Word of The Lord From Jerusalem

II Timothy 2

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:33:39 +0000

I have been emphasizing to you the importance of knowing Me more intimately than you have ever known Me. As I have forewarned you about the difficult days that are coming it will not be merely knowing ahead of time about what will happen and making preparations of a material nature, and even of determining by your own resolution to endure and stand fast, that will enable you to do so in these fast approaching days of difficulty. As I have told you before, preparation cannot wait until those times are upon you. But as I have admonished you again and again as you draw closer to Me now, as knowing Me and having true and deep fellowship with Me continually, will not only bless you in these days, but it is this that will enable you to stand fast when the floods of great trial are upon you. For if you are truly finding your reality, your comfort and consolation, your peace, your delight, your deepest satisfaction in Me, then when all else around you is being shaken and the forces of darkness are coming against you, you will not be clinging to what is being shaken. You will not be seeking your comfort and your security in outward things. As you see these things being swept away, it will be My nearness; the strong and immoveable confidence that you have in Me that will enable you to experience that I am your true reality. And you will not be moved or overcome by the collapse and disintegration of all that others who do not know Me depend upon. Instead of seeking some earthly place of shelter, of succor, of security, you will not need to seek, for you will find all that and more in Me. And as My servant Paul portrayed here the character, the values and the behavior of those who cling to this world, by knowing Me, your lives will manifest that which is far different, that which reflects who I am and the nature of My Kingdom. It will be your most glorious portion and testimony to declare as did My servant Paul, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Titus 2

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:32:02 +0000

Are there not many words being noised abroad in these days? With the great means of communication that have been developed, words upon words are multiplied. People can read them, people can hear them, but with all these words consider, have they made life better? Have they accomplished a good purpose? But you will say to Me, “But Father have you not sent your Word?” Indeed I have, for in the beginning I spoke and My Word created and brought order. But you know that also at the beginning My Word was disobeyed, and from that point disregarded and even discarded. But I did not stop speaking and My Word has continued to speak. And when it is received there is a great difference in its effect from other words. Here you see in this portion that My servant Paul in writing to Titus recognizes the importance of that difference between what My Word accomplishes when it is truly received and what the other multitude of words may accomplish. For in the multiplication of many words has not the world on the whole not been truly blessed by them? But you see here that My Word not only calls for a change in the life of those who receive it, but it imparts to them the grace and the power to make that change. Yes you see that the admonition to teach it faithfully is followed with the expectation and the promise that this grace will indeed be imparted so that those who receive it will indeed be prompted and enabled to become truly godly. Notice the description of what that redeeming process accomplishes; it delivers from wickedness, it purifies those who are redeemed, it promotes within them an eagerness to do what is good. It causes those who are thus motivated to influence others in the same direction; the older men towards the younger men, the older women towards the younger women, slaves or servants towards masters or employers. Every segment of My people who live this way is enabled to have a redeeming affect on other members of the community. And through this they become much more than people who merely receive words and who may be taught. Yes indeed they become what My servant Paul declares in another place living letters in the midst of so many words, so many messages; the message of truly changed lives that show by contrast a pattern of life so profoundly different from the many who listen to and receive other words. Those who receive My Word may be truly said to adorn and actually manifest its truth by how they live. You have a living word, and as you teach it by living it you can be fully assured that its effect will be manifest.

