Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Christian Walk’ Category

Prophet, Priest, and King

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , on February 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[Printable version]

By Mavis M. duCille

Scripture reading: Hebrews 7:24-26

PROPHET – Reveals or declares God’s will

PRIEST – To take away the guilt of sin

KING – Having authority and dominion

Union with Christ and participation in His Spirit exalts us to the state with Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King.

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” Hebrews 7:24-26.

Down through the ages, God used a nation, a family or an individual to establish the type of the Great High Priest – Jesus Christ, after the order of Melchizedec, greater than the Levitical Priesthood or even Abraham himself. He holds His priesthood unchangeably – HE LIVES FOREVERMORE; therefore, He saves to the uttermost: COMPLETELY, PERFECTLY, FINALLY AND FOR ALL TIME AND ETERNITY.

Through the power of the Life of Christ, there is overcoming of sin, oppression, depression and every attack of the enemy. Daily drawing from the source of spiritual life will emancipate the believer from the depravity of fallen man, and establish a disposition of holiness within the soul.

The many and varied conflicts are to bring us nearer to Christ, that the soul may be generated by the Spirit – immersed into His love, fellowship and His LIFE to become that NEW CREATURE. The Creator must be allowed to do the creative work on the soul to make it eternal as the spirit, so that His LIFE dominates and manifests itself within all of our being.

Christ therefore is the source of PURITY and POWER, through which the believer finds healing and purification for the inner man.

(Excerpt from Nuggets for the Needy, pages 63-64)

Thought for today: Union with Christ and participation in His Spirit exalts us to the state with Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King.

Read Full Post »

Grace and Stature

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , , , on January 30, 2024| 1 Comment »

[Printable version]

By Mavis M. duCille

Scripture reading: Luke 2:52

Not very long ago, a situation arose in which a child of God behaved very unseemly. On seeking the Lord about the matter, and with much grief of heart, the words came strongly to me, “Grace and Stature.” This was followed by greater clarification of the word, “GRACE.” Though GRACE in one sense means unmerited favor, which is from God to man, yet it involves a work in man’s soul in its more extreme application.

AMAZING GRACE: “‘Twas grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me on.”

This song speaks of grace as a beginning work, a work of continuation and a work to the end. Through grace comes Salvation, but it also takes grace to love, to forgive, to be patient, to be kind and gentle, to endure all things, to be loyal, etc. It is, therefore, the continuing in the grace of God that leads one into that final bliss, which is the heart’s cry of every true believer. There is a standard of inexhaustible fullness set by God for man. For this reason, the true and noble child of God will not rest or be satisfied with his or her own soul attainment until this fullness is achieved, which is divine perfection. The presence and power in the human soul enables man to be delivered from the human nature (earth bound) to the divine (heavenly).

Christ must reign through grace in the hearts of believers until all enemies (all the contrary and unsubdued nature) are put under foot. Believers who resist this operation in their daily lives frustrate God’s plan for their soul’s salvation, and fall terribly short of the glory of God. For this glory, the whole creation is waiting.

It is therefore possible to receive forgiveness of sins initially, and not grow IN GRACE; then the ugly attitude of the human soul will manifest very unseemly.

Through God’s grace, the believer can say the right words and not offend, but rather love, respect and regard one to another, have proper control over the members of the body, thereby bringing the mind in harmony with the Spirit; then there will be no place for the Devil.

STATURE – Webster’s Dictionary: time of life, age or one’s height to stand, growth, maturity, development.

There is natural or physical, political, and Spiritual stature.

Luke 2:52, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

Ephesians 4:13, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the STATURE OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST.”

Stature depicts a standing and a height in Christ that would put one in a position, not above his brother, but risen above the flesh or carnal nature; standing firmly in the Divine nature; refusing, through His grace, virtues and excellence to return to the weak and beggarly elements. There is a place of integrity in Christ to be attained, maintained and sustained above the rudiments of this world, where the believer will no longer be a tool or an instrument of the enemy in any way. We have been raised up with HIM FAR ABOVE PRINCIPALITY AND POWER, and made to sit in HEAVENLY PLACES. Believers are His workmanship created unto GOOD WORKS. Although stature means time of life, age and maturity – one can be many years a believer or Christian, and experience very little spiritual growth or maturity. Year after year finds him or her going around the same mountain, having the same weaknesses and behaving the same old way; not experiencing much change in character. On the other hand, some show such growth and maturity in a few months that the difference is apparent. Growth and experience should be most important in one’s spiritual life. Anything that hinders one’s growth and progress should be dealt with before it is too late, when it would become so much a part of that person’s nature that separation becomes absolutely difficult or almost impossible.

Spiritual growth is not flourishing in the gifts, or being an outstanding ministry. Paul said he had to be careful, lest after placing many into the Kingdom, he would himself be a castaway. The gifts and ministries and every blessing of the Spirit is to bring the believer into union and harmony with God. The tendency is to glory in the gift and not the Giver.

It takes GRACE to deny the man and let the CHRIST come forth. It takes abiding, not in and out, hot and cold, here and there, back and forth, sometimes up and sometimes down. “Who shall abide?” He that hath clean hands and a pure heart. God will give grace to the humble and succor the weak, that he/she may be able to stand under all circumstances and conditions and glorify his/her Heavenly Father.

One might not be aware of one’s own spiritual growth, (which is good, no space for being puffed up), but others with whom you come in contact will surely witness that you have been with the Lord. This is one’s testimony.

Each day should bring us closer to that mark of the high calling. The Divine Nature must be engraved deep in our souls, that as the months and years go by, we mellow, not in churchianity or in church politics, but in CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

(Excerpt from Nuggets for the Needy, 1997, pages 80-82)

Thought for today: Christ must reign through grace in the hearts of believers until all enemies (all the contrary and unsubdued nature) are put under foot.

Read Full Post »

The Spirit Indeed Is Willing – Part 2

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , , , , , on January 29, 2024| 1 Comment »

[Printable version]

By Mavis M. duCille

Scripture reading: Zachariah 4:6

Taking a look at the Old Testament, there appears much evidence of the weakness of the flesh, like…

DAVID – chosen of God, courageous, a champion, a good soldier, but was led by passion to violate the law; (to) yield to gross sin. When the Spirit of the Lord anointed him, he did mightily; outside of that, he was an ordinary man subject to the weaknesses of the flesh.

MOSES – leader and law-giver of Israel; was as God to the people; spoke with God’s personality; moved mightily under the anointing, but manifested as an ordinary man when provoked.

SAMSON – Showed such supernatural power and might, yet there was the expression of the carnal appetites; weak in resisting temptations.

The plotting, planning, cunning, scheming JACOB (could have been a familiar spirit; mother deceived Isaac, Laban her brother deceived Jacob) had a bout with the angel all night, but thank God he had the tenacity to hang on for the blessing or measure of deliverance which he received towards morning. The Jacob nature must be dealt with by the Spirit before any possession of the Land. No one is going to conquer those giants in the land, but the one who owns the land. The Land is OURSELVES. Each individual is well acquainted with the giants that rise up in his or her own soul to challenge the Spirit. Some have been there so long, that they appear to be part of the person. The individual may even be afraid to lose that spirit which might well be a controlling spirit. Anything that cannot be identified with the gift of the Holy Spirit and righteousness (Christ’s nature) is of the carnal, evil spirit, and must be driven out of the land.

There are so many examples in the Old Testament proving the weakness of man, that it is virtually impossible to deny the fact that “in man dwells no good thing.” Without the Spirit there is bound to be failure.

Take Peter as an example. In the New Testament, Peter had been with Jesus for three and a half years, and seen and shared in all that Jesus manifested; yet, in his humanness, he denied Him before the people, and returned to fishing after Jesus left. No wonder Jesus said to him, “Peter, lovest thou me?” – asking the same question three times and receiving the same answer from Peter, even with a little disgust at the last. Then Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” At one time, Jesus told Peter, “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee.”

Peter, as well as all of us, have to be fortified by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, or there is no overcoming of the flesh (the world, the flesh, and the devil). Peter’s impulsiveness and all other weaknesses of the flesh, as well as all of us, have to come under the effectual working of the Spirit if we are to be transformed to HIS IMAGE.

It is not because these characters mentioned in the Bible were bad or evil that they fell short of the expressed image of God, but because in the Old Testament, (or in other words under the old covenant), the Spirit of God was not yet come to indwell the believer (John 7:39), and in (the) three and a half years that Jesus was on the earth with His disciples, the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified. Therefore, Peter was without strength. Jesus said, “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” When the Spirit fell at Pentecost, Peter rose up in the midst and proclaimed the wonders of salvation.

The willingness to the Spirit anointing was not enough for the Old Testament believers. Some did mightily in spite of their limitations, yet they were judged.

God expects greater overcoming from those to whom He has given not an overshadowing of the Spirit only, but an indwelling portion to all who will receive.

To this FORTY-SECOND GENERATION, therefore, He says, “Thou art inexcusable, O man,” (Romans 2:1), in that God has, through Jesus, laid the way wide open to redeem man from the bondage of corruption (bondage of human nature), and raised us through the Spirit to overcome the weaknesses of the flesh.

“…Not by might, nor by power (in the natural), but by my SPIRIT, saith the Lord of hosts,” Zechariah 4:6.

There is no sin or weakness that the blood of Jesus, the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit cannot overcome.

Walking in the Spirit destroys or retards the weaknesses of the flesh, (and) builds spiritual character, thus the true nature of Christ is formed in the believer.

The Holy Ghost is given and is always willing and ready to purge the dross, that the gold (which is the nature of God) may come forth; that the world may see Christ Jesus living in His temple. As the temple of God, we should allow the Spirit to deal with the weaknesses of the flesh, so that the Divine Nature might destroy the evil nature, and take full control of the man for Christ’s sake. Amen.

(Excerpt from Nuggets for the Needy, 1997, pages 71-74)

Thought for today: There is no sin or weakness that the blood of Jesus, the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit cannot overcome.

Read Full Post »

The Spirit Indeed Is Willing – Part 1

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , , , on January 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[Printable version]

By Mavis M. duCille

Scripture reading: Matthew 26:41

Some weeks ago, during prayer for some dear brethren, the word came, “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” – with this came also a much deeper understanding of these words.

Flesh is not only man’s body, but man’s whole being, including sense and reason when it is destitute of God, because the seat of sin is in the soul.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of HIS OWN lust, and enticed,” James 1:13-14.

God does not tempt man. Romans 8 speaks in absolutely plain language of the MIND OF THE FLESH; how it works contrary to the will of God. Man’s only hope of overcoming the flesh is through the Spirit, by which security is provided by God’s love. The Spirit gives life in place of death. The Old Testament brethren could not have the magnitude of OVERCOMING grace which we have received, because a set of laws or legal codes could not bring righteousness; only a life controlled by the Spirit, on the basis of THAT NEW LAW WRITTEN NOT ON TABLES OF STONE, but ON THE HEART, could produce such qualities in us as peace, joy, hope and love.

The flesh is constantly at war with the Spirit. The desires of the flesh are ever present, but the provision for overcoming is through the Spirit, therefore, the following seven steps are absolutely necessary to the overcomer.

  1. The believer should, at some time after accepting Jesus as Saviour, receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
  2. The believer should be aware of the Holy Spirit as being a part of the Godhead.
  3. The believer should want to be no longer in charge of his own life, but desire the Life of Christ to be lived out in him.
  4. Be sensitive to the voice of the Spirit. (He is always speaking, but we are not always listening.)
  5. Be exercised in the operations of the Spirit through obedience.
  6. Most important – be willing and ready to submit to the chastening and cleansing of the Spirit as He makes known deep-hidden or simple-surface weaknesses – because “He will not always chide.”
  7. Bear in mind, that when we come together in worship, the move of the Spirit in the midst is different than in any other place – prophecies and all the gifts of the Spirit can be practiced, and the believer has the type of growth that is necessary to his overall spiritual advancement.

THE CARNAL MIND: The carnal mind is that which is not under the control of the Holy Spirit. Because of this, it can conceive and bring forth evil, since Satan is the prince of evil.

There are some innocent desires (might not be evil) which can eventually become the occasion of sin. The CARNAL MIND cannot please God.

Scripture states:

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry,” Colossians 3:5.

We should see to it that these members of ours do not resist the restraint of Divine Law. Human life, therefore, would be brought under subjection to the purpose for which it was ordained.

God made man to live in beauty and strength according to His Divine laws. Sin made an inroad and left a roadway. Man was defiled. God in His plan of restoration has to redeem man spirit, soul and body, but this cannot be achieved without the willingness and total submission to God’s Divine plan. As the Spirit is allowed to work in the inward parts, He is able to turn bitterness to sweetness, rage to peace, hate and animosity to love, rough to smooth, sorrow to joy and heaviness to praise, delivering the soul from envy, jealousy, malice (and) pride, causing a true spirit to pervade which can stand the LIGHT OF HIS COUNTENANCE.

So many times, it seems easier to give way to the flesh in anger, malice, strife, hatred, (and) mistrust of the brethren, or on the other hand deceiving the brethren, giving false witness, using a false balance and others too many to mention (whatsoever does not edify the individual or the Body of Christ, or glorify Jesus is not of God). Some things are seen out in the open – others are not very obvious; then some left only to the honesty of one’s conscience before God; “To thine own self be true.” (Shakespeare). Trust and be trusted.

(Excerpt from Nuggets for the Needy, 1997, pages 69-71)

Thought for today: The desires of the flesh are ever present, but the provision for overcoming is through the Spirit.

Read Full Post »

In All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him – Part 2

Posted in Christian Walk, tagged , , , , , on January 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[Printable version]

By Mavis M. duCille

Scripture reading: Proverbs 3:6

God has assigned us to a partnership with Him through the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son. By the Spirit and the Word, He makes each part of the Contract clear; His part, as also our part. When Paul sought the Lord regarding his thorn in the flesh, God’s reply was, “My grace is sufficient.” Paul had this responsibility by the grace of our Lord and Saviour, through the effectual working of the Spirit in him, to have the victory over that thorn. He must have really fought a good fight, as he said, seeing it was not the thorn in the flesh that ended his physical life, but some of the rulers of this world.

“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed,” Psalm 2:2. History repeats itself.

Our only hope and protection is hiding in the Rock, and dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High. It demands a daily commitment to His PERFECT WILL for each individual. What man of war goes into battle on his own dictates? He would be a fool, and would die like Abner. Man in himself is no match for the enemy, for it is a battle against a very high intelligence: against principalities and powers, not flesh and blood. See Ephesians 6:12.

Therefore it takes “…being endued with power from on high,” baptized in the Spirit of God, and complete obedience to the CAPTAIN AND SOLE COMMANDER, who is our Lord Jesus Christ (CAPTAIN OF THE HOST) and Lord of All. He sees and knows each battle from beginning to end. Yes, the infinite God knows each person’s battle from beginning to end; that is why we must trust Him – He is our VICTORY. We must acknowledge God in all our ways. In nothing can we be our own MAN or WOMAN, and do our own thing whenever we feel like it. Our behavior, our speech, our attitudes can arrest the flow of God’s blessings, and cause us to forfeit our heritage in Christ.

Oh, how many times we are caught in being careless or impatient, acting out of the will of God, and are caught in the snare. The price is pain, regret, remorse. “Oh, what needless pains we bear, all because WE DO NOT CARRY EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER.” “Wait upon the Lord – wait, I say, upon the Lord.” Good things come to those who wait.

For instance: it might be good and proper for one to buy a house, car, horse, property or anything, even choosing a partner in marriage or business, etc., but God wants us to realize that there is a special one of any or all of these; that God with His love and foreknowledge would choose for you – the special individual that we are to Him. Our knowledge is limited, therefore, we must always bear in mind that our CAPTAIN who is ALL WISE, ALL KNOWING, is the perfect consultant whose ears are always open; His doors never close; He just sits waiting, looking and listening for His children to ask so “it can be given.” Of course, we should not ask:

  1. To heap upon our lusts
  2. Amiss
  3. Wavering.

Times without number, Jesus testifies of His union with the Father, showing how absolutely necessary it is for total submission to the Father’s will. John 8:14-18 gives the working arrangement with Jesus and the Father. Although the Father has given to the Son ALL POWER for deliverance and judgment, yet He did nothing but the Father’s will. In healing and miracles, etc. “My Father… and I work;” in judgment, “I judge no man… yet my judgment is true.”

Seeing that Jesus, the Son of God, found it necessary to acknowledge the Father in all things, thus fulfilling His perfect will for Him, how about us? All power is given unto us through Jesus; as He was, so are we to be in all obedience and humility, that we might also find our place in His purpose for His creation.

In order to walk safely and securely, (to) be blessed in Him and be a blessing, there is the need to be found in Him; not having our own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of the Father. This righteousness will desire, seek after, long for and be satisfied with nothing but the Father’s perfect will.

Each new day brings its new demands of new experiences in our Christian walk. Our Heavenly Father has given the Holy Spirit with the necessary tools to fight our battles, but although He knows the order of the battle completely, He cannot breach our free will. He tells us in His Word to trust Him each day that He might be in control through the Spirit. “IN ALL THY WAYS (and through all thy day) ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS,” Proverbs 3:6. The power and glory of heaven is made available to us through Jesus Christ, but if the whole world of wealth is made available to one man, woman or child, and he or she does not choose to effect that claim, it becomes useless to such a one.

We are encouraged to appreciate and appropriate that which was lost in the first Adam, but restored in the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, to bring us into eternal victory. God uses every method to awaken us to the consciousness of who we are, where we are and what we ought to be. He allows us to go ahead and do things we desire so badly – which are not His perfect will – knowing that the circumstances will teach us the bitter lessons of what it means to move out of the will of God. Happy are we if we learn the lessons through one or two experiences. It is very sad when our own attitudes rob us of being able to glean from our experiences the lessons God intends that we embrace, seeing that the sole purpose and intention of His dealing with us is to bring us into union and communion with Him, that we might walk as wise men.

(Excerpt from Nuggets for the Needy, 1997, pages 45-47)

Thought for today: Yes, the infinite God knows each person’s battle from beginning to end; that is why we must trust Him – He is our VICTORY.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »