Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Spiritual Health Restored to man, continued)

Continuing on with the Spiritual Health being restored to mankind bring man back to the status of a Genesis 2 man again as Promised Adam in Genesis 3:15 and Abram in 12:3. In Genesis 12:3 those who will come to trusting faith in GOD as Abram did will be as Abraham counted by GOD as possessing GODS Righteousness. Now for a look at Pastors Hoekstra's writing on Grace and mans flesh choice to walk in the spirit of remain earthy and walking in the flesh. And as has become my usual standard I will use the ESV translation and will also edit things as the LORD the Spirit leads.

                 "More on the Crucial Choice: Flesh or Spirit"
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 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 6:7-8)

"One of the unchangeable aspects of being a Christian is that GOD offers only two choices for all of the issues that we will encounter day by day; namely, "live according to the flesh" or "live according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:5). Also, the consequences accompanying these options are inevitable, because of the certainties of sowing and reaping. "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." When an apple seed is planted, an apple tree is the only possible plant that can result. Whatever category of seed is put into the ground, that is the only type of crop that can ever be reaped. (John 12:24)

Our present passage reveals that these agricultural absolutes apply just as certainly to the planting of spiritual seeds in our lives. We only have two types of seeds to plant ("flesh" or "Spirit"), leading to only two types of harvest ("corruption" or "Everlasting Life").

The first set of seeds and harvest offers an ominous warning. "He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption." The seeds in view here are words, deeds, and attitudes that would range from self-service to self-sufficiency. The harvest predicted from these carnal seeds is described as"  corruption." This speaks of destruction and decay. For a person whose entire life is only characterized by sowing "to his flesh," this destruction will be eternal. This would depict one who never planted any seed of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Such a one would die in sin and guilt, separated from GOD for eternity. For a born again believer, who persistently or intermittently yields to carnal temptations, this would warn of subsequent loss of spiritual vitality and fruitfulness on earth now, plus loss of heavenly blessings later.

The second set of seeds and harvest extends an encouraging expectation. "But he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap Everlasting Life." The seeds referred to here are words, deeds, and attitudes that result from our humbly depending upon the Spirit of GOD to work in and through us. This brings an increasing Spiritual Crop described as "Everlasting Life." This would be similar to Jesus' statement: "I have come that they may have Life, and that they may have it more Abundantly" (John 10:10). This Promises fullness of Life now, and great rewards in glory later."

Mans Conversion from sinner to righteousness:

The Divine Law the Agent,
Psalm 19:7-14 "The law of the LORD (Jehovah) is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is Your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."


Joyful Believers used as Instruments,
Psalm 51:10-13 "Create in me a clean heart, O GOD, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your Salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You."


Essential to Entrance into GOD's kingdom,
Matthew 18:1-6 "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."


Prepares for Christian service,
Luke 22:31-35 (Jesus is speaking)  "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Peter said to Him, "LORD, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death." Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know Me."


Enjoined upon all men,
Acts 3:17-26 (Peter is speaking)  "And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what GOD foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that HIS Christ would suffer, HE thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD, and that HE may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, Whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which GOD spoke by the mouth of HIS Holy prophets long ago. Moses said, 'The LORD GOD Will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to Him in whatever He tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to this Prophet will be destroyed from the people.' And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that GOD made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' GOD, having raised up His servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.""


The Supreme Task of the Church,
James 5:17-18, 19-20 "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the Truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."The LORD showed something during the night that surprised me. He said that those who keep Jesus as Jesus, are working the works of the flesh. Because Jesus came as a man of flesh to destroy the works of mans flesh. He rose as the Christ the anointed one to become One within those who call upon Him as Christ the Spirit. GOD is Spirit and those who worship GOD worship GOD in spirit and Truth or Spirit of Christ Who is Truth. The use of the small "s" in spirit is our spirit restored to GOD as seen in the Genesis 2:1-3. Where spiritual man rested with GOD before man was formed of the dirt of this earth which became flesh only after the spirit of mans was breathed by GOD into the image and likeness of HIS Unseen being in 2:6-7, the first Adam. This is known as the Regeneration or Regenesis of mankind.

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Spiritual Health Restored to man, continued)

I am looking into the Promise of GOD to Restore to mankind Spiritual Health from HIS perspective. And not from that perspective taught by many of mans religious denominations of misguided religious people who remain in the snare of the workings of the flesh by means of deception. Now for Pastor Hoekstra's writing on Grace. And then with the use of the ESV translation, both with some editing as the LORD the Spirit within me gives utterance to me. I will look at examples of mans Awakening, or what is called the Quickening of mans spirit.

                        "The Crucial Choice: Flesh or Spirit"
"Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh (remain disorderly and in a state of constant confusion), but those who live according to the Spirit, mind the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace."  (Romans 8:5-6)

The crucial choice that unbelieving believers face day by day is between living by the flesh or living by the Spirit in Christ. The difference concerns facing Life by our resources and perspectives or by GOD's. "Those who live according to the flesh set their minds (this is the struggle that Paul has within themselves just as we all have before we truly become a believer) on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." Before one can become a believer and a true Christian. They must face off within themselves this unknown battle of spirit (the quickened spirit of Life) verses spirit (the influence of deception, darkness) and deal with life by his flesh, he typically thinks about "what I want out of my life" or "what I can accomplish with my life." Conversely, when a Christian deals with life by the Spirit, he typically thinks about "what GOD wants for my life" or "what GOD can accomplish through my life."

The consequences related to this choice are monumental. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace." When a believer allows his mind to be set in a carnal direction, he will be thinking about worldly self-indulgences ("what I can get out of this") or religious self-accomplishment ("what I can do for God" and this God should actually be god without capital G but small case g). The result of either carnal perspective is "death" (spiritual deadness, where we started from in the first place with the small letter g for god). On the other hand, when a follower of Jesus (now this is representative of mans flesh nature in which all manners of evil dwells) sets his mind on heavenly matters (the is the Christ nature of spirit), he will be considering issues of humility ("how much I need the LORD, the  Christ nature restored") or faith ("how great the LORD Christ is"). The results of such Spiritual thoughts are "Life and Peace" (spiritual vitality and spiritual tranquility).

