Christian Behaviour

Me: Good morning Lord. Thank you for waking me this morning and for this beautiful new day you have made. Thank you for the colours of dawn, the birds that sing and the still cool of the day. I love you Lord.

Lord: Good morning Martin, Welcome to the club this morning. Thank you for your company on our walk and for your love. We love you too.

I want to talk this morning about the behaviour of my people. I have set standards for the conduct of those who are part of my kingdom. The standards begin with the commandments I gave to Moses. These are the minimum standard I want all my children to follow. Those who dare to say these are outdated and should be replaced, do not know me and have not accepted that my word stands forever. These ten commandments I gave to a people whom I had set aside, to be a special nation with me as their king. When I set aside my church to carry the Good News to the ends of the earth, I built upon these commandments, and I require my people under the new covenant to 'Love me with their whole heart and their neighbour as themselves.' My beloved son passed this summary of the ten commandments on to his disciples, adding, 'Love one another as I have loved you.' Although the world around you has abandoned my Word and would also abandon the commands I give to my children, I require that you hold on to them as a minimum standard.

I did not give my commandments to the nations around Israel, so they are not bound by them as my people are. When nations adopted them I was delighted and when laws of nations were founded on them I rejoiced, but mankind can only keep the laws I have given if they obey the command to love the Lord your God with all your heart. It is out of this the first command that the others follow, and man is given the desire and the power to keep them.

All Christian behaviour springs forth from loving me, and knowing that I love you. I want my children to delight in doing what is right, rather than out of fear of the consequences. I have placed into every human soul the ability to discern what is right and what is wrong. That knowledge is built into the fabric of your being. I have also built into man a delight when knowing that what he does is right. This delight is not to be mistaken for the adrenalin rush obtained by doing wrong, which is often mistaken for a thrill. Even the godless man knows when to hide his deeds.

When a small child does something for the first time or achieves the next step in development, parents are delighted and should freely show their delight, so that the child is sure they are doing right. In the same way I show my delight when my children are righteous, so that they may know that it is right to continue in the right path. Those who have my commandments will find it easier to discern what is right and what is wrong.

The commands I give are not to be seen as restrictions but as liberators. They may seem to be a lot of 'thou shalt nots', but in reality they keep you on a pathway that leads to the ability to fulfil your whole existence. I gave the commandments in love not wrath. Obey them in love, not fear.

Within the Christian fellowship godly behaviour is the norm. Ungodly behaviour is not acceptable and those who do what is wrong, and what is evil must be first corrected in love, and, if they fail to accept correction, shunned and put outside the fellowship, until such time as they accept the correction and repent. To continue to accept sin to remain in the midst of the fellowship is to condone sin, which will lead others astray.

Do not condemn those who live outside the fellowship of Christ, nor should you try to impose Christian standards upon them. Condemn the sin, but love the sinner and show them by example and by deed the ways of God.

The good news is all about Jesus forgiving sins and bringing complete salvation to those who live in darkness and sin. You cannot share this good news if you have pre-judged and condemned the sinner. Judging is not your role. It is for me to judge, and me alone. Share the gospel with all men and warmly and lovingly accept the repentant sinner. However, always remember that they will not be drawn to Jesus through you, unless they see something of Jesus in you. Jesus is perfect righteousness and love. Therefore be imitators of Him.

St Paul wrote to the church in Corinth on this subject. Read and understand what he was saying. 'Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.' Matt 5.16.

1 Corinthians 5 NIV
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgement in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Let everything that has breath, Praise the Lord

Me: Good morning Lord. Thank you for waking me this morning and for this new and beautiful day. Please help me today to stay in the centre of your will and, in all things glorify your name. I love you Lord.

Lord: Good morning Martin. Welcome to the club this morning and thank you for your company on our walk this morning. We love you too.

My children, do not go the way of the world, pursuing knowledge as though it was somehow God himself. Seek a relationship with My Son Jesus, get to know Him and follow in his ways. Lift your voices with him and worship Me the Creator of all that is. Lift your voices in praise and thanksgiving. Open your eyes and behold all that I have made. See how all things show my glory. From the farthest stars to the tiniest microbe, everything I have made bears my mark and proclaims the greatness of your God. The stars sing my praises as they go on their way. Every morning the birds wake up with a song of praise to me, and even those creatures and plants that you think of as silent, shout aloud as they praise my name. Yet, even though all creation acknowledges me, mankind, whom I made in my own image, is strangely silent, and often amazingly blind and deaf as he goes about his daily tasks.

