Posted: 10/05/2008 at 1:45pm | IP Logged

One Watchman's View
Clay Sikes
Oct 5, 2008

Posted: 10/05/2008 at 11:08pm | IP Logged

Great question/statement Amber,

The kingdom ( government)of darkness is fallen, as it is corruption, death. It has access through man, meaning sin..the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Whatever is built upon such, will fall as the dwelling of is built on sand. The rains come, the winds, blow, the floods come and great is the fall of it, as sand is no sure( remaining) foundation.

Yes indeed, they were fallen before they fell.

Posted: 10/06/2008 at 6:11am | IP Logged

Dear Amber:

I am also excited with your questions. They are more than valid and practical questions, they are some fundemental issues seldom being taught and explained rightly in a man-centered Christian culture.

I believe, faith lies in the center the matter. Faith, hope and love, these are particularly defined in Pauline eptistles. Faith have to do with our identification in Christ as sons of God in the eternal realm, which governs all in all.

By this kind of faith, we are to make things holy-forgive their sins and give life to them and appropraite them into Kingdom usages.

If you read 1 Cor th eportion concering the principle applied by Paul to meat sacrificed to idols, you will see a totally unconvetional picture and practice through the kind of faith he was preaching. This is even alien to most of us today.

With this faith, we live in and through His authority and power and the world would have nothing to do with us even we are in this world.

Posted: 10/06/2008 at 1:52pm | IP Logged

Some thoughts here...

I think simplifiing is good, yet there is nothing in itself( the simplifing) that produces righteousness, right-relating-relationship. It is in the appropriating principals of the Kingdom of God that dissipates the kingdom of darkness( sin and death at work).

In the US where corporation capitalization is the rule of thumb, greed is very much self evident. In the 1400's a law in England was made that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb, hence the term of `rule of thumb'. I use it in this instance in the showing of the abuse upon another for self-gain, self-gratification, etc. and the esteeming of one's self over another. Economically we have chosen, in our liberty, for the pursuit of our happiness. We determined it was no longer God our Father through Christ Jesus and His suffiency( grace, the might of His arm) we were in need of, but rather self-sufficient.

It takes a people to erect and worship a god such as has been built, 'as a man thinks in his heart, so is he'. A god unto himself erecting a god unto himself. What has been raised up is a beast or in another term, a monster. A structual deviation from His character.

How do we bring down this monster?  we co-labor with Him, in His Sovereignty. We disciple..teach, not with enticing words of mens wisdom but in demonstration of Spirit and power( rule over)...the `monster', beast of which we all have been entrenched to one degree or another. < This I am speaking to His church, His called out ones. While called out of, as you said Amber, we're in the world not of it, we have still yet been operating `of the world.'  Speaking as a whole, yet not all. So, it is not in word only, but in deed and in Truth..a life lived.

It really is not in the having or not having `stuff' but the place of it within our hearts. We can make a god of both and/or be filled with pride in either or. Paul said, I know how to be abased and I know how to abound...I can do all things through Christ which strengthens( postionally empowers) me. Just as Sun has brought out, `positionally empowering' is in His authority or can say, it is Christ which postionally empowers me in His Authority to do all things...knowing how to be abased and how to abound.

 I look forward to the day when we truly walk in commonality, where there is no division, separation..all of which truly His Kingdom builds and plants and throws down, destroys, roots out and pulls down.

 In whatever sphere of this life, be it family, government, communities, business, media, etc. is for the purpose of advancing( bringing forward) His Kingdom( His Government) manifesting the King...His thoughts producing ways. The knowledge( discernable appearing) of the glory of the Lord filling the earth as the waters cover the sea.

really appreciate what you are sharing here Amber and Sun,

mucho Love

Posted: 10/06/2008 at 2:29pm | IP Logged

My friend Mid responded to this word by saying it was confirmation and that God had told her to rally the body of Christ together for corporate prayer on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 because that was the ending date of Ramadan....

it is also the beginning of Yom Kippur from sundown the 8th until the 9th of October. She senses an urgency for prayer to happen....

so, sound the alarm.... its time for corporate prayer...  

Posted: 10/07/2008 at 1:53am | IP Logged

Hi Amber, you asked:

I know that "living more simply" won't come without its problems, temptations and challenges. But has anyone out there left the rat race to do so? If so, how has it changed your lives?

Yes, I would probably say that I have left the rat race.  As Kathy says, it has nothing to do with righteousness, but it has decluttered my life so that I am free to indulge as much time as I like on the Lord.  For me this is extremely precious, something I have longed for since first coming to know Jesus 9 years ago.  Not everyone feels this call to simplicity or to spending so much time just being in His presence and praying, but I have and have responded.  Of course, being single has made this a lot easier as I haven't had to consult anyone else.  I feel very priviledged to be in a position to be able to do so.