Another analysis of these two options can be seen in the contrast between the "works of the flesh" and the "fruit of the Spirit." When we put our hope in our own capabilities, our flesh produces deeds such as "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like" (Galatians 5:19-21). Contrariwise, when we place our expectations upon the LORD, His Spirit brings forth through us fruit like "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Consider this fundamental truth. These "flesh verses Spirit" choices are what all of us will face every day of our lives. The persistency of these issues is inherent in the fact that GOD only offers two options for every issue of life; namely, "live according to the flesh" or "live according to the Spirit.""

General References to Spiritual Quickening:
Psalm 80:14-18 "Turn again, O GOD of Hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, the stock that Your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for Yourself. They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of Your face! But let Your hand be on the man of Your right hand, the son of man Whom You have made strong for Yourself! Then we shall not turn back from You; give us Life, and we will call upon Your name!"

Daleth.
Psalm 119:25-32 "My soul clings to the dust; give me Life according to Your word! When I told of my ways, You answered me; teach me Your statutes! Make me understand the way of Your precepts, and I will meditate on Your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word! Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me Your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set Your rules before me. I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart!"

He.
Psalm 119:33-40 "Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me Life in Your ways. Confirm to Your servant Your Promise, that You may be feared (Highly exulted and reverenced). Turn away the reproach that I dread, for Your rules are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your Righteousness give me Life!"

Zayin.
Psalm 119:49-56 "Remember Your word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me Life. The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from Your law. When I think of Your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD. Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. I remember Your name in the night, O LORD, and keep Your law. This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept Your precepts."

Kaph.
Psalm 119:81-88 "My soul longs for Your salvation; I hope in Your word. My eyes long for Your promise; I ask, "When will You comfort me?" For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten Your statutes. How long must Your servant endure? When will You judge those who persecute me? The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to Your law. All Your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me! They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts. In Your steadfast (selfless) Love give me Life, that I may keep the testimonies of Your mouth."

Qoph.
Psalm 119:145-152 "With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. I call to You; save me, that I may observe Your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in Your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your Promise. Hear my voice according to Your steadfast Love; O LORD, according to Your Justice give me Life. They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from Your law. But You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are true. Long have I known from Your testimonies that You have founded them forever."


Psalm 143:10-12 "Teach me to do Your Will, for You are my GOD! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground! For Your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my Life! In Your Righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in Your steadfast Love You Will cut off my enemies, and You Will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am Your servant."


Habakkuk3:2 "O LORD, I have heard the report of You, and Your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy."


John 5:16-21, 22-24 "This was why the Jews (the political elite, doctors lawyers and the Priest's of a select few) were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." This was why the Jews (those described above, this sect did not include the Hebrew children, in other words it is not all inclusive term) were seeking all the more to kill Him, because not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling GOD His own Father, making Himself equal with GOD.
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that HE Himself is doing. And greater works than these will HE show Him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them Life, so also the Son gives Life to whom He Will.
The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes HIM Who sent ME has Eternal Life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to Life."


John 6:60-65, 66 "When many of His disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where HE was before? It is the Spirit who gives Life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray Him.) And He said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him by the Father."
After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him."

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Spiritual Health Restored to man)

In my last post I started looking at Health from GODS perspective and I will continue on from that point of view. What is sin? All forms of mans unbelief or faithlessness is SIN. That said, first a look at what Pastor Hoekstra has written concerning Grace. And then with the use again of the ESV translation I will get into the subject material. And as usual I will edit all things as the LORD the Spirit gives understanding.

                                   "Set Free by the Spirit"
"For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."  (Romans 8:2)

"There is a destructive spiritual tendency that resides in every human being. It is "the law of sin and death." This indwelling principle, of law, is always pulling people downward into sin and spiritual deadness. It comes from being born physically into a fallen race of sinners who are like their earthly father, Adam. Being born anew spiritually does not remove this problem, since this principle of law still operates within our natural humanity (the flesh). Yet, becoming a child of GOD does make His remedy constantly available to us.

GOD's remedy for "the law of sin and death" is a higher, more powerful principle, "the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus." This lofty principle of law involves the Holy Spirit making the Life that is in Christ Jesus our resource for living. This principle is operating in the life of any New Creature in Christ who is not walking  "according to the flesh but [is walking] according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:4). This approach to Christian living is the only one that can increasingly liberate us from the internal carnal tendencies that influence us all. Keeping this thought in mind, the LORD Christ Jesus is the thought, where the LORD in GOD Father Family Head, Christ is the anointed messenger received with our spirit giving this spirit Life and Jesus is the son of man, he second Adam, man within Whom the fullness of the Divine GOD Head dwelt. So when we receive the Spirit of Truth or of Christ we receive the fullness of the GOD Head in our bodies again as seen in Genesis 2. This is healing and healing is restoration the Promised Transformation of Jeremiah 31 and elsewhere. Brought forward in Hebrews to the New Covenant of Promise.

In fact (as we have noted previously), this is the only Hope of growing in the Godliness that the law demanded: "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us" (Romans 8:4). Our lives can only measure up to the Holy Will of GOD when we are walking in the Spirit, because Christ is then being allowed to express His Light, Grace, Life and Truth through us. Jesus was, and is, the only one who could ever walk fully pleasing to the Father. Jesus said, "I always do those things that please HIM" (John 8:29). For a victorious Christian experience, we need this same Life of Jesus living in and through us now, by the working of the Holy Spirit. We need the higher law ("the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, the LORD") setting us free from the lower law ("the law of sin and death").

Again, what is our responsibility in this? We are to relate to the LORD in humility and faith. Humility can develop as we agree with our LORD that "the law of sin and death" characterizes our flesh (our best natural resources). Faith can be exercised as we look to our LORD to demonstrate that "the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.""

