WHO AM I

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. Psalm 18:2

I AM ACCEPTED

• I am God's child ~ John 1:12
• As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ ~ John 15:15
• I have been justified ~ Romans 5:1
• I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit ~ 1 Corin. 6:17...
• I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God ~ 1 Corin. 6:19-20
• I am a member of Christ's body ~ 1 Corin. 12:27
• I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child ~ Ephesians 1:3-8
• I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins ~ Colossians 1:13-14
• I am complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:9-10
• I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ ~ Hebrews 4:14-16
• I am secure...I am free from condemnation ~ Romans 8:1-2
• I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances ~ Romans 8:28
• I am free from any condemnation brought against me, and I cannot be separated from the love of God ~ Romans 8:31-39
• I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God ~ 2 Corin. 1:21-22
• I am hidden with Christ in God ~ Colossians 3:1-4
• I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me ~ Philippians 1:6
• I am a citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20
• I have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
• I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me ~ 1 John 5:18
• I am significant...I am the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life ~ John 15:5
• I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit ~ John 15:16
• I am God's temple ~1 Corinthians 3:16
• I am a minister of reconciliation for God ~ 2 Corin.5:17-21
• I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm ~ Ephesians 2:6
• I am God's workmanship ~ Ephesians 2:10
• I may approach God with freedom and confidence ~ Ephesians 3:12
• I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me ~ Philippians 4:13

author unknown (? Neil T. Anderson)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=b1x3BteAm0I

Who Am I --Elvis Presley

Who Am I?
When I think of how He came so far from glory
Came to dwell among the lowly such as I
To suffer shame and such disgrace...
On Mount Calvary take my place
Then I ask myself this question
Who am I?

Who am I that The King would bleed and die for
Who am I that He would pray not my will, Thy Lord
The answer I may never know
Why He ever loved me so
But to that old rugged cross He'd go
For who am I?
When I'm reminded of His words
I'll leave Him never
If you'll be true I'll give to you life forever
Oh I wonder what I could have done
To deserve God's only Son
To fight my battles until they're won
For who am I?
Who am I that The King would bleed and die for
Who am I that He would pray not my will, Thy Lord
The answer I may never know
Why He ever loved me so
But to that old rugged cross He'd go
For who am I?
But to an old rugged cross He'd go for, who am I?
Elvis Presley
Songwriters: RUSTY GOODMAN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBcqria2wmg

Who Am I - Casting Crowns (w/ lyrics)

Who Am I
Who am I, that the lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt?...
Who am I, that the bright and morning star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you've told me who I am
I am yours
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?
Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you've told me who I am
I am yours
Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you've told me who I am
I am yours
I am yours
I am yours
Whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am yours
I am yours
Casting Crowns
Songwriters: JOHN MARK HALL

Galatians 1: 15 When God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news—the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me].

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Disclosure: Much of what is in my posts are things I have compiled through the years and I do not know if they have copyrights. What I do know about origin or website I give credit and have tried to always post a link to the origin. I do not market anything in any way on this blog -- I merely hope it will encourage and inspire others.
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I AM A CHILD OF GOD - A CHILD OF THE KING

Come to Me
Matthew 25: 11 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things [these spiritual truths] from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants [to new believers, to those seeking God’s will and purpose]."

I want to remember when I come to the Lord (like a child and with the faith of a child) He responds to me as His child and since I am the child I need to follow not try to lead or direct Him. And I need to run to Him each morning with open arms of Love and appreciation expecting nothing only ready to enjoy the journey He will take me on each new day. I want to be prepared for Him to look on me and say, "Come let us have some special time together today."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwlx0OLpZVY

