Mystical Pride

Pride is a mystical poison hidden deep in the heart.
It is like a beautiful expensive garment to the one who wears it. Made from the choicest materials, it feels so soft and even gratifying to the flesh and so full of color and sheen it is attractive to the eye of the wearer. But to everyone else it is an offense and detestable.
Because of its mysticism, it isn't until the garment is removed does one know how detestable it truly is.

But how wonderful when it is removed in humility and laid at the feet of the cross. It is like sweet perfume poured over the feet of Jesus.
Yet to the one who refuses to remove it, it is removed by force and brings humiliation.

Either way, God is more gracious than we and forgives those whom at one point or another find themselves at the foot of that cross in repentance.

Sharpen Your Axe!

Just stumbled upon some of my old memory verses (great memory, eh?) and this among many stood out for today:

"If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success." (Ecclesiastes 10:10 NASB)

(Oh how this verse has taken its shape and full meaning!)

In a season where there is much spiritual activity in and out of the church, there are two extreme responses -
Passionate exuberance or skepticism and resistance.
Both are wise in their own estimation, because they believe wholeheartedly in their position.
One would say, "how can you not see that this is God?!" where the other would say, "how can you say 'this is God?!'"
Both have strong and well founded positions based in a level of experience, along with a certain amount of knowledge and understanding.
But what if to either one you stepped back long enough to hear Wisdom?
Wisdom doesn't necessarily make you wrong and the other right, it instead brings absolutes.
The Lord is Lord over all. He speaks to all clearly in one way, if nothing else, through His Word. Yet He also speaks to the heart and His Spirit to our spirit. He gives wisdom and discernment to all who seek it.
One may have one experience and one another. One may have one belief or opinion and one another. But the same Spirit ministers to all and in all there is a level of self or flesh.
The only measuring stick is the Word of God & the wisdom He breathes through it.

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 NASB)

It is LIVING. And ACTIVE. It is not a book of rules, but of truth. It is not a debating tool, but a measuring tool. Yet it alone is powerful enough to divide and to mend. It is succinct in its purpose in that within it lies ALL wisdom to those who seek it.

Those who search it to defend their position will find it, but in human reasoning will not see the truth.
Those who seek it to have knowledge will find it, but knowledge will not save you.
But those who seek Wisdom will know truth that stirs deep within the soul, refining and aligning the spirit with His.
It sees beyond experience and into the very heart of God.

"When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2 NASB)

Wisdom and humility are inseparable. He who thinks he knows, knows nothing. But He who seeks wisdom in its purest form is humble, otherwise he will not find it.

"My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you..." (Proverbs 2:1-11 NASB)

Sharpen your axe!

Take Up Your Cross Daily

"And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?" (Luke 9:23-25 NASB)

We've heard or read this so many times that its become cliché more than the actual standard of truth we're commanded to live by.

What is "denying yourself?"
Most of us who are married or have kids already get a basic idea... Life will never be the same! But yet American Christianity still seems to speak a different truth.

I'm not speaking of the church model itself, that is a whole different subject. What has been lost in Christianity today is the selflessness that Jesus and much of the Bible speaks of.
Today's Christian measures their level of servanthood with how much time or money they have "left over" rather than it becoming an attribute of their character.
The problem is, it ALL belongs to Him. To "steward" our time or money cannot be done with human reasoning, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
We all know that everything about the Lord's principles are upside down.
-if you give Him at least 10% of His money back, our 90% will stretch further. Even more, if we become cheerful givers, the windows of Heaven are opened to us.
-When you seek FIRST His kingdom, THEN our needs will be taken care of.
-Jesus spent more time with the despised and defending the sinner than rebuking them.
-He had more compassion on the hurting and healed those that later spat on Him...

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'"(Galatians 5:13-14 NASB)

Denying yourself and taking up your cross daily is more than just choosing to follow Jesus. It's more than just being a good person.
(This is also reflected in how much time is spend entertaining ourselves.)

It's when preferring one another becomes the core of who you are... It's when you're so unconcerned about the possible negative effects or inconveniences you might incur when serving or preferring someone else over yourself that you literally don't even think about it. And when the messy, inconvenient, negative effects do happen, it doesn't phase you.
Selflessness is the attribute of a person that gives without measuring the cost. One who when praised for their "sacrifice" the respond with "what do you mean?"

