Ministry and Devotion

A wise Sentient BE-ing once wrote:

"As I sat in a service, a few months ago, listening to the idle chatter of countless ones, sincerely telling of their past experiences as well as their well-taught theology of doctrine, my mind questioned: "Is this what's it's all about?"

One of the many reasons is: I am tired of hearing countless stories of past glory...let's call it what it really is...FADED GLORY! We wonder why we have to plead and beg, borrow and steal, just to have enough in attendance to justify a headcount. What a pity to the Kingdom of God!

We must hear what God is saying NOW! Not what happened 50 years ago! Our past is our enemy as well as the future. We need to thank God for our past and thank God it is our past! That was fine back then, but matters little TODAY, and although I can try to shout with you about it now, it really doesn't mean much to me, because most of those present now are in another time, another place...quite possible, another AGE! It's just not the same! I have come to realize that God is a moving God and will continue to move. That is not an option! I want to find out the "movings and goings of the Lord", and move with Him! I am sick and tired of hearing man glorify himself and glorify others. Let's start glorifying God! Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.. . not some man!. My simple point is: as long as we keep lifting up man, Christ is not being exalted. So as I see it, we have replaced the position of Christ on the throne of our life with a man. When Christ is not on the throne, we've evidently put Him back on the cross, so we can sit on the throne. I believe that is not the right order!

You see for the past couple of months, God has been dealing with me about the condition of His Body, the church, the ekklesia, (the called out ones)...the Body of Christ (Eph 1:22,23; 5:23,29,30; Col 1:18, 24). However, I am dismayed by the lack of spiritual insight into the "Logos" Word of God and the almost non-existence of the "Rhema" Word of God being presented in and among the "ekklesia" today! You see, the house that God told David He was going to build him, has been started. It began somewhere around two thousand years ago and the Chief Cornerstone was laid. But I am concerned that we have decided, since then, to do what God told David HE (God) WAS going to do. That is, He (God) is going to build us a house. Jesus confirmed this when He told His disciples, I go to "prepare" you a place, just as David "prepared" the materials for Solomon. (I Chron 22:5) Well, somewhere down the line, we decided God needed some help, He's not able, and we have labored and labored and labored.....! But God said: I'M GONNA BUILD YOU HOUSE!

You see, I have come to realize that as we commune with God, we go higher. Along with going higher, comes a different dimension, a different view, a different perspective. It is therefore mandatory to review at each level of growth, what you believe to be true. Because I have found out, the view changes the closer to God we become. I don't believe everything I use to believe, there are things I believe now I didn't use to believe, and of course there are some things that I haven't changed my belief . We are changed into His IMAGE. I have also discovered His Image, and my conception of that, is, for the most part, opposites. I can only understand God and His ways with my spirit. My understanding comes from my carnal mind and we know that it doesn't have a chance with God...it's enmity with Him. That's why He said "I'm gonna build you a House." We have tried for years and years to build Him a house, we have tried to reach our city for God, turn the world upside down for Jesus, turn our nation around with our preaching. Somehow we have failed, haven't we? I'm sorry if that bothers you, but it doesn't matter much to me anymore, I'm a dead man. Dead men don't feel much, really absolutely nothing. I am physically, mentally, and spiritually "tired" of all this stuff we have tried to accomplish in the name of God! All of our soulish and carnal works have been in vain.

God said He was going to build the house! I believe everything that happens in our life has been ordered by God and lines up with the purposes and results of the gospel, but what I'm seeing is nothing more than struggling and frustration of trying to attain a goal by a distorted and carnal concoction of human effort. Our hearts are sincerely honest and we really have a pure desire, but we get sidetracked so often, and impatient, so we begin to invent a flood of human ideas to bring our dreams to pass. What if God were to take away from the Church everything He never told us to do? You see David's desires were good and his goals seemed right, but God had a different idea! We have somehow heaped much "religion" onto God's simple plan. Like Martha, we are "cumbered about with much serving" and we are "careful and troubled about many things", whereas, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. (Luke 10:40-41).

