THE SECRET PLACE
Jesus is not a place you go – but a person you know

PART 21

THE NAIL, THE FILE AND THE FIRE

There are many different interpretations that attempt to explain the mysteries of life concerning reason and destiny. Many of these scholarly opinions are available to the truth seekers like fruit on a tree, with as many arguments as there are flavors. Sadly, most of the population does not even care to search for the “deep” answers, leaving only a small band of “diggers” to examine and sift knowledge like those who pan for gold. It’s true; our views of God are confirmed with the artifacts and historical record of Biblical information, but however we arrange our concept of the Almighty, most of our convictions come from our faith. For example, predestination is one of the most difficult views concerning the meaning of life. Some like to believe “happy thoughts” that Jesus rescued all humans from eternal death and that we’ll all be one big family one day. Some people are convinced that only the chosen will go to heaven while everyone else will be lost. Yet others hold dear to the legalistic interpretation that believes life is like a math test and each person must score a certain grade to “earn” eternal life. Nevertheless, we must remember that whatever our views about the divine order of the universe – God is sovereign. This means that man cannot take credit for how wonderful he thinks he is. God is the creator, the sculptor, and the purifier and He alone decides what he will keep and how He will use it.

The carpenter wears a nail pouch and fills it with instruments (nails) that have the purpose of ‘assisting” with construction. The carpenter has the desire, vision, blueprints and materials for the project and will use the nails to help accomplish his plans. Since God is the carpenter and the project is His kingdom then we can see that some have been called to be nails. He chooses and uses the nails according to his good pleasure and the nails do not have any say in the matter. He uses them in different places, discarding those that cannot be used, bending them then pulling them out and so on. The point is that he uses them where and when he wants with some not being used at all. If the nails were NOT delivered to the site along with the lumber they would never have a purpose in all eternity without the builder empowering them to their destiny. When the structure is complete do the nails get any glory? Are they ever mentioned in the end as taking any credit with the builder? Does anyone ever say, it is the nails that are holding the vision and structure together? Each nail had a destiny but not all of them accomplished it. Many allowed their freewill to stop them from being used. Some wanted to be a kitchen knife, a fishhook or a police badge. Let it be said, after our life is over and we lay everything at His feet, our reward will be our obedience.

The one, who works with metal uses a file made of hard, sharpened steel. There are course files and fine files but all were made to grind away softer metal until the desired shape appears. This is an act of labor on the part of the skilled artisan, and excruciating agony to the sacrifice being grinded. If God is the sculptor and each of his children is an individual chunk of metal then we can see life through the perspective of His eyes and in a more humbling position, I might say. It is the creator that chooses his pieces of metal to shape and He knows exactly what he is trying to do and what the finished product will be. He grinds as much or as little as he wants on each piece as the metal cannot reject his ideas and has no power to resist his intervention. The metal is at the mercy of the one who holds the tools and is never recognized as playing a part in the creation process. This is another example of the fact that if God does not change you, you cannot change yourself. The lump of clay will sit on the table forever until the potter decides to create. Modern secular psychology teaches that we can shape ourselves without God but it is a humanist lie. We may paint and change our exterior but Jesus is the only power that can transform the spirit. This is the “image” of divine sovereignty.

The furnace is a place of destruction and yet at the same, a chamber that can bring “beauty for ashes.” Just as new plant life eventually emerges from the devastation of a raging forest fire; the heat of the furnace eliminates the old and enables the new to present itself better than before. God’s most awesome instrument of teaching and shaping his elect is the Refiners fire. It is the place of tears and humility, a journey of pain and suffering that produces spiritual purification and strength. The fires of God bring maturity to all three parts of man, the body, mind and spirit, as a complete metamorphosis of our being. Like a blacksmith God can heat the steel to a cherry red glow then pound it with a heavy hammer until it becomes a manifestation of his vision. On the other hand, he can melt the “precious” metal until it becomes liquid then scrape off the filth and corruption that has been imbedded deep within. It is in the understanding of fire and heat that one can see a glimpse of God’s intense love and how determined He is about his plans for us. His character and nature are filled with mercy but they work together with His white-hot Word of holiness and truth. His furnace is to bring us closer to him and should be considered an act of grace for the ones found worthy to serve him. The ore and raw materials are just rocks and mineral compounds that are useless in their present form waiting for the transformation process. People who think this life is only for their own pleasure and enjoyment will not be included in the next life with God. Steel must be tempered in order to be strong and durable, and this requires much more than a religious experience. Once again the metal has no control about going into the fire, how long to stay or any input as to why. Those who are selected to endure this trial of agony will never receive glory for shaping itself. Every knee will bow down to the Lord of the fiery furnace and the King of all creation. Those who are not selected in this life to be consumed and transformed will face an eternal fire of another kind in a smoldering dump of rejection and shame. This is the divine reality of divine sovereignty.

No one ever chose to be born but was created by God who holds the keys to life and death. Who is man, (in his fragile mortal shell with no supernatural power) to believe that he can make his own decisions? Is it not God (who is in total control) that “allows” us to draw each breath? God did not create life with such meticulous detail then just hand it all over to creatures that are carnally minded without consequences. If we could see what was going to happen we could prepare and thus change our dimension – but since we are limited in our ability to see beyond the present, it is unrealistic to determine that chunks of metal or lumps of clay could “navigate” the world in the right direction completely on our own.

