Spiritcode

God working with us

We are encouraged to approach God’s throne of grace with boldness and confidence in times of need while still recognizing the obvious scale of difference between his perfection and greatness and our imperfection and weakness. We do well to stay in this state of confident helplessness. Those who forsake their confidence risk leaving things to fate with a sense of hopelessness, while those who deny their helplessness risk trying to manufacture results through reliance on religious formulas. ‘I fasted, I tithed, I claimed the Scripture, or, I believed - so why didn’t it work?’ (Faith versus presumption)
The answer is clear. There is a flow of intertwined shared life with the source of all life and love, and an intelligent approach to this relationship of intimate shared faith. His work is always perfect! (The opposite viewpoint is unacceptable). New Testament faith is a gift from God – It is His faith. So we ask for it. (Galatians 2:20, Mark 11:22 – Own the faith of God)

Acts 14:1. When they went together into the synagogue in Iconium they again spoke in such a way before a great gathering of people that a multitude of both Jews and Greeks believed.
2. But the Jews who did not believe stirred up the Gentiles and negatively affected their minds against Paul and Barnabas and the others.
3. But they continued speaking, confident that God was with them, and God gave witness to their message of grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through their hands.
4. But the city was divided in their support, some supporting the Jews, and some supporting the apostles.
5. But when violence was planned against them by some of the Jews and the Gentles, to stone them,
6. They were made aware of the plan, so they escaped to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the outlying regions. (why not claim the Scripture - Psalm 91 - dash foot against a stone (Matthew 4:6)… or Isaiah 54 no weapon formed against…) 7. And there they continued to preach the gospel.
8. At Lystra there was a man sitting in the crowd who had no strength in his feet and had never walked, being lame from birth.
9. The man was listening to Paul speak, and Paul looked at the man and perceived (discerned) that the man had faith to be healed.
10. Paul said to the man, in a loud voice, ‘Stand up on your feet’. The man leaped up and started walking.

Faith is perceiving/discerning that God is doing something involving you at that moment.
Paul knew that God was with him and doing things in peoples’ lives.
Paul lived in this powerful bubble of life and love that he shared with Jesus, and the bubble never bursts.. There is a flow of intertwined shared life with the source of all life and love, and an intelligent approach to this relationship of intimate faith. His work is always perfect!

https://www.hopefaithprayer.com/books/The_Real_Faith_Charles_Price.pdf

 

The Table

Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

You prepare a table before me
Remember when Abraham prepared the table for God. Here God prepares the table for David, a man after God’s own heart, who lives the shadow of the life of the New Testament (seems to jump the queue). This life now has its reality in us.

In the presence of my enemies (adversaries) - to cramp, afflict, distress, oppress, trouble, vex.
The enemies are not the people or the circumstances in the New Testament (perception - Matthew 5:43), but the spiritual attacks of temptations of darkness to blind our minds to faith, creating a mindset of separation from the presence of God (Romans 12:19).
The Lord wants us to feel safe in the face of fear and adversity. His table is always a safe place to be fed and nourished and comforted.

You anoint my head with oil;
The Holy Spirit inspires our minds, and orders our minds, and brings peace to our minds.

My cup runs over– (Ephesians 1:3… blessed us with all spiritual blessings…
There is blessing and cursing in OT but only blessing in NT – There are no curses except for the law. All of these inner blessings are waiting to be appropriated through faith.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
They come to us as the sure and certain flow from God’s heart - then they flow to others through us.

all the days of my life - Each day has its challenge and its reward.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Everybody has a special place but we are also part of the household of love and goodwill who pray for blessing for all in the house, and for those who will yet find the place prepared for them – We can see them at the table.
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. 23. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Forever - It is both now and forever

 

3M Flow

3M FLOW
1. The majesty of The Father
2. The meekness of Jesus
3. The mercies of The Holy Spirit

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to the children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious plan. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows (from the inside out– epi – in, over around, upon) the Son except the Father, and no one knows (from the inside out) the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matthew 22:14 – Many are invited but few respond – Jesus can only reveal to those who respond to Him). (So) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Direct visions and impressions of Jesus). Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

MAJESTY OF THE FATHER
FATHER – He is our provision and sheltering care. He plans the destinies, times and seasons. Luke 12:30 your Father knows what you have need of.
Acts 1:6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own power. (Genesis 1:14) Aug 21st eclipse of Sun – September 20-30 – Two major festive seasons, Trumpets and Atonement, and also the 50th year since the six day war).

MEEKNESS OF JESUS- g4239. praus;
Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. The meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His own, and that He will deliver them in His time. (Is. 41:17, Lu. 18:1-8) Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over your situation. The meek person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will – Strongs Bible definitions. This is something we seek for (Ezekiel 36:37)
JESUS – Our Saviour/healer/intercessor Isaiah 53:5 – The Word - Hebrews 1:3.

MERCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Mercy brings about grace empowerment
HOLY SPIRIT – Our comforter/counselor – teacher (John 14:26). He is the person of ‘inclusion’. He is our creative inspiration and our empowerment of grace.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

Us in Them

US IN THEM
Genesis 18:1-9 Abraham saw Three in One at Mamre and prepares a meal for his three guests then watches them eat from under a tree.

1John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.

Now we are at table with them.
We are now part of Trinity from the inside, not just thinking about Trinity from the outside. The Trinity is not an object that we analyse. Trinity is a verb of caring sharing movement of three loving persons that we have become a part of in their sharing of life and being and purpose and meaning.
John 14:20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. 26. And the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things,

You don’t have to ‘get there’ – but you do need to want to be there, then you just have to find yourself already there from forever and for forever more.
Ephesians 1:4 This was the way God planned it before he even created the world, choosing the destiny of us as humanity being joined to divinity in Jesus, complete and innocent and unashamed of who we are in our close love and intimacy with him.

Then you get in this flow and go with it and not resist it (try and observe what is in you that is resisting). Then you become like it and reflect it. The flow comes to you and you release it. It empowers and heals wherever it touches.

FATHER – He is our provision and sheltering care
Luke 12:30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them
JESUS – Our Saviour/healer/interessor. Isaiah 53:5 – The Word - Hebrews 1:3.
HOLY SPIRIT – Our comforter/counselor – teacher (John 14:26). ). He is the person of ‘inclusion’. He is our creative inspiration and empowerment.

 

 

No longer slaves to fear

2Timothy 1:5. When I call to mind the genuine faith that is in you … I want to remind you to stir up that gift that is within you … 6 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of an ordered mind.

The spirit of fear was activated when Adam felt separated from God because of a threefold lie from the prince of darkness. A) God does not want the best for you, b) God does not want you to succeed, c) God is not fair – The three basic fears.
Darkness seeks to sow the spirit of fear into our human spirit by provoking in us a mindset of separation from God – from the peace of being ONE with God. We are no longer slaves to that mindset of fear.

BUT – God has given us the spirit of power (Luke 8:42).
Power comes from being in touch with God. Touch is a physical sense of closeness, and touching God is a spiritual sense of closeness to the source of all power. When we stay in touch, presence power flows (note the spiritual senses of seeing, which is faith, and hearing, which is getting revelation and understanding from God).

AND – God has given us the spirit of love
That power of his presence is the spirit of love – the most creative power in the Universe. Love not only gives, but desires to share the best it has.

AND – God has given us the spirit of an ordered mind - the mindset of Christ. That is the mindset of non-separation – God with us, always, in all things.
An ordered mind is the result of a connected heart. A connected heart instructs the mind in wisdom. God wants you to be successful at being who he created you to be – The best at being who you are!
Psalm 16:7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart instructs me in times of challenge.

 

Staying in touch

Staying in touch
Luke 8:42… He was surrounded by the crowds. A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”
But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt power go out from me.” When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you whole. Go in peace.”

Jesus knows when faith is touching him, for who he really is, not just curiosity or self seeking.
He touches that life that reaches out to touch him, with his presence and power.
Jesus didn’t lose anything because there is an infinite supply. The same applies to us.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (TLB)

Ephesians 6.:18 Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit's ways. Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, (TLB)

 

Gracious performance

What is the goal of Christian living, according to the New Covenant, the new relational arrangement God has established with us though Jesus.
1. He writes his laws (wisdom/moral values) in our (new) hearts
2. He Invites us all to know how to know him personally – BY WAY OF his mercy/forgiveness.
SO – The Christian goal – To know God and to graciously reflect His loving nature and creative power.
This means knowing how to ‘Be still and know that I am God’. But how do I perform this?

Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to perform it…Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ…
We can live life knowing and trusting that Christ is doing the supernatural performing of his love and creative goodwill, and simply doing the best we can according to our conscience.

Paul’s learning and teaching experiences –
Eph 4:20 20. But that is not how you have learned Christ through sharing in his life 21. That is, if you are listening to him and letting him teach you the absolute truth that flows forth from his heart to yours - and
Philippians 3:10 10. I long to know and understand him as a person, and to be aware of the power within him that makes what is dead live again. I want to identify with the way he suffered, and let my soul be shaped by his heart of giving up his life for us.

SOME FEATURES OF WAITING ON GOD – PRESENCE PRAYER – MEDITATION
1. What is the worst that can happen?
A. Losing 20 minutes of valuable TV watching, worrying, internet activity, other pursuits.
B. Putting yourself through an onslaught of crazy thoughts.
C. Feeling like a poverty stricken spiritual failure.
Part C is the desired result – Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the Kingdom of God. The strength of Christian spirituality is knowing our weakness and his strength.
2. Immerse (plunge) yourself fearlessly into this dimension of the spiritual unknown. The cloud of unknowing.
3. Expect confidently the blessings of the terms of engagement. Mercy ->Faith ->Grace -> Love.
4. De-limit the mindset of limitation. Reckon yourself alive to God (electric shock). An electric shock does not throw a person across a room but it causes every ligament and nerve and muscle fibre to explode into action instantly. We actually jump across the room. But the mind limits our access to this release of power because it would otherwise put us in danger, but the limits can be pushed back without causing danger (endurance feats). People think that plunging into stillness of mind would be spiritually dangerous and allow demons to come in. Wrong – We are perfectly and wondrously made for the mind to be still and allow for the engaging of the heart of faith which releases the God life that is in there to be expressed – alive to God.
The result is an ever-growing gracious flow.

 

Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to perform it… My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin (separated self) to do something totally different. (MESSAGE)

Eph 4:20. But that is not how you have learned Christ through sharing in his life 21. That is, if you are listening to him and letting him teach you the absolute truth that flows forth from his heart to yours
22. Concerning your past lifetime of downward spirals, Cast aside that obsolete Adamic existence which became twisted through the distorted drivenness of self interest
23. Constantly being renewed in this new mindset of spiritual truth
24. And plunge into the depths of your renewed humanity bonded to Jesus that was created in eternity according to the personal design of God in true alignment with him and set apart for him. (CAV)

Philippians 3:10 10. I long to know and understand him as a person, and to be aware of the power within him that makes what is dead live again. I want to identify with the way he suffered, and let my soul be shaped by his heart of giving up his life for us.
11. If this kind of living is what is meant by bringing life out of death I want to be part of it.
12. I am not there yet. The work is not yet completed in me, but I am pursuing this with all I am and all I have. I want to make my own the whole plan of life for which Jesus has made me his own.
13. So, while I cannot say that I have arrived, I can say that I have put the past behind me, and I am focused only on what great things lay ahead of me. 14. I now have a real goal in life. To experience the supreme reward that comes from saying yes to living a heavenly life with Jesus here and now in this present life.15. If any of you want to know what it is like to live within this kind of perfect arrangement, then start thinking the way I have just outlined to you, and if you don’t quite grasp this I know God can reveal it to you.16. So however far we might have come in comprehending this truth, let us live out of it together as the defining principle that determines how we think and how we live.17. I want you to embrace this kind of living the way I have, and to follow the example of others you see living the same way also.18. (I have told you before and I tell you again, sadly, that there are some whose lives are woeful models to you because they contradict the example of Jesus in giving his life for us on the cross. 19. They are on a road to ruin, slaves to their selfish desires, proud of their arrogance and sold out to the things of this world.)20. Our way of life reflects the atmosphere of heaven, where we live in constant hope and expectation of the supernatural redeeming work of Jesus,21. Who will finally take our weak mortality and change it to be like his mighty immortality, using the power that only he has, to subdue all things to himself. (CAV)

 

 

Delay of the faithful

Isaiah 30:1 “Stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation
God had allowed Assyria to be a dominant nation and under them Babylon as the enforcers. Israel were the representatives of the Covenant God – a covenant of protection and goodness. He was not only God over Israel as a nation but he was God over all nations. But instead of trusting in this covenant, they were ready to make a covenant with Egypt (a covenant with death).
In Biblical language going down to Egypt means trusting in the Kingdom of the world instead of in the kingdom of God. ( Abraham Genesis 12, Isaac Genesis 26)
For Christians that means trusting in self and not in God and His covenant.
15. For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”But you would not, And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”—Therefore you shall flee! And, “We will ride on swift horses”—Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift! One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill.
But God Will Be Gracious Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it He will answer you.
And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction,
Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,“This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or you turn to the left.
As a Christian you are a representative of His New Covenant, just as Israel was the representative of the Old Covenant. They knew it front to back and inside out, every blessing and every curse, every ordinance and law and penalty.
The Old Covenant had outward promises and blessings, like God winning battles for them to take the territory he had promised them, and prospering them by sending them rain for their crops and harvests. It is a very rewarding covenant for those who like outward blessings, but it is an incredibly demanding covenant when it comes to outward performance and sacrifice. It is full of blessings and curses, whereas the New covenant has only blessings and no curses – except for one – the curse of the LAW. The old covenant was not dependent upon faith but on obedient work. Faith is mentioned TWICE in the Old covenant. (Deuteronomy 32.20, Habakkuk 2:4). And faith is always blessed by God.
The blessings of the New Covenant are inward blessings, spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:x). That is because the Kingdom is an inward kingdom, dependant upon obedient faith. So what about material blessings and our temporal needs? The answer is simple;
Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.
What about performance and obedience and understanding? What about knowing the words of the covenant front to back and inside out? (Hosea 4:1

 

Divine delay

These two men on the road to Emmaus had planned a journey, with a destination. The journey changed, and they didn’t quite reach their planned destination but they encountered Jesus and their lives and all future journeys were changed.
We are all on a journey, and some journeys are longer than others, and some seem to be on hold. God is with us on each journey and the journey is always speaking to us. So on these journeys we must continually stop and draw near to God, ask him to stay a little longer, and have our eyes opened that we may get to know Jesus more, in the midst of all the delays and joys and sufferings on the way.

The message of the gospel is about finding Jesus and finding ourselves on the journey of our life. Jesus is always there, like he was with the two men, but he is hidden from our eyes. He is hidden not only within own lives and circumstances, but also hidden within the lives of people we meet on the journey, and sometime seen behind their eyes of pain or confusion – their need, or behind eyes of blessing, their care.
Matt 25:37…But when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger and took you in…?

We often only know the journey and its meaning afterwards, when we sit with him like the two men did, and ask him to stay a little longer, and he opens our eyes to where he was on that particular journey and what he has been doing. That is how we can recollect in times of closeness with him each day. That is also what we can ask him to teach us each day, to make us aware of his unseen and hidden presence.
Sometimes the ‘eye openers’ are more manifest and present, and at other times more buried, and need time to be decoded (Peter’s denial and restoration).

 

 

Famine of the words of The Lord

Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the Lord…wandering…running to and fro…seeking…not finding…

 Why? – There are too many voices.

But…there is a hunger for reality – to hear a clear voice - ‘Please tell me - what is going on?’

‘1Corinthians 14:10 There are, it may be, so many kinds (genos) of voices (phone – tone and intent) in the world, and none of them is without significance

All voices have a tone and an intention - and an effect on the hearer.

Hebrews 4:7 “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Paul’s words –

2Corinthians 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; tossed about, but not destroyed;…So death is at work in us, but life in you. (necessary suffering)

 Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

 Jeremiah 9:24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.

 Jeremiah 29:11 I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, the future you hope for - not to abandon you."When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen - When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed. I'll turn things around for you.

 Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will restore you, and you shall be restored.