triumphministries

Christianese tends to look better on the outside than what is living on the inside. Saying all the right Christian slogans , serving the poor and needy and sick is difficult to discredit; but that is the subtlety of satan. When he entices a believer to promote themselves over Christ Jesus, it must be done delicately and subtly. Declaring one’s humility because of the works they perform, and being defensive at every turn, points to the flesh not Jesus Christ. It is an easy trap to be ensnared by, for if we do  not understand our intrinsic value to Him (the Creator, Maker of all things, the Father in Heaven), we will still insist on earning it.

It has been claimed by some that the new covenant began with John the Baptist but if this is true the cross was in vain. Without the cross we are still under sin; still prisoners of the flesh and still able to be condemned. All the difference in the world occurred on that Cross of Christ. For when He died the Scripture makes it clear that He was raised because of our justification not for it, not to bring it to pass, as His death had already accomplished redemption{Rom. 4:25}. His death on the Cross brought justification, for at that moment all sin, filth, ugliness, disease, hurt, anguish, grief and hatred accumulated in that one  final breath, “It is Finished!” What are we to do with such glory?

Some believers still remain in their own minds and hearts before the Cross (pre-Cross). Unfortunately they also disseminate such false information to those they minister to and evangelize. This is what is known as Christianese. This perspective still attempts to earn favour, be good enough, draw attention to their deeds, and compare such deeds/works with other believers. Christianese degrades the Cross to nothing more than a ticket in the future to what they hope is a better reality than the one they are living. For those trapped in Christinanese, the Cross was not enough and is impotent in its ability to transform the human mind, heart and body right here and now without their constant input. Believing salvation is up to them, this  inevitably evolves into the  Elijah Syndrome; “I’m the only one, Lord.” Well we know what God’s answer to that was, “I have thousands.” Pre-Cross thinking leads one to believe they are better, more sacrificial, more caring and especially more humble than their brethren. Pre-Cross thinking is the epitome of pride. If one truly believes the Cross missed something, is lacking in power, then what is there left to do? Oh a great deal according to this mindset. We must do, do, do in fact in order to fill the gap.

Yet in Hebrews 10:29, the scripture makes it astoundingly clear that if the sacrifice of Jesus was not enough, nothing will be. We insult the Spirit of Grace by considering Jesus’ sacrifice lacking in anyway. What we do in any capacity after the Cross (as believers in the Jesus), is never about us again. Because we no  longer live but Christ lives in us. This does not indicate that God is in anyway dismissive or interested in our well being, for the Father knows what we need before we ask and He sent Holy Spirit to help/comfort/teach and console us; we are His heirs/sons; we should be in perfect peace. What we do for the Body or the lost, is not to point to us, but Him (Jesus), not just in word or deed only, but from our very hearts.

The exaltation of what He has done for us should course through our veins as living water and we should then be able to share that living water with the world at large.

• Pre-Cross thinking says, “There is so much left to do, how can  I handle all their needs.”
• Post-Cross thinking declares, “Thank You Jesus that their needs are met in You, show me how to share that truth.”
• Pre-Cross thinking denies Jesus came in the flesh by placing themselves in greater demand by others than He.
• Post-Cross thinking, declares because He came in the flesh they are grateful for and consciously aware of Holy Spirit as a person who orders every step and always leads them into all truth about any and all things; including helping/ministering to others.
• Pre-Cross thinking believes (subconsciously) their sacrifice is greater than His and tends to focus on the problems of people not the transformational ability of Holy Spirit.
• Post-Cross thinking celebrates that the Cross was enough and from such wonder and power and unity with God Himself, all things are possible.

Let us rejoice for the Cross and boast of nothing else but Christ and Him crucified like our brother Paul, the Apostle. For although beaten numerous times, stoned to the point of death (but surviving), shipwrecked, hungry, cold and persecuted at every turn, he considered his own sacrifice as nothing compared to the Cross. Our only standard needs to be what He did, not what sister or brother so- and so has done or not done. Jesus Christ is our standard for comparison. And none of us have ever  been so brutally beaten to be unrecognizable, nailed to a cross/crucified and then died for all humanity. He is the Saviour and we are the saved! Let us announce such good news to the world, reconciliation between God and man has already been accomplished, they need only accept the invitation. We are the messengers, who He has transformed into the message, living epistles written in blood!

