F G P - Ministries
Ingemannsvej 4 A, Listed
3740 Svaneke
Tlf.: +45 4087-0533
post@FGP.dk
CVR nr.: 74 23 28 68
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Full Gospel Production Ministries
Resurrection Power in You
We hope that you have had some time to think about what the death and resurrection of Jesus means to your personally. The message below talks about experiencing more of the life of Jesus in you. For those of you that have sent in prayer requests recently we continue to pray for you. Our hearts are touched by your requests and we feel God's love and compassion for you while we are praying. If you or someone you know needs healing, has a family problem, a financial situation, or whatever the need is remember that the resurrection power of Jesus is in you.
We were buried with Him (Jesus) through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4)
The death and resurrection of Jesus are the greatest events in history. For millions of Christians remembering these events continues to be an important part of every day life. Resurrection power is promised to every believer in Christ and we receive it in the same way that Jesus did. That is through the sacrifice of love, giving up our life, and receiving His life. God gives us both the ability and the power to accomplish this through His Holy Spirit.
The word newness in the scripture above means renewal, to be renewed. Notice that, we should walk in newness of life. Renewal is to be a way of life; not a one time, or once in a while, event. The resurrection power of Jesus is given through the Holy Spirit. As we allow, it flows through us as a river of life bringing constant revival. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11) The same form of life that raised Jesus from the dead is in all believers.
The main ways that we give up our life and receive the life of Christ are by directing our love toward Him, moving with Him in obedience to His voice, and clinging to Him,. This kind of relationship with God brings constant renewal and revival in a person's life; and will bear much spiritual fruit as God is glorified. Many of the choices we make daily are life or death decisions, even though we may be unaware of how important each one is. "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; "that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;… (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
We are often faced with decisions, the consequences of which, may lead to more or less of the life of Jesus in us. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:8) How we think is very important because what we think leads to actions and words. Actions and words sow to the flesh or to the spirit.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name (Philippians 2:5-9)
Jesus gave up His life twice. First, even though He was in the form of God He humbled Himself by giving up His life as God to become a man. When the Bible says that He made Himself of no reputation it means that He completely emptied Himself of His life. He then received life as a man and once again He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death. On the cross He emptied himself of life as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus gave up all of His man-life and died on the cross. Three days later He was raised from the dead. The resurrection happened when Jesus received God-life and once again the fullness of God filled Him.
Notice also that humbling yourself begins with an attitude, a thought process, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Choosing life is what happens we make decisions that sow to the Spirit. It is what allows the process of sanctification in our lives. Sanctification is the process of becoming holy before God. Sanctification is a work of God in us through the Holy Spirit. The right to be sanctified was given through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. The power to accomplish sanctification is given through the Holy Spirit.
As we humble ourselves before God to the point of obedience we cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work of sanctification in us. Notice that obedience follows humility, "He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death" We also must empty ourselves through humility to the point of obedience; even when the cost is high, because the greater the sacrifice the greater the reward.
Obedience to the voice of God is in itself a form of dying to yourself; it is giving up your life with the result of experiencing God's life. Every time we deny ourselves, which is giving up our life, we receive more of His life in us. Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it (Matthew 16:24 – 25).
For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15) Revive means to give life. Revival begins with humility. Pride rejects God but humility makes a home for God. As we empty ourselves we are able to receive the life of God in us. The things that we hold in our heart which we love more than God are idols and they take up space in our heart. As we remove the things that separate us from God then He is able to occupy more of our heart. This is the process of giving up our life to receive His life.
Love and life go together, where there is life there is love and where there is love there is life. The opposite is also true, where there is hatred there is death. Being vitally connected to Jesus as our source of life is also our connection with love. "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. (John 15:9-14)
In this holy connection of life and love we see that obedience and sacrifice must be motivated by love. Sacrifice without love is works and will ultimately fail. Sacrifice and obedience which are motivated by love are a work of God's grace in us. The difference is between operating in our strength, which is "works", and operating in God's power, which is "grace". Jesus desires us to be His friend not His slave.
Remember that resurrection power is in you through Jesus the Christ. Jesus is the source of all life. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)
Jesus is Life
(John 1:4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men).
(John 5:24-25) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
(John 6:63) "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
(John 10:10) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
(John 14:6) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(Colossians 3:1-4) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. G. Ballard
Apr 16, 2006
He stoops to conquer
God, who has made us, knows what we are and that our happiness lies in Him. Yet we will not seek it in Him as long as He leaves us any other resort where it can even plausibly be looked for.
While what we call "our own life" remains agreeable we will not surrender it to Him. We are perplexed to see misfortune falling upon decent, inoffensive, worthy people - on capable, hardworking mothers of families or diligent, thrifty little tradespeople, on those who have worked so hard, and so honestly, for their modest stock of happiness and now seem to be entering on the enjoyment of it with the fullest right.
Let me implore the reader to try to believe, if only for the moment, that God, who made these deserving people, may really be right when He thinks that their modest prosperity and the happiness of their children are not enough to make them blessed: that all this must fall from them in the end, and that if they have not learned to know Him they will be wretched. And therefore He troubles them, warning them in advance on an insufficiency that one day they will have to discover...
I call this a Divine humility because it is a poor thing to strike our colors to God when the ship is going down under us. A poor thing to come to Him as a last resort, to offer up "our own" when it is no longer worth keeping. If God were proud, He would hardly have us on such terms: but He is not proud, He stoops to conquer, He will have us even though we have shown that we prefer everything else to Him because there is "nothing better" now to be had......
C.S. Lewis
"YOUR LIFE IS ABOUT TO TAKE ON A NEW LUSTER"
PROPHETIC WORDS FOR 2005
"LET ME HEAL YOUR BROKEN HEART . . . THE BEST IS YET TO COME"
Awaken from spiritual slumber, from distractions, and apathy. Awaken, Watchmen, remove the enemy from your premises. Turn back the battle at the gate -- the enemy will always try to thwart My work. [You must] deal with the past and all disappointment and bitterness before you can move ahead. Make adjustments in attitude, plans, goals . . . make sure there's no presumption.
I have brought you through the Valley of Baca, for it has been a place of sorrow and weeping, but you have indeed made it a well. The waters that flow forth from your innermost being will not be springs of bitterness, but springs of compassion for those who also endure pain and suffering. Come to Me, and allow Me to heal the wounds of the past, for now is the time to put these things behind you.
You have endured grave disappointments - the pain of rejection - and you have seen difficult days. You have even questioned your purpose and some of you have even disdained your very existence, at times. You have had the pins knocked out from under you and have spun out of balance, but you will regain your balance, and you will be restored and released to greater expectation and fulfillment. Hope is looming on the horizon of the dawn of a new day, and the days of futility are ending. The days ahead will yield the fruit of your labors.
Be released into great freedom. Let Me heal your broken heart and mend your shattered dreams. Dare to believe. Do not be afraid to go forward with renewed faith and hope. The best is yet to come!
"YOU WILL NOT JUST SCARE THE ENEMY, BUT BRING GREAT DESTRUCTION"
You are in school again and will receive instruction in warfare. You will be taught how to use your most effective weapon, which is the Word of God. You won't have to strive to learn this; I will teach you as you cooperate with My instruction. As you go about your daily existence, you will be taught how to effectively direct My word against the enemy, by faith, in a more powerful way.
What you learn will be twice as effective as what you have known in the past. You will be able to direct your warfare in ways that will not just scare the enemy, but bring great destruction. There will be an element of persistence as you repeatedly strike the enemy until the battle is won. Your present understanding of warfare will be changed, transformed, and modified, and you will remain standing, upright before the Me, says the Lord.
THIS IS THE YEAR TO BE RELEASED FROM BONDAGE AND FEAR
This is the year of release -- a time to be released from all fear and bondage. Rejoice in this special season of Jubilee when you can come again to your inheritance and have a fresh start. But, this is also a time when you must release those who have been held captive by your selfish motivations and manipulation. My people, you cannot enslave anyone through possessiveness and jealousy. Relinquish control and liberate those who have been bound and oppressed.
This is the year of My favor, and it is My desire that My people be set free, says the Lord. I will redeem and grant redemption on every level -- soul, spirit, body, and finances, but you must position yourselves by faith and proclaim the year of liberty.
