GOD OF INTIMACY

Dear Beloved,
How have things been going with you? We have been doing pretty good. Still struggling every day to stay in the Rest of God. The following message was one which I (really the Holy Spirit) wrote in April of 2004. Please enjoy..the Word of God is alive and never goes stale. Let us pray, Dear Daddy God, I know that You don't mind if we call You Daddy. Sure we recognize You as Almighty God but sometimes You desire that we just crawl up on Daddy's lap and hang out. This is one of those times. Right now we just want to smell You, to touch You and feel Your most glorious arms around us. Thank You for loving us. We love You too. In our King's name we pray, the name of Jesus...AMEN.

"Hey Adam and Eve...you are the best of all I have created. My dear family. I love you so much. Thank you for loving Me too...spirit to Spirit...heart to Heart. I put a demand before you because I desire your willing love for me. Your obedience. Thank you for trusting me. For believing the commandment I had set forth was good because I am Good. That means a lot to me.

But oh my loved ones, you took your eyes off of my face and saw something more appealing..you forgot what I looked like. I am God and nothing should be more appealing. Because of your sin I cannot fellowship with you again with great intimacy. My heart is broken. But another Adam is coming and He will bring many more like Him. I am excited about that Day...to have a family again. But, before that Day...before that set time I will continue to search for others who will love me.

Hey Abraham....I sure enjoyed our heart to heart talks. You showed me that I was God through your faith and obedience. Because of that I promised to bless all the nations of the earth through you...and I will. I will make covenant with you and through you I will raise up a people who I will call my own. Maybe they will love me like you.

Oh my precious Children of Israel. Why weren't my great blessings and miracles enough for you? Why couldn't you be like Moses and dare to draw near to me? You love yourself more...afraid that the closeness I wanted would bring out your flesh. The very flesh I desired to kill. And you were right.
I am God of Intimacy, but I am also Holy. yet I still desired to bless you if you chose obedience. I burdened you down with many rules and laws to show you that you can't be perfect or holy through the external. I knew that, but at least you had Me in your face. The law showed that your sin was ever before you. You don't see it now, but I have a wonderful way to bring you to Me by simply believing like a little child. My miracles couldn't make you love Me. Your rituals and outward observances couldn't make you love Me. But, maybe if I came down and took care of the sin problem through my Own Son's death you would see then that I am God of Intimacy. I will even write my law in your heart. I hope you recognize Me.

David, my great beloved who worshipped and adored Me like no other. Thank you for your great love for Me. Thank you for daring to repent and walk in humility. You found My heart of mercy and you longed for Me. You ran hard after Me like no other. You found Me...God of Intimacy.

Oh My beloved Son. Jesus....My sinless One...My faithful One...My courageous One.....MY last Adam...Savior of the world. I am so sorry that many of my chosen ones did not recognize You. That's OK. I have made all people of the earth my chosen ones if they believe. If what You did in obedience to Me doesn't get the message out that I am Love, God of Intimacy, then nothing else remains. Sit here beside Me and watch the Glories to come. I promised You a beautiful bride who would trust, obey and worship me because they love Me. The bride seems small now...soon she will be magnificent and glorious. If they hear Me and do what I require then suddenly (as overnight) the world will behold our Glory. The time has come.

Oh Bride of My beloved and darling Son. I showed you over the span of 6000 years that you cannot get my attention but by repentance, trust and obedience. This is the only formula that will bring you close to My Face. A Face that thirsts for intimacy. You have gone through the doorway of My Son...now that you have Me, will you not make Me truly God? The God that demands obedience. NOT good intentions.

I have release the spirit of Elijah into the world once again (Malachi 4:5,6). Will you heed My voice? This is the final moment of preparation. You are in the brides ready room. REPENT....REPENT...REPENT, the kingdom of God is at hand. Awaken out of your slumber of comfort. I Am here...I AM AT THE DOOR !! Prepare yourselves for the Great Day is upon you. Choose to do right....REPENT...REPENT...REPENT !! Stand firm as the Holy Spirit strips you of all flesh that desires glory. It is for your good. I am God of Intimacy.