Romans 7:6

But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. 

The Word without the Spirit of Truth (Holy Spirit), is the word without power. Jesus said His words were spirit and life. Confessing the word over and over until we believe it is not entering His rest and not acknowledging His finished work. (Heb. 4:10) Otherwise we would need to receive Christ and confess with our mouths over and over every day to receive Him. (Romans 10:9-10) Some believers are still unsure of their salvation and we may laugh at such ignorance but how similar to confess His word without His Spirit, the ultimate  lip service. People, who are not believers, can confess/declare a myriad of beliefs, affirmations and even change their physical and circumstantial reality, without ever acknowledging or believing in Him. As Christians we are not asked to just confess the word, but to believe on Him. How can we believe without the power of God? (1Cor.2:11-13) 

Confession can become another law unto itself....say it until you believe it. If we approached Christ Jesus like that before we were saved, no one including ourselves would believe our salvation was genuine, for it is the power of the Spirit that brings newness of life. If we have to continue confessing and we lose heart and faith by the end of the week (more doctor reports, more bad news, more bills, more mistakes)...and then eagerly awaiting the next Sunday service, or latest teaching CD, book to get “topped up” , it becomes a treadmill of sorts and vain repetitions. 

NO! The Spirit of God lives within us and when our faith is weak, our circumstances overwhelming, we don’t seek another preaching, post, article, YouTube or CD as a quick fix. We seek Him the indwelling Spirit. Remember He is not offended by the weakness of our faith. Jesus appeared to Thomas after Thomas inadvertently challenged the Lord with, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” That is a fairly specific and demanding call on the part of Thomas. How did Jesus respond, “How dare you question my divinity?” No, He appeared before Thomas and said, “Reach your finger here, and look at my hands: and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.” The Lord does not withdraw when we are doubtful but draws even nearer to reassure us so we can believe. Holy Spirit now is the One who draws nearer. When we are weak we admit it and ask for His help to strengthen our faith; asking to reveal what in us may need to move and His goodness is sooooo good, He will not only reveal it but heal it. He isn’t insulted; He is fully engaged in our triumph! The Word is living and infused with the Spirit of God. He inspired it, so perhaps rather than running to every minister, charismatic leader/teacher or preaching hoping against hope to be re-ignited, we can seek Him out, the Teacher, Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth, Helper/Comforter.

 Confession in and of itself cannot add life (1Cor 2:13-14, 2Cor. 3:6), that is why by Wednesday night, church goers fall flat again and are in need of the midweek recharge. Holy Spirit is the abiding presence, always recharging....but not if ignored (1Cor 2:12-14). Let us not be like the natural man (unbelievers) who, “...do not receive the things of the Spirit of God, nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned....The Word must come to life for the letter (and in the Greek that means any grammar/writing) kills but the Spirit adds life. The word without the Spirit is confession without life. And these secrets, the depth of His love, the revelation of His word are made available through the Holy Spirit, the indwelling Spirit of God.

 “Clearly you are an epistle of Christ...written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is of the heart.”  (2 Cor. 3:3) 

We are now His word made flesh ~ Hallelujah!

Once we commune with and know Him, listen and allow Him to lead us into all truth, no one can trick us and that ruins the enemy’s schemes for life!

The Holy Spirit is a gift from the Father, so should we not accept this gift……? The Father only gives good gifts. Why is Holy Spirit, who proceeded from the Father the one gift that is mistrusted the most in Christendom? Is HE not worthy of being trusted? Did not the early Church trust Him with their lives, their direction, their very words? Why is He in modern Christianity viewed with suspicion? One very likely possibility is that if believers have a genuine relationship with Holy Spirit, then others cannot control them. Some are so offended by teachings that enable and equip believers to have relationship with Him, it becomes a rigid doctrinal position, that we must not glorify Him or focus too much on Him. Perhaps it isn’t that they are worried He is being glorified, but they are worried they will no longer be glorified by those they teach, have authority over or control. Although, this is a harsh statement and it grieves my heart to speak it, why else such resistance to Holy Spirit actually being engaged as the abiding presence in every area of our lives?

