Changing Vessel is a continuing journey into the sanctification process every Christian must go through. It highlights new insights into the Word of God, keeping strict adherence to the Word. How does the presence of, the thought of, the truth that Lord Jesus is alive, affect our daily lives? How should it affect our daily lives? It should at the very least bring peace and joy; if one is born of the Spirit, the Prince of Peace inside your heart, peace and joy should almost be tangible properties that other people can partake from you. The kind of peace that comes from knowing and walking in the Word and trusting in Lord Jesus Christ is all encompassing. The point of Changing Vessel is that Lord Jesus' words even from two thousand years ago still apply, if you put them in today's perspective. There should be peace and joy in our lives knowing that we are loved, and that we will never be forsaken by Father God. We should be comforted knowing that all those who believe in Lord Jesus and obey God's Word will have an Eternal Home in Heaven.
Changing Vessel
Into Thine Image my Holy LORD JESUSBy Kelly BausermanTrafford Publishing
Copyright © 2010 Kelly Bauserman
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4269-2888-8Chapter One
How does the presence of, the thought of, the
truth that LORD JESUS is alive, affect our daily lives? How
should it affect our daily lives? It should at the very least bring peace and joy; if one is born of the SPIRIT, the Prince of Peace inside your heart, peace and joy should almost be tangible properties that other people can partake of from you. One of my good Christian Brothers had the SPIRIT on him one day we were at church, and the peace of GOD was heavy upon him; to the point that you could see the peace present in his face and eyes; I could partake of it from him, just by talking to him. I don't think it was anything that he asked for; FATHER GOD just gave him HIS peace and my Brother was willing to share what he was given. At the time, I envied him. But since then, I have learned that kind of peace comes from knowing and walking in the WORD; our LORD JESUS; and trusting in HIM. I have since that time had people ask me what I have, and where I got it. And I gladly tell them. LORD JESUS CHRIST, my LORD.
LORD JESUS lays it on the line, with words that affect me to the core of my being:
"He that loveth father or mother more than ME is not worthy of ME: and he that loveth son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of ME. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after ME, is not worthy of ME. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for MY sake shall find it. He that recieveth you recieveth ME, and he that recieveth ME recieveth HIM that sent ME." (MATTHEW 10:37-40.)
Now this was LORD JESUS telling HIS disciples this when HE sent them abroad; but does it not apply to us, too? We are LORD JESUS' disciples, if we continue in HIS word, as the WORD says:
Then said JESUS to those Jews which believed on HIM, "If you continue in MY word, then are ye MY disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (JOHN 8: 31,32.) The point is that LORD JESUS' words even from 2000 years ago still apply, if you put them in today's perspective.
I would like to show you just how much LORD JESUS is a complete part in my life, and how this same peace and joy, and actually all of the HOLY SPIRIT's fruit, is ours to walk in and enjoy.
There should be peace and joy in our lives knowing that we are loved, and that we will never be forsaken by FATHER GOD; that all those who believe in LORD JESUS and obey GOD's WORD have an Eternal Home in Heaven. There is also peace from the promises of GOD's WORD:
Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto GOD. And the peace of GOD, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through CHRIST JESUS. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6,7)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the GOD of peace shall be with you. (PHILIPPIANS 4:8,9)
This, Paul said by the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT, I believe admonishing us to follow in his footsteps, for he was a man of integrity, and a man of GOD. Now days, it's very difficult to find someone worthy to imitate, therefore I think that following in LORD JESUS' footsteps on a daily, minutely basis is appropriate for our own walks. Go right to the source, for LORD JESUS is our source. HE prayed quite frequently, alone with HIS FATHER, I can only imagine what they talked about, but none the less, we need to have our quiet time with our Heavenly HOLY FATHER, just as LORD JESUS did.
I was just given this- just as LORD JESUS was away from Heaven, to be on this earth with us, we are away from our Heavenly Home; just as LORD JESUS needed to share the experiences of earthly life, and pray for the strength and perseverance from HIS FATHER, we also need to keep in contact with our HOLY FATHER, for the things we need to accomplish HIS HOLY perfect will in our lives here.
In addition to asking for things, I believe LORD JESUS just plain loved on HIS FATHER, as we need to; as we should want to, if we truly love HIM; and I know, my Brothers, and Sisters in our LORD JESUS, that you do. Tell them how much you love them, it will bless their heart. Speak in the HOLY GHOST, communing directly with FATHER and SON; it will bless your heart.
My LORD JESUS told me to include writing on the subject of the things we are to think upon using my personal experiences. Let's begin with things that are true; I believe that the WORD is true. Dwelling on the WORD is Scriptural, as in PSALMS 1:2:
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in HIS law doth he meditate day and night.
I am led to think about the WORD at the most amazing times, like right before Satan tempts me with sin; the HOLY SPIRIT will remind me of what the WORD says about just what is being offered by Satan. It makes me wonder, just how things are connected. FATHER GOD uses the temptations of Satan to teach me obedience, whereas before, I would give in at the drop of a hat.
Our thought process is a complicated thing; the variables being what we are exposed to; as far as memories go, what comes into our minds; our five senses, causing memories submerged to emerge, my favorite being that of smell. These exposures, including what we are currently seeing, hearing, touching, and tasting cause us to think; what this Word is saying, is that we need to put into practice the old adage- Garbage in, Garbage out. Or better yet, SPIRIT in, SPIRIT out; to keep this positive. If we are only listening to music which cuts down authority, or takes my LORD's Name in vain, guess what? It's probably going to set itself up as an attitude, or a pattern of thought. If one reads the WORD, even sporadically, it changes what that person's thoughts are.
If enough of the WORD is present, what a person will fall back on when there is no input, will be the WORD, for the HOLY SPIRIT will bring what you have in your repertoire (in your heart, and mind) to your thoughts. If we think upon things that are pure, like the WORD, we keep continually growing in the knowledge of the WORD, allowing the HOLY SPIRIT to use the WORD we have in our hearts and minds to keep changing us into our LORD JESUS' image, fulfilling FATHER GOD's Holy perfect will for our lives.
I am in the midst of a conflict right at the moment, between my flesh and my spirit. My spirit wants to write, my flesh wants to fantasize. Guess who will win? My flesh must die the death. The SPIRIT of my LORD JESUS is stronger than my fleshly desires. In the WORD it says the "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (MATTHEW 26:41.) Taking the WORD at face value, the SPIRIT helps our infirmities (ROMANS 8:26), and this is the infirmity, the fight between my spirit and my flesh. For as the WORD says,
For the flesh lusteth against the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. (GALATIANS 5:17.)
But I am going to do the things I am meant to do, by the HOLY perfect will of my FATHER, for I want to do what HIS WORD says to do: Walk in the SPIRIT, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (GALATIANS 5:16). I talk a good talk, but when it comes right down to it, I fell, just now, giving into the flesh. I would say it's because I haven't been solely dwelling upon the WORD lately, and it has made me weak. I have sought forgiveness, and received it, and have repented of the wicked works of my old master. I believe that every time this battle rages, a small victory is made, even though Satan wants me to believe that I have utterly failed FATHER GOD, which if you look at the circumstance, I have; but each and every time I fall to this trap, I get closer to understanding why I do these things. Therefore, I understand more what the WORD says in resisting the Devil. I just chose to sin; it was not forced, and it is quite unnecessary to say that complacency is my biggest enemy next to Satan, himself. I cannot let myself get to the point of saying within myself that it no longer matters what I do, because it very much does; resisting the Devil when he tries to tell me that it is a waste of time now to walk in the SPIRIT, after sinning. Remember, he is a liar, and the father of lies (JOHN 8:44). I must get FATHER GOD's peace back, and rest in faith again. I have prayed for GOD's Mercy and HIS Grace to be upon me again; that is the reason I have continued to write about this incident; to let you reading this that may be experiencing the same things right now, or maybe know someone who is/ has that FATHER GOD is merciful, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment (JAMES 2:13).
Today I had the same battle go on, and once again I chose to sin; the roots of my disobedience are like dandelion roots; they are particularly difficult to remove, because they are so deep. Even when you've pulled them up, and think you have all of it, it manages to grow back again. Praise FATHER GOD that HE is able to get the whole thing, in HIS time. I had sought and received forgiveness this morning; when praying later in the morning, I mentioned to my LORD that I asked that all prayers be continuing despite my sin that morning; HIS response was, and I quote, "What sin?" Praise HIM! Once HE forgives a sin, it is forgotten, never to be remembered again!
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath HE removed our transgressions from us. (PSALMS 103:12)
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (HEBREWS 8:12)
Dwelling on things of a pure nature, I think of FATHER GOD's and my LORD JESUS' love for each of us, love so powerful that it caused LORD JESUS to hang on that cross till HE died. HE died for each and every one of us.
Their love for me has been phenomenal, every time I needed, or need help, they, with their HOLY SPIRIT, are there immediately with whatever I need; from my angel's interventions, to their patient dealing with my problem sin patterns. Their love has been manifested in my many relationships over the years; most of which are still present. Some have been hard lessons in learning to love; other's have been lessons in who to avoid, that is those who don't want LORD JESUS as their lord; and even those I am learning to pray continually for, believing that they, too will be turned from disbelief to believing in my LORD.
A good report maketh the bones fat (PROVERBS 15:30) understand it means healthy. Things that we think upon that are of good report, like the news bulletins I receive from CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) are very important these days, when all you hear on TV and the newspapers is evil, wickedness, and corruption. A good report can be as simple as good grades on a report card, to news of someone you have been praying for being healed, or delivered, or best of all, saved from the wrath to come.
If there be any praise, think on these things; we all know of things to praise our LORD for, from our own salvation in HIM, to HIS nearing return, which will usher us into Eternity, which I am waiting so very patiently for; to HIS gentle words of love to our hearts, minds, and souls. I praise HIM for the woman HE has chosen for me being manifested in my life; all in faith, in my LORD JESUS' Name. I praise HIM for the faith to keep going, and of course HIS magnificent Grace, and Mercy, without which I would be dead, and burning in hell right now.
Think on the good things, my fellow Brothers and Sisters; all you who are, and who will be my fellow heirs. Talk to them; tell them how much you love them. Let them tell you how much they love you; read the WORD, ingest it into your very soul; know it is LORD JESUS, HIMSELF, that you are taking in. Rejoice! And again I say, rejoice!
Chapter Two
To those that have asked LORD JESUS into their hearts, to be their LORD and KING, FATHER GOD's peace comes from having their presence in our hearts; knowing that HE is there, that HIS SON is there, and that the earnest of our inheritance-the HOLY SPIRIT, is in our hearts. I find peace in that knowledge and understanding. In faith, we believe. And after so much is opened up to us, LORD JESUS showing us FATHER GOD, it's almost like faith becomes knowledge; we
know THEY are with us, and we believe THEY will never leave us or forsake us, for the WORD says in HEBREWS 13:5,6:
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
It is the basis for my peace. Not of this world, but Heavenly peace. Regardless of what happens to me, HIS faithfulness is one constant in this world that I count on.
FATHER GOD's peace comes from praying, and letting HIM know what you need, believing that you have received what you have asked for according to the WORD:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh, recieveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly FATHER give the HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask HIM? (MATTHEW 7:7-11.)
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the LORD. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (JAMES 1:6-8)
Wavering is likened to doubting that you have received. Overcome doubt, knowing that LORD JESUS has experienced all the emotions that are common to man, yet without sin. Remember that LORD JESUS is all GOD, and all man; HE experienced doubt and overcame it.
I included this last verse because I have been at times double minded; and it's true, I became very unstable until I confessed my sin of double mindedness and sought to be single minded- straight unto my LORD JESUS again.
It's curious, too that the verse before the one about being double-minded has two versions, depending upon which account of the Gospel you read; MATTHEW 7:11 says "good things" that GOD will give to those that ask HIM; where as in the Gospel of LUKE, chapter 11 verse 13, it states the "HOLY SPIRIT" that GOD gives. FATHER GOD may see HIS good gifts as being the HOLY SPIRIT, and all the gifts of the SPIRIT that we are allowed to walk in. That's the way I am taking it.
Also, when you think about FATHER GOD giving the HOLY SPIRIT, when you become born of the SPIRIT, isn't it an automatic thing that happens? The only time I asked anything concerning the HOLY SPIRIT, was when I asked to be baptized in the HOLY GHOST. Other than that HE entered my heart at the same time that FATHER GOD and LORD JESUS did. THEY gave HIM to me. It is utterly my audacity that even dares to question why the WORD says what it does. FATHER GOD please forgive me, in THY Name, my LORD JESUS, for questioning the giving of YOUR HOLY SPIRIT. I just wanted to know, if we had to ask for the HOLY SPIRIT to come into our lives, or if YOU give HIM spontaneously when we come to YOU, LORD JESUS? This knowledge would be helpful to new born again Christians.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Changing Vesselby Kelly Bauserman Copyright © 2010 by Kelly Bauserman. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
