An urgent need...

Please read on...it won't take long, I promise.

I have no idea who reads this blog, or why you do, but I am thankful if you have taken the time to read it.
Over the years I have shared many things across social media and via this blog and I confess that it, in some ways, appears to have fallen on deaf ears. Sometimes I get a little frustrated with what appears to me to be something of an apathy, a disinterest, in the gospel. It hurts me because, for me, the gospel of God's love, expressed in the person of Jesus, is everything. He is everything, many times I have shared it, Jesus is everything; whatever question you may have Jesus is the answer. Although, generally, they remain completely veiled to it, the truth is that the world and all its problems has only one saving answer, JESUS!

Today, I have an urgent need to share with you.

When I was in Cambodia last December the Lord spoke to me.
He directed me to scripture. It was a scripture I knew.

'...be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.' [2 Timothy 2: 1 - 2]

I could tell a long story around this but the bottom line is you may not read it.
The point is this, many, many thousands of precious people have been saved through God's blessing over the ministry He has called me to and now He has said, 'It is time to be teaching the faithful men.' You see we partner with local churches to preach the gospel of Grace (for that is what we preach), many come, many receive and then they return to the local church where they are taught a mixture of Grace and law. It is true.

What is the answer to this situation?

I have a precious brother. His name is Samnang. He has faithfully waited to walk in his particular call as a part of WTL. His heart and passion is to teach Grace. His heart and passion is to teach the liberty of the favour of Jesus. His heart and passion is to entrust great truths of Grace and Liberty with faithful men, who will then go into Cambodia under the leadership of Jesus and 'teach others also.'

WTL wants to hold Grace Classes, a year long program of monthly teaching where those who choose to enrol will come to a central place to spend a week, per month, for a year to be entrusted the truth of Grace and will then go and teach others also.


The curriculum is ready, it comes from the Word of God.

We just need the funds to provide a venue, to provide accommodation and food for the participants, and to provide all that is needed to deliver this most remarkable resource, I speak, of course, not of knowledge but True Knowledge, the person of Jesus, the great gift of God, the One in whom we are complete.
We have costed it and we need $2000 USD per person.
We might start with five, that is, then $10000 USD, but maybe the Lord might lead you to make it more.
You can support this by going to our website, www.cambodiawtl.org.au, and clicking on the hot button on the 'Donate' page.

You know the Bible is clear. It asks, 'How will they believe unless someone preaches?'
We will preach but we need to partner with you.

Will you help?

Blessings,
Graeme Shephard.

Way, Truth, Life

'...that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love and [attaining] to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, [resulting] in a true knowledge of God's mystery, [that is,] Christ [Himself], in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge...' [Colossians 2: 2 - 3]

In my Bible the words I have put in brackets are in italics which indicates that they have been placed there by the translator to give us better understanding.
Sadly, I think, they often detract from understanding!
Be encouraged, believing child of the Father, you are knit together in love (His love) and you have all the wealth (all the riches in glory) that is yours, present possession, that comes from knowing, true knowledge, of God's mystery, CHRIST. This does not come to by you gathering understanding which results in knowledge but by believing the truth of God's mystery, that is, that Christ is everything. He, alone, is our source of all things.
Transformation comes from the the renewing of your mind - [Romans 12: 2] - how do we renew our mind? By changing what you believe. Change your belief that anything is attained by our effort and rest in the truth that all things are only possible in Him, CHRIST.

But that's no what this post was to be about, although as I contemplated sharing what I feel led to share the Holy Spirit placed that scripture on my heart, and I still contemplate it.

My name is Graeme Milton Shephard. I am called. I cannot deny it. Maybe you consider that assertion to be arrogant but, nevertheless, the Holy Spirit has told me through a trusted acquaintance that I need to declare my call. My call is to declare the gospel of Grace to the world. The Lord has given me an 'avenue' down which I am to walk, and this avenue is an organisation known as 'Cambodia WTL' (cambodiawtl.org.au). The organisation is of no importance other than it is the avenue down which I am to walk, the vehicle, satisfying the legal requirements of man, in which I am to travel in my call. We aren't building an organisation just walking down an avenue, following our Leader, into glory. There is a lot of history, and much detail that I could share here, and while it would be relevant it would take from what the Holy Spirit wants me to say.
Often, I am asked, "What does WTL mean?" It's a good question that I love to answer. WTL means 'way. truth. life' and comes from John 14: 6...

'Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."'

 The Holy Spirit has had me contemplating this lately and in declaring my call it is important to say somethings about this statement.
Firstly, Jesus is the way. He is not a way, He is THE way.
The way to where? Where are we going when we choose, for it is your choice, to step on the way that is Jesus. We are going to the Father. This is sublime in its importance and wonder. We aren't going to God, although we certainly are doing that, but we are going, on the way, to the Father when we step on the way that is Jesus. This is so wonderful. God Almighty has always desired to be our Father, and there is so much I could share around this, and Jesus is the way, THE WAY, to our Father. You may think that the journey to the Father is a long journey but, in fact, it is just one step. Don't let any teach you otherwise, we like to make it complicated, but fact is the bridge that is Jesus may look long from your perspective but is but one step, one step; that step is 'believe.'
And the journey is also our call. My call is to share the gospel of grace. This is the gospel that says that 'God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son...' Man presents many ways but there is only one 'the way.' Before Christians were called Christians they were called the 'Way', I think I would like to be called the 'Way' again for this is my call. My call is to declare the way, His Name is Jesus; and my message is the gospel of grace, for He, also, is Grace.
The second this is that Jesus is also the life. Not just a life, but THE life. In John 10: 10 Jesus said...

'"...I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly."'

We all want life. We want a happy life, a fulfilled life, a successful life, a satisfying life. We hang onto life at all costs. Life, it seems, is found in all sorts of places but the reality is that what we want is abundant life, and Jesus is the life, abundant life. You don't believe me? Try Him! You can't knock it until you try it! Jesus is the life.
And then we have the truth. Jesus is the truth. Not just a truth. Jesus is THE truth. The Holy Spirit has been bombarding me with this for months now. Truth is what binds it all together. Truth is the mortar in the joints of the foundation stones that are the foundation that supports the house that is our life. No matter what we may think, no matter what we believe, when we struggle and fight to rest the fact is this, truth remains truth, and truth is what God says. There is no other truth that matters, there is no other truth that is real truth, there is no truth worth considering than the truth that is the word of God. And He also is the Word. You see Jesus is the truth because as the word He declares the Father. John 1: 18 is one of my favourites...

'No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained (or, declared) Him.'

As Jesus came to declare undoubtedly He could have declared many things but He declared only the right of the Father and He came out from the Father's bosom to do it. Of what does the Father's bosom speak? It speaks of the seat of, the very core of, the very essence of that thing we call love. Oh love has many interpretations but the only interpretation that matters is the truth that God is Love. He doesn't just love, He IS love. And of what is the right of the Father? His right is to love for He is Love, and His love is active and eternal. Jesus is the proof, He came out to share truth, for He is the Truth, and the truth He shared was the truth of the Father's bosom, and that truth is simple yet profound...GOD LOVES YOU. Knowing that, receiving it and believing it is Way, it is Truth, and it is Life.

Be blessed in the Way, the Truth and the Life, His name is JESUS.

Truth...

This was Pilate's question of Jesus.
It is an interesting question and I don't plan necessarily to answer it here.
I just want to share something that has been on my mind.

Often when I ask God something He answers me with a question. You know how it is, we feel like we need to 'know' everything especially about things we don't really need to know!

Anyway, when I ask my questions His question is often the same, "Who do you think I AM? Am I God, or not?"

"Who do you think I AM? AM I GOD, or not?"

It's a good question. It often comes when I am asking, 'how, when, why, what' questions. Come to think of it He always answers those questions in the same way too. His answer to those is this, "Those are not your questions to ask. They are Mine to answer."

"Those are not your questions to ask. They are Mine to answer." 

Lately, He has been saying something else to me, quite a lot.
The background is this.
We often apply either what we choose to believe, or our feelings, to what God says. It's true. What we choose to believe often comes from our knowledge, which comes from our study, which is our academia, and our feelings often come from our opinion on a thing. Neither our academia or our opinion are necessarily truth, but that is another subject I don't want to discuss.

Now, one other thing I need to clear up here is this. What God says is truth. Hands up all who agree. Many hands go up, but, some maybe don't. It does not matter for it has no bearing on truth. Truth is still truth, no matter what we believe. And Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." [John 14: 6]
So, this is what God has been saying to me lately, "It doesn't matter what you believe or how you feel, truth is still truth; and I AM still truth, and My word is truth. You don't decide truth, truth is truth." [See John 17: 17]

"It doesn't matter what you believe or how you feel, truth is still truth; and I AM still truth, and My word is truth. You don't decide truth, TRUTH IS TRUTH."