Speaking of Mary and Martha, I recently seen a great analogy concerning this story in the Bible. Martha represents "Service" or "Ministry", while Mary represents "Devotion". As the story goes, we know that Service will always criticize Devotion. Mary wanted to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him, but "Service" or "Ministry" will demand their way! But Jesus loved them both! He loved Ministry and He also loved Devotion, however, in the words of Jesus, "Devotion" "had chosen the "Good" part, the part that shall not be taken away". Devotion and Ministry had a brother named Lazarus. Lazarus represented mankind, the adamic nature. And mankind, (Lazarus - carnal man) was sick. Devotion and Ministry sent to Jesus who was "beyond Jordan, in His abode" (John 10:40), saying for Him to come and heal their brother, Lazarus. Of course, Jesus caught the next plane out...right? No, He did what would never, never, never, go over in this society of faithless believers. He stayed two more days!

Now, can you honestly tell me, that if you were a pastor and did that, you would still have credibility? Sis. "No-Feel-Good" calls you to come to the hospital and pray for her and you "tarry" two more days....Ha Ha! Good luck, cause you're gonna need ever bit you can muster up to face the fury of that sister....when you do show up...three days later! You see, Ministry will always criticize Devotion! Yes, Jesus loved Ministry and Devotion, but it was Mankind which caused a groaning from within, even causing tears to flow from the kind, gentle face of Him. Even the Jews standing by said, "Behold how he loved him!"

Then a hidden thought is presented: Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Can you see the spiritual application of that statement? Jesus came preaching and teaching the Kingdom of God. By that, those who were one time blind, could now see. Of course, Jesus healed folks who were physically blind, but I believe the spiritual connotation is of greater value in the Kingdom. Isaiah prophesied years before, "Isa 42:7-8 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Isa 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

In another place Isaiah confirmed he was not talking about physically blind folk, when he said, (Isa 59:10) We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

I really wonder if those who made the statement even knew what they were saying, especially, when they questioned as to why Jesus could not have opened the eyes of AT LEAST his "friends", so they could have seen there was a better way. Even Jesus said to his disciples, And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; ....(John 11:15) I wonder, how many times before that day, Jesus tried to explain what he was now explaining again, let's listen to this conversation... "Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. Jesus was talking to Ministry (Martha) trying to explain "again" a "heavenly" reality. But, as usual, Ministry is caught up in "works" and cannot understand "spiritual" things and goes and gets Devotion (someone who has spent the time, alone with the Master, learning at His feet) and tells her that the Master calleth for her. Did He? Or was that just a way to get out of the fire that was getting hotter by the minute. Mankind had died and the words of Jesus were cutting too deep! Let me go (works) and get my sister! She will possibly understand what you are saying!

Those, who have sat at the feet of Jesus, I believe, will understand the real "spiritual" meat of why Jesus "tarried." First, as was just related, it is a picture of (1) Mankind, (2) Devotion, and (3) Ministry. But the Spirit quickened a much greater truth than the soulish realm we were just relating. See, I believe most of what we have seen and experienced up to recently, has been, for the most part, SOULISH! What is soulish? That is actions resulting from our mindset, our beliefs, our programs, our emotions, our traditions, our doctrines, and many others, but not to exclude...OUR WILL! But the real meat of our Lord's hesitancy comes from a greater realm than we are accustomed, the Spirit! Ah, we say we know it, but do we really? I know you are, as well as myself, are pressing toward that mark just as hard as you can.

Jesus tarried two days and made a great statement to His disciples. "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." I do not think it was mere coincidence that caused a delay in coming to Lazarus, or mankind. It was not yet time! As I meditated on these thoughts, I began to see two analogies paralleling each other.

First, understanding the seven day week of God, and the "like as" principle of a day is "as" a thousand years, we can quickly see that from Adam to Christ was four days or four thousand years. That leaves three days left! Jesus came at the end of the fourth day, the beginning of the fifth day, so for the order of the kingdom to be established, Jesus, being the first-fruit, the pattern Son, the last Adam, had to wait two days...the fifth and the sixth day, and then on the seventh day He came and brought life to mankind... resurrection life!!! I don't know what that does to you, but I'm ready to shout! LOOSE HIM AND LET HIM GO. Mankind is bound hand and foot. He can do nothing and he can go nowhere! His feet and hands are tied! But on the seventh day, mankind is loosed! I believe we are living in the seventh day, don't you?

The other allegory presented is of man. When Jesus arrived the first knowledge he discovered was that Lazarus "had lain four days already." From Adam to Jesus was "four" days...Adam has been dead for four days....four thousand years. Do you hear what I am trying to reveal? But Jesus came to bring life to mankind! Oh, I'm not one to get all worked up over numbers and signs and all such trifle-ness, but here is a great mystery openly unveiled! Adam, as Lazarus, has been "dead" for four days (four thousand years), but Jesus came on the correct day! If He would have come when He was called, He would have came on the wrong day. Great is this mystery, but simple to those who God has revealed it!

