Clogged Arteries
I received an awesome revelation from the LORD on Thanksgiving Day that I just have to share with you all. Thanksgiving is a day that I always look forward to because we know we are going to be with family. Those times are priceless as we get together and eat, laugh and enjoy our time together. But what about those that don't have that opportunity to get together? Could it be that there is a long distance between family members and they don't have the money for travel expenses. That is understandable for sure. Or, could it be there is a long distance between family members due to a heart problem [clogged arteries]? Do you understand how easy it is to cut a family member off or anyone for that matter because they have hurt, offended, abused or used you? We condone such separation by saying things like...
You don't know what they did to me
I will never talk to them again
I will never forgive them
I don't need them in my life and the list goes on and on
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
What? Love them - Bless them - Do good to them - Pray for them
I can't do that some would say. That brings me to the revelation I received. If our arteries are clogged the heart will have a hard time pumping blood throughout our body. And the life of the flesh is in the blood [Lev 17:11]. Jesus is LIFE [John 14:6]. He dwells in us through the HOLY SPIRIT if we have asked Him into our HEART [2 Corinthians 13:5]. And the LOVE of GOD is shed abroad in our hearts by the HOLY SPIRIT [Romans 5:5].
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
One implication of the word knoweth in Greek is "to follow". So we could say every one that loveth is born of God and following God. He that loveth not, followeth not God; for God is love. We see the principle here of becoming like your leader, in this case becoming like God who is LOVE.
What if we applied this order in our lives...
1) Love God
2) Love Our Family
3) Love Our Spiritual Family
4) Love The Unbelievers To Include Our Enemies & Those That Have Hurt Us
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. [Quench means to extinguish which means to cause (a fire or light) to cease to burn or shine or to put]
God is Spirit [John 4:24]
God is Fire [Hebrew 12:29]
God is Light [1 John 1:5]
God is Love [1 John 4:8]
Now we could read 1 Thessalonians 5:19 like... don't cause the Spirit, Fire, Light and Love of God to cease to burn or shine.
Question: How can one cause the Spirit, Fire, Light and Love of God to cease from being made manifest?
Answer: By allowing bad things into your body that in time clogs your spiritual arteries.
What are some of these bad things you ask? Well here is a few and I am sure you could add to the list... Unforgiveness, hatred, jealousy, critical spirit, entertaining slander or gossip
I am sure you have heard someone say that person has selective hearing. Well understand there is a balance. While it is true that we must be careful what we listen to. On the other hand, one with clogged arteries will be selective in who they forgive and love. One with clogged arteries will be guilty of keeping the Spirit, Fire, Light and Love of God from coming forth in their lives.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Take a moment now and reflect. Who is it that you have selected to cut off? Now ask yourself this question. Does this one that you have selected to cut off deserve to be cut off from the Spirit, Fire, Light and Love of God?
Now would be a good time to ask the LORD to forgive us for clogging an artery in His Body and thereby preventing His Spirit, Fire, Light and Love from touching the one/s we cut off.