Receive, Keep Receiving (Luke 18:15-17)

"Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.' "

Was Jesus saying that only little children could enter the kingdom the kingdom of God, or was He telling us that we should receive God's kingdom as little children receive things? Little children listen intently to those around them, often recanting what someone had told them when THEY ASKED A QUESTION. Because they were interested in a particular topic, they asked, and when they asked they received an answer. The validity of that answer may be called into question and refuted later by more correct information, but, inquisitiveness was met with information. Although we have experienced the imperfection of that process with men, it is not so with God.

"....how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13)

Those in Him must continue to receive Him in that manner: as little children receive information from those around them. Good ground receives seed and produces; some 30 fold, some 60 and some 100 fold. Good ground is synonymous with receiving His inspiration and every intent to make it a part of our lives! Remember, to those who have(what He imparts) more will be given and that one will have in abundance! An abundance of Our Exceeding Great Reward!

Submitting To One Another In The Fear of God (Ephesians 5:21)

 

Whether husbands or wives, parents or children, brothers and sisters in Christ or simply fellow human beings, God calls us to submit to one another in the fear of God. How do we do that in the apparently complicated realm of relationship?

First thing, we NEVER submit to anyone who promotes us to sin: activity which falls short of what we know of God through the scripture. If a person were to tell you to blaspheme the Holy Spirit or "curse God and die" as was Job's wife's exhortation during his trial, we Christians would shudder. Some sinful promotions are not as clear, but you get the point.

As a husband, how do I accomplish the following admonishment: "For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; BUT ALL THINGS ARE FROM GOD." (1 Corinthians 11:12)?  This means that we BOTH have to answer to the Most High! As a man and a husband I have a Lord and Master: God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ok, still explaining how I should submit to my wife (and we to one another). God has called women to do certain things. In Titus 2:5, He calls women to be homemakers. In that arena, I should submit to my wife, because God has not called me to a homemaker. So, as my wife submits her ideas regarding that command of God, I must be willing to submit unless her idea breaches the higher calling of the Word of God: like borrowing money. If my wife wants a particular theme in her decorating, I should be willing to agree; wants to fix a particular type of meal, I don't come in and change it because it may not be my fancy for that day. The same goes for interactions in other types of relationships: we should be willing to yield as long as yielding isn't sinful.

But, most importantly, we should be watchful that we don't frustrate another's faith in God. God gives each one a measure of faith and builds on it as we receive His inspiration. Another's revelation may not sound right to you, and in some cases, cause you some extra work or bother, but just as Jesus is endeavoring to build a spiritual house within you for His dwelling, so is He within others. We can assist Him as we yield to their revelations, inspired or not. As we love others the way He loves us through forbearance, we are helping them to see clearer. It's amazing how His love according to His Word ministers to His creation! 

The Revelation That Keeps On Giving (Matthew 16:13-19)

"When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?' So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not REVEALED this unto you but my Father who is in heaven, and, I also say to you that you are Peter (smallish stone) and on this rock (the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God) I will BUILD MY CHURCH and the gate of Hades shall not prevail (be victorious) against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven (or will have been bound in heaven) and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven' " (or will have been loosed in heaven).


Clearly, the Father revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Now, the foundational Truth of Who Jesus is had been made real to Peter. What others had to say about Jesus was incorrect and shows how men, then and now, respond to the Truth without that same revelation and how Jesus builds upon it. Jesus goes on to inform Peter that he was a stone in comparison to the Rock that this revelation would be for righteousness and against sin: so huge it is that the all Hell has to fight with cannot overcome it. People with the revelation of Jesus the Christ are hard to derail, yet, Jesus is not done, He is just beginning to build the spiritual house where He can abide in His fullness.


"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven".  He teaches us what they are and how to use them. Remember, Jesus did nothing unless He saw His Father do so; said nothing unless He heard His Father say so. Binding and loosing in His kingdom are accomplished in no different manner than how Peter was enlightened of the Christ! The Father, and now His glorified Christ, REVEAL how/what to us through the Word of God. The Lord God reveals and, as we use what we has been revealed, He reveals more. Those who receive will bind and loose, in Him, to bring all that He has for us into fruition.

