September 21, 2004
(ML #3505‚ GN 1094)
FD/MM/FM August 2004
ML #242:1–17, 25-37, DB 5.
1. To stay alive, everyone must have movement! There must be CHANGE‚ MOVEMENT, MOTION, ' the signs of LIFE are principally manifested by MOTION, ACTION! There are only two directions in which you can move. THERE IS NO STANDING STILL. YOU ARE EITHER MOVING FORWARD OR BACKWARD, which is backsliding. So if you're not progressing, if there's any disciple who is not making progress, he is already backsliding, ' any leader who is not making progress is already a backslider, because if he's not going ahead, he's going backward.
2. Every movement has to have constant change, revitalization, movement, action to stay alive!—There's plenty to keep us alive ' moving till the Lord comes! Just because we have Homes in many countries of the World, some people think we've arrived: "Now we've got Homes in all these countries, there's no place to go.—There are no more worlds to conquer!" They say ALEXANDER THE GREAT DIED WEEPING THAT THERE WERE NO MORE WORLDS TO CONQUER!—The big joke was that he hadn't even begun to conquer THIS World!—Half of the World hadn't even been discovered yet!
3. So the reason some of these people sit down ' quit ' begin to sit back ' fall out, is simply because they have lost their vision. And when they lose the vision they lose faith. And when they lose faith they no longer have any initiative to do anything. Backsliding is the reverse of pioneering, ’ when you stop pioneering you start backsliding. So these people who stop pioneering because they no longer have any faith to take the initiative, to do something different or pioneer a new field, it's because they have lost the vision‚ ' WITHOUT A VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH. They backslide ' sink back into oblivion.
WHAT MAKES A PIONEER ' WHAT MAKES A BACKSLIDER!
4. So when you stop pioneering it shows you have lost the initiative. Any army which ceases to attack loses the initiative, ' attacking initiative is what wins a war. IT'S GOING ON THE INITIATIVE, TO THE ATTACK, THAT BRINGS VICTORY! The minute any army stops attacking ’ just settles down, it will be defeated‚ because the Enemy will then launch a counter–attack.—Or the army's very IMMOBILITY ’ ITS VERY LACK OF VISION ’ PROGRESS ' INITIATIVE WILL CAUSE IT TO HAVE A LOSS of faith in its own cause ' to quit ' give up without even losing!
5. That's the only way we can ever be conquered, if we stop attacking ' give up ' stop having the faith to take the initiative‚ stop attacking ' winning new publications, new disciples, new tactics, new fields! Then you are doomed to defeat. You've already lost. ANYONE IN OUR RANKS WITH THIS ATTITUDE IS ALREADY LICKED BECAUSE HE HAS LOST THE BATTLE OF THE SPIRIT! He's given up ' fainted in his mind ' his body will soon faint with it ' he'll quit ' backslide. YOU'LL GO BACK DOWN THE CHAIN REACTION IN REVERSE FROM WHAT MAKES A PIONEER ' you'll stop pioneering because you have lost the initiative, the spirit ' courage, because you have lost faith; ' you've lost faith because you've lost the vision!
6. What are the four things that make a pioneer?—First of all VISION! Because of the vision you have the FAITH. Because you have the faith, that gives you the COURAGE, ’ therefore with the courage you take the INITIATIVE ' you PIONEER ' make PROGRESS! Now if you STOP pioneering, it shows you have lost ALL these things. Why have you lost the faith ’ the courage?—Because you've lost the vision! Without a vision the people perish! If you're defeated, therefore‚ ' your surrender ' YOUR BACKSLIDING CAN BE TRACED ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE TO YOUR LOSS OF VISION, WHERE did you lose the vision?
7. How do you lose the vision?—Somewhere there's been a break in the contact with the source of power. Somehow these backsliders HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH GOD‚ direct personal intimate contact with God, that direct hotline!—They've gotten out of touch with it somewhere. Now in every Bible Kingdom God always had a Prophet ' always used some man‚ God's man. If the people have lost the vision, just like turning a television off, it's because somehow or another THEY'VE GOTTEN OUT OF TOUCH WITH GOD, SOME BREAK HAS COME IN THE CONNECTION OR THEY'VE LOST THE VOICE OF HIS PROPHET. What is the people's connection with God? Well, each can have his PERSONAL CONNECTION. If he loses that, he's in bad trouble. But he can still have THE PROPHET. His individual TV set can go off ' he can personally lose the vision because of his break, but that doesn't mean the station's quit broadcasting. The power's still there ’ all he has to do is tune in.
8. What's our connection with God? Well, God has so seen fit ' chosen to choose for you A VOICE ' A MAN THROUGH WHOM HE SPEAKS TO GIVE YOU THE MESSAGE, WHICH GIVES YOU THE VISION, WHICH CREATES THE FAITH, WHICH GIVES YOU THE COURAGE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO ATTACK ' PRESS ON ' PROGRESS ’ CONTINUE TO GROW! But I dare say a good many of our BACKSLIDERS ARE PEOPLE WHO LOST TOUCH WITH GOD '/OR ME! THEY GOT OUT OF TOUCH WITH GOD'S MAN ' THEREFORE OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE MESSAGE He had given the man to give them.
9. That's the trouble with some of our leaders. They've gone as far as they want to go ' they're stuck in a rut, not really interested in reaching even the souls NEAR them, much less the REST of the World or any NEW field! THEY'VE ARRIVED ' HAVE THEIR NICE LITTLE FOLD ' NICE LITTLE FLOCK ' ARE NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN WHETHER THEY BEAR ANY NEW LAMBS OR NOT or bring in new sheep. They're satisfied with what they've got, so they stop.—And there's no such thing as stopping!
10. If you have lost the pioneering spirit ’ you're not going forward to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth ' you're content short of that goal, you're satisfied with what you've already got ' you're not interested in progressing until you see the Kingdom of God really established on Earth ' righteousness covering the Earth as the waters cover the seas ' the Coming of Christ, THEN YOU'RE BACKSLIDING!
11. The minute anybody in our outfit comes to the conclusion that he has arrived ' he's satisfied ' has come as far as he wants to go, WATCH OUT! I'll tell you, it's not ME! I'LL NEVER BE SATISFIED UNTIL EVERYBODY ON EARTH IS SAVED, which will never happen, of course.—But that's a long way off! Brother, "WE'VE GOTTA LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR", BUT WE'VE STILL GOTTA LOT TO DO! We haven't just a few years—we've got THOUSANDS to go!
IN ETERNITY OUR RESPONSIBILITIES WILL CARRY ON!
12. If you think just because people have gone on to be with the Lord that their job is over, we can prove from the Bible where their job is far from complete! We have a long way to go ’ the Spirit World is a heaven of a lot busier than this hell on Earth! We will have a rest in a sense, you might say in the Spirit—at least some will, it depends on how much they deserve it!
13. But we're a long ways from the end of the road‚ ’ all these people who look forward to death as the END are going to get a big surprise! DEATH FROM THIS LIFE IS JUST GRADUATION FROM THIS GRADE, ' praise God for that! You've graduated from this grade of this earthly life. But WHEN YOU GRADUATE FROM ONE GRADE TO ANOTHER, THE WORK IN THE NEXT GRADE USUALLY BECOMES A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT WITH A LITTLE MORE ADDED RESPONSIBILITY, NEW ' ADDED DUTIES WHICH YOU DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE, WITH NEW POWERS, NEW RESPONSIBILITIES. WITH NEW ABILITIES COME NEW RESPONSIBILITIES ’ YOU HAVE NEW POWER TO RESPOND TO THESE NEW RESPONSIBILITIES.
14. It's only the beginning, Folks! HEAVEN IS NOT THE END: IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING! God only knows how much more we'll have to conquer after we've conquered the Earth ' all the souls who have ever lived on it ' all the problems! Who knows what OTHER Worlds we may have to conquer, what other Universes we may yet have to learn to rule! MY IDEA OF HEAVEN IS NOT FLOATING AROUND ON A CLOUD STRUMMING A HARP by some gift of God! That would be my idea of DEATH!—TOTAL INACTIVITY‚ CESSATION OF MOVEMENT, TOTAL REST IS TOTAL DEATH! And it doesn't seem to be God's idea of Heaven either! HIS UNIVERSE IS FULL OF MOVEMENT ’ HE'LL NEVER STOP!—We'll go right on through the Coming of Christ ' the Millennium ’ Space City ' right on out to Outer Space, ' God only knows how far we all have to go!—AND WE'LL ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF IT IF WE'RE FAITHFUL SERVANTS!
PIONEERING—WHEN YOU STOP YOU DIE!
15. When we stop pioneering the World, we're licked! We have failed! WE'RE DEFEATED BECAUSE WE DEFEATED OURSELVES BY GIVING UP! Therefore these disciples, whether they be babes or leaders, who have ceased to progress ' have stopped ’ are satisfied to enjoy their little bit of this ' that daily in their little bitty Home ' their little bit of Heaven on Earth, their little "me, thee, thou ' no other" ' their few little sheep ' their little fold—now they're the Shepherd, so, "Where else can I go but to the Lord?"—They've totally ceased to move ' progress ' go on ' pioneer! ONCE THEY'VE GOT ONE HOME OPEN ' ESTABLISHED, THEY SHOULD GO ON TO ANOTHER. When you finish giving out the Message in ONE town, you should go to ANOTHER!
