with His perfect love! Simply said, we must walk in fullness of faith towards Him, and as long as we want this, we know He will respond and take us there. And in this we can all STAND, knowing that any part of our heart that may look like that of Cain can be completely eradicated and transformed into that of Abel, ultimately and beautifully pleasing to our King! Alleluyah… believe it!
0 Comments
this, I can also say that my current state of waiting is also the outcome of finally understanding what it means to wait and actually doing it. It can be hard, but it can be a time of beautiful rest if we fully surrender and trust our Heavenly Father to do His thing with us. I am learning this and attempting to be still and quiet in this wait. I feel I am getting close the to the "still" part but have a little bit to go on the "quiet" front. In its fullness, to wait in faith should be in a place of stillness, silence (no complaining or murmuring or even talking too much about how much we are waiting), and complete peace. If we are really trusting Him, then these things will be present. That can be our litmus test as to the level of our faith in waiting. So as we wait, let us be encouraged to allow Father to make the very most of this waiting and not waste one single moment, and especially on those days where the waiting is painful. For we know that all throughout the Word of the Father, we see that true waiting produces the blessings of our Almighty Creator. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. Psalm 37:34 Below is a devotional from the Fields of Gold book that I have read more than once and found myself reading again this morning. This has been the best revelation that I have read about what it truly means to wait, and I am sure this is why it ministers to me over and over. Waiting actually means more than we may realize and should become a state of mind within us always, as a form of worship and as we offer ourselves as living sacrifices. May these words encourage, equip, and inspire you in all your waiting. FAITH CAN WAIT (by Pietra de Bod)
Discipline is the obedience to the call and guidance of the Holy Spirit on a moment to moment basis. Not only in what to do, but also in what not to do, or dare I say – to wait. Jesus had to wait for 4 days before He went to raise Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus was one of Jesus’ closest friends whom He loved very much. He was told by Father to wait. This could not have been easy for Him. Sometimes we have such romanticized ideas of how Jesus walked on the earth. It must have been an agonizing wait. The pressure from His disciples to act on behalf of His friend knowing that He surely wanted to go to His friend, or the people following Him, must have been huge. Not even mentioning the fact that He wanted to be with His friend in such a time of need. And yet He was obedient to the voice that said, “Wait”. And who is to say that the Father told Him for how long He must wait. We know that He waited for two days, but why do we assume that He was told to wait only two days? Our obedience is not only affecting us but those around us. Jesus had often said my time has not yet come, meaning there is a specific time when something had to be fulfilled. Not just prophecy, but in the lives of those around Him. God holds all the cards and our instructions come at the moment it is dealt by Him in His time. Not by our own perceptions or identification in a situation. Our emotions do not move us, only His Spirit. We would love to be warned before the time. But God is not moved by our schedule. Eternity is always at stake on a moment by moment basis, because we are now citizens of an eternal Kingdom. But do we live in such a fear that our choice to act or not to act affects eternity? Are we walking in the fear of God? Someone once said, “In all the manifold single events He never loses His outlook over the whole. In all the great events He never forgets the small matters, in the universal history, never the personal life story, in the course of centuries never the happenings of the seconds.” God is in control. He asks of us to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46: 10 KJV). Since the Industrial Revolution there has been a huge growth in the development of mankind in every field. With that came the rapid growth of the technological age. We went from the Wright Brothers to drones, and from the first computers to robots. Knowledge has indeed accumulated, not just in volume, but in speed. It is to the point where the machine has taken over mankind. As disturbing as this sounds and is, somehow we adapted to this way of living. It is extremely fast paced and those who cannot keep up, is just simply left behind. However, from out of this age a generation has come with an inability to wait. Everything has to be fast and there is no longer an appreciation for that which actually takes time. Most things have been replaced with technology to the point that people are living in a virtual reality. I cannot but think that this has robbed mankind of life. True life. That which can be appreciated from a viewpoint of substance, authenticity and character. That which had to be laboriously worked out to bring it to the masterpiece that it is. No appreciation for the journey and the suffering there of, but rather only interested in the bottom line or end product. These things are no longer important, but are rather seen as hindrances to growth. But we serve the same God that told Moses to leave all behind, go up a mountain, and just be there. I have a suspicion that it was not just a day’s journey. And he was also not told for how long he will have to just “be there”. How do you just be? That is one of the most fundamental questions in a world where we are defined by what we do. We are no longer human-beings, but human-doings. Everything has to be done at a press of a button. But God will not be hastened by us and He is also not on our time schedule. If we want to know Him the way He truly wants to be known, it will have to be on His terms and waiting is always one of the requirements. We are often quoted that those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. This is