Spiritual Healing:

Psalm 41:4-9 and 143:3 "As for me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!" My enemies say of me in malice (king David from here on is speaking as the Lord Jesus, over heard in a conversation with the Father of spirits), "When will He die, and His name perish?" And when one comes to see Me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad. All who hate Me whisper together about Me; they imagine the worst for Me. They say, "A deadly thing is poured out on Him; He will not rise again from where He lies." Even My close friend in whom I trusted, who ate My bread, has lifted his heel against Me."

Psalm 143:1-4 A Psalm of David. "Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In Your faithfulness answer me, in Your righteousness! Enter not into judgment with Your servant, for no one living is righteous before You. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled."


Isaiah 53:4-6 and 57:18 "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by GOD, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 57:14-21 "It shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from My people's way." For thus says the One Who is high and lifted up, Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the High and Holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. For I Will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before Me, and the breath of life that I made, would fade away and cease to be. Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid My face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. I have seen his ways, but I Will heal him; I Will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the LORD, "and I Will heal him. But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace," says my GOD, "for the wicked.""


Jeremiah 3:19-23 and 17:14  "'I said, How I would set you among My sons, and give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful of all nations. And I thought you would call Me, My Father, and would not turn from following Me. Surely, as a treacherous wife leaves her husband, so have you been treacherous to Me, O house of Israel, declares the LORD.'" A voice on the bare heights is heard, the weeping and pleading of Israel's sons because they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their God. "Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness." "Behold, we come to You, for You are the LORD our GOD. Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel."

Jeremiah 17:12-18  "A glorious throne set on High from the beginning is the place of our Sanctuary. O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake You shall be put to shame; those who turn away from You shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water. Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise. Behold, they say to me, "Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come!" I have not run away from being Your shepherd, nor have I desired the day of sickness. You know what comes out of my lips; it was before Your face. Be not a terror to me; You are my refuge in the day of disaster. Let those be put to shame who persecute me, but let me not be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed; bring upon them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction!"


Hosea 6:1-3 "Come, let us return to the LORD; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He Will bind us up. After two days He Will revive us; on the third day He Will raise us up, that we may live before Him. Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; His going out is sure as the dawn; He Will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."



 Luke 4:14-15, 16-30 "Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about Him went out through all the surrounding country. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because HE has anointed Me (made Me the Messiah and Christ of the Promised anointing) to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor." (favor, here means receive accept without question or hesitation to be healed, restored again) And He rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And all spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from His mouth. And they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" And He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to Me this proverb, 'Physician, heal yourself.' What we have heard You did at Capernaum, do here in Your hometown as well." And He said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove Him out of the town and brought Him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went away."


Revelation 22:1-3, 4-5, 6, 7 "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of Life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of GOD and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of Life (the Vine or tree as contained in the title of LORD) with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of GOD and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him.
They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the LORD GOD Will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
He said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the LORD, the GOD of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place."
"And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Health)

Back in my younger days of my walk with the LORD we were told by those in leadership that we now could look for health wealth and an abundance of over flow for all of our earthly needs and that all we needed to do was to name and claim a thing of our desire. But then the Holy Spirit started to work within me big time and I soon found that all was not to be completely true. There was little or nothing mentioned about things now being Spiritual. There was so much more to all things than what meets the eye of our understanding. GOD did not actually Promise what was being promoted by the church of many denominations. What on this earth was I to do, what to do? And how and where do I start to explain what the LORD was showing me, this was my dilemma. Back then there was no such thing as the internet or home computers or even cell phones. Heck the LORD when HE first called me to be a pastor teacher did not tell me to build a church or any such thing. HE did not even tell me to go into the lost world to be a missionary. HE said, be instant in season and out of season. It was not even told to me that I should check the scripture for validation of these words, so for years upon years I did not check this out for myself. 2Timothy 4:1-5. All to that said lets look at what Pastor Hoekstra's said concerning Grace and Faith. And then I will turn my attention to Health Promised to the Obedient.

             "The Contrary Desires of the Flesh and the Spirit"
"For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."  (Galatians 5:17)

"Every believer in Christ has had the frustrating experience of wanting to do what  pleases the LORD, but being unable to actually accomplish such. We are told here a Spiritual struggle is behind that failure. "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh." The Spirit of GOD dwells within our lives. He is the "Spirit of Holiness" (Romans 1:4). He desires that we be "partakers of His Holiness" (Hebrews 12:10) and thereby walk in Godliness. However, the flesh (natural humanity) is also present in our lives. These natural desires of man are not toward Holiness, but rather toward self-indulgence and self-sufficiency. Thus, what the Spirit Desires and what our flesh craves are set against each other. "These are contrary to one another." The consequence of this internal conflict is "that you do not do the things that you wish." Even though Godly desires develop in us as New Creatures in Christ, we find ourselves unable to implement these new longings by our good intentions.

The Apostle Paul gave testimony to his own failure in this battle. "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice" (Romans 7:19). The problem was that Paul's personal resources (the flesh) were not adequate to produce the desired results. "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find" (Romans 7:18). Yes, Paul had some godly desires. "For I delight in the law of GOD according to the inward man" (Romans 7:22). Nevertheless, there was a problem that he could not resolve on his own. "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members" (Romans 7:23). A  tendency to sin that dwelt in Paul's human members (his body, his brain) pulled him down to defeat. He needed help.

Access to that necessary Divine Rescue was through a humble cry for a deliverer. "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24). This appropriate confession of the spiritual bankruptcy of his flesh led to another confession of certain victory. "I thank GOD [it is] through Jesus Christ our LORD! " (Romans 7:25). This humble turning from self to Christ allows one to walk in the Spirit (Romans 8), living by His victorious resources. "For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2)."

Spiritual Health Promised to the Obedient:

The title in my Bible for this first illustration is, "the LORD Provides water"
Exodus 15:22-27 "Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" And he cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made for them a statute and a rule, and there HE tested them, saying, "If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in His eyes, and give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I Will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer." Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water."


Deuteronomy 7:12-16 "And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the LORD your God will keep with you the Covenant and the Steadfast Love that HE swore to your fathers. He Will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He Will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that HE swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples. There shall not be male or female barren among you or among your livestock. And the LORD Will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you. And you shall consume all the peoples that the LORD your God will give over to you. Your eye shall not pity them, neither shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you."


