Glorious Things

"It is by soaking in the Word and through time spent in worship that we change our thought patterns."

WE MUST watch what we speak and write, calling it Jesus’ words. To be fully in the Spirit, speaking directly from Him, we must know His voice. Often, we mix our voice in with His and don’t realize it. We make assumptions and suppositions that are our own drawn conclusions. Most times, it is in relation to the meaning of Scripture. The Word of God should be, must be, our foundation of thought. We cannot afford to misunderstand it and portray it to listeners or readers incorrectly.

No one man or woman has complete knowledge. We are all at different stages of learning. I put it that way only as an illustration. God makes no comparisons between us nor is there an educational code or honor society. But the person who thinks they know it all will soon be the one who falls behind. Knowing we grow is our first revelation and accepting we are wrong about something is maturity.

There is no place for arrogance in the children of God. We must be meek and lowly like our Savior, who though He is God, consented to be born as human, as an infant who knew nothing (Matthew 11:29). We are told in Luke 2:52 that “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Even He had to grow up, to learn, and to walk in the Spirit. We find Him in the temple at age twelve amazing the religious scholars. Here then His words to His parents. “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? (Luke 2:49)” He knew God was His Father and that the temple was His Father’s house. He had grown in wisdom and knowledge, yet still, He had to come to fuller maturity, so that He could be baptized into ministry by cousin John.

How much greater then is our heart to be like Him?

The renewing of the mind is part of our salvation. Though the Holy Spirit recreates the human spirit and fills it with Himself, the mind still holds fast to those things we have made important to us. Not all of it is bad, and much of it is not sinful. Just because we like something and dedicate part of ourself to it does not make it evil. My mother always uses her own example of when she used to play tennis. She enjoyed it a great deal, and I can remember as a young girl, me and my brother trying to occupy ourselves while she played. But there came a day when God asked her to lay it down. She argued at first. After all, wasn’t it good exercise? Yes, but it was using time that He wanted her to spend with Him. So she obeyed.

It is by soaking in the Word and through time spent in worship that we change our thought patterns. Great minister Benny Hinn spoke to his daughter about the importance of worship. It is worship that brings unity, he said, and makes the Spirit’s voice distinct. What is a few words becomes sentences. If you haven’t seen his recent ministry to Uganda, more than 60,000 people from many countries attended. The hearts of men are hungry for Jesus. Ours must be the same. To the extent we hunger for Him and determine to walk steadfastly in the Spirit, we will mature and see glorious things. It is because we aren’t mature that we miss out on what the Father wishes to give. He never holds back because He is stingy and doesn’t feel like it, but His hands have been open since the beginning of time.

In three Old Testament passages of Scripture we see His desire to bless. They are too much to post here, so I encourage you to read them and to take your time so that the Spirit can speak. Read Ezekiel 37, Jeremiah 33, and Isaiah 32. In Isaiah 32, particularly focus on verses 15 to 18. How beautiful are those words:

“Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;” (Isaiah 32:15-18 KJV)

The work of righteousness, of God’s sacred nature in us, is peace. It’s effect is quietness and assurance for ever. But not as ignorant fools. No, we are filled with the Spirit of God in all wisdom and understanding (Exodus 31:3;Ephesians 1:17-18), and He works in us to desire the will of God (Philippians 2:13). It is not only that we are born again, new spirits, upon salvation, but also that He places His heart within us. He is here, so we can have all that He is, and when we seek Him continually, can not only hear His words but now have His point-of-view, His desires for us individually and as the corporate body of Christ. Christ is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus was filled with the Father, doing His works and speaking His words, so shall we. If we will take up His co-mission. We make His work ours and in so doing, know when to speak and more importantly, when not to speak.

FOR HE SAYS: It is better to never say anything and call it God than to speak and say it is Mine. So do the devils.

“But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.” (Proverbs 11:12)

I remind you that Satan, a fallen angel, quoted a verse from the Psalms which speaks of the work of righteous angels. He knew enough to use it as bait for Jesus, the Messiah. Let’s not be like that scoundrel but totally consumed by our new nature, the beauty and goodness of a generous Father who sent His only Son, Jesus, who came of His own will, and the Holy Spirit who dedicates us.

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

Image by Judas from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com