...the pillar and ground of the truth.

— 1 Timothy 3:15b

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  When He moved into you, He came to show you the way, to fill you with truth, and to give you life and life more abundantly!  As you learn more and more truth through the Word of God, the life of God will start to flow through your being.  The truth about God, the truth about you, the truth about all areas of life will make you free and keep you free.  God’s will is that all men be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth (1Tim. 2:4)!  Many people are saved, but few will take the time in the Word and with the Spirit to come into the knowledge of the truth.  If you are dead or bound in any area of your life, the problem is simply that you do not know the truth in that area.  When you know the truth, the life-giving God and His power will enter that area and set you free.  As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are required to “speak the truth in love, that we may grow up into Him in all things” (Eph. 4:15).  Notice:  not grow up to be like him, but grow up into Him!  We can become part of Him, part of the Body of Christ, part of the Church of the living God.  It is error that keeps you dead, that keeps you bound in your life!  Allow the truth–-through a sermon, through the Holy Ghost, or through another brother or sister-–to keep you alive and free.  It is said that the “truth hurts,” but it doesn’t; the truth helps!  It helps you to behave correctly in the house of God, to stay alive in the house of God, and to become a life-giving spirit!

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

— Ephesians 5:27

We are entering into a time of wrinkle-straightening, spot-removing, and blemish-eliminating.  The Church of the living God is a glorious Church because it is filled with the glory.  When the fire of revival burns bright in you and the living God is allowed to live in you, old hurts, old offenses, and past set-backs will become among that which has passed away.  You were created in the image and likeness of God, reborn as a new creation, and have become His workmanship.  Now you must keep the fire of God hot in you so that wrinkles and spots will not be part of your life.  As we grow older physically, wrinkles become part of our life, but as the years go by spiritually, there is no place for spiritual wrinkles.  Wrinkles of fatigue, wrinkles of being worn-out while serving God, are only a result of not tending to the life and fire in you.  You do not have to burn out over the years of your Christian life; you can grow hotter each year.  You must renew your inner man day by day (2 Cor. 4:16).  Do not expect to stay on fire just by attending Sunday church.  This life is a daily life; this life must be fed and nurtured daily.  Spots come through set-backs and discouragement.  They come to dull the life and fire you have.  But you can “shout them out”!  Shout the praises of God!  Shout the great things He has done.  Put on that music CD and worship the Lord.  You can choose to be wrinkle-free and without a spot–-a glorious church–-for Christ.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

— 1 Peter 2:5

You are the house of God!  You are a spiritual house, a work of God, co-laboring with Him to build His house without spot or wrinkle!  God’s house can only be built with one kind of material–-living stones.  God cannot use dead stones, cold stones, hurt stones, worn-out stones-–only living stones.  Only stones who have allowed the life-giving Spirit to give them life can be used to be fitly framed together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.  Lively stones, with their foundation on the Word, with their answer being the Truth, will be used mightily as the house of God.  Only lively stones can harmoniously fit together.  Those stones with excess due to spots, wrinkles, blemishes, offenses, or unforgiveness will not fit into God’s spiritual house.  Many in the church wonder “Where do I fit in?” “What is my part?”  Only after you allow the fire of revival to burn up whatever is of selfish motives will you truly find your place.  All will be tested by fire (1 Cor. 3:13).  The fire of revival in you will continue to consume anything that is not of benefit to the plan and purpose of God.  It will teach you what and who to avoid so nothing can tamper with the fire in you.  Your job?  Keep the fire of revival, keep the living God, alive in you.  Stay clear of spots and wrinkles, gossip and complaining, and speak the truth to yourself in love.  There is a place for you in God’s plan--in God’s building-–just be a living stone.

For we are labourers together with God:

— 1 Corinthians 3:9a

There is a work of God in the Earth today.  You, as a born-again believer, have the opportunity to co-labor with, or work with, God.  In this hour, God needs, God desires, God is looking for, co-workers or partners to cooperate with Him to get this work done.  On the inside of you there is a cry, a yearning, a hunger for the things of the Spirit.  There is a desire to fulfill your purpose for being on this Earth.  That purpose is to partner with God through faith in His Word to make an impact on other people.  Some Christians want to sit back and pray for God to do it all.  Some want to do it all themselves without His help.  But only by co-laboring together will the work be completed.  As you grow in your faith, your ability to work with God will grow.  Soon you will hear His voice, follow His direction, and do the will of the Father.  It is an honor and a privilege to be allowed to labor with God.  You and He together can change your life, your marriage, your family, your church, and your city.  We are laborers, co-workers, and partners with God in a supernatural work that will change the lives of many.  You were created for such a time as this!