Love Mandy

Posted: 10/07/2008 at 11:44am | IP Logged

Good stuff here! Yes Mandy and Amber, that is what I was referring too: we can declutter or simplify and still yet not obey His voice to `come away My beloved.'

I am reminded of Ruth. Naomi representing Holy Spirit, Ruth says to her, I will go where you go and I will lodge where you lodge..

We are graced in whatever situation by Holy Spirit, living our life unto the Lord and following Him as He leads.  Life in the Spirit( there remains a rest to the people of God) .. and in just bringing back what Sun shared about faith..trust in Him Who is Faithful through our troubles( tribulation), there is a entering His Kingdom of righteousness, joy and peace.

There are those who have gone through and are going through horrendous situations, but the Light of His glory shines through in Whom they are looking too and I think that's all the difference, don't you?  We can look to one's own self for a `way' out, or the things of this world for a `way' out or escape from and soforth. Yet, with David we say to our soul, hope(trust) you in God( He Who is above all)!...hey, just preachin' to myself lol

Love ya's

Posted: 10/07/2008 at 12:59pm | IP Logged

Hi Amber,

Perhaps this quote from Wayne Jacobsen's "The Deepest Freedom" could help you in your journey to "the place I long to be..."

"The trick is learning how to live each day in the expectancy of God's working in the circumstances of my life, without giving in to the expectation that it must look any particular way to satisfy me. I have begun to taste of the freedom of that kind of trust, and it is the most incredible reality I've yet to find in his love.

"Imagine the freedom of no longer having to try and manipulate God or others toward your desired outcome. Instead, you can simply find out what he is up to, and though it will often seem more painful in the short-term than you might want, his ways are always the best -- not only in resolving our circumstances but transforming us through them.

"A number of years ago I read a book about a man playing the last rounds of golf with his terminally ill father around the famed courses of Scotland. Early on that trip he realized how little he enjoyed golf because his only goal was to shoot the lowest score possible. Whenever he got an unlucky bounce or hit a bad shot he'd sulk for the next few holes and play even worse.

"That's when his father taught him to play NATO golf--Not Attached To Outcome. In other words, his father told him, don't worry about the score, just enjoy the challenge of hitting each shot as well as you can. When it goes off track, go find it and figure out the best shot you can hit from there. Let the score take care of itself and even if you don't have a good round you still get to enjoy a walk in a beautiful park and the friendship of your partners.

"Perhaps we should learn to live each day Not Attached To Outcome.  Wouldn't we be truly free if we could do the same on our own spiritual journeys? Instead of being so focused on the outcomes we desire, we could simply trust that regardless of the outcome, God is doing his work in and through us. Now instead of wasting our time with him trying to get him on our page, we can simply enjoy our fellowship with him as he moves us to his. And believe me, it is a lot more peaceful walking with God on his page, than constantly trying to figure out how to get him on yours."

Posted: 10/07/2008 at 1:10pm | IP Logged

"The trick is learning how to live each day in the expectancy of God's working in the circumstances of my life, without giving in to the expectation that it must look any particular way to satisfy me.

NATO - Not Attached To Outcome"

Maria sister... I LOVE this word from the Lord through you.... THANK YOU!! hugs

Posted: 10/07/2008 at 2:08pm | IP Logged

"Life as we have known it is in major transition (change) as Kingdom events are ushering in Kingdom men and women. Many are called to this era, yet few will walk in its fullness: the clear separation being those who will embrace change, and those who will not. Those who cling to ‘tradition’ and to their old ways will never rise to the place of appointment. Ironically, some of those in the most danger of missing this assignment are strangely those most qualified to walk it out – older saints, who have been purged of self, yet remain tied to certain traditions (comfort zones)."

This is mainly about the mind of man in conflict with God's. I hate to name it as a potter mentality, but that is just what it is.

Those who think they are rich are really the most miserabe in God's eyes. Be careful with what we think we know, less we fall.

This is hardest to older saints, who have struggled so much in the tradition of man and have a hard time to welcome the freedom and grant others freedom to walk in the newness of the things God is so richly blessing us now.

Be free and set others free. Somehow we all have to learn it as a culture and our "natural life".

Posted: 10/07/2008 at 9:47pm | IP Logged

Kris:

I did not write that. Brother Clay Sikes wrote that. And I know it speaks a great truth and ongoing reality now for many.

