A body of water can be a very dangerous place. I remember once, when I was about 9 or 10, that I nearly drowned in a river. Since 1850 over 5,000 bodies have been recovered from Niagara Falls. Some of those deaths were accidental, many were suicides, and a few were daredevils who tried to ride barrels, or other contraptions over the falls.  There are some bodies of water you want to avoid.

What if I told you that God possesses a body of water… a river that he wants you to…

Get in over your head……Give yourself over to the river…..To be swept away in its current…..to get to a place in this river where you are helpless…..

Ezekiel writes about this river – it’s a vision about absolute healing in the nation of Israel……

I want to tell you about a spiritual river that flows through this world right now. I want to tell you about a river that brings refreshment, power and glory right now. I want to tell you about a river you can swim in.

This sermon is about becoming more of what the Lord wants each of us to be…….it’s about….

Leaving the shore of stagnant, disappointed Christianity and wading into the deep spiritual waters of the born again life!

In the church today many have become far too cautious about giving their all to Jesus. Many are afraid of getting in over their heads.

I want to ENCOURAGE you to throw caution to the wind today!! I want to challenge you to wade out into the deep water, and to release yourself to the current of God’s will and power.

I have learned so much about being a “Christian”  – we have taken the gospel and cheapened it, made it “easy” and a no-brainer thing to do…. We can add salvation into our lives and still live the same life…..the result is frustration, brokenness, secret sin, addictions, divorce, depression and the list goes on and on….

We have people raise their hands and repeat a prayer and BAM ETERNAL SALVATION!! We teach them the “right things” such as….

Die to self daily….Crucify yourself… Carry your cross…be Holy for God is Holy…  nail it to the cross….Leave it at the altar… only to end in disappointment and failure.

I have found the secret place – the place where there is VICTORY – the place where there is FREEDOM – the place where we are suppose to dwell as Christian people! It’s called REST!! Enter into God’s REST!!

We all need Him, but we think we can do on our own. We know we are broken, we know we need something…..so we end up trying to fix ourselves in relationships, or we end up in addictions….. We find someone hoping they can save us only to find out when we get to know them they have baggage too!! I have problems they have problems – we learn they can’t be our savior…..

On the 7^th day God said “It is GOOD, and rested” – It’s called the Sabbath day which means REST –

In Jer. 17 he speaks of the Sabbath he says “do not bring loads of…..into the gates” God wants us not to come into his presence loaded down, with baggage from our lives, loaded with guilt, loaded with “stuff’ – He wants us to enter into his presence FREE and light so we will have a “TRUE WORSHIP EXPERINECE WITH HIM” He wants FREEDOM WITH ME…

We get bogged down with the stuff of the world, money problems, relationship problems, work problems, addictions, secrets, deceptions……..trying to hang on by a thread at times hoping that if we could JUST CONNECT WITH HIM I could be FREE!!! And we enter into the “Sabbath” loaded down!!

When God gave the 10 commandments HE said “Remember the Sabbath Day” – remember SIN BREAKS SABBATH – or REST!!!! Remember the things you hold on to breaks REST – remember the relationships that are killing you, the secrets that are holding on to you – the sin that has hold on you – the money problems you have, the job that …..the child that……….. the wife that………the husband that…….the……………the anything that……… BREAKS REST!!!

When Jesus comes onto the scene and he says ….. well he actually screams ““Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”….Matthew 11:28-30

Most shout about it – most dance about it – But MOST never do respond to it.

You see, we only enter the rest of God by our relationship with Jesus Christ. As we live consciously presence, we are at rest, and he provides our needs.

Husbands and wife’s — parents and children – friends and families all of these are connected by love. All are a different kind of love but LOVE is the key that makes relationships work. We all know that words are cheap, anybody can say “I love you” with their words and hurt you deeply with their actions. How can this be? I am going to speak to the husband/wife relationship although the “truth” is for all relationships. It is what brings words and actions together.

