I Chose You

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 Every word that our Lord spoke has the power to transform our lives.  Every word our Lord speaks is an eternal creative thought.  So we should pay close attention with extreme interest to the words our Lord spoke when He walked on the face of the earth. 

Let us go to John 15:16 where Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”  We will never understand the full meaning of what our Lord meant from the literal statement.  We must ask the Holy Spirit to help us go beyond the letter of the word into the Spirit of what He said.  The context in which this statement was made is very important.  In John 15:1, Jesus is telling his disciples that He is the true vine.  He is revealing to the disciples their new position and their new source of existence. The Lord led me to specifically focus on the words “I Chose You.” Let us give the Holy Spirit our undivided attention and allow Him to take us one word at a time into the magnitude of what is implied here. We must realize how much our heavenly Father wants us to know Him.

Who is the “I” spoken of in John 15:16? Most Christians today will answer, “That’s easy it’s Jesus”. True, however “I” is much more and we will soon discover a very fulfilling explanation as we continue.  You might ask why is it important to know who chose me?    Let me give you three reasons out of many.

First:  It is important to know the fullness of who chose us because knowing will enlarge our intellect and purify our soul of all that limits and slows down our progression into the fullness of Christ.

Second: If we disregard the study of who God is, we place ourselves in a state of meaningless confusion, stumbling around like a blind man not understanding what is happening around us and why it is happening.

Third:  It is God’s will as He says in John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

I am fully aware that my thirty three years of walking with my Lord does not make me a scholar on the subject of God, but a little knowledge of God is worth a lot more than having a great deal of knowledge about God. 

The Book of John and some of Paul’s letters have one thing in common; they take us to the time before Genesis. Read carefully how John opens his letter in verse (1), “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. (2) He was with God in the beginning.” John was inspired of the Holy Spirit to precisely reveal to us the nature and meaning of Jesus’ sonship; a revelation you will not find in any other place in the New Testament.  At least not the way John so carefully made it clear to those who all their lives read the Old Testament, but also to us who would receive the Holy Spirit after making Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord.  John does not begin with the title Son; He starts with the title Word.  He makes sure there is no misunderstanding or mistake as to whom he was writing about.

In the Old Testament God’s word was His creative utterance.  You have probably read Genesis 1:1-3, “God said let there be light  and there was light.” Psalms 33:6, 9 reads, “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made . . . he spoke and it came to be.”  This is the word of God at work or God working.  Let’s take these facts from the book of John one at a time and experience the transforming power of God’s word.

(1) John 1:1, “In the beginning was the word. . .” The word is eternal; He (the Word) has no beginning. He - Is.  Pay close attention to Proverbs 8:27-31, “I was there when He set the heavens in place, when He marked out the horizon the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when He gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep His command, and when He marked out the foundations of the earth.  Then, I was the craftsman at His side. I was filled with delight day after day rejoicing always in His presence, rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind.”

(2)  John 1:1, “…And the word was with God.” Here we have a distinct personality in an eternal relation in God, an active fellowship which has no beginning and has no end. John 10:30 says, “I and my Father are one.” John 17:21 reads, “That all of them may be one Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

(3) John 1:1, “…And the word was God.” Here the word is deity. Although we see two distinct personalities in the Word and the Father, He was never created. The Word is divine just as the Father is divine. John 6:46 reads, “No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God.” John 17:5 says, “And now Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

(4) John 1:3, “Through Him all things were made.” The Word is creating.  Colossians 1:16, “For by him all things were created things in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities all things were created by Him and for Him.” 

(5) John 1:4, “In Him was life...” The word is giving life; energizing, giving motion, animating.   There is nothing that has been created that has life in itself.  All things created exist because of the life giving Word.  John 5:21 reads, “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the son gives life to who he is pleased to give it.  5:26 reads, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so he has granted the Son to have Life in Himself.”  Here is the answer to the origin and the continuance of life. These verses blow up the big bang theory or any other creation theory.

(6) John 1:4, “. . .  and that life was the light of men.” By receiving the life we also receive illumination of what ‘light’ means. We are brought into an intimate relationship through the life of the Word with God and His Kingdom.  John 8:12 reads, “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 12:36 says, “Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.”

(7) John 1:14, “The Word became flesh...” When did the word become flesh?  Go back to the Gospel of Luke chapter 1 when the angel sent by God spoke to a virgin named Mary.  Starting with verse 26 to verse 38, we have the glorious encounter of the Word of God with a chosen vessel.  What an honor and privilege to hear the words in Luke 1:28, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”  I pray right now that you are hearing the words in verse 38 where we find the answer of the Word becoming flesh. “And Mary said behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it unto me according to thy word.”  In the name of our Lord Jesus take your time and meditate on what I am sharing with you.

Remember, the Holy Spirit is helping us to grasp the magnitude of the three words Jesus spoke in John 15:16, I CHOSE YOU.  We have scratched the surface by focusing on ‘I’. Only eternity will display the enormity of what God the Father receives by Jesus Christ’s actions.    John 6:63 reads, “The spirit gives life: the flesh counts for nothing.  The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”  To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen!!

