THE COMFORTER PART 3 - GOD'S SONGBIRDS

 

This devotional is about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and also the reason why it is filled with gifts.  Three words from Father and dreams and interpretation given.  The reason why I chose the title, “God’s songbirds” is because Father has used specifically birds to bring this message across to me.  Birds is something that He has always used in my life to give me messages.  We also know that the Holy Spirit is seen as the dove of God and we also are His doves.  Scripture also speaks of different birds, doves, sparrows, ravens and eagles.  They all play a very specific role and we need to take note of the type of animal He uses to give us a message. 

Birds are always around us and I am always amazed by their nest building capabilities.  I always feel sorry for the finches where the female breaks down the nest and he then have to build it over and over.  We can also see the difference between a sparrow’s nest, a dove’s nest and a finch.  It is amazing how Father made birds so diverse.  This morning I heard the most beautiful song that a bird sang and I was thinking how Father has given each specie a different song. If He would do that for birds, how much more us who are His children?  Each one of us He has given some gift.  We yearn and desire spiritual gifts, but there are also natural gifts that He has given us that hold a special place in His heart, because He is the giver of those gifts. 

One might ask, “Why is this important now, especially with the world being the way it is?  Do these things really matter?”  I asked the same.  One of my favorite movies are, “Life is beautiful” and it is about this family during World War I in concentration camp. The women were separated from the men.  The husband had to be a waiter for the Nazis in one of the buildings.  He thought that his wife might be in the barracks opposite the building he was in.  He went into one of the rooms to get food to serve and found a gramophone.    He always took whatever opportunity he could get to let his wife know that he loves her and that he is still alive.  He found one of the songs he knew his wife would know and put it on as loud as possible, opening the windows wide.  In that moment one sees his wife looking up crying.  Very touched by this song.  When we watch these movies, I am always aware that we do not find birds, everything is dead.  To find a bird there is to find life within death.  Here was this song, and this song was life in that moment.  We are the Lord’s songbirds.  There is going to be a time pretty soon where there is going to be a great revival.  He is going to fill His workers that will be here to be able to minister to those who will be left behind.  There will be a revival, because people are going to seek the Lord like never before.  It will also be a time of great horror, pain, struggle and famine.  The church in that time is going to be the life within the midst of all this death.  We are going to be God’s songbirds.  This is what He wants us to know…He has a great purpose for everything He has given you.  Greater than what you have used it for.  Unfortunately, in this world we have been conditioned so much to think that we should only use it for recreation, to make a living, to make money.  However, the Word says that freely we have received, and freely we can give. This does not mean that we give without wisdom, but means that we must be able to give.  Father is the one who gave us freely everything that we have, but for the purpose of His Kingdom.  Just like He gives the birds songs and abilities, so He gives His children so much better and more, but always for His Kingdom. 

A few weeks ago, my husband wanted to show me something in our front garden and as he walked around this one tree, he said, “I do not know who put this here?”  It was a little statue of what can either be a dove or a sparrow.  At that time, He has been speaking to me a lot about the gifts of the Spirit. 

Let’s read about ravens.  The first account in the word about a raven is when Noah let the raven and the dove out of the ark. But this event is about Elijah where the Lord commanded the ravens to feed him.

1 KINGS 17

¹And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

² And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

³ Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

⁴ And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

The last verse of this passage caught my attention, where the Lord God commanded the ravens to feed Elijah.  Not long after that, because of this drought, the Lord God also commanded a widow to feed Elijah.  It is almost as if He is saying, “Can you see that which is insignificant in your eyes, is very significant in Mine.  If you are just available, I will use you mightily.”  Considering Elijah, I also mentioned in the devotional, “Saved to Serve” that the eunuch was there to save Jeremiah out of the pit. Here we have a widow and we have ravens.  Those that seems insignificant, but God uses mightily for His prophets, those He will send out.  We tend to look at these people that are chosen, that are going to do great things for the Lord, and we wish that He could use us as well.  This is His message to those who think that they are insignificant that think that what they have to bring to the table is not important.  Well, say that to the boy with the two fishes and five loaves of bread.  When he brought that little bit that he had, Yeshua could feed five thousand.  We know that He does not only want to use us with physical food, but also spiritual food.  In the time to come He is going to do mighty things in this world through His children by that small thing that they are willing to give to Him that He may use it.

 

1 Corinthians 12

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

² Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

³ Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many.

¹⁵ If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

¹⁶ And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

¹⁸ But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where were the body?

²⁰ But now are they many members, yet but one body.

²¹ And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

²² Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

²³ And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

²⁴ For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

²⁵ That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

²⁶ And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

²⁸ And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

²⁹ Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

³⁰ Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

³¹ But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Paul was telling the Corinthian church that everybody has been given by the Holy Spirit gifts and a purpose, which is the most important part of this, is to minister to the Body.  Some people get a calling, or office, or administration and others get wisdom, tongues or interpretation.  The giving of the Holy Spirit is so vast unto His Bride, unto the Body, for the purpose of ministering to the Body.  Paul is trying to say to them, “Don’t look in envy on one another or desire one another’s gifts.”  If you miss what God has given you, because you are wanting what someone else has, and you do not see the importance and the fact that He purposed it for you and the great purpose He has for it, you will end up missing out on that.  Because you were looking to others and wanting what others have.  It is understandable that we want great spiritual things, but it is never His intention that we will look down on the small or seemingly small that we have.  A sparrow can seem so insignificant.   This is the reason why Yeshua was speaking in Matthew 6 to His disciples about not worrying about this world, where they will live, what they will eat or wear, and referred to the lilies of the field and the sparrows. Saying that we are of much more value than these sparrows.  He wants us to understand that those people that look upon themselves thinking that they have nothing to give, He wants you to understand that you do have to give.  He wants to open your eyes to see that which you can give.  That which you easily overlook or think is not as important as prophecy, apostleship, teaching etc.  This is not the way He looks at these things.  Yes, He has placed an order in the church, saying FIRST apostles, then prophets and then teachers, but He wants us to understand that He can use anything mightily.  The order was so that the people could be subject to it.  It is not the importance of the gift in itself.  A gift in itself is nothing without the Spirit.  The Spirit brings value to any gift. Whether it is a call or a talent, whatever it may be, the value is the Spirit using it through us. 

