E’yen A. Gardner

Seventh Day

Day of Rest

E’yen A. Gardner

49

E’yen A. Gardner

Seventh Day Kindle Edition

Copyright © 2011 by E’yen A. Gardner

www.eyengardner.com

eyengardner@yahoo.com

All Scripture bible references are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.

Book Editing:              Maia R. Gardner, Senior Editor

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CHAPTER I

“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

Genesis 2:2-3

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Fallen World

Although Adam and Eve have been defamed for eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, evil did not enter the world because Adam and Eve sinned; it was already present, they just were not conscious of it.  Therefore, eating the fruit opened their eyes to see their imperfections.

Regardless, God did not create Adam and Eve to be perfect, for if they were perfect, they had no need for Him.  In spite of their imperfections, God had what was most important to Him: a relationship with His children.  After eating the poison of knowledge of good and evil, they were cursed with an evil conscience.  Instead of communicating with Him, Adam and Eve tried to cover the shame and sin and fell from God’s grace.

Sin consciousness

In pride, Lucifer felt he could be God that he could do God’s job, and a third of the angels thought the same way. (Revelations 12:4) In that same pride, the enemy came to Eve and tempted her, telling her that she and Adam were missing something and that God did not want them to enjoy the “power” the fruit had.  However, the knowledge of good and evil was not what they thought it would be.  They were ashamed of their appearance and tried to cover themselves with figs.  What had been created for good had now been tainted.

The consciousness of sin brings nothing but death.  Ashamed of our frailties and weaknesses, the consciousness of sin provokes us to hide who we are.  We work desperately to hide our lives from being exposed in truth.  Although accepted in spite of our nakedness, our conscious has caused us to separate ourselves from God.  No longer in tune with His voice, we hear a voice that illuminates the worst in us.  We try so hard to be perfect as the voice of our conscious tries to make us someone we are not.

Adam and Eve were cursed because their conscious took the place of God in their lives.  Their need of God was lost because of overwhelming thoughts of good and bad.  Therefore, God removed them from the Garden of Eden, for if they ate of the tree of life, they would have live cursed for eternity.  Consequently, Man had to dwell outside of the garden, cursed and without communion with God.

Man separated from the Creator of the universe is not what God desired.  What God had spoken, He was determined to finish, so He sent His Son.  The author had to become the finisher of our faith and Jesus did just that. (Hebrews 12:2) He finished the work that cursed Man for thousands of years.  He took on the sword that blocked us from God and the veil was torn (Jesus’ flesh) so we could enter into His Presence.  We now call the garden, the kingdom of God, and through Jesus Christ, we can taste the fruit of the tree of life!

The curse is now broken, and we take on His nature.  We no longer have to look at our sins and imperfections; we can be productive and live in His perfection and righteousness.  We can go before God with a clean conscience! (Romans 5:1-2)  We can be transparent (naked) before God, withholding nothing from Him.  We must take our eyes off ourselves and place them on Jesus, knowing that in spite of our flaws and weaknesses, our life is complete in Him.

God gave

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)

We should understand that God gave His Son.  He is not giving, He gave; it has already happened.  When we realize that the Son has been given, we also realize that we do not have to work to obtain - just accept.  The gift is free and awaiting our acceptance.  God gave the Word, Jesus Christ, and everything we need is in the Word given, for our life is hidden in Christ:

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)

The more we discover the Christ within, the more we discover who we are and what we possess.  This is the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ: God gave His Son so that we can be free to become who we are.

The Righteousness of God

Many of us struggle to believe God when His Word says we are His righteousness through Jesus Christ.  We are not righteous because we do righteous acts but because Jesus Christ did righteous acts.  When we try to live up to the laws of God, no one is perfect.  We all have blemishes and spots on us but Jesus Christ is our sin offering, and the Father does not look at us but at the Lamb.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  (II Corinthians 5:21)

When the children of Israel sinned, they had to bring a lamb as a sin offering to the priest.  The priest would examine the lamb for blemishes and spots, and only if it were clean would the priest accept the offering and sacrifice it for the people.  However, because the lamb could not cleanse their conscience of dead works, Jesus Christ came and become the Lamb of God that took the sins of the world and hung them on the cross. (Hebrews 9:12-15)  The Holy One of Israel became our sin so that we could become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21)

Become what you hear.  When we receive Christ as our sin offering, we receive cleansing from all of our sins.  No matter what the enemy says to condemn us of our mistakes, we are the righteousness of God.

Say it aloud, right now, “I am the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ!”

No Condemnation

For many years, I would feel guilty and ashamed when I made a mistake and I would punish myself.  I felt too ashamed to go to God, for I was imperfect.  I would just accept my trials as God’s way of punishing me for my mistakes.  I believed a lie.

Stop believing the lie that we are supposed to work our way into good grace with God.  It is not about us, it is all about what Jesus has done for us.

God already accepted the offering for my sins through Jesus Christ but I had not.  The enemy and my own conscience-wreaked havoc in my life and the stress of my guilt would even cause health and mental problems.  I had to learn to turn from my mistakes and the shame and turn back to God.

Jesus Christ, in spite of my imperfections, died for my sins and God had already forgiven me.  I had to stop running from the truth, stop rejecting the gift of God, and believe that I am set free from my sins.  When we stop listening to the condemnation and slander that the enemy flings at us, we can begin to live at peace with God because of Christ’s goodness.