I guess we sometimes think that whether we believe it or not makes it truth. For example, if we choose to believe, or not believe, in Jesus Christ as our Saviour it makes no difference it is still true He is the Saviour. Our response doesn't change truth.
And the same applies to everything else He says in His word.
It is truth. That's all.

I will finish with this.
My daughter is doing her final exams, the Higher School Certificate. It is a stressful time. I pray for my daughter constantly, and others do as well, thank you so much for your great blessing, you know who you are, God bless you. Lately I have just felt lead to just speak the following over her, and forget my idea of good prayers for her.

'The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.' [Numbers 6: 24 - 25]

Many will know this is the Aaronic priestly blessing. I have a greater right than Aaron to declare it because I am a priest of the Most High God, according to the order of Melchisedec. I could talk at great length about shalom, and His countenance, and His grace, and the shining of His face upon you, and His blessing and keeping but I won't. When I speak this out whoever I may speak it over can either receive it, or reject it, they can give assent to it but not for them, they can do whatever they like with it. They can believe it, or they may feel they can't believe it. But does that change it? No.

This morning I spoke it out as I came to talk with my Father about my daughter's exam this morning and He had me read the next verse, Numbers 6: 26. We often hear the blessing spoken but we don't read the next verse.
It says, God speaking...

"So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and then I will bless them."

Israel, the name, means 'triumphant with God.' Wow! I love that! So when I declare the blessing over my daughter God says I am invoking His Name on the sons of Israel, and she is a child of THE Father and so she is 'triumphant with God, and so she is blessed. Immense. Thank you Father.
She may not believe it, she may not 'feel it', I may not have a lot of confidence when I say it, the whole world may decry it as foolishness but IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. It is STILL TRUTH for God said it.

It doesn't matter what you believe or how you feel, truth is still truth; and I AM still truth, and My word is truth. You don't decide truth, truth is truth. And I AM truth, just rest in Me.

Aaah! Let me just lay my head down there and sleep.

Have a great day.

Billowing glory...

If you have a lit room and you open the door to the dark outside light billows out, darkness doesn't come in.

As Jesus Christ gave up His life on the cross for us all the heavy veil that covered the Most Holy place in the temple in Jerusalem was torn in two. It was torn as Jesus entered in to the presence of God on our account, and in His entering made us who believe acceptable, righteous and holy, by His blood.
With the way open and the destination acceptable - we are the acceptable destination - the presence of God - GLORY - billowed out.
It cannot be otherwise - how can God be contained when the way is open? We might hesitate at an open door but Light does not, it just billows out and darkness flees away!

(Now, I am certain that man hastily repaired the torn veil for it satisfied his pride (that old problem that first reared its head in the garden of Eden) to be the means of gaining favour with God, and Pharisees and scribes were very proud of their law keeping, and so the actions of the veil repairer meant that even though grace had come in the finished work of Jesus - "It is finished" - mankind determined that for 40 or so years an interim period prevailed where law and grace co-existed. This was ended when the perilous times of Matthew 24 was unleashed and the Romans tore the temple down and burnt it in 70 AD. As the temple burnt the old covenant ceased and the new covenant dawned in all its glory.)
I believe it is true that as glory billowed out heaven - where God dwells- and earth - where man is - became one. New heaven and new earth. Revelation 21.
Now, it is not my intention to dramatically and drastically challenge your belief. I do not ask you to believe me, just consider the glory. That's all. Please receive that.
But I have to say this, because my thoughts and meditations sit around this today; I cannot believe that glory that billowed out as the veil was destroyed now must wait 2000+ years for the Lord to come to impact lives, and my life in particular.
I see the glory of the Lord (God is Love) as the essential, underlying bedrock that enables us to be all we are called to be. It is the only way, in fact. If we try to apply our effort to this task it is just law - it can only be that a face to face meeting with the Lord will bring the transformation that answers the John 17: 22 - 26 prayer of Jesus. Face to face.
2 Corinthians 3 : 14 says this - '...for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted.' Moses' face radiated glory as he came down from meeting with God, such was the glory he encountered, and he only saw God's back. But his glory filled face was a fading glory, and the writer asks, 'how shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation (the law - 'letters engraved on stones' [2 Corinthians 3: 7]) has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory on account of the glory that surpasses it.' [2 Corinthians 3: 8 - 10] The glory of the new covenant is of such glory that the glory of the old has no glory at all! And receive this - as the veil was torn and then removed, in Christ glory could emerge because the new dwelling place was acceptable, and more glorious, because the glory was more glorious. And the emerging glory met us, not to see His back, but face to face. Understand?
What am I saying? The temple fell and God moved into His new dwelling place as He met with us, He met us face to face. Jacob met with God face to face in Genesis 32 and emerged with a new name, and a new walk!
And then we go on in 2 Corinthians 3: 15 - 18 and read this, '...to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.' But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.' (Now don't misunderstand - this was being written to the Corinthians before the temple was destroyed and we must apply that. Moses was still being read - and that veil was lifted when the temple fell. But also today that veil remains when we seek our own effort rather than resting in grace.)
A lifted veil equals an obsolete covenant of law, and face to face is receiving the new, face to face. A face to face with God will certainly transform you, how can it not? Moses radiated glory, and the glory that billowed out through the removed veil transcends the glory of Moses to such an extent that it makes his glory nothing.
Now this is my thought and the challenge to me. The disciples observed the ascension of Jesus, and two men in white asked them why they were looking into the sky, saying, 'this Jesus will come as you have seen Him go.' My thought is that today many are looking into the sky, seeking the glory of His coming as the moment of transformation when He has already come for a face to face, but to see Him we need to take our eyes from the sky and look into His face.
You know, forgive me, but I see little point in debating the future, the truth is our future is set and certain for we are in Christ - our boat will not sink with Jesus in our boat so we may as well just rest our head down on the cushion with Jesus [Mark 4: 35 - 41] - just rest in His glory for we have been caught up to the air - the heavenly places - and are already seated with Him [Ephesians 2: 6], the problem is many of us are too busy looking at the sky to take our seat in our rightful place.
The clouds have cleared as the altar of incense was destroyed and He has emerged in all His glory and we need to look into His face, unveiled (law gone), as we would look into a mirror - face to face - and the transformation to glory will be now. We can be transfigured, as He was, now by a face to face with billowing glory. A meeting with the come Messiah.
Our transformation will be from an obsolete glory to an infinitely more glorious glory, as we look into the 'radiance of His glory' [Hebrews 1: 3] and looking there it will not be possible for us to not radiate His glory, and radiating glory will have an impact that will transform this world.
I'm not waiting any longer for glory from the sky, I want His glory now, and billowing glory in me (my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit; Christ is in me, the hope of glory) will mean all that the Lord has shown me will be. It cannot be otherwise. In His glory, to His glory, by His glory, for His glory.
It is only by His glory that WTL will have a ministry van; it is only by His glory that we will have our land and build the grace gospel launching pad - the WTL Grace House. It is only by His glory that we will take this world with the gospel of Grace; it is only by His glory that we will 'stand up, and go our way, made whole' [Luke 17: 19]; it is only by His glory that we will see 'more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women,...constantly added to (our) number' [Acts 5: 14]; it is only by His glory that we will preach His glory - 'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...' [John 3: 16] I don't want to debate comings, all I want is to preach the love of God, His glory, because that is the only thing that will transform this world, a face to face with the billowing glory - the love of God.
That's all.
He has billowed out to you. Turn from sky looking and believe He has come already - 'where the Spirit is there is LIBERTY' - and have a face to face - renew your mind by right believing which brings right living, and be transformed by a face to face with a come Messiah - 'He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high' [Hebrews 1: 3] - and He sat you right there with Him. [Ephesians 2: 6].
Blessings to you.

Clouds...

Recently a brother directed my attention to Acts 1. In verses 9 - 11 we have the ascension of our Lord into glory. It says He was 'lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.'

It then recounts two men in white clothing standing by who ask, 'Why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.'
That's what it says.
Now, it could be said, that today many continue to 'look into the sky.' We look to see His coming. We consider ourselves to be 'those who eagerly await Him.' [Hebrews 9: 28]
Let's look at that verse,

'...so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.'

Acts 1: 11 and Hebrews 9: 28 both speak of a second coming and the teaching of the church has, for centuries, been that this is future. So we spend our lives looking into the sky looking for this coming and anticipating that this will be the day we receive His glory. His first coming was a sin bearing coming, we understand that, but, I ask you, can it really make sense that this 'second coming'  that brings the fullness, the wholeness of 'sozo' salvation, without reference to sin because the sin question has been dealt with, really takes 2000 + years to be? Really?

As I have thought on these things my meditation has gone to the tabernacle. I love to consider the tabernacle, it is such a beautiful picture of Christ concealed. When I say tabernacle, I also think temple, because effectively the temple is just a static tabernacle. The tabernacle was the mobile version, the temple the static version.

Now, the tabernacle has many things but I just want to see this. In the Holy place, at the entrance to the Holy of holies stood an altar, the Altar of Incense. On this altar incense was burnt perpetually. It was one of the priest's jobs to burn incense there perpetually. It would have put up quite a cloud of smoke. Before this altar was the veil, through the veil was the Holy of holies and the Ark of the Covenant, which was beneath the mercy seat and over the mercy seat were two cherubim and between their outstretched wings dwelt God. Glory dwelt here.

Now I have a lot to say about the veil but maybe I'll do that another day.
This is about clouds.

Jesus was taken up, and a cloud received Him.
The two men in white asked, 'Why are you looking into the sky?'
They said, 'He will come again as you have seen Him go.'
That is, He will be revealed coming through the cloud. The cloud will part, move aside, whatever, and He will come.
At the crucifixion of Jesus the veil got torn in two. I am certain it was hastily repaired but too late. Glory had come out.
You see, I believe, that while it is true that the torn veil gave us Hebrews 4: 16 access it is eminently more impactful and wonderful that the torn veil released glory.
Glory could now come out and be seen because the sin question had been dealt with. Glory came out to the Holy place, came out to where the priest's served and we are all priests if we believe in Jesus.
It is really interesting that in Revelation 21: 1 as John sees the new heaven and earth there is no sea. You see the tabernacle and temple was basically three sections, outer court, Holy place and Holy of holies. The outer court was also called the Gentiles court.
Glory was released at the torn veil and came out, there is no sea because there is no need for an outer court in the new temple, for in Christ all who believe, Jew and Gentile, become one, 'a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession...' [1 Peter 2: 9]
So as glory came out a new heaven and new earth was created.

Now what about clouds?
The veil was repaired. But forty years on all was destroyed. The Romans burnt the temple down. The altar of incense cloud of smoke was removed by fire and intense heat, despite the legal eagles of the day being determined to retain it.

What am I saying? It is this. We spend our days looking into the sky, looking for His coming but I believe great things lie in this truth - He has already come. He has already come as His glory has come through the clouds. As the altar of incense burnt the last vestige of law was made obsolete [Hebrews 8: 13] and He has come to His new dwelling place, no temple required for YOU are His dwelling place, heaven and earth are united perfectly (read John 17: 22 - 26) in YOU.

'Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?' [1 Corinthians 6: 19]

There is one other thing that we need to just consider here. In Matthew 24 Jesus is speaking about things that concern the destruction of the temple. We read these words and apply Jesus' day and future day almost willy nilly. Some parts we place in the future in our teaching, and some we give to the day in which Jesus was speaking but how can that be? Jesus was answering a question from His disciples about the temple as they looked upon it. The things He was saying referred to the temple, and its destruction in AD 70. And remember Jesus Himself said, 'Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.' [Matthew 24: 34] Wow! Interesting, don't you think?

But what is the practical application?

Can you imagine the change if we stopped looking so fervently into the sky for our salvation to come but instead walked in the truth of the glory of Christ in us. What change would this make in our lives? As a more knowledgeable man than me said recently, 'Right believing produces right living.' So, how would our 'living' change if we believed that we already have His glory.

You see, I am convinced that His glory is not some future aspiration but a present possession that we haven't appropriated, so we don't live in its truth.

As I contemplated these immense things I asked the Holy Spirit to show me something that I could see of this and He showed me two things.

'And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number; to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets, and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on any one of these. And also the people in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits; and they were all being healed.' [Acts 5: 14 - 16]

'And God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.' [Acts 19: 11 - 12]

I don't ask you to believe me, convincing you isn't me job, that is the Holy Spirit's job.
But think, and ask Him to show you, glory came out through the cloud.
Imagine that glory appropriated by right believing producing right living...
Oh, what LIVING that would be!
I think I might call that 'abundant life.'

