ONE BODY, MANY PARTS – April 14, 2021

Good Morning Blessings Beloved and thank you for joining me today on this ROF Ministries broadcast.  What an honor it is to gather today for the glory of our Lord Jesus, finally.

Today we are going to go over just a few topics which are relevant to our growth in Him and especially for the cohesiveness of His Body – that’s us you all!  During these tumultuous days, which are removing every spot and wrinkle, we have a choice to either keep our eyes securely fixated on Him or throw in the towel, which sadly many are doing.  There is no greater time in our lives that it has been more necessary to lean upon Jesus, our rock and redeemer and only source of life itself.

I simply cannot tell you how overwhelmed I have been and humbled too by the love you all have shown me during this health trial.  Many of you have lavished your love upon me in ways I never could have imagined… And the beautiful flowers you sent – wow…. I’m not sure who orchestrated them, but I have a good idea – but on the card they wrote “wrapping you in our love…” ROF Family and I cried and I cried… Because that is what I say to you all, all the time and you said it to back to me – that is a moment I will cherish forever and never forget.

You know Jesus is really with us in the fire – and He often arrives through many of His own… I already told Him – yes, please use me at Your will for Your glory alone – so all things are purposed.  And the day of my surgery and even before HE WAS THERE dwelling within so many of His own… I don’t want to bore you all to death – but do you want to hear all the different ways He showed up?  I would be happy to share my testimony if you can put up with me for awhile. 

TESTIMONY

I’ve been so blessed to have this time to spend with the Lord Jesus in quiet while healing and regaining my strength… I realize many are afraid of the dark, but with Him, His words bring all things together for our good and uses trials to purge all darkness from within us so we learn to rely on Him solely.  The truth is – we are darkness until the light comes in, evil things do happen to us at times but honestly, the greatest darkness we wrestle with is within us, not without – and this is the greatest scheme of the enemy – to convince us darkness is all around us – mainly through people, instead of us seeing it is within – that it needs purged and repentance is the only way to go full throttle into the Kingdom.  The enemy wants us to say “we have no sin…” so that we continue to keep it, rather than going to sin no more.  How does light enter in?  When we are broken…  As brokenness produces an unmatched intimacy with Jesus, so that we call out to Him in our time of need.

He laid something upon my heart to share today about checking others walks, while ignoring our own – to honestly see if we are being authentic – we sometimes refuse to embrace how each member is purposed in His kingdom to use as HE WILLS, not our wills, but HIS.  All this relates to my testimony and how JESUS SHOWED up the day of my surgery and before, through MANY VESSELS – vessels in scrubs, in which denomination did not matter because to me they all looked the same and through them out He flowed in my time of need.  Oh I could talk so much more about this – so we all could see spiritually past the strange garments we all still wear at times…. Like denominations, clicks, clubs, doctrines and deeds – honestly, when it is Jesus purposed none of that even matters anymore.  It is my prayer we listen to His leading so that the breaking is not as severe in order we see beyond the flesh… Because when we are narrow-minded in our hearts, we are going to miss Him when He appears in a different way or vessel than what we expected.  Would you join hands and pray with a Catholic who loves Jesus?  I did… And in the midst of the four of us we shared a commonality – His Name is Jesus… I realize I needed the surgery to purge out of my body what could poison it – but this journey exposed within me so much deeper to the soul that needed purged and I am forever grateful to the Lord He chose me to walk with Him through this fire.  Right now a word for His child is… We walk by spirit and not at the leading of our flesh, while He is teaching us to see by the spirit beyond our flesh and others so that it is purposed our spirit be willing while our flesh is weak.  Weakened flesh is a good thing and a God thing right now, it is very, very good indeed.

The other night the Lord was opening my eyes to much more in His word about the Bride of Christ – it amazes me how you can study the same alive and active word, having deeper and increased knowledge to grow in His truth.  I began in the Book of Revelation, reading from the last chapter, forward…  And all He kept guiding me to was about THE BRIDE of Christ, specifically the DNA of the Bride carrying His DNA- which is another reason individualized flesh is being weakened for the marking and sealing of Him.  I hope to share some of that with you all next time we gather together.

Today I just want to discuss a little about the cohesiveness found in Jesus’s Body (His members – us) and just go over a few hindrances that keep us separated as His Body, instead of molding us as one, with each other and most importantly with Jesus.  When Jesus looks down to gather each of His own – it is those who inwardly are seeking Him with all that they are – the strange garments, the flesh, how men gather are not indicative to who He chooses.  He will pull from the streets, the rehab centers, chatrooms, Catholic Churches and all churches, even prisons – Can we hear this truth?  Can we go over ourselves enough to see by the spirit verses the flesh – which is why only He can gather His own, we cannot form the Body of Christ – only He can.

Before we get started I am going to read some portions of a LayLay ramble…  lol…  She sent it timely as a confirmation since I had already been studying the many parts before I received her anointed input.  I call these LayLay rambles, as– that’s what we call them because she has happy fingers and once she starts typing we just never know when she is gonna stop.  Lol

LayLay’s email – you’ll get the jest of it all as I read

Okay – I hope you all could follow most of that – The whole point is – a body is not a complete body without all the parts, equally flowing together as one – that Jesus is the only head and anybody missing a few parts cannot be whole – so all are required to accomplish the Lord’s will on Earth.  This is why the enemy is fighting so hard to make sure we are not a cohesive body on Earth – he pits one person against another as much as he possiblly can as he knows something we seem to forget – divided we fall.  Let’s not be an agent of satan anymore, okay?  Let’s embrace the different and diverse callings of all who… Are after God’s own heart.  Ugh…I pray you all can hear my heart in this because once we all see it, exponential growth and assignments will manifest.

One of his tactics right now is this and I am gonna tell on him bigtime:  Our flesh is irritated by the flesh of others within the body.  And when this happens we often point fingers and accuse.  How so?  I am happy you asked…. Since we do not know for sure who is and is not after God’s heart in truth – we will, out of our flesh, look around, search for and only embrace those who in the flesh are seeking the Lord just as we do.  “Works” are just that – manifestations of our servanthood unto Jesus and His Kingdom.  And works are just as unique and diverse as we are – when we remove the competition and envy and flesh altogether, with eyes opened we will tolerate (which is greatly needed) and eventually embrace those who might me commanded as a light on a stand in a place you have not been orchestrated to go before – like hospitals or a different church or a prison. 

Just because someone is serving Him on assignment differently than us, does not mean they are doomed…  Jesus told us that those who are not against us are for us – He spoke this right after the disciples were complaining at how others were serving Him.  So we are going to read it…  Some of you right now have spouses and children assigned and growing differently than you – you may have even deemed them a tare while the Lord has marked them as wheat.  I pray this word brings you comfort and peace.

LUKE 9

The Lord says to not judge before the time and this is partly why… We do not know the measurement of truth to which one has been given at any moment of time or the purpose of why and who they’ve been sent to and sadly we have so many people who are doing their very best to follow Jesus and serve Him and yet, just because they are not “following along with us doing the same works” – like we just read we try to hinder their work.  Yikes – I don’t want that to be me, do you?  Right now we could be walking with one who outwardly appears very holy and religious, while inside they are not even barely seeking the Lord – so we must be very hesitant to declare just who is and is not seeking the Lord, let alone saved or not.

Are we hindering the work of others who do not follow along with us?  That is the question.

So we must ask ourselves do we discount all the other people who are serving Jesus as another part – remember He often places light in the midst of darkness – because their part looks in contrast to us in the natural?

