Author: Freedom ARC

Freedom Apostolic Resource Centre, Barnstaple, UK.

385. Understanding Manifestations | From experience to reality

Mike Parsons

When it comes to what God is doing and how that is going to be expressed, I think people see it from different perspectives. Personally, I see it as a process, as relationship, not as an event. Now, I’m not saying there won’t be a vanishing point where people may have incredible experiences, but those experiences alone won’t be enough for them to sustain that way of living unless they come into the revelation and reality of it in their own lives.

Things can happen to you, but that doesn’t mean you can do them yourself until you come into that reality. You have to step into it to make it part of who you are. For instance, if someone like Justin has seen in the spirit that congregations may just vanish into heaven and do amazing things, that’s great. But when those people return, how many will be able to engage in that way on their own? That’s the key: living a life where you’ve learned to develop your spiritual senses through practice, enabling you to live out those experiences yourself.

Now, will there be a wave of new giftings? I don’t think there will be new gifts, but rather a restoration of what God originally intended for humanity. Think about being clothed in glory, having the ability to walk through things, or engaging with quantum realities like translocation and transport. These aren’t new ideas; they’re simply a restoration of what Adam could have done if he had continued walking with God.

Yes, there are levels of ascension God wants to take us through, but I don’t believe these will happen corporately in the sense that everyone in a group will suddenly be able to do all these things. There may be corporate experiences that inspire individuals to pursue these realities for themselves, but it’s still a personal journey of development. The same applies to spiritual gifts: there’s a difference between being given a gift for a moment and developing the ability to express that gift as part of who you are as a son or daughter of God.

There might be manifestations that serve to inspire people to live a lifestyle beyond their current expectations. But these manifestations are not a guarantee of lasting ability—they’re invitations to pursue a deeper life of relationship with God. It all comes back to knowing who you are and stepping into your true identity. Along the way, experiences that inspire or motivate us are wonderful, but the ultimate goal is for each person to grow in their own journey.

Years ago, there was a trend where people would go to conferences to have hands laid on them in the hope of receiving an anointing or impartation. Some may have experienced something profound or even temporarily received a gift, but the reality is that lasting transformation requires more than receiving a gift. It requires living a life shaped by that gift.

Our spirit is capable of doing everything the Holy Spirit enables, but we need to develop discernment and practice. The key is to align with the Father’s heart and only operate out of what he is doing—not just act because we can. There’s a temptation for people to misuse spiritual gifts for personal gain, like fame or fortune, and that’s not what God intends. The glory belongs to God, not us.

One danger with dramatic manifestations is that people can become overly focused on the individual through whom those manifestations occur, or on the organisers of such events. This can lead to disappointment when those people inevitably fail or let others down. It’s a cycle we’ve seen repeated time and again. That’s why it’s so important to develop our own relationship with God and nurture our own giftings. When it’s your gift—something developed through practice, perseverance, and growth—it becomes a part of who you are.

There’s a difference between a temporary ability to do something and living in the reality of that ability every day. The latter requires perseverance, growth, and development—not just in ability but also in character. Immaturity in handling spiritual gifts can lead to misuse or even harm, which is why God prioritises the development of our character alongside our abilities. When love is at the centre, we can use these abilities in a way that doesn’t draw attention to ourselves but instead points back to God for his glory.

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384. Spiritual Senses | Learning to see beyond the physical

Mike Parsons

I think practice helps, but ultimately it’s about desire, relationship, and intention. Discipline often gets framed as just trying harder or forcing yourself to practise even when you don’t feel like it. But in reality, it’s not about effort; it’s about relaxing into it. When it comes to ascending or engaging spiritually, the easiest and best thing to do is relax. Meditation and engaging with God are always better when you’re relaxed.

Don’t approach it with an agenda. Don’t force it or try to control it. Just set your heart’s desire on the Father, on Jesus, and let them lead the encounter. Whether the encounter comes as a vision or just an impression doesn’t really matter. When you talk about engaging through the eyes of your imagination, think of it as the screen where everything happens in your mind. That’s where you perceive, hear, see, smell, or otherwise sense things. It’s the place where both natural and spiritual stimuli are interpreted.

The brain processes spiritual senses in a similar way to how it processes physical senses—through electrical impulses. These impulses come from stimuli, whether physical or spiritual, and the brain learns to interpret them. Just as a child learns language through repeated exposure to sounds, we learn to interpret spiritual senses over time. It’s a process of practice, repetition, and intention.

If your desire is to engage with the Father, start by simply ‘being’, relaxed and present. Don’t put an agenda on it. Let him set the agenda. When you open yourself up to him without a specific goal in mind, you create space for him to reveal what you need to know and experience. It becomes a journey—a walk with him.

