Trusting in His authority is so liberating...Thank You Lord.

Exodus 23 is so packed with sustenance, not just the laws themselves, but the principles that go with knowing that which is important to Him.

Do what is right and honorable, even if that means we find ourselves in conflict with the world. Of course, our ability to be righteous in all times, in all ways, has not one thing to do with our efforts, because we will fail miserably even on our best days. However, with Him and His robe of righteousness, we can know the power of His covering to transform. Our job is to trust in Him and in His goodness, not our ability to ever be like He, outside of Him. I think it is important, though, to agree that His ways are the right ways, deserving and worthy of our surrender: also, in doing so, we need to accept we will be in the minority. This fact should bring us comfort, though, if our priorities are where they need to be, because greater is He.

If we think we will ever be able to be pure and good like Him, if only we try harder, grow more, striving to be as we are called, we will keep hitting the wall of defeat; so instead we walk in His victory, not ours. My understanding is sanctification comes with faith in Him and in His work within, not by our efforts.

In my opinion, believing we can fulfill the law, any of it, belittles His atonement, His sacrifice, His choice, His glory, and Him. He fulfilled the law and ours is to submit and trust in His sufficiency and in His dominion.

to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'
Acts 26:18 NASB

As someone who has spent close to five decades trying to fit in, shame shame, to get it right, ugh, constantly striving and thus constantly falling, I take great comfort and hope giving Him the drivers seat, where He belongs and rejoicing in Him and my subservient position. How sweet and freeing is His truth and power.

We are so blessed with Him and His revealing!!!

It dawned on me years ago I don't fit in haha...and not just the world either

It really is all about Jesus and this is a great op!

I just listened to a program by a great Bible teacher and she was teaching from Isaiah, specifically where the prophet was speaking to King Ahaz. as follows:


The Sign of Immanuel
7 When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.
2 Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself with[a]Ephraim”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.
3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub,[b] to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6 “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” 7 Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘It will not take place,
it will not happen,
8 for the head of Aram is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.
Within sixty-five years
Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.
If you do not stand firm in your faith,
you will not stand at all.’”
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign,whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”
12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”
13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.”


this sign is for all times and all people and not just Israel or specifically the house of David. She was not teaching on asking God for a sign, ( lest anyone misinterpret and some folks are wont to do here) but rather the fact that God Himself gave a sign for all time (s)

(the fake humility is also observed in the response from Ahaz as an aside)

it's always Jesus. He is ALWAYS the answer and any time I take my eyes off of that, or allow other things to come between me and Him, I run into trouble.

He lifts my heart, puts a song in my mouth and turns my whole day around! Love Him

wanted to add: Ahaz had his own plans and didn't want God to direct Him. The teacher emphasized this line in particular:

If you do not stand firm in your faith,
you will not stand at all.’”

a very timely warning for everyone who says the believe

These thoughts of totally believing and relying on our Father have been strongly in my mind and heart. It is ture, and oh such a comfort. If we live following Jesus, Yeshua, and be "in the world but not of it," much comes quite naturally in the spirit. It is so comforting relying on Him, oh so comforting. Thank you for your beautily formed post........I feel the Presence and it seems you do too.

Five decades...wow
The thing is submitting to God for me is easy its submitting to man made authority for me thats hard. Thats why I need to obey God not man...and sometimes Ive left workplaces because of this.

Now people these days esp women who are married you think can safely trust their husbands as wives are to submit to them but many dont because they are not in the Lord. If their unbelieving husbands are always in the drivers seat and go in the wrong direction they are taking the wife with them down a destructive path no wonder they want to get out. Sometimes they want to do this while the car as it is is moving on a busy motorway...not a wise move!

However if you picture Jesus taking the wheel you can enjoy being the passenger dont need to worry about where you are going because you are always with Him, he will never leave you nor forsake you, you can trust Him absolutely with your life. He may let you drive even. But he wont ever be one of those annoying controlling backseat drivers you will always reach your destination with him beside you. oh and He never has road rage. And he will take you to some amazing places...he wont ever refuse and tell you nah I'm not driving there you need to go by yourself.

The only thing left is to stop constantly asking Him 'are we there yet'? Patience my friend...look out the window, enjoy the journey.

Exodus 23 is so packed with sustenance, not just the laws themselves, but the principles that go with knowing that which is important to Him.

Do what is right and honorable, even if that means we find ourselves in conflict with the world. Of course, our ability to be righteous in all times, in all ways, has not one thing to do with our efforts, because we will fail miserably even on our best days. However, with Him and His robe of righteousness, we can know the power of His covering to transform. Our job is to trust in Him and in His goodness, not our ability to ever be like He, outside of Him. I think it is important, though, to agree that His ways are the right ways, deserving and worthy of our surrender: also, in doing so, we need to accept we will be in the minority. This fact should bring us comfort, though, if our priorities are where they need to be, because greater is He.

If we think we will ever be able to be pure and good like Him, if only we try harder, grow more, striving to be as we are called, we will keep hitting the wall of defeat; so instead we walk in His victory, not ours. My understanding is sanctification comes with faith in Him and in His work within, not by our efforts.

In my opinion, believing we can fulfill the law, any of it, belittles His atonement, His sacrifice, His choice, His glory, and Him. He fulfilled the law and ours is to submit and trust in His sufficiency and in His dominion.

to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'
Acts 26:18 NASB

As someone who has spent close to five decades trying to fit in, shame shame, to get it right, ugh, constantly striving and thus constantly falling, I take great comfort and hope giving Him the drivers seat, where He belongs and rejoicing in Him and my subservient position. How sweet and freeing is His truth and power.

We are so blessed with Him and His revealing!!!

Now that Jesus has taken over the drivers seat, do you no longer fall? The implication is, that if you are still falling, it is Jesus that is driving you to fall. It is Jesus that is driving you to do good. Driving you to fall again. Do you see what I mean?

I feel like I have been saved, and that Jesus is in the drivers seat, but I do on occasion sin and feel like I have to repent to move forward. I cannot adjust to the idea that Jesus would drive me to sin. What do you think?

Now that Jesus has taken over the drivers seat, do you no longer fall? The implication is, that if you are still falling, it is Jesus that is driving you to fall. It is Jesus that is driving you to do good. Driving you to fall again. Do you see what I mean?

I feel like I have been saved, and that Jesus is in the drivers seat, but I do on occasion sin and feel like I have to repent to move forward. I cannot adjust to the idea that Jesus would drive me to sin. What do you think?

I didn't see that or understand that in her post

maybe people read into things at times, with what they struggle with themselves

do you actually think Charli or anyone else here is thinking Jesus drives us to sin?

Yeah, me too in that I have been mulling over the works vs faith debate that goes on so much here, trying to reconcile with Hebrews and Rev and other scriptures that seem to say one thing and the others that talk about our salvation being secured about Him presenting us blameless because He is able, not us. Peace was becoming more and more elusive as I was considering the truth of both sides. For now, though, bro, His revealing has made it clear just how off base I was.

He wants my heart, trust, and faith, leaning in and abiding, that He will help me get where I need to be, but I must step aside and wait, giving Him the authority He so deserves. Thanks for encouraging me and my faith. I appreciate you and your faith. God Bless.

Something that always helps people understand works, well, it should is the parable of the talents of gold.

The Master,Jesus,leaves for a trip leaving all of His servants (us) with various amounts of gold (faith).
When our Master returns He looks to see what each has done with His gift to them. All but one had made increase but that one had buried his gold (FAITH) in the dirt only to sully and make it dirty. You know the rest.

So it is with us and our faith in Jesus Christ, if it leads to nowhere but filth..........it is not faith anymore.