Mannaword

In the Spirit, there is a dimension to sharing that is not often known. When our Lord Jesus told His apostles, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” and then poured His Holy Spirit into the church on that beautiful Pentecost Day so many years ago, He eliminated any form or definition of distance between Himself and the person who chooses to be one with Him. That means He is always with us; whatever we do, He also does. 

While this feels a bit scary when we fully grasp the consequences of the “never leave you” and the responsibility that brings, I believe we need to look at another aspect of this union in Him. 

We can share deeply with one another in the natural and we are familiar with the benefits of those relationships where that is possible. Sometimes that leads to pain within deep fellowship, but it is always worth the price to be close in heart with others. It provides the benefit of hugs and sweet belonging places.

When it comes to opening to the reality of our Lord’s presence – always with us, we find He generously desires to live with us with a  sense of His presence — wherever we are and whatever we are doing. We have the capacity of deep sharing with our beloved Lord. When we begin to grasp this, then we can spiritually develop that presence to allow Him access 24/7 as well as learning His emotional delight in us and around us. The word “lonely” doesn’t exist here. 

This joy of sharing in His heart is not so much emotion (although it often has an emotional expression in our love with Him), but is instead a deep well of strength. Notice Isaiah 12:2-6 (KJV)

 “2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

Read verse #3 once again. Notice that joy is the container we use to draw the water from the well of salvation. Everything we need is in the “package” of salvation given to us as a gift for the asking from our Lord. Within that salvation is everything we will ever need. The strength to accomplish all He has specified for our day, our “now,” is fully supplied in our relationship in Him, and is accessed by this “joy.” As we open to receive, no matter what our circumstances may be, we find strength in Him, we do not possess on our own. It is a power (the container) to access all He has for us.

As we learn to share our life with Him and in Him, we begin to experience His presence experientially and the strength of that experience in sharing. This experience is possible to access when we set our hearts and minds on things above and not on our matters. (See Colossians 3:1-3) 

Learning to share with Him and in Him means not only do I know I am with Him always, but it also tells us that He can now share with me His thoughts and His concerns. When we pray in this perspective, we begin to see how to pray very productively because we “see” it from His point of view easily. Those revelations make our prayer time much more productive and much, much less work.

Beloved, readers, we have much ahead in this relationship in Jesus. Let’s begin to open to this sharing purposefully and allow the sharing in Him to heal the heart. This will begin to release the pain of our living as well as project us forward in the life in the Holy Spirit much more thoroughly than previously experienced. 

The recent political events in New York State, namely the legalizing of late-term abortions, is abhorrent to all of us who believe human beings are all made in God’s image from conception. But this is just taking matters into the evil domain entirely. In case you wondered, I am very pro-life! I wanted to make that very clear as we step into the heart of this article.

When this happened, the Lord challenged me to begin to “Look Again” into realms of the Spirit and see what was happening. So as we “look” together, I believe we will see some significant things we need to look at and keep in our minds.

Our enemy and the source of evil is very limited. He does not create anything – only react to it. So what is happening in Holy Spirit understanding that the enemy is trying to get us to overlook? You see, while we are so busy cursing the darkness, we are missing the true because that evil is not at the core of our lives. If he can get us to spend time rebuking him and concentrating on the supposed greatness of his wickedness, then we will be working in his ballpark.

Our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit are on the rise in NY State and throughout the United States. He is making great strides in the hearts of His people and multiplying by masses in areas where we do not see. I know this is not apparent in the natural, but it is true in the Spirit of God. The power and the change are on His side. While we spend our time in the negative end, He is dramatically changing the scene in the Spirit.

So how are we to know this, since it is not in the “real” world? It is here, and we will begin to see if we open our minds and hearts to the Word. Our instructions are to think and talk about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, the excellent and the praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8) Also we are told to set our hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2)

This does not mean we put our heads in the sand and ignore what is evil around us. It does mean we begin to take charge of our minds and voice and then begin to put the enemy under our feet (Ephesians 1:22-23) by refusing to join what he wants to accomplish. This means we get involved positively in matters around us and begin to be a part of the answer instead of lamenting how bad it is.

