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===='''What Your Minister Won't Tell You About Easter''' ====
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====Becoming a Tree of Life====
  
<p>Have you heard this Easter story? In the spring of the year, King Herod began persecuting the early New Testament Church. The apostle John's brother James was martyred with a sword—soon after Peter was imprisoned. </p>
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In the 47th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel we read of four levels of water: to the ankles, to the knees, to the waist, and waters to swim in. The water is the Spirit of God, which is coming from God’s Throne in our day.
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To the ankles is basic salvation.
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To the knees is learning to follow the Spirit of God.
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To the waist is the surrender of our will to God.
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Waters to swim in is life lived in the Fullness of God.
  
<p>Acts 12:4&nbsp;continues the story stating that when Herod (grandson of Herod the Great) had apprehended Peter, “he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after&nbsp; Easter &nbsp;to bring him forth to the people.” </p>
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(2/17/2008) Many people in our day have been forgiven through the blood atonement. A smaller number have entered the Spirit of God to the point they speak in tongues and perhaps prophesy.
  
<p>God intervened and Peter was rescued before Herod could hatch his plan. The angel of the Lord visited the apostle, his shackles fell off, and he walked out. A miraculous escape! </p>
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Now God is looking for those who will surrender their will to Him so He may have His unhindered way in them.
  
<p>…a miraculous&nbsp; Easter &nbsp;escape? </p>
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Waters to swim in has to do with our being filled with all the Fullness of God. It is written of the Lord Jesus that in Him dwells all the fullness of God. Our destiny also is to be filled with all the Fullness of God. But it is a strenuous battle as we seek to move past Pentecost and enter the rest of God, the place where God’s will is performed in every aspect of our life, and at all times, day and night.
  
<p>Realize this is the&nbsp; only &nbsp;place in the King James Bible the word Easter occurs. The original Greek word, however, is&nbsp; pascha —meaning Passover. In truth,&nbsp;Acts 12&nbsp;is talking about the Days of Unleavened Bread mentioned in&nbsp;Exodus 12&nbsp;and&nbsp;Leviticus 23. </p>
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There is vastly more of God to be had if we are willing to minimize our involvement in the security and pleasures of the world system; are willing to confess, denounce, and renounce the evil that dwells in us; and are willing to let go of our own plans and ambitions that God’s will in its entirety might be done in us.
  
<p>Every other Bible translation does not say Easter in this account. Even the New King James version says Passover. The fact is, Easter's tie to Christ's death and resurrection&nbsp; cannot &nbsp;be found in the Bible! </p>
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In God’s House, which is the Lord Jesus Christ, there are many dwelling places. These dwelling places are not small cubicles. They are great palaces. Each one of us is a great palace in which the Fullness of God and Christ can dwell for eternity.
  
<p>Holy Week, as it is called—the period between Palm Sunday and Easter—is the busiest time of year for faithful Protestants and Catholics. The other observances during this period are Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. </p>
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The Lamb knocks at the door of our personality. We open the door. The Lamb dines on our obedience and worship. We dine on His body and blood. In this manner we are married to the Lamb. The marriage of the Lamb is taking place now, as individual believers are willing to open the door of their heart and permit the King of Glory to enter.
  
<p>Have you ever heard your minister say why you keep these days? Sure, there are stated reasons they are observed. For one, they point to some of the most monumental events in human history. </p>
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Today is one of rare opportunity in the Kingdom of God. If we have been forgiven by trusting in the blood atonement made by Christ on the cross, and have yielded to the Holy Spirit, we are qualified now and competent to press forward to the Fullness of God. Paul wrote that we are to become strong in our inner man until we are filled with all the Fullness of God. All the Fullness of God! Think of it! All the Fullness of God!
  
<p>Yet has your minister given you Bible proof why you should be keeping these days? Have you seen—in God's own Word—why you should attend church services four times in the spring? </p>
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But to what end are we to be filled with all the Fullness of God? So that we may give eternal life to other people—in particular to every person of the nations of the earth who will receive. This is the spiritual fulfillment of the last great feast of the Lord, the feast of Tabernacles.
  
