Selah for Today 10-17-2019- Choose Life

Deuteronomy 30:19-20(NIV) ¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life,* so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

God gives us a choice and then gives us the answer, "Choose Life". God wants us to choose life in everything we do, say and think. We need in every area of our lives to choose Life. In other words, choose God for He is Life and gives life. 

*Boldness added for emphasis. 

Selah for Today 09-04-2019 Step out!

Adventures begin when you step out in faith

Acts 3:5-7 (NKJV)  So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength." 

Now that's an Adventure!!!

Selah for Today 08-26-2019-Forgive

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” (1) –Lewis B. Smedes
When you forgive, the very chemical structure of the brain changes from the negative to the positive affecting the entire thinking/memory building process (2) –Dr. Caroline Leaf

Matthew 6:14 (NKJV) “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Selah for Today 08-23-2019-Life

“Life is a marathon, not a sprint. The race doesn’t go to the swiftest, but to those who don’t give up.” O. Hillman
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the ^[a]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

Selah for Today 08-17-2019-Thoughts

In 2019 the population of the earth is 7 632 819 325+ people. God, Our Heavenly Father, thinks about each person (Psalm 40:5) and He has plans for each one (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Selah for Today, 08-06-2019 Why Selah?

I have already been asked, "Why Selah?"  Selah has many meanings in Hebrew: a can mean to "to lift up or exalt". "to pause or reflect, to stop and listen, to pause and think on that."
   So what better way to start today and every day than to pause and reflect and exalt the Lord God!
Blessings to you and Selah!!

It's to Pray!!! Check out the link below:
https://www.ifapray.org/blog/a-viewers-guide-to-the-kavanaugh-hearing/

An Army of Angels

Vision of an Army of Angels

By Richard L. Spangler

On June 25, 2015, I was caught up in a vision. I was standing in a great plain in heaven. This plain seem to stretch for hundreds maybe even thousands of miles in every direction. What was unusual is the fact that it was empty say unusual because in heaven nothing is empty every space has purpose. Prayed and asked the Lord what the meaning of this empty plane is, immediately my eyes were open and I saw him standing before me a great army of angels. There were perhaps millions of them standing in rank-and-file. There were archangels there were all different types of warrior angels, the smallest of which were at least 12 foot tall extremely muscular wearing armor flaming swords at their side ready to do battle with they did not move. I then asked to myself why are they not moving? I heard the voice of the Lord saying to me this army has been hidden until this time and is revealed now for this time. They are not moving because I have not arisen to war says the Lord I am and God of War and I will arise with my armies. But my Warrior Bride has not asked me to arise and to fight for her and she has not asked me for this army of angels to come and do battle. Then suddenly around the plain there appeared a host of people they were all praying but they were not praying for the Army to be released they were praying for the church (the Warrior Bride) on earth to ask the father the Lord God to release the Army and to arise and to fight with them and for them. Then, hundreds of those praying stopped and looked at me and asked me why the church is not asking for God to arise and for the release this angelic army. They continue to ask me over and over, I was dumbfounded and had no answer. Suddenly Jesus appeared at my side and he answered those who questioned me. Jesus said, "the reason the church does not pray and ask for the release is there are many who are disheartened and there are many more who do not realize who they are in me." Then Jesus looked at me and said, "You go and teach them who they are, and the power and authority they have in me. I will heal the disheartened so they can be taught who they are. The time is short, and the battle is now, remember you do not battle against flesh and blood but against evil and wickedness in high places. You must move in me to bring down the evil that has taken control of your nation and its government. Now is the time to call out for me to honor the covenants that have been made by your forefathers. Now is the time, for the church, my warrior bride to arise and take her place as my Regent on the earth. To bring forth a great move of the Holy Spirit that billions will come to know me and the course of nations shall be changed. Now is the time, for my church to arise and to roar with the power and authority of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah to stand and to fearlessly proclaim what is right and to go forward doing signs wonders and miracles that have given you to do. Go forth and take back what Satan has stolen from you and from mankind through his deceptions. You can do this I am with you and I have all authority in heaven and earth and when I move nothing can stand against me. This army of angels awaits my command to move with you and with Me.” says the Lord. “Shake yourselves, stir yourselves up from your sleep, put on your armor go forth and make war against the principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. Call on me, I will go with you and I will release this army of angels to fight alongside you." With this I heard a tremendous roar from the army of angels, it was a deafening war cry and I looked towards them and all them all with flaming swords raised to towards the Throne of Heaven, they were ready for war. I as I have prayed over this vision, a number of things have come to mind. We will look at those Holy Spirit inspired thoughts in the coming weeks. We look at the disheartened as well as teach on who we are in Christ (this is an ongoing revelation, as are all things in God). For those who have some understanding of you are and your authority, begin now to ask God to arise to war and to release this angel army. Also, under the leading of the Holy Spirit come out of your homes, and your churches. Come out of the closet (everyone else has) tell people about the love of God for them, tell them about His righteousness and with the Holy Spirit, do signs, wonders and miracles This will change your street, your community, your city, your state, our country and the world. This will bring about the Day of Saints and the 3nd Great Awakening. The army of angels is waiting but more importantly God is waiting on you.