John Casarez

Lord, my Lord

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Imagine that you and I are sitting at the kitchen table at the end of the day drinking an ice cold glass of water.  We are having a good discussion regarding our day’s accomplishments and feeling good about it.  Then I ask you, “What were the two most important days in your life?”  After a short pause, your answer might be; the day I met my spouse; the day I was married; the day our first child was born; or the day I received the promotion I was praying for.  I believe the two most important days of our lives are when we were born and the day we discovered our purpose in life; everything else in one way or another is impacted by purpose.

 Your true purpose can only be revealed after you discover your creator. God has created you and He has called you. It is God who gives you life and only He can give you meaning in life.  Knowing and understanding this, leaves no doubt that He will guide you into fulfilling your purpose.

I would like to share some things I have learned in thirty years regarding God’s guidance in our lives. God will supply your spiritual and natural needs as long as you are in the place and position where He wants you to be. His power and peace exist in this place. Examples of God’s guidance are written in the Old Testament. Consider Abraham, Joseph and the Israelite’s stories.  Remember Elijah who was led to a brook where God used the ravens to supply his food?

 It is important for us in Christ to note that the understanding of spiritual provision has been lacking in much of Christianity.  We’ve set our eyes on the physical, natural and material and have not understood the real purpose for which God called us.  Look at the spiritual help the apostles gave as they led the church through times of perplexity, problems, and circumstances. They emphasized the spiritual principles which would lead the church until the end of time.  God’s desire is to guide us and make sure that we fulfill His purpose.  Psalms 32:8 reads, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.  I will counsel and watch over you.”  Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight.”  Isaiah 58:11 reads, “The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land, and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, whose waters never fail.”  John 8:12 reads, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  These scriptures are like street signs. They are points of reference or absolutes which never change. God’s grace has allowed these promises of guidance to be recorded in His Word. History shows us how important they are. 

Next, I want to note several factors in our lives that can distract, derail and hinder us. We must seriously judge our motives in our decision making.  What are our motives?  I often state at conferences, “It is not what we do for the Lord that counts, but WHY we do what we do.” Jesus says in Luke 11:34, “Your eye is the lamp of your body.  When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light.  But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.”  It would be impossible to discover God’s purpose if there is any thought of personal gain, compromise, or man’s praise. Our will must be totally surrendered to the will of God.  Jesus said in John 5:30 (KJV), “. . .  my judgment is just, for I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” In other words my will is surrendered to the will of my Father.  It is recorded in John 6:38 (KJV), “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me.” Did you know you and I were also chosen, anointed and sent into this world to do the will of Him who sent us? Our Lord said in John 17:16-19 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” The Word is clear, there is no doubt God has sent us into this world the same way our Lord was sent.  The Holy Spirit reminds me of Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and you don’t do the things I command you?” How many times have we missed His guidance because we have not surrendered or submitted to His will? 

Another factor in our lives that can distract, derail and hinder us is lack of information; information for our minds, our thought processes.  God’s Word is filled with biography and history. It is filled with facts and reliable information.  The Holy Spirit will use God’s Word to renew our minds.  There is no crisis in the Word which is not in some way similar to what we go through.  We can glean from the scriptures and see God’s hand bringing clarity to our minds.   There is nothing new under the sun.  It is written in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”  We must make time to read the scriptures if we are going to find fulfillment and be satisfied.  I have discovered God teaches and guides us, even on our jobs.  He is determined to help us arrive at His desired end. 

 Our lack of prayer is another factor. We have to pray.  Prayer is not always on your knees. We can be in prayer while washing dishes, washing the car, at work, on the computer, mowing the lawn, welding, or cutting pipe.  Praying is not always petitioning God, it can also be expressing your worship, praise and delight in Him. Psalms is filled with supplications for clear directions.  Psalms 86:11 reads, “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”  Psalms 25:4 reads, “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”  Psalms 25:9-10 says, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.  All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.”

Another factor is providence.  Providence is God’s care for you.  God’s word is impressed in your heart, so never step ahead without a peace in your heart.  The Holy Spirit comes and lives in us to guide and direct us into all truth.   If there is not peace in your heart for the next step, wait; wait upon the Lord. His word confirms the impression in your heart.  We must be very careful not to be moved by the suggestions or impulses of others.  An example is when I started traveling to Mexico, some brothers brought me food and clothing to take to the needy. I so vividly remember the day that I crossed the border with those provisions. The Holy Spirit convicted me by saying, “I have not anointed you and raised you up for this. I have anointed you and sent you to take my Word.  I have raised others to do this job.” After that experience I stopped taking food and clothing; not that it is wrong but for our ministry the time had not come. Don’t misunderstand me; God said He called others for that purpose.  Several years ago, God connected us with a very special brother. Pastor Jorge Luis Urra pastors a wonderful church in Miami and has a heart for orphans.  God has joined us with this ministry and we have been working with him to supply food and clothing to orphanages throughout Central America, South America, and Thailand. Philippians 2:4 says, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.” We must be careful to not step out of the measure where God has placed us.  John 8:29 reads, “The one who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.”  Do you want to know why the Father said, Matthew 3:17, “… This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” There’s your answer, “I always do what pleases Him.”  Remember the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7:1-6, “After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews were waiting to take his life.  But when the Jewish Feast of the Tabernacles was near Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”  Human nature is acting here. Verse 5 reads, “For even His own brothers didn’t believe in him.” Jesus does not respond to human nature. He goes on to say in verse 6, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.” We must never forget that God’s ways are of greater importance than his works.  The Old Testament records that Israel saw His works but Moses knew His ways. 

These are factors that have been a tremendous help to me after 30 years.  It took time for me to discover them, but they have kept me on course.

 If you have not experienced the forgiveness of sin by Jesus Christ, I invite you to consider what you have read. To see the kingdom, the dominion, the power, the peace and the righteousness of God, “You must be born again.”  

Now let me give you two scriptures that make it very clear why God created us; one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.  Isaiah 43:6-7 reads, “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!” and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back. Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-everyone who is called by my name, who I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Ephesians 1:5-6 says, “He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”  Please read them very carefully and let the Holy Spirit bring you into the glory and joy of His Son.

God’s Servant,

John Casarez

Persistent Purpose

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My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.  Isaiah 46:10

 

 If we would allow the Holy Spirit to guide us we would know our Lord came to give us a quality of life without corruption.  He didn’t come to redeem us only, but to give us life that exists forever.  What is our destiny and how do we get there?  How do we step into our destiny? Our Lord came into this world to fulfill the will of our Father and to show us the way. He came to reveal the desires of our Heavenly Father’s heart.  Every step our Lord took had divine purpose.  He was born of the Spirit, grew in wisdom and grace, and through His life has revealed to us how we should walk as sons of God.

Mark 1: 10 Jesus comes out of the water after being baptized in the Jordan River.  Mark 1:12 KJV reads, “Immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.”  The New American Standard version of Mark 1:12 uses the word ‘impelled’ meaning; Force: Make someone feel the need to do something. Mark’s gospel presents the Lord as a servant.  A servant obeys the commands and the desires of His master’s heart.  Here Jesus is being driven, impelled into the wilderness by the will of God the Father. As the pattern Son, Jesus is revealing to us how we will conduct our lives on this earth under total submission to the Holy Spirit.  He had no doubt as to the outcome of the forty days in the wilderness.  By this, the Holy Spirit reveals to us our outcome in any trial or situation when we are absolutely controlled by the Father’s will.  He overcame the wilderness experience for us; he did it for the love of His Father.  This was a display of absolute selflessness and holy love; the love that God shed abroad in our hearts. 

Two examples of Gods servants in the Old Testament will help us see important principles and keys to our walk.  One example is David who was a type of our Lord. In 1 Samuel 17 David’s father sent him with food to his brothers who were settled on one side of the valley as the Israelites were at war with the Philistines.  Israel was paralyzed the minute Goliath stepped onto the battlefield and began cursing them.  Spiritually relate this same scenario to many in Christ who are not advancing into spiritual maturity.  In their individual circumstances they aren’t confident of the outcome.   Saul who was the leader of this great army was paralyzed.  Much of our spiritual leadership is the same today.  What a tragedy when we don’t know our God.  David knew what needed to take place in order to release the army of the Lord from this paralysis; from this state of death.  David knew in whom his confidence was. Witness David’s spirit, courage, and confidence as he hears the voice of Goliath defying the army of the Lord with curses. When Goliath started to attack, David quickly ran to meet him; no hesitation (I Samuel 17:48). He was about to deliver Israel from spiritual paralysis.  That same spirit is in us.  How is it possible for us to see much of the church in this limited and weak state and not sense the urgency in our hearts to find a way to deliver them?  Leaders are given the responsibility to lead and bring maturity.  Our Lord gave His precious life for this glorious cause of deliverance from death.  The Lord will bring us into situations where we will discover the root cause of the limitations, hindrances and fears that paralyze us. He purposely does this until we submit to the Spirit. He has given promises only He can fulfill in order for us to partake of His divine nature.   This is one truth I see in David.  He didn’t hesitate, he ran towards the enemy.  After that, Israel destroyed the Philistine army.

 Our Lord was immediately driven into the wilderness; no hesitation. Wilderness represents death, lack, no resources to sustain physical life. I remind you, He knew the outcome.  He knew what He was going to release into the church; confidence and a trust in God the Father, which is something human nature cannot produce.

Jesus knew the outcome of the wilderness experience.  He knew what He was going to release into the church; confidence and a trust in God the Father, which human nature cannot produce.

Abraham is another example. Dissatisfaction was stirring in his spirit and God revealed Himself to him.  Acts 7:2-4 reveals God calling him out of his home land, Ur of the Chaldeans.  Abram did not live in a little village hidden away somewhere, it was a metropolis. Ur was a city thriving with wealth, religion, and idolatry.  Abraham was raised in that environment; God appeared to him and called him out.  Genesis 11:31, “And Terah took Abram his son. . . ” God didn’t speak to Terah, He spoke to Abraham.   He speaks to us the same way when we hear the gospel. He calls us out of the world system to go into our inheritance. When Terah, a type of the old nature, took the lead Abraham was hindered and finally stopped.  Abraham stayed in Harran for approximately twenty five years until Terah died.  Until we realize and experience the power of the cross, the old nature will always want to take the lead.  Experience the cross, know the old nature is dead and begin your journey! Abraham left his old life and he reached the Promised Land, Canaan.  Genesis 12:8-10 reads, “And he removed from hence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east: and there he built an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was grievous in the land.”  Notice that Abraham comes into the land God promised and the first test he confronts is the necessity for life’s sustenance.  The enemy of our soul uses necessity to paralyze us. He wants us to focus on the natural and forget the spiritual.  He deceived Adam and Eve this same way. Our Lord had needs in the wilderness but He was not deceived by the temptations put before Him. How many of us have come into this new spiritual life and suddenly circumstances seem to change for the worse.  Perhaps you lose a job, there is no food on the table, there is sickness in the family or a child runs away. Why? The answer is only found in Christ Jesus.  Too many times we make the same mistake Abraham made. When the old nature begins to take the lead again, Abraham’s problems are compounded. Hagar comes on the scene and oh what problems she presented to Abraham. We allow the need or crisis to overwhelm us and we search for a solution without asking if it’s the Lord’s will.  We must know exactly what God is doing. He’s stripping away all the things we once relied on and He’s bringing us into the fullness of Christ. This is the eternal cross of God the Divine Rule of Action.