Proverbs 4:20-27 "My son, be attentive to My words; incline your ear to My sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."


Jeremiah 30:12-17 "For thus says the LORD: Your hurt is incurable, and your wound is grievous. There is none to uphold your cause, no medicine for your wound, no healing for you. All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you; for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy, the punishment of a merciless foe, because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant. Why do you cry out over your hurt? Your pain is incurable. Because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant, I have done these things to you. Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured, and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who plunder you shall be plundered, and all who prey on you I Will make a prey. For I Will restore health to you, and your wounds I Will heal, declares the LORD, because they have called you an outcast: 'It is Zion, for whom no one cares!'"

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Preservation)

We just looked into the Restoration Promised to those who become One with GOD while still here on earth. Today I will look at the Promise of their Preservation also known as the Preservation of the Faithful. But first turning to Pastor Hoekstra's writing on Grace and then using the ESV translation my targeted subject. And as always I will edit when the Spirit leads me.

                                    "Walking in the Spirit"
"Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh . . . If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."  (Galatians 5:16, 25)

"The term "walk" is used dozens of times in the New Testament to describe the manner of life that a person is leading. Many of these occurrences depict the Christian life; for example, "walk in love . . .  walk as children of light . . .  walk circumspectly" (Ephesians 5:2, 8, 15). In our passages, we are told to "walk in the Spirit."

Walking is a very insightful description of spiritual life. A walk has a beginning and a destination. Our beginning was in New Birth: "born of the Spirit." (John 3:6). Our destination is heaven forever with our LORD and Savior: "And thus we shall always be with the LORD." (1Thessalonians 4:17). A good walk is steady and progressive. Much like hiking up hill and at times a mountain with many narrow paths and boulders in the way, as well as switchbacks. We are called to be faithful: "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21). We are called to press ahead: "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal" (Philippians 3:13-14).

In addition, a walk has many potential adventures along the way. We are likely to encounter stretching challenges and paradoxical blessings: "in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness. . . as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2Corinthians 6:5, 10).

Ultimately, a walk must have an available resource that provides sufficient vitality, strength, guidance, and assurance. Here, our passages offer special hope through the injunction to "walk in the Spirit." Day by day, each step of the way, we are to rely upon the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Every issue of life (whether at home, office, school, or along life highways and byways) is to be faced in this manner. Otherwise, the influence of our flesh (our natural humanity) will prevail. "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." We are not able ourselves to overcome the inadequacies and improper tendencies of the flesh. However, the Holy Spirit is more than able to become our Sufficient Provider of whatever we need for an Effective and Fruitful walk.

This perspective on Christian living makes complete biblical sense, when we connect our daily walk to how we found Spiritual Life in the first place. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit," It was strictly by the work of the Spirit that we Received this Life initially; therefore, let's take each step of Life "[walking] in the Spirit." It did not say keeping step or running ahead but with the Spirit and at times this may seem to be a toilsome task.


Preserving or the Preservation of the Faithful:

Deuteronomy 6:20-25, Joshua 24:17, 2Sanuel 8:6 and Nehemiah 8:6 "When your son asks you in time to come, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our GOD has commanded you?' then you shall say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt (the figure and type of the world and its deceptive religions). And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. The LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh (as the false gods of this world and its deceptive religions) and all his household, before our eyes. And HE brought us out from there, that HE might bring us in and give us the land that HE swore (a spiritual blessing of spiritual Promise, not gathered in by many lacking understanding and clear perception) to give to our fathers. The LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our GOD, for our good always, that HE might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our GOD, as HE has commanded us.'"

Joshua 24:16-18, 19-24 "Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods (but the scriptures bear them witness of their many failures), for it is the LORD our GOD Who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and Who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for HE is our GOD." 
But Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for HE is a Holy GOD. HE is a jealous GOD; HE Will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then HE Will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good." And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD." Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses." He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel." And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey."

2Samuel 8:3-8 "David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze."

Nehemiah 8:1-8 "All the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.  And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great GOD, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of GOD, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading."


Psalm 31:19-22, 23-24 "Oh, how abundant is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear (greatly reverence) You and worked for those who take refuge in You, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of Your Presence You hide them from the plots of men; You store them in Your shelter from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the LORD, for HE has wondrously shown His steadfast Love to me when I was in a besieged city. I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from Your sight." But You heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to You for help. Love the LORD, all you His saints! The LORD Preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the ones who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!"


Psalm 37:27-34 and 146:9 "Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the LORD loves justice; HE Will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his GOD is in his heart; his steps do not slip. The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. The LORD Will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and HE Will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off."

Psalm 146:5-10 "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his GOD, Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, Who keeps faith forever; Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD Loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; HE upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked HE brings to ruin. The LORD Will reign forever, your GOD, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!"


Proverbs 2:1-15 and Isaiah 49:8 "My son, if you receive My words and treasure up My commandments within you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of GOD. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding; HE stores up sound wisdom for the upright; HE is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways."

Isaiah 49:8-13 "Thus says the LORD: "In a time of acceptance I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I Will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners, 'Come out,' to those who are in darkness, 'Appear.' They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for HE Who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. And I Will make all My mountains a road, and My highways shall be raised up. Behold, these shall come from afar, and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene." Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted His people and Will have compassion on His afflicted."
2Timothy 4:16-18 "At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the LORD stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The LORD Will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Restoration)

I must confess I had no idea nor a laid out plan as to how this revealing of GODS mighty Promises would flow when I started. Each day I sought GOD as to what area that HE wanted me to do for that or the next day and then I did what I was led to. In the process we have found many words and phrases that are interlocked and bring us to where we right now and where I see this heading at the moment. The revealing of the LORD Christ. Or that portion of mans original make up that was lost to him by one mans disobedience to the law, the Word spoken directly to him, "do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" in Genesis 2:17. What we are about to see this the  promise of Restoration as found in Genesis 3:15 which is also a law, a law of Promise coupled with another in 12:3 also in Genesis. These we have looked at already throughout this investigation. With each coming in with what was shared from the pen of Pastor Hoekstra's and his teaching on Grace which I will draw from with this study. And has become my habit I will use the ESV translation as oppose to the KJV. And do not forget that I take the liberty to edit everything by way of divine inspiration while copying and pasting herein. Also we are on a spiritual plane in all that is shared.