I Corinthians 10

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:27:47 +0000

You see how My servant describes that all of Israel that came out of Egypt had an outward identification with Moses in the act of deliverance and the participation in My provision for My people. But it declares that I was not well pleased with all of them. In spite of their identification with My deliverer, in spite of their participation in My provision, many of them gave themselves over to idolatry and the evil practices connected with it. My servant goes on to declare that this record is not just a historical account of what happened, but it is intended to instruct those who live at the end of the ages how to live so as to be well pleasing to Me, and how to avoid falling into the same pattern of sin as did your fathers. For the consequences of such are just as sure judgment as the consequences that befell your fathers that embraced those evil ways even though the outward form of those consequences may differ. You may ask, “Father are we in danger of going the evil way of our fathers who were judged in the wilderness?” My reply to you is “Yes indeed you need to beware.” Though you too have identified with My deliverer and you too have participated in My gracious provision, the enticements of the flesh, the seductions of the evil one, and the trials of faith are as present and as strong as they were in those days. While you have much more light, much more revelation, it was not outward identification that made the difference for those who did not yield to evil. It was rather an obedient heart that never took for granted the blessings and the wonders. And that revelation of My Spirit given to you is that which will make the difference between compromise with what is evil and faithfulness in all your ways. Do you not observe today that many who identify outwardly either fall away in the face of trials, or else compromise in following evil ways? Thus these words are as important for you today as they were for those to whom they were originally addressed. Never ever be satisfied with mere outward conformity. Always, as My servant admonishes, seek in everything to do it to My glory. In this way you shall surely avoid the evil ways of your fathers and the severe consequences that followed.

Romans 12:9-21

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:26:06 +0000

As you consider these words you can recognize that they present attitudes and conduct that is surely not in conformity with those of the world. As you consider closely, carefully, you can see that in most of them they are actually the opposite of the pattern and attitude of those who conform to the ways of the world. But I want you to see more than just the contrast between these and the ways of the world. First of all I want you to recognize that as My servant Paul admonishes the believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of their mind that he urges them to do this because of the mercy that I have bestowed upon those who truly believe in My Son. Recognize that when you consider what mercy has been bestowed upon you that you will be motivated to offer yourselves as living sacrifices, and you will desire to have your minds renewed so that you can be transformed, that is changed from the pattern of this world to the pattern of My Kingdom. I want you to take note that the underlying motivation of your heart, of your life, then becomes the desire to please Me, to do My will. And this desire is what enables you to follow the pattern and to embrace the attitudes that are presented here in this portion. It is only when you regard yourself as a living sacrifice, and when you are being transformed by a renewed mind that you can live this way. As you are challenged by the pressures that come from the old nature and from the world, it is the willingness to please Me above all other considerations that will enable you to do what is so different and so opposite from what the world does. You see when it declares not to take revenge that the words are added “on the contrary”, and you will be able, willing, even determined and pleased to do what is contrary to what the world does. The world seeks its reward in the satisfaction of personal interest, in the fulfillment of fleshly desires, of immediate satisfaction. Those who desire to please Me, as it declares here, are joyful in hope even though what they hope for is not immediately fulfilled. They are also patient in affliction because as living sacrifices they are willing to suffer what Paul declares in another place is a comparatively light and momentary affliction, in order that what glorifies Me may be accomplished. And those who live in this way are faithful in prayer because they are truly dependent upon Me and not upon the world, and not upon their own human efforts and natural powers. If your heart is truly moved by My mercy, the pattern presented here will prove to be the outworking of that motivation.

