Whose Father do you claim???
This morning when I woke I was thinking about birth. Specifically about our birth right. You see it is my husband’s birthday today. David is 40 years old. What is fascinating is, this number Biblically stands for trials and testing. It got me to thinking about the place in scripture where God refers to the womb. Specifically, how He knit us together in our mother’s womb, and before we were born, He knew us.
My husband loves being a father. But he would probably agree that it is the toughest job he has, other than being a spouse. Because he never had a great relationship with his earthly dad. It has been, and still is, a daily surrender to choose God as HIS Father, and seek to be in union with him and labor into HIS Rest.
This last week our family has been led to break from electronics. It has been interesting. Now, God has been amazing with it all. There was a few days in when we caught our daughter playing a game, and she was given a few more days, because she hid it from us. It was only because she was secretive about it and influenced strongly by defiance, rebellion and manipulation. But, God. That sentence stands on it’s own. His mercy, grace and LOVE never cease to amaze me. She came an confessed to us, and to HIM what she had done. This was like a resurrection, because she humbled herself before HIM and was redeemed once again. Her repentance and surrender, rolled the stone away. Glory to GOD!
Behold the TOMB is empty! He has risen, our FATHER and HIS SON are united.
We had been praying that the only Father our children would claim, or we would claim is our Heavenly one. Not to say God desires us to forget our natural or biological family. Because, family is important of course, but the word says to seek FIRST the KINGDOM of Heaven. It furthermore says, and then ALL these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33
Amplified Bible (AMP)
33 But seek ([a]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness ([b]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [c]taken together will be given you besides.
Personally, my husband and I, LOVE the amplified version. 🙂 because it goes a bit deeper, and we are so in AWE of the Revelations God gives. This week, what God has been revealing, in so many ways, is that we must choose whom to receive from. No matter what happens in the “natural” world, the FREEDOM that is in Christ cannot be stolen.
God promises persecution will come. He promises it will hurt sometimes, but He also promises never to leave us. How many times have we had those moments with God? You know the ones where we are looking towards Heaven, and asking HIM questions. Specifically things like, “Have you forgotten me, or us?” and “When will it be our turn?”
Here is what God revealed about the answers. He showed us that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. Meaning we are not forgotten. The second question, was actually an easy answer. All things happen in HIS time, not ours. When I was little I remember singing a hymn, in fact many. I have always LOVED hymns, because they are so personal, like psalms. But one that stands out is,”I Need Thee Every Hour.”
In scripture there is a place in John where Jesus explains about the Father. This is what was really strong in my heart and spirit today.
42 Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me and respect Me and welcome Me gladly, for I proceeded (came forth) from God [out of His very presence]. I did not even come on My own authority or of My own accord (as self-appointed); but He sent Me.
43 Why do you misunderstand what I say? It is because you are unable to hear what I am saying. [You cannot bear to listen to My message; your ears are shut to My teaching.]
44 You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.
John 8: 45-47
45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [do not trust Me, do not rely on Me, or adhere to Me].
46 Who of you convicts Me of wrongdoing or finds Me guilty of sin? Then if I speak truth, why do you not believe Me [trust Me, rely on, and adhere to Me]?
47 Whoever is of God listens to God. [Those who belong to God hear the words of God.] This is the reason that you do not listen [to those words, to Me]: because you do not belong to God and are not of God or in harmony with Him.
What really jumps out to me is the last statement. Harmony specifically, because God desires peace and unity. Christ has shown us that He desires unity in HIS body. Are any of us perfect, without flaw, no. But we should not manipulate the word for personal gain. The word should always Glorify God. Yet so many claim a different father, some without knowing, some knowing very well.
Our job as believers is to be used by GOD to bring HEAVEN to EARTH.
Let’s go a bit further into that Chapter 8, in John. Jesus had a response for His accusers. It was not mean, or hateful. It was very simple, and to the point. This was what he said.
54 Jesus answered, If I were to glorify Myself (magnify, praise, and honor Myself), I would have no real glory, for My glory would be nothing and worthless. [My honor must come to Me from My Father.] It is My Father Who glorifies Me [Who extols Me, magnifies, and praises Me], of Whom you say that He is your God.
Those who LOVE God and seek HIM as their Father may seem few. But, we must know that things are not always as they seem. For this is the time that Elijah will appear. This will be the time that GOD calls in anew way unto HIS children.
