Working with the Lord in Removing the Blockages in my Heart + Mindsets of Wrong Beliefs
The Garden Catalogue For Today
I AM STATEMENT FOR THE WEEK:
I AM The Way, The Truth and The Life,
[6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)
Without the Way there’s no Going,
Without the Truth there is no Knowing and
Without the Life there is no Growing!
. . . . . . .
What was Christ’s Victory won at the cross?
Jesus’ total Victory at the Cross included His Complete Defeat of the Powers of Darkness
Another of the 6 core things Christ accomplished by His death on the cross was: The sinless blood of Jesus released us from the power of sin and the curse of the Law
Referring to: Matt Perman – the 6 things Christ Accomplished at His Death
Defeat of the Powers of Darkness
Christ’s death was a defeat of the power of Satan. “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 3:15). Satan’s only weapon that can ultimately hurt people is unforgiven sin. Christ took this weapon away from him for all who would believe, defeating him and all the powers of darkness in his death by, as the verse right before this says, “having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14).
Now may we know our authority in Jesus Messiah the Victorius King over all powers of darkness:
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:19-23)
May we understand Jesus is The Way of Victory in Spiritual warfare over the powers of darkness
Eph 6: Belt of TRUTH – Part of The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Walking in the Ways of the Kingdom of Righteousness Rom 14:17; filled with the Holy Spirit, maturing in the Fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:16-26,(22-23)
Walking in the Lord’s Ways controlled by the Holy Spirit Rom 8 – hearts and will fully surrendered, taking up our cross daily and denying our self- ego nature – Matt 16:24-26
Learn to wait on God and listen to His leading and to heed and obey the way God reveals His next steps – more of God’s purpose – if we don’t wait: Abram and Sara’s human plan to ‘help God out’ by Abram having a son with sara’s maid when they were both very old , lead to such deep enmity and family division, the consequences of which are still being fought out today. Haggar – Sadly God’s strategies are aborted by man’s ways and attempts to reach goals.
Jesus knew in John 7 it wasn’t yet His time to go to the cross – so he waited and He walked step by step following his Father’s lead. We need to learn & to expect divine appointments in the middle of divine delays to share the gospel
On the Way to….. Jesus lead by His Father, met and healed so many people –we need to let go of our goal orientated planning and boxes to allow Jesus to guide us in His Ways and strategies by the Holy Spirit.
We need to be:
True Disciples of Jesus are those who follow Him and live according to His Ways of loving and caring for one another, building true heart unity in the faith – Jesus called His 12 disciples after waiting in prayer with His father up the mountain all night. Following that Jesus had divine meetings with His Disciples eg Nathaniel &we can Walk in Jesus’s Ways of Love and Life and forgiveness, with the blessings flowing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit; words of Knowledge, wisdom, healing and deliverance.
Submit to God, resist the devil & he must flee James 4:1-10. Let us learn God’s wisdom Ways of Peace and let go of man’s ways of worldly wisdom, of competition and strife.
In the Fear of Lord – beginning of God’s wisdom Prov 9:10
10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Overcome our cowardice and resistance from enemy to not speak Jesus’ words of truth to proclaim & bring forth God’s Kingdom advancement, also the temptation to lie. Rev 21:8
8 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.”
We experience Jesus abundant Life:
When we speak His words that we have heard from the Father in His HOLY Spirit of Grace and truth in Faith John 1:14
As we speak to the mountain and see it is removed & the enemy’s plans & ways are derailed – we Praise Jesus!
Mark 11:23
23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Zech 4:6-10
6 So he answered and said to me: This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”
Ps 133 when brethren dwell and pray tog in UNiTY Jn 17 & LIFE forever more
Heb 12 we come to the Living Father and the Living Spirit & we worship Him in Spirit and Truth
Theme for the week:
Exploration of How do we understand the reality of Jesus BEING The TRUTH in our perspectives and heart?
The Pharisees questioned the truth and challenged the validity of Jesus’ statement that He is YHWH, stating; ‘I AM The Way, THE TRUTH and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me! John 14:6-7
A religious mindset might see Jesus’ assertion as problematic, seeing from a competitive perspective, of one’ faith’ attempting to be superior to another. Some non-Jewish people might perceive the ‘Jewish’ perspective of the ‘Holy God of Israel’ as being racist or as making false truth claims, on the basis of ancient heritage or supremacy, status or power.
