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Accepted In The Beloved Prophecy: Love is light! Love opens your eyes to see what those you love need so you can do something that truly helps. When something enables you to see it has to be light. Whatever makes manifest is light. But when the light that’s in you is darkness how great is that darkness as when you think you see but you never see the things that are needed to help others, you only see the things you want, the things you need, the things that pertain to your own desires and your own happiness. You think you see, yet it’s darkness because you don’t see what anyone else needs. You never see what you ought to do to help your brother. So what’s upon you? Darkness or the light of Christ that enables you to see how to help your brethren; the light of love? Examine yourself, saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at “My Father’s House”) If you were to start a football team and name it “The World Champions,” you wouldn’t be world champions just because you call yourselves that. You wouldn’t be world champions until you overcame everyone else that wanted their team to be the world champions. I’ve noticed in many years of walking with Christ that “churches” almost invariably turn out to be the opposite of how they describe themselves. Most Baptists don’t even believe in baptism. The Catholic “church” isn’t universal (Catholic meaning the one and only world wide church) nor is it even a real church. The “faith movement” usually teaches “presumption” not true bible faith. And most Pentecostals (referring to the baptism of the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost) aren’t Spirit led or Spirit filled. Whatever a so called “christian” claims to be or ought to be in Christ the devil opposes and he usually wins making fools and liars of such “believers” as won’t fight the fight of faith to become what God’s calling them or even what they call themselves. God named this church “My Father’s House.” A lot of “churches” these days are run by mothers. Women often out number men in the contemporary “churches” and greatly influence the leadership. This isn’t even counting those “churches” which have permitted women “pastors” or husband/wife “pastor teams” to be in charge. In “My Father’s House” from the beginning we had to fight to keep women like Mrs. Wolf, one of the chief “boss” mothers from dominating the church. But even before her there were other women who tried to control “My Father’s House” and were gone before many of you got here. Often there’s something wicked in women who profess to be “christians” that makes them want to run things and causes them to think they have a superior “mother love” making them wiser than men. Such “christian” women often mistake emotionalism for Spirituality and therefore believe they’re more Spiritual than men and more fit to lead. Then there are the wealthy women who rule the church by their “donations.” Others have large families that are members of the church but more submitted to “Mother Superior” than the pastor. Such women fulfill the scripture Adam wasn’t deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (1Tim2:14) One of the first battles “My Father’s House” won is that our church isn’t being run by women. Though our women are precious and very important in helping with the work of the Lord they haven’t usurped authority over the men and they’re willingly in submission as the scriptures teach. (1Pt3:1-6;1Tim2:12;Eph5:24) When Jesus named “My Father’s House” He meant it to be a church where the Father God is in charge, so of course the devil was opposed to that and fought tooth and nail to make us a mother-led church. But satan lost and God won! Also for “My Father’s House” to live up to its name it must be a church where the members are sons of God, meaning they’re led by the Spirit. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Rom8:14) So to be true to our name we had to overcome carnal “christianity” and become a people truly led by God’s Spirit. We also need to live up to our logo describing “My Father’s House” as a “Spiritual church of discipleship, prayer and evangelism.” Look what a battle we had to fight to get real prayer into our services, and we’re still pressing in to be more Spiritual, especially in the gifts of the Spirit, though we’ve had much blessing in the area of healings, prophecies and Spiritual songs etc. As for evangelism there’s a great work going on through the Glory of His Grace. Currently many souls are being saved and restored to true Christianity, but look how many years it took before that fruit began to manifest. So “My Father’s House” is living up to her name by virtue of the gifts God has given me in bringing forth the Glory of His Grace, etc. But for us to truly be a Spirit filled church of prayer and evangelism each of you has to win the battle to be Spiritual and evangelistic in your personal lives. You must have it in your heart to save souls, and you must have faith to be led by the Spirit. Whatever you claim to be, the devil will oppose. In whatever God calls you to the devil will oppose you and try to make God look like a liar so you must fight the fight of faith to become everything God calls you to be. (Phil 3:12) The battle we fight is the battle for Truth even in what we claim to be true of ourselves. If we say Christ is in us, we must demonstrate that He is by our behaving like Christ is in us. If we claim to be sons of God then we must walk in His Spirit. (Rom8:14) Everything God calls you to be the devil wants to turn into a lie. So our greatest battles are on the very grounds of what God says of us by His Spirit or His Word. That’s where the devil says, “If God wants this to be a Spirit filled church of prayer and evangelism don’t let it happen!” So he sends his armies of demons to try to stop it and many of those demons are manifested in false “believers” who come in by stealth to resist what God has called us true believers to be and do. (Gal 2:4) The reason for all our struggles is there’s an enemy who opposes God’s will. And God’s will is never more manifest than when He prophesies what we’re to be. That becomes the very point where we have to fight the fight of faith to obey God. But God says the “Promised Land is yours. Go in and take it!” Of course, the enemy says, “We won’t let you take it.” Cowards won’t fight to take it! But the promise is ours. God’s prophesied it’s ours so we can win if we’ll fight the battle. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I’ll be his God and he’ll be My son. (Rev21:7) Like the Jews under Moses, however cowards won’t fight! They turn and run. And that’s what most so called “christians” do today. They refuse to fight the fight of faith to enter in. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Rev21:8) So what has God called the Glory of His Grace to be? To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Eph1:6) Paul says, by the grace of God I am what I am. (1Cor15:10) So what are you? It’s to the glory of God’s grace how He makes a real believer acceptable in Christ. Because it’s of grace, it’s not according to the will of man but according to the will of God. (Jn1:13) So, the Glory of His Grace was named by God and is purposed to bring praise to God’s glorious grace, because God’s grace through the teachings He’s bringing forth in this publication is working to make us acceptable “sons of God” in the Beloved. The Glory of His Grace was created by God to fulfill the scripture. (Eph1:6) But one reason we’ve had such a struggle for so long is God’s grace wasn’t working in some of you. I had to rebuke J.S. recently because he wasn’t showing any interest at all in reading the Glory of His Grace yet it’s of God’s greatest purposes that “My Father’s House” publish the Glory of His Grace, so the true believers can take hold of God’s Word by faith and be made acceptable in Christ! (J.S. left “My Father’s House” shortly thereafter.) God has raised up the Glory of His Grace to make sons of God, believers who are accepted in the Beloved; not like the heretical Baptists, Catholics, Calvinists etc., who can’t demonstrate Christ is in them but real sons of God led by the Spirit. God called me to this and I’m doing my part to fulfill the calling. And we’ve been receiving numerous confirmations that true sons of God are being brought forth by their receiving God’s present Truths as they’re being revealed in the Glory of His Grace. We’re getting letter after letter testifying that the Glory of His Grace is doing its job; it’s effectually working in those who believe and Christ’s disciples of today are learning to be led by God’s Spirit! (Rom8:14) So the Glory of His Grace is living up to its God-given title. After years of struggling we broke through. Now everything is getting better and stronger and the Glory of His Grace is increasing rapidly in fruitfulness and in fulfilling God’s purposes. But it took years of faithful perseverance, overcoming all those things that came against us to publish the Truth God was giving us. Look at how much work we have to do to get the Glory of His Grace out to God’s elect! Also remember when I was fighting that very painful physical battle for a healing, praying in the Spirit, and how God also brought you all in “My Father’s House” into prayer warfare at that time. How much of that do you think was about healing and how much of it was about the doors God opened up until the circulation of the Glory of His Grace increased from 200 a month to over 3,000? All of that had to do with our battle to fulfill God’s Word in the face of an enemy who makes it his purpose to oppose anything God tells us to do. It’s the essence of satan’s existence to oppose God’s Word. If God did nothing the devil would have nothing to do because he doesn’t have an agenda of his own. His only purpose is to oppose God. In this you should understand why overcomers are the only ones who make it into God’s Kingdom because, of course, even our salvation is opposed by the enemy. Everything the bible says a saint ought to be, the devil schemes to make sure you never become. The moment you decide you want to be a son of God satan will do everything he can to prevent you from walking in the Spirit. (Rom8:14) He’ll excite your flesh to get you distracted, send false “christians” to call you a “fanatic.” He’ll do anything to keep you from actually becoming a son of God. When you confess you’ve been saved by Christ satan will try to make you seem a liar. And too often he’s successful. There are very few “believers” these days who are actually Christians according to the scriptural definitions. Whatever the bible says real Christians are like has been explained away by the lies of the devil, the heresies and excuses of the false churches. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Mt15:9) Today most “believers” aren’t anything like what a true Christian ought to be. They’re nothing like Jesus! (Rom8:29) They know “zilch” about walking in the Spirit. (Gal 5:25) They’ve never experienced the crucified life that’s lived unto God in the power of Christ’s resurrection. (Gal 5:24;Phil 3:10) Most know nothing of these things. But if you do know are you doing them? The first line of satan’s attack is to keep you from knowing, but his second is to keep you from doing. So you must overcome satan’s devices and become a doer, or you won’t be accepted in the Beloved. (Rom2:13) Like if you aren’t doing right and someone rebukes you does that make you angry? Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, won’t you be accepted? (Gen4:6) You must overcome that anger. If you don’t do well sin lies at the door. Its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. (Gen4:7) Cain killed Abel because he didn’t overcome his anger. Instead of getting angry set it in your heart to heed corrections and do right. Strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so what’s lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. (Heb12:12,13) If you repent and do what’s right you’ll be accepted. The purpose in every Godly rebuke is to conform your behavior to Christ’s so you can receive the peaceable fruit of righteousness. (v11) Do you think it’s kindness to let you go on doing wrong and not tell you about your sins? You’ll not hate your brother in your heart. You’ll surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. (Lev19:17) If God doesn’t hate you He’s going to correct you. For the Lord chastens whom He loves. (Heb12:6) Cain was rebuked because he didn’t offer an acceptable sacrifice. The bible teaches much about unacceptable sacrifices. Whatever has a defect, you’ll not offer, for it won’t be acceptable. (Lev22:20) Concerning everything we offer to God perfection is expected because God is perfect. (Mt5:48) He wants us to be perfect and wants us to do things perfectly in Christ. (Col 1:28;1Cor10:31) Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. (Ps19:12,13) If sins have dominion they rule over you. Don’t you know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you’re that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? (Rom6:16) But concerning the saints, Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you’re not under law but under grace. (Rom6:14) If I’m under grace, grace has dominion over me because grace is more powerful than sin. It’s foolish to think being under grace means you don’t have to answer to anything when the very word under as in under the law, means I answer to the law. So being under grace means I answer to grace; the Spirit of grace, (Heb10:29) who is the Holy Spirit and who’s God. So I answer to God Himself if I’m under grace instead of answering to the law which is given by God but isn’t God. Don’t let sin have dominion over me, (Ps19:13) instead let God have dominion over me. Then I’ll be blameless, and I’ll be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. (Ps19:13,14) This agrees with bringing every thought into captivity to Christ. (2Cor10:5) We’ve received numerous letters from men who complain of battles in the mind, as in having unclean thoughts. Can my thoughts be acceptable to God if that’s going on? If I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it’s good. So, it’s no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. (Rom7:16,17) Someone who’s complaining about unclean thoughts and rather than enjoying them is fighting against them, isn’t “guilty” of those thoughts. He wants to be free from them. So such unclean thoughts aren’t me, but they’re the sin dwelling in my flesh because “I” don’t like such thoughts. So the man wanting to be free from unclean thoughts and the unclean thoughts are two different things. Most people in this intellectual world think you are your thoughts. But I’m not my thoughts. I can watch over my thoughts as though I’m sitting above them. I can look at them as from a throne ruling over them and judging to receive or reject them which proves the thoughts aren’t mine until I agree with them. When I reject them I’m disagreeing that such thoughts are me. I’m affirming they aren’t mine. So I exist in a higher consciousness than in such thoughts themselves. Thoughts that are mine are an expression of my consciousness where I really dwell but thoughts that are contrary to my will are intruders, trespassing on my consciousness, not from me but from something else, which is identified as sin in the flesh. (Rom7:20) The fact that I don’t agree with them, I don’t like them, I don’t want them to come out in action or speech proves they’re not of me. And I can rule over them because in Christ my consciousness is seated above them. (Eph2:4-6) The real me is higher than my linguistical or even pictorial thoughts. The real me can choose which words or pictures best express that which I desire to share which means I’m actually judging and controlling the expression of my thoughts. (Jn16:14) Thoughts I don’t like and I’m not going to act upon, I reject. They’re not mine. They’re not me! And through the grace of God I can call upon Jesus to sanctify my mind and cleanse me of such trespasser thoughts. (1Th5:23) But many “believers” don’t know this. Ungodly thoughts run wild in them and often they think they’re personally wicked because of such thoughts whereas if they don’t like the thoughts, they can’t be wicked because in their true self they’re disagreeing with the ungodly thoughts and therefore siding with Jesus for righteousness! Though such believers aren’t wicked they do need to overcome bad thoughts because such thoughts are a distraction that keeps them from being as fruitful as they ought. And that’s where we need faith in Jesus and the power of His Spirit to sanctify our minds, as in Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer. (Ps19:14) Thus in Christ I can resist the devil and his sinful thoughts knowing they’re not from me. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he’ll flee from you. (Jms4:7) Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom6:11) So I can reckon myself dead to sinful thoughts. Often instead of letting wicked thoughts distract me I just ignore them and go on with my work. When you ignore them they lose their power, and before you know it they’re gone. When you pay attention to them, even to fight them, they seem to gain strength by the very fact you’re noticing them. To ignore them is the same kind of faith you see in not being weak in faith, he (Abraham) didn’t consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; but was strengthened in faith giving glory to God, being fully convinced that what God had promised He was able to perform. (Rom4:19-21) If Abraham could ignore his own body and be strengthened in faith, then I can ignore “old man” thoughts that are leftovers from my dead carnal nature. They may be trying to rise up and reassert themselves but I’m dead to them. They have no power over me anymore. I’m dead to sin and these thoughts are sin so I can reckon myself dead to them. (Rom6:11) They don’t have the power to distract me. I don’t give them that power. I don’t magnify them or focus on them as in saying, “What terrible thoughts! I’ve got to do something about that.” Instead I say, “In Jesus’ name, get out of my mind!” and I go on with my work. If you give such thoughts your attention they become stronger. If you ignore them they become weaker. If you give your mind to the things of God soon there’s no room for wicked thoughts anymore because your attention will be fully concerned with doing the work of the Lord. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3) When you’re raised and seated with the Lord you’re working together with Him. (2Cor6:1) So you’re judging what you’re doing and formulating the words or actions necessary to express God’s will which means you’re reigning above those words and actions, so they aren’t you but the expression of the higher consciousness that’s really you and which is putting them together. The real you is ruling over your thoughts. My thoughts are under me, not over me. I’ve been crucified with Christ; it’s no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal 2:20) Christ’s Spirit is who I really am, and Christ rules over all things. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. (Ps19:14) When spoken in sincerity this is certainly a prayer God will answer. It has everything to do with bringing your thoughts into captivity to Christ. (2Cor10:5) It’s certainly God’s will. Now this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions we’ve asked of Him. (1Jn5:14,15) So God will do it. The lips of the righteous know what’s acceptable. (Pr10:32) You can see by the way the bible speaks in some places that God didn’t intend everything He says to be taken literally. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2Cor3:6) My lips really don’t know anything. It’s my mind and my heart, or my consciousness that knows what’s acceptable. But my lips have access to and are controlled by my consciousness so in that way they “know” what’s acceptable. Therefore my lips don’t allow unacceptable speech to come out because they’re controlled by a higher consciousness. Only in that sense do my lips “know” what’s acceptable. Now relate that to, but you have an anointing from the Holy one, and know all things. (1Jn2:20) I’m like a mouth in the body of Christ. He controls what I say by His all knowing consciousness. Therefore I know what’s acceptable by His Spirit controlling me. The lips of the righteous are connected to the higher consciousness of Christ who knows what’s acceptable. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright -- words of Truth. (Eccl 12:10) Concerning the Glory of His Grace I’ve also sought to find acceptable words and what’s been written is upright, words of Truth! Something I often hear is, “Nobody preaches like you preach.” Whenever I hear that I know it’s Jesus in me as when they spoke of Him saying “No man ever spoke like this man.” (Jn7:46) And if Jesus is in you that’s what ought to be said about you. Spiritual men speak like Jesus. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1Cor2:13) Carnal men can’t speak like Jesus. But the natural man doesn’t receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they’re foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they’re spiritually discerned. (v14) Jesus isn’t in them. When we speak it should always be because we’re asking the Lord for grace to speak acceptably. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. (1Pt4:11) Some of you don’t speak well because you use too much repetition. You say the same thing over five times. Don’t you have faith that people will understand you the first or second time you speak? There’s no anointing when you’re excessively repetitious. You need to speak things that are acceptable to God and to men. Speak clearly, speak in a way that glorifies God and make sure your words are effectual and bear fruit. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things. (Mt12:35a) It’s good that the heart be established by grace. (Heb13:9) Grace will give you the ability to speak rightly. Let’s therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb4:16) Grace gives dominion over sin and the flesh so you can do what’s right. For what purpose to Me comes frankincense from Sheba, and sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings aren’t acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet to Me. (Jer6:20) Hear O earth! Behold, I’ll certainly bring calamity on this people – the fruit of their thoughts, because they haven’t heeded My Word. (v19) If your thoughts aren’t acceptable to God your sacrifices can’t be acceptable. You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1Pt2:5) What’s a spiritual sacrifice? A sacrifice is something that’s been killed. So killing something by the Spirit is a Spiritual sacrifice. Killing your flesh by the Spirit so you can serve God without the flesh getting in the way is the acceptable sacrifice of the New Covenant. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal 5:24) Until your thoughts are acceptable your sacrifices won’t be, so by the Spirit you must put to death the carnal thoughts if you want your offerings to be (Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be) acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Strength and my Redeemer. (Ps19:14) Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2Cor10:5) In every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (Act10:35) When Gentiles who don’t have the law by nature do the things in the law these, although not having the law are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts. (Rom2:14,15a) And won’t the physically uncircumcised if he fulfills the law, judge you who even with your written code and circumcision are a transgressor of the law? For he isn’t a Jew (or Christian) who’s one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he’s a Jew (or Christian) who’s one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit not in the letter; whose praise isn’t from men but from God. (Rom2:27-29) God will accept Gentiles who have the work of the law written in their hearts even above Jews who know the law but aren’t keeping it. You must be doing the right things, not just knowing the right things to do. There’s an advantage to the man who knows what’s right to do; he has a better opportunity to do it. What advantage then has the Jew, or what’s the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. (Rom3:1,2) But more is expected of the one who has knowledge. That servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who didn’t know yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they’ll ask the more. (Lk12:47,48) But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment produced in me all manner of evil desire. (Rom7:8) You’re a more important target for the devil when you have more Godly knowledge. Therefore you must increase in Spirituality as you increase in the knowledge of God or you won’t overcome satan. You can’t depend on your scripture knowledge alone. You have to increase in Spirituality to be successful. (1Cor2:5;Gal 5:16) Whoever fears Him (God) and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (Act10:35) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, (Instead of killing the body we put to death the deeds of the body: if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you’ll live. Rom8:13b) holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what’s that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom12:1,2) For the Kingdom of God isn’t eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. (Rom14:17,18) Are you serving Christ Spiritually in righteousness, peace and joy? That I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles… that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable. (Rom15:16) The word Paul uses here for minister in the Greek doesn’t merely mean “preaching” but that he’s a “functionary” or a temple worker. The offering of most “believers” today isn’t acceptable. This verse shows there’s something a minister must do to make the offerings acceptable. Believers have to be taught properly. And where teaching is to be effectual there must be authority. (1Tim2:12) The student must be accountable to the teacher for what he’s being taught. The teacher doesn’t just “preach” the word, he makes sure his students are doing what they’re being taught, and if necessary he disciplines them – this is what authority is for and what the word “disciple” means – one who’s disciplined. Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (2Tim4:2) I do more than preach in “My Father’s House.” I minister. In ministering I often get personal with the members; reproving, rebuking, teaching and helping each one attain to doing: making sure they apply the Word rightly. You have to put the gospel Truths to work if your offerings are to be acceptable to God. Believers need to know what’s acceptable to God and need to be doing what’s acceptable. Most so called “churches” these days don’t have “ministers” – they have “preachers.” There’s no accountability so there are no real disciples in such “churches.” The offerings of the “believers” in such places can’t be acceptable to God. For the offering to be acceptable it has to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Only a Spiritual sacrifice can be acceptable. The sacrifice has to be done in the Spirit. Anything that’s not offered in the Spirit is carnal and isn’t acceptable. To be done in the Spirit means the Spirit prompting, the Spirit controlling, the Spirit motivating. So in obedience to the Spirit the sacrifice is made, the flesh is crucified, the will of God is done: the offering is sanctified by the Holy Spirit and therefore acceptable to God. You were once darkness, but now you’re light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and Truth), finding out what’s acceptable to the Lord. (Eph5:8-10) To find out what’s acceptable you have to seek to know God’s will. Now we’ve received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who’s from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (1Cor2:12) As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. (2Pt1:3) How do you find out what’s acceptable to God except by asking Him? Your relationship with God through the Spirit in prayer has to be the foundation of everything you do. Prayer and reading God’s Word is how you find out what’s acceptable to the Lord. Walk as children of light. Light is the Spirit giving you the knowledge of what’s acceptable to God and what you need to be doing. In “My Father’s House” right now we’re in a time of transition; things are continually changing. Every month we’re doing things in new ways. As the circulation of the Glory of His Grace increases, we have to allocate funds from one area to another so we can get God’s Word out in a timely fashion. That means we’re constantly pruning off less important programs. (Jn15:2) Under these circumstances nothing we do can become a habit. Next month will be different from this month. So we must always be looking for the light from God to see what’s the right thing to do that we increasingly progress in the things which are more and more acceptable to God. Indeed I have all and abound. I’m full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. (Phil 4:18) Paul commends the Philippians for their acceptable sacrifice because he knows they were led by the Spirit to do this. It may appear their offering is helping him with mere physical needs but those needs have to be met if His Spiritual work is to continue. Paul knows they’ve sought the Lord and the Lord has led them. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. (Phil 4:17) And he knows the Lord will reward them for what they’ve done because it was done in the Spirit. We’ve had many experiences like that in “My Father’s House” where someone will bring in just the right thing at just the right time often without even knowing of the need. What God is doing with the right hand the left hand is involved in, and we can see such things truly come from the Spirit. Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth. (1Tim2:1-4) God wants us to have quiet and peaceable lives, so we can effectually share the gospel. It’s hard for people to listen to the gospel when they’re distracted by dangers and troubles. If we don’t have peaceable lives it’s often because prayer is lacking, but we also know that sometimes when we pray for something we enter into experiences that seem to be contrary to what we’re praying for. Because on the one hand, the devil opposes our prayers and on the other for God to answer a prayer He may have to change things. Transition is usually difficult; not peaceable. So for God to answer our prayer we may first have to fight a battle to attain to what we’ve prayed for. It’s after the battle is won we enter into peace. If any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. (1Tim5:4) When people who have families to supply their needs come to us for things their families can provide – they’re robbing God – and God will punish them for that. (Mt3:8,9) We’re here to help those who don’t have anyone else to help them. If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows. (1Tim5:16) Therefore, since we’re receiving a Kingdom which can’t be shaken, let’s have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (Heb12:28) Without grace you can’t serve God acceptably. See how that agrees with To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Eph1:6) And By the grace of God I am what I am. (1Cor15:10) What are you? You can’t say I am what I am by the grace of God unless the grace of God is making you into someone who glorifies God; a real son of God walking in the Spirit. (Rom8:14) God’s grace wouldn’t make you into someone useless or bad. If the grace of God is changing you, and you’re really growing then that’s good and acceptable. But grace’s process isn’t endless, it has a goal and must eventually reach its conclusion which is to make you perfect and mature in Christ; that you’d come to the fullness of the stature of Christ. (Eph4:13) So don’t delay or allow your growth to be interrupted. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom8:29) For it’s God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Phil 2:13) You’re not “saved” if God isn’t working in you to conform you to Christ! And if you are being “saved” God’s grace works in you personally but it also comes to you through your brethren, your preacher, and even special workings of the Spirit etc. From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Eph4:16) You must also be involved in ministering this grace to others to receive it yourself. Give and it’ll be given unto you and the same measure you give it’ll be measured back to you. (Lk6:38) As you measure this Christ forming grace towards your brethren God will measure it towards you. The reason some of you have been slow to grow is you’ve done so little for others God can’t do very much for you. One secret of being Christ-like is to always be concerned with others more than yourself. (Phil 2:4) As you become concerned with the salvation and Spiritual growth of your brethren God will give you the grace you need and you’ll grow. You must be personally aware that you’re growing but you can’t be focused only on yourself because grace doesn’t work selfishly. So watch yourself and make sure you’re making progress but also keep walking in love, which means you’re very much concerned about your brethren’s progress too. And let’s consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. (Heb10:24) You mustn’t be inordinately introspective just looking at yourself all the time, because you won’t see how to help others unless you get your eyes on your brethren and the needs of the church. Then while you’re giving Godly help to others, God will also help you to change what you need in yourself. The whole point is if we’re truly “saved” grace is working in us and we’re being made acceptable to God. Saving grace changes us; it changes our behavior to make us Christ-like. To the praise of the glory of His grace by which He’s made us accepted in the Beloved. (Eph1:6) That’s what it’s all about. That’s why God chose such an awesome verse to title our ministry because there’s no more important a ministry in the world today than the ministering of God’s grace to make believers accepted in the Beloved! Prophecy: Have I not said My grace is sufficient for you? Then how could anything overcome you? If My grace is sufficient for you and you’re receiving of My grace then you know My strength is made perfect in your weakness and you’re dependant upon My strength and not your own. So nothing can overcome you, for nothing can overcome Me! Those who receive of My abundance of grace will surely reign in life. They’ll reign over sin, and doubts, and the lies of the false brethren. They’ll reign over everything because My grace is sufficient to give you power over every enemy and to overcome every weakness. My grace will conform you to Christ. My grace will make you accepted in the Beloved. My grace is available to you for everything you need and you’ll be complete in Christ because My grace will make you complete, saith the Lord. Prophecy: Grace is in the prerogative of the giver. The one who’s petitioning often has an idea of what he wants. And he expects to get what he’s asking for. But it’s not up to him what he gets; it’s up to Me what he gets. It’s up to Me to decide what kind of grace I’ll give and how I’ll respond to the petition. Many of you are encountering this with the inmates. For example, some may want a pen-pal who’s going to be a financial patsy and give them all the money they want. The dreams they have come from their flesh not the Spirit. So they’re often disappointed when you show them the grace God’s willing to give them through you isn’t the kind they’re looking for. Because we aren’t here to minister to flesh, we’re here to minister the Spirit. And those who refuse to receive what we offer will be cut off; but those who can see what I offer them is better for them Spiritually than what their flesh was looking for, and can come out of the flesh and take hold of the Spirit will be blessed. In the end they’ll receive the things they need not on their flesh’s terms but on the terms of grace and the Spirit. Those who are in a hurry never receive the true blessings, but those who trust in Me and look to Me to receive the grace I offer them the way I offer it, in the end will inherit all things. And that’s a lesson to you also. I’m abundant in grace, but I give grace My way. You must wait upon Me and receive the grace I give in the way I give it. If you do there will be more and more grace and there’ll be an abundance unto the end, saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at “My Father’s House”)
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