Nurturing Life Christian Ministry

1--Hidden Manna - Preface

2012-01-18T07:19:00.000-08:00

Hidden Manna

Kay Frances Graves

He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the churches;
To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the hidden manna,
and will give him a white stone,
and in the stone a new name written,
which no man knoweth
saving he that receiveth it.
-Revelation 2:17

After completing Mystery of the First Love Lost, I requested my next assignment. Like Solomon desiring the most important thing in life, I sensed that I should also seek to address the most important issues facing mankind today.

The signs of the times indicate that we may be in the beginning stages of the end of life as we have known it on Planet Earth. I hoped that God would once again use my simple, unpolished style of writing to emphasize the message He wants to bring at this time, when so many hearts are troubled and so little is to be found in the way of real spiritual food.

Years ago I began hearing myself say, “If the truth will not be heard from the pulpit, perhaps God will raise up some little old lady in the back pew to expound it.”

I never imagined that I might be that “little old lady.”

Even though the birthing pains have already begun, there may still be time to sort out priorities and seek clarity regarding how we should respond to the challenges that lie ahead. Many of us still have a long way to go before we are spiritually prepared for what is coming.

While Mystery of the First Love Lost was gradually unraveled and revealed from page one, this book on the other hand, will reveal the ending first.

Knowing the victory and blessing that can belong to us when Christ finally returns, will help motivate us to keep knocking and keep seeking as we consider what is written within the pages of this book--and His Book.

2--Hidden Manna - Introduction

2012-01-17T10:55:00.000-08:00

(9)And the great dragon was cast out,
that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,
which deceiveth the whole world:
he was cast out into the earth,
and his angels were cast out with him.
(10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,
Now is come salvation, and strength,
and the kingdom of our God,
and the power of his Christ: ,
for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,
which accused them before our God day and night.
(11)And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,
and by the word of their testimony;
and they loved not their lives unto the death.
-Revelation 12:9-11

Three things must take place in order to overcome and endure to the end:
1. The blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ must be personally appropriated.
2. The word of testimony must be personally proclaimed.
3. Christ must be preeminent above everything--even life itself.

What is the “word of testimony?”

And I fell at his feet to worship him.
And he said unto me,
See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant,
and of thy brethren
that have the testimony of Jesus:
worship God:
for the testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy.
-Revelation 19:10

In the alpha and omega style of Jesus we see that the “word of testimony” is the testimony of the Word—the living Word of God (Jesus Christ) and the written Word of God. This is the “spirit of prophecy”—the Spirit of God that resides in His Word, correctly interpreting His Word and proclaiming it.

The Word is the spirit of prophecy because it is the testimony of Jesus:

Testimony = #G3141
• Testifying as it relates to the office committed to the prophets
• Testifying to future events
• A witness—one who is a spectator of anything

Prophecy = #G4394
• First of all a discourse emanating from divine inspiration
• Declaring the purposes of God by reproving the wicked
• Comforting the afflicted
• Revealing things hidden; esp. by foretelling future events

In other words, the Spirit of prophecy is the Word of testimony that believers possess which comes from their personal experience with the Word of God.

While truth has been hidden from worldings who prefer to stumble around in the dark, the Spirit of prophecy—the Holy Spirit that correctly interprets the Word of God, brings true believers into all truth, empowering them by the Spirit of God to be a witness concerning how the Word of God has worked through the experiences in their lives and enabled them to overcome.

It is the Spirit of the Word of God that will empower us to overcome and endure to the end.

The Book of Revelation tells us that it is time to reveal that which is hidden.

Therefore, let us open our spiritual eyes and behold the “Hidden Manna” which we are about to receive.

3--Hidden Manna - Chapter 1

2012-01-16T08:24:00.000-08:00

Hidden Manna
In The Beginning

And God said,
Let there be light:
and there was light.
-Genesis 1:3

The first page of the history of mankind records that the Bible is not only a spiritual and historical Book, but a scientific Book as well.

This must be so, for God does not exclusively address issues of the spiritual dimension only, but has told us that Jesus, the living Word of God, came to “make us whole,” confirming that God is concerned with every aspect of our life: spirit, body, mind, and emotions—our entire being.

God’s science Book of the Universe tells us that He created everything that exists through the energy (light) that proceeded from His mouth as He spoke the Universe and Planet Earth into existence by the inconceivable power that resides in His Voice.

This is the same power the enemies of God will be facing when Christ returns. The Book of Revelation tells us that when He speaks to them at that time, they will instantly drop dead in their tracks.

In the Book of John, there is another aspect to the reality of the Word first seen in Genesis:

(1)In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.

The Word existed right from the beginning. Not only was the Word, God Himself, but the Word was also something (or Someone) else called “the Word,” who was “with” God in the beginning.

God is revealing another significant fact in this first verse. He is telling us that the Holy Bible is not any ordinary book on the shelf.

Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:12 that if he could not understand His illustration of how earthly things symbolize spiritual things, neither would he be able to understand the spiritual concepts He was giving him.

If I have told you earthly things,
and ye believe not,
how shall ye believe,
if I tell you of heavenly things?
-John 3:12

Let us be careful not to confuse "earthly" with "worldly."

When Jesus spoke of earthly things it was an illustration of how God uses creation to teach spiritual lessons.

When the Word of God says, "God so loved the world," it is referring to His creation.

On the other hand when the Word of God says, "Whosoever therefore will be the friend of the world is the enemy of God," (James 4:4) it is referring to the "system of this world."

The Bible never contradicts itself. It is talking about two different "worlds." One is God's creation and the other is man's creation, or system of this world that is working contrary to God's Word and creation.

Through this discourse with Nicodemus, Jesus was telling mankind that without the ability to see the illustrations and lessons God was giving us through His creation, we would never be able to correctly understand how He works in the spiritual realm either. We will never really be able to get a true understanding of how our physical life relates to our spiritual life and the Word of God.

So if we hope to continue mining the gold from the Word of God, first worldly thinking must be removed from our spiritual perspective in order to begin to grasp the reality of what the Bible is really saying to those God has called from before the foundation of the Earth. Jesus said that we must become "as little children" (who have not yet been influenced by the philosophies of the system of this world and are able to see things just as they really are, not as someone else has told us they are).

The first passage of Genesis goes on to describe the identity of the other Person who was with God in the beginning:

(2)The same
was in the beginning with God.

Who is “the same” or “the same One” who was with God in the beginning?

This specific Word is God and this specific Word was also with God.

(3)All things were made by him;
and without him
was not any thing made that was made.

All things were created by this Word who is referred to as “him.” Therefore the Word that was with God was a Person.

John 1 gives us further clues to the identity of this Person:

(4)In him was life;
and the life was the light of men.

The Person who is also the Word created all things, including mankind. He is the One who put life’s energizing power (biological energy) into the physical bodies of those He created.

(5)And the light shineth in darkness;
and the darkness
comprehended it not.

This Person, called “the Word of God,” who created all things carries a special spiritual light. This light or energy not only has the ability to physically bring about human life, but to also dispel spiritual darkness. Those who dwell in spiritual darkness are unable to understand this light.

(6)There was a man sent from God,
whose name was John.
(7)The same came for a witness,
to bear witness of the Light,
that all men through him might believe.
(8)He was not that Light,
but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
(9)That was the true Light,
which lighteth every man
that cometh into the world.

John (the Baptist) was on a mission from God to testify that this Person called “the Word of God,” was actually the true Light that creates the power of physical life in every person who is born.

(10)He was in the world,
and the world was made by him,
and the world knew him not.

The living Word of God made the world and everything in it, then came into the world, but the world was spiritually blind and did not recognize who He really was.

(11)He came unto his own,
and his own received him not.
(12)But as many as received him,
to them gave he power
to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name:
(13)Which were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man,
but of God.

The Word of God came to his own people, but most of them did not accept Him. Those who did receive Him and believed who He really was, were given the spiritual power to become the children of God.

This did not happen in the physical dimension as when children are born into the physical world, but this came about in the spiritual dimension as the will of God moved in the hearts of those who received the Word of God.

(14)And the Word was made flesh,
and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.

Now we are told that this Person, the living Word of God, became a physical Person—made of flesh, who actually lived among the inhabitants of Earth.

He was also a special Person because He had the same glory (#G1391 = character and majesty of God) which manifested the grace (#G5485 = loving kindness) and truth of God.

(15)John bare witness of him, and cried, saying,
This was he of whom I spake,
He that cometh after me is preferred before me:
for he was before me.
(16)And of his fulness have all we received,
and grace for grace.

An important part of John the Baptist’s message was to testify that the Word that was made flesh had actually existed in the beginning, even before John himself had been born.

When the Word of God became flesh, it was then possible to receive the fulness of God, His love, and His loving kindness.

(17)For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Finally we are told that the Person who was with God in the beginning is Jesus Christ.

God has always loved His people. But at first, they knew God only through His Law which He gave to Moses to guide and protect them. But when Jesus Christ came to Earth, He brought God’s love, kindness, and truth to His people in a more intimate way, making the fullness of God's love available to all who would understand and believe.

(18)No man hath seen God at any time,
the only begotten Son,
which is in the bosom of the Father,
he hath declared him.

It is impossible for anyone to see God. But Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, is the personification of God. He has been sent to show us who God really is.

God’s Word and Law were given to His people through Moses, as he led the children of God through the wilderness.

But God Himself provided the manna that kept His people alive.

Now Jesus Christ, the personification of God, has come to give His people the Hidden Manna--the living and written Word of God.

He has come to nourish and sustain His people by giving them Himself.

4--Hidden Manna - Chapter 2

2012-01-15T08:02:00.000-08:00

Hidden Manna
Bread of Life

(3)And when the tempter came to him, he said,
If thou be the Son of God,
command that these stones be made bread.
(4)But he answered and said,
It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that proceedeth out
of the mouth of God.
-Matthew 4:3-4

The Evil One came to tempt Jesus. While the devil is very clever, he does not possess the power to overcome the wisdom of God, so he failed to lure Jesus into his trap.

But through his attempt to influence Jesus, an interesting thing happened. The devil revealed the workings of his own evil character, as it has been recorded in the Book of Matthew, for all to see.

In other words he was saying, “If you think you are so great, meet your own needs. Do a miracle for yourself and turn these physical stones into physical bread.”

The devil is behind every worldly effort that tempts us to take our focus off the most important things in life. His mission is to make us think that we are preeminent. He is a priority changer pressuring and motivating us to try to establish a belief system, contrary to God, that focuses on fulfilling our own dreams, needs, and desires until we forget that God is preeminent and the One who is really in charge.

How did Jesus deal with this assault and insult? He went back to the Word of God—the foundation of Truth and Wisdom and said, “It is written.” He was telling this to the devil, but more importantly, He was telling this to us. He knew that His response would also be recorded in the Book of Matthew.

In other words Jesus was saying, “Follow my example when facing temptations. Consult the Word of God and consider what is written, before you make any decisions regarding how your needs will be met. Remember that the most important food we eat is not the physical bread, but the spiritual bread. This spiritual bread is my voice found in my Word. As you feed on every Word of God, it will maintain and sustain your life.”

The Word of God is alive with His power. Just as physical bread keeps our body alive, God’s Word is the spiritual bread that keeps our spirit alive as well as maintaining the health of our body.

Jesus has revealed to us that we must have both spiritual food as well as physical food in order to live. Therefore, those who do not feed on the Word of God are only half alive. They are, in fact, the walking dead regardless of how religious they may appear to be.

(This means personally feeding on the Word daily, as opposed to waiting for someone else to read us the Word, to preach the Word to us, or interpret the Word for us).

(31)Our fathers did eat manna in the desert,
As it is written,
He gave them
bread from heaven to eat.
(32) Then Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Moses gave you not
that bread from heaven;
But my Father
giveth you
the true bread
from heaven.
-John 6:31-32

The people have been following the teaching of Moses. Moses had been their “mediator.” However, Jesus makes it clear that Moses did not give them the manna. God, the Father, is the One who provided the bread directly from heaven to sustain their physical bodies.

They do not need a mediator. They only need the True Bread, which is Jesus Himself—the Word of God in the flesh.

Then Jesus went on to tell them that there are two kinds of bread: physical bread and spiritual bread.

For the bread of God
is he which cometh down from heaven,
and giveth life unto the world.
-John 6:33

Just as Moses was not involved in giving the bread but God, Himself, gave physical bread to His people in the desert, now God, Himself, is giving this new spiritual bread. Jesus is this spiritual bread because He sustains spiritual life just as physical bread sustains physical life.

There aren’t any mediators. God wants to feed His people Himself.

Then said they unto him,
Lord, evermore
give us this bread.
-John 6:34

It seems that the people are ready to receive the spiritual bread, but Jesus knows that they still do not understand that He is the Bread and that the illustration of eating is to help them understand that the ability to believe is a result of feeding on the Word of God.

(35)And Jesus said unto them,
I am the bread of life:
he that cometh to me
shall never hunger;
and he that believeth on me
shall never thirst.
(36)But I said unto you,
That ye also have seen me,
and believe not.
(37)All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me;
and him that cometh to me
I will in no wise cast out.
-John 6:35-37

By now it is evident that this concept is falling on spiritually deaf ears and becoming redundant. Nothing is being accomplished with these particular people.

Jesus tells them plainly that they are unable to understand because they do not have the capacity to believe and they do not have the capacity to believe because the Father has evidently not called them and given them to Christ.

If the Father had given them to Christ, they would understand and believe because those who are given to Jesus are never cast out or lost.

(38)For I came down from heaven,
not to do mine own will,
but the will of him that sent me.
(39)And this is the Father’s will
which hath sent me,
that of all which he hath given me
I should lose nothing,
but should raise it up again
at the last day.
(40)And this is the will
of him that sent me,
that every one which seeth the Son,
and believeth on him,
may have everlasting life:
and I will raise him up
at the last day
-John 6:38-40

Jesus changes the focus and is now emphasizing that the Word and the will of God are one.

Just as Jesus is compelled to do the will of the Father because He is the Word in the flesh and is bound to the Word of the Father, we also will discover God’s will only by feasting on the Word (Jesus) who is this “Bread from Heaven.”

It is Jesus, accessed through the Word, which binds us to the Word and compels us to follow Him through the Word.

In the passage above, Jesus reiterates that eternal life is about believing God’s Word, not working to gain His favor or trying to earn eternal life. God, the Father, alone is the One who decides who will be given eternal life.

(41)The Jews then murmured at him,
because he said,
I am the bread
which came down from heaven.
(42)And they said,
Is not this Jesus,
the son of Joseph,
whose father and mother we know?
How is it then that he saith,
I came down from heaven?
-John 6:41-42

The people were confused and the Jews sought to add to the confusion by discrediting the divine authority of Jesus. So they attempted to change the heavenly focus of the bread from heaven and return the conversation to an earthly focus again, by trying to make an issue of Jesus’ humble earthly family.

(43)Jesus therefore answered
and said unto them,
Murmur not among yourselves.
(44)No man can come to me,
except the Father
which hath sent me
draw him:
and I will raise him up
at the last day.
(45)It is written in the prophets,
[referring to the Word of God]
And they shall be all taught of God
[through the Word of God]
Every man therefore
that hath heard,
and hath learned
of the Father,
[through the Word of God]
cometh unto me.
[for an eternal relationship with God]
(46)Not that any man
hath seen the Father,
save he which is of God, [Jesus]
he hath seen the Father.
-John 6:43-46

These remarks of Jesus should have settled the question regarding His earthly heritage and divine authority. Jesus stated further:

(47) Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on me
hath everlasting life.
(48)I am that bread of life.
(49)Your fathers did eat manna
in the wilderness,
and are dead.
(50)This is the bread
which cometh down from heaven,
that a man may eat thereof,
and not die.
(51)I am the living bread
which came down from heaven:
if any man eat of this bread,
he shall live for ever:
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh,
which I will give
for the life of the world.
-John 6:47-51

Here is proof that our eternal spiritual life is more valuable than our physical life. Jesus tells us that when we eat physical bread, we will eventually die. But when we eat spiritual bread, we will live for ever.

In the alpha and omega style of God, Jesus Himself now takes charge of changing the topic from spiritual bread back to physical bread.

In other words He is saying, “If you really want to talk about my humble earthly heritage and my physical connection to this bread, then consider this: Not only will I give you spiritual life through the Word, but I intend to give you my physical life as well.”

While the spiritual life of Jesus is valuable because it provides immortality, His physical life becomes equally valuable when the sinless Son of God cloaks Himself in human flesh and the sacrifice of the Word in the flesh becomes the only way to forgive sin and provide eternal life for anyone who dwells on Planet Earth and eats of this Bread.

The Bread Jesus speaks of is the written/spoken Word that is also Jesus. As the written/spoken Word of God is understood, the physical sacrifice of Jesus becomes retroactive in our life at this point in time, so we are also able to benefit from His flesh and blood payment for our sin(s) today.

Jesus, in the above passage from the Book of John, has just given a perfect summary of the purpose of His physical sacrifice as it relates to the salvation of mankind.

Those the Father has given to His Son will receive, partake, assimilate, incorporate, integrate, and appropriate this physical sacrifice and spiritual Bread through the Word of God and live for ever.

God has amazingly given us the written/spoken Word of God in conjunction with the living Word of God in the flesh to bless us with eternal life, as well as abundant life now in this world and in this specific time in history.

5--Hidden Manna - Chapter 3

2012-01-14T07:54:00.000-08:00

Hidden Manna
Eating the Bread

Then Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Except ye eat the flesh
of the Son of man,
and drink his blood,
ye have no life in you.
-John 6:53

Some understand that a believer is one who does good works; therefore we have false professors who try to convince themselves and others that they are genuine believers by exhibiting their good works.

Nevertheless, Jesus gave us the above Word to test our genuineness. Only those who do the work of eating His flesh and drinking His blood actually qualify as true believers and have eternal life.

What a strange statement for Jesus to make. This sounds like cannibalism! Keep in mind that the stranger the statement, the more important the lesson. This statement was meant to shock unbelievers and it did shock them.

It was so outlandish that many of His disciples stopped following Him.

The Real Purpose of Communion

(15)I speak as to wise men;
judge ye what I say.
(16)The cup of blessing which we bless,
is it not the communion
of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break,
is it not the communion
of the body of Christ?
-1 Corinthians 10:15-16

What is “communion?”

In the original language of Greek the word communion, # 2842, in this passage means: fellowship, association, community, joint participation, intercourse. In other words communion means communication and true fellowship.

Therefore, our relationship and communication with Christ has to do with “eating” the body and blood of Christ and it is of utmost importance to understand exactly what we are to eat.

Is physical bread and wine really the body and blood of Christ, a symbol of the physical body and blood of Christ—or does it have more to do with the communication we are to have with Christ?

Before we can understand what communion really is, we need to first understand what communion is not:

(20)When ye come together therefore
into one place,
this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
(21)For in eating
every one taketh before other
his own supper:
and one is hungry,
and another is drunken.
(22)What? have ye not houses
to eat and to drink in?
or despise ye the church of God,
and shame them that have not?
what shall I say to you?
shall I praise you in this?
I praise you not.
-1 Corinthian 11:20-22

Paul sternly corrects the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 11 about the purpose of the Lord’s Supper. It is not about eating physical food. Paul told them to go home and eat, if they are hungry.

In the next passage from 1 Corinthians 11, God’s Word tells us what communion really is:

(23)For I have received of the Lord
that which also I delivered unto you,
that the Lord Jesus
the same night
in which he was betrayed
took bread:
(24)And when he had given thanks,
he brake it,
and said, Take, eat:
this is my body,
which is broken for you:
this do in remembrance of me.

The night before Jesus was betrayed and delivered to the authorities to be put to death, He gave His disciples a lesson and illustration so they would remember Him after He physically left Planet Earth.

