Obeying God's Word-vs-Obeying man's word

Do we as Christians "truly" listen and obey our Heavenly Father and His Word, knowing that His Word is what is right and true, or do we have a tendency to lean more toward man's word and believe what he has to say?

Some are quick to obey man's word before God's Word. They believe man before they believe God. They seek man before they seek God. They ask man before they ask God. They trust man before they trust God. They will search a self-help book written by man before going to the ultimate self-help book written by the Holy Spirit. And some will continue in the man-mode of obeying and never "truly" look to God for the answers concerning his physical as well as his spiritual life. Why is this?

Are you ready?

Mt. 25: 1-13 (1) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

(2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

(3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

(4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

(5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

(6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

(7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

(8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

(9) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy, for yourselves.

(10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

(11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

(12) But he answered and said , Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

(13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Are you ready? Are you prepared? Do you have plenty of oil for your lamps? What does this mean some may ask? In the Word of God, lamps/light is symbolic of God's Word. His Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path. Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. If you do a study on oil in the old and new testament you will find that it's purpose was for anointing and consecrating. Oil was used to anoint as to dedicate something or someone to a service or goal. Oil was used to make or declare sacredness. Oil was also used for medicinal purposes as to bring healing. By the Power of the Holy Spirit in us we are anointed, dedicated, sacred and even healed.
If a lamp is shining long and bright that means that it has plenty of oil. This is the same with us spiritually speaking. The Word of God in us can only burn brightly if we are full of the Holy Spirit, sanctified set apart and anointed. Oil (Holy Spirit) brings forth the Light (Word), the Light in turn will shine forth from our lives for all to see.
You are the light of the world a city upon a hill, men will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Jesus is the Light within us and it is by His Spirit that we burn brightly. Hide not your light under a bushel. Let it shine forth for all to see.
The foolish virgins did not have enough oil and their lamps went out. They were not prepared. They slumbered, they slept, they became lax in their waiting for the bridegroom. Their connection and their communion with their bridegroom was void and on empty. They had no oil. Now they wanted a quick fix. "Give us some of your oil" they told the wise virgins. They thought they could conveniently ride the coat tails of the wise virgins in requesting the use of some of their oil. But the wise virgins being wise as they were said "NO."
We are all accountable for ourselves to be ready for Christ's return. No one can ride someone else's coat tails into the chamber room of Christ (the bridegroom). To be His Bride ready and prepared takes having an intimate relationship in communion with Him for your own sake by and through the power of His Holy Spirit in your own life.
Always be ready and prepared. Keep filled with the oil of His Holy Spirit. Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh. The wise virgins had plenty of oil in their lamps.
Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Is the Light of Christ/His Word, His love, His Truth burning brightly in your life? To know God's Word, and to know His Son Christ Jesus His Spirit must live within us. Our communion with God only comes through the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus in us. Christ Jesus in us the hope of glory. If you are not filled with the Holy Spirit your light is not burning, which means that there is no communion/connection with Christ in your life. Don't be like the foolish virgins that was not prepared and came to late knocking on the Bridegroom's door only to hear Him say, "I know you not." If you have His Spirit you will be known by Him and will know Him and to know Him is to love Him and love Him is to know Him!
The Spirit and the Bridegroom say COME. The Spirit and the Bridegroom is calling to His Bride. Don't close your ears and eyes to His calling. AWAKE! Bride of Christ. May you long to know Him more intimately through the power of His Spirit and be filled, ready, and prepared for His coming!

JESUS is the WORD

I hear this much to often, "I believe in Jesus, I'm a Christian." But when it comes to the Word many will say, "Oh! that's not for today and you can't believe everything you read in there". Wait a minute now, maybe you don't understand, Jesus and the Word are One, and they cannot be separated for you see JESUS IS THE WORD! So how can you say that you believe in Jesus but not the Word? How can you say that you are a Christian (meaning Christ within) and not believe what the Word of God says?

