8:3 Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and (Spiritual Jerusalem is a term used for believers today) Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. hosts.
It has become my understanding that when we are born from above.... we become new creations in Christ... our entire nature changes through having received HIS Spirit... His word of truth ... our desires change with the nature change ... and thus the war between the flesh and the spirit within us intensifies.... this is something to rejoice about, and not something to despair over. Seeing and experiencing the carnal nature reveals to us the nature Christ died to set us free from and our need to grow spiritually. Daily we are becoming Overcomers through the power of the indwelling Spirit of the resurrected Christ within us! Our heart is willing but another part of us (our carnal nature) wrestles against His truth and holiness, as it does not want to die to it's own desires and ways (comfort zones) ... The carnal nature does not want to let go of it's control, it's ambitions, surrender it's will to become a new creation in Christ.... it is self centered and selfish by nature... and thus it's first motivation is self preservation... not selflessness, not unconditional love... love of the truth... love for our Father and His son... love of/for that which HE loves.... it is at war with the Spirit of God... .that is why we often find ourselves at war within... we experience a dual nature... and grieve... we do not want to identify with our carnal nature... we want to identify with Christ within. Bless the Lord... Father looks at our heart... (which we cannot see) not our outward man (carnal nature's ways) and raises us in the way we are to go bringing to light that which we can understand at our level of maturity, urging us to let go of the rebellious nature and all of the lies we have seen previously as truth ... HE exposes such through our union with HIS Holy Spirit of truth as we come into HIS fullness and gives us the choice/power to let go... and surrender our will to HIS ... so we can receive what HE offers in it's place... reminding us... Jesus surrendered and trusted in Father's revealed plan... Jesus knew He could not nail HimSelf to the cross... for one hand would always be free.... but by surrendering to our Father's will... HE could trust in the unfolding of HIS plan, in Father's power... for all of His creation (the earth groans and travails for the mature sons and daughters to come forth)... a plan which was established in our behalf at the foundations of the world... a plan, He knows through His wisdom is necessary so we can receive eternal life... redemption, reconciliation, inner transformation, restitution and the like through His life giving/breathing Spirit.
As I grew spiritually under His loving care ... Father gave me further insight that the entire old nature (carnal man) has to die... (actually He revealed to me, I/we died with Christ already according to Romans 6 and need to recogn ourselves dead to the old.. but alive to the new by faith). The good and bad as we judge it to be through the flesh nature, our judgments made by looking at the external, our immaturity, wisdom, understanding and the like taints His truth and must be released to HIM, because it is a mixture of flesh and spirit ... It is a mixture of what/who we were before we were born of His Holy Spirit and who we are becoming since being born again/anew of His Spirit. We are to die to: preconditioning, limited concepts, misconceptions, preconceptions, fleshly perspectives, carnal truths taught as truth, falsehoods and inherited traditions passed on, distorted perceptions we interpret life through, understanding which is limited and fleshly, presumptions and the like, should's, ought too's, suppose too's, ungodly expectations, selfish desires and motivations ... Our natural way of thinking and being has to be transformed through the renewing of the spirit of our mind with HIS revealed truth and a intimate relationship with HIM one on one... hence this is why it is with MUCH tribulation we enter into the Kingdom of God... (His Kingdom rule rises up from within through our union with the Holy Spirit... who leads us into all truth and .......................... and empowers us to overcome through the Holy Spirit of the indwelling Christ manifesting Father's will to us). This is a process which changes us from glory to glory to glory to glory as each new day dawns... and comes with NO Condemnation, it is something we can rejoice over... as we let patience have her perfect work and draw nigh to our creator through this miraculous gift. Father is in control... and His timing is not ours... so we need not despair but rejoice in the knowing what HE has begun HE will finish... all is His working our will as He wills it, our having heard and surrendered.