Ark of God

The children of Israel followed a pillar of fire and a cloud in the wilderness.  It led them to every destination and kept them safe in spite of the natural circumstances that surrounded them.  Not only were they led by a cloud, they also carried the Ark of the Covenant, both symbolizing the presence of God.

Inside the Ark of the Covenant were only three items. (Hebrews 9:3-4)  The Commandments tablets, Aaron’s rod, and a pot full of manna.  Why did God command the people of Israel to put these items in the ark?

         Manna represents God’s provision for His people in the wilderness, as well as Man’s discontentment with God’s provision - they murmured and complained about eating the manna instead of meat and even slave food. (Exodus 16:4, Numbers 11:4-6)

         Aaron’s rod is a symbol of God’s authority, leadership, and guidance as well as Man’s symbol of rebellion against God’s order and leadership. (Numbers 17:10)

         The Commandments represent God’s justice and way, as well as Man’s transgression against the laws of God. (Deuteronomy 10:1-5, Exodus 32:15-19)

Therefore, all of the items represent God’s power and love, but for Man it represents guilt and sin.  If the contents of the Ark of the Covenant were exposed, then God would have to execute judgment for Israel’s exposed sin.  On top of the Ark was the mercy seat.  The high priest poured the blood of the sin offering on top of the mercy seat, covering the sins of the people, allowing God to accept them. (Leviticus 16:14-17)  Our sins separated us from God but because of His mercy, we are not consumed.  (Isaiah 59:2, Lamentations 3:22)

God has covered our lives, concealing our sinful state with His mercy.  Jesus Christ is our Head, we are His body, and He covers our sin.  “Love covereth all sins.” (Proverbs 10:12)  His sacrifice at Calvary poured out His blood and covered our lives.  Our sins are eternally forgiven and forgotten because His blood covers the mercy seat.  His love covers the multitude of our sins, and now we can have peace with God for we are dead to sin and alive in Christ.

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”  (Hebrews 10:10-14)

Now, we are the Ark of the Covenant.  We carry His presence before the world.  In spite of our imperfections, we are perfect before God.  When we realize that Jesus is our circumstance, we will no longer have to try to live holy, but just accept His holiness.  We can rest in Jesus Christ and live according to His eternal state.  In spite of our sinful nature, when we believe and receive Jesus Christ, we die to our old nature and are reborn to His nature.  No longer are servants to sin, we realize our inheritance as children of God.  His kingdom surrounds us and we do not have to work to possess things we just live because everything that He has is ours.

Unbelief

The only way we can be cut off is if we do not believe.  Unbelief severs us from the tree and detaches us from life. (Romans 11:20-22)  When the children of Israel became thirsty and there was no water in the land, God instructed Moses - His chosen mediator - to speak to the rock so water would flow out of it. (Numbers 20:8)  Instead, Moses struck the rock with his rod, the same way he had done before. (Numbers 20:10-11)  He disobeyed the fresh voice of God and tried to bring water from the rock the way he was comfortable.

When faced with what seemed to be an impossible situation, Moses was unable to speak what God had spoken in heaven, and could not see that God was trying to reveal something new.  Moses could not believe what God spoke because he was too entangled in the natural:  He was emotional and speechless, and resulted in him being prohibited from entering the Promised Land.

Two of Moses’ greatest weaknesses: acting out of anger and not speaking well.  They could have been the avenue to one of his greatest moments if he would have obeyed God, but instead, it became his worst moment.  Instead of depending on God to perform a miracle through his weakness, he took matters into his own hands.

“And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”  (Numbers 20:12)

Many of us have fallen -and still fall- just like Moses.  Because what God speaks is contrary to our strengths and circumstances, we decide to take matters into our own hands.  Unbelief in what God has spoken causes us to live with no source of strength.

It is by grace that we are fruitful, but not by our own works.  When we rebel against Christ, we partake of the tree the knowledge of good and evil; we pick up the law.  We live according to the law, rather than reigning under grace.  The problem is that no matter how determined we are to keep and be faithful to the law, we will fall.  We cannot be justified by our works, for no flesh can glory in His sight.  (Galatians 3:11)  The more we try to be self-sufficient, insufficient we become.  We cannot live abundantly without Christ, but many of us ignorantly live separated from His grace because we do not accept His gift.  We do not believe that His sacrifice is good enough to cleanse us from all of our sins.  We cannot accept His forgiveness for we cannot forgive ourselves. It is not until we have fallen so hard that we cannot get back up that we look up.  Then, we realize that it is only the grace of God that we are alive.  Faith in Christ cleanses us from the filth of doubt and sin and allows us to be reconciled back to God that we may become what He envisioned us to be.  Yes, we fall, but through Christ, we find redemption.

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CHAPTER II

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

I Peter 2:24

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Be Healed

Do we really want to get rid of what we have been complaining about to be healed?  The children of Israel wanted to be free from slavery but when freedom came, they could not see past their lack.  Many of us too, cannot see past our lack.  We focus on what we are missing that we fail to see that we already have everything.  From our perspective, we are sick, but from God’s perspective, we are healed.  Understand that our life becomes what we see.  If we see healing, then we are healed.  If we see sickness, then we are sick.  Our actions exude our beliefs.

When Jesus saw a man lying by a poolside, He knew that the problem was not with the man’s body, it was with his mind.  Imagine the mindset of this man, struggling with his affliction for thirty-eight years, seeing others healed, yet remaining in his sickness.