II Chronicles 20

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:23:21 +0000

You might be quick to judge and criticize Jehoshaphat for his inconsistency, for in this portion you see him acting with great faith and utter dependence upon Me in the face of a great crisis. And you see that his faith is based upon his turning to Me and seeking My Word, for he confesses that he and his people do not know what to do in the face of the threat of the great army that is coming against them. Nevertheless he declares “Our eyes are upon You.” And you see how his faith influences all of the people and how it is rewarded with an amazing victory. But are you not amazed that after all of this and after the rebuke of My servant the prophet for his aligning himself with wicked Ahab that he once again enters into a venture with his wicked son Ahaziah? You see how that as I judged his alliance with Ahab with disaster and defeat, I also judged his alliance with Ahaziah. But I want you to notice a great difference in the conduct of Jehoshaphat, for as in the face of the threat of the army coming against him he turned to Me, sought My help, humbled himself before Me, received and obeyed My Word, yet in the case of his alliance with Ahab he disregarded My Word even though he requested it. And in the case of his alliance with Ahaziah, he did not even seek My Word or enquire of Me. Now I challenged you not to be so quick and ready to criticize Jehoshaphat, for have you not with more revelation, with greater manifestation of My grace, even with the witness of My Spirit within you on occasion have been as inconsistent as Jehoshaphat? Have you not in times of distress sought Me, received My Word, humbled yourself before Me, obeyed what I have said, and received the blessing? Have you not at other times chosen your own way even though My Word has declared that you are not to lean upon your own understanding but to trust Me with all your heart and acknowledge Me in all your ways? And have you not in such times of disregarding My Word not experienced even the full measure of the consequences of that disobedience only because My mercy is greater than all of your sin? But recall that My Word declares that these things were written for your instruction so that you may be warned and corrected from going your own way. And you see clearly that your potential for doing this is no less than that of Jehoshaphat. So let his life and My dealings with him be both a warning for you to avoid your own way and an encouragement for you ever to seek My way. Just as surely as you see the consequences of both choices in the life of Jehoshaphat, so shall you be warned and kept more and more from the inconsistency represented in him, and also encouraged towards the faith, submission, and obedience also represented in him.

I Kings 22

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:21:25 +0000

You may wonder as you read the words of this portion why My true prophet did not appeal to Ahab to repent of his ways, and why he did not rebuke and correct Jehoshaphat for his alliance with Ahab. I want you to understand first of all that it was plain from the beginning, even before My servant Micaiah was called upon, that Ahab was not at all concerned about My will. I have told you in My previous words on this portion that his heart was totally committed to his own will. So when this is the case, there is no place any longer for repentance. It was for the sake of Jehoshaphat and others who might take heed from seeing the words of Micaiah coming to pass and thus turn their hearts to Me, that these words were uttered. But you notice that even though Jehoshaphat requested to hear My Word, that when he heard it, it did not provoke his heart to change. And thus I want you to see that when the heart of even a good man, one who on the whole sought to follow My ways, is compromised, that it is hard for such a person to turn back. And you see that already before this battle at Ramoth-gilead that the heart of Jehoshaphat had been compromised. For if this was not so would he not have removed the high places that allowed his people to continue in idolatrous practices? Also would he not have avoided aligning himself with the wicked Ahab, declaring that he was as Ahab, his people as Ahab’s people, his horses as those of Ahab? Once his heart had been compromised, Jehoshaphat’s had also become dull and unresponsive to the affects of My Word, even though he had requested to hear it; yes, even though he recognized the difference between the words of the false prophet and My true prophet. In all of this that you see recorded here there is only one man who remained steadfast and faithful to Me and to My Word. Yes, even though it caused him to be opposed by the king, even though it caused him to be ridiculed and abused by the false prophet, even though it resulted in his imprisonment and being placed on only bread and water, Micaiah stood faithful in the face of all these things. But even so it was not just to Ahab and to Jehoshaphat that he testified to the truth, for consider that he added, “Mark my words all you people”. It was not just so that his words were proven true in the case of Ahab and the outcome of the battle, but also that they might bring conviction and repentance to My people who had also strayed greatly from Me. So you see that even in the midst of strong rebuke and great judgment, My mercy is extended to those who might consider from the fulfillment of My Word how they ought to respond and turn to Me. And in addition to having you appreciate this very important work of mercy that continues even in the midst of great judgment, I would also have you consider the terrible cost of a will unalterably set against Mine, and a heart, even of a good man, that has been compromised.

Psalm 103

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:18:25 +0000

My servant David begins by commanding his soul to praise Me. He then rehearses the great reasons for the motivation of praise. And you see that there are all these things which I have done in dealing with and blessing those who are truly Mine. Then My servant David goes on to recount My character in the ways I manifest who I am to those who fear Me. Then he declares the everlasting nature of My love, not only to those who fear Me, but even to their children’s children. And he acknowledges My heavenly kingdom and My rule over all. He then declares that all in heaven above, in earth beneath and he himself are to give Me praise. Thus you see that for David praise is like a belt that girds his life completely. He understands that for which I should be praised. Now you know that David was not a perfect and sinless man, and that his life was full of conflicts. And you see in other Psalms that he wrote the expressions of these things. But here you see the underlying attitude and perspective of My servant David that enabled him to deal fruitfully, effectively with all that was negative, harmful and conflicting in his experience. Do you think that these words were written and preserved just so that you can admire David? Do you not recognize that what he declares here is also My way for you to deal with your conflicts, your sins, with all that is negative and dark that touches your life? David commanded his soul and even the angels in heaven and all that I have made to praise Me, to remember who I am, what I have done, and who you are to Me. This is My way for you in the face of all your difficulties even as it was for David. But even more so can you exercise praise and remember all of My benefits, for has not My Son granted you all of these and even more? And has not My Holy Spirit brought these blessings to your attention so that the spirit of praise may truly possess your heart, your thoughts, and the words of your mouth?

Psalm 88

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:14:46 +0000

In the other words that I have given you on this portion I mention the difference between the perspective of the Psalmist who wrote these words and your perspective as those who know Me through My Son. I mentioned the limitations of what had been revealed to him in contrast to what has been revealed to you in My Son. Now I want you to take a closer look at those differences, for I want you to appreciate by contrast what has been given to you that he did not have. And this is not only the difference of your perspective from his, but the difference of the blessings. I want you to recognize that this is also a difference that pertains between all those who truly know Me in My Son and many of those who just know about Me. First of all you know and are sure that I hear your cry. You know that My ear is ever inclined towards you. And while you may like the Psalmist feel at times that you are without strength, you know that you will never be forsaken, never cut off from My hand, never consigned to dark places. Through My Son you have been brought into the light and I have promised never to leave or forsake you. You know that My wrath has not and will never rest upon you, for there is no condemnation because you are in My Son. He has borne away all wrath and condemnation. You do not need to question Me concerning My loving kindness and My faithfulness as did the Psalmist. You know that My loving kindness is ever with you, and My faithfulness has been proven over and over again, even in those days when you did not know Me as you now know Me. You are able to look back and recognize how faithful I have been. There is no need for you to think for even a moment that I have rejected you or ever will reject you, for have I not declared that you are accepted in My Son? There is no trouble that can come against you, however severe it may be, that I will allow to do you real harm or to separate you from My love. You need not struggle as the Psalmist did about doubt of My faithfulness, of My love, of My kind intention towards you. Does not My Word declare clearly that nothing in heaven above or earth beneath shall separate you from love in My Son? And is not my invitation to you to come boldly to Me with the confidence that you will always find grace to help you, especially in times of great need? Can you see the enormous contrast between the condition and position of the Psalmist and what he expresses in the midst of his troubles and your position and condition in My Son? And while he declared in the midst of his troubles that his friends had forsaken him and darkness had become his close companion, can you not say truly that you will, with the Psalmist of Psalm 89, sing of My love forever and declare “Blessed be the Lord forever!”

