In a day when men and women are trying to lord it over their flocks, keeping them in submission to them and their ways, we need to address the question of - who is the head of the church? At least according to the scriptures. Ephesians 4: 14 - 15 talking to Christians - says: that you henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into the Head even Christ. Please read also Colossians 1: 18, 2: 16 - 19. It is so clear - I wonder how man manages to set himself up as it were, as Christ. (They are of course not that direct, they say they are the anointed, or God's chosen etc.) Friend the one that is chosen, is YOU. Christ in you the hope of glory. Col. 1: 26 - 27..

One of the real deceptions we are seeing these days is where, instead of calling men deacons and elders, they are being called " The Headship. " May God forgive them - they are usurping our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Head of the True Church.. No wonder Jesus said He had no place to lay His head... In plain english He could find no BODY to take on ---- HIS HEADSHIP!!!

The Lord so wants to teach us His ways as he did Moses, and He will, if only we would spend the time alone with Him and His Word, allowing His Spirit to quicken to our hearts the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. I John 2: 27 says the Spirit of God will teach you, and you can trust Him to do so ---He will NOT lead you astray. I know it is a lot easier to let someone else do the studying and then teach you their thoughts on the subject, but you need to hear from God for yourself, and the only way is to get into His word yourself.

There is an old Sunday School chorus that says: Read your Bible, pray every day, and you'll grow, grow, grow!!

We say we do not have enough time...We probably spend 40 - 50 hours a week feeding our flesh, (food, TV, newspapers, books etc.) and maybe one hour a week feeding our spirit with whatever the pastor gives us, no wonder I find so many dear people who, after running to this group or that assembly etc., come to the place where they say, "I don't know what to think or believe anymore ". If you will let the Spirit of God teach you, while kneeling at His feet, looking into His face, He shall cause His face to shine upon you, and you shall know His way in all the earth, and there shall be NO MORE CONFUSION!!

Let me say -- there are those pastors, as the Bible says in Jeremiah 23: 4 that shall feed the flock, and we can and have learned from them, as they pointed us to the Head Christ Jesus.

But, there are an increasing number of false pastors and teachers out there that are leading the flock to slaughter, and as it says in Jeremiah 23: 1 - Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture: saith the Lord!!

We need to recognise that satan himself is transformed into an angel of light, and his ministers also into ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. II Corinthians 11: 14 - 15. Jesus gave a stern warning to the religious leaders of His day, and it still applies. - Woe unto you religious leaders, for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in you hindered. They are as II Tim. 3: 7 - Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Let us steadfastly refuse to become followers of men. Read I Cor. 1: 11 - 12 and I Cor. 3: 4 - 23. Rather be you followers of Christ the true Head of the Church, which is His Body, (that's you).

Jesus said, "I will build my Church".

Once you begin to let go of the bestial world and religious systems of man, and let the Spirit of God begin to have free reign in your heart, giving you a taste of the powers of the age to come, you can no longer be part of the observances of days, ceremonies, symbols, solemn assemblies etc., they weary me, says the Lord. Isaiah 1: 13 - 14... Rather follow the pure path of the Spirit of God that is within you.

Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. "Christ in You ", what a marvellous truth as the Spirit quickens to your inner man, that the anointing is within, the witness of God is within, He abides within, and He is the greatest teacher in the universe. Read again I John 2: 27, the anointing which you have received of Him abideth in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him..

Friend, that is why Jesus left and sent the Holy Spirit, to teach us and to lead us day by day into truth. Trust Him, He will not lead you astray. You must learn to dwell in the secret place , making time early in the day to wait on the Lord. Don't be in a hurry, place the Word of God before you as you kneel before Him, let Him unfold His mysteries to you as you read and pray. Submit yourself to God, draw near unto Him and He will draw near unto you.

There is a high and a holy calling for you, but it involves a separation, often from our friends, our religious realm, and everything and everyone that would hinder the upward climb to that high and holy place!! Your flesh may cringe at the aloneness of the walk, your mind question why it must be so. But the cry of the spirit within will continue to draw you onward without the camp, bearing His reproach, loosing you from so many hindrances and informities, that you held so dear, to bring you to a new measure of freedom in Him. (Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed John 8: 36). God deals with us as individuals, but works out the same principals in us, and for those of you whom the Lord has already processed. You know full well what it means to be separated from so many of the works of the flesh - works that seemeth good unto man, works for God, teaching, preaching, singing by rote etc..

When God began to separate us from our works, we thought we couldn't live for Him without being " busy ". We prayed, we wept, we groaned, but all the while His Spirit urged us to abandon ALL, (including ourselves) to God, and to ascend higher up the mount. And so, reluctantly, we let go of all our works, only to discover that rather than losing out with God, actually we were entering into a new realm with Him, into a realm of becoming, as He in us becomes the total sufficiency of all that we need.

This is a Holy calling, the depths of which we have not even began to comprehend, but we must be willing to follow the Lamb withersoever He leads.

Remember, in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Col. 3: 28.

Don't let anyone intimidate you concerning the things of the Lord. Look to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith.. In Job 28: 7 we read -- there is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vultures eye hath not seen:--

There is a path -- a path that goes beyond the flesh, beyond the corruption of man and his kingdom building programs.. It is my desire, (and I pray yours) to ever walk this ascending path, growing up into spiritual maturity, into the fullness of God, into that realm of which Jesus prayed, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am: That they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me. John 17: 24.

There is a path, and it is found in Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. John 14: 6.

What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. John 1:3.

May I encourage you to read I, II and III John, asking the Spirit of the Lord to quicken your under-standing. Read also Matt. 7: 15-23 and 18: 20. Colossians 2: 16-23 and 3: 1-17. Psalm 145.

The Lord bless you as you seek Him.
Sincerely in the Love of Christ

MARANATHA MINISTRIES


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