Many are already dealing with crises. Be it health, financial, or otherwise. God knows, and trust the word is TRUE, it will appear to get more difficult. But, before it does, GOD will test us. Meaning, with each test we pass in HIM, the GLORY of GOD grows.
The LAMB of GOD was sacrificed, so that we could become in HIM and THROUGH HIM the righteousness of Christ. In essence the GLORY of God.
Think of it like this, in school we have tests. They are set up to glorify the person, because that is how the world works. But God’s tests go deeper and they are SET UP to Glorify only HIM. For we are GOD’s Glory. We are what brings HIM to a place of JOY, when we obey HIM, and HIS ways.
Without getting to much into the controversial issues, there are many things going on which GOD is about to undo. It is hard to explain in words the DEPTH of the Father’s LOVE. Even Jesus who came and was fully GOD and fully man, never took HIS eyes off the Father. He never sinned, because He never lost sight of the Father’s LOVE.
Let’s look at the words of the HYMN “I Need Thee Every Hour”
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord; (ALL the time)
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford. (I only desire to HEAR YOU LORD)
Refrain
I need Thee, O I need Thee; (LIKE A DEER PANTS FOR WATER, MY SOUL PANTS FOR THEE)
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, (FILL ME WITH YOUR GLORY)
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh. ( YOU CRUSH THE MOUNTAINS)
Refrain
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain; (NO MATTER WHAT I FEEL)
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain. (FILL MY SOUL, so ALL ELSE WITHERS AND DIES)
Refrain
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will; (BRING YOUR GLORY TO BE BIRTHED IN ME)
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill. (SO THAT YOUR PERFECT WILL CAN BE DONE)
Refrain
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son. (MAKE ME LIKE JESUS, A TREASURE UNTO YOU)
Refrain
In parentheses, it explains a bit more about the hymn. Because remember the DEEPER we surrender, the more GLORY comes to our GOD and KING. Whose Father do you CLAIM? DO you believe the TRUTH, are you a sibling of JESUS? Is HIS FATHER yours too? Or, do you choose to believe the LIES, and limit GOD, and indirectly serve HIS enemy?
For He alone purifies us from what the world desires for us.
Recently, I was led and so was David, to read because we have been breaking from electronics, as previously said. Anyways, I read all kinds of things as led. I have always been intrigued by Crime Novels and Mysteries. before anything appears before my eyes, I seek the LORD. I ask HIM to show me what He wants me to see and protect me from what he does not. In fact we ALL do this in our family. Yesterday, I read a book called “Prophet” it is very well known. In fact, it came out in 1992.
The author, Frank Piretti, has always fascinated me, because He digs deeper than many. God gives him so much insight. It makes me wonder whether or not the writing has affected him personally. The point of the book is that God gives us gifts. He gives us many gifts, as He desires for us to receive them.
We have a WILL of course, and we have CHOICE. We can believe what He desires, and walk HIS way, or we can straddle the fence. The LAMB of GOD has come, been slain, and resurrected, yet today suffers as He did when He walked the earth. He suffers through us, as we do. But, He also rejoices because He sees the bigger picture. He sees the END result, which is the GLORY of GOD being birthed.
Disorder and chaos may look scary, and at times even feel that way. Jesus felt afraid from time to time, but He never came into agreement with FEAR. he never received the lies. Our prayer today is that GOD will pour out HIS GLORY, so that many will receive the FAITH of a child, and see that FAITH GROW and FLOURISH in HIM, as He transforms HIS children into the signs and wonders. As God alone, from HIS throne, resurrects HIS kids, crowned in HIS Glory, the world will be in awe.
Then, the challenges will be greater, then the great falling away will come, but only after the GLORY AWAKENING and INVASION of our mighty KING. Do you want to experience the LOVE of your FATHER, the one who matters most, who is waiting for you to surrender? Or are you content with the lies? This is the dilemma.
We stand NOT in condemnation, because the LORD never condemns. God corrects us, the enemy condemns us. The LORD will never lead you where the GRACE of GOD cannot keep you. Receive the Heavenly Father’s Love today. Know that your birth right resides in HIM alone. He desires you to sit with HIM in Heaven and reign.
In His Grace,
E