The Holy Spirit And The Counting Of The Omer

The time between Passover and Pentecost is 50 days, the same number of days between Israel's deliverance from Israel and the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. The counting of the omer is the time in between these two powerful events that foreshadow our salvation and the baptism in the Holy Ghost. This is the time we actually count aloud each of these days, a foreshadowing of the waiting the disciples did in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. Some today are in the valley of decision on receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit just as many Jewish people today wait during this time for the celebration of the giving of the Law. The Holy Spirit is so needed today to guide us into ALL truth. He is truly our helper and counselor and power.

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: Acts 2:1 - And when the day of Pentecost was fully come...........................................

      From Bible history we know that the Jewish people left Egypt on Passover, and 50 days later (on the holiday of Pentecost (Shavuot) received the Torah at Mount Sinai. The term "Pentecost," is a Greek term that means "50." Today, in revisiting that Sinai experience, there is a unique time we are in right now (early May 2004) called "Counting the Omer," where one actually counts aloud each of these days, beginning on the second night of Passover and continuing till Shavout. (The Omer was a special offering brought to the Holy Temple during this season.)

        To understand this celebration and how it pertains to us as believers today, we first need to answer a more basic question: Why did God wait 50 days after the Jews left Egypt before giving the Torah? Why didn't He simply give it to them in Egypt, or immediately after their departure?

        According to the Torah (Lev. 23:15), the Lord commanded the children of Israel to count the days from the second night of Passover to the day before Shavu'ot, seven full weeks. This period is known as the Counting of the Omer. An omer is a unit of measure. On the second day of Passover, in the days of the Temple, an omer of barley was cut down and brought to the Temple as an offering.

Leviticus 23:15
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete:

        Every night, from the second night of Passover to the night before Shavu'ot, one recites a blessing and states the count of the omer in both weeks and days. So on the 16th day, one would say "Today is sixteen days, which is two weeks and two days of the Omer" and so forth.  This period is a time marked by  partial mourning, during which weddings, parties, and dinners with dancing are not conducted, in memory of a plague during the lifetime of Rabbi Akiba. Haircuts during this time are also forbidden. The 33rd day of the Omer (the eighteenth of Iyar) is a minor holiday commemorating a break in the plague. The holiday is known as Lag b'Omer. The mourning practices of the omer period are lifted on that date. The word "Lag" is not really a word; it is the number 33 in Hebrew, as if you were to call the Fourth of July "Iv July" (IV being 4 in Roman numerals).

        The counting is intended to remind us of the link between Passover, which commemorates the Exodus, and Shavu'ot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah and in anti-type fulfillment the ultimate outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon the church in Acts 2:1-4. It speaks to us all that Israel's redemption from slavery was not complete until the full revelation of God which was given on Sinai. Blood brought Israel out of Egypt. The Law at Sinai would help in the process of bringing Egypt out of Israel! The events of Sinai were a foreshadowing of a greater event which would take place some 2500 years later on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit would come and indwell us as believers, writing that same law on Sinai in our hearts through the power of the New Covenant

        The reason that it took Israel 50 days to reach Sinai from Egypt is a matter of intense discussion among Jewish rabbis. A consensus exists that says that Israel was not yet spiritually ready to deal with the full revelation of God He would give them on Mount Sinai through the Torah (the first five books of our Bible).  For over 200 years, they had been living in an Egyptian society known to be the world center for immorality and vice. Even without direct Jewish participation, these influences nonetheless permeated the air and seeped into their consciousness. We see those seeds in the events of the wilderness. According to Jewish tradition and commentary, the primary book of Kabbalah, "The Zohar," reports that in Egypt the Jews had slipped to the 49th level of spiritual impurity. (50 is the very lowest.) God could not give the Torah at this point. Spiritual maturity was needed and 50 days traveling from Egypt to Sinai was God's prescribed order of the day.