We are all born with the ability to love but this love is formed in what we see and experience as we grow up. Our parents, families, friends, teachers and so on. Children are starving for love if they do not get it as they should they will do whatever it takes to try and find it. Our self esteem is wrapped up in love and how we view it, experience it. So with that said you can see how there are so many dysfunctional teens, young adults and gown adults with their own families in this world. Who are trying to raise their own children only to take dysfunction to a new level in the next generation. I DO understand that there are mental disorders etc that play into all of our lives at the same time, so I am not saying everyone is a certain way because they were not loved.

For me most of my life I have been really good at making people feel like I love them with my words and some of my actions, but when it came right down to it when my selfish thoughts, desires, needs would kick in my life became all about me and I would leave my loved ones hanging, hurting, crying and alone, with a broken heart and a broken spirit. Over the years of my life I have hurt so many people that I can’t even count them all, and it brings me to tears to even think about it. But it does cause me to dig in and find out how this could be. I do know the answer…..and that answer is a reality in my life now!!!

Doesn’t it make you scratch your head when someone can be so in love and then leave their mate so broken and hurt? Have you ever been shocked to find out about a man or woman who had a secret life on the side. Why do you think it makes national news when a “star” has fallen in their marriage or relationships? It’s NOT supposed to be this way.

It is one thing to be “in love” with your wife or husband but it’s another thing to love them with your spirit. Let me try to explain this. I believe in God, I believe that we are all born with the Spirit of God after all He created us in His image. But through what happened with Adam and Eve in the garden our “spirit” died and lies dormant until awakened by the Holy Spirit. When this takes place (at salvation) everything has the ability to change. Our body has five senses that enable us to receive information from the physical world, just as our spirit enables us to receive information from the spiritual world.

At the miracle of the new birth, our spirit is joined to the Holy Spirit and filled with supernatural life. We were created with a spirit so that we could relate to God who is spirit. Our spirit is the place where we communicate with God directly and receive revelation from the Spirit.

¹⁷ But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1 Cor. 6:17)

There are two Greek words for life in the New Testament. The Greek word psuche speaks of natural life that all humans and animals have. The Greek word zoe points to the supernatural life of God; it is the quality of life that God has. God breathed zoe life into Adam’s spirit at creation.

Before Adam sinned, his spirit governed his soul and body. His spirit possessed the zoe life of God; thus, his spirit was dominant in his decision-making and thought processes. His physical appetites, five senses, and emotions were subject to his spirit. After Adam sinned, his spirit became devoid of God’s zoe life and filled with darkness and became spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1). Things reversed as his body (five senses) and soul (emotions) gained power over his spirit.

The challenge is that we do not feel or discern our spirit. Our spirit man is “spirit” and, therefore, it is invisible and indiscernible, even “hidden” from our five senses. We cannot measure our spirit with our five senses. Peter and Paul referred to our true life, or our spirit man in this age, as being “hidden” in Christ. Our born-again spirit is called “the hidden person of the heart.”

⁴ The hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle spirit… (1 Pet. 3:4)

 ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:3)

We only know the truth about our spirit because the Word reveals it to us. Unbelievers only know about their condemnation before God because it is revealed in the Word. This is the same way that we know about our future resurrected body. As Abraham believed what God said about him without being able to see it with his eyes, so we believe (Rom. 4:18-22). Most believers do not know who they are in their spirit. They rarely ever think about their spirit. As we receive training related to our body and soul, we must receive training related to our spirit.

As we grow in our spirit-man we begin to love in a new way. I have learned that the way I love my wife today is so deep and so different that it was in the past. Why, because I LOVE HER IN THE SPIRIT, I care for and see her spirit, I love her and see her the way that God loves her!! I love her in the Spiritual Realm not just in the natural. The natural world will always let you down, people grow old, get wrinkles, loose hair, teeth, blah blah blah… the world has us to believe we will be loved more if we look and keep our youth. THIS IS A LIE!!! Growing old and dying is a TRUTH, it’s part of life.

Are there men and women who love deeply without being filled with the spirit. YES I believe that there are but it is rare and the truth is we do not see behind closed doors. Jesus says to love as He loves…. There are hundreds of Scriptures about love and it even goes as far to say if you say you love ME and hate your neighbor you are a LIAR.

