Challenge #1: TO SEE GOD’S PERSPECTIVE
To see what is Good in GOD’s Sight.
- Do you see what is Good in God’s Sight?
- Are certain key things hidden from Your Sight?
- Changing your Perspective: Can Make All the Difference.
“I thank thee, O Father,
Lord of Heaven and Earth,
Because Thou hast hid
‘These Things‘ from the wise and prudent
And hast revealed them
Unto babes.
“Even so, Father: for so it seemed:
“Good in
Thy Sight.“
Matthew 11: 25
A Quote from Jesus of Nazareth,
Written circa AD 28-30.
Are You Curious to Know:
What wisdom is being hidden from “the wise and prudent”?
(If so, click the triangle below)
What does Jesus mean by: “Good in Thy Sight”?
Mark this Down: “Good in Thy Sight” means that:
It is “Good from God’s Heavenly, Eternal, and Unchanging Perspective.” God’s Eternal Perspective is the missing ingredient, in every false convert, false teacher, false leader, false religion, and self absorbed person.
To Be Clear: My Perspective (or your perspective) is not what matters here. Why is that?
Our Natural Perspective is not Eternal. Not Unchanging. Not Everlasting.
Our comprehension is limited to our own finite Reality. God’s Reality is Infinite. In order to see anything from God’s eternal perspective, one must humble himself. He must suspend his own natural, self-centered, prideful, prejudice, and his limited preconceived notions: In order to gain God’s Unlimited Perspective.
Due to man’s own preprogrammed pride, such true humility, may only come through some miraculous intervention, or terrible fall: Only then will some people find the grace to see, “What is good in Thy Sight.” (Romans 5:8)
So here lies an inherent challenge: God’s Word is Unchanging and Unbiased from the Beginning to the End. Therefore, every individual who enters the narrow road of humility before God, must choose to remove the log from his own eye. He must remove his own immature, adolescent, ignorant: judgments and prejudices, and his own self-absorbed egotistical pride, and arrogance, and his notions of superiority. Only such a person can pop the bubble of his own self importance. Such an individual can then put himself into the position of being able to receive the knowledge of God.
This illustration is simple. How much more liquid can you put into a completely full cup? None.
You cannot put any more liquid into a completely full cup. It is the same with the prideful man’s boastful self.
His cup is completely filled with himself. That is the basic definition of spiritual narcissism. (Everyone I know has been there at one time or another–and I put myself at the top of the list.)
His ideas, his goals, his reality, his reasons for pursuing his own pleasures and plans: fill his own cup to the brim. Therefore nothing else can come in. Period.
Such is the poisoned wine of a man’s own, self-imposed reality. Such a man can be understood, as being drunk on the wine of this world, on his own foolishness, ego, and doesn’t even know he is walking in his own pathway of death. (Some people call that drinking their own Kool-Aid.)
But, there is a far greater wine: far finer, far more healing, and far more life preserving wine that comes down from heaven.
That wine is not poisoned. Not tainted with the fouled ingredients in the wine of men. If any man should empty his cup of the polluted worldly wine, he would then be able to make room, and fill his cup with God’s heavenly wine.
Choose Humility: The Un-Poisoned Wine
If any man, should choose the vehicle of humility, and perchance should empty, the overweening pride filling his cup.
If a man should choose to completely empty all the foul, dirty, unclean liquid in his cup, and wash the cup completely clean, so that it might sparkle, and then pour the king’s new wine into his cup, then he might begin a totally new life experience.
Compare the difference between:
- Belshazar’s wine drinking, and the party spirit surrounding him, in Daniel 5:1-20, with:
- Jesus’ wine drinking party, and the celebration connected to him, in John 14:1-20.
You should be able to immediately see a clearly a vast difference between the two. Although both parties were drinking wine. Both were celebrating and dedicating themselves to their God–the outcome of each was radically different, although there are many parallels.
