Are you Marked To Be A Disciple?

Good Morning Blessings and thank you for joining me today on this ROF Ministries broadcast.  It is my prayer that each of you are keeping your eyes continually on the prize, our precious Lord Jesus, while sensing the safety and security found only in Him.  These days of preparation for His children are very pressing and yet He is guiding us into safety by keeping us securely on the narrow path.  This path is getting so narrow, that eventually all is squeezed out so we reach the point where it is only us and Him walking each day.  This path, this narrow way is leading us to wholeness…  I know we’ve sought to be made whole many times over, but in order to be made whole, we must come into agreement and walk together one on one with Jesus continually – wholeness is simply the measurement of Jesus within us and if we are fully poured out, then He is fully residing within and we are made whole.  The process is very rigorous at times, well most of the time – all that can be shaken is shaken in that only He remains dwelling within.  The end result is a blessing beyond imagination where He abides within us, we abide within Him and in truth – we evolve into salt and light, being used as His hands and feet – for real this time – no faking it until you make it during this season – the truth of us all is being exposed.

Recently the Lord was speaking to me about “besetting sins…”  found in Hebrews 12 – which also speaks to us about the race of faith – let’s read a portion of that scripture today.

Hebrews 12 –

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the ^[a]author and ^[b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Discipline of God

³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. ⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“My son, do not despise the ^[c]chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
⁶ For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”

⁷ If^[d] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? ⁸ But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. ¹¹ Now no ^[e]chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

• Besetting sins – are those sins which cause us to step back from holiness, they often trip us up and are unique to us personally.
• They are often what we want to excuse, in ourselves and others
• They usually are mind games we play on ourselves – trying convince ourselves that the Father winks at sin and bring Him down to our level – as if He understands and condones unrighteous behavior.
• When we are struggling with a besetting sin – we will often say “I’m not perfect…” or worse tell others dealing with the same thing… it’s okay, giving them permission to sin.

About the great cloud of witnesses – You do know right – that these are not people in Heaven looking down upon you?  These are those who are witnesses to your walk on Earth with Jesus – people in the midst of you, who whether from afar or close watch every single action you take and listen to every word you speak to see if it is measured in truth and integrity and for real representing the righteousness of Jesus.  Again, these witnesses watch to see if you are who you say you are…  a child of light or child of darkness.  Actions speak much louder than words, because however we think so are we…  Where the Bible speaks of “fruit” it is speaking of a manifestation of the heart outwardly in truth – and cannot be hidden so easily like we might think it can. 

Alrighty…  that was just extra….  Because today we are going to talk to and about disciples, which comes from the root word “disciplined.”  Which is the great commission by the way, it is the higher calling of a child of God because one must come into agreement with Him to be anointed and qualified as a disciple.  One must be poured out and on a path to wholeness in Jesus, having willingly surrendered your own life, will, excuses, pretending and such.  From this respect – many are called, but few chosen and it has nothing to do with natural qualifications and capabilities like can you read, speak, present yourself well and such.  It has everything to do with – loving the chastisement of the Lord, seeking a disciplined life and being one who observes and teacher others to observe and follow all the commands of Jesus.  Jesus told us He would have disciples on Earth until the end of the age.  Let’s read it:

Mathew 28 –

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. ¹⁷ When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go ^[c]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ^[d]Amen.

So to be a disciple means many things of which most is not taught in church gatherings.  In order to be a disciple you must not keep sin but rejection all rebellion, buy resisting and repenting – in yourself and others, which is a fruit of pure love…  As Hebrews 3:1 says to the Holy brethren that all who desire to be partakers of the Heavenly calling, shall be – one with Jesus as He is the apostle and high priest of those who serve in the capacity of a disciple.

Before you tune me out – thinking this type of calling is just too hard…  Please stick with me on this – it is not the calling is too hard, it is just that keeping our life in tact is what is easier…  But the Lord showed me many of you have a disciple’s anointing within, which is just begging and pleading to arise and come out in the boldness of truth, to no longer call evil good and good evil – but to be a witness to others, serving alongside Jesus for the highest of callings for the great commission.

We are going to study a lot today about the surprising qualifications of a disciple in order to break the lies of the enemy which tell you that you are not qualified.  Many in the church today are being called, however, like those in the Bible – say no to Jesus or tell Him to wait… so they can keep their old life intact or their current one for that matter and “tend” to things important to them.  For today, the Lord has given me charge to make a clarion call to those who have this deep desire to do more for Him, to completely lay their lives down in servitude for the Kingdom of God and I know that is many of you listening to me right now.  So if you have a stirring within you as I speak, please join with me on discovering a day in the life of a disciple and consider saying yes to the Lord.

Why discipleship is needed?  Part of the fivefold ministry of Jesus on Earth includes disciplining others – apostles/disciples are needed for the Body of Christ as a whole.  I am not one for titles at all… a true disciple is inwardly, not outwardly – it is not a word before your name, it is a way of life that reflects the heart inwardly.  Chances are if someone declares by name they are an apostle – they aren’t.  A true apostle wouldn’t do such a thing – they’ve already lost all reputation in sight of man, seeking to please the Lord alone.  Disciples are just like Jesus in the way, they are about their Father’s business only continually.  They don’t have to think about it, it is woven into the very fabric of who they are.

Just in case you are wanting to count yourself out before understanding more…  I want to read to you something out of 2 Corinthians 11:6, speaking of disciples, Paul wrote this…

 Even though I be rude in speech yet I am not in knowledge… (Knowledge about the commands of the Lord, of course) but listen to this… “rude in speech” really caught my eye – it means someone who is a private person, unlearned and uneducated in the World, appearing ignorant by man’s standards, destitute in this life – having the simplicity of the mind of Christ and un-beguiled by subtle serpent speech regarding evil.

So look at that… YOU all are qualified to accept this call – should you chose to do so!  Thank You Lord.

Regarding Disciples/Apostles – CHARACTER is everything.  Dead to self to the point Jesus comes forth from within.  Ephesians 4:11 says – A disciple is a sent messenger to believers, who are close companions to Jesus containing commands and orders from the Lord.  (paraphrasing)

Disciples are not caught up with the cares of this life, having been caught up by Jesus, they are not moved by anything coming upon this World and shake off any dust of distraction by what the enemy is up to, knowing all evil has been defeated – they never glorify evil, by speaking of it’s power to rule the day or night, by their own choice they are set to glorify only the Lord.  I know what I am getting ready to share will create an increasing stir within a few of you, not many but that’s okay – it is written that would be the case.  But as I share in a moment about the character of a disciple, please be attuned to the truth of you, considering, is that me the Lord is calling?  After I share about the internal nature of disciples, I am going to read to you an example of a letter by Paul which resembles a letter you also might write to others reflecting the longing in your heart for them to see Jesus and walk according to His ways – found in 2 Corinthians 4.  If you find yourself one with anything else I share today – rest assured the Lord is calling you, to not look back and drop everything, taking nothing with you and say Yes Lord, send me, I will go wherever You lead me, I will follow.

Are you ready?  For this next part, all I did is take direct statements out of the Bible pertaining to disciples so we get a clear picture of the true nature of one who said yes to the Lord when He called them.  Everything is scripture based – I only condensed it into terms applicable to our own lives.

Disciples/Apostles are basically the same thing – being disciplined followers of Jesus who lead others.

CHARACTER WITNESS TO CHRIST –

• Constant companions sent to lost sheep who have ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart that is read to repent – these 3 qualifications are a necessity prior to anyone receiving the gospel message – open ears, open eyes and a repentant heart.  Disciples do not preach to the choir, nor are they sent to those who do not wish to see, hear and repent – having wisdom to know when to shake the dust off and move to the next village of people, so to speak.
• Frequently persecuted for their obedience and faith
• Sometimes slayed – by words or actions of unbelievers or the religious
• Crying out continually to the Lord
• Carry authority by anointing through chastisement
• Commissioned by the Lord Himself
• Minister to others by what Jesus has shown them personally in trials and tribulations
• Witness to those they are sent to – by opening their blinded eyes to see, turn people away from darkness to the light and removing power over the captives from satan in exchange to God’s power ruling over them so they are forgiven of sins and receive the inheritance of life and faith
• Set captives free by exposing sin through deliverance to go and sin no more – they always speak of repentance and they themselves walk in it continually
• Preach the Gospel over words of wisdom because they are already wise beyond human understanding having the full knowledge of God within
• Constantly about doing the Father’s business
• Have proven lives this is the more excellent way to live on Earth
• The Word is written on their hearts
• Live to glorify Jesus alone
• Demonstrate great patience – while signs, wonders and deeds follow after them, not before to announce who they are
• Only are appointed by Jesus, not man
• They have a circumcised heart and weep continually
• Gain their revelation only by the Holy Spirit – never seeking man’s knowledge, especially regarding the events in the World
• They are often sent two by two as messengers who work in unity in Jesus for 1 purpose – His plan and His glory
• Never use words to flatter people or seek to be pleasing unto men
• They do not boast on self, contain no false humility – knowing to die is gain, He slayed them already
• They affectionately desire to impart the Gospel to those who are precious to the Lord
• They labor and travail as a witness to Jesus
• Are an ordained preacher by God, which is secondary to the higher calling of being pleasing to the Father
• They speak the truth in Christ and lie not
• Faithful teacher of the ways of holiness
• Cannot bear anyone who does evil
• They try those who say they are apostles and are not, proclaiming they are liars
• They are avenged by God when He punishes evildoers when He judges evil influences upon the Earth
• They form the wall of the city of the New Jerusalem, which is the Bride – the Lord’s wife which comes down from Heaven
• Any harm which is inflicted upon these anointed ones is recompensed directly from the Father, they never repay evil with evil or stand in the way of His judgment because they rest in His will being done
• Willingly speak the fullness of truth in love to all men and women, knowing they often shall be deemed an enemy for not calling evil good and good evil or words of flattery instead of truth.

We know by study and observance disciples do a variety of things here on Earth – they also have a variety of personality traits – just look at the variety of the ones chosen by Jesus – no two looked the same and yet He formed them into unity by His own desire.  They have quirks, characteristics and personalities and yet their natures reflected Him.  A disciple is chosen not on appearance outwardly even by ministry standards, but rather from the characteristics and qualities by how moldable they are into the Image of their savior.  When we seek to understand what qualities a disciple might have, it is not skill based, talents, abilities and things they do or say as much as “who they are” within the heart of the matter.  To determine discipleship, one must look inward to the heart – because that is what Jesus looks at and it is all about… the “intentions of the heart.”

