"Words of the Lord"

Thinking back over my life in the Lord, reviewing true "Words of the Lord" which have been delivered to me by people, I have discovered many things concerning them. They have been spoken to me one-on-one, without fanfare, with no one but myself to hear them. I haven't been "called out" from a crowd, and been noticed by being given a "word" which has elevated me with a prophecy of fame, material gain, or a big following, which would draw attention to both the deliverer of the prophecy and the receiver. Also, the true "words" I have received have been one's that have been tailor-made for just me, and not ones that could be applied to just anyone. In fact, whenever I have received a true "word, the person through who the word is spoken, has no idea as to the significance of that word to me. Only I, and the Lord know that. In fact, overtime, He keeps adding to the meaning of those words, as if the depths of them are still being applied to me today in new and different ways.
Isn't that true of who Jesus is anyway? He is Life to us on a continual basis, and so His "words of Life" are that also. They are personal, rich, freeing, true, life-giving, lie-dispelling, cleansing, ever-revealing, and sure. They continue to work in us somehow, as they fulfill the purpose which He intended for His glory!!!! Sometimes He brings them to our minds again, whenever He has completed some work in us possibly to say that, "yes, this was a true word from my heart to yours," and to "confirm His word with signs following." What better sign than the evidence of His work in us!!!!
For example, once I was given a simple word. It was, "The Lord loves you so much. I know you don't know that right now, but you will." The life giving elements were , not only of the truth that I didn't know His love at that time, but also in the hopeful prophecy that I would know it in the future.
Recently, I have been struggling to know His love, fighting against the lies of the enemy I've believed for a long time, which has blocked me knowing this, and reaching for the truth that He does love me. He had done a work in me, evidenced by the hope that was put in me by that former word. The fact that I was reaching to know that love showed that I had received that word which had been implanted in my heart about 4 years ago, and now it was coming to life in me. Because He had prepared the soil of my heart to receive that word, He was now beginning to bring it to pass, and He "rewarded" me in showing to me a very small, but very impacting, glimpse of that love, and by "causing" me to be able to receive it as truth. Oh, the ways of God!!! They are wonderfully mysterious.
One of the points to be made concerning "words of the Lord" which have been delivered to you, is that they aren't ego-swelling and flesh pleasing words, which ultimately bring death, but they are Life-giving for your soul and growth of the Lord in you. They usually require a tearing-down process by the Lord's hand on the inside of you, which can be very, very painful to your flesh, in order for this Life to be resurrected on the inside of you. "Unless a seed falls into the ground and dies................" As we abide in the Vine (Jesus, in us) this process will be repeated over and over again, springing forth the new life of Himself and of the true "words" He has given to someone to speak to us. He is afterall called the Word. We must be careful to judge the words spoken to us, as "words of prophecy" or "words of the Lord", to see which spirit they are from. If they are flesh-pleasing, they are from another spirit. If they are soul-nourishing and true Life-giving, they are from the Spirit of God.
We must rely on the discernment of His Spirit to tell us in the very deceptive times we are in, which words are false and which are true, as many are from another source, which is not of God. If we are wanting words of the flesh, the enemy will be more than happy to deliver them to us. The deception comes in by us believing them as "words from the Lord." I know people who have put their faith in these words, desperately wanting them to be true, and fall further and further into deception.
If, by the Spirit of God, we sincerely love the truth, He will deliver them to us. His written Word is truth, and the "words" delivered by a person, which He has given to them by this gift of the Spirit of God. Question is "do we have itching ears" or "ears to hear what the Spirit says."?

P.S.-Sorry if this article seems to go all over the place. I pray the Lord would unscramble it, if it's hard to understand. I trust the Spirit of God within you to do that.
Also, although I have shared a "word" which was given to me which, by our definition was "good and encouraging" I want to add that many of the "true words of the Lord" are not perceived this way. Some are, what we would say, "bad" or "discouraging," but that is only because we are judging them by our carnal minds and not by the Spirit. All true words are "good" according to God, and they will produce His desired effect in us, as He is conforming us to His image. That's why we need to hear with His ears to determine the source.

It's safe on the Beach!

I'm at the beach, standing by my car. When I look around, most of the people have chosen to go swimming, although there are still some on the beach. The ones on the beach are looking out to sea, trying to coax the swimmers to come back before it's too late, but the swimmers don't see or hear them. They are too far out, the sound of the waves is interfering with their hearing, and they have been slowly pulled by the undertow and they don't even know it.