A man of Humility can begin a new journey
He could discover himself walking along a new narrow road, that he could not previously see, nor value, nor desire, having his eyes blinded, and his ears blocked to hearing about or seeing this new road, even though it has been traveled by the angels, the prophets, and the Saints of God for many millennia.
Taking a road to a place unknown is a mysterious journey. But with every new step, and every new revelation the path will become clearer, and straighter, and undeniable.
Check out this 1 minute clip. See Want to see: What is God in a Child’s Sight?
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
(One minute clip: this woman, like so many today, could not see what was good, in God’s sight.)
That begs the question (and segues into Challenge #2 quite nicely):
Why are religion and politics taboo topics in many modern cultures?
Here’s my take on it. Because both topics will eventually boil down to the subject of morals and morality. Those who are insecure about their own morality positions, don’t want them exposed, and especially don’t want them challenged. How does Jesus express this phenomenon? He simply says that those who love to do evil, hate the light, and will not come into the light, for fear their evil deeds will be exposed. It’s that simple.
In other words, they want to remain in the dark, they don’t want the darkness in them to be exposed. (Almost none of us are comfortable about that prospect.)
It is in fact, one of our most primal fears. We are afraid of being exposed. We are afraid of being humiliated. We do things in the dark. We do things behind closed doors. We do things in secret, that we don’t want anyone else to find out about. That is until our conscience has been burned and singed as with a hot iron. At this tipping point, we no longer care about being exposed. We want to come out of the closet. We want to flaunt our evil. We want others, and push others to accept us in our evil state. That is the final state of immorality. That was the tipping point of Sodom and Gomorrah. It was the tipping point of the Roman Empire. It was the tipping point of Babylon. And the destruction that came upon it in Daniel chapter 5. Where the handwriting was written upon the wall with an invisible arm. Where men were weighed in the balance and found wanting.
Dear friends and family, the hour is late. The dark veil is thick. The demonic stronghold is developing our youth now starting in kindergarten. It began in college campuses. Then it descended down to high school age children, then it entered into elementary school, education, now it is entrenched in kindergarten classes, and cross-dressing demonically inspired homosexual Faerie Queene hour presentations.
Challenge #2: To Be the LiGHT of the WORLD
Jesus said:
14 Ye are The Light of the World.
A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel,
But on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Of Course Here: Jesus is referring to the Children of Light, being those who accepted His message, His influence, His Perspective, Who become lights to the World, due to their Love for the Truth, and Hatred for Lies, Deception, and Definitive Darkness.
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Are you the LiGHT of the world?
A tall order: Who can fulfill it?
The answer may surprise you.
No One can fulfill that tall of an order: To BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD?
Do you know what YE means in Old English? ‘Ye’ is You Plural. ‘Thee’ is You Singular.
[A visual way to remember this: The “Y” has two parts at the top of its letter. Two is plural. The “T” has one part at the top. One is singular. I learn visually, so this little rule helps me.]
So you see, no one person can fulfill the order to become the light of the world. That is a job description addressed to many people. In fact, it is addressed to all people collectively. We are all called together to be the light of the world. That’s why Jesus said, a city on the hill cannot be hidden. Of course, the light we shine into the darkness is our spiritual light. It is also our spiritual right and our spiritual inheritance. We as God’s collective light in our generation, collectively WE become his witnesses of his greatness, glory, and life.
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life …
So yes, this is a tall order: especially coming from the Son of God.
There is a clear and undeniable challenge and expectation. There is an inherent duty involved in this message. Once you become a light, you will expose darkness. You cannot help that. It will be a central part of your New Nature.
Now, with that new nature comes new challenges. It’s all fun and games and Christian circles to be the light and shine with others. But, what happens when the light doesn’t want to be exposed? That is when the fun and games cease, and the war begins. And as Jesus and his apostles, learned by personal experience, the war can and will be costly, and be bloody, and can even take your life.
