Yahweh Speaks Through a Heart Attack

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It was an experience of chastisement by my Heavenly Father, and He was very present with me, speaking to me His thoughts the entire time. I wish to share with you the things He spoke to me, for in this experience there is a message for all of God’s children in this late hour.</div> <bR> <div> This past Sunday, as I have done for several months, I led a Bible Study at the home of an older brother in Christ. The teaching given was titled “Possessing the Land.” This presentation has been posted to the Heart4God website, and I strongly urge all who have not viewed it to do so. The teaching reveals the parallels between Joshua leading the children of Israel in to take possession of the land of Canaan and the Christian taking possession of the land of his flesh under the leadership of Yahshua.</div> <bR> <div> After the meeting I stopped by a Chinese restaurant on the way home and picked up some food for supper. Some months back the Father had told me that He wanted me to focus on losing weight, and He gave me a specific goal to attain to before my next birthday in May. I have struggled with weight issues most of my life, and for most of my adult life I have been brought to think about the matter of weight loss and eating a healthy diet, as the Spirit has brought conviction time after time.</div> <bR> <div> This area of my life has been a real stronghold, as I find in myself a desire to eat many things that are not healthy, or profitable for my body. Like many Christians, I managed to ignore the still, small voice of the Spirit, and I put off until a later date becoming serious about the things the Spirit was speaking to me. I figured that I had time to attend to this area of my life before it led to any serious consequences.</div> <bR> <div> As some of you know from reading the book “Evidence of Things Unseen,” back in 1998 I began to experience symptoms of diabetes. I had a very sedentary job as a computer professional, and with plenty of money I was very willful in the things I chose to eat. Over time my weight ballooned to 285 pounds, and eventually it led to my becoming diabetic. This got my attention, and at the Spirit’s leading I cut out fats and sugars from my diet and I quickly lost down to 235 pounds. All the symptoms of diabetes went away, and I became comfortable at that weight, and began to eat limited amounts of unhealthy foods while maintaining this weight.</div> <bR> <div> For many years I saw no more consequences from my unhealthy eating habits. I was eating better than I had most of my life, but I still had not fully destroyed the stronghold of the flesh in this area of my life. In the past year I began to feel tired at work, and when I drank coffee I felt my heart pounding in my chest, so I gave up coffee, and once more the Spirit spoke to me. About five months ago He gave me specific instructions to lose  down to 165 pounds, and to surrender my eating habits to Him.</div> <bR> <div> I became excited about the prospect of getting down to this weight and becoming physically fit, and Yahweh said He would give me great grace to attain to this goal. He also indicated that arriving at this weight would be preliminary to certain things happening in my life, including a release into a greater and more effectual ministry. I listened to the Spirit and began applying myself to attaining the goal He had set before me. I was reading books on healthy eating and lifestyle, and I threw out the things I could no longer eat. I began exercising, and I got a set of scales and began weighing myself once a week on Fridays.</div> <bR> <div> The first 20 pounds came off quickly, and I began feeling more energetic at work, and healthier in general. Many other things were happening at this time as the Lord provided a projection system and opened the door for me to teach a local Bible study. He told me to begin putting presentations together, and I began doing so. Yet after losing the first 20 pounds I once more began to make compromises in my eating.</div> <bR> <div> I was down to 215 pounds, and I felt better, and I reasoned that attention to this matter of losing weight was not as important as preparing the teachings the Lord had given to me. For a couple months my weight stayed the same, and even began to inch back up. My focus on the goal was on and off. I made some right decisions in eating, but I was making a lot of exceptions. This past Sunday I stopped at the Chinese restaurant and ordered chicken and vegetables on fried rice with egg rolls. Part of my choices were healthy, and I reasoned that it was good enough to get by.</div> <bR> <div> That night, January 13th, I began to feel tightness in my chest, and my left arm began to ache. I was not able to lie down due to my heart pounding so hard, so I sat up in a chair all night. The Spirit began to speak to me about how I had lost focus in doing the things He had commanded me, and how I had been walking in disobedience. I was very chastened, and I confessed my disobedience, and asked for His mercy.