Despise Not the Day of Small Things

Many boast in this hour of being filled with all revelation, and all understanding, and that they understand all the mysteries of God. Others make their boast in having come into the fullness of the gift of healing, the gift of prophecy, or some other gift, and others still make their boast in that they are Apostles and Prophets.  I would say to you that all who come in their own name, and give witness of their own ministries, and make themselves out to be the witness of some other’s ministry these have deluded themselves, and the truth is not in them.

John 5:30–40 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.  But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

This passage is so powerful I hardly know where to begin. Suffice to say the servant is not above the master. If Christ could not – we can not. If we can and He could not, we are not His disciples. When we cross the lines and boundaries that He would not cross – we are no longer His. Either we have become a Lord unto ourselves or we have made someone or something else our master.

Jesus said He could not seek, speak, or do, His own will,  Yet we have been taught by another that we can by our own will seek speak and demand what we call the promises of God.  In so doing by our own will we select  those, which are pleasing to our eyes, those that appeal to our personal vanity and we attempt to use them to heap upon ourselves according to our own carnal desires . 

Christ said He could not bear Himself witness. I have greatly sinned in this matter asking people to take my word for it, testifying about what God did in my life recounting his miracles and tokens – but when I tell it I am the star of the show not Christ and not God. God said He would not share His glory with another. Making it out that it was by some measure of my holiness, it was by my power of prayer, it was my seeking God or my Study of the Bible that produced this work.  None of these are true God acts when it pleases Him. God acts when it glorifies Him alone.  Contrary to what has been taught in the last two and a half decades God did not vacate his post as the Lord of Heaven and become your personal servant to grovel at your feet so he can grant your latest whimsical desire in the hope that in so doing He can still be your friend.  These teachings are so evil, so utterly corrupting, that they contaminate not just the body, not just the soul, but they poison our spirits and defile the temple of God that is within us. 

Jesus said He could not accept the witness from others – even from the greatest of prophets John – Jesus said it was unacceptable because it was from man.  How often to we use the words and testimonies of others to bolster our points. Is this how Christ preached?

Look now Jesus said he could not accept the testimony of others – that moves it beyond being something to verify his words these are now exhortations, and explanations – these were also unacceptable to Christ. Christ did not quote rabbis Christ did not quote priests

Christ did not quote Greek Philosophers. He quoted the law and the Prophets and the words that proceeded out of the mouth of the Father. – How different is that than what we do this day. Christ depended on the Father for His daily bread. Christ depended on the Father for His daily guidance. And Christ depended on the Father for His daily witness.  

We have no such dependence on God of our needs, or our ministry. What we have is independence as soon as the meeting is over we will head to a full refrigerator, or head to a fast food place. When we speak or preach writers block preachers block no problem – turn on the Radio, TV,  plug in a teaching tape, pop in that evangelist’s video, pull out that book, or study notes, a commentary or two. And as regards to any witness to our words – we don’t need any of that – its just me and the bible or me and the other preachers or the bible or just me.    

Has it ever occurred to anyone that Christ had the Law and the Prophets (The word of God?)  And even though Jesus quoted from the scriptures daily as He spoke and ministered that Christ said that He still had the need daily for the witness of the Father. Christ’s ministry did not stand on the naked word alone,  it was a combination of  the scriptures, the word that proceedeth from the Father, and the witness of the Father in signs wonders and divers miracles?  How could this possibly be?

Jesus deemed that Christ preaching Christ was not enough.  If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.  So how is it that virtually every preacher feels they can with impunity preach himself or other ministries?  It is because they are not dependant on Christ as one of His disciples. It is that they are independent operatives not under the laws that Christ himself was under. It is that these preachers and ministries are actually a law unto themselves, and they teach men to be agents independent of God and a law unto themselves as well.

Do we have a second witness on this? Were these rules also understood by the Apostles? Yes Most notably in the writings of John and Paul. Lets examine Paul o see if these things be so.

Romans 15:18-20 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Why does Paul the Apostle say that he dare not? The dare not implies that if Paul would speak of what Christ did in others, or preached what Christ had taught others there would be unwelcome consequences – ie no mighty signs and wonders no power of the spirit of God – So in his ministry Paul says by preaching what God wrought in Paul and what Christ taught Paul he was fully preaching the Gospel – Because the Gospel is what God has wrought in you and taught you.

There is more to the Apostles not just quoting from each other, consider this we know that Paul the Apostle sat under the feet of Gameliel – but yet Paul never says: “You know back before I was saved Gameliel used to say . . . And it is so true, I think Gameliel had some real truth and insight . . .

