If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:6-7).
Life is a race and each of are running our own course. With each new step we draw closer to the King. As we face new obstacles, and fall down and stand up again, we learn the hard way – but in the end we still learn and are changed for the better. As we grow in maturity through the experiences we encounter we also realize more and more how narrow the road becomes. Ultimately only you and Holy Spirit will be walking hand in hand on this narrow road. Nobody and nothing will be able to wipe away the things you learned from Him through the intimacy of your relationship. No new doctrine or wind of teaching will be able to undo what He has already placed in your heart. On this road where you listen only to Holy Spirit, He will reveal deep and hidden things to you... the mysteries of God. (1 Cor. 2:9)
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him - these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God(1 Cor. 2:9-11).
God’s plan is for each of us to be in a love relationship with Him. Each of us is unique, and our relationship with God will have its own unique love-fingerprint. That is why God created us – just for Himself; to love Him and to be one with Him.
None of us are exactly the same. We experience and interpret things differently, and therefore God also speaks to each of us in the unique “love-language” we will understand. For instance, God will speak to me using circles and to Tinus (who is much more practical than I am) He will speak using squares. I’ll jump on the bed of excitement, and five minutes later Tinus will come in and pull the covers back the way they were. Does that make the one right and the other wrong? No, it just makes us different. We are all unique. We are not robots programmed to love God in a certain way. If we love God with our whole heart, mind, will and strength, we will express this love in the best way we know how through our personalities. We will live out His Kingdom here on earth with passion, with each child having a place in the Father’s house regardless of our differences.
God is not divided so His message will be the same to all of His children, but He will communicate the message in different ways so each of us can understand. How can I expect that Tinus’ relationship with God must be exactly the same as mine? We are unique, and if we try to quench that uniqueness we will miss out on the beauty of what God created us to be.
God meets us at the level where we will understand and hear His voice. Even if you live under a tree in a house made of clay somewhere deep in Africa, God will meet you there. I can testify of this, because I once had the privilege of meeting an old lady in Africa who didn’t even have a Bible but the Holy Spirit taught her the “Our Father” prayer. She had such a beautiful love relationship with Jesus. She lived her life being in constant communion with the Holy Spirit and His presence was so tangible. Sick people came to her to ask her for prayer for healing and the flour for baking bread never ran out. I saw how she was on her face calling out to God, being in total dependence of Him. God taught her day by day through His Spirit. If you should ask me if she is part of the Bride of Christ, my answer is: “Yes, definitely!” Not because of any dogma, but because of her pure love-relationship with the King – the one and only living God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He flowed through her because she was an empty vessel who made herself available for His love to be put on display through her. She had a humble heart that wanted to serve God and others.
At the moment I am walking around with a heavy heart, because in certain spiritual circles the story is going around that only a selected group of people who belong to a specific church will be the Bride of Christ and all the rest will only be guests. I sense spiritual pride and I am suddenly so skeptical of anyone who says: “Thus says the Lord...!” and afterwards everybody jumps through those hoops. The Lord I serve is not a respecter of person. He doesn’t require you to be a part of “this-or-that” movement in order for you to be saved or to be the Bride of Christ... He requires you to love Him. And your love for Him will be reflected in your obedience to Him. Jesus Himself said: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
Please, let us be open-minded in this hour. God also speaks in supernatural ways like through Aldo’s letters; but the moment if Aldo should write that only certain people belonging to a certain church will form the Bride I would be the first one to say that he has lost his way. God builds us up, and He will admonish us and warn us, but He will definitely not reject us just because we don’t belong to a certain denomination.
All of us need Holy Spirit to guide us and to teach us. This will happen when we submit ourselves to Him and by emptying ourselves of our ego, so that there is room for the Holy Spirit to increase within us. He will then fill us with Himself and with His truth about His love for all of us. Even if you are sitting on an isolated farm far away from other believers, I want you to know that you belong to God through Jesus Christ and the His Spirit will lead you. I have seen throughout my travels (from places like America to deep in Africa where there are no televisions or churches), that Holy Spirit will speak the same message to those who earnestly seek Him.
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. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you (John 16:13-15).
Please don’t ever think that spiritual pride has its source in God. The Word of God tells us never to think of ourselves to highly, lest we trip and fall, as Paul so clearly warns us in 1 Cor. 10:12: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
This is the truth and strong foundation that we must carry in our hearts and build upon. We cannot stand on a foundation that is based on our intellect only. Only through Holy Spirit can truth be illuminated in our hearts before we can minister in that truth effectively. Our God is a faithful and loving God who will hear all who call upon Him – all, all, all! Provided we go to Him in sincerity; earnestly seeking a better understanding and closer walk with Him.
In Acts 1:4 the Lord commanded His disciples to wait for the promise of the Father and furthermore He said: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). It is therefore clear that we need the Holy Spirit. He brings the power we need; He creates in us the fruits of the Holy Spirit as we die to self and live to Christ. If the Holy Spirit and power wasn’t given to us our Christian walk would have been absolutely impossible. We would still be struggling against our old nature in our own strength, just like the Israelites tried their best to keep the Law of Moses but couldn’t. Today, because we have received the Holy Spirit, we have the power to overcome.
Jesus would not have commanded his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit unless it was important. We must know that without Holy Spirit we are not complete. He guides and teaches us. His presence in us establishes the truth and sound foundation upon which we should build. This in turn brings new understanding and revelation without which the power and authority we have in Christ Jesus cannot be released.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:26-27).
Let’s stay in Him and go to God to hear for ourselves what He has to say. He wants to speak to you!! Wait on Him – He is a faithful God who wants His children to live a surrendered live and to walk in a love-relationship with Him. Like in any natural marriage, LOVE and only LOVE should be the reason for the union.
We had a wonderful holiday time over this past couple of days. It was Aldo’s birthday and we enjoyed the time together in Cape Town just resting and enjoying a healthy Aldo. Chantelle and Aldo went for long walks every day and it was so good for Aldo his foot got burnt with the hot water to start walking again and getting some exercise. One night we could hear him speaking with the Lord and we could all hear what He and Jesus were talking about. Jesus gave him a cup to drink from – Aldo calls it the red cup with Jesus’ blood. This is life – day by day – step by step, just obedience. Love God and don’t ever think you are not good enough; you are more than good enough because Jesus died for you! He loves you and He wants you and me to be His Bride.
Focus on God, and don’t look to the left or the right – just obey His voice!
Life is beautiful – let’s celebrate life.
Retah
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