Why have we targeted those who are not against us as though they are, labeling them lost and fools and worse yet, enemies – when in actuality they are not the ones who seek to destroy us and yet as we lift ourselves up we imagine those who are not with us are also against us?  Honestly, most people fall into particular fellowship not based on truth – but rather love… they collect together where love is present, where they feel accepted and loved – because God is love, He draws them together in this most precious way.  In addition, they rarely will leave a place where love prevails, even if the gathering is not perfect, not always on target – because that place feels like “home” to them.  It is our pride that seeks to point out the faults of others and if not controlled by the Spirit, we will condemn ourselves.  We like to put weight to and measure sins and shortcomings in others by what we have overcome.  It is causing division within the Body and not Godly order…  and I am not sure if you can see it or not, but it is trickling down into the World because we have not shut the door to the enemy’s working amongst us.  To the Father all sin is sin and equaled… By the Father’s plan, you will have Pentecostals who end up in hell and some Catholics who don’t.  Does this make sense – we all see through a glass dimly at the moment.

Here’s a sobering thought… The Lord often sends me out as a messenger of love and I run in many circles…  Did you know that many of the very ones that some of you condemn, never speak harshly about you and did you know quite often they will come and ask me why you hate them so much?  As the eyes of our hearts are opened to see as Jesus sees through the eyes of love… Guess what?  We not only see and discern those who come in the name of the Lord, but begin to bless, not curse them, as well.  A few of us have been disciplined and beaten with many stripes over this meat of the Word, it is my prayer that most of you will receive this word as food for your souls and avoid the rod of chastisement altogether.  The Body of Christ has no enmity within it – please consider this, if you have enmity with someone who does say Jesus is Lord, let’s say you’ve labeled them your enemy – trying to force them out of the Body… Is it possible you are the one on the outside, not them?  Because when we do this, we form into the enemy of many, rather into the form of Jesus, who judged no man.  The Father’s discipline is poured out upon His children equal to His love – it is the same and once adopted we stop running away from His discipline but to it, knowing we need it daily to keep us safe from ourselves as we are surrounded by temptations on every side.

Christianity today seems to be some sort of club you belong to, while being a Christ follower you embrace the truth you belong to Jesus, unified as His family.  All these denominations and clubs which fellowship together, vainly imagine they alone hold the fullness of truth – because it is their own perceived truth.  And worse yet, if you no longer walk with them – they imagine you fell away from the truth, so it is all vanity centric, not Jesus centered.  IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE LED ELSEWHERE TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL AND STILL BE IN OBEDIENCE AND WALKING WITH JESUS.  Do I need to say that again?  Can our spiritual minds be expanded enough to understand that the Body of Christ has many members to it and when Jesus is the head, He directs each member on where to go and what to do as that which is perfectly anointed for His will to be accomplished here on Earth and it is the carnal mind which rages war against all things spiritual – so in essence the battle is not with one another, it is within our own self.

For me personally, I avoid exclusionary fellowship of any kind…  I just can’t breathe when the Holy Spirit is quenched in such a way.  When we see the light burning within all gatherings we tend to embrace and cling to that which is good – rather than looking for faults within each one.  The truth is – all still hold a sense of faultiness within, as we are being purified as His Bride – none are above another, none.  And with that, there is not one gathering yet which contains the fullness.  The church is not perfected yet as it is still made up of imperfect people. 

So take Catholics for example – because they are easy targets at the moment for threatened Protestants and they also are very exclusionary…  in a sense they reap what they’ve sown in many ways…  I am continually hearing inaccurate accusations and hearsays which at times are slanderous in nature about Catholics.  I realize most are just passing along gossip they’ve heard along the way and ignorant from experience themselves to rightly divide the truth – the Word calls this judging those things you do not understand.  I can always tell when someone is speaking out of self and not experience regarding Catholics when fear is present.  Catholics in general are not against us like we are them.  Did you know this?  Or do you just know what you’ve been told?  Many of you are scared to death of the Pope – and I also pity the people who elevate this man in such a way – those for him and against him elevate him to be some higher power than he is – whether for the good or evil, even the Pope is under the subjection of our Sovereign Father.  Look around, have we joined a mob who is railing against anyone?  If so, we must separate before the woe comes.

So please do not do what I did… please do not assume they are your enemy due to hearsay when in fact many could very well be your brother or sister.  Weren’t we too walking blindly at one time?  So why have we forgotten how far we too have fallen?  Hearing these accusations sometimes makes me weep internally and I pray and pray some more.  One day if the Lord directs, I am going to share my testimony about this and possibly the burden will cease.  I am not going to speak by knowledge, but rather experience.  Therefore, maybe it will assist us to recognize and sort out lies and hearsays laden with accusations and what is truth.  Sadly, lately most of what is being shared is not the full truth.  If the Lord permits, I will address all those concerns to the best of my ability, such as forgiveness of sins in relation to confessing to a Priest – because I have yet to hear anyone speak the pure truth on this topic.  I will also share how only the Holy Spirit can take the credit for ending my season of being Catholic to just simply being a follower or Jesus.  Today, what I resented for a long time, I am now grateful for – or else I too may join in against those who love Jesus just like I do and I would be too fearful to venture as light into darkness.  You do realize some Catholics love Jesus right and that with all the faults many of them have – no one I’ve met so far in my life carry the characteristics of Jesus in laying down His life as many I’ve met along my journey within the Catholic church have and do.  I realize this isn’t too popular with most of you and I am only using the Catholic church as my example because it is one I am familiar with – however, this same division is going on in almost every area of fellowship– all I am asking is that you just consider with me for a moment that the enemy wants you blinded to any goodness of all other parts, so that all you observe is darkness within others and remain fearful while bidding division.

All I can share is my own witness and experience – but it is real, up close and personal, not read in a book or hearsay – it is by my own personal account, what I have witnessed and heard with my own ears when questioning everything.  I just feel so weird even talking about this – I mean truly, in my younger days I questioned and challenged Father Geyhra so much that he lovingly with all the patience of anyone I’ve ever met labeled me a haunyack… He called me a bright light, full of joy in mercy.  I never had a father really at that point and he was never inappropriate, while displaying our Father in Heaven’s love to me, even when unruly.  Oh my, did I press him a lot – and he would explain and explain and I would say why?  I have many stories if you care to hear them… and if not, that is okay too.  I’ve never been one to just swallow what I am told, no matter who is saying it –I wasn’t like that 30 years ago and I am not like that now.  I see mixture by the Spirit in everything and everyone, including myself – so at this point unless someone is truly AGAINST US… we should not label them an enemy, but instead be praying for and believing for the best for them so their eyes are opened.  How do we know the Lord is not directing someone else to do something not so ordinary to produce the extraordinary for His Kingdom?  I just know that sort of scrutiny is way past my pay grade. 

We go through these fires to purge us from what we did in rebellion so that we can go back into the fire and pull others from it.  So all of this is purposed and planned and one day we will see the why’s of it all.  I know some who were witches, real witches, casting spells and boom Jesus got ahold of them and today they suffer with other witches with great loving compassion to pull them from the fire of witchcraft.  We see this in almost every sin nature area around us…  drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, thieves, murderers, liars, those in rebellion, Catholics, divorced, it is endless…  Do we really think this very day the Father is turning His back on them with railing accusations?  Really?  So why are we? 

Mother Theresa said – If you judge someone you cannot love them

You catch many more flies with sugar than vinegar.  I shudder to think of the day I am made aware of all the missed opportunities I had to love others as Jesus loves them and the times I chose a stone rather than lend a hand to lift another up.  I hope this doesn’t sound like I know it all, because actually it is a confession that I don’t and didn’t know near as much as I thought I did…

And I will add… If you do not love someone, don’t try to mold them into your own image, but rather always point them in the direction of Jesus, while planting seeds of love.  Keep in mind it is the Father Who gives the increase (of His Son) within the different parts of His Body and it is in His timing, not ours that matters.

I realize all this is due to coming from a place of lack within ourselves.  We often feel so less than others, it makes us feel better to point out how we are above, have the truth in, been awakened to something and such that another has not been yet.  To look down upon another, elevates self – doesn’t it? 

I cry when people cast down others so openly, thinking to myself, every single person who heard you – will not come to you to hear about Jesus now.  What if you were their only hope?  What if they just stumbled upon you with a seeking heart and you laid such a heavy burden upon them, they turn away from the truth altogether?  We’ve got many casting stones openly at one another, yet none are worthy to do so, as we all deserve to be stoned.  My flesh wants to rise up and cast stones at those slinging them at others, especially when I know some of their shortcomings, but I don’t dare do so.  I have to put my flesh down immediately in those cases or I separate myself for a bit to get back centered on the Lord so I am able to fend off the temptation, letting our Lord handle His own. 

The Lord instructed us to do unto to others how we ourselves desire others to do unto us.  So before preaching the Gospel, remember when you too were in that fallen state – placing yourself in the shoes of another and consider what would have drawn you to Jesus, rather than pushed you away.  That is your testimony, the wisdom oil within you that you need to draw all unto Him.  Your experience has taught you what works and what does not work in leading others to Him.  It is my prayer we not hinder anyone who is seeking to know Him, just because we already found Him.  Only Jesus really knows who’s hearts are for and against Him – our main job is to insure ours are against no one.

The Bride of Christ has His DNA… which is Jesus’s characteristics.  Today is a call to repent for times we carried the DNA of man and man’s ways which do not reflect the responses Jesus had to others.  How He approached them – loved them, showed them mercy.  Especially pertaining to His enemies… those who were against Him, He did not drag them through the mud – but continually offered loving light to heal them.

Again, I just want to say thank you for all the prayers, love and support you have shown me during this health obstacle – I’ve been very humbled and overwhelmed by the outpouring of Jesus’s love and kindness through each of you. 

We are going to test ourselves, by the Word to see just how much flesh still remains within us.  We need to remove all doubt, “yeah buts” today – because today is a meat day!

What a topic we have today…  the Law.  I can’t really say this is something I have thought a whole lot about, knowing it can be cumbersome to even consider.  Then the Lord reminded me the other day how His law is to be fulfilled, is not abrasive or confining – just instructional in nature.  It is men who like to lay upon us heavy burdens by adding to the Law originally designed by the Lord and gifted to us as some simple guidelines for His children to imitate and follow.  As a new creature, we should not even need to be commanded to fulfill what was established so long ago – because our hearts have changed from being set on evil to being set on good.  People make up their own laws, try to enforce them of themselves and in turn make you follow what they deem as relevant.  Chances are when anyone does that, they are not even keeping the own laws they’ve established.  Knowing Jesus did not abolish His Father’s law, but fulfilled them – that is our expectation as well, to the best of our ability through a surrendered life.  However, Jesus did come to abolish the laws set forth by man throughout the ages, because Jesus knew everything man did was a reflection of His heart.  This created quite the stir in Jesus’s day and continues to be a dividing line even today.

I’ve observed something lately…  It seems like when we don’t want to receive the message of the fullness of the Gospel, we often seek to kill the messenger appointed to deliver it.  That must also be why many people shy away from reading the Word, parts of it is appealing to them and parts of it is just too convicting.  Sadly, that is how doctrines of man is formed – any doctrine based on mixture is a doctrine man developed to make the word go down more smoothly, so that it is readily and widely accepted by many.  If the righteous way is so very narrow few find it, while the broad way is more increased with numbers – shouldn’t we be more focused on God’s doctrine rather than man’s? 

I was thinking about how the word “bible” is not even in the Word of God – and how man, whoever it was even gave his own label to Scripture.  Does that seem like an oxymoron to you?  That the word Bible is not even in our Bible?  So strange… I don’t know why, I just felt led to point that out.

Just in case anyone is not convinced the laws and commandments of our Father are not relevant today, we are going to read out of Psalms.

You know, when we dilute the Gospel so others will receive it, we also dilute the power behind God’s Word going out to perform inwardly and transform the lives of others.  We may think we are doing them a favor, but in truth, we are limiting just what work the Lord can do in another’s life.  So when we are delivering our words, we get nervous – because they are ours.  But when delivering God’s words to others, it is in Him that word activates, piercing the heart – ours and theirs, so we both grow, so really we are off the hook to give the increase – we deliver and the Lord does all the rest.  That surely takes a yoke off of us doesn’t it?  Thank you Lord.

Before we get too deep into today’s message, let’s read just a bit out of Psalm 119, which conveys to us the importance of obedience, as children to our Father in Heaven.

Psalm 119 ~

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment.

¹⁵⁰ They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

¹⁵¹ Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth.

¹⁵² Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them forever.

¹⁵³ Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

¹⁵⁶ Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy judgments.

¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

¹⁵⁸ I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.

¹⁶⁰ Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.

¹⁶¹ Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

¹⁶² I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

¹⁶³ I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgements.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

¹⁶⁶ Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

¹⁶⁷ My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

¹⁶⁸ I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.

¹⁷⁰ Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

¹⁷¹ My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

¹⁷² My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

¹⁷³ Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

¹⁷⁴ I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

Honestly, it has been my experience that the only time I am offended by the Lord’s Law, commands and instruction is when I am set to rebel against it in some way or uphold another who is doing so.  As we grow in our spiritual walks, we start to see how much we need our Father’s touch to remain obedient and pleasing in His sight and when our hearts are set on Him fully – we in turn embrace His word fully and it is no longer a stumbling block of offense, but seek more knowledge of it so things go well in our lives.  We go through these stages where the Law is somewhat to be broken, in our immature state – like a teenager first driving a car, incessantly has within them to go just a few miles over the speed limit, like they can’t help themselves or when given a curfew – they will try to negotiate a later time, never coming home a minute early and usually 3 minutes late…  It is the rebellion within us which is so strong – we too get offended by the Laws and precepts given for our benefit and not destruction.  Reading this Psalm surely gives us understanding why the Lord’s favor was upon David, a man after God’s own heart – it was not that he didn’t break the Law, but rather he desired to obey it more than anything else, which is precious in the Lord’s sight.  Obviously, David had sin and yet had no rebellion – which is truly something we need to study in the near future.  Sin is covered by the Blood of Jesus through His everlasting mercies, new every morning on a soul who cries out to Him for help to overcome.  Rebellion is not covered by His blood and those in it live at His mercy continually.  Wow – that’s a real wake up call, right?

Speaking the truth in love does not mean to compromise what the Lord already inspired by the Holy Spirit to be written and it also does not mean to tickle someone’s ears, making them feel comfortable.  We do a great disservice to others and the Lord when we just seek to save a soul and not come along beside the person and the Holy Spirit believing and encouraging them for a transformed life.  I think we believe as long as a soul confesses Jesus is Lord, we’ve done our part – but actually the opposite is true, the real work begins during the purifying after one calls out to Jesus.  Didn’t He tell us many will say Lord, Lord… and He will tell them, depart from Me I never knew you.  So how do we learn of Jesus?  We read about Him and His ways, we pray and seek His face, we have this deep longing within us to feel His embrace and to never be separate of Him.  It is through trials where intimacy is sealed, it is in trials we realize just how bad we need a Savior and soon we will find the one who our soul longs for… Jesus. 

