Just One More,Lord!!!

I was watching the movie Hacksaw Ridge, about Desmond Doss a Seventh Day Adventist conscientious objector and Medic and Medal of Honor honoree during World War II.

The battle for Hacksaw Ridge was part of the campaign to take Okinawa. While the Japanese Army held the ridge, He rescued 75 wounded American Soldiers, lowering them 350 ft., down the side of the escarpment to safety.  Captured Japanese Soldiers reported having him in their gunsights, but their guns would jam when they tried to shoot him. During this time, he kept praying, “Lord, Just One More!”

That prayer stayed with me, “Lord Just One More!”  I asked the Lord, “Why is this is staying with me.”  Lord said, “I want my people to have that same cry in their hearts, “Lord Just One More.”

In 1 Corinthians 9:16-27, Paul has this attitude of the heart, doing and being whatever, it takes for the Gospel.

Mark 16:15-18 (NKJV) Jesus: “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

In Luke 15:1-10, God is all about the just one more. The Shepherd had 99 sheep that were safe, but there was one that was lost. The Shepherd was not satisfied until that one lost sheep was found and returned to the flock (just one more). The woman, who had ten silver coins and then lost one. She kept searching until it was found (just one more). Then she calls her friends and neighbors to celebrate. In this passage, we see there is rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents (just one more).

Finally, 2 Peter 3:9 says it all: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (NIV) (Just One More).

We are being called to by the Holy Spirit to have a burning passion in our hearts and minds, for Just One More, Lord!!

Billy Graham had this passion; his hear cry was,” Give me souls, Lord.” In other words, “Just One More.” God has promised the Billy Graham mantle to the Church, but we also must have the passion for, Just One More.  

We must begin to stir up ourselves. To begin, to cry aloud to Lord, “Just One More, Lord!! Give me Just One More,” Then, we must put into action our prayers. We must be courageous and step out knowing that we are moving with the passion of God.

It’s time for the passion and the heart cry of the Church to be, JUST ONE MORE. When you get the one, cry out again, “LORD!!! JUST ONE MORE!!!”

©COPYRIGHT 2018 RICHARD L SPANGLER

             Adventures in the Spirit: A Series of Prophetic Visions 2nd Edition

The Adam Relationship

As we know, God is restoring all things. When we say this we are thinking of the restoration of the 5-fold ministry and gifts of the Spirit. Then, all members of the Body of Christ doing the work of the ministry.

 But, the Lord is restoring beyond those things. His will and purpose is to restore our relationship with Him. This relationship goes beyond the relationship that King David had, beyond what Joshua and Moses had, beyond what Enoch enjoyed. As wonderful as these relationships were, God wants to bring us back to the relationship that Adam had in the Garden of Eden.

  This a place of not only knowing the Will of God for our lives, not only knowing His Voice and seeing what He is doing and moving with Him but knowing Him intimately.  It is a place of knowing His footsteps and not only hearing His heartbeat but that we will know what it is to be in the center of His Heart.

This is the Call of Father God for each of us. This is the purpose of sending His Son Jesus Christ and the giving us the Fullness of the Holy Spirit overflowing our lives.

  Sadly, many of us never even move beyond the basics of being saved and being filled with the Holy Spirit but there is a desire for more but many never get to the more of God. This creates a sense of frustration in our spirits and eventually leads many to settle for what that have. There are others who attempt to do it in their own strength. This often leads to a legalistic life of reading so much of Word of God, and praying many hours a day. These things are good as tools and need to happen but the Word without the Spirit and prayer without the Spirit lead only to an intellectual knowledge about the relationship with God.

 

So, how do we reach the relationship that God has purposed us and created us to be in with Him. This requires a shift in the way we do things for God. It requires a shift in our attitude about our relationship with God, our Father. We must realize that relationship is more than what we do for Him.  

   Relationship comes from spending time with one another not just in the doing of things.  The time factor is key. Sadly, many do what has been mentioned above, read the Bible, some study the Bible (there is a difference) and they pray. This is where most of us stumble, we make prayer a one-way litany of our needs with a little praise and thanksgiving to top it off. Then, we are out the door, expecting an answer, but never taking time to listen or spend time with the one we are praying to.

   Listening is the beginning of relationship. Psalm 46:10 the NRSV, NIV, ESV, KJV all translate this way, “Be still, and know that I am God.” The NASB says,” Cease striving and know that I am God” and the AMP version, “Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God.” In all of these translations, God is saying to us to “stop” realize Who I Am.

How do we be still and start listening? I started, 8 years ago, by stopping for 5 minutes at the start of each day, now this means turning off all distractions in our lives, TV, computers, tablets and yes cell phones, and I inviting God come. I would say this: “Father I want to be with you, come and be with me.” Then, I would wait, thinking on God, with expectation that He would come. This takes some training to keep your mind from wandering off to other things but you can do it as I did.

 Since then my time with the Father has grown and grown, it how goes well beyond the 5 minutes, it is developing into more and more intimate relationship with God.

  It has become a knowing that God is with me every day, all day and this fact makes my life exciting and an Adventure in the Spirit, daily.

   Salvation opens the way. Being filled with Holy Spirit gives us the power. Studying the Word of God gives us knowledge and prayer starts the communication. Taking time to invite God to come and be with us, waiting and listening for Him are the first steps in the restoration of the Adam Relationship in our lives.

 There is much more to come. You can begin to experience this relationship with God. God wants you to have it, all you have to do is willing to spend time with Him.

©COPYRIGHT 2016 RICHARD L SPANGLER

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2015: a Year of Blessings And Focus

By Richard L. Spangler

 

  The Lord is saying this a year of Blessings and a year of moving forward in Him. So set your focus on what is ahead. Do not look back to what was, good or bad. But look forward to what is coming. Set your focus to look ahead.

 

  The one who is running a race, focused on what is ahead. Focusing on what is behind (what was) will cause you to slow down and even stumble and fall. Looking back will cause you to miss some of the blessings I have for you.

 

  Do not get distracted. Be as a lion that does not get distracted by those things going on around him. The lion stays focused on his prey until he captures it. Then it is his. Do likewise, keep focused on what I have called you do this year and you will capture the blessings that I have you.

 

  Keep your focus on your relationship with me says the Father. Move closer to me and I will move closer to you. I want you to know me better this year. Walk by my side, listen to my voice. Speak what I tell you speak. See what I am doing, move with me, and do what I do.

 

 There will be great blessings in this year, if you set your focus me. The choice is yours, focus on what is behind or focus on me and what is ahead and be blessed. 

 

©COPYRIGHT 2015 RICHARD SPANGLER

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Adventures in the Spirit A Series of Prophetic Visions