The Names of the Believer in the Bible

The Names of the Believer in the Bible A Weekly Devotional starts Jan 3rd.

You may have seen studies on the names of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but this is the first study to look at the names of the believer throughout the Bible. In this study you will discover what God says about you. This study will based on original research and be sent out at the beginning of each week so that you may meditate on and dwell in its truth all week and allow it to become a part of your relationship with your Creator-Father. The picture of Who I am in Christ is just a part of the study.

This study is offered as a ministry of  Abba's Glory at www.abbasglory.com and will be offered on the Passionate Participation in God Project group on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=237088564302

This is also sent out by email to those who request it.

The Names in the 'Who I Am in Christ' Poster by Neil T. Anderson is Just A Part of the Study.

A Life of Intimate Fellowship with God

Enoch’s Amazing Walk with God
How We Can Have an Amazing Walk with God Beginning Today

Gen 5:24
And Enoch walked [in close fellowship] with and pleased God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him].
Heb 11:5-6
Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been in close (intimate) fellowship with God.
But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. Amp

Imagine a Walk with God like that which Enoch had

What an amazing thing this is, to be in such a close and pleasing relationship with God that you just walk into heaven with Him without dying. What does this walk look like?

Introduction. A Life of Intimate Fellowship with God
• This Walk, Relationship, Adventure that God is calling us to is greater than the George Lucas’s ‘Star Wars’ Movies, it is greater than J. R. R. Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series, greater than Homer’s ‘Iliad.’

• It is an Adventure that will never end. Let is capture your heart, let the roots of your life go deep into the soil of God’s love and join Him in Living a Life of Passionate Participation in God.

Wisdom for the Walk• Align yourself with Jesus the Messiah, the Cornerstone. This is why you were created. This is what Adam and Eve had a taste of and cut it short because they doubted God and had faith in Lucifer.

• A ‘Life of walking with God’ is not meant to be a part of your life, it is meant to be your life! God has given us a free will and does not demand that we give Him our all, but invites us into a life, an adventure of intimate fellowship with Him.

• God is calling, He is inviting us to a life without comparison, a life with Him, the author and perfecter of all that was and is and shall ever be. Heb 12:1-2
• Each person’s journey will be different. It will be your own unique adventure with God, but like John Bunyan’s Pilgrim in his book ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ who was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God. ( Heb 11:10 Amp) We were created for more than life on earth, but a life that does not end in death and is much more than life on earth in the flesh without God.

• There is no story ever written or told on video greater than the one God has for you. You however must choose to actively participate with Him in faith.

• BE like Enoch, Live a Life of Passionate Participation in God, walk or live in continuous relationship with Him. THIS is why you were created.

• Chose to walk with God. Do Not just let Him walk with you! Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Operate or live by choosing to continually act in faith by seeking Him out concerning every detail of your life. By doing this your life is lived in active faith as you include God and seek Him concerning every detail and aspect of your life. He is a rewarder of those who genuinely and sincerely seek Him. Heb 11:6

• Your unique life; who you are, how you function, your gifts, heritage education, personality etc. make you the One and only person like you and God wants you to walk in intimate and continual relationship with Him! God love the infinite variety He has created and celebrates every single person. He does not compare you to others. He is not a respecter of one person’s uniqueness over another. He wants an intimate ongoing relationship or walk with you!
Let’s start the adventure by learning more about Enoch’s Amazing Walk With God so that we may Live a Life of Passionately Participating in God.
In our next feature article we will examine the role of faith necessary for this intimate relationship.
Copywrite (c) Wayne Newcomb 2010 Please ask permission to use.

ACCEPTING THE EMBRACE of GOD

I am sending out this article from the web site listed on the ancient practice of Holy Reading or lectio divina. It is new term to me although the concepts taught within it I have seen adapted by other writers in more recent history. It is from a more formal theological background than I am used to but the truth within is worth the read. I hope it will be of value to you as you learn to Meditate on God, His Word and His Ways!

ACCEPTING THE EMBRACE of GOD: THE ANCIENT ART of LECTIO DIVINA by Fr. Luke Dysinger, O.S.B.

1. THE PROCESS of LECTIO DIVINA
A VERY ANCIENT art, practiced at one time by all Christians, is the technique known as lectio divina - a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures which enables the Bible, the Word of God, to become a means of union with God. This ancient practice has been kept alive in the Christian monastic tradition, and is one of the precious treasures of Benedictine monastics and oblates. Together with the Liturgy and daily manual labor, time set aside in a special way for lectio divina enables us to discover in our daily life an underlying spiritual rhythm. Within this rhythm we discover an increasing ability to offer more of ourselves and our relationships to the Father, and to accept the embrace that God is continuously extending to us in the person of his Son Jesus Christ.

Lectio - reading/listening

THE ART of lectio divina begins with cultivating the ability to listen deeply, to hear “with the ear of our hearts” as St. Benedict encourages us in the Prologue to the Rule. When we read the Scriptures we should try to imitate the prophet Elijah. We should allow ourselves to become women and men who are able to listen for the still, small voice of God (I Kings 19:12); the “faint murmuring sound” which is God's word for us, God's voice touching our hearts. This gentle listening is an “atunement” to the presence of God in that special part of God's creation which is the Scriptures.

THE CRY of the prophets to ancient Israel was the joy-filled command to “Listen!” “Sh'ma Israel: Hear, O Israel!” In lectio divina we, too, heed that command and turn to the Scriptures, knowing that we must “hear” - listen - to the voice of God, which often speaks very softly. In order to hear someone speaking softly we must learn to be silent. We must learn to love silence. If we are constantly speaking or if we are surrounded with noise, we cannot hear gentle sounds. The practice of lectio divina, therefore, requires that we first quiet down in order to hear God's word to us. This is the first step of lectio divina, appropriately called lectio - reading.

THE READING or listening which is the first step in lectio divina is very different from the speed reading which modern Christians apply to newspapers, books and even to the Bible. Lectio is reverential listening; listening both in a spirit of silence and of awe. We are listening for the still, small voice of God that will speak to us personally - not loudly, but intimately. In lectio we read slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word or phrase that is God's word for us this day.

Meditatio - meditation

ONCE WE have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures that speaks to us in a personal way, we must take it in and “ruminate” on it. The image of the ruminant animal quietly chewing its cud was used in antiquity as a symbol of the Christian pondering the Word of God. Christians have always seen a scriptural invitation to lectio divina in the example of the Virgin Mary “pondering in her heart” what she saw and heard of Christ (Luke 2:19). For us today these images are a reminder that we must take in the word - that is, memorize it - and while gently repeating it to ourselves, allow it to interact with our thoughts, our hopes, our memories, our desires. This is the second step or stage in lectio divina - meditatio. Through meditatio we allow God's word to become His word for us, a word that touches us and affects us at our deepest levels.

