Belonging to Him

A Testimony

“He is Teaching Me How to Belong to Him”

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, Living Joy Ministries, Inc. http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

What I Did Not Know Then

I accepted Jesus as Savior when I was around fourteen years of age.  At that time, I wasn’t even aware of all the instant benefits of belonging to Him.  I knew my sins were forgiven, but not past, present, and future sins.  I did not readily understand that I had the favor of God stamped on my life and was a joint-heir with Jesus Christ (heir to what?).   Neither did I understand that eternity had begun for me and I could now walk in the promises written in God’s word. I never even thought about my name being written in the Lamb’s “Book of Life”.  I surely did not perceive that I had been delivered from the “kingdom of darkness” into the “Kingdom of the dear Son of God”.  My redemption from the curse and being a new creation in Christ Jesus was not even on my radar screen. 

I just knew that I was happy in my heart and I now was going to walk with Jesus.  I knew the Holy Spirit was now an integral part of my life but I did not have a clue as to His importance and His role in manifesting in me that I belonged to God!

What I Found Out

As I continue my walk with God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, there is one thing that has become increasingly clear to me.  It is that the journey of faith is a journey of “progressively belonging to Him”. 

This journey starts with your understanding of how you got to be a “son” of God.  When you receive Jesus, become born again, experience the new birth, you receive instantly all the rights and privileges for which He shed His blood.  You are then the “righteousness of God in Christ“, 2 Corinthians 5:21.   Your righteousness is two-fold. First it is the imputed or God-given righteousness. This righteousness places you in right standing with God. Second, it is doing the will of God (Holy Spirit led) which brings you to right fellowship with God.  Right standing with God remains, while fellowship can and often is broken. The repentance path is the restorative process of fellowship.

“Imputed Righteousness”

Imputed (God Given, purchased by the blood of Jesus) Righteousness

After I received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my life, these benefits of imputed righteousness were instantly mine.

·         My past, present, & future sins are forgiven. (Romans 10:9-13)

·         I have the favor of God (Grace). (John 1:16)

·         I have been “imputed” or given righteousness by God through faith in Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:9)

·         I have been born a new creation In Christ Jesus. (2^nd Corinthians 5:17)

·         I am redeemed from the Curse. (Galatians Chapter 5)

·         My name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21:27)

·         I spend Eternity with God. (Revelation 21:27)

·         My spirit is now God-conscious & lives under the law of the “Spirit of Life in Jesus Christ”.  (Romans 8^th   Chapter)

 Imparted Righteousness

(Righteousness is imparted to the Believer daily as he obeys the Holy Spirit.)

As I walked with Jesus and grew in the knowledge of what was instantly mine when I accepted Him into my life, I noticed a “scriptural gap” between what was mine as a Believer and what I was experiencing in my daily walk.  I also recognized the frequent attacks on what was rightfully mine in Christ Jesus. My “imputed” or “God-given” privileges were often challenged by the world, the flesh, and the Devil himself.

As I grew in the knowledge of Him (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) I realized that in addition to our instant benefits when we “receive Jesus”, “become born again”, “experience the new birth” that there is more.  It is after this experience that we enter into an on-going and progressive process that brings us to the point of “Belonging to Him”.  This process is a continuous progression of transformation, conforming to the image of Christ, dying to self, entering into the peace of God, and finally entering into the complete “Rest” of belonging to Him.  What is now evident to me is that this is the process by which God imparts righteousness and holiness to His body. He continually increases our ability to consciously belong to Him.

Romans 12:2                           Transformation

Romans 8:29                           Conformed to the Image of Christ

1 Corinthians 15, 31                Death of Self Will

Hebrews 4:9-16                       Entering into the Rest of God

1 Corinthians 6:19                   Not your own, “Belonging to Him”

Ephesians 4: 1, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Peter 1: 18-19

Imparted Righteous (AKA) Belonging to Him AKA = (Also Known As)

You listen to the Holy Spirit.

You praise and worship God continually (spirit, soul, and body).

You choose to obey God’s word above all else.  As He reveals light, you walk in it.