Salvation is good news, but what most people are not taught is what it really means. Being redeemed with Jesus blood is the greatest gift that has ever been given and is the ultimate blessing of love and compassion in the universe. The “imposter version” presents an illusion of comfort and ease that causes many to become derailed with pride. Deeply knowing God is to perceive spiritual reality and discerning the difference between a life of comfort and luxury – and divine truth. This includes seeing ourselves the way God sees us and becoming a “living” sacrifice as we surrender our will on HIS alter. Amen.

THE SECRET PLACE
Jesus is not a place you go – but a person you know

PART 20

“TAKE HEED THAT NO MAN DECEIVE YOU”
(Matthew 24:4)

“For by him were ALL things created, that are in heaven, and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL things were created BY HIM and for Him: And He is before ALL things, and by Him ALL things consist.” (Colossians 1:16, 17)

The Lord is wonderful! He is just and merciful to all people! There are many things we do not understand about the way He thinks – but we trust Him completely in His decisions. We know He is absolute truth and His ways are so much higher than our mortal ability to comprehend. His wisdom is like the iceberg that allows us to see barely above the surface, while the infinite storehouse of His knowledge and complex reasons are reserved in the divine depths of His sovereignty and omnipotence.

Love is the strongest demonstration associated with the giving of ones self to another and faith is the most courageous form of trusting. As love prepares and knows the cost of sacrifice, faith also believes though it cannot see. Faith embraces patience when there is no comprehension how God is going to provide a way for it to be done. Faith chooses to walk on air even when it cannot see the reality of an invisible bridge. Faith reaches out, takes the unseen hand of God, and courageously presses on “through” the fire and the flood. There are times of joy and laughter on mountain peaks and there are times of agony and sorrow in the shadows of the valleys. Nevertheless, we sing of His glory and His awesome love that knows every heart – feels every pain and sees every tear. It is Jesus we lean on, the one we trust with our every breath. As the song says, “He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own”. I will abide in the peace of His presence and the eternal security of His promises.

Our life is not necessarily “graded” with how many Bible classes we have attended or the amount of religious books we have in our library. It’s not the walls of awards we can receive, the name or denomination of our church or how many times we say, “May God bless you”. The most important decision anyone can make is presented in the first chapter of the book of James. “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, (the excess of sinfulness), and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your soul.” The Word of God is so sharp and precise! This short and simple statement very quickly sums up the core message of volumes of theology concerning salvation. We can talk about doctrines and religious legalism for years, but in the end, it is all about the reality of being transformed from the old spirit that loved sin – into being born-again with a new spirit that receives the miraculous power of God’s divine truth. It is the personal relationship with the divine Lord of heaven and earth that is being established in this life and will be continued in heaven.

The labor of religion is not always genuine because many things can be done with wrong motives. It is possible to do moral deeds that are done in the strength of our will, for the purpose of gaining respect while trying to earn God’s favor. The genuine act of spiritual obedience is always based on listening to God’s voice and doing exactly what He says – no less and no more. These are the accomplishments where God receives all the glory and is pleased with our response. Acts of purity that have agape love as the motive are rewarded with spiritual blessings. The Lord is not deceived with counterfeit sacrifices of worship or service. This brings me to a very important point that seems to be slipping away from the modern Christian atmosphere. As the church world labors to increase technology and sophistication for the purpose of keeping up with the entertainment world, may God’s people not forget the real reason for their labor. There is so much Kingdom work that can be done, it has become noticeable that many participators and spectators within the Body of Christ have forgotten who the King is. They have a form of Godliness by knowing religious “information” but they DENY His power by not knowing or RESPECTING His Word. Satan is mounting a full attack on God’s church because he knows the days are short. It is an all out assault on absolute truth as he pours out his lies that are saturated with compromise. Satan hates God’s Word because it is the ONLY power that can redeem a spirit. He is influencing pastors to focus on the chaotic humanism of psychology and meaningless philosophy that is contaminating the churches with apathy. The result is the lack of God’s presence, miracle power, anointing, faith, boldness, hope, holiness, and love. The religious masses will not feel the impact of sin within the walls because it has already become numb to it in their personal lives. The presence of God in the assembly of the saints is always measured by the discipline and seriousness of the individuals.

If a true remnant believer is in the midst of a harlot religious system, they will either flee from the heresy and carnality of a performance driven program or compromise! Where there is reverence and respect for who God is and the humility and sensitivity to allow Him to control His own agenda – there is the same Spirit of Christ that empowered Pentecost. Those who walk the narrow path of holiness and allow Him to reign in their heart, are the true disciples, ambassadors and representatives of His glorious Kingdom. The remnant is a collection of genuine saints within a massive population of Pharisees. The Pharisees had an emotional zeal and were devout in their religion but they were NOT connected to God spiritually. Some estimate as much as 80 percent of the church world has possibly never been born-again, but live under a delusion that is a counterfeit relief from a guilty conscience. The evidence proves true for those who have no conviction or interest in developing a personal relationship with Jesus after the applause and congratulations. We stand up and cry, “How could this be possible?” Then we remember when Pilate offered to release either Jesus or Barabbas to the Jews, they cried, “Give us Barabbas”. In this light, it is no wonder the modern congregations cannot discern the Holy Spirit, receive divine enlightenment of God’s Word or understand the revelation of love and faith. How can the blind see or feel the presence of God if they do not KNOW God? How can they cry out in repentance if they feel no conviction for sin? How can they know right from wrong if they do not have the Spirit of absolute truth dwelling within them? In addition, how will they have the courage and the discernment to stand for God’s Word if they do not have the Holy Spirit that can help them know the interpretation? Being born again is like dialing into a radio channel. There must be a signal and a receiver. The signal is broadcast in a specific frequency and the receiver must be dialed in EXACTLY – in order for there to be a perfect connection! Those who are lost – do not have the right receiver and are not connected to God at all. Jesus said, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN” (John 3:7) Since many of the world’s churches are filled with emotional religion, it is easy to see how the New World Order will deceive them into accepting every decorated lie in the name of political and social justice. The perfect example of the blind – leading the blind! Are you determined to be a part of God’s remnant? Selah.

