Grace to live Holy and Happy!

Grace Leads to Holiness!

As we seek first Jesus again this morning, and commit to our yearly Bible reading plans, this thought is impressed upon my mind: Holiness!

Grace is simply God’s power towards us to do what we cannot do.

He wants us to be holy, like Jesus in this world!

Holiness, purity, integrity – almost forgotten word in today’s society, but the very nature and character of God.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.

12 It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,

I like the way the King Jimmy translation says these verses:

Titus 2:11-12 (KJV)

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

So, grace from heaven, comes in the form of the HOLY Spirit, and teaches us….

What does He teach us?

To deny ungodliness and worldly lusts – to live soberly, righteously, and godly – where? In heaven?

Surely we will live holy there, but this verse is plain. Grace teaches us to live holy here, in this war-torn, broken world…no small task!

2 Timothy 1:9

[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

Well, there you have it – true grace leads to true holiness (and, I might add, is the only path to actually get there).

I long to live a pure, holy life, full of love, laughter, peace, where we honestly treat others right from a pure heart – holiness is what this world needs.

He is determined to make us into the image of Jesus: Rom 8:29 CEV

and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children…

I remember reading a quote from Lincoln that has stayed with me over the years:

‘The test of a man’s character is not adversity as many would suggest, for many a good man has made it through a hard time, rather, give that man a little authority, and some money in his pocket, and then see how he treats his fellow man!”

Truly, poverty may reveal sin, but can also reveal eternal character!

God has decided to allow us to rise from the muck and the mire of the human experience, and become the people of honor both heaven and earth long for!

This is the true grace of God, the power to live a holy life!

May this be our desire and pursuit today!

Let’s Pray:

Father, work in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure. Cause us to love purity and holiness, and hate sin. Grant us grace to deny ungodliness, rejecting and and renouncing all that is not like You, Your love, Your presence, Your holiness, Your purity. All that will not enter heaven. Do this today, and every day I pray. I ask, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus! Amen!

Prayer Requests: If you or your family need specific prayer for anything, please send us a prayer request. We as a family will pray for you today, and if you would, please let us know the wonderful ways God answers. This is a great encouragement to us. https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

Wisdom for the day!

Wisdom

In the Biblical sense, wisdom is the “ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding” (Lockyer p. 1103).

Clearly, we all need this, and God promises to give it to us if we ask:

Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Jer_33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

There is natural knowledge, that comes from study, and the exercise of our mental faculties, then there is revealed wisdom, which is where God supernaturally illuminates to our understanding either a solution to a problem, or a course of action that would not be readily apparent in our own understanding or strength.

Do we need both? Surely. What I already know, I already know, which is why I discipline myself to continue to read at least two good books every week. This helps me to increase, and stay current in knowledge.

However, what I don’t know, I don’t know.

Yet, wisdom, to me, means, ‘knowledge correctly applied’. This takes a walk with Jesus, where Holy Spirit constantly gives me ‘Aha!’ moments of inspiration, that were not readily apparent through normal study and research.

Job, the wealthiest and most honored man of his day figured this out:

Job 28:

¹² But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

¹³ Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

¹⁴ The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

¹⁵ It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

¹⁶ It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

¹⁷ The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

¹⁸ No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

¹⁹ The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

²⁰ Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

²¹ Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

²² Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

²³ God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

True wisdom comes from God and God alone!

This, is exactly what you need today. Specifically, He has told me to post this, that you might move supernaturally into solutions that you could not have known about, had you not prayed.

Proverbs 4:7

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Let’s Pray:

“Father, I ask you for wisdom and direction for my life. Show me what I must do, and how, and when I must do it. Give me understanding, illumination, on the myriad issues I face, and make apparent, the things that are essential, critical, and urgent, that I not waste my time, and Yours, on wasted thought or activities, in light of eternity. Father, I ask this, of Lord Jesus, my personal pastor and Shepherd, in His name. Speak to me Holy Spirit I pray, Amen!”

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

The Press and the Process – NO COMPROMISE!

The Press!

Sometimes in life, you just gotta go for it! Been thinking about this particular season of transition in my life, as I have gone from being a moving and shaking businessman as a contractor, to becoming more and more obedient to the heavenly call in full time missions these past years, to now, carefully balancing construction as a part time superintendent, to staying aggressively in the face of God to maintain my place in the office and the call….