We each grow at different rates... and are brought into HIS light according to the unfolding of HIS plan for us as A aspect of His body/bride, a paradox. We need not compare ourselves one to another... for each is a unique aspect of the Spirit of the resurrected Christ... and we all come from a carnal nature.... but we can encourage one another to be who each is created to be in Christ... as we learn to let go together as HIS body/bride... as a member of the family of God.
Fiery trials and tribulations are a spiritual gift.. they expose that which is attempting to rule us and shakes loose, or burns off that which still rules us to some degree, from glory to glory.... as we grow in spirit and truth. We were made Holy and righteous through Christ the moment we were born anew and that is how Father sees us... and are being conformed to the image of Christ as His inheritance through this gift of life eternal... our God/Father is a consuming fire and we are messengers of fire... flames of fire He sends forth for multiple purposes! All according to His unfolding eternal plan. We have nothing to fear... and much to gain, (it is through loosing our life we find it), as we go through these fiery trials ... we can count it ALL as joy... knowing HE goes before us, lives through us having already made the way through love and righteousness. We can rest in the awareness that there is no condemnation because through His Spirit within we have all already been made us victorious and we are walking out our victory daily, even when we think this is not so because another aspect of our carnality has been brought to light, (it was His plan since the foundation of the world and was made evident through the life/death/resurrection of Christ... our brother... the firstborn of the family of God), and through HIS unfolding eternal plan HE brings such to pass in HIS timing and HIS way, with His understanding not ours. (It seems to be... This is one of the reasons we need not judge ourselves or another harshly, discern through His eyes of eternity yes, judge/condemn the flesh ... only if you desire to be judged in return and to the measure you judge another you will be judged.... forgetting there is NOW no more condemnation for those who are In Christ... who are Hid in Christ through God. We are One body.... when you judge His body you judge yourself/Him within you according to fleshly understanding, condemning without mercy ... forgetting the flesh was condemned and redeemed through Christ.)
I sense today, Father urgently desires for us to seek HIM for HIS truth afresh and obey... letting go of what we hold dearly which may not be His present truth only our limited concept of it, depending upon the level of light we have been brought to (remember children grow UP in their understanding, as they mature they leave behind childish ways and thinking and EACH has a unique call IN HIM)... We let go so HE can resurrect HIS truth... spiritual understanding in it's place. We LET GO... when we are given eyes to see and ears to hear that which HE desires to deal with in our present... when we see through HIS eyes of eternity.... HE lays an axe to the root of every ungodly tree (seed) which has been planted before we were born of His Spirit anew...HE is in control... He is faithful to finish the work HE has begun... and HE will present us before His Throne of Grace... spotless... because He promises such.
Today I am led to post a vision I was given while in a worship service. Lord willing this vision (excerpt below) of His calling me to and bringing us into His City of Truth... will speak to those HE intends to do the same for in due season ... thanks for considering it...
Father... Thank You we can see and hear and be open to letting go, moment to moment while receiving all YOU offer in it's stead, from glory to glory... as we take up our cross daily... and follow Your leading. Bless YOU through Your overcoming power rising up from within through our union, we are becoming, without condemnation, who YOU created us to be in Christ as Your Family. Thank YOU we can rejoice with You as we see all aspects of the carnal nature exposed showing us who we are hid in Christ through the works of calvary and who we are becoming by way of contrast through the resurrection which followed. Bless You we are becoming conformed to the image of Christ with the awareness You give 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Thanks You for the gift of faith... of life eternal through the eternal Spirit of Your Son ... for Your Kingdom which is established within our soul in our now.... through our union with YOUR Holy Spirit of love, truth and more......... Bless You for translating us OUT of the Kingdom of Darkness into Your glorious Light... Bless You for the assurance... Your light will shine brighter as each new day dawns. Thank You for such as this and so much more... Thank You we can love You with an ever increasing love... not for Who we think You are... but for Who we experience You to Be... through Your abiding Presence.
