Monday, January 29, 2007

God's wonderful grace and miracles - living by faith

My Testimony

In the fall of 1988 I found myself alone and responsible to raise my two daughters ages 2 and 12. I turned to the Lord and he drew closer to me than any human could ever have. In those days of great despair the Lord became my best friend, husband, father to my kids, confidant, defender, provider and comforter.

(Isaiah 54:5) For thy Maker is thy husband; Jehovah of hosts is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.
(Isaiah 54:6) For Jehovah hath called thee as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off, saith thy God.

With the constant care and direction from the Lord also came many miracles during this time of my life. As finances were very slim, I had to trust God for many of the very basic needs of life and he never failed me.

One of the miracles was how God returned my stolen car to me. During this time my sister-in-law and her two children had moved in with us to help share expenses as she too had found herself alone.

We had gone to the grocery store that evening and bought milk, diapers and a few other essentials. We then went to another store to see if we could find an inexpensive telephone as mine had quit working. We only had $10 left between us, and even though I had never seen a phone sold for that little amount before, I had a feeling we would be able to find one that we could afford. I knew that God said he would supply all our needs and this was a need. My oldest daughter had to baby sit the younger children a little while each day and needed a telephone in case of an emergence. As it happened the store we went into was no longer going to carry telephones and had the remaining phones on sell at close out prices. We were able to get a $50 telephone for $7.

While we were leaving the store and praising the Lord for supplying our need again we looked into the parking lot and could not find my car. It was gone. When realization hit me that someone had stolen the car a miracle happened within me that is hard to explain. The best way I can describe it is, an unbelievable joy and confidence rose up within me. Like John 7:38 says: He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

An exciting expectation, I knew that I was about to see a miracle. God was going to either bring my car back to me, or he would provide us with another car with milk and food in it. It really didn’t matter to me how he did it, we needed a car and we needed the groceries that were in the car. Praise God, we knew it was coming our way.

When the police came they put the description of the car over the police radio and officers in the area were looking for the car. The officer that responded to our call, allowed us to ride around with him and look for the car for a while. He said he had never met anyone like us before in his life. He had responded to many calls like ours before, stolen vehicles and such, but never had anyone act the way we were acting. He could see that we were very happy and excited; we told him that we were going to see a miracle. We told him that the car was coming back or God would send us another one with the groceries in it. He was being very nice and patient with us. He also did not want to discourage us, but he said the chances were very slim we would be able to recover the car. I said don’t worry, God had it under control.

I asked the officer what thieves did with the stolen cars. He said a lot of times they would break them down and sell them out as parts; they also could be used in a robbery before they are torn down. My sister-in-law and I immediately agreed together in prayer that the car belonged to the Lord and could not be used in any crime. I am sure the officer was thinking we were crazy by this time, but he seemed to be enjoying the change from the norm.

By this time the car had been missing for over an hour. The store where the car was taken was at the edge of town and at a fork in the road between two highways leading out of town. The car could have been in the next county and in another town by this time.

A call came in over the radio saying the car had been found and pulled over just a mile from the store. It was on one of the highways headed back towards the grocery store. It turns out it was a profession car thief with a long record of such crimes. When they were caught, they told the police officer that when they saw the baby car seat in the back seat, they had an over whelming feeling and HAD to return the car.

Praise God the car was in perfect shape and the groceries were fine. The milk was as cold if it just came out of the refrigerator. The police officer knew he had just witnessed a miracle.


There was another time when we needed $150.00, my sister-in-law had a hand gun she took to the pawn shop. The clerk offered to buy it for $115.00, we were disappointed but accepted the offer. The owner came out to approve the deal, he saw the $115.00 written on the paper, and he approved it and then took the paper work back to his office to complete the deal.

While we were waiting, we prayed together and believed that God would somehow provide the extra $35 we needed.

A little while later the owner came out and gave the paperwork to the clerk who then had my sister-in-law sign it. When she looked at the amount it now said $150.00! She was shocked and showed it to me. She then turned to the clerk and asked him if it was right. He confirmed it was the right amount and gave her $150 cash that we needed! Praise God!

We didn’t go around telling anyone about our “troubles” only the Lord knew about them. The biggest “miracle” is what the Lord did within me. The things of this world meant nothing to me, only being in the prefect will of the Lord matter. God placed that desire in me. As the Bible says, he gives us the desires of our heart; he placed his desire in my heart. Only he can get the credit for that. The trials and tribulations I was going though brought me there. And I praise God for them! It changed my life forever!