Children, lift up your eyes and behold all that I have made for you to enjoy. Open your ears to hear the sounds of all creation praising me. Join with them and sing out the joy that I put into your heart. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

What is it that fills your mind today? Is it the desire to discover something new, or to learn a new skill? Or is it to make money, or just to do your best at whatever mundane task is allotted to you? Whatever your path today, begin by offering me all the praise you can muster. Look and see, listen and hear. Be glad in me that I have made you and have placed you where you are to love and worship me. As you enter into this world of praise and wonder, I will release in you such joy that your whole life will be changed. I will open your minds to the wonders I have made and will show you such things as pass man's understanding. I will help you press the frontiers of human understanding and expand the knowledge of the human race. As you seek first to praise me and know me, all other things shall be added to you in abundance. Fix your eyes upon Jesus and seek the Kingdom of God, and I, the Lord your God, will add to you such blessings that you will be amazed.

As you discover more about Jesus and about the things that I have made, share them, add them to your faith story that others may be enlightened and come to me.

Let everything that has breath, Praise the Lord. Psalm 150.6

My Spirit Filled Church

Me: Good morning Lord. Thank you for waking me this morning and for this new and beautiful day. I am so sorry when I fall short of the standard you have set. Please help me each day to grow more like Jesus and be nearer to you. I love you Lord.

Lord: Good morning son, Thank you for spending time with us this morning. We know your shortcomings and we are working all the time to help you, because we love you.

Remember your journaling can be about anything and everything we talk about. Even that which seems personal and private for you today is worth recording, so that when I have resolved it you can be encouraged and built up by the record of it. Not everything you record is necessarily for public consumption. A lot of our conversation is personal and private but it is always helpful to record it. A lot of St Paul's writing was to an errant Church. Most of those Church members would be horrified to think that every generation down the last 2000 years has read about their mistakes, but what a blessing it has been to my children. Let me be your guide.

Having someone to read through what we share together is good. It is good for the reader, and feedback is also helpful to you. I am pleased that when issues and questions have come up regarding what I have said, you have later questioned me and I have been able to clarify it for you.

Never underestimate the gifts I have given you. My Spirit knows you better than you know yourself, and distributes the gifts of the Spirit in the best possible way. If you have a gift of reading and understanding my Word then I want you to read it, understand it and share it with others. If you have the gift of empathy and feel the hurts and pains of others pray fervently for them. If you have wisdom beyond your age or discernment to recognise what is of me and what is not of me, then use those gifts as I direct.

Always be aware that you do not have all the gifts. My Spirit distributes the gifts around the Church so that all will benefit and grow. The Church is seriously in error when it expects one man or woman (the minister or priest) to be in possession of all the necessary gifts. My Church is a fellowship of believers, all of whom I have equipped for ministry. Recognise the gifts in each other, and rejoice to support each other and be fed and equipped by all the gifts as I distribute them. Never say, "I don't have this or that gift!" The Spirit often gives a gift to someone who has never manifested that gift before, because they are the person who is there and able to be a blessing at that moment. To be a prophet one day does not mean that all prophecy will be delivered by you at all times. To be used to deliver my gift of healing to a sick person does not make you the only healer. I would that all would use the gifts I give, all the time. They are not to be hogged, or guarded or made exclusive.They are distributed by the Spirit as and when they are needed. Be open to My Spirit and ready to be used, or to encourage others as My Spirit uses them.

When teaching and blessing young people, give them space to grow into the gifts and ministries I have for them. Do not despise their youth, or fear their mistakes. They will make mistakes just as you have. However, just as you have leaned by your mistakes, so will they. I am able to cover all they do so that no one is hurt or kept out of the kingdom. Indeed I will use their mistakes to glorify my name.

Remember that undergirding all the ministries of My Church, must be prayer. The prayers of righteous men and women work many miracles. This ministry may not be upfront or clearly seen by all, but it is essential and all prayer warriors should be kept informed and appreciated. Without their prayers the Church would be impoverished.

Watch out this week for the signs of My Spirit working. When you see those signs, rejoice and be glad and remember to journal them, that they may be an encouragement in the months ahead. I love you.

Hearing My Voice

Lord: I want to continue today on the theme of hearing my voice. It is helpful if those who want to hear me speaking to them, discard any pre-conceived ideas of what my voice sounds like. Except in rare instances, I do not speak in a human voice which you hear with your physical ears. I only resort to that when the hearer has nor made enough space to be quiet before me, or when their preconceived idea of what I sound like has caused them to reject my voice when I speak. It is an interesting deception because most people don't expect to hear me speak audibly, but that is what they are listening for!

