I thought this was a great video clip. It’s fun to watch (about 16 minutes), and it says so much. Hear the heart of the Father in this and be blessed.

Be a blessing. Be a validator.

Wow! Where have I been? It has been too long since I’ve been posting, but I have been legitimately busy.

I have already included in my blogroll, a friends website I have been working on, and I will include it on my ‘Recommended’ Page. This is kingdavidstable.com.

King David's Table

David Weber and I have carved out, what I think, is a beautiful site with many of his messages that should stir you on to greater things in and of God. We have both felt the hand of the Lord on this website and therefore expect many other people to be quite blessed by the treasures to be found there.

Although these messages are laid out for you like a bountiful buffet, please consider responding to David about what you are being blessed with from the site and even how you like the site visually and if things seem pretty easy to find.

I’ve come to realize myself, more so lately, that within the family of God, we don’t do enough to encourage our brothers and sisters, bear one another’s burdens, share things in common, and bless and minister to one another. We do need to come to understand that it is the Father we are blessing ultimately when we do these things. Jesus even said a day would come when He would say to MANY, “When you DID NOT minister to the least of these, you did not minister to me.” That does not mean a cheque written to World Vision. It means putting yourself aside and another FIRST until their burden or need is ended or changed or you are released from the spiritual responsibility of it. Or simply extending thoughtfulness, courtesy and kindness.

I’m sure you can think of several people you know, even as personal friends right now, that have needs of all kinds. But we also minister to another (and ultimately the Father) when we are ‘there for each other’ even when needs are prevalent or the main focus. Family is family ALL of the time. Consider in respectful prayer to whom the Lord would have you minister where there are needs, even something as simple as encouragement or a ‘hello’, that the body of Christ be built up.

You can be plug full of doctrine, but if you aren’t loving your neighbour, it’s like filthy rags.

Seriously pursue the Lord as to what you may do to minister to Him by ministering to another. You don’t ever have to be a bible scholar, a preacher, pastor or have any kind of ‘ministry’, when the Lord Himself desires to be ministered to by EVERYONE, even by you ministering to another in a way that may not even seem that great or special.

Please check out my friends website and be blessed and greatly enriched. And again I ask, please consider sharing your thoughts and blessings (and anything else) with a special brother (of the website I mentioned above) who has given his very life as a living sacrifice to minister to the Lord by ministering to the rest of us.

The Lord bless you as you bless one another,

dj

“Just as the Good Shepherd gives His Life for the sheep, so the True Vine gives His Life for the Branches. Do you see the connection? It’s the same thing. It’s exactly the same thing. The Good Shepherd gives His Life for the sheep; the True Vine gives His Life for the Branches. This Life He gives is not for the purpose of making my life better; it is given so that I can exchange my life altogether, and rely upon the Life of Another.”

This portion just above is an excerpt from an email I received from The School of Christ website. It is an article based on an audio series as indicated below. The author, Chip Brogden, brings out so much truth in his book, articles and audio. I do encourage you to visit his site and see what the Holy Spirit would lead you to that He may bring you into further understanding of living by the life of another and that He must increase and you must decrease.

The preceeding article is based on an audio series titled “Abide In Me: The Way of Spiritual Abundance.”

To request your copy of this message on a double compact disc set, visit:

http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/audio/cds122.html

*******************************************

I mention the above because in reading it this morning my spirit rejoiced in the message and knowing that this is the way the Holy Spirit has been leading me, and very much so, lately.

I have described my experience lately as ‘defying’ the world. I am also obviously ‘denying’ myself (which is death to self). The world I have grown up in, and my carnal self, has dictated reactions I have had in the past to certain circumstances. Nothing life threatening or of an emergency nature at this point, but just daily stuff. Car breaking down, a complicated problem with work, a stressful relationship.

In these type of situations I am prone to have thoughts of anxiety, that lead to fear, or panic, or just greater stress and the resulting physical symptoms like headaches, loss of appetite, etc. The other day I was driving my car and it was making horrendous sounds. It sounded like the entire car would fall apart right there. It really sounded bad. Immediately my heart start racing because I’m in traffic, my thoughts go to my bank account and if I can afford a car repair bill right now, and so on.

