Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled... Hebrews 12:14-15 ... and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord, our King, Yahusha ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ)... This part of the scripture is most profound, and since it is pointed and direct, it obviously demands our attention. We will not see Him without holiness. Do we know if we have attained holiness? Do we know what this holiness is? These are questions I often ask myself, and I think the very foundation of these questions is something that requires full understanding as well as a daily internal check. First, we cannot ever attain holiness by our own works or our own efforts. Most of us know this... but some of us have to be reminded. Not because we think we are holy, but because we have been trained much of our lives to work and earn love and approval and goodness. We think we must work to be accepted. There is not one inch of holiness in us, and therefore, all our working is considered filthy rags in the sight of our Holy God. Holiness comes from the finished work of Christ, our complete faith in this, and our abiding in this throughout the sanctification process, whereby He, and He only, makes us holy. And this is the only way we will see Him and know Him in this life and certainly in the one to come. I would like to share a very strong connection to this holiness that has been on my mind so much in the last week. But before I do that, I wanted to share some scriptures I was reading this morning in Ephesians 4 that are so helpful in outlining what is holy and what is not holy, kinda like that black and white list we all like to see sometimes, to help us really understand. (Note, I am only focusing on Ephesians 4, but there are many more, maybe even more profound, scriptures all throughout the word on holiness.) What holiness is... I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (verses 1-3) ... for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ... (verses 12-13) ... but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head— Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (verses 15-16) ... that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (verses 22-24) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (verse 32) What holiness is not... ... children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting... (verse 14) ... walking as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (verses 17-19) ... your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind... (verse 22) ... lying... and do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer... Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth .... And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. (verses 25-31) Obviously, this is much to take in on both sides. Holiness is so much more... so deep and mysterious and pure, and it is a kingdom requirement. We won't see our Beloved without it. Therefore, if we really want to see Him, we will want to search out what this really means and then seek it through His grace. I will say this... living life in carnal Christianity is not it. This holiness has nothing to do with flesh and its pleasures and everything to do with holiness birthed by fire... and as we know, fire is not comfortable. I won't go into this, as this is a totally different topic. The one connection with holiness that will not come as a surprise is its direct tie to forgiveness. It's even clear in the first scripture shared above... I don't believe it's any coincidence that a warning about a "root of bitterness" is given right after we are told we cannot see our Lord without holiness. While we know forgivness is a requirement of salvation and an ongoing requirement of sanctification, its direct correlation to holiness is so precious and beautiful when we can see the whole picture. While this may be somewhat of an "elementary" concept, I had a vision of it in my mind this past week that I spoke out with words, and then it became a prayer. And through the prayer, Father showed me some little leftover tidbits of "angst" I will say, which were actually crumbs of unforgiveness still lurking in my heart. The general topics associated with these crumbs had been dealt with and I thought fully forgiven, but as I could feel the lingering "right to be upset" feelings in my heart, I realized I had not fully forgiven as I am about to explain in the next paragraph. I will tell you that these crumbs are associated with the death of each one of my family members as well as my own almost spiritual death by a direct contribution of someone I love. I share this, because these are the big ones in my life, making the full release all the more amazing, to His glory and praise! Forgiveness is letting someone off the hook, so to speak, right? Not holding someone accountable for a wrong done to you, regardless of the depth and magnitude of this wrong, is another good way we describe it. While this is true, I have another take on it that is an even further understanding that brings us full circle to perfect love and holiness. It brings us to the epitome of being renewed in the spirit of your mind