(25)After the same manner also
he took the cup, when he had supped,
saying, this cup
is the new testament
[Word of agreement or covenant]
in my blood:
this do ye,
as oft as
ye drink it,
in remembrance of me.
(26)For as often as ye
eat this bread,
and drink this cup,
ye do shew the Lord's death
till he come.
[show that you believe in,
trust in, and understand
the value of the Word of God,
as well as His death,
resurrection, and return]

At this meeting, first Jesus and the disciples had supper together—what is known as “the last supper”—a physical meal. But this illustration was not about physically eating bread and drinking wine. Jesus had already taught them that the spiritual food was more important than the physical food.

Therefore this lesson was about the spiritual food He was going to give them. He said “as oft as” you do this meaning “as often as you get together.”

It was the custom of the followers of Jesus to meet and share a meal whenever they assembled. Perhaps some had to travel many miles to get to their meeting place. So Jesus was telling them that whenever they got together and shared the physical bread and wine, it would henceforth be established as a reminder of Jesus and the spiritual food He was going to give them.

However, this lesson was about much more than just being reminded to think about Jesus. It was given to reveal the value of the Word of God—the Living Word, as well as the written and spoken Word (New Testament) which would continue to feed them spiritually (throughout history), just as the physical food fed them physically.

(27)Wherefore whosoever shall eat
this bread,
and drink this cup of the Lord,
unworthily,
[in an unfit – degrading
– improper manner]
shall be guilty of
the body and blood
of the Lord.

How could this bread and wine (remembrance of Christ and all that He said) be eaten “unworthily” or in an unfit, degrading, and improper manner?

The following passage explains how this can happen.

(28)But let a man examine himself,
[according to what the Word of God says
and what Jesus has done on our behalf]
and so let him eat
of that bread,
and drink of that cup.
(29)For he that eateth and drinketh
unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself,
not discerning
the Lord's body.
[not understanding and obeying
what it really represents]

Degrading the bread and wine and bringing damnation to oneself happens when someone does not “discern” the Lord’s body, or does not understand and obey what it really represents.

Those who do not understand the value of the totality of the Word of God, are already condemned and damned—not by Christ, but by their own wicked hearts that love the darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil.

Therefore the Word of God tells us to “examine ourselves.”

How are we to examine ourselves then?

We are to examine ourselves by “discerning the Lord’s body.”

And how are we to discern the Lord’s body?

We discern the Lord’s body by understanding the value it has when we hold the thoughts and intentions of our heart up to the Word of God and honor it as the preeminent and supreme authority.

False religion tells us that we can be our own god and let our own conscience be our guide. But the Word of God tells us that our own conscience and idea about what is right and what is wrong can never take preeminence over what God has determined is right and wrong.

God calls this idolatry because anything that supercedes God in our own mind and life is idolatry. It is the sin from which all other sins originate.

(30)For this cause many are weak
and sickly among you,
and many sleep,[die an early death].
(31)For if we would judge ourselves,
we should not be judged.
-1 Corinthians 11:23-31

Paul tells the Corinthian church that communion is about feeding on the spiritual Bread that is Christ, not about physical food.

This truth, as well as the inclusive truth about the Hidden Manna, is also being revealed to us through Paul’s efforts to correct doctrinal error in the church regarding the practice of communion.

Remembering to feed on the Word of God is important because we are judged by the Word of God and it is better to judge ourselves by holding our thoughts and actions up to the Word of God than to be judged for our sins by God later.

What was Jesus really teaching when He said to partake of communion in remembrance of Him?

What was the real purpose of communion and what part does communion actually play in our salvation experience?

Let us get the explanation directly from the lips of the One who instituted the practice of communion.

By expounding the following verses from John, Chapter 6, we can see clearly how Jesus was bringing His people to a true understanding of what faith really is and teaching them to put the pieces of the puzzle together so they could understand what He really meant by “eat my flesh” and “drink my blood.”

In John, Chapter 6:

(26)Jesus answered them
and said,
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Ye seek me,
not because ye saw the miracles,
but because ye did eat of the loaves,
and were filled.

Jesus was telling the people that they were making a mistake by thinking only of their literal physical food. They were seeking Him for the wrong reason. They wanted a handout—a free lunch. They followed Jesus because they wanted something from Him to make their life easier. Instead of listening to and obeying His Word, they wanted Him to fulfill their own desires.

The people did not want to take responsibility for their spiritual condition and seek Jesus because He was the Word in the flesh. Yet, He was the only food; the only option available that could satisfy their spiritual hunger and really provide eternal life.

Their priorities and values were out of balance.

Like the religious of today who seek to benefit physically or monetarily from their association with a church by clinging to a corrupted denomination, or have a fascination with Christian authors and their clever eloquent writings, these followers often seek to transfer the responsibility of their spiritual life to someone else.

They will believe only something that is of a mystical or “spiritual” nature that some religious icon or “authority” will provide for them.

They do not want to “chew their own spiritual food” but want someone else to do the work for them and spoon feed them.

In this way, the Word that comes to us can often be reprocessed and degraded.

While we find true fellowship with other believers through the Word of God and can learn much from one another by sharing the Word, it is imperative that we learn how to feed ourselves under the exclusive teaching of the Holy Spirit so we have a standard of measurement with which to measure the quality of spiritual food we are getting from sources other than the Word of God itself.

Feeding ourselves can be time consuming and hard work, but unless the Spirit of God motivates us to spiritually feed ourselves, Jesus tells us that no matter how religious we may appear to be, we really do not belong to Him.

Therefore:

(27)Labour not for the meat[food]
which perisheth,
but for that meat which endureth
[endures to the end
and beyond the end]
unto everlasting life,
which the Son of man
shall [Himself] give unto you:
[the Son of man is the only One
who can give us the real bread
of life God has provided because
he is the Bread—the Word in the flesh]
for him hath God the Father sealed.
(28)Then said they unto him,
What shall we do,
that we might work the works of God?

The people wanted to follow their own natural inclination and only focus on earthly food and earthly works. They had this concept backwards and still did not understand what “the Word of God” and “true faith” really are.

(8)For by grace
are ye saved
through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
(9)Not of works,
lest any man should boast.
–Ephisians 2:8-9

So then faith
cometh by hearing,
and hearing
by the word of God.
-Romans 10:17

They thought that they could earn God’s favor through earthly works instead of through direct communication by developing a relationship with Him through the “work” of feeding on His Word.

(29)Jesus answered
and said unto them,
This is the work of God,
that ye believe on him
whom he hath sent.

Jesus redefined the word “work” for them.

In essence, He was telling them that if they must work then do the “work” of believing, which He described previously as a result of feeding on the Word, since true faith comes via the Word as we hear it and digest it.

While feeding is a rather involuntary action because we were created to feel hunger and the need to eat, it is also at the same time a volitional action because we must actually do the work of feeding ourselves.

We get a perfect example of feeding on the Word by watching a new born baby instinctively seek his mother’s milk because he is born hungry. We also see this same example when a child of God is born-again and for the first time seeks out the Word of God to satisfy his spiritual hunger.

Spiritually speaking, God provides the food and we engage in the “work” or action of eating it.

(30)They said therefore unto him,
What sign shewest thou then,
that we may see,
and believe thee?
what dost thou work?

The people are unable to grasp Jesus’ definition of “work.” Neither could they comprehend what sort of work Jesus is involved in.

So like today, they asked Him for a sign, some mystical supernatural sensational experience outside of the Word of God to help them.

(37)Forby thy words
thou shalt be justified,
and by thy words
thou shalt be condemned.
(38)Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees
answered, saying,
Master, we would see a sign from thee.
(39)But he answered and said unto them,
An evil and adulterous
[#G3432=unfaithful – polluted – apostate]
generation
seeketh after a sign;
and there shall no sign
be given to it,
but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
(40)For as Jonas was three days
and three nights
in the whale's belly;
so shall the Son of man
be three days and three nights
in the heart of the earth.
-Matthew 12:37-40

The people asked Jesus for a sign to help them believe. That was definitely the wrong thing to do.

He bluntly told them that seeking a sign was a manifestation of apostasy and unfaithfulness to God.

Jonah was the only sign they were going to get. This was a sign recorded in the Word of God.

Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale and then expelled onto dry land, Jesus would be three days and three nights in the earth and then resurrected.

For those who were really called by God, this account of the death and resurrection of Jesus found in the Word of God would be sufficient evidence to support their belief.

The Word created all things. Therefore, Jesus created all things. The same Word that created us is the only Word that can save us.

Jesus knew that in order for His followers to be able to endure to the end, they would have to continue drawing from and feeding on the memory of their experience with Him and what He had said and done for them.

Just as Jesus said, communion was meant to help them remember to eat His flesh and drink His blood—in other words, to feed on His Word so via the Spirit infused in the Word, they could have a relationship with Him, communicate with Him, and receive the spiritual strength they needed to endure to the end.

Communion was something that they could not forget because they broke bread and drank wine every time they ate together.

He told His followers that the practice of communion would remind them of Him.

This practice is called “communion” because the bread and wine are symbols of His body and blood and a reminder that through eating his flesh and drinking His blood (i.e. feeding on His Word) we will be able to receive eternal life and have a relationship with Him.

By feeding on the "Hidden Manna," His followers would be able to continue to “commune” or “communicate” with Him until He returned.

6--Hidden Manna - Chapter 4

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

Hidden Manna
Offended by the Bread

(59)These things said he in the synagogue,
as he taught in Capernaum.
(60)Many therefore of his disciples,
when they had heard this, said,
This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
(61)When Jesus knew in himself
that his disciples murmured at it,
he said unto them,
Doth this offend you?
-John 6:59-61

This is where the true followers of Christ are separated from the false professors. Only those who belong to Christ will see the true value of the Word of God—that hidden treasure—the pearl of great price that ushers them into and preserves them in the Kingdom of God.

The rest will find something to be offended about and return to going their own way, because their sin has kept them from understanding what is most valuable in life.

(62)What and if
ye shall see the Son of man
ascend up where he was before?
(63)It is the spirit that quickeneth;
the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit,
and they are life.
-John 6:62-23

What if we saw Jesus ascend up to heaven?

Would we ask, “How did He do that?”

Of course we would.

The answer to “How did He do that?” is, “…by the power of the Spirit that resides in His Word. It is the Spirit that ‘quickens’ or makes us alive and gives us the life force and energy that is required to do what the flesh cannot do."

Then Jesus plainly told them that this is the same power residing in His Words. His Words are Spirit and His Words are Life.

(64)But there are some of you
that believe not.
For Jesus knew
from the beginning
who they were that believed not,
and who should betray him.
(65)And he said,
Therefore said I unto you,
that no man can come unto me,
except it were given unto him
of my Father.
-John 6:64-65

If we truly belong to Christ, we will appreciate the life-giving power that the Word provides and will eagerly feed on it, because we recognize that we cannot live without it anymore than we can live without physical food.

If we do not understand and believe this, it is because we do not belong to Christ or we have not yet come to grips with the sin of going our own way, have not yet asked His forgiveness, or acknowledged Him as Lord by submitting our will to His will.

From that time
many of his disciples
went back,
and walked no more
with him.
-John 6:66

So be it. It is how it is.

This is how God’s laws of the Universe and spiritual dimension work. We have no control over it. Our feelings have no bearing on it and our tantrums and ranting about being treated unfairly cannot change the loving Word and Law of God.

His Word proves that what is really wrong and unfair is to reward disobedient, Christ rejecting, and self-centered sinners when He is willing to provide all that is needed for them to qualify for eternal life.

(16)But unto the wicked
God saith,
What hast thou to do
to declare my statutes,
or that thou
shouldest take my covenant
in thy mouth?
(17)Seeing thou hatest instruction,
and casteth my words
behind thee.
-Psalms 50:16-17

We can call ourselves “disciples of Christ,” “followers of Jesus,” or “Christians,” but if we choose to minimize or disregard His Word which feeds our eternal life, we are the same as the disciples who no longer walked with Jesus and are just false professors.

In the Book of Revelation, the Word tells us that it is better to be hot or cold than it is to be lukewarm. To prepare to face what is coming upon the land, we must make our calling and election sure.

For when this time passes away and the dust settles, Jesus will look into our eyes and remind us:

(21)Not every one
that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will
of my Father which is in heaven.
(22)Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
(23)And then
will I profess unto them,
I never knew you:
depart from me,
ye that work iniquity.
-Matthew 7:21-23

Not everyone who calls Jesus, "Lord," actually belongs to Him. Only those who do His will. The rest He called "workers of iniquity."

Weren't these people prophesying, casting out devils, and doing many wonderful works?

The problem was that the good works were not specific works commissioned by Christ. The works these people were engaged in were their own determined works.

The works of Cain and Able are a perfect example of the difference between acceptable and unacceptable works.

Able's heart was in harmony with the desires of God's heart and correctly engaged in following the will (specific Word) of God and His detailed instructions regarding the offering (works) God commissioned.

However, Cain ignored the specifics of God's Word, minimized the importance of what God was saying, and followed his own heart, deciding for himself (making himself preeminent) concerning what and how he would make an offering to God.

Children do this all of the time. Mommy tells Johnny to clean his room. Johnny decides that he will go out and pick flowers for Mommy instead.

If Mommy is spiritually awake, she will realize at once that she has a little, self-centered manipulator like Cain on her hands.

But if Mommy does not realize what is going on, is overcome by emotions, thinks her son's actions are love-based and accepts his preeminent disobedient will over her word and will, she has just missed her opportunity to teach Johnny the importance of following detailed instructions.

Many souls have found their way to the broad road in life which leads to eternal destruction because they thought that they could cloak their disobedience in good works and get away with it.

Jesus said that the only ones who will enter into the kingdom of heaven are those who do His Father's will.

The only ones who know the Father's will are those who hear and obey His specific will as it is revealed in His Word according to the Spirit of God that resides in His Word. It is the heart of God we must listen to--not our own heart. We can only discover God's will and the specific desires of His heart when we attentively receive His Word correctly understanding that it is the preeminent voice of God.

Our magnificent Creator and Savior invites us to hear His voice and accept the privilege of communicating with Him so we are empowered to do His will, overcome, endure to the end, and spend eternity in His presence.

(19)As many as I love,
I rebuke and chasten:
be zealous therefore,
and repent.
(20)Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice,
and open the door,
I will come in to him,
and will sup with him,
and he with me.
-Revelation 3:19-20

The word, “sup” is related to the word, “supper” and presents a picture of eating, sharing a meal, feeding. Since the subject of this passage has to do with “hearing the voice” of Christ, it confirms that He is addressing His sheep, those the Father has given to Him and is telling them that if they will open the door of their heart and feed on His voice (Word), He will indwell them, communicate with them, and engage in the most intimate fellowship with them.

Furthermore, through this process of fellowship, His people will have the strength to overcome and remain forever in His presence enjoying all that He has prepared for them.

To him that overcometh
will I grant to sit with me
in my throne,
even as I also overcame,
and am set down with my Father
in his throne.
-Revelation 3:21

7--Hidden Manna - Chapter 5

2012-01-12T04:50:00.000-08:00

Hidden Manna
Hungry for the Bread

(10)And when he was alone,
they that were about him
with the twelve
asked of him the parable.
(11)And he said unto them,
Unto you it is given to know
the mystery of the kingdom of God:
but unto them that are without,
all these things are done in parables:
(12)That seeing they may see,
and not perceive;
and hearing they may hear,
and not understand;
lest at any time
they should be converted,
and their sins should be forgiven them.
-Mark 4:10-12

A parable is a verbal picture. But Jesus told His disciples that the parable of the Mystery of the Kingdom of God was more than just an illustration. It was a secret that had been hidden by God from those who would reject Christ.

Should the mystery of the Kingdom be this exclusive?

Is it unfair of God to be selectively hiding this valuable information from some people and revealing it to others?

No, not when He knows all things and already knows that those it has been hidden from, really do not want to know and will not value the mystery anyway.

Anyone who really, with their whole heart, wants to experience the mystery of the Kingdom of God and values it—will discover it.

It is the children of the Kingdom of God who will discover the mystery of the Kingdom because they are hungry for the Hidden Manna.

Who are these children of the Kingdom of God and where do they come from?

The Kingdom of God vs. the Kingdom of the Devil

Then Jesus sent the multitude away,
and went into the house:
and his disciples came unto him, saying,
Declare unto us
the parable of the tares of the field.
-Matthew 13:36

Jesus had just finished teaching the parable of the Kingdom of God to the crowd that had surrounded Him. The disciples were beginning to learn that a parable is a symbolic story woven around an important truth which has been hidden from those who would reject Christ.

So when they were alone with Jesus, they pressed Him to interpret the parable and explain the meaning.

When interpreting a parable the first thing that must take place is identification of the players. Today much error in doctrine is a result of failing to correctly identify whom Christ is actually describing in the parables. This is amazing because He has clearly revealed this foundational information to us when He explained it to His disciples in Matthew 13.

Five basic problems we can encounter when interpreting Scripture are:

1) failing to give God preeminence in our life and failing to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us.

2) a wrong attitude of heart toward God and others

3) not being familiar enough with true biblical history and the entire Bible

4) isolating verses and passages instead of interpreting the Word in the context of the entire Bible

5) accepting wrong conclusions because they fit better into our church doctrines or our own system of belief

He answered and said unto them,
He that soweth the good seed
is the Son of man;
-Matthew 13:37

The first character in this story found in the Book of Matthew is Jesus, the Son of man.

In this case, He is called the “Son of man” because the spiritual, eternal Son of God is also Jesus in the flesh.

Note what He has done in the physical world in this parable. Jesus has planted a spiritual, eternal, seed into the physical world.

Jesus is sowing, or planting the good seed.

Who is sowing the good seed—the disciples and the followers of Christ?

No, Jesus is the Sower.

No one plants the good seed into the world, except God Himself via Jesus Christ. This is completely God’s doing. He never turns this responsibility over to His followers.

We will eventually see in Luke, Chapter 8 that His followers are called to sow seed, but men can never qualify themselves as this specific Sower who is engaged in sowing this specific seed.

The field is the world;
the good seed
are the children of the kingdom;
but the tares
are the children of the wicked one;
-Matthew 13:38

This seems to be self-explanatory, but it is actually an introduction to the fact that in the world we really have just two kinds of people:

1) those that are God’s children (wheat) planted by the Almighty Sower

2) those that are tares (weeds) planted by the devil into the world

What does the “good seed” represent and what do the “tares” represent?

The good seed represents the children of the Kingdom of God and the tares represent the children of the devil. Both are being planted into the world.

There seems to be some confusion and contradiction about this in various church doctrines. Some follow this example in Matthew, Chapter 13 that tells us that Jesus is the Sower sowing His children into the world and others follow Luke, Chapter 8 that identifies the seed as the Word of God and the sower as anyone who sows that seed into the heart of those who hear the Word.

Remember, the message of the parables has been hidden from some and revealed to others. Therefore, we can expect to find confusion and contradictions in church doctrines. But we will never find confusion or contradictions in the Word of God only the appearance of confusion and contradictions.

This is actually our cue, the signal God has inserted into His Word, to alert us that His message has been hidden and that we must therefore pay closer attention to the details.

Is one Gospel in error and one Gospel correct?

Certainly not, both Gospels are the Word of God, therefore both are true.

How then can the parables of the sower identify two different sowers and two different seeds?

Two different sowers and two different seeds are identified because the parable in Matthew and the parable in Luke are two different parables with two different messages.

The interpretation of the sower depends on the interpretation of the seed.

(The parable of the other sower in Luke will be discussed later.)

First we will see that Jesus is telling us in this parable in Matthew that right from the beginning good people and evil people have already been determined. The good have been planted good and the wicked have been planted wicked.

I realize that this may go against common doctrines today that teach that God’s people are called only at the time they are “saved.” Perhaps this is a result of not understanding that there are two completely different parables about seeds being sowed.

The Apostle Paul’s conversion is often used as an example of someone “getting saved.”

