It is only as we find THE TRUTH that true things become appealing and compelling.

II Cor. 4:4 ”in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Isaiah 9:6, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father.” When Christ enters a heart, a man’s eyes are opened to see things as they are. He can see clearly. The illusion of the world is revealed, and this knowledge is then used to turn him to the pursuit of the invisible kingdom, the kingdom of the Son of God. Now, here is the problem. As a Christian you see things clearly, you have revelation, and this revelation is freeing. You are discerning and verbalizing things that you never could before. It is only natural to believe that others would like to have the revelation that you possess. You see the inconsistencies and the lies of the world. You see things that are so obvious. It is estimated that across the United States 50,000 new laws are passed every year. In twenty years that is one million new laws. Each law could be construed as a means to take away a public right. At a minimum the government has determined that a million rights that you had twenty years ago may no longer be “rights.” In fact, the government doesn’t seem to believe that we have “rights” that cannot be eroded, and yet an attempt is made to stir women into thinking that abortion is a “right.” It is ridiculous to believe that abortion is a right. Clearly, not all unbelievers would like to listen to this type of logic, and it is a mistake to believe that carnal man wants truth (neither did you when you were carnal). It is only as we find THE TRUTH that true things become appealing and compelling. Therefore, our job is not to persuade men concerning their inconsistencies and illogical thinking, but to persuade people of the TRUTH. Many Christians have gotten involved in politics because they see things clearly and assume that constituents want to hear true things. (I am not making a statement concerning Christians and politics. If God calls someone to that, amen!) Carnal, fallen man does not want to hear true things no matter how intellectual or refined the thought might be.

Grace is the last resort for the flesh, for grace fixes hope squarely on Jesus.

Grace gives what the Law promises. Gen. 29:25, “So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?’ 26But Laban said, ‘It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.’” Hebrews 7 makes it clear that the law is set aside because of its “weakness and uselessness.” However, the Law does serve a purpose in preparing us for grace. On occasion I am confronted by those who are in opposition to the grace of the Lord Jesus for fear that it will lead to passivity. (Of course, this is never the real fear of grace. The real fear is generally rooted in control, insecurity, competition, and kingdom building.) However, I am not as opposed to them as they are to me. Why? I need the teachers of the Law. The flesh of man seems to have the need to be exhausted under the Law before it will listen to grace. Grace is the last resort for the flesh, for grace fixes hope squarely on Jesus. The Law will never give what it promises. Jacob worked for the bride of love (grace). However, he didn’t get her and instead got the bride of Law. Work will not give you love and grace, for it can only give you law. Next, the bride of love is given. Jacob must work, but now the work will flow from love. He is not working for but from. He has the bride of love and the work doesn’t really seem like work. This is a type of what God does. Once Law exhausts us, God will give what Law could not obtain. We will then work, but the work will be from a place of love and grace. Again, grace gives what the Law Promises. Beautiful!

Through defeat, what was man’s became the enemy’s.

Luke 10:18, “And He said to them, ‘I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. 20Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.’”
When one king defeats another king, the subjects of the defeated kingdom become slaves. Satan conquered the man Adam and became the ruler of the world over which Adam had been given dominion. Through defeat, what was man’s became the enemy’s. However, when the second Adam, Jesus, conquered Satan, things above, below, and on the earth became the Son of God’s. We are in His kingdom, and therefore, what is His is ours. This simply means that we do not have to be controlled by spirits! If you don’t like a spirit, remember that in Jesus’ Kingdom you have authority over it. In Africa an old woman would not call alcohol by that name, choosing instead to call it a spirit. If the spirit of alcohol is controlling you, it is by your permission. I have known those that are controlled by the spirit of suicide, and there simply isn’t any excuse for that. Draw near to Christ and simply tell the spirits to leave. You are in His kingdom, and what is His, He has shared with you. All spirits must now yield to Him. Again, at the highest revelation of Jesus there will be no opposition.

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and {began} to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

Are we happy to be in the company of the Unknowns? To go into the ministry of the unknown, ministering to the Unknowns? This is the true ministry of faith. He came, God in Man, unknown! He didn’t attempt to make Himself known, He wanted the Father to be known. Divine humility! Amazing! We too are to be unknown. We are making Him known.