Jn.1:1- In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God.
Jn.1:14- And the WORD was "made flesh" and "dwelt among us", (and we beheld His glory, the glory of the ONLY BEGOTTEN of the Father), full of grace and Truth.
Jn.3:16- For God so loved the world that He gave His ONLY BEGOTTEN Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Do you see the similarities in those verses. If you truly believe in Jesus then you will believe the Word, because they are the same. I am not being judgemental nor am I condemning anyone I am only sharing God's Word and what it says. I am truly concerned for those who call themselves Christian but toss the Word aside. And sadly many throw parts of the Bible out just so they can continue living a life in sin, because it's easier that way and they don't feel convicted. The Bible says that we are to examine ourselves to see if we are truly in Christ or not. How do we do this you may ask? Well, by simply believing in Jesus/The Word, and believing that He/Jesus and He/The Word is indeed Truth and for us to live by. Jesus/Word is the Way the Truth and the Life.

Sometimes I think it is easier to grasp truths in poetry. So I have a poem to share concerning this subject.

JESUS IS THE WORD

We have lifted our voices and your Truth we proclaim

We have even loved others in Jesus mighty name

But hearts are so cold and hardened to thee

That your Word they reject and from their sins they won't flee

Oh! they say they believe and on your Word they do stand

But when put to the test they fulfill their own plan

They walk their own path and justify their sin

As if your Word means nothing and doesn't pertain to them

They honor you with their lips, just words that is all

For their heart is far from you and to the world they do call

What's going to be sad, is on that final day

When they come knocking at your door and you turn them away

"Depart from me" those words will ring true,

"You workers of iniquity for you I never knew"

"For me to know you and you to truly know me

A love for my Word must be your heart's plea"

"I cannot know you if you toss my Word to the side

For you see it's in me (MY WORD) you abide"

"It's my Spirit that binds us (my Word in your heart)

Which brings us together and never apart"

"For I am the Word and Jesus Christ is my name

And we cannot be separated for we are ONE in the same."

Tamela Greenwell

The Love Test!

May we always be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and offer that special hug or touch, it may mean the difference between life and death for some as well as a test on our part.
Back in 1992 I believe it was, there was a homeless lady who came to a church we use to attend. It was a ladies conference and I was one of the greeters at the door. We were told specifically that we were to receive the tickets at the door and that they could not come into the church without one, I thought to myself, "how rude!" what if someone comes who doesn't have a ticket for whatever reason?

When the homeless lady approached the door, of course I knew that she wouldn't have a ticket but I asked her any ways just in case someone might of gave her one. She told me that she didn't have a ticket, so being the renegade that I am I lovingly stroked her back and said, "come on in, I will find you a seat."

The conference leader approached me and asked if she had a ticket. I said, "No she doesn't, but she should be allowed to attend anyways." I usually just say what I think, sometimes it gets me in a lot of trouble though. I am still seeking some wisdom from the Lord in that area LOL! He is very patient with me. Thank you Jesus!

Well anyways, I had found out later that it was all a set up and the homeless lady was a plant.

We all had volunteered our positions and I love to greet, so I chose to greet the people coming in the door. The test was whether we were going to reach out in love and welcome others despite their appearance and not having a ticket.

Well! Praise be to God I passed the test! I think the conference leader was a little upset though, I think deep down she was hoping that the test would not be passed,
because she was wanting to bring a message as to hammer the people about not loving and accepting others, so it totally caught her off guard and I messed her message all up.

Maybe it was supposed to be a message for herself?

God is so good!

Are you a God-seeker?