A CHILD OF THE KING

WHO I AM

I am accepted...
I am God's child ~ John 1:12
I am a friend of Jesus Christ ~ John 15:15
I am justified ~ Romans 5:1
I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit ~ 1 Corin. 6:17
I am bought with a price, and I belong to God ~ 1 Corin. 6:19-20
I am a member of Christ's body ~ 1 Corin. 12:27...
I am chosen by God and adopted as His child ~ Ephesians 1:3-8
I am redeemed and forgiven of all my sins ~ Colossians 1:13-14
I am complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:9-10
I am welcome to access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ ~ Hebrews 4:14-16
I am secure...I am free from condemnation ~ Romans 8:1-2
I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances ~ Romans 8:28
I am free from any condemnation brought against me, and I cannot be separated from the love of God ~ Romans 8:31-39
I am established, anointed, and sealed by God ~ 2 Corin. 1:21-22
I am hidden with Christ in God ~ Colossians 3:1-4
I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me ~ Philippians 1:6
I am a citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20
I am given the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me ~ 1 John 5:18
I am significant...I am the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life ~ John 15:5
I am chosen and appointed to bear fruit ~ John 15:16
I am God's temple 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
I am a minister of reconciliation for God ~ 2 Corin.5:17-21
I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm ~ Ephesians 2:6
I am God's workmanship ~ Ephesians 2:10
I am free and able to approach God with freedom and confidence Hebrews 4:16
I am able to do all things through Christ, who strengthens me ~ Philippians 4:13
author unknown (? Neil T. Anderson)

Who I Am In Christ
Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17—I am a fisher of men.
Matthew 5:13—I am the salt of the earth.
Matthew 5:14—I am the light of the world.
Matthew 28:19; Luke 14:27; John 8:31; 13:35; 15:8; Acts 6:1, 7; 11:25-26, 29; 14:20-22; 16:1—I am a disciple of Christ.
Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8—I am Christ’s witness.
John 3:16-18; 10:28-29; 17:3; Romans 5:21; 6:23; 1 John 5:11—I have eternal life in Christ.
John 8:32, 36—I am set free from sin in Christ.
John 10:10—I have abundant life in Christ.
John 14:26; 16:13—I have been taught all things by the Holy Spirit.
John 14:27; 16:33—I have peace in Christ.
John 15:3—I am cleansed in Christ.
John 15:4, 5, 8, 16; Romans 7:4—I bear much lasting fruit in Christ.
John 15:5—I am a branch abiding in Christ the Vine.
John 15:11—My joy is complete in Christ.
John 16:33—I have overcome the world in Christ.
John 17:16—I am not of this world.
Acts 2:44; 4:32—I am a believer.
Acts 5:20—I have new life in Christ.
Acts 8:3; 2 Corinthians 1:1—Together with all the saints, I am God’s Church.
Acts 11:26—I am a Christian, a little Christ.
Acts 13:39; Romans 3:24, 26, 28, 30; 4:25; 5:1, 9, 18; 10:10; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:7—I am justified freely and fully.
Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 6:11—I am sanctified.
Romans 1:6—I am called to belong to Christ.

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5: 17

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
― Maya Angelou

More Than Conquerors
Romans 8: 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave hi...m up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US.

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. Ephesians 2:10

Colossians 3: 22 Servants, in everything obey those who are your masters on earth, not only with external service, as those who merely please people, but with sincerity of heart because of your fear of the Lord. 23 Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing [with all certainty...] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve. 25 For he who does wrong will be punished for his wrongdoing, and [with God] there is no partiality [no special treatment based on a person’s position in life].

Quilt of Holes

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with
all the other souls..
...
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and
empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square
was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and
temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I
endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares.. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to
the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding
up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes.
I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness,
and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had
to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only
to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on
my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been
held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the
Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze
of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. I rose
and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the
light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me
with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then
our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time
you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My
struggles.

Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me
shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of
you.'

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!
God determines who walks into your life ...it's up to
you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and
who you refuse to let go.'

