“They veil their heads and not their hearts”.

“They veil their heads and not their hearts”.

Recently I was awakened by the Holy Spirit and heard the above words from God in my spirit. As I begin to listen to the Father, I realized that He was releasing His heart concerning some members of His Body.  God's word and knowledge of it has become so available to the body of Christ. We live in a world that makes information available to us instantly. We have the word of God on our televisions, on our telephones, on our computers, and in the 6 to 10 different versions of the Bibles we own. We have been given knowledge of the word of God in abundance.

 Sometimes the knowledge that we have causes us to be on a knowledge overload. We learn principle after principle, we gain truth after truth and yet our lives sometimes do not change. We do not constantly and consistently conform to the image of Christ. Fenelon (writer in the 1600s) once said,” We can gain more knowledge than we can live up to in a lifetime”.

The saints of old missed out on all of our technological advances that give us God's word at our fingertips. Yet the saints of old found Him in His word, prayer, meditation, and pure worship. I believe that they missed out on nothing concerning relationship with the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Their heads were veiled with knowledge and experience with God. Their hearts were veiled with obedience in the presence of Almighty God.

God once said to his people," Rend your hearts and not your garments (Joel 2:13)“. God was simply saying their outward appearance did not match what was in their heart. He alone sees and knows the depths of our hearts and is alone the interpreter of who and where we really are in Him. Our heads and hearts can be veiled in the presence of our heavenly Father.

A “Veiled head” represents the presence of knowledge and an awareness of what God's word says. Our knowledge is often reflected in our ability to speak and say what is found in Scripture. This gives a false sense of having attained to the execution of scriptural principles in our lives. However, it does not really guarantee our execution or “living out” of the word of God in our lives. We can have the word, know the word, speak the word, and still not execute it in our lives. Man truly looks on the outward appearance and not the heart (1^st Samuel 16:7). Therefore, it is easy to appear having reached a goal when nothing is further from that truth.

A “Veiled Heart” is first submitted to God's will. Obedience is the key to being veiled in presence of God. A veiled heart is secondly sinless (dying daily to wrong choices according to God’s word). A veiled heart is a seeking heart.  A veiled heart seeks God's will constantly. It is possible to say we are in God's will and not be there. It is possible to say that we're sinless and yet practice sinning.  It is possible to say we have a seeking heart and not to have one. God's desire is that every heart in the body of Christ be veiled before him in purity and obedience. When we come into worship before God Who knows all our of hearts desires, Who knows all of the ponderings of our hearts and Who knows the very intent of our hearts, we must be pure.

So put on those worship veils and worship. Cover your heads and most of all cover your hearts with obedience to the knowledge that has been so freely given to Believers.

"Dig Deeper"/ "Contraception"

“Dig Deeper”

September, 2013

Early in September, 2013, I sat in the presence of the Lord and He spoke these words to me, “Dig Deeper”.  The Holy Spirit is the One who unveils to us the will of Jesus and the Father in our lives.  I received these words and did not take any offence at the Lover of my soul admonishing me to have yet a closer intimacy with Him.  I began to pray and confess, “Lord I am digging deeper” knowing that He would unfold to me His perfection for my walk with Him now and continually.

In our study of God’s word, my husband and I were in the book of Ezekiel which depicts a vision-journey of Ezekiel to Jerusalem.  In chapter 47, there is the symbolic viewing of a life-giving stream   (“river of water of life”).  In these passages (47:3-5), Ezekiel is taken to ankle deep waters, knee deep waters, waist deep waters, and finally waters that could only be navigated by swimming. When I came upon these scripture passages, they began to unfold within me an understanding of the command to “Dig Deeper”.  I’m sure that the understanding of “digging deeper” will continue to unfold throughout my life.

The life giving flow that God desires for each of us does not reside in measures where we are assured of our spiritual standing with things we have learned and practiced.  There is a depth that God is calling us to where we cannot depend on our past or present knowledge of Him.  We must get to the place where we begin “swimming under the power of the guidance of the Holy Spirit” totally and completely.  In this state, we will realize that it is God and God alone who is bringing forth His will in our lives.  We are not leaning to our own understanding because it does not work in this arena where Jesus is Lord of “All”.  Self interest, self-absorption, self-will, pride, subtle pride, and all that the Holy Spirit reveals and illumines must be abandoned by us to “swim” in the waters of His presence.  It is when we “swim” that His perfect will is unfolding for our lives.

