Hearing HIS voice Part 1

JESUS said "My sheep hear my voice and follow"

see John 10:27



Make it your goal to hear HIS voice or better said, make it
your goal to hear HIS voice better -because you have all heard HIS voice before!

Now, HIS voice can be tricky to hear because you've got many voices
calling you. In fact, there are things that try to control you that are
all calling out to you.

My kids like video games (hey, I like to play games too), but we remind
our boys that these games 'call you'. They are calling out for you to
drop everything and play them - now!

And as people in the world, we are all slaves - all bound.
But when JESUS finds us, we are also slaves - but slaves to
LOVE, slaves into Freedom (not capture).

But in this freedom, we are challenged, "don't sin". Don't
use your freedom to sin - because sin will
lead you into more bondage.

How do you know if you are bound by something?
One way, is that you can't
go a day without it (or a week without it).
2nd) The way you get angry if you don't get it -
or it gets taken away from you.

They are all calling.

But JESUS also calls and speaks but it is so foreign
to how the devil speaks and usually foreign to our own thinking.

Its loving (what is always best for you) but saying that,
we like spoiled brats at times (me included) don't know
what is even what is best for us -so we complain.

HIS voice is also bold and un-afraid, very calm almost
quiet and comes at you often but not always as
questions rather than commands.

Its wonderful to get a word from HIM or teaching. HE
will teach you, and make it your first goal to hear
HIS voice, and the rest will come after it. But,
you won't learn or hear a thing, if you
don't understand HIS AMAZING GRACE, because
all HIS words are loving and full of grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).

I will expand on these thoughts more, but one last important
thing is that if you don't listen and believe what HE told
you last, you will not hear the next things HE is trying to say.

-eric

Spontaneous life of worship!

Structured?
Timed?
Planned Out?
Chorographed?

Is this how we worship?

This is how I used to...

To much of what we call 'worship' is not 'worship'.
We mix 'praising the LORD' and 'worship' like they are the same terms.

I used to say things like, "we are going to worship now", or "lets go
to a worship service". But is that worship - is that what GOD wants?

In the past, the Jews would set up places where it was appropriate to worship GOD.
These were holy places or sacred places. Meaning 'set apart' where we get the word sanctuary.

But the most perfect form of worship is with sacrifice. Worship really having the idea where, one 'gives up himself/herself' to serve Someone greater. When the humble
attitude with sacrifice was connected, true worship could happen.

The first time 'worship' is used in scripture is when Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham used the term worship (first time in the Bible) by saying this:

He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." Genesis 22:5

The worship that occured, was a servant giving up himself to serve the Greater. In this case there is of course no one greater than GOD HIMSELF. But the sacrifice that was made was not Isaac, but the ram caught in the thicket. This is symbolic that the best worship is the one with sacrifice and there is no greater sacrifice then JESUS (GOD giving HIMSELF up).

The woman at the well tells JESUS:

"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

Its not the place - its the attitude and the sacrifice that only counts!

Worship is not a time or place, Its love and sacrifice!
The best sacrifice is JESUS and knowing what HE accomplished, the very GIFT
of GOD, for us! The only attitude is gratitude and humility (not me, only HIM).

So you have the very best in JESUS being your ram caught in the thicket for you.
When you pray, or need GOD to help you, then the best worship is JESUS sacrifice.

Lastly, worship is also bathed or covered with praise and thanksgiving. The very best way to do this is to worship the LORD with thanksgiving and praise - spontaneously. (its not all thought through, you do it on the spot as your
heart gives way to freedom and thanksgiving).

Here is the scripture: Matthew 14:33
Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

You see the disciples, although many of them were hardend sea men, were caught in a huge storm and they were terrified. You can read the entire story in Matthew 14.

When JESUS calms their storm, and protects them and gives HIS peace they respond the only right way - worship. How did they do it? They humbly loved and 'thanked HIM' for what HE just did. It was 100% spontaneous! Not a set time or place - it never is. That isn't what GOD is looking for, its not true worship which is only in the SPIRIT and in the TRUTH.

You can't worship in your own flesh or your own self centered ego. You must be in the SPIRIT - with your mind on GOD. Loving HIM. Second the TRUTH is also JESUS. TRUTH is a PERSON (I AM the WAY, I AM the TRUTH, I AM the LIFE) those are a person and not character traits. Your worship must focus on the TRUTH, HIS sacrifice - what HE has done.

John 4:23 tells us this is the type of worshiper GOD seeks!

Also Matthew 28:8-10 has the women worship JESUS spontaneously when they see HIM who has risen from the dead!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

Here we have gratitude and sacrifice.
Gratitude (view of GOD's mercy)
Sacrifice (offer your bodies as living sacrificies)

which is really pleasing to GOD - this is how you worship!