16. But some of our leaders quit long ago: They no longer have any desire to go any further. They're perfectly satisfied with where they are. THEY'VE SAT DOWN ' QUIT ' LOST THEIR LOVE OF THE LORD ' SOULS ’ THEIR DESIRE TO WITNESS ' WIN ' GET NEW DISCIPLES ’ INVADE NEW FIELDS—WHICH MEANS THEY'VE QUIT!—And they think when they've quit they are going to keep what they've got. But GOD'S LAW OF PROGRESS IS, IF YOU DON'T KEEP ON GETTING MORE, YOU'LL LOSE WHAT YOU'VE GOT!—"To him that HATH, it shall be GIVEN (to have MORE, make PROGRESS!)‚ but to him that hath NOT, it shall be taken AWAY‚ even what he THINKETH he HATH!"—Luk.8:18. The minute you think you HAVE it ' you SIT DOWN to enjoy it, that's where you LOSE it! That's why many a great business, many a great nation, many a great civilization ' many a great religious movement has vanished from the face of the Earth, because they thought they had arrived ' had all they wanted ' they sat down to enjoy it, ’ whooosh!—GOD BLEW UPON IT ' IT CAME TO NOUGHT‚ BECAUSE THEY QUIT ADVANCING ’ PROGRESSING, INVADING ' ATTACKING ' moving!
17. We can't stop or we're dead!—If we don't keep on doing more ’ more every day ' progressing, or if we can't sit down at the end of the day ' sum things up ' keep books with our soul ' weigh up the accounts ' say, "Now WHAT DID I DO TODAY THAT I WON'T HAVE TO DO TOMORROW?"—IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT PROGRESS, WHAT MOVE OR ACCOMPLISHMENT OR NEW THING OR DIFFERENT THING OR WHAT MORE HAVE I DONE THAN THE USUAL THINGS I ALWAYS HAVE TO DO EACH DAY?" IF YOU COME TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS BY HABIT ' you're just coasting along on former momentum, ONCE YOU'VE GONE TO SLEEP ' LEFT YOUR ENGINE GOING, YOU'LL SOON RUN OUT OF GAS ' even the engine will go dead for lack of new fuel ' YOU'LL SOON COAST TO A STOP ' LACK OF MOTION!
SYMPTOMS OF OLD BOTTLES—LIVING IN THE PAST!
25. THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE PAST ARE OLD BOTTLES! You know what my Grandfather said to me once?—"David, Son, DO YOU KNOW HOW YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GETTING OLD?—WHEN YOU START LIVING IN THE PAST!"
26. If we've got any old bottles still living in the past, may God have mercy! I don't give a damn how we used to do it, if it's not the way we ought to do it now! And I don't care HOW we did it YESTERDAY, if we should do it DIFFERENTLY TOMORROW! But some of these old-bottle guys are still insisting on a rigid pattern of TOTAL CONFORMITY to the PAST ' living according to the tactics of the PAST!
27. Anybody in this outfit who's stuck in a rut ' wants to continue to do things the same way we did them on the road or in Huntington Beach or last year or yesterday, THEY'RE AN OLD BOTTLE ' something's WRONG with them!
28. Old bottles like it like it was: They love the old, dislike the new, resist change ' therefore they've solidified ’ THAT WHICH RESISTS CHANGE IS NO LONGER PART OF THE REVOLUTION, BUT HAS BECOME AN OLD BOTTLE, A PART OF AN OLD SYSTEM! But a REVOLUTION keeps MOVING ' CHANGING ' REVOLVING ' REVOLUTING! TO REVOLVE YOU HAVE TO GO CLEAR TO THIS SIDE, THEN TO THAT SIDE, ’ FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER, BUT YOU NEVER GET ANY FURTHER FROM THE CENTER, Jesus, no matter how MUCH you revolve or how FAR or FAST or SLOW you go! But you're constantly changing POSITIONS. Either that or you're NOT REVOLUTING, ' WHEN YOU STOP REVOLUTING‚ YOUR ENGINE IS DEAD ’ YOUR VEHICLE IS MOTIONLESS ' your motor's quit ' you've quit ' you're DEAD, lifeless, motionless ' useless!—And that's what's wrong with some of our people!
30. But if you're an old bottle stretched as far as you can go ’ you can't bulge one more bulge, THE NEXT TIME I COME ALONG ' DROP ONE MORE DROP OF NEW WINE INTO YOU, IT'LL BREAK YOUR BOTTLE ' EVEN WHAT YOU'VE GOT WILL BE LOST ' you'll lose even what you THOUGHT you HAD! "To him that HATH it shall be given."—To him that hath WHAT?—Him that hath a NEW bottle with lots MORE room! But him that hath NOT a new bottle‚ it will be taken FROM him even that which he thinks he HATH!—Luk.8:18.
HOW TO TELL WHETHER YOU'RE AN OLD BOTTLE OR A NEW BOTTLE!
32. IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO CONSTANTLY KEEP CHANGING OUR TACTICS ’ METHODS ' MODES OF OPERATION JUST LIKE GOD DOES, to what He knows will WORK ' what WON'T with a new day ' new situation ' new people, THEN WE'RE GOING TO BECOME AN OLD HAS–BEEN BOTTLE JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE CHURCHES ' the Revolution will have died!—Well, YOU can if you want to, but I'M not! "Morning by morning NEW mercies I see! Great is THY FAITHFULNESS dear Lord unto ME!" "ALL THINGS CHANGE, but Jesus never" ' HE EVEN CHANGES SOME OF HIS TACTICS ' SOME OF HIS MESSAGES ' SOME OF HIS METHODS, DEPENDING ON WHAT SUITS THE SITUATION! Paul said, "I became ALL things to ALL men!"—1Cor.9:22. If we're not flexible, pliable, able to stretch or shrink or bend to accommodate the NEW wine, then we're going to break, shatter ' lose even what we've got!
33. Some of our leaders are still running around with the same old mold in their hand trying to make all our new disciples into old bottles! And the kind of bottles they're making won't be able to hold the NEW wine, because they're OLD bottles!
34. If this thing has been anything, it's been a Revolution from the beginning, ' every time I come around I BREAK A FEW MORE OLD BOTTLES ' THE NEW ONES JUST HAVE TO CARRY ON WITHOUT THE OLD ONES!—The new young bottles that can hold the new wine! That's what God did with us in the first place: He took us fresh young bottles OUT of the churches with their old unstretchable bottles, ' that process has not stopped! GOD IS STILL POURING OUT NEW WINE, BUT SOME OF OUR PEOPLE HAVE BECOME OLD BOTTLES ' CAN'T TAKE IT, just like the old churches ' He is STILL saying, "Come out of her, ye My people!" (Rev.18:4)—And He's constantly drawing out a NEW church ’ leaving an OLD church behind! Some of our people are still back where we were two or three YEARS ago ' the way we're going or SLOWING, they'll NEVER get any further!—WHILE THE REST OF US EVER-RENEWING BOTTLES ARE ALREADY 10‚000 MILES FURTHER OUT IN SPACE IN THE WORLD OF THE SPIRIT ’ THE OLD BOTTLES STILL HAVEN'T LEFT THE OLD PAD!
35. If your bottle is full ’ can't hold any more‚ you know what's the matter with it?—It hasn't been pouring OUT! EVEN an OLD bottle can hold MORE if it keeps pouring OUT! They can even hold NEW wine if they keep POURING OUT the OLD stuff! They've gotta give it up ' FORSAKE ALL‚ including some of their OLD wine they cherish-the old vintage we vinted back in TSC or Huntington Beach or on the Road!
36. We'd better take this new wine God is giving ’ get out ' find some new bottles who can TAKE it! The day of old-bottle usefulness is passing!—Not that God won't give them credit for the job they DID. But they are old, disposable, fragile containers that can't take the new wine any more.—And if we're going to depend on those old bottles to take the new wine, we'll FAIL! We have to FORGET THE OLD BOTTLES ' FIND THE NEW! IF THE OLD BOTTLE CAN'T TAKE IT, CAST IT ASIDE ' GET OUT ' FIND A NEW ONE THAT CAN!
37. So are you an old bottle or a new bottle? Well, it all depends on whether you can hold the new wine or not! Whether you ARE or NOT will probably depend on whether you've DUMPED OUT your LAST load ' come BACK so you can hold some MORE! But IF YOU'RE GOING TO SIT AROUND ALL FILLED UP till you stretch your limit ' get all bent out of shape to where if anybody just pokes their finger at you it will poke a hole in you ’ spill what you've got, then you're a has-been, an old bottle!—The days of your usefulness are ended!
ML #251:24-26, 28, DB 5.
24. For God's sake ' our sake ' your sake ' the World's sake, let's continue to be revolutionary! Don't limit yourself just to what I tell you or the things I've ALREADY written for LAST year ’ not THIS year. When you tie yourself too much to ME‚ you may be tying yourself down to your OLD leadership so you can't get any FURTHER‚ when you should be raising up NEW leaders with FRESH ideas for a NEW day! The minute you start living in the PAST, watch out! WE CAN LOOK ON ITS RECORD TO SEE WHAT WE CAN LEARN, BUT FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T LIMIT YOUR CHILDREN!
