“…O ye of little faith ….. do not be anxious…“ Matthew 6:30-31

"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?"

I’ve spent last week looking at the connections between, anxiety, worry and little faith.  We all deal with the same fundamental issues on this side of heaven and our main personal need is to see to it that we remain vitally united to Him in and through every circumstance of life. To be so connected with Him through the storms of life we are simply unmoved by them.  We want to be just like Jesus sleeping in the back of the boat, sailing through life seemingly unaware of the storms raging around us.

 Ellicot’s Expository  notes the following on this phrase ‘little faith’- 

The word is found only in our Lord’s teaching, and the passages in which it occurs are all singularly suggestive. The disciples were not faithless or unbelieving, but their trust was weak. They lacked in moments of anxiety the courage which leads men to rely implicitly on the love and wisdom of their Father. So in the stormy night on the lake, Matthew 8:25 or when Peter began to sink in the waves, Matthew 14:31, or when the disciples had forgotten to take bread, Matthew 17:20; the same word recurs.

All these scriptures show us how care and anxiety are the fruit of little faith.   Vincent’s Word Studies identifies the meaning of care as the thing that divides, distracting the heart from the true object of life, as in "the care of this world," which chokes the good seed (Matthew 13:22;) and Luke 10:41, Of Martha; "Thou art careful”.

It’s in this place of ‘anxious and worry’ cares work into our hearts and ultimately choke the word. We become so ‘distracted’ by the cares that we actually forget what the word has to say about our ‘care’ and then we truly fall into the category of “O ye of little faith”.  Our heart and head are divided.   

If, and it does, faith comes by hearing the word, then to continually feed upon the one thing that assures of us of strength of heart and mind becomes absolutely vital to our daily needs.   

Jesus’ admonition to his disciples is do not be anxious, take no thought, rather consider our value to the Father; His love and desire to care for us and others.  Philippians 4 tells us what to think on and Corinthians reminds us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  

Let us make His word our meditation. It takes daily determination to attend to the word and keep it in front of our eyes so that the mountain does not conquer us, but we by the grace of God, dismantle it; even if its one rock, one boulder at a time we overcome, for with God nothing is impossible to the one who believes. 

“…..and by believing you may have life in his name.” ~ John 20:31

Today, Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the reality that Jesus died, was buried, and has risen from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was impossible for sin to hold him in the place of death. 

Over the last few days this has taken on new meaning for me as we’ve tried to explain to our five year old grandson the process of death as leaving our body, yet remaining alive.   Explaining that our resurrected bodies will still have form and function and that we truly never die to a child requires great simplicity.  As we’ve explained this to him, the truth of hearing yet not understanding took on new perspective for us all. 

How much the disciples had to process when they were faced with Jesus re-appearing to them.  They had heard the words of Jesus “suffering” “die” “risen” but yet not really understanding.  At first they find the tomb empty beginning yet another state of confusion.  Returning to the house, we findMary’s testimony but Luke’s gospel tells us “these words seemed an idle tale and they did not believe them”. Luke records the event of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, meeting Jesus, then that same day returning to Jerusalem to tell the others. They are collected together that evening, still hiding for fear of the Jews, reflecting of these events and suddenly Jesus is present.  His question to the those present was, “Why are your troubled and why do doubts arise in our hearts?”   Eight days later he appears again to them and now Thomas is present.  His words to Thomas, “Do not disbelieve but believe.  Blessed are those who have not see and yet have believed.”  

From Acts 1:3 we learn;“ To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the Kingdom of God. “

My thought this resurrection day is that this same Jesus, the word made flesh, is as true today as He was on that morning.  His word is filled with truth and power if we will simply believe what He has said. Hearing can never be met with unbelief simply because we do not understand. We must choose to simply receive and proclaim, Be it unto me according to your word.  I believe, help my unbelief!  These are the responses that are met with the power of God.  

I heard a prophetic word to the church the other day which basically said, I have many things to say but you are not able to hear.  They are too big for us to believe. But in the days, weeks and months ahead I am increasing your faith so we can hear, see and believe the great things He will decree for us to achieve. 

It has always been by believing that we receive the life promised to us by the Father through Jesus Christ.  All things are possible to Him that believes.  It is impossible for God to lie and He who comes to God must believe…

May we find the strengthening power of His Spirit and Word enabling us to enter into new realms of trust and confidence in Him.   After all, it is Resurrection day and is intended to be a day when resurrection life continues to be seen.  

Palm Sunday

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

Today we celebrate an historical Sunday.  Palm Sunday marks for us the beginning of the last week of life Jesus Christ had on this earth.  When we think about preparation and the things that must be worked in us, that must be worked out of us so that the will of God can be worked through us, we must understand that the only place this can happen is in a personal wilderness that leads us all ultimately to our own personal cross.  There are no shortcuts on this path of “death to self” but it does hold at the end the promise of “resurrection life”. 

The apostle Paul wrote to the Phillipians that he wanted to engage in the sufferings of Christ so he could know Christ’s resurrection power. I recently read, “If we don’t want to engage in suffering it is because we don’t want to quit sinning” referring to 1 Peter 4:1.  That is a powerful thought.    

The four Gospels devote a great amount of space to this very important week in the life of Christ.  28% of Matthew, 35% of Mark, 16% of Luke and 43% of John is written in the time frame of this last week in the life of Christ here on earth.  I thought we would all benefit from taking a look at the following (taken from jesus.org) and allowing it to shape our hearts this week.  

