Lasting Desires!

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" Psalm 37:4(KJV)

I remember a while back how I misunderstood this scripture. I was trying with all I have to delight myself in the Lord. I will sing some songs, and to some extend, along came joy. You see, I came from a perspective that God wants me to rejoice and then He will fulfill the desires of my heart. So the burden was upon me to find joy and delight in the Lord. So if it meant locking yourself in a room to worship until joy comes, so be it. Don't forget, joy comes in the morning. However, that is not who God is. There's something wrong with that picture. You see, any scripture has to be consistent with what Jesus did on the cross. Jesus is the Word of God; the living Word. We should see all scripture through the prism of the finish work on the cross. Remember the two disciples on the road to Emmaus? After Jesus died and rose from the dead, two disciples were on the road to Emmaus and they were talking about the events that happened. Jesus showed up and starting walking with them. They seemed confuse about the whole situation. And the Bible says:

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27 NIV

I want us to focus on verse 27: "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself". Unless we see Jesus in all the scriptures, we are not seeing the truth. So how does Psalm 37:4 fit in with the finish work of Jesus? Let me just break it down: starting from Adam, we were all under a system. It's a very subtle system that looks right from the surface, but the end thereof leads to death. The system says: You are Not; You must Do in order to Be. Isn't that what the serpent told Eve? They were already created in God's image; but he started the argument that "she is not like God; she needs to EAT of the tree in order to be like God. But if we put Christ in the equation, Christ turned the tables. He shouldered the burden so that we won't have to. Christ is the source of our joy. When we listen to the Gospel (good news), what Christ did for us, that will produce joy and delight. Delight yourself in the Lord: how? Allow him to delight you. Let Him sing over you. That is how you delight yourself in the Lord. The joy of His salvation; his word will wash over you and bring you unspeakable and inexplicable joy. When you are in that state of joy and peace, you become more sensitive to him. It is at this moment that you will be able to recognize the desires and thoughts that He places in your heart. For

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; Isaiah 55:12 NIV

This happens effortlessly from your part. It is God who births forth the desire and the will.

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Phil 2:13 NIV

Let the peace of the Lord rule/reign in your heart. Peace is multiplied in us through the knowledge of God (2 Pet 1:2). When we have the right knowledge of who God is, peace will be the natural outcome. Let your heart be filled with lasting desires!

Whiskey In a New Bottle (wineskin)

"When I do good(good deeds, works-righteousness) when I don't really want to(motivated by the flesh; wanting to please God in the flesh), it is as empty as when I would have done the wrong thing. In other words, when the source of my good deeds is my flesh, it is as dead as living in sin. The only real difference is that the consequences in this life are not bad when I do the right thing. I don't want to do the right thing, and I don't want to do the wrong thing. I would rather believe in HIM and see His life manifest in me without having the measuring tool ready to measure right and wrong all the time". Bertie Brits

"Dead works are works that are born from unbelief in the finished work of God, whether they look very holy or not. Jesus told the pharisees that their deeds (which were very "holy") could be cleansed by a cleansing of belief. "Good" deeds can be unholy deeds.

There was nothing wrong with Ishmael as a person. The only problem was that he was born from human will power to try and fulfill what God has promised. Let us have our sanctification as a promise and not a willpower fruit" Bertie Brits

http://dynamicministries.com/component/preachit/series/18-sunday-service-archive?start=10

A time of Favor

Now is the time; the time that God has favored Zion. And you are born in Zion. Zion is the city of God; it is the new jerusalem. Hebrews 11:8-10 says:

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

God called Abraham to a promise land. The scriptures above says he was looking for "a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God. Now the land of Canaan is not that city. The land of Canaan is just a "type and shadow" of the real city. Hebrews 12: 18-24 says:

"For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumberable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."

The mount in verse 18, is mount Sinai, where the law was given. There was fear and trembling. But you my friend, have not come to that mount; you came to Mt Zion, or the new Jerusalem. That is the city whose builder and maker is God. The Psalmist saw this in the spirit and prophesied

"Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, year the set time, is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord." Psalm 102:13-18.

Yea, this is the time God has favored Zion. The people which shall be created; the people who shall be born of God, or a new creation; they shall praised the Lord. Because the Lord appeared himself, when He became the word made flesh. The Bible says in the Gospel of John 1:14

"And the word became flesh, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth".

Now is the accepted time my friend. The Psalmist said:

"The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all teh dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. vs.5. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. Pslam 87:2,3,5.

