THE “H” WORD !!!

The way up is down!
Humble yourself!
Let God reward you!
Will you finally do
What God tells you to?

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
John 5:44 KJV

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: [7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7 KJV

I AM MAD AT HUMAN NATURE !!

There I’ve said it!

Don’t we all too often get a revelation from above and then proceed to believe that it is from ourselves instead? Don’t we congratulate ourselves, forgetting that our recent epiphany was given to us by God? It is human nature to indulge ourselves – and at the most inopportune time. After all, it’s pride that goes before our destruction; so, it behooves us to dig in and do a little research on the topic. Since I am included in the aforementioned “we”, I’ll get it started for you:

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18 KJV.

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2 KJV

A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Proverbs 29:23 KJV

Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Proverbs 29:20 KJV

….”SEEING” YOURSELF AS ELIJAH DID
…………..(by Dr. Robin Starbuck)
1 Kings 19:1-3 KJV And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me , and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. [3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
Elijah had obediently followed God’s word regarding Baal worshippers and killed 450- 850 of them. But then he got haughty and believed himself better than others. Meanwhile Jezebel the Queen heard what Elijah had done and sent a messenger telling him she would make him like one of the dead ones that he had killed. Elijah “SAW” (19:3) himself as dead and panicked. So, first he was doing God’s will perfectly, then became proud of his mighty accomplishment and missed accomplishing the other two things that God wanted him to do. People do this all the time: they see themselves sick, dejected, divorced, impoverished. Elisha had to take over and anoint the king of Israel and of Syria. Anytime you get lifted up with pride you are headed for failure. When you are at your strongest in yourself and your own ability you are your weakest because you tend to trust in yourself. He accomplished everything God wanted until he used his imagination negatively. He saw himself failing instead of obeying God. (Proverbs 16:18 KJV) “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

CAN YOU OR I SAY THAT IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER WE LIVE OR DIE, AS LONG AS CHRIST IS BEING GLORIFIED ?
Philippians 1:20-21 KJV
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. [21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

HOW DO YOU KILL A DEAD PERSON ? THE REASON PAUL WAS NEVER AFRAID WAS THAT HE HAD ALREADY DIED TO HIMSELF.
If preaching the gospel called him to be executed, so be it. if preaching the gospel called him to be exalted, so be it. however Paul could serve his Lord and Savior – that and that alone is what he strove to do.

PAUL CERTAINLY WAS NOT OF THE “WHAT ABOUT ME ?” MINDSET !!
He was shipwrecked, stoned, beaten, thrown in prison. Facing the judgment of the Romans, he said “It’s ok as long as the gospel comes out! they can mock me and make fun of the gospel as loud as can be but guess what the Romans are hearing the gospel so all is good!!” Can we ever be this unselfish?

There were things that were more important to Paul than his comfort or his reputation or any concern in the fleshly realm whatsoever. Period.
HOW DO YOU STOP A GUY LIKE THAT ? HE WAS DEAD TO HIMSELF !!

OH DEAR GOD, HOW I WISH, WITH MY WHOLE HEART, THAT WE COULD
………. A … L … L …………
QUIT THINKING ABOUT OUR PUNY LITTLE LIVES AND
….. D A R E … T O … C A R E …..
ABOUT SHARING THE GOSPEL !!
WE’VE GOT A CAUSE THAT’S BIGGER THAN US.
HE DIED FOR ME ; I GUESS THE LEAST I CAN DO IS LIVE FOR HIM.

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. [5] Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. [9] Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father. [12] What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. [14] Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing. [17] Even if I am executed here and now, I’ll rejoice in being an element in the offering of your faith that you make on Christ’s altar, a part of your rejoicing. But turnabout’s fair play—you must join me in my rejoicing. Whatever you do, don’t feel sorry for me.
Philippians 2:1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 17 MSG

_____ NOT  IN  YOUR  STRENGTH
______ (by Dr. Robin Starbuck)
Moses knew that he was a Jew, in spite of Cecil B. de Mille’s rendition of “Moses”! (Exo. 1-4; Acts 7:20-25) He knew what his life purpose was from God – to lead his people, the Jews, out of the captivity of the Egyptians. But Moses, like a lot of us, sought to do the will of God in his own human strength. God had an entirely different plan in mind – that of carrying it out supernaturally. After all, why would God even think in such limiting terms?

When we ask God for something, let us think big – let’s imagine beyond human frailties. Moses thought he could use his position and power to carry out God’s plan. He even went so far as to kill a man in a display of his own natural strength. it was patently wrong minded, and he paid the price for it. Sometimes it’s hard for us to grasp the fact that God doesn’t need our “tooling around” as if we ourselves were the almighty. First, find God’s will; then find out what His plan is.

We have an awesome God. Let’s be a little bit awesome ourselves by putting everything in God’s hands. He is equal to every challenge and worthy of all the glory.

● AWAKENING ● REVELATION ● UNVEILING ●

Baptism is another issue that invites much unnecessary debate. It is a ritual that had its purpose and function before the cross. John Crowder’s* insight lends much needed elucidation:

The “baptism” of the Spirit is not a separate thing where first you only had Jesus, and now you get the Spirit. It just means to get dunked, immersed or have your senses tangibly “filled” or flooded with the Spirit Whom you had all along. After all, He is the “Spirit of Jesus.” Col. 2:10 says “By your union with Christ you are filled with the Godhead” … that means you already have the Spirit … you even have the Father in you too! So “infilling” is not a “second work,” rather it’s about a continual enjoyment – a daily dunking – and experience of the Spirit we already have. Not a one-time or two-time event, but Paul says, “Be ye continually filled …” Eph. 5:18. It’s an abiding relationship – He remains in you.