Let us deny ourselves [completely], pick up our cross daily & FOLLOW Him.

More on the Father's Heart for Reconciliation

"These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give." (Matthew 10:5-8 NASB)

When Jesus sent out the 12, He sent them specifically to the lost sheep first. Why?
Firstly, His promise was to the children of Israel. As He was coming to restore them, He preached to the house of Israel first. Those who'd wandered away were still of those who were His chosen.

In the same way, we now are grafted in and anyone who WAS of the fold is still one of His!
So in a time of revival, there is always restoration to those who've fallen or wandered away.
Keep your eyes and ears open. Ask the Lord, "who's hearts already belong to You?" and restore them in the love of the Father!
**Does that mean we don't reach out to those who've never known Him? No!
But as the "harvest is plentiful, the workers are few."
Restore to Him all who are lost and rebuild the "labor force" for the fullness of revival.

Lord, send us out, lead us to Your lost ones. Revive and restore! We want to see communities, cities, the whole country changed in mass!
Maranatha!

 

He Is Wonderful!

And He said, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND. (Luke 8:10 NASB)

The Lord is so gracious that He gives "special privileges" to those who know Him.
To some He gives deep insight into the ways of God.
But at times He chooses to stay a mystery. Why?

"...For He says to Moses, 'I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.' So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." (Romans 9:14-16 NASB)

Firstly, He is God!
As soon as we have Him all figured out, we not only lose the wonder & the mystery, we run the risk of becoming presumptuous, even demanding. We become prideful and unknowingly begin to lean on our own understanding.

Jesus addresses this in the parable of the landowner, where the workers begin to complain "why is he getting paid as much as me?", etc. becoming presumptuous & jealous...
" Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?" (Matthew 20:15 NASB)

God is loving and gracious and He DOES grant us to know His mysteries, but more times than not, He'll do things that remain a mystery to remind us He's God & He's in charge, lest we become like Satan, saying "surely you will not die..."

The awe and the wonder of God is much of what makes Him beautiful.
He's WONDERFUL!

Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The LORD is gracious and compassionate. (Psalm 111:3, 4 NASB)

"But as for me, I would seek God,
And I would place my cause before God; Who does great and unsearchable things,
Wonders without number. (Job 5:8, 9 NASB)

Let us be like the church in the very beginning, where "Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. (Acts 2:43 NASB)
Let us continue to seek His face and wonder at His great works.

Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face continually. Remember His wonders which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth, (Psalm 105:4, 5 NASB)

Law vs Liberty

God's Word is so incredibly deep! Even upon simply reading it, so many truths are revealed. But as we meditate on it and allow Him to speak to us directly, our minds are transformed!
Which is His intent.

Law vs Liberty: (changing the mind)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:1-17 NASB)

Wrapping our heads around the freedom of the cross & our adoption as sons is the beginning. The next step is identifying with our Father's original intent in the garden & returning to that mindset as we wait eagerly for the return.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. (Romans 8:18-25 NASB)

Our adoptions as sons is our "ticket back to the garden."
Just as Jesus revealed in the parable of the Prodigal Son, we have full access to our Father's household. All we need to do is ask!

Whose Hearts Are His

"Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.
Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, *said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people? "

- Does this at all sound familiar? Whether it's someone attacking the deeper workings of the Holy Spirit or one trying to make themselves out to be more spiritual than another, Jesus will stand up for the heart who is after His, not religion.

"Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.

...& still there are those truly out for sordid gain. Leaders of ministries or even church staff members that are literally in it for themselves.

"Therefore Jesus said, "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me." (John 12:1-8 NASB)

So was He saying "bah! Don't bother with the poor!"? On the contrary. We know throughout His messages that He was very specific about reaching out to the poor. But he was addressing the religious spirit.

Also, note His main point was that He prophesied of His death. He allowed her to enter into the truth of what was happening.

THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE HIS WILL TAKE PART IN WHAT HE'S DOING, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T MEAN TO!

Discipline=Pruning

Discipline = training to improve strength or self-control; develop behavior by instruction and practice

Punishment = imposed penalty

We still, whilst in our fleshly mind, get these terms mixed up.
The discipline of the Lord may at times INCLUDE punishment, but not for ignorance. Punishment is in response to a known wrongdoing.
For instance, if you steal, there is typically punishment. If you were a bad steward of your money, in ignorance, there may be call for discipline/training opportunity.

