THE LIGHT IN YOU by MARSHA BURNS

Small Straws:  I hear the cries of those who desire to have greater discernment and to hear My voice more clearly.  And, I tell you, beloved, that it is not only desirable, but it is also possible.  All you have to do is to clear your soul of all darkness so that only light and good and truth exist.  You cannot hear clearly when you are conflicted or double-minded.  You cannot hear when you are offended, critical or judgmental.  You cannot hear when you are in any kind of sin.  Return to Me, says the Lord, and be done with the works of the flesh and all darkness and let My light shine forth, says the Lord. 

This word came to me because I want us all to have greater discernment in daily life.  I want to pray in faith by the Spirit of the Lord and not according to soul desires.  If we pray by the Spirit, I believe that every prayer will bring forth fruit.  If we pray according to the flesh, we won’t see the power of God in manifestation.

I believe this is a big part of what is wrong with the Church today and why there is so much unbelief.  For the most part, we are not operating in true discernment and faith or allowing the Spirit to pray through us.  Then, when we don’t see answers to prayer, we get disappointed and get to the place where it’s anybody’s guess as to whether God will answer or not.

How many times have we heard people say something like, “I prayed, but God didn’t answer.”  And, that statement always carries with it a sense of resignation, hopelessness, and perhaps even blame or an unstated accusation against God that He doesn’t care.

God has already set up the rules.  The Word is His law, which can’t be broken.  Spiritual laws are like laws of physics.  They exist and rule.  We can’t defy the law of gravity, for example.

So, if I want greater discernment to hear God and be led by His Spirit, I have to clear my soul of all darkness so that only light exists.

1 Peter 2:9   But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 John 1:5   This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

1 Thessalonians 5:5  You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

1 John 1:7   But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

2 Corinthians 6:14  Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

1 John 2:9   He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

I have noticed that people who have a heart after God, really have a desire to have relationship with Him, surround themselves with people who also have that same heart’s desire.  I’m not talking about religious or denominational fellowship; I’m talking about the real deal.

James 4:1  Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

The wars and divisions come because we are not walking in the light. 

Galatians 5:17  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

There is an internal war as well as an external war.  When one person is walking in the Spirit and the other in the flesh, there is no fellowship and separation is the result.

John 1:5  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 3:

19  "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20  "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

21  "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

What is the darkness within that needs to brought to the light?  The works of the flesh!

From Galatians 5:20 … things we’re guilty of that spring from darkness:  sorcery (manipulation and control), hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions (self-absorption or self-centeredness), dissensions (divisions).  We an also add to that list fear, condemnation, self-hatred, unbelief, hopelessness, and a bunch of other things, but I’m only using these examples to reveal the darkness.

What God showed me is that I need to spend time allowing Him to show me the darkness in me so that it can be released (repented of) to allow light to come.  I have to change my mind, in other words.

John 1:5  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Matthew 6:22-23  The lamp of the body is the eye.  If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

The eye is defined as sight, spiritual sight, the faculty of knowing or discernment.  (opthalmos)

We must develop our spiritual sight in order to discern the condition of our own souls, of the condition of the souls around us, evil spirit and the Spirit of the Lord.  This is a must if we are to know how to pray for ourselves and others.

John 12:46  "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

Ephesians 5:8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

Ephesians 5:13  But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

Matthew 4:16  The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned."

Matthew 5:

14  "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15  "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Mark 4:22  "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.