Many of my friends have told me that they are full of fear about the times we are facing in this country.
They assume that because the people whom they wanted to elect did not get elected, that they are doomed to suffer with the bad policies of the people in office.
What does the Bible say about believers like us?
Let's took a look at Isaac, the son of Promise whom God blessed on Abraham and Sarah, the Father and Mother of many, whose bodies were dead and did not believe they would ever have a child.
"And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. " (Genesis 21:1-3)
The LORD comes through, as He promises to, regardless of whether we fret or fuss. The only thing that delayed Isaac coming, in a sense, was Abram and Sarai's efforts (notice before their names were changed) to have a kid through the servant girl Hagar.
Isaac's name means "laughter":
"6And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. 7And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age." (Genesis 21: 6-7)
Isaac is a child of promise, the stronger son who carried the wood up Mount Moriah (Genesis 22), who was not afraid to lie down on the altar, even though he was strong enough that he could have subdued his own father and prevented him from laying him on the wood.
Isaac not only came back down the mount, but served as a figure for Christ Jesus, the Beloved Son of God who was given for us.
"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." (Hebrews 11: 17-19)
Now, let us take another look at Isaac, and how God so richly blessed him:
"21And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD." (Genesis 25: 21-22)
Unlike Abraham, who went into a servant girl to try and force God's will, Isaac . . asked God. Just like that, and Rebekah not only conceived, but she had twins.
Laugh in the midst of hardships: the Lord is blessing you, in spite of the circumstances!
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Friday, January 30, 2015
Matthew Declares, Mark Promotes Jesus' Royalty
The Gospel of Matthew outlines that Christ Jesus is descended not just from Abraham, but also from the lineage of the Kings of Judah, including David the Great King.
Yet in the Gospel of Mark do we find the record of where Jesus went after He ascended from Jerusalem:
"So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God." (Mark 16: 20)
I would have assumed that Matthew would have identified this wonderful ascension because his account was written to the Circumcision directly, although everyone of us in the Body of Christ directly and indirectly benefits.
Unlike Matthew's Gospel, Mark's Gospel portrays Jesus as a servant, one who "immediately" and "straightaway" ministers to the needs of the people who seek Him.
I believe that Mark's Gospel contains Jesus' ascension to the right hand of the Father because we most glorify Jesus as king when we allow Him to minister to our needs and wants.
Luke's Gospel declares this wonderful certainty for us:
"38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10: 38-42)
While Martha troubled herself with all the things that she felt that she could and should do for God, Mary sat at Jesus' feet, receiving His Word, and everyone of us lives not by what we do or say or thing, but by every word which comes from the Lord (Luke 4: 4), and Jesus is the Word (John 1: 1)
Mary served Jesus by drawing from Him, yet too many of us think that we must serve Him. In reality, without Jesus in our lives, we can do nothing at all(John 15: 4-5). As branches attached to the vine, we are called to rest and receive from Him, that we may in turn bear fruit to His glory.
Matthew rightly described Christ Jesus as King, but Mark's Gospels shows us that we do Him greatest reverence when we see Him as the Servant who meets every need and want of man.
Yet in the Gospel of Mark do we find the record of where Jesus went after He ascended from Jerusalem:
"So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God." (Mark 16: 20)
I would have assumed that Matthew would have identified this wonderful ascension because his account was written to the Circumcision directly, although everyone of us in the Body of Christ directly and indirectly benefits.
Unlike Matthew's Gospel, Mark's Gospel portrays Jesus as a servant, one who "immediately" and "straightaway" ministers to the needs of the people who seek Him.
I believe that Mark's Gospel contains Jesus' ascension to the right hand of the Father because we most glorify Jesus as king when we allow Him to minister to our needs and wants.
Luke's Gospel declares this wonderful certainty for us:
"38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10: 38-42)
While Martha troubled herself with all the things that she felt that she could and should do for God, Mary sat at Jesus' feet, receiving His Word, and everyone of us lives not by what we do or say or thing, but by every word which comes from the Lord (Luke 4: 4), and Jesus is the Word (John 1: 1)
Mary served Jesus by drawing from Him, yet too many of us think that we must serve Him. In reality, without Jesus in our lives, we can do nothing at all(John 15: 4-5). As branches attached to the vine, we are called to rest and receive from Him, that we may in turn bear fruit to His glory.
Matthew rightly described Christ Jesus as King, but Mark's Gospels shows us that we do Him greatest reverence when we see Him as the Servant who meets every need and want of man.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
God Designed Women to Be Cherished
"25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:" (Ephesians 5: 25-29)
God designed women to be cherished, to have a recognition that they are important to their husbands, just as God designed men to be respected, that their word is the final word.
Women, wives need to know that their husbands will make their needs important, even at their own expense.
We see this loved demonstrated for all of us in what Jesus did at the Cross:
"5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2: 5-8)
and also
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
Women who know that they are cherished will find themselves transformed by the love of God through their husbands, too:
"he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. " (Ephesians 5: 27)
The above verse announces to men the double blessing of cherishing their wives: they love themselves, their own bodies in doing so.
We see a type of this mystery in David the King with his people:
"Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh." (2 Samuel 5: 1)
Jesus is our heavenly David, and we are also His body:
"For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." (Ephesians 5: 30)
In respect to marriage, women want to know that they are as vital to their husbands as is any part of their body to themselves. God designed women to feel cherished in this manner, just as we are all made accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1: 6)
God designed women to be cherished, to have a recognition that they are important to their husbands, just as God designed men to be respected, that their word is the final word.
Women, wives need to know that their husbands will make their needs important, even at their own expense.
