And these things I write to you so that your joy may be full.
1 John 1:4 RGT
2021
The year of fear and false-unity.
The year with ever-changing ‘solutions’ to seemingly never-ending problems.
The year when the vicious debate regarding human life seems to be reaching it’s crescendo.
The year in which access to public services - even interstate travel - are systematically being removed from multitudes of God-fearing people.
The year where we can look back and confidently say “History was actively rewritten in real-time on a daily basis”.
So how do we move forward?
What is the role of the Church in all of this?
What do we believe when there is so much contradictory information assaulting the windows to our souls constantly?
At what point do we silence the convictions of the Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit) to satisfy man?
These questions and many like them assail our minds as frequently as we tread into the world. We can become so caught up in these types of questions, that we may sometimes forget where our answers are found, thus becoming dwelling places of chaos and internal turmoil.
Consider the words of Yahusha (Jesus):
The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. Luke 6:45
This word ‘overflow’ means ‘abundance, in which one delights.’ In what ways do we delight in evil?
You become what you think about all the time.
You are what you consume.
You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.
Your eyes are the window to your soul.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [...] 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son John 1:1-5 & 14 ESV
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how deep is the darkness! Matthew 6:21-22
If we are so distracted by the world and allowing ourselves to be filled with darkness, how can we allow His light to fill us? How can we be the lights He commissioned us to be?
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 ESV
How we spend our time is important; to us, and to Yahusha (Jesus) - who paid the ultimate sacrifice to set us free from the darkness which He overcame. We all have lived unworthy of His sacrifice; pounding the nails into His shaking wrists as we thank Him for forgiving the sins we plan on committing tomorrow.
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Matthew 4:17
In many Believer’s evident lifestyles, words, and actions - ‘Repentance’, to them, is simply the act of ‘receiving forgiveness’.
Yahusha (Jesus) said we can know an individual by their fruits. We have depictions of fruit all throughout Scripture, but what comes to my mind are the fruits of The Spirit, which are some of the outward evidences of His in-dwelling Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit):
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Do you have hate in your heart toward anyone? Do you become depressed often? Are you anxious? Is waiting quite difficult for you? Does your tongue plant seeds of pain in others? Is justifying wrong in your mind an easy task? Are you reliant upon tangible evidence to seek a deeper relationship with your Savior? Are you cruel to others, or yourself? Do you find yourself ‘just losing it’ sometimes?
By our fruits we are known: Fruits of the Spirit, or fruits of the flesh. We should be aware of the spiritual food we feed ourselves through the time we spend.
To ‘repent’ actually means ‘to change one's mind for better, desperate to amend; hatred of one's past sins’. This is not just about speech and actions, but our very thoughts.
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”
2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV
This is a complete shift in our state-of-mind moving forward; hating the depravity in which we once lived (Romans 3:23), knowing that He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Being thankful for this forgiveness - we desire to cease inflicting pain on Him; vowing to discontinue doing those things of our past which grieve His in-dwelling Spirit.
“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit) through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.” Romans 12:2 TPT
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:1-8
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. [...] 23 (Woe to) you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” Matthew 11:20, 23-24
If this is the way Yahuah (The Lord) looks upon unrepentance, how eager we should be to repent daily of any unclean habits or choices.
Thank You Abba (Father) for giving us your Spirit to lead us into all truth and keep us on the path of righteousness Your Son exemplified in the life He lived for our sake.
Many Believers can get caught up in ‘Grace’ to justify unrepentant lifestyles.
The meaning of the word used for ‘grace’ in the Greek is ‘good will, loving-kindness, favour: of the merciful kindness by which Elohiym (God), exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues’.
There’s no way to justify unrepentance while utilizing ‘Grace’ as your reason, given the actual meaning of the word.
Grace did not begin at the cross in the same way Elohiym's (God's) call to righteous living did not end at the cross.
The Hebrew word ‘ḥeseḏ’ is used 30 times in the Old Testament for ‘loving-kindness’, thus tying Grace and loving-kindness together as the same Mercy Elohiym (God) has showed to His children for all time when they turn from their wicked ways and seek Him.
Think Nineveh.
Read Judges.
Time after time, Elohiym (God) shows incredible grace to His previously unrepentant, adultering, and idolatrous children.