This is the year to overcome fear:
1. Generational fears
2. Fear of rejection . . . fear of man
3. Fear of poverty, lack
4. Fear of sickness
5. Fear of failure, making mistakes, being wrong
Stop striving and trust Me to bring instruction, wisdom, and guidance. I will direct your steps and give you the courage to obey My word. Trust and obey! There will be a higher level of spiritual perception and revelation. Expect great things. Expect new boldness, that will produce anointing and victory where insecurity once reigned.
Enter this new era, which will be pivotal to spiritual growth and maturity . . . a time of awakening and hunger for the things of the Spirit. Position yourselves by faith to receive what I have promised. Negativity and discouragement will keep you from success. Maintain a positive attitude.
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!!!
I heard the phrase "Easy Rider." The Lord is going to bring you into a new spiritual position of relatively no stress or strain. It is time for you to truly come into the Lord's rest and enjoy His blessings. You have been faithful to believe and trust Him. Expect a blessing.
"Catch a Thermal."
Lift up and rise higher! For you are about to be released into greater spiritual heights and vision, which will bring forth mighty revelation. This will be accompanied by greater spiritual authority as you speak My word with power, for My truth will resonate in the hearts of My people like never before because they have been prepared to receive. I place before you a hungry generation. Go forth in power!
"Catch and release."
You are coming into a time of catching a vision of discovery and of opportunities to redefine life, God, country, and your fellow man. You will experience a surprising release from past bondages as you move into incredible liberty. That liberty will I bring you into greater maturity and responsibility. Do not be afraid.
"Ask, seek, knock."
Begin again to ask for wisdom, seek My guidance, and knock at the door of My heart. Come; let us have sweet communion together. Let us rejoice in fellowship. Let joy be your strength as you begin to overcome all fear, for certainly this will be a year of liberation for you as you break out of your cocoon and fly.
"I WILL DO GREAT THINGS THROUGH YOU. TRUST ME!"
Prepare for a stretch. I want to prove to you that you can do all things through Christ. I will enable you to accomplish all that you have set your hand to. Don't be afraid to push beyond your natural limits, and I will accomplish great things through you, says the Lord. Trust Me!
Small steps will produce large gain. Only believe! I have opened a door before you, and I will lead you forth with joy and peace. You are released to rejoice your way to victory as you move through barriers that would have stopped you in times past. But, now they will only be minor hindrances.
Nothing is lost. Do not put too much stock in your ups and downs, but rather put your trust in Me. For in Me there are no highs or lows, but divine stability. I never change; with Me there is no shadow of turning. I will cause you to withstand stress without altering your position. Stand firm in the face of difficult times.
Praise will be your secret weapon of war against the attacks of the enemy. You will triumph even in the darkest hours through sacred worship in the secret place of My presence.
"O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
"So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips." Psalm 63:1-5
"YOUR LIFE IS ABOUT TO TAKE ON A NEW LUSTER"
You have sought for and waited for this spiritual season. Expect greater liberty of soul and spirit. Your life is about to take on a new luster, and you will rejoice to see a greater manifestation of My presence among My people. This is a season you will not soon forget. Be exceedingly glad!
I saw someone sitting on a horse, and suddenly I knew your desire to see, experience, and move in the power of the Spirit. And, the Lord says, I am preparing you to do so. Prepare for a good ride, and remember to give Me all the glory.
Busy!
The coming year will be marked by unusual productivity on every level. You have been faithful and have yielded to My guidance. Well done! You are a well-trained vessel of obedience, and you will enjoy the fruit of your labors.
Growth! Expansion!
Your environment will be alive with your expression of My presence. Creativity will abound as the power of My voice gives utterance through you. Do not be afraid to give place to symbols that make a statement of My kingdom.
Keep your hope in Me, says the Lord. Refuse to allow fantasy to carry you away from the narrow path, often rocky, ever ascending. Keep a sharp eye open to the elusive seduction that always disappoints. Your faith is strong and will serve you well and reap great rewards, for surely I hear and answer the prayer of faith.
"DRAW NEAR TO ME"
This is a time when you can draw near to Me, says the Lord. I know the hunger in your heart and the thirsting of your soul, for many times you have walked through a dry and thirsty land. I know the many demands that have kept you anchored, but you are going to be like a hot-air balloon that will rise gently and soar on the winds of My Spirit.
"Beautiful in elevation." Your soul rises before Me in the beauty of holiness as you worship and seek My face. Come often; come boldly. Your seeking heart is precious in My sight. I delight in your presence before My throne, says the Lord.