At the present time there is a small remnant who is more prepared than most. Small parts in every neighborhood, work place, city, state and nation. A remnant who can't get enough of me. But deep inside, you are unsatisfied. You so desire to be quick to be obedient. Like Paul, you keep doing the things you don't want to do. Remember? His answer to continual war in his fleshly members was...Me. He didn't mention it again either. Why? Because he appropriated the grace to walk in the Fear of the Lord. (Hebrews 12:28)
That same grace is available to you NOW. The grace to put action with your will to surrender all. Repent...seek and inquire it as a vital necessity because it is. You have been faithful over little. You are now to be rulers over much. But first you must be baptised with fire. Press...embrace it ! Remember, I am God of Intimacy. You are Mine ! I will take you through.

Repent you ones who have added to and complicated my message. You burden the people with laws, rules, traditions of men and worship of idols. I want my people free !! You have stolen their intimacy with Me because they have been deceived into believing that outward observance brings holiness and gets my attention. My Son is the only door to Me. The Blood, obedience to the water of the Word and the grace of the Holy Spirit bring holiness. REPENT....REPENT...REPENT !! You sorely grieve Me. You have become worshippers of religion. I shall have no other gods before Me. You have put on the wrong wedding garment. You have clothed yourselves with your own filthy righteousness. Unless you turn and come to Me like a little child you will be like my Chosen Ones, Israel. I will come and you will not recognize Me. I am God of Intimacy...but I am also God of vengeance.

My dear empty ones. I see the large beautiful buildings....full of thousands. I see the worldwide evangelism. I see the beautiful worship. I see My gifts in operation. I see the many ministries. I see your busyness in My Name. To you I cry out REPENT with even a louder voice. You think you are full but you are empty because I have been forgotten. All your activity is in My Name, but when I come into the congregation to embrace you...you are too busy. You move to the next thing on your schedule. When is the last time you thought about repentance and obedience? Your fear of man, your schedules and busyness in My Name, your plans and formulas and your hidden motives of covetousness have made you luke warm. REPENT....REPENT...REPENT!! Is it about Me or your own agenda of comfort? I will allow no flesh to glory. None. Turn to Me because I long to hold you again. I am God of Intimacy.

Oh my lost sheep. How has the devil deceived you? I promised that the work I began I will complete. You are Mine. Am I not capable of taking care of what is Mine? Your minds have become feeble...looking at the sin instead of the sin solution. You have gone astray. Empty: self condemned: lacking peace, joy and hope. Did I pour out the blood of My Son in vain? Forget the past. Stop looking at your failures and weaknesses. Pick yourself up and continue to race for My Face. Be courageous...look at Me...see only Me...meditate on Me. I have not left. I died for you...you have great worth. The devil has blinded your eyes and hardened your heart. STOP IT !! Repent. Once again receive the joy that comes from My mercy of forgiveness. Return to your first Love. I am God of intimacy.

To all peoples of the earth: I have set a doorway before you that leads to eternal life. That leads to mercy. That leads to forgiveness. That leads to joy, peace and hope. A doorway that leads to Love......to Me. There is only one door. That door is My Son, Jesus. His death and resurrection revealed My great love. Calvary revealed my determined purpose to buy back what sin had stolen from Me...My family. You are My beloved above all creation. I allowed My Son to take your sin. He paid the penalty in full. Death and separation from Me for all eternity was the penalty. Can you imagine what eternity would be like without Me? A place of gross darkness. An eternity without love, joy and peace. Constant agony and torment in your mind. Utter confusion....continual frustration...constant regret. FOREVER !! Can you imagine? Jesus was cursed for you. Jesus was tormented and beaten for you...beyond recognition.
Jesus died for you. He even rose again so you would have hope in life after death. That same Holy Spirit will also help yo have a resurrected Life...if you only believe. But please remember that the devil believes. I will give you both the grace and desire to do what is right. I will enable you to walk as a new creature. You will have a life full of destiny and purpose. A life full of joy and hope. A life with the very God of Intimacy.