I lived the majority of my life as one of these idolatrous children, taking His name in vain as I represented Him while ignorantly living as one of the world. I thank Elohiym (God) for not turning His face from me, and drawing me out of the world as I pray He is doing for you at this very moment.
In March I was deep in prayer and pondering these things while journaling with Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit). I became overwhelmed and began writing through tear-soaked eyes a petition for myself and for anyone who is desiring depth with Yahuah (The Lord).
I encourage you to read it, and if you feel led - speak this prayer out using your tongue, which holds the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21)
"Thank you Abba (Father), for sending your Son, Yahusha (Jesus), to pay the fines for my sins & fleshly mistakes.
Thank you for your eternal forgiveness.
Help me, Abba (Father), by your Spirit; to learn how to be more like your Son.
Help me turn from my old, learned, fleshly ways.
Help me release & surrender my understanding of reality as taught by created beings; teach me, Creator.
I repent of my doubt of your power & love.
I repent of the ways I have grieved your in-dwelling Spirit by allowing thoughts into your temple which hurt you.
I repent for my tired, practiced prayer; teach me how to bring ALL things to you, not simply MY needs & desires.
Fill my heart with YOUR desires, I want to grow in faith in the same way mustard seed grows.
I believe your promises are true & do not rely on my understanding.
I repent for blaspheming against you by diminishing your unfathomable ways.
I repent for allowing lies to become my doctrine by taking parts of your great character & leaving the rest of you in the past.
You, perfection and perfector, beyond time and location- omnipresent & omniscient, aware of all that was, is, & will be; FILL ME with your deep love and presence.
Convict my flesh when I let the windows to my soul crucify your Son again as I gaze upon sinful things; spitting on your sacrifice.
Thank you for your grace, I am not perfect like you.
I want to live worthy of the Mercy you showed me when your Son was sacrificed for the sake of my life of Spiritual & physical freedom.
I believe your gift is worthy of my total devotion, my WHOLE life; as short or long as it may be.
Guide me, Abba (Father), by Your Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit) which lives within me and your Word put to paper, teach this child how to love your ways and mature beyond your most basic truths: Salvation & Forgiveness.
Teach me to walk as Yahusha (Jesus) did; in bold Faith, humble character, confident purity, assured wisdom, perfect love, un-judging heart, kind nature, righteous wrath against the deceiver, His minions, and my flesh.
Teach me how, Abba (Father). Strip me of selfishness and pride.
I repent of my concept of 'fairness' 'rights' and 'deserving'.
Fair would be ME on that cross. I am the one deserving of crucifixion, NOT your perfect Son, Yahusha (Jesus).
I love you, Lord, Most High God (Yahuah, El Elyon), I accept your plan for this life & surrender it completely to you. So be it unto me in the name of Yahusha (Jesus), amen"
I hope you see that repentance is truly key to moving into the deeper truths of Mashiach (Messiah, Christ).
1 Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, [doing this] without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of teaching about washings (ritual purifications), the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. [These are all important matters in which you should have been proficient long ago.] 3 And we will do this [that is, proceed to maturity], if God permits. Hebrews 6:1-3 AMP
The writer of Hebrews believed the readers should have moved beyond this foundational Truth and understanding of repentance and righteous living. So I, 2000 years later, tend to agree that we should have this established by now.
So having firmly established this millenia-old Biblical doctrine...
Let’s move forward!
Maturity
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3
This word ‘know’ is the most intimate word for a deep mutual relationship. Yahusha (Jesus) goes on in prayer to His Abba to pray for you and me, that we would be one with each other in the same way He and His Abba (Father) are one. He goes further to pray that we would be one with His Abba (Father) the same way He is one with His Abba (Father). This word ‘one’ means ‘without differentiation, singular’.
3 Here’s how we can be sure that we’ve truly come to know God: if we keep his commands. 4 If someone claims, “I have come to know God by experience,” yet doesn’t keep God’s commands, he is a phony and the truth finds no place in him. 5 But the love of God will be perfected within the one who obeys God’s Word. We can be sure that we’ve truly come to live in intimacy with God, 6 not just by saying, “I am intimate with God,” but by walking in the footsteps of Jesus. 1 John 2:3-6 TPT
He has already shown The Way repeatedly, but in this prayer we are reminded once more:
17 “Your Word is truth! So make them holy by the truth.18 I have commissioned them to represent me just as you commissioned me to represent you.19 And now I dedicate myself to them as a holy sacrifice so that they will live as fully dedicated to God and be made holy by your truth.” John 17:17-19 (TPT)
Compare these two statements:
I obey you, which proves I love you.