For example, when it comes to things like portals, I’ve never tried to force my way through one. The Father led me through them when the time was right. Early on, I didn’t even go through portals; I just observed things coming through them. Later, when the Father led me to a portal, I went through it because he took me there, not because I pushed my way in. It’s about letting him lead instead of striving to figure everything out on your own.

I used to be the kind of person who always needed to know, to understand, to push through and figure things out. But that was me operating in my own strength, trying to validate myself. When God separated my soul and spirit and then reintegrated them, it set me free from that need. I didn’t have to pursue knowledge or understanding in the same way anymore. Now, I can simply be open to whatever experience he wants to give me.

Sometimes my experiences aren’t visual at all. They’re more like a deep knowing or perception. For example, I’ve journaled encounters with my eyes open, writing down what I was experiencing as if I were seeing it, even though I wasn’t seeing anything physically. The encounter was real—it was just perceived differently.

When it comes to engaging spiritually, start internally. Focus on the garden of your heart, your spirit, and your first love for God. Let the rivers of living water flow, lie down in green pastures, rest by quiet waters. Let the Father set the agenda—what he wants to show you, talk to you about, or take you into. Then, as you follow him, those experiences will naturally unfold.

Don’t try to force things. If he wants to take you through a portal, great! If not, that’s fine too. The key is not to push for an experience just because you want one. Instead, ask the Father to open up what that experience is meant to be and then learn to listen and sense his voice. When you go with his voice, you don’t need to set or force an agenda. Just relax and enjoy the journey he’s taking you on.

That journey will lead you to discover who you truly are. And as you step into that identity, you’ll begin to express it naturally, living out the Father’s heart in your everyday life and circumstances. It’s about being who you were always meant to be and letting that flow out into everything you do.

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383. Greasy Grace or Limitless Grace?

Mike Parsons

You’re on dangerous ground when you take the evangelical position that the Bible is inspired, inerrant and infallible. Nowhere in the Bible does it claim that all its writings are inerrant, infallible and inspired.

For example, where does it say in the book of Isaiah that it was inspired by God? It doesn’t. Do I believe Isaiah prophesied with the inspiration of the Spirit? Yes, I do. Did he write it as a direct dictation from God? No, I don’t think so. He wrote and expressed what he felt God was saying to him, filtered through his own understanding. Would Isaiah have understood that the suffering servant was the coming Messiah? I don’t think so. But he wrote it because God inspired him to, or spoke to him about it.

We don’t need another book of stuff to argue over, or create more doctrines of God about!

Too much grace!

Many preachers warn against “greasy grace” but rarely show the same concern for excessive legalism. They always seem more worried about too much grace.

When it comes to Limitless Grace, this is not just grace upon grace; it’s the divine enabling power that works within us. As we grow in the awareness of this limitless grace, it transforms how we think and live. Limitless Grace, alongside triumphant mercy, is rooted in God’s unconditional love. If God’s love is unconditional, as it is, then his grace must also be limitless.

Unconditional love is God’s desire to work out that love for our good, to restore us to the place he intended from the beginning—a relationship with him, face-to-face, in innocence. Ephesians 1:4 speaks of this restoration to face-to-face innocence in love. If God’s love were conditional, grace would be limited. But because love is unconditional, grace must also be limitless.

God’s grace empowers us to return to our original purpose and identity by removing every obstacle that hinders us. Often, we think of ourselves through the lens of our upbringing, experiences, or societal expectations, which impose limitations. But God’s grace enables us to see ourselves as he sees us, unshackled by those hindrances.

I used to try to renew my mind by sheer effort, but it never worked because I was trying to fix the problem using the same flawed thinking. God renews our minds by giving us transformative experiences, revealing his unconditional love and limitless grace. These experiences change how we see him and, in turn, how we see ourselves.

Some misunderstand grace as “greasy grace” or “cheap grace,” as if it excuses any behaviour. But grace isn’t a cover for wrongdoing; it’s the empowerment to live differently. Grace is limitless because our capacity to act contrary to God’s love is vast. Yet, God’s grace is greater, ensuring we can always be restored to that place of innocence and relationship with him.

Grace is not about what we deserve or earn—it’s about God’s love for us. Critics of grace often argue that it promotes permissiveness, claiming it suggests that “God will love us no matter what we do, so it doesn’t matter how we live.” While it’s true that God’s love for us never changes, our actions do have consequences. They affect us—and others. That’s why God empowers us to live according to who we truly are in him, rather than who we think we are.

Unfortunately, much of evangelical Christianity is focused on law rather than grace. They see grace as “cheap” or “greasy,” fearing it excuses behaviour. But grace is not about fear of consequences or external control. I once spoke to a very evangelical man who admitted that the only thing stopping him from certain actions was the fear of God finding out. He was operating out of fear, not love.

God doesn’t want us to act rightly because we’re afraid of punishment; he wants us to live from a place of understanding and embracing his love and grace. When we see things as God does, we won’t want to do things that harm ourselves or others. That’s the true power of grace—it transforms us from within.

Grace does not excuse sin

Grace empowers us not only to avoid wrong choices but also to refrain from actions that contradict love. This empowerment is essential, yet some misunderstand it, accusing those who teach about unconditional love of promoting “greasy grace.” They claim God cannot excuse sin because he is righteous and holy. But what they misunderstand is that grace doesn’t excuse sin; it forgives us for it—even before we’ve committed it.

Grace allows us to see our actions from God’s perspective, enabling us to choose differently when we recognise something is harmful to ourselves or others. God loves us so deeply that he doesn’t want us to remain in harmful patterns. His grace renews our minds, helping us think differently and act differently.

The legalistic mindset focuses solely on law-based consequences—what happens if you do or don’t do something. It misunderstands God’s grace entirely. Grace doesn’t “cover” sin in a superficial sense; it forgives sin and empowers us to live beyond it. Sin, in this context, is not merely wrongdoing but a loss of identity. God has already forgiven us for being in that lost state and wants to restore us to the reality of who we truly are.

Triumphant mercy works alongside grace to overcome everything we do that contradicts God’s love. Mercy doesn’t ignore or tolerate wrongdoing; it works to bring us into a new way of living. This is why grace and mercy are empowering—they enable us to move beyond harmful patterns, not by fear or obligation but through love and forgiveness.

Evangelical perspectives

The idea of “greasy grace” reflects a complete misunderstanding of grace. Critics often claim that teaching about unconditional love and grace gives people an excuse to do whatever they want. But the reality is, people already do what they want. True grace transforms what we want, aligning our desires with God’s heart. Personally, I surrendered my free will years ago because I didn’t want to choose things in opposition to God. My desire now is to live in alignment with God’s love and purposes, not out of fear or duty but out of a shared desire to please his heart.

Unfortunately, evangelical perspectives often distort the meaning of grace, reducing it to an acronym or a rigid formula. Some view it as a way for God to tolerate us because of Jesus’ sacrifice, as though Jesus came to save us from God. But Jesus didn’t come to save us from God—he came to save us from ourselves and the consequences of living in a lost identity. The salvation he offers isn’t about avoiding an eternal punishment but about freeing us from the consequences of an independent path that leads to harm and separation from God in our perception.

Grace is often misunderstood in the evangelical framework because it’s tied to the idea that faith is something we must generate. However, faith itself is a gift that allows us to believe what is already true. Grace, grounded in unconditional love, has no prerequisites for us to receive it. It’s already there for us. When we accept it, we begin to enjoy its benefits, but it has always been available regardless of our actions.

Much of evangelical thinking wrongly assumes that grace is only extended after we perform certain actions—repentance, renunciation, or asking for forgiveness. But God has already responded to our independence by stepping into it, fully identifying with our lost state. The “wages” or consequences of independence were death—separation from God from our perspective, not his. God has always seen us through the lens of love, but we have viewed ourselves as separated from him, creating the illusion that we must earn our way back.

Legalistic, works-based religion arises from this flawed belief. But the truth is, there’s nothing we can do to make grace true—it already is. When we realise and accept this truth, we can enter into the joy and freedom it offers. Our acceptance doesn’t create grace; it simply allows us to experience it.

So critics of grace often frame it as a license to continue doing whatever we want. Yet true grace is the opposite—it’s the empowerment to live in alignment with God’s desires, in relationship with him, and free from fear, duty, or obligation. Grace changes the desires of our hearts because it allows us to know and experience God’s heart. This transformation empowers us to live as God intended—not as a requirement but as a joyful response to his love.

{Further topics are covered in the video].

382. Understanding Immortality | Beyond life and death

Mike Parsons

I think people understand one aspect of immortality—that you don’t die—but they often relate it only to a spiritual sense, like, “When you die, you go to heaven.” But that’s not immortality. That’s just your spirit and soul continuing to exist in another place. Immortality, as Jesus described in John 6, is physical. He said, “Eat my flesh, drink my blood, and you won’t die.” He made it clear it referred to physical death because he contrasted it with the bread eaten by the ancestors in the wilderness, who still died. He said, “This is the bread that’s come down from heaven. If you eat this bread, you won’t die.”

