It seems like everywhere you go there is trouble. Trouble with family, the economy, the weather, on and on and on. We cannot turn on the television without seeing floods and financial reports and arguments about politics and pure anger. I am here to tell you what to do when all these things seem to overwhelm.............
WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT!
Easier said than done, huh?
"But the just shall live by his faith." Habakkuk 2:4.
shall live is the Hebrew chayah, which means to live, to stay alive, be preserved, to flourish, to enjoy life, be animated, recover health, live continuously. The main idea of this word is to live and breathe.
I have learned that when I feel overwhelmed I always go back to the beginning. The place where my faith was fresh, new and strong. The place where I humbled myself as a child and was totally and completely in awe of God's mercy, love and power. A place where I was completely and totally depending on Him and was not so bogged down by the cares of this life that I let the cares of this life enter in and choke the Word made flesh in me.
We are in a time that is like no other, yet it is like all other. Does that make sense? We have problems and terrors all about, but all throughout the Bible and throughout history, there have been wars and rumors of wars, famine, pestilence, earthquakes,, floods, etc...
The just shall be alive and animated by their faith, trust and reliance on God. The just shall flourish by their faith. The just shall be preserved by their faith. The just shall enjoy life and live in happiness by their faith. The just shall recover health by their faith.The just shall live continuously, eternally by their faith.
In Mark 11:22 Jesus said simply "Have faith in God." This was in response to the fig tree drying up that He had spoken to. He went on to tell them that they could speak to the mountain, a passage we all are very familiar with.
That word faith is in the Greek PISTIS . conviction, confidence, trust, reliance, trustworthiness. Do we think God is trustworthy? If we really did, we would have confidence, conviction, trust and reliance on every word that proceedeth out of His mouth.
There is soooooo much in the Word on faith. I invite you to join me as I begin again at the beginning of awakening to righteousness and seek out scripture on faith and walk in them. Declare with me. If you declare a thing it shall be established! (Job 22:28) I declare and decree this moment that I shall walk by faith and not by sight! I shall be alive and animated by my faith. I shall flourish by my faith in the One who gave me HIS faith. The Christ who made His abode within me and I shall let Him arise and shine and His glory be risen up and on me.
I will be an epistle read by all men and when they see the boldness of Him in me they will marvel and know that I have been with Him. That He resides within His people. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. And He walks upon this earth now, within His people. We do not have to wait. He is NOW.
Well, I am fired up! See what the Word does? It heals, delivers and sets free!
Great Grace is upon us all.
Amen.
Pam
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
When my son was in a denominational private school, he was persecuted for having a mother who was an ordained minister. He was told all the old carnal minded arguments about a woman wasn't allowed to speak in the church, etc.. He was young at the time and came to me to ask how to answer. This is an article I wrote in response to his questions and he took it to school. Although no one there ever commented on it to me, I believe the truth was planted.
It is short and simple and there is much more that can be said about the subject, but frankly, I have grown weary of the argument.
ALL ONE IN CHRIST
Galatians 3:27-28
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek,
There is neither slave nor free, there is neither MALE NOR FEMALE, for you are ALL ONE IN Christ Jesus."
Things of the Spirit must be spiritually discerned. You cannot argue the scriptures with a carnal, soulish minded person. The bride of Christ is comprised of male and female IN THE NATURAL, yet they are IN HIM SPIRITUALLY. Can a male in the natural be a part of the bride of Christ since bride denotes a feminine person? Deep calls unto deep, glory calls unto glory. We must understand the scriptures SPIRITUALLY. The disciples were looking for an earthly kingdom until after the resurrection. We are spirit and must worship Him in spirit and in truth.(understanding).
Eve was selected to be the first one promised to become an instrument of God's redemptive working.
Deborah was a prophetess and a judge. She was a military leader chosen by God. Judges 4.
Huldah was a prophetess that sparked one of the greatest revivals in Israel's history. 2Kings 22:3-20
Esther was an instrument of God to save her people Israel. Esther 4:14
Anna was another prophetess who did not depart from the temple, but SERVED GOD night and day, IN THE TEMPLE. She spoke there -- she was not silenced in the church. Luke 2:36-38
Mary Magdalene was told by JESUS Himself to go and tell the BRETHREN (masculine word) that He had risen. Luke 20:17. This made her the first evangelist and she was commissioned by Jesus.
Mary and Martha were respected parts of Jesus' ministry team. Phoebe was a minister. The Greek word diakoneo is translated here servant and it means servant, minister and deaconess. According to many scholars it was Phoebe that carried the written book of Romans to the congregation. This is agreeable to Psalm 68:11 which says the Lord gave the word, great was the company who proclaimed it. That word company in the Hebrew text is 'host of women". Romans 16:1.
Philip's daughters were prophets. Acts 21:9
This text makes it clear that women did bring God's word by the power of the Holy Spirit and that such ministry was accepted in the early church. This is confirmed by Paul in 1 Cor. 11:5 where he directs that a woman may prophesy but be properly covered. That is, to be rightly related to her husband (if he is in the proper order of God) or other spiritual authority, a regulation given to all spiritual leaders, male or female. 1 Tim. 3:1-13. Women had an equal place in the upper room, awaiting the Holy Spirit's coming and birth of the church age. Then Peter's sermon at Pentecost affirmed Joel's Old Testament promise your daughters and maidservants shall prophesy.
Prophesy to speak forth the words of God under the unction of the Spirit. To proclaim, to preach, to declare and decree.
There are many many more instances of women in ministry in the Word, but we must be careful not to argue. 2 Timothy 2: 23-26 tells us not to quarrel but to be gentle to all. To avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing they lead to strife. To those that are ignorant of the scriptures and those that are seeped in Pharisiacal legalism, only the Holy Spirit of truth can bring them understanding. We must pray that the eyes of their understanding be enlightened that they as our brothers and sisters IN HIM will arise unto the fullness of His word. We are all part of His Body fitly joined together as a joint of supply to one another. We cannot take one or two scriptures out of context and make a doctrine out of them. If we do, we will be like the children of Israel that took the bronze serpent that was used to deliver them (Numbers 21:5-9) and made it a god and burned incense to it.(2Kings 18:4) We must take the Word of God as a whole, believing it all. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. 3:16 ALL Scripture.
If we truly believe women are to keep silent in church, why do we have women's day and allow them to speak? Why are they in the Sunday school room teaching? At what age are they to stop teaching the boys because they aren't to teach a man? Can they teach boys until the age of 13, 16, 18? How can we send women to the mission field to teach men? God is no respecter of persons. Is an African man different in God's eyes than an American man? Why can we finance women on the mission field and not let them speak in our church at home? If we return to the law on one point, wouldn't we have to on all points? Isn't that what the Word says? But it was never a law that a woman shouldn't speak in church. Paul was correcting that congregation that had gotten out of order.
The body must come to unity of the FAITH. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph. 4: 4-6.
If Jesus is coming for a bride without spot or blemish, and we know He is SOON, we must learn to love and respect each other despite our different levels.
Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1
It is short and simple and there is much more that can be said about the subject, but frankly, I have grown weary of the argument.
ALL ONE IN CHRIST
Galatians 3:27-28
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek,
There is neither slave nor free, there is neither MALE NOR FEMALE, for you are ALL ONE IN Christ Jesus."
Things of the Spirit must be spiritually discerned. You cannot argue the scriptures with a carnal, soulish minded person. The bride of Christ is comprised of male and female IN THE NATURAL, yet they are IN HIM SPIRITUALLY. Can a male in the natural be a part of the bride of Christ since bride denotes a feminine person? Deep calls unto deep, glory calls unto glory. We must understand the scriptures SPIRITUALLY. The disciples were looking for an earthly kingdom until after the resurrection. We are spirit and must worship Him in spirit and in truth.(understanding).
Eve was selected to be the first one promised to become an instrument of God's redemptive working.
Deborah was a prophetess and a judge. She was a military leader chosen by God. Judges 4.
Huldah was a prophetess that sparked one of the greatest revivals in Israel's history. 2Kings 22:3-20
Esther was an instrument of God to save her people Israel. Esther 4:14
Anna was another prophetess who did not depart from the temple, but SERVED GOD night and day, IN THE TEMPLE. She spoke there -- she was not silenced in the church. Luke 2:36-38
Mary Magdalene was told by JESUS Himself to go and tell the BRETHREN (masculine word) that He had risen. Luke 20:17. This made her the first evangelist and she was commissioned by Jesus.
Mary and Martha were respected parts of Jesus' ministry team. Phoebe was a minister. The Greek word diakoneo is translated here servant and it means servant, minister and deaconess. According to many scholars it was Phoebe that carried the written book of Romans to the congregation. This is agreeable to Psalm 68:11 which says the Lord gave the word, great was the company who proclaimed it. That word company in the Hebrew text is 'host of women". Romans 16:1.
Philip's daughters were prophets. Acts 21:9
This text makes it clear that women did bring God's word by the power of the Holy Spirit and that such ministry was accepted in the early church. This is confirmed by Paul in 1 Cor. 11:5 where he directs that a woman may prophesy but be properly covered. That is, to be rightly related to her husband (if he is in the proper order of God) or other spiritual authority, a regulation given to all spiritual leaders, male or female. 1 Tim. 3:1-13. Women had an equal place in the upper room, awaiting the Holy Spirit's coming and birth of the church age. Then Peter's sermon at Pentecost affirmed Joel's Old Testament promise your daughters and maidservants shall prophesy.
Prophesy to speak forth the words of God under the unction of the Spirit. To proclaim, to preach, to declare and decree.
There are many many more instances of women in ministry in the Word, but we must be careful not to argue. 2 Timothy 2: 23-26 tells us not to quarrel but to be gentle to all. To avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing they lead to strife. To those that are ignorant of the scriptures and those that are seeped in Pharisiacal legalism, only the Holy Spirit of truth can bring them understanding. We must pray that the eyes of their understanding be enlightened that they as our brothers and sisters IN HIM will arise unto the fullness of His word. We are all part of His Body fitly joined together as a joint of supply to one another. We cannot take one or two scriptures out of context and make a doctrine out of them. If we do, we will be like the children of Israel that took the bronze serpent that was used to deliver them (Numbers 21:5-9) and made it a god and burned incense to it.(2Kings 18:4) We must take the Word of God as a whole, believing it all. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. 3:16 ALL Scripture.
If we truly believe women are to keep silent in church, why do we have women's day and allow them to speak? Why are they in the Sunday school room teaching? At what age are they to stop teaching the boys because they aren't to teach a man? Can they teach boys until the age of 13, 16, 18? How can we send women to the mission field to teach men? God is no respecter of persons. Is an African man different in God's eyes than an American man? Why can we finance women on the mission field and not let them speak in our church at home? If we return to the law on one point, wouldn't we have to on all points? Isn't that what the Word says? But it was never a law that a woman shouldn't speak in church. Paul was correcting that congregation that had gotten out of order.
The body must come to unity of the FAITH. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph. 4: 4-6.
If Jesus is coming for a bride without spot or blemish, and we know He is SOON, we must learn to love and respect each other despite our different levels.
Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1
Thursday, April 8, 2010
What Manner Of Man
by Pamela Bodine
Eve bought the lie and so have we, doubting everything the Word of God says that we are and have and continually questioning has God said? Yet if we were like Abram and just believed what God says we are, we would walk in it. Abram before he was Abraham, believed God. God got so excited He cut a covenant with him, and His covenant with Abram BLESSED THE ENTIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS simply because he believed God!
Are we going to believe everything God says about us, are we going to believe the good or are we going to believe the evil? It is our choice. Many of us have partaken of the knowledge of good and evil and have chosen to believe the evil instead of the good. We could easily accept what God says about us if we had not accepted incorrect teaching. But we have been taught condemnation, how bad we are and what we have not done. We have not been taught how good we are or trained in the way we should go. Now we have to get the condemnation out of our head before we can have faith to believe what God says about us. FAITH is what is going to cause us to overcome! We must begin to read and believe what God says we are and know that we are "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus," 2 Cor. 5:21. We must ask ourselves, "Do I really believe it? Remember it is our choice! When we chose to believe it we will be set free! Our lives will be changed as we come into the understanding that He began that good work and He will complete it!
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God," Rom. 10:17, our problem is that we do not believe it. Smith Wigglesworth declared, "God said it, so it is". He said we quote, "greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world," 1 John 4:4, but we don't believe it, if we did, we would not be afraid of any circumstances and we would not wavier in any area. He said disease would not exist in our presence and a demon could never do anything in our presence if we really believed, "greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world" 1 John 4:4.
"Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" 1 Pet. 1:13. The word revelation in the Bible is apocalypse, the unveiling, the revealing, the being laid open, the revelation of Jesus. When Christ is revealed to us, we rest our hope fully on that grace. "As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;" 1 Pet. 1:14. When we were in our former lust we were like a child in ignorance not knowing. We did not understand it was a finished work. It did not change the fact; we just did not understand it.
"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" 1 Pet. 1:15,16 He never tells us to do something we are not capable of doing. It is written "be holy for I am holy", because we are holy. He is not going to tell us to be holy and then we have got to work at it. He is letting us know, "I am holy" so we are holy, so just be holy. Act on it.
Just BE.
"And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Pet. 1:17-19 The Father without partiality judges according to each one's work. When we hear judges we automatically think negative, God sees me being bad and He's going to get me. Realize He perceives where we are and without partiality means He's not comparing us to anyone else or to where anyone else is and neither should we. We should conduct ourselves throughout our time here in reverence knowing that we are not redeemed with corruptible things and our aimless conduct received by tradition from our fathers is not going to redeem us! Jesus said, the only thing that makes the Word of God of no effect is the traditions of men, (Mark 7:13). We are only redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus! If we think in our mind there is something we have got to do, what we are thinking without knowing it, is that the blood is not enough. So we did not receive that we are holy because He is holy.