  ©COPYRIGHT 2015 RICHARD L SPANGLER

 

Adventures in the Spirit A Series of Prophetic Vision at Amazon.com

 

 

The Gatekeepers

Enjoy this article from 2010, I hope it blesses you

By Richard Spangler

  We, believers have been asking God to release a flood of the Holy Spirit into our nation and the earth. This Holy Spirit Flood will happen when we understand that we have a reservoir of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. As in the natural every reservoir (heart) has a dam and each dam has floodgates of the Spirit and we are the gatekeepers. The gatekeepers control the flow of the Holy Spirit out of our hearts.

 Sadly, many gatekeepers (believers) try to keep the floodgates closed and hold on to all that God has given them. They only allow a few splashes of the overflow of the Spirit to flow out. They do not understand that the reservoir of the Holy Spirit in their hearts is greater than they can imagine. Colossians 2:9-10 states, For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given the fullness of Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.(NIV). In other words, we have the fullness of God in Christ in the reservoirs of our hearts waiting to be released.

  We as gatekeepers must open all the floodgates of our hearts and allow the River of the Holy Spirit to flow out into our lives and the world.  This River of the Holy Spirit has all the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and all the Gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:8-10) and all we have to do is open the floodgates to have access to everything in God and all that God is. We are not limited to just one or two of the Gifts of the Spirit, just as we are not limited to having one or two of the Fruits of the Spirit in our lives. God wants all of the Gifts of the Spirit as well as all of the Fruit of the Spirit out of our lives. All we need to do is open the floodgates and the Holy Spirit will guide us.

  The more we allow the Holy Spirit to flow out of us, the more we receive from God. The Law of Use and the Law of Multiplication come into divine activation into our lives. We get much more of God than we give out. God will continually expand and overflow the reservoirs of our hearts. This will cause an even greater flow of the River of the Spirit to flow out to the world.

    Our nation is a dry and thirsty land and it needs the flow of the River of the Spirit. This is the only way to change the course of our nation and bring about the great awakening that we need. So, take the step of faith, be a gatekeeper that opens wide the floodgates and be a part of the next great awakening in this nation and the world. 

 

  

  ©COPYRIGHT 2010 RICHARD SPANGLER

 

 

Available at  Amazon.com

 

 

The Time of the Seer Anointing

By Richard L Spangler

  The Lord has been saying to me the phrase, “The time of the seer anointing.” I have heard this same phrase two or three times a day in the past two weeks. So I began to meditate and ask the Lord what is the meaning of this phrase.

