---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Byron Wicker
To: People Who Keep Company with God
Date: 8/7/2008 8:14:42 AM
Subject: Freely Giving

Dear People Who Keep Company with God,

I believe the first six months of 2008 was a time of receiving from the Lord. I personally spent a lot of time soaking in His presence. Particularly during that time I had a deepened revelation of the love of the Father which I believe is a key for what the Lord is beginning to do. Since early June I have felt a definite shift in my heart toward giving away what I have so freely received.

What could be greater than receiving the love of God? Jesus said "It is more blessed to give than receive" Acts 20:35. I believe the completion of receiving the love of God is found in giving His love away to others. Many times, I have shown up for our breakthrough meeting and did not sense or feel anything spiritually. It is in those times when I remember the counsel of Ruth Ward Heflin. "You don't have to feel "full of glory" all the time. You can be an empty riverbed. Just let the river of God flow through you."

It is absolutely wonderful to hear, see and sense things in the spiritual realm and I am convinced this is a part of our inheritance as loved and accepted sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. However, there is an inherent danger in this; if we expect to always have this type of experience then we will be disappointed and withdraw ourselves from what the Lord is doing. Our Christian life is to be grounded in faith in the unseen Lord and His unseen world.

And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:8

Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6). The love of our Father is the greatest motivation for serving others. I have come to realize that when I am not experiencing the heavenly realm in some tangible way that it is a time for me to be even more blessed by giving away what I already possess. Jesus' love and compassion coming forth in us is one of the greatest and most fulfilling experiences that we will have on this earth. Many times as I give away to others what I have been so blessed to receive from Him I find myself caught up in His world and many of my personal needs are taken care of. I may go home physically tired, but very refreshed and renewed in my spirit.

An atmosphere of love releases unity and cooperation among the people of God which in turn gives place for the Holy Spirit to manifest the greater works of Jesus. The greater works of Jesus cannot be confined to the church. It is true we are to do good to all people but especially to the people of God.

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Galatians 6:10

We are to begin with the people of God, but not end there. The Father desires to manifest His love in a very practical way to all people. I believe the Lord desires to breakdown the wall of separation between secular and sacred. Separating the love of the Father from education, government, business, media and other aspects of life is an evil plan of the enemy that prevents the kingdom of heaven from flowing into the nations. Jesus told us to "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Matthew 10:8. The nations are full of hungry and sick people and we are all called to feed and heal the nations.

Many Blessings, BW