In order for you and I to become his light: We will have to be transformed and made New. We must be made: Whole, Clean, Pure, and ready to Shine Brightly for God. That is no small undertaking. Would you agree?
In order to be a light of God: You will need to See things from His Perspective. You will need to see what is: Good in His Sight. You will need to reveal things from His Perspective. You will need to expose Darkness, wherever it is hiding. That is what a Light does, Right?
The Closer You Grow towards God: the brighter your Light must become. The stronger, bolder, clearer, truer, cleaner, and purer You will Shine. That is exciting. It’s an adventure like no other. It is also scary. It is a narrow road, and few thereby that find it. That’s just the reality of it. At times, It is a lonely road, due to the fact that so many: Hate the Light. But, many have gone before you and have made the way clear, and all of that has been recorded in the word of God for your encouragement, strength, and hope. Faithful men and women have gone before you, and faithful men and women will follow behind you, and collectively, you all are part of being a light of God.
In order to be a brightly burning Light for God: You will need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. You will also need to keep your eye single, so that your whole body, mind, and spirit, can be filled with God’s LIGHT, having no part dark. But that is getting ahead of this story.
In order to have a single eye we need to know who Jesus is:
Are You presently walking in the Fullness of God’s Light?
If your candle is lit, and you are growing brighter, and you are combining your light with others, who are also burning brightly: then you will truly be fulfilling the full measure this Messianic Teaching. Why is that?
Here is a huge clue, that many might miss. Do you know what the word “YE” means? It is the old English plural form of “you.” So “Ye” literally means ‘you plural.’ This Message is directed to ‘You Plural.’ You plural are the Light of the World. A City of Bright Lights cannot be hidden. For more on this subject click here. And here. And here.
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Becoming a Light to the Word …
Two Pivotal Life Making Decisions:
- Being able to clearly and articulately answer these 7 questions according to God’s Perspective will enable even a young child to become a brightly burning lamp in the midst of his home and community; that will support them to make many of the most incredibly important right and good, clean and free, true and trustworthy lifelong choices; that will bless and protect them from incredible evil, lies, deception, and perversion for their entire lives.
- Not being able to clearly and articulately answer these 7 questions will radically hinder and cause lifelong confusion in the soul of a child. It will clearly disrupt their purity, truth, freedom, and joy. It will predictably cause them to make lifelong devastating choices that will open them up to constant deception in their mind, division in their soul, and will set them up for eternal destruction on the day that matters most: The Day of Judgment.
7 Important “Life Questions” will be vitally important in your walk with God in Seeing Life from Heaven’s Perspective.
Challenge #3: TO SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM
Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God …
It is hard to find: a better, more sure, more honest, true or direct promise in God’s Word.
“But Seek ye First
The Kingdom of God,
And His Righteousness;
And ALL these things
Shall be added unto you.”
Jesus is speaking here again to a multitude, again during the Sermon on the Mount.
(Matthew 6:33)
A Quick reminder: Remember the “these things” that were hidden from the rigid: Wise and Prudent, a.k.a., high minded folks?
Now you see the same “THESE THINGS” being offered to the graceful: the humble and willing: the lowly in heart (that’s the opposite of being proud of heart).
Jesus promises that all these things shall be added onto you, if you humble yourself, and seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.
What are these things? I dare say they are the invisible elements deeply embedded in the kingdom of God.
In Short (
1 Corinthians 6:11 (KJV) 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 8:30 (KJV) 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
- God’s salvation,
- God’s sanctification, and
- God’s glorification
With these Heavenly Progressive Steps of Spiritual Maturity (above), the believer gets many bonus gifts (below), freely thrown into the promised relationship (they are often know as the Fruits of the Spirit, from Galatians 5:22-26):
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Long Suffering
- Self-Control
- love,
- joy,
- peace,
- longsuffering,
- gentleness,
- goodness,
- faith,
- Meekness,
- temperance (Self-Control):
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
And of course, this will all accompany your life with the Holy Spirit of God Abiding in you, through you, and all about you.
