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Come Clean – By Pastor Roy Esposito

Our Authentic Self — God’s plan for us from our creation

False Self — what we believe our self to be base on external experiences

Coming Clean — making an admission of our sins before God

Sin — consists of anything that keeps us from becoming our authentic self.

Jesus was able to become what the Father sent Him to Earth for because He was never attached to a petty False Self for His identity.

“Christ” isn’t Jesus’ last name.

Jesus became the Christ through the process of His life on Earth as He overcame each obstacle.

Jesus’ identity was transformed after the Resurrection.

When Jesus died, the Christ rose!

He is our model for salvation: “The Way”

Our assignment: is to recognize , acknowledge and let go of our small, needy and inadequate self to become a greater and authentic “new creation”

1 John 1:9(Passion) — “If we boast that we have no sin, we’re fooling ourselves and are strangers to the truth. But if we freely admit our sins when His light uncovers them,He will be faithful to forgive us every time. God is just to forgive us our sins because of Christ and He will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Notes from Passion : Confession doesn’t gain us favor with God. This was won for us by Christ. Confession cleanses the conscience and removes every obstacle from communion with Christ. Rom 14:22-23 (Message Bible) “… you’ll know you’re out of line if the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe.”

Romans 14:23 (NKJV) “…. whatever is not from faith is sin.”

Ego : the center of the “False Self” — exactly who I think I am.

Psalms 51: 1-3, 5-13, 16-17

Romans 6:23
Luke 1:38 — Matthew 16:39 –“Not my will but yours.”

Teresa of Avila — “When you find God in yourself you’ll find yourself in God.”

Isaiah 65: 24 — The gift is already given!

John 1;3

Acts 17:28-29 (Passion)

Ephesians 4:30 — The Holy Spirit is sealed within us for the day of redemption — we can not lose Him !!

Grieving the Holy Spirit:

1. Living inconsistent with what we believe causes other things to be elevated in us ultimately becoming idols and living according to their beckoning. This is sin which brings with it unrest and lack of inner peace.

2. Remaining ignorant to our birthrights as Sons and Daughters of God.

— Brennan Manning — “The Imposter”– allows us to wear many masks which constructs the “False Self”

— The False Self buys into outside experiences to furnish a personal source of meaning; money, power, glamour, etc

— The Imposter is an illusion with no substance of truth.

2 Corinthians 3:18 –” transformed from glory to glory with unveiled faces…”

An illusion can’t cultivate a transformational relationship with the TRUTH, without which, faith will dwindle and die. This is also sin and grieving to the Holy Spirit. — Hebrews 11:6

3. By neglecting His presence we don’t get to enjoy His Fruit — Galations 5:22 and Isaiah 11:2

A. Wisdom — to cherish what is heavenly

B. Understanding — to make sense of things

C. Counsel — Instruction for right living

D. Fortitude — Supernatural courage and strength

E. Knowledge — warnings and guidance

F. Godliness — ability to follow Christ

G. Fear of the Lord — awareness of the Divine Presence; the key to transformation

SIN: is a veil that impedes transformation and must be rent by acknowledging it in surrender to the “Light”

(GRK) –to miss the mark —

(HEB) — to carve out or cut down

Our Lives — a process of “gaining light”

Psalms 138:1-2 and Psalms 139:23-24 (Passion) — PRAY TOGETHER

“I thank You Lord, and with all the passion of my heart I worship You in the presence of the angels. Heaven’s mighty ones will hear my voice as I sing my loving praise to You. I bow down before Your Divine Presence and bring You my deepest worship as I experience Your tender love and living truth. “God I invite Your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to Your glorious, everlasting ways — the path that brings me back to You.”

“God washes all the shores of the Earth twice a day. How much more will He not wash those who ask! —- Amy Carmichael

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Rest – Comes Behind The Veil – By Pastor Marie Esposito

REST

The distinguishing quality or characteristic of the Favor of the Lord is His Presence. SOAK IN HIS PRESENCE AND BE A CARRIER OF HIS DIVINITY.

Jerimiah 6:16

His Presence is teh greatest weapon we can engage with when we are in spiritual warfare. His brilliant Presence is the very atmosphere that assures us of His favor and blessing and REST.

