faith – Blue Mountain Ministry

Love Is… Prophecy Is…

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Hi everyone,
I hope your week started off great! Today I want to share again a vision I had about a year ago, which I am reminded of repeatedly these days; and add something else beneath it. The following four lines are what I shared back then:

Love Is…

Jesus was one of the guests in the vision and I wondered where the host was and all the other guests! He did not say a word while cleaning up. He did not do it reluctantly, expecting to be acknowledged for what He was doing – you could see it on His face that He was doing it gladly! He did it silently, all by Himself, and I realized that this is just how God is! When you look at Romans 12, you can see that it is a privilege and gift from God towards us when we have smaller or bigger opportunities to serve in everyday life:

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6-8 ESV)

Now some may think: ‘I don’t have the gift of service, so this vision doesn’t apply to me,’ and the former may be true. However, remember that we are all commanded to serve:

“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen.” (John 13:12-18 ESV)

Is this not amazing? “BLESSED ARE YOU IF YOU WASH ONE ANOTHER’S FEET.” This is the blessing which lies upon a Jesus-centered community. He is speaking to His chosen ones; you know you ought to serve others when you believe that you are chosen by Him.

Another significant revelation I received from Him, which I want to add – which I am sure I will keep sharing with others, by God’s grace, till the end of my life – is His answer when I asked Him what prophecy is. I have the gift of prophecy, I love to prophesy; but something was bugging me about my heart. Guess which Scripture He gave me? John 13, the passage I just shared! I was in awe when I checked the passage and I heard the Holy Spirit say: “My daughter, prophecy is washing someone else’s feet.” Think about it; you should always have the servant heart of Jesus when you are SERVING someone with prophecy from heaven, and do it in proportion to your faith (if we go back to the first bible passage I shared, it says in Romans 12 that those who have the gift of prophecy should prophesy in proportion to our faith). I really want us to remember this when we are prophesying, and remember Jesus, our Teacher and Lord, when we are serving others. I want to remember it when no one sees me and says “thank you”, that God is acknowledging me and affirming me. The records of my actions (of faith) remain in heaven for eternity, and this is the Lord’s story through me!

I was very self-centered once, and obsessed with my pain above others’. At one point, I cried out for deliverance because I wanted to change and live selflessly. God shifted my focus away from my pain and the Holy Spirit helped me to serve others silently. He keeps reminding me that I am choosing the better path towards healing if I obey and to what He did first, by giving us an example. I know whose I am, so I follow His ways; my sweet and amazing Lord Jesus’. HE IS THE WAY TO THE FATHER.

I hope this word blesses you.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

And Some Of Those Shall Fall

Hi everyone,

how was your Holy Week? I was already sick when I did the deliverance night on Thursday, and it got worse the day after. I have been recovering since. A family member told me on Saturday what an honor it was that I was suffering physically like Jesus on Good Friday and believe it or not, it comforted me deeply to hear that. I received it with my heart and things did shift on Resurrection Sunday! I was feeling so much better when I woke up and I told the person immediately – we both smiled. How about you? Maybe things did not shift for you on Sunday. I get that, God does not play according to our expectations. God had a set time for me and He did it out of grace. My testimony does not apply to everyone. You have not failed to believe or done something wrong because you did not get the change on Easter. Do not hang your faith on certain dates but know what God is speaking to you personally. God loves you and has a sovereign plan for you!

I am sharing my testimony though, because sometimes you just need a reminder that there is a good reason behind the suffering you are enduring. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that God made me sick. No, God is good and there is no evil in Him. He does, however, allow suffering. Followers of Jesus must face various trials and tribulations all throughout their lives to receive the imperishable crown (1. Corinthians 9:24-25). By partnering with Jesus, always looking unto Him as the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), we enter the rest that our Father has for us through Jesus Christ. We enter this rest by faith; and when I do not have the strength to figure out why something is happening, I rest all the more in the finished work of Christ. He makes everything work together for my good because I love Him! I trust Him enough to remain in Him through faithful obedience: I cry out to Him in faith, “please receive this sinner, Father, into Your presence! Help me draw near to you when I am weak and my flesh is failing. Holy Spirit, come, and do what only You can do! I believe, help my unbelief!”

For me, the most horrible feeling I ever had in my life was that of permanent disconnection with God. I cannot even imagine how painful it must have been for Jesus to feel that on the cross. He endured it for us when He cried out loud, “eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani (my God, my God, why have You forsaken me)”. I remember that day, kneeling down to pray and feeling the terrible coldness. I got scared and started trembling all over my body, I cried like a baby and told God to please not abandon me – to please forgive me for making Him harden my heart by continuously grieving the Holy Spirit with idolatry and unbelief. I felt like I was literally dying! Oh, may the Holy Spirit remind me whenever He must of this fearful moment when the holy fear of God gripped my soul and led me to repentance. Hell (the absence of God) is far worse than any physical suffering I can ever go through here on earth!

