Our key verse is again, ‘Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.’

The word, ‘inherit’ in both the New and Old Testaments means to be an heir. Simply put, heirs inherit. Because we have been engrafted into the royal line of God’s family we have become heirs, but to claim our inheritance we have to grow ‘up.’ Which, in the context of our discussion, means that we have to learn how to live in His presence. In addressing this need, the Apostle Paul writes to the Galatian church, stating,

‘Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differs not from a servant, though he be lord of all.’ Galatians 4:1 (KJV Modernized)

As long as we remain ‘a child’, we are not yet ready to move into our inheritance. What then, constitutes being a child? Paul, in the same passage goes on to explain,

‘Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.’ Galatians 4:3

So a child is a person living according to the dictates of this world, evidenced by living a double life by professing one thing and doing another. Our understanding is further refined by the Apostle John, who outlines the elements of the world as, ‘the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.’

How then does a believer move to maturity and overcome the world?

The answer is rooted in meekness because, ‘Hope,’ displayed by expectantly waiting in God’s presence, overcomes the lust of the eyes, and exercising ‘Faith’ in God’s rhema word defeats issues of the flesh and the limitations of this physical realm. However, those who step through the veil into eternity, like Moses and Elijah, move beyond faith to step into knowing Christ experientially.

This is when they overcome self-glory, otherwise known as pride, by displaying a ‘Love’ that lays down its life in deference to others. These are marks of a real father. Like them, when we step through the world’s wilderness of temptation, ‘in Christ’, we are also given access to the Father’s table of provision in heaven.

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As the New Testament points out, our battle is not, ‘against flesh and blood’, but against, ‘spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.’

That said, to defeat a spiritual foe we need spiritual weapons.
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The foundation of all spiritual weaponry is the word of God in our hearts, or as Paul puts it in outlining the Armor of God, ‘Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth…’. In this passage Paul is referring to having our hearts living in the landscape of the kingdom fed by the written word of God.

However, in that place he anticipates more: quickened scriptures, revelation, prophetic words, dreams and visions to enable us to go on the offensive with ‘…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (rhema) of God.’

In this vein, he commands Timothy to wage war according to the prophecies that have been given him.

‘This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.’ 1 Timothy 1:18

Now a ‘charge’ is a command not an option. It is a ‘must do.’ Every believer has times when he needs to pull out the list of prophecies, dreams, visions and quickened scriptures and ‘strengthen’ himself by supplanting all opposition with the promises of God.

The Key to Spiritual Warfare

In that place, it is critically important what comes out of our mouths. Like Joshua’s men circling Jericho we are charged that, ‘no word shall proceed out of your mouth.’ That is, no word that is contrary to what God has said should be released into the spirit realm to disempower the promises of God. This is, effectively, drawing up the garments of our loose thoughts around our hearts because we are in warfare.

If you are interested in finding our more about this topic you can read a free preview of my book The Mystic Awakening here: Free Preview or you can get it on Amazon here: The Mystic Awakening on Amazon

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When Martha was distracted by much serving, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening attentively, Jesus responded to Martha’s plea for help from her sister by saying,

‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’

Luke 10:41-42 (Emphasis added)

His words capture for us three critical truths.

Firstly, that in the midst of life’s hustle the ‘one thing’ above all others that is needed is time at His feet. Such time sensitizes the listener to Heaven. It was Mary, who later recognized the Glory of God and prophetically anointed Jesus for His burial.

Next, note that Jesus says what Mary was receiving ‘will not be taken away’ from her. Only eternal things cannot be taken from us. While Mary was sitting listening to Jesus she was imbibing manna from heaven – that which comes from beyond this world – and was imbued with the very Life of God itself. It is this Living word that does not ‘fall to the ground’ but penetrates hearts.

Finally, Jesus describes Mary’s deposit as ‘good.’ The Greek word used here is, ‘Agathos’ which describes something benevolent, a thing of quality, a quality deposit that is outright beneficial to others. Wow!

On many occasions sitting at Jesus’ feet is actually more beneficial to others than meeting their immediate needs.

That is because it is not the quantity or the intensity of our words, but the quality – a ‘word in season’ – that matters. Without doubt, it was a sensitivity born in the presence of His Father that caused Jesus to respond to the question on Nicodemus’ heart before he had asked it, choose to minister to only one man at the pool of Bethesda and delay in coming to Lazarus.

One time, with my good friend Adam F. Thompson, on our return flight to Australia after an intense period of ministry. We were unwinding, watching a movie or two. I chose to watch, ‘The Karate Kid.’ When the movies had finished, Adam said to me, ‘Why did you watch that?’ I said, ‘I watched that for one line, where Mister Miyagi says to his apprentice,

“‘Being still’ and ‘doing nothing’ are not the same thing!’”

Both Martha and Mister Miyagi’s student were receiving the same lesson. Things are not always as they seem outwardly, there are two realms and it is the eternal one that has priority.

If you are interested in finding our more about this topic you can read a free preview of my book The Mystic Awakening here: Free Preview or you can get it on Amazon here: The Mystic Awakening on Amazon

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Increasing Your Understanding of God’s Vocabulary

The rhema or living word of God can be conveyed beyond words. God is not limited to using mere words or the Bible, for that matter, in the ways that He wants to communicate to us. When Elijah threw his mantle over Elisha, not a word was spoken, but in that act, Elisha knew he was called to follow and come under the tutorage of the prophet of Israel (see 1 Kings 19:19). Elisha finally picked up that same mantle later and used it to divide the Jordan (see 2 Kings 2:14). When we recognize that it is the word of God that divides, we realize that, in the throwing of the mantle, God spoke without using words (see Hebrews 4:12)!

NO PLACE TO LAND

Similarly, when the dove flew to Noah with the olive branch in its mouth, God was speaking (see Genesis 8:11). In that incident, Noah had previously released a raven from the ark, which flew to and fro and found no rest for its feet (see Genesis 8:7). The raven is a picture of the devil being cast from God’s presence from which time he likewise goes to and fro throughout the earth without finding rest (see Job 1:7; 2:2). Subsequently, Noah, which means ‘Rest’, released the dove, which also initially found no rest (see Genesis 8:8-9). Why could the dove find no landing place? The dove at this stage could find no rest because the world was under water which signified that mankind was dead in sin (see Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 10:2).

Then, a week later, Noah released the dove and it returned with the olive branch in its mouth (see Genesis 8:10-11). Who is The Branch? Well according to Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah, His name is Jesus (see Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 6:12). So, when the dove returned with the branch in its mouth God was saying Jesus has been resurrected. Noah waited another week and released the dove again, and this time she did not return because now mankind was coming out of sin and the Spirit of God was able to alight on mankind (see Genesis 8:12). This whole episode with Noah was a prophetic layout of key world events: the devil cast from heaven to earth, mankind dead in sin, Christ’s resurrection, and the infilling of the Spirit of God.

“BREAK IT DOWN”

There was a very significant day in the life of the disciples after the resurrection when they hauled 153 fish up onto the shore (see John 21:11). When I asked God why there were specifically 153 fish He told me to, ‘Break it down’. How do you break 153 down? In the secular world, you would probably say 100, 50 and 3. How would you do it scripturally? Well what about 120, 30 and 3? What do these numbers mean within scripture? A hundred and twenty in scripture is,  ‘a period of waiting’: 120 disciples in the upper room, 120 years before the flood judgment (see Acts 1:15; Genesis 6:3). Thirty is marked by, ‘the right time to reign’: Joseph was 30 when he came to power, David was 30 when he became king and Jesus was 30 when He declared the kingdom had come (see Genesis 41:46; 2 Samuel 5:4; Luke 3:23).

Three can be interpreted many ways. It can mean, ‘resurrection’, it can mean,  ‘witness’, it can be representative of the Holy Spirit, or it can mean, ‘fullness’ (see Matthew 20:19; Deuteronomy 17:6; Matthew 28:19; Luke 4:1, Ephesians 5:18). Which of these last options do we choose? Well, the key to interpreting correctly is to interpret in context. So that, when the disciples brought those fish onto the shore God was speaking. He was saying, ‘There is a period of waiting before you come to the right time to reign in the fullness of the Spirit!’ If you know the story, the disciples were then prepared for 40 days by Jesus to receive the kingdom before the Day of Pentecost came (see Acts 1:3; 2:1).

When God speaks through events around us, He often does so by using uncharacteristic happenings to get our attention: a flock of birds in an unusual formation, unseasonal sightings of fauna and flora, or people repeatedly using the same phrase throughout the day may all be examples of God’s rhema word to you. The key to understanding uncharacteristic events, and particularly those that appear to make no sense from an earthly point of view, is to have the presence of mind to look at them from heaven’s perspective to hear what God is saying.

Don’t go looking for omens, but when something unusual does get your attention, reference it against scripture and ask God what He is saying (see 1 Corinthians 2:13). God will speak to you in whatever way you are prepared to listen.