Abdicate's Blog

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This verse pretty much sums up the spoken and written word of God. The word “quick” isn’t about speed, but to live. The word of God is powerful meaning it has the ability to effect change. “Sharper” here is the meaning of a single blow to divide instead of “hacking” away at something. A two-edged sword is one that when used not only divides in two downward, but can divide going upward, saving so miniscule, and sometimes vital, amount of time from having to twist one’s hand to position the blade correctly in order to divide. Now comes the amazing part, as if what was stated wasn’t enough, of the word of God. This verse shows the three parts of man: body, soul, and spirit, 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart – aka soul

I’m going to start with the last part and work backwards to show the importance of this one verse. “… discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” There are over 800 verses on the “heart”. Here are a select few:

Proverbs 16:9 (KJV) A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Psalms 139:23-24 (KJV) Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Proverbs 6:18 (KJV) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Proverbs 14:30 (KJV) A sound heart [is] the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 (KJV) A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 23:7a (KJV) For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he…

Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV) The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

The word of God knows the truth about the thoughts and intents of the heart. As you can see from these few verses the heart is literally the “heart of the matter” concerning mankind. The “heart” is the consciousness of a person, not the physical organ beating in our chests. Whatever is in the heart is what they do which is why there is so much evil in the world. We are born with a great deceit in our hearts, Jeremiah 17:9. This is why a child’s heart is bound by foolishness, Proverbs 22:15. When someone loves another, they’re blind to the truth, a matter of the heart. When someone set out on a determined quest, it’s first born in the heart. David asked God to search his heart for any wickedness that might be lurking there. It takes God’s word to overcome the heart and to reprogram it. Thoughts are seeds planted and intent is the fruit of those seeds. This is why David asked such of thing of God. This consciousness is where our physical bodies are affected. While physical heart transplants¹ have shown that not everything changes to the donor’s way of life, the “heart” is the center of one’s decisions; a combination of both mind and heart, the soul of a person. A great read is found here: http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/heart.

When you read “soul” in the Hebrew Scriptures it’s referring to this consciousness. The same word in Greek is psyche. In Hebrew the word for heart is “leb” and the paleo-Hebrew picture is two letters: lamed and beit giving the picture of a shepherd’s staff – authority – and a house meaning “in”. So the “heart” in Hebrew is the “authority within”, our consciousness. Interestingly the word “dog” in Hebrew is ka-leb – meaning “all heart”; very fitting for man’s best friend.

The power of the heart is unstoppable. God changed man’s language because whatever a man can imagine there’s nothing to restrain it, Genesis 11:6! This is very evident today with the fulfillment of prophecy, Daniel 12:4, because the English language as the de facto language of the world unites everyone allowing great advances in, well, everything. Now with the maturing of the Internet, knowledge can’t help but increase even more, but then so can evil. And without the word of God to rewire us, the deceitful heart will rule. The damage is done to those people who do not follow after God’s ways by being unstable in all their ways, James 1:8. The imagination of a fiction writer in India could spark an idea in a scientist in California to find a cure for leukemia. Certainly the work of 1960’s Star Trek spawned a whole generation of kids to see beyond what they were taught in school to create cell phones, 3D images, non-evasive diagnostic medical tools. Jules Vern provoked the idea of man going to the moon via rockets and an underground transportation system we call subways today. All back in the late 1800’s! Studies after studies show that people who want to achieve have a vision of what they want on the inner TV screen of their mind. In the military, they’ll tell you to imagine all the bullets going through the center of the target. When that vision is clarified within that inner TV screen, the body executes the success. The imagination is the breeding ground of ideas. Businesses call it brainstorming and Google has dedicated a whole lab to it. In fact, one of the six things that God hates is an evil imagination, Proverbs 6:18.

The word of God is able to separate the thought from the intent – the idea from the reason for its execution. What motivates us to do what we do is what the word of God can tell us. So powerful is the imagination that Jesus says that lusting in the heart is the same as executing the lust in physical form, Matthew 5:27-28! John says if we hate, we’re a murder, 1 John 3:15. We are told to take captive every single thought, 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, and focus on whatever thing is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of any virtue or praiseworthy or of good report, think on these things. These thoughts will rewrite your thinking and give you peace and joy. And when you have these things, your heart will be merry and a merry heart is medicine to the body, Proverbs 17:22, and life to the body, Proverbs 14:30. It is very evident that too many are just walking zombies and not actively using their mind taking control of their hearts and minds but becoming slaves to them.

The power of the “heart” is just now being examined by scientists², though they call it the mind and although it may be just that, it is the same thing as the whom in who we are. They have found that after just eight hours of mindfulness meditation the subjects “showed a range of genetic and molecular differences”. Mindfulness meditation is focusing on the moment with all the senses, no passive-autopilot thinking, not “emptying of the mid” but using the mind to focus on the task at hand. An example of this type of meditation is taking a single raisin and studying it with your eyes, then with your fingers, then with your ears (even though it makes no noise, you take note of it), then the smell of it, and finally with your mouth, savoring the taste, noticing the texture, the sweetness of the liquid that comes out. The idea behind this kind of meditation is to live in the moment and not letting it pass by, not focusing on tomorrow, yesterday or even something else, but enjoying the moment. Now you might be thinking that’s preposterous. Yet the word of God says it’s true!

Matthew 6:34 (KJV) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.

Philippians 4:6 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Proverbs 23:7a (KJV) For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he…

Whereas the scientists are looking at meditation – as defined as living in the moment – the Scripture uses the word “to mutter” as in “meditate the word of God” as God instructed Joshua, to focus on God’s word:

Joshua 1:8 (KJV) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

To meditate is the speak under your breath the word of God and thereby gaining more faith in the things that God says.

Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

All the day long we are bombarded by people talking to us about their ideas whether in person, on the radio, TV, reading articles on the internet, or even your own thoughts. If you sleep 8 hours a day, that leaves 16 hours of bombardment. In that amount of time, how much is dedicated to the word of God? Now you can see how the scales are tipped against you. But if you take just one verse in the morning and think on it, mutter it under your breath, all day, what a huge different that’ll make.

Please read this study on meditating: http://abdicate.net/blog/?p=161

References

1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1299456
2 http://www.tunedbody.com/scientists-finally-show-thoughts-can-cause-specific-molecular-changes-genes

The problem with Christianity is one thing: humans. We are prejudice, discriminatory, and racists. We’re quick to judge anything as negative, or at least sceptical, if we have not experienced it for ourselves. My wife is a Spaniard and it took three Thanksgivings before she’d even try a piece of pumpkin pie. Why? Because in Spain you have pumpkin soup or eat pumpkin seeds as a snack, but not pumpkin as a pie. It just wasn’t in her culture. Now she makes some of the best variety of pumpkin pies I’ve ever eaten and my belt testifies too loudly that point. In her eyes pumpkins were not for making pies. She had to overcome, learn and adapt. Humans are, for the most part, not amenable to change. Whatever we grew up with believing, tends to stay with us.

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

We Christians are judged by the world for our actions, like it or not, and we do the same thing to other Christians. But just like the world, Christians are fleshly in beliefs and in actions as well. Everything under the sun will be exploited and exaggerated. Healings are real. My wife was 100% healed from a condition I didn’t even know about until I had to translate a question from a Godly woman about my fiance’ neck. If it hadn’t happened to me, it would have stayed a belief “from the Bible” only. Yet there are “pastors” that pay people to be “healed” to boost ratings and rake in the money. That doesn’t make healings false.

Speaking in tongues is one way the Spirit prays through us for things our flesh would only get in the way.

Romans 8:26 (KJV)
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

It is also the means by which the Spirit communicates to someone you’re speaking to that neither of you speak a common language.