25. The greatest thing we can teach our new disciples ' children—' each new generation has to learn it for itself—is to follow God ' hear from Him fresh every day! Moment by moment learn something NEW every day‚ because only GOD is way out there in front ’ knows what's going to happen ' is able to lead you ’ guide you ' show you what to do.
26. So don't get stuck with either a name‚ a method or a message that you can't change from day to day with whatever God has for you that's NEW, NEW wine, NEW message, NEW method, NEW way! Because if you do‚ you're sunk ' you're broken because you've become an old bottle!
28. Real revolution is not simply the overthrowing of one system ' the establishing of another system! All things change, but they don't change once ' for all! They have to KEEP CHANGING every minute with something new or it's going to come to a stop ' get nowhere ' be dead still!
Maria #44, pages 324-325, DB 3.
25. (Mama:) OUR GOAL IS TO BE TRUE REVOLUTIONARIES FOR JESUS, 100% DEDICATED TO HIS CAUSE of exposing ' destroying evil ' bringing in God's Kingdom right here ' now. If we're willing ' yielded, submitted to Him ' obedient, all the other qualities ’ qualifications of a revolutionary will follow: We'll be looking for a City Whose Builder ' Maker is God. We won't be tied down to this World. We'll be willing to fight ’ die for Him because this World ’ what it has here, even the attractions ' the comfort of the physical flesh ’ its comfortable selfish attitudes, will no longer appeal to us. Our hearts will be 100% dedicated to the Lord ' our treasure will be in Heaven. (Heb.11:10)
26. WE'LL BE WILLING TO CHANGE WHEN THE LORD SAYS CHANGE—change our direction, our home, our loved ones‚ our lifestyle, our habits, our attitudes‚ our clothes, or our hair, because it won't matter to us anymore. Our only purpose for living will be to live ' die for Jesus. We'll be willing to sacrifice anything for Jesus ’ we'll be happy to get rid of the Worldly weights that so easily beset us, in order that we may get the job done. We'll be able to run the race ' win.
27. WE'LL BE READY TO MOVE, TO CHANGE, TO GO OR TO STAY AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE. We won't resist change because we know that only with change can come progress in getting rid of the old ' overcoming evil, ' bringing in the new ’ implanting the good in men's hearts ' minds.
28. OUR GOAL IS TO BE A TRUE DEDICATED REVOLUTIONARY FOR JESUS. Our goal is to be yielded, obedient clay in the Potter's hands, so moldable ' pliable that He can make us into whatever He wants ' then break us again ' make us into something else if the need arises.—A Christian revolutionary so obedient to Christ's call that when He says, "Go!", we go, "Stay!", we stay, "Fight!", we fight, "Abound!", we abound, "Be abased" ' we are abased. When He says "Go ye into all the World ' preach the Gospel to every creature"‚ we go. And when He says, "Come unto Me all ye that labor ’ are heavy laden ' I will give you rest," we rest in His arms. When He says, "Fight the good fight of faith", we fight with everything that is within us. When He says, "Stand back ' see Me fight!"‚ we stand back ’ see Him win the victory. When He says‚ "Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price," then we act like it. (Phil.4:12; Isa.30:21; Mk.16:15; Mat.11:28; 1Tim.6:12; 2Chr.20:17; 1Cor.6:20.)
29. WHEN HE GETS DONE MOLDING US INTO THE VESSEL HE WANTS; WE DON'T QUESTION "WHY HAST THOU MADE ME THUS?" When He says‚ "Lovest thou Me? Feed My sheep," we don't make excuses but we go ' feed His sheep. When He says, "He that forsaketh not all that he hath cannot be My disciple", we say, "Yes, Lord, all that I have is Thine. And here it is." (Rom.9:20; Jn.21:16‚17; Luk.14:33)
30. IF WE'RE 100% YIELDED ' OBEDIENT REVOLUTIONARIES FOR JESUS, WE CAN'T BE OLD BOTTLES, because we are so busy changing, moving, fighting, serving ' exploding, that we don't have time to get settled down ' become brittle ' unbendable ' stuck in our rut. We're new bottles no matter how old we are, because it is our spirit that counts. If we're 40 years old, we can be just as much a new bottle as if we're 12 years old. But if we're 12 years old ’ not obedient ' yielded, we can be just as old bottlish as some 40 ' 50-year-olds.
31. THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT IN THE LORD'S NEW BOTTLE ARMY, ALTHOUGH THE OLDER ONES OFTEN HAVE TO FIGHT A LITTLE HARDER to overcome years of getting settled down ' weighted down with the cares of this life. But that should make them even better fighters as they know they have to fight all the harder, even get more stirred up ' more angry at evil ' more enthusiastic for the good. True revolutionaries for Jesus dream the dreams that the World says are impossible, but they see them come to pass ' materialize before their very eyes, because "With God, all things are possible!" (Mat.19:26)
ML #2943:1-7, DB 12.
1. (Dad:) Thank You, Lord, for bringing us to the end of another wonderful day, and for all that was accomplished.
2. You know best, Lord, that changes and a challenge are good for me and they help to keep me going. We're just on the move, always changing and liking change. We're profiting from it, benefiting, because it keeps us adaptable and able to take changes‚ whereby we can learn many things.
3. Without changes we would be too self–confident and too sure of ourselves and our environment. If everything was the same and never changed, we would feel perfectly secure‚ as many people do, and even feel they can do without You! They are products of their environment. They seem to think their environment made them and that they are perfectly secure because they are in the same home‚ same school, with the same teachers‚ same jobs or whatever, Lord, so they don't look to You as we do. The only thing we've had to look to for years has been You‚ the only thing that doesn't change. "All things change but Jesus never‚ glory to Your name!" Thank You Jesus!
4. We believe this has strengthened us spiritually, that You have been the only unchangeable thing in our lives! Our homes, our cities, our jobs, everything has always been constantly changing‚ but we're thankful, Lord, that You never change! You've always been the same stabilizing influence in our lives, the One Who has never changed and is always the same and always there to be counted on to remain the same and be our stabilizer. You are the only thing we really need to cling to, and You remain stable, unchanging, always reliable, and we can always count on You. Thank You Lord!
5. Thank You, Lord, that these changes have taught us to rely on You as our only security. We know something about change must do us good or You wouldn't let us keep changing!—Especially me, Lord, I seem to have a need for it, a yen for it, more than some people. But thank You for the dear people who humor me and go along with me and are willing to adapt to these changes themselves in order to help me and please me, like You've helped Mama to do so much. It's been hard on her, but she's always borne it and come through shining, courageous, brave, cheerful, strong and faithful, such an inspiration! Thank You that even for her, for whom changes are difficult, You have turned these burdens into blessings and she's always come through and come around to liking our new situations.
6. It seems like all the changes You've given us have always been changes for the better! You've never taken away one Home unless You've given us another that was better in some way. You've never taken away one job unless You've given us something better, always improving and always making things better for us, giving us the desires of our hearts because we delight ourselves in Thee (Psa.37:4). You've cast our lines in pleasant places and kept us safe and secure, no matter what the conditions are.
7. Help us, Lord, to just live each day, one day at a time, and not fret ourselves for tomorrow. Each day is enough, and we know not what the morrow will bring forth. You said, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Mat.6:34). We know that every day has a little evil, a few problems‚ but we thank Thee there are so few and that our victories are so numerous, our joys are so numerous‚ our pleasures are so numerous, our health is so good and You're blessing us all. Thank You Jesus!
ML #2987:165-174, Lifelines 22.
Forever Young with the Fountain of Youth!
165. (Prophecy:) "And so do I stir the waters and dredge up all that is settled and bring it up and expose it‚ that it may be filtered through the sieve of testing and of trial‚ that it may be made pure and clean and fresh and re-aerated. For water that lieth still loses its sweetness. It becomes flat, for it is not filled with My air. But it must be stirred and it must be splashed about so that it can once again come to life. And so it is with these that I test and that I try, I stir the waters. And it dredgeth up some of the mud and some of the silt and some of the unsavory things, that these can be seen and filtered out.
166. "But this must needs be so that the water can be made fresh once again and alive and thirst quenching, and that it may be cleansed and filtered. And some say, 'Oh, but I like the flat water, the water that is still‚ that moveth not‚ and I am comfortable with this. Do not stir me up.’ But I say that without the stirring they receive not the life of the air of God that reinvigorates and re-aerates these still waters.
167. "So when you look upon one that is being tested and tried, pray for them and encourage them. Encourage them to hold on and to realize that I am breathing My air into them, My breath, My Spirit, that they may once again come alive. For My church must be made of those that have life and life abundant, life of the Spirit. And those that are sedate and immovable, I stir them up, I challenge them. And they must decide, 'Yes, yes! I will go forth with this challenge!' Or‚ 'No, I have had enough and I am so settled down.'
168. "For the old must make way for the new.—But who are the old? The old are only those who will not change, who will not allow themselves to be stirred up, who will not take the step of faith, who will not trust Me. And who are the new?—The new are those who drink in My new wine, who trust, who say, 'Oh, yes, I will go forth! I know not what is there, but I will go forth.'
169. "And they that are old are not of a certain age, and they that are new and young are not of a certain age, for the newness or the oldness is a matter of the spirit. For those who will allow themselves to be stirred up, these are they that are new and young. And those that say, 'No, no, stir me not up, for I am comfortable and I am happy with the way it is,' these are old. And it maketh no difference if they are old or young in flesh, for it is a matter of the spirit.
170. "But I raise up a new and young army, an army of those that are full of faith. Not those who are strong, not those who are mighty, not those who have done great exploits, but just those who have faith—faith to trust Me, faith to hold on, faith to say 'yes' unto Me. And these are they that will partake of the fresh waters of My Spirit, and that shall have great rejoicing in these waters.
171. "But the road to the well of these waters is a difficult road, and those that climb it are those that must be young—young in spirit, young in willingness, young in yieldedness‚ young in obedience, young in desire for Me.
172. "But those who feel old and think, 'No, but I am old, I am old in spirit and I find the changes hard and the new things difficult,’ I say unto you that before you stands the fountain of youth. For the fountain of youth is the will of God, and to receive of it and to drink of it you must only say 'yes'—'yes' to My will, 'yes' to that which I bring your way, 'yes' to My new words, 'yes' to Me and all that I would ask of you. If ye will do this thing, ye shall be young in spirit all the days of your life, and ye shall have the fountain of youth.
173. "Even as your David, though old in flesh was young in spirit, so shall ye be. For he was yielded unto Me, and he said 'yes' unto Me, and he was true and faithful unto Me. And so shall it be with you if ye will but say 'yes' unto Me.
174. "So come unto Me, young and old, and‚ lo, I will make you all young, even as those who enter into the heavenly realm are once again young and rejuvenated and revitalized because they are in the Spirit. And those of you who say 'yes' unto Me and who follow Me and who yield to Me and who trust Me, ye are they that walk in the Spirit. And I say unto you, the Spirit of God is the fountain of youth. And you shall be as a new creature, as a young bottle‚ and as a young and radiant bride. And‚ yea, ye shall be forever young!" (End of prophecy.)
ML #3044:44-56, Lifelines 23.
44. (Mama:) The following prophecy was given for a person who had been unyielded in various ways for a period of time. This message shows the dangers of not yielding to the Lord even in the smallest ways, as unyieldedness breeds further unyieldedness.
45. (Prophecy, Jesus speaking:) Oh, the danger to those who choose not to yield unto Me. Oh, the danger to those who choose to only yield a part of their heart unto Me, who yield much, but will not yield all.—Who hold on to one part of their heart and say, "I will give of the other parts, but I will not give of this part, for this part is mine and I will not yield it."
46. Those parts of the heart that are yielded unto Me are Mine, and I protect and keep them. I hold [that part of the heart] within My hands. I keep it warm‚ I keep it soft, I keep it moldable. But the part that is not given to Me, I cannot hold and keep soft‚ and it hardens. Though the rest of the heart is soft and moldable, this part of the heart begins to harden, and it grows harder. As it grows harder, it grows bigger, for unyieldedness breeds further unyieldedness.
47. He that will not yield in one area begins the process of the hardening of the heart. I will continue to try to keep the rest of the heart soft and moldable and warm, but as the hardness continues to grow, I have less to work with, until the heart becomes divided, one part hard, one part soft. To the soft part of the heart I can speak, I can kiss, and I can blow the warmth of My breath. But the hard part of the heart receives not these things, and thus is open for the attacks, for the words and the breath of Satan, the Enemy, the Devourer‚ him with the hardest heart of all. This hardness becomes his territory. And while I work on the softness of the heart, as I massage it and warm it, so does he work on the hard part of the heart, to make it even more rigid.
48. There are parts of this one's heart that are soft and moldable, but there is a part of her heart that is rigid, very rigid. She must recognize that the hardness grows, and it has grown, and it continues to grow, and thus I have less softness to work with. The only way that the hardness of heart can become softness of heart is if all of the heart is given to Me, if all is yielded to Me, so that I may again begin to work on the hardness; that I may again begin to breathe the warmth of My breath upon it; that I may kiss it with the warmth of My kisses and the warmth of My Love, so that eventually it may become fully soft once again.
49. But this requires great forsaking—the forsaking of self, the forsaking of selfishness, the forsaking of this one's own ways and own desires and own demands. This is a choice that she must make: Does she wish to have the softness of heart? Or will she allow the hardness of her heart to continue to grow and grow until it becomes as a heart of stone—unyielded, unwilling, no longer moldable, no longer soft, but only hard and rigid in its own ways and in its own desires?
50. Oh my daughter, place your heart in My hands that I may massage it back to life—full life! Let Me shatter the hardness of your heart. Let Me remold and remake it, through the tender touch and warmth of My hands upon your heart.
51. The choice is yours. For I do not force My Love and the warmth of My loving hands upon your heart, but I am there, ever ready, ever willing, ever able to soften that which is hardened. But you must desire it. You must ask for it.
52. But know this, that if you desire it not, then shall the hardness continue to overcome the softness. Then will you have less of Me. And know that as the heart goes, so goes the spirit. For he that has the soft‚ warm, moldable heart, is he that is soft and moldable in spirit. And he whose heart has become hardened does also become hardened and rigid in spirit.
53. As the spirit goes, so is your life affected accordingly. For he who has a soft and loving and moldable spirit is loved, is desired, is wanted by those around him. But he that is hard in spirit is not wanted or desired by those around him. So the condition of your heart affects all aspects of your life.
54. The amount that you allow Me to hold, to mold, to warm your heart, directly affects all that you do‚ all that you are, all that you will be. So give Me your heart, all your heart, My loved one‚ lest the hardness overwhelm you. Let Me breathe on it, let Me kiss it, let Me warm it, let Me melt it. Do not hold back from Me. Do not hold back any part of your heart, for in doing so you give a wedge‚ a place‚ to the Evil One.
55. As a cancer that grows from a small cell until it overwhelms the strength of the whole body, so is the area that is held back from Me—the unwillingness, the unyieldedness to let Me have full control. And this grows and it grows until it damages and it weakens and will eventually destroy, if it is not stopped.
56. So give Me your heart, My loved one, that I may hold it in My hands and that I may heal it completely‚ softening all parts. But you must give it all to Me, so that I can work on all of it, so that it may once again become moldable, warm and loving. (End of prophecy.)
ML #3277:47-60, GN 880.
47. (Jesus:) My dear children, it is the day of choices. I leave the decision with you as to whether you want to grow and move forward or whether you want to remain where you are—in which case, as the Family moves forward, you’ll be left behind. I don’t force anyone. But I do answer the prayers of your heart to progress, to be happier and more yielded in My service. You know you need to change‚ as I’ve pointed out to the entire Family that it is time to move forward and lift the standard. When you cry out to Me to help you to change and you desire to be yielded to Me, but you don’t have the strength in yourself to make the needed changes, then I will work in your life in ways small and large to help bring you closer to Me. It is easiest for you if you push yourself to take advantage of each small situation to learn and grow. Then I don’t have to work in your life in the larger ways. I will continue to be a faithful Father to you and bring things into your life, which I give you as opportunities to grow, as long as you have the desire to change and you benefit from those opportunities.
48. If you take those opportunities that I place in front of you and grow from them, then I continue to teach and train you. If you won’t move ahead with My Spirit as I nudge you, then you will be left behind. I work in your life to bring about circumstances that have the potential to help you grow—and some of them will be uncomfortable for you. But even then, it’s your decision as to whether you’ll take them and grow from them, or whether you’ll harden yourself against them and remain stagnated.
49. Time waits for no man, and I have waited long for your obedience in many areas. Now I am moving forward, and those who wish to follow may come. Those who do not wish to follow will be left behind. So take those opportunities that I bring into your life, both the small ones and the big ones. If you take the small ones, then I do not have to work in your life in bigger ways, bringing about circumstances which make you more desperate. It works like this:
50. If you later realize that you should have progressed, you’ll have a greater struggle, and it’s likely that you will have to fight to return to your place of service in the CM Family. For those who aren’t progressing are being left behind‚ in the very real sense that they’ll be asked to find a place of lesser commitment—although not a place of lesser love in My heart, for you are forever My child, forever the one that I love and gave My life for. So you needn’t worry about My love for you, because that is always the same. But the standard of dedication that I require from you and the amount I work in your life to help you grow and progress, that’s up to you and how much you take those nudges and those opportunities which I give you.
51. The easiest way is to seek Me desperately and do all you can to obey what I tell you—for then you will move forward easily. It is also highly recommended that you take the opportunities I give you for growth, even if they’re difficult. If you don’t take those opportunities, then you’ll find yourself being left behind. I take the pressure off‚ because you don’t wish to grow and move forward. The choice is yours, My precious loves. (End of message from Jesus)
Can We Make the Necessary Changes,
Or Will the Lord Have to Do It for Us?
52. (Mama: ) This next message is somewhat along the same line. The Lord asks the question: "Do you have what it takes to make the progress that’s needed right where you are, or do I have to stir things up for you to get you to make progress?" It’s very much like what the Lord told Peter and me about the cleansing of the Family. He said that we as a Family could either cleanse ourselves through raising the standard, tightening up in the spirit, and encouraging those who want to live a lesser standard to move on, or else He would bring persecution to cleanse us. It’s sobering to think about. This is reality, folks. The Lord has told us we need to make progress. The question is‚ do we want to stir ourselves up and get desperate with Him and learn the easy way‚ or do we want Him to stir us up—which will undoubtedly be much more difficult to go through! The choice is with each of you personally.