I have been told relying on Holy Spirit will put you at risk of seducing spirits and maybe you are not hearing from Holy Ghost at all. Reading only the Word of God and never communing (or only communing on our terms) with the Spirit  to illuminate the Word will lead to the same scenario. How do we rightly divide the Word? Answer: By the Spirit of Truth.  Who is the Spirit of Truth? Answer: Holy Spirit. They work in unity, never apart…the letter kills but the Spirit adds life.  If someone is that concerned about being deceived, they can ask for the gift of discernment and who gives that gift, yes Holy Spirit…if we are going to be suspicious of Him in one area well how can we trust Him in any. He gives the nine spiritual gifts, we could just as easily suspect those…is this really the gift of healing, we could imagine it to be a counterfeit. This leads to an endless trail of suspicion and doubt/worry…or we can simply trust the Spirit of the Living God and know we are covered by His grace when we mistake His voice or His direction. But to assume that it is too dangerous to speak avidly of Him and to Him  and defer to Him, for fear we may be seduced leaves us vulnerable to spiritual seduction, because without the Spirit of Truth who are we listening to? He is not someone to use Scripture to avoid ….(e.g. “well Holy Spirit is only allowed to point to Jesus and He only brings to remembrance what Jesus said”….wait a minute, it does not say ‘only’ (only is implied). He does far more than only. Holy Spirit wakes us up in the night and gives us spiritual gifts, or calls us to pray for someone in distress, He reveals prophesy for others and Words of Wisdom/Knowledge and more than that HE communes when you are quiet in the middle of the night reminding you how precious you are to the Father and how loved you are or He may even drench you with His presence….so many, many benefits Holy Spirit offers. He chose ministers and directed Apostles, what to preach and where….does He not do the same today? He sanctifies us, Comforts us, Helps us and often laughs with us and at us. If  fear that will be deceived by other spirits is a concern isn’t the most reasonable option, to become intimate with the Holy Spirit, as that will prevent any successful deception. Relegating Him to the “he only points to Jesus so don’t worry about Him” mode has cheated the Body of Christ of the Living truth, living in them..It’s time to set the captives free, including Holy Spirit!

 Holy Ghost we loose you from the bondage of human limitation and let you have free reign for His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven in Jesus name.

We know that Jesus has conquered death....”I am He who lives and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” (Rev. 1:18) What does that determine for us who live here on earth physically?

Of all the times I have prayed, commanded, loosed, whatever term we may use to raise the dead, one, has returned from death to life so far, and that was a young child of 6 killed by kidney failure, who after being raised had perfect kidneys and no need for dialysis. Are there conditions for raising the dead? Jesus simply said raise the dead and heal the sick and cleanse the lepers and cast out demons. There were no special circumstances mentioned and yet when we inquire of the Spirit, conditions do exist. Each person is an individual, each person has a will whether they are in the natural or have passed through to the spiritual. The will does not suddenly evaporate when we pass through the veil from life here on earth; we (our souls) are simply separated from the body. Although people may request of their loved ones to raise them if they die, (when they are still alive), is heaven so incredibly desirable, so illumuninating, so wondrous that returning is likened to returning to a slum when one has been given a Mansion He has personally prepared for us. When we desire them to return (heartfelt, for we love them) and yet they having seen and  been lavished with the Holy Presence of the Living God as never before experienced here on earth, do we press them to return for our benefit? Yet, grieving is no easy matter and is not to be taken lightly, however, neither is life eternal.

We have all heard the story of Wigglesworth and his wife when he raised her and she admonished him for raising her and then after a brief conversation, she rejoined our Lord in heaven. Authority is not all that is involved. There is a question of will. We tend to think that we raise the dead and they have nothing to say about it and although Jesus did not enquire of the widow’s son’s will (compassion for the mother drew him to raise the son); nor did he ask Lazarus if he would like to return (moved again by compassion for his sisters and for his friend and to Glorify the Father), or the young girl, are we to assume that everyone will return?

There is no evaporation of will when we are translated from life (on earth) to death or afterlife. What does one do when they are praying for someone’s wife or husband or a friend and they clearly see the picture of the person, smiling, beckoning the spouse (or other loved ones) left on earth to come to them, rather than agreeing to return, because it is a far greater destination? Do we consider such a message from the one who appears as the angel of light and fight on or do we accept that once a saint filled with His spirit, has left they may simply not want to return.