It may be unusual to use the word “integrity” to describe God, however it is interesting to observe the meaning found in the Oxford Dictionary. “moral uprightness; honesty; wholeness; soundness; righteousness; honor; principal; decency; goodness; virtue; incorruptibility; purity; veracity; entirety; trustworthiness; totality; completeness; unity; oneness; consistent; valid.” Describing God as having integrity is just a glimpse of His attributes – yet a sobering reminder of who He is and how we should respond to Him. He is not a regular man that makes mistakes or plays favorites. He does not cut corners, cheat, compromise, or do anything that is contrary to what He has spoken. This highest level of divine perfection is reserved only for Himself as no other being has ever or will ever be like Him. In fact, we noticed in the opening scripture that ALL things were given the gift of life BY Him, including all false idols and religions. For those who believe that abiding in sin is no big deal and that God accepts their rebellion, it needs to be said the only reason someone can even exist in the act of being an intentional sinner is from His longsuffering patience and mercy. He is not allowing anyone to be a heathen publicly or secretly because He is “OK” with it. His sovereignty allows for a person to have freewill and He has an appointed time and a just measurement that He will decide when enough is enough. For the church to teach that God loves us, “just the way we are” is walking out on a dangerous ledge. He loves us in our present state and stands with His arms wide-open ready to receive our REPENTANCE! He is thrilled with our decision to follow Him but also has every intention of seeing us grow and CHANGE into a new creation. Remaining the way we are is NOT the idea of total salvation (body, soul and spirit) – it is all about spiritual metamorphosis! The power of His love transforms us and provides the conditions for a spiritual “evolution”! We are saved – we are being saved – and we will be saved – entirely by His blood soaked grace and not by humanistic daydreams. Selah.

“Heavenly Father, we cry out to you this hour. We need you desperately to shake us and awake us from our sleep. Please refill us, empower us, regenerate us, and REVIVE US! We are tired Oh God, and many of us are crying, come quickly Lord Jesus. The harvest is white and we must rise up and shake off our discouragement. Our worries and concerns for the world are heavy; please give us your JOY and a VISION to do your will. We must stay focused on YOU and not be overwhelmed. In your Holy Name, we pray, amen.” “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

THE SECRET PLACE
“He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

PART 16

GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF OUR TIME

It is not a secret or a mystery, that many things in this life can influence and effectively distract us. I realize that we can blame the modern advancement of our culture as an excuse why we are so busy, but we are only justifying our distorted motives. We can live in denial and be convinced that we do not have the time to enjoy the simple things in life, but we are just playing selfish games. If we stand back and pray for the ability to see God’s view, we may notice “we” have actually designed our lifestyle. This is the reason why most people do not enjoy the tranquility of being silent before the Lord and run away from the idea of spending private time with Him. It is easier to hear the whisper of God when we are quiet and this is why many are uncomfortable. We do not want to feel His conviction telling us we are wrong. Many do not want to face the idea of a future occasion where they will stand before God and give an account.

Let us look at an interesting example. The recent gun argument is becoming the hot topic of the day similar to the prohibition war that was raging seventy years ago. (This article is not about my opinions about the right to bear arms or gun control). The parallel I am trying to focus on is; a gun by itself has never killed anyone, just as knives do not stab people or missiles do not blow up cities all by themselves. Likewise, a television or any other communication device is a created, inanimate object that can be used as an instrument to project sin or it can be used to broadcast God’s truth. Each one of us operates with our freewill to choose every minute what we will say, what we listen to, what we watch and how we will act.

I must admit that what I am about to say also includes me. I have spent my fair share of time watching reality television, especially the ones that are about home improvements. I find these interesting because I enjoy working on my home and seeing new ideas and products. I am not saying these programs are corrupting us, but rather they are consuming our time. Who is really in control – the one holding the remote or the one doing all the talking? The other day, someone at work mentioned how the ancient Romans were infatuated with violence and allowed their conscience to become calloused toward watching humans being devoured by wild animals within the confines of a sports arena. I am convinced our curious nature has a built-in capacity to absolutely, “love” to watch others. In addition, it would seem the appetite for entertainment and violence never becomes satisfied. This craving and addiction for human “reality” has been a part of our personality since creation. Most people love to gossip and talk about what everyone else is doing. Soap operas have always enjoyed huge audiences of people who were mesmerized at how other people live. Romance novels are another example of being addicted to the fantasies of love and intimacy and of course, pornography has become nothing less than a social plague. We now have created more opportunities to satisfy the carnal nature to become socially absorbed with things like, surfing the internet, magazines, reading books on our electronic devices, video games, movies, facebook, twitter, texting and e-mail – in addition to being in a trance in front of the television all night long – every night! What is my point? We are surrendering to the temptation of a “spectator” mentality. Who is tempting us? Satan! Why? Because, he desires to distract us from our mission to pray, fast, study, learn, develop and grow strong in the anointing and power of God. We have welcomed the voice of the world to dominate the atmosphere of our home and it has become a form of mental and spiritual “bondage”. “No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil (steal) his goods, except he will first BIND THE STRONG MAN; and then he will spoil his house.” (Mark 3:27)

Without firing a shot, Satan has slipped into the homes of God’s people and spiritually tied them up and gagged them. He is subtle; he introduces himself as enjoyment, an innocent, harmless entertainment. Not only are people wasting the entire evening, they stay up so late, they are too tired to pray. This is clearly the sin of omission and since we know better, it is intentional and premeditated. The devil’s strategy is deadly and focused on one thing – if he can prevent the gospel from being sown into the hearts of the lost – they will die without Christ. How is he doing that? Instead of us doing what we need to be doing, we are sitting around indulging in our own pleasure!

Do we really believe our spiritual life can afford spending all our spare time watching how other people live? Are we consumed with a spirit of entertainment? Have we convinced ourselves it is acceptable in the sight of God that we become “absorbed” with trying to see what other people are doing all the time? Well brother, I do not see it as wasting my time; I am doing exactly what I want to do! Yes, I know – that is the problem. Whoever is born of God and professes they are a representative of His Kingdom, should read the fine print about the requirements and responsibilities of being a Christian. When Jesus died and rose from the dead, He established a blood covenant that paid the price to redeem our soul. In exchange for this ultimate sacrifice, He made it clear that we are not our own. Is it possible to say we want to walk with God and yet be determined to live our own life? It seems to be a contradiction of His Word, for the lukewarm lovers of self, to be counted among the pleasing and faithful servants of God. Is it not true; we will do whatever is important to us? Selah. We may complain about being driven to exhaustion and we can make excuses about why we feel empty inside, but maybe it is because we are trying to hold the steering wheel? Jesus being our Lord means that He “leads us”. Many times, we forget we are called His “followers”. This means we only do what He say’s and we stay away from the sin that disappoints Him. There is no such thing as A Christian walk where you live however you want. Everything has to be done His way or it does not count for anything.

I am convinced there are even worse consequences with being lukewarm than just drifting away from Fathers presence. There is a reason we have been commanded to buckle our armor and fasten it tight. It is not a joke to make sure our sword is sharp and that our shield be raised at ALL times. Knowing God’s Word is knowing God Himself – and this is our victory! Our Lord realizes, the enemy watches us and waits for us to become vulnerable. When everything is going good and we become relaxed, it is easy to allow a breech in our spiritual security and become susceptible to demonic attack. The devil capitalizes on our “natural” weaknesses and takes the path of least resistance when it comes to tempting us with sin. For him it’s easy – he knows we love ourselves! We are very simple creatures (sheep) and are usually willing to trade bondage for pleasure. Jesus may try to warn, convict, and chastise us, but He will not force us to repent. Sadly, not just the lost, but also many religious “believers” have been destroyed by their own freewill. “For there shall arise false Christ’s and false prophets, and will show great signs and wonders; in as much that, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, they would deceive the very elect.” (Mathew 24:24) So, if the time we are wasting with (whatever we love and serve) could be invested into prayer that would bring miracles – then how much are we being held accountable for?

THE SECRET PLACE
“He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

PART 15

WHOM SHALL I SEND,
WHO WILL GO FOR US?