  I was then caught up in a vision; I was standing in what looked like a winery. The winery was a massive place. There were huge vats, which were at least a hundred stories high. In the midst of these vats was the Lord Jesus.

  Jesus said. “The time has come to open the Vat of the Seer Anointing.”

  He reached down and opened a valve and the anointing of the seer flows out. It does not run all over the floor. The anointing creates an opening in the floor and flows through the opening. I move closer and looking into the opening I see the earth. The anointing is, at first splashing onto the earth in one place or another. The anointing keeps flowing until the earth is completely soaked. The anointing continuously flows to earth, even after it is completely soaked. Soon it is flowing in great waves across the planet.
 
I look up and Jesus is standing beside me. Jesus says, “This Seer Anointing has been prepared for this time. It is available to all who know me, and walk with me and know my voice. For now, they will not only hear, but they will see and seeing they will do.
 
This anointing is not only for my church but is also for those who don’t know me. It will give them hope, in this time of man’s hopelessness. For as my people go and do, what they see the Holy Spirit doing, it will give mankind hope and many will come to know me.”

A seer is a prophet who not only hears what God is saying but also sees what God the Father is doing and has visions. There are many seers in the Bible. Samuel was the first one that the Hebrew word for seer was used for a person. Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel all were seers; they all had visions from God.

     An example of seeing what is happening in the spirit realm is found in    2 Kings 6:17 Then Elisha prayed, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the young man's eyes, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. (AMP).

  The seer can be found in the New Testament. Jesus in John 5:19 (AMP)¹⁹So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His own accord); but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way [in His turn]. This was an amazing statement Jesus not heard the Father but saw Him doing. We think hearing the Lord is great and it is but, to see Him working and do what He is doing is better. If see the Holy Spirit healing someone with our spiritual eyesight, then we can move with the Holy Spirit and become the physical point of contact to release that healing into the earth. Literally, we can bring the will of Father down to earth as it is done in heaven. The other benefit is in seeing the Holy Spirit move and do and then moving with Him whatever it is will happen.

  Peter’s vision in Acts 10:9 prepared him for what the Holy Spirit was going to do among the gentles a few hours later and help open the way of salvation to the gentles.  Paul’s vision in Acts 16:9 of the Macedonian man. This vision caused Paul to change his plans and let to the founding of the Macedonian Church. Paul being caught up into the Third Heaven and John’s visions in The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ are all examples of the seer anointing.

   All of these are seers or moved under the seer anointing and you can too. First make sure of your relationship with Jesus. Second spend time mediating on the Word of God. Third, spend time in the Presence of the Lord, listening to him. Finally wherever you are or whatever you are doing be available and do what God shows you to do.

            ©COPYRIGHT 2012 RICHARD L SPANGLER

 

 

This book is a book prophetic visions and teachings that God blessed me with and I hope it Blesses you. Available at Amazon.com   

A Psalm 91 Life

By Richard Spangler

   I am sitting in my chair, trying to decide what to write. Then the issues of the day begin to crowd my mind. Will there be an economic collapse or boom? Will the upcoming elections mean change for the better or for the worst? Will there be war? Will there be another terrorist attack in our country? Then on a personal level: Will I be able to lose the weight I want to lose this year? Will I get my first book published? Will I move forward financially?  What will it be like being a grandfather?

   Just one of these questions can lead you down the road of fear and anxiety if you allow them.  Put them all together and you have a mountain of uncertainty.  Many people are in fear and panic because of these questions, including many Christians. They are asking, “Is there hope? Can I survive? What, if anything can I do?”

  Yes, there is hope in God! In the Bible God promises, “Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent”(Psalm 91:9-10 Amp).

God also states in Psalm 91 that He will cover you; He will give angels charge over you, no pestilence (no disease), no sudden death, nor any evil shall befall you. And the list goes on.

The key to these promises is found in verse 14, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]”(Psalm 91:14 AMP).

  As you determine with your mind to love God and set your heart to do so, you take the first turn of the key for the promises of God found in Psalm 91.

