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Alert and
Transparent
This admonition is directed toward the outsider, but it applies to us former
outsiders as well God says, 'Wake up, you sleepers, open yourselves and Christ
will make you transparent, too.' Then, as wise persons, keep open to
your own depths and to the source of your being. Structure your time
productively. Get a clear grasp of God's intention for you. So don't get hooked
into your old lifestyle. When you were an outsider, you were closed to
God's Presence. Keep on living an open, transparent life, because that is
where the Spirit blooms and produces fruit in authentic relationships and
demonstrates the kind of life God approves.
Ephesians 5:14-16, 7-10
The Heart of Paul
The New Living Translation of Ephesians 5:16,17; 4:30 instructs us to, "Make the most of every opportunity for doing good
in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. And do not bring
sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live...."
Every word in these scriptures is breathed into our lives by the
precious Holy Spirit to enable us to receive answers to prayer, walk free
from ALL bondage, and experience the fruit of increase and multiplication as never before,
and in ever-increasing measure. It is time and it is God's time of blessing for the Church, the Body of Christ.
In a conversation with my son in 1995 he said, "Time causes things to diminish." I responded (from my spirit, no doubt),
"Yes, then we can truly say and know, eternal things (in our lives and for us)
increase with time." As we look back over the years, what has remained and increased?
God has spoken to us through the prophecy (which
was released by the Lord through Bobbie Jean for the year 2003, available
to you on the New Year's Conference tape series, and on-site at the
'Prophecy' page)
for the first ten months of this year in a most profound way. For sincere souls, the
plumb line of God's Word was laid down January 1, 2003. Our purpose and our goal is obedience to Him and sanctification that we might truly have written over our foreheads as priests unto and for the Lord our God, "Holiness unto the Lord". The first five months could be summarized as a time of preparation for the glory that is to come. Ecclesiastes 3:1, The Bible from 26 Translations says, "For everything there is a fixed time, and a time for every business under the sun" (Bas). Other translations use the words: season, a particular portion of time, an appointed season, an appointed hour, and a time. It was and is very clear, the choices and decisions we make from January through the month of May will determine the course of our lives and destiny thereafter.
I choose, by His grace, constant, consistent alertness to His heart's desire!
We are already seeing the absolute opposites lining up. What are they? It is either good (God-like in nature and in character) or it is evil (Satan and flesh in nature and in character). Developing through relationship with Him (by praying much in the Holy Spirit in tongues, by studying the Bible, as well as by fellowshipping with Him) will create a sensitivity to His heart's desire and holiness beyond the understanding of the natural man. And to progress we must keep before us this verse of scripture, "Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support. In all your
ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps" (Proverb 3:5,6
The Bible from 26 Translations - Bas).
This is God's fixed time for our lives wherein we must, "With all watchfulness guard thine heart: For out
of
it
flow the actions if life. Guard your heart more than all treasure, for it is the
source if all life" (Proverbs 4:23 The Bible from 26 Translations - Sprl, NEB). The New Living Bible speaks wisdom to us in this way, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. Avoid all perverse talk; stay
away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don't get sidetracked,' keep your feet from following evil" (Proverbs 4:23-27).
Be sensitive and alert to the inward witness of your heart. If suddenly a darkness and a heaviness seem to fall upon your life, and peace, joy and lightness suddenly seem to vanish, look well into your heart. Has some word been spoken by you or an associate, or has a negative thought rooted itself in your mind, or have you by your actions taken a step outside of His love? If so, it does not mean that the freedom you have experienced is not assimilated into your very being, or that it has vanished into non-existence, it simply means "the bushel is covering the light, flesh has won a momentary victory."
But, as you yield to the tenderness of the Holy Spirit and the inward witness
within you, responding to the knowledge of where you have stepped off of your
"surveyed path" and repenting,
asking for His grace to strengthen you not to
repeat the issue,
then peace and joy and light will be released from within your heart to your soul once
again. This is the goodness and the mercy of God operating for us!
Yes, you and I are to be FREE in 2003 from ALL bondage. Bondage is ANYTHING that hinders or
holds us down and back. Everything Christ redeemed us from! Therefore, "My friends, get a firm grip on the freedom Christ has given you..." (Galatians 5:1
The Heart of Paul). "Furthermore, as you express my teaching in your lives, you will discover
the truth, and the truth will liberate you to the persons God destined you
to be"
(John 8:32 Luke &
John by Ben Campbell Johnson).
Yes, my friend, what may seem small and insignificant and harmless could be a tiny fox sent to destroy the blossom of what God is doing in our lives and destiny before it can become the full fruit of increase and blessing. As we are alert and transparent, we will get rid of the foxes quickly.
"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines
have tender grapes"
(Song of Solomon 2:15 The Bible from 26 Translations).
Prayers are heard and answered when we walk in the Spirit. Transparency is walking in the light where God works, for He does not work in darkness. In Him there is no darkness. The light increases as we respond to Him in all sincerity, humility, and agape love. Be alert and transparent before God and man, and watch God work! Free to be in 2003, with Christ in you the hope, the earnest expectancy of all the glory for yourself and others through your life. God invaded us December 29 with freedom from
ALL bondage. All of us burst forth into singing "I'm Free and I Know that I Am" over and over. As the American Standard
Version reads, "For freedom did Christ set us free!" Amen!
Be FREE!!! Because, "The person without the Spirit, however, is not aware
if
God's action. Even a discussion
if
the matter sounds foolish to such people. They cannot discern God's actions because
only people in tune with the Spirit can see and understand them"
(First Corinthians 2:14 The Heart of Paul). Therefore, "Trust
in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek
his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Don't be impressed
with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn your backs on evil.
Then you gain renewed health and vitality"
(Proverb
3:5-7 The New Living Translation).
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