Disciples are willing to suffer, which is one reason many are called and not chosen – it looks messy quite often to the natural eye.  Jesus Himself was a suffering servant (Isaiah 53) and we know He is the example for all other disciples.  Acts 9:16 said we are called by Jesus to suffer – Paul and all the other disciples suffered, some even to the point of physical death – not every disciple will suffer to this degree – the point is, we should be willing to endure whatever hardship that presents itself to us for the sake of Christ and the commissioning of spreading the Gospel on Earth.  If this sort of willingness is not present in your heart or the heart of another then that disciple is not worthy of the calling and is either not genuine or not yet properly formed.

Gentleness and love are the hallmarks of a disciple.  Jesus said to learn from Him and set the example of being gentle and humble and Paul even spoke of being gentle to those he was sent to, to the point of having such overwhelming love for them he compared himself to a mother caring for her children.  To institute discipline a demand of the heart is given so gentleness is associated with it.  In discipleship you become the least among those you serve, knowing to who much is given, much is expected.

Disciples are:  servants first, recipients of grace, contain great love, have a heart to discipline, are clothed in humility, have great patience, are trustworthy, are devoted with undivided loyalty to Jesus and are basically of ANOTHER SPIRIT.  There are saved and unsaved and then there are… disciples. 

Being a true disciple has nothing to do with how charismatic a person is or what great leadership skills they have or whether they are intelligent.  Anyone in the World is able to be charismatic or smart – but God is looking for one thing alone in choosing His disciples – HE LOOKS FOR A CERTAIN MEASURE OF THE HEART to see if it is moldable and teachable – void of rebellion.  Apostles are not born from a woman, they are called and then made as they suffer, obey and follow in Jesus’s footsteps regardless of the difficulty they face.  It is through years of qualifying that they become the kind of people God asks them to be. 

If talents or outward qualities were required, some of the World’s most talented unbelieving people would be serving Jesus right now.  God is searching the Earth for people of character and of these He calls some to be disciples, knowing they already have said yes in their hearts to Him, so He will train them many years to possibly only use them for a very short time.  Jesus was trained for over thirty years to be used for only three. 

To become a disciple we must operate in a continual season of yieldedness and surrender, a daily emptying of self desires by the moving of the Holy Spirit operating within – quite often the Lord will pull a disciple away from all of this life and intimate relationships to impart within a thorough knowledge of Himself.  As a disciple you will continue to grow, change and be changed until you finish your race/time here on Earth.  The Kingdom is at hand and the Kingdom is within you – but please realize until you fully depart from the earthly kingdom you cannot be one in fullness with the Lord in His Kingdom.

Again… God looks for inward purity of the heart when anointing disciples.  He tries the heart to see if it seeks to please Him and if it will conform to Jesus by staying teachable by embracing correction for redeeming repentance.  He does this so that we not shy away from preaching the good news imparted following a contrite heart that repents.  A disciple never excuses sin, but sees the destruction and death it brings by introducing the cleansing blood of Jesus.

A disciple realizes that depending on who’s presence you are in… you will smell sweet with the aroma of life in Jesus or smell like death as a reminder to those who will perish if they remain in the current state they are in.  (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

Okay…. So 2 Corinthians chapters 4-7 gives us a pure example of just how one might plead with such compassionate love for those who choose darkness over light, while speaking the truth to their rebellion, giving an opportunity for them to repent by not glossing over sin but pointing to Jesus as a way of escape out of walking in darkness. 

What I did is take these lovely chapters and put them into letter form by paraphrasing as if Paul himself was writing to you today.  In this letter, I pray you will discern Paul’s deep love for all and his devoted life to sharing the Gospel after he counted the cost and said yes to the Lord and His commands.  You will sense the pleading in Paul’s heart, knowing if those he loved stayed in rebellion they would perish and the relief which comes once many chose the path of repentance and what joy and celebration Paul had in his heart from the fruit of his labors.  Like with all scriptures, you will see you in what I read.

As I read to you this modified scripture in letter form – take notice of how your heart reflects Paul’s and Jesus’s, pay attention to the skills given to Paul to redeem the lost by preaching the Word in love and learn from him as the Lord guides.

Here we go… Paul’s letter to the Corinthians found in 2 Corinthians 4 – 7 ~

So beloved as I read this letter, may it be of comfort to you – depending on whether you are hearing a distinct call from the Lord to rise up and be His anointed servant – I pray it is an example to you how to share the fullness of the Gospel with others or if you are still on the fence, entertaining sin not quite laying your life down for the sake of righteousness I pray you receive the truth written in love and if you are like me, still growing into the fullness of Jesus it will embrace you to keep holding onto to the hem of Jesus’s garment and growing in Him each day. 

2 Corinthians 4-7 ~~  A Letter From Paul

Dearly Beloved,

Knowing I am one who has been renounced through the hidden things of dishonestly for the manifesting of the truth, please be aware, although I am troubled on every side I am not distressed and while being perplexed by what is happening I am not in despair.  I’ve been persecuted continually but never forsaken by the Lord Jesus while most often cast down by humanity I am never destroyed.  Rather I go through these challenges so that the life of Jesus may manifest through me in my mortal flesh.  It is because of Him and my faith in Him that I faint not, even though my outward man may perish, inwardly I am renewed day by day.  I also may suffer light affliction at times, in exchange for eternal glory that is eternally everlasting. 

I must remind you to not look at what is seen with the natural eyes, but look at that which you cannot physically see, as the things which you can see with your own eyes at this moment are temporary, but the things you cannot see are eternal, knowing that while home in this natural body is to be absent by some degree from the Lord Jesus.  We are only to be walking by faith and loyalty not natural sight in these days.  We as His disciples labor together so that present or absent in this life or the next we may be accepted by Him.

Be mindful, all shall appear before the judgement seat of Christ.  Everyone on that day shall receive things done while in His Body, according to what Jesus would do while here, whether good or bad.  You may have heard this judgment is for the world, when in truth He shall judge His own one day whether their deeds were wicked or righteous, handing out recompenses accordingly.

Be ready to give an answer to those who glory in the appearance only and not inwardly of the heart.  Know that if a person actually is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature, old things have died and he has become all new, in that they no longer seek out the ways of a sinful lifestyle.

Never forget it is only through Jesus we are reconciled back to God.  Since we have now become ambassadors for Jesus we ought to continually pray the same for others.  We should not go around using the grace which has been bestowed upon us for self-gain, taking the Lord’s name in vain for self-promotion as now is the day of salvation for all of us. 

Seek to maintain a walk of holiness at all times and cause no offensive act to cause harm to others in that the ministry of Jesus is blamed for your sinful ways.  How you respond to everything in this World, reveals who you are and who you belong to, so in all things be a minister of God showing patience, while in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, when beaten, imprisoned, in tumults, in labors, while watching and fasting.

It is by pureness of the heart, knowledge of God, with longsuffering and kindness we are to be led by the Holy Spirit through unfeigned love.  By words of truth, the power of God, an amour bearer of righteousness and when honored or dishonored or spoken evil of or good of, called a deceiver when you are indeed truthful, when unknown and known and viewed as dying but are actually among the living, especially when chastised by the Lord, yet not killed, as sorrowful yet rejoicing, being poor while making others rich, realizing we have nothing yet… We possess everything in attaining a life laid down through Jesus.

If I may… please heed to the following instructions to keep you protected and safe in pureness, as a Child of God from my heart of love…

Be not unequally yoked mingling together with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion has light with darkness and what agreement has Jesus with wickedness.  In truth, what part does one who believes have to share and partake in with an unbeliever who does not trust in God, for God said I will dwell in them, walk inside them and I will be their God and they shall be My people.  Come out from among them who are unrighteous, be ye separated from among them through a setting apart and exclusion and touch not unclean things and I will receive you as My own, meaning grant you My favor through My kindness.  I calling you to leave a place of your own accord, to depart from them even to the point you must forsake the assembling together and escape for your own safety.  As I declared you must not touch unclean things in order to be found Holy, I expect you to not cling to or adhere to, nor have any carnal intimate involvement with those who do not walk in My ways and commands.  As a child of light you must have no fellowship with or attach oneself to those who practice wickedness.

Should you surrender your rebellious ways and come out from among them… I shall be a Father unto you and embrace you.  I shall infuse My very own spirit into you and govern your mind.  I shall rule over you and uphold you as your guard and protector.  I no longer will be your judge, but your loving Father and we shall share a close bond of intimacy, you and I – sharing in my divine nature.  The fruit of this separation is I shall make you familiar with My purposes and appoint you to carry out and explain the plan of salvation which is being offered to all who dwell upon the Earth as… Many are called for this position, but few are chosen.

Our loving Father gave us these promises Beloved, in order we cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit while perfecting and executing holiness in the fear of God as we reverence Him as one would their own husbandman.

We pray you receive us, understanding we’ve wronged no one, we’ve corrupted no one, nor have we defrauded any or taken advantage of their weaknesses.  I speak this message not to condemn you, but because you are in our hearts to live with and to die with you as in the new union in Christ Jesus.

Great is my boldness of speech towards you, in that I have been granted the freedom to speak openly with you.  Great is my glorying of you in boasting and I am filled with comfort and joyful in all tribulations when you come into my mind.  When we first met with you we had come from a place in which our flesh had no rest and we were troubled on every side, we were outwardly fighting and inwardly very fearful.  Then God, Himself comforted us when we were cast down.  But it was at that moment I heard of your desire, mourning and your mind towards me so I rejoiced even more in my own afflicted state.  I had instructed you, you received my correction, applied the instruction and now I can rejoice with you as you are conformed into the image of Christ, as a result of when one speaks truth in love to an open heart such as yours.