                   "The Holy Spirit and Going On with GOD"
"Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:2-3)

"The work of the Holy Spirit is required for people to start out with GOD through New Birth and Justification. Do not forget that  before New Birth there has to be a death of the old law of sin and death. As it pertains to our flesh man, he has to be terminated as in the bruising of its head. The Holy Spirit must also be at work in believers if they are to go on with GOD in Growth and Sanctification. These Truths are declared in Galatians 3:2-3 (which we viewed earlier regarding "The Inability of the Law to Sanctify").

The opening portion of our present scripture passage uses a question to address starting out with GOD. "Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" The answer to this question is obvious. No one could ever have the Spirit of GOD come to indwell them on the basis of their performance before GOD's law. The penalty of disobedience as stated in Genesis 2:17. Only the "hearing of faith" could ever cause that. The Holy Spirit came to live in us when we heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ and believed in Him. (The same Holy Spirit which John the baptist saw and bore witness to lighting on Jesus, in the figure of a dove. After they performed the deed of righteousness required by the Jewish Law of Moses.) At that time, our sins were forgiven, we were Justified (declared not guilty, Righteous in GOD's sight), and we were born again by the Spirit. All of this marked our beginning with GOD. All of this involved the work of the Holy Spirit on our behalf.

The closing words of our passage use two additional questions to apply this issue of the Spirit's work to our going on with GOD. "Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" We who are the children of GOD began with Him "in the Spirit." Now, it would be spiritually senseless, to think that we could progress with GOD "by the flesh." Surely, we agree with the LORD that we could not produce our own spiritual birth into His Family. We had to be "born of the Spirit" (John 3:6). Certainly, we want to agree with GOD that we cannot manufacture our own spiritual growth, that is, be "made perfect by the flesh." We can both nullify and totally stop what GOD wants to accomplish within us as we have seen within the confines of our studies so far. Disobedience and unbelief and our becoming wickedness by the practices of sin under the guise of righteousness and the worshiping of pagan holidays. Mocking both GOD and the blood of our risen LORD in this most unholy practice. Thusly forsaking the LORD and His working within us by vail actions of willful self love.

When the LORD desires that we mature and develop in this New Life conjoined to Christ. Such Growth in Christ is a Spiritual Matter. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh." The resources that we have all received from our earthly parents are of the flesh. These natural capabilities cannot cause spiritual development to take place in our lives. The perfecting process, being made increasingly like the LORD Christ Jesus, necessitates the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in us. Remember, the means GOD uses to start us out with Him (to justify us) are the means He uses to Grow us up in HIM (to sanctify us)."

Restoration of the Divine things:

Psalm 51:10-13 "Create in me a clean heart, O GOD, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your Salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You."


Isaiah 57:14-21 "And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from My people's way." For thus says the One Who is High and Lifted up, Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. For I Will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before ME, and the breath of life (in man) that I made. Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid MY face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. I have seen his ways, but I Will heal (place a new spirit within ) him; I Will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the LORD, "and I Will heal (his spirit in) him. But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace," says my GOD, "for the wicked."


Jeremiah 3:19-23 "'I said, How I would set you among My sons, and give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful of all nations. And I thought you would call Me, My Father, and would not turn from following ME. Surely, as a treacherous wife leaves her husband, so have you been treacherous to ME, O house of Israel, declares the LORD.'" A voice on the barn heights is heard, the weeping and pleading of Israel's sons because they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their God. "Return, O faithless sons; I Will heal your faithlessness." "Behold, we come to You, for You are the LORD our GOD. Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the LORD our GOD is the salvation of Israel."


Jeremiah 30:12-17 "For thus says the LORD: Your hurt is incurable, and your wound is grievous. There is none to uphold your cause, no medicine for your wound, no healing for you. All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you; for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy, the punishment of a merciless foe, because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant. Why do you cry out over your hurt? Your pain is incurable. Because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant, I have done these things to you. Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured, and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who plunder you shall be plundered, and all who prey on you I Will make a prey. For I Will restore (spiritual) health to you, and your wounds I Will heal, declares the LORD, because they have called you an outcast: 'It is Zion, for whom no one cares!'"


Hosea 14:4-7 "I Will heal their apostasy; I Will love them freely, for MY anger has turned from them. I Will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. They shall return and dwell beneath MY shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon."


Micah 7:14-20 "Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them graze in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I Will show them marvelous things. The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; they shall lay their hands on their mouths; their ears shall be deaf; they shall lick the dust like a serpent, like the crawling things of the earth; they shall come trembling out of their strongholds; they shall turn in dread to the LORD our GOD, and they shall be in fear (great reverence) of You. Who (what) is a GOD like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because HE delights in steadfast love. He Will again have compassion on us; HE Will tread our iniquities underfoot. You Will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You Will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast Love to Abraham, as You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old."

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (of Prayers Answer continued)

I have been here on this and my other blog now for around seven years. Because for one thing I saw the need in America for what many just were not getting, scriptural Truth. Caused by Americans presuming that because they were born Americans that they were "Christians" which is a false assumption on their parts. The other I had sat in many churches and different denominations where the same thing was being spread through the congregation, that being misguided information and Bible teaching. After examining the scriptures on my own I saw another things taking place the perversion and twisting of what the word says. Today I will look at the last area of Prayer for now. But first I will again turn to Pastor Hoekstra's writing on Grace and then make use of the ESV translation for my study targeted subject.

                "The Holy Spirit and Starting Out with God"
"Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit . . . You must be born again."  (John 3:5-7)

"The Promised New Life that allows us to start out with GOD comes through a spiritual birth that is brought forth by the Holy Spirit. "Unless one is born of . . . the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of GOD." Just as man must be physically born into the human family, so he must be spiritually born into GOD's Family. There is no other option. That is why Jesus said,"You must be born again."