You may be struggling with something that you believe you will have to live with the rest of your life; possibly die from it.  Just know that Jesus has His eyes fixated on you.  He is standing over you, looking down on your situation, seeing a miracle hovering over your body.

Wilt thou be made whole?

Jesus did not ask the man this question because He did not know the answer; He wanted the man to open the gateway of truth to uproot the dirt and mess that would enable Him to plant a seed.  When the man confessed his dependence on man and not God, I believe he had an epiphany.  He realized that what he had been was foolish and then became empty of himself, his thoughts, and his perspective.

A confession will uproot the wrong thinking that keeps us from receiving blessings from God.

When the man was empty, Jesus sowed the seed of healing.  After hearing the words, “Rise, take up the bed and walk,” the man got up immediately.  He simply changed his mind.  Instead of accepting his current condition, he accepted the condition that Jesus spoke.  He saw what Jesus saw and believed it as truth.  The man received healing and purpose all in one phrase. (John 5: 2-9)

Jesus said take the bed.  What the man was delivered from was the very thing that he was to use to carry the message of Jesus to the world.  Our affliction, in turn, becomes our testimony.  Our testimony carries hope to all that see and hear it.  Illness and afflictions were never meant to have dominion over us, but to only be the vehicle that brings healing to the lives that hear our testimony.

The man did not know who healed him.  Therefore, when the religious people saw him they knew he was healed but did not know it was Jesus who healed him.  Jesus wants us to know that healing comes from Him, not the medicine, the diets, the expert advice, or the vaccines, but His Word. (John 5:12-15)  It is time that we grasp the revelation that our healing is not dependent upon what we do but on what we believe and be healed.

Faith Works

There was a man that came to Jesus because his daughter was sick unto death.  This man believed that Jesus could heal his daughter.  He was at the feet of Jesus, knowing that who stood before him was able to touch her and heal her. (Mark 5:22-23)  As Jesus began to follow him, someone came to them with bad news, telling him to let Jesus go because his daughter was dead. (Mark 5:35)

Many times when we also believe for healing, a bad report comes: “The disease is incurable don’t bother Jesus with your foolish beliefs.”  “You are wasting your time because what you believe is impossible.”  When we believe for a miracle and we are confronted with a bad report, thoughts of doubt and unbelief and fear can take root in us.  Jesus, understanding their thoughts, tells the man, “Be not afraid, only believe.” (Mark 5:36)

Only believe.  How could he believe when his child was already dead?  How can we believe when what we have hoped for falls in the arms of death?  Believe in what?  Why did Jesus not just have spoken the word to heal the ruler’s daughter?  He could have but the man spoke his faith for Jesus to touch her.

“And he besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” (Mark 5:23)

His faith was in Jesus’ touch, not His words.  We too, are healed according to our faith.  If your faith requires no medicine to receive healing, then it shall be done.  If you believe that God will heal with medicine, it shall be done.  Whatever you believe in God to do, He will do it.

Ultimately, the man decided to still believe, in spite of the bad report.  However, he had not uttered a single word since the time that he heard the bad report.

When you are in the process of believing in things that go beyond the natural law, no words are need to be spoken.

He rested his mouth from his words and rested on Jesus’ words.  He placed his trust in the performance of God not his own.  I believe that the ruler tried, as any father would, to help his daughter but found that his efforts brought no results.  Now, he rested, and believed in what God could do for his daughter.

As they approached the house, there was crying and confusion all around, as the girl laid there still. (Mark 5:38)  In trying times, doubters always seem to surround the situation.  The crowd actually laughed at Jesus when He spoke of her situation.  They could not believe, for they knew she was dead when they touched the coldness of her body. (Mark 5:39-40)  Nevertheless, just as Jesus did, God isolates us from the doubters and gets us alone so our faith can allow Him to touch the problem.  Jesus took the girl by the hand and she arose.  (Mark 5:41-42)  The ruler did nothing but believe until the end.  If he had listened to the doubters or the bad report, he would have never seen the miracle of healing for his daughter.

An Enduring Faith

When my wife was pregnant with our last child, she wanted to have a natural birth without an epidural (numbing medicine).  Receiving an epidural is so common that nurses are often shocked when someone turns it down.  Though the decision is easy before labor begins, when the pain elevates and the pressure is piercing, the epidural “looks” very good.  The nurses always ask to confirm your decision when the pressure is on.  The decision easily can change when the mind is under pressure but if you have committed to the word, there is no turning back.  No matter how fearless and strong we think we are, when in pain, the pressure can be unsettling.

Many times, our judgment becomes shaky and our vision can be blurred by our circumstances.  We cannot give up on God.  His Word is too powerful for us to depend on ourselves when the chips are down.  Write the vision, and make it plain, so when the pressure seems to get unbearable you have a witness that will affirm your faith as well as keep you from making any decisions out of pain or emotion. (Habakkuk 2:2-4)  Hold onto the word of the Lord, for without a vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18)

Believing God’s promises can be contrary to what we feel and what people say.  However, in the moment that we believe we are healed, we are healed.  It is not when the doctors tell you that you are healed or when the circumstances change, but when your mind changes.  Believing in God for healing is not only for when you have an incurable disease; it is when you have a headache, when your sinuses bother you, or when you have an upset stomach.  Whatever it may be, God has the prescription that is tailor-made for your situation.  Will you lay down your prescription and pick up His prescription?  His prescription is free and takes only one dose to cure your ailment.  You do not even need approval from your health insurance to receive this medicine.  The only condition is that you take His prescription exclusively, and it becomes effective when we rest and allow His power to work within us.