You do not compare your walk with God with others regardless of their status, titles, or authority.

“Belonging to Him” is a continuum (on-going process).  It increases progressively as you yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.   He is in charge as you yield to the gradual process of becoming more and more like Jesus.   After all we are supposed to be “like Him” when we see Him 1 John 3:2.

What I Now Know about Belonging to Him

Belonging to Him brings “Intimacy with Him” as only He can reveal.

 Belonging to Him brings a peace that passes all understanding. 

You literally cannot be disturbed or shaken by what you see, hear, or perceive in the natural or spirit realm. 

You know unequivocally that God is in control of everything that happens to you.

You realize that God’s word is irrefutable, irrevocable, and infallible. 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s word will not.

The Special Anointing of Belonging to Him

I believe there is a special anointing that comes with belonging to Him.  You become a doer of His logos (written) and His Rhema (Spirit inspired) word.  As you do the word of God, you may notice:

God can trust you to see as He sees.

He can trust you to give and not be selfish.   

He can trust you to know and abide by His assessed value of temporal (time related, earthly) things. 

He knows you can live in eternity with Him right now. 

He can trust you to minister in the way He ordains. 

He imparts an incredible love in your heart for people.

He can trust you to be fair and just and righteous in your dealings with all people.

He puts people in your path that are supposed to be there. 

He removes people from your path who are not supposed to be there. 

He gives keen, revelatory insight to you in the deliverance of circumstances, situations, and relationships. 

He fellowships continually in your spirit as your body and soul attends to necessary temporal (time related, earthly) things. 

He gives a “Oneness” with Him that is unexplainable with words.

Scriptures for Meditation and Discussion

Ephesians 4:1, “I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called.

1 Corinthians 6:20, “For you are bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

1 Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

A Surprise!

As I neared the end of this testimony, the Holy Spirit brought a song that I sang so much in my childhood in church. I remembered all but one of the verses in detail.  I lay in bed one morning singing this song that sums up the experience of “Belonging to Him”.  The song was written by the famed Fannie Crosby and William Howard Doane.

Fannie Crosby, (1820-1915), American Mission Worker, poet, lyricist and composer writing more than 8000 hymns and gospel songs 

William Howard Doane (1832-1915), American inventor, hymn writer, and church leader, composed over 2000 songs

I am Thine O Lord

 “I am Thine O Lord, I have heard Thy voice and it told Thy love to me,

But I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to Thee.

Consecrate me now to Thy service Lord by the power of grace divine,

Let my soul look up in a steadfast hope and my will be lost in Thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour that before Thy throne I spend,

 whenI kneel in prayer and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend!

There are heights of joy that I may not reach till I cross the narrow sea,

There are depths of love that I may not know till rest in peace with Thee.

Chorus:

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord to the cross where Thou hast died,

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord to Thy precious bleeding side.”

A Lit Candle Curses the Darkness

A

Lit

Candle,

Curses the

Darkness

“The man who keeps My commandments, it is he who loves Me.” John 14:21

“If you are a candle, darkness runs from you.” MDJ

“Candles VS Darkness, not even a fight!” MDJ

 “Generate light, that is what generators do!” MDJ

“Gather candles and light them”.  MDJ

“Be a living Candle” MDJ

“Light Up”! MDJ

When Jesus left this earth, He placed it in the untested hands of His disciples and everyone who would come to believe on Him.  He realized He had given them all they would ever need to get the job of making disciples done (By the way, it is the only job He gave Believers).  On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit arrived, the deal was settled.  Every promise is “yes and amen” (2^nd Corinthians 1:20).  From that point on it was, “Take up your cross and follow Me”.

The “follow Me” challenge comes when a Believer realizes that the world he lives in is yet under the curse of Adam (Sin entered through his disobedience in Genesis Chapter 3).  It is this “darkness of sin” that swirls around every day and night of the universe.  So, darkness swirls.  What then is the antidote?  It is simple and so latent and intrinsic that it could go unnoticed.  It, however rises to consciousness because of the severity of the mission Jesus gave of “Go make disciples”. 