One of my friends was going through a difficult time when it came to giving the Lord everything.  She knew that once she makes this decision that it would mean full control given to Him.  So instead of making work of it, praying into it, she just became busier and the relationship between her and Father became quiet.  Her relationship was in a strong place with the Lord, but it nevertheless quickly came to a place of silence between them.  We were praying together one day, and as we were praying Father showed me a blue budgie in a cage.  The cage door was open.  The Word says that He came to set the captives free. I saw her in this cage as this little bird, with all the potential, but so scared to venture out and to find what the Lord God has in store for her.  She wanted the boundaries of the cage, because for her it meant that she was still in control.  The cage meant that she still had power to make decisions over her life, but He wanted her to come out of the cage and see that she could be free in Him.  Instead of seeing herself free in Him, she saw herself as caged by Him, when, in fact, the opposite was true.  There may be many out there that know that they have to make such a complete commitment to Him and they have caged themselves in, fearing to lose control of their life.  Not wanting to give Him full control of their lives.  It is a decision that has to be made, because He came to set you free.  He came to take you to dimensions that is not limited by the boundaries you have set.  But you have to trust Him.  It is a matter of trust.

Another friend of mine I also saw her in a cage, but her claws had chains on.  She was chained to her cage.  She had the desire to go out.  She has a beautiful musical gift and is His songbird, but shame and guilt were the chains binding her.  Keeping her in the cage even though the door is open.  There might be those whom Father has given a talent.  Other people have given you their 5 cents about your talent, telling you not to waste your time and that you will never be good enough.  That it is not really important and that you are supposed to do something else, you need to make money.  In that moment you have given up on that talent and they have shamed you and you have been bound by that shame.  You are not willing to take the risk, because you do not believe that you can do it.  Father has given you this precious gift and it is not too late.  I can say that because I myself from a young age had a great passion for drawing and painting.  This is a gift in our family.  And circumstances at home as a child led to me not being able to pursue it as a profession.  I wanted to be a graphic designer.  And because of that, I did not pick up a pen or paintbrush for 16 years.  Every time I saw a beautiful painting it felt as if my heart was bleeding.  It was such a great passion in my heart and I had depression because of not fulfilling that dream.  Then when I was just married, I bought an online art course for which I paid a great amount.  However, because I did not believe in myself, I never did even one assignment.  He placed this passion, this talent He gave you, because it is an outflow of His life.  It is an expression of Him and this is what your talent is about.  Today I am a professional artist.  It is such a joy for me now, because it is Him.  I know where I was and what it feels like to be trapped in a cage.  I know how it feels to not believe you can do it.  But now, it is just a natural outflow of His Spirit.  I had to come out of my comfort zone and be willing to do it.  Lately Father has given me the number 84 in a vision.  I was led to look it up in the Strong’s Concordance.

Strong’s 48 - I cleanse, purify, either ceremonially, actually, or morally.

Strong’s 84 - a pinion

PSALM 91: 4

⁴ He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

The Father is here symbolically a bird.  He will come with His wings under us and bear us up with His wings.  Much like eaglets that are pushed out of the nest and fall, what looks like to their death, down a mountain.  Then the mother comes right under them and bears them up on her wings.  Sometimes He has to push us out the nest to get us to soar and He will bear us up with eagle’s wings.  Let’s read of those sparrows that believe that they are not good enough in Psalm 84.

PSALM 84

¹How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!

² My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

³ Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.

⁴ Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

We are talking about a simple sparrow that is found in His presence, on the altar.  This is where the sparrow is found.  In close proximity.  Father gave me a vision a while back of a close up of Yeshua’s hand holding a wooden sparrow.  He was carving the wooden sparrow and then He gave me a word.  This is for His sparrows.

Word received 6^th January 2022

MY SPARROW

You are in My hands My child.  Carefully I have crafted you, considering every detail.   Am I not the artist who creates, builds and forms?  Yes, I AM.

You are in My hands.  Seemingly insignificant to the world as a sparrow.   Hidden in My hands.  For the value of the sparrow is not in itself, but in its Creator.  I have crafted you and designed all of your life as this sparrow.

I watch over My sparrows.  I keep them in the hollow of My hand and with precision I carve away all that spoils.  All that will cause harm and mar the image of My sparrows.

You are My sparrow, crafted by Me.

Those who others see the least, I see as invaluable.  Your worth not in how you look or in anything impressive from the outside.  Your worth only in Me.

I too was a sparrow in this world.  They did not consider Me.  They looked away as if I was vile and a face not considered.  Not in stature or anything significant.  But I was sent by My Father to live amongst sparrows, to be His sparrow.

And just like I was in His hands at all times, so, My little sparrow, you are in Mine.  Nobody will be able to take you out of My hands.  Seemingly insignificant to this world, but of far more worth to Me.  I know even the number of hairs on your head.  Shall I not also know the plans I have for you?  You are of far more worth to Me, My little one.  You were created by Me.

Even the sparrows find rest in My temple.  They the least of all birds make their home in My presence.  For unto such belong the Kingdom of God, little one…the outcasts, the ignored, the plain and insignificant that love Me with all their hearts.  That seek not this world and have stripped themselves from the vanity that cleaves as golden raiment, but are clothed with humility…brown sackcloth.

But oh! The glorious song that comes from My sparrows!  They serve Me not to be seen.  They eat what I give and they do not worry over the future.

They are secure in My hands.  I hold My sparrows dear to My heart.  They are Mine

And so are you My little sparrow…in My hands.