Mathew 5 – I just cannot seem to escape the Beatitudes lately, like they are continually chasing me – following me around everywhere I go and if I forget to think upon them – He sends another reminder – it is getting kind of silly at this point…  lol…  Maybe I am losing it?  All I know is if I go a few days and do not meditate on them… Here they came again, chasing me down and He grows me deeper into them.  This time it was just one verse – Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven – well, I am poor in many ways, not just spirit, but anyway… lol

It’s no mystery I am poor in Spirit and a lot…  Still waiting to see the Kingdom of Heaven though.  Now some people with ego would take great offense to being told they are poor in Spirit, not me – I already know it… lol…  But when He started speaking to me by His words about this even more, it is like my spiritual eyes were opened a little more and my roots – arms – grasped a little deeper into Him.  And I really do not mean to harp on this… but hopefully, it strengthens you as well in case you need it as much as I do.

To be POOR in Spirit is so simple – it is just that… poor in Spirit – meaning:  helpless, empty of self, sort of not knowing what to do anymore, bankrupt and by the Greek definition it is:  reduced to begging, destitute of wealth, influence, position & honor, afflicted, lowly, destitute of Christian virtues and eternal riches, powerless to accomplish an end, needy, in lack.  It really means unable to learn of the ways of intellectual culture – giving themselves up to Christ’s teaching, proving themselves to lay hold of the Heavenly treasure.

To me it seems more purposeful now than ever – to just die to self all the way around and asap to just go with the flow and let Him have His way.  To enter God’s Kingdom, we must allow Him to do away with ours.  Our own personal old Kingdom of self, in that we may enter into His.  It seems like we can finally let go of any and all reputations and titles within the World.  No more competition, making a name for ourselves, any desires to be noticed or even embraced…  To me, it is just all over – plans we made to formulate our Kingdom here on Earth – and where the poor part really hits home for me is – my spirit feels very bankrupt to a greater degree.  Maybe some of you all can relate?

A poor soul, is a crying out soul and a soul that is crying out totally has the Father’s attention – especially one crying out in authentically – laid bare and open, hiding nothing.  So if this is you – let me just say, you’ve got your Father’s attention – His eyes are particularly on you.  And now, without all the distractions, we too are able to conceive of and see His Kingdom. 

But back to the whole truth, void of mixture and percepts and imaginations of how we wish it to be… But rather receive it just as it is, in fullness.  Please stick with me in this, I am really going somewhere, believe it or not…  We must know that God does speak to us through His word.  We try so hard to hear Him, we seek Him at every turn – even to the point of getting frustrated and yet many people have His word and its dusty, not having opened it in months or years or if ever.  Do you see how quickly we can become agitated with our Father for our own shortcomings?  He desires for us to grow and increase in our knowledge of Him – but just how can we do that if we disregard what He inspired to be written about Him?  We can’t.  So I said allllll that so far to say this…  Can we handle some meat today?  I am cautiously optimistic we are poor enough in spirit now to go a little deeper into His word and grow.  I’ve had somethings to share for quite some time, but due to milk – I withheld it for quite awhile – and today the Lord pressed upon me – no time like the present.

These Scriptures are meat, because they will choke those who prefer mixture – they are not comforting if you find yourself landing on the wrong side of right – they also display the fullness of our Father – who is loving, merciful, gentle and kind, but as tender as His embrace is – His wrath is just as purposed. It is the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom – trust me, you cannot know Him fully and not fear Him.  Someone told me the other day – God doesn’t hate anything.  Ummmm, yes He does.  I know it comforts people to think He doesn’t – but His word speaks contrary to man’s opinions of Him.  And this is just one example of many – so we have a choice to make – Do we truly want to KNOW HIM or just KNOW ABOUT HIM?  If we desire to know Him, then we are not satisfied just knowing perceptions about Him, relayed by others who have opinions over truth.  Our Father corrects us as His children because He loves us – not to spite us.  We are not bastard children, rebellious and without a parent, no our Creator Parent is just as involved in our lives this very moment as He was when He formed us together, individually and purposely in our mother’s womb – remember, He is not leaving us as orphans.  Our Father knows and some of us do as well…  That just because you correct someone, does not mean you cast them away, it is because He loves us.  But with that… due to self-will, if someone chooses to walk away due to His correction – they made a choice and He will wait with open arms for them to return from having a prodigal state of mind.  And we’ve all rolled around in the mud long enough, wouldn’t you agree?  What is somewhat worrisome to me is that many are playing with the fire of time, banking they have plenty to sow rebellious seeds, having enough time to return to Him, after they satisfy their souls on Worldly interests.  Well, lately, I am feeling that is a very dangerous roulette game – all signs do point to Jesus’s soon return, He is our blessed hope and it is a guarantee if we don’t meet Him in the air soon, we will pass from this life to the next via death.  Either way – we will soon see Him face to face. 

So He gave me a stern warning to lay to our hearts today ~ first about the time we live in to seek Him in fullness and to peek into what it is like to fall into the hands of an angry God, because many will unknowingly and without warning – how disheartening it would be to hear, depart from Me you worker of iniquity.  My mom called today and said several times she heard God audibly say to her the words in the past couple days… “grave danger…”  I said nothing, I know why He said this to her, but unfortunately I must stay silent – she doesn’t want to hear the truth, especially from me.  So I just pray.  But it did get me thinking…  I wonder how often the Lord is speaking to me and I ignore it because it is not what I want to hear?  I bet it is a lot.  Which is why we read the Word more now to convict us of our carnal ways, cleansing us through the act of repentance, making us whole and poured out of self, filled with Him – to in truth live a transformed life.

So in Proverbs 6 is a very strong warning for the brethren – not the World, not the sinners, not those who have not been saved – BUT FOR US, so let’s read it –

¹² A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

This person is deceitful with his speech.

¹³ He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

He is charming and all over the place speaking, going from person to person

¹⁴ Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

His heart is evil & foolish, he is a fraud and deceives others, causing great pain as an instigator of contention, strife &, arguments among the brethren.

¹⁵ Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

¹⁶ These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Does the Lord hate?  Yes.  Aren’t we curious to know what He hates and even what that means, in order we may put it under subjection in our own lives?  Yes, again.

NOTE:  When God “hates” something or someone, its not like we do as humans – it means He considers that thing or person to be an enemy or a foe or not of His direct replication of His image.  For example – God is light, there is no darkness within Him, so to Him darkness is opposite of Him in every way, He hates darkness, so it flees from Him.  When He hates something, He opposes it.

We are doing a great disservice to ourselves if we are convinced we can do anything we want and still be pleasing to our Heavenly Father.  Of course, due to Jesus dying on the cross, we are washed cleaned – but today – I am speaking to a few remnant believers who have this inward desire to please their Father.  It like being saved is just not enough – you want more, you want all of Him and you desire He have all of you.

So in order to proceed, being poor in Spirit, we need to know what it looks like to abide in the Kingdom of Heaven and honestly, to rid ourselves completely of that which is not tolerated within it.

So here we go…

¹⁷ A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

¹⁸ An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

¹⁹ A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Now I personally know some of you – I also know, you are poor in Spirit and that some of you never do these things God hates.  You may have in the past as the old creature, but now as the new creature – with many stripes the Father has placed you within Himself, purified in these areas.  And like I always say – it is a process, Jesus is the Author and Finisher of us daily.  And He is also our mediator, so that when we stumble, we confess our sin immediately and repent to do it no longer.

God considers those His enemy who are proud of their works, considering themselves higher than others  –

LOOK DOWN UPON OTHERS, SPREADS LIES, SHED INNOCENT BLOOD, PLOT EVIL TO DECEIVE OTHERS, GRAVITATE TO BEING UNPLEASANT/DISAGREEABLE, GIVES A MADE UP/DECEITFUL TESTIMONY, STIRS UP FIGHTS AMOUNG THE BRETHREN.