John 14:15-17 (KJV)
If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
of a man’s soul that is progressing, in the things of the kingdom, and maturing into the likeness of Christ, and shining his light for all to see. He is the one that shall have all the things of the kingdom added unto himself. In other words, he will be storing up for himself the treasures of Heaven. Where moth and rust cannot destroy, and thieves cannot break in and steal.
What does Jesus mean: “… His Righteousness”
There is a funny problem with mankind. They always seem to want to do things their own way, in their own time, according to their own perspective. That is exactly what started the whole mess in the Garden of Eden, and has plagued mankind until this very hour. It seems like a continual loop, or a broken record, just repeating over and over again the same broken song lyrics, the same broken heart divisions, distractions, and destructions.
So how do we avoid all that? The key is in the verse: Matthew 6:33, right there at the end of the sentence. “… and His Righteousness.” When you do something or pursue something while choosing to act and think according to His Righteousness, I dare say Your Will will be pleasing to God, and you will not act according to you own selfish mind (selfish will, emotions, nor intellect).
In other words when you seek the kingdom of God, according to His Righteousness, you protect yourself from your own selfishness. You enter into a higher plain of motivation. You end up Seeking those things that will be most pleasing and bring the greatest glory to the One who Sits on the Throne of God. Because of that your prayers will be heard in Heaven, answered in Heaven, and performed here on earth, according to His Righteousness.
In other words, when you Seek First the Kingdom of God (making IT, your top priority), and you seek IT according to His Righteousness, and not your own will:
All These Things,
Will be Added unto You.
A little Re-cap: The First Challenge was to See what is “Good in Thy Sight.” To See: that which is hidden from the Wise and Prudent. This challenge is especially critical to those who have the ability to read, write, think, and pursue knowledge. Why? Because knowledge often “puffs up” … (1 Corinthians 8:1).
The key: is to See “These Things” from God’s Perspective, no matter what you are learning.
Because, if you grasp His perspective, your mind and heart will be humbled, and deeply challenged to walk in His Will, which will be far beyond your own ability. So you will absolutely need His Grace to carry you through.
Note: ALL worldly wisdom and social prudence will be of no benefit, when it comes to entering into His Heavenly Salvation that has been prepared for you, according to His Will for Your Eternal Soul.
Once you can begin seeing what is “Good in Thy Sight” then the next step naturally follows: to light your candle and keep it burning. While doing that, you are challenged to seek first kingdom and his righteousness, so that all these things can be added into your life.
Can you see the Priority Jesus places upon His Commands?
While seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, the very things, “these things” that were hidden from the wise, proud and prudent, will be revealed to humble. In fact, Jesus says all “these things” shall be added onto him.
While seeking you should looking for what? “His righteousness.” And as you seek it, His Righteousness will bleed into your Life, while you are seeking first the Kingdom of God, His Righteousness will put your feet upon the Solid Rock. That is a place of blessing: a place where your prayers can be heard and answered, where God can add unto you the “All these things” promised in His covenant Blessing.
Seeking First God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness is like paddling a canoe across uncharted waters, propelling you into new adventures, setting you up for new eternal encounters all along the way.
Challenge #4: T0 Make the Eye Single
Here’s your 4th Message from Jesus revolving around your sight, your seeing, your eye, and your spiritual perception.
Do you see a continual theme being woven into your understanding of God’s Kingdom, yet?
From the Sermon on the Mount
(Matthew 6:22 ff; also Luke, 11:34 ff)
The light of the body is the EYE:
Therefore when thine EYE is single,
Thy whole body also is full of light;
But when thine EYE is evil,
Thy body also is full of darkness.
Take heed therefore that the light
Which is in thee be not darkness.
If thy whole body therefore be full of light,
Having no part dark,
The whole shall be full of light,
As when the bright shining of a candle
Doth give thee light.
Now, we must answer some poignant questions:
Who is responsible? Who must take heed that the light, that is in them, is not darkness?
