FIRE BY NIGHT

"Reflections Upon Reflections" [of The Father's Heart]


...."You, in Your great compassion, did not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, to guide them on their way, nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go".... Nehemiah 9:19 NASB


                                                                                                            JANUARY 25TH


THE GREAT SERIOUSNESS OF "PRESUMPTUOUS" SIN [REBELLION]

                                                                                                       [PART 1 OF 2]


                                         THE FATHER HAS MADE THE PROVISION FOR US TO WALK ABOVE ALL PRESUMPTION


Words of prophecy:

*       If, by faith [and obedience], one does not "allow" the Holy Spirit to continually do the deepest work of the Cross in them then, to a certain degree, they shall allow themselves to be "controlled" by a "spirit of presumption" [rebellion].

*       "Presumption" is the "spawn" of mistrust [fear] and rebelliousness!

*       ...."Constant and abiding fellowship in My Presence will cause the spirit of the one in fellowship with Me to be steadily built up and charged with power; and as they diligently avoid the sin of presumption, the time will surely come when that power will be manifested to its absolute degree - to accomplish the very thing that I had intended all along"....


...."The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the [whole] person; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes. The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even than much fine gold; they are sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is Your servant warned (reminded, illuminated, and instructed); and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his lapses and errors? Clear me from hidden [and unconscious] faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then shall I be blameless, and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer"....
                                                                                                                                                                                             Psalms 19:7-14 The Amplified Translation


          Hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit [moment to moment] is the only way for the children of God to avoid "presumptuous" sin. As one stays close to the Father, through an abiding fellowship with His Word and through prayer - that is, unceasing communication with God [1 Thessalonians 5:17], THEN presumptuous sin will not be a "problem" area in one's life and ministry. But, if one in any way "maintains" an attitude of presumption [self-will] in their service before God THEN, ultimately [if a deep and thorough repentance is not forthcoming], it will become the very downfall of that one's life and ministry. Presumptuous [wilful] sin by one who has been made a delegated authority by God is a certain abomination to God - for it misrepresents Him [leading His people astray] and produces fruit that is ALWAYS counterproductive to the fulfillment of His Will and purposes! The Father has made the Provision for us to walk above ALL presumption, but it is certain that one must "seek and keep on seeking" to be made willing to do ALL of His will [John 7:17], and one must have [by faith] given their whole heart to Him - KNOWING "by faith" that He will NEVER fail them nor forsake them, and that He will lead them into ALL truth and keep them in every way by the power of His indwelling Spirit. As long as one is "open" to God's direction in their lives, they will surely have the needed guidance and they will indeed find His Provision sufficient to both establish them and keep them in true ministry.

"counterproductive" - thwarting the achievement of an intended goal or desire;

THE DANGER OF A HEART NOT "WHOLLY GIVEN" TO GOD

          The more time one spends in intimate fellowship, ministering unto the Lord in the "inner chamber", the more a holy fear of being "presumptuous" is developed within the deepest fibre of that believer's being. On the other hand, to the degree that one avoids "intimate" fellowship with God because of the pride in their lives [the desire to retain, to some degree, that which is apart from God - in a spirit of self-sufficiency] the desire to be "presumptuous" will become more pronounced in their walks - and therein lies the danger of a heart NOT wholly given to God. The Father's deepest heart-desire is for each one of His children to come into the place where they are continually "ministering" unto Him [the place of revelation] - speaking and moving from the instruction given in that place of intimate fellowship, alone [Isaiah 58:13-14]. It is in this state of "abiding" that God is enabled to manifest Himself powerfully through His children with a view to true unity and one accord in their midst - a true unity and one accord that is the spontaneous by-product of a people [both individually and corporately] who are entirely sold out to Him. But the "presumptuous" sin of God's ministers [a presumption fuelled by the "self-serving" intent to "do something for God" but, which, in reality, is an outlet to apprehend the "praises of men", and to obtain an exalted position before them - with little or no regard for the true plans and purposes of God] serves only to "allow" Satan to work his divisive schemes in the midst of the congregations - leading to all manner of darkness, defeat and confusion in their midst.

   to be continued