Opening the Word of God

I shared this the other day, but I want to remind you of this truth you must remember in your Bible

work. Read the Bible, study the Bible, love the Bible. But you know by and by it takes such various

forms to you. How many feel, when you read the Bible today, that you aren't reading the same book

you were 20 years ago. Have you ever had that experience? Well, you should. It is the same, but

something has happened. . .you have changed. The word never changes, it has always been there, but

you and I have changed.

Dealing with the word of God, with truth, the whole revelation of truth to you, or to me, is purely a

progressive matter. It is not attained in a moment, it is not acquired in three weeks of Bible study, you

don't finish it in a course. . .it is an eternal lovely beautiful thing. I have found there is no exhausting a

truth when God shows it to you, there is no finishing about it. . .it is just a continual progressive

unfolding. This is something that you learn, it is something that you continually discover. God isn't a

definition, God is what you experience. . .You experience God, you can't define Him. The revelation of

truth is something that I have found after years, is not something we get like a doctrine. . .it is one of

the most profound things I've ever touched and it is given to us in Jesus Christ.

He is the truth, not He has truth or He will talk about truth, but He is truth. Many people have sat at

the feet of great scholars and profound leaders and thinkers. But not one of them could ever get up and

say, "I am the truth." Every one of them has had to say, "I have some truth." Christ is the truth.

This whole idea of God, of truth, of spiritual reality. . .I call it the realm of spiritual reality in which God

has brought us. . .that is purely progressive. Every heart has to continually be conditioned for its

reception. Don't just park on the fact that it is wonderful and inexhaustible and that you are hungry for

it. God says, "Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst for they shall be filled." Some want to be filled

right now. God can't. Why? You are not yet conditioned for the thing that you are anticipating. You

have to be conditioned continually in heart and spirit for the reception of that which you now hope for

and long for. It is the conditioning process which is so disturbing.

The desire is so sweet, to have that urge of the spirit stirring in you for more of God. How many know

the thrill of it, how delightful it is? Sometimes that's all we have to live by, that earnest urge and desire,

when all our emotional life is silent and God has been able to deal with it so we don't trouble with it.

When that's all done and gone, still that urge can carry. But listen to me. . .even that urge cannot find

its fullness nor its satisfaction until the heart is continually conditioned for its reception and then, you

can have it. You can pray and cry and fast, etc. and you can't get it. That is earning it and you can't

buy it. It is so subtle, so strange, its a mystery. But He says, "If you will let me, I can come into you

and into your heart and life, possessing you and if you will dare to let Me have My way with you."

God says our heart must be conditioned. When the heart has come to a place of receptivity thru His

conditioning you can approach that same old truth again and you will come to the presence of the same

wonderful lovely Lord, but your reaction will be exactly different.

I am a realist and yet I am spiritual. And I have discovered some very profound and wonderful things

in God by being simply honest with Him. He will slay us. . .certainly. He will crucify us. . .certainly.

But we don't bring that out into the public and cry, "I've been crucified." He has given us a whole

basket full of masks to wear. People have often said to my, "Follette, how do you get things from

God?" I tell them they wouldn't want to go through what I do, they couldn't do it.

What do I mean by conditioning? People say to me they are saved. I hope they are. They are filled

with the spirit. That's fine, but that doesn't condition them. No one experience, I don't care how

profound or how moving or how marvelous that experience is, the experience in itself never matures

you. This process of disciplining qualifies us. You don't have to tell the people about it, it isn't their

business. It is yours and the Lord's business. How many are glad He doesn't make it public business?

How many have secrets with the Lord? The Lord is wonderful. Is it a mask or an un-reality for me to

say that? No, I am saying the truth, but I'm not telling you all the things that happened inside before I

could say that.

I can't tell you how the Lord disciplines me. You can't follow me in my discipline. I can't follow you in

your discipline either. Every heart has its own discipline, every heart has its own problem, every heart

has its own individual dealings with God and God with it. Now that's not public, but the results of those

dealings, if they are in God, in the spirit, and you actually come through, how many know you will have

a freshness. There will be something of God there, there will be a fruit, there will be bread.

Remember, truth is purely progressive in all forms. The heart is continually conditioned for its

reception and we grow. And then, under the impact of that truth, we sort of receive and we go about

our doings. We're normal people. . .we eat and drink and we wear clothes. That's all right. That is

something which is boring for me, but it is something that we are going through while God is

accomplishing this invisible spiritual miracle in the heart of a person.