- Who is responsible for the body to not become full of darkness?
- How can the light in us become darkness?
- What activities can, and will contribute to the eye of the body becoming dark?
How do I make my body full of light? What makes the eye single? What responsibility do I have to make my eyes single? What kind of light is Jesus talking about here? What activities can I do to fill my eye and my body with light?
Filling your Eye with Light comes down to a choice of your own freewill. We get to choose what we choose to look at, what we choose to meditate on, what we choose to obsess over. All things things are under our control, and fall under the domain of our freewill. Yes, we do develop habits of thoughts and habits about what we choose to look at. And yes, there are extreme cases of abuse, where we are exposed to evil against our own will. Thankfully, Jesus is a God and Savior who works through grace, faith, and forgiveness. Once we come to him, he can erase the power of sinful past experiences, those done to us, and those we have done to others.
But once we come to Christ, we must take a lion share of all that we allow into our EYEGATE.
ONCE CHRIST SETS US FREE: we need to choose the narrow gate of continued freedom. If we choose to change our minds, and choose the broad road that leads to destruction, or we choose like a dog returning to its vomit, to go back and dig up that dead old man, be buried in the grave along with all our sins, evil, habits, and darkness, chances are we can become like the man, who had his demon cast out, his room swept clean, but neglected to fill the new clean room with the presence of the Holy Spirit, seeking first the kingdom, and His Righteousness, and choosing not to be filled with all wisdom, grace and faith, but instead we invite the old demon to come back and occupy his space, and he brings seven demons more terrible than himself, and the end of our spiritual life becomes far worse than that which first began with the initial cleansing of our spiritual temple.
In other words: We carry a great deal of responsibility for your personal holiness, purity, spiritual cleanliness, and heavenly authority, and how we use it in our present condition, and what we allow into our lives and what we wisely filter out and keep ourselves protected from.
To put this plainly:
- Previous Drunkards: need to stay away from Bars, Parties with alcohol, and friends who drink.
- Previous Sexual active Sinners: need to stay away from internet porn, slut magazines, movies that promote sex. Bars and Parties where people are looking to hookup for sex. That includes former: Fornicators, Adulterers, Idolators, Witches, Warlocks, Homosexuals (Gay and Lesbian, etc.), former Prostitutes, Pedophiles, people involved in animal sex, and everything in between.
- Previous Idolators: Liars, Cheaters, Thieves, Greedy Materialists, addicted to makeup, fashion, body fanatics, obessive compulsives, Entertainment addicted people to TV, Movies, Videos, etc. They need to shut it all down.
- Previously Angry: Violent, Emotional, Disruptive, Controlling, Manipulative, Tightly wound people. They need to steer themselves away from certain types of people, and certain types of social settings, and social interactions, until the Father does some deep healing for them.
These are just a few examples of how we can make the Eye Single:
Therefore when thine EYE is single,
Thy whole body also is full of light;
But when thine EYE is evil,
Thy body also is full of darkness.
When we do choose to follow these simple instructions: We become the recipients of the “THESE THINGS” promised to the humble in Challenge #3. The same things are barred from the wise and prudent (who do not see, nor understand the heavenly blessings) mentioned in Challenge #1. This makes us not only recipients but also living examples of the Light in Challenge #2. Which is based in a large part upon our due diligence to keep our bodies full of Light, and blocking the Darkness that is ever present all around us seeking to get in through our eyes, in order to fill our body, and our mind, soul, and spirit, Full of Darkness.
Challenge #5: To Enter through the NARROW GATE
Your 5th Challenge from Jesus revolves around your feet, which makes it a metaphor for the direction of your life.
- Do you see a shift in the theme: Going from your Eyes to your Feet?
- From your seeing to your doing?
- Can you see how these two things are interconnected?
Hopefully, you can see your calling: Your duty to take charge of what you see, so you can take charge of what you do?
