God's love is amazing! There is no replacement for experiencing the depths of His love for us. His love is where we find our true identity. People search for their own self-worth in so many places, but there is only one place that it is found. When we discover that Jesus paid the price for us so that we can be part of the family of God it changes our perspective on everything. God has the best family!
At this point in the story we see how Satan has successfully engaged Eve in conversation, something she should have not been available for in the first place. Now we see how the serpent goes for the juggler vein, going for the kill if you will. Now he tempts Eve with the prospect of God being a liar and that she will be enlightened becoming like God. It is the temptation, the delusion of her having something better than what she currently has. The serpent is saying, "Oh! The grass is greener on the other side and what you have is really nothing at all!" This is the false promise of better things when she already had it all.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God said, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden'?" The Book of Genesis is the book of beginnings. We see God creating the heavens and the earth, then forming man from the dirt of the earth placing him in the Garden of Eden. Later God searches for a "helper" that is suitable for him. After Adam had the opportunity of seeing all the options, God places Adam in a deep sleep taking a rib from him and forming Eve from the rib.
Hebrews 4:3,9-10 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,'" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world… There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. 2017 is going to be a time for rest and refreshing in the presence of God. That is good news! God wants to take His people to another level of rest.
There are many types of prayer that we can engage in, whether it be intercession, petitions or just praying in the Holy Spirit. (1 Thess. 1:2, 1 Tim. 2:1) The most primary and necessary form of prayer is our devotional prayer life. This type of prayer has no agenda except to spend time with God, interacting in His Presence. The last verse in 2 Corinthians reveals a key in the life of Paul as it states, "Let the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."
This may seem a little odd to write this kind of an article during a time where many are celebrating the Christmas season. but the Lord clearly impressed this message on me to share. In many ways it is a very appropriate time to share since we engage with others more now than maybe any other time of the year. Whatever the case I pray everyone has the best and most blessed Christmas ever! There are many in the Body of Christ that have had painful experiences, whether in a church setting or with others. This has made some people "over" sensitive to the point that bitterness and self-pity has come into their hearts. Jesus was no foreigner to rejection, accusation and difficulty. This is why He told us offenses would come.
I woke up in the wee early hours of the morning hearing the words, "pursue and overtake." After meditating on these words for a while I realized that this was an actual quote from the scriptures. 1 Samuel 30:7-8 "Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, "Please bring the ephod here to me." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. So David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all." God is speaking to His people in this time to "purse and overtake" the enemy.
One of the most powerful ways we can "turn the tide" of what is going on in our lives and the things going on around us is through our surrendered worship. Maybe you feel like the tide is against you right now. Realize that you can turn the tide through your simplicity of worship to the Lord. It does not need to be a big display, but it does need to be fresh. Through the spirit of worship we are able to access the realms of glory where revelation flows. (Revelation 19:10) When revelation flows there is truth present that has the power to make you free. You shall "know" the truth and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31) The Word of God is truth but it needs to be accompanied with the spirit of revelation.
In a recent encounter I saw someone who had not experienced "a song of joy" in a long time. I karate chopped them in the back to help deliver them from this oppression then started playing joyful songs. Joy is heavenly substance, energy and strength to us. Joy is not something that can be obtained apart from the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 "…for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." People can be happy about things, stuff and events, but joy is from God's world. When we pursue the Lord, desiring Him above all things He gives us songs of joy. The psalmist David knew this realm of joy that was accessible through a life of worship and praise to God.
Here is a passage in 2 Chronicles that is such a clear picture of the heart of God concerning His primary goal concerning "His house." This has a 3-way meaning and application. The house of God is a picture, type and shadow of the way things should look. Firstly the application begins with our personal lives, as we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Next it has meaning for our corporate gathering together in worship to God. Then there is a reality of how God tangibly and even visibly fills even a physical building, something He still does today!
Follow Up