Contentment versus Covetousness

 

It is very important to understand that "the living God gives us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17). The blessing in this statement is that He does not need to ask us what we need or like- He knows us better than we think we know ourselves! Contentment is born out of faith - a revelation that comes forth from the Lord God that acts as a blueprint of what He wants to do for us. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to cast off restraint in this area if not for a vision given.  Covetousness, on the contrary, is a desire for anything, even in His perfect plan, which leads to the individual doing all he/she can to bring it to pass - to make it happen. Contentment recognizes His voice and believes Him to bring it to pass, enjoying what He has already given.

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with the things that you have (spirit, soul and body). For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' ". (Hebrews 13:5)

When a cake is put together, all the ingredients that make it enjoyable are there and in it. The instructions require a certain amount of time and heat to complete the process successfully. If this is the first time you are trying to make cake, you might look in the oven and say after 10, 30 or 40 minutes, "it looks and smells good, it must be complete!" You pull it out and attempt to eat but it is not right. It is not complete. Covetousness ruined the cake! You wanted it before it was ready! Covetousness is promoted by Satan and allowed by the carnality of the soul. When the individual hits the wall of gracelessness in his/her might and power, hopelessness attempts to steal the vision! BUT, God is merciful to the repentant and, just as a refiner's fire removes impurity from precious metal without ruining the metal, the Lord's process upon the soul who has ears to hear perfectly trains you and provides, without sorrow added, all things (in Him) to enjoy.

 "A disciple is not above His teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher". (Luke 6:40)   Glory to God! If you have ears to hear, you will hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches, and it will bear fruit, some 30, some 60 and some 100 fold, in Christ Jesus.

Returning In The Power Of The Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21,22; 4:1-14)

Returning from where in the power of the Holy Spirit? The wilderness. At the age of 30 years, Jesus Christ was baptized by John and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove upon Him. The Father then said, "You are my beloved Son; in You I am well pleased"."  Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread. But Jesus answered him, saying, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' "


Is it apparent to you that Jesus would have fallen short if He had provided for Himself in that situation? It is not necessary to explain how important eating is to the physical body, yet Jesus seems to understand that for Him, to indulge at that time would have been wrong. Certainly, He would multiply loaves and fishes to feed thousands on at least two occasions.  He was able to turn stones to bread. He was just unwilling. He knew He must continue the fast until His Father released Him from it. Satan, of course, wanted Him to give in to the physical hunger. Jesus did not. He lived by the Word His Father gave Him: the Bread of Life. The concern for how we will be sustained in this life is a powerful mover against the soul. I am convinced that in order walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, we also must learn how to walk just as He walked in matters of sustenance.


"Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, 'All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if you will worship before me, all will be Yours. And Jesus answered and said to him, 'Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.'  "  This "all" that Satan had was authority over the world system. He had it because of Adam's fall: Adam ceded that authority when he obeyed the serpent's temptation instead of the Father's truth. Jesus told us that His authority is from His Father and far exceeded Satan's limited rule. Again, Jesus chose to adhere Himself to the Word of the Father. We see men who seem to rule over vast financial systems, nations, states, municipalities. Men are looking to find righteousness in their actions. Yet Jesus says, "if you want to be great among men, let (that one who wants to be great) him become a servant."


"Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, 'If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here, for it is written: He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you, and, in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.' And Jesus answered and said to him, It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' " I am still trying to understand how Satan thought this would be a temptation to Jesus after the first and second temptation. What foolishness! But what about us? Are we willing to test God's intent to protect with foolishness and abandon?


After failing to entice Jesus, Satan departed. He would return later. Jesus learned obedience through the temptations. Then, He returned in the power of the Spirit! We will also if we arm ourselves with the same mind. The same Spirit that empowered Jesus in His wilderness will do so in ours as we dwell in the secret place of the Most High!