The Tapestry In Heaven

Planting and Watering - Part 3

1 Corinthians 3:5–7 (The Living Bible) 5 Who am I, and who is Apollos, that we should be the cause of a quarrel? Why, we’re just God’s servants, each of us with certain special abilities, and with our help you believed. 6 My work was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos’ work was to water it, but it was God, not we, who made the garden grow in your hearts. 7 The person who does the planting or watering isn’t very important, but God is important because he is the one who makes things grow.

Part 3

THE TAPESTRY IN HEAVEN

“Seeds are being planted and watered, but only God can cause the growth”. This is part three of a seven part series for all who are seeking Him; and is given to The Glory and Honor of He Who Sits Upon the Throne and the Lamb Who Was Slain. It is not for commercial sale or publication. A free pdf copy may be obtained by contacting us at: www.tohisgloryministry.com . All rights reserved © Copyright 2015. Each part may be copied in its entirety and distributed for private non-commercial sale or publication provided all individual scripture copyright conditions are complied with.

PRAISE AND GLORY BE UNTO OUR GOD AND KING!

A couple of years ago the Lord put it on my heart and gave me a word picture in my mind of a woven tapestry in heaven. I knew the tapestry was in His presence. I looked very carefully at the tapestry itself. Woven with many, threads of the most vibrant colors imaginable, many of which are beyond the ability of us as humans to see, imagine or even describe. Some of the scenes woven into the fabric are very majestic, yet simple and clearly understood by all, even the simplest child. Some have patterns and scenes well beyond anything we have ever seen on earth, things we cannot understand as well as that which is beyond what we could ever imagine. The scenes, the colors and threads all are woven together perfectly; the edges are bound and finished in perfect harmony.

Looking upon this, one immediately knows it is perfect without a single thread out of place. The brilliance, the majesty, and the glory shown by this tapestry is the Glory of God; because it is The Word of God. When one looks at this tapestry again and again everything is in complete harmony and ties together perfectly without confusion. We are not, as humans of flesh able to understand or look upon His Glory, but with The Tapestry of His Word there are no gaps, no holes, no blank spots, and no misunderstandings.

This tapestry is His Word. Every word comes directly from The Father to The Son who is The Word, (John 1:all, 12:44-49) and every word is a thread. All of the threads are used and woven to create the most majestic image; again beyond our ability to understand, but perfect and Holy in every way. There is not a jot or tittle (the smallest and shortest of threads) out of place. (John 12:44-49) Many of the colors are beyond imagination and comprehension yet beautiful beyond description.

Then He showed me a large room here on the earth with very tall paneled walls and a very high ceiling. The tapestry I had seen in heaven appeared to be hanging from the ceiling on the front wall and it was glorious, taking up most of the front wall of the room. On the floor of this great hall were all sorts of smaller banners on “T” shaped stands. Some very narrow, some wider, some long and some very short. None were taller than what could be reached from standing on the floor. It appeared as if these smaller banners were trying to imitate the heavenly tapestry. Standing on the floor one could compare the banners with The Tapestry and in doing so one could see many had the simple scenes woven into them similar to The Tapestry from heaven, but not as vibrant or as intricate but very much the same, very simple and understandable.

But most of the banners had other scenes and patterns as well, that were just not right. Several of the scenes were somewhat similar, but they were incomplete. Not a single banner had completely finished and bound edges. Threads were left sticking out and there were holes, gaps and blank spots in many. Many had scenes on the banners looked like someone had taken a picture, cut it into pieces and then tried to paste it back together again not using all of the pieces with portions missing, and those they did use were not all in the right place. On the floor at the base of every banner was a pile of thread that looked like it had been cut out of the thread provided and then simply discarded to the floor.

Each Banner had a name plate at the top of the stand. On some of the name plates I saw names such as Christian organizations and denominations. Then there was a whole group of generally smaller banners too large to count with individual names on them that I recognized name after name of persons are considered founders of the faith both of the past and alive today being current teachers and preachers. There were many, many names I did not recognize but then I saw a rather small banner, one with my name on the name plate.

