We have studied and we have been taught and have become established in certain lines and precepts we see as truth. Then, at times, the Lord comes along whether it be through someone else or through the study of the word, a song, or whatever means He may use, and reveals something entirely different. Much different, in fact, than what we had expounded on as being the Word of God simply because it is in the Bible. This happens because sometimes we do not realize that our understanding was according to our interpretation of the word, which we read in the Bible, and also because of our level of understanding and the information we have at the time. As time goes on we see God’s word is progressive. (See Isaiah 28) For 4000 years God had Old Testament saints in a certain path and the scriptures at that time was truth for them. 2000 years ago God sent His son with a different word that they could not receive and now Christ is manifesting a word that many today cannot receive (at this time) but it is all God.

I was reminded of this when I read where the disciples were about to follow Jesus and one of them said that his father had died. He wanted to go and bury his father. Jesus told him, "Let the dead bury the dead." (Matt. 8: 21,22) This troubled me because my understanding of dead people was that when one dies, he is placed in a box and then in the ground. Here Jesus was talking about those who put the dead in the ground suggesting they were the same as the dead one in the box. And the Word came to me and said, "There are a lot of dead people doing a lot of dead works." Upon more consideration, I was reminded when Adam partook of the fruit that was forbidden, the Scriptures say in that day he would die. That could not have been a literal death or time because Adam lived a long time afterwards and did a lot of things. All of a sudden it came to me that I came into this world dead. "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." We came into this world dead (asleep). (Eph 2:1) We were born or became alive, quickened when we received Jesus Christ as our Savior. Then we read in Romans 5:10 that we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, we be saved by His life. (Living His life). NOW, to be born again, we first must be resurrected and/or awakened from the dead and rebirthed. We are not the way we were because of what Adam did; we are the way we were because we are doing the same way he did … partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

NOW, the Scriptures declare that the first has to be taken away before the second can be established (Heb. 10: 9&10) "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Notice, the Scriptures read, body of Jesus Christ rather than body of Jesus: another hidden truth, more on this in another writing. (42^nd generation) Jesus made provision for taking away the first and establishing the second 2000 years ago.

The Scriptures continue to say that it is first by the natural and then by the Spirit. (1Co 15:46) "Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." We also read, the celestial and terrestrial two glories, also being sown in corruption and raised in incorruption. (1Co 15:45-49) "Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly and as we have borne the image of the earthy we also bear the image of the heavenly". One has to be taken away before the other can be established. May I submit the thought that this literal body does not have to be taken literally away before we can be established in that second place. John 14: 2,3 "In father’s house there are many abodes I have told you. I go to prepare a place for you I will come again (Christ) and receive you unto myself that where I AM you be also." We know we are our Fathers house and Christ lives in us. (Coll. 1: 27 however, where there must be a taking away is in our mind. As we recognize this old man dead – dead indeed; - that birth has been done away with and this new man is being established. It is my understanding at this time that one of the greatest challenges we have as Believers is trying to live a Christ-like life when we have not fully recognized, confessed and believed that the old man is gone. (A dead man doing dead works).

In this mindset, whenever Satan the accuser comes, that one which rules over the flesh realm, we sometimes tend to move from the new man (awareness) back into the old man (awareness) and find tribulation/pressure in that land that is his and where we no longer belong. For years we have been taught Satan is our enemy. The scriptures call him accuser, tempter, devil, deceiver, adversary and evil but he can’t do anything without the flesh our old man that which was first, our real enemy. Human emotions hate, anger, jealousy, lust, lying, hurt, pride, ego, attracts, fear etc. Manifest through the flesh under the influence of Satan. Jesus overcame Satan and the flesh at Calvary 2000 years ago. The battle is over if we can receive it. Now is the Judgment of this world: now the prince of this world be cast out. John 12:31 We have thought this flesh (human person) was us but Jesus prepared another place for us that where he is we are also. We are now sons of God and need not be subject to human weakness. "As a man thinketh so is he." Where our mind goes we go. Beloved it is getting harder and harder (without the Lord) to make it through this world and we need to walk close to him. Anyone that has fought bad habits, addiction, anger, illness etc. knows how strong this human nature is. We need to walk in light, life, love and liberty, Love being the highest realm where no darkness can come. All powers are subject to Him.