That negative attitude gives praise in the wrong direction. The enemy does not care if it is negative – in fact that gets us thinking as he thinks. Instead, praise our true Lord and watch His hand as the things in the Spirit become the “real” world for all.

The Lord taught His disciples to pray “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” Then they were commissioned to go into all the world and make that change. If we do not “see” and understand in the Spirit, how will we ever bring it here?

So how do we get involved? If the Lord has not shown you what you are to do as you read the above, then let’s first get busy praying for our Godly politicians, and electing more of them. Let’s make prayer and the results of prayer our priority as we choose the “seeing” He has for us individually and collectively. Then let us choose to love beyond differences and see no person as “the devil himself,” but choose to pray in the positive directions and instructions of Scripture to bring effective change. Of course, then we vote when that opportunity presents itself. I am confident the Lord Himself will speak to you about how you can positively be involved in His heart toward the present circumstances.

I am in my LazyBoy comfortable chair, on this very snowy afternoon in Central New York in January 2019. A storm is supposed to bring us a lot of snow, and really, we have not had a “big” one this winter so, we will see if it comes as planned.

You see, there are not many weather events that happen to us in this location that will do anything but slow us down a bit. We do not have to work with hurricanes, tornados, and only a little bit of flooding every now and again. Snow, with all its inconvenience, comes and because it often comes we as Center New Yorkers have learned to work with it and if not enjoy it, at least not let much of it stop us.

However, a big storm, well that is different. Everything will stop. There is no panic, because tomorrow, or at the very latest, the 2nd day, all roads will be clear and most power restored – and life goes at its regular pace. But you see, now at this beginning period when traffic slows down, and most are planning on an evening at home, there is a rare anticipation of quiet in the heart.

Joe has gone to the Center this afternoon to complete some work on the music for his service tomorrow. It may get canceled, but just in case, the music team will be ready. So I am home alone with my electric fireplace going in the corner and sweet instrumental praise music in the background. There is still some light traffic in the bustling road out my picture window, but it will soon be paced slowly, or not at all. It is already so still (the snow muffles all sound) that one can get lost in the quiet. I love it.

So many want to be in the sunny climate, and I enjoy that too, briefly. When the Lord commissioned Joe and me to move to the Northeast in our mid-twenties, we had no idea how deeply we would learn to love it. The people are warm and genuine, and to be able to be in such stillness and beauty, well, it is just amazing and such a blessing to watch and enjoy.

Yes, the cold does hurt when it is really, really cold and it eventually “gets to me” somewhere in late February or early March, but it is still beautiful, and I would not miss it. Watching the snowfall and knowing our Father has made each of the flakes unique is a study in wonder. They are numberless – and so are we, the people of His love – yes, each one of us also unique.

Lord, thank you for the beautiful snow and for displaying your wonder for me today. May each day, although not wrapped in this kind of quiet, find you and then allow you to wrap us in the peace that goes way beyond quiet.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2 NIV

(Plans are laid to be able to finish the video work on Authority in the next few weeks. However, in the meantime, we pick up the passage that follows).

The word used in Greek for “devoted” here is to “persist, steadfast, or wait upon” leaving us with the understanding that to devote oneself to prayer means to continue in it for a long time with a deep emphasis in that action. Most would call this “intercession.” Although I believe in deeply in intercession as we are commanded, this particular scripture is aimed more at the whole body of Christ and not a particular group called to pray for something as in our common understanding.

(A bit of a side point: we are all called to intercession! None of us is exempt in the Body of Christ from this very important prayer instruction. The current understanding we have in the Body regarding intercession is that only those called to do that in a concentrated way are responsible for the intercession needed and commanded. That, in our way of thinking, requires a special gift – the gift of Intercession. That is nowhere in the word, beloved. Intercession, indeed, can be and often is a “call, and a particular appointment,” but nowhere is it listed as a “gift.” We all have various assignments within prayer, and intercession is only one of them).

