Re-Membrance Day

With all the communication and miscommunication that has been flying back and forth, we need to stop and intently listen for the voice of the Father in it all. He IS (always) speaking, but some hear only thunder, others hear nothing, and unfortunately still others hear something but choose to tune it out. If we are truly His, we CAN hear His voice. If we are truly His, we have been given HIS mind to perceive and understand what it is He is saying… to us as individuals and to us as a corporate body. Because we are truly His, it HAS been given to us to KNOW, and the Spirit has been given to lead us into ALL aspects of Truth (Jesus Christ).

The all important questions we need to ask are….

1. Are we in The Faith (in Christ)?

And, if we can answer in the affirmative then…

2. Are we desirous to hear and appropriate (obey) what He has to say to us?

As I have been meditating on “Remembrance Day” in the light of recent dialogue, discussions and the Word that has been shared of late, namely the battle we are all in with our greatest enemy…. OUR OWN CARNAL MIND (Romans 8:5-7), I am hearing and seeing again that God is doing a deep work of re-newing, re-minding and re-membering within His own Body. For Judgment must first begin in the House of God (1 Pet 4:17) so that is what we are experiencing. Can we confidently say, “Bring it on Lord! Purify Your glorious House so that the world might see Your likeness and image in us, Your Body, Your Temple, Your Ekklesia!” ?

Are we not all members of His body? And if so, then why must He “re-member” us? What do we mean by “re-membering”? I believe what He is doing in the process of re-membering us is not so much adding or removing, but more-so preparing for positioning, shuffling and joining the stones, if you will, fitly framing us together according to His divine plan and design. He is causing us to examine the motivation for wanting to be “joined” where and to whom WE think we ought to be, and re-joining us with those that HE knows we ought to be, and would have us joined to. The Master Builder said; “I will build my Church (lit. Ekklesia)” and HE is doing just that. He IS the Master Builder and knows precisely what needs to be done to/in each of the stones as He fashions us out in the quarry in order to be placed (planted) in the Temple that HE is building in this Day of Re-Membrance.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it.” (Psa 127:1)

Oh, how we want to be involved in the process! How we want to be consulted in the planning! We want a say in where and with whom He places us! WE often desire to be one of the “builders”, and not always do we want to be part of the Building, especially if it means that “that one” is being positioned next to me.

As has been so well articulated, and to build on what was shared in Jon’s DINNER BELL writing, perceptions are huge. In the RE-membering process, God is RE-newing our minds, to see ALL things from HIS perspective, having and thinking with HIS mind on the matter, to perceive ALL things as HE perceives them. He is RE-defining many things that we think and most often perceive through the lens of a traditional/religious/carnal mindSET. This RE-thinking, RE-pentance is disturbing to us in our comfort zones because we are truly hard “stones”, SET in our thinking. Our pride is dashed on the Rock as He visits His house and turns over the tables of our religious thinking…. “Hey! I AM a ‘member’ of the church! I attend regularly and faithfully support the ‘minister’ and the ‘programs’. Doesn’t that qualify me as a ‘member’ in the ‘church’?”

Or at another, deeper level… “Up ‘til recently I have been really comfortable in ‘the fellowship’ because they seem to ‘think’ just like I do in most ‘things’ regarding the ‘word’ and ‘theology’. But lately I have been challenged in some areas and on some ‘things’, and so perhaps it’s time for me to look for a new ‘fellowship’. Besides, what they ‘believe’ and teach is really ‘radical’ and if they aren’t careful, it could be divisive.”

All the underlined words in the above sentences are being RE-defined as He shines His light and RE-veals, unveils the true meaning of these words, concepts and principles. Beyond that, He is tearing down the traditional, religious thinking that we have all adhered to for far too long.

Hidden Manna, Secret Name

“To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” REVELATION 2:17

The manna is HIDDEN and the name is SECRET. The Lord is doing a work, but that work is, for the most part, hidden and secret. If we are always looking for something out in the open and in plain view then we will miss the deeper workings of God below the surface.

“…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13)

God IS working, below the surface, in/through every person, in/through every situation, in/through every circumstance. He is causing us, His chosen people, His Ekklesia, His Temple, His Household, His Body to GROW UP and we are most uncomfortable with the growing pains.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Eph 2:19-22)

“…you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1Pet 2:5)

There is no doubt that we are at war with opposing forces desperately wanting to see God’s building project thwarted and never brought to completion, because it would spell the end of their influence over us and over mankind. Let us not presume that by “opposing forces” that I am referring to some boogy man, “fallen” angel or demon, although without question Satan/principalities/powers in high places play a role in opposing the divine dealings of God in the earth and in our lives. However, as we have come to a greater clarity and understanding as to what his/their role is in this battle, and that it is only as we (can and do) “give place” to him/them in our minds that we can/are influenced by him/them.

But turning round and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan,” He said, “for your thoughts are not God’s thoughts (not originating in His mind), but man’s.” (Mar 8:33)

Jesus, in addressing Peter when he was opposing Christ’s intent and purpose to go to Jerusalem to be offered up, brought to light a very profound principle; That to think as a man thinks, (to rely on the human reasoning, or to think, or be motivated by the carnal mind) is to give “place” to Satan. I will say it again; the greatest enemy of us all is OUR OWN CARNAL MIND!

We are admonished to “not give place to the devil/satan”, and for the most part we piously think that we would never do such a thing. However, we do it more often than we can possibly imagine as we do so each and every time we fail to think with the mind of Christ (The Spirit of our mind), or fail to bring EVERY thought captive, into obedience to HIS mind, and proceed to think/act on the impulse/thoughts/reasoning of the carnal/fleshly/self-oriented mind.

For much more on this I refer you to Reg’s A MEETING OF MINDS.

“And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” (Rev 12:9)

Make no mistake, when and as God brings His household to completion, when His Sons are unveiled in the earth, the old Dragon will be cast down and will have no more influence in the minds of those who have finally overcome him/it (the dragon)! It is paradoxical as to which comes first. As we co-labor with Him in this warfare to cast down the strongholds in our minds, cast out/down the strong man (the carnal, reasoning mind), we will come to full maturity as His House, His Temple, His overcoming Sons. Consequentially, when and as He completes the work in us, and brings us into the FULL knowledge of Himself, when/as He has competed the building of His glorious House, when/as we grow up in ALL aspects into the FULL stature of Jesus Christ, we will cast down and destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and will take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2Co 10:5) Is this not what it is to overcome that we might rule and reign with Him? (Rev 2:26)

For more on this, see Preston Eby’s latest writing… FROM THE CANDLESTICK TO THE THRONE from which the following excerpt is taken…

THE DRAGON, THE ANCIENT SERPENT, THE DEVIL, AND SATAN

“And the great dragon was cast out, that ancient serpent, called the Devil and Satan…” (Rev. 12:9).

The great accuser is given a fourfold name revealing the fourfold characteristics of his nature, working, and power. He is called in this verse “the dragon,” “the serpent,” “the devil,” and “Satan.” “The great red dragon” carries with it the thought of monstrosity and by the description of his activity indicates a devourer, fierceness, and wrath. In the word “serpent” there is the idea of cunning, slyness, seducer, deceiver, and traducer. It is not the thought of monstrosity and fierceness showing itself in a public way, but diplomacy working undercover and accomplishing his objectives underhandedly, “the wiles of the devil” by which he “deceiveth the whole world.” The word “devil” means an adversary who seeks to destroy through slander and accusation.

In the word “Satan” we have the thought of an adversary, an opponent, or a resister. There is no thought of monstrosity, cunning, or slander — but simply opposition. One of the fundamental laws of creation is that an OPPOSING FORCE is necessary for growth, and to produce strength, stamina, and endurance. Any living thing that grows up without any opposition is weak and powerless. A plant that grows in a greenhouse sheltered from the winds and rains, pampered day after day, may grow large and beautiful, but it is inherently weak, and if suddenly exposed to the elements will wither and die. But a plant that is constantly exposed to the fierce winds and pounding rains, burning heat and chilling cold, is strong and not easily destroyed. God’s MANIFEST SONS must be strong and powerful, and anything that desires to be strong, or anyone, must wrestle with a force that is contrary to them. Any man who wants to develop muscular power to be strong, must spend weeks and months and years in vigorous training doing heavy exercises, lifting heavy weights, using the OPPOSING FORCE of gravity to DEVELOP HIS STRENGTH.