So, recognizing what JESUS has done and that HIS sacrifice is the one that opens the way for us to worship GOD. Then with gratitude, we give up ourselves or do not let our bodies dictate what they want, instead give up our rights/ways and say whatever you want LORD.

That overflow of love, seeing JESUS and seeing what HE has done for you, the miracles, the changes - makes us want to praise HIM and that is the worship GOD is looknig for.

Just as love flows, you worship.

-eric


Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24

Do you love me more than these?

PAPA: Do you want to hear MY voice more than you love your stocks?

eric: Yes, I replied, with a mindful of questions, still unanswered.

PAPA: Love's only return is love, there is nothing higher or of more value
than true love, so what other return could be greater than love receiving love
back?

But love is tested. Because its so true, so light, so pure, it is looking
for love in return but here is where the test comes in. Does it receive love
back? or what is only thought of as love, but is rather lust or something else.

Like a young lady dating her boyfriend, she test his love against all others.
Even against all things - is he only for her? Is he responding in love back?

That is the return love looks for. Love's greatest return is Love itself!

Now the first time love was used in Scripture was when Abraham was asked (tested)
in his love to sacrifice his son, his only son (see Genesis 22) to the LORD.

Love is tested. When Abraham 'passes the test' he is told that "now I (GOD)know
that you fear ME (GOD). Fear of GOD, simply means do you love HIM the most/first place?

This is the fulfillment of LOVE "My beloved is mine, and I am his;
Song of Solomon 2:16

We also see Love tested in the life of Hosea, time after time he (Hosea) keeps
coming through for his promiscuous wife. Hosea means 'Delivered!'.

JESUS then tests Peters love by asking Peter 'do you (peter) love me (JESUS) more
than anyone else? John 21:15

Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. See Matthew 10:37-39

eric: help me see that your love is better than life. I say that, let me know(experience that).

PAPA: Once tested, you shall come through like pure gold! Job 23:10

Family Problems With Sex....

Had a question thrown my direction more than once on sexual sins
in a Christian family.

Either its been, homosexual or adultery, lust, porn or fornication and
what the proper response is to the Christian believer that has a loved
family member that is 'caught up' in such a mess.

We tend at times as people to jump on and attack only sins that
we don't ourselves do. (Making us self righteous, because we think
that because we don't do 'that sin' we are better than others).

GRACE forgives sin but it is a stench to the self righteous.

So, in this question received (many times, but in different ways)
here is how I see it for now...

______________________________

Q. Help us stop this family madness!

A. First let us understand what 'sin is'.
The reason sin is sin, is because it is only about 'self' which is the
devils nature. This Satanic nature is all about himself,
and it ONLY thinks and acts; 'me, me, me'.

They way things work in this world is through covenant.
Covenant is all about 'representation'.
Who the covenant representative is.

At the fall, we all (through our representative Adam) took on the 'devils nature'.
The bible calls it the sin nature, or flesh.

Each person at conception, receives this 'virus' in us as the 'sin nature'.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 51:5

GOD didn't create it, it is in fact Satan's nature, and it is opposite
of GOD - opposite HIS ways, of:

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith
and Self-control

Note: if you hear what you think might be GOD's voice, or you hear
some 'pastor, prophet', give you a "word", check it against GOD'S own
Nature (HIS SPIRIT). Does it sound "loving, joyful, Kind & Good, does
it produce Faith or doubt? Would it put you out of control or self-controlled?

In this Amazing New Covenant, we switch to a new representative - JESUS,
and gain all the promises and glory, provision, healing through that representative
in the new covenant! (more on that at another time)

Anyway this sin nature makes us do what it wants.
Paul said, in fact "so that you can't do what you want"
See Romans 7 and Galatians 5.

When it tempts us, we agree stupidly thinking its us doing and wanting it and it
does the sin through our agreement - manifesting all kinds of sins.
They are sins, because they are all to do with 'self'.

Love esteems others better than it self (see Phil 2:3)
Love does no wrong to his neighbour
Love is the fullfilment of the law (see Romans 13:10)

Love of course covers all the sins, (see 1 Peter 4:8)
because it only wants what is good for others.
It asks, How can I please GOD?
This will make my Mom, my sister, my __________pleased so I do it.

NOT, the self nature saying ' I did it my way'.

No, its all about others and that is how GOD thinks of you.
Good thoughts, loving thoughts (about what is best for you) etc...