The reason spiritual New Birth is a necessity is because "that which is born of the flesh is flesh." Natural human birth brought about by natural human resources can only produce a life that is natural remains separated from GOD. Being a child of GOD involves a supernatural Life that GOD alone can provide.

When Jesus came to secure our Redemption, He was generally rejected. "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." (John 1:11). Nevertheless, some realized that he was the Promised Messiah, the Anointed King and Savior sent from the Father. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of GOD, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).

Believing in Jesus' name involves trusting in His person and His work. It encompasses relying upon who He is, what He says, and what He has done and can do. Such faith brings a unique New Birth. "Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,  nor of the will of man, but of the Will of GOD" (paraphrased John 1:13). This birth is from GOD. It cannot come by inheritance or genetics through our human bloodline. It is not available through an exercise of our human will. Neither can we have it pronounced upon us by some religious leader. Nor by being born in America or being a member of some religious group or denomination or non-denomination group.

The LORD desires for us to walk in a heavenly, spiritual life, not a mere earthly, human existence. Only a birth from the Spirit of GOD could bring us this type of Life.  "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit." All genuine spirituality must come from a work of the Holy Spirit on our behalf. This is true concerning our starting out with GOD in new birth and Justification. "You . . . were justified in the name of the LORD Christ Jesus and by the Spirit of our GOD." (paraphrased from 1Corinthians 6:11).  We will see in subsequent meditations that this is true concerning our going on with GOD in Growth and Sanctification." This is Salvation at work within us, not Redemption because Redemption is the gate into the sheepfold.

GOD attentive to the Prayers of His saints, Divine Hearing:
Turning to one of king Davids Psalms of deliverance:
2Samuel 22:1-7 "David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, Who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. "For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. "In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I called. From His temple HE heard my voice, and my cry came to His ears."


Psalm 34:15-18 "The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry.  The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."


Psalm 94:8-11 "Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He Who planted the ear, does He not hear? He Who formed the eye, does He not see? He Who disciplines the nations, does He not rebuke? He Who teaches man knowledge—the LORD—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath."


Isaiah 59:1-8 "Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or His ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your GOD, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that HE does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness. No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. They hatch adders' eggs; they weave the spider's web; he who eats their eggs dies, and from one that is crushed a viper is hatched. Their webs will not serve as clothing; men will not cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways. The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace."


Isaiah 65:17-25 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I Will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of My people be, and My chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them.
Before they call I Will answer; while they are yet speaking I Will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain," says the LORD."


James 5:1-6 "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the LORD of Hosts (some translation here have Saboath, which is the same word Hosts). You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you."


1Peter 3:8-12 "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.""

This is what I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears while in the many different churches and denominations who called them selves "Christian." And it broke my heart and caused within me sorrows of heaviness.

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (of Prayers Answer continued)

As we have seen in this promise of blessing in our Prayer, Prayer will be heard and answered under certain conditions and it seems only when those conditions are meet. Our subject based on that statement will today be True Prayer Heard but before I get to it. I want to draw again on Pastor Hoekstra's pen and his dealing with the Spiritual realm of Grace and the Promised Holy Spirit and how they work together. I will as is my usual pattern edit this writing as led by the Spirit within me. Then I will also continue to use the ESV translation all found in my e-Sword program.

                               "The Holy Spirit Giving Life"
"It is the Spirit who gives life . . . [God] also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."  (John 6:63 and 2Corinthians 3:6)

"The LORD's New Covenant of Grace is a covenant of the Spirit: " [God] also made us sufficient as ministers of the New Covenant . . . of the Spirit." Any approach to GOD other than by the Spirit results in spiritual deadness. Which means the religious works of mans flesh the same err of the Jewish Priesthood.

People need Life, initially and continually. We need it initially, because all of us began spiritually dead (separated from GOD Who is Spirit, a Spirit of Light, Love, Life, Grace and Truth) due to our sin and guilt. "And you . . . were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this (dead, separated spirit of darkness in sin of the) world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh . . . and were by nature children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:1-3). The only remedy for such spiritual death is spiritual life. "But GOD, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great Love with which He loves us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together within Christ (by Grace you have been saved)" (Ephesians 2:4-5).

People also need Life continually, "for the letter kills." If we were left to our best efforts after we were given New Life in Christ, we would be struggling under a human performance bondage of rules and regulations. The very things that mans religion promotes as did the ancient hostile Jewish Priest's of Jesus' day. That is spiritually deadening.

Jesus came to earth to offer people fullness of Life. "I have come that they may have Life, and that they may have it more Abundantly" (John 10:10). Jesus taught that if we looked to Him for our spiritual nutrition, we would find ongoing Life. "And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of Life'" (John 6:35).

Jesus did not refer to Himself as a leader establishing a new religion. Rather, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life' " (John 14:6). When the early disciples were freed from prison, they were not told to recruit members to a movement. Instead, they were instructed to "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life" (Acts 5:20).

The Life Jesus came to provide is His Life expressed in and through us: "Christ Who is our life" (Colossians 3:4). This Life produces a lifestyle marked by His Love, His Joy, His Peace, His Wisdom, His Courage - - and whatever else is of His Holy character. The New Covenant of His Grace holds forth this Life, and the Holy Spirit delivers this Life into humble, trusting hearts. "It is the Spirit Who gives (real) Life.""


True Prayer Heard:
Job 34:21-30  "For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and HE sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves. For GOD has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before GOD in judgment. HE shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. Thus, knowing their works, HE overturns them in the night, and they are crushed. HE strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see, because they turned aside from following Him and have no regard for any of His ways, so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and HE heard the cry of the afflicted—When HE is quiet, who can condemn? When HE hides His face, who can behold Him, whether it be a nation or a man?—that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people."

Psalm 4:2-3 "O men, how long shall My honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to HIM."

Psalm 18:4-6 "The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my GOD I cried for help. From His temple HE heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears."

Psalm 34:15-18 "The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Proverbs 15:21-33 "Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow's boundaries. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure. Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. The LORD is far from the wicked, but HE hears the prayer of the righteous. The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear (respect and reverence) of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor."

