Principles and Patterns
There are principles in scripture that show us the Father’s nature and balance. Being ignorant of these underlying truths causes many to see some of God’s actions in the Bible as being inconsistent. Those who walk close to Yahweh know that His ways can appear different than His works. Besides, in natural (human understanding) things are very different than the spiritual realm. His ways are “higher” means on a totally different level of existence. Inviting Him into all aspects of our lives not, just our hearts when we are ”saved”, will cause us to become sanctified wholly and Holy. Then we are able to dwell/abide in heavenly places with the Lord, meaning in the higher spiritual realm, seeing and doing things from His perspective as well. We don't want to continue walking in the vanity of our minds because the carnal mind (unrenewed/unsanctified)is at enmity with God. Much of the ministry of Jesus/Yahshua was to bring people back to an understanding of simple faith in YHWH.
Actually, the wisdom of God can contradict or negate the "wisdom" of man. 1 Cor. 2 relates to us the difference in using our natural thinking or the mind of Christ. As we grow in grace and truth the desire to follow after the Spirit increases and the temporal values and goals of the corruptible/flesh are diminished. I believe that in the first century the transformation was more quick and complete because they dwelled with each other and were indoctrinated (in the good sense) daily. It is seldom instantaneous but eventually what you profess in Christ has to cause you to become like him in actions and attitude. Even where reading and applying scripture is concerned we need to ask for the illumination of the Holy Spirit to reveal the true meaning of the Word personally. Look how Satan twisted the scriptures when Christ was tempted in the wilderness. In religious traditions we must have discernment because many beliefs/doctrines have either been formed from false roots or the opinions of carnal men. The bottom line is whether what you believe is working.
Jesus had to correct the wrong thinking of the Pharisees; “you say an eye for an "eye" ....but I say bless those who curse you and pray for those who despitefully use you”. They saw the principle of reaping and sowing but missed the true meaning. The message was more than God putting a limit on retaliation. He knows the heart of man and how destructive anger and revenge are. He sees the end from the beginning and is always trying to redeem and restore where loss and conflict are experienced. Our Father expects and empowers us to love our enemies (or former friends that have hurt us). Yes, that means even when they attack/abuse us on purpose. Loving kindness overcomes evil and ends the negative force of the Devil, giving us the victory over the real enemy. Restoration and deliverance are always part of His ultilmate plan.
Even though our weapons are not carnal, we are still opposing very real foes. The primary battle ground is our mind where we must cast down imaginations and the thoughts that keep us from maintaining peace and mercy. The Spirit of Truth is already abiding in us but we must make room for Him to function fully in the anointing and transform us. When we are aware how much God has loved and forgiven us, we will more freely give this unmerited grace to others. Isaiah states that the Spirit of the Lord will abide (fully) in those who have a meek and contrite spirit. No one has "made it" until they are flowing/glowing in the manifest glory of the Father.
Satan is still the god of this world and will try to kill, steal and destroy through whomever he can get to work with him. He is like the playground bully who hits someone and then hides behind the innocent bystander. If he can start a cycle of counter attacks he is successful in his deceptive plot. We must keep our eyes upon our heavenly Father. Our promise to be assured of is that love never fails, for "if we walk in love, the evil one can not touch us". Now that’s a wonderful way to live. It (love) is our protective covering working as an invisible shield if we immerse ourselves in grace/mercy. The glory of the Lord will fill His Temple again as we proclaim; "for the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever".
When we understand that we can overcome evil with good then we are using the same principle (reaping and sowing) but bringing a different harvest. What the carnally minded fail to see is that love will change people. We can't forget the "Amazing Grace" ..that Christ died for all of us, when we were yet sinners, and then cleaned us up. What right do we have to criticize, judge, reject or condemn others. We will be forgiven as we forgive. Rather than exact our form of justice we can allow the Lord to work in negative circumstances and people. I believe that the unmerciful will be judged by their own standard. Vengeance is the Lord’s but most people, even Christians, try to prove their side by blaming and accusing and all the other negative attitudes that we encounter when there are disagreements. Love redeems and sets free.
