Restoring the Candle of First Love

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Restoring The Candle Of First Love

This copyright is not intended to hinder or limit the free distribution of the gospel of the Kingdom. Rather, its singular purpose is to protect our right to publish this material. All rights are reserved. Permission is herein granted to reproduce this book so long as the reproduction is not intended for financial gain. Freely you have received, freely give.

Product Description

“Restoring The Candle Of First Love” reveals the LORD’s desire to restore an intimate first love relationship with all of His people. It deals centrally with the restoration of a first love relationship with Jesus, which is fresh and new just like the first time we fell in love with Him. Readers will broaden their understanding of the gospel of the Kingdom by investigating key scriptural passages and learning how to apply them to their own lives.

About the Authors

Sharri and her husband Duff live in Boones Mill, VA and have three children and two grandchildren. Charles and his wife Suzanne live in Salem, VA and have six children and eleven grandchildren.

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Introduction

1 Timothy 1:5 says, “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

The goal of this eBook is one and the same. It is instruction in love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

If we do not keep our first love for God, then our love for something else or someone else will fill the void. When we start to love others above our love for God, our love and our works will be reduced to an idol. This will result in our becoming self-centered, possessive, and the exact opposite of true love which gives. Unconditional love has no other need than to give itself away. It is a love beyond reason.

God is love; therefore, His love is the highest expression of who He is. When we abide in His love, we experience the highest purpose of what we were created for—to receive His love and to express His love to others as we walk with God in our spiritual garden in the cool of the day.

Look in Matthew to see what Jesus said regarding loving God first.

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV

The measure of a true disciple is that they will be known by their love. God alone is their first love and with His love shed abroad in their hearts, they will love others as themselves.

Keeping our love for God first purifies our love for Him and our love for one another.

Love is the breath of His Spirit. So, in all things we must pursue growing in our first love for God, and thereby our love for one another will continue to grow.

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A Bridal Paradigm

A paradigm is a way of looking at something. In this eBook we will be looking at our precious LORD Jesus and His Holy Word through the eyes of His Bride.

For example, viewing the testing of Abraham with Isaac through a bridal paradigm would reveal that it was all about his first love. Once Abraham was willing to raise the knife, his son Isaac immediately took second place in the heart of Abraham.

So, it is in our own lives. Anything or anyone that takes away from Jesus being our first love becomes an idol within our own heart.

The Bride of Christ views everything through a bridal paradigm. Where an evangelist might see the testing of Abraham through John 3:16, the Bride of Christ sees Abraham’s testing through the lens of first love. Both viewpoints are true; however, the Bride of Christ sees things differently.

For the Bride, the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.

Jesus as the Bridegroom-King is speaking to His Bride about a new day of destiny; calling her forth to see and discern the early signs of His eternal purposes and plans in the earth.

We see this truth in Song of Solomon 2:13 from the Passion Translation.

“Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth. The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, ‘There is change in the air.’ Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For NOW, is the time to arise and come away with me.” Song of Solomon 2:13 TPT

A Hope Chest

In a recent vision, Sharri was shown a beautiful hope chest. Years ago, young girls used to receive one for Christmas or a birthday. They would collect precious things over the years as they grew to womanhood.

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These precious things were locked away in their hope chests, awaiting the time of their wedding day. These young girls were making preparations in hope of one day becoming a bride.

In Sharri’s vision, she saw a beautiful hope chest prepared by the Bride of Christ for her wedding day. The preparation began when her hope was established for this moment in time; when this hope became her reality.

The most precious things in this hope chest were the words that were spoken to her throughout her life with Jesus in the secret place through divine exchanges which touched her heart. These were all kept in a heart shaped box inside the hope chest and she knew them all by heart. Over the years the Bride had hidden His precious words deep within her heart. These words prepared her for the promised day. Therefore, she rested and waited for the time when Jesus would arrive for her.

Occasionally, the hope chest was opened to recollect what was purchased or given by someone for the day she would become “One” with her beloved Bridegroom-King. But the heart box was the most cherished of them all, as it contained the words spoken to her in the precious moments of divine exchange with Jesus. She had these words hidden in her heart and this hope kept her secure knowing the words spoken were His promises to her as His Bride.

The heart shaped box inside the hope chest represents the promises in the Word of God that we have hidden our hearts and the precious promises that Jesus has spoken directly to us during our times of worship and intimacy with Him.

These promises give us great hope in spending all eternity with our Bridegroom-King. Therefore, the Bride can rest in the security of His love, knowing and having great hope that one day all her dreams will come true because she has made herself ready for the Wedding Day!

A Bridal Vision

Women can get upset when they get all dressed up but have no idea where they’re going. For most women, getting ready is a major part of the fun and excitement.

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Women always try to dress for the occasion, so knowing where they are going and who will be there is extremely important to them.

Without this proper information, they can get anxious and begin to fret over every little thing. “Am I overdressed?”, “Is this good enough?”, “What will everyone else be wearing?” The thought of arriving somewhere and clashing with someone else or worse yet being late— simply terrifies them. It is that initial encounter of the unknown that concerns them the most.

The same could be said of the Bride of Christ making herself ready. If she doesn’t know what to wear or have hope and a vision for what it will be like, then how can she make herself ready?

The Church of Jesus Christ needs to get a vision of the Wedding Day! The Wedding Day is the “Why” behind the Holy Spirit’s preparation of these end times—”His Wife has made herself ready.” (see Revelation 19:7)

There is an encounter with the LORD Jesus that will give the Bride a vision and hope of her Wedding Day and that vision will usher her into the very day of “The Wedding!”

Song of Solomon 4:6 says,

“I’ve made up my mind. Until the darkness disappears, and the dawn has fully come, in spite of shadows and fears, I will go to the mountaintop with you—the mountain of suffering love and the hill of burning incense. Yes, I will be your bride.” Song of Songs 4:6 TPT

It is time for the Bride to say “YES” to the “DRESS.”

In Revelation 19:7-8 it says, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the LAMB has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

The Bride is beginning to arise. (see Isaiah 60:1-3)

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There will be a great awakening and revival which will be known as the Bride’s Revival. It will come in righteousness, purity and holiness as a pure and spotless Bride arises from the ashes.

Sharri received this prophetic word from the Holy Spirit January 12th, 2020.

“You must contend to abide in the bridal chamber of preparation. Come away and stay. To avoid any disappointment in your soul, live only in expectation of My heart toward you. Expectations of other people will always set you up for disappointment. I will never leave you, nor disappoint you, nor hurt you. I see you differently than you see yourself. I invited you into this bridal chamber and will prepare you for our eternal life together.” Sharri Eckstein

The Holy Spirit recently said, “Being ready is the principle thing.”

Being made ready is the prophetic word of the hour. We must watch and pray! We must be a people made ready!

In this new season we all need to be a little more like Mary and a little less like Martha. Mary was able to sit and rest at the feet of Jesus, while Martha always had to be doing something. Mary could simply let something happen, but Martha had to be making something happen.

This is not to cast Martha in a bad light, because we were all created in Christ Jesus unto good works. However, there are times when Jesus calls us to “Come Away” and simply BE with Him. It is in this resting place that all Martha’s will struggle to quite their own soul.

Where a Mary can find her identity in simply BEING with Jesus—Martha finds her identity in what she DOES for Jesus. One is RESTING, while the other is DOING. We are all called to both, but we must be led by the Holy Spirit as to know and discern what season we are in and respond by faith.

Jesus does not want our identity to be in what we DO for Him but WHO we are In Him. Jesus does not want an employer/employee relationship with us.

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Jesus is far more intimate than that and desires intimacy with His Bride. Our identity can ONLY be found in Christ because He has promised that our lives are hidden in Him. (see Colossians 3:3)

We know the argument that all Martha’s will make, “If I don’t do something, then nothing will ever get done.” But Jesus countered that argument with, “For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works.” (see Hebrews 4:10)

God does not appreciate what He does not initiate. When we rest in God we MUST “cease from our own works” as He did from His. (see Hebrews 4:10, John 5:19)

The touchstone verse for the Bride of Christ is found in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

Rest In His Presence

Recently while in His Presence, I said to the LORD, ‘it is so light and airy in this place.’ He responded, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Look in Matthew 11:28-30,

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Now look in Hebrews 4:8-11,

“For if Jesus [Joshua] had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour [contend] therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” [Emphasis ours] Hebrews 4:8-11

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This is the season when we finally learn to rest in the LORD Jesus as our first love.