Why am I sharing this with you? Because for the most part, I felt like a total failure this past week. I was in an intense spiritual battle of the mind, and my body was still weak. I knew all I had to know, that He was teaching my hands to war (Psalm 18:34). I knew I was going through the valley of humility in this season because I had prayed for more brokenness. Ah yes, you pray those prayers, right? Either out of sincerity or pride or most likely both, only God knows. Yet He loves those prayers! He leads you faithfully through it, helping you to face the truth about yourself that you are utterly lost if not for Jesus. Your mind is so corrupted and prone to sin and the enemy would totally have his grip over us if it were not for the blood of Jesus. Satan tries to keep you there: in shame and fear; he lies to you to identify with those sinful thoughts, he accuses you of being a failure, that God would not want you anymore. How could he possibly want you with all that you are? Child of God, how do you fight against this judging tongue? What do you say? Repeat after me:

Get behind me, devil! The blood of Jesus covers me and you must flee from me because it is written. I resist you and declare that I have died and now it is Christ who lives in me! I wear the new man, which has been renewed by the Spirit of God! I have the righteousness of Christ and I am blameless and spotless in His eyes. I live by it and I am a beloved child of God. God promises to me that I will never be in shame and disgrace anymore because of Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray! Amen!

God always led me in triumph through this kind of battle for years and years and yet, there seems to be a depth to knowing God that I cannot reach without going through it again, in a deeper way. There is a depth to this prayer that you can only know when you have had that intimate experience with God, and His Word has sunk into your heart. I can pray this prayer with faith for you, especially as I have the gift of faith, but I pray that you will get deeper with knowing God yourself, my friend! There are some times when we have to fall to rise up again. It is God’s way of refining us. I titled this post “And Some Of Those Shall Fall” and I got it from Daniel 11. Let me finish with this Scripture:

Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. (vv. 32-35)

Daniel was prophesying about Antiochus Epiphanes here who would bring about a great tribulation among the Israelites of such a measure that many would fall away from faith. Believe me, this Word is alive and active and still applies to us a 100%! The whole point here is that God arranged this. For what reason, would you ask. Notice the corruption and apostasy among THE PEOPLE OF GOD foretold in this chapter (remember the same foretold in the book of Revelation?). It says, however, that the people who KNOW God shall be strong and carry out great exploits. The people of God who UNDERSTAND shall instruct many. Yet, the persecution will continue and only become harder. Many of them will be killed, imprisoned and plundered. There will be only “a little” help (because God knows we need that). But by then, even some of those of understanding, who know God, shall fall. Again, God appointed this. Why? For refinement and purification. For them to be made white.

My friend, we must strive to know God and understand His will, the Word (read 1. Peter 1 and Colossians 1). It makes such a difference when you truly know Him through the Spirit – when His Word is engraved deep into your heart because you have encountered God as it is written about Him; it is all about relationship! And if you don’t have that, don’t give up! For even those who know and understand, even some of those must fall to grasp the gospel in a deeper way. If you have put your trust in God by believing in Jesus, God will finish the work which He has started in you. Only remember to remain in Him by doing what He has commanded us: to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are to love one another, we are to act according to His will for us in Jesus Christ: to rejoice always, to give thanks in all circumstances and to pray without ceasing. Do this and you will remain under the wings of God in Jesus Christ.

So yes, let us strive to love when we are hurting and in pain, knowing that our suffering leads us closer to Christ. Let us never relent in pursuing righteousness and fearing God because it heals us and gives us a better knowledge of who Jesus is. Let us love and forgive like never before because such testimony helps us overcome the enemy! Oh Jesus, thank You for Your blood. Thank You, Father, for giving us so graciously of all the spiritual blessings we have through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is a seal upon us until the day we get home. We trust You will get us there and rest in Your love today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Be encouraged and equipped for battle!

Update: PayPal

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Thank you so much for your support!

K.Y.E.O.J. – VII. a final word: ONLY THE SON

This is for the broken who are willing to go deep with God, deeper than ever. This is for those who have been consumed by anguish in their souls about their own sinfulness and cannot see how they should be deserving of any blessing from the Lord. Yes, this is for you who have been waiting on God’s promises and gone through much pain and suffering, only to come to a point of convicting exposure by the Holy Spirit – it is way more painful than anything happening on the outside because you realize how vile and evil your heart has been towards the Lord! You take one step of faith after another and the Spirit exposes the deepest thoughts of your heart, one step after another. ‘What the heck? What is happening?’ You do not want to acknowledge how corrupted your heart is because you are afraid, more afraid than ever. You are afraid to face the truth. You do not know how to pursue Him further. This is for you.

The Holy Week has started. This Friday, we commemorate the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. This Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I see too many passing the cross to go straight to the empty tomb. I see many who chose to bear the cross as Jesus did but refuse to do so now. They are torn and conflicted because they do not understand that the Lord is pulling them deeper; He is calling them deeper into the Way of the Lamb but they are blinded by the excruciating pain in their flesh. The enemy is rampant, desperate to tear this hesitating believer out of the Way. Reject the cross, he says! But of course, not so directly lest he is exposed and you choose Jesus instead. No, he gives you temptations here and there, he keeps tormenting your soul. Take this job, take this chance, this is the love you have dreamed of! The Lord promised you something, so He must do this.