Excerpt from my website www.EnterIntoGodsRest.com
During 1982-1986, through an answer to prayer... I was led to various groups of people, as well as individuals… who called themselves Apostles… Prophets and Messianic Jews, because they has accepted Jesus as their Messiah. On one particular occasion in 1986, we had gathered together and we were all singings songs of adoration to God... during a worship service.
A few years before this… I told Father I am not going to believe everything I heard about Jesus just because everyone tells me I should... I wanted to know from HIM why the Jews denied Jesus and wondered about all of the other religions in the world. Shortly after, God’s Spirit opened up the Old Testament to me, causing me to understand… how Jesus was foreshadowed throughout the entire Old Testament… as the Hebrew Messiah. He gave me the understanding the Arabs were descendant of Ishmael and revealed to me the prophecies regarding both Nations and their descendants, natural and spiritual. I was given the understanding… God in His wisdom had blinded the eyes of the Hebrew religious leaders during Jesus’ day… so they might not recognize their Messiah. This was done, so those outside of Judaism…. Gentiles… could come to know of God’s new covenant with man… through the events, which would follow…. the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ Jesus. I was made aware… a time would arrive when the time of the Gentiles would draw to a close… and God’s Spirit would open the eyes of the Hebrew people once again… that they might receive Jesus … Yesuah … as their promised Messiah. Historical events… were indicating this season of transition had begun. Messianic Churches were beginning to spring up all over the world… and many converts were being brought across my path. From what I was beginning to see… since around 1948, Jews were starting to return to their homeland from around the world as well and things were beginning to intensify once again between the descendants of Abraham.
I felt honored to gather with these converts and religious leaders during this worship service…. as they taught me how to celebrate their feasts…. a foreshadow which the life of Jesus fulfilled… first hand. I considered it to be a privilege… to be invited to join with them in their established traditions and I was keeping them the best I knew how as I submitted to their spiritual authority…. believing it was God’s will that I do so.
As I sang with them... eyes closed, I shut myself off from all distractions... and as is my habit... began meditating on the words I was singing having taken them to heart…. expressing them with love… to God .... to Who He had revealed HimSelf to be to me up until then.
Without warning, I found myself standing before a magnificent wall... whether I was in the body or out of the body, I do not know. This wall was taller than any ancient ruin in height… the wall in the movie King Kong comes to mind and it does not even begin to describe the height of this wall I found myself standing in front of. Compared to the stature of a man, it was enormous. I heard a voice speak, 'Enter into the City of Truth'... and I agreed to do so, fully 'expecting' to see a door, which I could not find, open up mysteriously.
Instead, I was astonished, to find myself looking at the stones of a foundation. I knew I was looking at the foundations of the temple of God… which man had build. The founding stones were built upon the teachings of and about Jesus Christ.... and early prophets, apostles and later disciples, which had been passed down since days of old... to the present day. As He showed it to me... I was given much understanding. I understood I had been worshipping there. Details stood out to me ... there were stones missing... some were cockeyed... some were out of place... some should not have been there at all... yet many were firmly rooted and established by His Spirit alone, Jesus Christ being represented by the chief corner stone. I understood the time had come for God alone to build the temple I was to worship in and He would not need my help… but before He could do so… He would have to destroy this one.
Again I heard, "Enter into the City of Truth". Instantly I understood.... if I did so, I would be going through a dark night of my soul and spiritual senses. I knew if I chose to accept this invitation, I would go through a time of great trials and tribulations, that I might come to the end of lies which ruled my thinking and tainted the truths HE desired to speak with me about, through His Spirit of Truth. I understood, much of what I had learned in the past… needed to be unlearned… because it was contaminated, through vain inherited traditions and historical tampering with the words of the Lord, which had been passed along with His truth. I knew the time would come when I would not know what to believe and then, He would restore all... that I might walk in a 'double portion anointing'. This double portion anointing was a power He had spoken to me of on numerous occasions, which would be necessary for that which was to come… during a supernatural spiritual outpouring greater than man has known to date... worldwide at a future date. I could only imagine how this would manifest itself... even so, I agreed to enter in… supposing it would not take that long. I was wrong *smile Once again I found myself standing before this majestic wall... immediately I heard for the third time, "Enter into the City of Truth".