Jesus came to minister/serve, not to judge because there is more than being right at stake. An example is how he was humble and silent before Pilate. Instead of proving who he was he remained silent and meek knowing that God's purpose was being done through totally terrible circumstances. We can learn to truast Yahweh througha;l the fiery trials that we go through. We will be tested and tried and brought through as pure gold if we allow this work in our lives. As we tehank and praise YHWH in all things we allow the Lord to continue being manifest in our midst. Deciding to believe God for His life an peace gives us entrance into His Kingdom. Believing the enemy's lies and continuing in strife of the flesh brings death and sorrow. We are admonished to sow to the Spirit so that we can reap eternal rewards. We choose life or death by what we say and do in our adversities.
The nature of Holiness is revealed through humility; being filled with the fruit of the Spirit. What we are will need to be true on the inside wwhich will be proven through our outer actions and reactions. As a self-test try putting your name in the blanks as you read....I am patient, kind, long suffering, etc. 1Cor.13. Bearing one another’s burdens is helping others who are weak or socially unacceptable. Love is found in sacrificial giving. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek,the poor,and the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the[spiritualand physical]captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes of those who are bound; Isaiah 61:1(Amplified). This passage Jesus read in the Temple exemplifies all areas of public or private ministry.
God’s mercy triumphs over judgment. He is always patiently drawing the sinner as well as Saint to Him. His love covers the multitude of sins. We want to change an attitude or action of those who hurt or frustrate us but God wants to change the heart to redeem the situation and person. Until our minds are renewed, we have trouble understanding the higher ways of the Lord. He wants us to sow the seeds of goodness which will begin to plant a new life-giving harvest. The fruits of righteousness are sown in peace by those who make peace. One description of a Son of God as a mature believer is to be a peacemaker. If we are diligent we can prevail in overtaking evil with good. This is eating of the Tree of Life in the Garden, the Paradise of His manifest presence. We receive God’s mercy and grow in that grace only as we are made capable to love others from that abundance. His strength is revealed when we are the most frail and incapable of showing good works or attitudes. He then receives all the glory.
The natural man wants retaliation or self-justification but we know there is continual strife in this attitude. How many of us are willing to turn a situation or relationship over to the Lord trusting that He will show us how to bring things to their proper conclusion and reconciliation? This is not passive acquiescence but the active work of faith. YHWH has given us His Word saying “vengeance is Mine and I will repay”. We see Jesus on the cross saying, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. Romans 5:6-8 states, For when we were still without strength,in due time Christ died for the ungodly.7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die. 8 But God demonstrated His own love for us,in that while we were yet sinners,Christ died for us..,becoming the atonement for all. Remember that light will always overtake darkness. If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
I believe that perhaps God’s ultimate vengeance is love. Evil cannot remain in a life that has been transformed by grace. Sometimes we forget that grace is a free gift that has the power to transform us spirit, soul and body. For by grace we are saved and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God and not the result of works lest anyone should boast. Grace is what the Lord has done and faith is our continual response to receive this work of salvation. REalize that the only time the disciples asked Jesus for more faith was when he told them that they must be willing to forgive their brother’s sins 70 times 7 in a day. Relationships are always more important than material things or circumstances. The law of liberty sets us free from our emotional bondages and selfish attitudes. When our heart is cleansed from the defilements of bitterness and lusts then we will experience healing.
Another principle of YHWH is that He can turn all things for good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose. This deals with our continual problem of eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. When we eat of this tree we become a god unto ourselves and avoid people or circumstances that we deem as inconvenient or unworthy or even painful. When we see things through God’s eyes (the eyes of our understanding being enlightened) we no longer can judge whether something is ultimately a problem or blessing because the outcome might be the opposite. Many more people have come to Godfor His help and salvation when things are becoming difficult than when everything is going great.