Sunday

    •    Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem

    •    Spends the night in Bethany

    •    Matthew 21:1;Mark 11:1;Luke 19:29;John 12:12

Monday

    •    Leaves Bethany

    •    Curses the fig tree on the way into the city

    •    Weeps over Jerusalem

    •    Cleanses the temple for the second time in His ministry

    •    Late in day, looks into the Temple, then leaves the city

    •    Spends the night in Bethany

    •    Matthew 21:12. Mark 11:22. Luke 19:45

 Tuesday

    •    Leaves Bethany

    •    Finds the fig tree withered; teaches on faith

    •    Possesses the temple and its precincts; confounds and pronounces woes upon His enemies

    •    Leaves city; Olivet Discourse on way back to Bethany

    •    Judas bargains with Sanhedrin to betray Jesus

    •    Spends the night in Bethany

    •    Matthew 21:20. Mark 11:20. Luke 20:36. John 12:20

Wednesday

Silent Day

    •    No record in the Gospels, but much activity as Jesus prepares for Last Supper and as Judas and the Sanhedrin prepare for Jesus' arrest

    •    Remains in Bethany throughout the day, stays night there

Thursday

    •    Peter and John sent to make preparation for Passover meal

    •    After sunset, eats meal with the twelve; washes disciples; Judas departs

    •    Lord's Supper instituted

    •    To Garden of Gethsemane; Jesus' agony

    •    Betrayal by Judas; arrest by Sanhedrin

    •    To house of High Priest as Sanhedrin is convened; Peter betrays Jesus

    •    Matthew 26:1. Mark 14:1. Luke 22:1

Friday

The Trials of Jesus Christ

    •    First trial, before Annas [night time hours]; Annas is looking for an accusation, biding time till Sanhedrin is gathered at High Priestly villa

    •    Second [and primary] trial before Sanhedrin, Jesus is condemned, misused

  •    Third trial, immediately at dawn [meanwhile, Peter denies Jesus a third time; Jesus looks upon him]; the condemnation repeated, then Jesus taken to Romans

    •    Fourth trial before Pilate [till "beginning at Galilee"]

    •    Fifth trial before Herod [looks for miracle]

    •    6th trial before Pilate

    ◦    Jesus is scourged; the city cries, "Crucify Him or we will tell Rome!"

    ◦    Jesus is finally turned over to be crucified

    ◦    Jesus mocked (Roman soldiers); crown of thorns

    ◦    Judas hangs himself

    ◦    Jesus bears His cross to gate on north of city and is crucified around 9 am

The Death of the God-Man

About 3 pm; veil torn, rocks rent; some graves opened and people rise [to mortality] and go into the city

    •    Jesus' side pierced

    •    Passover lambs slain in temple

    •    Jesus buried by sundown

        Matthew 26:1. Mark 14:53. Luke 22:54. John 18:13

Saturday

April 15

    •    At the request of the Jewish leadership, Pilate grants a guard and sets a seal on the tomb of Jesus

    •    Matthew 27:66

Sunday

April 16

Jesus Christ rises from the dead (before dawn) and makes five appearances on the day of His rising:

    1    To Mary Magdalene [given a message to the disciples]

    2    To the other women who come to the tomb [intending to complete the burial preparation of His body]

    3    To two disciples on the Road to Emmaus

    4    To Simon Peter [nowhere recorded, but alluded to in Luke 24:33 and 1 Corinthians 1:5]

    5    To the astonished disciples [Thomas is absent]

Exodus 3:7; “I have surely seen the affliction of my people ...and have heard their cry ..."

Exodus 3:7; “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, I know their sufferings and I have come down to delver them out of the hand of the Egyptians to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land...” 

God knows. God moves. God delivers through a man. 

The book of Exodus is the history of the children of Israel coming out of the captivity and slavery of Egypt and their process into the promised land. 

In Exodus we find the beginnings of Moses, a man prepared by God for this very purpose. We learn Moses is raised as the son of Pharaohs daughter. From Acts 7 we read Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and he was mighty in his words and deeds. The Jewish Historian Josephus identifies Moses as an educator, a legislator, poet, and above all a great general and prophet. 

In this place of prominence Acts 7 goes on to tell us when Moses was 40 it came into his heart to visit his brothers. We know the rest of the story; Moses kills the Egyptian in an effort to help His people, his people reject him and Moses flees to the land of Midian. 

It is in the land of Midian, for another 40 years, Moses is spiritually prepared to be the deliverer of his people. Can you image having to enter into a phase of life where you are completely reshaped by the hand of God? Yet this is the very process we all enter, when we come through the New Birth. We are predestined to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Every ounce of pride we find in our human accomplishments must come to an end so that any and all boasting we do is found in God and to His glory. 

If we look at the stripping away of all natural significance we find now a man who lives in a tent content to dwell, keeping the flock of his father in law. Moses is so completely altered by this experience that when God appears to him in chapter 3 of Exodus he does not see himself as the great general he once was. He can only see his inabilities. All the things he can’t do. All the reasons he can’t with enough contention in the conversation it stirs Gods anger (chapter 4). 

The bigger picture here is the heart of God to deliver this nation. Exodus 3:7; “I have surely seen ....and have heard their cry ...I know their sufferings and I have come down to delver them..... 

Sometimes we are so hindered by our own inadequacies and perceptions of ourselves that we are stuck in this place of inactivity. While we look at circumstances and see impossibilities. God only sees capability. He knows what He has created and the potential inside His vessels. Moses asks, Who am I? Gideon said, I am the weakest. God says, But I will be with you! 

God hears a cry. God sees the suffering. God’s heart is moved. God looks for a man, a woman, a willing vessel.  Who will go for Him? Who can I send, was the question Isaiah heard. 

Jesus sums it up when he says in Matthew 10:38, the one who will not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Again from Luke 14:17 The one who will not take up his cross and follow me, cannot be my disciple. 