That is exactly what GOD is like. That is JESUS'S nature.
When you are saved, you die to the old nature
(it dies with you at the cross) and you are raised with HIS life, in us.
Actually the very GOD HEAD dwells in the believer!
(that is something to mediate on)

JESUS said, 'the FATHER and I will come inside you'. (John 14:23)

When we get saved, we become united with JESUS in HIS AMAZING LOVE.
That love makes us act and think different
(it is the 100% opposite of self or the sin nature, which is
really Satan himself manifesting through us - if we let him).

Those natures oppose each other. Galatians 5:17

JESUS' love in you, makes you NOT want to sin or listen to the
devil through the sin nature.

Then by giving the problem to the LORD, HE (and HE alone) will
take the desire out of you and give you a proper loving desire.

This is the method of GRACE, and it works for every sin!

If you don't want to give up your sin, you might not be saved.
Because the saint, may sin, but he knows its
wrong - and doesn't want to live like that.

GOD alone does the restoration
Your job is to be willing/believe HIM to do it.

Then put your focus on JESUS - not on your self, or sin again.

If you are not willing, although you know you should be, ask
the LORD to make you willing and take the desire away replacing it
with HIS love.

Really sin is a love issue. Because its love turned inward, when it
is something that only works outward!

Love turned inward is lust. Its perverted from its normal way.

There is only 1 Savior, HE is 100% able to rescue and your
family isn't the first family with this situation that GOD can't restore.

The first step - are you willing?
The last step - Resting in HIS complete work!

-eric

Is all lying sin?

All lying just like all anger isn't sin.

There were and are times both in the Bible and
probably in our own lives where its not a sin!

But how do we know, when is it a sin and when is it not?

Now Rahab the prostitute in Joshua 2 lied to her government (and could have been killed) if you read the first few verses of Joshua 2.

She blantanly lies to government police (or what we would consider 'official' people).

Yet she is lifted up and praised in Hebrews 11:31 and a great great grandmother of JESUS
see Matthew 1:5 (also see James 2:25).

Rahab was hiding spies.

We have all known about Corrie Ten Boon and her family hiding Jews during those terrible, evil, dark days of Hitler.

Sin only becomes what it is (like in lying) if its not for the 'well being' of the other person.

Love always protects (1 Corinthians 13).

Love is the standard or benchmark.

A mother with her baby in arms wouldn't let a kidnapper take her child from her, she would probably fight to death to protect her little one. Is that sin? or Love?

Because it can only be 1 or the other.

JESUS got angry some times (moneychangers, Pharisees)

And scripture many times calls anger a sin!
See 2 Corinthians 12:20
also Ephesians 4:31 and Colossians 3:8

How do we know?

We tell our 2 boys that most of the time anger and lying is sin, because all it does is try to defend self or make me look better. it defends the sin nature (the "I") in me.

Which is the nature of Satan.

If you are defending GOD or saving people (out of love) then its not sin to lie.
The lie (if I can put it that way) must be spoken in love (what is best - not for me, but for the other person).

Interesting side note, one scripture says :
Ephesians 4:26
"In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry"

So its possible to have 'righteous anger' or 'right anger' and I think we see that from time to time especially over in-justices in the world - gets us angry.

Or someone controlling, manipulating someone - could cause us anger.

Why?

Its not the best for that individual - its not love.

Same with a lie. How does it better the situation if I speak it? How will it build you up, or encourage or bless you? That is the question!

Love covers a multitude of sins! 1 Peter 4:8


-Eric

Question: Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

why God created 'tree of the knowledge'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Answer:

If GOD didn't give a choice, then we would be robots -forced (programed)
to love or do whatever GOD said.

I don't think anyone here believes their computer loves them?

The 2 trees represent 2 wills/ 2 people.
One is the Tree of LIFE (which they never got to it) it is JESUS. (HE is LIFE).
The one you discuss, is the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
GOOD is a person and Evil is also a person.
The only temptation that could work, was for the devil to offer, what man didn't have (and that was to be god)
Because man had everything! Food, Family, Safety, Health, Life, and he walked with GOD (nothing lacking). Unless you think you can be God?
Which we can't -but that was the lie. In taking from the tree of knowledge, we learned evil (and we took on the nature of evil) which in Romans is called the 'sin nature'. Its really a satanic nature, that opposes GOD.

But in CHRIST, we start to eat from HIM. HE Is the manna, HE is the bread and the wine, HE said 'eat my flesh, drink my blood'. Sound weird?
Not really, HE is LIFE, so partake or stick with HIM, and you will be given
life and life more abundantly.

Get to understand how by GRACE this is achieved, because you don't do it
you receive it. Also, how the covenants work, I will explain more about them
shortly.


