ARE WE PROFICIENT “FISHERS OF MEN”?

OPENING PRAYER by Robert.

Heavenly Father I come before thee as your humble servant placing before you Father All who are reflecting your light into the world and walking as your “FISHER’S OF MEN.” I pray Lord you will remove from us any spirits of pride, self-importance, thinking we are special. Yehwah I pray for the spirits of humility, meekness, and submission be upon us Lord through the leading of the Holy Spirit. I ask Lord for you to draw us closer Father to deepen your personal relationship with us, Lord.  I pray you will loose upon us a deeper knowledge of the mysteries required within our walk for the spiritual battles we will face as your humble servants. I plead Father you will deepen our spirit of discernment and wisdom to enhance our understanding of the courage you have placed in our hearts so we may move forward  This I pray for in the name of Yeshua. Amen and Amen.

OPENING STATEMENT by Robert

“WAR ON THE SAINTS” what an ominous statement when first heard! It might even make one ponder “what have I gotten into?” “Who is this man,” professing to be a servant of Yehwah and His son Yeshua providing truth and drawing me into areas I am not familiar with. Revealing those truths I know my spirit has longingly pined for, and now that I have them before me, I wonder and ponder “what is this war?”  

I say “Good,” which means I have your attention both mentally and spiritually and know you are willing to hear truths brought as spiritual weapons to work out your Salvation and remain on the “PATH of HOLINESS.” However, as well, like our LORD having the heart to fight for one soul needing rescue from death. Realizing you are in a war for your soul and comprehending the previously unrecognized enemy is now your assimilated enemy. What an awakening moment, being stirred from a devilish slumber to an active role in your survival and ultimate journey to “Life Eternal,” “WOW.” 

“Philosophical,” yes, it must be to completely discern and understand, what is in your heart, [not your mind,] to continue moving forward. When you came to the LORD through Salvation, Grace, and Faith, Yeshua gifted you a fleshly heart and removed your Stoney one.  He gave us a new spirit to walk with, and told us not to sin anymore, and forgave all our past sins, wiped our slate clean, we were “BORN AGAIN SPIRITUALLY” into a new walk and an ongoing spiritual battle, “Let us put on the armour of light.” (Rom 13:12)

Do you recall, I related, Satan didn’t know you, when he had you in darkness. Well recognize your soul having been rescued and stolen from him, his deceptions, temptations, and taken from his domain of spiritual death?

Do you honestly believe he’s going to just walk away without a fight, to get your soul back under his control? I also informed, he was going to create a plan to get you back, because you now represent a “direct threat” to him and his plans. 

He knows you have discovered the light you came into this world with (John 1:9) and are going to attract others with it. Satan also realizes you are new to this War and its battles; but unfamiliar at what depth you truly walk, or what spiritual weapons are available, or how to use them effectively.

To put a carnal view on the importance of knowing your enemy here is a quote from Major Gen. George S Patton (Nov. 11, 1885 – Dec. 21, 1945) militarily today still considered the most successful Gen. of WWII. “Soldiers are not good on the battlefield without training hard beforehand. Whether it’s a soldier, a civilian wanting to run a marathon, or a CEO running a company, being successful at what you do requires focus, effort, and learning. For soldiers especially, working extra hard in training can save their lives later.” 

It doesn’t matter at what level you are walking at, Satan will try using all of your former fleshly weaknesses, and some very unfamiliar ones as well, causing you to stumble, hesitate, doubt and or question.

Know this, he is patient and places his temptations before us knowing they will continue to work against us if we don’t have the right tools or knowledge to deal with them. This is what Apostle Paul was speaking of by putting our body into submission from our former fleshly lusts and pleasures.

As well James advising to connect our new-found wisdom to our Faith and using both wisely to move forward in preparing for upcoming battles. 

Satan is going to go through your thought process, and attempt to draw you back into your memories of your former life and lusts to create a false conviction in your mind making you believe you’re unworthy, don’t fall for it! Remember, God, if you have, “Sincerely Repented,”  has wiped your slate clean of all past sins (forgiven all) and given you a new Spiritual life to work out your Salvation. While learning how to proceed on your journey to Life and Eternity without “willingly or plotting to sin.” Your reply to this deception should be “Get behind me Satan“! 

