Received on June 4th, 2006 - 2:20PM Last Updated: June 6th, 2006 - 5:19PM
Even though this word was for some in my assembly, to encourage them during our time of worship, I know that it can speak to any believer experiencing difficult times.
The HolySpirit showed me a mountain that ascended into the sky. The sky surrounding it was dark and black and stormy. There was a path leading up the mountain. At the top was the Temple of Yahweh. Up there, above the dark clouds, was brilliant light. It was, as the cliche goes, a "night and day" difference.
God was telling me to share this as an exercise of faith for people. They should close their eyes, pray in the Spirit, and see this truth. The darkness surrounding them was the world, and its effects. And the Temple on top of the mountain was God's very presence.
We should, by faith, leave behind the world and its darkness, and enter into the presence of Yahweh. We must see by faith this truth that we are coming unto the Throne of the Most High, receiving the grace that flows from it.
His dwelling is light, full of peace and joy, forgiveness and mercy, love and rest.
God also said that to leave that darkness and ascend the mountain was to leave behind the six days of works and to enter the eternal Sabbath of God's rest. This life in the Spirit was the presence of God, to rest from one's own labors and to enter the spiritual rest and refreshing of God's own Spirit.
I encourage you, having read this imagery, to take some time right now and close your eyes. Pray in the Spirit (if you have been baptized into Him), and picture these spiritual truths. See yourself leaving the darkness of the world and entering the presence of Yahweh, high above the world. See the light that envelopes you and feel the release from your own fleshly works by walking in the Spirit.
Once you've experienced this exercise of faith, spend some time worshipping this great God, Yahweh, Who has redeemed you from the authority of Satan. Praise Him for His great love and mercy, having called you from before time began, and pour out your heart before Him, both in your native language and the language of the Spirit.
18For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm, 19the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, 20for they could not stand that which was commanded, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned{TR adds "or shot with an arrow" [see Exodus 19:12-13]};"{Exodus 19:12-13} 21and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, "I am terrified and trembling."{Deuteronomy 9:19} 22But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, 23to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:18-24)
3Who may ascend to Yahweh's hill? Who may stand in his holy place? 4He who has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. (Psalms 24:3-4)
<<A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.>> Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in his holy mountain. (Psalms 48:1)
3For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;"{Psalm 95:11} although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, "God rested on the seventh day from all his works;"{Genesis 2:2} 5and in this place again, "They will not enter into my rest."{Psalm 95:11} 6Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter therein, and they to whom the good news was before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience, 7he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), "Today if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts."{Psalm 95:7-8} 8For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. 9There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. 11Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:3-11)
16What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people."{Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27} 17Therefore, "'Come out from among them, and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.{Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41} (2 Corinthians 6:16-17)
As you read this site, you will hopefully come to know Yahweh more fully.
But all of this continuing knowledge is useless unless and until you come into union with Him. I use the word union because it is truly a marriage. It is that deep connection we all seek, for which we most often look in other people. However, the truth is that our hearts will only be fulfilled when we enter that union in fullness with the One Who made us.
This is the grace of God, that He has not stayed distant for us only to worship as Creator. But He has come unto us, even become one of us—in His Son, ChristJesus—in order to share an intimate union with us. He desires such closeness that it truly will envelope our entire life, transforming us into something new and wonderful.
You may have already entered this union with Him and only seek to know Him better through reading here. But if you have not, as you do read, let this Gospel sink into your heart as you read it now.
God loves you, and has cast your sins into the sea. He has sent His only Son as the Savior of the world—that includes you.
That Son, JesusChrist, was born as a man through a virgin who had given her life to Yahweh; He lived without sin, reflected the glory of His Father, God, in all His words and deeds, and was persecuted even unto death because of it.
His death upon a cross was the powerful explosion that separated you from your life of death. It remains for you, now, to enter into that death with Him. As you die to the one you are now, a person separated from God from your many sins, you will be born anew, with a nature predisposed to live rightly. This gift is free to you, with nothing you can do to earn it. It is the mercy of God to offer it to you, as He loves you so much! All you must do is receive it by trusting Him to have delivered you. Simply place your life in His hands and embrace the freedom that came through that death on the cross.
The Gospel is that Jesus did not remain dead, but rose again on the third day after His crucifixion! Death could not hold Him, as He was without sin. And so death will not be able to hold you, as you identify with Him fully through your trust in Him. Let go of yourself and confess Him as Lord of your life. The power of His death and resurrection will work in you all that your Creator has destined for you. You will truly enter a new life and experience that intimate union you have been seeking all of your life.
So ponder these words as you read here of this great God—Yahweh—and all that He has revealed to His creation. Let His Spirit testify to your heart that these words are true, that God is Love, and that He sent His Son so that you might receive the life that is unbound by time and space. As you feel that witness in your heart, simply believe and receive what He is offering to you, even now, and begin your new life as a child of God.
Please write to me and let me know when you take this step, as I will be your brother in Christ—we will be one in Him!
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3Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew,{The word translated "anew" here and in John 3:7 (anothen) also means "again" and "from above".} he can't see the Kingdom of God." 4Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" 5Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God! (John 3:3-5)
Scripture Quotes: World English Bible Translation.
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