true, but what does it mean to wait on the Lord? To not say one single word. To not feel the need to initiate a conversation or try to set a mood, but just simply be in the presence of the Self-existing God. The I AM, that I AM. It means simply that there is no self-initiation. All is directed by His Spirit for as long as He desires. Not to our end, but to His. For His glory alone. It means that when we come in His presence, we do not come so that we may be blessed or receive a word from Him or anything to our end. We come into His presence for His purpose. We do not come in with an agenda. We wait for the Spirit to move. And should He choose not to move, we remain waiting. For waiting in itself is the end. Waiting is worship. It serves as an expression of our submission to Him, especially now in the age we live in. His desire is that our waiting will not just be in our quiet times with Him in the morning, but that it will be our holy disposition and attitude of heart. Waiting requires us to not only lay down our expectations, but to deal with that itch that so desperately wants to tell Him how we would like Him to deal with something. It requires us to deal with that immense out of control feeling that drives us up the wall. When all of the signs point to a major catastrophe about to happen. To not act out, even if you know what to do. To not jump to conclusions or be so quick to give your opinion. To wait on Him to clearly direct you and unless He does, you do not act at all. Waiting is one of the most important things He uses to teach us absolute dependence on Him, especially if we have the answer. The issue is not the answer, the issue is whether it is driven by our knowing, or His timing. God is outside of time. He is never in a hurry. If He was in a hurry that would portray Him as out of control. But He is always in control. Never late. We can often not even drive somewhere without racing down the street. It is literally painful for us to drive the speed limit. So if this is the reality of who He is, why is it that we hit the inner panic button when we are late? Why is it that when we see the blow up we predicted, we fall to pieces? Instead of just simply waiting on Him knowing He is in control? Why do we have to act? Sometimes He does not want us to do anything. Just because you have an answer or can help someone, does not mean you are the chosen one. Can you bear it not be the one to help if you have the means to? What if your waiting is His divine will to install trust in you that even if things fall apart, He remains the same? He may want you to see how He will turn it around in His time. Jesus often said, “My hour has not come.” I have realized that God has the whole puzzle and I but one puzzle piece out of a thousand pieces. I know only in part. His thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are higher than my ways. I made peace with His sovereignty. Have you? If He can handle the universe, surely He can handle my problems? Once I made peace with His timing and the right He has to work in my life as He wills, I started to see my difficulties as divine appointments. It no longer had to happen in my time. I can wait. When your child is having trouble at school, can you bear allowing God to teach them instead of you? Can you bear seeing them suffer? Or when you know a friend is going through a difficult time. Do you ask Him whether she or he actually needs to go through this season? Or have you already decided on what you will do to alleviate your friend’s pain? When your friend is offended by others, are you choosing their side because you want to spare them the rejection? Do you wait to hear what Father is saying? Maybe He does not want to involve you and He wanted to use someone else? Maybe the lesson needs to be learned through a season of pain and suffering. We have to be willing to allow Him to do what He wants to do in every situation. In the same way we are now asking ourselves why the Lord allowed something to happen in our lives, we now have to ask the same question in other’s lives. Hebrews 11 gives us a list of these people who were willing to wait. It is known as the faith chapter. In Hebrews 12: 13; 39 – 40 we read the following: 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Faith can wait. Great faith can wait for years, even if it means to only obtain that which you are waiting for in heaven. Faith is a dependence on God’s faithfulness to act according to His goodness. My daughter has a disorder that causes her to have almost no self-control. Very little is not done in exaggeration, including her anger. As a result she has lost all her friends. For years I prayed after exhausting all the ways I could think of to get her new friends, until one day I let go. It was agonizing to see my child experiencing so much rejection and loneliness, to the point where she did not want to live, day in and day out for years. And God did nothing. After many years of praying and doing what I could do with no success, I reached a point, knowing that He loves her far more than what I could ever. He was using this loneliness and desperation to draw her to Him. And I was praying for a friend, which would have meant that she would have looked to the friend, but not to Him. I chose to no longer pray about a friend. I chose to trust. Faith can wait, even for years. In the end she gave her heart to the Lord. If only we will let go, and “let God”. When we look at our circumstances from the point of view that God is never in a hurry and that He is always in control, then we enter into His rest by faith. It is the only way to enter into His rest. That includes waiting by faith. Not nervously pacing up and down and allowing our thoughts to run to and fro. But rather, with longsuffering and patience. James 1:2-8 (KJV) says the following: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. What a glorious journey as I started to learn His paths of righteousness. His ways were indeed higher than mine, but that did not mean that He did not want to reveal them to me. He is so gracious and long-suffering with us. He is a wonderful loving Father who knows exactly how to form us, but we have to become like soft clay under His