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Ethan Ferris

Holy Exhortation IV

Updated: Sep 15

Parables, psalms and proverbs to edify the body of Christ


 

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. Romans 12:4-6


But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. 1 Corinthians 12:7


And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12


This publication is collected in obedience to these scriptures, with the understanding that the anointed writings of men and women of God are one of the gifts which we are to use; one of the manifestation given for the profit of all; one of the ministries given for the edifying of the body of Christ. These writings, insofar as they are guided by the Holy Spirit, are given by God with the intention that they be shared with the body at large for benefit and exhortation of many. Those who first receive and author them are not the end recipient, but are the Kingdom couriers entrusted with the very heart of God.


I encourage you to read Holy Exhortation slowly and prayerfully. Open your heart to the voice of God as you read, and let Him speak in the margins and between the pages. His words are of ultimate value, and this publication possesses value only insofar as He speaks to you through it.



 

God, My Confidence

By Jesse Arsenault


Father God, you've led me with tact into maturity. 


You have changed me 

and raised me up to a high place

Yet I could slip at any time


Your grace alone upholds me 

Your steady hand keeps me from slipping 


Let me settle into your heart as You sit on Your throne.


Father, You are beside me on the left

Spirit You surround me

Jesus You hide me in Your calm confidence 


Scripture References:


For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9


The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” Psalm 110:1


 

A Testimony of Deliverance

By Ethan Ferris


Before I knew Christ, I believed the lie that healing is self-generated. I participated in methods of ‘healing’ that can only be described as witchcraft – manipulation of my own body through will and ritual, in rebellion to divine order.


While I ceased to practice these methods after being saved (for I no longer needed them), the lie from which they flowed remained. A spirit continued to influence me, subtly turning my actions and my prayers towards will-generated self-effort.


Though the external expression was gone, the internal rebellion remained.


I dreamed one night, during this time, of a faceless, smartly dressed man approaching me and handing me a tablet. I took it, and on it I saw myself, with all my traits and functions organized into columns of neat data. I knew that with this tablet, I could change any of the numbers and make myself whatever I wanted to be. 


In the dream, I initially accepted the tablet with excitement, but another man – my spirit man – rose up within me with righteous anger and rejected the temptation.


I did not understand until later, when God brought deliverance.


Gathered with my brothers one night, I listened as they told testimonies of what witchcraft really looks like in today’s culture. I saw the similarities to what I had practiced in the past and began to be amazed at how something I had thought of as inane and meaningless was deeply rooted in rebellion against God. 


Considering this, I looked within, wondering if anything unclean lingered in my heart from these practices that I had only walked away from, but not truly repented of. I found there an influence that was cold and evil, reaching out to strangle me with rage. My body broke out in a cold sweat, and as I considered speaking up and asking for prayer, my chest tightened and my throat began to close. 


Most terrifying of all, though, was that I could not sense the presence of the Lord.


By the grace of God I spoke and asked my brothers for help. They stood me up and began to pray. My body calmed and I could breathe again, and in my relief, I relaxed and allowed myself to fall. However, this was only the unclean spirit attempting to hide. Praise God that He gave another man in the room discernment to see through the deception.


Wearing the authority of Christ, my brother stood me up and commanded the unclean spirit to leave.


As this was happening, my spiritual leaders, who had not been present, dreamed that I was under attack from a spirit of witchcraft. The next morning, knowing nothing of what had occurred, they reached out to confirm the word of the Lord and pray for me, only to find that God had dealt with the situation.


In the aftermath of this deliverance, my prayer life was forever changed. Submission in prayer became possible as my mind cleared of my personal desires and I was able to focus on God’s will instead of my own.


 

Do Not Let Me Go Astray

By Ethan Ferris


In the quiet, I hear You

In the darkness, I see You

In my fasting, You fill me

In my blindness, You guide me by touch

For in my numbness, I feel You


As the world I have leaned on collapses and blows away

I find You holding me firm

You have woven my heart into Yours

So I may always find strength in Your infinite power


I weep, mourn and cry out

And I see Your face, smiling, laughing, joyful and glowing

How wonderful it is to follow You

How perfect is Your leadership


When I see You going out before me

How can I do any less than follow closely?

And I know You love to have me at Your side even more than I love to follow You


I pray I walk with You for all my days and more

Search my heart, Lord, and straighten my path

Tie my heart to Yours so when I falter, I am pulled back to You

Do not let me go astray


 

The Implanted Word

By Jesse Arsenault


There are two wonders that impart great shalom (peace), 

before I sleep and when I rise. 


Your mercies are new every morning.

Indeed, they are like a gentle breeze. 

They are like the sun,

just rising to kiss the quiet field at dawn. 


Stop, Pause, Reflect & Ponder…


And oh how You grant me great favor with others,

as quickly as the twinkle in your loving eyes, 

as suddenly as the wind can change direction. 


Your countenance of kindness is so easily transferred. 

Yes, even our enemies nod in honor as we walk in Your ways. 


Scripture References:


For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1


When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7


 

His Sons

By Ethan Ferris


Who is man

That You should honor him?

Who am I

To know Your ways?