We typically are fearful of punishment, yet many times what is mistaken for punishment, is an act of discipline or TRAINING.

The law brought punishment for our sins, but Jesus took on the punishment of the world once for all. Gods new covenant with us, in light of the punishment that was already paid, comes with discipline.
The Lord disciplines those whom He loves.
"...He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness." (Hebrews 12:10 NASB)

God, in His love and discipline, sets up road blocks and tears down obstacles in order to direct or steer us in the way we should go.
This is what we may in some cases call pruning.

Pruning: (wikipedia)
"Reasons to prune plants include deadwood removal, shaping (by controlling or directing growth), improving or maintaining health, reducing risk from falling branches, preparing nursery specimens for transplanting, and both harvesting and increasing the yield or quality of flowers and fruits. The practice entails targeted removal of diseased, damaged, dead, non-productive, structurally unsound, or otherwise unwanted tissue from crop and landscape plants."

We're always concerning ourselves with the "removal of..." as if it's aimed at us personally, but it's not. When you are staring God's pruning sheers in the face, He's not aiming them at you, He's aiming at the "deadwood" that is still lingering, stunting our growth.

More about pruning: (Those who have ears, let them hear...)
Shaping by correcting or directing growth comes in the form of temporarily tying off branches or using outside materials to push a branch into a specific direction until it begins to grow that way naturally. It's a type of force or pressure, pushing against the branch's natural tendency until it changes direction on its own.

Fruit:
Aside from growth patterns, it's about yielding fruit. Where there's removal of obstacles, the branch can grow and therefore fruit can bear freely. A very important note about bearing fruit is that while fruit is enjoyed and brings nourishment to all who eat of it, it is also for bearing new seed. When a fruit falls to the ground, it either is absorbed into the soil, or is carried off by birds or animals, but it's seed is then naturally sown into the soil (if the soil is good.)

Transplanting:
But then there is also preparation for transplant.
Some trees may be being prepared in one environment or soil in order to be then planted in another. Typically it's prepared in a very controlled nursery environment, with a controlled climate created specifically for the health of that tree. Once it's prepared for transplanting, it can be then placed in a similar, natural environment where it will bear fruit freely.
**Also note that transplants are done quickly. They cannot be uprooted from their soil for long before they dry up and die. It must be a succinct change of environment that was well planned and done with prior intent, preparation, & firm replanting in its new environment.
**Another important note is that transplanting is not natural or the norm. It's done mainly to help a new environment lacking trees or where trees have been unnaturally uprooted. It may be done to beautify someone's home, but that's a self-serving, man made environment that serves little purpose other than providing needed shade and/or oxygen. (yet that's typically a byproduct)

Again, remembering that the Lord is the one doing the pruning and that it is purposeful and strategic, receive His discipline (training, guiding, preparing, nurturing) with open and willing hearts. He knows what He's doing.
Remember, this all started in a garden...

Responding to a Move of God

Historically when a move of God hits the church there are different levels of response.

"Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." And He was saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN." And He *said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." (Mark 4:3-20 NASB)

The soil that was maintained receives the word and explodes with fruit, whereas the others that are neglected stifles the ability for the word to even take root.
This is true even for "the word of the day." Many times, when God begins to move, it doesn't come in a form that is quickly recognized or received by all soils. It takes soil that has been constantly softened and broken up.

Not only do the hearts of unbelievers need to be readied to receive His Word (which is also our responsibility) but those of us that've received the Word must continually maintain our soil. We must maintain a position of receiving the Word implanted in order to bear more fruit, because the birds of the air will come, the scorching sun with beat down, the weeds will spring up.

But does our responsibility end with maintaining our own soil?
If we see seed bouncing off hard soil, being stolen, choked out or scorched and withered, do we stand by and scoff? Do we shake our head and point fingers? Do we neglect the soil of another?

"Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;" (Hebrews 12:12-15 NASB)

Basically the health of the whole body is essential and is our responsibility. When we neglect it, disease sets in and faces amputation!

Pray for one another. Administer healing where healing is needed.
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;" (Philippians 2:3 NASB)

Faith Like a Child

"Faith Like a Child"
There's not much biblical language to this other than when Jesus rebuked the disciples for keeping them from Him, while he exclaimed that we must become like them to see the kingdom.