Now, obviously, many people who’ve eaten that bread have died, so there’s a disconnect between what Jesus said and our experience. That creates a problem for many because they see the countless Christians who’ve died since then and think, “Well, it didn’t work.” But the reality is, they didn’t believe it applied to physical death. Instead, they made an agreement with death, believing that dying was the path to heaven. For centuries, Christians have desired to die to reach heaven.

But if we go back to what Jesus said, the purpose of immortality becomes clear: God loves us unconditionally. He doesn’t want that love to end because “our time’s up.” Immortality is rooted in that unconditional love, enabling us to continually experience it here on earth and, eventually, in a fully reconnected heaven and earth. When that relationship is restored, we’ll no longer be limited to earth. We’ll have the freedom Adam would have had if he had continued ascending into maturity.

Jesus came to undo the works of the evil one, to destroy what robs, kills and destroys life. He didn’t destroy the evil one himself, but his works—anything that contradicts abundant life. Eternal life isn’t just about living forever; it’s about the quality of that life. Who’d want to live forever without the fullness of health and healing? Immortality must include healing, wholeness, and the vibrant quality of life God designed for us.

Eternal life reflects the life that flows from God’s eternal nature. It’s not just an endless number of days but the richness and multidimensional aspect of life. It’s about being unrestricted by time and space, not tied to Earth forever. The biblical terms translated as “forever” or “everlasting” don’t always mean what we assume. In the Old Testament, olam refers to a distinct period, an age. Similarly, the Greek term aion implies a defined era. So, when we understand these words correctly, immortality doesn’t mean stagnation—it allows for transformation and progression across ages.

This body, as God designed it, can be transformed to fit the requirements of each age or stage of existence. Immortality is about quality, capability, and the ability to live multidimensionally, not limited by earthly constraints. It’s about experiencing time differently, where time serves us rather than binding us. As we live in this reality, we’ll discover more of who God created us to be, moving into the abundant life Jesus promised.

I don’t want to live anything less than that abundant life. Jesus said we could have life in abundance, and I believe that promise will continually expand. It’s about living in the fullness of what God intended, fulfilling our destiny in this age and those to come. As we draw closer to God, who is light, our relationship with time and space will shift. We won’t be bound by current limitations.

Jesus demonstrated this multidimensional reality. He walked on water, passed through crowds, multiplied resources, and displayed mastery over creation. He operated from a place of complete understanding of how creation works, at a quantum level. We, as children of God, are called to be like him, made in his image and likeness. Jesus said we’d do everything he did and greater. To embrace this, our minds and consciousness must expand, enabling us to live in the fullness of who God designed us to be.

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381. Living Without Worry | A Guide to Seeking the Kingdom

Mike Parsons – 

If you are operating from the Father’s heart, doing only what the Father’s intentions are, then you can take the promise that all these things will be added to you and then outwork that promise. When it says, “take no thought,” it does not mean trying to live in denial or suppressing what might be the truth. Rather, it means not worrying about it, as your trust is in God’s provision.

God’s provision can come in many different ways—sometimes through work, sometimes through people blessing us, or in other ways. The phrase “take no thought” does not mean to avoid thinking about a situation but instead to avoid worry. It encourages us to bring the situation to the Father. Scripture says, “Come boldly to the throne of grace when you have a time of need to find grace and mercy.” There is nothing wrong with coming to the Father, saying, “I am running out of money for the end of the month,” and seeing what the Father’s heart is on the matter. Yet, you do not come from a place of worry or lack, but rather with a heart that shares your needs and life with the Father. Sharing your life with the Father is good and healthy. “Take no thought” does not mean you cannot think about it; it simply means not to dwell on it in a negative way based on worry, anxiety, or fear.

When you seek first the kingdom of God, all these things will be added, but that does not mean we are not involved in the “adding.” For instance, we may, as the Father directs us, call for things that are not as though they are. We can call for finance to manifest in our lives or for the manifestation of other things we need. We do not have to be negative or passive about it; we can be active and seek the Father’s heart for any guidance He would provide. We might be involved in that manifestation spiritually, by establishing things in heaven so they can be manifested on earth, or physically and practically, such as by taking up a job or something similar. But that involvement is as the Father directs us. The key is to seek first the kingdom, meaning to seek first God’s rule and His way of life.

The kingdom should not be thought of as a vast realm encompassing the universe; rather, consider the rule of God in and through your life. Ask yourself: what is God calling you to establish on earth as it is in heaven? Break it down to the basics and assess whether what you are doing aligns with God’s purpose for you. Are your actions consistent with who He made you to be? It is good to take time to reflect—are you in the right place, doing the right things and walking in line with the Father’s Heart?