Realize that Paul knew the teachings of all the great Rabbis. He knew probably every Jot and tittle in the Talmud but Paul never quotes from any of that.

Lets now look at a third witness John the Apostle. 

John the Apostle had been a disciple of John the Baptist and other than where The Apostle John felt that it was necessary to quote from John the Baptist as Identifying Jesus as the Christ , and as sending disciples to verify Jesus was the Christ before his death John never says: “You know when Jesus spoke on this John the Baptist used to say this . . . . And now that I look back to John I see that he really had some life changing truth and insights and if it had not been for John’s teachings I probably would not be where I am today.”

Jesus continues: because you do not believe these words and that means obeying them not being a hearer only – ye have not His word abiding in you. We can sing we can memorize, we can confess we can demand by faith – and still not have his word abiding in us. Jesus challenges us to search the scriptures but tells us the result – Ye will not come unto me. In other words ye are not my disciple depart from me for I never knew you.

    

Years ago I was told a story by a young man going to Bible School. Unlike most of the students at this school that lived a life of ease, this young man had to work evenings to support himself and his wife. On one particular night he told me that there was a meeting where some self-appointed Prophet came so he could not attend the meeting.  Upon his return to the campus at one a.m. from work; one or more students promptly told him that he had totally missed it. That this great anointed Prophet had given to every student everyone of the nine gifts of the Spirit. This temporarily whipped up this young man into frenzy. At first he was sure that he had missed God for his life, this was sense of loss was further exacerbated by the students’ telling him that not only had this prophet given each of the students all nine gifts but that the prophet had in fact had been a one time event – in preparation for God’s end-time move on the earth. (Elevating the experience in this  meeting to the rapture and this poor guy finds out after he comes home from work only to be told that he’s been left behind.)

He told he that at first he was almost beside himself that was until after a few days of observing these other students that he realized that they had not in fact received anything. They were still the same bunch unenlightened unanointed people that he had always known.

All too often in this day we hear of someone with a great gift or we hear of some great ministry – and then if we go out to see them, or study what they have to say, all too often we find only a mediocre ministry that has slick packaging from Madison Avenue, and a performance that was choreographed by Hollywood.  

Matthew 24:22-24 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  For there shall arise false Christs, and false Prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. First I want you to consider that Christ is speaking about Preachers, Teachers, Evangelists, Apostles, and Prophets, that come in their own name and in their ministries name saying “I am anointed by God.” – The word “Christ” in the Greek means “The Anointed One.”  Note that in other places in scripture it warns of False Apostles and False Prophets. Only in the last hundred years have men dared name and ordain their own fleshly Apostles and Fleshly Prophets. The Lord has clearly shown me that the hour is upon us when these shall use all manner of deceit to give themselves authority to speak as God. 

Luke 21:8 And Jesus said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the (end) time draweth near. Go ye not therefore after them.

Beloved we are fast approaching a time where technology will be able to create before your and my eyes the very special effects that you have seen for the last decade or so on television and in film. I have read articles about holographic images that can be created on stage, in the clouds, and in the night skies. I have read that technology already exists where voices can be transmitted from virtually any solid object as if it were a loud speaker. I want you to meditate on the implications of this – visions, voices, and wonders in the heavens. The time is shortly coming that these corrupt evangelists and ministries of our day and a people even more pernicious will use this technology to create never before seen before lying signs and wonders that the Bible repeatedly tells us could even deceive the very elect.

Matthew 24:26-27 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Hosea 5:12- 15 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound. For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

There is a rottenness and defilement in the house of God. The Church has become a festering corpse unto God.  The Church can see its sickness and wounds. But instead of turning to the Lord to heal them, they have turned to the Assyrian, part of the Babylonian priesthood; they have turned themselves to King Jareb – he who contends.  He contends with God with his mixed teachings, his polluted sacraments his doctrines and teachings of men and even though he cannot heal their sickness or corruption or heal their festering wound. The Church takes great comfort in this their special friend -- he who contents. He is rich in tradition, and has great meaning in his multitude of ceremony. He is a showman that always gives a good performance.  He always leaves the masses standing on their feet applauding wildly and shouting his adoration and throw down their tithes and offerings. 

And yet after this great meeting, after the Church finally returns home, and they find their sickness and wound remains, what do these blind and wretched people say in their heart? King Jareb is false? – No! They say, “We will go to more meetings; we must give him greater offerings. We must buy his books and tapes and videos. We must follow all the more after his doctrines and precepts. We must study and learn of his traditions and then we will gain of his full experience.”  And these feel so fortunate, so comforted that they have one as King Jareb in their midst.   

Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 

Like Eve in the garden of Eden; the Church (the great whore and her daughters) long before their fall from grace, They had fixed their gaze upon the objects of their lust.  They themselves had planted the seeds of their own destruction within themselves.  They watered the seeds of those tares, and then they reaped unto themselves a harvest of the lusts of their flesh, the lust of their eyes, and their love of the things of the world. And the intoxication of the wealth, the prestige, and the adoration of the idolatrous masses was beyond anything that they ever could have imagined. Once they had started down this path they didn’t have the strength to turn away – the loss would have been greater than they could bear. 

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Truer words have never been spoken regarding the fall of the early Church, and the utterly corrupt big time Preachers and Evangelists of our day.  Who have reaped unto themselves a 100-fold harvest of the lusts of their flesh, the lust of their eyes, and their love of the things of the world.  The intoxication of this wealth, this prestige, and the adoration of the idolatrous masses is beyond anything that these Preachers and Evangelists could have ever imagined.

Mattthew 13:22   He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

In this hour a corrupt call has gone out to believers to become wealthy, increased in houses, and in lands, and to withhold from themselves no earthly goods. –  This alone should have jarred one’s Spirit when comparing their words to

Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Have you ever considered how an entire church could say such a thing?  It is because they were taught these things. Jesus says to people who hold these specific teachings Be zealous therefore and repent. Repent of your love of the riches of the world. Repent that you might be clothed upon, And repent that your blindness might be removed 

So how do these words compare with what we have been told by certain high-powered ministries that we as believers deserve to be wealthy and have the riches of this world? That Christ died that we might be wealthy and prosperous.  And that in the plan of God through our increased possession of these material things, that the world will beat a path to our door and say “The God that has made you to so prosper – I want this wealth-building God for myself.”  

In contrast to all the great and mighty works of men are doing in the name of Lord in this hour, God is calling out to his people in a still small voice and asking of us; “Who hath despised the day of small things.”

Zechariah 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. 

We have been told that small is bad, that only the huge Evangelistic juggernauts and the one thousand plus member Churches can do the work of this end-time harvest. We have been told that the small things we would do for the Lord are a worthless endeavor. We have been told that to think that God would be so honored by our use of the one mite we possess is the errand of fools. It has been implied that those that would so do would be under the scourge of God cursed with and sickness. And that the only way to get on the good side of God is to give that mite and all the more to the one who possesses the ten talents.     

We are further told that we need only to sit back and let the gospel professionals ply their trade for us and that in so doing we will build up riches in heaven for ourselves. We are even told that for every dollar we give to them 1 to 3 souls can be saved and that in our local church it takes 1500 to 2000 dollars to save a single soul, and again that claim is bolstered with the promise of carnal men that we are building up great sheaves to lay before the Lord of harvested souls.  

Some ministries even suggest why pray when for a small offering someone will pray for you? If you need healing buy your healing by giving in our offering plate. Do you want a new car, truck, house, girl friend, or wife? Give to us and it shall be taken of it for you.  

The words in the last few paragraphs should make your Spirit cry out in alarm. The words above should strike a shiver of fear deep within your Spirit – for judgment is coming. Earth shattering judgment is coming. This carnal earthly sensual ministry has finally caught God’s attention but not at all in the way they wanted. God will come as an all consuming fire and burn up this chaff so that noting remains of it. And what shall be left standing after this Those who have not despised their birth right and sold it off to another to sow and reap for them. Those that remain shall be those who despised not the say of small things – that have been content with the mite that they received of he Lord and have treasured that mite and have exercised themselves therein. 

Zerubbabel in the Hebrew means “Born in Babylon” or “One that was born in Babylon.”

You will not find a lot of teaching on this because many are afraid to speak of the implications of this passage of scripture.

Jeremiah 14:17 Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

Lamentations 2:13-14 What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?  Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

The Church has been in Babylon for the last 1800 years, all of us were born in Babylon all of us have drank of the cup, but this is a prophesy concerning Zerubbabel and the restoration of the Church, speaks that there shalll be one that will be born within the whore, one that will be born well acquainted with the sin, the iniquity and the ways of Babylon – this one shall be raised up as a deliverer like unto Mosses – not for Israel but for the unwilling body of Christ. And this one shall thoroughly purge the Church, and with the aid of his two olive trees bring all judgment against the Church and the World so that all that remains is the true bride Christ, that has been made ready for Groom’s coming.    

Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

This coming one, this Zerubbabel is spoken of in Isaiah as the repairer of the breach and the restorer of the paths to dwell in. John the Baptist opened the path the way of Salvation to prepare it for Jesus first coming. This restorer shall come in the spirit of Elijah and be zealous for God in bringing forth of the true bride of Christ for his second coming. And this restorer shall repair the breach of the virgin of Zion and restore the paths of righteousness.  

Luke 1:16-17 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. He shall turn the hearts of the Children back to the fathers

God has burned it deep in my heart that he will raise up one, to gather his sheep together that have been scattered, to bind up those that are bruised the heal the sick, to say unto this sheep this is the way walk ye in it. And turn the hearts of the Children back to their Fathers – These fathers would be Jesus and the Apostles.

Zechariah 4:6-9  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.

I want you to see that this Zerubbabel is to be a man of the Spirit, he has been anointed by God beyond measure, he is to be given great dominion over the earth, over the heavens and the seas and all that live therein. He shall bring forth the cornerstone of the Church and cry grace grace unto it and he shall restore the foundations of the faith. He shall be anointed beyond measure and restore the true gifts of the Spirit and the true offices.

The word translated grace in Hebrew is “Chen” it Comes from the word “Chanan” Which is spoken of a ruler or superior that stoops in kindness to an inferior in order to show them favor or bestow something upon them – (In essence we imitate the act of God when we pray and make supplication of him that he may have mercy on another.) So what Zerubbabel really doing is offering prayer and supplication to God the Cornerstone and foundations may be reset. He is an intercessor; he is a man of prayer like Mosses, and Christ.

Zechariah 4:10-14 For who hath despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

The question is put forth again, “Who hath despised the day of small things.” The answer is that those who have not despised the mite that God has given them, those who have not despised their birthright and given it to another – they shall rejoice and they shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are not naked, these are not blind, and these have also had their understand opened. Compare this again to Revelation 3:16-18    

Revelation 11:3-4 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Zerubbabel and his assistants are coming and every eye shall see them and the works that they shall do.

For many of this evil “Eyes Filled With Lust Generation” they desire great ministries, great gifts, and great power – these can not be bothered with small things, these can not with humble beginnings however we are told by Christ that the kingdom of heaven is like a small seed.

Matthew 13:31-32 The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

I had been taught that the lesson in this parable is the super abundant growth – the growth potential may be an issue but to begin with the key to this parable is one’s fleshly and earthly perceptions.  The seed that Christ is speaking of is first of all insignificant. Christ said it was least among all seeds.

Interestingly this aspect of parable reminds me of the manna given by God to the children of Israel in the wilderness.

Exodus 16:15-20 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.  And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.  And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.   And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.   Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

This manna was to be the children of Israel’s daily bread. I believe by application that all believers receive manna sized gifts and operations in their lives upon salvation. And then I believe that the Lord sits back to see what we will say and do with this insignificant – smallest of all seeds that we receive.

Consider this: neither Moses nor the Priests received a double portion. Moses and the Priests did not get special rations. And Moses and the Priests did not feast on steak while the commoners ate manna. This was their daily bread – it was the only bread. They had it all in common, those that gathered much had nothing over; and those who gathered little had no lack. We can make a case that Jesus and all the Apostles started with little or nothing, and in time they gained increase by being faithful in the day of small things.

As we read Exodus 16 we realize that nobody was allowed to profit from the manna. The young entrepreneurs among them were not able to set up manna stands, and sell manna by the pound. There weren’t any manna griddlecake stands.  There were no deep fried manna donut stands. There wasn’t even a manna bread wagon making its morning circuitous rounds through the tribes of Israel. If the entrepreneurs among the children of Israel tried to get out early and get enough manna to sell, trade, or hoard – it bred worms and stank.

The carnal Children of Israel involuntarily, unwillingly and ungratefully ate of this manna. And they were probably most put out by the manner in which this blessing was received. They loathed it.

It was a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost there was nothing distinctive about this manna (this Small seed God gave me) to brag about.  So much so that this manna (This small seed God gave me) wasn’t even the kind of thing that one could even boast about to his neighbor as having received this from the Lord.

And so the Israelites (Christians) with complete contempt for this substandard stuff and named it manna. Manna was a Hebrew word meaning  “What is it?” It was meant as a jib. It was a complaint. They could have called it “The food of God.” They could have called it; “The food of Angels.” They could have called it; “Bread from Heaven.”  But instead they treated it with contempt and called it; “What is it?”

First off the stuff was humbling. You had to stoop over to get it. (As in pray and seek God) And then the stuff was always lying on the ground – in the dirt.(With the most common and loathsome people) Making it hardly the kind of thing a child of the king would eat.(Associate themselves with.)  

And if that wasn’t bad enough God had engineered this stuff so that you couldn’t profit from it either. You couldn’t sell or trade it. It had to be gathered fresh every day.

The Israelites hated having to get their daily sustenance from God. They literally resented having to get all they’re needs taken care of by God. They wanted their flocks; they wanted absolute control over their food. They wanted absolute control over their finances, and they wanted all the amenities of Egypt. And instead they find themselves in the wilderness having to live according to God’s sovereignty.

So also today many despise the insignificant and smallest of all seeds that the Lord has given them, and the requirements to walk therein. Instead of being overjoyed that God in is greatness had seen fit to even notice us much les give anything to us. And those say with Contempt Manna! What is it?  And these either cast it aside, or altogether ignore it as the Israelites did with the manna. Instead setting their lustful eyes upon the gifts and seeds of others, while speaking reproachfully of what the Lord has given us. 

Many ministers have asked why it is that they see so much more power in the mission field than when they preach in westernized nations.  Some have proposed that these people in the mission field have no doctors and it is an issue of life and death so they believe. And that may be true, but it goes a lot farther than that. – First these people have not been polluted with the Churches’ doctrines and traditions of men, and perhaps equally significant is that because these people have absolutely nothing anything even the smallest gift of a pebble or a flower is treasured.

See the Bible says to him that is full he even loathes a honeycomb. The real problem the Church of our day is it has grown fat on its self-prescribed junk food, sugar medicated diet of the doctrines and traditions of men.

And isn’t that being full and loathing of a honeycomb what God accused the Church of Laodicea of? Could not we also say by application that the Laodiceans being full also despised in their midst the day of small things?  I trust that you can hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches, that you would find the grace to repent, and walk worthy of the calling that God has called you to.

Let us now consider some of these all so insignificant seeds: 

Groaning (In Secret) – Complaint: All I do is cry and feel this heaviness and feel burdened. If only I had the real gift of intercession then I could do something, then I could be used of God. 

Yet in the word of God it tells us that we all groan -- that we might be clothed upon.

Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

2 Corinthians 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

This groaning or cry in our hearts; to be clothed upon, for the redemption of the body, for the manifestation of the sons of God is in all and available to all believers – yet few choose to exercise themselves therein.

All creation groaneth – with in saved and unsaved animal mineral and plant there is a longing, there is a cry in their heart for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Romans 8:21-22 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

If this is true than can we see it?  I dare say that every time you turn on a TV or see a movie, or read a book you have seen this yearning of man to have God-like powers (To come into dominion over the earth, water, and the heavens. There is a yearning for justice, and that present chaos be brought into right order. There is this heightening of that cry as we near the day.

Praying (In Secret) Complaint: My mind wanders, I fall asleep, I don’t know how to pray, nothing ever happens – I never get what I pray for. If only I had a gift of prayer like Brother or Sister so-and-so . . . Then, I would be able to pray mightily and be used of God.

Fasting (In Secret) That we might have faith. That we in demonstrate that we hunger for God and are willing to put aside for a time our natural hunger and the things of this life and dedicate that time to wholly seek God.  I have found fasting to be invaluable when I was a teenager I fasted for a week and the Lord opened up to he in one instant of time all the scriptures I had been taught about the rapture came together in my mind and I instantly knew there was no rapture. I fasted for three days a few times in bible school that had taken an adversarial view on fasting and God gave me a work on the three witnesses that I taught for several years. And last Year I fasted for 15 days and first I want to comment on the ease of the fast, Next I want to say that from the start revelation came faster than I could write notes every day I woke up with something new I had never heard of and for the rest of the say I studied the bible to see if these things be so and they were.  Several months later I took a 14 day fast and that was not as easy but I has much the same results as in the first fast. And everything posted on this page is related to what God spoke to me during those two fasts. I want to say that literally I would wake up almost hearing words I would take notes and meditate and pray for a few hours on what I had heard. I would then spend the bulk of the day 8-12 studying hours out verse by verse what I had heard taking breaks to pray wait on God and meditate.     

Meditating upon the Word of God  -- that we might have discernment

Reading the Word of God (In Secret) that we might receive wisdom

Fasting (In Secret) that we might decrease and He might increase

Prayer (In Secret) that he might reward us openly

Waiting upon God (In secret)  -- that we hear his voice

Humility – waiting on tables (Openly) (Servant of all) -- that we might be entrusted with greater servitude.

Faithfulness – in small things (Openly) – that we might receive our real or full inheritance

Speaking and Praying in Tongues (In Secret) – that we might prophesy (Openly)

Loving one another (Openly) – that our joy may be full.

There are many more but each listed above could take one a lifetime to explore. Each has the potential to be the greatest of herbs that many could find rest and shelter in.

Should we look to another for the development of the gifts and ministries or should we look to the Lord and be faithful in the seeds he has entrusted us with?