Many of you have taken that first turn of the key by accepting Jesus Christ into your heart. For those who have not, there is no better time than now.

    The next turn of the key is equally as important. It is getting to know God with a personal knowledge of His mercy, love and kindness. It is discovering Who God is, and not just by reading the Bible and praying.

This happens two ways. First, meditate, don’t just reading the Bible, but think about what you are reading. According to Webster’s Dictionary, Meditate is: to engage in contemplation or reflection: to focus one's thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over. In other words, take time to think about what you are reading. In our fast paced society we scan more than we read.

    We scan e-mails, texts, letters and articles without reading them and thinking about what is being said. Take time with the Bible, stop and ask, “What does this mean? How does this apply to my life?” Ask the Lord to help you understand and to teach you. Don’t scan it and walk away saying, “I’ve done my Bible reading for the day.” and check it off of that never ending To Do List.

Secondly, it happens by making time for God, spending time with Him. Remember, God created man to spend time with Him. An example of this is in the Bible.

“And out of the ground the Lord God formed every [wild] beast and living creature of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever Adam called every living creature, that was its name” (Genesis 2:19 AMP).

God would create an animal, and then bring it to Adam to name. God was interested to see what name would be given. I imagine that was some discussion of the creature’s design and purpose between God and Adam. This took time.

 Also, in Genesis, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…But the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you” (Genesis 3:8-9 AMP)?

This shows God coming to spend time with Adam and Eve. This was not unusual for Adam and Eve. They even knew the sound of God walking and would go out to meet and spend time with God. This is what God wants, for us to know Him. This is why Jesus came to earth, so that a way would be open for man to be able to spend time with God and know him again.

 Set aside time, every day to get to know Father God better.  Sit and listen for His voice. Get to know His presence. Have personal knowledge and relationship with God.

   This will unlock all the promises in Psalm 91, and much more, will become yours. It will not matter what happens, good or bad, for you will be hidden in God’s presence and protection.

 

 

©COPYRIGHT 2012 RICHARD SPANGLER

 

 

Available at  Amazon.com

 

 

 

 

 

Who is Obed-Edom?

       By Richard Spangler


  Who is Obed-Edom? Why be like him? His choices and his life led to blessings for himself and his family. Let us, together, learn who Obed-Edom was and about his life.     

   Obed-Edom is first mentioned in the Bible, just after the death of Uzzah for touching the Ark of God. This happened during King David’s first attempt to move the Ark to Jerusalem. The Ark of God was placed in the home of Obed-Edom. He must have been a man of faith to allow something in his home; just after God had killed someone for touching it (this broke one of the commands of the Lord concerning the Ark). The ark of God remained with Obed-Edom for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he owned.     
   When it came time to move the Ark to Jerusalem, (this time correctly) Obed-Edom had a choice. He could have stayed where he was and lived off of his past relationship with God or move with the Ark of God, staying in God’s presence and in relationship with God.     
  
  Obed-Edom had a desire for the Lord and moved with God. His desire for the Lord caused him to do whatever it took to be close to the Lord. He became a gatekeeper, a musician, and a doorkeeper for the Ark. Due to Obed-Edom’s desire and love for the Lord and his faithfulness, God begins again to bless him and promote him.     

  Obed-Edom becomes a worship leader and is mentioned along with Aspah the Chief Musician. Obed-Edom and his 68 associates minister regularly before the Lord in worship. Yet, he still continues to keep the gates.     

  Obed-Edom is not only blessed in ministry and relationship with the Lord, his family is also blessed. God gives him eight sons, his poor wife raising a football team. His sons and grandsons also worshiped the Lord and were blessed by the Lord. They were all leaders, capable men, with strength to do the work. There were 62 men in all. Obed-Edom along with his other duties was put in charge of the Southgate and his sons were keepers of the storehouse.     