</div> <bR> <div> On Monday I was feeling poorly and stayed home from work. The Spirit continued to deal with me, relating what was happening to the message I had given the day before on establishing the kingdom of God within our beings by ruling over every enemy, casting down every stronghold, and fighting the good fight of faith. I realized that for all of my 46 years I had allowed a stronghold to remain in the land of my flesh, and I had made peace with it. God, however, had not. He would not rest until everything within me was brought under His dominion. My fleshly appetite for unhealthy food had not yet come under His lordship.</div> <bR> <div> I had never felt so bad physically as I did Sunday night and Monday. God had gotten my attention. This matter was all I could think about. I went and threw out some unhealthy food items that I had brought back into the house, and I went shopping and bought only those things I knew the Spirit had set His approval upon. I was much stricter in my selections than I had ever been before, seeking to be completely obedient to God.</div> <bR> <div> Yahweh knew that I needed further chastening, however, as this was a mighty stronghold in my life, and I had let it remain in defiance to Him for many years. Monday night, January 14th, I began feeling even worse than the night before. The pain in my left arm increased. I could feel my heart laboring tremendously, and I had a slight feeling of nausea. I could not lie down, and once more sat in the chair in my room.</div> <bR> <div> I considered calling a friend to let him know of my distress, and I considered whether the Lord would have me go to the hospital. I did neither, however, as I believed that this was a dealing of the Lord that I needed to place completely in His hands. As the night went on I was unable to sleep due to the discomfort. My heart’s laboring became more pronounced, and I could tell that my body was growing tired from the struggle. Between 2 and 3 A.M. I felt that I was reaching a critical point where God would either have to intervene and heal me, or my heart would give out.</div> <bR> <div> During this time I felt an extraordinary peace. I knew I was under the chastening hand of God, and I had a sense of His great watchfulness over me. Although I felt alone in regard to human companionship, I knew I was in the presence of Yahweh. I reached a place of contentment where I was at peace whether my Father in heaven chose to take my life, or to spare me for further service and a more complete conformity to the image of Christ.</div> <bR> <div> I keep my music on my laptop computer, which is connected to a stereo system in my room, and I felt led to turn it on to a playlist of songs which were all taken from the Psalms of David. As they played I found my soul agreeing with the words, and my prayer going up to the Father. One song  was from Psalm 25, which contains the following words:</div> <bR> <div> Psalms 25:1-11</div> <div> To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. </div> <div> O my God, in You I trust,</div> <div> Do not let me be ashamed...</div> <div> Make me know Your ways, O LORD;</div> <div> Teach me Your paths. </div> <div> Lead me in Your truth and teach me,</div> <div> For You are the God of my salvation;</div> <div> For You I wait all the day. </div> <div> Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses,</div> <div> For they have been from of old. </div> <div> Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;</div> <div> According to Your lovingkindness remember me,</div> <div> For Your goodness' sake, O LORD.</div> <div> Good and upright is the LORD;</div> <div> Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. </div> <div> He leads the humble in justice,</div> <div> And He teaches the humble His way. </div> <div> All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth </div> <div> To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. </div> <div> For Your name's sake, O LORD,</div> <div> Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.</div> <bR> <div> I knew I had failed to obey the leading of the Spirit of Christ all these years, beginning in my youth, but I also understood that Yahweh is a God of mercy and lovingkindness. I could trust Him even in discipline.</div> <bR> <div> I was reminded of David when his sin led to a severe chastisement where he was driven from Jerusalem before his son Absalom. David responded with a humble heart, confessing his iniquity, and being content with whatever Yahweh chose for him. David said:</div> <bR> <div> II Samuel 15:25-26</div> <div> “If I find favor in the sight of Yahweh, then He will bring me back again and show me... His habitation. But if He should say thus, ‘I have no delight in you,' behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”</div> <bR> <div> We can have no better attitude when confronted with the discipline of God. God takes no pleasure in judgment. He prefers that a man should repent, as His goal is always that righteousness and holiness be formed within His children. Yet, at times, our stubbornness requires that Yahweh deal with us severely.