God’s response to all of our inadequacies is this simple phrase, I will be with you. Can we simply believe this? Can we step into the great unknown to move with Him and be His vessel of hope to a desperate cry?

"He sent out his word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction”. Psalm 107:20

Many (most?) times in our lives we are looking for a natural deliverance.  A natural change to our circumstances.  We look for the external to align to His promises and when we don’t see them we can be moved by the negative conflicts in our lives.  We lose sight of John 16:33 where Jesus promised trouble in this life with the assurance that we could still hold joy because He had overcome the world and this is the victory that we have! 

Into every situation of life, He sent his word. The word made flesh - Jesus and now the Rhema word of God is daily sent to bring us healing and delivering from all destruction.  

The deal with a Rhema word, is that we must position ourselves to receive.  Proverbs 4 reminds us to attend to His word.  To incline our ears to His sayings. They are not to depart from our sight.  We are to keep them in the midst of our heart for they are life to those who FIND them and healing to all our flesh.  We are told to search for His word as one does for treasureLet it not depart from our eyes but meditate on it

The first place God works to help us is to reveal His word to us.  There is a word that meets our need. His word is His wisdom.  This is the principal thing.  From John 16:12-15 we learn it is the the Holy Spirit who directs us to and through His word.  Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes He takes what he has heard from Jesus and reveals this to us. This is the Rhema, the revealed word to us for our situation.  The word He sends to us for that moment, that circumstance.  In that word is our wisdom.  In that word there is all the life needed to bring me up, out and through whatever pit, snare, fear, destruction, that may be working to separate us from trusting God. 

Remember with me, the purpose of all temptation is to remove us from our fellowship with God. 

The letter written to the Hebrews in the midst of suffering, chapter 10, verses 32-19, serves to remind us that the treasure they had in their relationship with the Father was the prize.  Exhorted to “not throw away their confidence which has a great reward,” but to hold steady and continue doing the will of God in order to receive what was promised.  To affirm they were not those who would shrink back and be destroyed but those who because of their trust in God preserve their souls.

What need do we face today?  God has the word that will bring healing to our circumstances and deliverance from all destruction.  May we find the place to attend to His word and incline our hearts to hear so that salvation may come to our lives.  It is the will of God. 

“And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ… “ Romans 8:17

Demanding something when you don’t have the right or the relationship is fruitless.  We know God loves all, but we also know he is Father to his children.  We know he makes his rain fall on the just and the unjust, but as his children we are born into the rights and privileges of His family.  

From Genesis we have a picture of the two sons of Abraham, one born after the flesh and one born according to the promise.  The child, Issac, born according to promise inherited the blessing given to His Father.  The child, Ishmael, was cast out.  Simply to say, it is the son of promise that is assured all of the Fathers Blessings. 

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

In the story of the Prodigal son from Luke 15 we see again two sons.  Both sons receive their inheritance.  One who lives in submission serving his Father and the other who leaves to squander his inheritance living in sin.  From verse 29 we learn something about the nature of our Father and the blessing of the Father.  

Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’“And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

Do we, like the prodigal, ask for what is ours only to misuse it?  Or, like the elder, do weget angry because of a brothers restoration and blessing simply because we have not asked for what is ours?  The Father declares you have always been with me and all that is mine is yours.

He is not withholding any good thing from us but rather has set us in His household with every resource available to us that He possesses. Could it be our limitations are self imposed from our own heart of unbelief?  He who did not withhold his own son from us, how will he not with him freely give us all things? We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.

The Fathers heart is for us to know and believe ~ all that is His is ours.  We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus.  We are blessed because we are His children.

I set before you Life and Death.

Daily we exercise the power to say yes and the power to say no. We all have many factors that influence our choices, but only one that should be our standard.   Did God say, is the end of all questions.  If God said, then we put our hand to the plow and we just move forward knowing His word to us is enough to accomplish His will.  Does that make it easy, absolutely not.  We choose to obey and then we choose to stay submitted as we walk out the choice.  

From Deuteronomy 30:19, “Moses set before the people this day, life and death, blessing and cursing, with the instructions to choose life that they and their children might live.  Not just to live, but in that you choose to love the Lord your God, obey his voice and hold fast to him for he is your life and length of days that you may dwell in the land that the Lord promised.”

Choosing life, is choosing to love and obey.  Choosing to hold fast to Him is simply remaining submitted to Him in the process.  Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength.  Jesus gave us a new commandment, to love one another AS he has loved us.  Love is the fulfilling of the law and because we love him our heart is to serve and obey Him, for He is our life. 

We have been given a great power, that of will.  Will is all about choices.  We are all self willed until we come to the Father and learn how to submit for His greater purpose (which always works for our good).  

Life is just a series of daily choices.  Who, what, where, when, are the things we choose every day. They all seem innocent enough until we begin to measure what’s driving these choices and where they have taken us.  

Romans 6:16 reminds us 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness.  We used to be servants of sin and lived to serve ourselves after our own self interests and appetites.   Now as servants of Christ, we are to yield our members (bodies) to serve Him in righteousness, his way of doing and being right.  

Choose life, not just to live but in that you choose to love the Lord your God, obey his voice and hold fast to Him for He is your life and length of days.  God always has a better way but we must choose it.

....for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God... John 12:43

How can we possibly move away from this snare?  We are taught at such an early age that success is defined by bigger and better.  We compare ourselves among ourselves and look for affirmation from our peers.  Here we see from the gospel of John this is nothing new and something to remember as we grow up into Him.  The Spirit that drives this has been around since the fall of man, and will endeavor to allure us with the worldly system.   

This Greek word for love in this verse is agape, the love that God has and shows in and through His self sacrificial acts for the well being of another.  Used in this verse’s context we would understand their love for mans glory to be twisted and perverted because it is self serving.  It strives to benefit them, to exalt them.  