 

I want to tell you about a dream that I had, also during this time that Father was speaking to Me about the gifts of the Spirit through birds.  I was walking outside and saw our grass.  Now our grass at the moment is just ground as we just went through a very hot summer.  However, in this dream the grass was green and very lush.  On the grass were lying 2 very big pigeons.  In fact, they were fat and they had two chicks with them.  I had my dogs with me.  The one dog is a little dog called Chloé.  She is a German spitz and she is very fast.  She was running like crazy over the grass and I told her to come to me.  I did not want her to disturb the pigeons.  The other dog was right by my side.  However, this was one of my childhood dogs, a chocolate brown Doberman, Nonna.  She was very obedient and was not moving at all.  She knew what was expected of her. The next moment I was inside the house and the two fat pigeons were on one of the chairs.  I opened the big windows so that they could fly out, which they promptly did.  However, they left the two chicks there on the couch.  I picked up the one and took it outside to throw it in the air to fly.  But to my dismay, it just fell to the ground.  It did not know how to fly.  The other one I had to take outside, and fortunately could fly.  The interpretation of the dream is as follows:

The house’s windows speak of the windows of opportunity.  The big fat birds could immediately fly out, but the little birds, when the window of opportunity came, did not have the ability to fly. This is because those who were supposed to look after them, did not look after them.   There is a responsibility that comes with looking after these little ones.  What we find with on the outside of the house is that these pigeons were so fat and full, with so much to give, filled with teaching, ability and talents, and they had the responsibility to look after these chicks, which were given them, and they did not.  So, when the opportunity came for these chicks to fly, they did not know how.  The dogs we know are man’s best friend, but in this situation, they resemble guardians.  The name Nonna is from the number nine and it means birth.  The reason why Father used her in my dream and not my dog that I have presently, is because she is the epitomise of motherhood.  She was very loving and resembles those who are mothers or fathers that have taken up the responsibility of looking after the younger ones. She is in control and knows exactly what is expected of her and she is doing her job.  Then we have Chloé, the German Spitz.  She being also a guardian, is still immature.  There are those whom Father has given the responsibility to look after younger ones and have not matured in their position that He has given them. This dream is not about gifts and talents, but about responsibility. Father has given different people different offices, administrations.  You have the responsibility not just to flourish in that which He has given you and keep it for yourself, but you are to give to the younger ones. The word says that the mothers are to teach the children and so do the fathers as well. You have the responsibility with what Father has given you through all these years to teach others as well. Not to hoard it, but to teach them to be responsible.  Not to be like a green shoot, like Chloé, but one that is in control.  In a way, me in the dream, represents the Holy Spirit as the owner of the house. The temple.  My Doberman was obedient to me and the other dog was not.  Our gifts, callings, offices and talents have to be governed by the Holy Spirit and we have to obey Him and use it responsibly for the time to come, because He wants to use it.  Some people have the ability to connect to older people.  I have a friend who would probably say that she does not have any gifts.  But she would make up the most beautiful boxes and fill it with whatever Father lays on her heart and she would post it to those He shows her.  She even made boxes for prison ladies and placed my books in there as well.  It is a way of expressing Father’s love and provision.  It is as simple as that.  If you are willing, He will use it.  Some of you have a real knack with children with some extra padding to your body.  You are funny and creative and you can make children feel loved.  You are the warm loving arms around them.  The healing power of touch.  These things seem so insignificant, but if you are just willing, He will use it touch lives.   When I was looking for the specific word He gave me for this devotional, I came across another one that I received in 2021 and I just could not leave it out.  It is just so applicable. Let’s read…

Received on the 15^th July 2021

 

MY DOVES

My precious doves.  You who have a single eye, focused on Me.  Not only in your lives, but a heart wholly given over.  I will send you out in flight to all the nations that the token of true peace in the midst of chaos may be seen by all. 

As I descended on My Son when He rose from the baptism water, so I will descend upon you, who have risen in My might from the waters of the baptism of death, into new life.  Just as your life has been sustained by My Spirit, so I will sustain you.  I will shine upon you and you will declare My glory amongst the nations that all will call upon Me in a time of need.  For only in Me will they find true peace in a time of war and calamity.  

Arise My doves and come away with Me.  Arise and shine with My glory that will come upon you. 

You have given Me your all and now I will give you all things in this time of great need.  That you may be a comfort to My people, just as I have comforted you.  That you may speak tenderly to them as I did to you.  That you may rise with healing in your wings, as I rose over you.  So come My doves, let us fly over the nations.  Let us bring hope, faith and love amidst the darkest hour.  I will bear you up with My wings, My doves.  I will be the wind beneath your wings.  I will cause you to soar above the storms that the eyes of the blind may see and the deaf may hear and call upon Me.  The window of opportunity only a small opening.  Those who desire to be free, to know My ways, will hearken.   So come and fly away with Me.  A message of hope in a dark world, where it will seem as if there is no hope at all.

Here you clearly hear what He plans and purposed through His doves.  Through the smallest things. 

COLOSSIANS 2: 15

¹⁵ And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

 

He spoiled the principalities and I believe part of the spoils is the gifts He has given us. Lucifer was the arc angel in heaven, in charge of the worship. Even his body was made out of musical instruments.  And this he forfeited with his fall and the victory of the cross.  That explains why he is so jealous over us.  We have received the spoils of the principalities, which was intended in heaven for good, but they lost.  Some have the gift of healing, or hospitality, others have the ability to make others smile.  I have a friend that I call my cheerleader.  When she sees something that I painted or a book I wrote, others might say, “That’s very nice”, but she will throw her arms in the air or place her hand over her mouth and with big eyes say” Oh wow!  That is just amazing!”  She is like a bright ray of sunshine.  We just need to be available, that’s all He wants.

Moving on to another dream.  This dream is of a friend of mine that she needed me to help her with the interpretation. The dream is divided in three parts.  It also has to do with gifts. 

The first part is where she and her parents were driving in a car.  Her father was driving fast and reckless and she saw that her mother was tied together with her father’s seatbelt.  The whole scene had the feel of being out of control.  There was a truck in the middle of the road as well. My friend grew up in a house where her mother used to always sing in the house.  She also has a gift for singing and when she is stressed, she will sing.  It helps her to calm down. 

The next part they came to this little town and they knew that they needed to walk. They got out of the car and immediately there were two ladies selling insurance to her mom.  My friend knew that this was very suspect and it was a scam and started railing on them, telling them that nobody will be buying insurance.

Then the last part is where she is at home.  She also paints and opened her big cupboard doors that has all her painting material in, only to find a very small kitten inside.  A girl was behind her telling her how amazing it is that she has this kitten as it is very rare and special.

End of the dream.

The interpretation of the dream is as follows:

The first part of the dream speaks of being in a situation that is out of control and the ministry of song in that situation.  He has given her the ability to sing and that He wants her to use it.

The second part with the insurance people.  Here He was showing her that He was giving her the gift of discernment, but how she dealt with it was not in the right way.  She started screaming or railing at them and other people came to see what was going on.  The motive was right, but not the method.

