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FISHIN’ FOR MEN
Now it came to pass, as they
went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha
received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat
at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving,
and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me
to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said
unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But
one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be
taken away from her.
For the greater
part of my life, I thought that Jesus was brushing Martha off and was inferring
that what she was doing wasn’t important and that it wasn’t needed. How wrong
can our conclusions be?
Mary definitely had
a need, and she knew where to get that need met. She sat at the feet of Jesus
and heard the gracious words that flowed out of his mouth. He would expound to
those whom he loved all things concerning the kingdom of God. From his teachings
and instructions, disciples would get all that they needed, not only for their
own lives, but also how to deal with and meet the needs of others. Jesus gave
them abundant life.
To sit at his feet
and hear his words is to be in a position to receive revelation knowledge and
the proceeding word of God. It is wonderful. It is great. It is thrilling, but
the servants of the Lord are the ones who witness the miracles. The Marys get
the revelation, but it is the Marthas that get the power. We all fit into both
of these categories at one time or another in our lives.
I have two
daughters. One has a Mary spirit and the other has a Martha spirit. I love them
both with all of my heart. One gets some of the most astounding words from the
Lord that I have ever heard. She has a love for Jesus that is overwhelming and
she is sitting at his feet. It is needful for her to be there. It is vital to
the kingdom of God that she remain there for a season. The other is constantly
serving people to such an extent that I get concerned about her, but then the
Lord chastens me and lets me know that what she is doing is for the good of
others. It is Jesus meeting the needs of his children, some who are straying,
others who need direction.
It is through
watching over my children and teaching them the ways of the Lord that has
caused me to change my mind about Martha. You say the same things to both, but
one responds in one way and the other in another and both are godly. It is
marvelous to my eyes to behold just how much Jesus in involved in the
development of our lives and where we fit into the kingdom of God. We decided a
long time ago, to just let the Lord set us in the body as it pleases him. I’m
so glad that we did.
About the Father’s Business
Dickey
Called
to Glory
November 2002
In 2 Peter 1:3,
Peter tells us that we have been called to glory and virtue. What does it mean
for a Christian to be called to glory? Is it the time for our departure from
the earth in death? (To be absent from the body is to be present with the
Lord). Or could it be that we are to glory in the Lord? (I Cor. 1:31 – That
according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord).
Or still yet, is this the time of the manifestation of the sons of God? (Col
3:4 – When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear
with him in glory). Provocative questions, huh? I prefer to answer
these questions with "all of the above".
The first question
(dimension) will occur naturally. (Eccl. 8:8). The second question (dimension)
occurs as we develop and maintain our relationship and fellowship with Jesus.
The third question (dimension) requires maturity and diligence to heed the
words of Simon Peter.
In 2 Peter 1, we
learn in the first 4 verses that there are 7 things given to us as Christians.
(1) Like precious faith (2) grace (3) peace (4) all things that pertain to life
and godliness (5) exceeding great and precious promises (6) partakers of the
divine nature (7) escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.
These are gifts that accompany our salvation when Jesus moves into our hearts
at the new birth. (What! Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost, which is in you?)
However, in order
for us to make our calling (to glory) and election sure there are also 7 things
that we must diligently add to our faith. We must do these things. God
is not going to do these things for us. (1) add virtue – Heb. 5:14 (2)
knowledge – 2 Tim. 2:15 (3) temperance – 1 Cor. 9:27 (4) patience – James 1:3
(5) godliness – Rom. 12:1-3 (6) brotherly kindness – Matt. 5:44 (7) charity –
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
When this is in us
and abounds, then we will have a more sure word of prophecy (the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy) and the day will dawn (we will know who we are
in Christ) and the day star (Jesus) will arise in our hearts. The true sons of
God will manifest Jesus to the world and so the kingdoms of this world will
become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.
When we come into
the Father/Son order of ministry, then the glory of the Lord will begin to fill
the earth as the waters cover the seas. Don’t you hear the Lord calling you to
glory?
About the Father’s Business
Dickey
What
is the Key?
November 2002
The key that the
early church had to the power of God that has been lost to the modern church is
hidden among the following scriptures.
Romans 16:1-16
1 I commend unto you Phebe
our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2That
ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in
whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of
many, and of myself also. 3Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in
Christ Jesus: 4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto
whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5Likewise
greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who
is the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ. 6Greet Mary, who bestowed
much labour on us. 7Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my
fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ
before me. 8Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 9Salute
Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10Salute
Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’
household. 11Salute Herodion
my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the
Lord. 12Salute Tryphena and
Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured
much in the Lord. 13Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother
and mine. 14Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes,
and the brethren which are with them. 15Salute Philologus, and
Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with
them. 16Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ
salute you.
I Corinthians
16:15-24
15 I beseech you, brethren,
(ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to
the ministry of the saints,) 16 That ye submit yourselves unto such,
and to every one that helpeth with us,
and laboureth. 17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and
Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have
supplied. 18For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore
acknowledge ye them that are such. 19The churches of Asia salute
you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is
in their house. 20All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another
with an holy kiss. 21The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. 22If any man love not the
Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. 23The grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24My
love be with you all in Christ
Jesus. Amen.
2 Corinthians
13:11-14
11Finally, brethren, farewell.
Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of
love and peace shall be with you. 12Greet one another with an holy
kiss. 13All the saints salute you. 14The grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Galatians
5:13,14
13For, brethren, ye have been
called unto liberty; only use
not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14For
all the law is fulfilled in one word, even
in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Ephesians
6:21-24
21But that ye also may know my
affairs, and how I do, Tychicus,
a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you
all things: 22Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that
ye might know our affairs, and that
he might comfort your hearts. 23Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
Amen.
Philippians
4:14-23
14Notwithstanding ye have well
done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 15Now ye
Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed
from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and
receiving, but ye only. 16For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and
again unto my necessity. 17Not because I desire a gift: but I desire
fruit that may abound to your account. 18But I have all, and abound:
I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice
acceptable, well pleasing to God. 19But
my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus. 20Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 21Salute every
saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. 22All
the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household. 23The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be
with you all. Amen.
Colossians
4:7-18
7All my state shall Tychicus
declare unto you, who is a
beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord: 8Whom
I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and
comfort your hearts; 9With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother,
who is one of you. They shall
make known unto you all things which are
done here. 10Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and
Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if
he come unto you, receive him;) 11And Jesus, which is called Justus,
who are of the circumcision. These only are
my fellow workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort
unto me. 12Epaphras, who is one
of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you
in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13For I bear him record, that he
hath a great zeal for you, and them that
are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 14Luke, the beloved
physician, and Demas, greet you. 15Salute the brethren which are in
Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 16And
when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church
of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17And say to Archippus, Take
heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill
it. 18The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds.
Grace be with you. Amen.
1 Thessalonians
5:25-28
25Brethren, pray for us. 26Greet
all the brethren with an holy kiss. 27I charge you by the Lord that
this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
2 Timothy
4:11-13, 19-22
11Only Luke is with me. Take
Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 12And
Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. 13The cloke that I left at Troas
with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with
thee, and the books, but
especially the parchments.
19Salute Prisca and Aquila,
and the household of Onesiphorus. 20Erastus abode at Corinth: but
Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. 21Do thy diligence to come before
winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the
brethren. 22The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be
with you. Amen.
About the Father’s Business
Dickey
A few months ago
while walking at Harrison Bay State Park, early in the morning before daylight,
I was praying in the Spirit and ministering unto the Lord, when I felt led to
ask Him a question concerning the manifestation of the sons of God.
I asked the Lord
when would this manifestation occur? As I walked and listened in my spirit, I
heard these words bubble up into my mind: ‘Just as pride goeth before a
fall, so must humility go before exaltation.’
I then thought
about what this had to do with the manifestation of the sons of God. I knew
what my definition of humility was, but I wanted to know what God’s definition
of humility was, so I asked this question: What must I do to truly be
humble?
Immediately I heard
these words, and I believe that it was the Lord’s voice that I heard: ‘When
you esteem others better than yourself, then you will truly be humble.’
I’ve thought of this often.
It is so easy to be
swelled with pride, especially when we walk in the revelation or light that we
have received in the past few years. If we are not careful, we will be looking
down on others, who don’t have the revelation that we embrace right now, and
instead of esteeming them better than ourselves, we will be relegating them to
‘lower’ seats in our assemblies and exalting the ones with the ‘gold rings.’
God would not be
pleased with our attitudes if He finds that spirit in us. If we are going to be
His light in this world, if we are going to fill the earth with His glory, if
we are going to be that manifested corporate man in the earth, then humility
must precede our every action and motive.
About the Father’s Business
Dickey
June 2002
"Fear not,
little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the
kingdom." Luke 12:32
"Papaw!