Resting in Faith

Believing requires no work from us, only God.  He is not asking us to mix His ways with our ways, He does not need our help to perform His works.  Stop trying to heal yourself and rest in the arms of Christ.  Personally, this has been one of my biggest struggles.  At one time, I would constantly be afflicted with sickness and ailments, and I would always try to pray them away.  I would declare His word but when nothing seemed to happen right away, I would try to do something myself to remedy the situation.  I felt that I believed in God and His healing, so I could not understand why I remained sick.  I thought, “Faith without works is dead but where is the power?”

One night, I cried to God that I did not want to act in fear any longer, and that confession of fear changed my life.  I had faith that God would heal me, but my actions were influenced by fear to cushion the suffering.  I inhibited my healing because I was afraid of the pain and suffering and ultimately caused more stress on myself by my own actions.  It takes more faith and work to be still and confess, than it does to actually move and repress.  To be in the midst of a storm and be still takes “crazy” faith, but that is exactly the type of faith that God desires for us to have in Him.

We must understand that effective results come when Jesus speaks.  We can try pill after pill to no avail, but when Jesus speaks, what you have been experiencing becomes purposed for results.  We are so fixated with healing that we miss the Healer.  When we go to Jesus, we are healed even when our bodies do not “feel” healed.  Christ is eternal, so in Him our eternal state is good health even though our temporal circumstance means we may be sick.  When Christ speaks to us, we believe and obey what He says and His eternal state becomes our natural state.  We act on what we believe; we just need to believe that He is the healing medicine.

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CHAPTER III

“Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me?  And where is the place of my rest?”

Isaiah 66:1

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Rest in abundance

A fisherman named Peter, worked on his ship all night long, trying to catch some fish.  Yet, the whole night he caught nothing.  Jesus came along and told him to cast his net on the other side.  When Peter obeyed, he caught a net full. (John 21:3-6)

If it was that easy, why did Jesus not come earlier?  Why wait until the end of the night to help?  The answer is pride.  If Jesus would have helped him sooner, Peter would have never seen his own pride and it would have stayed covered.  Nevertheless, the more things did not happen the way Peter wanted, the more pride was emptied out of him.

Many times, instead of going to Christ, we go to work.  We live frustrated, stressed, and afraid because we are at work instead of at peace.  Like us, Peter’s problem was that he was looking for provision, not a vision.  He was so focused on the water and the net that he could not see beyond his circumstances.  Nevertheless, the treasure was not the full net of fish it was Jesus!  Jesus spoke and gave vision to Peter.  The effort was not in working for provision but in receiving provision.

Seated in Heavenly Places

If Jesus has finished the work, what is there for us to do?  Our work is simple: just do what He says!  It is our divine purpose to be the very best we can be, not to be conformed to the elements of what we see but transformed by the invisible things.  We are responsible for what God speaks to us.  That is why it is so important to hear the voice of God for ourselves.  We cannot be dependent on others to give us our identity; we need to hear God for ourselves.  Whatever God speaks to us, He has empowered us to accomplish.

When a child is conceived, the woman’s body conditions itself to give birth to the seed in her (God develops the seed; we carry the seed).  God takes a seed that we do not see and creates a treasure right before our eyes.  When we hold on to His words, no matter what comes our way, we receive new life into our hands.

Be seated

When Jesus saw that a multitude had followed Him for three days, He wanted to feed them, so He asked them what they had (God always uses what we have). (John 6:5-6)

“Phillip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.  One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes; but what are they among so many?  (John 6:7-9)

His disciples were concerned with the size of the multitude and could not see how they could feed them.  A young boy gave his lunch to the disciples: two fish and five loaves of bread.  To the disciples it was nothing more than a snack, but to a young boy it was a feast.  They did not know that, by his faith, the boy was carrying enough food to feed a nation.  He gave up all he had and put it in the hands of Jesus.

In order for us to experience “heaven on earth,” we have to obey what Jesus spoke to His disciples.  Five words: “Make the men sit down.” (John 6:10)  When we sit down, we have obviously ceased from our own efforts and are in a position to receive whatever it is that God has for us.  However, sitting down takes us denying our flesh and we usually begin acting like children.

For children, it is so hard to sit down and be still; they continually need to be told to sit down.  God is the same way with us.  Every time we see something attractive, we get distracted and start moving and He has to remind us to rest.  We want to be filled by God but constantly move ourselves out of position because we get distracted.  When we sit down and rest in God, we experience His power as it is in heaven and receive victory over our circumstances.

Take rest

When my children are hungry, I do not ask them to cook a meal for themselves.  I do not make them buy the ingredients; ultimately, they have no part in making the meal at all.  Their work involves getting prepared for it.  They wash their hands, take their seats, and wait quietly until the food is placed in front of them.  Sometimes they get impatient and come into the kitchen while the food is cooking.  They actually become the biggest hindrance in allowing the meal to be cooked in a timely manner.