Then I caught myself and said “No. I will not be afraid. You’d like that wouldn’t you (self)? I’m not going to. Lord, I trust you. Whatever happens, I trust you and I will not give myself over to fear. But I am taking the car in to get checked.”

The car was checked and found to have only a build up (a really big build up) of ice underneath. Problem solved.

This is not the first time I have done this, nor is it the last. It is my intention, that by the spirit, this shall continue until there is no vestige left of me that would fear or concern myself. (Until the devil can find nothing in me). It certainly doesn’t mean these things will never happen, but I will certainly handle them in and by the spirit and not self.

Here is definitely a worshiping of the Lord “in Spirit and in Truth”. My life is a living sacrifice, and the only worthy sacrifice is His life in me. My life is not a worthy sacrifice. My life is actually already dead IN HIM. It is the Holy Spirit that leads Christ’s life in me as a sacrifice. To deny the Father the Life of Christ in me as a living sacrifice, then I am saying I do not want the Father’s will, and therefore stand opposed to the Kingdom on Earth as it is in heaven. I can’t do that to my Father. I can’t do that to Christ who shows up faithful and consistent for me ever single day and moment.

My prayer is that all of you either already know this overcoming experience, or that you will. This is the abundant life given us in Christ. This is our eternal life now. His life is eternal. His life in us, the begotten spirit which is the real us, makes us eternal now. I think that’s pretty abundant.

]]> http://girlapprehended.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/true-spiritual-abundance/feed/ 2 dj fruit-on-the-vine abundant-life http://girlapprehended.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/time-to-grow-up/ http://girlapprehended.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/time-to-grow-up/#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:39:14 +0000 dj http://girlapprehended.wordpress.com/?p=703 ]]>

Lately I have heard it mentioned many times that not every follower of Christ needs to do the same thing as another, at times. This is true. God does design it that everyone and their life and call in Him is different and therefore, requires different things from each of us.

We are to learn by the Holy Spirit and He will lead and teach us based on where we are at in the Lord. But I think we have to understand that the Lord intends for us all to come to the same maturity.

I say this because, as mentioned in my last post about whether to request a tax receipt or not for a financial donation to a charity or ministry, it is recognized that not everyone does, or feels, the same. Each person acts on the wisdom and understanding they have. This wisdom and understanding should be what has been taught to them by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, differences in the way we currently deal with this issue is acceptable, but God does not ideally want everyone ‘doing their own thing’.

We grow and learn in our spiritual maturity just as children grow and learn to mature. There are stages and each stage has its acceptable level of immaturity, but it is expected that the child will grow out of that immaturity and into greater maturity. So it goes with our spiritual growth. How else do we all come unto the full measure of the stature of Christ? How else are we all of one mind?

A different stand here might be to say that we are different parts of the same body and therefore we would not all be expected to treat one aspect of life the same as all others. The differences in the body, I think, are more appropriately assigned to our calling and ministries, however, not to our spiritual maturity.

Love is love. Faith is faith. Grace is grace. These aspects conduct themselves uniquely based on situations and circumstances, but the essence of these are to be the same in each of those unique situations. All from the same source, our Father.

To grow into the maturity of the character and nature of Christ, having the mind of Christ and growing unto the full measure of the stature of Christ, is to understand all things as the Father intends. He does not intend for anyone mature in Christ-like character, to believe that doing the wisest thing carnal men consider to do with their finances, for example, as a spiritual and Godly thing. The wisdom of men is foolishness to God. The wisdom of the Spirit is far greater than this.

To stay with the example of a tax receipt, when learning to be accountable for finances and coming under the discipline of accountability, it is good to learn to get a tax receipt and improving your financial situation this way. However, a tax receipt is not a spiritual thing. It is a worldly thing. It is very much of the economic system of which the Kingdom of Heaven does not conduct itself.