We see this loved demonstrated for all of us in what Jesus did at the Cross:
"5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2: 5-8)
and also
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
Women who know that they are cherished will find themselves transformed by the love of God through their husbands, too:
"he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. " (Ephesians 5: 27)
The above verse announces to men the double blessing of cherishing their wives: they love themselves, their own bodies in doing so.
We see a type of this mystery in David the King with his people:
"Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh." (2 Samuel 5: 1)
Jesus is our heavenly David, and we are also His body:
"For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." (Ephesians 5: 30)
In respect to marriage, women want to know that they are as vital to their husbands as is any part of their body to themselves. God designed women to feel cherished in this manner, just as we are all made accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1: 6)
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
God Designed Men for Respect
"22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." (Ephesians 5: 22-24)
Psychologists in the past and today, pastors then and now, discuss one of the deepest needs of men: respect.
Respect had to do with honor, that a man makes the final decisions in the home.
Submission for a wife is not about slavery, but honoring the husband:
"Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." (Ephesians 5: 33)
Reverence is a crucial, yet misunderstood revelation today. The original word is "phobeo" or "fear", yet this fear is about respect and honor, not terror or pain.
We all fear the Lord, because of the great things that He has done for us:
"And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it." (Jeremiah 33: 9)
and
"Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days." (Hosea 3: 5)
Fear is all about reverence, in response to the good which God has done for us:
"12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)
Today, wives in the Body of Christ honor their husbands, because their First Husband Jesus gave them all things. In the same way, God has created man with the important desire of respect, and even the most secular of teachers and researchers understand this Biblical truth today.
Psychologists in the past and today, pastors then and now, discuss one of the deepest needs of men: respect.
Respect had to do with honor, that a man makes the final decisions in the home.
Submission for a wife is not about slavery, but honoring the husband:
"Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." (Ephesians 5: 33)
Reverence is a crucial, yet misunderstood revelation today. The original word is "phobeo" or "fear", yet this fear is about respect and honor, not terror or pain.
We all fear the Lord, because of the great things that He has done for us:
"And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it." (Jeremiah 33: 9)
and
"Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days." (Hosea 3: 5)
Fear is all about reverence, in response to the good which God has done for us:
"12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)
Today, wives in the Body of Christ honor their husbands, because their First Husband Jesus gave them all things. In the same way, God has created man with the important desire of respect, and even the most secular of teachers and researchers understand this Biblical truth today.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
We Are Complete in Christ
"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2: 10)
Many of us look at ourselves, our lack of funds, our bodies, or our circumstances, and conclude: "I am not good enough."
In Christ, however, we find that we are, and have more than enough:
"9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)
and
We have to remember that we do not make ourselves, but rather we have a wonderful maker:
"3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." (Psalm 100: 3)
and also
"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." (Psalm 139: 14)
The focus in our lives is on Jesus, and finding that in Him, we are blessed and made perfect:
"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1: 3)
and
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 14)
How do we grow in grace? As we know more of Jesus:
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)
Peter repeated this truth at the beginning of the Second Epistle:
"1Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord," (2 Peter 2: 1-2)
We are complete in Christ, not in ourselves, and therefore, Paul invites us to see Him:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
Instead of fixing ourselves, we are called to see all that we have in Christ:
"That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (Philemon 6)
Enjoy your complete status in Christ, and gain a revelation of all that He has given you.
Many of us look at ourselves, our lack of funds, our bodies, or our circumstances, and conclude: "I am not good enough."
In Christ, however, we find that we are, and have more than enough:
"9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)
and
We have to remember that we do not make ourselves, but rather we have a wonderful maker:
"3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." (Psalm 100: 3)
and also
"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." (Psalm 139: 14)
The focus in our lives is on Jesus, and finding that in Him, we are blessed and made perfect:
"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1: 3)
and
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 14)
How do we grow in grace? As we know more of Jesus:
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)
Peter repeated this truth at the beginning of the Second Epistle:
"1Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord," (2 Peter 2: 1-2)
We are complete in Christ, not in ourselves, and therefore, Paul invites us to see Him:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
Instead of fixing ourselves, we are called to see all that we have in Christ:
"That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (Philemon 6)
Enjoy your complete status in Christ, and gain a revelation of all that He has given you.
Monday, January 26, 2015
He Repays (Even Though We Owed So Much)
"I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides." (Philemon 19)
Paul's letter to Philemon is a parable of Christ Jesus and His work of Redemption for each one of us.
Paul presents a servant Onesimus, who had run away from his master Philemon.
After meeting the runaway, and sharing the Gospel with him, Onesimus is born again.
And he returns to his master, but as more than a servant:
"For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?" (Philemon 15-16)
Just like Onesimus, we were servants of sin, but because of Jesus, we are now Sons of the Living:
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1: 12)
When Jesus rose again:
"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20: 17)
Paul affirms our new status of sonship in Christ:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)
Now, not only can we see ourselves in Onesimus, but we can also receive revelation from Philemon. His servant had stolen from, had deprived him of services.
The grace of God, granted to us in Christ, superabounds as sin increases (Romans 5:20)
Whatever we feel that we have lost, we can believe that Jesus will more than repay:
Isaiah prophesied:
"I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners." (Isaiah 57: 18)
We have this promise:
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Romans 12: 19)
and then
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 19)
While under law, we are forced to pay our debts, under grace, we recognize that Jesus paid for all our sins (as His blood cleanses us -- 1 John 1: 7), and we can know and believe that whatever we have lost, He is repaying us.
Paul's letter to Philemon is a parable of Christ Jesus and His work of Redemption for each one of us.
Paul presents a servant Onesimus, who had run away from his master Philemon.
