BREAD ..... LIVING BREAD

Several incidents led to this writing …   a friend asked me to share a word at a coming meeting, and a Blog reader gently commented that I 'move on' from my many observations about the PRS (the Present Religious System)

So, just what are the main 'WORDS' that have influenced my priorities …. that have re-directed my focus, my time, my energies, my career, my thoughts …. indeed my entire inner life ….  from my early twenties to this late hour  ?

On reflection, they are these …..     ( and this is  a very personal documentation )

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God        Matthew 4:4  Deuteronomy 8 :3

Undoubtedly, this verse alone has had tremendous influence in my career and my life from the very first time I ever read it ….  to me it was revolutionary and life-changing, as I pondered and then absorbed its meaning !   
It led me into a lifetime of devouring the Scriptures that I have grown to love.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ?    Mark 8 : 36

This question reminded me of what my Mother wrote in peoples autograph books ( that were so common in the mid 1900's )
          To lose your wealth is much
       to lose your health is more
       but …. to lose your soul,   is such a loss
       that nothing can restore !

Then Jesus words from the Sermon on the Mount ….
Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, nor yet for your body, what you shall wear …..  for after all these things do the Gentiles seek ….  but seek you first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you   Matthew 6 : 25 – 33

And I had been such 'a Gentile' seeking THINGS,  and not particularly fussy about just how they were acquired or the methods I used in the process !!

I clearly and avidly recall that this 33rd verse was the first time that I ever experienced a verse being 'quickened' to me  ..…  made alive by the Holy Spirit within ….  and it thrilled me so, and led me deeper into 'the Word'

No man can serve 2 masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON ( the Syrian God of Money)  Matthew 6:24

Again, to me ….  absolutely revolutionary !  
The realisation  that I had to choose which Master I would follow,  and just WHO would rule my life ….  which compass I would heed  !!     WOW

Then this young student Architect spied these words …

Surely in that day, there shall be a shaking in the land of Israel …..
and  EVERY WALL SHALL FALL  to the ground        Ezekiel 38: 19, 20

WHAT  !!    …..  but my chosen career …   was putting walls and buildings  UP
Each one to be something of a practical monument to the fact that I had been here … that I had trod this  earthly planet .… to help give me some SIGNIFICANCE
Was it all misplaced ?   …..   that all my buildings would ultimately FALL  down  !
To me it was a monumental and career changing realisation within !
The estimation of my career and my inner passion would never be the same again !

Add to these          Deuteronomy 8     what a Chapter !

                             Hebrews 12     to verse 15   committed to memory

And                       Romans 8   another powerful chapter …..

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally (naturally)  minded  is death, but to be spiritually minded is LIFE and PEACE   Romans 8 : 5, 6

And my favourite  Psalm    …..     Psalm 37

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and he delights in his way     Psalm 37:23

and that has been so for the 45 years since the 'quickening'  of this verse

Trust in the Lord, and do good, so shall you dwell in the land, and VERILY YOU SHALL BE FED   Psalm 37:3

Oh, the faithfulness of God  over the 31 years of self-employment since this verse came alive to me, and his sustaining power since

Now, finally,  to my personal calling,  never before expressed on paper …

But rise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things which you have seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto you.
Delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I now send you.     TO OPEN THEIR EYES, and to TURN THEM FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT, and from the power of Satan unto GOD, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me        Acts 26 : 16 – 18

Eyesalve is the latest expression of that being outworked !

How I appreciate, value, and love the living WORD of God  as expressed by Jesus …

Jesus said to them …. I  AM THE BREAD OF LIFE,  they that come to me shall never hunger, and they that believe on me shall never thirst.   This is the bread which came down from Heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die. 
I AM THE LIVING BREAD  which came down from heaven, 
if any person shall eat of this bread, they shall live for ever  
John 6 : 35, 50, 51

Never man spoke like this man    (to which I add a hearty Amen )    John 7:46

THANK YOU    My Triune GOD ….   My Creator Father, His Son my Lord and Saviour, and the Holy Spirit, my abiding Guide within  …....... THANK YOU