Sometimes in life, we need to stand back and try to see the “big picture”. It is amazing how our experiences and what we have learned, can influence the way we think. I have an unusual spiritual background but also have been hindered in my life because of the way I perceive the church and what God expects from His people. I just wanted to sit down, put my views on paper, and ask the Lord to help me sort out my expectations from God’s reality. For those of you that know me and have read my writings over the years, you know that I have a vision to see the glory of God being manifest in our midst. I expect to see miracles and manifestations of divine power just like when Jesus walked the earth. Am I a dreamer? Please do not misunderstand me, I still believe this can happen and that God desires to demonstrate His power, but as it has always been – there are problems on the human end. These “problems” within the congregations have been very frustrating for me and has caused me to become twisted up in knots. I have blamed myself and others for not being spiritual enough, desperate enough, holy enough or just not having a strong determination. I have criticized pastors for not allowing the freedom of the Holy Spirit to flood the services. I have warned the people for being satisfied with their “amount” of God, and how it seemed they did not want to jump in at the deep end. I have rebuked the traditional church because of their seemingly lukewarm attitude and their religious game playing. I have said for years, that no wonder Jesus does not go in many churches, because the masses do not want Him or His piercing truth that demands for them to change their lives. I have asked the Lord to forgive me for my attitude. Granted, some of these things may be true, but it has caused much grief within my heart. I just want to know what is true and how to operate in God’s will. Let’s go on.
I want to share a little bit about my background. I was raised in a traditional independent Baptist church. The services were normal and very much like most all other Christian meetings. In 1972 when I was 14, I accepted Christ and was baptized. I went to Sunday school, and as I grew, I joined the youth group and participated in the Bible quizzes. After learning to play the guitar, I led our teenage group in worship songs and every now and then a special. I had serious questions even at this early age and was always told that the age of miracles had passed and now we live by faith. It seemed to me, that faith was what God was looking for in order to perform His miracles, but who was I to argue? A few years passed and I married my wife who was a Southern Baptist. We attended her church and I became involved with a quartet and sang specials with my guitar. I had the same questions there and was told the same thing. One day I asked the pastor how he received his messages, and he opened up a filing cabinet and showed me his sermons that were dated and prepared. He said he cycles them and no one ever remembers or notices they are the same every year. I thought the man of God was to listen to the Lord and receive a fresh word each week. I realize it is still God’s Word, but I just had higher “spiritual” expectations from such a holy office. I believe it is a humbling responsibility in the realm of acts and deeds to sincerely relay what God is saying to the people.
We left and started to visit some Pentecostal churches and independent full-gospel assemblies. As we joined the leaders of these churches, we were taught about the great coming revival and outpouring of the Holy Spirit and how God was ready to move in supernatural power among His people. At last, I had finally found some disciples who were saying things I felt good about. I was still singing specials with my guitar and during a revival, an evangelist called me out and gave me a prophetic word. He said that soon I would begin to write the “new song” of the Spirit. As he left that night, I followed him out to his car for “more information” about this, but he said that was all the Lord gave him to say. I walked away not knowing what to expect, as I had not written a song before. A week later, I started scribbling down words at work, and when I would come home, I would pick up the guitar and sing the song. It was truly a miracle that I could do this and the prophetic songs just kept coming. Soon, I was writing special musical messages before the church services and after I sang them, the pastor would say, that is exactly what the Lord told me to preach. Therefore, as I have had a “personal” experience of being a Psalmist and a worship leader, I was very serious about this spiritual phenomenon and was very intense about this gift. Throughout my experiences, it has been somewhat discouraging because only a handful has ever understood them or appreciated them. However, actually, this is normal. The degree that we accept “anything” with a spiritual content is a direct reflection of just how serious we are to know God. It has been surveyed the average church member only retains about five percent of the message because they do not take notes.
We continued to hear messages about how through the covenant of Christ, we will see the restoration of the tabernacle of David, and the anointing will be poured out on God’s son’s and daughters. This is where I believe I became a little side tracked. I believe this is happening and will increase, but too much emphasis has been put on this manifesting only in the corporate “church” meetings – and not enough is being mentioned about having a Holy Ghost filled LIFESTYLE. These leaders have made their “living” in the arena of organized church and that is where they put all of their attention. They did not want the “church” to think that God’s people can act independently under the anointing and leadership of the Holy Spirit, without the covering and direction of a church leader. If this were true, (and it is), these pastors would not be needed to baby-sit the spectators. It reminds me of the Catholic legalities that teach how the church leaders have all the attention and authority, while the members are devoted more to the religious organization than to God Himself. The idea of having people confess to a priest for the forgiveness of sins is just another way to control the thoughts and finances of the weak and deceived. While on the subject of church leadership, allow me say that many leaders that have become pastors, are not really called pastors at all. Those that are talented and have gifts to teach, eventually learn that it is difficult to make money in the ministry. Lay teaching, music, visiting, and helps within the church are usually volunteer, but those who believe they have a spiritual calling to lead and want to make a living at it, realize the only way to have ministry as a profession, is to be a pastor. This is another reason why many congregations suffer.
As I later received another powerful word of prophecy in Freemont Ohio, that I would be a “chenaniah” (leader of songs). Again, I was becoming more convinced that my position and God’s Holy manifestation was being contained within the four walls. I believe that subconsciously, I was putting pressure on myself to be super-spiritual, while at the same time, judging the hearts of everyone connected with each service. In other words, I believed that God was going to manifest His “literal” glory every time we had church and I did not want anything to prevent Him from coming. It seemed many were just yawning and looking out the window, while I was doing everything but standing on my head trying to make sure everything was right, because I really thought the King of Kings was going to descend from the ceiling, as it describes in Isaiah chapter six. I began to blame the apathy and coldness of the people and criticized their sluggish desire to feel the presence of God. I was so intense I felt like I was going crazy, and I’m sure many thought I was. Allow me to say this – there is a lesson in this for all of us. The way we think, controls our attitude and actions.
I still believe that if God’s people cry out for His train to fill His temple with His power and glory – He will come in the demonstration of His miracles! I believe if the remnant is serious about experiencing God’s presence, they will stagger around, drunk on the wine of His Holy Spirit. However, if the people do NOT want God’s presence – He will not come, and there is nothing you and I can do about it! We can preach heaven down and worship until we have no voice left, but if the people are not interested, they will forget about it before they get home. The church will become filled with God’s glory when His people become hungry and thirsty for Him! Nevertheless, there is a slight twist to this statement. When Isaiah said that he saw the Lord and His glory filled the temple, I believe this is a type and shadow of God filling the “hearts” of the New Testament remnant. Since we are the church because Jesus lives in us and not a brick building – the GLORY of God’s presence will be seen in the stores, at work or wherever we go! Instead of viewing the church building as the place where God is going to demonstrate His glory, we have been called take this temple to those who may never go to church and allow them to see the glory of Jesus IN US! God is filling His house and His house is our heart! God can heal people from cancer under a palm tree the same as He can at a church alter. Anyone can be delivered and saved when they fall under the conviction of God’s Word – ANYWHERE! Sickness and disease can be crushed through prayer and laying on of hands – ANYWHERE! Instead of the church house being the demonstration center, maybe it is to be used as a supply house where we encourage one another in the battle and testify about what God has done THROUGH US, while we’ve been fighting on the front lines. Of course, I’ve known all of this for years, but I have needed to examine myself to understand why I have had such a difficult time with church. I have needed to see why I have struggled and I believe I know more clearly the way things are and God’s plans for the future.
There have been times when I have been leading worship, and I have thought how wonderful it would be if God would come like He did on the day of Pentecost. Acts chapter two, verse two said, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled ALL THE HOUSE where they were sitting.” This was an awesome manifestation and I believe it could happen in the corporate setting, but the previous verse, explains the criteria that makes the difference between witnessing His presence and going through the motions of a religious program. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” It is the UNITY of the faith and the intensity of being in ONE ACCORD! The reason why these events do not happen often, is that most people do not believe it, do not desire it, are not praying for it or expecting it! They want a nice comfortable service that does not threaten their level of commitment. Most people have all of God they want and are not interested in going any deeper. They are satisfied they have mastered the perfect balance of flesh and Spirit, and have become set in their ways. This may look normal on the outside, but in God’s view, it is lukewarmness and rebellion. Living according to our own carnal desires, with just enough religion to get us to heaven, is not God’s idea of taking up our cross and following Him. Selah.
Am I changing my views about what God is going to do in these last days? Absolutely not! I am simply being honest and realistic about how and where it’s all going to happen. I am still a dreamer that believes in the super-natural power of God, anywhere – any place – anytime! However, these divine demonstrations are not limited to the church sanctuary. I believe every letter of God’s Word and His plans will be fulfilled exactly as He has prophesied. The overcomers will walk in the anointing of God’s power and as the bride of Christ; they will walk in the love, faith, purity and holiness of His glory! Amen!
Am I depressed or sad that it is not going to manifest like I thought it would? Well, I am not saying that it CANNOT happen within the corporate setting, I am just saying that I believe it will be difficult because of the lack of unity and “sold-out” desperation. If we are waiting for it to happen in the midst of a group of people that are not allowing the nature of Christ to manifest in them as a way of life – we may not see it. I am saying that if we are born again, everything we need is already inside of us. The possibility of being “filled” with the Holy Spirit is in us, however the amount or level of His “person” depends on our devotion to obeying God’s voice. Do NOT be discouraged in these last hours. We must face the truth; the world is growing more aggressive and I promise we will all have the opportunity to either agree with sin or be opposed. Prepare your mind to abandon this world and get ready to stand for God’s absolute truth – no matter the cost. Knowing that God is with you – you can boldly say, “Then said I, here am I; send me.”