Many, today, would choose to accept those who are wealthy or influential to fellowship with and reject those who seem unworthy. Faithfulness is much greater than success. Love perfected casts out our fears of rejection or loss. In God’s economy those who help the least of their brethren are those who are serving Jesus. This arrogant attitude keeps us from using our time and resources for the benefit of the whole body of Christ. We are told that the reason many are sick or die is because they did not discern this corporate unified entity as they took “communion”. I can only take this to mean that our lack of mercy and respect for one another brings physical as well as spiritual repercussions. We are part of one another already; continually and as strong as the "weakest link".
I’m leading up to this viewpoint. Some believers will be offended and worse when they see the Tribulation upon them. They will become disillusioned because of false teachings and hearts and betray each other. All must realize that He will not allow us to escape the very thing that is bringing His chosen ones to the place of strength as overcomers. We read that many will wash their robes in the time of the Great Tribulation. Many passages teach that the purififying process prepares us to become a chosen vessels of honor; 2 Tim.2:20-22. Those who suffer/endure persecutions and trials become as pure gold through the fire. Love perfected casts out fear and torment as we trust God to change circumstances, people and our own attitudes.
There are many strongholds in our flesh that our enemy uses to hurt us. It makes sense that the more we hold onto things, instead of "casting our cares upon the Lord", the more painful the situation becomes. We must submit ourselves unto God, resist the Devil and he flees from us. Messiah overcame the Devil in all things as our example. I have been taught that the Devil is starved out rather than shouted out. We have the ability to become people of holiness and puruty where there are no places that the enemy can tempt us either. When Satan came to try/test Yahshua there was nothing in him for he was pure before the Father. We hear of the dominion message which is about retaking the earth and it's resources for the Kingdom to become established. The first dominion that we must take back is our own soul/flesh which is the territory the enemy can operate in. Animals don't know evil or operate in selfish motives. They are free to use their instincts as they were created to do. We are the ones who judge by good or evil.
God will use this time of testing/tribulation to purify His Saints. In the end of the age, tens of thousands will appear before the throne of God who had washed their robes in the Great Tribulation. Those rooted and grounded in His love will not be crushed when afflictions are upon them knowing that He will make a way where there seems to be no way. Understand that God works through terrible situations just as easily as in times of apparent blessings. We tend to forget that the first sin was eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This caused Adam and Eve to lose their covering of protection/glory.
We see patterns continuing as the day of judgment grows near. They are more obvious yet still partial. No matter how many political or environmental catastrophes we observe on the news the trials will soon impact us on a personal level. Prophetic scriptures dealing with the period just preceding the Millennium confirm the events and attainments that must take place before the Lord comes back. Actually, whole earth is waiting in earnest, even travailling, for the manifestation of the Sons of God before Jesus can appear. They will rise up in authority to deliver people from, not just outside influences of evil but all corruption body, soul and spirit. Elijah having Naaman, a leper, wash seven times in the Jordan River (symbolic crossing from death to life) shows a type of this cleansing from corruption of the flesh. Most would agree that the tribulation period is going to be seven years as a confirmation of a pattern that is seen in the Bible.
As the labor pains increase so will the "bearing down" period of trials be more severe. Each contraction is longer and harder than the last one. The resulting birth will be wonderful; total Christlikeness, as the accuser of the brethren is cast down. Rev.12, 1-5. Jesus will be revealed in this remnant/elect before he comes back to establish the Kingdom. It is hard to say what comes first.... When God’s people go through fiery trials they are more likely to fast and pray and seek Him with all of their hearts. This brings more of His power in their lives as well as increasing the fruits of repentance and righteousness. The more He reveals His will, the greater demand upon us to yield and obey. He must chasten and “break” us to restore us to completeness in Him. The problem is that too many have been taught that they aren’t expected to go through anything. We should admit that in times when we have things easy and comfortable, we forget the Lord and try to maintain control over our lives. This is why the prosperity message is so deceitful and dangerous.