and putting on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness, AND, being kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. We are told in Romans 12:19 that vengeance belongs to our King. Judgment and any needed vengeance is His to determine and carry out. We are told to trust Him and release any wrongdoing committed against us to His faithful and perfect justice and judgment, and we are told to love and pray for even our enemies and those who spitefully use us (Matthew 5:44). Our only responsibility is to wholeheartedly trust Him and His ability to avenge -- or even save!!! -- so much that that we lovingly place it on the altar for Him to handle. This means we don't ponder on it and we don't speak of it. Remember that if we even speak of it, then we have connected it back to us and spoken forth the offense once again. Either it is released to Him, or it is not. Sometimes the offense is so great that it takes time to fully release it, but any desire to do it His way in His strength, will always result in victory! I know this firsthand, and the crumbs He showed me are the evidence, while all along I thought I had fully forgiven. So look at the beauty of this!! The people that we have held accountable in our minds for hurting our loved ones or hurting us have souls, and their souls will either join us as our brothers and sisters in glory, or they will be condemned to a place of eternal judgment. What do we really want for them? What does our Father, their Creator, really want for them, knowing that He does not desire that one soul perish, no matter what they have done!! When we can disconnect the offense from the soul, we can hand it over to our perfect Father so that He may either save them or condemn them, as He extends grace and righteous judgment according to His will. We are then set free -- free indeed!! What about this? If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. John 20:23 I believe that when we do not fully forgive, our unforgiveness can keep the person in bondage, especially in the area of the offense committed. Can you imagine that your unforgiveness of someone can directly impact their deliverance from something that can hold them in bondage? I believe this is exactly why Yahusha so vehemently said that if we fail to forgive others, neither will we be forgiven! Our unforgiveness has power, but praise be to His name, even moreso does our forgiveness!! There is great magnitude in this understanding, and as we prepare to be a holy, unspotted Bride for our King, we must grasp this and deal with it! A precious sister of mine recently shared a revelation with me that Father gave to her some time ago, and since then, I have pondered it over and over in my mind. Of course, as I was dealing with my crumb issue, it came back up again. As I share this, I pray you will receive it into your heart and the blessing of its depth will bring further understanding, just as it has for me. So here it is...
As my sister had been pondering the violent stoning death of our brother Stephen outlined in Acts 7:54-60, she realized something so beautifully amazing. It is there that we see Paul, then Saul, standing by very likely with his arrogant arms crossed, complicitly supervising and encouraging this heinous crime against one of Yahusha's own servants. And then we read the last words of the servant as he is dying (and try to hear them in your spirit)... "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, do not charge them with this sin." My sister explained that at that moment, when the sin was not charged against them (including Saul) through Stephen's forgiveness, the very Spirit of the Living God prepared to meet and indwell the man who would become one of the greatest apostles of all time, Paul. It was Stephen's full forgiveness that opened the door, so to speak, to Paul's magnificent conversion!! So with this, do you see the power of our full forgiveness, for the sake of the one who has committed the offense against us??! Isn't this love -- the very love that our Savior extended to us -- that while we were yet sinners (His enemies), He died for us? THIS is what is also required of us! It's as if our obedient release says to our Beloved... "Yes my Lord, I will forgive them that you might save them!!" Full and complete forgiveness, in pure love, unto holiness. This is the connection to holiness! This is why we cannot be forgiven unless we forgive! It's foundation is perfect love... love that casts out all fear, love that conquers all, and love that never fails! HIS LOVE!! And finally, I have one more thing to share that will put some really nice icing on this wonderful cake feast! This is something another very special sister shared with me yesterday, and just now I have found out that she has also included this same story in a devotional she just posted today! I have not yet read this devotional, so it appears our minds may be on similar tracks - and I do not think this is a coincidence! As I was just now searching for a summary of this to share with you, I went to her devotional to find exactly what I was looking for. With that, I will use an excerpt from this to