Look in Song of Solomon 8:5a,

Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Song of Solomon 8:5a

After a season of rest and preparation with the LORD the Bride will come forth leaning and trusting in her beloved.

What Is Man?

During one of our Friday night Tabernacle of David (TOD) worship times, a question came from the Holy Spirit from the Psalms.

In Psalms 8:4 by the Spirit, King David asks a rhetorical question,

“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” Psalms 8:4

Whenever the Holy Spirit asks a question, it’s not to get information but to highlight the answer. When the Scriptures pose a question; you can be assured that the answer is also found within the Scriptures. Why? Because the Word of God never asks a question that God Himself does not also know the answer.

Early Sunday morning, the answer came through Sharri in the most unlikely of places—in the Song of Solomon.

Look in Song of Solomon 6:13b,

“Why would you seek a mere Shulamite like me? Why would you want to see my dance of love?” Song of Solomon 6:13b TPT

Here the Shulamite Bride asks a similar question to what King David had asked in Psalm 8. “Why would you seek a mere Shulamite like me?”

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The answer, as Sharri conveyed, was found in the response from the Bridegroom-King to His Bride in Song of Solomon.

Look in Song of Solomon 6:13,

“Because you dance so gracefully, as though you danced with angels!” Song of Solomon 6:13 TPT

The Bridegroom-King sees the Shulamite Bride much differently than she sees herself. She is humble before Him and she is not certain why He would ever pay any attention to her at all. Yet the Bridegroom-King sees the beauty within her life and the beauty of her heart from His heavenly perspective.

Look in Song of Solomon 7:1,

“How beautiful on the mountains are the sandaled feet of this one bringing such good news. You are truly royalty! The way you walk so gracefully in my ways displays such dignity. You are truly the poetry of God—his very handiwork.” Song of Solomon 7:1 TPT

The Bride in her beauty is sharing the good news of the Kingdom of God. The way in which she walks in His Ways displays the dignity and royalty of His Kingdom to the nations. She has become God’s masterpiece and the work of her hands is like poetry for her King and for His Kingdom.

Look in verses 2-3,

“Out of your innermost being is flowing the fullness of my Spirit—never failing to satisfy. Within your womb there is a birthing of harvest wheat; they are the sons and daughters nurtured by the purity you impart. How gracious you have become!” Song of Solomon 7:2-3 TPT

Out of her belly flows rivers of living waters by the fullness of the seven- fold Spirit of God deep within her. Through salvations and discipleship, she is birthing many sons and daughters into the Kingdom. She imparts a purity and a grace to all those she serves alongside her Bridegroom-King.

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Look in verse 4,

“Your life stands tall as a tower, like a shining light on a hill. Your revelation eyes are pure, like pools of refreshing—sparkling light for a multitude. Such discernment surrounds you, protecting you from the enemy’s advance.” Song of Solomon 7:4 TPT

The Shulamite Bride stands tall in the Kingdom of God like a strong tower. Through sharing the Word of God, she has become a light on a hill for all nations to see. The Kingdom revelation that she releases comes from her time of beholding Her Bridegroom-King with an unveiled face and her eyes have become like His eyes, translucent and full of pools of refreshing; a sparkling light for the multitudes to see. She has been granted great discernment which, like His wrap around Presence, protects her from the enemy’s evil advances. She is a watchman on the wall for the Kingdom and sounds the alarm to warn God’s people.

Look in verse 5,

“Redeeming love crowns you as royalty. Your thoughts are full of life, wisdom, and virtue. Even a king is held captive by your beauty.” Song of Solomon 7:5 TPT

The Bride is a vessel of love, redemption, and restoration. She is crowned with love as a royal member of the Kingdom of God. Her thoughts are full of the Word of God and her lips release life, wisdom, and virtue. Even her Bridegroom-King is held captive by her love and by her inner beauty.

Look in verse 6,

“How delicious is your fair beauty; it cannot be described as I count the delights you bring to me. Love has become the greatest.” Song of Solomon 7:6 TPT

The Bride as a vessel has become a fruitful place in the love and affections of her Bridegroom-King as He delights in all the precious fruit of the Spirit that she brings unto Him. Her love has become the greatest treasure that she brings to her first love.

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Look in verse 7,

“You stand in victory above the rest, stately and secure as you share with me your vineyard of love.” Song of Solomon 7:7 TPT

The Bride is an overcomer who stands boldly in the victory that she has found in Him. She is stately as an ambassador for Christ and she is secure as she shares everything with Her Bridegroom-King within her vineyard of love.

Look in verse 8,

“Now I decree, I will ascend and arise. I will take hold of you with my power, possessing every part of my fruitful bride. Your love I will drink as wine, and your words will be mine.” Song of Solomon 7:8 TPT

Now the Bridegroom-King proclaims a solemn decree over her, “I will ascend and arise, I will take hold of you with my power, possessing every part of my fruitful bride. Your love I will drink as wine, and your words will be mine.” The Bridegroom-King will completely possess the Bride as His vessel of love and she will speak and declare His Words—not her own to the nations. She will declare the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Look in verse 9,

“For your kisses of love are exhilarating, more than any delight I’ve known before. Your kisses of love awaken even the lips of sleeping ones.” Song of Solomon 7:9 TPT

The Bridegroom-King is exhilarated by her kisses of love, more than any delight that He has ever known in the entire universe. Her kisses of love are so powerful that they will awaken those who are asleep in the church and asleep in the world, awakening them for her King and His Kingdom.

This section of Scripture from Song of Solomon is a picture of the Bride of Christ who is arising so she can shine for Him. (see Isaiah 60:1-3) The LORD is about to unveil His Bride and release her into what will be known throughout history as the Bride’s Revival.

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In the midst of the great darkness within our world and the gross darkness that is currently covering the people, we will witness the greatest worldwide revival of all time.

As the Bride she will make her Bridegroom Jesus known throughout the world bringing glory to His Name.

She will be nameless, faceless, selfless and in humility and in simplicity she will walk with the LORD Jesus as her first love with wholehearted devotion to her Bridegroom-King.

She will possess the LAMB like nature of suffering love, and she will be willing to lay herself down for her Bridegroom-King and His Kingdom.

Even now the LORD is preparing her heart for her lovesick journey.

Look in Song of Solomon 4:6,

“I’ve made up my mind. Until the darkness disappears, and the dawn has fully come, in spite of shadows and fears, I will go to the mountaintop with You—the mountain of suffering love and the hill of burning incense. Yes, I will be Your Bride.” Song of Solomon 4:6 TPT

First Love Candle Vision (Sunday November 22nd, 2020)

Last November during one our Friday night Tabernacle of David (TOD) worship times, we were worshiping the LORD singing the Keith Green song “O LORD You’re Beautiful.” In that song is a verse that says, “O LORD please light the fire that once burned bright and clear, replace the lamp of my first love that burns with Holy fear.”

During that song, Charlie had a vision of the LORD extending a lit candle to all of us, but Charlie did not immediately know what it meant.

Next Sunday morning, we sang the same song and once again Charlie had the same vision of the LORD extending a lit candle to all of us. However, this time his wife, Suzanne, also saw in a vision the LORD extending a lit candle that was encased within an octagon holder, surround by glass with a small glass door and metal hinges.

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Then they both understood what the LORD was offering to all of us—the candle of first love.

What we were shown by the Holy Spirit on Friday night and Sunday morning during worship was an extremely prophetic vision for us.

As a couple, as a husband and as his wife to see a vision together is not only rare, but profound. He as her Bridegroom and she as his Bride. It speaks volumes to us about the LORD as our first love and the Song of Solomon.

And here is the message. The LORD is offering all of us a personal candle of first love. That’s what they saw together as a couple. The candle burning was a first love candle and Jesus was offering them and offering all of us this candle of first love.

The Jews understood the first commandment was to put God first.

Look in Matthew 22:37-40,

Jesus said to him, ”‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Their “first love” priorities had been established by God. Jesus, the Son of God came to fulfill the law of first love putting His heavenly Father first in His life.

But religion obscured the truth of first love and like a wet blanket removed the love and passion from the hearts of God’s people.

The Wet Blanket Of Religion

In a vision years ago, I saw the first love flame that we all have when we first come to Jesus. Then I saw a wet blanket come and snuff out the fire of our first love. That wet blanket was religion.