After I had been attending my church for several months, I meet the worship leader. We were having a small group fellowship for the purpose of getting to know everyone. I was asked to give a testimony about my life. When I was finished he said he couldn’t believe I was going through everything I had mentioned. He said every Sunday morning he would search out for the two ladies with the smiles on their faces to encourage him while he lead the praise and worship service. He would have never dreamed we had a care in the world. But a truth, we didn’t have a care, God had it. Again, I cannot take credit for that, no one in the natural can do that, but with God everything is possible. What people would call the worst time of my life became the best time of my life.

I had many hurtful things thrown at me, and suffered much rejection. But the Lord took the brunt of it all for me. It was as if the Lord himself was standing in front me. When these fiery darts were hurtled at me it was as if they hit the Lord first before it came to me. He took the full force of the darts before they passed on to me, and while I felt them they could not do any real damage their sting had been softened and I was quickly released from the sharp pain of them. What a wonderful comforter we have.

After moving North Carolina, God continued to provide for us.

I had to travel to Florida to pick up my now 13 year old daughter who had been visiting a couple of weeks with my father. It was an 800 mile trip to Fort Myers from where we now lived in North Carolina. I knew that my car wasn’t in the best of shape, it needed new tires and the transmission had been slipping a little bit in Austin, Texas before we moved North Carolina a few months before. But I trusted God to get us there and back home safely. My 3 year old and I set out to Florida. After traveling several hours we stopped for gas and food. I noticed my front driver’s side tire was almost completely flat and could see it going down even more while I watched it. It must have happened quickly after I had left the highway because there had been no sign of having a flat tire. The steering had been fine and I had no vibration. Thank God he got me off the highway at just the right moment.

I was at a service station that sold tires; I went to the office and asked if they could put a plug in my flat tire. The mechanic came over and could see right a way where the air was leaking from. He told me there was already a plug in that spot and another plug would not work and I needed a new tire. I did not have any money to buy a new tire. I told him to please put a plug in it anyhow because I knew it would work. He again said it was impossible for it to work; you cannot put a new plug in with the old one it could not seal the tire. But again I insisted because I KNEW it would work.

He finally decided to put the plug in and prove to me that it would not stop the leak. He put the plug in and filled the tire with air. Then with a smirk on his face, he rubbed the spot with some soapy water expecting to see it bubble up proving his point that air was still leaking out. The look on his face was priceless when there were no bubbles and no air escaping the tire. He stared at it for a while; trying the soapy water a few more times to make sure, and then said to please check on the tire often.

Six hours later when I pulled into Fort Myers, I got out and checked the air pressure and not one ounce had leaked out. I drove on it back to North Carolina without any more trouble. A few months later because I could not pass the state inspection and God provided the money, I finally got new tires.

That has been almost 20 years ago now and God has given me so many wonderful things since then including a wonderful husband who has been a father to my children. God miraculously started and maintains our present business. For 15 of the last 20 years my husband and I ran a church/mission within our business. God preformed unbelievable miracles of provision for both us and homeless that came to stay with us. Like the small pot of rice that didn’t run out, but fed over 30 people one Thanksgiving Day.

God has been so good to us, but I have found if we are not careful, it is easy to get tangled up in the things of the world if we are not as “dependant” on him for our every need. I thank God he has kept us close to the vest for the most part depending on him. While I have failed him, God has never failed me. He is quick to bring us to repentance and keeps us growing in him unto perfection. As Paul said: (Philippians 3:13-14) Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, (14) I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

What do I have that God can use?

(1 Corinthians 1:28) and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:

(1 Corinthians 1:29) that no flesh should glory before God.

(Philippians 3:7) Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. (Philippians 3:8) Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,

One thing I have learned, the Lord doesn’t need any of the strengths or “talents” that I have been born with. Or even the things I have learned along the way. Only that which is born from above can be used in the Kingdom of God. As Paul said, “I count them all as refuse, that I may gain Christ.”
(Isaiah 55:8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.

What is it that I can bring to the Lord that he can use? Is it that I am good at figures; I should be the bookkeeper for the Lord? My earthly math says if I add to the sum, it is gain, but the Lord says if you take away from the sum it is gain. My earthly wisdom says to make wise investments for my future, make sure to have a good savings account. But the Lord says, (Matthew 6:31) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (Matthew 6:32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.(Matthew 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.(Matthew 6:34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Wow! Take no thought for tomorrow???? It is the Gentiles (unbelievers) that do that?

How then are my financial abilities a value to the Lord?

What if I am good with people, and have a talent to reason with them? Can I not convince them to follow the Lord Jesus Christ? But, the Lord says only the Holy Spirit and his word can draw men to him. Paul said: (1 Corinthians 2:4) And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (1 Corinthians 2:5) that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:13) Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words. Jesus said: (John 6:63) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

So it seems it takes the Holy Spirit to speak spiritual things. My wisdom and abilities are of the flesh and can only produce flesh.

