Flourish 2

Following the resurrection, Messiah appears to the disciples, twice in one day. These remarkable encounters are described in Luke 24. 

The first encounter is with two traveling on the road, Messiah expounds on the scriptures which He has just fulfilled; they do not recognize Him in His resurrected form.

The second time He appears again to the two from the road as they tell the eleven disciples (hiding in Jerusalem) what they have seen...again they do not recognize Him in His resurrected form. 

He first provides clear proof that He is indeed their lost companion...then He explains the scriptures. He opens their minds and hearts to revelation.

Then He said to them, These are the Words which I spoke to you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the  Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. 

And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Luke 24:44, 45

These are the companions of Christ, these are those who walked and talked with Him for 3 1/2 years as He did miracle after miracle. 

Here you have 11 Jewish men (with others present) who have grown up reading the Parashat, every sabbath. 

They were literally steeped in the scriptures, yet, the full understanding of the scripture was somehow blocked, understanding darkened, veiled, without enlightenment.

If ever there were a people who could have understood the scriptures through intellectual pursuit, it would have been these men. 

The Word was rooted in them for they were drawn to the Messiah because of this engrafted Word. Yet they had not yet been quickened by the sound of His voice and His resurrected touch. 

The Scriptures are spiritual, the Bible is a spiritual book and can only be interpreted correctly through relationship with the Holy Spirit (Living Water) which Jesus released upon The Cross.

On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. 

But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37, 38, 39

Interpretation and application of the Word...this is where the Living Water is needed. We receive the Living Water due to belief, due to relationship, due to the quickening of His Word. 

As water causes the seed to grow, the mystery of the plant (Messiah- Tree of Life) begins to take root within our hearts and begins to reveal itself. 

It is in the garden of Prayer that we are refreshed with Living Water.

A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Song of Solomon 4:12

Pastors, Leaders, Teachers of the Word provide a wonderful confirmation to what we learn within the garden of fellowship, in relationship with our Lord.

Leaders cannot take the place of relationship. They cannot take the place of your dialogue with Him.

Jesus answered and said to her, 

Whoever drinks of this water that I shall give him will never thirst. 

But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:13, 14

Here, Messiah is speaking to a Samaritan woman. Perhaps, she is not learned in the scriptures as those mentioned in Luke 24 above. 

However, by her questions, she reveals she is a seeker. She is someone yearning for the nearness which is released within the garden of fellowship. 

In relationship- the inside/ outside aspect of filling and washing is revealed. Abide in Me and I will abide in you.

In turn, Messiah is letting her know (and through this, He is letting us all know), the Living Water flows through Him, it is His to release this royal, refreshing, drink from heaven. 

He tells the disciples, following this encounter,  that the Father of all Creation is looking for those who will worship in Spirit and in Truth. 

Here again, we see the emphasis on relationship, on dialogue. He seemed delighted with her conversation and He did not hold back in His response.

This is a description of the encounter within the garden of prayer, a place for developing relationship. This women is seeking the true life giving intimacy He reveals.

The garden, the wellspring, is the place for growing lavish fruit and for growing exquisite spices, which represent our witness and our worship. They grow together in the garden of prayer. 

Here we hide the Word in our hearts. Here in a place of mutual adoration... He reveals His love and the bride (believer) revels in this love through unrestrained worship and gratefulness.

In the garden, the Lord of All, will meet us right where we are. It does take humility to enter the garden and recognize He is the One who will release the flow of the Living Water. 

He will meet us with a cool cup of water but eventually all who come to drink of Him will realize there is so much more to the Living Water. 

Cloud, Rain, Thunder and Lightning, Streams, Springs, Fountains and Rivers. Powerful Rivers now flow from the Resurrected One who sits on the Throne of Heaven.

And He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was a tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month;

the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22: 1-2

In Revelation 22, Ezekiel 47 and Daniel 7: 10 we encounter a River flowing from the Throne. 

Messiah has made it known that He desires for streams to flow from His Throne.. 

 and that mini throne which is within the garden place of our hearts. However, this is not a place to enter with a casual regard for His holiness, purity and goodness.

It is in the flow of this Living Water that the Word is revealed, interpreted and applied. It is required for our ways, our hearts, our testimonies to flourish.

He desires that we should flourish. HE IS THE BAPTIST. You are SAFE in His hands.

For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist;

 but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 

And when all the people heard Him; even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. Luke 7:28-30

John baptized in the Jordan River. Jordan means.....The Descender. The Lord of glory descended from the Highest place to the lowest place so that we could pass through Him from death unto life. 