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Pet. 1:2-4 "…partakers of the divine nature." A partaker is a companion to; participate in. We are a companion to; participate of, the divine nature of God. We have the divine nature of God; we have escaped the corruption in the world through lust. We have already escaped the corruption!
"For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." 2 Pet. 1:8-9 The Exegeses says: "For these being in you, and superabounding, they seat you that ye shall neither be idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed he to whom these are not present is blind, and cannot see afar off and hath taken forgetfulness of the purifying from his sins of long ago." 2 Pet. 1:8-9 He has forgotten that his sins committed long ago has been purified.
"Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you." 2 Pet 1:10-13 He said we know all this because we are established in the present truth, the present truth is the proceeding Word of God. We are listening to the proceeding Word of God and know we are already cleansed from our old sins. He said I am not going to be negligent to remind you of these things. He was not condemning them, He was reminding them because they had forgotten they were cleansed from their old sins. They had a sin consciousness and He was stirring them, He was reminding them they had been cleansed and they were "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus" 2 Cor. 5:21. Just as He is reminding us today, we have been cleansed and we too are "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus".
"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." James 1:21-25 When we have fallen short it is important not to buy the lie and allow ourselves to get under condemnation. If we are beating ourselves up we are not hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd. He said "I will never leave you nor forsake you," Heb. 13.5, so why are you condemning yourself, why do you get in fear and why do you think you are not pleasing to Me. You were cleansed from that and sin has no dominion over you. You have escaped the corruption that is in the world. You are "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus" 2 Cor. 5:21. You have forgotten what manner of man you are. Now this is the way, walk in it and renew your mind to My Word.
"…That we may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;" Col. 1:9 We are filled with the knowledge of His will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, we walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him, we are fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. We renew our mind to the Word and we are strengthened with all might according to His glorious power. Not anything we can work up, not any thing we can do but we are strengthened with all might in accordance to His power for all patience and longsuffering with joy. (Col. 1:9-11) We can suffer with joy and what we are doing is suffering, waiting for the manifestation sometimes. And there is joy in that because we know that it is already done and we are not going to be in torment until the manifestation comes. We can wait with joy because we are empowered by Him and we are strengthened with His might. And strengthened is one of the dunamis words that means to confirm and enable. So we are enabled with His power to wait on those things patiently with joy. We can wait on that family member with joy because we know He that began a good work will see it through till the end. And we are not going to condemn them for they have just forgotten what manner of man they are or they may not yet know what manner of man they are. So until the manifestation comes we are going to wait with joy and patience "giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness." Col. 1:12-13a Wait a minute, if we have been delivered from the power of darkness why are we so concerned about what the devil is doing? And it says we have escaped the corruption of this world and it says sin has no dominion over us. So why are we so worried about stuff? Why are we not walking in the power and the fullness? We have been "conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of His love in whom we have redemption through His blood and forgiveness of sin." Col. 1:13b We have been forgiven.
"And you, who once were alienated and enemies in you mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled" Col. 1:21 Wait a minute! We are no longer an enemies in our mind because we have been reconciled to Him. We are not alienated with enemies in our mind anymore. Our mind, our will, and our emotions are lining up to what the Spirit man already knows and we are going to walk in the finished work, we are going to know what manner of man we are! We are going to walk it out. We don't have to worry, we don't have to try and we don't have to believe a lie anymore. "In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight," Col. 1:22 If we are above reproach in His sight, what does it matter what man thinks? We are holy and blameless and above reproach. Yes, we are beginning to see what we really can be and we can walk it out, we see now we have believed a lie! We believed in the past we had to do something, when all we had to do was believe, submit and rest. We believed to get saved, we believed to receive salvation that was there for us. So why can we not believe this, because of traditions and doctrines? The Word says the Word of God "is profitable for all doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction," 2 Tim. 3:16. We have listened to things that really were not in the Bible, we have added stuff to it and we need to leave it off. He said we are ministers of the New Covenant yet we think that because of what we have done in our past, we are unworthy, we are unholy. What does God say? He says that we are holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight. He said we are holy because He is holy and the things we have done we were as ignorant children and now it is time to put away childish things and become a man. It is time to let the man rise up and mature.
"The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Col. 1:26-28 We can be perfect in Him and in Him we are everything but without Him we are nothing. People question, "how can you say you are perfect, how can you say you are holy," we are saying it is all in Him, we are perfect and we are holy in Him, we are nothing in ourselves. The people who fight against this message do so because they have a feeling of unworthiness, they will not allow themselves to believe they are perfect or holy. And those who believe by Jesus stripes they are healed but never have a manifestation of it think they have done something wrong, they have opened the door somewhere. We try so hard of ourselves to receive the promises instead of just believing the Word of God and resting in it until it happens.
We forget what manner of man we are, we forget we have been cleansed, we forget that it has all been done and we begin to condemn ourselves rather than saying this is the way walk in it. When we start to realize that, we look at people differently and we treat our children differently. We need to look at how we treat our children. We need to show them the way rather than fussing at them and showing them everything they have ever done wrong. Children are quick to repent and when we keep saying, "well you did that last month, you are in trouble now." We need to remember they were cleansed from that last month and they forgot and we need to show them again, this is the way walk in it. How can we do any less when our Father does that for us?
We are in Christ, He is in us and we are to reveal HIM. We are to walk forth in this world and reveal Christ. How do we do that? Through love, compassion and mercy, not looking at everyone as an unfinished thing but know that they are finished and as they renew their mind they are going to grow up into the knowledge of Him. Instead of looking at people in a negative way begin to look at people in a positive way, as Christ is in them, then it will be easier to see them finished. Rather than condemning, judging, or comparing them to everyone remember God's grace is sufficient for everything. His grace is sufficient to grow them up and to complete what needs to be done in us. Sin has no dominion over us. We are to build our faith in the Word of God and be not conformed to the world, to the consciousness of sin, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind through the Word of God (Rom. 12:2). As we renew our mind with the Word we will see how tradition has put bondage's on us. Jesus said, "Come unto me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, take My yoke upon you because My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30) We quote this Scripture, but do we really believe it? Every time you begin to buy a lie, picture the snake in the Garden of Eden saying ssss has sss God ssss said? And you will begin to stand up and say, "I'm not buying that lie. I'm going to say 'It is written'".
It is our carnal mind which is at enmity with the things of God, (Rom. 8:7), our flesh wars against our spirit and our spirit against our flesh. We are battling with ourselves, our mind, will and emotions, yet as we renew our mind with the Word, we find ourselves no longer alienated as enemies in our minds (Col. 1:21). We then come into union and communion with what the Spirit of God says and as we mature we will find ourselves forgetting less and less what manner of man we are. We will not think on the things of the world but we will come out of the world and be separate, we will be a light unto the world. We will remember sin has no dominion over us and we will give it no place in our minds. We need to get sin out of our vocabulary and out of our minds. We are not ignorant of the devil's devices, we are not ignorant of the things he has done, but "greater is He that is in us that He that is in the world". Do we believe it or not?