The swimmers don't understand why the onlookers won't come and swim. It's so much fun and liberating, they think, not realizing the danger of the undertow.

The beach is the Truth. (or Jesus) The ones standing on the beach are lovers of the truth. The ocean is the world. The undertow contains all the lies and enticements of the enemy. The swimmers have compromised the truth for the lies, which they think is just fun and freedom. In reality, it is the lust of their flesh being fulfilled, and false freedom.( or bondage) If they don't come out soon, they will drown.

Investing in Oil and Gold

Scripture References: The Parable of the 5 Virgins-Matt 25: 1-13
The Laodician Church-Rev. 3: 14-21

The oil in the lamps of the 5 virgins, ready for Christ's return, is the Holy Spirit of Truth, which He gives to us to "light the way." It enables us to see the Kingdom here, the Kingdom to come, and the King when He comes. The 5 virgins without oil had lived their lives by their own understanding and way, thereby unprepared for the King and His Kingdom. This Spirit He gives us has to do with our eyes, but also our heart. Do we love the truth?
The "gold" spoken of that God tells the Loadician church to buy before it's too late, is reality. It is "tried and true" and represents perspective from God's heart, which is the only perspective. It is "wisdom," and it can be obtained by asking Him, seeking His way, not our own. To put it another way, we can "buy" this wisdom without cost.
The people in the Laodician church lived their lives, their way, not His. Although it produced a feeling of being rich, it produced only the rewards of this earth, and the Lord called them, "wretched, poor, and blind." And aren't we just that without Him directing our lives, His way? With their self-satisfied lives here, they will be found naked at His appearing.
What are you buying? The riches (values) of this world, or the oil and gold from another? Where have you layed your treasure up? In yourself, and according to your understanding, or in His Kingdom, walking according to His Will? Will He know you when He comes back?

Choose You This Day

The allurements, values, and accouterments of the world system (or Babylon) are what the prostitute offers as she stands on the street corner with her "wares", attempting to entice souls away from God so that they will commit adultery with her against Him. Some of these "wares" include money, power, beauty, popularity, position (pride of life). Also, every lust of the flesh which encompasses doing what you want to do, going where you want to go, listening to what you want to listen to, celebrating what you want to celebrate, and believing what you want to believe. (She comes with doctrines, too.) Then there is the lust of the eyes, described as setting unclean things before your eyes, or even being enamored or drawn to someone or something because it is attractive on the outside. This could even include an attractive personality, or what appears to be kindness, which is how the enemy often comes to the undiscerning heart.
Of course, she comes with a seducing spirit which makes it direct appeal to the flesh of man, (what we want within ourselves) but it ultimately will bring spiritual death, in all cases.
Read about her in Rev. 17, and what happens to her and her followers in Rev. 18.

God's timeline is getting short now. Who are you going to serve? What do you really want, the prostitute (the world) or the Lord? A bowl of pottage or our inheritance in Jesus Christ?

The Truth Shall Set You Free

Why so many different "perspectives" on the truths of God? One of the major explanations is that many, if not most, don't want, and therefore, don't seek God's perspective, which is the absolute Truth. To put it another way, God's way is right-period!!!! This includes His own interpretation of His Word. If one seeks God's perspective, he will find God's perspective. If one seeks man's perspective, (his own or someone else's) there are as many of those as there are men willing to give theirs. Then someone can "pick" the one they like the best. Only problem with that is the buffet of man's perspectives (or interpretations of the Word or teachings) are false which is darkness.
Some teachers, however, who themselves have sought the heart of God, teach sound doctrine. There is also a danger here, though, and that is when people who have received solid teaching, as confirmed by the Spirit, begin to believe that everything that particular person says or writes is true, then they will begin to set up idolatry towards a man, and can get further and further from the source of Truth-God Himself. Every true teacher of God will hold himself accountable to God in what he teaches, but he also is human and is not fully developed in God, so everything still must be checked by the Spirit that is within each one of us. It is part of the checks and balances God provides for His children, to keep them out of harm's way of deception.

If we honestly love the truth, accepting the fact that what is true or real can only be defined by God Himself, than He will be faithful to lead us into all truth. If deep down inside, we really just want our own way, which appeals to our flesh, we will not have that protection, and will be in darkness, even though we think we are in the light. Scary, huh?

Let's ask God to show us any desires we might have which are self-deceptive, and to cleanse us from them. Only He really knows us in truth in our innermost parts, so it is to Him we must make our appeal, and trust Him to do it-even though we don't like what He shows us.