After meeting the runaway, and sharing the Gospel with him, Onesimus is born again.
And he returns to his master, but as more than a servant:
"For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?" (Philemon 15-16)
Just like Onesimus, we were servants of sin, but because of Jesus, we are now Sons of the Living:
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1: 12)
When Jesus rose again:
"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20: 17)
Paul affirms our new status of sonship in Christ:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)
Now, not only can we see ourselves in Onesimus, but we can also receive revelation from Philemon. His servant had stolen from, had deprived him of services.
The grace of God, granted to us in Christ, superabounds as sin increases (Romans 5:20)
Whatever we feel that we have lost, we can believe that Jesus will more than repay:
Isaiah prophesied:
"I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners." (Isaiah 57: 18)
We have this promise:
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Romans 12: 19)
and then
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 19)
While under law, we are forced to pay our debts, under grace, we recognize that Jesus paid for all our sins (as His blood cleanses us -- 1 John 1: 7), and we can know and believe that whatever we have lost, He is repaying us.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Church: The Name of Jesus!
"1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philemon 1-3)
Church is not about a building.
Church is about Jesus, His grace, and the identification we share with Him.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)
Fellowship is based on His blood, not where individual members of the Body meet on Sunday, or any other day.
In fact, Paul saluted Philemon and the "church in his house".
Church can be at one's home.
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18: 20)
How can we find church in our homes, or anywhere else? It's all about the Name of Jesus!
Today, we can come boldly to God our Father (Hebrews 4: 16), because we have the same standing as His Son, Jesus!
Why? Because we have received forgiveness in His name:
"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." (1 John 2:12)
In this verse "children" is a term of endearment, not indicating a level of maturity, but complete identity.
We are called to believe on His name, and the full forgiveness we receive through His name:
"And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." (1 John 3: 23)
Because of the perfect forgiveness of all our sins, we receive His Spirit:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Followed by the authority we have in His name:
"13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (1 John 5: 13-15)
The Church is all about the name of Jesus, and we can have church in our homes or with other believers, and enjoy His authority, because of His name!
Church is not about a building.
Church is about Jesus, His grace, and the identification we share with Him.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)
Fellowship is based on His blood, not where individual members of the Body meet on Sunday, or any other day.
In fact, Paul saluted Philemon and the "church in his house".
Church can be at one's home.
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18: 20)
How can we find church in our homes, or anywhere else? It's all about the Name of Jesus!
Today, we can come boldly to God our Father (Hebrews 4: 16), because we have the same standing as His Son, Jesus!
Why? Because we have received forgiveness in His name:
"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." (1 John 2:12)
In this verse "children" is a term of endearment, not indicating a level of maturity, but complete identity.
We are called to believe on His name, and the full forgiveness we receive through His name:
"And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." (1 John 3: 23)
Because of the perfect forgiveness of all our sins, we receive His Spirit:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Followed by the authority we have in His name:
"13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (1 John 5: 13-15)
The Church is all about the name of Jesus, and we can have church in our homes or with other believers, and enjoy His authority, because of His name!
Saturday, January 24, 2015
The Church: The Body of Christ
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." (1 Corinthians 12: 27)
What is the Church?
Is it a building? No.
It is a person? Yes! Particularly, we are His Body:
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1: 18)
How do we describe those individuals who are members of the church?
"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:" (1 Corinthians 1:2)
We are members of the church because we have been sanctified, made holy in Him:
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (1 Corinthians 1: 30)
Where do we as members of the Body of Christ draw our strength? Himself:
"15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4: 15-16)
If we are part of His Body, and we draw strength from Jesus, who is our Head, then let us learn to identify with Him as our leader, as our body, as our new identity.
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Because we are His Body, we can rest in His love, and know that He is taking care of you and me.
"29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." (Ephesians 5: 29-33)
While this passage talks about how a man should love his wife, we need to see the love which Jesus has for us, every member in particular as well as a whole. You and I are His body, but this does not mean that we have to strive in our efforts. Rather, we are called to receive His love, and in graceful submission we allow Him to care for us!
What is the Church?
Is it a building? No.
It is a person? Yes! Particularly, we are His Body:
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1: 18)
How do we describe those individuals who are members of the church?
"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:" (1 Corinthians 1:2)
We are members of the church because we have been sanctified, made holy in Him:
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (1 Corinthians 1: 30)
Where do we as members of the Body of Christ draw our strength? Himself:
"15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4: 15-16)
If we are part of His Body, and we draw strength from Jesus, who is our Head, then let us learn to identify with Him as our leader, as our body, as our new identity.
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Because we are His Body, we can rest in His love, and know that He is taking care of you and me.
"29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." (Ephesians 5: 29-33)
While this passage talks about how a man should love his wife, we need to see the love which Jesus has for us, every member in particular as well as a whole. You and I are His body, but this does not mean that we have to strive in our efforts. Rather, we are called to receive His love, and in graceful submission we allow Him to care for us!
Friday, January 23, 2015
Not Yourself, but Look at Jesus
We get better when we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord:
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)
The grace of God, His favor in our lives, teaches us all things:
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)
Grace is all about having something good to look forward to, as well: "Looking for that blessed hope."
We have this confidence because of Jesus, who lives in us, too!
"27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1: 27-29)
Christ Jesus lives in me. I want to be more interested in who He is, not in who I am, or what I am lacking.
"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2: 10)
We are complete in Christ, which means we need to see more of Christ Jesus in our lives:
"4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother." (Philemon 4-7)
Our faith works as we see more of Jesus. Growth in grace, maturity in the faith, is all about seeing Jesus. Not just as God made flesh who saved you two thousand years ago when He died on the Cross, see Him as your Savior today.