<p>Just like the word Easter, many other long-held traditions have no biblical backing. Yet you will never hear your minister utter one word about this—let alone what God's Word&nbsp; really &nbsp;says. </p>
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We note in the 47th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel that after we are swimming in the waters of God’s Spirit we return to the bank of the river. Along the bank, on each side, there are trees of life. These trees are growing from the one Tree of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
  
<p>All in a Name </p>
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The Spirit and the Bride invite all who will to come and partake freely of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of eternal Life. God has not called us merely to teach our religious doctrines to mankind. God has called us to show forth in ourselves the light of righteousness and praise. When the people of the world see our light they will come. When they come we will not give them doctrine primarily, we will give them eternal life, flowing out from our personality.
  
<p>With Easter absent from the Bible text, where it does come from is profound. The answer is found in the name of the holiday itself. </p>
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But we cannot serve mankind as a tree of life until we have passed through the four levels of water.
  
<p>The&nbsp; New Catholic Encyclopedia &nbsp;states that “the origin of the term for the feast of Christ's Resurrection has been popularly considered to be from the Anglo-Saxon Eastre, a goddess of spring…the Old High German plural for dawn, eostarun; whence has come the German Ostern, and our English Easter.” </p>
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We must turn away from finding our pleasure and security in the world system. We have to set ourselves to touch the media and entertainment lightly, and spend more time in prayer with the Lord and with Bible reading. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. This is water to the ankles.
  
<p>Catholics admit Easter comes from a&nbsp; pagan &nbsp;goddess of spring! </p>
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Then we must press forward until we are conscious that the Holy Spirit is pointing out the various areas of darkness that dwell in us. The lust, jealousy, rage, covetousness, arrogance, and all the rest of the motivations of our sinful nature must be confessed, as they are pointed out to us. We must denounce them as evil, renounce them vigorously, stating we want nothing more to do with them. Then we are to walk carefully before the Lord Jesus every minute of every day and night of the remainder of our life. This is water to the knees.
  
<p>A Manual of Church History &nbsp;adds to this: “The fact that vernal festivals were general among pagan peoples no doubt had much to do with the form assumed by the Eastern festival in the Christian churches. The English term Easter is of pagan origin.” </p>
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Then we must press forward until we overcome every enemy that would cause us to be discontent while we are waiting patiently in God’s will. Satan fell through discontent with his God-given position. We are to abide in Christ, waiting until He gives us the desires of our heart. “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Your will, not mine, be done. This is waters to the waist.
  
<p>The book&nbsp; Festivals, Holy Days, and Saints' Days &nbsp;states this also: “On this greatest of Christian festivals, several survivals occur of&nbsp; ancient heathen ceremonies . To begin with, the name itself is not Christian but pagan. Ostara was the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring” (emphasis added). </p>
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We are to persevere with all our strength and determination in each of the three areas, until we are filled with all the Fullness of God, and God brings us back to the bank of the River, so to speak. Now we are ready to bring Divine Life to whoever is willing to receive it from us.
  
<p>Do not miss the words “ancient heathen ceremonies.” The practice of Easter predates the birth of Christ! </p>
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God was angry with us for a season, and we had to walk through dry places, even while we were struggling through the water. But then God brings us into rest. God wounds us, and then God heals us.
  
<p>Should you be celebrating Easter? The name&nbsp; itself &nbsp;is that of a false goddess. </p>
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God is raising up mighty men and women of God today from all parts of His Church. The invitation includes you. Tell God you want His best, and you are willing to give up everything He asks for, so you may receive His best.
  
<p>This is no different from saying, “I am celebrating Baal.” Or, “I observe a day called Moloch.” Any Bible student knows what God says about those false deities. </p>
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You are not seeking God’s best so you can be some great one in the Kingdom of God. You are seeking God’s best so you humbly can serve mankind with eternal life. The people of the nations are dead and do not know it. But God loves them and wants to save everyone who will receive His salvation.
  
<p>If you ask your minister about this, you will likely get a stock answer. Perhaps you have even heard it before. </p>
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Don’t stop for anything. Don’t quit. If you keep doing God’s will faithfully, His mighty warrior-angels will hold Satan at bay. You will overcome and succeed if you do not quit.
  
<p>“We changed the meaning of the day. Now it relates to Christ's resurrection,” goes the common thinking. “Even though there are different historical origins, it is now an important Church holiday.” </p>
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You shall be filled with all the Fullness of God!
  
