Knowing The Father -- Part THREE

The greater we know Him the greater we walk in the abundant life! Oh that we might know the Father better.

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Knowing The Father Part 3

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John 5:19  Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.  20  "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

Jesus was motivated by what He saw the Father do!  Whatever He saw the Father do is what Jesus did!  What motivates you and your actions?  Jesus spent His life living from the Father’s perspective!

John 5:30  "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

Jesus spent a lifetime on earth pursuing the will of the Father.

Luke 2:46  Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.47  And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.  48  So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously."  49  And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"  50  But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

One brief glimpse of Jesus' childhood finds Him in pursuit of doing the will of His Father!  “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business.”  What motivates you and what is your driving force?  Jesus lived with the perspective of the Father!  God calls us to live with His perspective.

Luke 11:2  So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

The prayer life of every believer should be filled with asking the Father for His will to done on earth as it is in heaven.  Live your life with God’s mercy in full view.

Hebrews 12:1  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.  4  You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Do you want to know the Father’s heart?  The Father calls us to endurance; run the race to win!  Consider Jesus!  There is a truth the Author and Finisher of your faith declares to you by His own example.  Jesus did not face the cross without a vision and a understanding of the will of the Father!  There was joy set before Him that gave Him the strength to endure the cross.  The joy set before Him brought endurance and endurance brought Him to His rightful place, sitting at the right hand of the Father.  Are you weary, tired, and thoughts plaguing you to quit?  Put  the mercy of God in view!  Consider Jesus who endured such hostility from sinners; you have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin!  While you may bear the burden of your circumstances it can not begin to compare with bearing the burden of the sin of the world.  Give up your burden.  Jesus bore it already; don’t receive the grace of God in vain.  The sacrifice of Jesus is great enough to lift the burden; however you must turn your eyes upon Jesus!  The Father’s promises can be your joy in front of the trial you face!

Psalms 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

God has an exit strategy for your circumstances!  His promises are yes and amen in Jesus Christ.  When you put God’s view into your circumstance nothing is impossible!

2 Corinthians 4:16  Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  18  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Your affliction is but for a moment!  The very affliction that we have murmured about is working  a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  It is time for us to gain the Father’s eternal perspective!  We get weighted down with the temporal while the Father is  trying to give us a vision of the eternal.  When compared, the weight of eternal glory is much greater than the momentary light affliction.  With the joy set before you endure!  Don’t give up; don’t quit!  You will reap great reward if you will endure to the end!   Don’t let the circumstances blind you to the goodness of the Father.      

Isaiah 55:10  "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,  11  So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.  12  "For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Eternal perspective is gained by standing in the word that has come from the mouth of God.  His word will accomplish what it has been sent out to do!  The Father desires to put His word in your mouth.  Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.   Rise up in the joy of the Lord and let the peace of God lead you.  We are able to go in the joy of the Lord when we have the Father’s perspective.  Conversely, if we have no joy it's because the enemy of our soul has us blinded to eternal purpose by temporal circumstances.

Psalms 107:20  He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.  21  Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!  22  Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.

The Father is calling us to put His word in our mouth!  Put a praise on your lips knowing God’s word is greater than your circumstance.  Trusting the word will reap the harvest you are longing to see produced.  The sacrifice of thanksgiving is speaking to the Father’s heart.  The murmuring and complaining is delaying the harvest.

John 7:24  "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

We have lived by what we see; the kingdom of God calls us to live by faith.  We have behaved like mere men and contentment has alluded us!  Live like the newly created being you are and you will know victory.  Don’t judge by appearance; let your judgment be made by the living word of God.  Righteous judgment is with the consideration of Jesus' sacrifice.  When you see the strength of Jesus' sacrifice you have seen the Father’s heart.  See it with the vision the Father has put in your spirit.

Psalms 104:33  I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  34  May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

You can know the Father’s heart by meditating on His goodness.  We have announced what is wrong, nurtured the pain, cursed the weakness, and murmured and complained about the circumstances.  We must awaken to the scheme of the enemy.  If he can keep the complaint nurtured, rehearsed and thought about, he can keep us trapped in our circumstances.  If we will learn to put a praise on our lips and a song in our mouth and learn to have sweet meditation upon our God, the scheme of the enemy will be exposed and dismantled before our eyes.

Psalms 19:14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

It is my desire to see this psalm become the prayer of the church.  The words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart matter.  When you keep your eyes upon Jesus and His goodness, your emotions and intellect will line up with what the Spirit of God is performing in you!  I will bless the Lord at all times His praise shall continually be in my mouth; my soul shall make its boast in the Lord!