So it is with us as human beings. One who grows up in a sheltered environment, who is coddled and pampered all his life, grows up a weak, spineless individual. Adversity builds strength of character. If we were never exposed to trials and tribulations, we would grow up weak indeed! The more we are exposed to adverse circumstances, the more we have to wrestle with our environment, the more we are challenged by the world around us, the stronger we become. Saints, IF WE WOULD BE THE SONS OF THE MOST HIGH we must be STRONG in the Lord and in the power of HIS might! Our Father wants us to be strong, so He has wisely given us wrestling partners to wrestle with, so we will become strong. There are opposing forces (thank God for them!) that we must constantly battle against. Some of these adverse things are described by Paul as principalities and powers in the heavenlies. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12. There is a great and magnificent future ahead for the sons of God, and a great work our Father has for us to do in this new kingdom day and in the age and ages to come, and He is preparing us and making us ready for the high and holy place He has for us. Can we not see that ALL THE OPPOSING FORCES WE NOW ENCOUNTER IN THE HIGH PLACES OF OUR SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE are working together for our good — to develop the strength, character, wisdom, and power we must acquire? Why Satan? After every battle I may say, “Thank you, Mr. Satan! for helping to make me a son of God!”

Whether it be as the fire-breathing monstrosity, or as the cunning, deceiving “wisdom” of the serpent, or as the vile, intimidating, debilitating accuser, or just as the sparring adversary, each of his characteristics is a significant negative force which the sons of God are called to encounter, overcome, and conquer on every plane and in every realm, from the lowest sea to the highest heaven. He works as a monstrosity, he works as a serpent, he works as an accuser, and he works as an opponent. These are the fourfold negative force we have to meet and conquer within ourselves. ALL four areas must be overcome!

NOW IS COME

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down” (Rev. 12:10).

Yet, this victory is accomplished only through warfare! “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought with his angels.” We must not think of this “war in heaven” as a battle fought in some far-off heaven away back before the dawn of creation. If we have been deceived by the false doctrines of religious Babylon we may receive the impression that such is the battle presented, and that Satan and his angels rebelled against God and God employed the good and holy angels to expel them from heaven. But this explanation is soon proven to be impossible if we only consider what the text actually says. The great voice in heaven, or the revelation of the spirit within ourselves, tells us of the result of this spiritual battle. It tells us that now the salvation and the power of the kingdom of God have come, that the authority of His Christ has appeared (Rev. 12:9-10) — things which surely could not be said immediately following a rebellion of Satan and his angels in some pre-historical time! “Now is come,” that is, now has appeared, now has been revealed, THE SALVATION AND THE POWER AND THE AUTHORITY OF HIS CHRIST! This is the result of the war in heaven and the casting down of the dragon!

As soon as the dragon is cast out of our heaven it is said, “NOW is come…” Let us UNDERSTAND! In that blessed moment when the accuser of the “brethren” of our Lord is cast out of the heaven of our spiritual understanding and experience there is immediately a realization that says, “NOW…not today, not tomorrow, but right now is come “salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down!” In other words, the kingdom of God, the righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost is fully manifest in us because the old mentality of sin consciousness, doubt, questionings, and the temptation to misuse the power and glory given to us in sonship is completely eradicated from our thought processes, desires, emotions, inclinations, and value system.

My heart sings a thousand hallelujahs, for now in our heavens is heard a loud voice proclaiming that now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ. Oh, yes, a LOUD VOICE! It is a powerful proclamation, an inward knowing beyond question or dispute. And the voice of the dragon is not heard in our heaven anymore! Your spiritual man, Christ in you, cannot hear the voice of the dragon. Now he is heard only on earth, for he has been cast out into the earth. He is heard only by the carnal mind of men who walk after the flesh. But in heaven, whose voice? The voice of the Son of God! His is the loud voice, the powerful word proclaiming our triumph!

Once Satan is cast out of the heaven where our spiritual life reigns we see all things as they really are and there is no more condemnation. Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we’re free at last! That is what evokes the proclamation, “NOW is come salvation!” Someone says, “But I thought we already had salvation!” We do, but the salvation mentioned as now impending refers not to salvation from the guilt of sin, but to salvation in the sense of deliverance and completion of God’s transforming work in us. Salvation means total and complete deliverance, health, wholeness, soundness, victory — incorruptible life! Peter wrote about this full salvation. “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (I Pet. 1:5). The Amplified Bible says it so beautifully, “Who are being guarded by God’s power through your faith till you fully inherit that final salvation that is ready to be revealed for you in the last time.”

Taken from… FROM THE CANDLESTICK TO THE THRONE by Preston Eby

To continue my thoughts on RE-membering and the stones being fitly framed together as He builds us into His holy habitation…

Father will not, and is not, leaving a single Stone unturned as He shines His divine light on the hidden things that hinder the work/flow/growth that He is desiring in us as individual Sons as well as in us as a corporate Body. He has chosen us and called us to co-labor with Him in this process in which we are to submit fully to Him, and to Him in one another, throughout this building/growth process.