</div> <bR> <div> As I endured the struggle within my body, my soul found comfort in the Psalms of David. Another song came on that the Spirit used to speak clearly to me.</div> <bR> <div> Psalms 30:5</div> <div> For His anger is but for a moment,</div> <div> His favor is for a lifetime;</div> <div> Weeping may last for the night,</div> <div> But a shout of joy comes in the morning.</div> <bR> <div> As I listened to the words of this Psalm I felt encouraged that Yahweh would bring me through this trial victoriously. Some time around 3 A.M. I fell asleep. When I awoke in the morning the pressure in my chest, and the great laboring my heart had known, were dissipated. I felt greatly improved. </div> <bR> <div> I was mindful that Monday was the 14th, a number denoting transition from one state to another (See Matthew chapter 1). I felt that the Spirit was signifying that this stronghold that had ruled me all my life would rule over me no more, for I had learned the fear of the Lord, and I understood His commitment to bring me to victory over every enemy in the land. Tuesday as I awoke feeling better was the 15th of the month. This is 5+5+5, signifying a fulness of grace.</div> <bR> <div> I worked half a day Tuesday, and a full day Wednesday and Thursday. I still experienced a dull ache in my left arm, and a slight discomfort in my heart, for Yahweh has allowed these to remain as a reminder that I am to walk very carefully in this area of my life. I am filled with peace, however, knowing that God is watching over me to bring me forth to victory in every area of my life, and to bring everything within me under the dominion of His authority.</div> <bR> <div> This chastisement of the Father has actually given me a hope that I previously lacked. Formerly I had doubted that Yahweh would give me victory over every area of my life that has been a source of trouble, leading to sin. Now I am confident that He will not rest until He brings me forth into complete victory, and that no enemy in the land of this flesh can stand before me as I follow Yahshua into battle.</div> <bR> <div> He has also let me know that this is the message that He wants proclaimed in these days. He wants His children to walk holy and perfect before Him. He is not content for any area of our lives to remain in willful disobedience to His leading. He will judge His people, and He will chastise all who are allowing strongholds of sin to remain in them.</div> <bR> <div> I share a house with a man who is not a Christian. Monday, as soon as I had returned from buying healthy food, my roommate came into the house and he had also been to the store. He said that he had bought cookies and ice cream for me. I told him I could not eat them, but he insisted they were for me. I replied that I had to eat things that were healthy, as my body could not take anymore unhealthy foods. Right after this he came to me and said he had bought two new movies, and he gave me one to watch, and later he brought me the other.</div> <bR> <div> As soon as he presented the movie to me the Spirit spoke and showed me that the world is not only offering God’s children things that are unhealthy for their bodies, but things that are unhealthy for their souls, as well. I returned the movies to my roommate without watching them. The Spirit impressed upon me that even as He is serious about the things we feed our bodies, He is even more concerned for what we feed our souls. Disobedience in the latter will bring forth His judgment and chastisement as surely as my disobedience in the former brought on a heart attack.</div> <bR> <div> I had often been in the habit of watching T.V. after work. This too had been an area of my life that I had struggled with for as long as I have struggled with my eating. There had been times when I fell under conviction, and for some years I did not even allow a television in my house. However, I had compromised in this area, and I had watched many things that were impure, and an offense to a holy God. Although in recent years I had been selective about the things I would and would not watch, there was as much mixture between obedience and compromise with the flesh in this area as there had been in the area of eating.</div> <bR> <div> Yahweh has been signifying that great judgment is coming to those who continue to feed on things that are unclean. A sister in Christ recently sent me a link to an article about a group of bald eagles that began to feed upon refuse left in an open trailer at a fish processing plant in Alaska. The eagles began to eat this fish refuse and they became covered in slime and were unable to fly. Some of the eagles began to freeze, and some were crushed among the refuse. The last update I read on this story said that 22 eagles had died. This is once more a number denoting judgment upon the flesh.</div> <bR> <div> This sister wrote the following insight concerning this story:</div> <bR> <div> <I>It is such a picture of our nation - feasting on garbage, being covered with slime, and finally succumbing to it.