Author Unknown

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Disclosure: Much of what is in my posts are things I have compiled through the years and I do not know if they have copyrights. What I do know about origin or website I give credit and have tried to always post a link to the origin. I do not market anything in any way on this blog -- I merely hope it will encourage and inspire others.
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LET GO LET GOD -- LET THE PAST PASS

Proverbs 3:5-6         

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Let Go ... Let God
This morning when I first awoke,
My shoulders were still sore,
And there beside my slippers,...
Lay my cross upon the floor.

It was just where I put it,
Before I went to sleep,
And so I placed it on my back,
'Tis where I always keep

It through my waking hours,
'Til it's time to put it down,
It grows a little lighter,
On towards evening, I have found.

This morning as the dawn appeared,
My heart was full of care,
The grievances of yesterday,
Seemed just to much to bear.

My worries seemed to multiply,
By two's and then by three's,
My burden grew in size until,
It pushed me to my knees.

Reaching out for help I found,
That everyone had gone,
I raised my eyes and sobbed,
"Dear Lord, it's just too hard alone."

Then through the sudden stillness,
There came a blessed peace,
I felt new hope arising,
And felt the heartache cease.

And then I heard His footsteps,
Along the path I trod,
And He softly whispered to me,
"My child let go ... let God!"

by Grace E. Easley

^{Psalms 71: 14}I will keep on expecting you to help me. I praise you more and more. 

 ¹⁵ I cannot count the times when you have faithfully rescued me from danger.

I will tell everyone how good you are, and of your constant, daily care. 

¹⁶ I walk in the strength of the Lord God. I tell everyone that you alone are just and good. 

 ¹⁷ O God, you have helped me from my earliest childhood—and I have constantly testified to others of the wonderful things you do. 

 ¹⁸ And now that I am old and gray, don’t forsake me.

Give me time to tell this new generation (and their children too) about all your mighty miracles. 

 ¹⁹ Your power and goodness, Lord, reach to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Where is there another God like you? 

 ²⁰ You have let me sink down deep in desperate problems. But you will bring me back to life again, up from the depths of the earth. ²¹ You will give me greater honor than before and turn again and comfort me.

LET GO AND LET GOD!

As children bring their broken toys    with tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God, because He was my friend. But then, instead of leaving Him, in peace, to work alone; I hung around and tried to help, with ways that were my own. At last, I snatched them back and cried, "How can you be so slow?" "My child," He said, "What could I do? You never did let go." author unknown

When the clouds seem their darkest

And the daylight won’t come;

When you’re up to your ears and drowning

And can’t find a straw to hang on.

When your load gets too heavy, or your shoes get too tight;

When you’re faced with life’s battles and have no will to fight;

Remember: Let go and let God.

Remember: He is the way.

You just trust in God’s mercy every night and every day;

Remember: All thru the darkness

Remember: All thru the storm

There’s a Light there to guide you.

And the Good Lord to lean on.  

by Pamilla deLeon- Lewis, 2003

Let Go! -- Let God! 

When loved ones are taken, husband, wife, child, mother, sister, whichever may be.
Each survivor thinks no one loves or misses them half as much as me.

It's hard to imagine another's pain.
When in our own misery we seem determined to maintain.

It isn't until we let our loved ones go,
That we can help others and their feelings know.

Otherwise, we are wrapped up in our own feelings, our grief,
And are incapable of giving others suffering, relief.

If we trust God and know no mistakes He makes,
We should thank Him when one of our loved ones He takes.

For never again will mental or physical pain they have to endure.
Because their Heavenly Father loves them so, with Him they are secure.

Though we've always known we'd each have to leave this earth one day,
We pretend that time is far, far away.

So to wish them back on earth even if we could,
Would hurt them rather than do them good.

Let go, let God be in charge of our dear one's life.
Let go, let God remove all strife.

So God can use us to help see others through,
That have lost loved ones, like me, like you.
              [ by: Mona Rae (June 1995) ]

Ephesians 4:31-32  

   

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

         

Jeremiah 29:11         

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

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Disclosure: Much of what is in my posts are things I have compiled through the years and I do not know if they have copyrights. What I do know about origin or website I give credit and have tried to always post a link to the origin. I do not market anything in any way on this blog -- I merely hope it will encourage and inspire others.

