“A house divided against itself cannot stand” Part IV (Pro 14:27-35)

(Aired on June 19, 2025)

Pro 14:27  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Pro 14:28  In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
Pro 14:29  He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Pro 14:30  A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Pro 14:31  He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Pro 14:32  The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
Pro 14:33  Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Pro 14:35  The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

Recap of first three parts:

God’s proverbs admonish us to keep His wisdom, which is needed in order to protect “the unity of the spirit”, or the “the unity of faith” (Eph 4:3, Eph 4:13), that enables us to keep growing together as a many membered body with the same mind of Christ, with the same spirit, working toward the same goal of being in that blessed and holy first resurrection.

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

There is almost always a negative or dark side to most every proverb, being described to remind God’s elect that light comes out of darkness, and that we are the light of Christ, a city set on a hill that cannot be hid, a peculiar people who are zealous of good works (1Pe 2:9-10) because of the life of Christ within us, that is changing us as we go from glory to glory, the veil being ripped (Joh 8:12, Mat 5:14, Tit 2:14, 2Co 3:18, Mat 27:51). Christ is the one who we are looking to, in order to keep that unity as He leads us in the way of righteousness, which will see the house of God built up by His hands (Psa 127:1)

The outward kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ (Rev 11:15) is the great reset (Mat 13:12-13) that the world has been groaning to see fulfilled (Rom 8:22-23), and when God’s government is established on this earth, then those woes spoken of in (Rev 11:14) will start to be poured out on humanity as they have already been poured out and fulfilled in the life of God’s elect. This is when the world will begin to learn of God’s righteousness (Isa 26:9) which event is likened unto a great earthquake that is going to reshape all the earth as the waters did in the days of Noah’s flood (Rev 11:13-14). The woes that God’s people experience convert our souls whereas the woes that the world will experience during the thousand year reign of the saints is typical of a water baptism that must precede the lake of fire baptism which will come upon all the world in the second resurrection (Joh 3:5-6).

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

In last week’s study we looked at how we can protect that which God has given the elect to preserve in this life. The only way we can become a stronger undivided house is by keeping the commandments of God, doing what he tells us to do (Mat 7:22-27).

Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (Rev 1:3)
Mat 7:25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (Mat 16:18).

This final section of chapter fourteen will focus on the sound heart that is needed to maintain the unity of the body of Christ (1Co 2:16, 2Ti 1:7-9). It is when we judge ourselves and drink waters from our own cistern (Pro 5:15), and learn from those who have the mind of Christ that we become a stronger and more united body of Christ that is no longer judged of any man but at the same time understands the continual need to be taught by a man of God who has the mind of Christ (1Co 2:15-16, 1Jn 2:27, Act 8:31).

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Act 8:31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Pro 14:27  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

“The fear of the LORD”, from the “beginning” to the “conclusion” is where Life is, our “fountain of life”  (Pro 9:10, Ecc 12:13-14, 1Co 3:13-15). In other words, what that fear of God does is preserve our spiritual life in Christ (Rev 21:5-8).

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The fountain of life is Christ, he is the cistern that we, the church, is called to obtain living waters from (Luk 12:5, Luk 11:13, Joh 4:10-14)

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Luk 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Joh 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Joh 4:11  The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Joh 4:12  Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Joh 4:13  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: [physical carnal lineage being held onto [Jacob’s well] that does not know that before Abraham was I am]
Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. [“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death”]

Pro 14:28  In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

The king’s honour is found not just in any multitude, but in the multitude of counsellors who are men of God who fear Him and keep his commandments (Pro 15:22, Pro 20:15, Pro 24:6). It is with those who acknowledge that these things are the commandments of God (1Co 14:37-38) who will be given to see the body of Christ remain unified, honouring God and bringing honour to our king Jesus Christ (Pro 3:5-6 drink waters from your own cistern).

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths [toward the safety found in the body of Christ].