Our aim is to glorify God, not ourselves.  Jesus said, I do not seek my own glory.  From Matthew 5 we read where Jesus said,  41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

In Luke 12:43 we find Jesus denouncing the Pharisees with “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.”

John wrote in his epistle this spirit is of the world and is not from the Father. John called it the pride of life.  This worldly spirit drives us to find our worth in the glory that comes from worldly things that are defined by man and not God. Jesus called this Mammon in Matthew 6 and tells us we cannot serve Mammon and God at the same time.  You love one or the other, not both. We understand mammon, while it includes money is so much more than money, and is anything that we build our trust in other than God.  

Jesus’ question: “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God”  hits to the heart of the matter.  How can we believe the Father or His word, when we are constantly putting our trust in what we can glean from man? 

Man can never replace what God has intended we receive from Him.  When we love man’s approval, when we seek man’s validation, we fall back into the worlds system of mammon and are snared by the pride of life.  When we continually seek the glory that can only come from our Father, we strive for those things pleasing to Him and find ourselves enjoying the glory He gives. 

..I fall to my knees before the Father from whom all fatherhood, (earthly or heavenly, derives its name) .... Ephesians 3:14-21 J.B. Phillips NT in Modern English ~

The Amplified Bible adds [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name. 

Ephesians 3:14-21 J.B. Phillips NT in Modern English ~  
When I think of the greatness of this great plan, I fall to my knees before the Father from whom all fatherhood, (earthly or heavenly, derives its name) and I pray that out of the glorious richness of his resources he will enable you to know the strength of the Spirits inner reinforcement, that Christ may actually live in your hearts by your faith.  And I pray that you, firmly fixed in love yourselves, may be able to grasp (with all Christians) how wide and deep and long and high is the love of Christ and to know for yourselves that love so far beyond our comprehension.  May you be filled through all your being with God himself.

Understanding Fatherhood opens us to the identity He gives to each and every one which ultimately yields our security and confidence in His love. 

A Father gives us life.  Identity (which is defined as: the fact of being) comes from our Fathers. Fathers give us our name (identity) and (hopefully) an inheritance, and instinctively we understand a Father is someone who we are to depend on to provide and protect.  

These are all human understandings that we have because fundamentally they are the nature of our Heavenly Father.  He is the creator of all things. 

Psalms reminds us that we, by the very hand of God, have been fearfully and wonderfully made.  Ephesians goes on to remind us we are stamped, imprinted by the very plan of God not only with purpose and destiny but unlimited ability as we find our place in Him.  That fact is that what we are we owe to the hand of God upon us.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do those good deeds which God planned for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

It is His heart that draws us, calling us to His family.  Our Heavenly Father is the Father of Spirits.  It is our Heavenly Father that gives breathe and life to the natural form.  

With eternity in our hearts we begin our quest in this life, dependent upon natural fathers and mothers to show us this heavenly nature.  We've all had to re learn "Father" as we have come into His family and yet thre is this constant cry from Him declaring,
You are wanted!  You are valuable! You are accepted!  Ephesians 1:

Once our hearts respond to Him through the New birth we begin this divine relationship, Galatians 4:6 it is because you really are his sons that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts to cry, Father, dear Father.  

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry - abba Father. 

To discover Him as Father begins the fulfillment of every heart need we have and begins with Paul's prayer here from Ephesians, to know His love.   

..... to make her an altogether glorious Church in his eyes.....

Christ gave himself to make her holy, having cleansed her through the baptism of His word - to make her an altogether glorious Church in his eyes.  She is to be free from spots, wrinkles or any other disfigurement - a Church holy and perfect. Ephesians 5:26-27 J.B. Phillips paraphrase.

We find in the midst of Pauls comments to husbands and wives this standard of Christ.   We use Ephesians 5 to teach on marriage but verse 32 reminds us that “the marriage relationship is doubtless a great mystery, but I am speaking of something deeper still - the marriage of Christ and his Church.  We understand the marriage union is designed on earth to teach and train us for something far greater, two becoming one, holy and perfectly joined.    

It is in this union we are to learn how to express the nature of Christ in every situation.  We are to learn how to live vitally united without allowing any schism to divide and conqueror the union. We learn selflessness.  We learn to die daily.  We learn to adapt and conform for the wellbeing of oneness.  We have an earthly institution to live out and practice something far greater ~ our divine, eternal relationship with the Father and Son expressing the very image and nature of Him.  This is His glory.

All working together so that Christ is able to present to himself a glorious church not having spot, wrinkle or any other blemish.  His church will be holy and without fault and in this ~ she is glorious. Romans reminds us that we have been predestined to be conformed to the image of the son.  Again, Hebrews tells us Christ was the express image of the Father, thus His church, His body will be the same. 

As this new man in Christ, we are learning who and what we ought to be according to the plan of God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

From the Discovery Bible HELPS Word-studies perfect means ~ Cognate: 5046 téleios (an adjective, derived from 5056 /télos, "consummated goal") – mature (consummated) from going through the necessary stages to reach the end-goal, i.e. developed into a consummating completion by fulfilling the necessary process (spiritual journey). See 5056 (telos). [This root (tel-) means "reaching the end (aim)." It is well-illustrated with the old pirate's telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness).]

2 Peter reminds us we have qualities preventing us from becoming ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  In practicing these qualities we will never fail. Peter wrote “I intend always to remind you of these qualities. To stir up the body so they, at any time, are able to recall.  We are the body of Christ called to live pure and holy.  No spot, no wrinkle, no blemish.  

Peter describe these “spots, wrinkles and blemishes asfalse teachers with destructive heresies who follow their own sensuality.  They are greedy, bold and willful, indulging in defiling lusts and despising authority.  Peter declares, blots and blemishes! Full of adultery, insatiable for sins.  Enticing unsteady souls, hearts trained in greed, forsaking the way. 

These blots and blemishes rise up among us and feast with us but Peter assures usthese things will dissolve and, as we wait on His return, we are to be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish and at peace.  

As we live in the light as He is the light we shine.  Adopted as his own children through Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father desires that we might learn and understand that through the cost of his son’s own blood, we have been redeemed, freely forgiven through His full and generous grace which abounds to us daily. Now to him, who by his power within us, is able to do infinitely more than we could ever ask or imagine - to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever, Amen!

We live in the days of abounding grace from the Father which enables us to live righteously and display His glory. A Church holy and perfect, she is to be free from spots, wrinkles or any other disfigurement.

“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one”. ~ John 17:22

From the HELPS Word-studies (found on biblehub.com) we read the word glory means ~ 

1391 dóksa (from dokeō, "exercising personal opinion which determines value") – glory. 1391 /dóksa ("glory") corresponds to the OT word, kabo (OT 3519, "to be heavy"). Both terms convey God's infinite, intrinsic worth (substance, essence).

[1391 (dóksa) literally means "what evokes good opinion, i.e. that something has inherent, intrinsic worth" (J. Thayer).]

Again, glory speaks to value, intrinsic worth.  What is the glory that the Father gave to the son? I believe it is seen in the word son. The value of sonship.   As the New Testament begins to reveal the relationship of the Father to the son we see glory manifested and filled with grace and truth. You can’t really see “grace and truth” but you can see what they produce in and through a son.  John 1:16 declares “and from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”  

If this glory is simply that manifestation of all God is, His very essence, in all goodness, mercy, lovingkindness (as we saw from Exodus) then we can begin to understand what glory looks like when given to us.  We see the express image of the Father, in all of His glory, being manifested through the works and words Jesus did and spoke. John 17:6, “I have manifested your name”;  verse 8: “given them the words that you gave me” and ” the glory given me, I have given them”, verse 22.  The ability to become the sons of God doing his works and declaring His word. 

John 1:12 tells us we have been given power to become the sons of God.  Interesting word power; it literally means, authority or the power to act.   Romans 8:29 tells us we have been predestined to conform to the image of His son. All of Gods sons, like Jesus, carry the nature and the character of God. Again from John 1:16 “from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.   We carry His glory.  We reflect His glory.   From Hebrews 1:3 we read, he (Jesus) is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of the nature .  The NLT reads, The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God.

Colossians 1:27 reminds us that the riches of the glory of the mystery of God is Christ in us, the hope of glory.  May we ever increasingly come to understand our call to reflect the nature, the essence, of our Father to truly display His glory in all that is seen and hear

and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.   

                                 Romans 5:1-2 Berean Bible

What exactly does this “rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” mean to us?   It says to me, I come to God believing He is my rewarder which moves me into His grace, that the bible says is rich and abounding.  This grace is sufficient for any and every circumstance I’m facing.  In this place I possess an unshakeable hope that I shall see the goodness of God manifested to me. This hope is full of rejoicing.

This is from the Discovery Bible Word Study notes on this word “rejoice” 

2744 kauxáomai – properly, living with "head up high," boasting from a particular vantage point – i.e. the base of operation to deal with a matter.  Only the context shows whether this root (kaux-) refers to Holy Spirit-produced boasting (Spirit-confidence) or vain boasting (self-confidence).

[2744 (kauxaomai) likely comes from the root, auxēn ("neck"), i.e. what holds the head up high (upright); figuratively, it refers to living with God-given confidence.

Faith should always move us into His grace. Standing in that grace gives us a “base of operation to deal with a matter”.  We enter into peace which flows from the we hold. Hope which we rejoice or boast about.   Read Romans 5:1 from the Phillips Translation ~ Since then it is by faith that we are justified, let us grasp the fact that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through him we have confidently entered into this new relationship of grace, and here we take our stand, in happy certainty of the glorious things he has for us in the future.  This doesn’t mean of course, that we have only a hope of future joys ~ we can be full of joy here and now even in our trials and troubles....  

David (McGrew) asks the question: when the circumstances dominate your emotions negatively, ‘where is faith?’.  Without that unshakeable trust in our Father, there is no peace, no hope (expectation), no joy and certainly no rejoicing or boasting in God.  

I understand the times we just don’t feel like boasting in God but I’m also aware that ‘rejoicing’ is the greatest expression of our faith and hope that can be seen.  It isn’t about ‘happy’. It’s about our declaration in the midst of trouble.  It’s about knowing and declaring our redeemer is great and mighty.  It’s about knowing and declaring His love and care, being assured He is working on our behalf.  “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord”. 

Every circumstance should bring us into a closer encounter with our Father.  A drawing near to him for the salvation we need in the circumstances in which we find ourselves.  Proverbs decrees - trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not to your own understanding. Our own understanding is limited until the Spirit of Truth is able to reveal truth to us and we are able to be ready and willing to hold the mind of Christ and the wisdom of God. When this comes, we must choose to acknowledge His ways and walk in them to find the life He gives.  This is the fear of the Lord.  This is departing from your own wisdom, this is a turning away from the evil of self will.  We don’t outthink our problems.  We bring them captive to the obedience of His word and we ‘boast’ in the greatness and glory of our God.

O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive...? Matthew 16:8-9

Last week we saw where the children of Israel had seen and experienced the glory and goodness of God and yet their experiences failed to shape their understanding and conviction that at all times and in every circumstance, God was faithful to care for them. 

