Inner Truth~The Effective Messenger

WATERMARKS OF LOVE

1 John 4:16 says, “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.  God is LOVE, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”  Jesus described this love in John 15:9.  It says, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.”  This verse holds up His standard, and a perfect ruler to check our growth.

Unconditional means: wholehearted, unqualified, unreserved, unlimited, unrestricted, unquestioning; complete, entire, full, absolute, unequivocal.  There is no ulterior motive or hidden agenda.  1 Corinthians 13:1 says that if we don’t have His love we will just be an irritating noise to those around us.

Romans 5:5 says that His love was poured out in our hearts at salvation.  We have His love in our hearts.  John 15:12 says, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”  There is the qualifier.  We are to love AS we have been loved by Him.  Impossible in our flesh, but He has equipped us to love through His love!

1 Peter 1:22 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”  Sincere means that we are void of pretense; no hypocrisy or speaking one way and acting another.  Here are a few verses that show us how to obey His truth that will purify our love. 

1 Peter 2:1 says, “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.”  Colossians 3:12-13 says, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”  Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

When we walk as Jesus walked, His love will be evident in our body language, words, and actions.  We consciously let go of wrongs done to us, in order to maintain a right relationship.

WATERMARKS OF GRACE

Psalm 45:2 says, “You are fairer than the sons of men; grace is poured upon Your lips; therefore God has blessed You forever.”  Luke 4:22 says, “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth…”  Gracious words.

Paul instructs us to speak with grace.  Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”  The Amplified uses the words pleasant and winsome.  Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Do your words impart grace, or do they cause the hearer to back up in their spirit and withdraw?  We are to walk in grace and in the power of His love.

Ecclesiastes 10:12 says, “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up.”  Proverbs 15:2 says, “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.”  Notice the contrast between the wise and the fool.  Proverbs 25:15 Amplified says, “…soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance.”

Without love and grace, we are ineffective messengers.  We have nothing of value to offer.  Anything we do in the flesh has no profit (John 6:63).  Think about the relationships in your life.  Are there people you struggle with?  Are there some that you avoid because of unresolved issues?  Is there someone who constantly puts you down, and is never satisfied with the things that you do?  Do you live in a negative environment?

Think of Jesus in His time of ministry.  He was constantly set up by the religious rulers.  They looked for ways to trap Him.  1 Peter 2:23 says, “Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”  His entire trust was in His Father.

We are promised the wisdom we need if we will but ask.  When we find ourselves  with impossible personalities, we need wisdom.  He will graciously give us the wisdom we need to navigate in the circumstances He allows in our lives.  We are never without recourse.  We are bid to come boldly to His throne of grace, to find the grace and mercy we need in the very moment we need it (Hebrews 4:16).  Lean HARD on His grace.  He is your Sufficiency.

j marilyn adams ~ October 22, 2015

Inner Truth~The Effective Messenger

WATERMARKS OF A DISCIPLE

1 John 2:6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”  A true disciple observes how Jesus walked, and walks in the same way.  Jesus glorified the Father in all that He did.  John 17:4 says, “I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”

We are created for the express purpose of glorifying the Lord.  Isaiah 43:7 says, “Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

How do we glorify the Lord?  John 15:8 says, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”  There are two kinds of fruit.  Romans 6:21-22 says, “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed?  For the end of those things is death.  But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”  Galatians 6:7-8 says it in a different way.  What we sow we reap.

The high watermark of a true disciple is abiding.  John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  John 8:31 says, “…If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”  The result of abiding is experiential truth that brings inner metamorphosis.  Verse 32 goes on to say, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  This is truth that brings such radical change, that we are not the same person we once were.

We see this example in the life of Saul of Tarsus.  This man who was dragging believers to prison, became a minister of God’s grace.  His writings still affect you and I today as we read his epistles.  Acts 9:20 says, “Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.”  Look at the reaction of his change in verse 26.  It says, “And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.”

