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Male World View

The Bible, and most societies in the world, speak in a perspective with reference to the man. This is even done when referring to animals. He, him, his, etc., is the normal way of speaking in every-day language. In the Bible, Paul, and others, also express this common male world view.

Balanced Bible View

Even with the male world view being expressed in the Bible, when you see the overall facts in the Bible, you can see that God has a balanced view of male and female roles.

In Genesis 1:26-27, before the fall, we see that “man” was created in the image of God. God “created he him; male and female created he them.” So, “man,” “him,” and “them,” created in the image of God, were male and female. In Genesis 2:24, they were declared “one flesh.” This was before the fall. The element of the man ruling over the woman, and the curse, did not come into operation until after the fall.

In Ezekiel 11:19-20, it is prophesied that God would give His people “one heart” and a “new spirit,” taking out the “stony heart” and giving them “an heart of flesh.” This was so His people could walk with Him and be His people and He could “be their God.”

In Joel 2:28-29 (also in Acts 2:16-18), it is prophesied and referenced, that the Spirit would be poured out upon “all flesh” and “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” The meaning of the Greek word to prophesy is “to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office,” applying to both men and women (Strong’s Concordance G4395).

In Galatians 3:13-14, we are told by the apostle Paul that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, that we might receive the “promise of the Spirit through faith.” He went on to say in verses 26-28 that we are all children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, and in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, and neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. So, “in Christ,” male and female are back to being “one” in a spiritual sense, with their spirits restored to the “pre-fall” condition by the Holy Spirit.

Inclusivity of Bible Expression

1 Timothy 2:4-6 tells us that God “will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth, for there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all…” (italics mine)

A strict interpretation of the language of the Bible here would conclude that God’s will is to save men, but the women are left out. It would say Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all men, but the women are left out. Anyone with common sense knows, by looking at all the scriptures of the Bible together, that “men” and “all” also refers to women.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 says “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” Seeing that “in Christ” there is neither male nor female, we cannot read a strict interpretation that the office of bishop (or deacon) is limited to a male. Just like God will have all “men” to be saved includes females, so if a “man” (or woman), desires the office of bishop (or deacon), “he” (or she), desires a good work. Females are included!  If it is a man desiring the office, then he is to be married to one wife, and not practice polygamy. If it is a woman desiring the office, then she is to be married to one husband, and not practice polygamy.

If you are going to read the Bible with exclusivity in one part, then it applies to all parts. If you are going to read the Bible with an understanding of inclusivity, then that also applies to all parts.

In reading the whole of scriptures, there is no place that forbids a woman from holding a ministry office in the kingdom of God—not one scripture! Apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher and evangelist is according to God’s call and equipping. There is no place that says this calling is according to gender. We should not take a method of language expression and use that to restrict the overall purpose of God. The fact is that male and female are one in Christ. God is simply looking for willing, obedient vessels whether they be male or female, or a donkey! (Numbers 22:28)

You say, “Well, the husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church.” Yes! The head and body are one unit. Christ and His church are one spirit. They are to work together to accomplish one mission—to seek and save the lost. The divine order of God is that each person in the relationship respond to the call and anointing of the Holy Spirit. If the wife is called to pastor, that does not change the fact that the husband is still the head, with all the responsibilities of being the head.

Ephesians 5:18-33, especially verse 21, shows us that the Spirit-filled relationship involves mutual submission in the fear and reverence of God. The wife is to submit to the husband “as unto the Lord.” The husband is to submit to the wife to love her “as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Mutual submission is the rule of the kingdom. Through this mutual submission, the gifts and callings of God are free to operate in each life.

Aquila and Priscilla are a good scriptural example of the husband-and-wife team. The husband and wife are God’s Holy Team to operate together in the callings and anointings of God on each of their lives to accomplish God’s work on the earth. They are to be mutually supportive of each other in whatever is God’s call on each of their lives. Acts 18

One last note: there is no such thing as “pulpit ministry” in the scriptures. It is simply people operating in the calling and anointing of God, going from house-to-house, synagogue-to-synagogue, town-to-town reaching people for Jesus. It is a body working together to reach people for Jesus.