Why did We do such a thing for something as frail as man? Because We couldn't live without you. Your true self, without sin, carries Our family Name. So, choose this day who you will serve. Jesus is coming...but so is hell. Repent, believe and make Jesus your Lord and King. Your hero and champion. Receive your forgiveness and begin your life of hope today. And surely I will embrace you as a loving father embraces his child. Because that is who I Am. God of Intimacy.

So...on this day...this very hour...this very minute...talk to me will you? I have set hope before you. I have set abundance of life, in My Son Jesus, before you. This would give Me great pleasure. To see my children free. Free to love. Free to laugh. Free to dance. Free to hope. Free to know me....God of Intimacy.

BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS

NOTICE: If you are a fellow follower ( with myself) of the teachings of the Holy Spirit here at Jehovah Productions, then please note that a blog I posted last night is out of order. If you visit and just look at the most current Words from the Throne then please backtrack to September 1st 2009. Thanks !! One more side note if you please. Prayer works !! God says that whenever we agree on something in prayer and believe it to be so then it will be. Please feel free to e-mail me about any concerns or prayers you may have and I promise to get back with you. I will put my faith with yours and we will TOGETHER watch the hand of our faithful God work it out for our good. I would love to hear from you.....see you at comingglory@gmail.com.

Hey, did you like the bear thing? I have been wondering how I could use the picture of the ole Grizzly which I took while we were in the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina. OK, enough fun, let's get down to business. Father God, thank You for sacrificing Your Son on our behalf. Jesus, You are a true hero. We cannot even imagine what You went through for us in obedience to the Father. Help us to believe and walk out every command You have given us. Holy Spirit, please give us all the wonderful promises the Son died for to obtain for us. Give us a heart of flesh. Cause our will to come in agreement with Yours. Produce in us fruits of righteousness. The list can go on forever, we just know that we love You. We know that You love us. We know that You are coming back for us, Your precious children. We know that we need Your help. Come soon King Jesus. In His most beautiful name we pray....AMEN.

You know, the more I read the Word the more I realize that it is humanly impossible to perform what is requested without divine intervention. Oh God, thank you for the gift of the Holy Ghost !! Not only can I not measure up to the love walk required of us, but the more I read the more I realize that I fall short in so many areas. As soon as we think we have victory over a certain area in our life our wise Father shows us a few more which we need to come up higher in. What a struggle sometimes.....but what a joyful struggle it is. That reminds me of something my father has said to me from time to time. He said, "Why can't God just give me one thorn to keep me humble instead of a whole thorn bush?"

Let's get right into the Word shall we? Galatians 6:2 says, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." The context of this passage is primarily talking about the burden of sin that our immature brother or sister is carrying. We should have mercy on them and be careful how we approach them (if we are led by God in love) because we could easily offend them. We must understand that we too have had to work through our shortcomings and many times it takes just that...time. We find another instance in which we should show mercy and that is found in Romans 15: 1-2. Here we see this: "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Once again we are told to have mercy, compassion and love for our weaker brethren. Boy, sometimes we just think we are all that and a bag of chips don't we?

And what is this "law of Christ" we read about in Galatians? Let's turn to Matthew 5:43-48 and find out together my dear ones. Jesus says, " You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Wow...Oh God help me please !!

So, we see that the "law of Christ" really sums up how we ought to conduct ourselves with our brethren and with our enemies. With everyone whom we come in contact with. It's called LOVE. Love carries the burdens of others. Love prefers others above ourselves. It screams.."who am I not to show mercy to others? Have not I been shown great mercy?" As we mature in this living thing called love, we will find ourselves having compassion on all humans. Jesus died for all mankind. Father God has placed great value on us all with hopes we will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I keep having to remind myself (constantly it seems) that it is not about me. It's about God and His kingdom. Oh merciful God, please help me to come up higher in this love that You have shed in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Help me to shoulder the burdens of others. To be patient with the weaker in faith. To be quick to forgive less I put another burden on someone else. I WANT TO LOVE OH GOD...HELP ME TO LOVE !!

TOUCHING GOD'S FACE

Hello again my dear friends. Thanks for continuing to allow the Holy Spirit to share with both of us (you and I) His rich living Word. This message is another one from my past writings. It is a Christmas message from 2005. Fret not, I have hundreds more yet to pen, but the Spirit seems to move me as He wills. And after all..I have found that He is so much smarter than I am. With that let us pray together, shall we? Oh merciful, beautiful and Holy God. How good it is to meet with you in the very presence of Your Holy angels. Right before You kneeling at Your majestic throne is where we find ourselves. Honoring Your Holy Name, adoring You and thanking You. Why? Because You alone deserve such things. Thank You so much for loving us and helping us to love You in return. We trust You Almighty God in all things. Even now speak to us and finish the work that Jesus started in us...for Your Glory. In Your dear Son's Name we pray...AMEN.

As the angels fought against hordes of demons around the hills of Bethlehem on this special Day so very long ago...they talked. Wondering why Jehovah had dispatched so many legions to protect a family who was about to give birth in a lowly manger. But the wonderment never went to questioning because after all, God is God. To further emphasize the grandeur of this moment, a most remarkable order was given...."Angel, along with your army from the troops of heaven, praise Me and speak: Glory to God in the highest! On earth (now and forever) peace among men, peace between God and man.....whom I adore and am well pleased with." (Luke 2:14)

"Wow, God really esteems this creature called man." The angel said. "Well, it makes sense because man was originally created in the Trinity's likeness and very image." (Genesis 1:26,27) "And he was created a little below Elohim. (God)." (Psalms 8:4-6)

The same angel stood in amazement once again some forty years later as he steadied Paul's hand and watched him write "Jesus did not cling to His rights as God but left His lofty throne...became a man...and died on the cross." (Philippians 2:5-8)

"Goodness" the angel proclaimed. "Looking back on Calvary and seeing God's love for man, I wonder why he doesn't touch God's face as often as we do? After all, we praise Him because we see, why doesn't His own children see?" "That's right!" " Man CAN touch their beloved Father's face." "There goes one now...watch, listen and especially witness the Father's smile in the reflection of the Lamb's face." "Yes, let's go fellow angels. How can we not add to this most glorious moment?"

"With you man we proclaim with outstretched hands" "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty!" "Hallelujah for the Father's love as seen in the birth, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus!" "Lamb who takes away the sins of the world!" "King of Kings!" And now man proclaims: "I see your deep love for me Oh God...thank You sweet Jesus for paying the penalty for my sins!" "I believe!" "Oh come and live in my heart!"

Heaven is lit with the smile of Glory. God is so approachable and He loves us so, so much. Try it! TOUCH GOD'S FACE !

THE CLEFT OF THE ROCK

This Christmas message was originally sent out in 2007. Please enjoy. The message is still relevant for today.

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus. Please know that we desire to see you all face to face in the bond of great Love which comes only from our Father in heaven, but the Spirit constrains us at this time. Nevertheless, we are prayerful you are doing well this Glorious Day. Confident that regardless of your circumstances God is willing and able to walk you through with great joy and hope of His love. He is faithful and entirely open to us all.

My soul is greatly troubled. My body racked with pain. Dread assaults me with stinging lies. After many, many years of writing the words of Truth from our Holy Father, in love, I find this message, above all others, is under great attack from the evil one. Yet God is abundant in His grace to move me forward. This may well be my last message. (This was concerning messages which I mail to family and friends.) Only God knows. The world as we know it is about to change suddenly. This message is one of warning and encouragement shrouded in Love and Truth. Just like the infant Jesus as He lay in the stable that joyful Day so long ago. The Truth of God's great Love for us as He humbled Himself to become a man to walk amongst us. To save us from spending eternity in a place of anguish and great pain. On this Day, Love was born. Salvation, hope, joy, peace, healing, mercy and all things good. The doorway (the only door) to the goodness of God was ushered into this atmosphere with great fanfare.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, You are the most High God who dwells above all and over all things. I am a mere human being who knows no good thing dwells in my flesh. Sometimes believing I am the chiefest of all sinners, yet you move your awesome power through this puny frame. Forgive me dear Lord for all sin and iniquity in my life. Forgive me of fear and unbelief. Please speak your Words through me. Prepare our hearts to receive your Truth. Wash us with your Holy Word, your forgiveness and unfailing Love. Not my will but your will be done. For your Glory. For the sake of Your Kingdom. In the name of that beautiful baby born this Day....Jesus. Amen.