It is extremely difficult for any of us to determine good seed from bad seed because at times those who are wicked can appear to be very good and religious, while those such as Saul of Tarsus who was a murderer of Christians, though he was wicked at first, had actually been a good seed called by God, destined to eventually become the Apostle Paul and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Jesus stopped Saul in his tracks to ask him why he was persecuting Him. Paul had been called from the foundation of the world to belong to Christ, but he did not realize this until that moment on the road to Damascus, when Jesus made him question what he was doing.

A clue to this truth becomes evident when Saul’s name is changed to “Paul.” At first Saul did not know that he was functioning contrary to the person he was created to be and that he was really “Paul.”

The name God bestows upon us defines our character and calling. Saul (#G4549 meaning “desired”) became Paul (#3972 meaning “small”).

“Saul,” the desired, important, and popular man among worldly men discovered that he was really “Paul,” a man destined to become small, rejected, and unimportant to the world—but destined to become great in the eyes of God by fulfilling his calling as the man God created him to be.

The seed the Almighty Sower had sowed (even before Saul was born) began to grow as the powerful light of the Word of God, in the form of a question from Jesus, brought about the seed’s germination. Saul’s mind and spirit were changed or “converted” to a new way of life.

Paul finally recognized who he really was. He finally discovered that while he was yet a sinner, Christ had died for him.

At this point, the powerful light of the truth about Saul’s spiritual blindness created a shockwave permeating throughout his total being, resulting in a temporary physical blindness. Paul remained in this physically blind state until God brought another Word to him—a healing Word via Ananias.
(See the complete account in Acts, Chapter 9).

(27)My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them,
and they follow me:
(28)And I give unto them eternal life;
and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man
pluck them out of my hand.
-John 10:27-28

Weeds do not turn into wheat.

We are not all born of the devil’s seed and then some of us changed into a good seed.

Likewise, goats are not turned into sheep.

Entering the Kingdom of God happens just the way Jesus said that it happens. He plants the seed of those the Father has called and calls those who are created to be (and are already) His sheep. When He calls His true sheep, they will hear His voice, realize that they belong to Him, and will follow Him.

A God who knows all things past and present, is a God who also knows all those who belong to Him. God’s definition of past and present is not the same as man’s definition. False doctrine regarding this truth is a result of man’s attempt to limit the power of God and force Him into an image of man’s own making, by trying to confine God within the walls of man’s concept of time.

In this way false professors, who have no appetite for the Word of God, are being mixed with the true Church established by Christ and causing an apostate movement away from the true doctrines of the Word of God.

Therefore God gives us the way to discern the good from the evil:

(13)Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate,
and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat:
(14)Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.
-Matthew 7:`3-14

The first clue is the size of “the way,” or the road.

The real children of God will not be found on the wide road. They will be traveling on a narrow road because they are small in number and exclusively following the Word of God.

While followers of Christ will collectively make up a multitude throughout history, in any given generation there will only be a few who will really belong to Christ. So if we are looking for the biggest church to join, we are going in the wrong direction.

America was founded on Christian principles by a handful of men and has called itself “a Christian nation,” but in reality very few people in America actually belong to Christ.

Beware of false prophets,
which come to you
in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
-Matthew 7:15

Not everyone who calls himself a Christian is really a Christian because most are following false prophets and not the Christ of the Bible. They wear sheep’s clothing (look and try to act like Christians) but inside in their hearts, they are really dangerous wolves.

How can we tell who is real and who is false?

(16)Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Do men gather grapes of thorns,
or figs of thistles?
(17)Even so every good tree
bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(18)A good tree
cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit.
(19)Every tree
that bringeth not forth good fruit
is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(20)Wherefore
by their fruits
ye shall know them.
-Matthew 7:16-20

Don’t listen to what they say. Watch what they do. This will reveal who they really are.

Evil people ultimately bring forth evil. Good people ultimately bring forth good.

Here is where it becomes difficult to discern the good from the evil.

Often evil can put on a clever act and do many good works in order to deceive. This is why Jesus said “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood (feed on His Word), you do not belong to me.”

The children of God will be the ones who have a true hunger for the Word of God. They will be listening to what God says in His Word, they will be nurturing life, and they will be doing only what is good (according to God’s Word).

Only those who have been given eyes to see, will be able to recognize the true children of God, when they witness real truth, love, and goodness being manifested in the lives of God's people.

They will not be among those calling good evil and evil good.

Only true followers of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, will maintain a perpetual hunger for the Word of God.

They will be the ones found feasting on the Hidden Manna.

8--Hidden Manna - Chapter 6

2012-01-11T04:35:00.000-08:00

Hidden Manna
Eternal Gift of God

(9)And his disciples asked him, saying,
What might this parable be?
(10)And he said,
Unto you it is given to know
the mysteries of the kingdom of God:
but to others in parables;
that seeing they might not see,
and hearing they might not understand.
-Luke 8:9-10

Once again the disciples ask Jesus to interpret a parable for them. Jesus says that He is going to reveal this parable to them because they are meant to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, while others are not given the capacity to understand it.

Now the parable is this:
The seed is the word of God.
-Luke 8:11

This time the seed is the Word of God—the living Word, Jesus, and the written Word that tells everything God wants us to know and remember about Himself and His Son.

Those by the way side
are they that hear;
then cometh the devil,
and taketh away the word
out of their hearts,
lest they should believe and be saved.
-Luke 8:12

The first type of person mentioned is the one who hears the Word, but the devil steals it out of his heart so he is unable to be saved.

They on the rock are they,
which, when they hear,
receive the word with joy;
and these have no root,
which for a while believe,
and in time of temptation fall away.
-Luke 8:13

The next type of person to hear the Word of God receives the Word with joy and believes for a while until he is tempted and falls away because he has not fed enough on the life-giving Word of God to spiritually nourish himself or establish any spiritual roots.

And that which fell
among thorns are they,
which, when they have heard,
go forth, and are choked
with cares and riches
and pleasures of this life,
and bring no fruit to perfection.
-Luke 8:14

Then there is the type of person whose priorities are out of balance. His life is full of frivolous, unimportant things (weeds and thorns) that fragment his focus and take up all of his time. His priority in life is self gratification and making money so he can fulfill the worldly (sometimes even religious) desires and dreams of his heart.

But that on the good ground are they,
which in an honest and good heart,
having heard the word, keep it,
and bring forth fruit with patience.
-Luke 8:15

The last type of person Jesus mentions is the one who is established on good ground. He is the good seed Jesus has planted into the world. (See Matthew 13).

This person’s heart is different. He has an honest and a good heart and realizes the value of the Word of God.

Therefore when he hears the Word, he receives it, and follows it.

As he follows the Word and wise instructions of God, his life eventually becomes abundantly fruitful, as the Word produces a bountiful harvest of the most important things in life.

(16)No man, when he hath lighted a candle,
covereth it with a vessel,
or putteth it under a bed;
but setteth it on a candlestick,
that they which enter in
may see the light.
(17)For nothing is secret,
that shall not be made manifest;
neither any thing hid,
that shall not be known and come abroad.
-Luke 8:16-17

The light of the Word of God will ultimately illuminate the entire world. It cannot be hidden.

Eventually all secrets will be revealed.

Take heed therefore
how ye hear:
for whosoever hath,
to him shall be given;
and whosoever hath not,
from him shall be taken
even that which he seemeth to have.
-Luke 8:18

We must be careful to value the Word of God because our eternal life is determined by how we hear and interpret what God is telling us.

Those who correctly receive the Word of God will continue to be fed with His spiritual meat and drink.

But God will take away the wisdom and eternal life of those who misinterpret and disregard the Word, even though they may presume to belong to God.

(1)Moreover, brethren,
I would not that ye should be ignorant,
how that all our fathers
were under the cloud,
and all passed through the sea;
(2)And were all baptized unto Moses
in the cloud and in the sea;
(3)And did all eat
the same spiritual meat;
(4)And did all drink
the same spiritual drink:
for they drank
of that spiritual Rock
that followed them:
and that Rock was Christ.
-1Corinthians 10:1-4

The true spiritual meat and spiritual drink comes from the spiritual Rock.

That Rock is Jesus Christ alone.

And I say also unto thee,
That thou art Peter,
[Peter = #G4074 = a small stone –
soul hard – unyielding]
and upon this [other type of] rock
[Rock = #G4073 = large solid rock,
Jesus Himself – firm strength of soul]
I will build my church;
and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it.
-Matthew 16:18

In the original language, there is a slight, yet very significant difference found in the two types of rock mentioned in the above verses.

The true Rock of our salvation is Jesus Christ. Then there is the smaller rock or stone that is Peter.

Peter is a tough, hard-headed fisherman, yet he would show his weakness by yielding to fear and denying Christ three times.

Jesus knew this. So in their initial meeting, Jesus wanted Peter to know that He would not expect him to do something he was not equipped to do.

The Church of Jesus Christ was not going to be built on the efforts of a mere man, but on the superior strength of Christ Himself, the Solid Rock.

How was Christ going to build His Church?

And I will give unto thee
the keys of the kingdom of heaven:
and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven:
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven.
-Matthew 16:19

Peter was called to be among the humble servants of God.

Jesus Christ indwelling Peter and the followers of Christ, by the power of His most Holy Word and Spirit, was going to give them access to the Kingdom of Heaven so that the strength of Jesus Christ in them would enable them to carry out God’s will on earth.

Jesus was going to build His Church by infusing the weak things of the world with the power of His Spirit via the Word of God:

(26)For ye see your calling, brethren, how that
not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble,
are called:
(27)But God hath chosen
the foolish things of the world
to confound the wise;
and God hath chosen
the weak things of the world
to confound the things which are mighty;
(28)And base things of the world,
and things which are despised,
hath God chosen, yea,
and things which are not,
to bring to nought things that are:
-1 Corinthians 1:26-28

Neither Peter, nor any other man or woman, was going to build the Church of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ, through the power of His Spirit indwelling His followers would, Himself, bring the Word of God to those the Father had called from the beginning.

Jesus, the Living Word of God infused in the spoken/written Word of God would take up residence in the hearts of the good seed as they heard and received Him through His Word. Jesus Christ, alone, would feed His people the Bread of Life, bring about their repentance, quicken their hearts with new life, and usher them into the Kingdom of God.

Why was Jesus going to work through the most unlikely candidates in the world?

(29)That no flesh should glory in his presence.
(30)But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom,
and righteousness, and sanctification,
and redemption:
(31)That, according as it is written,
He that glorieth,
let him glory in the Lord.
-1 Corinthians 1:26-31

(8)For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
(9)Not of works,
lest any man should boast.
(10)For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus
unto good works,
which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.
-Ephesians 2:8-10

From the beginning God has been a nurturing Father, desiring to feed His people Himself.

God is the only One who can qualify to receive the glory as the Creator and sustainer of life.

Just as God is responsible for the physical life of mankind, He alone is responsible for the spiritual life of mankind. The entire purpose of creating mankind is so man would bring glory to God and enjoy Him forever.

Salvation is a gift of God, not a result of anyone else’s works that could be boasted about.

We are exclusively God’s workmanship (His project) created to serve Him through His specific leading as we feed on the Hidden Manna that is Christ and thereby glorify Him forever.

9--Hidden Manna - Chapter 7

2012-01-10T04:30:00.000-08:00

Hidden Manna
True Evangelism

In Matthew 13, Jesus is the Sower and we are told how He sows the good seed into the world. This tells us that God has already chosen His people and knows who they are even though they, themselves, may not yet know that they belong to Him.

On the other hand in Luke 8, the sower is not specifically named in the parable and in this instance the seed is identified as “the Word of God.” We must therefore conclude that this sower is anyone who proclaims the Word of God.

We have discovered that there are three types of seed:

1) the children of the devil which are the bad seed the devil sows into the world

2) the children of God which are the good seed Jesus sows into the world

3) the Word of God which is the seed that the followers of Christ sow

From previous chapters we have learned that the written Word and the Living Word (Jesus) are the same Word because the Spirit of God resides in both.

Therefore when we are considering the seed of the Word of God we should understand that Christ is also residing within the seed of the Word that the followers of Jesus are sowing because He is the Word.

In a sense His followers are putting the Word out to feed the sheep of Christ, but we cannot presume that they are the ones actually completing the process of assimilating the food that is Christ, anymore than we can presume that a mother sheep is completing the process of assimilating the milk the lamb is drinking.

There are actually three different types of feeding going on by three different “feeders:”

1) The mother sheep is only “feeding” her young by providing the food.

2) The lamb must “feed” on the food itself by ingesting and digesting the food.

3) The food must “feed” the lamb by containing the nourishment and having the ability to break down and benefit the body of the lamb.

There is a reason why Jesus used the illustration of the Shepherd and those who feed on His Word being the sheep. This concept is simple, but not as simple as we might imagine at first.

The details reveal the Hidden Manna.

In John 21, Jesus gives us a true picture of evangelism when He instructs Peter to “feed” His sheep.

Which of the three “feeders” do Peter and the followers of Christ illustrate?

Jesus reveals this in His discourse with Peter about feeding the lambs and the sheep:

So when they had dined,
Jesus saith to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me more than these?
He saith unto him,
Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
He saith unto him,
Feed my lambs.
-John 21:15

Jesus was addressing Peter’s weakness (and ours) when He questioned Peter’s love and loyalty.

He was asking Peter to prioritize his loyalties and evaluate his relationship with Christ. He wanted Peter to determine whether he was more concerned about his own life and what other people thought of him or his relationship with Christ and the most important responsibility Christ had entrusted to him.

Every believer’s love for Christ today will be tested with the same question. Everyone will be tempted to yield to pressure from family members, friends, denominational authorities, government, and the list goes on and on.

Therefore, we need to think about this in advance and decide right now which relationship is the most important to preserve.

Today it is common for professing believers to warn one another to be careful to “preserve relationships,” as if preserving the unity of our social structure is the chief priority in life. They have been tricked into thinking that the end justifies the means, believing that if they are willing to compromise a little, who knows, someday they just might “win someone to the Lord” (and the church) or be instrumental in counseling them into a better way of life—usually patterned after their own beliefs and way of life.

From pulpits today we are being instructed to “agree to disagree” instead of being encouraged to seek unity through truth. Yet, the Scriptures beg the question: “Can two walk together unless they be agreed?”(Amos 3:3).

No, two cannot walk together when they do not agree.

Instead of pulling the load together in the same direction, they each go off in different directions. They will either pray and study the Scriptures to come to an agreement regarding the truth, compromise the truth, or ultimately must separate because they are working against each other.

So be it.

Can we, or can we not, trust God to give us the truth?

Therefore, in this first passage of John 21, Jesus instructs Peter about feeding His “lambs”—the new followers of Christ.

The word “feed” in reference to lambs is (#G1016 = “feed” and comes from #G977 = “eat”). We have already discovered from the very words of Christ that feeding the sheep means “putting out” or “serving” the food to them so they can eat.

If ministers (which we all are when we belong to Jesus) truly love Christ we will feed His young lambs—those the Father has given to His Son—those who are just discovering who they really are as a result of hearing the Word of God and tasting the seed of the Word that has been sowed.

O, taste and see
that the Lord is good:
blessed is the man
that trusteth in him.
-Psalm 34:8

There seems to be a great deal of confusion in churches today regarding what this “food” really is. We hear church members remark that they need to go where they can be “fed.” To some it means getting a Bible story from the pulpit that satisfies them and to others it means learning something new about character development.

But what does “being fed” really mean?

This feeding does not just happen by being physically present every time the door of the church building is open. It is not a process of osmosis. It is an intentional personal feeding resulting from a deep God-given hunger and appreciation for the Word of God.

It is a practice every true believer will personally engage in to partake of the life and Spirit of Christ.

He saith to him again the second time,
Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me?
He saith unto him,
Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
He saith unto him,
Feed my sheep.
-John 21:16

Again Jesus questions Peter whether he really loves Him. If Peter really loves Jesus as he claims, he will feed the sheep—those Jesus is entrusting to Peter’s care.

Strong’s Concordance shows a distinction between the way lambs are fed and the way sheep are fed. Food (#G4165), is provided for the sheep in the same manner as it is for the lambs, however the root word is #G4166, refers exclusively to sheep and besides feeding the sheep, its basic root word is #G1006 and also means “leading and tending” the sheep which includes helping them find food.

Here Jesus calls His followers “sheep” instead of “lambs” because He is referring to those who have grown already by their exposure to the Word and will still require motivation or “tending”—continued assistance in finding food so they can feed on it themselves.

Jesus was asking Peter if he was willing to be committed to feeding the sheep. This is the question every professing believer in Christ must ask himself or herself today.

“Do I really love Christ? Am I showing my love for Christ through my commitment to feed His sheep by leading them to the Word of God so they can feed on it?”

Christian authors, teachers, and preachers take note. God has given us a priority of ministry. It is the same priority Jesus gave to Peter. That is to feed His lambs and His sheep with the Word of God for the primary purpose of letting them sample it, if you will, so they can determine if they have an appetite for it and will be drawn to feed on the Word of God themselves.

There is a big difference between preaching and teaching about the Word and actually preaching and teaching the Word. Therefore we need to ask ourselves, “Is what I am preaching, teaching, or writing filled with food (the Word of God) for the exclusive purpose of encouraging the sheep to hear the actual Word and continue feeding on the Word of God themselves or is it merely the essence of the Word—a watered-down version filled with my own doctrine, interpretations, and opinions that contain a different priority than the one Christ has set before us?”

Let us be careful not to tamper with the Word of God and presume that if we make it more “palatable,” people will be more inclined to feed on it. The Word of God is designed to be unpalatable to some and delicious to others. Who are we to tamper with the Word of God?

(18)For I testify unto every man
that heareth the words
of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto these things,
God shall add unto him the plagues
that are written in this book:
(19)And if any man
shall take away from the words
of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away
his part out of the book of life,
and out of the holy city,
and from the things
which are written in this book.
-Revelation 22:18-19

I agree with Bible scholars that this passage specifically refers to the Book of Revelation. But I ask, “Doesn’t this also apply to every other precious Word God has ever given to us?”

Why would God not care about everything else He said, that is not in the Book of Revelation, and tell us to go ahead and change whatever we want?

Common sense tells us that we just better not tamper with anything as important to eternal life as the Word of God in any of the 66 books.

Christ’s priority is the pure Word as it appears on the pages of the Holy Bible, not a transformed or fragmented Word. An example of this can often be seen in clever romanticized religious articles devoted to telling an emotional story that is either void of the Word of God or contains a very limited amount of Scripture.

When Jesus said to Peter, “if you love me,” He was equating love with the action of feeding His sheep. False professors neither care about feeding on the Word themselves nor about feeding the sheep, thus testifying to their lack of love for Christ, regardless of how much they may say that they love Him.

He saith unto him the third time,
Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me?
Peter was grieved
because he said unto him the third time,
Lovest thou me?
And he said unto him,
Lord, thou knowest all things;
thou knowest that I love thee.
Jesus saith unto him,
Feed my sheep.
-John 21:17

What do you find significant in this passage from John?

Isn’t Jesus addressing Peter, the one who failed to stand against the peer pressure of the world?

Yes, this is the same Peter, who denied Christ three times. So now Jesus is asking him three times to prove his love and loyalty to Him. By doing this, the Savior was reminding Peter to be aware of his weakness and warning him to be careful.

Repetition can be annoying. It gets our attention doesn’t it? This, in fact, is Jesus’ purpose—to get our attention. Anywhere in the Scriptures where the Word is repeated, God is trying to get our attention. The more something is repeated, the more important it is to consider it and not forget the vital lesson the Word is giving us.

So which of the three “feeders” do Peter and the followers of Christ illustrate?

1) The mother sheep who is only “feeding” her young by providing the food?

2) The lamb that must “feed” on the food itself by ingesting and digesting the food?

3) The food, itself, that must “feed” the lamb by containing the nourishment and having the ability to break down the nutrients to benefit the body of the lamb?

By accurately identifying all three we can see by the process of elimination that the only role Peter and the followers of Christ can fill in this command to feed the sheep of Christ is the first role of the mother sheep who is only “feeding” or “putting out” or “providing” the food.

The second role of the lamb can only represent those who are the good seed and have the capacity and appetite to feed on, ingest, and digest the food.

The third role of the food itself can only represent Jesus Christ, Himself, who contains the nourishment and is the only One who has the ability to break down the nutrients in order to benefit the body of the lamb/sheep by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Word further verifies the third role of Christ in Revelation Chapter 5:

(1)And I saw in the right hand
of him that sat on the throne
a book written within and on the backside,
sealed with seven seals.
(2)And I saw a strong angel
proclaiming with a loud voice,
Who is worthy to open the book,
and to loose the seals thereof?
(3) And no man in heaven,
nor in earth, neither under the earth,
was able to open the book,
neither to look thereon.
(4)And I wept much,
because no man was found worthy
to open and to read the book,
neither to look thereon.
(5)And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not:
behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah,
the Root of David,
hath prevailed to open the book,
and to loose the seven seals thereof.
-Revelation 5:1-5

Again I agree with Biblical scholars who would say that this reference to the “Book” is specifically referring to the Book of Seven Seals, but again we see that this illustration can also include any of the 66 “Books” and any Word of God from those 66 Books that He has caused to be written down and preserved for us throughout history.

Jesus Christ has promised that His Word will never pass away. When we are able to grasp the preeminence of the Word of God and how valuable and vital every Word of God really is, we are compelled to understand that only Jesus, the Lamb of God, alone is worthy to open that Word and give us a correct understanding of that Word.

No man on earth is qualified to interpret the Word of God. Just as Jesus could only speak the Words the Father gave to Him, we also can only speak or understand the Words that the Spirit of God correctly interprets for us from the Word of God.

A good preacher is one who is infused with the Word and Spirit of God himself. The purpose of his preaching is to feed the sheep God’s Word. But this is where we often experience more doctrinal confusion because everyone has a different opinion and interpretation of what “feeding the sheep” really means.

How Christians Should Feed the Sheep

The servant of God/minister (which we all are if we belong to Christ) puts the food out or serves it up for the sheep to feed on.

There is a three-fold purpose in putting out the food or serving up the Word of God:

1) Those the Father has given to the Son are drawn like hungry lambs to the milk, begin to hear the voice of their Savior and Shepherd and feed on every Word. God has already made them hungry. In fact, like every baby and new-born creature, they were born hungry.

2) Just as physical food contains nutrition, the spiritual food (Word of God) contains the life-giving Spirit and power of God to sustain and maintain our spiritual life. When this Word is presented to the lambs (those the Father has given to Christ) they instinctively begin feeding on the Word, eventually realize that they are, indeed, the sheep of Christ, and ultimately act and behave like sheep.

3) Through this initial feeding of “the lambs,” they soon identify with the True Shepherd and discover their own real identity and purpose.

The intention of God is not to make the sheep dependent on the pastor or any other minister that serves the food, but to show the sheep where they can find the food and how they are to feed on it. In this way they will learn to hear the voice of the True Shepherd and depend completely on Him for their food.

If we say that we love Christ, we will be actively demonstrating that love by feeding on the Word ourselves as well as feeding His lambs and sheep. Keep in mind that it is not what we say, but what we do, that really shows what is in our heart.

(26)But ye believe not,
because ye are not of my sheep,
as I said unto you.
(27)My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them,
and they follow me:
-John 10:26-27

The children of God are born-again by the power of the voice of God just as they were physically born the first time by the power of the voice of God and just as the Book of Genesis tells us that all things were created in the very beginning by the power of the voice of God.

God does not turn goats into sheep. The Scripture does not say that when the goats hear the voice of Christ, they instantly turn into lambs. Lambs are born lambs and goats are born goats.

Lambs and sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd who feeds them. Jesus is the True Shepherd. Each sheep has heard its specific shepherd’s voice at feeding time and is therefore familiar with the sound of the one who feeds them the food.

This explains why several shepherds can all gather together with their sheep at the same watering hole and when it is time to leave, each shepherd can call his own sheep and the sheep will separate themselves out of the combined flocks to follow their own shepherd.

The true sheep of Jesus Christ will not respond to the call of another shepherd, but will only acknowledge the voice of Jesus and follow Him alone.

We must not assume that because the flock is huge, it is made up of all true sheep that must all belong to the True Shepherd. No, indeed, the Word of God tells us that few will actually find their way to the True Shepherd.

Furthermore, the true sheep are also able to identify with the other true sheep from their own flock.

In the Middle East many breeds of goats look exactly like sheep. It is difficult to tell them apart until the shepherd calls his sheep. Goats love to go their own way, but the sheep will respond to the voice of their shepherd and follow him.

Do you see how the passage above dispels the myth surrounding today’s popular process of salvation? It becomes evident that the salvation experience was never meant to be a result of theological debates, canned indoctrination, a certain prayer, a trip to the altar, or a clever sales pitch.

This also explains why the devil is working so hard from pulpits today to transform the pure Word into something that has been filled with worthless empty repetitious chatter and emotionally charged stories. If the pure Word can be adulterated and fragmented in this manner, it can produce S.A.D. (spiritually attention deficit) bench warmers instead of strong focused hearers and doers of the Word of God.

Our entire salvation experience depends completely on whether the Father has called us or not. Therefore, if we sense that He is calling us we will respond to His Word and follow Him regardless of how much we have sinned in the past. We will be able to understand, repent, and appropriate the death of Christ as payment for our sin, submit the rest of our life to the lordship of our Savior, and genuinely cultivate a life-giving one-on-one relationship with Him by personally feeding on His Word.

Which is more important, our physical life or our eternal spiritual life?
If our eternal spiritual life is more important, shouldn’t feasting on the Word of God be our number one priority before we sit down at the table to eat our physical food and do what is required to keep our physical life sustained?

If we put the Word of God first, perhaps we would then be better qualified to discern which physical foods we should be eating and which we should be eliminating from our diet by learning what the Creator has to say about that topic as well.

Likewise, if we personally feed on the Word ourselves perhaps we would then be better equipped to avoid the false teaching that comes through the self-appointed authorities and denominationally approved mediators that stand behind pulpits today taking control of ignorant followers through twisted interpretations of Scriptures that are designed to instill fear, guilt, confusion, and dependence on those in authority.

These are the wolves in sheep’s clothing Jesus warned about, who wear huge friendly smiles on their faces while sucking the life out of the flock by keeping them confined in the pen and limiting their access to the spiritually life-sustaining food of God’s Word.

“I don’t see any wolves,” you say?

Perhaps you are not in the Word of God enough. If you are feeding on the Word of God you will be better equipped to identify the voice of the True Shepherd and distinguish it from the empty words and fragmented thoughts called “Bible studies” that are being broadcast from pulpits today.

Jesus also warned His followers about the doctrines of men. For this reason His sheep will (personally) feed on the Word of God, or not qualify as His sheep, because they will be following a false shepherd and the wrong voice instead of following the True Shepherd and His voice which resides in His Word.

False sheep do not have any appetite for the Word of God. It is as simple as that.

Let us dare to apply these thoughts to our own daily experience. First let us make the Word of God our priority for the day. We will soon discover that His Word will bring order, stability, and peace to our chaotic life.

Next let us compare everything we read and hear to His Word and learn to discern whether it is our True Shepherd’s voice we are really hearing in what is written and spoken.

If we really are the true sheep belonging to the True Shepherd we will be feeding on the Hidden Manna and will not be investing our time, money, and life in following a voice that is neither magnifying the Voice of the True Shepherd nor motivating us to feed on the pure Word of God.

10--Hidden Manna - Chapter 8

2012-01-09T04:20:00.000-08:00

Hidden Manna
Loving and Not Loving
The Bread

If ye love me,
keep my commandments.
-John 14:15

The secret of the Hidden Manna is found in the obvious.

Only those who genuinely love Christ will keep His commandments.

Blessed are they
that do his commandments,
that they may have right
to the tree of life,
and may enter in through the gates
into the city.
-Revelation 22:14

Since His commandments are comprised of what He has said (in the Word of God), only those who hear and obey what Jesus has said will actually have eternal life. We cannot hear and obey in our own strength. It is the power of the Spirit of His Word that will accomplish His will in us.

Therefore we must be walking in and living in His Spirit, continuously communicating with Him if we hope to receive the Hidden Manna and endure to the end.

God will only value what we have to say to Him, when we value what He has said to us.

If we are not listening to Him, He will not be listening to us.

God is not obligated to hear us. We are obligated to Him in every way. He does not need us. We need Him. He is magnificent and good while our natural tendency is to be ignorant and self-centered.

With the power of His Word and Spirit, we can go against our natural tendency and as His children, actually desire to pattern our character after His. When we draw close to Him in this way, He will draw close to us and will help us become the person He wants us to be.

The first step is to love the Hidden Manna.

(16)For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
(17)For God sent not his Son into the world
to condemn the world;
but that the world
through him might be saved.
-John 3:16-17

Only those who believe in Jesus (who He is and what He has said) have eternal life.

Jesus’ purpose was not to condemn anyone. His mission was to save mankind. Nevertheless, many of those who came in contact with Him felt condemned.

He that believeth on him
is not condemned:
but he that believeth not
is condemned already,
because he hath not believed
in the name
of the only begotten Son of God.
-John 3:18

When the crowd came in contact with the Son of God some of them sensed that their sinfulness was keeping them in a state of condemnation. Because some of the people felt condemned, is that proof that Jesus was actually condemning them?

Do our feelings always accurately interpret another person’s intentions toward us?

No, not usually, unless the Spirit of God gives us the ability to discern their intentions. More often our own feelings can deceive us, especially in the case of unbelievers who are not protected from spiritual deception.

What is the real condemnation and where is it coming from?

(19)And this is the condemnation,
that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness
rather than light,
because their deeds
were evil.
(20)For every one that doeth evil
hateth the light,
neither cometh to the light,
lest his deeds
should be reproved.
(21)But he that doeth truth
cometh to the light,
that his deeds
may be made manifest,
that they are wrought
in God.
-John 3:19-21

Those who desire to do what is right and true come to the light because their deeds are in harmony with God’s Word and His will.

On the other hand, those who love the darkness and their sinful ways recognize that they do not qualify for eternal life because they know in their heart of hearts that they are not willing to let go of their sin, of their love and trust in the system of this world, and are not willing to turn from going their own way.

In effect, they are acknowledging their own pre-existing condemnation and identifying with it, which causes them to feel very uncomfortable. Jesus is lovingly inviting them to take the free gift He offers, but they do not want it because they love the darkness rather than the light. They want it all. They want to freely indulge in their sin without feeling any condemnation. But this is not how the Creator created us to function.

Therefore those who hate the light are actually responsible for their own feelings of condemnation and their own sin. Their deeds are evil and guilt and condemnation are the naturally occurring consequences of rejecting God.

There is only one safe and effective way to get rid of feelings of guilt and condemnation and that is to repent from going our own way and ask God to help us follow His Word and His will.

Consider this in the light of the world’s imposition of the new politically correct attitude and behavioral modification philosophies it promotes. This corrupted view of life is based on emotions and feelings and attempts to hold someone else responsible for the whims and feelings of others by limiting normal free speech while opening the gate to worthless, vulgar, and profane speech—speech that degrades humanity and destroys society.

Sometimes our feelings do get hurt. Unfortunately some people today view themselves as victims and are just waiting to have an excuse to accuse someone of hurting their feelings.

Yes, it is obviously wrong to say hurtful or unkind things to others. Adults should know better and children should be taught better. This is why the true definition of love should be taught and honored. But when every remembrance of God and His laws of love are being removed from the system of this world, we can expect that these offenses will increase.

The world’s out of balance devolving philosophies which label truth and God’s Word, “hate speech,” are designed to make it a crime to share truth and repeat what God has said, because it might make someone feel guilty about their sinful ways.

In reality, it is the Word of God that is the solution to real hate speech. Therefore the more genuine “truth and love” are labeled “hate,” the more profane and Godless verbal attacks will increase.

While the truth may make people feel uncomfortable, it is love, not hate, which provides this truth in order to help them find God’s solution to their feelings of guilt and condemnation.

Would we get angry with our doctor if he told us that we had a physical illness that was terminal?

While the diagnosis might make us feel bad, most people would certainly appreciate knowing the truth about their physical condition, especially if the doctor also told them that now, because he has been able to diagnose the illness, an effective cure can be implemented.

Therefore, love and truth cannot ever be successfully or logically equated with hate.

Jesus did not come to hate or condemn mankind, but to save whosoever would come to Him.

Things are what they are. Either the Father has given us to Christ or He has not given us to Christ. If the truth about eternal life is proclaimed as an expression of God’s love and desire to draw the sheep to the Shepherd and a person senses his own condemned state, he has the option of recognizing that he can receive forgiveness for his sin and can repent, thus indicating that the Father indeed has called him and given him to Christ.

On the other hand, if the person desires to reject Christ and remain in his sin, that is his choice as well. This indicates that the Father has neither called him nor given him to Christ.

This is why it appears that we have free choice and we do in a sense have free choice. But what we choose is still an indication of our eternal position and God’s foreknowledge regarding those who belong to Christ when we consider that God’s concept of time is not the same as ours.

Unfortunately, if sinners cannot have their sin, without guilt and condemnation, they will do whatever they can to eliminate the guilt and condemnation through anything that will distract them from it, such as drugs, behavioral modification, and psychotherapies.

But these “solutions” to the problem will neither rectify their sinful state nor make their feelings of guilt and condemnation go away, because the Creator created us to experience guilt and have feelings of condemnation when we sin so that we will want to seek His forgiveness and receive eternal life.

So when the solutions of worldlings do not work, sinners believe that the next logical step is to try to destroy God and every remembrance of His existence.

There isn’t any reason for anyone, who senses his own condemned condition, to accuse the messenger of good news and say he is guilty of a hate crime. Yet for this perceived “offense” Christ, Himself, was crucified.

However the evil plan to crucify Christ in an attempt to remove every remembrance of His existence was a most miserable failure, because it was this very sacrifice on the cross that made eternal and abundant life possible.

O how love I thy law!
it is my meditation all the day.
-Psalm 119:97

Why is the Word of God so valuable that I would love it enough to meditate on it all day long?

Here are some of the reasons:

Thou through thy commandments
hast made me wiser than mine enemies:
for they are ever with me.
-Psalm 119:98

The Word of God makes us wiser than our enemies who would like to destroy us.

I have more understanding
than all my teachers:
for thy testimonies are my meditation.
-Psalm 119:99

Evil exists in the world and there are those who desire to enslave others. They would like to have a place of power in the world and tell others what to do and what to think. God’s Word serves as our means of protection.

The Word of God has the power to help us sort out everything we are being “taught” so we can understand if it will ultimately profit us or destroy us. Actually many who try to teach others really do not understand what they are teaching or the real consequences it may have—often they are like robots, already enslaved, just repeating what they have been taught to believe and are unable to think for themselves.

Sometime in their life they compromised what was right for what they thought they wanted and unknowingly sold their soul to the devil. Only Jesus Christ can buy their soul back and give them a new eternal life.

I understand more than the ancients,
because I keep thy precepts
-Psalm 119:100

Wisdom and understanding usually come with age. But if we follow what God has said, we can experience the benefits of understanding and wisdom even while we are still young.

Even when society devolves to the extent of corrupting the elderly (who should have preserved the wisdom of God through their lifetime and experience), those coming after them (who have endeavored to retain the Word of God) will be the ones carrying the Wisdom and Spirit of the Word of God in their hearts.

I have refrained my feet
from every evil way,
that I might keep thy word.
-Psalm 119:101

Lesson 101: How to Avoid Evil:

Value the Word of God enough to desire to keep it.

I have not departed from thy judgments:
for thou hast taught me.
-Psalm 119:102

When we listen to what God, the Creator of all that exists has to teach us and realize who He really is, we will want to do His will.

How sweet are thy words
unto my taste!
yea, sweeter than honey
to my mouth!
-Psalm 119:103

When we belong to Christ, His Word is something we seek because it is sweet to us. If the study of His Word is a religious duty, a chore, or an activity we do not have time for, something is seriously wrong. Perhaps we do not really know Christ at all or really belong to Him.

Through thy precepts
I get understanding:
therefore I hate every false way.
-Psalm 119:104

When we love the Word of God, we will come to hate lying and everything that is false because we will understand how evil and destructive it is to ourselves and those around us.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.
-Psalm 119:105

Only the Hidden Manna—the precious Word of God—can illuminate our path in life by the power of the Spirit of God, Himself.

11--Hidden Manna – Chapter 9 – (The End)

2012-01-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hidden Manna
Hidden in Plain Sight

(1)In the beginning
God created the heaven and the earth.
(2)And the earth was without form, and void;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God
moved upon the face of the waters.
-Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning, even before the earth was formed and light was created, there was darkness. Darkness came before light. This was the order God used in His method of physical creation.

(3)And God said, Let there be light:
and there was light.
(4)And God saw the light,
that it was good:
and God divided the light from the darkness.
-Genesis 1:3-4

First there was darkness and then God created light.

And God called the light Day,
and the darkness he called Night.
And the evening
and the morning
were the first day.
-Genesis 1:5

God followed this pattern of creation when He named the light “Day” and the darkness “Night” and makes it very clear that the evening came before the morning.

Therefore the first day began with the darkness of the evening and was followed by the light of day.

The blessing of the Word of God is always found in the details. God created us and built into our inner most heart, the love of playing detective and unraveling mysteries. After we came into the world, this is how our hearts would find the way to Him, in spite of all that would be against our ever coming to the knowledge of the truth.

(14)The great day of the LORD is near,
it is near, and hasteth greatly,
even the voice of the day of the LORD:
the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
(15)That day is a day of wrath,
a day of trouble and distress,
a day of wasteness and desolation,
a day of darkness and gloominess,
a day of clouds and thick darkness,
-Zephaniah 1:14-15

While Genesis gives us the picture of darkness in the beginning—Zephaniah gives us an end time scenario beginning with darkness.

It is interesting to note that the “beginning” begins with darkness and the “end” also begins with darkness. Thus we get the saying, “It is always darkest just before the dawn.” This promise and message of hope is built right into God’s order of creation.

(16)A day of the trumpet and alarm
against the fenced cities,
and against the high towers.
(17)And I will bring distress upon men,
that they shall walk like blind men,
because they have sinned against the LORD:
and their blood shall be poured out as dust,
and their flesh as the dung.
-Zephaniah 1:16-17

Contributing to the darkness is man’s own blindness. This is not physical blindness, because the Word tells us that men will be walking “like blind men”—as if they are unable to see. They will not realize where they are going because they will have become blinded by their sin and the error of their ways (own philosophy) which has carried them in the wrong direction. They have willingly gone down a path of self-destruction.

They will ultimately be like "dung" (excrement), void of any real value themselves and have no one to blame but themselves, because they have rejected the most valuable things in life.

Neither their silver nor their gold
shall be able to deliver them
in the day of the LORD's wrath;
but the whole land shall be devoured
by the fire of his jealousy:
for he shall make even a speedy riddance
of all them that dwell in the land.
-Zephaniah 1:18

Those who value the things of this world above the things of God will perish quickly. God is a jealous God. He alone deserves first place in our hearts.

(3)But if our gospel be hid,
it is hid to them that are lost:
(4)In whom the god of this world
hath blinded the minds
of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.
(5)For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord;
and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
-2 Corinthians 4:3-5

Yes, the Manna has been hidden…and yet it really has not been hidden at all. It has been hidden only from those who will reject it anyway and those who do not want to see the value it really has. This is the true Gospel which has been hidden right in plain sight—the message of Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High God.