The third part of the dream the cupboards speaks of the cross, the doors opening up, and He has given her talents.  However, there is one particular talent that she has not been utilising, represented by the cat.  This is why the cat was very small and not well looked after.  He also chose to use the cat, because of her love for her own cat, called Toby.  She really adores that cat and Father knows this. This is why He used the girl to tell her to understand how fortunate she is to have this cat.  He wanted to let her understand that the way she feels about Toby, her own cat, is the way she should feel about this gift He has given her.  He was talking to her about taking out that talent, and that talent is the gift of singing and worship.  Since then, Father has given her dreams about worshipping in song and dance.  He has brought people on her path regarding flag worship.  She dreamed that she was worshipping Him with flags and singing her own melody that she made to a song.  He opened the door for her and she is jumping in.  New life!  Father wants to do this.

After I gave her the interpretation of the dream, I was in my kitchen and I heard a bird singing.  I have not heard this bird before, but it was the most beautiful song.  I looked for the bird and I went to the window and saw my budgie in his cage close to the window on a cupboard, with this bird right at the window singing to my budgie.  This touched me, because at that moment I saw my friend in the budgie cage and the bird as those who will sing to those who find themselves in cages. In whatever way, whether through art, poems, song or gifts or the responsibilities Father has given, to be His songbirds.  He wants to set them free and teach them how to fly.  He wants to use us, especially in the time to come. 

Later on in the week, I went outside and saw my cat wanting to catch something.  Right at my feet was a baby dove and it either hurt its foot or wing, but it could not fly.  So, I was carrying the cat in one hand and the baby dove in the other.  I put the cat away and placed the dove on a place high away from the cat.  At that moment Father started speaking to me.  There are those who have a broken leg or a broken wing.  Life has not dealt you an easy hand and you feel as if you just need to survive.  You just need to get through the day.  Very often Father gives us talents and those very talents help us.  But then we find ourselves in situations where we do not have a choice but just to do our day-to-day job.  You feel you cannot afford to “daydream” about these things. Father has given us these talents or gifts to minister to us, as His body. The other day I spent a whole day painting and at the end of the day, I felt as if I went on holiday.  It nourished me and He wants to nourish you with that which feeds your soul as well.  Sometimes we can be so spiritually minded that we forget that we have a soul that needs to be fed in another way as well, whether through exercise, creative things and eating healthy. 

We have a responsibility to be organized.  When you read in Genesis the creation story, we read, “On day one…on day two…up until day seven”.  God is a God of order.  We read in Psalm 90…

PSALM 90: 12

Teach us to number our days so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

This always makes me think about ordering my day, because I have too many things to do.  He wants us to be responsible with the talent and gifts He has given us.  We need to take ownership of it.  Get a diary, write down your priorities and put it in its proper place.  And do not forget your family.  We need to steward that which He has given us.  Our gifts or talents need to be sanctified.  The word says that out of the heart flows the issues of life.  This is true about our talents and gifts too.  Whatever condition your heart is in, will come through in your gift or talent.  The other day I was upset about something and I was going to paint, but knew that I could not paint, because my heart was not in the right state.  It would come out on the canvas, and the same is true of a song.  There is a spirit behind the speaking, behind the poem, there’s a spirit behind the painting and behind the song.   Father wants to sanctify your heart, so that what flows out of you will be pure water.  Make sure that when you minister to people that you are doing it in the right spirit.  Make sure that your motives are right.  For whom are you doing it?  Are you doing it to be seen?  Are you doing it to be heard?  Are you truly doing it for the Kingdom of God?

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12 that we are to earnestly seek these spiritual gifts, but more for one specific thing, which goes over to 1 Corinthians 13, the chapter of love.  Love is everything and is what Father’s heart is about.  Why He is giving us these talents and all these responsibilities in the spirit.  It is because He loves us and He wants that love to flow through every vein in the Body.  Just like when you are hurt in your physical body and there is inflammation, the white blood cells rush to that part to heal it.   “This is how they will know that you are My disciples, when you love one another.”  This is how we show love, by giving.  Our God is a giving God and He is lavish in His giving, and so must we be.  When a river stands still it is dormant and there is no life in it, but the moment it flows, life starts to grow in it.  We are that river of God flowing by the Spirit.  Herewith the Word that He gave me for this devotional.  I pray it blesses you.

Word received on 26^th December 2020

 

A NEW THING WORD

A new thing My little ones, new for you and for all.  My Kingdom on display.  My hand in all you do.  For as My river flows, it creates.  It does not only heal, but creates.  I have all gifts, not just spiritual, but creative gifts.  Those who have and have shown themselves to be good stewards, I will give more.  Those who still have to discover, new blossoms of creativity will come up to beautify the dreary.  For even as you are locked down, My creativity is not.

So, splash that paint, sing that note, write the poem and build the dream.  Endless is My creativity I wish to show through My children as the Creator, to display My love for all, for you.

Do you think this insignificant?  Have I not through all the ages touched the hearts of those closed to My word?  Have I not opened hearts to receive that which only Spirit can display?  As you walk out, allow Me to do through you.  Allow Me to express Myself through you in the small and big.  My heart beats in you, and it is My wish to display it through you. 

Will you be the brush, the pen, the tool by which I write on other’s hearts? 

Insignificant?  I think not!

Have you seen My display in heaven?  They see this and yet they fall not down to worship Me.  But when My Spirit expresses Himself through frail vessels, they stand in awe.  Did they not say of Me, “Is this not Joseph and Mary’s son and just hear him speak!”

So, My little ones, allow Me if you please…I am doing a new thing.

THE COMFORTER PART 2 - THE ROD

 

PSALM 71:21

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.   

This verse immediately made me think of Psalm 23 that says, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.  Thou rod and staff, they comfort me.

We need to understand that when we speak of the Holy Spirit, He has given Himself to us, which includes the Son and the Spirit. We have received all of God, and He does this through the Holy Spirit.  In the same way that the Son was here and could say to His disciples, He could say, “If you see Me, you see the Father.  Every work that I do, is not me doing it, but the Father doing the work through Me.”  There is a distinction between them, but they are one.  When I say the Holy Spirit is our Comforter, by extension, it also means that the Father and the Son is our Comforter.

The words that caught my attention in this verse is that David said that the Lord God will increase his greatness.  This greatness in the Strong’s Concordance speaks of nobility and excellence.  Daniel was known for an excellent spirit and because of this Daniel’s greatness was increased.  His sphere of influence was increased and he was given greater authority. He will do the same with us.