</I></div> <bR> <div> It is also a picture of the church. Yahweh is warning His children that we must cease feasting on the refuse of the world, or we will be covered in sin and no longer be able to rise above the depravity that is in the world. Already many saints have succumbed to the sin they have fed upon, and many lives have ended in spiritual death and ruin. The hour is late. Yahweh is sternly warning all His children to separate themselves from the world and its corruption.</div> <bR> <div> We must be radical in our determination to live sanctified (set apart) lives that are pleasing to the Father. It is not necessary for God to bring His children to the point of death before they will repent and change direction. He will deal with us according to the stubbornness within us. Those who are humble and respond quickly to the conviction of the Spirit need not experience a harsh correction. As the Psalmist declared:</div> <bR> <div> Psalms 32:9</div> <div> Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you.</div> <bR> <div> God will jerk our head around forcefully if that is what is required. Yet we can make ourselves sensitive to His voice where such force is not needed. We can choose to obey when we hear that still, small voice speaking to us.</div> <bR> <div> I urge all who read this to consider that Yahweh has given us the illustration of Joshua leading the children of God in to take possession of the land of Canaan as a pattern and instruction for our own lives. Yahweh is determined that we drive out every enemy in the land, and bring everything under His dominion.</div> <bR> <div> Many on this mailing list know that God has called them to be ministers in the last days, leading others to repentance and righteousness. Understand then that all who would be used of the Lord in coming days must themselves be set apart as vessels of honor fit for the Master’s use. We must flee from all that is unrighteous. We must respond with great focus when the Spirit points out some enemy in our land that He wants us to exercise dominion over. If we would rule with Christ as overcomers in the age to come, we must first rule with Him over this flesh until we can declare that “the kingdom of God is within [us].”</div> <bR> <div> I would once more urge all those who have not read the writing “Possessing the Land” to do so. You can find this writing here: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.heart4god.ws/id614.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.heart4god.ws/id614.htm"><U><U>http://www.heart4god.ws/id614.htm</U></U></A></FONT> . In it you will see the desire of God for His children to place every enemy under their feet.</div> <bR> <div> In closing, I desire to allay the concerns of those who are startled by my health issues, and my choosing to not see a doctor. It is difficult to not be influenced by the attitude of the world concerning almost all things. One thing that the world manifests is a fear of death. Death for a child of God is not to be feared. It is something that all must experience. I am content to allow Yahweh to choose the limits of my life on earth. I would that we might all have the attitude expressed by the apostle Paul when he said:</div> <bR> <div> Philippians 1:21-24</div> <div> For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.</div> <bR> <div> I do look to that day when I can depart this life and go to be with Christ. Yet, I also desire to complete the course He has chosen for me. I desire to depart on a note of victory, rather than on a note of defeat. Any child of God who can say, “For me to live is Christ,” can also say, “and to die is gain.” The Lord knows I desire to be found pleasing to Him. He showed me Monday night that there is no fear in death. Let us all seek to live a life of obedience that at our appointed time we might face death with neither fear nor sorrow.</div> <bR> <div> May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days,</div> <bR> <div> Joseph Herrin</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Yahweh Speaks Through a Heart Attack - Part 2</B></div> <div> Joseph Herrin (1-19-08)</div> <bR> <div> Dear Brothers and Sisters,</div> <bR> <div> Yahweh has used this recent experience of a heart attack to speak many things to me. It has been a time when His voice was very active, and He used a number of saints as His instruments to speak through, without them knowing how their words were being used. In the previous e-mail I spoke of the sister who sent me her comments on the 22 eagles who perished while feeding on refuse. There have been others whose words were very timely, and which the Father used to bring insight, and I will share a couple of them presently.