So we have to give our heads a shake now and then and realize that we are all in differing stages of growth, but it is expected that we will grow up and out of our immaturity and into greater spiritual maturity. We must learn to think, know and understand with the mind of Christ and not the carnal mind with its best worldly wisdom that is foolishness when measured by the Spirit.

We can tend to use our immaturity as an excuse and claim that this is what God has taught us, though He may be doing differently with someone else. He does do differently with all of us, but only in specifics for teaching, NOT in character and maturity.

You would do no different with your children. Having more than one child, would you expect one to grow up in maturity and another not? One may be athletic, or another disabled, but you would still desire each one to know love for each other, both to trust you, both to learn to make wise choices, etc, even though each must conduct his life a little differently.

Let’s stop making excuses for ourselves and for others too. There’s too much at stake to be lazy and childish where our spiritual growth is concerned. No, we do not have control of many aspects of our growth, any more than a child does, but we do, as children do, have the choice to rise up to maturity. Just as we recognize many children that are ‘wise beyond their years’, or simply quite mature for their age. I dare to say it is much the same for us in Christ.

seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

2 Peter 1:3 NASB

We have to stop whining and complaining like the Israelites in the wilderness.

We have to stop feeling sorry for ourselves.

We have to stop making excuses for ourselves.

We have to stop making excuses for others.

We have to stop doing what we’ve always done (spiritually speaking), and expect better results.

We have to start paying more attention to what the Spirit is saying.

We have to stop playing games and take on some responsibility.

We have to stop being offended and insulted.

We have to grow up!

We are not ‘safe’ because we are saved or born again. That only means we have eternal life. It does not mean we have the spiritual insight and understanding, fortitude and discernment to know what to do or when to do it, when the Lord requires. If we do not quickly become one whom He can count on to help others, we will be the needy ones and that will not please Him. Would that not be a disappointment to Him? Is that glorifying Him?

When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.  1 Corinthians 13:11

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, Hebrews 5:13 – 6:1

Let’s finally put the childish things behind us and grow up unto maturity, coming along side one another to help and encourage our friend and neighbor to do the same.

Recently I was asked, when giving some money to a ministry, if I wanted a tax receipt for the donation. My spirit adamantly said “No.” It was not a surprise to me. I knew I wouldn’t want a tax receipt, as this had happened to me before. The woman, who has a personal ministry to Africans that I believe is very much a ministry of the Lord, seemed at least a little surprised at my insistence against a tax receipt.

This made me later check in with the Lord and be sure I knew why. I didn’t want to “do what Jesus would do” as though mimicking would make me righteous or any more transformed into His nature. I really wanted to be absolutely sure I knew and understood why I did not want a tax receipt.

As I meditated on this, the Holy Spirit reminded me that a tax receipt is for Babylon’s purposes. The world’s economic system runs based on taxes and accountabilities this way and that. I ended up with the money in my hand on this occasion as a blessing from someone else. When I had received the money from them, the first thought was “Oh good, now I have something to give.” I knew that I had wanted to give, but was unprepared to do so. Here I find the Lord Himself, very much prepared to do so. He planned ahead, He arranged it and it was done.

The Lord has challenged me to live according to the principles of His Kingdom and not the principles of this World which I am in, but not of. He is my provision, He is my sustenance.

I appreciate that other people feel it is necessary to have a tax receipt, and I did at a time when the Lord was dealing with me concerning finances and a time of being responsible and accountable. So I understand some people seeing my actions as possibly irresponsible or unaccountable. Yet, it all comes down to what the Spirit is leading us to do at any given moment.

On meditating further, the Holy Spirit brought to mind the scripture;

“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Matthew 6:5 NASB

Receiving a tax receipt, is to me, as though I were calling recognition to myself, or tainting this good gift from the Father’s heart with my own ‘need’ to be compensated. I was not seeking recognition, even from the Father, for the giving of this gift, but I certainly did not want to disqualify myself from His momentary pleasure, for the sake of a small tax deduction.

This is certainly not a day to be trusting in our savings, or the economic system to sustain us. Does God not challenge our thinking that has been conformed to the ways of the world? We must learn to think with the Mind of Christ, do with the heart of Christ and this by hearing the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Wisdom, even when it would seem foolish to the ways of the world.