Again... I agreed to do so... fully expecting a door to open. Instead... I watched in amazement... as a hand larger than what our natural mind could comprehend, reached down and picked me up. I saw myself in the palm of this hand… a perfect fit. I marveled as I realized I was a naked baby and God Himself was bringing me in.
Unexpectedly I found myself back where I had begun worshipping God... having been tapped on the shoulder... that I might take communion, and was offered bread and wine... as part of the worship service I was attending. With a greater awareness, I understood this offering of communion was only an acting out of a much higher spiritual truth... a true communion in the spirit… which could be done anytime and any place… when one chose to be alone with Him for a time of intimacy. I was grieved that I could not have stayed longer and seen the City. Then I understood, He had brought me in... and He alone will keep me there, through His ways, in His timing, according to His plan for my life. I only needed to be willing to come… leaving all else behind!
As He brought me into the city of truth... through circumstances of my daily life after this, He has revealed to me how powerless the arm of the flesh is to save... and attain audience with Him for fleshly or religious purposes.... such only offers spiritual famine or a false concept. He has shown me why indeed, Jesus needed to die for man... why we must join with Him in that awareness and in the death process... as living sacrifices... in our union with Him in life and death. I have been shown a need for a remnant of people... those HE has called… and ordained to be set apart for a work of sanctification and reconciliation, as living intercessors alone with His Spirit. He has given me a taste and a deeper understanding of a depth of His love I never knew existed and would have been unable to contain when I first began this spiritual journey of faith, due to my carnal limitations. Experientially, He has caused me to know… truly, when one is forgiven much... they indeed love much. He has caused me to experience... His unconditional love and mighty power to save through ways not previously concieved, He would take me… as He has taught me to trust Him completely... through the gift of surrender and obedience. As I have continued to grow and mature spiritually, to become the person I was created to be in Christ, through His power to keep me... He has given me the privilege of seeing my perverted heart... my ego… with no condemnation. He has also caused me to begin to see who He has created me to Be instead... without pride… as I gradually find myself becoming hid in Christ, through Father God…. a mystery revealed.
After this experience I came across a scripture which spoke of the city of truth: Zechariah 8:3; 3 This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain."
(believers are often referred to as spiritual Jerusalem)
If I may keep you just a bit longer... may I offer one more word… for encouragement purposes? During one of my times alone with him, in later years, I heard a voice deep within say.... "Close your eyes..." I did. Then I heard, "I am describing to you, a house, a tree, and a horse. Now, if you were born blind... do you think you would have seen the true image or only a concept of what you imagine them to be?" I said, a concept....
The voice continued.... "Due to the flesh nature, man is born blind to spiritual truths... until I open their eyes through My Spirit. The Kingdom of God is not like anything man has yet imagined for they have not yet conceived that which I alone can reveal. Let go of ALL of your concepts, your perspectives... ALL vain imaginations... and traditional thinking, as you identify with my Son at Calvary and beyond... that I might reveal to you My simple truth... and My Kingdom, it is not how you first perceived it to Be. Continually let go… and be transformed."
This reminded me once again of something He had told me in earlier days… ‘In order for me to come to a place of deeper understanding… I needed to lay down that which filled my hands already, so I could be given something new, or I would be in danger of creating a false God and momentarily loosing sight of Him, following after that which is a distorted image.” Having experienced all of this… He has caused me to understand… if I truly desire to continue to grow through His Spirit, I must put away childish ideas... and youthful treasures…. because His Spirit within is calling me to grow with a greater awareness than when I first began.
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