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)
The grace of God, His favor in our lives, teaches us all things:
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)
Grace is all about having something good to look forward to, as well: "Looking for that blessed hope."
We have this confidence because of Jesus, who lives in us, too!
"27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1: 27-29)
Christ Jesus lives in me. I want to be more interested in who He is, not in who I am, or what I am lacking.
"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2: 10)
We are complete in Christ, which means we need to see more of Christ Jesus in our lives:
"4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother." (Philemon 4-7)
Our faith works as we see more of Jesus. Growth in grace, maturity in the faith, is all about seeing Jesus. Not just as God made flesh who saved you two thousand years ago when He died on the Cross, see Him as your Savior today.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
He Has Taken Care of Everything: Believe Him!
The Bible is way ahead of us on this truth: He has taken care of everything:
"2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
"2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways." (Psalm 139:2-3)
He has taken care of everything. He has been taking care of everything.
In fact, He promises to take care of us in every way:
"
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
"I will be a God to you. . ."
He has taken care of everything.
This promise does not come into effect based on the mindset we carry. Something is not true because we believe it long enough and hard enough. We believe what He has said because what He has said is true:
"Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: " (Hebrews 6: 17-18)
God cannot lie, but we need to put aside our unbelief:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
and
"Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." (John 20: 27)
Also
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6)
We are invited to believe the following:
"And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat." (Joshua 24: 13)
This promise is a shadow of the substance we have received through Christ Jesus:
"1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:1-2)
As a reminder, here is the Gospel, or the Good News:
"38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)
and
"2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 2-4)
He has taken care of everything. All that our Father asks us to do is. . . believe Him!
and
"2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 2-4)
He has taken care of everything. All that our Father asks us to do is. . . believe Him!
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Children Obey Parents Because the Children Are Righteous
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." (Ephesians 6: 1)
The better translation of the word "right" is "righteous."
Now, we are not righteous because of our actions.
We are righteous because of what Jesus did at the Cross for us:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)
Also
"20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 20-21)
Righteousness is a gift which we have received because of the blood of Jesus.
So, what does Paul mean when he writes that children should obey their parents because "it is righteous"?
He speaks to the fact that obedience to our parents, just as men and women submit to each other in the Body of Christ, and wives submit themselves to their husbands, is a response to God's Son submitting to His Father and granting us His status at the right Hand of the Father.
We obey our parents because we are righteous, and that is what righteous people do.
The world still does not understand the grace and glory which falls upon us from submission. Consider the specific example of David with his father Jesse:
"And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. " (1 Samuel 17:17-18)
While David's elder brothers shamed him for trying to promote himself, the truth is that he was obeying his father, and this obedience placed him in the position for God to promote him before King Saul:
"So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David." (1 Samuel 17: 50)
and then
"56And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is. 57And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite." (1 Samuel 17:56-57)
While David could have been sullen and disrespectful (after all, he had been anointed king long ago), he obeyed his father, and God was able to bless him with greater favor and honor.
Today, children can know that when they obey their parents (when they are not contravening His Word), they are due to receive the blessings of grace which fall on them, because they are righteous by faith in Christ.
The better translation of the word "right" is "righteous."
Now, we are not righteous because of our actions.
We are righteous because of what Jesus did at the Cross for us:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)
Also
"20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 20-21)
Righteousness is a gift which we have received because of the blood of Jesus.
So, what does Paul mean when he writes that children should obey their parents because "it is righteous"?
He speaks to the fact that obedience to our parents, just as men and women submit to each other in the Body of Christ, and wives submit themselves to their husbands, is a response to God's Son submitting to His Father and granting us His status at the right Hand of the Father.
We obey our parents because we are righteous, and that is what righteous people do.
The world still does not understand the grace and glory which falls upon us from submission. Consider the specific example of David with his father Jesse:
"And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. " (1 Samuel 17:17-18)
While David's elder brothers shamed him for trying to promote himself, the truth is that he was obeying his father, and this obedience placed him in the position for God to promote him before King Saul:
"So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David." (1 Samuel 17: 50)
and then
"56And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is. 57And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite." (1 Samuel 17:56-57)
While David could have been sullen and disrespectful (after all, he had been anointed king long ago), he obeyed his father, and God was able to bless him with greater favor and honor.
Today, children can know that when they obey their parents (when they are not contravening His Word), they are due to receive the blessings of grace which fall on them, because they are righteous by faith in Christ.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Husbands Love Their Wives Because of Jesus
 |
Many pastors impose a sense of demand on men:
"You need to love your wives, just as Christ loves the church!"
What they neglect to inform the man is that the husbands themselves are members of the same church!
Husbands need to be informed that Christ loves them!
"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)
We love because God first loved us! We love because Jesus loves us!
That is the place where men find the strength and capacity to love their wives.
Paul did not write to husbands to love their wives because they deserve it, but as Christ loved the Church. There wasn't even a church until Jesus died on the Cross for us in the firs tplace!
As a reminder, we did not deserve the love which Jesus showed us at the Cross:
"8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (Romans 5: 8-11)
And He still loves!
"For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." (Hebrews 7: 14-16)
Jesus is our High Priest Forever, and in Him we receive the gift of righteousness and the abundance of grace (Romans 5: 17)
The more that husbands meditate on how much Jesus loves them, in every direction (Ephesians 2:16-19), the more that they can love their wives.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Wives Submit to Their Husbands Because of Jesus
 |
Submission is not slavery, but a willful yielding to another. In the original Greek, this verse is tied to Ephesians 5: 21, and the verses before:
"21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5: 21)
And as a reminder, fear of the Lord speaks to worshipping because of His goodness:
"12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:1 2-13)
Notice that God works in us the power and the desire to do His will, so women should not feel forcefully compelled to submit.