This is a truth for ALL relationships. Loving someone in the flesh and loving someone in the Spirit is complete true love that cannot be shaken by the world. Your friends, children, co-workers. CARE the SOULS of your family –

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don’t know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I’ll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

The concept of entering into God’s rest comes from Hebrews 3–4. What is this rest the Hebrew writer is talking about? How do we enter it? And how do we fail to enter it? The writer to the Hebrews begins his discussion of God’s rest in chapter 3 where he references the Israelites wandering in the desert. In giving them the land of Canaan, God had promised them that He would go before them and defeat all their enemies in order that they could live securely (Deuteronomy 12:9-10). All that was required of them was to fully trust in Him and His promises. However, they refused to obey Him. Instead, they murmured against Him, even yearning to go back to their bondage under the Egyptians (Exodus 16:3, 17:1-7; Numbers 20:3-13).

The particular “rest” referred to here was that of the land of Canaan. Into that rest God solemnly said the Israelites who disobeyed Him would never enter (Hebrews 3:11). They had been rebellious. All the means of reclaiming them had failed. God had warned and entreated them; He had caused His mercies to pass before them, and had visited them with judgments in vain; and He now declares that for all their rebellion they should be excluded from the Promised Land (Hebrews 3:16-19). But eventually, the next generation did place their faith in God, and by following the leadership of Joshua they, some forty years later, entered into God’s rest, the land of Canaan (Joshua 3:14-17).

Using the Israelites as an example of those who were not resting in God’s promises, the writer goes on in chapter 4 to make the application personal, both to the Hebrew Christians and to us: “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it” (Hebrews 4:1). The promise that still stands is the promise of salvation through God’s provision—Jesus Christ. He alone can provide the eternal rest of salvation through His blood shed on the cross for the remission of sins. God’s rest, then, is in the spiritual realm, the rest of salvation. Faith, he goes on to assert, is the key to entering God’s rest. The Hebrews had had the gospel preached to them, just as the Israelites knew the truth about God, but the messages were of “no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith” (Hebrews 4:2). Some of those Paul was addressing had heard the good news of Christ, but they rejected it for lack of faith.

Hebrews 4:10-13 explains the nature of this faith. The kind of faith that enables us to enter into God’s rest is a faith that first demands that we rest from relying on our own works. Then the writer seemingly contradicts himself by telling us to make every effort: “For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:10-11). What this apparent paradox means is that such biblical faith involves our submissiveness to God, and our efforts in that area.

Though we desist in our self-efforts to earn salvation and the promised eternal rest, we also “make every effort to enter that rest” by choosing to depend solely on God, to trust Him implicitly, to yield totally to the promises of God through the free grace of His salvation. Why? So “that no one will fall by following their [the Israelites] example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:11). We either trust ourselves to save ourselves, or we trust God to do that for us through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. By failing to trust God fully in His promises, we become disobedient and fail to enter the rest that is eternal life, just as the children of Israel did when they failed to enter the Promised Land.

So how do we stop trusting ourselves? How do we place our full trust in God and His promises? We enter into God’s rest by first understanding our total inability to enter God’s rest on our own. Next, we enter God’s rest by our total faith in the sacrifice of Christ and complete obedience to God and His will. “And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief” (Hebrews 3:18-19). Unlike the Israelites whose unbelief prevented them from entering the Promised Land, we are to enter God’s rest by faith in Him, faith which is a gift from Him by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).

 

Have you ever thought about What if, for one day, Jesus were to become you?  What if for 24 hours, Jesus wakes up in your bed, walks in your shoes, lives in your house, assumes your schedule?

Your boss becomes his boss, your mother becomes
his mother, your pains becomes his pains? With one exception, nothing about your life changes.

Your health doesn’t change, Your circumstances don’t change, your schedule isn’t altered. Your problems aren’t solved. Only one change occurs.