We MUST become focused on the proper order and alignment of God. If we ever understand what God is building and how, we must have a proper relationship with Him. I want to "know Him"! That is the sincere cry of my heart! I want to know Him more than anything else in this life. He is my life! I have never been able to say that until recently, because I only had a working knowledge of Him.... not a devotion!

While writing this, the Holy Spirit just revealed another example to me concerning Ministry and Devotion.

Several lines of thoughts are presented to expound this story of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. I have often been reminded of an article I read concerning the principle of "dividing the hoof" and "chewing the cud". That was the "clean" food, according to the law, of which we can eat. The dividing of the hoof speaks of Old Testament and New Testament. If it's found in the New Testament, it should be found in the Old Testament as well. Chewing the cud simply refers to meditation. Haven't you ever noticed a cow when he (or she) is just sitting out in a pasture, or maybe under a tree, just staring out into space...chewing away! That's "chewing her cud", and it represents us meditating. I'm sure we have all been "caught" daydreaming. You know, when someone comes along and has to wave their hand in front of your face to "snap you out of it!" Then they will ask you, "What are you thinking about?" You were meditating on something, maybe good, maybe not so good, but you were "chewing the cud!" God wants us to meditate on the things of the Kingdom and the King!

I have never seen this before, but the Spirit just revealed another example of the two sisters and the ensuing war between them...Ministry and Devotion in the Old Testament!

We read the story of Jacob who removed the stone, that was on the well, to water the sheep of Rachel's at high noon.

Does this not sound familiar with another removing of a stone? "Take ye away the stone" Jesus said to those nearby at the tomb of Lazarus. Of course Martha (Ministry) protested, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Total unbelief! Always looking at what it (ministry) can do, not what can be done for it! "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" So hesitantly, the stone was removed.

Jacob, running from Esau, came to a well and saw shepherds and sheep sitting by the well waiting for everyone to arrive so the sheep can be watered. The "order" of the day was for everyone to bring their cattle and sheep to the well, and when all was there, THEN they would roll the great stone off the well and water the sheep. Doesn't that sound so familiar. When everyone is here, we'll take the stone away so everyone can drink! And not until! Sounds like modern day worship to me! We sit around and wait till everyone arrives, "then" the flocks are watered!

However, Jacob was not familiar with that system and didn't understand the so-called order of the day. So Jacob seeing Rachel, his yet-to-know, soon-to-be-bride, coming in the distance with her Father's sheep, removed the stone...at high noon, not the usual time, but when she arrived, and immediately watered her sheep. He went home with her and so began the love story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah.

Jacob agreed to work for seven years (perfection) for the love of his life, though it only seemed as a few days. Isn't love grand? That's the relationship with our Father, many years of faithfully serving Him seems as only a few days! However, on the morning after the marriage was consummated, the wrong woman was in his bed!

I must confess (though probably with a natural mind), I have never understood how that could have ever been possible. Anyway, the spiritual principal always supersede the natural and it is to that end we are interested. Once again, the soul, the feminine part of man...woman...our mind, will and emotions, WON! Obviously, Jacob was so consumed by his soul ( mind, will and emotions), he missed recognition of his real bride! You see, Laban (a type of the serpent nature) waited "until" evening (darkness) before he brought Leah to Jacob, but come morning light, Jacob's eyes were opened...he was no longer blinded by a mind set on one thing, but the "morning star" light revealed the truth! He was in bed with the wrong woman! But according to the order of "that kingdom" the elder sister had to be given before the younger. Laban made another deal with Jacob, "work with me for another seven years and I will give you Rachel NOW!" (as soon as Leah's week was fulfilled)

Have you noticed, once again, we have two women and two men. Mary and Martha - Leah and Rachel; Lazarus and Jesus - Laban and Jacob. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were related, the same as Leah, Rachel, and Laban. Jacob loved Rachel (devotion, his true love), but because of deception on daddy's (Laban) part, Jacob is forced to love Leah (service) as well. It is obvious from the scriptures, that Jacob's relationship with Leah was one of competition. Servitude will always be one of competition. Who can preach the best, sing the prettiest, quote the Bible the longest, has the biggest church, the biggest crowd, .....the most children.