‘As the things of earth, grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace’ the song goes..

The years of brutally hard work, and then before that the grueling schedule needed to survive my college degree, while maintaining national level fitness in the sport of triathlon, have come back to remind me, that the disciplines that must be in place, to be a champion.

Knowing my passion and drive, I have learned that I must come under the tight rein of the Holy Spirit, desperate for His presence, His voice, His leading, or the self imposed disciplines I would apply to myself, would bury me.

Yet, when we determine to settle for nothing other than the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, without compromise, and hunger for truth, and power with God, seems about every human relationship feels the test of the call.

In the natural, I have given it all. There is no financial seed left to give…in order to merely live each day, Jesus HAS to provide, there is no plan B.

And day by day, challenge by challenge, He has proved Himself faithful.

Has it been brutal? Yes!

Has it been rewarding?

To see the nations changed in prayer, the multitudes moved through my intercession, the experience the radical intimacy and fulfillment that only He can give, I must say, ‘YES!”.

Though I have nothing financially left, I get alone with Him, having stood upon His promises, and I look at the stars in the heavens…He made them!

He will reward this particular stand of faith, and He will not only restore everything I have given, and given up for Him, but will multiply it, and prosper me with not merely heavenly riches, but I will see wealth, and prosperity again, here, in the earth, in my life, supernaturally, by His hand.

To say I have been misunderstood, criticized, etc, would be an understatement, but I am consumed with One who totally satisfies, and I find myself loving people more and more, yes caring less and less whether they love back, or understand…

His voice, His presence, His Word come alive, are more than enough….

Certain things though, are only ‘as He wills..’

His timings, His gifts of the Holy Spirit, His appointments into public ministries, and His financial provisions and breakthroughs, we believe we receive them, and fight for them in faith, daily, yet, if the day ends, and it has not happened yet, then we roll the care of it over upon Him, and deliberately trust that He is faithful, that which He has spoken, that which we have believed we received, will surely come to pass.

In moments of weakness, I have heard Him say, ‘Are you still willing?’, and repeatedly, I have said, ‘Yes, Lord, strengthen, equip me to the responsibility before me, give me grace to survive the brutality of the savage unbelief, and contest of wills around me…;

Some days, I reread, Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

The brutality, the attempted tyranny of the ungodly expectations of people, who are not hearing, seeing, experiencing what is screaming inside of you…

I understand the heart of Paul, when he exclaimed…

Ac 26:19  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

Hab 2:3  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

I am not a Calvinist, believing in the great sovereignty of God, like we are some fluff in the wind of the cosmos.

No, I am a son of my heavenly Father, and a man of faith, passion, authority, passionately standing upon His promises, that He must fulfill, for He cannot lie.

What does faith look like though, when each day, as you believe, that which you have prayed for most definitely does not come to pass? When it feels like the heavens are brass, and that our faith confessions seem to hit some kind of metal dome over our heads, unheard by God?

In our anguish of soul, comes the comforter, the great One in the earth, the breath and voice of God, and He brings words of encouragement, that nothing on this earth can compare to…

Simple words, like ‘Child, I love you, and I hear your heart, your quietest whispers in the night, and I am with you, and am bringing to pass that which you have believed, for did I not promise and commission these things to you?’

Simple comforts like: ‘You have done my perfect will today!”

These keep me going, like Joseph:

Ps 105:19  Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

There is a timing of a thing, and until that appointed time, I am aggressively reading, praying in tongues, after doing my faith confessions for the day, for I must keep my faith fed, strong, and I must fill my soul with good teaching, to grow, to press, to feed the raging hungers inside my heart!

Ps 17:3  Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

I fight to keep my words right, for this is the way of perfection, holiness, and as I allow the Word to grow and work deeper and deeper in my heart, this becomes easier and easier, for as my deepest desires are changed, as He takes His knife to my fears, my filth, my stinking thinking, a practical purity emerges. I don’t have to rigidly watch my confessions as much, for out of my transformed heart, my mouth speaks, and good things come out…

Ps 18:30  As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

I trust in Him. He has spoken. I am sorely tried, but after it is all done, I shall be that vessal of honor described in the Word, purged, and fully fit for the Masters use…

Passionate love is worth the pursuit….

God is love….

Let’s pray:

‘Father, I know You, and I hear Your voice. May I not shrink back, or give up, but bring you great glory, in believing. Strengthen me to fully obey, without compromise or reservation, exactly what You have shown me. Comfort me daily, and equip me, for the responsibility of the call, in Your name I pray Lord Jesus.Amen’

Whatever HE Says – Do it!

Two people try to do the exact same thing before God. One has a word from the Lord, and Jesus does miracles for them. The other, did not have a word from the Lord, and they crash and burn, and cause great heartbreak to the Lord, their families, and everyone around them. He will pay for and bless, only what He gives voice to. He will not bless our imitation of others. Truly, it is life or death – accurately hearing Him. John 2:5 – Whatever HE says, do it

Jesus said:

John 10:27 The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.

He promises that we WILL hear His voice!

Hear Him, and obey!

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, I want to hear Jesus voice today. Jesus, you promised to speak to me, personally, what you would like me to do. Please speak to me, and give me clear direction today, and to miracles as I obey. Amen!”

https://chrisaomministries.com/2017/01/20/the-purpose-of-this-blog

Making a ‘Supply’ of the Holy Spirit Available Today!

Philippians 1:19(KJV)

¹⁹ For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Are you in ministry?

The gospel always goes forward on its knees, as broken hearted servants cry out to God for His servants, and God delivers them, and they do what we do – preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out devils, teach, make disciples, build projects, and perform the acts of Jesus love that alleviate human suffering wherever we can – the stuff.

That involves all of us, not just five-fold ministry gifts and offices:

2 Corinthians 5:18

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Yet, in the midst of this we quickly learn that strict obedience to Jesus is mandatory, for we often find ourselves in brutal tests, trials, that require the power of God to extricate ourselves. In this opening verse, history tells us the apostle Paul had been shipwrecked, and wrote from prison. He saw how he was going to get out too, through the supply of the Spirit made available to him, as his friends in Phillipi prayed for him!

What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use–men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.

E.M.Bounds

We are the Body of Christ, and quickly we discover there are no big ‘I’s’ and little ‘you’s’ in the kingdom of God, we are all called, we are all needed, and the kingdom grows ONLY as we work together, in our place.

Ephesians 4:16King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We must each do OUR part, bringing our particular supply of the Holy Spirit, the life blood of the Body, and so the kingdom grows, becomes healthy, strong, victorious.

The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.

C.S. Lewis

PRAY FOR US!

And so the intercessors enter the fray, and they begin to pray for us, with prayers that slap heaven and earth together, and as they do, rivers from the throne, supplies of His Spirit, become available to us.

When almighty God shows up, we get delivered from our current trial, with great glory to His name.

MOBILIZE PRAYER!

So, if you are a Christian leader, mobilize prayer. Without it, your troubles may well destroy you.

I heard Dr. Negiel Bigpond say that true intercessors are assassins, trained killers. They attack and kill things in the spirit that would surely kill you, if they had not prayed.

Are you a prayer warrior? Please add me and other missionaries to your daily prayer list, we cannot do it without you.

Are you called to Go, preach teach and make disciples?

“…Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons — but they are helpless against our prayers.”

Sidlow Baxter

After 25 years in this thing, I am convinced that the most important thing that we can do is mobilize prayer for the Spirit inspired directives we are called to perform in the earth.

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, I ask you would raise up intercessors, and faithful prayer warriors for me, my family, and my mandate in this generation. I ask that we remain faithful to pray for those providing leadership to the kingdom of God, and for those you have called us to serve today. Holy Spirit, I need You. Touch me, deliver me, direct me, work in and through me today for Your good pleasure. I ask this, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen.’

Eagles Still Go to Church! Today!

Eagles Still Go to Church!

Luk 17:37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

I like to think about this verse literally. Eagles fly alone in general, except when they find their mate, for life.

Yet, here, God calls a people to Himself, the Body of Christ, and here, in the church, the Bride of Jesus, eagles gather.

You, are a unique, privileged, child of the king, with a specific, individual destiny and calling in Him. We hear the voice of God, and soar high on the winds of His grace, Holy Spirit leading us into higher and higher levels of truth in the Word of God, in our business, our family, revelation often separating us unto God Himself, for only He who gave the insight, truly understands the incredibly complex creation that we are, and the intricacies of our lives.

