Humble

P 2207 Let our words be with demonstration of His power!

/ DVH

Oh! The danger of defining the Lord by our own particular theology! Pray for wisdom, and the mind and heart of Christ in your life, because we have all become stuck in powerlessness, and we often lack His wisdom. The Pharisees in the parable below lived their lives esteemed as the resident experts. The problem with being a resident expert is you can eventually start to believe your own publicity. Moving on…

…to Matthew 12:24-30.“But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If satan drives out satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?

And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. “Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.”

We are sometimes very happy to use our minds and logic to define what God means or what He wants. That is a waste of our time! Jesus didn’t just talk, He demonstrated God’s power. But if we go inside many of our churches you’d be forgiven for thinking that all He did was talk! I urge everyone reading this to get real revelation, for yourself, from the book, and start participating in the power of God. Personally, I think that logic will eventually kick faith out of the window because it is a poor substitute for living, loving, kingdom-minded saints who demonstrate the power of God and don’t just talk about it.

Did you notice in this scripture that Jesus knew their thoughts?! That’s what supernatural living looks like – inexplicable miraculous things happen! At this time, Jesus is announcing the truth, and refuting the Pharisee’s logic and lies with a demonstration. There is always a danger that we will cling to our belief and traditions and miss what God is doing NOW – unless we remain humble and teachable.

Most people hate absolutes. Jesus said in those verses above in Matthew: “Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.” There you go … now there’s an absolute! Someone in my family believes in Jesus, but not enough to follow Him. They are not ‘with Him, so everything they do, scatters.’ There is no lasting legacy from their lives because they are sowing into the wind. Permanence, together with a lasting legacy, takes a total commitment, not just a mental agreement with what Jesus said. Even the devil believes in God! James 2:19.

In the Gospels, Jesus shows us the way to make the kingdom of God available to others is by living it out in front of them. He was criticised and critiqued by the Pharisees for delivering some poor sod who was held captive by the devil. But this how you make God’s power see-able! “And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.” Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 2:4. 

Talking about Jesus, or even arguing with other people, no matter how cleverly we do it, will not help the-people-who-do-not-know-Him-yet to embrace His kingdom. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit…” (John 3:6). Our minds find security in what we think we know – unless Jesus is allowed to cut away the stuff that is hindering us, with the sword of His Spirit. Like the bible says in Hebrews:“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”The Holy Spirit doesn’t just want to win an argument – He wants to win the person!

In these brief moments in Matthew, Jesus is giving the Pharisees an opportunity to re-examine their idea of truth … be-ca-use … the Truth was standing right in front of them demonstrating LOVE with power.  Ask yourself some hard questions today. Is my life fruitful? Can other people see the kingdom of God being manifested through me? Am I living a life of laid-down love for the people I love, plus the people I don’t know? Or do I just give others a good argument to prove my POV? Do I pray for the sick to be healed and the captives to be set free? That mind stuff is a dead-end street. However His Love through us divides the rubbish away, and cuts straight to the truth. 

Jesus demonstrated the truth in front of their eyes, while the Pharisees left the poor demonised man captive! Just because it makes no sense to me or my personal theology – that doesn’t mean it is wrong – perhaps it is what Christ is saying – today. To me! 👋🏻

P 2164 Dealing with all kinds of pain.

/ DVH

“God, I invite Your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to Your glorious, everlasting way— the path that brings me back to You.” Psalms 139:23-24 TPT

Wow. Talk about confronting the things we often want to avoid at all cost! Have you noticed how the Lord just loves to look in those dark hidden corners that we hope He doesn’t see? He does it to help us out of pain. Some places we go to in our minds and hearts, are not in line with His thinking, so we need to have Him examine us, and sort out what is behind them. We also need to recognise enemy attack. Obviously, we are told to resist satan, and press into the Lord instead. 

Any diagnosis needs some sort of treatment! The bible recommends humbling ourselves, and submitting to others, by inviting the Holy Spirit to search our hearts prayerfully with their help. We also need God’s help and wisdom to find the stuff we have hidden away, even from ourselves. Human beings are funny creatures, we don’t like to admit faults and failures, yet confessing that stuff is a pathway to a new place in Him. I’m not talking about getting so self-obsessed you turn yourself inside out, but there are the times to pray the search me prayer and submit yourself to Him … as well as someone else. We are not alone, anymore – let your Christian family comfort you.