Common sense?

What do you think? Is 'common sense' a pathway to Holy Spirit revelation? Does God deal in 'common sense'? I was reading something the other day and I sensed the Lord say to me, "It's just common sense."
I better give a little bit of context. I am a revelation seeker. There is no greater joy for me than to do a 'Mary', sit at the Lord's feet to hear His words. When we sit my experience is He is more than happy to speak. So lately He has been speaking to me about glory, and new heavens and new earth, but I'm not able to yet share that fully with you.  In fact, I think that it may be that you will have to come to me for that, rather than me go to you. That may not make any sense but that is what I feel.
So, as I meditate on these 'new' things, that are actually old, the Lord says to me, 'It's just common sense...think about it, your thinking doesn't make sense...and right believing leads to right living.'
So...common sense...
Okay, think on this.
In 2 Peter 3: 9 we read a statement that is often used in Gospel preaching. It says this, '...not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.' The old King James Version says it like this, '...not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.' There is much that could be said about the context and audience surrounding Peter's writing but maybe another day.

For now, I am reading this passage and I recognise this statement because I have heard it countless times before, and probably quoted it nearly as many! But my meditation has been about glory and new heavens and new earth, as I already said, and in my meditation the Spirit communes with me as follows, 'All the teaching you have had tells you that you are looking for glory as something you aspire to in your future. And here you have a statement that says that I am not willing that any should perish, an outcome that requires My glory (His glory is the love of God) and yet you believe that you are deficient in glory and that glory is something future.'
'Think about it - I have called you to be emissaries of My Grace - why would I call you to that but not give you the means to accomplish it? It doesn't make sense! If My word is true that I am not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, and it is true, then it only makes sense that I have already given you all that you need - I have poured out My glory upon you. Your body is the dwelling place of My glory - Christ in you, the hope of glory - do you believe it?'

I feel that it is true that we have been like the disciples standing looking into the sky in Acts 1. For 2000 years we have been looking into the sky waiting for a coming Lord who will give us glory, and in the looking we have missed His coming. I believe there was a significant event in AD 70 that we overlook. The temple was destroyed; the last vestige of law removed and the veil which was undoubtedly repaired following the crucifixion of Jesus completely destroyed. Oh, don't think that the work of Jesus was somehow diminished by the repair of the veil, but the point is that glory came out. Glory came out and heaven, where God dwells, and earth, where man is priest, were united - heaven and earth became one as God's dwelling place was destroyed, and so He came out to dwell in you, and me - our bodies became the temple of the Holy Spirit.
So why do we continue to look into the sky? Glory has already come but we just fail to believe it. Now, I'm not asking you to believe me, you believe what you like but as I meditate the discloser of Jesus suggests to me common sense does not allow for our teaching that glory is future; common sense must say that we already have His glory - and the only hindrance is we fail to believe it. We are called to make disciples of all nations - common sense must say that God has given us everything we require to achieve His desire that none perish but that all come to repentance, and yet we operate believing that our glory is a future aspiration.
Let me close with a question - let's just say that you are filled with His glory and you believe it, how would that transform your life?
I believe Peter, and Paul, carried His glory and Peter's shadow fell on people and they were healed, and Paul sent his hankerchief to someone far away and they were healed!
You carry His glory too. It is a life transforming truth. Let's stop looking into the sky and live in the truth of Christ in us - wow! - life will never be the same.

Do you want fullness of God?

‘For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them… “I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the only God? ” [John 5: 18 – 19, 41 – 44]

Often when we pray we ask the Lord to bless our endeavour, or our ministry, or our service, that God may be glorified in it. I am not saying that such a prayer is not worthy because I am sure our God understands our intent for He sees our heart. However, here Jesus, speaking to Pharisees who prided themselves in their ‘service’, says that He does not receive glory from men so, in light of that, our prayer, perhaps, misses the mark. I have been contemplating this for two or three days because I have many times prayed that prayer.