FALLOW GROUND - SOW IN RIGHTEOUSNESS - REAP THE STEADFAST LOVE OF GOD

Plow the Fallow Ground

Dr. Joe Temple

I am glad to be able to offer that to all of our hearts. There is yet time to seek the LORD. How are you going to go about seeking Him? He makes several suggestions in this one verse. You probably noticed it. First, He said, “Break up fallow ground.” This is how you seek the LORD if you have been disobedient. You break up the fallow ground. What is fallow ground? When we speak of fallow ground, we speak of ground which has been plowed but never planted, plowed but left untended, plowed until it becomes dry and hard, and before any planting can be done, the ground must be broken again.
This produces an interesting thought to my mind. It suggests that the people to whom God spoke evidently wanted to do what was right; they plowed the ground, but they never did get any planting done. Do you know there are a lot of folk like that? There are a lot of folk who perhaps in a service hear the Gospel presented, and they respond to the Gospel—that is another way of talking about plowing the ground—but they go out from the service and they never do anything more. They don't hide the Word of God away in their hearts; they just let things go. Sometimes in a special series of meetings, the minister speaks under the power of the Spirit of God, and hearts are touched and decisions and commitments are made. That's plowing the ground, but nothing else is ever done. Things go along and people live in their own merry way, and the fallow ground appears. Before anything can be done, the fallow ground has to be broken up again.
That fallow ground gets weeds, thorns and thistles in it, and sometimes getting the thorns, weeds and thistles out is not as easy as it sounds. To provoke your thinking today, we trust under the direction of the Holy Spirit of God, we ask you, “Have you got any fallow ground in your heart? Have you made an effort to do what God would have you do, but things have come in and you haven't got it done yet, and the ground lies fallow? Your heart is being stirred again and you think you are going to have to go out and drop a few seeds in the ground, and everything is going to be all right. It can't be that way. You have to plow the fallow ground again. You have to break up the clods.

Sow In Righteousness

We suggest the last thing to you that should be done, and I think that it must be done in the order in which we suggest, for there is no other way to do it. Look at verse 12:

Hosea 10

12	Sow to yourselves in righteousness…

This “sow to yourselves in righteousness” does not mean anything selfish. It is, “You yourselves sow in righteousness.” Earlier in the chapter we read that they were sowing wickedness; now He says, “Sow in righteousness.” Speaking in the terms of the farmer, He is sowing the things which are wrong. He is saying, “Stop sowing that kind of seed, and by God's grace, with the forgiveness provided by the Blood of Christ, begin to sow in righteousness.”
Then what will happen? This is the good thing, and we are able to stop with this word. You will be able to “reap steadfast love.” Look again at verse 12:

Hosea 10

12	Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy…

A better translation is, “Reap the steadfast love of God.” Your love and mine fluctuates; it changes, but God's love is always steadfast. He would much rather shower upon you His love than anything else, but we keep Him from doing it. However, if we will break up the fallow ground, if we will sow righteousness, we will once again bask in the steadfast love of God.

http://www.livingbiblestudies.org/study/JT40/013.html

Holman Bible Dictionary

Fallow Ground

Hebrew Lexicon נִיר

Virgin soil or else soil which has not recently been planted (Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:12 ). The central thrust of the prophetic message is clear: the nation Israel, “Jacob”, is to return to Yahweh by “cultivating” the covenant values of righteousness and steadfast love. The precise significance of the fallow ground is unclear. Perhaps the unplowed earth represents Israel's failure to do what was needed to keep the covenant. Or perhaps the virgin soil represents a new relationship with God. Here the call is for Israel to abandon the worn out fields of unrighteousness (symbolized by thorns) and to move on to the new, fertile (Proverbs 13:23 ) ground of covenant living.

fallow

adjective

1. (of land) plowed and left unseeded for a season or more; uncultivated.