Jesus submitted to His Father, and granted us His standing, and all its glory and splendor:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
The NIV affirms that it is God's love, not ours, which is perfected:
"This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.."
Notice also that Paul appeals to wives to "sumbit themselves."
It is not the husband's job to make her submit, nor should he lecture her with "You need to respect me."
A man does not have to earn respect, when he understands that God his Daddy (Romans 8: 15) has honored him with the same standing as His own Son.
Wives are invited to submit to their husbands, and they are to obey them "as unto the Lord." If a husbands orders his wife to do something abusive or wrong, she does not have to do it, for the ultimate authority is Christ:
"Even as Christ is the head of the church", and in the church, in the Body of Christ, is every man as well as every woman.
Also:
"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11: 3)
Submission is based on authority, and this authority comes from God, who loves us and blesses us, unlike earthly kings:
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." (Romans 13: 1)
and
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 45)
Wives submit to their husbands because of Jesus, who submitted to His Father, and grants us all things, including His life and standing at His (and our) Father's right hand.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
We Submit Because Jesus Submitted
 |
"21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5: 21)
Marriage begins with submission.
In fact, all good things for us begin with submission.
A more accurate translation of the above passage reads:
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (NIV)
Who was the first to submit in our lives? Not our parents, not our friends and neighbors, but Jesus!
"5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2: 5-11)
In other words: we submit to one another out of respect to Christ Jesus, who first submitted to His Father.
His submission is our glory:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: " (EPhesians 2: 4-6)
When God our Father placed His Son at His right hand (Ephesians 1: 22-23), He then placed us in Christ at His right hand, too!
Stoll, many people in the Body of Christ read the New Testament commands in Ephesians 4-6, and the first impetus is to focus on doing something.
Our identity in Christ is crucial. Before we do anything, we need to know who we are, and more importantly whose we are.
8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5: 8-10)
We are now children of light, no longer in darkness!
"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5: 5)
How are we children of light today? Because of Jesus. He submitted to His Father, and in Jesus we are glorified today.
"And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." (John 17: 10)
and then
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17: 24)
and finally
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
Why would we not submit to one another? Jesus submitted to His Father, and glorified us, and our reverence for Him leads us to submit to one another!
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Grace and Truth Has Come in Jesus
 |
| Jesus Enters Jerusalem: Full of Grace and Truth |
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
Grace and truth is one reality before God, and in Christ Jesus.
Grace, unmerited favor, and truth, the truth of the Gospel of justification by faith, is all because of Jesus:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)
The first mention of grace and truth is found in Genesis:
"And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren." (Genesis 24: 27)
This prayer comes from the servant of Abraham, who was seeking a bride for Isaac, and he found Rebekah, who would give birth to Jacob and Esau.
Here we find a picture of the Holy Spirit, the unnamed servant who serves God the Father, represented by Abraham, and reveals Jesus, represented by Isaac.
Grace and truth unite us in Jesus, and transform us to be more like Him:
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)
and
"2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 2-4)
The truth is all about the grace of God:
"To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." (Galatians 2: 5)
The Gospel is all about the grace of God:
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:" (Galatians 1: 6)
Grace and truth has come to us in Jesus.
Friday, January 16, 2015
"I Will Be a God to You"
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
This promise is hard for us to settle into.
Now we can understand why the writer of Hebrews wrote earlier:
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 11)
We need to work at not working, so to speak, to believe that He has taken care of everything.
That part has been the hardest for me, and it does take an element of labor, or rather patient enduring.
For the longest time, the setup of "what are you going to do about. . .?" is a prevalent concern in the back of many people's heads. A litany of concerns would rise up, and then we spend the greater part of ourmental energy answering these fears and concerns.
Yet the inner discussion never brings peace.
The unswerving, unwavering promises of God, they bring peace. This peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23), by the way, not something which we generate in our effort.
But the matter of "I will be a God to you" is so crucial. This promise is based on the truth that He is propitious, has paid for our sins, has remembered them in the body of His Son Jesus.
He wants to rest us now, if we will let Him (Matthew 11: 28)
Like too many people in this world, I have confused feelings with rest. That is wrong.
He is a God to me, regardless of how I feel, or what others may think, or even anything that I or someone else does or does not do.
When we resolve to rest in this truth, then these verses make more sense:
"17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" (Ephesians 6: 17)
The helmet of salvation does not just mean that I am saved, but that Jesus is still in the business of saving me:
"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5: 8)
Every Christian should have a confident expectation of good because of all that Jesus has done for us. Amen!
He promised to be a God to us. Let us pray for a growing revelation of this love (Ephesians 3: 16-19), and grow in grace and knowledge of this wonderful savior! (2 Peter 3: 18).
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Grace Teaches us to say "Yes!" to Jesus
 |
In Jude's time, he went out of his way to warn, earnestly, that the grace of God was becoming a distorted justification for sin, rather than justification, which frees us from sin!
"5I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not." (Jude 5)
Five is the number of grace, and yet in that verse Jude describes the ancient Israelites who did not receive, did not rest in this grace. Because they did not believe in the Lord, did not draw all their strength from Him, but sought to rely on themselves, they perished in the wilderness.
There is no life, there is no hope, without the grace of God:
"16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3: 16-18)
If we do not believe on Him, we are condemned already, and there is no way out!