1 John 2:12  I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.  13  I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.  14  I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

This passage beautifully displays the progression of the believer.  The little children know the Father on the level that their sins are forgiven.  The young men know the Father on the level they have grown in the knowledge of the word to overcome the wicked one.  The fathers know the Father because the relationship has matured between them and God the Father.  The foundation of the word establishes the heart to allow one to grow in intimacy with the Father.  Meditation in the word is the way to victory over every scheme of the enemy.  Oh that we might know the Father better.

1 John 2:15  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  16  For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world.  17  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Genuine salvation produces a love for the Father and the things the Father loves.  If you have a genuine born again experience you will do the will of God.

Matthew 12:50  "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

Hear the voice of Jesus!  His brother, sister and mother are those who pursue the will of the Father.  Oh that we might know Him better.

Knowing the Father-- Part TWO

The Father longs for intimacy with His children. He calls us to know Him better!

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Knowing the Father Part 2

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John 5:19  Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.  20  "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

Jesus operated on the revelation the Father was giving Him!  What Jesus saw the Father do, Jesus did!  The Father gave a showing to Jesus and Jesus acted upon what the Father had shown Him.  Jesus saw the Father forgive sin, heal the sick, cast out devil, set the oppressed free, and raise the dead.  If you want to know the Father intimately study the ministry of Jesus.  What you see Jesus do is the heart of the Father for you and all His children.  Have you meditated on Jesus' own words?  “The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do.”  Father let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Do you see those around you baptized in the Holy Spirit, do you see the sick healed, do you see those in bondage set free from their yoke, and do you see the harvest being brought in?  What is it the Father is showing you?  It is my prayer that we will develop our vision after the Father’s heart.   Oh  that we would know the Father better!

John 5:21  "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.  22  "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,  23  "that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.  24  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

I write often, what you think of Jesus Christ determines your destiny.  Yes for eternity and also for the here and now.  Do you honor Jesus as the One who gives life, abundant life.  Do you live in abundant life?  It is God’s intended purpose for you.  Who is it that has everlasting life?  It is those who hear the words of Jesus and believe that He was sent from the Father.  What you think of Jesus Christ determines your salvation, your healing, your deliverance from any bondage.  Jesus is a life giving Spirit!  His words are Spirit and they are life.  Dare to let your expectations be raised to the level of the word of God.  Your heartache, bondage, lack, and or your brokenness is not your lot in life.  Jesus bore the grief of it all!  He was wounded for our transgression and bruised for our iniquity.  All our punishment was upon Him so we need not bear it anymore.  The Father’s heart was to pour out His wrath for sin upon His Son so that you might gain His favor.  Did you hear the words of Jesus in the 24^th verse?   You have eternal life; you shall not come into judgment, but you have passed from death into life.  Life is in you and it is time to proclaim it!  This is the will of the Father concerning you!

John 17:1  Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,  2  "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  3  "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

The scriptural definition for eternal life is to know the Father and Jesus Christ whom He sent!  The will of the Father can be found in studying the works of Jesus Christ!  Oh, that we might know the Father better!

John 17:4  "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.  6  "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.  7  "Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.  8  "For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

Have you ever walked in a room and you overhear a conversation of intimacy? Awkward!  Here in John is just such a moment.  The intimacy between the Father and the Son is unveiled in such a sweet way.  Jesus left the glory of the Father in heaven to robe Himself in flesh.  Here Jesus is declaring His desire to walk in the former glory He had with His Father.  Jesus humbled Himself for the glory of the Father.  He came to make manifest the Father and the Father’s heart to be reconciled to man again.  Behold the love the Father has bestowed upon us that we might be called the children of God.  Oh that we might know the Father better.

John 16:23  "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  24  "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.  25  "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.  26  "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you;  27  "for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.  28  "I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father."

Jesus speaks of intimacy with the Father which you are called to!  When you come to know the Father in intimacy you can ask whatever you desire and it will be given to you.  Many love to quote these verses minus the intimacy with the Father; it will never work that way.  Intimacy with the Father is the essential ingredient.  Oh, that we might know the Father better.  The Father Himself loves you because you have loved Jesus!  The greatest intimacy is found by receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit!

John 16:7  "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Acts 1:8  "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem , and in all Judea and Samaria , and to the end of the earth."