  Obed-Edom by his faith, attitude, and actions created a legacy of faith, and relationship with the Lord. The Lord was faithful back to Obed-Edom establishing a legacy of generational blessings.    

Obed-Edom had to pack up and physically move to stay in the presence of God. His desire for a relationship with God established a relationship not only for himself but also for his children and grandchildren. This relationship also established generational blessings from God for his family.     

  Today, we don’t have to travel to a specific place to know the presence of the Lord or to have a relationship with the Lord. We, as believers all have the Holy Spirit within us. But, it is up to each of us to stir up the desire to seek out our own relationship with God, Our Father. The Father desires for us to have a relationship with him. He waits patiently for His sons and daughters to seek him out and have an individual relationship with Him.      

  We can have this relationship with the Father by first, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, we will be filled (Mt. 5:6). We must work to keep our hearts pure and we will see God. We must seek first the Kingdom of God and Its righteousness (Mt. 6:37).      

  Our Father is crying out by His Spirit within us, for each of us to stir up our desire for Him. He wants us to be passionate for Him, to get hungry and thirsty for Him. When you are hungry and thirsty for something, you do what it takes to be satisfied.    

  The first step is to keep a pure heart… Unconfessed sin is a relationship and a blessing stopper with God. Keep short accounts with the Lord by following 1 John 1:9 and by keeping short accounts with others. No choice here. If you have done wrong, go to the person, confess it, ask for forgiveness and make it right. If you know some one has something against you, go to them, and don’t wait for them to come to you. Make it right. Be careful what you watch on T.V., listen to the radio, and what comes in over the Internet, enough said.     

  Second, study the Word of God, and mediate on it daily. Mediation is not mystical or hard. If you can worry, you can mediate. We all do a great job worrying. We take an issue and keep thinking the worst that can happen over and over again. Mediation is thinking about a particular scripture or the goodness of God, over and over again.

This is simple but it works, and the more you do it the easier it gets. Putting on worship music helps with mediation and will bring the Presence of God.  

  A third step is just relax and rest in the Presence of God. We think that we must be doing something all the time for God. Relaxing and resting in God’s Presence is extremely important. It is in these times that we can clearly hear from the Lord. A Web site that can help with this www.soaking.net.     

Finally, get up and get moving. Get involved in your church and/or your community. Obed-Edom did not wait for the Lord to tell him to do something, he just did it. He waited on the Lord by doing. You will find as you are doing the work of the ministry, God will give you direction in what to do.     

  So be an Obed-Edom, have a desire for God. Keep your heart pure. Study and mediate on the Lord, and relax and rest in God’s presence. Get up and get involved. By doing these things, you will have a relationship with God, and He will bless you and your family and create blessings for you and generational blessings for your family.

Scripture References for Obed-Edom: 1 Chronicles Chapters 13:12-14, 15:18, 21, 24, 16:38, 26:4-6, 12-15.

©COPYRIGHT 2009 RICHARD SPANGLER



Available at  Amazon.com

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Who Are You Part 4

By Richard L Spangler

    We are God’s children.  Ephesians 2:6 (AMP) ⁶And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

   Romans 8:14-16 Amplified Bible (AMP) ¹⁴For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.¹⁵For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! ¹⁶The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.
 
  Galatians 4:5-7Amplified Bible (AMP) ⁵To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God's sons].⁶And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father! ⁷Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant) but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an heir by the aid of God, through Christ.

 These verses plus many more show us that we are God’s Family. We are His sons and daughters. This is who we are. We have full and unrestricted access to the Father. This is a powerful relationship. We can enter God’s presence any time we want and just the Throne Room (a place of petitions) but we have the run of the house. 

   We can go into all the rooms of the house. The great thing is there will always be more and more rooms to explore, for our Father has a big house, bigger than we can imagine. We can roam the gardens; play in the Pools of Life created by the River of Life. We roam the various mountain ranges of the kingdom and eat of the never ending supply of food, which is there for us to enjoy.

   Best of all is spending time with the Father. God desires us to spend time with him and He smiles when we come through the door and ask to be with Him. This was the purpose of creation, that God would have a family and that we, by our own free will would choose to love him and to spend time with him. This above all else is why mankind was created. He created us in his image for this purpose so we could enjoy each other forever. One of the great and wonderful mysteries of this is, it is always one on one, just you and the Father and it can be the same for every person in the universe at the same time, if they desire it.

   We must also remember that our Father, is the LORD GOD, THE CREATOR, THE ALL POWERFUL KING OF ALL, who is from everlasting to everlasting. We must honor and worship Him as such.

   As we realize this relationship of being a child of God, everything we do, being a servant, a king, a priest, and friend all flow out of this relationship. We operate in the various positions in the kingdom with the proper attitude of love. We don’t do things because we have to; we do them because we want to, out of our love for our Father. This loving relationship between us, as children with God our Father opens the door for a revelations and experiences beyond what we can ever imagine.

   So begin to think of yourself and see yourself as God our Father sees you, as His child whom He loves and wants to spend time with. Who He wants to share with all that has with you. He wants to reveal himself to you. Then you will have a life to full and overflowing and you can answer the question, “Who are You?”

                        ©COPYRIGHT 2012 RICHARD L SPANGLER

 

 

 

 

An excerpt from my book, ADVENTURES IN THE SPIRIT A Series of Prophetic Visions….I am sitting on the river bank, still wearing the Armor of God, rejoicing and praising God for the day’s victory. Suddenly, the Glory of God falls on me and lifts me up higher and higher until I find myself standing at the entrance to the Throne Room of God. The massive doors are open and looking up, the entrance appears to be several miles high and glow with the Glory of God. I hear the voices of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit calling me to enter….

Available at: http://www.amazon.com/ADVENTURES-SPIRIT-Series-Prophetic-Visions/dp/1470193396

Who Are You Part 3

By Richard L Spangler

  In part 1 of Who Are You, we looked at the servant. In part 2 we looked at the kings and priest. All of these have varying degrees of relationship with God.

 The next level of relationship is that of friend.  A friend as defined by Webster’s Dictionary is: 1a: one attached to another by affection or esteem b: acquaintance  2 a: one that is not hostile b: one that is of the same nation, party, or group 3: one that favors or promotes something (as a charity) 4: a favored companion

Enoch was one such person in Genesis 5:22-24Amplified Bible (AMP) ²²Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God after the birth of Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters.²³So all the days of Enoch were 365 years.²⁴And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him].This is an amazing friendship with God. This same type of relationship is mentioned of Noah in Genesis 6:8-9.

   In Genesis 18:3 Abraham refers to himself as a servant but God calls Abraham his friend in Genesis 18:17. This shown by the discussion that follows a friend is allowed debate a decision and servant is not.

 Jesus speaks of friendship and the difference between friends and servants in John 15:15 I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]

A friend has a closer relationship than a servant, a priest or king, but a friend can be any of these as well. But there are limits in the relationship of a friend and access to the house. There are parts of a house that are for the family and for the family only. The good news is we are in family of God.

 We will look at Family of God in the 4^th and final part of this series coming soon.

 

©COPYRIGHT 2012 RICHARD L SPANGLER

Who Are You Part 2

By Richard L. Spangler

 In Part 1, we discussed being the servant and the attitude of a servant that keeps us from becoming who we truly are in Christ. The key to remember is that God’s grace still keeps us and God sees us as we ready are, no matter how we think and see ourselves.Abram saw himself as a servant, God called him friend.

  This part of the teaching we shall look at ourselves as kings and priests. The scriptures for this are:

1 Peter 2:9-10 (AMP) 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own ^[d]purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.¹⁰Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God's people; once you were unpitied, but now you are pitied and have received mercy.

