Let Us Go Up To The Mountain Of The Lord

But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. (Micah 4:1)

There is a place that has been prepared for us by the Lord himself. It is a place that will not be recognized by those that are caught up in the things of this world or depend on the world for their well-being. This place we seek is a place whose builder and maker is God. It is the mountain of the Lord that Micah 4 speaks of. It is the Kingdom of our God! “...The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Jesus said he went to prepare a place for us there, let us now enter in, rejecting this world let us seek our Lord’s. We cannot live in both kingdoms….we will love the one and hate the other.

Jesus said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” And he prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” (John 17:16-18, 20) Jesus said we are not of this world any more than he is of this world.

This is not our kingdom any more than it is his. Just as the father sent him into the world so he has sent us. We must crucify the flesh. The body of the flesh that loves the world and the things of the world; it can not receive the things of the Spirit. “…..There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:44) Until we have put to death that body of flesh as Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me:.."(Galatians 2:20) we will not be able to fully comprehend what the Lord said. “…the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) Peter said we were, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:23)

Reading in Mathew the 6th chapter….

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 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.”
(Matthew 6:19-24, 31-34)

These are the words of our Lord. It is his instructions on how we are to live our lives if we are to follow him. It should be obvious to us that the Lord did not want us to be wrapped up in the things of the world. John 17:16 he says, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” Whether we are willing to live this way or not tells us a lot about our commitment to the Lord and the attitudes of our hearts. Are we willing to follow hard after our Lord at the cost of everything?

We don’t hear the song “I surrender all” sang much any more. Just like the rich young ruler, there is far too much to surrender. Many would much rather hear that God has blessed them with everything they have and therefore he would never ask them to give anything up or trust that when we might lose some of the comforts of this world, it is still God that is in control and directing our lives. Paul warned about our time in 2 Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.” These are the teachers who are “…..destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” (1 Timothy 6:5)

The true message of the Gospel is preached very little today. People don’t want to hear about dying to self and picking up our cross to follow the Lord. They don’t want to hear that those who truly follow the Lord will care very little for the things of this world. Preachers who are after large crowds can not afford to preach the truth. And by now most don’t even remember what the true Gospel of the Kingdom is. These words of Jesus’ are foreign to most who would call themselves Christians.

But the truth is, if we are to be true followers of Christ, our lives are no longer our own, we have been bought with a price and we are his to do with according to HIS purposes, not ours. (1Cr 6:20, Rom 8:28, Eph 1:5, Eph 1:11)

If the truth be known….most do not trust God to provide for them as he said in Mathew chapter 6. And in the same way they do not trust Him with their spiritual life either.

If we cannot grasp these things now, how will we be able to suffer for the Lord? “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12). “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) How will we be able to trust our lives to him, even if it means death?

Let us look at the parallel between taking care of our physical needs and our spiritual needs.

Jesus said not to worry about money, what we would eat or what we have to wear. He said that was His responsibility. He is able to give to us what is needed according to his purposes, whether it is a job to help support our needs or a raven dropping food to us as He did for Elijah (1Kings 17:4). Our eye….our focus, is to be on the Lord and not on the needs of this world.

In the same way, our “self” righteousness is of no value either. It is not about what we do in our own strength. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that conforms us in to the image of Christ. (Romans 8:29) “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” This is why it can be said in 1 John 4:17 “…. we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” It is impossible for us to do this in our own strength, but the “Just shall live by faith” and “all things are possible with God”

The Kingdom of God is not what “we” can do for the Lord….it is all about HIM. If he so chooses to take these vessels of clay and use them for his glory, they belong to him to do the works as he pleases…..it is only at his choosing and it will be him that performs the works in us….so no flesh can glory! In the mean time…..we are only to follow hard after him…spending time with him…learning about him…..knowing him…..hearing his voice…..and loving him with everything in us! This is striving to enter into the Sabbath rest of the Lord. Ceasing from our own works and allowing Him to take the reins of our life, bringing us into the very imagine of Christ.