53. (Jesus:) One way or another, changes must be made. It is very similar to the messages that I have given through your queen and king‚ shaking up the Family now. Much depends on you. It is very difficult—not impossible, but very difficult nonetheless—to maintain the desperation and the right sense of priorities in a comfortable situation. That is why through the ages I have almost always placed My children in situations that challenge their spiritual life, that strengthen them. You’ve heard the quote that the most uncomfortable place for a Christian is a comfortable place; conversely, the most comfortable place for a Christian is an uncomfortable place. It is very difficult to maintain your own level of desperation with Me without outer circumstances to help.
54. So I ask you: Can you make the radical changes necessary to move forward in the spirit and to be where I want you to be? Can you, of your own accord, forsake the things that hold you back? Rather than push the limits or do the least you can, will you take initiative, take action, and implement My Word without My putting pressure on from other sources by a drastic change? This is true discipline of the highest kind. If you can do this, then I can bless you in your present situation, for it is not where you are that matters so much as where your heart is.
55. You know in your heart what I am asking of you, what I am moving you to change in. But, if your present situation makes it difficult for you to change, to pull in the right direction, to make the right decisions, to move forward in the spirit, then I will expedite the process. I will give you a catalyst because much change is needed, and this change will be made one way or another, whether you effect it or I effect it.
56. Do you have it within you to not only stop and reassess your life and your priorities, but to bring your assessment to Me and get My help to make the necessary changes without outside catalysts? It’s so easy to take the path of least resistance. I was once encased in frail human flesh, and I know how easy and simple it is to float along, to do as you desire. It’s tiring to discipline yourself. It’s so difficult to see the areas you are behind in and take the big steps forward. There’s uncertainty, there’s fear of what others think, there’s the question of whether you have it in you to make the changes fully. Oh, there are so many things that stop you at the point of change!
57. But this is where you must remember that I’m beside you. I’m taking every step with you. You know where you need to go, and the path ahead might seem daunting—or you might not be able to see anything at all except for the step right in front of you, and that uncertainty might terrify you. But I see the path ahead. I see every step in between, and I honor you for each one. If you trip or fall, I’m there to help you up. Others are also there to help you up. This is where your unity and your love will strengthen you.
58. It takes strength of character to love, to reach out, to do the humble things—whether it’s apologizing for something you said or did; appreciating someone you don’t normally appreciate; suppressing a proud or negative comment; simply trusting Me when things don’t go the way you’d like them to; trusting Me when you feel you should have gotten a better deal, knowing that I know and see all and will reward you even when you feel unappreciated by others; taking things patiently; making it your priority to live My Word and show My Spirit; and being Me to others to the best of your ability. This all takes strength, and that strength will come from making a strong threefold cord between Me and others and yourself. And the closer you draw to Me, the closer you will draw to others. This will be your strength.
59. So back to the question: Do you have it within you to make these changes and any others that I show you personally, without the extra push of some big change? Can you make radical changes without there being any changes in the circumstances just yet? Some day I will make such changes in your life, but how soon they come and why they come depends greatly on you. While My work is important, My worker is more important. And if uprooting you and changing things greatly is what it will take, even to the temporary slowing down or halting of the work, then so be it. I will make those changes, for they are necessary, and I make them out of love. I love you and wish to help you, and through helping you, help My work. So I take the necessary action in your life for your sake.
60. It is in your power to change your heart, to take the steps forward. I can aid you, if need be, but the final decision lies with you. And so I leave you with that question: Can you go forward in your present situation, or must I effect change to help you (and My work which I have entrusted to you) to go forward? At the moment, it is very much up to you. This is the last call! (End of message from Jesus.)
ML #3292:8-17, GN 891.
8. (Mama:) This next message was received by one of the young men in one of our WS Homes. You'll notice the Lord speaks to him rather strongly, but the Lord knew that's what he needed at the time and he was very thankful for it.
9. (Jesus speaking: ) If you are to make the changes in your life that need to be made, you will have to forsake much! You are as a child who is looking at all his little treasures and gadgets that he has collected, and is being asked to forsake them. It is difficult to do because you have grown fond of them. These "childish treasures" symbolize your independence, doing your own thing your own way‚ your selfish pursuits and seeking your own happiness.
10. Once you've forsaken these things‚ then you can receive the true riches—the things that as a child you did not think were as valuable. They looked to you like things no one would notice—dedication, responsibility, trustworthiness and being reliable.
11. You are as a hardened piece of metal, and though a hardened piece of metal has its usefulness, it also has its drawbacks. When a piece of metal is hard‚ once the job that it has been designed for is completed, it must be refashioned or remade. For it to continue to be of use, it must be made into another form‚ another component, another implement or another tool. If the metal desires to remain what it is and not what I need it to be‚ then I will place it aside until I need it again.
12. Though you have your place of usefulness unto Me, I say that there is so much more that I wish to do with you. I need you to be My quick steel—one that can take the heat, get the point, and melt into the shape or form that I need you to be to accomplish My will for this particular time. But you cannot do this if you retain your hardened exterior and desire to remain as you are.
13. When I speak of quick steel, I mean metal that is strong, yet malleable; hard‚ yet changeable. This would seem a contradiction in terms, but I mean those who can endure any blow of adversity, any punch from the world or the Evil One, and stand strong, but one who melts easily under the fire of My Holy Spirit and is quickly transformed by Me.
14. I do not mean for you to be weak and fall apart; I only wish for you to find your true strength in Me. There are some metals that are so strong that they have to be cut by laser. Though they do not break and can stand up to anything, yet once they have finished their job, the only way they can be used again is if a specialist can make them into something else. These are not the kinds of metals I need.
15. I have need of metals that can take the continued heat and beating and remaking without hardening and cracking. Some metal can only take so much and then it can no longer be used.
16. Do not be like this, but yield to Me and let me change your heart from one of hardened metal into gold. I have need of you here, where I have brought you. Don't fail Me by not being willing to forsake your own way in order to do My best. Let go of pride and the desire to be seen by others as strong and unbending, and allow Me to make you into a humble vessel—one that is yielded to the humblest tasks.
17. No one can force you to make this decision to yield, to change, to be malleable. Only you can make it. This decision will affect the rest of your life and your usefulness to Me. (End of message from Jesus.)
ML #3324:4-24, 31-64, 74-77, GN 929.
How-tos of Change!
4. (Jesus speaking:) Change is a word of tremendous power! Change affects every sphere of the Earth and the Heavens‚ and is, in great part, the driving force behind all things. Almost everything that is a great accomplishment, a forward advancement‚ a noble achievement‚ is a product of change. Change has been the wings of every great man or woman—famous or infamous—throughout history. Those who have launched out to do new things, to experiment, to remedy problems, to find solutions, to pioneer, to achieve the impossible, to take great strides for mankind, have all been embracers of the word "change."
5. How is it then that so many dread change when it comes to their personal lives? Yes, change is difficult and can be a battle. People can even change for the worse rather than the better. But in this case I am speaking of change in its true sense, the purpose for which the word change and its power was created—as a tool for any man, woman or child to take ahold of their life‚ heart, mind, soul and spirit and cause an effect, to make a difference, to help another, to better themselves, to allow Me to bring about forward motion‚ movement and progress through them. That is the root of the word change.
6. I have given change to all My children through the ages as a special gift. You don't have to accept your circumstances. You don't have to be satisfied with the way you are, the way you think, or the way you feel. You can change things! You can change anything, with My help! Your weaknesses can be strengthened, your faith can grow, your spirit can soar, your endurance can be prolonged—anything you wish is possible with the gift of change. And this gift is given to all. There's not one person on this Earth, saved or unsaved, who can't take ahold of the gift of change and change something in their life or world for the better.
7. However, for you‚ My children, change takes on an even greater power‚ because not only do you have the physical and natural power of change at your disposal, but you also have the supernatural and spiritual power of change available to you. This leaves you holding a raw power that has no limits! Do you see what this means? It's a tremendous gift, yet many of My children cringe at the thought of change. This is because they see through a glass darkly and do not have the Heavenly vision—perfect faith and trust in Me that anything I do and any change that I effect will be for their good.
8. Those who are able to rest their lives in My hands see more change than those who try to hold on to themselves, to keep themselves safe and secure and free from change. Those who let go and who fling their arms wide open in wild abandonment of self are the ones who see great change—mental change, emotional change, physical change—changes manifested in many physical ways, through healing, happiness, health, love‚ natural enjoyment, trust, confidence, assurance, peace, delight, joy, laughter, company of friends, fulfillment, satisfaction, and on the list goes!
9. The true benefits of godly change are always good. The fruits of change make up a list longer than the fruits of the Spirit, and these are gifts and blessings that each of My children wants and sincerely desires and seeks. So often My children pray for these gifts that come as a result of change, but they don't want the change itself. They don't see that the two are interlocked, that the change comes before the gifts and blessings. They want the cart before the horse, but they won't get anywhere that way. In order to receive the personal blessings of change, you have to let go of self and fear and worry, and entrust your life to My hands.