With the Wisdom of the Scriptures being embedded in your spirit, you are becoming a True Worshipper of the One True God–as you continue to grow are make real each new Challenge from Jesus.
By Worshipping Your Father in Spirit and in Truth, (“being a doer of the Word, and not just a hearer only”–James 1:23-25) all of His Goodness, Mercy, Love and Forgiveness are being woven into the fabric of your being. All “These Things” will soon be reflected in your thoughts, words, deeds. They will direct your paths, and instruct you in your understanding of God’s Eternal Kingdom. You will become like one who needs no one to teach them (Hebrews 8:11), but the Spirit Himself will teach you from His Word and Spirit (1 John 2:27), just as God has promised (John 14).
“These New Things” will actually spiritually lead you through a narrow gate (that many will choose to ignore), that is missed by the majority of the population, all around you. And is sadly, often missed by many who even attend church, but still don’t put into practice the lessons that the Father gives us to grow more connected to Him, and to His Son, by the Spirit of God.
See for Yourself: From the Sermon on the Mount
(Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV)
Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate,
and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.
A Second Look at the Narrow Gate Parable comes from Luke, the only official Gentile Writer in the Bible: Lukes version recommends that we STRIVE, to enter the narrow (strait) gate.
The verb to strive, has much to do with our own effort, our own diligence, our own sense of duty, and commitment. Without that effort, and emphasis, the whole instruction to strive become meaningless.
Here’s a simple break down of the message:
- Some (or a few) will strive to enter. And guess what? They will enter!
Many (or the majority) will seek to enter (without striving), but won’t be able.
In other words, the majority who choose to strive not, will not enter.
All this seems to point to the need for a personal commitment, and sense of personal ownership, a work of personal dedication. Is that a fair assessment?
See for yourself:
Luke 13:24-25 (KJV)
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate:
for many, I say unto you,
will seek to enter in,
and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up,
and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without,
and to knock at the door, saying,
Lord, Lord, open unto us;
and he shall answer and say unto you,
I know you not whence ye are:
Challenge #6: To Take the Log out of YOUR OWN EYE
Your 6th Challenge from Jesus reverts back to your Eye, once again. Leaning heavily back on your ability to perceive what is going on all around you, and even more importantly, what is going on inside of you.
- Do you see the shift in the theme: Going from your Feet to your Eyes?
- From your doing back to your seeing?
- Can you again see how these two things are interconnected?
Hopefully, you can continue to see the development of your calling: Your duty to take charge of what you see, and what you feel.
Hopefully, becoming wiser than you were, more able to see yourself in the Light of the Word of God.
Giving yourself a generous understanding of what it takes to walk with God, and the patience God has with you. So that you can truthfully, and genuinely apply that same generous grace and patience to those around you.
So you can take charge how you correct yourself, as well as, how, when, where, and why you might be called upon to bring correction to others close to you? (“Being quick to listen, slow to speak …” and slow to become impatient, angry, or stressed out.)
With the Wisdom of the Scriptures being embedded in you: His Wisdom will speak through you, to help others in their time of need.
Again, as your Spirit Man is Growing into the Likeness of Christ, you are strengthening your Union, and Fellowship with Your Father, His Son, and the Gift of God, His Holy Spirit in You! As such you are gaining insight and ability to handle ever new and challenging people and situations. So God is directing you to use your ears to hear the work of God in others’ lives, and See the work of God in others troubles–as you continue to grow and take on every new Challenge from Jesus.
By Worshipping Your Father in Spirit and in Truth, (“being a doer of the Word, and not just a hearer only”–James 1:23-25) all of His Goodness, Mercy, Love and Forgiveness are being woven into the fabric of your being. All “These Things” will soon be reflected in your thoughts, words, deeds. They will direct your paths, and instruct you in your understanding of God’s Eternal Kingdom. You will become like one who needs no one to teach them (Hebrews 8:11), but the Spirit Himself will teach you from His Word and Spirit (1 John 2:27), just as God has promised (John 14).