hands and allow Him to mold us. During this process we learn to obey Him one step at a time. We learn how He deals with His children and we gain wisdom and instruction not just through mere knowledge but by experience. Ephesians 3: 19 says “that you may know the love of Christ which passes knowledge…” God’s love is a life experience. It is tangible, real and true. He wants us to know Him, not in an instance, but on a journey with Him right through our lives and forever and ever, even if we have to wait in this life. Slowly as the reality of who we are opens up to us, we too slowly begin to see the reality of who He is, with unveiled faces. Over the last few months, there has been somewhat of a shift with me... I can't find one or even a few words to describe it. All I know is that I truly desire to go with the flow, even if it hurts, because Father is doing something new. It has affected my writings... the content and the amount. Basically my writing has slowed way down, and I believe it is because He is perfecting much within my heart. Although I miss it and get that feeling sometimes that maybe I have turned my back on those I have so enjoyed encouraging, I really have no choice. I know many of you understand this, as we must be lead of the Holy Spirit in anything that we do for and about our Father and His Son, Yahusha ha Mashciach (Jesus Christ). And if we fail to go with His flow, our works will not be anointed, and in the end, they will be burned up. This post is one I feel compelled to write and share with those I know to be seeking to grow more and more intimate with the Father, regardless of the cost. While this is the desire of our hearts, we really have no idea of the cost. I am sure this is why Yahusha told anyone wanting to be His disciple to count the cost first (Luke 14:25-34). The fact that He said this should always cause us to pause and consider; and sometimes we don't fully understand it until the cost is upon us. Even mentioning this "cost" of being His disciple is a good lead in to what I felt lead to share... about the target, the focus, and the goal. Today as we face global challenges and deep deceit unlike ever before, many of us are sensing the urgency of the hour in our hearts. We know time is accelerating, the time of tribulation is upon us, and our Beloved King is about to break through the clouds! We know it is an hour of preparation, intense preparation, and if we are serious about our walk with Him, then this is our first thought, our first priority, and our first mention; it is simply always on our hearts. I read a devotional writing this morning by my dear sister from South Africa, Pietra de Bod, and it propelled me into this post. As you've noticed, I've begun posting many of her writings here on the site and also been sending out some of her shorter writings to a smaller group of you who requested to receive these regularly via email. For those of you who have read these writings, you likely can understand why I am sharing them. I want to reiterate why. I believe that our sister has the absolute correct target, focus, and goal -- the Father's heart through the Son -- and in obedience, this is what she shares with us. I believe these messages need to go out to the body, now. As I myself have recently been reading in Matthew, I have discovered many new little related nuggets of truth that have fed my spirit. One of these is the understanding that doing the will of the Father in Heaven is the way that we are accepted by Yahusha as "knowing Him". Those who actually do the will of the Father are the only ones whom He truly knows, according to the scripture: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21 But how are we sure to do the will of the Father who is in Heaven... unless we KNOW the heart of His Son! Only the Son knows the Father, and when we know the Son, we also know the Father and are able to do His will. And we all know what "knowing" means in the Word... it means an intimate knowing that is only possible through oneness. This means that when we know the Father's heart and are one with Him through abiding in the heart of His Son, we are surely able to know and do His will. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Matthew 11:27
know the heart of the Father... this is no small thing and takes much seeking and focus on our parts, of course birthed from a genuine desire within our own hearts. I felt compelled to share this short message of my own to introduce this writing from our sister Pietra that so eloquently and truthfully explains to us what it means to truly know the heart of the Father. This is not her opinion nor is it a poetic attempt to explain what she feels to be truth. I believe she shares His words that have been poured forth from His heart into her humble spirit as true revelation. She explains that to know His heart is to know His rented heart that He has shown to the whole world through the humility and perfect obedience of His Son. The question for all of us and that we must ask is ... do we really know His heart? I pray that this writing below will minister to the depths of your being as it has mine. This is where He wants to take us brothers and sisters!! He is preparing us for something so big that we cannot fathom its magnitude, but in order to go there, we must know His rented heart!! I can say in all humility that I do not know the Father's heart near to the degree that I desire or that He desires, but I crave with all my soul and spirit to go there and pray that you do too! This is for those who do!! You may access the writing here. (And note that she has posted other writings since this one, and if you would like to see these, click here where you can scroll through them all.) And further, Pietra now has a Telegram channel where she has begun to do audio messages of her writings. For those of you who would rather listen than read, you can access her channel here once you have set up a Telegram account. Disclaimer: Having said all above, I have the utmost respect for each and every individual journey. Our walk is a process with stepping stones that lead to the heart of the Father, and each of us are currently at our own stepping stone in this walk.