How many know that, in a body, a growing child has certain symptoms every little while. He gets the

mumps, then the measles and these are all a part of the growth of a child. He has all of this. Well, some

people are scared because we find the body of Christ breaking out with all these funny things. It is an

epidemic in the body of Christ right now. If you're not schooled in the ways of the spirit, you're apt to

catch it. Do you know what healed it? Now very often with the disease in the body, how many know

that if you will just be quiet, the power of the life within will push off that external thing. It will. That's

why the body of Christ has to have intense vitality to resist all these strange maladies that strikes a

body. The body of Christ is sick; the body of Christ today is wounded, sick and sore. Why? Because

all of these strange maladies have laid hold of it and there is seemingly so little strength, spiritual

vitality and spiritual reality. Not emotional stuff, but life, life in God. . .spirit, prayer, dedication. The

spirit of God will penetrate that thing and chop it off at the body. . .you don't even go near it. The

power of the life of God will push it off and God will yet have a body.

God will yet have a body that He can take. It won't be all full of things either. That's why my burden is

for God's children, for the body of Christ. This burden is upon me day and night. He put it upon me. I

didn't ask for it, its too terrific to ask for it. But He will put it upon you, that these precious members of

the body could receive light, instruction, vision, strength, the culture of the spirit to come into the

things that He wants. Pushing aside all of the old patterns, say, "Lord, whatever there is left of life, for

Jesus' sake, take what is left of me that seems such a wreck, but take it and make it all you possibly can

for the glory of God." That's all we will have to honor Him with.

Yesterday we were dealing with this 5th chapter of Luke and we didn't get very far with it. I could

spend a month right now on this 5th chapter but I am just going to point out a few little things.

Remember, in the word of God there is nothing that is accidental and there is nothing that is

occasional. It isn't something that occasionally happens this way or accidentally came to past that

way. Everything in this word of God, every story, every conversation, every dramatic moving of a

nation or a person or a group, every bit of that is a dramatic picture highly charged with most profound

and wonderful spiritual reality. But it is all veiled under the surface picture, but that is the way He likes

to work.

Here we have a surface picture of going fishing. The story is not just given because it makes a pleasing

story. There is a tremendous truth in there that is trying to penetrate and break through all those

coverings.

Many of the actresses and actors we have today are really marvelous people. They have a great

message that they would like to portray. Some of those very actors will refuse to act with the stage

setting so interesting and intriguing that the people become absorbed in the trappings and miss the

thing that the artist is saying.

Sometimes that is the way it is in these teachings. I gave a message on the Marriage in Cana and when I

got into that story the Lord made me to see very simply how it was most always presented and

preached, that it was the first miracle of Jesus and all that. He showed me that they had mostly a

picture frame without the picture. They have a wonderful, ornate, picture frame of the jugs of water,

and Mary, etc., and they've lost the picture. Years ago the Lord showed me this and He told me to try

and look past the picture frame and the story, don't be too absorbed with that. Always remember that

the truth is an invisible extract bit of reality.

I was reading one time, and I had for years been absorbed in this word from the deeper spiritual sense

of revelation and opening. As I was reading, I came to this passage where Jesus told what His word

really was. He stood before them and He had been pouring out truths, He's been pouring out the

message of God for days. He has been working miracles as a little side attraction, a show, as a symbol

to explain some of it. But finally, He stood up one day and He said, "The message, the word that I give

you, the message that I bring, this wonderful truth which is from God to you, is here and He held up a

Scoffield Bible." How many get the point or don't you? Is that what He held up? No, He didn't. He

didn't even hold up a scroll and say this is My word. He said, the word, the truth, this eternal

everlasting word of God, the truth, the light, this flash of reality that radiates and moves through Him

to this dark world, this word is spirit and it is life. How many see two abstractions right away. I'm

talking about the essence of reality. He said, the truth, this glorious revelation that's flashing through

me, the truth that I've come to spread over the face of this very earth to dispel its awful darkness, this

truth is spirit and it is life.

Jesus said, "In order to make this reality of spirit and life real to you, I will dramatize it. I will call upon

every feature in creation, from the earth to the sky, the moon to the stars, to everything I have ever

created including the devil; and I will bunch them together and present them in most peculiar fashion

that through that spirit and life may vibrate and strike your heart." That spirit of God that brought

forth life in the beginning is moving through those words until they begin to speak to your heart. You

can read the word and be dead as dead. Why? The letter of the word is good, it is inspired, God wrote

it, God breathed it into the hearts and lives of men and they wrote it; but how many know the letter is

yet the letter. He says My message is not just this letter, My message is spirit and it is life, but it will

push its way through this phenomenal thing which we call the Bible which I have given, and then it will

speak.