</div> <bR> <div> As I was going through this experience I received a correspondence from a precious sister in Christ who questioned me concerning comments I had made regarding the role of the Law in the life of the saints today. She was very gracious in her questioning, and she asked the following:</div> <bR> <div> <I>How does one teach their children about believing and following the Messiah without teaching them that it is a sin to steal, lie, commit adultery, bow before idols, eat the proper diet and etc?   There are those in churches that teach the Law is null and void... Without law what do you have?</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Without the Law how do we know what sin is?</I></div> <bR> <div> The sister in Christ who wrote this is has children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her questioning arose from a sincere motive of wanting to teach them to walk in a manner that is pleasing to the Father. The Lord used the correspondence between the two of us to speak something profound to me that I needed to hear. I am therefore going to include other portions of our communication here that you might more fully understand what it is the Spirit of Yahshua is declaring.</div> <bR> <div> I wrote the following to this sister in response to her query.</div> <bR> <div> Dear Sister,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> You wrote:</div> <bR> <div> <I>Without the Law how do we know what sin is?</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> I believe that this one question lies at the heart of all that you have commented on here, and is the basis behind all your other questions. Some who hear a teaching that declares that Christians are no longer bound by the Law, assume that lawlessness is being taught. I am assuming that you have read some of the teachings on the Heart4God website that reveal that such an idea is the antithesis of sound doctrine. The second book I wrote was "SABBATH." This book reveals that the high calling of all Christians is to enter into the Sabbath rest of God which is defined as no longer doing anything of our own initiative, but living to do the will of the Father.</div> <bR> <div> In this book, Christ is shown to be the pattern for the Christian. Yahweh is seeking to conform us to the image of His firstborn Son. This firstborn son declared the following:</div> <bR> <div> John 5:30</div> <div> "<U>I can do nothing on My own initiative</U>... I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.</div> <bR> <div> John 12:49</div> <div> "For <U>I did not speak on My own initiative</U>, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak."</div> <bR> <div> This is Sabbath rest; when we come to the place where we no longer do anything of our own initiative, but we live to do the will of the Father. This is not lawlessness, but total submission to the rule of the Father. It is becoming one with His will and desire, with no striving, no sin, no rebellion. It is Yahweh's desire for His children that they come to an end of all self-initiative, and that they be directed by Him in every action and every word.</div> <bR> <div> The Law is limited in many ways, and was never intended to be the perfect solution to bring man into Sabbath rest.</div> <bR> <div> The Law was limited in that it could not produce in us the spiritual life necessary to perform the will of the Father.</div> <bR> <div> Galatians 3:21</div> <div> <U>For if a law had been given which was able to impart life</U>, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.</div> <bR> <div> The Law was limited in that it entered through man's flesh, rather than through man's spirit.</div> <bR> <div> Romans 8:3-4</div> <div> <U>For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh</U>, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, <U>who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit</U>.</div> <bR> <div> The Law was limited in its ability to make known the mind of God.</div> <bR> <div> Matthew 5:21-22</div> <div> "<U>You have heard</U> that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder,' and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. <U>But I say</U> to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire."</div> <bR> <div> Matthew 5:27-28</div> <div> "<U>You have heard</U> that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' <U>But I say</U> to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."</div> <bR> <div> Matthew 5:38-42</div> <div> "<U>You have heard</U> that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' <U>But I tell you</U> not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two."</div> <bR> <div> Matthew 5:43-45</div> <div> "<U>You have heard</U> that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' <U>But I say</U> to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."</div> <bR> <div> In each repetition of the phrases "You have heard..., but I say," Yahshua was revealing that the Jews had not arrived at the perfect mind of God through their study of, and focus on, the Law. Men tend to focus upon the letter of the Law while neglecting the spirit of the command. Yahweh wants us to be perfect as He is perfect. There is a VAST DIFFERENCE between serving the letter of the Law and being conformed to the Spirit of Christ.