Micah 7:7-8 "But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the GOD of my salvation; my GOD will hear me. Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me."

Zechariah 10:1-7  "Ask rain (for Grace) from the LORD in the season of the spring rain, from the LORD Who makes the storm clouds, and HE Will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field. For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. "My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I Will punish the leaders; for the LORD of Hosts cares for His flock (House / Family), the house of Judah, and Will make them like His majestic steed in battle. From Him shall come the cornerstone, from Him the tent peg, from Him the battle bow, from Him every ruler—all of them together. They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the LORD is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses. "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I Will save the house of Joseph. I Will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I Will answer them. Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. Their children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD.""

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (of Prayers Answer continued)

Yesterday we looked at the positive side of Prayer and today I wont to look at the negative side to unanswered Prayer. But first lets hear from Pastor Hoekstra's pen and his dealing with Grace once again. Then I will turn to the ESV translation to look at reasons why our Prayer life in the New Covenant is not bearing fruit.

                         "The New Covenant of Grace: A Holy Spirit Covenant"
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."  (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

"As noted earlier, the New Covenant is all about Grace, as contrasted with the old covenant, which is about law which is now defunct. "For the law was given through Moses, but Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ" (John  1:17). The connection between Grace and the Holy Spirit can be seen in various scripture passages on the Promised New Covenant, including this glorious prophecy. "I Will give you a New heart and put a New spirit within you; I Will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." The first verse in this prophetic promise concerns regeneration, spiritual restoration, spiritual new birth. Through faith in the LORD, our original, hard, selflife, lifeless heart is removed, and a new, pliable, living spirit is restored to us.

The second verse pertains to Transformation, the ongoing development of this New Life. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes." The developing of a Life that increasingly complies with the Will of GOD depends upon the work of the Holy Spirit within us. We know that unredeemed humanity has no hope of living a life that is pleasing to GOD. Yet, many Christians could be unaware that even the new creature in Christ cannot please GOD on his own resources. The Spirit of GOD must be the heavenly cause that Produces a Heavenly lifestyle in believers.

What is promised here is not an Automatic experience. The life of many Christians does not consistently match with what is described here in Ezekiel 36:27. The reason is that they are not relating properly to the LORD in humble dependency. Yes, these two relational realities (humility and faith) also determine whether or not the Spirit of GOD is our Resource, just as they were determinative concerning Grace.

Two statements by Jesus expound upon this Fact. "You have no life in you . . . It is the Spirit Who gives Life; the flesh profits nothing" (John 6:53, 63). We do not innately possess life as GOD intends it to be lived. Natural human resources are of no benefit in developing a Godly Life. Such revelation is very Humbling. If we embrace Jesus' evaluation of our personal inadequacy, then we are willing to relate to GOD in humility. Further, there is Truth in which we are to place our trust. "It is the Spirit Who gives (true) Life."  As we count on this Truth, we are relating to the LORD in trusting Faith. As a grain smaller than a mustard seed within us. The result of such humble reliance is G)D's Spirit becomes our vitality for living godly."


Causes of Failure in Prayer, Prayers Unanswered:

Disobedience,
Deuteronomy 1:41-46, 1Samuel 14:37 and 28:6 "Then you answered me, 'We have sinned against the LORD. We ourselves will go up and fight, just as the LORD our GOD commanded us.' And every one of you fastened on his weapons of war and thought it easy to go up into the hill country. And the LORD said to me, 'Say to them, Do not go up or fight, for I am not in your midst, lest you be defeated before your enemies.'
So I spoke to you, and you would not listen; but you rebelled against the command of the LORD and presumptuously went up into the hill country. Then the Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do and beat you down in Seir as far as Hormah. And you returned and wept before the LORD, but the LORD did not listen to your voice or give ear to you.
So you remained at Kadesh many days, the days that you remained there."

1Samuel 14:36-42 "Then Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here." And Saul inquired of GOD, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?" But HE did not answer him that day. And Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. For as the LORD lives Who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. Then he said to all Israel, "You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you." Therefore Saul said, "O LORD GOD of Israel, why have you not answered Your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, GOD of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in Your people Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was taken."

1Samuel 28:5-7 "When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a medium at En-dor."


Secret Sins,
Psalm 66:16-20 "Come and hear, all you who fear (greatly respect, reverence and revere) GOD, and I will tell what HE has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth, and High Praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly GOD has listened; HE has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be GOD, because HE has not rejected my prayer or removed HIS steadfast Love from me!"


Indifference,
Proverbs 1:20-33 "Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at My reproof, behold, I Will pour out My spirit to you; I Will make My words (secrets, mysteries) known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out My hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all My counsel and would have none of My reproof, I also Will laugh at your calamity; I Will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon ME, but I Will not answer; they will seek ME diligently but will not find ME. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of (greatly respect, reverence and revere) the LORD, would have none of My counsel and despised all My reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to ME Will dwell secure and Will be at ease, without dread of disaster.""


Neglect of Mercy,
Proverbs 21:2-16 "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin. The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death. The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just. The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright. It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes. When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin. Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor (without understanding of spiritual matters) will himself call out and not be answered. A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe, strong wrath. When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. One who wanders from the Way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead."


Despising the law,
Proverbs 28:3-16, 17-18 "A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely. Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father. Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor. If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance. A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves. Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

If one is burdened with the blood of another, he will be a fugitive until death; let no one help him. Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall."


Blood-guiltiness,
Isaiah 1:10-15, 16-17 "Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! "What to Me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. "When you come to appear before ME, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to ME. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts MY soul HATES; they have become a burden to ME; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I Will not listen; your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before MY eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."


Iniquity, subheading Separation from GOD (mans religion is described herein)
Isaiah 59:1-8 and Micah 3:4 "Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or His ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your GOD, and your sins have hidden HIS face from you so that HE does not hear. (from here on we find the separation that mans many religions brings upon him) For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness. No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. They hatch adders' eggs; they weave the spider's web; he who eats their eggs dies, and from one that is crushed a viper is hatched. Their webs will not serve as clothing; men will not cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways. The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace."

