The importance of awareness: Part 2 THE PATHWAY OF MATURITY BEGINS AND CONTINUES WITH AWARENESS

The importance of awareness:  Part 2 THE PATHWAY OF MATURITY BEGINS AND CONTINUES WITH AWARENESS John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. John 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. AWARENESS John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. Awareness: -  To see and hear spiritually, to discern the Lord. Developing awareness enables one to bridge the gap between the seen and the unseen, bringing us to the place of living in two realms. In the tabernacle in the wilderness there was a veil between the Holy Place and the Holiest of all, this veil separated the two realms. Because the Tabernacle was a picture of the tri-part nature of man, Body, Soul, and Spirit, with the outer court representing our Body, the holy place our soul, and the Holiest of all our spirit, we see that the veil is between our Soul and Spirit. The apostle Paul spoke about this in 2 Corinthians chapter 3. When he said, this veil that is over ones heart, one’s mind emotion and will, and can be removed when our heart is turned to the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Paul then goes on to say if we turn our heart (our Mind and Emotions with the act of our will) to the Lord we can behold the unseen realm, the glory of the Lord 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD This is the greatest key to virtually everything spiritually and secular. You must believe that you can come at any time into the presence of God. Your unworthiness’ does not handicap God. Learn to stand in the presence of God knowing that He loves you, knowing that you are accepted and welcome. We are told to come boldly into His presence. The word boldly is an unusual word to use here; it almost indicates an attitude of brashness or even arrogance. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  (Boldness Greek 3954. parrhesia,  frank assurance)  It has the meaning of coming into the Lords presence with an absolute assurance that you are welcome and accepted.  The very fact that we are invited to do this implies that it can easily be done. To many this is seemingly difficult because we are dealing with developing a relationship with someone who is invisible. However the Apostle Paul clearly said that we can do this by seeing or looking into the invisible world. 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. Moses understood this realm because in Hebrews 11:27 it tells us  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.  King David also knew and practiced this;  Psalms 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. These scriptures indicate to us that it is possible and needful for us to be able to access this seemingly unseen realm. The ability to dream is a unique ability of man who is made in the image and likeness of God. This God given ability allows us to go beyond the natural realm into a realm where all things are possible. It has been said if you can dream it you can do it, there is more to this statement than meets the eye. The ability to dream is a God given creative tool. You can only go as far as you can see, and to see you must dream. The ability to use ones imagination to transcend the natural realm is God given. Practice being aware of the lord We must exercise our senses to see beyond the natural realm. Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. We have five senses that enable us to go beyond the veil. Taste, Sight, Touch, Smell and Hearing, all of these senses can be trained and  exercised to enable us to connect with the realm of God. The bible says, taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8.  The gift of discerning of spirits can operate through any of these senses. Developing awareness in as much as discerning what these senses are picking up beyond the natural is important Hb 5:14. Becoming aware of the Lord We need to develop the ability of be aware of the Lord. He said He would never leave us or forsake us, He is always there. However there is a difference between the presence of the Lord and the Manifest presence of the Lord. His manifest presence is activated by our awareness of Him. That’s why King David said; Psa 16:8  I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. How much do circumstances occupy your awareness? What are you caught up with, when you experience fear you are more aware of your circumstances than you are aware of the Lord. Peter walking on water. Matthew 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. NOTE: The shift in awareness. Peters focus shifted from the Lord to the circumstances at which point he began to sink. The Apostle Paul was fearless in the storm because he was aware of an angel of the Lord with Him. Acts 27:22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, You have to be more conscious of the lord than you are of your problems. If you are more conscious of your problems, those problems will control you. All true ministry flows out of awareness; Jesus said, I do only those things I see the Father doing. You must become  aware of Christ in you, be aware of who God is in you. Philemon 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Not self confidence as such, but God conscious, you may know God is with you, but you must be aware of him, obey him and love him. The mark of immaturity is Impulsiveness, acting on your own ideas. Jesus said; John 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. BELIEVE AND SEE Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Meditation both in Hebrew and Greek always includes imagination. Lay scriptural foundation for everything you do so that Satan cannot discredit you, then picture in your mine everything that is yours in Christ. Picture the Lord, picture in your mind the will of God for you, See it believe it, live it. When based on God’s word, or on a word from God, your imagination of is not an illusion it is a reality, use your imagination to break through the natural barriers to reality. You are made to walk in the spirit with the lord. Read the word, meditate on it or visualise it and see yourself being or doing it. You can activate faith or unbelief Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. If you say God help me it’s going to be an awful day it will be, you have activated unbelief. If you say, today I am a child of God with power victory and Jesus is with me and in me, you will activate faith. Use your sanctified imagination as a means of experiencing God Blessings Neville Johnson  4 December 4, 2008