</div> <bR> <div> II Corinthians 3:6</div> <div> It is He Who has qualified us making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant of salvation through Christ, <U>not ministers of the letter of legally written code but of the Spirit; for the code of the Law kills, but the Holy Spirit makes alive.</U></div> <div> [Amplified Bible]</div> <bR> <div> You have asked:</div> <bR> <div> <I>How does one teach their children about believing and following the Messiah without teaching them that it is a sin to steal, lie, commit adultery...</I></div> <bR> <div> The Law could tell us that these things are not the will of God. The problem is a man may think he is righteous, having kept the Law of God, if he has not stolen, lied, committed adultery, or murdered. Yet a man can refrain from doing all these things and still not love his neighbor. A man can do such things from a desire to be self-righteous, or from a false understanding that such things will merit the approval of Yahweh. Yet these things are legal code, and they are often distanced from the spirit from which they arose. The Spirit behind the Law was one of love for God and love for one's neighbor.</div> <bR> <div> Yahshua said all the Law and the prophets were summed up in the two great commandments to love God and love one's neighbor. Many men do not love as God would have them love, yet they believe they are righteous because they have not stolen, or lied, or murdered. Only the Spirit of Christ can produce the love of God in the heart of a man or woman.</div> <bR> <div> Romans 5:5</div> <div> Because <U>the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us</U>.</div> <bR> <div> The Law was imperfect and it made nothing perfect.</div> <bR> <div> Hebrews 7:18-19</div> <div> For, on the one hand, <U>there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect</U>), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.</div> <bR> <div> God has set aside the Law because something better has come. God has put aside that which was temporary and weak, because that which is permanent and powerful has come. What is it that has replaced the Law in the role of revealing righteousness; in making known the will of God; and in producing in us the very life of God?</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>The Spirit</U></B><B> </B>convicts of righteousness.</div> <bR> <div> John 16:7-8</div> <div> I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. <U>And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment</U>...</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>The Spirit</U></B><B> </B>makes known the will of God.</div> <bR> <div> Isaiah 30:21</div> <div> <U>Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in </U>it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>The Spirit</U></B><B> </B>leads us into all truth.</div> <bR> <div> John 16:13</div> <div> When he, <U>the Spirit of truth</U>, is come, he <U>will guide you into all truth</U>.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>The Spirit</U></B><B> </B>teaches us all things.</div> <bR> <div> I John 2:27</div> <div> As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as <U>His anointing teaches you concerning all things</U>, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>The Spirit</U></B><B> </B>empowers us to put the flesh to death.</div> <bR> <div> Romans 8:13</div> <div> If <U>by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body</U>, you will live.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>The Spirit</U></B><B> </B>produces in the child of God the desire to do His will.</div> <bR> <div> Philippians 2:13</div> <div> For <U>it is God</U> Who is all the while effectually <U>at work in you</U> [energizing and <U>creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight</U>.</div> <div> (Amplified Bible)</div> <bR> <div> When I instruct the saints that they are no longer bound by the Law, I always do so to lead them to that which is superior in every way, the SPIRIT OF GOD. If a child of God is led by the Spirit they will not be lawless. On the contrary, the Spirit will only lead a child of God to be completely obedient to the will of the Father. In all the things listed above concerning the Spirit of Christ, the Law could only perform a partial work, or no work at all. The Spirit is that perfect thing that has come. Those who walk according to the Spirit do not need to hold onto that which was temporary and imperfect. We have been given liberty as sons of God to be directed by the Spirit residing within us. We need no longer be held in check by an external set of laws. The Spirit brings the perfect law of liberty. The Law brings bondage.</div> <bR> <div> Galatians 5:1</div> <div> It was for freedom that <U>Christ set us free; therefore</U> keep standing firm and <U>do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery</U>.</div> <bR> <div> How then do we answer your question:</div> <bR> <div> <I>Without the Law how do we know what sin is?