Author Archives: Dianne

“Looking unto Jesus the Author and the Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

This word “despising” from a Greek word that means, “to think down”, which is just the opposite of mushrooming it out of proportion. He did not dwell on the shame of the cross and how awful the dying process, but He had respect unto the joy, which was set before Him. He was joy-conscious!

We read, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I life; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God”, (Galatians 2:20-21).

There has been much needed teaching on the death to self process, for without it there can be no resurrection into His more abundant life. But there comes a time when we need to become more LIFE-CONSCIOUS. Phillips gives, “My present life is not that of the old ‘I; but the LIVING CHRIST WITHIN ME”. In whatever measures of this new life we have our portion, let us rejoice. As we daily commit our way unto the Lord, He is going to bring about a certain amount of the death process during that day, but at the same time He is also going to LIVE HIS LIFE THROUGH US, as it is needed. You will not have to worry about “dying’ during the day, He will see to it that this is accomplished. But it will certainly bring a new manifestation of victory if we become more LIFE-CONSCIOUS, and begin to see the Hand of God working in us to bring forth the expressions of His life.

Betimes, when going through a trial and inner death to self, one would ask, “how are things going?” and I would answer, “just fine”. Then wonder if I was being hypocritical. Then He said to me, “When thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto Thy Father which is in heaven”. And the principle was clear – rejoice in His joy and life, regardless of the temporary conditions. Confess His victory!

“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.”     (Revelation 3:12)

A pillar is one who supports, bears the load without wavering, always stedfast, faithful.  There is a place in God where we are “stedfast, unmoveable”, (I Corinthians 15:58), “being rooted and grounded in love”, (Ephesians 3:17).

God is establishing His pillars, and upon them He shall build His kingdom in the days ahead.  The process of producing OVERCOMERS results in receiving those who do gain the victory, and thus qualify for becoming His “pillar and ground of the truth”, (I Tim. 3:15), from whence the kingdom shall arise.  Settled in Christ they are not blown about by every wind of doctrine.  Founded upon the Rock they need not run to and fro, to seek Christ in the desert or in the far city.  He dwells within them, and they dwell in Him.

“All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when He lifteth up an ensign on the mountains,” (Isa. 18:3).  God’s ensign, His pillar and ground of the truth, shall not be pointing in first one direction, and then with a change of mind point in another direction.  These shall KNOW THEIR GOD, and they shall consistently point men to HIM.  Their lives shall be a solid, living declaration of truth.  Their state of being shall challenge men and women to right-ness.

The opposite of this elect company is found in Proverbs 5:6, which well describes the religious harlot systems of Babylon, “Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them”.  Moveable ways!  Nothing stable.  As the waves of the sea, driven and tossed, double minded in all their ways.  Trying to serve God and the flesh at the same time, it is utter con-fusion.

But the “pillars” whom the Lord is preparing “know in Whom they have believed”, thus changing circumstances do not alter their standing.  Trials and testings do not dim their vision.  HE IS, and they are IN HIM.

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10)

The negative forces would daily affirm that this cannot be, and with the constant crisis and turmoil in the world, the present rule of corruption and evil, until “he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey”, (Isa. 59:15), it does seem to be an almost impossible dream.  But Jesus clearly taught that when the situation was so bad that men’s hearts would fail them for fear, and “for looking after those things which are coming on the earth”, then we are to take courage.  “For when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”.  Furthermore, “when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand”. (Luke 21:26,28,31).

But even before the full kingdom age is manifested, the scriptures also teach that there are those who “have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world (age) to come”, (Heb. 6:5).  Surely even now the firstfruits are tasting of this power, authority of the age to come, and they are learning to bow in submission to pray from their innermost being, “not my will, but Thine, be done”.  And HIS KINGDOM is beginning to reign in the hearts of men.

Surely “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation”, (Luke 17:20), so that men may say, “Lo, here; or, Lo, there”.  For His kingdom is among us, yes, within us, as daily we learn to submit to His sovereign rule.  The Son, Jesus Christ, must rule until all enemies – all self-will, rebellion, lust, strife, within has been brought into His control.  Then will He deliver the kingdom up to the Father, that God might be all in all.  It is an everlasting kingdom, but in ascending degrees its glory expands.  When all is delivered up, given over to the Father, it is that greater revelations might be realized than those confined to the “Son realm”, for the lesser is swallowed up into the greater, and the “in part” into the whole, glorious kingdom of God!