I John 2:1-11

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:13:09 +0000

My Son declared “I am the light of the world. He that follows Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.” Here My servant John reminds the believers that if they will truly follow My Son they are called to obey His commands and to walk, that is to live in the same way that My Son walked. This means practically that there will be a deep and abiding desire to obey His commands, to avoid sin and to live in love. But My servant John recognized that unlike My Son you have a sin nature which must be constantly overcome. Therefore he recognizes the potential and possibility of sinning. But there is a remedy, as is declared here, since My Son is the atoning sacrifice for sin. So to walk in the light doesn’t mean that the possibility of sin is excluded, but rather if it occurs you can, out of a heart of true repentance, confess your sin and desire to renounce it and turn from it. And if you do you can be assured that I am faithful and just to forgive you and purify you from all unrighteousness. But also, walking in the light, walking as My Son walked, means walking in love. And as it declares here, that excludes hating your brother. Not only that, but since My Son gave the commandment to love one another as He loved you, it means much more than not just hating but loving in a way that you willingly lay your life down for your brother even as My Son laid His life down for you. You may wonder how you will do this in any and every circumstance. But the key to knowing how to express such love does not lie in a list of rules and directions that cover every conceivable circumstance. Rather it requires that the desire of your heart is to fulfill this command. If that desire is truly resident within your heart, you can be confident that My Spirit will indeed show you how to fulfill it in any given circumstance. My Son did not just lay His life down for His friends; He also laid it down for His enemies. So in order to walk as He walked, you also must be willing to love your enemies, for did He not so command you? But you may say, “Oh how impossible this is; who can fulfill it!” Yet I would have you understand that the fulfilling of it does not depend on what is naturally in you. Rather it depends upon the truth that My Son is in you through the Holy Spirit who has been given to you. And if it is your desire to fulfill His command, He will empower you to do so, especially in those circumstances which are beyond your natural powers. It is indeed His life within you that even stirs you to want to fulfill His command, to want to walk in the light. These words are given so that you as sons of light may reflect His life to others so that they may be drawn out of the darkness and into the light. Was it not such a reflection of the light in others that helped to draw you of the darkness to My Son? And as you observe the world around you becoming even darker, know how very important will be the fulfilling of these words in you.

Romans 8:1-18

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:07:29 +0000

I want you to notice that My servant Paul declares in this portion that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Everything that flows in blessing, in freedom, in the victorious life flows to you because you are in My Son. It is your living connection with Him that provides the blessings, the freedom that My servant writes about here. But I want you to notice that it is not an automatic flow of blessing that results from just believing. And I want you also to notice that life in My Son does not take place without the necessity of your choice. So My servant declares that those who set their minds on the things of the flesh experience death, while those who set their mind on the Spirit experience life and peace. Therefore your choice of what you will set your mind upon is absolutely vital and necessary if you are truly to experience all that is yours in My Son. The flesh, though it declares here that you are to put it to death, will not by virtue of that disappear and cease to be a problem and a challenge to your life in My Son. But then by death My servant means that you are to separate yourself from what appeals to the flesh and what satisfies the flesh. You will find that you must do this not just once, but over and over. My servant declares that because you have been given the Spirit of My Son you have within you both the prompting and the power of the Spirit to turn away from the mind that focuses on the flesh and from the deeds that will result from such a focus. But once you have made the choice to do what the Spirit prompts you to do, you will experience the enabling power of My Spirit. And, as it declares here, I who raised My Son from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies through My Son. This means that you will as a result not experience separation from My fellowship, which is what is involved in the death that comes from the mind and the deeds of the flesh, but instead you will experience what My servant declares to be life and peace. And you will recognize how great a difference there is between what the flesh produces and what the Spirit produces. It is only as you walk in this way of dependence upon the Spirit that you will really know what it is to be a true son to Me. The Spirit will bear witness to your spirit that this is who you really are. And you see that My servant recognizes that this choice to walk in the Spirit, to depend upon Him and His enabling power and to receive true life as a result does not mean that you will escape sufferings in this time. This life is not a fantasy or an ideal that allows your escape from the reality of what it means to live in a world that is hostile to Me and deeply affected by sin. But though there is suffering involved, it is not the same quality of suffering experienced by those who choose the mind and the deeds of the flesh and the ways of the world. For having been joined to My Son whose life is within you, you are joined to Him who suffered in order to carry out My will in a world that is contrary to it. And so shall it be for you as a true son. But your suffering accomplishes something truly wonderful. My servant declared that the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, and that life and peace is sustained even in the midst of suffering. This is because He dwells within you and you have chosen to embrace His suffering. You have a joy in knowing that the suffering that you experience in the present time is very small compared with the glory that is going to be yours, and all who trust in My Son, when He appears. And the more you set your heart upon this hope, the more you will be prompted to choose the mind of the Spirit and to turn away from the mind of the flesh. And you will find that even in the midst of suffering there is that wonderful sense of peace and that assurance that the life within you is truly enduring, eternal, and glorifying to Me.