make my point: To them He (Jesus) said in that moment of extreme agony and complete devastation, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do”. It is not just that He died for them, but how He died for them. With love. What kind of love is this that dies for the ones that crucify Him? The same love that caused Richard Wurmbrandt after being beaten under His feet with rods for years, causing it to become a pulp, confronted by the prison guard with the words, “Why do you still pray? Don’t you realize by now after all these years that no one is coming for you? That your God is not going to save you?” To which Richard replied standing on his knees, “I was not praying for me, I was praying for you”. It is that love that transcends human understanding. In this excerpt above, my sister is referring to the man Richard Wurmbrandt whose story is told in the movie, Tortured for Christ", of which you can access here should you be led to watch. This is an example of the forgiveness, grounded in love, that is required of us and that when is observed in action can change the hearts of the most vile and sinful humans. Are we prepared for this? Are we willing to forgive at this level unto holiness? I know I desperately want it, but I also know it cannot be done in my strength but only through the fullness of the Most High God that comes from knowing and receiving the height, depth, width, and length of the love of Messiah Yahusha! (If you would like to read my sister's devotional post where I obtained the excerpt, you can access it here. I have shared many of her writings on this site, and as with all the rest of them, you will be filled and nurtured with raw truth poured out from the Spirit.) I pray this post has blessed you in some way, as everything in it has blessed me. It is my desire to share my experiences and blessings with those who are truly seeking the face of the One True God, through His Son Yahusha ha Mashiach, as we feel the urgency to prepare for His soon return! And to that we say... Make us ready! Come King Yahusha!!! One final note that I would like to share as I proclaim the good works of our God... My Father has blessed me with the most amazing group of sisters who have inspired, encouraged, taught, and supported me... and in all of this, He constantly shows me how much He loves me through them! They are like the most beautiful, exotic flowers in a dry and lonely garden! I am so very grateful!
2 Comments
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. Yesterday morning my heart was yearning to be emptied of me. (I firmly believe this is a continuation of my experience from the day before which I very briefly outlined in the last Manna Bite.) After recently asking the Father quite frequently to show me the barriers in my heart to receiving His fullness, He showed me a few things -- behaviors and attitudes -- just within the last 24 hours that are not pleasing to Him. When I pondered these, they repulsed me, and made me cry out for help for them to just go away! I began to repent, and then I wanted to read about someone in the bible who struggled with similar things and how they overcame. My mind immediately went to Paul, so off to Acts 8 I went to read of his conversion. But before I got to that chapter, I reached the chapter about Simon the sorcerer first -- and not by chance either. From here I studied his "gall of bitterness" and "bond of iniquity" just to understand how the slightest root in our hearts can affect our thoughts and motives and actions -- even after receiving salvation and being baptized! This then led me to Gehazi, Elisha's servant, and the strong root that had to have been in his heart to cause him to actually lie to Namaan and Elisha for personal material gain (2 Kings 5). I would like to share a bit of what I found in this study, because it seems that many of us are in this intense place of cleansing... emptying and releasing... that we may be fully filled with the Father's heart to endure what lies ahead and for our assignments in these last days. This helped me to remember that it only takes one small bit of leaven to leaven the whole lump (Galatians 5:9), and therefore, we may have to dig deep and find that little (or big!) something hidden in our hearts that only Yahusha can excavate and eradicate. In looking specifically at Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8:9-25... his "gall of bitterness" and "bond of iniquity" was such that he sought to pay money for the Holy Spirit that he may be endowed with power to do the same as the apostles. While it stated that he was in wonder of what he saw and that he also believed in Yahusha and was baptized, this bitterness and iniquity that resided in his heart did not disappear immediately. Instead, it kicked into gear, and caused him to desire the the very thing that had previously motivated his sorcery and witchcraft. In looking closely at "gall of bitterness", we can see the depth: Gall - G5521 - gall or bile; poison; maybe the same as G5514, which means greenish hue; used in the OT as "bitter" Of course, when we think of gall and bile in our bodies, it is the greenish yucky stuff that our