Listening to the Spirit

Be careful if you ignore the Holy Spirit, if you feel He is talking to you.

For soon His voice becomes quieter, He no longer calls upon you to do

Christ’s work in sharing His love to others in this world, those in need.

Obedience to His voice should be sowing His life transforming seed.

I will tell you a secret, it is not difficult, nor is it really like working,

He who is not eager to shed salvation’s good news is really shirking.

It is not a job, nor a way to earn brownie points, or secret ways to pray.

It did not get you into heaven, Christ’s death and resurrection is the way.

Salvation is offered for all who confess their sins and truly believe,

All you need to do is accept His promise by faith in order to receive.

Immediately the Spirit enters into your heart and He never does depart,

You may lose your way for a while, but confess and make a new start.

The Spirit does not bounce in and out of your life if your prayer was real.

That is a covenant between you and God, and the Holy Spirit is His seal.

You may not feel differently right away, but feelings are not God’s way.

Feelings change just like the weather, but if you meant what you did pray,

Some days you are quite overcome by the price paid by God’s only Son,

But by faith in God’s word, life walking in the Spirit has just begun.

You will be hungry for His word, and the Spirit is eager to be heard.

The more obedient you become, the easier scriptures come to mind.

There will be things you don’t know or even understand you will find.

Rely on what you know, stand on His promises don’t try to outguess God.

Don’t fret small things, we will find out all when we finally go home.

Now, listen, pray, listen again,, live by faith and trust in God’s word alone.

I John 34:24 ~ “Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.”

I John 4:1 - 3 ~ “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in this world.”

I Timothy 1:7 ~ “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of a self-discipline.”

John 14:8 ~ “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” “But the Comforter (parakletos) which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name.”

1 John 2:1 ~ “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin; we have an ADVOCATE (parakletos) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

PARAKLETOS: MEANS: an intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter

John 16:7 ~ “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I WILL SEND HIM UNTO YOU.

Colossians 2:8 ~ “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” {Christ left us with another form of himself to live in our minds.”

The Glorious Revelation

God is here; He is there; He is everywhere; He abides!

God’s Son left us the Holy Spirit which dwells inside.

So we know if we pray, and ask, He will be our guide.

It is not rocket science to know we hear His voice,

If we spend time in God’s word, we have a choice.

When we pray for help, He will work deep in our minds,

And lead, and promises from His word suddenly we find

We remember the scripture and can look up the address.

What joy that is, the Spirit speaking to us is such success!

As it is withe our prayer needs, the Spirit will intercede.

In our prayers with a name or need and we will succeed

In the act of intercessions, that is one on one accession!

God gives others names before they even ask for prayer.

What greater joy can there be than to always be there,

Ready, waiting for a word from God, and then we find

The Spirit was correct, Wow!, He is the mastermind !

This is not about us, or our doing, He merely used you

As a transport of His answer, before they even asked too.

What a building up of your faith this is, nothing by you

But simple obedience and prayer in all you say and do.

But, be very  careful of hidden dangers of the carnal self,

Ensure confession is done, that you have cleared the shelf.

That ceiling that closes off our prayers, for didn’t God say

That our unconfessed sins will hinder us when we pray?

Our connection with the Lord is His Spirit, which abides

Forever with the Christian, leading, speaking, and resides

What a glorious revelation this can be to each daily prayer,

To think that every time we pray, God is always there!

QUOTE: “Many people are fearful of the Holy Spirit thinking that He is going to make them do something that is not “Them” like dancing around the church or shouting out loud. The Holy Spirit does not offend. He is our guide. He is not perverse and promises to lead us in all things. We need to make use of this wonderful part of God that Jesus left us with.”

2 Corinthians 1:22 ~ “He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

1 John 3:24 ~ “Those who obey His commands live in Him and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us. We know it by the Spirit He gave us.”

1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

The Kudzu Vine Parable

Allow me to tell you of the story of the creeping Kudzu Vine

Its rampant growth can topple a house just like yours or mine.

This fastest growing vines; climbs in windows and under floors

Even been known to completely cover a path, and under doors.

Oh like sin it is, stealthy and quiet when it grabs a weaker vessel.

The vulnerable part of us, the seeking one that we often wrestle,

So swiftly travels the roots of sin into the weakest part of you..

They say, if you are quiet, you can almost hear it growing too!

The Kudzu vine is a major factor in our surface ozone production.

Like enticing creeping vines, it now comes with a new seduction.

The crushing of the Kudzu leaves showed up as a placebo for alcohol.

We have to weigh its swiftly creeping death against alcohol protocol.

Delivering alcoholics from the devastating results of this disease

But the damage the vine is doing to the ozone layer, do we appease?

Do what is best for the environment by eradicating the Kudzu Vine,

Or crushing its leaves to save someone’s life, throw them a towline?