I was amazed as I began to read the account and actual thoughts, recorded in Genesis, that reveal the true nature of Leah...representing "Works". One of the first thoughts is recorded in Gen 29:32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. By her carnal reasoning ("surely the Lord...") and works she tried to gain love! However, it is written, Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Again we see Leah "working" and "reasoning" again. Producing children! Gen 29:33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. Now she has resorted to sympathy ... nobody loves me, he loves her more than he does me, I am hated!

Gen 29:34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

She is still working! Ministry will continually work to try to please God, while all the time thinking, with sincere motives, by doing this I am pleasing the Father! I don't think so! Works is in another realm, "they that worship me must worship me in Spirit and Truth"

By the time the fourth son came along, I believe Leah had convinced herself that all these "works" were from God (which inevitably was) so maybe she should just praise the Lord....however, I see a "haughty" praise coming forth from her lips. Like... "look at me, I am blessed of God, He has given me four children and Rachel has absolutely zip..zero...none! Praise His Holy Name! I must be beloved in His sight for all these blessings! Oh Sis. Rachel, if you would only do this ...., then maybe, ....."

Can you see the attitude, the competency of spirit? But you know what happened? It worked. Like the continual dropping of water on a rainy day, Leah continually paraded her so-called "righteousness" in the face of Jacob's beloved. Rachel (devotion) succumbed to the chants and persecution of Leah. She cried out to Jacob, "Give me children or else I die!"

There is within everyone of us, the desire to bear fruit. God placed it there! Rachel was simply crying out to Jacob, I am devoted to you, I love you, but why can't I give you fruit? If I can't, I would just as soon die. Of course the endless ravings of her sister didn't help to ease her barren womb. Jacob response was one of anger. "Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?"

So Rachel, Devotion, decided it was time to become like her sister, Ministry or Service. It "worked" for her, why can't it "work" for me? Does this sound like us? We can only hang on to the promise for so long, if we don't see a manifestation...soon... well, let's become like everyone else. Let's do what everyone else is doing. That was Rachel's desperate choice. "Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her."

How familiar does this sound? I can recall grandma doing this, it worked for her.....! IMPROPER ORDER! We don't need another Ishmael! But she was desperate, just like Sarah, her patience, like ours, grows thin and weary and we begin to "work it out" for God! As though He's not big enough to make it happen, so we must help Him out! Oh, really! No! What has happened is we have now joined with our sister Ministry/Service and have decided to "compete" as well! Let's read on and see if this is not what happened.

And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

What did she say? "With great wrestling have I wrestled....!" Is this a spiritual wrestling match? The sad part is, devotion, thinks she has "prevailed!" By becoming just like her sister, she has produced fruit....but not of the right order! It came through "another," the same way Ishmael came, through a handmaid, a servant girl, given the "bedroom experience"...intimacy with another's husband! And it produced fruit! Maybe not the right kind of fruit, but fruit was produced, which can satisfy the soul, but not the spirit!

Just as Grandpa Abraham had gone in to Sarah's handmaid, we find history repeating itself again. Sarah, the wife...representing the soul (that part of us that is moved by our five senses), is suggesting to Abraham, the husband, ....representing Spirit (the Christ mind), the idea of a carnal, self-taught, I-can-do-it-myself thought of producing a child by another method other than the "promise." That's how carnal man thinks. A messenger is sent with the good news message. However, the manifestation "seems" to be delayed in coming. Because of the delay, man begins to suggest to himself "another" way....thinking he is actually "helping" God fulfill the "promise."

What was really produced was "more" competition. Notice what happens next:
When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

Improper order always breeds.... IMPROPER ORDER! A seed can only produce after it's own kind. So an out of order system will always produce an out of order system. It's really very simple. Get in order and out of "right order" will come forth correct order!

Leah, the "works mentality" saw another form...another way...another program of producing more seed....by the actions of desperation of her sister.

So she said, "Ah ha, that's an excellent idea, Rachel! Here, Jacob, take my handmaid and you "know" her also. Become intimate with her as you have with me and we'll produce an "army."

That's what Gad means: a troop cometh! This is such an excellent idea, thanks sis for inspiring that thought. Why we can produce just about anything we want. If this one wears out, why, we'll get a new one. We'll just spread our intimate times with everyone. "Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed:" Leah said after her second son by her handmaiden....Ah,...the deception that can so easily deceive!