"And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." 1 John 3:5-9
We have thought this was too deep to understand but it is really simple. If we have been born of God we do not sin because all seed bears after it's own kind so if we have been born of incorruptible seed, how can we produce anything corruptible. If we sin we are of the devil, meaning we chose unbelief; sin is unbelief, not believing God. Scripture says, the Son of God was manifested and HE destroyed the works of the devil therefore if we have been born of Him we do not sin because His seed remains in us. What we call sin is simply the works of the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21, list what we think of as some pretty bad stuff and it says it is "the works of the flesh".
"And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts, before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God." 1 John 3:19-21 Our heart is our mind, will and emotions and condemnation comes from our mind sometimes. But God is greater than that. He knows all things and He loves us. Remember Christ was manifested to take away our sin. So if we have a feeling of unworthiness its the reason we do not walk in the things of God. We think well, the finished work sounds pretty good for that mature person over there, we have forgotten He began that good work in us and He is in us and we are His body. Think about it, if He is perfect and if we are His body are we not going be perfect? There is nothing that can remain in Him that is not perfect so we are perfected in Him. We have an anointing from the Holy One and we know all things, but we have to renew our minds through His Word.
When we exalt ourselves and condemn, look down on, or judge people we have just forgotten who we are and we are not to condemn ourselves. We need to renew our mind to the Word and let Him come forth in us knowing that it is all finished, it has all been taken care of and not buy that lie of condemnation. But know that we are holy, blameless and above reproach because He has set the captives free and we have been captives in our own minds.
We have been given all things that pertain to Godliness; we have escaped the corruption in the world through lust. Peter said, I am going to stir you up and I am going to remind you of these things, so we need to remind each other with positive words. We need to remind each other yes, you are worthy yes, you are finished. You know you are worthy, Christ has made you worthy that blood speaks and you have been sprinkled with that blood. Christ gave His life's blood to buy us back out of sin and death and when we offer the blood to God He accepts it, it also means when we cover our families with the blood that God accepts it and they are covered. We need to rest our hope fully on the grace that is brought to us when Christ is revealed.
"Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-things which angels desire to look into." 1 Peter 1:10-12 Those prophets were prophesying to us about the grace, they inquired and searched carefully, they could see that grace. They knew it was for us and they searched into it and they looked into that grace that was coming to us, even the angels desired to look into that grace. Oh, what is man that you are mindful of him and they saw that grace and they knew that grace was going to work everything out. They saw us finished and purchased. They saw the grace working it out and us becoming a mature man. Isn't that something, to know that we are finished! All we have to do is rest, not be so tossed about or tormented in our mind and allow the cares of this life to enter in and choke the Word. And not be so works conscious or trying to do everything right but realize this is the way, walk in it, believe and trust in it, renew and stir up your faith, fan that flame through the Word and fellowship. United one with another knowing that we are all precious and holy in His sight, He has purchased each of us, we are a finished thing.
We were in Him before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), we were in Him when He was walking upon the earth doing the work of the Father. We were in Him when He was in the bosom of the Father, as the Father spoke and His creative power went forth. Our spirit knows what manner of man we are, but our mind must be renewed!
Pam Bodine - Healing Wings Ministries
transcribed from a message preached by Pam at one of Healing Wings Retreats
by Pamela Bodine
Eve bought the lie and so have we, doubting everything the Word of God says that we are and have and continually questioning has God said? Yet if we were like Abram and just believed what God says we are, we would walk in it. Abram before he was Abraham, believed God. God got so excited He cut a covenant with him, and His covenant with Abram BLESSED THE ENTIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS simply because he believed God!
Are we going to believe everything God says about us, are we going to believe the good or are we going to believe the evil? It is our choice. Many of us have partaken of the knowledge of good and evil and have chosen to believe the evil instead of the good. We could easily accept what God says about us if we had not accepted incorrect teaching. But we have been taught condemnation, how bad we are and what we have not done. We have not been taught how good we are or trained in the way we should go. Now we have to get the condemnation out of our head before we can have faith to believe what God says about us. FAITH is what is going to cause us to overcome! We must begin to read and believe what God says we are and know that we are "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus," 2 Cor. 5:21. We must ask ourselves, "Do I really believe it? Remember it is our choice! When we chose to believe it we will be set free! Our lives will be changed as we come into the understanding that He began that good work and He will complete it!
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God," Rom. 10:17, our problem is that we do not believe it. Smith Wigglesworth declared, "God said it, so it is". He said we quote, "greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world," 1 John 4:4, but we don't believe it, if we did, we would not be afraid of any circumstances and we would not wavier in any area. He said disease would not exist in our presence and a demon could never do anything in our presence if we really believed, "greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world" 1 John 4:4.
"Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" 1 Pet. 1:13. The word revelation in the Bible is apocalypse, the unveiling, the revealing, the being laid open, the revelation of Jesus. When Christ is revealed to us, we rest our hope fully on that grace. "As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;" 1 Pet. 1:14. When we were in our former lust we were like a child in ignorance not knowing. We did not understand it was a finished work. It did not change the fact; we just did not understand it.
"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" 1 Pet. 1:15,16 He never tells us to do something we are not capable of doing. It is written "be holy for I am holy", because we are holy. He is not going to tell us to be holy and then we have got to work at it. He is letting us know, "I am holy" so we are holy, so just be holy. Act on it.
Just BE.
"And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Pet. 1:17-19 The Father without partiality judges according to each one's work. When we hear judges we automatically think negative, God sees me being bad and He's going to get me. Realize He perceives where we are and without partiality means He's not comparing us to anyone else or to where anyone else is and neither should we. We should conduct ourselves throughout our time here in reverence knowing that we are not redeemed with corruptible things and our aimless conduct received by tradition from our fathers is not going to redeem us! Jesus said, the only thing that makes the Word of God of no effect is the traditions of men, (Mark 7:13). We are only redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus! If we think in our mind there is something we have got to do, what we are thinking without knowing it, is that the blood is not enough. So we did not receive that we are holy because He is holy.
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Pet. 1:2-4 "…partakers of the divine nature." A partaker is a companion to; participate in. We are a companion to; participate of, the divine nature of God. We have the divine nature of God; we have escaped the corruption in the world through lust. We have already escaped the corruption!
"For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." 2 Pet. 1:8-9 The Exegeses says: "For these being in you, and superabounding, they seat you that ye shall neither be idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed he to whom these are not present is blind, and cannot see afar off and hath taken forgetfulness of the purifying from his sins of long ago." 2 Pet. 1:8-9 He has forgotten that his sins committed long ago has been purified.
"Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you." 2 Pet 1:10-13 He said we know all this because we are established in the present truth, the present truth is the proceeding Word of God. We are listening to the proceeding Word of God and know we are already cleansed from our old sins. He said I am not going to be negligent to remind you of these things. He was not condemning them, He was reminding them because they had forgotten they were cleansed from their old sins. They had a sin consciousness and He was stirring them, He was reminding them they had been cleansed and they were "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus" 2 Cor. 5:21. Just as He is reminding us today, we have been cleansed and we too are "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus".