I realize I made you very sorry with my words – I don’t repent of what I wrote to you, but I do constantly repent myself knowing what I wrote made you sorrowful for a season.  But now… I rejoice because you were made sorry and because it was in your sorrow you repented – you were made sorry in a godly way so the truth is you were in no way damaged by us by the fullness of truth, as Godly sorrow works through repentance to salvation while sorrow in worldly enticements brings death.  It was in your sorrow you became careful of your actions, cleansed of all sin, now without any sort of indignation and having a true fear of the Lord in reverence of Him with a full desire for Him with zeal so that in all things you have been found approved and favored in His sight.

Please know, I didn’t write because you were wrong or had suffered the wrong of another, but because I care for you and desire the sight of God be given unto you.  It is in your comfort we ourselves find comfort and joy by your change.  We spoke all things to you in truth, though our inward affliction is abundant, just seeing how obedient to the Lord you are now and how with fear and trembling you have received the truth relieves me so much that now I can rejoice and have confidence in you concerning all things.

Love in Jesus,

Your fellow servant and brother, Paul and my devoted counterparts

How beautiful is that?  Thank You Lord… If you want a copy, you can email me.

Hopefully, I was obedient to the Lord today myself.  And hopefully, I kindled that fire within you for the true nature of your calling.  It is precious and dear to my heart because some of you are already writing letters of instruction while on the Prison Ministry Outreach Team – you’ve overcome self enough to speak the truth in love to those who need it most, not calling evil good and good evil, but offering up the Gospel of Jesus for the sake of redemption void of partiality.   Many of you whether in the prison ministry or not have said yes Lord send me… to make disciples of all men/women who are being called.  And just how would one go about that?  Giving instruction, sharing the Word with all who will listen.

Just to review quick about disciples… if anything I am going to share speaks to your heart, bringing it to life – it is the still small voice of Jesus inviting you to be His disciple.

If you…

• Have a yearning inside you cannot explain to glorify Jesus by telling others of His redemptive love, you might be marked to disciple.
• Are not satisfied to just be counted as sinless, you might be marked to disciple.
• Have a heart for the lost and to set the captives free, you might be marked to disciple.
• Feel as if this World has nothing for you, you might be marked to disciple.
• Already practice daily repentance and love the chastisement of the Lord, you might be marked to disciple.
• Have turned away from rebellion, resisting evil, never justifying sin in yourself or others, you might be marked to disciple.
• Read the Word and apply it into your own life continually by not just hearing the Word, but doing it, you might be marked to disciple.
• Desire to forsake everything, let go of all the World has to offer and be sent out as a messenger, you might be marked to disciple.
• Fear God over man and do not engage with devils on a person level, you might be marked as a disciple.
• Have a Godly sorrow in your heart to tears for the lost, you might be marked as a disciple.
• Contain a purity of love in the fullness of truth, you might be marked as a disciple.
• Are sober in the mind, not saturated with anything grounded in carnality or cares of this world, you might be marked as a disciple.
• Die daily all the day long, have no reputation, seek no name for yourself and live only to glorify Jesus, you might be marked as a disciple.
• Are either male or female with a heart for Jesus to be seen within the life you live as a demonstration of His miraculous ways, you might be a disciple.
• Willingly are open to share who you were before Christ and who you are now as living proof of His purifying love, you might be marked as a disciple.

So how will you know?  If you have gotten to the place spiritually that you are content with Jesus, when you are in lack of things in this life or satisfied in this life and you do not complain nor do you waiver… If you can actually be so devoted to Jesus that when an unbeliever seeks to leave, you willingly let them go and trust them in His hands – get ready to be sent out as one of His disciples, you’ve surrendered for Him to lead you in the constraints of a disciplined life within the realm of love itself., no longer demanding love but as a conduit of love which respects the freewill of all to worship Him in spirit and in truth.  In essence, a disciple is constantly seeking WWJD in every situation they find themselves presented with.

The truth is…  All who follow Jesus are given an invitation to be His disciples who are sent out to make disciples, but the reason only a few are chosen is greatly because few are willing to pick up their cross and follow Him in such a way.

The Great Commission – CHARACTERISTICS OF A DISCIPLE

Good Morning Blessings!  Thank you for joining me today and this ROF Ministries broadcast.  I want to welcome everyone and tell you how grateful I am for our time of fellowship together the Lord has blessed us with.  You each have an incredible anointing on your lives – truly, if you could see the potential I see in you – you would jump and leap for joy.  In order to motivate you a little – we are going to talk more about the Great Commission today in hopes to just motivate you and get you thinking a little outside the box and let that light shine within you to illuminate and share more of Jesus and His love with others.  We are be instant in preaching the Gospel all the time – you are a reflection of HIM as His witnesses – just like He sends angels as messengers, that is you!  We know many are called and few chosen – the chosen part has nothing to do with worthiness, as He equips the called – you are equipped already, what is lacking within so many these days is motivation in a passion for Jesus to reach the lost.  So…  Will you be like Jesus and leave the 99 to go after the 1 lost sheep?  I sure hope so!  Today is a no-excuse zone…  Because honestly, with Him nothing is impossible and He is calling forth His own to shine His light in a world that is becoming darker all the time.  The Word calls this – occupying until He comes and I don’t mean occupying our beds… but to actually pick up our beds and walk on Earth as it is in the Kingdom of Heaven.  We all can do something to expand His Kingdom here on Earth, if we are willing to do so – He will set before us open doors, no man or enemy can shut, He will fill our mouths with His words and set divine appointment across our paths for the glory of His Name…  IF we are willing to be sent, we will surely BE SENT.

We are all without excuse when the Lord calls us to be His own about His business on Earth… because just as it says in Romans 12 – When we pursue the Lord, He transforms us and then THE POWER OF HIS SPIRIT WORKS THROUGH US TO TRANSFORM OTHERS.  So each of us are on equaled ground in pursuit of Him which cleans and releases us out into those who are suffering and in need of Him.

I was thinking about Enoch and how he walked with God…  It was because of His obedience to the Lord that he became so precious in the Lord’s sight to the point he brought great pleasure to the King of Kings.  He carried a mantle with him woven into His countenance that said “I am an obedient child of the most high God.”  That same mantle is being released upon all God’s children, should we desire to pick it up and carry it too.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 gives us a clearer picture of instructions and commands in pursuing being a conduit of the Great Commission:

¹⁹ Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of ^[g]Christ depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, ^[h]sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. ²² Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

You are molded into that precious vessel of honor as His child, having resisted all iniquity – Jesus has cleansed you from the desire to invite sin into your life or give permission for unrighteousness to reign in your hearts – therefore, you are sanctified and prepared for every good work the Lord lays at your feet – having now a purified heart where Jesus dwells.  YOU are the ones I need to speak to today – those who said yes when He called, being surrendered servants to one Master – Jesus – by countenance/nature you are gentle, in humility you correct and teach others who oppose the Lord within themselves, while praying the Lord will grant them the gift of repentance so they know the truth, escaping the snare of devil they are in, doing his will rather than the Lord’s.  This is the true heart nature of a disciple… repent, repent, repent…Meaning stop sinning and follow the commands of the Lord Jesus and when we do sin, we feel the sorrowful nature of guilt and shame in order to confess our sins, be washed clean again and keep walking spreading the Gospel to those who need to hear the same Good News told to them and they too become free indeed.

If you are like me…  You have an unspoken and deep hidden heart cry to hear these words…  “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”  And with that you have a deep reverence and fear of heart these words… “Depart from Me you worker of iniquity, I never knew you.”  One statement brings us great joy, while the other one makes us tremble inside – why?  Because what I just shared is TRUTH!  And definitely not my truth – but the Lord’s truth. 

Before we read that Scripture… Let’s get it into context…  It is found in Mathew 25 and what precedes enlightens us to just who is found to be a “good and faithful servant.”  Inside the Kingdom of Heaven are ten virgins – five wise, five foolish (childish ways) – both possessing light/lamps.  The childish ones were foolish and had no oil/wisdom – they had been playing around, not being prepared spiritually for Jesus to come unto them because they thought He was taking too long they remained spiritually unprepared and eventually what little wisdom they had accumulated ran out because it was foolish and not of the heart  – when He came to retrieve all the virgins, they all in a blink woke up trimmed their lamps (repentance) but since the unwise had run out of wisdom they wanted the wise to share their wisdom with them (oil) but the wise stated they did not have enough for both their counterparts in the Kingdom and themselves and told the unwise to go get their own from those who buy and sell it to others… so the unwise left to go buy oil to keep their internal flame alive from sources outside of Jesus – which just happens to be when He showed up for only those who were spiritually ready and it was then the wise entered into the Marriage supper with their Bridegroom Jesus and the door was shut behind them all. Now, I know you all are very familiar with that story in the Bible… But I bet most often whoever shared it left off the ending… so here we go… So inside the bridal chamber is the wise virgins communing with Jesus and the door is shut to the outside world and here come the unwise knocking, saying…  Lord open the door to us and Jesus replied… I know you not.  Ugh… that’s a hard truth to swallow… all are in the Kingdom but not all in the Kingdom know Jesus or are known by Him.

Moving on… Next He compares the Kingdom of Heaven the same as a person who was given talents to travel all over the World with – each one of these people were given various talents but all resided inside the Kingdom for the purposes of the Lord Himself.  This is us you all… we each contain a God ordained gifting to share with others to expand God’s Kingdom here on Earth.  It is what comes natural to your heart quite often.  The beautiful part about these talents you carry is the Lord Jesus has matched you perfectly with those who are prepared to receive from you what you carry for His glory – It is what we do with what He granted us that comes into question here…  If we share what we’ve been given, Jesus is multiplied greatly upon the Earth but if we bury, hide, are lazy and refuse to share what was given the Lord when He comes will say to that person you are wicked and lazy – but to those who walked the Earth sharing all they had with been given with others to them He says, well done good and faithful servant, you were loyal over a few things and will now be made a ruler over many things to increase your joy.  Sadly, what was given to the lazy servant was handed over to the trusted servants then the untrusted servant due to being unprofitable to the Kingdom is cast into outer darkness…  Now, I am not saying any of this to scare you all – maybe just to sober us up a bit and not take so lightly into laziness that we are truly sent here to be workers in the Kingdom of Heaven and not be idle… because being idle means nothing positive for anyone – being a faithful/loyal servant should always be at the forefront of our minds as His messengers.