Matthew Henry (Oct 18, 1662 – June 22, 1774) explains our threats and why we need to be cautious, through Ephesians 4;17 – 32: v.17. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind. v18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. 

Here is another deception you will face, Satan placing doubt mentally the Lord has given you a new heart and removed the Stoney one! In this deception, he is attempting to draw you back to your former self to again walk in death. Know the truth Yeshua has provided us with a weapon in Matthew 4;4 “it is written man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

We are provided “wisdom” as food for our soul through the Holy Spirits’ guidance and teachings for discerning temptations and knowledge of how to deal with them through God’s word, not our fleshly desires or former thinking.

Matthew Henry continues in v19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. v20. But ye have not so learned Yeshua v21. If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Yeshua: v22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.  Yeshua in Matthew 4:10 provides the weapon we need to overcome greed and lusts of the flesh, v10: “Then saith Yeshua unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the LORD thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.“ 

Matthew Henry continues in v23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind v24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. v25.Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. v26. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. v27. Neither gives place to the Devil v28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. v29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.v30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. v31. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice: v32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Yeshua’s sake hath forgiven you.  

I have stated Yeshua “The Word the Son of God” who I follow and worship are in heaven and “do not need to be born every year or crucified every year.“ There are a few reasons I state this fact the most important being the word of God is very clear check out Heb.1:3, 2:9,4:14 – 16, and finally 9:24. Please recognize while Yeshua walked here on earth he was as we are, “created below the Angels,” once crucified he ascended to his rightful place and position as the Son of God sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven to appear before the Father for us. 

The following is taken from the book “War on the Saints” written by Jesse Penn Lewis, (1861- 1927) Welsh Evangelical Speaker & Author who supported Evan Roberts in the Welsh Revival of 1904 – 1905 the largest Christian revival in history.

She published several books concerning The War On The Saints, providing many with tools, and weapons to work out their Salvation as well as importantly, assist them with spiritual information, that aided in freeing and rescuing many souls.  

Ms. Penn-Lewis wrote “God is in heaven. Yeshua, the Glorified Man, is in Heaven. The location of the God we worship is of supreme importance. If we think of our God as in us, and around us, for our worship, and for our “enjoyment.”  We unwittingly open the door to the evil spirits in the atmosphere which surround us.

Instead of our penetrating in spirit through the lower heavens (see Heb 4:14) to the throne of God. Which is in the highest heaven, “above principality, power, and every name that is named, not only in this world but in that which is to come” (Eph. 1:21). The God we worship, The Christ we love, is in Heaven; and it is as we approach him there, and by FAITH apprehend our union with Him in spirit there, we too, are raised with Him and seated with Him.” (Eph.1:20-23; 2:6).

Jesse Penn Lewis (1861- 1927) in her previous statement has identified how subtle our enemy’s approach will be. He wants us to remain in the lower heavens  (Worldly), “where his powers of darkness reign” to fall under his influence instead of approaching Yeshua in heaven. And by faith apprehend our union with Him in Spirit there, so we too, are raised and seated with Him.  

 Jesse Penn Lewis, (1861- 1927) goes on to identify how Yeshua lives within us, Yeshua abides in us by Spirit and through His words.  But He, as a person, is in heaven, and it is only as we abide in Him there, that His Spirit, and His life, through His Word, can be manifested in us here. It’s here we obtain the power of the word through Him as He did His Father’s powers while walking in the flesh. The Lord said “if ye abide in Me (i.e., in the glory), and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will…” (John 15:7). “Here is where the depth of our faith is measured, here is where the Holy Spirit begins deepening our walk-in Faith!”

Matthew Henry (Oct 18, 1662 – June 22, 1774) relates what we have been taken from and how we remained there: It was not because God did not make himself known to them by his works, but because they would not admit the instructive rays of the divine light. They were ignorant because they would be so. Their ignorance proceeded from their obstinacy and the hardness of their hearts, they are resisting the light and rejecting all the means of illumination and knowledge. Their consciences were debauched and seared: Who being past feeling, (Ephesians 4:19). They had no sense of sin, nor of the misery and danger of these, they became slaves and drudges of sin and the devil,  working all uncleanness, with greediness. Observe, When men’s consciences are once seared, there are no bounds to their sins.