On another occasion, Reuben, Leah's firstborn, went into the field and found some mandrakes. Mandrakes are plants whose root resemble the body and from whose root a narcotic was prepared. These plants held an attraction that was coveted by the women of that day and here is no exception. Even Rachel ask for some of Reuben's mandrakes. To which Leah responded, "Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes. And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night."

We can easily see that Rachel was loved, but Leah was not. Leah had to resort to all sorts of manipulation to win the attention of Jacob, notice I said "attention", I don't believe she ever won his "affection."

The mandrakes did their purpose and Leah conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Notice her smug reaction: "God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar. She is really getting "brassy" and bold. She actually believed that God opened her womb again because she had given her hand maiden to Jacob. She believed that the IMPROPER ORDER she had seen her sister do "first", was a blessing from God and it (the IMPROPER ORDER) was BLESSED! We, too, have been caught in the same deception. We think that because we are being blessed by circumstances that God is smiling down on us, while the whole time we are in IMPROPER ORDER! We may be blessed, but is it from GOD? Actually, she hired Jacob by her son's "mandrakes" and then claimed God blessed her BECAUSE she had given her maiden to her husband! We have all seen this happening among the "ministry." We hire the best singers, the best musicians, the best pastors, the best apostles, the best prophets, the best evangelists, the best teachers, and, bless God, He has rewarded us because of our "obedience," when the whole time it was because of "our" doings or "our hire!" We have filled up our buildings because of our allurement of "mandrakes" (sensual pleasures of the soul) and the people have come from "afar" to hop into bed with us! God help us to wake up!

Leah soon bore Jacob another son, this by the way, was to be the last son...the sixth...the number of "man." The seventh and last child born to Leah was a daughter. Interestingly enough, Leah never stopped believing that if I can only "produce" more, then he (Jacob) will love me and will dwell with me. Listen to her now after the sixth son: "God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

"Works" will always try to convince you, if you can "produce" enough stuff, work enough programs, do enough ministry, labor, labor, labor...then you can win the heart of your lover...the Father! But, I need to pop that ecclesiastical balloon, YOU NEVER WILL! IT IS NOT WORKS THAT WINS THE HEART OF GOD, IT IS DEVOTION! Paul said, (my translation) Not of works, lest MAN could lay hold on the glory! (Eph 2:9)

It was after this that Leah was judged and bore a daughter. Dinah was the final fruit of Leah's womb and I believe it was fruit of judgment. That's what Dinah means: judgment, the suit, justice, sentence or tribunal. Leah "bore" the image of the soul, the realm from which she operated, the female part... soul realm.

Maybe we need to develop this thought. God created mankind both male and female. Man, as well as women, has suppressed this message because of pride. This evil generation of macho and liberation has caused this message to be hid. Science has proved that each of us contain both male and female hormones. This is a physical picture of a greater spiritual one. For spirit is masculine and soul is feminine. Within every man, woman, boy and girl is a male, (spirit) and a female (soul) and we all have a body. That's why we are made of three parts: Spirit, Soul, and Body. Paul writing to the church at Corinth told them to let the women, the soul, the carnal mind, be silent in the church. If they want to be soulish and learn, then learn at home. This is a great mystery unless the Sprit has revealed it. I pray the Spirit of Truth will quicken the hearts and minds to all who read!

Rachel soon realized that what she had done in trying to "help" God out, in providing her maid servant to Jacob for the purpose of producing fruit in her house, was wrong. It wasn't working, it was an out of order system. Actually it caused the circumstances that were stacked against her to increase even more. Whereas before, the score was only four to nothing. Then Rachel scored two. That brought the count to four to two. Then Leah came back and scored five more, two by Zilpah, her maidservant, and three by Leah, which brought the score to nine to two. So by contrast, the score actually doubled on Leah's account because of the foolishness of Rachel. You may be thinking I'm making light of their lives by comparing it with keeping score. Let me ask you a question. Isn't that what competition is about? Keeping score. Isn't that why we number warm bodies, fill out visitor cards, count offerings, add up square feet of building space, etc.! We're keeping score. Rachel and Leah were no different than you or I.

But the Lord "remembered" Rachel and she conceived and bare her firstborn son, Joseph. Her words were simply: "God hath taken away my reproach:" What reproach? The one caused by walking away from being devoted to Him. She now started operating by faith and called the name of her firstborn: Joseph, meaning "The LORD shall add to me another son." How, but only in the eyes of faith, operating from her Christ mind, could she say such. Obviously, she had only borne one son, and that had taken many years and many heartaches and troubles. So how could she be so sure that God would add to her another son. She confessed it every time she called Joseph's name.