Actually I just had a discussion with one who is from an older generation of the same concern. 

It is so illuminating to witness that Samuel and Elijah could not fully comprehend the reality of God dawning in their very eyes. And that is okey.

Mistakes will not hinder us to be used by God. It is unfaithfulness and unbelief hindered us the most.

Posted: 10/07/2008 at 10:39pm | IP Logged

amen Kriston,

it is in our weakness that His strength is made perfect..is accomplished.  We are in a continuing process of transformation. You know we may have fought the lion and the bear and overcoming by His Spirit, as He taught our hands to war and then comes Goliath rearing his head. This uncircumcised philistine..within our own soul. In the weakness of the sling and stone the enabling power of Holy Spirit is made known..He uses the weak, the base things of this world to confound the wise. Evenso, our wisdom in our own sight is brought down and His is exalted.

Experientially speaking, when all strength is gone, He has carried me. Further down the road, He then placed me by His side and we walked hand in hand. Further still, down the road, He walked ahead and said, follow Me. In each `phase' His goodness and grace abounded in my utter and complete weakness.

You wrote, " His answer was, "Because you are weak!" and so I am, and have been weak and prone to great failure. If you all knew me and the mistakes I have made you might not even read anything I have written...

I have had great victories and made BIG mistakes as well... "

Yes! I think we can all very much relate to that. It isn't that the righteous don't fall, but that they get back up...and each time, i think, we get back up with `less of us' ..coming to know intimately..not by power nor by might but by My Spirit says the Lord.

Lord knows, I've most definitely have not fully apprehended....but this one thing I will do, is keep on pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Our heart is fixed trusting in Him Who is Faithful.

Love and blessings all,

Posted: 10/08/2008 at 10:58am | IP Logged

amen again Kriston,

it is not about our inabilities or abilities, but He Who resides within and among us, as His own. 

 Lori St. Clair brought something out quite sometime ago in sharing this, Quote, "You cannot resurrect what is not yet dead." Jesus declared. And "It takes four days to raise the dead." Father said.
why?
Because He imparts His life... in four days.. He doesn't just restore our life.
"Mary and Martha is what man can do for me... but Lazarus... is what I can do for man." spoke Father." end quote

He is the Ressurection and the Life..Glory to God!

Posted: 10/10/2008 at 5:26am | IP Logged

Dear Amber and all here ...

I like this question:

I know that "living more simply" won't come without its problems, temptations and challenges. But has anyone out there left the rat race to do so? If so, how has it changed your lives?

And I like this following word as it speaks to something very deep.

Posted: 10/11/2008 at 1:17am | IP Logged

Larry said:

Now, what come of this is an up front and working realtionship with Our Lord.... is peace... in that what you begin to experience is moderation. Moderation in that you do not fear what you do not have, and in this state of mind you learn to do with what you have - being creative with what you do have!

Amen Larry!!!

Its amazing how creative you become.  I see it as an adventure.  An adventure into trust of our Father and new ways of seeing and doing things.  Not that they are really new ways, just new to me and the mindset I have grown up with.  Leaving the common way of doing things (the world's ways) is like taking the stabilizers off your bike and discovering through experience that you can do it without - in fact more successfully!  For me its an issue of learning to trust (I mean really put your whole weight on) the things Jesus said about the provision, care and attentiveness of our Father.

Love Mandy

Posted: 10/12/2008 at 9:04am | IP Logged

Dear Mandy....

You said...

... and life just becomes incredibly simple that way!!!

That Way my love.... is as far as I can see.... via my election to look into the Kingdom is the WAY!!

To venture down within ourselves to seek what Our Father has put there , when once we begine to give time to that we at first what the Kingdom is, then we learn to set there , and then as we learn we beging to see how every thing that is done is a matter of love, joy, and peace.

IN the Spirit we become creative in both aspectof who we are in that we can see how thing relate in the physical and then we beging to learn how this way also add and or creates others just as God has created us. To love is to created one another so to speak.

The first manifestations of a creative adventure into another beings soul  (via the Gifts of the Spirit) is to manifestes you patience with them as you both see and feel in the Spirit = seeing in the Spirit where Our Father is in his love for them. When we see what He is doing then in just being with some one to confirn that love is creating and as you have shared : WHAT AN ADVENTURE!

Hugs to all here < Bro Larry

Posted: 02/05/2009 at 8:59am | IP Logged

Wanted to repost as my friend reminded me of this word I had sent to her from Open Heaven ....It's certainly a word for today!

Beverly Miller

Posted: 02/06/2009 at 7:40am | IP Logged

Hi Kathy ~

your welcome !

Bev