Yet with the gift of righteousness comes life, His life, and thus we are led by His Spirit, not by our flesh:
"But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7: 6)
When the grace of God is preached, we must contend for the truth, that grace is no a license to sin, but the freedom which gives us power over sin. Anyone who says or does otherwise is an anti-Christ. Of course, Paul could not have put it better:
"And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just." (Romans 3: 8)
Like Jude, we must make it clear that the grace of God is all about Jesus, and it is the grace of God which teaches us to say "No!" to sin, but "Yes!" to godliness (Titus 2: 11-14)
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Grace Produces Empowerment Not To Sin
Regarding whether grace becomes a license to sin, check out what Paul wrote in the next chapter:
"1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6: 1-4)
We need Jesus, we need Himself. There is no grace apart from Christ, for He is our life (Colossians 3: 1-4)
Furthermore, grace is more than merely not getting what we do not deserve. Grace is all about God giving us everything, because He paid for it through His Son's death at the Cross, and not through anything that we did or did not do:
"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8: 31-33)
Notice that we receive all things with Jesus! If we are busy receiving, then we have no reason to try and achieving anything in our own efforts, including the sins and perversions which people resort to.
His grace defines us:
"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
His grace drives us:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
His grace also defends us:
"7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 7-10)
Grace is not license to sin, for we are dead to sin, and under His grace:
"11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6: 11-14)
"1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6: 1-4)
We need Jesus, we need Himself. There is no grace apart from Christ, for He is our life (Colossians 3: 1-4)
Furthermore, grace is more than merely not getting what we do not deserve. Grace is all about God giving us everything, because He paid for it through His Son's death at the Cross, and not through anything that we did or did not do:
"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8: 31-33)
Notice that we receive all things with Jesus! If we are busy receiving, then we have no reason to try and achieving anything in our own efforts, including the sins and perversions which people resort to.
His grace defines us:
"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
His grace drives us:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
His grace also defends us:
"7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 7-10)
Grace is not license to sin, for we are dead to sin, and under His grace:
"11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6: 11-14)
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Contending for the Faith: Jude
In a previous post, I wrote about the rising them of conflict in the last two Epistles of the New Testament before Revelation.
In John's Third Epistle, the disciple whom Jesus loved talked about confronting an arrogant Pharisee in the local church, who not only refused to receive him, but was casting out other people. This Pharisee, Diotrephes, loved to be first. When we do not see Jesus as first, foremost, and only in our lives, inevitably we will try to fill that emptiness, and the fears which come with it, by trying to make ourselves God and control other people.
The grace of God shows us not only the favor of our Loving Father, but that He is taking care of all things for us, too!
Now, in the last Epistle, Jude, we find a stern tone of earnest concern from the writer:
3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 3-4)
Instead of men and women seeking to pride themselves on their law-keeping, Jude is exhorting fellow believers to watch out for men and women who claim that the grace of God gives us license to sin.
For the record, the Gospel is very clear about what we receive in Christ Jesus:
"38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)
Now, not once did Paul ever suggest that this redemption would invite license to sin. However, the missing component for many Christians today is that we are not just sinners, but we are dead in trespasses, and we need life (John 10: 10):
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 15: 12)
Grace is not a license to sin, but rather produces empowerment to reign in life: His life:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)
In John's Third Epistle, the disciple whom Jesus loved talked about confronting an arrogant Pharisee in the local church, who not only refused to receive him, but was casting out other people. This Pharisee, Diotrephes, loved to be first. When we do not see Jesus as first, foremost, and only in our lives, inevitably we will try to fill that emptiness, and the fears which come with it, by trying to make ourselves God and control other people.
The grace of God shows us not only the favor of our Loving Father, but that He is taking care of all things for us, too!
 |
| Jude, the Brother of James |
Now, in the last Epistle, Jude, we find a stern tone of earnest concern from the writer:
3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 3-4)
Instead of men and women seeking to pride themselves on their law-keeping, Jude is exhorting fellow believers to watch out for men and women who claim that the grace of God gives us license to sin.
For the record, the Gospel is very clear about what we receive in Christ Jesus:
"38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)
Now, not once did Paul ever suggest that this redemption would invite license to sin. However, the missing component for many Christians today is that we are not just sinners, but we are dead in trespasses, and we need life (John 10: 10):
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 15: 12)
Grace is not a license to sin, but rather produces empowerment to reign in life: His life:
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)
Monday, January 12, 2015
Contending for the Faith: John, Part II
Like Diotrephes, people in churches are seeking fame, preeminence, lording over their power over others, making themselves better or promoting themselves and provoking others.
 |
We need more of Jesus in our lives, not less. We need Him stepping into every empty place in our lives, working in us and through us, as He has promised to do:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16: 7)
If we make nothing of Jesus, we must inevitably make something of ourselves. For this reason, there is a great deal of strife and unrest in churches, where members seek to make themselves great, and provoke others needlessly.
How did John plan to handle it? "I will remember, or I will bring to his remembrance" the things that he has done. He would also confront him about not receiving other believers, and even casting them out of the local church.
It is time for men and women in the Body of Christ to stand up to the Pharisees, the legalists who would bring back the law, when Scripture declares clearly: "Cast out the bondwoman!" (Galatians 4: 3)
Moses was a servant, but the Son abides forever!
"5And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Hebrews 3: 4-6)
Paul had little patience for people who wanted to go back the Old Covenant:
"6From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm." (1 Timothy 1: 6-7)
In the last days, we who are sons of God by grace through faith, who believe in Jesus now and forever, must stand up and speak forth that grace is what saved, what saves, and will save us. Not our works, not going back to the law, not trusting in our efforts, and certainly not in boasting in our law-keeping at the expense of others.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Contending for the Faith: John
 |
| John the Revelator |
Paul was swift in his judgment against such people. To those who suggested that we should sin so that grace would more abound in our lives:
"7For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just." (Romans 3: 7-8)
and also
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6: 1-3)
As for those who said "We must go back to the law to continue to in righteousness":
"1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3: 1-5)
and also
"I would they were even cut off which trouble you." (Galatians 5: 12)
Now, what was the fight about specifically for John, the Beloved disciple of Jesus?
