SHULAMITE PODCAST

The Reign of Grace This elegant phrase is Romans 5:21 and became the title for our coming conference: "Ruling and Reigning with Christ Now" Thanksgiving as a sacrifice to God is one principle of ruling and reigning. Come celebrate with us all, our wondrous Lord Jesus!

The Shulamite New Year retreat continues. . . Julie says everyone who is forgiven much, loves much. The irony of love is that when we are most transparent and needy, we are accepted and loved. But when we hide and lie, we are isolated from God's love and human love as well. "It's terrifying to open yourself up to love." Jenn shares her year's experience of knowing Christ as King. From seeing the Lord, she could then see Him in each person in our fellowship. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO-Cp2kcFjc

True fellowship in the Body of Christ is based on each member coming to the light as "He Himself is in the light," and "the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:8,9) That alone is fellowship! The danger of the Last Days is clearly given us in scripture. There will be many deceivers, even among ourselves, and we need life's experience of reality to develop discernment. It's crucial that we live by a Hidden Life with God where we receive His marvelous grace and extend it to others.

Looking back on 2011, Carole saw the expression of Christ's Life in each member of the Body of Christ. T. Austin Sparks wrote: "Why are we here? We are here to make a place for the Lord." Those who harbor secret sin and hidden bitterness bring death to members of the Body of Christ without their knowing it. We are called to warn and admonish each other to receive the grace and mercy of God.

God finds us in our hard, futile state and the water of the Word comes into us to reveal Jesus. Then we are filled with the Spirit of Christ and transformed by His indwelling to become a vessel full of Him, 'poured out wine.' (The Wedding of Cana: John 2) Christ wants to live His joy, His love, His faith within and through us.

Martha met with a young woman, called to New Zealand to join Youth with a Mission (YWAM). This lovely gal, with honest integrity, knew she needed two things: courage and faith. The Lord gave her a special and very personal answer: a brilliant statement expressing the gospel - "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Come and hear His answer!

The more we are dependent, the more we are not disturbed. There is nothing in life that Christ doesn't transcend. God's rejoicing is not in our ability but in our dependence. The cross severs you from false hope in this world and gives you security in the kingdom.

The Lord spoke to John, "This is a good day.'" We are being delivered from a false hope to have hope in Him alone. Phil 3:20 "Our government, our nation, our home is in heaven, not on this earth. We literally belong to another government not of this world, a reign that is over all other governments and not subject to the decline of our power as a nation."

"I AM THE GOD WHO IS HOLY" We don't really know that HE IS GOD nor that HE IS HOLY. Very few follow Jesus through denial of self to the cross. Jennifer sees that so very few experience the miracle of living in a Body where reality and accountability are gifts of Christ's presence. On the other side of the Cross there is such glorious reward . . . the love of Christ.

In the face of an offense, faith is active, not passive, always needing to hear the Lord's view. When John the Baptist needed comfort from prison, Jesus' answer was "Blessed is he who is not offended in Me." John sees that the word 'in' implies an intimacy of relationship with Jesus. He said, "When the will of God is your highest value, then the will of God is your comfort."

We are decreased in order to simply receive ALL from God as little children. Our adult efforts thwart Him. Andrew Murray says, "Holiness is the presence of God in rest." Christ Himself is the Sabbath, the rest that all is finished in Him and it is now only to believe.

Carole quotes from the article 'Four Faces of Christ' on our website. "To know the Lord as Lion is to live in the safety of the fear of God." We need to know Him to be as terrifying and holy as He is. Julie sees that holiness is Sonship. Ephesians says we were created to BE holy. To meet Him in His holiness results in the joy of knowing we are His children. John says, "God's calling to holiness is a statement of Who He is, but He is not asking us to perform it, He is asking us to receive it. His holiness is the dance that He is leading."

The Holy Spirit has given us a fresh revelation of what has been a long term experience: God's Holiness. Lev. 21:8 NLT "I, the Lord, am holy and I make you holy." Authority brings the cross and the cross is the path to holiness. Jenn says that our walk is a progression of the call to His Holiness by the chastening that makes us able to receive His gift of the new creation.