Psalm 50:2 says:

"Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined." Zion is the perfection of beauty; Zion is the new Jerusalem; and in it, a new people were created. Those that were born, not of flesh, nor of the will of man; but of God. Thats why 2 Cor 5:17 says; therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. When you are born of God, my friend, you are not an old sinner saved by grace; your body and soul are still the old man from the first Adam. But your spirit is identical to the Lord of glory. Ephesians 4:24.

You have receive everything that you need for life and godliness. Can you believe that? You have receive in your spirit man, everything that you need for life and godliness.(2 Peter 1:3) The power that you need, is in you. The anointing that you need, is in you. You have an unction from the Holy one, thats what the scripture says. The Holy Spirit in all his glory dwells in you. This is RHEMA my friend. Instead of looking outside and searching for power here and there; just start acknowledging what has already been given you, and release that power! Now, because you are born of God; born in Zion; in the city of God, you should speak the language of Zion. Isaiah 33:24 says:

" And the inhabitants shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." Inhabitants of what country? The verses before that, from verse 20 says, "Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby." Isaiah 33:20-21

Now why shall the inhabitants of Zion not say I am sick? Because the glorious Lord, who appeared to build the city(Jerusalem), appeared in His glory, and paid the price. By His stripes we are healed. The weapons of our warefare are not carnal, but they are mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds. No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper, and every tongue rising in judgement, I condemn! wheeew! James Akot

Tis the season ...for the government to be on His shoulders!

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". Isaiah 9:6 (NKJ)

Unto us a Child was born; a son was given, to carry our burdens. The sole responsibility of pleasing God and becoming like Him was placed upon His shoulders. This was a reversal of what happened in the Garden of Eden. We know how Adam and Eve changed the course of nature by choosing to shoulder the burden to be like God. And that opened a can of worms that resulted in death. But God reversed that by shouldering our burdens. In fact, at Jesus' birth the Angels declared

"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill to men" (Luke 2)

The enmity between God and man, that was caused by the fall in the Garden of Eden was brought to a halt. A new era was ushered in. God has made peace with mankind. A Child was born; a Son given unto us. He carried our sin, and shouldered our burden to fulfill the Law. He fulfilled the whole Law and the Prophets. And he called out to us;

"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28)

Have you entered into His rest? Or are you still laboring trying to find peace? The price for our peace was upon him. He bore our iniquities and illnesses. Allow this Glorious message of His love to flood your heart. His unconditional love for you. Receive what he has prepared for you this season; a no-strings-attached offer. You don't need even need to change first. If you can repent of your own will power, then why do you need him. Just allow him to flood your heart with his love and glory; and that will cause a change of direction. God doesn't want you to change. He loves you as you are. Just as you are. He has no hidden agenda. All he cares for is your well being. He demonstrated that by dying for us while we were still sinners. This season, allow your heart to receive his good news; he has declared you innocent. Receive the message of your innocence. Thats the only condition required of you. He won't force his love, his glory and His abundant life on you. You have to make that choice to receive this good news. That applies also to those of us who are already in Christ. We don't walk in Him by our own will power. We can't follow him. He has to live in us and through us. Anything short of that is futile. His yoke is light, because

"the government is upon His shoulder; and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace".

The Forbidden Fruit

Have you eaten of the forbidden fruit? It's delicious! It gives you a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It puts you in the driver seat of your destiny. It does seem right and it makes sense; but its end is death. You may be partaking of it right now consciously, or unconsciously. The truth about it is so simple and obvious that it is missed by most.

"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch" (alternatively, "There's no such thing as a free lunch" or other variants) is a popular adage communicating the idea that it is impossible to get something for nothing. And this is true almost everywhere. This is just how we deal as human beings. There is no way around it. But when it comes to God, this is as dangerous as it could be. This is a lie from the pit of hell. The Bible tells us that Lucifer was cast out of heaven because he wanted TO BE LIKE GOD (Ezekiel 28; Isaiah 14). Now fast forward to the Garden of Eden where the Serpent had a conversation with Eve. Genesis 3:1-6 details the story. But lets examine verse 5 of chapter 3;

"5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil".