Just like my children, many times we fight against our blessing because we refuse to wait until it is time to “eat.”  We try to provoke God to move on our behalf but our impatience causes us delays in receiving what we desire.  We are so busy trying to push God to work that we neglect preparing ourselves to rest and receive.  There is no need of Man’s efforts for God’s provision.  If we want our needs met, we must stop laboring on the strength of our words and take rest under the authority and power of His Word.  The struggle is over when we rest, for our will is surrendered and our stance is secure in Him.  We then can receive His word with gladness and contentment and our lives can be transformed.

Son of God

When we believe in Jesus Christ, we become joint heirs with Him and adopted into the family of God.  In faith, we no longer are subject to the elements of this world; our liberty rests in the knowledge of who we are in Christ.  For years, I would go to God, praying repeatedly for Him to work in my life.  I would plead for Him to hear my cry and not delay in performing His promises towards me.  One day, I was in desperate need for God’s presence to rest on me.  As I was praying, God asked me, “Why are you begging?  You don’t have to beg, you are my son.” It completely changed my prayer life.  I was begging like a slave, hoping that God would help me, but I did not have to because I am His son.

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them, which by nature are no gods.  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage.”  (Galatians 4:7-9)

Everything that God possesses, He freely gives to me.  I do not have to wonder if He will, He already has!  We do not have to live afraid of God’s wrath but live secure in His love.  Now, we are the sons and daughters of God and the world yearns to see His children operating in His will. (Romans 8:19-21)  We are not enslaved to serve God; we are free to worship Him.  Slaves do not have rights, they just have work.  They must work to live and survive and the master is only pleased when they have completed the work required.  A son, however, does not need to work to receive but is rewarded in love.

My children want to buy me everything, but whenever my birthday comes around, I am not looking for a gift from them I just want their presence.  The things we try to give to Him or do for Him to show our love and gratitude do not impress God He just wants our presence.  He wants our hearts, our minds, and our focus.  We have nothing that He does not already possess.  Our money is His.  Our talents are His.  Yet, His desire is to be with us.  He wants to enjoy our company and hear our thoughts and desires.  We are His children and He loves us.  The closer I am to Him, the more I understand the liberty I have.  Our Sonship is not taken away because we make a mistake.  However, it is in obedience that we grow and develop His character; allowing our mistakes to become our stepping-stones.

Restored Heir

The Son of God, Jesus Christ, has supplied us with all that we need.  When will we accept our inheritance?  It is time for grace to flow out of us and for the fullness of God to rest on His sons and daughters.  We can no longer live deceived, for we are the righteousness of God.  We do not have to ask for it, it is already on us and in us.  We are holy because He is holy.  We are perfect because He is perfect.  We have nothing to do with it.  When we choose to believe in Him, we are adopted into His holiness, His wealth, and good health.  We become heirs of His Kingdom and under His reign forever!

God is committed to us through richer, poorer, through better, and worse, through sickness and death because nothing has power over His covenant with us, which is by the blood of His Son.  Although we try to be our own saviors and we focus on the wrong things, despite our disobedience, His Grace continually remains with us because our covenant with Him is unbreakable.

In the story of the “prodigal son,” the father gave the youngest son his portion of inheritance. (Luke 15)  The son left his father’s presence and wasted all that he possessed.  When he got to his lowest point and realized that his father’s presence was more important than anything else was, he repented.  Although he felt guilty and ashamed, he was determined to return home, even if it meant that he had to become a servant.  When his father saw him afar off, he ran to his son and fell on his neck, overjoyed by his return.  The son was filthy, stinking, and full of shame, and although he wanted to confess his mistake and shame, His father immediately decreed restoration and blessings over his son.  Not one word of condemnation did he speak, but rather a party was demanded for his son.

God’s love for us is not based upon if we do right or wrong.  He yearns for us when we leave home because He does not want us to be polluted by this world.  In this world, if you have something it values, you are valued.  When you have nothing, the world treats you like nothing.  God loves us and falls on our necks in spite of our filthiness and our mistakes.  When we are turned to Him, we are restored back to our position in His kingdom by His grace.  When we repent of ourselves, God disregards our nature and covers us with His nature.  No “spot” or mistake is remembered and our Sonship is restored.  Grace is not for Him but for us.  God’s kingdom will last with or without us, but when we are “one” with His Son, we abide in His kingdom forever.

Above All

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Ephesians 6:16)

Through the life of Jesus Christ, we have been given a crown.  Yet, because of our ignorance, many of us are confused to what our roles are in the kingdom of God.  We believe that we must exercise dominion by fighting the enemy.  We are royalty; we do not have to fight anymore.  Jesus has already paved the way for us, and through faith, we are given access to the eternal things of God.

Daniel found himself under a decree that prohibited anyone from praying or making a request to anyone but the king. (Daniel 6)  However, Daniel could not live without his time in the presence of God; it was more important to him than living.  So rather than living under fear, for thirty days he rested in his faith in God.  He knew that God gave him his position and wisdom.  Instead of turning his back on God, he exposed his “secret closet” to the world.  The “fiery darts” of his enemies were all quenched by his faith in God.  Even the lions, which were meant to kill Daniel, could do nothing in his presence and their silence powerfully spoke to all his adversaries.  Daniel did not fight with his enemies because he did not have to; the victory was already his.  Daniel’s enemies only affirmed to the world that God is real and mighty.