                           

Choices we make in our lives can either take over and be our nemesis,

Or they can be the catalyst that sets us afire to be used in God’s service.

Struggle with decisions about the creeping Kudzu vine, another analogy

Whether to totally wipe it out, preventing damage to the ozone pathology,

Or saving it as forage and a cure for alcoholics, are you a “nay-sayer” ?

Someone who says “No” to helping an illness like alcohol, a gainsayer.

Is it a struggle between good and evil, can we can possibly circumvent

By avoiding and ignoring life’s big decisions, Satan’s angels are sent.

                                        

A GAINSAYER:   Someone who is against or contradicts,

Thought: If we fill our hearts and minds with scriptures and use them in contemplative or mediating times to think on new parables or allegories in our lives today that can relate to our Christian walk, and draw us closer to Him, then we have so little space left for Satan to find a “chink” in our armour to sneak in and wreak his own havoc in our minds and lives. Beware of “sneaky sins”.

Matthew 13:34 & 35 ~ “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; He did not say anything to them without using a parable. So it was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

2 Corinthians 11:13 ~ “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then it his servants masquerading as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”

The Bitter Root

THE BITTER ROOT

Let me share with you the story of the Albizia Tree;

The fastest growing tree in the world.

Jesus used parables to teach people, so similar to analogies.

Read this story of the Albizia tree, be amazed at its ecology.

Grows primarily in Malasia, used for many things, has amazing etiology.

The Guinness Book of Records says “fastest growing tree in the world”.

Its root system is deep, wide and invasive, compared to an underworld.

When you plant by seed you water it well ...  Water for five long years!

Somewhere in its fifth year, a small strong above-ground sprout appears.

It will reach a metre, three feet, in height within that first growing year.

Those first five years it is slowly developing its strong deadly root system.

You can but imagine how far that it travels, in that amazing subsystem!

Its bark is poisonous, very hard and very thick; it would make you sick.

Imagine, five years before you even see that small, hard, poisonous stick!

Deep underground it is working hard to create its strong foundation.

It could tip your house, go through a roof, or unearth a railroad station.

It reminds me of the stealth of sin, especially the sin of unforgiveness.

We often compare it to a deadly cancer because of its aggressiveness.

But the sin of unforgiveness spreads its tentacles within our hearts.

Builds up, and then, with that smallest sprout goes “poof” and starts

A volcano of black roiling lava from your mouth begins to spout

Angry, spiteful words, unforgiveness, bitterness  hate and doubt.

All Satan’s lies, deception, the evil bitter root begins to spew out.

If we would recognize what Satan’s lies within our minds can do.

He wants to weaken and destroy our faith, and even kill us too.

As Christians we must wake up to the havoc of unforgiven sin

That can dwell and grow inside us until we allow Christ to begin

To shine and enter every room of our hearts and minds within.

Begin to sweep every corner, shining His light upon every sin.

It starts out small, just like that seed, and burrows deep within,

Until you ask God’s Spirit in your heart to forgive and deliver you

From Satan’s bitter roots, and asking the Spirit to begin anew.

Destroying the root of years of unforgiveness, and resentment too.

All of Satan’s lies and wiles that have built up over years and years.

The Holy Spirit, Our Guide and Helper, redeems or commandeers

God’s child who ignored the planted seed and destroys that bitter root.

And reclaims that child of God so that he can bear much fruit.

AMEN

                                                                                              

Additionally: 

Albizia’s seedpods are light and travel on gusts of air. Once they land, seedpods can lay dormant in the earth until they are ready to sprout. So when the trees are removed, they are not gone. I would suspect that there is probably a substantial seed bank waiting to germinate and come back.

Crews cut or drill holes into the bark and drip a concentrated herbicide, killing the tree from the inside without affecting the surrounding foliage”.: 

MATTHEW 6:15 “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you.”

Removing Boulders

During my life I have struggled in vain,

Trying to remove obstacles, but it was plain

Removing boulders was too difficult for me.

Perfection in my daily walk, don’t you see?

It was never God’s intention do it alone.

In fact difficulties multiplied like seeds sown.

I know He had constantly assured the “ME”

Some of the boulders He could readily see

Were not even intended or helpful in my life,

They were causing me such needless strife.

I  tried in vain rocky mountains to climb.

Feeling such problems were obviously mine.

I wept at my inadequacy, as others pressed on.

Searching for answers, I sought God’s Son

If only I had swift wings, I silently prayed

I could soar over difficulties undismayed.

“But you have feet”, God’s answer came.

“If you want to scale mountains to proclaim

My promises that I sent you in Jesus’ name.

Some ledges are really not meant to climb.

Boulders are hard, they are unable to bring

People good news of My love in everything,

I placed My Spirit as a guide to go before you,

Be prepared, pray before everything you do.

