Monthly Archives: September 2012

What Spirit Are We Of?

by Michael

What a different world it would be today if even the so called “Christians,” much less “Christian nations,” followed Jesus’ commands and teachings…

“You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Mat 5:43-45 KJ2000)

When we return evil for evil, curse for curses, hate for hate and murder for murder, who do we manifest as the one who is our father? The same father as those who sought to kill Jesus Who said to those self-righteous Jews, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (Joh 8:44 KJ2000)

Do we know what spirit we are of in this hate filled world? I think that there is a lot of room for some real soul searching and repentance among those of us who claim Christ as our Savior and times like this show us what is really in our hearts.

From Whom Shall Come Our Help?

by Michael

ImageRecently a sister in Canada included this passage in her post to me, “Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, who before was preached unto you:” (Act 3:19-20 KJ2000 – emphasis added).

As I read it I was taken with these words, “times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord… and He shall send Jesus Christ…” Where do we as “typical Christians” seek our times of refreshing? Most of us seek the presence of other Christians. We run off to a “church service” or a Christian gathering with little thought about seeking the Lord’s personal presence. “Fellowship” with the saints is a good thing, but it can be a substitute for the best fellowship there is and rob us of that personal touch that only the Lord can give if we don’t understand that our “times of refreshing” are to be found in “the presence of the Lord.” HE is our total sufficiency in all things.Too many of us rely on special Christian gatherings to take us into God’s presence. What will we do when we get cut off from all that in days ahead?

Paul wrote, “And such trust have we through Christ toward God: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;” (2Co 3:4-5 KJ2000). It is evident that very hard times are coming upon us in the near future. In America and in much of the developed world we are looking at the impending collapse of our economies. We look to bankers and politicians for help and they demand more power to “fix the problem” and what happens? It only get worse. The answer is not to be found by seeking help from men, but rather in our individually seeking our help from Jesus. If we learn to know Him as our help in time of need, now, when the waters are only starting to rise, we will be ready when the enemy comes in like a flood. When the dam breaks and the waters are rushing down upon you, it is no time to be shopping for a boat.

“For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:15-16 KJ2000)

Now is the time to learn to come boldly into the throne of grace. We are in great need of faith in Christ as our High Priest… faith that will carry us through the days ahead.