Until we discover the purpose for our existence, our lives will be meaningless.  Our purpose is only found in Christ.  After forty days in the wilderness our Lord was so consumed with fulfilling God’s will He did not hunger.  Take note of His nature that we now possess; His character that is being formed in us. The devil is tempting our Lord with the things that will satisfy His natural life. Hunger is not a sin, God created it in us.  Jesus was being tempted to fulfill His hunger by using his own will, turning the stones into bread was an option for Jesus; the stones were close at hand. Returning to Egypt was an option for Abraham.   Egypt was close at hand and Abraham was deceived by what he saw.  Be aware the visible will always deceive us; we must see the invisible. II Corinthians 4:18 “So fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Our Lord has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. He has promised to always be with us. Our Lord knew He was being tempted to fulfill a hunger using His own will.  He accepted the possibility of the Father’s will for Him to die.  Notice in Matthew 4:4 Jesus confronts satan with, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’.”  He did not say, The Son shall not live by bread alone.  He confronted satan as a man. Our Lord knew who He was and knew what He had to do.

There are three important lessons our Lord revealed in the wilderness.  First: Allow God to have His perfect work in you. Don’t take matters into your own hands. Second: Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you through the process.  Don’t rely on your own abilities.  Third: Always let God vindicate.  Don’t allow others to dictate your actions.

There is a promise for every circumstance you come into. Don’t be hasty and be deceived by the visible. Know that your Father God is there with you.  Our Lord said He delighted to do the will of the Father.  That should be our confession.  My dear brothers and sisters, it’s time you and I allow the Holy Spirit to lead us as instruments in God’s hands to bring deliverance from paralysis and death to His children.  The Lord had no fear.  We should have no fear. Confidence comes through our intimate relationship with our Lord. If we know our Lord we know our Father. How do we arrive at our destiny?  The answer is within you; Christ. I rejoice in the Lord and I am grateful for the trials that draw me closer to the Lord and my destination.  I’m grateful for the love that was shed abroad in our hearts.  Be not deceived. God will guide you into the fullness of Christ with every word He speaks to you. We cannot reach our destination until we know where we are going.  We cannot expect any sense of satisfaction in fulfilling our divine calling if we don’t have a clear understanding of what it is.

I pray the Lord gives spiritual understanding as to the glory He has made available to all His children.

Being Led

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But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 16:13

‘Unity in the Spirit’ is a glorious revelation that can come to you and me. I Corinthians 6:17 reads, “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.”  When we are led into the truth and fullness of Christ by the Holy Spirit our thinking is revolutionized, we begin to see our surroundings and the world through the eyes of God our Father. Only then can we comprehend the purpose of adversities, and the antagonism and hatred towards Christianity. These are the same challenges our Lord Jesus Christ encountered when He came into this world. We begin to understand what was in His heart and mind that gave purpose to every step He took and every word He spoke.   

It is important to see ourselves as individuals chosen by God before the world began, but more importantly to see that we are a part which makes up the whole Body of Christ.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit.  Our Lord came to reveal the heart and desire of our heavenly Father.  Matthew 3:16-17 reads, “After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. And there came a voice from heaven: “This is My beloved Son I take delight in Him!”  After Jesus receives this word of approval from His Father, Matthew 4:1 states, “Then Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” This verse emphasizes the immediate progression of the steps of Jesus.  Remember we are in his heart; God is love.  There is nothing taking place that is not controlled by the eternal love of our Father God.  Once we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to us our unity in Christ all fears, questions, and doubts begin to vanish, and we come into the truth of what is really taking place.