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It seems I have developed a propensity to get my favorite clothes stained. It reminds me of the vein of incidences when I was in college at HSU—about 1970. I thought it was “cool” to smoke a pipe. I liked the sweet-smelling fragrance of the burning pipe tobacco. At that time, I had a few “favorite” slacks and sports coats—the polyester kind. It wasn’t long before I had burned a hole right in the front of all of them, fiddling with the burning pipe tobacco. Besides that,  I discovered that when I smoked the pipe, I could not smell the fragrance of it. That was the end of my pipe-smoking career. Today, I have some favorite white, cotton cargo pants, and a light-colored, cool, cotton “vacation” style shirt. When I picked some mulberries off one of our mulberry trees, even though I mentally made an effort not to do it, when I sensed the juice on my fingers, I instinctively wiped them on my trousers. Wrong! I did manage to get most of it out with an immediate application of Shout Out and some vigorous scrubbing with laundry soap and water. Then, at a later date, I had the same “favorites” on, and while eating breakfast, somehow, I flipped a large chunk of egg covered in turmeric, right into my lap, staining both garments in three places. Immediately I stripped and went through the same cleaning procedure. Turmeric, with egg yolk is super staining. I got most of it out. At this writing I am wearing the same garments. My wife suggested that I wear one of her body aprons anytime I am wearing these garments. Holes burned and stains. The garments can still be worn, but they are less than perfect. Aquila and Priscilla, a man and his wife, heard Apollos teaching, and pulled him aside to show him “the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). After that, he started teaching that Jesus was Christ (Spirit-anointed Messiah) (vs. 28). The issue with the Southern Baptist Convention, or any other group, is not really with women being pastors. The issue is the anointing. If you get the anointing right, if you get baptized in the Holy Ghost and fire, like is promised by the Father, you will understand that God pours His Spirit out on “all flesh” in order to further His kingdom. The Bible, written in a masculine tone, never forbids a woman to hold office in the kingdom. It is only inferred by those who interpret it. The garment is still being worn, but there are some holes and stains in it. Jesus wants it to be complete, and without wrinkle, stain or blemish. Get the anointing right, and you will know God wants to use every willing and yielded vessel in any capacity, in order to reach the little lost sheep wandering from the fold. Get the anointing right, and the gifts of the Spirit operating, and heal the sick and save the lost.

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Introduction

Acts 5:29-32; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12; 3:14; 1 Peter 4:17 (KJV)

The one common denominator in scripture of obeying the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ is that we hear the message of the Spirit-anointed, suffering Savior, and believe.  Believing in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, believing in Him who suffered for our sins, is the one common denominator given in scriptures. In this operation of faith in God in our heart (Colossians 2:12), there is repentance (making an about-face and changing the mind), and there is a looking to and calling on the name of the Lord to have our sins remitted (taken away). With this, we are to be water baptized (immersed) and baptized (immersed) in the Holy Spirit.

Illustration: If you are offered a million dollars, there is no legal requirement that you must receive and spend all those million dollars. It is offered to you, but you don’t have to take it, and you don’t have to spend it all. If you choose not to receive it, you will not enjoy the benefits of having it. If you choose to receive it, but you choose not to spend it all, you will not enjoy all the benefits. If you choose to both receive it all and spend it all, you will enjoy all the benefits of it.

God commands His blessing toward us in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and in all He accomplished for us. With all God offers us in Christ, we can choose to receive Him or choose to refuse Him. We will see in the scriptures that God the Father offers us unlimited resources of mercy, grace, provision and power in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In receiving and having relationship with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are given that “million dollars.” If we fully obey to believe this good news of what all we have in Him, we will fully enjoy the benefits. If we don’t obey to believe this good news, we will miss out on all He has for us. This is hell, eternal separation from God. True faith, true believing, leads to transformation and action by which we can enjoy all that God has for us now, and eternally.