See, that wasn’t so scary was it?  Most of you do not even need the searing of this word to the heart because your heart is not set upon the destruction of another.  You all are some of the most loving and merciful people I know and though at first you might have been resistant to this Word, getting hung up on God hating anything, once we study it we realize it is given for our good, not our destruction – and we receive it as such.

²⁰ My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

²¹ Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

²² When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

²³ For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

The commands of the law that the Father established should be some of the easiest precepts for the follower of Jesus to attain and are not fearful whatsoever if you are on God’s side.  The Law is a true blessing, especially when first saved – when you need some concrete do’s and don’ts and you are learning to follow Jesus’s ways and footsteps.  Some of my most precious memories of Sunday school as a child were having fun while learning about the 10 Commandments.  While humans make them scary by holding them over your head and adding to them – Jesus fulfilled the Law – meaning He submitted to the commands which were written.  Verse 23 tells us these simple steps of the law, lights our journey here on Earth, disciplines us when necessary and gives clear instructions on what the Father expects from us as His children.  The Law is a gift in so many ways – only those who walk in rebellion, get irritated because the law goes against their fleshly lusts and desires.  I am sorry, I warned you this was going to be meat today and earlier we set the foundation of why it is important to receive the fullness of the Father, not just what is comfortable to us.

Oh and real quick…  our Father in Heaven manages all evil, placing limitations, barriers, confines and purposes for our good on the times we do choose to interact with evil in anyway.  He allows and disallows all entrance into and out of our lives.  We are on a leash – for some it is short and for others it is real long…  especially concerning the curiosity of evils and the knowledge from the tree of good mixed with evil.  The truth is – many who claim to be Christ followers are still mesmerized and curious to know the deep secrets of satan.  Yikes— they will be sifted as wheat, the poor things, but God is God and I am not and I am the last person to tell Father of all parents how to raise His own children.

Okay – Are we good?  I pray I haven’t overwhelmed you today… 

I just want to point one more thing out that I found so amazing when I was studying this in Proverbs 6 – the Holy Spirit directed me to write out all the body parts involved in actions which God hates and I was stunned – We have EYES, MOUTH, HANDS, FEET and HEART mentioned here!  Just as described in the NT as Jesus’s Body (us) He said we have EYES, MOUTH, HANDS, FEET and HIS HEART of FLESH…  This body mentioned in Proverbs 6 is the EXACT OPPOSITE of the Body of Christ.  How amazing is our Lord!!!

So then He took me deeper on how each part that evil body plays by lifting themselves up in pride, shedding innocent blood, having these wicked imaginations, being so mischievous, bearing false witness against others to sow discord among the brethren.  And I went to the Beatitudes and you will not believe this – well you will, this lines right up with being the opposite of what Jesus would call THE BODY OF CHRIST/THE BRIDE – who are HUMBLE/POOR IN SPIRIT, MOURN, SEEK RIGHTEOUSNESS, MERCY, PURE IN HEART, PEACEMAKERS, PERSECUTED BY LIES.  It is almost as if the ones who are represented in Proverbs 6 are targeting those who are named in Mathew 5 — oh my, I pray you are getting what I am having a hard time articulating!  Bless your hearts, I know often my rambles need to be spiritually discerned – but I was just so excited to have my eyes opened to this truth and I wanted to share it mainly for those who shy away from some of the things which appear to be harsher in the Word than what they really are, like our Father’s commandments.  I just have this deep desire within me to take you all by the hand and go much deeper spiritually into the Word, but at the same time I don’t want anyone to choke on it…  It really is a balancing act sometimes.

Mark 4:19 tells us that we have so much focus on the things we care about in the World that deceive us, along with lusts of things in opposition to our Lord which enter into us that will CHOKE THE WORD – in which we reject it and it will not produce living fruit in our lives, if we permit it to do so.

But as we overcome our desires for worldly things and enticements, the Word falls on fertile soil, giving increase and fruit resembling the Kingdom of Heaven.

Is it really that hard for us to accept that God opposes or hates anything?  I mean can we grasp that He will say… Depart from me you workers of iniquity?  When we do not understand why He would do such a thing, may we rest in the truth of knowing He is God and we are not and therefore, His ways are higher.

If we are still loving what He rejects/hates…  then Scripture will be extremely offensive to us.  But if we love Him more than anything else, we may feel the sting of His redemptive correction but never offended by His truth.

So considering the World we live in and the mixture within the Church and still within us personally – we need to just have an open discussion about those who we deal with on a daily basis that are outlined in Proverbs 6 and UNREPENTANT…  Unrepentant is a word you are going to hear much more often in the near future.  Rarely these days will anyone say they are sorry for anything they do to harm another…  intentionally or inadvertently, if someone is hurt by us – it should be our pleasure to say I am sorry so they feel better and are happy and at peace again and feel loved.  Saying sorry is another quality of the poor in Spirit.  Thank You Lord.

I can’t believe I took up almost a whole broadcast just to set the foundation of what I really wanted to share…  Dealing with those who are unrepentant in the heart.  Well, it must have been purposeful. 

Those who are rebellious despise anyone talking about discipline, let alone it coming through the brethren.  So we are going to move very slowly and only by Scripture – we will let the Lord’s words speak for Himself on this one.  I can already feel the resistance and we haven’t even started the study yet.  Remember those with nothing to hide, hide nothing…  so come with a clean and pure heart next time we meet and we will truly have nothing to be offended about.

I am going to leave you with something to consider and ponder, knowing many of not most of you will shrink back…  But I am most curious who is with me?  It compliments our last study regarding “receiving” the least of these…

Proverbs 31:8-9 says –

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Time to rise and shine Saints!!  When submitted to the Holy Spirit, we are free for the asking of calling evil good and good evil… Judging fairly, the Word says and remember – we are told to judge ourselves first and in the same measure/way you judge another you shall be judged – so tread ever so lightly in this…  This is just a teeny tiny bit of a pearl, for those who have ears to hear and a heart of flesh and are for life, all lives, placing others more important than ourselves.  If we do not view someone else more valuable than we are, seeing the preciousness within them – even if only a glimmer, we are not mature enough in our walks to judge someone of anything.  Glossing over rebellion to God ways, whether ours or another’s, is very dangerous ground to walk on.  There are times when the Word may seem confusing, even conflicting – when this happens just go to the Lord with an open and teachable heart, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you and open your eyes to the fullness of His word and He will do so.  The Lord will never deny someone who is whole-heartedly seeking truth.

So… could it be… we are being groomed to recognize, discern and even judge what is good and what is evil so we no longer mix the two?  Is Jesus teaching us how to judge fairly?  And like Paul said, is there no one spiritually mature to judge the most smallest of matters?  Please pray about this – and don’t ask one soul, but rather seek the Lord’s truth.  And next time we are going to talk about it more, along with disciplining those who are rebellious and unrepentant. 

ROF CONNECT  nikki.rofconnect@gmail.com

God’s Design For Loneliness ~

January 21, 2021

The Lord kept pressing upon me just how much the church body needs one another and yet, they do not believe it, let alone demonstrate brotherly/sisterly love to one another.  He began showing me several groups in the World who are more loyal and loving to one another than the average Christian, while they are yet sinners and what a blemish this portrays to His church.  He impressed upon me we better get it together and quickly, for time is very short and soon, very soon we are going to be placed into forced situations of needing one another and yet, no one may be found.  A call to love has gone out upon His people – Will we answer that call?  Some will and some will choose to stay in the false mindset of pride, stating, I have Jesus and need no other, which isn’t Biblical by the way – so as a gift He gave me this corrective and instructive teaching to apply to my own life.  It is a blessing because it drew up from within me what my heart cried out for and already knew and it also pressed repentance upon me for going against His design and listening to humans too much.