It is the redeeming power of Jesus Christ that lives inside every Believer that cries for the light of His love to engulf every human being.  We are the “light of the world”, the “salt of the earth”, “a city set on a hill”, “living epistles” (Matthew 5:14-16, 2^nd Corinthians 3:2-3).  If we do what is right in God’s eyes, we dispel darkness by just being alive! 

We consciously and unconsciously send daily messages of Who lives inside of us to the world.  It is the “Light” who is in us that dispels every form and fashion of darkness around us.  The unconscious light we emanate is the quiet and peaceable life (1^st Thessalonians 4:11) we live without saying a word.  This light of living under the authority of the Holy Spirit sends messages to all around us. The message is that Someone lives inside Who brings peace to our lives. 

The unconscious light in us challenges people around us to consciously ponder the grace of living we display.  This unconscious light curses the darkness by mere existence.  When Believers come on the scene, chaos dissipates, Jesus emanates, and darkness can find no place.

Then there is the conscious light within us.  This light sets out on a deliberate mission by keeping the commandments of Jesus (loving Him), loving others, interacting positively with others, displaying acts of kindness, being compassionate, giving, and denying self.

The simple fact is that darkness cannot hover when light comes on the scene.  Be a lit candle by the power of the Holy Spirit.  If you are a lit candle, darkness is a non-issue.  If you are engaged in “lighting candles”, you have taken on the Holy Spirit guided mission of Jesus which is “Go make disciples”.

By the way, are you cursing the darkness by “generating” light?

Are you “dispelling” darkness by your quiet, peaceable, and godly lifestyle?

Are you “making disciples”?        

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

Will You Also Go Away?

Will You Also Go Away?

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

Read St. John Chapter 6

As the darkness of this world increasingly comes to light, the body of Christ must saturate itself in the teachings of Jesus Christ.  These teachings are written in scripture and written in our hearts when He speaks to us.  We must become not only “hearers”, but “doers” of His word (James 1:22).

As the popularity of Jesus grew when He was here on earth, many people began to follow Him.  The crowds flocked to Him because of the miracles of healing (John 6:2).  He was also feeding them at these teaching events free of charge. If He left an area, they got into boats and followed Him to where He had gone (John 6:23-24).

 Because of the Holy Spirit’s power in Him, he knew the hearts of the people who followed Him (He knows your heart today).  They did not always have good intentions (John 6:26).  At times when Jesus spoke they seemed genuinely interested in His teachings about the God-life (John 6:28).  He spoke to them in parables (earthly situations) so that they could grasp the reality of spiritual truths.  They listened to Him literally because their interests were in the sense realm (see, touch, feel, hear, and taste).  Even though He went so far as to interpret the symbolic meanings of His words, they still missed it or doubted (John 6:41). 

 An example of their misinterpreted focus is revealed in the discourse recorded in John 6:31-40 when He spoke of Himself as the “Bread of Life”.  Some Jews took issue with Him referencing Himself as such.   He was also being questioned about His intimate relationship to the Father.  They wanted to make Him “the son of Joseph” and not “the Son of God” (John 6:42). Although Jesus labored to help them understand who He was and His relationship to the Father, they still doubted (John 6: 43).

This spiritual revelation about the “Bread of Life” and His relationship to God and man “blew up” in John 6:53-58 when Jesus told them “You cannot have life in you except you eat My flesh and drink My blood”.  He spoke these words in a synagogue (John 6:59).  Soon many of the disciples who followed Him left and returned to their old associations (John 6:66).

Jesus was firm in His knowledge and mission and was not troubled the least bit by those who either interpreted it incorrectly, chose not to believe, or chose to walk away.  His message was fixed in eternity and therefore unchangeable (Psalms 119:89).  There was no plan to “compromise the truth” or “go after” those who had left.  He simply did a “fact check” or “reality check” of His most intimate followers (the 12 disciples) that remained with Him. He simply asked them “Will you also go away?” (John 6:67)

The twelve disciples of Jesus did not always get it right, but this time Simon Peter nailed it.  He said “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”

Now the question for the body of Christ today is, “Will we also go away from the forever settled word of God and start perverting it with our “sense” realm interpretations?”  These sense realm interpretations rationalize and bind us to the ungodly and perverted ways of men. 

The reason some of the disciples walked away from Jesus is because they said His teachings were “hard” (John 6:60).  “Soft teachings” of compromise and rationalization justify man but are an abomination to God.  “Soft teachings” lead to death (spiritual and physical).

God is not troubled by the ruthless affairs of men.  He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).  We (Christ’s body) have a poignant question to answer in these times of darkness before our Lord returns.  “Will we walk away from God’s truth or will we understand that His truth does not change, cannot be rearranged, and does not validate disobedience, compromise, hatred, injustice, and sin?”

Will you also go away?

Prophetic Words to the Body of Christ

Prophetic Words to the Body of Christ

www.livingjoyministries.com, http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

Marsha Deveaux Johnson

On December 30, 2017, I was awakened by the Holy Spirit at 2:00 AM in the morning.  This was not due to an inability to sleep because I am able to sleep and rest.   I began to pray as every Believer does when God summons us into His manifest presence.  During this fellowship I realized that God wanted to speak to me and wanted me to write the message down.  So I did.  I got up and wrote non-stop under the direction of the Holy Spirit six hand written pages of His words to me. 

I humbly share these words with you as a Believer who desires to hear God’s voice.   I have included four personal words (He directed to me) to encourage Believers.  All of the words are His words to me regarding His children (Body of Christ).  If you walk with God, you know His voice.  He speaks whether or not we listen.

 Remember these are the words God spoke to me.  Let the Father speak to you about them.  He communicates His heart to every listening Believer. 

The Word of the Lord to Me:

 “My true prophets have mourned before Me for the injustice, hatred, cruelty, and hypocrisy.  I will reveal, expose, destroy, break, and separate unholy alliances.”

“My prophets have failed to hear Me and loathed at their own desires.”

“Strongholds are being broken and are coming down. Clarity of intent, purpose, and conspiracy are being revealed.”

“Pride has been a stronghold of the body of Christ and opened the door for deception.”

“There will be a ‘cranking up’ or ‘demanding of’ holiness.  The ungodly safe holds of My people will diminish.  There will be no covering for that which I have not ordained.  I will expose the safe holds, the deceivers, and the hirelings in My body who have led My people astray.”

“Unholy alliances will shatter like bombs.”

“I am arising in the youth that have not ‘sold out’ to the evil reckonings of My people.”

“Breakthroughs will come in natural homeopathic remedies for diseases.  Hidden plots to keep people drug dependant will be revealed.”

“An uprising of faith in Me that the world needs to see will come forth and cause boulders that have remained (strongholds) to move out of their (Body of Christ) paths.  This will spawn a depth of trust in Me that the world needs to see.”

(Marsha)

“You cried, I heard. You said, ‘Lord how long?’.  I say, ‘The hour is come’. “

“Holiness that has been ‘walked over’ by those who decided they could trust the voice and actions of man will arise and condemn those who stood with men rather than with Me.”

(Marsha)

“Receive your calling for I have spoken, I speak to you.  You cannot ‘hide’ because My word is in your mouth.  You sharply examine what you hail to others that I have said because you fear (reverential) My anointing upon your life.  But, speak for I have spoken to you.”

“Nations are going to rise up for Me.”  And those who have profaned My name will fall deeper into sin.”

“My people must stop being religious and hear My voice.”

“Holiness is not a badge, but a lifestyle calling.”

“Denounce associations with manmade institutions that fail to carry my true word of prophecy.”

“My people have ‘smeared’ My name with their stand with unrighteousness.  Repentance must come before My body can be ‘One’.”

“Many of My prophets have spoken out of their ‘pockets’ and not out of My Spirit.  They refuse to take the stand I have ordained and will fall with the stand they have taken.  Look not on their (false prophets) place in the world for I have rejected them.  They will ‘fall’ because they cannot ‘stand’ in My presence. “

“Pride, prejudice, and wrangling exists between and among the five-fold ministry because they have valued one above the others.  Each taunts the superiority of their call above the other calls.  They are all level in My presence and all needed for the perfecting of My body.”

