Isaiah 59:19

“So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in, like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”

The Spirit of the Lord has raised up a standard in our lives, to live our lives to the glory of God. If God has given me understanding and light on this revelation, I have a responsibility to walk in it and measure myself, (not others), against His standard. Regarding the above scripture, when the truths of God’s standard is raised and demonstrated in my walk with Him, the enemy is put to flight in my life.

God deals with me according to the light I have received from Him. With light comes greater responsibility to walk in it in humility, and as I do, He gives me more. Jesus said, John 12:35 “…walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you, for he that walks in darkness does not know where he is going.” If I refuse the light God reveals to me, it becomes darkness and I lose my way. God has been so gracious to us in our mistakes and forgiving, but He is not willing to leave us there. When we have the truth He lifts us up to a higher place. He always encourages us to “come up higher” in fullness.

Romans 12:1-2

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

A living sacrifice is something that I place on the altar and then take my hands off it, it is not for me to retrieve.

THE FIRE OF GOD NEVER BURNS ON AN EMPTY ALTAR. WITH UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER THERE IS NO NEGOTIATION WITH THE FLAMES.

Verse 2 of Romans 12 quoted above encourages us to prove the “acceptable and perfect will of God.” The problem often arises that I deem the circumstances that God has permitted, to be unacceptable in my eyes and I can resent them. The truth is that my first fall out is always with God, so it is God that I am being resentful towards! When this truth is revealed to my unruly heart I am overwhelmed with remorse that I should treat my loving Heavenly Father with resentment! True repentance opens the floodgates of heaven with grace and mercy towards the humble and God overwhelms me with His love. God’s love forgives and covers.

I limit God, the Unlimited One, when I am not open to receive what I deem unacceptable, so I do not hear what He has to say. What I want to hear, in my judgement, will not help me, and I remain the same, unchanged!

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper that any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” When His word comes the two edged sword splits cleanly, revealing the secrets of my internals. It exposes my innermost thoughts and intentions
and I am naked before Him.

The requirement is that I allow Christ in me to function towards my fellow men without any expectation from others. God’s love is unconditional and lavish.

When truth comes it has purpose. Truth is an acquired taste…the sooner I acquire it the better as I begin to walk transparently before God and man with no hidden agenda and motives. As I begin to walk transparently, the Indwelling Christ will be revealed to others, just as Jesus said to His disciples, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father,” because He was transparent and “one with His Father.” John 3:30 declares, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This is the glory of God!….and the credit is all His for this divine expression in my life.