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You must guard your heart because religion will do this to your first love flame for Jesus if you allow it to.

Permission to burn for Jesus Christ is the prophetic word for the hour.

I’m going to share a word that the LORD gave me, He said “the power and forces of evil are waging war against the words of Jesus Christ. This is the real war.”

Jesus said, “I Am the Way!”, (see John 14:6) Satan is waging war against that truth with false doctrines of other ways, speaking lies in the hearts of God’s people through compromise. Listen, don’t ever compromise your first love with Jesus. You either have a first love relationship with Jesus with all your heart, mind, soul and strength or you don’t!

Jesus said, “I Am the Truth”, (see John 14:6) and that is being attacked more than anything right now—The Truth! Today people say there are no absolutes, but Jesus says, “I Am the Truth!”

Jesus said, “I Am the Life”, (see John 14:6) “No man comes to the Father, except through me.”

All the compromise of today is a deceptive part of the devil’s scheme to try to render the words of Jesus Christ powerless with no credibility.

Today we’re called the radical ones if we believe that Jesus and His Word are the absolute truth. And that is how the persecution will come in this hour. Because of these absolute truths, “I Am the Way, I Am the Truth and I Am the life”, three simple truths that Jesus spoke of Himself.

Because the Holy Spirit’s outpouring has been prophesied in the Bible, He is purging and igniting the fire of God within us. And the Holy Spirit is coming to brand us. In a vision, I literally saw a branding iron with the name Jesus Christ much like how you would brand cattle.

The Holy Spirit fire is like a branding iron. The branding iron comes from God which gets hot in the fire of first love and that branding iron is singed upon our hearts and our lives.

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It will change you forever when you get branded by the Holy Spirit of fire. You’ll be the radical one. People will try to shut you up and shut you down, but the fire of first love will be shut up in your bones and you will not be able to shut up!

The spirit of religion says, “Don’t be too radical. People are going to think you’re weird.” Have you heard people say, “You can be so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good?” What a lie that is from the spirit of religion. The opposite is true. You can be so carnally minded that you are of no heavenly use because of sin and compromise.

John the Baptist came, wrapped in camel’s hair and eating bugs, proclaiming the LORD Jesus Christ with fire and passion.

In Matthew 3:11 John says,

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11 NKJV

Now look in Matthew 3:13-15,

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, ”Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.” Matthew 3:13-15 NKJV

Our God is a consuming fire and when Jesus Christ gave up his will to surrender to the Will of the Father—the fire of first love was on full display on the Cross.

The fire of first love will cause you to give up your will for His Will. First love will come into complete alignment, agreement, and uniformity to the eternal purpose of God.

Friday night I too saw a vision while we were singing that song that we sang today, “Oh Lord You’re Beautiful” by Keith Green. I saw the veil torn in two. But it wasn’t rent from the outside in to get to God.

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It was rent from the inside out, from the throne of God so that God could get out to us. I had never, ever seen it like that before. It was a powerful vision revealing a powerful truth.

I had always pictured the veil being rent from the outside in, from top to the bottom. But Friday night, through the Holy Spirit I saw it differently. I saw God on the throne. His heart of love literally bursting, causing this veil to be torn in two. He never wanted us to ever be separated from him! And when Jesus Christ died on that Cross, and that temple veil torn in two—it was God’s love bursting through to me and to you. It was the love of God that did that for us. Because he wanted to be reunited with you as His son and you as His daughter.

His heart burst open and that force of love caused that veil to be torn in two.

All the compromise of today is just a deceptive part of the devil’s schemes to try to render the words of Jesus Christ powerless. But to no avail because the Holy Spirit is purging and igniting, and the fire of God is going to brand His burning ones with the power of God to fulfill the end- time harvest—the ingathering.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire wasn’t just for speaking in tongues. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is to empower you and to be a first love witness of Jesus Christ. All those other nine gifts of the Holy Spirit help you to become and move in the witness of the Spirit of love, to win people to Christ. It is the power to love with. (see 2 Timothy 1:7)

He said, “Go ye therefore to all the world and make disciples.” That’s right. And so that’s been the mandate all along.

The Holy Spirit is bringing a branding iron of truth. It will sear all the false doctrines and half-truths that have been indoctrinated into the minds of Christians by hirelings, the irresponsible shepherds who have fed themselves and not fed the flock. (see Ezekiel 34)

Listen, a half-truth is worse than no truth at all. And the compromise about the baptism of The Holy Spirit has cost millions of Christians their lives. They’ve died prematurely.

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And I tell you that their blood will be on the shepherd’s hands, according to the book of Ezekiel. God will judge them. Especially if they know the truth and withhold the truth.

Without the power of The Holy Spirit to lead and to guide you, you’re a sitting duck for the adversary.

We have not given people the Life of Jesus but rather as the Bible says, “The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.” (see Ezekiel 34:4)

Do you know how you’re strengthened?

I’ll tell you how you’re strengthened. You’re strengthened in the power of the Holy Ghost and fire. In Jude verse 20, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”

Not baptizing disciples in the Holy Spirit’s power is like recruiting them to an army without giving them any weapons to fight with, or to be victorious in the life of the abundance of Jesus Christ. Jesus died to give them these gifts and to give them power in the Holy Spirit and fire.

“Self-love” has replaced “First Love” in the hearts of many of God’s people.

Jesus said in the last days people will be lovers of themselves. Self, not lovers of God, not the candle of first love. (see 2 Timothy 3:2)

Compromise says, “I know Jesus is the Way, but I’m going my own way.”

I want to go this way, but Jesus’ first love candle is burning so what do I do?

So, if God so loved the world that He gave, what are we willing to give for love?

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He said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (see Romans 12:1)

It’s not unreasonable for God to ask us to be “living sacrifices” of love. The love of God is a life of sacrifice. It is laid down lovers of God.

In Romans 12:2 it says, “And do not be conformed as to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

How does your mind get renewed to first love?

When we get together, and we remind one another what the Word of God says about us. Our testimonies of the goodness of God in the land of the living which builds up our faith so that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God. We demonstrate it each day as we live by love and walk it out by faith.

Many try and go their own way to achieve the good and the acceptable and the perfect, but without being surrendered to the Will of God, it simply is not possible. (see Romans 12:2)

It’s all under the guise of the glitter of this world, the world that Satan has pulled over our eyes. Instead of God’s glory—Satan gives us glitter.

Romans 8:5 tells us, “those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.”

If your flesh is leading you around, it’s because you have your mind set on the things of the flesh—the things of this evil world.

It starts with a thought. Then your will comes into agreement with that thought. And then if you don’t cast that thought down, you act upon that thought.

Look in James 1:13-15,

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each

20 | P a g e one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.’” James 1:13-15

You see, “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” We are drawn away from first love when we give in to our flesh and our selfish (soul) life. Once the evil desire is conceived by our agreement, it gives birth to sin and when sin is full-grown which means we keep giving in to the lust, it will bring forth spiritual death and destroy our first love relationship with Jesus.

But when we surrender our will to the Will of God—to the Will of Jesus, then that is a powerful agreement. That agreement with Jesus will set your life on the right course and you will never leave it.

The tracks of truth and love will never derail. Never! You won’t even have to pray, LORD, help me not to derail or be shipwrecked in my faith. Why?

Because your will and His Will ARE ONE and that’s the witness of two when you walk in the power of love and the Will of God. Following Jesus is following the Father, and following the Holy Spirit is following His Word.

Romans 8:6-7 says, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

When you’re walking according to the Spirit, you will have a peaceful life. Because love and joy and peace are the three major barometers that we have in our life to tell us WHERE we are—if we’re walking in the Spirit or walking in the flesh.

Especially joy, because I’m going to tell you, if you are not led by the Spirit you might be happy by some temporary, external things, but you won’t be joyful on the inside. Because the happiness that you get out there in the world will depend on your five senses being stimulated by all the devil’s glitter.

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But the joy that you get through your first love for Jesus is so deep that no matter what comes, you can count it all joy, when you face various trials. (see James 1:2)

You won’t get that in the world. You will only be frustrated, you will be swearing, you might even be cursing God. Because you do not have the power of the Spirit working within you to go through those things.

It’s only by the grace of God that we can walk in love, joy and peace in this present world. Grace must be more than “a five-letter word” in your life.