It is also good, in those times, to ask someone to join you that you know will tell you the truth. None of this flattering, “Oh you’re OK, it’s just a bad day” junk! Other people can have a wider view than we do, they can see the results of our attitudes and actions. Unfortunately we sometimes only see or understand our own intentions. It is incredibly easy to confuse those two things. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. We need the bible to help us sort out what is motivating us.

Many arguments that occur in a Christian home have been about what was intended. We need to carefully examine with His help – what was the real-life result! Our intentions don’t nullify what actually happened to someone else. Learn to listen to your spouse, your kids, and/or any people close to you who know you – let them reflect the YOU they see. Don’t hide behind hurt feelings, or fear of change, but open yourself up, because this is a normal part of growth. Real change comes from confronting the corners of your heart and it isn’t all bad stuff. Pain has a pathway – let’s dig up the pathway!

In times of anguish we do need the body. Other people who are more mature. Or perhaps someone who has experienced the kind of pain you are going through, to help straighten out our perspective. I ask myself a couple of questions, when or if, I don’t like the other person’s answer: “Why would this person lie to me? What have they got to gain?” Heads up! Most other people usually have nothing to gain and they are also running a big risk of alienating you. In my experience, people who tell you what you want to hear aren’t helpful – they want something.

Here is some stuff I have observed from just living. Pain numbs our spiritual senses and clouds our view of Who He is. It forcibly shoves us over into our minds … logical answers, and problem-solving. Then thinking-our-way-through-pain takes over. But, in reality, PAIN doesn’t actually diagnose the cause of anything! … So doing that won’t help us. Pain is a symptom, not the cause – a result, not the initial issue. 

Always remember, we don’t have to deny or hide our faults and sins anymore, because we know we have a Saviour! Plus, most of our faults etc. have a way of showing up so clearly that the people around us are well aware of them anyway! The bible tells us to humble ourselves, God will exalt us when He is good and ready. (Paul did it – Galatians 2) Even my enemies have something to teach me about myself. My immediate response to being around them is a sign post to what lies within ME!  👋🏻

P 2145 Some very interesting questions.

/ DVH

The Lord asked my lovely husband some questions recently, when he was praying in his quiet time and he shared them with me. The questions were all so good I thought I would include them in today’s blog, with hubby’s permission. Maybe we can both give them some further thought, so I’ve put them here for you to think on too. Please bear in mind that the first part of each question relates to law and the second half of the question relates to Grace. I think it is very useful to have questions to use to help us understand the way the Lord thinks.

First of all, He asked hubby to consider: “Do you want to be defined by Law or Grace?  One system is defined by ‘justice,’ and the other by ‘mercy.’  One system embraces ‘punishment’, the other ‘redemption.’ …  

Sometimes we can’t leave our anger at someone else behind us, because, deep down, we want them to be punished. Those thoughts are not just childish – they are dangerous. However, that’s also when we can see that we are clinging to a system that leaves Grace out. For the other person as well as us. Our God is so gracious, He will find a way to bless that other person even while we are withholding forgiveness. But we will miss out on seeing and comprehending what He is like, when we imprison ourselves within spite, revenge, hatred and unforgiveness etc. Personally, I don’t want justice … I need mercy. Like I’ve said once before, what comes out when we’ve been squeezed tightly is what is actually IN there – don’t be condemned, but let’s not excuse ourselves either!

The Lord also said this: “One system ‘imprisons’ people, the other ‘restores their freedom.’ One ‘limits’ potential, and the other ‘extends it way beyond belief.’ One system depends on ‘past performance’, and the other hangs everything on our ‘hope in Christ.’ 

There is no prison as strong as the one we foster and create for ourselves, by expecting the world around us to conform to our standards. However freedom actually becomes something tangible when we value it enough to give it away to someone who will never deserve it!. We can’t afford to put our hope in anything else but the blood of Jesus. As soon as we start thinking “I’m right and you are wrong” – we’ve missed it. We have flipped over into performance and left our own hope in the power of Christ’s blood to redeem behind us. Let’s not limit our spiritual potential by things that will weigh us down.

Here are some more things the Lord said: “One system rewards us for ‘merit’, the other ‘empowers us for what is to come.’  One ‘judges’ others, the other ‘prophesies good’ wherever it can. The former builds on what is ‘seen’, the latter builds on the ‘unseen, and the eternal’ and speaks life into situations that look dead and finished.  