Our enemies have a place in our lives.  Their accusations and slander go before our King, day and night, and a decree has been made for our destruction. (Revelations 12)  However, God sent His Son in the “den” for us, so we could live free from the accusations of a defeated foe.  What was meant to destroy us, Jesus took captive and defeated.  Our faith in what Jesus has done destroys the works of Satan.  He has no power over us and we do not even have to talk to him, for the blood of Jesus speaks victory over our lives.  Jesus has already spoken peace, joy, and victory over us, but we too must confess what He has said.  We cannot move mountains by our efforts but rather by the confession of our faith.

Living Clean

In my home, it is very hard to keep a clean house.  My wife and I have six children and after we clean one room, it seems to get dirty and cluttered all over again.  As parents, we instruct our children how to clean and put things in order.  By our words, they learn how to live clean.

Nevertheless, as children, no matter how hard they try, they cannot quite clean the way my wife and I can.  I do not expect my children to know how to wash dishes if they cannot reach the sink, so we wash and clean everything that is beyond their reach.  Yes, the little ones make a mess but if we want to enjoy a clean house, it is ultimately our responsibility.

Jesus Christ sees our bodily “houses” everyday.  Our lives are filled with dirt and clutter, and if we do not put the things we play with in their proper place, we will stumble over them.  Jesus has spoken instructions to us and if we simply obey them, we will know the benefit of having a clean house that we can enjoy and rest in.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard we try, we cannot keep our houses clean, but our Father can and has.  Jesus Christ loved us while we were in our mess and sacrificed His life so that His presence could continually cleanse all unrighteousness that tries to dwell in us.  When we yield our faith to God, the precious blood of Jesus Christ cleanses the habits and addictions that are out of our reach.  We are clean not because we faithfully keep our “chores” but because His righteousness continually showers over our lives.  (Ephesians 5: 26-27)

Through our daily shower in His Love, we are cleansed from the elements of fear, doubt, and wrong thinking.  Those things are washed off, opening our hearts to believe God, and rest in His Love.

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CHAPTER IV

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Genesis 1:1-2

Resting on Darkness

When God created the heaven and the earth, it was without form; empty without purpose.  In the midst of darkness, God moved on the waters.  Like a painter with an empty canvas, He created a masterpiece full of imagery and life.

God now looks at us, in our state of emptiness, and moves by our faith in Him.  To our natural eye, our lives seem to be disastrous but God sees the potential of a great masterpiece.  He looks on our situation and waits patiently for clearance to move upon our darkness and create life.  When we understand His nature, we can believe that all things work together for our good. (Romans 8:28)

When the storm is raging in our lives, Jesus Christ walks calmly on our circumstance.

The disciples were on a boat and as the sea was raging, they saw a “ghost” walking out on the water.  They became afraid not knowing that it was actually Jesus, walking on water. (Mark 6:47-51)  If it had been a clear sky, they would have recognized Jesus with no problem but because they were distraught by the storm, their circumstance blinded them.  They wanted nothing to do with the “ghost” but in spite of their fear, Jesus was there for them.  There is nothing we can do to change our circumstances. So take our eyes off them and rest in Jesus Christ.

In the midst of darkness, it is best for us to rest.  When we try to be a hero, our actions cause us to sink deeper in the circumstance.  When we rest from our actions, what seems to have power over us then has to deal with God.  Our victory is in “laying down” in Christ, so that Christ may live in us.  (II Corinthians 4:10)

Light midst of darkness

When Jesus’ disciples saw a blind man they asked Jesus if the man sinned or his parents and Jesus wonderfully states a key to our faith.  This man is not blind because of sin but for the purpose, that God may move in his life. (John 9:2-3)  For his entire life this man was bound to darkness that was all he knew, no matter what He did he would not avoid the affliction that was on him.

Many of us have lived our whole lives with an affliction that has limited us from enjoying life.  Nothing that we do can change our situation but Jesus gives us the key to our deliverance.  Jesus says, “the night cometh where no man can work but long as I am in the world I am the light of the world.” (John 9:4)

In the midst of darkness where it seems that we cannot find deliverance, we must stop “working” and allow God to shine on our dark situations.  His light leads us to our deliverance.  A blind man received His sight, not because he did something himself, but because Jesus did everything.  Jesus wants to fill our voids and create us into a new person so that when people see us, instead of seeing our flaws they see the perfection of Christ.

How ironic was it that the Pharisees could not accept the miracle of the blind man receiving his sight because they were “blinded” by their pride!  They felt they did not need Jesus and had built “walls” of religion around their lives, leading them to believe that they were perfect and just.  They refused to allow God to rest in their “darkness.”

It is not a good sign when you cannot see your own issues and imperfections.  When we acknowledge our weaknesses, God can rest on us.  He can move in us, for our humility invokes His presence in our lives.  We receive forgiveness because we see our need for forgiveness.  We can receive provision because we see our need for provision.  The hand of our Savior Jesus Christ fills our needs, and when we surrender in darkness, He shines on us and draws us into His light.

Once I was in severe physical pain and could find no comfort.  I prayed to God but heard no answer.  Then, I felt the urge to look out of the window.  I saw the beautiful, bright, shining moon and immediately the voice of God spoke to me:  “In the midst of your darkest night, I shine the brightest.”  I was in need of God because I was consumed in pain and darkness, yet I could not see that He already was shining on me.  I received my healing and answer the moment I saw the light of the moon!