Has this sort of thing happened to you? How did you deal with it? It would be interesting to hear more people’s stories and see how the Spirit has lead different ones.

“Arise, shine.” Isaiah 60:1

We have to take the first step as though there were no God. It is no use to wait for God to help us, He will not; but immediately we arise we find He is there. Whenever God inspires, the initiative is a moral one. We must do the thing and not lie like a log. If we will arise and shine, drudgery becomes divinely transfigured.

Drudgery is one of the finest touchstones of character there is. Drudgery is work that is very far removed from anything to do with the ideal – the utterly mean grubby things; and when we come in contact with them we know instantly whether or not we are spiritually real. Read John 13. We see there the Incarnate God doing the most desperate piece of drudgery, washing fishermen’s feet, and He says – “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” It requires the inspiration of God to go through drudgery with the light of God upon it. Some people do a certain thing and the way in which they do it hallows that thing for ever afterwards. It may be the most commonplace thing, but after we have seen them do it, it becomes different. When the Lord does a thing through us, He always transfigures it. Our Lord took on Him our human flesh and transfigured it, and it has become for every saint the temple of the Holy Ghost.

by Oswald Chamber, My Utmost for His Highest

The All-Inclusive “In”

(partial Chapter 1 excerpt from ‘In Christ’) by T. Austin Sparks

There is no phrase or formula which occurs with greater frequency in the New Testament than this, “in Christ.” It sometimes varies in translations when “by” and “through” and “with” are used, and sometimes in the original text it changes in form, e.g. “in Christ Jesus,” “in him,” etc., but in all the two hundred times of its occurrence the principle is the same. In the whole range of Christian dogma there is nothing more expensive, and yet nothing less understood and appreciated.

In one consummate declaration we are told that God has purposed to sum up all things in Christ (Eph. 1:10) and that outside of Him there is nothing which has any place in the eternal purpose and intention of God. The plan, the method, the resources, the times, the eternities, are Christospheric.

The Creation is IN Christ.
The Life is IN Christ.
The Acceptance is IN Christ.
The Redemption is IN Christ.
The Righteousness is IN Christ.
The Sanctification is IN Christ.
The Hope is IN Christ.
The Spiritual Blessings are IN Christ.
The Consolation is IN Christ.
The Peace is IN Christ.
The Effectual Prayer is only IN Christ.
The Strength and Riches are IN Christ.
The Eternal Purpose is IN Christ.
The New Creation is IN Christ.
The Promises are IN Christ.
The Escape from Condemnation is IN Christ.
The One Body is IN Christ.
The Perseverance is IN Christ.
The Gathering into One is IN Christ.
The Bonds of Suffering Believers are IN Christ.
The “No Separation” is IN Christ.
The Perfect Man is IN Christ.
The Helpers Together are IN Christ.
There are the Churches IN Christ.
There are the Dead IN Christ.
There is the One New Man and the Perfect Man IN Christ.
We are Complete IN Christ.

The context of this formula ranges from eternity, through the ages, to eternity.

In eternity past we were chosen and elected together b Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 5:13.

Through time, by the Cross, this eternal heavenly fact is wrought in literal and experimental form expressed by different terms implying specific progressive spiritual truths, but always the same principle.

“Planted together in the likeness of his death. Rom. 6:5.
“Quickened… together with Christ.” Eph. 2:5.
“Raised… up together… in Christ.” Eph. 2:6.
“Made… to sit together… in Christ.” Eph. 2:6.
“All things to be gathered together… in Christ.” Eph. 1:10
“Perfected together.” 1 Cor. 1:10.
“Fitly framed together” in Christ. Eph. 2:21.
“Knit together,” Col. 2:2.
“Builded together” in Christ. Eph. 2:20.
“Live together with him.” 1 Thess. 5:10.
“Working together with him.” 2. Cor. 6:1.
“Striving together.” Phil. 1:27.

Then comes a climax, at the end of this time, when all the foregoing is accomplished and we are “together… caught up.” 1 Thess. 4:17.