Why are we unknown? Being unknown keeps us safe. Being unknown will keep the elect from kingdom building, self-righteousness, glory, and image. All these things must be broken at His feet. It is the kind of wealth that we don’t need and belong to Him. We must lose everything to discover the power of the life within. It is crucial that we are unknowns. Amazingly, we are entrusted with the greatest message and kingdom and no one wants to know us! We represent Him, we have direct access to Him, and no one wants to know us. We will judge angels and no one wants to know us.

A ministry of the Unknowns, a company of the Unknowns, all with the same vision to remain attached to the life of the vine, the life of the vine to flow out of the Unknowns. We are all one, yet all different; all tapped into the same life, not branch to a branch but a branch to the vine. The ministry of the Unknowns is a WITH ministry. Unknowns band together. Unknowns are not recognized. We work without recognition.

This world’s system is not an accident. It is all permitted. It is all in the plan of God. It is all there for a purpose: the breaking of kingdoms, righteousness, pride, strength, glory. It is all in the plan of God. Permitted. It is, well, nice, that He is using man’s stupidity. It all works to His end. Nothing is bad. This is the best possible life. How do we judge that things are good or bad? The soulish judge them on the basis of their outer life, their soul life. The soulish don’t like their outer life broken. They fight against being Unknown. However, everything must go that hinders the release of the life in me. Nothing is bad that accomplishes that. Being Unknown accomplishes that, and remember, we are known by Him!

“And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Gen 20:2

For those of you who are married, what are some of the words and concepts that stir in your mind when you hear the words “wife” or “husband”? When I say that I have a wife or call Betty “my wife,” many things come to mind, for there are myriad issues associated with the term “wife.” I think of the children, finances, the home, the emotional, physical, and mental aspects of our relationship, future and past events, good and bad, commitment, oneness, pains and joys, holidays, babies, ultimate goals, and more. After all, she is my wife.

There is much written on the relationship of husband and wife. However, I want to investigate an overlooked aspect of marriage, that of brother and sister in Christ. This is a greater relationship than marriage. In heaven there will be no marriage, for the earthly relationship of marriage will end on earth. “For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” (Mark 12:25)

When I look at my wife and call her sister, everything changes. Just as the word “wife” brings with it a multitude of feelings, situations, and actions, so does the word “sister.” She is my sister in Christ; I am her brother in Christ. Those two words, “sister and brother,” move us to a different realm with completely different issues and goals. Once I call her “sister,” I acknowledge that she is not my own; she has a Father and is a member of a family. As my sister we have a goal that goes above and beyond that of a married couple. God is the goal and the desire of our hearts; we must encourage each other in Him. Who did what and said what is not of ultimate importance; He is. All of the little annoyances of the day don’t matter. Earthly mistakes are not the issue. Security is not in finances or who was wisest with the money. Together, He is our goal. When offended, we recognize that we deserve to be offended until we cannot be offended, for of what use will we be in the kingdom if we still get offended? I can’t judge my sister, for, ”Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (Rom. 14:4)

There is something higher than marriage for a couple, there is another dimension, and there is a better place from which to relate. Sometime today, turn to your wife and call her “Sister,” or to your husband and say “Brother.” For too long we have only seen our mates as wife or husband, and there is more.

“Pride {goes} before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.”
Prov 16:18

The other day I was watching a boxing interview. One of the boxers inadvertently threw the flag of the country of the opposing boxer to the ground. It was an accident. However, he had to flee in the midst of bodyguards. The people were in a rage.

I remember doing a radio interview in Ukraine. I was asked by the interviewer what I thought of Ukrainians. I said, “Oh, I grew up hating them. They were the frontline troops for the Russians. We hated the Ukrainians and the Russians. We wanted them all dead!” She looked quite surprised. I continued, “But, then I came to Ukraine. They gave me their food and went without. They gave me their bed and slept on the floor. They heated water for me and went without. They loved and didn’t even know me! I am broken, and I will never allow a government to tell me who my enemy is again.”

We are to love our enemies. That is true. It is also true that we are often told about enemies that don’t exist. In traveling in over 100 countries and staying in the homes, I have discovered that all families worry about the same things.

Governments count on our pride to take attention off their actions and put it onto another. We are angered at the Chinese who stole our military secrets. Is it possible without our government allowing it? We are mad at the Japanese for the trade deficit. Is it possible without our government allowing it? We don’t like illegal immigration. Is it possible without our government? Our foreign aid is being wasted. Is that possible without our government?