I love you, so I desire to willingly obey and please you.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. John 14:15-20 ESV
10 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.12 “This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. John 15:10-12 AMP
37 Jesus answered him, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’ 38 This is the great and supreme commandment. 39 And the second is like it in importance: ‘You must love your friend in the same way you love yourself.’ 40 Contained within these commandments to love you will find all the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 TPT
We can see there is a connection to repentance, obedience of Yahusha’s (Jesus’) commands, and being sanctified.
Sanctify - Ἁγιάζω - Hagiazō (Strong's G37)
‘to separate from profane things and dedicate to God’
In living this way, we truly get to know our Elohiym (God); what His plan is for us, what He wants to partner with us in, and what His thoughts are for us.
I hear far too often a variation of this phrase spoken out of the mouths of preachers and teachers from stages and pulpits all throughout churches in America:
“I am a sinner, possibly the worst of all of you”
In wholeness, declarations such as these represent an ignorance of Elohiym's (God's) thoughts for each one of us.
My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be so eager to become a teacher in the church since you know that we who teach are held to a higher standard of judgment. James 3:1 TPT
There is a stark difference between evangelism through the testimony of your past, and relating to the world by identifying as one of them in their present lifestyle of sin. Especially as a shepherd to Elohiym's (God's) children.
Yahusha (Jesus) told us to “Sin no more”. We see Him communicating this lesson to a woman about to be stoned to death (John 8:11), and a man who was previously crippled (John 5:14). He reveals to them that their previous dire physical state was connected to the sin they had been living in, and in their second chance He urges them to cease sinning to remain whole physically and spiritually. He says the same thing to us, our dire spiritual and physical state is a product of the sin we have lived in (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10). As we become "born again" (John 3:3-8) He urges us to do the same (1 John 1:7), not just in word (James 4:11-12) and deed (Matthew 5:38-45, Galatians 5:16-26) , but also in our very thoughts. (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Matthew 5:21-22).
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?
17 ‘This is what I will do in the last days —I will pour out my Spirit on everybody and cause your sons and daughters to prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will experience dreams from God. 18 The Holy Spirit will come upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy.” Acts 2:17-18 TPT
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26 ESV
12 “There is so much more I would like to say to you, but it’s more than you can grasp at this moment. 13 But when the truth-giving Spirit comes, he will unveil the reality of every truth within you. He won’t speak on his own, but only what he hears from the Father, and he will reveal prophetically to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me on the earth, for he will receive from me what is mine and reveal it to you. John 16:12-14 TPT
20 “He will come to Zion as a Kinsman-Redeemer to those of Jacob’s tribes who repent of their rebellion,” says Yahweh.21 “And this is my covenant promise with them,” says Lord Yahweh. “From now on, my Holy Spirit will rest on them and not depart from them, and prophetic words will fill their mouths and will not depart from them, nor from their children, nor from their descendants, from now on and forever,” says Lord Yahweh. Isaiah 59:20-21 TPT
“The Holy Spirit is the one who gives life, that which is of the natural realm is of no help. The words I speak to you are Spirit and life. But there are still some of you who won’t believe.” John 6:63 TPT
For God’s promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and your families, for those yet to be born and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:39
Could it be any clearer that our former identity is now and forever deprived of its power? For we were co-crucified with him to dismantle the stronghold of sin within us, so that we would not continue to live one moment longer submitted to sin’s power. Romans 6:6 TPT
Scripture says we receive The Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit) when we repent and are born again of water (John 3:5, Acts 2:38). Scripture also says we can grieve or stifle the Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit) by letting our flesh rule us; submitting us to the ruler of the flesh (Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19).