Lord, I will bless those You have blessed

I will submit to those You have set above me

I will honor those You have anointed

I will trust Your judgments and purposes


You are my King

You set Your princes as regents above the earth

Your armies answer their call

Your seal is upon their commands


They distribute Your blessings according to Your will

They glorify You, carrying Your banner into battle

How beautiful are those who wield Your sword in righteousness

Those conquered conquerors who take up dominion


This Kingdom is Yours forever and alone

Your authority echoes in my ears

I hear You asking, my King,

“What have you done with My sons?”


 

Father of My Lineage

By Ethan Ferris


God, you are the Father of my lineage

All generations are in You

Unto the fallen, You birth a redeemer

Unto the harlot, You betroth Your Son


I wonder what miracles You performed

With Your mighty hand

Through generations of strife

That I might live today


What are You doing today, God,

To make a place for tomorrow’s redeemer?

Man hoards his blood and lords purity over the impure

But You labor that Your lineage might invade all others


How many of my fathers are with You now?

How many of my mothers prayed for me?

How many of Your sons shed blood for them?

How many of Your daughters gave their lives?


The blood of sacrifice is pure

And Yours, most precious of all

Have Your just reward, Jesus

And so bless my line, yesterday, today and tomorrow!


 

Heavenly Friend

By Jesse Arsenault


I see now Lord, that I've accidentally been selfish in our relationship


You've always accepted my love, no matter how small. 

I love You so much. 


I feel Your hiddenness, I feel Your invitation.  

I will go about my business with You, doing the task at hand with focus and sensitivity to Your Spirit 


I. Lay. Down. Ambition. 


 

Faithful Bride

By Ethan Ferris


“Do not attempt to escape the world with the world. Come running to the arms of the Bridegroom instead. 


“If you are abused, do you seek solace in the arms of your abuser? No. You would only consent to further abuse for a moment of rest now.


“Come instead to your good lover – for I desire so deeply to be the covering you wear in times of need. If your lover went to old partners in times of need, would you not be saddened? Would you not consider it unfaithfulness? ‘Why are you married to me and not them?’ you may wonder.


“Come to Me for rest. Be faithful to your Bridegroom, just as I am faithful to you.”


 

Follow the Love

By Jesse Arsenault


I hear You calling me deeper into Love. 

Today, I set my gaze gaze upon Your patience. 

I also choose patience by Your empowering grace. 


The Lord Responds:

Patience...eager waiting with stillness and steadiness of heart. 

The stillness and steadiness is firmed from a place of "their sake". 

Not a personal desire or preference. 

Handling human hearts is sacred work, and to be valued well above material or favored circumstances.  


 

Go Joyfully

By Ethan Ferris


Lord, I find great in joy in loving You

Our relationship is the most fun part of my life

You make my heart sing

My soul dances as I walk with You


Sometimes the challenges and trials feel weighty

And I forget the joy of Your ways

I’m sorry for when I’ve dishonored your love and hard work

With reluctance, whining and bitterness

For when I have spoken of Your commissions and gifts

As unwelcome and weighty burdens


How saddened I would be

If gifts I gave in love

Were spoken of thus


Jesus, my sorrows with You are greater than my dead pleasures in the world

I love to walk with You

I will praise You in my overwhelm

I will be the cheerful giver who pleases Your heart


Not only shall I go with You, Lord

I will go joyfully


 

Light and Easy

By Jesse Arsenault


“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30


All I can say is, "I just love You Lord."

When I'm exhausted and weak, I feel so tender toward You. 


I don't know how You do it, but You make problems feel so small, and much activity feel so light.


 

To My Soul

By Ethan Ferris


Father, Your lavish love conquers me

You are not threatened by my imperfections

You are patient, enduring, unwavering


Be rooted in this, my soul

What claim to truth does fear have in the face of all my Dad’s love and power?

Be confident, be bold

All is tended, all is well


The promise is written in my Savior’s blood

The seal on my heart is the person of my God, with me to confirm His word

He does not speak lightly, His words are not idle

Be generous, my soul, be grateful


Let me tell you what gift He desires to celebrate Him

The sight of His son, standing shamelessly

In worship, in word, in prayer


Release your holds, my soul

In the mighty name of Jesus

Open the way for the waters of life

Hold nothing back

Let us give our Father a worthy gift this day


 

The intention of this publication is to provide an opportunity to obey the commission of God in Romans 12:4-6, 1 Corinthians 12:7 and Ephesians 4:11. Further, it is not to do this just for me, but for many to whom God has entrusted fragments of His divine creativity. Any person may submit material to be potentially published in Holy Exhortation with full credit. 


Submissions may be made by email to ethanbferris@gmail.com.


An important point about submissions; I will make the final, prayerful decision about what is published. Not everything that is submitted will be published, but everything that is submitted will be prayerfully considered for publication.


If I do decide to publish a piece, be it my own or someone else’s, it is not a final judgment on that piece as ‘good’ or ‘from God’. It merely states that when I inquired of God as to whether He wished it to be published at this time and in this manner, I believe to have heard Him say, ‘Yes.’


Similarly, if I decide not to publish a piece, it is not a final judgment on that piece as ‘bad’ or ‘not from God’. It merely states that when I inquired of God as to whether He wished it to be published at this time and in this manner, I believe to have heard Him say, ‘No.’


With that said, I look forward to reading what God has inspired in you, and I pray that you have been edified by this volume. May you be filled with the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Chris.


  • Ethan B. Ferris



 

Better is a little with righteousness,

Than vast revenues without justice.

Proverbs 16:8







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