Oratio - prayer

THE THIRD step in lectio divina is oratio - prayer: prayer understood both as dialogue with God, that is, as loving conversation with the One who has invited us into His embrace; and as consecration, prayer as the priestly offering to God of parts of ourselves that we have not previously believed God wants. In this consecration-prayer we allow the word that we have taken in and on which we are pondering to touch and change our deepest selves. Just as a priest consecrates the elements of bread and wine at the Eucharist, God invites us in lectio divina to hold up our most difficult and pain-filled experiences to Him, and to gently recite over them the healing word or phrase He has given us in our lectio and meditatio. In this oratio, this consecration-prayer, we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.

Contemplatio - contemplation

FINALLY, WE simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary. It is the same in our relationship with God. Wordless, quiet rest in the presence of the One Who loves us has a name in the Christian tradition - contemplatio, contemplation. Once again we practice silence, letting go of our own words; this time simply enjoying the experience of being in the presence of God.

2. THE UNDERLYING RHYTHM of LECTIO DIVINA

IF WE are to practice lectio divina effectively, we must travel back in time to an understanding that today is in danger of being almost completely lost. In the Christian past the words action (or practice, from the Greek praktikos) and contemplation did not describe different kinds of Christians engaging (or not engaging) in different forms of prayer and apostolates. Practice and contemplation were understood as the two poles of our underlying, ongoing spiritual rhythm: a gentle oscillation back and forth between spiritual “activity” with regard to God and “receptivity.”

PRACTICE - spiritual “activity” - referred in ancient times to our active cooperation with God's grace in rooting out vices and allowing the virtues to flourish. The direction of spiritual activity was not outward in the sense of an apostolate, but inward - down into the depths of the soul where the Spirit of God is constantly transforming us, refashioning us in God's image. The active life is thus coming to see who we truly are and allowing ourselves to be remade into what God intends us to become.

IN THE early monastic tradition contemplation was understood in two ways. First was theoria physike, the contemplation of God in creation - God in “the many.” Second was theologia, the contemplation of God in Himself without images or words - God as “The One.” From this perspective lectio divina serves as a training-ground for the contemplation of God in His creation.

IN CONTEMPLATION we cease from interior spiritual doing and learn simply to be, that is to rest in the presence of our loving Father. Just as we constantly move back and forth in our exterior lives between speaking and listening, between questioning and reflecting, so in our spiritual lives we must learn to enjoy the refreshment of simply being in God's presence, an experience that naturally alternates (if we let it!) with our spiritual practice.

IN ANCIENT times contemplation was not regarded as a goal to be achieved through some method of prayer, but was simply accepted with gratitude as God's recurring gift. At intervals the Lord invites us to cease from speaking so that we can simply rest in his embrace. This is the pole of our inner spiritual rhythm called contemplation.

HOW DIFFERENT this ancient understanding is from our modern approach! Instead of recognizing that we all gently oscillate back and forth between spiritual activity and receptivity, between practice and contemplation, we today tend to set contemplation before ourselves as a goal - something we imagine we can achieve through some spiritual technique. We must be willing to sacrifice our “goal-oriented” approach if we are to practice lectio divina, because lectio divina has no other goal than spending time with God through the medium of His word. The amount of time we spend in any aspect of lectio divina, whether it be rumination, consecration or contemplation depends on God's Spirit, not on us. Lectio divina teaches us to savor and delight in all the different flavors of God's presence, whether they be active or receptive modes of experiencing Him.

IN lectio divina we offer ourselves to God; and we are people in motion. In ancient times this inner spiritual motion was described as a helix - an ascending spiral. Viewed in only two dimensions it appears as a circular motion back and forth; seen with the added dimension of time it becomes a helix, an ascending spiral by means of which we are drawn ever closer to God. The whole of our spiritual lives were viewed in this way, as a gentle oscillation between spiritual activity and receptivity by means of which God unites us ever closer to Himself. In just the same way the steps or stages of lectio divina represent an oscillation back and forth between these spiritual poles. In lectio divina we recognize our underlying spiritual rhythm and discover many different ways of experiencing God's presence - many different ways of praying.

3. THE PRACTICE of LECTIO DIVINA

Private Lectio Divina

CHOOSE a text of the Scriptures that you wish to pray. Many Christians use in their daily lectio divina one of the readings from the Eucharistic liturgy for the day; others prefer to slowly work through a particular book of the Bible. It makes no difference which text is chosen, as long as one has no set goal of “covering” a certain amount of text: the amount of text “covered” is in God's hands, not yours.

PLACE YOURSELF in a comfortable position and allow yourself to become silent. Some Christians focus for a few moments on their breathing; other have a beloved “prayer word” or “prayer phrase” they gently recite in order to become interiorly silent. For some the practice known as “centering prayer” makes a good, brief introduction to lectio divina. Use whatever method is best for you and allow yourself to enjoy silence for a few moments.

THEN TURN to the text and read it slowly, gently. Savor each portion of the reading, constantly listening for the “still, small voice” of a word or phrase that somehow says, “I am for you today.” Do not expect lightening or ecstasies. In lectio divina God is teaching us to listen to Him, to seek Him in silence. He does not reach out and grab us; rather, He softly, gently invites us ever more deeply into His presence.

NEXT TAKE the word or phrase into yourself. Memorize it and slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories and ideas. Do not be afraid of “distractions.” Memories or thoughts are simply parts of yourself which, when they rise up during lectio divina, are asking to be given to God along with the rest of your inner self. Allow this inner pondering, this rumination, to invite you into dialogue with God.

THEN, SPEAK to God. Whether you use words or ideas or images or all three is not important. Interact with God as you would with one who you know loves and accepts you. And give to Him what you have discovered in yourself during your experience of meditatio. Experience yourself as the priest that you are. Experience God using the word or phrase that He has given you as a means of blessing, of transforming the ideas and memories, which your pondering on His word has awakened. Give to God what you have found within your heart.

FINALLY, SIMPLY rest in God's embrace. And when He invites you to return to your pondering of His word or to your inner dialogue with Him, do so. Learn to use words when words are helpful, and to let go of words when they no longer are necessary. Rejoice in the knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence, in spiritual activity and inner receptivity.

SOMETIMES IN lectio divina one will return several times to the printed text, either to savor the literary context of the word or phrase that God has given, or to seek a new word or phrase to ponder. At other times only a single word or phrase will fill the whole time set aside for lectio divina. It is not necessary to anxiously assess the quality of one's lectio divina as if one were “performing” or seeking some goal: lectio divina has no goal other than that of being in the presence of God by praying the Scriptures.