heart, my energy, or my time to deviate from the love of Christ even for a second, even for any reason. I cannot allow anything of me to be deposited into the pool of hate and destruction that is swirling around me. To do so would be to submit to the enemy and his final schemes in these end days, period. As a matter of fact, I know that my thoughts, my feelings, and my prayers must continuously go fully and completely against this flow that is before me! Are there faces you cannot stand to look upon? Are there people in the limelight who repulse you? Do you see these people as your enemy? Have you forgotten, as I have at times, that it is not flesh and blood that we fight against but principalities and dark powers in high places? Have we forgotten the power of the love of our professed Savior that can change even the most vile of humans (which we once were)?! I had to ask myself these very questions and repent for the thoughts and feelings that began creeping into my mind and heart when I see certain faces or hear the putrid lies that come out of their mouths. Yes we hate the evil behavior, and we hate it because our Heavenly Father hates it. But we must remember, only He knows the heart and He has the wisdom and power to save even the worst sinner. This is His battle and His job... it is not ours to judge and spew forth our pronouncements. It is our command to love our enemies and let the Heavenly King and Judge deal with them as He sees fit. I believe we are in a test right now. Do we have the love of Yahusha (Jesus) in us enough to pray for our enemies, remembering that we were once His enemies and while we were yet sinners, He died for us? I am not sure about you, but I can say that Yahusha came to me and saved me when I was at my worst -- a wicked sinner deserving only of death. Is it possible that He will do the same for those who are publicly and blatantly working against Him right now -- even unto their dying breath? Of course it is, and I believe we are being tested and refined in our submitting to this truth, right now! As this has been on my mind, and as I am searching my own heart and repenting accordingly, my sister from South Africa posted a writing just a few days ago that confirms and solidifies this truth. I believe we all need this reminder right now, as we must make the choice to obey Yahusha and walk as He walked, with no deviations for any reason. This is the way that we demonstrate our love for Him and our commitment to our covenant with Him. In other words, this is how we must live in order to be His. May this touch your heart, and with conviction if necessary, as it has mine. I send this in love and sincerity to my brothers and sisters who truly want the heart of the Father as their own. Love Your Enemies
by Pietra de Bod Yesterday I came with a clean slate before Father enquiring what He wants me to write about. In fact, nothing I write is because it is initiated by me, instead I wait on Him. So this devotional is no different. He said, “I want you to write about My love”. “No easy task”, I replied, thinking who is truly sufficient to talk about His love. I was surprised to see the direction He went in with regard to this subject – loving your enemies. This morning I also woke up with the number 341 on my heart, and the Holy Spirit kept on repeating it to me until I eventually searched for it in the Strong’s Concordance. H341 – The word Oyeb – enemy (personal or national) אֹיֵב ʼôyêb, o-yabe'; or (fully) אוֹיֵב ʼôwyêb; active participle of H340; hating; an adversary:—enemy, foe. Should there be any doubt in my heart that He wants me to specifically talk about this, especially in the current political climate right across the world? I watched a YouTube video of someone yesterday that differs vastly from my doctrinal view. In fact two videos came my way of which the one I was very disappointed. It is obvious the Lord is using these two people in dreams and visions and that He loves them very much. And there are many more out there. Why does God use people who are obviously deceived? Why is He using them with dreams and visions that very often are undeniably from Him? This bothered me because truth is vital in this day and age. I felt almost as if He was letting it “slide”. I know this is not true, but it was troubling me for a while now and just made no sense. My first response was utter disgust because this lady completely disappointed me in her view of the Lord and was downright blasphemous! I immediately unsubscribed. When I asked Father His view on it, He reminded me that there was a time when I was very deceived myself whilst serving Him. And He used me then and loved me right through it. He simply said, “They are still My children”. All I could do was cry about the mercy He has shown me. If He did not where would I be? If He just left me to go on my wayward way, whether out of ignorance or disobedience, where would I be today? Where would you be? The question for me now is, “When is it a wolf and when is it sheep deceived?” Maybe we are quick to say that they are not our enemies, but I am reminded by our Lord’s admonishment regarding our enemies. We are to love them. Of course we would like a middle ground on this one, and yet He is calling us to be perfect. Saying