Do you know that God delights in us seeking Him? The Word says that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6b). As we seek God with our whole heart He will be found of us. (Jer. 29:13) says: And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

I loved playing hide and seek as a child. It was especially fun the closer it got to being dark outside. When I was growing up the whole neighborhood was our back yard so there were a lot of hiding places. We would try to make some reasonable boundaries of course for everyone. Those were different days then. The neighbors didn't mind when children would play in their yards, and all of them looked out for every one's children. Wow! I am giving away my age now, it's really sad to see how far we have come. Well that was just a side bar. Now to get back to playing hide and seek. Like I said it would get more fun the closer it got to being dark. Things would get pretty tough then. At this point the seeker would sometimes pull out a flashlight and he/her would begin shining the flashlight at certain objects just be sure there wasn't someone hiding there. Sometimes the seeker would sneak up on the hider and shine the flashlight just in time to tag them and now they were it. But most of the time the one hiding would sneak out of his/her hiding place just in time and make it to the home base before the seeker could catch him. Those were some good memories.

Now that I am an adult I have found it very exciting to seek God. What's so awesome about seeking God is that He gives us a flashlight as well. I like to refer to God's flashlight as the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit "flashlight" will never fail in leading us directly to God. He will never leave us groping in the dark. The Holy Spirit will reveal the truths of God to us. He is always faithful in letting us in on the secrets of God and seeing things that we didn't notice without the flashlight. He brings things to light. Of course this is God's plan and how He prefers things to be. What's so great about seeking God is that when we finally find Him He doesn't run away. He just smiles real big and says, "see, I knew you could find me if you sought me hard enough."

What happens when we seek God with our whole heart and find Him? As the Word says, He will reward us. What is our reward? I believe it is the Holy Spirit who is given to us to teach us the deeper things of God. Of course it all begins with His son Jesus. Rewards of salvation and eternal life is our final destination in and through Christ Jesus. But as we grow in Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit within us we are rewarded with revelation and truths about God that the natural man cannot understand because it is spiritually discerned by the Spirit of God. Therefore we are rewarded with the mind of Christ by and through the power of His Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2: 10-16).

And as we are faithful with the truths of God that have already been given to us, then God will give us more revelational truths. The seeking doesn't end it continues. In the beginning we walk to find the truths, then as we find more truths we break into a run because we are excited to find them and want even more. God just smiles so proud and continues to reward us. For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath (Mt. 25:29). We don't want to find ourselves in the latter part of that verse. If you read prior to verse 29 it is the parable of the talents. Our Father God has given us the gift of His Holy Spirit by and through His Son Jesus because of the finished work of the cross. Which is more precious than any talent. We don't want to make light of this and find ourselves in the same shoes as the unprofitable servant that when the Master returns all we have is some lame excuse for our wickedness and laziness. We won't be able to say: I just chose to ignore/bury my convictions and the things pertaining to God. This is not going to hold water my friend. In that day those who try to give lame excuses will find themselves cast into the outer darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

If you are a God seeker, then you will be like unto the faithful servants who took their talents and made more for their Master. You will take very seriously the things pertaining to God. You will be one who is hungry for the things of God. You will not make light of the Truths of God. When your spirit man is checked and there is a red flag that pops up and says, STOP! Wait a minute! Don't do that! Don't go there! Will you be as the good servants and listen and be faithful with what God has given you via His Holy Spirit in you, or will you do as the unfaithful servant did? It is your decision.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I , that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (Jn. 16: 13-15).

The open door of opportunity

Isaiah 55:6-7 (6) Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

(7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

I believe that there is a period of time that the Lord will keep an open door of opportunity before us so we can escape from the dark basement of sin in our lives. Come out of the sinful darkness of sexual immorality, cowardliness, unbelief and faithlessness, murderings, lying, sorcery and idolatry and come into the Light (Rev. 21:8). For there is coming a time when the open door of opportunity will be shut and it will be to late and some will sadly find themselves left in the darkness knocking on the door wanting to be free. But sadly, once the door is shut the opportunity for escape is no longer available.

The Holy Spirit will draw and knock on our heart's door calling for us to come out of the darkness and into the Light. And there is a time frame for each individual to answer His call.