We are in a new season of preparation – He is gathering us together and those who want to come with Him are joining as one, partaking of love, feasting on Jesus – soon the door to the feast is closing, as He is personally tossing out the spots and blemishes who are not authentic in their demonstration of love.

You all ready to learn about – God’s Design For Loneliness?  Let’s get started!

I am already aware that many of you suffer silently in loneliness, thinking there is something wrong with you, afraid to speak up, confused and listening to whispers from the enemy that there is something terribly wrong with you – like you are incomplete, questioning your faith in Jesus and maybe why He is not enough for you.  I too know those self-condemning voices all too well – so rather than listening to man or even woman in my case, it is time we lay down all the words of vanity and go right to the Father’s words and search out the Scriptures for God’s true and divine plan, so that we have wisdom and strength in Him. 

Just to stir up your minds a little and open them to truth, I want to begin with a question, which we will answer along the way today…  Before the Garden fall, at the very beginning is where we too are going to begin today.  Back to a place where all things were perfect and good, way before sin entered the minds and hearts of others, be cleaned and washed by the purity of the Father’s design…  In a place and time where His design was untouched with the uncleanliness of humanity.  Because when our foundation is wrong, the whole thing is wrong… My question to you is:  If all things were design were perfect, void of the separation of sin and Adam communed fully with the Father – Why did the Father say to Adam, it is not good for man to be alone and created Eve?  What a perplexing question that is.  Right?

Well today, we are going to explore that Biblical truth, the Lord’s way, as the Holy Spirit unfolds God’s word and teaches us Himself.  We are also going to lay down all preconceived notions of man, which at times use God’s word selectively for self-gain in how they desire the Father’s will to be so they are off the hook so to speak from walking in submission to His design – today we are going to talk about – God’s Design for Loneliness and how it relates to the divine impartation placed within our heart’s desire.  And I hope to cover why you long for another to come along beside you on this journey called life.

So take a breath…. And let’s get started.  This teaching will likely make some of you nervous and for others bring a sigh of relief.  Regardless, the truth should always set us free, knowing it is already written upon the tablets of our hearts and if we are indeed a child of God, we should quickly come into agreement and alignment with what He has proclaimed – regardless of what the flesh desires.

In the New Testament there is a recollection of a time when Paul was very downhearted, lonely and depressed while out on a mission spreading the Gospel and yet he was with other believers his heart was longing for one he was especially close to.  He was pressed on every side, feeling hopeless and to help assist him – the Lord sent Titus to remain with him.

Let’s read the Word found in 2 Corinthians 7:

⁴ Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

⁵ For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

⁶ Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

⁷ And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

So the Lord sent Titus to deliver something to Paul’s heart that only he contained.  Titus comforted Paul, who described himself as downcast in the soul.  The Lord delivered comfort to one by the way of another when that particular one was lonely and in need.  He didn’t cast a demon off, he didn’t shame him for feeling hopeless, yell at him to get up, quote scripture to him – you know what God did?  He sent a friend…  A familiar face to embrace in love.  Paul and the others were in need and Titus was given a command to go and within Titus God placed comfort to deliver to those who needed uplifted and they were.  Relationship.  Fellowship.  God’s perfect design.

Did you know we are actually created within the Image of our Father to fellowship with one another?  Our Creator enjoyed fellowshipping with Adam in the coolness of the day and He actually enjoys being in relationship with each one of us – it brings Him great pleasure to do so.  This helps us to understand why loneliness sets in within us and a desire to be connected comes by the way of the heart when we are disconnected from those we love.  It is the same desire the Father has towards us as His creation, that we have towards one another.  But for many reasons the enemy like always, skews and tampers with to make unclean that which the Father has deemed clean – including relational love in the image of our Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Communing and fellowship is how we were created to be with one another.  Humans are interactive by nature since birth.  Did you know a newborn can have all their physical needs met and starve to death of love if not nurtured and held and comforted?  We are like that newborn in God’s family in many ways.

Here is what the enemy does not want to see happen, because he knows divided we fall.  He isn’t afraid of us nearly as much individually as he is when we join with fellow believers.  The more light we shine together, the more difficult it is for him to remain hidden and he hates it when darkness is revealed and brought forth by truth.  He can accomplish much more if darkness is not revealed so he goes to extremes to keep us silent and not exposing his unfruitful works.

Hebrews 10 says:

 ²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Assembling here means to complete one another, gather together to worship the Lord.

We are incomplete without one another…. Even if we have the Lord, His Body is fitly joined together, one heart, mind and soul in Him.  We compliment one another in the Body by the tasks we have been given to complete the Lord’s work on Earth.  We have hands, eyes, ears, mouths, toes, arms, legs and all need one another to be a whole body.  Yay!  So see you are not so weird as people convinced you that you are!

We just read to not forsake gathering together to be complete.  Amen?  So a lack of connection stirs up loneliness for God’s children who are actually healthy in the heart.  The problem is we tried to join with most often with those who do not share or partake in the same love for Jesus that we have.  The Word calls this being equally/unequally yoked…  But wait… there is more – because honestly, many of us out of desperation for love have tried to join with others who do not share “in love” as we do…  We always love more, demonstrate love more than it is returned, are happy to compliment others for their growth, we pour out to those who do not “assemble” to love as we do.  Once we realize we are not in an equally yoked relationship, it helps to let go if possible and if not, to seek the Lord to restore all things new by His design, to be patient and wait for Him to move.  This is a tricky situation if you are committed, unless there is infidelity/abuse/neglect and such – which are all forms of adultery (being unfaithful in a relationship) – but let’s talk about that specifically another day because having sex outside of the marriage covenant is only one way someone is not faithful, there are many ways actually.  So if you are in one of those situations right now – pray and ask the Lord to lead you to stay or leave, depending on what His will is in your life.  It is during these times, I never trust my emotions or my heart – when I do I will stay when He wants me to go or go when He wants me to stay and most times He is seeking me to see if I will surrender to His will, then I am released from the desire of my heart.  He often doesn’t do things as quickly as we prefer – I remember Him telling me when married my husband was making me impure and I ended up waiting 7 years to be fully released.  Every situation is different and when I say released – it is about the heart, not the flesh because the flesh portion happens much quicker in my experience.  So above all else, seek Him. Amen.  Okay moving on…

The truth is Jesus sticks closer than a brother because He is all knowing to the truth of us – but even that doesn’t negate the joining of us with one another.

The only places I could find within Scripture that speaks of a true separation is where we are told that if an unbelieving spouse departs to let them go and then this one pertaining to marriage as well found in

1 Corinthians 7:

⁵ Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

So it is only through the agreement of both parties that you separate for a time to dedicate yourself to only the Lord, but we are instructed to come back together again or else the enemy will enter into the relationship and divide.

It is important to note, but we don’t have time to get into all of it today – that Paul often spoke of him not taking a wife as he did not burn with the desire to do so – it is evident the Lord used others to compliment him and ease his loneliness in a most precious way.  Which is the main reason we are even having this talk today – within the gathering together of Jesus’s Body, one to another we can live a very complete and fulfilled life.  Thank You Lord Jesus.  But for me and many of you as well, it is like we have a knowing inside that the Father did create us to compliment a partner in life – no two molds are the same, all are created differently for the fulfillment of greatest measured purposed on Earth.  It is the Father that places that desire within each of us, to be joined or be alone – one is not more highly esteemed than the other, just different.  My mom always told me there is a lid for every pot… just don’t boil over while in the process.  I do believe that – I do believe we are how the Father designed us before the fall – I just think we struggle with settling for something not that special, either giving up altogether or trying to make a square peg fit in a round hole., so we are always searching – never finding.