that perfection in Him is only done in this way…by loving our enemies. Not begrudgingly tolerating them at best, or endure or bear them patiently and be nice. He is saying, “Love them”. I have been aware of how easily the children of God become offended. We are so fickle when it comes to anyone that disagree with us or disappoint us. So easily we write someone off, because they no longer hold our interest or the perfect picture we had of them. Do you still get offended if your hard work is not appreciated, or you hear that someone spoke ill of you to another? Do you still break down when you do not receive that love from your wife or husband you so desire? These are all the categories He uses to mold us into vessels that will be able to contain His unconditional love. But are you seeing it as He sees it? And so instead of lovingly enduring and praying for them, we let them go on their way, never even considering that we are to pray and intercede for them. We are offended because they have moved on and in our hearts it serves as confirmation that we were right. But are we? What is it that He wants? Sadly one infraction is all it takes to make a relationship crumble. Jesus said blessed is he who are not offended in Me. This is not a blessing for those who do not get offended. This is a mode of being for those who are in Him…they are blessed. And therefore, because of their unity with Him, they are not offended. For can God be offended? Does our sin offend Him? God is not insecure. That would indicate that we have a certain control over Him. But He is holy and what He requires is this perfection. He is love, and love endures all things, bears all things, believes all things and hopes all things. Love can suffer the loss of esteem and affection and not be offended. It knows that the saints are in different places of maturity. It does not need that affirmation. Our love for Him is not measured by how we show Him affection, but by how we love one another. “Peter, loveth thou Me, then feed My sheep”. If we cannot love our friends, how shall we love our enemies, those who have every intention of causing us suffering and even death? We cannot feign this love when it comes to our enemies. Only Christ in us can love like this. Are we not to welcome this pruning that produces more fruit that we may be able to love this way? Is our testing then not our blessing? For it is our provision. Can you believe that they are employed for your ultimate sanctification so that He may baptize you with His fire? We read in Matthew 5 that He says that we are to love our enemies that we may be sons of God. This is God’s provision for sonship. Except your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees, you are in no way to enter the Kingdom of God…God is ultimate! This love transcends doctrinal differences and even truth as we see it, that is to say it does not override it, but rather love covers a multitude of sin. This is not a mandate to overlook doctrinal error, but rather to love in spite of them. But do you have an ear to hear from Him what He requires of you to do. When to speak and to speak the truth in love? Will that truth be spoken in authentic love? The capstone of being perfect as your Father in heaven is loving your enemy, domestic or nationally...or any other kind. What are we then to say of the patriotic fervor going through this world. The beating of wardrums are getting louder right across this earth. Can you bear to love your Democratic or Republican neighbor? Can you dare to love the Iranians, Chinese, or Russians? Those Communists that embodies the spirit of anti-Christ? The Word says in Matthew 24: 12, And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. If love has grown this freezing cold now, how will it be at the end of the tribulation? Do you get offended when others wear masks and you do not? Does it offend you that they are willing to take the "VC" out of ignorance and are unwilling to listen to reason? Have you considered the fact that the decline of the temperature of your love for those brethren in Christ, that do not feel the same way as you about all these topics, are the very agenda of the enemy. To cause our love to wax cold as we judge each other in our hearts whilst outwardly saying "I love you with the love of the Lord"? What then will your response be when your enemy throws you in prison and threatens your life. The eye of self-love will only see an enemy who is to be feared and resisted. But will we be able to see with His eyes, knowing all. For He knows this enemy was treated so badly in life that indoctrination was inevitable. Where his circumstances was that of a poor little boy that had no mother and father, but decided that the only way to survive is to join his country's military. Every time the enemy ensured that blows were given that will install into him such a pure hatred for that which is of God, that all he can do is hate. Can we see with His eyes? Whilst I was typing this, a friend of mine started talking to me on whatsapp. Little did I know that it would be a divine appointment. For some reason we started talking about the present fears that are enveloping this world and how everyone in the last year have become so opinionated. One has to ask, "Are we serving