The word greatness in the New Testament refers to children and servants.  When you serve and how you serve is a form of rulership, of reigning.  His children will be known by how they serve. 

The Lord God has been speaking to us about the disposition that is needed when we walk in the Spirit, which is to become as a child.  The disposition of a child is very important. What do we know about children?  Well, children trust so unconditionally and so easily.  You can say something is blue when it is pink and they will believe you. They trust with their whole heart and also love unconditionally. They love so extravagantly.  Depending on their personality some children will hug a complete stranger.  They just love. They love to love and love to be loved. That is how children are.  Immensely trusting and loving.  Then again, we have the servants.  The servants lay their lives down for their Lord.  They love their master and therefore they lay down their life. By extension they too are like children, because of their love. The trust that they have for their Lord.   It speaks of an obedience that is unreserved, without boundaries and in totality lay their lives down.  “These are those that I consider great in My Kingdom.”  He did not mean that when a little girl goes to heaven, that she will be more important that Moses or Paul.  The Word of God works in such a way that there are always levels of degree.  It is not just everybody in one basket and then off we go.  For instance, a soldier that has just enlisted in the military, will not have the same authority that a General, Brigadier or Major will have. He will have to work his way up. Authority has been given him.  We need to grow in the area that Father shows us and as we grow, more authority will be given us, because we can be trusted.  Let us read these two scriptures.

MATTHEW 23: 11

¹¹ But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

MATTHEW 18

¹ At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

² And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

³ And said, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Children trusts unconditionally and they also love unconditionally.  Servants obey unconditionally and without reservation.  When we look at Yeshua when He was baptized, we hear the Father speaking over His Son after the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove, saying “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.  Hear ye Him.”  This declaration was an affirmation of the sonship and the love that the Father had to the Son and the Son to the Father.  It was not because He needed to be baptized.  Rather, John told Yeshua that it was him that needed to be baptized by Him.  Yeshua told him that it was necessary in order for scripture to be fulfilled.  It was an act of obedience to humble Himself, to be baptized.  Also, that we may have an example to follow.  At that moment of obedience, the Father affirmed Him.  With that affirmation came also an instruction.  In other words, “When He speaks it is by My authority.  I have given Him My authority, because He lives in obedience and love towards Me.” 

This is how authority works.  We want to do great things for the Lord God, but we need to understand that all authority, as well as all power, needs to be upheld with a character that can sustain it. The Lord God needs to be able to trust us with that which He will give us.  You do not give a pocket knife to a baby, neither a sword to a little boy.  You give that which is appropriate and that which you can trust somebody with.  Why would the Lord God deal differently with us?  We have received all power and authority according to the Word of God, but the degree that we use it will depend on our walk and where we are at.  We read in Acts…

ACTS 5:32

And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Him. 

Today, authority has been given a bad name.  It has been looked down upon, not respected at all.  By extension, because of that, submission has also been given a bad name. We realize that the enemy has been working very hard at this very thing, to break down all authority figures.  Not just in society, but within the household.  We ourselves can testify of what the enemy have done in our lives.  Different people have experienced abuse, sexual, emotional or spiritual abuse.  Experienced abuse at school, abuse between peers, abuse on social media. People fall apart and are easily affected by these things.  They are unable to deal with rejection.  The worst kind of rejection that we can get is that of a father.  We feel completely as if we are a disappointment. There are a lot of people that are unable to deal with the discipline of God.  They cannot deal with it when He tells them that He is not happy about something.  When, by the Spirit, He points His finger to something saying, “You need to deal with this”.  When that happens, a lot of people crumble.  They feel as if they have moved 4 steps back. They feel as if they will never be able to please Him.  They feel that no matter how hard they try, it is just useless, because they keep on falling.  The reality is that the word of God says that without faith it is impossible to please God.  It really is.  We are called to walk by faith.  At the same time, we have to understand that the Lord God, in making that commandment, He also takes into consideration that we cannot do anything without Him.  He takes into consideration the true state of man’s heart and who we are without Him.  And so, why would He require this of us?  He requires this of us, to walk by faith, because we cannot do it.  The Holy Spirit is the one who is supposed to do it through us and we are to learn how to allow the Spirit to do whatever needs to be done through us.  When we fail, when we do not get it right, we are so disappointed in ourselves.  Sometimes we give up.  We feel, “Is this Christian thing worth it?”  We feel that no matter how hard we try, we are just never going to get it.  Well, He knows that.  In spite of that, He gives us whatever we need in order to get up and learn from where we are at, what He has shown us, and then to move forward.  The Holy Spirit wants to teach us to walk by faith.  It is imperative for us to not fall apart when He disciplines us.  It is so important that we see it as love.  In Hebrews 12 He says that the discipline He gives might not be pleasurable, it might be painful, but afterwards it yields fruit of peace.   It will produce fruit.  He disciplines those He loves.  If He did not discipline us, we would be illegitimate children, bastards.  What we have learned through the ages is that there are fathers that are very strict.  Where the boundaries set are like a noose around the neck.  The children are not allowed to do many things because of this abuse. The children are screamed at or hit. The children are scared to do anything.  On the other hand, we get the children that grow up in households where the father does not take up their role. It goes to the other extreme again where there are not the necessary boundaries.  Boundaries that actually fosters security.  Children that have healthy boundaries at home grow up with a healthy sense of security and a sense of who they are as a person.  They are not easily fazed by rejection, because they are so secure in the love of their father and their mother.  Studies have shown that the identity of children are mostly linked to the father.  In other words, you can have a mother who does everything right, being a good example, being a godly woman and teaching the children to respect them as parents, sowing an immense number of seed that will come up, but even if she does everything right and the father takes not up his rightful place, then the children will still suffer in their identity.  The Lord God has made it in such a way that the father is suppose to represent Him and the mother is supposed to represent the softness.  In context we can see the mother is the staff and the father is the rod.  As children, whom He wants to increase our greatness, we have the Father and we have the Spirit.  We have a father and a mother in God.  He comforts us on every side. However, if those images are marred, we are bound to not to be able to relate to them the way we ought to.  And so, the enemy knows exactly how to hurt us. Our inner-dialogue starts to develop in our mind.  The Word says that as a man thinketh, so he is.  What do you think about your relationship with God?  What do you think He thinks about you?  Is He disappointed in you?  Do you think that He has tried so many times and that He is now at the point where He is hoping you will some day get it?  Or, do you understand that He is so committed to you, that He invested so much in your relationship with Him?  The investment of His Son dying on the cross for you?  He will never give up on you.  Never.  You will have to turn away from Him, but He is not going to turn away from His own children.  He loves you.  And so, He will discipline you, because He loves you. The Word also says that parents that discipline their children, loves them.  When we grow up in households like this, nobody immune to this, we develop trust issues.  Where the Lord God wants us to be like that little child who trust so unconditionally, without restriction, we come and we are only able to give Him so much.  He requires all of you.  Your whole heart, mind and all your strength.  All of your being He wants.  He wants you to trust Him with your whole being.  Some of us are unable to do that.  We want to, but we struggle. 