Psalms 46:10

WORSHIP, THANKSGIVING, REJOICING IN PRAISE- RECALIBRATES OUR HEARTS TO HIS MAJESTY G.COOKE

Exodus 30:34-36

Stacte-myrhh- His Word

Onycha- shell-humility, brokenness

Galbanum- flower- God is good

Frankincense- tree resin- the righteousness of Christ

Exodus 31,32

Exodus 33:

Psalms 23:1,2,3a

Psalms 62:1

Psalms 62:11,12

Ephesians 6

STAND STAND STAND

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Psalm 46: Reflections on the Nature of God

Part 2 

3. God Is Hidden
— The full truth of God is beyond our comprehension.

—  If we try to explain God by a specific event, situation or doctrine we are in essence “playing God” and end up distorting the truth.

— Truth:   No spiritual leader, Pastor, Priest, Monk, Rabbi, Imam or Spiritual Director has any special knowledge about God. 

GOD IS ALWAYS GREATER THAN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS !
Matt 4:16 (Isa 9:1-2)  The mystery of life revealed — To discover the personal God.
Discovering His Presence through A Perception of His Absence: The Cloud of Unknowing.

Psalm 22:1-5 In the Cloud” we meet God in the way He wants us to: beyond human knowing and beyond what we are presently.

4. God Is Looking For Us

He is:  The Good Shepherd leaving the 99 for the 1.

  • The woman who lights the lamp, sweep the house until the lost coin is found.
  • Abba — watching for us and patiently waiting for our return.

The question: 

  • Not — “How do I find God?” but “How can I best let myself be found by Him?”
  • Not, “Who is God for me?” but A quest for me to discover “Who God says I am to Him”

    • “When I cry ‘Abba’  I claim that I am a seeker of a deeper relationship with God and I will be found by Him !  — “PR

    Luke 15:9-10 (Passion) — Woman with the lost coin

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    To Whom Is the God You Pray?

    Psalm 91:1-2
    El Elyon  — Most High El Elohim — The Ultimate Source

    El Shaddai — The Almighty, all Sufficient One

    Jehovah Jireh — Provider

    Jehovah Rophe –  Healer

    Jehovah Shalom — Our Peace

    Jesus was called after being baptized by John:

    • (Aramaic) —  Mahyana  — “The Light Giver”
    • Ihidaya ––  The Single, Unified One;  The “Master of Consciousness”

    When you say, Lord  —   What do you mean? Who are you seeking and what do you want?

    “We don’t see things as they are. We see them as WE are.”

    1 John 3:2(Passion)

    Heart — the deep recesses of self: emotions and feelings, meditations/focus, passions, inhibitions and visions.

    Dianoia — knowing through logic, doctrine and dogma

    Epinoia  — Knowing through intuition and inner revelation

    Hebrews 11:6 (Passion)  — faith pleases God

    Psalm 46:1-4,10 (NKJV)

    Trans-rational — God plants a desire deep in our hearts at our creation for us to discover. When we do and agree with it — it eventually becomes a realty in our visibly perceived world.

    Jeremiah 29:11-14

    Hebrews 11:3

    Reflections on Ps 46: Four Aspects of God’s Nature

    1.   God Is With Us  — Immanuel

    —  Not just in proximity to us  — He’s FOR us !

    — He participates in the human struggle

    — We can call on Him and get help.

    John 1:14  — Jesus, the “Living Expression of God”: the Message and the Messenger

    2. God Is Personal
    — Abba — “Daddy”— an expression of trust, safety and confidence. 

    — Jesus’ relationship with the Father  — Fearless, trusting and empowering

    Romans 8:14-16 (Passion)  — Abba — not a label for God but a CLAIM of intimate love called  “SPIRIT”

    Vs 16  — “I am His beloved child!”

    Foundation Scriptures  — Spoken to your inner being

    Because they are personal you can consistently return to them to remind your soul of their truth.

    The Word of God is NOT MAGIC — It”s the Truth from which we pray!

    “Born Again” — a return to the trans-rational truth deep within.

    The Prodigal Son parable — “Speaks of a love that existed before any rejection was possible — a love that will still be there after all rejection is over.  -PR

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    “Remove the Slave Bands From Your Neck!” – Pastor Roy Esposito

    1 Cor 10:11(Passion)

    Types and Shadows:

    Egypt — Worldly perspectives

    Promised Land — Our inheritance in Christ

    Gal 5:19  — “works” of the flesh

    “Renewing your mind” —  a process through which our basic character changes for the better through an adjustment of our moral and spiritual vision.  — Rom 12:1-2 (Passion)

    Phil 3:13-15 (Passion)
    Isa 61 (NIV)   “Oaks of Righteousness   Oak — permanence and solidity                                           Woodland Oaks — grow together in community
    Normal rainfall — dumps 40-50 gal into the air  — Process of Transforation ( yes the spelling is correct)

    Drought — re-channels water to roots  —  digs deeper to find water

    Gen 12:12, Gen 26:7 (NKJV)  — Abraham and Isaac’s compromises

    Gen 26 (NKJV)  — Isaac’s attempted return to Egypt

    Gerar –“Circles”

    Philistines — the “uncircumcised”

    Heb 6:1 (NKJV)

    1Jn 1:7  — “Fellowship” — Koinenea  — bonding and building together

    I Gen 26:12-33 (NKJV)   — “Land of the Flesh” — Place between “the World” and the “Inheritance”

    “If your live in a place of constant strife and quarreling you might think about MOVING!”   — PR

    Sheba — place of covenant —   Beersheba — the well of the covenant.  Well of “Living Water”

    Eph 1:5-6 (Passion)

    Matt 6:33 (Passion)

    Lk 9:18-20 (NKJV)  — “Who do they/you say I am?”

    The Cross — the destroyer of the Flesh  — an agent of circumcision

    Lk 9:28 (NKJV)  — transfiguration

    Ps 19:7  

    The Two Witnesses: 

    Moses — The Law   —

    Elijah — The Prophets

    Isa 52: 5, 1-2 (NLT)

    Matt 11: 28-30 (Passion)

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    God’s Fruit

    God’s Fruit by Pastor Marie Esposito

    God’s Fruit

    by Pastor Marie Esposito

    The fruit of the Spirit is powerful.

     

    It is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, temperance, and faith. –Galatians 5:22-23

     

    I want to enrich your thinking about God’s fruit and elevate your perspective about it.

    The fruit of the Spirit manifested in your life is evidence of His Presence.

    His Presence displays His fruit.

    The full nature and character of God is evidenced in the fruit of the Spirit.  The fruit of the Spirit is Evidence of the new creation life.

    WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT GOD WILL BE A KEY IN WHAT KIND OF FRUIT IS SEEN IN YOUR LIFE.

    ALIGN YOURSELF WITH GOD.

    We can elevate our vision to align with His perspectives of peace, promise and provision thereby displaying His life: His fruit in our lives.

    Alignment is relational.

      • relationship
    • relative

    • receive

    • remain

    John 15:1-4, 8

      • abide
    • agree

    • align

    Galatians 5:22-23

    The first fruit is love: all the rest are complementary to this foundational truth.  God is love and

    HIS LOVE COMPLETES THE LAWS OF GOD.

    Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, meekness, temperance and faith.

      • Love that completes
    • Joy that overflows

    • Peace that subdues

    • Patience that endures

    • Kindness in action

    • A life full of virtue

    • Faith that prevails

    • Gentleness of heart

    • Strength of spirit

    THESE ARE LIMITLESS QUALITIES.

    As we rest in Him, we find ourselves experiencing a greater revelation of His gentleness, kindness, joy and love which is His very Essence. His peace, His goodness, His faith – THE VERY NATURE OF GOD.

    We can draw closer to God through studying His Word, through prayer, by being connected and committed to a local body of believers.

    Make room for Him, remain in constant communication with Him, waiting on Him in His Presence until the flow begins and the Holy Spirit takes over your very breathing.

    Cultivate a spirit of surrender to intimacy with the Holy Spirit.

    Faith in the logos – Hearing the rhema

    The Word is alive causing us to progress into ever-deepening expressions of the Lord’s mighty power: fashioning us into Warriors of truth of His kingdom displaying His fruit.

    Ways to deepen relationship with the Word

      • Memorization
    • Visualization

    • Personalization

    • Melodization

      • Hebrews 5:14
    • Luke 6:44

    • Philippians 4:17

    Our transformation – He loves… He triumphs in our new man image coming forth and rising to be seated with Him in heavenly places as we are created to please Him and encounter Him every day; having our eyes enlightened with a deeper understanding of Him.  His true nature is visibly displayed through us every day as we “see Him” in ourselves, and those around us; as we encounter and depend on His Grace being more than sufficient.

    Remain in a rest produced by believing that His Presence is present.

    Amen! 

    Turn to the One Who has enfolded you into His grace.

    We have a “bright” future! – Isaiah 60:1-2, 5

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    The Lord Is My Shepherd — It’s All Gooood!

    The Lord Is My Shepherd  — It’s All Gooood !

    by Pastor Roy Esposito

    Ephesians 1:17-18 (Passion)
     
    The Spirit of Wisdom and of the Spirit of Revelation  — so that we might have direct knowledge of Him.
     