the same God?" She started giving me her testimony of when she was raped a few years ago. I did not know about this. She is such a soft hearted person and my heart just broke. She spoke a bit about how this man had every intention to degrade her by getting up afterwards and laughing at her. Wanting not only to violate her body, but also to leave His mark on her soul. But she said the following to me, which I believe Father ordained to be in this devotional. She did not know what my devotional was about. "What he thought would destroy me actually came and added to my worth and my worth in Christ, and he did not even realize it. And now today I can say "Praise you Lord for that which you allowed in my life." She said that the enemy has tried to put a mark on her, but he failed. Because her whole heart is already marked and she fears no mark. Her body may be here on earth, but she resides in heaven. She said even though he was violating her body, the truth is, it was His body. She soon realized that she was not going to allow what he wanted to leave behind in her through this horrible act, to cause her to be imprisoned. But rather, as one going to him in prison now and saying, "For you I pray that you may know Him". This touched me so deeply and her view is so different to so many. What got me was her childlike faith. So secure in the Lord. And this is the heart of it...faith worketh by love. The word says that he who fears has not been made perfect in love, for perfect love casts away ALL fear. Paul was a prolific Pharisee with quite a resumé. Doing God's work according to him, he took an eye for an eye very seriously and from his hands many believers of "The Way" were killed and inprisoned. That was until he saw Stephen with the glory of God on his face as he was being stoned to death. His next meeting was with the One he was actually persecuting. For persecuting them, was persecuting Christ. And the man who once killed because he thought he was doing God's work, gave his very life for those he once hated, even unto death. This is the same man that wrote of the love that took him captive. The love that hopes all things, believes all things and endures all things. I am reminded of Richard Wurmbrandt's autobiography called "Tortured for Christ". Each time they found him praying they would brutally beat him under his feet until they became a pulp. One day the prison guard stormed into his very tiny room and demanded to know why he was praying when it was obvious that his friends, family and God have forsaken him. And he replied, "It is not for them I am praying, but for you". Out of all the testimonies, especially of those who were martyred, the love for their enemies was their enemy's undoing. Jesus said, as My Father sent Me, so send I you. In these last minutes of this age and knowing He has shown me what I will have to endure, I no longer see spiritual power for doing great miracles as my utmost need. For when I am weak, His strength is made perfect when I will be in the midst of those who will seek to kill me. Those who will want to violate my body...His body. The issue is not will I be able to display great miracles and power, but will I display His Divine love? That is the power and manifold wisdom of God...the love of God for His enemies. Art Katz says that God has a propensity towards His enemies and He wins them over with His love. Stephen's death was the soil upon which Christ could plant the Seed of life. In the same way many will lay their lives down so that their enemy may find Life. Where the heartbeat of this world is to kill, murder, divide and hate, will my heart beat with His love? For whilst I was still a sinner, He died for me. Greater is our debt to Him than any man can owe us, and yet He died for us. Oh, how I need His love! Please Read: 1 John 4: 16 - 21 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. Matthew 5: 38 - 46 38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
short months ago. When looking closer, I did notice a few things that gave it a special beauty... it provided a resting place for a little bird (at the very top), and its branches were still strong, stretched out high as if the tree was praising its Creator. This tree inspired me to be just like it was.... stripped, exposed, and faithfully waiting in a manner of praise for new life that will soon come. Many of us are going through an intense season of death to self, so we are basically like the tree in many ways. In this season of barrenness and death, we willingly lie bare and exposed before the Father as He faithfully prunes us and protects us. Because of His faithfulness and our trusting of His plans and purposes, we continue to praise Him in anticipation of the new life to come, no matter how uncomfortable we may become. And also during this process, we offer ourselves as a "resting place" of comfort and encouragement to others who are going through similar seasons. Then comes that new season we've been waiting for... where life will return and new fruit will come forth -- fruit that is sweeter and more mature than before and has been prepared especially for Kingdom purposes! Alleluyah!! And thus we are reminded and know with all assurance and faith that this season of barrenness and death is a necessary step towards the season of new life -- all for our good and the glory of the Father! Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24 Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:19 This little experience led me back to again read the writing titled, "Naked", by my sister from South Africa. It so perfectly portrays the desperate need for this humbling and uncomfortable process to take place in us and the sweet fruit that will come forth as a result. Even if you have read this when I posted it before, I encourage you to read it again... you will likely catch things you didn't before and even receive deeper understanding. Overall, enjoy and be encouraged, because this process we endure at various times in our journey as a child of the Most High has "Kingdom" all over it!! Praise His name! NAKED by Pietra de Bod I have learned through the years that our God is a God who devastates. He is loving, long-suffering and all together wonderful. But, He is also a God who devastates. The reason I say this is that I see a pattern in the Word where He brings His chosen ones to great heights, only to bring them to complete weakness and brokenness. Almost like a potter who beautifully molds a pot, only to crush the clay in his hands again. Over and over and deeper and deeper. There was a day that I came to that place. The time came that He fulfilled a word that He gave me. He asked me that day if I am willing to stand before Him alone. I did not know what that meant at that stage, but I knew that it meant that He would take everything away. I was not sure how He would do it. It was another kind of taking away. A spiritual taking away. I often go through a message or am a message before I can write about it. I was reading in Ephesians 1 the beautiful prayer that Paul was praying. He was praying that they would receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. This beautiful prayer became my prayer. However, Father had something different in mind to fulfill this prayer than what I did. No surprise there. The more I prayed this prayer, the more I felt instead of seeing Him clearer, my view became dimmer. Less focused. I did not understand this at all. The next day I woke up so disgruntled and sad that I cried out to Him to meet me where I am at. In my misery. Not having sinned, but because I knew that He was trying to show me something and I was just not seeing it. Father reminded me of Paul’s opening words in Romans 1. Paul, a servant of God, called to be an Apostle, separated unto the Gospel. Paul, before anything else, knew that he was a servant. Jesus, first act was to make himself a servant. Paul admonishes us in Philippians that we too must have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. So here I was, praying for the spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of Him, trusting to be used in greater measure with greater revelation, and He leads me to servanthood. This is not anything new and I have written often about servanthood. But once again, He was showing me that even though what I was praying for, although scriptural, His perfect will was to answer the prayer in His way. Once again I was confronted with the fact that humility holds such a dear place in His heart and far outweighs anything we could ever do for Him or have done for Him and His Kingdom. We often humble ourselves, and it is a daily choice. But servanthood far outweighs Apostleship, or Prophet or Teacher. It was our Savior's first choice. And it begins as a choice, but it is not just something you do, but who you are. You become a servant with every choice daily as you choose to humble yourself. It becomes who you are and not just what you do. Even our Jesus is known as the Suffering Servant. In the light of what Father showed me a deep sense of how little everything I have ever done for Him came over me. Deeply touched by the Spirit I knew that we so easily define ourselves or are defined by others, by what we do. And what we do are very important to Father, but what we are, more. Gaining understanding in this, I knew that when He asked me if I am willing that He would strip me of everything, that before Him none of those things count anything. I will not stand before Him with three books at one side, and on the other with everything I have done through all the years for His Kingdom. None of these things will stand as a reason why I should be able to come into His presence and enter His Kingdom. Yes, He will reward me as He sees fit, but in essence, they are not my ticket. Now, I knew that of course. But the reality hit me so hard that to come to Him, can only be done when I am clothed in His Blood. There is no other way to come to the Father except through the Blood. In theory, we know all these things and I have known it too. But our theories, that is to say our truths, has to be reality. Because your reality will always radically change you. He was asking me to lay it all again on the altar…everything. I felt the need to stand before Him and do a prophetic act. I took off my gown and let it fall to the ground, letting it fall at my feet. Crying out to Him in complete surrender, I gave Him everything I have ever done. In a sense stripping myself. Previously I have given Him