Finally the eternity to come looms into view and we see that we are to be “glorified together” with Him. Rom. 8:17.

Then we call to mind the Pauline couplet – which is strictly not Pauline but of the Divine Spirit of truth – namely “in Adam” and “in Christ.” On the one side – our relation to Adam, the old creation, by nature – we see one set of conditions; and on the other – by our incorporation in Christ – we see a new and different set.

“IN ADAM”

“The Lord God… breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Gen. 2:7.
“The first man Adam became a living soul.” 1 Cor. 15:45.
“In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen. 2:17.
“As in Adam all die.” 1 Cor. 15:22.
“The law of sin and of death.” Rom. 8:2.
“He also is flesh.” Gen. 6:3.
“The flesh profiteth nothing.” John 6:63.
“I” – Failure. Rom. 7.
“The old man that waxeth corrupt.” Eph. 4:22.
“The mind of the flesh.” Rom. 8:6.
“In my flesh… no good thing.” Rom. 7:18.
“Of the flesh… corruption.” Gal. 6:8.
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” John 3:6.
“The end… death.” Rom. 6:21.

“IN CHRIST”

“He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22.
“The last Adam… a life-giving spirit.” 1 Cor. 15:45.
“Newness of life.” Rom. 6:4.
“In Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Cor. 15:22.
“The law of the Spirit of life.” Rom. 8:2.
“Spirit” – Victory. Rom. 8.
“The new man… created in righteousness and holiness of truth.” Eph. 4:24.
“The new man.” Col. 3:10.
“Newness of the spirit.” Rom. 7:6.
“In the likeness of his resurrection.” Rom. 6:5.
“Have crucified the flesh.” Gal. 5:24.
“Our old man was crucified.” Rom. 6:6.

All this, which is nothing more than quoting Scripture, will serve to emphasize the Divine inclusiveness and exclusiveness, and will help, we trust, to recognition of the great fact that NO MAN CAN LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE; THERE IS ONLY ONE WHO CAN LIVE THAT LIFE, AND THAT IS CHRIST HIMSELF. We must have such an experimental incorporation into Him that He lives His life through us as members of His one Body, so that “to me to live is Christ” and “it is no longer I… but Christ.” As the blacksmith’s iron is in the fire and also the fire is in the iron, so first we must realize our position in Christ through the Cross ere Christ can manifest Himself through us.

CHRIST TO BE EXPRESSED THROUGH BELIEVERS

It is very important to recognize a truth upon which Christ laid considerable emphasis, that is, that in a sense, He never intended to be out of this world again during the age, after having once come into it as His rightful heritage. He came to redeem it, to secure the judicial right to sovereignty in it, and to initiate, continue, and complete the restoration of it to His own dominion. This is all to be done by His own presence in it in one or other of the forms of His manifestation. While He said much about going away, and returning to the Father, He also made His abiding very clear in the words, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the consummation of the age.” Paul later said that the central feature or reality of “the mystery… hid from the ages…” is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

The personal physical presence of Christ in the world was firstly to manifest the nature, method, means, laws, purpose, and power of His abiding presence beyond the days of His flesh; and secondly to make this possible and actual by the work of His Cross. He Who was born out from God shows what is the necessity for and the nature of being “born of the Spirit” if the will of God is to be done on the earth as it is done in the heavens. Then right at the commencement of His ministry He puts the Cross in the figure of baptism. From that time all that He said and did was in the light and power of the Cross. The teaching of Christ can never be effectual, and the works of Christ can never be continued, unless the Cross is the basis. To try to propagate “the teaching of Jesus” or to effect the work of Jesus without having as the basis all that He meant by His Cross, is to labour in vain and without the acceptance of the Father. It will be necessary to return to this connection again at a later stage. So far, however, it leads us to the point where we see that, having in His personal physical presence established the basis and nature of His permanent work, He by the Cross effected that which made possible the bringing of men on to the same plane or into the same realm, and then changed the separate and individual presence for the corporate and universal. Thus “the church, which is His body” was brought into being as the abiding instrument of His world-incarnation. This is the only kind of “church” which He recognizes, made up of those who have been “joined unto the Lord… one spirit.” The nature of this joining remains also for later consideration. The word or term “Body” is not mere metaphor. The members of His Body stand in relation to Christ just as our physical bodies stand in relation to our own selves – the means of manifestation, expression, and transaction. This truth is very discriminating, and goes to the root of all matters of life and service. “Working for the Lord,” “praying to the Lord,” etc., will be seen to have a deeper law which governs their effectiveness.

