“ When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’

And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order.

Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”

While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, 

“Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.”

But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

- Luke 11: 24-28

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Happy Mother’s day to all our readers … and thank you to all the moms that pour into the lives of their children!! Being a mother can feel like being both a blessing and a curse.., and we just want to know you are all deeply appreciated!!!

The observance of the day this year is somewhat overshadowed by the controversy currently roiling the nation regarding the proposed verdict to overturn an important judicial precedent. 

Our position ( if it hasn’t been clear from our last few posts ) is that the LORD has gifted every individual with the majesty of free will … which comes with material/spiritual consequences for our actions and decisions, and for which we INDIVIDUALLY are accountable to Him! That is the clear thread through all scripture, and what Christ Himself says in many places, including our text. 

Forced obedience is not something that will EVER work. The entire history of mankind, and even this nation, shows that laws,and law enforcement… can only go so far, because people always find creative ways to get around edicts and ordinances. 

The core issue is an unwillingness to deal with the consequences of a profligate lifestyle ( the majority of cases… we are NOT discussing obvious exceptions here ). The right to maintain that lifestyle …. THAT is the RIGHT everyone says they have, even if it isn’t explicitly mentioned in any legal document. 

We agree. It’s indeed your choice to follow the Spirit of God, or your own heart to do what you want! But woe betide the individual or nation that is signing up to violate basic spiritual laws, be that a military invasion , or a medical one. Consequences will come, and we have all seen the wreckage of broken homes, horrible childhoods, and attendant social issues impact our culture!

We have been discussing this battle of ideas in our posts thus far, man’s ideas , and the LORD’s ideas, comparing “spiritual things with spiritual things”.

And these ideas are “spirits”. Don’t laugh, your “idea” of yourself, —is— your identity. Our “spirit person” is a complex collection of thoughts, concepts, memories and experiences—culminating in a “world-view” , our “idea” of how the world works, and how we ( the idea of “i” ) should go about operating in it.

We, human beings, thought of as “ideas”, in this world,, are relatively short-lived… one human lifetime ! The IDEAS of God, Sin, Love, Joy, Peace, Faith, Kindness, Gentleness, Self Control …. these have been around for thousands of years !!! Arguably, they are more real than us ? !!!

What ideas are living in your spirit house? What ideas are you letting rule your life? What ideas are the colored lenses through which you view everything? What ideas do you VALUE!!!

Without the work of Christ, and the Holy Spirit— we cannot hope to have dominion over these birds that make nests in our hair, that we lovingly feed and care for … resentment, bitterness, jealousy, envy, hate, anger, depression, self doubt?…

Here is a powerful IDEA for you … 

When Christ satisfied the LORD’s requirement for your sin debt, He REMOVED any and all obstacles from the LORD’s desire and ability to LOVE AND BLESS you … FOREVER!! 

NOTHING PREVENTS GOD FROM BEING GOOD TO YOU ANYMORE!! …. Hallelujah!! Every promise in the Book is yours !!!! ?

And FAITH…. the idea that the God who made heaven and earth, is to be trusted, believed, and obeyed is the Highest idea of them all.

We are saved by faith, we are kept by faith, we access power and move mountains by faith … and our belief in God ( and our Saviour ) is COUNTED for RIGHTEOUSNESS, just as it was for Abraham all those years ago!

In fact, YOU don’t have to even work for God any more… not convinced? 

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Then said they unto him, ——-“What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?——-“ 

[[ How do you want us to minister? ]] 

Jesus answered and said unto them, “This is —-the—-work of God, that ye —believe—on him whom he hath sent.”  —- John 6:27-29

Nothing else! Believe Him, and let His Spirit transform you. Believe on Him, and let HIM work through you!!  Be free of any “religious” ordinances, just love the people you come across, every day!!

The woman in Christs audience could not help but speak out in wonder at Christs words… and she blessed Mom Mary… and Mary was indeed blessed… but she was just one of a long line of people to believe what God said … here it is in the words of The Spirit, and in her own words…

“ And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, 

“Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

——-And blessed is she that ____believed____: ——for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, ——and to his seed ——- for ever.”   —- Luke 1:41-55

Hallelujah!!!