Here we find a New Testament example of the same thing:  

When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 

God manifests himself and in our humanity we examine the manifestation to pieces.  Jesus called it reasoning.  Jesus said it was little faith; faith yes, but little faith. From verse 8,  the ESV reads “discussing” and that sounds perfectly reasonable and yet that’s the point.  Heres the Greek on that word. 

dialogísomai, from diá (1223), and logízomai (3049), to reckon, reason. To reckon through, to settle an account,  to consider, reason, discourse, whether in silence by oneself or by discourse with others to consider together, deliberate, debate.  Thayer says “the thinking of a man deliberating within himself. Lightfoot says, It is the intellectual rebellion against God. Helps Word Studies says it is a back and forth reasoning that is self based and therefore confused especially as it contributes to reinforcing others in discussion to remain in their initial prejudice.  

Jesus uses this word in Mark 7:21 about “evil thoughts”.  He uses this word in Luke 24:38 when he appears to the disciples who are troubled and doubting his resurrection.  It is the same word used in Philippians 2:4 where we are instructed to do all things without grumbling and disputings- “dialogisomai”.  

It’s when we enter into this “dialogisomai” with ourselves or others that has the ability to lead us into temptation and sin.   It’s either the internal dialogue or the external debate. How far can I get to the edge of this command and still not fall over?   We can’t argue with God or His word and win. 

Kenneth E Hagin used to say, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it for me.”

A good truth to live by.

“Surely all the men who have seen MY glory and MY signs... yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice.” Numbers 14:22

You'll recognize this portion of scripture as the judgment God gives regarding the result of Israel spying out the promised land.  God decrees, from Numbers 14:21-23; " But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give their Fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it." 

There is danger in seeing the glory of the Lord and His signs yet refusing to allow them to shape your revelation of God.  “Put me to the test” means we demand to see God work before we trust Him; always doubting and questioning Him and His word.  As NT believers, from Luke 4, we learn; “ It is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to test” 

We get a better understanding of what that looks like when we see how Satan tempted Jesus.  He took him onto the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and said “if you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and on their hands they will bear you up, lest youstrike your foot against a stone.”  Jesus answered, “ It is written you shall not put the Lord your God to test. 

Psalm 18:30; 119:140 and Proverbs 30:5 all declare God’s word has been tested and proved.  Every word is flawless one translation reads.  

In this temptation, Jesus is pushed to doubt His place and the Fathers care.  Sin would have moved Him to a place of self preservation, in other words, to do something God had not instructed Him to do from a place of insecurity and fear. It is the same temptation we face when we meet circumstances beyond our control.  Is His word strong enough to sustain us through these circumstances?  Our answer must be an unshakeable and resounding YES!

I’m sure we all have, in different times and seasons, been guilty of putting God to the test. First Corinthians 10:6tells us that Old Testament events have been written not to condemn us and leave us hopeless but rather as “examples for us” that we might not desire evil like they did.  If we hear His voice, we don’t harden our hearts and refuse to believe what God is saying. Our admonition is Hebrews 3:12 ~ 

“Take care brothers, let there be in any of you an evil unbelieving heart leading you to fall away from the living God.  But exhort one another every day as long as it is called “today” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (note: Satan tried to reason with Jesus using the word of God.  It’s always good to know your motivators as you rightly discern the will of God).

Just remember - there were those who did see God’s glory and His signs and believed His word. They obeyed Him and entered the promised land. Numbers 14:24 "But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring him into the land...." 

There is hope for us in this one word ~ Today.  Today, we can refuse to test Him, choosing to allow His glory and His signs declare His goodness and faithfulness to us.  Today we can choose to believe and simply obey.   

“.... filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes thorough Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God”. Philippians 1:11

As I look into this greater weight of glory this season, I am continually checked by the Holy Spirit that ‘meekness is required and humility is a must’.  Manifesting this greater weight of glory will truly demand selfless souls.  We are not striving to show off ourselves. We are not seeking our own glory. John 8:50. We live with the awareness that humanity tends to hero worship and self adulation.  All that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions (accomplishments) is not of the Father and are all passing away. We can not lose sight of this and allow ourselves to be lured into any deception that says “by the might of my hand”.

When Moses asked to see the glory of God it was for the purpose of understanding the nature and character of God.  We must always guard our motivation when seeking the promises of God.  Why do I really want this?  Ephesians 1:12 reminds us "so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory." 

Paul wrote about momentary light afflictions working a greater weight of glory. I see the season that we have left as one of great pruning in the church for the purposes of bringing forth this greater fruit in all righteousness.  Pauls prayer in chapter one of Philippians is the desire for the church to be increasing in love with knowledge and all discernment, so that they are able to approve things that are excellent, to be pure and blameless and filled with the fruits of righteousness that come through Jesus Christ and always bring glory and praise to God.

To manifest a greater weight of glory will require a great weight of abiding, abounding love.  Every thought, every word and every deed must be saturated with the pureness of God’s love and righteousness.   It is only with and in this Spirit that we can hope to see God work mightily in and through us.

Let us purpose in this season to lay aside all the things that have entangled us, get our eyes off of us and our issues and move into Him as never before for the purpose of carrying His presence and manifesting this greater weight of glory.

Christ in you the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

We are all familiar with Colossians 1:25-27, where the Apostle Paul discusses the stewardship he has received to reveal to the saints the fulness of the mystery of gospel of Christ and how God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

It is the awareness of this mystery, and understanding the riches it holds, that enables us to fully display Christ in His glory. We can never exceed “what has been given” buthave we entered into the place of “fully operating” in all that has been assigned and given us? Are we fully functioning as the part we have been made in the place we have been given? Jesus declared in John 17, I have glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. Jesus said, in John 9 as the light of the world, that he had to do the works given him while it was light, verse 4.   