Right NOW, God is opening our minds, souls and spirits to the fact that we are NOW Sons of God. That we are NOW a new creation! Suppose that right NOW we recognize that what we thought we were, we realize we are not. "Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we be: but we know that, when He appears, we be like Him; for we see Him as He is." 1rst John 3:2 (Not as He was or as He will be but as He is.) He is now appearing in His Body. (Body of Christ).

At times, we all move back into that old nature. How can we say that we are not what we thought we were? Let the dead bury the dead! What we need to recognize, as Paul did in Romans 7 is that when he moved into those things he knew he ought not to, he said, "that is not me, for with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh".. (Which he said is not he,) "I serve the law of sin." As I understand it at the present time, it is that we keep moving back and forth into that old man. This serves as a reminder that it isn’t that we need to overcome the old man, he is already dead. What is needful here is that we keep our mind on God and trust Him to keep us in the realm of the Christ in us. He is eternal life and it is vital that we continue to move in His light – that light which dispels all darkness. In other words, we need to come over into the Christ who has already overcome!

Why is this so important? Because until we understand this, we are going to be pushed this way and that way; we are going to walk sometime in victory, sometime in failure: sometime in guilt and sometimes in forgiveness. Mt 16:24 reads, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." (See Strongs 4716 "Cross figuratively means exposure to death, i.e. self-denial by implication the atonement of Christ: -- ‘Follow me" in Strongs 190 reads "as a particle of union and a road; to be in the same way with, and for example to accompany (especially, as a disciple).

As we continue with this thought we read from Mt 16:25, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." Along with the foregoing Scripture, we read in Isaiah 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." From these Scriptures, we see that through Christ God is changing our thoughts and our ways to His thoughts, His ways! Praise God!

In 1^st Corinthians 10:11 we are taught that the things that happened to the Old Testament saints happened unto them for examples unto us to keep us from evil. "NOW all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." These prophetic words from the Old Testament were placed there for our instruction. Let us take a look at Deuteronomy 4: 1 & 2 - "Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." No man has the power to add to or take away from the word of God. Eccl. 3:14 reads, "I know that whatsoever GOD does, it is forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God does it that men should reverence Him." Deuteronomy 4:20-27 reveals the purposes of God further; "But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day. Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance."

Speak to the Rock – or Strike

Do you recall that God told Moses he could not go into the Promised Land because he had not glorified Him as God in the eyes of the people? When the Israelites were thirsty we read that God instructed Moses to strike the rock and in doing so it will bring forth water. Moses struck the rock and surely water came forth and the people drank. (See Exodus 17:6) "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb and thou shalt strike the rock and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink, and Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." The second time God told Moses to have water come forth from the rock, Moses made the same mistake that many of us have been making ever since. He heard what God said but Moses figured what he did the first time worked, then it must be all right the second time and a little ego entered in. However, this time, God told him to go before that rock and speak unto the rock and it would bring forth water that the people may drink. This time God said to Moses SPEAK UNTO THE ROCK, God said "Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink." (Nu 20:8) But Moses did not! Now, we cannot blame Moses too much because he was appointed by God to be the messenger of the law and the Word says that the law can make none perfect. Why? Because of the weakness of the flesh (human nature). … (See Strongs 4561) and the weakness of the flesh of that lawgiver manifested as he stood before that rock and this multitude of people… and, after all, he had struck the rock before. But it wasn’t enough that he was going to try to do it the same way he did before. Further to this, he got up before that rock and said to the people, "must I strike the rock that water may come forth?" Notice, I and strike, when the Lord said, stand before and speak". Numb.20: 10-12 "And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear NOW, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them"

Interesting to note is that though the minister was disobedient, the rock still gives forth water and the people drank. God did not withhold water from the people even though the leader disobeyed. We must be obedient to that which God gives us. No matter what it seems like. No matter if we did it another way at one time. In order to continue on in this progressive journey, the first has to be taken away before the second could be established. We must be led by the Holy Spirit according to the Christ within.