"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." James 1:21-25 When we have fallen short it is important not to buy the lie and allow ourselves to get under condemnation. If we are beating ourselves up we are not hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd. He said "I will never leave you nor forsake you," Heb. 13.5, so why are you condemning yourself, why do you get in fear and why do you think you are not pleasing to Me. You were cleansed from that and sin has no dominion over you. You have escaped the corruption that is in the world. You are "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus" 2 Cor. 5:21. You have forgotten what manner of man you are. Now this is the way, walk in it and renew your mind to My Word.
"…That we may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;" Col. 1:9 We are filled with the knowledge of His will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, we walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him, we are fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. We renew our mind to the Word and we are strengthened with all might according to His glorious power. Not anything we can work up, not any thing we can do but we are strengthened with all might in accordance to His power for all patience and longsuffering with joy. (Col. 1:9-11) We can suffer with joy and what we are doing is suffering, waiting for the manifestation sometimes. And there is joy in that because we know that it is already done and we are not going to be in torment until the manifestation comes. We can wait with joy because we are empowered by Him and we are strengthened with His might. And strengthened is one of the dunamis words that means to confirm and enable. So we are enabled with His power to wait on those things patiently with joy. We can wait on that family member with joy because we know He that began a good work will see it through till the end. And we are not going to condemn them for they have just forgotten what manner of man they are or they may not yet know what manner of man they are. So until the manifestation comes we are going to wait with joy and patience "giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness." Col. 1:12-13a Wait a minute, if we have been delivered from the power of darkness why are we so concerned about what the devil is doing? And it says we have escaped the corruption of this world and it says sin has no dominion over us. So why are we so worried about stuff? Why are we not walking in the power and the fullness? We have been "conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of His love in whom we have redemption through His blood and forgiveness of sin." Col. 1:13b We have been forgiven.
"And you, who once were alienated and enemies in you mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled" Col. 1:21 Wait a minute! We are no longer an enemies in our mind because we have been reconciled to Him. We are not alienated with enemies in our mind anymore. Our mind, our will, and our emotions are lining up to what the Spirit man already knows and we are going to walk in the finished work, we are going to know what manner of man we are! We are going to walk it out. We don't have to worry, we don't have to try and we don't have to believe a lie anymore. "In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight," Col. 1:22 If we are above reproach in His sight, what does it matter what man thinks? We are holy and blameless and above reproach. Yes, we are beginning to see what we really can be and we can walk it out, we see now we have believed a lie! We believed in the past we had to do something, when all we had to do was believe, submit and rest. We believed to get saved, we believed to receive salvation that was there for us. So why can we not believe this, because of traditions and doctrines? The Word says the Word of God "is profitable for all doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction," 2 Tim. 3:16. We have listened to things that really were not in the Bible, we have added stuff to it and we need to leave it off. He said we are ministers of the New Covenant yet we think that because of what we have done in our past, we are unworthy, we are unholy. What does God say? He says that we are holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight. He said we are holy because He is holy and the things we have done we were as ignorant children and now it is time to put away childish things and become a man. It is time to let the man rise up and mature.
"The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Col. 1:26-28 We can be perfect in Him and in Him we are everything but without Him we are nothing. People question, "how can you say you are perfect, how can you say you are holy," we are saying it is all in Him, we are perfect and we are holy in Him, we are nothing in ourselves. The people who fight against this message do so because they have a feeling of unworthiness, they will not allow themselves to believe they are perfect or holy. And those who believe by Jesus stripes they are healed but never have a manifestation of it think they have done something wrong, they have opened the door somewhere. We try so hard of ourselves to receive the promises instead of just believing the Word of God and resting in it until it happens.
We forget what manner of man we are, we forget we have been cleansed, we forget that it has all been done and we begin to condemn ourselves rather than saying this is the way walk in it. When we start to realize that, we look at people differently and we treat our children differently. We need to look at how we treat our children. We need to show them the way rather than fussing at them and showing them everything they have ever done wrong. Children are quick to repent and when we keep saying, "well you did that last month, you are in trouble now." We need to remember they were cleansed from that last month and they forgot and we need to show them again, this is the way walk in it. How can we do any less when our Father does that for us?
We are in Christ, He is in us and we are to reveal HIM. We are to walk forth in this world and reveal Christ. How do we do that? Through love, compassion and mercy, not looking at everyone as an unfinished thing but know that they are finished and as they renew their mind they are going to grow up into the knowledge of Him. Instead of looking at people in a negative way begin to look at people in a positive way, as Christ is in them, then it will be easier to see them finished. Rather than condemning, judging, or comparing them to everyone remember God's grace is sufficient for everything. His grace is sufficient to grow them up and to complete what needs to be done in us. Sin has no dominion over us. We are to build our faith in the Word of God and be not conformed to the world, to the consciousness of sin, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind through the Word of God (Rom. 12:2). As we renew our mind with the Word we will see how tradition has put bondage's on us. Jesus said, "Come unto me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, take My yoke upon you because My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30) We quote this Scripture, but do we really believe it? Every time you begin to buy a lie, picture the snake in the Garden of Eden saying ssss has sss God ssss said? And you will begin to stand up and say, "I'm not buying that lie. I'm going to say 'It is written'".
It is our carnal mind which is at enmity with the things of God, (Rom. 8:7), our flesh wars against our spirit and our spirit against our flesh. We are battling with ourselves, our mind, will and emotions, yet as we renew our mind with the Word, we find ourselves no longer alienated as enemies in our minds (Col. 1:21). We then come into union and communion with what the Spirit of God says and as we mature we will find ourselves forgetting less and less what manner of man we are. We will not think on the things of the world but we will come out of the world and be separate, we will be a light unto the world. We will remember sin has no dominion over us and we will give it no place in our minds. We need to get sin out of our vocabulary and out of our minds. We are not ignorant of the devil's devices, we are not ignorant of the things he has done, but "greater is He that is in us that He that is in the world". Do we believe it or not?
"And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." 1 John 3:5-9
We have thought this was too deep to understand but it is really simple. If we have been born of God we do not sin because all seed bears after it's own kind so if we have been born of incorruptible seed, how can we produce anything corruptible. If we sin we are of the devil, meaning we chose unbelief; sin is unbelief, not believing God. Scripture says, the Son of God was manifested and HE destroyed the works of the devil therefore if we have been born of Him we do not sin because His seed remains in us. What we call sin is simply the works of the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21, list what we think of as some pretty bad stuff and it says it is "the works of the flesh".
"And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts, before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God." 1 John 3:19-21 Our heart is our mind, will and emotions and condemnation comes from our mind sometimes. But God is greater than that. He knows all things and He loves us. Remember Christ was manifested to take away our sin. So if we have a feeling of unworthiness its the reason we do not walk in the things of God. We think well, the finished work sounds pretty good for that mature person over there, we have forgotten He began that good work in us and He is in us and we are His body. Think about it, if He is perfect and if we are His body are we not going be perfect? There is nothing that can remain in Him that is not perfect so we are perfected in Him. We have an anointing from the Holy One and we know all things, but we have to renew our minds through His Word.
When we exalt ourselves and condemn, look down on, or judge people we have just forgotten who we are and we are not to condemn ourselves. We need to renew our mind to the Word and let Him come forth in us knowing that it is all finished, it has all been taken care of and not buy that lie of condemnation. But know that we are holy, blameless and above reproach because He has set the captives free and we have been captives in our own minds.
We have been given all things that pertain to Godliness; we have escaped the corruption in the world through lust. Peter said, I am going to stir you up and I am going to remind you of these things, so we need to remind each other with positive words. We need to remind each other yes, you are worthy yes, you are finished. You know you are worthy, Christ has made you worthy that blood speaks and you have been sprinkled with that blood. Christ gave His life's blood to buy us back out of sin and death and when we offer the blood to God He accepts it, it also means when we cover our families with the blood that God accepts it and they are covered. We need to rest our hope fully on the grace that is brought to us when Christ is revealed.
"Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-things which angels desire to look into." 1 Peter 1:10-12 Those prophets were prophesying to us about the grace, they inquired and searched carefully, they could see that grace. They knew it was for us and they searched into it and they looked into that grace that was coming to us, even the angels desired to look into that grace. Oh, what is man that you are mindful of him and they saw that grace and they knew that grace was going to work everything out. They saw us finished and purchased. They saw the grace working it out and us becoming a mature man. Isn't that something, to know that we are finished! All we have to do is rest, not be so tossed about or tormented in our mind and allow the cares of this life to enter in and choke the Word. And not be so works conscious or trying to do everything right but realize this is the way, walk in it, believe and trust in it, renew and stir up your faith, fan that flame through the Word and fellowship. United one with another knowing that we are all precious and holy in His sight, He has purchased each of us, we are a finished thing.
We were in Him before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), we were in Him when He was walking upon the earth doing the work of the Father. We were in Him when He was in the bosom of the Father, as the Father spoke and His creative power went forth. Our spirit knows what manner of man we are, but our mind must be renewed!
Pam Bodine - Healing Wings Ministries
transcribed from a message preached by Pam at one of Healing Wings Retreats
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Kingdom People
"For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.' Isaiah 6:5. To capture a vision of the kingdom truth is to catch the vision of the King Himself. All understanding of the kingdom of God begins in knowing, in seeing Jesus the king. "Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord (Hosea 6:3) That I may know Him (Phil. 3:10) Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up and the seraphim declared holy is the Lord of Hosts and the whole earth is filled with His Glory. When we see Him, His glory fills OUR earth. We then are able to show forth that glory wherever we go. We pray thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. We must allow His good pleasure to give us the kingdom. We do this by acknowledging that every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:6 tells us that the sharing of our faith is effective by acknowledging that. The wise man built his house upon a rock. That is kingdom principles. Which are simply Christ in us, the hope of glory. Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, adds all the promises of the kingdom to us, but we must believe that what He said is true.
He said that He had made us holy and righteous in His sight. Colossians tells us that we were alienated in our MINDS. He has redeemed us into the full stature of Christ. In order to walk in kingdom power we must believe what He says about us.
We have allowed condemnation to keep us from performing the works of the kingdom. For too long we have said we are unworthy or not good enough to work for the kingdom. We have not prayed enough, fasted enough, etc. Not true! He said we are righteous in His sight, through the blood of Jesus only.
Faith is the key to all the kingdom. We have to press in through faith. "Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached and everyone is pressing into it." Luke 16:16 By pressing, the word indicates an urgency and determination. The gates of hell cannot prevail against us. We are more than conquerors in Him. Every where our foot steps, we carry the kingdom. We are joint heirs with Christ and have all the capabilities that He had. All Heaven backs us. As all heaven backed Jesus.
Please realize that the precious blood of Jesus is not to be taken lightly. By saying we must do more to be holy is doing just that. We are to live a holy lifestyle, yes, but Christ in us is how we do it. Not of our works, but His.
Let us renew our mind to His precious Word and allow HIM to come forth in us.
Pam
He said that He had made us holy and righteous in His sight. Colossians tells us that we were alienated in our MINDS. He has redeemed us into the full stature of Christ. In order to walk in kingdom power we must believe what He says about us.
We have allowed condemnation to keep us from performing the works of the kingdom. For too long we have said we are unworthy or not good enough to work for the kingdom. We have not prayed enough, fasted enough, etc. Not true! He said we are righteous in His sight, through the blood of Jesus only.
Faith is the key to all the kingdom. We have to press in through faith. "Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached and everyone is pressing into it." Luke 16:16 By pressing, the word indicates an urgency and determination. The gates of hell cannot prevail against us. We are more than conquerors in Him. Every where our foot steps, we carry the kingdom. We are joint heirs with Christ and have all the capabilities that He had. All Heaven backs us. As all heaven backed Jesus.
Please realize that the precious blood of Jesus is not to be taken lightly. By saying we must do more to be holy is doing just that. We are to live a holy lifestyle, yes, but Christ in us is how we do it. Not of our works, but His.
Let us renew our mind to His precious Word and allow HIM to come forth in us.
Pam
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Virtuous Woman
"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10
Virtuous in this passage is the Hebrew word chayil which means "army, valour, forces, strength, effciency, might, ability and power". The word comes from the Hebrew root word chuwl or chlyl which means "to twist, whirl, writhe, dance, fear, formed, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained."
We know that the virtuous woman is a woman to be admired and a woman that is given as a pattern wife. The passage of scripture in Proverbs 31:10-31 is a very familiar passage to most of us. We have heard it preached from the pulpits of our churches every Mother's day for years and years. It has been used as an example of Christian womanhood many, many times. We also know that the virtuous woman is a type of the Bride of Christ, the church body. That is important to keep in mind as we look at verse 11. "The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain."
This virtuous woman is a woman of strength, power, might and ability. She is not portrayed as a quiet, subserviant, weak, unrespected female. She is portrayed as a warrior, a woman who knows her strength and power and she knows where it comes from. This is a woman who trusts in her God (verse 30) and we will find out that she does his will in all things. She is highly respected and is recognized as such.
But let's notice that her strength, power, might and ability comes from her experiences of formation. Her experiences with writhing, trembling, painful agony. It comes from her being wounded and hurt. It comes from the bad experiences of childhood and the rejections suffered throughout her life. Her strength comes from having no one to turn to, but her Lord. Verse 30 tells us, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." That word Lord is Jehovah, the one true God, the existing one. And praised is to shine, flash forth light, glory, be worthy of praise. You can't attain power, might, strength and ability from going on your looks. You cannot attain power, might, strength and ability from being charming and likable. Your strength comes from the Lord. Psalm 27:1 says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 29:11 says "The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace." These scriptures are just a couple of the hundreds that tell us we get our strength, our hope, our joy, our power, our might and our ability from Him.