I have heard stories of people wanting their child or spouse or loved one to return but they knew in their hearts or sometimes by a dream that they had chosen heaven over earth. We are not failures, if they do not return and contrary to some popular beliefs, it is not all up to us. Yes, Jesus gave the disciples (and us) authority over all power of the enemy. Yes, He became infuriated with them when they were unable to heal the boy demonized with epilepsy, and also when they thought He was talking about leaven in bread not in beliefs  of Pharisees and when they chided Him for sleeping while they believed they were going to drown, and for arguing about who would be the greatest...what did all these instances have in common? They didn’t believe He was who He said He was and they doubted Him. This is not to discourage prayers to raise the dead, but to encourage discernment. If a saint passes even in an untimely matter, stolen by the devil, do they not still have a choice? Just as healing includes the person needing to be healed in the equation, without receiving, no healing will take place. I have found in some instances that a damaged soul, which Holy Spirit heals within moments, will then lead to full physical healing. Whereas,  prior to that restoration they were unable to receive what Jesus had paid for. If healing is not a ‘one size fits all’ endeavour, can we also consider that neither is raising the dead? This is not to question its possibility or its need; simply to seek the truth of the nature of resurrection here on earth.

Death in the Greek ~ thanatos always signifies separation either between the soul and the body and/or between man and God. But it is clear that when we die our wills (which is a part of the soul) remains with us, without the body. If there is a will, then are the dead not also participating in this process of being raised? Why else tell them to return, come forth, wake up? I have found with some that I have prayed to raise, seeming bargains begin to pour forth; discussing with them the life they will have (one of hope and freedom), declaring health and even prophesies as their spouses agree with the prophetic words Holy Spirit gives. Talking with them, as if they are sitting beside us, calling them, singing to them (some love music) and coaxing them, yes and commanding them to return. But do they have to? Are they obligated just because we call, cajole, and command?  We don’t want to in still in people false hope and that is not to say raising the dead is not possible...I have seen it, Jesus did it and so have others. The issue is, just as in healing...not is it God’s will for them to be healed or raised, but is it theirs?  Some people think if the person doesn't raise they have failed. A belief that tends to hurt people who are already hurting from loss and shock. This is not to place in question the Gospel and attempt to match it with our experience, nor assuage our responsibility, but as a beautiful young woman, (mentioned by consent) Nancy Rayhill who has had to face this in her own life just recently noted about her amazing husband,  who passed a few days ago)...“the unsaved are considered dead..Jesus said, let the dead bury the dead...Jesus said to raise the dead, my husband is not and never had been dead...he is more alive than ever!” This was what Holy Spirit gave to her recently. I am so honoured to know them both! “We are confident, yes well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (2Cor.5:8) All believers look forward to that day with anticipation.  

So let us seek the truth on these matters and not just make assumptions that lead to what we consider failure.

And who can lead us...the Spirit of Truth Himself...the Holy Spirit.

How often have we asked God, why haven’t You answered my prayer?, When are you going to answer my prayer? If you really loved me you'd answer my prayer? Why have You allowed this to happen? And when will all this trouble stop? God’s answer to said questions: “Don’t you realize I have rigged this all in your favour?”

How to we respond to such a truth? Usually incredulously...or like a deer or in Oz a kangaroo caught in the headlights, on the highway, stunned into a stationary position. But the real question is when will we stop bellyaching and start believing? Why is it we would rather believe what the devil dishes out than what the Father has bestowed upon us. Let’s see just what has He given?

§  Sonship, that is the spirit of adoption, meaning we are heirs of God

§  The blood/Cross of Jesus (breaking the curse os sin and death, covering, cleansing and protecting us)

§  The Holy spirit (The Living God living in us)

§  The Word of God (a two-edged sword that cuts through any lie or deception).