Another person, in their natural human finite mind that is fallible, desiring their own autonomy, might think; “I can have it ‘My Way’! Why should I submit to another’s ‘Way of life’, version of the Truth?” Such a thought as Jesus’ stating that He is THE Way is then deemed as ‘absurd’. How can one man have a monopoly on the truth, or claim to be the ONLY Way to life or to God? He must have ‘mental delusions of grandeur’! This is exactly how Jesus was challenged and persecuted by some of the people in John 7:1-24.
They questioned Jesus’ calling: ‘who is this man Jesus?’ Some thought He was a ‘Magician’ because He’d healed the whole soul and body of a man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath in John 5:1-15. Others could have thought Jesus was a ‘Man on a Mission’. Some had the conviction that Jesus was just a ‘Talking Head’, while other’s might have thought He was a ‘Man of Truth’. The pharisees saw Jesus as one who broke the law of the Sabbath rest, so they saw Him as a ‘Sinner’. However, the man who was healed understood He was his ‘Saviour’. (In John 5:14, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”)
Later in John 5:39-40 Jesus spoke to the religious people “you study the Scriptures diligently, because you think in them you have eternal life. They are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”
Later, he told the same religious people: “if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins”, John 8:24.
On the same evening that Jesus made the claim. “No one comes to the Father except through me,” he added. “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:7
In John 10:10 Jesus warned his disciples 10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
But what if…… Jesus is actually God Himself? If He is the One True God and creator of the Universe and the source of all life? What if He is an infinite all powerful omnipresent being, that has been incarnate in the form of a man to bring humanity the true revelation of His nature and the true nature of His Father? This puts His claim into a completely different light.
Jesus doesn’t say that He merely speaks the truth, He claims to be the embodiment of Truth. He doesn’t just say that He can give life, He tells the people He is the source of Life itself! He doesn’t say that He and His Way is just one of many pathways to God, He states that He IS The ONLY Way for people to come to God His Father and to enter into everlasting life and relationship with Him and His father by the Holy Spirit. Then He states that He and the Father who sent Him are one, so anyone who has seen Him has seen the Father.
1 John 5:20 tells us…..’we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.’
1 Jn 2:21-22 states that; ‘21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
John the Apostle was vigilant in the early church to warn people to be watchful not to be deceived by those filled with lying deceiving spirits. These dark powers reflected the nature of Satan, the father of lies, a murderer from the beginning, John 8:44.
Jesus was very strategic in His exposing the two spiritual realms, one of darkness, deception, lies and destruction. The other of Life, light, love, joy, peace, righteousness, justice and Truth.
Jesus taught in John 10:10 that 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 26 For as the (True) Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.’ John 5:26-27.
When God was preparing the younger generation move from the wilderness and to cross over into the promised Land Moses gave the children some very clear instructions from the Lord to protect them, for them to follow God’s ways to choose His life and truth in Deut 30:14-20. We have the same choices and challenges today. Will we walk in God’s ways to Love Him in first place with all our heart mind and soul and strength, to choose Life, not death, Blessing not cursing, Light and not corrupt talk coming out of our hearts and mouths, or bowing down to idols.
This is a sobering question we need to ask Jesus to bring revelation of the state of our hearts. In Ps 51:6 David was convicted of his sin, recognising that God desires Truth in our inner most parts.
In these days, it seems that Romans 1:18-25 is the reality of much of the world’s culture…….
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them…….. so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonour their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Paul the apostle warned of a time of the ‘great falling away’ from the faith in 2 Thess 2:10-12 when a great delusion would come upon the people……. 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
So…what is the best solution to not fall away into unbelief and idolatry and fleshly gratification? Jesus spoke to His disciples at the Last Supper, how He would sent the Holy Spirit of Truth to guide them to learn to walk and live with the Holy Spirit indwelling them, born again and sensitive to the Life, Light, Truth and ways of God. John 16:13-15 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
In these days of increasing deception and darkness, the Lord desires that believers, His followers and true committed disciples Jesus, will decide to walk in the way of His Holy Spirit of Truth (Rom ch 8).
Let us Discover Who the Father says He is, and how we can relate to Him.
God’s Orchard – Fruitfulness & the Flourishing Vege patch
By Hilary and C-HOP Team
Welcome to your Discipleship Journey. You are about to embark on an intentional season of healing the wounds of your heart. As you heal, obstacles to intimacy with God will be removed. You will find that not only will you receive healing, but you will also experience a real deepening of your relationship with the Lord. Each week we will look specifically at God’s Word in the light of different issues.
Week 6: The Truth about INSECURITY – “I’m Safe in the arms of my Father”
We will be drawing from Thom Gardner’s Book ‘Healing Journey’ p 115-135
Check out the Truth of God’s Word below.
We suggest you repeat these Truths aloud, close your eyes & rest a moment in each truth, then speak out loud these scriptures below and rest a moment in each of these truths – repeat them through the week.
In this season, God is the Gardner of our hearts to set us free from the many lies we believed due to our past experiences. In the previous 42-Day Banqueting journey, each week, we explored a particular area of mindsets of Hopelessness that have blocked our capacity to believe in the Goodness and the Truth of who God is.
This week, let us refresh our understanding about the lies of the issue of INSECURITY, such as where we have believed “I can’t trust or rest, I’m not safe, I’ll get hurt, I’m unprotected“.
Please Click Here to refresh your mind from Part 1 of the 42 Days Banqueting Journey – Week 6 – Day 3
Now, in this 50 days Journey we will invite you to intentionally declare God’s Word into your spirit with His Truths, to replace the lies we’ve believed. In John 8:31-32 “[31] …Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. [32] And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Let us focus on abiding in God’s Word and opening our hearts to receive our Father’s Love towards us as His sons and daughters, to discover how He sees us, and to believe His promises in His Word.
Truth: I am surrounded by My Father..
Ps 125:2 CEV Just as Jerusalem is protected by mountains on every side, the Lord protects his people by holding them in his arms now and forever.
Truth: My Father holds me tenderly close to Him.
Isa 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Truth: I’m tucked away and safe with My Father
Ps 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Truth:My Father can repair the damage that has been done.
Jer 30:17 ‘But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’
Truth: I AM hidden in My Father
Ps 27:5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Truth: My Father is with me regardless of what is going on around me
Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Truth: My Father is continually available to me.
Heb 13:6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Truth: My Father is in control of my life
Ps 31:14-15 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
Our Worship Song for the Week:
THE WAY OF LIFE PRESENTATION!
Let’s think about the Truth from Eph 2:1-6 how believing in Jesus as opening the Way at the cross and through His resurrection from death to life has made the way to lift us up to live in His abundant life.
There are many ways that we can share about This Way of Life with others – watch this Presentation, that we show as slides on our mobile phone speaking with people on street. It is amazing how many people are willing to stop as we start by asking questions like a survey – this has proved to be a very powerful way of helping people to understand the process of recognising our sinful state and God Way and Truth to His Life as in Eph 2: 1-10
Click here – www.thewayoflife.com.au – for a Presentation Video
DISCOVER HOPE !!
Watch #HopeStory videos from other people who have Discovered Hope
Please Visit the Hope website – explore & consider this different approach to speaking about the gospel as we encourage you to listen to the testimonies after the HOPE – Gospel Video – which we visited during Week2 of our 42-Days Journey.
NOW: Take some time aside to follow their example, and write a 30 sec, 2-minute and then a 5-minute version of your testimony of how Jesus has become The Way, The Truth & The Life in your everyday life that flows out to others !!
Ps Jeff’s Special Today: “Staying offended instead of seeking unity”
Today’s issue is staying offended instead of coming back to unity. The Word is clear: “ Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God.” ( 1 Corinthians 10:32).
But offenses happen. “Then He said to the disciples, ‘It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!“ (Luke 17:1). When offenses occur, forgiveness or humble correction is part of His Way: ” But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:23-26).
You and I are to walk in unity, thanks to the Holy Spirit: “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3).
Being candid with yourself and the Holy Spirit, is there any remnant of your old belief that you have a “right” to be offended and to stay that way if you choose? Is there any old vow you made in this area that now need to be removed? Do you think this is only applicable to the disciples 2,000 or 3,000 years ago? Do you have any residue of a residue of this issue for such a time as this? Was it connected to your upbringing as a child? Was it a family pattern in any way?
God bless you as you seek His Holy Spirit Wisdom on that issue. May you go forward on His path, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