(Johnson Home)

“All who enter your home are on ‘holy ground’ and subject to My presence and anointing that I have poured out there. It is My wish, My choosing who enters your home.  Many desire to come and cannot because I have not so ordained.”

There will be:

“Spontaneous Healings”

“Powerful words of knowledge delivered”

“Earth shattering words of wisdom delivered”

“Catastrophes overwhelming to man seen”

“Meditate, saturate, and mature in My word for it reveals My plan.”

“Leaking of shameful words of condemnation spoken in secret will be brought forth for all to hear which cannot be denied.”

(Marsha)

“Embrace and do not fear your calling for I have ordained your life to glorify Me.”

“You will have the friends I have ordained.  I guard your life and shield you.”

“There is an end to suffering.”

Gotcha!

Gotcha!

Who Has Your Heart?

(Heart = inward thoughts, intents, and desires)

We have been created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26).  We are here to get to know Him in fellowship, purpose, and love.  From the beginning God wanted to commune with man spirit to spirit which is why He created man as spirit.  He wanted man to contact and enjoy all of His visible universe creations so He gave to man a soul (mind, will, and emotions) for earthly interactions.  He also wanted housing for our spirit and soul, so He gave us a physical body.

Man is the eternal purpose of God so when man fell (Genesis Chapter 3) from his created position, God Himself (Jesus) took the form of man to redeem and bring man back to His intended position.  Throughout the ages, God has sent instructions to man about His desire and purpose for man through prophets, priests, patriarchs, judges, and the five-fold ministry (pastors. prophets, teachers, evangelists, and  apostles, Ephesians 4:11-15). 

The degree to which man is successful with his relationship with God is contingent upon the condition of the heart (inward thoughts, intents, and desires) of man.  The musings and meditations of the heart expose who has Gotcha!  Who really has your heart?

Do you have and sit on the throne of your own heart?

Who has “Gotcha”?

Does ambition, money, power, politics, the world’s system, people, places, things, family, drugs, your beauty, your health, your legacy, have you and sit on the throne of your heart.

Who has “Gotcha”?

You may not want to answer this question just yet until we see what God says about who has your heart.  First of all the heart can be a place that has not been saturated with God’s word. This places you on dangerous spiritual territory if you trust a heart that is not filled with God’s word.

Proverbs 23:7 KJV

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” 

This passage of scripture references a man who was trying to deceive another by saying something different than what was in his heart.  God pointed out that the truth is what a man thinks in his heart.  Deception is in play when there is a disconnect between what is spoken and what is in the heart.  However, what is in a man’s heart will always surface and manifest in his life.  The truth will always unveil.  It is God’s protection for Believers. His truth set us free (John 8:32).

Jeremiah 17:9-10

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:  who can know it?  I the Lord search the heart; I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doing.”

God searches the heart of man.  What does He find?  What does He find in your heart?  Is it full of His word and producing fruit unto righteousness or selfish and evil producing unrighteousness?  Well, whatever is there is soon going to ripen and grow in your personality and the whole world will see.  It may remain hidden for an incubation period but anything that is in your heart will mature and be exposed for the entire world to see. 

If God’s word and obedience to it is in your heart, everybody gets to reap the benefits of your godly life. It sends the anointing and aroma of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to others. If evil, hatred, selfishness, and rebellion are in your heart; the whole world gets to see it and tries to run from the effects of it on their lives.

In Jeremiah 17:10, God says he searches the heart to find what He can give to you based on what He finds in your heart (your ways and the fruit of your doings).  Are you totally comfortable with reaping what you sow?  Your seeds produce a harvest.  God is going to give you back what you sow (Galatians 6:7).

Who has “Gotcha”?