Remember, your destiny is not a list of tasks but the person you are meant to be. It is about who you are, and once you understand that, it will naturally shape what you do. Sometimes, reflection with the Father reveals that you are on the right path, and you can continue looking for daily opportunities to outwork that. Other times, He might signal that it is time for a change—a new season, place or direction. Make changes only if you are led by the Father to do so, but remember that asking Him is always welcome. The Father wants us to ask. Scripture reminds us, “You do not have because you do not ask.” This is not about pleading but sharing your current state with Him so He can guide you, bring you peace and rest, and help you outwork these truths in your life and heart.

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380. Transform Your Consciousness by Embracing the State of Love

Mike Parsons – 

Changing your state of consciousness is less about actively doing something and more about entering into the reality that already exists. It’s coming into agreement with the truth of who you are as a son or daughter of God and embracing your identity in Him. This means realising that you live in an interactive relationship with God, where He is in you, and you are in Him – abiding in His presence as He abides in you. Connecting relationally with that truth changes your state of consciousness and your state of mind.

I would say this change begins with peace, a place of rest where you accept the reality of who you are in God – that you are forgiven, made righteous, justified, accepted and included. These truths bring you into a state of love, joy and peace. You are loved unconditionally, filled with joy, and live in gratitude for the life you have. You find peace that surpasses understanding. Jesus said, “My joy is in you so your joy can be full; love one another as I have loved you.” He left us His peace – not as the world gives, but a deeper peace of being loved, accepted and brought into a relationship with the Father.

This awareness shifts your consciousness from a focus on doing to a focus on being.

In this state of being, I live in unconditional love, grace and mercy. That is the state I live in. I am in rest; I don’t strive or struggle. I simply enjoy. A key to this shift in consciousness is understanding that you don’t have to do anything to maintain your relationship with God – it is freely given by His grace and love. You don’t earn it, work for it or need to do anything to sustain it. Instead, you enjoy it. You enjoy being loved, the joy of relationship with God, and a state of peace, free from duty, obligation or fear.

This means you can enjoy each day, knowing He is with you, and you are with Him. You don’t have to try to connect with God because He is already in you. Communication becomes continuous, as you are constantly face-to-face with Him in the light of His presence. He is connected to the core of your being, so you live in a state of oneness with Him. “Whoever is joined to the Lord is one spirit.” This oneness becomes a background awareness of His presence and your presence in Him, allowing you to live in love, joy and peace.

Communication with God becomes more of an inner knowing, where He shares His heart with you, filling you with peace. You are inspired by His intentions, which brings a sense of authority into your everyday life. Resting in Him means that you don’t approach Him with an agenda. You don’t seek to encounter or communicate with Him for specific goals; instead, you simply want to know His heart and walk in fellowship, intimacy and relationship with Him. As you rest in this relationship, He begins to reshape your understanding of yourself and your connection to Him, naturally transforming your consciousness into a state of rest.

From this place, communication with God becomes instinctive, an inner knowing of His heart. Yes, you may talk with Him, and He with you, but it becomes more about sharing hearts and living out of a state of union and oneness. As you do this, everything you are doing in the realms of Heaven connects with what you are doing here on earth, creating a seamless flow between both realms. You live in a state of peace and rest, enjoying life more fully, as life is meant to be enjoyed.

Living in intimacy with God, knowing that He is your Father who loves you, fills you with a sense of peace and purpose. In that state of love, He desires the best for you and wants you to live out that relationship daily, grounded in love, joy, peace and rest.

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379. Created in His Image | The Purpose of Our Existence

Mike Parsons – 

As we have been created in the image of God, sonship is the key. Father, Son and Spirit exist in an eternal circle of relationship, a mutual exchange of love. This dynamic love is central, and although the Spirit represents a spiritual reality, God has also created the natural realm to interact with us as His children. This allows us to reflect, receive and extend that love to one another. Love is always key with God – He has created us both to be loved and to love.

We are included in the circle of relationship between Father, Son and Spirit. He has placed eternity in our hearts, so we are drawn back to that relationship, even if we are not fully aware of it. This pull towards worship and connection with God is by His design. In the realm of creation, God has created us as sons to operate in sonship towards creation, as creation was made for us, not primarily for Him. Creation exists so that, as His children and co-heirs and co-creators, we might mature, come into an ascended state and, like Him, become creative.

There are things God has chosen only us to do, as we carry His DNA signature. We are made in His image and likeness, and this distinguishes us as a race. Angels, for instance, are created as individual beings with unique purposes. Other dimensions contain races as well, but they are all connected to this dimension, as we are the reference point for them. This calling is not about arrogance or claiming superiority; rather, we have been chosen as His children to steward creation with Him, moving forward into ages to come. There is a joy in God’s heart for us, and He wants this joy to be in us so our joy may be complete.

This co-heirship leads to co-creatorship, and as sons and daughters, we become creative. We express this creativity in our daily lives, but there is also the potential to create as God creates, calling things into existence as if they are. This starts with choosing realities that align with the Father’s heart and His intentions for our lives. Creation responds to us, forming that reality as we collapse quantum possibilities into being. However, to understand His intentions, we need intimacy with the Father’s heart. Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing, and that is what God desires from us – a relationship that is face to face, heart to heart, mind to mind, in the light of His presence. As His children, we then work in collaboration with Him to realise His intentions, choosing realities aligned with His purposes willingly and cooperatively within this co-creatorship.

Of course, I do not have all the answers because I am not God. There may be many other reasons for God creating us in this way and for creating the physical, spiritual and dimensional realms. God is a creative being, but I know with certainty that His purpose in creating is rooted in love. The whole of creation is meant to experience His love. This is why creation is waiting and longing for the revealing of the sons of God so it may be set free from corruption into the freedom of the glory of God’s children. He has given us a glorious image, clothing us in sonship so creation can respond to us. When we speak with His voice, carrying out His intentions, creation responds.

Therefore, it is essential to know His heart and to carry out His purposes with love. We love because He first loved us, and we love one another as He has loved us. This also means we should respond to creation lovingly, bringing God’s kingdom – His rulership and dominion – through love and not through any other way.

I hope this provides a little more insight into who we are and our image. We can only truly see ourselves by looking into the mirror of His face and seeing what is reflected back, listening to the vast sum of His thoughts about us. God has made each of us with a particular purpose, both individually and collectively as His children.

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378. Fear vs. Reverence | What does it mean to fear God?

Mike Parsons

Introduction to the Fear of God

When it comes to the fear of God, I think we need to move beyond the word “fear” as something associated with being afraid – being afraid of someone or being afraid of God. Instead, think of awe and respect, a deep sense of reverence for who God really is. In this way, there is no need to reconcile fear with love. Perfect love casts out fear, so it cannot mean being afraid of God in the sense of fearing what He might do or fearing punishment.

God didn’t kill Ananias and Sapphira

In the story of Ananias and Sapphira, it was not actually God who killed them. What happened was that, rather than administering God’s love and forgiveness, Peter spoke death over them, and the power of his words caused their deaths. Nowhere in the story does it say God killed them or took any direct action against them. It was the guilt they felt, combined with Peter’s lack of forgiveness, that caused this. God did not intend for this; His mercy would overcome anything we do. So, God does not kill people, nor does He punish. Perfect love is an expression of God’s best for people, and God wants to bring good out of every situation. When you read the story of Ananias and Sapphira, you see that it was Peter who cursed them, not God. This highlights the power of words and the authority Peter had, but he was acting out of the wrong spirit. He should have forgiven them, said, “God forgives you, let us restore you.” We are meant to carry one another’s burdens, not to punish each other.

Reverence, Respect and Honour

So, what is a practical example of the fear of God in action, when you understand it as reverence, respect and honour? It would be me going before the throne of God, falling on my face and casting my crowns before him in awe. There’s that sense of “Wow, you are so awesome, so wonderful.” There’s a weight to his presence that is amazing. But in another instance, I might sit on the Father’s lap on the throne of grace, feeling nothing but His pleasure and desire for me, simply enjoying His presence – which I do often. So, do not assume that just because the Bible says “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom,” that it means being afraid of him. Honouring God for who He is as the source of all wisdom and knowledge is the beginning of wisdom. The evangelical Christian world often programmes us to fear God to keep us in line. But, in reality, it is His love, His joy, and the wonderful peace and rest I have in Him that keep me following Him – not a fear of punishment. I do not worry that if I get something wrong, He will punish me or that something bad will happen to me. In fact, if I fear that something bad will happen, that fear could invite it into my life. Fear is like negative faith, generating a negative force in my life if I believe it. But God is never going to do that to me.

Rob, Kill and Destroy

Who does function in fear? The enemy seeks to rob, kill and destroy, and he will use our fear against us. This is what happened with Ananias and Sapphira: their guilt and Peter’s words allowed life to be taken from them. They lost their future because they were not restored. But as soon as they entered the realms of heaven as part of the cloud of witnesses, which they now are, every tear and regret would have been washed away. They would hold no negative memory of what they did, having been made whole. Now, they are part of the cloud of witnesses, fully restored, having forgiven Peter, who also realises that his actions were not good. Hopefully, God would have shown him this when he entered that realm, so he would not carry any regret, fear, or negativity with him either.

