For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. Acts 27:23-25.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
The Way, as you walk it in Christ you must rest in Him and in His hand you are in Mine. You rest in Him and belong to Him when you continue in His Word so that you become His disciple and then you will know the truth and it will make you free. But there is more, when you belong to Christ then you belong to Me.
For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23.
Do you remember what Paul told the crew in the terrible storm of which I had warned Paul in advance, but the captain of the ship did not receive his warning and sailed anyway? Paul had to go with him, however, because he was going as a prisoner to Rome for trial before Caesar. But I protect My own for they have authorized Me to do so. Paul announced a message he had from Me, good news of deliverance from that storm because he was on board, and he told them the reason they would be saved and why he got the message and such favor in the midst of the storm, it came from his relationship with Me: “The God to whom I belong and whom I serve.”
Moses also received revelation, protection, and continued communication with Me and he called himself, “Moses, a man of God.” Psalm 90. I also called him My friend. Abraham as well. And Jesus calls His disciples “friends.”
How do you become a man or woman of God? How do you qualify for that title?
About David I said, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.” Acts 13:22. About Moses I said, “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.” Numbers 12:3. About Paul I said, “He is a chosen vessel of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.” Acts 9:15. About Mary I said, “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” Luke 1:45.
In the past I spoke to the patriarchs and the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days I have spoken to you in His Son, whom I appointed heir of all things, through whom also I made all things. Hebrews 1:1-2. And Jesus tells you how you qualify:
And Jesus was saying to all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his soul will lose it, but whoever loses his soul for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23-26.
What is Jesus telling you? If you want to walk as He does with Me, you must deny your flesh and walk in the spirit. You must crucify your flesh so that you are dead to sin and alive to Me.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24.
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. Colossians 3:5-10.
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20.
If you seek to gain the adoration of men above My glory you will lose your soul for it will be controlled by your flesh and not by your spirit and you will do the works of the flesh.
Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. John 12:42-43
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:1-3.
To deny yourself and take up YOUR cross is to monitor your thoughts, words, and actions and take them all captive to the obedience of Christ.
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:4-5.
You have to deny yourself worry and anxiety and humbly cast your cares on Me and monitor your thoughts so you do not in pride take the cares back.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9.
You are to look to you and not just make everyone else your business.
For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 2 Thessalonians 3:11.
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5.
So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” John 21:21-22.
You deny yourself primarily by keeping your mind set above where I have seated you with Christ at My right hand and not set on the flesh below, for the mind set on the spirit is life and peace, but the mind set on the flesh is death. The mind set on the flesh is hostile towards Me; for it does not subject itself to My law of love, for it is not even able to do so, the flesh is selfish and grabs everything away from others that it wants.
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in Yah, the LORD, we have an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:3-4.
Those who are in the flesh cannot please Me because without faith you cannot please Me and the flesh only walks by sight and not by faith. However, I have poured My love in your heart through the gift of the Holy Spirit, enabling you walk in the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:26-24.
Imitate Me as My dear children and walk in love just as Christ did.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for you, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2.
Christ’s love for you is a model of your love for others.
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:12-17.
Jesus is the ultimate example of a Man of God. So what does a man or woman of God look like? How did Jesus look? He told you, “Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. John 14:8-10.
Now, I will ask you: What does the man or woman of God look like in their daily life? You know the answer: Like Me. It is one in whom My attributes are seen. Seeing you, they should see Me in how you conduct yourself in the words you speak and the works you do. You are My ambassadors and witnesses doing the works like Jesus did and greater. You are also My royal priesthood imitating and interceding with Jesus as your great High Priest. Your words must line up with My Words and your works with My works.
You should not be known by your temper but by your temperance. You should not be known for your pride but for your humility. You should not be famous for immoral living and ruthless business practices but moral excellence and a generous heart that gives to those in need as I direct. You should not be known as harsh and hard but gentle and kind. I think you understand.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
How did Jesus say all would know you as His disciples? By your love for your fellow believers.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35.
Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:22-23.
And love gives you joy. You should be rejoicing always in Me and My magnificent promises that are yours in Christ Jesus and for your seat with Him at My right hand, you should be praying without ceasing as My royal priesthood and those in fellowship with Me, and you should be giving constant thanks for the wonderful things I am opening up to you each day as we walk together upon your path of the life, which is the Way, the Truth, and the life that is life indeed.
And that is denying yourself. You must give up indulging your old self with its pride, lust, uncontrolled emotions, and grumbling and complaining and put on the new man (who you are now as a new creation in Christ) and walk in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. And there you will find your true life and the glorious freedom of My children, the children of God! And that is a man or woman of God. One who belongs to Me and who serves Me with love, joy, and peace.
To qualify as a man or woman of God, just be My little child and follow Me with delight wherever I go. There is great reward in denying yourself and taking up your own cross every day, for My burden is easy and light. The burdens that the world, the flesh, and the devil will lay upon you are too heavy for you and will destroy you.
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men.” Matthew 23:1-5.
Do not be like them. They put Jesus to death. They never denied their flesh. Deny yourself and live forever. Sin was the reason Jesus had to die. Sin is the reason the world and your flesh are corruptible. Avoid it by denying yourself before you get into its grip. Do not let it take you captive, you take it captive and throw it down and trample it under your feet.
“Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” Genesis 4:6-7.
I love you and am present as your Helper. Do not worry, you can deny yourself and belong to Me for I have equipped you with every spiritual blessing in Heaven and given you all that pertains to life and godliness. And above all, I have put My Words in your mouth and My Spirit in you and on you and that is Covenant. Isaiah 59:21.
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. Ephesians 1:3-4.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:2-4.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6.
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31.