everything I have had, my child, husband, house, dreams, aspirations, talents etc. But this time, everything I have ever done. Every person I have ever led to Him. Every counselling session, every prayer, everything written and every possible thing I have done for the Kingdom of God. And yet, standing in my pajamas there remained still yet a covering. The identity of who I have become in everything I have ever done for the Kingdom. Subconsciously we see ourselves as what we do. Not necessarily in pride, but it somehow clothes us. This too had to go, and stripping myself of everything, I stood naked before my God with nothing. Tears rolling down my face like an endless river, all I could do is stand before Him with nothing. Nothing more to give and nothing but the Blood of the Lamb covering me. My only entrance to Him. My only right to Him. My only way to Him. Standing alone before My God. No longer someone with a résumé of what I have done for the Kingdom, but empty and naked before the Most High God. Weak and trembling, not strong and confident. Poor and vulnerable, knowing that there is nothing I could possibly say to Him. What could I possibly give Him? Dust. I have never felt so weak. So absolutely vulnerable and dependent on Him. Isaiah said when he encountered God, “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips!” The first thing is…”I am a man”. Man was formed from the dust of the earth…earthen vessels. Devastated I stood before Him, knowing that I am but dust. Not consenting to it, but knowing it in my deepest understanding. My prayer answered of “Lord, give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You.” To know Him, He often has to first deal with us. He often has to show us who we are first. Dust. Only the Spirit of God can reveal this to us in reality. I have realized that in our spiritual growth we grow in degrees. We fall deeper and deeper in love with Him. We grow stronger and stronger in faith. All the fruits of the Spirit grow with every pruning and with every depth we reach or every height we grow, there is always a degree. Always a death, a cutting away. The same holds true for humility. We all know that we are nothing and that we are dust. This is not new to us. But Father wants to bring us to increasing reality of it, if we allow Him. We have to be willing for the stripping and we have to be willing to seek Him for it until it becomes our reality. Becoming a servant, being humble, means that there is absolutely nothing beneath us. Nothing. Because when we are at our lowest and weakest, we are dust. Dust is already on the floor, at the lowest. The earth is the Lord’s footstool, and yet He himself, became a man. Dust. He made Himself a servant and became obedient even unto death. I realized that in this weak place, this naked place, our dependence on Him ever increases and leaves us like little children before our Mighty God. So dependent on His grace. Then, nothing will be beneath us. Not one thing asked of us. Convenient or inconvenient. No task required by others or demanded by others will be beneath us. We will have no accolades, no résumés that supports us in our high estimation of ourselves. We will have no reputation apart of just being servants in weakness. Father led me to the Book of Job. Job who was God’s pride, was stripped. Devastated. Allowing everything to be taken from this man, not because he did anything wrong. Job was known for his righteousness, prosperity and God’s favor. After Job was stripped he said the following: Job 1: 20 - 22 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. This is how we are to stand before our God. Naked. We are not to wait before we stand before Him one of these days and lay our crowns at His feet, but even now, we are to lay all we have and done at His feet. No résumé. Just dust at His feet. He alone gets all the glory, honour and power forever. Amen. Before Him we can only lie as dust at His feet, knowing that it is only the blood of the Lamb that covers our nakedness. Clothed in His righteousness we stand, humbly bowing our hearts as servants of the Most High God. We shall soon stand before Him, naked. No words we will say will secure our access. No deed done by us our security. Only the Blood and the Grace of God. Scripture References: Hebrews 4:13 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Philippians 3: 1 - 16 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 2 Corinthians 12: 7 - 10 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. I would also like to remind you that you can access all of Pietra's newer writings on her blogsite, The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation. It has been some time since I have read such Holy Spirit-inspired revelations that feed my soul and correlate so perfectly with my current walk in these last days. Father is using her to help prepare His remnant for what is to come. I am convinced you will be blessed as well!
|
Special NoteThese writings are written in love and a spirit of servitude. They are not designed to judge but make us think. We are all sinners in need of saving, and we all need encouragement and absolute truth to endure on the narrow road to sanctification and ultimately eternal life. Categories
All
Archives
May 2024
|