</I></div> <bR> <div> We know both sin and righteousness by the Spirit Whom Christ sent to us. The Spirit goes far beyond what the Law could ever do. It makes known the will of God in every decision, leading us in the way of life. The Spirit goes beyond the ability of the Law in producing in us the desire and the power to perform the will of God. The Spirit brings life!</div> <bR> <div> I hope these words will allay your concern that I am teaching the children of God to become lawless in their conduct. Far from it. I am teaching them to be conformed to the image of Christ who ever lived to do the will of the Father. Listen to what the apostle Paul said concerning the Law:</div> <bR> <div> Hebrews 7:19</div> <div> The law made nothing perfect...</div> <bR> <div> Compare this with the command of Christ.</div> <bR> <div> Matthew 5:48</div> <div> "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."</div> <bR> <div> If we are to become perfect, it will not be through the Law. Only the Spirit of Christ can present men perfect before God.</div> <div> [End Letter]</div> <bR> <div> This sister in Christ has been teaching her family to be Torah Observant, which is to keep the Law of Moses, in order that they might live lives pleasing to God. She wrote me a very gracious response, and in it she shared the following, which is what the Spirit used to speak to me.</div> <bR> <div> <I>We find that the biblical dietary laws work very well.  We eat no pork or beef.  No sea food except fish with fins and scales.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>We have 5 generations in our family. I have 4 of my great grand children. My mother retired in September of the past year after 25 years at the cable company. She is 87, lives alone in a two story home, plants a garden every spring to raise organic produce. We have no cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and the like. I do not go to doctors or take man-made medicine nor do any of my little ones. We never have need of one. We take herbs, drink the best water that we can find, do not use fluoride tooth paste, or anything that has chemicals if we can get around it. I have most of my teeth.</I></div> <bR> <div> This family has been blessed with great health because they have sought not only to follow the dietary laws of the Old Testament, but they have also been sensitive to the leading of the Spirit in avoiding chemicals and other unprofitable foods of which the Law does not speak. It is pretty amazing to hear that her mother BEGAN a 25 year career at the age of 62, an age when most people are retiring.</div> <bR> <div> Have I been wrong, then in telling people that we are no longer bound to the Law, but are to be led by the Spirit of Christ within us? No! Not at all. The Spirit spoke the following to me as I read this sister’s e-mail. </div> <bR> <div> The children of God are no longer bound to the Law, as the Scriptures declare:</div> <bR> <div> Romans 7:4</div> <div> Therefore, my brethren, <U>you also were made to die to the Law </U>through the body of Christ, <U>so that you might be joined to another</U>, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.</div> <bR> <div> When Christ died, having fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the Law, we died with Him. Through death we were released from the covenant of Law, and we have been made partakers of a new and better covenant of the Spirit. Our problem arises when we consider ourselves dead to the Law, but we do not come under the rule of the Spirit of Christ in us.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Let me say that again, “Our problem arises when we consider ourselves dead to the Law, but we do not come under the rule of the Spirit of Christ in us.”</U></B></div> <bR> <div> If we lay aside the Law only to be led by our own intellect and desires, then we truly become lawless people. This was my condition in regard to the foods I chose to eat. I had laid aside the Law’s commandments, but had failed to come fully under the leadership of the Spirit of Christ in regard to the food I ate. It was not that the Spirit was not speaking to me regarding what I chose to eat, but that I chose to follow the desires of the flesh. I had become lawless in my eating, and I reaped the consequences in my body.</div> <bR> <div> The Spirit is expressly testifying that we are not bound by the Law of Moses, but we are bound to obedience in Christ under the direction of His Spirit which resides in each believer. The Spirit will lead us even more exactingly to obedience than the Law was capable of doing. This is seen in the testimony of this sister who wrote to me. The Law could tell us to not eat fat and blood and various unclean animals, but it says nothing of the use of chemicals, and sugar. Yet the Spirit has directed them to make right choices in areas in which the Law is silent, and they have reaped the rewards of obedience.