gall bladder and liver remove from us -- the toxins and poisons and bad stuff that can harm us. This stuff must come out of the body and cannot remain, or it will literally poison us. Bitterness - G4088 - acridity (sharp, biting, or bitter), especially poison; bitterness The gall of bitterness in Simon was nothing less than similar to poison within his heart that was tainting his motives and likely affected everything that came out of him; and you know he was likely a miserable soul to boot! Thus, as Peter said, he could have no part or portion with the Holy Spirit until this was repented of and eradicated. The "bond of iniquity" also that plagued Simon was just as bad. He was literally bound (united, joined to, and even shackled) to injustice and moral wrongfulness. It had a hold on him. It was ingrained in him, buried in his heart affecting his thoughts and actions, making him, as Peter said, not right in the sight of the Father. Do some of these roots and bonds still reside in our hearts? Very likely yes, as the heart is so very deceitfully wicked, that it is impossible to fully know it (Jeremiah 17:9). These unresolved things in our hearts, no matter how small they may seem to us, have the potential to breed iniquity of all kinds. They hide and look for opportunities to come out of us in actions and attitudes; and before we even realize it, it's already happened and there we stand convicted and sometimes even ashamed. And it seems these roots and bonds are so many times associated with some form of pride or self-focus. Just like Simon... although it appears he truly believed in Yahusha, his focus was self-gain and glory, birthed from sharp and biting poison and moral iniquity in his heart. And how did this get there? It could have been anything... past wounds, unforgiveness, lack of self worth, willful sin, etc. Bottom line is that it did not go away immediately upon belief in Yahusha, and it was so prevalent in his life that it manifested itself quickly for all to see. These roots and bonds may be difficult for us to be rid of. It takes a pure, heartfelt desire and total surrender and then full assurance and faith that Yahusha will cleanse us. With some of us, this may be a process, especially if our roots go deep. This cleansing brings me to where I went next after Simon the Sorcerer. My bible commentary then took me to to the story of Gehazi, Elisha's servant, in 2 Kings 5:20-27. When reading this, it was just plainly obvious that something was lurking in this man's heart. To be the servant of the prophet Elisha and to boldly lie to both Namaan and him for personal material gain is just so blatant. Sad part is that this sin cost him his health, as leprosy was pronounced on him and all his seed forever. This is not the part of the story that moved me. I read the entire chapter, and it was what happened to Namaan before the incident with Gehazi in 2 Kings 5:1-14 that I believe is the key to what's next in this process of dealing with these roots and bonds. Namaan, a Syrian captain of the host of the King, was sent at the word of a captive Israelite maid to see "the man of God" (Elisha) to heal his leprosy. Elisha did not go out to meet him when he arrived but instead gave him some simple instructions of what to do through a messenger... Namaan was told to go and wash in the Jordan seven times and his flesh would then be made whole from the leprosy. Namaan was not impressed at first but then changed his mind at the advice of his servants and followed the instructions. When he did what he was told, he was miraculously healed. Because "leprosy" in the bible represents the defilement of sin and the resulting separation from the Father and the family of believers, seeing that Namaan was healed of this lead me to look into this washing seven times in the Jordan. Is this a representation of how we too can be cleansed? Jordan - H3383 - a descender; from H3381 - to descend, to go downwards to a lower region.... figuratively to fall Seven - H7651 - the sacred full one, a week; from H7650 =- to be complete, repeating a declaration seven times, take an oath or swear Obviously the Jordan River is significant. Yahusha was baptized in this river, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. Also, since it also means to descend or go downwards to a lower region, I immediately thought of bowing down in humility. Thinking of the Son of the Most High God stepping into the water to allow a mere man to baptize him... this is nothing but absolute humility! This is the river of humility where we also will descend downward but in our leprosy (defilement of sin), to bow down and submerge ourselves in the water that washes (which is Yahusha, the living word!). So with us, first we believe that we can be cleansed through Yahusha, just as Namaan ultimately had to believe enough to follow the instructions. Then we bow down in faith and humility, confessing our roots and bonds, that we may rise up having been washed. It's all about our faith in and obedience to Him to do the cleansing! But Namaan had to do this seven times. This process had to be complete in order for full healing to take place. Obviously the