Yet, we are not called to fly alone, we are part of the body of Christ. Though much of our week may be alone, in our unique calling, where the Body is, we gather.

Leaders go to church.

Ro 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Jesus is Lord, the ultimate leader, yet He comes to church!

Hebrews 2:12

Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

Heb 10: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

The days of lone ranger Christianity are gone. You were not designed to walk alone, totally. You are part of the Body of Christ, and where the Body is, eagles gather…

Let’s pray:

‘Father, show me the areas I need to fly alone in life, the unique, individual plans you have for me, in this life. Yet, despite my uniqueness, you have called me to the Body of Christ, and given me a place there. Help me to find my place, and help others around me. In your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’

Manhood has four stages – Phase I – Boyhood

The Four Stages of Manhood

I am going to produce a series of short, Biblical articles on manhood, and the four stages that I see from the Word of God, we grow through, both naturally and spiritually. These four stages are:

1.Boyhood

2.Manhood

3.Fatherhood

4.The Age of the Patriarch

Today, we will look at spiritual and natural boyhood.

 

Boyhood

This is going to be a fairly short article for this simple reason: I want men to actually read it!

Over the years, as I have developed as a man of God, and more importantly as a man…Today we are going to talk about spiritual childhood, and growing through it, to become men of God….

In a perfect world, a child would be born into a Christian household, filled with love, nurture, the fruit of the Spirit, with boundaries of protection set around your world by the holiness of the Word of God.

There would be no drama, trama, or heartbreak, but parents would lovingly grow you up in the Word of God, until the day came that you, a fully responsible adult, would be launched out into your particular gifting and calling, deeply rooted in the Word and love of God, with wings to fly!

Yet, this is a fallen world, and not all of us grew up in a Christian home, furthermore, even those of us that did, could only be instructed in what our parents knew about the Word, and to the degree our parents were willing and able to recognize and respond to the giftings God had placed upon our lives, so that they might train us up in the way ‘we should go’.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it

 

 

 

There is responsibility of spiritual adults to care for new Christians; spiritual babies are characterized by Innocence, Ignorance, and sometimes, irritability.

 

Babies are easily distracted, easily hurt, and easily frustrated. God wants us to grow up to the place where we become single minded, not easily hurt, and not so easily frustrated. Where you can give our word, and keep it!

 

Well let’s look at God’s Word on this topic today, and then let’s see spiritual childhood, boyhood, and how to grow through it.

 

1 Corinthians 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are born-again, new creations in Christ Jesus.

God Himself has come to live inside our recreated human spirit!

Jesus did not come to make bad people good, nor good people better, rather dead people: ALIVE!

We are born not only to our natural parents, but more importantly into the kingdom of God.

Just as the first thing a natural baby requires is to nurse, so in our heart of hearts, our recreated spirit also needs food to grow, the sincere milk of the Word of God!

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

The truth is, no matter how good or bad your upbringing was, as we decide to walk with Jesus, the Holy Spirit will bring the appropriate Word to make us more like Jesus, to bring us to completeness as human beings.

^{Romans 8:29} For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren

There may have been accidental parents, but no accidental children. God planned for you. He has given you and your life as a gift to this hurting planet, and He has an eternal plan being worked out for you, and in you.

You have been redeemed, adopted into God’s family:Ephesians 3:15 of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

No matter how great our earthly family may have been, we are now part of the royal family of God, training for reigning with Jesus!

1 Cor 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things

We are to be conformed to be like Jesus

Romans 8:29 (AKJV)

1. In a perfect world, in a perfect family (none exist on earth), a child would develop naturally, intellectually, and spiritually, in a wonderful cocoon of God’s love, grace and protection.
2. Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Galatians 4  (AKJV)

4 :1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; ² but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. ³ Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: ⁴ but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵ to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷ Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

You have been adopted into the family of God, with eternal rank and privilege!

Ephesians 1:5

having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

 

So what is the job and responsibility of a child? To grow!

Have fun! Fall in love with Father God, let Jesus love you, receive His grace, goodness, and continually diet of instruction in the Word of God. Learn to feed your heart, your human spirit, and to allow the Word of God to grow within you, setting boundaries upon your heart, teaching you truth from lies, right from wrong, good from evil, holiness from profanity, true love from mere human sentiment. Grow!