There is a receiving of the baptism of the Holy Spirit for every believer and it will bring you the power for intimacy with the Father.

Luke 11:5  And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves;  6  'for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him';  7  "and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?  8  "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.  9  "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10  "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  11  "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  12  "Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  13  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

Here in Luke, Jesus is teaching us how to pray.  He said to pray with persistence.  Ask, seek, knock is the command.  What is it that you are asking, seeking and knocking for?  The Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.  If it was an automatic at salvation we would not have need to ask.  If God were not our Father we would not qualify for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Oh, that we might know the Father better.

Luke 24:49  "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

Ask, seek and knock until you are endued with power from on high!  It is the Father’s will for all of His children.  Keep asking, seeking and knocking with persistence, until you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:11  "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Mark 1:8  "I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Luke 3:16  John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John 1:33  "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'

Acts 11:15  "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.  16  "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

Acts 2:33  "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

When Jesus baptized in the Holy Spirit on this day they begin to speak in other tongues. “…this you now see and hear.”  What did they hear; clearly they heard them speak in other tongues  The baptism of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the speaking with other tongues.

Acts 10:45  And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.  46  For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

The Jewish believers were astonished that the Gentiles had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  How did they know…” “For they heard them speak with tongues”.  It is for every believer; ask, seek, and knock it opens an intimacy with the Father.

1 Corinthians 14:14  For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15  What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

The only biblical definition in how to pray with your spirit is found right here praying and singing in tongues.

Acts 2:38  Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39  "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

Where ever repentance and remission of sins is preached the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit needs declared also.  For the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to you, to your children and to as many as the Lord our God shall call.  Oh, that we might know the Father better.

Knowing the Father! -- Part ONE

Knowing the Father. At church camp years ago we sang a song that changed my life. The name of the song "The Greatest Thing In All My Life Is Knowing You". It was that song and the message following that brought clarity to my Christian walk. Oh I want to know God! I hunger for Him and His will to be accomplished in His people. This Bible study was birthed from those desires.

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Knowing The Father!

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Luke 15:1  Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.  2  And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them."  3  So He spoke this parable to them, saying:  4  "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  5  "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  6  "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'  7  "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Getting to know the Father’s heart is to walk with intimacy with the Father.  The scriptures reveals the Father’s heart and His longing and desire for fellowship with you.  Jesus' parables often was a reflection of the Father’s heart toward you and I.  There is great comfort in knowing that God wants to shepherd us!  His heart is to leave the ninety-nine and come and find you and me.  The Father is seeking you and desires that you walk in victory and fellowship with Him!  So you feel lonely, separated, and wounded?  God is looking for you.  He wants to wrap His loving arms around you and lay you on His shoulder!  The fullness of your restoration brings great joy in all of heaven!  Oh, that we might know the Father better!

Luke 15:8  "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?  9  "And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!'  10  "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

What a revelation of God’s heart.  God holds great value for you.  Are you the tenth coin God is looking for?  Yes, He  has nine but He knows He really has ten!  All of heaven is stilled while The Father is lighting the lamp, sweeping the house carefully until He has found you.  You did not chose God; God chose you!  At the finding of the precious all the angels of God are rejoicing!  You are precious in the sight of God

Luke 15:11  Then He said: "A certain man had two sons.  12  "And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood.  13  "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.  14  "But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.  15  "Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  16  "And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.  17  "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  18  'I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,  19  "and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'  20  "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.  21  "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'  22  "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.  23  'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;  24  'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.  25  "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  26  "So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  27  "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.'  28  "But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.  29  "So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.   30  'But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'  31  "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.  32  'It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'"

This parable is often preached out of context!  Many have given it the name “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”.  To put the parable back into the context of which it was written I want to rename it.  Let’s call it “The Parable of the Misunderstood Father”.  You see, this father had two sons; their perspective of their father caused both sons to make decision based upon that perspective.  What you think of God the Father determines how you will serve Him.  Yes, one son had prodigal living, but one son had miserly living.  What a truth about the Father, He longs for all His son to be in the house.  He wants to clothe us in His robes of righteousness!  He does not want us to stand as slave but as sons.  While many have preached beautiful messages on the prodigal son, we should gain understanding about the son who stayed home.  Hear the Father’s words.  Son you are always with me, all that I have is yours.  The elder son never walked in the privileges of being a son of the house.  He was looking for his father to bless him…  What a revelation, son it all belongs to you already.  Partake of what is yours!  Whether you are the prodigal or the son who remained home, your revelation of the Father’s love needs to increase.  You can partake from the comfort of the inheritance right now in the Father’s house.  The Father wants you to have the sandals, robe, and a ring.  The sandals say you are a son of the house, the robe speaks you have the Father’s favor, and the ring says you have all rights and privileges as one with authority in the house.  Oh that we might know the Father better.    

