Let us go back to that night, so long ago, when Christ Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate the Passover one last time. This would have normally been a joyous occasion, sharing the Passover meal with friends to commemorate their forefathers release from bondage in Egypt.
But this night, all that would change for the Lord Jesus was going to institute something new, a new covenant, and commemoration of man’s release from the bondage of sin.
The Master’s heart was moved with compassion for each of His disciples. They knew things had changed, but they didn’t really grasp the magnitude of the coming events.
He took the cup and held it up for Father to bless it, and in doing so, He held Himself up. Raising His eyes heavenward, He said to Father, “This is my body,” then He looked at them and said, “which is broken for you.” Then He passed out the bread to one at a time saying, “Take it, eat it, and do this in remembrance of me as often as you come together.” In the future when they did this, He was in their midst, as He is in ours.
Next in the Passover celebration, He was to hold up the cup to Jehovah to bless it. His mind must have gone back to the spotless lamb that was slain for the sins of another, and how that blood was sprinkled to make holy what was not holy. On this night He did something so shocking, so radical, that His disciples must have been stunned.
Let us go back to that night, so long ago, when Christ Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate the Passover one last time. This would have normally been a joyous occasion, sharing the Passover meal with friends to commemorate their forefathers release from bondage in Egypt.
But this night, all that would change for the Lord Jesus was going to institute something new, a new covenant, and commemoration of man’s release from the bondage of sin.
The Master’s heart was moved with compassion for each of His disciples. They knew things had changed, but they didn’t really grasp the magnitude of the coming events.
He took the cup and held it up for Father to bless it, and in doing so, He held Himself up. Raising His eyes heavenward, He said to Father, “This is my body,” then He looked at them and said, “which is broken for you.” Then He passed out the bread to one at a time saying, “Take it, eat it, and do this in remembrance of me as often as you come together.” In the future when they did this, He was in their midst, as He is in ours.
Next in the Passover celebration, He was to hold up the cup to Jehovah to bless it. His mind must have gone back to the spotless lamb that was slain for the sins of another, and how that blood was sprinkled to make holy what was not holy. On this night He did something so shocking, so radical, that His disciples must have been stunned.
I can see Him now, as He held up the cup with His eyes raised heavenward and said to Father; “This is my blood. This is my blood!” Then He looked at His disciples and said, “Which is shed for you!” With that, He passed the cup around and they all drank.
We must grasp the revelation that we are in communion with Him in the Spirit. Everything that is His became ours; His righteousness, peace, love, His grace, patience, longsuffering, wisdom, His relationship with Father and His complete inheritance.
He doesn’t have to come all the way from heaven to hear us or heal us. He is here! He is within all of us to touch us, and each other. Receive all you need from Jesus, and give to each other all the Jesus you need.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Communion Part 1
Matthew 14:22-25, Luke 22:17-19, I Corinthians 11: 24-25
The act of communion is ingenious because it illustrates what happens to us in the Spirit when we are born again. It demonstrates our position in Christ and clearly shows the benefit of being born again. He is the only way. No one comes to the Father except through Him.
Down through time, even in the most primitive civilizations, men could understand the concept of communion. They believed that when one ate the body and drank the blood of another, usually a vanquished enemy, the strength and life of that person became theirs. As the victor digested the vanquished into the body, they became one.
So, as we take communion, and the bread and wine is digested into our body, it becomes one with us, mingled into our body and bloodstream. We can’t determine where it begins and we end, and vice versa. This demonstrates what happens to us when we receive Christ.
Father puts us in Christ and our spirits are mingled. You can’t tell where we end and Christ begins etc. Everything of His becomes ours as we become one with Him. We are in Him and He is in Father. Father is in Christ so through Christ, Father is in us. This is why no man comes to the Father except through Christ. He is not guarding the gate. He is the Gate!
So, we do this in remembrance of Him. Not just for what He did for us on Calvary, but in remembrance that as born again Christians, He is in us and we are in Him…Them!