I am challenged by my Savior to “Dig Deeper”.  I invite you as Believer to ask the Holy Spirit how this challenge can unfold in your life.

 “Dig Deeper”

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

 “Contraception”

9(/29/13)

Contraception: 

A device or chemical used to prevent pregnancy.

Spiritual Contraception:

Any device or practice allowed in the life of the Believer to prevent the conception, growth, development, and production of God’s will.

As I sat in the presence of the Lord, He spoke the word “contraception” to me.  I immediately knew what the word meant and awaited His explanation of this release.  He began to elaborate in my spirit that His people are allowing hindrances (i.e., contraception) to abide in their lives that shut down the natural spiritual pregnancies that are supposed to happen, come to term and  bring forth the fruit of His will in their lives.

When pregnancy is prevented, it disorders the flow of nature and reroutes hormones in the physical body.  This is also true in the body of Christ.  When the will of God is shut down in our individual lives, we do not prosper spiritually.  We become stagnant, self-absorbed, self-directed, self-willed, and generally running our own show.  This brings us to the point where we cannot get pregnant and produce the fruit that is to bless the body of Christ.  Christ blesses us to be a blessing.  When we shut down the blessing of proper fruit production, we cannot bless others.

I prayed a prayer that God would first reveal to me the contraceptive measures I am allowing in my life that would hinder the spiritual pregnancies that should come forth in me.  I want to produce all that God has ordained from before the foundation of the world for my life.

Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to impregnate you with God’s will and purpose?

Are you taking/allowing contraceptives (spiritual hindrances) to shut down the God ordained spiritual pregnancies?

What are you allowing that is preventing the spiritual pregnancy ordained by God?

Name the contraceptives and begin to ask the Holy Spirit to help you obey God.

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

Happy New Year in Jesus!

“Read the gospels, see what I did, and do what I did.”

(Rhema word from the Lord Jesus given to Marsha Deveaux Johnson many years ago)

What did Jesus do?

Even though He was fully God, He did nothing of Himself. John 5:30

We must follow Him in this example.  Our lives must totally reflect the will of the Father.  Jesus accomplished God’s will for His earthly mission by death on the cross.  We must also accomplish God’s will for our earthly mission by the death of our self life.  We must daily surrender to God’s will and purpose totally.

Even though He was fully God, He did not minister under His own power. Luke 4:18, Acts 10:38

We must follow Him in this example.   We must not minister out of our own selves and acquired knowledge.  Total dependency must be upon the Holy Spirit for ministry.  The Holy Spirit led path for ministry yields to fulfilling God’s purpose and “Life”.  Self propelled ministry leads to aborting God’s plan and “Death”.

His earthly purpose was not to please Himself, but rather to bring the lost back to relationship with the Father. John 3:16-17, Mark 16:15-20.

We must follow Him in this example.   It is also our purpose to bring the lost back to relationship with the Father.  Whatever we desire to pursue as a career in life, we train for it.  Our training for being like Jesus is to first accept Him as our Savior.  We then invite Him to live His life in us.  We immerse ourselves in His word and exchange our life for His life.   It is only then that we can fulfill our purpose on earth.

2013 Good News!

Isaiah 3:10-11

“Say to the righteous, it shall be well with him:  for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.  Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him:  for the reward of his hands shall be given him.”

Immerse

To submerge into liquid; to become deeply involved; to baptize by submersing the body completely in water (God’s Word/Power).  2013 is the year of immersing into the word and power of God!  Be ready to do this for Eternity!

Dismissing Christ

Recently God spoke to me in a dream. I interacted with people I knew who were trying to get a project done that required creative thinking.  Things got to a point where the discussion was so heated that one person was asked to leave by the group leader.  Since I knew both the group leader and the person asked to leave the group, I was led to talk to the leader in the dream. 

I began to say to the leader that I knew this person and also knew that there was a personality flaw.  However, the person was gifted, talented, and a clear thinker.  I said to the leader that dismissing this person was cutting off the success of the project because of the contribution they could make if guided in the right direction.  I began to encourage the leader to work with the person in order to get the best results for the project.

The dream was so very real to me and God began speaking to me immediately when I awaken.

I will share His thoughts as I interpreted them.