Micah 3:1-4 "And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off My people and their flesh from off their bones, who eat the flesh of My people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones in pieces and chop them up like meat in a pot, like flesh in a cauldron. Then they will cry to the LORD, but HE Will not answer them; HE Will hide His face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil."


Stubbornness,
Zechariah 7:8-14 "The word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, "Thus says the LORD of Hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart." But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by HIS Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts. "As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear," says the LORD of Hosts, "and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate."


Instability,
James 1:5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask GOD, Who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the LORD; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."


Self-indulgence,
James 4:1-4, 5-6 "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world (this is the true status of mans religions) is enmity with GOD? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of GOD.

Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "HE yearns jealously over the Spirit that HE has made to dwell in us"? But HE Gives more Grace. Therefore it says, "GOD opposes the proud, but gives Grace to the Humble.""

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (of Prayers Answer)

There are many who loose heart and strength when their prayers seem to go no where and do not appear to get an ready answer. Oh, they use the pattern shown them by their church, pastor and some leader or they may have read something in a devotional magazine or other such thing. They make use of the name of Jesus as a form of habit because of the worlds churches habit of usage and still no answer comes. They memorize and repeat again and again the same pattern but with no results. And they like myself may even ask why not? For me the answer came by chance if you can believe that. I was reading in the Corinthians letters and I stumbled upon a passage dealing with the LORDS last supper where it says to examine one own heart and self. I ponder this for what seemed to be days and days. Then answer came to me, what was my own spiritual state and what was its condition? Now turning our attention to Pastor Hoekstra's writing on Grace. And then I will take a look at Prayers Promise to be Answered, making use of the ESV translation.

                     "The Grace of God and the Holy Spirit"
"This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"  (Zechariah 4:6-7)

"The scriptures reveal a profound connection between GOD's Grace and HIS Holy Spirit. Living by the Grace of GOD and walking according to the Spirit are two different perspectives on the same reality. As we consider what walking in the Spirit comprises, we are also gaining insight regarding living day by day by Grace.

Our passage from Zechariah confirms this correlation between Grace and the Spirit. Here, the LORD gives a message to Zerubbabel, telling him how service is rendered unto GOD. "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," Human might and power will never be a sufficient resource for living life as GOD intended. Rather, the Holy Spirit must supply what we need for a Life of Service to the LORD and to our fellow man.

In the next verse, this same Truth is restated, using different terms. Now, the LORD is addressing the mountain of impossibility that stood before Zerubbabel. "Who are you, O great mountain? " This leader of Israel was given  the challenging mission of reestablishing the testimony / witness of GOD in Jerusalem, as the people returned from captivity. The obstacles had the appearance of being a "great mountain."  Nevertheless, GOD declares that this mountain of obstructions would become a highway for advancement. "Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!" Then, as GOD's man attended to GOD's assignment by the empowering of the Spirit, he would eventually place the final stone with an intriguing exclamation. "And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it! " This summary testimony would declare that GOD's Grace was the explanation for the completion of the task. The relationship between Grace and the Spirit is clear: "by My Spirit . . . Grace, grace to it!" When we depend upon the Spirit, He works GOD's Grace within our lives.

The early church also illustrated this "Grace-Spirit" association. "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of GOD with Boldness . . . And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And Great Grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:31, 33). The former statement indicates that their boldness came from the Holy Spirit. The latter statement, two verses later, reveals their boldness was a result of Grace impacting them."

Promises of Answer:

Psalm 91:14-16 and Isaiah 41:17 "Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name. When he calls to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation."

Isaiah 41:17-20 "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the GOD of Israel Will not forsake them. I Will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I Will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I Will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I Will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it."


Isaiah 58:6-7, 8-12 "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD Will answer; you shall cry, and HE Will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD Will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in."


Isaiah 65:17-25 and Jeremiah 33:3 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I Will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of My people be, and My chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them. Before they call I Will answer; while they are yet speaking I Will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain," says the LORD."

Jeremiah 33:1-11 "The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: "Thus says the LORD Who made the earth, the LORD Who formed it to establish it—the LORD is His name: Call to Me and I Will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege mounds and against the sword: They are coming in to fight against the Chaldeans and to fill them with the dead bodies of men whom I shall strike down in My anger and My wrath, for I have hidden My face from this city because of all their evil. Behold, I Will bring to it health and healing, and I Will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. I Will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I Will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against ME, and I Will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against ME. And this city shall be to ME a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it. "Thus says the LORD: In this place of which you say, 'It is a waste without man or beast,' in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD: "'Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good, for HIS steadfast Love endures forever!' For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD."


Zechariah 13:7-9 "Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, against the man who stands next to ME," declares the LORD of Hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn MY hand against the little ones. In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon My name, and I Will answer them. I Will say, 'They are MY people'; and they will say, 'The (selfless) LORD is my GOD.'"Luke 11:9-13 and John 14:14 (Jesus is speaking) "I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask HIM!""

John 14:8-14 "Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know ME, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father Who dwells in Me does HIS (selfless) works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe on account of the (selfless) works themselves. "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, this I Will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask ME anything in My name, I Will do it."


John 15:1-11 and 1John 3:27 (Jesus is speaking) "I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit HE takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit HE prunes, that it may bear more (selfless) fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in ME, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in ME. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in ME and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from ME you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in ME he is thrown away (as he is not selfless) like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in ME, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it Will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I 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 be in you, and that your joy may be full."

1John 3:11-22, 23-24 "For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we Love (selflessly) the brothers. Whoever does not Love in this way abides (remains) in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has Eternal (Light and Love) Life abiding in him. By this we know Love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives (selflessly) for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does GOD's (selfless) Love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in Truth (the LORD is Truth and Selfless Love). By this we shall know that we are of the Truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, GOD is greater than our heart, and HE knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before GOD; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him. And this is HIS commandment, that we believe in the name of HIS Son Jesus Christ and Love one another, just as HE has commanded us. Whoever keeps HIS commandment (of selfless Love) abides in GOD, and GOD in him. And by this we know that HE (Light, selfless Love and Eternal Life) abides in us, by the Spirit Whom HE has given us."