When I saw this it was very apparent that mine was small and very similar to others on the floor. Please do not misunderstand, I am not comparing myself to any of notable Christians or martyrs; but again, just as most of the others, mine had incomplete scenes, unfinished edges and a pile of thread on the floor at the base.

To understand, what the Lord was and is showing us; let us go to His Word. (Please read all of this)

1 Corinthians 1:10–3:23 (The Living Bible) 10 But, dear brothers, I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won’t be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 11 For some of those who live at Chloe’s house have told me of your arguments and quarrels, dear brothers. 12 Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul”; and others say that they are for Apollos or for Peter; and some that they alone are the true followers of Christ. 13 And so, in effect, you have broken Christ into many pieces. But did I, Paul, die for your sins? Were any of you baptized in my name? 14 I am so thankful now that I didn’t baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius. 15 For now no one can think that I have been trying to start something new, beginning a “Church of Paul.” 16 Oh, yes, and I baptized the family of Stephanas. I don’t remember ever baptizing anyone else. 17 For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel; and even my preaching sounds poor, for I do not fill my sermons with profound words and high sounding ideas, for fear of diluting the mighty power there is in the simple message of the cross of Christ. 18 I know very well how foolish it sounds to those who are lost, when they hear that Jesus died to save them. But we who are saved recognize this message as the very power of God. 19 For God says, “I will destroy all human plans of salvation no matter how wise they seem to be, and ignore the best ideas of men, even the most brilliant of them.” 20 So what about these wise men, these scholars, these brilliant debaters of this world’s great affairs? God has made them all look foolish and shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. 21 For God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find God through human brilliance, and then he stepped in and saved all those who believed his message, which the world calls foolish and silly. 22 It seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven as proof that what is preached is true; and it is foolish to the Gentiles because they believe only what agrees with their philosophy and seems wise to them. 23 So when we preach about Christ dying to save them, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24 But God has opened the eyes of those called to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, to see that Christ is the mighty power of God to save them; Christ himself is the center of God’s wise plan for their salvation. 25 This so-called “foolish” plan of God is far wiser than the wisest plan of the wisest man, and God in his weakness—Christ dying on the cross—is far stronger than any man. 26 Notice among yourselves, dear brothers, that few of you who follow Christ have big names or power or wealth. 27 Instead, God has deliberately chosen to use ideas the world considers foolish and of little worth in order to shame those people considered by the world as wise and great. 28 He has chosen a plan despised by the world, counted as nothing at all, and used it to bring down to nothing those the world considers great, 29 so that no one anywhere can ever brag in the presence of God. 30 For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus. He showed us God’s plan of salvation; he was the one who made us acceptable to God; he made us pure and holy and gave himself to purchase our salvation. 31 As it says in the Scriptures, “If anyone is going to boast, let him boast only of what the Lord has done.”

Chapter 2: 1 Dear brothers, even when I first came to you I didn’t use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you God’s message. 2 For I decided that I would speak only of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my preaching was very plain, not with a lot of oratory and human wisdom, but the Holy Spirit’s power was in my words, proving to those who heard them that the message was from God. 5 I did this because I wanted your faith to stand firmly upon God, not on man’s great ideas. 6 Yet when I am among mature Christians I do speak with words of great wisdom, but not the kind that comes from here on earth, and not the kind that appeals to the great men of this world, who are doomed to fall. 7 Our words are wise because they are from God, telling of God’s wise plan to bring us into the glories of heaven. This plan was hidden in former times, though it was made for our benefit before the world began. 8 But the great men of the world have not understood it; if they had, they never would have crucified the Lord of Glory. 9 That is what is meant by the Scriptures which say that no mere man has ever seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord. 10 But we know about these things because God has sent his Spirit to tell us, and his Spirit searches out and shows us all of God’s deepest secrets. 11 No one can really know what anyone else is thinking or what he is really like except that person himself. And no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world’s spirit) to tell us about the wonderful free gifts of grace and blessing that God has given us. 13 In telling you about these gifts we have even used the very words given to us by the Holy Spirit, not words that we as men might choose. So we use the Holy Spirit’s words to explain the Holy Spirit’s facts. 14 But the man who isn’t a Christian can’t understand and can’t accept these thoughts from God, which the Holy Spirit teaches us. They sound foolish to him because only those who have the Holy Spirit within them can understand what the Holy Spirit means. Others just can’t take it in. 15 But the spiritual man has insight into everything, and that bothers and baffles the man of the world, who can’t understand him at all. 16 How could he? For certainly he has never been one to know the Lord’s thoughts, or to discuss them with him, or to move the hands of God by prayer. But, strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ.