We understand that the church is never going to be a large group, the Lord tells us so (Mat 22:14). We are a little flock (Luk 12:32) who are grateful for whatever increase God himself gives (1Co 3:7), and although the fields are white and ready to harvest (Joh 4:35), and we do pray for labourers (Mat 9:37-38), the fact remains that the remnant of God will always be just that in this life, a small Gideon-like army that is bringing glory and honour unto our Father who is delivering us through Christ (Rom 8:37).

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Joh 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Mat 9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Mat 9:38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

He is preparing us as those labourers who will be used to bring in the latter harvest of the rest of humanity (Oba 1:21). Our attitude should always be that we desire that all men will be saved, which they will be, and that all men could prophesy and speak of things that we are blessed to read and hear today (Num 11:29, Mat 13:16-17), however, God gives the increase and has never intended that there be great faith on this earth when He returns.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Num 11:29  And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

But, in the end, God will be all in all (1Co 15:28) and the destruction of the prince of this world will see full destruction (Eph 2:2, Joh 12:31), “but in the want[ceasing, end, finality] of people is the destruction of the prince”.

Pro 14:28  Rulers of powerful nations are held in honor; rulers of weak nations are nothing at all. (Contemporary English Version)
Pro 14:28  A large population is a king’s glory.
But a prince without followers is destroyed. (New Int’l Readers Version)
Pro 14:28  In the multitude of a people, is the majesty of the king, but, in the ceasing of population, is the ruin of the prince. (Rotherham Emphasized Bible)

Pro 14:29  He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Being slow to wrath is the fruit of a sound heart that by God’s grace and the faith of Christ we are learning to possess our souls patiently with (Luk 21:19). Clearly it is when we are hearing the word in a good and honest heart that we will bring forth much fruit, and we will gain “great understanding” (Luk 8:15)

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Conversely it is those who are “hasty of spirit [who will] exalteth folly”, and there is no greater folly than to doubt that our Lord is going to return one day (2Pe 3:3-4, Luk 12:45-46).

2Pe 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Luk 12:45  But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; [the bad fruit of those who are hasty of spirit and exalteth folly]
Luk 12:46  The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

Pro 14:30  A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

We are the flesh and bones of Christ (Eph 5:30) and our sound heart is a gift from God (1Co 2:16) that we never want to take for granted as we die daily and stir up God’s spirit within us (Heb 2:3) so that a spirit of envy (1Ti 6:3-4, Tit 3:3,  Jas 4:5-7) should never start to create rottenness in those bones of Christ, “envy the rottenness of the bones”. If we keep God’s commandments demonstrating love toward one another (1Jn 5:2) and esteem each other better, those bones will remain strong and healthy and stay intact and not be spiritually broken, as Christ’s physical bones remained, typifying the body of Christ’s spiritual bones (Psa 34:20).

Jas 4:5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. “A sound heart is the life of the flesh”

Psa 34:20  He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. (Eph 5:30)

Pro 14:31  He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

God has called us to have mercy on the poor of this world as we have opportunity, and on those who are spiritually poor as we all once were in Babylon with no stay of bread or water (Isa 3:1). Not casting our pearls before swine does not exclude us from doing good unto all men, good that is done especially unto the household of faith (Gal 6:10). It is how we love our neighbour as ourselves that prevents us from oppressing the poor, who, when we do oppress we are doing so unto the Lord, “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker”.

Conversely when we love our neighbour as ourselves we are honouring our Father in heaven with those actions, “but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor”(1Pe 2:12-15)

1Pe 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1Pe 2:13  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

Pro 14:32  The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

We have hope in our dying daily process knowing that it is Christ who is working in us as our hope of glory (Col 1:27) who gives us the power to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is in fact Him who is doing that work within us (Php 2:12-13, Heb 5:7). It is that work of faith within the body of Christ that is driving away the wickedness within us (1Jn 4:4). It is that “death” of the saints that is most precious to our Father (Psa 116:15).

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh (1Jn 4:3), when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;(1Jn 4:17)

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Psa 116:15  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Pro 14:33  Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

We must labour to enter into Christ who is our sabbath rest, and with that rest comes understanding and peace that passes all understanding (Heb 4:8-11). Each holy day was on a sabbath for that reason, to remind us that God’s plan can only be understood and move forward within us by having the life of Christ within us who is our wisdom that we rest in (Mat 12:6-8).

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest (Php 2:12-13), lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Mat 12:6  But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
Mat 12:7  But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Mat 12:8  For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

God is in the process of burning out all the foolishness within the midst of Christ’s body by pouring out the seven last plagues of His wrath upon us, which is the only way our shame can be covered so that we are no longer fools who are made known by our corrupt actions, but sons of God who are standing in the temple of God by the grace and faith of Christ that is teaching us to forsake ungodliness and worldly lust in this life. [“I will have mercy, and not sacrifice = God’s mercy that is expressed in His judgements” (Rev 15:8, Tit 2:12-14)].

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

God’s people are likened unto a nation whose righteousness is of God that exalts us (1Pe 2:9), and ‘whatever we sow we will reap’ (Gal 6:7-8) is a statement of Christ that reminds us that “sin is a reproach to any people” and God is not mocked.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Pro 14:35  The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

Again in this study we are looking at how God deals with any corruption in our heart, burning it up so that body of Christ remains unified (Eph 2:8). His favour is toward the elect who are considered ‘wise servants’ who are in the process of trimming our lamps, and understand that in order for those lamps to burn brightly in this life we must experience His wrath against our old man of sin, “him that causeth shame”, which shame will be evident until it is overcome through the trials and much tribulation that God mercifully brings upon us (Heb 12:6). This is the life-long process the body of Christ has been blessed to be called unto, which will result in a unified body that is being “throughly furnished unto all good works”  (Heb 12:6-7, 1Pe 4:12, Rev 3:18, 2Ti 3:17).

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

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Awesome Hands – Part 169

“The Power of the I Am”

August 12, 2020

The last time I gave a study, we were in Joshua 9. When we resume this series fully, we will pick up from where I left off, but today I wanted to talk about a topic I believe will be helpful to everyone in the body of Christ because it is so helpful to me to being able to re-center myself on what is important in this life we have been given to live.

The Lord inspires us all in different ways so that we continually move down the path He has planned for us, which ultimately fulfills whatever it is we are needed to do for the kingdom of God and for His will.

For this study today, I was inspired to listen to a Ted talk once which allowed me to incorporate what I heard in this talk with what I know to be true in the bible concerning biblical truths. For those that may not be aware of Ted talks, these are presentations made by people who are inspiring, inspirational, content experts, etc, on whatever topics are being presented.

So, this study is somewhat of a co-opting of that talk by merging the thoughts I had from it with what is biblically true and accurate as it pertains to God being in control of all things.

Think of it as being a musician and hearing a song, taking the music from that song, changing the words to the song, and then releasing that for others to hear. The Lord inspires us all in different ways, but we know it is all being done for the elect of God.

We start this study today with this biblical admonition:

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

You all know my recent history with needing to complete my college education as part of what the Lord has inspired me to do with that part of my life. Since I am now coming back to studies from that frazzled schedule, I thought this study could bridge that time and the time moving forward in presenting studies.

At first glance, it may seem like this could be a distraction from doing things that are more focused on “staying in the Word” or “doing things for the body”, but I wanted to take this time and study to show what our minds should be when we encounter what we need to take action on in regards to what the Lord has inspired or caused in our lives.

When I set out to finish my college education, I decided to pursue finishing my bachelor’s degree. I kept being prodded (which is the best way to describe it) with things I was seeing or hearing in my life. Work situations, conversations, radio commercials and a slew of other things kept coming up that finally led me into making a phone call to see what steps needed to be taken in order to achieve this mountainous goal.

As with all decisions of this nature, one must count the cost, and in this case it was figurative and literal.

Luk 14:28  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luk 14:29  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Luk 14:31  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Luk 14:33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

The last verse mentioned here is really the focus or topic of what preceded it. Any of us that do not forsake ALL THAT WE HAVE cannot be the Lord’s disciple.

When I used to look at this verse, I saw the situation of not choosing anything over being a Lord’s disciple. While this is partly accurate, it simply is NOT the full picture. It is not full clarity on what is being said. In order to grasp the fullness of this statement, we must have clarity.

When we analyze what it is we have, what do we have? Knowing what we know about the complete sovereignty of the Lord, what is it WE have?

The Truth is that we have NOTHING that was not already given to us by the Lord. He giveth and He taketh away, and I promise you that the Lord knows what it is He is asking us to FORSAKE.

When I say that we need full clarity on what is being said above, the first thing to understand is that we are being told to choose wisely how we decide to PROCEED with whatever we are proceeding with.

In this example, count the cost of what it takes to FULLY build a tower. It isn’t just the foundation we need to consider. It is the labor, excavation, parts, foundation, walls, roof, man-power, tools and times to complete the project.

Likewise, if I am a general and need to fight an opposing army, I need to consider a whole slew of things to know if I can be successful in battle. I must consider morale, strength, numbers of soldiers, types of armaments, terrain, weather, etc., before I can make a full decision on what needs to be done and what can be done.

These bible verses and examples in Luke were preceded with this sentiment:

Luk 14:25  And there went great MULTITUDES with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
Luk 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:26  ESV “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why is Jesus teaching hate? Why is Jesus teaching us to hate our very family, which we did not choose, or else we cannot be His disciple? Maybe it is something else altogether that we are being told?

Maybe there is a secret message contained here for those that have eyes to see and ears to hear what He is saying to His bride? Yep, that is what is actually happening.

Luk 14:34  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Luk 14:35  It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Why would Jesus go from telling us to count the cost to talking about salt that has lost its savour? Indeed, if salt loses its flavor what can flavor salt? It becomes USELESS for its purpose, and that is the crux of these verses and this study.

The Lord wants us to drop the “we” and “me” that makes us up, and join the mind of the “I am”. More on that point later.

What is being talked about here is processing the information in front of us and making an educated decision on how to proceed based on our biblical training. Contrary to popular belief, the bible does not cover all topics we deal with in our lives. Some topics are directly covered, but most biblical things are talked about to TRAIN us on HOW TO THINK spiritually.

In the bible the Lord is giving us instructions on how to be. We are being given directions on how to live. We are given directions on how to proceed in life, but if we are blinded by the things that we call “we” or “me” we can not SEE what all the moving parts of a situation are in order to make a decision about what to do.

If we are blinded by “me” or “we”, then we cannot possibly consider all of the variables to any complex issue so that we can make proper and informed decisions.

Is not this what Jesus is talking about?

“And whosoever doth not bear HIS CROSS, and COME AFTER ME, cannot be my disciple”, are two very powerful directions and directives, and they contain so much instruction because they are so simple. Who would have thought that Jesus follows the K.I.S.S method? (Keep it simple stupid)

Awhile ago, one of the disciples had a request for Jesus that went something like this:

Mat 8:21  And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Mat 8:22  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Jesus just told this person to simple FOLLOW Him, and this disciple would be among the living. The disciple didn’t simply ask Jesus permission to bury his father.

The disciple asked Jesus to SUFFER HIM FIRST to put something BEFORE following Christ. Jesus says FOLLOW, but this disciple said I want to be BEFORE YOU. I want to go do something important to me first, I want to get my ducks in a row, I want to make sure I have everything covered, and THEN I will follow you.

However, Jesus tells us to have a different mindset than this disciple. Our mindset is to be that whatever cross we have been given in our lives, we must BEAR it AND follow Jesus. We cannot put it BEFORE Jesus. We cannot LEAD Jesus to the cross, we must follow Him to the cross while BEARING the cross He has given us. We certainly cannot use is as an excuse to NOT follow Jesus in the way He says to follow Him. He GAVE us that CROSS and He knows what that BURDEN is all about!

So, let’s talk about this a bit practically now. I started this study mentioning the decision to go back to school. Other than my own aspirations to finish something I had started, I had felt like I was being prodded to go back to school.

My own aspirations were to finish schooling because when I made my first attempts I was doing fine, and then my younger brother was shot and killed when I was 20 and he was 16.

I was in school, having been really poor, to help myself and my 2 brothers out of poverty, and then the death of my brother happened and that threw a big wrench in my plans.

However, that didn’t take away the desire to finish eventually. For a long time, I simply didn’t think it would happen, but then one day I heard yet another radio advertisement about returning to school, and I made a phone call.

I have learned a long while back that we need to do a lot more listening than we do talking. This is even more true when it comes to spiritual ears. When we are being given some sort of spiritual guidance on things we are going through in our lives, we need to be paying attention to those signs.

In other words, we need to be aware of the times we are in. We may not be given that flaming bush example that Moses was given, but if we are still and silent mentally, then we can be listening for the instructions that Lord is giving us.

Once I decided to go back to school, I finished my bachelors in network administration, but given the situation I found my family in, it looked like a masters could be achieved too. This was an unexpected development, but it felt right to move forward. Now I sit here with both degrees, and there is simply only ONE reason why.

The Lord had predestinated that it happen this way. I simply bore the cross He has given me to bare in this part of my walk BEHIND Him as I follow Him, but there are MANY details that make up this experience and what it took to get here.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

We are accepted in the beloved. We are the body of Christ. We have obtained an inheritance because we have been predestinated according to His purpose and His will.

Therefore, the rest of this study is going to help us all bring into focus what it means to follow the Lord while bearing the cross He has given each of us individually.

Whenever we have decisions to make in our lives, or aspirations to decide on doing or not, we must ask ourselves what the goals and reasons are behind those things.

“Big” decisions we make are rarely the large decisions we tackle like deciding to go to college or back to college. Rather, we all make decisions everyday about everything that is happening that day and in the near future. How then do we count the cost in all things we do while also bearing our cross as we do it?

After all, we are not just simply doing things to do them, no matter what those “things” are, right?

There are things the Lord has placed in our lives that keep us from moving forward in the way we would like to move forward, or on the other side of the coin, that help us move forward depending on what the will of God is.

Recognizing these differences is “recognizing the times”, or in other words, recognizing the visitation of the Lord in your very presence.

First, we must recognize the hindrances that our lives are made up of. Those hindrances have been placed in your life by the Lord to not only hinder you but to get you to THINK. These things are put in your life to GUIDE you, but they certainly are not always pleasant.

We are the children of the Lord, therefore He is teaching us and training us up in the WAY we must go. Remember, He is the Way, Truth and Life.

Pro 22:6  Train up^H2614 a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
H2596

chânak
khaw-nak’

A primitive root; properly to narrow (compare H2614); figuratively to initiate or discipline: – dedicate, train up.

Total KJV occurrences: 5

H2596
chânak
Total KJV Occurrences: 5
dedicated, 3
Deu_20:5, 1Ki_8:63, 2Ch_7:5

dedicate, 1
Deu_20:5 (2)

train, 1
Pro_22:5-6 (2)

“Train up” literally means to dedicate or dedicated. Dedicate a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Here are some references and various examples of how the Lord would have us live our lives by recognizing how to participate in spiritual warfare in our heavens.

• Our flesh will hinder us by always appealing to us to do the opposite of what is spiritual. Our “flesh” is most often times focused on its senses.
  1. Touch, taste, smell, hearing and seeing are things that pull at our flesh.

If we have something pulling at our flesh, it will most often distract us from what our goals are in our lives.

• Refusal to acknowledge the situation we are in versus one we prefer to be in.
  1. Maybe the Lord has placed someone in our lives that we don’t like. This could be a family member, peer at work, etc. We just want to be away from them, but the Lord has placed them in our lives for “some” reason.
  2. Maybe we don’t want to drive in the rain, but we must drive in the rain to get to work. Maybe you like to drive faster, but the darn traffic is so backed up.
• Non-motivation. This can take many forms including depression.
  1. Maybe we are just always tired because we stay up too late.
  2. Maybe we find it hard to make efforts towards anything productive.
  3. Lasciviousness.
  4. Simple laziness.

We have to find ways to get out of these holes we find ourselves in. These solutions or ways vary, but they are things that do have various solutions. Sometimes we have to lean on others for support in these areas. Above all, we must pray and never lose faith that the Lord is in control.