The Pattern of Obedience in Scriptures

1. On the day of Pentecost, the people heard and believed the message of the coming of the Holy Spirit and of the suffering Savior. The apostles knew and presented Jesus as a person. He wasn’t a theological doctrine or a set of scriptures for a “plan of salvation.” Jesus, the living person, who is Lord and Christ (the Spirit-anointed One), who is the Son of God, who suffered for us, was preached to the people in the power of the Holy Ghost.

The believing people asked the apostles what they were to do. (If they had not been believers at that point, they would not be asking what to do). They were given concise instructions. They were told to repent for the remission, for the putting away of their sins. They were told to be water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and in that believing, they would receive the Holy Spirit. Hearing and believing in the suffering and blood sacrifice of Jesus, seeing Jesus, given for our sins, is the convicting, convincing power of God that brings the peace of knowing our sins are taken away. Faith in the person who gave Himself for us as a blood sacrifice is what takes our sins away. It is by believing, that we have the realization that our sins are taken away by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-26; 10:10 John 1:7-9). By confession, we experience salvation.

It is by believing, with the action taken in faith of calling on the name of the Lord, that we begin experiencing transformation. We are then water baptized. Again, I say, faith in the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ is what brings the realization that our sins are taken away. If water baptism took our sins away, we would have to be water baptized every time we sinned.

In like manner, it is by believing, with action taken in faith, that we receive the Holy Spirit; it is by believing, with action taken in faith, by which miracles are performed (Galatians 3:2-5). Faith in Jesus, faith in the blood sacrifice, believing in Jesus, is the one common denominator in the pattern given in scriptures, to obey the good news of Jesus. True believing leads to action, to opening the mouth and calling on the Lord and in confession of His Lordship and speaking out what God puts in you. Action results from the obedience of believing. Acts 2:14-40; Romans 10:10

2. The Samaritans heard the message, believed on the Lord, and they were water baptized. They later received the Spirit of God by the laying on of hands. True believing leads to action which “seals the deal.” Acts 8:14-17

3. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading about the suffering Savior in Isaiah 53:7-8. Philip preached Jesus to Him, obviously giving him instruction about water baptism. When they came to a body of water, the eunuch asked Philip why he could not be baptized. Philip replied that if he believed with all his heart, he could be baptized. The eunuch replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Philip baptized him. Nothing here in scripture was said about repentance or the Holy Spirit.  He believed the message of Jesus and was baptized and went on his way rejoicing. Again, we see believing with action in operation to “seal the deal.” Acts 8:26-40

4. Saul (Paul) met the Lord and was later prayed for by Ananias to be filled with the Spirit. He baptized him in water. Saul (later re-named Paul) immediately started boldly preaching Christ, the Spirit-anointed One, in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Obviously, he believed in Jesus Christ and repented; he had an about-face, a change of mind. We know he was filled with the Spirit, seeing his boldness in preaching, and the authority he carried, and seeing that he spoke in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18). Again, believing in the person of Jesus brought about transformation and taking action on the Word of the Lord. Acts 9:17-20

5. Cornelius (a Gentile) heard the message of the Spirit-anointed, suffering Savior, and he believed the Word. As he and his household believed the Word spoken to them by Peter, they realized their sins were remitted (taken away), and they were filled with the Spirit with speaking in tongues and magnifying God (confession). They were then water baptized in the name of the Lord. Repentance was not mentioned in the message, although it is evident that he and his household did repent. Water baptism was not mentioned in the message. That instruction did not come until after they had been filled with the Spirit. They were just told to believe. God saw their hearts, that they believed on Jesus for the remission of sins, so He confirmed that faith by giving them the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Faith in Jesus, with the accompanying confession, is the foundation and common denominator for full salvation with the supernatural power of God upon our life. Acts 10:34-48; Acts 11:12-18; Acts 15:8

6. Lydia and her household heard and believed the word, and they were water baptized. Scriptures do not mention anything here about repentance and the Holy Spirit. The common denominator is believing, then taking action to seal the deal.Acts 16:14-15

