Do I have a relationship with the Lord?
Authority comes from a relationship with the Lord. Just as a King would not put a stranger in charge of portions of his Kingdom, so the Lord would not give a person authority that did not have an intimate relationship with Him.
Your relationship with the Lord is your Priesthood. When you have a relationship with the Lord and you increase your talents (do his will/use your gifts to build the Kingdom of God see Matthew 35:21)...you increase in your Priesthood/Relationship/Authority.
If you want to know if you have God's authority - I recommend asking God to show you what your relationship with Him is like and ask Him how He see's you.
The adversary will seek to thwart this prayer or muddy the visions or words you might hear so persistence and an eye single to God's glory is key. If the adversary or a familiar spirit seek to get you off course - remind them of the parable Jesus told of the Prodigal Son and that your Father forgives you and loves you and is waiting for your return.
Growing up LDS I always thought I was the "faithful son" who stayed at home but once I discovered my nothingness and that I was the prodigal - I knew the only thing I could do was to return home to my Father in prayer and tell Him how I'd strayed from Him and ask if I could be His servant.
He is mighty to forgive and waits for your return with the finest robe, a ring, and sandals for your feet.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."
As you seek to increase in your relationship/priesthood with the Lord - you must ask the Lord for the gift of Discernment. This gift is often overlooked and desperately needed by those who would be God's servants. It is a process that requires time and experience.
As you grow in your association with the Lord and you increase in His Spirit to be with you - this can lead one to seek baptism of water as a sign to the Father that you have accepted Jesus as the Christ. For some of you - you have already been contemplating baptism and trying to remember back to when you were eight years old and what it was that you promised. Perhaps the need to be baptized is on your heart and mind. For others this is a new thought. Paul gives us great insight to the need for re-baptism in Acts 19 (NLT):
Despite our greatest efforts - we will still make mistakes and fall. If you're not okay with making mistakes, this path is not for you. We become strengthened in the process and our path becomes like that of a spiral sea shell - ever ascending and going up. You will learn how to identify these spirits as you seek the gifts of the spirit and as you learn to trust in the Lord. You will make mistakes. You will feel frustrated and embarrassed. That is all normal and part of the process when increasing in your relationship/priesthood with the Lord. And you're in good company with others who have gone this path before you. Any spiritual leader that doesn't share with you the mistakes they've made and the times they got it wrong shouldn't be considered for guidance. Those leaders that are concerned with your progress will be like one of my mission companions who said, "I'm going to teach you everything I know and all the things I did right and wrong so that you will be far better than I was."
Why do so few take this path?
Often it is because our emotions, fears, anxieties, and a host of other pressures can overwhelm us before we even get started. I shared with two friends recently an analogy of things that keep us from coming to the Lord. I'll share it here:
For me some of the weak areas I encountered on my journey back to the Lord were found in my desire to "bring again Zion" and be a part of the 144,000. I was led to diverse groups with people who shared visions and dreams and I was tossed to and fro as I listened to others "prophesy" and "receive revelation". It wasn't until I grew so weary and was beaten down spiritually that I let go of that desire and changed it to only desiring the Lord and doing what He asks of me. And I desired that alone with all my soul. That made all the difference.
People can be born with a propensity for certain spiritual gifts but it is the tenacious, those with the most desire, who reach great heights. If you are truly desiring to serve the Lord and be one with Him - you have to ask yourself - How much failure am I willing to endure to develop my gifts/talents?
The Lord will coach you each step of the way. Expect failure, but also in time, the ability to discern the Adversary will increase until he has no power over you. I have not arrived at that point yet and still receive the buffetings of Satan from time to time.
Moroni 7:10-26 tells you everything you need to know!
In the church we have come to misunderstand spiritual authority and power. A relationship with the Lord can never come upon us by passing a worthiness interview from a church authority or by years of scholarly study. It is not something you qualify for because of your gender or age. It is simply given to God’s humble servants because of their pure hearts and an eye single to His glory.
Your "level" of "priesthood" merely signifies your relationship with the Lord and is also what determines the level of spiritual gifts we are allowed to use. If we are disconnected from the Lord, our outward priesthood actions will be hollow and without power.
“Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity — thou must commune with God.” ― Joseph Smith
As you make this journey to increase in your priesthood/relationship with the Lord your greatest test with each trial will be where your heart is. It will test you to see if you seek the Lord or the things of this world. If you truly love the Lord with all your heart, might, mind and strength - you should take courage for the journey ahead.
As you grow in your association with the Lord and you increase in His Spirit to be with you - this can lead one to seek baptism of water as a sign to the Father that you have accepted Jesus as the Christ. For some of you - you have already been contemplating baptism and trying to remember back to when you were eight years old and what it was that you promised. Perhaps the need to be baptized is on your heart and mind. For others this is a new thought. Paul gives us great insight to the need for re-baptism in Acts 19 (NLT):
1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.As you contemplate baptism you would want to ask the Lord:
“No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3“Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked.
And they replied, “The baptism of John.”
4Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”
5As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.
1. If you should be baptized
2. Who should baptize you
These things take time and the answer may not come right away. Be patient and wait upon the Lord. He will answer.
As you get closer to the Lord - the gift of Discernment will take on a larger role for you. The closer you come to the Lord, the greater the increase in dark and familiar spirits and their mission to sidetrack you will increase. As you learn their tactics they will continue to try new ones. As you seek only the Lord and His will - He will always help you to see the difference between His voice and the familiar spirit.
As you get closer to the Lord - the gift of Discernment will take on a larger role for you. The closer you come to the Lord, the greater the increase in dark and familiar spirits and their mission to sidetrack you will increase. As you learn their tactics they will continue to try new ones. As you seek only the Lord and His will - He will always help you to see the difference between His voice and the familiar spirit.
“But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.” (D&C 46:7)
Familiar spirits know you intimately. They know your desires, beliefs, trusts, doctrinal views on almost everything. The Adversary can speak in a familiar and often righteous sounding way. The key will be to write down what you are hearing and see if it is appealing to your pride or your comfort. If you write what you are hearing you can see if it is harmful to the cultivation of an intimate relationship with the Lord. Remember - He is the Father in the Prodigal son. He doesn't condemn you so take confidence in His Goodness and move forward towards Him.
Despite our greatest efforts - we will still make mistakes and fall. If you're not okay with making mistakes, this path is not for you. We become strengthened in the process and our path becomes like that of a spiral sea shell - ever ascending and going up. You will learn how to identify these spirits as you seek the gifts of the spirit and as you learn to trust in the Lord. You will make mistakes. You will feel frustrated and embarrassed. That is all normal and part of the process when increasing in your relationship/priesthood with the Lord. And you're in good company with others who have gone this path before you. Any spiritual leader that doesn't share with you the mistakes they've made and the times they got it wrong shouldn't be considered for guidance. Those leaders that are concerned with your progress will be like one of my mission companions who said, "I'm going to teach you everything I know and all the things I did right and wrong so that you will be far better than I was."
Why do so few take this path?
Often it is because our emotions, fears, anxieties, and a host of other pressures can overwhelm us before we even get started. I shared with two friends recently an analogy of things that keep us from coming to the Lord. I'll share it here:
What if every time you walked into your bathroom the floor was wet and you slipped and fell? You mop it up and then the next morning - BAM! You slip and fall again. Water. So you mop it up again. And again - you slip and fall the next day. But what if you took a moment to discover where all that water was coming from? What if you discovered that the shower was clogged and each time the shower was run, it spilled the water onto the floor. And what if all you had to do was unclog the drain and then the water would flow freely?The parallel to that analogy is that there is usually just one thing we need to fix in order to start getting closer to the Lord. We get overwhelmed or set up roadblocks that keep us from coming to Him because one area in our life is clogging the whole flow. Ask the Lord in prayer what that is and take a notebook and pen and write down what you hear. The clog may surprise you and not be what you think it is.
For me some of the weak areas I encountered on my journey back to the Lord were found in my desire to "bring again Zion" and be a part of the 144,000. I was led to diverse groups with people who shared visions and dreams and I was tossed to and fro as I listened to others "prophesy" and "receive revelation". It wasn't until I grew so weary and was beaten down spiritually that I let go of that desire and changed it to only desiring the Lord and doing what He asks of me. And I desired that alone with all my soul. That made all the difference.
People can be born with a propensity for certain spiritual gifts but it is the tenacious, those with the most desire, who reach great heights. If you are truly desiring to serve the Lord and be one with Him - you have to ask yourself - How much failure am I willing to endure to develop my gifts/talents?
The Lord will coach you each step of the way. Expect failure, but also in time, the ability to discern the Adversary will increase until he has no power over you. I have not arrived at that point yet and still receive the buffetings of Satan from time to time.
Moroni 7:10-26 tells you everything you need to know!
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
Do not be discouraged if you find that you have been deceived by the Adversary. We will all experience this to the end that we come to distinguish the good from the evil. If you are humble and seek the Lord's word, you will be led to the truth. There must be an opposition in all things and if you are given a deception by the Adversary - prepare to receive a powerful revelatory experience from above, the Lord will not leave you comfortless.
In the church we have come to misunderstand spiritual authority and power. A relationship with the Lord can never come upon us by passing a worthiness interview from a church authority or by years of scholarly study. It is not something you qualify for because of your gender or age. It is simply given to God’s humble servants because of their pure hearts and an eye single to His glory.
Your "level" of "priesthood" merely signifies your relationship with the Lord and is also what determines the level of spiritual gifts we are allowed to use. If we are disconnected from the Lord, our outward priesthood actions will be hollow and without power.
“And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.” (D&C 84:35-39)
Please - the best thing you can do this month is to watch this movie. It shows everything! Pilgrims Progress
Soul On Fire
by
All Sons & Daughters
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