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

Let’s pray:

 

Father, thank you for adopting me and making me Your child. Reveal Your great love for me, and show me Your holy ways of love, that are always greater than the love of even my earthly parents. Bring into my life the sincere milk of Your Word, and cause me to grow in the character and likeness of Jesus, falling more in love with Him every day. Show me the things I have been taught by my parents, my teachers, society, and even church, that are not in line with Your Word, or Your particular calling and destiny upon my life, and show me truth that makes me free. I choose to separate myself fully on the purpose and plan You have created me for: grant me courage to walk in it, without compromise. I ask this, knowing I am heard and answered, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen’

Ameliorate – To Make Life Better

a·me·lio·rate
əˈmēlyəˌrāt
verb
make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.

Studying for my mid-term last night in my pastoral care course, and came across this word in the study notes. Had to look it up to see what they were talking about. It made me smile, in discussing the role of pastoral care in the life of a care-seeker –

Sounds like ministry!

We are supposed to love people as Christians. Guess that simply means to do what we can, to take something bad in a person’s life, and to make it good.

Matthew 5:13 (AMP)

Disciples and the World

¹³ “You are the ^[a]salt of the earth; but if the salt has ^[b]lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery].

In olden days, before refrigeration of meat and fish, salt was used to preserve it from rot, in fact in some places of the world, salt fish is still on the menu.

Like salt used as a preservative, so we, exhibiting the love of God in our worlds, act as a moral preservative in society, preventing the on-going rot that sin an devils would bring.

It’s what Jesus does!

It’s what we need to do too!

Let’s go love someone, or actually help them live a better life.

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

The People of Pure Language! Flow!

The people of a pure language!

Back by popular demand, I am editing and republishing this article!

Zeph 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

What an interesting passage! In the midst of Gods anger, declaring His judgments against rebellious people, we see Him declaring what it will look like after the people turn to Him, in spirit and in truth!

Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

See it? He is foretelling of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

This is the people of pure language!

Ac 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Ac 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

See it?

These are those: Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

This is the pure language or stammering lips referred to here in the Old Testament, that clearly pleases God.

God wants us filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking the ‘pure language’ He desires, ‘stammering lips’ that flow from a heart overflowing with the river of God!

If you have not yet experienced this mighty infilling of precious Holy Spirit, ask Him now for it is written:

Lu 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Let’s take a minute, and ask our Father, for the Holy Spirit, that Jesus clearly promises us:

‘Dear Heavenly Father, please fill me with the Holy Spirit, and let me flow in my heavenly prayer language, now, in Jesus name, Amen’

Now, that funny feeling inside of you, is the Holy Spirit, bubbling up. Open your mouth, and begin to speak the wonderful mysteries of God, where your heart of hearts, communes directly with your Heavenly Father, in the pure languages of heaven. Speak! Glory to God! Flow!

Here are a couple more articles I wrote on this important topic:

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/is-speaking-in-other-tongues-of-god/

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2016/03/05/is-tongues-initial-evidence-of-the-holy-spirit-baptism/

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/05/04/another-look-at-speaking-in-tongues/

If you need prayer: There are many prayer lines on here: https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

 

Jesus Was a Carpenter!

Jesus was a carpenter!

A Shittim tree in Israel

Ex 25:10 ¶ And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

I love Jesus, and for many years now, I have worked as a carpenter, providing interior finishes to luxury home. We have used alder, cedar, oak, and poplar regularly, with a couple of jobs in hemlock, mahogany, and cherry. Have seen some beautiful wormy oak and cypress over the years, and have come to love wood. Now this wood here, God overlaid with gold, and I guess gold is beautiful, but check out the grain pattern on the wood.

Typical of God, when He has something built for His glory, it is beautiful, through and through.

So is it with out lives: Outwardly, he adorns us with the oil of anointing, the presence of Holy Spirit, but like this construction project, He places beauty within us too, Christ In us, the hope of glory.

Let’s pray:
Father I thank you for your presence, and power that shows forth your glory in my life! Yet, I am grateful for the beautiful inward work of grace you have done in my life, the unique and beautiful tapestry of grace you have wisely and uniquely woven in my soul, as I have walked with you. I thank you and praise you for it Father, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen!’

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/