THE SECRET PLACE
“He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

PART 14

BECOMING AS A LITTLE CHILD

JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, SWEETEST NAME I KNOW

FILLS MY EVERY LONGING – KEEPS ME SINGING AS I GO

I have always been a dreamer. When I was a kid, I used to lay on top of a picnic table in our yard and watch the clouds. I can still remember the lazy days of summer, when the sun would shine and the big fluffy clouds would roll across the sky. The sound of an occasional airplane would cause me to look up and try to spot it against the clear blue background of a heavenly canvas. The images of the clouds were clear and vivid; they were so obvious that I wondered if others were seeing what I was seeing. Those were the days of innocence, when cool-aid and tuna fish sandwiches were the high point of the afternoon. My only concerns were taking a bath and what shows would be on television that evening. Is it possible to return to the simplicity and spiritual state of a child? I am not speaking of the mentality, but the spiritual innocence of love, trust and joy. I believe it is possible, but it will not come easy. We have allowed sin to control us and conform our mind. In order to be renewed and restored we must receive the revelation of God’s truth, the desire to change and the determination to yield our will.

I remember as a child growing up in church, the services were predictable and orderly. We sang hymns, took up the offering, people said prayers, and the pastor would speak. After the message, they would sing another song, while the pastor offered the invitation for anyone to come and be saved. There is nothing necessarily wrong with this, but I always wondered if this is all there is to church. As I became a young man, I started seeking God’s Word, to see if I was just imagining things or if there really was more to it. I read about the miracles, the mighty presence of God, supernatural wonders, manifestations and demonstrations of the Holy Spirit. After asking the elders about why today’s church did not have any of this, they just smiled and patted me on the shoulder as if they felt sorry for my lack of understanding. They said that all of this has passed away and we do not need any of those events anymore. They were meant to help start the church and give Jesus the respect He needed to convince the people to follow Him. Hmmm….

After much study, prayer and consideration, I left my traditions to search for the truth I believed was out there. My wife and I visited the Holiness, Pentecostal, Charismatics, and Independents that were commonly associated and identified as the “Spirit-filled” camp. We did see some demonstrations of God’s power and learned many truths concerning Bible interpretations and revelations of God’s mysteries. I thank God for what we have learned and how we have grown. However, I am still not satisfied. I am troubled in my spirit about what I see happening in the churches as well as what I DO NOT see. Last week I visited a traditional Baptist church and came away discouraged. Please do not misunderstand me, I do not mean to sound overly critical. The hymns were fine although sang with a dragging tiredness. Sadly, many have never experienced the spirit of true worship or the tangible presence of God. It is gloomy to see the deadness of singing songs that are not worship at all. Singing songs about wanting to escape this life is not really worship. Singing songs that justify our decision to NOT face our responsibility to “LIVE” as a follower of Christ, is a carnal excuse to live without faith. Of course it pleases the flesh to sing songs that make us “feel good”. That is the problem! We want to feel good all the time and not be uncomfortable fighting against the lust of our flesh. We fail to pray, fast, witness, give, love or sacrifice anything – because we enjoy being comfortable more than we are determined to be obedient. To be honest, many of the songs that are being sung in the traditional churches today need to be thrown in the garbage!