We cannot take up work for Christ – plan, scheme, devise, organize or enter upon Christian enterprise – and so command the Divine seal and blessing. We cannot pray as we incline, even though it be to the extent of passion and tears, and so secure the Divine response. Failure to recognize this is bringing multitudes of people to despair because of no seal upon their ardent labours, and no answer to their prayers. In the unfolding of the laws of His own effective life the Master put tremendous emphasis upon the fact that the words that He spoke, and the works that He did, were not of (out from) Himself, it was the Father both speaking the words and doing the works. A thorough study of the Gospel by John will convince that this was so. Said Christ, “The Son can do nothing out from himself, but what he seeth the Father doing…” and this knowledge of the transactions of the Father as to what, how, and when – all most important – was, as He made clear, because He abode in the Father. So for all the future of His work He prayed that His disciples might abide in Him. Thus the law of effective and fruitful life, service, prayer, etc., is that there shall be such a oneness that we only do – but surely do – what He is doing. We must know in our spirit just what Christ is doing, how He is doing it, the means which He will use, and His time for it. Moreover, our prayers must be the prayers of the Lord Himself prayed in us and through us by the Holy Spirit. This is surely made very clear as being the realm in which the Church in apostolic times lived. This will demand a considerable sifting of all undertakings in the name of Jesus, and will require that nothing is done until the mind of the Lord has been made known. But this will secure a hundred percent effectiveness, and issues which will never perish. For the practical purposes of God in this age Christ is the One Body holding fast the Head, and the business of every member is to realize more and more fully the meaning of this incorporation and oneness of identity.

We are expressly told in the Word that we are to “put on the new man” and that this “new man” is Christ. This is but another form of expressing the truth of “in Christ,” but it carries with it a whole revelation of practical provision.

Christ is our Redemption. He “was made unto us… redemption.” 1 Cor. 1:30; Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14.

Christ is our Righteousness. 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 4:24; Phil. 3:9.

Christ is our Sanctification. 1 Cor. 1:2,30.

Christ is our Faith. Mark. 11:22 (“Have the faith of God,” lit. trans.); Acts. 26:18; Gal. 2:20 (R.V.); Eph. 1:15; Phil. 3:9; Col. 1:4.

Christ is our Peace. John 14:27; John 16:33; Eph. 2:14.

This line can be followed on numerous characteristics, e.g. Love, Hope, Wisdom, Mind, Power and Might, Authority, Glory. We suggest a comparison of translations in the references, best of all in the original. The point is that, on all these matters, under given conditions the natural outfit will break down and will have to be laid aside, but in Christ we have a new equipment at every point. For instance, our faith will not take the strain of the requirements of a deep experience of trial and adversity, but if we “live by the faith of the Son of God,” the issue will be different. All tests will prove whether we are living by His faith which should have become ours, or whether there is a weakness in our union with Him. The same is true on all points. It is blessed to realize that “in Christ” we have a whole new and saving endowment of virtues and graces. Thus it is that we “put away… the old man… and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth” (Eph. 4:22-24).

by T. Austin Sparks

http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/in_christ.html

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1. being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24)

2. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  (Romans 6:11)

3. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 6:23)

4. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  (Romans 8:1)

5. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  (Romans 8:2)

6. nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:39)

7. so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12:5)

8. To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:2)

9. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:4)

10. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,  (1 Corinthians 1:30)

11. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.  (1 Corinthians 3:1)

12. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.             (1 Corinthians 4:15)

13. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.(1 Corinthians 4:17)

14. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.                  (1 Corinthians 15:18)

15. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.    (1 Corinthians 15:19)

16. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.                      (1 Corinthians 15:22)

17. But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.                        (2 Corinthians 2:14)

18. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:14)

19. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

20. namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  (2 Corinthians 5:19)

21. But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.  (Galatians 2:4)

22. nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.  (Galatians 2:16)

23. in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.                (Galatians 3:14)

24. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  (Galatians 3:26)

25. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  (Galatians 3:28)

26. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.  (Galatians 5:6)

27. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  (Ephesians 1:3)

28. with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him  (Ephesians 1:10)

29. to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:12)

30. and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:6)

31. so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  (Ephesians 2:7)

32. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.  (Ephesians 2:10)

33. to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,  (Ephesians 3:6)

34. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.  (Ephesians 4:32)

35. Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,  (Philippians 2:1)

36. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,              (Philippians 2:5)

37. for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,  (Philippians 3:3)

38. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:14)

39. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:7)

40. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

41. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.  (Colossians 1:24)

42. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.  (Colossians 1:28)

43. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.  (Colossians 2:5)

44. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,  (1 Thessalonians 2:14)

45. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.             (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

46. in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.                (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

47. and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.  (1 Timothy 1:14)

48. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.  (1 Timothy 3:13)

49. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, (2 Timothy 1:1)

50. who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,  (2 Timothy 1:9)

51. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  (2 Timothy 1:13)

52. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.                 (2 Timothy 2:1)

53. For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.  (2 Timothy 2:10)

54. Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.                 (2 Timothy 3:12)

55. and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (2 Timothy 3:15)

56. Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,  (Philemon 1:8)

57. Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.  (Philemon 1:20)

58. and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  (1 Peter 3:16)

59. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.  (1 Peter 5:10)

60. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.        (1 Peter 5:14)

“Get over yourself.” This is what the Holy Spirit has been saying to me lately. He gets His point across to me in a language I understand.

The expression ‘get over yourself’ is used more in the context of someone who is very proud and full of themselves. So, I guess, it is fitting that He would use this expression of me, meaning my ‘self’, flesh or ‘old man’.

I am ever learning who I am in Christ and what that means. Part of that means He in me is capable of all things, and anything He needs to be capable of through me at any given time.

So when the Lord is leading me, or outright telling me, to step up to do or say something I haven’t done before (as simple little me), He isn’t asking me to check if my introvert personality can do this extroverted thing, or if I have any experience or expertise in it either. And if things match up I can go ahead, but if they don’t I shouldn’t. Instead He is telling me to step up, walk in faith (walk on water) and ‘do’ the impossible IN HIM.

What I have found is that He usually steps up too and takes over the ‘doing’ while I enjoy witnessing it.

Telling me to step up like that is as though He were telling me to take a step over the Jordan into the promised land. The giants I have seen there before were weaknesses in my personality, things I am not or haven’t been good at, things I don’t like to do, am uncomfortable doing, etc. But I found that as I step up to the border, the edge of the known, and face the ‘unknown’, it is only like tall, dry grass. I pull out a simple blade (courage/faith) and cutting the grass down with every obedient step, I blaze a trail into the new land. This is not as scary as I had first thought (at least so far. I don’t want to get too ahead of myself). These giants were only shadows. I take them down like dry grass! I am possessing the Land!

The outward experience usually begins with me noticing I am behaving slightly different than ‘myself’ or how I know myself after the flesh. (We are to no longer know any man after the flesh, even ourselves). I’m experiencing peace where I usually get rattled or frustrated. I am calm where I usually feel tense. This is so wonderful and I relish it. I know now it is Christ living in and through me. The outward experience isn’t yet all the time and always, but this is the goal. I actually have no control over it myself. If it were a simple switch I would flip it on and leave it on!

I don’t tend to argue with the Lord much anymore. He has taken all the wind out of my argument and taken much of the substance out of my giants! Well, I have to be careful, I haven’t been tested in all things, so I can’t say it is done all across the board. It has been done to some degree so far. Amen. Either way, I know He is in me to will and to do for His good pleasure, and in Him (only in Him) I can do all things.

This obviously goes for you too. If you have been brought to the brink of the unknown yourself, by the Holy Spirit, listen closely. When you start to tell Him why you can’t or why someone else should be a better pick than you, remember who you are in Christ, and stop. You’ll probably hear Him telling you something like “get over yourself”.

In answer to a comment made on my previous post, I have read the recommended “God’s Translator’s” by Kim Clement. Thanks for that, Jeff. I couldn’t find it on Kim Clement’s website, but I did find it here, http://tinyurl.com/dnx826

Kim is essentially saying there are three stages of translating a truth given us by God. The birth, the death and the resurrection, or Revelation (the discovery of the truth), Illumination (understanding of that truth), and Inspiration (communication of that truth).

During each of these phases, you are given the ability to translate a portion or a piece of God’s script.

What I love about this is we are all of one body and that body is Christ. Christ is an anointing of all that God is, love, mercy, justice, grace, truth, etc. Though no member of the body is made to be identical to another, we are each a representation of His image. Everyone unique and special.

This is why we shouldn’t ever refuse someone just because they come in a different ‘flavour’ than we are used to. We may very well be rejecting the Lord Himself when we do that.

Revelation is the opening up of a new understanding to us. So we can expect many things to be different than what we previously understood. If God should choose to bring that truth aspect of Himself to you through one you were not very comfortable receiving from, what is that? Is it not your flesh that is uncomfortable? We have been crucified, so get over it. Seek to hear, see and know the Spirit of the Lord in all things.

As we go through the process Kim Clement outlines we grow in our knowledge of the Lord. And a true translator of the word and truth of God is the Word made flesh. WE are the translator’s because WE are the message. As His word transforms US into His image, we are the message. This is not what Kim said in his article, this is me translating his message into what I know the truth to be.

I get frustrated with God being preached as ‘out there somewhere’. He is IN US. We are IN HIM. He is transforming US into His image. Jesus is the word made flesh, the firstborn of many brethren. He is the pattern Son. There are yet to be more Sons of God revealed, and they can and will only be revealed when they have come unto the full measure of the stature of Christ. We come unto that full measure by being transformed here and now, before death, before the end, and all in the process of our lives here and now.

There is no other message that gets me more excited than sharing this. We are being transformed into His nature! Out of our nature and into His!

Kim Clement speaks to many people all the time. He is revered as a prophet of God and people follow his ministry. Should he not know yet that he is to be conformed and made into the image of Christ? As a prophet, other than his prophecies, should this not be the message he brings? Should this not be the reason others look to him, because he is an aspect of the Word made flesh? Is that not why the world should look on us (believers) as a wonder?

I think Christendom gets a little too excited about signs and wonders, even prophecies, without realizing God intends for US to be the true sign and wonder that dispels the myth of mortality and death being as grim and morbid as it is. There is an eternal hope, a way and means of overcoming sin and death, which is CHRIST and Him crucified, dead, buried and resurrected.

Unless we translate God’s message of hope, love, grace and salvation with the proof of our lives (our nature, not our bank accounts and tithing record or gifts to charities), it’s just a sales pitch. My previous post about Ted Haggard touches on that. Ted said that he had preached on God coming for the unrighteous, but now he KNOWS He came for the unrighteous. Ted has now become a translation and a living proof of that truth and that word coming from him, now has power. Not a fleshly persuasive power, but the power of the word of God to change one who hears it by the spirit drawing him to God.

There is truly nothing greater, nothing more fantastic and wonderful than God changing us into His image. My spiritual walk is completely preoccupied with this. In submitting myself to Him for this work in every moment of my life, this is my ministry to Him. I live out from there and my life becomes a ministry to anyone and everyone in any way and every way as I am who I am in Christ. To me, this is worship.

I welcome your take on what I’ve shared. It is entirely how I see it and I know others may view things differently. Even if my message is not what you’re used to, I hope you seek the Lord and His Spirit in it anyway. I will seek the Spirit and anything God would have to share with me from your responses.