Kept by God

I have decided that it is time to give a bit more scriptural basis for what I have been writing about. No matter how inspirational an article might be, if it's not rooted and grounded in scripture then it is valueless for use in our Christian walk and may even be hazardous. Over the course of my 34 years of serving God I have heard many interesting things being taught and even fell for some of them only to eventually discover that it was nothing more than the clever invention of some teachers fertile imagination that was being put forth as a new word from God. We are warned about such teachings and they are called "Winds of Doctrine, Traditions of Men and Doctrines of Demons". They sound good at the time and usually are received eagerly by Christians that are bored and poorly grounded in God's Word. Instead of making them stronger and helping them to grow it usually causes them to dig deep into their wallets to reward the clever inventor for the entertainment they have received.
I do not want anybody's money or their praise, I want to see the kingdom of God grow and the Son of God revealed in vessels of clay for the glory of God. My reward is secured in heaven for a later date and I can wait.

In past posts I have been trying to make the point that the true Christian has nothing to do but learn to "abide in the vine (Jesus)" and that He has committed Himself to accomplish in that Christian His perfect will and to bring forth in him the very likeness of Christ who walked the earth 2000 years ago. To bring forth that Bride without spot or wrinkle that He is eager to come to earth to claim for His own.

Here are some of the scriptures that confirm what I have been saying.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (New King James Version)

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
What is a jar of clay but a container made of dirt. that should establish the facts.

1 John 5:4 (New King James Version)
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—OUR FAITH.

Where does our faith come from?

Hebrews 12:2 (New King James Version)
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
This means that any faith that you may have is a gift, invented, bestowed by Christ Himself and that HE (if you will but abide in Him) will complete it which is the same as saying He will perfect it.

What was the joy that was set before Him that made Him willing to endure the cross?
It was the thrill of knowing that the Father would give Him deciples that would yeild to Him and allow Him to reproduce Himself in them for the blessing of all mankind and eventually to populate the heavenly realm. Imagine the joy of a parent who's children were rebelious for many years but at long last come home and say to them, dad, mom you were right all along and now I recognize your wisdom and superior knowledge and I won't do a single thing from now on without consulting you and getting your blessing.

Ephesians 1:18-21 (New King James Version)
18 the eyes of your understanding[a] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 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.

The same power that was exercized to raise Christ from the grave is working on behalf of the abiding Christian to ensure the development of Christ's life in him or her. Think weakness! How much weaker could a person be than dead? Christ was truly dead and laid out on a rock wrapped in linen but the power of God brought Him to glorious life. You too are as good as dead in your ability to do anything righteous or worthwhile but if you will accept that fact and abide in Christ then the very power that resurrected Him will work in you to accomplish everything He requires of you. Amazing Grace!!!

Hebrews 13:20-21 (New King James Version)

20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you[a] what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Please read these scriptures carefully because they mean so much more that we tend to take them for. My bible titles the above scripture a "benediction". That is saying it is sort of like saying God bless you, when you hang up the phone or leave a friend's house. It sound nice and seems like a loving way to say goodbye but that is not God. The above scripture is not wishful thinking but fact. It is a brief list of What God has committed Himself to do in you through the Holy Spirit if you will but allow it.


Jude 1:24-25 (New King James Version)
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you[a] from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,[b]
Who alone is wise,[c]
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,[d]
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Please note the word "stumbling" This can mean anything from a mere slip of the tongue to the worst kind of sin but notice that it says that "He is able to keep you from it". That's the power of "abiding in the Vine".

2 Peter 1:10 (New King James Version)
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

There again is the word Stumble acompanied by the word "never". How is this accomplished? Be even more dilligent to make your call and election sure.How does one make the calling sure? Spending time with the Lord. When you spend time with your spouse you get to know that person and it becomes clear whether you have a connection or not and how deep that connection is. It is the same with the Lord and here's the verse to prove that. (Scripture will confirm itself if you will put it in your heart.)Romans 8:16 (New King James Version)
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
If you have been born again you know it and nobody can take it from you because there is something changed inside and you cannot explain what it is or exactly how it got there but it is there and you know it. That is the witness of the Holy Spirit. Treasure it like nothing else.

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (New King James Version)
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
Here is another scripture that the publishers of my bible added a note calling it a "prayer blessing". As though it is just nice hopeful comforting words being offered by Paul the author. I dispute that because Paul never made hopeful statements in prayer for he believed that his prayers were heard and were declarations of fact whether present, past or future. That is often our trouble that we offer prayers as hopeful suggestions to God instead of as declarations of what will be because we know and understand the Word of God and the purpose for which Jesus was given and the purpose for which we were saved.

2 Thessalonians 3:3-4 (New King James Version)
3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

How easy it is to miss the message of a brief passage of scripture and the above is an example of such a one. Note that is says as fact that the Lord himself will establish you and keep you from the evil one (Satan) and that the writer is confident that (in the Lord) that the hearers will do the things commanded in scripture. This refers back to a previous scripture I made referance to that "it is God who works in you to will and to do His good pleasure."

I hope that you are beginning to see with the eyes of your heart the great things God has in store for us as we learn to "abide in Him."

Peace to you all in Christ Jesus our Lord.

john Martin
justjohn@eoni.com or acts2216@eoni.com

Comments welcome

The Secret Place

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
What a promise! I believe that this Psalm is a prophesy as yet unfulfilled. It speaks of a future day of indescribable horrors that have come upon all mankind and that day is just about here and will test and prove what is in every person on the face of the earth. There are today many Christians that do not possess what they profess. I call them Cino-Christians (pronounced see-no) or Christians in name only. It is not that they really want to be that way but they have taken the path of least resistance and this is the broad path and is leading them in the wrong direction, literally away from God instead of closer to Him. Their faith is weak or non existant and they are powerless in nearly every respect. Pastors may not like to hear this but if they would be honest about it they would have to admit the truth of the statement because that is primarily why they are so busy trying to deal with all the problems people have. Their office is booked up with appointments of people who are coming for council, wanting answers for their problems and what is more they will try tro resolve them for them when in many cases these problems are from God Who is trying to get their attention but rarely will they be told that they are just spiritually dry and need to seek God for their answers.

Why does the scripture quoted above speak of "the secret place"? Because it is literally a secret and will remain so. Anyone who has found the secret place cannot reveal it's location for it is a unique place that is between you and God alone. Rather than being a physical place it is a state of being that is developed through diligently seeking God and asking in faith to take you there. Every person on the face of the earth is unique as DNA and our way of relating to God is just as unique and divergent that is why only the Holy Spirit Himself can take you there and keep you there. This is the true meaning of relationship with the Master. So I cannot tell you how to get there I can only urge you to seek the Lord to reveal it to you. Maybe you really don't desire that kind of relationship, believe me very soon you are going to need it and want it very much and it may be too late. Ask Him now to increase your desire for that deep and abiding relationship that surpasses anything that you have experienced before. It is a prayer that He will answer every time because He has committed Himself to that very purpose.
I would appreciate feedback from my readers as it is the only way I can know if I'm doing any good at all or if anyone is understanding the things that I am writing.
God bless you all and may He fill your heart and soul and spirit with His manifest presence.
john Martin
email justjohn@eoni.com
or acts2216@eoni.com