The act of communion is ingenious because it illustrates what happens to us in the Spirit when we are born again. It demonstrates our position in Christ and clearly shows the benefit of being born again. He is the only way. No one comes to the Father except through Him.
Down through time, even in the most primitive civilizations, men could understand the concept of communion. They believed that when one ate the body and drank the blood of another, usually a vanquished enemy, the strength and life of that person became theirs. As the victor digested the vanquished into the body, they became one.
So, as we take communion, and the bread and wine is digested into our body, it becomes one with us, mingled into our body and bloodstream. We can’t determine where it begins and we end, and vice versa. This demonstrates what happens to us when we receive Christ.
Father puts us in Christ and our spirits are mingled. You can’t tell where we end and Christ begins etc. Everything of His becomes ours as we become one with Him. We are in Him and He is in Father. Father is in Christ so through Christ, Father is in us. This is why no man comes to the Father except through Christ. He is not guarding the gate. He is the Gate!
So, we do this in remembrance of Him. Not just for what He did for us on Calvary, but in remembrance that as born again Christians, He is in us and we are in Him…Them!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Walking With God
Introduction, by the Holy Spirit
“I was there when you were conceived. I formed you. I customized you. Every cell, every vessel, I placed carefully within and without you. At the moment of your creation I placed within you, all the skills and abilities that you would need and could possibly ever use in this life. When I breathed your spirit into you at the moment of your creation, I placed within you everything you could possibly use in the life to come, that is, eternity.
I draw a gift out in seed form to let you know that it’s there, then bury it to let it grow. Sometimes it will grow, blossom, and produce in this life, sometimes in the next. But you have within you already, magnificent riches and gifts. Allow my Son Jesus, who joined us to your spirit when you were born again, to bring these gifts out. Not the least of which is the right and ability to walk with me, with us, the three.
How close do you want to be? How much of yourself will you deny to gain me? “Be careful the company you keep” is not just a wise saying, it is a dangerous truth. For you tend to become like the company you keep. So, if you walk with me, with us, and keep our company, it is possible that you may become somewhat as we are. That’s not really a bad thing, is it? Ha! The choice is yours. You are welcome. Come. Let us walk together.”
Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, come. And let him that heareth say, come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.
“I was there when you were conceived. I formed you. I customized you. Every cell, every vessel, I placed carefully within and without you. At the moment of your creation I placed within you, all the skills and abilities that you would need and could possibly ever use in this life. When I breathed your spirit into you at the moment of your creation, I placed within you everything you could possibly use in the life to come, that is, eternity.
I draw a gift out in seed form to let you know that it’s there, then bury it to let it grow. Sometimes it will grow, blossom, and produce in this life, sometimes in the next. But you have within you already, magnificent riches and gifts. Allow my Son Jesus, who joined us to your spirit when you were born again, to bring these gifts out. Not the least of which is the right and ability to walk with me, with us, the three.
How close do you want to be? How much of yourself will you deny to gain me? “Be careful the company you keep” is not just a wise saying, it is a dangerous truth. For you tend to become like the company you keep. So, if you walk with me, with us, and keep our company, it is possible that you may become somewhat as we are. That’s not really a bad thing, is it? Ha! The choice is yours. You are welcome. Come. Let us walk together.”
Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, come. And let him that heareth say, come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Stuck Between “The Old Days” And “The Next Level”
It’s funny how believers who have been at church a long time, maybe all their lives, become dissatisfied with the way things are and find themselves desiring more. They either want to move up to the “Next Level” or long for the “Old Days.”
When we look at others around us, the services at church, etc., we tend to scrutinize and analyze everything except a mirror. Let’s face it, everything is changing in the church and the world in general, so we must hold fast to the faith and the fundamentals that we were brought up with as long as it is locked steadfastly into the Word which never changes.
However, we must realize that God is always doing something new in the earth. The world may be spinning too fast for some people and too slow for others but God has the perspective from being the same yesterday, today and forever because He actually lives and exists right now in the past, present, and future, all at the same time.
So. What do we do to become satisfied? How do we escape from being stuck between the “Old Days” and the “Next Level?” It’s simple. Plug into the eternity of God. Delve into Him. Eat, sleep, and drink Him. Face the mirror and become so filled with Him that as you gaze into the mirror, you behold more of Him than you. Look into the mirror and see Him. Then you will have achieved all that is!
When we look at others around us, the services at church, etc., we tend to scrutinize and analyze everything except a mirror. Let’s face it, everything is changing in the church and the world in general, so we must hold fast to the faith and the fundamentals that we were brought up with as long as it is locked steadfastly into the Word which never changes.
However, we must realize that God is always doing something new in the earth. The world may be spinning too fast for some people and too slow for others but God has the perspective from being the same yesterday, today and forever because He actually lives and exists right now in the past, present, and future, all at the same time.
So. What do we do to become satisfied? How do we escape from being stuck between the “Old Days” and the “Next Level?” It’s simple. Plug into the eternity of God. Delve into Him. Eat, sleep, and drink Him. Face the mirror and become so filled with Him that as you gaze into the mirror, you behold more of Him than you. Look into the mirror and see Him. Then you will have achieved all that is!
Monday, March 12, 2007
Money Is Killing Our Relationship
Dear Friends,
This word from the Lord is complete, unedited, and presented exactly as I received. I share it for your benefit.
Yours In Christ,
Gene
"Son, Do you think the message I have for you to give is an easy one? Men have been ridiculed, harrassed, belittled, persecuted, and killed for giving my message. I have tried to give it at every step of it's development. You are right, the New Testament church of the first three generations was the model. However, as with every revelation and gift, as you know, I give it in seed form first. Then I let it grow.
The entire plan for the church is designed, and blueprinted in my Son Jesus. Remember, He is the vine. Then, my first three generation church was the fleshing out, in seed form, of my kingdom, church, family, it's government, policies, techniques, growth and service strategies, and operational design.
Now, have my servants always followed my plans? Of course not. You know that. However, a measure of my plan has always been carried out.
The enemy has beat down my church but I have never, even in it's darkest days, forsaken my church nor allowed it to be destroyed. In the early days, the enemy used persecution to destroy my church family. It didn't work. My people survived and their resolve became even stronger.
In the middle days, the enemy used church government and political control to destroy my relationship with my church family. It didn't work. My people's faith survived, they protested, and my church was restored.
In these last days, the enemy is prospering my church and trying to destroy our relationship with financial gain for the leaders, and the hope of financial gain for the congregation.
Money is killing our relationship! Those who have it, trust in it, not me. Those who don't have it, resent me for not blessing them. Money gives power and prestige to the leaders and an excuse to sin to the congregation. What leader will offend someone who has and gives money? They have become giants of justification-justifying why they can't offend givers.
Meanwhile, they have become rich and increased with goods, not knowing or even considering that they are really poor, naked and facing judgement. Haven't I said that before?
What really hurts me son, what really hurts me, is the fact that my chosen leaders... they have lost their first love...Me. And so many never had me to begin with. And my church, my family has a distorted view of me and a complete lack of knowledge of the relationship that they could have. The enemy knows how to hurt me. The only way is to separate us and hurt my church, my family.
Son, I have given you my heart. Please...tell them what I am really like. Tell them of the times we have spent together and what I really think of them. Let them know of my complete unshakable love for them. What more can I do? What more can I give? The enemy knows his time is short. Fight him! Fight!"
This word from the Lord is complete, unedited, and presented exactly as I received. I share it for your benefit.
Yours In Christ,
Gene
"Son, Do you think the message I have for you to give is an easy one? Men have been ridiculed, harrassed, belittled, persecuted, and killed for giving my message. I have tried to give it at every step of it's development. You are right, the New Testament church of the first three generations was the model. However, as with every revelation and gift, as you know, I give it in seed form first. Then I let it grow.
The entire plan for the church is designed, and blueprinted in my Son Jesus. Remember, He is the vine. Then, my first three generation church was the fleshing out, in seed form, of my kingdom, church, family, it's government, policies, techniques, growth and service strategies, and operational design.
Now, have my servants always followed my plans? Of course not. You know that. However, a measure of my plan has always been carried out.
The enemy has beat down my church but I have never, even in it's darkest days, forsaken my church nor allowed it to be destroyed. In the early days, the enemy used persecution to destroy my church family. It didn't work. My people survived and their resolve became even stronger.
In the middle days, the enemy used church government and political control to destroy my relationship with my church family. It didn't work. My people's faith survived, they protested, and my church was restored.
In these last days, the enemy is prospering my church and trying to destroy our relationship with financial gain for the leaders, and the hope of financial gain for the congregation.
Money is killing our relationship! Those who have it, trust in it, not me. Those who don't have it, resent me for not blessing them. Money gives power and prestige to the leaders and an excuse to sin to the congregation. What leader will offend someone who has and gives money? They have become giants of justification-justifying why they can't offend givers.
Meanwhile, they have become rich and increased with goods, not knowing or even considering that they are really poor, naked and facing judgement. Haven't I said that before?
What really hurts me son, what really hurts me, is the fact that my chosen leaders... they have lost their first love...Me. And so many never had me to begin with. And my church, my family has a distorted view of me and a complete lack of knowledge of the relationship that they could have. The enemy knows how to hurt me. The only way is to separate us and hurt my church, my family.
Son, I have given you my heart. Please...tell them what I am really like. Tell them of the times we have spent together and what I really think of them. Let them know of my complete unshakable love for them. What more can I do? What more can I give? The enemy knows his time is short. Fight him! Fight!"
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Sharing In The Solitude OF Christ
Have you ever felt alone? How is it possible to be lonely in a world with the most technological advances, and various methods of communications in the history of the world? We walk down a crowded street, and yet we might as well be in a desert. We sit in a church with dozens of smiling faces all around worshiping and serving the same Lord, yet we might as well be floating in a raft adrift in the vast atlantic ocean. This doesn't seem right! It makes you want to scream, HEY!!!!! I'm here! It's me!
What is going on? How can God allow this? Well, did you ever think that just possibly God could be causing your solitude? God gave Adam a woman, a help mate, because it was not good that he be alone. And yet, there was a place in Adam that couldn't be filled by Eve. There is a place in us, once discovered, that can only be filled by the presence of the Lord.
Once you've known God's presence, nothing, no nothing can satisfy. Nothing else fulfills the longing and desire deep down in our spirits for Him. While in His earth walk, Lord Jesus suffered loneliness unmatched by the lonliness of anyone else. Imagine the shock to His system being on the earth in a human body restrained by the limitations of the gravity of mankind. We couldn't understand His lonliness, yet as we become more aware of Christ in us, we become more aware of every feeling, every experience, every thought, and everything that is Christ.
Homesick? Sure He was homesick for the glory and fellowship He shared with Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven. Yet He loved us so much He suffered that lonliness for our sakes.
So, what is it for us to suffer a measure of that lonliness? It is a small price to pay, to know Him in the fellowship of loneliness. To really know Him, it is a blessing to share in His surffering loneliness. This, and all suffering is earthly and one day, we will shed it like a cocoon forever. But until then, we have the Holy Spirit to comfort us in our suffering. Loneliness in a crowded world seems incredulous, but it happens to most people including believers.
So don't resent God, no, embrace loneliness as a gift of God used as a tool to draw us even closer to Him. And the best thing is, that He is acutely aware of every fiber of our being in our entire spirit, soul, and body. So loneliness in the world is nothing as compared to the glory of walking in the Spirit in fellowship with Them, the Three.
What is going on? How can God allow this? Well, did you ever think that just possibly God could be causing your solitude? God gave Adam a woman, a help mate, because it was not good that he be alone. And yet, there was a place in Adam that couldn't be filled by Eve. There is a place in us, once discovered, that can only be filled by the presence of the Lord.