Candy!" That’s the pleading request of my little 2-year-old granddaughter
after she has taken one of my fingers in her tiny hand and led me to the
kitchen where all of our cookie and candy jars are stored. There is not a
greater feeling in the world than the feeling I get when I sweep her up in my
arms and let her point to the jar that contains the M&M candies that she
loves so well. Her blue eyes sparkling in eager anticipation and the laughter
that comes from knowing that Papaw is going to give her what she asked for is
what being a grandparent is all about.
Our heavenly Father
must have the same feelings when we go to him in simple child-like faith on our
quest to learn more about Him and the Kingdom of God. All things are and were
created for His pleasure. How could I possibly deny Him the pleasure that He so
richly deserves by ignoring Him? If I try to approach Him without faith or if I
draw back from Him, then He says, "My soul shall have no pleasure in
him."
But if my ways
please the Lord, he makes even my enemies to be at peace with me. Children, do
you want to be well pleasing to the Lord? Then obey your parents in all things.
Fathers, do you want to be well pleasing to the Lord? Then don’t provoke your
children to anger. Servants, do you want to be well pleasing to the Lord? Then
obey your masters in the flesh, not with eye service as men pleasers, but in
singleness of heart, fear God.
One of the greatest
blessings that a man or woman could ever have is to give. There is something in
the soul of man that gets enormous pleasure from seeing someone else lifted up
by a simple act of giving. Giving a smile on a gloomy day. Giving a word of encouragement
when bad news has arrived. Giving something of your own sustenance to one who
is destitute can change the entire dynamics of that person’s life. It is an
attribute of God.
Do I want to please
Jesus? Then perhaps, allowing the Holy Spirit to make me like Him by a
transformation process that I don’t entirely understand yet, will be most
pleasing in His sight.
About the Father’s Business
Dickey
For
the Rest of My life…
March 2002
I will seek to please
and serve Jesus, my Lord.
I will seek my
place in the Kingdom of God and function in my place.
I will live at
peace with all men if it is at all possible.
I will be a
blessing and not a burden to my family, friends, and neighbors.
I will not fret,
fear, fuss, or fume about things that I have no control over.
I will prayerfully
seek the direction and will of the Lord.
I will resist all
temptation to commit sin.
I will not condemn
my fellow man or accept condemnation from man or my carnal mind.
I will quickly
repent and ask forgiveness if I do sin or wrong anyone.
I will seek to
continuously grow in wisdom and understanding in spiritual matters.
I will continue to
teach my children in the ways of the Lord.
I will trust in the
Lord and listen intently for His proceeding Word.
12 Principles to
Live by.
About the Father’s Business
Dickey
The Lord’s Burden
February
2002
Matthew
11:28-30
“Come unto me, all ye that labor
and are heavy laden; and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn
of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your
souls. For my yoke is easy and my
burden is light.”
A
few years ago, my wife and I were in Orlando, Florida visiting with friends
over the New Year holidays and on the first Sunday of the New Year, we attended
service at one of the largest congregations in that city.
There
was a glorious spirit there that day and the whole congregation was caught up
in praise and worship and suddenly we all began to sing in the Spirit without
any prompting from the song leader or anyone. There were about 5000 in
attendance that Sunday.
After
about 10 minutes of glorious singing in the Spirit, suddenly the above
Scripture dropped into my heart like a coin in a slot. At the end of that Scripture that says my
yoke is easy and my burden is light, then the Lord spoke clearly into my heart
and mind and said these words. “Light!
The reciprocal of darkness, not the reciprocal of heaviness.” Just like lightening, the
following Scriptures came to my mind.
“Ye are the light of the
world” Matt
5:14
“Let your light so shine
before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is
in heaven.” Matt
5:16
“Awake thou that sleepest
and Christ shall give thee light.” Eph
5:14
“Let us therefore cast off
the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.” Rom. 13:12
“For ye were sometimes
darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”
What
the Lord is saying to us today is that he wants to give us a garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness. He doesn’t
want us to be burdened with a heavy load of care. He doesn’t want us to fret or
have anxiety about anything. He wants us to take our place in the Kingdom of
God and simply be reflections of his light and love. A carrier of “light”.
The
promise to the overcomers of the church at Philadelphia was to be made pillars
in the temple of God. Just as the pillars of Solomon’s temple reflected the
glory of the “sun” as it rose over the eastern mountains, so we are to be
reflectors of the glory of the “son” of God as the day dawns and the daystar arises in our hearts. We become manifested sons of
God.
About the Father’s Business
Dickey