Lectio Divina as a Group Exercise

THE most authentic and traditional form of Christian lectio divina is the solitary or “private” practice described to this point. In recent years, however, many different forms of so-called “group lectio” have become popular and are now widely-practiced. These group exercises can be very useful means of introducing and encouraging the practice of lectio divina; but they should not become a substitute for an encounter and communion with the Living God that can only take place in that privileged solitude where the biblical Word of God becomes transparent to the Very Word Himself - namely private lectio divina.

IN churches of the Third World where books are rare, a form of corporate lectio divina is becoming common in which a text from the Scriptures is pondered by Christians praying together in a group. The method of group lectio divina described here was introduced at St. Andrew's Abbey by oblates Doug and Norvene Vest: it is used as part of the Benedictine Spirituality for Laity workshops conducted at the Abbey each summer.

THIS FORM of lectio divina works best in a group of between four and eight people. A group leader coordinates the process and facilitates sharing. The same text from the Scriptures is read out three times, followed each time by a period of silence and an opportunity for each member of the group to share the fruit of her or his lectio.

THE FIRST reading (the text is actually read twice on this occasion) is for the purpose of hearing a word or passage that touches the heart. When the word or phrase is found, it is silently taken in, and gently recited and pondered during the silence which follows. After the silence each person shares which word or phrase has touched his or her heart.

THE SECOND reading (by a member of the opposite sex from the first reader) is for the purpose of “hearing” or “seeing” Christ in the text. Each ponders the word that has touched the heart and asks where the word or phrase touches his or her life that day. In other words, how is Christ the Word touching his own experience, his own life? How are the various members of the group seeing or hearing Christ reach out to them through the text? Then, after the silence, each member of the group shares what he or she has “heard” or “seen.”

THE THIRD and final reading is for the purpose of experiencing Christ “calling us forth” into doing or being. Members ask themselves what Christ in the text is calling them to do or to become today or this week. After the silence, each shares for the last time; and the exercise concludes with each person praying for the person on the right.

THOSE WHO who regularly practice this method of praying and sharing the Scriptures regularly find it to be an excellent way of developing trust within a group; it also is an excellent way of consecrating projects and hopes to Christ before more formal group meetings. A summary of this method for group lectio divina is appended at the end of this article.

Lectio Divina on Life

IN THE ancient tradition lectio divina was understood as being one of the most important ways in which Christians experience God in creation. After all, the Scriptures are part of creation! If one is daily growing in the art of finding Christ in the pages of the Bible, one naturally begins to discover Him more clearly in aspects of the other things He has made. This includes, of course, our own personal history.

OUR OWN lives are fit matter for lectio divina. Very often our concerns, our relationships, our hopes and aspirations naturally intertwine with our pondering on the Scriptures, as has been described above. But sometimes it is fitting to simply sit down and “read” the experiences of the last few days or weeks in our hearts, much as we might slowly read and savor the words of Scripture in lectio divina. We can attend “with the ear of our hearts” to our own memories, listening for God's gentle presence in the events of our lives. We thus allow ourselves the joy of experiencing Christ reaching out to us through our own memories. Our own personal story becomes “salvation history.”

FOR THOSE who are new to the practice of lectio divina a group experience of “lectio on life” can provide a helpful introduction. An approach that has been used at workshops at St. Andrew's Priory is detailed at the end of this article. Like the experience of lectio divina shared in community, this group experience of lectio on life can foster relationships in community and enable personal experiences to be consecrated - offered to Christ - in a concrete way.

HOWEVER, UNLIKE scriptural lectio divina shared in community, this group lectio on life contains more silence than sharing. The role of group facilitators or leaders is important, since they will be guiding the group through several periods of silence and reflection without the “interruption” of individual sharing until the end of the exercise. Since the experiences we choose to “read” or “listen to” may be intensely personal, it is important in this group exercise to safeguard privacy by making sharing completely optional.

IN BRIEF, one begins with restful silence, then gently reviews the events of a given period of time. One seeks an event, a memory, which touches the heart just as a word or phrase in scriptural lectio divina does. One then recalls the setting, the circumstances; one seeks to discover how God seemed to be present or absent from the experience. One then offers the event to God and rests for a time in silence. A suggested method for group lectio divina on life is given in the Appendix to this article.

CONCLUSION

LECTIO DIVINA is an ancient spiritual art that is being rediscovered in our day. It is a way of allowing the Scriptures to become again what God intended that they should be - a means of uniting us to Himself. In lectio divina we discover our own underlying spiritual rhythm. We experience God in a gentle oscillation back and forth between spiritual activity and receptivity, in the movement from practice into contemplation and back again into spiritual practice.

LECTIO DIVINA teaches us about the God who truly loves us. In lectio divina we dare to believe that our loving Father continues to extend His embrace to us today. And His embrace is real. In His word we experience ourselves as personally loved by God; as the recipients of a word which He gives uniquely to each of us whenever we turn to Him in the Scriptures.

FINALLY, lectio divina teaches us about ourselves. In lectio divina we discover that there is no place in our hearts, no interior corner or closet that cannot be opened and offered to God. God teaches us in lectio divina what it means to be members of His royal priesthood - a people called to consecrate all of our memories, our hopes and our dreams to Christ.

APPENDIX: TWO APPROACHES to GROUP LECTIO DIVINA

1. Lectio Divina Shared in Community
(A) Listening for the Gentle Touch of Christ the Word
(The Literal Sense)

    1. One person reads aloud (twice) the passage of scripture, as others are attentive to some segment that is especially meaningful to them.
    2. Silence for 1-2 minutes. Each hears and silently repeats a word or phrase that attracts.
    3. Sharing aloud: [A word or phrase that has attracted each person]. A simple statement of one or a few words. No elaboration.

(B) How Christ the Word speaks to ME
(The Allegorical Sense)
4. Second reading of same passage by another person.
5. Silence for 2-3 minutes. Reflect on “Where does the content of this reading touch my life today?”
6. Sharing aloud: Briefly: “I hear, I see...”

(C) What Christ the Word Invites me to DO
(The Moral Sense)
7. Third reading by still another person.
8. Silence for 2-3 minutes. Reflect on “I believe that God wants me to . . . . . . today/this week.”
9. Sharing aloud: at somewhat greater length the results of each one's reflection. [Be especially aware of what is shared by the person to your right.]
10. After full sharing, pray for the person to your right.

Note: Anyone may “pass” at any time. If instead of sharing with the group you prefer to pray silently , simply state this aloud and conclude your silent prayer with Amen.

2. Lectio on Life: Applying Lectio Divina to my personal Salvation History

Purpose: to apply a method of prayerful reflection to a life/work incident (instead of to a scripture passage)

(A) Listening for the Gentle Touch of Christ the Word
(The Literal Sense)
1. Each person quiets the body and mind: relax, sit comfortably but alert, close eyes, attune to breathing...
2. Each person gently reviews events, situations, sights, encounters that have happened since the beginning of the retreat/or during the last month at work.