7. The Philippian jailor (a Gentile) heard, believed, and was water baptized along with his whole household. They were all rejoicing (confession) in the Lord. Nothing is said in scripture here about repentance or the Holy Spirit. When the jailer inquired as to what to do, he was simply told to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and he would be saved and his household. With that, the apostles gave the Word of the Lord to him and his household. They were told the criterion of entrance into the kingdom is believing on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, they were instructed on being baptized, with nothing explicitly stated here about receiving the Holy Spirit. That was probably given to them in “the word of the Lord” that was later given to the whole household. Entrance into the kingdom is by presenting the person of Jesus so the people believe on Jesus and His accomplished work for us.Acts 16:25-34

8. Crispus, a Jewish synagogue leader, along with many Corinthians, heard the good news of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. They believed, and they were water baptized. Nothing is said here in scripture about repentance and the Holy Spirit. They simply believed the message of what Jesus has done for us. That faith brought about the action of repentance and being baptized in water. That same faith brought about the action of being filled with the Holy Ghost with tongues, prophecy, and other gifts of the Spirit, plainly evident in the Corinthians as we see in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. Believing on Jesus brings about a flow of God’s enabling grace to empower us to receive all and do all God has for us to receive and to do. Acts 18:8; 1 Corinthians 12-14

9. The Ephesians had heard and believed the message of repentance. They were water baptized with John’s baptism of repentance. When Paul came later and realized that they did not know about the Holy Spirit, he gave them the message of the person of Christ, the Spirit-anointed Jesus. They believed Paul’s message, and they obeyed to be baptized in the name of the Lord instead of just being baptized with John’s baptism. By the laying on of hands, they received the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues and prophesied. Believing in the person of Christ, the Spirit-anointed Jesus, brought about the action of being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and prophesying. Believing in Jesus is the foundation for the supernatural power of God in our life. Acts 18:24-28—Acts 19:1-6

Conclusion

We see a variety of experiences in scripture, but in them all we see that the common denominator is hearing and believing in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Involved with that believing is the action of repentance (changing the mind), confession, water baptism, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the kingdom of God, believing brings about transformation so that action is taken. To obey the good news of Jesus is to hear the message of the Spirit-anointed, suffering Savior who died for our sins, and believe that good news. With that changing of the mind (repentance), we are to be baptized in water in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, sealing our belief in and commitment to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and receive and be filled with the Spirit of God. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ connects us with and is one with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit of God. Being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one and the same as being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hearing, believing, repenting, and being baptized (in water and Spirit), all issues from believing the gospel (the good news) of the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is just the beginning of a lifestyle of believing and obedience to the gospel.  

By faith, by believing in the blood sacrifice of Jesus, we are cleansed in our spirit man, in our heart. Our conscience is “purged” from “dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14). We receive the life of God. We are positioned to receive all God has for us. We are commanded to be baptized in water because by being baptized in water, we are publicly obeying and confessing and identifying with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the name and person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our public confession of the Lord brings about the confession of us to the Father by the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:32-33). The only scriptural example of a believer who apparently was not water baptized is the thief on the cross. His looking to and believing and calling on Jesus is what got him into paradise (Luke 23:39-43). Because believing on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is the criterion of entrance into the kingdom, God’s grace and mercy will operate in the Sahara Desert and in any situation and scenario! We preach Jesus!  

Scripture says that God, who knows the heart, gives witness to a pure heart of faith by giving the Holy Spirit to those who believe. It is through the mercy, faith and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved—not by any works we can do. We are saved in every way by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves. It is the gift of God in Christ Jesus that we receive by faith. In our obedience of believing, that grace works out in the obedience of doing what is commanded. Acts 15:8-11; Ephesians 2:8-9

It is God’s will that we be filled with the Spirit. Before Pentecost, the believers were told to wait until the Holy Spirit came upon them so they would have power to be supernatural witnesses of Jesus. Believers are to carry the same miraculous power as Jesus carried (Mark 16:15-20). The Holy Spirit has now been given into this new covenant church age. Now, waiting is not required. Now, with hunger and thirst for all God has for us, we are to simply receive the Holy Spirit by faith and act upon the Father’s promise to fill us. We ask in faith, in submission to God, and we speak out in faith.    