 After He came out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended on Him. God audibly declared delight in His Son. There is no doubt that the first 30 years of our Lord’s life were years of temptation and testing.  Remember Hebrews 2:17-18 says, “For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.” Jesus overcame the attacks, temptations and the tests in His private life.  For the Father to open the heavens and declare approval of his Son, we know He was pleased with the first 30 years of His life.  Now He is about to enter His public ministry, but first He is led by the Holy Spirit to face the enemy of the human race.  This is the ultimate test where Jesus meets evil in all its strength and hatred in the personality of the devil. If we identify ourselves with the death and the resurrection of our Lord, the Holy Spirit is showing us what to expect.   Matthew 4:1, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”  An important fact to realize is that Jesus was led into the wilderness.  Our Lord Jesus Christ had just come from a glorious manifestation of the satisfaction of our mighty God. He was surrounded by family, friends, and other people being baptized.  Then He is led into the wilderness.  What does the wilderness represent?  As human beings we live in two worlds; the natural and the spiritual.  Jesus goes from being surrounded by family and friends, to the wilderness where He is isolated from the people and things that bring contentment to the natural man.  He is now being tempted and tested by the devil and comes out victorious. Our Lord is bringing forth a new humanity, taught by the Holy Spirit, who will be an expression of the divine ideas and thoughts of God.  Isaiah 53:1-2 gives us a better understanding of who the true source of our life is, “Who has believed what we have heard?  And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to? He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground.  He had no form or splendor that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him.” I repeat a “root out of dry ground.”  The Holy Spirit is using a young plant and root out of dry ground as a type of our Lord to show us that the life our Lord lived did not have its source here on earth.  His source came from above.  John 8:23, “…. You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” How can a plant grow out of dry ground? It needs water and moisture.  Where was the power, the life source, the fountain that our Lord lived by?  It was not in the natural realm.  He is always teaching us that man’s life does not exist in the abundance of things he owns.  It is written in Luke 12:15, “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed: a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” The source of our life our existence is not in what this world has to offer.  Our new life is Christ Jesus.  Our new life source is God.  Colossians 3:3 reads, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”  Romans 6:11 and Romans 8:9 also confirm that we live by Him and for Him. This is why as Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness He is being separated from all His natural resources.  I recall a time when a friend lost his job; he began to lose his house and his vehicles. I witnessed this brother trying to hold on to his possessions by borrowing money and using other world strategies. The Holy Spirit showed me this was similar to a drowning man who sees his life vanishing before him. His life’s work and money spent for security were now vanishing.  Things that we possess represent the natural life.  Jesus spoke of this in Luke 12:16-21 in the form of a parable. Things do not give us life; Christ is our life and our satisfaction. I would strongly suggest you read Ecclesiastes with an open heart and a submissive spirit to God’s Word.  You will clearly see what this world has to offer; “Absolute futility, everything is futile.”

The Holy Spirit is using a young plant and root out of dry ground as a type of our Lord to show us that the life our Lord lived did not have its source here on earth.  His source came from above.

We are seeing tremendous changes taking place in this world.  Our Lord predicted wars and rumors of wars…. nation will rise against nation. Read Matthew 24:4-13. This is all a result of fallen man.  Many think America will be exempt from persecution.  Judgment is coming. God is separating and purifying His people. Hypocrisy within the individual and the Body of Christ as a whole is being purged out. The Holy Spirit is convicting us of those things we presumed were harmless.  No more compromising with the world, God is purging the Body of Christ.  God is helping us understand His ways by bringing us to His Word.  The Holy Spirit is revealing His plan and His purpose to us.  I hear Hebrews 2:3 very clearly, “how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” 

The Spirit probed a question into my heart.  Who occupies the greatest measure of your day? This question enters the depth of our consciousness, because God knows our heart.  He is omniscient. He knows the minute your eyes open in the morning and the minute your eyes close at night. He knows your last thought before you sleep and your first thought as you wake.  He knows your dreams and the thoughts that control you during the day.  Because He knows everything we cannot hide. In Ecclesiastes 12:14, “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” We have to say “Thank you Father that your grace and your mercy are renewed every morning.” It is by grace that we are saved not by works.    

Our Lord came into this world with a mission. He came to do the will of the Father and He fulfilled that mission on this earth.    He gave us His Spirit and His power. God knows our limitations, our frustrations and our disappointments.  However, He has made provision for everything through Jesus Christ.  Christ is not only our death, but our resurrection, our life, our victory and our salvation. He is our wisdom, He is our sanctification, our justification, our righteousness, everything.  He is all in all. How shall we escape judgment if we neglect such a great salvation offered to us by a loving God?   In the beginning was God and God is love.  He is still in control and his plan continues to unfold. He will receive everything that He desires.

I received an answer to the question ‘who occupies the greatest measure of your day?’  If we want to know God’s presence we must be occupied with his Son.  This is how we know we are being led by the Holy Spirit, John 16:13-14, “But when He the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you.” Whatsoever you do, do it as unto the Lord.  Live unto the Lord no matter where you are; in school, work, or at play.  This is what satisfies our Father.  Come to him with an open heart.  Our submission and our honesty please Him.  It pleases our Father when we acknowledge, ‘I can do nothing on my own.’ (John 5:30, John 8:28, John 14:30-31).

Before I close, I leave you with this truth. Every action of our Lord Jesus Christ spoke clearly to us of His purpose in coming into this world. Hebrews 1:1-2, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.” Amen.

Eternal Unity

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As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven:  “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:10,11

Since Genesis there has never been a greater revelation or expression of the unity we have been brought into than the scene in Matthew 3:16, 17. Here God is acknowledging the Son. Jesus is fulfilling all righteousness by being baptized by John. The Holy Spirit is sealing and anointing our Lord for the work He was sent to do and finish. You and I are partakers of that supernatural unity and are told in Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.”  Now because of this exhortation we must ask ourselves, as ministers, who is really building the church of our Lord Jesus Christ, God or man?  Peter confessed in the book of Matthew that Jesus is the Christ but read what Jesus asked him. Matthew 16:13-15 reads, “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked, ‘Who do you say I am?’”  Notice how the Lord targets the disciples’ knowledge by asking who they perceived Him to be. Considering the times we are living in, it would serve us well to meditate on His question. In Matthew 16:17-18  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’” Let’s put emphasis on the vital word “I”. 