Now before we proceed, please remember that a couple of chapters away, God has said "Let's create man according to our image". Man was created "like God", but somehow the serpent convince Eve that she needs "to be like God" by performing an act - eat! In other words, the burden is upon your shoulders "TO BE LIKE GOD". This actually speaks to our ego; and it does make sense to us - no free lunch, remember? And mind you, Eve's intentions were pure; she wanted to be like God. What harm is in the desire to be like God? Who doesn't want to be like God? All the religions of the world are based in this premise; to be like God. In pursuit of that, we go to great lengths. But to Eve, there was only one act between her and becoming like God. It was simply eating the forbidden fruit. And from that moment, the relationship between mankind and God changed. God has created man according to his image. Man didn't have to do anything to be like God. It was all God's doing. But man chose a new way of dealing with God; the burden is now placed on our shoulders. Out of that, came the law. God honored man's choice, and sent them away from the Garden of Eden (though he forgave them). From that point on, there was no free lunch when it comes to God. This was exactly Lucifer's plan. Man has fallen from a state of unconditional acceptance, to a new way of life that was born of Lucifer. However, God still loves mankind so much that he made a new way to deal with this system. Since this was man's choice, and man has free will, God became man (Jesus) and fulfilled the requirement of the Law. He then died and with his death he put away this system from the pit of hell. And He rose from death a new man. The first man that was required to perform in order to be like God is dead. God has created a new man. The old adage is still sneaking in to the Church today. We found ourselves trying to please God out of our works - flesh. We still measure who we are by "the length of our branches"; our giving, our ministry, our love for God, our pursuit of the things of God. Allow God to fill your heart with his love and that will produce the satisfaction that you need (Ephesians 3:19) Philemon vs 6 says;

"6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus".

Acknowledge the good things that are in you (already) in Christ, and that will make your faith effective. You don't need to add anything at all. After all, it's not about trying to be like God, but rather allowing God TO BE in us.

Love

The Love of God is not portrayed or manifested in God blessing the faithful people; but rather, the Love of God is manifested in God's blessing for sinners! Bertie Brits

Jesus said

"For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?" Matt 5:46

Jesus was the exact representation of God, and the exact brightness of His Glory. His words hold the universe together. Thats how powerful His words are. And while we were yet sinners, He loved us and died for us. And this is love, not that we love Him, but that He loved us first. This is the true Gospel; God has declared mankind innocent in Christ. It's not about your love for Him (even though we can't help but love him back); but what counts is this; DO YOU KNOW HIS LOVE?

Believing God

Believing God! By Bertie Brit

The revelation of the person of God releases BELIEF in your heart. It cannot be worked up or in the worst scenario, be faked. Any doctrine that leaves a question mark over the character of God will not allow your belief to be ignited. We have been made by God to run towards loving trustworthy people. We have been designed by God to easily trust those that love us and only have the best for us in mind. God designed us this way so that faith could be effortless. With the correct information about God it would almost be impossible NOT to believe. That is why it is so important to hear ONLY the truth about God. Many times a good picture about God is painted on the one side and then something that is completely contrary to who HE really is on the other side. Let me give an example. It is impossible to trust your neighbor if he helps you in the garden one day and sell your children drugs the next. Any person, no matter how good he is, cannot be trusted from the depth of our hearts if he has a twist in his character like mentioned above. If we believe that God loves us today and will put us through a hard time tomorrow it is humanly impossible to fully TRUST Him should hard times come, for trust is not built with the building blocks that produces doubt, hurt and pain. Practical application in finances: I have seen many people fall under financial pressure and start to show really bad character when their steps to prosperity won't work. When all the formulas they had believed fails to access the supernatural, what is left? Only the ruins of a DEAD system that is contrary to the PERSON of GOD. The only TRUE way to BELIEVE God as pertaining to MONEY is when you know that HE knows your needs and would meet your need on the basis of WHO HE IS. TRUE BELIEF is a resting of the mind that originates in a revelation that the PERSON OF GOD is manifested as someone that justifies even the UNGODLY, someone that makes the rain fall on the JUST and the UNJUST , a God that function on the basis of worth and not works that even care for birds that don’t even sow or reap.