The last devotional we spoke about the living soul.  This living soul that is who we are, our personality, mind, intellect, thoughts, even our talents…all of you, is supposed to come under the control of the Holy Spirit. This is so that the Holy Spirit can use all of you, all these things as a means to express who the Father is.  This is our purpose, just as it was Yeshua’s purpose to be the express image of the glory of God. So, we are now to express who Yeshua and the Father is to the world.  But we cannot do that if we cannot trust Him completely with everything.  The Comforter gently walks with us and continually points to those things we need to address. We need to address these issues we do not trust Him with.  We need to ask Him, “Why do I not want to give that over to You? Why am I still struggling with this?  What would it mean if I had to give it up? What do I feel I would lose out or would be a loss?  What am I scared of if I had to give up everything in the way He asks?” 

He wants us to be as little children. A little girl and boy that is so secure in His love. So, that when He does discipline us, we feel loved.  Yes, disappointed in ourselves, but loved and secure, knowing who we are.  If we trust Him only 10% or 30%, or whatever amount, the additional percentage is then that we trust in something else.  We have to be able to be very honest with ourselves and ask what area am I not giving Him all?  How does He look upon it?  You, as a parent, knowing how much you want your own children to trust you, it will break your heart to know that your children only trust you 10% or 30%. You want them to trust you completely and you want them to know how much you love them.  Our Father is exactly the same.  He wants us to trust Him completely.  Not to trust in anything else.  Not even on our own thoughts or understanding. Not our emotions when it runs away with us.  What man says or what a book says. He wants us to come to Him and be wholly dependent on Him. 

In John 15 Yeshua says that He is the Vine and we are the branches and we are to abide in Him. The only way we can bear fruit or do the will of God, is to abide in Him.  It means to be vitally united to Him.  Cut off from everything else we depend upon and completely united to Him.  So that the life that comes through us, is the Life of the Spirit.  Rooted in the Tree of life, bearing eternal fruit, fruit in abundance.  He wants us to abide in Him, which means we are going to have to trust Him.  Willing to do what He says, to give what He tells us to give. Not as slaves, not as people who do not have a choice.  People who will be punished if we disobey, or will not be taken with.  Or scared that through our disobedience the enemy will attack us.  In love.  “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.”  This is what He wants to say over all of us.  Please read the following scripture and ask yourself whether this is your experience. 

1 JOHN 4 – AMPLIFIED VERSION

¹³ By this we know [with confident assurance] that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given to us his [holy] spirit.

¹⁷ In this [union and fellowship with him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face him]; because as he is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of god’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of god’s love]. ¹⁹ We love, because ^[b]he first loved us.

I needed to lay a bit of foundation with this, because it forms the foundation upon which discipline is built upon.  Discipline is built upon love.  Our obedience to the discipline of the Father is built on love.  Yeshua said, “If you love Me, you will do My commandments.”  When we live in deliberate disobedience it says something of our love towards the Father.  Father knows our heart, but do we know that?  He takes all things into consideration. 

ROD – H7626 - branch off; a stick for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.

Here you clearly see the difference between the rod and the staff.  The staff was to console, to lean upon, support, and provision.  Just like Jacob, whose hip socket was touched and therefore had to walk with a limp, probably had a staff.  We have to embrace our weakness in order to lean with our whole being, our soul, upon the staff, the Holy Spirit.  This cannot just be something we say, no matter how much we confess it, it has to be a reality.  Once you embrace your weakness, it is then that you fully lean upon the staff. 

The rod speaks of discipline, authority, power and teaching and writing.  To point and the dart makes me think of when the Holy Spirit convicts us, that it is as a dart into our conscience.  The scepter speaks of kingship and rulership.  All in all, the rod speaks of the authority of God.  Before speaking further about the rod, I want to share a vision that I had.

I saw this little girl with a snow-white dress on.  She had a bright red sash around her waist and red “Sunday shoes” on.  She was holding an open scroll and was looking very intently on this scroll.  The next moment I saw a wolf above her.  This wolf was beautiful.  It was a magnificent creature. Regal and majestic, with dark brown, even bronze hair.  I instinctively knew that this wolf was protecting this little girl. 

I knew what Father was talking to me about the little girl.  Everything about the purity, innocence, lips without guile, trust and love.  But I was not sure what He meant by the wolf as everything in the Word regarding a wolf is in a negative way.  I did however know that the wolf was not something bad.  About two weeks after that, my daughter and I decided to watch something on Netflix.  About the third thumbnail, my eyes caught this video about a girl named Vicky and her wolf, called Mystery.  We watched the movie together.  It is about a girl and her father who went for a hike and was lost.  They stumbled upon a house where an old man lives, who had a puppy.  She loved the puppy and asked the man where the puppy came from.  His answer was that it is a mystery. To which they decided to call this “puppy” Mystery.  Eventually they realized that the puppy was actually a wolf.  So, this story is about her very close relationship with the wolf.  Father then showed me that the focus is the wolf’s name.  Mystery is a word that we often here in the Word of God.  Paul often spoke about the mysteries of the Kingdom of God and Yeshua in John 12 told the disciples that unto them is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.  Father wants to reveal to us great mysteries of His Kingdom and this was why He worked in my heart about the importance of becoming like a child.  To be innocent, guileless, to guard my lips, trusting and loving.  He wants to give us so much more and He wants to trust us with greater mysteries, authority and power.  But first we have to trust Him. 