</div> <bR> <div> Recently, the Spirit has testified to me that I am to remove fats and sugar and salt from my diet, and to eat much more fresh produce, fruits and vegetables. He has directed me to avoid red meats, and to eat baked fish. He has also led me to exercise, and has even provided an elliptical trainer at a small fraction of its original cost. The Spirit is able to lead us very specifically, and He will do so if we listen to His voice.</div> <bR> <div> My failure was not that I had come out from under the bondage of the Law, but that I had not submitted to the Lordship of Christ through His indwelling Spirit. There are a number of things Yahshua has spoken to me as His Spirit has illuminated some passage of the Law of Moses. The Law forbid the people to eat the fat of animals, as well as describing many animals that were not to be eaten.</div> <bR> <div> The Law says that only animals who chew the cud and have a split hoof are clean. Only seafood that have fins and scales are clean. I do not teach any saint that it is a sin to eat such foods forbidden in the Old Testament, yet the Spirit is declaring that it would be unprofitable for any believer to make such things a regular part of their diet. This is what Paul expressed in the following verse:</div> <bR> <div> I Corinthians 6:12</div> <div> All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.</div> <bR> <div> There are things that are not profitable for us to consume. They are not unlawful, but a Christian should not be mastered by anything. I had an appetite for unprofitable foods that was acting as my master and keeping me from obedience to the rule of the Spirit. Yahshua is not content that we should be mastered by anything. He wants us to learn to be Spirit led in all things, including the foods we eat. Christ was so perfect in this that even after He had fasted for forty days, He would not of His own initiative find a provision for His hunger by turning the stones into bread. Instead, He waited on the Father to reveal His provision for Him.</div> <bR> <div> Our Father in heaven is working to conform us to the image of His firstborn Son. Yahshua always walked after the leading of the Spirit of God Who was within Him. This is our goal.</div> <bR> <div> The Spirit is testifying that we will get into great error if we lay aside the Law while neglecting to be led by the Spirit. This will truly result in a condition of lawlessness, and lawlessness brings judgment.</div> <bR> <div> A brother in Fort Wayne, Indiana also wrote to me recently, before I had sent out any writing on the eagles who had died while feasting on refuse. Yet the Spirit was declaring to him the same message. He shared with me that on two consecutive days the Spirit spoke to him the following messages.</div> <bR> <div> <I>1st Word: "My Spirit is grieved over all the abominations that are done in this land, but what grieves me more is that my people who are called by my Name are not grieved over such wickedness. Hearts have become calloused and the love of most has waxed cold. Who will stand in the gap and plead my cause in the earth? Who will blow the trumpet in Zion and call sinners to repentance? The kingdom of Heaven is at hand and it is time to cry aloud and spare not and command all men everywhere to repent. You must work while it is still today, because night is soon coming when no one can work. Time is short. Do not delay. Pluck as many from the fire as possible before it is too late."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Note: This word reminded me of the passage in Ezekiel 8 and 9. If you recall, the Lord sends out six destroying angels to slaughter everyone that is not grieved of the sin being committed in the city (see Ezekiel 9:4). May we all grieve and lament the detestable practices done in this land.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>2nd Word: "Preach to all with ears to hear. Tell them that tribulation is coming. Make straight paths for your feet. Prepare the way of the Lord. For He who is coming will surely come and will not delay until He makes His enemies His footstool."</I></div> <bR> <div> Let me share again, the Lord is concerned that we be careful what we eat both physically and spiritually. The more important matter is what we feed our souls. There is much that is unprofitable and spiritually unhealthy that is being offered up by this world for the saints to feast upon. Many are doing so, but like the eagles who perished and lost the ability to fly, so too will dire consequences be incurred by any saint that continues to feed upon the corrupt, sinful, and unprofitable things of this world.</div> <bR> <div> Brothers and sisters, the hour is late. The Lord is soon to return, and before His return will come a day of great tribulation. He would spare as many as possible the judgments to come upon those practicing sin. I am grateful that He has disciplined me as a son that I might share in His holiness. I encourage all who read these words to “pursue righteousness, pursue humility, that perhaps you may be hidden in the day of Yahweh’s anger” (Zephaniah 2:3).</div> <bR> <div> May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days,</div> <bR> <div> Joseph Herrin</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>