The Spirit Within

There is a voice inside all of us that inspires us to keep moving even though we often feel like giving up and throwing in the towel.  If you truly believe in the power within you to succeed and fulfill your destiny, you will take heed to this voice because He knows your potential, and the results of what is awaiting you ahead if you just continue to press.  Does this voice have a name? I’m glad you asked.  His name is “Holy Spirit” He is the one that Jesus left with you as a comforter (an encourager) and He already knows who you were meant to be, what you were created to do, and all that you were meant to possess here in the earth.  So the next time you feel like giving up, listen to that voice of reasoning that says, “Don’t give up, You can do it!”  - if you do, you want regret it.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.  1 Corinthians 2:9-16

Prayer:

Father, I pray that you would encourage every soul that reads this blog to continue to press in whatever You've placed in their heart to do.  You know the vision, the inspired dream, their creative ability and all that awaits them if they continue to move forward.  I believe that You've equipped them with every thing they need to succeed and live in the purpose You have destined for their life.  Now, Father in the name of Jesus I ask that you would strengthen them for the journey, and make them attentive to the voice of Your Holy Spirit that they may not turn around or throw in the towel.  Help them to realized that Jesus has already won the fight and gain the victory on their behalf and now if they would only trust You; no matter what maybe going in the world, what the economy looks like, or even the resources that may seem to be lacking – You yet have a plan in for their life.  One that will not only meet every need but every desire but only if they adhere to the voice, I believe it’s done and I touch and agree with them in the spirit that they shall walk in all that You have prepared for their life, in Jesus name. Amen

Grace & peace!
Bertha

Are you really walking in Faith?

<sup>It's been a bit since my last blog, and I had something else in mind; however, I'm led to shed some light on faith.  I've been conversing with a lot of people in varies backgrounds and organizations and what I'm finding is this phase: "I'm just walking by faith" is just that to most who use it and nothing more because sadly to say they really don't understand what faith really is:


14</sup> What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. ²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? ²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:14-25 NKJ, also read NIV translation


Whenever you proclaim to have faith, it means you're actively doing something to bring about a different result - to bring change. This verse helps you to understand the truth of faith, and it specifies that: as the body is dead without the spirit, so is faith without works is dead also. This tells me that as the spirit gives life to the body so does works give life to faith; therefore, works is the life behind faith.  When you understand faith you should understand that faith is always busy doing what is needed to change the situation or circumstance.

When you speak of being one of faith this should be evident in your actions-your speech, thoughts (understanding), your visibility (perception), your deeds, your lifestyle and your acceptance in how or what direction your life will take.  To often I meet people who say they're walking by faith but they're not going anywhere, they're not progressing-nothing about them has or is changing. Everything they do contradicts what faith really is.  Faith brings change, it increases, it stretches out because it has no limitations in its ability to do what is good, what is right-what it is purposed to do.  Faith makes your hope visible.

Hebrews 11:1 speaks of faith's purpose and ability, it says: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Substance means: essential or absolutely necessary.
Evidence means: proof - now this word comes from the root word "Evident" which means: clear to see

So what this tell me about it's purpose is: faith is absolutely necessary to receive what you're hoping for , but watch its ability; its the evidence of things not seen, which simply means it has the ability to make what you're hoping for become clear to see-to you and others.  However, there is a requirement; you have to put forth some action-some work. Faith is a busy and productive fellow, it causes you to work toward what you're hoping for in order to make it visible.  At the end of Hebrews 11:1 it speaks of faith being the evidence of things not seen, understand that not seen or unseen does not mean nonexistent. Something can be invisible and still exist as with our thoughts and words because they eventually create our surroundings but then that's another blog.   


Hebrews 11:3 tells us how the invisible creates the visible:  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

This tells me that when you walk in faith-faith causes that invisible hope to become visible, but it also tells me that God Himself operated in faith, and He put that faith to work so that He could make the intangible; tangible and the invisible; visible.  Anytime you're walking in faith, something should be happening, something should change and at some point it should become evident.  If you say you're walking in faith and nothing has change, something is wrong; and perhaps you need to evaluate your faith, perhaps you need to put that faith to work because faith produces and it manifest whatever it comes in contact with because it's always at work, which simply means if you're walking in it, you too should be at work, doing something to move toward or manifest what you're hoping for.  So I challenge you, to take a good look at what you're calling faith, and if it's not actively putting forth some effort, than perhaps what you call faith is not really faith at all.

Grace & peace!
Bertha

Any feedback or comments are always welcomed. If you'd like to know more about me please feel free to visit my site:   http://www.berthabarrett.com/JUST-BELIEVE.html

 

Dealing with the original instructions - conclusion

Replenish – to make full or complete, by supplying what is lacking – to fill again.

This third instruction is no doubt one of my most favorite as it speaks to our ability to really be like God.  Through this one word He instructs mankind to complete what He’s started, to go out and fill the earth and whatever or wherever is lacking.  This one word speaks volumes:

To Fill

To Furnish

To Provide

To make Provision

To Refresh

To Renew

To Restore

To make better

To gather resources

To transform

To contribute

To revive

To give life

To minister or serve

Sourceful

All this from one word and I find that the greatest of these definitions is the word serve because in serving we’re able to effectively do all the others.  Serving is a way of saying; meet the needs; make what needs to happen; happen.  So as we examine these instructions (be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth), we find that there are some very important requirements expected of us by God, and He’s requiring these things because He knows that He has given us everything we need to complete the assignment.  He’s given us everything needed to be fruitful (increase) in what He’s placed within us, and multiply (duplicate) the gifts He’s given then replenish (serve) in all that He’s given.  And there has to be some importance to it because even after His frustration with sin and He destroys the earth with water, He still comes back in Genesis 9:1 and repeats the same instructions to Noah. God gave Noah the same instructions He originally gave to Adam and Eve-He hasn’t changed His mind about this thing.  Apparently there’s something in this that God meant and still means for mankind to do. 

Now it seems for some time there’s been something called the Gap Theory going on were people are trying to figure out exactly what this word replenish meant and it seems that some have through this theory come to the conclusion that because God said replenish the earth there must have been others here in the earth besides Adam and Eve.  I’m not going to try to get into this theory as it bares no truth to me according to what my bible says.  But I will get into how significant these instructions and this word replenish is to us and how God intended and yet intends for us to walk here in this earth.

 

As noted the word replenish can also be seen as to serve.  To serve means to provide with a regular supply, apparently there is something that we have that the earth is in need of, and God says He wants us to supply it regularly.  In Romans 8:19-25 we’re told how the earth is in frustration and groaning waiting for us the children of God to be revealed, which simply tells us that even the earth understands the need for God’s created image to be in their rightful place because until that day comes nothing in the earth is free to function as it ought.   

¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

 ²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 

This passage speaks to our need to get back to the original instructions because in those instruction is a place of order, and without that order nothing can operate as it should.  Now what is our rightful place; in this same passage in verse 23 it speaks of those who have the firstfruit of the Spirit, meaning those who believe the truth that our God has spoken and yet speaks. What is rightful place?  It’s in the firstfruit, it’s in possessing the Spirit of God because when we do, we realize that God has given us everything we need to live in this earth realm effectively, (productively, increasingly and sourcefully).  I find it amazing that the act of God giving mankind power and dominion over the earth simply means He allows us to be the source (power) with authority (dominion), another meaning for replenish is sourceful, to supply.  When we get back to the original instructions and realize who we really are, possessing the Spirit of God within us, it’s then realize that He has given us everything we need to live abundantly here on the earth and stop using the excuse that we’re waiting on God and realize that He is waiting on us because He has equipped us to be the source for everything here in the earth.  When we provide the universe with what it needs-the sons of God walking in power and dominion, bearing God’s likeness “fruitful”, increasing in our God given gifts “multiplying”, and being the source for everything “replenish” by speaking life and showing our godship; then the universe will yield to us whatever we ask.

I could go on and on with this because it excites me to know that God has entrusted us with so much and yet, at the same time, it also grieves me because we have yet to realize how much we posses, and how resourceful we can be here in the earth to restoring unity and harmony as God intended.  So although I could go on because there’s so much in God’s word that declares to us our ability to do the exceeding great work that Jesus says we would do, I’ll stop here and hope that you would search God’s word for yourself and allow Him to reveal unto you truth, so you can walk in your God given image.

Grace and peace.

From the heart

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 

Matthew 15:18 NKJV

Throughout the word of God we come across scriptures speaking or illustrating the essence of one’s heart. The matters of our heart seems to be of great importance to God, and therefore should be as great of importance to us.  Though we hear the famous words in 1 Samuel 16:7 in church and often quote them ourselves “For man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart”, are we really conscious of this throughout life. 

The heart is the intellect or soul of a man, it is a person’s character or disposition; meaning the state of mind – the place where one understands or believes.  We use this word heart in many phases as an adjective:

“At heart” – in essence or reality

“Lose heart” – to become discouraged

“Take heart” – to become encouraged and more confident

“Take it to heart” – to take something seriously

“With all your heart” – completely and sincerely

It seems the heart of a person depicts their very being, and depending on the content of it; it has the ability to encourage or discourage.  As Jesus emphasize in Matthew 15:18, we see that the content of the heart can defile (damage, corrupt or destroy) a person because of its actions, coming from ones speech. 

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:44-46

In the book of proverbs 23:6-8 we’re told as a man thinks, in his heart so is he.  The word think in this chapter is a transitive verb meaning believe, and all though we’re taught that we think within our brain here in proverbs it tells us that one thinks in his heart.  While the brain helps us to rationalize things, meaning it helps us to interpret things by given us a clear and logical perspective; yet, it’s not until those thoughts become established (rooted) in the heart, that we create a belief system or “better said”, it’s not until these things become true to our heart (our being) that we’re able to think on them or believe in them, thereby allowing us to think with our heart.  Again after Jesus gives the parable about the sower (Matthew 13:3-8) and he explains it’s meaning (Matthew 13:18-23) we find that although something can be sown in one’s heart (the act of rationality in the brain), it’s no until that which has been sown is also rooted (understood or true) in the heart that one is able to believe (think) thereby allowing them to bear fruit and produce the wealth or value of what has been sown. So you see the reflection of one’s heart depicts the abundance or righteousness of how one lives in the eye sight of God.  God is watching and what He’s looking at has so much more to do with what appears to evident to man; we can

make our outward appearance appear to be more than what we are, just as we can make our mouth speak something other than what we believe to be true but we cannot hide our heart, our character, our true self from God. When our true self depicts a godly (righteous) appearance then will we become the good ground that Jesus speaks of in the parable of the sower.

The essence of our heart speaks to our character; as believers we should constantly examine the matters of our heart on a daily basis, looking to see if it is equivalent to the word and character of Christ.  In our examining of the heart we should understand that our submission to Christ through prayer and the reading of His word is very essential to our daily existence if we are to possess the type of heart God is looking for.  Let us not continuously be mislead by the appearance of what seems to be, what we call prosperous because of what we’re able to see on the outer but however; let us be lead by the examining of our hearts making sure we possess the character that God is looking for so that we can become prosperous both in the inner and outward appearance so that when the time of harvest comes we’re able to be gathered into His barn and not burn into the fire (Matthew 13:24-30).

As you start a new year, I encourage you to start the habit of examining your heart; make a conscious effort to see if your heart holds the character of Christ – be honest with yourself! If you need a reference to help you in your examining process start with Galatians 5:22 and Ephesians 5:9.  Remember what comes from the heart has the ability to either profit your life or defile your life so make the matters of your heart amount to the wealth of life you desire to live starting today.

Grace and peace.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father we thank you for looking at our hearts and not our outward appearance.  We pray that you teach us to examine our hearts so that when you look at us, your pleased with what you see.  We pray with ever word that we speak those who hear us will reap the abundance of life and all that is good because of the abundance in our hearts.  We ask that each day we commune with you through prayer and the studying of your word, that you would allow your word to become rooted and grounded within us so that we will not become easily distracted or discouraged by the cares of this life but we will stand strong in your word. We're grateful that you've allowed us the ability to choose what type of character we will posses by deciding what we will allow our hearts to focus on.  We give you honor and praise for all that you've done and continue to do in Jesus name we pray.  Amen 

Just Believe

The book Just Believe is about using one of the greatest abilities given to mankind by God so we can operate in this life effectively, obtain all that is available to us and live life in its fullest capacity.  It will help you to understand how to live a life of purpose by first helping you to perceive life as the gift it is.  With Mark 9:23 being the foundation for the book it shows  you how to access all the possibilities awaiting you. This book covers many topics that will help you search within yourself and identify the things which keeps you from living the life you desire so you can begin moving forward and possessing all God has designed for you.
It's my desire to reach both Christians and Non-Christians because I believe God desires to awaken all of mankind to their true abilities so they can begin living the abundant life He desires.  Just Believe will change your life and the way you live. 

Grace and Peace
Bertha