The thing about a wolf is that the Alpha wolf will lay down his life for the pack, they are very loyal, and have a lifelong mate. They are very ferocious animals. They resemble strength and power.  Father then led me to do some research on the relationship between the native American’s and the wolf.  This is what I found on this particular sight.  Knowing that they consider the wolf as their spirit guide, we know that we have the best spirit guide…the Holy Spirit. 

 

·       Wolves were referred to as brother or sister (family members).  Yeshua told me that He is my Big Brother

·       The wolves were seen as pathfinders and teachers, a guide to the spirit world and to this world

·       Their presence in the woods were considered sacred and tangible.

·       They are a gift

·       It is associated with courage, strength, loyalty and success in hunting

·       They play in certain tribes the role of the Noble Creator God.

·       A true best friend

·       A guardian

·       Associated with the colour white

·       They have healing powers.

·       Also, the Indian wolf, a smaller wolf than the grey wolf, has a black V on his back.

From these few points, one can clearly see how Father was talking to me about the contrast between this little girl and the wolf.  The one needs the other in a certain way.  There needs to be trust, love and there needs to be obedience.  There needs to be an understanding of what it means to walk under the rod of God, as well as the staff.  We need these two to comfort us on every side.  These are also the two that He gives us to increase our greatness.  How we relate to the staff and the rod will determine how we increase in greatness.

Another story where we read about the rod is in Exodus 17 where Moses told Joshua to go into the valley with men he chose for a battle against Amalek.  Moses then went up a hill where he was to stand holding up his rod whilst this battle was taking place in the valley.  Aaron and Hur went up with him.  Every time Moses let down the rod, the battle was in the favour of the Amalekites.  And every time he lifted the rod, the battle was in the favour of Israel.  Aaron and Hur brought a rock or stone to Moses that he may rest on this rock.

 

EXODUS 17

10. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12.  But Moses’ hands were heavey; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14. And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heaven.

15. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:

16. For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

This whole battle is a type and shadow of our own lives.  We all have battles. Just like Psalm 23 that speaks of this valley of the shadow of death. In our valleys we are not the ones who are fighting in the valleys, but there is One in the valley with us, fighting for us, Yeshua.  Moses on top of the hill represents many things.  He represents an Apostle and a Prophet.  Moses was the first apostle sent to rescue the Israelites from Egypt, to tell Pharoah to “let His people go!”. The first sent one.  Moses is holding up the rod of God that represents the authority and power of God.  He is sitting on a rock or a stone. In his own strength he cannot do it.  The Lord God increases his greatness with Aaron and Hur.  Aaron was the first High Priest and he speaks of sanctification.  Speaking of that person who has allowed the Spirit of God to sanctify every area of his life.   In order to uphold the authority that God has given him, we need a strong character to be that foundation.  If Aaron was weak, he would not have been able to uphold his side of the rod.   Then we have Hur and his name means white linen.  This speaks of righteousness, which is right standing with God.  We receive this when we are born again.  This immediately made me think of being a child in the Lord God, that innocence and trust.  The one who lives under the love and provision and care of the Holy Spirit and in the other you are living under the discipline, the teaching, and direction of the Holy Spirit.  They are both holding Moses’ arms in order for the authority and power of God to be held up high.  What happens?  Joshua, the one who fights our battles is in the valley discomfits our enemy with his sword. Because we uphold all three of these things, the rod, which is the authority and power of God, the sanctification, being a royal priesthood in reality and then the right standing of a child in God, the battles are won.  This battle was a natural manifestation of a spiritual reality.  We also know that Peter’s name means little stone and Yeshua is the Rock of our salvation. When we think of Peter we also think of the church.   In John 6 Yeshua asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” The Spirit revealed to Peter the truth and he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Yeshua said to him on this rock, the church will be built.” Meaning on this truth that I am the Son of the Living God and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.  We have the church represented by Peter and Yeshua who is the Rock, the truth that He is the Son of the Living God.  In Exodus 17 Moses sat on the rock or the stone.  We understand that all authority and all power are given unto us.  The authority and power of God rests on the church.  It is up to us to steward, reign, govern and deal with that authority according to His will.  We need a child disposition and sanctification in order for our battles to be won.  This is how the Father prepares us and how He gets us to share in who He is.  He is also like a child who loves unconditionally and extravagantly.  He loves sinners.  Whilst we were sinners, He died for us.

This word “Nissi” in Jehovahnissi, is the word banner, ensign, signal, pole standard.  This made me think of when we watch movies of mid-evil times when the calvary in front would have a flagstaff with the emblem of the Kingdom under which they fall.  It was to say under whose authority they were making war.  In the spirit world we are holding up His banner.  The word says that His banner over us is love.  There is no stronger force than love.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.  His banner over us is love.  And this is the banner we are holding up.  In this love is also His power and authority. 

Thinking about the rod, my mind went also to the 12^th letter of the Hebrew alphabet that also is the longest letter that looks like a rod.  It is the letter called Lamed.  The number 12 is very important when it comes to authority.  We have the following examples of 12 in the Word of God…

·       12 Apostles, disciples

·       144 divided into 12 tribes /

·       New Jerusalem – 12 gates (gates places of decision making and judgment)

·       Solomon 12 officers over Israel

·       12 stones on breastplate

·       Yeshua started teaching at 12 years of age in the temple

The gates in those times were the places of authority where the judges had to make important decisions.  Boaz had to go to the elders at the gates to ask permission to marry Ruth.  Everything in the word that is about 12 in the Word of God, speaks about authority. Speaks of exhortation.  In all this we see the wisdom of Father in getting us to trust Him.  That our obedience and our disposition towards the discipline of the rod cannot be without us trusting Him in the disposition of a child.  People are often motivated by guilt or fear, but we can only uphold that kind of obedience for that long before we fall flat on our face.  When we give ourselves in totality to Him, when we allow Him to use our bodies the way He wants and give every area of our life to Him, it is then that He can trust us with more. But we have to take the first step and make the choice to meet Him with that which He is busy with in us.  To not move away from those areas that need to be addressed.  Some people listening or reading this devotional might still have areas in your life that you have not dealt with.  Maybe you have forgiven people, but not dealt with the hurt or the pain.  Very much like someone who needs heart surgery and just place a plaster on his heart.  Sometimes we treat forgiveness like a plaster.  In certain situations, we can just forgive and move on, but in other situations we need to allow the Holy Spirit to come into our lives, minister to us in His Presence and heal our hearts.  Some people have buckets still to cry.  They have hardened their hearts, because they do not want to go there.  It is just easier to move on and do their own thing and “fake it till they make it.” All those feelings, trauma and pain goes deep down into the innermost being, but at some point, it cannot stay there anymore. You must allow the Holy Spirit to heal you so that you can trust Him with all your heart.  Allow Him to minister to you, allow Him to touch those areas that all these years been there.  Maybe you are thinking it has been so long already.  Maybe 20 years ago, or 10 or just one year ago.  He sees it all, no matter what we hide, He sees it all because He is in us. 