Notwithstanding in this
rejoice not,
that the spirits are subject unto you;
but rather rejoice,
because your names are written in heaven.
-Luke 10:20

The world, the flesh, and the devil war against God’s agenda by confusing His determined order and priorities for man. When man forgets God’s priorities, he not only gets confused about the most valuable things in his physical life, but he also gets confused about the most important spiritual things.

Thus religious worldlings are trained by the world to focus on belief systems that promise to help them develop their own spiritual power and agendas, instead of submitting to the specific will of their Creator and focusing on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of the One True God, who is the source of all power—even the power to grant eternal life.

(21)In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit,
and said, I thank thee, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth,
that thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent,
and hast revealed them unto babes:
even so, Father;
for so it seemed good in thy sight.
(22)All things are delivered to me of my Father:
and no man knoweth who the Son is,
but the Father;
and who the Father is,
but the Son,
and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
-Luke 10:21-22

Those who consider themselves to be wise and prudent do not have any place in God’s Kingdom. He has chosen “babes,” those who have not been influenced by the agenda and lies of the world and the devil. These are the ones who have been given the Hidden Manna.

(6)Howbeit we speak wisdom
among them that are perfect:
yet not the wisdom of this world,
nor of the princes of this world,
that come to nought:
(7)But we speak the wisdom of God
in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom,
which God ordained
before the world unto our glory:
(8)Which none of the princes
of this world knew:
for had they known it,
they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory.
-1 Corinthians 2:6-8

Those who crucified Christ did not know what they were doing. They had no time or attention to spend on discovering the hidden wisdom. This was the wisdom of the Creator of all that exists, carried on the very voice of God via His Word—the Hidden Manna. This eternal blessing was hiding in plain sight, but they did not have ears to hear the voice of God, eyes to see the value of it, nor an appetite to feed on it.

(25)Whereof I am made a minister,
according to the dispensation of God
which is given to me for you,
to fulfil the word of God;
(26)Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages
and from generations,
but now is made manifest to his saints:
-Colossians 1:25-26

What is a true minister of God?

According to this Word from Colossians, a true minister is one called by God to first of all serve the “saints” (believers in Christ) by bringing forth God’s hidden message. This message reveals the only hope mankind has of obtaining eternal life (“glory”).

This is the message the good seed has been created to receive. By fulfilling this Word, the sheep are drawn to the Shepherd to feed on this Word. Since Jesus is this living Word, the True Sheep are actually feeding on the very flesh and blood of Christ. This is how Christ in us becomes our “hope of glory”—our only hope of eternal life.

To whom God would make known
what is the riches of the glory of this mystery
among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
-Colossians 1:27

God desires that the true value of the mystery and the message will be revealed now to those who really belong to Him. The Hidden Manna is their only hope and will help them endure to the end as the system of this world passes away. Speaking of the end of the system of this world, Jesus confirms this in Matthew 24:

(33)So likewise ye,
when ye shall see all these things,
know that it is near, even at the doors.
(34)Verily I say unto you,
This generation shall not pass,
till all these things be fulfilled.
(35)Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but my words shall not pass away.
(36)But of that day and hour knoweth no man,
no, not the angels of heaven,
but my Father only.
-Matthew 24:33-36

Perilous times are coming. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the Word of God will never pass away. Therefore, when we cling to the Word of God, it will carry us to the end of this world…and bring us safely into the eternal Kingdom of God.

I the LORD have called thee in righteousness,
and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee,
and give thee for a covenant of the people,
for a light of the Gentiles;
-Isaiah 42:6

History declares just how unstable the system of this world is. It is like a boat with holes, afloat in a violent storm. However, when we hunger for the righteousness of the Word of God, He will honor His covenant with us.

He compares the relationship He has with His people to that of a protective Father holding the hand of His child, keeping him safe, and giving him the privilege of carrying God’s light into a very dark and hopeless world.

To open the blind eyes,
to bring out the prisoners from the prison,
and them that sit in darkness
out of the prison house.
-Isaiah 42:7

God is calling His ministers (which we all are if we belong to Him) to let the light of Christ shine in our lives as we seek those He has created to be His sheep, to open the eyes of the blind and bring them out of the darkness and bondage of sin.

Our mission is to put the food out, bring the Word of God to the lost sheep so they can feed on the Hidden Manna and find freedom through Jesus Christ.

I am the LORD: that is my name:
and my glory will I not give to another,
neither my praise to graven images.
-Isaiah 42:8

According to God’s Word, idolatry is anything in our life that takes the place of God. It is the sin from which all other sins originate because the One True God must first be rejected in order to establish man as the god of his own life. In this way, the focus of our obedience is removed from God’s will and placed on our own will.

Once this takes place, man consults only himself regarding any other idols he desires to worship. God hates idolatry, whether it is in our heart or something tangible we call our “god” or “image of god” or “relic” or “reminder of god.”

Idolatry is an offense against God because in order to submit ourselves to something else, we must first deny His existence, that He is alive, involved in our life, and is perfectly capable of participating in a relationship with us without any other religious trappings of any sort.

He alone—Himself—is God and will not share His glory with anyone or anything else.

Friends, please receive this most serious warning from Isaiah 42:8 and avoid the wrath of God by rejecting any type of idolatry. Your eternal life depends on it.

(16)Repent;
or else I will come unto thee quickly,
and will fight against them
with the sword of my mouth.
[the awesome power of the Word of God]
(17)He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the hidden manna,
and will give him a white stone,
and in the stone a new name written,
which no man knoweth
saving he that receiveth it.
-Revelation 2:16-17

~The End~
. . .and The Beginning

(Check Back Soon for Another New Book)

1--Hear the Voice of God - Introduction

2011-12-06T23:00:00.000-08:00

by Faith. . .

Hear the Voice of God
by
Kay Frances Graves

Meditation is. . .
the memory
of God's Word
in my mind
as it reaches out
to speak to
the deep recesses
of my heart
bringing light and life
into my soul.

Introduction

The One True God of the Holy Bible does not operate behind a cloak of mysticism. He is a practical God of order, wisdom, and knowledge.

The real God of the Bible desires to communicate with His people through His Word, just as we communicate and reveal our thoughts and true character to the ones we love, through the words we speak and write.

Yes, the God and Creator of all that exists has a voice. His powerful voice created the Earth and every thing in it (Genesis 1). It is this same powerful voice that will cause the enemies of God to drop dead in their tracks when Jesus returns (Revelation 19).

When we communicate with God Almighty, the first thing we need to understand is that He alone is preeminent. On the universal list of priorities, God comes first.

Therefore our own desires and fantasies about God must be set aside. It is our mission, if we belong to Him, to discover His desires and who He really is so we can get in harmony with His will.

When this happens, an amazing thing will take place. God will reveal Himself and everything we need to know about Him and His will for our life.

Yes, we may experience a few goose bumps as a result of being able to interact and communicate with the Most High God—but will not be getting all “mystical” about our relationship with Him, hearing strange voices in our heads, taking a giant leap into the dark, or jumping off the deep end into dangerous spiritual waters.

Care must be taken to avoid the many counterfeit spiritual voices out there. Dedication and focus are required in order to rightly divide the Word of Truth and accurately discern the real nature of God. This is not a task for the lazy or self-centered individual who is only interested in entertainment, socialization, self-gratification, or assimilation into the world’s system of religion.

The purpose of this book is to assist you in discovering the real joy of communicating with our Creator through the power of His Word.

Thy words were found,
and I did eat them;
and thy word was unto me
the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:
for I am called by thy name,
O LORD God of hosts.
-Jeremiah 15:16

Only those who have been called by God and belong to Him will be able to identify with this verse from Jeremiah and have a genuine appetite for His Word.

2--Hear the Voice of God - Chapter 1

2011-12-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

Hear the Voice of God
By Faith

So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing
by the word of God.
-Romans 10:17

In the Alpha and Omega style of God, we see how faith and the Word of God are infinitely bound to each other.

True faith is a result of hearing the Word of God and it is only “by faith” that we can hear and have the capacity to understand the Voice of God.

(See details in the blog book, “Hidden Manna,” also posted at this site.)

Therefore we must first understand what “faith” really is.

The World’s Definition of “Faith”

When I first thought about faith and what it is, of course, I considered all of the common phrases I had heard as a child growing up:

“Faith is believing hard enough to make something happen.”

At first this seems like the Christian thing to do. But the next logical questions are:

1) “Just what is being believed?”

2) “How do we apply enough effort?”

Do we need to force ourselves to believe that God can do something? Not at all, if we believe that there is a God we usually understand that He can do anything.

If we are simply trying to will the thing that we want into existence, then we are definitely in trouble with God. Trying to will something into existence or trying to convince ourselves that something is going to happen, is not going to make it happen.

Like spoiled children who can only selfishly think of what they want, we tell God, “If you only knew how much I want this, you would surely give it to me.” So we proceed to convince ourselves that wanting something enough is ultimately going to give it to us and believing it can happen is actually what is going to make it happen.

While it is perfectly okay with God for us to “come boldly” before His throne with our petitions, what is not okay is to think that we will more likely get what we want if we invest the proper amount of believing and effort. Then how can we ever know what the proper amount is?

It is even okay with God if we ask Him about the thing we desire every time it comes to mind. However, we can really get into trouble with God when we take Him out of the driver’s seat and presumptuously take over the controls in the believing department; for this is where we exchange faith for works. Like everything else, what we believe must also be according to God’s definition.

The desire to control something ourselves (even the amount of belief we put into it) instead of seeking God’s will, His power, and intervention, is what can turn our own efforts into idolatry and witchcraft.

Trying to convince God that we know that He can do what we ask, is not the type of “believing” God wants to see in those who belong to Him.

Then we must ask ourselves, “What if God does not want me to have what I am asking for because it does not work into His plan for me, or it isn’t the wisest, or the safest thing to ask for?”

While it is true that God often leads us according to our heart’s desire, this only happens when that desire happens to be His desire as well. Trying to control circumstances to get what we want instead of trying to align our desires with His will is what turns this process into witchcraft.

The Bible tells us that if we are stubborn enough we may just get what we want, but it may also bring “leanness to our soul” (Psalm 106:15) also the Bible says “stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:23)

Contrary to what most people believe, the opposite of control is not tolerance and passivity, but responsibility.

To passively disengage when we should be responsibly taking action is also a form of rebellion. We simply must find balance and taking responsibility according to His will is what gives the balance required to harmonize our desires with God’s will for our life.

We learn how to find this balance in our life by seeking balance in and through the Word of God and using Scripture to balance Scripture instead of pulling out verses that support what we want or that line up with our desires (even religious desires), preconceived opinions, worldly belief system, or denominational doctrines.

In fact, it is our own very unique experiences in life that motivate us to search out the truth and balance of God’s Word, provided that we do so with a pure heart and are willing to accept God’s will and take responsibility for acting accordingly when He reveals it to us.

The appropriate response should be, “Amen. Whatever You ask, Lord, the answer is, ‘Yes.’”

In ancient times, God chose Noah and Joseph to prepare to endure what was about to come upon the land.

Because these are examples of how God intervenes to preserve His people, we also must be committed to taking responsibility and acting according to God’s will. Then we will be prepared to endure what is about to come upon the land in this time in history as well.

Regardless of our eschatology, we are admonished to watch and pray always. When we see trouble on the horizon we must ask God what He wants us to do and then act responsibly. Trouble can come in the form of bad weather, pestilence, fire, attacks from animal and human predators, or anything else that comes into our life.

Let us not be caught up in end time debates and be guilty of adjusting the pictures on the wall while the ship is sinking, but pray that God will help us be responsible and wise as we respond to the knowledge and warnings He gives us concerning how and when we should prepare for future events.

“Faith is wishing on a star.” (It helps to close your eyes, cross your fingers, and click your heels together while doing this, we are told by Hollywood producers.)

This also qualifies as a form of witchcraft and idolatry for the same reasons mentioned above.

It is interesting to note, that in the movie, The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy followed this procedure, the “good witch” came swooping out of nowhere enveloped in a beautiful orb. However, the glowing orb just happens to be the same method of transportation evil spirits use today as they go to and fro in the atmosphere that surrounds planet earth.

Nevertheless, God’s Word tells us that a witch is a witch is a witch, whether it appears to be a “good” witch or not. The trademark of witches is their compulsive desire to control by trying to call on supernatural powers.

Like Dorothy, Hollywood educated worldlings have been tricked into calling on ungodly powers to fulfill their desires.

Today it is not the “good witch” worldlings are usually looking for, but “good angels” or their “alien space brothers” who are usurping God’s position as Creator by trying to teach all who come in contact with them that they, not God, are the real creators. Sad to say, many people would rather believe that they were created by aliens from other planets than by a benevolent God who gave His only Son so their sins might be forgiven and they might enjoy eternal life forever with Him.

“Faith? Why, it’s just a giant leap into the dark, Honey!”

This reckless attitude turns faith into a presumptuous gamble. We are really tempting God to protect us, just because we are willing to “play the game of chicken.”

This is the game where opponents face each other, rev their engines and put the pedal to the metal for a head on collision. The “chicken” is the one who veers off first to save his life. Hold this thought up to the truth regarding our God-given responsibility and the hidden deception becomes obvious.

This may even be the worst form of idolatry and witchcraft, because it is really an attempt to usurp God’s authority by thinking that He has to do what we want, because His reputation is at stake. What we may fail to realize is that God is perfectly capable of protecting His own reputation even if he lets us fall flat on our face. So we can expect a trip to the woodshed if we engage in this sort of foolishness, trying to blackmail God for what we want.

More recently from the New Age sector: “Faith happens when we exercise our own power of intention.” Here is another form of witchcraft and attempt to control.

While God wants us to interact with others with the good intention of ministering to them, results do not depend on our own intention. It is God alone who supplies the power of His Holy Spirit to enable us to minister to one another as we focus on what He wants, according to His Word and the needs of those we are called to help.

“By the way, just what faith are you?—the Catholic faith, the Lutheran faith, the Baptist faith?” This concept of faith has taken a giant step backwards and distorted the fulfilling intimate personal relationship we are meant to have with our Creator.

By substituting men’s fabricated rules, ceremonies, and regulations the religious have changed the true concept of faith, based on a real flesh and blood Church that has a viable relationship with God through His Word, into a building and an empty system of legalistic denominational requirements, “ministries,” and activities.

This smorgasbord of events can keep members running to and fro through the doors of the church for religious rituals, revival meetings, psychological counseling, socialization, fun activities and music without ever providing the real spiritual food Jesus told us to feed on.

Because of this, members can become so overwhelmed with church activities that they are unable to find time to even think about feeding on the Word of God themselves. Perhaps they would be better off disconnecting the phone and staying home to spend time in the Word.

God’s Definition of Faith

A little word search in my Strong’s Concordance revealed that God’s definition of faith is quite different from what we might think at first. From this study, I realized that faith is the power we receive when God pours Himself into us as we feed on His Word.

This power provides the ability to believe all that He has said. It also creates the desire and strength needed to carefully follow His instructions, one step at a time.

(8)For by grace are ye saved
through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
(9)Not of works,
lest any man should boast.
–Ephesians 2:8-9

Therefore, faith is a gift He gives to us through grace. It isn’t something we are able to conjure up ourselves so we can boast about it.

How to Exercise Faith

The World Tells Us How to Exercise Faith:

“Toughen up.”

“It sounds good. Just do it.”

“Pull yourself up by your own boot straps.”

“Never give up.”

God Tells Us How to Exercise Faith:

* Believe what God has said and He will guide you with truth and wisdom.

* Believe what God has said and He will heal you and make you whole.

* Believe what God has said and He will give you the strength to do what is right.

* Believe what God has said and He will protect you from your enemies.

* Believe what God has said and He will give you eternal life.

(3)The voice of the LORD
is upon the waters:
the God of glory thundereth:
the LORD
is upon many waters.
(4)The voice of the LORD
is powerful;
the voice of the LORD
is full of majesty.
(5)The voice of the LORD
breaketh the cedars;
yea, the LORD
breaketh the cedars
of Lebanon.
(6)He maketh them also to skip like a calf;
Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
(7)The voice of the LORD
divideth the flames of fire.
(8)The voice of the LORD
shaketh the wilderness;
the LORD
shaketh the wilderness
of Kadesh.
-Psalm 29:3-8

Psalm 29 is referring to the creative power in the voice of God. It is this same power which speaks to us from the pages of Scripture today, working to accomplish His purpose in us, and sustaining every dimension of our being.

Verses 3, 5, & 8 indicate that the voice of the Lord is the Lord.

In other words, the Lord resides in His voice.

3--Hear the Voice of God - Chapter 2

2011-12-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

Hear the Voice of God
How to Acquire Faith

Let all things be done
decently and in order.
-1 Corinthians 14:40

Planet Earth did not just happen by accident, nor did God bring about this magnificent sphere through a great chaotic explosion in the universe. On the contrary, the book of Genesis specifies God’s intricate fabrication of our planet and all that is in it and on it, through a carefully planned and detailed order of design.

God was working with a precise intention, preparing a place to carry out the greatest story ever told. Planet Earth was being prepared to manifest His glory and teach His created beings about the benefits and blessings of faith.

The word, “prepare” means to get ready, arrange, organize, plan, set up, practice, and put in order.

Preparation is God’s hallmark, the significant character quality that defines His nature. He is a God of order and has admonished us to follow His example.

In thee, O LORD,
do I put my trust:
let me never be
put to confusion.
-Psalm 71:1

The opposite of order is confusion and in the Scriptures “confusion” is always presented in a negative light describing it as sin or something to avoid. Confusion is used to fragment our thinking. It breaks our focus on the most important things in life and keeps us from hearing the Voice of God.

It is common knowledge that the Holy Bible is not any ordinary book. This can only be true because the Bible was also created by the hand of God. In fact, this sacred volume has often been referred to as “the instruction manual” intended to be a part of the creation package; a providentially provided “tech support document,” if you will, to assist mankind with God’s instructions regarding how to care for and properly use all that He has created.

In addition, God desired to communicate with the beings He had fashioned by His Word and His own hands and lovingly placed in the unique environment made especially for them. Our heavenly Father and Creator ordained that faith alone, accessed through the Holy Scriptures and interpreted by His Holy Spirit, would enable us to hear God’s Voice, and understand His will.

How do we acquire the faith necessary to experience the promises of God?

The World Tells Us How to Acquire Faith:

 “Stand in front of the mirror and just keep telling yourself that you can do it.”

 “Read lots of biographies. When you see how other people survived, you will have faith that you can survive too.”
(While biographies, Christian or otherwise, can be very inspirational, they should not be a substitute for the life-giving Word of God.)

 “Sit on the floor, cross your legs, and chant Ommmmm, Ommmmm, Ommmmm.”

 “Maybe what you really need to do is to call on a higher power—You know, ‘the Force’.”

God Tells Us How to Acquire Faith:

Faith comes by hearing
and hearing
by the Word of God,
-Romans 10:16-18

* Therefore we (personally) must listen carefully to what He has said in His Word.

* We (personally) must drink freely and frequently from the water of the Word.

* We (personally) must study to show ourselves approved

* We (personally) must hide His Word in our hearts and meditate on it day and night.

* We (personally) must learn God’s Word diligently line upon line.

After I discovered more about faith and realized that it was a result of being infused with the Word of God, I went on a mission to find the best way to absorb the Word and began sharing these techniques with my children.

First I bought some very pricey cassette tapes of the word-by-word recorded Scriptures. (That was in the olden days). As time passed, however, we discovered that Bible CDs can sometimes be purchased now for just a dollar per volume from a dollar store. Each volume can hold several chapters of the Bible. MP3 discs can also be convenient because they can contain several books of the Bible on each disc and are often available on the internet at reduced prices.