§  Tongues (the powerhouse of prayer)

§  Praise that silences the enemy (and is fun too)

§  The Angels to minister and protect us (mostly ignored)

§  His righteousness

§  His grace

§  His love

This is not a definitive list, but nevertheless all the above gifts never seem enough, when we are in the heat of the battle and all we seem to focus upon is our nemesis, satan. So what is the solution? Hmmmm. Perhaps we should begin truly believing what He said about Himself, us and satan. It’s all in His Word.  He declares that He is love, filled with mercy and grace and that He so loved us He gave Jesus to bear all our iniquities and suffer in our place, bringing not only eternal life, but wholeness, health and protection. About us He states we are His sons by adoption, righteousness of Him in Christ Jesus, the fullness of Him who fills all in all, overcomers and His beloved. About satan He says he lost, is defeated, was made a public spectacle and has a future in the pit of hell. Yes rigged in our favour. Sometimes we act as children in a home where love is profuse, all needs are met but we don’t have the latest and greatest PlayStation 1 zillion version yet, so life just is miserable. This is not to say that if someone has been battling an illness or affliction and has not yet seen the manifestation of healing or resolution, that God is indifferent...but it is to say that since He finished the work of the Cross, it is already ours. So who is withholding? Is it God who already poured out all that could be poured out through Jesus Christ? Or is it satan who loves to trick and torment and tell lies? Or is it us who honestly seem to rather bellyache than believe, complain rather than command, pity ourselves, rather than praise. When the buck stops with us and the buck is belief, do we pass it on or hold it dear to our hearts.

If we realized that we live now in victory, a victory that is past and beyond the cross and every situation is a declaration of His victory for us, then the devil would have no hope in hell of deceiving us any longer. So when a difficulty arises, instead of “Oh no-ing”, we might say, “Ok watch out devil cause my Daddy is gonna make you look so small...oh that’s right you are so small, hehehe!”  Jesus said, we would have trouble in this word, but that He had overcome this world. What world did He mean? The one we think is real...the natural world. But He has overcome it...so anything arising from/in it is already overcome, conquered and we are more than conquerors. It’s rigged in our favour. The game is already won and the losing team is pretending that they have a chance by making a lot of noise (distracting us) and cajoling us, lying about us (and themselves for that matter), and hoping we’ll buy it. And so often we have and they score a goal (only by forfeit)....but of course defeat is still assured, because It is finished! We have already read the Sports news headlines that cries out Sons of God Score Total Defeat (against, satan and his minions). But we have forgotten the news, the Good News, the Gospel itself.

It can be summed up like this: We will all believe something whether is a lie or the truth. Which will we choose? One Scripture stands out proclaiming how well He has rigged this: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” And our appropriate response?

Thank You Jesus!

If the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and man devises his plans but the Lord orders his steps, can we not trust the Most High God to plan our day, to bring us to those who will receive Him and to even order the words we share with those He brings? There is no formula to salvation, as there is none for healing...otherwise the Holy Spirit is obsolete? I have witnessed people who were intoxicated, become sober and saved. I have witnessed people after laughing when I laid hands on them, seek me out and return over and over to find out how they were healed as well as to be prayed for again. I have witnessed people completely reject Him even after witnessing healing themselves. To always assume we must convert, or get them to sign on the dotted line, is to become legalistic. I have seen too many, myself included disengage entirely with that approach. I have seen on the other hand people cry spontaneously after being healed not simply because their pain was gone, but having experienced His loving presence (Holy Spirit), be so touched, they continued to hug you and declare their awe (as the man at the Gate Beautiful who was leaping for joy and praising God). I have also witnessed others tick the box and declare the ‘Gospel’ and even get them to say the prayer with  no effect to the hearts of the hearers. Is God so untrustworthy that we have to dot every “i” and cross every “t” for fear pride or self-proclamation will reign? Does the Holy Spirit really lead or not? If He does, then we can trust that what we say and do (because of the Finished work or the cross) is enough. It is the epitome of pride to predetermine how to minister and what we must say as if Holy Spirit has no idea how to touch the people He sends your way. Let’s drop all rules about how to minister and instead allow our relationship with the Father (having His heart) determine the how, because method will always disappoint but love never fails.