• Being unsettled in your resolve or mind.
  1. Worrying about the future.
  2. Focusing too much on the past when nothing can change it.
  3. Judging future outcomes based on past results

These stop us from have clarity of mind and cloudy our judgments.

• Mindset of a skeptic. This can lead to in-decisiveness.
  1. Can I do this?
  2. Is this the right decision?
  3. What If’s?
  4. What will others think?
  5. What will others say?

How to we wage war against the things mentioned above if it is the Lord Himself that has placed in them in our lives?

First, we must realize that this is for TRAINING. We are being SCHOOLED right now. This is why I am using my recent educational experience as the backbone of this study. We are being trained as school children in the kingdom of God, and the best teacher is experience.

Therefore, the Lord is giving us experiences so we can become experts in dealing with them and then teaching others how to move on towards perfection in their spiritual lives. This is all a process, and while we never gain perfection in this life, we are moving towards it day by day.

Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

The Lord will not put more on us than we can bear.

1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

We need to do things ahead of time that will help us when the time comes that we need them. This is all of course with the sole focus that the Lord is in control.

However, as a practical example, and that is all this is right now, I have a bill to pay. I know that bill is coming. I get up every day and go to work because I need to earn money to pay that bill.

I achieve this by first planning to pay the bill. In the planning, I get a job, and then I execute the process of keeping that job. In none of this example, did I deny the Lord or His sovereignty.

I simply acknowledged it by doing the things ahead of time that needed to be done to pay my bill.

I also didn’t cross a bridge until a bridge was presented to me. I didn’t make up scenarios to then debate on how to deal with them. I simply planned to pay my bill and acted according to what the Lord was doing on my life to allow me to execute that plan.

Obviously, the Lord could take my job away and I couldn’t pay my bills, but I PLANNED to pay my bill and that is where my focus was. If my job is gone, I am back to step one of finding a job, but my GOAL is always the same … pay the bill.

The steps to deal with all of the decisions in our lives tend to be the same whether or not the decision is a “big” decision or a small decision from our perspective.

Mat 16:1  The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
Mat 16:2  He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
Mat 16:3  And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Mat 16:4  A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

Recognize the times. Recognize what state of mind you find yourself in and evaluate if you have the mind of Christ or if you are focused on “me” or “we”.

Accept the situation you are in and determine how you can better that situation if that is the goal. We cannot change the things the Lord has ordained in our lives, but we can decide on how to act and react to those things. The Lord tells us He gives us His mind, and I believe Him, so let us reflect that mind when acting and reacting.

Investigate the “whys” and “hows” of what is happening. Investigate your spiritual state of mind, and ask questions of why you reacted the way you did, how were you thinking when something happened? What are the consequences of reaping what I sow if I remain in that state of mind?

We all know the Lord is the author of all things. Therefore, we can and must pray to Him for guidance on how to proceed, but we can also take actions to see if the Lord blesses us on what we need to do.

I titled this study “The Power of the I Am” because I wanted to bring to focus the power we possess when we have a direct connection to the Head of all creation. We have been FAVORED, not because of anything we have done or said, but because it pleased the Lord to do so, to be the body of Christ.

Therefore, the Lord will guide and direct us if we simply take “we” and “me” out of the equation and focus on the “I am” of who we are. I am not my flesh. I am not my carnal mind. I am not my current emotional state. I can see these things about myself, but they are not who I am. I am a part of the “I AM”. In very nature of claiming it, you cannot even separate that FACT that you have to say who you are.

I am a part of I AM. Let that sink in for a minute.

Joh 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

We are connected with the One who sends us all of our training. Our training is a collection of all of our life experiences and situations, both past, present and future. However, that is a collection of these things for ALL of the body of Christ, and we are all meant to be in this together.

Therefore, I hope this study will help us all focus on whatever it is that hinders us and then allow us to all better handle the things the Lord puts us through. I am hoping some of the steps mentioned here will help us all identify things better so that we can deal with them better.

I have used these methods myself, and having a process in place to deal with things is much easier and better than doing things in the dark.