·         God is the One who dismisses people from our lives or circumstances.  We should never discount or “write off”  human beings.  God created them in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26) and within them is the capacity to change and to offer the world their potential in Him.  If an individual is not supposed to be in a given life or circumstance, Father will in His divine wisdom order the steps of a Believer (He will exit any who He has not ordained for your life and/or circumstance) (Proverbs 20:24).

·         Keep an “open heart” (of love) toward other people regardless of their faults and differences.  The only thing God hates is sin.  He does not hate sinners.  As a matter of fact, He sent Jesus to die for us while we were sinners (Romans 5:8).  An open heart of love will always be protected by God.  A closed heart that despises and dismisses others can never be honored by God.   If you dismiss man, you have inadvertently dismissed God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  God’s eternal purpose is:  “Man with Him for Eternity.”

·         When we isolate, dismiss or exclude others based on any set of circumstances, we say to our Eternal Creator and Father God that His creation does not measure up to our standards for existence on earth.  Well, as Believers we do not have the right or privilege to do that.  It was Jesus Christ who died for the sins of all men regardless of race, creed, color, and social status.  Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord don’t get to eliminate and decide who is not welcome into the God-life fold.

·         There are criteria for the God-life and each man either chooses to confirm (accept) or deny (reject) the privilege of entering into Eternity with God.  A person accepting God through Jesus is responsible for obeying His word, loving others, and making disciples.

·         Always negotiate from a standpoint of love.  If you seem at a point of vulnerability there, God is your Protector, Shield, and Covering.  You will never lose.  Love always wins  and hate always loses.

The God-life is contingent upon whether or not you are surrendered and being led by the Holy Spirit.  If you are, you will have a respect and love for all of God’s creations, regardless of the race, creed, social status, or color.

 “You dismiss Christ by dismissing the people for whom He died.”

Abraham and Sarah corrupted God’s plan for the “son of the promise” and yet God still made a covenant with Hagar (Genesis 16:10-16), the outcast. He does not dismiss His creation, but rather gives an opportunity for them to change, be healed, and to serve His eternal purpose.

I end this blog with God’s word in two versions of the bible.  This is His heart toward all of His creation.

Acts 17:26, King James Version.

“God made of one blood all nations to dwell upon the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, though He be not far from every one of us:  for in Him we live, and move and have our being…”   

Acts 17:26-27 Amplified Version

“And He made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes).  So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us.”

Beloved of God (Hear His Heart)

I truly believe that God is in control of all the lives surrendered to Him.  I refuse to believe otherwise.  The great commission is "Go make disciples, teach all nations … (Mark 16:15-16)."   The peace of God rules in our hearts when we focus in on this continually.  We then do not respond to external circumstances with fear, hatred, inflammatory chatter, and guarded opinions.  I am confident that the “Good News” trumps all of the bad news. I trust in the God who has ETERNITY for Believers in His hand.  

Those of us who truly know God rest in peace because God puts up one and takes down another (so says His word Psalms 75:6-7).  Should we worry at any time regarding anything? No. We should pray like Jesus did that the Body of Christ becomes One.   I will reign with Christ on November 7, 2012 just as I will on November 6, 2012.  This is the victory of Jesus Christ. Victory is not in a man, or a party, or money, or power. Victory is in Christ Jesus!

One thing saints of the 1600’s (Guyon, Fenelon, Molinos, John of the Cross, Theresa of Avila, etc.) understood was that God was sovereign and in control.  They saw and believed that everything in their lives was from the hand of God once they surrendered to Him.  This is the challenge, should not we understand and believe the truth that all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28)?  When we examine our motives, we should humble ourselves and say, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done."  

I pray for the Body of Christ that we not play right into Satan's plan to divide us.  Let us all be quiet and hear what the Spirit of God is saying.  He is still on His priority which is not how to “harness sin”, but to get Jesus into the hearts of people and let Him free them from their sins.

All unrighteousness is sin.  When we place one sin above the other, this plays right into Satan's plan. Sinners will sin until their hearts are filled with the Sinless One (Jesus).  The Sinless One (Jesus) must be lifted up by His Body (Believers) so that all men can be drawn unto Him and Him alone (John 12:32).

So then what is the plan for this nation and this world?  What does God want us to do?  What is the great commission?

Go make disciples.

Go make disciples.

Go make disciples.

Go make disciples.

Go make disciples.

Go make disciples.