In Psalm 32 we read:

PSALM 32: 8 - 9

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye.

Be not as the horse or the mule that has no understanding, whose mouth has to be held with bit and bridle, lest they come nigh unto thee.

When I read this scripture, I think of the bit that is in the mouth of the horse.  The greatest area that we struggle with is with our mouth, either very opinionated, to quick to speak or saying things we should not be saying.  A few months ago, the Lord told me that when He has my mouth, He has me.  The word says that the tongue is able to control the whole body.  All of your life is controlled by your tongue.  He has to start with a bit in our mouth, because we do not have understanding.  We still have to learn and He is teaching and instructing us.  The word says that we have two ears and one mouth.  The bridle gives us direction, where we get this tug to go either left or right.   Disciplined by these bridles.  We do not like this and pull away like horses into the opposite direction.  We rebel and say, “No, I do not want to, that is too much! Why must I do all of this?  Why can I not just live my Christian life and enjoy it and have fun? Doing all these things that I want to, not hurting anyone.  This is too controlling, this pulling and tugging!”  But He says to us, “This is not how I want to teach and instruct you.”  This is why He says to us to not be like the horse or the mule who has no understanding.   Why?  Because He wants to be like a rider on a horse who do not need a bit and bridle, but are so united to Him that you are directed by His Spirit and His voice.  In tune with Him and obeys Him immediately, where your will has been broken, just like a horse has to be broken in.  In the same way we are like horses that rebel against the boundaries He has set.  We rebel against His totality.  “Why is He asking us so much?”  Like a child, the moment that he is born, is innate in him to rebel against control.  But the moment He has us and we are submissive, surrendering in this child love and trust in Him, the moment He speaks, we just flow like a river with His Spirit, wherever He goes, that He increases our greatness.  Because we trust Him and He loves us.  He wants to give us these mysteries and revelations. He wants to give us more.  Every good gift comes from the Father of light in whom there is no shadow of turning.  He wants us to be so united to Him that we will just listen to His instructions without having to be pulled and tugged. 

This rod and staff can be summed up in two words…TRUST AND OBEY.

Two dispositions, that of a child and that of a servant.  Both are required of us.

ROMANS 12.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

When we hear the word “living sacrifice”, the word sacrifice stands out. This is because it will mean sacrifice.  When you give yourself as a living sacrifice, your whole being, body, soul and spirit, are placed on the altar and our High Priest Yeshua comes with the sword of God, His word, and He cuts between bone and marrow, He discerns between the intents and motives of the heart and He divides between soul and spirit.  The purpose is so that the Holy Spirit then has control over your mind, your decisions, your talents…everything.  It is for that reason that you are laying down your body.  You are saying, “Lord, all of me I surrender to you.  I am not going to trust in what I know anymore.  I am trusting in your Spirit to express yourself through me, your body.  My body belongs to you.”  This is something we grow in, but also a veil that needs to be lifted.  So that we understand that our Christian walk is based on faith in Christ in us.  It is not based on just the Word of God.  As if when we read something in the Word it is then true, but knowing it is true, the Spirit in whom I trust, works this out in me to make it true in reality.   The Word of God is truth, but it has to become a reality in our lives.  The only one who can make it a reality in our lives is the Spirit of God in us in whom we trust.  You can make a decision to speak to someone, to pray for them or write something, even your gifts and talents, when you clean your house, you trust in Him to do it through you.  Or are you praying, “Lord, please help me”?  “I hope I can get through this day.  I hope she gets it.” The word says that we have received according to the power within us all things that pertains to life and godliness.  We need to pray in such a way as if we have already received it, because we have the Spirit of God in us.  We have already all we need.  Instead of asking, “Lord, please give me strength and help me to do this or please give me wisdom” we need to ask aright.  Say, “Lord, you have given me all things already, it is in me.  I thank you now for this wisdom and strength.”  How we think is very important and how we pray too. Start praying as if you have already received and then trust that, because He has already given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. 

It is not what we can do, but what He does through us.  It is, “Lord, you do it through me.”

I am ending this devotional with a word Father gave me a while back.  It is a word about understanding the rod of God, understanding discipline, power and authority that He has given us through His Spirit and the disposition that is required. 

BY THE SPIRIT

It is by this Spirit, My Spirit resting on you that you are to govern.  Not you from out of yourself, but My Spirit resting on you, and you submitting to the promptings of My Spirit.  I have given you the mind of My Spirit and My Spirit also knows My mind and He intercedes for you with groanings that cannot be uttered.  Therefore, you have to be led by My Spirit and submit yourself to His promptings.  Listen and obey. 

You can no longer do your own thing, just like a king or ruler cannot do their own thing.  You are responsible for others and to uphold a standard, the very one you proclaim.  This can only be done by My Spirit, so listen and obey.  Your governing is directly related to your submission to My Spirit, for it is My Spirit that governs through you. 

Therefore, be zealous to obey Him for He will guide you in all truth.  Have I not said that He will remind you of everything I said?  For it is My Spirit that will work out My purposes in you as you yield to Him.  Be zealous to obey for much depend on it.  I have told you that your strength is only as much as your dependence on Me.  Be zealous to depend on Me in all matters.  Walk circumspectly as one of whom much is required and I will make your ways prosperous. 

For you are in My service and there is no higher authority than I.  You walk before Me alone, to answer before Me alone concerning that which I have given you.  You will be held accountable for that which I have entrusted you, including My Spirit. 

Therefore, do not look lightly on the authority I have given you.  Do not look lightly on your purpose and calling.  But more than anything, do not look lightly on My Spirit.  My Spirit is your provision and your seal.  I have sealed you with My Spirit and you are Mine. 

Therefore, walk by the Spirit.