You can read the rest of the chapter yourself which goes into Him separating the sheep and goats and where they ask Jesus when did we see You hungry, thirsty and naked, etc… then He will reply WHATEVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF THESE YOU HAVE DONE UNTO ME for that was ME you could have fed, gave a drink to or clothe or visit in prisons or healed… But a promise at the end of the chapter is where I will end this portion of today’s study is when Jesus said to those wise servants who were not idle and lazy, but spiritually prepared continually for His coming – whether in the lost or He Himself on that last day – the wicked servants will go into everlasting punishment BUT THE RIGHTEOUS INTO LIFE ETERNAL.

Thank You Lord for reminding us faith/loyalty to You without works is dead and help us to be Your hands and feet of love no matter where You send us, each day.  Remind us Lord Your charity starts within our own homes and help those of us who struggle within our own homes to be Your representative there first and foremost.  Amen.

Okay I just had to say that because many people are nicer to outsiders than they are to their own families, even doing so in the Name of Jesus.  They may be meaner than dogs or neglectful to their own loved ones while spreading the Gospel in church gatherings or serving Jesus by serving others while their family is depleted emotionally and financially void of a presence of love and this should not be so, it is out of Godly order.  If we really want to know if we are walking purely with Jesus as His servants, we should ask those closest to us – our spouses, children, parents, siblings, etc…  they know us personally, on good days and bad days – how we handle obstacles, pain, betrayals, sins and temptations, anger, you know – the hard things that come at us, how do we cope as that is what reveals the true nature of us. 

Trusting in the false ministry faces people put on to reach the lost is futile when discerning who is and is not your co-laborer in the Kingdom.  You really want to know who someone is?  Ask their families… I always think to myself, how the Father sees and knows everything I do – Do you all do that too?  If so, you know what I mean when I say realizing He knows us so deeply really keeps us on our toes to inspect our hearts to insure we are found to be bringing pleasure to Him in place of disapproval.

Anyway – we are intent on discussing the Great Commission today with a hope and prayer it is encouraging and igniting to you to use what your Father gave you for HIS KINGDOM PURPOSE!

So within the Great Commission is a few heartfelt servants who by the outline of the Lord Jesus have a set example before them in Him and what He expected them to carry out until the end of the age and what to do in His absence.  Mathew 28 is where you find in detail what Jesus commanded to His apostles before He departed Earth in the flesh among them.  He instructed them and us to make disciples while we are occupying in this World until He comes again… He used the words baptize and teach secondly to by instructing them all the ways of Jesus.  One must be baptized by fire with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be a true follower of Jesus and when you combine the two – remaining teachable and teaching other with the baptism of the Holy Spirit you become one who imitates the example of only Jesus, by relying on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide.  When we are anointed to make disciples, it simply means to teach and train others who are of a willing heart to follow and obey Jesus.  We are called his witnesses sent to all the ends of the Earth, enabled to go anywhere He leads by the power of the Holy Spirit so that the authentic church body of Christ is expanded and grows.  When we meet with others, Jesus is our focus and we plead on others behalf to be reconciled back to God, because that is what Jesus does. 

All of this I am sharing is knowledge most of you already know… but for us this is a very timely word… We are on the precipice of many being sent out into the World revealing the true nature and heart of God in which He desires all people to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth spoken of in 1 Timothy. 

Let’s use Isaiah as an example today…  When he witnessed by the spirit God’s perfect holiness he was immediately convicted of his sin, recognizing he deserved punishment – but it doesn’t end there, not for him or for us, thankfully… It is then at the moment Isaiah and us for that matter become ripe for picking and we realize we deserve a woe, having unclean hearts and lips… so in truth, in brokenness we of the heart cry out to our Lord for saving, and this time it is for real… Not to escape or get out of something, but because we know we are sick inwardly in need of a healing touch from our Lord on High.  So an angel takes a piece of coal burning from fire from the alter and places it upon Isaiah’s lips to burn away all uncleanliness and what formed within him was such a pure and grateful heart after he knew he deserved punishment, in exchange he was granted grace for eternal life.  But like I said… it doesn’t end there, what followed was miraculous – Isaiah and God began to converse… and God asks Isaiah a question (all of this is in Isaiah 6 btw) “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?”  You see this?  They became one and God who was searching all this time for Isaiah was reconciled back to His son who at that moment came searching for HIM.  Without question immediately Isaiah responded…  Here I am… send me!  He responded with such excitement that measured to the degree of excitement he had for the Lord Himself.  Why?  He couldn’t wait to tell the World and all who would listen within it – what the Lord had done for him.  And about God who is mighty to save with a passionate desire for them to have a life changing moment in the same way he did.

And just like Isaiah, we have a great commission too – to share our testimonies, giving God all the glory – to point to Jesus as the lasting Lord and Savior in our lives and shout it out to the World how lost we were and now have been found.  This sounds like returning to our first love, our commanding love and passion shared with Jesus for one another and the lost doesn’t it?  Let’s call it a reigniting of that flame of love, full of excitement and newness to share with everyone and anyone who will listen. 

Within the confines of our great commission is void of the watered down gospel of man… Instead it is pure truth with fullness, which is the ONLY WAY THE HOLY SPIRIT leads others and speaks to others.  I don’t know what spirit all these others are of, but I do know when the HOLY SPIRIT is leading it is full and complete work done within each of us.  Our commission is to guide and lead others just as He were doing so Himself.  We are to share how salvation is seized through the grace of God alone and how His holiness requires a punishment upon us, but Jesus already paid that price on our behalf.  We deserved wrath, but for a moment in time, Jesus received that wrath upon Himself so we wouldn’t be appointed to it ourselves.  As a perfect man without sin, Jesus went to the cross that day owing us nothing He gave us everything eternally – life itself.  We owe Him a debt we can never repay, which He expects us to not die as He did, but live continually a life laid down for Him.  That is how we show our love and adoration for Him, willingly we forfeit our lives to live for Him, considering all He did for us – it really a small thing isn’t it?  When we place our loyalty to Him above all else we find true salvation and freedom from the ties that bind us to this World and we too shall explode with excitement over Jesus, containing an unwavering desire to serve Him by telling others about Him and His ways – to fulfill the great commission – to do it! 

From the outside to hear or see of anyone who gives up everything, even possibly risking their own lives to proclaim the gospel and assists others on their journeys to Jesus – it may appear foolish or like their decisions are not rational or logical but honestly – their joy is made full in HIM, they risk it all because they have already been given all they need — truly, there is nothing left to lose, once you lose your life for His sake.

Evangelism of today on the other hand is not instructional or disciplined like the great commission is – meaning we as followers of Jesus are not TO SELL the gospel for any profit on any level… We are not into playing intellectual games, fame, being a salesperson, shiny objects to lure others in, knowledge based worms on hooks to reel others in or that sort of thing… no smoke and mirrors on the disciple’s lists – just the simplicity of Christ Jesus in love is on their hearts, minds and lips.  Discipleship has nothing to do with   coning people into buying something they don’t need, especially more knowledge or fame… or trying to grab people’s attention or forcing on anyone a faith that doesn’t go deeper than a memorized prayer. 

We are to proclaim not ourselves, but only that JESUS IS LORD – speaking the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth – in LOVE, of course and then… ready?  LEAVE THE RESULTS WITH GOD, who is the perfect author and finisher of everyone’s faith walk with Himself.  If we at any time lure people to Jesus with anything not grounded in the whole truth – sadly, once received their walk will be fleeting and not built on the solid ground needed to thrive… when storms come what little they had will blow away, fall apart and the worst part – it will appear to them God forsook them… Isn’t that sad?  But when we speak truth always in love and hold nothing back, they will grow up into maturity with deep strong roots to with stand all storms of this life.  They will… walk on water, keeping their eyes fixated on Jesus at all times, who never told anyone storms would not come – He just promised to never leave us within the storm.  Amen?  Carnal evangelists count salvations, disciples rejoice with angels over just one sinner that repents.  See the difference?

Sometimes it seems as if we are not effective or making any difference at all, doesn’t it?  Just keep in mind we are not responsible for the multitudes of people we have no control or charge over.  We are only responsible to those THE LORD HIMSELF SENDS US TO… as He goes before us to prepare their hearts to receive His truth and our hearts to deliver it in love.  Just one can make a difference, you just committing yourself to praying for, encouraging, instructing, teaching – assisting by coming alongside just that one for however long it takes is how we will grow the church during these last days.  I call these divine appointments the Lord sets up for us and when we say yes to Him, He will cultivate for us a discipiling relationship with that person.  When we just like Jesus invest into another soul, He will use as a His witness, ignoring our own weaknesses as an excuse to sit idle and do nothing.  We may not be able to freely rush into a large crowd and deliver the gospel, but we can surely go looking for and lead back that one lost sheep who has wandered off and is lost, scared and lonely in need of some spiritual TLC.

As we read the Word, we need to be placing ourselves right there in the midst of it, because it is our instruction manual.  In Mark 16 it says we are to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all of creation.  The disciples were not idle no matter what ailments or imprisonments they faced.  Even Jesus Himself was purposed to win souls until He took His last breath… The very last person He preached the good news too hung on the cross beside Him – If you can even imagine that?  Everything our precious Lord Jesus had endured, He still put aside His own pain and suffering to embrace another in need of saving – the church in America especially has gotten so anemic and weak that if all conditions are not perfect, we refuse to share the Good News.  Jesus’s disciples did not shrink back like we do, having unmatched zeal and boldness.  Acts 4 describes how Peter and John were threatened with punishment by the rulers, elders and scribes… But continue to preach the gospel anyway – saying the gleaned joy in suffering for the sake of their Lord Jesus.  

When you take a closer look at all they went through on a regular basis, it surely conflicts the heart, doesn’t it?  None of us have faced such tribulations like they did or like many do outside of the US.  Yet, despite our safety, we struggle to be motivated enough to entertain even participating in the Great Commission required of us.  In truth, there is no valid excuse for any of us not to share the gospel. 

If honest, being idle is due to our own inward focus and self-centric attitude and I am at fault with this just like everyone else.  I am guilty before all… knowing in times of heartache I ruminate on what happened, coming into agreement with my pain, caring too much about my reputation and comfort and by pride lose sight of my Lord and Savior and His commanded expectations of me.  In essence we take our eyes off Jesus and place them on ourselves more often than we like to admit.  Having a daily devotion to the Lord is our strength in time of weakness and trouble.  Fellowshipping with Him all the time cultivates a deeper communion with Him so we are able to daily deny ourselves, pick up our cross (suffering) each day and follow Him. 