In our circumstances, we do not have to be afraid or feel hopeless; we just have to “look up.”  The Son is shining over all of our situations.  He shines over the clouds and storms as well as in the dark pits.  There is no place that God cannot reach.  When we surrender to Jesus and “look up,” He rests on us and His light overtakes the darkness that surrounds us.

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CHAPTER V

“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.”

Luke 10:38-39

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The Martha Syndrome

While Jesus was speaking, Martha was busy serving Him while Mary was at His feet listening to His words.  Martha continued to work, laboring by herself to make sure that Jesus was fed and served. (Luke 10:40)  Mary, however, remained rested at the feet of Jesus, frustrating Martha because she was not helping her.  When Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help, He told her that she was over concerned about many things while Mary had chosen the most important thing to do. (Luke 10:41-42)

The point is that God does not need us to work to please Him.  He wants us to rest at His feet and listen to Him.  Mary was being refreshed, while Martha was becoming fatigued.  Serving God is not supposed to be burdensome but rather refreshing and enjoyable.  Mary was criticized for her approach to Jesus when actually that is how we should approach God rested and attentive.  When we hear God, we are empowered to live under His influence.

Martha was so busy serving God that she could not hear God.  The “Martha-Syndrome” has corrupted our lives causing us to substitute hearing God by faith, with serving God through works.  There is no way we can enjoy life if we can never rest.  Jesus is not impressed with what our works can accomplish; He is pleased by our faith in Him.  The power of God rests in those that hear Him.  It may be that Mary knew what pleased God because she took the time to listen to Him.

A spirit of humility

When Jesus was in Simon’s house, Mary of Bethany came carrying a precious ointment that was very costly.  She broke the vessel and poured the oil on His feet that she also rested by when He spoke in her house.  Some of the disciples criticized her saying that it could have been given to the poor.  To Mary, she had not wasted anything; she took what she had and gave it all back to the one who gave it to her.  She understood that God gave her everything she possessed and became a symbol of worship to all that came after her. (John 12:2-8)

When we worship God with all that we possess, God takes pleasure in us and our lives then exude “heaven on earth.”  The greatest gift we can give to God is our life.  Our surrendered lives produce more than rituals and traditions.  God desires people that worship Him with all that He has given them.

In every instance that Mary of Bethany is mentioned in the Bible, we find her at the feet of Jesus; which is what He desires from us all. (Luke 10:39, John 11:32, John 12:3)  When we walk in humility, we are liberated from the pride in us that causes us to live limited, mediocre lives.  How can we hear God if we do not humble ourselves to listen to Him?

Four days after Lazarus died, Jesus went to the tomb, and Martha hastily went to Jesus, while Mary waited, still, at home. (John 11:20)  Mary did not come to Jesus until Jesus called for her, then she immediately went to the feet of Jesus. (John 11:28-29)  In spite of the suffering she was experiencing, she still regarded Jesus with respect and honor.  When Jesus saw her weeping, it moved Him and He wept. (John 11:33-35)  Martha spoke the same words but her approach was completely different.

God is moved through our humility and groans when we are hurt.  When we honor and love God even when we are hurt, He opens the windows of heaven and causes things to live.  What is impossible becomes possible through humility and trusting God in spite of what we see.

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CHAPTER VI

“For he that is entered into rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”

Hebrews 4:10

The Lord of the Sabbath

On one Sabbath day, Jesus and the disciples were walking through a cornfield.  His disciples were hungry and started to pluck up some of the corn to eat. (Luke 6:1)  The Pharisees saw it and could not believe that these men were working and gathering food on the Sabbath.  They were angered and offended because they felt that the disciples were breaking the law. (Matthew 12:2)  Unfortunately, the Pharisees did not know whom they were talking to.

“And Jesus said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” (Luke 6:5)

Jesus Christ is no ordinary man; He is the Lord of the Sabbath.  Literally meaning that He is the owner of the Sabbath, He owns rest.  He is the landlord that has prepared a place for us to dwell.  All of our needs are taken care of and we can relax in the comfort of His protection.  Jesus said, “Come unto me all that are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

The Unlawful Miracle Worker

It was unlawful to do anything on the Sabbath day for God had sanctified the day unto Himself.  Yet, Jesus performed miracle after miracle on the Sabbath day.  How could God use Him on that day when He was supposed to be resting?  Jesus Christ worked so that the afflicted could rest.

“And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?  How much then is a man better than a sheep?  Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.”  (Matthew 12:11-12)

Jesus owns the Sabbath and everyone and everything in it, so when He sees His children in a pit, He delivers them.  We are His children and He cherishes us too much to let us remain in our pits.  We do not work to enter into rest, it is given to us, and we just have to receive it.

Jesus was not breaking the law by performing miracles and allowing his disciples to gather corn on the Sabbath.  He owned the corn, He owned the people He healed, and He owned His disciples.  The moment we believe and have faith in Jesus Christ, He takes possession of us.  If you do not believe in Him, He will not take possession of you and you can be the god of your life.  Being a possession of Christ is not jail, it is the kingdom, the kingdom of rest, supply, life, love, peace, and serenity.  He does not force us to remain in His kingdom if we would rather do things our own way.  In His presence, we have complete rest forever.  His kingdom is forever, and under His rule, we do not have to take thought of any of our natural needs because in His kingdom, they are already supplied. (Matthew 6:33)

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The Seventh Day

We were created to live in the kingdom of God; to reign on the earth.  God gave Adam and Eve dominion and it is His plan that the earth be filled with His sons and daughters.