Do others recognize that you are a disciple of Jesus?  Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.  And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”  This boldness in the Greek means a divine enablement that comes to ordinary and unprofessional people exhibiting spiritual power and authority.  Peter and John were apprehended and questioned by the Sanhedrin.  Acts 4:7 says, “And when they had set them in their midst, they asked, ‘By what power or by what name have you done this?’”

Another watermark of a true disciple is walking in the Spirit.  1 John 2:24 says, “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning.  If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.”  The result of that abiding is supernatural power through the Holy Spirit.  Verse 27 says, “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

Paul makes it very clear that it was the Spirit who empowered him.  He wants them to understand that it was God’s power alone.  1 Corinthians 2:1 says, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.”  Verse 4-5 says, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

His resurrection power abides in us.  Ephesians 1:19 Amplified says, “And (so that you can know and understand) what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.”  Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”  His power works in us and through us to do His will.

Philippians 1:11 says, “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”  What fruit is evident in your life?  Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”  What fruit do others eat from your tree?  Do they bite into something bitter and throw it away?  Rather, do they bite into something so succulent they want more?

John describes what life was like walking with Jesus.  1 John 1:1, 3 says, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life.  That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us…”  The true disciple delightfully shares the Lord with others.  j marilyn adams ~ October 22, 2015

Yesterday at rest home I spoke about the benefits of our salvation.  David tells us in Psalm 103:2 to not forget them, so last night I was meditating on them. They are countless.  Everything in salvation is a benefit.  There are NO drawbacks.  Amazing.

David described it best in 1 Chronicles 29:11-14.  Verse 14 says, “…For all these things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.”  We brought nothing into this world, and we will take nothing out.  Yet, here we are, filled with the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  Created for the good words He preordained.  He chose us to bear fruit that will remain.  We will be with Him in glory forever.

I encourage you to think about the benefits of your salvation today.  It will fill you until you overflow.

Always, and at all times, the Lord is working on our behalf.  Let me remind you of a story.  Remember when Elisha raised the Shunamitte’s young son who had died (2 Kings 4:8-37)?  Well seven years later we pick up the story.

2 Kings 8:1-6.  Gehazi is rehearsing the great things Elisha did, according to the king’s request.  Verse 5 is a classic example of God’s orchestration and impeccable timing.  It says, “Now it happened, AS he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there was the woman whose son he has restored to life, appealing to the king for her house and for her land.  And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.”

The Holy Spirit just showed me the progression of self-sabotage.  Always satan is looking for ways to defeat us.  Confidence is our victory that overcomes!!

Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”  Verse 35 says, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.”

The moment satan causes something in our unconscious to rise up, it is a road block set to defeat our faith.  In that moment we might waver, but it is just the temptation to waver.  We are at a crossroad.  If we DON’T dialogue with it, there will be no battle.  If we confess the hidden and RELEASE it right then to the Lord, it will strengthen and purify our faith.  Abraham did not waver because his confidence was in the Lord.  Romans 4:21 says, “And being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”

Ephesians 4:2 Amplified says, “Living as becomes you with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.”

Speaking of love in I Corinthians 13:5 the Amplified says, “….it takes no account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong).”

Making allowances: letting go of wrongs done, in order to maintain a right relationship.

This morning I was driving to my doctor appointment in Anderson (1/2 hr. from my house) when my car smelled hot.  I saw the yellow “check” light and took the closest exit.  He intercepted my way to redirect me into His way.

I was talking to my tow truck driver about the fire on our road.  Near the end I told him that I totally believed that it was God who protected me, then asked if he knew Jesus.  He said that he didn’t and that he was an atheist.  He also said that when he died he would just die.  We were on my road with all the oak trees and beautiful sky.  I asked him how he thought they were all created.  He said “The big bang theory?”  When I asked him how he could believe in a hypothesis rather than fact, he couldn’t answer me.

I told him that I had written for our newspaper and one of the articles was in a tract form.  He agreed to read it.  So when he got me home I brought him my little tract “Absolute Truth.”  He said that he wanted to believe but he just didn’t.  I pointed to the magnetic sign on my garage door “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”  He said that he would be sure and read it.  His name is Tony if you want to pray for his salvation.

Last night I had a great time meditating on stories in the Bible where the Lord redirected the lives of the people involved.  Think of Saul of Tarsus, Cornelius, the two widows in 1 & 2 Kings.  I often refer to Acts 16:6-10 and the Macedonia call when I’m seeking His direction.  He is the One Who opens and shuts doors.

Years ago the Lord gave me a new definition for frustration: God intercepting my way to redirect me into His way.

Last night I was meditating on “lay aside” from Hebrews 12:1.  To me, to lay aside something is rather nonchalant and passive.  However, this verse is talking about aggressive action.  Words like cast off, fling away, or throw off.  It is a picture of seizing something and violently throwing it away from  me.

Hebrews 12:1 says that it is the sin that so easily ensnares us.  The Amplified uses the sin that clings to and entangles us.  One day I was walking across the lawn and was just about to put my foot down on the patio sidewalk when a snake appeared.  I high stepped it, but we got entangled for a few moments before we both fled.  It’s a great picture of a stronghold.  It entangles us.  It unexpectedly rises up to impede our walk with the Lord.  We need to do whatever it takes to violently cast it off!

Gmail is blocking my group emails.  I will be posting my Inner Truth notes on this blog.

Inner Truth~The Effective Messenger

EMBEDDED THOUGHTS

We become what we think.  Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…”  Our thoughts govern our lives.  Embedded lies will hold us captive.  Embedded truth will set us free.

Meditating on God’s word will embed truth in our inner man, and help us walk as Jesus walked.  James 1:21 calls it the implanted word.  Every thought that Jesus thought was in alignment with God’s thoughts.  He always did the things that pleased the Father.  John 8:29 says, “And He who sent Me is with Me.  The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

Colossians 1:10 says, “That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”  This is a great prayer to adopt for ourselves. 

Negative embedded thoughts not only do not please the Lord but they oppose Him.  Does what you believe about yourself align with God’s thoughts towards you?  Any thought against yourself opposes God’s thoughts and ways.  Embedded thoughts against yourself are internally waging war against God’s thoughts towards you.  Psalm 139:17 says, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!”  Anything opposing God’s will creates warfare in our minds.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 Amplified says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood), but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, (inasmuch as we) refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ…”  Lying strongholds are overthrown, and new citadels of truth are erected through meditating on God’s words of truth.

Negative, disparaging, or caustic thoughts against ourselves undermine our health.  They create chemical imbalances, toxic emotions, and acidic conditions.  They weaken our immune systems, making our bodies defenseless against germs, virus, bacteria, and infections.  They break the natural rhythm He created to give us health and vitality to serve Him all the days of our lives.

Embedded lies suppress the truth.  Romans 1:18 says, “…who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”  Unrighteousness opposes God’s will.  The ground we give over to satan, allows him to rule through our thoughts.  Paul instructed Timothy how to deal with those who opposed truth.  2 Timothy 2:25-26 says, “In humility correct those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

Isaiah 5:13 says, “Therefore My people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge…”  Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”  Luke 4:18 Amplified says, “…He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed (who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity).”  Jesus came to set the captives free!

He sets us free through the truth that we know.  The Greek word for know means: to perceive, understand, recognize, gain knowledge, realize, come to know.  It is the recognition of truth by personal experience.  Meditating on truth embeds truth in our inner man.  That personal truth will metamorphose our unrighteous thoughts.  It will override the lies that we have believed and have been controlled by.  If satan can get us to believe a lie, he can use it to control our lives.  Who controls you?  Is it satan’s lies or God’s truth?  Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed (metamorphosis) by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable (pleasing) and perfect will of God.”

We are children of God.  Through salvation we are adopted.  Romans 8:15-16 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out ‘Abba, Father.’  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”  1 John 3:1 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!…”

What manner of love has He lavished on us?  His love is unconditional.  It is not conditioned because of our past.  He has called us to be witnesses of His love through the message of our lives.  Ephesians 4:1-2 says, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.”

j marilyn adams ~ October 8, 2015