Beloved of God (Hear His Heart)

I truly believe that God is in control of all the lives surrendered to Him.  I refuse to believe otherwise.  The great commission is "Go make disciples, teach all nations … (Mark 16:15-16)."   The peace of God rules in our hearts when we focus in on this continually.  We then do not respond to external circumstances with fear, hatred, inflammatory chatter, and guarded opinions.  I am confident that the “Good News” trumps all of the bad news. I trust in the God who has ETERNITY for Believers in His hand.  

Those of us who truly know God rest in peace because God puts up one and takes down another (so says His word Psalms 75:6-7).  Should we worry at any time regarding anything? No. We should pray like Jesus did that the Body of Christ becomes One.   I will reign with Christ on November 7, 2012 just as I will on November 6, 2012.  This is the victory of Jesus Christ. Victory is not in a man, or a party, or money, or power. Victory is in Christ Jesus!

One thing saints of the 1600’s (Guyon, Fenelon, Molinos, John of the Cross, Theresa of Avila, etc.) understood was that God was sovereign and in control.  They saw and believed that everything in their lives was from the hand of God once they surrendered to Him.  This is the challenge, should not we understand and believe the truth that all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28)?  When we examine our motives, we should humble ourselves and say, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done."  

I pray for the Body of Christ that we not play right into Satan's plan to divide us.  Let us all be quiet and hear what the Spirit of God is saying.  He is still on His priority which is not how to “harness sin”, but to get Jesus into the hearts of people and let Him free them from their sins.

All unrighteousness is sin.  When we place one sin above the other, this plays right into Satan's plan. Sinners will sin until their hearts are filled with the Sinless One (Jesus).  The Sinless One (Jesus) must be lifted up by His Body (Believers) so that all men can be drawn unto Him and Him alone (John 12:32).

So then what is the plan for this nation and this world?  What does God want us to do?  What is the great commission?

Go make disciples.

Go make disciples.

Go make disciples.

Go make disciples.

Go make disciples.

Go make disciples.

Five –Fold Understandings for Spiritual Growth

To live a successful life in Christ Jesus, a Believer must have a biblical understanding of these five main components.  The understanding of these will open a flow of hearing God and serving Him as He desires.

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, www.livingjoyministries.com http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

·         God’s Word

 It is the main focus of the life of the Believer.  A Believer must constantly be receiving, speaking, meditating, and digesting God’s word on a daily basis.  This hunger for the Word of God must be motivated by a desire to live for and please Him, Psalms 119:105.   It must not be for gaining knowledge for knowledge’s sake or to teach others.

·         Obedience

Every Believer must become a “Doer” of the Word of God and not a “Hearer” only, James 1:22.  Obedience is the key to living the life of Christ.  Studying, speaking, meditating on the Word of God is the starting point and obeying it brings your life into completion.  Deny your wayward flesh and choose the path that is revealed in scripture.

·         Man’s Flesh

Our flesh is defined as the cravings of the corrupted self-will, self-desire, self-importance, and self-interest.  By an act of our will, we must crucify the flesh and die daily to its corrupted cravings, Romans 8^th Chapter.

·         Satan

Every Believer serves God successfully only if they have a revelation of Satan.  Isaiah 14: 12-32 records a historical description of Satan’s fall.  Ezekiel 28^th Chapter aligns Satan’s reign and fall with a literal king who once ruled in the earth.  In Luke 10:18, Jesus says of Satan, “I beheld you fall like lightening from heaven”. 

The Bible records Satan as a defeated enemy with no power against the word of God and the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ.  Until a Believer understands this fact, much time will be directed at fighting a defeated enemy rather than building a firm foundation on the Word of God.  Satan falls on the sword of the Word of God.  God’s word manifested in your life will overthrow Satan every time it is enforced.

·         Union

Every Believer must understand that “Union” with God is the life and Eternity goal, John 17:21.  Jesus prayed that we would be “One” as He and the Father are “One”.  Union with God for the Believer is a work of the Holy Spirit in the Believer.  Only the Holy Spirit can usher us into “Union” with God.  It is not a work of man or flesh. 

The first four above mentioned components must be in operation before “Union” with God can occur.  We were sent to earth to begin to get to know the One with Whom we will spend Eternity.  As we focus on the Word of God, obedience, crucifying the flesh, putting Satan in his defeated proper place, the Holy Spirit will conform us to the image of Christ and bring us into union with the Father.  AMEN!