No, no, no! Jesus refuted the tongue of the enemy three times:

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not test the Lord your God.’ ”

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Matthew 4:1-11

Look at how satan is tempting Jesus. It is excruciatingly painful for your flesh because the people who matter to you give you that look. They turn away from you. Your ministry is “not working”, you have no job, no money, nothing that the world would respect you for. No real family, no career, no glorious form. So it is tempting, for sure, to take that job, for example. All in all, that would fit in how God’s promise would be fulfilled, right? That is your thought. You also think it would be irresponsible, even foolish, not to take it. The reality is, however, that you have your own imaginations of how God should fulfill His promises and you got impatient. You do not realize it is Satan throwing those opportunities at you so that He can take you out of the wilderness that the Holy Spirit brought you in. Here, make this stone turn to bread. Do this, the Lord will protect you. Here, I will give you an audience for your ministry. Does that not feel good? Make them worship you!

Jesus! The only way out is Jesus! Look at Him, look at His life. Look at how humbly and lowly He walked on this earth as GOD incarnated. People said “Nazareth? Ew. How can something come out of Nazareth?” Yet the teachers marveled at the boy Jesus when He preached to them at the temple. Then he went home again and remained nameless there until He was thirty – in Nazareth, the despicable town! He had a rather insignificant job, taking care of his family, ministering to the seemingly insignificant people around him. What a grandeur it would have been, what an impact He could have made if He had already started His ministry with twelve! I cannot even wrap my mind around this, how is this possible? And what an honor if I am chosen to walk like this? It is by faith that I walk this road. Only Jesus in me is the real beauty of me. God made me fearfully and wonderfully, because I resemble Him in a way that I can walk like Jesus here on earth. It is a sanctification process. How wonderful when I am hidden and nameless and insignificant and decrease, because God knows and my reward is great in heaven! Oh, my reward is great when God is lifted high through my life!

Only the Son. Hide in God, just receive His love. Accept His goodness for your life that humble you. Because He took the cross, something we could not do at all until He came and lived it. He went to the cross with the hope of resurrection, He did only what the Father told Him to do. What an obedience, what a laid-down life! Do I think I can ever live this? I look at myself and I despair because I cannot. But I look at Jesus and tears run down my face because I know the One who is in me is greater than He who is in the world. Because I am grateful He would lead me like a shepherd down this valley of humility. Even in the darkest of those I am held and led by Him. He protects me, He surrounds me like a hedge of fire and leads me down to the tomb – to the tomb!

It is no longer I, but Christ who lives in me. I receive His love for me. I have no answers. That is gloriously perfect.

Thank you, Daddy. I trust you. That is all I have, Your Son. I lay down my will because I cannot even want to obey unless You help me. I’m here, take me. Mold me, do whatever You want! Only give me the eyes to see what You are doing, Holy Spirit. Only give me those eyes so that I can say thank you and praise the Lord! Oh, if you do that, I can know the Son deeper. Take me there.

K.Y.E.O.J. – VI. the narrow gate

Welcome to part 6! We are approaching the end of Lent and I have one last post coming up next week to wrap up this series. Hallelujah! Thank God for Jesus! We shall be left with nothing more than Jesus, that is my prayer in Jesus’ name.

Today we want to sit with Luke 13:23-27:

Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”

And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’

then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’

But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’

I oftentimes sense pride in people who say “only a few will be saved”. The way they say it implies that they are a part of the “few” and that the people they are secretly thinking of as they say it, are not. Most probably, they are looking around for approval while saying it, too. It can sound so very righteous, right?

I love the way Jesus answers: “strive to enter through the narrow gate.” He is telling the man that he himself must strive to be saved. The narrow gate is Jesus, he must believe in Jesus and Jesus only. Belonging to a group does not give you salvation. Doing all the good works does not give you salvation – that would be trying to enter through a different gate but Jesus. No, you need to believe in Christ yourself and you need a real, personal relationship with Him. The fruits of that relationship will show.

“Strive even to an agony; or as they did for the garland in the Olympic games, to which the word agonizomai, here used, seemeth to allude.” (Trapp) … It is necessary to strive to enter because there are many obstacles in the way. The world is an obstacle. The devil is an obstacle. Probably the worst obstacle is our own flesh.”
Enduring Word commentary on Luke 13

In the essence, it is a fight of faith. Look at other bible verses which use the word “agonizomai (strive)”:

“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” (1. Co 9:25)
“To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Col 1:29)
“Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” (Col 4:12)
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1. Ti 6:12)
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2. Ti 4:7)

Is it not an honor to strive for such a price? We do it with the power, love, and self-discipline of the Holy Spirit! Only with the help of the Holy Spirit will we be able to do it! Seek it, ask for it, and fight well the good fight of faith until only the name of Jesus remains in your heart! Until only Jesus sits on the throne of your heart! Do it again and again, go deeper and deeper with Him – know Him with the faith that you are known by Him. Let us strive to enter through the narrow gate until we finish the race.

Oh Jesus, thank you for believing in someone like me. Equip us for good works and train us! I choose to fight fiercely for my faith even today; to know you deeper, to have you as my only One in my heart. Your name be lifted high, Jesus. In Your name I pray for everyone who reads this. Amen.