(John 3:6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

What if I have great musical ability and can move people to worship God with my songs? But again, if it is not the Holy Spirit working, it is only stirring the emotions in them and not true Spiritual worship. (John 4:24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Conclusion, I have nothing that is of any worth to the Lord. Therefore, it is not big thing that I crucify my life and put my life down as Galatians 2:20 says: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

The just shall live by faith!

Friday, January 12, 2007

Documentary: “Why We Fight”

I posted the following documentary “Why We Fight” to give further evidence that America is part of and indeed the present leader of this world’s Babylonian system. The same Babylon that the Bible speaks of for these last days we are living in. The Word of God instructs us to have no part of this system, yet pastors around America will encourage their young men to join this anti-Christ system go to another country and “defend” and kill in the name of “God and Country”. These brave men go to “serve” believing the lie from the pulpits and their politicians, not realizing that the “God” is not the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and is not the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. But as Matthew clearly shows the God of this world is the devil.


(Matthew 4:1) Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
(Matthew 4:8) Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
(Matthew 4:9) And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Jesus himself said this world was not his kingdom and his servants are not to fight in it.

(John 18:36) Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Our fight is not with “flesh and blood”. (Ephesians 6:11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

(Ephesians 6:12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

In these last days, at the time of latter rain, Christ the anointing will be manifested in his people, judgment will come to the lying shepherds that have lead God’s people astray.

(Hosea 6:2) After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
(Hosea 6:3) Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
(Zechariah 10:1) Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
(Zechariah 10:2) For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
(Zechariah 10:3) Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.


5:47 minutes into the documentary a Father who lost his son in one of the twin towers on 9/11 uses the only bad language of the film. I am unable to edit the words out, but the listener can choose to mute the sound for the 2 or 3 seconds to avoid it.

I pray that God’s people will wake up and stop serving two masters trusting only in our true Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Why We Fight




Is American foreign policy dominated by the idea of military supremacy? Has the military become too important in American life? Jarecki's shrewd and intelligent polemic would seem to give an affirmative answer to each of these questions

The American Documentary Grand Jury Prize was given to WHY WE FIGHT, written and directed by Eugene Jarecki. http://festival.sundance.org/2005/docs/05Awards.pdf

What are the forces that shape and propel American militarism? This award-winning film provides an inside look at the anatomy of the American war machine.

He may have been the ultimate icon of 1950s conformity and postwar complacency, but Dwight D. Eisenhower was an iconoclast, visionary, and the Cassandra of the New World Order. Upon departing his presidency, Eisenhower issued a stern, cogent warning about the burgeoning "military industrial complex," foretelling with ominous clarity the state of the world in 2004 with its incestuous entanglement of political, corporate, and Defense Department interests.

Deploying the general's farewell address as his strategic ground zero, Eugene Jarecki launches a full-frontal autopsy of how the will of a people has become an accessory to the Pentagon. Surveying the scorched landscape of a half-century's military misadventures and misguided missions, Jarecki asks how--and tells why--a nation ostensibly of, by, and for the people has become the savings-and-loan of a system whose survival depends on a state of constant war.

Jarecki, whose previous film, The Trials of Henry Kissinger, took such an unblinking look at our ex-secretary of state, might have delivered his film in time for the last presidential election, but its timing is also its point: It does not matter who is in charge as long as the system remains immune from the checks and balances of a peace-seeking electorate. Brisk, intelligent, and often very, very human, Why We Fight is one of the more powerful films in this year's Festival, and certainly among the most shattering.— Diane Weyermann

http://www.whywefightmovie.com/

Saturday, January 06, 2007

No Compromise

I will not be moved, I will compromise no longer. Only the pure word of God rightly divided by the Holy Spirit will be the only rock I will stand on.



(2 Timothy 2:15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
(1 John 2:20) And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all the
things.
I am free from the curse of the law. The curse of sickness and death came into the world because of sin.


(Galatians 3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
While we may suffer many things, we need not suffer the effects of the curse that we have been freed from. But persecutes will come.



(John 15:20) Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
(1 Corinthians 4:11) Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;
(1 Corinthians 4:12) and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
(1 Corinthians 4:13) being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.

But none of these things will move me. The things of this life and this world cannot compare to the things of God and the life he has for us.


(John 6:68) Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
(Acts 20:24) But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

I will be content with the life the Lord gives me. He knows what we have need of and he is faithful to supply all our needs.


(Hebrews 13:5) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
(Philippians 4:11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
(1 Timothy 6:6) But godliness with contentment is great gain.
(1 Timothy 6:7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
(1 Timothy 6:8) And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

All we have belongs to the Lord. We are just stewards over the things he has placed in our care. He does not need us to store up “retirement” funds in this world system which is enmity with God and is destine to fail.