2. not in use; inactive:

My creative energies have lain fallow this year.

noun

3. land that has undergone plowing and harrowing and has been left unseeded for one or more growing seasons.

verb (used with object)

4. to make (land) fallow for agricultural purposes.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fallow 

PLOUGHING FALLOW GROUND

http://www.evanwiggs.com/revival/prepare/plough.html

"Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you."(Hosea 10:12).

Here are two kinds of ground: fallow ground and ground that has been broken up by the plow.

The fallow field is smug, contented, protected from the shock of the plow and the agitation of the harrow. Such a field, as it lies year after year, becomes a familiar landmark to the crow and the blue jay. Had it intelligence, it might take a lot of satisfaction in its reputation: it has stability; nature has adopted it; it can be counted upon to remain always the same while the fields around it change from brown to green and back to brown again. Safe and undisturbed it sprawls lazily in the sunshine, the picture of sleepy contentment.

But it is paying a terrible price for its tranquility: never does it see the miracle of growth; never does it feel the motions of mounting life nor see the wonders of bursting seed nor the beauty of ripening grain. Fruit it can never know because it is afraid of the plow and the harrow.

In direct opposite to this, the cultivated field has yielded itself to the adventure of living. The protecting fence has opened to admit the plow, and the plow has come as plows always come, practical, cruel, business-like and in a hurry. Peace has been shattered by the shouting farmer and the rattle of machinery. The field has felt the travail of change; it has been upset, turned over, bruised and broken.

But its rewards come hard upon its labors. The seed shoots up into the daylight its miracle of life, curious, exploring the new world above it. All over the field the hand of God is at work in the age-old and ever renewed service of creation. New things are born, to grow, mature, and consummate the grand prophecy latent in the seed when it entered the ground. Nature's wonders follow the plow.

There are two kinds of lives also: the fallow and the plowed. For example of the fallow life we need not go far. They are all to plentiful among us.

The man of fallow life is contented with himself and the fruit he once bore. He does not want to be disturbed. He smiles in tolerant superiority at revivals, fastings, self-searching, and all the travail of fruit bearing and the anguish of advance. The spirit of adventure is dead within him. He is steady, "faithful," always in his accustomed place (like the old field), conservative, and something of a landmark in the little church. But he is fruitless.

The curse of such a life is that it is fixed, both in size and in content. To be has taken the place of to become. The worst that can be said of such a man is that he is what he will be. He has fenced himself in, and by the same act he has fenced out God and the miracle.

Broken To Bring Forth Fruit

The plowed life is the life that has, in the act of repentance, thrown down the protecting fences and sent the plow of confession into the soul. The urge of the Spirit, the pressure of circumstances and the distress of fruitless living have combined thoroughly to humble the heart. Such a life has put away defense, and has forsaken the safety of death for the peril of life.

Discontent, yearning, contrition, courageous obedience to the will of God: these have bruised and broken the soil till it is ready again for the seed. And as always, fruit follows the plow. Life and growth begin as God "rains down righteousness." Such a one can testify, "And the hand of the Lord was upon me there" (Ezek. 3:22).

Corresponding to these two kinds of life, religious history shows two phases, the dynamic and the static. The dynamic periods were those heroic times when God's people stirred themselves to do the Lord's bidding and went out fearlessly to carry His witness to the world. They exchanged the safety of inaction for the hazards of God-inspired progress. Invariably the power of God followed such action. The miracle of God went when and where His people went. It stayed when His people stopped.

The static periods were those times when the people of God tired of the struggle and sought a life of peace and security. They busied themselves trying to conserve the gains made in those more daring times when the power of God moved among them.

Bible history is replete with examples. Abraham "went out" on his great adventure of faith, and God went with him. Revelations, theophanies, the gift of Palestine, covenants and promises of rich blessings to come were the result . Then Israel went down into Egypt, and the wonders ceased for four hundred years. At the end of that time Moses heard the call of God and stepped forth to challenge the oppressor. A whirlwind of power accompanied that challenge, and Israel soon began to march. As long as she dared to march God sent our His miracles to clear the way for her. Whenever she lay down like a fallow field He turned off His blessing and waited for her to rise again and command His power.

This is a brief but fair outline of the history of Israel and of the Church as well. As long as they "went forth and preached every where," the Lord worked "with them... confirming the word with signs following" (Mark 16:20). But when they retreated to monasteries or played at building pretty cathedrals, the help of God was withdrawn till a Luther or a Wesley arose to challenge hell again. Then invariably God poured out His power as before.

In every denomination, missionary society, local church or individual Christian, this law operates. God works as long as His people live daringly: He ceases when they no longer need His aid. As soon as we seek protection out of God, we find it to our own undoing. Let us build a safety-wall of endowments, by-laws, prestige, multiplied agencies for the delegation of our duties, and creeping paralysis sets in at once, a paralysis which can only end in death.

Miracles Follow The Plow

The power of God comes only where it is called out by the plow. It is released into the Church only when she is doing something that demands it. By the word "doing" I do not mean mere activity. The Church has plenty of "hustle" as it is, but in all her activities she is very careful to leave her fallow ground mostly untouched. She is careful to confine her hustling within the fear-marked boundaries of complete safely. That is why she is fruitless; she is safe, but fallow.

Look around today and see where the miracles of power are taking place. Never in the seminary where each thought is prepared for the student, to be received painlessly and at second hand; never in the religious institution where tradition and habit have long ago made faith unnecessary; never in the old church where memorial tablets plastered over the furniture bear silent testimony to a glory that once was. Invariably where daring faith is struggling to advance against hopeless odds, there is God sending "help from the sanctuary."

In the missionary society with which I have for many years been associated I have noticed that the power of God has always hovered over our frontiers. Miracles have accompanied our advances and have ceased when and where we allowed ourselves to become satisfied and ceased to advance. The creed of power can not save a movement from barrenness. There must be also the work of power.

But I am more concerned with the effect of this truth upon the local church and the individual. Look at that church where plentiful fruit was once the regular and expected thing, but now there is little or no fruit, and the power of God seems to be in abeyance. What is the trouble? God has not changed, nor had His purpose for that church changed in the slightest measure. No, the church itself has changed.

A little self-examination will reveal that it and its members have become fallow. It has lived through its early travails and has now come to accept an easier way of life. It is content to carry on its painless program with enough money to pay its bills and a membership large enough to assure its future.

Its members now look to it for security rather than for guidance in the battle between good and evil. It has become a school instead of a barracks. Its members are students, not soldiers. They study the experiences of others instead of seeking new experiences of their own.

The only way to power for such a church is to come out of hiding and once more take the danger-encircled path of obedience. Its security is its deadliest foe. The church that fears the plow writes its own epitaph. The church that uses the plow walks in the way of revival.

Power In Action

If we are to advance we must have power. Since "power" is a word of many uses and misuses, let me explain what I mean by it.

I mean that effective energy which God has, both in Biblical and in post-Biblical times, released into the Church and into the circumstances surrounding her, which made her fruitful in labor and invincible before her foes. Miracles? Yes. Answers to prayer? Special providence? All of these - and more.

It is summed up in the words of the Gospel of Mark: "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following" (Mark 16:20). The whole book of Acts and the noblest chapters of Church history since New Testament times are but an extension of that verse.

By power I mean that divine afflatus which moves the heart and persuades the hearer to repent and believe in Christ. It is not eloquence. It is not logic. It is not argument. It is not any of these things, though it may accompany any or all of them.

It is more penetrating than thought, more disconcerting than conscience, more convincing than reason. It is the subtle wonder that follows anointed preaching, a mysterious operation of spirit on spirit.

Such words as those in the second chapter of Hebrews stand as a rebuke to the unbelieving Christians of our day: "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will" (Hebrews 2:4).

Unhandicapped By Doctrinal Prejudices

A disinterested observer, reading without the handicap of doctrinal prejudice, would surely gather from the Scriptures that God desires to advance His work among men by frequent outpourings of the Spirit upon His people, as they need them, and are prepared to receive them.

We make this statement with the full knowledge that it will be hotly challenged by some teachers. "It is not scriptural, " they say, "to pray for or expect an outpouring of the Spirit today. The Spirit was poured out once for all at Pentecost and has not left the Church since that time. To pray for the Holy Spirit now is to ignore the historical fact of Pentecost."

That is the argument used to discourage expectation, and it has been successful in damping down the fervor of many congregations, and silencing their prayers. There is a specious logic about this objection, even an air of superior orthodoxy; but for all that, it is contrary to the Word of God and our of harmony with the operations of God in Church history.

Filled with The Spirit - And Refilled

The Bible does not sponsor this chilling doctrine of once-for-all blessing. Rather, it encourages us to expect "showers of blessing" and "floods upon the dry ground" (Isa. 44:3). The Spirit must fill not only that first company of "about an hundred and twenty," but others as well, or the blessings of that experience would cease with the death of the last member of the original band.

All this seems reasonable enough, but we have a more sure word of Scripture: come time after Pentecost a company of believers met to pray for strength and power to meet the emergency then facing them, and to enlist the help of God on their behalf.

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).

Some of these were of the original number filled at Pentecost. It is hardly conceivable that God acted contrary to His own will in filling them again after Pentecost. Still other outpourings are recorded in Acts 8, 10, and 19. All these occurred some years after the original act.

Dispensation Of The Holy Spirit

In brief, the teaching of the New Testament is that the outpouring at Pentecost was the historic beginning of an era which was to be characterized by a continuous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Through the prophet Joel, God had promised that He would, in the last days, pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. That God's promise of poured-out power is meant for the Church for the whole time of her earthly warfare is confirmed to us by the recorded experiences of 1900 years.

Powerful movings called "reformation," rushes of missionary activity, sudden breakings out of revival flame over communities and nations - have been the sign of the fire to indicate the goings forth of God. In these days in which we live there are evidences that God is still pouring out His Spirit upon men. These mighty works can be explained only as new chapters in God's unfinished Book - the Acts of the Holy Ghost.

Now if God wills to pour our His Spirit upon us, why do not more Christians and more churches receive an experience of power like that of the early Church? That some have so received is joyfully admitted, but why is the number so few? When the provision is so broad and the promise so sure, what doth hinder us?

One obstacle to the reception of power is a wide-spread fear of our emotions wherever they touch the religious life. This has gone so far that it has become a phobia with many serious-minded people. Men who should know better will kneel for an hour beside a seeker, all the time warning him against his emotions as against the devil himself.

Bible teachers declaim against feelings till we are ashamed to admit that we ever entertained anything so depraved. Feeling and faith are opposed to each other in modern teaching, and the listener is given to understand that any exhibition of emotion is indelicate, if not carnal, and should be avoided at any cost.

This anti-emotionalism, though it is sponsored by some good people and travels in pretty orthodox company, is nevertheless an unwarranted inference, not a Scriptural doctrine.

Where in the Bible are feeling and faith said to be at odds? The fact is that faith engenders feeling as certainly as life engenders motion. We can have feeling without faith, it is true, but we can never have faith, without feeling. Faith as a cold unemotional light is wholly unknown in Scriptures.

The faith of those bible heroes listed in the Book of Hebrews invariably aroused emotion and led to positive action in the direction of their faith. A statement, a promise, a warning always produced a corresponding excitation of feeling in the heart of the believer.

Noah was "moved with fear," Abraham "rejoiced" and "obeyed." The Book of Acts is almost hilarious with joy. Perhaps the best summary of the whole matter is made by Paul when writing to the Romans, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17). And Peter says, "Believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8).