I decided to use the King James exclusively, so we would be memorizing consistently from one version. Even when the reading skills of children are still a bit sketchy, they love following along in their Bibles while the CDs are being played. In this way, they receive the double benefit of practicing their reading skills at the same time. Whenever we traveled in the car, did crafts or any other repetitious activity where the brain was free to focus on the Word of God, we also played the Bible CDs.

Unlike some of the spoon-fed modern versions of the Scriptures, the King James offers a more polished form of the English language. It also provides a style that requires careful “dissecting.” As we engage in this process, many hidden details of interpretation are often revealed.

When we become familiar with the King James version, it gives us a clear path of recall in pursuing additional information from the Strong’s Concordance which is most beneficial in helping us understand the true intent and meaning of the words as they were written in the languages of Hebrew and Greek.

Whom shall he teach knowledge?
and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?
them that are weaned from the milk,
and drawn from the breasts.
-Isaiah 28:9

Whom shall God teach knowledge and bless with the capacity to understand His doctrine?

Knowledge and understanding will be given to those who are not satisfied with the pabulum given to babies, but to those who are ready to mature and feed on the deeper things of God—the “meat” of the Word of God.

For precept must be upon precept,
precept upon precept;
line upon line, line upon line;
here a little, and there a little:
-Isaiah 28:10

Only the mature follower of Christ will see the value of the Word of God and have the desire, ability to focus, and patience to do the work of building the Word into his life one precept and one line at a time.

My children and I experimented with the “line upon line” theory of hiding God’s Word in our heart and discovered that the rules for the game about “what Jack has in his wagon” could be customized to memorize Scripture line upon line.

The game about Jack goes, “Jack has a dog in his wagon.” The next person says, “Jack has a dog and a box in his wagon.” The next person says, “Jack has a dog and a box and a frog in his wagon, etc., etc.”

When we memorized the Bible, we followed Psalm 1 in the same way. The first person would say, “Blessed.” Then the next person would say, “Blessed is.” The next person would say, “Blessed is the.” The next person would say, “Blessed is the man,” etc. etc.

We also made our own Bible coloring books by drawing a picture for each verse and then writing the verse under the picture. My girls are all grown now, have children of their own, and still treasure these coloring books which meant so much to them while they were growing up.

Drawing the message contained in a verse continues to be a valuable method for building faith through symbolism. Some of us may lack the artistic gifts. In that case, stick-people work exceptionally well in a pinch, making it something even very small children can do.

Wasting time is wasting life, so it is wise to use every opportunity to infuse the Word of God into the lives of our children while we can. “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child.” (Proverbs. 22:15) Therefore, children really don’t need silly, vulgar, or otherwise senseless entertainment, which only serves as a perpetual stumbling block to faith and wisdom.

When we view videos, we view Christian videos or other videos with a positive message. When we play games, we play Bible games and other games that will build character or help develop other skills, while at the same time providing an enjoyable family experience. In just minutes, I have seen a child happily transformed by the renewing of his mind as a result of the power of the Word of God.

Keep in mind that we are made in the image of our heavenly Father. He has chosen to communicate with us through His written Word. Therefore, as His children we can greatly benefit by following in His footsteps and write His Word. In fact, this may just be the very best way to feed upon the Word.

As we pray for guidance and study the Scriptures, God will lead us to develop our own style of writing, but it should be Word-focused and based on expounding the Word rather than on what we want to say or how we want to share our own opinions. When we write about our walk with God and our experiences, what we share should flow out of the experiences as they relate to the Word, are validated by the Word, and illustrate how they are submitted to the Word.

This book is an example of how to feed upon the Word. Notice how the lines of Scripture are broken into bite sized pieces? Can you see how God has carefully constructed His Word and transferred it into the pages of the Bible, so it can easily be broken into pieces and digested in this manner?

God will use the events in our life and in the world to motivate us to wonder what He has to say about these occurrences. We will find wisdom and understanding when we isolate the key word that describes the event, do a search on that specific word in the Strong’s Concordance, and expound each word, verse, and passage by dissecting and meditating on the history, context, and the way it is being used.

In this way, the Word will move us away from our own thoughts and we will be reminded that our purpose is to hear the Voice of God, not about what we want to think or say. It will help us stay focused and allow the Word to instruct us and flow through us. At the same time the Spirit of God will guide us and lead us to the correct interpretation.

Since the mind naturally wants to wander away from the Word, we must watch for this and train our mind to focus and resist being distracted from the task at hand by our own thoughts. If you find your mind wandering, stop and make yourself go back to where you first began to wander—even if it means going back to page 1 and even if it means going back a hundred times. If we have not digested what is written, we really have not read or studied at all and will certainly be unable to hear anything God has to say to us.

The Word of God provides various levels of interpretation and understanding which often can be applied to our personal life as well as applied on a broader corporate level that will address world events. Every time we study a portion of Scripture and allow Scripture to interpret Scripture, the Spirit of God will lead us to a deeper level of understanding.

We need to remember to approach the Word prayerfully and request God’s direction each time we study and write. If we have jumped ahead and misinterpreted something we must be humble enough to allow God to correct us. This is vital. Many great Christian writers have been snared in their own net of pride because they could not admit an error in their doctrine. The Spirit of God leads us into all truth, but it is our own weaknesses that can cause us to embrace something that is false, so we must be careful to stay open and be willing to let God correct us.

While the Creator has not shared all of the details with us, He has given enough information in the Scriptures to indicate that the Word of God contains His life-giving Spirit. Jesus said, “My Words, they are Spirit and they are life.”(John 6:63).

The Book of Genesis teaches that during Creation, when “God said”—it was the power, somehow contained in the spoken Word and very Voice of God, which called into existence and assembled the necessary molecules to accomplish the process of creating all things.

The Word of God is alive with His power. Just as physical bread keeps our body alive, God’s Word is the spiritual bread that keeps our spirit alive. Jesus has revealed that we must have both spiritual food as well as physical food in order to live:

But he[Jesus]answered and said,
It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that proceedeth out
of the mouth of God.
-Matthew 4:4

4--Hear the Voice of God - Chapter 3

2011-12-03T14:55:00.000-08:00

Hear the Voice of God
Listen and You Will Hear

And he said,
Unto you it is given
to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God:
but to others in parables;
that seeing they might not see,
and hearing they might not understand.
-Luke 8:10

Some ask, “If God exists, why is it that I never receive a Word from Him, like other people do? Why doesn’t God speak to me?”

In truth, God is always speaking to us, so perhaps the question should be: “Am I really listening?”

When I was a girl, sometimes when I asked my dad a question, he would not answer me. That was very strange because at other times we had a lot of entertaining conversations.

If I pressed him for an answer he would say, “Do whatever you want.”

Then I realized that he was not answering my question because the last time he gave me advice, I did not listen to him. He was telling me that I should do whatever I wanted to do because I was not going to listen to him anyway.

At that point my heart felt so heavy that I thought it was going to stop beating. I really wanted to talk with my dad the way we had talked before and I had to admit that I needed to hear what he had to say. He was an inventor and when I was faced with huge problems and everything looked hopeless, he had the ability to “think outside of the box” and could come up with amazing solutions that I would never have thought of myself.

My earthly father was the one who taught me that if you want your father to listen to you, you must first listen to your father. When I became a Christian, I realized that this is the same way God functions. If we hear Him, He will hear us.

Much more is involved in hearing and listening than sound waves successfully vibrating the ear drum.

Man has been given the unique ability of “selective hearing.” In other words, we can choose to tune out what we hear and not receive it, or can even reinterpret what we are hearing as it is being said. In fact, it is our natural tendency to tune God out and follow the path of least resistance where our own will is concerned.

Nevertheless, if we secretly, within our heart, choose to reject what God is saying, our “tuning out” will not remain a secret forever. God knows everything and all secrets are eventually going to be revealed for all to see.

(17)For nothing is secret,
that shall not be made manifest;
neither any thing hid,
that shall not be known and come abroad.
(18)Take heed therefore
how ye hear:
for whosoever hath,
to him shall be given;
and whosoever hath not,
from him shall be taken
even that which he seemeth to have.
-Luke 8:17-18

We can even pretend to be listening, when we are not.

We can presume to be hearing a Word from God and believe that we know exactly what He is saying, but have not heard anything God has said at all.

In this way, we deceive ourselves and others as well.

Jesus warns us, “Take heed therefore how ye hear.”

I remember one of the first times my mother told be to be careful. She said that if I put my hand on the burner of the stove, I would get a very painful burn that would keep hurting for a long, long time and nothing would be able to stop the pain until it would eventually heal.

From past experience, I knew that my mother was usually right. In any case I was not going to gamble that she was wrong and risk anything as painful as the type of burn she had described. This is how I reasoned within my heart and came to an understanding of what I had heard my mother say.

I not only heard what my mother said, I listened, remembered, and took action to avoid coming in contact with the burner on the stove.

Not so with my younger sister. While she also heard the warning, she wasn’t getting the message. She argued about it and decided that the burner was only hot when it “looked red.” Mother did not know everything. Nobody was going to tell her what to do. She would decide for herself.

So one day after Mother had cooked lunch and the burner was no longer red, my sister put her hand on it and discovered the truth. A burner that is not red can still be hot enough to burn your hand.

We must be careful how we hear and examine the details of what we are hearing before we presume that we understand what God is saying.

Many years later, this habit of disregarding warnings eventually caused my sister to lose her life.

Our desire to hear and obey determines the accuracy of what we are actually going to hear. When Jesus warns us to be careful about how we hear, He is telling us that what we hear depends on how we hear.

In reality the condition of our heart (not our ears) actually has more to do with hearing.

Fragmented Thought

Our brain was created by God to flow with complete thought patterns via electrical impulses in the brain. Whether we realize it or not, from the time we are born, our brain is learning and perfecting all the various techniques of thought.

Most of the time the brain just flows with random thought, but the brain also has to learn to intentionally compose thought, hold one thought and interject another as well as revise thoughts and connect a series of related thoughts. This is also how we compose our belief system and our basic frame of reference.

Jesus warned us to be careful how we hear, because our thoughts and belief system are influenced for good or for evil via the type of information it feeds on.

Today we are experiencing an epidemic of A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) and other very strange mental illnesses. The term “A.D.D.” is just another way of describing fragmented thinking by people who are unable to connect thought patterns and keep thoughts flowing and developing. Fragmented thinking can be caused by spiritual, physical, mental, or emotional issues that affect the brain.

The physical dimension of thought can also be affected when the brain does not receive adequate nutrition, water, and detoxification. Like every other organ of the body, it can only maintain health when it gets what it needs to function properly.

But as with any type of dysfunction in the body, the spirit, mind and emotions must also be considered.

Since the brain learns how to develop thought from the time a child is born, it is also possible that it can be taught to fragment thought as well.

If the devil wanted to fragment thought in order to sabotage the Word of God, all he would have to do is influence men to engage in activities (and expose others to activities) that work against the development of complete thought patterns. Two of the many ways this is achieved is by constant interruptions and multi-tasking too many things at once.

Take a moment and think about the many other ways words and thoughts are fragmented such as:

1) abbreviated techno-speed-speech and writing with the use of a multitude of communication gadgets and devices

2) constant interruptions by these gadgets and devices

3) overwhelming amounts of multi-tasking

4) music that isn’t really music at all, but sound that is a constant repetition of interrupted noise

5) habitually interrupted meals and activities for the purpose of rushing off to experience something else

6) Pornography, or any other addiction/compulsive self-imposed distraction that interrupts focus and changes the normal function of the mental process

7) television news casting thought-changers of today who bombard us with programs that are called “interviews” or “discussion panels” but are really no more than chaotic shouting matches and verbal interruptions of the comments attempting to be offered

8) flashing synchronized lights in movies, television programming, and commercial advertising

On the other hand, research indicates that those who study the Word of God and memorize the Scriptures are often able to successfully overcome fragmented thinking. The reason for this is found in the way God has constructed His Word. This unique design creates the amazing healing power that resides in the Word.

Because children who memorize Scripture acquire a deeper level of concentration and focus, they usually get higher grades in school—that is, unless they are being taught via the use of fragmented teaching techniques.

In other words, God designed His Word to be completely compatible with the human brain which He also designed. Furthermore, He built into His Word a healing function based on teaching the brain to complete thought patterns that flow, are able to hold one thought while interjecting another, and have an ability to revise and connect a series of related thoughts.

This correction of thought patterns does not usually happen by occasionally reading the Bible. It is a specific activity that takes place when genuine focused study in the Holy Bible is experienced.

Since the power of the Holy Spirit resides in the Word of God, He is actually the One (we are told in the Scriptures) who brings us into all truth. The Holy Spirit is our Guide and Teacher residing in the written Word of God as well as in our inner most heart when Christ, the living Word, comes to dwell within us.

How to Hear

In previous chapters we have already discussed the preeminence of God’s Word and determined that it must come before any other word or philosophy of men. The Word of God, as it is given to us through the Holy Bible, is the Creator’s instruction manual and guidelines for the standard of living He requires of those He has created. Through His infinite wisdom revealed in His Word, He has woven power, protection, happiness, and success into the lifestyle He has chosen for His people.

If we take care how we hear what He has said, we will be able to access this wisdom of God and reap the benefits of it.

On the other hand, if we (1) do not see the value of it, (2) misinterpret it, or (3) corrupt it, we will find an eternal curse at the end of our lives instead of an eternal blessing. This is why Jesus gave us the warning to be careful how we hear.

Everyone has the freedom to choose whether they will hear or not and some have not been given the capacity to hear. Seeing the value of the Word of God and misinterpreting the Word of God were thoroughly expounded in the blog book, “Hidden Manna” previously posted at this blog.

Therefore it is “Corrupting the Word of God” that still needs to be addressed.

By misinterpreting the Word of God through a wide variety of modern translations, the Word has been redefined and corrupted to accommodate man’s philosophy and new social gospel. But the purity of the Word of God has also been attacked and adulterated in other ways.

Nevertheless, we have God’s promise that His Word will last forever, so we can conclude that He will personally see to it that the purity of His Word is preserved.

In John 6:27, Jesus tells the people not to labor for physical food, but for eternal spiritual food. He was telling them that the “workings” or functions of eternal life take place in the spiritual realm. They heard what He said, but were not able to receive and understand it. They could only think in terms of the physical realm—physical work and physical food.

Therefore they responded by asking Him, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” (John 6:28)

Regardless of the multitude of religions found in the world today, there are really only two religions—(1) the religion of man and (2) the religion of the One True God.

The religion of man is based on self worship then usually incorporates the worship of some entity or idol(s) through lifestyle, ceremonies, and works in various forms. However, the religion of God is based on faith alone via the Word of God.

The devil, the god of the system of this world, wants to make religion complicated. But the truth about religion is really very simple when you consider what Jesus told the people in John, Chapter 6.

When Jesus told them about faith and their spiritual life, they heard with their ears, but they really were not able to hear and understand with their hearts. So they responded to what He had said as if they did not hear it at all and went back to asking Him about working the works of God.

The people had seen the miracles of Jesus and were attracted to His power. They want to receive the blessings of this power, but were not really interested in the spiritual food (the Word of God) that He wanted to feed them. They wanted their physical needs and desires met their own way. They really just wanted to use Jesus for what He could give them and were even willing to do some sort of religious works to acquire this power.

If they really had heard and listened to what Jesus had to say, they would have had to stop being the god of their own life, would have had to stop doing whatever they wanted to gratify themselves, would have had to stop trying to control their world, and would have had to submit to the preeminence of the Most High God.

When mankind cannot or will not believe by faith via the Word of God and only wants the power of God without acknowledging the preeminence of God and hearing His Word, mankind thinks that the next logical step is to put on a religious cloak and create a system of religion based on some sort of works.

Jesus tells the people that if they really want to work, they should do the “work” of believing (John 6:29). This is the work of actually hearing and listening to the Word of God.

When they could not receive and understand that they needed to work at or do whatever it takes to believe, they asked Jesus to give them “a sign,” some mystical supernatural sensational experience outside of the Word of God to help them believe.

As we will see, this was definitely the wrong thing to ask for. . .

5--Hear the Voice of God - Chapter 4

2011-12-02T11:24:00.000-08:00

Hear the Voice of God
Signs of a Corrupted Word

(37)For by thy words
thou shalt be justified,
and by thy words
thou shalt be condemned.
(38)Then certain of the scribes and
of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master,
we would see a sign from thee.
(39)But he answered and said unto them,
An evil and adulterous
[#G3432=unfaithful – polluted – apostate]
generation seeketh after a sign;
and there shall no sign be given to it,
but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
(40)For as Jonas was three days and three nights
in the whale's belly;
so shall the Son of man be
three days and three nights
in the heart of the earth.
-Matthew 12:37-40

How the Word of God is Corrupted

Yes, we must be careful how we hear, but we must also be careful how we speak, since we will be judged by our words and how we use or abuse God’s Word. This includes being careful not to spiritually harm ourselves or join in the attack against the minds of others by participating in the world’s fragmenting and corrupting process.

The people were unable to grasp Jesus’ definition of “work.” Neither could they comprehend what sort of work Jesus was involved in. So like today, they asked Him for a sign, some mystical supernatural sensational experience outside of the Word of God to “help” them believe.

That was definitely the wrong thing to ask for.

He bluntly told them that seeking a sign was a manifestation of apostasy and unfaithfulness to God.

Jonah was the only sign they were going to get. This was a sign recorded in the Word of God. Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale and then expelled onto dry land, Jesus would be three days and three nights in the earth and then resurrected. For those who were really called by God, this account of the death and resurrection of Jesus would be sufficient evidence to support their belief.

Jesus emphasized the importance and detailed fulfillment of the Word of God. After the resurrection, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, Paul continued to warn those who considered themselves to be followers of Christ.

This time it was the Corinthian Church and Paul was warning them about seeking gifts and signs outside of the Word of God patterned after the pagan practices of Delphi, Greece’s most famous center of oracles who often spoke in strange utterances and an unknown language.

Instead of accessing the power of God through the Word of God, the church at Corinth was creating a mockery of the Word by twisting the true meaning of the “gift of tongues.”

Remember, in the above passage in Matthew 12:37 Jesus had said: “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

Paul corrects the false doctrine of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14:

Follow after charity,
and desire spiritual gifts,
but rather that ye may prophesy.
[#G4396 = rightly interpret – declare the Word of God]
-1 Corinthians 14:1

Paul is telling the congregation at Corinth (and us) that it is good to seek love and desire spiritual gifts, but being able to correctly interpret and declare the Word of God is more important.

Here is why:

For he that speaketh
in an unknown tongue
[G#1100 = ethnic language from a known geographic location]
speaketh not unto men, but unto God:
for no man understandeth him;
howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
-1 Corinthians 14:2

First of all, every time the gift of tongues is mentioned in the Scriptures, in the original Greek, it is referring to an ethnic language from an existing geographic location.

When language is referred to as “an unknown tongue,” it means that the language from that particular country cannot be understood by those who are not from that country or cannot be understood by those who are not able to speak that specific ethnic language.

Let us use the German language as an example, since it is an unknown tongue to people who have not been born in Germany. In this case, when a believer visiting the United States speaks in the German language in a church that is located in the U.S., the language is not going to be known to everyone. Therefore, the German person visiting the U.S. can only really speak to God when he talks in German, because no one else can understand him.

As a result, what he is saying does not provide any spiritual knowledge to the listener—it remains a mystery.

(3)But he that prophesieth
[expounds the Word of God]
speaketh unto men
to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
(4)He that speaketh
in an unknown tongue
[foreign language]
edifieth himself;
but he that prophesieth
edifieth the church.
-1 Corinthians 14:3-4

On the other hand, when someone prophesies, everyone is edified, encouraged, and comforted. If someone speaks in another language that is not understood by the listeners, the person who is speaking is only (perhaps selfishly when in a group setting) edifying or building up himself.