Often, I am in a country where the people are so frustrated with the damage that the US has done to their country that it can’t help but come up in the discussion. I feel a defensiveness swelling up in me. First, it isn’t our government; it is their government that allows the abuse.

Second, and most importantly, I must check my pride. It is insidious! Every believer belongs to the Kingdom of God. We have a holy leader. Everything in His kingdom is righteous. We must lay aside the pride of earthly kingdoms and unite in His. I refuse to defend the wicked, and wicked rule the world. I must love my brother and let no one, or any bit of pride, make another my enemy. As believers we have no enemies because we have no enemies. The wicked are nearly genius in getting us to hate each other to avoid thinking about their behaviors.

“For this reason I have often been hindered from coming to you.” Rom 15:22

God will often give the believer a call to accomplish something, and then close every door to make the fulfillment impossible. Why? Because with the call comes a provision.

The same One who gives the call must also accomplish it. However, the flesh of man will take the call and not the provision. The flesh will look for fulfillment in self power, and if completion is possible, sink into glory, kingdoms, pride, strength, and righteousness.

The call and the provision are one. The problem is that we don’t see them as one. Therefore, immediately after the call, all attempts to fulfill it must fail. You need not look far for an example. Joseph, after the call to be the leader of his family, actually thought it a turn of bad luck to end up in a pit. Then, good luck to be taken out of the pit. Then, good luck to be head of a house and then another turn of bad luck when he ended up in prison. In the end, though, he saw it was God who brought Him out. It was all God. The call and the provision were one. He completed the call with the provision and took no glory.

This is to be the end result of a perfect call of God. A call and provision. When you get a call, don’t think that is all of it. Listen and wait for the provision. Don’t try to do the thing on your own. You will only end up in a pit.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ” Matthew 6:33NASB

My partner, Ray Andrews, says this: “If you are depressed, you should first ask what it is that you are doing that you know you should not be doing. The second thing to ask is what you would like to be doing that you should not be doing.”

It is a good point, for depression often (not always) has its roots in the desires the flesh is exercising or wants to exercise. The way of the flesh is to do what you like and hate what you are doing. This all causes depression. Depression, then, can have its root in desire. We seek God for what we desire (our will), and if we don’t get it, we get depressed. If we get it and then discover that it was not really what we imagined it to be, there is more depression.

Do you know that if you have ever prayed, “Thy will,” then “Thy will” is exactly what you are getting? But you thought that “Thy will” would be something spectacular, comfortable, and blessed as defined by the world, including harmony in marriage, obedient children, and more.

Let me explain. He is bringing to each of us the revelation of Christ that we NEED. To prepare us for that revelation so we will not be exalted and destroyed, He is giving us what we are getting today. The revelation of Christ can completely destroy us if not preceded by His will. Paul says so. He explains that a thorn was given him so that in the abundance of revelations, he would not be destroyed.

What you are getting today in “average” life is everything you need to precede His revelation. Remember, the purpose of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to give you peace as you come in line with His will. This is the greater time, wherein He is going to use the lesser (in the worldly churches’ view) believer, and this is how you are prepared.

Stand fast. Don’t be discouraged. Today’s hiccups, rejections, conflicts, abuses, and concerns are what are needed to prepare you.

“Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed {are} they who did not see, and {yet} believed.’” John 20:29

I really love the fact that He is invisible! I want Him to remain invisible. Of course, without faith, it is impossible to please Him. We know that. But for me, there is more. I love the fact that He is invisible. Often, I enter a country were Christianity is illegal, especially in the Muslim countries. However, because He is invisible, I enter the country, His hand on my shoulder, and no one notices. I bring with me the whole kingdom and its King. If He were visible, it would not be allowed. Because He cannot be seen, no one says a word. We enter, and with us comes all that is true about Him.

Beautiful. Thank you, Jesus, that you are invisible. I also like the invisible currency of His kingdom. Often I have taken a few dollars to a place which I give to a Christian cloth maker. Then, the cloth is given to a Christian seamstress, and the clothes given to children at a Christian school. Everyone reaps the benefit and every penny multiplied. Amazing.

The Kingdom of God Suffers Violence and Violent Men
take it by force! Jesus stood in the midst of the people
and proclaimed, “The Kingdom of God is among you!”
He was the kingdom of God. Jesus really did come in
the fullness of time, for men so despised the
Kingdom of God–Jesus–that they made Him
suffer, and in the end these violent men took
Him by force and killed Him.