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Most modern atheists and materialists assume that faith in the Biblical Jesus Christ is basically irrational, and that their view of reality is purely objective and reasonable. At the same time we find many of them who accept as fact, fantastic theories that actually have not been proven with hard evidence!

Christians themselves often are quick to point out that our faith is heavily based upon a personal experience that cannot be explained in human terms. There certainly is a transcendent reality to which we are exposed when truly encountering Christ. We use words like “supernatural,” “spiritual,” and “revelation,” which indicate that there is a reality that is higher and deeper than what can be simply experienced with our five senses.

Throughout the Biblical story we see individuals who have been touched and transformed by this awesomeness, this overwhelming sense that God is far beyond anything the human mind can comprehend! There is even a taste of what we understand as heaven in our experience of God, and the realization that what we see, hear, touch, taste and smell is not all that there is.

A big part of Christian worship around the world is about entering into that transcendent realm where we are more conscious of God than anything else. This wondrous state of being puts everything else into proper perspective. Ideally, this experience, this different perspective will carry over into other aspects of our lives, empowering us to glorify God even in difficult situations.

Knowing of this transcendent reality, should we then jettison reason altogether in favor of personal subjective experiences? Some would suggest this very thing, along with even denying the value of our physical senses.

Today I would urge extreme caution when hearing this kind of language. It is the very language of many cults and fanatics who dislike having their words and actions questioned!

In fact, Jesus did not withhold from Thomas the evidence that would clear away his doubts. He also insisted that each of us should love the Lord our God will all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. John explained that one cannot truly love God, whom we have not seen if we do not love our brother, whom we have seen with our physical eyes.

The fact is, that it was God who created us as spiritual, physical, emotional and rational beings!

Faith itself is actually a persuasion, that is something that has come about through serious consideration. This is what the apostle Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends when He walked this earth, was attempting to say in his first letter, chapter 3:14-15:

“But if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are you: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you, a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Notice what he did not say. He did not tell believers to answer inquirers with irrational statements or to tell them to “take a leap into the darkness.” They were told to prepare beforehand in order to present the logical reasoning that brought them to this place of faith.

Throughout the Acts and the letters in the New Testament we observe many powerful arguments attempting to convince others that faith in Christ was the most reasonable course of action available. Even in the face of death these witnesses could be emboldened by the historical reality of Christ’s resurrection!

Even though they knew that the Truth of the Gospel was too big and too marvelous for our human minds to fully comprehend, they told it anyway. Why? Because they also knew that the same Spirit of God that was within them and prompting them to speak, would also be on the other end convicting many of the truth of their words!

Acts 17:1-3:

“As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scr[...]

When considering the state of Christianity in general, do we sometimes find that believers often fail to experience the full and abundant life that Christ came to give? Could this situation then reflect falsely to the unbelieving world, and fail to accurately witness to the resurrected Christ in the earth?

And what about the lack of Kingdom consciousness among believers? In view of the fact that Jesus gave the last 3 1/2 years of His life as a man on earth to the Good News of the Kingdom of God, one could wonder why His followers have such a lack of interest in it. If His desire and joy is our strength, should not His pleasure and purpose become ours as well? Should not our zeal and energies be directed to discovering and finding delight in His plan?

It is my conviction that a renewed interest in the wonderful Good News of God’s reign in the earth could cure many of the ills of Christianity, and recover a fuller witness to the life of Christ among men. By the Lord’s grace His Church is recovering her testimony in the earth, to bring greater glory to our Savior, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

This, in part, is the focus of this ministry. The Heart of God cries out for it, and humanity groans to see it. All of Creation awaits the glorious liberty of the children of God!

Do you really want to see revival in the land, and souls won to Jesus? Well then give yourself in loving service unto Him, and to discovering His Will and His Kingdom Life for you today!

In order to establish a prophetic foundation for this series of teachings, we will turn to a well-known passage in the Book of Daniel, chapter 2, verses 31 through 45. It is the famous story of Nebukanezzer’s dream, and the interpretation giving by God to Daniel:

“You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue–an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.

While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

“This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king:

You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. “After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron–for iron breaks and smashes everything–and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.

Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

Now it is commonly understood that these four kingdoms are Babylon — the head of gold. Medio-Persia — the chest and arms of silver. Alexander the Great’s Grecian rule was seen in the belly and thighs of bronze, and the Roman Empire was represented by the legs of iron with feet of iron and clay. It was during this time in history that Christ[...]

Jesus came that we might have Life, and that more abundantly!

Luke 3:16-17: “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.”

Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Acts 2:3-4: “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Rom 12:10-11: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

same.

For forty years the United States engaged with the USSR in what was known as the cold war. When the Berlin Wall was torn down, and that period of our history seemed to be over, I began reflecting on the existence of a different kind of enemy. This is one that threatens to erode the security and well-being of every worthwhile cause or institution. This is not a cold war. It is not even a war at all by normal definition. This enemy is very deadly just the same. It is the condition of a heart that has become cold and indifferent. Like a contagious disease it spreads from soul to soul, aided by the power of the electronic and paper mass media. It effectively divides and weakens us, by robbing us of the love we both need to share and receive. Even the most passionate and caring are vulnerable to this malady. It’s roots are fear and hopelessness, as it feeds pride and selfishness. The result is a loss of desire and zeal for those things we need the most, and a relentless pursuit for vain and unprofitable diversions.

The fact of this problem is undeniable. We are living in a time when many have become very callused and insensitive, and others do not seem to care much for anything other than a good time. Ah, but this condition presents another glorious opportunity for the Word of God and the Good News of Christ’s Kingdom! In His Voice is the power to arouse the people of God to become a demonstration of what this mighty King of the Universe can do! While millions continue to await a word that will set them free, God is already speaking very loudly and very plainly to those who have ears to hear from Him.

He is at work in this present time, actively kindling His fire in the hearts of many with a zeal to satisfy His Great Heart of Love! No cause could be greater, and no flame could burn brighter than the fire of God Himself, as He consumes us with a vision of His purpose for us and all humanity. How we have tried to stir up and motivate ourselves and others to good works and worthy goals, only to find the desire becoming a dying ember! Oh how it is high time for all to tune in to the Heart of God and become ignited with His Eternal Flame! His is a fire that cannot be quenched, and once we have experienced it, we can never be satisfied with anything else!

Let us take some time to examine the disease, before we implement the cure. This condition has become common to us all at various times. Often those who are inspired and passionate for a message God has given them, become offensive to others who have not been touched similarly. In reality, we may not ever possess the exact same focus or direction from God. He uses each one in a different way to accomplish His overall plan. One thing we must share, however, is the same zeal, love and desire for Him, that liberates us all from the spirit of competition and selfish ambitions.

How do we become cold and complacent? Is it because when we hav[...]

Have you ever been faced with the reality that what you have dreamed for, hoped for and prayed for will never happen? Has the giving up reaction in this one event spread into every corner of your life, effectively killing your faith in the unfailing love of God? Have you been seduced into believing that life is a series of situations over which you have no control? So why not just be satisfied with the good things that you do have, finding contentment in the things that satisfy most people? In other words, mediocrity!

Maybe you have not been there as many of us have. If not, these words and truths we are about to share might still be useful to you in encouraging others to reach for the stars! Did not Jesus give us this dream? Did not He set hearts on fire to believe the unbelievable? Did He not teach us to attain the unattainable? Did He not plant the seed in us through which we would do greater works than He?

Hope is the expectation of the overwhelming Goodness of God.

We must first of all realize that He is the author and finisher of our faith. Then we can be settled in our minds as to what the Creator of the Universe desires for us. It is His intention to stretch our imaginations and expand our horizons to begin believing for and working towards great and wonderful possibilities! It is time to forget the failures of the past and begin walking into a new day! Look around you for just a few minutes. In a short time you can easily see the immediate need for miracles everywhere! Then, if we lift up our hearts and arise into Him we can be the channel through which Jesus wants to bring these wonderful solutions!

The Lord might not be interested in formulas and rituals, but He does desire a relationship with us. From that relationship we can cultivate a faith, hope, and love-filled life. Behold Him! His beauty! His Power! His unconditional Love! Become overwhelmed with the compassion that He has for all mankind! Realize from this that He thrills in opening His hand to those in need, and in using us to deliver them.

Jesus taught us to pray without ceasing and not to faint. Realizing there are situations that are beyond our understanding, we must come before Him in humility. Never giving up in prayer does not mean insisting on our own way. It means we are persuaded by God that the best interests of all of us are in His heart. We must never yield to thoughts that His love will fail us.

Hope is the expectation of the overwhelming goodness of God. Sometimes we have the substance of that hope in a specific situation, and we can cling tenaciously to it until the final outcome. Other times we can only trust in that goodness, the trusting being our only participation. The poorer choice is to fail to participate at all. This cuts us off from the life of God as it flows out to meet the needs of others. Far too many of God’s people have made this wrong choice. Today, however, He is giving us the understanding that there are so many more positive and creative options than before were realized!

Prayer is a petition for the well-being of ourselves and others, and it can be expressed in a number of ways. When there is an opportunity to directly affect a situation to bring it into God’s perfect will, the greatest prayer we can offer is our service to God. Obedience to Him in itself is a very powerful option. Other times we can only offer supportive thoughts and words as we enter into our spiritual communication with Him.

Miracles are God’s pleasure. When the conditions are right in us, He is pleased to demonstrate His power in this earth. This is what He instructed us to pray for, that His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. Believe me, this does not ordinarily happen. It happens when we pray and never give up. Will the son of man find faith in the earth? That depends upon how you and I respond to Him in our present circumstances. He has freely given us His Word to rely on, and in that trust we obtain the power t[...]

Over 40 years ago I experienced a life-crisis through a failed marriage which I did everything in my power to save. This was the most painful time I had ever experienced in my life. Feelings of helplessness brought me to my knees before the Lord, and I rededicated my heart to Him one night in my home. Amazingly, I awoke the next morning feeling light as a feather! The whole world seemed fresh and new, even though my troubles had in no way been dissolved.

The only change was in me. In fact, I experienced the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ in a way that I had never known before. It was then that I realized how God could work all things, even heart-breaking experiences for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28).

Before I go any further, let me say that I do not enjoy difficulties and hard times any more than anyone else. Sometimes I can take them in stride, other times I literally despise them. I do not always know when it is appropriate to accept situations and when they should be challenged and resisted. For this reason I have found that the only safe thing to do is to trust in the Lord with all my heart, to lean not on my own understanding, to acknowledge Him in all my ways, knowing He will direct my path. (Proverbs 3:5-6).

However, the Word of the Lord is clear. There are times in which our suffering is the will of God. Those who do not believe that examples of Old Covenant believers like Joseph, David, Daniel and Job apply to us today cannot deny the lessons of Jesus, Peter and Paul in the New Covenant. All of them portrayed the inescapable fact that some times of suffering in the life of the child of God are His will for us, and are even of great value.

In an earlier podcast, I spoke of prayer, thanksgiving, and rejoicing as being activities that reflect the will of God for the believer. While we can maintain a general attitude of rejoicing, there is a time, however, to weep with those who weep, and morn with those who morn. (Romans 12:15). There is also a time when a state of distress or heaviness becomes necessary. (1 Peter 1:6).

There is even a time to rise up in righteous anger against situations that oppose the advance of the righteous Kingdom of God. Jesus surrendered to the plans of evil men, in order to fulfill the will of God. But He always challenged their oppressive tendencies, and championed the needs of those sick and oppressed of the devil and his workers.

Today I would like to challenge certain beliefs that are prevalent today in many Christian circles. We seem to be divided into two camps. One group seems to be saying that everything that happens, every sickness, every disease, every crime, every war, every rape and murder is the will of God, for He is sovereign. They say that we are to praise Him FOR everything that happens, whether good or bad. We do know that God has brought good out of some horrible circumstances, but nowhere are we taught in Scripture to draw this fatalistic conclusion. In fact, it is plain that many tragedies happen because people reject the good will of God for their lives.

On the other hand, there are those who believe that suffering is never in the will of God for any believer. They believe that perfect health, personal comfort, and an abundance of material possessions is always God’s perfect will for those of us who love Him. To this point I ask, “Is God not able to perform His will?” The reason often given for why so few obtain this state of perfect physical bliss is that we simply don’t believe like we should. Again, that puts God in a state of helplessness, as if even He cannot overcome our evident lack of faith.

God is our Heavenly Father. As a father myself I will always have ideals for my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I want what is best for them. Of course I want them to be happy, healthy and prosperous, but more than that, I desire for them to know Christ and to reflect His chara[...]

From the beginning of time every culture has had its heroes to inspire them. People have always been thrilled to tell and listen to stories of adventures both real and fictional. These are our heroes who have overcome impossible odds with courage, skill, and character that are almost superhuman. There is something about this desire in us to imagine far away places and exciting events that lift us out of the routine of our every day existence. Perhaps they serve us by encouraging us in the challenges we face in normal living.

One day, I was listening to a college professor discussing the many religions of the world. He noted that many of the great religions of the east were contemplative and generally were in pursuit of tranquility, but that Christianity was more heroic. This set off a line of thinking in me that I had never considered before. From that time on I began to see heroism as an element that is very central to the Christian Faith.

The message of the Good News of the Kingdom of God that Jesus Christ brought to mankind goes to the very core of human need. The love that He expressed and the forgiveness He brought is commonly known to us as the salvation experience. The peace that follows our surrender to God our Father, and our reunion with Him is described in many ways, depending upon our religious and cultural backgrounds, but the desire and need for it is universal. The title of “Savior of the World,” has appropriately been given to Jesus, but today the phrase has become so worn out that to some it has lost its meaning.

Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, has indeed become the Great Rescuer of the world, in that He has delivered us all from guilt, sin, failure and defeat and death! You and I have simply to believe and submit to the truth of what He purchased for us by His death, burial and resurrection. By it we can obtain great peace of mind, but there is even more awaiting us than that! He can and will also fill us with a great sense of purpose and adventure! Besides needing love, forgiveness, acceptance, peace and security, human beings have another great need. That need is to live in an atmosphere of excitement, enthusiasm and exuberance for life itself! We all need a reason to be here! Some might be satisfied to say that our reason for being is God, but what does that actually mean? It is my contention that living, moving and having our being in God includes possessing His passion and enthusiasm for His Creation as well!

Jesus sent His 12 disciples, and the others who followed Him, out on the greatest adventure of all. They were to tell the world the Good News that the Kingdom of God had come and was continuing to come upon the earth. They were to be ambassadors sent by God Himself to demonstrate how this rule was to take place. In a short time, they became living examples to the world of God’s forgiveness and love, and it was easy for people to see it by the harmony in which they lived. Among other things, Church life became as environment where disciples were developed and equipped to witnesses to this reality. Then they were sent forth out into the workplaces and marketplaces of the world to share this Good News to others in their own unique way. These people were by no means perfect, and we can read about their weaknesses in the New Testament, but this did not hinder their mission. In fact this only enhanced their relationships with God and kept them together in their need for Him. Therefor His power and grace became even more abundant in their lives!

These fisherman, rebels and tax collectors obviously met with great opposition from the religious and political leaders of that day. Because their economic security was at risk and their authority was being challenged, some of the more fanatic religionists even risked their lives to stop this message from being preached! Now the excitement is really building up, and these nobodies from Galilee were going to begin calling up courage from within th[...]

There is probably a great number of opinions on what the will of God would be in any given situation. If you ask five people you might possibly get five different answers. Out of those five it is highly possible that two or more could be very certain and even dogmatic in their opposing views. Often this type of misunderstanding concerning God and other fellow human beings can lead to serious problems. That is why it is so important for us today to return to basic, proven principles and the fundamentals of life in God. I am confident that as we look unto Him, His Spirit will clear our minds from all confusion and His Word will make our direction plain.

Our concept of God and our relationship with Him will influence our every thought and action. If there are any distortions in this area they can dramatically affect how we feel about God and how we reflect Him to others. The distortion then becomes more exaggerated as it spreads. The effect that I am referring to has often caused rivalries between believers and even wars between nations! Innocent people have been tried, convicted, and sentenced to death by devout men who believed they were performing God’s will. Saul of Tarsus who later became known as Paul the apostle, was one of those religious leaders who really did not know the Lord. {I Timothy 1:13, Acts 9:5} Later after he had met the Lord Jesus he grieved over these actions and eventually became a tremendous force on behalf of love, understanding and patience. He fulfilled the will of God for his life by becoming a living expression of God’s true nature. The record of his life and his teachings compel us yet today, and many still hope to follow this inspiring example.

There are many different voices being heard today, proclaiming ideas in the name of the Lord. They come to us by radio, television, the internet, the printed page, and are often very sincere towards God. They tend to keep us very informed of the evils of this world, and some of them attempt to influence us politically. I am not suggesting that we should be afraid to listen to them, but I do urge you to observe how these words affect you. Do they arouse fear, worry, and anger – or do they inspire faith, hope and love? Our desire is to give our attention only to words that increase our awareness of the Father’s living Presence, and in so doing we become another voice in His Great Chorus! His is truly a song of love, hope and victory, to be shared with all mankind!

With these thoughts in mind, we approach the subject of understanding God and His will with great reverence. Having confidence in His Great Love for us, we trust that He will guide us into the scriptures for a correct understanding of His purpose for our lives. Let us look at a few verses on this subject to see what they can reveal unto us.

The Mind of God

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” {Romans 12:1,2}

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” {I Thessalonians 5:16-18}

From these scriptures we can easily see that being in the will of God is more about an attitude of heart and mind than just a physical location. My life is transformed when my mind is lifted into a higher and more positive realm. With an attitude of rejoicing, prayer and thanksgiving, I am abiding in the will of God. If you want to see the will of God being demonstrated, then just find a believer whose life is filled with these three attributes. From them freely flow the desires of God’s heart. If they are not working in us, we can barely function in the Kingdom of[...]

As we continue in this subject of understanding the will of God, we must become rooted in one fact. God definitely wants us to know His will, even though it often seems hidden from us. The question remains, however, “Why then does it seem at times so difficult for us to discover, or to discern the will of God?” In this series of articles we will attempt to answer this and other related questions.

Concerning this apparent difficulty, one explanation might be that the Lord is teaching us patience. Maybe He wants us to take the time to grow in our relationship with Him personally as well as in our understanding of spiritual things. Then we can find our direction from within rather than by just responding blindly to a vocal command. Jesus explained to His disciples in John 15:15: “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

There is a time to be children and servants but there is also a time to grow up in the Father’s house, and in the wisdom and knowledge of His Purpose. He desires a people in whom He can entrust this knowledge, and who will perform His will. Oh yes, the details will come in time, but first must come the revelation of what He truly desires.

The prophet Isaiah has shared this Word of instruction:

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this People. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.” {Isa.28:9-12}

What a pity that Israel at that time and many in this day are not willing to endure the discipline of sitting at His feet and hearing His Word. True spiritual growth takes time and real devotion to learning His principles. Instead, many would prefer to have a prophet tell them what to do. God, of course will use this, but this is not His best. He desires for all to know him, from the least unto the greatest, and through knowing Him experience the divinely guided walk. {Hebrews 8:10-11}

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”{James 1:5-7}

There is no doubt that heavenly wisdom is a great source of divine guidance, but how is it imparted unto us? There are a number of ways, and all of them are a direct result of faith, confidence and trust in the Father’s Love. God is speaking to us all the time, we only need receptive ears to hear and receive of Him. He may speak through a circumstance, a friend, or even an enemy. All the holy writers of old have given His Word to us and their ministries have stood the test of time. Please do not reject them on the basis of our changing times. Even though cultures and the environment have changed, the spirit of what they spoke is still relevant to us today. Even non-Christian cultures will witness to the importance of the virtues that are extolled in the Bible. Man instinctively knows that love, compassion, honesty, faithfulness, respect, commitment, fairness and other principles must be adhered to if humanity is to survive.

Finally and foremost, God has spoken unto us by His Son – through His teachings as well as by His Life. He began that living message two thousand years ago and continues to speak among us through all who will yield their lives and their voices unto Him. Can you hear[...]