<p>Easter is loaded with symbols and practices from paganism and fertility rites. Our booklet&nbsp; <a href="https://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=SoNDh5&mc=9O&s=VxSRn&u=7ow&z=EMtRJbG&"> The True Origin of Easter &nbsp;has the full story. </p>
 
  
<p>It does not matter what you think or what you are told by others regarding Easter. What matters is what God thinks. How&nbsp; He &nbsp;feels about adopting heathen practices. </p>
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Copyright © 2008 Trumpet Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved
 
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<p>Jeremiah 10:2&nbsp;reveals the plain answer: “Thus says the Lord,&nbsp; Learn not the way of the heathen , and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” </p>
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<p>Heathen practices should not be followed, adopted or adapted to serve God. How plain! </p>
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<p>Matthew 15:9&nbsp;adds to this: “But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” </p>
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<p>Easter as a doctrine is a commandment of men. You have seen the proof. It is simply not found in God's Word. </p>
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<p>Yet there&nbsp; are &nbsp;clear days in the Bible you should keep, and many of them fall right around Easter. More on that later. </p>
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<p>How Long in the Tomb? </p>
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<p>According to traditional teaching, Jesus was crucified on Friday and was resurrected on Sunday morning. </p>
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<p>The Catholic catechism puts it this way: “Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because the Sabbath began on the evening of Good Friday, were the first to encounter the Risen One…Everything that happened during those Paschal days involves each of the apostles—and Peter in particular—in the building of the new era begun on Easter morning.” </p>
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<p>Do the math. Friday evening until Sunday morning is 36 hours. Is this how much time Jesus said He would be in the grave? Does it really matter? </p>
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<p>Matthew 12:39-40&nbsp;reveals the answer is significant. Jesus said this to scribes and Pharisees who were seeking a sign: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall&nbsp; the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth .” </p>
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<p>How long Jesus would be dead is of crucial importance! He declared He would show&nbsp; one &nbsp;sign. He said He would be dead and buried for three whole days&nbsp; and &nbsp;three whole nights—72 hours. </p>
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<p>So which day is off: Good Friday or Easter Sunday? The answer is both! </p>
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<p>John 19:14&nbsp;explains that Jesus' crucifixion landed on “the preparation of the Passover.”&nbsp;Verse 31&nbsp;further states “for that sabbath day was a high day.” </p>
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<p>What does this mean? </p>
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<p>An extended quote from our booklet&nbsp; <a href="https://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=SoNDG9&mc=9O&s=VxSRn&u=7ow&z=E9ZKhuv&">Christ's Resurrection Was Not on Sunday reveals the answer in detail. </p>
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<p>“Any Jew will tell you that a ‘high day' is a feast day or an annual holy day!&nbsp;Leviticus 23&nbsp;describes seven of these days that the nation of ancient Israel was commanded to keep year by year. A simple review of this chapter (verses 24,&nbsp;26-32&nbsp;and&nbsp;39) reveals that God considered these days to be Sabbaths. Notice that&nbsp;Leviticus 23:2&nbsp;refers to all of these Sabbaths as ‘the feasts of the Lord' and ‘even these are My feasts.' This same verse also calls them ‘holy convocations'—meaning commanded assemblies. These days do not fall on the same day, year after year, any more than do the common pagan holidays that most people observe today. </p>
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<p>“Matthew 26:2&nbsp;states, ‘You know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.' (Leviticus 23&nbsp;shows that the Passover was the one feast that was not also a Sabbath, wherein work was prohibited.) There is no doubt that Christ was crucified on the Passover.” </p>
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<p>The quote continues: “The Old Testament Passover always preceded the annual Sabbath called the first Day of Unleavened Bread. This day was a high day or a feast day to be celebrated each year, again, on the day immediately following the Passover. Notice&nbsp;Numbers 28:16-17: ‘And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the Lord. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast.' This feast was the first Day of Unleavened Bread. </p>
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<p>“Jesus Christ was slain by crucifixion on the exact same day that the Passover lamb had been slain every year…Christ was crucified on the Passover and this day then would automatically be a preparation day for the feast day, or annual high day Sabbath—which was to begin almost immediately after His burial. </p>
