March 2016 – Treasures Of Secret Places

change winds

The great Apostle Paul called himself a “Wise Master Builder”….I know that Paul walked in a great calling, his walk was a great testimony to multitudes. All are not called to be a Paul, but I’m sure there are quite a few out there. In our modern day walk we do have many wise elders and builders who follow Christ. One truth has been impressed upon me by the Lord, that we all begin small. We all begin as builders. We build our own houses. With a strong and sure foundation built upon the true gospel of Christ, we are building our house of faith and prayer. Our life testimony of darkness, oppressions and afflictions and God’s overcoming wonders is the beginning of our house. We become his witnesses to others.

There are instructions and warnings in the word which teach us that some build with gold and silver and rich ornaments of truth, while some build with wood, hay and stubble. We need wise discernment in order to survive and even thrive in the midst of fiery trials and temptations. We are taught that the strong support the weak, and that some will need mercy and help to come up out of the fires of low places. Hearers and seekers will thrive.

Jesus and his truth and mercy is the foundation of the righteous. He is the supremacy over all things. We don’t add to him, we surrender to him and he lives in power and love and righteousness through us. He is the vine that feeds us with life and love. His way is above and beyond all of the cares of this life. Our life search for the unsearchable riches of his treasures laid up for us is the delight of our hearts. Holy Spirit is as the winds and he is the greater of all winds. The wise lean into the winds of the spirit and press through the strong winds of adversity which come. The plans of our enemy, satan, are to interfere with and destroy our desire to build ourselves up into a spiritual house well pleasing to our God. Holy Spirit is faithful to guard and guide all who listen for his voice and heed his reign.

Faithful meditations on the word of God to his saints will cause a good prosperity in our building work, through faith and fellowship in submission to him. His purposes prosper in the all of wise who love his law, and nothing will offend them.

Abiding in the vine, abiding in the vine. Love, joy, peace, he has made them mine!

Friend, I’ve been doing some deep re-thinking and I’m beginning to hear some things from down deep. I’m just going to share my heart and let God do whatever He will with it..

We have all come to the Lord unsettled, uncertain and needy people. I don’t think any would disagree with that. We have needs. We ‘ve suffered many hurts and we’re weary and wounded. We need love but soon we begin to discover that there are disappointments. Everybody doesn’t love us and love our message as we had hoped they would. We’ve found we have critics. We even learn that we have enemies. Painful. But if we will get real with God we will see that we have personal issues we need to work out. We can be honest with God. We tell him our troubles and we ask his help. God says “Come up here and I will show you things you’ve never known” We’re not alone; God wants to take us with him to the root of our heart and soul so that he can heal. He invites us to build ourselves up in him in new ways. His deeper, more effective way.

Lessons come through the experiences of others who have walked that path. I remember once a minister was sharing about some big things he was doing in his city; he was discouraged and he told God “I feel like I’m doing this by myself” And the Lord said “You are”

That was an awakening word to me. And a deep lesson. I saw that we can go off on our own and think we’re doing the will of God, but we’re not. I didn’t want to go there.

I was zealous, I saw so many with deep spiritual need and it seemed I couldn’t pray enough. As we are all our, I believe. We want to cheer and comfort but we’re hindered. Still troubled inwardly ourselves. We daily have conflicts and disagreements to deal with, and we do well for awhile. But then we get weary and we fall back some. We’re tired. We think “I need a vacation”

When we discover that our human effort isn’t working it’s good to pause with God and do some reality checks. Because Jesus said “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” We find we need to realize that we’re barely beginners and God wants us to be more fruitful. We need a much deeper experience in the reality of our God.

I’m thankful as I think on this because I found that God is so gracious to keep us in a measure of peace and love. He waits for us to become willing and pliable. God is so perfect and so good, and His goodness is always to bring men to repentance.

Friend, ministry is divine work, created for saints who want to grow up. It’s not created for human effort. Flesh will profit nothing. Jesus died to enable his redeemed to die to self effort and be empowered with glory power in holiness. But until we’re rightly connected to God, our source, we will get tired and hurt and disappointed. We need to find rest and get aligned with God’s times and priorities.

What can we do to refresh and be better Holy Spirit disciples? How can we change so that we will be true salt and light? It’s been my experience that the peace of God does not come without first giving up our wrong focus. The cares of this life will keep us troubled. Our lives must be totally surrendered. Unless our focus is set fully on Jesus and his way we will most certainly burn out and our witness will not be effective. I don’t want to be reduced to just being noise. I want to speak from the heart of the Father.

The question is. What is the main desire of our heart? Motive for doing what we do? Do we want to know the reality of him or do we want what he can do for us? He does give us a choice. We can seek His face and He will help us to get it right. We can live in the place where his joy is our strength. He is pre-imminent. I hope we all think deep about it..

“Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus” https://binged.it/2PNO3wV