“For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”  (Hebrews 4:3)

Those that believe, enter into a place of rest.  Surrendering to God’s will put us in our rightful position to reign, and we can live in peace and rest.

We were made for the Seventh Day.  Our Father created us to enjoy life, but because of sin, we have lived in bondage to the elements of this world.  God sent His Son to live a perfect life in complete harmony with the Father, abiding by the laws and fulfilling every word spoken by God.  He took on sin and nailed all of the trespasses of the world on the cross. (Colossians 2:14)  By overcoming death by rising from the dead, He became the Father of all that believe in Him.

We were dead in our sins but now we are alive in Christ because of all that He did.  We have now been born into this earth to live in the spirit of our Father.  No one can be you, better than you can.  Therefore, we can stop trying to make things right with God and just live in fellowship with Him.  God loves, not because of what we do, but for who we are.  We are His children.  We are His responsibility, we are under His wing, and He has freely given us all that He possesses.  God loves everything about us.  We have peace with Him because He does not see our sins on us anymore.  The blood of Jesus covers us and His Spirit lives inside of us, now we are clean and heirs to all His benefits.

Faith Journey

When God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, they saw His power working for them.  The blood of the lamb covered their houses and they were saved.  They were baptized through the Red Sea and began their journey to the place that God had prepared for them.

In their journey, they ran into obstacles in the wilderness that tried their hearts and they continued to fail time after time.  The obstacles were not to destroy them but to develop their faith, so they could see that no matter the obstacle, God was going to take care of them.  Unfortunately, many did not enter into the promise land for their doubt and unbelief. (Hebrews 3:7-19)

We take the same journey.  We receive Jesus into our hearts and we take our journey through the wilderness where God purges the slavery mindset that we have lived with our entire lives.  When we surrender to Christ, we are enlightened to whom we truly are and the life that God has for us.  We cannot enter into rest until we believe and know our purpose on this earth.  When we yield our lives completely to God, we lay down our work and allow the Spirit of God to live through us.  We can love because He first loved us. (I John 4:10)  We can forgive because we are forgiven.  We can give because we have received His gifts.  We can be merciful to others because He is merciful to us.  We can be gracious because God has been gracious to us. (Luke 6:35-38)  All the nature of God rest in our hearts and we can become the sons and daughter that establish His kingdom on earth.  “Ye shall be the children of the Highest.” (Luke 6:35)

Heaven on earth

We are always in need of God in our lives.  Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you that where I am there you may also be. (John 14:3)  Our place in our Father’s house is unseen to the natural eye but clear to those that see spiritually.  We are in the kingdom of God right now!  Jesus has positioned himself in heaven on the throne and when we surrender to Him, we continually abide in the presence of God.  Everything we need or want is in His presence.  When we are seated with Christ, the kingdom of heaven is manifested on earth.  Our lives testify of the kingdom and the treasures of God, for we are witnesses of His holiness, power, and love.  We are the children of the King, so by allowing His nature to flow through us, we experience heaven every day.

When people in their afflictions encountered Jesus, they were radically delivered and healed.  Not because they touched God, but because God’s nature touched them.  God heals, loves, and delivers.

When we encounter the world, the world sees the Spirit in us and they are radically changed by His touch. We carry the glory, but God is the one that works the miracles and wonders.  We are the flesh and He is the Spirit.  (John 14:10)  Our submission to the Spirit brings the unseen treasure of heaven to earth that its Creator may change the world.

Give Love

Peter and John met a man that asked for money.  They did not have tangible wealth, but they gave him the real wealth that they received. (Acts 3:2-7)  They gave him Jesus; the eternal gift to the world that satisfies the needs of all creation.  When we give the world love, things change.  People are set free and the unseen kingdom becomes seen.

Now is the time to pursue the dream that God has purposed for our lives.  Now is the time to rest and enter into God’s kingdom.  Where there are no limitations and no boundaries.  God is waiting for us to go to enter into rest so that He can make our dreams our reality.

Dreams show us what God has for us and reveals the gifts that we possess within us.

When God created woman, Adam did nothing but go to sleep. (Genesis 2:21)  God saw the need.  God did the work.  Adam rested then enjoyed the partner God created for him.  No work, just rest.

We have been called to live in this world, not in a church building.  We are all unique and when we abide in the finished work of Jesus Christ, we can do what is in our hearts to do.  We are no longer servants; we are sons and daughters of God, living with no worries.  We can live and give the world the best of us.

Our labor is to give the world the gifts and talents that are in us.  We are poets, writers, actors, singers, inventors, scientists, teachers, speakers, artists, painters, decorators, fashion designers, builders, and much more.  Our faith in God allows us to live out our dreams as we rest in the love of God.  There is no better joy than to live doing what you love, in God we do just that.

Every day is the Seventh Day.  We were not created to work but to rest and enjoy all that God created for our pleasure.  The key to enter rest is hearing, believing and obeying the voice of God.  God has done all the hard work; it is time for us to rest and live in His love.

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Printed Word Publishing

Attn: E’yen A. Gardner

P.O. Box 360812

Columbus, Ohio 43236

WEBSITE: www.EyenGardner.com

EMAIL: egardner@pwpublish.com

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Table of Contents

Copyright

CHAPTER I

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER III

CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER V

CHAPTER VI

E’yen A. Gardner The Seventh Day

Contact the Author