I lived the majority of my life in an ‘assumed relationship’ with The Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit). I never actually asked Him to completely fill me and drown my flesh with His purifying presence. I simply accepted Him and took Him for-granted, as many Believers do at one point or another. I call you to come back to your first love, and give Him everything. “ASK and you shall receive” (Matthew 7:7). “If you fathers who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will My Father give The Holy Spirit to those who ASK” (Luke 11:13)?
If you want to formally invite the Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit) to fill you up I urge you to pray with me.
Whether this is the first time or the thousandth time, He is not in any theological box, step out in faith and pray:
Holy Spirit, I ask You to come now, fill me up to overflow.
I invite You to completely reside in all of me, I hold nothing back from You.
Remove selfishness from me so I don’t return to my old life’s sins.
Empower me to live in accordance with The Way I was shown through Jesus.
Almighty God, pour Your Spirit out into me, I desire to be Your effective hands and feet, without blemish and pure for Your glory.
Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance all Truth You have spoken to me through my life, speak to my spirit and uncover every hidden thing restraining me from desperately pursuing You.
I submit my wants and needs to You. I surrender my concept of normal to You.
I ask You now Holy One, Yahuah-Rapha (The Lord who Heals), heal every broken place in my soul and heart; restore my mind and mend every emotional scar inflicted upon me by the enemy, this world, and my own self. Lift me up to my feet and place me on Your perfect path for me; I yield to you, Abba Father.
Open my eyes to what you gave me long ago, I want more than I’ve been given by man.
In Yahusha’s (Jesus’) mighty name; I make this petition in faith for breakthrough and victory,
SO BE IT UNTO ME, AMEN.
We see now the effects of living of the world - which puts us and our families in submission to the ruler of the world (1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:12). As we move beyond perpetual grievance of The Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit), we move away from this submission to the deceiver and into cooperation with Elohiym (God) Himself.
You are a child of El Elyon - The Most High King of Heaven and Earth.
You are a co-inheritor and a brother or sister of Yahusha (Jesus); a prince or princess of The Kingdom.
You are part of the body of Mashiach (Messiah, Christ).
You are a temple for The Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit).
You have been given all authority over the principalities and dark rulers of this realm (Luke 10:19).
We are called into the world to bring the light into it - not to become the darkness. We exercise our authority as we shine our light into the darkness by:
- Spreading the whole gospel and refining our faith through fellowship with other believers regularly, allowing the Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit) to speak and lead meetings for His glorification.
- Commanding pain and sickness to leave someone’s body, praying healing over broken body parts or different forms of paralysis
- Speaking in known tongues with translation for the purpose of evangelism or congregational growth.
- Speaking in unknown tongues for the building up of our spirit, uttering mysteries only Elohiym (God) can understand. (1 Corinthians 14:2 & 4, Ephesians 6:18, Jude 1:18-20)
- Driving demons out of believers who can’t seem to stop backsliding no matter how hard they try to live for Yahusha (Jesus). (Luke 13:10-17, 1 Peter 5:8-10)
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18 ESV
14 The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit. 15 And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!” 16 For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!” 17 And since we are his true children, we qualify to share all his treasures, for indeed, we are heirs of God himself. And since we are joined to Christ, we also inherit all that he is and all that he has. We will experience being co-glorified with him provided that we accept his sufferings as our own. 18 I am convinced that any suffering we endure is less than nothing compared to the magnitude of glory that is about to be unveiled within us. Romans 8:14-18 TPT
I pray that you build your faith as a co-heir starting now.
Yahuah (The Lord) bless you and keep you; Yahuah (The Lord) make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; Yahuah (The Lord) lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26
I always have a hard time finding a place to finish when I am working on something inspired by The Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit). It only seems right that I finish with the very words He whispered to me which inspired this article.
“When I pour my spirit out, drink it and be quenched by me.
Too many of my children are hoarse, parched, chapped, and thirsty, lips cracked and bleeding from bad water.
I AM living water. Drink Me in.
See me do whatever I will, and do likewise as My son - it’s My command.
This is My call to all: Repent, believe, receive, declare, portray, teach, make time for stillness. Remember how I see you, the rest will fall into place.
What did this year look like from My perspective?
Does a carpenter trust his hands?
Does a king do everything himself; or delegate to his kingdom?
Does a son look upon the successful actions and direction of his Abba (Father) and disregard them?“
With much love, brothers and sisters
James