You’re going to have to live Grace, for Grace to be sufficient for you. (see 2 Corinthians 12:9)

It’s because your love is real, and Jesus is your first love. Because you’ve had an encounter with Jesus, and something has happened deep in your life and Jesus is REAL to you and you’ll do anything to keep your first love candle from being blown out.

The winds of the doctrines of demons and false teachings have blown out the candles of first love for many in the body of Christ and you need to guard your heart and guard your first love relationship with Jesus.

Intimate relationships must be nurtured and guarded. If you feel the flame waning, even just a little, it’s imperative to pray, “Breathe on me, LORD.” I have prayed that prayer! “Breathe on the embers of my heart O God.”

We need the Spirit wind—the breath of God that causes everything to live. We need His breath so that the fire of our first love for Jesus does not go out.

Look in Romans 8:9,

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” Romans 8:9

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Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ living in them, they are not His. “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:10

If the Spirit of Christ is living in you, you now have that right standing with God. You are accepted in the Beloved of your first love. The righteousness of God has been imputed unto you through faith in Christ alone.

You can go boldly before God with no shame, and before the throne of grace. He promises He will be your help in times of trouble.

We are family and Jesus provided “a new and living way” which He has consecrated for us by His blood through the veil of His flesh. When God tore the veil from top to bottom from the inside out, Jesus had already consecrated the “new and living way” for us which gives us access to the very throne of grace.

Look in Romans 8:11,

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

Through the Spirit of God who dwells in you, you receive resurrection life.

Romans 8:14 says, “As many are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God.”

You need to make Romans 8:14 your very own. Because as we are led by the Spirit of power, love and a sound mind we will overcome just as He did.

First love is the fuel of the passion of the Bride.

To this very day, we are aware of the universal agony and groaning of all creation, as if it were in the current contractions of labor for childbirth. (see Revelation 12:1-2, Micah 5:3)

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Something is about to be pushed forward and it’s not just creation. But the sons of God, the sons of His love are about to be unveiled.

Are you are patiently waiting for it in love? The fire of first love keeps you in that place, of love, contentment, and acceptance in the Beloved.

Look in Romans 8:26,

“And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.” Romans 8:26 TPT

That is why it says in Jude, verse 20, “praying every moment in the Spirit.” Why?

Because praying in our heavenly prayer language aligns our spirit-man with the eternal purposes of God in Christ Jesus. Groaning in travail for the God of heaven to deliver all of creation. Praying for God to unveil the sons of God in our day and in our time. Praying in the Spirit also has an added benefit in that it “builds and strengthens” our inner man of the Spirit. Like charging a battery, we are charged and energized in love by and through the Holy Spirit as we speak in tongues.

Look in Romans 8:28,

“So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed [eternal] purpose.” [Emphasis ours] Romans 8:28 TPT

God works everything out for our good in His perfect love.

LORD we declare that “we will burn with the fire in the light of your glory, of your divine love and acceptance.” We’re so grateful!

LORD, Your Word says, “Let your light so shine among men.” Let our light so shine among men bringing glory to Father in the name of Jesus

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Christ. Just as Jesus always brought Glory to you, let them see our good works in righteousness to bring glory to You and not to us.

Thank you for loving us LORD Jesus and for the permission to love you back with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. We pray that our passion of first love would continue to build every time we open Your Word, that it would become so alive and so real that is would transform us every time we read and study it.

Thank you for turning our darkness to light and for the enjoyment of embracing the process of transformation into the image and likeness of Christ.

Sharri’s Invitation Vision

“On Friday night, November 6, 2020 during our Tabernacle of David (TOD) worship time, I had a vision of the heart of God. I stepped into it only to realize it was liquid love that completely engulfed me. I was hidden by love, protected by love, accepted by love to become love.”

I have been meditating on this glorious encounter and realize that faith and love working together can enrich our deep experiences with our LORD.

Look in Galatians 5:6 GNT,

“For when we are in UNION with Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor the lack of it makes any difference at all; what matters is faith that works through love.” Galatians 5:6 GNT

Now look in Galatians 5:6 from the Passion Translation,

“When you’re placed into the Anointed One and joined to him, circumcision and religious obligations can benefit you nothing. All that matters now is living in the faith that is activated and brought to perfection by love.” Galatians 5:6 TPT

Look at Ephesians 3:17-20 in the Passion Translation:

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“Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” Ephesians 3:17-20 TPT

“Surrendering to Jesus attracts the Holy Spirit.” Sharri Eckstein

The Holy Spirit told us “Your ministry is the overflow of our intimacy.”

There are many today who simply want to operate their gift on a platform—without the oil of intimacy with Jesus. However, there is a depth of love and truth that is simply not available to the casual seeker. It’s not available through Bible college or academia. The deeper treasures of Christ are only found in intimacy with Jesus.

Intimacy is where two hearts become one. Each person allows the other person to see deep into the secret place of their heart.

Intimacy can be described as “into-me-see” since we allow another person to see deep into our heart. Intimacy is the only place where two hearts can ever become One. (see John 17:21)

In this new season, it is the hour of the outpouring of intimacy which is the Bridal paradigm that we all should have been expecting to experience.

The Bride must make herself ready through intimacy and the anointing power of the Holy Spirit. (see Revelation 19:7)

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A touchstone verse for the Bride of Christ is, “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.” (see Zechariah 4:6)

To learn MORE click on our FREE eBook called “The Hour Of The Outpouring Of Intimacy.”

Addition By Subtraction

In the book of Joel, is a prophecy of the end time restoration of Israel and the end time restoration of the church of Jesus Christ—both at the same time. To the church, it is a promise of The Vine yielding its full strength deep into its branches.

Joel 2:22b-23 says, “The fig tree [Israel] and the vine [church] [will] yield their [full] strength. [Emphasis ours] Joel 2:22b-23

As a branch attached to The Vine, you can cooperate with this heavenly promise. How?

By subtracting the little foxes from your life, you can experience the addition of MORE spiritual fruit as those hindrances and distractions no longer eat away from your spiritual life of abiding in The Vine—Christ Jesus!

In John 15, Jesus says seven times “abide” meaning as we focus our lives on abiding in The Vine—Christ Jesus, the fruit from His root will abound. Paul declares in Romans 11:16, “If the root be holy so are the branches.”

Look in Song of Solomon 2:14-15,

“For you are my dove, hidden in the split-open rock. It was I who took you and hid you up high in the secret stairway of the sky. Let me see your radiant face and hear your sweet voice. How beautiful your eyes of worship and lovely your voice in prayer. You must catch the troubling foxes, those sly little foxes that hinder our relationship. For they raid our budding vineyard of love to ruin what I’ve planted within you. Will you catch them and remove them for me? We will do it together.” Song of Solomon 2:14-15 TPT

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Song of Solomon speaks of the sly little foxes that hinder our relationship of love with the LORD Jesus. They raid the budding vineyard of love and ruin what the LORD is doing in us and through us. These foxes are the compromises that are hidden deep within our hearts. These are areas of our lives where we have not yet allowed the victory of Christ to shine into our lives. These little foxes keep the fruit of his Spirit from growing deep within us.

They are sly little foxes. So sly that they go undetected and the word “little” is describing our lukewarm attitude that these compromises are not worth getting rid of because they really don’t matter as they are so small and insignificant.

Yet, the fruit in the vineyard of our lives is hindered from maturing because of these sly little foxes.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (see Galatians 5, verses 22-23)

Only the Holy Spirit can produce them and not our own human efforts. When the Holy Spirit fully controls the life of a disciple, they produce all these fruits of grace.

The first three fruits concern our attitude toward God, the second triad deal with social relationships, and the third group describes principles that guide our Christian life and godly conduct.

It is so very important to look at the vineyard of our lives and invite the LORD’s help to get rid of any sly little fox of sin and compromise that hinders us from becoming conformed to the image and likeness of Christ.

The LORD says in the last verse, “let’s do it together.” He wants to be invited in to help with these sins and compromises which are hidden deep within our hearts.

A compromised attitude towards any little fox can hinder you from receiving the fullness of God’s love, giving love to the LORD and as well as loving others.

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It could be the reason why joy isn’t always present in our lives and circumstances. Behind our lack of joy and peace could be a sly little fox eating away at the fruit on our branch.

The abundant life Jesus taught us is a life of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Peace is not the absence of problems but the Presence of our LORD in the problem—taking care of it.

Without maturing in the fruit of the Spirit, we live lives of carnality and many times condemnation as we evaluate our own lives and see how we fail to represent Christ and His heart of love to others.

I like to think of the fruit of the Spirit as a personal barometer whereby we can observe our lifestyle and determine where we are in our personal walk with the LORD. The LORD asked us in this passage of scripture, “Will you catch them and remove them for me? We will do it together!”

The Bride will always say, “Yes, let’s do it together LORD Jesus.”

Look in Psalms 17:15,

“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” Psalms 17:15 NKJV

The Bride will never be satisfied until she sees Him with an unveiled face and is conformed into His image and likeness.

Perilous Times

We’re living in perilous times—times of great deception. The Scriptures are clear as to what the conditions would look like in our present world— ”as the days of Noah” and “as the days of Lot.” Both of these evil extremes and conditions are happening at the same exact time!

Jesus Himself said, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12

There are two specific conditions that Jesus mentions. A lawless and loveless society.

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The Apostle Paul warned us that people would be self-centered; lovers of self-more than lovers of God.

Look in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 from the New Living Translation.

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self- control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” 2 Timothy 3:1- 5 NLT

When you look at our world today you will see that most people are self- centered, and they only love themselves.

It doesn’t take a prophet to see the moral decay in our world throughout the nations. This generation is rightly called the “selfie generation” because they are full of themselves.

The Apostle Paul gives us the reason for these evil and selfish conditions. Because, “They will reject the power that could make them godly.”

What is this power unto godliness you say?

It’s the Power of The Holy Spirit Who can make people godly and Christlike by leading them unto the ALL TRUTH of the Scriptures.

The Holy Spirit is our child trainer who has the power to transform our lives into godly men and women. The Holy Spirit told us that “godliness is to character what holiness is to nature.” Only the Holy Spirit through the “All Truth” of the Scriptures can bring about transformation in our lives.

The Holy Spirit is “Holy” and has been given to us as a gift; as our child trainer—to develop godly character in our lives as we walk with the LORD Jesus. There’s great value and great promises in living a godly life.

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Look in 1 Timothy 4:8 NLT,

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 NLT

Rejecting the power of the Holy Spirit will eventually catch up to you. You simply can’t pick and choose what part of the Holy Spirit you will allow to work in your life. When you reject His full eternal purpose for your life you will grieve and frustrate the Spirit of grace.

We were never created to be the center of our own lives. That place of “first love” was created by and for Only One Person—Jesus Christ!

Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Matthew 22:37

When Christ is not enthroned upon our hearts as our first love, then by design we were created to malfunction. Why?

Because we were created to be totally dependent upon Christ. Being self- centered is a rebellious spirit who wants to live completely independent of God, but being Christ centered is true obedience and totally dependent upon God.

Isaiah 1:19 says, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.”

Proverbs 8 tells us, “That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.”

When Christ is not enthroned upon a heart, then that person will automatically manifest the independent and self-centered lifestyle which we see in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Look in Romans 11:32-36 from the Passion Translation.

“Actually, God considers all of humanity to be prisoners of their unbelief [mind], so that he can unlock our hearts and show his tender mercies to all who come to him. Who could ever wrap their minds around the riches of God, the depth of his wisdom, and the marvel of his perfect knowledge? Who could ever explain the wonder of his decisions or search

31 | P a g e out the mysterious way he carries out his plans? For who has discovered how the Lord thinks or is wise enough to be the one to advise him in his plans? Or: “Who has ever first given something to God that obligates God to owe him something in return?” For out of him, the sustainer of everything, came everything, and now everything finds fulfillment in him. May all praise and honor be given to him forever! Amen!” [Emphasis ours] Romans 11:32-36 TPT

Every person and everything was created to find its fulfillment in Christ!

Christ Centered

All things were created BY Him and FOR Him and WITHOUT Him nothing was created that was created.

Look in Colossians 1:16,

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16 ESV

Look in John 1:3,

“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:3 NKJV

Look in Romans 1:1-4,

“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:1-4

Here in verse three it says, “concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The English word concerning is the GREEK word “peri” from which we get our English word perimeter, as in the perimeter of a circle.

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So, what this passage is saying is, “the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning [is all around and encircles] His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The Gospel that Jesus brought from heaven to earth is all around and encircles the LORD Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The Gospel therefore is Christ centered. Just as our universe revolves around the Sun, so our lives must revolve around the Son of God—Jesus Christ and the good news of His Kingdom.

The Promise To All Overcomers

These evil conditions from 2 Timothy 3:1-5, are prevalent within our world, yet Jesus gave the greatest promise to our generation; for all those who would overcome them by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Look in Revelation 3:21,

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21

Here King Jesus is offering Kingdom dominion and rule to all those who will overcome these evil and lukewarm conditions and return to Jesus as their first love.

Before we can return to Jesus as our first love, we must fully embrace the LORD’s spiritual assessment of our current conditions. You must know WHERE you are before you can see the PATH to WHERE you’re called to return.

Jesus said in Revelation 3:15-16,

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16

Being lukewarm about our relationship with Jesus makes the LORD sick to His stomach.

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What Bridegroom would ever marry a woman who was cool and lukewarm about him? Or had a wandering eye for others or other things?

There is no reason for it really, because how can you be lukewarm about the LORD Jesus and still love God with “all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind?” The truth is you really can’t.

Then in Revelation 3:17 Jesus says,

“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17

These are times of great deception—when the church believes she is in a great place with the LORD Jesus only to find out she’s really not! With all the prosperity and feel good messages so prevalent in the church today, many see themselves as being “rich… wealthy and having need of nothing.” But the truth is that we are spiritually bankrupt. We are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Overcoming

In Revelation 3:18-19 Jesus gives us the remedy to our tragic condition.

“I [Jesus] counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” [Emphasis ours] Revelation 3:18-19

Jesus’ counsel to us is to “buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich.” Gold speaks of having our hearts purified by His refiner’s fire and fullers’ soap. (see Malachi 3:2) Christlikeness and godliness are spiritual endowments that the LORD desires to impart to all His people. Then Jesus says, “white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.”

White garments speak of righteousness, purity and holiness which is the result of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

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Revelation 19:8 tells us the “bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

Just as the “just shall live by faith” the righteous shall live and walk in righteousness, purity and holiness. Galatians 5:25 tells us “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Jesus then counsels us to “anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Our vision is limited in the physical realm but if we ask the LORD to “anoint our eyes so that we can truly see”, then “the eyes of our heart will be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.”

True Love Warns

Then Jesus tells us it is His great love that motivates Him to rebuke and chasten us in order that we may repent and turn wholeheartedly back to God.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:19

We are to be zealous and repent in order to overcome any complacency or lukewarm conditions of our own hearts.

Again, look at the incredible promise from Jesus in Revelation 3:21.

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21

From being lukewarm and complacent to having a first love relationship with Jesus—ruling and reigning with Him in His Kingdom forever. What a LORD, what a Savior, what an awesome King!

As wonderful as all this is, we must understand that there are many who will not endure or listen to sound doctrine, but instead they will find teachers that tell them what they want to hear. They will turn away from the Truth of God’s Word to fables and fantasies.

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Preach The Word

Look in 2 Timothy 4:1-5,

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:1-5

The Great Falling Away

We are living in the time of the great falling away. People are walking away from the truth of God’s Word and the true faith that was once given unto us within the Scriptures.

Look in 2 Thessalonians 2:3,

“Let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Jesus warned, ‘Watch out that no one deceives you.’” (see Mathew 24:4) Why? Because we’re living in a time of great darkness in the world and gross darkness upon the people. (see Isaiah 60:1-2)

If it is not in the Word of God, it is a lie and a deception from the ‘spirit of error.” Only the Word of God is truth. We must return to the written Word of God for the answers. We must contend for the faith that was once entrusted to us—otherwise we will be deceived.

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Look in Jude 1:3 from the New Living Translation.

“Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.” Jude 1:3

Only the Word of God is truth. If you’re getting your news from the world you will be deceived. If you’re not studying the Scriptures to show yourself approved unto God, (see 2 Timothy 2:15) you will be deceived. We must return to the LORD Jesus Christ and the Word of truth.

We’ve written a very simple yet profound eBook about “How To Study The Bible.” These truths have helped many people to know God and His Holy Word and we’re confident that this eBook will help you as well.

Did we mention that it’s FREE? Click here

Let the Holy Spirit be your guide into the all truth.

Fulfillment

What is true fulfillment? Is it an illusion or a goal of the human soul?

As disciples of Christ, we are to look to Jesus as being our total fulfillment spirit, soul and body.

As we surrender, we obtain the victory over our soul that cries out for fulfillment in almost every area of our lives. Our jobs, careers, marriages, relationships, education, and the list goes on.

When we try to access our fulfillment and come to the conclusion that we have not yet met our goals or that a relationship has fallen short of fulfilling our needs—it creates an unfulfilled area in us that cries out for wholeness.

Many times, false expectations are in this arena of fulfillment especially in relationships that are dear to us.

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We sing a song at Restoration Rivers Fellowship called “Since Your Love” by United Pursuit that has a phrase which I believe eliminates a lot of our unfulfilled expectations. It is a worship song and the lyrics say, “I was made by you, and I was made for you, and I am unfulfilled without sweet communion”—singing to Jesus.

You see, we were created to have Jesus be our all in all. Not your mate, not your date, not your job, not your accomplishments, because your soul was created by God to need Him to fulfill your every need in life.

A surrendered life of first love for the LORD Jesus Christ is the answer to the human cry deep within every created person to live a fulfilled life. I used to struggle a lot about the way I looked as a woman, especially to my husband. I felt the need to always look perfect. A big part of the breakthrough I had in my life had to do with me trying to be accepted and look the part—especially as an interior decorator.

When I received the revelation from the Word that I am accepted in the beloved and that the LORD is totally in love with me just as I am, I began to experience freedom from “self.” When surrender begins to take a hold of you and you realize that true victory only happens in a surrendered life to Christ, the perspective changes dramatically as you see yourself hidden in Christ. Whereby it is no longer you who lives but Christ who lives within you. It becomes a life of Christlike fruit that is seen in a life that is producing the fruit of Galatians. (see Galatians 5:22-23)

Love, joy, peace, long suffering, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faith—a life full of virtue and those around you can taste the fruit of your life in Christ.

God is then glorified, and your witness becomes a life lived out daily in His Presence which produces Kingdom results. I don’t give out witnessing cards with scriptures to those I see on my daily walk of life. I become the witness in my lifestyle which is the fruitful life lived out in Christ.

I’ve also experienced that most people I speak with relate to personal testimonies of my life lived out in Christ rather than me trying to win them to Christ.

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A fruitful life in Christ produces the fruit with great results! Love never fails, it can’t, and most people want to experience a love that is unconditional and caring.

Coffee Shoppe experiences are really exciting to me. Usually the ones where they’re wanting a quiet moment just to sigh and breathe. I often go and just watch and wait. Recently I had a couple see me and pulled out a chair for me at their table and said sit and chat with us a while! Ha! I shared my testimony with them and as I did, they began asking me questions. You see, it was completely organic, completely real, completely honest and I wasn’t trying to make something happen. God opened the door and they tasted the fruit of my hidden life in Christ that produces the Kingdom fruit that tastes good to everyone.

Who wouldn’t want this fruitful life full of love, joy and peace? You can’t buy this fruit that remains. It’s only available in the spirit filled life in Christ. Jesus said if we abide in Him and He abides in us we would go and bear much fruit. He is the vine and we are the branches. (see John 15) Disconnected branches wither and die. There is no fruit there. Only the branch that stays connected to the vine can produce spiritual fruit. You see, it’s easy to love those that love you back, but to love your enemies is a much higher and deeper form of love. It’s the God kind of love that allows you to say to God, as you pray for your enemies, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” And almost always it’s their words first and then their actions in how they respond towards you.

The kiss of betrayal has been experienced by almost everyone, and what do you do with such a kiss? The Holy Spirit revealed something to me about this kiss of betrayal. Although we can wipe away the moistness of such a kiss, the DNA of betrayal can release within us a bitter poison of resentment and unforgiveness as a trust has been breached. This affects our heart and soul, and the intimacy we share with the LORD is cut off as we have grieved the Holy Spirit through a root of bitterness. When we finally deal with the offense and ask for forgiveness, our relationship with the LORD is restored. How sweet is the reunion with our beloved as He refreshes us with His Presence once again?

I also have experienced “loving someone by faith.” Let me explain!

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I was extremely violated as a small child and years later I was confronted by the LORD to forgive this person. I can honestly say that I needed to grow in this kind of love but being obedient to the request of the LORD at that moment, I said yes LORD I know what you are asking me to do. “I say yes, and I forgive him—and by faith I will love him.”

The LORD met me in this place of encounter and baptized me instantly in the Holy Spirit. A divine release came to my heart and I experienced a freedom to love that I never knew before. I knew it was God’s love because my ability to love those around me that hurt me with their words and actions no longer affected my heart. When I was caught off guard at times, my ability to repent and return to the Holy Spirit’s Presence was a lot quicker than before. God’s love never fails!

Fulfillment to me now is a life lived out in Christ. There is true victory in total surrender to the LORD. I no longer work to try and produce a fruitful life because I can’t. It is produced only by abiding in an intimate relationship with the LORD moment by moment—daily.

From Sharri:

The LORD will sustain thee Oh lovesick one. Wipe away your tears of wanting and waiting and go to a place of excited expectation. He will satisfy you with His love now and forever. Go to Him when the heat of the day is too much to bear. Rest and wait. He is your source of life and delight. You have been ruined for all the world has to offer and the struggle you encounter from time to time is simply your flesh wanting to pull you away into the five natural senses realm. This does not make you carnal, but aware and discerning which is part of the training to become like Jesus. The LORD is sharpening our discernment in this hour as we will encounter the darkness in the harvest fields that will require revelation knowledge to set the captives free and discernment will be needed to reveal their hearts and true spiritual condition. You are living in a time that most who have left this world longed to see and experience, as their hearts longed to see the great harvest reaped for the glory of God. Be joyful in the Holy Spirit and live each day watchful for the return of Christ. Set your minds on things above, this is true Kingdom living. Song of Solomon 4:6 Passion Translation says, “I’ve made up my mind, until the darkness disappears and the dawn has fully come,

40 | P a g e in spite of shadows and fears, I will go to the mountain top with you, and the hill of burning incense.” Amen

Suffering Love (Sunday February 28, 2021)

I love this passage and I’ve put it to memory. We’ve talked about it before, but I want to revisit it because that’s what the Holy Spirit said to do while we were in worship this morning.

Look in Song of Solomon 4:6,

“I’ve made up my mind. Until the darkness disappears and the [light of] dawn has fully come, in spite of shadows and fears, I will go to the mountaintop with you—the mountain of suffering love and the hill of burning incense. Yes, I will be your bride.” [Emphasis ours] Song of Solomon 4:6

This verse is the heart of a first love expression. You see, there’s a decision that we all must make regarding Jesus as our first love.

How many of you know people, they’re praying about a decision and it might be a major decision? One day, they are sure it’s the right decision. Then, two weeks later, they’re back to where they were before questioning the decision. So, in that place, there is double mindedness where they became unstable.

In that place there’s an instability in your walk. It also puts an instability in you hearing the voice of the LORD, because then you start question yourself. “Did I really hear the LORD?” The enemy wants to try to confuse you in your instability.

There are certain decisions that we make in our lives as disciples, where we just must make up our minds about what are we going to do. Because you see, you’re either all in right now, or you’re all out.

There is no more sitting on the fence. The Shulamite, when she said in Song of Solomon, “I’ve made up my mind…” We’ve got to come to the realization that in the love that Jesus has for you and your love for him, that nothing’s going to stand between you and His love.

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It’s like when you were engaged, and all the other boyfriends are no longer in the picture now because you’ve made up your mind. That’s what the engagement ring is all about.

In the betrothal in the Hebrew culture, you’re already married at that point. That’s it, there’s no turning back. So, what we must understand is the mountain of suffering love is just that—it suffers long, it endures and will never turn back on first love.

In Song of Solomon, verse 6, she says, “I’ve made up my mind until the darkness disappears, and the dawn has fully come…”

The dawn to me is the time of awakening. I love the dawn. I like the dew of dawn. I love the smell of dawn. I love the awakening of dawn. I can’t wait to hear what the LORD’s going say to me that day. I wait for it—it is my bread. It’s how I’m going live my life. I’m going to meditate on the words He speaks to me for they are His words to me every single day.

“Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

“In spite of shadows, in spite of fears…” The shadow is something that the enemy tries to project over your life to confuse you. The enemy tries to make his shadow seem much bigger than God, so he casts his shadow into the shadows of your mind, the areas which have not been surrendered to Jesus. The shadow becomes an unknown, a question and a thought in your mind. “What’s in the shadow? What is lurking in the shadows of your mind?” The fears that are lurking in the shadows of your mind fade away when His love is solidified in you as the betrothed one— those shadows and fears no longer have a hold on you because His perfect love has cast out all fear.

His love is such a place of stability—a place of promise and a place of stability. The Shulamite says, “I will go.” She’s made up her mind. Does she say, “I will go to the mountain of blessing?” No, she says “I will go to the mountain of suffering love.”

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Have you ever suffered in love? Love suffers. I’ll tell you how long love will suffer—long. Love suffers long in the hill of burning incense which speaks of intimate worship.

That mountain is the mountain of myrrh. Myrrh is a sap-like substance (resin) that comes out of cuts in the bark of trees, Just like the stripes on the LORD’s back. Myrrh is one of the spices that they anointed the body of Jesus with after His crucifixion.

Myrrh is an emblem of suffering love. Jesus suffered long for love. The Cross was a suffering of love. Walking up the hill of Golgotha carrying the weight of the world upon His shoulders was a suffering of love.

You and I as His betrothed are also called to suffer long in love. As a Shulamite bride, that is going to be your walk. To become the bride, you must embrace the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings.

More and more in the darkness of this society we will suffer long as the Bride of Christ.

Look in Galatians 2:20 from the Passion Translation.

“My old identity has been co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me—we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, dispensing his life into mine!”

I can see my old identity has been co-crucified with the Messiah and henceforth the hill of suffering love comes into my life because being co- crucified with Jesus, you’re no longer you, now you have taken on His image and His likeness.

You took on His name when you said “Yes, I will be your bride.” And I no longer live because the nails of His Cross crucified me with Him. I love that. The nails of Christ’s Cross when they drove it in His hands. How deep are the depths of that well of love that we’re all flowing in.

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Now the essence, the aroma on the hill of burning incense. The essence of this new life is no longer mine, but His life in me. We become the sweet fragrance of Christ wherever we go. Because the anointed One lives His life in and through you.

As we live in union as One, my new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave Himself for me and He dispenses His own (zoe) life in and through me as I abide in the Vine. That is why we don’t view God’s grace as something minor in this fellowship.

Philippians 3:10 from the Passion Translation is the heart of a Shulamite.

“And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus and to experience the overflowing power of his resurrection working in me. I will be one with him in his sufferings and become like him in his death.” Philippians 3:10 TPT

My passion is to be consumed with Jesus, not claiming my own righteousness based upon keeping law. My righteousness will be His righteousness based upon the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, the very righteousness that comes from God alone. And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus more fully, and experience the overflowing power of his resurrection, working in and through me.

That’s her desire, that’s my desire. That should be our first love passion and desire. Knowing the wonders more fully and experiencing, not just knowing, but experiencing them. That’s her heart—that’s what drives her. Because she’s co-crucified with Him, and now in union and One with Him, and that’s His heart, they share the same heart.

I will be One with Him in his sufferings, and I will be One with Him in his death. This does not preach well in a lot of churches. You will not hear about the sufferings of the bride in the bridal paradigm. The bridal paradigm refers to have a bridal perspective of the Kingdom of God. However, very few understand or acknowledge “being one with him in his sufferings and become like him in his death.” (see Philippians 3:10)

From most pulpits, you will only hear the blessings and prosperity of this life and the afterlife.

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Believe it or not, it’s a blessing to be co-crucified with Christ, where it’s no longer you who live but Christ who lives in and through you. Only then will we be able to experience complete oneness in Christ.

This is the only way we can experience complete Oneness in His resurrection from the realm of death.

I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing. Is that you? But I run and run with passion into His abundance so that I can reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover and apprehend.

Look in Philippians 3:13-14 TPT,

“I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 TPT

I don’t depend on my own human strength to accomplish this. However, I have one compelling focus. I forget all of the past and fashion my heart toward the future. And I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching that heavenly goal in gaining a victory prize unto Jesus. That I may apprehend the One for which I was apprehended Christ alone.

Look in Philippians 3:15-16 TPT,

“So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them. And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.” Philippians 3:15-16 TPT

So, let all who are fully mature have the same passion. And if anybody has not yet been gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to him. God is going to complete everything. He’s going to complete the work he’s begun to you.

That’s the full desire of God.

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And so, let us all advance together (as a body) to reach this victory prize. Following One path and One passion. God does not make it confusing for us! One path and One passion—Christ alone!

In the passage of Song of Solomon 4:6, it’s the first mention of the Shulamite as the Bride as she approaches the mountain of suffering love, and the hill of burning incense.

And then she says, “Yes.” But see, she had to make up her mind. There’s no vacillating. It can’t be in love with Jesus one day and then the next day be out on your own in the world looking for something or someone else to love who has caught your attention. Looking for love in all the wrong places and trying to fill “the first love void” of your life—that is what living in the shadows will lead you to—away from your first love, Jesus, unto idols of the heart.

When you make up your mind, that truth hit me right between the eyes when I first opened this Bible, because I didn’t read it that way. In another translation, several translations that verse did not communicate this truth to me.

And this verse really spoke to me: Sharri, there’s a there’s a decision here. And it’s not a light one. It’s like when you said yes to your spouse, there’s no turning back.

And then the love exchange that came from her accepting His invitation when she says, “Yes.” The way He begins to speak to every part of her being and the walk that they had together moving forward. That’s our walk. That’s our reality now and it’s eternal. It’s an eternal life with Him now.

There is no break between this earthly realm and the Spirit realm, for His love is eternal and it is ours to experience and enjoy now and forever.

Duff and I made a promise in our marriage years ago “until death do us part.” But you don’t make that promise to Jesus. That’s only for this life here on earth. With Jesus that promise is an eternal life together which never ends.

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Now, watch what happens in Song of Solomon verse 8.

“Now you are ready, my bride, to come with me as we climb the highest peaks together. Come with me through the archway of trust.” Song of Solomon 6:8 TPT

Now He says, “You are ready, My Bride to come with me as we climb the highest peaks together.” You’ve made the decision.

You know what’s going to be on the mountain of suffering love, you know it’s going to be the hill of burning incense. But in spite of it all, you still said yes, so now we’re ready to walk this out together as One.

The word for “hill” in Song of Solomon 4:8 in the Hebrew is called “The crest of Amana.” Amana comes from a Hebrew root word from where we get the English word “Amen.” This is also one of the Hebrew words for faith. “The crest of Amana” is the realm where all of God’s promises are kept and realized. “Amana” can also be translated “a place of settled security.”

“The crest of Amana” is the place where you believe everything that He speaks, and has spoken, and will ever speak will all come true. We not only need to believe that the Bible is true but that the Bible is true for me and for you. Because God is not a man that he should lie.

Are you settled and secure in your relationship with Jesus right now? You see, this is a faith walk. You do it by faith. Your whole life now is a life of faith in the Son of God Who gave Himself up for you.

And what is faith? We know what faith is. The things that you see in this natural world cannot and should not delegate your life with Christ. Your life is a life of faith now.

Are you settled? Is that a settling place for you on the hill of the LORD? Is He a resting place for you?

“Come with me… through the archway of trust.” “We will look down from the crest of the glistening mounts and from the summit of our sublime sanctuary.” (see Song of Solomon 4:8)

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That sanctuary is that intimate place where it’s just you and Jesus. Where your trust and your faith are in Him as you are in a place of being settled. It is the place where your fear, has to meet the God you know.

That’s the Hebrew, chapter four rest which we are all invited to enter.

Together—you do everything with the LORD. Together once you make this decision. You’re never alone. You don’t walk your walk alone. You walk “A Walk of Faith” together all the time. And that’s why the shadows of the enemy are just that—shadows.

He says, “Come with me through the archway of trust.” I love that!

“We will look down from the crest of the glistening mounts.” The word for look here means inspect. It’s like surveying, looking all around. The Bride is seated with Christ in the heavens and is encouraged to survey all the blessings of heaven contained in her co-relationship with Christ.

When we survey those things from a heavenly perspective, when we look around and pay attention, then we give Him thanks for all the many spiritual blessings in Christ. Much of this is done in our worship to Him.