So, to obey the good news of the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, we hear and believe. In believing, we repent of sin, we are water baptized, and we are baptized in the Holy Spirit. God meets us wherever we are in that process and experience, to bring us into the fullness of His Spirit. It is all by His grace, and His blessing. This is so we can be an instrument of grace and blessing to others in a supernatural way. It is not a legal one, two, three; you gotta do it this way, or else. It is a flow of God’s grace, flowing from seeing and submitting to the person and provision of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Obedience starts by believing. Jesus said believers shall have supernatural signs following them to cast out devils, speak with new tongues, be supernaturally protected, and lay hands on the sick for their healing and recovery (Mark 16:15-20). Believing the good news of the person of Jesus Christ (the anointed) brings eternal life and supernatural power.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves…having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

We are living in the time when many people have a “form of godliness” and only a knowledge about godliness with no supernatural power. We all need to pursue God until we are fully believing and fully obeying the gospel, and living in the fullness of His life and power. Remember the illustration of the million dollars. We need to be sure we are drawing on all the grace that God has for us in the person of Jesus. God gives His Spirit and power to make us supernatural witnesses of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, who is seated by the Father with all authority.

Eternal souls are headed to hell! They are waiting to hear the witness of the person of Jesus and what He accomplished for us. We need to receive the supernatural power with the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. We need to receive our identity in Christ, with His authority and God’s supernatural power. We are to receive the commission He gave us to go and preach the gospel to every creature. With all this, we are to go out and effectively reach the lost, and the languishing believers, with the good news of the finished work of the resurrected, seated person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

By the obedience of believing the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can bear eternal fruit to the glory of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. If we believe it, we will do it!

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My normal walk around the perimeter of our property has been interrupted in the last couple of weeks. This morning, I got out early and was stretching out, getting my five times around for the mile. As I came across the front of the property along the street, it looked like the whole flock of Canadian geese that hang out in the lake, along with all the goslings, were staged and ready to cross the road into our lawn. I stopped my walk and walked up to the street clapping my hands, driving  them to head back toward the lake. We don’t care for them hanging out in our yard. They leave a big mess. If they are not driven back, they will make a habit of daily grazing in the lawn leaving all their evidence. It looks like twenty or thirty small dogs have relieved themselves—and that could be daily. But this morning, I made my rounds, and they had to go. Shifting now to Barb’s squash plants. We learned that there are male and female squash plants, as there are in many other plants in the plant kingdom. In that early morning walk, it is good to observe the plants and take note that there are plenty of bees working the plants, as the bees are the natural pollinators. Without pollination, fruit might form, but it is de-formed and fails to come to full fruition. If no bees are observed on a daily basis, there is a technique of manual pollination. You can take an artist’s brush and rub some pollen off the male stamen onto the female stigma. This needs to be done in the morning after the dew is off but before the flower closes in the early afternoon. By pollinating the female blossoms, there will be fruit. If the bees don’t get it done, you can do it. Bottom line: If we don’t pay attention to what is going on, life can get to be a mess, and, life will not bear good fruit. Jesus said to watch and pray. If we are not watching and praying, the spiritual “geese” will get into the habit of hanging out at our place and making a mess of things. That means get rid of sin and unbelief, walk in obedience and feed on the Word of God to nourish your spirit man. It means pray in the Spirit, under the direction and in the power of the Spirit. Run the geese away. That means if you don’t have the “pollination” of the Spirit revealing Jesus Christ in the Word—if the Word is dead to you at church or in your private time, you get before God and learn what you need to do to eat of the tree of life. If we are not experiencing the love, joy, peace and power of the Holy Ghost in our life, then do something about it! Don’t live in crop failure! Understand about the birds and the bees!  