(Luke 12:21) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
(Luke 12:22) And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
(Luke 12:23) The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
(Luke 12:33) Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
(Luke 12:34) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(Matthew 6:19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
(Matthew 6:20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
(Matthew 6:21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(James 5:3) Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

By the Grace of God if these things be settled I will move on from the milk of the word which is: repentance from dead works, faith, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection and eternal judgment. And God willing will grow in the knowledge of him and move on into perfection.

(Hebrews 5:13) For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.
(Hebrews 6:1) Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
(Hebrews 6:2) of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
(Hebrews 6:3) And this will we do, if God permit.
By faith Christ is being formed in me, my life being laid to rest, so his life can be manifested in me. And in Christ there is no sin!


(Galatians 4:19) My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you -
(1 John 2:5) but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:
(1 Peter 4:1) Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
(1 Peter 4:2) that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
(1 John 3:5) And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin.
(1 John 3:8) he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
(1 John 3:9) Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God.
(1 John 2:6) he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

The Mystery that was hid in God

For the most part we have not fully comprehended the mystery that was hid in God, "even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints". (Colossians 1:26)

Paul started to give hints of this mystery in Galatians 4:19 "My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you".

But not until Ephesians did Paul start to share and teach the great mystery God had revealed to him. Up until that time he could only teach the “first principles of the oracles of God.” (Hebrews 5:11-12) "Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing. (12) For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food."

Only after Acts 28:28, when he left the Jews and the synagogues was he free to open up the mystery to the Gentiles. This mystery, God’s purpose in of all creation, all the examples that went on before, the temple, the nation of Israel, all their Kings, all the prophets, everything was for this end purpose, the Mystery. It was hidden in God for all times until it was first revealed to Paul. It had not been revealed to Abraham, Moses or King David. No prophet, leader or King of Israel knew this mystery. It was hidden for ages and generations in God. Consider the following scriptures:

(Ephesians 1:9) "making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him."

(Ephesians 3:3-5) "how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, (4) whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; (5) which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;"

(Ephesians 3:9-11) "and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; (10) to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, (11) according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"

(Ephesians 3:17,) "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (19) and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God."

(Colossians 1:25-27) "whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfill the word of God, (26) even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, (27) to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"

(Colossians 3:3) "For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

The latter epistles of Paul and then also of Peter and John shows the growing knowledge of this mystery and the power of it that was not revealed in the Gospels or in the book of Acts. Even the Angels and powers in heavenly places did not know about the mystery, it was hidden in God. (Ephesians 3:10) to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God.

Colossians 1:27 sums up this vast and wonderful mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. This Christ, this anointing, was perfect and fulfilled the whole law in Jesus. Now we do not have to “do” the works of the law, when Christ is manifested in us, we will also become the "fulfillment" of the law. God is building a body of Christ, the very nature of Christ in his people. If the very nature of God is in us, it will cause us to naturally do his will. Our life will show the fruit of his nature in what we do, as we grow in the knowledge of him.

(Ephesians 1:17-19) "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; (18) having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might."

Without Christ being manifested in me, I might try to love my enemy as Jesus said to do. I will do that in all the ways I know how, I will try not to think bad thoughts about my enemy, not talk about them and even try to be nice to them. And do good to them as Jesus said to do. I will ask Jesus to give me strength to love my enemy. It might even work for a while; until they possibly do something that I feel is harmful to me. Then I have to “fight my flesh” and put it down again and try to continue to love them. But you see, God's purpose is not in strengthening me, for my righteousness is as filthy rages. He said when I am weak, he is strong. But, if I ask Christ to be manifested in me in this matter, I will ask God to put his love in my heart for my enemy. You see, when this happens, I will not have to try and do the “works” of loving my enemy, it will be God’s love for my enemy flowing out of me. All the fruit of that love will be shown naturally to my enemy.

As God reveals himself to us, as we grow in the knowledge of him, he will give us his attributes, his nature if we ask him. If we believe! In our own strength, we can only try to do to the works of the law, but we will never fulfill the law. Only Christ can fulfill the law and he wants to fulfill the law in us.

There is so much more to the mystery, the hope of Glory, that I haven’t even begun to dig into its depths. But as the Lord leads us by His Spirit of Truth and as He reveals more to us in the scriptures, the eyes of our understanding will be enlightened.

The following are the epistles of Paul that pertain especially to the mystery:

Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1&2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon

Also 1 & 2 Peter, and 1,2 & 3 John are in the light of the mystery. As Peter said: (2 Peter 3:15-16) And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; (16) as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."

I pray:

Ephesians:1:18-19: "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints (19) and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God."  (Colossians 1:26-27) "even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,(27) to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"

Amen