10. Many pray and cry out to Me for help to overcome their sins, weaknesses, and inabilities. I want to help them. I long to help them. I love to help them. But they have to allow Me the opportunity to change them. Depending on the request and the situation, some change can be effected quickly; other changes take more time. Some changes people have faith for; other changes seem to be more miraculous and even impossible.
11. Nothing is impossible for Me! It's true that many people have deeply ingrained personal habits, weaknesses, or lacks that are very much a part of their nature or being, but even those can be changed and altered with My miracle-working power of change. Nothing is too hard for Me. But I must have your cooperation in order to do such miracles.
12. When it comes to very long-standing problems and difficulties, there are more steps that a person must pass through in order to receive the blessing. First, I must have your permission to effect change in your life. This takes great faith and yieldedness, because when a habit is long-standing and negative, many of My children have difficulty letting go of it. They may want to get rid of it and obtain victory, but because it's been a part of them for so long, they lack faith for the change. They lack faith that they can actually make the change. This is because they think that somehow they have to do it.
13. But this is where they're wrong. I do the miracle and change them. Yes, they have to do their part, but their part is not to make the change—it's simply to be yielded, willing, receptive, obedient, humble‚ and open to My voice. I will give clear instructions to the one seeking change and deliverance over a great and long-standing weakness or habit. If they follow My counsel and do what I tell them, they will find the change that they seek.
14. Second‚ they must believe. It does no good to come before Me and cry out for a change and help and a miracle to overcome, when in your heart you don't believe that it's possible. It's not enough to pretend you have faith for the benefit of others or because they have the faith that you can change. You must come to grips with whether you believe I can change you or not. I've given clear promises that I can‚ and in order to work such a great change in your life, I require you to believe those promises and come to Me with your heart full of them, claiming them and standing on them. That's a requirement to receive such great personal change in your life. The one who believes and believes and continues to believe is the one who gets great answers and sees great changes.
15. If you've seen some people pray repeatedly for change or desire it for a long time, yet not receive the blessing or see the fulfillment of it, this is often the reason why. They want the change, they desire it, and they may partially believe that they can receive it‚ but they lack full faith. They're too negative about themselves. They don't feel they'll be able to follow through, they think others lack faith in them, or they want the change without any pain or difficulty, so I'm unable to answer their prayers and effect change.
16. Change is not an easy road, but it is a road of great reward. Those who are willing to fight and struggle through the land of change are those who inherit the promises and see the fulfillment of their labors. There's hardly a greater joy than to see a beautiful change in someone's heart and life, to see the manifestation of such a powerful miracle. It's not what they've done, or what I alone have done, but what we have done together—a teamwork and close partnership of one who yields to his or her Master, and the Master who gives them a gift. They then take the gift and utilize it, and reap the blessings and benefits.
17. Even then, as I've just told you‚ the continued effects of change remain a partnership between you and Me. This explains why you've seen some have a marvelous change in their life, one that is clearly supernatural, and then they do well for a time, but later lapse back into their old ways, losing the victory, losing that beautiful change, and reverting to their former state. This is because they lost their connection with Me; they lost their yieldedness. They gave up what I required of them to keep making progress and keep walking down the path of change. Change is a gift that must be exercised and honed. In order to hone this gift to the full, there are requirements which you must fulfill if you are to avail yourselves of My miracle–working power that will help you make the necessary changes in your life.
18. Another requirement in order to exercise this gift of change is not only the person believing that it is possible, but desiring it wholeheartedly and desperately. The person must want change and want it badly. It's not enough to think, "Oh, sure‚ that would be great if I could change to being a more considerate person, or someone who is less sensitive." You have to want it, be desperate for it, and be willing to do anything in order to get it. Change is not handed to you on a silver platter; you must actively exercise this gift. You must, through diligence and desperation, hone it if you are to make progress and reap the good results. I give the power to change to those who are desperate.
19. So, how do you get it? What are some simple steps that you can take to change in an area that you've struggled with long and hard? What if, for all your trying and desperation and even united prayer, you don't seem to be getting anywhere? What if you still seem to be at square one, and you feel like resigning yourself to always being that way? Is there hope for you? Yes, there certainly is!
20. I'll give you an outline of some steps to take in order to effect change in your life, but you must personalize this list by coming to Me for how I would work in your particular situation, because each weakness and area to be overcome has its peculiarities. Some require strong and fervent united prayer. Others require that you humble yourself before those you're close to. Yet others necessitate a time of daily desperate private prayer‚ between you and Me. There are many variations, and according to your heart and state of mind and spirit, I will give you what you need in order to gain the victories through lasting change that you are seeking. But here are some standard points that will be a help and guide to you:
21. The most important thing is to come to Me, so that I can outline to you what your program for change will be. There are points, like those above, which are common to all. But the most important point is the state of your heart. The humble, desperate and yielded heart I will not despise. And if you are all three of these things, or desperately desire to be, then I cannot and will not turn you away. I will work with you for months and even years, if need be‚ to give you the change that you desire. I will be your Personal Counselor and I will never give up on you. Even if your progress is slow, progress will be made. I will anoint and empower you and give you dispensations of grace and supernatural strength and encouragement to continue on, even when you fall and blow it. I will give you additional spirit helpers who will give you the determination and guts to see this change through.
22. I will be your all in all, for I love to effect change, and I especially love the delight and joy it brings to one of My children to see that I have done the miracle for them, with them, and through them. As we work together, I am able to create the miracle of change in your heart and life, and this is a beautiful and wonderful thing. Each of My children should try it.
23. Don't despair over something that isn't right in your life—ask Me to change it! But be sure you're willing to see it through, because it's often a long and hard road, and the battles of the mind are especially straining, but the victory is well worth it. The most costly battles yield the greatest results‚ and the rewards match up to the cost of the fight.
24. So if it's a big struggle and you don't feel you'll make it, you can be encouraged to know that the results of the change in your life will be far-reaching and tremendous. Hang in there! Change, though painful, costly, and sometimes almost unbearable, is a divine blessing from My hand, and a special touch of My love for you. If you ask for it, I'm more than willing to give it to you. (End of message from Jesus.)
Understand the Need to Change
31. (Jesus speaking:) I have made the world and all that is therein—man, the animals, the plant life, and even the structure of all of these things, the cells and the molecules, and even the energy of which they consist and which they emanate, to flow, to grow, and to move in a certain direction. I have set the stars and the planets in their courses, in the way that they should go, and they follow My pattern therein.
32. I have created the basic building blocks of the universe to build upon itself in the same manner and according to the same patterns, the cells building upon each other to form the structure‚ whether it be pyramidical, conical, or in whatever shape or form I have designed. I have set all of these things in motion, and therefore they move according to the direction and the pattern I've designed for them.
33. I have constructed man according to a similar set of principles, in that once man begins to move in a certain direction and according to a certain pattern, then that's the way he goes; that's the direction he moves. If he forms the habit of having coffee in the morning, then that's what he does every morning. His whole existence follows a certain pattern or format that he has established.
34. Men and women are creatures of habit, and their cells‚ as well as their spiritual outlook, as well as everything that they are‚ naturally resist change—because change usually means a tearing down of that which has been built and the building of a new structure.
35. I have made men‚ as well as all of creation, to go in the direction they are set, to grow, to build cell upon cell, structure upon structure, habit upon habit. So to change direction means to reverse yourself to some degree‚ and this takes effort. This takes actual energy‚ which in the end takes sacrifice. It takes the tearing down of yourself and the way you react, the way you are‚ the way that has become a habit to you and is therefore comfortable. It takes sacrificing the "plow and oxen" and following Me in a new direction.
36. It comes down to a simple matter of laziness and selfishness—finding it easier to keep on doing what you're doing, rather than to go to all the work, trouble, and expenditure of time and energy that it takes to make a solid, concrete move and change.
37. Usually change only comes about as a necessity. The little birdie will not usually leave the nest until his mother nudges him out, because it's warm and comfortable, easier to get fed there, and there's less expenditure of energy, less sacrifice, and it's easier. Yet the time comes when he's too big for the nest and he has to learn to go out and forage for himself, to grow and mature and to become an adult birdie. He has to come to the realization that his life cannot continue the way it has been. Something has to force him into that change—either the necessity to get out and get food for himself because his parents are no longer doing it, or the parents nudge him out themselves.
38. There usually has to be some motivation‚ some reason, some cause that takes greater priority in his motivation. There has to be a reason, otherwise things don't just change by themselves. Nothing changes unless there's a reason.
39. This reason has to be present in order for there to be long-lasting change, and this reason must outweigh in importance all the reasons for remaining the same. Because to remain the same is simply easier, less work, less trouble, and less motivation is needed. It's easier to keep going the same way, in the same direction, reacting the same way, and doing things the same way that you've always done them and that you're used to doing them.
40. I've made you that way! It's nothing to be ashamed of, for when you're going in the right direction, then you accomplish much for Me this way, by building line upon line in the direction I'm leading. But when it's time for Me to change direction, then it's like pulling teeth. It's like getting stubborn oxen to change their path! Oxen usually have to be forced to change by pricking them in the right way so that they're motivated to change direction.
41. But with you it's usually not so, for the change will not always be long-lasting if it's brought about that way. You need a "reason," the understanding of why you must go in a different direction, of why it's important for you to change the way you react.