Acts 2:6 (KJV)
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

Paul gives us guidelines for speaking in tongues but far too many that use it use it incorrectly, to make a show and bring attention to themselves instead of to Jesus. Paul says if tongues are used in public, they should be interpreted, otherwise, what good is it, except to communicate with God in your closet. As with a chaotic church service with people falling all over the place, or stoic church stifling the movement of the Holy Spirit, mob mentality tends to rule.

I absolutely LOVE John MacArthur! He’s an awesome teacher, but he doesn’t believe in the manifestations of the Spirit at all. I was like him until I experienced the Holy Spirit for myself. So who’s correct? We both are. See, all you have to do is look at creation and see the myriads of differences to understand that every human being is different. We’re even sealed as such by God in our fingerprints.

Job 37:7 (KJV)
He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

Smith Wigglesworth was a great man of God in the early 20th century and has documented raisings of the dead, including his own wife. He healed tens of thousands and yet he could not heal his deaf daughter. God deals with us as differently as He does with creation. Even God’s choice to convey His message are from two diverse languages you can get on earth. Hebrew is a wonderfully creative language. Using root words, you can create your own word – much like we do in English using -gate to depict a scandal like Watergate, and people will understand you. Greek is a very structured language with a lot of rules, saying what it means and means what it says.

We claim to follow Christ, but most of the quotes we make from the Scriptures are from Paul. Paul was a radical. Paul only had the Hebrew Scriptures and yet we quote him more than anyone else, even Jesus. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Yet just as different creation is throughout the world, so is His dealings with us. What Paul said in his day cause him to end up in jail as well as all those that repeated his words. We have a promise from Joel that in the last days God would pour out His Spirit on ALL flesh.

Joel 2:28-32 (KJV)
And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

This started at Pentecost:

Acts 2:14-21 (KJV)
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all [ye] that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

But who said it ended? If it’s recorded in the Word of God then is can happen again. John warns us that the world could not contain all that there is to be written just about Jesus’ life on earth, how can we dismiss what’s written of in the Word of God as being phoney baloney in the lives of people today? Enoch was raptured, was it only meant for him? Before Elijah, one could easily preach as such! But no, it’s not just for Enoch because Elijah was raptured. Jesus was raptured. Paul’s friend, John, Daniel, and Philip were raptured, albeit temporarily. So if someone talks about being translated, who are we to dismiss it as not possible just because we ourselves haven’t experienced it. Elijah saw the Lord’s army but his servant didn’t – until he prayed for him to see. So when someone says they see angles and you don’t, that doesn’t make them better than you and it doesn’t make you worse than them.

Hebrews 13:2 (KJV)
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

So if people have entertained angels unaware, some have entertained knowingly! In whatever you do, do it for the glory of the Lord. We are “sons of God” yet that title was reserved for the angles of the OT. Yet, that isn’t the end of us! There waits something else for us!

1 John 3:2 (KJV)
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

An amazing fact. But be content. If you’re happy with milk, enjoy the milk, get a milky mustache, and give thanks to God. If you want more, there’s more, take it. God loves you. Delight in Him and He’ll give you the desires of your heart, because your desire will be Him and He’ll come to you!

Hebrews 10:19-25 (ISV)
Therefore, my brothers, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great high priest over the household of God, let us continue to come near with sincere hearts in the full assurance that faith provides, because our hearts have been sprinkled clean from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful. And let us continue to consider how to motivate one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another even more as you see the day of the Lord coming nearer.

I love science, because it’s our way of understanding God’s creation. Scientists will eventually get there. The Scriptures say:

Proverbs 25:2 (KJV) [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter.

and

Proverbs 6:6 (KJV) Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

So man sees nature all around and wants to learn more about it: biology is born. Then they want to understand what moves all the “little” things of biology: microbiology is born. Then they developed means to see smaller objects: chemistry is born. When they find the atom and want to understand it: physics is born. When the means to see events occur at the subatomic level that doesn’t fit: quantum physics is born. Up to this point, all these sciences have explained the “how” of what’s around, but God put in us the insaciable curiosity of “why” and seeing the impossibility of these fields of study to explain it: metaphysics is born; the study of “being” and “thought”. Now don’t get glossy-eyed but follow to the conclusion 🙂

What they are saying is that when you get to the very bottom of everything, there is light! Science even shows that all matter is congealed light! Time for a definition: light isn’t like the light you see from the sun or a lamp, but waves of energy. At the subatomic level everything is energy waves – light. It’s been recently discovered that cells communicate with one another via light called biophotons. (2) It’s truly amazing stuff, but not surprising when you read the Scriptures!

Just as all scriptures point to Jesus, so does all science, it’s just a matter of how far the student wishes to take and believe the information given.

Leviticus 17:11 (KJV) For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul.

This distinction in the definition of light is also in the Scriptures:

Genesis 1:3 (KJV) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

This isn’t the sun “light” because the sun moon and stars were not made until the fourth day. Today scientists call the light they cannot see “dark matter”. So what is this light (both seen and unseen) according the the Scriptures?

John 8:12 (KJV) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Colossians 1:16-17 (KJV) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

There you have it. No matter how “smart” we become, whether in theology or science, it all points to Jesus!

Refrences

1. http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?56687-Qunatum-Physics-The-Discovery-That-Scientifically-Demolished-Materialism
2. http://www.technologyreview.com/view/427982/biophoton-communication-can-cells-talk-using-light/

So we read the word of God and we listen to preachers and teachers, but how much do we understand? How much truth do you believe? There are so many that are lost in confusion and according to Wikipedia there are 41, 000 Christian denominations! Now that’s what I can unity of the brethren! Honestly ask yourself why you think there are so many denominations with roughly 50 versions of the English bible? Pride and laziness! What better way to cause all this division than by masking the truth with subtle variations of the truth leaving one to ask, “Well, which version is the right one?” I say, only the originals, but even the Greeks have a hard time with Biblical Greek, the same with the Jews, so it would be a miracle for me to absolutely know what is truth. However, it is my firm believe, steadfast and true, that God’s word is so powerful that enough truth is retained to get you to where you need to go. There are really only two verses that are important – no I’m not cheapening the word, or dismissing the work of the Holy Spirit. With the first verse you will get to the second verse which states God Himself will teach you of all things in truth!

John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 2:27 (KJV) 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.

My point is, no matter what version you get, just start reading. The Holy Spirit will teach you and let you know what’s true or false. I grew up with the King James (KJV) but even it has “lost in translation” truths. One example is the conversation between Jesus and Peter when Jesus asks Peter three times if he loved Him. The word translated as “love” came from two separate distinctive meanings. One means all-encompassing complete love, a love to die for another and the other meaning is “love ya like a brother.” How the conversation progresses reveals wonderful truths. But I won’t get into that one in this study.

The English speaking world has no excuse because we have several great translations, but do we yet believe what we read, or do we just gloss over it as meaningless? I learned something the other day that just blew me away. I’ve been taught all my life to beware of mystics. I never once looked up the meaning of the word. It means: Of or relating to religious mysteries; Inspiring a sense of mystery and wonder. Funny, just like the meaning for the word “gay” meaning “happiness,” the word “mystic” has come to mean “New Age, Astrology & Self-help / Alternative Belief Systems”. Another hijacked word. So how does this affect us? Well, if you are skeptical of “mystery” information, then you won’t believe Jesus’ words:

Mark 4:11-12 (KJV) And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.

Or Paul’s:

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (KJV) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

So then, what is mysticism? It is:

a. Immediate consciousness of the transcendent or ultimate reality or God.
b. The experience of such communion as described by mystics.

Hmmm… Are we not in Christ and He in us? Are we not to have communion with Him? It’s so sad how these truths are packaged up, twisted and sold as falsehood. This leads me into another hijacked word: meditate. This has also become a dirty word in the Church, since the “mystics” use it with their legs crossed with their thumb and index finger pressed together with their hands on their knees chanting. It’s truly sad that this amazing, life-altering truth has been robbed by the devil. But God commands Joshua:

Joshua 1:8 (KJV) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

The word “meditate” here is the Hebrew word “haga” and it means “to mutter” as in to speak under your breath. What are we to “mutter”? The Word of God! The word “law” is the Hebrew word “Torah” meaning “teachings.” Why mutter though? So we can build up our faith because faith comes by hearing the Word of God!

Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This is one of the reasons I strongly dislike labels. They put you into a box so people can immediately judge without knowing the truth.  So I said all this to come to this very important issue:

How much do you believe when you read the word of God?

Let’s examine this thought, no Greek, no Hebrew, just English:

We are in Christ and He is in us and we are in the Father. 

John 10:28-30 (KJV) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand. I and [my] Father are one.

See, we are in Jesus’ hand and He is in the Father’s hand. We are one with Jesus and Jesus is one with the Father, so we are one with the Father too. Grasp this. Hold onto this awesome truth.

Galatians 2:20 (KJV) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:3-6 (KJV) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

1 Corinthians 6:15-17 (KJV) Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make [them] the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Ephesians 2:4-6 (KJV) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:

If these verses are to be taken figuratively, they hold no meaning whatsoever. So literally, we are nailed on the cross with Christ, buried with Christ, raised from the dead with Christ and are seated in the heavenlies with Christ ALREADY, and perfect through His finished work!

1 John 4:17 (KJV) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

This isn’t a promise after we die, but now here on earth. We are new creatures:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

People always say “what is God’s will for my life?” Simple, spread this truth:

We are ministers of reconciliation!

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (KJV) And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

So understand this reasoning: If we are ambassadors, we will lack nothing to do our job as representatives of God. That’s a lot of responsibilities in a sense. Will the president choose a homeless, un-kept, unlearned individual without a penny to their name to represent the United States of America to England? Never! So why do Christians believe it’s their lot in life to be miserable because it must be “God’s will”?! Catholic workers take on a “vow of poverty” as if it means something to God. All OUR righteousness is “filthy rags” – and in the Hebrew that means menstrual cloths! Yea, that’s OUR righteousness in the eyes of God. However, if that homeless man comes to Jesus, He will in no wise cast him out, but put a robe or righteousness on him and bless him. So today, I was hit by this verse by two different preachers and so here’s what I’ve learned.

Isaiah 22:20-24 (KJV) And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him [as] a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.

This is clearly Jesus because later He tells John:

Revelation 3:7-8 (KJV) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Here it is again, the key of David. What did Jesus do with this key? He gave it to the Church!

Matthew 16:19 (KJV) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

What are these keys that David is attributed to? They are keys to spiritual doors. Paul opened the door of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Acts 14:27 (KJV) And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Another door is utterances:

Colossians 4:3-4 (KJV) Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

See, we cannot prepare what we are to say to people, we must allow the Holy Spirit to use us and let His words flow through you. Here’s another door: the womb.

Genesis 30:22 (KJV) And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

Here’s proof that’s it’s a spiritual event. In his grief, Job wondered why his mother’s womb hadn’t been closed:

Job 3:10 (KJV) Because it shut not up the doors of my [mother’s] womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

Acts 16:6 (KJV) Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

The Spirit closed the door for Paul to go to Asia and preach the Gospel.

So these are the doors. They are whatever blocks us from stepping through to the otherside, or protects us from what’s on the other side. If I need healing, God will open the door. If I want to go through a door and God says no for whatever reason, it’s for my protection. So what are the keys?

Rachel prayed for a child. Paul prayed for utterances. Prayer is a key! And prayer is the expression of Grace, knowing that we cannot do it, but God can and will!

Now here is another key.

Acts 16:25-26 (KJV) And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

Key number one was used: they prayed in prison. Then they pulled out key number two: they worshipped! Then SUDDENLY! God moved! David’s praise psalms are Psalms 111 – 117, and these are the ones sung at the Passover or Day of Atonement; the Hallelujah Psalms! And so having prayed and worshiped in songs, ALL THE DOORS OF THE PRISON WERE OPEN AND EVERYONE’S BAND WERE LOOSED! Don’t miss this: whatever door you need open, Jesus will open for you. Whatever door you need closed Jesus will close it. And what Jesus opens no man can close and what Jesus closes no man can open! Look at the reset of the story:

Acts 16:27 (KJV) And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

The keeper didn’t care the bands were loosed, only that the doors were open, supposing the prisoners were escaped and he would have been held responsible for HE LOCKED THE DOORS!

Here’s a little Hebrew to drive home this point:

Hosea 2:15 (KJV) And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

The word for Achor in Hebrew means “trouble” and in the “valley of trouble” God will present a “door of hope”! One last thing: looking back at our verse in Isaiah it reads:

Isaiah 22:20 (KJV) And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:

If you translate the names given, the sentence reads:

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant, God lifted up (John 3:14-16), the son of God’s inheritance!”

Ephesians 1:18-19 (KJV) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Romans 8:17 (KJV) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

We are part of that inheritance! We are joint-heirs!

Isaiah 22:23-24 (KJV) And I will fasten him [as] a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.

What is the throne of Jesus? What is the “thing” we look to? The Cross – the “fasten him as a nail in a sure place”! Everything was completed and finished on the Cross. And we are there too. The vessels are hung there, and we are those vessels:

2 Timothy 2:20-21 (KJV) But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, [and] prepared unto every good work.

Seeing all that I’ve written, understand, to have the Spirit move in your life, you need to pray and worship, letting the Holy Spirit move in and through you. You are His ambassador to this fallen world, a light on a hill. And no matter how dark the darkness is, a small lit candle can be seen miles away! There is no darkness that can keep you hidden! Let your light shine! Call on Jesus for your needs. Fellowship with Him and you will move in the supernatural. This is the real mystery: you are a spirit being, sitting there reading this AND at the same time, you are seated in the heavelies NOW! How so? We are in Jesus and Jesus is in us. Where is Jesus? Seated on the right hand of the Father! Do you believe? God is outside of time. This is why He knows the beginning and the ending. Therefore, we too are outside of time, saved since the foundation of the world! So if we’re physical and spiritual just like Jesus, He said we would do more than He did!

Do  you believe these verses?

Matthew 7:11 (KJV) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

John 16:25 (KJV) These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

Romans 8:37 (KJV) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

1 Corinthians 6:3 (KJV) Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Do you believe!?

John 14:12 (KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

The first mention of the word holy – kadosh – is found in Genesis.

Genesis 2:2-3 (KJV) And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

The seventh day was holy because God rested, the work was done. He didn’t rest because he was tired, He rested because it was completed. So the first time holy is used is linked with rest. Rest, is the holiest thing you can do as we’ll see in this study. Rest brings God’s favor. The first time grace is mentioned is also in Genesis with Noah.

Genesis 6:8 (KJV) But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

So what does Noah have to do with grace? His name means rest! So you could say “rest finds grace in the eyes of the Lord”! The more at rest you are, the more grace comes upon you. The more you work and labor the less God’s grace is revealed. This isn’t about a job, if we eat, we must work. This rest is about trusting in God’s work. This rest is quieting that inner restlessness to produce something, that internal striving to do something in your life. That striving is evil. God wants your heart to be at rest trusting in Him and His ways.

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

This is the only labor we’re to strive for: to enter into that rest. What rest? The completed work of God! Notice it says when we that enter into God’s rest, we have ceased from all our works too! When you’ve got diapers to change, food to cook, reports to write, deadlines to meet, meetings to attend, overtime to do, algebra to work out; when you do these things with a restful heart (trusting in God’s work) you’ll do them with a touch of heaven.

Ephesians 2:4-7 (KJV) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Take note that there is no verse that says “God, who is rich in anger”… believe God when He says He is rich in mercy! Also notice that we are NOW currently TODAY seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus! He is in us, we are in Him and where He is, so are we in this word! NOW! TODAY! THIS SECOND!

1 John 4:17 (KJV) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

So back in verse 7 above, it states that we enter this rest so God can show his exceeding riches of His grace in kindness towards us through Jesus!! So where is Jesus seated and we with Him?

Ephesians 1:20-23 (KJV) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Jesus is seated above ALL principalities, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named throughout time and even outside of time, and has put ALL THINGS under His feet! We are seated with Him already! Now notice, what, as Head did Jesus do? He gave this authority to the church! So the devil comes and gives you a twinge in your side that was never there before and says “what are YOU going to do about it!?” He’s trying to agitate you, get you out of that rest. Jesus says, “Rest.” Paul says it another way:

Philippians 4:6 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Ask it, then thank God for it and leave it at that. He knows what you need even before you do. See this seems very easy, but our fallen flesh and the nagging of the devil makes us want to DO something! This is what it is to “labor to enter the rest”! You must resist the temptation for you to DO something, anything, when all we have to do is rest in Jesus! The devil will try to get you out of the place of rest because while you are there at rest you have the blessings of the Lord over your life (Romans 8:28 (KJV)). God is in complete control, but when we try and jump in and “help” He steps back and we fail and the devil wins. We think our actions dictate God’s actions when all He’s telling to do is to “Rest, I have it all under control.” That’s trusting in God’s abilities and not our own.  The devil agitates you to get you out of that rest, and God says “labor to enter the rest”. It takes WORK to relax and let the Lord lead!

So what does evil mean? Everyone says “something bad” but did you know in the Greek that is its second meaning? The word evil is poneros, a derivative of the word ponos and it’s first definition is “to toil” as in to “to toil for daily subsistence”!  Poneros is defined as:

1. full of labours, annoyances, hardships (a.) pressed and harassed by labours (b.) bringing toils, annoyances

2. bad, of a bad nature or condition

This is the word that is used to describe an “evil heart” in this verse:

Hebrews 3:12 (KJV) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

You can correctly translate this verse to say: take heed lest there be in any of you a striving heart of unbelief. Amazing! Now notice Job. He wished for an Advocate like we have, not having one or understanding, he became one for his kids:

Job 3:25-26 (KJV) For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

Notice the order of Job. His heart wasn’t at rest, and he toiled to make sacrifices. This fear brought about toilsome heart, and then “evil” fell on him. No safety, no rest, no quiet=trouble. These three words in Hebrew are: shalaw (tranquil), shakat (repose – to lay at rest), and Noah’s name: nooach (settled down, rest). See Job got into trouble because he stepped into disquiet, into worry, into agitation. How did he do this? By DOING something “spiritual” and not being at peace.

 Job 1:5 (KJV) And it was so, when the days of [their] feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings [according] to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Job admits latter his problem was he wasn’t at peace and trouble came. When you let go, God’s hand is there to help you. When you hold on, God’s hand lets go. Finally Job repented and God rebuked his friends and just like Abraham and Sarah were blessed with Isaac after praying for Abimelek, so Job, having repented at God’s wonder, was restored after he prayed for his friends!

Job 42:10 (KJV) And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

God’s work is done, His provisions flow to you. When you are not at rest in Him, you stop the hose of God’s provision. Proper prayer shouldn’t be to get God to do something nor should our prayers be trying to get God to give us something. That’s no prayer, that’s treating God like a Jennie of the lamp. God says our prayers should be thanksgiving. Even the prayers of Jesus’ Own lips were to give thanks.

Matthew 15:36 (KJV) And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake [them], and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

Matthew 26:27 (KJV) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

Mark 8:6 (KJV) And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before [them]; and they did set [them] before the people.

So that is what we are to do always:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Make your request known to God and then give thanks for it, don’t beg because then you’re still in unbelief instead of resting in God’s rest. Comparing the richest man in history, Solomon, to the lilies of the field being greater because God provides for them, then Jesus says that God will clothe us! You just have to have faith and believe!

Luke 12:27-32 (KJV) Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

God wants to give you the kingdom! Take it! Believe it! Rest in it!

Hebrews 4:11 (KJV) Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The opposite of unbelief is rest. The opposite of rest is unbelief. So believe and be at rest!