Those who are called to bring God’s Word have the call to relay what the Lord is saying. We need to hear a word from the Lord that He has “personally” given for the precise hour that we are there. We do not need to hear a quick message that was pulled from a sermon file that has been preached 20 times before. If the minister does not have a message that is burning like fire and he has not been in the presence of God to receive the word for the hour, then he needs to fall on his face and repent or let someone else bring it. If pastors were led by the Holy Spirit, they would know what to do in the service, instead of going through the motions of a dead, dry, program that could rock an infant to sleep. Unfortunately, the repeated high point and excitement of the morning was the anticipation of the enormous amount of food that was waiting in the basement after the service. It is a sad time for the church when there is more enthusiasm and expectation for fried chicken and chocolate pie, than for what Almighty God wants to say and do in the midst of His people! Where are the prayers for the sick and testimonies of what God is doing in the lives of His people? Where are the words of edification, wisdom, knowledge or prophecy and weeping at the alters for sin or the lost? I am not trying to say I am better than anyone else is. I am saying there is a huge difference in our attitude when we are serious about God and when we are playing comfortable, religious games. After the service everyone was happy and seemed to have a good feeling about what had just happened, but again I walked away thinking that something was seriously wrong.

“But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God AS A LITTLE CHILD shall in no wise enter therein.” (Luke 18:16-17) We have heard this scripture many times, but just what exactly does it mean to receive the kingdom of God? Let us notice, He does not say to become “childish”, but rather as (the mindset or attitude) of a little child. I believe in order to receive anything from the spiritual realm; we must have a strong desire to understand it. It is easy to stay uninformed because it allows us to escape the accountability to stand for something. Many people want to be blind to the truth because they think it lets them “off the hook” to change their ways. The less involved we are, the less we are counted on to do. This is why the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.
Our attitude toward God must be childlike or there will be a distorted view that will affect our personal relationship with Him. Good children love their parents and honor them. They are aware and appreciative to their parents for the blessings they are given and so likewise Christians love God and seek to please Him in everything they do. Like children, followers of Christ desire to learn everything they can about God and His Word, believing with all of their heart, everything God speaks. We are to be like Samuel that simply wanted God to communicate His will, so that he could obey. Some differences between an adult and a child is that when you are a child you don’t cook, you don’t go to work and you have someone else doing all the thinking for you. Children feel secure having a house in which to live with no expenses, food on the table three times a day and fun times with friends in the meantime. As adults we have the stress of having to work to earn an income. We have to put the dinner on the table, and life cannot be spent just riding our bike all day. We have to prioritize what we do with our time. The more we play and spend, the less money we have. The more we sacrifice and work, the more money we have. After a while, we become more independent and start believing we are making our “own” way. Sadly, many have fallen into the deception of believing the more we depend on our own strength, abilities, education, personality and talents, the less we need to consult God. Gradually we drift away from the simplicity of walking in the innocense of TRUST. This is what God is saying; we must learn to be aware of His presence constantly and learn to trust Him with everything!
There are many things that relate to the remnant of God becoming as little children and we cannot forget to include humility. Good children have a deep respect for their parents and this is a paralell of the reverential fear of God that should be a vital part of our relationship with our heavenly Father. I personally believe this is one of the most dangerous errors that has been accepted in the church world. The “habitual” sins of many in the religious community has flooded the sanctuary of the church, and this attitude has definitely hindered the moving of the Holy Spirit. “Verily I say unto you, except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mathew 18:3-4) You see, it is pride and hautiness that corrupts the soul. This poisonous attitude rules the mind and completely changes the “vision” of those who are infected with its power. If people would humble themselves and allow God to increase within them in their personal life, the churches would explode with the miracles of God! Many have created their own ideas of how things should be, and have forsaken God’s presence for their own agenda – and sadly cannot recognize the difference! Humans love to do things – their way. May we not forget that God rejected Cains offering because it was presented in the attitude of disobedience and He did not accept Ishmael because it represents the works of flesh as a compromise to living in faith. It seems when man controls the program, he becomes the focus of attention. Maybe that is why many religious leaders will not step out of God’s way and allow Him to manifest HIS agenda in the churches. God will NOT force His presence on anyone. He gently whispers and beckons His people to draw near to Him and obey – as little children.

THE SECRET PLACE
“He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

PART 13

WHOSE VOICE DO YOU FOLLOW?