I would that ye all spake with tongues
[had the ability to speak in foreign languages]
but rather [even more desire] that ye prophesied:
for greater is he that prophesieth
than he that speaketh with tongues,
except he interpret,
that the church may receive edifying.
-1 Corinthians 14:5

Paul would like it if everyone had the ability to speak in foreign languages, (because those having the gift of being able to speak in foreign languages have an advantage to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ) but he makes it clear that it is better to “prophesy,” that is to clearly declare the Word of God, than to be able to speak in other ethnic languages, since understanding the Word of God is the primary purpose of declaring the Word of God.

Therefore, if someone is going to speak in an unknown ethnic language in the congregation, he must do it through an interpreter, or there isn't any logical reason to speak at all because without understanding what is being said, no one can be edified.

Now, brethren,
if I come unto you speaking with tongues,
what shall I profit you,
except I shall speak to you
either by revelation, or by knowledge,
or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
-1 Corinthians 14:6

Again Paul reminds the congregation that the whole purpose of speaking in the Church is to provide comprehensible revelation, knowledge, and explanation of the Word and doctrine of Christ. Common sense tells us that no one can profit from speech that they are unable to understand.

(7)And even things
without life giving sound,
whether pipe or harp,
except they give a distinction in the sounds,
how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
(8)For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound,
who shall prepare himself to the battle?
[understand and receive marching orders]
(9)So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue
words easy to be understood,
how shall it be known what is spoken?
for ye shall speak into the air.
(10)There are, it may be,
so many kinds of voices in the world,
and none of them is without signification.
(11)Therefore if I know not
the meaning of the voice,
I shall be unto him that speaketh
a barbarian,
[#G915 = crude and rude foreigner],
and he that speaketh
shall be a barbarian unto me.
-1 Corinthians 14:7-11

Paul boldly illustrates the absurdity of speaking in unknown ethnic languages when listeners are unable to understand. He says that it is like a musical instrument that does not have any distinction in the sound or like a trumpet that makes a sound but the people cannot distinguish what sound it is and therefore cannot take instruction from it and prepare for battle.

Whether Paul, or anyone else, speaks in an unknown ethnic language (or any other unknown utterance) to people who cannot understand it, they become like a crude and rude foreigner, a barbarian (#G915), to the listener.

(12)Even so ye,
forasmuch as ye are zealous
of spiritual gifts,
seek that ye may excel
to the edifying of the church.
(13)Wherefore let him
that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray
that he may interpret.
-1 Corinthian 14:12-13

If a congregation is desirous of spiritual gifts, it should be for the purpose of magnifying the Word of God and edifying the entire church. Therefore, no one should speak in a foreign language unless he can interpret what is being said.

(14)For if I pray in an unknown tongue,
my spirit prayeth,
but my understanding
is unfruitful.
(15)What is it then?
I will pray with the spirit,
and I will pray with the understanding also:
I will sing with the spirit,
and I will sing with the understanding also.
-1 Corinthians 14:14-15

Paul addresses the matter of prayer as well. Neither is there any benefit to praying in an unknown ethnic language when people cannot understand the prayer.

How can an incoherent prayer bare any fruit when no one can understand what is being sung or what is being said?

We must conclude, with Paul, that when praying or singing, understanding must also be present in order to benefit the spirit.

(16)Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit,
how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned
[one who has not learned the specific ethnic language]
say Amen at thy giving of thanks,
seeing he understandeth not
what thou sayest?
(17)For thou verily givest thanks well,
but the other is not edified.
-1 Corinthians 14:16-17

Furthermore, when a prayer is answered and brings a blessing, how can anyone praise and thank God for it if they do not understand what was even prayed for?

(18)I thank my God,
I speak with tongues
[various ethnic languages]
more than ye all:
(19)Yet in the church
I had rather speak five words
with my understanding,
that by my voice
I might teach others also,
than ten thousand words
in an unknown tongue.
-1 Corinthians 14:18-19

Paul was a very well educated man and able to speak many different ethnic languages, yet his priority was to teach the Word of God, not hear himself speak in a foreign language that could not benefit anyone else.

Brethren, be not children in understanding:
howbeit in malice be ye children,
but in understanding be men.
-1 Corinthians 14:20

Paul tells them straight out that this type of thinking is childish and he exhorts them to “grow up” and get their priorities in order. Mature Christians should realize the primary importance of understanding the Word of God.

(21)In the law it is written,
With men of other tongues and other lips
will I speak unto this people;
and yet for all that
will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
(22)Wherefore tongues [ethnic languages] are for a sign,
not to them that believe,
but to them that believe not:
but prophesying serveth not
for them that believe not,
but for them which believe.
-1 Corinthians 14:21-22

Paul goes back to the law of God and begins this passage by expounding the Word of God for the congregation.

He further explains that even when some people hear the Gospel clearly in their own ethnic language, they still may not have ears to hear what God is really telling them. Some people just do not have the capacity to receive the Word of God, even in their own language.

Furthermore, Paul makes it clear that the gift of ethnic languages was given by God for the purpose of preaching the Gospel to unbelievers. When the gift of languages was first given, each unbelieving person was able to hear (not speak) the Word of God in his own ethnic language.

It was initially a unique method which God used to reach a special group of unbelievers from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. While meant to be a special “sign” and an amazing occurrence, it was not intended to be a mystical experience, but a very practical indication that the message they were receiving was really from God, so they could understand the Word and believe in Jesus. (See the Book of Acts).

On the other hand, prophesying or expounding the Word of God in the common language, was given to all believers so they could be personally, spiritually strengthened and restored by understanding the Word of God.

If therefore the whole church
be come together into one place,
and all speak with tongues,
[other ethnic languages]
and there come in those
that are unlearned,
[in the specific languages being spoken]
or unbelievers,
will they not say that ye are mad?
-1 Corinthians 14:23

People who do not understand the specific ethnic languages that are being spoken in some churches and observe everyone speaking in confusion at the same time, will think that those who ramble in unintelligible speech are “mad” or insane.

Actually we see this today. The senseless babble and mutterings of some professing Christians really does cause many unbelievers to think that Christianity is comprised of wackos and makes it impossible for true believers to understand what is actually being said, when they find themselves in the midst of babble-speakers.

This unbiblical behavior is one significant means whereby the first love was lost (See the book, “Mystery of the First Love Lost” at this blog which is based on the warning of Jesus in Revelation 2:4-5. This passage of Scripture confirms that if those who call themselves the followers of Christ do not remember what they have lost, they and their “church” will be removed from their presumed relationship with Christ).

The unbiblical behavior of the Corinthian Church, as recorded in the Word of God, continues to be a means of:

1) interrupting, fragmenting, and breaking our focus on the Word and Spirit of God

2) a stumbling block to unbelievers

3) a reproach to Christ’s Name/blasphemy [# G989 = reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty] against the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:31) because it is interrupting and quenching the Spirit of God in Christian assemblies

4) misrepresenting the true nature of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit

5) hiding the truth about how we are to really communicate with God and fellowship with one another through His Word

Because our communication with God and others depends on understanding the Word of God, it is an outright attack against His Word.

(24)But if all prophesy, and there come in
one that believeth not, or one unlearned,
he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
(25)And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest;
and so falling down on his face he will worship God,
and report that God is in you of a truth.
(26)How is it then, brethren?
when ye come together,
every one of you hath a psalm,
hath a doctrine,
hath a tongue,
hath a revelation,
hath an interpretation.
Let all things be done unto edifying.
(27)If any man speak in an unknown tongue,
[ethnic language]
let it be by two, or at the most by three,
[in orderly manner—one at a time]
and that by course; and let one interpret.
(28)But if there be no interpreter,
let him keep silence in the church;
and let him speak to himself, and to God.
-1 Corinthians 14:24-28

When the Word of God is clearly proclaimed and understood, unbelievers will be convicted of their sin, their lives will begin harmonizing with the Word of God, they will begin worshipping God as He has specified, and everyone who hears will realize that Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God, is in their midst.

Everything in the Church must be done for the explicit purpose of spiritually strengthening and firmly establishing others in the Word of God.

This is how the power of God is really manifested.

While the incoherent babble of the church at Corinth is assumed by many scholars to have been influenced by the pagan practices of Delphi, Paul does not need to specifically address that issue in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 14, because he has already defined the genuine gift of tongues as the unique ability to speak in any other ethnic language(s) which would also automatically exclude any other strange utterances from what is permissible in the church.

Therefore, Paul establishes the rules of conduct in this passage for those desiring to speak in a genuine unknown/foreign (ethnic) language:

1) No more than three are allowed to speak in an ethnic language at the same time.

2) Those speaking must do so in an orderly manner, one at a time.

3) There must be an interpreter present who is gifted in interpreting the specific language being spoken.

4) If there is not an interpreter present, then those desiring to speak a foreign language must remain silent.

Does this mean that a genuine gift of tongues no longer exists today?

On the contrary, when we realize that the gift of tongues is the ability to speak and interpret ethnic languages, it becomes obvious that some people do have a very real gift, specifically as it pertains to accurately translating the Word of God from the original languages into many languages that can be understood by a multitude of people living in the many different countries and speaking many different languages in the world today.

Through Paul’s Scriptural reproval of the Corinthian Church, God is reminding the followers of Christ; again, that believing does not depend on some mystical apostate sign. This is not the way to a relationship with God or eternal life. Jesus did not come to promote a mystical or sensational approach to His Holy Word.

Jesus Christ was simply teaching His followers how to clearly understand God’s Word so they could obey it.

(Dear Reader...When God pours out His wrath upon the Earth, will you be among those who will receive His wrath because you have not been loving Him and listening to Him? If you are ready to turn from going your own way, desire to have a relationship with the living God, and want to live with Him forever, go to left side of this page and click on the picture near the top titled, "God's Gift of Salvation.")

6--Hear the Voice of God - Chapter 5 - (The End)

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Hear the Voice of God
Overcome and Endure to the End

Blessed is he that readeth,
and they that hear the words
of this prophecy,
and keep those things
which are written therein:
for the time is at hand.
-Revelation 1:3

Our Heavenly Father has chosen the vehicle of the written Word and the spoken Word to communicate with His children.

His children are the “good seed” planted into the world by His Son, Jesus Christ.

In addition, they are the “good ground,” which will receive the seed of the Word of God; the brethren are sowing in obedience to that Word. The “good ground,” children of God, are equipped within their hearts to nurture the seed of the Word so it will bring forth much fruit.

Furthermore, the children of the Kingdom of God are the “sheep” who will hear the Word of God carried on the wind by the Voice of the One True Shepherd. They will follow the Shepherd’s Voice, keeping (remembering and obeying) the things that are written.

This is how the children of God will be occupied just before Jesus Christ returns, when “the time is at hand.”

These are the real children of God who love the sound of the Voice of God. They are entrusted to the Son for safe keeping and the Father has promised that none of those who truly belong to Him will be lost.

He that hath an ear,
let him hear
what the Spirit saith
unto the churches;
To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the tree of life,
which is in the midst
of the paradise of God.
-Revelation 2:7

Only a few will have an ear to hear. The rest will not be listening to what the Spirit of God has to say to the churches. They will not realize that they do not qualify to inherit eternal life. They will not understand what being “saved through faith” really means. They will believe that their church and religious works will save them and will presume to belong to Christ because they have called Him “Lord.”

However only those who overcome and possess eternal life, will be given the privilege of eating from the tree of life which grows in the middle of the paradise of God.

Only those who hear His Word and are in the habit of listening and spiritually feeding on it, will overcome because it is “through faith” that we are saved and faith can only come “by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

He that hath an ear,
let him hear
what the Spirit saith
unto the churches;
To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the hidden manna,
and will give him a white stone,
and in the stone a new name written,
which no man knoweth
saving he that receiveth it.
-Revelation 2:17

Revelation 2:7 and Revelation 2:17 begin with identical words about the necessity of overcoming and how overcoming is the mandatory requirement of receiving eternal life, the white stone, and a new name.

God’s alpha and omega are not the same as man’s idea of beginning and ending. While infinity functions by design and a unique type of order, it is not chronological.

So will those who overcome be rewarded by being given the “hidden manna” to eat or will those who eat the “hidden manna” be given the ability to overcome?

Let us ask this question again. This time we will expound the key words to consider.

So will those who overcome (by their own efforts) be rewarded by being given the Bread from Heaven, the written and living Word of God to feast on, or will those who feast on the Bread from Heaven, the written and living Word of God be given the ability to overcome (by the grace of God and the power of His Word) ?

Since “hidden manna” is the secret spiritual food, or Word, that God gives to those who are listening; this makes it vital to overcoming. It is the Voice of God that resides in the Word of God.

The teaching of Jesus and the Kingdom of God are not for everyone. Only those who have an appetite for His Word will be able to spiritually feed on His Word and receive the power to overcome and endure to the end.

(See details regarding this in the blog book, “Hidden Manna,” which you can also read at this site.)

Remember therefore
how thou hast received
and heard,
and hold fast,
and repent.
If therefore thou shalt not watch,
I will come on thee as a thief,
and thou shalt not know
what hour I will come upon thee.
-Revelation 3:3

This verse provides some important things we are commanded to remember:

1) how we have received (the Word and knowledge of God)

2) how we have heard (the Word of God)

3) to hold fast to what God has taught us

4) to repent, if we have not been consistently listening

If we do not heed this warning, we will not be watching for the coming of Christ as we should, we will not expect Him, and He will appear as a thief to us.

How does a thief appear?

>He comes suddenly in secret.

>Dread and fear will grip our heart when we are surprised by Him.

>Instead of being joyful at His coming and looking forward to all that we are about to receive, we will be agonizing over losing our worldly possessions.

>He may seem like an intruder coming to take something from us. Perhaps some of us will come to the painful realization that we loved this world and the things of this world more than we loved to hear what God had to say and we did not really have an eternal relationship with Christ after all.

>He may not be the type of Person or type of God we expected to see. Maybe the Jesus we were worshipping was not even the real Jesus. Therefore the real Jesus will appear to be a threatening stranger to us.

Every person is defined by two things: (1) their actions and (2) the words they speak. This is how we learn who people really are. If we are not reading, listening, and feeding on the Word of God, how are we ever going to know who Jesus really is?

He could turn out to be just a lovely figment of our own imagination or a passive victim who tolerates sin.

It is impossible to really know Jesus and have a relationship with Him without having a complete and accurate account of what He has done and what He has said. The genuine information regarding this is only available in the Word of God, the Holy Bible. If that information has been adulterated or fragmented in any way, it becomes impossible to know who Jesus really is.

The truth is, we are just carelessly gambling with our eternal life by taking someone else’s (even “sincere” or “religiously authoritative”) word for who Jesus is. When Jesus returns He will hold each of us personally accountable for how we hear, as the Holy Spirit interprets what He has said in His Word and what we are personally required to believe.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice,
and open the door,
I will come in to him,
and will sup with him,
and he with me.
-Revelation 3:20

It is the Word and Voice of God that calls to us to open the door to our heart and receive Him.

First we must accurately hear His Voice and His Word. If we are called to be His child, we will have the capacity to hear His Word and will respond by opening the door.

When we open the door, Jesus will come in and share His food with us. He will feed us the pure Word of God and will give us a true interpretation and understanding of what His Word says. We will “sup” with one another, meaning that we will share a meal.

What will we be eating?

He will share His Word with us and we will share our word with Him. In other words, we will engage in a true relationship, fellowship, and communication with Him.

By hearing the Voice of God through the Word of God, He will define who He really is; we will turn from going our own way, and embrace His preeminence in all things. The only way we can truthfully call Him “Lord,” is if He really is our Lord. Therefore, He and His Word must BE preeminent, the most important priority in our life.

This is the only way we are given a new life, can be spiritually born-again, and can discover an eternal relationship with our Creator, the Most High God.

~The End~

End Times Reveal Genuine Christianity

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How Will Your

Family and Ministry

Measure Up in the End?

Click Here to Find Out Now

Note to Blog Book Readers:

2011-05-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

Please note that the posting dates and order
of the blog books posted at this site
have been altered
so you may read them
in their original chronological order.

Therefore,
when you get to the bottom of the pages
it is necessary to click on "Older Posts"
to continue reading the chapters that follow.

Book Offer. . .Most Important Mystery of End Times

2011-02-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

From the Book of Revelation. . .

Mystery

The First Love Lost

Excerpts:

“Perhaps the greatest characteristic of this mystery is that scholars, for the most part, believe they have already identified the first love lost. Therefore, it is hidden in the assumption that it is not lost at all. They presume that the love that is lost is referring to the believer’s love for Jesus. But this is only part of the mystery.”

“The significance of this divine mystery could seriously alter the way the average person perceives the Bible. But, it remains beyond the reach of most people today so they are destined to miss out on the ultimate mystery of all time.”

“The enemies of God made a serious mistake by underestimating the mystery and failed to see the value of this pearl of great price. They were not interested. They did not have time to pay attention to details and clues. They had places to go, people to see, religion to spread, money to make, empires to build, and nests to feather. So they tripped over the mystery, which was hidden right in plain sight—and still failed to see it.”

“Thank God, like every good mystery, everything will be revealed in the end. According to the signs of the times, we are getting very close to the end right now. Would you like to see where you will appear in the picture when all of the pieces of this eternal puzzle come together?--If so, pick up your magnifying glass and join me in discovering the amazing Mystery of the First Love Lost.“

(271 pgs. - Spiral Bound - $16 + $4 shipping)

Click button on left to order from Pay Pal's secure site now!

Botanical Symbolism

2010-11-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

The Botanical Symbolism

Our Relationship with Christ

His cheeks

are as a bed of spices,

as sweet flowers:

his lips like lilies,

dropping

sweet smelling myrrh.

-Song of Solomon 5:13

This is a picture of how the Bride sees the Bride Groom as she comes to Him. The Bride is symbolic of those who belong to Christ and the Bride Groom is symbolic of Jesus.

Note that His lips drop the sweet smelling myrrh.

In the original language the word “smelling” in this instance (#5674 in the Hebrew) gives us a picture of the molecules of scent riding on the air—like the Word that rides on or in the Spirit of God which Jesus likened to the wind:

The wind

bloweth where it listeth

and thou hearest

the sound thereof,

but canst not tell whence it cometh,

and whither it goeth:

so is every one

that is born of the Spirit.

-John 3:8

“Smelling” is identified with inhaling the Words that come from His lips, which are also carried on the air or on His breath.

My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me.

-John 10:26-27

The Word itself is the key. In other words God is saying that the true Bride of Christ will be waiting to hear what He has to say. By hearing the Word, the Bride like sheep hearing the Shepherd’s voice carried on the wind, will follow Him.

God is not a God of sensationalism or mysticism, but the God of symbolism.

The priority of Jesus’ ministry was and is two-fold: (1) to preach the Gospel of salvation and (2) to heal the sick.

Healing the sick provides us with a symbol or an illustration of preaching the gospel. Therefore the two must stay together as we minister to others.
It is our need of healing (spiritually, physically, mentally, or emotionally) that compels us to seek our Creator.

We instinctively understand that, since He created us, He knows how to fix us when we are broken and He is the only One who can really direct us step by step to find true healing.

Jesus, Himself, is the Word in the flesh. Because of this, His lips and voice have the ability to infuse us with His powerful Word—this is the same Word or voice that created all things.

Just what are the sweet lips of Jesus dropping? It is myrrh that is being dropped. Therefore we are led to consider what part myrrh plays in this picture.

Since it is being dropped from the lips of Jesus, we must conclude that myrrh symbolizes the Word of God breathed or diffused from the lips of Jesus, the Bride Groom and Shepherd of our heart.

As I read this verse again, I realized that while myrrh is actually a type of frankincense that is spiritually uplifting and is historically and scientifically known for repairing cellular damage, as well as recognized for its anti-infectious, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, hormone-like, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperthyroid, and immune boosting qualities, I tend to avoid using it because of its glue-like consistency.

Myrrh is the only oil I know of that is like cement. Once the bottle is opened, you have to use pliers to open it again. After understanding this verse from the Song of Solomon, myrrh now reminds me of the nature of the Word and how the power of the Word of God is stronger than any other power in the universe.

Recently on Christian television a military veteran, who had been captured and tortured by the enemy, spoke of his experience. His captors played a recording that was repeated over and over and over again. It was a speech they wanted this soldier to deliver against his own country.

The soldier said that the only way he could preserve his sanity and resist the speech was by repeating the Word of God over and over in his mind while the speech was being played.

The Word of God was more powerful than the words of the enemy. Like myrrh, it stuck like glue in the soldier’s mind and actually became a protective shield against their brainwashing program.

As we understand how the various constituents of myrrh and other plant oils work scientifically in the body and how these plants and the oils from these plants were designed by our Creator to help us heal, we will also discover that they will bring us to a greater understanding of how the Word of God can infuse us with the power of God to heal and overcome in every dimension of our life, so we can become the whole person God desires us to be.

Myrrh is an ancient foundational oil that was often blended with other oils and ointments to preserve their purity and prolong the power of their fragrances.

Only the purest oils should ever be used for therapeutic purposes. When essential oils are truly pure, some can also be taken internally. However, not all oils that are advertised today as “pure” are actually pure enough to use. Therefore we must carefully consider this when purchasing essential oils.

Peppermint cools a fever and comforts inflammation. Lavender is often used for burns. Joy blend contains rose oil and brings feelings of joy.

Purification blend is great for diffusing in musty basements and helps to keep bugs away. If we do get bitten by a bug, Purification will help cleanse the bite and promote healing.

Some oils relax the mind and body, help to balance hormones, fight virus and bacteria, while other oils relieve pain, anxiety and stress.

Oils can do amazing things because the same voice of God that created us also carefully created plants and plant oils to be compatible with the human body.

God carefully designed each essential oil to address specific issues in spirit, body, mind, and emotions in order to bring comfort, to safely provide first aid, and help us find harmony with His Word and His will regarding every aspect of our health and healing.

Access Healing through the Power of the Word

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Psalm 119

O how love I thy law!
It is my meditation all the day.
v.97

Why would I love, really l-o-v-e, God's law enough to want to meditate on it all day long?

Let's be honest. Isn't the law, any law, b-o-r-i-n-g?

While I would like to sincerely love His law with all of my heart, I have to admit that unless I can see some real value in it, meditating on it day and night just isn't going to happen.

This is exactly why the Author inspired the psalmist to reveal the amazing riches found in God's Word and law in the following verse:

Thou through thy commandments

hast made me wiser

than mine enemies:

for they are ever with me.

v.98

Enter serious troublesome illness.

In the Book of Revelation God tells us that the last enemy we will ever have to deal with is death. Illness and death can surely be identified as our enemies. But God is on our side and has provided the solution. We have His assurance in the above verse that His Word and law will make us wiser than our enemies, even though they are ever with us waiting to attack.

So where should we first seek wisdom when the enemy of illness attacks?

Certainly we can collect information about our illness from the writings of the world, but unless we have the wisdom to sort through it all, how can we ever discern what course of action to take? The side effects of some cures can even be worse than the illness and some treatments may be risky experiments without any guarantee of success.

Let us consider something else. If we could actually have an intimate relationship with God through His Word and meditate on it daily, perhaps then we could be wiser than the enemy of illness and avoid it altogether. When we have eyes to see the value of the law of God, we will also be empowered and motivated to act by faith and prepare for attacks by taking preventive measures.

God is a God who believes in preparing. Throughout the Bible we see that He prepared planet Earth to be a home for mankind and the animals, He prepared the ark to save Noah and his family, and prepared to save the people of Egypt by instructing the king through a dream interpreted by Joseph to stock up during the years of plenty so they would not perish during the years of famine. God even prepared His people for the coming of their Savior by every Word He sent forth.

Whether we want to avoid the enemy of illness or do battle because it has already launched an attack on us, the wonder-working power and wisdom of God can be found in His Word.

Through the sacrifice of our Savior, we can enter into the type of intimate relationship with our Creator that will empower us through His Word and provide everything we need to overcome the enemy of illness now and our final enemy, death, through God's gift of eternal life.

I am he that liveth, and was dead,

and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen;

and have the keys of hell and of death.

-Rev. 1:18

The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own--Part 1

2010-01-23T10:53:00.000-08:00

The Heart Has a Mind
Of Its Own

Part 1: The Heart of Man and the Heart of God

Introduction

Recently scientists have discovered that even before the brain is formed in the unborn child, the heart is beating with an intelligence of its own. In fact, the heart is wired with a “brain” that is busy sending signals to the rest of the body directing the development and growth of the child in the womb.

The information sent from the heart to the brain can have a profound effect on the various functions of the brain, including its concept of God. How the heart influences our spiritual life and connection with God remains a mystery to modern science.

However, the Word of God has proclaimed from the beginning that the heart was designed by our Creator to have a mind of its own.

The Heart of Man and the Heart of God

The first mention of the word, “heart,” is found in the Book of Genesis, Chapter 6. Is this just poetic imagery or is God giving us the foundation here for understanding the spiritual function of our heart? Could it be that He is also revealing His own heart to us through this passage?

And God saw
that the wickedness of man
was great in the earth,
and that every imagination
of the thoughts
of his heart
was only evil continually.

And it repented the LORD
that he had made man on the earth,
and it grieved him
at his heart.
-Genesis 6:5-6

First of all, God is confirming in this passage that we are made in His image. Just as God has a heart, man also has a heart. Throughout the Bible, God instructs us concerning the differences and similarities of our heart and His.

The new scientific discovery regarding the function of the heart verifies that this physical organ has a mind of its own and through the Word of God we realize that it is His intention that we understand and resonate with the way He thinks and feels in His heart.

We also learn in this first passage that it is possible for the heart of man to engage in thoughts and that these thoughts originate in our heart. This passage reveals that during the time of Noah, hearts had become so corrupt; mankind had reached the point of no return. Everyone on the face of the earth actually became incapable of thinking anything good at all—everyone, that is, except Noah and his family.

God has a pure and holy heart filled with perfect love. When His creation becomes corrupt and His intention for mankind is spoiled, God grieves in His heart. Grieving suggests mourning a loss, which is very fitting in these verses.

God deserved to have men glorify Him with the lives they lived. He created them to love Him and enjoy Him forever. God did not design humans to be robots and He was not going to force His creation to love Him. He wanted to experience receiving their love and allowing them to be blessed through their experience of loving Him.

So humans were given the freedom to choose. Unfortunately almost everyone in those days chose to follow their corrupt hearts and turn against the love and blessings of God.

Though men were made in the image of God, they did not desire to walk in the likeness of God. Instead, His created beings trampled the gift of their Maker, chose to go their own way, and rejected the image they were created to bear.

Man was so wonderfully and lovingly fabricated by the hand of God. He had so much potential. What a waste! What rejection of God and the blessings He had desired to bestow upon His people!

When we read this passage, do we feel God’s loss and the rejection He experienced?

Do we sympathize and empathize with Him?

If so, we are beginning to line our heart up with God’s heart and like the children we were created to be, are attempting to walk in His shoes. Our ability to feel God’s pain is the first step in learning to love Him and understand His love for us.

The world labels those who are unable to feel the pain of others as “sociopaths.” They are people without a conscience. They don't have the natural affection or empathy the rest of us take for granted. They don't feel affection. They don't care about others.

However, most of them are good observers, and they have learned how to mimic feelings of affection and empathy remarkably well so are often difficult to detect.

The world says that such people are incurable, but all things are possible with God. If you know of someone like this, do not be caught in their trap by your good intentions. Nevertheless, pray for them, but at the same time guard your heart with all diligence when dealing with them.

If you should recognize somehow, by the grace of God, that you are a person who is having difficulty empathizing with others, pray for God to help you and to save you from yourself and your own path of eternal destruction. Ask Him, in the name of Jesus Christ, to help you trust Him with your life and pray that He will give you a new heart.

Without the heart’s capacity to feel and to identify with God’s thoughts and feelings, it is impossible to have the type of belief in God that will result in eternal life. We must realize that we love Him because He first loved us and that He had, and still has, a wonderful plan for our lives.

There isn't anything we can do to earn this relationship with Him. The love we have for Him, isn't really even a choice we make, it is a response our heart makes because our heart somehow understands what He has done for us. Even this ability to understand and respond is a gift from God and is totally a result of His grace working in us.

*Copyright 2009

About Nurturing Life Ministry

2008-10-02T07:31:00.000-07:00

(Nurturing Life is an independent Christian ministry and is not associated with any specific denomination or religious organization. Information is acquired exclusively from the Bible, history, and science).

Priorities of Ministry

Our first priority is to humbly return the focus and foundation of

our belief system to Christ—and Christ alone, restoring the whole person as Christ taught (spirit, body, mind, & emotions).

We will discover the secret to developing and restoring the whole person when we wholeheartedly embrace the priorities of Christ's ministry: (1) preaching the gospel of salvation through Christ alone and (2) healing the sick.

Educational sessions are for the serious Bible student. They are presented from the non-denominational biblical, historical, and scientific—yet cutting edge—perspective.

Wellness is addressed in each dimension of the whole person—spirit, body, mind, and emotions and offers with simplicity, very safe, effective ways we can address life’s challenges through a fresh understanding of the Word and Wisdom of God.

Without diagnosing or prescribing, a wealth of life-saving information and motivation is provided through this unique Christian Wellness Program.

What Nurturing Life Christian Ministry Provides:

(1) Nurturing Life Ministry provides one-on-one consultation. This is a safe place to bring your questions regarding spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional challenges.

(2) Nurturing Life is a teaching ministry. Information from the Word of God that offers hope, encouragement, and instruction
for personal growth will be posted for your consideration.

(3) This ministry is a Christian resource center and will provide information and links to resources that will nurture your life in spirit, body, mind, and emotions.

Jesus said. . .“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me”.
. . .John 6:44-45.

Do you sense that our Heavenly Father has been drawing you and calling you?

Do you believe that He has been using the circumstances of your life to teach you about Himself and given you a desire to really know Christ and follow Him?

God knows those who are His. I hope you will respond to His call today, commit yourself to following Him, and become the person He created you to be.

Let's Get Acquainted.

Whether you are a Christian desiring to connect with other Christians or a new follower of Christ, please leave a comment or email today.

I would love to hear from you!
Email: NurturingLife@aol.com

Be sure to check out "Helpful Links"

Kay Graves - Christian Writer and Speaker

2008-10-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

Kay Graves was "born again," December 9, 1974 according to John, Chapter 3, during a painful physical illness that caused her to be confined to her bed.

Three days after becoming a Christian, the illness disappeared.

She soon discovered, however, that this healing was conditional—that is—dependent on the study of the Word. Because the illness was stress related the peace infused by the Word of God was the only effective remedy.

Her ministry today is a result of 30 years of Bible study and applying the Word to facilitate her own healing, as well as the healing of those God brings into her life.

In 1984, her first-born daughter was diagnosed with a mental disorder. When medical doctors could not help her, Kay spent the next 20 years doing personal research in the field of natural health in an effort to help her daughter.

In 2001 Kay began to understand how the spirit, body, mind, and emotions influence each other and started sharing what she was learning with small groups. She continued her research and studied the use of plants and plant oils for healing.

Kay's daughter has made significant progress in overcoming mental illness and is now caring for her home and daughter while working part time.

Over the years, Kay has spoken to hundreds. Some alumni of Kay's seminars, have been in the health care and teaching professions. Through them, God has opened doors by which His methods of healing can be used, including several clinics and one hospital.

Presently Kay continues speaking to groups (large and small) and offers free unlimited consultations for those who desire to know more about having a true relationship with Jesus, the Son of the Most High God.

You may request a list of topics or choose topics of your own that harmonize with the theme of your event.

For Free
Consultations - Questions - Requests - Comments
Send your email to: NurturingLife@aol.com

Thank you for visiting my blog.
Please leave a comment.
I am looking forward to hearing from you!

Statement of Faith

2008-10-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

I believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), plenary and verbally inspired, and inerrant in the original manuscripts.

I believe in Jesus Christ and that He is both man and God manifested in the flesh. That he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified, died, and was buried, that he arose bodily from the grave and ascended into heaven.

I believe that the blood shed by Jesus upon the cross made atonement for the redemption of His people (Luke 1:68).

I believe that sin is the transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4), that all have sinned (Romans 3:23); and that death is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23).

I believe that salvation comes about through the Word of God. It is by grace through faith in the Word and completed work of Jesus Christ and not of our own works (Eph. 2:8-9).

Grace through faith brings about repentance for sin, obedience to the Word of God and receiving the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38).

I believe that by having a repentant and willing heart, and by diligent study of the Scriptures, and by the leading of the Holy Spirit, a believer will discover God's truth, which is sufficient for all matters of faith and practice.

I believe in the resurrection of the dead and in a future state of rewards and punishments (Revelation 20:12ff).

I believe that the Holy Spirit was given to us to testify of Christ in His physical absence, to lead man into truth, and to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).

Spiritual Dimension of Life

2008-09-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

Why

Must the Spiritual Dimension

Be Addressed First?

The spiritual dimension must be addressed first, because it is impossible to become a whole person without the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ. His function in our lives is to guide us, teach us, help us discern truth from error, and find abiding comfort in Him.

It is this indwelling Spirit of God that makes it possible for us to have faith—which is the significant requirement for wholeness, or completeness in every other area or dimension of our life.

Perhaps you have come to realize that something is missing in your life.

Do you sense that you are adrift in the sea of life and are alone in the world?

Do you long to have God's help, guidance, discernment, and comfort?

Respond to the call of God at this moment, acknowledge your need of the leadership of Christ in your life, turn from going your own way, and commit to following Him and Him alone today.

Then begin learning to recognize His promptings. Start reading God's Word (the King James Version is recommended).

Careful and prayerful study of the Bible will familiarize you with the nature of God and the nature of man.

You will discover what pleases Him and what dis-pleases Him as well as how He responds to His enemies and to those who love Him. Remember, He is love, therefore He has your best interest at heart and desires to help you become all that you were created to be.

By studying how He has worked in the affairs of mankind in the past, we begin to see how He is working today in the world and in our life. The more we infuse ourselves with His Word, the easier it is to sense His promptings and His direction.

Physical Dimension of Life

2008-09-06T16:27:00.000-07:00

Addressing

the

Physical Dimension

The Physical Dimension

involves providing the body with what it needs

to maintain, heal, and balance itself.

Balancing the body usually involves changing our lifestyle and adjusting some of our eating habits—being creative in finding new ways to design a diet that tastes good and is good for us—and learning to develop new, healthier tastes.

In this way, we become more committed to supplementing with functional foods, plants, and oils derived from plants. We also learn to come to grips with the reality that some substances that are called “foods” are really just poison in disguise and must be avoided.

God created the whole person and everything He created was declared "good." False teachings have brought about confusion regarding the value of the body.

We must remember that our body was created to be the "temple" and therefore is an important part and influence on the spirit, mind, and emotions as well. It is our responsibility to maintain the body God has given us to the best of our ability.

Without a doubt, He will hold us accountable for how we care for this precious gift of life that has been entrusted to us.

With God's help we can learn, by faith, to discover the necessary knowledge to make our own health care decisions.

We must take responsibility for our own life by discerning which methods should be pursued and which should be avoided. . .and stop running to and fro in fear to an early grave.

Mental Dimension of Life

2008-09-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

Addressing

the

Mental Dimension

The Mental Dimension involves eliminating faithless thinking and developing positive, truthful thought patterns that are based on the promises of God. This moves us away from the sort of thinking that creates a subconscious death wish, to the type of thinking that embraces life and health.

We are then free to collect and study information for preparing our plan of action against forces that are designed to destroy us and can begin developing steps to overcoming.

Change Your Mind—Change Your Health

Next to our spirit, our mind controls everything that takes place in the whole person. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he". We are just wasting our time when we pray for health and healing if our mind, our spirit, and our emotions are at war with our body.

The mind has such a powerful control over every function of the whole person, that when a death sentence is given by a medical doctor such as, "Get your affairs in order, you have 6 months to live," every cell in the body sets its timer and begins counting down the months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds until shut down. Often that person takes his last breath 6 months from the time the death sentence was given.

Research shows that most of the thoughts that we entertain on a daily basis are negative and harmful because they result in anxiety, fear, and stress. These are fear-based imaginations that are completely false and keep us from making decisions that would result in our ultimate health and happiness.

There is only one really successful way to stop the negative effects and these attacks on the mind. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."(Romans 12:2)—or by saturating our mind with Scripture so our thoughts are in harmony with God's will. The more Scripture we have absorbed into our mind, the more truth and wisdom we have to draw from and the less power false information has over us.

Many have experienced greater focus, discernment, creativity, and insight simply by absorbing Scripture and, as a result, have become amazingly successful in discovering and fulfilling their specific calling in life. History is full of the testimonials of such people who have achieved great things as a result of their habit of daily Bible study and memorization of the Scriptures.

Therefore, it is important to be a watchman at the gate of our mind and evaluate thoughts as they try to enter. I need to ask myself, "Is this thought going to encourage, enlighten, or honestly prosper me or is it going to have a negative effect?"

If it will not benefit me, then I should not let it enter—I must turn it away and fill the void with the opposing positive thought or promise I have learned from God's Word.

Emotional Dimension of Life

2008-09-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

Addressing the Emotional Dimension:

Emotions are feelings or “energy in motion” which cause vibrations throughout the body affecting every other dimension, creating an environment for either healing or sickness in the whole person.

The emotional dimension is strongly connected with every other dimension:

Our spiritual dimension aggravates the emotional dimension when we are not properly connected to our Creator and violating His laws of life. However, if we get in harmony with the Word of God every morning and continuously seeking His will, we will experience peace and good health.

Our mental dimension often controls the emotional dimension by engaging in memories or imaginations which entertain and grind on grievances, injustices, or feelings of victimization.

Our physical dimension can aggravate the emotions because it contains DNA memory on a cellular level, especially in the liver—This memory can be passed down from one generation to another, continuing this cycle of aggravation.

Interestingly, research done at New York University indicates that it is possible to release this negative DNA memory through the olfactory system and the sense of smell.

Therefore, our Creator provided pure therapeutic plant oils to comfort and help the body and emotions go through this process of reconciliation and restoration of the whole person.

Chronic pain, fatigue, and mood swings can be results of poor eating habits, environmental toxins, and/or the use of legal or illegal drugs.

Therefore it is important to learn to "guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life".

Nurturing Life Christian Ministry

1--Hidden Manna - Preface

2--Hidden Manna - Introduction

3--Hidden Manna - Chapter 1

4--Hidden Manna - Chapter 2

5--Hidden Manna - Chapter 3

6--Hidden Manna - Chapter 4

7--Hidden Manna - Chapter 5

8--Hidden Manna - Chapter 6

9--Hidden Manna - Chapter 7

10--Hidden Manna - Chapter 8

11--Hidden Manna – Chapter 9 – (The End)

1--Hear the Voice of God - Introduction

2--Hear the Voice of God - Chapter 1

3--Hear the Voice of God - Chapter 2

4--Hear the Voice of God - Chapter 3

5--Hear the Voice of God - Chapter 4

6--Hear the Voice of God - Chapter 5 - (The End)

End Times Reveal Genuine Christianity

Note to Blog Book Readers:

Book Offer. . .Most Important Mystery of End Times

Botanical Symbolism

Access Healing through the Power of the Word

The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own--Part 1

About Nurturing Life Ministry

Kay Graves - Christian Writer and Speaker

Statement of Faith

Spiritual Dimension of Life

Physical Dimension of Life

Mental Dimension of Life

Emotional Dimension of Life

*Other Helpful Links*

Other Helpful Links