Now, from the Throne Room, He provides a pure, crystal clear River for us to drink from, to soak within, to bath and delight in. Yet, not lightly, not casually.

We begin in the garden place, establishing relationship, hiding the Word in our hearts, drinking from a softly flowing fountain but eventually He leads us to the mighty river from His Throne. 

This is a beautiful life giving river but we must never be casual in the way we enter. Messiah was held in the hands of John as He was baptized in the muddy Jordan.

In Ezekiel and Revelation, we see both the prophet & disciple were provided with an angelic escort through the river. 

In Daniel we see the river becomes a stream of living fire in which holy, consecrated ministers are ascending and descending in pure worship to minister to the King of Kings. 

The River is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God, It is His dominion and He is in charge of the flow. We must be in relationship with Him to go with the flow...to grow in the flow.

He desires for you to flourish in the streams of Living Water. Consecrate yourself to the garden place of relationship, of delight and fellowship. 

He will determine the form of Living Water which is right for your call and your assignment. 

Cloud- Rain- Lightning- Fountain- Cup of cool Water- Dew- Snow- Ice- River- Small Stream- Waterfalls- 

You choose Him, He chooses your flow.

Flourish 1

Living Water is a flowing vital expression, of  both, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. They flow as One and express the goodwill of the Father toward all His Creation.

There is life and health and well being within the flow. Those who were baptized in the Old and New Testament were baptized in flowing waters.

The waters are not meant to be static, still, or a place for rancid, decaying matter. Living Water was meant to flow to you, through you and overflow from you to others and vice versa. 

The Lord's restorative counsel flows through the Living Water. Often, life's battles and trials take place within the mind. If you are receiving accusation, mental debate or feel defeated, take a plunge into the flow of Living Waters. 

Here is what Adonai says in Isaiah 55:10...

As the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes forth from my mouth. (Also see Is. 45:8)

Adonai desires for you to flourish. He gave His all for the Living Water to be released for your benefit. Living Waters of His Word are described as Rain, Lightning, Wellspring and River within the text of the ancient scriptures.

See here in Psalms 29:3, 4, 7....

The voice of Adonai is over the rushing waters; the God of glory thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of Adonai is powerful; the voice of Adonai is majestic. The voice of Adonai strikes with flashes of lightning.

Do you think of judgment when you hear of lightning? Lightning releases nitrates into the atmosphere which feed the plankton, which in turn feed the eco system of earth.

That is an over simplification but enough for our blog purpose to demonstrate Father's will for you to flourish.

Think also of the rainbow which was a sign of the promise after the flood. Messiah asked the disciples to wait for the promise, which was the Holy Spirit (John 7:37, 38, Acts 1:4). 

Lightning releases the rain as well and rain represents the Holy Spirit. Light and rain= rainbow. Such a beautiful picture of Yahweh's love for you.  

Here is a scripture about the wellspring, another description of the Living Waters in Isaiah 12:3...

Surely Yah Adonai is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. Yah Adonai is my strength and my song;

He has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells (or springs) of salvation (Yeshua).

Clearly the Lord desires for you to flourish. Surely His counsel and goodwill is within the flow of the Living Waters.

The written Word can be compared to snow or ice; when you activate the flow, there is a release of His wisdom and healing. 

Often what is being preached as the word of God has become static or polluted by men's traditions. Messiah did not come to judge, or turn away, those who are thirsty. 

He was stern with those who were religious and self righteous but never with those who were seeking life, seeking to flourish. Please forgive us if this is the Gospel you have heard.

Many have been turned away from this stale and rancid water, which was -condemnation- preached as if it were the Gospel. 

In truth, each individual should be seeking Yahweh's flow so they may flourish in a one on one relationship. Living Water is all about relationship rather than intellectual pursuit or the pursuit of a religious convention. 

Remember-Living Water needs to be both inside and outside of you. No one can do this for you.  Many Christian denominations have tried to take the place of an individual seeking to drink from the Wellspring.

No one can drink for you. No one can seek for you. The church gatherings were meant to shelter and build you up. They were meant for believers to give drink to one another.

In your private, quiet place of prayer...you can activate the flow of His majestic waters and you can be freed from doubt, mental fatigue, rejection and grief. 

You can activate them (Yahweh's Words) by praying them out-loud or by singing. Even a tentative whisper can release the flow. Try it. 

Let Him lead you to the healing streams. They are available in your garden of prayer. (see Song of Solomon 4:6-10)

The reason this works- He is the beloved. Do you not love to hear love talk? Yahweh does too and when you speak the scriptures out loud to Him, you are speaking His love language. That sense of judgment is coming from the enemy not the LORD.