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<p>“As mentioned, annual Sabbaths could occur on any day of the week. Tuesday and Thursday are more common than any other day for the first Day of Unleavened Bread, following the Passover. Thursday is probably the most common of all. For instance, in the thirty-six years (counting inclusively) between 1998 and 2033, the first Day of Unleavened Bread occurs on a Thursday 12 times, and on a Tuesday 10 times. All other days are less often during this period. In the year of Christ's crucifixion, according to the Hebrew calendar, the Passover occurred on a Wednesday! This means that the annual Sabbath had to be one day later—or Thursday! It was, in fact, this sabbath that was approaching, thus requiring the swift burial of Jesus' body prior to its arrival. The weekly Sabbath, or Saturday, was to occur two days after that.” </p>
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<p>Re-read this last paragraph until it becomes crystal clear. When all the facts are in, the day of Christ's resurrection is simple. Three days&nbsp; and &nbsp;three nights from Wednesday evening is Saturday evening. This is when Jesus came out of the tomb. </p>
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<p>Realize what this means: Jesus Christ was not resurrected on Sunday. You have seen the proof in your Bible! With this information comes an all-important decision you must make… </p>
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<p>Decision Point </p>
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<p>Back up and look at Christendom as a whole. Almost every denomination uses Christ's&nbsp; Sunday &nbsp;resurrection as proof that you should keep Sunday. You have seen this is utterly false thinking. Coming off this, what day should you keep? </p>
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<p>The Bible answer is again plain. In fact, you likely have already memorized the answer, which is found in&nbsp;Exodus 20: “Remember&nbsp; the sabbath day , to keep it holy” (vs. 8). Any Sunday school student knows this as one of the Ten Commandments! </p>
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<p>If pressed, many ministers will state it is good to set aside a day or parts of a few days to rest and recuperate. However, almost none will state definitively that the Sabbath is a specific day. </p>
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<p>But God states it&nbsp; is &nbsp;one day. Keep reading in Exodus: “Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord your God: in it you shall not do any work…For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (vs. 9-11). </p>
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<p>Count the days of the week. The seventh is Saturday. God leaves no wiggle room here, and He wants that specific day kept! (Note that this should be set aside from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.) </p>
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<p>Begin to ask yourself, “Am I ready to keep the seventh-day Sabbath as God commands?” </p>
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<p>What about yearly observances such as Easter, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday—all of which commemorate biblical events? These are based on ancient heathen customs, but there&nbsp; are &nbsp;annual Holy Days God commands to keep. </p>
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<p>God is clear what days He wants you to keep in the spring. These are the very same days Jesus Himself kept. Yet, again, your minister will never tell you to keep them. Recall that Christ's crucifixion happened on the Passover leading into the Days of Unleavened Bread. </p>
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<p>Ministers will tell you “this was done away” or “those days were kept for you by Christ.” </p>
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<p>Exodus 12:17&nbsp;contains a command of God: “And you shall observe the feast of unleavened bread…by an ordinance forever.” </p>
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<p>This command was not “done away.” It is “by an ordinance forever.” </p>
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<p>Will you believe your Bible? Forever means forever! </p>
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<p>The New Testament Church knew this. It continued to keep God's Holy Days after Christ ascended into heaven. Paul told the Corinthians to keep the Days of Unleavened Bread: “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us&nbsp; keep the feast , not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (I Cor. 5:7-8). </p>
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<p>The&nbsp; only &nbsp;thing Paul could be talking about here is keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread! </p>
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<p>All of God's Holy Days—seven altogether—have specific instructions tied to them. They can be found throughout Scripture and are intended to demonstrate God's incredible plan of salvation for all mankind. </p>
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<p>Most people never question their beliefs. This is especially true of cherished religious traditions. Do not believe what your minister tells you about Easter or any other manmade holiday. Do not go off what you were taught in Sunday school or by your parents. Instead,&nbsp; investigate &nbsp;God's Word. He is clear what weekly day you should keep holy. He is clear what annual Holy Days you should keep—with detailed instructions on how to observe them properly. </p>
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<p> While reading, open up your Bible and&nbsp;prove&nbsp;for yourself what God wants! </p>
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<p> <a href="https://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=SoNng4&mc=9O&s=VxSRn&u=7ow&z=E9vhCZW&"></p>
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Revision as of 13:03, 7 April 2021

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Becoming a Tree of Life

In the 47th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel we read of four levels of water: to the ankles, to the knees, to the waist, and waters to swim in. The water is the Spirit of God, which is coming from God’s Throne in our day. To the ankles is basic salvation. To the knees is learning to follow the Spirit of God. To the waist is the surrender of our will to God. Waters to swim in is life lived in the Fullness of God.

(2/17/2008) Many people in our day have been forgiven through the blood atonement. A smaller number have entered the Spirit of God to the point they speak in tongues and perhaps prophesy.

Now God is looking for those who will surrender their will to Him so He may have His unhindered way in them.

Waters to swim in has to do with our being filled with all the Fullness of God. It is written of the Lord Jesus that in Him dwells all the fullness of God. Our destiny also is to be filled with all the Fullness of God. But it is a strenuous battle as we seek to move past Pentecost and enter the rest of God, the place where God’s will is performed in every aspect of our life, and at all times, day and night.

There is vastly more of God to be had if we are willing to minimize our involvement in the security and pleasures of the world system; are willing to confess, denounce, and renounce the evil that dwells in us; and are willing to let go of our own plans and ambitions that God’s will in its entirety might be done in us.

In God’s House, which is the Lord Jesus Christ, there are many dwelling places. These dwelling places are not small cubicles. They are great palaces. Each one of us is a great palace in which the Fullness of God and Christ can dwell for eternity.

The Lamb knocks at the door of our personality. We open the door. The Lamb dines on our obedience and worship. We dine on His body and blood. In this manner we are married to the Lamb. The marriage of the Lamb is taking place now, as individual believers are willing to open the door of their heart and permit the King of Glory to enter.

Today is one of rare opportunity in the Kingdom of God. If we have been forgiven by trusting in the blood atonement made by Christ on the cross, and have yielded to the Holy Spirit, we are qualified now and competent to press forward to the Fullness of God. Paul wrote that we are to become strong in our inner man until we are filled with all the Fullness of God. All the Fullness of God! Think of it! All the Fullness of God!

But to what end are we to be filled with all the Fullness of God? So that we may give eternal life to other people—in particular to every person of the nations of the earth who will receive. This is the spiritual fulfillment of the last great feast of the Lord, the feast of Tabernacles.

We note in the 47th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel that after we are swimming in the waters of God’s Spirit we return to the bank of the river. Along the bank, on each side, there are trees of life. These trees are growing from the one Tree of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Spirit and the Bride invite all who will to come and partake freely of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of eternal Life. God has not called us merely to teach our religious doctrines to mankind. God has called us to show forth in ourselves the light of righteousness and praise. When the people of the world see our light they will come. When they come we will not give them doctrine primarily, we will give them eternal life, flowing out from our personality.

But we cannot serve mankind as a tree of life until we have passed through the four levels of water.

We must turn away from finding our pleasure and security in the world system. We have to set ourselves to touch the media and entertainment lightly, and spend more time in prayer with the Lord and with Bible reading. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. This is water to the ankles.

Then we must press forward until we are conscious that the Holy Spirit is pointing out the various areas of darkness that dwell in us. The lust, jealousy, rage, covetousness, arrogance, and all the rest of the motivations of our sinful nature must be confessed, as they are pointed out to us. We must denounce them as evil, renounce them vigorously, stating we want nothing more to do with them. Then we are to walk carefully before the Lord Jesus every minute of every day and night of the remainder of our life. This is water to the knees.

Then we must press forward until we overcome every enemy that would cause us to be discontent while we are waiting patiently in God’s will. Satan fell through discontent with his God-given position. We are to abide in Christ, waiting until He gives us the desires of our heart. “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Your will, not mine, be done. This is waters to the waist.

We are to persevere with all our strength and determination in each of the three areas, until we are filled with all the Fullness of God, and God brings us back to the bank of the River, so to speak. Now we are ready to bring Divine Life to whoever is willing to receive it from us.

God was angry with us for a season, and we had to walk through dry places, even while we were struggling through the water. But then God brings us into rest. God wounds us, and then God heals us.

God is raising up mighty men and women of God today from all parts of His Church. The invitation includes you. Tell God you want His best, and you are willing to give up everything He asks for, so you may receive His best.

You are not seeking God’s best so you can be some great one in the Kingdom of God. You are seeking God’s best so you humbly can serve mankind with eternal life. The people of the nations are dead and do not know it. But God loves them and wants to save everyone who will receive His salvation.

Don’t stop for anything. Don’t quit. If you keep doing God’s will faithfully, His mighty warrior-angels will hold Satan at bay. You will overcome and succeed if you do not quit.

You shall be filled with all the Fullness of God!


Copyright © 2008 Trumpet Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved