(A Biblical Perspective by Al Thomas)

DON'T WORRY ABOUT KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT TRYING TO BE GOOD.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT SIN THAT SO EASILY BESETTS YOU.

Am I advocating a carnal, care free, foolish life style? Am I saying you and I shouldn't be spiritually responsible or disciplined? No, of course not. What I am saying is this:

YOUR DAILY GOAL AS GOD'S CHILD IS TO SIMPLY STAY IN UNION WITH THE RISEN SAVIOUR

KEEP YOUR LAMP FULL (MATTHEW 25: 1-8) by remembering:

I. Life in Jesus is easy when you know you have but one responsibility:
Staying in Union with Him. Abiding in Him (JOHN 15:4). Unless we are in union with Him we cannot keep the commandments. We will not have the strength. Besides, everything we do outside of Him will produce things that add up to nothing. Nothing means zero, blank, zilch, you lose, unproductive, no lasting fruit.
II. Life in Jesus is hard when you load your heart and mind with burdens you were not meant to carry. When you let yourself carry unassigned burdens His will is misunderstood. You begin to think He is not fair or that you have to measure up to the task. Soon you begin to think the task is too hard to do. Some blame it on a non existent demon, wondering why he doesn't obey the name of Jesus. Carrying a burden you were never meant to carry can turn into bondage (GALATIONS 5:1). The devil wants you to think serving Jesus is impossible.
III. Life in Jesus is easy when you realize His commandments are not grievous, (I JOHN 5:3). Jesus will never give you more than you can bear, temptation wise (I CORITHIANS 10:13) and burden wise (NUMBERS 11:11-17). Life is easy when you realize His grace is always sufficient, (2 CORINTHIANS 12:9) for each day.
IV. Life in Jesus is hard when you carry any burden except the one He has for you. Here are three types of burdens: Yours: GALATIONS 6:5, Others that are assigned to you: GALATIONS 6:2 (Help each other when it is in your power to do so) and Christ's: MATTHEW 11:28-30. We must stay in union with Him and 'learn of Him'. Many saints started out serving Him with great energy and sincere commitment, but having familiarly rather than intimacy with Jesus they wound up frustrated, discouraged and confused. God's rest eluded them.
V. Life in Jesus is easy when we recognize that He can appear in a vast array of disguises, ready to become visible in any circumstance or through any vessel. Jesus can be mistaken for a gardener (JOHN 20:15) or a stranger (LUKE 24:16). When we are in union with the Master we will be amazed how He will suddenly manifest Himself to us. The Lord will sometimes speak through the most unlikely vessels, like you and I. When Jesus died on that cross He made something available to you and me. The ability to rest in the midst of chaos. Many years ago, a little boy was given a priceless possession: his deceased grandfather's gold pocket watch. How he treasured it! But one day, while playing at his father's ice plant, he lost the watch amid all the ice and sawdust. He searched, becoming frantic, but no watch. Then he suddenly realized what to do. He stopped scurrying around and became very still. In the silence, he heard the watch ticking. God has given each of us the priceless gift of resting in Him. How easy it is to lose His rest in the busyness of our life. Yet, it is always there to find, if we will but pause and listen to the presence of Jesus in our hearts. Today, rest in Him. Lay that burden down at His feet. He is waiting to lift it off of you. Go to Him today and:

STAY IN UNION WITH JESUS.If you do this one thing, everything else will fall into place.

COMING: A PROPHETIC EINSTEIN
(A Prophetic Word by Al Thomas, June 2003)

Recently, I was in my office praying (I forgot about what) when suddenly, it seemed as if the sun came out from behind a cloud. Everything was bright...yet my eyes were closed. As clearly as anything I heard the Lord say, "AL, YOU ARE WRONG." Before I could answer or ask, "Wrong about what?" I saw a vision of myself (recently preaching in a church), and heard myself say, "Oh, as a side note, this prophetic movement that has graced the church is waning...it's slowing down and we are moving into greater and more powerful things. Yes, there will be prophecies, but the main thrust of the movement is waning..." God strongly said: I was wrong about that. For the next fifteen minutes or so I was shown my folly and told never to say that again. Why? Because (the Holy Spirit said), "THE PROPHETIC MOVEMENT IS NOT SLOWING DOWN BUT IS IN THE PROCESS OF GROWING UP". Then I saw a vision of a small toddler, just starting to walk. This was a representation of the prophetic movement. Next to the toddler, I saw a spirit filled, prophetically anointed Einstein. This represented a mature, intelligent and powerful movement that the even world took notice of, and listened to with great interest. God said, " AL, THIS IS WHERE THE PROPHETIC MOVEMENT IS GOING, IT WILL SHAKE THE WORLD AND MANY WILL TAKE NOTE OF PROPHETIC WORDS LIKE THEY DO THE HEADLINES OF THE DAY". The day will come when the evening news will lead off with the "PROPHETIC WORD OF THE DAY." That is how accurate and powerful the prophetic will become. God is in the process of growing the movement up. After I repented, (it seemed as if the Lord was smiling for what He was to do next) He poured a fresh prophetic anointing on me, and said "I WILL POUR AN INCREASING PROPHETIC ANOINTING ON MY CHURCH UNTIL I COME." He reminded me of the Power of the Prophetic and said "EVERYONE IS INVOLVED IN THE PROPHETIC WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT". Better jump on board now!