In Deuteronomy 4:22, we quote Moses as saying, " I must die in this land. I must not go over Jordan, but ye shall go over and possess that good land. Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God which he made with you and make you a graven image." Now many of us don’t enbrace statues or such things, but beloved, you and I can be worshipping a graven image in many other ways. J. W. Bullinger writes, "An idol is whatever a man looks to for help apart from the living God." Ah! The simplicity of Christ!

"For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. When thou shalt begat children and children’s children and ye have remained long in the land, and corrupted and made a graven image, the likeness of any and do evil in the sight of the Lord thy God to provoke him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day that you soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto you go over Jordan to possess it." (Deut. 4:22 -24) Even in that place of revelation, they fell back from that land. (vs. 27) "And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen where the Lord shall lead you." Now, I know that literal Israel has fulfilled this word. Literal Israel has been scattered all over the world … and so has spiritual Israel. We start out with one church in one mind and one accord but then we become exclusive and independent. See (Genesis chapter 11) Someone gets a revelation, someone decides not to go that way and spiritual Israel begins to divide and re-divide and multiply and divide until they are scattered all over the world with different doctrines and beliefs: so much so that they cannot even fellowship one with another. We need to notice something else in vs. 27. "And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you, and there ye shall serve gods the work of mans hands." "We are Gods,"- which simply means deity and spirit in the original – (See Strongs 2316) we are to be like Him but we are never He. God help us not to come to this place where we think, "we are THE GOD." We also are not the work of man’s hands of wood and stone, which neither see nor hear, nor eat or smell. (Dead people doing dead works) NOW, we are going to see how NOT TO fall back! We are HIS workmanship. See Deut.4: 29,32 - "But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord Thy God, (even in that place), thou shalt find if thou seek him with all thy heart and all thy soul… when thou art in tribulation/pressure and all these are come upon thee in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God and shalt be obedient unto His voice. For the LORD thy God is a merciful God; he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. (Deut.4: 32) "For ask now of the days that are passed, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth." (The sixth day .. In 1^st Pe. 3:8, we read one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Creation was completed on the sixth day. ) … and from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there has been as this great thing, or hath been heard like it? (Vs. 33) "Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire as thou hast heard and lived?"

A word came forth at one time about the burning bush, and the Lord revealed that we are that burning bush. I never saw that before it was spoken… that the burning bush would not be consumed, but that His voice would come forth through that burning bush. In reflection, let us read vs. Deuteronomy 24, 30 and 33. "For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and be obedient unto his voice; Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?" "He that hath an ear let him ear what the Spirit is saying to the churches." The fire is God fire and what is being consumed is our flesh.

I can remember, and I’m sure many of us can also, when things were not going right and I found myself in a time of tribulation; I would begin to evaluate what I’ve been doing or saying, because I was convinced Satan was buffeting me because of something I did wrong or something I said or left undone. Often I would get into depression trying to figure it out. Sometimes it was what I said or did or didn’t do and it corrected me. Other times, I could not understand why it happened.

Peace

Then one day, I read this Scripture in John 16:33 " These things I have spoken unto you that in ME YE HAVE PEACE, in the world ye have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world! Jesus said we were to be in the world but not of it. He also prayed "Father I pray not that you take them out of the world but to keep them from evil." Now, if you will notice Jesus does not say that if you are not good you are going to have tribulation. He does not say, if you do what I tell you always and not fail, then you will never have tribulation, but why? Let us look at Matt. 13:20-21 "But he that receiveth the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word and anon with joy receiveth. Yet hath he not root in himself but dureth for a while, for when tribulation and persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." Because of the word. Now I am not concerned about what kind of ground it is, because I think I know what kind of ground the Lord has placed in us and it is a fruitful ground, and NOW I know that the tribulation and persecution comes because of the WORD. But, for this particular one, the Scriptures say he was offended. We are encouraged!

Rom 5:1-5 "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Strongs definition of the word tribulation (2347) the literal meaning is pressure. It is taken from the root word 2346, which means to "crowd". In the world you have pressure. Pressure comes because of the Word. Glory in pressure! In Gen. 3:17 God told Adam cursed is the ground for your sake. ""Sake in the Hebrew is 5668 meaning transit taken from 5674 meaning transition. Our destiny was prepared in advance. GLORY!

2^nd Cor. 1:1-7 reads: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforted us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." God help us to see this! Every joint supplying that the body be built up in love. "Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Ac 14:21&22 "And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." The Apostle here is not just talking about seeing the revelation of God, which we have talked about forever; but through much tribulation, ENTERING INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. I believe we are very close to entering into the Kingdom of God, there is much TRIBULATION in the earth today." 2Th 1:3 "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; (4) So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:"

As we turn to the book of Revelation, it is vital we see that you and I were written about even then. We were called a "people afar off". But there was a people that were afar off that was not his people… that He said would become His people and He would be their God! Revelation 7:9-17 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and whence came they. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest, and He said unto me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Life is in the blood and these lived the life whereby we are saved! (Rom. 5:10) Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: (we are that temple) and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." We have looked at a lot of Scripture, which explains why these pressures must come that we enter into the Kingdom of God. In Revelation we read about a great number of people that have come out of pressure /tribulation.

Now, let us take a look at the man with the most tribulation ever. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, (God’s) and touch all that he hath and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, the fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." (Job 1:7-22)

Notice in verses 8-11 that God calls Satan’s attention to Job, and then Satan tells God in verse 11 to put forth His (God’s) hand and afflict Job. After Satan destroys everything and everyone (with God’s permission,) Again, Job says in verse 21 "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Verse 6 in Chapter 2 of Job, again Satan tells God to stretch forth his hand and afflict Job. God gave Satan permission to afflict Job’s body, but he had to save his life! In verse 9 & 10 Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. But Job replied, "what shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Notice in the whole book of Job he does not give any credit to Satan or even mention his name. He knows who his source is in all things . In Chapter 42 of Job, we find Job was instructed to pray for his friends. Notice in verse 10, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before; then in verse 11, God restored all his brethren, all his sisters, and all they that had been his acquaintances, and they did eat bread with him in his house. All of his acquaintances that he knew before were restored to him. The word ‘acquaintance’ in Strongs Hebrew Dictionary 3045 means to know ascertain by seeing, etc. (The same ones that Satan destroyed were same ones that were returned.) The only thing that Satan can destroy is flesh and/or that which is temporary material or physical. Out of all this tribulation Job learned that he was self-righteous and realized in vs. 3, "Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge, therefore, have I uttered that which I understood not, things too wonderful for me which I knew not." And in Job 42:5 Job realizes, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee." Notice in Chapter 1 of Job, verses 2 & 3, there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yokes of oxen and five she-asses. Then in Chapter 42 he has twice as many animals. (verses 12 & 14). He still has seven sons and three daughters. The same sons and daughters as in Chapter 1. That which is first (temporary) is removed and only that which is spiritual and eternal remains. Praise God! " Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof." Matt.6:34

How do we come through tribulation? John 16:33 "These things have I spoken unto you that in me you have peace." Jesus said again "In me you have peace", when the first is taken away in our minds, when we reckon the soul man dead, the second can be established. The Christ in You! When we know no man after the flesh, not even Christ after the flesh; (2^ndcorinthian 5:16) when we no longer fellowship on the basis of person to person; and when we don’t refuse to fellowship because we have observed or heard something we do not like or agree with: when our fellowship is based no longer on a person to person relationship but only a Christ to Christ basis, which is the unconditional love of God and no other basis and we recognize that the old man is dead, there will no longer be any effect of pressure. We will have become those people who have come through pressure/tribulation, because they have come into the Christ within. The mystery of Christ in us (See Col. 1:27) will be a mystery no longer. Heb 2: 5-11 "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (I believe that Jesus saw the completion in himself of all humanity in the end of this age as a result of His cross and that gave Him the joy to endure). "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Heb 12:7 "If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons? Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (10) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. (11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." How many times we have asked God to show us His will and all the time the answer was in His written word!

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1^st Thess. 5:18 All the pressures that have come upon us as individuals, are ordained of God. In the Scriptures we have seen that these pressures are not for our destruction. Quite the contrary. It is that we be established in Him, Who is our peace. It is when we are in these times of pressure/tribulation when we pray more, search the scriptures more and seek God more. In the Bible and in life experiences we see peace and increase from these periods. No wonder Paul gloried in tribulations. (Romans 5:3)

Now Truth

The Scriptures declare in Gen. 3:14 That God told Satan he would eat dust all his life and in Gen. 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." The word "formed" comes from the Hebrew word in Strongs 3335, meaning to press or squeeze into shape; also to mold and to form as a potter. This man that became a living soul (Strongs Hebrew 5315 defines living soul as a breathing creature, that is animal of abstract vitality) being formed. All this time we thought the devil was on our back. To destroy us, now we find out he is only fulfilling God’s purpose in getting rid of the first so the second can be established, God loving us and causing us to come to Him. Jer. 18:3&4 "Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." Isa 64:8 "But now, O LORD, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." Isa 45:5-7 "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." Jeremiah 32:38 thru 42 "and they shall be my people and I will be their God And I will give them one heart and one way that they may revere me for ever, for the good of them, and for their children after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good: but I will put my reverence in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this and assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. For thus saith the Lord: Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good I have promised them." "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isa 26:3 "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we be saved by his life." (We have been reconciled by His death and we are being saved by living His life!) "Take up your cross and follow me." "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous? Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Ro 5: 8-21 "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." Mt 5:39 "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Ro 12:21 Satan, evil and demons are in the lower realms of darkness and Jesus has lifted us up into the Light Realms. "The night is far spent, the Day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." Rom.13:12. For further understanding of this see Rom.chpt.6. Exercise our Christ mind in the light. "Remember as we think so are we."

1Peter 3:8-18 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: 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 asked you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: {fear: original reverence} Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: And these things write we unto you, that your joy be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1Jo 1:4-7

"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." Ro 12:2 The word "transformed" in the Greek means morphe, mor-fay' which is through the idea of adjustment of parts); shape; figuratively, nature:--form. renewing in Greek means renovation, to renovate, meaning up to new and fresh. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Ro 8:1-2 (Note that the word Spirit is not in the law of sin and death Scripture). John 19:30 "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." The word "finished" in the Greek means, to execute, conclude, discharge (a debt): The word "it" 846 (Greek dictionary appendix), means the reflexive pronoun SELF. Thus, basically, it is saying that Jesus on the cross 2000 years ago, destroyed the old man – the human self! Therefore, we should no longer spend time, effort or energy in dealing with the old man, but rather, let us exercise our new inner man – our true self! In other words, let us take up our cross and follow HIM! This mind be in you that also was in Christ Jesus. Phil.2:5 this word mind is 5426 in Strongs and means to exercise the mind. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1rstCor.2:16 This word mind in Strongs is 3563 and means the intellect i.e. mind divine or human in thought, feeling or will; by impl. meaning. This mind we have already but we need to exercise it. So let us be about our Fathers business. Light, Life, Love and liberty.

Attitude of Gratitude

We are most grateful to God for this message and we appreciate so much the patience and contributions of Raouf & Lynda Raphael helping us get this in print. Many people, books, tapes, ministers and teachers more than we can credit here including our earthly family and the pastor Harvey Turnage, his family and the congregation at Bethel Tabernacle in Orlando, Fl. (where God brought us in 1977} have a part in this. We have no desire to try to prove anything or correct anyone so this is not written for any other reason than to share what we believe God has shown us. Some years ago I was wondering about the fact that so many churches, ministers and Christians were teaching so many different things using the same Bible and worshipping the same savior but wouldn’t fellowship together. When I asked the Lord about it, the Word came unto me saying, " My school in some ways is like yours like in both the students go from grade to grade but the teachers stay in the same grade year after year. If you see anything different or other than written here we rejoice with you in what God has shown you. May you be blessed above all you can see or think? POWERFULL LOVE,

Les & Polly Houghton

IAMWEARE CHURCH (church without walls)

1435 Paula Dr. APOPKA, Fl 32703 Ph. 407-889-8372

pandl1@aol.com