So of course we always try to break it down and think what does a child have that we don't?
Well it's trust placed on a parent that has never given them reason to distrust.
It's not being taught that something might not work or be true.
It's not been taught skepticism...

Where does the root of skepticism come from? Well we can say its from past hurts or wrongdoing, being lied to, etc. but it stems from the fall.

When Adam & Eve were tempted in the garden, Satan planted the seed of doubt, distrust & skepticism so that rather than trusting in the COMPLETE PROVISION God had placed within the garden, they looked elsewhere.

That act of disobedience was not that Adam & Eve wanted to become like God (no, that was Satan's sin) it was the seed of disbelief.

When they took and ate of that fruit, not only did they sin in not fully trusting God... they didn't merely sin in disobedience in eating the apple...
They unleashed Satan from being bound with no influence to the point of having all influence! (not control or power, just freedom to influence)
From the point of eating that fruit (the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) man has now battled with demanding to understand. He is no longer satisfied with the fruit and provision within the garden. He forever is taunted by the fruit from another garden. (This of course being the origin of "the grass is greener" issue...which we still know is always bogus)

That act in the garden still influences us today in our inability to trust God's provision. The seed of disbelief is firmly planted in our DNA and can only be removed with force when we allow the blood of Christ to fully cover us.

Why do we stir & strive for provision? Not because God said "oh! Nope sorry. You're on your own!" He didn't say that at all. But He did say that we would struggle. We're now forced to labor for our food, yet that struggle is not the struggle we have. It's the struggle of believing He'll provide for us at all and that we must do everything within our own strength and by our own means. But that struggle wouldn't exist if we could just get back to the garden. His garden is where our provision has always existed. But It's when we looked outside the garden for our provision that the struggle came. (another is child birth... Not only now is there pain in childbirth, there is pain in the menstruation period AND a physiological change in the hormones that supercharges a woman's emotions, leading to more worry, more disbelieve, more reaction than proaction...)

But what is the cross, other than the bridge to return to the garden?!
What does the bible say, but "...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NASB) and "if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." (Ephesians 4:21-24 NASB)

Our struggle is in the renewing! It is in letting go of the natural mind and being renewed in thinking from within the garden, while being forced to live outside!

So when it comes to things like physical healing, does God say "oh! Nope sorry you're on your own!"
Well disease and death that otherwise wouldn't exist within His garden, now does as we're living outside. But we have access INSIDE through the cross! Anyone that has ever seen God step in and provide where we otherwise had no hope within our own garden can testify to this!

So is healing accessible the same way? If our minds are renewed, like children who know not of doubt and skepticism, to the point of returning to the garden; completely turning our back on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, our eyes fully on God the Father the loving provider, can we not fully access the power of healing?

We tend to look at "faith healers" like a bunch of kooks because their mantra is "only believe!" We think that statement means to conjure up something in our head repeatedly, but that's not what belief is! Belief is having a full 100% understanding of something. It's not theoretical, it's factual. That is why when we speak of faith as "BELIEVING in things not YET seen," we're talking about a true shift in thinking.
When we have faith about something, it's not the HOPE of a good outcome, it's the KNOWING of a good outcome.
When Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (and everyone else mentioned in Hebrews 11) acted in faith, it wasn't the knowing of the outcome, it was in knowing God; the knowing that He would provide.
When we describe faith as a gift, there's no other way to receive it! It HAS to be from God, because our natural man believes otherwise.

So is it a correct directive to tell someone "believe in God!?" Of course! It just means "let go of your unbelief." He will meet you and replace it with true faith.

"Oh Lord, we believe...but help our unbelief!"
If we refuse to eat of the tree of knowledge and choose to eat of the tree of faith, which is the cross, we shall see healing, restoration, power & provision!

Mysteries of God

"To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God..."
(Luke 8:10 NASB)

Jesus: Believe & See
Holy Spirit: Listen
The Bible: Read it!

That's all I got to day about that.

Reconciliation

"The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes."
(1 John 2:9-11 NASB)

Even the slightest lingerings of bitterness held toward one another is the root to such as hatred; not only toward each other but to God Himself.

Be reconciled to one another.
Be reconciled to God.

Restoration

God has been pouring out His Spirit among many recently; through meetings, conferences, private counseling, home fellowships, even one on one with Himself; bringing healing, deliverance, renewal; all in very different ways, but with one purpose. RESTORATION.