Once you've known God's presence, nothing, no nothing can satisfy. Nothing else fulfills the longing and desire deep down in our spirits for Him. While in His earth walk, Lord Jesus suffered loneliness unmatched by the lonliness of anyone else. Imagine the shock to His system being on the earth in a human body restrained by the limitations of the gravity of mankind. We couldn't understand His lonliness, yet as we become more aware of Christ in us, we become more aware of every feeling, every experience, every thought, and everything that is Christ.
Homesick? Sure He was homesick for the glory and fellowship He shared with Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven. Yet He loved us so much He suffered that lonliness for our sakes.
So, what is it for us to suffer a measure of that lonliness? It is a small price to pay, to know Him in the fellowship of loneliness. To really know Him, it is a blessing to share in His surffering loneliness. This, and all suffering is earthly and one day, we will shed it like a cocoon forever. But until then, we have the Holy Spirit to comfort us in our suffering. Loneliness in a crowded world seems incredulous, but it happens to most people including believers.
So don't resent God, no, embrace loneliness as a gift of God used as a tool to draw us even closer to Him. And the best thing is, that He is acutely aware of every fiber of our being in our entire spirit, soul, and body. So loneliness in the world is nothing as compared to the glory of walking in the Spirit in fellowship with Them, the Three.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Mommy, who is Jesus?
A little child asks mommy, "Who is Jesus?" But what does mommy say? How does mommy answer. What if mommy doesn't know? How many modern day christians sit in church every week and listen to song after song, sermon after sermon, and yet would still find it hard to answer that question? Think about your own life. Reflect back on your last month, or year of church services, and pretend that what you learned was all you ever knew about Jesus. Would you be able to answer the little child as to who is Jesus?
If your answer is no, then you would be like many Christians in our society today. We have a certain knowledge of Jesus which revolves mostly around the historical story of His life. But if you were sitting in a restaurant and Lord Jesus sat down at the table behind you and began to speak loud enough for you to overhear His conversation, would you recognize His voice? Would you recognize the inflection and manner of His speech, the tone and tenor of His speech? Would His gentleness and kindness make you sit up and take notice? Would His laugh make you turn and stand to your feet and address Him with joy?
He says in the word that His sheep know His voice. Well, do we? Is there anything we can tell the child about Him from our knowledge? Not the knowledge we received from listening to others, but I mean first hand knowledge. Impossible? Rediculous, you say? Then why does the word say His sheep know His voice?
We are all capable and more than welcome to come into a personal intimate knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is His desire for us to know Him and to have fellowship with Him in the Spirit. Our head knowledge of Him can only be limited and two dimensional. It takes our following Him in the Spirit to come into the perfect place where friendship can develop and grow.
Through that friendship, Lord Jesus becomes three dimensional in our lives, and the reality of His precious presence fulfils our entire spirit, soul, and body. This relationship is possible for all believers, and enables us to answer the child with joy and confidence as we tell about our Lord, Master, and friend Jesus.
If your answer is no, then you would be like many Christians in our society today. We have a certain knowledge of Jesus which revolves mostly around the historical story of His life. But if you were sitting in a restaurant and Lord Jesus sat down at the table behind you and began to speak loud enough for you to overhear His conversation, would you recognize His voice? Would you recognize the inflection and manner of His speech, the tone and tenor of His speech? Would His gentleness and kindness make you sit up and take notice? Would His laugh make you turn and stand to your feet and address Him with joy?
He says in the word that His sheep know His voice. Well, do we? Is there anything we can tell the child about Him from our knowledge? Not the knowledge we received from listening to others, but I mean first hand knowledge. Impossible? Rediculous, you say? Then why does the word say His sheep know His voice?
We are all capable and more than welcome to come into a personal intimate knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is His desire for us to know Him and to have fellowship with Him in the Spirit. Our head knowledge of Him can only be limited and two dimensional. It takes our following Him in the Spirit to come into the perfect place where friendship can develop and grow.
Through that friendship, Lord Jesus becomes three dimensional in our lives, and the reality of His precious presence fulfils our entire spirit, soul, and body. This relationship is possible for all believers, and enables us to answer the child with joy and confidence as we tell about our Lord, Master, and friend Jesus.
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