 Matthew Henry’s commentary identifies the character of some of our lights (casted Nets) that are going to attract and bring forward, are described. This information gives an idea of where we were and where those invited individuals are at the moment they are presented into our personal domain.

I believe John Gill (23 Nov. 1697 – 14 Oct. 1771) gives a description of the life example we should walk by, which when demonstrated to these individuals set before us, could visually minister directly to them as a testimony of God’s love.

“Regenerate persons are not like other men. They do not walk in the vanity of their minds like others. Their minds are not empty and vain. But are filled with God, with a saving knowledge of him, with faith in him and love to him, and with Spirit. With his graces and fruits of righteousness, and though there is a significant amount of vanity, instability, treachery, and sinfulness in them, yet their walk and the conversation is not according to this.

Nor are their understandings darkened as others; they are enlightened to see their lost state and condition by nature, the plague of their own hearts, the insufficiency of their own righteousness. The way of life and salvation by Yeshua and that salvation from first to last is all grace.”  

Now here is where the enemy hopes to plant seeds into the minds of unsuspecting believers, by having the vanity of the mind take hold. Our defence of this is obtaining the knowledge that God is in heaven physically and abides in us by Spirit and through His words, but He, as a person, is in heaven.

We are given a description by  Jesse Penn Lewis, (1861- 1927) of how the enemy counterfeits the presence of God. “The powers of darkness counterfeit the presence of God to those ignorant of Satans devices may be somewhat as follows.” “At some moment when the believer is yearning for the sense of God’s presence, either alone, or in a meeting. And certain conditions are filled, the subtle foe approaches, and wrapping the senses round with a soothing, lulling feeling.“ “Sometimes filling the room with light, or causing what is apparently a ‘breath of God,‘ by a movement of the air — either whispers “This is the presence you have longed for,” or leads the believer to infer that it is what he desired.“

 We can see how important having knowledge of how Satan will subtly work in your life is brought to light in this commentary by Matthew Henry (1662 – 1774) from Ephesians 4:28 “Notice the particulars wherewith we should adorn our Christian profession. Take heed of everything contrary to truth. No longer flatter or deceive others. God’s people are children who will not lie, who dare not lie, who hate and abhor lying.”

“Take heed of anger and ungoverned passions. If there is just occasion to express displeasure at what is wrong and to reprove, see that it be without sin. We give place to the devil when the first motions of sin are not grievous to our souls; when we consent to them; and when we repeat an evil deed. This teaches that as sin, if yielded unto, lets in the devil upon us, we are to resist it, keeping from all appearance of evil.“

“Idleness makes thieves.” “Those who will not work, expose themselves to temptations to steal. Men ought to be industrious, that they may do some good and that they may be kept from temptation. They must labour, not only that they may live honestly, but that they may have to give to others.“ 

“What then must we think of those called Christians, who grow rich by fraud, oppression, and deceitful practices! Alms, to be accepted of God, must not be gained by unrighteousness and robbery, but by honesty and industry. God hates robbery for burnt offerings.“ 

“Sinful inclinations and desires are deceitful lusts; they promise men happiness but render them more miserable, and if not subdued and mortified betray them into destruction.“

“The new man must be put on. It is not enough to shake off corrupt principles, but we must be actuated by gracious ones. We must embrace them, espouse them, and get them written on our hearts. It is not enough to cease to do evil, but we must learn to do well. “ “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Ephesians 4:23) that is, use the proper and prescribed means to have the mind, which is a spirit, renewed more and more.“   

It is here where the new regenerated soul becomes most vulnerable to the subtle suggestions of the enemy, Jesse Penn Lewis, (1861- 1927) reveals the following Some of the suggestions made to the believer by deceiving spirits at this time:    

1). “You are a unique instrument for God,” working to feed self-love.

2). “You are more advanced than others” working to blind the soul to sober knowledge of itself.

3). “You are different from others” working to make him think he needs exclusive dealing by God.

4). “You must take a separate path,“ a suggestion made to feed the independent spirit.

5). “You must give up your occupation, live by faith,” aiming at causing the believer to launch out on false guidance, which may result in the ruin of his home, and sometimes the work of God in which he is engaged.  

All these suggestions are made to give the man a false conception of his spiritual state; for he is made to believe he is more advanced than actually is, so that he may act beyond his measure of faith and knowledge (Rom. 12;3)

CLOSING STATEMENT by Robert 

What is before us here are convictions, no matter how long you have been walking, I believe you are going to find an area in your journey which needs to be put in subjection and brought into submission. When we started this venture, the call came to do an audit and bring our walk into line, not understanding why God called us to walk in His laws again.

I like most thought it was to bring my walk into line, then realized it was to become a servant, working on my own Salvation to eternity. Then reality struck while I was being obedient my light was getting brighter shining further into the darkness as I gathered and accepted more information and learned how to discern the Holy Spirits’ teachings. I now understood the feelings Yeshua had for the Samaritan women and why he did what he did. 

Clearly, there is evidence the stony heart I had has been replaced with a fleshly one filled with God’s love and compassion for His children who are snared, trapped deluded and not realizing their fate. 

Now I recognize the joy His Apostles must have felt being physically there while Yeshua walked, taught, ministered, healed, and fulfilled His destiny for us all. As I now walk under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit, I sense the same love and compassion is with us as we receive “The Words, Son of God’s guidance and protection as the Apostles must have felt as they ventured throughout the lands sharing their light as Beacons. 

I have never felt so much at peace in my life as I am now feeling so comforted knowing that Yeshua is with me as I reflect His light into this darkening world waiting for that one soul looking to connect their light as I once did. 

My joy is being able to share God’s Love to those seeking freedom from the oppression and dangers of this world and once they have found their light becomes a further Beacon for that one soul they may attract.   

Brothers and Sisters, they will know you by your fruits, I pray you will share your light as far as you can. There are too many Spiritual Warriors standing on the sidelines being wounded and in some cases becoming fatalities because they don’t have the right information, about the enemy they are fighting. Too many walking the Broad road to destruction waving their swords in the air believing they’re in the real fight. 

I want to include this statement from Jesse Penn Lewis which wrote in “THE WAR ON THE SAINTS” first published in 1912 some 108 years ago and fittingly describes our churches and spiritual leaders or lack of today. “There needs to be a choice between good and evil perpetually by every man, and the priests of old were specially called to discern and teach the people the difference between ” the holy and the common,” the “unclean and the clean” (Ezek. 44:23). Yet is the Church of Christ today able thus to discern what is good, and what is evil? Does she not continually fall into the snare of calling good evil and evil good? Because the thoughts of God’s people are governed by ignorance, and limited knowledge, they call the works of God. And they are not taught the need of learning to discern the difference between the “unclean and the clean.” Nor how to decide for themselves what is of God, or what is of the devil. Although they are unknowingly compelled to make a choice every moment of the day.”   

Thus, in conclusion, we can see our enemy was just as busy back then as he is today, only I believe he has made some deep inroads. This is why I think the Holy Spirit brought me this Scripture to share as part of the closing Matthew 18: v19. “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. v20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.  

CLOSING PRAYER  

Heavenly Father I kneel before your throne Lord as a humble servant placing before you the many thanks, appreciations, and love from those warriors who have partaken in these teachings through the Holy Spirit. We thank you, Father, for your compassion and patience with us Lord as we clean up our walks. We are grateful to you for the courage you have bestowed upon us to go forward as warriors in your name. We thank you, Lord, for the new heart filled with your Love and compassion for others. We especially thank you, Lord, for being present in our lives as we go forward in your name. We pray this Lord in your name Yeshua Amen and Amen. 

Remember I am a humble servant doing our LORD’s bidding to sound the Trumpet of impending danger to all of His children saved or unsaved. Let your Beacon’s shine bright and profound as though you were casting your nets into the deepest part of the Sea. May you as “Fisher’s of Men” have full nets when they return. 

God bless and Go out in Yeshua’s name.

Robert