Else I die

Rachel in the Old Testament was barren for a period of time and out of desperation for the fruit of her womb she said, "Give me children else I die". Hannah was another woman of the Bible that was barren and she prayed so fervently unto the Lord that the priest thought she was drunk because only her mouth moved and her voice was not heard. When I think of children, I think of fruit and I parallel it unto my life. We as Christians are suppose to bear the fruit of the spirit. Luke 8:14 says, "And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection". This passage is talking how the cares of this life choked the word of God of a heart and they that have this heart are not able to bring forth fruit and if they do bring forth fruit it is not able to be perfected. The word of God says for us to go on unto perfection. That perfection is having the nature of Christ. That perfection is having the mind and spirit of God. The perfection is seeing a flow of Christ in our lives. The perfection is sonship. The perfection is us becoming manifested sons and daughters of God. Perfection is us reflecting the word of God. It shouldn't be random spurts of the hand of God in our lives. Christ should be able to live his life through us. We are to live the life of Jesus Christ. The word of God says that we travail in birth until Christ is formed in us. It doesn't say until you see a little bit of Christ, but until Christ is formed; meaning that there is a fullness of Jesus Christ in our lives. I feel that in my spirit, urgency and a cry for coming into the nature and mind of God. Sometimes the travail is really is so strong that there is no sound, but a deep groaning in my spirit. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.Romans 8:25-27"Our spirit man should be groaning and travailing to bring forth Christ. But, not to keep it for ourselves, but for those who are seeking and searching for Jesus. Also, so we could be a reflection of this Word of God in these last days. Some many of us as Christians become satisfy with just living day to day and keeping the word and the life to themselves. But remember, God didn't say these things for naught. It is possible to go on unto perfection. It is possible to be holy, like Christ. It is possible to walk with God, like Enoch. It is possible to bring forth one hundred fold.

Intreat me not to leave thee...

I've been studying the book of Ruth lately and I've been intrigued with the willingness of Ruth to be obedient and to be committed to Naomi. The scripture that struck my heart was: And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Ruth 1:16. This is how I feel spiritually with the Lord. Before anything else, there must be a relationship with God. God desires for us to be close to him and when I look at this scripture, I think of a cry or prayer to God: "Lord, I'll follow you wherever you lead me. Don't Pass me by. Lord, I'm committed to you" This passage reminds me of when Jesus says to the disciples; "Will you leave also?" and Peter says, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life? ( John 6:66-67) This has to be the reality of this walk; that without Christ we are nothing. There has to be reverence and a fear to the Lord. Without Christ, there is no hope. We live because Christ lives within us.

Cross-Leonard Ravenhill

"Counting the Cost"

Luke 14: 27-28. " And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, where he have sufficient to finish it?
When I first came to Christ, I don't think I counted the cost; I was so overjoyed with God. All I wanted to do was cry out and be close to him. As I grew in Christ, I came to understand that as Christians our foundation in life has to be Christ; but in order for us to walk in that there has to be a life of self-denial. Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20. We used this verse so much, but we never understand the full capacity of what this scripture means. To crucify means to put to death, to torment, to die.
Counting the Cost is knowing that if we work the works of the flesh we are not entering the Kingdom of God. Counting the Cost is letting Christ live through us; this can only happen if we are dead to sin. Romans 6:6-7 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Counting  the Cost is knowing that we have to run with patience and lay aside every sin and weight that so easily beset us! Things in our life may not be "sin", but if its hindering us from running in this race that is set before us, we must cut it off. ( Hebrews 12:)We have to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow Jesus. This is a life of self-denial, so Christ can live through us. We are ambassadors for Christ. ( 2 Corinthians 5:20) We live as authorized messengers for Christ, how can speak what God would have us to say, if we are not bearing our Cross? If we are still live according to the lust of our flesh? God help us.  God, help us to understand the requirement, the standard by which we should live, ( The Word of God) the sacrifice it will take to build this foundation. Let us bear our cross.