(B) Gently Ruminating, Reflecting
(Meditatio - Meditation)
3. Each person allows the self to focus on one such offering.
a) Recollect the setting, sensory details, sequence of events, etc.
b) Notice where the greatest energy seemed to be evoked. Was there a turning point or shift?
c) In what ways did God seem to be present? To what extent was I aware then? Now?

(C) Prayerful Consecration, Blessing
(Oratio - Prayer)
4. Use a word or phrase from the Scriptures to inwardly consecrate - to offer up to God in prayer - the incident and interior reflections. Allow God to accept and bless them as your gift.

(D) Accepting Christ's Embrace; Silent Presence to the Lord
(Contemplatio - Contemplation)

5. Remain in silence for some period.
(E) Sharing our Lectio Experience with Each Other

(Operatio - Action; works)
6. Leader calls the group back into “community.”
7. All share briefly (or remain in continuing silence).

The author considers this article to be in the Public Domain. This article may therefore be downloaded, reproduced and distributed without special permission from the author. It was first published in the Spring, 1990 (vol.1, no.1) edition of Valyermo Benedictine. It has subsequently been reprinted as (1) “Appendix 2” in The Art and Vocation of Caring for People in Pain by Karl A. Schultz (Paulist Press, 1993), pp. 98-110; and in (2) An Invitation to Centering Prayer with and Introduction to Lectio Divina, by Basil Pennington and Luke Dysinger (Liguori/Triumph, 2001) @ http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html
_______________________________________

From here you may return to the St. Andrew's Abbey Homepage. This document was last updated on 12/9/05 at 10:30

Artwork: A woman praying on Candlemas Day, by Marianne Stokes,

Inheriting the Kingdom

Inheriting the Kingdom and the Blessings of Redemption
Today and throughout Church history the people of God have dealt with the problem of being at ease in Zion (Amos 6:1). This concept can be stated as follows: God has given us the Kingdom and we no longer must war against evil or fight the good fight of faith (I Tim 6:12). The people of Israel were content in their inherited riches and did not see the need to fight and guard their hearts and lives from the evil around them. Today we hear people say, ‘Jesus has defeated every foe and now we can relax and rest in that completed work as we enjoy our inheritance in Christ.’

There are two key books in the Bible for the study of the Warfare that leads to our inheritance in God. The book of Joshua demonstrates how God defeated the enemies of Israel so that they might possess the land God promised and the letter to the Church in Ephesus teaches us about all that Christ has done for us in the face of the multitude of the dark powers which were present in Ephesus. He shows us how these early believers lived the life He has for us in a city and region completely dominated by the Powers of darkness. Joshua is about Inheriting the Kingdom and Ephesians is about the Blessings of Redemption.

After the death of Joshua Israel turns away from God and (Judges 3:1-4) gives us valuable insight into God’s purposes concerning His people and the inheritance of His promises in their lives.

(Judges 3:1-4)
1 NOW THESE are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not previously experienced war in Canaan;
2 It was only that the generations of the Israelites might know and be taught war, at least those who previously knew nothing of it.
3 The remaining nations are: the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt on Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
4 They were for the testing and proving of Israel to know whether Israel would listen and obey the commandments of the Lord, which He commanded their fathers by Moses.

When we become a Christian through the New Birth we begin a life of transformation. We are no longer in Darkness (Col 1:13-14) but have been transferred into the Kingdom of God’s Son. (Col 1:12) says, ‘Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light.’

Since the day of Jesus Ascension up to heaven in a cloud in (Acts 1:6-9) there has raged a struggle within the body of Christ, His people, as to what degree the Kingdom of God has come and how we should operate as a result. Jesus himself said the Kingdom of God is at hand (Matt 4:17). We are told in (Rom 8:17) that we are joint heirs with Christ and that we have every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph 1:3).

In this Acts passage we see the very beginning of this debate.
(Acts 1:6-8) So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." NASU.

In the days to come we will explore what the Inheriting of the Kingdom of God means and seek to discover how we align ourselves with God so that it can rule in and through us today, as we participate in the blessings of redemption.

Looking Beyond the Manifestation of His Presence

Many people are attracted to the results of God at work. It might be His heart, His power, His majesty, His mercy and goodness or His glory, that attracts them, but what they see is the results of God’s presence. It might be in an individual, a group, a city or a nation but people are attracted to the results of God’s impact on His creation.

In the midst of, or at the time of His working, or the time of His visitation or outpouring people are attracted to the evidence or manifestation of His presence. These times of God’s interacting with people are recorded in the Bible and throughout history. Often they are the catalyst for a fresh move of God, a revival of His work among people, or even a great awakening which changes the course of a nation or history throughout the earth.

During these seasons or times it is easy for us to focus on the manifestation of His presence. The focus may be on His holiness or our lack thereof. The focus may be on His power or majesty, etc. In these seasons people attempt to understand and communicate God’s interaction with them in ways that fit their times or they point to a demonstration of His majesty or characteristic of God in the Bible to define it. This would include but not be limited to, the river that flows from under His throne, Rev 22:1, His glory as revealed in several encounters with God in scripture, His fire as seen on Pentecost and in several places in the Old Testament, and His holiness as revealed in Elijah’s encounter in the temple, Isa 6:1-7.

In the life of each person God desires more than our fixation on, or identification with a particular results or symbol of His having been present at some point in time interacting with us. Let me use the nature walk near my home as an example of what I mean. This is a man made drainage and nature area that originally was a natural drainage area with a creek which captured water runoff. The area has the trees and other vegetation from where the original creek was and the 50 yards away there is the man made one which was created when a housing development was built in the area. There is a great 8 to 9 foot concrete sidewalk to walk on with threes planted along it.

When you turn off from the sidewalk next to our street and enter the nature walk area you notice this large valley with rock formations adjacent to the beginning of the drainage area. During the spring and summer you can see the results of the creek’s life along its banks. There is a variety of vegetation and wildlife that are present close to the immediate area of the creek. Then throughout the valley surrounding the creek and running up to the fences of the housing area there is additional vegetation and wildlife.
During these seasons you cannot see the creek because of the vegetation, but its evidence is very clear in all that is growing around it. This is a very good picture of the results of God’s presence or the river of life having been present at any point in our lives or history itself.

It is God’s desire for us to move beyond looking for the manifestation or results of His presence elsewhere and for us to come into a close personal relationship or to use a biblical term ‘walk’ with Him. When we have a close personal walk with God we will have many times and seasons when the evidence of His presence in and through us will be made known to those around us. The presence of God can be seen in the lives of many people in the Bible, many of whom are mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11.

The most complete picture of this relationship with God will be a composite of all of those interactions, but it is clearly demonstrated in Jesus the Messiah. Jesus demonstrates how we can both lay down our life and plans, along with the authority over our life, while being empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life that pleases God.

The beginning of the Jesus model can be pictured in three passages of scripture. Philippians 2:5-11, John 17:1-5 and Matt 3:11-4:1 In these passages we see Jesus humbling Himself by laying down His authority and power and doing the Father’s will while being empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s will.

This is extremely important as it demonstrates to us that we can live a life that is pleasing to God empowered by His Spirit if we are willing to surrender our will and our ability to accomplish it to Him. Then we will be prepared to experience firsthand the outpouring of God’s presence and glory, while others will only see the manifestation or evidence of His glory.

This is the first in a series of articles on (Living a Life of passionate participation in God.)
Copy write © Wayne Newcomb 2010

Enoch’s Amazing Walk with God II

 II

How We Can Have an Amazing Walk with God Beginning Today
This is an updated and expanded version of this message.


Gen 5:24
And Enoch walked [in close fellowship] with and pleased God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him].
Heb 11:5-6
Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been in close (intimate) fellowship with God. 
But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].Amp

Introduction

What an amazing thing this is, to be in such a close and pleasing relationship with God that you just walk into heaven with Him without dying.
• This Walk, Relationship, Adventure that God is calling us to is greater than the George Lucas’s ‘Star Wars’ Movies, it is greater than J. R. R. Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series, greater than Homer’s ‘Iliad.’
• It is an Adventure that will never end. Let is capture your heart, let the roots of your life go deep into the soil of God’s love and join Him in Living a Life of Passionate Participation in God.
• Align yourself with Jesus the Messiah, the Cornerstone. This is why you were created. This is what Adam and Eve had a taste of and cut it short because they doubted God and had faith in Lucifer.
• A ‘Life of walking with God’ is not meant to be a part of your life, it is meant to be your life! God has given us a free will and does not demand that we give Him our all, but invites us into a life, an adventure of intimate fellowship with Him.
• God is calling, He is inviting us to a life without comparison, a life with Him, the author and perfecter of all that was and is and shall ever be. (HEB 12:1-2)
• Each person’s journey will be different. It will be your own unique adventure with God, but like John Bunyan’s Pilgrim in his book ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ who was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God. ( Heb 11:10 Amp) We were created for more than life on earth, but a life that does not end in death and is much more than life on earth in the flesh without God.
• There is no story ever written or told on video greater than the one God has for you. You however must choose to actively participate with Him in faith.
• BE like Enoch, Live a Life of Passionate Participation in God, walk or live in continuous relationship with Him. THIS is why you were created.
• Chose to walk with God. Do Not just let Him walk with you! Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Operate or live by choosing to continually act in faith by seeking Him out concerning every detail of your life. By doing this your life is lived in active faith as you include God and seek Him concerning every detail and aspect of your life. He is a rewarder of those who genuinely and sincerely seek Him. Heb 11:6
• Your unique life; who you are, how you function, your gifts, heritage education, personality etc. make you the One and only person like you and God wants you to walk in intimate and continual relationship with Him! God love the infinite variety He has created and celebrates every single person. He does not compare you to others. He is not a respecter of one person’s uniqueness over another. He wants an intimate ongoing relationship or walk with you!

Let’s start the adventure by learning more about Enoch’s Amazing Walk With God so that we may Live a Life of Passionately Participating in God.

I. The Plan Unfolds

In The Beginning: Adam and Eve had such a walk/relationship with God. God came to visit them in the cool of the day. Unhindered by sin, they had amazing fellowship with God daily.
• Do you remember the joy of your salvation?
• Remember what it was like when you were first in love with Jesus!

Satan’s Scheme: In Genesis 3 we see the unfolding of Satan’s master plan to destroy humanity’s Walk with God. ‘You shall be like God he said, when actually they became like him, separated because of their sin from God. (Satan was challenging their faith in God)

God's response: in Genesis 3:15 the beginning of God’s plan of restoration with is seen with a demonstration in the shedding of the blood of animals to provide clothing, which is a fore shadowing of the shedding of the Messiah’s blood that we might have that close relationship or walk with God once again. Theologians call this the Protoevangelicum which means the prototype or the original beginning of the good news or Gospel message.

LET’S LOOK AGAIN Gen 5:21-24; HEB 11:5-6
At what these verses say about Enoch again.
Reread the verses above and note their key points.
Comment: Scripture does not give us many details about Enoch’s relationship with God beyond these verses, but we can look at other people in scripture that pleased God.
Action: If we are to discover more about having a walk with God that pleases Him we must begin with the message of the Gospel and Jesus’ ministry as prophesied in Gen 3:15.

II. The Gospel is our Beginning Point: God’s Purpose and Action.
Luke 19:10, John 3:16 and Col 1:13-14

1, Luke 19:10
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world, which He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Col 1:13-14 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

III. What is next: Laying The Foundation 1 Cor 3:10-11

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Preparing the Soil: If you have ever built or watched a foundation being built you know that the land must be prepared and that you must be careful as to what type of soil you build on.
When we come to God as new believers we have sin and its results in our lives.
We not only need to repent from sin and renounce ungodly influences in our lives, but we may also need cleansing and healing from sins impact in our lives.

Build on Christ alone: We must build from the cornerstone which is Christ a foundation which is from Him and Him alone.

Building a Relationship: Building on that foundation requires a growing relationship.
Relationships have several key parts.
Motivation, Interest, Interaction, Response, these are part of an ongoing cycle which must be kept fresh and alive. Illustration in dating and marriage

IV. Building on the Foundation Which is Christ I Cor 3:12-15
Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

The Word of God as illuminated by the Holy Spirit is our primary and most important resource for knowing and developing a walk/relationship with God. Our prayers and our worship must be founded in the Word or we risk being led away from God by our own soulish desires and responses.

We need both Knowledge and Experience:
Wisdom is gained by experience that comes from applying what we believe in life. The Greek valued knowledge, the Hebrew goes one more step to say if you believe something you will act on what you believe. As Christians we must be function like the Hebrew by acting on what we believe.

Knowledge by Itself is not enough
Illustration: Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev former Soviet Premier memorized large portions of scripture to get candy as a child but never came to Christ or served Him.

V. The Enoch Type of Walk with God helps us in Avoiding False Doctrines which take us away from God and from constantly responding in faith and building our relationship daily.

It keeps us from being caught up in the latest fads and winds of doctrines.

False doctrines always have some truth. They also can take truth out of its biblical setting when it was not meant to be.
Two Examples:

• Judas went out and hung himself and Jesus said go and do the same thing. These two scriptures do not go together. Christ never told anyone to hang themselves.
• Talking daily to Angels instead of God. God assigns His angels to us. We need not seek them out as they are on assignment by God. When they do show up in Scripture it is a big event and we should pay close attention to them. We must however be careful not to get away from our daily conversations and relationship with God Himself. Why talk to the messenger when you can talk to the Commander of thr Lord's army, unless of course he sent the messenger.