When we live our lives expecting to be treated fairly and kindly, we are denying the fact that the founder of our faith was treated appallingly, without any remorse – and He was utterly innocent. We have the power of God residing inside us, so NOW we can speak His life into desperate situations and hearts. These things are about simply making quality decisions – they are not about feelings. It is way past the time when we should start prophesying His life into the darkness around us, as He leads us. Personally I can’t face this life at all without His Spirit empowering me, minute by minute, daily. 

Lastly the Lord said to hubby: “The focal point of the Ark/Presence of God, is the MERCY SEAT.  Not a judge’s seat.” He concluded their conversation by saying: “All that sounds like LOVE to Me.” Amen! 

Mercy is a precious thing, if we want to enjoy it ourselves, then we need to give it away freely to other people. I love it when our Heavenly Father clarifies the things we think we know, with some well-placed, thought provoking questions! It seems to me that it would be a good thing if we revised all our thoughts in favour of Grace and Mercy … as a way to live. I’ve found that walking in His Grace opens my eyes more, spiritually. Instead of looking for places to criticise others, or protect myself, now l want to look for ways to bless them as He encourages me to do it. When I live that way it changes my view of everything around me as well.

I want to be defined by the Grace He gives me, so I live realising that I have and need plenty of Grace myself, so I can easily give it away to others. That will keep me humble! Every single time I red flag things that I am saying or thinking – I know that something is going on that will lead me into spiritual deafness if  I continue down that path. It means I’ve stopped listening to the Holy Spirit and obeying Him. AcknowledgIng that I cannot live my life like Jesus’ lived His, without His Grace, is the beginning of transformation. 👋🏻

“Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests. And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let His mindset become your motivation.” “He existed in the form of God, yet He gave no thought to seizing equality with God as His supreme prize. Instead He emptied Himself of His outward glory by reducing Himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human! He humbled Himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient. He was a perfect example, even in His death—a criminal’s death by crucifixion!” Philippians 2:4-8

P 2118 It is not us. IT IS HIM!

/ DVH

In the past we have ‘assessed’ our ability to ‘do spiritual stuff’ by results. Some people seemed better empowered to pray for the sick etc. than we were. This meant that the largest part of the Body of Christ became inactive. I believe that we ALL need to live our lives daily filled with the Holy Spirit and His power.1 Corinthians 2:5, Paul is speaking:  ”… I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”

The power of God comes from Him, we totally rely upon Him and what Jesus did on the cross. So there is no point in looking in our pockets to see if we have it, because the bible clearly says it’s IN HIM!  I think the Body of Christ avoids some things because we think we have no power. But the power belongs to the Holy Spirit make Him your new BFF. Jesus breathed on His disciples and told them to receive the Holy Spirit, and then they went out and prayed for the sick and they got well. They told demons to get lost and they went! A-n-d they also raised the dead. By implication they could have quieted a raging sea. Jesus asked them: “Where is YOUR faith?”

We can rabbit on endlessly about whether we need to speak in tongues – or not; or wear a hat in church – or not;  or women should be silent – or not. Blah blah blah. But the real truth is that even if we try to begin to love one another WE FAIL. We have this sum backwards. We are ‘trying to be’ something, instead of learning how to live in His Presence. He PROMISED to be with us. I think we gave up because it is easier to claim scriptures than it is to live them out.  

Listen to this: “How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM.” Acts 16:38. Where did Jesus get His power from? God. It wasn’t Christ’s power – it was the Spirit of God’s Power. Jesus just copied what He saw His Father doing…  Christ received the Spirit, and now we are learning to receive Him and make Him welcome. So we value His Presence more than our needs, opinions and lifestyles. 

That means our needs, opinions and lifestyles are gunna change because HE HAS DIFFERENT LIVING CONDITIONS THAN WE DO. To walk with Him we need to live mindful of what He likes. The challenge is to live our lives like Christ did – He lived in perfect love and loved and cared for OTHERS. Jesus became human and did all that for us. His power flowing through me will not make me arrogant, or controlling, it makes me humble. The more I see Him touch people when I inadequately pray, the more I give glory to God. 

Here’s a real life testimony for ya to show you it isn’t US, we simple need to learn to co-operate with the Holy Spirit and do what He is doing. Years ago, a couple next door to us had a baby boy. The little child started to fit with a high fever. The end result was he turned blue and stopped breathing.  The mother came running into our house screaming at me: “My baby is dead” and she handed him to me. He looked dead believe me. I didn’t pray.  I shook the baby hard and said: “Don’t you dare die on me!” The kid took a breath, opened his eyes and started screaming, probably because he didn’t know me from a bean pole. I handed him back to his mother screeching his dear little head off! Was he really dead? I dunno! He ain’t DEAD now! Here’s the kicker … his mother gave him to me because she thought I was a nurse. (Hubby is the nurse BTW.) 