Unconditional Love of God

God is unconditionally loving towards us, though there are consequences to what we do. These consequences can bring about certain outcomes, but God’s mercy seeks to overcome them. So do not feel guilt, shame or condemnation – those feelings never come from God. Always receive forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration, for those are what God brings. God wants to love you so deeply that you know you are unconditionally loved and can come to know who you truly are. From that place, you can enjoy life, resting in His goodness, mercy, and love.

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377. Living in Rest

Mike Parsons – 

The Active Spirit

Your spirit is active all the time. What God wants most people to realise is that their spirit is always doing the Heavenly work, allowing us to handle the earthly things without needing to think about it, plan it, or programme it. Living in that state of rest is the key to everything. When Jesus walked the earth, he existed in a state of rest with the Father, knowing the Father’s heart. The Father did not have to tell him to “do this” or “do that”; Jesus simply knew the Father’s heart through relationship and intimacy. When Jesus came across the Widow of Nain’s son, he was moved by the compassion of the Father’s heart to raise that person from the dead. He did not need a predetermined list of things to do; he simply followed life.

Being and Doing

You do not have to be doing nothing in order to “be.” Being is a state of consciousness and awareness; it does not reflect what you are physically doing. You could be taking a long walk, working in the garden, or doing practical things. I love gardening, and when I am tending to the garden, I feel close to the Father, who planted gardens. I enjoy being actively engaged in gardening and feel the pleasure of the Father’s heart while doing it. It is not that I am doing nothing; rather, I am simply not driven to perform an action for spiritual reasons. Meditating and engaging with the Father’s heart can happen while I am in the workshop, making something from wood, or on a walk in the countryside, or even lying in the sun and resting.

Gratitude and Thanksgiving

Rejoicing, gratitude, and thanksgiving express one’s attitude towards God simply for who He is. I love to thank Him—for all the wonderful things in my life, for the garden I tend, for the sunshine, and even for the rain that waters the ground. Such an attitude fosters fellowship and a sense of peace. I am at peace with myself and enjoy life. If the Father desires to show me something or guide me, I am available; He can do so whenever He wishes. Even while physically resting or sleeping, my spirit remains active, contributing to the present moment. God is present in everything, wherever I am or whatever I am doing. He wants us to enjoy life, not out of obligation or duty, but in gratitude and celebration of His creation. The joy of our spirit actively brings forth an appreciation of life in all its moments, allowing us to live with peace and purpose.

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376. Unlocking Abundant Life

Mike Parsons – 

Misunderstanding and mistranslation

Isaiah 53 is a widely misunderstood and mistranslated passage. Often, the concept of the “suffering servant” has been used to support the idea of penal substitutionary atonement, suggesting that God punished Jesus. However, that was not the case; it was people who inflicted that suffering. Jesus frequently referenced the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament, which presents these scriptures differently. For example, in Isaiah 53:10, the traditional Hebrew text states it was the Lord’s will to “crush him with pain” by making his life a reparation offering. But in the Septuagint, it reads that it was the Lord’s will to “purify him” or “heal him of pain”—the pain we placed upon him. Therefore, Jesus did not die for our sins but rather because of our sins. The wages of sin led to death, and Jesus took on death to overcome it and bring life.

In the New Testament, Peter affirms that Jesus carried our sicknesses and went to the cross not only for our lost identity but also to deal with sickness. He addressed the consequences of sin that resulted in death, as “the wages of sin is death,” not punishment. This is relevant to the passage in Isaiah, which states that “by his scourging we are healed.” The scourging, or whipping, was not inflicted by God, but by people. This suffering enables us to be fully restored and healed. Reading Isaiah 52 alongside chapter 53 highlights the travesty of justice that Jesus endured, a profound injustice as an innocent person was punished by human hands, not by God. This passage, misinterpreted through the lens of penal substitution, truly reveals that God was not inflicting punishment on the suffering servant; rather, Jesus’ suffering was an act of injustice inflicted by others.

Continual communion with God

Years ago, I explored the Bible to understand its teachings on healing and health. I discovered that God is my healer, and Jesus’ actions on the cross made healing possible, allowing me to experience health and wholeness. Over time, I have come to see that I can be healed, live in health, and even transcend death itself. Jesus’ work on the cross means I am not just spiritually saved to reach heaven but can also live free from physical death. This realisation shapes my daily practice: I take communion, symbolically taking on the life of God, and receiving it as a cleansing and transformation. By living in communion, I partake in this life continually. Rivers of living water flow within me, providing health and wholeness from the Tree of Life.