42. In the case of a person who's overweight, perhaps that reason is that you see that your strength and health will deteriorate and you may even die if you continue to consume fat at the rate you're consuming it and not burning it off, and so it motivates you to change your eating and exercise habits. There has to be a reason, for I have given mankind free choice, and thus man must understand that change is not just nice or good, but that it's absolutely necessary to bring about the desired result.
43. To make this change "take" and to make it long-lasting, to really solidify the change, it takes a desire and a reason that far outweighs the laziness of man‚ the inborn self-interest and nature of man to "preserve" himself and to preserve the status quo. You must see that the direction you're going, that of preservation, will not be good for you in the long run, and you must have the desire to abandon all things as you know them in order to embrace the changes that you're convinced are necessary.
44. To make change long-lasting, you must see that your life and your way of thinking or reacting or living will not produce the results that you want. You must be convinced that a change in direction is absolutely necessary before you will go to the trouble to make the effort to tear down your old ways of being and to construct new ways. Why? Because it's a lot of work, trouble, and sacrifice on your part to make these changes!
45. Man is not only a creature of habit, he is also a creature of comfort. It's natural to seek to make things orderly, comfortable, and satisfactory. So to then have to go and break down that order‚ that comfort‚ and that satisfaction‚ there has to be a good reason! And that reason has to outweigh the comfort‚ order, and satisfaction you're enjoying!
46. It's man's nature to seek stability and comfort‚ and I've made it this way. But it is My supernatural foresight to seek change when things are not going as they should. Therefore, in these cases I must overrule what I've made natural by My supernatural or "above nature" way of acting. I am not bound by your nature. You are. I am not bound by what is natural. You are‚ to put it simply. Therefore, for long-lasting change to really come into play, My nature and drive must overtake yours, which it frequently does.
47. This is why I say it's "almost" impossible. For with man it is impossible, in man's own nature, for man is simply made to go the way he goes. But with My nature it is not impossible‚ for all things are possible with Me. So to make change long-lasting and permanent—that is, completely changed from the other direction and set solidly in the new direction—one must seek My nature and come to understand that the way his nature is leading him will not be fruitful, and in fact, often will lead to destruction of his structure anyway.
48. Once this is seen, once man is able to look at the way he's building and the direction he's going, once he sees that his own destination is not where he wants to go, and in fact that it will often result in the destruction of the present structure, this will often give him the motivation to change direction and to move in another path.
49. This is My prod to man. As oxen are prodded with a goad, My "goad" for mankind is the understanding of where he will end up. This goads him to change direction, for he will not change any other way. He must see that the new way will bring forth the fruit that he wants, and this will make it worth the effort to take the time, trouble, and sacrifice of the "comforts of home" to change direction.
50. I do this with many of My people. Many of My people—those who are yielded, that is, who submit their lives to My will—I tear down and strip naked of the way they were, and I use their spirits as building blocks of the new way. But it's not easy to get stripped down. It often not only hurts those who are being stripped, but it's also cold, you're not used to it, it's not comfortable for you.
51. What is "comfort?" It's relaxation, rest, cessation of energy output. Energy output costs. What does it cost you? It costs you comfort, rest, and relaxation, which you'd normally much rather have.
52. It must become a priority. You must understand that it's necessary; otherwise you will not naturally leave the comfort of the way you are. For it's easy to be the way you are. It takes no thinking to react that way. You've got it down pat. You've memorized it and you can put your system into automatic pilot and just coast along the way you've trained your body and spirit to go. But to change means you have to get back in the driver's seat. You have to grab that steering wheel and you have to actually fight against the motion and direction you're going.
53. It takes energy! It takes work! It's not easy, because you have to get involved and expend energy. And man, being the way he is, will not do that voluntarily unless there is a reason, and that reason has to be a good one—one that outmotivates the nature of man to generally be lazy, to seek comfort, rest, relaxation and a surcease of work. Only when you understand that this change is direly important, and in fact integral—that is, absolutely necessary—and that either your way of life as you now live will end or that you will not accomplish the goal that you desire, will you have the motivation that is needed to make a long–lasting change.
54. Long-lasting change is possible. It's just that people are so set in their ways that it takes the crowbar of motivation to get them to make the change. However‚ once man realizes that stability and a lack of motion are not the goals of life; once man understands this principle that continual change is necessary to bring about My final goals; once man gives up his inherent nature to continue as he has been and offers himself on the altar of sacrifice for Me, so I can direct him as he should be; once man asks Me to instill in him My nature—then it is possible to go from mountain peak to mountain peak of change, to seek My face continually, and to continually leave the old behind.
55. This is why I say that if any man be in Me, he is a new creature. Why? Because he has made the effort to not yield to his own nature and has instead endeavored to "put on Christ," as Paul so aptly put it. If you seek My nature, you will find Me waiting for you at many bends‚ at many turns in the road‚ wooing you to make this turn‚ to make that bend, to become more like this, to do what I would do. This is not natural with man‚ but it is natural with Me. It's natural for Me to be bending, changing, yielding, wooing, winning, loving‚ flowing, going step by step according to the circumstances, finding the best path through change.
56. My nature is to change. Though I may change many other things, I change not this aspect of My nature. I am the God of the universe, the God of the Heavens, and the God of the Earth. I am also your Friend, Lover, and Companion. My delights are with you. And thus I love to woo you and to win you—to win you to My ways‚ to woo you from your natural ways, which are sinful, in that they fall short of My mark, because your ways cannot attain to My ways in your own efforts. But if you seek Me, you will find Me, and if you put yourself in My arms—that is, resting on My strength and relying on My power and energy—I am then able to enter you and to pick you up and to cause you to go My direction, and I can begin to have My nature live through you—through your body and spirit.
57. I am the unseen God, but I am seen in you. I am also seen in My creation, but I have made it so that My habitation place is in you, for you are My temple, where I have chosen to dwell. Do you find this strange? It's because I love you. I've made you in My likeness and image. I've created you to be Mine. I've chosen to dwell with you. Therefore your happiness is found in the path of yielding to My Spirit, yielding to My ways, sacrificing your own nature and your own natural ways of doing things, and yielding to My ways.
58. But in order for you to do this, you must see that My ways are better than your ways; that it is more important to stop and help that person on the road to Jericho than it is to pass by him because of your own self-interest. You must simply be convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that My ways are the way you want to be. If you're not convinced of this, you will naturally gravitate to your own ways, your own comfort, and your own self-satisfaction. But if you've seen that I am the way, the truth, and the life, and you truly believe this, then you'll know that your happiness lies in becoming what I want to make you and partaking of My Spirit to the point that you allow it to change you.
59. I am the Life. Your life on Earth is but a vapor, but My Life is forever, from generation to generation, throughout eternity. I always Am. I Am Who I Am. If you see this and believe it, then you will seek to make the changes in your lifestyle that will let Me do what I want through you, to let My nature live in you. This is not natural—it's supernatural. But you must be willing to give up what you have to have Me. For I will fill every place that you desert, and every piece of ground of your spirit and your heart that you give to Me, I will gladly take and come in and inhabit for you, making you more like Me.
60. How do you do this? It's simple! When you want to do something that satisfies you, and you see that I want you to do something different, or something that satisfies your brother or sister or someone else instead, then yield and let Me have My way. As you do this, My nature will become a part of you and I will start to move, act, and live in you. This is My desire—to live in you—but you must let Me, and you must let My ways live in you. The choice is yours.
61. Remember, there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but only with My counsel can you choose the proper way, for I am the way, the truth and the life, and he who follows therein shall receive a hundredfold in this life, and in the world to come, life everlasting. For he who is not ashamed of Me and My ways, I will honor when he comes before Me in the world to come, which is not far away. And he who sacrifices now to grab onto that which is most important—that is, My ways—will be put on a path to life that will never die or be destroyed, but will stretch out into eternity.
62. How much wiser to plant your feet on that path now, for more blessed are they that don't see, yet believe. When you get to Heaven, it will be easy to put your feet on that path, for it will be obvious that that's the way to life and happiness, to peace and fulfillment, to all the fruits of My Spirit that make you happy. But now, in this life on Earth, you see only by faith through a glass darkly. How much better to plant your feet on that path of change now, for by so doing you will have shown yourselves as My friends, walking the same path that I walked while I was on Earth‚ and for this your rewards will stretch out into eternity.
63. They that honor Me now, I will honor before My Father and the angels of Heaven, and they will sit in My throne with Me. As much as you have honored Me on Earth by following in the path that I lead, so much more will I honor you when you appear before Me in person in My Home.
64. So come‚ join Me now on the path of life‚ the path of change, the path of sacrifice, and grow, and become the person‚ the habitation of My Spirit that I want you to be, where I can dwell with you and we can walk this path together. (End of message from Jesus)
74. (Jesus speaking: ) I've made it so that change is hard on your human nature, because this causes you to be desperate. Then when you are desperate, you handle change much better, because you are more open to Me and My Spirit.
75. The key to being able to change is faith. If you can trust Me that I know what I'm doing, if you can trust that everything is going to work out well; if you can believe it when I say things will get better; if you can have faith enough to obey what I tell you, then you will change in the ways I want you to. Whereas if there is any resistance because you think you know better, or because you don't feel that a certain change is necessary, because you don't fully agree with it or have the faith to follow My lead, then clearly you won't be able to change.