The Great Commission is for all of His who call upon His name – all are required to do something to change the atmosphere in the World, no matter who you are or what natural obstacles are in your way.  It is His way…for us to teach and assist others to observe all that we were commanded by Him and yet, we cannot command something by the power of the Holy Spirit if we refuse to pick up our own beds and walk…  in order to equip and disciple the church of Jesus – He told us the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few in Mathew 9… I can see it, realizing I can do so much more – can’t you? 

Jesus highlighted some basic qualities of what one of His disciples look like, as a reminder to what we studied last week.

• Disciples embrace within the heart the Word of God by applying what is written into the very fabric of their own lives, without adding to, taking away or altering the gift of the message in anyway.
• Disciples make up God’s Kingdom here on Earth, meaning they assist in making His Kingdom concrete and perceivable and observable Jesus walking the Earth.  They are visible entities and expressions of Jesus alive and active here in this place.
• Disciples are citizens of Heaven who bring the good news about Jesus by conducting themselves in way which represents royalty and purity.  They are not of this world, just passing through it as His appointed ambassadors.  We are supposed to look different than the rest of the World, being sanctified and set apart being Holy as our Father in Heaven is Holy.
• Disciples go out in groups of likeminded souls, equally yoked in order to encourage one another, to stir up one another to love and do good works.  The fellowship together for the purpose of loving strength, not to exclude anyone else, but to include Jesus in the midst of themselves to overcome all obstacles as they deliver His message.  A day in the life with a disciple of humility, realizes dependence on others who have the same heart, mind and spirit as them is essential.
• Every disciple is granted a gift to evangelize others the Jesus way by sharing the gospel and being ready to give explanation of why you have such hope in a hopeless world, being content with Jesus in times of plenty and times of distress.  Disciples never see themselves as a victim, not ever – they see it an honor to suffer in any way for the cause of Christ and be used and abused to bring Him glory.
• As a disciple your countenance of light will provoke those who abide in darkness to lash out at you through false accusation and persecution.  Your holiness in Jesus will irritate the demons influencing others to the point they cannot hold their tongues and will rail accusations continually.
• As a disciple you have total understanding that two is better than one and that forfeiting this go it alone lifestyle is not conducive to cultivating a Kingdom culture which is based in full surrender, each part heeding to the blessing the other part brings to the table of the Lord.
• Disciples easily comprehend the difference between suffering for others versus suffering due to their own lack of discipline and do not confuse the consequences of their own rebellious ways with the oil gleaned from mourning with those who mourn in a time of need in order to comfort them with the same words by which you were comforted.

Lastly before I go I want to share some of a recent conversation I had with Michael which was very eye opening to me on several levels.  I am sharing it not to cause offense, but rather to give some insight as to why our dealings with others often ends in ways that do not reflect the intent of our hearts.

I pray you will consider what I am about to share and take it to the Lord for clarity.  Again, not to offend, but to set free, so if I happen to be speaking to you just ask the Lord if this is truth for chains to be broken and minds to be set free so you walk in liberty in Him.

Michael and I were having one of those deep moments of talking about the Lord and His purpose for us and he started sharing about how for years people will say to him “don’t kick me out…”  He was speaking about how that is demons operating through others not wanting to lose their grip on the person.  Then I began to tell him that people are constantly saying to me “don’t judge me…”  which always catches me off-guard because I judge no one ever and we both were just shaking our heads because we don’t even have to say a word but just by being present in the moment people say these things to us… Then it dawned on me… how many times people in chat will say “don’t kick me out…” and they have for years and every single time I convey to them I can count on one hand how many unruly people who would not conform to love were banned from chat – but they don’t believe me, I know the number is less than five, which isn’t very many considering we’ve been doing this for close to ten years, having thousands of people we cross paths with.  Michael was telling me how because I carry the light of Jesus within, people who are in darkness and do not desire to partake in His light feel naked and exposed for sin and rather than repent they deflect saying I am judging when I’ve said or done nothing to indicate that is so outside of speaking truth occasionally, but never targeting anyone specifically like they have fabricated in their minds perceiving accusation.

Then the next morning after our talk, the Lord began to show me something… And it relates to how many are and will view Him, using us as an example.  We do not go around kicking people out, judging others or holding grudges… but if your own actions are sinful and cause you to be separated out, then that is on you.  The Lord began showing me how He does not prevent anyone from entering His own Kingdom, but rather their refusal to accept forgiveness of sins by not confessing them and being washed clean falls upon their own doings.  When we do not own our personal shortcomings and sin, we keep it and granted access to enter into the Kingdom.  Just as Adam and Eve were not permitted to re-enter into the Garden the same is true for us.  Jesus is our intercessor to reconcile us back to the Father, as a matter of fact He is the only way to the Father’s heart.  But what about being reconciled back to Jesus after we are beat up and worn out with doing things our own way?  It is only by accepting within the heart the sacrificial gift Jesus gave of Himself for on the cross – by crucifying your self-life with Him, only to be raised back to life from the dead in His power and cleansing blood.  It is with confession (of sin) that through faith and mercy we are saved – to have that same power that raised Jesus from the dead imparted into us we are no longer smelling like the stench of death ourselves. 

So then another piece to this is about an hour later in our conversation (we always talk about the Lord mostly, obviously) Michael reminded me only those who endure until the end shall be saved… Then we got into this long and deep conversation about what that means – enduring until the end…  Enduring what?  You all want to guess?  I’ll get right to the point…  It does not mean, enduring the attacks, illnesses, shortcomings and obstacles.  Now Michael thinks you all already know this… lol… but I told him, nope not everyone does… I told him many think they need to go buy guns and toilet paper to endure until the end… lol… So if that is you… Please hear me just a moment…  Enduring until the end means, enduring all temptation to sin, to overcome a sinful lifestyle that is in rebellious opposition to our Holy Father who has no darkness within Him whatsoever.  To endure and overcome through the power and blood of the Lamb all ungodliness which desires to overtake, kill and destroy you for all eternity, in order you be found blameless when He calls you Home.  So that is it in a nutshell – I pray it helps someone out there today or who will listen to the archives.

Again… We are not looking to kick anyone out, nor do we judge anyone… If either of those thoughts cross your mind – please ask the Lord to show you why that is what you are perceiving and know that we are constantly praying that each of you do indeed endure until the end because those same people are the ones who shall be saved.  Amen.

Although initially it may appear the qualifications of a called disciple are quite vigorous and treacherous and practically unattainable, however, that is just our flesh talking against being under the subjection of Jesus.  In truth, all it does require is full surrender to the Lord in every way, understanding your worth, having been bought with a very heavy price and knowing just how loved and valuable you are to Him – so much so, He is grieved by anything we choose which separates us from Himself.  It is with great soberness I share with you today – how short time is and how we have only moments left to put away such childish ways and get very serious about our own salvation. 

The Thorn In The Flesh

November 15, 2021

Today we are going to talk about something we all deal with… the thorn in the flesh.  Some have many thorns so to speak, but all have at least one.  In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul describes his thorn and answers any questions as to the purposed “why” this thorn is a blessing and not a curse.  With understanding comes clarity and with clarity we can rest and trust in the Lord that all things are purposed and planned according to His will.  When we have faith to believe He has us and uses everything for our good we will embrace, rather than fight against everything which comes our way… Including thorns, which not only remind us we still have that flesh nature to overcome by the Spirit, but also teaches us the importance of letting go and letting God, but the truth that humility if of high value in His Kingdom.

So today, in keeping with New Creature habits… we are going to explore the true nature of the thorn in our flesh and the value it brings to our Spiritual life.  One might be prone to think, if I am a new creature why would I even have to deal with something painful like a thorn – Paul answers that question too, by reminding us, the purpose in remaining humble and not prideful so the Lord granted the presence of the thorn to insure we not get swept away in thinking we are better off spiritually than another.  Thorns keep us on a level playing field with others and keeps compassion locked in to our daily walks so we are moved to comfort others. 

Let’s read what Paul wrote in the Word so we have more understanding in truth, not hearsay or opinions of man.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to ^[b]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ⁸ Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We can place ourselves in this Scripture very easily…  Just in case due to the abundance we receive from the Lord, it is possible anyone of us could be exalted above the measurement of Jesus in us and begin to place self mixed in with the Gospel and start to lean upon our own understanding of Spiritual things.  In order that doesn’t not happen and we get swept away with vain imaginations/thoughts…

A thorn in the flesh was given to me (he presents it like a gift, doesn’t he?) – What is a thorn?  In Greek, thorn here means a splinter to pierce ones flesh, an infirmity or bodily ailment as a reminder that no matter how spiritual someone is, they are still in a mortal body and a fragile human.

Paul compares this thorn to a messenger who is an adversary (one who opposes him) to buffet (strike with the fist and treat with violence) him so he is not exalted above measure (be haughty or treat others like they are less than, spiritual pride).

Paul pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave him… (no resisting of this enemy would cause it to flee – it had been granted permission by the Lord to remain, to keep Paul from falling into the pit of pride)

This is what Jesus said to Paul about thorns – My grace (lovingkindness/favor) is sufficient to get you through it and when you are weak my strength is made perfect in and through you.  Its almost as if He keeps us broken and weak at times so we lean upon Him and not ourselves quite often. 

Paul’s rejoice was…  to boast about his infirmities (something that could potentially corrupt our flesh – but we will talk more about that in a minute) so that the power of Jesus would rest on him.

Infirmity – Is a weakness, disease, sickness which reveals the feeble frailness in our mortal bodies – but what is so interesting is, in the Greek, it also describes the soul and being sick in it – to be found wanting, having corrupt desires and bear trials and troubles…  It reminds me of the Scripture that says I would that you prosper (be whole) as your soul prospers and how each time Jesus healed, he told them their faith in Him made them whole and to go and sin no more. 

Paul is teaching us here how purposeful for the glory of the Lord it is to have such infirmities so the power of Jesus rests upon us by demonstration on how we overcome all things, no matter what as an encouragement to others.  When we are inflicted, it is a mighty demonstration of Jesus, not when we seek to be delivered from the trial, but He is Who we rely on during it, then our faith grows as an encouragement to others.  Can we praise Him in the storm or only on the good days?

Verse 10 helps us to see more clearly exactly how a thorn presents itself to us and inflicts actual pain in our flesh and souls, reminding us just because it comes, it may be permitted to remain, but so does Jesus and we can lean upon Him during our trials and tribulations – because when we are weak and we need to see just how weak and fragile we truly are at times in order we see He alone is the strong one, not us, but Him.  I can see why not many – not all – but many boasters and braggers in the church body, remain in a constant state of affliction… it makes perfect sense now doesn’t it?

So real quick, let’s define the afflictions which come as thorns again:

Infirmities – a weakness in the body such as a feebleness of health or sickness or a soul who is in need of strength to understand something, to rely on Jesus to restrain from corrupt desires and bear troubles and trials in that your soul does great things and is glorious.

Reproaches – to suffer being harmed by the pride of another, to be wronged or suffer hurt, insult or have a mental injury caused by violence done towards you.

Necessities – when in need due to circumstances, by the laws in place bringing calamity or distress or when taken advantage of by being put in constraints.

Persecutions – to be made to flee when being pursued in a hostile manner, to suffer mistreatment by one who seeks to cause harm or entrap you.

Distresses – to be positioned in a place of anguish, to find yourself in a narrow place due to extreme calamity or affliction.

So like I said, none is above the affliction of thorns… And when we face the fear of just how purposed they are to keep us in a place of humility, surrendered to the Lord and reliant on only Him and not ourselves… All anxiety is settled in our hearts.  He is the Prince of Peace which rules within us in our times of need, when we can’t seem to find our own peace, His peace moves us beyond reasonable human understanding. 

These thorns also equip us for the dying to the flesh daily…  they destroy the strongholds the flesh has over us and teach us what adversities may come – Jesus has us in the palm of His hands…  to walk with us through the purifying fire, not always deliver us from it.  I will say, once we stop asking for the thorn to be removed, it is then we can take the first step in learning to overcome that thorn in Him. 

In the last verse – verse 11 it says –

I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

We see here the true reflection of our broken state in these mortal bodies… to be glorifying about ourselves in anyway is foolish.  Paul said it best… I am nothing – What he was saying here is – anything we do that is good and holy and full of light is only when we are hidden in Christ.  Any good within me or you is HIM.  And just in case we forget… here comes that thorn to irritate and remind us, a part from Jesus within our own wills and strength, we can and should do nothing. 

So as I was ponder with the Lord… He began to show me… if I boasted a little less, and I thought a little less about myself than I ought to and I surrendered a lot more to Him, giving Him alone glory – then possibly, quite possibly the thorns would diminish or at the very least not irritate as often.  That if I sought to remain in a constant place of humility, the thorn may be present on the outside looking in – but I would be untouchable by it…  So I started to think about the times in my life where severe thorns were piercing not only my flesh and my soul and I realized they usually came when I was at my height of glory, or based in works, or being Martha instead of Mary and He would lay me out flat… there have been times He has even silenced my mouth…  So considering all that – He pressed upon me to be more in tune with Him and the Spirit and to rely on HIM first before He asks me to via a thorn, to be obedient, meek and humble and I began to realize – the thorn was sent because Paul needed it – but it is possible to get so low with Jesus we are truly hidden within Him, no longer requiring the afflictions of the flesh and soul for the pressing of surrender.  It is not the thorn needs to change, but I do.  Thorns do what they do – but with us… He is molding us into the image of His Son Jesus, which requires all the fruits of the Spirit to manifest to override our wills… I think He is telling us to stop waiting and watching for Him to change others – and say, change me Lord because it is in my weakness You are made strong and since You are strong, in You so am I.  I realize now, I only get weary and tired when I am operating out of self and not heeding to His commands or to even rest occasionally, to refresh and rejuvenate spirit, soul and body.

Jesus would often go up alone into the mountain to rest and commune with the Father.  Before He went to the cross during His fasting and prayer time – He was so shaken He sweat blood and there was a time an angel came to touch Him and strengthen Him because His flesh was so weak. 

Again, we are to follow in His footsteps… Do we really think we can go and go without rest from all things and not be brought low, if even Jesus needed to withdraw occasionally?  This explains more about thorns being used to purposefully show just how frail we truly are, whether we realize it or not. 

Thank You Jesus for pointing out our frailties so that we remain humbled by Your majesty, knowing without You we should be doing nothing.  Thank You for keeping us on the straight and narrow path of humility, no matter what it takes – you make our election as Your child sure.  Amen.

💕love in Jesus ~ Angela

Good Morning Blessings – Thank you for joining me today on this ROF Ministries broadcast.  Today we are going to wrap up our study from last week which was interrupted when my internet went down, in which we were studying Mathew 23 and straining gnats.  Before we were so abruptly interrupted we were almost ready to go over the last woe, which is placed upon those look narrowly upon others, while ignoring they have areas in their lives which are not obedient and surrendered to the Lord.  We discussed how a “woe” is simply to suffer a consequence – or rather a reaping of pain we’ve sowed in our mistreatment of others or the results of sin in our lives because we view ourselves very holy already…

So today we will go over the last woe and then go over Romans 2, while discussing what it looks like when we are inflicted with a “critical spirit,” which goes hand in hand with straining gnats – faultfinding of others, while swallowing a camel of continued sin in our own lives.  Those who do this wear a holy façade as a mask to be admired and lifted up to rule over others… pride again, which always paves the way to a great fall.

So let’s do this…

The Seventh Woe

Jesus concludes the “woes” by showing that the Pharisees claim to honor the prophets of old, but they are just as guilty as their own forefathers who persecuted and killed messengers from God – this critical nature gets passed down, generation to generation and it proves you are who you commune with most often.  If you are not a faultfinder, then you will find it very difficult to be in the company of faultfinders, we are told to not partake in their iniquity so we do not absorb that sort of quality which provokes the Father to wrath upon us.  God’s measure of wrath eventually reaches a tipping point. For that reason, Jesus declares that at that appointed time these hypocrites will suffer the consequences of the many righteous people unjustly harmed at their hands.
Matthew 23 ends with Jesus’ lament over these souls. Speaking from His divine perspective, He mourns over how He would have protected these hypocrites, but they refused. This was also the end point of Jesus’ public ministry, in which there will be no more opportunities for the people to hear directly from Him. Worse, the city will soon experience horrific wrath as the protection of God is removed. And just as it is written, the next time the people of Jerusalem will see Jesus, openly, will be when He returns as a conquering Judge and King.  Its pretty uncanny how all this is increasing from that day Jesus warned the hypocrites who was in His midst, until the times in which we live and must deal with them ourselves.

You see when we strain gnats, we set ourselves us in a higher authority than others, where mercy flows inward but does not flow outwardly to others and we cannot perceive or understand the possibility that just maybe… Everyone is doing the very best that they can.  When we sit in darkness like that, all we can perceive is the darkness within others and we are compelled to straighten them out, correct them and all sorts of weird things… We measure others by our own holiness and anything that does not represent our characteristics, giftings, mannerisms – we see as a gnat that needs removed.  And all the while, we ignore the obvious within ourselves… the camel.

For some reason, when first saved we are so thankful for much because in that moment we realize just how much we have been forgiven for.  But like with all things time passes and we often take for granted that which our Lord Jesus so freely granted us – salvation, to be washed clean by Him.  And as things begin to be removed from our lives, we sort of get this “holiness” state of mind, like we are better than others.  And those who grew up in religious households of cleanliness are the worst in many ways – of self-righteousness, not realizing they could follow the most pristine ways of living and still be a filthy rag like the rest of us.

You can instruct the sheep all day long, but until you smell like them you will not reach them, or at least not in the way in which you are purposed to reach them.  Afterbit we are going to talk about this “critical spirit” – about Romans 2 a little bit and ask the Lord to teach us His ways of being sent out to preach the Gospel in an effective way for the sake of the lost and the Glory of His Name.

So the challenge for this purifying season is… Pay attention to yourself, the thoughts which pass through your mind in reference to others.  I’ve been shocked since doing this myself, often catching myself looking harshly upon another… so humbled and thankful the Lord is giving us this correction right now, very timely and very needed.  If it isn’t a salvation issue for someone, you might want to consider – it is even necessary to bring to their attention or – Am I just straining a gnat.  We will get a lot more into this in a little while, just to make sure we are in a good placement with the Lord on High to represent Him just as He is… loving, embracing, full of compassion and welcoming to all who are need of saving.  I haven’t forgotten how far I’ve fallen before – and hopefully you haven’t either.

Many of us stink right now…  in order to draw those close to us in order they be loved like Jesus.  You just don’t know who you are and how special you are and how Jesus is building a masterpiece – that’s you!  With boldness He is raising you up to give Him glory in ways the holy dressed up ones cannot.  There is no way they can reach who you can – no way… they lack the compassionate love of Jesus and for them – they are very awkward, when they try – it comes off a insincere and those who are messy have a keen sense of hypocrisy.  You my loves are a unique and rare blessing that the world has been waiting for, which gets me so very excited!  I just cannot wait to set back and watch how the Lord is going to use you!  You shine like the SON, with His power behind you – LOVE… something which cannot be bought, imitated or replicated by will…. It just is and it is an obvious part of your DNA.  So keep shining like the son. 

Alrighty, so in a bit…  We will go over Romans 2 and this critical religious spirit, asking the Lord to reveal to us any of that which is still within us and to purge it forever. 

The Lord is really pressing us to pay attention to times we are tempted to “strain gnats” in someone else’s life and take captive those thoughts, hold your peace and be made whole.  Amen?

There was an amazing quote I read from Toby Mac and I believe it is something Jesus would tell us too:

DO NOT MOCK A BURDEN YOU HAVE NOT ENDURED.

We are told to be Holy in all manner of what we speak… If something does not reflect the image of Jesus, then we need His help to overcome and represent Him in all our ways.  I thank Him for showing us more of how we do not follow in His footsteps as we decrease, so that He may increase within us and within the whole World.

This critical spirit trying to attach itself to us can only cling to self-righteousness, viewing oneself as Holier than another (that’s the plank in the eye btw – called self/ego).  Doubleminded believers are stumbling like drunk men/women, roaming to and fro to seek knowledge that will never, ever prepare or grow them in that they are Spiritually prepared for the intense heat that is looming on the horizon.

The truth only feels like condemnation when you are not willing to change your behavior and repent for your sins.  And herein is the sickness indwelling those within the church today.  The Spirit only knows truth and the only way to win these battles are by the Spirit, nothing done in our own strength will prosper for the Glory of God, only self glory – aside from totally surrendering to Him.  Many of you are getting beat up for running ahead of God, unarmored by missing the very first step in battles… surrender to Jesus, a requirement for victory.  Flesh always is irritated by another’s flesh and flesh always contends with flesh, but remember – satan cannot cast out satan – in our flesh we cannot overcome the flesh within someone who does not want to get free and stay free. 

When you are sober in the mind – delivered from the worry regarding the cares of this World you rest in Jesus and are anxious about nothing and although it is horrible right now, we haven’t seen anything yet.  Those who have ingested the tree of knowledge of good and evil are confused, perplexed and drunk right now – we knew this was going to happen, the Lord showed us this weeks ago, giving us time to repent and get on board wholeheartedly with Him.  They are hearing voices which are not of the Lord and parroting them all over the place – evolving into messengers of darkness, not light.  God’s children are messengers of light, sadly there are fewer than we wanted to believe.  These messengers of darkness are anxious about everything at the moment thinking they are in battle with an enemy who is not defeated – where messengers of light are declaring the gospel truth that the enemy has already been defeated.  Unfortunately, they will be greatly sifted as wheat, fighting battles of entanglement with darkness that are unnecessary refusing to resist the enemy so that he flees.  Whether they realize it not, the enemy is posturing and staring them right in the face saying exactly what was said in Acts 19 to a Jewish priest and the sons of Sceva –

15Eventually, one of the evil spirits answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.…

When we have anger rise up within us when in a battle – spiritually or naturally, we are compromised and not surrendered to the Lord and we have already lost.  Spiritual warfare is not the learned ways of war that is man taught – which resembles the cutting off of the ear that Peter did, which Jesus put back on and healed by the way – which is indicative of a desire to harm and injure – not walking in victory spiritually.  Vengeance brings suffering and harm to your opponent and belongs to God alone – we are to rise above the turmoil, having peace and victory in Jesus alone – as we tread upon serpents and scorpions not handle them for another victorious notch on our belts of pride.  Again, the Lord just keeps pressing me that if this sort of approach continues we shall be sifted – do not entangle with darkness to defeat something that you already can trample upon as Jesus defeated all darkness – all means all.  When we enjoy the “fight” it shows we value the fight over valuing Jesus in us as He is our all in all – several right now are operating out of a punishing spirit, to make someone pay.  James 1:24 tells us the desire Jesus has for us to be mature and complete, not lacking anything – so one more win, one more devil cast out, one more, one more… is not what makes us whole – He does.  It is no wonder the enemy will wear out the saints of the most high God – we’ve been fighting battles for the sake of engagement, with an enemy who has already lost.  Many within the church are using friendly fire pointed at one another and are in severe danger of losing it all because we have lost our ability to resist the enemy.  One major reason the demons you try to deliver others from will not flee is because it is their counterparts which are influencing you to go into battle with them, instead of surrendering to the Lord, putting on the full armor and standing therefore…  Just stand – don’t run and don’t engage – just resist and when Jesus’s power flows from within you – the devil flees you.  Do you realize when you take your proper placement and someone tormented is in your midst that person gets a reprieve from their torment by the light you overshadow them with?  I say all this out of a place of love, many of you have battle wounds that were inflicted in battles you were never sent to fight and it breaks my heart.  In the Spirit – we look to the souls that need saved, when we look to one who is lost we see a soul because that is what Jesus sees and desires to save – when we are battling in the flesh, all we see is how the flesh of that soul is being influenced by darkness and sin and way too many are entangling with the enemy, over defeating him to operate.  With our full armor on we can fight for that soul spiritually, flesh armor we go to battle with someone’s flesh laden with darkness.  Armor protects, yes?  It is not a weapon.

Will you let Jesus purify you?  To remove all the obstacles of offense and stand and speak as a child of light, having come out of darkness all the way.  No more mixture, no more bitterness, vengeance, points to prove or overcompensating strength in self.  Wow… How did I get off on that ramble?  Forgive me, I am supposed to be talking about looking upon others narrowly with a critical eye and spirit.  I am not sure who that rant was for, I pray it blessed someone – its just that I can tell several of you are listening to the wrong voices, because when you are anxious what you’ve taken in, comes out and what you are proclaiming reflects that our Lord has not defeated the enemy, nor does He remain steadfast and firm as victorious in all situations and so can you – His power resides within you, so never let your fear be greater than His power.  Remember – whatever we feed grows and whatever we starve dies, the problem is many are not feasting upon the fullness of the truth.  And it is by our own appetites we choose what we eat and what we take into us, comes out.  It is so simple a child could understand.  Many of you are anxious right now because of what you seek and take into you produces to grow anxiety and overshadow what truth you have been granted.  This is opposite of your purpose because when truth is received it overshadows all darkness and kills it so it does not prosper in your life.  I must admit I feel somewhat of a helpless feeling at times, very similar to many of you who desire those you love to call out to Jesus – I have that same desire for you all to go deeper into Him and desire His words, which are sincere and the only pure truth, to defeat the carnal mind of knowledge.

Funny Catholic School story…

Some of you all need to be a little more cautious about where you put your lips… because you don’t know how clean they are when they don’t come from the source of truth.

Next we need to study ROMANS 2 just a bit which talks about God’s Righteous Judgment and the circumcision of the heart, regarding hypocrisy – and like with all times when we study God’s word, we go to Him and ask that He cleanse us by the washing of His word over our hearts to purify us, making us clean and whole, lacking nothing.

Romans 2 –

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. Judging is not the issue so much – but rather judging another when you are guilty yourself – hypocrisy – is what the Father abhors.  As a matter of fact Paul got a little upset that no one would judge evil matters – it’s a trap in which you begin calling evil good and good evil.  But that takes some precepts to understand, maybe another day.

² But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. ³ And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? What a number the enemy has done on the church – to actually believe we do not have to maintain a life of surrendered repentance, continually we are to decrease in that Jesus may increase within us.  We are to be growing in the Lord and dying to all that is not a reflection of Him.  Because of His love towards us – we feel a need to repent when we still sin, it is a gift in so many ways to keep us on the narrow path to life everlasting.

⁵ But in accordance with your hardness and your ^[a]impenitent heart you are ^[b]treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶ who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: ⁷ eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; ⁸ but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, ⁹ tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the ^[c]Greek; ¹⁰ but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹¹ For there is no partiality with God.  Position, stance, entitlement will get you nowhere with God – He is Holy and also shows no partiality to anyone.  Any hard hearted person who refuses to repent will reap what they have sown and His wrath is perfect, as He is all-knowing, He not only sees what we do, He knows why we do it.

¹² For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law ¹³ (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; ¹⁴ for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵ who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) ¹⁶ in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.  We cannot deceive ourselves into thinking God turns a blind eye to unrepentant or willful sin, He calls that being a rebellious child – you can hear messages all day long and read the Word every second of the day – but unless that message or truth is applied by you in your own life it is fruitless.  All truth will circumcise the heart to change and our actions quickly follow because what we desire is light, not dark in nature – then we grow.  As we think, so are we…  Once you are saved, you are cleaned and everything thing changes and its daily we die to self, not one time.

The Jews Guilty as the Gentiles

^17 [d]Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest^[e] on the law, and make your boast in God, ¹⁸ and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, ¹⁹ and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. He did not have issue with what they knew about Him and the works they were doing openly before men.  But the next part puts the fear of God in me like no other.

²¹ You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? ²² You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³ You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? ²⁴ For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written. This literally scares me to death – this would be like if we studied the word only to measure others by or to know what is coming upon the Earth for signs, never activating it within our own souls.  And what upsets me the most – is to dishonor the Lord in such a way – to not represent Him just as He is – pure, victorious, holy, sinless, etc…  That I myself actually blasphemy Him because I do not walk out what I talk… this literally makes me tremble.  Those who do this will go with all the hypocrites to where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth – even though they preached, healed, performed all sorts of signs, miracles and wonders and even prophesied in His Name.  They may have had all the knowledge about good and evil anyone ever could and yet… they didn’t know HIM.  They were messengers of darkness, not light.  And how did they know evil so intimately?  They were entwined within it deeply – outside clean, inside white-washed tombs, decaying and dead.

Circumcision of No Avail

²⁵ For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ²⁶ Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? ²⁷ And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your ^[f]written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? ²⁸ For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; ²⁹ but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose ^[g]praise is not from men but from God. Those who seek praise from humans, may very well appear to have a heart change outwardly, but inwardly where it counts to the Lord, they are uncircumcised or rather unchanged.  A child of God has had a dramatic and lasting heart change, which is circumcision only God knows and only God will give praise to His child for their total surrender and placing themselves into His hands for His will to be done in their lives by turning away from their own self-will of flesh lusts.  This is just me – but the main part we have to play in our own salvation is simply surrender to the Lord, no matter the cost, persecution, suffering, mocking or anything else the enemy throws at us or friends and family use against us and especially when our own desires which do not align with the Lord try to distract us.  We submit to God – then resist the enemy and He flees.

Hypocrisy is dangerous ground, because we see the enemy residing within everyone else, ignoring the fact he is trying to influence us as well.  Peter was used, Judas was used and others…  some repent like Peter did and others will fall as Judas did, both believed they were doing God’s service – this is also why people slay you, thinking they are doing God’s work – it is my prayer, you do not do the same and slay others thinking you are doing God’s work.

So before I go – I just want to go over a little bit about a critical spirit, someone who criticizes others.  Another word for that would be to scrutinize someone, the Bible calls it looking narrowing upon another person – like examining someone’s life by nit-picking and placing them under a microscope, while cutting themselves or others they like a ton of slack – this is what the Lord calls… partiality – unfair and unrighteous judgment.  And remember, if we judge that way – we too will be judged with partiality (absent the blood of Jesus).  So this is an excellent life lesson to heed to no doubt.

There are times when the Lord will flood your life with a sin so much you begin to hate that sin to the degree you will never participate in it, hating the sin is imperative for going and sinning no more with something we frequently struggle to overcome.  Quite often He purges that tendency of sin out of you by inflicting you at the hands of another so it becomes something you never have to deal with internally as a struggle.  When He does this as long as you stay humble always in this area (never prideful thinking you did anything great in your own strength to avoid the sin) you will despise the sin so much you will never entangle with it and He will use you to resist, purge out and defeat that darkness within others – this is a piece to what the shadows of His disciples healed – they countenance overshadowed those who were seeking Jesus.

Applying that truth… I am very well qualified to talk about a critical spirit which resides in so many people, especially religious sects.  I grew up in the south and from the time I was five until fifteen I basically was an orphan who gravitated from home to home to anyone who would love me.  It wasn’t really until I ended up in Nebraska with my mom who moved away when I was fourteen to marry a man she knew only a few months by phone and a couple visits.  Not only did everything in my life change physically, it also changed spiritually… I ended up right in the midst of a critical home, which was one pain I had not suffered up until that point, although there were many prior, in a strange state and around no one familiar to me that I loved.  I sat at a dinner table daily in which they took on the role of criticizing everyone and everything – what people did, who they were, their positions, clothing – I mean everything anyone other than them were under their constant scrutiny and it made me physically sick – and they still do this today and it still makes me sick.  They measure everyone to their own viewed perfectness and if you are not exactly like them in thought and deed you are a target and you are in the wrong.  Period.  And if you do not chime in and side with them – they view you as their enemy and you become a worse target than the one they are slaying with their lips.  So like I said, when I stepped into the goings on of that house, it felt very dark to me and unfamiliar. 

May I be honest?  I see that tendency in some of you all at times… Please know I pray for you, I do not speak out about it to others, but it does greatly hurt my heart.  Some of you will look narrowly at another over politics, the cares of this world, sins and struggles, denominations/doctrines, walks of life, how someone speaks or types, clothing, the vaccine, markings – all sorts of things really and all of them are carnal and based in flesh ways.  Just because someone is different than us, does not mean they are wrong or against us.  Jesus said – those who are not against us are for us and yet… Many today think someone is against them because they are different, deeming someone their enemy, when in truth they just sin differently than you – but all of us are worthy and in need of being saved.  In those times of being against anyone, we are not with Jesus, regardless of what we think…  Just because we believe we are doing God’s service, does not mean that we are.

Those who do such things are right now being bundled up as tares… And I thank the Lord for this time He has given us to take an up close and personal look into our own hearts, minds and lives and take our eyes off of our neighbors, hearsays, the cares of the world and such and place them right back where they belong – to study Jesus’s ways and imitate Him the best we can.  Most people these days are like smoldering volcanoes ready to erupt and rather than washing themselves with the Words of our Lord Jesus, they are running to and fro fanning that flame with anyone who is angry too – so they feed off of one another to the point of erupting in anger.

A critical spirit will manifest within anyone who does not have a heart change and refuses the correction of the Lord.  Those with a critical spirit always are looking to blame someone for something… we hear it constantly in politics right now and with those who are wrapped up within the cares of this life, especially those who seek news over the good news of the Gospel.  What they are not saying outloud is that they would do it better and they are the answer to every problem we are facing – while gathering evidence to apply as blame for all that is wrong in their lives and the world.  In our lives we face those who perceive themselves as perfect and well qualified to rule over and measure out what everyone they come in contact with is up to on an almost daily basis.  Rather than understanding they need mercy and grace for their own shortcomings they will point out all the ways in which others are falling short.  They give no mercy and one day when they need mercy from the Father, there will be none available – they will be judged just as they were judged, outside of the blood of Jesus covering them – because they refused to cover others, lusting to expose others.  We know the power of life and death is in the tongue – what is inside comes out by words… some speak blessing, some cursing… but those who are in the most danger speak mixture of blessing and cursing directed towards others.  I call this serpent speech – the Bible calls it having a forked tongue. 

Those with a critical spirit are in severe spiritual danger as they truly are messengers, only of the darkside, not the light and they are hell bent to hurt and destroy the object they deemed bad or evil at any given moment.  And they are very tenacious, crafty and bold while doing so.  They are very religious quite often and see everything as sin based – even sickness to them is sin based, ignoring the fact God uses all means for His glory to raise us up incorruptible for His glory – even sickness.  They view trials with critical presumption that we are going through as a result from sin, rather than comprehending it is the oil we need to be sent out into the Harvest.  They edify evil and love to talk about its influence in the World, on others and quite often call unclean what the Lord has deemed as clean under His shed blood.  They love to proclaim “fault” on their rooftops – by illuminating who is causing this and that – rather than increasing their own love light so that darkness is exposed and defeated without assaults of the flesh ways.  Those with this spirit are unreasonable, easily offended when you point out their shortcomings and judge everything unfairly.  They have already created in their minds the conviction before anyone even steps onto the witness stand to share their truth – they are narrow minded, it is their way or the highway, believing they have the full story and are all knowing.  They have ears to hear but will not and eyes to see only what they want to see.  They look down arrogantly upon others, seizing every opportunity to find fault until they have enough record of wrongs to convict.  They can only see good in others when that person is in agreement with them – otherwise they call what is seen evil, even when it is not and vice versa.  And they love to measure people by the rule of law, especially with Scriptures – but they do not measure themselves.  Sadly, they use scripture as a sword, in which one day they themselves will die by for wielding it at others continually.  They have unreasonable strict standards they hold others to and yet they themselves do not follow their own rules and when you meet one expectation, they raise the bar higher each time – you can never ever please these type of people – they will always find something they disapprove of in you, because that is just what a faultfinder does.  They complain and nag people a lot – just to the point they wear you down so much, you have to separate yourself – I call then energy drainers, they suck the life right out of you, having a problem for every solution given.  They strain gnats by watching others to slip up and make a mistake, so they are elevated when you fall down.  They are not whole, but shattered pieces of remnants of carnality mixed with truth.

So what does our Lord think about these sort of qualities being present in His children?

• We should never assume just because the Lord is silent in a situation that He is absent.  He doesn’t consider slackness like we do.  He alone is the one who is worthy to keep record of all rights and wrongs in the book of remembrance, which will be opened one day.  Our Lord does not miss one single word thought or spoken and in the end all will be revealed in His time.
• Jesus came to Earth clothed in humility and came to bring to us a way to be reconciled back to our Father in Heaven.  In order to know how our Father feels about this critical spirit, all we have to do is look to Jesus – because they are one.  By observation we can see how Jesus behaved towards those who were in sin and falling short and how He compassionately lifted many out of a sinful life without being critical of them.  Jesus was moved by compassion towards every heart that was troubled and hurting and crying out in need, wounded and in pain – He was the only one who could cast a stone, but didn’t and when He spoke of the hypocrisy of those who were caught in a sexual act of adultery with the harlot – it was the religious who fled, keeping their sin and she was cleansed and made whole that day.  So pointing out shortcomings of others may lift you up in the eyes of men, but keep you in bondage until the day of destruction, unless you repent.
• Our Father hates the criticizing of His creation one to another, which is outlined in Proverbs 6…

He finds this spirit using His own children detestable, how frightening is that?

Here is the Father’s definition of a critical spirit –

Haughty eyes

Lying tongue

Hands that shed innocent blood

A heart that devises wicked schemes

Feet that run swiftly to evil

A false witness who gives false testimony

Anyone who stirs up discord among the brethren

That passage is quite sobering isn’t it?  Kind of makes you tremble inside.  And right here, we just read why He hates all these things – it stirs up discord among the brethren – this should not be so.

I had someone write, saying they cannot pray for our President because all they see in him is demons… And I thought my word, you are not seeing his demons – you are seeing your own.  I once was ministering in cot chat and some devil actually took out of context what I wrote by copying and pasting it into facebook totally out of context just to shed my innocent blood…  Listen people, a very intense wake up call is coming by fire soon – I don’t know when I just know that it is coming, please I am pleading with you… If you are going around doing the bidding of satan, as a messenger of darkness criticizing anyone as a false accuser, please drop everything you are doing and go to the Lord openly and with humility today.  He is so merciful to forgive and teach us His ways so we grow into His likeness and all that is required is for us to ask, to tell Him I am guilty and in need of purifying in this area and He is mighty to save and cleanse us from all wrongdoings, so we hate the sin which dirties us and we for real will go and sin no more in that area.

You know Jesus had such a precious way of asking people questions in order to prompt them to look inwardly at their own heart condition while taking their eyes off of others, as a loving peacemaker who continually sowed seeds of love.  So today, before I go I am going to do that very thing…  Just so we can make sure that the gnats we are strainin are truly worth the cost.  Are you so sure that the assessment you’ve made about another human being so pure in truth to the point that you are willing to risk forfeiting all of your eternity in Heaven for?  And if not, then let’s hold inside that accusation, rather than against the person and do as we are commanded – which is to be slow to speak and pray for all those who spitefully use us, harm us, have gone the way of satan and are perishing and to love them with singleness of the heart and mind.  When Jesus returns again, it will be as judge and He will judge all of us according to our deeds while here on Earth.  Some will enter into life everlasting and some into everlasting punishment.  It is important to remember, all souls who are His will return to Him. 

If we can imagine…  there will be one who is deeply in fault, yet clinging to Jesus with all their might, having a heart after Him and yet, they will enter into His Kingdom, while those who are faultfinders will not.  Faultfinder is an interesting word, isn’t it?  A faultfinder looks into someone to find their faults – and don’t we all have them?  It seems like to me we’ve been choking on camels long enough – we need some heart therapy in which compassion grows in the light of love, not darkness.  What we seek in others we will find – it is just for some you have to dig a little deeper is all.

One last thing… I was thinking of how the serpent went from a little creature crawling on the ground eating dust in the garden to a dragon during the final moments in which we live today as a minister I was listening to mention it.  We have fed into this serpent’s ways, puffed him up, giving him more latitude and courage than what was ever granted to him by our Father.  He’s grown because those inside the church have ran scared, declaring all the harm he causes as if he is equaled to our Creator.  The evil knows time is short… more than we do sometimes I think.  Knowing this truth and walking it out means… we truly are anxious for nothing, except of course… for Jesus’s appearing – that we truly long for, don’t we?