These messages have always gone out to all categories of people. The unbeliever, the lukewarm and to humble souls who are on fire for the Kingdom of Light. I have heard it all over the past few decades. Many throw these messages in the garbage landing beside their true god...the TV guide. Some complain that the messages are too long but yield to reading three or four novels a week...washing their souls with things that have no life. Some have declared "who are you to preach to me?" To them the easiest answer comes...it is not I. Others have said in their hearts, "I already know all these things, why must I consider it again?" This is the most dangerous attitude of all because pride is surely the greatest enemy we have. The one God actually resists. To you I beg and plead...humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. His Word is always alive and must be greatly respected. His Word is higher than even His Name. And to you who hunger and thirst after righteousness, who long to be with your first Love....Jesus, practice hiding yourself in the "CLEFT of the ROCK" now. His Glorious appearing is upon us but so is His judgement upon this nation. It will affect us all. Will we run from Him or to Him when our comfort zone is displaced beyond what we can even consider in our thoughts? God help me stand less I fall.

All ten virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13) were believers, full of the Holy Spirit and the Love of God. Yet five slumbered in the last few minutes before their bridegroom appeared. When all hell broke loose they couldn't muster the faith or grace to survive. They couldn't purchase peace and joy from anyone else on that terrible Day. We must keep alert and faithful now more than ever my dear loved ones.

Remember Moses? He wanted God more than anything. He not just wanted Him but he wanted to see Him. (Exodus 33: 12-23) Yet God had to shield him from the awesomeness of His supreme Glory less he die. God placed father Moses in the "CLEFT of the ROCK." I tell you dear ones that the cleft was none other than that small baby named Jesus. How could that infant so tiny, so frail, the One on so many of your cards, hold back the destroying power of His Holiness against the sin in Moses? For all have sinned. (Romans 3: 22-23) That cleft represented all that Jesus is to us. Sure the angels proclaimed great joy at the birth of Jesus, but they were looking ahead at the entire embodiment of what that baby represented. The birth: God's first display of His Love towards us in His humble act of leaving His lofty throne to save us. His Crucifixion: A sinless God (Jesus) dying for me. How could that be? It's the purest Love my dear friend. And very real. Jesus paying the penalty for my sin with His divine blood. (Hebrews 9: 14, 22-28) The Resurrection: God displaying His glorious power even over death. Showing us that, yes, because of Me, you too can live a glorious eternal life. With Me forever. Your job is to but believe. That's too easy. That's what sheltered Moses. His faith in God's Word. And God put him in Jesus "the CLEFT of the ROCK." That's a good place to be.

What if you wake up tomorrow and there was no oil for transportation? No way to work. No moving of goods. Well, no work for that matter. Awakened to total chaos...race wars...economic disasters. No electricity. Prayerful for even a loaf of bread. Would your heart fail or is your peace, joy and resources invested in God alone? Our nation is already under judgement as millions pour into this country...stealing from us...killing us. Our enemies have come in. But judgement is not because of our declining morality. It is because our nation continues to abuse the beloved Bride of Christ. God has destroyed whole nations because of such abuse against His Chose Ones. Judgement will come. It is already here. But so is the hope of His Coming. So is the "CLEFT of the ROCK." NOW!

I do not believe in scaring people into salvation. I believe God's hand is always lifting up Jesus before us so we can see His awesome Love. To the unbeliever: Cry out now to the Holy One for He is surely tugging at your heart. Don't be scared of losing the life you have built for yourself. Repent of your sins now and receive divine cleansing. A brand new life full of hope, joy, peace and a most wonderful love affair with the creator of all things. (Romans 10: 9-13) Enter into the CLEFT (Jesus) and He will enter into you. God have mercy on you who are lukewarm. (Revelation 3: 15,16) How has satan deceived you into being in such a condition? Are you mad at God because He took your loved one? Are you walking in condemnation over past sins? What has hardened your heart making you feel unworthy, frustrating you from surrendering once again? Are you entangled in a church that preaches only "feel good" messages? Denying the Word which convicts of sin and gives Godly sorrow. Run away as fast as you can! Have you tried the prosperity message and it didn't work for you? Were you left with resentment in your heart? Are you caught in a religious system that has robbed you of the true freedom to be intimate with our Holy Jesus? One on One? (Ephesians 2:8,9) Don't be lazy. Get your Bible out and look up these verses on your own. Jesus is there. Today is the day of repentance. Today. Like my daddy says: "God hasn't fallen off His throne." He has not left you. Come back. Come back to the "CLEFT of the ROCK." What a glorious embrace He will give you this day. He can't stop thinking of you. (Isaiah 49: 15,16) God adores you. His heart is breaking for you. Come.

And to those who walk in Light. Who are abiding in the CLEFT now. Who are led by the Spirit. Who joyfully and expectantly await His Coming. Continue to spend time with Him (LOVE). Continue to have faith in His covenant promises. Continue to serve. Keep your oil full and your supply everlasting and you will be kept in the CLEFT during God's business in these forthcoming days. Remember the lion and the bear. As crisis come you will be likened unto the children of Israel in the land of Goshen. (Exodus 10: 21-23) Get ready...God's Glory will flow through you to all peoples of the world. Many will want to be in your CLEFT. Show them the way.

Yes a child was born. God became man. But let us always embrace the whole message of the manger scene. In that stall I also see the cross that Jesus was nailed to. I see His Glorious Resurrection giving me hope of life with Him eternally. The "CLEFT of the ROCK" is where I want to be. How about you?

Some of you know that my wife and I have a real home for a change. Our first year was spent in a 400 sq. foot mobile home. Small but it was sure a blessing from God. I had lived 19 years there. So we went hog wild with decorating our home this year. Ever see Chevy Chase in" Christmas Vacation?" I think you can see our home from the space station. But it has occurred to me...is all this prettiness squandered on ourselves? Because of that thought we have purposed to actually say "Oh Lord, we worship you as we turn on these lights. Let these displays honor You for all You have done for us and mankind everywhere." Who knows. We might leave them up always. For our hearts reflect on the Christmas and Easter message every day. I wonder if we will have the faith to pay our electric bill? Sure we will because we are hidden in the "CLEFT of the ROCK."

CONFESSIONS OF A MURDERER

Thanks for visiting with me again my most wonderful friend. Well, I don't know if we would make friends or not but one thing is for sure (with God's continued help) and that is I love you. With that said we better pray before I run you off. Wonderful Jesus, hallowed be thy most beautiful name. The Name which one day all will bow to and confess You as Lord over all. Please help us to bow now. Please Holy Spirit, continue to help us say no to our flesh. We hate that ole stinky thing with all it's pride, selfishness and rebellion. Come along side of us, wonderful Gift from God, and help us be faithful to the very end. All Hail King Jesus and in Your Name we say...AMEN.

Have you ever thought to yourself that if you were the only person on the planet then you would be OK, just you and nature? Sometimes I think if there were no people then I wouldn't have so many problems. Don't get me wrong, these are just passing thoughts and of course I know that in God's infinite wisdom, people are the best way to bring out our flesh. And that is a GOOD THING ! Can I bring out another crazy thing that I think about once in awhile? Bear with me now dear ones, this is going somewhere I promise. Have you ever wondered why sometimes your response to some dog hit by a car versus a person in need of medical attention is greater. Or is it just me? No, I would imagine that all of us have some abi-normal responses from time to time.

Have you ever wished you could be like super Christian so and so? Why is it that when some people come to the Lord it seems as if they are like Jesus over-night? Well, of course we know that behind the scenes many are struggling just as we, but there are actual friends of mine who did come out of the baptismal waters a new person. Ones who just seem to love everyone when before they were the meanest people you have ever met. As for the majority of us, well, I believe that we are in the cocoon being changed a little at a time, from glory to glory.

Can I make the playing field a little closer? Have you ever had someone hurt you (whether intentional or not) and you had feelings of resentment? Maybe your heart felt some bitterness and even anger. Did you ever put a wall up between you and someone else (even for a short season) because of the wound. I believe that most all wars and murders are a cause of resentment. Please read "The Bait of Satan," by John Bevere. But did you know that even we who are sealed by the Holy Spirit and whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life can be murderers and never lift a finger against someone?

Let's read what Jesus Himself said about this subject. Well, actually most of the Word of God deals with this hideous poison called pride. Yes, every sin we encounter in our flesh boils down to this trap which satan himself fell into so many thousands of years ago. And this pride is the root of all we call sin. Pride (which is so devilishly hidden in all of us) says that we know better, are better and are above someone else. Think about it, even a person who commits adultery is actually making a decision to say their way is better then God's way. Whoops, sorry....got myself on quite a bunny trail on that one. Now back to what Jesus says about resentment. In Matthew 5:21-22 (KJV) we read, "Ye have heard that it was by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." Let's break this down a little further shall we? First of all the Greek word for kill in the original language was murder. Furthermore, many manuscripts do not include the phrase "without a cause."

What are we left with? Remember that Jesus came to fulfill the law. He is fulfilling it here just like He did when He said that whomever looks at a woman with lust in his heart already commits adultery. From reading the passage in Matthew we can surmise that the angry, resentful intent of a person's heart towards another is the same as the word murder in the Old Testament law found in Exodus 20:13. With all this in mind have we brought almost everybody down to the same playing field? Not Yet? Well then, let's work a little harder at that shall we? One more thing, Oh merciful God, please forgive me for the anger, resentment and murder I have had in my heart for others. Oh merciful God...please forgive me !!

OK, the next two verses should bring all of us from the least of saints to the greatest onto a level playing field. Romans 14:23b says "that everything that does not come from faith is sin." James 4:17 says, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." Why have I brought all of us (temporally) to this miry pit which declares that we are all sinners and our righteousness is as filthy rags? We won't stay here in this quicksand of humility and thirst for mercy very long. Bear with me.

Do you remember how joyfully Moses, Miriam and the Israelites danced and sang after they crossed the red sea and celebrated God's wrath on their enemies. Oh the tambourines really rang out that day as the Israelites thanked God for delivering them. In fact, many of the Jewish feasts have to do with remembering God's divine deliverance. Consider the feast of Passover. Here we all remember how the death angel skipped the homes of God's chosen ones. The ones who had applied the blood over their doors. David wrote much about how thankful he was unto God for bringing him out from the snares of his enemies to a place of refreshing from the Lord of Host. It seemed fitting and proper for many in the Old Testament to remember often the old life in Egypt. Remembering God's great mercy and how He brought them into a place of salvation.

In the New Testament we also see how many times the apostles (inspired by the Holy Ghost) reflected on the sinners they once were, strangers to God, and how they now were saved into a better place by grace. Paul always remembered where God had brought him from as he declared, "For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle because I persecute the church of God." (I Corinthians 15:9)

Why am I bringing all this up? I believe that it is healthy for us all to remember where God brought us from. Sure we are now called saints, kings and priests of our God, but should we ever forget the dark days when we were strangers to the covenants of promise? HEAVENS NO !! Please beware of becoming over balanced in following whole religions built around how special you are, how extraordinary and what a glorious purpose you have. These things are ALL true, but please always remember that without Christ we are nothing and our righteousness is as filthy rags. Stay on your knees often embracing the beautiful mercy seat of our Jesus. Walk upright as the king and priest you are. Wielding the sword of the Spirit and casting out demons. But stay humble. This posture of humility and remembrance will go a long way with the precious unbelievers (and believers) we have to deal with on a daily basis.

I love you dear ones. With you I proclaim that I am so, thankful for the past, present and future mercy of our Lord and Savior. We are all in this thing together. Resist the pride. Resist the resentment. God thinks we are all something superfantastical. Jesus died for us all. OH HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO BE FORGIVEN !!