Sharing the Gospel is ‎not in word only, although that has been the primary means in modern Christianity of sharing it. It is also in power and the Holy Spirit. (1Thess.1:5) It is not just a matter of “sharing the Gospel” which often means tell them they need Jesus. What if it is a matter of God preparing hearts to receive? Ordered steps? Salvation (the moment of receiving Him) seems to be custom made for each of us.  He knows the hairs on our head, the condition of our hearts, and what will reach us most effectively? Although there is a danger when one witnesses the power of God bringing wholeness/healing to others for one to take credit personally, this only occurs when one’s relationship with the Father is limited and perhaps even superficial. There is also a danger to be motivated by formula, e.g., “I must tell them about Jesus and make sure they know who did this”, even if they are still digesting that they were healed. Even if at this point they would resign themselves to cynicism, “oh here we go again, they’re going to try and sell me Christ.”There is no formula in salvation as there is no formula for healing.

How often have we prayed from afar or perhaps we were prayed for from afar and a life was changed. Do we not trust God enough to believe that what we sow He will increase. Never do we want to be driven by formula, whether for salvation or for (healing) demonstrating His power. If many of us before we were saved, had been touched by the Father’s heart through one of His children, how much sooner would we have been reconciled? Telling people they need Jesus, which of course they do (we all do), making sure we ticked the Jesus box, will not bring a the dead (spiritually) to life, make a new creation. What will? Well, the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth will lead us in how to touch a particular person, custom-made salvation. No pre-packaged deals. The only thing that is pre-done is our steps that He has ordered. Let’s trust the God who made the universe to use all that we do, even our mistakes to set the captives free, for His grace is sufficient. Hallelujah

How many times have we asked, “What is Your will Lord?” We usually think of activities we must do to please Him or how to behave to be identified with Him. All external answers, all actions initiated by us, striving for Him, when He has already done the ultimate striving ever performed on heaven or earth. God’s will was Jesus.     The will of the Father has been cited as “doing His Word”...well, there is a lot of Word to do. Is it forgiving your enemies....turning the other cheek...or overcoming evil for good....being as a little child....healing the sick, casting out devils, raising the dead, or blessing those that despitefully use you, or trusting Him with all your heart or feeding the orphans? There are many things we can act on in the Word; many things to Do. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus explains the will of the Father quite clearly:

21“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord

Shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but

He who does the will of My Father in heaven

22 “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord

have we not prophesied in Your name,

cast out demons in Your name and

 done many wonders in Your name?’

23 “And then I will declare to them

, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me,

You who practice lawlessness!”

Jesus states that all the works they had touted as reason for His approval; prophesied, cast out demons, many mighty works, fell quite short. His greatest value was not in what they had accomplished, but in their being known by Him. That word, known means experiential, beyond intellectual knowledge, known as through relationship, oneness as a husband and wife are to be known to each other....perfect union. It is not a state of being one can earn or strive for, but rather submit to. This is not to suggest we should abandon the world and all its suffering, but Jesus requires far more than good works, because He accomplished all. He seeks wholehearted unity,  and He offers it through the Cross. We have the choice to agree with His finished work or not. Anything we bind or loose in His name is simply that, an agreement with what He has already achieved through His blood and stripes and ultimately His cross. Without relationship,  that is being known by Him, all achievements are self-willed, self-motivated, self-aggrandising. In this verse, those speaking are telling Jesus they have a right, having earned by their good works, a place. It is clear in Ephesians 2:8 that works is not to be boasted about and can in no way gain you a place in His kingdom. For God’s kingdom does not operate as human kingdoms do. When will believers actually believe grace is a gift? And He really did mean “It is Finished!”?

It is often suggested or vehemently proposed that obedience is uppermost in God’s mind when it comes to His children. But what if knowing us was His first priority? How would that change our relationship with Him? If we understood the story of the prodigal son, and that the Father never stopped being his father, even when the son blatantly disobeyed and even dishonoured him. Perhaps, we would at least have a glimpse of the Father’s heart toward us. It wasn’t what the son did or performed (good or bad) that determined the Father’s reaction to seeing his son, it was His love that brought the robe and ring and celebration. Could we perhaps, just for a moment believe God at His word? That He is for us not against us, that we are co-joined and therefore One Spirit, that we are heirs of God (Abba)? How would we live under such grace? A child that knows they are accepted no matter what, is a child unburdened and free, content, and open to possibility. A child informed that they must perform in order to receive approval is miserable, and never at peace. Which will we choose as believers in Christ?