Fleshly Excesses

Another hindrance is fear of fanaticism. Instinctive revulsion from fleshly excesses and foolish, undisciplined conduct on the part of some who profess lofty spiritual attainments have closed the door to a live of power for many of God's true children.

Such victims must be taught that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus, and is as gracious and beautiful as the Savior Himself. Paul's words should be kept in mind:

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). The Holy spirit is the cure for fanaticism, not the cause of it.

Another thing that greatly hinders God's people is a hardness of heart caused by hearing men, without the Holy Spirit, constantly preaching about the Spirit. There is no doctrine so chilling as the doctrine of the Spirit when held in cold passivity and personal unbelief. The hearers will turn away in dull apathy from an exhortation to be filled with the Spirit unless the Spirit Himself is giving the exhortation through the speaker!

The hearers sense the lack and go away with numbed hearts. Theirs is not opposition to the truth, but an unconscious reaction from unreality.

Then I would mention another thing which clearly hinders believers from knowing the power of the Holy Spirit: it is the habit of instructing seekers to "take it by faith" when they become concerned with their need of the power of the Spirit.

It is a fact written all over the New Testament that the benefits of atonement are to be received by faith. This is a basic in redemptive theology, and any departure from it is fatal to true Christian experience. Paul teaches emphatically that the Spirit is received through faith, and rebukes anyone who would teach otherwise. So it would seem, on the surface of it, to be sound procedure to instruct a seeker to "take it by faith." But there is something wrong somewhere.

One is forced to wonder whether the words "by faith," mean the same thing when used by modern teachers as they did when used by Paul.

A sharp contrast is observable between Spirit-filled Christians of Paul's time and many who claim to be filled with the Spirit today. Paul's converts received the Spirit by faith to be sure, but they actually received Him! Thousands now go through the motion of taking Him by faith, but show by their continual feebleness that they do not know Him in real power!

Faith-Living And Flaming

The trouble seems to be with our conception of faith. Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing, leading to surrender, and obedience to the commandments of Christ. Faith in our day often means no more than a mental assent to a doctrine.

Many persons, convinced of their need of power, but unwilling to go through the painful struggle of death to the old life, turn with relief to this "take it by faith" doctrine as a way out of their difficulty. It saved their face - and enables them to march along with the true Israel.

But it is they who constitute the "mixed multitude" which slows down the progress of the Church and causes most of the trouble when things get tight. And unless they see it differently and decide to go through the hard way, they are fated to spend the rest of their powerless lives in secret disappointment.

Let it be remembered that no one ever received the Holy Spirit's power without knowing it. He always announces Himself to the inner consciousness. God will pour out His Spirit upon us in answer to simple faith, but real faith will be accompanied by deep poverty of spirit and mighty heart yearnings, and will express itself in strong crying and tears.

"HERALD OF HIS COMING" July 1997 Vol. 56 No. 7 (667) International Edition

Taken from Paths To Power by A.W. Tozer

 

 

THE WINANS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd-4G-w1JoU

TRUTHING IT -- TRUTH -- LIES -- FREEDOM

John 14: ⁶ 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

John 8

³² Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

"I differ from you / to differ is not to reject
I disagree with you / to disagree is not to attack
I will confront you / to confront is to complement
I will invite change / to change is to grow"
Caring enough to confront David Augsburger

confront
: to oppose or challenge (someone) especially in a direct and forceful way
: to directly question the action or authority of (someone)
: to deal with (something, such as a problem or danger); especially : to deal with (something) in an honest and direct way

John 8:32

and you will know the truth,

and the truth will make you free.”

John 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 14:6

Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

John 14:17

that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

John 15:26

“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,

John 16:13

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

John 18:37

Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Romans 1:25

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Ephesians 1:13

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Colossians 1:5

because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel

2 Thessalonians 2:12

in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

1 Timothy 2:4

who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 John 4:6

We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1 John 5:6

This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

LIES

 

John 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.