The glory has many ways of being expressed but if we use Exodus 34 as a standard we find God himself manifesting His glory as He proclaims His name; 6:The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7: keeping steadfast love for thousands, (literal Hebrew on this phrase is: covenant-loyalty preeminently, God's perfect loyalty to His own covenant) forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin...”  Pauls prayer from Ephesians 1 is “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory would give unto us a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him”.  

From the New Testament we see Jesus expressing the glory of His Father. Hebrews 1:3 tells us Jesus was the express image of the Father and from John 1:14 when Jesus was manifest we were able to behold His glory; full of grace and truth. So we know that glory is something we are able to see.  Glory is full of grace, which we understand to be God’s enabling power at work and glory is full of absolute, pure truth.  It is light and there is no darkness in it.  When His glory is manifested it is in all mercy and grace, full of compassion, faithfulness and love and forgiveness (but in no way clearing the guilty ~ repentance is always the foundation for forgiveness, by mercy and truth iniquity is purged). This is the very heart of God that we must hold in order to righteously expressHis glory 

John’s gospel shows us Jesus as the true light which gives light to everyone.  His light dispels darkness and 2 Corinthians 4:4 tells us it is the work of Satan to blind the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  We can then see the first place of glory that we as the church are to manifest His glory is through the proclamation of the mystery of the gospel of Christ.  It is this proclamation of the word, not enticing words of mans wisdom but in power and demonstration bringing light, revelation, and dispelling blindness.  Jesus’ own testimony is that the Spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach the gospel to the poor.  Only the preaching of the word has the power to change a heart and thus a mind. It is the word that carries His glory.  It is Jesus and it is full of grace and truth.  It is the preaching of His word that we see Him high and lifted up receiving glory and revealing glory.  

Paul said in Col. 2:28-29;  Him we proclaim warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present every man mature in Christ.  For this I toil struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.  

May this year continue to hold new realms of revelation, wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of Him enabling each of us to more fully express Christ and show forth His glory.

"...A greater weight of glory..." 2 Cor. 4:17

This is the phrase the keeps coming to me as I pray about 2017. We know that Jesus is coming after a glorious church, one without spot, wrinkle or any blemish. I believe the pruning work the Holy Spirit has been doing in His body has prepared us for this next season the church is entering. 

Paul wrote these momentary light afflictions work a far greater weight of glory in us.  As we have learned, and continue to learn to lay aside self, God is able to more fully manifest Himself to the world we live in.  Jesus said he did not seek the glory for himself but His desire was to manifest the Father and do His works.  He glorified the Father by finishing the works he was given.  

Jesus prays saying the glory that was given to him by the Father he has given to us, his disciples, so that we may be one even as Jesus and the Father are one.  “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one. John 17:22-23. 

Greater works with greater glory are destined for His church in the days ahead. 

When Jesus began his ministry Johns gospel tells us ‘the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

From Acts 2:22 we read Peters message to the crowds, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know,”  The word “attested” here from the Greek means to show off, exhibit; figuratively it means to demonstrate or accredit (Strong’s). The ASV and others use the phrase “approved of God“. 

The glory that rested upon Jesus was the approval of God. The manifestations brought glory to God.  God manifesting His glory through a yielded vessel who would not take the glory for himself. 

Our desire can never be to seek the glory that comes from man.  This is strength of the pride of life.  To promote oneself for the purpose of acquiring validation from man only shows the insecurity of our own hearts.  Jesus did not seek his own glory.  If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. John 8:50.  It is only the Fathers glory resting upon us that brings the vessel glory. John 8:54

Humility well be the hallmark of the Christian walking in this greater weight of glory in the days ahead.  The Holy Spirit reminds me, “meekness is required and humility is a must "
in order to walk in this greater weight of glory, a glory filled with grace and truth.  

C.S. Lewis wrote in his message on Weight of Glory  ~ “When human souls have become as perfect in voluntary obedience as the inanimate creation is in its lifeless obedience, then they will put on its glory, or rather that greater glory of which Nature is only the first sketch.”

What we long for and what we seek is the approval that rests upon sons, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth, that the Father pronounced upon Jesus, as hewalked in obedience to all He commanded.  

As we enter into this New Year may we do so seeking the glory that can only come from the Father on sons and daughters wholly separated to do His will. 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given .... and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

As we move into this Christmas season let’s take a look at the prophetic promise given by Isaiah concerning Jesus and His name. 

Philippians 2:9 tells us God has exalted Jesus to the highest place and given Him the name above all names that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

Its interesting to note that the KJV lists Isaiah 9:6 as 5 distinct names, separating Wonderful from Counselor.  Keli and Delitzsch OT commentary establishes the argument for this rendering to be accurate along with Jamieson Fausset Brown.  However the majority of commentaries and bible translations today seem to lean to one name here, “Wonderful Counselor”.  We know him to be all; Wonderful, Counselor and a Wonderful Counselor.  However we interpret this, we will never diminish the glories found in this name ~   Wonderful Counselor ~ 

Is. 28:29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel

and excellent in wisdom. 

We know from Isaiah 11 the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Jesus; the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. 

Proverbs tell us it is the Lord who gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding with the assurance when wisdom comes into our hearts knowledge comes and discretion watches over us.  Understanding guards us and delivers us from every evil way.  King David declared in Psalm 16:7~  I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

Every promise of God finds its yes and amen in Christ Jesus.  Colossians 2:2-3 tells us in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.   Christ is the wisdom of God who has been made unto us wisdom and we now are able to hold the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:24;30. 1 Corinthians 2:16.

