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Today, at lunch I asked the Lord, “Where Lord?” (where in Your word do you want me to read?) I felt led to read Colossians chapter 3. Did some due diligence on the word. Then I left to my car and “Bam!” rhema word came into my inner man, Eph. 3:16. I am reminded of Heb. 4:12. His word is quick and powerful. Living and active. It is alive. When I received the word it compounded with other word, Heb. 4:2; Isa. 28:10. This compounding process reminds of the function of the living capillaries in the human body reaching out transferring oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. When they attach to the organ they are attaching to it grows and is supplied. On top of this, who tells the capillaries to do this? They are alive and are compelled to impart life according to design and function of the Designer. How much more the quickened living Word of God? I remember older blogs on hope and faith. I see that hope is not an emotional thing, but my soul partakes of the hope diffused to my eternal spirit by the Holy Spirit unveiling His will and word. His word is His will. Hope is an anchor for the _____? For the soul, Heb. 6:19. His quickened word is behind the veil. Paul said, “A veil is over their hearts (Israelites), 2 Cor. 3:15. He tore the veil which is now His flesh. And now, we are members of His flesh and bones, Eph. 5:30, 3:6; John 1:14. Hope is laid up in eternity. It is brought through rhema word. When He speaks His word as He did to Abraham, Gen. 15:4-6, His faith “IS” also (incorrect grammar, but correct meaning.) Abraham partook of His faith which hope predicate and hinges on. How else could he go to a land promised and not know where he was going? Yes, he had faith, but hope also. And hope does not disappoint us or make us ashamed if it is derived from rhema word, 1 Thess. 1:3. Before the Pentateuch, Abraham was compelled by something much larger than even his own self-expectations pushing him out in faith because of its reality. Faith, hope and love remain and are real and encapsulated in the spoken rhema from Him towards them who believe, Eph. 3:20.

I heard a testimony at church last night. I saw the following:

The emptying of self also removes the power of the law leaving authenticity.

I believe Paul is talking about this in Philippians. In my walk, I have “tried” to empty myself. Thinking about this out loud now. If I am a glass of water how do I empty myself? I can’t. A Hand has to empty first or clean me so I can be available for clean water later. In Philippians chapter 2 Paul talks about how Christ emptied of Himself unto obedience and death, even death on a cross! No self there. The catch and beauty of it is He did it wholeheartedly and willingly. He even said, “Father not My will, but Yours be done.” Wow. So now, by grace and revelation of the word (which is the Spirit) we receive Him, Christ Jesus, in us moment by moment according to the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 3:18.

Back to the original quote. I believe Paul specifically refers to this “emptying of self leaving authenticity” in Philippians 3:9 (KJV), “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ” The King James version says, “…but that which is through the faith OF CHRIST.” It is HIS FAITH in me that I am allowed to partake of by grace and His blood.

A righteousness of my own kind simply puts a self-expectation upon myself, Rom. 7:11. Therefore, empowering the old nature along with its ego because of my supposed accomplishments or failures. The word says a righteousness now which is of God by faith, Rom. 3:21. Abraham believed God and righteousness was reckoned to his account prior to the Mosaic Covenant. Col. 3:1-3 says our lives are hid in Christ. Hid in Him, Our true authentic self is in Him. Self-righteousness though is deceptive and can have deep roots. Ask the Apostle Peter who didn’t want to sit with the Gentiles or eat pork chops.

I saw that when I give these self-expectations of any sort to the Father through Christ and fully trust Him with it then something is left. What is it that is left if there is no self-expectation? I am willfully losing¹ (Phil. 3:7-8) by His grace these self-expectations. Even things that supposedly make me feel right, moral, good, bad, wrong, or evil. In myself, I cannot redeem myself to God no matter how hard I try lest Christ death be for nothing. So again, what is left and why am I compelled to do this? In the natural, this sounds insane. Why would anyone want to empty self? Paul also says, “…that I might KNOW HIM..” Phil. 3:8. So, something happens when I get to know Him. Romans 5:17 says through “One Man” we receive the ‘gift of righteousness’ and ‘abundance of grace’ to reign in this life and the life to come. I partake in His actual righteousness which has no bearing on me. My part is John 6:29, to believe in Him and everything He brings, has accomplished for me. So what’s left? I am not ‘trying’ to be me, but just am. God is. We are His offspring and dearly loved children and just ‘ARE’ in His Son predestined before everything before we were born into this creation. His desire is that all men come to a saving knowledge of the truth in Christ Jesus.

At my birth into Him, I am drowned, immersed and baptized into Him. This old man with his self-expectations is truly dead in the Father’s eyes now. Now, it is a matter of renewal and sanctification by the regenerative work of the Spirit of God, Titus 3:5.

So, my self-expectation is dead in Him. In the Garden (pre-Fall), I don’t think there was self to empty because no law was there to put on them. If law was there it would lead them to Christ. Now, the old self-expectation is truly dead, but we have a quickening Spirit, 1 Cor. 15:45. What is left is the true me. The true, real me is coming out moment by moment in Christ, glory to glory, faith to faith. I believe that is what Paul is talking about in Philippians 3 when he says, “…and be FOUND in Him…” I am very eager to know who is left afterwards. Paul also says, “…to become like Him in His death.” Death to what? Death to what once had dominion over us. The judgment and penalty of the law. He nailed both in His flesh to the cross for my sin transferring me into His kingdom. And He shed His blood to buy me back which means I was once with Him in eternity’s past. Adam’s Fall separated me in this creation, but now I have a Redeemer, Gen. 3:15.

Quote from The substance of His will,

Hebrews 10:1 says, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect (they will not fully mature).”

In the Aramaic, where the verse says “not the very image of the things” it says “not the substance of His will.” I read this last night and thought this is what creates the “very image of the things” is the substance of His will.

In 2 Cor. 5:17, it says if any man be in Christ he is a new creation. The old has gone the new has come. How is this possible? By grace. It is the power to him that believes. Believing in the One sent from the Father. The substance of His will creates and initiates every aspect of being and thought. Paul says, “That He (the Father) may reveal Christ in me.” In that revelation, there is an unveiling of His purpose and will individually and universally for the Church. This “substance” is His nature imparted by grace through faith worked out in godly, unconditional, unearthly, never-failing, everlasting love. Christ says, “And by that they will know you are My disciples.” Not by head knowledge, bible memorization, miracles, success, but by His love! God is love and truth. Jesus is the truth and the Son of Love. This purpose now manifests in those who believe in Him and grows by grace. Faith comes by hearing from the heart and hearing the quickened word with the heart. This quickened word deposits and does not return void, but fulfills the purpose of the Sender. It manifests the substance of the Sender’s will by revelation and grace acting out in faith and love with all willingness because of the change and affect on the heart and motive.

Jesus is the Word become flesh. He brought and is the Word. Now, this word is in us. This word is eternal substance that last into the life to come. It imparts righteousness and power. The substance does not hinge on me or my works. It is grace and no more of  works.

Quote from The substance of His will,

If will and motive is redirected everything else follows.

Romans 6:16-17, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin [leading] to death, or of obedience [leading] to righteousness? But God be thanked that [though] you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered”

1 Peter 1:13, “Wherefore having girded up the loins of your mind (prepare your minds for action), being sober, hope perfectly upon the grace that is being brought to you in the revelation of Jesus Christ (daily revelation)..”

“Gird up”

• a metaphor derived from the practice of the Orientals, who in order to be unimpeded in their movements were accustomed, when starting a journey or engaging in any work, to bind their long flowing garments closely around their bodies and fastened them with a leather belt.

“Sober”

• to be free from the influence of intoxicants
  • every pretense that attempts to set itself up against the knowledge of God
  • 2 Cor. 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
  • thoughts are passively arrested by the revelation of Him in us. I cannot “control” my mind in my self-strength, but we have the mind of Christ. Peace umpires my heart and mind in Him. In Him, by grace I bear His temperance freely because against such things there is no law.

By faith, we have understanding, Heb. 11:3.

Col. 1:9, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;”

We are filled by Him through hearing Him, His word, singing songs to Him, living unto Him. I believe all are in enabled by Him through His grace and faith in us, Gal. 2:20.

Spiritual understanding seems to be a comprehension, enlightenment, awareness that was not known before. Spiritual wisdom seems to be the application in choices, words and action based on the amount of spiritual understanding.

Eph. 4:18, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance(lack of knowledge) that is in them, because of the blindness(hardening/callousness) of their heart:”

Heb. 3:15, “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

I believe with my heart. I confess with my mouth. If I choose not to believe with my heart then I deprive myself of life, love and my true identity based on the hardening of my heart.

I choose to believe Him when He speaks to my heart and spirit and to receive all the good He has for me, Eph. 1:3.

Matt. 8

1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Thought study: You have choice A and B. Choice A is removed. B is left. No choice is left if only B is remaining.

choose : [chooz] v. to select from a number of possibilities.

It seems to me the more I grow in my walk with the Lord the more I see there is no other choice. I have fallen away from Him countless times. I reconcile and He is STILL there. I boggles my mind. He truly doesn’t change or fall off His throne if I fall. He cannot deny Himself or His nature. Otherwise, how could He be our High Priest or our Righteousness? It also seems like He is getting bigger and I am getter smaller. When in reality He is revealing Himself. How big is God? He is the First and the Last. He is the I AM that I AM. He has no beginning and no end. The unveiling of Him in me has the capacity to overshadow, dissolve, diffuse, consume and overwhelm everything else in me other than Him. If it is accordance with His will, then those things will align with His will. So, looking back do I really have a choice ‘B’ if choice ‘B’ has no comparison to choice ‘A’? And if that is the case then if ‘A’ is the only choice then how is that a choice? Paul did not say specifically “he chose” salvation. Some may think I am arguing semantics, but if you really think about the context it becomes extremely interesting. Paul said, “IT IS THE POWER OF GOD………to salvation.” I also think Paul is mentioning this when he speaks of the profound mystery of Christ and the Church, Eph. 3:9, 5:32.

Rom. 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Paul was knocked off horse. He said, “Who are You Lord?”

Heb. 8:10, “”For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Eph. 1:19, “And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power..”

Eph. 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Rom. 6:16-18. Rom. 6:19, “I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.”

Of course, this is my opinion, but here is the word to back it up. If I can choose salvation once it is presented to me then what power is unto salvation? My choice? My strength to choose? What was so influential that a Christian murderer immediately said, “Who are You Lord?” He immediately knew it was God, but did not know Him. All of Paul’s “B” choices fell to the wayside. He even says this in Phil. 3:7-8. I think he is saying compared to Christ there truly is no “B” choice once He is revealed inside, Gal. 1:16. And yes, I do believe we have free-will. I also believe God is God. Rom. 9:17-23. After writing this, I have more assurance that God is more aware of me and my circumstances than I thought. He is not limited by time or human intellect or expectation. He already knows. That hurts my head.

First off, I don’t care if whoever thinks I’m crazy. Tonight, 01/05/11, at church during the second praise and worship Steven sung a song I can’t recall. I was sitting down and opened my palms to the Lord on my legs. Then I heard my mother say, “Trent, I love you. I am proud of you.” I felt like Jesus was the mediator. I am reminded of when Elijah and Moses met with Jesus prior to His crucifixion. Is this possible? Is it too hard for God? All I know is when I heard this it shook me hard in my inner man to the core. I cried strong tears. I still feel it as I am typing this. This awareness of her pushed me to Him. Love. She showed me unconditional love. I am so thankful for the years I did have with my mother before her departure to see the Lord in glory. She is not dead, but alive. He is the God of the living: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I love my mom. I think I forgot that somewhere down the road. She is very real to me right now. I am thankful for this moment. Thank you Lord. It was like a mini-reunion. I feel her right now. I see her weak arms and feel her pure heart of love for me. I feel her approval to me as a son. She was not perfect, but a very good person in spite of her handicap. She was and is always a light. She is alive in me and her grandsons. I miss you mom and that’s okay. I’m your son. I will see you one day with Him. Save a spot for me. Love, Trent.

On February 2nd, 2011, my wife, then fiancee, told me something profound. So, I thought to blog it. I have over 400+ drafts and am in the process of catching up on posting them. By the way, my wife should write her own “-ISM” book. She has hundreds of -ism’s 🙂

That night, we were watching a movie, “The Blindside”. She said, “People will listen to you when they know you care about them.”

My next thought is why did the people listen and not listen to Jesus? 1 John 4:8

Genesis 2:23 says,

Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Paul says in Ephesians 5:26,

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word..

I believe Adam prophesied to אשה ‘ishshah¹ when he said Gen. 2:23. 1 Cor. 14:3 says, “But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.” And this is for the Church, 1. Cor. 14:4. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the Church. He speaks rhema² to the Church from what He hears from the Father.

I believe as a husband and Christ follower, husbands are to speak quickened word to their ‘churches’. How can she be his glory then? 1 Cor. 11:7. The letter kills, 2 Cor. 3:6. Even this verse in 2 Corinthians 3:6, “The Spirit gives life.” How? Through grace and revelation of Him in us. His words are spirit and life! That is what I need to speak to my beloved wife.

As a matter of fact, a while back I recall we were outside. I looked at her face and I could have sworn I saw my face. When I looked at her I said, “I see me.” Then the presence of the Lord was everywhere. It was powerful. I believe that is rhema word. I believe that is what Adam said to his wife. I see me. Praise God.

https://www.newjerusalem.org/Strongs.aspx?search=G4487

Why is it so awesome? Well, the site provides a graphical chart of a particular Greek or Hebrew word according to the Strong’s¹ number! This is amazing and cool.

I looked up “rhema”and it provided a beautiful list of it’s usage. Thank you Father, NewJerusalem.org and Brother Strong.