Now let’s get back to “devoted.” We are commanded to be devoted to prayer and to watching and to being thankful. Let’s just work with “prayer” first. That simply means talking with our Heavenly Father. It means communicating with Him on any and all levels of our being. I think that is fairly simple.

However, such communication is never simple. It takes an openness in the human being to be open, vulnerable, and willing to engage the God of Heaven and Earth. That is simple, but not really. We must also be willing to listen so two-way communication can occur.

You see, in this New Covenant, we have with our Lord Jesus Christ, He has come to live within His earthly temple – you and me – through the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20) Also, we are one in Spirit with Him or “one Spirit with Him” depending on your translation. (1 Corinthians 6:17) So there is really no distance or anything blocking Him unless it is within us. So our reluctance, or unforgiveness, or and the list could go on and on, might well interfere with our ability or willingness, but Jesus has completed all so He could live in us.

So being devoted to prayer is not such a big order, except internally. All matters can be processed in His heart of love and willing openness to you and me. Ours is the easy part – get rid of anything that keeps communication a problem in our minds and hearts. He is so willing to do that with us. Then freely stay in constant touch (that pretty well explains “pray without ceasing”) from moment to moment and begin to enjoy the fruit of such a full, open relationship with one who loves us more than anyone else.

What would such love do within us? Oh, I have found this jewel! Beloved, enter and begin to exchange all for Him only, and amazement will enter as we love and receive – for He constantly loves and receives us. Devotion is so easy in His heart.

Blessings to all my Dear, Dear Readers!

As you know, I have not written in about a month here on Mannaword. I guess I took the month off from blogging. I had not intended to do that, but with all that was needed during that time, I had to let the writing slip to the side.

Now that the weather is getting a bit cooler, (a real key in my being productive in writing) you can expect some videos and some articles as we move forward. Thank you for being with me and for praying when you think of me.

Soon! Blessing you!

Not the Same! For many years Christians have confused two words. We think these two words are the same – synonymous: submission and obedience. They are not synonymous at all. Let me explain.

Let’s take a look at them from a Biblical point of view. Submission is an attitude, or position, of the heart. It is a decision that involves every part of a person. Nothing is left out. When one chooses (and it is always a matter of freedom) to live in the heart attitude of submission, nothing is outside of that decision. That decision remains regardless of circumstances, pressure, or people. It is a heart attitude that chooses to prefer another’s will over one’s own. It is a part of the understanding of living in the covenant of love in Jesus, living in the covenant of marriage with one’s mate (regardless of gender), and a by-product of understanding authority in the Kingdom of God. Submission cannot be forced but must be gifted through one’s own will.

Obedience, on the other hand, is merely that. It is sometimes a choice, but sometimes it is not. Obedience can be forced and manipulated. Those who choose not to obey the laws of the land will discover circumstances not favorable to their freedom. Within the covenant in Jesus, obedience is requested and in it flow the power and blessings of our inheritance as sons of God. Without it, love and blessings remain but may not be seen in the circumstances. Obedience is an act of the will, but there are many who obey but hate its very action. That’s rebellion.

As a young married woman, I remember making the comment that I would obey (the men in our church, who were in leadership), but I did not like it, nor agree with whatever it happened to be. My phrase went something like this, “I will submit to this, but I do not think it is good nor right.” Age might say it differently, but the effect would be the same. Boy did I have things mixed up! That was pure rebellion. I apparently had a lot to learn about His love.

Like everything in this relationship in Jesus, it is Him wooing us into His love expression. He does, indeed require obedience, but He wants it through submission. That is a much harder thing to bring about in all of us. When we begin to relax in His embrace and love, then submission to Him and to others becomes an expression of our love for Him. It is a small thing to do, but it requires a substantial heart experience to enable. Submission is not obedience with grumbling, anger, or resentment but instead, that is rebellion, even though we do what has been requested.

Now that we see the difference, it is up to us to choose the time in His love and experience His gentleness and mercy to allow Him to woo us into His heart of submission. This is real freedom, for love responds to love and does what love does. Obedience then flows from the heart – not just from “have-to.”

I am still learning this over and over and over again as I age. The battle in most of us is strong regarding our will and His love. However, He wins – have you noticed? He wins! I am so thankful He does.

There is some static with the sound at the end of this clip. It seems my hands moved across some keys or something. Just a few seconds – at the end. Blessings and thanks for listening.

It did it! I needed to let it have time, but it did it. This video is not on YouTube, so you won’t be able to find it there. Instead, I was able to change it to a form WP would receive.

The charts and the data from the last post is in this video. Video #2 will come this week. Stay tuned. If you haven’t subscribed – please do so. That will help you know when one is posted as a notice will be sent to your email.

Blessing you today – always!

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” Colossians 3:1

The last post left us all hanging a bit only because to deal with how we live our lives in Christ within the home is a massive topic. The Holy Spirit in Colossians is giving a simple summary view of matters that are dealt with in other places much more thoroughly. (See Ephesians 5:22-32). This post is not going to attempt to work with that in detail. Instead, I believe the Lord desires us to examine the pattern in our God which gives us the Spirit and the heart to move into those topics with an understanding that will bless us and not injure our hearts.

Whatever we have in covenantal relationships here on planet Earth, originates in the heart of our Father. He is the origin of all. If we are to move into some sort of Biblical understanding, we must not look to tradition or customs, either of the present or the past, and allow the Spirit of God to teach us what He had in mind when He wrote these words for husbands and wives.

As we look at the original pattern of authority and leadership in our God, we see Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a cooperative fusion. The illustration at the top left gives us a visual idea of how that works in love, care, assistance, and harmony. Each one assisting, loving, caring and helping accomplish what is in the heart of the Father. None is more important to the total than the other. If we observe a human cell, we find it is made of three parts. If one part is killed, the entire cell dies. The same is true of us as human beings. If one part, body, soul, spirit, dies – the whole human dies. We are made in His image. Our nature was designed to work together as one to facilitate life. So it is in the original being. The different elements have various functions, but they are One.

There is not really what we call “rank” among them – due to the ultimate “one” that exists in Him. However, there is, according to His Word, an “Authority Flow,” as seen in the illustration on the right. The Father’s will is ultimate, sent to the Son, enabled in us through the Holy Spirit. So the “One” continues to flow in cooperative fusion to complete all that has been decided upon before the foundations of the Earth. This authority enables and empowers all to occur. Without this authority, we would be mere human beings trying to do out best in such a fallen world. Because of this flow, we as “born from above” people receive all we need to be and to do according to the will of Him who loves us supremely.

Within the church and within the home this understanding of authority helps us work together in that fusion of love and assistance that brings peace and power within our doors.

However, the understanding needs one more illustration from the life of our Lord Jesus Christ to fully live within the fusion of us and the Holy Spirit in any and all situations. The drawing on the left will help I think. (Forgive my computer drawing of us as stick figures – best I can do). When the apostles were competitive about who would turn out to be the greatest, the Lord settled it all by with telling us that the least would be the greatest, and we must become like small children, etc. He was describing a leadership role that is foreign to our world. In this drawing, you will notice that it is an inverted triangle. Jesus is the one on the bottom. In reality, He is our all in all, the one who feeds us, heals us, prays for us, intercedes for us, etc. Our lives flow from Him. The triangle represents the church/home. The ones who are leading actually “go down” on the triangle, for they are its servants. Jesus, the Servant of all, is continuing His work among us. As each one joins Him in that work, designated leadership, or individual influence – either one, we become servants of others who are in our spheres.

This is the leadership model Jesus gave us. When we see the authority emanating from Him through us to others, then we begin to be and do according to the words of our Lord Jesus. He continues to be our Lord, and He continues to be our servant – enabling our life at every turn and increasing our power, ability, and influence as we move into placement – below others. There is never a time for “lording it over” and “controlling.” It is a servant leadership of willingness. When this is understood, the husband being the authority in the home isn’t a problem – unless that husband expects to legalistically “bully” those who are to receive his care.