We must judge our experiences and all we think and do by the Word. There are plenty of false teachings floating around in every generation and we can avoid them if we are in close relationship with God based on His Word.
The solution is getting to know Him intimately and saying YES to Him

VI. Simple Steps to a Growing Intimate Walk with God.
Hebrews 11:6b He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. NASU

 Start where you are at and build little by little 5 min prayer, 5 min reading, 5 min worship
 Find and fellowship with others who love God
 Start with a good study Bible and learn how to use it, read, read, read and study,
 Then add an exhaustive Concordance
 Then a Bible dictionary
These three resources will make you a good student of the Word!
 Learn to pray by using Scriptural prayers, start with the lord’s prayer
 Listen to worship and praise music as much as possible
 Spend more time doing these things than listening to others teach and preach or in reading other people’s books
 Work on making God your best friend and seek Him out every minute you can.

Growing in our relationship with God requires us to ACT and be active in Drawing near to God!

VII. Do what the Apostle Paul Did and Taught I Cor 14:18-19, I Cor 14:4.
1 Cor 14:18-19 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; NASU
1 Cor 14:4 Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves. NRSV
This gift is available to all Christians in every generation.

VIII. Prayer of Action and Response to This message:
Lord God, please forgive us for being so busy living our lives that we have not made you the priority of our lives. Father bring us close to you by your Spirit and through your Word that we might build a relationship that pleases you and that we might have walk a with you even as Enoch did!
Father, if we have not built wisely then please show us where we must rebuild our foundation and help us to restore our first love with you.

Amen

(C) Wayne Newcomb, 9/26/2010 Use of this material is by permission only, please request permission to copy or quote. The Amp Bible is used unless another translation is designated.

Becoming Mature Disciples of the King

When God's Spirit River moves among us it is not in a vacuum. He understands who we are and how we will respond to His work in and through us.

We then must focus on three areas that get us to the next level in His kingdom design for us.
1. Understanding the depth and width of the salvation Jesus our Messiah has purchased for us. Jesus the Christ is the key to the success of any fresh move of God.
2. Embracing who we are becoming in Christ is also necessary if we are to fulfill Ephesians 4:13. Becoming mature unto the measure and stature of Christ.
3. Perceiving the King's leading is necessary if we are to get all we should be getting during a fresh move of the Kings River of life. There is a need to discern what is of God and what are the results of a man's or woman's will.


The object is to build Christians into the Master's Image. We can understand, who we were created to be apart from sin and who we are to become in Christ included in three areas.
1. Spirit: Our New Nature in Christ is the resource of life to the Spirit, Soul and Body.
2. Soul: Mind, Emotions and Will,
3. Body: Flesh / physical.


The Process for Maturing Saints, a summary. (Growing from Salvation to Maturity) 
1. Once we are born again we must discover the depth of Christ work in and for us.
2. Identification with Jesus or Understanding oneself in Christ.
3. Healing/Cleansing/Deliverance Process
4. Spiritual Disciplines of Christianity
5. Understanding our Life context.
6. Discover our Motivational Gifts.
7. Learn to operate in the Manifestational gifts.


The Key Elements needed for the Believer's growth.
A. Teaching or Doctrine: continually growing in our knowledge of Him and His Word.
B. Spiritual Disciplines: prayer, Bible reading and study, worship, fasting, memorizing scripture, journaling, giving, service to others and living as a witness of the Kings Mercy and power.
C. Nurture: Pastoring nurturing and care of flock or people of God.
D. Fellowship with or Connectedness within a local group of believers.
E. Experience: allowing believers to exercise giftings and live the Spirit filled life.


Note:
1. Our first objective is to know what has been done for us and who we are in Christ.
2. The final goal is to become who we are to be in Christ as mature believers and leaders.


If we are to accomplish these goals there are certain principle teachings we must grasp and put into action in our daily lives. It is the working together of the Motivational gifts, our Life Context and the Manifestational Gifts along with the Working out of our New Nature in Him, as seen in the first 3 chapters of Ephesians that make us who we are and are becoming.


I. Motivational gifts. Romans 12:6-8
These steer us or move us in a certain direction as a rudder does a boat. The Human Body can signify the differing motivational or ministry giftings: These can be broken down into two parts: above the heart and below the heart
1. Administration Shoulders
2. Mouth Teacher
3. Eyes Perceiver/prophet
4. Exhorter Mouth
5. Heart Compassion
6. Hands Giver
7. Hand and Feet Server


II. Life Context the soil of our lives - we are molded by these exterior factors: Our personality is molded and shaped by these factors. This is then defined as our filtering system. It is made up of our Family Uniqueness, our Culture our Physical characteristics, our Education and our Socio-Economic context. We must also add to this the experiences of life as we move through it as a unique receptor and responder.


III. Manifestational Gifts I Corinthians 12-14 (after we are saved)
1. Made manifest through us by the Spirit and as the Spirit desires. These gifts are the result of the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer after they baptized in the Holy Spirit. This was a regular and expected experience for all New Testament believers after Pentecost.
I Corinthians 12:1-28
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except 1aby the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the
Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing 1by the one Spirit,
10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this
reason any the less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this
reason any the less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now there are many members, but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,
24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.
But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,
25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the
same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of
tongues. New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S.


The Church needs all of the 5 Fold Ministries to grow successfully and fulfill its mission. Although the titles may be different the functions are needed for us to fulfill Ephesians 4:11-13. A brief description of each follows:
Apostles-A Sent One; they started churches, raised-up leaders and passed on core beliefs.
Prophets-Perceiver Spoke to the people of God about things to come and unfolded the heart of God for the people they spoke to.
Evangelist Proclaimed Christ publicly to people. Peter was evangelist on the Day of Pentecost
Teachers taught, discipled and raises up the saints
Pastor leads the flock with nurture and teaching


Note:
There are two types of leaders.
a. Offical leaders lead because of position
b. Unoffical leaders lead from midst of the people.


Ephesians 4:11-13 Tells us that leaders are to work together to bring Christians into Maturity?
1. Preparing God's people for the works of service
2. Building up the people who are in the Body of Christ
3. Equipping to maturity believers through discipleship training, impartation and ministry opportunities.


We need to apply, the following process of gaining Spiritual Wisdom to any event, teaching, observation, revelation, vision or dream.
1. Revelation or Observation: The same process that works for revelation and observation is also used for dreams and visions. Seek God About the actuating event:
a. Pray for wisdom: Both to understand and apply the truth revealed.
b. Study the Word and research: Did this happen in or occur in another scripture
c. Meditate on: Process God's answer, think about it pray about it
d. Confirm: Speak to another mature Christian for conformation


2. Interpretation: Discover the meaning through the process of 1 through 4 above.
Wait on the Lord for His Wisdom and instructions for the delivery.