        The high-impact adventure of the Exodus -- 10 miraculous plagues and the splitting of the Red Sea -- launched the Jews into physical freedom. Yet the miracles of Egypt did not produce a depth of faith and trust in God to the point that the nation would survive in the wilderness as we see in the historical recordings of Moses in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy.  A one-time experience with God, as powerful as it is, does not permanently change anyone's emotional attitude and increase their spirituality. Maturity takes time and time is something most modern Christians don't care to take too much of when dealing with growing up into Christ. Not to sound redundant, but again, this is a tremendous lesson for us today. Miracles are great and powerful and God still does those today. But miracles in themselves will never make great Christians! Israel had more miracles take place on its behalf than any other nation on the face of the earth. Yet taking Israel out of Egypt was much easier for God than getting Egypt out of Israel. ALL those miracles God performed did not change the hearts of many.

        By all accounts, Israel should have been more than willing to enter into the Promised Land given to her by God but in the time of decision when it came down to believing or not believing God - Israel through the mouths of 10 spies chose not to believe what God had said and the results have been disastrous to this very day.

        It is a powerful footnote of history to see the fact that Jewish people know that God exists and that He gave the Torah to the Jewish nation at Mount Sinai. Yet without the opening of their hearts to Yeshua, the impact of that mental acceptance lasts but a few days. Real change occurs only through the work of the HOLY SPIRIT and the power of Yeshua's finished work on the cross. It takes FAITH! Paul wrote to the Hebrews that Israel failed in the wilderness because they did not mix the word they received at Sinai with FAITH and it profited them NOTHING.

2 Cor. 3:9-15
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. [10] For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. [11] For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. [12] Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: [13] And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: [14] But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. [15] But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

Hebrews 4:1-3
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. [2] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. [3] 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 3:10-12
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. [11] So I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) [12] Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

        I'm afraid that many today are in the same boat as Israel of old. We have heard sermon after sermon. We have attended seminar after seminar. We have had hands laid on us day in and day out hoping to find our way out of the abyss we seem to be slipping in. We go to and fro looking for the peace that only an intimate relationship with the Father can bring through the loving heartbeat of Jesus and the power and grace of the HOLY GHOST. ALL the preaching of the last 100 years has produced very little true Christian commitment and power. The apostasy that the apostles predicted has taken hold in our bodies rapidly  because of this. We need a move of God so very badly. We need the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. We need God to rend our hearts and change us. We need to mature so greatly in these last days so we can stand against the onslaught of Satan. Darkness is about to envelope the earth but the believer has the power to stand against that darkness through the power of the HOLY GHOST - the GLORY OF GOD that is soon to rise upon us!

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. [2] For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. [3] And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Ephes. 6:12-17
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

        The message of this journal is about maturity. It's going to take spiritual maturity to stand in the evil day. Friend, I don't state these words lightly as I write them. We are in perilous times.

2 Tim. 3:1-8
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. [6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, [7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. [8] Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

2 Tim. 4:1-4
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

1 Tim. 4:1-4
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. [4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. [3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.


        What the apostles warned us about has come to fruition in front of our very eyes. Men are giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Some are departing from the faith. Seducers and growing worse and worse and worse. Men are hardening their hearts to God instead of repenting of their evil. The church has succumbed to such a religious spirit in this hour that all we have become for the most part is a glorified JUDGE over the earth and have condemned to sinner to a place of total isolation, believing we are better than "that world out there." Let me give you a news flash neighbor. The line between the believer and the sinner is only BLOOD thick! Would it not have been for the shed blood of Christ, we would be just as lost, undone, untouched, bound, sinful, wicked and decadent as the worst sinner out there. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved!

The Counting Of The Omer Is Supposed To Be A Time Of Growth

        Classic Talmudic commentators say that the days of counting the Omer were used by God to increase Israel's spirituality and level of commitment to Him. He knew what lie ahead in the days to come and knew that many would fall by the way side along this journey. This necessity for self-growth is stressed in the Torah's description of Abraham: "Abraham was old, he came with his days" (Genesis 24:1). "He came with his days" teaches us that Abraham used each of his days to the fullest extent. At the end of his life, he came to old age "with all his days" in hand. No day was without its requisite growth.

        Our natural growth is similar to our spiritual growth. When we are babes in Christ, our level of responsibility is not as great as when we are in Christ for a longer period of time. You don't expect a 10-year-old to act the same way he did at age five. But somehow as adults, we lose that impulse to continue growing. Yet should a 30-year-old act as he did at age 25? As adults, we could be using those five years in a very powerful way.

Ephes. 4:15-16
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: [16] From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

        The formula for staying young physically is to continue growing. Losing that capacity at any age is tragic. Any time we're not growing and changing, we're not living. We're just existing. Friend, God wants us to GROW up into CHRIST! Spiritual maturity is needed in our lives today. We need to be changed from glory to glory!

        There are seven blessings of perfection or spiritual maturity we want to look at in this journal concerning the Holy Spirit and the counting of the Omer:

1. Maturity—no longer children (Ephes. 4:14)
2. Established in the faith—no longer of doubtful mind or tossed to and fro like the waves (Ephes. 4:14; James 1:5-8)
3. Rooted and grounded in truth—no longer carried about by winds of doctrine (Ephes. 4:14; John 8:32-36; Ephes. 3:17; Col. 2:6-7; 2 Peter 1:12)
4. Freedom from deception—able to discern truth from error (Ephes. 4:14; 2 Tim. 2:15; Hebrews 5:11-14; John 8:32-36)
5. The ability to speak the truth in love (Ephes. 4:15; Romans 15:14; Col. 3:16)
6. Constant growth in spiritual things (Ephes. 4:15; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18)
7. Harmony with all others in Christ (Ephes. 4:16; 2 Cor. 1:10; 2 Cor. 13:11)
 

God's Grace Is Always Progressive, Religion Is Not

        A major impediment to spiritual growth is the feeling of being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task. The biggest reason people fail is that they have set a goal which is too lofty and unattainable. We inevitably fall short and get discouraged.

        In Jacob's famous dream, God shows him a vision of a ladder reaching toward heaven. Spiritual growth, like climbing a ladder, must be one step at a time. By setting small, incremental goals, we will be encouraged by the periodic success.  Take pleasure in the times you achieved your goal, and use that as a motivation to improve further. Don't castigate yourself if you do not always succeed. No human being is perfect. The Kabbalists say that spiritual growth is "two steps forward and one step back." We will inevitably have setbacks. What's important is that we're heading in the right direction. Grace is always progressive and rejoices in PROGRESS.

        There are some people who are bound by a spirit of demonic perfection. EVERYTHING has to be just perfect before they will join themselves to it or sponsor it. That is not God's system of ministry. The Holy Spirit is changing us each day "from glory to glory."

2 Cor. 3:17-18
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. [18] But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
 

        King Solomon tells us in Proverbs (24:16): "The Tzaddik falls seven times and gets up." The definition of a Tzaddik is not someone who never makes a mistake, but rather someone who, although he may fail, does not give up. He tries again and does not despair!

        Abraham, it is said, "staggered not in unbelief," at the promise of God. But we know from reading his history that Abraham staggered all over the place reaching the place where he trusted the Lord like he should. That is not a contradiction in statements. It means that no matter how many times Abraham failed God, he got up and never quit. And neighbor before you begin this journey into maturity, you must understand that you and I are going to fail sometimes. It's not that we  should or shouldn't fail, it's what we do when we fail. We are but flesh and the Lord understands that. What the Lord does not tolerate though is arrogance and pride that puffs us up and keeps us from seeking HIS FACE and allowing the Holy Spirit to change us. God RESISTS the proud, but gives GRACE to the humble.

James 4:6
But he gives more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.
 