    Exodus 19:5-8 (AMP) ⁵Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.⁶And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [consecrated, set apart to the worship of God]. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.⁷So Moses called for the elders of the people and told them all these words which the Lord commanded him.⁸And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord has spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

  These two scriptures, among many, make reference to being kings and priests. This goes back to very beginning when God told Adam; he had dominion over all the earth. This is kingship. A king has authority and power to establish laws and to enforce those laws. Adam only had one greater authority above him and that was God, The King of Kings.

   The kings of Israel were supposed to represent the King of Kings, the Lord God to his people. They were to be examples the goodness, the mercy, and protection of God for his people. The king was also to lead the people to God. The king was to seek the counsel of God on how to lead the people. Sadly nearly every king of Israel failed in these responsibilities.

    The priests were not only to make sacrifices to God and worship Him; they were to teach the people about God. They were to teach people that, their sin kept them from God but that God had made a way through the atonement sacrifices for their sins they could have a relationship with God. The priests were also to teach all the people of the earth God’s message of love and mercy through the atonement. God never intended that Israel were the only ones to have relationship with Him.

  Priests and kings have a relationship with God. They are invited to do more than just make petitions in the Throne of God. They are invited into the banquet hall; share the table of God’s blessings, to eat and drink with Him. They can hear God plans and discuss those plans and with God’s help implement those plans. They are also given their own authority and power under the King of Kings to do the work they have been assigned. 

  We believers in Christ Jesus are the kings and priest of God today. We have been given authority, Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18 and the power came in Acts 2:1-4.

  As great as all this is we, as with the servant, are more than a king or a priest. In fact, we are much more as we will see in Part 3.

©COPYRIGHT 2012 RICHARD SPANGLER

WHO ARE YOU? PART 1

By Richard Spangler

   The question, “Who are you?” plagues many a person, including many Christian. Who you are is at the very core of your existence. Most people go through life thinking what they do is who they are. They themselves as a mailman, doctor, mother, father, minister and the list goes on. Those who think of themselves as only what they do have a crisis every time what they do changes. The man or women who spends a lifetime building their career and identity is wrapped up in that career have a major problems when they have to retire or are no longer have that career path available to them. So where do we go to find out who we are? Where do we go to “find ourselves”.

   The best place to find out who we are is God and the Bible. Who does God said you are? Let’s look and find out.The first thing we see is the servant according to Webster’s is: one that serves others <a public servant>; especially: one that performs duties about the person or home of a master or personal employer. Abram uses the first reference of servant in relationship to God. This now Abram saw himself in relationship to God. In Genesis 18:3 (AMP) And said, My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant, I beg of you.

   A servant is one who goes and does what the master tells him to do. A servant does things whether they want to or not. They do what they are told. Their relationship with the master is to do or be punished. There may develop a love for their master (if he is a good person), but the relationship is overshadowed by having to please the master or be punished. If the servant wants something from the master, he must beg for it and may have to extras for the master, who may or may not grant their request.

   This is true of many Christians, we see ourselves only as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. We go and do as the Holy Spirit tells us. Many believers never get beyond the servant level of relationship with God. We limit ourselves to the servant, as did Abram. We try to please God into granting us His blessings. The servant attitude prevails: I have to pray more, fast more, read more, memorize more and do more to get God’s favor so He will bless us with finances, health, healing, deliverance and anything else we might ask.

  This can lead us down the road of legalism, of having to do to get. Unfortunately, this attitude and relationship with God has been taught, by many church leaders as “The Relationship with God” and in order to serve God we must serve them without question, as a good servant.

   I am not saying that a servant of the Lord does not love God because he or she does. But, the mentality of the servant position colors everything about our relationship with God. Notice that I said, “Servant position” for it is not who we are in Christ. It is what we do out of our love for God. God stated later in Genesis 18 that He saw Abram as more than a servant, and He sees us as much more than a servant, but more about that later.

 

 

 

 

©COPYRIGHT 2012 RICHARD SPANGLER