Luke 6:45 KJV

“For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit:  neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  For every tree is known by his own fruit.  For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of bramble bush gather they grapes.  A good man of the treasure of his good heart bringeth forth that which is good:  and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil:   for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

2^nd Corinthians 10:5 KJV

 “Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

For God to take residence and possess our hearts, we as Believers must constantly cast down the imaginations that Satan brings.  We must let nothing of this world exalt itself above and against the knowledge that God gives to us.  We must examine every thought to determine whether or not it is of God.  We must expel the thoughts that are not of God. We must know and be obedient to the word of God.  Then we can answer the question:  Who has “Gotcha”?

with, God Almighty has me and my heart!

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

The Flower

The Flower

Marsha Deveaux Johnson

One day I heard a knock at my door.  I leisurely went to the door because I was not expecting anyone to visit.   Upon opening the door I looked down and saw a single flower placed in water in a soda bottle with beautifully opened petals.  A note was attached to it that said, “This reminds me of you.”

This flower was placed there by my Neighbor who lives beside me and is so helpful.  As I closely viewed the beautiful flower, I noticed that it had nine beautiful soft petals.  Closer viewing revealed to me even more.   I saw words upon the petals that stirred thought.  I wondered if the words were the key to what reminded my Neighbor of me.

I saw the word “LOVE” and thought He sees love?  And then I remembered the compassion that constantly floods my human spirit when I minister God’s love to others.

I saw the word “JOY” and thought, He sees joy? I had just lost a loved one.  And then I remembered the joy that took away the tears at the memorial service.

I saw the word “PEACE” and thought He sees peace?  And then I remembered the tremendous peace that I had when I learned that my life had to be interrupted with surgery and recovery to alleviate nagging pain.

I saw the word “LONGSUFFERING” and said out loud Oh No! And then I remembered painstakingly waiting with a friend at the emergency room of the hospital so she could receive services.  The trauma, the children playing, the babies crying, you have not suffered long until you have waited in the emergency room of a hospital.

I saw the word “GENTLENESS” and thought He sees gentleness?  And then I remembered as a young child I had to learn how to give my grandmother diabetic injections way back when they were not so refined.  I learned to be gentle and to hurt when others hurt.

I saw the word “MEEKNESS” and thought, He sees meekness and humility in me?  And then I remembered a humble apology to my grandson Rohan about Parmesan cheese that tasted funny to him.  I insisted it was alright until I tasted it.

I saw the word “GOODNESS” and thought He sees goodness and kindness in me?  And then I remembered how I frequently allow people who are on their lunch break to get to the checkout counter a little quicker.  I am retired and seize joy when I make someone’s day this way.

I saw the word “TEMPERANCE” and thought, He sees temperance?  Then I remembered how I listen to others when they need a listening ear and push back my own challenges so that they can have the earthly encouragement that they need.

I saw the word “FAITH” and thought He sees faith in me?  I am constantly seeking God’s word so that my faith may grow.  Maybe He sees my seeking and reaching and counts it for faith.

If someone placed a flower at your door or on your desk and said, “This reminds me of you", what words would be written on the petals?

Walk

In The Spirit

&

 Bear Fruit.

Walking in the Spirit brings

 the blessing of the growth of fruit

in the life of a Believer.  The works

of the flesh are   (adultery, fornication,

uncleanness,   lasciviousness,   idolatry,

witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,

wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying,

 murders,      drunkenness,      reveling)

The fruit of the Spirit should abound

 in  the  life of every  Believer.  The

absence of the works of the flesh

promotes the growth of the

 fruit   of the  Spirit.

Love

Joy

Peace

Longsuffering

Gentleness

Goodness

Faith

Meekness

Temperance

(Galatians 5)

Marsha Deveaux Johnson

www.livingjoyministries.com

http://hepzibah40.@blogspot.com

Full Circle

Full Circle

Will You Be Made Whole?

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

Many years ago God asked me a question after one of our ministry retreats.  I remember vividly the questions that God has asked me throughout my lifetime.   They have led to great understandings of His nature and His written word.   He spoke to me on a Saturday evening after returning from a Friday-Saturday weekend retreat.  I stood in my bathroom and out of my spirit came from Father, “Would you be willing to be inside a circle with Me and place all of your loved ones outside that circle?”  I was stunned at the question.   I was void of His meaning and purpose. I was not mature in my faith enough to immediately say “Yes, Father” regardless of what it meant.  I meditated on this question (that came out of my spirit) the rest of that Saturday and Sunday. 

On Monday morning I had an answer for My Father.   As I stood in front of my bathroom mirror getting ready for work, I said, “Yes Lord, I would be willing to be inside a circle with You and You alone.   I will place all my loved ones outside of the circle and I now close that circle.”  Immediately in my spirit I heard God say, “The Holy Spirit will close that circle.” Obedience to God’s requests of us brings us to the point of getting help from the Holy Spirit in all that God requires of us.   As my walk with God progressed, I realized that this act of obedience allowed me to commit actions, incidents, and situations regarding loved ones to God easier and not be devastated by their actions.  I have taught this “Circle Teaching” through the years and many believers have benefitted from it. 

Years later in my life, God revealed to me that when I put my loved ones outside of the circle and remained in the circle with Him and Him alone, I was putting them firmly in His hand.  At the time He asked me the question, I had to respond in faith regardless of my lack of understanding His desire and purpose.  I sure would have wanted to know at that time that I was putting them firmly in His hand.  However, I was required to trust Him with them regardless of His plan.  I had to know that His plan is only a good plan (Jeremiah 29:11).  Always trust God.  You will not always have all of His wisdom or word on a circumstance or situation.  The just (righteous) will truly live by faith (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38).  Say yes to Him regardless of the question.  He is designing and producing wholeness in you.

Recently I asked God a question (we’re allowed).  I said to Him, what about the woman (that would be me) who was left in the circle with You?  I can tell you why I asked this question. He prompted it.   I asked it because He wanted me to ask it so that He could respond and give me an answer.  He knows how to set us up for His next procedure in our lives.  He always leads us to His desire, His purpose, and His will.  We are so led and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live the God-life.  We must remember that it is His Kingdom that must come and His will that must be done (Matthew 6:10). 

This question prompted God to speak to me about wholeness.  He shared that putting loved ones in His hand is a beginning process of becoming whole and complete in Him (  ).  As awkward as it may seem in the natural, in the spiritual realm all severe attachments to people, places, and things hinder intimacy with God.  It is the establishment of this intimacy with God that allows all other relationships with people, places, and things to be set in divine order and bring peace. 

The one who is “circled in” with God enjoys ultimate peace regardless of the circumstances of loved ones outside the circle.  The “circled In” one knows that it is only a matter of time before God will bring circumstances outside the circle into divine order.  The “circled in” one gets a heavenly view of others.  They see that regardless of a loved one’s current inadequacies their completeness comes from Jesus Christ.  If they are currently functioning at ten per cent of their allegiance to God, the “circled in” one sees that the ninety percent is covered by God’s grace as you stand in faith for their wholeness.  The “circled in” one takes a heavenly view of earthly circumstances and knows how temporary and fleeting all of this world’s pleasures and profits are.

God has helped me to understand that His view is the completed picture.  Our view is the canvas in process.  God sits in eternity where completion is the order of the day.  We are in time processing each moment as it is released to us. However, to keep the faith, we must see His completed picture purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Our faith must be tremendously in His word, His promises, and His intimacy in our lives.

We come full circle with Him as we trust, trust, and trust.  When we do, the walk gets easier.  We know what to expect and we understand that the complete circle of all our lives is made whole by Jesus Christ.  He is making the woman inside the circle (me living in time) whole while she (in eternity) is already whole in Christ Jesus.  What about you?  Have you come full circle?  See yourself and others as whole in eternity.  God deals in wholeness.  If you are ten percent on your way to wholeness, He fills the ninety missing percent.  If you are forty percent on your way to wholeness, He fills the other sixty percent.  We are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10).  Some of us need more grace than others.  I suspect (knowing Father) that there is much more of this “wholeness” knowledge to come.  Meditate on this word and hear His voice.  Let Him make you whole.

PS

In the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Luke, John) the recordings indicate that Jesus spoke often of “wholeness” when He performed miracles.  He wanted man to be whole, spirit, soul, and body