"9I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church." (3 John 9-10)
One of the biggest problems in the Body of Christ today is that instead of growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18), we are going in works and intellect, learning about ourselves, reading the Bible, but not letting His Word abide in us (1 John 2:12-14).
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Bringing Lies Down in the Face of the Truth
Truth is based on one person: Jesus.
Not what someone tells us of Him, but what His Word reveals about Him.
It could not be any simpler.
Yet for the longest time, I was convinced that if I had negative thoughts or feelings, then I was dead-set responsible to do something about what I was feeling, to get rid of those bad feelings, so that they would not trouble me any further.
That is not the life that we are called to accept.
We are called to walk in the truth, and accept nothing which rises up against that truth of who He is and what He has done:
"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10: 4-6)
Notice that Paul writes about the obedience of Christ, not our obedience, but His.
And what is His obedience?
8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 5: 8-10)
He suffered for our sins, our sickness, our sorrows, for everything. He was perfected, in that He completed the work and rose from the dead. Today, He is our High Priest, and He is justifying us at the right hand of God the Father now and forger (Romans 8: 31-32)
We need to see Him, and He transforms us to be like Him:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
and then
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)
Not looking at ourselves, but Himself. Not fighting with the lies, but resting in the truth: that is what this life is all about!
Not what someone tells us of Him, but what His Word reveals about Him.
It could not be any simpler.
Yet for the longest time, I was convinced that if I had negative thoughts or feelings, then I was dead-set responsible to do something about what I was feeling, to get rid of those bad feelings, so that they would not trouble me any further.
That is not the life that we are called to accept.
We are called to walk in the truth, and accept nothing which rises up against that truth of who He is and what He has done:
"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10: 4-6)
Notice that Paul writes about the obedience of Christ, not our obedience, but His.
And what is His obedience?
8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 5: 8-10)
He suffered for our sins, our sickness, our sorrows, for everything. He was perfected, in that He completed the work and rose from the dead. Today, He is our High Priest, and He is justifying us at the right hand of God the Father now and forger (Romans 8: 31-32)
We need to see Him, and He transforms us to be like Him:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
and then
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)
Not looking at ourselves, but Himself. Not fighting with the lies, but resting in the truth: that is what this life is all about!
Friday, January 9, 2015
Rest is All About Grace and Truth
The Bible is very clear -- "I will NEVER (double negative, emphatic) leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13: 5)
The same iron clad certainty is found in Romans 8: 1: There is now therefore no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Period. (The part about "walk after the spirit, not the flesh" is not in the original Greek).
We need to believe the truth of God's Word, and rest in the Truth that in Christ, the Work is Finished, and that He is alive, working in us and through us (Philippians 2: 12-13)
The problem for all of us is that we are holding onto what other people tell us, not what God has told us.
We are believing what men and women have shared, but not what the Bible reveals: Jesus.
Let us look again at the banner verse:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
The verse could not be clearer: "As He is", not "As He was". Jesus is no longer on the earth as a prophet coming to fulfill the law, while bringing down the traditions of the elder Pharisees, and bringing the fullness of the law to their attention.
He is now our High Priest forever, and He will come again as our King.
This is the truth.
Yet for the longest time, I was holding onto the fears and lack of faith of other people. I had read and received the testimony of God's Word time and again. Yet at the same time, I was holding in my mind the fears, worries, and old ideas of other people.
We need life, and in Christ Jesus, we have life, and that more abundantly.
The same iron clad certainty is found in Romans 8: 1: There is now therefore no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Period. (The part about "walk after the spirit, not the flesh" is not in the original Greek).
We need to believe the truth of God's Word, and rest in the Truth that in Christ, the Work is Finished, and that He is alive, working in us and through us (Philippians 2: 12-13)
The problem for all of us is that we are holding onto what other people tell us, not what God has told us.
We are believing what men and women have shared, but not what the Bible reveals: Jesus.
Let us look again at the banner verse:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
The verse could not be clearer: "As He is", not "As He was". Jesus is no longer on the earth as a prophet coming to fulfill the law, while bringing down the traditions of the elder Pharisees, and bringing the fullness of the law to their attention.
He is now our High Priest forever, and He will come again as our King.
This is the truth.
Yet for the longest time, I was holding onto the fears and lack of faith of other people. I had read and received the testimony of God's Word time and again. Yet at the same time, I was holding in my mind the fears, worries, and old ideas of other people.
We need life, and in Christ Jesus, we have life, and that more abundantly.
"In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1: 4)
There is indeed nothing wrong with the Word, there is nothing wrong with God, and because Jesus became sin, and is our propitiation forever more, we can come boldly before God our Daddy, because of His Son Jesus!
We can rest assured in all that Jesus has promised for us. When I sense frustration or fear, I now rest in the truth of God's grace, and recognize that those fears and tumults are lies.
Instead of trying to explain away the frustration, fear, or anxiety, I rest in the truth of His love, the Cross, and all that He accomplished there.
There is indeed nothing wrong with the Word, there is nothing wrong with God, and because Jesus became sin, and is our propitiation forever more, we can come boldly before God our Daddy, because of His Son Jesus!
We can rest assured in all that Jesus has promised for us. When I sense frustration or fear, I now rest in the truth of God's grace, and recognize that those fears and tumults are lies.
Instead of trying to explain away the frustration, fear, or anxiety, I rest in the truth of His love, the Cross, and all that He accomplished there.
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 11)
That recognition of His perfect love casts out all fear.
That recognition of His perfect love casts out all fear.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
It's the Truth of God's Word
Perfect Love does indeed cast out all fear (1 John 4: 17)
I am starting to realize that for the longest time, I was making my feelings the final arbiter of peace and harmony.
If I felt bad, then I was bad. If I felt good, then I was good.
Crazy stuff!
Most importantly, though, I was so caught up in how I felt because I had tied believing with feeling.
Faith is all about taking God at His Word.
King James Bible
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
This translation is not accurate. The New International Version is much better:
New International Version
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Romans 10: 17)
When it comes to growing in grace, though, I realize that the greatest hindrance of faith is either our lack of knowledge of God's Word, or our adherence to the law, to our efforts, rather than His grace.
I spent so much time trying to push aside fearful premonitions about the future.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)
The key is righteousness, which is not a work, but a gift (Romans 5: 15-17)
The truth of this matter could not be clearer in the Bible, from the New Covenant:
"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
I am starting to realize that for the longest time, I was making my feelings the final arbiter of peace and harmony.
If I felt bad, then I was bad. If I felt good, then I was good.
Crazy stuff!
Most importantly, though, I was so caught up in how I felt because I had tied believing with feeling.
Faith is all about taking God at His Word.
King James Bible
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
This translation is not accurate. The New International Version is much better:
New International Version
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Romans 10: 17)
When it comes to growing in grace, though, I realize that the greatest hindrance of faith is either our lack of knowledge of God's Word, or our adherence to the law, to our efforts, rather than His grace.
I spent so much time trying to push aside fearful premonitions about the future.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)
The key is righteousness, which is not a work, but a gift (Romans 5: 15-17)
The truth of this matter could not be clearer in the Bible, from the New Covenant:
"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
All of these promises are kept for us because of the Cross. There, Jesus shed His blood, became sin on our behalf, and gave us His standing before God.
All God the Father asks us to do is. . .believe on Him!
Today, I have a greater understanding of what it means that God's weapons are mighty, bringing down every stronghold.
Those strongholds are truly painful, difficult, do not budge easily. For longer than I care to admit (or remember) that I would fight with every bad thought, every bad feeling.
The Bible is the final testimony on every issue. Today, I choose to take God at His Word, not how I feel about it.
I do not fret about tomorrow, because I have the promise of His Word.
If there are any "what ifs" and "yeah, buts" in our lives, they emanate from nothing more than the lies and distortions taught to us by others, whether in our best interests or the worst manipulation.
What does God's Word say about us? What does the Word of God say, which no one can argue with?
That is all that matters, and any conflict on the matter is irrelevant across the board.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
His Will: Restoration in Redemption
Do we believe that we have been set free from all sin for all time, or don't we?
That is what it all comes down to.
The fires go out when we rest in the truth of God's Word.
Then we believe what the woman caught in the act of adultery had believed:
"11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8:" 11)
At this time, I am upset, but for one simple reason: for so long, I was lied to, I was told what was not the truth.
I was taught the Twelve Steps.
Yet even in writing this, I must recall that another man had every right to be bitter, Caleb, but he was not:
"6Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. 7Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. 10And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said." (Joshua 14: 6-12)
God kept Caleb strong and healthy. Age did not touch him or slow him down one bit.
The Prophet Joel records the blessings of honor restored, and lost things found for us:
"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." (Joel 2: 23)
Not only can we expect the former and the latter rain, but it will come upon us without warning, and that is for the first month. I cannot imagine what the second, or even the third month may bring, for there is no limited with God our Father.
Isaiah prophesied of the honor which we all receive because of Jesus, too!:
"For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them." (Isaiah 61: 7)
Paul describes this victory thus:
"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)
God is in the redemption, restoration, and resurgence business. Even in this fallen earth, we can believe that God our Father, who took us from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in His Son (Ephesians 2: 4-6), is bringing all our enemies under our feet (Psalm 110: 1).
The time will come very soon, when I can see the grace of God taking every hurt and pain, every setback and loss, and seeing how He has richly turned all things toward my good (Romans 8: 28).
Thank you, Jesus!
That is what it all comes down to.
The fires go out when we rest in the truth of God's Word.
Then we believe what the woman caught in the act of adultery had believed:
"11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8:" 11)
At this time, I am upset, but for one simple reason: for so long, I was lied to, I was told what was not the truth.
I was taught the Twelve Steps.
Yet even in writing this, I must recall that another man had every right to be bitter, Caleb, but he was not:
"6Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. 7Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. 10And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said." (Joshua 14: 6-12)
God kept Caleb strong and healthy. Age did not touch him or slow him down one bit.
The Prophet Joel records the blessings of honor restored, and lost things found for us:
"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." (Joel 2: 23)
Not only can we expect the former and the latter rain, but it will come upon us without warning, and that is for the first month. I cannot imagine what the second, or even the third month may bring, for there is no limited with God our Father.
Isaiah prophesied of the honor which we all receive because of Jesus, too!:
"For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them." (Isaiah 61: 7)
Paul describes this victory thus:
"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)
God is in the redemption, restoration, and resurgence business. Even in this fallen earth, we can believe that God our Father, who took us from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in His Son (Ephesians 2: 4-6), is bringing all our enemies under our feet (Psalm 110: 1).
The time will come very soon, when I can see the grace of God taking every hurt and pain, every setback and loss, and seeing how He has richly turned all things toward my good (Romans 8: 28).
Thank you, Jesus!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)