There is much evidence today that ministries are neglecting the person of the Holy Spirit in teachings and preaching. This is a great error, because the moment you neglect the Holy Spirit who is the only one who knows the mind of God, you will only bring forth man centered teachings. I Corinthians 2:11 confirms this, “.....In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”  Is Christ building the church or are we? Ministry is not an obligation nor is it a profession; ministry is the spirit of Christ working through us.  Ministry is Jesus Christ building His church.  He is the energy and the power behind the work. Take heed to this warning: the minute you put a price on ministry whether it be money, a pat on the back, or acknowledgement from the platform you have committed a great error. I tell you the truth; this is a carnal idea and it will reap carnal results.

There are several truths/absolutes that I have learned in the thirty years the Lord has kept us in this ministry. The moment you enter into the Body of Christ you enter into the greatest purpose, plan and design that you and I or even the heavenly host could imagine.  This is not a small thing that we have been privileged to be brought into.  This is the divine thought of God unfolding.  Genesis one gives us an absolute that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are all united.  Unity in the Spirit is a divine revelation that can never change.  Our Lord is given titles to describe His person; The Beginning and the End, The Alpha and Omega; The First and the Last.  The title The Beginning and the End means everything originated and exists by Him and all ends with Him.  The Holy Spirit is also described by titles. Hebrews 9:14 mentions Him as The Eternal Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been energizing, empowering and giving creativity to God’s Word since the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:1, 2). Praise God we have been included in this unity.

 Another absolute is the greatness of the call of God that we have received in Christ Jesus. All ministries under the anointing of the Holy Spirit should have the objective to teach and help the Body of Christ understand the nature and the greatness of our call by God in Christ Jesus. Ministry is the Father’s idea; His thought unfolding.    Unless you continue to grow in grace and knowledge you’ll not understand the conflict with the opposition that will try to stop the work of God’s call in your life.  What does this conflict mean and why has God allowed it? Without conflict you will never know the discipline and victory of God's call on your life. I’m sad to say I have seen many of God’s children whose lives never change.  We have an obligation and a responsibility first to Christ and then to one another to grow in Him.  He paid an awesome price to redeem us so we could pursue what Paul declared in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection ....."

Notice how He makes it very clear to the disciples that His coming and putting on flesh and blood was not the end, only a means to an end. Christ highly valued His return in the Spirit; the Spirit of Christ.

Notice how He makes it very clear to the disciples that His coming and putting on flesh and blood was not the end, only a means to an end. Christ highly valued His return in the Spirit; the Spirit of Christ.

It is obvious that the church is not ready to confront some of the biggest battles that lie ahead for us.  Where will the power to overcome battles come from? The Holy Spirit is the source of power, He is everything.  It was troubling to the disciples when Jesus Christ said in John 16:7 (KJ) “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” Notice how He makes it very clear to the disciples that His coming and putting on flesh and blood was not the end, only a means to an end.  He came with a greater purpose to send the Holy Spirit after His own work of redemption was finished.  The disciples’ minds were shattered as Jesus tells them, “It is expedient that I go away.”  Their hopes had come to an end, but Our Lord referred to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter who would be comforting them.  Christ highly valued His return in the Spirit; the Spirit of Christ. Meditate on the absolute that the Eternal Spirit is within us; the same spirit that is in God the Father and in God the Son.  The moment we have received Christ, we have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and our hearts have been prepared for the precious Holy Spirit to enter our lives and begin the process of transforming us.  We now have a new nature.  We are a new creation set in Christ Jesus with all the resources provided by the Spirit.  This is so important for the Body of Christ to understand.   However, it is sad to say we have neglected this glorious, divine Person of the Trinity and set Him aside in much of the ministry today.   Today there is so much confusion, apathy, doubt, unbelief, weakness and limitation in the church.   This is so contrary to what Jesus spoke in Acts 1: 8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you WILL BE my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” However in spite of all the ruin we see, nothing has come by surprise to God. In His sovereign wisdom, He has made provision for all of it and His ultimate purpose will be fulfilled at the appointed time.

Years ago the Holy Spirit had me reread and take note of Matthew 3:17 where John baptizes Jesus, “And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love; with whom I am well pleased”.  This is an absolute, it will never change. If God who created the heavens and the earth and upholds all things by the word of His power is satisfied (well pleased) with Christ, shouldn’t we be satisfied with him? As members of the Body of Christ, we have a responsibility for fresh revelation of this tremendous absolute.  

We have come to a point in time where attitude has changed greatly concerning Christ Jesus. Attitudes can change but absolutes do not!  We become complacent and easily distracted and overcome by our own reason and ideas. God’s plan continues in spite of every diversion, distraction, and weakness; He made provision for it.  He spoke it into existence and He will bring it to pass. Man centered teachings say God is waiting on us but let me tell you what, His plan is right on time!    It is time to know the Holy Spirit has been committed to see God’s plan completed.   God is in control no matter where we are in the world.  The Holy Spirit is committed to maintaining us in the absolute sovereignty of God.  We must ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate our hearts and bring revelation to our spirits so our minds can be renewed.  We must be able to see circumstances the way God sees them, not by the opinions of man or controlled by the spirit of the world. We know that our God, our Father is in control. Everything is running its course. Understand these profound statements, Galatians 4:4 “But when the time had fully come.” and in Ephesians 1:10 "When the times will have reached their fulfillment." NIV   God created times, seasons, the sun, the days, and minutes to fulfill His purpose.  God is awesome! 