The Lord warned us that if we love the things of the world, the love of God is not in us. If you have gone through many trials, by now you hopefully have realized that the most important thing to protect or restore is relationships and integrity, not stuff. To him who is given much, more is required and this generation has had much more exposure to the written and preached word than any other in history. Add to that the experience of the increased flow of spiritual gifts bringing greater accountability before the Lord. As we mature we are able to look at and receive our eternal destiny in our redeemer rather than the things that we were indictrinated in of the world that we now observe are passing away. While beholding Him we become changed into His image from glory to glory.
It works the other way, too. When believers are more hungry for God’s manifest presence and draw near to Him in worship and obedience they experience more difficult trials of faith that befall them for the Word’s sake. We are tested on the Word we have received to see if it’s operational in our lives or just superficial. These trials come upon us to prove our ability to stand in the midst of adversity. The vine dresser comes close to prune branches; painful for a moment but causing more abundant fruit in the vine. Some times we feel that we must be going through troubles because we’ve done something wrong when it is just the opposite. We must see that we are gaining ground and growing stronger. If we allow God to sanctify us, purging out the things of the flesh, then we can dwell in the super natural realm. Satan will tend to attack those who are moving ahead in the pathway of righteousness. When Paul tried to get rid of his thorn if the flesh the Lord exhorted him that he had the sufficient grace to overcome the adversity rather than taking the problem away.
When we look closely at men of faith we will be comforted to know that they were seen as righteous by God even when they “blew it” where obedience was concerned. They suffered many afflictions not just concerning themselves but for the good of all. Each frustrating experience should teach us to respond with joy and peace rather than desperation and negative reactions. Our faith must be tried as gold in the fire because it produces a result that could not be accomplished otherwise. As the pot gets hotter the dross rises to the surface. This brings forth deeper anguish and repentance until we can see the work of purification. The dross that comes up is skimmed off until the reflection of the refiner is seen in the gold for those who are pure in heart will see God. As we learn to yield/submit to receive what is necessary to develop character our testimony will be of Christ in the midst of trials. It is through tribulation, with forceful diligence, that we enter the Kingdom. Suffering and persecutions then become the purifying force unto greater righteousness and holiness.
We must discern the difference between Spiritual revelation and men’s doctrines derived from interpretations of the dead letter. Many have only head knowledge rather than being Christ-like in their nature. Logos (Greek for the written scripture) is not necessarily life giving in itself. We are told not to search the scriptures for eternal life but to know the Father ‘s voice, for “man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds (continually) from the mouth of God.” Revelation knowledge enlightens our understanding; illuminating the Word (rhema), giving us transforming faith and spiritual works that follow. Ultimately, the hearing of the Word that brings faith has been anointed/ spoken by God’s Spirit.
I will interject here that this living Word can come through many different sources as well as scriptures. In all parts of our life we can be edified through Words of Life. The Lord can speak to us in newspapers or conversations. I have felt a “quickening” sensation as I listen with the inner ear of my spirit man not just the outer ear of my mind. The still small voice of the Spirit of God brings peace or confirmation. We should expect and receive a second “witness” to what He is showing us. This Word of God He promises to perform. Meditating upon the pertinent and timely things that YHWH shows us builds our faith and expectation no matter what we see and feel, Isaiah 11. MAry the mother of Jesus pondered the many things that were spoken about the Christ child that she didn't yet understand.
This leads up to the last principle that the Lord showed me. The concept of faith has been twisted to where some think they can create something “by faith” rather than receive what God has already given. The “rapture” in this context will happen because they believe it to be true and likewise going through any tribulation is rejected because they don’t want to receive anything contrary to their feel-good doctrines. We have observed many groups that truly believed that if they dressed up in white sheets and sat on a hill at the right time they would be caught up to heaven. No matter how hard they tried it was to no avail for it was not God’s will or timing. The true “rapture” is found in the fullness of His presence gained through obedience to all His Will.