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The goat farmer had been shouting in the church services and carrying on in such a way as to disturb the proceedings. He did this on a regular basis, so he was approached at his farm by a delegation from the church. They found him outside with a goat on a leash that he was leading from one pen to another. He was told that his conduct was disturbing the meeting, and they couldn’t understand why he persisted in interrupting the holy reverence of the church. They came asking him to control himself. The quiet-spoken farmer began to explain himself. He said, “Well, I get to thinking about what all the Lord has done for me. He loved me enough to take a beating to heal my sicknesses. When they got through with Him, you could not even recognize Him as a man (Isaiah 52:14). He did that for me! And I get to thinking how He loved me enough to allow wicked religious men to unjustly crucify Him with not a word to defend Himself! He did that for me! By Him doing that, all my sins were laid upon Him and He bore all my sins away, nailing them to the cross. Whew! He is so Wonderful! And, He didn’t stop there! Whew! Once He went back to the Father in heaven, He poured the same Holy Ghost out upon me that is upon Him! Now I can walk with Him in the power and joy of the Holy Ghost. Whew! Glory to God! Here, brother, hold the goat! Hallelujah! Glory! I gotta take a little run and shout!” The Word says Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) and fire. Jesus taught us that He gives believers the Spirit of God to guide into all truth and to glorify Jesus (John 16:13-16). We start understanding what all Jesus has already accomplished for us. When a person truly believes on Jesus, that person is transformed. The Spirit of life comes into them and Jesus starts becoming more real to them. Then when we believe and yield all our life to Him to receive the Holy Spirit upon our life, we receive supernatural power, joy, and peace because we understand that His work and His righteousness is what makes us right with God (Romans 14:17). What we could not do for ourselves, Jesus has done it for us. Glory to God! This is good news! When I receive Jesus, I receive deliverance from the kingdom of darkness, and I have entrance into the kingdom of God. Jesus! Then when I receive the Holy Spirit, I receive power from up on high, and the joy of the Lord, and peace that passes understanding, so glory to God, no matter what I’m facing, He is with me to always carry me through with peace, joy and victory! Thank you, Jesus! Jesus did all this for me! Here Brother, hold the goat! Hallelujah! I gotta take a little run!

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I was about fourteen or fifteen years old, and my mom and I visited my brother Richard and his wife. He was in the military, stationed at Las Cruces, New Mexico. I remember it as a good visit. He had a motorcycle which he let me ride, which I rode around the town. That was a great adventure for me. I don’t think I had ever ridden a motorcycle on my own at that point, but he entrusted his bike to me, with no incident. There were other interesting things that happened on that trip, but another thing that stands out clearly in my memory is the song, “Going Out of My Head.” Richard took me out to a venue which offered live music. I have always enjoyed most all kinds of live music. At this place there was a pretty young girl, with long, flowing blonde hair, probably within ten years of my age at that time, who sang with a live band the song, “Going Out of My Head.” Right behind that, she sang “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” I was sitting at a table right at the front. When that girl looked at me and sang those songs, I fell in love with her right then and there! Of course, when we walked out of that place, I never saw her again, but she made an immediate and lasting impression on me. Today, I pulled up “Going Out of My Head” on You Tube. It was released in 1964 by Little Anthony and the Imperials. And then right behind that, to get hit with, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”! That song starts out, “You’re just too good to be true, can’t take my eyes off of you, you’d be like heaven to touch, I want to hold you so much.” And that girl standing right before me, looking at me while singing those words with that velvety smooth voice! I laughed as I listened to the words, and I thought, “No wonder I ‘fell in love with her.’” That poor naïve kid fell right in! But with all that being said, here is what we can learn of lasting value as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we can get “out of our head,” out of our reasoning, out of our emotions, out of our focus on the devil, out of being caught up with ourself, our problems and our trials, and we can get our focus on what is true, we experience true freedom. Jesus lived the righteous life. Jesus suffered for our sickness. Jesus was sacrificed for our sin. Jesus defeated the devil. The work is finished. Now, our part is to believe it, receive it, confess it, act upon it and continually give God praise for setting us free. We look to Him. We focus on Him. We “get out of our head” of trying to figure things out. By faith we praise God, and we walk out in true freedom.

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We bought a place which has a creek running along the west border of the property into the lake across the street. Years ago the retaining wall collapsed and fell into the creek, redirecting the flow so that it has been eroding a big hole in the bank in our back yard.  We took the Word of God to stand on “he maintaineth our lot” (Psalms 16:5), and proceeded to regularly lay our hand to the situation. Barbara has spent many hours shoveling gravel from one side of the creek to the other in order to shift the channel back to its original course. In the process we uncovered the concrete wall that was lying in the creek bed and exposed it so we could see clearly why the course was shifted. The same day a friend was here with his tractor to smooth out the gravel for our new driveway, was the day some men were working on the other side of the creek with a small track hoe, a small digging machine. The friend with the tractor hooked a chain onto the concrete wall in the creek bed and pulled it around so that now it is working for us to keep the water from eroding our property. The man working on the other side of the creek with the small digging machine heard and saw what we were trying to accomplish, and in about 30 minutes, his volunteered machine labor had the channel completely redirected to its original course with much of the gravel put back on our side of the creek. We praised God for getting accomplished in one day what was impossible for us to accomplish by hand. We had checked with the city and the county, and neither would/could get involved. We could have just said, “Well, that’s just the way the creek runs. God wanted the creek to go that way.” Instead, we took responsibility for the mishap. We put our faith in the Word and laid our hand to it in Jesus’ name. God, working through people, gave us our hearts desire of the creek running back in its original channel. We are in the process of building the area back that was washed away over the years prior to our purchasing the property. Sometimes things bad happen in our lives and we just say, “It was God’s will for that to happen.” If we will take an honest look at bad things that happen, we will see that it was due to somebody’s negligence, irresponsibility, or stupidity. If we will own up to our faults and failures in all truth, and take it to the Lord, the truth will set us free. We don’t need to blame God for our stupidity. We need to take responsibility, learn from it, and go forward. Take charge of how your creek runs.

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We are filling in for a chaplain at the prison two Sundays this month. We normally go just two Saturdays, but he had to be out of town, so last night we met with 31 inmates for the meeting. It was a great meeting with testimonies and words being shared freely. The band leader used to lead a band out in the world. Since his incarceration, he has committed his life to the Lord and is doing a great job leading the band in the prison. Barb joins in on the keyboard, playing by ear, and that little six-piece band can rattle the rafters in praise to God. The Bible says God inhabits the praises of His people. God does not inhabit just performances. God inhabits heart praises to Him. Between songs, I would give a little bit of my message. I introduced it giving its title with commentary—How to Go from Information to Revelation to Demonstration. They sang a song. While they were getting ready for the next song, I gave some more of my message. When I got that out in just a couple of minutes or so, I turned it to them, and they rocked out with another song. This went on for an hour and a half. The presence of God increased. I jumped up on the altar bench and asked, “Do you believe God’s Word enough to take action on the Word? If you do, then stand up and raise your hands and give God praise and worship (some were already doing this).” They all did except one man. He just stood there. I briskly walked over to him and looked him right in the eyes and asked, “Do you believe God enough to act on His Word?” He just looked at me, and with my eyes still fastened on him, I shot my hands straight up in the air, then waved my hands and arms up and down indicating for him to do the same. He put his arms and hands up in the air. Every person in the room, together in one accord, praising and worshipping God. Chains of pride, fear and unbelief were broken. Men came to the altar under God’s dealings. Praise continued. The presence of God was strong. It was hard to stand up. To the floor I went. Not normal for me. Praise, worship, and God’s dealing with hearts continued. Toward the end of the meeting, one man testified that weeks earlier he received prayer for a knee condition. Afterward, he was taken to the prison hospital to have his leg amputated from the knee down. The doctors were very confused. They could find nothing wrong. He walked down the isle to give that testimony. What happens when “we” get out of the way, and let God have His way? We go from mere information, to the revelation of who Christ is and what He has accomplished, to a demonstration of God’s love, power, and goodness to all.

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We call it “the crud.” Sometimes it is referred to as “this stuff going around.” It seems if one gets it in a household, it transfers. If you go to a doctor, he will put a fancy name on it with further instructions. Mine started with a dream. Or it could have started with all that KFC I had enjoyed for supper the evening before. But I was dreaming that something was going on with my system. I lay there thinking (in the dream), “Oh this is just a dream. Not a problem.” But in short order, I start realizing, “Hey, this is not just a dream! This is really happening!” That over-abundance of chicken earlier in the evening was a little much for my system, and I was experiencing some aspiration, what seemed to be in my upper lungs and sinus cavity. Burning! Bad! Not fun! I arouse around and start dealing with it. Not much, if any sleep that night. I am still dealing with the after-effects. It is like a cold and allergies all tied up in one. Then it hits the wife, and she has to deal with it. Well, we’re overcoming it. But in the midst of it I learn a good lesson. With both our various speaking responsibilities, one thing we do not need is to not be able to speak, and speak clearly. There are missionaries in India with whom we do zoom calls, the ministry in the church, the prison ministry, band practice and participating with the band in the prison ministry, and more. So, the lesson I learned is this: If we carry the testimony of Jesus Christ, and if we carry the Word and the Spirit of God, we carry the voice of God. The voice of God is what gets the job done on earth as it is in heaven. What Jesus Christ accomplished for all mankind is laid up for all mankind in the spiritual realm in heaven. Words and actions in obedience to the Spirit of God, transfer that perfect and eternal work into the hearts and lives of believing hearers. That is how people get born again. They hear the word of the gospel, and when they believe and submit to God to receive that good news of Jesus, God’s life is imparted into their spirit. That is how bodies are supernaturally healed. The word of what Christ has accomplished in His being beaten and tortured is heard and received, and healing power transfers from heaven into the physical body. Deliverance from oppression and all the blessings of God works the same way. The voice of God comes through Scriptures and the Holy Spirit with the human spirit. It is important to keep the channels clear. If there is going to be a transfer, let it be a spoken transfer of the promises and power of God to one another, all to the glory of God. Hearing and obeying God’s voice is what sets us free. 

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As I sit and look out the back windows, I see the verdant, green trees lining the back yard. I see the birds feeding freely at the bird-feeders provided. From my point of view, I also look through the windows in the end of the house and see little baby bunny exploring and nibbling freely at the abundance of green grass provided for him. Then, I think of the creek that borders the eastern side of our property. With my daily walk along the creek, I see the fish, the turtles, and an occasion sighting of a water snake that quickly slides into the water as I approach. It is spring time, and life is bursting out everywhere. The older I get, the more I realize that the Word of God never tells us that we have to get old and decrepit. It gives some examples of some who did, but it also gives promises and examples of some who prospered in old age. Moses didn’t die until he was one hundred and twenty, and it says his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated. Moses knew the Lord “face to face” (Exodus 34:7-10). Caleb “wholly followed the Lord,” and he had the strength of a forty-year-old when he was eighty-five (Joshua 14:7-11). David recognized that the Lord satisfies our mouth with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagles (Psalms 103:2-5). He also recognized that he who dwells under the shadow of the Almighty will be satisfied and have long life in that satisfaction (Psalms 91:16). Isaiah prophesied that God gives strength and power, and that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength and run and not be weary and walk and not faint (Isaiah 41:28-31). Jesus comes along and sums it all up by saying the devil has come to steal, kill, and destroy, but “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). John capped it off by writing to the church saying “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (1 John 1:2). Somehow, I fail to see in all this the expectation for us to get old and worn out. So, as age creeps up on me, I think I will think on these promises and ways of God rather than magnify my miseries. We can either line up to God’s Word and God’s way of life in Christ Jesus, or we can line up to death and disease. Paul said it like this: In Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life has made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2), and, if the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwell in you, He shall make alive your mortal body (verse 11). There is too much life in Christ, for us to think continually in the realm of death.

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