It will be to late for some. The Word of God is full of references in the scriptures concerning this. For example the Foolish Virgins in Mt. 25. In Luke 13:25-27; others came knocking on the door for the Lord to let them in but the Master would not open the door unto them. It was to late for Esau; Heb. 12:7. The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul in 1 Samuel 16:14. In 2 Thess. 2:10-12; this is the great apostasy where men will be deluded and believe a lie and not the Truth. It was to late for all of these people. The open door of opportunity for them had already been shut.

There will come a time when the Holy Spirit will stop drawing and He will shut the door and leave. David would not have prayed such a prayer in Ps. 51:11; Take not your Holy Spirit from me if it wasn't possible for that to happen.

But I have some good news for you my friend! The Word of God says that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12). If you have found yourself entangled in sin's darkness and you are being convicted of this then I can assure you that the Holy Spirit is still drawing you, and there is an open door of opportunity in front of you. It is not to late for you to reach out and walk toward the open door and leave the dark basement of sin in your life. So yield to the Holy Spirit's drawing today and move in a new direction and rise up out of that dark cellar of sin and don't look back. He is drawing you today my friend! It might be to late for you tomorrow.

Today is the day of salvation!
Don't miss your open door of opportunity!

Are you ready?

Mt. 25: 1-13 (1) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

(2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

(3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

(4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

(5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

(6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

(7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

(8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

(9) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy, for yourselves.

(10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

(11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

(12) But he answered and said , Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

(13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Are you ready? Are you prepared? Do you have plenty of oil for your lamp. What does this mean some may ask? In the Word of God, lamp/light is symbolic of God's Word. His Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path. Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. If you do a study on oil in the old and new testament you will find that it's purpose/it's meaning and it's use was for anointing and consecrating purposes. Oil was used to anoint as to dedicate something or someone to some service or goal. Oil was used to make or declare sacredness. Oil was also used for medicinal purposes as to bring healing. By the Power of the Holy Spirit in us we are anointed, dedicated, sacred and even healed.

If a lamp is shining long and bright it has plenty of oil. This is the same with us spiritually speaking. The Word of God in us can only burn brightly if we are full of the Holy Spirit, thus being sanctified (set apart and anointed). Oil (Holy Spirit) brings forth the Light (Word), the Light/Word will thus shine forth from our lives for all to see.

You are the light of the world a city upon a hill, men will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Jesus is the Light within us and it is by His Spirit that we burn brightly. Hide not your light under a bushel. Let it shine forth for all to see.

The foolish virgins did not have enough oil and their lamps went out. They were not prepared. They slumbered, they slept, they became lax in their waiting for the bridegroom. Their connection/communion with their bridegroom was void and on empty. They had no oil. Now they wanted a quick fix. "Give us some of your oil" they told the wise virgins. They think they can conveniently ride the coat tails of the wise virgins in requesting the use of some of their oil. But the wise virgins being wise as they were said "NO."

We are accountable for ourselves to be ready for Christ's return. No one can ride the coat tails of someone else into the chamber room of Christ (the bridegroom). To be His Bride you must have an intimate connection of communication with Him (for your own sake) by and through the power of His Holy Spirit in your own life.

Always be ready and prepared. Keep full of the oil (His Holy Spirit). Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh. The wise virgins had plenty of oil in their lamps plus they even had extra vessels of oil with them. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Is the Light of Christ/His Word, His love, His Truth burning brightly in your life? 

Our communion with God only comes through the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus in us. Christ Jesus in us the hope of glory. If you are not filled with the Holy Spirit your light is not burning, which means that there is no communion/connection with Christ in your life. Don't be like the foolish virgins that was not prepared and came to late knocking on the Bridegroom's door only to hear Him say, "I know you not."

The Spirit and the Bridegroom say COME. The Spirit and the Bridegroom is calling to His Bride. Don't close your ears to His calling. AWAKE! Bride of Christ. May you long to know Him more intimately through the fullness of His Holy Spirit in you. Be filled, ready, and prepared for His coming!