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1Co 3:6-9)

“…but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” (Eph 4:15-16)

“…and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.” (Col 2:19)

We might try to run, but we cannot hide, as He searches us out and draws us into His glorious house construction project.

“Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” (Luk 8:16-18)

“Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes (enters, or manifests HIS judgment, of the situation) Who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise (or purifying fire {see the next passage}) will come to him from God.” (1Cor 4:5)

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming (appearing)? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.” (Mal 3:1-3)

“You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true–these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren (unfruitful) pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham that they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one (but Him Who sees all things) will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light!” (Eph 5:8-14 – MSG)

And if we are truly honest with ourselves, with Him and with one another, when we get right down to the root of the matter (get real/radical), when we allow Him to peel back the veil and the masks we all wear, we will see and understand that what He is really exposing and wants to rid us of completely is simply, and nothing other than…… SELF. Paul got to the place where we all must eventually come; to the bold realization that he was nothing in and of himself, and Jesus said that “of yourself you can do nothing.” He even declared that of HIMself He could say or do nothing (John 5:19. 5:30, 8:28).

Ahhhh, but we rebuttal to that and say (you are no doubt thinking in your head right now)… “I know that! I certainly do, with Paul the Apostle, recognize the unworthiness of myself! I know I cannot do anything, nor should I do anything out of self!” But, to know this intellectually, to have a doctrinal or scriptural understanding, to even have a divine revelation of this eternal principle is one thing, but to be actually DEAD to self is quite another! Hence, the battle rages on until ALL His/our enemies become His/our footstool. The word and way of the cross must BE the way to the Tree of Life for me personally!

These are areas in my own life where I know I am still not completely dead to self; when…

– Something rises up in me that wants to “react” to what others say or do.

– I need to be right or have the last word on a matter.

– I get impatient with another person’s weakness or lack or I snap back in a snarky, “don’t you get it?” attitude.

– I get frustrated, upset, anxious, worried, down or feel sorry for myself when things don’t go as I hoped or planned.

– I want to retaliate when I am accused, falsely or otherwise, of something.

– I murmur or complain when my outer man manifests its natural, normal weakness and decay.

– I give way to soulish emotions or feelings that would want to dictate my thoughts or actions.

– I speak, share or do something, or I share/do it in a manner that magnifies me, my gifts or “my ministry”.

– I compare myself to others, either esteeming myself as higher, better, more intelligent or further along than others, OR… I see myself as less than others in any regard.

– I want to enter into or persist in fruitless debate in an attempt to “teach” someone or convince them of something that I think they should understand.

These are only few areas of SELF that Father has found hidden under/within THIS stone and wants to deal with, in me. And, if He is dealing with these things in us as individuals, He is certainly dealing with them at a corporate level as well. He is building, fashioning and forming all of us, His people, together, into His glorious temple of which Solomon’s temple was but a type and shadow.

In the four hundred eightieth year after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD. (1Ki 6:1)

The house was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron was heard in the temple while it was being built. (1Ki 6:7)

Solomon overlaid the inside of the house with pure gold, then he drew chains of gold across, in front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold. Next he overlaid the whole house with gold, in order that the whole house might be perfect; even the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold. (1Ki 6:21-22)

In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts, and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it. (1Ki 6:38)

It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. (1Ki 8:10-11)

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (1Co 3:16-17)

As we continue to witness the increasing devastation, corruption and collapse in the world, the inevitable fruit of man’s fallen ways and self-oriented thinking, we realize again that nothing will truly begin to change until He completes the work in us, His glorious House in the earth!

This came from Chip Brogden this morning….

God’s Response to Spiritual Decline

“Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
1 JOHN 5:5

The Lord’s answer to a state of decline is to reveal Himself and His eternal purpose. Once the Lord has established for Himself a people that will represent His interests, then He will move immediately to secure, protect, establish, and strengthen the Remnant. Here is what I want us to see. When we align ourselves with God’s Thought (the Mind of Christ), with God’s Kingdom, and with God’s Will in Christ, we are invincible.

IN CONCLUSION

God’s solution is to have for Himself a people who will BE Christ in/to the earth. He is forming, re-membering that people, His House even now as we speak. HE/YOU/I ARE THAT PEOPLE! HWE ARE HIS HOUSE! Our role is to simply continually and unreservedly submit ourselves to His working in us, as individuals and as a corporate Body.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (Col 3:3-4)

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1Pet 2:4-5)

Bring it on Lord! Finish the work that You have begun!

We submit ourselves to Your RE-Membering!