Chapter 3: 1 Dear brothers, I have been talking to you as though you were still just babies in the Christian life who are not following the Lord but your own desires; I cannot talk to you as I would to healthy Christians who are filled with the Spirit. 2 I have had to feed you with milk and not with solid food because you couldn’t digest anything stronger. And even now you still have to be fed on milk. 3 For you are still only baby Christians, controlled by your own desires, not God’s. When you are jealous of one another and divide up into quarreling groups, doesn’t that prove you are still babies, wanting your own way? In fact, you are acting like people who don’t belong to the Lord at all. 4 There you are, quarreling about whether I am greater than Apollos, and dividing the church. Doesn’t this show how little you have grown in the Lord? 5 Who am I, and who is Apollos, that we should be the cause of a quarrel? Why, we’re just God’s servants, each of us with certain special abilities, and with our help you believed. 6 My work was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos’ work was to water it, but it was God, not we, who made the garden grow in your hearts. 7 The person who does the planting or watering isn’t very important, but God is important because he is the one who makes things grow. 8 Apollos and I are working as a team, with the same aim, though each of us will be rewarded for his own hard work. 9 We are only God’s coworkers. You are God’s garden, not ours; you are God’s building, not ours. 10 God, in his kindness, has taught me how to be an expert builder. I have laid the foundation and Apollos has built on it. But he who builds on the foundation must be very careful. 11 And no one can ever lay any other real foundation than that one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 But there are various kinds of materials that can be used to build on that foundation. Some use gold and silver and jewels; and some build with sticks and hay or even straw! 13 There is going to come a time of testing at Christ’s Judgment Day to see what kind of material each builder has used. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire so that all can see whether or not it keeps its value, and what was really accomplished. 14 Then every workman who has built on the foundation with the right materials, and whose work still stands, will get his pay. 15 But if the house he has built burns up, he will have a great loss. He himself will be saved, but like a man escaping through a wall of flames. 16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the house of God, and that the Spirit of God lives among you in his house? 17 If anyone defiles and spoils God’s home, God will destroy him. For God’s home is holy and clean, and you are that home. 18 Stop fooling yourselves. If you count yourself above average in intelligence, as judged by this world’s standards, you had better put this all aside and be a fool rather than let it hold you back from the true wisdom from above. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As it says in the book of Job, God uses man’s own brilliance to trap him; he stumbles over his own “wisdom” and falls. 20 And again, in the book of Psalms, we are told that the Lord knows full well how the human mind reasons and how foolish and futile it is. 21 So don’t be proud of following the wise men of this world. For God has already given you everything you need. 22 He has given you Paul and Apollos and Peter as your helpers. He has given you the whole world to use, and life and even death are your servants. He has given you all of the present and all of the future. All are yours, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ is God’s.

Please do not skim over these passages. I know you just read three chapters, but each word is very important. Each word is a thread and the picture is only complete when all of the thread is used.

Thank you Lord Jesus for your Word!

