Hello My Friends, and Brethren:

I hope this finds you well from a spiritual standpoint.. The title has everything to do with one's growth in the Spirit of God, and one's reliance upon HIM for council.. This does require faith, and it a vital part in working out one's wonderful GIFT of LIFE eternal through the Author of this unearned blessing... No matter what is having to be endured from a physical standpoint... Working out one's wonderful Gift of salvation is not an easy task in a world that essentially is living contrary to God's will as scripture points out.. Which is why the saints are referred to as strangers on this earth, and our Savior declared to Governor Pilate while on trial that HIS kingdom is not of this world.. Dramatic change will have to occur for the spiritual situation on earth to change, and that will require very dramatic, as well as a very forceful response once our Messiah does return to put an end to this deception, and rebellion against the will of the Most Holy One.. Until that time, we are to remain as ambassadors representing the Truth, and Way of His kingdom in how we live our lives in Christ Jesus while working out the greatest Gift one will ever receive of God Himself.. Who in every way represents Life eternal...

Prayer, study with the guidance through full reliance upon the Spirit of God, as well as fasting helps in this endeavor as we all should know of course.. But realizing just how vulnerable we truly are if we are genuinely relying upon the our Beloved Savior as our Spiritual Guide through the darkness that this world is shrouded in... Without the full reliance upon God's Spirit as our physical lives are being lived out, we can be so easily mislead spiritually.. Which in turn will effect our decisions made, as well as giving in to the desires that God considers sinful..

I was reading an article concerning a women who had been charged with a crime in Britain for simply standing outside of an abortion clinic... She was ask by a policeman if she was praying.. She did not give the appearance of praying, but in her thoughts she admitted to actually be beseeching God on behalf of those individuals who are seeking to essentially sacrifice the child within their wombs... I found it interesting that the authorities in Britain would actually ask her such a question, and base their judgment on what she was thinking... What would bring the nation of Britain to the point of arresting folks for thinking about God in pray form?.. Not necessarily on one's knee's, or even bowing one's head... This spiritual war is ramping up quite significantly, and actually shows just how desperate, and threatened these forces that represent the antithesis of what our Creator God stands for as we draw closer to the end of this age in the coming years... Here is the link: https://www.wnd.com/2022/12/thinking...-became-crime/

This is not surprising actually as the power of prayer is actually effective against the principalities that represent spiritual darkness... Recall that our Savior was actually chastened, and told to leave the area of Gerasenes after casting out legion by the residents of that area.. Interesting how lost human nature can become when sin is at the forefront of how people live their lives... The people of Judea wanted to be healed physically, but did not want their the very sinful traditions that they had grown accustomed to practicing to be tampered with... The very reason why the Lord God had to instruct them quite often after healing them to go, and sin no more...

Lets look at this account, and see the irrational response to our Savior by the residents of this area when this demon was cast out.. Notice there was fear rather than relief... It almost seems these individual had grown accustomed to this demonic possession, yet at the same time terrified of the man who Legion had taken over spiritually... What should have been a time of joy, and gratefulness for God's intervention, as well as the man possessed no longer having to be tortured, the opposite response was rendered... This is a sure sign of spiritual enslavement, and even though they knew of the Lord God, the reality is these people did not know HIM... Luke chapter 8 records this account, and the people of Judea did not comprehend the time of their visitation by our Redeemer Jesus Christ, and instead of receiving HIM with adoration, their hardness of heart caused great fear within them:

"26 So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. 27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town.
28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil[b] spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.
30 Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.[c]
32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs.
So Jesus gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.
34 When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. 35 People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 36 Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them

I have often thought about this situation, and as we near the end of this age before HIS return, the resistance to repent in accordance to God's will continues to become more, and more neglected... The gospel of grace, which requires one to overcome sin, (not just be forgiven for it through our Savior), but instead has been redefined as a license to sin, or God's commandments have been rewritten to adjust to the narrative that dominates the world we live in... We have to ask ourselves will we know the Lord God when HE does return, or because of neglect of one's calling in HIM through the lack of obedience to what our Savior truly defines, and is just in the Father's eye's, will the beast who will be unleashed from his spiritual imprisonment at the blowing of the 5th trumpet (see Revelation chapter 9) be worshiped.. How we live our lives, and thirst for the Living Water our Savior represents will have a bearing on understanding, and perceiving this grand delusion as it unfolds...