Here is another one:  We travel on the road for Jesus as often as we can, and we give away bibles etc. etc. because you can start great conversations that way. Hubby went into a woodcraft shop in Tasmania once, and he came out a few minutes later VERY frustrated. The lady behind the counter was incredibly rude and angry with him and he wanted to leave that place … pronto. I’m the praying bunny in the car, and she wasn’t rude to me, so I asked him to go back and give her one of my bookmarks. Hubby did not want to go but he went back in anyway.  He was gone much longer this time and he came back out beaming!! The lady in the shop gave her life to the Lord on the spot – she burst into tears and he was able to share Jesus with her. Yay, Holy Spirit – the wind was blowing that day!

Live the way Jesus did – do whatever you see our Heavenly Father doing. It’s not you it’s Christ IN you!. Bye 👋🏻

P 2092 Remain teachable. 

/ DVH

Teachability is not just agreeing what whatever is said, it is taking the time to find out how it will work in your own life and then – doing it. Saying that another way – teachability is about growth. Not just in knowledge, but in outwardly visible changed attitudes and actions. The people who really know us can see that we are different, especially those who are close to us. And our love for Him overflows toward others. We are not meant to be a people who are ‘all talk and no action.’ Action is our middle name!

A teachable person is humble. They don’t assume they know everything, instead they remain open to change – even if they already know about what is being said – their cry is always “more Lord, deeper still – change my heart even more.” They don’t see saying “Amen” as saying: “I already knew that, I agree with you.” They see it as saying: “Lord, I need that. Do that in me. Open my heart to new possibilities. I need MORE of You.” They understand that repentance means making room in their hearts for more of His love to transform them. 

Week by week this type of believer goes to church hoping with all their hearts to learn more about Him. Their hearts are open because they want to know how to please HIM. When the pastor says: “do this and don’t that,” their immediate response is: “Oh Lord! I haven’t done this and I didn’t do that, please forgive me!” They are incredibly humble and don’t mind being overlooked.

Their response to conviction is not presumption – it’s a deep appreciation and repentance. Yes Jesus paid for it all, but the freedom He died to give us is the free choice we now have to serve Him. To love Him with all our hearts. These people’s lives are lived laid down, they want to live according to His purposes.When things get tough they know that God is strengthening them, hardening them to difficulties. 

If they see that their neighbour has a need, they are there helping with no agenda … because love doesn’t need an agenda! They wouldn’t dream of cheating anyone, at the shops, or on their income tax. They can’t see loop-holes, because their eyes are so full of love for others and the Lord Jesus! These people are the redeemed of the Lord. They weren’t just redeemed once, long ago. His people are sincere to the core. So if someone comes to their house, they will see exactly the same person who sings happily in church Sunday by Sunday. His people don’t do fake – they value His Presence too much.

Teachable people are sweet people, they want HIM more than a good image because they lost their pride years ago! Their pride was nothing in comparison to knowing Him. None of us can be the people who do great exploits when we live out our lives differently behind closed doors, hiding from the public gaze. What we believe inside needs to show up outside.

Christians are not meant to be schizophrenics – behaving one way one day and another when nobody else is around.We are the ones who deliver mentally tormented people- we are not destined to be one. And, FYI, I am not criticising those poor sods who are tormented in their minds because of their circumstances etc.

If we have no power, and our prayers are not being answered, we need to take that personally and ask the Lord: “Why not? what am I doing wrong?”Years ago now I belonged to a smallish church and the pastor’s sermons were rather intellectual. It drove me crazy! I got so frustrated – I wanted to leave the church. FYI the problem was me, not the pastor!

One day I was praying and complaining about the poor man, yet again … and the Lord interrupted me: “I fed the Israelites in the wilderness,” He said, “I gave them the bread of angels. I can feed you here, in this place. Use your faith, listen for My voice inside the pastor’s voice..”  That dryness never ever happened again because I realised my source was the Lord Himself not just the pastor. I became this man’s biggest fan, because the Lord gave me so much through what He said that challenged me. Angel food is challenging!

So is remaining teachable.  If there is something hindering our walk with Him, we can always ask Him for help, and He will help us. Pray to be teachable – read Psalm 1 – it will help you grow. 👋🏻