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The Garment… Rodna Epley

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Rodna Epley with tags creation, dark, Garden of Eden, garment, glory, God the Father, Jesus Christ, light, love, Peace on January 24, 2023 by paulthepoke

In the garden of Eden, God made male and female and clothed them in a garment of glory which is God Himself. They lost that glory garment when they sinned. Everyone born after the first couple was born without a glory garment.

Everything Jesus did was to put that glory garment back on us. We are to wear that garment now as we live. We were never meant to live apart from God and His glory.

When we try to, things don’t work. But when we live with Him in covenant relationship, and we activate His glory to shine on us, we walk every day carrying His presence into every realm where we place our feet. Darkness is driven away as easy as turning on a light switch in a dark room. Everything is effortless in the Father’s glory that Jesus died to give us.

Key indicators that the glory in us has been activated and is now abiding on us is perfect peace (no ripples on the pond), joy unspeakable because we’re full of His glory, and perfect love that drives out all fear.

Colossians 1:27 “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Ephesians 5:14 “Therefore He says, ‘Wake up O sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Matthew 17:2 “And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, to prevent “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God,” from shining “on them.”

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…”

John 17:5 “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

John 17:22 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:”

John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me…”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

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Seek the Glory of God… Rodna Epley

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Rodna Epley with tags God's glory, Gospel, Heaven, Jesus Christ, Kingdom of Heaven, light, Peace on August 24, 2021 by paulthepoke

When we seek first His Kingdom as Jesus commanded, it causes us to wear this wedding garment of Christ’s glory on us every day. As the light of the world, we don’t have to worry about how our earthly needs will be provided. They will just come to us effortlessly. God sends them without us even asking. But when we ask, He gives us abundantly more than we ask for! We seek Him and His glory (John 5:44, Proverbs 25:2) in humility, and He provides all of our needs. When we are clothed in Christ it transforms the atmosphere to instantly bring His favor and wisdom.

“Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. (Isaiah 58:8-10)

Perfect peace is a primary indicator that we have the wedding garment of Christ on and dressed for the wedding! Joy unspeakable is another indicator, and perfect love that drives out all fear.

Holy Father, let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth and in our lives exactly as it is already in heaven!

We are the light of the world and we will not be hidden as Jesus said! Activate your glory within every person who reads this and show them how beautiful they are. Remind them that they are anchored behind the veil in Your glory! They are not anchored to the earth in sin and worldly passions. No one can take them out of Jesus and Your hand and nothing can separate them from Your love! Thank You Papa! In Jesus mighty name, yes and amen.

Jesus died to reconcile you to the Father. Jesus finished His old covenant work on the cross, and He began His new covenant work as He sat down at the right hand of the Father, made a place for us and seated us there with Him, and then poured out the Spirit of our Father’s glory within us. So, this is the perspective of the church today as the Father releases His glory in the earth through us.

So be it Papa and let it be so!

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Honest Scales, Part 2… Rodna Epley

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Rodna Epley with tags door, glory, God the Father, Heaven, Holy Spirit, honest scales, Jesus Christ, light, truth on November 19, 2020 by paulthepoke

Jesus used “honest scales” to weigh the truth that He was given authority on earth to forgive sins, so that people could receive forgiveness from the Father through Him. If Jesus could perform the impossible that had to be proven to the natural eye (which means the Father is healing though Him), then He could also perform the impossible that can only be proven to the spiritual eye (which means the Father is forgiving through Him).

When we use these “honest scales” in every form of suffering that we encounter by balancing the side we don’t understand with the side we do understand (because we were able to weigh it which created an image in our mind), then revelation of what we don’t understand enters in and the suffering ends as the manifestation of the impossible takes place before our eyes. Because the scales simply balance without us forcing it, and the glory of God effortlessly manifests. Revelation transfers as light into our minds. That transfer of light comes from the Father’s throne of glory, where Jesus sits and reigns as Lord and King of glory.