Bertie Brit

Ministry

WHAT MINISTRY DO YOU HAVE God is not embarrassed when it comes to you. Your perfection is revealed in Jesus and there is nothing to be ashamed of in what He has done for your standing before God. God reconciled the WORLD unto himself by not imputing there trespasses against them. BE YE NOW RECONCILED unto God - what does this mean? It means that you must not impute your trespasses against yourselves. THIS IS THE MINISTRATION OF RECONCILIATION!! No man preaching anything else than RECONCILIATION on this basis finds his ministry in God. It might be sincere but it would be man made. The only ministry we have been given is the ministration of reconciliation. Remember that God's faith is not intimidated by your experience today. What God believes about you is not shaken by what you drive or where you live. Where Jesus is, is what matters. Where he is is where you are!! He is the true image of you in human flesh. Lets awake from our sleep and walk in the only ministry given HIM RECONCILING THE WORLD WHILE THEY WERE SINNERS. Bertie Brit April 2010

Identity Crisis

IDENTITY CRISIS

The 2nd Epistle of Peter chapter 1 says this:

3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness – ALL THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS. Lacking nothing; all has been given unto us THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE HIM THAT has called us to glory and virtue; not through perseverance, or trials. Then verse 4 says that in this calling, where we were called to glory and virtue, we are given exceedingly, great and precious promises so that by these promises, WE WILL BE PARTAKERS of the divine nature. Not through our own lusts after God, or our own will power; but rather through the promises ( on another note, Jesus said that we become the sons of God when we are BORN OF GOD; not by will power, or by the will of man, or the will of the flesh John 1:12-13. Connect that with what Colossians says “as ye receive the Lord Jesus walk ye in him”. In the same manner that we got born of God, we walk in him.). Because the corruption that is in this world came through lust. Lust in this context is not lusting after a woman, or money; but rather lusting after the things of God. Let me expand on corruption; Adam was created according to God’s image. Instead of accepting WHO THEY ARE IN GOD, they chose to BECOME LIKE GOD by eating. They lusted to become like God by eating the fruit. And that resulted in death or corruption. So the scripture is saying here that, we HAVE BEEN GIVEN ALL THAT PERTAINS TO LIFE AND GODLINESS through great promises. In other words, because of the promises of God or his grace, we escaped the system of ‘DOING IN ORDER TO BECOME’; that is a corrupt system. And that is the fruit of lust. Paul calls it “ministration of death” in 2 Corinthians 3:17. What now? As you noticed, starting from the 2ND verse, it is speaking about having received Grace and Peace THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD and of JESUS CHRIST; followed by “ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS. And interestingly enough, verse 5 – 10 starts to speak about adding to your faith, virtue, patience etc etc… Its easy here to think that we need to add unto what we’ve received. But look again; Verse 9 says “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins”. What does this mean? It starts by saying that we have received everything; then it leaps to another angle saying we need to add. And then it says if you lack these things its because you are blind. It may seem like a contradiction. But lets examine this. The Greek word that is translated “add” actually means “to call out”; you know like the maestro in the opera, he calls out each instrument/s. But the key to this chapter is verse 3 and 4. We have already receive everything – Paul in his letter to the Corinthians tells them that “you lack nothing; but the return of Jesus”. He that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. In other words, if you lack these things, its because of misplaced priority, or identity. The Holy Spirit is saying when we lack the things that were supposed to be our nature, its because we lost track of who we are. When we start looking at our abilities, our own strength, will power, and self-righteousness, we missed the mark. Isaiah 50:10-11; 51:1 says the following:

10Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. 11Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. 1Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

I love this scripture. It’s saying, who among you that fears the Lord, obeys the voice of his servant, yet walks in darkness and has no light? If you are one of those, trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon your God. Verse 11 says (in my own words, continuing from verse 10); behold, all you that light your own fire, that surround yourselves with sparks: you walk in the light of your own fire (works, righteousness) and in the sparks that you have lit; whoever does that shall receive this from my hand; you shall lie down in sorrow. But Lord, I’m trying to be like you! Now watch this (remember that when the bible was written there were no chapters and verses. So Chapter 51:1 follows on the same train of thought); “listen to me, pay attention to me you who follow after righteousness; you that seek the Lord: look unto the rock from where you were made. Instead of trying to seek the Lord in your own effort, and by so doing you end up walking in your own light. Again, the Holy Spirit makes this an issue of identity. Look unto the ROCK. 1 John 4:17 says

“….as he is so are we in this world”.

Whenever we fall, or face hard times, find your roots; trace your origins. Don’t look within and say I’m a sinner. You’ll only elevate and magnify the problem. But when we look unto the rock from whom we were made, we are lifted up from self, and we find our right place, seated in the right hand with the Father. That’s where Jesus is, and the scripture says

“our life is hidden in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:3)”.

Acknowledge that “I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST (2 Corinthians 5:21)”. When we acknowledge that, we are agreeing with our reality in God; that’s what the scripture say in 2 Peter 1:2-4; we receive ‘grace, peace, and all things’ through the acknowledgment of God and the Lord Jesus. James Akot *influenced by Bertie Brits!