So, in trying to decide whether or not to undergo baptism, bear in mind that the fear-mongers have no place in this decision. Thankfully, we don’t “need” a ritualistic, public dunking to get us into the Holy Spirit. We have it in spades already on the inside of ourselves!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

* JOHN CROWDER – John loves to push the envelope and provoke God’s people to extreme joy! He is an internationally recognized author, speaker, and advocate of supernatural Christianity. John is on the forefront of a fresh renewal movement marked by ecstatic experience, miracles and recovering the foundational preaching of the cross of grace.

I  .  M  .  M  .  E  .  D  .  I  .  A  .  C  .  Y

WOULDN’T  YOU  LIKE  TO  APPLY  BIBLE  VERSES  AND  PROMISES  TO  TAKE  PLACE  HERE  AND  NOW  IN  YOUR  LIFE  ACCORDING  TO  JESUS’  OWN  WORDS  “IT  IS  FINISHED”?  .  OPEN  YOUR  BIBLE  –  FOR  EXAMPLE  –  TO  EPHESIANS  1:1  AND  START  READING.  REMEMBER,  GOD’S  PART  IS  DONE.   WE  WANT  TO  ACCESS  HIS  FINISHED  WORK.   AFTER  ALL,  HE’S  LIVING  ON  THE  INSIDE  OF  US,  RIGHT?   WHEN  DID  YOU  WANT  TO  RECEIVE  YOUR  ANSWERS?   A  WEEK  FROM  NEXT  MONDAY?   THEN  CLOSE  YOUR  BIBLE  AND  WAIT  TILL  THEN !!  [SORRY,  I  DIGRESSED.]  BACK  TO  EPHESIANS  –  DOWN  TO  17:

Ephesians 1:17-23 KJV

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: [18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, [19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places , [21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.  ALL  THAT  POWER  AND  STRENGTH  AND  WISDOM  AND  LOVE  IS  MINE  N-O-W  LIVING  ON  THE  INSIDE  OF  ME.   MY  POWER  FAR  EXCEEDS  ALL  PRINCIPALITIES  AND  RULERS  OF  DARKNESS.  I  AM  HEALED  RIGHT  NOW.  GOD  IS  THERE  INSTEAD  OF  THE  (YOU  NAME  IT  –  IT’S  GONE !! ) .  GET  UP,   SHAKE  OFF  THE  HYPNOTIC  HOLD  THAT  HELL   HAD  OVER  YOU.   IT’S  GONE.   KEEP  READING.   KEEP  APPLYING.   NOT  FOR  SOME  TIME  IN  THE  FUTURE  –  EVEN  TEN  MINUTES  FROM  NOW.   GOD’S  BLESSINGS  ARE  NOT  ON  THEIR  WAY  –  THEY’RE  HERE  NOW  WITHIN  YOU !!!!  .  DON’T  GO  BACK  TO  THE  LIE.  

CONTINUING  READING  PAUL’S  WORDS,  I  HAVE  TO  CHOKE  BACK  TEARS  OF  THANKFULNESS  FOR  HIS  EXAMPLE  OF  BEING  COMPLETELY  GIVEN  OVER  TO  GOD  (AS  I  YEARN  TO  BE):

Ephesians 3:7-14, 18-19 KJV

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. [8] Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; [9] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: [10] To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, [11] According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: [12] In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. [13] Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. [14] For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, [18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

PAUL  DIDN’T  THINK  ABOUT,    MEDITATE  ON,  TALK  ABOUT  OR  DISPLAY  HIS  OWN  BODY:  HIS  FOCUS  WAS  SINGLE:  THE  LORD  WAS  HIS  LOVE  AND  HIS  LIFE.   HE  GAVE  NO  THOUGHT  TO  ALL  THE  GARBAGE  THE  WORLD  WANTED  TO  HIT  HIM  WITH  AT  EVERY  TURN.  PAUL  WAS  A  COMPLETELY  CHANGED  PERSON  AFTER  HIS  CONVERSION.  IMAGINE  YOUR  OWN  LIFE,  COMPLETELY  GIVEN  OVER  TO  JESUS,  LIVING  THROUGH  .  .  .  .  .  YOU  !!

Do you think that God is in you

And that you have to contend with

A sometimes nasty, unsympathetic world?

Think again!

God is not only in you –

You are in Him.

Acts 17:28 KJV
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

IN HIM, AND IN OUR SPIRITUAL BODIES, WE ARE NOW PERFECT .

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

The King James Version is my favorite Bible translation, although I do like to go to the Greek and Hebrew to get a ‘feel’ for what was originally intended. Other translations and commentaries are very helpful to clarify the sometimes obscure meaning behind the Old English of the rather poetic KJV.

Re. TONGUES : Since my use of tongues is a private affair, my wanting to share it is not an endorsement of some of the strange goings on in groups. But, even I can’t grasp why tongues is anything to debate!! It’s like choosing chopsticks or a knife and fork: What’s the big deal? Use what works for you and get on with your life!

But here’s a final takeaway on the topic: don’t let the naysayers rob you of something truly precious.