I am talking about the wonderful promise scriptures, the comfort scriptures. Some verses are historic, some are corrective, some are mysteries, some are actual verdicts from the court room of heaven....don't worry about those for now. Just draw near.

The Holy Spirit, the flow of Living Waters will also teach and guide you into all truth. And He will guide you to those who can mentor you in the truth and fellowship. Ask.

You do not have to understand the whole of the ancient scripture, just find a beautiful promise and ask for this gift to flourish. 

Believers have been studying the scriptures for thousands of years, trust me, they just keep on unfolding and revealing and flowing like never ending Living Waters.

Just start with a cool cup of water....may I suggest the last half of Isaiah...its a great place to start or the Gospel of St. John. Read it out- loud as if you are expecting a dialogue with your Creator.

You will not be disappointed. Be patient, listening ears are something which grow and develop over time.

Soon- we will talk about The River. 

Yahweh....your Creator....your beloved....has provided so much for you to flourish in His counsel and in His lovingkindness. 

Rivers are flowing out of the majestic throne room of heaven right now. He is waiting to give you downloads of His goodness. 

He is willing to meet you right where you are...and He will not leave you there....He will lift you up and carry you- upon His flow. 

It is your choice, your free will to activate the flow.

A Garden Affair

Mountain climbing is a garden affair. How so, You ask? 

In Song of Solomon 4:6 we see a picture of a  bride (church) who determines to go up the mountain to pursue her bridegroom (Messiah). 

This is a picture of our lives in pursuit of Yahweh. As we traverse some treacherous ground, there are garden spots, with springs and refreshing streams along the way.

Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. SOS 4:6

If you read further in the chapter it reveals a stunning garden scene, where they speak to one another in mutual adoration. 

Recently, I attended an AGLOW meeting, one of the speakers declared....

"Your whole purpose is to be loved. That's it, that's your purpose."

Only Messiah, the bridegroom really understands the heart of a bride. This is why He uses an example of a pure, loving, marriage in the Gospels. All other purposes and actions come out of the action of loving and being loved.

I love the book written about the purpose driven life, it re-directed a lot of people to further consider their life and it's outcome. 

However, our purpose is not based or fulfilled in our call, our career, our title, our gifting.....

Our purpose is solely to adore Yahweh and in response to His grace...

to yield, to receive, to be filled with His love. 

Only then, can we pour out selfless love onto others; those who need healing and the necessary revelation of their own purpose. 

Our call is what we do but it is not who we are. He is our significance and being loved is who we are. We are His beloved. That is our true identity.

On our mountain trek, on the dusty trail, we discover our true grit, who we really are in His plan. 

We discover by stepping into the garden places, the waterholes, the caves and dens of refuge that seem like unwelcome places from the outside. 

We kneel and gaze into what looks like a dark place, yet we need shelter from the storm. We venture in with Hope and Trust and we find a small pool of Living Water. 

His Living Water reveals our identity- as someone would gaze into a tranquil pond and see their own image looking back;

yet in the shimmering waters.... Yahweh's face is illuminated within the outline of our own image.

He is gazing back in love. In the garden, you take time to drink deeply and to ruminate upon His Word, which is the source of the Living Water.

You take time to gaze into the mirror of His Word, in the garden place, on your trek upon your mountain. 

The high places of life, are the places you- go up- to get a better view of your horizons. He is your trail guide. The Lord sought out these places, as well. He too was seeking His love and purpose.

Jesus' ultimate garden experience was a place of prayer, blood sweat and tears... and treachery...

Yet, ours is a place of resurrection and redemption. It's  a place to gaze upon His lovely face. It is a place of rest and reward for the effort of the climb. 

Yet it is in the cleft of the rock, the place next to His heart, which was pierced. It is a place to acknowledge our needs as well as our dreams and goals.

Messiah spent time venturing up into the mountains and hills to listen for the voice of His Father. It was love that affirmed Him.

In the very beginning and the very end of His 3 1/2 year ministry He also took His disciples up into the mountain, to the garden place. It was a hidden place, a place you had to follow Him into. His love was the way in!

Mark 3:13 says, And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 

Then He appointed the twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.

It goes on to say, He ordained them. Our call is separate from our identity but our call does come out of the mountain garden, a place of adoration and simply soaking in His love. 

Our God, our creator has a longing to be pursued, just as anyone in love has a desire to be sought after.

We need to go up with Him. We need to pursue Him. How strange a picture this is, a bride pursuing the bridegroom, yet this is the way in Song of Solomon.

Pursuit... It is our way because He has pursued us with the ultimate price, He gave His life as a wedding gift. He gave His all.