Please if you did not read every word, go back and do so asking the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to see and your ears to hear. Ask Him to give you heavenly wisdom and understanding. If you can, read this again from your own bible if you have a different translation. Fill the well within you with His pure living water.

With the 1st Corinthians passages in mind let us now read from Proverbs:

Proverbs 3:1–23 (The Living Bible) 1 My son, never forget the things I’ve taught you. If you want a long and satisfying life, closely follow my instructions. 3 Never tire of loyalty and kindness. Hold these virtues tightly. Write them deep within your heart. 4 If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. 6 In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. 7 Don’t be conceited, sure of your own wisdom. Instead, trust and reverence the Lord, and turn your back on evil; when you do that, then you will be given renewed health and vitality. 9 Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines. 11 Young man, do not resent it when God chastens and corrects you, for his punishment is proof of his love. Just as a father punishes a son he delights in to make him better, so the Lord corrects you. 13 The man who knows right from wrong and has good judgment and common sense is happier than the man who is immensely rich! For such wisdom is far more valuable than precious jewels. Nothing else compares with it. 16 Wisdom gives: a long, good life, riches, honor, pleasure, peace. 18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who eat her fruit; happy is the man who keeps on eating it. 19 The Lord’s wisdom founded the earth; his understanding established all the universe and space. 20 The deep fountains of the earth were broken open by his knowledge, and the skies poured down rain. 21 Have two goals: wisdom—that is, knowing and doing right—and common sense. Don’t let them slip away, 22 for they fill you with living energy and bring you honor and respect. 23 They keep you safe from defeat and disaster and from stumbling off the trail.

Proverbs 3:5–7 (Tanakh) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths smooth. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and shun evil.

Proverbs 3:5–7 (NASB95) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:5–7 (ESV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Did you hear His Wisdom? He has just told us plainly:

His Word clearly says that we cannot understand the Word unless it is the Holy Spirit who reveals it to us.
It is the Holy Spirit of the Living God who gives us Heavenly Wisdom and Understanding. (1Corinthians 1:, 2: & 3: )
Paul clearly points out that, “the wisdom of man is foolishness to the Lord”. (1 Corinthians 1:, 2: & 3: )
And then in no uncertain ways from the Book of Proverbs His Word declares: “DO NOT LEAN ON OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING”. (Proverbs 3:)

BUT; How are we to understand His Word if we cannot use our own understanding? Good question; okay, let’s go back and listen to Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:

My work was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos’ work was to water it, but it was God, not we, who made the garden grow in your hearts. 7 The person who does the planting or watering isn’t very important, but God is important because he is the one who makes things grow.

God may use the ones He appoints to “plant the seeds” and “water the garden”, but it is only God who makes the garden grow. But what type of soil are the seeds planted in?

Mark 4:1–25 (The Living Bible) 1 Once again an immense crowd gathered around him on the beach as he was teaching, so he got into a boat and sat down and talked from there. 2 His usual method of teaching was to tell the people stories. One of them went like this: 3 “Listen! A farmer decided to sow some grain. As he scattered it across his field, 4 some of it fell on a path, and the birds came and picked it off the hard ground and ate it. 5 Some fell on thin soil with underlying rock. It grew up quickly enough, but soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and crowded the young plants so that they produced no grain. 8 But some of the seeds fell into good soil and yielded thirty times as much as he had planted—some of it even sixty or a hundred times as much! 9 If you have ears, listen!” 10 Afterwards, when he was alone with the Twelve and with his other disciples, they asked him, “What does your story mean?” 11 He replied, “You are permitted to know some truths about the Kingdom of God that are hidden to those outside the Kingdom: ‘Though they see and hear, they will not understand or turn to God, or be forgiven for their sins.’ 13 But if you can’t understand this simple illustration, what will you do about all the others I am going to tell? 14 “The farmer I talked about is anyone who brings God’s message to others, trying to plant good seed within their lives. 15 The hard pathway, where some of the seed fell, represents the hard hearts of some of those who hear God’s message; Satan comes at once to try to make them forget it. 16 The rocky soil represents the hearts of those who hear the message with joy, 17 but, like young plants in such soil, their roots don’t go very deep, and though at first they get along fine, as soon as persecution begins, they wilt. 18 “The thorny ground represents the hearts of people who listen to the Good News and receive it, 19 but all too quickly the attractions of this world and the delights of wealth, and the search for success and lure of nice things come in and crowd out God’s message from their hearts, so that no crop is produced. 20 “But the good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God’s message and produce a plentiful harvest for God—thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as was planted in their hearts.”21 Then he asked them, “When someone lights a lamp, does he put a box over it to shut out the light? Of course not! The light couldn’t be seen or used. A lamp is placed on a stand to shine and be useful. 22 “All that is now hidden will someday come to light. 23 If you have ears, listen! 24 And be sure to put into practice what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand what I tell you. 25 To him who has shall be given; from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.

In this parable He tells us what happens when His Word is planted. His servants are called to plant the seed but the growth comes from Him and then the growth is dependent upon the condition of the soil of the hearer’s heart. As His disciples we are called to bring His Pure Truth to others. YES! He does not tell us to mix our understanding, enlightenment, interpertation and commentary with it, no He tells us simply to “plant the seed”, and “water the garden”. We water the garden with The Word because He is the Living Water of the Word. He equips and prepares those who are His to do this; how?

John 14:15–26 (ESV) 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 14:15–26 (NASB95) 15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Thank you Father for the gift of Your Holy Spirit.

Don’t you see; His Truth is His Truth and He has given us the Holy Spirit as a helper, teacher and counselor to prepare and equip us to do this. The Holy Spirit is our private tutor. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father living with you and in you. If the Holy Spirit does not teach you with Heavenly Wisdom and Understanding, that only He can do; then what teaching do you stand on? What is your understanding? Is it the doctrines and teachings of man, rather that His Pure Word and Heavenly Understanding from the Holy Spirit of the Living God.

But wait a minute you may be saying: I stand on the foundation of the faith! The church doctrine established by the saints before us.

As noble and almost heroic as that may sound in human wisdom, remember, you and I as well as the church founders are human flesh and no matter how well intended; we can very easily fall into exactly what The Lord Jesus Christ showed us with many of the religious teachers of His time.

Matthew 15:3–9 (NASB95) 3 And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 “For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.’ 5 “But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” 6 he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 8 ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. 9 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ ”

Without the teaching of the Holy Spirit in all things we will fall into the trap of relying upon the “doctrines of men” and our own understanding. We then begin to weave banners to explain our positions and although some of the basic truths may be there, it will be impossible to use all the threads of His Word and tie it together to match the tapestry which is in heaven.

In order to make it look like a tapestry that is complete, we won’t be able to explain this part or that part so we just cut those threads out and to the floor they fall. We will have threads that fray out of the sides so binding and properly finish the edges does not happen either. We end up with a banner that may have the milk of the Word and some truth, but it is not the meat of The Word of God.

CAN THE LORD USE “OUR BANNER”?

Yes He can if He so chooses. He can use the foolishness of man to show the wisdom of God. He may choose to do so because He is God. But, if this is what we are preaching and teaching: is it His Pure Word?

We can so easily create our own doctrine to justify that which we do not understand? Oh it may have been generations ago that these doctrines were conceived. But nevertheless they do not match the tapestry in heaven. Of course we may teach or publish “our understanding” to showcase “our” brilliance, “our” human intellect or “our” human wisdom, and many may follow. But ask yourself; To Whom Is The Glory Given? Remember His Words: “the wisdom of man is but foolishness unto God”.

Who do you follow? Do you follow Paul or Apollos? Do you follow Augustine or Luther? Do you follow Wesley or Calvin? Or do you follow The Lord Jesus Christ. His Word gives us everything we need, and more than we can imagine, but we must be willing to surrender all to Him, to give up our own understanding and come to Him as a child. Then and only then will He change the soil in our hearts, remove the scales from our eyes and the wax from our ears.

We must come to Him as a child? Okay so how does one approach the One Who Sits Upon the Throne and The Lamb That Was Slain? (Revelation 4 & 5)

We can only approach Him by and through the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our sins must be washed away and that is only possible by the shedding of Blood, the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 26: Mark 14: Luke 22: John 6: Colossians 1: All of Hebrews: Revelation)
It is those who humble themselves before Him that He seeks with favor. (Isaiah 6: & 66: Matthew 18: Luke 14: Psalm 25: 37: 76: 113:)
It is only those who fear Him that have even the beginning of knowledge (Joshua 24: 1 Samuel 12: Psalm 15: 19: 22: 33: 34: 47: 85: 86: 89: 103: 119: 128: 130: Proverbs 1: and many more)
Only those who love Him are His children; but in order to love Him we must obey Him. (John 14: 15: , 1John 5:)
His Word tells us many are called; few are chosen. (Matthew 22:)
He also tells us that the standards that He sets for those who preach and teach are much higher. (James 3:)
One must go through the refiner’s fire, (Malachi 3: & Matthew 3:), be winnowed, pruned and sifted. The true baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire.

BIG QUESTION?

Are we willing to put aside that which is your own opinion, or the opinion of the professor or pastor or perhaps the church founder you admire? Are we willing to test the doctrine we have been taught against the Pure Word of God? Are you willing to submit ourselves to the Pure Word of God? Are you willing to invite the Lord Jesus Christ to step into your life and heart and use his winnowing fork, to winnow, prune and sift every doctrine, heating it with His refiners’ fire seven times in the furnace to remove the dross?

Matthew 3:7–12 (NASB95) 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Are you willing to allow the refiners fire to purify you? Are you willing to be baptized with the fire of the Lord Jesus Christ? Will you put aside that which is “opinion” and allow Him to teach you His Pure Truth?

Just remember, the religious leaders of the Lord Jesus’ day were the most learned men in Israel. They were the best educated and brightest men of their time in the Word of God. When they spoke the people listened. They were positive of their doctrine and they were equally as positive that the man standing in their presence was demon possessed. That He was an imposter, and could not be from God. But, The Creator of the Universe, The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords; Emmanuel – “God with Us” in the flesh was who stood in their midst and who they sent to the cross.

Malachi 3:1–4 (NASB95) 1 “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. 2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. 4 “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

I do not want to be the weaver of any tapestry. I want to be a sign post pointing to Him, and to His Word. Planting His seeds and watering the garden with the Living Water of the Word (John 4). Directing anyone who inquires to The Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Word of God.

John 3:27–36 (CEB)27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless it is given from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said that I’m not the Christ but that I’m the one sent before him. 29 The groom is the one who is getting married. The friend of the groom stands close by and, when he hears him, is overjoyed at the groom’s voice. Therefore, my joy is now complete. 30 He must increase and I must decrease. 31 The one who comes from above is above all things. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all things. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever accepts his testimony confirms that God is true. 34 The one whom God sent speaks God’s words because God gives the Spirit generously. 35 The Father loves the Son and gives everything into his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever doesn’t believe in the Son won’t see life, but the angry judgment of God remains on them.”

His Word does not need my opinions or my interpretations? His Word confirms His Word. None of us, as fallen humans should ever assume the job of weaving. The Master Weaver, The Lord Jesus Christ has already woven the perfect tapestry.

It is unfortunate, but that is what most of us want to do in our zeal for Him and then because of our human flesh we wind up with “the church or following of [fill in the blank]”, and think we are doing His will.