So no matter what happens to us, no matter what trials, tests, tribulations and travails that come our way, when we turn to our merciful Father God and trust Him we find "that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.
No wonder He tells us to glory in tribulations. Romans 5:3-5, "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perserverance; and perserverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Do we realize that by turning to the Father of Love itself, we receive His love, not only for ourselves to help us make it through, but love overflowing that saturates those around us. Knowing that whatever comes our way, we will get through it by the grace of God. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9 and 10. Please note that that word infirmity means feebleness of mind or body, anything that moves you away from being at ease. (dis-ease, if you will)
So we find that this pattern woman of strength and virtue is one who has been through much heartache. But it was this very heartache that worked in her for good because she loves and trusts and relies on the Lord. Through it all, she has become a woman of strength, power, might and ability. No one can learn to take care of themselves or function when they have never had to do anything for themselves. Life itself is a learning process, a forming of our character. A child who never is allowed to do anything for himself, but is spoiled and sheltered their whole life, is unable to function in the outside world. Sometimes lessons seem hard, but what is learned is priceless. When we go through refining fire, ("For our God is a consuming fire")what comes out is gold, which is God's divine nature!
However, let us not forget what the Lord said in Isaiah 43:
"But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel; Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;......Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for my glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him" Isaiah 43:1-3, 7
Because all creation groans for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:18-23) and until that day, we will have to face what all creation faces, but we are not without hope and we have a Redeemer to turn to in times of trouble. What comes forth is the virtuous woman, full of strength. power, might and ability!!
Virtuous in this passage is the Hebrew word chayil which means "army, valour, forces, strength, effciency, might, ability and power". The word comes from the Hebrew root word chuwl or chlyl which means "to twist, whirl, writhe, dance, fear, formed, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained."
We know that the virtuous woman is a woman to be admired and a woman that is given as a pattern wife. The passage of scripture in Proverbs 31:10-31 is a very familiar passage to most of us. We have heard it preached from the pulpits of our churches every Mother's day for years and years. It has been used as an example of Christian womanhood many, many times. We also know that the virtuous woman is a type of the Bride of Christ, the church body. That is important to keep in mind as we look at verse 11. "The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain."
This virtuous woman is a woman of strength, power, might and ability. She is not portrayed as a quiet, subserviant, weak, unrespected female. She is portrayed as a warrior, a woman who knows her strength and power and she knows where it comes from. This is a woman who trusts in her God (verse 30) and we will find out that she does his will in all things. She is highly respected and is recognized as such.
But let's notice that her strength, power, might and ability comes from her experiences of formation. Her experiences with writhing, trembling, painful agony. It comes from her being wounded and hurt. It comes from the bad experiences of childhood and the rejections suffered throughout her life. Her strength comes from having no one to turn to, but her Lord. Verse 30 tells us, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." That word Lord is Jehovah, the one true God, the existing one. And praised is to shine, flash forth light, glory, be worthy of praise. You can't attain power, might, strength and ability from going on your looks. You cannot attain power, might, strength and ability from being charming and likable. Your strength comes from the Lord. Psalm 27:1 says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 29:11 says "The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace." These scriptures are just a couple of the hundreds that tell us we get our strength, our hope, our joy, our power, our might and our ability from Him.
So no matter what happens to us, no matter what trials, tests, tribulations and travails that come our way, when we turn to our merciful Father God and trust Him we find "that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.
No wonder He tells us to glory in tribulations. Romans 5:3-5, "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perserverance; and perserverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Do we realize that by turning to the Father of Love itself, we receive His love, not only for ourselves to help us make it through, but love overflowing that saturates those around us. Knowing that whatever comes our way, we will get through it by the grace of God. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9 and 10. Please note that that word infirmity means feebleness of mind or body, anything that moves you away from being at ease. (dis-ease, if you will)
So we find that this pattern woman of strength and virtue is one who has been through much heartache. But it was this very heartache that worked in her for good because she loves and trusts and relies on the Lord. Through it all, she has become a woman of strength, power, might and ability. No one can learn to take care of themselves or function when they have never had to do anything for themselves. Life itself is a learning process, a forming of our character. A child who never is allowed to do anything for himself, but is spoiled and sheltered their whole life, is unable to function in the outside world. Sometimes lessons seem hard, but what is learned is priceless. When we go through refining fire, ("For our God is a consuming fire")what comes out is gold, which is God's divine nature!
However, let us not forget what the Lord said in Isaiah 43:
"But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel; Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;......Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for my glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him" Isaiah 43:1-3, 7
Because all creation groans for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:18-23) and until that day, we will have to face what all creation faces, but we are not without hope and we have a Redeemer to turn to in times of trouble. What comes forth is the virtuous woman, full of strength. power, might and ability!!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Seed
I have been blessed to live on a hill in beautiful Lake Guntersville. Every day when I sit in my chair (which has been dubbed "the queen's chair" by my family), I am able and blessed to look out upon a fabulous view of the town and the lake. For Christmas, my husband gave me a bird feeder on a pole and he put it in the yard so I can see it from my chair.
The feeder was up for about two weeks and no birds! I thought maybe it was because they saw the cats in the window or maybe they didn't realize there was seed in that feeder. I went out and sprinkled seed on the ground around it and they still didn't come. Then one day, boom! Birds everywhere! Word had gotten out, there is seed!
The Word tells us that it is seed. Sometimes, it is hard to receive that seed due to various fears, preset ideas, religious mindsets. Mark chapter 4 explains the things that hinder the receiving of the seed. I have been guilty of letting the cares of this life enter in and choke the Word in my life, as I am sure most of us have. Fear of the future, finances, worry about our children, etc. But I am here to tell you that The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy. No matter what our circumstances, that word, that seed, will grow up and produce the kingdom. In Mark 4:11, Jesus said that to us it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. That word mystery is musterion which means a secret known only to the initiated. The word denotes something that people could never know by their own understanding and that demands a revelation from God. The Word is a seed that grows up in our mind (soul) and reveals what the Spirit in us already knows.
Colossians1:13, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." He has delivered us from the power of not seeing and transferred us into the kingdom! Colossians 1:27 tells us that He made known the mystery to us, CHRIST IN US, the hope of glory.
The seed always produces after its own kind. We have the seed of God Himself. We cannot produce anything lasting that is not of Him. It is wood, hay and stubble. It will be burned up. It will be burned up by the fire of God. All that will be left is the gold, silver and precious stones. Our God is a consuming fire. Whatever we have produced in the past is consumed by His Presence. Get into the Word and let it take hold in that good ground. All the other cares of this life will fade away under the glorious presence of HIM. Sing unto Him a new song, worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. His Word,His Seed, is Spirit and it is life!
I am so glad the birds found that that seed feeder is safe. That it is there as a gift to their beauty and song. That the seed in that feeder is for their enjoyment as well as their nutrition. That it brings pleasure to me, as the giver of that seed, to see them and hear their song.
It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!