        Religion keeps count of your progress in such a way if you fail more than once you are automatically labeled as sinful and wicked. We are such hypocrites sometime in the body. We are so quick to judge others based upon their actions but when we judge ourselves we always judge ourselves based upon our intentions! Our neighbor uses a cuss word and he's "not right with God I guess." We use that same cuss word by accident and "we just lost our temper, we're ok with God!" Sound familiar? "They smoke those cigarettes because they are just a bunch of backsliders." When we smoke a cigarette, "it's just one of those habits I'm dealing with." That is religion and it stinks to high heaven in the nostrils of God. He is not pleased with those attitudes in our hearts. Religion will tear down someone seeking to find their way with God instead of building them up. God's process of Grace gives room for failure but it does not give room for presumptuous sin. What you did two years ago you're not doing today. As Christians we seek NOT to find reasons to sin, but we find reasons to live for righteousness. If we fail, we repent quickly and continue striving to overcome those sins in our lives and hearts.

        A dear friend told me just this week of a man in his mid-50s who proclaimed himself to be a prophet. This man went out and had an affair with a 30-year old woman, got her pregnant, but when time came to take responsibility for it, he didn't see his actions as sin, but the result of the medication he was on. Grace does not cover such arrogance and deception. The man's medication may have been a problem, but committing adultery is sin. The medication didn't make him pull his pants down and have fornication with a woman 20 years his junior. I'm not judging the brother. We ALL are subject to temptation and the onslaught of the enemy. The issue is how we deal with failure when it happens. Grace gives us the power to not fail if we will be obey and believe. Mercy is granted for our sin through the blood of Christ. Mercy covers a sincere heart that does not make excuses for its failure but comes boldly to the throne of Grace asking for forgiveness AND deliverance!

We Called To Grow Up, Not Remain Children.

Ephes. 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
       

        Paul exhorts us not to remain children tossed to and fro which always places us in jeopardy of being led astray by false doctrine. So many believers today are not grounded in Christ. As a result, every single sleight of man that comes down the pike we are all too often willing to jump on the band wagon and run with it. There is nothing new under the sun friend. God is a God of variety for sure and many things He does is not going to sit well with the religious. That's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about doctrines that the prince and power of the air produce that brings people into bondage, not freedom. It's doctrine that carries us away from the source of ALL our help - the cross of Christ. ANY teaching, doctrine or movement that belittles the finished work of Christ on the cross is a false doctrine propelled by more than likely false preachers and teachers.

        Seducing spirits will take many captive in these last days. So much of the glorious gospel of Christ is hid to many because the enemy has blinded their minds. Sadly, many Christians have not renewed their minds and thus, are blind as well. We live in a time that is far too important to be blind to the truth. GROW UP! Renew your mind. Study the word of God. Make reading and listening to God over the Word a priority, not a time on your busy schedule. The Lord is not concerned with keeping a scorecard so when you look at that scorecard your pride wells up thinking of how much time you've devoted to it. Reading the Bible is more than a spiritual discipline. It's an encounter with the author of the book! JESUS wants to come along side and speak to our hearts during this encounter so we won't be deceived in the days at hand.

        In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was WITH GOD and the WORD WAS God. We need the WORD today and the Spirit. The Word of God is the source for all of man's ills. It will always point man to repentance and godly living. Man cannot live godly on his own strength. Thus, the Holy Spirit has come to guide us into all truth and strengthen our hearts for the journey. He LIVES inside us today building up, encouraging, directing, convicting, pointing us to CHRIST. GREATER is HE that is in ME, than HE that is in the WORLD! GREATER is HE that is in YOU friend, than he that is in the world! The "he' that is in the world is the devil. He is the prince and power of the air and we need to recognize his schemes. We are not ignorant of his devices, Paul said in 1 Corinthians. However, many believers ARE ignorant of Satan's devices because we don't know the Word. Spiritual maturity calls us to a deeper walk in the Word of God. A deeper walk in the word of God will bring us into spiritual maturity.

2 Cor. 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Ephes. 2:2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

1 Tim. 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

    Paul uses the term "children," here in Eph. 4:14. When we come to Christ, we are admonished to receive the Kingdom as children. But when it comes to spiritual growth we are not to remain children. Children tend to be very selfish when they are young. Many Christian adults act just like that when they are old! We need to put away childish things in the body today. We need to move on to what God wants us to be in HIM. The hour we live in will require it friend. We ALL are growing up and having the Holy Spirit work in our lives. When we stop the Holy Spirit from moving in our own lives - that's when we get into serious trouble. Most church splits come from a root of childish behavior in believers. Most division and carnality come from us being babies, instead of mature believers. GROW UP! This is not about YOU or ME, it's about HIM! HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH and we are to GROW UP INTO HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 Cor. 3:1-3
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
[3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

1 Cor. 13:8-12
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. [11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. [12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (maturity); not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

        The counting of the omer is a call for us to grow up and not be as children any longer. We are and will be as spiritual as we want to be friend! No one will be to blame for our lack of spiritual growth when we stand at the judgment seat of Christ. Mark it down!

2. Spiritual Maturity is a Call To Be Established in the Faith—No Longer Of Doubtful Mind Tossed To And Fro Like Waves

Ephes. 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

James 1:5-8
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. [6] But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. [8] A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

        The counting of the omer is a call for us to be single minded, not double-minded concerning the things of God. We need to become established in our hearts that God is God and He will do what He has promised He will do. Many believers today, including myself at times, trust God one second, then doubt Him the next. That is double-mindedness and a sign we need to mature in HIM.  I know that life has a way of placing us in situations where it is hard to trust God, but TRUST GOD WE MUST!

           Double-mindedness is a result of the fall. This trait is not new, but its increase in these last days IS. The source can be traced back to the garden where Adam and Eve partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This double-mindedness creates instability and is one of the most subtle, profound afflictions of the human race. This may well be the major contributing factor of the great darkness Isaiah spoke of in 60:1 that would come upon the earth in these latter times.

        What is double-mindedness? To be double-minded is to have more than one mind or personality. A common modern term is schizophrenia (in the traditional definition). There are extreme forms of this that are demonic in nature, but there are degrees of double-mindedness found in all who have been transformed from the carnal, fallen nature of man. How are we transformed? By the renewing of our minds!

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

        If we tend to have one personality at home, another at the office or job, another at church, these are symptoms of double-mindedness. Those who live by the knowledge of good and evil will always be double-minded.

        One serious trait of this is the compulsion by us to measure ourselves by that knowledge. We are self-centered people and the worst thing that happens to self-centered people is rejection. This fear compels us to become the person be believe will be accepted or recognized, which will vary to some degree with each new group situation. With each change we make to comply with external circumstances, there is a subtle erosion of the consistency and stability of our personality. Soon we are utterly confused as to who we really are and can be controlled, almost completely, by external circumstances.

        There are powerful forces at work in the spirit realm and in the natural realm seeking to undermine man's stability. This will result in an avalanche of human debauchery the world has never seen. The Bible calls it, "great tribulation."

        When man does what he knows is right, he feels good. When he doesn't, there is discord, regardless of how earnestly he tries to rationalize it. That is the working of the LAW. The Law is in every man. Cain KNEW he had sinned when he murdered Abel even though there was no law yet that said, "thou shalt not kill!"

Genesis 4:6-7
And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? [7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin (sin's nature) lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

        It is impossible for fallen man to wholly comply with the law in his heart. Even a heathen Freud realized that man's depression came from guilt. Man's confusion IS rooted in guilt. Paul saw the same thing in Romans when he found freedom in knowing that no man can live up to the law's standards. The resulting guilt brought Paul into a place of despair as well:

Romans 7:18-19
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

        Paul didn't say the Law was bad, HE was the one who was bad and evil. The law is God's standard and it will always be "Holy, righteous and just." Man seeks to alleviate his guilt by changing the laws of his culture so that he can legally sin. That's what the fight over the homosexual rights and abortion issues are really all about. Sinful man wants to be able to murder babies and commit perversion without punishment. But sin brings DEATH friend and the only answer to fallen humanity's problem is NOT riding man of the Law, it's deliverance from man's nature! There is POWER to do that through the shed blood of CHRIST! Spiritual maturity is a call for us to be delivered from this nature and become ESTABLISHED IN CHRIST and His provision for deliverance.

        This nature will never go away. We must be transformed. The WHOLE LAW is summed up in one word - LOVE. Love the Lord will ALL your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Only by abiding in HIM can we become established in this love. That's His plan and purposes for us. Jesus is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. This is not accomplished by seeing HIM then looking at ourselves comparatively. We are not to be Christ's imitators, but to have Christ FORMED within us!

2 Cor. 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Romans 5:5
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalm 14:2-3
The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. [3] They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophet

The Law Keeps Count, Grace Sets One Free No Matter The Count

        As we close this first part of this journal on spiritual maturity, I want to say this. One important principle to remember in this process of growth, is that we are not competing with anyone but ourselves. Secular society has accustomed us to compete against others -- whether in business or on the tennis court. Of course, healthy competition is good. But life is not a race to beat the other guy; life is only a race to conquer yourself. And when it comes to ETERNAL matters and ETERNAL LIFE - the one person ultimately responsibility for your eternal destination is YOU!!! I can't make heaven for you and you can't make heaven for me.

        Nowhere in the entire Torah is the date of Shavuot mentioned. It merely takes place at the end of 50 days -- because the key was for Israel to get there at God's pace and timing, not theirs. He was always making them walk FORWARD, never backwards. That is spiritual growth. The day we get comfortable with where we are spiritually - then we DIE! There is no such thing as spiritual stagnation. We are either growing or dying. In Judaism, there is a term, "Cheshbon"  -- which means "a spiritual accounting."

        We need to take a spiritual accounting of our lives today and see if we are growing. We will finish the other five principles of growth in the next journal. I pray today that during this season of counting the omer you are growing in grace with Him. His mercy is so deep. I don't care how much you have failed, He loves you and wants you to know today that He has not given up on you. If you won't quit on Him, believe me, He is not going to quit on you. Even if you have quit, get back in the race. There is a heavenly Father in heaven graciously waiting to see you once again on the path to glory.

        My dad's group sing a beautiful old song that I have a hard time listening to without weeping. "On this glory road I'm traveling, many times I've stumbled on my way, but praise the Lord, I'll be soon be traveling, to that land of endless light and endless day. I can see, the light of home, I can see Him on His throne. I'm too near, to turn back now. Oh, Praise the Lord, I'm heaven bound. When this journey soon shall end. I'll take my flight and go to Him. In that fair land, I'm going to take my stand. It's good to be on this road for glory land." Praise God, Praise God, Praise God.

        Neighbor, we're on a GLORY ROAD today. Walking with the King, hand in hand. Let Him fill your hearts today with overflowing and reveal to you His purposes and plans for you. It's about maturity. It's about counting the omer. Actually it's making the OMER COUNT! It's about preparation so we will receive the fullness of the HOLY GHOST. That is what this time really meant to Israel. From deliverance to the revelation of the fire on Mt. Sinai - they needed to mature and grow up. The same is true for us today. We've been delivered, but we need to fulness of the HOLY GHOST. This is about being established in the faith once delivered to the saints. It's about being rooted and grounded in LOVE. God Bless.

Heavenly Father, we pray today for each one reading this journal. We pray you will touch their hearts and minds in a unique and special way. Help us all Lord to continue on this glory road with You. Ever growing, ever learning, ever seeking Your face, ever being changed from GLORY TO GLORY, never settling for stagnation but always wanting to grow up and mature in you. Reveal hidden sins in our hearts today so we may repent of those and become fit vessels of glory for you in this hour we live in. May the LIGHT of the Holy Ghost shine upon us in Jesus name we pray, AMEN.