When someone asks a question; should we not be pointing them to the Word each and every time? Plant the seed, water the garden, plant the seed, and water the garden. God causes the growth. If we don’t know where to find the seed or the living water, then we should be on our knees in our secret place inquiring of Him directly. (Matthew 6). We should be there every day regardless. Asking, seeking, knocking, worshiping.

The Holy Spirit will use you as a witness. The question is what kind of witness will you be?

He can use the smallest child or the newest believer, He is God. But remember discernment from Him comes from heavenly wisdom and heavenly understanding of His Word, which only comes from Him. We must know His Word, we must fill the well within us, so that when the Holy Spirit brings it to your remembrance it is there for Him to draw upon.

The Holy Spirit will never teach you anything that is not confirmed in His Word. He will teach you in a way that you know it is from God and God alone. The Lord may use other “persons to plant seeds and to water the garden” as well, but it is not their opinions or commentaries or understandings that have any meaning unless they align perfectly with the heavenly understanding the Holy Spirit gives. Yes, you will know them by their fruit, but they are still sinful humans.

It is so very clear, we can do none of this on our own; it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit living with us and in us (John 14: 15:). If you truly want to know Him and be sent out by Him, then The Holy Spirit of the Living God, must be your teacher. He will confirm everything He teaches from His word if you have ears to hear and eyes to see.

When someone asks a question, take them to His Word each and every time. We plant the seed and water. God changes the soil of the heart and causes the growth.

Have NO MISUNDERSTANDING; the enemy will do everything in his power to distract you, to confuse you, to interrupt you and to keep you from His Pure Word. But we must and can rely upon God, His Hand of protection is on you and His Holy Spirit is with you. Go to your secret place (Matthew 6: and Psalms 91:), spend time with the Father and He will reward you.

Avoid the controversies of man and human wisdom; do not get into arguments with anyone about “the doctrines of man” it simply leads to confusion. (2 Timothy 2: all focus on verse 14-16). Let the Lord resolve all of these matters; Trust God!

He may direct you to a book or article that has been written on the subject in question. If He does, then follow His direction. But please do not gather all the opinions from the world of Christian authors and then try to sort through them to gain understanding. That is not “heavenly understanding”, when one does this; it is “leaning on our own understanding”.

When you read the Word of God, always read it in context, the entire chapter or book, asking the Holy Spirit of the Living God to give you the interpretation.

2 Peter 1:19–21 (Williams) 19 So we have the message of the prophets more certainly guaranteed. Please pay attention to this message as to a lamp that is shining in a dismal place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 because you recognize this truth above all else, that no prophecy in Scripture is to be interpreted by one’s own mind, 21 for no prophecy has ever yet originated in man’s will, but men who were led by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.]

Interpretation of His Word will only come directly from The Holy Spirit. Go to the source; don’t get into an argument with someone, regardless of their credentials, who may not have the desire or ability to understand, or the willingness to surrender themselves and seek the Lord regarding a matter and then continue to insist upon their own interpretation. If the Holy Spirit has taught and confirmed a “Spiritual Truth” to you and in you in such a way that you know it is from God, then what human or spirit will be able to change your mind. Truth is Truth; The Lord Jesus Christ is Truth! If another Brother or Sister confirms what the Lord has taught you, then PRAISE GOD. If not simply inquire of Holy Spirit. You cannot argue someone into His Truth. One will either accept it as being from the Holy Spirit or will not. You and I are called to plant and water. God causes the growth.

If you are a Christian Leader, or the Lord has called you or placed you before others; please understand we have all been here. I may be one of the Chief Offenders. However, if your heart is open to Him, He will show you His Truth, and you will know it is His Word. He will winnow, prune and sift. He will burn off the dross. But then remember, He will give you the words to say when you need them, He will teach and you will grow. Fill the well within you with the pure word of God, the Living Water. Answer questions from others only as the Holy Spirit leads you. Always plant the seed of the Gospel. Water the seed.