Drinking from the the cup of abominations that represent spiritual debauchery that spiritual Babylon wields, will again only lead to one falling away from God.. While being mislead by the creation because of the emphasis on preserving one's physical life.. Rather than the focus being on the Holy Spirit, repentance when necessary, and having the ability to overcome the world by embracing wholeheartedly the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE our Savior represents within our own spirits... Allowing for supernatural means, rather than the WORD of GOD, and the fruit that one bears when adhering to the precepts, and principles of our Omnipotent Creator, is certainly going to be a vital test for the saints...

One that will require one to have their lamp's, and vessel's filled with oil.. Symbolically meaning that our inner most being's are filled with God's presence through His Most Holy Spirit.. To maintain HIS presence means one is continually seeking to grow in the knowledge, and grace of our Father in heaven.. Rather than assuming the position our Savior alone should assume in one's life by dictating to God how we shall live our life.. While using His Name in a vain effort to justify, and fool oneself into believing that they are pleasing HIM...

Our Creator, and Savior is not impressed, nor pleased when one allows for HIM to be usurped in one's own heart, and mind by making decision contrary to His Sovereign will.. HE died to ensure we come out of this spirit of rebellion that again only succeeds when one is drinking from the wrong cup, and therefore consuming the wrong type of water.. Again, this is where listening to the Spirit of God, rather than adhering to one's misguided spiritual desires, as well as seeking those who will assuage one's itching ears in the process to ensure justification is complete within the heart, and mind of those who are in reality exercising the role of a foolish virgin.. Matthew chapter 25 reminds us that those who neglected so great a calling by not fully disciplining themself to listen to the Spirit of God, were not know by our Savior when the process of resurrection begins at the blowing of the 7th, and last trumpet of God...

These neglectful saints will have to endure great tribulation, trial, and refinement by fire so to speak, in order to ensure we know God via reliance upon His Spirit alone... So that HE will most surely know us... Working out one's salvation does require work folks... This unearned Gift of life eternal from our Savior will expose our works through faith in HIM when trials come, and as we near the end of this age tribulation... If the saints who are alive at that point in time have not worked out their salvation during the time of tribulation, rest assured that Father, and Savior will make sure that this process will be made complete during the Great Tribulation..

The time when the beast, or man of sin will rule the world, and require worship as God... So it would be wise to ensure remaining steadfast in one's calling no matter what one's physical situation is... Because the 1260 day period of time after tribulation that Jesus referred to us Great Tribulation will be quite trying, but edifying for those who must be refined to prepare to receive eternity in HIS fullness.. Life of course being our Savior, and how HE defines Himself to be as the Word of God...

Sadly, mankind has made the mistake of instructing the Master Potter, our Wonderful Creator on how we should live our lives from a moral standpoint, as well as how HE is to be worshiped... God already has set up rules for how we are to conduct ourselves on His earth, but I guess HE is just not perfect enough... So the clay finds it necessary to instruct the Potter on how to run HIS earth... The very reason why Jesus has to return to restore God's righteousness, and HE will do so with a rod of iron as Revelation chapter 19 reminds.. If mankind cannot simply exercise HIS desire for us, God will enforce what has always been best, and would bless humanity if practiced, and adhered to:

"11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is calledThe Word of God.14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.16AndHe has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

Sad mankind has to learn the hard way... Even when God shows grace, and mercy, it is redefined in order to fit the very narrative the Son of the Father suffered, and died to ensure we have the opportunity to overcome, and magnify the WAY, and TRUTH that HE alone represents as the Word of God.. God bless, and I hope His sabbath was edifying in every way that is good, and right for all of us.. Take care..