Hebrews the 4th chapter tells us about this rest.
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4:9-11) This is the only “labor” that is required of us!

When Christ was on the cross, paying the price for our sins, He said, “It is finished”….no other sin offering would ever be needed….no other ritual….no other tradition of men and no other works of our flesh would be needed because.….IT IS FINISHED!

The only thing required is our eye is to be single and fixed on him……to fellowship with him….to be in his will…In no other place is there freedom. Complete trust in him as we give him our all. Whether we live…we live unto him….whether we die….we die in him.


Our eye is to be single…..as He brings us to the place where we have but one true desire…and that is to follow hard after thee, O Lord…in Him we have fullness of life…He will complete the work He began in us…..as we seek Him with our whole heart. Our true desire is to be conformed into his very image. Only he can perform this work in us…so no man can boast. It is not our good works, trying to “put off” sins in our own strength. These works done in our flesh is only wood hay and stubble and will be burned up in the fire of God…..for there is NONE good but the father! But if we walk in the spirit as he is in the spirit….seated in Heavenly places with him…..we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Amen! Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!

The Christian’s Work – Believing and Yielding

The following article is from the book – Living in the Heavenly Realms – under the above chapter title.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)

There are two basic elements needed in the relationship between Christ and the believer if God’s eternal purposes are to be fulfilled: the first is communion and the second is cooperation. There can never be true love in any relationship without both communion and cooperation.

Throughout eternity the Son has shared with His Father in the eternal life within the Trinity—that is communion. And when God initiated His wondrous plan of redemption the Son offered Himself as both the Lamb to be slain and as the Intercessor for man—that is cooperation. Similarly, if we are to live as Jesus did, we must enter into this same shared life where there is both an ongoing communion with God in His heavenly life and an offering of ourselves to be used for His purposes.

We must remember that we were specifically created as vessels that God could use to display His life and works in this world. Our one great role is to choose to cooperate with Him so that we may do the “good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

The spiritual man apprehends this truth and appreciates the significance of it. If he is to be fully trained and become like his Master, he sees the need for permitting the Son to live through him. It involves giving the Spirit of God complete possession of his being so that Christ may have full control and unhindered use.

Only when the temple of the body is entirely set apart for God’s purposes—fully consecrated—is it possible to be filled with His Glory. This is what brings the child of God into an experiential knowledge of life in the Trinity, where there is never-ending communion and cooperation with the Lord of Glory.

At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you {with everyone sharing in the same life and will}. (John 14:20)

Those who believe in Jesus will yield to every movement of His Spirit. This is the real meaning of faith. It involves dying to the old self-directed way of life. We must be prepared to be as easily moved as a leaf in an open field by the slightest changes in the wind. We surrender ourselves completely to the life that was in Jesus and look to Him in faith to do through us what He has purposed.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes {next}. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

My sheep hear My voice…and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life… (John 10:27-28)

Our work is to yield to Truth and the leading of His Spirit while believing in Him. As the Father did everything through the Son, He is the One who must produce all the good results through our lives. This kind of dependent and trusting faith always receives the reality of what has been promised in the Scriptures.

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:28-29)

Given time, the Lord will manifest His life and works through the members of His body. He waits until we have come to the end of ourselves. His purpose is to bring us to the place where we cease from our own works and begin living by His Spirit alone. It is then that He is able to manifest His life and works in a way that reveals how He is the source of what is being done. He then receives all the glory.

But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:21)

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

© B. Keith Chadwell, February, 2009

This is the first of a series of studies on 2nd Thessalonians 2:
As the studies are posted on The Kingdom Is At Hand they will be indexed, archived and may be accessed from the teachings page.

The truth is the truth, no matter what we believe. However, as the Spirit of God opens the eyes of our understanding in these days, we may discover we have been stumbling over obstacles to the truth in the scriptures that were not targeted for true Christians. The “strong delusion” described in 2nd Thessalonians 2:11, is clearly such a mystery obstacle

It is clear that this mysterious obstacle, in 2nd Thessalonians 2:11, is an obstacle sent by God to those who would not receive the love of the truth. Its purpose was to create a great delusion in those who reject the truth. This delusion or obstacle was sent by God so as to cause rebellious unbelievers to believe a lie and therefore they would be unable to see the truth. However, sadly, many true Christians have stumbled over this type of obstacle down through Church history as well and… without excuse. Because we can’t say we did not have ample warning, as we will soon see.

As true Christians, His truth is ours by promise and rightful inheritance:

Joh 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And (then) ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.


However, like many of the promises of God to his children, there are
conditions to appropriation which the Church, in some cases,
has obviously missed.

The children of Israel had the same basic problem with appropriating
Gods promises because they did not heed Gods warnings either
and… with similar consequences. They fell away from the truth,
and accepted false doctrine, in spite of Gods warnings. As a result,
they were denied full and complete access to the promises of God.
Their history is one of returning, renewal, revival and then falling away,

again and again, even unto the day of Christ’s revealing to them.

This also sound like the history of the Church. This is history

repeating itself. Go figure!

Ecc 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is
done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Or from Matthew’s gospel;
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Because there are some strange interpretations out there regarding Luke 21:8 , Matthew 24:5 and the parallel scripture in Mark, clarification is in order before we go on:

I believe the above scriptures should be interpreted something like this;

”Take heed, for many (teachers) shall come saying, “I am Christ” (that Jesus truly is; “the Christ”) and just because some that will come (may be believers) and say;” I am the Christ”, they still will deceive many (with false teaching), And this will begin to happen soon, therefore don’t follow after them (or their teachings).”

Soon after Jesus spoke these words, came the greatest dividing of time the world has ever acknowledged; B.C. + A.D.. This event triggered the advent of Christian teachers (of all kinds) who started taking their versions of the gospel to the nations. As an aside; Secular folks have recently twisted the B.C. (Before Christ) into B.C.E. (Before the Current Era) but that doesn’t change the truth of its origins.

Judging from the general acceptance of rampant error, the
multitudes of doctrinal divisions and the resulting immaturity of the
Church, I can only conclude; the Church has not been that careful
about “taking heed”. The fruit of “taking heed” and being
carful is generally not that visible in today’s Church.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

We truly need to “take heed”. Biblical teachings that have been
developed by anyone using the carnal mind, will generate
divided opinions, controversy and disunity, regarding all
of the biblical mysteries deliberately hidden by God in the scriptures.

The truth will be challenged, also, by the carnal mind and will also
create division. Flesh vs Spirit. It is all out warfare in the spirit.
However, ultimately, the truth will reign, because our carnal mind/
flesh and blood, will not be allowed to usurp Gods government or
kingdom or share in the glory that is to be revealed in us. Nor can it
sit forever on the throne that is reserved for God within His temple,
which we are.

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, (the truth) and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Any questions should, first, be submitted to the Lord, (bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;) for it is He who
purposed to hide the truth of all biblical mysteries in order to serve
His good purposes. And, it is Him also, who reveals them to whom
He chooses, all in His good time.

Should our hearts not burn within us when we hear the truth?
The witness of the Spirit is beyond compare, and more valuable than
gold and silver.

Luk 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Psa 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Pro 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

I do not propose to have all the answers to the questions that will be raised in any of my teachings. Rather, I am suggesting that we, as Christians, with God’s help and direction, should purpose to expose, tear down and re-build anything that we may have been taught that has been leavened by the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees and proffered by the flesh. And, we must not be as arrogant and presumptuous so as to believe there could be nothing in us of that nature.

Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Jer 1:10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Jesus also gave this “specific” warning to his followers;
Mat 16:6 “Take heed and beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees”.

Leaven or as Jesus’ followers learned by revelation as Jesus spoke
this parable to them, is understood spiritually to mean doctrine.

The doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees was warned against by
Jesus, and therefore, on good authority, we can safely say it is “false
doctrine”. It is false doctrine that will permeate the truth.

Think about trying to separate the tiny bit of leaven that is in a big
batch of bread dough after it is ready to bake. Now we get some idea
of the danger to the truth that leavened doctrine would create if
allowed to come in. How then do we separate the leavened doctrine
from the truth once it is in us. It can only be revealed and
destoyed by and through the work of the Holy Spirit.

We certainly understand that belief of false doctrine is in fact an
obstacle which must be removed from within us in order to be able
to see, believe and apply the truth.

Therefore we start with the mystery or parable of leaven or false
doctrine and conclude that the leaven Jesus warned his followers
about would be an obstacle. An obstacle for Jesus’ followers to
learning and applying the truth, if… they were not carful and “take
heed” of His warnings.

Mat 16:v6 “Take heed and beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees”.

Luk 11:35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived:………

The Pharisees of 30 A.D. were legalists, believing that the disposition
of the heart was less vital than the outward act. Lawyers and
exposition of the law grew to be extremely important, resulting in
inherited precepts and interpretations with binding force, beyond the
law of Moses.

The Sadducees, on the other hand, had yielded more to Greek
influence and had adopted the principles of the Aristotelian
philosophy and refused to accept any doctrine which they could not
prove by pure reason.

It seems most Pharisees and Sadducees back then thought; physical
or “literal”. The carnal mind/flesh & blood, is not capable of
understanding the spiritual mysteries deliberately hidden by God
in natural types, metaphors and parables in the bible.

Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Obstacles or mysteries of God are targeted for those “who are without” or those who refuse to believe (unbelievers). However, Christians, by not heeding the warnings by Jesus, Paul and old testament lessons about this type of error, stumble over the same obstacles. Even from the beginning, some folks back in church history, obviously, stumbled over this type of obstacle, fell for the lies and we have all been reaping the consequences to one degree or another.

By now, this “leaven” has permeated much of our traditional church eschatology and has become a part of a large, complex, multi headed, doctrinal beast.

We should be well aware by now; Anyone, who tries to understand the great mysteries of God with the carnal mind/the flesh, rather than by the revelation of the Spirit will fail.

The light of Christ in these days is arising on his people like;
“the morning sun that spreads upon the mountains”.
The morning light of the day of Christ is breaking on us, revealing that it is “Christ in us” that was purposed by God to be “the hope of glory” or the method to glorify the Father again, as Jesus did. While this light is arising on us, at the same time the world is still covered with gross darkness.

Joh 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Joe 2:1-2 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Hab 1:5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

Joe 1:13-15 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,
Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.


I pray, today, as I prepare to post this teaching:

Lord, create in me a clean heart, for I can not, by the efforts of my own flesh and from an evil heart, obey your laws. I commit this to you and trust, by faith that you will, in fact, bring to pass the full manifestation of your righteousness through me in your good time and for your glory.

Lord, reveal all of the mysterious obstacles and self centered darkness which prevents or hinders your work in me. And, which I (my flesh) through the deceitfulness and stubborn self rule of my desperately wicked heart, have not acknowledged and have not submitted to be crucified with you.

Lord, reveal and consume with the spirit of your mouth, those things of dark motivations which sit in the place where you should sit and rule within me.

Lord, destroy, with the brightness of your coming, the darkness in my heart and then may your light arise to full noonday within me, with no shadow of turning.

I ask this Father, in Jesus name, in order then; that my new light and life may shine before men, that they will see my good works and then glorify you, even as Jesus did. For it is your Kingdom and your power, and therefore your glory, forever and ever.

Oh Lord, amen and amen and amen.

Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psa 37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (which is within you)

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Habakkuk 3:3-4 God came from the South, and the Holy One from mount Paran. The heavens were covered with the brightness of His glory; and the earth was full of His praise. And His brightness was as the light in the city which His hands had established shall He store His power. (Peshitta text)

Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder
and maker is God.

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 17:17 sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.


Let Him who hath an ear hear

The Inadequacy of Law

Breaking Our Little Boxes

Living by a Trusting Faith

The following article was taken from Living in the Heavenly Realms under the chapter title “Waiting on the Lord in Childlike Faith” – Steve Bray

The childlike characteristics that every believer will need to possess are trust and dependent faith. Little children recognize their absolute need for help from someone else. They do not try to direct their own steps and achieve their own goals. Because they are not in control of their life, and they possess a natural trust and dependent faith, they willingly permit someone else to show them what they should do and to care for their needs. And because they have true faith, they are able to walk in this way without any worry or fear of the future.

In effect, it is this form of childlike faith that Jesus is instructing His disciples to enter into when He says, “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.” Have you truly been converted and become like a dependent and trusting little child?

Today is the day to search your heart and discover if you have true faith in God? This faith will grow if you will continue to let go of your old self-sufficient form of life wherever it is exposed. He never puts on anyone more than He has enabled them to bear.

We are now getting down to the real meaning of “absolute surrender.” Is there any wonder why so few are receiving the eternal Kingdom-life from God and living in the heavenly realms?

…Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 18:3)

Those who choose to live as God’s children surrender the control center of their heart and permit their All-knowing Father to direct all their steps. Yes, it is a wisdom that sounds absurd to the self-directed people of this world. But it is the real meaning of “walking by faith rather than by sight.” As these little children express this trusting faith in God by consistently yielding to every movement of His Spirit, He not only cares for their needs, He also lifts them spiritually into the Kingdom-life of heaven.

My sheep {the little flock} hear My voice…and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life… (John 10:27-28)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose…to be conformed to the image of His Son… (Rom. 8:28-29)

Do you still find yourself becoming anxious, worried and upset? It can mean only one thing: You are still attempting to control your own life. Rather than dying to the self-directed ways of this world and entrusting yourself to God—the One who is able to work out all things for your eternal good, you are still attempting to be your own god. You will naturally have many things to be worried about as you consider everything that can go wrong in a self-originated form of life. It is also the reason why you still find yourself becoming upset when your will is crossed and your plans are disrupted. You have placed your trust in them and it is distressing when something interferes with your hope.

The only way to find the deep rest of soul that has been promised to every believer is by letting God be God. Nothing can prevent Him from working out His perfect will in the little children who entrust their lives to Him and learn to walk by His Spirit.

F. B. Meyer has pointed out how the Spirit-led child of faith “sees no more second causes; because its range of view is filled by the Great First Cause. It finds the will of God, either permitting or enacting, in every event, however trivial, that crosses its path. Everything becomes the vehicle through which God comes near and speaks…” And so there is never anything to be worried or upset about. It knows, as it lives by faith, that everything comes from the one true God who is perfect in wisdom, love and power.

We all need to examine ourselves to determine if we are truly walking by faith. We have to assume we are still directing our own steps if we keep finding ourselves becoming worried and upset about things. This self-originated form of life becomes the source of all inward conflict. And the only way to get beyond this carnality is to enter the eternal Sabbath-rest of God where everyone “ceases” from their own works. (Heb. 4:9-10) This is how we come to the place where we are empowered to truly obey God in everything, including being “anxious for nothing.”

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience… {And remember} all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Heb. 4:11, 13)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving {with a trusting faith in God}, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God {the peace that comes from His heavenly life}, which surpasses all understanding {and overcomes all anxiousness}, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)

We can see how it is a sin to go on being anxious about anything. Not only does it reflect disobedience to God’s command, it reflects a lack of faith in Him. There is a better way to live. Those who are truly converted and become like trusting little children, will find themselves being lifted by the power of God into His heavenly kingdom where everyone remains filled to overflowing with “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” It is truly a place of everlasting peace.

Choose This Day, Whom You Will Serve

AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN