The Present Truth

To enter into the ministry without being disciplined into the mind of Christ, is to embark on a journey into destruction and devastation to both you and the people you influence.

For many years I was allowed to observe and study the mind of some traditional leaders. I was amazed at the magnitude of deception and captivity they displayed. You see, I once attributed this deception solely to their lack of knowledge, but the Lord said differently. He caused me to realize that such monumental deception was due to the lack of regard and respect for the Word of God they already knew.

I need to insert here that this principle is most real in every sense of its application to the knowledge of the truth. For instance, we at Bible Teachers have received in-depth revelation of the Word of God. Therefore, we tend to attribute the sinful lifestyle of others in the Body to their lack of knowledge.

However, the Lord is very specific in this matter. He declares that the knowledge of God in its infancy is powerful enough to gender righteousness. Thus, the catalyst for sin in the Body of Christ is not a lack of deeper revelation, but the rejection of the revelation that has already come. You see it is obedience to every word that comes from God that maintains righteousness in us.

Sin is a transgression of the basic laws of God. It is a failure to obey the Ten Commandments. It is not possible to neglect the simple basic truths God has given us, and expect a deep revelation to bring us into righteousness.

This in itself was a revelation for me, because I used to wonder about those who had not heard some of the things we have heard of God. Seeing as how the knowledge of such truth seemed to have purged us of our sins. But once again the Lord was faithful. He caused me to understand that there were some who had been receiving these truths since the conception of the ministry, but are still to this day living in sin. It is not the Word alone that purges sin. It is obedience to the Word that cleanses us of all unrighteousness.

Furthermore, the Lord will not allow a spirit of enlightenment. If you do not reverence the Word you have already received from Him, you will eventually reach a place where comprehension of the Word will be foreign to you. He will not illuminate the depths of the truth. Consequently, you will be left to discern its meaning based upon the operation of your own fleshy mind. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the present truth. Otherwise, that truth runs the risk of being perverted by the lust and pride of your fleshy mind.

We can talk about exploring the deep things of God and continuously seek after the knowledge of the Holy, but until we submit to the present truth, we will never know what it means to really serve the Lord. We will always fall short of real servitude. We will never experience the Jesus ministry.

The ministry of Christ is only operated through love and obedience to the Father. There is no other way to obtain it. Consider the testimony of the Lord Himself:

St. John 14:23-24

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

St John 14:21

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

It is frightening to think that many of us who have become partakers of the grace of God could not love Jesus Christ. However, the Master says, the proof of our love is in obedience to His Word. It is through this obedience that the Lord will manifest Himself. Thus, it also follows that without this obedience; the Lord will not manifest His presence.

St John 16:26-27

26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me,and have believed that I came out from God.

Now this is so simple, yet, just simply not believed. The Father will work the same ministry He worked through Christ if we love and obey Him. To love Jesus is to love the Father. It is also obvious that the Father equates love with obedience. The Lord clearly states that our love for Him and the Father is manifested in our obedience to the Word, or commandments of the Father. You must accept that there is no other way to reveal your love. You cannot escape the necessary obedience required to manifest Christ.

The Present Truth

To enter into the ministry without being disciplined into the mind of Christ is to embark on a journey into destruction and devastation to both you and the people you influence.

For many years I was allowed to observe and study the mind of some traditional leaders. I was amazed at the magnitude of deception and captivity they displayed. You see, I once attributed this deception solely to their lack of knowledge, but the Lord said differently. He caused me to realize that such monumental deception was due to the lack of regard and respect for the Word of God they already knew.

I feel here a need to insert that this principle is most real in every sense of its application to the knowledge of the truth. For instance, we here at Bible Teachers have received in-depth revelation of the Word of God. Therefore, we tend to attribute the sinful lifestyle of others in the Body to their lack of knowledge.

However, the Lord is very specific in this matter. He declares that the knowledge of God in its infancy is powerful enough to gender righteousness. Thus, the catalyst for sin in the Body of Christ is not a lack of deeper revelation, but the rejection of the revelation that has already come. You see it is obedience to every word that comes from God that maintains righteousness in us.

Sin is a transgression of the basic laws of God. It is failure to obey the Ten Commandments. It is not possible to neglect the simple basic truths God has given us and expect a deep revelation to bring us into righteousness.

This in itself was a revelation for me, because I use to wonder about those who had not heard some of the things we have heard of God, seeing as how the knowledge of such seemed to have purged us of our sins. But once again the Lord was faithful. He caused me to understand that there were some who had been receiving these truths since the conception of the ministry, but are still to this day living in sin. It is not the Word alone that purges sin. It is obedience to the Word that cleanses us of all unrighteousness.

I am very concerned that those in this ministry do not follow after the examples of those who failed to maintain the heart and mind of God while in pursuit of servitude.

Furthermore, the Lord will not allow a spirit of enlightenment. If you do not reverence the Word you have already received from Him, you will eventually reach a place where comprehension of the Word will be foreign to you. He will not illuminate the depths of the truth. Consequently, you will be left to discern its meaning based upon the operation of your own fleshy mind. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the present truth. Otherwise, that truth runs the risk of being perverted by the lust and pride of your fleshy mind.

We can talk about exploring the deep things of God and continuously seek after the knowledge of the Holy, but until we submit to the present truth, we will never know what it means to really serve the Lord. We will always fall short of real servitude. We will never experience the Jesus ministry.

The ministry of Christ is only operated through love and obedience to the Father. There is no other way to obtain it. Consider the testimony of the Lord Himself:

St. John 14:23-24

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

St. John 14:21

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

It is frightening to think that many of us who have become partakers of the grace of God could not love Jesus Christ. However, the Master says, the proof of our love is in obedience to His Word.

It is through this obedience that the Lord will manifest Himself. Thus, it also follows that without this obedience; the Lord will not manifest His presence.

St. John 16:26-27

26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

Now this is so simple, yet just simply not believed. The Father will work the same ministry He worked through Christ if we love and obey Him. To love Jesus is to love the Father.

It is also obvious that the Father equates love with obedience. The Lord clearly states that our love for Him and the Father is manifested in our obedience to the Word, or commandments of the Father. You must accept that there is no other way to reveal your love. You cannot escape the necessary obedience required to manifest Christ.

I often wondered why this is so hard for the man yet seems, in most cases, to be easier for women to achieve. Well, the Lord allowed me to know the truth. The answer is in the next chapter.