same is true with us; therefore, we believe Yahusha will finish His work and we follow His lead and stay the course in patience and obedience. And also, do you notice that the word "seven" also means repeating a declaration seven times or to taken an oath?? As we go through this cleansing process of our own, I believe this is also confirmation that our words and proclamations must line up with what we are expecting! So here we all are... wanting to be completely emptied of all these roots and bonds that still plague us from time to time and also take up space in our heart that belongs to Yahusha! Just the fact that we desire this is proof enough that His Spirit is working in us. And if we are willing to make this process complete through patience and obedience, then we can rest assured that Yahusha will finish this cleansing process that we may come closer and closer to Him, with our ultimate goal to be in total oneness with Him. I crave this day and look forward to being able to walk continuously in the Spirit to glorify Him and be His ambassador in this earth! So after this little study, I was ready to read in the book "Manna, Bread from Heaven" (by Pietra from South Africa). I ran down the table of contents to see where the Spirit would lead me to focus. I came to the writing titled, "Nothing". I thought, "Yes, that is me and that is what I want in my heart that He may fill it all!". Needless to say, it was the icing on the cake! I would like to share this writing with you below, as it seals up this blog post very nicely. And finally, again today I was blessed to be lead to another one of Pietra's writings that put the cherry on top! This one is titled, "Naked" and can now be accessed via link, since Pietra now has her own blog! This writing profoundly takes us to an example of that final place of surrender and cleansing! Please access this writing here. (And please also browse through her site; you will not be disappointed!!). In closing, the Father has been speaking loudly and clearly to us a very important message in these last days. Our emptiness, our nothingness, and even our nakedness before Him is required in order for us to be completely and fully filled with His love and Spirit and clothed in His righteousness, through His only begotten Son, Yahusha ha Maschiach. If we are willing to deplete ourselves to this point, He is willing to fill us to all fullness. I am so ready and pray that you are as well!! NOTHING
By Pietra de Bod How many times have you said “I can do nothing without God” and cried out to God in surrender? “Help me Lord, I’m drowning!” But when we look again, we have taken things into our own hands. Once again, we have tried to persuade by our own means to get them to do as we say. Tried to convince those we love of the need to follow the Lord with all their hearts. Trying to make them see things as they ought to. Having lashed out insults or retaliated in kind, just as they do to us. Where is our nothing? Nothing equals empty. Am I really empty if I still produce the fruit of anger and bitterness? Are you empty? Or do you find yourself still wanting to get in the last word? Have you asked yourself whether your reason for offense is just as much validated in God’s eyes as it is in yours? In the end it does not matter what we think of a situation, but rather what He thinks. No longer is it about my circumstances. My circumstances will drive many to tears, but it is about doing the will of God in spite of them. We come to a point where we realize that nothing we say or do will change those around us, and that the only one we can change is ourselves. I have long ago come to the conclusion that unless I change, my circumstances will drown me after each wave of panic, insults, blasphemies, and loneliness. No, no longer can I be swayed and tossed about by these waves. I have to start swimming instead of drowning. I have to fight back again. Only not in my own strength. This time it will be God fighting my battles. Yes, here we are. Having started in the Spirit, but coming to depend upon the flesh again. The only reason for that is that our nothing is not nothing. Still there is pride, still there is self-effort, and still we do not trust. Unless we die to all our plans of how to fix something or change something, we will time and time again meet up with our inability. And it is these very circumstances where we feel so out of our control that He uses to bring us to complete surrender. You can choose to fall on the Rock, or the Rock can fall on you. He has to bring us often to this place of complete weakness and defeat so that there will be no more plans. I call it the most horrible right place to be. This is where we come as a child and fall into His arms. Not in our strength, but in complete surrender. Before we can say, “I can do nothing without God”, we ourselves have to be brought to nothing. Empty of all our plans and no longer leaning on the arm of flesh. He really does not need our help. He is only moved by faith. Scripture Reference: Jeremiah 17:5-10 5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. |
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
|