ARCI – 2020 March 1: Boat of Salvation – A Battleship not a Cruise Ship! Reaction: Buried or Planted? No love for man, no love for God!

ARCI – 1 March 2020

When we hear of Salvation

Yeshua Hamashiach – Jesus the Messiah / The Anointed One
Yeshua — Kiswahili >> Mashua = Boat
Picture >> Noah’s Ark = Boat of salvation

… I thought it (salvation) was life to be lived comfortably >> a cruise ship

That I could sit back and relax >> cruise ship experience
But very quickly learning that it is a battle ship…
>> Requiring all hands on deck…engaged & involved at the front…
>> There is no free ride in the boat of salvation…so to speak
For from the time of John the baptist till now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence & the violent / determined take it by force…Matthew 11:12

Apparently, the Blood of Jesus just paid for me to get into the boat??

But in the boat I encounter things & experiences that I did not expect…
…possibly through my ignorance or wrong expectations
>> For my people perish or are destroyed for lack of knowledge….Hosea 4:6
…and the level of my experience in the journey of salvation, whether positive or negative, is determined by what I brought on board and what I managed to get rid of, what I know or do not know, what I do or do not do…and so on…
>> Is that why I have to work out my salvation with fear and trembling …Philippians 2:12
… essentially figuring / seeking out the protocols of salvation & walking / living it out with the seriousness that it deserves
>> a matter of life & death or as through going through a life or death experience
….If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved–even though only as one escaping through the flames….1 Corinthians 3:15 (NIV)

Basically, we are to live a life worthy of the calling we have received in Christ, by bearing His fruit (from the True Vine) so as to bring glory to the Father & proving that we are indeed true disciples of Christ.

Ephesians 4:1 -3 (NIV)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

John 15:8 (NIV)

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

A tree was not designed to eat its own fruit

>> Similarly, the fruit of the Spirit that the True Vine produces in & through me was not designed to be (only??) eaten by me

But was designed to be eaten by others
… and my fulfillment comes from that
So that others may taste & see that the Lord is good in me and through me
…for the kingdom & glory of God
>> Bearing much fruit for the glory of the Father…John 15

Loving God and being filled with God alone is not the only aim of the life of salvation

We also need to demonstrate the love and power of God …
>> this can only be done or demonstrated through others
>> By sharing His fruit with them
>> For even the Father so loved that world that He also gave….John 3:16

Loving others demonstrates our love for God & the Love of God

… the fruit of love needs to be expressed to another for the sweetness of the fruit to be tasted and enjoyed
..similar to the fruits of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control
>> People are the ones that can validate the fruits expression (its maturity / its sweetness)
…and in the process give thanks to the Father
… as they taste and see that the Lord is good, in me and through me…Psalm 34:8

Possibly why we are urged to

Love God & similarly to love man as ourselves

1 John 4:20 (NIV)

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

So I should keep this in mind when being thoroughly irritated by

That spouse
That wayward child that you want to slap the stupidity out of them
That irritating relative
That difficult boss or colleague
That member of the praise and worship team…

Reacting to the battles

…in the battleship of salvation

COMBAT Friday recap >> Prophet Don

Story of Mephiboseth
Crippled & abandoned by Ziba – his helper
Lost & forgotten in Lo-debar

>> When people let you down,

…they have given God the opportunity to pick you up

For He is a jealous God ( of His Glory??) & will not share His Glory with another
>> I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images…Isaiah 42:8 (NKJV)
>> For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God…Exodus 34:14 (BSB)

…and raise you to a place only He can

…changing the equation of your situation

> by bringing light to a dark situation
>> by changing a curse into a blessing
>>> by bringing life into a dead situation
Mephiboseth was brought by his enemy to feast in the Kings palace
>> The Lord set a table before him in the presence of his enemy…Psalm 23:5

A story is told of a donkey…

A farmer had an old donkey that fell into an dry well.
After thinking through and seeing it was a hopeless situation to save the donkey
…the farmer called the neighbors to bury the animal instead
At first the animal complained and cried out as dirt was thrown on it
…but after awhile the people were surprised that it kept quiet.
They decided to keep shoving dirt into the pit to finish the job
But unknown to them, the donkey would shake off the dirt and step on it
…put it under your feet / feet of Jesus in you

>> Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you…1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

>>Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand….Psalm 37:24 (NKJV)

>> Surely God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul…Psalm 54:4 (BSB)

>> Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken….Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

>> The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down…Psalm 145:14 (NKJV)

>> Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass…Psalm 37:5 (NKJV)

>> Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all….Psalm 34:19 (NKJV)

>> Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”…Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)

…pretty soon it was able to climb out of the pit and walk to its freedom

What is thrown at you does not matter as much as how you react to it

>> God can use your problem as a stepping stone to your elevation & breakthrough

>> When in a dark place,

You may think that you have been buried
…. but it may just be that you have been planted

Sister Christine encouraging us on Friday

At times your unusual situation may just be a place that God is maturing you
… so that like fine wine
> you taste better & sweeter to the world when He finally releases you
> …the world gets to appreciate you more

Be encouraged

>> Turn your mourning into joy…as you give thanks to God in all situations

God is awaiting your reaction to your situation…
…in order to take up or move into the situation
>> It depends on your (act of) faith and the condition of your heart

But He promises

To never leave you nor forsake you…Hebrews 13:5
That His plans for you are always for good and not bad, to give you a future and a hope…Jeremiah 29:11
That He shall always reward pleasing faith in Him & His Word…Hebrews 11:6

Indeed

1 Peter 4:12

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

Revelations 2:10

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Acts 14:22

strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

Romans 5:3

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

Romans 8:37

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Psalm 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Revelations 3:21

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

AMEN!!