“This New Thing” will actually spiritually lead you through another narrow gate (that many will choose to ignore).
The Gate of being a listener: A friend, rather than a judge. One who shares the burden, instead of multiplying it. One who who inspires growth, versus one who doles out punishments, blame, and condemnation.
The Gate of Forgiveness: Being an example of Mercy and Goodness, rather than anger and arrogance.
Going through the Gate of Calmness: Composure, Kindness, Patience, Hope, and Meekness, with firm Justice when needed, and deserved.
before a judge and one who passes condemnation upon others instead of leading them to Godthat is missed by the majority of the population, all around you. And is sadly, often missed by many who even attend church, but still don’t put into practice the lessons that the Father gives us to grow more connected to Him, and to His Son, by the Spirit of God.
See for Yourself: From the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapter 7)
~Matthew 7:3-5 (KJV)
And why beholdest thou the mote [speck]
that is in thy brother’s eye,
but considerest not the beam
that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother,
Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;
and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam
out of thine own eye;
and then shalt thou see clearly
to cast out the mote
out of thy brother’s eye.
In other words, Jesus is continuing the Theme that is being woven throughout virtually every lesson, parable, verse, Be-Attitude, and spiritual metaphor, in the Sermon on the Mount …
That we:
- who“Come through the Narrow Gate“,
- who “Seek first the kingdom of God,”
- who “Keep our Spiriutal Eye Single,”
- who “See what is Good in God’s Sight,”
- who progressively and agressively become “The Light of the World”
Will be Able to Take the Log out of our own Eye (and have the wisdom to do so), before we seek to remove the speck from our Brother’s or Sister’s Eye.
Challenge #7: TO ABIDE in THE VINE
Our 7th Challenge takes us out the Gate of our own Home, into the Field of Labor outside our Own Home.
Our focus is now far less about us. And far more about those outside of us.
Entering into this new narrow gate, is all about becoming a laborer in the fields of Our Father.
We will need all the Disciplines: that we have begun to develop. And then we will need a whole host of New Gifts, New Tools, New Weapons, New Skill Sets, in order to bear much fruit in the Fields that are Ripe and Ready for Harvest, but we don’t have a clue about how to go about doing our Father’s Work in His Vineyard. Just like the Apostles had not a clue about what they were doing the first time Jesus sent them out two by two, into the towns, villages, and cities of Judah on their first missionary enterprise. They had no idea how to do it.
If you can see this: Jesus is calling us to look deeper into our future, just as He called his disciples (apostles) to look deeper into their future. Remember, Jesus did not choose, highly educated, highly articulate, heavily skilled debaters, public speakers, or professional teachers. He called fishermen, tax collectors, laborers, unlearned men, untrained, and unschooled.
Know anyone like that? Ever see him or her in the mirror in the morning or evening?
The Truth be Told: We are called to become effective and fruitful laborers in our Father’s Vineyard. Like the First Son, in the Parable, or rather Testimony of the Two Sons. (Matthew 21)
He that abideth in me,
and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:
Our job that makes us Fruitful, is NOT Going to Bible School, NOT getting a cemetery degree, I mean seminary degree in Theology. Not even close. What make us Fruitful, is ABIDING IN HIM.
A branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine;
That only makes sense Right? You can harvest lush and juicy grapes from and dead and dried out branch that is not deeply connected to the Vine, right? Without the powerful life flow and nutrients of the Vine, the branch can bear no fruit at all, in fact it cannot even survive itself, unless it stays connected to the Vine, continues to prioritize the disciplines of the Vinedresser. Continues to be shaped and pruned by the only One who knows how to best develop, the Eye Sight, and direct the Feet of the one growing into the Image and Stature of Christ.