So back to our verse, “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” When we understand how our God works – cooperative fusion – then we can love one another in truth and not be competitive, nor bullies as we try to order our homes and our church fellowships.

These words are only a small drop in the bucket compared with the massive topics of Biblical Authority. However, a blog is a blog and not a thesis. So I leave this with you, for your prayerful consideration.

 

 

“¹⁸Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. ²⁰Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” Colossians 3:18-21 NIV

The passage continues to include slaves and masters. At the time of Paul’s writing of this book, those were also included in the management of a home. I am choosing to work with slaves and masters separately, as in our culture these will fall into an “employment” understanding.

These verses are critical as we seek to know the ways and thoughts of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each of these verses has volumes of understanding that I believe the Lord wants us to receive. However, one blog post can only suggest a few things and then leave the Lord to fill in all the questions and blanks. No one gets this right easily or naturally. We all live in measures of it and as more and more is handled in our prayer closet with the Holy Spirit – then we can release more and more of the Lord’s goodness through this.

Submission is an attitude of heart that is learned in Jesus, and it is a gift that we choose to give away. No one can demand it – it can only be freely given. It is voluntarily choosing the will of another. We see this in the total life of Jesus Christ as He walked this earth. Every action, every teaching, was only what the Father showed Him or said. He did nothing on His own, but always under the authority of His Father. The prayer in Gethsemane was only one of many that brought Him into the arms of the Father. He was well practiced in this action, “Not my will but yours be done.”

So we see obedience proceeding from submission. However, they are two separate things. Obedience is merely doing the will of another. Christ’s obedience was empowered by His heart attitude. That will happen in a covenantal relationship. However, when we confuse obedience with submission, it gets really messy. We can be forced or manipulated, to do what another wants us to do – that is never the action of submission – but instead, it is abuse. It is hoped that true obedience will produce obedience, but they are not the same things.

“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” Please understand this does not say “woman submit yourselves to man” statement. Nowhere in the Word do we ever find that last statement! Paul is dealing within a covenantal understanding for a marriage where it is a covenant between three entities: man, woman, the Lord. So, the Lord has every right to arrange it as He wishes. This only applies within the covenant of marriage! Learning His ways – that is what Paul is talking about.

Authority is to be understood in Christ. Our Lord Jesus always lived in submission to the will and life of His Father. If we do not recognize His ways and authority then His delegated authority to the husband, wife, church, church leadership, state, …then understanding and learning submission in the home is not likely. If abuse or mistreatment, of any kind, enter the situation, then there can be no submission from anyone, because the primary submission to Christ has been eliminated. Only as the covenant partners are walking in submission to the Lord can this verse began to work.

As we learn to submit (GK: to place oneself under+) to our Lord Jesus Christ in all things, then we embrace His attitude of heart. We learn the joy and the freedom of allowing the Lord to be in charge and in control of our lives. We learn to obediently listen and make adjustments in ourselves that work for the love relationship between us. He takes care of us, and we do His will through our bodies. So it is in every area of submission.

We learn to “come under” our husband’s wisdom and his wishes, as we choose to love and to respect him, as the scripture teaches. It is not easy – for we can think we are submitting to Christ when we are really doing our own will. Likewise, we can fight our husband’s will so hard that we never have any peace in the home. We are called to love and to peace. The only way that can happen is for both of us to submit to the Lord, then to one another in the Lord (Ephesians 5:20-21), then the love-covenant has an opportunity to present a way of life for the woman that is lifegiving, supportive, and productive in a covenant before the Lord. This attitude of heart is necessary for love to thrive. If only one partner is in the Lord, or just one partner working together in the Lord – these verses will not be profitable.

This passage was not given in the Word to produce chains and bondage. Not at all! It was expressed to produce well-being and peace. If we see it any differently, then it probably isn’t Biblical submission we are emulating.

Ladies, take this to heart and allow the Lord to teach you Himself. As we learn His ways, then we can become the wives we have been intended to be.

May I suggest that after reading the next post regarding the role of the husband in the covenant, this post should be re-read and placed alongside. One without the other is of small value. Together, I pray they can impact us profoundly.