When I created man I built into him the ability to receive communications directly from me. Man is a thinking being who is able to think abstract thoughts and to understand images  and icons. This is not something that has developed or 'evolved'; it is built into him by me. When you buy a new phone, you take it for granted that it will be able to connect to the network and do all the things the designer intended it to do. Many of the functions, like knowing where it is, what time it is and the date, happen without the user being conscious of it, but when you want to know the time it is there for you. So it is with man. I have built in these abilities which are always there for you to use. Sadly man has listened to the Evil One's lies too long, and has forgotten how to use many of the built-in functions of the human mind.

For example, man rarely questions, and almost never talks about, the constant discussion that goes on in his mind, weighing up the choices of doing what is right, or what is wrong. This debate is not part of the 'programming' nor is it instinct. This is Me speaking to you, helping you to make the right decision. When you begin to reason things out in your mind, it is Me that drops thoughts into the equation. It is Me that flags up warnings when the logic is faulty. So, discard any notions of an audible voice for the moment and work on recognising the inner voice, through which I make things known to you. Learn to hear me above the noise of the world, as counter arguments rush in to try and lead you astray.

As you begin to be aware of that still small voice inside your mind think about Me and try and recognise the love in my voice. Whenever I speak to any of my children, even when I speak a word of warning or rebuke, my voice is full of love for you. The Evil One would have you believe I am a God of wrath, always seeking to catch you out and exclude you from blessing, but this is a blatant lie. I love all my children and desire that all should be saved and enter into a full and perfect relationship with me. I am a wrathful God when it comes to sin and evil and I always seek to rid the earth of evil. But the sinner I love.

In the quiet of the space you have made to be with me, tell me of your love! Tell me about all the things that are dear to you and those which weigh on your heart. Then, in the silence, let me show you what I think of these things. I will drop thoughts into your mind. For example, you may say to me that you are concerned about someone's health, and then the thought comes into your mind that I am also concerned about that person's health. Knowing that I care also will lead you to pray more effectively, and you will be more open to Me to suggest that you pray with them for healing. Or it may be that you feel hurt by something someone has said to you. Bring it to me and let me love you and heal your hurt so that you can love and forgive the one who has hurt you. I am always ready to say 'I love you.' Are you always ready to love back?

Learn to hear my voice in the little ways. Practice listening and talking to me every day. Like playing the piano, this needs constant practice. As you become proficient in the little things, you will find that I am speaking to you more and more.

I mentioned journaling yesterday. Journaling is as important when it is one short sentence as when I give you pages of conversation. It becomes easier with practice. I will help you to write it down or type it, because recording it helps it to become part of you, and you can always refer back to an entry and be reminded.

Time and Space

 As I have taught you, so I want you to teach others, that I am always ready to have a deep conversation with them. The concept that I am remote and uninterested or too busy, is the product of those who are ignorant of a close relationship with me. My desire is to talk with all my children every day, without restrictions. I love you all, and as a good earthly father makes time for his children, so I make time for you. Come to me and create a space where we can be together. I have already created the space for you, now it is up to you to set aside a time to come into this space and be with me. I will help you but I will not force you. You Martin, have discovered the 5 o'clock club. Others will find that I have other clubs at different hours. The hour is not important. What is important is the discipline of making the time for me each day. This requires an act of will on your part. Whatever time you set aside for me, I will be there for you, because I love you.

Two Spaces:
If you want to really hear me and have meaningful conversations it is best at first, to look at our time together as two spaces.

The first is a time for us to be together, and love each other. For you Martin this has involved your intercessions for others and sharing with me the things that are on your mind. It's good to do this first as it helps to clear the mind of all the things you feel you ought to be praying for. But it is also a time for us to catch up each day and talk about the matters that pertain to each day and the people and needs you are concerned about. As you have discovered, these are good times, when I often do the most talking, or when your mind seems to wander, but when you look back you realise it has been guided in its thought-train by me.

The second space requires discipline and a quiet place where you are not distracted or interrupted. This is the inner chamber spoken of in the Old Testament. You have found it helpful to think of yourself switching off the right side of your brain and switching on the left side. To some extent this is true. You need to lay aside the formal way of thinking, where reason is in control, and just be aware of the silence. For it is in the quiet and the stillness, when your brain isn't busy processing input, that the spiritual world, where I dwell, comes into focus, and the sounds of Heaven become more clear. This is the area of inspiration. The art of using this space is to resist the temptation of letting your mind analyse every thought, and let the images and ideas flow. Ask your questions, and see what thoughts I drop into your mind. Look with your inner eye and see what pictures I will show you, and listen with your inner ear to hear what sounds I play you.