3. Application: The Impact that God desires.
In Due season=right timing, right weight. Our delivery must be Gods way! We must be wise when we sense the Holy Spirit at work that we are waiting on God's manifestation for specific details from God so that we don't filter everything through our own experiences. We must be careful how we execute what He reveals to us.


Artwork: Walking in the Light: http://www.majesticartworks.com/detail.aspx?ID=3961

Discovering the Kingdom of God

I was suprised earlier this week when I was reading an article by an author I respect and he said, ' we should be focused on Jesus and not the kingdom of God.' The first thought that came to me is 'What did Jesus himself say about the Kingdom of God and then if he is the king of the Kingdom how can we separate the two?'

So, like any good studentI began doing some research and was surprised by the number of books that deal with the Kingdom of God either partially or as their only topic. I say surprised because we hear so little teaching or preaching on the subject today.

But before I make any recommendations as to what books might be good to read or own you should do some self directed research, also known as personal Bible study.
The list below can be followed as steps in your study.

1. Set up a notebook to keep your research notes or printouts in. You can organize your notebook according to your own thinking. I would suggest using page tabs for the different sections.
2. Look up the words kingdom, kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven in the concordance in the back of your Bible.
3. Follow the cross references listed in your Bible.
4. Use an exhaustive concordance which is designed for use with the Bible translation you use the most to get a complete list of the references.
5. Use your notebook to write down the Greek and Hebrew reference numbers and use them to look up the definitions of the words used in the Old and New testaments for the references you find.
(If you are using a Bible software program, save the list to your word processing program and set a file for all of the materials you find related to your kingdom research.
6. Organize the scripture references by categories that match the usage of the words in some type of topical system that makes sense to you.
7. Look up the words you have found in your research in a word study tool, such as Vine's Expository Dictionary or one of the many other word study tools available at your local Christian book store, theological library or within your Bible software. This will add a greater understanding of the ways in which these words are used in scripture.
8. If you have a topical Bible tool this is where you will want to use it to compare what you have discovered with what the author has written concerning the Kingdom.
9. The next group of tools you will want to use are Bible Dictionaries, Bible handbooks and Bible encyclopedias. These will provide greater context historically and theologically. I will recommend which these will be most helpful and some additional resources in the next article.
10. Read the Intertestimental books to discover more about what the Jewish people were expecting concerning the coming of the kingdom of God between the end of the Old testament and the beginning of the New testament.
11. Read the Gospels starting with Matthew to find out first hand what Jesus taught concerning the Kingdom or God or Kingdom of heaven. Remember Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets.
12. Read the rest of the New Testament to see how this teaching was dealt with by the New Testament Church. Even if not mentioned by name look to discover how the rule and reign of God was to be applied in the daily life of the believer.

1. Pray before, during and after your study that God would reveal the truth of His Word to you by His Holy Spirit!
2. Remember take good notes, review your notes after each new step to see what you have learned and how and if it fits together with the rest of what you are discovering.
3. Make room or even a distinct section in your notes for questions, observations, reflections and insights you have as you go through your study.
4. Ask God how to apply the things you are discovering.
5. Keep a record of the prayers you are praying as God reveals the truth about His Kingdom and how to live in it and share it with others as you are move along on your Kingdom quest.
DO NOT GET LAZY
If you will follow the order given above you will have the joy of discovering God's Truth as the Holy Spirit reveals it to you. If you jump ahead to see what others have written you will deprive your self of the revelation you would gain by doing the work yourself.

APPLY AND SHARE WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING
Along with your study, prayer and meditation you will want to apply what you are learning in day to day life as well as discussing it with other believers.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY for we are pilgrims on the earth.

Heb 11:1010 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. NIV

Heb 11:1616 Instead, they were longing for a better country — a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. NIV

Heb 12:26-2826 Then [at Mount Sinai] His voice shook the earth, but now He has given a promise: Yet once more I will shake and make tremble not only the earth but also the [starry] heavens. [Hag 2:6.]
27 Now this expression, Yet once more, indicates the final removal and transformation of all [that can be] shaken — that is, of that which has been created — in order that what cannot be shaken may remain and continue. [Ps 102:26.]
28 Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; AMP

HELPFUL IDEAS
By now you will have a good understanding of the usage of king, kingdom, kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven in the Bible. In the following three steps you may want to pick a color for each word and use it to mark your Bible as you read.

Artwork by Graham Braddock

http://www.christian-artprints.com/GB%20ROAD.htm#picture%20jump

Fasting a 20 Day Study

The Passionate Participation in God Project will be hosting a 20 day Study on fasting starting Sunday August 22.
Here is the link if you would like this 20 Day Study emailed to you daily.http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=237088564302
You may also find book reviews on Fasting Books at http://equipperstoolbox.blogspot.com/

FASTING
The voluntary abstention from an otherwise normal function—most often eating—for the sake of intense spiritual activity.

Fasting was an integral part of the lives of the people we read about in the Bible. They fasted during times of mourning, in repentance, or to seek blessing, answers, or guidance. Everyone fasted together on the Day of Atonement. A normal fast during biblical times involved abstention from all food and liquid except for water, but during extreme circumstances even water was declined (see Esther 4:16).

Jesus undertook an extreme fast of forty days and forty nights when He experienced the temptation in the desert. He also speaks of fasting as a normal part of life for His followers (Matt 6:16-18). Later, in response to a question about why His followers do not fast, He answers that wedding guests do not fast while the bridegroom is with them, but that “the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matt 9:15). From these words it seems clear that Jesus expected His followers to practice the discipline of fasting.

So why is fasting less common today? Probably the main reason is that we rarely deny ourselves anything, whether food or drink or material goods or entertainment. Fasting forces us to take attention from our desires in order to focus on God. Jesus tells His disciples that His food is to “do the will of Him who sent Me and to complete His work” (John 4:34). Fasting can be a humbling experience, as we see just how controlled we are by our appetites. But it also teaches us that what sustains us is not the food we eat or the pleasures we feel, but God alone.