    “Ordinary Knowledge”  — Knowing about Him through second hand experiences or hearsay. 
    Affords a sense of false security in our relationship with God.
     
    Direct Knowing — produces the sovereignty of sons of God and the inner authority to BE witnesses of Him to the world.
    Jehovah Rophe — “The Cure”
     
    Humility — allows us to look at ourselves truthfully and to admit our powerlessness without Him.
    Courage — allows us to enter the “cave of the heart,”confess our wounds and our need for “The Cure”
     
    Julian of Norwich — “The spiritual life begins with the acceptance of our wounded self.”
     
    Brennan Manning — “Seek transformation not information.”
     
    Spiritual Hunger — to pursue holiness.
    Holiness – doing things God’s way.
     
    Craftiness — The serpent’s way
    Nature of the Son — to do the Father’s will.
     
    John 10:11 — “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
    John 10:27 — ” My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me.”
     
    Psalm 23 –” The Lord is my Shepherd  —-“
     
    Shepherd (Heb)  — Ra’ah — “Best friend”
    1. He supplies every need.
    2. Lie down in green pastures
     
    Love (Grk) Agape —
    Ago — “to lead like a shepherd”
    Pao — “To rest”
    His love leads us to a place of rest in His heart.
     
    3. By still waters —  (Heb — Menuha)  “Waters of a resting place” -speaks of tranquility in times of storms.
    4. Restores my soul     —  “He causes my life (soul) to return.”   —   So often our lives drain us.
     
    5. Leads me to paths of righteousness — “Circle of righteousness.”
     
    Sheep traveled up the mountains of Israel in a circular manner forming paths to the top. With each step we take the Shepherd leads us higher, though it may seem like we’re going in circles.
    6. In the valley of the shadow of death we fear no evil.
    A shadow has no substance. It is only a representation of the an original.
     
    7. His rod and staff bring comfort.  ” The comfort of Your love takes away my fear. I will never be lonely.”
    Rod — correction 
    Staff  — guidance
     
    8.  Prepares a table in my enemy’s presence.
    The place He chooses for fellowship makes a mockery out of those who would bring accusation against  us.
    9. He anoints my head with oil.  —   He anoints us with the fragrance of the Holy Spirit.
     
    Two Types of oil: 
    1. Oil of the priesthood
    2. Oriental perfumed oil  – the fragrance of God’s hospitality.
     
    Both overflow us getting on everyone we come into contact with.
     
    10. Goodness and mercy follow me all my days.
    (Passion)  — “So why would I fear the future? For Your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life.”
     
    11. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
    (Passion)  “Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to Your glorious presence to be forever with You.”
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    Observations From the Wilderness of Shur

    Observations From the Wilderness of Shur

    By Pasto Roy Esposito

     

    Matthew 16:18 (Passion) – “All the power of death will not overpower it.”

     Our parts:

    1. Acknowledge and accept as TRUTH.
    2. Shut all the Gates of Hell that are open in us.
    3. KEEP THEM SHUT!

    Exodus 15:22-26

    Shur – A point of observation as from a rampart (An embankment for defensive purpose)

    First thing to learn in our own wilderness:

    How to turn “bitter” things sweet.

    The Cross – 1 Corinthians 18 – “The power of God. – ”  Breaks the “slave mentality”

    Hebrews 2:14-15 (Passion)

     Romans 6:6 – No longer slaves to sin!

    Romans 8:25 – “The Called” are still required to respond to the call

    We are not just being called OUT of the world but also INTO the authority and responsibility of SON-SHIP.

    Hebrews 5:8 – Spiritual authority is released when the works of the flesh are afflicted.

    Isaiah 53:5 – “By His stripes we were healed.”

    Obey –(GRK) – to Hear – Respond and Obey

    2 Corinthians 11:16-33 – Paul’s many afflictions

     Exodus 15:25 – “There He tested them.”

     God’s tests are for promotion and spiritual elevation not punishment.

     Exodus 15:26 – “—diligently heed the VOICE of the Lord your God—”

     To Heed it you have to be able to HEAR it!

    “Ordinary Knowledge” of God – Pious Appearance – Proper Behavior – Correct Doctrine

     Ephesians 1:17-18 – Direct Knowing

     Jehovah Rophe – “THE CURE”

     Bitterness – Fermented Unforgiveness – A primary “Gate of Hell.”

     Jesus’ Name – represents His mission and purpose on Earth: To distribute afresh God’s Love to us.

     Romans 8:10-16 (Passion)

     Ephesians 1:17-21 (Passion)