When did grace become insufficient, and not enough? When we decided we had to earn our keep, deserve our place and then demand position and usually condemn those who did not follow suit. When did grace loose it’s very essence of being freely given. Can we earn salvation, NO! And most would agree, but once saved, apparently deserving the kingdom becomes an issue.....if not by moral behaviour, then by the works of healing and miracles. This was never the plan of the Cross for Jesus gave himself a ransom for many and laid down His own life by choice, not by our works. Let us be settled, contented children forever perfected (Hebrews 4:10) in Him, looking forward rather than sideways or backwards...looking beyond the Cross for that is where we stand as His children. We do not and cannot earn the gift of grace, we can only believe what seems too good to be true. That by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works unless anyone should boast. We boast only of Christ and Him crucified for nothing else compares!

Being genuinely led by the Spirit is so awe inspiring, it is one of the rare times I would use the word Awesome. Being led by the Spirit is actually allowing the indwelling, Holy Spirit that God has placed within us to take the lead. He guides us into all truth (operative word ALL)...that means anything we have doubts about, all questions, all concerns or even all troubles...He has the answer for; and His answer will always confirm the Living Word of God, the scriptures. They match as it were...scriptures (Living Word) and the Holy Spirit. Lately He (the Holy Spirit) which I find so self-effacing because He doesn't even have a name (we have Jesus, and Abba, the Father in Heaven) and the Holy Spirit...that's His name...yet He does all the labour...and only goes by the title Holy Spirit. We certainly can learn humility from Him as he cares not for labels, titles nor positions. He is in fact the union between us and the Father in Heaven. So how could we ignore being led by Him? What else in all Christendom would we prefer to be led by? Well there's a few choices around....pastors, preachers, teachers, apostles, doctrines, church tradition, personal opinion....and more. We often trust them far more than the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit is usually unemployed in most Christians' lives, left to be a bench warmer for a game He never is invited to play (and I am not just referring to healing the sick)..but His being in every aspect of a believer's life...He is infused in our very molecules...mixing with us and yet...we go our own or more often than not, someone else's way...to the next teacher or theological deconstruction or trend or buzz...all the while ignoring His presence on the bench. And yet, He is the very power/presence of God on earth in us.

The Holy Spirit can offer us the deepest riches of the Father's knowledge, wisdom and grace...He can and does illuminate our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. He does heart surgery on the hardened places and fills in all wounds and disappointments, and scars of our souls with the joy of the Lord, the healing grace and absolute unity with the Father of Lights. He is a the link between heaven and earth living on the inside of us! Some have even taught it is dangerous to talk to the Holy Spirit the One who leads us into all truth...so How are we to be lead? No talking please...shhhh! Perhaps most astonishingly, the Holy Spirit is the One who allows us to experience our union with the Father. Without Him we are simply going through the motions or emotions as the case may be. He has taught me about the Father's heart...the Body's (of Christ) pain and joy unspeakable, and the very inarguably AWESOME Presence of God...oh wait that's Who He is!. He is the Teacher extraordinaire and there is so much more to learn...He will teach us how to rightly divide the Word so that we cannot be captured by false doctrine...He will teach us how to bask in the Presence of Our King without effort, simply by realising He is within me, He will teach us that without Love we are nothing and with Love all things are possible. He will teach us our value in the sight and heart of our Lord and He will teach us what we specifically were made for...down to the last detail. What does a teacher do...? If you teach you must show the way...that's called leading. That is what Jesus meant when He said He would never leave us nor forsake us...because he left His Spirit to indwell, not just to sit there immobile but to lead us.

The Body has become so tantalised by men, doctrine, alleged anointings, and teachings they do not even recognise the Holy Spirit Himself. He is the Spirit that witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God...and if we are not attending to His witnessing what are we witnessing? He is here to bring Oneness to life where we begin to be so immersed in Him and it isn't "I don't now where He ends and I begin" it is that we match, we are the same...in union!

So Holy Spirit have Your,  free reign...LEAD ME....I love you.

This note is a dedication to You Holy Spirit...to give You the press You so deserve, even though You don't want it nor need it!

Shalom,

Jessie