-Eric

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Can I throw you some possible new thoughts your way?

First, when we say that 'bad things happen to good people' that is not a true saying in fact its a lie.

JESUS made it clear that no one is good except GOD. Luke 18:19
In fact our 'good deeds' are filthy rags. Isa.64:6

You see 'good' is not a character trait its a person - its GOD HIMSELF.

And I certainly are not GOD. (But through JESUS we can participate in the Divine nature) and we are in HIS image. More on that another time.

JESUS further teaches this lesson when HE talks about the tower of Siloam crashing killing people in the process. see Luke 13:4

HIS point, don't think you are better, then the ones that died in the tower collapse. There is none good except GOD alone. Mark 10:18

So, if we say good people are getting hurt, its not true in fact without JESUS GRACE - nobody is good!

JESUS said "how can you being evil say anything good?" Matthew 12:34

You see the law was given to Moses but GRACE and TRUTH came through JESUS. (see John 1:17)
The Law came to show us GOD'S standard and our extreme depravity and wickedness!
(its not even close). It makes it crystal clear GOD'S holiness (HIS LOVE) and our selfishness.

Their is no problem with GOD'S commands / laws, the only problem is when we pretend to keep them (hypocrites) lowering the real meaning of the laws (613 OT laws) and live a lie in our own effort.

That is the wicked sin of un-belief. That produces the curse, that was the orginial sin (doing it my way). Religion, even the Christian one, is us doing things our way. Now, we don't really admit to that, we say we are doing it GOD'S way, but we are only fooled.

We are in fact 'trying' to be good Christians.
The Gospel is recognizing the truth that I am nothing (actually less than nothing) a wicked sinner deserving hell. But seeing GOD'S kindness and love, that HE worked salvation with HIS own arm (Isaiah 63:5) by living perfectly then taking all that I deserve and taking the sin nature on the cross (becoming Sin) not only forgiving my sins but crushing the sin nature in the process. Setting me free from the law of sin and death.

Galatians 2:21 "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

There are different laws, but the law most talked about in the Bible is the Laws Moses gave. There is a contrast between Law and GRACE throughout scripture.

On one side you have 'law' meaning the laws of Moses that you MUST keep.
On the other side you have 'GRACE' meaning JESUS keeping every law and you benefit like you kept them (when JESUS does for you).

So Law basically means 'self effort'.
GRACE basically means 'JESUS effort' for me.

You have all the worlds religions (including the christian ones) and all the clubs,
denominations, churches, temples all one one side...

The other side - JESUS alone.

Secondly, many christians are under the curse (see galatians 1).
They are under the curse (not because GOD put them there) but they put themselves there.

We know in Deuteronomy 28 there are tons of blessings and curses. The blessings when you read that part of scripture sound amazing while the curses sound like reading the newspaper or seeing many of the problems in your own life.

Paul talks in Galatians of JESUS becoming the curse for us.

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" Galatians 3:13

Remember in the garden, man sinned (also Eve and the Devil) and a curse was a direct result.

We are under a curse, if we try to live our christian life, by our own self effort that cuts us off of CHRIST (leaving GRACE) putting us under satan and the curse.
The tree of knowledge of good and evil was man trying to live the 'God Life/christian life in their own way - not GOD'S tree of LIFE (which is JESUS)

JESUS is the life - John 14:6 also John 1:4

If we listen to the sin nature (which is satan himself) that operates in our members see Romans 7 and Ephesians 2:2 where it says: "the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." We will continually try to make our Christianity work, in the endless cycle of trying to overcome the 'sin nature' (which we think is us, but its not) and trying to do right and really it boils down to 'me, me, me'.

That is independent self effort - is under the curse.
Read Galatians 1

6I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
7which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

This different gospel (which is really no good news at all) was around in Paul's time , JESUS time (on earth) and our time but it goes all the way back to the garden.
Its simply the one ingredient of all religions (including the Christian religion) and it opposes the TRUE GOSPEL (which is good news and news is past tense, we are telling you what already has been done) and that TRUE GOSPEL is JESUS' GRACE and that alone!

All your own effort curses yourself.
The only thing that matters is HIS LIFE flowing through you.
Christian means 'CHRIST in' - meaning HIS LIFE flowing through me, based on me believing (receiving) everything from HIM.

Galatians 3:2-3
This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Finally vs 5

5So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Works of the Law - what you do?
or Hearing with Faith - beleiving what JESUS has done?

One produces the curse the other blessing.

Real curses, Real blessings.

Real death, Real life.

Real burden, Real Comfort.


Believe the Gospel -

Believe JESUS.


-eric