Yet even now, says the Lord, / return to me with all your heart, / with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.—Joel 2:12
Day 226 Spiritual Practice: Humbling Our Souls Through Fasting
Day 227 Not by Bread Alone
Day 228 David Fasts and Pleads with God
Day 229 A Communal Fast
Day 230 Ahab Fasts and Humbles Himself
Day 231 Sanctify a Fast
Day 232 Fasting for Victory
Day 233 I Afflicted Myself with Fasting
Day 234 Joyful Fasting
Day 235 Rejecting the Royal Rations
Day 236 Spiritual Practice: Fasting from Food
Day 237 Ezra Proclaims a Fast
Day 238 Right Reverence
Day 239 Was It for Me That You Fasted?
Day 240 Fasting in Solidarity
Day 241 Fasting After Saul’s Death
Day 242 The People Assemble with Fasting
Day 243 Return to Me
Day 244 Fasting for the Church
Day 245 They Fasted That Day

The Material above is from the book, ‘A Year With God,’ Edited by Richard Foster

Spirit, Soul and Body

"Dear Friend,

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 5:23"
      
Paul is praying for these Christians to be completely sanctified and he specifies the three areas which make up total human personality: spirit, soul and body.
       The distinction between these three elements of our personality is little understood by most Christians. Yet the Bible provides us with a unique kind of “mirror” which reveals their nature and interrelationship, and shows us how each is intended to function. Failure to use this mirror correctly exposes us to much inner frustration and disharmony.
       In the initial creation of man God said, “Let Us make man in Our image,” and “according to Our likeness.”1 Image refers to man’s outward appearance. In a way that is not true of any other creature, man reflects the outward appearance of God. It was appropriate, therefore, that when the Son of God came to dwell on earth, it was in the form of a man—not an ox or a beetle—and not even in the form of some heavenly creature, such as a seraph.
       Likeness refers to man’s inner nature. Scripture refers to God as a triune being: Father, Son and Spirit. Likewise it reveals man as a triune being, consisting of spirit, soul and body.
       The account of man’s creation reveals how his triune nature came into being: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being”—more correctly, a living soul.
       Man’s spirit came from the inbreathed breath of God. His body was formed from clay, transformed into living human flesh. Instantly he became a living soul.
       The soul thus formed is the ego, the individual personality. It is usually defined as consisting of three elements: the will, the intellect and the emotions. It has the responsibility for making personal decisions and expresses itself in three phrases: “I want,” “I think,”
       “I feel.” Unless touched by the supernatural grace of God, all of human behavior is controlled by these three motivations. Man was created for personal fellowship with God, but his sinful disobedience produced disastrous effects in all three elements of his personality.
Effects of Sin
      Cut off from contact with God, man’s spirit died. This was in fulfillment of God’s warning: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” The physical death of Adam’s body, however, did not follow for more then 900 years.
       Through exercising his will in direct disobedience to God, man became a rebel in his soul. Since that time, every person descended from Adam has inherited the nature of a rebel.
       In Ephesians 2:1–3 Paul describes the results of rebellion that have affected every one of us: “And you . . . were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience [rebellion] among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”
       As a result of sin, we have all been dead in our spirits. In our souls we have all been in rebellion against God. Our bodies, too, have become subject to corruption—that is, to sickness, decay and death.
       Yet the boundless love of God is such that He continually longs for the restoration of His fellowship with man. “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us.” Furthermore, through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, God has opened a way for the restoration of that fellowship which was lost.
Effects of Salvation
       In Ephesians 2:4–5 Paul goes on to describe the outworking of salvation in our spirits: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” Our spirits, being reunited with God, are alive once more. At the same time, our souls—through repentance and faith—are released from rebellion and reconciled to God.
       For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also
rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
       When we realize that we have all been in rebellion against God, we understand why there can be no genuine salvation without repentance. Repentance means laying down our rebellion and submitting ourselves to God’s righteous government.
       Salvation also makes provision for the body. Delivered from the slavery of sin, our bodies become temples in which the Holy Spirit dwells and our members become instruments of righteousness.6 Finally, at the return of Christ, our bodies will be transformed into immortal bodies like that of Christ Himself!
Requirements for Discipleship
       Jesus commissioned His apostles to make disciples of all nations. He did not tell them to make church members. Discipleship requires a radical response in each area of the personality—body, soul and spirit.
       The requirement for our bodies is stated in Romans 12:1: “That you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. . . .” We are required to offer our bodies upon the altar of sacrifice to God just as completely as the Israelites under the old covenant offered the animals they sacrificed on their altars. There is, however, one important difference. The Israelites killed the animals they offered to God. The body which we offer to God is to be a living sacrifice.
       Nevertheless, from that moment onwards, our bodies no longer belong to us. They are God’s property, God’s temples. We are mere stewards who must give an account to God for the way in which we have cared for His temple. Unfortunately, far too many Christians today continue to treat their bodies as if they still own them and are free to do with them whatever they please.
       Concerning our souls, Jesus stated His requirement in Matthew 16:24–25: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself [literally, his soul] and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life [soul] will lose it, but whoever loses his life [soul] for Mysake will find it.”
       Our cross is the place where we choose to die. God does not impose this upon us. We take it up only of our own free will. It is here that we must deny our soul. This means that we say “No” to the three demands of the soul: “I want,” “I think,” “I feel.” Henceforth, we are no longer controlled by these three motives. Their place is taken by God’s word and God’s will. As we obey the word and the will of God, we find the new life which Jesus offers us. It is only through death that our souls can find this new life.
       As we fulfill the Lord’s requirement for our bodies and our souls, our spirits are liberated to enter into a fellowship with God even more wonderful than that which was lost through the fall. In 1 Corinthians 6:15–17 Paul warns Christians against an immoral sexual union with a prostitute, because this means becoming one body with the prostitute. Then, in direct contrast, he continues,“But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”
       The implication is clear. The redeemed spirit can now enjoy a union with God which is as close and intimate as sexual union with a prostitute would be for the body. It is the spirit alone, however—not the soul or the body—that can experience this direct intimate union with God.
       It is primarily through the act of worship that our spirits enter into this union with God. In John 4:23–24 Jesus said: “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. . . . God is Spirit, and [all] those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” He made it clear that true worship must be an activity of our spirits.
       In the contemporary church there is little understanding of the nature of worship, mainly because we do not discern the difference between the spirit and the soul. Worship is not entertainment. That belongs in the theater, not the church. Nor is worship the same as praise. We praise God with our souls, and it is right to do so. Through our praise we have access to God’s presence. But once we are in His presence, it is through worship tha twe enjoy true spiritual union with Him.
       To be able to worship God in this way is the goal of salvation—first on earth, and then in heaven. It is the highest and holiest activity of which a human being is capable. It is only possible, however, when the soul and the body come into submission to the spirit and in harmony with it. Such worship is often too profound for words. It becomes an intense and silent union with God.
Yours in the Master’s service,
Derek Prince
P.S. My next letter will clarify how to discern between the spirit and the soul.
1 Genesis 1:26
2 Genesis 2:7
3 Genesis 2:17
4 James 4:5 (NAS)
5 Romans 5:10–11
6 Romans 6:13
P Derek Prince p Jerusalem, Israel

The above article is by Derek Prince and is published with permission of their site: Mailing Address: Derek Prince Ministries P.O. Box 19501 Charlotte, NC 28219-9501 704-357-3556"
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