Rocky promontories are there further ahead.

Look up and pray, scale the heights,” He said

Those obstacles that I struggled to overcome

Became less of a burden in light of God’s Son.

The ones I had tried to shove out of my way

Were stones to climb upon, I heard Him say.

Not to cause me to stumble but to set me free.

Worries and troubles that so easily entangle me

While, You, Lord, intended them to help my walk,

By Your Spirit given grace to reach out and talk.

Boulders are burdens that should be given to You,

Boulders are worries, I should give to You too!

                                                                                           

2 Corinthians 10:4 & 5 ~ “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,”

James 3:2 ~ “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.”

My Thoughts of Calvary

When I think of Golgotha’s Hill I think of Christ’s Pain.

The fear that the Disciples had, “Will we see Jesus again?”

When I think of the cross I think of the hammer and nails.

The pounding into the flesh, into the feet and hands it impales.

I feel for Christ’s followers, wanting Jesus to come down,

To call His angels, to reap vengeance, “Please climb down!”

Thoughts of calling upon His angels to reap vengeance, chaos.

This was their Redeemer, and this was His end, the cruel cross!

I think of those hardened soldiers, drinking, mocking Jesus,

“If you are the Son of God come down, jeering, so grievous!

I am angry at the soldiers who cast lots over Jesus’ garments.

Torn, bloodied, raiment's that spoke of beatings, stench of sweat

I picture those garments, soaked from sweat, such a cold mind-set!

To roll dice while someone up above suffers, breathing laboured.

That memory stays with me, He was chosen, but not favoured.

He suffered alone, yet said nothing, the stretching to gain air.

So great a cost, I shudder at that final indignity, it was so unfair.

That final indignity,“It is finished”, yet for us He willingly died!

Such a small sentence said it all, for all heard, His voice cried

And though dead they still plunged that sword into His side

The blood and water that seeped out, showed a broken heart.

Through the ages, for the “unknown us”, His love He did impart.

Imagine his mother and followers, weeping, taking His body down.

Weary and depressed, they removed that mocking painful crown.

Too tired to prepare the body properly they wrapped up His body,

The final preparations waited, for this was the Jewish Sabbath.

Their hearts and eyes were closed to this man from Nazareth!

How helpless they felt when that stone was rolled into place!

No-one could move it, for the laying out, they could not efface

The Roman seal, so scared of the prophesy, on threat of death

Guards stood by all night, but someone slept or did not stay,

Early the next morning the women came, the stone rolled away! 

                                            

John 19::35 ~ “The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken, and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

Luke 23: 44 49 ~ “It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining, . And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion seeing what had happened, praised God and said, Surely this was a righteous man. When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.”  

SEE: Zechariah  2:10~  

I was There in Gethsemane

Very early that first morning, while Jerusalem was still asleep,

We went to the garden to prepare Christ’s body, unable to sleep.

It was needful for us to prepare Christ’s body, this was our plan.

To lovingly clean His wounds, repair the ravages of cruel man.

We worried about that big stone, how would we roll it away.

To our surprise, the guards were gone, could they have run away?

Such fear we had, would we be judged, there was no possible way

It would take a mighty garrison of men to roll that stone away!

Fearfully we crept to the tomb, peered in, the body was not there!

Thoughts pervaded our minds, who had taken Jesus’ body away!

The body cloths lay folded, as if Jesus had just left that very day!

Two men in white garments, amazed, we knelt and began to pray.

They asked why we stood there, seeking the living among the dead.

They gave us this challenge, to go and tell His disciples instead.

We ran into the garden, excited, hopeful, so eager to tell the others.

Out of breath, we were scarcely able to tell the disbelieving men.

“Jesus has risen, His body is gone, the third day, just like He said!

He told us, yet such unbelief we had, He has risen from the dead!”

So many did not believe us, but Peter “Straightway ran to the tomb”.

He saw the linen strips, no body there, yet he was full of gloom.

He feared the uproar, the blame that would be heaped upon us.

Once the soldiers came back, surely they would create a fuss!

Peter saw and yet wondered, what would the others begin to say?

Would they think that we women could roll that stone away?

We hoped the soldiers would relent and help us move the stone

We knew it was our job to prepare Jesus’ body, do it on our own!

Oh how we wanted to tell everyone, and have them too believe,

That Jesus had risen from the dead, we had to tell, they to receive!

THE BODY WAS NOT THERE, HE HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD!

JUST AS HE HAD PROMISED, JUST LIKE HE HAD ALWAYS SAID.

ALIVE, WE QUICKLY TOLD THE OTHERS, HE PAID THE PRICE!

HE BORE OUR SINS ON THAT TREE, THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE!

AMEN !

Luke 24:45 ~ “Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem, You are witnesses of these things.”