I draw from this life force, a quantum field that God has created to sustain the entire universe, which in turn sustains me. I could see this as rivers of living water, light energy or spirit, reflecting my existence within an environment meant to be self-healing, self-restoring, and self-repairing. This aligns with God’s original design for the body, which should be able to restore and repair itself. However, because of death’s presence in the body, ageing results, disrupting its natural function. Ideally, the body would communicate within itself, signalling the immune system to identify areas needing repair, restoration, or replacement. This process operates within the mitochondria of the cells, yet that communication apparently slows down or fails to work as we get older. So, we need to make sure that our cells are communicating. I can communicate that to my body, and I can communicate with the cells of my body and remind my body of its immortal state. I can speak to my body in that way, live in that communion and fellowship of life and immortality, and live in that atmosphere. That will be my thoughts, my intentions aligned to God’s thoughts and intentions.

Transition

There are also things you can do to help with that. There is a liquid you can drink called ASEA, which actually restores the cell’s ability to repair themselves. You can also get a gel called Renew, which I have seen miraculously restore burns and do things very quickly, because it is designed to cause the body to self-repair and self-heal efficiently and effectively. Now, that is a transitionary thing until we can begin to think and function in health and immortality in our own thinking and begin to live in that environment where health, wholeness, life, and immortality are the norm.

Breathing in life

So, you know, I have had various stages along the way of realising that God desires me to live in health, that God desires me to be immortal, and to have that function. Therefore, I take on that life, so now every time I breathe, communion for me has gone from something I did to something that I now am. So I am in communion with life; I am partaking in life. When I breathe in, I am breathing in life, just as God breathed into Adam, and he became a living being. I am breathing in the life of God. I am living in rarefied air, if you like; I am breathing in life, breathing in energy, breathing in wholeness. That is the fellowship I live in—that is, in a sense, where I live in communion with life, and I have no communion or agreement with death, sickness, or disease. I know it takes time for this to become something we live in and not try to attain. This is my reality; this is the reality I live in.

Accidents

Now, of course, at times I have to focus that intention in my body, like when you mentioned accidents. I have had accidents. In fact, I had an accident this week in which I slipped on a slippery paving stone, went up in the air, came down, and my whole side landed on the edge of a railway sleeper and really hurt. Therefore, I am having to focus on basically apologising to my body for that accident. Although I could not say it was my fault, and I was not in any way careless, it was just slippery, and I did not realise. But I still engaged my body. Now, I am communicating with my body for the removal of the pain.

Now, pain, in a sense, is something that says something is wrong. So, at the moment, my ribs and all the way down my back are—well, my ribs are very, very sore, but I am working with my body for its restoration. But I have to be sensible. There are some things that I think, okay, I am going to push through this, and I am just going to ignore it, and I am going to get on with it. Then, there are times where I think, no, I need to rest now, I need to give my body time to repair and to restore itself and to repair the damage done to my ribs, intercostal muscles, and all around that area. So, I focus my intention on that area, and I begin to choose the reality that my body will come into a restored, repaired, healthy state. Sometimes it takes time; you can have a miracle in which all of the pain goes and all of the problem goes, or you can work with your body in your thinking and in your positive mental attitude in choosing restoration and choosing health and wholeness, and choosing the reality that you will come into a whole state.

Jesus healed in different ways

Jesus healed people in different ways. One of the words used for healing was “therapeuo,” which is where we get “therapy” from, and that indicates a process. So, sometimes there is a process, sometimes it is instant. Obviously, we would all prefer it to be instant, but sometimes we have to work through the process, coming to agreement. Yes, I have done court cases and things with my body years ago, apologised, and did all that, so that my body would have no offence against me, and therefore, my body would be working in cooperation with me because I am one—body, soul, and spirit. I am one, you know.

Abundant life

But it is a process and a matter of thinking and realising that what he did on the cross was to bring me into the wholeness of life. What happened on the cross was an injustice because he did not deserve to go to the cross, and God did not do any of that to him on the cross; man did. But he was representing man and taking man’s desire for punishment, and thereby brought about the resurrection and overcame death. Therefore, to overcome death, you have to overcome sickness, and he overcame sickness so that we could live in the abundance of life.

So, I would encourage you to continue with communion. See communion as a state of being, so that with every breath you take, you are receiving life, energy, health, and wholeness. Just see that begin to bring about the changes in your physical body to align with the truth of Him actually taking on all the associations of death and giving us abundant life.

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