What if, for one day and one night, Jesus lives your life with His Heart? Your heart gets the day off, and your life is led by the heart of Christ. His priorities govern your actions. His passions drive your decisions. His love directs your behavior.

Can you imagine? What would you be like? Do you think people would notice a change? Your family — would they see something new? Your co-workers — would they
think someone else had been hired? What about your friends? Would they detect more Joy? What about your enemies?

Would they receive more mercy from Christ’s heart than
from yours? What about YOU? How would you feel with God’s heart in you? Would your stress level go down? What about your temper? Would you sleep better? Would you still dread what your dreading? Better than that,
would you still do what your doing?

Think about your schedule, what you have planned, With Jesus taking over your heart, would anything change?

Can you see what your life might look like with Jesus leading your life?

That picture that you see, with Jesus leading your life is what God wants……. The Word says we are to “think and act like Christ Jesus.” Another passage says, “to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”.

 

 

 

Have you not deeply desired to see God, to know Him intimately and truly? Beloved, to see Jesus is to behold God. Let us not consider it heresy: we can surely see God! But first we must renounce every perception of the Almighty other than what we have proven true in Christ.

Therefore study the life, teachings, and deeds of Jesus Christ, and you will remove the veil of mystery surrounding the nature of God.

Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

What truth could be more profound? Each time we read of what Jesus did, we are actually beholding the nature of God. Every time we listen to what Jesus taught, we are hearing the voice of the living God.

Jesus is the image of the invisible Father (Heb. 1:2-3). “In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Col. 2:9). Jesus is God’s form. He mirrored on earth those things He saw His Father doing in Heaven; He echoed the words the Father whispered to Him from eternity.

Do you truly desire to see God? Christ’s words are windows through which the pure in heart behold the Almighty (Matt. 5:8).

Certainly others can greatly edify our hearts, but no one excels the revelation of God in Christ. Ponder Christ, and you contemplate the nature of God. Eat His words, and you assimilate into your spirit the substance of the Almighty.

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son” (Heb. 1:1-2).

God spoke to the prophets “in many portions and in many ways.” Indeed, all their words inspire, correct, and guide our souls; they are all profitable for reproof and correction, that we may be fully instructed. But “in these last days [God] has spoken to us in His Son.”

Prophets will point the way; Christ is the way. Teachers will expound the truth; Jesus is the truth. Apostles will proclaim the life; Jesus is the life. Yes, all speak the word, but the Son of God is the Word.

The teachings of Jesus Christ are not to be blended into the Scriptures as though He were one of many equally important voices used by God. He is, in truth, the living revelation of God Himself, the sole expression of His invisible glory. When Christ speaks, we are listening to God unfiltered, unbiased, unveiled.

So, I ask again, would you see God? Would you pursue the glory of the Lord? Study Jesus. Ponder His words and deeds. For to steadfastly gaze upon Jesus is to behold “the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).

Father, I want to see Your glory and to dwell in Your presence. Answer Your Son’s prayer in John 17:24 through me, that I might be with Christ where He is to behold Your glory. Make Your Word come alive to me, and let it transform my soul. Renew my mind that I might live in perpetual union with You.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Adapted from Francis Frangipane’s book, I Will Be Found by You,

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” —Romans 8:28–29 

———- 

“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” —Philippians 3:10–11 

This is about one thing: the church becoming Christlike. 

Unity is the consequence of Christlikeness;  

Power is the result of Christlikeness;  

Conversions are because of our Christlikeness;  

Healed families, miracles and eternal life – all spring from one central source: becoming like Jesus in everything.  

If our goal is something other than conformity to Christ, besides being spiritually unfulfilled, we will inevitably be left vulnerable to deception, sin and divisions…… 

Deception is the enemy’s ONLY weapon and he is good!!! 

Sin and divisions – friends, families, churches etc… 

When I speak of becoming Christlike, I mean a few specific love-motivated realities, such as humility, submissiveness, intercessory prayer, and a mature, redemptive attitude of heart.  

True Humility  

All of us need to seek God for a true revelation of Christ’s humility. Jesus said the humble are “the greatest” in His kingdom (Matt. 18:4).  

In the church today, among leaders and congregations alike, we need the humility Jesus demonstrated when He girded Himself and washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:4–5).  

….today in churches and ministries I see…… 

This is not an imposed humility but a choice we make as we seek the nature of the Savior.(to lay on or set as something to be borne, endured, obeyed, fulfilled, paid, etc) 

Paul tells us to have in us the same attitude that we see in Christ who, existing in the form of God, did not regard His equality with the Father as a thing to be grasped but emptied Himself of His privileges and, in humility, took the form of a man – and then died for men! (Phil. 2:5–8). – HE WAS FULLY MAN while he was here – he hurt like we did, his emotions, etc 

In other words, Jesus saw the need – as terrible as it was – and came to redeem it. He could have simply destroyed the earth; He could have ignored our need. Instead He died for us.  

So what about us? When we are angered over things of this world, when injustice is in place, gov’t does things that anger us? Laws are passed that we don’t like or agree with? How do we respond? 

His footsteps are the will of God for me. With all my heart I desire to walk as He did: without fear, motivated by love, empowered to make a difference, and willing to die for those who would crucify me. 

Submissiveness 

When I speak of becoming Christlike, it includes being submissive to authority. Jesus grew up in subjection to His parents;  

He insisted on submitting Himself to John’s baptism, though He was clearly John’s spiritual superior.  

He submitted Himself to the injustice of Pilate’s secular authority, while entrusting Himself without fear to the power of the Father who judges righteously.  

Christ’s eyes were not on Pilate but upon the Father who, would soon take every injustice and make it part of the plan of redemption. So, Jesus could submit to man because He had faith in God, the Father.  

When we make our goal the meekness and submissiveness of Christ, we know we can trust God with our future.  

Then we have no problem serving the vision and ministry of someone else along the way. And ambition, a cause of so many church splits, has no power among us. 

Prayer and a Redemptive Heart Attitude 

To seek Christlikeness means that when I see something wrong in the born-again church, or even in the world, I am capable of looking at it maturely without panic.  

Because I am a person of prayer, I trust that God has a redemptive answer.  

Do you recall how Jesus handled the demon-possessed man? 

The individual confronted Jesus as He passed among the tombs; broken chains dragged from his wrists and ankles.  

Yet within minutes Jesus had restored the man to his right mind, delivering him of the tormenting demons that possessed him (Mark 5:1–15).  

The same Jesus who calmed the demoniac dwells in us. He doesn’t want us to be swallowed up by what is wrong; He calls us to transform it. 

My call to you, is to walk as Christ walked, in humility and submission, so we can present to Him a church without spot or blemish or any such thing (Eph. 5:27).  

I believe that Jesus is coming back and His return is only be held up by the church!!! The church plays the major part in end times – we have NO time to be angry, judgmental, fighting, causing divisions…… 

Let us persevere in trials, knowing God sees and judges.  

Let us define success, not merely as having a name known on earth, but attaining Christlikeness and possessing a name known and honored in Heaven. 

CHRISTLIKE – it’s not a choice – it’s a life. Anything else is only legalism and we know that always FAILS!!! 

Let’s be the church!!!! 

 

I moved here in October 2018, it was hectic, hard, expensive and a HUGE change all the way around. BUT WE DID IT!!!!

I started a new job and I have to say it’s been very difficult starting over in a new city and new state. I have no pipeline of clients, no friends to call upon etc… so it’s been very stressful and still not making enough money to survive. BUT GOD IS GOOD all the time and we sure rely on Him.

We started going to church at Forrunner Church a part of International House of Prayer and so far we have LOVED IT. When we first started we decided to just sit until the end of the year and that is exactly what we have done. It’s been nice and but I’m feeling stirred to get back into some ministry, not sure what or how yet but I do know I am ready.

I am really longing to preach but I really don’t see how that will take place at this time. But God can do whatever he wants however he wants. In the meantime I will do whatever he ask me to do and find contentment in it. I’m looking forward to what he has in store for us.

Have a very Merry Christmas!!!!!