I believe it is important how we process information and I am concerned that many including myself have fallen into deception over the years. In my search for spiritual truth, I felt more comfortable in the full-gospel camp of what is commonly called, the Charismatic, full-gospel, “Spirit-filled” way. There is nothing wrong with the name, in fact, I actually like it, however, I would like to stop for a moment and understand exactly what it means. It seems the spirit-filled folks tend to accept the idea they are more spiritual than the traditional groups. Some put the main emphasis of their identification in their doctrine that teaches the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. Of course, the traditional churches do not believe in speaking with tongues and their opinion concludes this is either an evil spirit or a work of the emotions. After being a member of BOTH camps in my life, I believe I can speak with experience and I want to begin this article with my discovery. First, let me say that speaking in tongues is a valid and genuine manifestation. Yes, there are fleshly imitations and sadly, it is not unusual to see “emotional” religious deeds performed on a regular basis. Nevertheless, the gift of tongues can be used in divine appointments as a way for God to communicate to unbelievers, also to edify and prophesy to believers. In addition, they can be used as a personal prayer language in worship and intercessory prayer. However, let me say once again, speaking in tongues do NOT automatically PROVE that a person is FILLED with the Holy Spirit! The evidence of being filled with His Spirit is demonstrating the FRUIT of God’s character and nature.

This is not exactly my focus, but I felt I needed to build a foundation with what being filled with the Holy Spirit is and what it’s not. Christians need to examine their hearts and re-evaluate just exactly, how they are living! To live thinking we are a certain way, and in reality we are not like that at all – is a dangerous deception! Allow me explain. I am not referring to anyone in specific, but rather a general scenario of a “normal” supposedly “Spirit-filled” Christian. Let us take a peek –

Rising in the morning, going through the routines of getting ready to go to work, do we ask God to be with us through the day, and to give us His favor and blessings? Do we ask Him for His protection and His wisdom? Do we ask Him to give us a burden for certain people and to give us sensitivity for those at work that might need God’s Word as a divine appointment? Do we ask Him what we should eat or if we should fast today? Do we ask Him to rule our tongue and guard our ears and mouth? Do we ask Him to help us be a good witness as we represent His Kingdom? Are we aware of His presence when we are gossiping, criticizing, judging, or laughing at sinful things?

After we come home, do we thank Him for our day and meditate about the things we said and did, and repent for our sins? Do we ask Him what we should eat for the evening, or if we should sacrifice our meal for the purpose of being more spiritually sensitive? Do we ask Him if we should watch television, what to watch or how long to watch? Do we ask Him if we should study His Word, who to pray for, who to contact, who to encourage, or if we can be used to relay a spiritual message to someone directly from God? Do we ask Him how we should spend our time every evening? Do we evaluate our day and meditate on how we can do better?

In our general everyday affairs and decisions, do we ask Him to give us burdens for people we notice on a regular basis but we do not know personally? Do we ask Him constantly to give us an awareness of His presence and a discernment to know what He wants us to say, so that we can be used in divine appointments? Do we ask Him if we should give a stranger some money or maybe have the opportunity to share the gospel with them? Do we ask Him to give us someone everyday that we can help in some way? Are we always looking for someone that might be within our space that God “sent” to us? Do we ask Him how we are to spend our money? Do we ask Him if we should buy certain things like new cars or expensive toys, or do we just buy whatever we want and do whatever feels good?

These are just a small sample of practical events that we all encounter in life, but my point is simple; if we take great pride in proclaiming to be Spirit-filled and yet have NOT incorporated the lifestyle of being “led” by God in everything, then we are a fake and a phony! If we do NOT have a constant line of sincere communication with Him about the places we go, what we do, and what we say – then in all probability, we are NOT being led by Him. It does not matter what group, name or denomination you call yourself, if you are born-again and have a constant, humble and obedient relationship with Jesus Christ, you are a Spirit-led Christian. It is not the quantity of religious deeds we do, it is all about doing WHAT He said to do, and WHEN He said to do it! Let us turn to Luke chapter six and verse 46, “And why do you call me, LORD, LORD and do NOT the things that I say?” This statement is straight and to the point! It is the most common phrase among Christians to proclaim that Jesus is Lord, but is He YOUR Lord? Lord means someone that has dominion and control over someone. In order to be controlled, a person must first YIELD and surrender to them. This is the problem – People want all that God has to offer, without giving up their will to do everything they want to do. “Big News Flash” – Jesus Christ becoming our LORD does NOT come automatically with accepting Christ as our Savior. Being saved with the mercy, love and grace of His blood does NOT mean He will force us to become humbly obedient to His voice. Selah.

I believe the idea of Christian service has always been difficult to comprehend among those who have never learned “how” to listen. We grow up and look around at those who serve Jesus Christ and we want to participate. There is nothing wrong with having zeal and excitement to contribute our efforts for His Kingdom, but it is crucial to KNOW what He is CALLING us to do. Just because we can do something or rather we “like” to do certain things, does not mean this is our calling. The Lord does give spiritual gifts, however we need to ASK Him exactly what He has planned for our destiny. I believe too many times, people work hard at building something for God and they become so stimulated with their accomplishment, they may miss the Lord completely. He never said that we should create whatever we want and bring it to Him so that He can anoint it and bless it. His divine order calls for us to first, “listen” to His directions, then obediently move in His anointing, and when HIS time is perfect, He will exalt and bless what we have done. If we get ahead of Him or alter His original plans, we are in disobedience and out of His will. When it seems that all doors are locked and no one is interested in our accomplishments, it is either not God’s time – or we are not spiritually, in a place where God can use us. If the gifts you have presented have not been used by Him, it is NOT HIS FAULT, (He has the power to make it as successful as we can handle) but most likely, we have overlooked some crucial “details” somewhere in His divine blueprints. Repent, be still and follow the Shepherd’s voice.