As a born again child of God, it is His Holy Spirit working with you and in you that will teach you His Truth. You will be, “taught by God” (Isaiah 54). Not by your own human intellect and study. Not by the great sermons or commentaries of others. Yes, He may use them, but only after He has shown you the truth, and then as confirmation to what He has already prepared you for. We do not do this by our own reasoning.

He lives with you and is in you. The Kingdom of God is within you. He is your Helper, your teacher and your advocate. He is calling you. He is knocking at the door of Your Heart. He will show you, teach you and confirm in you the Pure Word of God, if you are willing.

HE LOVES YOU AND ME! We are His children, sons and daughters of the Living God.

What a privilege it is to be called. What a greater privilege it is to be chosen.

Father, prepare our hearts, change them into fertile soil. You must increase and we must decrease. Let us simply be sign posts pointing the way, You are the Way, You are the Truth and You are the Light. . Amen.

All Glory Honor and Praise unto our Lord and King Jesus Christ

www.tohisgloryministy.com

Hbs;

Kim Ford, 1/23/2015

This is nonsalable media prepared by To His Glory Ministry issued as a bulletin to be used for planting seeds and watering the garden. All scripture quotations are cited when used.

(CJB) – Complete Jewish Bible, Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net/jntp Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources International. All rights reserved. Used by Permission.

(NAS95) – Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission

(NJB) The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). New York: Doubleday.

NOTE: Just as the Lord may use this writing to plant seed and water the garden in you, He has used others in my life to do the same. Encouragement, confirmation, tears, emotion and discipline are all a part of the process of His refiner’s fire. Strive that you may be found worthy. Embrace His love and His correction, allow the Holiness of God to purify you and remove the dross which envelopes all of us until He removes it with His Blood and refiner’s fire. Thank you Lord. With love and appreciation for those He has used in my life, my heartfelt thanks to PW and others.

PS: When this writing went out, the Lord showed the significance of the tapestry in its heavenly setting to Joe Brazil. I share by including what the Lord gave him.

This reminds me of Rev 19 King of kings’ Robe dipped / soaked in Blood.

This Tapestry is His Word; His Blood = Light Glory Treasure. Word, Himself is on a white horse (purity) & His Eyes like Flames of Fire (Light Glory), Refiner’s Fire. Now we have a BLOODFIRE (Rev 8:7 ‘Fire mixed or mingled with Blood) Tapestry which is either; His Anointing / Refiner’s Fire or His Wrath / Consuming Fire. It’s our choice just as His Word shows us in Joshua 24, by the Fear on The Lord.

This Heavenly Glory Tapestry is on Fire but not consumed just as Exodus 3:, hanging, floor to ceiling, in the room. However, it’s not hanging; it’s suspended in midair, moving, ALIVE! But it’s at the end (like Holy of Holies) after ALL the uncountable other tapestries are passed by.

There is a wall of Separation with a center doorway & a large window opening on each side in the shape of the Ten Commandment tablets. In front of the doorway is Flaming Sword in midair as @ Gen 3. Two angelic beings are on each side with ram’s shofars, continuously sounding them, first one, then the other, then together (remember this for India). There is beautiful music & singing, so Peaceful, Joyous! You can see portions of the Tapestry through the windows & doorway. It is indescribable with color, & even the flames change in appearance: bluish white, orange, red, green, violet & others all fading in & out, overlapping. Yet, there are Words visible, moving, and alive in every language & tongue. There is a Holy Basin of Living Water for washing, as you approach the room.

There is a knowing. No one speaks. But there is a speaking or singing or utterance of some kind; then instantly, almost before the question is formed: What is that? A Whispering, so faint &Wonderful: “Wisdom is calling.” Holy Ground. No shoes. There is a constant flow, single file, passing THROUGH the Flaming Sword, purified, into the room. Into, into, into the Tapestry, the bosom of God, Cleft of The Rock. As they enter there is great rejoicing, exalting Adonia, “Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, says Adonai Tzva’ot!”

Joe Brazil 1/29/2015

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