In Song of Solomon2:9 the bride sees a vision of her beloved, He appears as gazelle or young stag, upon the mountains. She continues to see this vision through out her life drama; through out the story told within the Song of Solomon.

Behold, He stands behind our wall; gazing through the lattice. My beloved spoke, and said to me; Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

It is following this encounter that she makes a free will choice….

I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. 

She determines to go there...until the shadows flee.

When we see Him as a stag upon the mountains, this is the time to follow Him up the trail. 

The scriptures declare.....

As a deer pants for water so my soul pants for the Living God.

Deer know the scent of water, fresh mountain water, they often cross streams to throw their scent off, if a predator is following them. 

So if your trail is following the Lord and you feel you are zig-zaggin; this is His plan to deliver you from evil.

Don't grow weary in well doing. Keep on trekking. Mountain water is the best kind.

In Psalms, David often describes, in detail, his mountain treks. Psalm 23, for example, leads us into that same garden which is described in Song of Solomon 4:6-10, He lays down besides still waters. 

He passes through a valley shadowed and frightening but he leans on his shepherds staff. 

He comes to a Tent (or garden area) where the Lord has prepared a table before Him. In this tent he experiences the same mutual adoration described in Song of Solomon.

Much of Psalms is a description of a mountain trail and when the psalmist inserts the word Selah....just know, this is a cleft in the rock, a garden place where you can rest from the weather outside.

On your treacherous journey through this fallen landscape, there are places provided for you to rest, to go higher, deeper into His lovingkindness. 

You must follow the trail of the mountain deer. David describes how the Lord causes him to be fit and strong for the rough terrain.

You make my feet like hinds feet on my high places....You enlarged the path under me, so my feet did not slip. Psalm 18:33, 36

No one can walk your trail for you except the One who is pictured as the stag upon the mountains. He has prepared places along the way, in the cleft of the rock. 

You may hear the faint sound of water dripping or a small flow of a stream. You have to become lovesick to find these places. You must be like the deer in Psalm 42:1....panting for a drink of His Living Water. 

The entry into the cleft of the rock, into the garden is right there within your own heart.

He is the door and He is dwelling in your heart. The way to strengthen your hinds feet is by bowing low, by getting on your knees. It's the surest way to the highest place.

That is how Messiah found His garden places, that is how He found His loyal followers. They were willing to go  to the Mountain of myrrh...they followed the sound of His voice....the refreshing sound...

The sound of many waters.

                                                  Mountain climbing is

 a garden affair.

Inside Outside

In John 4:13 and 7:37, Jesus declared, His purpose in coming to earth was to fill us with Living Water. What does this mean? How do we receive it? Is it safe?

He wanted to make His nearness so real to us that it was described as Living Water which would fill us up, pour out of us and even surround us. 

The Living Water would also protect and insulate us from the inside and from the outside. It is remarkable that our Creator desires to draw so near to us. In scripture, it declares,

Abide in Me and I will abide in you. John 15:7.

In yet another place, it declares,

Draw near to Yahweh and Yahweh will draw near to you. James 4:8.

Have you ever been in touch with this longing, this desire for His presence, His nearness? Have you ever sensed this nearness, from within you and from outside of you? 

Have you sensed this call to fellowship and interaction? It manifests as water does: 

filling, overflowing, splashing, cascading, swirling, soaking, rippling, roaring, singing, crashing and all for joy.

I understand that the comparison to water can make some draw back for fear of the impact of natural water...

 in floods or large waves or the power of a river. 

However, remember always, God is love and joy and peace. This is how the Living Water operates....it brings love and joy and peace. Always.

This desire to draw near is more remarkable still.  His Word declares- His presence, can be likened to our very thought, word or breath. 

It is compared to water, ingested to the inside and distributed to the very cells of our being. What is more wonderful than a drink of cool water to someone who is dehydrated?

The thoughts of our Creator can be so near  they become as words on our tongues as in Isaiah 51:16;

I have put my words in you mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand--I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, You are my people.

As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the Lord. My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth. Isaiah 59:21

Then the Lord reached out His hand and touched my mouth and said to me, Now, I have put my words in your mouth. Jeremiah 1:9.

This nearness can be as integrated as our very breath....as is John 20:21. In this verse the scripture declares Messiah breathed on the disciples and said, 

Receive the Holy Spirit.

He even said His Words were like Living Water which washed them inside and out.

You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you. John 15:3

Yahweh's Words, flowing from His Throne, are likened to the flow of a River as in Revelation 22 and Ezekiel 47. 

Living Water is also referred to as the flow of the Holy Spirit as in John 7:37, 38. Water is H20. Three in One, just as the Godhead; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

We are also made in this image; a trinity of body, soul and spirit and we are made up of 78% - 83% water (some parts of us even more). 

That's a lot of water. We relate to water and we will quickly deteriorate and die without it.

This is why I find it remarkable that water can be a medium to refresh us on the inside and on the outside. In scripture Living Water is shown in many different forms:

Pillar of Cloud-Exodus 13:21

River from the Throne- Revelation 22

Jordan (where we are baptized into the family of God)- John 1:28

Wellsprings of Joy- Isaiah 12:3.

Rain of blessing from heaven, Rain to grow our crops of harvest- Joel 2:23.

Even our prayers are referred to as waters;

Pour out your hearts like water before the face of the Lord...lift up your hands toward Him for the lives of your children. Lamentations 2:29

In the Old Testament the words for prophecy are water words;

Naba means to bubble up, to pour forth, to gush forth.

Nataf means to drop, to fall as drops of rain. 

(a prophetic word is about having His Word on our tongue more than foretelling) 

The point is that scripture refers to Living Water, much more than we are aware. Living Water can replenish us on the inside and refresh us on the outside. 

The Lord Himself created the water system, water was present before the account in Genesis. 

He carefully describes the working of His Spirit and His Word by describing it as water throughout the whole of the Bible.

In the book of John, Chapter 15, the Messiah is speaking with His disciples after communion. He says His friends must be like a branch attached to a vine,

Abide in Me as I abide in you. 

This is how the Living Waters of His presence can flow, inside and outside.

In the natural, water is something we must drink to be healthy. Yet, we also bath in it. We also play and splash in it. 

The very sound of water, sitting by a fountain, can be so refreshing, so delightful! 

Messiah also turned the water into wine. Talk about a refreshment of joy. He invites us into this refreshing experience in Ephesians 5: 17,18;

therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 

It is His presence, His wisdom, His character, His own self, which He is offering us....for refreshment, 

cleansing, protection and life. He wants to fill us and flow around us....inside.....outside.

In Song of Solomon 5:1 The bridegroom, representing Jesus, is declaring to His companions...

Drink deeply, O Lovers. 

Bridegroom here, refers to Christ and His companions  are those who are believers. This bears repeating... He declares, Drink Deeply,  just after He has come to the garden of the bride, which refers to the Church.  

This is not a building (or service or man's tradition) but a living growing garden where there is a fountain of life.

The message is- take communion with the Living Water ... 

It is a relationship, a fellowship with His person and His presence, 

It is a marvelous filling and a surrounding of His very essence... from the inside and from the outside.

Hopscotch or Mountain Climbing

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me. Psalm 42:7

Do you have a place in your heart for worship toward your Creator? A place where you drink of or bask in Living Water, a Garden place?

I am not necessarily speaking of church attendance....I am speaking of a yearning or seeking for the Presence of Yahweh, within your own core, your own being.

The difference between attending a "service" and seeking from the heart, is like comparing Hopscotch or Mountain Climbing (I am speaking of hiking rather than cliff or rock climbing).

I won't lie to you, no one can do this for you, its your choice.

Now mind you, Hopscotch is an ancient and wonderful children's game; it develops eye hand coordination, motor skills and cooperation (like attending a church service). 

However, Mountain Climbing is a matter of mature skill, adventure, courage and seeking a breath of freshness...of sweet mountain air (like seeking God in your own heart and domain).

Hopscotch is for children and Mt. Climbing is for those ready to mature. Those ready to grow fit and strong in Spirit and Truth.

Mt. Climbing is for those who will take on the responsibility of their Spiritual growth and development. It is for those who are ready and willing to commit to a relationship which is beyond the casual/ need based Christianity.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. 1 Corinthians 13:11

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is not different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.  Galatians 4:1

His very Word, His very presence, His very power, which falls like a heavenly, cascading waterfall of delight..could be within your reach...if you will take up your canteen, back pack and hiking staff.

Are you thirsty for Living Water? John 7:37,38

(Disclaimer: Now I am not necessarily suggesting we completely abandon our church services...these could be comparable to the store where we purchase our canteen, back pack and staff). 

Our churches have played an important role in creating boundaries and standards for our society. I am personally grateful for the teaching I have received. 

However, teaching is not experiential relationship with the Lord.

What I am asking you to pray about, consider, dig down deep into your own heart,  your own intentions...

are they asking you to play hopscotch  (is your congregation asking you to play hopscotch) or are they urging you to seek Yahweh's Springs, Fountains and Waterfalls?