The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit . . . —Romans 8:16

Why doesn’t God reveal Himself to you? He cannot. It is not that He will not, but He cannot, because you are in the way as long as you won’t abandon yourself to Him in total surrender. Yet once you do, immediately God witnesses to Himself—He cannot witness to you, but He instantly witnesses to His own nature in you. If you received the witness of the Spirit before the reality and truth that comes from obedience, it would simply result in sentimental emotion. But when you act on the basis of redemption, and stop the disrespectfulness of debating with God, He immediately gives His witness. As soon as you abandon your own reasoning and arguing, God witnesses to what He has done, and you are amazed at your total disrespect in having kept Him waiting. If you are debating as to whether or not God can deliver from sin, then either let Him do it or tell Him that He cannot. Do not quote this or that person to Him. Simply obey Matthew 11:28 , “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden . . . .” Come, if you are weary, and ask, if you know you are evil (see Luke 11:9-13).

The Spirit of God witnesses to the redemption of our Lord, and to nothing else. He cannot witness to our reason. We are inclined to mistake the simplicity that comes from our natural commonsense decisions for the witness of the Spirit, but the Spirit witnesses only to His own nature, and to the work of redemption, never to our reason. If we are trying to make Him witness to our reason, it is no wonder that we are in darkness and uncertainty. Throw it all overboard, trust in Him, and He will give you the witness of the Spirit.

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October 22, 2013

Journal for Today-JDV

Lord, when I read a devotional like this it makes me think that I am not capable of doing what it takes to be connected to You. Then it occurs to me, that You did it all, and I cannot add more. I cannot make myself more acceptable to You, even with obedience, study or prayer. I can only and simply surrender.

And God says…”It is easy to try and measure your standing with me by your works; study, prayer and obedience. But you have no standing with Me except the standing provided by Jesus; His sacrifice and your acceptance of that sacrifice. Study, obedience and prayer follow as a natural byproduct of your surrender.  Trust in Me with all your heart and do not rely on your own devices, and I will make your paths straight. Delight yourself in the Lord and I will give you the desires of your heart.”

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . . —Jude 20

There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.

Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he “followed Him at a distance” on dry land (Mark 14:54). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes.

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
Today it’s pointed out that surviving crisis can be handled with pride and ego, impetuousness and individuality. Adrenaline can get us through a lot of the crises that we face regardless of the quality of our connection with you. But when the adrenaline fades and it’s time to walk through the mundane and drudgery of everyday common events … and exude Christlikeness in the process … That takes a good connection with Christ. An academic understanding of theology won’t do.

You get 24 hours each day to practice this. Punctuated by some crisis type of stressors. You should evaluate yourself in both the mundane and in crisis. I will be there with you in both types as I have been with my children in all lands and all centuries. If you are unhappy with what you see as you evaluate … the answer is in tightening the connection with me. Start the day with connection on purpose. Then ask yourself a few times a day how you are doing. You will probably find it harder to flow my life thru your mundane circumstances than your crises. So practice it more, and dont expect perfection in a week. I give you all of your days to practice this. And know that I see you and cherish every move you make toward Christlikeness, especially in the mundane circumstances of life.

. . . I say to you, he who believes in Me, . . . greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father —John 14:12

Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some commonsense exercise of our higher powers that simply prepares us for God’s work. In the teachings of Jesus Christ, prayer is the working of the miracle of redemption in me, which produces the miracle of redemption in others, through the power of God. The way fruit remains firm is through prayer, but remember that it is prayer based on the agony of Christ in redemption, not on my own agony. We must go to God as His child, because only a child gets his prayers answered; a “wise” man does not (see Matthew 11:25).

Prayer is the battle, and it makes no difference where you are. However God may engineer your circumstances, your duty is to pray. Never allow yourself this thought, “I am of no use where I am,” because you certainly cannot be used where you have not yet been placed. Wherever God has placed you and whatever your circumstances, you should pray, continually offering up prayers to Him. And He promises, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . .” (John 14:13). Yet we refuse to pray unless it thrills or excites us, which is the most intense form of spiritual selfishness. We must learn to work according to God’s direction, and He says to pray. “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).

There is nothing thrilling about a laboring person’s work, but it is the laboring person who makes the ideas of the genius possible. And it is the laboring saint who makes the ideas of his Master possible. When you labor at prayer, from God’s perspective there are always results. What an astonishment it will be to see, once the veil is finally lifted, all the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you have been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ.

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord, These admonitions to keep it simple and focus on prayer seem like excellent logical advice. But then we ask ourselves, “How do we do that?” and when focusing on the How, we lose sight of “Who” (you). How then, can we “come as a child” especially when we find ourselves unchildlike?

You analyze too much. You will do better to focus on my first two commandments, Love God & neighbor, and then just focus on me and stay curious  about the circumstances that come your way … keeping just those two commandments in mind. Let me lead you beyond that.

OK, Please help us do that today.

Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest —Matthew 9:38

The key to the missionary’s difficult task is in the hand of God, and that key is prayer, not work— that is, not work as the word is commonly used today, which often results in the shifting of our focus away from God. The key to the missionary’s difficult task is also not the key of common sense, nor is it the key of medicine, civilization, education, or even evangelization. The key is in following the Master’s orders— the key is prayer. “Pray the Lord of the harvest . . . .” In the natural realm, prayer is not practical but absurd. We have to realize that prayer is foolish from the commonsense point of view.

From Jesus Christ’s perspective, there are no nations, but only the world. How many of us pray without regard to the persons, but with regard to only one Person— Jesus Christ? He owns the harvest that is produced through distress and through conviction of sin. This is the harvest for which we have to pray that laborers be sent out to reap. We stay busy at work, while people all around us are ripe and ready to be harvested; we do not reap even one of them, but simply waste our Lord’s time in over-energized activities and programs. Suppose a crisis were to come into your father’s or your brother’s life— are you there as a laborer to reap the harvest for Jesus Christ? Is your response, “Oh, but I have a special work to do!” No Christian has a special work to do. A Christian is called to be Jesus Christ’s own, “a servant [who] is not greater than his master” (John 13:16), and someone who does not dictate to Jesus Christ what he intends to do. Our Lord calls us to no special work— He calls us to Himself. “Pray the Lord of the harvest,” and He will engineer your circumstances to send you out as His laborer

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
Your message is clear … stay connected thru prayer such that I hear your voice and see what you see … and then be quickly obedient. This can be done without programs or agendas. Actually our own programs and agendas will complicate things and we will get less (of your work) done, rather than more. But we seem to be lacking something in seeing this really work out. It’s like a piece is missing. We have looked around and tried lots of things, surely all the common Christian advice, read the Word more, etc. So today we seemed to hear that our responsibility is simply be loved by You and recognize that love, absorb it and let it energize whatever you direct next. So help us in that today, we pray.

He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world —1 John 2:2

The key to the missionary’s message is the propitiation of Christ Jesus— His sacrifice for us that completely satisfied the wrath of God. Look at any other aspect of Christ’s work, whether it is healing, saving, or sanctifying, and you will see that there is nothing limitless about those. But— “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”— that is limitless (John 1:29). The missionary’s message is the limitless importance of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins, and a missionary is someone who is immersed in the truth of that revelation.

Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ’All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .’ —Matthew 28:18-19

“Then the eleven disciples went . . . to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them” (Matthew 28:16). If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him myself. I must take time to worship the One whose name I bear. Jesus says, “Come to Me . . .”— that is the place to meet Jesus— “all you who labor and are heavy laden . . .” (Matthew 11:28)— and how many missionaries are! We completely dismiss these wonderful words of the universal Sovereign of the world, but they are the words of Jesus to His disciples meant for here and now.

“Go therefore . . . .” To “go” simply means to live. Acts 1:8 is the description of how to go. Jesus did not say in this verse, “Go into Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria,” but, “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me in [all these places].” He takes upon Himself the work of sending us.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you . . .” (John 15:7)— that is the way to keep going. Where we are placed is then a matter of indifference to us, because God sovereignly engineers our goings.

“None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus . . .” (Acts 20:24). That is how to keep going until we are gone from this life.

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October 15, 2013

Journal for Today-JDV

Dear Lord, thank you for the reminder that You have a plan for me and You will provide the light….. Cause sometimes I simply do not have the strength or energy to step out in faith. Sometimes I cannot figure out how to even take the next step…..but then You remind me that is not my responsibility to provide light, strength or even take the next step. I simply trust You.

And God says…”Seek Me first and all that you need will be provided. Delight yourself in Me, acknowledge Me in all your ways, and I will make your paths straight and give you the desires of your heart.  All you need do is be available and connected to Me, I will provide everything else, including the circumstances necessary for shaping you into My image and likeness.  Seek Me, and I will provide the light, energy, faith, hope and love you need for your days, and I will provide the opportunities for you to share the light I provide. “

Jesus answered and said, ’I thank You, Father . . . that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes’ —Matthew 11:25

We do not grow into a spiritual relationship step by step— we either have a relationship or we do not. God does not continue to cleanse us more and more from sin— “But if we walk in the light,” we are cleansed “from all sin” (1 John 1:7). It is a matter of obedience, and once we obey, the relationship is instantly perfected. But if we turn away from obedience for even one second, darkness and death are immediately at work again.

All of God’s revealed truths are sealed until they are opened to us through obedience. You will never open them through philosophy or thinking. But once you obey, a flash of light comes immediately. Let God’s truth work into you by immersing yourself in it, not by worrying into it. The only way you can get to know the truth of God is to stop trying to find out and by being born again. If you obey God in the first thing He shows you, then He instantly opens up the next truth to you. You could read volumes on the work of the Holy Spirit, when five minutes of total, uncompromising obedience would make things as clear as sunlight. Don’t say, “I suppose I will understand these things someday!” You can understand them now. And it is not study that brings understanding to you, but obedience. Even the smallest bit of obedience opens heaven, and the deepest truths of God immediately become yours. Yet God will never reveal more truth about Himself to you, until you have obeyed what you know already. Beware of becoming one of the “wise and prudent.” “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know . . .” (John 7:17).

Journal DJR

Good morning Lord
Today’s devo is filled with statements that on the one hand ring true in my heart … and on the other hand are yet to be worked out in my experience. I relate to Paul who said, “I do what I dont want to do” etc. I get it that study alone wont get me to the relationship that we are both looking for. But yet you say, “Study to show yourself approved.” 1 Tim 2:15.

Studying my Word is good, and essential, but only in its place. In the context of relationship with me and focus on what Father is doing and saying, and with a commitment to obedience when a direction is revealed … then study has real value. Without that context, it can lead you to Phariseeism, and you know what I had to say to them.

OK. Help me this day to walk with you (consciously) in such a way that I can see and hear what you want to be about in the various situations. And then help me obey and Just Do It.

. . . present . . . your members as instruments of righteousness to God —Romans 6:13

The atonement of Jesus must be exhibited in practical, unassuming ways in my life. Every time I obey, the absolute deity of God is on my side, so that the grace of God and my natural obedience are in perfect agreement. Obedience means that I have completely placed my trust in the atonement, and my obedience is immediately met by the delight of the supernatural grace of God.

Beware of the human holiness that denies the reality of the natural life— it is a fraud. Continually bring yourself to the trial or test of the atonement and ask, “Where is the discernment of the atonement in this, and in that?”

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October 9, 2013 JDV

Lord, thank you for the reminder that I cannot sanctify myself. I cannot atone for my sin nor make myself a better person in your eyes.  Every once in a while I evaluate my position with You based on my work, study, attendance, tithing, and what I am doing for others. Thank you for the reminder that my position with You is all based on Jesus and the cross.

And God says…”The daily lesson you have found in your journey through co2 Manna Today has been the same day after day; that all love, hope, grace, truth, redemption and atonement begins and ends with Jesus. Start here every day. And the work, study, attendance and tithing will have meaning.

Come to Me . . . —Matthew 11:28

Isn’t it humiliating to be told that we must come to Jesus! Think of the things about which we will not come to Jesus Christ. If you want to know how real you are, test yourself by these words— “Come to Me . . . .” In every dimension in which you are not real, you will argue or evade the issue altogether rather than come; you will go through sorrow rather than come; and you will do anything rather than come the last lap of the race of seemingly unspeakable foolishness and say, “Just as I am, I come.” As long as you have even the least bit of spiritual disrespect, it will always reveal itself in the fact that you are expecting God to tell you to do something very big, and yet all He is telling you to do is to “Come . . . .”

“Come to Me . . . .” When you hear those words, you will know that something must happen in you before you can come. The Holy Spirit will show you what you have to do, and it will involve anything that will uproot whatever is preventing you from getting through to Jesus. And you will never get any further until you are willing to do that very thing. The Holy Spirit will search out that one immovable stronghold within you, but He cannot budge it unless you are willing to let Him do so.

How often have you come to God with your requests and gone away thinking, “I’ve really received what I wanted this time!” And yet you go away with nothing, while all the time God has stood with His hands outstretched not only to take you but also for you to take Him. Just think of the invincible, unconquerable, and untiring patience of Jesus, who lovingly says, “Come to Me. . . .”

Journal DJR

A couple of verses at the beginning and end of Psalm 139 say it so well……

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
………..
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

That’s my prayer. Help me do that today.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him —2 Corinthians 5:21