76. I am the only one Who can change you, but I am unable to do so without your will on My side. It's a 50/50 deal. Fortunately for you, it's really more of a 20/80 deal, because the effort you have to expend to yield and agree to change is far less than the miracle energy I have to put to use to help you actually change. But that's not a problem for Me‚ because after all, I am omnipotent and the God of all. So you can lay all the heavy work on Me. But as powerful as I am, I can't do it all without you pitching in, without you signing on the dotted line, without you determining you want to do it.
77. If you don't understand why you need to change or why a particular change is the right one, that's when the trust factor comes in. I don't expect you to take it all blindly by faith, though. I am more than willing to give you explanations and to help you understand why I am asking a certain thing of you. You have to have faith‚ however, to receive such messages from Me; and then you have to have the faith to accept them and choose to believe them and go ahead with what I have shown you. If you take these steps of faith and fight to change, rest assured that I will reward you. I will reward you by helping you understand the need for the change, as well as by giving you the grace to actually make the leap—and I can make it easy for you, that's a natural side effect when you fully trust Me. You might even enjoy it! (End of message from Jesus.)
#5, 115, 135
(Dad:) I'm so proud of you! You've done a great job! I'm so glad to see that you're now moving along, changing and growing, shedding the old skin and growing anew with our young people. They need you and they need your instruction.
They need to see that the old can take on the attributes of the new. They need to see that those of the first generation, when moved by the Spirit of God, can be as wild and free and fruitful as those of the second generation! For it is the Spirit that brings life; age doesn't matter!
When I was in the Spirit, no matter how old I was, I was vibrant and alive! I was youthful, because the Spirit of God never grows old! It is fresh and new and renewed day by day. And so can you be. So can all of the first generation be, if they will be moved by God's Spirit.
The Spirit of God is alive! It burns afresh each day! That is why I said that you must hear from God fresh every day to stay alive, to stay new, to stay refreshed, to stay young! Because the Spirit makes alive!
God's Spirit is constantly moving and changing to bring what is needed for today. Hasn't that always been the message that I gave?—Find out what's right for today! Do what there is for today! Use the methods that will reach people today!
You older folks have got to be alive today! Your second generation needs to see God's Spirit moving in you today, so that there's no generation gap. Because, like I said, God has no grandchildren. Well, He has no old fogies, either! You're all one if you're alive in the Spirit—if you're moving, changing, growing and allowing Him to mold you into what you need to be today! What you were yesterday is not good enough. He wants you to be something new today!
So don't be stuck in a rut, unchangeable and immovable. If you are‚ you won't make the grade; you'll shatter and break. But if you're hearing from God fresh and new every day and are following Him, you'll be alive and inspired and there will be no difference between young and old.
Yieldedness brings contentment! He who has a yielded heart and a yielded spirit has contentment, for he has faith that that which he does and that which he experiences is of Me. He doesn't fight against it or kick against the pricks, and thus he is content. But he that is of an unyielded spirit and an unyielded heart fights against it. He kicks against the pricks and becomes discontented and unhappy.
As he that is unyielded does not have contentment, neither does he that comes to Me with set plans and set ideas, saying, "This is the way that I wish for it to be. This is the way that I feel it should be. This is the way that I want it to be." For he whose mind is set and not open to Me cannot receive the things which I have for him—things that go contrary to that which he thinks, but which are truly the plan and will of God.
When the mind is set and is not moldable, not fluid‚ it becomes hardened, and it becomes very difficult for it to receive the things of My Spirit. When the plan is set in the minds of men, it is more difficult for them to be yielded to Me and to the things that I want to do. But the minds and the hearts that say to Me‚ "Not my will but Thine be done," are moldable and flexible, and thus can receive that which I give, and are happier and more content. (ML #3044)
Oh‚ what peace and contentment comes to the hearts of those who are open to Me, whose minds are not made up! When I bring forth something new, they flow with it and say, "Yes, yes‚ I will go here. Yes‚ yes, I will do this," because they don't have their minds made up as to how things should be. When I bring forth new things, they do not say, "Oh, it cannot be this way! I do not wish for it to be this way‚ I wish for it to be that way! I have already decided in my mind the way it should be, and that's how it should be, and it should be no other way!" He that reacts in such a way when he hears of the moves of My Spirit and the will of My Spirit has great discontentment and great turmoil, for he does not yield to Me.
But he that is open and willing to receive with an empty heart, not full of self, not full of his own plans, not full of already-decided decisions, shall have great contentment, peace of heart‚ and peace of mind.
So be moldable! Be open and be prepared for those things that I will show you. If you will receive them with an open heart and an open mind, and if you will be willing to move according to My plan and operate according to that which I show you, you shall have contentment, and you shall have peace, and so shall your struggle cease. In Me there is great peace and great contentment for those who are yielded and open and do not have their minds made up.
Operate according to the plan of God and not the plan of man, and you shall have rest in your heart, rest in your mind, rest in your soul, and rest in your spirit. You will know just what contentment such rest can bring! (ML #3044)
#1, 3, 10-11, 14, 20, 33, 39, 43, 44, 60, 67‚ 69‚ 72, MOP 1.
1. God doesn't change, but He's constantly changing methods and modes and tactics and even people! If you're without changes, then you fear not God!
3. When you're through changing, you're through.
10. Nothing is going to always be—nothing but the Lord and His Love and Salvation.
11. All changes are difficult and sometimes costly‚ but if they're good changes, in the long run they pay off!
14. If you stop changing, you're finished!
20. Anyone that doesn't move and keep changing is dying or already dead.
33. Changes are good for you! They make you really depend on the Lord!
39. As long as you can continue to change‚ you will survive!—But if you solidify and freeze, you're doomed to a tomb!
43. There's no standing still! You're either climbing and getting to the top‚ or you're sinking and drifting to the bottom.—Progressing or backsliding!
44. We are very adaptable! We can adapt ourselves to any country‚ any situation.
60. Just because we did it that way yesterday‚ doesn't mean we have to do it that way today! If you can find some easier, quicker, shorter, better, faster way to do it, do it!
67. One of the most needed abilities in our Family is adaptability!
69. Sometimes people get settled down in a groove, in a rut and let the roots grow down too long, and then the Lord has to uproot them, tear'm loose and really break'm and shake'm up!
72. Most people don't like to change. They prefer to stay in their same old rut because it costs too much to change. It takes a lot of time and effort‚ thought, and real sacrifice to change.
Word Topics.
Definition: The ability to change so as to fit a new specific use or situation.
* 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
* 1 Corinthians 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
* Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven.
* Matthew 9:14,15 Then came to Him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but Thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the Bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the Bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
* Luke 9:3 and 22:35‚36 And He said unto them‚ Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip‚ neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. 22:35 And He said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36 Then said He unto them‚ But now, he that hath a purse‚ let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
* John 1:14a And the Word [Jesus] was made flesh, and dwelt among us.
* Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who‚ being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
* 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles‚ believed on in the world, received up into glory.
[See also Hebrews 2:14.]
* Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
[See also 1 Corinthians 4:9-13.]
* Hebrews 6:3 And this will we do‚ if God permit.
* James 4:13-15 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
[See also Acts 18:21; Romans 1:9,10.]
* Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our Potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand.
* Jeremiah 18:4 And the vessel that he [the potter] made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
* Romans 9:20,21 Nay but‚ O man‚ who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?
* Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
* Matthew 3:13-15 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John‚ to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad Him‚ saying‚ I have need to be baptized of Thee‚ and comest Thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him‚ Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered Him.
* John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
* John 13:8-9 Peter saith unto Him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
* Romans 12:1,2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy‚ acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
* Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
* 2 Corinthians 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
* 1 Samuel 3:18b It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good.
* Matthew 6:10b Thy [God's] will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.
* Matthew 26:39 And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.
* Luke 1:38b Be it unto me according to Thy Word.
Word Topics.
Definition of "change": To become different; to undergo a transformation or to pass through a transitional phase.
* Hebrews 1:10-12 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: 11 They shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same‚ and Thy years shall not fail. [See also Psalm 102:25–27.]
* Malachi 3:6a For I am the Lord, I change not.
* Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
* James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from Above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
* Luke 5:39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
* Psalm 49:11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
* Mark 7:9 And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
* Job 1:21 And [Job] said‚ Naked came I out of my mother's womb‚ and naked shall I return thither: The Lord gave‚ and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord.
* Hebrews 11:17‚ 19 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son‚ 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
* Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
* Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
* Psalm 55:19b Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
* Psalm 84:11b No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.
* Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
* Mark 7:37b He hath done all things well.
* Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
* 2 Timothy 1:12b For I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
* Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
* 1 Samuel 3:18b It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good.
* Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within my heart.
* Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand.
* Jeremiah 42:6a Whether it be good, or whether it be evil [difficult], we will obey the voice of the Lord our God.
* Matthew 6:10b Thy will be done in earth‚ as it is in Heaven. [Also Luke 11:2b.]
[See also Adaptability, #8, page 9.]
* Philippians 3:13,14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
* 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
* Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things Above, not on things on the earth.
* Hebrews 12:2a Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
* Hebrews 6:19a Which hope [in God] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.
* Hebrews 13:5b He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
* Psalm 139:9-10 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.
* Romans 8:38,39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities‚ nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God‚ which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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