Write it down:
Do not be afraid to write it down. As you have discovered Martin, when you begin to write down what you are seeing, hearing or thinking, you become aware of my voice, and the words begin to flow. All the prophets I have raised up over the centuries have been instructed by me to write what they are given. You have found that the daily journal of our conversations is useful to refer back to, and others find it helpful to read what we have talked about.

Don't be afraid to write down everything, for as you read it back later, I will help you make sense of it.

Share it:
Whenever I speak to my children it is relevant and important. Sometimes I speak to you personally to tell you how much I love you, or to guide you over something that is troubling you. Sometimes I give you words of encouragement or correction for others. Often I will give you words to share for the upbuilding of the church. These words I want you to share, so that all my children may be blessed. This ability to hear me speaking and record what I say is not just for a few special people to practise, somehow setting them apart from others; this is something I want all my children to engage in. I want you all to hear my voice and I want you all to be channels through which I can speak and teach. I love you.

The Seventh Day

Lord: In creation I set an example I want you all to follow. I am God Almighty, and do not need to rest. Indeed if I were to stop upholding  all things they would surely cease to exist. But I worked on Creation for six days and on the seventh day I rested, and sat back and enjoyed all I had made. It was not because I was tired and needed the rest, but I did it as an example for man to copy.

    Work for a maximum of six days and then sit back and rest. Bless what you have done and enjoy the moment as you see the works of your hands. Use the day of rest to bless others by sharing with them, walking with them, and talking with them. It is a misunderstanding to think of the seventh day as a day to worship me, or the day you give to the Lord. Every day needs to be handed to me so that I can bless it for you and give it back to you. By all means worship me on the seventh day, but no only on the seventh but every day. No, the seventh day is a day for rest from your labour. It is a day to be with your children and family. A day to give precious time to friends. It is not a day for selfishness or indulgence but for company and fellowship.

    I created the seventh day for man, to be a blessing to him, and to help him to be a blessing to those around him. Man is not an island and much as people like their own company and often want to be alone, I made him a social being, with the gift of being able to uplift and bless those around him and to be uplifted and blessed by others. Do not allow yourselves to become isolated and cut off.

    Share with others and be enthusiastic about your faith. Recover the first love you had at the beginning. rejoice with others in their faith and in their discoveries about me. Never dampen their excitement as they see me working. I really delight in childlike wonder and awe as my children discover new things and are quickened by life.

    Make the seventh day of each week a day of discovery, sharing and wonder, and you will soon find that every day becomes that too. I love you

Made in My Image

Lord: A lot of the Psalms you have been reading may well seem to the modern ear like pathetic begging Psalms. But if you look behind the songs at the situations that caused them to be written, you will find that they are songs of people who were learning to trust me. True, many of the people rebelled against me and did anything but trust in me, but their songs have not been recorded lest they cause others to follow them. I want my people to trust me and to realise that they are wholly dependant upon me. If I cease for one moment to look upon my creation, all the things that you know and take for granted would cease to exist, and it would be as though creation had never existed. My special gift to all those who trust in me and love me, is that when I finally cause all creation to cease to exist, and that includes evil, they will have a share with me in a life I have always known, far more wonderful than anything mankind can ever begin to imagine.

Eternal life isn't just more of earthly life; that would hardly be anything worth looking forward to. No, eternal life is coming home to me and being restored to the oneness of God. The reason I love mankind so much is that I breathed into the nostrils of man the breath of life; I gave him a part of myself. I gave this gift to no other creature on Earth. Even though Earth is filled with wonderful and exotic creatures, it was only mankind that was made in my image.

Mankind is unique. He has not evolved from other creatures, even though his physical form bears a resemblance to other created beings. Man is unique in his ability to reason, love and discern right from wrong, and in being self aware. Man's body is ageing, like all created things. This tendency to decay is not really part of the original plan, although I never intended the earth to last forever. However, man's ability to reason, love and discern right from wrong and be self aware, is still all intact. Neglected yes, but he is, with my help, still able to use these qualities to the full. The way to quicken them in your being is to be aware of me and to stay close to me.

The psalmist is always extolling my ability to care for and protect my loved ones, and this I always do. The evil ones do not in the grand scheme of things ever prosper. They may gain wealth and earthy power, but it does not profit them eternally. The righteous may seem to suffer and be suppressed and cast down, but I see all things, and on the last day I will raise him up to heights unthought of, and all the pain and suffering of the past will seem like no more than a mild headache.

I am always ready and willing to perform the miracles you crave, if only you would pray in the mind of the spirit and in accord with my will. Watch and pray, and stay close to me, for I love you and will always love you. You are mine.

Sent from my iPad from York.