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Everyone, at some point, will have their big “enough” moment. Oh, we all have those mini “enough” moments. You know the ones. Perhaps it’s something or someone that’s been a source of irritation and you finally put your foot down and say, “that’s enough.” Odds are that those moments aren’t necessarily from God but are more likely are born out of simply being fed up. Totally a human response. But eventually, we’re going to have that BIG “enough” moment. And it’s a pretty safe bet that that BIG “enough” moment will come as a direct revelation from God through His Spirit in us. For me, that BIG “enough” moment came somewhere around 5:00 AM on March 11, 2024, as I was spending time in prayer and scripture. Now I can’t tell you exactly how God’s words came to me. Nor can I assign human words to what He actually said. And for me to claim so would be a deception. God speaks to me in a way that I get the message through His Spirit in me. So, anything I share in terms of the exact conversation is me simply putting words to what God was communicating to me. So, here’s the essence of our conversation as best I can report it. God started it by saying, “You know you’re enough, don’t you?” I responded with something pretty lame like, “What do you mean, enough?” So, God responded with, “Just what I said, enough.” But then he went on to say, “I know your heart. I know you are sincere in your desire to grow in all ways in Christ. And I also know it’s your heart’s desire to help grow those, who share your passion, into the true body of Christ. So, in My eyes, that makes you enough.” And, just like that, the conversation ended. But then I was led by the Spirit to this passage in scripture. “And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven.” Colossians 1:21-23 (NKJV). When I finished reading, I looked up the Biblical definition of “reproach.” I was surprised to read that the Biblical definition of reproach is “disgrace or shame.” It was at this very moment that the magnitude of what God meant by “enough” began to sink in. Because of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, those of us who believe and who have given our lives to Christ, with a sincere heart, are no longer seen by God as sinners. Instead, He sees us as “holy, blameless and above reproach (shame).” We have been reconciled to God through Jesus’ sacrifice and He sees us as “enough” because we are in Christ and Christ alone. In Christ, we are no longer in bondage to sin. If anyone tries to convince you otherwise, you must know that it is a lie propagated by the spirit of the Antichrist. Scripture is clear on this. “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace…But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:14,17-18 (NKJV) If you are in Christ, you ARE “enough.” And for this, it is most appropriate to say, “Thank you Jesus!!!” Mike Ruch Branch of the Vine
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Psalm 95:7,8 (NKJV). The writer of Hebrews describes it as “an evil heart of unbelief.” See Hebrews 3:12 (NKJV) In spite of opposition and persecution, the early church described in the book of Acts got off to a spectacular start. Those in the church were led by the Holy Spirit and lived simple lives. They studied scripture together, they prayed together, they shared meals together, they communed together, they held all things in common and they were of one accord. “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” See Acts 2:47 (NKJV). So, what happened? Everything was going so beautifully. One would think that 2000 years later, being led by the Holy Spirit, we would have a church that is pure, holy, undefiled, and of one faith and one mind in Christ. The true virgin bride of Christ. What happened? When the apostle Paul prayed with the elders of the Church at Ephesus, prior to his departure, he warned them that they would come under attack. And that the attack would come from within. Here are his words of warning. “Therefore take heed in yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” Acts 20:28-30 (NKJV). Turns out that the apostle Paul was exactly right. Savage wolves, false prophets, under the influence of the spirit of the Antichrist, did come in and completely disrupted, confused, and scattered the flock. And how have they done it? Through deceit and unbelief. Satan is well aware that when the church becomes the pure, holy, undefiled, unified body of Christ, then Jesus will return for His bride and put an end to satan’s reign. His only hope for survival is to conceal the truth of who we really are in Christ and deceive us into believing we are still worthless sinners with no hope of righteousness. For this reason, satan has sent the spirit of the Antichrist into the church where he can do the most damage. In future blogs, through the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit, I will be sharing the truth of God’s Holy Word that shows clearly who we really are when we have given our lives to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. At the same time, the reader will see how the spirit of the Antichrist has used deceit and lies to prevent the coming together of the true, unified body of Christ. I close with this thought. Today, I pray that the Holy Spirit will enable us to hear the voice of God speaking to us through the blood of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We must know that God fervently desires that we hear His voice and know the truth as given through His Spirit in us. And if we ask in faith, without doubting, the Holy Spirit will drive the spirit of the Antichrist out leaving God’s voice as the only voice to be heard. And His voice is the voice of truth. “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Psalm 95:7,8 (NKJV). Mike Ruch Branch of the Vine ___ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJNpfPLYks4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN8A5V4jwRk&t=17s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdlKAs3vkhE&t=3s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0GmeIyXMbA&t=25s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sj4VOADKzc&t=734s
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