"...and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:15-20 NASB)

We are in an amazing season right now in that God is breathing reconciliation across the land.
1. Where there has been division among brethren, even for years, there is now reconciliation.
In and from all directions, God is suddenly bringing healing & restoration among the estranged and brokenhearted.

2. God is bringing home His prodigals.
Everywhere I turn, the Lord brings me someone who has walked away from the faith, but who's heart is turning toward home!

What is revival?
"revive" - return to consciousness; give new life or energy to; restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state; be brought back to life, consciousness, or strength

While its effect, historically, has been to completely change the face of a town or city through the salvation of many, etc. revival in essence is the church RETURNING to its origin, therefore bringing light into a darkened place.

If therefore God has given us the ministry of reconciliation, His call then to the church right now is RESTORATION!
Be reconciled with one another and go out and bring home the prodigals!

Pruning

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. (John 15:1-8 NASB)

There is a difference between being pruned & cut off.
Those that ARE bearing fruit are yet still pruned.
Some of us may feel "over pruned", but it is only to bear more fruit. One that only bears a little fruit may receive some pruning, but if it then stops bearing fruit because of it, it becomes useless & then cut off.

Those who truly abide in Him will welcome pruning, knowing that it leads to more fruit.
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4 NASB)

Those not abiding in Him, but merely in the garden, may resent their pruning and therefore dry up.

abide - dwell
dwell - inhabit or live in; exist or be situated within

Abiding in Him is not merely doing religious activities, going to church, praying, reading your bible or going to classes... It's a complete heart & mind shift that removes the striving and replaces it with peace.

peaceful - not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

We were never promised a life without turmoil, but one of peace within it.

Welcome the pruning. Abide, do not resist. Because in your pruning, you will bear much fruit & with much fruit comes more seed, and with more seed...

He IS Good

Discouragement, confusion, fear... These things are obviously not associated with the Holy Spirit.
Why then, if we're walking daily with the Lord, faithful in seeking Him, not changing our "routine", do we find ourselves lacking or dry?
For one, personally, I find that I'm still more wrapped up in the flesh than I thought I was; that I rely, still, on seeing and feeling rather than believing.
Why? Why, after seeing so much of God at work, do we find ourselves in this position?
Well we can at least take heart in knowing that even the disciples went through this...

"Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out. But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?" (Luke 8:22-25 NASB)

This was right after, in the previous chapter, that Jesus healed a man from a distance just by a word & raising a young man from the dead...
Why were they still so fearful of the storm? Because they relied on the person, Jesus, to come do something! But His response wasn't "why are you so worried? I'm right here. I would've gotten around to it!" No, in fact it was "WHERE is your faith?" Well, where was it? Wrapped up in the man, Jesus, rather in God.
We forget that while Jesus walked the earth, He was fully man. Yes He was the Son of God, but that's just it. He was not walking the earth as God, but as a fleshly man who fully relied on His Father, not Himself (let alone another man.) He spent His whole time here pointing to the Father! "Don't look at me, look at My Father!"
So where was their faith? It was NOT in God, but the man, Jesus.

We now, in some ways have it harder because we don't have the man, Jesus, to point us to the Father... We do have some men we can look to, who can seem as if we're watching Jesus, but they're merely men as well, following their Father. But we do have the Holy Spirit...
Does that mean we should be on a 24/7 spiritual high? "Heck yesss!" ...actually, no.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB)

We're BEING transformed... And from glory to glory. It's a process of trusting even when the fleshly responses set in.
When the Glory comes, take it in...ALL of it. And in the in-between-time, rest in that. Remember it. Muse on it. Because there will soon be another Glory.
He (not the man, but GOD) will calm the storm if you ask. And then at some point, YOU will calm the storm, because we will have been transformed into His image.

Let today, whether you're on a high or a low, be fully the Lord's. Regardless of your situation, He is God and He is GOOD.

Gospel = Love

The power of the gospel is wrapped in love. It cannot be delivered apart from it.
This is why our relationship with one another is key.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34, 35 NASB)

How did Christ love us "...while we were yet sinners, He died for us." Though we were deserving of eternal separation, he not only found a way for reconciliation, He laid down His own life to bridge that gap.

How many of us will go to those lengths, not just to save a life, but to bring reconciliation?

If we want to see the church become a light again and the world reconciled to it's Heavenly Father, we must seek reconciliation with each other.