Who Are You Part 3

 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 a 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 is for the family and for the family only. The good news is we are in the 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

Please support this ministry, by purchasing my book,

“Adventures in the Spirit A Series of Prophetic Visions"  

From Amazon.com

Who Are You Part 2

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 a 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 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…

    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 two scriptures, among many, make reference to being kings and priests. This goes back to the 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 a 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

Please support this ministry, by purchasing my book,

“Adventures in the Spirit A Series of Prophetic Visions"  

From Amazon.com

WHO ARE YOU? Part 1

(This is older teaching republished at this time. It is as important today as then. I pray this 4 Part Series Blesses You)
 
  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 spend a lifetime building their career and identity is wrapped up in that career have a major problem 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 the servant in his 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 leads us down the road of legalism, of having to do to get. Unfortunately, this attitude and relationship with God have 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

Please support this ministry, by purchasing my book,

“Adventures in the Spirit A Series of Prophetic Visions”

From Amazon.com.

Lion's Voice Ministries: A Series of Prophetic Words and Visions for this M...

Lion's Voice Ministries: A Series of Prophetic Words and Visions for this M...:   I saw another vision of the United States and there were at least 23 Pillars of Fire coming down across the nation and the fir...

A Series of Prophetic Words and Visions for this Moment Part 4

  I saw another vision of the United States and there were at least 23 Pillars of Fire coming down across the nation and the fire from these pillars flowing in every direction even crossing the borders with Mexico and Canada. 

  Everywhere the pillars came down and the fire flowed I saw there were times when church buildings were overflowing with people 24 hours a day for weeks at a time. I began to think, there are not enough chairs. The Lord, spoke, “Don’t worry about the chairs most of my people will be on the floor due to My weighty presence filling those places.”  The vision also showed me colleges and schools where the students and teachers and professors were on the floor in the classrooms crying out to God. Regent University is one of these places.

  Then the next vision was of the world. There were thousands of Pillars of Fire coming down on islands, in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. Every continent will be touched by this Move. In this vision, God bought me close to the middle east. There was a Pillar of Fire in Israel. This pillar spread the fire into the desert to the south, north into Lebanon and beyond and east to the Euphrates River.

   This is what I have been given so far and I am expecting more.

God also has spoken to me, there are specific prophetic words for regions, cities, and churches in addition to these national and global words and visions. Please contact me for the details at lionsvoiceministries@yahoo.com.

 I hope this encourages and blesses you.

  

   ©COPYRIGHT 2019 RICHARD L. SPANGLER

Please support this ministry, by purchasing my book,

“Adventures in the Spirit A Series of Prophetic Visions”

From Amazon.com