Do we lack wisdom?  James epistle exhorts, ask God! He gives liberally without reproach.  Jesus desires for us to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.  The Father does not withhold any good thing from us and that includes His wisdom.  Proverbs tells us it must be searched out.  We find wisdom as we feed upon the word.  Jesus and his word are inseparable.  Jesus is the word.  The word is Jesus.  Jesus said in John 15:15 ~ No longer do I call you servants,for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.  He promised the Holy Spirit would take the things he had declared and make them known to us. John 16:14

His name is called Wonderful Counselor. His wisdom, his will, his purpose, his heart, his mind are all revealed to us through Jesus.  A wonderful reason to rejoice in this season. 

For all the promises of God find their yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 2:20

ALL the promises of God find their ‘Yes’ in Christ.  Our job is to utter the ‘So be it’  to the promises we hold bringing glory to God from a place of absolute confidence in Him to perform what He has promised.  

Let us not loose sight of Romans 8:32; He who spared not His own son has, with Him has freely given us all things.

Ephesians 1:3 We have been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Everything we have need of has has been provided for us, in Christ.

Colossians 2:9 reminds us we are complete in Him.  Jesus has destroyed the power of the devil.  He has translated us out of the dominion of sin, the Kingdom of darkness, and we reign in this life by Him.  We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. 

We need to make sure that we are fully trusting God in and through all of life’s opportunities.  The danger of knowing truth is just that - knowing. Knowing doesn’t necessarily mean we also believe them.  We can mentally assent to a truth but that does not in any way equate to active faith.  You shall know the truth (Jesus is the word, thy word is truth) and the truth shall set you free.  It must be living heart knowledge that moves us to active believing.  

These are days where we must move beyond the place of knowing to making sure we are living fully engaged in the midst of circumstances trusting the Greater One who lives in us. We must fight the good fight of faith and take what is ours through the authority committed to us in That Name.  

Our adversary, the devil, the accuser, the father of all lies, will simply not yield uncontested ground. Therefore where we are complacent, we will live with restriction and limitations, not because God does not love us or care about what we are experiencing but simply because we choose not to take the weapons given to us and find our strength in God to fight for what is ours.

Jesus said, when He met Satan in the wilderness, “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  There is no abundant life without exalting Gods word.  

Secondly He said, “you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.”  We must evaluate every circumstance in our lives to make sure the circumstances are not defining us leaving us to worship the lie and thus giving undue glory to the Father of all lies, Satan.

We spend our time trying to get problems out of our lives but if we spent the same energy staying vitally connected to Him, full of the Holy Spirit; He then becomes the supernatural barrier which deflects every fiery dart of the evil one. 

All His promises are Yes and we add our Amen to them.

So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God].... that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean)....... Acts 3:19 Amplified Translation

Jesus said a house divided can not stand.  Where I am not aligned and conforming to the Fathers will, in thought, purpose and action, I am divided.  I am not seeking His will but mine and the Father says this is sin.  The only remedy for sin is repentance.   

I think most of us know the definition of the word repent, but look at the difference between our English definition and the Greek. 

•  English: feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin.  
• Greek: metanoeó from Acts 3:19 means: to change one's mind or purpose.

 There is no repentance where there is no change.  There might be “sorries” (our favorite Canadian word) but have we truly changed our mind or purposes?

John the Baptist cried ~ Bring forth fruit meet for repentance.  In other words don’t tell me you’re sorry - show me.  Show me by the change of behaviour, change of words, change of mind set, change of heart- for a godly sorrow works repentance not to be repented of.   

We know change can only be done by the empowering work of the Holy Spirit and some personal inclinations -“iniquities”- might take longer to break off, but Jesus said it’s because we love our darkness more than the light; John 3:19 that repentance does not take place.  When we step into the light, as he is in the light, there is no darkness abiding there; John 12:35,46.  I have to ask myself regarding lingering actions, have I really changed my mind?  Do I really agree with what God has said about this?

  This work the Holy Spirit does in us is “miracle working power”, Acts 1:8. He is a purifier of the heart. He is holy.  Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound, Romans 5:20 and from the Amplified bible it says grace has surpassed it (sin) and increased the more and superabounded.   God is greater and the One who lives in us is greater than He that is in the world; 1 John 4:4. If we abide in Him and His word abides in us the power of that word keeps us from falling into old patterns of the old man.   That word illuminates our understanding, it opens our eyes.  It leads us into right paths; Psalm 23:3  

As I stand to receive from God, any place where I have not turned from my ways to serve Him, becomes the stumbling block for my ability to receive from God.  There are times each of us need mercy because we have sinned.  If because of sin consciousness, we are unable to come boldly to Him, we do not receive the things He is willing to freely pour out. 

James 4:3 tells us if we ask and fail to receive it’s because we have asked with the wrong motives.  Our intention, in that case, is to get what we desire and spend it in sensual pleasures.  In other words, wemay need some kind of healing, but when we do get healed we simply return to walk in the old places. James goes on to say this behaviour is like unfaithful wives having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking marriage vows to God.  Whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.  His Spirit dwelling in us yearns to be welcomed with a jealous love.  He gives us more and more grace, power of the Holy Spirit, to meet the evil tendency.

1John 3: 20-21 God is greater than our heart and knows all things and if my heart does not condemn me then I have confidence toward God and whatever we ask, we receive. 

What’s the answer?  Again: James said, Come close to God and He will come close to you.  We must acknowledge the sin, get our soiled hands clean; realize we have been disloyal, wavering, individuals with divided interests, and purify our hearts from spiritual adultery.  ‘Humbling ourselves’ is the place before God that He will exalt us, lifting us up. 

It is in the place of unity with our Father that He commands the blessing ~ life evermore.