Jesus is the access Door into the Father’s Presence. He and the Father are ONE. We are ONE with the Father too when we are “in Christ”. We walk through that Door into the Presence of the Father where all suffering ends and His glory manifests in both the supernatural and the natural realms.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. If our suffering has not yet ended, it’s okay. It’s not anyone’s fault. The mind just needs to be renewed.

We need that transfer of light, that balancing of scales. The Holy Spirit (aka the Spirit of Glory, the Spirit of the Father) was given to us to teach us and reveal to us how to balance the scales and rightly divide the Word of truth. So we can receive everything that we need and so the glory of God is released in the earth through us in the same way the glory was released through Jesus, but with even “greater works” because Jesus went to be with the Father, where we too are seated in Christ, therefore in the Father, where the greater works come from. Until we receive from our Father in heaven we have no ability to change things that seem to be unchangeable.

Without Christ we can do nothing, but with Christ nothing is impossible. As soon as light (revelation of truth) transfers from the throne of glory into our minds, the thing we need manifests effortlessly. As soon as the scales are balanced, healing comes, answers come, God’s glory shows up.

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:9).

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1).

The Lord hates dishonest scales, but he is pleased with honest weights (Proverbs 11:1).

But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:8-10)

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Light Shine… Paul Beverly

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Paul Beverly with tags God the Father, light, Matthew 5 on October 5, 2020 by paulthepoke

Do not brag or boast, but let light shine upon the good in yourself. For the good in everyone is a gift of God. Shine so bright that no darkness is seen in you. Let others see the good works of God in you.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.

Have a bright week my friends!!!

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How do You DO that, Jesus? -Michael Stone

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Michael Stone with tags belief, Creator, eternal, faith, Forgiveness, Gospel, humble, Jesus Christ, light, Omnipotent, omnipresent, Omniscient on October 23, 2019 by paulthepoke

You are omnipresent. That means that you are everywhere at once, ever present everywhere. That’s amazing to me. You are God, so I don’t struggle understanding that.

You are omniscient. That means that you know everything. That blows me away, yet, because You are God, I have no problem understanding that.

You are omnipotent. That is almost incomprehensible, yet, because You are God, I get it. You have always existed.

You have no beginning and no ending. I don’t really understand that with the finite mind that You created me with, but by faith I believe it wholeheartedly.

You created everything out of nothing but Your Word. I’m flabbergasted, yet, You are God, so it was really not a big effort for You at all.

You spoke light into utter darkness just by saying “LIGHT”. Okay, then! That’s all it took, because You are God.

You humbled Yourself and became a man to show us that we could be sinless and full of love, then You gave Yourself as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, taking our place so that we may live with You forever. That’s amazing love. I accept that. I receive that.

Here’s the part that baffles me, though, Jesus; when we believe on You and confess You as LORD, You forgive every single sin that we have ever committed. Not only that, but You take it a step further and You forget every single sin that we have ever committed. WOW! That is mind boggling! How do you DO that, Jesus?

I have a hard enough time just struggling to forget a single mistake, yet You easily forget every horrible thing that I’ve ever done! You separate my sins from Yourself as far as the east is from the west. That’s immeasurable! How do you DO that, Jesus? Your Word says that You cast our sins into the sea of forgetfulness, to never again be remembered. How do you DO that, Jesus?

Why do I continue to compare Your ability to forgive and forget with mine, or anyone else’s? That’s really not wise. You ARE God. Nothing is impossible for you. When the enemy comes to me to remind me of bad things that I have done, and I bring them back up to You, Your reply is always, “What are you talking about? I don’t recall that. You’re forgiven. It’s forgotten. Don’t look back. Keep moving forward. Trust Me.” It’s time that I stop listening to the accusations of Satan, and start listening to the truth of who You are in me. You gave us all of Your power and authority.

It’s time that I started using it. Once we as Believers, as Followers of the Way, as Christians – once we all begin walking in the authority and faith that you gave to each of us, we CAN turn the world right-side-up for You, Jesus. How do we DO that, Jesus? In Your name! THAT’S how!
Thank You, Jesus!

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Straight Talk, Jesus and Daylight… Rodna Epley

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Rodna Epley with tags day, God the Father, God's glory, Jesus Christ, John 17, light, Psalm 57 on June 12, 2019 by paulthepoke

After Jesus’ disciples protested about returning to Judea for fear of the Jews, Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.”

Jesus is using natural terms here so that His disciples could understand the deeper truth that He was the Day.

Then He said, “But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

Because the light is not in him…

Here Jesus is talking about another kind of light other than the sun. Since the sun can’t be in you. The implication here is… if the light is in a man then he won’t stumble even when he walks in the night. Because it’s always day for those who follow Christ. So whatever light we see by will cause us to stumble… or not. If we only use the world’s light (of the sun, or even of the world’s kind of knowledge) then we are aware as far as that light extends to give us a visual but it’s limit is in only as far as our natural eyes can see. However, if we see by the Father’s light from within then we will avoid all danger, all evil, and all pitfalls… every time we set out to do something. We will see the manifested glory from the beginning. We know how the movie ends before it begins because we know His promises are trustworthy and true and His Word never returns void of an answer but it accomplishes what He sends it out to do.

So there are people who have an inward light that they see by. These are those who not only have Christ in them (the hope of glory) but they are in Christ (the Lord of glory). The light of the Father’s glory shines upon them making all things possible. One only needs to release His glory through spoken words that match the Holy Spirit’s words given to that individual. Or by doing something (a work) the Holy Spirit shows them to do.

Just as Christ was the Light of the world, we too are the light of the world as long as we are in it. When a light is turned on all darkness immediately scatters. No spiritual struggling needs to take place. Just turn on the light through His promises which are saturated in His glory and whatever promise is declared or acted upon must come to pass. Because the Father is doing it and not us at that point. He is doing it in us just as He did it in Jesus. Because He loves us just as He loves Jesus (John 17:23).

Turn on any light in a dark room and we will know the meaning of the light of Christ, and what that light does – the darkness flees with no contest. This is how the Father’s glory works in us because He shines on us and we are correctly positioned in Christ and seated in heavenly places in Him on the throne of glory, where the Father’s Light originates.

“Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:3)

The night came when Jesus died. But the glory of the Father raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand of glory. Now we are that light of the world because we are in Christ perfectly restored to the Father. Jesus is that “Day” where the sun is always shining. There is no darkness in Him at all. So as long as we are truly in Christ we will always walk in the day even when it is night. Because for someone who is in Christ there is no darkness at all.

“Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.” (Psalm 57:8)

“And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was…And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (John 17:5,22-23)

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Straight Talk, Access Spiritual Light… Rodna Epley

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Rodna Epley with tags Ephesians 5, glory, God the Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, John 11, light on May 15, 2019 by paulthepoke

This transforming “light” is the glory of the Father which resides within each of us upon putting our faith in Christ but it lies dormant (we are blind to it even as believers) until we know that it is in us. When we know…our eyes begin to open and we can see from within in a way the world can’t see. We know things we aren’t supposed to know from the world’s perspective. Yet we are supposed to know them from the Father’s perspective.

In John 11:1-7, after Jesus learned Lazarus was sick, He waited 2 days to make sure he died so that the glory of God would be revealed in Him (in Christ) by raising Lazarus from the dead.

Sometimes God waits until we think the worst has happened and there’s no turning back before He sends His answer by telling us He can turn it back, so that His full glory will be revealed in any given situation. Don’t ever think death (or sleep) is the end of anything. God will wake that person up if you trust in Him to do so and cause all who witness to believe in Him. Nothing is impossible for our God and for those who are in Christ.

Jesus said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. “But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” (John 11:8-10)

Because the light is not in him – that’s why he stumbles. Not because it’s dark outside. But because he’s spiritually blind. There’s no light in him. When Christians stumble too it’s because no light is in him – same as the world. Sight isn’t automatic even upon putting our trust in Christ. God’s glory must be awakened from lying dormant within us. The potential for sight is always there. But our eyes still must be opened. So the Holy Spirit is teaching us all things.

“Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14, ESV)

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Straight Talk, Get Up Lazarus… Rodna Epley

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Rodna Epley with tags 2 Corinthians 5, Ephesians 2, Jesus Christ, John 1, Lazarus, light, Resurrection on May 8, 2019 by paulthepoke

Jesus had just found out His friend Lazarus was sick and purposely waited 2 more days before responding to the call by Lazarus’s sisters to come and heal him. He waited so that Lazarus would surely die before He got there and the glory of God could be revealed in Him, proving that God sent Him and that He was the resurrection and the life. People would place their trust in Jesus, and the Father would receive glory through Him.

Jesus said He was going to wake Lazarus up because he was asleep. Waking from sleep for a believer is a metaphor for rising from the dead to a new life. That is for someone who goes to sleep having put their faith in Christ. Only those who die “in Christ” get to participate in this new creation life.

Those who have this new life also have a light residing within them that the rest of the world doesn’t have. It’s a transforming and informing light. This light is the glory of Father for anyone who is positioned “in Christ”. This “in Christ” position gives us the power of the throne of glory. Because we are sons of glory.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” (John 1:12)

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

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Rays of Hope

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christine "Clarity" McDonald with tags Cry Purple, darkness, hope, life, light, Romans 8 on May 4, 2019 by paulthepoke

The story below is excerpted from my book Cry Purple.

Christine McDonald

Romans 8:24-25 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Life has a way of beating a person down when they think they can’t sink any lower. Such dark moments can squeeze you until you feel there is no hope. But somewhere deep down we all have the tiniest bit of faith that the darkness isn’t supposed to be the norm. Somehow we all have a sense, though perhaps buried, that darkness is the intruder, even if darkness is all we have known. Something in us cries out for the light even if we have never known it.

We see these glimmers of hope in the world around us, the sunlight warming our faces, flowers demanding our admiration, a gentle breeze hinting that change will come. It’s easy to take tiny freedoms, these small displays of beauty or simple breezes, for granted. Some of us see change or even our redemption right around the corner. Yet others live on these small moments for years, barely surviving, but surviving all the same.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

https://www.gofundme.com/crypurplemovie

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

https://crypurplemovie.com/

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Straight Talk, The Holy Spirit Has a Word… Rodna Epley

Posted in Rodna Epley with tags anxiety, depression, glory, God the Father, Holy Spirit, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, light, Romans on December 19, 2018 by paulthepoke

Anyone experiencing depression, fear, anxiety, or condemnation right now? If so, the Holy Spirit has a Word for you.

“Fear not, for I (am) with you; Be not dismayed, for I (am) your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” – Isaiah 41:10

Now read it again and emphasize the pronoun “I” in the command, “Be not dismayed, for I…am your God”. Depression broke off of me after I read it that way because it separated light from dark. It separated in my mind who God is from who the enemy is and caused me to know that God is not the one making me afraid.

Here is the Scripture again with all the meaning The Holy Spirit gave to me after I did more research in the Hebrew behind the words. This is my version with revelation intact…

Do not be afraid, for I am right beside you and in you; Do not look away from me or steadily gaze at that thing in front of you to receive anxiety or fear or condemnation or depression from it, because I…am your God, not that thing in front of you, and I don’t give you those things. I give you opposite things. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Our Father in Heaven didn’t create us for depression and fear, etc. He created us for glory and honor. He formed us and He made us in His image. God loves us and He isn’t the one condemning or accusing us. Not at all. God isn’t punishing us. He punished Jesus instead of us. So any time we feel condemned, judged, accused or that God has abandoned us, we can be 100% certain the devil is the one telling us that. God is teaching His children how to separate light from darkness, and how to say “no” to the enemy, and “yes” to God’s promises.

“Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” – Isaiah 43:7

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions…”- Titus 2:11-12

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”- Romans 8:1

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” – Isaiah 61:1-3

Blessings to everyone who has struggled with fear, depression, anxiety, condemnation, and feeling abandoned by God (you are not abandoned by Him at all and never will be; feelings are deceiving). I am praying for you. ❤️

“I will never leave you, nor abandon you.” – Hebrews 13:5

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect…Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” No!

“…we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (and still loves us and will always love us). For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:31-39