We who Prioritize the Spiritual Disciplines of Christ:
We who:
- “Seek first the kingdom of God,”
- “Come through the Narrow Gate“
- Keep our “Spiriutal Eye Single,”
- See what is “Good in God’s Sight,”
- Become “The Light of the World”
- Take the Log out of our own Eye
Will have prepared ourselves to ABIDE IN THE VINE!
This will have shaped our character and nature to aid us to have a mindset to be about our Father’s Business.
Absolutely everything about our own personal fruitfulness, and just as importantly everything about our dedicated work in the Vineyard, in the Work of the Harvest, in the Gathering in of the Grapes, and the making of the New Wine of the Spirit. Everthing about Our Labor, Our Fruitfulness, Our Effectiveness in the Kingdom of God–is directly related to our Connection to the Vine.
- How well and good are We Abiding in the Vine Today?
- How great is our fruitfulness Today?
- How clear is our vision?
- How powerfully directed and empowered are all our steps.
- How dedicated are we to traveling the narrow Road?
- How persistent and vigilantly protective are we about your Eye Gate?
- How strong is our commitment to being the Light of the World?
- How skilled are we at removing the speck from our own eye?
- How strongly are we prioritizing our dedication of time, money, skills, efforts, and resources to Seek First the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness?
- How is your Testimony going, about: Receiving ALL the good things that the Father is longing to give you?
- How often do you stop in your busy schedule to schedule working in the Vineyard of God.
- Which Son best reflects your own experience and efforts, on a daily, weekly, yearly basis?
Matthew 21:28-32 (KJV)
But what think ye?
A certain man had two sons;
and he came to the first, and said,
Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
He answered and said, I will not:
but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise.
And he answered and said,
I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father?
They say unto him, The first.
Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you,
That the publicans and the harlots
Go into the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
- Background Note:
Did you know the The Vineyard in Bible Prophecy represent the Nation of Israel? - Therefore, the Parable to Bear Much Fruit in the Vineyard, is about the Commission to Reach all the people of Israel First with the Gospel. And once they had a clear chance to believe and receive the Good News of God. Then, next on God’s Agenda, was to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.
- Take Note: That again the only way his disciples would be able to bear much fruit, especially God’s Miraculous 100, 60, and 30 fold fruit that He expects to receive from us, is that we would be deeply connected to the Vine. Abiding in Him, and He in Us, so that we could honestly and powerfully, and daily, and consistently keep bearing much Fruit.
That in a nutshell is our Call. Our Purpose. Our Direction. Therefore it should be our vision. Our plan. Our priority. Our Narrow Gate, Secret ………………
The Sooner we get this, the sooner we can become fruitful and put our days of being spiritually Lukewarm, Spiritually Lazy, seriously Lackluster, with our minimal burning candle, being hidden under a bushel, so that it does even bring light into the House.
In other words, the sooner we get this calling, the sooner we can stop being the foolish virgin with not enough oil in her lamp, or the foolish goats that neglected to see You (Jesus/Yeshua), and give You Food to Eat, Water to drink, Clothes to wear, a bed to sleep in, or visit you in prison, taking care of the wounds of others, who stepped out in faith, and took a beating for it, proclaiming your name under the threat of reprisals and death.
The Sooner we get this the Sooner, this World will know the True Savior, and the True King.
The Sooner we can come into your Presence and be comforted from our painful wounds, and healed from all our broken hearts, from those who abandoned us, rejected and ridiculed us, gossiped about us, slandered us, hated us, and sought to corrupt our testimony.
The Sooner we get this: The sooner we can hear the Words:
Well done, thou good and faithful servant …
Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Matthew 25:19-21 (KJV)
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
His lord said unto him,
Well done, thou good and faithful servant:
thou hast been faithful over a few things,
I will make thee ruler over many things:
Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
John 15:1-8 (KJV)
I am the true vine,
and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me
that beareth not fruit
he taketh away:
and every branch
that beareth fruit,
he purgeth it,
that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now ye are clean through the word
which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine;
no more can ye,
except ye abide in me.
I am the vine,
ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me,
and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:
For without me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