The Holy Spirit is preparing us and cleansing us by His word; this is all part of the process of building His church. The Holy Spirit is jealous for us and is working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.  We are here to please God.  We were created for the pleasure of His glory, nothing less.  When we come into Christ Jesus we come into eternity and He’s bringing us into the fullness of Christ. The Holy Spirit will finish His job.  It is written in John 16:12-14, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”  Selah!!  The spirit who knows the deep things that are in the heart of God, will bring forth and reveal it to His children.  Consider well church what the Holy Spirit is saying to us today.  Discern well what you are listening to.  May the Spirit of Truth be that power that aids you in making correct decisions; be sure of your salvation.  Question any teaching outside of the foundation of scripture.  Be alert in your spirit and heart.  Guard your heart.  Let no contradiction take root.  We were created by Him and for Him!! Colossians 1:16



Sovereign God

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And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me, endowed with his Spirit. This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.’   Isaiah 48:16-17

Isaiah 46:9-10 reads, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.  I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”  Revelations 1:8, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

The Holy Spirit is leading me to say more concerning the steps of Elijah and God’s sovereignty. Let’s not forget that the Lord has called us and we have been chosen by Him. We must realize we were chosen just as Abraham, Joseph, Elijah, Elisha and Jeremiah were chosen. We should esteem these men and hold them up in high honor, however the Holy Spirit wants us to know we are chosen by the same God, moved by the same Spirit and receiving the word from the same God. 

Because God was displeased with the state of Israel, He brought Elijah into the situation.  Just like Elijah, the moment we came into Christ Jesus, we were made a part of the whole plan of God to be fulfilled in His time by the instruments He has chosen and in the way it pleases Him. This is important because we can get so caught up with the circumstances and situations around us we forget that God is sovereign.  If we are going to realize God’s ways and fulfill His purpose we must allow the Holy Spirit to bring insight, understanding and revelation of who God is and what He is doing.  We are chosen by the sovereignty of God. We must also understand that God’s sovereignty governs and controls history and forces it to serve a specific end. Isaiah 46:9 confirms this, “… My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Revelation 1:8 also confirms this, “I am the Alpha and Omega...”  He is in control. You and I must see ourselves in God’s plan today as He shows us His ways.  

There was nothing particular about Elijah, he was much like us. God chose us in spite of our failures, limitations, questions and doubts.  God is transforming us into His instruments to fulfill His ultimate intention. God disciplines us, to prepare us to be endowed with authority and power.  God will not release us full of power and authority to do whatever we please.  We have to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit and the Word of the Lord that has come to us. We have to be governed and disciplined by God even though our intentions and motives seem to be good. Elijah was God’s sovereign choice and every step he took was led, controlled and directed by God.  We make a great mistake if we think that it is enough to know the divine thoughts, purpose and desires of God.  God’s thoughts, intentions and purpose must grasp us; control us. If we allow the Holy Spirit to be in control we will know when we’ve grieved Him by our wrong decisions or failure to obey.  When we are led into a situation we don’t understand but peace is in our hearts, He’s indicating to us things are OK.  God is moving us one step at a time and He will bring us through the difficult situations. Many times He won’t explain His ways because He is testing our faith in Him.  II Corinthians 5:7 (Amp.) says, “We walk by faith . . . not by sight.”  We are led by the spirit not by our emotions, not by our whims and desires.  God is bringing the soul of man under control; under the control of the Spirit of God. 

Let’s revisit Genesis for a moment, where God created man. God had communion with Adam. God is spirit and He communed with Adam through the spirit. When Adam disobeyed divine communion was severed. His spirit was cut off from the source of his existence. Adam’s will was now in control, not God’s will.  The soul took ascendency and Adam’s spirit became subject to his soul, to his emotions, his mind and his reasoning. God is bringing the soul of man once again under the control of the Holy Spirit through Christ who was born, crucified and resurrected. He is restoring us to Himself so He can again commune with us and take authority over our soul life. The Old Testament was objective in its events; the tabernacle, the sacrifices and offerings. The people could smell, see and hear what was going on during the rituals of sacrifice. From the moment Christ came into this world life changed, He was being led by the Spirit and the control of God’s will.   Jesus did only what He saw His Father do; spoke only what he heard His Father say.  Christ is teaching  us obedience and dependence of a son to His Father.  Can you see God controlling Elijah?  Not allowing His servant who has been endowed with authority and power to do what he pleases. It’s easy to allow the ego to take hold of God’s thoughts and use it for our own glory. Thank God He protects us from our ego when we are sensitive to His Spirit.

Elijah was endowed with power and authority and God used Him because Israel was in a critical spiritual state and needed deliverance. Satan had taken hold of Israel and had deceived them into worshipping Baal.  Ephesians 6:12 tells us; “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood . . .” Satan is at work. Elijah stood before the evil King Ahab and declared the Word of the living God; heaven heard and obeyed. Elijah exercised and displayed God’s power which went beyond the mere human situation.  He was not intimidated by the authority Ahab represented; he was under a greater authority.   God’s authority and power comes by revelation as we increase in Christ and grow in grace and knowledge. Elijah confronted Ahab in 1 Kings 17:1 (Amp.) with the statement, “As the Lord, the God Israel lives, before Whom I stand . . .” He knew his position was standing before God; he didn’t doubt.

We have not matured as servants if we start declaring empty words without first knowing where we stand. Responsibility comes with divine authority and power. Let’s use an example in the natural realm. A child who matures in a family begins to understand why the father, mother and older siblings tell him ‘no’.  It’s a process of growing up. Our Heavenly Father is maturing us; He’s leading us. The law is written in our hearts and the Holy Spirit directs our decisions, thoughts and actions.  Sometimes we hear Him as a still small voice, in a song, in a mature brother or sister in Christ, or a preaching.  God speaks to us in many ways. We need to be listening.  We want shortcuts but there are no shortcuts. There’s a starting point for everyone into God’s kingdom.  1 Peter 2:2 reads, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk . . .” Milk represents the Word of God which nourishes us so we can grow from a baby to a mature man.

The life of Elijah came forth from the secret preparation of God.  God is raising up men and women who are willing to pay the price to become instruments of restoration; restoring the Body of Christ. I say restore because much of Christianity has become weak and hypocritical; divorce continues and homosexuality has been exposed. The church is being mocked, not because of our convictions, but because we preach one thing and do another.  We worship our cathedrals spending millions of dollars for our meeting places while there are many people in various parts of the world who have not heard the name of Jesus.  God is not pleased with what He sees; He gave His all when He gave His Son. Romans 8:8 reads, “Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” We see why God protects the servant He prepares in secret, so dependence will be on Him as the source of divine power and authority.

God ordered Elijah to declare judgment on Israel and after that God said “leave here”.  Get away from public exposure which is a place of danger because of ego. Hide yourself in Kerith.  Kerith means separation, cutting off. What the Spirit wants to tell us is that geography has little to do with this command. When we accept our Lord He takes us to Jordan to identify ourselves with His death; death to self.  He wants us to rise to a new life; His life, His purpose, plan, intentions and desires as mentioned in Romans 6:4-6.  Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “. . . I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”  He’s telling us to spiritually hide ourselves.  The greatest stumbling block of ministry is self.  II Cor. 12:7 (paraphrased) Paul says, “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” II Cor. 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ ”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  Paul would not fall into the trap of self.  After he received those revelations, self had to come under control.  He discovered that self was still very much alive and could at any time take hold of his ministry.  We must thank the Lord for these servants who have gone before us and have shown us the process of growth.  When we come into the Body of Christ we come into the same Spirit that was directing Paul, that was governing Peter and John and that was controlling Jesus Christ.  We have become a part of the same vocation and fellowship of Moses and Jeremiah of the Old Testament.

 It’s a shame that we have allowed the enemy to deceive us and keep us wrapped in ourselves not allowing the Holy Spirit to take us beyond the self life into Christ’s life.  I’m grateful to the Holy Spirit and how He directs us in the studying of His word.  He is always unveiling truth; the principles that govern the kingdom of God. 

Now notice that Elijah was adjustable.  He didn’t complain when God told him to go to the brook; he was ready to go.  Elijah didn’t have his own program or set course, he was waiting on the Lord for each step to take.  This can happen with a like minded church.  In Exodus look at how Israel was led out of Egypt one step at a time by God’s direction. The Holy Spirit reminds us how John the Baptist had prepared the disciples when they saw the Lamb of God. John 1:35-39, “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.  Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”  They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” The disciples didn’t question John about what to do they knew they were to follow Christ.  What we have to understand is that when we have been placed in a position of influence, in bible study or any one of the fivefold gifts our focus should always be to lead those followers to Christ’s fullness and not our likeness. Luke 11:34 reads, “Your eye is the lamp of your body, when your eyes are good, you whole body also is full of light, but when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.” Ministries today follow man’s charisma, however the leaders are at fault not the people.   Leaders have not learned to hide themselves in the presence of God.  If we follow men we are not following Christ.  If your ministry is making disciples of your likeness you are not making Disciples of Christ. The two disciples followed Christ and left John If you can’t receive revelations coming from other ministries something is wrong because if their words lead you to Christ’s likeness there will be an outflow of the principles of God’s law in your hearts.behind.     That’s the purpose of the fivefold ministry, to bring us into the stature of Christ.  Don’t build disciples around yourself but bring them into the fullness of Christ.

What we have to understand is that when we have been placed in a position of influence, in bible study or any one of the fivefold gifts our focus should always be to lead those followers to Christ’s fullness and not our likeness.

Elijah was known as a prophet of power because he was dependent on the Lord.   His relationship with the Lord allowed him to be used to fulfill God’s purpose. God knew what Elijah would encounter in this world and He prepared him for it.

Man is coming to his whit’s end.  Jesus Christ is preparing His people.  No doubt He will come for a bride prepared by the Holy Spirit and walking in His Word. The bride knows the groom, she knows her husband.  She’s not following other men; she’s following Christ, her lover.  God will continue to unfold this revelation as we are obedient.  May the Lord remove the spiritual cataracts off our eyes so we may see God in all of His Holy Word.  Amen!