Sometimes there are just no words to express my love for Him. Which is why I sing in tongues a lot during worship, because there aren’t enough words to express your love for Jesus.

“You leave me breathless, and I overcome O LORD.” And that is that place of Oneness with Him, in UNION with Him. I want all of us to be in that place of being so secure in Christ and secure in His love.

We know we are being called to ascend the hill of suffering love because we have already decided; we have made up our minds.

We’ve got to pursue and keep pursuing the LORD, because the places and the things that He has for us are immeasurably more than we could ever ask, think, or imagine. But it’s according to faith, the power that’s within you to achieve and attain it all in Christ. That’s why he said look around and survey all the things that you have in your new co-crucified life with Him.

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Look in Song of Solomon 4:9 TPT,

“For you reach into my heart. With one flash of your eyes I am undone by your love, my beloved, my equal, my bride. You leave me breathless—I am overcome by merely a glance from your worshiping eyes, for you have stolen my heart. I am held hostage by your love and by the graces of righteousness shining upon you.” Song of Solomon 4:9 TPT

“Before you reach into my heart. With one flash of your eyes I am undone by your love…” Can you imagine the LORD being undone by your love for Him?

“You leave me breathless—I am overcome by merely a glance from your worshiping eyes…” It’s hard to even imagine, yet that is what He is saying to us.

The LORD placed inside our hearts the ability to ravish His heart. Not someday in heaven, but now in our passion and worship for Him.

Even in times when we feel incomplete and weak in our love and worship, He can be ravished by our love.

It’s all a part of being co-crucified with Christ. (see Galatians 2:10 TPT)

The LORD & BRIDE Vision (from 10/13/2013)

In a vision, I was inside The LORD’S bedroom. It was very large and had marbled stone on all four walls.

There was a large sunken bath filled with water opposite the bed. The room was well lit with torches and a few candles.

One candle was near a nightstand where I saw a water basin below and a Bible on the shelf above.

The LORD was sitting on a bed that had four posts with veils that were all pulled back. I could see Him plainly. As I looked into His eyes, they looked like they were translucent—like they were full of water or tears.

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As I looked deeper, I could see all of creation in His eyes. Then I saw the Bride sitting next to Him holding His face with her hand on His cheek and gazing deep into His eyes.

Then in a short series of three mini visions, I saw The LORD praying and surrendering to the Father’s Will in the Garden of Gethsemane. I saw The LORD Jesus on the Cross and His bloodied face and bloodied feet. I saw the tomb opened where The LORD was buried, and I saw The LORD come out of the tomb in resurrected life.

Then I was immediately back in His bedroom again. This time I saw The LORD sitting on the bed holding a LAMB. The thing that stood out about the LAMB was that the LAMB had the same kind of eyes that the LORD Jesus had. You could see all of creation in them.

I then saw The LORD standing near His balcony with His right hand extended towards the darkness outside. I saw lightening flashing illuminating the darkness. The vision ended.

Interpretation

After seeking the LORD in prayer this is what I believe He is saying:

“As the Bride beholds The LORD Jesus with an un-veiled face, she will be transformed and become like The LAMB of God Himself. She will be willing to surrender and sacrifice everything for Him as a vessel of love. She will become bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh becoming One with the LORD Jesus.”

Notice: that the Bride was not released into the harvest until she had been transformed in the bridal chamber of preparation.

Rick Joyner said years ago, “As we behold The LORD with an un-veiled face, we embrace and identify with His Cross and His resurrection.”

The Bride will exchange death to self for an incredible life in Christ! She will reckon herself to be dead to sin nature, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus in resurrected life. (see Romans 6:11)

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The Fellowship Of His Sufferings

Isaiah 48:10 says, “I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.” Isaiah 48:10 NLT

This is a hard pill for many to swallow, but we must be delivered from the false narrative in Christian circles that teach, “If we walk in righteousness, only blessings will come our way.”

The book of Job clearly destroys that narrative because God declared Job was a righteous man. Yet, Satan attacked him relentlessly—because of it.

As the accuser of the brethren (see Revelation 12:10), Satan had two main accusations against Job:

1) Job only loved and served God because of all the blessings (prosperity) that God had given to him. That God had placed a hedge of protection around Job; therefore, it was easy to love God under these perfect and ideal conditions. (see Job 1:9-11)

2) Job only loved and served God because of all the blessings in the area of health that God had given to him. If God would remove those healthy conditions—Job would curse God to His face. (see Job 2:4-5)

The enemy will tempt us in these two areas as well and like Job, we must hold fast to our love and pure devotion to the LORD Jesus.

In our journey with Christ, we will experience times on top of the mountain and there will be times in the valley of the shadow of death.

However, we must see the LORD as our Good Shepherd who walks with us, therefore we fear no evil—because His Shepherd’s rod and His staff they comfort us—because we know that He is always near.

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The LORD is our portion and our exceeding great reward. (see Genesis 15:1)

Christ Our Example

The LORD Jesus Christ Himself was righteous and although He spoke the Truth in love—they persecuted Him and ultimately crucified Him. Jesus said, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:20

It’s one thing to believe in a life of sacrifice, it’s another thing to go through it. Jesus suffered for being righteous—Jesus suffered for doing good. Acts 10:38 tells us that “Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

In 1 Peter we see an incredible truth regarding suffering for good.

Look in I Peter 2:20-25,

“For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously, who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. I Peter 2:20-25 NKJV

Do you see this?

“But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

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For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.”

As we enjoy sweet fellowship [koinōnia] with the LORD Jesus we are called to follow in His footsteps. There are also times when we will join the LORD in the fellowship [koinōnia] of his sufferings. (see Philippians 3:10)

It is a great mystery that as Christians we’re called to experience the fellowship [koinōnia] of His sufferings—being made conformable unto His death.

Look in Philippians 3:10,

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship [koinōnia] of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” Philippians 3:10

Why? That the Life of Christ may arise within our human vessels. We are called to follow in the LORD’s footsteps—times of blessings and times of sufferings.

The eternal purpose of biblical suffering is twofold:

1. At times God allows in His Wisdom for His own people to be illegally touched by Satan. In allowing Satan to illegally touch the LORD’s anointed and to do His prophets harm, it gives Jesus the Blood right to plunder the enemy’s kingdom and to save souls.

2. In allowing His own people to experience the fellowship [koinōnia] of the sufferings of Christ—it enables God to establish His own “LAMB-like nature” within His people.

Examples:

1) In Luke 22:31-32, Peter was told by Jesus that Satan desired to sift Him like wheat. But did Jesus stop that sifting from happening?

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No, He did not! Jesus told Peter that He would pray for Peter that his faith would not fail. Through this sifting experience, Peter was made more Christlike at the end of Satan’s sifting.

2) In Acts 7:54-60, Stephen’s martyrdom allowed God to extract Saul, who became Paul, out of the enemy’s kingdom. Although Stephen had a major Kingdom impact locally, the Apostle Paul had a major Kingdom impact globally—for many generations to come.

Do you see the multiplication factor in God’s Wisdom?

3) In 2 Corinthians 12:6-10, Paul experienced great suffering by his thorn in the flesh. He prayed three times for the LORD to remove it. But what was God’s answer to Paul? “My Grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” This suffering that Paul endured allowed God to plunder the enemy’s kingdom through Paul but also wrought a deep inner working within the human vessel of Paul to establish the LAMB-like nature of Christ within.

God in His wisdom allows us to experience the fellowship [koinōnia] of His suffering to the end that we can be transformed into the image of Christ—which is His LAMB nature—as we behold Him with an unveiled face.

It has been said that “A crisis does not make a man; it only reveals what’s already in him.” Experiencing the fellowship [koinōnia] of His suffering reveals the Christ in us, the hope of glory. In the crisis of these end times, let us be found to have the nature and life of the LAMB of God resident within us.

Let us pray: “Thank You LORD Jesus for teaching us something that we could not see. That through the fellowship [koinōnia] of your sufferings for doing good, You will establish Your LAMB-like nature within me.” Amen

Blessings,

Sharri Eckstein, Charlie Hamilton

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Come To Restoration Rivers

If you’re looking for a place to learn and grow, we would like to personally invite you to Restoration Rivers. We’re located in Boones Mill, Franklin County, Virginia. Our address is: 148 Southwood Lane, Boones Mill, VA 24065. Our Sunday fellowship starts at 11:00am and we have prayer and worship on Fridays at 7:00pm. We would love to see you there!

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