Dare to believe for even great things than you have yet seen or experienced. Exercise your faith, for surely I will answer your effective, fervent prayer. You will become a sign and a wonder to those around you whose faith is non-existent or weak.
I have given you hinds' feet to scramble up to remote high places in the Spirit, and what will seem like a rocky crag will become a table of ministry before Me, says the Lord, for I will set you in a broad place with plenty of room to explore, examine, and understand the wonders of the mysteries of My kingdom.
You will go higher and deeper and wider in Spirit as you seek greater revelation of My kingdom. Expand to the right and to the left. Rise above your limitations and delve deeply to find the nuggets of truth in My word, for truly they will become priceless treasures to you.
You do not know what tomorrow will bring, but you can trust Me to bring you through every difficulty as you seek My wisdom and guidance. I am prepared to prove that your trust in Me is not in vain, says the Lord.
"I WILL STOP THOSE WHO PURSUE YOU, AND YOU WILL RISE UP VICTORIOUS"
This is a year of opportunities for greater maturity and stability in the kingdom. Refuse to neglect your great salvation and the gift that is in you, for truly the enemy will do his best to derail you. Be strong and of good courage, for I am with you, says the Lord.
Rejoice in this year of release from all that has kept you from progression and fulfillment in My kingdom. I say this is a time to pursue and overtake the enemy. You will draw out the spear and stop those who pursue you, and you will rise up victorious. Trust Me to give you wisdom and to bring vindication.
You have sought to know My face, to find intimacy with me, and to bask in My presence. The enemy has tried to restrain you by convincing you that you are not worthy, but you are worthy, and you serve Me in truth and sincerity. I delight in your service in the kingdom, says the Lord. Go forth as a vessel of honor.
You are a person of great faith and confidence in the things of the Spirit. You have felt a greater need for spiritual growth and have gotten in touch with the hunger of your soul for more of Me. Have I not said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled?" Indeed, I will fill you up to overflowing. I have set you to rise up, build up, repair the breaches, and to restore. Go forth in boldness.
"GET READY FOR A CHANGE AND A STRETCH"
Questioning! Why does it have to be so hard? I tell you honestly that I am directing your steps, leading, guiding and giving you wisdom beyond even the questions that you could think of to ask. Take time to search My heart in every circumstance, for I will speak with great clarity. Have I ever failed you, says the Lord?
Some things, that have become a dilemma to you, will now take on great clarity that will cause you to see your path in this wilderness more clearly. Stay on the path that has been tried and found to be true, and do not deviate from it. Your answers will come as you seek the truth of My Word.
You sometimes feel like you are watching from the sidelines and life is somehow passing you by. But, you have learned more than you know through observation, and those lessons will serve you well. I say get ready for change and a stretch; trust Me to direct your steps.
You have found an oasis in the midst of your desert. Do not be afraid that you might drink bitter or impure water, for have I not said that even if you drink poison it will not harm you? Yet, certainly the water is indeed clear and pure. Drink deeply, says the Lord.
Marsha Burns
January 9, 2oo5
Dear Relatives and Friends.
We just want to send this greeting as an encouragement to you, that when we sow out the Word of God, it will not return void, but it will always bear fruit. As you know, Ulla and I went to Tanzania in 1956, and it is such a joy for us to see how the Africans today from that area are reaching out with the Gospel to other Nations.
Last week we had the visit of a young African pastor, Ambayuu. He is studying at Mariager at the moment. He phoned us and wanted to see us, and he was with us Wednesday last week. It turned out that he came from the district of Singida, where Ulla and I sowed the word of God out in 1963, and on a picture, which we had, he showed us his uncle, Eliasa Hunge. He told us, that Eliasa now is sent out as a missionary to Mozambique by his church. Isn’t that wonderful?
Another of our spiritual children, Salomon N`gimba, who calls us his "parents in law", (because we at that time brought his "wife to be" free with two cows, from becoming a Muslim), he has just been in Somalia to preach the Gospel together with another evangelist, William. They were locked up in prison and were threatened to be shot, because the found out that they were Christian missionaries. It was only by Gods grace that the came out alive from that country. But the results are that they now have even a greater burden for the people of Somalia, that they may receive the Gospel of Christ. Salomon has written to us different times by E-mail, and I want you to read the last one he sent by 15.02.05:
DEAR PARENTS IN JESUS CHRIST.
Greetings in Him. Thank you so much for your letter of wonderful scriptures from the Bible, and greetings from beloved Yesaya Ambayuu. Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality for brothers from Africa Nations. Tell Yesaya that we are standing with him in our all prayers. Let him finish his study and come back home to work for Jesus Christ. - Dear spiritual fathers in Jesus Christ, thank you for your all prayers and supports for reaching all over the World with Evangelism. I believe we did give you our vision of reaching those nations in Central and East Africa between 2ooo-2o1o. We have not disobedient to the heavenly vision Acts 26; 19. So starting from Jerusalem, Tanzania beyond to Malawi, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique now to Somalia. We pray to continue up to Ethiopia and Djibouti within five years to come. This will depend on the will of Jesus as He opens the doors to those nations. Thank you, your spiritual son Solomon."
It is a great privilege for us to see, how the Africans now today are bringing the Word of God out to their own nations and we give Him praise and glory for this, also that we today can stand together with them with prayer and support.
May God bless you abundantly and give you many encouragements in your work for Him.
Ulla and Alfred.
Respond
Father of glory, how I thank you for the assurance of heaven! While I know I could never deserve such an assurance, I'm so grateful that you even give it to me as a right because of my union with your Son, my Savior.
Thank you that while I live in the world I can seek to serve you fruitfully, and to praise you by the kind of life I live, as well as by my lips.
I long to give glory, honor and thanks to you always. May your indwelling Spirit - the Spirit of glory - ever keep before me the great privilege of being an heir of your glory, and a citizen of heaven. May my life in its praise and worship of you now be the closest possible approximation to the praise and worship of heaven.
Father, I worship and adore you, through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.
Derek Prime
Be Filled with the Fullness of God
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We pray that in this New Year you and your family will prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers. We want to thank all of you that have written to say how you have been blessed. Your comments help us keep going. We also want you to know that we are standing with you in agreement for your prayer requests, according to the will of God. Many of you are seeking a more intimate relationship with the Lord, this is God's desire for you also. I pray that as you read the message below the Lord will speak to your heart and give you revelation about His plan for your life. As we are coming into a New Year, it is a good time to seek wisdom and direction from God. I pray that this year you will comprehend the width, length, depth, and height of Christ love; that you will experience the fullness of His love, so that you will be filled with all the fullness of God.
Many religions have what they believe are holy sites or buildings, but the God of love has chosen you to be His dwelling place, if you are willing. The God who created the universe is not impressed with our buildings and shrines. This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? "For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word. (Isaiah 66:1 – 2) The Lord is looking for a person who is humble before Him and who takes His word very seriously, even to the point of obedience. God will live inside of this person.
You were created for love. You are made in the image of the God of love. Your purpose is to give love and receive love. God desires to have the most intimate relationship with you that is possible. That is, you in God and God in you, united in love. This is why Jesus came to earth so that He could restore our ultimate purpose of a holy relationship with God.
Jesus prayed that the same love that God the Father has would be in you. "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26) When Jesus says I have declared Your name it means that He has revealed the character and authority of the Father, and He continues to do so. It is through knowing God that we come to experience His love. God made you in His image so that you could experience His love.
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19)
God desires to fill us with the fullness of Himself. In the passage above we see the process of how Christ enters into us. First we must receive power through the Holy Spirit to have the ability to receive Christ into our heart. This is God's grace whereby He does the work in you. Second is the entrance of Christ into your heart by faith. We always receive from God by grace through faith. Grace is God's part and faith is our part. The Holy Spirit in you is proof of God's love for you. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. (1st John 4:13) Your faith is proof of your love for God. However, faith with out works is dead, so faith without obedience is not faith. Obedience to God proves your faith.
As we make a home for Christ in our heart through faith and obedience, He begins to give us revelations ofthegreatnessofHislove,thewidth,length,depth,andheightofHislove.Noticethat we are to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. There are two different Greek words used here, the word for knowledge means to just know about it in your mind. The word used for to know means to "know absolutely", to feel, perceive, and experience. This means that we are not to just know about God's love we are to experience it. This kind of love is the most awesome experience we can have; it is the very presence of God in us. This is the greatest pleasure that you are created to experience. As we continue to walk in this kind of love, we become filled with all the fullness of God. Love creates an atmosphere where God can dwell. This is what all of the saints have experienced. This is God's desire for you.
Experiencing this kind of love causes us to know the God of love in greater and greater revelation. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Love, works in us as we cooperate by obeying the commands He gives us from the Lord. Jesus says He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (John 14:21-23) Our love for Jesus is proven by keeping His Word. The word "keep" means to guard with your eyes so that it is not lost. The ultimate way that we keep God's word is by focusing our mind on His word to the point of obedience. The fruit of obedience is God revealing Himself to you.
Obedience is the key to revelation. The word manifest in the scripture above means to appear in person, to reveal. Jesus promises to reveal Himself to the one who keeps His word. He also promises that He and the Father will come and make their home with the person who keeps His Word. If you want to have a supernatural revelation of Jesus then determine in your heart to do everything He tells you. This means that when the Holy Spirit tells you to do something, do it. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8 8) As you cooperate with the Holy Spirit you will become more sanctified, which causes God to live in you more fully, which causes you to experience God and His love more fully.
God's desire is to make you His holy home and to fill you with all the fullness of Himself. Many of you are feeling the Lord calling you into a more holy and intimate relationship with Him. Many of you feel a deep desire to be filled with all the fullness of God. It is the Lord Himself who gave you that desire, this is His desire also.
You are God's holy temple. I believe that the tabernacle which Mosses was commanded to build symbolized God's favorite dwelling place, which is you. The entire old covenant is symbolic of the reality of the new covenant. We can gain multitudes of revelations and insight from the Old Testament, which applies to the New Testament. The tabernacle had three parts and so do people. The outer court symbolizes a person's physical body. Inside the outer court is the holy place, which symbolizes a person's soul or heart. Inside the holy place is the most holy place this symbolizes a person's spirit, or conscience. There are many examples of the tabernacle, which relate to a person being God's dwelling place but I will just focus on just a few points here.
The outer court contained the alter and the washbasin. It was the place of sacrifice. This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet you to speak with you. (Exodus 29:42) This is where the animals were offered up as sin offerings for the people. This was symbolic of the sacrifice that Jesus was to make on the cross once for all. So also our physical body is the place of sacrifice in our life. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1) Much of our obedience has to do with bringing our physical body under the control of the Holy Spirit.
Inside the outer court just before the entrance to the holy place was the washbasin where the priest would wash before entering. As the priest prepared themselves through sacrifice and washing to enter into the holy place so to do we to enter into God's presence. Whenever you enter into God's presence, the first thing that happens is that you are reminded of any sin that has not been dealt with in your life. As you repent and accept the sacrifice Jesus made for your sins, you are moved into a greater manifestation of His presence, you come into the holy place.
The holy place is symbolic of our heart or soul. The tabernacle was called the tent of meeting, meaning it was the place to meet with God. We meet with the Lord in our heart. It is the place of ministry unto the Lord and the place we commune with Him. You must enter through your heart into God's presence. Since your heart is the place you worship your God it can also be the place where we have idols set up to false god's. God wants us to love Him with all of our heart. That means we must remove anything from our heart that draws our attention away from loving Him fully. This is also where we must make sure that nothing is hindering our love to another person.
Inside the holy place is the table of the bread of the presence, the golden lamp stand, and the alter of incense. The bread represents the Word and we know that Jesus is the Word. Jesus is called the bread of life. Only He can give us the bread that satisfies our spiritual hunger.
The golden lamp stand has seven branches for seven oil lamps. The lamp stand was the only source of light in the holy place. The oil represents the Holy Spirit. The seven lamps may represent seven manifestations and revelations of the Holy Spirit in a believer, love, wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord; see Isaiah 11:2. The priests had instruments for trimming and refilling the lamps. They were to keep the lamp burning brightly continuously. In the same way, we must always check our hearts to see if there is any hindrance to the flow of God's love in our heart. Anything that keeps the fire of God's love from burning brightly in us hurts our relationship with God and people. Anything that keeps us from experiencing the fullness of God's love also keeps us from being filled with all the fullness of God. The light also represents revelation. The greater we walk in obedience to God's love the greater will be our revelation of Him. Allowing God's love to burn brightly in us will affect the people around us by touching them with light, revelation and love.
Just before the entrance to the most holy place was the alter of incense. The offering of incense represents prayer. Prayer is a ministry that takes place in our heart when we respond to God's heart. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The most effective prayers are God breathed and come from His desires to manifest His glory on the earth. Just as Jesus spoke God's words on earth so must we. God has chosen to use us as partners to accomplish His will on earth. We are to pray the Father's will, to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Separating the holy place from the most holy place was a veil. When Jesus was crucified the veil in the temple was torn in two. This symbolized that we could now have a restored relationship with our God. Now we have access to the heart of God and He has access to our heart. It could be that the veil in man's heart came about when Adam sinned, causing a separation between God and man; and soul and spirit.
The most holy place, or holy of holies was where God dwelled in the tabernacle. It is the place of God's presence in us, our spirit. In the most holy place was the Ark of the Covenant. Inside the Ark of the Covenant was the law that was given to Moses, Aaron's rod that budded, and some manna. In the new covenant, God writes His laws on our heart, we receive instruction through the Holy Spirit. Live buds and almonds had sprung forth from Aaron's rod, a dead stick. This represents the power of God as the source of all life, including the source of life in us. Your spirit is what gives life to your soul and body. It is the breath of God in you. The manna represents God's supernatural provision of all that we need. The testimonies of what God has done for you are stored in your spirit. They are part of His covenant of provision in your life.
On top of the Ark was the mercy seat, this is considered to be the place where God's presence would rest. This is a very important key in being filled with all the fullness of God because mercy or compassion is God's love. Mercy is also associated with God's glory. When God shows His mercy His glory is revealed. As a temple of God you are to carry the glory of God. And there (at the tabernacle) I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. (Exodus 29:43)
This is God's desire for you, that His glory fills your spirit, soul and body to overflowing. Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). God wants you to be a vessel of His glory shinning through you and touching other people. Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1 - 2 1)
In Exodus chapters, 33 & 34 we see that after the children of Israel had sinned against God, Moses interceded for them. Moses wanted God's presence to continue to go with them. Moses also asked to see God's glory. Then the Lord said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion" (Exodus 33:19). Then God revealed His glory to Moses by revealing His name and His character. And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth (Exodus 34:6).
The word merciful is the Hebrew word rachûm, which means to be full of compassion. This is a revelation of God's love. We know that God is love, and we know that God is full of compassion. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1st John 4:7 - 8 7). If we are to be filled with the fullness of God, we must also be full of love, compassion. I believe the love described in the New Testament, agape, is love in the form of compassion.
The command to love God and people, who are created in God's image, are the two greatest commandments given from God to man. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27) These commandments describe the purpose that God has given man. The whole Bible is about these two commandments. Keeping God's word, obedience, causes us to know God and experience His love. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. (1st John 2:5)
When Jesus was asked who a neighbor is He told the story of the good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10. The conclusion of the story was that he who showed mercy (compassion) was a neighbor. Here again we see the connection between love and compassion. The cost of love is high, it cost the giving of yourself, but the more of yourself you give in love the more you will be filled with the presence of God. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity (compassion) on him, how can the love of God be in him? (1st John 3:16 – 17)
Anything in your heart that causes you to withhold love from God or another person also restricts the presence of God in you. If you have any anger against God, that is pride, and you are in great danger. Pride and anger both create a place in your heart for Satan. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:26 – 27). If you have any unforgiveness or anger, because you are holding on to an offense, then you are hindering God from filling you. If you are withholding mercy and compassion from anyone then you are withholding love from them.
If you are making judgments against people thinking that they do not deserve your love then you are withholding love from them. Jesus says that we must even love our enemies. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful (compassionate), just as your Father also is merciful (Luke 6:35 – 36).
If we love God we must love His People also. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1st John 4:20 – 21) Our love for one another is very important to God because He is not only preparing you to be His holy dwelling He is also preparing the bride of Christ. The bride of Christ is the church, which is all believers together in holy unity connected by love for each other.
God is preparing all believers in Jesus Christ to form one great tabernacle for His dwelling. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19 – 22). This is Jesus prayer for you… "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:20-21)
We see a picture of the church as the "New Jerusalem" in the book of Revelation. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:1 – 4)
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:21)
G. Ballard (Dec 31, 2004)
Full Gospel Production Ministries
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