Pam
The feeder was up for about two weeks and no birds! I thought maybe it was because they saw the cats in the window or maybe they didn't realize there was seed in that feeder. I went out and sprinkled seed on the ground around it and they still didn't come. Then one day, boom! Birds everywhere! Word had gotten out, there is seed!
The Word tells us that it is seed. Sometimes, it is hard to receive that seed due to various fears, preset ideas, religious mindsets. Mark chapter 4 explains the things that hinder the receiving of the seed. I have been guilty of letting the cares of this life enter in and choke the Word in my life, as I am sure most of us have. Fear of the future, finances, worry about our children, etc. But I am here to tell you that The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy. No matter what our circumstances, that word, that seed, will grow up and produce the kingdom. In Mark 4:11, Jesus said that to us it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. That word mystery is musterion which means a secret known only to the initiated. The word denotes something that people could never know by their own understanding and that demands a revelation from God. The Word is a seed that grows up in our mind (soul) and reveals what the Spirit in us already knows.
Colossians1:13, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." He has delivered us from the power of not seeing and transferred us into the kingdom! Colossians 1:27 tells us that He made known the mystery to us, CHRIST IN US, the hope of glory.
The seed always produces after its own kind. We have the seed of God Himself. We cannot produce anything lasting that is not of Him. It is wood, hay and stubble. It will be burned up. It will be burned up by the fire of God. All that will be left is the gold, silver and precious stones. Our God is a consuming fire. Whatever we have produced in the past is consumed by His Presence. Get into the Word and let it take hold in that good ground. All the other cares of this life will fade away under the glorious presence of HIM. Sing unto Him a new song, worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. His Word,His Seed, is Spirit and it is life!
I am so glad the birds found that that seed feeder is safe. That it is there as a gift to their beauty and song. That the seed in that feeder is for their enjoyment as well as their nutrition. That it brings pleasure to me, as the giver of that seed, to see them and hear their song.
It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!
Pam
Monday, January 25, 2010
I have always been a simple kind of person. I have never expected to be treated any differently from anyone else. I guess you could say "I am not a respecter of persons." Maybe this is because I know where I have been. But I believe it is a result of the Christ in me. I like to look at each individual and see their heart, their potential, their hurts and pains, rather than their behaviour.
I chose the title "Wooed by Love" for my blogsite because I have been wooed by love.
It all began when Jesus wooed me to be a part of His Bride. I have never known of anyone falling in love with someone because they were evil, punishing and vindictive. (at least a healthy person). In order to have someone love you, you must love first. Be kind toward them. Love them unconditionally.
2 Corinthians 11:3 states, "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
Simplicity. Oh what a wonderful word! How often do we wish for a simpler time? When we were kids and had no cares? Well, my friend, we are His kids and His bride. He is our supplier and our love. How simple is that?
The religious world has make things so complicated. DO this, don't DO that. We are confused on every side, wondering "am I good enough?' "will I be raptured on the first load?" "am I really saved?" All I can tell you is that God is confident, even when you are not. The Blood of Jesus was enough. It is our arrogance and pride, whether we realize it or not, that makes us think anything we can DO can make the Blood of Jesus lose it's power. We must learn to BE. Be who He created you to be. Rest in His promises. Have the faith as a little child that He is working good in your life. It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. NOW. Not after you die, not after a "rapture", but NOW. The kingdom of God is within you.
"And do not be conformed (patterned after) to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2. We are not to pattern ourselves after anything or anyone but the pattern Son. We do have the mind of Christ but we have to get past our thoughts and ideas and reasonings to hear what the Spirit says. To hear the kingdom mandate.
"casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Cor. 10:5.
That word arguments means reasonings and comprehensions. And that word obedience in this verse means "to hear with submission"! So when we argue within our mind and try to reason what, when, where and why, we must cast that down and listen to Christ with submission.
It really is simple to BE what He created you to BE. It means we have to stop trying and just BE. Stop trying to do good and just be good. It is our nature, now that we have His nature, that we walk in love and compassion, that we have faith,( His faith). I always told my children don't be good when you are away from me because you are afraid of getting caught. Be good because that is who you are. Don't forget what manner of man(kind) you are. You are His and it is Him you represent.
The word tells us in Colossians that we were once alienated and enemies in our MINDS. But now we have been reconciled. If we will live out of the Spirit within, we will walk in the holy, blameless and above reproach life of BEING that was already finished for us. IT IS FINISHED.
We are in the new covenant. I also have a question, If God is kind to the unthankful and evil (Luke 6:35) and it is His kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4), how can we say He causes earthquakes, floods, disease, etc. to destroy His creation, to teach them a lesson?
That's not love. God is Love.
Pam
I chose the title "Wooed by Love" for my blogsite because I have been wooed by love.
It all began when Jesus wooed me to be a part of His Bride. I have never known of anyone falling in love with someone because they were evil, punishing and vindictive. (at least a healthy person). In order to have someone love you, you must love first. Be kind toward them. Love them unconditionally.
2 Corinthians 11:3 states, "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
Simplicity. Oh what a wonderful word! How often do we wish for a simpler time? When we were kids and had no cares? Well, my friend, we are His kids and His bride. He is our supplier and our love. How simple is that?
The religious world has make things so complicated. DO this, don't DO that. We are confused on every side, wondering "am I good enough?' "will I be raptured on the first load?" "am I really saved?" All I can tell you is that God is confident, even when you are not. The Blood of Jesus was enough. It is our arrogance and pride, whether we realize it or not, that makes us think anything we can DO can make the Blood of Jesus lose it's power. We must learn to BE. Be who He created you to be. Rest in His promises. Have the faith as a little child that He is working good in your life. It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. NOW. Not after you die, not after a "rapture", but NOW. The kingdom of God is within you.
"And do not be conformed (patterned after) to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2. We are not to pattern ourselves after anything or anyone but the pattern Son. We do have the mind of Christ but we have to get past our thoughts and ideas and reasonings to hear what the Spirit says. To hear the kingdom mandate.
"casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Cor. 10:5.
That word arguments means reasonings and comprehensions. And that word obedience in this verse means "to hear with submission"! So when we argue within our mind and try to reason what, when, where and why, we must cast that down and listen to Christ with submission.
It really is simple to BE what He created you to BE. It means we have to stop trying and just BE. Stop trying to do good and just be good. It is our nature, now that we have His nature, that we walk in love and compassion, that we have faith,( His faith). I always told my children don't be good when you are away from me because you are afraid of getting caught. Be good because that is who you are. Don't forget what manner of man(kind) you are. You are His and it is Him you represent.
The word tells us in Colossians that we were once alienated and enemies in our MINDS. But now we have been reconciled. If we will live out of the Spirit within, we will walk in the holy, blameless and above reproach life of BEING that was already finished for us. IT IS FINISHED.
We are in the new covenant. I also have a question, If God is kind to the unthankful and evil (Luke 6:35) and it is His kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4), how can we say He causes earthquakes, floods, disease, etc. to destroy His creation, to teach them a lesson?
That's not love. God is Love.
Pam
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