We have heard so much unscriptural doctrine taught about confession that we have missed or forgotten a powerful revelation. That before anything is manifested, it must first be spoken! Some movements of our day, have tried to turn that truth into selfish gain to get earthly possessions and the like. But that is a spiritual principle that only works in the Kingdom of God. "Thy will be done in earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN." But, before it can be confessed, it must be heard or seen in the heavens or kingdom. We have tried to confess earthly things into the kingdom, but that is wrong order. The order is Kingdom things manifested in the earth. Jesus did not tell us to pray that "thy will be done in heaven as it is in earth," but rather He said pray: " Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven!"

Of course we could continue this story for many more pages, but we know that Rachel, indeed, did bear a second son. She received in God's timing everything He had planned for her. In fact, it was Joseph, her firstborn, who became the actual savior of Israel while the rest of the world was experiencing a famine. God placed within the heart of different ones, a preparation for the coming famine, and through many trials and tests, Joseph came forth victorious and became the salvation of Israel. God miraculously sustained a nation in the midst of another country by the hand of a baby born from a true love between a man named Jacob and a lady named Rachel (devotion). I am convinced, we must be devoted entirely to our Father, to sit at His feet and learn His ways and His will. If we do, and will not be detracted by our sister, Ministry and Service, and the competition of all it includes, we will wait for the promise of a son, another Joseph, who like Jesus, will become Savior of this world.

We have to remove ourselves from this laborious attitude of works. We cannot continue in the old paths, "we have not been here before!" I know it's new ground...thank God! Paul prayed for the believers at Galatia, "...of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Gal 4:19). If Christ is to be formed in us, and if there is to be a birthing of anointed things among us, it will be the product of proper relationship. We haven't had a proper relationship. When a healthy father and mother come into proper relationship, they don't have to "try" to have children....it comes "naturally". Matter of fact, they have to be careful not to produce more offspring than they can properly raise!

In the same way, reproduction and fruitfulness are the natural product of proper relationships in the Kingdom of God. One wrote, "Our lofty Kingdom goals of reaching towns, cities, nations, and the world shouldn't be seen as our cause and goals, as much as they should be the supernatural result of proper spiritual relationship, order, and alignment. All too often, we focus on the result instead of the purpose. If we can discern the consistent spiritual order He wants to observe in our lives and ministry, then we won't have to spend so much time struggling to "work" the Kingdom!"

There seems to be too much "work". Let me say it this way...competition! This generation of Christians are drowning in a flood of human ideas and programs, trying to bring "God's dreams" to pass. God dealt with me in April of 1995 about the "spiritually fat" church of this generation, going from one diner to another, looking for another "meal" or "feast". However, if not properly exercised, trained, and commissioned,...the Body will become FAT! The most simplest definition of fat is: stored energy! Energy is made to produce not be stored! Fat bodies breed laziness. Laziness breeds complacency, complacency produces lack....I could go on and on, but apply that spiritually.

I believe we must become like Philip who got tired of mourning over the stoning of Stephen, and decided to "go down to Samaria!" What did Samaria represent? It meant a "going down" to! Philip went down to Samaria and preached Christ unto them, Who is them? The low-life...down in Samaria. I believe Philip "finally" looked and remembered the parting words of Jesus in Acts 1:7, 8 "And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Hear and obey, look into the heavens and manifest it here on earth! That's what Philip did and looked what happened. (Acts 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.)

The Kingdom of God was manifested!...there was great joy in that city... Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. As we have all said, we must change the way we think; turn about!

The Lord just recently showed me that when He speaks it's always behind us. (John 20:16; Rev 1:10 That doesn't necessarily mean you will hear a voice behind you, but it means you will turn about...repent. (Rev. 1:12 Ex. 3:3,4 Act 11:21) I am persuaded the only way we can ever hear the Lord is to change our mind, or in other words, EXCHANGE OUR MIND FOR HIS! We must lose our head, our carnal mind and take on the mind of Christ, get in the Spirit, so we can operate in the Kingdom of God, for it is a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly one.

Old things have passed away, and behold everything has become new! This is the greatest time in my life so far! And according to the Bible it will continue to increase and there shall never be an end...eternal!(Isa 9:7) I have moved into a place that I don't want to leave. There's a hunger and thirst for Him every day not being satisfied, but actually increasing, and I believe this to be an order of the Kingdom. (There's that opposite again), naturally we eat and get full, spiritually we eat and want more! Total opposites! I guess that's why it's written - man just cannot perceive the things of God...they're beyond him! Man's looking in the wrong direction! If you want to see what God is doing: TURN AROUND! CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK, let me say it another way, RENEW YOUR MIND!

You see, there is another system at work in the world today that is called "Babylon" in the Bible. This system started in Genesis and continues through the whole Bible. It is a system that is built and ruled by man, whose goal is to manipulate, dominate, and intimidate all of it's citizens, which, simply put, is nothing but the spirit of witchcraft,. In Revelations, it is likened to a great harlot that has for many years seduced the nations of this world. And I understand what it means to "come out of her", but as we have always done, we always go to the extreme. So we figure if coming out is good, then separation must be better! NO! IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE!

Jesus said DO NOT put your candle under a bushel, we left that one in the children's song. Jesus prayed to NOT to take us "out of" the world, but to keep us "from" the world or Babylon. In fact, I find a "religious" spirit rising up within the so called "called out" ones who wants to separate from the very ones who need it the most. We have a tendency to build our fences tall enough no one could even approach "our righteousness!" Actually, I believe the "coming out" is not so much as talking about coming out of Babylon, the system, as it is talking about getting the Babylon out of us!

I have apologized long enough for NOT telling it like it is! I'm not upset, I'm not mad at a church, I'm just plain tired of the lie that is still being propagated to the "church" that we must separate ourselves in the world. I don't think that can ever be proven in the right context within the covers of the Holy book! The examples I have read, show just the opposite! Jesus, Himself, was ridiculed, persecuted, talked about, slandered, etc, because of that very thing. We have preached something that Jesus FAR EXCEEDS! We must be kept "from", but not "separated"! Moses went back to Egypt...a type of Babylon. Daniel went down to Babylon. God never once forsook them. As a matter of fact, the darker the night, the brighter the light. I heard one guy say one time, "We have believed the lie that if we go "down" to Egypt, the "other" churches, the local bar, the sin-ridden places of society, that we might "get" a demon! No, it's the religious demon in you that is jealous of that other demon you think you might get "down" there".... in Samaria, Egypt, Babylon, or whatever name you may choose to call it!"

Jesus said, They that are whole do NOT NEED A DOCTOR! We've done just the opposite. We minister healing every day to well people. We minister salvation to "the choir," We teach doctrine to the teachers....! They, in turn, hear that stuff preached so much, they began to believe there must be something wrong with them and then take on this "sin-consciousness." Never ever realizing "WHO" they are in Christ!

Maybe I have a different definition of Babylon than most do. But you see, the bible begins with two women, and ends with two women, mothers, cities, whatever you prefer to call it: Jerusalem and Babylon. Jerusalem is the mother of us all, but there is another woman that is a man-made imitation, a man-created system of orderly arrangements, "his world" called Babylon. I heard one brother describe Babylon: "She is the great whore. She can "wow" the apostles, just as she did John on the isle of Patmos. Do you know what a whore is? She is someone who will take your money and make you feel good! She spends her life doing aerobics so she will be fit and trim. She'll have operations to be busty and glorious, and she'll even have her lips fixed! She knows when to moan and she knows when to groan. She knows the right things to say, and what to whisper in your ear, but she has absolutely no interest in having your baby! She knows nothing of sleepless nights, caring for your children, nothing of washing dirty diapers. She knows nothing of relationship or commitment. She has MANY lovers. She is only interested in giving you a good feeling in exchange for your money. Sounds like Sunday morning church to me! Who has the biggest choir. Who can afford the best preacher. Who brings in the most expensive evangelist and musicians? The ones who has the best whorehouse is the one who has the most business, the biggest crowds." (end quote)

Yes, I know who Babylon is! But I also go a little farther than most folks, because I came to an understanding, not too many months age, that God loves them, in that system, just as much as He does you and me. I have also come to the realization that all this was part of the plan of God. Because, deep down inside, God has placed a seed of Himself in EVERY man that has ever walked on this earth.

I firmly, unreservedly, believe that EVERY man will one day find their way home, just as the prodigal son did, after he had spent all his money, time and effort on the whores, whims, and wishes of Babylon, he came to himself and went home to Father! From what I've heard many say, they don't believe in the total 100% redemption of ALL MANKIND! But, you see, I DO! There are too many scriptures we need to tear out of our bible for that not to be true.

That's why I am so saddened by the fact that most systems in place today do not know the will and purpose of God. It only comes to one who has got off the beaten paths and climbed the mountain and sat at the Master's feet (Devotion) and heard the deep things of God!

I must ask a question: How big is your God? Did he do all this to watch ninety to ninety five percent of all people sentenced to some hellish pit of fire to be tormented forever. NO, I don't think so. The Father gave ALL to His Son and NONE will be lost. Paul said: For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive. How can a righteous God hold the creation responsible for something they never had a part of ? How can a just Father command us to love our enemies and then condemn His enemies to a place of everlasting torment? I can tell you the answer! HE DIDN'T, but knew from the foundation, His ultimate plan of all ages. Oh there's only one door and that door is Christ Jesus and every man must come through that door.

The problem has been and still is today, the idea that we have relegated salvation for this LIFETIME only! Where did we ever come up with that one? Where in the scriptures is such an idea? It's not! Matter of fact, Jesus himself proved that dogma to be a lie when he went and preached to the dead, thereby giving them another chance.

Speaking of chances, how many did you get, one? Two? Twenty? Fifty? Is it safe to assume everyone, everywhere has received that opportunity? I don't think so! How stupid have we been! Our traditional thinking has got to go, we MUST REPENT! God forgive our ignorance and traditional heady high-mindless.

I know this message will oppose tradition in a blazing fury. That's why I have been "hidden in the house" like little Joash. Athaliah is waiting to kill those who have been hid in the bedchamber, the intimate place with the Father. Where secrets are manifested, revelation is uncovered, where pure, unadulterated truth sets you free! She operates from the spirit of Jezebel and wants to kill all the prophets of God. She's killed our brothers, they are falling right and left, but if we can only stay hidden in the house long enough, the seventh year is coming!

The Lord warned me a while back by saying: "Don't be an Ananias and Sapphira. Don't hold back any part of what I have given you."

If you recall the timing of that story, the order of the Kingdom was in place. Everyman had all things "in common." Anything which one possessed was not his own, but was given for use by all. Neither was there a destitute or needy person among them and great grace rested richly upon all! Yet Ananias and Sapphira determined in their heart to withhold a portion of what was given them. Yes, the story is speaking of the price of a piece of property, but do not miss the "proceeding" Word of the Lord. Do not withhold ANY PART of what has been given to you. For Satan, the carnal mind, will try to convince you, if you give it, then everyone will know what you know and you will be just like everyone else, instead of someone great, possessing "more" than they...and hence the stumbling block.

However, we know the end of that story also concludes the same for that mind, it must die. The soul that sinneth must surely die! Was it not your own to do with as you wish? Even after you sold out, was not the price received still your own to do with as you pleased? Yet, you contrived in your heart to deceive others by only giving the part "you" felt comfortable with. Yet you retained the "other" part...the feet of the young men are at the door...!

Then the Word of the Lord came to me concerning the fact He was getting ready to bring great revelation through the "door" of our house. I can only believe it was because of learning what I have spent most of this article discussing...DEVOTION!

I believe the next few months or years, we will experience phenomenal things in our lives. It's already begun to happen. However, this new thing is not something we are doing, it's being orchestrated in the realm of the heavenlies! God is building His House!

I feel there are those who are under a great deal of pressure from many to enforce what has traditionally been taught and maybe we ourselves have taught. It's hard to die, to lose your head! But come hell or high water, we must do it! God is building HIS church, He don't need our input. He simply needs us! He has an order. We must quit building new "oxcarts." I'm sure the intention was great and sincere, but as it always goes, it ends up a mile-high wall to protect our valuable tradition. No! God's order will prevail. Man will build new oxcarts continually, but good men will die trying to protect that tradition of something totally against the order of God!

We have ten thousand boy-teachers! But only ONE Father! We need to "hear and obey" Father to be set in proper order, learn from the servant to become a son, so we will be equipped and found faithful in all things concerning the Kingdom, who are called by God and not man, who understand HIS will and purpose, and will cease from our labors and enter into His rest. I DID NOT SAY: CEASE LABORING, BUT RATHER, CEASE FROM "OUR" LABORS SO WE CAN DO "HIS" WORK!

May the Spirit of Truth quicken these words to your Spirit!"

Are you in Ministry or in Devotion? Better still, are you Devoted to your Ministry or to your Devotion?

Namaste

Sirius8

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