Jesus had to correct the very scribes that were reading the law. How many know how sacred they hold

that word the law? They kissed it, they loved that scroll, it was so holy. . .it is a holy thing, that's the

point. And one day they were reading and He comes and leans over and He said, "You search these

Scriptures (they were reading the letter of the law), thinking that in them you will find the secret of life

and you will not touch Me about whom those are only the writings and here is the Eternal Word." Do

you get it? How He must have suffered. He was the Son of God, the all truth dwelt in Him. . .to stand

among those people and have them fussing around a scroll. Its a wonder that He didn't die before they

got Him to Calvary. I wonder that that sensitive, marvelous man didn't die from the fumbling of flesh;

nice flesh, religious flesh, awful good flesh. . .that's enough to kill any one.

I've been around religious people and the smell of flesh was worse than cigarettes on a sinner. That's

right. I wish you would feel and know the things I do. I'm a sensitized spirit and I didn't make myself

that way, but I wish sometimes people could. It isn't pleasant, but its a part of His suffering to bring

this body to its perfection and some day it will be released.

He says, "My word, in reality it is spirit, it is life. These two things that the old dead world has no

consciousness of, I have come to bring you." He told them that He had come to give them life, but in

order that they may discern it, He says, I will compile this strange and wonderful word and He has

breathed it, God breathed this word out, man didn't write it. God breathed it out and He caused them

to write all these lovely things.

Paul said that all these things are recorded here in the word as admonition for us. Why? He has

recorded all these things because there isn't a thing in that word but what it has spiritual significance.

Paul said this has all been recorded, preserved, and written to us for our admonition, to instruct us, to

teach us, to liberate us and to set us free.

So, when I read the Bible, I don't read it as I would a book. Why? Because I know this is the medium,

ordained of God and breathed of God, through which spirit and life is going to vibrate and move. Get

it? Therefore, He says, beware lest the letter of the word slay you, but truth will quicken you. So when

I read, I find so many wonderful things, because they are all hidden away in there. I feel that it is spirit

and life penetrating and pushing through these stories. They are beautiful and fascinating, but don't

rest there. Always know that every word is inspired, every word is carefully put there, and even their

conversations are arranged by God. Our translators sometimes have been a little faulty because they

don't give you a too clear translation from the original language. Sometimes they blur it. But that isn't

God's fault. God put it in the original as He wanted it. Never disturb it. If you don't understand the

words or the arranging, please let it alone to someone who does understand it.

Let's go back to this marriage at Cana. Did you ever look at that little drama close up? Find the actors

and see how they spoke and acted. It isn't casual. Who is it that takes the initiative when the

emergency comes? Mary. Of course, why not. Who is the first one mentioned in the story? Mary. Do

you know there is a reason? This is going to tell the story of Jesus and His first miracle and He's going

to give us some profound teaching that's going to last me for 2,000 years. Why not start the story,

"And Jesus came forth..."? No. Mary was there. That's the first salute. The disciples and Jesus, dear

Jesus was there also.

Mary is mentioned first and there is a reason for that. It has to be that way. Because it is a dramatic

picture telling us some things that we ought to know even today. Remember, it is not just a story. . .it is

spirit and life trying to find a vehicle. How did Jesus answer? Mary takes the initiative, it isn't her

business so she has presumed. How did Jesus speak? "Now, mother, be quiet"? No! "Woman, what

have I to do with thee." If she is His mother, why didn't he call her mother? He can't. He couldn't

possible say mother. Why? Because He is giving us a dramatic picture of spiritual reality, which would

be absolutely ruined if He had said mother. He said woman. Well, I won't get into that story. How

many would have like to let me loose in there for awhile? Well, I think I've given you something you

haven't had a hold of.

God's word, the truth that He is bringing to this old world, is in essence and reality, spirit, it is life. But

it can only come to you through the medium which I will give you. Here is the word, but if you care for

it just as it is, it will slay you. If you will let the spirit and life that seeks expression through it to you,

you shall live. And then you'll live.

The first thing we found in yesterday's lesson was something very pleasing. "And it came to pass that as

the people pressed upon Him to hear the Word of God; He stood by the lake of Gennesaret." That

seems like a casual thing, doesn't it? That sound like a very casual statement that He was standing

thereby the lake of Gennesaret and the multitude pressed upon Him to hear the Word of God. But, we

found yesterday that there is such a thing as a field of motivation and it is your attitude of heart that

will either close God or open Him. When the multitude pressed upon Him to hear the word of God,

how many know it released Him instantly. It didn't say they pressed upon Him for a miracle. No, He'll

give the miracle, but please let Him have the word first, then He brings in the miracle. After He had

talked to them and given them a lovely lessen, well then He said, "Push out and get your miracle." And

they all went home with a miracle. It was nice to have a miracle, I'm glad they did, but wouldn't it have

been nice if they could have gone home with a message and not have to have had a miracle tied down to

the tail end of it. But you know how flesh is. Or don't you know? Well, travel with me around the

world and you'll begin to feel something how it is.

So, when the multitude pressed upon Him to hear the word of God, they released Him instantly and

they sat down and He could minister. Why? The motive in their heart released Him and He could talk.

I also gave you the illustration of the multitudes up on the mountain side and all they wanted was fish

and bread. If all they wanted was a miracle then Jesus can certainly give them miracles and He did.

But He perceived something. He perceived that they would like to channel this power into a political

situation and put Him on a throne. He perceived that they would like to make Him king and with His

power to make bread and fish He could answer the economic problems of Israel. When He perceived

that they would by force make Him that king, He absolutely left them and went into the mountains

alone and they sat there eating their miracle. Do you know that He didn't stand up and preach to them

either? Because they had stomachs and no ears. That's right. A lot of people have stomachs and no

ears, and God will fill their stomach. He's able. He didn't say anything to them; He just left them with a

lovely miracle.

In these illustrations, you had two fields of motivation. One group was motivated correctly by a

pressing to Him to hear. And that multitude, he just sat down and opened His heart and taught them.

The other multitude had an entirely different motive, the idea of channeling the power and making it

do things. He hadn't anything to say to them.

"And they saw two ships standing by the lake and the fishermen were out washing their nets." Your

"net" is your method by which you catch fish and some methods need cleansing horribly. I wish I

could have a clothes line from here to Jerusalem with all the fish nets that the people are using today to

catch fish strung on it. Then I'd like to have the Son of righteousness to shine in all of His glory and the

wind of the Holy Spirit to blow and clean them up. Some don't know that their nets need cleansing and

they are still clattering around with them.

"He entered into the ship and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land." There are

some commands in here, three of them. The first command is to thrust out a little from the land,

because this teaching that He's going to give and the miracle which is going to come out of the

conclusion of this thing is not a thing which pertains to our natural habitat. The land, this is our natural

habitat, this is our natural reasoning. The land is the earth, I am of the earth and you are too. We're

made of dust. But, He says I don't want this thing in acted on land, in your flesh. You will have to be

separated from flesh. Push out from the shore. There has to the initial separation from the old

creation, old thinking, old habit of life. This is the realm of Spirit; you work with different laws,

different principles, different technique absolutely.

He says now, get in here with me and we'll push out a little. Just enough to teach you at least the first

beginnings of separation. That isn't yet out in the deep. No, it isn't. That may be salvation and

Pentecost and some phase of consecration and some ministry and some work, but that is just your first

little separation. So, when He begins that process of separation, it is initial. It is to introduce us into a

new field where He's going to begin to talk. And so it said, "He sat down and taught them out of the

boat." This is teaching and instruction.

Every bit of venture in the Spirit, moving from our little separation from flesh and nature, before you

get that, there has to be a grounding in the word of God. He's going to develop them in faith, response,

spiritual intuition, so that when he gets them out there they'll be able to move. Now in a few minutes

He's going to make another demand upon them, "Let down your nets." Another command, "Push out

into the deep." Now, He's going to bring them to that but they have to have faith to meet it. How do

you get faith? "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." You read this Word and

read it carefully and it will turn your faith. It will take what little faith you have and it will enlarge it.

So He begins to teach because He's going to make demands on them in a little while and you have to be

qualified for them. Don't venture without your qualification because you're going to be frustrated and

disappointed.

Do you remember the two ships? There was a ship in which it said, " And straightway Jesus

constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the

multitudes away" Matthew 14:22. Do you know the other story? They followed Him to the ship. Do

you see a difference. And you can start going into a storm and you'll find out. How many know an

awful storm came up and they had a terrific time and they cried and called on the Lord. The Lord made

me see something here. In one they followed Him and in the other He constrained them to go. How

many know it is safe to go into a ship, and even though they have a terrible cyclone you're safe if you

have been constrained to go in. How many know that heaven and hell can be let loose and you'll go

right through if you've been constrained.

Tomorrow we're going to get these people out in this boat and we're going to get them really our in the

deep places. He will have quite a little time maneuvering them around to get them there. However, He

has a miracle up His sleeve which He doesn't tell them. He doesn't say, move out into the deep now,

and I'll work a miracle for you. He says, you go out there and fish. How many know that He doesn't

always tell us about the miracle? But sometimes he can't work the miracle because He can't get us to

fish.

Now Lord, here we are. We've got all this broken bread again and we pray in the name of Jesus that

you will cause each one to take a portion which is adequate. If it is a portion of correction, help us to

be able to be corrected. It is something for our admonition, help us to take that. If it is for our

strengthening, help us to be strengthened under the power of the Word and truth. It is something to

entice us on God, help us to follow because thou hast said, "This is the way," and we will walk along with

thee. Therefore we will commit the Word to thee and ask that thou will bless it in every heart and life.

For Jesus sake, Amen.