For months now I have been meditating on glory. If you have followed my ramblings then you will know that. In Mark 4: 35 - 41 Jesus suggests to the disciples that they go over to the other side and they invite Jesus into their boat to cross over. A storm rises up and Jesus sleeps; they awaken Him and He calms the storm and they fear greatly. In Luke 17: 11 – 19 ten lepers are cleansed but one returns to give glory to God and is made whole. What is God’s glory? What was it that compelled the cleansed leper to return to give glory? Why did he do so? The Holy Spirit’s answer was simple, “Because He saw the glory of God.” But, what is His glory? What did the leper see?

I have shared this before. In the boat, in the storm, Jesus slept. How was it that He could sleep in the middle of a raging storm? The Holy Spirit gave the answer, “Because His head rested on the cushion.” What was the cushion? It was His Father’s love for Him. The Holy Spirit then said to me, “You, too, can rest your head there.”

Is His glory His love? This was my question. He then brings me to the scripture I have quoted above. Jesus said, ‘I do not receive glory from men.’ Wow! And we all thought that our effort on behalf of the kingdom was the thing that brought Him glory! But, not so. I contemplated this. The fact is He has inestimable glory, how can my feeble endeavours add anything to it? So how can I give Him glory? By seeing and receiving His glory. But what is it? And then came His confirmation; He said to the Jews, ‘…but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.’ His glory is His love.

Our God has glory that we cannot comprehend. At best we can scratch its surface to release just an aroma of its wonder, like scratching the surface of a tree to release the beautiful perfume. Walk into the bush and take a breath; you will know what I mean.

What does God desire of me? How does He want to be glorified in me? Oh, yes He loves our response to Him in ministry but is it this that brings Him glory? No, I don’t think so. So, then, how does He want us to bring Him glory? Jesus tells us, ‘I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the only God?’ We receive glory from one another willingly but we do not seek the glory that is from the only God. We fail to see and fail to pursue and fail to receive the fullness of the glory that is expressed in the coming of Jesus, who came in the Father’s name. It is important that I see that it is in the Father’s name that He came, not in God’s name. Why is this important? It is essentially important because the introduction of God as Father is the realisation of the absolute truth that ‘God is love.’

Mary, of Bethany, is recorded at the feet of Jesus three times in scripture. Once in Luke 10: 39 as she ‘was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet’; once in John 11: 32 as she ‘fell at His feet’ to receive His love and consolation, and the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus, Mary’s brother; and finally in John 12: 1 – 8 when Mary ‘took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.’ Mary was criticised for her anointing and it was said that the perfume could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor but the one who said this failed to smell the perfume of the anointed One, as the perfume filled the whole house. It makes me laugh that we bother ourselves with the gathering of the cost of a pound of pure nard, costly though it undoubtedly was, but miss the fact, and miss the aroma, of the One who is seated there – who is this One? He is the declaration of the love of God. He is ‘God is love’ in the flesh. He is fullness, He is the riches of God, He is God manifest in flesh.

Let me ask a question? Do you want fullness of God? Can I answer for myself? There is nothing I want more. I want fullness of God. Fullness of God is His glory. I want His glory!

How am I filled up to all the fullness of God? The answer; by being rooted and grounded in love…by comprehending what is the breadth and length and height and depth…of what?...to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. [Ephesians 3: 14 – 21]

I am in such a quandary at present. How do I attain? How do I declare? What is there to say?

In John 6: 15 - 21 the disciples get into a boat and a storm rises up. Jesus comes walking by on the water and they fear. When He says, “It is I, do not be afraid” they invite Him into the boat and they are immediately at the other side. They received Him into their boat! Think about it. They received the expression of the Father’s love and they are immediately at the other side. He didn’t calm the storm, they just arrived immediately.

Think about the Mark 4 story of the boat and the storm. Jesus was in the boat and was sleeping in His Father’s love. The Holy Spirit says that we can also rest our head there. Do you think they boat was going down with Jesus in the boat? No way! Yes, when the disciples cried out to Him He was gracious and calmed the storm but consider this; if they had all laid their heads of the cushion they would have immediately arrived at the other side. We ask the Lord to calm our storms constantly but what He most desires is for us to lay our heads on the cushion of the Father’s bosom.

I’ve written enough. My only purpose in writing is because I like to do it but also that it might lead you into your own place of revelation because your God wants to show His glory to you also. Do you want fullness of God? I sure do. I want to ‘know’ His glory, His fullness, His love – just a scratch of the surface will do but the whole house filled with His aroma would be better! And it comes with a great promise…

'…we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ [Romans 8: 37 – 39]