So don’t think it strange and don’t let anyone shame you for longing for, praying for and desiring to be a half of two, instead of incomplete as one.  Like I said God answered that question Himself at the very beginning by giving Adam an Eve and when He did so – He said it is not good for man to be alone.  Before the fall, like I said everything was perfect – there was no sin to separate God from Adam and the same is true for our eternal state of being.  Sin separates us not only from God, but from one another too.  When we sin against one we love – separation occurs by our own hand.  So in this beginning picture we see God and Adam communing together in the cool of the day and even with Eve too later on before they sinned – they had pleasure in one another and with the Father and the Father was pleased, they were pleased.  It is beautiful really.  So we see here it is possible to be in full surrender, obedience and purpose to the Lord and be one with another and you can also see you can be one with the Father and be alone and still have lack like Adam was before Eve.  Humans are created to be interactive and joined for complete fulfillment.

Like I said, unfortunately, we’ve looked for love in many wrong places, settling for wrong partners and friends, instead of waiting on God to deliver to us who He chose for us to be yoked with in Him.  Did you notice before how after every single thing the Father created He declared it was good?  He saw Adam and said this is not good… So He created Eve out of Adam and then declared it was good.  Have we just convinced ourselves that God changed His mind from the beginning?  Or do we just convince ourselves to bring comfort to ourselves on why things haven’t worked out?  Lately, the Holy Spirit has really been convicting me that if I truly desire to be surrendered and obedient I am not to pick and choose what portions of His word I want to come into alignment and agreement on in my own life, based on what I desire to agree with – He’s showing me either I embrace the whole truth or none of it and as all this is unfolding I am seeing the desires He placed within me – that it is those I am to hope for no matter what.  So I pray this encourages many of you as well.

Again, before sin entered the World, God declared it is not good to be alone, so He custom designed a female for the only male human existing on Earth at the time – all the animals already had counterparts, but remember He also placed within them a desire for one another, they already had a desire for the Lord – He joined them together, so that is truly three becoming one – a cord not easily broken.  Some might say it was for procreation to populate the Earth, but that is only the fruit of man not being alone, it is not the purpose of it, by what is written in God’s word.

Isolation was never created or called good – humans do that…  Relationship, human interactions with one another and with the Lord were His design from the beginning – it was His plan for humanity from the start and until the enemy began to lure Eve away, while Adam was distracted and then he weakened to the point of letting her convince him of going against what the Father said – 2 being 1 in the Lord was perfect, not shameful.  If they had not spent time apart, it is likely the serpent would not have been able to even get to Eve.  So as the love of many is growing colder in this World, relationships are severing all over the place and the enemy is at work in the process to redesign a masterpiece God already called good.  Lucifer divides in order to conquer and the Lord unites in order to strengthen and believe it or not, it seems as if the enemy is winning – thankfully he is already defeated and God will win this and all battles and by our reliance on Him, we too will overcome all things.

These life principals found in Ecclesiastes 4 that we are getting ready to read reveal a precious word portrait of the Father’s design of His family’s love one to another here on Earth.  Family in of itself is all about relational interactions – whether it be disheartening or dysfunctional or even frustrating at times… Love always remains between family and we remain loyal – family, real family is loyal to one another.  My brother Tommy John who is a few years younger than me and we used to fight like cats and dogs…  Today he is my very best friend, not because we haven’t ever been through any struggles – but quite the opposite really – we stick by one another, loyal and with love because many times, one another is all we have.  He is the other half of my 2 I guess you could say, proven by time he is always there for me – no matter what, just as I am him.  But as zealous as we are at love, we have the same zealousness for mercy, forgiveness, irritation – lol… like he hates it when I chew on the phone, just little things like that and when he corrects me – he’s usually right, but no one tell him that – I always have it coming and you know why he can correct me?  Because, we have relationship – he is there when I am down to comfort me – day or night and he is there to celebrate with me in the good times too.  Never correct someone more often than you love on them, not ever.  Anyway, I know this sort of love is possible, because I have experienced it – the problem is, sadly it is very rare.

Okay, back to our study…  We know lucifer isolated Eve in order she heard only him so he could coax her into disobedience.  And just to add to the 2 is better than 1…  Sadly, Adam left Eve’s side or she left his and they both were placed into a vulnerable situation.  You know the Garden is just so very telling of many things in the unveiling of truth and for today’s study, it is so important for us to see how the enemy can seduce the weaker one or even the stronger one without the covering of another.  And when we join ranks of agreement with the enemy through the uncovering, blame sets in, just as it did with Adam who blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent…. Not staying joined allowed the enemy to break the cord binding together, although not easily broken, it was severed and since both fell, neither could pick the other one up.  It makes me sad to think about really… What breaks that cord?  When you do not cherish the bond and nurture and care for it by partaking in love together.

Moving onto Ecclesiastes 4:8-16:

⁸ There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

This is a mindset of the lonely – convincing themselves they don’t need anybody, even though our Father told us it is not good to be alone, these are the ones who protect themselves usually from past betrayals and hurts, who have slowly slipped into pride declaring I don’t want anyone close to me.  They become unyielding to others, will not listen to council and refuse comfort – sadly it is a sore and painful travail for them their whole lives.

⁹ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

Two have a greater measurement of rewards for their work for the Lord as 2 can accomplish much more for Him than just one can.

¹⁰ For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Every human falls at times and requires and longs for another to come along beside them and help them to stand, it is a God given gift – a back and forth sharing in a relationship of taking and receiving.  Sadly those who only learn to take are left with the void of what it means to give and those who only give are just as void, cut off from receiving love as well.  When we refuse to be yielded to help by insuring we stand alone, we suffer more unnecessarily, because we have not allowed anyone close enough to help us up when we fall.  The Word tells us we often cannot get up without someone else’s help in addition to the Lord’s and when we pick ourselves up, we lack the comfort required to be made whole again.

¹¹ Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

We can grow very cold inside without human interactions and intimacy with others.  Receiving love through a vessel which contains the love of Jesus keeps us warm during the coldest of trials.  Love is transferable between two of God’s creation – to receive and to return is equally important for balance in our lives.  If we remained guarded and alone, we may be warmed for a moment, but it is fleeting at best.  Love is relational, just as our relationship with Jesus is.

¹² And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

We need one another to overcome the enemy who pursues us day and night, to steal, kill and destroy us.  Without a covering to walk with us on Earth, the enemy can prevail in our lives in ways he otherwise would not.  A threefold strand represents you, another and of course our Lord – so that we are able to withstand (not be moved to falling permanently) assaults, but rather overcome them all and grow.  Through trials as we grow, walking together, we grow as one too!

¹³ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Here we are shown the purpose of being childlike rather than a secluded ruler, isolated and alone.

So we will get back to this in a moment, but first I want to touch on some places in the New Testament that compliments what we just read in the Old, knowing many carnal minds are thinking I have Jesus, I need no one else.  We still have a command to be together with others in such a communing way and have a command in essence to divinely serve those who are lonely, in which togetherness in the Lord is the remedy.  We – the church – with Jesus first of course, is the cure for such loneliness and oh how so many are lonely in this World right now, even those who are following Christ, many are lonely, needing comfort and love by demonstration, not just words.  All the disciples were blessed to know Jesus personally, but when He sent them out – even they went out 2 by 2, not to mention how the animals entered the Ark.  When we simply just give lip service to others regarding our love, it is void of sustaining fruit.

The reason I often hang on the demonstration part is because over the course of my life, I’ve often been told by many they love me, over and over and yet – their actions reflected otherwise.  Being older and wiser now – I am not moved so much by words of flattery, seeing I was laden with sin and drawn to that type, but Jesus set me free and I can see clearly now to my own worth and when someone does not mean what they say and say what they mean, that is it not purposed for me to cleave. Yay!

In the Family of God, the Ecclesia, the Church Body of Christ we are to partake in much together – relational, with one another, celebrating being an actual Child of God –

Romans 12              says to REJOICE with one another

Galatians 5             says to SERVE one another and CARRY one another’s burdens

Ephesians 4            says to FORGIVE one another

1 Thessalonians 4    says to COMFORT one another

1 Thessalonians 5    says to ENCOURAGE one another

1 Peter 4                says to OFFER HOSPITALITY to one another

James 5                 says to PRAY for one another

And the list is endless really, we are to mourn when others mourn, feed, clothe, visit them, give them our cloak for covering, actually… If someone comes to us in need and they are a part of the family of God, we are not to withhold our hand from them.  Again… relational and purposed actions and deeds.

So what does this look like exactly?  Because there truly are many rewards we receive right here and now from our obedience to the Father.  These are not suggestions, but rather principals that our real brothers and sisters are to abide by, as well as us, and if we do not follow our Lord’s commands we can be in danger at times and things don’t always go well for us, do they?

Reviewing Ecclesiastes 4 –

• Verse 8 spoke of how difficult it is when we attempt to just go it alone.  I think the word was “sore travail.”
• Verse 9 reveals how much more strength and encouragement we will have when given Godly assignments when shared by two, rather than just one doing all the labors, causing weariness.  There are natural and spiritual blessings that come upon 2 doing a quick work, like a faster turnaround, when there are doubled efforts of – hands, feet, eyes, heart, minds, etc… the work is completed quicker and in fullness.
• Verse 10 explains how when 2 are walking along, 1 falls and is too hurt to get up, the other one can lift you up, even to face danger ahead or carry one another to safety.  Sometimes we need another’s perspective in our time of pain, they often can see things we cannot.  Plus, we all need that 1 who will not walk away no matter what and yet loves us enough to tell us the hard truths, not just what we want to hear.  It also says in the Word, that if one is entangled in sin, you who are more spiritual, help that person up, help them to stand tall and keep walking on the straight and narrow path.  You must, you must have a close relationship with someone first or they will not receive what you are saying – again 2 is better than 1 for this command.
• Verse 11 shows us how providing support, comfort and nurturing is so warming to a hopeless heart when all seems lost.  That sort of love is extremely comforting as a display of our Father on Earth through one of His vessels.  It also displays our willingness to be humble, bend down to assist another, even to the point of touching what may be unclean to most – because that is what love does.  Love gives of your time to another, it is a display of affection, placing one above yourself which makes them feel worthy enough to even be loved.

When it comes to love cherishing another – perception is everything, otherwise it is cold and work based.  We are commanded to love, but love cannot be commanded void of demonstration.  We often make the mistake of loving others the way we desire to be loved, but pure love doesn’t seek its own way, it seeks to embrace the heart of the other person so they experience our embrace. 

• This King Solomon, we read about being so very wise, paid a heavy price, pretending he could go it alone, not needing love as he had the approval of the masses by his charm, intellect, position, speech and appealing appearance.  He was alone by his own vanity of choosing self-reliance.  Solomon had lost his purpose somewhere along the way, eventually only to find himself alone on an emotional island.  He said, paraphrasing here, how there is nothing better than a faithful friend, speaking of how he went out searching for one and found none – only many who needed one – had finally decided he needed another, but none was found – just more of those who needed him.  He had receive the reward of the admiration he sought for, but he was longing and empty inside, having no one to share his life’s journey with – all the up’s and down’s – he finally figured out when it was too late… how lonely life at the top can truly be.
• So there are many dangers to going it alone – like this King who was isolated, he refused to be willing to receive advice or wisdom from others, he would not receive assistance, comfort or help and what is the saddest part of this whole story – his heart grew so cold he no longer could receive love, he stopped searching for it.  This is what happens if we place ourselves on the throne of our hearts – we won’t let love in any longer. 

So there is a moral to this story and there is a purpose to it as well, which I will share in a moment.

I just want to remind us all – some pearls of wisdom –

To have a friend you must be one.

To be loved you must love.

We always get back to the exact measurement of what we give away and when you continually push people away, one day they will eventually just stay gone.  Yet, those who partake in the feast of love with you, will never leave your side.

Our joy is made full, not by receiving love, but by giving all our love away so that when it returns back to us, we are kept warm in the heart as it takes two – one cannot keep their own heart warm.  There is one to give and another to receive, Jesus is the love we exchange.

I mentioned there was a purpose in all this, besides the obvious, of course.

ROF Ministries is getting ready to launch ROFCONNECT…  I spoke a little bit about it a couple months ago and some of you sent your email address in and you do group emails occasionally, which is fabulous, btw.

I said after the new year, Lord willing we would launch ROFCONNECT and start plowing the ground and see if it is what you all, those we love and serve benefits you in anyway.  Remember our vision is to “heal hearts His way…” So this is just another outreach we are going to try and approach it somewhat patterned after the Prison Ministry. 

We firmly believe no one should feel left out, alone, sad and hopeless – so if the Lord allows, we have a heart’s desire to be used by Him to assist others to connect.  Whether that be in a group or 2 by 2, that is up to you and up to the Lord.  We are going to move slowly, prayerfully and with fluidity by the Holy Spirit in this assignment.  The Lord recently laid upon my heart just how much His Body and children are going to need one another to stand firm and in balance and that love in action is the key.

So here is how it will work…  Nikki is my assistant with this little outreach.  She has a new email specifically for ROF which is:  NIKKIROFCONNECT@GMAIL.COM

All you have to do is email her and for now all who join will receive continual weekly encouragements and I strongly encourage you all to write each other within the group often – words of encouragement and be open to share in your daily struggles, so without chains we may love and comfort one another.  As we move forward, we will seek the Lord’s guidance on matching people up 2 by 2 or you all may even do that yourselves.  If we do that… don’t laugh, but it goes with a dream I had years ago called – “matched by heaven…”  I used to joke I would run a dating service through the Holy Spirit’s guidance with strict adherence to Godly principals.  Although, males and females are encouraged to join ROFCONNECT, it is not, not a dating service… and believe me, I will know if any sneaky ones try to make it that…  With that being said – I still believe… every pot has a lid and may the Lord have His way in this, it is for you all and for His glory.  So if you are interested being on the ground floor of this new endeavor just email Nikki and we’ll see what happens!  I honestly have no expectations whatsoever.

Lastly, the Lord really convicted me last week…  Saying, my church keeps preaching about loving their enemies and my own children do not display love to one another.  He reminded me how charity starts at home and how we are not to withhold our hands from our own flesh…  Why?  Because when we do this preaching to the choir sort of thing and we are not walking it out one to another – we are no better than the hypocrites, saying one thing and doing another.  We are similar to those religious ones who pass by a stranger fallen down in need to get to church, to declare our holiness before all men.

We must check our own hearts to see, am I a clanging cymbal or sounding brass?

In closing, lets read it as a reminder of how important demonstrating love is to the Father, no matter our gift, assignment or calling…  love is what He desires to spread more than anything else.  Remember?   We are known by our charity, demonstrations of love – not our wisdom, teachings, fancy prayers, ministries, revelations, dreams/visions, declarations, but by our charity – which is all that we discussed today in how we authentically embrace one another.

1 Corinthians 13

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

⁴ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

⁵ Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

⁶ Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

⁷ Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

⁸ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

¹⁰ But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

¹² For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

¹³ And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.