James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Walk in the strength that the Father only gives good gifts.  It is His heart toward His children.  Many false doctrines have tried to cast a shadow upon the goodness of God.  Other errors have tried to add a variable that would change what came from the Father.  Throw out the traditions that cast a shadow or bring a variable against the Father’s loving hand.

Proverbs 10:22  The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

What a promise, what a proverb!

John 8:38  "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father."

Jesus' very words were birthed from what He sees with His Father!  Oh that we might gain a greater revelation of the Father.  Jesus spoke healing, hope, and victory; it is what He sees with His Father.  Can we believe the Father to always leads us into triumph?

  

1 John 4:14  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.  15  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  16  And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.  17  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

How great is the Father’s love toward us?  We do not have to have any fear on the day of judgment.  Many have known the love of God.  However, do you dare believe and rely upon the His great love.  Do you believe in the love of God to such a degree that you know as Jesus is, so are we in this world.  Love perfected among us gives us boldness on the day of judgment.  Oh that we might know the Father better.

1 John 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  19  We love Him because He first loved us.

The children of God should not live in fear; fear involves torment!  My heart is grieved, so many Christians are walking in fear, loneliness, and despair.   The enemy of our soul has been allowed to blind us to our loving Father.  Lift up your eyes upon the goodness of God!  We need to begin to meditate upon the truth of God’s word and exalt it above our circumstances.  The strongholds of the enemy are only brought down by exalting the truth of Jesus Christ above the thoughts and imagination of our own souls.

2 Corinthians 5:14  For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;  15  and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.  16  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  18  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  19  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

When love is made perfect among us it is the love of Christ that compels us!  Genuine salvation changes the course of the believers life.  If you are born again it is not self centeredness any longer; your desire is to live for the one who died and rose again.  The new perspective is to regard no one according to the flesh.  What does it mean to regard no one after the flesh?  If we can get this revelation we would be on solid ground to minister to the weak, hurting, wounded, and broken hearted.  It is time for the church to arise and see one another after the newly created being God has made.  When I pray for people I want to see them the way God sees them.  I want to let the secret out.  The Father was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.  It is the Father’s will and purpose not to impute trespasses; His desire is for complete reconciliation.  Oh that we gain a greater revelation to the goodness of the Father!

Colossians 1:12  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.  13  He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

It is the Father Himself who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints.  It is the Father who has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.  Oh that our revelation of God is so big that we know and believe the love the Father Has for us.

You've Got Purpose- Fulfill It, You Living Stone

You are the living stone; you are the appointed rock to cry out and praise Jesus!

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You've Got Purpose- Fulfill It, You Living Stone

1 Peter 2:4  Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 

Jesus is referred to is a living stone chosen by God and precious; howbeit rejected indeed by men.  God’s ways are not men’s ways.  When we come to Jesus we are coming to a precious, chosen, and living stone.  There is a sureness about coming to Jesus the precious corner stone.  When you come to what God values and surrender to what God has called precious you can have your expectations raised.

1 Peter 2:5  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Surrender to Jesus makes you a living stone.  You are a fulfillment from the prophecies of Jesus Himself.  Do you know how sweet it is for God to reveal that you are a living stone.

Luke 19:38  saying: " 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"  39  And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."  40  But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

Jesus had a prophetic utterance the stones would cry out.  We have sung we don’t want a rock to rise up and praise in our place”.  However it should be said we are the living stones being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  The Jews did become silent and God found it necessary to raise up some living stones to build up into a spiritual house.

John 1:41  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).  42  And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).

Peter knew the prophetic utterance from Jesus.  It is what Jesus spoke to him the first day he met Peter.  When Peter spoke that the believers where living stones he was writing from first hand revelation and intimacy with Jesus.

Ephesians 2:17  And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.  18  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.  19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  20  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,  21  in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,  22  in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

In the purpose and plan of God, He grants you access to Himself!  You are one of the stones that the Spirit of God inhabits!  Can you get a glimpse that you are a fellow citizen with the saints.  You are a member of the household of God.  Christ in you the hope of glory.  Jesus Christ Himself is the chief corner stone.  It is hard to fulfill the purpose God has for you when you don’t believe what God has to say about you.

Those who know they belong in the house have a different expectation then a stranger or acquaintance.  What does a son expect from a father?  Is it different then a acquaintance expectation?  Is it different than one who feels estranged?  Jesus has preached a peace (oneness) that brings us near.  What is your expectation of your heavenly Father?

1 Corinthians 15:45  And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  46  However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.  47  The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.  48  As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.

Purpose can begin to be fulfilled when you see yourself from God’s perspective.  When the chief corner stone made you a living stone you became a heavenly man!  A heavenly man has a different perspective than the earthly man.   To fulfill the purpose of God you must see yourself as a living stone and a heavenly being!  Oh to see it from God’s perspective!

1 Corinthians 1:30  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God; and righteousness and sanctification and redemption;

Can you see Jesus and what He has done for you?  Jesus became wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.  You lack nothing in Christ!

2 Corinthians 5:14  For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15  and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.  16  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

When you gain the perspective of grace it will be the love of Christ that compels you!  Fulfilling the purpose of God, through the love of Christ motivating your every action, you will change your world and influence those around you.  Sold out to living no longer for self, but for Him who died and rose again.  No longer regarding Christ after the flesh but seeing His powerful sacrifice as our source of redemption.

Who is the man who will no longer regard no one according to the flesh?  When you begin to see man from the perspective of God it gives you grace to love the unlovely and to reach out to those who need a redeemer.  Living stones see the heart of God.  Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost.

I Peter 2:6  Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."  7  Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,"  8  and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.  9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Can you see your purpose?  You are chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.  Do you know who you are based on the authority of the word of God.  God has given you a great standing and position but it is for a specific purpose.  You have been changed so you can proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  It is time for the church to rise up with a praise on their lips for the chief cornerstone Jesus Christ.  If the enemy of your soul can get the praise out of your mouth he can delay your purpose being fulfilled.

2 Corinthians 5:18  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  19  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  20  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

The Father reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ.  The solution is strait forward!  The Father was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them.  It is not enough to identify the problem; we must preach the solution.  If we are going to walk in the full purpose and plan of God we must be reconcilers.  We serve the God who will not impute the sins of men to them.  Blessed is the man who sins are not imputed.  Purpose fulfilled is walking as an ambassador of God.  Knowing who you are in Christ gives you something of value to share; Christ in you the hope of glory.

Expectations Raised to the Level of the Desire of God

Your expectation of God determines if you walk in blessing.  Let the level of expectation be rasied to God's desire to bless you.

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Psalms 62:1  Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation.  2  He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.  3  How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence.  4  They only consult to cast him down from his high position; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, But they curse inwardly. Selah  5  My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.  6  He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.  7  In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.  8  Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Waiting on God in a confident trust is a strong place to be.  The psalmist keeps referring to God as his rock.  In fact twice it is said He only is my rock and my salvation.  Where is the object of your expectation?  Is it in Christ alone?  While men may attack you and even gather to consult against you they shall fail!  While Psalms 62:1 declares our soul is waiting on God verse 5 is an instruction and encouragement to my soul.  We need to learn to command our soul to come in line with the word of God.  We need to learn to command our soul to come in line with the work that God has done in our spirit.  My soul waits upon God and let Him alone be my expectation.  The source of our salvation is in Christ alone.  Do not trust in men; put all our expectation and hope in God alone.  When God alone is our defense we will be unmovable.  God is our refuge and strength; He is a safe place to pour out our heart!  Your expectation from God can rise no higher than the revelation you have on God’s desires for you!  What is your expectations from God; God is calling you deeper!  God is calling you to let your expectations rise until they are a reflection of the word of God.  If God says that you are free your expectation should be no less.  If God says that you are at liberty your expectation should match His word.  What God says about healing, provision, and soundness of mind should be your expectation; dare not settle for less!

Ask yourself, are my expectations of God high enough?

Ephesians 3:20  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  21  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Now ask yourself again, are my expectations of God high enough.

Luke 1:35  And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  36  "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.  37  "For with God nothing will be impossible."  38  Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

God spoke the impossible to Mary and her response was amazing!  “Behold the maidservant of the Lord!  Let it be to me according to your word”  We can learn a lot from Mary’s words.  Let it be to me according to your word!  Here is a meditation that needs to be upon your mouth and in your heart all the time!  God let it be to me according to your word!  God let it be to me according to your word!  God let it be to me according to your word.  Is this getting into your soul.  Go ahead, say the word put it in your mouth?  God let it be to me according to your word.  God has spoken words of life and even for a season you have been impregnated with that very word; however, over the course of time you have allowed discouragement and circumstances to abort your purpose!  My prayer for you, and my prayer for the church is restoration of the impossible words God has spoken.  Let God raise your expectations and your purpose can be fulfilled!  Surrender to God’s expectation and God will fulfill your destiny.  Are your expectations so high you are impregnated with the words of hope God has spoken?

Hebrews 6:17  Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,  18  that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.  19  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,  20  where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

When God speaks it will surely be brought to pass.  By oath God has given us a sure foundation.  It is impossible for God to lie.  The strength of God’s word is strong enough to hold the world in place.  The word of deliverance He has spoken to you is just as sure!  You can anchor your soul with the expectation that God’s promises will come to pass.  Jesus is our forerunner into the presence of God.  The Father is expecting your arrival Jesus has announced your name to the Father.  When expectations are set upon the Father great things happen.  The  word begins to be fulfilled!  Is your expectation to walk into the  throne room of grace?  Is your expectation that God’s grace will meet you in your hour of need?  Jesus gives His invitation, come!

2 Corinthians 1:20  For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.  21  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,  22  who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 

God's promises are sure and steadfast!  It is the Father’s desire for you to be a partaker of His promises.  It is His hearts desire to such a degree He has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.  An oath by God and a guarantee by God that He will fulfill His promises.  Where else would you want to put your expectation there is no greater place of surety.

One of my favorite hymns is “Standing On the Promises of God”  One of the verses declares “by the living Word of God I shall prevail.  Standing on the promises of God”.  The enemy of our soul would like us to turn away from the promises of God and he is trying to turn our hearts away as surely as he tried to turn Jesus' heart away from the purpose of the Father.

Luke 4:1  Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,  2  being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.  3  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."  4  But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"

Jesus had just been baptized by John the Baptist and the Father spoke from heaven this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.  Jesus knew the favor He had with His Father.  When satan tempted Jesus he did his best to minimize Jesus seeing Himself as the beloved Son.  If you are the Son of God…  Jesus answered him with It is written…  Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  The last word spoken to Jesus by the Father as far as we know is “ this is my beloved Son."  If satan can take your mind off who you are to God the Father and cause you to look at your physical needs he has moved you by his own desire.  The Father’s will is clearly portrayed by Jesus' words.  Putting the word of God in our heart and in mouth will raise our expectation and give us power to overcome the evil one.

Luke 4:5  Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  6  And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.  7  "Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."  8  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

The devil tempted Jesus by offering Him a shortcut to the authority and dominion of the earth without going through the Father’s will.  Exalting the Father in worship is a great way to short circuit the schemes of the devil.  Many are quick to say I only exclusively worship God.  Yet our worship determines the truth of our words.  What we are given to and spend our time pursuing is where our worship is.  If you are praying for ten minutes and watching TV for 3 hours a night, it is hard to make the argument that all your worship is directed to God.  Jesus told the woman at the well that the Father was seeking worshippers who would worship in spirit and in truth.  In your worship of God your expectation will be changed in His glory; in worship your expectation will be raised by the strengthening of your inner man.  There is an exceeding blessing, there is an abundant blessing found by following the desires of God our Father.  His authority has been to share through Jesus Christ.  The Father desires fellowship with you; the greatest connection to fellowship with the Father is through worship.

Luke 4:9  Then he brought Him to Jerusalem , set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.  10  "For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,'  11  "and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"

12  And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'"

The final temptation was for the devil to take the word out of context and have Jesus live by the perverted word of God.  Notice the attack of the devil keeps coming with the “If you are the Son of God…”  Let your motivation for action be prompted by the word of God and never prompted to prove yourself.  The devil desperately tried to cast doubt upon the word of God in every temptation he confronted Jesus with. 

Here is a picture of God’s will for your life; let your expectations be raised to the height of the word of God.

Isaiah 59:21  "As for Me," says the LORD, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the LORD, "from this time and forevermore."  60:1  Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

Let your expectation be that God Himself will put His word in your mouth.  After the word of God is in your mouth you can arise, shine for your light has come.  Christ will shine on you.  Surely God’s word will come to pass. Like Mary the mother of Jesus let us speak “Let it be to me according to your word!”